//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Tragic Magic // by Twinkletail //------------------------------// The citizens of Ponyville watched in silence as Rarity trudged across town, bags packed and trailing behind her in a wagon. Despite their feelings towards her from the incident they'd heard about with Twilight, it was still a sad occasion to see such a thing. She may have hurt Twilight badly, but that didn't erase all the good she'd done for the town, and to see her driven out of town was heartbreaking. Not a single pony spoke a word as she passed them, although one or two offered sad, somewhat-sympathetic looks. Not a single one was able to catch her eye, though. The shamed socialite would not pull her eyes from the ground in front of her. Thankfully, she knew the path to the library well enough by this point to walk there without looking. Rarity sighed a heavy sigh as she stared at the library door. Her hoof hung in front of it for a few long, painful seconds as she tried to will it against the wood. The rejection from Twilight had hurt enough last time that she was actually hoping for that detestable Trixie to answer. As it would turn out, she would get exactly what she hoped for, as Trixie opened the door to meet her. Whether this was a good or bad thing was up for debate, but it was what shed hoped for regardless. "Well hello again, Rarity," the snide trickster sneered. "What brings you here this time?" "Please do not taunt me, Trixie," Rarity said softly. "You have won. There is no need to rub it in my face." "Trixie intends to do nothing of the sort," Trixie told her, despite the smile on her face implying otherwise. "Trixie is gracious in victory. She may also be gracious in defeat, but she would not know that." "Indeed..." Rarity said, using all of her willpower to keep from shouting at the braggadocios illusionist. She could not afford to lose her patience. "As for my intentions, I have simply come to say goodbye. After the events of last night and the pain I have put poor Twilight through, I cannot show my face in town any longer." Rarity sighed, casting her gaze downwards once more and choking back a sob. "Trixie is very sorry to hear this, Rarity," Trixie told her, in a tone that Rarity would have likely interpreted as sincere had she not already known that this wasn't the case. "Trixie wishes that we could all live together in harmony, and is saddened that such a goal is not attainable." "As am I," Rarity responded. "Trixie assumes you shall wish to tell Twilight of your departure yourself?" Trixie asked. "No," Rarity answered. "Twilight has already stated that she does not wish to speak to me. If I were to tell her that I was leaving, she would only feel worse than she already does. Perhaps it would be best for you to tell her after I have left." "Trixie supposes that would be optimal," the illusionist said, trying to hide the smirk that was attempting to creep across her face. "The message shall be delivered." Rarity nodded, still refusing to look up. To look into the eyes of that terrible trickster would pain her more than she could take at the moment. The seamstress turned her back to her rival, beginning to take her leave. After a step or two, she raised her head, looking back towards Trixie. "Before I leave, Trixie..." she said, tilting her head slightly. "I simply must know how you pulled it off." "Pulled what off?" Trixie asked, a baffled look crossing her face. "You know what I am speaking of," Rarity said simply, turning to face Trixie fully. "You returned to Ponyville to take what you believed was yours, and you orchestrated this entire event to remove me from the picture so you could have Twilight all to yourself. I am not daft, Trixie." She gave a haughty smirk, staring Trixie down. Trixie, however, was not to be worked so easily. "Trixie hasn't the slightest clue what you are blabbering about," she said with a scoff. "You are simply trying to blame others for your own indiscretions. And besides, if that really were the case, which it is not, do you really think that Trixie would be foolish enough to admit it to you?" The performer tossed her mane back, giving Rarity a confident grin. "Of course not," Rarity replied. "My apologies." She turned her back once more, then spoke again, this time not even bothering to glance back. "I had an idea of what spell you might have used, but on second thought, it was a bit too complicated." Rarity did not even bother taking another step forward; she knew such a thing would be completely unnecessary. "Too...complicated?" Trixie asked, venom seeping into her tone. "Do you have any idea who you are speaking to, wretch? No spell is too complicated for the Great and Powerful Trixie!" "I do wish that were the case," Rarity said, lifting a hoof up and blowing a small speck of dirt off of it. "Twilight is the most powerful unicorn I know, and if her marefriend is to be a unicorn, she should be one who has at least some modicum of magical talent. I tried this spell at home and managed to cast it, but it's just a teensy bit out of your grasp." Rarity finally deigned to cast a look back, and was greeted with the sight of a positively enraged Trixie. "How...DARE you?!" Trixie shouted. "The nerve! The gall! The Great and Powerful Trixie is the most talented unicorn alive! None can match her ability! Especially not a filthy ruffian with a greasy mane and a tacky fashion sense!" Rarity winced as Trixie barraged her with the series of appearance-based barbs. Still, she withstood them. As important as her physical attributes were to her, nothing was more important than regaining the love of her life. "As much as you may wish that to be true," the white unicorn said, "it simply is not. That spell I believe you to have cast is within my skill level, but I'm afraid yours falls short." "You think a simple inhibition-removing spell is outside of my skill level?" Trixie shouted back. "Absurd!" Rarity let a smirk cross her face. Things couldn't possibly be going better. "Oh nonono, I'm sure that's not what you did," Rarity said. "It's far too complex. To cast it even once would be an immeasurable feat." "Ha! Once? Don't make me laugh!" Trixie retorted. "I cast it once on each of your drinks, you foal! Trixie is greater and more powerful than you could ever wish to be!" "Oh?" Rarity mused. "Hmm...well then, you must have been casting a weakened version of it. One that was not nearly strong enough to have much of an effect." "Surely you jest!" Trixie shot back. "Every single casting of that spell was done at full power, to assure that you would kiss Trixie! And it worked perfectly, did it not?" The blue unicorn laughed a triumphant laugh, accompanied by a small display of magical fireworks. "Well then," Rarity said, her smile growing as she glanced over Trixie's shoulder. "I retract my accusations. You certainly are a great and powerful magician. Do you not agree, Twilight?" Trixie froze in place. A single drop of sweat dripped down her forehead as Rarity broke out into a full grin. Slowly, deliberately, the stage magician turned around, afraid of what she would eventually see. Sure enough, there was Spike, standing at the foot of the stairs. Next to him was a very incensed Twilight. Small licks of flame crept through her mane and tail as she glared at Trixie. "T-Twilight...I can explain..." Trixie began. "You don't need to explain anything," Twilight said, her voice eerily calm. "You need to leave. Now." The blue unicorn stammered a bit, as all three sets of eyes fell on her. Finally, she gave up any semblance of self-respect and threw herself at Twilight's hooves. "Please, Twilight Sparkle! You must forgive me!" she whined, even dropping her third person narrative as she grabbed at the hooves in front of her. "I missed being with you so much, and I wanted you back so badly that it clouded my judgment! I'd never been close with anypony before you...I'll never try to take you away from Rarity again...just...please don't send me away..." The performer looked up at Twilight, pleading just as much with her gaze as she had with her words. Rarity watched the scene from the doorway. Just as she had been back when Trixie had given her sob story upon arriving at the library, she was nervous to look at Twilight. Looking at Twilight would certainly reveal the look of forgiveness towards Trixie that she absolutely did not want to see. She knew it was coming, and she looked away, not sure if she could take watching such a thing. "Trixie..." Twilight said, her voice still calm. "You came here, made a big fuss about just wanting to be friends, abused my trust so much that I was taking your side over Rarity's, and then used a spell to victimize Rarity and make her do something she'd never do. And you lied about the whole thing just so you could take her out of the picture and try to be with me. Maybe we can talk this over one day, but right now, you need to get out of my home." Rarity stared in awe at Twilight, barely able to believe what she had just heard. Trixie seemed to be in much the same position, as she certainly hadn't expected Twilight to turn her away. Unable to even form words, Trixie got back to her hooves and turned, head hung low. She dragged her hooves past Rarity, who smirked. It wasn't like her to enjoy the misfortune of others, but all things considered, she felt she was well within her rights. The door closed behind her, and Trixie was gone. There was a moment of silence as Twilight and Rarity stared at each other. Spike took one look at what was going on and silently excused himself. He had saved the day, but it was time to step away and let the two have this moment. He'd make sure that he got a nice, ice-creamy reward later on. "Rarity..." Twilight said, barely above a whisper. "...I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have-" Twilight's apology was stopped by a white hoof over her mouth. Rarity sniffled lightly, tears starting to fall around her smile. "Later, Kitten," she said. "Right now, all I wish is to be with you." Twilight started to try and apologize again, and Rarity's hoof drifted up her cheek and to her ear. Twilight's gentle protests faded, as Rarity knew they would. Of course the ear-stroking would work. It always did.