Mages Always Riling Twilight.
Ever since the scheming Starlight Glimmer had first returned - and nearly ruined the Mane Six - Twilight had coined this ignoble term. It was something she feared was going to be a common thorn in her side, and not even Stairlight becoming a student of hers had fully unmoored her form this troubling pier. But now, it seemed like the other mares that had gotten on that list might finally be getting her way off of it.
If Twilight could help her.
Because tonight, she was spending this night face-to-face with that very same Great and Powerful showpony. That had startled Twilight for a bit, before she remembered Starlight’s brighter mood yesterday; apparently a friend of Starlight’s had gotten back to her, and gotten closer to her as well.
On one hoof, Twilight was glad that Trixie wasn’t up to her normal shenanigans during this visit.
On the other, well… she and Trixie had their eccentricities, too. For better and worse.
“--and then Starlight implied that Trixie - Trixie! - was being disagreeable, which is just absurd! So of course I had to agree to move my cart to your Sparkle Stronghold - but Starlight still insists on having a third present in it during our times together and-”
Twilight’s raised hoof stopped the red-nosed Trixie cold.
“Alright, Trixie,” Twilight began. “Can you repeat what you said about the ‘third’ you needed for…?“
“Our visits!” Trixie impatiently spluttered. “Starlight believes that I am not enough entertainment, despite the riveting times we have had stargazing! Is Trixie not enough for her?”
And the twinges in Twilight’s stomach were coming back. “Well… have you tried finding some middle ground?” she asked tentatively. “I’m sure Starlight would be accommodating.”
“Fine.” Trixie reached into the tray between both mares. The crinkling of plastic and the tink of the sweet she popped into her mouth made Twilight's ears twitch. “And Trixie thanks you for the candy.“
“Sure thing - you did ask for help with that fever earlier.”
“The reason I’m thanking you for that…” A thick swallow followed, and Trixie’s eyes narrowed. “... is because that candy is the most help you have given Trixie today.”
Twilight nearly bit her tongue to keep from snorting. “Aaaand there’s the Trixie I know.”
“And Trixie thought she was losing her touch.” Weirdly enough, the smile Trixie had on was far softer than Twilight though it’d be. “But Trixie still must know how to dissuade Starlight from bringing in more PETS.”
Familiarity and fear raced through Twilight as one. “Pets? Trixie, you’re talking about having pets in your carriage?”
Trixie rolled her eyes. “Believe me, Twilight; I’m as surprised as you are that I’m coming to you with advice on PETS.”
Suddenly, the box full of medicinal caramel-honeydrops between them was looking a lot more appetizing to Twilight.
“Well, I think the solution to that’s simple, Trixie.”
“I’m listening.”
Twilight leaned forward, wrapped a foreleg around Trixie’s withers, and pursed her lips.
“Get bigger hats to pull them out of.”
Trixie’s jaw after nearly hitting the tabletop ground in shock. “That is so funny that Trixie forgot to laugh.” Yet despite her words, Trixie’s maw was twitching in jubilation at the joke.
Twilight was barely keeping away a smile herself. “Wow, and here I thought I’d lost my charm!”
“Well don’t worry -hehhehheh- for Trixie still uses it as a doorstop after our duel!”
And then the struggle to keep from laughing was lost. Both mares were soon holding each other up through their chuckles and gasps..
“So, what’s the real reason you can't stand pets?” Twilight finally got out.
“W-well, clearly, Trixie is still busy with so many things!”
“Like… ?”
“Obviously, the magic shows are first and foremost!” Trixie huffed. “Finding powder f-for my cannons is tough work-”
“I thought the mines Rarity pointed out to you were helping out on that part?”
“Um… well, it is. Enough to keep Trixie stocked for the year, actually.” Trixie shook her head. “But that is nothing next to the planning needed to keep the shows fresh! I simply have no space to draw them out and hold court for a pe-”
Twilight gasped. “Oh my! Did Davenport kick you out of the room Starlight rented for planning already? I can talk to him!”
Trixie looked like the request came from Twilight’s second head, almost white with mortification. “N-no! Davenport will even pay Trixie for each show done outside his store! But the cart, it is too cro-”
“Well, I can assist you with helping on that too, if that’s t- ”
“Is this a chat or a trial, Sparkle?”
A growl seeped out from Twilight's lips.
Trixie simply slumped in her seat. “Trixie doesn’t even know what Starlight wants! And if I should return from a show and find that Star is damaged... how would I move on? Carts are hard to come by!”
“...Star?”
“Pardon, Sparkle?”
Twilight only hesitated for a second. It was very likely that the rapid-fire relays from Trixie were to escape as much as it was to express her doubts. “You said Star at the beginning. Not cart.”
“A-and so what if Trixie did?” Trixie stammered. “The Great and Powerful Trixie cannot be everywhere at once. Who would watch over Starlight as Trixie handles PETS?”
Twilight pointed at herself.
A disdainful grin was all the Princess of Friendship got in return. “Nevermind, I remember how to laugh now.” Trixie said, a short chuckle escaped her lips.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” Trixie craned forward in her seat, popping another candy into her maw after magicking off the wrapper in seconds. It didn’t hamper the sharpness in her next words one bit. “That I am so weak in the face of PETS is humiliating. That it could ever be because of her is unthinkable.”
Suddenly, Twilight was starting to understand the reason for the trepidation in Trixie’s voice. “Well, Trixie, there's also the possibility of you having a great assistant,” she offered. “Having a pet that can follow your motions would be-”
“Starlight is the only assistant Trixie needs!” Another panicked glance at Starlight’s door followed for the showpony, but this time, the tone Trixie took did not recede. “And if Trixie cannot find a way to say no to her in a commanding enough fashion, then Starlight will have nothing of Trixie to respect! She had an entire village of ponies that nodded along to everything she said - the Great and Powerful Trixie is supposed to be different!”
The temperature in the sitting room seemed to drop ten degrees with every word Trixie spoke.
“And I. Will not. Be nothing.”
Not since the Alicorn Amulet had Twilight seen so much fire dancing in Trixie’s eyes. Needless to say, back-tracking was in order. Trixie was confiding in Twilight - she couldn't afford to flock it up.
“That’s never going to happen, Trixie,” Twilight said, finally unwrapping and chewing on a honeydrop. “Starlight’s been with you through thick and thin. She introduced… well, re-introduced... you to me, remember?”
Trixie tsked, but otherwise stayed silent. Twilight almost wanted to ask what happened to the real Trixie, but she suspected she already knew the answer.
“And Starlight’s plenty capable, too.” Twilight added, giving the antsy showpony a tentative smile. “We’ve had enough air battles and debates for me to see that.”
“Then why does Starlight wish for me to be so close to this castle?” Trixie asked, almost right up in Twilight's face “And why does Starlight constantly press me about how much time I’ve spent with Spike? And why do the PETS come up every time Starlight becomes disappointed?”
Twilight cleared her throat. Probably time to elaborate on what pet Starlight wanted. “I think it’s because Starlight wants-”
“And why does Trixie not find the PETS she experiences with Starlight not as bad as those others give me?”
Twilight almost choked on the honeyed sweet, thumping her chest to dislodge it. “Trixie… has this been the first time you’ve had somepony want to be with you this much?”
The pause that passed between both mares was so long, Trixie thought her chest would burst. “...besides my parents, yes.” she finally replied. “But I hardly see why Starlight would be that concerned. She even wished to know if we’d talk about pets at that animal sanctuary, even though this castle is far clos-”
Then Trixie’s eyes bugged out.
“...Trixie is an idiot.”
Wisely, Twilight didn't chip in on that statement. Her musings about the MART would be hypocritical if she started winding up Trixie now.
Besides… it really did seem like Trixie was finding out her own feelings on the situation. Her concern for Starlight’s peace of mind, her fear of seeing her friend hurt - Twilight supposed this was a likely outcome. But letting the showpony find out the conclusion with help?
Certainly, it was a unique way to approach solving a friendship problem. Especially when it seemed to be more than friendship that Trixie was receiving from --
“Starlight!”
Trixie, still lost in thought, jumped a foot in her stool. Before her and Twilight was the tousle-maned, narrow-eyed mare of their discussion. To Starlight’s left was a flagon of mouthwash, tilting in the air inside a cloud of sorcerous sparks. The curved cap of it was pointing at Twilight, and suddenly the Princess of Friendship found herself uncomfortably aware of how sharp it was.
“S-S-S-Starlight…” Trixie sheepishly whispered, giving her friend a wide berth. “How’re yo-”
“It is… three-twenty… in the morning.” Every word fell from Starlight's mouth like paving-stones, and the ice in her eyes seemed to sharpen with the passing seconds. “Now explain… why I... am not spending it chatting with Luna!”
“...you speak to Princess Luna?“ Trixie’s voice was almost lost in the exhales Starlight was giving.
Twilight, thankfully, was not as soft-spoken. “I promise you Starlight, it’s only to help Trixie get over her pet problems.”
“Which one?”
Trixie winced at the hurt laced in Starlight’s grumpy voice. “I’d like to make a concession to Starlight, Sparkle, if she’d like to hear it.” Trixie worked her bottom lip between her teeth as she turned to face Starlight. “Assuming that Starlight hasn’t heard all the Trixie she wanted to for a lifetime.”
A weary sigh later Starlight’s shoulders sagged in concession. “No, Trixie. Just… I thought we talked about this. I’ve wanted you around more often too, but I didn’t-”
“Trixie accepts your terms. But... not at once.”
Now it was Starlight’s turn to gape, and Twilight couldn’t help but giggle a little. Starlight had always looked dorky and adorable this way. Perhaps Twilight could find a word to better describe it in the morning.
Preferably when half of the mouthwash bottle Starlight was holding wasn’t spilling its contents into her fuzzy mane. Apparently, the magical grip on that bottle was slipping.
As Twilight magicked the mouthwash onto the table, Trixie continued. “The Great and Powerful Trixie has come to an epiphany about how much has been escaping her. Thanks to Sparkle, though, the PETS issue is… easier to conquer.”
“Really? So you’ll help Trixie with… accepting the PETS?”
Trixie’s chest-puffing turned into panicked throat-clearing. “Certainly not! You will have that pet, Starlight! But… Trixie would be happy to visit both it and you. When I am not in my cart.”
Starlight’s expression melted into a watery smile. “Really, Trixie?”
“And over that meal at the sanctuary, maybe… maybe… Trixie will consider moving her cot into your room.” An airy huff meant to help calm Trixie’s nerves instead blew the tray of treats Starlight was leaning toward into her face. “Or a stretcher! I’m not picky! Please don’t hurt me, Star!”
Starlight, after a while of letting Twilight wrest the wrapped candies out of her mane, finally broke out in giggles herself. “Thank you for that then, Trixie,” she said. “I suppose waking this early does have benefits. Sorry for being a wet blanket.”
Twilight winced as she saw the sticky streams of mouthwash still tangling Starlight’s mane - and a melted chunk of caramel honeydrop lodged in it. “Speaking of blankets; Trixie, could you entertain Starlight while I fetch one?”
“But of course! This candy is great for handling my PETS, and Starlight will certainly like them too!” Trixie grit her teeth as she attempted to lift the tray of sweets to Starlight. But the combination of exhaustion and disjointedness meant her magic only made the tray rattle on the wooden tabletop.
Starlight was all too happy to help though, the final sight as Twilight’s teleportation swallowed her vision in pink clouds and stars.
It took but a minute for Twilight to find a blanket she knew Trixie wouldn’t complain about. Indigo, silk, sleek - it even had little black stars and thunderbolts weaved into its edges. Rainbow Dash and Rarity had given it to her as a birthday present. It was the first time she’d seen the creativity brewing in Dash’s rebel heart, as she’d been the one who finalized it.
Then the day after, Tirek blazed her old home to cinders.
Needless to say, as Twilight ran a hoof over the gold trims and hems of the sheet, it’d taken a long while to disassociate that disastrous day with this delightful drape.
But for Trixie and Starlight’s sake?
There was no better time to tackle troubles than the present.
Warping back to the sitting room, Twilight almost brought the sheet to her lips at the sight before her. Apparently, time had gotten further away from the Princess than she’d thought, for Starlight and Trixie were slumped next to each other on the squashy couch next to the door, fast asleep. Both mouthwash flagon and candy tin were abandoned on the arm of the chocolatey-leather arm of the seat. And somehow, even that misplaced honey drop had been freed from Starlight’s hair.
A quick scan of the chunk of missing mane brought a smile to Twilight’s face, even as Starlight’s crinkled at the sparks dancing off her snout.
“Good job, Trixie.” Twilight whispered, igniting her horn again to softly pull away the book opened across both sleeping mares’ laps. “A great one, even.”
No response came from the showpony, save for a trilling snore as Trixie snuggled further into Starlight’s shoulder.
Twilight took a cursory glance at the book - How to Tame Your Dragon, right at the part of keeping them away from marts with wooden stalls. For obvious, fiery, brightly-illustrated reasons. Twilight silently chuckled at the inaccuracy.
Silly, she thought as she bookmarked the page and closed the book. Dragons don’t get offended at marts! Just the jeweled eggs they used to be decorated with!
Again, for obvious reasons. Obvious, hatchling-mocking, greed-stereotyping reasons.
Of course, the warm weight of the ledger would soon be replaced with cool silk, as Twilight cocooned her fellow mares in the comforter she’d brought. Starlight let out a content sigh and Trixie's horn glowed with glee for a few seconds.
“Sweet dreams, Trixie.” Twilight joyfully said, trotting back to her bedroom. Her heart thrilled at hearing the happy mumblings of her sleeping friends. Yes, even Trixie. And Twilight owed it all to overcoming the same spectre she’d been awoken to this night - her fear of traversing the sticky situations of friend--
SQU-WISH.
Twilight’s ears shot up, and she raised both her hindlegs, one at a time. The ripping sound of rughair and sticky sweets confirmed her newest fear - her hind hoof had caught onto the candy drop that was once inside Starlight’s mane.
Fighting down the impulse to port Trixie back into her carriage - or under it - Twilight continued her plod toward her room, keeping her sweet-stuck hoof in the air. Her mind, whirring as ever, returned to that book that Trixie and Starlight had fallen asleep poring over.
Keep dragons away from MARTs, huh?
Twilight had a feeling that warning would go unheeded in the next few weeks.