//------------------------------// // Forgiveness // Story: Princess Trixie Sparkle // by Magpiepony //------------------------------// Astelle and Trixie appeared before the Elements of Harmony tree moments after leaving Twilight and the others in the dungeon cell. Trixie was still trying to get the hang of this new body and the surges of power she could feel under her skin. It was rather intoxicating to feel this way. She wasn't just Great and Powerful, she was the Great and Invincible Trixie now. There was no pony in all of Equestria that could stop her from whatever her heart desired; no pony except the alicorn standing beside her of course. "At last." Astelle hissed, her eyes bright with anticipation and longing as she sized up the tree. Trixie had never seen the Elements of Harmony tree before, nor did she know what it truly was. "Why are we here?" she asked skeptically. "I thought you said I would get to rule." "And you will." Astelle said, walking around the tree slowly like a vulture circling its prey. "And how exactly is a tree going to help me?" Trixie asked. She had a difficult time holding back the sarcasm in her tone as it was her natural tendency to speak that way. However, she knew this was not a pony to be trifled with, and the slightest offense could come with serious consequences. Astelle didn't answer right away, she merely circled the tree. Trixie looked down at her hooves and turned to see the weightless flow of her new mane and tail. All she ever wanted was to be the best; to prove to other ponies that she was something special. She wanted admiration, fans, but more than anything she wanted love. The kind of love she saw in Twilight Sparkle and her friends. The kind of love that brought those ponies together against all odds to defeat any number of villains they faced. Somehow those simple-minded ponies were actually able to get Twilight out of the dungeon under Trixie's nose; and all of the guards in Canterlot! There was something to be said for that kind of devotion. Here she was with everything at her hooves; all the power in the universe and somehow she was still jealous of Twilight Sparkle. Enraged, she stamped her hooves on the ground and sent out a spark of magic that shot straight up into the sky. Trixie watched as it disappeared above the trees just as Astelle rounded the corner. "I feel that pain too, Trixie." Astelle said. Trixie snapped her head to look at Astelle in surprise, she hadn't realized she was so close. "Soon there will be nothing in our way." "What do you want me to do?" Trixie asked skeptically. "All we have to do is kill this tree." Astelle said, impatience bubbling under her surface. Trixie caught sight of the desperation in Astelle's eye and it scared her. "How… will that help us?" Trixie asked nervously. "This tree is the root of Celestia's power. If it dies, no pony can stand against us. Against you!" Astelle said. "But it's not going to hurt any pony… is it?" Trixie asked. "What do you take me for?" Astelle asked angrily. "I'm sorry I guess I'm just confused." Trixie muttered, backing away slowly. "I only want what's best for my ponies. That's all I've ever wanted. I've already explained this to you, Trixie. Equestria cannot be truly safe if Celestia remains on the throne. If we destroy the source of her power, she cannot interfere with your ascension." Astelle explained. "I want to be a good ruler." Trixie said, still shaking slightly. "I know you will be. I would not have given up MY magic to any pony, especially not one who would rule unjustly." Astelle said. Trixie heard the sound of thunder and looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were closing in on them and the Everfree forest seemed to quake in their presence. "Have I made the wrong choice?" Astelle asked, anger rising in her tone. "No!" Trixie said quickly. "No, you're right. I've been hurt far too much and I just know there's more to me than the loser every pony thought I was." Astelle's expression softened and she brought Trixie in for an embrace. "It's like you're the sister I never had." She whispered. Trixie had to work her hardest to keep her breath in control, as Astelle hugged her, she looked up at the sky and hoped Twilight would be there soon. Twilight and the others looked out one of the small windows to see the sky change from a beautiful sunny afternoon to a dismal stormy sky. The sudden sound of thunder scared Fluttershy and she leapt up into the unsuspecting arms of Rainbow Dash who toppled over trying to hold her. "Oh no…" Twilight whispered frightened. "It has begun." Luna said softly. "We can't sit here!" Applejack screamed. She kicked at the door several times, Rainbow Dash trying the same. The others just watched them knowing that it was futile. Spike was at Twilight's side and Cadance sat next to Celestia, who was still muttering her apologies. Every pony could only look on with despair as Astelle's plan was put into action. A sharp ringing sound came from outside and every pony watched as a shot of pink magical light was sent up through the top of the trees in the Everfree forest. "Is that coming from the tree?" Twilight asked fearfully, her voice cracking as she spoke. "No, but it appears to be coming from that area." Celestia said. The spark of light continued to shoot into the sky until it was about eye-level with the ponies. Then it paused for a moment before shooting straight into their dungeon cell. The ponies all screamed in surprise as the magical beam of light bounced around the cell at an incredible speed. "What's happening!?" Rarity screamed, she and the others had all dropped to the floor with their hooves over their heads for protection. "Watch out!" Rainbow Dash screamed, pushing Applejack away from the light's path. The light continued to bounce around the room chaotically and Pinkie Pie was beginning to enjoy the light show. Finally, the light flew directly towards Celestia. There was no time for any pony to stand in its path, and Celestia was still bound by chains and could not move to avoid it. Twilight watched helplessly as her beloved princess, mentor, and friend was struck by the ray of light. The room was filled with a blinding white light that made every pony scream and cover their eyes. When they could open them again, they all raced to see what had become of Celestia. Celestia had been knocked to the ground, Twilight and Luna were the first to panic as they screamed out her name in protest. However, when they approached her, she stood up on her own. "Celestia?!" Luna gasped. "I thought I lost you!" Celestia and Luna finally embraced with a hug that was long overdue. There were so many things the sisters wanted to say to one another but before they had a chance, Pinkie Pie exclaimed: "Look! Her chains are gone!" Celestia looked down to see that her shackles had indeed been broken. Twilight and Cadence were the first to notice the door to their cell was open. Every pony raced to the door and saw a crudely burned arrow in the stone on the ground just outside their door. Twilight's mind raced as she realized what had just happened. Zecora's advice was echoing in her mind "And don't weigh your heart with a grudge." "Who did this? Who saved us?" Spike asked. "It can't be…." Twilight whispered. "What?" Cadance asked. "I think I know how to stop Astelle." Twilight said, talking to Celestia. "Go Twilight." Celestia said encouragingly. "Twilight what about…" Rainbow Dash started, but Twilight had already flung her up into the air and caught her on her back. "You're coming with me of course!" Twilight said. Her friends all smiled and nodded. With the other three princesses following behind them, Twilight and her friends followed the path that the arrow had pointed. They had just reached the steps outside the castle when they heard a scream of pain and terror. "TRIXIE!" Twilight cried out in fear. Her friends looked at each other, confused. "Trixie?" they said in astonishment because Twilight seemed genuinely afraid for her and that made no sense at all. "Try harder!" Astelle screeched; she and Trixie had directed their magic at the Tree of Harmony. The alicorn amulet around Astelle's neck was glowing so brightly that it lit the entire forest in red light. The tree shook and the branches swayed in rhythm to the magic. The tips of each branch were just starting to turn from white to a deadly and shriveled black color. Trixie wasn't watching the tree, she was watching the forest, looking in the direction she believed the castle was. "TRIXIE!" Astelle screamed, causing Trixie to snap her attention back to the Elements of Harmony tree. She pretended to be giving it her best effort, but in reality she was doing her best to hold back. The magic inside her protested to the actions she was giving and caused her some pain. It didn't like its pony host acting in a manner that could be considered "good." Astelle and Trixie heard the familiar whinny of the shadow alicorn as it made its way back down into the trees and towards Astelle. Astelle broke off her stream of magic when it arrived. Trixie gasped and released her hold on the tree as well; finding that she was out of breath and shaking once she did so. Astelle seemed to be having some kind of mental conversation with the shadow alicorn because she saw it interacting with her without an exchange of words. "You… you released my SISTER?" Astelle screamed. Trixie gasped in horror and used what strength she had to run away. Astelle was prepared for that, she merely nodded her head and black rose vines shot up out of the ground holding Trixie in place. "I truly thought I saw something in you, Trixie." Astelle said, her eyes glowing red as she walked calmly towards Trixie. "But you're weak. You've always been weak and you'll always be weak." "Let me go!" Trixie cried, trying to use magic to release the vines from her hooves. Astelle laughed cruelly as she watched Trixie struggle. "You can't use my own magic against me Trixie. It only really obeys me." "Take it back!" Trixie demanded. "I can't do that. You see, I blessed you with power so that you could help me. But just look at this," She said, directing her hooves in the direction of the tree limbs. "I guess I am able to do it myself after all. The tree is already beginning to die." Trixie winced when the thorns pressed into her hooves and she could do nothing to stop them. "You lying little cheater. You want to help those pathetic little ponies? The ones who called you a loser and destroyed your life? You think that will make them LIKE you?" Astelle asked. Trixie didn't respond, she merely kept fighting. "You really are just a pathetic little waste of a unicorn. You can't do anything right." Astelle said, snarling. "Yes I can!" Trixie screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I didn't want this! I never really wanted this! I just wanted… I just wanted some pony to…" "To what, love you?" Astelle said mockingly. "I'm not going to let you kill this tree!" Trixie screamed defiantely. "Watch me." Astelle said. She reared up on her hind legs and blasted Trixie with a spell. Trixie gave out a mighty and terrified scream of pain as she did so. Astelle smiled as she watched her prodigy squirm in her magic. "No pony will EVER DARE to cross me again Trixie Lulamoon! I let the first pony who betrayed me live; I won't be making that mistake again." Astelle said. Her eyes shone brightly and Trixie cried for her life. "No!" Twilight yelled. She jumped on Astelle's back moments after Astelle had cast the spell. "Trixie!" Twilight called as the magic engulfed her and she fell to the ground. Astelle bucked Twilight from her back and attempted to snatch her but Applejack pulled her out of harm's way in time. "You pathetic little ponies think you can best me?" Astelle roared, fanning out her wings. From beneath her wings several little red glowing eyes shot forth and transformed into shadow alicorns. Each shadow alicorn was sent after a certain pony. Astelle watched laughing as each pony tried to evade their grasp. Cadance was the first to get caught. Twilight called out for her but Cadance had already disappeared. Then Luna saw one of the shadowy alicorns heading straight for Spike and dove in front of him. Unfortunately, the shadow alicorn engulfed them both in mere seconds. More shouts of concern came from Twilight and Celestia. Twilight had a hard enough time evading the shadow alicorn after her, she couldn't protect her friends. Celestia was the next to disappear and Twilight cried out her name as well. Twilight and the rest of her friends raced towards each other and threw their hooves around one another. If they were going to die they wanted to be together. Six shadow alicorns reached them at the same time but before they could make contact they were dispelled by an unknown and invisible shield. The shadow alicorns cried out in defeat as they disappeared leaving the six friends untouched. Twilight looked down at her hooves to see she was glowing. Each of her friends were glowing too and they looked around for the source. The Tree of Harmony was lit up in a rainbow of colors, each color connected to a pony amidst Twilight and her friends. Astelle was screaming something at them but they couldn't hear her. The Elements of Harmony revealed themselves from the branches where they had been. Each pony got her element back, in five necklaces and a crown. The moment after the elements had reached them, Astelle blasted the Tree of Harmony with magic. Each gasped when the tree lost its glow and erupted into flames. Astelle snapped the branches from the tree, dismantling it down to nothing but a stump and some ash. When she turned to face Twilight and her friends, she looked different. Her whole body was glowing red and her mane and tail danced weightlessly in sync with the howling wind. When she opened her mouth to laugh her teeth had been sharpened to points and her eyes were pupil-less red. "Stand together girls! The Elements of Harmony will protect us!" Twilight screamed to her friends above the sound of the thunder. "All that is left is your pathetic little elements and magic will cease to be!" Astelle cackled. "Not a chance!" Rainbow Dash screamed. Twilight and her friends closed their eyes and embraced the magic of the elements once more. The rainbow of light shot forth from their elements and went directly for Astelle. Astelle laughed, she blasted the magic of the elements causing the spell to fail and sending Twilight and her friends soaring backwards and into the ground. "What happened!?" Applejack screamed above the thunder. "The elements… they didn't stop her!" Fluttershy whimpered. "Of course they didn't stop me you fools!" Astelle screamed. "Did you think I could be bested by his magic AGAIN? Did you think I wouldn't have prepared myself for that?" "Let's try it again!" Twilight screamed, she and her friends got back into formation and tried it again, this time each pony giving it their greatest effort. Astelle laughed, enjoying every moment that she could shoot their magic down and cast them aside. "Starswirl's magic is no match for mine! Generosity, Laughter, Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty, and Magic cannot beat me! Surrender them now or you will be wiped from this earth along with them." Astelle threatened. "Twilight, what do we do?" Pinkie Pie said, the others looking to her for guidance. Twilight looked to Astelle and back to her friends unable to come up with a coherent answer. Astelle aimed her horn at them but her spell was interrupted when somepony else's magic intercepted her own. Astelle gasped in surprise and turned to see Trixie attacking her from behind. She had been stripped of her nightmare powers and looked like the normal Twilight Sparkle again. "Trixie!" Twilight and her friends all cheered. "Wow this is a little weird." Pinkie Pie said based on the fact that they were cheering for the unicorn they hated no more than half an hour ago. "You!" Astelle cried in surprise and anger. "I'm sorry!" Trixie said, backing away in fear. "You're SORRY?!" Astelle screamed, then laughed. "It's a little late for that, don't you think?" "I wasn't talking to you." Trixie said boldly. She turned to Twilight and her friends with tears streaming down her cheeks. "I never wanted this! Run!" Astelle was closing in on Trixie, a certain look of destruction in her eye. Trixie knew if she could distract her long enough that Twilight and her friends could get away. "RUN!" she screamed very annoyed. Twilight and her friends picked themselves up off the ground and looked at each other. They knew without having to say a word what the others were thinking and they did begin to run. However, they ran towards Trixie rather than away from her. "What are you doing!?" Trixie screamed in surprise. Twilight and her friends threw themselves around Trixie before Astelle could get to her. Astelle just laughed. "Seven birds with one stone!" She declared, directing a fatal blow of magic towards them. Much to Astelle's surprise her magic once again reflected off the group of ponies. "But… my magic is stronger! I've already bested the elements!" "That's because we didn't have all of the elements when we faced you the first time!" Twilight Sparkle said boldly. She stood up and her friends rallied around her, Trixie was behind Twilight, just as confused as Astelle was. "What are you talking about you foolish little mare?" "Starswirl the Bearded may have founded the six Elements of Harmony and rooted his magic to them, but there's another Element of Harmony that makes its power far greater than your own! Something that every friendship needs, the element of forgiveness." "There's no such thing as a seventh element of harmony!" Astelle screamed. She directed her magic at the group of them again but nothing happened. "The magic of friendship is indeed contained within the elements of kindness, laughter, generosity, honesty, loyalty, and magic. But thanks to you we've discovered one of the most powerful elements of all." Twilight said, she moved aside to show Astelle that Trixie had a necklace around her neck with a bright new element of harmony. Trixie had been looking down at it in awe and confusion when Astelle caught sight of it." "A new element? Impossible!" Astelle cried. "Me? I'm a… I'm an element of harmony?" Trixie whispered. "Alright girls, one more time. Trixie, we need your help this time." Twilight said. Trixie cautiously joined Twilight and the others in their formation. Astelle used any magic she could think of to stop them; sending shadow alicorns and blasts of red magic towards them. The elements of harmony created a rainbow, but this time it had an extra ray of blue color. The elemental magic struck Astelle and she screamed. Astelle fought with it mid-air, thrashing about wildly as it took hold of her. The magic from the elements broke the alicorn amulet from around Astelle's neck. Twilight and her friends were thrown backwards when it happened and they landed several feet away. "No!" Astelle cried in horror. Her body was changing and she could do nothing to stop it. Her wings and horn disappeared when she fell to the ground. After that, every pony lost conciousness. "Twilight? Twilight?" Spike called, shaking Twilight's unconscious body fervently. "Ugh… " Twilight said softly, "Wait, SPIKE?!" she said, she jumped up from the ground and threw her hooves around him, spinning him around in a hug. "Woah! Not so fast Twilight I'm gonna be sick…" Spike said, putting a claw to his mouth as his little dragon cheeks turned green. Somewhere behind them Rarity screamed. "What is it? What's wrong?!" Twilight asked, she turned to see Rarity hugging her own tail. "My tail! Oh how I've missed my own tail!" she said. It was then Twilight realized they had become themselves again. She smiled and flexed out her wings, never having been more excited to see them in her life. "WINGS!" Rainbow Dash cried. She took to the sky so quickly it caused the trees around them to shake. "YIPEE! I'M ME!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bouncing around happily. Twilight and her friends rejoiced amongst themselves having finally been able to break that spell. Twilight noticed Trixie sitting alone not too far away, looking down at her hooves with a smile. "O-oh, Twilight…" she said, falling over as she tried to get out of Twilight's way. Trixie looked absolutely petrified of Twilight and winced when she got closer. "Trixie it's okay." Twilight said softly. "I'm not going to hurt you. In fact, I think I owe you this." Twilight threw her hooves around Trixie in a hug. Trixie didn't know how to handle that sudden move but slowly returned the embrace. "Awwwww." Pinkie Pie said wiping the tears from her eyes. "But I… I don't understand. I thought you'd all still hate me." Trixie said softly. "You're the element of forgiveness, remember?" Applejack said with a smile. "Well yeah but… I mean… what does that mean anyway?" Trixie asked. "It means we're friends!" Pinkie Pie said happily "And that we forgive you." Fluttershy added. "You forgive me? After everything I did you actually… can forgive me?" Trixie asked in awe. "Can you forgive me?" Twilight asked. "What do you mean?" Trixie said. "Back at the castle, I know you were trying to do the right thing. You wouldn't have given Astelle that amulet if I hadn't provoked you. I didn't believe you because I had harbored so much hate for you. It blinded my judgment and I almost cost me and my friends our lives." Twilight said sadly. "Well, I guess I don't blame you. I…" Trixie started. "I always thought if I were the best at something ponies would want to be around me. Ponies would want to have a… a friend who was talented and special. You didn't beat me that first night just with magic, you beat me because you had such great friends and I had no pony. I never had a friend and I just got so angry…" Trixie trailed off. "But when Astelle gave me all that power it scared me. I realized that even if I was the most powerful pony in Equestria that I still wouldn't be loved. I think I'd much rather be a loser than an evil overlord that every pony hates." "You're not a loser, Trixie." Fluttershy said softly. "Do you really think I could… be your friend?" Trixie asked nervously. Twilight and her friends laughed and nodded, several of them hugging Trixie happily. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. I'm so sorry for everything I've done." Trixie said, pulling herself away from her new friends. She dropped to the ground in front of the two pony sisters, awaiting their judgement and punishment. "Wait, where's Cadance? And Shining Armor?" Fluttershy asked worried. "They're fine. Shining Armor appeared in the castle with us once Astelle's magic had been destroyed." Celestia said. "Her magic was destroyed, that's why we're back to normal!" Twilight said aloud. "Wait a minute; she did end up destroying magic after all: her own!" Applejack said. "Ironyyyyyy" Pinkie Pie sang as she bounced. "Yes," Princess Celestia said with a giggle. "Anything that she had recently affected was returned to normal." "Recently?" Rarity asked in confusion. "The damage done by Astelle's magic from long ago still remains. The Everfree forest will still be wild and untamed and the animals, for the most part, will remain without speech." Princess Luna said. "But, we destroyed her magic! Shouldn't EVERYTHING be fixed after that?" Rainbow Dash said, still flying as she spoke. "There are some wounds that cannot be healed by magic. What might have started out as a spell has become something deeper. Astelle's magic in such places as the Everfree forest has become a part of the earth. It's no longer an influence of magic, it's simply a part of it." Celestia said. "Can we fix it?" Twilight asked. "Perhaps, but only time can tell. Come, there is much we must do. And Trixie…" Celestia started. Trixie looked up at Celestia in fear. "You have my thanks and my forgiveness as well." She finished. Princess Luna nodded in agreement. Trixie let out a short breath of air in relief and her eyes watered; she finally got what she had wanted all along: friends. Epilogue Trixie was standing in the hallway of the Canterlot castle. She was looking up at a brand-new stained glass depicting their glorious defeat of Astelle. Astelle herself was never found, but Celestia reassured every pony that she would be unable to wield her magic ever again. The Elements of Harmony had to be returned to the tree, which sprang back to life once the elements had been safely encased in its newly-formed branches; including the new element that was in the shape of a star wand. The magic from the tree helped to make things right in Equestria. The dragons that had wandered into Equestria had left for their real homes, the animals returned to the ponies who loved them, and the ponies could take back control of the earth and sky. "I thought I might find you in here." Twilight Sparkle said, rounding the corner to see Trixie. "Every pony is looking for you, you know." "I just… wanted to think somewhere alone. You ponies sure talk a lot, how can you stand it?" Trixie asked. Twilight smiled and shook her head, "That's what friends do. They talk, they laugh, they have fun together." "Yeah, I'm starting to get that." Trixie said with a soft smile. "Are you worried that we'll see her again?" "I don't think we will." Twilight anwered. "Celestia has every pony keeping an extra eye out for her but she's too smart to be lingering in places she would get caught. The reaction from the spell has given her exactly what she wanted: mortality." "Do you think ultimately all she wanted was forgiveness too? And not only to be forgiven but to forgive Celestia and Starswirl?" Trixie asked. "Maybe. I don't think she was ready for that though. She'd harbored those feelings for centuries; no amount of magic was going to make them disappear overnight." Twilight said. "Then how come it was so easy for you to do it? I did terrible things to you ponies and now you act like nothing ever happened between us." Trixie said. "You /want/ us to treat you differently?" Twilight asked jokingly. "I just don't want it to be a lie." Trixie said, effectively erasing Twilight's smile. "It's not." Twilight said reassuringly. "Can't you see the power that forgiveness has had on Equestria?" "On Equestria?" Trixie asked sarcastically. "Yes!" Twilight exclaimed. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are closer than they've ever been, Discord actually has FRIENDS outside of… well… Fluttershy, there's never been more harmony than there is now." "And I… helped bring that to be?" Trixie asked. "You ARE the element of forgiveness, Trixie. You made it possible." Twilight said. "So I guess that makes me the Great and Forgivable Trixie!" Trixie said. Twilight rolled her eyes and put a hoof to her head, shaking it and laughing. "Or maybe the Forgiveness Element Powered Trixie… no, that's too much. The Forgive-iest Trixie! The Magnificent Forgiveness Pony in all of Equestria!" Trixie said. She and Twilight walked out of the hallway together to meet the others, Twilight laughing as she continued on her list of ridiculous new names. The End.