//------------------------------// // Talking with others // Story: Trixie and the Mirror // by Mightyfinemorning //------------------------------// “I can’t believe we are going to the Starswirl Wing…just imagine all the wonders we might come across! I’m just so excited!” Twilight Sparkle said enthusiastically as she walked down the corridors. “Well, I for one simply have to wonder why the place was never revealed to everypony except a few.” Rarity said. “Not particularly interested, but for Trixie, I guess I have no choice but to follow. Rainbow Dash said. “Uh, so when is the princess comin’ back?” “Have patience, Applejack. I’m sure Princess Celestia and Luna have their own issues to deal with.” “If ya say so, Twilight.” The merry conversation between the bearers. The six ponies all along by each other, walking the hallway that leads to the library. They were Trixie’s friends. And so there was Trixie among them. Perfectly normal. But out of place, right? No doubt. There was Trixie. There used to be Trixie. Now that Trixie was gone, and they were looking for her. Not Trixie, but their Trixie. Their Trixie-could Trixie ever imagine being called as such? Words-words had power. Her magic depended on her speech. The Great and Powerful. Indeed, uttering the name made Trixie truly Great and Powerful. Their influence was not to be ignored. As a magician she had to translate magic to her speech. Lies and illusions spoke their own language. Trixie had to know. The Great and Powerful Trixie had to understand the words and know its proper usage. The possessive case was never meant for Trixie. Trixie was just Trixie. My Trixie. Your Trixie. His Trixie. Her Trixie. Their Trixie. All wrong, not quite right. The word that was most fitting for Trixie was not such. Only her title-the Great and Powerful-was a true match for her. Somepony’s Trixie-no, that was not possible. It was simply not going to happen. She had to know herself well, to be in charge of her all the time. Endless thoughts, she had to make it end somehow. To focus on more immediate issues. The atmosphere. Was there something wrong? Trixie looked around. She sniffed the air. Or was she just overreacting? The sweet smell of the perfume was all over Canterlot hallway. Not too strong, but just right amount that filled a pony’s nose with delight. The air was regularly circulated. Trixie never really understood how exactly the mechanism worked, but she was smart enough (and much more, to be exact) to figure out the guards activated some kind of ventilation spell every day. Not cold, not hot, just cozily warm air that gently caressed Trixie’s body. It was softly touching her fur, the feeling of being brushed. She liked the feeling. Every fur being stroked gently, the exceptional touch of a skilled professional- So why was she having a slight twitch constantly? Mixed emotion of jealousy, confusion, and false alarm-or was it false? So many questions, her mind ever vigilantly producing them; which Trixie did they really care? Who were they really? But did she not know the answer already? They were looking for their Trixie. Not Trixie, but their Trixie. A very crucial difference. Control. Trixie silently grumbled under her lips. Another reality-the concept kept bothering her. She had been to Starswirl Wing-no, she was never there, but she heard the name, back in her own world. She tried to remember what her mentor said. He described the place as he told her. And young Trixie was mesmerized by the idea of a library full of magical spells. So many mysteries, so many wonders. One day, she said to herself, she would ask the sun princess herself to be granted access to the place. How ironic was for her wish to suddenly come true, in an unexpected time from an unexpected place? She recalled his voice. Somewhat coarse voice of a stallion-but it was a sweet music to Trixie’s ear; the place where truly arcane spells were stored, how spectacular could the place be? What did he say? Trixie tried to remember, diving deep into her thoughts. ‘To be honest, it’s nothing special. I’ve been there several times, but the dull air just kills it for me. The place really needs to be flashier. Like in the books. Ever recall how they always make the library so wonderfully ornamented with every sophiscated meaningless artifices as much as possible? It needs to be like that. Now that would be better!’ He laughed, gulping down the apple cider in an instant, emptying his cup. The bar was his favorite place to hang around, and Trixie too often found the somewhat shabby place strangely comforting, despite the queer air that was imprinted on the very walls. ‘But if it is a place where somepony cannot normally go, it must be very special, would it not be?’ Trixie said, sipping her teas. Bars or not, she still preferred the bittersweet rose tea. The owner of the place, despite his roughneck appearance, sure was an expert at creating the perfect masterpiece of the heavenly delight she eagerly sought on all occasions. Her mentor laughed heartily. ‘The most noticeable thing about Starswirl Wing, my dear Trixie, is the huge hourglass at the center. Truly huge it is-I heard they had to travel to the very far north to get the special timber to construct such wooden frame. Imbued with most advanced unicorn magic, the device sustains itself, turning as soon as the bottom is completely filled with sand.’ ‘And Trixie assumes that is somehow related to the time itself? Perhaps it foretells coming of a certain age that will either be a final doom or a new hope for Equestria?’ Again he laughed, this time louder. ‘Ha! Good one, Trixie. No, it’s just a big fancy clock showing how much hour has left for the guards on their duty.’ Trixie frowned. ‘That is not what Trixie expected. She now knows one cannot judge a book by its cover, but that, she thinks, is fairly anticlimactic.’ ‘Old Starswirl was quite a fellow, mind you. He thought it would be good to make a clock so big that everypony would immediately notice upon entering the place. Too bad nopony’s actually interested in going there.’ ‘What do you mean?’ Trixie asked. How could the place, where ancient spells lied, be so easily forgotten? She just could not grasp the idea of ponies ignoring the perfect treasure chest waiting to be opened. ‘First few years, Princess Celestia made it sure to guard the place well. Words are very magical, Trixie, and this specific term-ancient-could be synonymous with so many things. But what would ya know? Nopony ever came. Nopony ever asked the princess to gain entry. So her highness thought it would be just fine to leave the place. Now it’s like any other place in the library, just less known. I’m pretty sure she would grant admission to anypony if asked.’ ‘So does that mean Trixie can go there if she wants to?’ He grinned. ‘Exactly, missy.’ He shouted out loud, the voice booming the entire place. ‘One more cider for me!’ His voice then suddenly changed to softer tone. ‘And bring this Great and Powerful lady some of her favorite.’ He smirked as Trixie looked at him with somewhat cold stare. ‘Feeling not so Great and Powerful? Hah, I’m sure your favorite will definitely make you so.’ He was always like this. Trixie now knew it well. To concentrate on more important problem. So did she really want to go right now? Trixie saw his face. So rough and relaxed, a pony could mistake him for a drunken brawler who had his fair amount of salt. Nonetheless she knew it now. The old axiom, ancient wisdom conveyed through generations-a pony was never to judge a book by its cover. One needed to investigate, to look further, deeper into the very core, and check every places she might have missed. Did she really desire it? She had to think, think ever hard. When the owner charged through the crowds and placed the tray filled with cups, she said thank you and drank the tea. The liquid would help her to think. Or at least she believed to be so. And sometimes believing could actually work. Trixie finally spoke after a prolonged silence. ‘Trixie have the feeling that she is not quite ready to be in Starswirl Wing, even if she was to gain the permission to enter the place.’ He looked at her with a curious face, still grinning. ‘Now tell me, Great and Powerful Trixie-why would you say that?’ Trixie knew what she was facing. The title, there had to be a reason her mentor uttered it. Was she Great and Powerful enough? ‘Because Trixie figured that she is not quite ready.’ She said, taking another sip of the fine rose tea the owner made. ‘Not ready, eh?’ Trixie nodded. ‘Even if she were to come across age-old spells, she would not be able to understand it clearly.’ Trixie said, organizing her thoughts, wondering if she could convey what she really thought to him. ‘For ancient can mean many things, its qualities too often arcane in nature. Trixie doubts whether she will actually understand if she is given the chance to study them.’ He gave another big laugh. ‘Ha! Now that’s a good one, worthy of the Great and Powerful Trixie. Even I doubt I will truly understand their nature. Yes. Nopony can understand a thing. Last time I’ve heard, the spells are now pretty much forgotten. And they would definitely have a good reason for being so.’ He said. ‘Too complicated and too complex, probably. Now, could the Great and Powerful Trixie understand it, ey?’ ‘No.’ She said firmly without a doubt. He made a curious face, as if anticipating something to follow her short reply. ‘Not for now. Trixie is Great and Powerful because she knows she is not quite there yet.’ She took another sip of the tea. ‘But she will be able to know it, and use it one day, for she is the Great and Powerful Trixie.’ ‘Wonderful. Mastery before manipulation, eh?’ ‘Clarification before control.’ Trixie said. She heard him laughing again, emptying the cider glass in an instant. Trixie saw the big hourglass sign was on the wall. Below was the large sign that read ‘Starswirl Wing’. “Well…this is not what I quite expected.” Twilight said, staring at the door. “I thought it would be more…fancy.” “I concur.” Rarity looked at the sign. “This is the place where Princess Celestia said to wait, right?” She watched intently, as if waiting for something magical to happen. “Clearly it is not so fancy as onepony would expect, Twilight. I would say it is very mundane-at its finest, strangely.” “Uh…right.” Twilight said. “Hmm. Well, this part of the library I have never been before. How did I miss the door? It’s not like the place is completely hidden with concealment spell.” Twilight’s horn glowed for a moment and the purplish light touched the hourglass sign. “Nope, nothing special here.” Trixie knew where to look-he told her. He often talked about the place. The Canterlot Library she visited many times. He said it was very easy to find if a pony knew where to look. It was quite novel, he said, that the place seemed to magically ‘appear’ to only those who were trying to find the place. If one paid no attention, then he or she could easily miss the place. That was what he said. “Trixie?” “She is listening.” Trixie said, quickly breaking away from one of many flashbacks she possessed. She turned to Twilight. It was her voice. She could not miss it, absolutely not. She was not lost in her thoughts again, was she? Of course not. The lavender unicorn was just going to ask her something. Trixie could expect that. Naturally a unicorn like her would take great interest in the library wing she never visited. If there happened to be somepony who could tell her about the secret wonders that lied on Canterlot Library, then she would be more cooperative. “So you said you are from a different world…and that means there is Twilight Sparkle from where you came, right?” Her mentor told her about many secrets about many things. Not all of them were dark; some were bizarre, and some were just too absurdly strange. He never said if it was real or not. Was she tricked by him, believing in stories that never happened in reality? “Yes. And as Trixie said, you, Twilight sparkle, was the one who vanquished Ursa Minor in the end. Your use of spells was indeed remarkable.” Perhaps; she could never believe everything he said. Not that he did ever mind. He was the most able trickster she ever met-and that was the reason she begged him to be her instructor. To become Greater. More Powerful. He scoffed at her first, but eventually her want to learn the trick impressed him. So the lessons began. Twilight’s face showed a sign of slight disturbance. “But I did not do that. It’s not technically me…it’s just not scientifically possible. Two me? If I happened to cast time spells and go back to the past; that might make some sense. But I did not. How is this possible?” He knew the path so well. Or he did not. He knew absolutely nothing about it. And he knew it perfectly well. He said the way was so crooked that it was ultimately straight. The far ends met in the end, he emphasized again and again. “Trixie too, does not quite comprehend what has truly happened. The only thing she knows for certain is that she looked into the mirror and suddenly found herself in this world. You remember the old changing room, right?” “So that’s when you were here?” The lavender unicorn walked back and forth along the hallway, her surprisingly heavy steps seemingly almost possible to leave deep track on the soild stone floor. “Let’s see. The dress. Yes, I remember we talking about how lovingly our dresses were. Rarity made them for us. You thought-wait, Trixie thought-it was a good idea to match our dress colors to each other’s mane colors. Wait.” Twilight stopped. The five ponies looked at her. Trixie too, kept a close watch at Twilight. “But back then, Trixie was still there…right?” Trixie nodded. “Yes. Other Trixie. It was she who was there.” “You mean when Twilight went to that changing room to look for Trixie?” “Yes, Fluttershy.” Trixie said. Clarification-she could surely benefit from it. The mind of Trixie had to always put into work. She needed all the tricks she could use; not just petty tricks, but truly magnificent masterpiece that was more of an art than a mere con. To play the grand scheme of Trixie. She had to remind herself. To be above the stage once again, addressing proudly to her audience. She would return to her place. She was inside the mirror, taking part in this great artifice, but not for long. “But if Trixie was still Trixie…how do you know what happened in that room?” Twilight said. “Trixie was about to get to the point.” She wondered too-was what she was thinking really right? She was looking at them, right? “Until some point, she was watching you two talking to each other. Trixie was still Trixie then. This Trixie was outside the mirror…but not quite. Trixie was watching you through the mirror.” “Oooh, that sounds very interesting.” Pinkie Pie said. “And very strange.” Twilight said. She was now walking back and forth again. The line, when did she really cross it? Trixie was not Trixie they knew. They were same, but different. It did not make much sense, of course, but the path of an illusionist was exactly like this. Seemingly simple, but complex, or vice versa, or everything combined together. Two furthest points meeting together in the end. So hard, so easy. “One point, Trixie found herself in Trixie’s place.” “Sure is strange, if ya ask me.” Applejack said. “Ah could never get quite hold of unicorn magics.” Was it really magic, Trixie had to wonder. Even that she could not be so sure. “I am positively sure the princess will explain us about this spell. Then everything would be much clearer.” Rarity said, looking out to the far side of the alley. “I think I’m hearing somepony coming this way…could it be the princess?” Princess Celestia did say she knew about the spell. But how much did she know? Could they understand it? If the spell was in the Starswirl wing, it had good reason to be there. Was Trixie ready? She vowed to herself that one day she would be in front of the door that led to the very place. By her own, of course. By then, she would be ready to understand what she could not understand before, to accept the mysterious ways of how magic worked. But now she was about to enter the place, was she not? She looked at the door. Like Rarity and Twilight said, it did not look mystical in nature. Not at all. Some would not even agree to call it a door. It was just a black bar with a lock on it, the ones that could be found on Canterlot dungeons of which she once had to go through. To her it seemed not very proper of honoring Starswirl. From the entrance it was looking like rusty old storage. Her mentor did say it was not really that special-but this she did not quite expect. The image could be deceiving; Trixie did not forget the fact. He said Starswirl was quite a guy. In his opinion, the term ‘eccentric’ meant ‘normal’ for Starswirl. Which could explain this rather shabby place ‘honoring’ him, Trixie thought. The Everfree forest surely had its distinctive atmosphere. The darkness she found it very familiar. Like the very day she happened to come across Twilight and her friends, shrouded in mystery she found it hard to pierce through. Where the bright light did not reach began the realm of the shadow. Nopony could ever truly know what happened in the absence of light, and many did not prefer to know. Trixie found gazing at the darkness not a pleasant task. One tended to imagine lots of things in still emptiness filled with something darker than black. The place was like a huge abyss that happened to exist on the surface. Then Ponyville too, would be much like what she knew. Fluttershy’s shed was the starting point. It marked the boundary of the small town. Many ponies said how it was very strange for creatures from the deep of the Everfree Forests to never approach where the shy pegasus lived. Starting from there, the air changed considerably. It was much warmer. Trixie saw the sight of town getting closer. And then there was the ponies doing their own business, each busily engaged in their tasks. Even in the deep of the night many ponies seemed to be awake, as if the darkness was just a mere absence of light, and thus nothing to be fearful of. But upon seeing Trixie, some of them were quite visibly startled. They did not overly display their agitation of seeing the failed magician, but there was no way the subtle nuances would ever escape from the Great and Powerful Trixie. “Interesting. Ponyville looks…fairly same as I know.” Trixie said, trying to keep her eyes on everything she saw as much as possible, innocently smiling back to ponies who looked at her with slightly confused face. “You sound like you know Ponyville very well.” Dash was following behind her, now much more willing to accept the fact that Trixie was not quite Trixie she knew. Fluttershy was further away, but her face did not convey that much sign of disapproval. Eventually she would make it up to her, she thought. “Back in her world, she met Twilight and others just outside of Ponyville.” Trixie said. Again making the meekest smile she could muster to the pony who stared at her with dumbfound expression. “She will tell her tale when she reaches Twilight’s library. Trixie now thinks we are almost there?” “Yep. Should be there about a minute.” Dash said. As they walked, Trixie saw the giant tree gradually rising from the horizon. Truly, Ponyville was different from the deeps of Everfree Forests. The huge tree stood there, its thick branches spreading out to the sky like its roots taking firm place in the earth. It was literally looking like a plant, not an ominous creature that was leeching everything it touched with its warped tendrils. Trees back in where Trixie’s small cottage was, they were unnatural in nature; but their wicked influence could not ever pervade through here. One window was lighted. Twilight too was still awake, it seemed, probably immersed in her study in the library. Trixie had been there several times, spending many enjoyable moments with Twilight, discussing about magic spells all night long. She was her best friend. But in here, Twilight was her rival that she had to overcome. Both Trixies, both Twilights. Just what made the difference? Why Trixie had to be left in the cold open of Everfree Forests, and Twilight not her friend, but her competitor? The true magic was the world itself. And Trixie could never quite fully grasp its mysterious nature. She now stood at the door. How to approach? She thought. Just knock and say that the Great and Powerful Trixie was now here, back at Ponyville? Rainbow Dash stood next to her, as if contemplating on something. “Listen, I feel me and Fluttershy should go in first, you know? I figured it’d be better if we tell Twilight about your strange case…whatever exactly that is. Would that be okay for you?” One moment to think-and the chance she had to use it wisely. Supposedly Twilight was very shy about ‘showing off’ her magic skills. And she did not stop Trixie. Why, she could not quite understand. Was it an act of kindness, or was it a deliberate plan of hers to instill good reputation? Maybe she really meant to not to pursue her and humiliate Trixie further, hoping that one day she would regret. But would Trixie ever? To Trixie, Twilight’s innocent act may have been more fatal blow. One did not always have to endeavor to hurt other. Sometimes, all it needed was just an incredible stroke of luck that just could not be explained. “She thinks that would be most appropriate.” Trixie said, quickly folding myriad thoughts spawning inside her once again, like she always did with great efficiency. “No good would come out of surprising her.” “Well then, just wait a minute or so, okay? Come, Fluttershy. It’s really strange, but guess Twilight might know more once she hears from us.” “Right.” After Dash tapped on the door several times, and when she was just about to strike, the door opened. Trixie knew who she was facing. The purple dragon was always seen around Twilight. Spike was still her assistant, even in this reality. She found it very interesting. So much overlapping qualities, so why different Trixies? “Sorry, I was just writing down all the magic reports Twilight has been studying. And-huh?” Nopony could be dull enough to miss the surprised look on his face. Here we go again, Trixie said to herself. She knew who he was and vice versa. But was that not a different story? He was one of the neighsayers who dared to shout discouraging words to the show of the Great and Powerful Trixie. Gladly for her, Rainbow Dash was quick to act. “Wait, wait! I know how you feel, but we can all explain it later. Where’s Twilight?” His puzzled expression got quite amusing. “Huh? Dash, are you really speaking in favor of Trixie? Did I miss something?” Dash looked at Trixie. “It’s kinda hard to explain.” And indeed it was. “She said she is not Trixie we know, and that she is from a different world.” Dash said. “I know, it don’t make much sense, but I’m sure that is actually true.” Simplest things could become quite difficult to take. But they were managing relatively well, weren’t they? Spike was still not very convinced, it seemed. “But she just looks like Trixie…” Then again, Trixie could not really blame him for that. A magical mirror that had the power to swap two ponies in a different world-most would just simply regard it as ancient legends or old pony’s tale. But ancient meant many things, right? The past could predict what was to come. No matter how absurd it may be. “I’m sure she is not Trixie we think her to be.” Fluttershy spoke, this time in a very firm tone, making her immediately getting attention of two ponies and one dragon. “She doesn’t look so mean. She just…feels different.” “Not you too, Fluttershy? Geez, either Trixie tricked you two or she has really changed.” Spike said, his tone conveying he was still not ready to fully believe who Trixie really was. And Trixie had to correct him on this matter. “Both of your assumptions are wrong, actually.” Spike stared at her, who was still having that look, convinced that she was the one responsible for the recent mess. Trixie walked close to him, and he flinched, as if expecting her to cast a malevolent spell. But even she knew, right? That Trixie was never one to blame for that from the start? If she was to be accused, then it was only for her being not so prepared. “As Trixie said to Dash and Fluttershy, this Trixie is clearly not Trixie you know.” She said, hoping the young dragon would get the message this time. Now she stood very close to him, grinning in the most serene face she could fabricate. “Yeah, Spike. Even I see she is not we usually know.” “Well, if you say so.” Dash’s word had the effect Trixie desired, as Spike walked back to the door. After a while there was the voice, going ‘What?’ from the distance. It became quiet once again, followed by a loud hoof steps from the distance. Twilight Sparkle appeared from the door, her mane looking like blown by a huge tornado. The lavender unicorn looked at her with wide eyes. Trixie just smiled. The same reaction-well, they had the rights to do so, she thought. “Trixie?” “Yes. She is Trixie. But not Trixie.” Trixie sighed. She was not going to understand it. But that was how it happened. A mirror there was, and it somehow its magical nature swapped two Trixies from two different worlds which were so similar. “Huh?” Twilight said, still not very aware of the sight before her, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy standing awkwardly next to Trixie. “Didn’t you say you met future self? Yeah, I think her case is kinda similar.” Rainbow Dash said in an uncertain voice.