Starlight Glimmer
"I don't know about this," Trixie said, pacing beside her wagon, her breathing not yet exactly hyperventilating, but coming close. The powder blue stars on the roof and the crescent moons, stars, and wands on the shutters glowed faintly in the light of Luna's full moon, as did the paint on the wheels. The yellow trim on the windows looked pale in comparison, but drew attention and made sure everypony could see somepony unique lived here even when most homes looked faded at night. The purple wagon reflected Trixie's strengths as well as her showmanship, especially when you realized that she was only a unicorn and that she had pulled the heavy vehicle across Equestria. Alone.
Hidden strengths.
She continued. "You're talking about me, here, Starlight. Trixie is a Performer, a Great and Powerful one. Hero? Not so great and powerful." She was whispering when she finished with, "We got lucky."
I rolled my eyes, though everything she said was uncharacteristically true. "Heroes learn to make their luck," I added.
Unlike in Chrysalis' changeling hive, I had my magic. And we didn't have Discord, whom Twilight was worried wouldn't understand the seriousness of the situation, of keeping the monsters on this side of the gate, and might find it difficult not to make it more chaotic. I, on the other hoof, understood fighting. I'd run away as a foal, after Sunburst had earned his cutie mark. In Baltimare, I'd learned how to protect myself, and soon protected some shady individuals who maybe I shouldn't have until I had to run away again when I learned I couldn't save ponies from their own stupidity. I'd had plenty of practice fighting by the time I fought Twilight and her friends... the time all my Our Town plans crumbled. Since becoming friends, I'd continued fighting, only for better reasons.
I said, "I wasn't keen on the plan, either. Your teleportation leaves a lot to be desired."
"It's not that bad! My first try, the Cutie Map landed half a town away, and it didn't hurt anypony."
"Because the magic would have failed if it would have hurt anypony. Remember my lecture on limits?"
"There is that, but it was still definitely pretty good!"
"It was actually pretty fabulous, if you consider it weighs ten tons."
"Trixie is fabulous. Hey! You're trying to flatter me. Usually a good strategy—"
I stepped in front of her and we bumped muzzles. Despite the moonlight, Trixie colored and stepped back speechless. I added, "Remember, I fought Twilight to a draw, but she won me over by offering me friendship. She almost never wins when we have magic duels. I can protect you—and we need Twilight doing other things."
Trixie rubbed her nose and her light blue eyes caught mine. "Doesn't mean I like the idea."
"Yeah, I'm scared, too."
Trixie shuddered, but tentatively smiled. "Maybe a few smoke bombs would be in order?"