//------------------------------// // Turning All Against The One is An Art That's Hard // Story: We Remember Everything // by Thunderscourge //------------------------------// A/N: Special thanks to SilentMech, Scarlet Conduit, Cadmium, Ozymandias42, The Last Cold Fang, ChaoticLightning, Ketvirtas, Psycho Kid, Borderline Valley, Magestikus, and Drgnwolf for your comments this past chapter! I hope to hear again from you at the end of this one, as this one will answer a lot of what you guys are wondering I think In other news, my new story "Equestria was Merely a Setback" (<—Link) is released and has the first two chapters up for your enjoyment! It's a spinoff of this story, so it'd mean a lot if you guys could support it with your likes and comments now that it is released, though I hope you also enjoy it thoroughly! Thanks for all of your support, and I hope to keep hearing from you all! I mean it when I say this chapter will put a lot of perspective on previous ones! On a seeming whim one day, Trixie visited Asgard instead of remaining at her post in Equestria. She had since taken over many of Luna’s duties due to the latter’s required presence in the vulnerable Asgard and her almost finished pregnancy, and there happened to be little time seemingly when she was not working or visiting the still hospitalized Lulamoon. She came by Loki’s room as the night just began and his time in the throne room ended. He had chosen to eat alone while Luna worked with Lady Sif and Hogun on finding new guards to replace the ones lost through disloyalty. He was not too surprised to find Trixie in the room, since he had long since granted her access to his personal library in the hope it would mean she would learn everything she could to defeat Thanos. She was reading through a book on architecture when Loki came in, the sight of which was more surprising than her actual presence. Loki’s confusion was not helped when he thought about how she might be interested in the construction projects going on at the moment: that of her coliseum in Equestria, and that of the Sunwell in Asgard. She did not need to be the one to draft the plans, so why would she be so interested in the details? “How goes the construction?” Trixie asked Loki as he entered his own room in his full regal gear. Loki set about removing his helmet and cloak as he thought about the reports he had been handed that day. Things were going well, surprisingly. Well, at least as well as things could go for a project unlike any done by Asgard’s architects, magic users, and other authorities that were being pulled into the project. Loki carelessly dropped his helmet, only for it to disappear before it hit the ground as he banished it back to the realm he kept his extra clothes in. He did not intend to go around shirtless again if he could help it, even if he required Luna to supply him energy to keep this little pocket dimension open every now and again, “Your companion’s idea seems to be working out so far. Our architects are moving at a steady but slow pace. Since their knowledge of the Bifrost is limited, their knowledge of a structure outside of our own culture is obviously far more lacking.” “I am sure Kael provided adequate instructions,” Trixie responded, her voice matter-of-fact. Her eyes continued to scan intently across the pages she was reading while she spoke, no eye contact being made with Loki as she sought out whatever knowledge she required. Loki had to admit that the Elf had been most thorough, even with how uneasy the Asgardians were around him because of his race despite having no relation to the Dark Elves, “That he did, but this is still ground not tread upon before. It will be worth it to receive the benefits this Sunwell is said to grant, but I have my reservations nonetheless.” That managed to pry Trixie’s eyes from the text. She closed it so she could grant Loki her full attention, “Reservations? Loki moved over to his bed and took to laying across it lazily, his mind tired from being in charge of so many things for once. Being king was difficult if done thoroughly and with true effort, “Asgard is filled to the brim with warriors who place value on physical strength and capability. The idea of having their powers augmented and increased by magic may unsettle them.” The fact that the Asgardians might not accept the power granted to them had not occurred to Trixie, and she was not quite pleased about the notion, “They will have to accept the fact that this artifact could very well save their race.” “Honor and pride before reason I’m afraid…” Loki mumbled as brought an arm to cover his weary eyes. He was beginning to miss his brother, who had become so wrapped up in his Earth life that he was barely a figure on Asgard anymore. He had fallen in love with a world away from his own, and while Loki could sympathize he felt that the eldest son was needed at home too. On Earth he was stopping conspiracies, defeating villains of a much less caliber than those Asgard was accustomed to, and generally wasting his abilities. Not only that, but Asgard would need Thor if Thanos were to return. While Thor may not be on the same level, having his abilities would be better than letting them squander on Earth with the other so-called “Avengers”. The plurality of Loki’s previous statement made it’s way to Trixie’s mind, and so she prodded him to continue as he made himself comfortable on the bed, “And your other misgivings?” Loki waved a hand in the air at her, “His species is addicted to magic because of its long reliance on such a construct. We Asgardians may be strong, but the idea that we too could grow to rely on it is unsettling.” “We only need it to empower everyone for the immediate time being, not the thousands of years Kael’s species was subjected to its power.” “We will take things one step at a time I suppose.” A pause followed as Trixie came to think about the acceptance of the Sunwell in Asgardian culture and Loki tried to forget about his daily tasks if but for a moment. This lull lasted just long enough for Trixie to think of something she had heard and was curious about, “I hear you are constructing an orphanage. A little standard, is it not?” She had often wondered what it would have been like if she had lived in an orphanage. At the time she had worried they would return her to her abusive mother, but Trixie’s slimmer frame than other ponies her size showed that perhaps there were drawbacks on an even physical level of her homeless beginnings. “Sleep Near only revived those lost in the conflict with Malekith, not those lost to Lorelei’s coup. There is still much need for an institution for those who are left without families as a result,” Loki reasoned. He had not expected to get any flak over constructing an orphanage, even if it was joking. “Of course.” Thinking more about the orphanage, Loki snorted at how he was unable to accomplish the last real task related to it, “The construction of the facility is done at this point, but I am trouble finding a name for it. I suppose it will come to me with time.” Another pause fell between them, but this time it caused Trixie to decide to go. She had other things to do that night anyways outside of talking to family. “Well, I will not bother you any further, father. I have other things to check up on.” Loki mumbled a goodbye and pulled the covers over himself as he waited for his absolutely massive wife to join him. Their one year anniversary was approaching, and she would no doubt want him to do something to commemorate the event. The question was what though… Trixie was able to track down the semi-elusive Discord in a minute, finding him in the same place that she had found him before: Fluttershy the former element bearer’s cottage by Ponyville. He had seemingly moved in after befriending the pony, but to get to the topic at hand Trixie ignored the scandalous image of him living with another mare despite fathering a child with Celestia. Fluttershy had opened the door when Trixie knocked, and the cowardly mare ran away and shoved Discord out the door at the sight of Trixie’s cool eyes. Trixie gave Discord a blank stare as the latter yawned and pretended to be too sleepy to be paying attention, “I need to ask you a favor.” Discord shifted to another form of annoyance, dropping his sleeping act in the night light to adopt a grin and float above her, poking at her glistening silver-blue hair playfully as he spoke, “Oh, you are that pony all those others are gossiping about right now. Princess Lunamoon or something. It seems others have taken umbrage with the reforms you have been working on like abolishing the nobility, rooting out corruption in office, remov—” Trixie fought the strong urge to stomp a hoof, “I did not come to talk about the view insolent whelps have of me or my policies.” He pretended to be taken aback by this, “You didn’t? But it’s so much more fun, at least I think. Does Luna know that her old reputation has rubbed off on you? That ponies whisper and criticize you, just not as brazenly as they do her?” It was quite difficult to keep herself from growling at the annoying man, but Trixie forced herself to nonetheless, “No, and I have done well to keep that information from her. Now, I need you to do something for me. It does not matter if you want to or not, you will do this and I will repay you in kind for it.” Her strong words made Discord land and cross his mismatched arms, “I’m not so sure I want to do this favor. I don’t even know what it is!” Trixie jabbed him in the gut while also secretly casting a spell that would soundproof them, so that Fluttershy could not possibly overhear them from inside the cottage, “I need you to stop dallying around and find Tirek. Find him, befriend him, and join him in his plotting. Help him slowly acquire power, but make sure that it is not at too fast a pace.” Discord shook his arms like he was excited, though his voice was nothing but mocking, “Maybe we’ll go and have some fun and eat popcorn together at that event Celestia said you were making…the Equestria Games 2.0, if I may say so.” “Retract your sarcasm. I have enough insolence to deal with as it is,” Trixie threatened, only for Discord to just laugh right back at her. “Oh really? I don’t see why I have to do this for you at all, actually. If Celestia was asking the favor, that would be one thing, but I’ve only met you a couple times. What could you possibly do for me?” Trixie narrowed her eyes at the deadbeat father to Equestria’s youngest royal family member, “Discord, as a former threat to Equestria yourself, you must realize that if Tirek has his way your daughter will be in grave danger.” That made Discord stop in his tracks. He might not be there every day, but he did visit his daughter on occasion. He would not admit it but he held fatherly affection in him, even if his childish personality had trouble reconciling with it. Seeing that she had his attention finally, Trixie continued to capitalize on her success, “And Tirek is not the only force that is moving against Equestria right now. There are three efforts against it, all of which I have my hoof in handling, and so your effort will help stop whatever harm may befall your daughter as a result of the coming tides of battle.” “And what purpose will my befriending him serve? What will me helping him gain his power do?” “It will serve our interests in the end,” Trixie replied vaguely, not wishing to bestow any of her actual plans with someone that was such a wild card, “Do this for me…no, do this for your daughter. So that she can grow up without ever facing harm.” Discord placed his bear paw on his hip while turning his head away defiantly, “Fine. But I will have you know that the reason I have not found Tirek is that he is not making it easy to find him. He is not using his powers, or else I could sense him and find him easily.” “I have faith in the god of chaos to find one dissident soul,” Trixie said, her back already turned to Discord as she began to leave. She knew that playing that card would get Discord to jump to helping her, even if everything else about him was chaotic. “What is your angle in all of this?” Trixie did not even look back to him as she began to teleport, “The winning one. Now go. Get to work. Stop wasting your time here.” By the time he opened his mouth to speak again, Discord was left alone in the cold night air. Trixie’s next stop was the house the Sirens had taken for their own. She brought Kael with her this time, but she had him occupy one of the guest rooms as she approached one of the three women who, once upon a time, were a threat to all of Euqestria. “You don’t seem very much like the others. Why are you even helping them?” Sonata was all by herself in the large house when Trixie found her. Trixie cast her sound proof spell again to prevent anyone from overhearing them, and decided to proceed with the next step of her plan. Sonata laughed at the question, not seeming to get the traitorous connotations of it due to her own stupidity, “Well, I don’t really know. It’s been such a long time!” she brought a finger to her lips as she thought about the question more while reclining on a luxurious couch, “When we were kids a long time ago we were like total besties I think. They’re all I really remember after so long.” “Besties?” Trixie questioned, not knowing what the term meant. “Yeah! Best friends!” Sonata explained to Trixie’s embarrassment. Trixie, only having a couple she could call friends, was not familiar with the term, “I’m not that smart,” Sonata laughed and snorted, “Like at all, but Adagio always looked after me. And because Adagio did, Aria did too!” Trixie felt her shoulders sink. She had come in her Elf form due to the three seeming to be more comfortable around humanoids, and so her hands softened as did her eyes as she heard that. Sonata seemed to have memories that Trixie doubted Adagio or Aria had anymore after so many years of isolation on a foreign world with a foreign culture. Luna had mentioned before that she only remembered things so well because all she could do on the moon was relive old memories, but to be trapped in a place where things actually were happening… Sonata continued on as Trixie took a seat across from her, the ditz not really noticing the sad look on the other girl’s face, “When we got our powers I found just how fun it is to make people do what you want!” Sonata cackled as she showed off her necklace with its red gem, “It’s so fun doing whatever you want, though starving all those hundreds of years kind of puts a damper on the fun we did have. At least we got to do fun stuff like manipulate humans and make them crash ships in the meantime!” Trixie decided to see where this could go, since Sonata seemed to be the most loyal of the three. She may be stupid, but that made her no less evil than the others it seemed. It just made her reliant on the others, “How did you survive?” “Adagio was really powerful before we got beat by Celestia. Back then Celestia was actually a threat since she still knew how to fight, but now we’re totally better than her,” Sonata sighed for a moment to let her memories flow through her. When her simple mind had processed enough of them, Sonata decided to actually answer what was asked of her, “So, anyways, Adagio started feeding us her power, since we were still besties then. Eventually we found that humans had some magic potential too, though they were like so weak compared to Equestrians. We decided to gobble it all up!” Trixie could not help but remember Kael’s magic stealing phase, but quickly shook the memory away so she could focus on what Sonata was still saying. The ditz really could talk a lot if you let her gab on without interruption. “The humans make good food though, which is kind of ironic since they themselves aren’t that tasty,” Sonata finished, a content look on her face as she pat her extremely skinny stomach. Trixie had been a bit hungry before, but lost any trace of that appetite at the blue siren’s comment. “Did you actually eat them?” Sonata stuck her tongue out and blanched, “Blegh, of course not!” she reeled her tongue in and brought a finger up to her chin, a more thoughtful look growing on her, “Unless you count absorbing their power until there is nothing left of them. I don’t remember if I did that. Maybe when I was really hungry? That was more of Adagio’s thing…” With so little magic on Earth, Trixie found it doubtful the three had been fed all that well over their long exile. In fact, she was surprised they lived that long with their near anorexic diet, “No wonder you’re all so thin…” Sonata brought one hand to her chest and another to her hip, “Haha, we may be thin but we’ve got fat in all of the right spots!” Sonata glanced across the room at Trixie, only to laugh at what she saw, “You’re a little flat though.” Trixie blushed. She had purposefully reduced her…proportions down to the bare minimum after Luna tricked her into making them obscenely huge, though she kept the alternate size as a backup in case she ever needed to feel her back break under their weight so she could impress some lecherous fool. In contrast, to make herself appear less boyish Trixie increased her overall hip size quite greatly to make up for her less feminine top. She would not be called a man if she could help it. Trixie turned her head away as she continued to blush, “A personal preference when I’m not trying to impress anyone.” Sonata winked at Trixie before laughing, “You mean that Elf guy? Oooh, are you two screwing? I bet you two have a lot of fun when you’re studying! Want a third? I bet even I could teach you a thing or two that way!” “Uh, no thank you, we’re fine—I mean we’re not in that kind of relationship!” Trixie responded with embarrassment at first and then extreme worry as she realized how her original words may have been taken. Sonata gave a couple hip thrusts and laughed at her ally, “Suuuuuure, I get what you mean. You’re into some really kinky stuff, aren’t you?” That was enough for Trixie, who stood up and decided to go work on a more useful person, “Ugh, I can see why the others can’t stand to be around you anymore…” Trixie had a new plan for approaching Sonata, but for the moment she would need to get some space from the crazy, psychotic idiot. Adagio was outside in a hot tub she had refitted to work for humanoids and not just ponies. Trixie brought Kael with her just as insurance when she approached the leader of the Sirens, who greeted Trixie with a sultry smile. “Ahhh, my dear, care to join me?” Trixie glanced into the pool and noticed that Adagio was not, in fact, wearing clothes, though the bubbles and water helped disguise this fact, “No, I am fine.” “Suit yourself. I suppose you’re satisfied with what you have,” Adagio replied reluctantly while glancing towards Kael, who gave no response. A bit perturbed by his lack of response, she lifted her chest above the waters and flashed him a smile, to which he only blinked. Adagio lowered herself into the water again as Trixie took off her shoes and moved her robe so she could hang her own legs in, “He’s quite the gentleman, Trixie. Being around such beautiful women like us and keeping himself in check,” Adagio looked Kael over and found herself quite surprised, “Or is he…you know…” she leaned in closer to Trixie to whisper, “Fabulous?” Trixie reached back to touch Kael’s leg as he continued to stand stoically beside her, “I know for a fact he is attracted to women, but I could not care less either way. He is my partner and nothing more.” Adagio shifted back to her spot in the tub and smirked, “Don’t worry dear, no-one here will judge you. Except Aria. She’s not too fond of men, or those who lust after them. Likely because of our other companion’s inane prattling about them for so long,” Adagio closed her eyes and leaned her head back as memories flooded her just as they had Sonata, “Aria didn’t mind the bits about women, but Sonata is fond of men as well and I think I remember her constantly talking our ears off about them too. I am having trouble remembering, but she may even have met a stunning example of mankind early in our stay on Earth. He reminded me of one of those Asgardians since he possessed greater strength and magical abilities…” Trixie found it ironic that the group idiot had the best memory out of the three, but she did not bring this fact up out of tact. She just let Adagio stew in her own memories and the bath as well, fine with taking her time if it would help gain her the trust of the group’s leader. Adagio began to laugh as she remembered something she had not thought of in hundreds of years, “Yes, it’s coming back a little to me now. The idiot let herself get pregnant, and in the end she let him keep the baby instead of keeping it herself. Laurel…no, Lauriel…” Trixie smirked as she put pieces together of a puzzle, all the while surprised that one of them was a mother, “Lorelei?” Adagio nodded her head while snapping her fingers, “That is it, thank you!” she laughed as she thought about how Sonata’s stupidity had lead to such an embarrassing occasion. She could not remember what she thought then, but thinking of it at the moment made her laugh, “It has been a thousand years, forgive me for my memory. You lose some less important details over time, and I could really care less for what Sonata does on the side. Besides, it gave her a bigger bust and a better set of hips, and I sure don’t keep her around for her intellect.” Her eyes drifted from Trixie to something inside the house which brought a new smile to her face. She snapped her fingers at whoever was walking by in the house, which caused Trixie to look back to what caught Adagio’s attention. “Hey Aria, be a dear and grab me a drink. Our servant is off socializing right now and spreading our good name, so you will have to be my service wench,” Adagio taunted her second in command and sexual partner. Trixie was not sure the term “lover” was warranted or correct, given that it appeared to be a relationship bore of hatred. Once upon a time, could it have been something else though? Trixie wondered how different these three were when they were younger. When they were actual friends like Sonata remembered, if her memories were actually true. It almost made Trixie regret all of this…at least until she remembered how evil they were. “Fuck you!” Aria yelled back from the house through the open door Trixie had left. Adagio laughed and formed a microphone with a hand, “You already do, dear, so bring me that alcohol if you don’t want to just be with Sonata tonight!” Trixie could hear more swearing and grumbling from the house, but Aria gave no more real protest. With the outcry done with, Adagio went back to smirking at Trixie, “Works like a charm every time.” Having had the necessary bonding time, Trixie smiled at Adagio while retrieving her own legs from the pool. “I think I will go fetch myself a drink.” Trixie wiped her legs off on Kael’s robe, who looked down at her with amusement as she prepared to go back inside. When Trixie left, he remained standing by the tub quietly as if in thought. With Trixie gone, Adagio winked at Kael, “It seems like she has left you in my care. Tell me, how are you so comfortable around such stunning women? There must be some trick.” The prince shrugged, “My race is much more…hedonistic than any you have come across I am quite sure. It is common for women to walk around in only what you call bras and underwear, not to mention how we do not as a culture use doors that often so much is in plain sight that would be hidden in other places by other people.” “And?” “And I was royalty and a leader in a coalition of forces that had an army of consorts. I have quite literally seen enough women naked to satisfy any curiosity I had.” “Is that so?” Adagio grinned devilishly at the handsome man, “How about I sing you a song to pass the time?” Inside the house Aria was busy smashing things. Trixie made sure to avoid the broken glass that Aria had smashed on the floor in a fit of rage, the purple siren obviously put off by being ordered around like a servant. Trixie approached the other member of their little group and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, “Why do you just listen to whatever she says?” Aria brushed Trixie’s hand off roughly, “She’s the leader, duh.” Trixie allowed her hand to be removed, but she moved it to a position where her hands were raised up defensively, “No, I mean, why is she the leader? How is she any better than us?” Aria snorted at the question, “Well it sure as Hell shouldn’t be Sonata,” she paused as she narrowed her eyes warily at Trixie, the purple siren already having been distrustful of her, “And I’d lead if I felt like it. Too much of a hassle though.” Trixie shrugged and prepared to defend herself from the punch she was about to receive from the siren who instead of wearing standard girl clothes wore what one might find on a rebellious teenager with ripped sleeves and everything, “Adagio doesn’t seem to be all that great though. Are you only listening to her because you’re her little toy?” In anger Aria turned and swung a fist at Trixie, “Why you—” Trixie caught Aria’s risk faster than Aria could even swing it. Trixie shook her head at the sad attempt at causing physical harm, “Tssk, tssk tssk. Remember, we’re on the same side. I know you don’t like listening to her. So why should you?” That calmed Aria down, and she found herself curious about what the new girl was talking about. New, as in, having been with them just under a year compared to the extreme length of time the others had been together, “What are you thinking?” Trixie tried to put on the most sincere face she could, “You seem more intelligent than her. I would rather follow someone with a brain than someone who is overconfident like her.” Adagio was overconfident. She had been unchallenged and undefeated for about a thousand years if the things Trixie read about were true. Their reign of terror was unhalted for so long, their powers unchallenged for such a long period of time, that of course overconfidence would come of it all. Aria nodded slowly as she began to see what Trixie was saying. A coup within their own group, “I see…” just because she could understand what was being said did not mean that she trusted Trixie though. A schemer was a schemer after all, “But what do you get from this? Why don’t you want to be the boss?” Trixie was so glad she casted her spell again that made their conversation private, which she decided to dub the cone of silence, “I am already a princess. I can manage to not be the leader of a small group of individuals I am partnered with.” Aria crossed her arms and glared at Trixie, “Hmmmph. Whatever. I’ll do what I want, but you better not do anything stupid. Unlike Adagio, I get that you’re not the sort that is easily manipulated. Maybe you were once, but I think Adagio’s let the fact we’ve been winning the past millennium get to her.” Trixie was pleased to see someone corroborate her assessment on Adagio’s contentment and overconfidence. Trixie gave a defensive posture again, “Oh I have been counting on it. It’s easiest to join a group who will soon rule the world when the leader of it thinks you’re already a groupie.” Aria jabbed Trixie’s chest with a finger and scowled, “Just remember who should be on top and we won’t have a problem. We’re as strong as you now, so you better not try anything.” “Of course, of course.” With that, Aria wandered off towards the exit with two empty glasses and a bottle of whine in tow. Trixie let her go without any further comment, all the while smirking to herself. Aria might be loyal, at least vocally, but the seeds of doubt were there now. After Adagio and Aria decided to make up and removed themselves to a bedroom, Trixie took the hot-tub herself along with Kael. She made sure Sonata joined the other two before relaxing herself by entering the pool. Trixie let out a content sigh as the warm water and the jets massaged her aching body. “And with this…I win the world. Check.” Kael smirked at Trixie from across the large hot tub, his precious robes discarded on the side of the pool to keep them from getting wet, “You really believe this will pay off in the end?” Trixie kept her eyes closed as she let her body relax, “Of course I do. They believe I am not too powerful since my power is currently being used elsewhere, and they think I am just another pawn. Their goal is to gather a large enough group of ponies that they can absorb their magic all in one fell swoop, instead of the gradual leeching they have been doing these past months.” “And when they gather all of the power in themselves…” Kael trailed off as he waited for Trixie to finish. The princess contently replied, “I show them that I am far more powerful than they, and take their power for myself.” “And with that power, you can easily defeat whatever Tirek has gained for himself with Discord’s aid.” “And with all of their power combined, the Sunwells, the Aether, and mother’s scepter, I will confront Thanos and defeat him.” “Are you sure it will be enough?” “No. Which is why I am cultivating these other players so thoroughly. I need every ounce they can offer me,” Trixie opened her eyes and looked up into the star filled night, “The Sirens are already powerful, more so than I originally expected when I learned of them, but how much will that power increase when they have access to an audience of thousands of ponies, Asgardians, and Jotuns?” Kael felt good being one of the only two who knew of this plan, as well as one of the two pulling the strings of it all, “The real games won’t be between the three races, but between us, the Sirens, and Tirek.” “Of course. Discord will bring Tirek to the games as a way of amassing power. Not only can I play the Sirens against Tirek then, I can take all of the power for myself,” Trixie laughed, once again glad that no-one could listen in on her due to the spell she learned for such an occasion. “And this little charade today?” “Like I said, the Sirens have grown more powerful than I expected originally. If I can continue to isolate them, cause them to turn on one another while gaining their individual trusts, I will have less risk later.” “The best of schemes is when the puppets of the show do not know they are having their strings pulled, not to mention are actually in someone else’s show entirely. But even the best shows can end in tragedy, should the wrong cards be dealt the protagonists…” That brought some pause to Trixie, who closed her eyes again as she swore. “I’ll win. I have to.”