//------------------------------// // Unwelcome Advances // Story: Trixie vs. Equestria // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// Armed with the schedule, Trixie found getting into the library incredibly easy. Knowing when to make her move was as simple as hiding in a corner and watching the patrols for half an hour. She’d dreaded the moment of trying the key, but it worked like a charm. Best of all, nopony could enter the library – legally – without making an appointment, and the schedule made it clear there were no appointments at all for that evening. So there she stood in the middle of a towering library at least four stories tall, every inch of shelving space filled with scrolls and books. Trixie felt like a foal who’d just opened the best birthday present in the world! She turned a slow circle with a giddy smile. So much magical knowledge in a single location – much of it forbidden from the public! The only things missing were magical artifacts and talismans, which were stored in an entirely different location. No matter, she could learn these new spells at her leisure. She wished she’d had more time; with a few months of study, she could become one of the most powerful ponies in Equestrian history! Alas, her time in Canterlot was limited, so she’d have to learn as much as she could for now. But where to start? Her eyes roamed the sections. Elementals? Materialization? Transformation? Teleportation? Illusion? So many options, so little time! The Conjuration spells caught her eye. She made her way to that set of shelves, studying the different scrolls and books for anything that might be interesting. Many of them were written in strange languages she didn’t know. She picked one legible book out at random and began to flip through the pages. Her eyes widened at the instructions and explanations and algorithms. This thing was a level of complexity she’d never imagined, all for a single spell! She returned the book, suddenly very conscious of the fact she’d not had any formal education with magic. As a self-taught unicorn, how was she supposed to grasp such intricate material in the time she had? Schooled mages spent months learning moderate-level spells, and there was nothing 'moderate' about what she'd just seen. She went through a few more books and scrolls. Many were of the complex variety that was simply beyond her comprehension, but she was glad to see that some weren’t so difficult. She roamed different sections of the library, gathering some of the simpler spells for consideration. It wasn’t until she reached the Teleportation section that a particular spell caught her attention. Teleportation had many forms, this she knew from observation and personal study. She even had a spell of her own, which had been useful for wowing an audience with sudden stage appearances. But it was a novice-level spell: very short distances, high energy and requiring a strong understanding of the spot she was going to. This, on the other hoof, could let her clear entire towns with minimal effort! More importantly, she’d seen Twilight Sparkle do it. Repeatedly. It was one of her signature spells, and Trixie had always longed to try it herself. It just seemed so… practical. She brought the book to a table in a corner, carefully reading every page. It was more advanced than she was used to, but not as hard as she’d feared. It took nearly fifteen minutes to read through the entire spell guide, after which she decided to try teleporting across the library. She stood next to a bookshelf and focused her attention on the opposite wall. She concentrated for some time, trying to recall everything the book had told her. Her horn glimmered as she struggled. That glimmer intensified into a bright glow. She could feel the magic running through her body and fought to keep it under control. She closed her eyes and focused, her horn beginning to spark wildly and smoke. But nothing happened. Finally at her limit, Trixie let the magic fade and dropped to her haunches. She gasped for air and cast a forlorn, cross-eyed look at her horn. “Not a good start for Trixie.” She didn’t stop trying. A dozen times she struggled with the spell and a dozen times she failed. By the time she’d given up her horn was stinging and she had a headache from overdosing on magic. Feeling like a failure, she sighed and closed the book, returning it to its place. Trixie considered herself a talented mage, but she was a horrible study. She’d flunked out of school early because she just couldn’t grasp what the textbooks and instructors were telling her. Others might be able to cast the same magic, but they learned by observation, education and study. Trixie had developed every spell she’d ever known on her own. She had the opportunity to examine magic in a spells library, and it was proving worthless! Trixie sat at the table for a long time, quietly studying the key Twilight had given her. Her expression soured as she rubbed her aching head. What was she supposed to do now? Finish the fights on her own? But that was how she handled everything. She refused to let this get her down! She had a veritable treasure trove of spellbooks at her hooves; even if she couldn’t learn from study, perhaps she could gain at least an inkling of their use. Maybe – if she studied and absorbed enough information – she could figure out the practical uses on her own at a later time. It was a long shot, but it was better than letting the opportunity go to waste. So Trixie spent all of that evening and some of the night reading upon on every spell she could in the time she had. Teleportation, Conjuration, Elementals, she even found a spell for manipulating time! The evening lingered, but still she read on, determined to absorb as much as she could in the short time allotted. Midnight came and went, and still she read. The Nocturnal Wing was as dark as its namesake. Trixie trudged through the long hall towards her room, head pounding uncomfortably. She’d tried several spells that night and succeeded in not a single one. She was tired, her eyes hurt from too much reading, and all in all she was bitterly disappointed. She just wanted one thing: to get to her bed and sleep. Tomorrow morning her third opponent would arrive, and she at least wanted to be awake enough to deal with the situation. Nye appeared just as she was approaching her door, coming out of Luna’s room with a pile of sheets on his back. Trixie observed him, mildly surprised. “You wash her sheets, too?” The stallion offered a proud smile. “I’m her attendant! I do anything the princess needs.” Trixie glanced about the empty hall. “But Trixie would expect that to be a job for the maids.” “There are no maids in the Nocturnal Wing,” he replied as if this were an obvious and simple thing. Trixie blinked, then glanced at the door to her own room. “Does this mean you also clean and care for Trixie’s room?” “Yep.” She blushed. “Trixie supposes she should thank you, then. She had no idea.” “No need to thank me for doing my job.” She watched him head down the hall, a curious thought coming to her mind. After a few seconds she hurried to catch up. “Can Trixie ask you a question?” He shot her a charming smile. “Sure thing.” She hesitated, hoping she was not entering uncomfortable territory. “You seem very… loyal to the princess. Trixie was wondering what she did to make you like her so.” He turned his head to study her, expression curious. She was glad to see that he didn’t appear at all offended. “I guess there’s no reason not to share.” He turned to a door, which Trixie kindly opened for him with magic despite the sting it gave her overworked horn. “Thanks.” The room was large and filled with wash basins, a large set of hangers standing on a balcony nearby. He dropped the sheets near one of the basins and prepared to pour water into it from a nearby fountain. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard of the Stone Family?” “Trixie cannot say that she has,” she admitted, examining her surroundings. He shot a sharp glance her way. “Really? All the buildings? With the Stone logo on them?” “Oh.” Trixie blushed. “That Stone family.” He nodded and began to work some knobs on the fountain’s side. “My father was Stickin Stone, master architect and engineer. Of course we lived in Manehattan, where it’s actually possible for Earth ponies to achieve some status.” “You must have been very proud.” “I was. I’m not an engineer; I was the family oddball who got cobbling. Can you believe it? Even so, I was proud of my lineage. But the Stone Family… well, it’s gone. I’m sure you read the news.” Trixie blushed once more and scuffed the floor. “Trixie doesn’t really pay attention to the news.” Steam began to rise from the fountain, and Nye carefully set the wash basin under the stream of water. “My father made an off comment about royalty. It wasn’t much, I don’t even remember what he said. Just some tiny criticism. Next thing I know, he’s getting arrested for mocking the government or some such.” Trixie gaped. “You mean Princess Luna had your father arrested for a mere comment?” Nye pulled the washbasin away, water sloshing around inside, before hitting her with a critical look. “No, not Luna. And before you ask, it wasn’t Celestia either. It was some idiot in the local Manehattan government who did the arresting; he somehow thought that my father’s negative criticism would have consequences for him and the entire city.” “That’s ridiculous! Trixie cannot imagine either of the princesses being so upset over something so small.” Nye shrugged in response. “Then what happened to your father?” Nye focused on his work. “Executed two days later. Mom too.” Her jaw dropped. “You… You say that as if it were nothing!” He poured some soap into the washbasin, still not looking at her. “It happened years ago. There’s nothing to be done about it. I moved on. Had to.” His words were blunt, but Trixie detected the small hint of sadness in his tone. She bowed her head, suddenly wishing she’d never asked. But the story was begun, and she wanted to hear all of it. “Trixie is not sure she wants to know, but what happened next?” Nye had set the sheets into the washbasin and appeared to be letting them soak. “There was still the question of what to do with me and my brother. We were still in school, but they locked us up too. The guy who did the arresting wanted us killed like our parents, but there was some outcry from his conspirators. I think they were going to throw us out on the streets. That would have been terrible, too; our family name was mud by that point, our futures set for unemployment and homelessness. Probably would have ended up dead in an alley. “Then Luna showed up,” he declared with a grin. “She’d heard what was happening and came to investigate. I remember the first time I saw her. I was locked in a grungy cell. Suddenly there she was, standing in the open door. Most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.” Trixie studied his beaming face. His eyes were faded, as if he were seeing the image all over again. “She rescued you.” He nodded. “She dealt with the Manehattan official – to this day she won’t tell me exactly what happened – and then took me and my brother to Canterlot. We couldn’t go back to our old lives, and Earth ponies have no place in Canterlot society. Since my brother had the advantage of being an engineer like our old stallion, Luna convinced Celestia to send him to the Gates of Tartarus.” Trixie’s eyes went wide. “You mean he’s the Gatekeeper? But Trixie thought that was Twilight Sparkle’s job.” “It is. Jim’s the maintenance engineer. High pay, picks his own hours, keeps the gates in proper condition. You could call him Twilight’s assistant. “As for me,” he continued, his voice quieting, “there was no way a mere cobbler was going to get ahead in life, not under my circumstances. Not in Canterlot. I’d have ended up in the slums, addicted to Poison Joke extract or something similar.” He gave her a soft smile. “So you see, Trixie, Luna’s… well, she’s kinda like my mother now. She saved me from a life of poverty and misery, put a roof over my head, gave me something to do with my life. Whatever she does in the meantime – even the bad parts – I’m willing to put up with, because I owe her. I owe her everything.” Trixie sat, her mind in turmoil. She stared at the churning water in the basin as he began to clean the sheets, feeling lost and confused. “That does not sound at all like the princess Trixie is coming to know.” “I’m aware.” His attention was once again focused on his work. She tilted her head at him. “Do you know why she does such terrible things?” “Yes.” She peered. “But you won’t tell Trixie.” He shook his head. “Luna said she wouldn’t tell you anything until – if – you won the third fight. Sorry, but I have to keep my mouth shut.” She took a moment to rub her still-aching head. “Trixie supposes she can understand your position. She just wishes everypony would stop with the secrets.” “Then you’re in the wrong town. Canterlot practically breathes secrets. Have you met Fine yet?” He added the last line as if in afterthought. Trixie’s ears perked up at the name. “You mean Fine Crime? We… talked.” Nye hunched over the washbasin with a dark frown. “Consider yourself lucky. Most ponies he talks to end up dead before sunrise. When it comes to plotting and secrets, he’s a master.” She studied Nye for a few thoughtful seconds. “Are you friends?” He nearly dropped the sheets, his eyes going wide. “Are you kidding? Me? Friends with him?” She leaned back at his outburst. “Trixie apologizes, she just thought you might be. He told Trixie he is loyal to Luna, and—” “There’s no telling where Fine’s loyalty lies,” Nye interrupted with a sneer. “He claims to be Luna’s friend and goes out of his way to spend time with her, but he also swore an oath to Celestia! He’ll do anything she tells him, no matter what, because he’s magically bound to her.” Trixie was surprised by his manner. “Are you suggesting that is a bad thing?” His mouth closed with an audible click of teeth. “Don’t stop now! Is there some conflict between Luna and Celestia behind the scenes?” “I think I’ve said enough,” he grumbled. “Look, it’s a lot more complex than that. Besides, I don’t think it’s my place to talk about it.” She scowled at him. “Wait until after the fight tomorrow, is Trixie correct?” He didn’t answer, instead focusing intently on the sheets in his hooves. She rubbed her head once more and turned away. “Trixie is going to bed. Enjoy your washing.” She was almost at the door when he spoke up. “Trixie.” She glanced back to find him watching her with a frown. “I’m sorry if I seem a little defensive. Just remember, Luna isn’t enjoying this any more than you are.” “Trixie will try to keep that in mind,” she growled before exiting the room. A long yawn passed through her lips as she made for her bedroom. Nye’s story drifted through her head, and she tried to reconcile it with what she’d learned about Rarity and Applejack. How could somepony so cruel do something so generous? It made no sense at all. The princess had said that she’d once been a bad pony, but had changed recently. Yet Trixie was under the impression that Nye had been around for years. So she’d once been a good pony? Did she become a bad pony, then become good again? Was that even possible?. Goddess, did her head hurt. She didn’t bother using magic, instead shoving the door open with her head and closing it behind her with a kick of her hind leg. She made straight for the bed, head hung low and mind rampant with questions. “I wondered how long you’d keep me waiting.” Trixie froze, her head jerking up at the familiar, sultry voice. There, lying on her bed in a leisurely pose, was Nightmare Moon. Trixie’s eyes went wide. Momentarily wondering if she’d entered the wrong room, she looked around and recognized her surroundings. Yes, this was most certainly hers. She took a cautious step back. “W-what are you doing in Trixie’s room?” The princess stretched with a disturbing moan, her back arching and her rump high in the air, before resting her chin on her crossed legs and smiling sweetly. “Waiting for you, of course.” Panic crept upon Trixie. She fought to offer up a smile. “Well, Trixie is here. W-was there something you wanted from her?” Nightmare climbed off the bed slowly, her eyes filled with wicked intent. “Don’t be so coy, Trixie. You are the one coming after me, remember?” Now Trixie’s panic hit her full force. She took a few more steps back, heart leaping into her throat. “T-Trixie told you she’s not here to court you!” The princess laughed and struck a proud pose. “Come now, enough with the games! We both know that there’s only one reason you’d be fighting for me.” “L-Luna—” “Don’t call me that!” Trixie flinched at the princess’s menacing glare. “I am Nightmare Moon and you will address me as such!” “Fine!” Trixie waved her hooves as if to ward off a blow. “But Trixie is not here for that!” Nightmare paused. A sultry, heavy-lidded gaze replaced her scowl as she approached Trixie. She began to circle the distraught unicorn at a slow pace, eyes roaming Trixie's body. “Are you certain? I thought you might like a little reward. After all you did win two fights, which we didn’t expect.” Trixie fought to ignore the velvety touch of that starry tail as it caressed her cheek. “D-do you come on to all ch-challengers so strongly?” The princess leaned in close, lifting Trixie’s chin with a hoof so that she could look her in the eye. Their faces were so close their muzzles almost touched, seduction filling Nightmare's eyes. “Only the ones that catch our eye.” Trixie practically threw herself out of the dark pony’s grasp. She pressed her back against the wall, gasping as she clutched her tightened chest. “P-princess, please! Trixie is not that kind of mare!” Nightmare’s eyebrows rose as she studied Trixie, chin in hoof. “Really? That’s too bad; I thought you’d be particularly good in bed.” Trixie could only sputter in response, her face burning. The alicorn approached, that wickedly playful smile on her lips once more. “I suppose I can spare you this night,” she cooed as her mane petted Trixie’s cheek. “I was hoping to try you out, but perhaps I am being too forward. Perhaps you’d prefer Luna’s attention?” She studied the stunned Trixie for several seconds, licking her lips in a hungry manner. “So why are you here, if not to bed the alluring Princess of the Night?” Still pressed tightly against the wall and wishing she could bury herself within it to escape, Trixie fought for an answer. Her mind was so confused, and those beautiful eyes so eager… “I… I-I don’t know…” Nightmare pursed her lips, emulating a kiss, then slowly rubbed her long, glowing horn up Trixie’s. It was a gentle, seductive touch that brought a chill to Trixie’s spine and stole the air from her lungs. “Figure it out soon,” she whispered, voice laced with honey. The princess turned away and walked to the open window, playfully swaying her flanks. She glanced back over her shoulder with a smug smile. “I’ll let you go for tonight, but don’t make me wait too long, Trixie.” Her wings opened wide and she was gone. Trixie stared at the window for several seconds with bated breath, dreading the thought that the alicorn might come back. At last she pried herself from the wall, dropping to her knees and letting out a shaky sigh. She breathed in short puffs as sweat dripped down her cheek. She’d never imagined the princess would be so… so forward! She reached up to gently touch her horn. The memory of the caress took her breath away, her tail tucking instinctively between her legs. The curtains swirled in the wind. Trixie leapt to her hooves in fright – or eagerness? – but she was alone. Terror dominated her mind. What if Nightmare came back? Why did she feel like such an encounter was dangerous? What if this time she returned in the guise of Luna? Very suddenly Trixie had no desire to sleep alone. She crept to her door and carefully pushed it open. A swift glance both ways down the hall revealed it to be blessedly empty. She moved slowly through the darkness to a nearby door and pushed it open as quietly as she could. “Ammy?” She peered around the dark room, noting the familiar interior. She closed the door and slipped over to the bed, where she found her friend sleeping soundlessly. She shoved her gently. “Come on, Ammy, wake up.” “Hmmwhasis?” Amethyst raised her head slightly, barely able to open her eyes. “That you, Trix...?” Trixie dropped to her haunches, set her hooves to the side of the bed and gave Amethyst her most hopeful stare. “Let me sleep with you tonight. Please.” Amethyst rubbed her eyes with an unpleasant frown, shifting so she was facing Trixie. “…not fillies anymore…” “Please...” Trixie glanced at the window with her heart in her throat. “Trixie’s scared.” “Of what?” Trixie turned her anxious eyes to the door. “Nightmare Moon came after Trixie tonight.” Amethyst emitted a long, sleepy sigh and snuggled up to her pillow. “Pissed her off already...?” “She wasn’t after Trixie in that way.” A small, amused smile came to Amethyst’s lips. “Wha’she do, try an’ screw ya?” Trixie could only blush, the words stuck in her throat. Amethyst’s eyes flitted open, going wide at Trixie’s flushed face. “Wait, really?” Trixie clapped her hooves together. “Please, Ammy! I don’t wanna be alone.” Amethyst’s hoof came forward to press against Trixie’s muzzle. “You mean to tell me a princess tried to seduce you and you said no?” Amethyst was all smiles. “Forget sleeping together, I wanna trade rooms!” Trixie shook her friend forcefully, terror governing her actions. “This isn’t funny, Ammy. You have to help me!” Amethyst laid back down, shooting her friend a critical look. “Trix, you’ve got problems. How do you say no to that, seriously?” “Ammy!” “Alright, alright.” Amethyst pulled the sheets over her head. “But you get the couch.” Trixie glanced at the couch, which was uncomfortably close to the window. She took a closer look at the bed, which was most certainly large enough for two – maybe even three – to sleep in comfortably. She wanted to argue… but after a few seconds decided to count her blessings. “Thanks, Ammy.” “Yeah, sure.” Amethyst’s muffled voice rose up from under the covers. “Just let me sleep, huh?” Trixie crept to the couch, warily eyeing the window as she lay down. She used her cape for a blanket, and for a moment was comforted by its familiar scent and soft feel. But the image of the princess gazing seductively down on her was seared on the back of her eyelids, and she kept having to sit up to check the windows. She couldn’t be sure if she was feeling fear… or anticipation.