748
15,998
Twilight is invited to Canterlot to compete with some of the greatest magicians in the world for the Moonstone Cup, a prestigious award for the most powerful and skillful magicians, unicorn and otherwise. Can she win? What sort of competition will she face?
Awesome cover image was taken from NoOneBahtim
Well, as far as Trixie is concerned, what could be more impressive than a second Trixie? It just so happened that she summoned The Great and Powerful Twixie by mistake.
And as for the dragon queen's shock at Twilight's performance, we'll find out in the next chapter.
Well, I plan to get into it in the story later on, but specifically because not only is magic specifically her talent, but she's the Element of Magic. She has the potential to make all magic basically bend to her will. Making magic... y'know, stop is just one aspect of that.
I've been reading along with this fic and I'm rather intrigued. I like many of the original characters so far and how things are proceeding. The contests have been pretty interesting too, showing a lot of variety and thoughtfulness.
I like how Twilight has mostly been using magic that was shown through the series but I get the feeling that she'll be pulling out new spells before long. I'm just hoping that it's not too outrageous and that she doesn't become mega powerful too quickly. Having her struggle is far more interesting than having her blow through the competition.
Looking forward to seeing more and how Twilight and the rest get by!
Just stumbled across this story and wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying it. You have managed to write one of the best Twilight's that I have the pleasure of seeing; keeping her in character while also showing off just BAMF she can be. Quite a few stories seem to utterly forget just how capable she can be, both in raw power but also from the sheer amount of knowledge tucked away in that skull of hers.
...And I'll admit it's nice to see a story with Twilight making use of said knowledge as well instead of using the blunt hammer approach. I also find Twilight's complete ignorance when it comes to how OP she's capable of being in comparison to some of the other contestants amusing.
The cultural elements that you've added with the different races and the fact that the various things that the mane six have done have spread across Equestria, if mostly rumors also help to really make this story a treat. Along with the well written OCs. Thanks for all of the hard work!
So! Just in case there's anyone out there who still cares, I have not given up on this/quit writing/joined a monastery/died. The editing turned out to be interminable and most of my free time of late has gone to Very Serious Things Indeed and not to ponying pony. I'm planning to have the edited chapters up this week and chapter 7 sometime next week.
You expanded the Twixie summoning encounter. Nicely done. Certainly added a bit more laughs (and awkwardness for Twilight) to the story.
A question though: Can I have a translation of what Twilight's plant elemental had said?
“Nam-tar ud huc kalam-ma ri-a,” said the plant elemental, evenly.
Hmm. Either Trixie is much tougher than I thought, or Twilight needs to get her act together. She nearly lost that one, and had no strategy going in.
Come to think of it, Twi hasn't been doing any real planning at all- just reacting and duplicating tricks she's seen. Big mistake.
Twilight is a great researcher and can learn new spells at the drop of a hat. (Heck, just seeing one used seems to be enough)
She needs to find out who she is facing, and what their strengths are. Then learn a trick or two specifically to combat them, and come up with a strategy before going in to the battle.
Her skill is magic- she can learn any spell. She should use that.
I suspect she's going to need to step it up a notch, since she's not playing in the sandpit anymore... 
Well, Trixie has been training. She was strong enough to make it to the last match of her bracket, after all.
That being said, you think Twilight's been acting... perhaps a bit erratic? Bit out of character, maybe uncharacteristically inattentive, especially as the tournament wears on? Hmm, interesting.
Twilight Sparkle, for all her skill, is not a pony suited for combat, having lived a very sheltered life and rarely exploring beyond her current interests or topic of study.
In the last two fights this has come against her with Trixie only losing due to her anger and possibly developing hatred for Twilight making her push herself too far in an effort to HURT Twilight, and the cultural mis-understanding leading Twilight to learn just how "Special" (Can be read: Dangerous) other people from all over feel and think she is, something she didn't want to think about or admit to herself.
This part dosen't having anything to do with the fic unless the author wants it to but the latest episode starring the children of the Cakes (if they can be taken as examples of normal pony development), may explain why Twilight in Lesson Zero was so scared of Magic Kindergarden. She was scared because when she went she was "underdeveloped" magically and had trouble with or couldn't use her magic for things the other kindergardeners (who probably teased her mercilessly) could already easily do.
Which also may explain why she seems willfully ignorant about how powerful she is sometimes, simply put, she doesn't want to be different.
As far as trying to hurt Twilight, Trixie (being an experienced showmare) is quite good at controlling her power and keeping her head in front of an audience. She wasn't about to blow her chance to move on to the next round by flat-out injuring Twilight and violating the rules.
Other than that, your post is basically all true. Twilight's been getting hammered since even before the tournament started with expectations and other ponies' ideas of her. In "Boast Busters", she was uncomfortable enough at the thought of being seen as "bragging" like Trixie that she hid her power completely until she had no choice. She read up on the competition in the library but really didn't have much idea how to go about the actual mechanics of competition.
Additionally, consider that Princess Celestia is her teacher. The Princess knows how powerful Twilight really is, and we know that at least part of her instruction was to help Twilight get her power under control. How and what did she help Twilight control?
And, beyond all that... Yes, Twilight's having some... problems.
I expected this outcome but I'm not sure how else you could have handled it. Not unless you wanted to veer the plot in a VERY different direction.
I do wonder if this is the last we've seen of Trixie. She put in a good showing, I'll give her that.
Anyway, I get to look forward to how Najstariot handles this latest development. She definitely wasn't...pleased...with how things turned out.
Interesting fight scene. It almost looked like Twilight was about to lose there for a second. Although i was hoping Trixie would have used some serious illusion spells, and i love illusion spells. Anyway, awesome chapter, i can see Najstariot isn't so happy and i'm eager to see where this goes.
>(if they can be taken as examples of normal pony development),
Probably not.
Every other unicorn seen doesn't develop magic until school/cutie mark age.
Sweetie Bell has none, Snips none, Snails almost none... (He struggled just to make light)
Twilight, on the other had, did have magic before starting school, and that was apparently enough to get her on the track to Celestia's school...
I think the babies have to be written off as "rule of funny"
....Twilight gets literally High off that spell so it will impair her judgement, she's going into her next match stressed and emotionally compromised, and her plan to defeat a reality warper is to use his own spell and magic against himself after channelling it through herself....
Add to that, that if any gryphon magic remains within her, even by mistake, she may not end up the pony she was coming into the match going out, physically or mentally.
I had a hard time following along with the first person here. Instead of using "me" or "I" you used Trixie. I guess this means she speaks in third-person even to herself? Because of this, the shift of perspective made it hard to figure out who was talking at points.
Doesn't look like Trixie is in the mood to make friends. Well, if you use more of her, here's hoping she gets a second chance!
Erk! I didn't realize adding cover art would cause it to show as updated. I fail. Still, glad you like it.
I did, but it got punted, that's why I went on that big editing jag in December. It got rejected again after the edits and I didn't feel like it was fair to rewrite out from underneath everyone again. When it's finished I might give it a third shot.
I was lost for a bit at the beginning. I actually thought it was a dream sequence for a moment because we go from a talk with a dragon at the end to suddenly lounging in a room. And then Trixie was suddenly there. Kinda threw me. I thought she had left.
But, after that things got interesting again. Funny to see that Twilight's using her rivals notes. I'm kinda curious just what Trixie said about Twilight in there.
Fight against the Big Bad Wolf! This Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Be there!
I will!
The opening section with Luna made me realize something. Twilight has a much easier time approaching and being around Luna than Celestia, and I'm guessing that has a lot to do with Celestia's reputation. She's been around long enough for recent ponies to have really set her on a pedestal, while Luna is relatively new. Twilight doesn't feel as much pressure to be perfect around Luna, and I think Celestia would be slightly envious of her sister in this regard.
That's actually something I thought. Since she's the Element of Magic, perhaps she has some special ability that allows her to craft magic however SHE wants, regardless of how a spell works or if there even is one. That she can just whip magic around to do what she wants. That would be very cool.
I'm such a sap. Crying at her friends offering their strength, making Pinkie's comment about not being able to help like with Nightmare Moon and Discord false. Why did that make me cry? Oh yeah, sacrifice for someone you love, your friend. Wonderful, and I'm so frustrated that this is currently the end point. I want more. I need to know how it continues.
Reset Password
Resend Verification Email
6
15
81
Joined November 2011
15,998 ( 205,871 )
More
Less
Post Comment
Refresh
. Finally an upload, one of the best stories in this site.
Cool cover art. 
Please 
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE
RAINBOWDASH
APPLEJACK
FLUTTERSHY
:SPIKE
Cancel
Send