“Spike! Do you know where I left that book I was reading?!” Twilight called from her room to the baby dragon downstairs.
“You mean The Ballad of Glitter Dawn? You took it with you on that cruise, remember?”
Twilight facehooved, and sat down on her haunches, staring into space for a few minutes. That book was a rarity, and it had taken Twilight forever to secure a copy. “Great. I’m never gonna figure out how that ends,” she sighed, just before a loud crash behind her caught her attention.
“Hey, Twilight!”
“Nice of you to drop by, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said with equal parts annoyance and amusement. “New trick?”
Rainbow got up and dusted herself off. “Nah, I just got some pretty exciting news, and couldn’t wait ta tell ya!”
“Oh? What is it? Did you get accepted into the Wonderbolts?”
Rainbow Dash waved a hoof dismissively. “Pfft! Yeah right! You’ll be lucky to only get away with a hole in the ceiling when that happens.” This made Twilight feel uneasy, and she made a mental note to look into reinforcing the library.
“Well, what is it?”
Rainbow Dash grinned, and wrapped a foreleg around Twilight’s neck. “What’re ya doing two days from now?”
Twilight struggled against Rainbow’s friendly headlock, but found herself unable to break free. “Two days from now? Well, I guess I could reshelve the library’s inventory…”
Rainbow released her friend, and floated up into the air. “Yeah, you could… Buuuut, I was thinking that maybe the seven of us could go to Horseshoe Bay together!”
Before Twilight could question her, Rainbow Dash held up seven slips of paper in her hooves. Twilight levitated one of them towards her, and saw that it was a ticket to the luxurious tourist resort at Horseshoe Bay.
“Rainbow Dash… Where did you get these?”
Rainbow folded her forelegs and held her head up as a proud grin appeared on her face… One which reminded Twilight of a certain somepony, and caused her to blush slightly as that pony’s face entered her mind.
“Won ‘em in the FFL, down at the marketplace!”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “The what?”
“‘Flim Flam Lottery’. The new lottery that everypony’s been talking about? It’s only second prize, but hey, it’s not bad, right?”
Twilight nodded, and looked back at the ticket.
“So, you in?” Rainbow asked.
“Yeah… It sounds like fun, and it’s been awhile since we all got together last.”
Rainbow nodded, and ascended higher, through the hole in Twilight’s ceiling. “Great! I’ll go invite the rest of the gang! Oh!” she dropped a second ticket down to Twilight. “That one’s for Spike! Later!”
Twilight waved as Rainbow Dash sped off through the air. ‘A visit to the luxurious resort at Horseshoe Bay… No doubt Trixie will be jealous when she finds out,’ Twilight thought to herself with an excited giggle.
“Level with me, Trixie,” the doctor said as he examined Trixie’s eye. “Have you been using forbidden magic?”
Trixie scowled at the doctor. “And why are you asking something like that? Of course Trixie hasn’t!” ‘Not through lack of trying, mind you.’
“Well, your eye is recovering much faster than I would have thought possible! In fact, at this rate, it should be fully healed by tomorrow!”
Trixie smiled widely, before composing herself and returning to her neutral expression. “So that means that Trixie can leave early?”
The doctor took a moment to think about it, which annoyed Trixie. “Well… I guess so, if nothing bad happens tomorrow…”
Trixie cheered loudly inside her head whilst the doctor wrote something down, until she remembered the other thing that she wanted to talk to him about. She cleared her throat to get his attention. “Actually, there was something else that Trixie wanted to bring to your attention.”
The doctor turned to her with a look of concern. “And that is?”
Trixie told him about what happened during the cruise, about how her body had suddenly froze up, and refused to move when she told it to.
“Hmm… Very unusual. We’ve already performed a full-body physical on you, and we didn’t notice anything out of place.” The doctor leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. “The only things I can think of… Are that you were literally scared stiff-”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie does not get scared!”
“… Or that there’s some psychological reason behind it.” He turned his attention back to her. “I’m no psychiatrist, but maybe there’s been some recent event in your life that’s been causing you grief? Maybe a family matter, or something concerning that marefriend of yours?”
Trixie shook her head. “Trixie’s family has been dead since she was two years old, and this has never happened to her before. And Trixie has never been happier in her entire life, than during the time that she has spent with Twilight!”
“Just ‘cause you’re happy, doesn’t mean you aren’t stressed. Relationships are always stressful, no matter how well they’re going. Especially if you’re the type to worry about every little thing going wrong.”
“Well that certainly isn’t Trixie,” she said confidently. “The Great and Powerful Trixie knows how to treat Twilight Sparkle properly, and is very confident in her abilities to make her happy!”
“Then maybe you’re overworked?” Trixie looked to actually be considering that option. “Whatever the case, if you are stressed, then the only thing that I can recommend is that you take some time off. Have a little you time, and just free yourself from the worries and hardships of the world.”
Trixie put a hoof to her chin. “That does sound nice.”
“Actually, this is perfect!” the doctor said as he turned to his computer screen. “I’m still worried about that eye of yours, and want to keep watch over you for at least a day after it recovers. At the same time, I myself have been so overworked that I haven’t been able to spend much time with my wife.”
“Trixie doesn’t see what you’re getting at.”
“Well, how would you like to spend some time at the luxurious resort at Horseshoe Bay?”
Trixie’s eyes widened. “A-Are you kidding?! That place is harder to book a place for than the Canterlot Royal Hotel!”
The doctor grinned and winked at Trixie. “That’s why I need your ability to act. If you can pass yourself off as a pony suffering from heavy trauma, we can pass it off as a medical venture, and get in for free.”
Trixie grinned and leaned closer to whisper. “That’s rather naughty, abusing your power like that.”
“Well, technically it won’t be a lie. You will be there to relieve your stress, and you could have suffered trauma from your recent… Incident. We’ll just be exaggerating things a little bit is all.”
“Hmm… The Great and Powerful Trixie could do with a little vacation… Very well then, Trixie will play along.”
The doctor clapped his forehooves together. “Great! I’ll get everything all sorted out! You can go now, if you wish.”
Trixie rose to her hooves and bid the doctor farewell, before floating the eye patch that he had given her up to her face, applying it, and then leaving his office.
“Rarity?”
“Mhm?”
Twilight looked at herself in the mirror nervously, her face red as she looked over her body. “I appreciate you making me a new swimsuit…”
“Oh, it’s nothing, darling.”
“But isn’t it… A little revealing?” Twilight asked as she looked over her flank in her reflection, which was barely concealed.
“Oh, come now. It’s accentuating, not ‘revealing’.”
“‘Sides, we don’ normally wear clothes, anyway,” Applejack said, viewing her own figure in a separate mirror.
“It’s just… Kind of embarrassing, is all,” Twilight said. She used her magic to levitate a blue one-piece swimsuit into view. “And what’s wrong with the swimsuit I already have?”
“You mean besides it being your swimsuit from school?” Rarity asked.
Twilight used her magic to take off the pieces of cloth she was currently wearing, and slipped on her old swimsuit. “So? It still fits me perfectly! See?”
An audible tear brought about an awkward silence, and Twilight was too afraid to turn around and confirm what she knew had just happened. Luckily, she wouldn’t have to; Rainbow Dash was already in hysterics about it.
“T-That can’t be!” she shouted. “I couldn’t have gained that much weight!”
“N-Now now, Twi,” Applejack said, “I’m sure it’s just ‘cause you’ve grown so much since then.”
Twilight looked at the floor and shook her head in despair. “No… I… I haven’t,” she said. “My last growth spurt… Was before I bought this swimsuit.”
Rainbow’s laughter increased, and it was clear that she was trying to throw a fat joke or two at Twilight.
“Okay, Dash. Ah think it’s time we leave now,” Applejack said, grabbing Rainbow’s tail in her mouth and dragging her off. Applejack signalled to Rarity to comfort Twilight, and left the store with a still laughing Rainbow Dash.
Once the door was closed, Rarity placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder and smiled at her. “Don’t worry, Twilight. You have a terrific figure, and with my designs, you’ll be the talk of the entire beach!” Rarity wasn’t sure if it was working or not, but continued anyway. “Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had stallions just fighting over the chance to court you! They won’t be able to take their eyes off of you, I guarantee it!”
Twilight blushed and rose her head, smiling at Rarity. Her friend smiled back even wider, pleased to see that her attempts at cheering Twilight up seemed to have worked.
“Thanks, Rarity,” Twilight said. “But… Just a one-piece swimsuit, please.” Rarity’s expression fell. “And one that doesn’t show off too much. If my Cutie Mark’s even slightly visible, it’s too much.”
“B-But Twilight!” Rarity protested, but stopped when she saw Twilight’s stern face. “… Oh, fine! But honestly, there’s nothing for you to be embarrassed about. You should be proud of your figure! I know a lot of mares who would just die to look as stunning as you.”
Twilight’s ears fell back and she turned her head away. “I just… Have my reasons, okay?” ‘Trixie would flip if she found out anypony had hit on me.’
Two days later, Trixie set off for Horseshoe Bay with her doctor, and his lovely wife, Lemon-Lime. Trixie had to admit that she was surprised by the doctor’s wife, who was not at all what she was expecting. She wore an elegant white dress with jewels embedded into the seams, which made her look like somepony you’d find following Fancy Pants around. She had a look that showed off her maturity, yet made her appear younger than she actually was.
“Now remember, Trixie,” her doctor said as they approached the resort entrance, “You’re here to resolve your trauma, so try to look like you’ve just undergone some dark, horrible tragedy.”
Trixie’s face immediately fell into a grimace, and the doctor nearly jumped out of his skin when he thought he saw a heavy black fog appear around her.
“How’s this?” she asked. Her tone was completely even, with no sign of happiness or regret. It sounded like she was just a golem, speaking words as it was programmed to.
“My, you told me she was a showmare, but you didn’t tell me she was this good,” Lemon-Lime said.
The doctor cleared his throat, and told Trixie to follow him. “Okay…” Trixie said, slowly trudging behind him and his wife as she looked ahead of her, seemingly into nothing. A few ponies passing by asked if she was okay, but she simply passed by them, as if they didn’t even exist… As if she didn’t even notice them at all.
‘Talk about overdoing it,’ the doctor thought to himself.
‘It feels good to be back in the zone!’ Trixie thought to herself as she entered the resort.
She bumped into somepony as she entered, and stopped to see who it was.
“Oh! I’m terribly sorry about that!” a yellow Pegasus said, getting up and checking to see if Trixie was alright. She yelped when she made eye contact, but then examined her more closely. “Are you… Okay?”
Trixie didn’t answer, but instead continued staring into this pony’s eyes, as if she were dead inside. ‘Hmm… Might as well have some fun! This pony looks like she’s easy to creep out.’
“Um… I don’t know what your reasoning is,” the Pegasus said, shifting nervously on the spot, “But you shouldn’t scare ponies like that… Somepony might honestly worry about you, and it’s not nice to make somepony worry unnecessarily.”
Trixie froze up, and continued staring into the Pegasus’ eyes, this time genuinely staring blankly at her. ‘… W-What?! D-Does she know I’m faking it? How?! That’s impossible!’
“Trixie!” Trixie snapped out of it when she heard the doctor calling out to her. He walked over and started to lead her away, apologizing to the Pegasus for any trouble she may have caused. “Come on, we have to get checked in.”
Trixie turned her attention away from the Pegasus, and continued playing the part of a victim of tragedy. However, no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t get that yellow Pegasus out of her mind. Just how did she see through her flawless acting like that? Trixie was glad she was incognito at the moment.
“Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she approached her friend. “C’mon! What’re ya standing around here for?”
Fluttershy turned her attention to Rainbow Dash, and remembered where she was going before bumping into that pony. “Oh, Rainbow Dash. I’m sorry, I got a little distracted.”
“With what?” Rainbow shook her head and flew over Fluttershy, then picked her up. “Never mind! C’mon, let’s go! Everypony else is already at the beach!”
“Oh, oka-AH!” Rainbow took off into the air, carrying Fluttershy with her. “W-Wait! C-Can’t we just walk there?”
“Oh, don’t worry so much! Besides, you wouldn’t want to make everypony wait for ya, now would you?”
Fluttershy whimpered and nodded. “I… I guess not…”
“Right! Then let’s go!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she flew even faster, causing Fluttershy to scream louder as a result.
After putting on her swimsuit (which was a purple two-piece swimsuit, designed with the same star-shaped patterns as her cloak and a shape to accentuate what Trixie believed to be her best features), Trixie made her way to the beach right away.
Her doctor and his wife decided to try out the spa on the ground floor, leaving Trixie alone for the time being.
‘Hmm… I wonder how many stallions I can entice today?’ Trixie thought to herself as she strutted down the beach. She caught a few whistles as she passed by what appeared to be a group of teenage colts, and heard a few mares telling their coltfriends to “stop staring”. ‘Yep! I’ve still got it.’
“Hey there, Miss,” a stallion said as he approached Trixie. “You all alone out here? I was wondering if you wanted to come join me and my buddies for a bit of fun.”
Trixie looked over to a group of three stallions, and two mares. ‘Well, that didn’t take long,’ Trixie thought, feeling pride that she was able to get hit on in just a few minutes. ‘Now… Let him down gently? Since he’s the first, I think I’ll be a little bit merciful.’
“Sorry, but Trixie is just here for some alone time. She just got out of a rough relationship, and needs to spend some time by herself.”
The stallion looked upset, but not exactly heartbroken.
“Aww, too bad man!”
“Better luck next time!”
He shook off his friends’ comments. “I see. Sorry to bother you then. I hope you feel better soon.”
Trixie waved him goodbye as he went off to join his friends. ‘… How boring. I hope the next one tries a little harder. It’s no fun when they give up so easily.’ For a moment, Trixie wondered what would happen if Twilight were to find out about this, and told herself to calm down a little bit. ‘Actually, maybe I shouldn’t… Nah, it’s all in good fun. Besides, I’m sure Twilight gets hit on all the time. She’d understand… Right?’
After finding a nice, empty spot near the ocean, Trixie decided to rest her legs for a bit. She saw some foals nearby building a sandcastle, and suddenly felt nostalgic.
”Stupid castle! Stop falling apart!”
“Trixie…”
“WHAT?!”
“Er, you’ve gotta use wet sand. Otherwise, it’ll just crumble… Like it’s been doing for the past five minutes.”
“… O-Of course Trixie knew that! Are you saying that Trixie is a fool?!”
“I’m not saying anything of the sort. Here, let me help you.”
“Hmph! What, are you some kind of expert now all of a sudden, Feathermay?”
“Actually, I am! Boss taught me everything he knows, and I’m proud to say that I’m the ten-time World Champion of Extreme Sandcastle Building!”
“S-Seriously?! Amazing! Er, not that I’m impressed or anything! Trixie could take that title from you in a second!”
“Prove it! Build a better sandcastle than me, right here, right now!”
“… Fine! There’s nothing that the Great and Powerful Trixie can’t do!”
Trixie saw the foals run over to their parents, and leave the beach area with them. She noticed that the buckets and spades they were using had been left behind, and slowly approached them.
“… Oh, what the hay. It’s been a long time, after all.”
“There! A sandcastle that even Feathermay can’t beat!” Trixie said proudly as she admired her work. Before her was a miniature replica of Midnight Castle, as depicted in many history books, with just a few parts here and there looking a little unstable.
She wiped the sweat from her brow, and saw a young couple nearby sharing an ice cream together. “Ice cream doesn’t sound like such a bad idea,” Trixie said to herself as she got up. She dusted some of the sand off of her coat, and walked over to a nearby ice cream stand, leaving her work for all to see and admire.
“Heads up RD!” Applejack shouted as she bucked the ball into the air.
“I got it!” Rainbow shouted as she used her wings to soar into the air and hit the ball back down.
“Rarity, it’s headin’ yer way!”
“I can see that,” Rarity responded as she watched the ball approaching. She successfully managed to headbutt the ball over the net, but it was quickly returned by Pinkie Pie, who was hovering in the air just in front of the net.
“Fluttershy!” Applejack shouted.
“Oh… Oh my…” Fluttershy nervously flailed her forehooves about, just hoping for the best. She felt a hoof connect with something, and opened her eyes to see the ball flying up into the air.
“Nice save Fluttershy!” Applejack said as she rushed to where the ball would be landing. She bucked it a little too hard, and sent it flying across the beach.
“OUT!” Twilight declared.
“Aw, shucks!” Applejack said disappointedly, stomping her hooves in frustration.
“Heh, better luck next time!” Rainbow Dash said as she went to recover the ball, which she found lying on what looked like the remains of a sandcastle. “Uh-oh… Hope whoever made this doesn’t get too upset.”
Meanwhile, Twilight took this moment to suggest to her friends that they go and get drinks to cool down. She offered to go fetch them, and asked Pinkie to help her out, who agreed enthusiastically.
“So Twi, you having fun? ‘Cause I know I am. Being here with all my friends is like the funnest thing ever! But it’s not because we’re here at the beach, or the resort, but because we’re all here together! Heeey, maybe after this we should all-”
“Pinkie Pie,” Twilight said, cutting off Pinkie’s rambling. “I wanna ask you to help me with something. But before I do, I need you to promise me that you won’t speak a word of it to anypony.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you, but first, do you promise?”
Pinkie nodded, and stopped to perform a series of gestures.
“Uh… A simple ‘yes’ would have sufficed.”
“Sooooo… What did you want to ask me to help you with?”
“… Well, you see… I need help setting up a party for somepony.”
Pinkie gasped, looked around for a moment, and then pulled Twilight close to whisper to her.
“Well, I can help you with that. But why can’t I tell anypony? How would anypony show up if they don’t know about it?”
Twilight, for reasons beyond her (considering how far away she was from her friends), joined Pinkie in her whispering. “Actually, I just want it to be small party… Just me and the guest.”
Pinkie looked disheartened at that. “Not even me?”
“It’s a special party, between me and…” Twilight saw Pinkie looking at her expectantly, patiently waiting for her to finish her sentence. “… My marefriend.”
If Pinkie’s swimsuit, decorated with balloons and cannons that shot confetti whenever she was surprised or excited, hadn’t attracted the attention of nearby ponies yet, then her jumping twenty feet into the air with what must have been the most over-the-top surprise gasp of all time did.
“… You done?” Twilight asked, once Pinkie gently floated back down to the ground.
“Yep!” Pinkie said, as if nothing strange had happened. “Twilight, I didn’t know you had a marefriend! Who is it? Somepony I know?” Pinkie gasped again, and leaned forward to whisper: “Is it Discord?”
Twilight blinked three times in rapid succession, before quickly shaking her head. “W-Why would you think it’s him?! For starters, he’s trapped in stone! Second, I said marefriend! And third, who in their right mind would even consider going out with him?!”
Pinkie giggled nervously, and scratched the back of her head. “Y-Yeah… You’d have to be a real nutjob, huh?”
Twilight breathed to relax, and continued walking, soon followed by Pinkie Pie. “Anyway, I can’t tell you who just yet. I just want to throw them the most special birthday party ever. I want it to be something romantic, and something that she’ll remember for the rest of her life… But, I’m not even sure where to begin… So, do you think you can help me?”
Pinkie nodded, and saluted. “You can count on me! Helping a friend in trouble is what I do best!”
Twilight smiled. “Thanks, Pinkie. And don’t worry, you’ll all find out who my marefriend is soon enough.”
“Can’t wait! By the way, how long have you and this mystery marefriend of yours been going out?”
Twilight bit her lower lip before answering. “A… Few months…”
“A-ha!” Pinkie shouted, causing Twilight to jump. “I knew it!”
“W-What?”
“Me and Rainbow Dash had a bet with Applejack and Rarity. We thought that all of those trips to Manehatten were you meeting with your secret lover and having an affair, but AJ and Rarity trusted that you weren’t lying to them!” Pinkie’s smile grew even wider as her skip became more merry. “Ooh, I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they see that we were right!”
Twilight rolled her eyes, and looked away from the pink pony. “Honestly, I expected that of Rainbow Dash, but the rest of you? Was Fluttershy in on this too?”
Pinkie Pie shook her head, giving Twilight a temporary smile that at least one of her friends wasn’t making bets about her behind her back. “Fluttershy thought you were living a double life as a teacher in Manehatten!”
Twilight sighed, and made a mental note to have a word with her friends after introducing them to Trixie.
Trixie returned to her spot on the beach, only to see the most horrific scene that she could ever imagine.
Before her, where her sandcastle once stood, was now a pile of sand and the crumbling ruins of a few towers. Next to them, drawn into the sand were the words: “Sorry, total accident! Please don’t get too mad!”
Trixie sighed and sat down in the sand. “Great, just great! Trixie leaves for a few minutes, and this happens! Honestly, some ponies are just so inconsiderate.”
“Heeeeeeey, sexy lady!”
Trixie turned her head up to see three stallions approaching, the one who appeared to be their leader flexing his muscles when he stopped in front of her. “You by yourself? That can’t be fun. Why don’t you come hang with us for a bit? We’ll show you a good time.”
Trixie yawned and waved her hoof dismissively at the stallion. “No thanks. The Great and Powerful Trixie is already having plenty of fun here, all by herself.”
The lead stallion took a step forward, putting Trixie on her guard. “That won’t do. When I invite a mare to hang out with us, she doesn’t say no.”
“Well there’s a first time for everything! Now leave, before Trixie loses her patience.” The stallion grabbed Trixie’s foreleg and pulled her up to her hooves. “Unhoof me at once!”
“Ooh, she’s got quite an attitude, huh?” one of the stallions said.
“C’mon, babe. Just come with us and we’ll show you how to really have fun!”
Trixie’s horn lit up, but her spell was interrupted by a sudden shout. “Hey!”
The four turned around to see a yellow Pegasus with a pink mane and tail. Trixie recognised her as the Pegasus from before, the one who had apparently seen through her acting.
“Oh, um… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. But, she said “no”, so I really think you should just leave her alone.”
The stallion released Trixie’s arm, and walked towards the Pegasus.
“Oh yeah? And what’s it to ya? You her friend? That’s cool, you should join us too.”
The stallion’s eyes met the Pegasus’, and he suddenly froze up.
“No. Means. No. You got that?”
The stallion took a few steps back. “Y-You…” The Pegasus’ stare grew more intense, and he couldn’t stand it anymore. “F-Fine! We’ll go already! C’mon guys, they’re not worth the hassle.”
Trixie blinked as she watched the stallions leave, and then turned her attention towards the Pegasus.
“Um… Are you okay?”
“That was completely unnecessary,” Trixie said, glaring at the Pegasus, who suddenly flinched and ducked beneath her mane.
“I-I’m sorry… It’s just, I saw that they were bothering you, and…”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie could have easily dealt with those buffoons, all on her own!”
“Oh, I’m sure you could.” Trixie raised an eyebrow, not sure if that was sarcasm or not. “But, well… I… I didn’t want you to hurt them… I don’t like seeing ponies get hurt…”
Trixie studied the Pegasus for a bit, who was nervously shifting her gaze between the ground and the showmare. ‘What’s going on? Why is she so shy all of a sudden? Tough one minute, meek the next? It almost sounds like…’
“What’s your name?” Trixie asked.
“Huh? O-Oh… It’s Fluttershy,” she mumbled, though Trixie heard it well enough.
‘Fluttershy! Twilight’s friend who likes animals! Well, well… This is quite a coincidence…’
“Um, I’m sorry if I offended you… I just-”
“It’s fine,” Trixie said. She motioned with her hoof for Fluttershy to come closer, an offer the Pegasus hesitantly accepted. “Well, Trixie supposes it was for the best. Otherwise, some innocent ponies might have been hurt by Trixie’s magic.”
Fluttershy didn’t respond, and not just because Trixie continued talking too quickly. She really didn’t know what to say. ‘Oh my, I should really get back to the others… I hope they aren’t worried about me… I should really say something. Something like: “I’m sorry, Miss Trixie, but I really have to be going now”. Yeah, that’s it. I should just say that… Oh, but after she’s finished talking.’
“Indeed, such kindness and thoughtfulness towards total strangers, and consideration for those around you, are surprisingly rare qualities in ponies these days. The Great and Powerful Trixie respects you, so she shall tell you a story of her greatness! Feel honoured, because this story is of Trixie’s latest achievement, one which the Great and Powerful Trixie has not shared with anypony before. It is:
“The story of how the Great and Powerful Trixie saved the ponies of the S.S. Blueblood from the terrifying kraken!”
“Hey, Fluttershy sure is taking her time,” Rainbow Dash said. “Seriously, how long does it take to get ice cream?”
“Oh, I do hope she isn’t being pushed around again by other ponies,” Rarity said, concern for her friend clear in her voice. “Maybe we should go check up on her.”
“Ah, ah’m sure she’ll be fine! Ah’m more worried ‘bout Twilight and Pinkie. It’s not like Twilight to get sidetracked, but something must be delayin’ her.”
“Hey, since it’s just the three of us, how ‘bout we have a little contest!” Rainbow Dash suggested, bringing confusion to her friends’ faces. “Unicorn versus Pegasus versus Earth Pony! One-on-one-on-one competition!”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Do you really think I’d lower myself to silly little contests against you and Applejack?”
“Alright. Unicorns are in last place, ‘cause Rarity’s too chicken to take part,” Rainbow Dash declared.
Rarity’s eye twitched, but she kept her composure. “No. I shan’t be tricked into such a-”
“How ‘bout this then,” Applejack started. “Winner gets ta make the losers do whatever dare she comes up with. Like, say, makin’ ‘em dress in those frilly lil’ dresses of yours?”
Rarity’s ear twitched, and a smile graced her lips as she looked up at Rainbow Dash, who was suddenly regretting her earlier suggestion. “Well, when you put it that way…”
“… Uh… Or, we could do something else?”
“Too late, Dash,” Applejack said, already stretching her legs.
“Ah, horseapples.”
“And that is how the Great and Powerful Trixie defeated the mighty kraken!”
Fluttershy clapped slowly, smiling at Trixie as she concluded her story. “My, that sounded… Intense,” she said. “Is that how you got that eye patch?”
Trixie flinched, making Fluttershy immediately apologize for bringing it up. “This is… Just a minor infection, nothing to worry about.”
“Oh… I see. I’m glad that it’s nothing serious.”
“… Fluttershy, now that the Great and Powerful Trixie has rewarded you, she wishes to ask you a question.”
“Um… Okay, I’ll try to answer it if I can.”
“How were you able to see through Trixie’s acting earlier?”
Fluttershy wondered what she meant by that, before remembering he earlier encounter with Trixie that day. “Oh, that? I’m used to animals always pretending to be sad or sick to get sympathy from me, and I know how to see through it.”
“Is that so?” Trixie asked. “That’s quite impressive.”
Fluttershy blushed and hid behind her mane again. “No, it’s not really… Um, if it’s not too much trouble, I was wondering… Why were you acting that way earlier?”
Trixie motioned for Fluttershy to lean closer. Once Fluttershy moved forward, Trixie whispered into her ear: “So that Trixie could get into this place for free.”
Fluttershy’s eyes widened, and she reeled back quickly as she let out a gasp. “You… You stole a free entry to the resort?”
Trixie flicked her mane and turned her head, looking bored. “Trixie doesn’t know what you mean. She did nothing of the sort!”
“B-But you just said…” Fluttershy realised that they were in a public area, and that Trixie was playing innocent, to avoid being caught. “… Why do you act like that?”
“Hm?”
“Stealing a free entry to this resort, and what you did during your show in Ponyville… I can tell you’re not a bad pony, so why did you…”
“This resort makes so much money they don’t even know what to do with it. Have you seen the size of their fountains? Or their golden pillars? Seriously, what’s one… Or three, ponies stealing free entries gonna do?”
“Well… Stealing is still wrong…”
“So sue Trixie, if you can. Trixie assures you, she won’t make it easy for you.” Fluttershy frowned as she looked down at the sand. “As for the incident in Ponyville, just because they’re your friends, that doesn’t put them in the right.”
Fluttershy looked up at Trixie quizzically. “To Trixie, they were rude strangers who had interrupted her show, and had to be dealt with in order for the show to go on. Trixie challenges you to find a reason why she should have held back.”
“I understand that you had to continue your show, but couldn’t you have done it a bit more… Gently?”
“Maybe if Trixie was any other type of performer, but you forget that Trixie is the ‘Great and Powerful’ Trixie!” Fireworks shot up behind Trixie, startling many ponies around them. “Even if being a doormat somehow works, and the ponies stop bothering Trixie, nopony would believe her claims if they see her being so submissive.”
“… And the lie you told? About vanquishing an Ursa Major?”
“Trixie challenges you to find at least five great stories that aren’t works of fiction, or at least exaggerated in some way.”
“Well… I guess…”
“You see, Fluttershy, it is easy to judge somepony you don’t know, and cast them in a bad light, but what you have to realise is that the world isn’t quite so black and white. It’s very complex. Everything occurs for a reason, and everypony has their reasons for doing something. Trixie isn’t saying that her reasons are right, nor is she saying that your friends’ reasons for interrupting her show are wrong. But because they interrupted Trixie’s show, she had to take action.”
“To you, they were in the wrong. But to them, you were in the wrong… Because they didn’t like your attitude, and you challenged and beat them.”
“Pretty much. And anypony who is friends with them will be more likely to side with them, and anypony who is friends with Trixie would be more likely to side with her.”
“That’s how wars start,” Fluttershy said. “Both sides believe they’re right, and refuse to listen to the other side’s story. Eventually, they start fighting to resolve their issues, deciding that the winner would be ‘right’. But if they just talked out their differences, and listened to each other, they could reach a compromise.”
Trixie grinned with realisation at the yellow Pegasus. “Like you just did with Trixie, and she didn’t even realise it!”
Fluttershy smiled, and emerged from behind her mane a little bit. “Rainbow Dash spent such a long time trying to convince me that you were a bad pony, and that there was no forgiving you, but I couldn’t believe it until I found out for myself. And when you started talking to me, I realised that you aren’t such a bad pony, and I wanted to find out your reasons for your actions in Ponyville.
“Now that I know, I feel like we can be friends… That is, if you want to be.”
Trixie thought about it for a second, and then extended a hoof forward, which was met by a yellow one soon after. “Sure. That sounds good to Trixie.” Trixie noted the position of the sun, and decided to get going. “There’s more to you than meets the eye. But be warned: peace may be the best outcome, but it isn’t always a viable option.”
Fluttershy frowned as she rose to her hooves. “Even if that’s the case, I’d rather take a chance at mutual understanding, than just separate ponies into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ without even giving them a chance.” Fluttershy kicked the sand nervously.
“There’s a zebra, who lives near Ponyville… We used to shun her, because she was different. We never even gave her the chance to earn our trust… I still feel bad about it, to this very day. All that time that she spent by herself, all alone in the Everfree forest, with the hatred of an entire town focused upon her…”
Fluttershy looked into Trixie’s eyes with a look of determination. “I’m never going to let that happen again. If my friends give you trouble, I’ll help you however I can… But, if a repeat of what happened last time occurs, then I’m afraid that I can only offer an ear for you to talk you problems out. I can’t do anything more.”
“Trixie respects that. In fact, you’ve given Trixie an idea for a new story…” Trixie turned around and started to walk away. “Well then, may we meet again, Fluttershy!”
Fluttershy waved happily as Trixie walked off. ‘I’m glad she’s doing okay. I was so worried after she left last ti-’ Fluttershy suddenly realised something, and tilted her head in confusion. “Wait, how did she know that they were my friends?”
“Hmm… Sounds a touch dramatic, don’t you think?” Lemon-Lime said as soon as Trixie was done reciting her new story to her. “Also, I don’t think many ponies will believe that you wounded a kraken with your bare hooves, let alone beat one into submission.”
“Maybe you’re right…” Trixie put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Okay, then Trixie took one of the Royal Guard’s lances.”
Lemon-Lime offered a glass of cider to Trixie, who accepted it and drank it quickly, feeling rather parched. “It’s a shame that we could only book one day at this place.”
Trixie nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Trixie rather enjoyed her time here. Though she imagines your husband didn’t quite enjoy it as much.”
Lemon-Lime laughed as she poured another drink for Trixie. “Poor dear never saw that low pipe coming.” She downed her own drink, and turned to look at the clock. “So, what are your plans for tomorrow? Since you’re now released from my husband’s care.”
“Trixie thought that she’d go to Ponyville, to surprise her marefriend.”
“I thought she was going to meet you at the Ponyville train station this weekend?”
“Exactly. That’s why it’ll be a surprise.”
Lemon-Lime chuckled, and patted Trixie on the back. “Ah, young love is always so nice to see! You’ll have to let me know how it goes, darling!”
Trixie nodded, and placed her glass down on the cabinet next to her. “In fact, Trixie should probably be getting to sleep now. It’s rather late, and she’ll have to leave early tomorrow to get there by evening.”
Lemon-Lime nodded, and the two made their way towards separate beds, before turning the lights off and wishing each other a good night’s sleep.
Trixie let out a loud yawn as she exited the resort. “Do we really have to leave so early?” she complained as she rubbed her good eye.
“Of course,” the doctor said, lugging his bags behind him. “I have to get back to the office, and make up for a lot of work that I missed yesterday. They only gave me the day off on the condition that I make up for all of my missed work today.”
“Oh!” Lemon-Lime exclaimed. “I forgot to hand in our room key! You two wait here, I’ll be right back!”
“Please hurry!” her husband said, before receiving a quick peck on the cheek from his wife.
“Don’t you worry, I’ll be right back!”
Lemon-Lime entered the resort’s reception area, and walked towards the brochure stand. “Let’s see…”
A tall, slim stallion in a grey trench coat approach the stand, and stood next to her as he levitated one of the brochures. “Well? What do you think?”
“… There’s little doubt in my mind. I’m almost certain that the process has started. By the way, my condolences for Laurestine’s death.”
“It couldn’t be helped. Unfortunately, he happened to run into Captain Armour. Now, I have to try and shake off the Royal Guard.” The stallion flipped a page in his brochure. “I take it you gave her the drug?”
“I slipped it into her cider last night, Amaranth.”
The stallion grinned. “Excellent work, Lemon Blossom. Now, we wait. I shall have some of our Winged Seeds watch over her, for now.”
“And me?”
“You are on standby. Do not make any moves until you receive new orders.”
“Understood… It’s a shame though.”
“Hm?”
“I liked that young mare. I almost hate to do this to her… But, we really have no choice, do we?”
Amaranth put the brochure away, and turned around. “Don’t forgot, the Lulamoons are our enemy. The only reason that one still lives is-”
“I know,” Lemon-Lime interrupted. “I know, and don’t worry. My loyalties still lie with the Order.” Lemon-Lime turned around and left the resort. She smiled as she approached her husband and Trixie, and waved at them happily.
Back inside, Amaranth sighed as he made his way through a fire exit door, and deposited a syringe in a trash can as he passed it. He used a quick spell to light the contents of the trash can on fire, and made his way through the alleyway. “Sorry, Lemon Blossom, but now that they’ve possibly seen me with you, I can’t take any chances. When you return to Fillydelphia, you’ll be able to enjoy eternal rest…
“And child of Lulamoon… I pray that we meet again, very soon.”
A/N: Thanks to TimeTravInDEMON and Campisi for pre-reading and editing this chapter.