//------------------------------// // Final Battle! Trixie vs. Equestria // Story: Trixie vs. Equestria // by PaulAsaran //------------------------------// The castle was quiet. Too quiet. No servants going about their duties, no nobleponies milling about, not a single guard patrolling the halls. Trixie had seen the smoke from a window; the riots were still in full swing. How long had her fight against Fine Crime lasted? Where were her friends? How had they fared in their fights? If a single one of them had lost – or worse – then the entire plan would be for nothing. But there was nothing Trixie could do. She had no idea how to find them and time was of the essence. There was little chance that she could defeat Celestia on her own, but she had to try. Besides, she now knew Fine’s real goal. He was a schemer; he had to have had some deep-rooted plan for this moment. He wouldn’t have sacrificed his life otherwise. So she made her way through the quiet halls, mind set on her goal. Though her body ached from the wounds she’d received, she recognized all her injuries as minor. There was no doubt Fine had intentionally spared her anything serious; she hurt, but that was all. She was more than ready to face Celestia. It took some time, but Trixie finally reached the massive main hallway. She walked out to the center and looked about, a strange sense of nostalgic guilt coming over her. The first time she’d stood here she had no idea what she was doing. How foolish she’d been, prancing about and calling herself ‘great’ and ‘powerful’. She was a different pony back then. No, not just her; the entire world had been different. Now she saw it for its ugliness. Trixie had been just one more ignorant tool in Celestia’s grotesque global masterpiece. Amethyst had known, and she’d hidden herself away from the ugliness with her work and lifestyle. Twilight had sought a solution, and she paid dearly. Luna had struggled to fight back in whatever way she could, a losing battle that had sapped her spirit to the point of surrender. Fine Crime had pushed back against the tide in ways only he could, and even now the cogs of his methods were turning. Now there was Trixie. Trixie against the world. Trixie against Equestria. Trixie against Celestia. She turned to face the vast double doors, the entry to the throne room. Her final opponent was waiting. How was she supposed to defeat the goddess of the sun? Trixie was not dissuaded by that thought; on the contrary, she felt angry, restless and empowered. She marched, gritting her teeth in preparation for what she knew would be the fight of her life. For Amethyst, she would try. For Fine Crime, she would not hesitate. For Twilight, she would right the wrongs. For Luna… she would survive. She stood before the massive doors, taking slow and heavy breaths. She could do this. She could do this. Just open the door. She remained at pause for some time, staring at the golden wood. Damn it, open the door! She stepped forward and pushed her way through. The throne room was larger than Trixie recalled. The door closed quietly behind her as she glared at the room’s sole inhabitant. Celestia sat alone on her throne, reclining with a bowl of grapes at her side. Upon seeing her visitor she stood and raised her hooves with a grin. “Trixie! Welcome, welcome! I knew you’d make it.” Trixie couldn’t help but sneer. She moved forward slowly, ready for anything. “Where is the statue?” Celestia set a dainty hoof to her lips. “Statue? To which would you be referring?” Trixie paused to paw at the carpet and snort. “I didn’t come here to play games with you.” The Princess of the Sun frowned as if hurt. She set her forehooves together in a contemplative fashion. “Come now, Miss Lulamoon, there’s no need for such anger. We’ll get to the statue in time, I promise. Please, relax. Have some grapes.” The fruit bowl floated over to Trixie innocuously. She knocked it away, spilling the grapes across the floor. Celestia leaned back with a pout. “You could have just said ‘no’. What if I wanted some?” Trixie’s horn sparked as she let out a vicious snarl. “I won’t be your toy anymore. I have come to finish you, Celestia!” “Finish me?” The princess shook her head. “Don’t you at least want to hear my offer? I promise you, it’s a good one.” Trixie snorted once more, baring her teeth. “Nothing you can offer would ever entice me.” Celestia’s hooves rose to her lips, her eyes taking on a wickedly playful glint. “Not even my sister?” Trixie paused, her anger slipping. “What?” “Gotcha.” Celestia dropped from the throne to stand to her full height. Her voice was a soft, enticing coo. “I can make Luna subservient to you. She can be yours, Trixie. Forever. It wouldn’t be any different from how I bound Fine Crime to me. I’ll even make you my personal protégé! I do have an opening for that position, and I’ve come to realize that you would make a perfect apprentice.” Trixie’s blood boiled. She would dare to make such an offer, given what Trixie already knew? “Buck you! Luna is not property to be parceled out like land! And I’ve seen the way you treat your apprentices. You won’t avoid this fight, Celestia!” Celestia’s smile broadened. Her crown shined and hovered off of her head; it floated back to land on the cushioned throne. “I thought as much, but I had to offer. Fighting is such an unseemly thing, wouldn’t you agree?” She paused to consider, studying Trixie with a playful smile. “Then again, I suppose you wouldn’t. After all, you’ve been doing nothing but fighting all this time. I really must thank you, by the way.” Trixie raised an eyebrow. “For what?” “For Fine Crime.” Celestia turned her head to the throne, and a moment later a new crown appeared from behind it. It was strangely familiar. “He was always a bit too meddlesome,” she continued. “He had all the traits I needed in a Mane Archon, but his accursed good intentions made him… rebellious. Keeping him bound to me to ensure his loyalty was quite tedious, and he was still manipulating things in the shadows.” The new crown landed on her head as she turned to face Trixie once more. “So thank you, Trixie. Thank you for ridding me of the burden.” “You shouldn’t thank me yet,” Trixie hissed. She eyed the new crown and at last recognized it, her eyes going wide. “Wait… is that the Element of Magic? But doesn’t that belong to Twilight?” Celestia leaned forward with a smirk. “Which one?” Which one? Trixie didn’t understand at first, but comprehension gradually came upon her. She didn’t know why, but the concept filled her with a distinct dread. “Y-you mean that belonged to the other Twilight?” “Indeed.” Celestia posed as if to show off her regalia. “The one you’re so attached to! Perhaps the two of you can share that tomb. You’d look adorable together.” Trixie shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around this revelation. “But… But how can there be two Elements of Magic? Does that mean there are doubles of all the Elements out there?” Celestia raised a hoof. “I can see you are confused. It is no surprise, considering it took even me a thousand years to figure things out. Since she’s no longer a threat, I may as well enlighten you. “The Twilight you buried in those wretched slums is none other than the Unkown Princess.” Trixie blinked, shifted, tried to make sense of this. “What?” Then comprehension at last dawned, and her jaw dropped. She gazed with wide eyes at the princess as a sinking feeling invaded her gut. Celestia giggled at Trixie’s expression. “Confusing, isn’t it? She wanted to see my sister and me defeating Discord, so she traveled back in time. But this—” she tapped the crown with a smirk, “—went with her, and it interfered with the magic of the Elements.” Luna’s story came back to Trixie in a flash. She took a step back, eyes going wide. “So Luna was telling the truth after all. Discord’s death was a fluke!” “And your Twilight is responsible!” Celestia laughed, an oppressive sound that echoed in the empty throne room. “Isn’t it delightfully horrid? She returned to this miserable, corrupt world: a world made beautiful in my image through a thousand years of wretchedness! She was so unprepared she even came to me thinking I was still her old, good Celestia. That’s when I figured things out, and that’s when I broke her like a schoolfilly!” Sweet Luna, no wonder Twilight had been desperate for a solution! But Trixie would not be distracted, and she would not be mislead. “None of this is her fault. You’re the one who turned Equestria into a cesspool!” Celestia approached, head low and a devilish grin on her lips. “And I wouldn’t even exist if she hadn’t meddled in magics she should have known better than to play with! Discord never would have died, my sister and I would still be whole, the world would have been entirely different. This is all Twilight’s fault, and she paid for it with her very soul. Your icon is just as guilty as I am! You think you’re fighting for good – that you have all the answers – yet you didn’t even understand the wrongdoings of your own savior!” “Shut up!” Trixie fired a continuous beam at the princess, fury filling her being. The beam struck a barrier before Celestia, who smirked. “So much anger. Hate me, Trixie. Hate me and learn.” Celestia fired her own pale beam, which struck Trixie’s and matched it. Within seconds its power overwhelmed hers; Trixie was sent flying to smack against the closed doors behind her. Her legs spread wide as something invisible pinned her to the wood. Celestia approached at a leisurely pace. “Did you really think you could duel me? I have faced countless foes far superior to you: King Sombra, Queen Chrysalis, that slut Cadance. What do you have?” She reached up a hoof to pull Luna’s medallion from beneath Trixie’s cape. “Your faith? Your love? Such petty, worthless things.” Rage filled Trixie as she gazed upon the pendant. She focused her magic, as much as she could muster. “Get your filthy hooves away from it!” A blast of energy exploded about her. Celestia leapt back with wings outstretched as Trixie collapsed to the floor. She snatched up the pendant and clutched it to her chest before standing back up. “I am going to end you, Celestia!” Celestia landed, her magnificent wings folding properly once more. “Is that so? Let’s see you try.” Her horn flashed, and before Trixie could think she found herself flying through the air to smack against a wall. “I am the most powerful mage in Equestria.” Trixie flew again, smashing into the opposite wall. “I can do things you can’t even imagine.” Trixie was jerked through the air, her back slamming into the ceiling. “You’re power isn’t even a fraction what mine is.” Trixie dropped to hover over the floor. Pale, yellow balls of light began to strike her, bouncing her around like a rag doll. “So let’s see it, Trixie.” She dropped, jaw bouncing on the hard stone floor. “How do you intend to best me?” Trixie’s body screamed in pain. She struggled to move, but her legs wouldn’t obey her commands. No, she couldn’t be defeated already! She fought down the tears as she looked up to see her opponent watching with patient, playful eyes. What was she supposed to do now? Celestia glanced about as if seeking some fresh opposition, then sighed and nodded. “I see. That is truly disappointing.” She turned away and walked towards her throne. “After all the hype, there was nothing special about you after all.” Trixie’s head dropped tenderly to the floor. How was she supposed to fight like this? Celestia had just trounced her, and she’d not even touched the witch! Her eyes fell upon the amulet resting close by. Struggling to move, she dragged it close and held it tightly. “Luna… If you can hear me, I really need some help…” Celestia’s face appeared, startlingly close. “What’s this?” She used her magic to jerk the stone from Trixie’s hooves. “G-give it back!” Trixie tried to stand, but couldn’t muster the strength to lift her own weight. Celestia stood and studied the stone with a critical eye. “Hmm… I thought it just a trinket. Well, a healing talisman is as good as a trinket.” She let the stone drop haphazardly; Trixie snatched it back up as quick as her aching body would allow. “You’ll have to use something much more powerful than that. It's too bad you destroyed the Alicorn Amulet, isn’t it?” Trixie ignored her words and focused on the stone. She could use it, even if it only helped her in a tiny way. She touched her horn to the cool onyx, closing her eyes as she worked the magic. “Let me guess.” Celestia’s hoofsteps echoed in Trixie’s ears. “Another one of Trixie’s glorious last-minute ideas? It will take more than a touch of trickery to get you out of this one.” Trixie tugged on the magics contained within the stone. It flowed through her horn and warmed her body. It was a small difference, but she felt stronger. At the very least she would be able to face her opponent properly, even if all it would amount to was her death. Then a thought occurred to her: she was drawing magic out of the stone. That meant magic had to be put there in the first place. She stopped the magic as hope sparked in her mind and kissed the stone with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Luna.” It took great effort, but she at last managed to stand. She glared at Celestia, who turned to her from just before the throne. The princess bore a bitter frown. “Oh, Goddess. Really, Trixie? You want to go through this again?” “I said I would save Luna,” Trixie snarled, the talisman floating just over her head. “If that means I have to die trying, then so be it!” Celestia rolled her eyes. “Well, you’re tenacious. I’ll give you that much.” Trixie pawed the floor, though it hurt to perform even that small motion. “Are you going to fight me or keep talking?” The princess sighed. “Fine, if that’s what you want.” She fired a beam at Trixie, the same one she’d used before. Trixie let out a shout and lifted the talisman, focusing all her strength on it. The beam hit the stone, engulfed it in pale light… but couldn’t push past it. Celestia persisted with her attack, a grin coming to her lips as the stone absorbed her magic. “You are clever indeed, but that trinket could never hold all my power.” The beam intensified, and the stone vibrated violently. Trixie sat, sweat pouring down her face as she fought to keep the stone intact. This would work, it had to. If it didn’t she was a good as dead! She gritted her teeth and pushed the talisman forward against Celestia’s beam. “Come on… Come on…” Celestia hardly seemed disturbed. “How long do you think you can keep this up?” “As long as possible!” Trixie lowered her head as she glared, sparks and smoke beginning to rise from her horn. “I can do this. I can do this!” Celestia giggled. “No, I don’t think you can.” The beam only grew brighter. Trixie could feel the heat of it, like standing just a little too close to a flame. She knew she couldn’t resist for much longer. She began to focus on reworking the magic, even as she redoubled her efforts to keep the talisman from shattering. “Y-you are not going to win… I won’t let you win…” Celestia faked a yawn. “I have heard that so many times.” She leaned forward, the beam growing even hotter, the brightness of it blinding. Trixie couldn’t hold it anymore; she reversed the spell and released. The stone exploded, all the energy it had been absorbing unleashed in a single massive eruption that filled the whole room with light! Trixie was knocked off her hooves, smashing hard against the wall as her entire body burned. A second wave passed through her; she screamed in agony and squirmed against the intolerable heat. The pressure faded and she collapsed to the floor. She curled up in a ball and wept, smoke rising from her body. Shaking, she tried to move and cringed. With no other option, she rubbed her face against the floor to free it of tears and looked herself over. One of her hind legs was bent at a disturbing angle and black marks covered her body. But she was alive. She looked for her opponent, but there was no sign of her among the smoking remains of the throne room. The throne itself was gone. Gone, too, was the massive window that had made the wall behind it. Celestia was nowhere to be seen. There was no way she’d been killed – if Trixie had survived, so would she – but she might at least have been seriously injured. Trixie rested her cheek tenderly on the floor and sighed her relief. For now, it was over. That moment of hope faded when a shadow came over her. She looked up to see Celestia hovering outside on majestic white wings. Terror filled Trixie as the princess touched down on smoldering stones with an expression as hard as rock. “I must admit, that was impressive. Pointless, but impressive.” Trixie tried to move and was rewarding with searing pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she realized her situation. “W-why? Why didn’t it hurt you?!” Celestia walked towards her at a slow pace, every hoofstep delivering an ominous echo. “You pathetic creature. I’ve faced far worse spells than that. I told you: there is nothing you can offer that would pose a threat to me. It amazes me that you even bothered to try.” Something unseen wrapped about Trixie’s throat and lifted her into the air. She gasped and tried to cry out, but her voice was cut off as the grip tightened. Too feeble to even lift her hooves to her throat, she squirmed in vain against the hold. Celestia peered at her, lips locked in a taut frown. The frigid spark in her eye made Trixie’s blood run cold. “I admire your spirit, Trixie. It reminds me of a certain other pony I once knew. Maybe I'll throw you into Tartarus as I did her. The two of you can share the same miserable, torturous fate.” “P-please...” The princess blurred in Trixie’s vision as tears welled in her eyes. “I j-just wanted to save L-Luna…” Celestia’s face betrayed no expression. “Then maybe I’ll send her down there with you. A gift, in return for all the frustration you provided me.” Trixie struggled to free herself, but her body could barely move. Her mouth moved slowly, fighting to offer desperate pleas. Her heart pounded, her chest tightened as she hung limp and helpless. She had failed. All the effort, all the pain amounted to nothing, and now Luna was going to be forever tormented by this freak. In the end, what good had Trixie done? “Nothing else to say?” A long, horrid pause. “Then let it be done. I have more important things to—” Light filled the room, blinding Trixie even with Celestia in the way. She couldn’t look away or lift her hooves, so she lowered her eyelids against the glare with a whimper. Celestia, barely discernible in Trixie’s tear-blurred vision, turned to face this sudden interruption. “What in Equestri—you!” A cacophonous explosion filled Trixie’s ears. She dropped to the floor with a pained grunt as Celestia cried out. She managed to rub her eyes and look up just in time for the light to begin fading. She found Celestia lying in a heap in a corner of the room, seemingly unconscious. Trixie could only gape; her eyes roamed the room for some explanation, and what she saw made her gasp. Standing at the window – magnificent in her fury – was another Celestia. Trixie’s jaw dropped, her mind went numb. What was she seeing? The new Celestia walked forward, eyes locked on the other one. She paused to stare, but the other Celestia didn’t get up. “Y-you…” Trixie struggled to stand, but couldn’t pull it off. “Y-you’re…” The new Celestia turned to her, her fury melting into a warm smile. “It’s okay, Miss Lulamoon. I promise, everything will be okay.” The warmth that came from her was like the heat of the sun, filling Trixie with an inescapable sense of pleasure. She didn’t know how or why, but there could be no question: the good Celestia had been freed. The others must have found the statue… “Th-thank you. Th-thank the G-Goddess! I th-thought I was going to die.” “In time.” Trixie and the new Celestia both turned at the same time. The other Celestia was rising, a white ball of energy flying from her horn as she let out a furious shout. The new Celestia raised a shield, but it shattered on impact, and an instant later the old Celestia was on her with a screech. Beams bounced about the walls; ethereal weapons clashed in a shower of sparks. The room was a cacophony of wind and light and heat! Her energy spent, Trixie could only crawl backwards as she watched the identical princesses duel in a humbling display. She wanted to help, but she screamed in pain at the simplest attempt at magic. She was useless! “Your reign of terror is at an end,” the good Celestia cried, blocking assaults with a shield of pure light. “I’ve barely even begun,” the other snarled. Her glowing white eyes smoked as she fired streams of lasers. “Surrender, you vagabond!” The good Celestia spread her wings wide, a wave of light dissipating the beams like paper in a flame. “You wretched foal!” The corrupt Celestia flew forward before the other could respond and landed a strike to her opponent’s chest. Trixie watched in horror as the good Celestia fell back, face contorted in pain as she took another blow, and another. She tried to form a shield for defense, but her villainous clone shattered it with ease and sent her flying against the wall with a well-placed energy blast. Trixie tried to stand once more and fell on her face. She looked up in horror as she realized that her momentary hope was being dashed yet again. No, no, no! This was all wrong! How could things keep going so poorly?! The corrupt Celestia stood tall, her wings ruffling in her frustration as she glared down at her latest foe. “You couldn’t even beat me when we were almost of even power. I’ve spent the past thousand years growing stronger than ever, while you were stuck as a lawn ornament!” The good Celestia tried to rise, a massive laser firing from her horn. It struck a barrier and erupted in a harmless shower of sparks. The corrupt Celestia fired a shot of her own that smashed into her opponent, and the good Celestia could only cry out in agony. A moment later the evil doppelganger was on top of her twin, pinning her down and glaring daggers at close range. “I’m going to turn you back to stone, and then I’m going to find the ponies that freed you and teach them the true meaning of hell. I rule Equestria, I am the better half, I am superior. You are nothing, and you will remain nothing for the rest of eternity!” The good Celestia leaned up in defiance, lips pulled back in a snarl. “You forget: I still have one trick you can’t counter.” “Do you?” The corrupt Celestia sneered. “Like what?” The good Celestia smirked. “I originated the spell.” She thrust her head forward to touch horns with her clone. Light erupted between them, and the corrupt Celestia let out a screech that chilled Trixie to her core. “No! You can’t! Get away… Stop!” Trixie covered her eyes against the blinding light as a roaring noise filled her ears...but then, just a suddenly as it had begun, the sound and light were gone. Seconds passed, or perhaps minutes. Her heart pounded in her chest and questions swam through her head. At last Trixie lowered her hoof to find a single Celestia lying on her belly by the wall. Trixie tried to sit up, but could only manage to lean and stare. “P-princess…?” Celestia’s eyes flitted open. She sat up and shook herself. She stared at Trixie as if not knowing who she was. Then her eyes went wide with realization and she emitted a ear-splitting scream. “No! Get out of my head!” She fell to her belly, clawing at her head and thrashing. “This is my body! Get out, get out, get out!” “Now!” Trixie jumped as the doors beside her smashed open. “We’ve got you, Trix!” Rainbow landed with a bang between her and the raging Celestia. “Spread out,” Applejack called as she and Rarity and Pinkie darted into the room. “Don’t give her any room ta dodge!” Fluttershy came floating through, hooves on her lips as she gazed upon Celestia’s writhing form. “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!” “Don’t worry, Trixie,” Twilight called as she followed the others in. “We’ve got this under control!” They were all here, as if it had been planned. Part of Trixie was thrilled. Another part of her was astounded; how could they have timed it so perfectly? She struggled to sit up, watching as they took places in a circle around Celestia. The princess was too busy fighting her mental war to stop them. Trixie glanced at each pony in bewilderment… then spotted something through the open doorway. It was Fleur de Lis. Fine Crime. The Order of Shadows. It was planned. “Everypony, get ready!” Twilight’s voice caught Trixie’s attention. Celestia screamed, still clutching at her head and rolling on the floor. “You foals! You have no idea what you’re doing! I am Equestria! I am everything! This world wouldn’t last one day without—” She jumped up and let out an agonized screech, beams flying out of her horn in wild, random directions. “Get out of my head!” That’s when Trixie saw it: the crown. She stared at it, then looked to Twilight’s. They matched in every conceivable way. “No… Wait!” Trixie waved a hoof at her old rival, but she could see it was too late: they were charging the spell. No, they couldn’t cast it now, not with the other Element of Magic so close. They were supposed to save Celestia, not kill her! Thinking fast, Trixie fought for one last spell, screaming at the burning pain that radiated through her horn. Her golden rope appeared over her head and flew out, wrapping about Celestia’s Element. Before she could jerk it away, though, Celestia caught sight of it with wild, menacing eyes and snatched the rope with her hooves. The two locked eyes, and Trixie’s blood went cold. Celestia screamed her fury. “For the last time, die!” She jerked the rope and sent Trixie flying with a magical pull. Trixie flew over the princess, but even now she was aware of the spell that was about to strike Celestia. Her mind moving fast, the world moving slow, she reached out— —and snatched the crown from Celestia’s head. Then she flew out the window. Trixie clutched the crown close as she fell. She looked up just in time to see a rainbow of colors erupt through the window, punctuated by a scream of rage. It was done. Celestia was saved – and with her, Equestria. Luna would be freed from her imprisonment and the world could begin its healing. But that healing would have to come without Trixie. She closed her teary eyes and prayed, knowing that she was about to die. She didn’t want to… but if Fine and Twilight could make that sacrifice, so could she. For Luna’s salvation, this was worth it. If only she could have seen her pretty face one more time… A powerful wind hit her and she tumbled through the sky. Her eyes went wide as the gale blew her about like a doll. It was not a natural wind, it couldn’t be. What was—? Her world became blue as she hit liquid, her body stinging from the impact. She gasped and sucked down water. She scrambled at first, but her legs were too weak to fight, so she went still and let her body float to the surface. She coughed up water as her head touched air. She fought to right herself, though it was extremely difficult under her condition. Something caught her by the mane and began to drag her through the water. She had a moment to look around and realized that, by some miracle, she’d landed in the pond of the Royal Gardens. She felt her back touch solid ground and was soon being dragged onto the cool grass. Her savior released, and at last she was able to spot him as he walked by her. He was small, he was winged, and he was red. Gulfstream. The colt stared down at her with sharp eyes. “You alright? Didn’t drown or nothin’?” Trixie tried to sit up, but her legs gave out and she dropped onto her back once again. She stared up at him with tears in her eyes. “Y-you… You saved my life.” He glowered and waved a hoof. “Eeh, don’t get all sentimental about it.” He turned away, wings spreading. “Wait!” He paused and looked back with a sneer. “F-Fine... Is he…?” Gulfstream sucked in a deep breath as his eyes moistened. He jerked his head away from her and hesitated. It took him a few seconds to respond; when he did his voice was as cold as ice. “The only reason I saved you is because Uncle Fine would have wanted it. If we ever meet again, I swear I will make you pay for what you did.” He flew away without another word. Trixie stared up at the clouds, letting the moment of silence come over her. So Fine really was gone, and the others were simply acting on his plans. Such a devious pony. She closed her eyes and relaxed, whispering a silent thank you to a pony she’d once viewed with such revulsion. The pain ebbed away. Her mind drifted to thoughts of Luna. Gradually, like the quiet of a long and terrible storm, sleep took her.