Her Destiny

by Broken


Nine - Scientia Potentia Est

“Got our tickets Sparkle!” Trixie chirped, entering the guest room occupied by Twilight.

The night had just fallen, and Twilight decided it was time for a little practice. The inside of the room was lit with a few candles in order to create an atmosphere of concentration in which she trained with her telekinesis to move a different variety of objects.

Different weights, shapes and substances. Twilight tested her magic on all kinds of things. From thick covered books and wine bottles, to liquids like water, and even the bed she just slept in.

Her telekinesis had improved a lot since the last time she’d tried it. She managed to somehow envelop several books within her magical grasp, with seemingly no increase in the required effort. Twilight was impressed with herself. Unicorns generally have difficulties casting multi-spells, and even a talented one like her was supposed to be having at least a bit of trouble.

“That’s amazing.” Trixie affirmed and entered while observing Twilight’s training.
“This is spectacular!” Twilight cheered. “I’m still testing my limits, but I think I could cast telekinesis on at least six different objects at the same time without any extra effort!”

“Guess alicorns do work different from unicorns.” Trixie breathed, putting the saddlebag she was wearing aside, “Have you tested how much weight you can carry now? I remember seeing you lift an ursa minor…”

Twilight blushed, “I had a headache for days after that…”

“I can see why,” Trixie replied, smiling, “So, how much weight?”

Twilight quickly turned her attention to the bathtub inside the small bathroom next to the wardrobe, “I filled it with water and lifted it. Still lighter than an ursa minor, but I guess a hundred liters of water would be quite difficult to keep in the air for an hour and a half.”

Trixie’s eyes widened, “That’s impressive! A hundred liters for hour and a half non-stop!”

The alicorn nodded, “A little more due to the weight of the bathtub itself. I can’t believe it either… Alicorns have such an absurd power compared to us unicor- I-I mean, to unicorns like you…”

Her friend opened a timid smile, “You still can’t see yourself as an alicorn, huh?”

Twilight looked away in shame, “I’m sorry. It’s hard to believe…”

“Don’t worry,” Trixie reassured her, “It’s not like I can’t understand you. Changing species like that is crazy. So anyways, here they are! Fresh tickets to Ponyville!”

The unicorn applied her telekinesis on a pair of small slips of paper inside a pocket on her long purple cape, showing them to the alicorn.

Twilight observed the tickets with a bland expression. She felt a mix of nostalgia and sadness.

“Guess you aren’t all that happy about it…” Trixie lowered the tickets and sighed.

“It’s not a matter of being happy or sad, it just feels wrong.” Twilight replied, closing her eyes, “The last time we were together, we made a vow to return together to Ponyville after defeating Grogar. It’s sad that we couldn’t keep that promise…”

“But you’re fighting to bring them together again, aren’t you?” Trixie stepped up, asking with a serious voice.

Twilight opened her eyes and smiled, “You’re right Trixie. I wish with everything I have to return together with them, but I need to find Silver Spoon and her father. I also need to find North Pole and the map, reach Henosia and talk with Princess Iridia. And then, I will recover my old body and bring everyone back, and we will go home together!”

“That’s better.” Trixie smiled and nodded, “I will have to stay by your side and make sure you don’t let that depressed mood destroy your mission.”

“Thank you Trixie, from the bottom of my heart.”

The unicorn laughed a little and blushed, “No problem Sparkle. You’re a fun mare to be around and I finally feel that I will be able to offer my art to a good cause.”

Twilight looked away and blushed, “I wish you could say it was because we’re friends now...”

Trixie opened a small grin, “Do I really need to say it? We just entered a chamber older than our country itself, older than our goddesses and you still think you aren’t a friend?
Guess you have been neglecting your friendship lessons Miss Sparkle!”

She walked near Twilight and passed an arm behind her neck, “Also, there was that thing about intersecting horns with you, but we are going to forget about it, right?”

Twilight laughed. It was the first time in quite a while that she laughed so downrightly. Trixie made she remember what it felt to have a true friend by her side.

“Yeah, right!” Twilight replied with a huge smile plastered across her muzzle.

The alicorn felt safe for a change. Trixie was by her side, and together they were stronger. However, Twilight was aware about something a little unsettling for her: Their duel two days ago proved something she wasn’t ready to admit; her current knowledge about her new power as an alicorn was insuficient, putting her on a situation of powerlessness.

Although she still was Twilight Sparkle inside, this lack of control over her abilities could turn her into an easy prey for their enemies. If she couldn't find a way to fight alongside Trixie, she could become a burden for her friend, and run the risk of hurting her.

She needed to become stronger…

“Trixie, I have a favor to ask.” Twilight whispered, destroying their happy mood.

Her friend’s face contorted into a puzzled frown, “What’s the matter Sparkle?”

Twilight broke from their hug and walked to the nearby wardrobe, head hung low. She was, after all, preoccupied with her decision, “During our duel you launched an amazing spell. What was that? A form of condensed Magic Bolt? I thought the five basics weren’t your strong point.”

The unicorn smiled, probably proud of her creation Twilight guessed, and replied, “It is a form of Magic Bolt, yes. I called it Magic Blast. I created it based on the principle of magic conservation from-”

“Spectral Flash! Her books on Arcane Arts are amazing! I never thought about testing her theories though…”

Trixie eyed Twilight with an unimpressed gaze, prompting the alicorn to instantly slam a hoof against her mouth, as if she just said a curse word.

“Is there a book you didn’t read Sparkle?” Trixie completed with a bored voice.

Twilight giggled, “I think it’s hard to read everything, but I must admit that those kinds of subjects do interest me, so its natural that I end up knowing a thing or two.”

“Back on the subject, what did you want to ask me?”

“I want you to teach me your spell.” Twilight affirmed vehemently.

Trixie’s mouth formed a small, content mug, “That’s an honor. Twilight Sparkle, Equestria’s most powerful unicorn, and now some kind of goddess is asking me to teach her?”

“I am. I would be too naive to think that we will never face any kind of danger. I don’t want to be a burden to you all the time Trixie. Your Rune Casting is amazing, but I can’t even do simple basic spells, and I’m not an earth-pony born to know how to properly use my strength. I was born a unicorn and magic is everything I know. If I want to find my friends, I will need to become stronger…”
Twilight declared, finishing with an exasperated sigh. She didn’t wanted to sound dramatic, nor looks like a character from an action book, but the truth was right there in front of her eyes.

She felt a comforting hoof being placed on her shoulder, “Of course I will help you. Follow me. We’ll continue in the garden.”

Trixie smiled, and moved towards the door. Twilight followed her right behind with a puzzled expression.


"I can’t really tell you that you will be able to be casting Magic Blasts in the next few hours. What I can do is remind you how to cast its base form, Magic Bolts. After you remember how to properly cast them, we can practice my spell and see if you can master it."

The unicorn used her magic to drag around a black plastic sack, filled with something Twilight couldn’t guess the identity of.

Twilight eyed the black object with confusion, “What are we planning to do again?”

“We are going to draw your power, or to put it simple, force it out. As I’m aware you know, the Five Basic Ones are referred to as such because its said that any unicorn can cast them, as if those spells are natural from our tribe.” Trixie rested the seemingly heavy sack on the ground, and turned to Twilight, “You have an alicorn body now, but your heart is still that of a unicorn, meaning that the Five Basics are still inside of you. What we are about to do is force the spell out using a technique my father used to train me with.”

Twilight’s eyebrow moved all by its own, as her face contorted into a most confused and lost expression. Perplexed, she watched as Trixie pulled a pink balloon full of water from the black sack.

“I don’t get it.” She complained. Trixie only smiled back at her.

Suddenly, the unicorn enveloped the balloon within her magic grasp and launched it upwards. With extreme precision,Trixie fired a small, pink, bullet-like bolt from the tip of her horn, nailing the balloon, popping it and making the crystalline water rain down.
Twilight observed Trixie’s display, still asking herself how this was supposed to help her learn anything.

“Let’s give you the instructions then. I will throw those water balloons at you. You must destroy them using your Magic Bolts. Got it?”

“But I don’t know the spell!” Twilight shouted, whining.

“But you do remember how it works, don’t you?” Trixie scuffed.

The alicorn hung her head low, and looked away. She did remember the theory. Magic Bolt was a simple, Telekinesis based spell, but Twilight lacked the knowledge about which corner of her wailing heart needed to be awakened in order to summon that effect.

"Are you ready, Sparkle?" Trixie asked, preparing a balloon.

Twilight nodded and lowered her body, getting ready.

C'mon Twilight, you can do it! Magic Bolts used to be one of your specialities!

Mercilessly, Trixie launched the balloon at her direction. The projectile flew towards Twilight as she prepared herself to counter-attack it. Focusing on the fast object, the alicorn started the process of invoking her spell. As she had already expected, the pink glow lingered on her horn, as if dampened by some unknown force. Instead of producing magic, chaotic golden sparks sprang in erratic directions.

It didn’t took much time for the balloon to finish its trajectory and nail Twilight right in the face. The rubber popped, spreading water against her fur. It was like being hit by a soft pillow. No pain.

The water inside however, was freezing cold! It drenched her face, mane and chest, rapidly falling through her forearms and reaching her hooves.

The shock of the liquid quickly spreading on her skin made a cold shiver run down her spine. Her fur bristled from the low temperature and her muscles became rigid. Twilight gasped and started to shake her head as a reaction to try and fling the cold water off of her face.

“What is this? This is freezing!” She shouted, protesting.

“I’ve draw an ice rune on those balloons, so I can make their temperature drop when I launch them.” Trixie answered, smirking, “If failing to stop my attack means nothing but getting wet, then this training wouldn’t have much significance.”

"You mean it's a kind of punishment for letting the baloon hit me?" Twilight realized, pouting.

The unicorn nodded, “Just like the training we received at the School For Gifted Unicorns. Self-Defense 101, remember?”

“My teacher used light spheres, magically charged with a really low electric current. It was like being stung by a bee.” Twilight replied, remembering about her old days at Celestia’s school.

“Same as in my class.” Trixie readied yet another rubber ball, “Don’t worry. I wasn’t expecting you to get it done on the first one, so let’s keep trying. Ready?”

Twilight took a deep breath.

Of course she was frustrated. Of course she felt insecure.

But giving up was out of question.

“Let’s do it!” She yelled and focused on the floating balloon enveloped inside Trixie’s magic.

Without thinking twice, Trixie launched the second balloon.

Twilight was aware that her approach was wrong. Her alicorn magic was different than her old unicorn magic, and summoning her powers as she was used to meant sure failure. Without controlling her feelings, she was doomed to fail over and over again. There were just a few seconds before she was going to get hit by yet another ball full of freezing cold water. She had to think fast…

What should I feel? How I am supposed to express my desire to attack that balloon?
Should I feel rage? Should I want to destroy it?

The balloon was halfway from her. Twilight closed her eyes and focused every fiber of her being into relaying all her rage and channelling it into her horn.

Seconds of remembering about the scene with Princess Celestia, on Ponyville. Remembering about the giant crowd of townsponies calling her names she didn't dared to repeat. About the sorrow and rage she felt, when the most important pony on the world for her, her mentor and beloved Princess, rejected her for being something she shouldn't be.

Even so... No.

This isn't legitimate rage.

Once again, the balloon splat against Twilight’s face, spreading even more water on her fur. The same sensation tingled each corner of her skin as the freezing cold water flowed over her body.

Twilight hung her head low, and started panting, trying to endure the sensation.

It isn't anything like the rage I felt when those soldiers were badmouthing Spike. I do not really hate my Princess, nor those ponies of Ponyville. It's empty, and thus, powerless.

"Is everything alright?" Asked Trixie, worried.

No, it wasn’t, Twilight thought. She was feeling truly frustrated at the moment.

“Just… Give me a moment, please!” Twilight yelled back, in between heavy breathing.
Her temperature was rising again, maybe from a mix of rage and sunlight. The alicorn never really noticed how terribly she reacted to failure. Everything was easy for the prodigy, Twilight Sparkle, and what wasn’t easy, she had her amazingly powerful teacher to help her with.

However, now there was no Celestia to help her.

“Trixie.” Twilight called raising her face and looking at her friend with a serious expression, “What do you feel when you cast your Magic Blast?”

The unicorn blinked in rapid succession, taken aback by the strange question, “What do I feel?”

Twilight nodded in silence.

"It's hard to explain. All I can say is that you should be more honest to yourself, Sparkle. You asked me to help you get stronger, but do you really want to become stronger? This power you're looking for is inside you, but maybe you fear what its inside. Get your game on, Sparkle! You're the only one on Equestria who can bring them together again! Be honest to yourself, and answer your question!"

“Honest with yourself?” Twilight paused to wonder. Was she being truly honest with herself?

Did she really desire a stronger power?

Power never really meant anything for me. I was fine with just making Princess Celestia proud of me with my studies and research. But everything is different now… Without power, how can I really save so many things that this madness wants to take away from me?
Honesty. Applejack’s element.

I know it may sound so selfish but… Without them, without those I love, I’m not me. Without them, is the same as being dead. Power… If this power I have inside of me now can allow me to fight for them, and bring them back-

Twilight closed her eyes. For a few seconds, she focused on images of the noble earth-pony, the stubborn, down to earth friend, who was always there to lend her a hoof.

It was time for Twilight to face it. There was no more running, no more avoiding it. It was time to be honest with her true desires.

-I want every bit of power I can get!

As she opened her eyes once more, a mysterious light shone within her irises. A strong purple glow danced inside like flames and a brilliant aura enveloped her, taking the shape of a red apple.

I will not lie to myself anymore! I want to be stronger! I hate this body, but if it gives me the strength to pursue the truth, then I want to control all the power I can draw from it!

“Do it Trixie! I’m ready!” She yelled, ignoring the baffled reaction from her companion, watching the display of raw magic power happening in front of her.

The unicorn licked her lips, and applied her magic on a balloon, aiming it towards Twilight, “Here goes nothing!”

The rubber sphere flew right at her direction. Twilight’s horn shone with a strong pink light, forming a small bulge of raw magic on the tip. A perfect blast of energy, almost like a bolt of lightning hurled towards the balloon, nailing it, and exploding it halfway before Twilight’s position, spreading the crystalline water in all directions.

The bolt, unimpeded, continued, losing its original trajectory. It flew towards a tree, passing near Trixie, and collided against the canopy, causing an explosion. The strong pink light it produced faded in a few moments, and the unicorn turned around to observe a big, black hole amidst the green foliage…

Twilight sighed, and the maelstrom of magic dissipated slowly. She displayed a tiny smile on her muzzle.

I got it.

“Please, do it again!” Twilight shouted at Trixie, who was still observing the hole made on the tree.

“Okay!” Trixie yelled back, and fired yet another balloon towards her friend. This time, Twilight focused on the object coming in her direction at a high speed. With her goal clear on her mind, Twilight evoked the spell without problems.

The small bolt fired by her horn was this time just strong enough to destroy the balloon and vanish. Nonetheless, she did it consciously, meaning that she had recovered yet another spell. It was just a matter of practice from now on.

“I did it!” She yelled, victoriously.

Trixie smiled, nodding, “See? I told you your spell was still inside of you.”

Twilight quickly trotted to her friend, looking at her with happy, filly eyes, “Do you think its the same with all the others?” She begun to bounce on place, excited, “Maybe we could try some Warding right now, or maybe a basic Transmutation!”

“Easy, Sparkle!” Trixie replied, smiling, “I’m sorry, but I’m not good with those kind of spells. You better find other masters to help you with that.”

Twilight stopped and pouted, “Alright…”

“Whelp! We don’t have time to chitty-chat. Let’s pack up and prepare for our departure."


“I’ll be trusting on you to watch the fort, old horse.” Trixie said, smirking.

The gray-maned stallion who helped Twilight at the station a few days ago smiled back at her. He was Gray Mane, Trixie’s grandfather. He, Trixie and Twilight were having a conversation at the entrance of Trixie’s mansion.

“I hope you two don’t mess everything up. The country’s already in turmoil with this whole business of the Twilight Princess alone. I don’t even want to know what might happen if they discover she’s gathering talented knights to aid her.” He replied, looking at Twilight.

The alicorn blushed and applied her telekinesis on a long, hooded cape inside of one of the saddlebags attached to the sides of her body, covering herself to hide her wings and face, “We will try our hardest to stay out of trouble Mr. Mane. Thank you for your help bringing me and your grandchild together.”

“My little Trix was a troublemaker.” The old stallion looked over the blushing Trixie, “She has changed a lot after meeting you, Twilight. I think she needed somepony to bring her hooves back to the ground. I’m sure she will be a lot of help in your quest for truth.”

Twilight nodded, “She is invaluable.”

Trixie called their attention by scratching her throat and making a loud noise, “I hate to interrupt you two talking about me like I’m a little filly, but me and Sparkle need to get going to the station before we lose our train.”

Gray Mane laughed, “Right. You better come back alive, do you hear me?”

“As if the Great and Powerful Trixie would die before her grand finale.” Trixie declared and winked.

“Yeah, right.” The stallion scuffed, as if accustomed to Trixie’s usual tirades, “I have a farewell present for you before you go.” He turned around and pulled a small saddlebag from behind the entrance door.

Trixie’s eyebrow rose, “What?”

“Use that fancy magic of you unicorns and see for yourself.” He declared, tossing the package at Trixie’s hooves with his mouth.

The unicorn did as told. Trixie applied her telekinesis, opening the saddlebag and revealing its contents. It was a cape and a hat, very similar to the ones she normally used, however, those two were crimson red instead of purple, and had silver moon patterns instead of colored stars. The neck piece that serves as a pin to hold the cape on place had the shape of a Golden, eight-pointed star with a small circle behind it and a larger, sun-like circle encasing it.

“It’s my father’s cape and hat…” Trixie breathed, seemingly disturbed by the vision.

“His most prized possession. You, Trixie Lulamoon, who have inherited your mother’s legacy, the perfect rune casting, are the only one worthy of wearing this mantle and hat.” Gray Mane displayed a bitter-sweet smile as he spoke, “You are about to step upon a difficult path, I know that, but I’m also sure that you and your friend will be able to conquer all difficulties and put everything back in its rightful place.”

Twilight observed as Trixie’s always serious and proud eyes watered a bit. The unicorn forced her eyelids to close, making the tears spread and vanish, as she nodded vigorously, thanking her grandfather, “I will make everypony proud! This time, for real! No lies, no pretending. I will make you all proud of me!"

Grey Mane hugged Trixie gently, “I’m sure you will!”

Twilight smiled. She couldn’t help but to think about her loving family, all the way in the Crystal Empire and about her promises to each one of them.

The unicorn and the old stallion broke from their hug, and Trixie quickly donned herself with the red cape and hat as if putting on a suit of armor.

“Let’s get going, Sparkle! We will find your friends and clean your name!” Exclaimed Trixie, excitedly.

"Let's go!"