//------------------------------// // Trixie's Final Nightmare // Story: A Twixie Love Story // by Yukito //------------------------------// Twilight paled as the menacing figure before her climbed out of her hospital bed, and began to stretch the muscles in her neck. “It’s so good to finally to be out of that filly’s head. That accursed Lulamoon family really knows how to perform sealing spells… Good thing they’re all dead now.” Twilight gulped, and backed away from what used to be Trixie. “A-Are you… really her?” The other mare grinned at the frightened Unicorn before her, and then began to stretch her forelegs. “Hmmm… no wings… Well, it’s not as good as Luna’s body, but it’ll do.” “Answer me! What have you done with Trixie?!” Twilight demanded, her horn sparkling as she glared at the other mare. “She may be alive, or she may be dead. That really all depends on how strong her mind is.” The mare stretched out her hind legs, and then winced as a sharp pain passed through her body. “Ouch! Leg cramp! How long was I out of it?” “… Nightmare Moon.” The mare turned her attention to Twilight, confirming her suspicions. “I don’t understand. I blasted you with the Elements of Harmony, along with my friends! And I thought you were just a part of Luna’s jealousy! So how are you here, right now?” Nightmare Moon put a hoof to her chin. “I see… So Princess Celestia really doesn’t know anything about it, huh?” She took a few steps towards Twilight, who bravely held her ground as she stared her down. “As for how I am here right now… I really have you to thank for that, Twilight Sparkle.” “Trixie! Is she going to be okay?! Please tell me she’ll be okay!” “Twilight,” Applejack said, placing a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Y’all need ta calm down. The doctor said he’s done all he can, so now all we can do is wait.” “How am I supposed to be calm at a time like this?! Trixie wasn’t even breathing when we found her! And she was… She…” “She killed somepony,” Rainbow Dash said bluntly, striking fear throughout Twilight’s whole body. “Rainbow Dash!” Rarity scolded. “Can’t you be a little more considerate? Twilight is in enough shock as it is!” “I’m just telling the truth! Look, I don’t know the whole story here, but we can’t deny what we all saw with our own eyes! And until Trixie wakes up to tell us what happened, as far I’m concerned, she’s just a murderer!” Rainbow Dash turned around to leave the room. “I’m out of here. Until she wakes up, I don’t want to see her at all.” “Wait,” Fluttershy called out, but it made no difference, as Rainbow Dash bolted out of the room anyway. “I’ll go after her. It’s never easy to see a friend like this, and I think she’s taking it pretty hard.” Applejack nodded to Fluttershy. “Go ahead, sugarcube. We can stay here with Twilight.” Fluttershy left the room to go after Rainbow Dash, whilst Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity all stayed behind to watch over their friend. Feathermay was also there, sitting by Trixie with a blank look on her face. “Excuse me,” one of the hospital’s nurses called out as she entered the room. “Visiting hours are now over. I’m going to have to ask you all to leave.” Applejack was the first to stand up, followed soon by Rarity. “C’mon y’all. Let’s go get some shuteye at the inn.” Pinkie Pie hopped up to her hooves, and offered to help Twilight up. “… Can I… stay for just a little longer?” “Twilight, darling,” Rarity said with a frown, “You know that we can’t. Besides, it’s not like Trixie is going anywhere. She will be here when we visit her tomorrow.” “… Please?” Twilight asked, looking up at her friends with pleading eyes. “Just a few minutes, that’s all I ask.” Rarity felt something tugging at her heartstrings as she looked at Twilight’s face, and let out a light sigh. “Very well then. But don’t take too long.” After Applejack convinced Feathermay to get up and leave with them, the four other mares began to leave the room. “We’ll be waitin’ for ya in the lobby, Twilight,” Applejack said as she left the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Twilight and Trixie alone. “… Trixie,” Twilight began, looking down at the unconscious mare below her, “Why didn’t you tell me anything? Why did you kill that pony? What’s going on?! Did you push me aside to protect me, or were you really just playing around with my feelings?!” Twilight reached forward and grabbed a hold of Trixie. “Please Trixie! Please get up! I want to hear your voice again! I want to see you smiling, and laughing, and telling me I’m too obsessed with books! I want to know everything about you, even the parts you feel ashamed or scared to share with me, and I promise I’ll do whatever I can to help you out!” “… You will?” “Yes, I-” Twilight stopped, and looked down at the still-sleeping mare with a shocked look on her face. “T-Trixie?” “Twilight, I need your help…” “Trixie! A-Are you awake?! How are you-” “Calm down, Twilight Sparkle. I need you to listen closely. There is only one way to save me right now…” “‘You must cast a certain spell, to reawaken my sleeping mind.’” Nightmare Moon charged some magic into her new horn, producing a dark-purple light to shine at the tip for a moment, before she discharged it. She was pleased with the results. “Honestly, to think that that would actually work. Ponies are so desperate when the life of a loved one hangs in the balance…” “That was you?” Twilight asked, taking a few steps back as the mare experimented with her new magic by firing a spell that turned on every electrical appliance in the room. She then released another spell to turn them all off, smiling proudly as she did so. “Indeed it was. I heard you calling out for Trixie to wake up, so I took a chance. I used what little power I had built up to contact you, and I must say, it worked like a charm.” Twilight looked around herself. She was in a cold, dark stone room, the only source of light being a single candle in the middle of the room. Around her, there was a number of wooden doors, each one looking different from each other. Where some were bright, and in good condition, others were dark, cracked, and mouldy. “Where am I?” Twilight asked, her voice echoing throughout the room. “You’re inside my mind.” Twilight looked around for the source of the voice, but found nothing. “Over here.” Twilight turned towards one of the doors. “Come closer.” “Trixie?” Twilight approached the door where the voice was coming from. It was probably the darkest door in the room, but it was also in the best condition. There were several padlocks on it, though a few were open, and simply dangling in midair. “Trixie, where are you?” “I’m trapped in here, Twilight. Each of these doors leads to a different part of my mind. However, I am currently trapped within the long-term memory section, and am unable to get out. You must open this door for me, Twilight. I am simply unable to.” “How do I do that? And how did you get trapped in here anyway?” “There’s no time to explain, you must act fast. I have knowledge of a spell that will break down my memories, and reconstruct them, allowing me enough time to break free. But you must cast it for me, Twilight Sparkle.” The room began to shake violently, and the candle in centre started to grow dimmer and dimmer. “What’s happening? Trixie?!” “The spell I taught you before is starting to wear off, and my mind is trying to force you out! You must act now, Twilight Sparkle, or you shall lose me forever!” Twilight gasped, and, in a panic, started to bang her hooves against the door. “Then, tell me the spell I need to free you, hurry!” A soft chuckle passed through the air, and a moment later, the door began to glow a bright purple. “Very well then, Twilight. Here is what you must do…” “You tricked me!” Twilight shouted, pointing a hoof at Nightmare Moon. “You tricked me into freeing you! It was you trapped inside Trixie’s mind, not Trixie herself!” “She finally catches on,” Nightmare Moon responded sarcastically. “Yes, that is right. I have been trapped inside that filly’s mind ever since that mother of hers cast that damned spell! All I needed was for Trixie’s mind to be thrown into darkness, an easy feat when she was a child; all she needed was to see everything she loved taken from her. But that wench… she placed that stupid seal on me, locking me inside of Trixie’s mind, completely unable to break free! “Even as Trixie’s life continuously fell into despair, no matter how much she suffered, it was never enough! Especially when she found you! It was at that point that I had given up all hope of ever being free again… But, it seems that Amaranth managed to use the situation to his advantage.” “What do you mean?” Twilight asked as she charged magic into her horn. “Careful now. I may be Nightmare Moon right now, but this is still Trixie’s body. Damage it, and you damage her.” Twilight grit her teeth together, and slowly undid her spell. “That’s better. And basically, Amaranth simply ignited the darkness inside Trixie’s heart by using her love for you as a base. Love is powerful, but it is also a weakness, one that is easy to exploit.” “Is that what the letter was about? The ‘tragedy’ was referring to me?” “… I have tired of this conversation now, Twilight Sparkle. I’m on a busy schedule, and I really must get going now.” Nightmare Moon’s horn lit up, and her eyes glowed purple as her magic coiled around Twilight’s body, lifting and holding her up in the air. “First, I must reunite with the rest of my soul. The portion that escaped one thousand years ago, and infected Princess Luna.” “W-What do you mean by that? That there are two of you?!” Nightmare Moon shook her head. “No, not exactly. Over one thousand years ago, the Lulamoons defeated me, and trapped me under what later became their family manor. In an attempt to escape, I separated a portion of my soul, and had it slip through a weak point in their seal. That part of my soul found its way to Luna, and took advantage of the darkness in her heart to use the possession spell on her. Much like I have done here. “However, that part of my soul is now dead. Merely a mass of energy, thanks to what you have done to it. Still, it’s energy that I can use, and with it, I shall accomplish my goal! I shall become greater, and more powerful, than any other equine in all of Equestria!” Twilight struggled against Nightmare Moon’s hold, but it was no use. “You won’t get away with it! Princess Celestia will-” Twilight stopped, and stared at the mare below her in shock. “… W-What did you just say?” “You didn’t hear? I said that I shall live up to my name! I shall become the Great and Power… What?” Nightmare Moon’s grip on Twilight loosened, allowing the purple Unicorn to free herself by use of a teleportation spell. “T-That’s not right… I’m sure my goal was…” “… Night-time eternal,” Twilight said. Nightmare Moon flinched. “T-That’s right. But… why did I want that? I don’t… I like the night, sure, but not that much. I just wanted to…” “… How sad,” Twilight said, meeting Nightmare Moon’s eyes with her own. “Shall I tell you where those thoughts came from? The one who wanted eternal night was Princess Luna.” Nightmare Moon tensed up, and scowled at the purple Unicorn. “And the one who wants to be ‘Great and Powerful’… is Trixie. My Trixie, who I will not let you take away from me!” Twilight charged forward, her horn sparkling as she pounced towards Nightmare Moon. “You don’t even know what you want! You just take the dreams of others, and make them your own! I wonder, do you even have your own dreams, Nightmare Moon?” “Of course I do!” Nightmare Moon roared. “I… I want to…” ‘What? What was I after? Why did I start possessing ponies in the first place?!’ Twilight knocked Nightmare Moon back with a quick spell, and landed just in front of the dazed mare. “Give her back! Give me back my marefriend, right now!” “Shut it! I will end you, and those accursed Elements, right here and now!” Nightmare Moon’s horn began to spark to life, but the light faded soon afterward. “You will not harm her!” Twilight delivered a swift kick to Nightmare Moon’s face, sending her stumbling back a bit. “You! How are you-Twilight! Don’t listen to her! Blast her with the Elements, while you have the chance!” Twilight gasped, and held back her next attack so that she could allow Nightmare Moon to her hooves. “Trixie…” “Fool! This body is mine now! Ngh!” Nightmare Moon held a hoof to her head, groaning in pain as she flailed about on the spot. “Twilight! Run! I… I won’t let her harm you!” “Trixie!” Twilight grabbed the mare’s shoulders, smiling as she tried to make eye contact with her. “Trixie, I’m not leaving you! You have to fight this, Trixie!” “I can’t! I… I’m too weak… I don’t have to strength to fight her, and besides, even if I could, you shouldn’t risk your life over somepony like me!” “What are you saying? I love you, Trixie! Have I not made that clear these past months we’ve spent together?” The mare let out a loud moan, and fell down to her haunches. “Stop it! This body is mine!” “Trixie, you can fight it! I know you’ve had a hard past… I’ve seen what her minions have done to you. To your family.” Twilight knelt down to pull the screaming mare into a hug. “But you don’t have to deal with it alone! Even if everypony else abandons you, I never will! And you are worth it, Trixie. You’re worth it… because you’re the mare I want to spend the rest of my life with.” “… I… I want to… spend my life with you, too.” The blue mare’s body began to glow a bright purple colour, and her flailing slowed to stop as she reached out to embrace Twilight Sparkle. “No! W-What is this?! More of this ‘friendship’ crap?!” Twilight shook her head, and returned Trixie’s embrace. “Not this time, Nightmare Moon. This… is love.” Twilight’s horn lit up, soon followed by Trixie’s. “And love is the most powerful force in the world. No matter what may come our way, together, we can overcome it.” “Twilight…” Trixie blushed as she buried her face into Twilight’s chest, the energies from their horns beginning to mingle together. “I… I love you, Twilight.” “I love you, too, Trixie.” The two purple energies mixed together in the air, and started to wrap around the two mares’ bodies. Trixie began to scream out in pain, but Twilight held on to her tightly, easing her pain as she felt her body transforming back to normal. “NOOOOOO! NOT AGAIN! I… I WON’T Be alone agai…” Trixie gasped as she heard the voice fade away from her mind, and tightened her hold around Twilight’s waist. ‘Alone? She was… alone…’ The room filled with a bright light emitted from both of the mares’ horns; and as soon as it faded away, Twilight looked down at the mare she was holding, to see if she was okay. “Trixie?” She received no response, and began to worry. “Trixie!” “Mm…” Trixie slowly opened her eyes, and looked up tiredly at the purple mare holding her. “… She’s gone,” she said flatly, pushing her back away from Twilight Sparkle. “It’s… over…” Twilight smiled, and leapt forward to hug Trixie again. However, the showmare moved back from Twilight, confusing her. “I… I killed somepony, Twilight…” “…” “You deserve somepony better than me. My hooves are stained with blood. I-” “Trixie,” Twilight said sternly, lifting her hoof into the air. Trixie watched with wide eyes as Twilight swung her hoof through the air, and connected it with the side of Trixie’s face. “… That’s for worrying me!” Twilight quickly reached forward, and this time, she would not allow Trixie to avoid her hug. “You jerk…” Trixie tried to resist the hug at first, but soon found herself completely unable to. Instead, she slowly eased herself into the embrace, her body warming up and feeling light in Twilight’s forelegs. “Twilight… how can you still love somepony like me?” “… I love you, Trixie. That’s all that matters.” Twilight pulled back, so that she could connect her lips with Trixie’s. After a full minute, she pulled away so that she could look her lover in the eyes, and the two smiled gently to each other. “I’m not letting you go, no matter what you say.” Trixie sighed, and leaned her head forward to nuzzle Twilight’s cheek. “Geez… You stubborn mare, you.” “SHE’S AWAKE!” a voice shouted out behind Twilight, startling both mares. They turned around to see a familiar pink pony standing at the doorway, smiling excitedly at the two mares. “Oh, sorry! You two were having a moment, weren’t you?” Rarity and Applejack followed behind Pinkie Pie, along with Rainbow Dash, and then finally, Fluttershy. “My word!” Rarity exclaimed. “This room is a complete mess! Whatever happened here?” Applejack whistled appreciatively, and then shot a sly grin at the two mares. “Wow. You two must have really gone at it in here… Ah know ya must be excited that she’s awake, Twilight, but there’s a time an’ a place for this sorta thing, y’know?” Twilight blushed as she realised what Applejack was referring to, and quickly pushed Trixie away from her. “N-No! It’s not like that!” she shouted, but it was clear that the others didn’t believe her. “Oh, come on!” Rainbow Dash shouted, flying into the room and landing next to Trixie. “I was worried sick about you, and then you wake up and just act like nothing happened?” Trixie’s eyes widened in surprise. “You were… worried about me?” Rainbow Dash flinched, and turned her head away quickly. “D-Don’t get me wrong! I was worried for Twilight’s sake, not yours! I just wanted her to stop worrying, and… What in Equestria happened to your eye?!” “Eye?” Trixie asked, and then let out a loud gasp as she brought a hoof to her left eye. ‘That’s right! I removed my eye patch! … Wait…’ Trixie slowly removed the hoof from her eye, and then let out a frightened gasp as she saw… darkness. ’M-My eye! My eye isn’t working!’ “Trixie? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, seeing the fear on Trixie’s face. “Oh, the patient is awake?” Everypony turned to the door, where they saw two ponies dressed in Royal Guard attire, being accompanied by one of the hospital’s doctors. “Hm? I thought that visiting hours were over already…” Twilight Sparkle and her friends stood nervously at the train station as they waited for the train to finish pulling in. Twilight looked around for any sign of the blue mare that they were waiting for. “Trixie…” “Relax, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said, placing a foreleg around her neck. “She Pinkie promised that she’d come here, and even Trixie wouldn’t break a Pinkie promise!” “I know, but… the train’s already here, but she’s-” “Oh, the train’s already here?” Everypony turned around at the sound of the showmare’s voice, and were greeted to the sight of a confident-looking mare, clad in her purple hat and cape, with a brand-new eye patch over her left eye. “Trixie thought she had more time. Oh well, as long as she made it in time.” “‘Bout time!” Applejack shouted as she turned around. “We were just about ta leave without ya.” Trixie laughed nervously as she approached the group. “Sorry. The Royal Guard just kept asking me questions, so…” Trixie approached her marefriend, Twilight Sparkle, and nuzzled her lovingly. Twilight blushed, but still returned her affections nonetheless. “So,” Rainbow Dash started, “You wanna explain what all this is about?” “…” “That’s it?” Trixie asked, bewildered as she watched Shining Armour get up and walk towards the door to her interrogation room. “I’m being let off, just like that?” “… Well, as an honorary member of the Royal Guard, you were well within your right to kill Shadow if he attacked you. He was our third-most-wanted criminal, after all. Furthermore, no official records of ‘Amaranth’ exist anywhere within our archives. His birth certificate, his family, his hoofprints… nothing. From a legal point of view, he never existed, and so, you couldn’t have possibly killed him.” “… I’m not sure I should be happy about this or not,” Trixie said, lowering her head on her forehooves. “I killed somepony, Shining Armour. How am I supposed to live with that weight on my shoulders, without receiving proper judgment?” “… If you’d like, I can beat you to a pulp right now.” Trixie flinched, and quickly scooted her chair away from the white stallion. “But then Twiley would be sad. And I don’t want that to happen.” “So, what, then?” Shining Armour turned and looked at Trixie with a serious look on his face. “… Sorry, Trixie, but the past is the past. You’ll have to find a way to deal with it… Just remember what’s most important to you, and don’t let your past destroy your future.” “… My future…” Trixie scooted her chair back, and rose to her hooves. “My future is with Twilight… I’m not going to waste the life that she saved. And I’m not going to be the one to make her cry again.” With a smile on his face, Shining Armour opened the door, and motioned for Trixie to leave. “Then go get her, Trixie. And good luck.” “Thanks. I won’t waste the life that you saved, either. Even if it was through ‘technicalities’.” Shining Armour shot her a sly grin. “What? I can’t find loopholes and use them to my advantage every now and then? If you want to repay me, hurry up and marry Twiley already! My parents are pressuring me to find a marefriend, and I’m probably going to have to reveal my relationship soon.” With one final bow, Trixie left the interrogation room, and began making her way towards the Canterlot train station. “Suicide?” Rainbow Dash asked as the seven mares sat down inside the train. “The dude killed himself? But, what was that note all about?” Trixie shrugged. “Some whack job that wanted Trixie all to himself. When Trixie refused, he took it rather harshly… and Trixie was unable to stop him in time.” “So y’all didn’t kill him!” Applejack wiped the sweat off of her brow. “Phew, ain’t that a relief? But still, why did y’all do that ta Twilight? Couldn’t ya have jus’ told her what was goin’ on?” Trixie bit her lower lip. She hadn’t thought of a story for that yet. Thankfully, Twilight was there to save the day. “Please just drop it, guys,” she said, wrapping her forelegs around Trixie and nuzzling her. “I’ve already forgiven her, and she’s not going to do that again.” She gave her marefriend a stern look. “Right?” “Er, right…” Twilight’s face softened into a smile again, and the two mares held each other lovingly as they continued their journey home. ‘Right. I don’t have to be alone anymore. Because Twilight will always be there. And whatever comes our way, I’ll protect her…’