Have a slightly surreal chapter! (And apologies for the wait!) Thanks for your patience on this, guys; normal writing has been resumed as soon as possible...
So Trixie has finally realized that the Great and Powerful Trixie, while a part of her, is a part that she doesn't want or need. In other words, she just took a big step on the road to recovery.
1694367 Exactly! With that final defeat of the part of her that was holding her back from being the pony she actually wishes to be, she can now find her real place in life, and find the love she desires.
While I don't QUITE get the whole kissing part of the dream, the rest is pretty self-explanatory. SO glad this finally updated! I was wondering just last night when it would update, and then it did! XD (Coincidence, I know, but still! :3 )
1694496 To explain the kissing scene a little, it's designed to give a sense of 'invasion', in that the Great and Powerful side of her has always had a dominant nature, reflected in her cynical attitude towards Trixie, and in the invasion of personal space such as the kissing and so on. After what happened with Rosemary, Trixie's never had the most healthy of outlooks, sexually speaking, which is part of the reason she defaults to something like imagining intrusive kissing when she needs to create a visual representation of the more dominant side of herself. When she stands up to the G&PT, and starts turning the tables by forcing herself on the side of her personality that dominated her for years, that's essentially the moment when Trixie regains control over her own psyche, and forces the G&PT into submission. (The bite is the final 'I win' gesture, so to speak.)
Any kind of conflict (as long as Trixie won in the end) would have worked, but given the G&PT's personality, and the way she operates, I felt the back-and-forth kiss-stealing felt more in-character, and more of a fitting defeat. I considered them having a fight, and I also considered having the G&PT actually try to rape Trixie, but I think that both would have felt like gimmicks, and would probably have obscured the extremely important character development that the conflict represents. Long story short, my headcanon-Trixie is a complete Freudian nutjob.
Alternatively, it's because Trixie making out with herself is awesome. WAIT NO
1694500 Hopefully... particularly if Trixie's boosted magical powers are as a result of some kind of possession. (Or whatever that necklace is for). I can't see much point in trying to shoehorn Magic Duel into the backstory, because I've got a very clear headcanon set out for exactly what happened after Trixie got Ursa'd in Ponyville, but hopefully it won't be enough of a punch-in-the-headcanon to warrant an AU tag.
1694606 This story was always intended to be more 'recovery' than 'conflict', psychologically speaking. Think of it as after the set main battles for poor old Trixie, and now she's trying to get herself back together again. (Kind of like a post-apocalypse, but for an individual, I gues...) Though, of course, there's no guarantee that the good ol' G&PT isn't still lurking in the wings somewhere...
1694643 I was wondering what that comment was a reply to, I thought it seemed kind of... off-topic.
1694707 I have my theories... I believe its a sort of negative element. It would follow that if this is, as I suspect, the Element of Power, we will soon see other elements arise. For the sake of convenience we will label these as Disloyalty, Cruelty, Greed, Dishonestly, and Sadness.
What a marvellous chapter! I loved the dream scene, and all this "lovehate" kiss with Trixie's alter-ego, but mostly I loved the way you depicted Rosemary. Several spoken words and couple of descriptions - but how vivid and lively this image was for me! She's got some Honesty and Loyalty both, as if taken the best of RD and AJ of the Mane 6. It's so difficult to resist her charms - simplicity, bravery and somewhat down-to-earth altitude. That's what Trixie lacked for so long - some truth to get along with and some bravery to accept the reality of her not being The Most Powerful Wizard Ever. And what's that special place of Shy? And will the hurt lip be an obstackle for their first kiss? No kissing than? Or.... And... Okay, I get it! I've got to wait for the next chapter to come! And by Luna's meteor showers, make it happen soon! Thanks again for this particular chapter - and amazing story!
I like the part where Trixie was making out with herself. It's definitely not a new idea, but it was a very good image for her power struggle. In a way, sex is all about power after all.
1694719 That actually makes a lot of sense. It'd be interesting if they actually decided to invest in a plot arc to that degree.
1694820 Thanks! Glad you liked it! With Rosemary, I tried to present her as dependable, more than anything else. You're right, she's kind of a cross between AJ and RD, in that she's less proud than AJ, and more down-to-earth than RD. (I don't usually like to compare my own characters to Mane 6, because that way lieth Mary-Suedom, but her it's actually a pretty reasonable comparison!) She's the kind of character who sees the good in everyone, almost to a fault, and so it threw into perspective just how seemingly-irredeemable Trixie was when things got the point where even Rosemary had to give up on her.
1694890 The power struggle's definitely something I want to highlight. I'm uncomfortably aware that 'Trixie-makes-out-with-herself' is kind of a cornerstone trope of Trixie fics, but it seems like it's usually done out of pure narcissism rather than as a means of establishing dominance. I tried to make the G&PT play off that underlying narcissism (that she created) to try and keep Trixie under control. (Which obviously didn't work this time around.)
I am so glad that you updated. Trixie finally had the showdown between her personas. I'm curious as to how this Trixie got her cutie mark. That would go a long way to her figuring on what it represents. If Trixie can't figure it out, I'm sure somepony else can. And how long before another pony meets this Trixie? I look forward to the next chapter.
Outstanding chapter, and I definitely am looking forward to the next. You have an uncanny ability to create deep inner thoughts and conflicts without making it overbearing or awkward; I'm certainly amazed at how much you can read into Trixie's mind like you do without being repetitive or trite. The amazement also extends to the depth of psychology you're hitting. Even reading your explanation in the comments felt mind-blowing . Keep it up!
The more I read here about the 'act' of the Great and Powerful, the more I wonder if it's a similar effect to what turned Luna into Nightmare Moon. Just so much less powerful.
I love the story, but I have one problem: it's too good. I have been reading this for the past three hours! And it's currently one A.M. where I am as well! So yeah, I need to continue reading with the remaining 19% battery life that I have.
Have a slightly surreal chapter! (And apologies for the wait!) Thanks for your patience on this, guys; normal writing has been resumed as soon as possible...
169432
So Trixie has finally realized that the Great and Powerful Trixie, while a part of her, is a part that she doesn't want or need. In other words, she just took a big step on the road to recovery.
1694367 Exactly! With that final defeat of the part of her that was holding her back from being the pony she actually wishes to be, she can now find her real place in life, and find the love she desires.
Once again, another outstanding chapter!
While I don't QUITE get the whole kissing part of the dream, the rest is pretty self-explanatory. SO glad this finally updated! I was wondering just last night when it would update, and then it did! XD (Coincidence, I know, but still! :3 )
Honestly I don't think this story is going to be Jossed too badly.
1694443 I don't know about it being the FINAL defeat. The Great and Powerful Trixie still seems to be in Trixie's psyche.
1694350 Um, shouldn't your comment have been posted on Peppy Grayskull's "After That Fateful Night"?
1694496 To explain the kissing scene a little, it's designed to give a sense of 'invasion', in that the Great and Powerful side of her has always had a dominant nature, reflected in her cynical attitude towards Trixie, and in the invasion of personal space such as the kissing and so on. After what happened with Rosemary, Trixie's never had the most healthy of outlooks, sexually speaking, which is part of the reason she defaults to something like imagining intrusive kissing when she needs to create a visual representation of the more dominant side of herself. When she stands up to the G&PT, and starts turning the tables by forcing herself on the side of her personality that dominated her for years, that's essentially the moment when Trixie regains control over her own psyche, and forces the G&PT into submission. (The bite is the final 'I win' gesture, so to speak.)
Any kind of conflict (as long as Trixie won in the end) would have worked, but given the G&PT's personality, and the way she operates, I felt the back-and-forth kiss-stealing felt more in-character, and more of a fitting defeat. I considered them having a fight, and I also considered having the G&PT actually try to rape Trixie, but I think that both would have felt like gimmicks, and would probably have obscured the extremely important character development that the conflict represents. Long story short, my headcanon-Trixie is a complete Freudian nutjob.
Alternatively, it's because Trixie making out with herself is awesome.WAIT NO1694500 Hopefully... particularly if Trixie's boosted magical powers are as a result of some kind of possession. (Or whatever that necklace is for). I can't see much point in trying to shoehorn Magic Duel into the backstory, because I've got a very clear headcanon set out for exactly what happened after Trixie got Ursa'd in Ponyville, but hopefully it won't be enough of a punch-in-the-headcanon to warrant an AU tag.
1694606 This story was always intended to be more 'recovery' than 'conflict', psychologically speaking. Think of it as after the set main battles for poor old Trixie, and now she's trying to get herself back together again. (Kind of like a post-apocalypse, but for an individual, I gues...) Though, of course, there's no guarantee that the good ol' G&PT isn't still lurking in the wings somewhere...
1694643 I was wondering what that comment was a reply to, I thought it seemed kind of... off-topic.
1694707 I have my theories... I believe its a sort of negative element. It would follow that if this is, as I suspect, the Element of Power, we will soon see other elements arise. For the sake of convenience we will label these as Disloyalty, Cruelty, Greed, Dishonestly, and Sadness.
What a marvellous chapter!
I loved the dream scene, and all this "lovehate" kiss with Trixie's alter-ego, but mostly I loved the way you depicted Rosemary. Several spoken words and couple of descriptions - but how vivid and lively this image was for me! She's got some Honesty and Loyalty both, as if taken the best of RD and AJ of the Mane 6. It's so difficult to resist her charms - simplicity, bravery and somewhat down-to-earth altitude. That's what Trixie lacked for so long - some truth to get along with and some bravery to accept the reality of her not being The Most Powerful Wizard Ever.
And what's that special place of Shy? And will the hurt lip be an obstackle for their first kiss? No kissing than? Or.... And...
Okay, I get it! I've got to wait for the next chapter to come!
And by Luna's meteor showers, make it happen soon!
Thanks again for this particular chapter - and amazing story!
I like the part where Trixie was making out with herself. It's definitely not a new idea, but it was a very good image for her power struggle. In a way, sex is all about power after all.
1694719 That actually makes a lot of sense. It'd be interesting if they actually decided to invest in a plot arc to that degree.
1694820 Thanks! Glad you liked it! With Rosemary, I tried to present her as dependable, more than anything else. You're right, she's kind of a cross between AJ and RD, in that she's less proud than AJ, and more down-to-earth than RD. (I don't usually like to compare my own characters to Mane 6, because that way lieth Mary-Suedom, but her it's actually a pretty reasonable comparison!) She's the kind of character who sees the good in everyone, almost to a fault, and so it threw into perspective just how seemingly-irredeemable Trixie was when things got the point where even Rosemary had to give up on her.
1694890 The power struggle's definitely something I want to highlight. I'm uncomfortably aware that 'Trixie-makes-out-with-herself' is kind of a cornerstone trope of Trixie fics, but it seems like it's usually done out of pure narcissism rather than as a means of establishing dominance. I tried to make the G&PT play off that underlying narcissism (that she created) to try and keep Trixie under control. (Which obviously didn't work this time around.)
I am so glad that you updated. Trixie finally had the showdown between her personas. I'm curious as to how this Trixie got her cutie mark. That would go a long way to her figuring on what it represents. If Trixie can't figure it out, I'm sure somepony else can. And how long before another pony meets this Trixie?
I look forward to the next chapter.
Outstanding chapter, and I definitely am looking forward to the next. You have an uncanny ability to create deep inner thoughts and conflicts without making it overbearing or awkward; I'm certainly amazed at how much you can read into Trixie's mind like you do without being repetitive or trite. The amazement also extends to the depth of psychology you're hitting. Even reading your explanation in the comments felt mind-blowing . Keep it up!
I'm going to guess that Shy's special place is where she fell from flight camp and earned her cutie mark.
1694320
Holy hay!! This is just as good, if not better, than A Bluebird's Song!!! Keep it up bro, you're one heck of an author
This chapter made me cry. I am glad about that.
Non-consensual Trixie-on-Trixe make-out?
The more I read here about the 'act' of the Great and Powerful, the more I wonder if it's a similar effect to what turned Luna into Nightmare Moon. Just so much less powerful.
I love the story, but I have one problem: it's too good. I have been reading this for the past three hours! And it's currently one A.M. where I am as well! So yeah, I need to continue reading with the remaining 19% battery life that I have.