//------------------------------// // Lunch with Nobles // Story: Luna's Apprentice // by ScientistTrixie //------------------------------// Luna stepped into the dining hall, her silver horseshoes clicking over the tile floor. Luna glanced behind her to see Trixie following closely in her wake, her eyes nervously gazing over the nobles at the table. Even as she watched, Trixie schooled her features into the smug smile Luna expected, even after a mere two days of mentoring the arrogant unicorn. As they neared the head of the table, Celestia lit her horn, drawing a chair from the wall of the room and setting it firmly between herself and the seat Luna was heading toward. Luna sat down, smiling at her sister over the offered chair. Trixie sat down a moment later, glancing uncertainly between the two rulers of Equestria. “I’m sorry I am late. I was searching for my new student, and did not find her until I checked the library. ” Luna said, speaking over Trixie. She grinned at the mare’s embarrassment, chuckling as Trixie tugged her hat lower to cover her eyes. “Ah say no more.” Celestia said, smiling at the little bit of Trixies muzzle she could see under the brim of her hat. “I remember many a day that I had to drag Twilight from the library. She would stay in there for days and days rea-” “She wasn’t studying. She was sleeping.” Luna said, interrupting her older sister. Celestia blinked, before smiling as she closed her mouth. “I would not expect anypony else to have such a love for studying as Twilight does.” Celestia said after a moment of silence. “Ho-How is Twilight?” Trixie inquired, glancing between Celestia and Luna. Celestia’s grin widened ever so slightly as she shot a victorious glance in Luna’s direction. Trixie turned to see Luna mouthing “Later” at Celestia before refocusing on Trixie. “She is fine last I heard. She has been dating her friend Rainbow Dash for the last several months. They have had several dinners with me and Luna, and I find them both to be quite happy.” Celestia responded, picking at the salad that was placed before her by a servant. She poked at a juicy tomato with her fork and lifted it to her lips, demurely nibbling at the small orb. Trixie smiled, nodding absentmindedly. “I did not know you and Twilight Sparkle were on good terms?” Luna said as she levitated a glass of orange juice to her lips. “We weren’t at first. Trixie had gone to Ponyville to bless the town with her presence once again, but before Trixie could get started, Twilight Sparkles friends started to heckle Trixie! Probably out of jealousy… or some other foalish reason. Once Trixie dealt with the hecklers, a pair of colts decided to show the town how great Trixie truly was. They dragged an Ursa Minor into town. Trixie was... not at her best that night. Though she did do very well against the beast, in the end, Twilight put the creature back to sleep after Trixie tired it out. She is a very gifted unicorn.” She said, directing her last remark toward Twilight’s teacher. Celestia smiled, nodding her head in agreement. “After Ponyville, Trixie left to… try… to restart her traveling magic show. Almost all of Trixie’s belongings had been destroyed by the Ursa… Only Trixie’s hat and cape had been spared, albeit a little worse for wear. Twilight got them out of the remains of Trixie’s wagon, and kept them hoping Trixie would return soon.” She stopped her story for a moment, motioning for a servant to bring her a bowl of carrot soup. “After traveling to a few other towns around Ponyville, Trixie realized she… had become a laughing stock. Ponies would see Trixie coming into town, and would laugh her right back out before she could even secure a place to perform.” Trixie nodded at the stallion as he set a bowl of soup before her, eagerly digging into the meal to avoid anypony’s eyes for a moment. Luna frowned at this, glancing at Celestia over Trixie’s head. Celestia met her eyes for a moment before peering at the nobles seated around them. Even though they busied themselves with their meals and idle small talk, she could tell each and every noble within hearing distance was hanging on Trixie’s every word. “After a few weeks, Trixie managed to acquire work on a rock farm near Ponyville. Trixie didn’t realize it at the time, but the rock farm belonged to Pinkie Pie’s family. After making a little bit of money… Trixie made a mistake.” She said, trailing off to a quiet whisper. Luna reached out, patting the mare on the shoulder. Trixie lazily stirred her soup with her spoon, taking a moment to steady her nerves. “Trixie headed into the nearby town one day and found a curious little shop, just off the main streets. Trixie looked around for awhile and… I found myself drawn to a strange… amulet.” She said, shaking her head. Luna closed her eyes, frowning as she pulled her hoof away from the mare. “The Alicorn Amulet…” She muttered, saying the amulets name like a curse. Beside her, Trixie nodded her head jerkily. “Over the next year, Trixie worked and worked. At first, Trixie was working for a new wagon… then somehow I came to the conclusion that… I-I could only make Equestria stop laughing at me by challenging Twilight and beating her in a magical duel. It was supposed to be a friendly challenge… but the weeks went by, and I… I kept going back to that shop. The more time I spent near it, the more my goals changed.” Trixie’s voice wavered as she talked, obviously fighting through some tough memories. She forged on though, as if unable to stop talking until she had finished her story. “I went from wanting a friendly challenge, to wanting to destroy Twilight Sparkle. I wanted to show all of Ponyville that she was the fake, and that I truly was Great and Powerful!” She said, saying the title like it left a filthy taste in her mouth. She wet her lips absently, her eyes unfocused as she recited the past. “I bought it. I put it on… and I almost hurt them. Twilight and her friends I mean. But once again, she saved everypony without anypony getting hurt.” Trixie said, smiling faintly. “Even after all the trouble I had caused, Twilight offered me a room in the library.” She took a deep breath, rubbing at her eyes in what she hoped was an inconspicuous movement. “Trixie accepted, and stayed in Ponyville for a few days after the amulet was removed. Trixie woke up for the first time happy and refreshed. Trixie no longer wanted to defeat Twilight, or take over Equestria. Trixie simply wanted to move on with her life. Twilight gave Trixie back her hat and cape, and Trixie started to head out of Ponyville.” “What did you do next?” Celestia asked after several long minutes of silence, pushing her now empty salad away. “Three ponies stopped Trixie before she could leave. Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. Those three were responsible for heckling Trixie during her show. They had apparently heard how hard Trixie’s life had become since then, and felt responsible for it. So they had secretly been working on a present for Trixie. A new wagon.” Trixie said, a large smile appearing on her face. “Applejack had used wood from Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity had decorated it with materials from her boutique, and Rainbow Dash had provided the liquid rainbow to dye the materials and paint the wagon. Trixie loved it. But… I was still a laughing stock. Even worse, after my second visit to Ponyville everypony now saw me as a cold hearted evil bitch…” She blushed suddenly, throwing a hoof over her lips. She glanced between the two princesses, smiling nervously through her embarrassment. “Sorry…” She mumbled, dropping her gaze to the table. “Wait.” A new voice said suddenly. Trixie turned her attention to a white unicorn stallion to the left of Celestia, lifting an eyebrow at him as he took his time to wipe his mouth with a napkin. “You mean to tell me, you’re the Trixie responsible for the blackout in Ponyville?” “Well Trixie didn’t mea-” Trixie began, only to be rudely interrupted by the stallion. “Yes yes, that is all very well and good, but your actions cost me quite a bit of money.” The stallion said, leaning forward to glare at her. “I am heavily invested in Sweet Apple Acres, and when you had your little temper tantrum and blocked off Ponyville from the rest of Equestria, the apple market suffered heavily.” Trixie opened her mouth to answer, but was silenced by Princess Luna. “Trixie, I would like to introduce you to Prince Blueblood.” She said, rolling her eyes as she pointed to the stallion. “I am Prince Blueblood.” He said, stressing his title. “I demand to know what thi-this criminal is doing here! She belongs in the dungeons, not sitting beside royalty!” He said, slamming a hoof down on the table. “Take her away!” He said, directing his words to the servant filling his glass with fresh juice. “Just ignore him.” Celestia said kindly, smiling at the bewildered servant. “Now Blueblood, please calm down. She was under the effects of a powerful magical artifact, that is now hidden may I add, and had little, if any, control over her actions. Twilight herself checked Trixie out and concluded that the artifact was warping her personality.” She smiled serenely at Blueblood, but with an obvious “this conversation is over” air to her tone. A tone which sailed right over Blueblood’s head. “Oh yes, because we should all listen to Twilight Sparkle and her little band of trouble makers.” He said, speaking her name like a foul obscenity. “She has not always been the most sane of ponies, need I remind you Aunty. That just goes to show what kind of upbringing she has had.” “What?!” Luna said, mirrored by the flash of anger across Celestia’s face. Trixie glanced to Luna’s right, as two ponies stiffened suddenly, glaring at the stallion with everything they had. “It’s obvious is it not?” Blueblood went on to say, oblivious to the outraged expressions centered on him. “She was obviously raised wrong.” Luna laughed suddenly, a dismissive little chuckle that hid her anger from most of the ponies at the table. Blueblood smiled, laughing along with the princess in what he obviously thought was victory. Trixie’s eyes widened slightly, before slowly leaning away from the angry princess of the night. “Twilight is not the only pony who has had her moments of insanity.” She snarled, glaring at the stallion. Blueblood’s smile faded from his muzzle, the insult he had just leveled at the princess just dawning on him. “I myself seem to remember a brief time that I could be called insane…” She said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “No I did- It wasn- I’m so-” Blueblood stammered, waving his hooves in front of him. “Now, now sister. No need to bring up the past. I don’t think Blueblood needs to hear how you gave Ghastly Gorge its name.” Celestia interrupted, smiling serenely as she eyed her half eaten soup. Her eyes flashed dangerously, darting to the panicky stallion. “As far as ‘Insane’ trouble makers go, I seem to remember a certain Prince hiding his bed sheets in my closet after he wet the bed in his younger years, and trying to convince me that I did it! When I called your lie, you tried to convince me a monster beneath my bed did it. Or, in a much more recent event, the time you tore down several of Canterlots antique buildings just to make way for a personal swimming pool for you and your friends.” She said, still wearing her calm and collected smile. Blueblood shook his head, silently begging the princess to stop her embarrassing tirade. “Oh, maybe everyone would like to hear about you and your adventures with your stuffed dragon, Gam-Gam?” Luna added in, smirking at the stallion. “No!” Blueblood practically shrieked, his cheeks burning red as his eyes darted from Luna to Celestia. “No? Well what about, and this is a personal favorite of mine, the time you made out with the wooden griffon we keep in the library, because you were too drunk to tell the difference between a living pony, and a wooden griffon.” Celestia finished, eyes locked on the flustered stallion. Blueblood whimpered, lowering his head to the table. He pushed his chair away unexpectedly, carefully walking out of the dining hall without another word. “Thank you for defending Twilight, your highness.” The stallion of the couple beside Luna said suddenly. “You do not have to thank me Night Light.” Celestia said, pushing her crown to the side with her hoof. “You know as well as I do that Twilight is like a daughter to me. I couldn’t let him insult her or her friends.” “Night Light… Night Light… Where does Trixie know that name?” Trixie said, cocking her head at the stallion and, what Trixie assumed to be, his wife. “I’m Twilight’s father. This is Twilight Velvet, her mother.” He said, motioning to the mare beside him. “Oh! Twilight mentioned you when Trixie stayed with her!” Trixie said, smiling at the pair. “I think she misses you alot.” “We miss her so very much.” Twilight Velvet said, smiling sadly at the mare. “Ever since she left for Ponyville, we see her even less than we did when she stayed at the castle.” Her ears went back as she dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. Night Light watched her for a moment before smiling. “Princess? Do you think you could send Twilight a letter for me?” Velvet looked at him in confusion, before turning to listen for Celestia’s answer. “Of course I can Night Light. What would you like me to tell her?” She asked, pushing her bowl away. “Tell her… Tell her, her parents are coming to visit.” He said, pulling Velvet to his side as he smiled at her. Velvet smiled widely, grabbing Night Light’s muzzle in her hooves, and kissing him deeply. A moment later, the couple parted for air, a slight blush on Velvets face, while Night Light bore a goofy grin. Celestia chuckled, pushing her chair back as she stood, followed a moment later by Luna. “I will go and write her a letter before I head to my afternoon court. If you hurry, you might be able to get on the train before she even gets the letter.” Celestia added, giggling as the two turned and headed for the dining hall door. Trixie stood, stretching her front legs as she followed the princesses out of the dining hall. Once they had cleared the doorway, Luna glanced over to Trixie with a smile on her face. “Just ignore Blueblood Trixie. He boasts, and complains to anyone who lends him an ear. He may spout a lot of hot air, but he’s harmless.” Luna said, turning away from Trixie to face her sister. “Now, Celestia and I must attend to a few royal duties, so while I am gone, I would expect you to work on the task I gave you.” She said, stepping to Celestia’s side before stopping. “Trixie will have that spell figured out before you return!” She said, puffing her chest out proudly. Luna rolled her eyes as the two princesses walked down the hallway and turned to walk around the corner. “Oh, Wait!” Trixie called out, galloping down the hallway to skid to a stop before the two alicorns. “Why did you mouth later to Celestia when Trixie asked how Twilight was doing?” Trixie asked, glancing between the two. “Oh.” Luna said, huffing as she glanced at her sisters beaming face. “We had made a bet after you became my student…” She sighed as Trixie waited for her to continue. “I bet her that you would hate Twilight, and she bet that Twilight and you would be friends by now. I was trying to tell her I would pay her later.” She confessed, avoiding the smirk on Celestia’s lips. “Well pay up!” Trixie said, smiling at her mentor. Luna grumbled as she lit her horn, a small bag popping into existence in front of her. She levitated it over to Celestia, who took the bag in her own magic. Just as she was about to pop the bag to her room, Trixie put her hoof out. “Trixie may be on better terms with Twilight, but Trixie would not count them as friends yet. That being said, neither of you win so Trixie will take the bags.” The mare said smugly, smiling at Princess Celestia. Celestia stared at her for a moment, before smiling as she set the bulging bag in Trixie’s outstretched hoof. “But ‘Tia! That was a bet between us!” Luna said, stomping her hoof as she stuck her tongue out at Trixie. Celestia laughed, flaring her horn as she popped a second identical bag into existence beside the first. “Than Trixie should win from both of us.” Trixie stared at the two bags, her face splitting into a large smile as she tucked the bags into her cape and turned to gallop away. Behind her, she could hear Luna and Celestia laughing, there hoof steps growing faint as they trotted down the hallway. Trixie trotted through the halls of the palace, smiling at the new jingling sound coming from her cape. She approached the stairway leading to up the tower to her bedroom when a voice called out. “Miss Lulamoon.” “Wha-ahh!” She shrieked, jumping as Prince Blueblood stepped out of a doorway recessed into the wall. “I’m sorry if I scared you, I just wanted to apologize for my behaviour at dinner.” He said, smiling at her as she clutched at her chest with her hoof. “I must confess, I may have let my temper get the better of me, so I was hoping I could clear the air so to speak, and make sure you didn’t get the wrong idea about me.” He said, speaking haughtily at her. “Trixie is listening.” She said after a moment, unsure of the stallions behaviour. He walked around her, circling her until she was forced to turn to keep him in front of her. “My name is Prince Blueblood. I am one of the most politically powerful unicorns in Canterlot, if not in all of Equestria. Ponies tend to do what I say, when I say it. And you, my dear?” He said, coming to a stop directly in front of her, his eyes locked on hers. He reached out suddenly, grabbing her by the chin and forcing her head to the side. He leaned down, staring into her eye blankly. “You are scum.” He released her head, ignoring Trixie as she stepped back several steps glaring at him. “You are unfit to be licking the stone beneath my hooves, let alone be Princess Luna’s personal student. I will not tolerate you being Luna’s student any longer. As a matter of fact, I will not tolerate you being in this castle unless you are doing the job you deserve, which is that of a maid…” He stared at her for a moment, before shaking his head and slowly walking past her. “I promise you this. One way or another, I will not be seeing you in this castle by this time next month.” He whispered, his hooves clacking over the stone below him as he trotted out of sight. Trixie turned, staring in the direction the stallion had just left. The mare shook herself, ignoring the way her coat stood on end as his words echoed in her mind. She had the uneasy feeling that she had just made a powerful enemy in Canterlot.