//------------------------------// // 345. No Second Prances - Part 2 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Looking between her new friend and the alicorns, Starlight asked, "You know each other?" "You could say that..." Twilight responded while sharing a dry raised brow look with Midnight. "We've... had our differences," Trixie added with an equally dry tone before saying in a more... positive way, "What matters is, Twilight and Midnight gave me a second chance," before she gave them a spurious humble smile, "and I appreciate it." Twilight gave her a spurious smile in return while Midnight cleared his throat, "So! Um, Trixie... what brings you back to Ponyville?" "The Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie has come to perform a new stage show of grand illusion! I'm calling it..." Trixie paused for dramatic effect, "The Humble and Penitent Trixie's Apology Tour." "That's kind of a mouthful," Sunburst commented softly. "It's a working title," Trixie shrugged off before giving him and Starlight a wink. "Starlight? Sunburst?" The two of them looked to see Twilight, "A moment? Over here..." Not waiting for a response, Twilight levitated Starlight and Sunburst over to herself and Midnight, before she spoke in a hushed voice, "I know I said make friends with 'anypony', but... well, Starlight, with Trixie's past and your past, I'm not so sure she's the best 'first friend'." They all looked to Trixie, who was looking at the tableware before giving them a slightly shady-looking smile and wave of her hoof. "But whatever she did," Starlight responded, "you've forgiven her, right?" "Of course?" Twilight forced a smile before meekly adding, "It's just... she wasn't the nicest pony." "But, to be fair, the last time she caused trouble she was under the influence of an evil soul-sucking amulet," Midnight pointed out a bit nervously before looking to Twilight, "and you did tell Starlight 'anypony' so clearly you trust her to make her own friends the way Celestia trusted you, Twily...?" Seeing the raised brow of her husband, and then her student, and then her husband's student, Twilight sighed before saying to Starlight, "Midnight is right, and I do trust you, Starlight. Just be back in time for the dinner with Princess Celestia and Prince Sombra." "Thanks, Twilight!" Starlight was already at the doorway, waving, "You won't regret it!" Sunburst looked to Midnight with a hopeful look, "Um..." "Go on, enjoy yourself," Midnight said encouragingly, Sunburst smiling gratefully as he hurried after Starlight. It was the smarmy look Trixie gave the prince and princess as she followed Starlight and Sunburst out that bothered them, as Twilight uttered, "I hope not..." "I'm... sure things will be just fine, Twily," Midnight gave Twilight a nuzzle. "I really hope so too, Midnight," Twilight gave Midnight a worried look, "You remember what happened when Trixie showed up wearing the Alicorn Amulet-" "Completely my fault," Midnight suddenly confessed with an uncomfortable look. "Excuse me?" Twilight was confused. "You're thinking of the old me, Twilight," Midnight clarified, "as my prior unicorn self with no cutie-mark? Well, the thing is... I'm the one who gave Trixie the Alicorn Amulet, the current alicorn me, that is." "You- I don't- That is.... WHAT?!" Twilight gawked at Midnight with a mess of emotions that he cringed in response. "I had to! It's the way things happened and had to happen!" Midnight explained, feeling his guts twist at the look his wife was giving him. Taking a deep breath, he went on, "Back then, when my prior self was still around and I was incognito, I was keeping an eye on things, making sure they went as they were supposed to. They way I experienced them back when I was the Past Midnight. I found out that Trixie had been doing better after the first time we met her, and I had to make sure she would go to Ponyville that second time while wearing the Alicorn Amulet. "I tracked the artifact down and got Trixie to wear it and implanted the idea of getting back at us, is why she returned to Ponyville, and all of that happened as it did." "Midnight..." Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Twilight, I'm sorry!" Midnight got down on his knees and begged, "I know it was a bad thing, but I had to make sure my Old Self experienced the history I already lived through as my Old Self to make sure things would turn out the way they were supposed to, and they did! The only reason I'm saying all of this now is because Trixie is here and since I messed with her already it's only fair I give her the benefit of the doubt! "I understand you're wary of her, but if she and Starlight have a real connection as friends, then it would be against everything we stand for to meddle in their budding friendship." ... ... ... Midnight felt his guts squirm again as Twilight's glare continued... until she finally sighed but gave him a harsh look, "Couch. Two weeks." "But Twily-" "Want to make it a month?!" Twilight raised her voice in warning, and Midnight sulked with a sigh. Starlight and Sunburst helped Trixie put her stage together in Ponyville Park for her big show as Trixie declared, "This magic show's gonna be the greatest thing Ponyville's ever seen!" Starlight and Sunburst smiled at Trixie's confidence... when they heard some murmurs behind them, and as they looked around they saw several locals who were passing by giving Trixie unflattering looks and whispering to each other. Trixie noticed it too and couldn't help sulking a bit. "Everypony always says they'll give you a second chance, but deep down they never forget!" "That's what I'm worried about," Starlight agreed as Trixie added a star decoration to the stage. "Starlight, I know you and Midnight still aren't exactly friends yet," Sunburst spoke up, "but don't forget how he humbled himself and apologized to us back in the Crystal Empire. He even removed that inhibitor ring on your horn. "Well yeah, but he still hardly talks to me and doesn't involve himself in my lessons with Twilight except to ask about my progress," Starlight replied, "Twilight say it's going just fine, and he'll just nod and move along. I know he's not my teacher and I did a lot of bad things that I know I still have to make amends for, but it'd be nice of him to be... well, nice!" They heard Trixie sigh, and Starlight asked, "What's wrong?" "I heard what Twilight said about me and she's right; I wasn't very nice myself," Trixie confessed, "so I'd understand if you didn't want to be friends." "Are you kidding? You're the first pony I've met who has any idea how I feel!" Starlight exclaimed. "Besides, we didn't know you back when you did your... misdeeds," Sunburst added, "because compared to what Twilight said about you, Starlight and I can honestly say we like the you we're getting to know." Trixie smiled appreciatively at their words before looking around and then softly asking with a slightly sneaky look, "Can you guys keep a secret...?" "What are... friends for?" responded Starlight hesitantly but smiling. "Whatever it is, mum's the word," Sunburst assured. "The things I've done, I did them because I was jealous of Twilight and angry at Midnight," Trixie admitted before getting ornery, "They're both just so talented at pretty much anything they do, and I just wanted to beat them at something!" Seeing Trixie had gotten it out of her system, Starlight and Sunburst gently patted her on the withers as Starlight promised, "Your secret's safe with us," and Sunburst nodded. "Thanks," Trixie smiled at them both before asking, "Wanna help me unpack my wagon?" Starlight and Sunburst both smiled as the latter said, "Lead the way!" The three of them left the park as Trixie showed the way to the aforementioned wagon and said, "I spend a lot of time on the road in my wagon so it might be a tad messy." "Maybe we can help," offered Starlight. "Yes, we're both pretty good in organization," nodded Sunburst, "Magic props..." "Brainwashed crowds." "Huh?!" The mares both giggled while Sunburst stood there, slightly stupefied by Starlight's choice of words when he heard a 'pssst, pssst' sound. Looking around, he heard the noise coming from a bush. When he got closer, he startled a bit to see Twilight's face pop out while gently ssshhhh'ing him. "Sunburst, are you coming?" Sunburst looked to see Starlight and Trixie down the way, waiting on him. "Uh- I'll catch up! I got some cockaburs in my cape." "Okay, the wagon's just around the corner," Trixie replied before she and Starlight vanished around the corner of a nearby house. Once they were out of sight, Sunburst gave a disapproving raise of his brow towards Twilight, still hiding in the bush as she asked, "So... how's it going with Starlight and her new friend?" "It's going great, Princess..." Sunburst responded dryly, "Thank you for asking. In a completely un-trusting way-" "Because you know," Twilight interrupted as she stood up from the bush, "If it isn't working out for whatever reason, I could introduce her to somepony I have in mind! I know Starlight enjoys music, and DJ Pon3'd be the perfect guest for tonight's incredibly important dinner with Celestia and Sombra! You know, if she decided to make a last-minute change." "So... back at the castle, when you told Starlight that you trust her," Sunburst pointed out with an edge in his tone, "you meant that you don't trust her." Twilight cringed at Sunburst's words but responded, "Sunburst, I'm just trying to look out for my student." "I can appreciate that, but I don't approve of your methods," Sunburst furrowed his brows, "She and Trixie have a real connection, and honestly, I think of her as a friend now too! Besides, if you want for Starlight to truly learn about Friendship, then you have to let her experience it for herself so that she can be better than she was." "But are you sure that Trixie is the one who can help her do that?" Twilight asked and almost immediately wished she hadn't once she saw the look of contempt Sunburst gave her. "Well, call me a horse of a different color, Trixie was right!" Sunburst glared reproachfully at Twilight, "You haven't given her a second chance at all! Makes me wonder why you even took Starlight on a student to begin with." Sunburst harrumphed and left Twilight to stew in her guilt. Sunburst didn't like lying to Starlight nor did he want to hurt Trixie's friends. But Twilight's behavior had bothered him so that he fibbed to them that he was going to see Midnight about the construction of a new library, an excuse to go see his mentor, Midnight. At the castle, he found Midnight in the castle library, still going over some papers he was writing as he was still in the planning stages of forming his and Twilight's own personal guard. "Midnight?" The sapphire alicorn gazed up to see his apprentice with a troubled look, "Everything okay?" "Well..." Sunburst hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck with his hoof. "Twilight?" Midnight asked with a flat look. Sighing, Sunburst nodded, "Twilight." Midnight stacked the papers neatly before inviting Sunburst to sit with him at the table. When Sunburst was done, Midnight sighed wearily, "I thought she'd listen to me earlier..." "Midnight, I don't meant to cause anything between you and-" Sunburst tried to say, only for Midnight to raise a hoof. "I'll speak with Twilight and make sure this doesn't escalate, you have nothing to apologize for, Sunburst," assured Midnight, "Go hang out with Starlight and Trixie. I need to have a more... definitive conversation with my wife." Twilight had gone grocery shopping to prepare for tonight's dinner, and Midnight knew the stands at the market Twilight frequented. He found her easily enough, her saddlebags stuffed with new scrolls, parchment, quills, and inkwells while she levitated her grocery bags behind her while she was looking over some tomatoes, trying to discern which were the best among the bushel. "Twilight." She turned to see her husband giving her a flat look and quickly realizing, "Sunburst spoke to you, didn't he?" "Don't blame him for your own behavior," Midnight took the grocery bags in his mana and gestured Twilight to follow him. She sighed, hating to be treated like a filly but knew she couldn't avoid this. She followed Midnight to the Hayburger, one of their favorite restaurants in Ponyville. Not one of those stuffy and uptight restaurants where everypony expected absolute perfection, but a place where the goers could just sit, relax, talk, and enjoy some delicious albeit somewhat greasy fast food. As they walked in, a memory played out in Twilight's head as she recalled the first time she and Midnight ate here together. One day, she'd been so frustrated with some research, trying to find books on a subject she couldn't even remember now, which made her question what it was that got her so stressed out... until Midnight came up to her, took away her books and said 'We're going out, no arguments' with a hopeful smile on his face. He'd led her out and told her she could pick wherever she wanted for them to eat and it was his treat, a casual date. Twilight had remembered the Hayburger after the Cutie-Mark Crusaders introduced her to the restaurant and though it had been different, she couldn't deny that she'd enjoyed the food and the friendly service. When she suggested, Midnight had said 'interesting choice' in a slightly jokey way. As though he were surprised Twilight would like fast food in the first place. That lunch was very nice. It'd unwound her, helped her relax, and she and Midnight had just talked. About a lot of things, whatever popped into their heads. They talked long after they finished their meals, almost to the point where it was nearly closing time for the Hayburger and they'd realized they'd been in that booth for hours. They hadn't noticed because of just how much they'd enjoyed each other's company. Twilight had known long before then that she loved him and he her, and yet that one lunch that turned into hours of enjoyable conversation was among the happiest times she'd spent together with the stallion who became her husband. Now however, she began to dread what words they were about to share. Midnight got them their usual booth, they both ordered a simple hayburger and drink, and sat there. Midnight said nothing, looking at Twilight expectantly with a flat look. Twilight struggled not to squirm, hating the awkward silence. It wasn't until after one of the waitresses brought them their orders that Midnight finally took a deep breath. "Twilight... Starlight is not you." "What?" That statement caught Twilight by surprise. "Midnight, I know Starlight isn't me-" "Then why did you try to meddle into her budding friendship with Trixie?" asked midnight whole folding his forelegs. "You know Sunburst told me, and I already confessed to you my role in Trixie's last wrongdoing. If anything, you should see her in a more sympathetic light yet you were looking to choose a different friend for Starlight." "I- Well, that is- It's just the dinner-" Twilight flabbergasted, and Midnight held up his hoof. "Is that what this is about? Presenting your pupil to your former teacher to show how well things are going?" Midnight sighed and shook his head. "Twilight, Starlight doesn't have to be perfect and neither do you, for that matter! But you're still allowing your neurosis and need for control and perfection to drive you towards questionable decisions." "Well what about you?!" Twilight pointed at Midnight. "You gave Trixie the Alicorn Amulet, resulting in that entire situation! Trixie ordered your past self to kill me, and if he- You- Well, you know what I mean. If you hadn't found the will power to turn against her and destroy that relic, things could have ended badly!" Midnight returned Twilight's glare with one impassable before sighing, "I am not proud of many things I've done, Twilight. Awful as some of them were, I never did them without purpose and the best of intentions. That's not an excuse, I know that, but where Trixie was involved, I had to make sure those events unfolded as they did. I couldn't afford to deviate, to allow for 'what ifs'. Too much depended on a series of events playing out as neatly and straightly as possible. But we're not here to talk about me, we're here about you, so no more changing the subject! "Twilight... Starlight's made questionable decisions before and we know what happened as a result of them. I played a part in those decisions, even if it was unknowingly, unwittingly, and unintentionally. But Starlight needs to change on her own merit if she's to learn about friendship." Twilight slouched a bit, before finally saying, "I'm just... Midnight, I'm just not sure if Trixie is the pony to help her do that. What if Trixie isn't the friend Starlight thinks she is? What if she hurts Starlight and my pupil is hurt by how her first attempt to make a friend wasn't what she hoped it would be?" "That's her bridge to cross, Twily..." Twilight felt her husband take her hoof and she looked up to see those beautiful turquoise eyes she loved so much, filled with such love for her. She felt her heart relax a bit, and she smile back. Somehow, she could always see the best of herself in Midnight's eyes. "Even if Trixie doesn't turn out to be the right friend for her, it will still be a learning experience for Starlight. Yes, she could get hurt, but remember what you said to her before!" Twilight looked confused for a moment until Midnight reminded her, "If somepony turns out not to be the friend you think they are, then try again. Because real friendship is worth the search for it." Finally Twilight got it, and she hung her head with a sigh, "What was I thinking...?" "You were thinking you were looking out for your student and your friend," Midnight assured. "But sometimes we allow unnecessary things to cloud our judgement. Which reminds me, Twily, I'm afraid I'm not going to attend the dinner with Celestia and Sombra." "What?! But... but Midnight!" Twilight wanted to protest, but Midnight held up a hoof. "Twilight, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Starlight is going to have to make a choice," he explained, "Trixie's show is tonight, same as the dinner. Either she chooses to be there for her friend, or she chooses to ignore her just to please you. If you were in her horseshoes, what would you choose? I know that's not a fair choice but if your idea is to attend a function to please a VIP over being there for a friend during something that means a great deal to them, then perhaps you should rethink some of the things you've learned in friendship. "I love you." Midnight leaned over and gave his Twily a warm kiss on the lips before taking his food and leaving her to really think about herself as of late. Granted, Twilight couldn't argue that her recent behavior was wrong regardless of her good intentions. A part of her still didn't trust Trixie and she'd allowed her concern to become suspicion and even paranoia to a lesser extent. Sighing, she took a sip from her drink as she thought, I owe Starlight and Trixie an apology. Midnight's right, whether or not this friendship between them works out, it's up to Starlight to make it happen. If I don't trust her to do that, then I have no business being her teacher after all. She began to eat her burger as she decided, I'll talk with Starlight the next time I see her, though it might do me some good to talk to Celestia when she and Sombra arrive.