//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: It's All In the Cards // Story: Major Problems // by asmariamoon //------------------------------// Major Problems By Asmaria Moon Chapter 5 It's All In the Cards Trixie smiled broadly, thinking her show was a success as she walked toward Twilight and her group of friends. They seemed to be laughing at the last illusion Trixie had performed. All except one, that is. "That was a very mean thing to do, Trixie!" Fluttershy said, glaring at her as she approached. "Huh?" Trixie said, not fully understanding why the kind yellow pegasus was glaring at her. "You hurt that poor filly's feelings, and turned her treasured possession into a mockery, and wouldn't change it back." Fluttershy said, hovering in front of Trixie as she scolded her. "Yeah... well... she called the show that Trixie put a lot of effort into lame, and she called Trixie a no-talent hack." Trixie said defensively. "While it's true that she did, that still didn't give you the right to do what you did. You're bigger than she is, and you should know better!" Fluttershy said, using the same line she had once used to subdue a rampaging dragon. Trixie backed away from Fluttershy a bit, frightened of the shy pegasus' sudden outburst. Fluttershy stayed right in Trixie's face. "Now, the next time you see Diamond Tiara, I want you to apologize to her, and if you're lucky, she may just apologize to you, too." Fluttershy said. "Ummm... if... if that's okay with you, that is." she finished, slipping back into her shy demeanor. "Trixie is sorry, Fluttershy. She'll apologize to Diamond Tiara the next time she gets the chance." Trixie said, lowering her head in shame. She had let down her newest friend with her bullying, and felt horrible. Fluttershy smiled as Trixie agreed to apologize, and patted Trixie softly on the back. "It's okay. You're not a bad pony. You just made a bad decision.' she said, once again using a line from her encounter with the dragon. Trixie raised her head a bit, thankful that Fluttershy was so forgiving. "Other than the way you picked on Diamond Tiara, your show was really good, Trixie. I liked it a lot." "If'n y'all were ta ask me, Ah think that filly only got what was comin' ta her. Why, ya shoulda saw tha way she was pickin' on poor Apple Bloom a couple a' weeks ago, an' all jus' cause she don' have her cutie mark yet." Applejack said, putting an arm around Apple Bloom defensively. "Nopony treats mah sister that way an' gets away with it." she finished. "I'd have to agree. Though Diamond Tiara is a very beautiful filly, she has much to learn in the fields of grace and manners. Perhaps this trick of yours might teach her some humility." Rarity said. "It was just like a prank, Fluttershy. Trixie said the magic would wear off in an hour, so the tiara will be back to normal, so no harm done! Besides, Applejack and Rarity are right, she had it coming to her." Rainbow Dash said. "I donno, Dashie, Diamond Tiara looked the same way Gilda did at my party for her, except less ragey-ragepants and more saddy-sadpants. I think Trixie might have hurt her feelings, and that's no fun at all." Pinkie said. "Pinkie's right, you guys. Even if Trixie had meant it as a joke, a joke that hurts another pony's feelings isn't funny at all. However, it was a mistake, and it will soon be corrected since Trixie promised to apologize, so let's change the topic to Trixie's magic show. I thought it was wonderful that you decided to show everypony that you don't need fireworks and a stage to put on a great magic show." Twilight said. Trixie's brain caught on that sequence of three words: it... was... wonderful. This coming from the mare who was even more powerful than her, the one who had gotten the Ursa Minor out of town on that fateful night. Not only that, she was the Princess' most faithful student, according to Fluttershy, and why would Fluttershy lie? "Trixie? Are you okay?" Twilight asked, as Trixie seemed to be spacing out, a dreamy look in her eye. Trixie quickly shook her head to clear out the thoughts that were invading her mind. "Yes, Twilight, Trixie is fine. Thank you for your compliment." Trixie said, regaining her composure. Twilight blushed so slightly that Trixie almost missed it. Almost. "It really was great. The way you flourish your cards... that must take a lot of control. I wish I could learn how to control my telekinesis like that." Twilight said. "Yes... well... Trixie has been practicing her card flourishes since she was a filly. Her mother taught her how to do it." Trixie said, blushing a bit as Twilight once again complimented her. "You've never talked about your family before. What's your mother like?" Fluttershy asked Trixie's eyes suddenly turned sad. "Sadly, she is no longer with us." Trixie said, and Fluttershy shied backwards, afraid she had said something wrong. Her fears were defeated when she saw Trixie begin to smile. "But when she was living, Trixie's mother was the greatest unicorn alive. They called her the Great Lapis, and she is where Trixie gets half of her title of Great and Powerful." Trixie said. "Wait... You're the daughter of the Great Lapis?" Twilight asked, her eyes wide. "Jus' who is this Great Lapis y'all're talkin' 'bout, Twi?" Applejack asked. "The Great Lapis, full name Lapis Lazuli, was an amazing showmare! She once escaped from being tied up and put inside a magically-sealed and locked box which was submerged in the ocean, and all without using a single spell!" Twilight said. "She was one of my biggest role models when I was a filly, apart from Princess Celestia, of course. Her autobiography was the first book my mom ever bought for me. I still have it in my collection, a signed first edition even!" Twilight finished, her eyes shimmering. "If you inherited the Great part of your title from your mother, then, what I wonder is, where did you get the Powerful part of your title?" Rarity asked. "Her father, the Powerful Pyrite, of course." Twilight said, smiling as if this was common knowledge. "The Powerful Pyrite? Who's that? Do I know him? Because you're looking at me as if I should know him, Twilight!" Pinkie said, bouncing up and down on all four hooves in front of Twilight. "Pinkie, did you even read that book I gave you on famous modern unicorns?" Twilight asked, glaring at the energetic pink pony. "Nope! Well, I read a little bit of it, but after a few pages, I was all, 'Boooooorrrriiiinnng!' and put it away and bounced off to make cupcakes, because making cupcakes is a lot more fun than reading some boring old book!" Pinkie exclaimed. Twilight facehoofed. She should have known that Pinkie would never sit still for long enough to read a book on famous unicorns of modern times. "The Powerful Pyrite is only the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria! Everypony who knows anything about the Great Lapis knows that he was her husband. He's fought dozens of dragons all by himself, and won!" Twilight said. "However, since Trixie now holds his title, I'm guessing she's surpassed him in power, so now she's the most powerful unicorn."she finished. "That's not entirely true, Twilight. While it's true that Trixie did surpass her father, the Powerful Pyrite, Trixie herself has been surpassed in the arena of power." Trixie said. "What? By who?" Twilight asked, confused. "By you. You demonstrated more power than Trixie could ever hope to have that night you quelled the Ursa Minor's anger. That is why Trixie now passes on half of her title to you. From now on, she shall only call herself the Great Trixie, and you shall be known as the Powerful Twilight." Trixie said, showing an uncharacteristic amount of modesty by bowing her head towards Twilight. Twilight blanched, not knowing what to do. "Trixie... while that is an amazingly generous gesture, I could never take your title from you, even only half of it." Twilight said. "While it may be true that my power might surpass yours, it does not change the fact that you are still very powerful. Plus, power is nothing without control, and I'm afraid I don't have much of that." she continued. "Also, the Great Trixie just doesn't sound the same, and the title is Powerful, not Most Powerful, so it doesn't necessarily need to go to the most powerful unicorn, just one who is powerful, which you definitely are." Twilight finished. It was Trixie's turn to blanch as Twilight refused her offer, until Twilight explained why, after which Trixie blushed deeply. "You are too modest for your own good, Twilight. Very well, Trixie shall keep her title of Great and Powerful, if you wish." Trixie said. "Wait..." Twilight interrupted suddenly. "I couldn't have more power than you. If I did have more power than you, like you say, and you have more power than your father, that would mean that I could fight dragons with my power." Twilight said. "But if that's so, then why'd I have so much trouble with that dragon that Fluttershy lectured?" she asked "Maybe cause you were too busy trying to reason with it to actually go in there and kick its flank!" Rainbow Dash said. "Oh... right..." Twilight said, blushing as the hole in her logic was pointed out. "Oh, and let's not forget Rarity's astounding idea of trying to steal its treasure, under the guise of complimenting it. Absolutely bucking brilliant!" Rainbow Dash said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "'Oh, yeah, you just go out there and show off your beautiful scales! Don't worry, I'll watch over your treasure, and I promise not to do anything absolutely horrid like steal it while your back is turned! Oh, no, I'd never do that!'" she said in a mocking tone. "Seriously, Rarity, rule 1 about dragons: never threaten their hoard!"she finished, practically yelling the last line. "Yes, yes, we get the point, Rainbow Dash." Rarity said, looking at the bottom of her hoof, pretending to be occupied with her pony pedicure, but Trixie could tell she was doing that so that she didn't have to look at anypony else, lest she see anger or disappointment on somepony's face. "Besides, it's not like your plan was any better. 'All right, time's up, let's do this! LEEEEEEROOOOOOOYYYY WIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGKIIIIIIINNNNSSS!'" Rarity mocked, screaming these last two words at the top of her lungs, almost knocking Trixie's hat off her head with the force of her shout. Trixie had to readjust it so that it sat properly on top of her head again. "I'm sorry, Dash, but that was just stupid as hay." Rarity said. "At least I have Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash muttered under her breath as she planned to have a long, probably ego-boosting chat with the little pegasus filly later. Fluttershy floated over between Rarity and Rainbow Dash. "Please, girls, there's no need to fight, especially in front of our new friend." she said, looking over at Trixie. "Who, Trixie? She's the enemy, remember?" Rainbow Dash said. "In case you've forgotten, Dash, she apologized. I'm willing to forgive and forget. After all, she was nice enough when I was on stage, and she was nice to the Crusaders, and you know how annoying they can get." Rarity said. "Rarity's right, sugarcube. Ah think we should put the past behind us an' try ta play nice too." Applejack added. Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped as Applejack agreed with Rarity instead of her. She looked over at Trixie, who only smiled back at her. "Well... okay. I'll play nice. But don't think I'm not watching you! Hurt one of my friends, and I'll pull a Sonic Rainboom on your flank!" Rainbow Dash said, glaring at Trixie. "Aww, come on, Dashie, lighten up! Trixie's actually really nice once you get to know her. Sure, she sometimes makes mistakes when talking in front of crowds, but everypony makes mistakes. Like remember that one time when you all thought my looking for instruments during a parasprite infestation was just one of my random things, but it actually turned out that I was working on a solution to the problem all along?" Pinkie asked, suddenly bouncing over to stand next to Dash. Rainbow Dash looked at Trixie once again, who was still wearing a friendly smile. "Fine. But like I said, I've still got my eye on you." Dash said. Trixie only continued to smile. "Don't worry, Dash. Trixie promises not to break your trust, as long as you're willing to give it." she said, extending a hoof toward the rainbow-maned mare. "Good, then we shouldn't have a problem." Dash said, bumping Trixie's hoof with her own. "Anyway, getting back to the topic of your magic show, Trixie..." Twilight started. "It must take a lot of control to flourish your cards like that. Do you think you could teach me how to do it?" she asked. Trixie blushed deeply. Twilight admired her control. Not only that, but she wanted to learn from Trixie. The Princess' most faithful student, the mare who had taken on an Ursa Minor, wanted to learn from Trixie. Why did that make her blush? Trixie didn't quite know. She'd never blushed when other aspiring magicians who saw her shows asked her to teach them how to do a trick. Trixie shook the thoughts clear of her head, and looked at Twilight. "Trixie doesn't know. She's never taught anypony how to flourish before, but she can try." Trixie said. Trixie was surprised when Twilight suddenly burst forward, hopping around Trixie almost like Pinkie nearly always did. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" Twilight exclaimed, almost in time with her bouncing. "Thank you so much, Trixie! I promise to be an attentive student, and do my absolute best!" she said excitedly, standing up on her hind legs as she halted her bouncing, and wrapping her forehooves around Trixie's neck in a hug. Trixie blushed even deeper than she thought possible as Twilight hugged her. "And Trixie will do her absolute best to be a knowledgeable teacher, Twilight." Trixie said after Twilight let go of her neck. Later, Twilight and Trixie stood inside Twilight's library tree, Trixie idly shuffling her deck of cards with her magic, and Twilight, with her own newly-bought deck of cards, trying her best to copy Trixie's shuffling technique, which consisted of three things: a cut of the deck, which was almost perfectly in half each time, even though Trixie was dribbling the cards across her magic to cut them; a riffle shuffle, which, again, was almost perfect each time, each half of the deck only releasing one or sometimes two cards at a time; and a sort of bridge that formed afterwards that almost put the deck back together, Trixie having to do just a little bit of squaring off to the deck with her magic before it was perfect again. Twilight, on the other hoof, usually ended up with a lot more cards on one half or the other of the cut, usually had small clumps of cards falling at a time in her riffle shuffle, and had to square off the deck a lot more than Trixie did after her bridge. Trixie watched her new student's technique. "Don't worry, Twilight, you'll get better with practice." she said, collecting her deck after one last shuffle."Now, let's move on to the basic spring flourish." she said, flourishing the cards in front of her with her magic and catching them on the other side, then flourishing them back. "There are two points where you want to put pressure on the cards: the top corner furthest from you and the bottom corner closest to you." Trixie said, putting just a bit of pressure on the points she'd specified, and bending the cards backwards a bit. "You want to bend the cards back into an arch shape." she said, again demonstrating with her deck. "After that's done, you want to create a sort of sideways box of magic for the cards to fall in on the other side." Trixie said, casting an illusion spell on the box of telekinesis she was catching the cards in, which was just a little bigger than the cards themselves. "Since you're a beginner, you'll want it to be bigger than this, and lower to the ground." Trixie said. Twilight nodded, having formed the arch shape with her deck, and having formed the box to catch the cards. "Now, carefully release some of the pressure on the cards from the bottom." Trixie said, shooting the cards into her box with a slower kind of flourish, that almost came out in short spurts. Twilight followed suit, and was able to get most of the cards into her box of telekinesis. "Once you've practiced a bit, you'll be able to do it in one swift flourish, like this." Trixie said, grabbing the cards with her telekinesis again and putting pressure on the corners until the cards formed an arch, then releasing them in one fluid motion into the box of telekinesis. Twilight tried this, and was able to get longer spurts of cards and more of them inside the box, but it didn't have the style Trixie showed with her flourishes. "You'll get better with practice, Trixie promises." Trixie said as she saw a disappointed look on Twilight's face. "Just as long as you keep practicing and don't give up, Trixie knows that you can do it." she said, smiling, and Twilight smiled back at her. Author's Note: And so ends yet another chapter in our little story. Finally getting around to a bit of the twixie, though nothing major yet. It might still be a while before they fess up though.