Trouble strikes Ponyville as a Voodoo practising Zebrony (and former friend of Trixie's) comes to town to settle a score. Lunaverse story.
It's no secret that Trixie hasn't had the best track record with friends. So she is the last pony to be surprised that a former friend would track her down to settle a score. But when that former friend is Galeb, a Zebrony skilled in the art of Neigh Orleans Voodoo, things start to get a little tricky.
When that same former friend is trying to force Trixie into a duel with her very Knighthood on the line, that's when things start to get down right difficult.
Season two Lunaverse Story. Set in Spring.
A big thank you goes out to my two wonderful editors Lemielan and Wolfstorm56 as well as to Dmgtitan for his help in creating the Zebrony culture.
It was a lovely spring day in Ponyville. Birds were singing, foals were playing, and everypony was going about their business in a cheerful upbeat manner.
It was a day that seemed to be begging fate to send something to spoil it.
That something seemed to come in the form of a figure making his way to the residency. As he stopped in front of the building, he took a moment to savour the fact that all his planning was finally coming to fruition.
"And so the stage is set. Tres magnifique!"
He took some powder from a small bag and rubbed it between his two front hooves and it started to glow slightly.
"But before we start things off, I believe a round of applause for my co-star in this performance is in order."
The representative and her assistant were currently in the office, discussing the day ahead over the obligatory morning coffee.
"So what's on the agenda?" Trixie asked before taking a big sip from her cup.
"Not a lot." Pokey replied. "You've got some weather reports that need to be checked over before noon, a council meeting at two and a few odd jobs around the residency before heading out for a afternoon tea with Lyra and Bon Bon."
"Potential causes for concern?"
"Well, Windowpane did stop by while you were in the shower. He thought it would be professional courtesy to let you know that the specialised safe break glass you now request is on back order and any repairs to your window wouldn't be able to happen until next week."
It was at that moment the window was hit with a massive percussive force.
"TREMBLE IN FEAR LULAMOON!!" A voice shouted through the window. "FOR THE TIME OF YOUR RECKONING IS UPON YOU!!!"
Instead of responding straight away, Trixie took in a couple of breaths as she lay down her cup.
"Now that we have that out of the way." She commented dryly. "Let's go see who's at the door."
"Can't you just look through the window?" Pokey asked.
"Why ruin the surprise?"
My little pony, My little pony
Ahh ahh ahh ahhh...
My little pony
Friendship never meant that much to me
My little pony
But you're all here and now I can see
Stormy weather; Lots to share
A musical bond; With love and care
Teaching laughter; It's an easy feat,
And magic makes it all complete!
You have my little ponies
How'd I ever make so many true friends?
Trixie stepped out of the residency. "You know I have a door. It's a very nice door, good solid design. Opens up real easily and when you knock on it you can hear all throughout the building so you really don't..." The representative stopped her rant when she saw who was waiting for her.
It was a stallion. At first glance you would have mistaken him for an Earth Pony if it wasn't for the fact that his coat was a robin blue with navy blue stripes. He was wearing a purple dinner jacket that had obviously seen better days. Over his short, upright, aquamarine and navy striped mane was a purple top hat decorated with feathers and other trinkets. On his flank, in place of a cutie mark, was a 4 cross with arms all equal length that split at 45 degree angles at their ends, and in the middle of each of the 4 'squares' the cross formed was a small circle.
"That’s right, Lulamoon. Accept your fate as at long last your past is catching up to you."
Trixie raised an eyebrow. "If I was actually trying to run from my past, I really suck at it." She commented.
Right on cue Pokey stepped out to see what the hubbub was about.
"So who's the smartly dressed Zebra?" he asked.
"He's a Zebrony." Trixie corrected. "Zebra/pony hybrid, there's decent community of them in Neigh Orleans."
"Right." The assistant replied in mild interest. "So who's the smartly dressed Zebrony?"
"His name is Galeb." Trixie replied.
"Former friend?"
Trixie gave her assistant a suspicious look. "Why do you assume 'former friend'?"
"Well you know him by name, most ponies don't know your last name and your current friends know you don't like being called Lulamoon."
"You've been working on your deduction skills." Trixie commented.
"Yes I have, thank you for noticing."
"DON'T IGNORE ME!!!"
The two Unicorns drew their attention back to the Zebrony.
"Now what are we supposed to do?" Trixie demanded. "So far all you've done is smash my window and shouted about my reckoning. What do you want?"
"I want you to pay for what you did to my brother in the name of your own ambition."
Trixie sighed. "Look, I know you blame me for what happened to your brother but this really isn't achieving anything."
"Blame you?" Galeb repeated. "He's rotting in a prison cell because of you."
"No, he's rotting in a prison cell because he's a criminal."
"Enough!" Galeb snapped. "I will not let this slander against my family's name go unpunished."
"Slander?" Trixie asked in dismay. "There was a trial. He plead guilty to get a reduced sentence. This is fact."
"Enough!! Trixie Lulamoon, for what you have done, you will be punished."
"Really," Despite her wanting to resolve this matter peacefully she was kinda curious to see how the Zebrony was going to make her pay.
"I challenge you to a Magic Duel." Galeb answered. "You win, I let the matter rest. If I win, you forfeit your knighthood and your position as representative."
Trixie blinked a couple of times. "A magic duel?" she repeated. "After all this time you've had to plan your revenge against me and the effort of making the trip here from Neigh Orleans, the best you can come up with is to challenge me to a magic duel."
"What?" Galeb scoffed. "You think that because you are 'The Element of Magic' you won't lose?"
"No, it’s the fact that this scheme of yours hinges on the fact that I would accept such a bone-headed challenge."
Galeb took a moment to process Trixie's response.
"Oh I get it. You're scared of facing me."
Trixie knew this was an attempt from Galeb to get a rise out of her and frankly it was a bad one.
"No, it's the fact that I have worked hard to earn my titles and what idiot would wager something as valuable as their knighthood in a duel?"
"Sir Iron Hoof and Sir Torrential Storm of Trottingham." Pokey offered. "Wagered their titles to settle a dispute involving a half eaten lemon tart and a glass of sherry." He then saw the other two looking at him. "Oh come on, you must have heard of the Twits of the Terrific Trottingham Tart Tussle."
Galeb and Trixie blinked a couple of times before refocusing on each other.
"I knew you were spineless Lulamoon but at least have the decency to face your nemesis."
"My nemesis?" Trixie repeated in disbelief. "You honestly think that you're my nemesis?"
The representative closed the distance between her and the Zebrony.
"Let's make something perfectly clear." Trixie said. "You are not my nemesis, I don't have a 'nemesis'. Even if I had a nemesis, there are a whole lot of creatures more likely than you to be it, including but not limited to; Corona the Tyrant Sun, Zecora her Zebra henchmare, nobles that hold a grudge but are too scared of Luna to do anything, Solrathicharnon the big red Dragon, Spike the small purple Dragon, the salamanders, idiot inventors from Detrot, who ever made it a legal requirement that tax reports had to be fill out in triplicate,whoever wrote the 29th amendment to the Liqueur Consumption and Distribution Bill, whoever keeps subscribing me to Erotic Knitting Monthly, whoever keeps ordering the last Lemon Muffin Surprise at Sugar Cube Corner before I can get to it and whoever those foals are that keep playing base ball too close to the residency. YES I SEE YOU STANDING THERE!!"
There was then the sound of small hooves scurrying away.
Galeb looked on at the unicorn, emerald eyes brimming with hate.
"Lulamoon you will fight me in a duel or I'll..."
"You'll what?" Trixie interjected. "You lay one hoof or spell on me or my friends and you will be deemed an enemy of the state and thrown in the darkest hole Princess Luna can find for you."
"You can't do that." Galeb shot back.
"You wanna try me?" The representative asked, when she didn't get a reply she said. "That's what I thought."
Trixie did a sharp turn, "accidentally" hitting Galeb in the face with her tail. "So just to conclude, I won't fight you, I'll send the bill for my window to your Neigh Orleans address, thank you for coming and have a safe trip home."
Galeb snapped out of his stupor in time to see Trixie walk off to her door. "Votre mère était une pute!" he shouted venomously.
"Et votre mère était sa meilleur cliente." Trixie shouted back as she slammed the door.
Pokey Pierce then approached Galeb. "Sorry the whole 'being Trixie's nemesis' thing didn't work out." The assistant said in hopes of consoling him. "But if you're set on being a nemesis, I know Pinkie Pie's looking for one."
As Pokey turned to leave, Galeb noticed something to his left and when he looked he saw an excited pink pony standing there.
"Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleeeeeaaaaseee be my nemesis." Pinkie Pie asked. "It would be so much fun. We can plot schemes, do villainous monologues and take turns wearing this moustache." To prove her point the mare then stuck on a fake moustache.
Galeb instead focused his attention back to the residency. "Shrug me off now Lulamoon but you are at the top of my list and vengeance shall be mine!"
"Yes." The moustache wearing mare said as she rubbed her hooves. "Vengeance shall be ours!" She then let out an evil chuckle as a vein popped out of Galeb's forehead.
"You know just because we've just met doesn't mean I won't add you to my list." He warned.
"That's okay." Pinkie replied. "I've already added you to mine. See?"
She held out a piece of paper. Galeb saw that it is a invite list for a party, at the bottom was written "Grumpy Blue Zebra."
"I'M A ZEBRONY DAMMIT!!!"
"Jeez, keep that attitude up and you won't get any party favours."
Pokey stepped back into the residency. "Wow, I don't know the last time I saw you tear into somepony like th..."
He was promptly pinned to a wall by Trixie. "Alright Pokey listen closely. We are now officially in a state of alert. Business will continue as usual but until we're certain Galeb is gone I want you to keep an ear out for any trouble."
"But a minute ago you didn't seem at all intimidated by him."
"Don't let his hammy performance fool you." Trixie warned. "He may be a showpony, but he is opportunistic and will use any sign of weakness as leverage. I couldn't let him have even the slightest idea that I'm afraid of him."
"Are you afraid of him?" Pokey asked.
"No, but I'm not stupid." Trixie answered. "And Neigh Orleans Voodoo is not something I take lightly."
Galeb was walking down the street, grumbling to himself. In his sour mood he bumped into a random mare.
"Excuse you!" She said in a snippy tone.
"Embrasse moi tchew!" He shouted over his shoulder as he continued on.
Finally he stopped by the alley where he had hidden his supply case. He had been taught that only a dumb shop keeper keeps all his stock on display. Shifting away some crates he found it right where he had left it.
"Mais, Dame Lulamoon. I tried to do this the honourable way." He opened up his case and scanned through his collection of vials and trinkets. "Now we get to do this the fun way."
"You sure you don't mind?" Carrot Top asked.
"Not at all," Trixie assured the farmer. "You're always welcome for tea."
It was slightly after two and Trixie was sitting in her lounge with Lyra, Bon Bon, and Carrot Top having tea. While it was originally going to just be Lyra and Bon Bon, Carrot Top had come by to sort out some permits so Trixie decided to extend the invitation to her as well.
"Absolutely," Lyra said. "The more the merrier."
"Careful dear." Bon Bon warned playfully. "Last pony you said that to was Cheerilee."
Trixie coughed as some tea went down the wrong pipe.
"So Sweet Éclair told me she saw a blue zebra making a scene in front of the Residency." Lyra said in attempts to change the subject. "What was that about?"
Trixie pursed her lips, she had been hoping to wait until the other three elements finished work so that they could discuss this matter together. Still, it was better that they knew as soon as possible. "Okay, first off it wasn't a zebra, it was a zebrony called Galeb."
Lyra tilted her head slightly. "Zebrony?"
"You know, a Pony/Zebra hybrid."
"Oh," Lyra replied in sudden comprehension, "you mean a 'Zorse'."
"No," Trixie replied, "A Zebrony."
"I thought the term was 'Zony'." Carrot Top commented.
"I like 'Ponbra'." Bon Bon said, she then noticed others staring at her. "What? Why should the zebra always get top billing?"
"Look, in Neigh Orleans, the community of Pony/Zebra hybrids that live there call themselves Zebronies so if Galeb is anything, it’s a Zebrony."
"Fair enough." Bon Bon replied. "So what was he doing?"
"Trying to become my nemesis and settle a score."
"Another one?" Lyra asked in dismay. "Honestly Trixie, I'm beginning to think you’re starting a collection."
"Hey, if you want to take over some of my potential nemeses be my guest." Trixie shot back.
"No, she's fine." Bon Bon butted in. "Last time she tried having a nemesis, Trumpeting Herald ended up with a concussion."
"We've been over this Bon Bon." Lyra said in mild irritation. "He call me a freeloading harp strumming bum. I had to retaliate."
"Yeah." Pokey said as he walked back in with a tray of cookies. "I mean a musician that doesn't know what a lyre is clearly needs some sense knocked into him."
"Exactly!" Lyra exclaimed.
There was a moment of silence. Trixie was about to comment on what had been insinuated but was stopped by a hoof touch and a shake of the head from Carrot Top.
"So why does Galeb have a grudge against you?"
"It's a long story." Trixie said dismissively.
"Galeb is a former friend that blames Trixie for his brother being arrested." Pokey explained, he then noticed Trixie glaring at him. "Just because you say that it's a long story doesn't mean that it is one."
"So why does Galeb blame you for his brother being arrested?" Carrot Top asked.
"Because I'm the one who turned him in." Trixie replied. "Wow. That really isn't such a long story after all."
"Well I'd assume that the story is a bit longer than that." Lyra argued. "I mean for starters how did you become friends with a Zebrony?"
"My grandfather was on good terms with a group of them and it sort of expanded from there." Trixie elaborated. "Me, Galeb and Bantu were roughly the same age and we clicked. We weren't BFFs but we had fun together. When I moved to Canterlot, I slowly lost touch."
"Then how did you end up being the one to get him arrested?"
"Well some time later, I'm in Canterlot busy with my studies. Out of the blue, Bantu comes into town, wanting to catch up. Things are going great. Next day I get word that a train carrying Relief funds had been attacked by some pony with weird powers. Within the hour, Bantu's at my door, begging for a place to hide."
"He robbed a relief funds train and he went to Luna's apprentice as a hiding place?" Bon Bon asked in dismay.
"Tried to rob." Trixie clarified. "He underestimated how well guarded those things are. Canterlot hasn't exactly got that many escape options when you're landlocked. So in desperation he reached out to a ‘friend’." Trixie said the word friend with a touch of irony. "When I figured out what he had done, I alerted the guards."
"So is it just Galeb we need to worry about or is the rest of the family out for your blood as well?" Carrot Top asked.
"No, a big part of most Zebrony’s belief system is the idea of the 'Full Circle'." The representative explained. "It's the idea that any deed you do, good or bad, will in some way come back to you. Bantu tried to rob a train carrying funds to ponies that needed it and so he's in jail for it. While I'm not on his families Hearth's Warming Card list, they don't hold me responsible."
"Except for Galeb." Lyra said.
"Except for Galeb." Trixie agreed.
"So if he's been carrying a grudge for this long why wait until now to do something?" Carrot Top asked.
"Because I finally have something to lose." Trixie answered. "If he went after my family in Neigh Orleans, his own community would turn on him, and after what his brother pulled, if he even set hoof in Canterlot he'd be watched so closely that he wouldn't be able to try anything."
"But now that you're here, suddenly all bets are off?" Lyra asked in clarification.
"Well his chances are a lot better." Trixie replied. "If he's like how I remember him, he's not dumb enough to just attack me outright but I will sleep better if I know he's out of town." She then turned to her assistant. "Speaking of which, were you able to find anything?"
"I asked around; nothing out of the ordinary so far." Pokey replied. "I tried getting our best field agent on the case but she declined."
"Really?" Trixie replied. "But I thought Pinkie loved playing spy."
"Yeah she does but apparently she's busy with something else."
"There! Perfect!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Now you're ready."
Rarity, who was out for a peaceful stroll, stopped when she noticed that Pinkie had stuck a moustache onto Big Macintosh's face. "Pinkie dear, what are you doing?"
"Oh, hi Rarity." The baker replied cheerfully. "Big Mac agreed to be my nemesis so I was giving him the first go at wearing the moustache."
The look on Big Mac's face seemed to tell Rarity that 'agreed to' was a relative term in this case.
"Dear, as dashing as Mr Macintosh looks with a moustache, I don't really think that some pony as kind and sweet natured as him would make a good nemesis."
"You kidding?!" Pinkie exclaimed. "He's red and I'm pink. We were made to clash."
Rarity paused thoughtfully. "That is true."
Pinkie seemed satisfied with that and focused her attention back to the red stallion. "Alright Big Mac, let's see you do something Nemesis-ey."
"Nemesis-ey?" Big Mac asked in dismay.
"How about you rob a bank?"
"Nope."
"Kidnap the Mayor?"
"Nope."
"Steal forty cakes from Sugar Cube Corner?"
"Nope."
"Tie Rarity to a railway track?"
"Certainly not!" The fashionista exclaimed.
"How about a long winded speech stating your supposed superiority?"
The look Big Mac gave Pinkie seemed to say 'are you kidding me?'.
"Alright, alright." Pinkie conceded. "Could I get an evil laugh though? Please." She stared at the stallion with big, hope-filled eyes.
It's said that Big Mac is the strongest pony in Ponyville, but even he wasn't strong enough to say no to that face. As letting out a relenting sigh, he took a moment to clear his throat and then let loose.
"mwheeheeheeMWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
When he finished his laugh, Pinkie and Rarity just stared at him. Meanwhile in the background, Lily fainted but went unnoticed.
"What?" The stallion asked before being enveloped by a patented Pinkie Pie hug.
"Oh Macky you're bestest nemesis ever!"
"So is he dangerous?" Lyra asked.
"Potentially." Trixie answered. "Ever heard of Neigh Orleans Voodoo?"
"Of course. Almost all the travel books about Neigh Orleans talk about it." Lyra paused. "Wait, you mean that's real? I thought it was just a thing to entertain tourists."
"It's real alright. I mean a good part of it is smoke and mirrors but there is still genuine power there."
"So how strong is he?"
"Hard to say, Voodoo users can't be put in a linear power level scale like Unicorns can. The big part of their magic is based on having the right ingredients and using them in the right way so with the right ingredients even somepony with little power could still do a lot. Galeb could be 90% flash and only 10% substance and that would still be enough power for him to abuse." Trixie turned to her assistant. "And the next sentence out of your mouth better not be about me and substance abuse."
"Wasn't going to say anything." Pokey lied somewhat blatantly.
There was knock at the door. Wondering who it might be Trixie went answer it. She saw Rarity standing there.
"Hi Representative, is Carrot Top here?" Rarity asked, "Lily said she had seen her coming this way."
"She is, do you need her?"
"Well, not me personally."
At that moment, Pinkie appeared out of nowhere. Her tongue was incredibly swollen covered in blue spots. She seemed to be trying to talk quite animatedly, but all that came out was incomprehensible mumbling and spitting.
"Fluttershy had once told me about how Carrot Top had helped her after a nasty run in with Poison Joke and I was hoping she could brew up another cure." Rarity explained. "The swelling doesn't appear to be obstructing her breathing, thank goodness, but it's still a rather unpleasant state to be in."
"Wait." Trixie said. "There are a lot of normal things that can cause a swollen tongue, why do you assume it's poison joke?"
"Well it's not so much what happened to Pinkie Pie than what happened to Big Mac that set me off." Rarity said as she gestured towards the pony that came with them.
Trixie started to where Rarity was pointing. "What happened to Big Maa....ooh sweet Luna!"
Standing there was a Pony who had the right coat colour but a pretty major difference as well.
"Big Mac." Trixie said in dismay. "You're a mare."
"Eeyup." Big Mac answered in a deep but still feminine voice.
Cheerilee paused her writing on the chalkboard.
"Couldn't be." She muttered.
"Something wrong Ms Cheerilee?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"It’s fine, Sweetie Belle, I just thought I sensed..." She trailed off when she remembered the age group she was talking to. "Nothing important. Now who can tell me the answer to this equation?"
Carrot Top was busy inspecting the two 'victims'. While Lyra had shown the right amount of concern to Pinkie's plight, she couldn't help but stare at Big Mare-cintosh.
"What are you thinking about right now?" Bon Bon asked.
Lyra suddenly jerk her head away and developed a light blush. "Moonlight Sonnet's Third Symphony."
Her marefriend couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Big Mac's been turned into a hot looking mare and you're thinking about music?" She remarked. "There is a thing as being too focused on your work."
Lyra, meanwhile, was trying really hard to keep her focus away from something else.
"How did this happen?" Carrot Top asked.
"I was hoping you could tell us." Rarity said. "Both Big Macintosh and Pinkie Pie swear they haven't been in contact with any poison joke. In fact the only thing they both have been in contact with is this." Rarity levitated up Pinkie's fake moustache.
"A moustache?" Bon Bon asked in dismay.
Carrot Top gave the moustache a sniff. "Yep, that's definitely got some poison joke. But a moustache worth of poison joke isn't usually enough to do something like this."
"It is if you somehow amplify the effects magically." Trixie said as she took hold of the moustache with her own magic before turning to Pinkie. "Did anypony else touch your moustache today?"
Pinkie nodded and then pulled out her party list, she then pointed to the last name on the list.
"Grumpy Blue Zebra?" Realisation then dawned on her. "Galeb!"
Meanwhile, Carrot Top was trying to think of the best way to fix this. "Well, if the base of the concoction Galeb used is poison joke then the same cure should still work."
"Excellent," Rarity exclaimed. "And while you're making the cure, I'll keep Big Mac busy by trying out a few of my latest designs."
She tried pushing the red mare in the direction of her shop only to find that Big Mac wouldn't budge.
"Nope," was the reply she got.
"But you would look fabulous." She whined.
As Carrot Top left with the three mares, Bon Bon turned to the representative.
"So, how would putting a hex on a moustache force you to fight Galeb in a duel?"
"It's not so much the moustache as the effect it would have." Trixie explained. "If Rarity hadn't identified it as poison joke, they might have been sent to the hospital and then cause panic as the doctors scrambled to find a cure for the 'disease' and figure out who else was 'infected'."
"So potential crisis averted." Lyra said. "But it seems like a very impractical way to get back at you."
"This was just the start, I made it clear that if he went after any of the elements, he would be flung in jail, so he's going after something else instead." Trixie explained. "He might as well be putting up a big sign saying that he's gonna punish Ponyville until I agree to face him."
"I think he's done that too." Bon Bon said, "Look."
The two Unicorns turned to where the Candy Mare was pointing and saw glowing green text on a nearby wall, in clear view of the Residency.
You know how to make this stop
Lulamoon
"Not very big on subtlety, is he?" Bon Bon commented.
It was night time at the residency and all the Elements were gathered together to discuss what exactly they were going to do about Ponyville's newest visitor.
"So he wants you to wager your title and your knighthood in a duel?" Ditzy clarified. "Can you actually do that?"
"Well, yes and no." Cheerilee answered. "The precedent is there so you could in theory wager your title but our Knighthoods are tied to us being the Elements of Harmony so the only way that Trixie could lose her title would be if the Element of Magic deemed somepony else the new bearer."
"Then what’s the point in challenging Trixie for it then?" Carrot Top wondered.
"Well, I doubt that particular loophole in our Knighthoods is common knowledge." Trixie answered. "And I could still lose my title as Representative."
"But then wouldn't Luna take it off him and give it back to you?" Lyra asked.
"Well, the problem is that the same laws that make wagering a title in a duel legal also state that Luna can't reverse a title exchange unless the new title holder is deemed unfit for the position." Cheerilee replied. "Meaning that we would have to prove that he was unfit to be Representative before Luna could intervene."
"Can't we just throw his sorry flank in jail?" Raindrops emphasised her statement by banging one hoof into the other.
"What for?" Trixie responded. "He's already being billed for the window, I cut him off before he could make any legitimate threat and any proof of him writing the message as well as joking Big Mac and Pinkie is purely circumstantial."
"Isn't the fact that it was after he came to Ponyville that this stuff happened enough to have him investigated?" Carrot Top asked.
"Not really." Cheerilee explained. "The Visitor's Protection Act prevents individuals from being persecuted for a crime on the sole basis of their appearance into a town coinciding with when said crime occurred."
"Really?" Trixie asked. "Then why the buck was the town ready to lynch me when Corona came back?"
"Firstly, that was a different situation, it was more than just the fact of you being here that set them off. Secondly, that wasn't the law, that was an angry mob." The teacher then noticed the Representative rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "No Trixie, we are not getting an angry mob to lynch Galeb."
"Let's just keep our options open."
"Okay, I'm gonna play Discord’s advocate here." Lyra said. "Why not just face Galeb in the duel, whip his sorry flank and be done with it."
"Thought of it but I’m not going to risk it." Trixie replied. "Canterlot style magic duels may be fairly harmless with the two unicorns just trying to one up each other but a Neigh Orleans style magic duel is only called that because magic is allowed. In reality it’s an anything goes brawl that ends when one combatant is unable to continue."
"And you think you may lose?" Carrot Top asked.
"I think that he has had a lot more time to prepare." Trixie answered. "And even if I asked for a month off, he still would have an advantage."
"So what do we do then?" Raindrops asked.
"We keep an eye on him." Cheerilee answered. "So far he has been careful but he didn't come all this way just to stand around. Once he makes a move, we'll be able to counter him."
Trixie sighed. "I hate playing defensive, but it's the best plan we have."
After a bit more deliberating, the Elements decided to call it a night. In the end Trixie and Ditzy were the last ones remaining.
"Sorry to pull you away from Dinky like this." Trixie said.
"That's okay, she's at a sleepover with a friend." The mail mare replied. "So how are you holding up?"
"Oh you know. Just somepony else out to settle a score." Trixie replied almost dismissively. "It ain't exactly new territory for me."
"But you said that he was a friend." The mail mare said sympathetically. "That's never nice."
At first Trixie was going to just brush it off but the look on Ditzy's face made her decide otherwise.
"It is what it is." She replied finally. "I've had friendships that have ended on spectacularly bad terms but this was the first time that I actually ended it."
"But you didn't have a choice." Ditzy argued.
"Of course I had a choice." Trixie replied. "I chose Princess Luna and my morals over my friendship with Bantu and Galeb. And now, right or wrong, Ponyville may be stuck paying for my choice, which I'm really sorry about."
"You’re not the one who started it." Ditzy replied.
"Maybe not." Trixie replied. "But I sure as heck will finish it."
It was late at night. The town was quiet as everypony were asleep. All except for a Zebrony up to no good. After making sure that the coast was clear, he snuck over to a fountain he had observed as being popular with the residents of ponyville looking to get a quick drink.
He pulled out a small pouch of powder and poured its contents into the fountain. As he pocketed the now empty bag and headed off to set up his other schemes, he let out a chuckle.
“Rest while you can, Lulamoon, because tomorrow is going to be fun.”
The next day was another deceptively pleasant looking one. All of the Elements (with the exception of Ditzy and Raindrops who had to work) had met outside the Residency to go on 'Galeb patrol'. They decided to start at the market district due to the higher density of ponies.
"Everything looks alright." Carrot Top commented.
Trixie did a double take when she noticed a big red mare selling apples.
"I thought you were going to cure Pinkie and Big Mac."
"I tried," Carrot Top explained. "It worked on Pinkie but it turns out Big Mac is allergic to one of the key ingredients of the cure. I’m looking into an alternative but he may just have to wait for the effects to wear off naturally."
"You'd think he'd wouldn't be out in public." The representative commented.
"This is Big Mac we're talking about." Cheerilee replied. "Nothing short of physical injury or a family emergency is going to get him to stop working. The official story is that Big Mac was called away on urgent business and their cousin, 'Red Gala' come in to help cover."
Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Red Gala?"
"It was either that or Macerana."
"Good call."
"WOOOOOO!" a voice shouted nearby. "FLOWERS RULE!"
"YEEEAAAAAH!"
"EPIC FLOWER TIME!!"
The elements turned to see what was causing the noise. They were shocked to see that it was the Flower Trio.
"THESE PANSIES ARE AWESOME!" Lily shouted.
"PANSIES RULE!" Daisy yelled.
"PANSY POWER!!" Rose finished.
Despite being slightly disturbed by the display, Cheerilee still felt the need to approach them.
"Are you three alr..."
"CHEERILEE!!!" The teacher jumped as Rose suddenly turned to face her. "YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE AWESOMEST AWESOME THING IN THE AWESOMETASTIC HISTORY OF AWESOME?!"
"Uh...flowers?"
"BUCK YEAH FLOWERS!" Rose replied.
"CHECK IT!!" Lily exclaimed. "SHE HAS FLOWERS ON HER BUTT!!"
"WOOHOO!!" Daisy cheered. "CHEERILEE'S BUTT IS AWESOME!!!"
Cheerilee paused. "I know there's something wrong with you three...but I'm still taking the compliment."
Trixie turned to a nearby pony. "Any idea what happened to them?"
"I don't know." Cherry Berry answered. "I saw them drinking from that fountain and then soon they were acting like this."
Carrot Top went over to said fountain and gave the water an inquisitive sniff.
"Not sure what it is but there is definitely something in this water." She stated
"You’re pretty good at this." Lyra remarked.
"A good nose is an invaluable tool to a farmer."
"So we know that it's something in the water." Trixie said. "Now we just need to figure out what it is and who else drank from the fountain."
They then noticed Caramel running for some reason. That reason became clear when he was tackled to the ground by Silver Script.
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?!" the postmaster demanded. "LETTERS TO DETROT REQUIRE TWO STAMPS, NOT ONE!!!"
Trixie used her magic pull the irate pegasus off of the Caramel just as Poste Haste came running in.
"Thank goodness," Post Haste said. "I was scared somepony wouldn’t stop him in time."
"What happened?" Cheerilee asked.
"I don't know." Post Haste replied. "He started out fine and then his temper went from righteous to hair trigger."
"Sorry about that." Silver Script said, having seemingly calmed down a bit. "My angry button seems to be a little closer to the service than usual today." He then noticed something. "HEY YOU! YES YOU! YOU BETTER NOT BE TAKING THAT SHODDILY WRAPPED PACKAGE TO THE POST OFFICE TO SEND!!!"
Trixie maintained her hold on the postmaster. "Well luckily he isn't swinging his bat around."
"Luck has nothing to do with it." Post Haste replied. "Ditzy confiscated Love & Tolerance when she noticed something was off. She was about to come get you when Silver Script chased after Mr Cheapskate over there."
"Hey!" Caramel said indignantly. "It was an honest mistake."
Post Haste rolled his eyes. "It stops being an honest mistake when you try to do it more than five times. Then it's just trying to cheat the system."
"Alright, alright." Trixie interrupted. "Posthaste, You let Ditzy know that we have Silver Script and that we know what might be causing this. Carrot Top, start trying to figure out a way to reverse whatever happened to these ponies. I'll be back to help you as soon we're finished finding all the ponies that were affected."
"Ms Trixie!" The representative turned and saw Dinky approaching them accompanied by the four rams that Trixie recognised as Ponyville's resident Baabaashop Quartet. "Something's wrong with Woolliam and his friends."
"Really?" Trixie asked. "They look fine."
"Show her." Dinky encouraged.
At that they started singing.
Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, So tell me what you want, what you really really want, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, So tell me what you want, what you really really want, I wanna, huh I wanna, huh I wanna, huh I wanna, huh I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ha
Cheerilee had to close Trixie's mouth for her.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this." Lyra said as she led the rams away.
"What else can go wrong today?" Trixie asked in dismay.
Galeb was finally getting some shuteye after what he thought of as a highly productive night. His dozing however was interrupted by the poking of little hooves. He opened his eyes and saw a young filly with a red mane and big pink bow staring at him.
“Are ya a hobo?” She asked.
“No.”
“Then why are ya sleeping on a park bench?”
“Because I didn’t have anywhere else to sleep last night.”
“Doesn’t that technically make ya a hobo?”
He glared at the filly. “Listen, I was up late last night and I'm really tired. How about you go annoy someone else.”
“Jeez, no need to get grumpy at me cause yer a hobo.”
Galeb turned over and tried to go back to sleep as the filly walked away. He then promptly stood back up.
“Screw it,” he said as he pulled out his case from under the bench. “I’m not letting her get away with calling me a hobo.”
Turns out that the answer to Trixie's question was the balcony of the retirement home collapsing, a tourist wagon speeding out of control and almost heading off a cliff as well as a supposed snake sighting almost causing a stampede. Fortunately, with timely assistance from ponies like Applejack and Rainbow Dash, the elements were able to able to prevent any pony getting hurt.
"So do you think Galeb is behind all of this?" Cheerilee asked
"I'm sure of it." Trixie replied. "This much bad luck, even in Ponyville, is not normal."
"Anything we can pin on him yet?"
"Nothing yet."
"Well we better think of something fast because..." Cheerilee's voice trailed off as she noticed Apple Bloom nearby carrying a strange Heart Shaped flower. With her teacher sense tingling she decided to investigate. Trixie, to her credit, didn't seem to question this.
She finally came to a back alley where Apple Bloom seemed to be busy with something. When the young filly noticed the teacher she suddenly stood to attention.
"Hi Ms Cheerilee! Ms Trixie!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, suddenly appearing to be very nervous. "What are ya'll doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." The teacher responded. "What's that behind your back?"
"What's what?" The young filly said in attempts to sound innocent.
"Apple Bloom!" The tone in Cheerilee's voice let the young filly know that there was no room for arguments.
Reluctantly, Apple Bloom stepped aside, reveal a mixing bowl, various plants and herbs as well sheet of paper. On closer inspection, it was a set of instructions to make a potion called "Instant Cutie Mark".
"Where did you get this?" Cheerilee demanded.
"I was just playing in town when it dropped in front of me." Apple Bloom explained. "It was destiny."
"Sure is," Trixie commented. "If you spell destiny G-A-L-E-B."
Apple Bloom tilted her head slightly. "That's not how ya spell destiny."
"Apple Bloom, I don't know what I'm more disappointed about." Cheerilee said. "The fact that you would do something this reckless or the fact that you would try to cheat your way to something that is meant the natural progression of every young pony."
"But I want it nooooow!" Apple Bloom whined.
"That's enough!" Cheerilee scolded. "Pick up your things, we're going to go have a talk with your family about this."
Apple Bloom didn't look happy to hear that but knew better than to argue.
"We better do something about Galeb." Cheerilee whispered to the Representative before heading off. "Because I'm starting to reconsider my view on the lynching suggestion."
Trixie followed the two out of the alley. As she watched the two earth ponies leave, the representative stood there as she tried think of the best course of attack.
At that moment, inspiration struck. Trixie did a sharp turn and headed to the town hall.
Maybe there was a card she could play.
Galeb was sitting at an outside table, enjoying a hay smoothie when he was approached by Trixie, who did not look pleased.
"Lulamoon." He greeted, clearly looking pleased with himself.
"You know, when you challenge somepony to a duel and that pony refuses, you are supposed to accept it and move on. You don't turn your anger towards their town."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Galeb was doing an incredibly bad job at feigning ignorance. "And even if I did, remember I tried to keep this matter between the two of us, you're the one that refused to settle this face to face."
Trixie gaped at Galeb. "That's like wildly swinging a stick as you approach a pony and then blaming them if they get hit."
The Zebrony raised an eyebrow. "As much as I would like to swing a stick at you for what you did, I was perfectly honourable when I laid out my challenge and I have been nothing but respectful of your refusal."
"From what I hear, that is highly debatable."
Galeb turned his head slightly and saw an older looking mare with a grey mane and a fancy looking collar.
"And you are?"
Ivory Scroll glared at the Zebrony "The Mayor of the town you have been disturbing. The Representative has brought me up to speed on what you have been up to since coming to town."
The blue Zebrony rolled his eyes. "As 'unbiased' as I'm sure her report of me was, if you could prove that I was behind these occurrences, I'd already be in shackles." Galeb mockingly showed his fore hooves to prove his point.
"Maybe not." Trixie replied. "But the mayor and I have been talking and we found a solution."
The representative pulled out a piece of paper and laid it on the table.
"This is an official trespass notice." The mayor stated. "You are to vacate Ponyville effective immediately."
Galeb scoffed. "You can't do that."
"Actually we can." The mayor replied. "Not only have you damaged government property and acted hostile towards the Representative but you also have not given a legitimate reason for being here. That combined with the recent incidents as well as your history with the Representative may not be enough to charge you for any wrongdoing, but it is more than enough to demand your removal for the sake of public safety." She pushed the notice closer to the Zebrony. "Since there are no trains running today, the representative and I will personally escort you out of town."
"And if I refuse?" Galeb asked.
"Then we're going to call the guards in and have them drag you out of Ponyville." Trixie replied. "Your choice."
When presented with such appetising alternatives, Galeb let himself be escorted out of town. He however was not going quietly.
"And so yet again you let the law do your dirty work." Galeb said. "Was it this easy when you sold out my brother to win favour in Canterlot?"
"You know what? Enough." Trixie said, finally fed up. "Let's put this into perspective. I helped put your brother away for a crime that he actually committed. In your little revenge trip, you've poison joked two ponies, warped the mood of several more, turned a ram quartet falsetto, contaminated a fountain, tricked a filly into making a concoction that would have done who knows what to her and almost got over a dozen ponies killed! How is anypony supposed to feel sympathy for your side?"
"I don't have to justify myself you." Galeb replied venomously.
"Maybe not." The mayor answered. "But set hoof in Ponyville again and you'll be justifying yourself in court."
"Yes, you've made that perfectly clear." Galeb replied. "But don't think this changes anything."
"Here we are." Trixie said. "The town boundary. Time for you to go."
"Not quite." Ivory Scroll said. "Section 37 clearly states that once issued with a trespass notice a town official is free to use as much force as they deem necessary to vacate said trespassing individual."
"So?" Galeb asked.
The mayor then promptly decked the zebrony with an uppercut to the jaw, knocking him off his hooves and over the boundary line.
"So don't let me catch you in my town again." She answered. "NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
To his credit, when Galeb was finally able to pick himself up, he staggered away fairly quickly. The mayor watched him go for minute and when she was satisfied that he was heading in the right direction, she turned to head back to town only to notice the representative gaping at her.
"Three time North Everfree Middle-Weight Boxing Champion." She explained as she started to walk back. "Been years since I've been in the ring but I still try to keep in shape."
Trixie went with the most logical response. "Uh huh."
It took a few more steps before the representative was able to say something a little more coherent. "Thanks for your help. Sorry you had to get involved."
"Not at all. While I appreciate the work you and the other elements do, as Mayor I have a responsibility to this town."
"Still, it's not right that the town got brought into this squabble."
"Galeb was the one who involved the town, not you." Ivory Scroll replied. "And while I do appreciate you taking responsibility for this, know that I don't blame you."
When the two mares arrived near town hall, they saw Lyra was still busy with the ram quartet.
"Any progress?" Trixie asked
"Loads." Lyra responded happily. "Take a listen."
At that ram quartet started singing.
Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high, There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow Skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true.
"Woolliam actually has really good range but he gets sloppy if he speeds up so I'm starting them off on something slower until they adjust." Lyra explained, she then saw Trixie face hoof. "What?"
Once he was certain that he was a safe distance from the mad mayor, Galeb turned back in the direction of Ponyville.
“You may have won this round Lulamoon but mark my words, round three shall be mine!”
He was about to get to work when he realised that his case of supplies was still in Ponyville.
“MARK MY WORDS LULAMOON, ROUND FOUR SHALL BE MINE!!!”
It was then that he noticed a mule standing nearby with a raised eyebrow.
“Are you okay?” the mule asked.
Galeb let out a sigh. "To be honest, today hasn't really gone the way I expected it to."
"So how are the attempts to fix the victims going?"
"We're getting there." Trixie answered. "I tried a direct reversal spell but that hasn't quite yielded the desired outcome."
Cheerilee looked over and saw the flower trio calmly sitting around inspecting some of their produce.
"I say." Rose said. "These flowers are looking rather splendid."
"Oh dear." Lily commented. "It appears that we might have some root rot on our hooves."
"That certainly wouldn't do." Daisy stated. "I propose we go about correcting this situation."
"Indeed."
Cheerilee blinked a couple of times before turning back to Trixie. "I know that in the interest of ethical practise we can't leave them like this but I can't help but feel that it would do their blood pressure a lot of good."
"Maybe." Trixie agreed. "But it’s more Silver Script that I'm worried about."
Said postmaster was lying on the grass, looking up at the sky in a blissful daze.
"You know what we should do." He suddenly stated. "We should create a city completely out of clouds."
"Uh...we already have a city made out of clouds." Cheerilee said.
Silver Script turned to the teacher. "You're kidding! What's it called?"
"Cloudsdale."
"Damn it. That’s what I was going to call it." the postmaster cursed. "Next you'll be telling me that they also took my idea of giving ponies wings so that they can live there."
Cheerilee blinked again, but as she was about to answer Trixie interjected. "No no, that idea is still yours."
Any further discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Raindrops.
"No sign of your tophat wearing friend." She reported. "But the weather team is keeping an eye out."
"Good, even with a trespass notice against him we really can't take chances." The representative stated. "Well I've sent Pokey out to try and find wherever Galeb had hidden his supplies since there was no way he could have been carrying everything in his jacket. My first bet would have been to check the motel but it turns out he hadn't been staying there. In fact I kinda wish I had known sooner since we probably could have avoided this mess by kicking him out on a vagrancy charge."
"Vagrancy charge?" Raindrops interrupted. "You mean we were dealing with a magic-wielding hobo?"
Trixie didn't even bother to answer that. "Now as much as I would like to hope Galeb got the hint and has hightailed it back home, fate has too sick a sense of humour for that. Best case scenario, we catch him trying to get back into town and have him charged with wilful violation of a trespass notice."
"And the worse case scenario?" Cheerilee asked.
"While we're distracted with Galeb, Corona overthrows Princess Luna and takes control of Equestria. Pony-kind will then suffer under the tyrannical hoof of an insane Alicorn and burn under unending sunlight." Raindrops suggested. "Not that the six of us would really suffer too long under it since she would probably charge us with high treason for stopping her so many times and have us publicly executed."
All the ponies present could only stare at her. The awkward silence was then broken by the postmaster.
"All aboard the S.S. Buzzkill." He then noticed Raindrop's wings. "MOON DAMN IT!!"
Trixie then decided it was time to check on Lyra. "So, how's fixing the quartet going?"
"Well," Lyra rubbed the back of her head. "I'd say we're about halfway there."
"Is this going to take much longer?" Shawn asked. "Cause I almost need to go pick my kid up from the nanny."
"We'll be done as a soon as we can." Trixie did a double take. "Wait, kid? As in what you call a young goat?"
"Of course it's what you call a young goat." Woolliam replied. "What? Did you think we were sheep or something?"
"Noooooo." Trixie replied slowly, being careful to avoid eye contact.
"Here you go." The mule said as he passed the case over to Galeb. "Right where you said it'd be."
"I can't thank you enough." Galeb opened the case to make sure that its contents were unharmed. "I'd be lost without it."
"So why couldn't you get the case yourself?"
"Some bureaucratic mix up." Galeb replied as handed over the bits he had promised. "Hopefully it will be sorted out next time I'm back to these parts."
"Well good luck with that."
As the mule trotted off, Galeb rubbed his hooves in anticipation.
"Alright Lulamoon, let's take things up a notch."
After finally having fixed all the victims of Galeb's actions and having no further sightings of the Zebrony, Trixie's friends had gone home and the representative herself was sorting out a few things before she was going to send Pokey home as well.
She paused as she walked past her bookshelf and, in wave of nostalgia, pulled out her copy of Don Rocinante and opened it at the back page to reveal a bookmark inside. It was old but still well kept, with some strange symbols written on it.
As she stared at the bookmark, Pokey entered the room.
"So I gave that letter to the express messenger like you asked and checked to make sure that there was no outstanding paperwork. It looks like we're all clear."
"Pokey, just a question. Do you believe in the idea that actions have consequences?"
"Well if they didn't, it would make the justice system a big waste of time."
"I mean in a more cosmic sense."
Pokey shrugged. "Eh. The head of our governing body is an immortal that controls the sun and the moon, that's about as cosmic as I usually worry about. Why?"
Trixie shrugged in return. "I was just thinking..."
"There go the alarm bells."
"I know turning Galeb's brother in was the right thing to do and that this in no way justifies Galeb's retaliation."
Pokey raised an eyebrow "But...?"
"What if my failure in friendship since then is some cosmic retribution for betraying a friend?"
"Well that's an interesting theory." Pokey commented. "I always figured your failure in friendship was due to your winning personality."
Trixie glared at her assistant. "That was a little harsh."
"Hey, I figured that since you were having this conversation with me instead of the other elements meant that you didn't want it sugar coated."
"Okay, fair enough."
"Now, as a resident of Ponyville, it's hard not to accept that some things are still outside of a pony’s control." Pokey continued. "Still, blaming things on something like cosmic retribution is a bit of a slippery slope for me. I'd rather take responsibility for the here and the now."
"Yeah," Trixie said thoughtfully.
"Though what's brought this on?"
Trixie shrugged as she looked at the bookmark again. "Just feeling reflective."
The sign above the shop said "Matant Zelime's House of Wonders" as it always did.
A young blue filly stepped into the shop. Inside was a seemingly endless assortment of strange items and trinkets. In the middle of the shop was an elderly Zebrony mare, lavender with dark purple stripes, sorting some bottles. She looked up and smiled when she saw the young filly.
"Hello Trixie, I was worried you wouldn't have time to come say goodbye."
This took Trixie by surprise. "You know I'm leaving?" She then added in an awed whisper. "Did you foresee it?"
The wizened Zebrony chuckled. "No child, but if your family was trying to keep the princess taking you on as a student a secret, they're doing a lousy job at it. Not that I would keep something like that secret, Quartermoon would be proud."
Trixie bit her lip at the mention of her grandfather. The gesture did not go unnoticed by Zelime.
"Come here child." She then scooped the young filly into a hug.
"I miss him." Trixie whispered.
"I know," Zelime replied. "but know that he loved you very much and that you will always carry a piece of him in your heart. There's a reason you both got the same cutie mark."
After a moment long the two disengaged from the hug.
"But I sense that is not the only thing that is weighing down your spirit."
"Everypony is telling me that this is such a great opportunity and that I should be really proud."
"Yes...?" Zelime said expectantly
"But what if I mess up? What if I don't fit in? What if Princess Luna decides this was a bad idea and sends me away?"
"Child, what have I told you about the 'what if' game?"
Trixie sighed. "That it's a game no one ever wins."
"Precisely. Quartermoon believed in you and so do I. I have no doubt that you have a wonderful future ahead of you."
"Would you be able to check that?" The young filly asked.
This took the Zebrony by surprise. "You want me to gaze into your future?"
"Just a little peek." Trixie replied before looking up at Zelime with big hope filled eyes. "Please?"
One look at the young filly and any resistance from the Zebrony vanished almost instantly. "Alright but just a little peek."
Zelime went over to her work bench and pulled a long thin box out of a drawer. She opened it, revealing a bright red feather.
"Do know what this is?" Zelime asked. When Trixie shook her head Zelime answered. "It is a phoenix feather."
Zelime placed the feather on her work bench and used a knife to cut a tiny piece off the tip of the feather.
"Aren't you going to use the whole thing?" Trixie asked
"Phoenix feathers are among the most potent ingredients you can use." Zelime explained. "A little goes a long way."
She held the piece of feather in her hoof and closed her other hoof over the top of it. She chanted a few magic words and gave Trixie a wink before lifting her hoof to reveal that she was now holding a small purple flame.
Trixie stared in amazement. "How did you...?"
Zelime held out the purple flame confidently towards Trixie. "Hold out your hoof."
The filly looked at the flame with uncertainty. "Won't it burn me?"
"Do you believe I would harm you?" The Zebrony asked.
"No."
"Then it won't."
Trixie swallowed and then held out her hoof. Zelime skilfully placed the flame on the filly's hoof. After moment, Trixie realised that the flame wasn't hurting her. It seemed content to just stay put. She stared in awe at the flame she was now holding.
"That is Soul Fire." Zalime explained. "It is powered by magic and is controlled by will. If you wanted it to burn, it will. If you don't, it won't."
"It's amazing." Trixie whispered.
"Yes, it is. Now look deep within the flame and tell me what you see."
The filly obeyed. She stared deep into the small flame. After a moment she began to make out shapes.
"I see...a pony...a unicorn...she's surrounded by fire but it's not hurting her...she's controlling it..." Trixie then leaned forward when she noticed something else. "Are those wings?"
The flame suddenly went out with a pop, causing Trixie to jump back in fright.
"Sorry child, that was only enough magic for a quick peek."
Trixie stared up at the Zebrony. "Who was that?"
"I'm not sure." Zelime admitted. "The irony about visions are that often they don't make sense until after the event has actually occurred."
"What should I do?" The young filly asked.
"Go forth and make the most of the opportunity you have received." Zelime said as she took a moment to affectionately ruffle Trixie's mane. "Your Grandfather had learned the secret of true power and greatness long ago and I believe he passed it on to you." She then chuckled when she saw the look of confusion on the young filly's face. "Don't worry, you'll figure it out someday."
She then pulled something from the shelf and handed it to Trixie. "Here's something to remember me by."
"What's this?"
"It's a voodoo seal for protection and prosperity." Zelim answered. "It also makes a great bookmark."
Trixie closed the book and put it back on the shelf. "Come on, Pokey. Let's finish up."
"Sure thing boss."
The sun had set. As the moon lit up the sky, Galeb got to work setting up his next scheme. In a small clearing within the everfree forest, he had set up a camp fire and surrounded it with a ring of key herbs and symbols. When he was satisfied with the focal field, he proceeded to start chanting and throwing ingredients into the fire that, had he gotten them through honest means, would probably have cost him a small fortune.
Before long, the chanting died down and made way for something far more sinister.
Singing.
In the dark of the night she'll tossing and turning And the nightmare she'll have will be bad as can be -- She'll be scared out of her wits -- A mare falling to bits! Then she'll open her eyes And the nightmare is...me!!
He paused his dancing to pull more ingredients from his case.
She was once a close friend of me and my brother Oooh...wah...oooh When she betrayed us she made a mistake! Oooh...wah...oooh With my power she surely will pay There's no chance that she'll get away! Little Trixie, prepare, Your title's at stake!
In the dark of the night evil will find her In the dark of the night just before dawn!
Revenge will be sweet When she meets her defeat! In the dark of the night She'll be done!
I can feel the enchantment is gradually growing! An ogre's eyelash and a dash of wormwood for the spell! That is when, all too soon. From my hooves she’ll meet her doom. Sweet Adieu, Lulamoon! Farewell...
In the dark of the night terror will strike her! Terror's the least I can do!
In the dark of the night evil will brew. Ooh!
Soon she will feel that her nightmares are real.
In the dark of the night
She'll be through!
In the dark of the night Evil will find her Find her! In the dark of the night terror comes true. Doom her!
My dear, here's a sign -- It's the end of the line!
In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night...
She'll be done!!
Galeb threw the last ingredient into the fire, causing it to burst into a giant flaming pillar.
In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night... In the dark of the night...
She'll be done!
The fire then completely vanished, leaving strange green wisps of smoke coming out of the smouldering pile.
"And now we wait for the fun to unfold." Galeb stated triumphantly. "Preferably somewhere else since I probably don't want to know who or what made up the chorus line."
The next day started off looking promising. The town seemed to have put yesterday’s misfortune behind them and were all going about their business.
"Move yer caboose." Granny Smith scolded. "That pie ain't gonna deliver itself."
"I'm comin’, I'm comin’." Applebloom grumbled as she struggled with a basket that was almost as big as she was.
Granny Smith was about to something else to get her granddaughter to speed up when she noticed a mass of ponies running in the opposite direction.
"What's the rush?"
The elderly earth pony got her answer when a manticore appeared in front of her. It let out a roar but was promptly interrupted by Granny Smith smacking it across the nose.
"We'll have none of that." She scolded. "I don't know who yer owner is but I won't tolerate such rudeness in public."
"Granny Smith," Applebloom said cautiously. "I think that's a manticore."
"Well that's no excuse fer misbehaving." The elderly mare replied. "It's about time somepony taught it some manners."
The manticore responded with another roar and raising its paw to attack. It the stopped when it felt something patting it on the side. Turning, it saw a red mare standing there.
"In the interest of honesty, I should warn you." Red Gala said. "This beating is partially because you threatened my family and partially because the last few days have been really frustrating. I hope you understand."
What happened next was the answer to the question that nopony ever asked.
What is the sound of a Manticore screaming?
Trixie paused as she was collecting her mail.
"What the..."
"Hey Trixie." The representative turned to see Berry Punch. "So Cheerilee asked me to let one of you know if something strange happened. Now I know strange is a relative term in Ponyville but is a Cragodile in the main road something worth mentioning?" She then noticed that Trixie had started running off. "Is that a yes?"
Trixie arrived to see that something that looked like a giant crocodile made out of rock, otherwise known as a cragodile, was in fact walking freely down the main road, which looked like it had long since been abandoned by pony-kind.
Said cragodile suddenly stopped in its tracks when it noticed a small, toothless alligator blocking his path. Moments passed as the two stared at it each other. Finally the cragodile let out a snarl and prepared to strike. Said strike was promptly stopped by a sledgehammer between the eyes.
Holding the handle of said sledge hammer was Pinkie Pie.
"No one messes with Gummy."
Pinkie then picked up the small alligator and gave it a disapproving frown. "Now Gummy, I know you get territorial but you shouldn't pick fights like that."
Gummy blinked at his owner.
"Oh I can't stay mad at you." She gave the Gummy a hug before letting him latch onto her mane. "Lets go home and make some muffins."
She picked up the sledgehammer and was about to bounce off when she was stopped by Trixie.
"Why do you have a sledgehammer?" The representative asked.
"Oh it's not mine, I'm borrowed it from Silver Script. See?" Pinkie replied as she turned the head to reveal the words 'Gentle Persuasion'. At that, she started to bounce off as Trixie stared on in awe.
"What's scarier?" Trixie asked Berry Punch. "The fact that our Postmaster owns a sledgehammer or the fact that he lent it to Pinkie Pie?"
"I think what's scarier is how quickly a cragodile can shake off a sledgehammer to the head." Berry Punch commented.
Trixie turned and saw that the cragodile had in fact woken up and was back on the rampage.
Seeing no other alternative, the representative swallowed her fear and put on a look of determination as she charged straight at the creature. Seeing this as a challenge, the cragodile started to charge at her as well, seemingly ignorant of the fact that the unicorn was suddenly levitating some rope and a scarf.
Just as it was about to get close enough to take a snap at her, Trixie used her magic to snap its mouth closed and then tie it up. Wasting no time, she tied the scarf around the eyes then went side on. Using her magic, she hit it side on to force it onto its back and used the remaining rope to tie up its legs.
Satisfied that the cragodile wasn't going anywhere, Trixie let out a sigh of relief and dusted herself off. She then noticed Berry Punch staring at her. The representative shrugged at the unasked question.
"My Aunt and Uncle thought it was important that I know how to deal with crocs, alligators and anything similar."
Bar-mare continued to stare. "Why?" She finally asked.
"TRIXIE! GET OFF THAT THING THIS INSTANT!!"
"I am not Trixie." The young filly announced proudly. "I AM THE GATOR QUEEN!!"
"Parental paranoia I guess." Trixie replied dismissively.
Any response from Berry Punch was interrupted by a scream that didn't sound like a manticore this time. Trixie let out a groan.
"Berry Punch, I'm going to go check that out and get rid of this cragodile, would you mind getting your sister and the other elements? I think it's going to be one of those days.”
Trixie arrived at town hall to see a group of ponies running away in mass hysteria. Despite the situation, she couldn't help but wonder if the constant running from danger wasn't the reason for most of Ponyville being in such great shape.
Raindrops came to a landing beside the representative.
"What's the situation?"
"Not sure yet."
"Hiya Sis. Hi Miss Trixie." The two mares turned to see Snails on top of a house sized spider. "Look at my new friend!"
"Huh," Trixie commented. "How did we miss that?"
Raindrops however, while not scared of the sight, did not look pleased. She flew up to have a word with her brother.
"Snails, what did Mum, Dad and the Mayor tell you about no longer bringing creatures bigger than you are into town?"
"But he came into town all on his own." Snails argued. "Does that mean I can keep him?"
"No, but it does mean that you should lead him out of town before somepony calls in the royal guard about it."
Snails let out a sigh of disappointment. Even the spider seemed sad. "Okay sis. Come on Webbly, time to go."
As the spider started to leave town, Raindrops returned to the ground beside Trixie.
"You know your brother is either going to become a renowned bug expert or take over the world with his insect army someday, right?"
"And I for one would welcome our new Overlord." Raindrops turned to face the representative. "So any idea what's going on? Because between that spider and the bullfrogs causing trouble near the weather station, this is really starting to be a weird day even by Ponyville standards."
Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Bullfrogs?"
"Everfree Bullfrogs." Raindrops clarified. "They're about the size of actual bulls and even have horns to match."
"Sounds like trouble."
Raindrops shrugged.
"It was more morally conflicting than anything."
"Come on, Rainbow Dash..."
"I don't want to hear it!" The rainbow maned pegasus snapped. "You and your friends are always the ones saving the day and I'm sick of it. Now it's my turn so don't get involved."
"But..."
"That's an order!"
At that, Raindrops had no choice but stand by as Rainbow Dash flew out to face the bullfrogs. The weather manager would only realise when it was too late that she had underestimated a few things about the creatures.
Like their size.
And strength.
And numbers.
And ability to perform a noogie.
After briefly watching the spectacle unfolding, Raindrops turned to a co-worker. "So what do you think is more likely to land me disciplinary action? Disobeying a superior or letting her be beaten to a pulp?"
"...when they started trying to use her as a trampoline, I had no choice but to intervene." Raindrops explained. "And she still claimed she had them on the ropes."
Trixie couldn't help but roll her eyes at this. "Alright Raindrops. Lets get the team together and meet at the lake, I have a feeling things are gonna get weirder before they get better."
"You okay there, Miss?"
Red Gala, who had been busy dragging an unconscious Manticore out of town, stopped to face Post Haste. "Eeyup."
"What are you doing with that manticore?"
"Found it."
"What happened to it?" The mail pony asked.
"Natural causes."
"Are those hoof marks on its face?"
"Pure coincidence."
Post Haste took a moment to weigh up his options in continuing this conversation.
:"Well, you have a nice day."
"You too."
Red Gala was about to continue dragging the creature but then paused when she felt something on her head. She looked up and noticed that she was now wearing a fancy wide brimmed hat. She let out a frustrated groan.
"Rarity!" the red mare said through grit teeth.
"What?" the fashionista asked in fake innocence. "Is it wrong to offer a friend some much needed sun protection?"
The red mare simply stared in disbelief.
"Though now that you mention it, I do, by pure coincidence, happen to have some outfits in my workshop that would go brilliantly with that hat." Rarity explained. "If you could just come to my boutique for a couple of hours I'm sure that we can..."
"WOAH! Nice Manticore!" Any further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Ponyville’s resident DJ. "Think I can use it for my next show?"
"VINYL!" Rarity jumped back in fright. "What are you doing here?"
"Just picked up my new rig from the train station." Vinyl Scratch replied, pointing to a nearby wagon. "Just taking it back to the studio."
The DJ then noticed how tense the fashionista was acting.
"Oh come on, you're not still mad about what happened at that gig are you?"
"Of course not, holding onto petty grievances is beneath me." Rarity responded. "I'd just appreciate it if you respected the ten step distance we agreed on."
Though her sunglasses were in the way, it was pretty obvious that Vinyl was rolling her eyes. She was about to reply when something caught her attention. "Woah, neat looking birds."
Sitting in a nearby tree were what appeared to be a group of budgies with blood red eyes staring down at the ponies.
"BANSHEE BUDGIES!" Rarity shrieked. "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!"
Vinyl looked perplexed as the dressmaker ran away. "Wait. What sort of cheese?"
The budgies then, in unison, let out a mind shattering scream. Red Gala fell to the ground, placing her hooves over her ears in the vain hope of alleviating the pain the sonic barrage was causing her.
Vinyl on the other hoof, was not only unphased by the assault but seemed enamoured with the birds.
"Awww." She cooed. "They want to play."
Under one of the many bridges in Ponyville, three sirens were watching their surroundings.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" The yellow-eyed one asked.
"Oh come on," The teal-eyed one shot back. "We're here so we might as well get a meal out of it. And just look at all those tasty ponies."
"They do look tasty." The red-eyed one agreed. "And this can't be worse than that pony that thought we were kelp."
Yellow eyes promptly smacked Red eyes on the back of the head.
"Kelpies you moron!"
"Alright!" Teal eyes interjected. "We start on three. One...two...three."
The sound was so loud that the bridge itself started to shake.
"SWIM AWAY!"
As the sirens swam away from Ponyville for dear life, Vinyl was busy showing off her new speaker set which was currently flooding the town with her brand of music.
"WOULD YOU BELIEVE I HAD TO GET THIS RIG CUSTOM MADE?!" Vinyl shouted out.
"EEYUP!" Red Gala shouted back.
Firelock and Alula were in an open field, having a picnic. Having finished their sandwiches, they were enjoying the last of the juice.
"Look what mommy packed for desert." Alula pulled out a packet of marshmallows.
Any excitement Firelock had was sidetracked when her nostrils flared up.
"What's that smell?"
The two fillies turned to the source of the smell and saw a timberwolf staring down at them.
Trixie found Cheerilee at the teacher’s house with Lyra.
"Hey, we need to get the team together, things are getting weird even by Ponyville standards."
"You're telling me." Cheerilee replied. "I was trying to get rid of the Mocking Birds nesting on my roof."
"Mocking Birds?"
At that moment, a bird with a Cheerilee's colouring landed on her mail box.
"And remember class, it's alright to act perverted so long as you're subtle about it."
That bird was then knocked off by a yellow and blue bird. "Raindrops Angry! Raindrops Smash!"
The next thing a Trixie knew, her avian doppelgänger was perched on her hat.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie demands your attention..." The bird proclaimed proudly. "... Your bourbon and your cream cheese filled éclairs."
"Please tell me you don't eat that." Lyra pleaded.
"No," Trixie replied, "but it does sound tasty."
The three mares then noticed a yellow and orange bird sprawled out in front of Cheerilee's door.
"Hi." The bird said cheerfully. "I'm Carrot Top."
Lyra tilted her head slightly. "I don't get it
A mint green bird knocked it out of the way.
"I'm Lyra, my two defining traits are what I do with my harp and what I do with my marefriend."
A vein popped out of Lyra's forehead but as she opened her mouth she was stopped by Trixie.
"Yes, yes, 'it's not a harp', we get it. The key to a good gag is to make sure that it’s not overused."
"Hey Trixie!" Windowpane called out. "A shipment of that special glass came in early so I can do your repair today."
"That's great Windowpane." Trixie shouted back. "Pokey is at the Residency so he'll let you in."
The two other mares rolled their eyes and gave each other a knowing look.
"So where's one for Ditzy?" Trixie asked in an attempts to get the conversation back on track.
"Strangest thing happened." Cheerilee replied, "It went wall eyed and suddenly half the community wanted to adopt it."
A timberwolf howl pierced the air.
"A TIMBERWOLF!!" Cheerilee exclaimed.
She then ran in the direction of the howl, dragging along Trixie.
"Oh sure." Lyra responded. "Leave me with the smart alecs."
Trixie and Cheerilee arrived to see Firelock and Alula roasting marshmallows over what appeared to be a camp fire.
"Are you two alright?" The teacher asked. "We thought we had heard a timberwolf."
"Oh, there was one." Alula explained. "Firelock took care of it."
The two grown mares stared, taking a moment to contemplate the implications of that statement and of the fire before them.
"How about you handle this one?" Trixie suggested. "Seeing as she is yourstudent."
"But you're the one that was teaching her magic." Cheerilee replied.
"Alright fine." Trixie turned back to the fillies. "Make sure to put out the fire when you’re done."
"Will do, Miss Trixie."
The representative then noticed Cheerilee glaring at her.
"What? I take fire safety seriously.”
Trixie and Cheerilee arrived at the lake to see the rest of Elements waiting for them.
"I hope you two have an idea of what's going on." Raindrops stated. "Because things have officially gotten beyond the point where you shrug your shoulders and say 'That's Ponyville'.”
"Ponies do that?" Lyra asked.
"Some do." Ditzy explained. "In fact it was the town's slogan for a while when the 'At least we're not Detrot' campaign was scrutinized by the public."
"Focus. Now we need to figure out what is going on and stop it before it escalates." Trixie stopped speaking when she felt a set of eyes on her. She turned around and saw a giant purple sea serpent with a fancily done mane staring down at her. The blue mare found herself only able to give the creature a nervous smile.
"Hi there."
"Oh don't mind me." The serpent replied. "Just pony watching."
The representative paused at that. "Pony watching?"
"Oh yes." The serpent replied happily. "I don't see too many in the Everfree forest and you're just so cuuuuute!"
Lyra scooted closer to Cheerilee. "Is it odd that we're having a civil conversation with a giant sea serpent?"
"I heard that! For your information, I am a river serpent." the creature clarified. "Do you know what too much salt water does to your mane?"
"Listen...mister...?"
"Oh I'm Stevenacular Magnetus the Enlightened." The serpent replied. "But my friends call me Steven."
"Well Steven..."
"You mean we're friends?" Steven squealed in detail. "How wonderful!"
Trixie just stared at the giant serpent for a moment. "Yeaaaaaaah...so what exactly are you doing here? I mean don't get me wrong, it's nice to meet someone from the Everfree Forest not trying to kill us but why aren't you still in there?"
Steve paused thoughtfully. "You know, I'm not altogether sure. I was just in my favourite bend in the river when suddenly I just found the whole place irritating.”
"Irritating?" Raindrops repeated. "You found the Everfree Forest irritating?"
"Strange I know. I mean sure some of the locals are a little rude and you don't a lot of visitors but the ambiance is just so superb." Steven scratched his head in contemplation. "Though now that I think about it, I don't know why I suddenly found it irritating."
It only took a moment for Trixie to come up with an answer. "Galeb."
Steven tilted his head in confusion. "I'm not familiar with that name, is it short for anything?"
"Yes." The representative replied. "It's short for 'Bucking Galeb is at it again'."
At that Trixie stomped away as Ditzy got to work convincing Steven to head back to the Everfree Forest.
"Listen Steven, you seem like a really nice river serpent but would you mind heading back to the forest?"
"Sure, I was needing to go give my scales a polish." Steven replied. "And it may just be my imagination but I think some of the locals are scared of me."
"We kick him out of town and suddenly we're up to our eyeballs in Everfree creatures. Yeah, I think that's a logical assumption."
"Wait," Cheerilee interjected. "You're telling me that Galeb is controlling the creatures of the Everfree Forest?"
"He's agitating the creatures of the Everfree forest. They are just as likely to hurt him as they are us." Trixie corrected. "What he's doing is the magical equivalent of poking them with a sharp stick."
"He can do that?" Carrot Top asked in dismay.
"Apparently." Trixie replied, she then noticed her friends staring at her. "What? Voodoo is not an exact science, I can't guess all the tricks he has at his disposal. But even I didn’t think he would take it this far."
"What the hay would he be thinking, doing something like this?" Cheerilee asked.
"That Ponyville is the nearest town to hit." Raindrops surmised. "We made it so that he couldn't pull stunts within town so he found another way to try and get what he wants."
"So how do we stop it?" Ditzy asked.
Trixie took in a deep breath. "It was always going to come down to this, wasn't it?"
"What was?" Lyra asked.
Instead of answering Trixie yelled out. "PINKIE!!!"
At that moment, Ponyville's pink party pony popped out of seemingly nowhere. "Yes, Trixie."
"We have a class nine emergency on our hooves." Trixie explained. "As Representative I am enacting Public Safety Protocol 87."
Pinkie gave Trixie a salute. "Understood." She then put on a hard hat with a bright flashing light. "EVACUATION PARTY!!!!"
As Pinkie started to bounce away, the other elements returned their attention to Trixie.
"So we evacuate the town and then what?" Carrot Top asked.
"I am going to find Galeb and accept his challenge."
"No Trixie. That's what he wants."
"Exactly, once he knows that I'll face him in a duel, he'll stop what ever he's doing and then this will be between him and me."
"Come on," Raindrops interjected. "We don't need to play by that jerk’s rules. Let’s call in the guards, form a search party and find the troublemaker."
"And leave the residents homeless while monsters wreak havoc on the town?" Trixie asked. "Right now we're holding our own but if Steven is any indication, things are escalating. How long before the Ursa Minor comes back? Or the Ursa Major? Or whatever Tartarus spawn creature is in that forsaken forest that we haven't even met yet. Maybe we can find him, maybe we can stop whatever he's doing before things go too far but are any of you willing to gamble our home on this?"
None of Trixie's friends had anything to say but their silence spoke volumes. Finally Cheerilee stepped forward and placed a comforting hoof on Trixie's shoulder.
"It's your call but know that we're here for you no matter what."
Trixie placed a hoof over Cheerilee's in gratitude. "Thanks."
Galeb was sitting patiently from his viewpoint on a nearby hill overlooking Ponyville.
"Oh come on." Galeb groaned in frustration. "What's it gonna take for some decent mass hysteria?"
As if in reply glowing works appeared in the sky.
I accept your challenge Galeb Meet me at the crossroads west of town
"Not what I was asking." Galeb commented. "But I'm not complaining."
Trixie was waiting quietly at the crossroads just outside of town as Galeb arrived.
"Hello Lulamoon." Galeb said. "Did you come alone?"
"I told my friends that this meeting should just be between me and you."
"Good." The Zebrony replied. "At least you understand that much of how a duel is supposed to go."
"Doesn't mean that we all listened." As Galeb turned to the source of the voice, the mulberry hoof collided with the side of his face. As he fell, the rest of Cheerilee appeared in his view, right before she wrenched his forehoof around his back at a painful angle, pinning him to the ground.
"Do you want to know what happened to the last stallion that messed with my students?" Cheerilee demanded as she continued to apply pressure. "DO YOU?!"
"Cheerilee..." Trixie began.
"He sent a Timberwolf after two of my students." Cheerilee interjected. "A BUCKING TIMBERWOLF!"
"ARRGH! Let go!" Galeb gasped out. "Or else the monsters will keep on coming."
Cheerilee looked up at Trixie to see if she thought Galeb was bluffing. A shake of a head told the teacher otherwise. Reluctantly she let go and backed off.
Galeb let out a groan of frustration as he stood back up.
"Every mare in this town is CRAZY!!"
Trixie couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "And yet you still chose to mess with this town."
"I swear Lulamoon, if this is your attempt at an ambush..."
"Oh keep your mane on." Trixie shot back. "If this was an ambush, you'd be in chains. And believe me nothing would make me happier at this point."
Trixie closed the distance between her and Galeb.
"You know, despite all the mistakes he made, I still know that any pony Bantu hurt was unintentional. Do you honestly think that Bantu would be happy about the amount of devastation you have purposely caused in his name?"
Galeb just rolled his eyes as he placed his hat back on his head. "Are you here to agree to this duel or to give me a lecture?"
Trixie sighed in frustration "Alright, if I agree to this duel you have to stop whatever it is you are doing to the creatures in the Everfree forest right now and leave Ponyville alone."
"Only if you agree that this duel is between you and me." Galeb shot. "That means no calling the Princess or the guards and nopony stepping in if they don't like the way the duel is turning out."
"Fine! We will meet here tonight after moonrise. Name your terms."
"Not so fast." Galeb pull out a small bag and poured the contents into his hoof. Then blew on it and rubbed both hooves together muttering a few quiet words until they developed a pale glow. "Let's make this official."
He held out his hoof.
"A Pact?" Trixie asked in dismay. "You cannot be serious."
"Let's just say that I'm feeling distrustful."
Realising there really wasn't a way out of this, Trixie touched Galeb's hoof. "Name your terms."
"We meet in this spot, right after moonrise. and duel." Galeb explained. "If I win I get both of your titles and you leave Ponyville, permanently."
"And if I win, you don't bring harm to anyone or anything in Ponyville ever again."
As the two hooves separated there was a spark of green light. Both the Trixie and Galeb wobbled slightly as they both felt dizzy for a moment before recovering. This seemed to satisfy Galeb.
"I'll see you tonight. Lulamoon."
Galeb turned and started to leave. He promptly sped up his departure when he noticed Cheerilee was taking a step towards him.
At that the two mares started to head back to town.
"So what was that thing about the pact?"
"It's a little insurance policy Zebronies invented for when they doubt somepony is going to keep their agreement." Trixie lifted her hoof to show that it still had a slight glow. "Don't ask me how it works but once a Pact is made it quite literally can not be broken."
"What if somepony made it so that you couldn't keep the pact?"
"There have been horror stories about ponies trying a work around on a pact." Trixie replied. "I really don't want to risk it."
"So what do we do now?" Cheerilee asked.
"You go back and make sure everypony got out of town alright." The representative answered. "I need to go prepare for the duel."
"Anything I can do to help?" the teacher asked.
"No," The representative answered as she started to head back to town. "I just need some to clear my head and get ready."
I've paid my dues Time after time I've done my sentence But committed no crime And bad mistakes I've made a few I've had my share of sand Kicked in my face But I've come through
Trixie stopped and turned to face Woolliam and the rest of Bleatniks nearby.
"Sorry guys." Trixie replied. "I'm just not feeling it."
As the representative walked off Baartholomew decided to pitch in his thoughts.
"Told you we should have gone with Pony-mian Rhapsody."
As Trixie arrived at the residency, she saw Pokey had set a table on the front lawn and was sorting through some paperwork.
"Hi Boss, get business with that Zebrony sorted?"
"Yes and no." Trixie replied, "Shouldn't you have evacuated with the rest of the town?"
"I'd figure you’d want me to stay here and hold the fort until you got back so I volunteered to hang out and keep watch."
Trixie stopped and stared. "Pokey, if I ever gave you the impression that I valued your ability to be at my beck and call over your own personal safety..."
"Chill boss." Pokey interjected. "Someone needed to stay and keep an eye out I’d so rather it be me than somepony that can't take care themselves."
Trixie let out a sigh of relief.
"Good to hear, this is mainly a precaution, hopefully everypony will be back in town by tomorrow."
"What happens tomorrow?"
"I will have faced Galeb in a duel. Now I need to prepare so please take care of any visitors."
"Sweet, I'll go get you some bourbon and then keep watch."
"No bourbon." Trixie replied. "Just keep watch."
As she entered residency, she paid no heed to fact that Pokey was gaping at her.
"No...bourbon?"
Trixie was digging through her supply chests, looking for things she might be able to use in her duel. She was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of a hoof knocking on wood. She looked up and saw Raindrops standing there.
"Hey there." The pegasus said.
"Uh hi." Trixie stated. "Listen. I don't really have time to talk, I need to get ready for this duel."
"Yeah I heard about the whole pact thing, that sucks."
Trixie paused and then slammed the trunk shut in frustration.
"You know what? It does suck! I try to be good, I try to take the moral high ground and try to play things above board. Sure I slip up...quite often...but at least I try to be decent and the type of pony that others can look up to."
She unwittingly started pacing.
"Take this mess with Galeb. I tried to approach this like a representative. I engaged him but didn't accept his challenge, I made it clear what would happen if he went after me or my friends but didn't antagonise him...too much... and when he started playing dirty I used legal means to get him out of town. Despite all of this, I still ended at exactly the same place I would have been if I had accepted his challenge, so what have I gained?"
"You mean aside from the knowledge that you're doing this for the sake of keeping Ponyville safe instead of some ego driven attempt to prove you're better than some trash talking Zebra?" Raindrops asked rhetorically.
"Zebrony." Trixie corrected.
"Don't care, after the stunts he's pulled, he's lucky that's all I'm calling him."
Raindrops closed the distance.
"The point is, it sucks that he's using the town as leverage but the only pony blaming you for this mess is yourself. So how about we discuss that?"
Despite her mood, Trixie couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "So what, you're signing up to be my consular?"
"Not really qualified to do the gig full time but there are two emotions I understand better than most." The weather pony stated. "One is anger, the other is regret."
Raindrops pulled up a chair.
"Now the anger part is a no-brainer, from what I hear, the line of ponies wanting to kick his flank is ever-growing."
"So you want to discuss regrets?" Trixie clarified. "Cause there is a lot about this situation that I'm regretting."
"Like how things ended with Galeb and his brother?"
The representative looked like she was about to let out a scathing remark but then stopped herself. It was only after she did mental 10 count that she found herself willing to discuss the matter.
"I have had a lot of friendships that ended badly, but Bantu was the first time that I willingly ended the friendship."
"I still don't how you could be friends with somepony like Galeb or his brother."
"They weren't always like this."
A young Trixie followed her grandpa as he led her to a new part of Neigh Orleans.
"Where are we going?" the filly asked.
"To see a dear friend of mine." Quartermoon replied.
As they walked they passed what appeared to be a male pony carrying a tray of baked goods on his back. Though what got Trixie’s attention was the fact that he was a light green with a yellow mane and dark green stripes.
“Grandpa, is that a Zebra?”
“Close,” Quartermoon answered with a chuckle. “They’re called Zebronies. Be sure to remember that cause they really don’t like being mistaken for Zebras. Ah here we are.”
The two ponies stopped in front of a store that read "Matant Zelime's House of Wonders"
As the two ponies stepped into the store, Trixie was amazed by all the various items. Her attention was then drawn to something specific.
“Is that a pony skull?” She asked.
“Donkey actually.” The source of voice revealed itself in the form of a purple, lavender and magenta zebrony mare wearing various coloured necklaces and bracelets. “The pony I traded it with claimed it was from Tambelon but I’m doubtful.”
Quartermoon and the mare then embraced each other in a hug.
“It’s so good to see you Zelime.”
“It’s good to see you too.” Zelime replied as she disengaged the hug. “How was Canterlot?”
“As ostentatious as always.” Quatermoon replied. “Though I did make to a slight detour to a small town in North Everfree I’ve heard a lot about.” He pulled a bag that he handed over to the Zebrony. “Even brought you back a souvenir.”
Zelime gave the contents of the bag an experimental sniff and then let out a squeal of delight.
“Oh Quartermoon you always bring me the best stuff.” Zelime then noticed Trixie. She kneeled down to have a look at the young filly. "Who is this?"
"This is my granddaughter Trixie."
“Pleasure to meet you.” Zelime held out a hoof for Trixie to shake. Trixie cautiously took it.
“Now I’ve got a couple of grandsons hiding about somewhere in my shop. You can go try to find them if you like.”
Trixie checked with her grandfather to see if it was alright. After get his approval, she went off to explore the shop. She finally found two colts playing with cards in the back. One was light blue with dark blue stripes and an aquamarine mane and looked to be Trixie’s age. The other was a honey brown with a teal mane and roan brown stripes that looked older and was wearing a purple scarf.
“And that is game little brother.”
"Come on Bantu, triple or nothing." The blue colt pleaded.
"Sorry Galeb but you know the rules.” The older colt replied. “We're only allowed to bet up to three weeks worth of chores."
The two colts stopped when they noticed Trixie standing there.
“Hi, I’m Trixie.” The young filly said.
Bantu and Galeb looked at each other and then back at Trixie.
“Uh...hi.”
“What are you playing?”
“Poker.”
"Oh can I play?" Trixie asked. "Grandpa taught me."
Bantu raised an eyebrow at the filly. "Sure but you are going to need something for the buy in."
Trixie frowned. "All I've got are cookies." Trixie opened her bag to reveal the cookies her aunt had packed for her.
Bantu grinned slyly at his brother "That'll do."
"So wait, you're telling me that your first meeting was him scamming cookies out of you?"
"Not exactly."
"Look Grandpa."
Quartermoon and Zelime turned away from the coffee they were drinking to see Trixie standing there, wearing a purple scarf as if it was a cape.
"Now I look like a real magician."
Before either elder could respond, Bantu came in.
"Alright! Double or nothing but this time I deal."
After Zelime ‘suggested’ that the three foals get out of the shop. Galeb and Bantu decided to take Trixie to the bazaar.
“You’re gonna love this.” Bantu said.
“Ok.” Trixie paused to look down at the scarf she was still wearing. “You can have your scarf back if you like.”
“No no, you won it fair and square.” Bantu said with a shake of his hoof. “Besides purple looks good on you.”
Trixie gave Bantu a shy smile as the three headed out to the Bazaar. There, Trixie was amazed at all the Zebronies that were there, as well as just how busy the place is. There were ones selling things at the stalls, playing musical instruments, even ones doing mundane things like sweeping the sidewalks or shopping. And all of them were wearing clothes of a bewildering array of styles and colors. They almost made the ponies scattered amongst the crowd look drab by comparison.
They stopped as a striking Zebrony mare with a red coat, pink stripes and an orange mane wearing an elaborately frilled white sun dress and carrying a box on her back crossed their path.
“Hi Miss Erzulie.” Bantu said cheerfully. “What have you got there?”
“Just some poor souls that I rescued from a griffon trying to smuggle them out of town.”
“Since when did you make a stand against smugglers?” Galeb asked.
“Since I’m pretty sure he was planning on eating them.” The mare lowered the box so Bantu Galeb and Trixie could have a better look. “They’re free to a good home if any of you are interested.”
A while later they returned to the shop.
"How was the bazaar?" Quartermoon asked.
"Great!" Trixie said excitably. "I saw so many things and I even got my very own Spit Viper."
Trixie opened up her saddle bag to reveal a live snake inside. Quartermoon’s eyes seem to jump out of his skull while Zelime just tsked slightly.
"Those are call Pit Vipers dear, not Spit Viper."
"Awww." The young filly whined. "But I already called him Mr Spitty."
“We stayed friends even after I moved to Canterlot for my studies.” Trixie explained. “We sent letters and stuff but I didn’t ever physically see him again after I left. That was until…”
There was loud banging at the door.
"I'm coming! I'm coming." A teenage Trixie yelled.
She opened to find an older Bantu standing. He was fully grown, more developed and currently out of breath but he was definitely the same Bantu she remembered.
"Trixie! You've got to help me."
Trixie took one look at her friend and then stepped to the side to let him in.
"Quick, get inside."
"When I found out why he was on the run, yeah I felt betrayed, yeah I was disgusted at how he trivialised robbing a relief train for his own gain. But it doesn't change that in a single moment of clarity I saw what my friendship with Bantu would cost me and I decided that it was not worth it."
"Yes you decided that being friends with a thief that attacked a relief train was not worth risking everything you had worked for in the Canterlot."
"In the time I've been here in Ponyville I've learned that there are always more than two options. There could have been another way to handle any situation. There probably was some third option I could have taken. But instead I chose the option that protected me. How does that make me any different from some of the scum bags we took down?"
"Self preservation and self centeredness are two completely different things." Raindrops countered. "Bantu's ship was already sinking, the fact that you weren't keen to jump on board is understandable." Raindrops countered.
"Maybe, but whenever I've been in trouble you and the others have always been willing to step in and help."
"Well yeah, friends do look out for each other." Raindrops agreed. "But if I thought you would view a train carrying relief supplies as a get rich quick scheme, we wouldn't be friends."
That brought a faint smile to Trixie's lips, from anypony else that would have sounded like a threat, from Raindrops it sounded like a compliment.
"Look, I know nothing I say is going to change how things ended with Bantu or Galeb or how you feel about it. Only you can change that." The weather pony put a hoof on Trixie's shoulder. "All I can do is give you the same advice somepony gave me once. Keep on trying. You are a good pony and someone others can look up to. Yes you colour outside the lines sometimes but when you do its with the best intentions in mind. You will mess up and you will have times when you do everything right ands things will still go wrong but all you can do is keep on trying."
Trixie's smile turn more genuine. "Thanks."
"No problem. So what's the plan of attack for this duel?" The pegasus asked. "Gonna give him the Razzle Dazzle Zip Zap?"
Trixie stared at her friend. "Is that honestly what you call my style of magic?"
"Well I used to call it the old Sparkle Sparkle. But after that run in with Twilight I figured it might not be appropriate. "
"Well, magic wise. Illusions and misdirection are what I'm good at, but that's how a lot of Voodoo works so I can't rely on it. Most of my equipment will be no good in a fight but I can't afford to go in empty hoofed. Galeb no doubt will have more than a few party favours. Any advice?"
"If it gets to close quarters, find something soft and bite down hard. I recommend the nose or ears but get creative."
"Bite him?" Trixie asked. "You practice Iron Hoof and your advice is bite him?"
"You think you can learn anything more complex by tonight?"
"Point taken."
There was a knocking at the door. Pokey went to answer it. Next thing the other four elements walked in.
When Trixie stared, Lyra decided to answer. “We know that you need to face Galeb alone but we wanted to remind you that we are still here for you and to offer some support in what ever way we can.”
The representative looked at her five friends and could only smile in gratitude as she was reminded of how lucky she really was. “Thanks.”
“I brought you something to help in the duel.” Carrot Top said as she pulled out a bag and gave it to Trixie.
Trixie opened the bag.
“Rocks?”
“Hit him in the head with one of those and it should slow him down.” Carrot Top explained. “And if he gets close enough swing the whole bag at him.”
“You’re the team herbologist and your plan is to throw rocks at him?”
“Can’t get anything else that could help you in a fight made in time.” The farmer replied. “Plus can you honestly say he’d expect you to throw a rock at him?”
Trixie paused for moment. “Point taken.”
Cheerilee stepped forward holding what looked like a curved piece of metal.
“This is my lucky horse shoe.” Cheerilee demonstrated wearing it by clipping it on her front hoof. “Get him in the face with this and even your punch will leave an impression.
Trixie then felt a pair of gray hooves wrap around her.
“Dinky and I wanted to give you a hug for luck.” Ditzy explained.
“Thanks.”
“And Silver Script wanted me to give you this.” the mail mare handed over a baseball bat with the words ‘Love and Tolerance’ written on it. “Just remember to give it back to him when this is over.”
Trixie finally turned to Lyra who simply shrugged.
“I just brought candy to help keep your spirits up.” the musician levitated a paper bag to prove her point. “I didn’t know we were supposed to be bringing weapons.”
It was nearing the end of the day and Galeb was finishing his preparations. Various vials and trinkets made their way into the numerous pockets of his coat. He even made sure that his hat was still looking right.
"Almost ready. Just need the finishing touch."
He opened his case to find his mirror when stumbled across an old picture. It was of him and Bantu when they were younger. He stopped to look at it. While it used to be a reminder of happier times, right now it reminded him of what he was fighting for.
"Come on Bantu, you can not be serious."
"This is a once in a life time opportunity." Bantu replied to his brother. "Just think what we could do with the ingredients that train will be carrying."
"What I can't stop thinking about is that you're talking about robbing a train meant to be carrying relief supplies." Galeb shot back.
"We'll leave most of it," Bantu argued. "We'll make sure to make that they discover the robbery not too far from Canterlot. The train gets resupplied in no time, the relief supplies go where they need to and we both score big time. Everyone wins."
"Except us if this goes wrong." Galeb said. "Sorry Bantu but I can't be a part of this."
Bantu threw up his hooves in dismay. "Fine then."
At that the older stallion started to leave.
“Where are you going?” Galeb asked.
“If you want to let opportunity pass you by that’s your choice.” Bantu shot back. “But this is my chance to make it big and I’m taking it, with or without you.”
Shocked, Galeb could only stand there as he watched his brother walk away.
"I will make this right, I promise."
He packed away the photo and pulled out his mirror.
"But first I need to get my game face on."
Pokey stepped in as Trixie was finishing gearing up.
"Just thought I'd let you know that the sun was almost setting." the assistant said, he then paused. "Where are your friends?"
"Waiting outside." The representative answered. "They're coming with me to the duel but I just wanted a few minutes of solo prep time before heading out. Did you need anything?"
"No no, I just wanted to give you this." Pokey held out a hip flask. "Just in case you change your mind about that drink before the match."
Trixie looked at the flask and then gave a grateful smile as she pocketed it. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Just don't lose to him okay." Pokey requested. "I really don't want to tell my mum that I'm taking orders from some crazed Zebrony now."
Trixie outright laughed at that. "I have no intention of losing." She assured him. "So want to come along to see me in action?"
Pokey raised an eyebrow. "And deprive you the opportunity of countlessly regaling me of the splendour that is your victory over the weeks to come?"
"Oh there will still be plenty of regaling." Trixie assured him. "Like I could trust something as trivial as your own eyes to truly comprehend my splendour."
Despite the banter both unicorns were smiling warmly. Pokey then gave a nonchalant shrug.
"I don't have anywhere to be to so why not." With a flourish and a beaconing gesture he opened the door for Trixie. "So are you ready?"
Trixie paused as she took one last look at her hat before placing it on her head.
"Well as Grandpa used to say: It's time to make some magic!"
The sun had fully set when Trixie and her friends arrived at the crossroads, the glow of dusk having just set beyond the horizon. Moonlight shone brightly, illuminating what was going to be her field of battle.
"Alright Galeb, I'm here." Trixie shouted. "Where are you?"
Galeb stepped out from behind a tree, still wearing his top hat and jacket. They now glowed with various symbols and arcane paraphernalia, and his face was painted to resemble a skull which unfortunately did nothing to distract from the smug look on his face.
"Prompt à répondre à votre sort. Tres bon." Galeb replied. He then noticed Trixie's friends. "What are they doing here? We had a deal."
"Eh blow it out your top hat." Trixie shot back. "The deal was that they don't interfere, and they won't. Doesn't mean they can't be here."
Some of Galeb's swagger returned. "Fine then, the more witnesses to your defeat the better. Let's get this underway."
"Not quite."
At that moment Ivory Scroll walked up the road with a bulging saddlebag.
"Mayor?" Trixie asked in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
"Cheerilee brought me up to speed." She then focused her attention on to everyone present. "As Mayor of Ponyville I am declaring this duel official as sanctioned under the Code Duello Equestris. As such, all proceedings will adhere to those rules of combat. I will be acting as the Master of the Field and Pokey Pierce shall be the primary witness to the proceedings. My verdict on this matter is final and any who commit misconduct under the code answers to me."
"What the...?" Galeb did another double take. "But you're the mare that punched me in the face!"
"One of the mares that punched you in the face." Cheerilee corrected.
"There is no way I'm letting you decide on who the victor is." Galeb objected vehemently.
"Did you bring someone else you feel is more suited for the role?"
"Well...er..."
"Then shut it." The mayor pulled out a large book from her saddle bag and opened it. "The law states that any duel in which title, property or government position is wagered must be overseen by a master of the field and primary witness."
"What makes you such an expert on duels?" Carrot Top asked.
"Have you not noticed this great big book?" Ivory Scroll responded rhetorically. "Besides, how do you think I got the job of Mayor in the first place?"
"Er...You were democratically voted in by the residents of Ponyville." Lyra offered.
"Well yes." the Mayor admitted. "But that still doesn't mean I couldn't have won it in a duel if I had to."
"So how about it?" Trixie asked. "Do you want my titles badly enough to fight fair for it?"
"Bah!" Galeb spat back. "You'll be losing this duel regardless so what does it matter who is present?"
"The guy's a jerk." Pokey commented to Ditzy. "But at least he's positive thinker."
At that both Trixie and Galeb took their starting positions in the center of the cross roads, ready to finally get this duel started. Ivory Scroll stood between the two combatants.
"Alright, as Master of the Field I declare that the duel between Trixie and Galeb is about to begin, as this is a Neigh Orleans style duel, there are no rules aside from those outlined in the Code. The duel is won by knock out, incapacitation, or surrender. There is to be no outside help and neither combatant may attack with the intent of killing their opponent. Any violation of these restrictions will be met with the force of law. Are these terms understood?"
The duellists both nodded. The rest of the spectators stepped back to a safe distance.
"Very well." Ivory Scroll stated as she began to step back as well. "On the count of three the duel may begin. One..."
Galeb reached for his nearest pocket.
"Two..."
Trixie lit up her horn in preparation.
"Three."
Trixie got in the first shot, firing a beam of magic straight at Galeb. The zebrony did a sharp turn, the beam narrowly missing him, and managed to powder up his front hooves. He clapped them together, sending out a percussive blast towards Trixie. On instinct Trixie raised a force field.
Shield work was never Trixie's strong suit. The force field stopped her getting hit by the attack but it shattered when the blast made contact. Seeing an opening, Galeb tried to bring his hooves together for a second round of applause only for them to be enveloped in a purple aura, keeping them apart.
"Much as I normally enjoy applause, that trick got old the first time."
Using his mouth, Galeb pulled out a long strange looking thorn and stabbed it into the magic surrounding his hooves.Trixie let out a gasp of pain she released her hold on the Zebrony, her horn suddenly feeling like it had been prodded with a hot poker.
"Doesn't feel too good having a Magesbane thorn through your magic does it?" Galeb asked smugly. "You honestly didn't think I wouldn't be prepared for anything you could throw at me?"
He then ducked as a rock narrowly missed him.
"DID YOU JUST THROW A ROCK AT ME?"
Trixie's response was another rock.
"Magesbane?" Carrot Top asked. "That doesn't even grow on this continent."
"I guess he's more prepared than we gave him credit for." Cheerilee commented.
Galeb dodged another rock and pulled out some black herbs and started to chew on them.
"Alright." He said as he spat the chew herbs into his hoof. "If you want to play that way...."
He placed the spat on hoof into his shadow, as he pulled it back a long tendril of shadow stayed connected to the hoof and stretched out. He gave his hoof a flick, causing the tendril to completely separate from his shadow and crack like a whip. Satisfied with his creation, he then cracked his whip at Trixie.
The show mare jumped back as the whip stretched out and hit the ground where she had been standing, causing bits of grass and dirt to fly up into the air. Trixie dodged a couple more strikes. As she dodged to the side to avoid another strike, the whip instead hit her shadow. She cried out as pain shot through her front leg, in the same spot as where her shadow had been hit.
The pain then intensified as Galeb sent out another three quick strikes in succession to other parts of her shadow. One hit in the other front leg, another in her barrel and the last one hit her in the horn. It was safe to say that she wasn't feeling too good after that.
"What's the matter?" Galeb asked. "Did it stop being fun without your friends to do the fighting for you?"
Despite the pain Trixie let out a growl of frustration. "This stopped being fun the instant you started messing with my town."
"Your town?" Galeb let out a hollow laugh. "Oh please, as if you actually care about this town. Just like everyone else in your life this place is just another stepping stone for you to move your ambitions forward. You're a parasite, Lulamoon. You use up everything and everypony around you and when they stop being useful you cast them aside."
"Oh yeah? Well at least I've helped take down world destroying evils, big shot." Trixie shot back. "What have you done with your life?"
Galeb grit his teeth and cracked the whip again. This time, Trixie was ready. She shot out a bright burst of light, disintegrating the whip.
"Read the memo Galeb, no one likes shadow puppets."
"Well no one likes your second-rate stage tricks either."
Trixie blinked twice and then pulled out Love and Tolerance. "Alright, now I'm gonna break something."
Galeb threw a group of vials straight at Trixie. On instinct Trixie used her magic to smash the vials before they could make contact. Trixie only realised her mistake when clouds of green smoke burst out. Trixie coughed and tried to back away from the growing smoke cloud.
Galeb tsked. "So predictable."
He then threw more vials out in all directions. Soon the whole field was filled with the strange green smoke. Galeb let out a chuckle as he started to blend into the smoke.
That chuckle seemed to echo through the smoke. Trixie circled, L&T at the ready. She saw an equine shape in the corner of her eye, she swung at it only for it to burst into a puff of smoke.
“What the…”
“You’re not the only one with friends.” Galeb's voice called out.
Trixie noticed that the shapes in the smoke were becoming more solid looking.They were also becoming less pleasant looking.
"No." Trixie protested, shaking her head desperately to clear it. "This is just some cheap trick."
"Cheap trick?" The mirth seemed to vanish in Galeb’s voice.
Don't you disrespect me little mare! Don't you derogate or deride! You're in my stage now! Not your stage! And I got friends on the other side!
He's got friends on the other side...
Trixie jumped back as skeletal faces appeared out of the smoke. They floated out of the smoke and started to dance around her.
Galeb stepped out of the smoke and seemed to be glowing with unworldly power.
Step up to my table Place a bet or three Because my powers will enable me to do anything, you’ll see
Trixie was about to take a swing at him but then she notices purple spiders crawling up her legs. In shock she jumped back and dropped Love and Tolerance as she tried shake them off. The spiders then vanished but the L&T bat had vanished into the smoke before the unicorn could reclaim it.
I know what you’re thinkin’ I can change it 'round some, too I'll look deep into your mind and soul
“Or at least if you have a mind.” Galeb mused, briefly knocking on Trixie's head as if it was a door before dancing out of reach.
Make your deepest fears come true!
I got voodoo! I got ju ju! I got things I ain't even tried! And I got friends on the other side.
He's got friends on the other side...
Creatures with bat wings swooped around Trixie. She tried vainly to swat them away but they were undeterred. Demonic looking reptiles started to slithered around her hooves.
She felt her heart racing and her breath coming in short sharp breaths. Why did she feel so scared all of a sudden?
Galeb meanwhile seemed to be joined by what appeared to be a council of ghosts.
The spirits, the spirits, the spirits will tell You sins, your failures, and your blunders as well. The spirits, the spirits, they whisper to me Let's look at your life and see what there is to see.
“What is going on?” Lyra asked.
“Don’t know. Hard to make out in all the smoke.” Cheerilee admitted. “Trixie’s acting all skittish about something but I can’t see what.” She turned to Mayor. “Are you sure this is legal?”
“Do you think I’d be just standing here if this wasn’t legal?” The Mayor retorted.
“COME ON TRIXIE!!” Carrot Top shouted. “SHOW HIM WHO’S BOSS!”
Now you, young mare, are from Neigh Orleans You were raised and trained by royalty Your ego's huge But your moral's flawed Does your family know they raised such a fraud?
"Aunt and uncle didn’t want you did they?" Galeb asked mockingly.
"Shut up!" Trixie snapped.
"They sent you off, to be raised by a princess who took pity on you. You were a charity case. A PR tax write off. But power…that was your dream!"
It's the dream, it's the dream, it's the dream in your heart But when I look into your past I see you're not all that smart
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Trixie said venomously.
“Don’t I?” Galeb asked mockingly.
He gave a grand sweep of his fore hoof. As if answering to his will, a section of the smoke parted but instead of seeing the cross roads, she saw the inside of the Ice Palace, or at least how it had looked roughly three seconds before it was flooded.
On queue, a torrent of water came straight for her. She braced for impact only for the smoke to close up taking the scene with hit.
Galeb just chuckled at the blue mare’s reaction.
On you little mare, I won’t waste much more time Steppin’ over others all your life Steppin’ over all your friends and my brother and been a burden on your teacher
The fiendish creatures were suddenly replaced by ponies from Trixie’s past. Former friends, old school mates and teachers. All looking on and jeering at her. And beyond that was the disapproving face of Princess Luna.
And if you’d ever gotten laid…
Shocked, Trixie turned to strike the source of the voice and jumped back when she saw an attractive stallion starting to invade her personal space.
You'd‘ve stepped over that stallion too.
A look of disgust appeared on the stallion's face.
So in conclusion, the fact that rings true Is that you’re the only pony who matters to you.
Number of ponies surrounding Trixie increased as they were joined by residents of Ponyville. All looking ready to tear the blue mare apart.
“No!” Trixie gave a defiant stomp of her hoof. “I may have made mistakes in the past, but Ponyville stands by me."
“That’s just because they think they need you Lulamoon.” Galeb passed effortlessly through the crowd until he appeared in front of Trixie. “Do you honestly think they like you?”
Trixie wanted to say a defiant yes, to be able prove Galeb wrong, but being in the center of so many ponies looking on in hate was stopping her ability to speak.
"Just give up." Galeb said coaxingly. "Come on Trixie. Won't you just acknowledge your defeat?"
Trixie didn't answer but just closed her eyes as she hung her head and dropped her weapons.
"Yeeess…!" Galeb exclaimed in triumph.
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Everypony started to dance around the two.
Retribution central!
Retribution central!
Soon the ghoulish specters started to join in.
Reparation central!
Reparation central!
The ponies also became more monstrous. Everything started to close in.
Satisfaction central!
Can you feel it?
You're losin’ You're losin’ You're losin, all right!
I hope you're terrified And if you are Don't blame me!! You can blame my OUCH!
Galeb was cut off when Trixie lunged forward to bite him hard on the nose. He let out a scream as she stayed latched onto his face. He lost all composure as he struggled to get the apparently crazed mare to let go. Finally he managed to shove her away and get some distance by shuffling away, one hoof covering his injured nose.
Wasting no time,Trixie pulled out her flask and poured out the contents around her before igniting it with a spark from her horn, placing herself in the center of a ring of fire. The flames gave her something real to focus on while the heated air caused the smoke to rise up, seemingly taking the spirits with it.
"Word of advice, Galeb." Trixie declared. "Even when you think you’ve won, know when to keep your distance."
"MAIS QUOI?!?!" Galeb exclaimed as he removed the hoof from his nose to check for blood. "YOU BIT ME!"
"Three things you should know about Ponyville. One! Every pony that lives there is COMPLETELY insane." Trixie paused for a moment to steady her mind. "Two! When what we hold dear is threatened, we will do whatever it takes to defend it. And Three..." She lifted up her hoof to reveal the magesbane thorn. "We tend to hold on to our stuff a lot better."
Shocked, Galeb checked and found that the thorn was gone from its pocket. Before he could respond, Trixie dropped the thorn into the fire, where it let out a crackle and a hiss as it burned up.
The ring of fire died down and Trixie stepped forward. "So don't think for a moment that just because you think Bantu is in prison thanks to me that you know what it means to be truly ticked off. You wanna see ticked off? You’ve harassed my town, insulted my character, unleashed countless monsters on innocent ponies, acted like an all around jerk and you tried to upstage me." Her horn lit up. "NO ONE UPSTAGES ME!!"
Galeb shielded his eyes as the field was filled with a bright light. When his vision clear he saw the field suddenly filled with Trixies, all looking exactly identical.
The zebrony scoffed as one of the Trixies approached him and casually clipped a horseshoe onto her front hoof.
"Oh please, you really think that a bunch of illusions are going to...GARH!" Galeb was interrupted by a horseshoed hoof colliding with the centre of his face. "Not in the nose again!!"
"It's time to face facts." Trixie said as she blended back into the other Trixies.
"Tonight's not your night." All the Trixies said in unison.
"It's mine."
It's close to midnight and something strange’s lurking in the dark Under the moonlight you'll see my might which almost stops your heart You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it You start to freeze as horror hits you right between the eyes, You're stupefied
Galeb pulled out pieces of strange looking paper. He threw them out in a wide arc, obviously hoping to hit as many mares as possible. The paper ignited in mid air. The Trixies were unphased as the fireballs passed harmlessly through them. Then the unicorns to his left launched a volley of magical fireworks at him, momentarily filling his vision with starbursts.
'Cause this is Trixie's, Trixie's night And no one's gonna save you from the mare about to strike You know it's Trixie's, Trixie's night You're fighting for your life inside a trickster, Trixie tonight
Galeb tried to take a few strategic steps back, only to have a rock hit him in the back of the head. He spun round saw that he was now completely surrounded by Trixies.
You try to step back and realize there's nowhere left to run You feel the cold chill and wished you’d fought under the sun You close your eyes and hope that this is just imagination, yeah But all the while you feel the chill that's creepin' up your spine You're out of time
Galeb desperately tried more of his trinkets but he kept hitting illusions, only for one of the blue mares to buck him in the hindquarters.
'Cause this is Trixie's, Trixie's night There ain't no second chance against the master of surprise, yeah Trixie's, Trixie's night You're fighting for your life against the trickster, Trixie tonight!
Galeb was soon overcome with dismay. “How are you doing all this?”
“Sorry Galeb, can’t tell you.” The zebrony turned to see Trixie nearby eating candy. “A good magician doesn’t reveal her secrets.” She then held out a bag filled with candy. “Want some?”
“No thank you.” Galeb said dismissively. Realisation then hit and the zebrony took a swing at the mare only for his hoof to go right through the illusion. The fake Trixie only smirked.
"Oh so you're finally getting physical. Running low on tricks?"
We're out to get you, there's ponies closing in on every side We will condemn you, cause all your crimes have left nowhere to hide. Now is the time for you to say you're sorry and repent, yeah Or else this night will be the last free one that you have spent. It's time to relent.
Galeb started frantically searching all of his pockets, trying find something to use, only to realise that he was indeed running low on supplies.
Yes this is Trixie's, Trixie's night and I can scare you more than any ghost would ever dare try Trixie's, Trixies night Hold on for your life as we jinx you, hex you, vex you, fix you here tonight
On cue the army of Trixies stopped moving, just standing there with their eyes closed. One by one each unicorn began to fade, leaving only a small orb of light its place. Only one blue pony remained on the field and Galeb prepared to strike, thinking he had an opening. Before he could do anything the scattered glowing spheres began to flying back to Trixie, gathering into her horn. With each shining ball her horn, then her whole body, began to glow brighter with silver light. When the last orb made contact the light suffusing her flared out into a shining nimbus of radiance that obscured her entire form. It was so bright that Galeb had to squint just to see Trixie’s silhouette within the prominence. The bright light must have really been messing with his eyes because that silhouette seemed to be growing bigger.
Then something began to emerge from the field of light. It was a horn. A blue, spiraling unicorn’s horn. But it was much too high off the ground and it just kept coming out. More than twice any normal unicorn’s horn length emerged before a regal, blue, equine face followed, upon her brow sat a high, tiered, silver crown resplendent with jewels. Next came a tall, graceful neck and a mane like a silvery mist, flowing on its own accord but filled with what looked like silent fireworks, blooming and fading in various, wonderful colours. Two very long, graceful legs stepped out, hooves clad in silver filigreed horseshoes. The body that followed was slender yet supple with strength and a blue coat that looked finer than silk. When she finally emerged completely from the nimbus it burst apart and she spread a huge pair of wings like an enormous swan.
Then she opened her eyes and looked down at the gob smacked zebrony.
Trixie had become an alicorn, and she was coming towards him.
Darkness covers all the land This regal mare does demand Judgment calling for your blood You terrorized our neighbourhood And whosoever shall be found Guilty of crimes against my town Will stand and face fate none too well And shake inside a fear filled shell Punishment for your dire dare The loss of freedom for several years And angry mares from every room Are closing in to seal your doom And though you fight for petty spite Your defeat is all too tragic No one like you could ever beat The Element of Magic
AHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHA
In desperation, Galeb reached for something in his hat. There was a loud crack and Galeb then fell to the ground unconscious, revealing the real Trixie standing behind him holding Love and Tolerance.
"And this is why I’m a Knight." Trixie stated. “and you’re a schmuck.”
The mayor came trotting over. She gave Galeb a poke to confirm that he was unconscious and then proceed to do a 10 count.
“...9...10! Galeb is unable to continue this duel by means of knock out.” she stated. “I declare Trixie the winner.”
“OH YEAH!” Lyra screamed enthusiastically. “YOU THE MARE!!”
The shout finally roused Galeb to consciousness and he started picking himself back up. “I will not go down so easily.”
Despite everything she had been through, Trixie couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “You were knocked out for a 10 count, face it Galeb, you lost. It's over."
"NO! IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL...."
"Until what? Because with everything that has happened I am still failing to see what your end game was."
The representative approached the beaten zebrony.
"Honestly Galeb, what was the point of all this?" Trixie demanded. "What were you hoping to accomplish? Even in a best case scenario, how would you be any better off? Taking my titles would not get Bantu out of prison any quicker and all it would have given you is minor governance over a backwater town that could be revoked as soon as there was evidence that you were unfit for the role. Was there actually anything you were hoping to accomplish here other than making me suffer?"
There was only pointed silence.
"Wow...just...wow...that's really all this truly was." She said in amazement. "I mean sure I figured that was the case when you first turned up in town but after all this effort I was thinking, hoping, that there was some big picture to all this. I truly don't know how to feel about this, I mean sure you’re a big jerk for messing with a town full of innocent ponies but to go through all this preparation and effort for so little pay off, that's actually kinda sad." She shook her head. "You talked about being my nemesis and yet all you really are is this hate filled revenge monkey."
Galeb grit his teeth and saw his hat nearby. He shot straight for it and before Trixie could stop him he pulled out a single red feather from it.
"You want to see hate filled?" Galeb asked. "I'll show you hate filled."
It was in that moment Trixie to came to a shocking realisation.
Galeb was holding a phoenix feather.
It is was the next moment that Galeb unleashed a massive wave of purple flame straight at Trixie. Despite every instinct telling her to move, the representative could only stare in fear filled awe as the wall purple flame approached.
“TRIXIE NO!!!”
Before any of her friends could act, Trixie was enveloped in the flames until all that stood there was a pillar of fire.
Everypony stood in horror at the spectacle.
Realisation at what he had done hit Galeb and all anger drained from him and turned into terror.
“No! Trixie!” He tried to force the Soul Fire to dissipate but it no longer responded to his will. “I...I can’t stop it. It’s out of control.”
“No Galeb.” A voice called from within the flames. “You’re out of control.”
The pillar of fire opened like a curtain, revealing Trixie, completely unharmed.
"Funny thing about soul fire." Trixie stated. "It answers to the strongest will present. Not the will that cast it."
"Impossible! There's no way that you could...."
"You know what? I am sick and tired of ponies telling me who I am. So listen up while I set the record straight, once and for all."
Trixie stood up on her hind legs. Her cape billowing out as if she had actually grown a pair of wings.
"I am the Great and Powerful Trixie. The Element of Magic, Representative of Ponyville, Hero of Equestria, Apprentice to Princess Luna, friend to five of the most honourable ponies in existence and grand daughter to the greatest magician of all time. The real question is, WHO THE BUCK ARE YOU?!!"
Trixie stomped ground. The fire erupted up into a wave headed straight for Galeb. The zebrony could only stare as the wall of purple flame heading towards him. In the last moment he closed his eyes and prepared for impact. He felt the heat surround him.
And then he felt nothing.
After minute of fearful anticipation, Galeb opened his eyes and saw the flames were gone. He look down saw that while the grass he was standing on was untouched, there were now two tracks of scorched earth, one on either side of him. As he looked up he saw Trixie just standing there.
The mare took in a deep breath as all of her anger faded away, her expression turned neutral. She then sat down and uttered two simple words.
"I'm done."
Galeb blinked twice.
"What?"
He was promptly knocked over when a big book flew in and hit him on the side of the head. When he was able to bring himself out of a daze he looked up and saw an angry Mayor standing over him.
"Galeb, you are under arrest."
"Arrest?" Galeb asked, "On what grounds?"
"You want grounds? How about to start things off we go with violating the terms of a duel by striking out after you had already lost, assault with potentially lethal force, acting with intent to harm, attacking a government official, defamation of character and littering."
"Littering?"
"Those vials you threw aren't gonna clean themselves up!" The mayor snapped. "Now come quietly or else we will take you in by force."
At that moment a rather sharp looking horn filled Galeb's vision.
"Trust me." Pokey said. "You don't want us to use force."
Galeb, with some degree of difficulty, was able to look past Pokey to see five very angry mares, the jasmine pegasus in particular looked absolutely murderous as she was restrained by her friends.
"I'll come peacefully." Galeb said nervously, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.
Satisfied that the zebrony's response was sincere, Ivory Scroll turned to the rest of the Elements.
"Pokey and I can handle Galeb from here." The Mayor assured them. "You lot focus on the representative."
The two lead Galeb away from the cross roads.
"Wow, she really threw the book at him." Lyra commented. The musician then noticed Carrot Top glaring at her. "What?"
"Not even Pokey felt the need to go there." The farmer stated. "That should tell you something."
“I still think you should have let me have some time to rearrange his face.” Raindrops fumed.
“And risk you getting an assault charge?” Ditzy asked. “That scum bag isn’t worth it.”
The mares approached Trixie, who hadn’t moved from her spot on the scorched ground.
“Are you alright?” Ditzy asked.
“I’m alive, I’m intact and apparently I’m victorious.” Trixie lifted her hat to reveal tears streaming down her face. “But I’m far from alright.”
The representative then started to collapse but Raindrops managed to catch her before she hit the ground. She continued to hold her friend as she started sobbing.
“Come on.” The weather mare said. “Lets get you home.”
Raindrops lifted Trixie onto her back. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
Trixie continued to cry quietly into Raindrops’ mane as the weather mare carried her back to town. Ditzy flew over top, gently rubbing Trixie’s back to offer comfort. About halfway back the tears stopped but Raindrops carried her all the way back to the residency.
Carrot Top had separated early on to get some supplies from her farm. She made it back shortly after the rest of the group and made a beeline for the kitchen.
Cheerilee and Lyra removed her cape and hat while Ditzy got a fire going. They then sat the representative down on the couch and lay a blanket over her as Lyra and Ditzy sat to either side of her.
Any protests Trixie might have given were incomprehensible. While she looked better than when she had been at the crossroads, she was still a few shades paler than normal and, despite her efforts to hide it, was quivering. Ditzy draped a comforting wing over her friend.
“How are you feeling?” the mailmare asked.
“Honestly?” Trixie sighed. “I don’t know.”
Carrot Top came in with a steaming cup of tea on a tray.
“Here you go.” She said as she placed the tray in front of Trixie. “This should help.”
“Thank you.” Trixie said quietly. Her face became strained as she tried to lift with her magic. When she failed to even light up her horn she settled on lifting the cup with her hooves. They were shaking so violently that the cup almost slipped out of her grip. Luckily, Lyra stepped in with her magic to help keep it stable.
Raindrops took Carrot Top to the side.
“I’m worried.” The pegasus stated. “That was an intense duel but Trixie wasn’t even this rattled when we dealt with Corona. Should we maybe take her to the hospital?”
“Would anypony there be skilled in dealing with voodoo victims?” Carrot Top asked rhetorically. “Besides the clinic staff evacuated with the rest of the town, they won’t be set up again until sometime tomorrow. And that tea there has chamomile and lavender to help with nerves as well as my personal blend of curative herbs in case that smoke Galeb used had something extra in it.”
The weather pony paused. “And you have your own personal blend for something like that because…?”
“Let’s just say I once learned a valuable lesson about double checking wild mushrooms before eating them.” Carrot Top replied. “For now the best thing to do is keep an eye on her and if she gets worse we’ll go get help.”
“You know I’m rattled, not deaf.” the representative stated.
Ditzy turned to Cheerilee. “You're sure Pokey and the Mayor can handle Galeb?”
Cheerilee nodded. “Pokey said he was going to call in help from the Apple family to help stay on top of the situation.”
“ARGH!” Galeb yelled in anguish as both Applejack and Red Gala sat on him. “POLICE BRUTALITY! POLICE BRUTALITY!”
“We done told ya.” Applejack said. “It ain’t police brutality when we ain’t the police.”
“Eeyup.” Red Gala added.
“So, mind telling me how Galeb pulled off that last attack?” Cheerilee asked. “I thought you said you couldn’t break a pact.”
“You can’t.” The blue unicorn answered. “The deal was that if I won he wouldn’t harm anyone or anything in Ponyville.”
“So?”
“So we weren’t in Ponyville when he attacked me.” Trixie explained. “Pacts follow the letter, not the spirit, of the agreement.”
“Doesn’t that mean he could still come after you when you're not in Ponyville?” Lyra asked.
“My concern was protecting the town.” The magician replied.
“So you don’t think this is over?” Raindrops asked.
“No.” Trixie stated. “This won’t be over until Galeb decides that it's over.”
“So how will we get him to do that?”
Trixie didn’t answer and instead put her hooves together in contemplation. She stayed in that position for at least a minute.
“I realise that this doesn’t really help but I just wanted to say that that Alicorn trick was really cool. Also, if you plan to do another mass Trixie music number, I’d be happy to help with the harmony…” Lyra trailed off when she realised Trixie wasn’t responding. “She’s fallen asleep hasn’t she?”
“I think so.” Cheerilee replied. “Help me get her to bed.”
Morning came and the guards arrived to collect Galeb from the town hall. Once Galeb was secured in chains and all his personal effects were confiscated, they escorted him to the train station. As they arrived to the platform they were greeted by a haggard looking Trixie.
“Can I have a moment?” The representative asked.
After taking a moment to make sure the restraints were secure, the guards nodded and walked off the platform.
“Here to gloat about your victory?" Galeb sneered.
"Somepony I once called a friend tried to kill me. I don't consider that a victory."
"Well, in my defence you did bite me and call me a hate-filled revenge monkey."
"You tried to set me on fire." The unicorn replied. "There is no defence for that."
The Zebrony didn't respond right away. When he spoke again he kept his tone neutral. "What do you want?"
Trixie suppressed a sigh. While she realized an apology would have been unlikely, she had still been hoping for… something.
"Look, I'm just going to bite the bit and ask: could we not be enemies?"
The Voodoo-wielding miscreant blinked twice.
"What?"
"Galeb, this retribution cycle we have going on isn't really going to get us anywhere. I mean, you do something to make me miserable, I do something to stop you that ends up making you even madder at me. At this rate somepony is going to end up being hurt." Trixie explained. "Now I'm willing to put this all behind me and I ask that you do the same."
"It's easy for you to say that." The Zebrony shot back. "You're not the one being shipped off to prison."
"You're right, it is easy." Trixie agreed. "What's also easy is writing a letter to the Princess telling her that you're a threat to national security and ask that you be thrown in the deepest hole we can find."
Galeb's eyes narrowed slightly at that. "Is that a threat?"
"It's a dash of reality, something you sometimes forget about." Trixie countered. "You seemed so intent on being my enemy that you seem to forget what that entails. You have the ability to be a major pain in my flank if you want to but you're still just one zebrony. I have my friends, this town and the law itself on my side. Trust me when I say that I'm just not worth the effort."
"And the fact that I hate you is just a technicality?" Galeb asked mockingly.
"Exactly, it is your equestrian-given right to hate whoever and whatever you want but that doesn't mean you have to be my enemy. I hate the Dusk Shine series of books but that doesn't mean I try to destroy every copy I come across."
The blue mare held out her hoof in a diplomatic gesture. "So you can either continue being my enemy, which hasn’t really gone that well for you, or we can call a truce and I can try to pull some strings to make your sentence more comfortable. Your choice."
The zebrony looked at Trixie skeptically before finally giving a shrug.
"I'll think about it." He answered.
Trixie smiled, it wasn't an official cease fire but it showed promise.
"Though tell me one thing," Galeb started. "How close was I to beating you in the duel?"
Trixie paused for a moment and then shrugged. She closed the distance between them.
"Well, between you and me." She lowered her voice to whisper. "Not close enough."
Galeb gaped as the representative then walked away without another word.
"Touché Lulamoon, touché."
The guards loaded Galeb onto the train, taking him to the train car that contained the holding cell. Galeb entered the cell and made himself comfortable on the cot as the cell door was slammed shut. He was going to try to get some shut-eye but was interrupted by the sound of a hoof tapping on the metal bars of the cell window.
He opened his eyes and saw one of Trixie’s friends, the jasmine pegasus, standing there, glaring at him.
“What do you want?”
“I just wanted to tell you something before you left. And no, Trixie doesn’t know I’m doing this. I just thought you should know that I don’t like you. And pact or no pact, if you ever mess with my friend again then I will personally double the number of joints in your skeleton, and that’s only after the other knights are through with you. Clear?” Raindrops said with an angry snort.
“How is that even physically possi… oh.” Realisation hit Galeb like a sack of bricks. “Yeah, clear.”
The hovering mare snorted once more before turning and leaving.
The zebrony sat in his cell on the train. Once the guards had been sure that he was secure they had left Galeb alone to stew. His attempt to sleep had been thwarted by the rattling of the traincar. It had barely been 10 minutes and he was already starting to get a little stir crazy.
"Oh come on!" He yelled out to deaf ears. "If you're keeping me locked in here at least give me something to pass the time!"
"If your confinement is causing you irritation, then perhaps I can offer you liberation."
A cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows. This caught Galeb's attention.
"Who are you?"
"Somepony that you did impress, with the talent that you possess."
The figure lowered their hood, revealing themselves to be a zebra mare.
"Your skill in the duel made me pause, for I believe you would be a great help to our cause."
The zebrony raised an eyebrow. "Your cause?"
"To correct the actions for which Luna must atone and to the get the rightful princess on the throne."
At that moment the pieces fell into place in Galeb's mind.
"There had been rumours about a zebra that had gone off the deep end and was serving Corona." The Zebrony paused. "Zatara, was it?"
"Zecora is my name," she said in mild irritation. "Though misinformation is most likely to blame."
"I don't mean to be crass. But if you keep on rhyming you can kiss my...ARGH!!" Galeb was cut off by Zecora swatting him on his injured nose. "NOT THE FACE AGAIN!!"
"If all you say is in jest, then your silence would be for the best."
Galeb glared at the Zebra.
"It's hard not to jest about the idea of you coming to me for help." He gestured his cell. "This isn't exactly the winner's circle."
"The fact that you lost I can not deny." Zecora agreed. "But your skills managed to catch my eye."
The stallion raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
“You showed resourcefulness, talent and precision.” She complimented. “What you lacked is proper vision.”
“Vision?”
"Your voodoo skills had your enemy in your grip, what you needed was proper leadership."
"And that is where you've lost me." Galeb stated. "I barely get along with the current government. Do you honestly think I would want to live somewhere ruled by a pony known as the 'Tyrant Sun'?"
"Queen Celestia is her name." The zebra's voice took on a warning tone. "And you shall call her the same."
"Her first act back was to demand the surrender of Canterlot." Galeb continued. "Now that city can turn to dust for all I care but how long before she sets her sights on the other cities, like Neigh Orleans?"
"Don't be so harsh when she's...only trying to protect her little ponies."
"Four things." Galeb began. "Un, that was incredibly forced. Deux, I would rather be unprotected than give up my freedom. Trois, how is holding ponies hostage in a cage of fire considered protecting them? Et Quatre, what happens if she decides that in the interest of keeping them safe she decides to make Equestria a pony only state? Then what would happen to me and my family? I may not like Luna for putting my brother in jail but at least I know where I stand as a citizen."
"Before your resolve you harden, remember the ruler could grant your brother a pardon."
The Zebrony actually paused at this. He had to admit there was some truth to what Zecora was saying, if he helped Corona gain the throne, he could barter his brother's release and negotiate protection for all Zebronies. And yet...
"I may hate her choice of a student, but Luna is, and always has been, a good and fair ruler, and while I may be willing to break the law, I draw the line at treason, especially since the success of your coup d'etat seems like a bad gamble to me."
Zecora stared at Galeb, then let out a sigh. "Though my disappointment I must voice, it is ultimately your choice."
Galeb paused. "Yeah I guess it is." He seemed to be genuinely surprised by this himself. "Though if you let me out I promise not to..." he trailed off when he realised Zecora was gone.
"I still can't believe that jerkwad got only a few years with the chance of early release." Raindrops fumed. "He deserved at least a couple of decades."
It had been a few days since the duel and Trixie had just gotten word of Galeb’s trial. Raindrops had stopped by to deliver some weather reports so she had brought her up to speed.
"Well, they couldn't make most of the charges stick since we couldn’t prove any of his actions aside from attacking me after the duel." Trixie explained. "He also plead guilty to reduce the sentence further."
“Yeah I get that, still doesn’t mean I like it.” Raindrops responded as she gave the letter another read. “And what’s this about them taking your advice under consideration?”
Trixie paused, “I may have made some 'suggestions' regarding Galebs incarceration.”
Raindrops raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask for her to elaborate. After a brief farewell, she flew off to return to the weather station.
Later that evening, Trixie put away the last of the documents she had been distracting herself with. She sighed and walked to the hall closet, beginning to rummage in the back shelves. Finally, she pulled out a small box.
Once certain she was alone, she opened it, revealing trinkets from her childhood she hadn’t looked at in a while.
Including an old purple scarf.
“Those who spend too much time in the past end up living there.”
Trixie looked up and standing in the doorway was an all too familiar elderly Zebrony mare.
“Hello, child.”
“Zelime!”
Trixie raced forward and wrapped her hooves around the elderly mare. The two stood there for a moment, enjoying the embrace.
“You’re quivering.” Zelime stated.
“Well, on the one hoof, it’s really good to see you. On the other hoof, I’m hugging a voodoo Queen whose two grandsons are in prison because of me.”
The zebrony let out a good natured chuckle.
“Firstly child, I’m not a voodoo queen. I’m THE Voodoo Queen. Secondly, it was my grandsons' own actions that lead them down this path, not yours.”
Trixie let out a sigh as she disengaged from the hug. “Doesn’t mean that don’t I feel bad about doing that to you.”
“You know what the purpose of Voodoo truly is? Freedom to follow your own destiny.” Zelime explained. “While it saddens me that their journey has taken them down this route, I have faith that it will lead them to their true destiny.”
Trixie blinked once. “That’s...a really spiritual way to look at this.”
“Believe me, it’s the only thing keeping me from finding the prison where they’re being held and dealing with them personally. A few years of night terrors might do them a world of good.” The elder replied, then she seemed to notice Trixie’s cape. “You know, Quartermoon would be so glad to see you wearing that.”
Trixie glanced down at it. “Yeah, you know, just doing my bit to keep my grandfather’s legacy alive.”
Zelime touched Trixie’s cheek affectionately. “Child, you’re not keeping his legacy alive. You are his legacy. And he would be so proud of the mare you have become.”
A single tear fell down Trixie’s cheek. “Thank you.” She said as she quickly wiped it away. “So what brings you to town?”
“Well my main reason was to see you but also to pick up Galeb’s effects and clean up any of his remaining messes. I trust you have secured his supplies.”
The unicorn rubbed her hooves nervously. “Well, you see, I have this friend, who is seriously into herbology, and you know how hard it is to get a hold of certain ingredients...so I was wondering...if maybe…”
Zelime silenced the representative with a raised hoof. “As they say, to the victor goes the spoils. Just promise me she’ll be careful.”
“Trust me, she won’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.”
“That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.” The voodoo queen pulled out a long thin box and gave it to Trixie. “Here.”
She looked at the box. “What’s this?”
“Think of it as a late graduation present.”
Curious, Trixie placed the box on her desk and opened it, revealing a single phoenix feather, with a tiny bit of the tip cut off.
“No, I can’t accept this…” Trixie trailed off when she noticed that Zelime had vanished. She then saw a note with the feather.
You have a bright future, make the most of it.
This brought a smile to her face but also reminded her of something else. She went to a drawer and pulled out a piece of paper.
She hadn’t told anypony but when she had been surrounded by the soul fire, she had seen something, or least an image of something. The problem was that, unlike her first time gazing into soul fire, she hadn’t had time to focus on the image and the recollection of what she had seen was hampered by the state she was in after the duel.
When she was finally able to put the image to paper, the end result looked like a misshapen weasel with horns.
She stared at the image, hoping to get some clarity, but ultimately stuck the picture back in the drawer.
That was an aspect of the future she would deal with at a later date.
Her thoughts were interrupted by sound of a toilet flushing.
Trixie raced to the sound and arrived in time to see Zelime to stepping out of the bathroom.
"Sorry deary, at my age you can't keep it in long.” The Zebrony stated. “Kind of ruins the mystique I know but that's life. Take care."
She then calmly walked out the front door, leaving Trixie there, dumbfounded.
Galeb was lead to his cell by a guard on each side.
"It's bad enough I'm stuck in this place," the Zebrony grumbled. "Do I really need to be naked as well? This is just demeaning."
The guards remained as stoic as ever but it was clear that they were glad to soon be rid of him. Once they had him in his cell they almost smiled as they shut the door on him.
Almost.
Galeb turned to face his cell mate.
"Look, I don't know what sort of newcomer hazing you had in mind but I'll tell you now..." he trailed off when he realised who he was sharing a cell with.
Pinky bounced along happily, the usual spring in her step as she passed the various goings-on. She paused when she saw Red Gala and the apple stall.
"HIYA MACKY!"
"Pinkie!" Red Gala hissed.
"Oops, sorry." Pinkie said sheepishly. "Forgot about the secret identity."
Red Gala sighed. "It's fine."
"Aww, why so glum?" The party mare asked.
"I'm a mare." The apple farmer said flatly.
"I know, isn't it awesome?"
"Awesome?"
"This is a once in lifetime opportunity, getting to see things from the other side." Pinky explained. "I've always wondered what it would be like to be a stallion. I mean, you're usually taller so I bet you can see further, you're stronger too so I bet you can carry twice as many cupcakes, though does it feel weird walking when you've got a--"
"PINKIE!"
"Come on Red, the effects will wear off eventually so make the most of it. There must be something you were curious about doing if you became a mare."
Red Gala suddenly avoided eye contact. "Nope."
"OH THERE IS!" Pinkie cried out excitably.
"Drop it." The red mare growled in warning.
"Oh come on," the baker persuaded. "Tell Auntie Pinkie all about it."
Red Gala was resistant for about 30 seconds before she let out a frustrated groan. Even as a mare, it was down right impossible to say no to Pinkie. She gestured for the party mare to come closer and then whispered into her ear. Pinkie's eyes widened and her jaw opened slightly.
The farmer sighed at the reaction she had received. "Yeah I know, it's..."
She was interrupted by Pinkie getting right in her face. "Let's do it."
"What?"
"Oh no, you can't tell me something this juicy and not expect me to want to make it happen." Pinkie said firmly. "We are doing this and it is going to be good."
Red Gala could only gulp.
"Alright, we're going to start this off nice and easy." Red Gala kept her voice low and sensual. "Then, we're gonna do the finish nice and rough."
She then took a step closer to the microphone.
And we're rolling, rolling, rolling on the river
She gently swayed her hips. The golden form fitting dress she was wearing sparkled as the light hit it from different angles.
I left a good job in the city Working for the mare every night and day And I never lost one minute of sleeping Worrying 'bout the way things might have been
Red Gala was then joined by her backup singers, the spa twins Lotus and Aloe, both dressed in matching white dresses.
Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Berry keep on burning
And we're rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river
The three mares were on the stage in the Town hall in front of a packed crowd. Pinkie and Rarity were in the front row, admiring their handiwork.
"Just as I told you," the fashionista said to the party pony. "Fabulous."
Cleaned a lot of plates in Manephis Sold a lot of pies down in Neigh Orleans But I never saw the good side of the city Till I hitched a ride on a riverboat queen
Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Berry keep on burning
And we're rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river
And we're rolling, rolling, rolling on the river
The river
The river
The river
The three mares then gave a twirl as the music picked up in tempo.
I left a good job in the city Working for the mare every night and day And I never lost one minute of sleeping Worrying 'bout the way things might have been
Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Berry keep on burning
And we're rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river
And we're rolling, rolling, rolling on the river
The audience cheered wildly which encouraged Red Gala to go harder.
If you come down to the river I bet you gonna find some ponies who live You don't have to worry if you got no money Ponies on the river are happy to give
By this point the whole audience was joining in as well.
Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Berry keep on burning
And we're rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river
We're oh oh oh oh oh oh
Ba ba ba! Ba ba ba! Ba ba ba!
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba!
"Thank you, Ponyville." Red Gala exclaimed enthusiastically. "Thank you and good night!"
