//------------------------------// // Fidei Defensor // Story: Has Anyone Ever Loved Me? // by DerpyMuffins15 //------------------------------// Twilight just stood in her stance, confused and fearful. The entire room stood still as tension rose with the electricity in the air. All she could understand was the hatred directed at her and the beast waiting to pounce at his owner's command. No matter how many times her brain tried to reboot itself and rethink the situation, it all came out to one conclusion, Trixie was really here, and had just demanded for someone called 'mistress.' "Trixie will only ask again once, where is Trixie's mistress?!" shouted the showmare to the frightened Twilight. No matter how much Trixie tried to contain it, her anger couldn't be helped. All she wanted to do was shoot Twilight with a bolt of lightening and be on her way. But that wouldn’t solve her problems of not knowing where Luna is. "I-I-I..." stammered Twilight desperately as Trixie rushed towards her. What frightened the lavender mare even more was the Leo that followed the lazuli mare. The celestial beast barely fit through the door, but his stare continued to be glued to Twilight. "Tri-Trixie, who are you talking about? Wh-What are you doing here?" asked the lavender mare as she found herself stumbling backwards. Soon, she was back to back against a bookshelf, nowhere to go, nowhere to run. "Stop being stupid, Twilight. Trixie wants to know where mistress is. Now answer Trixie!" sneered the showmare harshly. With a slight nod, her Leo approached Twilight growling and fangs bared. If Twilight didn't answer the lazuli mare correctly next time, the celestial beast's next meal was obvious. "Ummmm, Tri-Trixie, honestly, I don't know who you are talking about. Please, stop this..." pleaded the Solar student. It didn't matter if Twilight knew who Trixie was talking about or not, the Leo was going to eat her either way. She hoped desperately that she had something, something to save her, something to distract the Leo and give her enough time to escape. The celestial beast's slow approached came to a standstill as a small voice came from her bedroom. "Twilight, come quick! I think Luna is getting worse! Twilight, help!" shouted the draken from upstairs. It was exactly what the lavender mare needed as Trixie gave her Leo the sign to stop his approach. "So, you have been torturing Trixie's mistress?!" concluded the showmare as she blinked into the bedroom. She heard a stiff scream from the purple draken but ignored him as she confronted the sickly Alicorn. Trixie's face contorted into horror and then anger. Only a short while later did Twilight blink into the bedroom as well and met the showmare face to face. "Trixie, I won't let you hurt Luna. Leave now! Luna is sick and I am responsible for her well being. Get out now, I don't want you making this worse than it already is." said Twilight as she regained her confidence. She stood in front of Trixie, face to face, making a last stand for the Lunar Goddess. "Move aside, Twilight. Trixie's mistress is sick, and Trixie needs to speak with her." said the showmare bitterly. No matter how deadly the stare she gave Twilight, she wasn't budging. "Move aside before Trixie makes you Twilight." "Trixie, I don't care about whatever lies you are making up. Leave now, Luna is fatally sick and I don't have time to deal with you. GET OUT!" demanded Twilight as she lit her own horn ready for battle. Not too long later, Trixie did the same. It looked like she was going to enjoy battling Twilight, but she also saw something else beside lust in the showmare's eyes. She saw concern, actual concern and worry for Luna's well being. "Twilight, move aside, now. Mistress needs Trixie's help." said the showmare angrily. She was about to light the lavender mare up with a fire spell, had a stir from the Lunar Alicorn not interrupted the mental battle between the two mares. Quickly pushing Twilight away with her magic, the lazuli mare rushed to her mistress' side. No matter what the lavender mare did to protest, Trixie wasn't going to leave her mistress' side at her darkest hour. A closer inspection confirmed the fears now swelling inside the showmare. Luna really was sick, and getting worse by the second. If it was possible for Luna to get any paler, it did. Instead of the powder blue color she had earlier, the Lunar Alicorn was now an azure mist, ghostly in sight, and it made Trixie's ever more guilty. "Trixie knew she shouldn't have left you alone. Trixie goes away for a few hours and mistress is near death? Trixie won't allow it." spoke the showmare softly towards the weak Alicorn. She only got a stir in response, but Trixie knew the message got through. But something caught the showmare's attention. Something was lurking in the shadows, moving around the room, undetectable to the naked eye. "Trixie, get away from Luna right now! Get away or I'll make you!" demanded Twilight. Her horn once again lit in a raspberry aura which quickly turned a pitch black. The Solar student wasn't going back on her threat again, if Trixie moved any closer to the Princess, the showmare was gonna get a mouthful of lightning. "Shut the buck up, Twilight. Does Trixie look like she’s in the mood to you? No Trixie doesn't, now, why don't you get out? Mistress is Trixie's responsibility, not yours." she said as she continued to search the room for moving shadows. Only after shifting her vision into magic did the showmare finally realized the truth. A black translucent veil covered the Lunar Alicorn minor, putting her into a coma. Worry wrapped Trixie's mind as she saw the veil lined with hatred and jealousy, but once again her thoughts were interrupted by the Solar student. Regaining some stature, Twilight aimed her horn at the showmare and began her final threat, "Trixie whatever you are doing, stop, and get the buck out now! I won't let you hurt Luna, now get the bu-" "SHUT YOUR TRAP TWILIGHT. Trixie is tired of hearing you. Can't you see that Tri-" started Trixie before she was tackled to the ground. Twilight on top, had her horn inches away from Trixie's face and it was surged with power, waiting for Twilight's command to let loose. "Get out Trixie. I won't tell you one more time. Get out bef-" threatened Twilight before everything turned upside down. The showmare had manage to grip her front hooves around the lavender mare's torso and rolled, pinning and putting her on the bottom. Now Trixie's horn lit up, not her usual grayish magenta, but a black cerulean. She was going to give Twilight a face full of dark magic, and she was going to enjoy it too. "Trixie is tired of you Twilight. Trixie is tired of everything about you. Goodbye." murmured the showmare swiftly as her horn lit ablaze in a black. Twilight's own aura died out as fear gripped the mare. All thoughts of fighting back left her as death drew closer by the second. "Tri-Trixie, pl-please, stop." mumbled the lavender mare as she struggled underneath the super-charged lazuli mare. Twilight looked frantically around the room for something, anything to stall Trixie so she could turn the tables around and calm the showmare down. The only thing she got was a terrified young draken staring back at her, like he was about to lose his only family. "...my stu-student..." murmured the sick Alicorn under the sheets. It was enough to drive Trixie away as well as Twilight from their fray. Getting off the frightened Solar student, the lazuli mare rushed to her distressed mistress. Now without interruption, Trixie saw that Luna was feeding off of the black shroud. The dark blanket emitted faint traces of Lunar magic, enough to sustain the Lunar Alicorn, but not enough to keep her awake for long. "Trixie has completed the first ten labors mistress. Trixie was going to do the eleventh, but Trixie felt something wrong. What happened mistress?" asked Trixie. All traces of anger for Twilight dispersed as Luna tried to form words with the limited energy she had left. "...Tri-Trixie... d-don't hurt Twi-Twilight... She didn't know..." mumbled Luna as she caught her breath. The short words alone left the Lunar Alicorn drowsy, threatening to make her fall under slumber again. "...pro-promise me you won't hurt Twilight..." Anger reignited inside the showmare at the mention of the Solar student. Her face contorted in hatred when her mistress spoke of no harm coming to the lavender mare. Trixie wanted nothing more than to choke Twilight slowly and painfully, as she watched the life leave the lavender mare. "But..." argued Trixie. "...please...my student... for... me...." pleaded Luna. She was ready to accept death, to meet her make, but she had to make one last request, "...promise... me..." All Trixie felt was absolute guilt. This could be her mistress' last breath, and she was wasting it, trying to tell the lazuli mare to do something she was supposed to do in the first place. No matter how much she hated Twilight, it wasn't worth it to see Luna do this to herself. "...Trixie...promise..." murmured the showmare silently. "...thank you..." said Luna proudly. It was the last words the Lunar Alicorn spoke. Her breath shortened and her chest lowered. For a while, it was like the Lunar Alicorn had passed away. Trixie was at tears, but controlled them as Luna breathed another breath. She was again in slumber, the black veil once again blanketing her, putting her in a deep coma to slow down the sickness and give time. Time that Trixie had selfishly wasted fighting with Twilight. "Trixie..." spoke Twilight as she realized the showmare was telling the truth. She didn't exactly know about their relationship with each other, but she was sure it held a tight grip over Trixie. If the showmare was willing to stop her attack and anger towards Twilight, it meant a great deal towards the lazuli mare. “Go away Twilight... Trixie wants some time with mistress.” answered the showmare as she held the Lunar Alicorn tightly in her arms. Twilight just obliged. She walked over to her frightened baby dragon and motioned him to the door. “Spike, calm down. It’s alright. Go downstairs for a while, I’m gonna talk with Trixie for a while, alright?” asked the lavender mare. The purple draken still looked frightened, but he still walked silently downstairs. A quick glance back to the showmare showed she was on the verge of tears. “Trixie are you going to be alright?” asked Twilight. She knew the lazuli mare wanted to be left alone, but Trixie looked like she could use some comfort. “Please Twilight... just leave... Trixie wants to be alone with mistress...” answered the showmare quietly. She no longer spoke with hatred and anger, just sadness. Even Twilight felt sorry for the showmare. “Trixie, there is a cure.” reassured Twilight. The words kept ringing in Trixie’s ears as she realized there was a way to save her mistress. She let go the of the limp body while blanketing her again. “What is the cure?” asked the showmare quickly. She turned to face Twilight, all she met was a concerned face that told her the truth was being spoken. “I have all the ingredients for it, but I’m missing one.” answered the lavender mare as she picked up the herbal book to show the lazuli mare. “The cure requires a golden apple, I’m afraid. I don’t know where to find one though.” “A golden apple?” returned Trixie surprised. It was the next labor on her list to be accomplished. Truth be told, she didn’t know where to find one either, and had returned to her mistress to ask for help. “Yes, a golden apple. I don’t know if the cure is real or fake, but it’s the only one we have so far. I have read in books about the existence of them, but I have never read about where to find them.” answered Twilight as she closed the book and give a sigh. “Trixie was about to search for one, but... she doesn’t know where to start.” admitted the showmare. Her pride didn’t matter if the life of her mistress wasn’t at stake. “No one does. There have only been three known to exist. Two have been lost in time. Only one of them remains, but no one knows where it is.” answered Twilight. For once, even with her vast knowledge, she didn’t know something. Another stir from the sickly Alicorn interrupted the two mares from their conversation. The black veil seeped into Luna’s coat instead of covering her and for once she opened her eyes. The Lunar Alicorn stared directly at her student, not with her tranquil cyan eyes, but they were turquoise and with slits like that of a basilisk. A ghostly black aura surrounded the blue one that used to cover her, but what’s worse was the pure hatred Luna now radiated. The Lunar Alicorn didn’t move her lips, but Trixie heard it loud and clear, a mental message from her teacher, “...the Apple of Discord...” echoed in the showmare’s head over and over. Once the message passed, the new eyes were covered once again as the Lunar Alicorn fell in slumber, while the shroud detached itself from the Lunar Alicorn and became a blanket again. Trixie didn’t know what had happened, but she now knew where to find a golden apple. “Twilight, did you see that?” asked the showmare to confirm her suspicion. A look back to Twilight’s confused face told her that the lavender mare didn’t. “What are you talking about, Trixie?” asked the lavender mare, oblivious to the transaction between the student and teacher. “Nothing, what do you know about the Apple of Discord?” asked Trixie remembering her teacher’s words. “Apple of Discord? Sorry, but I’ve never heard of it before. Why?” asked Twilight, still with a confused look written on her face. “That’s what the last golden apple is called. And just from the name, it looks like Discord knows where it is.” answered Trixie. The mention of the Draconequus brought back sour memories for the Element, enough to send anger through her body, but not enough to make her throw a fit about it. “How do you know this?” asked Twilight still puzzled on the subject. “Mistress told Trixie.” answered Trixie. It was a confusing and bland answer, but it was the truth. “Alright, you know what, I’ll ask later. We need to start packing, the sooner we find this apple, the sooner we can help Luna.” said Twilight as she made for the door. “No, we, won’t. Trixie will go alone.” answered the showmare as she intercepted the Solar student. “What? Trixie, we need to work together on this.” retorted Twilight as she was stopped at the door. Both mares faced each other, anger boiling between them again. “Mistress is Trixie’s responsibility, not yours.” barked back the showmare harshly. Her horn lit again in a gray magenta, ready for battle once again, forgetting about the promise she made earlier. “Trixie, again with your ego?! If you just let me help you, we can find the apple faster!” argued Twilight. “Trixie has to do this alone Twilight. You have to understa-” “NO TRIXIE! I don’t understand! You just had a heart to heart moment with Luna and now, I offer the chance to help you find the cure and you reject it because you want to do it alone.” shouted back Twilight angrily. “Twilight ple-” “SHUT THE BUCK UP TRIXIE! Shut up and listen to me! Luna is literally on her deathbed. Just let me bucking help you! For once, can’t you shut up that ego of yours?!” continued Twilight. “Twilight. Trixie doesn’t care what you say, Trixie will still do th-” “No you won’t Trixie. I’m tired of this ego of yours. For once can you think of anyone beside yourself?!” continued Twilight. “Trixie is responsible for mistress, not you Twilight. Now, if you will excuse Tri-” “No, I won’t Trixie. You are the most selfish person I know. You were probably on the streets when Luna found you.” interrupted Twilight again. “Yes, Trixie was, bu-” “This just proves you are the most selfish person out there. Luna took you in, clothed you, fed you, gave you shelter when everyone else just pushed you away. You were on the streets, Trixie. Luna gave you everything you ever asked for. She even made you her student! Do you know how hard I worked to be Celestia’s student? I worked and studied to the bone learning everything, while you just got the special treatment. You think this is fair?!” shouted Twilight with all her fury. “Shut the bu-” “No I will not you, bitch. Look at where you are! Everything you have belongs to Luna. Everything! You are a terrible student and friend! No, I won’t even give you the honor of calling you Luna’s friend. You don’t deserve it. You don’t deserve any of this! She gave you her trust! HER BUCKING TRUST! Do you even deserve that?! NO! You don’t deserve any of this.” scowled Twilight harshly. Rising a hoof in the air, she smacked Trixie across the face. Right on target as it left a red mark on the lazuli mare’s cheek. The impact emitted a sound that could be heard from all the way downstairs. Twilight didn’t care, but she saw anger burning deeply in the showmare’s eyes. Just pure hatred blackened them as the stare was returned once again to Twilight. “Trixie made a promise to mistress...” muttered Trixie under her breath. The magical aura in her horn dissipated as the showmare remembered her teacher’s final breaths. “A promise you are going to break no doubt. Luna wasted her final breath on you. You wouldn’t swallow your pride for anything or anyone. You don’t deserve to be her student let alone be the one she said her final words to!” said Twilight as she continued to rant on the showmare. “Tri-” “Don’t even try to justify yourself. Everything I said about you is true. Now will you just let me help you?!” questioned Twilight. “No. Trixie has to do this alo-” “Damn it Trixie! After everything I said about you, even after I gave you explicit reasons why, you still won’t let me help you?! WHY?!” shouted Twilight furious. “Trixie has her reasons. Trixie must do this alone, you cannot go Twilight.” said the showmare as she tried to contain her anger. “REASONS?! More like selfishness! All you want is credit for being the one that saves Luna is that it?! FINE! You can have it! If you can’t even let go of your ego for something like saving Luna, you are worse than scum! You are worse than NIGHTMARE! At least with Nightmare we could banish her, but with you, we are stuck with you! Luna tried to make you better and her attempts were in vain it seems. After all you two have been through, you are still your old, egomaniacal and narcissistic self. Luna wasted her time on someone who will never learn the meaning of humility.” continued Twilight. “Twilight please stop... Trixie doesn’t want to hea-” “No Trixie. I have the right to! If I don’t say something now, you will never learn. Luna gave you everything she had, her home, her knowledge, even her magic, and did you do anything to help her?! What have you done that hasn’t benefited you in any way and has helped Luna?!” retorted Twilight. “Twilight... just stop... please...” pleaded the showmare. Guilt was the only thing she felt. Every single thing the lavender mare said about her was true. Everything she said, but what hurt Trixie the most was being called a waste. Wasteful of Luna’s time, hospitality and most of all, her precious magic. “You want me to stop?! Fine. Name one time, one time, when you did something for Luna without being asked to so and didn’t benefit you?! Just once, and I’ll stop.” promised the lavender mare. Twilight just continued to stare at Trixie as her head fell and tears swell. All Trixie could do was stay silent, a silence that told Twilight enough about the showmare’s ego. “That’s what I thought. Not even once. You have got to be, no are, the most selfish mare in all of Equestria. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to pack my things.” said Twilight as she magic the door open. “Y-you.... can’t.” muttered Trixie as she slammed the door shut with her own magic. She looked back at Twilight to see her filled with rage again. “REALLY TRIXIE?! AFTER EVERYTHING I TOLD YOU?! WHY WON’T YOU LET GO OF YOUR PRIDE FOR ONCE?!” shouted Twilight in her own Canterlot voice. She didn’t know where she got one, but Twilight was glad she was using it on Trixie. “Trixie... just can’t... I can’t let you go...” muttered the showmare as tears swell on her eyes. “WHY NOT?” shouted Twilight angrily. “Because if both of us go, there will be no one to watch mistress.” answered Trixie. All the tears she held back flowed freely down. The very thought of a world without mistress frightened the showmare. To hear that everything Luna did for Trixie was wasted rang true. “Your right. Everything I have done so far has been out has been just for me. Mistress took me in, clothed me, feed me, and put a roof over my head. She gave me everything I ever asked for, even a proper education. Mistress gave me what my family should have. That’s why I can’t let you go. If mistress dies, I will be alone again...” cried Trixie as she spoke her heart. She didn’t care if Twilight believed her or not, to speaking her mind, to tell the truth, it lifted a weight off Trixie’s shoulders. “Trixie...” said Twilight as she realized she had ranted to the showmare for the wrong reasons. She even notice the lazuli mare no longer talked in the third person. “Trixie, I’m so sorry, I never realized you and Luna were like this. I’m sorry.” “Don’t be, you know nothing about me. I didn’t grow up with a loving family like you. I didn’t have a warm and happy home to live in. Why don’t you look at yourself and compare it with everyone else. You got the royal treatment your entire life! You were Celestia’s own personal student. You lived in the castle with hundreds of ponies waiting on you. You call me selfish? You were pampered, treated like Celestia’s own daughter. Do I need to continue?” questioned the crying mare harshly. “Trixie, this isn’t about me or you. It’s about Luna. We are wasting time by arguing, time that Luna doesn’t have. We can kill each other later, but right now, Luna needs us. She is on her deathbed for Faust’s sakes. Do you really hate me that much that you are willing to let Luna die so you can finish our crusade? Please, Trixie, after this I promise we will finish things, but now isn’t the time. Luna is dying! Please!” argued Twilight. “Fine I’ll kill you later, Twilight. Right now, I have a Draconequus to find.” said Trixie as she stormed out angrily, but only to be followed by Twilight right behind her. “I’m going with you Trixie. Whether you like it or not. You will need my help, no arguments there. And no, there is nothing you can do to stop me.” said Twilight confidently as they both continued downstairs. Their fray had distracted the lavender mare from her young draken, which she told to go downstairs where the bloodstained Leo was. Rushing in front of the showmare, Twilight teleported herself into the kitchen. Luckily for Spike, his adopted mother had showed up in time. The celestial beast was nearing pouncing position as he approached the draken. His coat was still red, but the dried blood only manage to make the Leo that much more ferocious looking. The thing Twilight did by teleporting was give the beast a bigger meal. It still approached nonetheless. It wasn’t until Trixie showed up that the lavender mare realized she was holding on to Spike for dear life, nearly suffocating him, “Fidei, stand down. They shall not be made a meal of, yet. I promised my mistress that no harm shall come to you. I intend to keep that promise. Now if you excuse me, I have a golden apple to find.” said the showmare as she left for the front door. “Trixie, wait. I’m coming with you!” said Twilight as she tried to catch up to the lazuli mare. The sudden movement only solicited a roar from the loyal Leo, frightening Twilight back into her corner with the draken. “No you shall not. I thought I had made my reasons clear why you can’t.” answered Trixie as she continued on. “Trixie please, Luna doesn’t have much time left! We have to work together on this one. If there is two of us to search for the apple, there will be a higher chance of finding it. You know I want to help Luna as much as you do!” argued the Solar student. “Spike can take care of Luna. Please, Trixie, let me come with you.” The showmare couldn’t do anything more than just give a sigh. Not matter the threats she gave to the lavender mare, it didn’t seem to falter her decision in tagging along. “Fine, you may aid me. But mark my words, if you show any signs of slowing down, I will not hesitate to kill you and be on my way. If this labor requires a sacrifice, I will not hesitate to offer you up. Got it?” answered Trixie as she stopped at the door. “Well, are you coming or not?” “Yes!” answered the lavender mare as she gathered her things. She stuffed her essentials into her saddle bags, books, writing material and elixirs for emergencies. As she quickly rushed to catch up to the showmare, the state of her young draken made its way into her mind. “Wait, what about Spike? The Leo won’t eat Spike, right?” asked Twilight, concerned that she would find her draken in a pile of bones when she returned. “Fidei, guard my mistress. No one is to enter this house until my return. For now, warm mistress’ bed, she is cold right now.” ordered the showmare. The Leo compiled as he left the scared draken alone and headed upstairs. He barely fit through the small door, but still managed. “I expect you to feed my Fidei while we are gone.” said the showmare to Spike. Still scared out of his wits, the purple dragon stumbled with his words, “Sure, leave me with a blood thirsty Leo for who knows how long. It’s not like he wants to eat me or anything...” complained Spike. “Spike, don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. Maybe a few hours, tops. Just hang tight until then, ok? And if Princess Luna wakes up, give her some of that soup of yours, I’m sure she will enjoy it. Don’t forget to replace the rag every few minutes. If things go our way, you won’t even notice I’m gone.” reassured Twilight. “C’ya, Spike.” “Come back alive, Twilight. I don’t think I can run the library without you.” joked the draken. “Don’t worry Spike, I will. I just hope we can make it back in time.” returned the Solar student. Both her and the showmare disappeared behind the door and into the wild storm outside, leaving the draken to himself. “Please come back Twi, if anyone can save Princess Luna, it’s you.” Author’s note: Well, that was interesting to say the least. You know what? Just to screw with you guys, I’ll add an Alternate Universe and Dark tag. Maybe Luna will die, or she might not. Who knows? Certainly not my editor, that’s who. Or I could just add a sad tag, as my editor recommended. Everything bad that has happened so far, has been ideas I have gotten from her. So everyone, let’s give TwiLunaLover a round of applause. P.S: I forgot this last time, but better late than never. I want you guys to rethink Discord’s riddle. Now with a new variable added to the equation, things are sure to turn out differently. Editor’s note: He lies, LIES I SAY! This was not my fault, I wash my hands of the blame. Derpy, I hate you (not really(yes really)). Also, He will not Kill Luna. THATS RIGHT! I spilled the beans, he won’t do it I tell you. That be payback for the Authors note. This was the EXACT exchange between us: DerpyMuffins15:So what do you think I should do with Trixie then? me: She needs Luna to live. I'm not just saying that because I want it, it would damage HER character quite a bit. DerpyMuffins15: Yes it would me: exactly DerpyMuffins15: If Luna dies, Trixie will think it was all her fault me: and therefore destroy her emotionally DerpyMuffins15: Cause and effect, things goes bad Trixie is already unstable as is me: that's what I've been saying all along so does this mean I win twice? DerpyMuffins15: No, it means you made a point me: a VALID point I know its not much... but it’s something that gives hope at least.