//------------------------------// // New Challenger! Reddux the Tyrant // Story: Trixie vs. Equestria // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// The towers vibrated beneath the ponies’ hooves at the sound of the roar. Twilight ducked, fear in her eyes as if the deafening roar was aimed directly at her. Her lips trembled as they formed a name dreaded by many ponies throughout history. “Reddux.” Trixie made her way to the side of the tower and watched as the massive gates began to open outward. She could see Nye and Jimmy running towards the center where the two doors met, perhaps to get a better look. Okay, so this part of her plan worked. Now if she could just— “Oh no, oh no, oh no!” She turned back to find Twilight panicking. “Bad, bad, this is so bad! Reddux will kill me if he gets out! Not to mention the other things down there. I need… We—” She needed something to jolt her into action, and Trixie was more than happy to deliver; she struck the mare on the cheek. “Get it together!” Twilight’s attention snapped to her in an instant. She bared her teeth, her horn sparking dangerously. “Don’t tell me to get it together! This is your fault, and you will be held accountable. What were you thinking?” Trixie raised her hooves in exasperation. “You were threatening to kill Trixie! She had to do something to distract you.” Another roar blasted through the air, making them both cringe. “Well, congratulations,” Twilight snapped once the sound had faded. “You distracted me, and may have just sealed the fate of all of Equestria in the process! Why must you always jump into things without thinking?!” Trixie winced; she had to admit, things weren’t going quite as planned. Using the earthquake had been a desperate gamble, for there had been no guarantee that it would open the gates. Yet open they had, just as she’d intended. Reddux was a problem, though; she’d expected many possible results, but not him! Twilight tapped her chin, a frantic look in her wide eyes. “A plan, a plan… we need… Celestia! She’s here, if we can warn her—” “Celestia?” Trixie shook her head, worry filling her. “That’s your plan? You’re the Gatekeeper, for bucks sake! Surely you know some way to close the thing.” Twilight sneered. “Don’t presume to lecture me, Trixie. Closing the Gates manually takes time—” she cringed as another roar made the tower vibrate, “—which we do not have!” “Does it take longer than it will to find Celestia and explain the situation?” Trixie asked. Calling Celestia into this was the last thing she needed! True, Reddux had to be stopped, and that meant closing the gates, but she needed Twilight to be the one to achieve that! Then again, if Twilight couldn’t manage it by herself… No, she had the Alicorn Amulet. With that she surely could pull it off! “Look, Celestia has to already know. There’s no way she didn’t hear him!” As if to emphasize Trixie’s meaning, another roar shook the tower beneath their hooves. It sounded a lot closer. “Come on, aren’t you the Gatekeeper? Surely it’s faster for you to close the Gates than to go running to Celestia for help! You want to be impress her, don’t you? Stop thinking about it and—” “Be quiet!” Twilight shot a violet beam that struck Trixie in the chest and knocked her to the ground. After all she’d been through already, it really hurt. Trixie rolled onto her back and let out a groan, but stiffened as Twilight’s horn was abruptly pressed right between her eyes. “I will not be lectured by the likes of you.” Twilight’s lips trembled with anger. Trixie couldn’t resist feeling a familiar fear at that vicious gaze. The roar of Reddux shook the tower yet again, and Twilight looked up with visible alarm. Trixie sucked in a calming breath, praying the mare would listen to reason. “We’re wasting time.” Twilight shot her a dirty look, but then cast her wary gaze towards the gates. Finally, she sneered and stepped back to let Trixie stand. “You’re responsible for this, so you’re going to help me.” Trixie nodded, withering slightly under that gaze. “Of course.” They turned towards the Gates in unison, just in time for Jimmy to fly up from below. He looked shaken, but in control of himself. “Twilight! What’s the plan?” Twilight closed her eyes and thought for a few seconds, anxiously bouncing the Alicorn Amulet with one hoof. When she opened her eyes, they were focused and determined. “You, Nye and Trixie will manually close the gates. I’ll hold Reddux back.” Jimmy nodded, lips set in a firm frown. “Got it. Keys.” Twilight’s horn glowed. A pair of keys on a silver ring appeared in a puff of red smoke, which Jimmy snatched with his teeth. “They won’t know the controls. Educate them,” Twilight snapped. Yet another roar filled the air, making their legs shake. “And make it quick!” “Come on!” Jimmy gestured to Trixie and flew down to the gates. She stepped up to the edge and glanced back just in time to see Twilight disappear in a flash of light. Praying she’d not made a foolish mistake with her earthquake, Trixie imitated Twilight’s spell and found herself standing on the gate’s ledge once more. “Trixie!” Nye was in front of her in an instant, eyes wide and hooves on her shoulders. “What do we do, what do we do?” “This way,” Jimmy called, flying over their heads and making for the center of the Gates. While Nye followed his brother at a gallop, Trixie could only manage a trot; she was just too worn out for anything faster. The caught a flash out of the corner of her eye and looked to see Twilight standing in the barren, rocky landscape. The Gatekeeper stood resolute and ready before the slightly open gates, prepared to do her part. Given the Gates’ massive size, it could barely be considered open; it was more like the great doors had merely shifted. Even so, there was now a span of at least twenty feet separating the two gates. Trixie paused at the edge, where she found a door leading inside the Gate itself. Trixie entered the open doorway, finding herself in a thin but long room. To her left she saw an opening where the gate ended. She could see from the matching opening across the span that the room extended through both of the great doors when the Gates were closed. Right at the edge was a small opening, just large enough for a standing pony to fit through, and a door of solid iron that swung lazily on its hinges. A matching opening and door was on the other side. Perhaps that was how prisoners were forced in? Her ears perked at the steady, thunderous noise in the distance. Trixie’s heart began to pound… but she was curious. She glanced along the corridor to her right and saw Jimmy and Nye discussing a set of large, complex-looking levers and wheels. They paid her no attention, so she took the opportunity to step up to the swinging iron door and catch it with a hoof. She paused, took a steadying breath and peered into Tartarus. The great cavern stretched out before her, dark and empty. Part of her was disappointed, for it didn't look at all as terrible as she'd expected. The other part was amazed at the sheer scale of the cave, which towered far above and below her tiny hole. She silently wondered just how deep it went. Supposedly this place harbored some of the most corrupt villains in Equestrian history, but she could see none of that here. That thunderous stomping caught her ears again. It grew louder, very quickly. She squinted, thinking she’d seen movement in the black. She saw it again. Something deep within, something big. She could just make out the shape in the dark, tall and bulky and— A dragon. Reddux the Tyrant. “Damn, he catches on quick!” Trixie jumped at the sudden voice by her side. She looked to see Jimmy hovering in the opening between the gates. She took just a second to catch her breath before asking, “What is Trixie to do?” Jimmy turned to her. She couldn’t help being impressed with how he ignored the dragon’s latest roar, which reverberated through the cave and loosed a cloud of dust from the ceiling. “I already told Nye everything he needs to know about closing the Gates,” he replied. “The equipment’s old and heavy; I’m not sure he’s got the strength to use them all.” He gestured back down the hallway to where his brother was studying the control. “Help him move the harder ones. I’ll take care of the ones on the other side.” He didn’t bother waiting for her confirmation. Instead, he turned, nodded to Twilight on the ground below and flew into the other gate’s corridor. Trixie glanced about the exterior wall to see Twilight still standing before the Gates. Her stance was firm, and if there was any fear in her she was too far away for Trixie to tell. She grudgingly, silently acknowledged being impressed before turning back to the cave. Her eyes went wide. “Whoa!” Trixie had seen full-grown dragons a couple times in her travels, but this thing was a true monster! The dragons she’d seen would have barely been tall enough to reach her level on the gate, yet this thing’s backside spikes nearly touched the ceiling. Its scales were dull with age, and scars crisscrossed its massive shape. The most notable was a wide, ugly slash in its jaw that left part of the bone and teeth exposed. That sight made Trixie shiver; what could have done that to something so huge? Reddux approached the gate with eyes sharp and teeth flashing as smoke rose from his lips and nostrils. She could hear him sucking in a long, deep breath, his claws crashing against the stone floor of the cave. Trixie ran into the corridor, looking back to see the intense flames of his breath fill the space between the open gates. Even from such a distance, the heat was intense! She paused to watch as a violet shield appeared, pushing the flames back. An instant later the monster’s scaled head slammed against the shield and pushed. Reddux strained, he growled, he pressed with both claws, but Twilight’s spell held. Trixie had worried for a moment upon seeing the sheer size of Reddux, but her faith in the Alicorn Amulet’s strength was being justified. “Trixie, come on!” She whacked herself on the head; she was supposed to be helping Nye! She turned and ran as fast as her worn-out legs could carry her, finding him struggling to pull down a big lever. She caught it with her magic and fought to pull it. It resisted, but after several seconds they were able to get the thing to go down. Nye took a second to recover, dropping to his knees and taking deep breaths. The sweat already beading on his brow made it clear he wasn’t accustomed to the amount of exercise this evening was demanding. But he was up quickly, moving to the next gadget. “What next?” Trixie asked, eager to help. “We have to get everything set,” he replied. His cheeks puffed out while he fought to pull another lever. With Trixie’s aid, it raised much easier than the last one. “One at a time, proper order, so that the gate locks will close correctly.” Trixie stared at all the levers, switches and chains on the wall. “Why in the name of the moon does it need to be so complicated?” Nye was moving swiftly, handling the instruments with surprising skill. “If it was easy, whoever’s inside might find a way to get through.” She leaned back cautiously. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” “I might be a dumb cobbler, but I come from an engineering family,” he replied with confidence, eyes not leaving his work. “I had to learn something growing up surrounded by eggheads.” They worked together, Trixie using her magic to handle all the larger, heavier instruments. She kept glancing back down the corridor, where Twilight and Reddux were engaged in what appeared to be a fierce battle of wills. Every now and again the dragon would let out a fierce roar that shook the world and made Trixie and Nye cover their ears. Yet despite everything, Twilight was holding him back. If Trixie knew the Alicorn Amulet as well as she thought, Twilight wouldn’t last much longer. A sense of urgency guided her actions, for she knew that time was against them. The last part of the process was a tall wheel on the wall, but Nye hesitated. “What’s wrong?” Trixie asked. “Turn it!” “The wheel has to be turned at the same time on both sides.” Nye bit his lip as he looked towards the other gate. “Jimmy said we’d hear the other gate grinding closed.” Trixie followed his gaze, but there was no way to see inside the other gate through the flames and magic. They had no time to waste! “Trixie will check on him,” she declared, running for the battle. A small fear crept through her mind; what if this big gamble was a mistake? What if she really had doomed Equestria with her little stunt? No, she had to remain confident. She knew what Twilight could do, she knew the power of the Alicorn Amulet! All they had to do was close the Gates and everything would be fine. She focused her magic and teleported, quietly enduring the headache. She found herself inside the other gate, the raging battle behind her. She quickly spotted Jimmy, who was struggling with something up in the ceiling. She hurried to him. “What are you doing? Trixie and Nye are finished!” Relief washed over his face at the sight of her. “Oh, thank Luna. The bucking chain broke!” He gestured to a lump of rusty chain lying in a pile just beneath him. “Help me pull this thing!” The chain he was trying to pull barely dangles out of the ceiling. She grasped it with her magic and gave it a jerk. “Not so hard! You don’t want to break the rest of it!” She sneered and focused her magic, gradually increasing the strength of the pull. At last, the chain began to lower. She realized through her pounding skull that she was sweating, but she kept calm and her magic measured. She was acutely aware of the dragon at the edge of her vision. The chain came to an abrupt stop. She grimaced and tugged a little harder; it wouldn’t budge. “Damn it, come on!” Jimmy flew closer to study the hole the chain was coming through. “Is it jammed?” The entire gate shook as Reddux let out a monstrous roar. The chain abruptly came loose, followed by a cracking sound. “That did it!” Jimmy immediately dropped to stand beside a wheel that matched the one in the other gate. “Alright, head back and help Nye! The wheel’s damn heavy.” Like before, he didn’t wait for any confirmation, instead grasping the wheel. His muscles bulged as he fought to turn the thing. “Let Trixie get it…” she offered, her horn glowing. “I’ve got it,” Jimmy declared through gritted teeth just before the wheel began to turn. “Help Nye!” Trixie obeyed, running back to the other gate even as she mentally acknowledged his impressive physique. But as she approached the center, she noted that Reddux seemed to be winning his duel with Twilight. His head was a little farther through the gate, the magical barrier seemed to be fading. A victorious glint was in the dragon’s eye, teeth flashing as his lips curled back in a sinister grin. Heart pounding and mind filled with a terrible dread at the consequences of defeat, Trixie teleported past the duel again and found Nye struggling with the wheel. “Nye, it’s time!” “I know, I know!” he cried as he fought to move the wheel. “For buck’s sake, help me!” She aimed her horn for the wheel and focused her magic. It took several seconds but at last it began to turn, a pitched grinding accompanying its motion. Trixie could feel the gate moving beneath her hooves and intensified her concentration. She glanced back to see Twilight hitting Reddux with an extra-powerful blast, perhaps as a last-ditch effort to hold him back. The dragon roared in fury, but couldn’t resist Twilight’s last push. The Gates were closing on him, grinding and methodical. “We’ve got it,” Trixie cried. “We’ve got him!” At last the Gates closed, a crash resounding through the corridor as they met. There was a series of crunching, grinding and clanging noises. The deed was done; the Gates of Tartarus had been sealed once more. Nye all but collapsed in place, an intense sigh coming from his lips. “Oh, thank Luna that’s over!” Trixie, horn throbbing and breath coming in gasps, made her way to the center of the Gates. The two corridors were one again. She met Jimmy at the iron doors, which still swung freely. “Are we safe?” “Yeah, we’re safe,” he answered, rubbing his shoulders as if they ached. “I thought I’d maintained the equipment better than that, though.” He stepped in front of the iron doors, which now opened before a single hole in the wall. “You know he’s mad.” Trixie stepped up to the doors and peered through. They opened to a steeply inclined passage, which appeared to be designed to keep ponies from climbing back up to the Gates. Trixie jumped when Reddux’s face appeared at the end of the passage, too big to fit inside. He glared up at them for a moment before unleashing a fiery blast, but it wouldn’t go past the opening at the bottom; evidently the passage had been magically sealed. A flash of light appeared between Trixie and Jimmy. When it faded, Twilight stood between them. She sagged to her knees, sweat pouring down her face and horn sizzling red. “Is… Is it done? Are the locks in place?” She sounded like she might faint. “In place and holding just fine,” Jimmy told her, adding a pat on the back for good measure. “You were awesome, by the way.” Twilight ignored the praise as she peered down the opening. “What about the magical seals?” “Holding,” he replied. Nye trudged up to them, sitting beside Trixie with head bowed. He was covered in sweat. “Please tell me there’s no more excitement for tonight.” Twilight rubbed her forehead, eyes closed and face slack. “You’ll get no arguments from me,” she moaned. Trixie stared down into that pit, her chest tightening as she found herself wondering what it would be like to be dropped into that hole. To fall through and know what was coming... “I don’t know,” she muttered darkly, turning to Twilight. “I think I can handle just one more thing.” And then she grabbed her old nemesis and pushed her through the doors. Twilight screamed. Jimmy let out a shout. Nye only stared. Twilight dropped, caught the steep floor and slid to a stop. She turned about, eyes wide with terror and horn glowing in preparation for a spell. Trixie slammed the magic-resistant iron doors in her rival’s horrified face before Twilight had a chance and dropped the thick locking beam into place. “What are you doing?” Nye shouted. “Are you insane?” Jimmy threw in. The twins both reached for the door at once, but Trixie focused her magic and emitted a burst of energy that sent them both flying. They hit the ceiling and dropped to the floor. Neither got back up. “Trixie!” Twilight’s voice was muffled through the doors. “Trixie, wait! Don’t do this!” There was a small slot in one of the doors. Trixie dropped to her knees so that her face was level with it and opened the sliding panel; it was just large enough to let her peer through and see Twilight on the other side. Twilight’s face appeared in the opening. “Trixie, please! He’ll kill me!” The Gates shook violently, as if to emphasize her words. “Trixie!” “Give me the Alicorn Amulet.” “What? No!” Twilight glanced back, and Trixie could see massive talons clawing up at her prisoner through the passage. “Trixie, open the doors!” Trixie sneered. “The Amulet. Now!” “I can’t!” Twilight pressed against the slot, screaming as the Gates rocked from another hit. “Celestia told me to wear it! I have to, Trixie!” Trixie slammed the slot closed. She couldn't resist shuddering; though Twilight hadn’t even been touched by Reddux yet, her terror was hard to handle. But Trixie knew she had to do this, even if she didn’t want to. It was the only way to be certain. Twilight’s shriek pierced through the door, prompting Trixie to quickly open the slot again. She saw that Twilight was okay and hardened her resolve. “The Amulet or your life, Twilight!” “Okay, for buck’s sake!” With tears streaming down her cheeks, Twilight jerked the amulet from her neck and stuffed it through the slot. Trixie snatched it away as quickly as she could. “Now let me out, please!” Trixie slammed the slot closed again and threw the amulet to the floor. She ignored Twilight’s horrible pleading and instead focused on stomping on that accursed piece of jewelry with all her remaining strength! She stomped and stomped, a furious rage filling her as the metal bent, twisted, began to break. This thing, this horrible, horrible thing! Nopony would ever be destroyed by it again! She stomped until the glass shattered and the gemstone cracked, then focused an intense stream of magic into the thing. It glowed, vibrated… and erupted into a shower of crimson dust. The deed done, she turned back to the iron doors and listened to Twilight’s piercing screams. The Gates shook from Reddux’s furious strikes, and again, and again. Trixie could hear the dragon’s talons scraping against the metal as he tried to reach Twilight in the passage. Trixie’s heart pounded in her chest. Twilight’s shrieks grew more desperate, and Trixie shook with fear and worry. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she imagined the other Twilight: the one who had stood no chance, who had literally gone through Hell. The anger produced from that imagery steadied Trixie’s mind just enough to let her carry this through to the end she truly sought. At last Trixie could take the screams no more. She pulled the locking bar off the doors and jerked them open. She then dropped to her belly and caught Twilight’s hooves, pulling her back into the Gates. She slammed the doors closed immediately, breathing a deep sigh as she did. Twilight was a sobbing heap against the wall, her weeping piercing to Trixie’s ears. Trixie turned to the terrified pony, her fears gradually making way for her anger. “How did it feel?” Twilight tried to wipe her eyes as she looked up, but her tears wouldn’t stop flowing. “Wh… W-what…?” “How did it feel?” Trixie repeated, eyes flashing dangerously. “To think you’re going to die? Trixie demands to know if you can accept what you did, now that you’ve experienced it.” Twilight sobbed. “I… I d-don’t understand.” “Of course you don’t,” Trixie hissed. “Now you know what she felt like.” “S-she…?” “She.” Trixie took a threatening step forward. “The other Twilight. The one you and Celestia locked up in Tartarus!” “Her?” Twilight tried to sit up, legs shaking. “Y-you’re mad b-because of her? She was a ch-changeling!” Trixie shoved Twilight back to the floor. “Trixie is not mad – she's furious! Furious because you left her in there to rot! Furious because you were willing to let a potentially innocent pony go through horrible tortures, and then dare to suggest that you want to improve Equestria!” “There was nothing I could do!” Twilight cowered back against the wall from Trixie’s rage, eyes locked with those of her aggressor. “Celestia was the one who—” “You are the Gatekeeper.” Trixie pressed her muzzle against Twilight’s. “You have the power to imprison or release. You could have freed her! You did free her, but not until after she’d been horribly mangled by the freaks that live down there!” Twilight shivered, moist eyes wide. “H-how do you know all this?” Trixie stood tall and glared at the prostrate unicorn. “Because Trixie met her right before she died. She was broken, desperate, a hideous mess of pony ruined by what you allowed to happen to her. It doesn’t matter if she was a changeling or not; nopony deserves what she went through!” She leaned forward, lips curled back in a snarl. “And you. I hate you, but I at least thought you were better than that. So why, Twilight? Why did you let her go through that hell?” Twilight leaned forward, her voice shaking. “Y-you don’t know what it’s like! Celestia’s demands on her prized student are intense. I can’t refuse her orders! She said to keep her locked up, so I did. I didn’t have a choice in the matter!” Trixie sneered. “I thought you had more spirit than that. How the buck do you plan to be a leader and change the world if you won’t say ‘No’ in the face of a blatant wrong?” “Celestia is never wrong!” Twilight shouted, but her voice cracked. She fell back against the wall, tears welling in her eyes again. “She’s the Princess of the Sun. She’s my… my idol… The princess wouldn’t do something like that without good reason…” And then Trixie’s own words hit her. For the first time, she realized that she really did blame Celestia for this, at least partially. Twilight’s conviction… did it not make sense? Celestia, the symbol of all that was good and holy in the world… Trixie remembered Luna’s story. Despite her earlier conviction, a conviction she was determined to maintain, there were still lingering doubts. Yet this sudden realization cast things in a whole new light. Had Fine Crime not said, very clearly, that it had been Celestia who’d sent the other Twilight to Tartarus? Who’d broken her? Trixie’s image of Celestia had been dulled over the past few weeks… but now it was cracked – perhaps irreparably so. She took a closer look at Twilight. Celestia’s pupil was splayed out against the wall as if she didn’t have the energy to sit properly, eyes closed and tears just beginning to dry on her cheeks. Her mane was disheveled, her breath coming in slow gasps. All in all, she looked like an emotional wreck. Trixie couldn’t help wondering… “What happened between you and Luna?” Twilight’s eyes opened just a crack. “You’re an ex-lover of hers, are you not?” Twilight turned her head away with a grimace. “I told you, I’m not talking.” Trixie’s anger flared. She took a couple steps forward and leveled her horn at Twilight, who pressed against the wall with wide eyes. “You’re spent. You used all your energy wielding the amulet against Reddux. Trixie is worn out too, but she knows she has more power left than you. Talk!” Twilight tried to recover, countering Trixie’s words with a harsh look. “What makes you think I’m spent?” Trixie came forward, pressing her horn right between her opponent’s eyes. “Trixie had the amulet for four months. She knows its workings. You couldn’t have had it for more than a week. Do not test Trixie’s patience!” Twilight’s eyes went wide. “You planned it. That’s why you broke the Gates; you wanted me to waste all my energies trying to close it!” “Surrender!” Trixie’s horn began to glow. “Give in, or so help me I’ll throw you back in with Reddux!” “Okay!” Twilight reached up to push Trixie’s head away with feeble legs. “Okay… You win. Are you happy, now?” Trixie stepped back with a scowl. “No. Trixie is not happy at all! And she won’t be until she’s figured things out.” Twilight sagged back against the wall, turning her head away. “You just want to know my misery. It’s all about revenge.” Trixie came forward to pressed her hooves against Twilight’s shoulders, looking her dead in the eye. “The more Trixie learns about Luna, the closer she feel to understanding her situation. Trix—” She paused and bowed her head with a sigh, then raised it once more. “I’m close, Twilight. I know it, I can feel it. With every story, every victory, I get just a little closer to knowing what I’m supposed to do. Talk to me! Give me the next piece of the puzzle so I can save her!” Twilight stared up at her through her mane, jaw slack. Trixie only stared right back, waiting for an answer. A long silence passed between them, but finally Twilight spoke. “You really mean it, don’t you?” Trixie sat back and bowed her head. “Talk to me… Please.” Twilight studied Trixie for an uncomfortably long time, but finally let out a deep sigh. “Luna was… She was an opportunity.” Trixie raised her head to stare at Twilight, but said nothing as her old rival continued. “After she returned from exile, I watched her. I learned of her goals, which struck me as lofty. Even if I didn’t believe her story, I thought that she might be helpful. “By then I knew that I’d never be a princess under Celestia. I killed Cerberus on her order, and all I got was a pat on the back and a new assignment. There’s just no pleasing her. But Luna… If I could help her become co-ruler of Equestria, maybe set up a system of checks and balances, things would improve. So I campaigned for her, and promoted her at every opportunity.” “I think I remember hearing about that,” Trixie admitted, but waved for Twilight to go on rather than press the topic. “Luna caught on. She sought me out, we started working together.” Twilight leaned forward to wrap her front legs about her lower knees, setting her chin on her front legs with moist eyes. “I just didn’t expect to… to fall for her. I was even able to put up with Nightmare Moon, unlike the others. I caught on to her schemes and refused to let them get in the way.” Trixie thought on this, finding herself impressed. “Then what happened to end it?” Twilight buried her head in her legs. “Celestia found out. She accused Nightmare of trying to turn me against her. I denied it, of course, but Nightmare insisted I was falling into some sort of trap, and Celestia believed her. I don’t blame her; I’d have believed her had I been in that position.” Trixie tilted her head. “Didn’t you fight it in some way?” “I couldn’t,” Twilight whispered. “My position as Celestia’s protégé was in jeopardy. I was being forced to choose… Yet Luna chose for me. She cut ties to protect me… but Celestia still sent me here. This job is my punishment for dallying in things I shouldn’t. “That’s why I agreed with the princess’ recommendation to use the Amulet,” Twilight concluded, looking up with moist eyes. “I had to win, Trixie! I had to redeem myself. I’ve been stuck doing this dead-end job for three years! I can’t do anything for Equestria like this… But if I beat you when every other pony couldn’t, maybe Celestia would forgive me!” “Wait.” Trixie stood, eyes wide. “You mean Celestia wanted me to lose?” Twilight nodded. “She said it was imperative. For Luna’s sake.” “But… But that makes no sense!” Trixie tapped her head as if to kick her brain cells into gear. “Celestia told me these fights were important for Luna, that I was helping her.” Twilight tilted her head, rubbing the last of the moisture from her cheeks. “Maybe by losing?” “No!” Trixie paced the corridor, frustration filling her. “I’m fighting for Luna. Everything I’ve been doing is for Luna. Why would she want me to lose if my winning is… Damn it!” She reared back and let out a shout. “Just when everything was starting to make sense!” Just then the door leading to the Gates’ outer ledge opened. Twilight and Trixie turned to find Celestia herself entering the corridor. Twilight leapt to her hooves and bowed deep, but Trixie only scowled. Celestia paused, glancing around the long room with a deep frown before spotting the two unicorns. “Ah, there you are.” She approached, stepping over Nye as if he weren’t there. “What happened with the Gates?” “P-princess!” Twilight’s voice wavered as she maintained the bow. “Forgive me, th-there was a problem with the Gates. B-but we fixed it, all of us! I promise, the rep-pairs will be done soon.” “You should be applauding her,” Trixie decalred, locking hard eyes with Celestia. “Your protégé just went hoof-to-claw with Reddux to keep him inside.” Celestia’s eyes widened just a little as she cast a wary look at the iron doors. “Is that so? Quite the feat, Twilight. And what about the duel?” The duel? Trixie could only stare with a slack jaw; Twilight had just faced off against what was well-documented as the most dangerous dragon in Equestrian history, and Celestia wanted to know about the duel? Twilight ducked as if expecting a blow. “I… I’m sorry, princess. I-l… I lost.” Celestia’s eyelids lowered, her smile fading as her face became expressionless. “I see. And the amulet?” Twilight’s head rose; by the look on her face it was clear she didn’t know of Trixie’s deed. She shot a questioning look at Trixie, who turned to Celestia with head held high. “Trixie destroyed it.” “What?” Twilight leapt up and shook Trixie. “Why would you do that?” “That thing was an abomination!” Trixie shoved her rival away and turned to stand firm before a still-expressionless Celestia. “It was nothing but a danger. Trixie destroyed it, and the world will be better for it.” “Perhaps,” Celestia admitted, “but that was not your decision to make.” Her eyes turned on Twilight, who cringed. “I am very disappointed in you, Twilight.” “Disappointed?” Trixie stood between the two of them, glaring daggers. “How can you say that? Twilight did the best she could. She risked her life to face down Reddux! Even Trixie is praising her for this, and she hates Twilight! And what about Trixie, hmm? Did you not tell her that she was supposed to win, for Luna sake? What happened to that?” “Trixie, that’s enough,” Twilight hissed. Celestia’s cold expression didn’t waver. “You are right: your victory is in Luna’s best interest. But Twilight is my apprentice, my protégé. I expect her to succeed in everything she does, not just some things. Holding Reddux back does aid her position, but she still failed to defeat you. She even had the Alicorn Amulet to assist her, and yet she let it be destroyed. These failures cannot be overlooked.” Trixie glanced back to find Twilight sitting with her head bowed, a look of abject misery on her face. Even if Trixie didn’t like her, this seemed just a little too cruel. “But… She—” “You should go,” Celestia ordered, and her tone brooked no argument. “This is a matter between my student and myself. Go see Luna. She is on her way to the Southern Tower, and she will leave you if you are not fast enough.” Luna. With all that was going on, Trixie had completely forgotten! Yet she still felt she should defend Twilight. She hesitated, looking first to the hard Celestia, then to the unhappy Twilight. If things had gone as planned, though, then Luna might be… Though she hated doing it, Trixie left. She took only an extra second to hug Twilight and wish her luck before heading out the door and making for the Southern Tower. It dawned upon her that Luna was probably already inside, and she was eager to catch up. After all, she’d won. That meant they could be together, didn’t it? And now Trixie was ready to accept that fact… There was a swelling sensation in Trixie’s chest, a growing excitement she’d not expected. She’d won. She’d completed all the fights! She could be with Luna, maybe help her with her own situation. This was exactly what she’d been fighting for, and it was finally done! No more battles, no more danger. Just her and Luna. She was suddenly so excited that she simply couldn’t wait to climb all the stairs. So instead, even though it made her head throb, she cast the teleportation spell and ended up on top of the tower. She reeled from the magic overdose, but recovered quickly when she spotted the princess – Trixie’s princess! – entering her carriage. “Luna!” She ran. Her legs ached from the effort, but her heart was bursting with joy. “Luna, I did it! I beat Twilight, I actually won!” She slid to a stop beside the carriage, beaming as Luna turned to cast a regal look her way. “There aren’t any more fights! We can be together, and—” “Oh, so you pulled it off?” Luna asked with head raised. No smile graced her lips. “I suppose I should congratulate you on a job well done.” Trixie grinned and made to get in the carriage. “Isn’t it wonderful? Now I can—” She blinked, caught off-guard by a dark blue wall that abruptly pushed her away from the carriage. “Hey! Luna, what gives?” Luna had already turned away. “You completed your task, and I thank you for it. Your services are no longer required. You are free, Trixie.” “Free?” Trixie gaped. “What are you talking about? Trixie was always free.” “Free to leave me alone!” Luna turned on Trixie with a dark glint in her eyes. “Leave you alone?” Trixie shook her head, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. “But… I thought… You and I, we’re lovers. Trixie wants to be with you.” “The feeling is not mutual,” Luna announced. “Go on, leave. You’ve won the right to be free of me… for now. I cannot promise that I won’t haunt your dreams, though.” That last part came with a malicious grin. The realization felt like an icy talon gripping Trixie’s heart. “No… You’re… You’re Nightmare Moon!” Nightmare, in a perfect Luna guise. The princess brushed her sparkling mane aside with pomp. “Did she not tell you we were to be rejoined during the fight? Why do you think Celestia came along?” “Shut up!” Trixie reared up to press her hooves against the barrier separating them. “Let me talk to Luna. I know she’s in there!” “Oh, and of course she feels terrible.” Nightmare rolled her eyes. “But no, I think I rather like being in control. She doesn’t want to talk to you anyway.” “Liar!” Trixie pounded at the barrier. “Luna, talk to me! Come on, fight her!” “You never stood a chance,” Nightmare declared, not even dignifying Trixie with a direct look. “Go back to your magician’s act. Luna is mine. I have no intention of sharing her with anypony, especially not an impertinent upstart like you.” “Shut up!” Trixie pressed her horn to the barrier and struggled to break through it with her magic, a tiny blue light sparking between them. “Luna! Luna, please, speak to me! You can’t just let it end!” She strained, ignoring the throbbing in her horn and the sweat on her brow. She would break through, she had to! “I came all this way, I worked so hard. Please, it can’t end like this!” The barrier flashed, and Trixie’s body convulsed. She flew back and hit the ground rolling. She ended up on her side, unable to move for the pain and weariness. Her eyes caught the carriage, which began to move. “W… Wait…” Nightmare waved mockingly. “Goodbye, Trixie. Thanks for solving my pest problem. I promise to take good care of Luna!” “No… Please…” Trixie raised her head, but even that required an incredible amount of willpower. With tears in her eyes, she watched the carriage turn and make its way to Canterlot. “Luna…” Trixie’s head dropped to the ground, her world going dark.