"Thanks again, Zecora!" Twilight waved as she returned to Ponyville. "See you again next week!"
Twilight enjoyed her weekly tea time with Zecora. The zebra was a never-ending source of knowledge about little-known magical arts and stories from the far-off land from where she had come. And her Rooibos tea wasn't bad either.
While no pony would consider the forest safe, so long as Twilight kept to the main path, she could consider her journey safe enough. In the fading daylight, it was even somewhat peaceful. Bird calls sounded over Twilight's head as she trotted through the late afternoon, homeward bound.
A rustle of leaves interrupted her calm reverie. Twilight gazed around for the source, but didn't see anything. Ears forward, she continued along the path, glancing around ever so often.
A twig snapped loudly behind her. Already on edge, Twilight reared up and spun around, focusing her mental energy on a defensive spell. Her glowing horn pointed at a shaking bush. She summoned up her courage and prepared to fight, her mind flicking through a list of all the horrifying things the Everfree Forest could possibly dream up.
Two squirrels dove out of the bush, fighting over a nut. Twilight swung her head wide, and the spell singed a nearby tree. The squirrels stopped fighting and looked at her, mystified.
"You need to be more careful next time!" Twilight scolded the quivering rodents. Chattering, they streaked away from her back into the bushes. Taking a deep breath, Twilight continued on.
A third rustle had her groaning and spinning around once again. This time, however, she spotted a young pony in a cape already running off the path away from her.
Twilight stood baffled, unsure if her mind was playing tricks on her, if the forest was responsible, or if she really was watching a foal in the middle of the forest run even deeper into its clutches. A mess of tangled hooves, a short fall, and the following grunt was enough proof to shake Twilight out of her stupor and commence chase.
"Wait!" she pleaded. "The forest is really dangerous. Don't go there!" The pony continued as if it hadn't heard her. Twilight nearly tripped over an upturned root in her pursuit, regaining her footing just in time to catch her horn on a low branch. Despite his or her diminutive size, the pursued certainly had an advantage when it came to agility.
Determined not to lose the endangered foal, Twilight enveloped herself in a burst of magic, reappearing a few meters directly in front of the fleeing ... filly. The hooded youngster must have had her eyes focused on her footing, as she charged directly into the older alicorn. Twilight managed to stabilize herself on her haunches while the filly fell flatly on her back.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!" Twilight apologized. "But the Everfree Forest isn't a safe place to be, especially off the main path."
The filly rushed to her hooves. Her hood fell back to reveal a titanium white mane on a familiar blue coat. A unicorn with purple irises stared up to Twilight with a look of combined defiance and fear.
Twilight recognized who it was, but that couldn't be right. She wasn't a filly, was she?
"Tr ... Trixie?" Twilight asked. A quick intake of breath confirmed her guess. "Trixie! What happened to you?"
Twilight looked her up and down over and over, still not believing her eyes. Trixie shrunk even more into herself as Twilight scanned her. Younger eyes. Smaller hooves. Shorter horn ... Twilight wondered how that affected Trixie's magical potential.
"What-- Your cutie mark is gone!"
A hurried swoop of the cape wasn't quick enough to conceal that that unicorn filly was indeed blank of flank.
"Trixie," Twilight tried, softer. "Please, I don't want to hurt you. I just want to know how--"
A puff of smoke caught Twilight unawares, and she burst into a hacking cough, momentarily blinded. By the time the smoke cleared, Trixie was no where in sight, the forest obscuring her within its leafy, chaotic embrace.
"How ... I can help," Twilight finished. Well, despite the change, she appeared to still have some of her magic. "At least she finally picked the right venue for that trick," Twilight mumbled.
"Maybe the forest did something to her," Spike suggested. "Like, maybe she fell in the poison joke, and it thought that she needed to be taken down to size or something."
"I don't think it was the forest, Spike," Twilight replied, most of her attention buried in a stack of books she had swept off a shelf. "It's almost as if she had fallen victim to an age spell and hadn't been able to transform back."
"Maybe the age spell made her so young that her body isn't actually capable of the requirements needed for her special talent," Spike added, reshelving the books that Twilight had thrown aside.
"What requirements are that, being a show off?" Rainbow Dash said, hovering near the ceiling and rifling through some of the out-of-the-way shelves.
"You're right," Applejack nodded. "RD was showin' off long before she got her cutie mark, so that can't be it."
"Hey!"
"I think Applejack is right about that, though," Twilight said. "An age spell wouldn't reverse a pony's destiny once it was revealed. She could still cast her magic, so her special talent should have still been intact, if a bit underpowered."
"Then what would that leave?" Rarity asked, working through a pile of her own.
"Hmmm..." Pinkie wondered aloud. "What would would cause a super-magical, power-hungry full grown unicorn to suddenly become a kind-of-magical, power-starved, teeny-tiny unicorn? Too much helium, eating a bad taco, forgetting your favorite flavor of cake..."
"Anyway," Rainbow continued as their energetic comrade continued listing in the background. "How are we even supposed to find her? You almost had her, Twilight, and she still managed to lose you."
"Time travel, getting a song stuck in your head for too long..."
"Fluttershy is having the birds look for her now," Rarity explained.
"Transmutation, alicorn magic..."
"Wait." All turned to face Twilight as an epiphany struck. "Pinkie, you're a genius! Those are both why!"
"Both?" Applejack puzzled. "Both of what? And how can there be two reasons why Trixie is small?"
The door to the library burst open at the might of Angel's foot. Fluttershy rushed in shortly behind him with a couple of a song birds perched in her mane, closing the door behind her with a much lighter touch.
"We know where she is," Fluttershy said timidly.
"Excellent," Twilight said, filling a saddle bag with appropriate reading material. "No time to explain," she said to Applejack. "We'll head out at once."
"Well, isn't it ... you know, a little late to go out into Everfree Forest?" Fluttershy worried.
"We've been in the Everfree Forest how many times now?" Rainbow Dash boasted. "I mean, the very first time we all went was after dark. Somepony's in trouble, and even though it's Trixie, we've faced a lot worse all together before. What's the worst that could happen?"
"The Everfree Forest is no match for The Great and Powerful Trrrrrrixie!"
The unicorn filly was surrounded by six older ponies, a baby dragon, and a zebra. The search had been easy enough with the help of the network of songbirds. Cornering the youngster had been a little bit more difficult, but with some persuasion, Zecora and Twilight had convinced Trixie to talk to them in the safer comfort of the zebra's hut.
"I still can't believe that she could get any more shrill," Rainbow Dash said quietly, twisting a hoof in her ear.
"But WHY are you even IN the Everfree Forest?" Applejack puzzled.
"Trixie does not need to explain herself," Trixie responded.
"I believe I know Trixie's reason for being in the forest in this season," Zecora offered. "In order to escape her juvenile form, she seeks the Amulet of the Alicorn."
"Is this true, Trixie?" Twilight turned. She had suspected, but with Zecora's declaration and Trixie's sudden flinch, she was certain.
"I was going to use it just once, I promise!" the foal squeaked. "I just needed to augment my power enough to counter the spell and return to my dazzling self."
"Likely story," Rainbow Dash snorted. "What about getting it back off, huh?"
"The Alicorn Amulet is no longer a concern for the new-found magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie."
"What on earth made you think that?" Applejack scoffed. "You're even smaller than you were before, and your strength and willpower weren't so 'great and powerful' then."
"I have more than a few tricks up my sleeve," Trixie said.
"Trixie, stop being cryptic and tell us what you're up to," Rainbow Dash said.
"A magician never shares her secrets!" the unicorn squeaked with importance.
"This is getting nowhere," Rarity sighed. "Trixie, the forest is too dangerous for any lone pony, especially a filly like yourself. I understand that you wanted the Amulet so you could reverse your age again, but why not seek help? That would have been much easier."
"I don't need help," Trixie snarled. "And if I have the Amulet, I won't be dependent on any pony. Unless," she said suspiciously toward Twilight, "you're keeping it from me because you think only a 'princess' can handle that much power."
"Me?" Twilight said. "I would never use the Amulet! Its corruption is too powerful. Even Princess Celestia is wary of its influence!"
The blue unicorn's hostility fell. "You mean ... not even an alicorn can use it?"
"Why, no!" Twilight said, entering Teacher Mode. "The word 'alicorn' has different meanings if it's a noun or an adjective. The noun refers to race, yes, but 'Alicorn' as a descriptor refers not to the nature of possessing both wings and horn, but--"
Rainbow Dash's snoring broke Twilight out of her lecture.
Twilight sighed. "'Alicorn' just means it's powerful."
Trixie's eyes fell. Without a word, her horn glowed as her magic untied the knot holding the cape to her shoulders. As the cape collapsed to the ground, her bare flank was barely noticeable compared to the feathered protrusions attached to her back.
"An ... ALICORN?" Rarity gasped.
"It's a non-temporary spell," Trixie explained. "In order for the change to last, the mass and energy for my wings had to come from somewhere. So I chose to sacrifice my size for my wings."
"But then you were too small to be able to use your magic," Twilight continued for her. "But, what about your cutie mark? That sounds like the effects of an age spell, not transmutation."
"I haven't been able to figure that out," Trixie admitted. "I have all the same spells I use on a regular basis, though they do feel a little harder to cast. I assumed that if I could age myself back to normal, I would be even greater and powerfuller than I already am."
"Powerfuller's not a--" Rainbow mused sleepily before Applejack silenced her.
"Have you been able to use your wings?" Rarity asked.
"Sort of," Trixie said. "I just figured out how to get them to flap."
"Well, you should definitely be able to move your wings," Rainbow Dash offered. "Even if you can't fly. Which there's no shame in. Since they're new and all."
"So, does that mean that the wings are just for show?" Fluttershy ventured.
"Trixie will be able to use her wings soon enough!" The filly said with the importance only a youngster can manage.
"Trixie, I'm worried about how you actually managed to cast a transmutation spell in the first place," Twilight interrupted.
"Well..." Trixie started.
"You weren't the one who cast the spell, were you."
"Um... No."
“Can you lead us to who cast the spell on you?”
“It’s some kind of wild garden,” Trixie explained as the filly led six older ponies through a particular dense section of the woods. “It hosts some of the most brilliant plants you’ve ever seen, and it’s overseen by a beautiful tree creature who grants wishes to those who find it.”
“A tree creature…” Twilight thought. “You mean a dryad?”
“I guess so,” Trixie agreed. “Here we are.”
Despite the darkness of the surrounding forest, a doorway made of branches let out the most brilliant light. On the other side of the entrance, grass glowed like emeralds. Flowers danced in the colors of the full rainbow. Strong trees circled a small field. A large leaf-like chair sat in the middle, and in it, sat a being garbed in vegetation.
"Why, hello!" the dryad said. "I believe it's... Trixie, isn't it? And who are your friends?"
"We’re here to help her return to her normal self again,” Twilight said.
“Not happy with the arrangement anymore?” she pouted. “I am sad to say that I get that a lot. However,” she said, a twisted smile sprouting on her face, “I am happy to say that you appear to have brought enough that we may be able to work out a deal that you will be happy with.”
With a snap of her fingers, the garden was covered in an impervious woody dome. Vines grabbed the accompanying six ponies, fastening them to the ground.
“I’m willing to return everything I took in our arrangement in return for the age and potential of your friends,” she cooed. “Your magic, you size, your cutie mark, all of it. No more, no less. I think that’s a fair arrangement.”
"Don't do it, Trixie!" Rainbow yelled.
“I understand why you came to me in the first place,” the dryad said. “I also understand that you sought out more magic to augment your already impressive abilities. A pity that these ponies here stood in your way.”
“Don’t listen to her, Trixie,” Applejack said. “We’re here to help you, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
“Help you,” the dryad laughed. “Well, I suppose I know why they think so. But why take help when you can have the power to help yourself?”
"I believe in you, Trixie," Twilight said, unflinching. “You might not have the power you want, but you have the power you need, even when you need help.”
With a swallow, Trixie turned back to the dealer. "No, thank you. Trixie simply wants to return to her old great and powerful self.”
"No, thank you?" the dryad said incredulously. "No, thank you, to more power than a PRINCESS of EQUESTRIA?"
"No," Trixie reiterated. "Power is not as useful as I once thought it to be. I simply want back who I am, not what I thought I wanted to be."
"You realize that you're asking for quite a lot, falling back on our contract," the dryad hissed. "Why would I just GIVE you your cutie mark back when I could just take the lot that you have brought directly to me?"
"Because no one is agreeing to it," Trixie said. "As powerful as you are, you cannot do anything that I don't give you permission to do." She turned to the entangled ponies. "I thought I wanted to become the most powerful pony in all of Equestria. It is my title, after all." She turned back to the dryad. "But what good would being the most Great and Most Powerful Unicorn be without other great ponies to pale in comparison to my natural greatness?"
The dryad scowled as the unicorn's confidence grew. "I don't care if I don't have wings, or even my age back. But you. Will. Give. Me. Back. Who I am."
The dryad sighed before snapping her twiggy fingers again. Vines retreated back into the ground, releasing the bound equines. Another snap, and Trixie's wings were replaced by her cutie mark.
"Our dealings appear to be at an end," the dryad said, turning away. "Now, leave my garden."
The six ponies gathered behind Trixie, who was still left standing in filly form.
"Not so fast," Rainbow started. "You need to put Trixie back to how she was BEFORE she wandered into your little garden."
"Trixie was never going to get her age back from me,” the dryad said. “Now I suggest you leave before I match your age with your naivete."
Rainbow started to growl before Trixie put a hoof to her shoulder. "It's okay, Rainbow Dash," Trixie said. "It's over."
Twilight panted heavily as she recovered from the age spell she had just cast. Her ascent to royalty had increased her potential, but that didn't make the spell much easier.
"Thank you, Twilight Sparkle," Trixie said, waving her mane and stretching her fully-formed legs. "It is good to have the full force of my magic back again. Perhaps one of these encounters, I can help you instead of you helping me out of my own problems.”
“I can certainly appreciate wanting to become a better and stronger version of yourself,” Twilight said as they stepped out of the library. “And I definitely understand why it would feel easier to be able to help yourself all the time rather than rely on the help of others. But, even as a princess, there’s a lot I can’t do without my friends. They keep me accountable, and they’ve protected me when I’ve made silly decisions with bad consequences.”
“Well, in the meantime, I’ll simply concentrate on staying out of weird gardens,” Trixie replied.
“That’s probably a good start,” Twilight smiled.
“For now, Trixie, the Great, the Powerful, the Most Humble, and the Most Clever Pony, must venture forth to conquer her next challenge!”
A cloud of smoke barely covered the town square, revealing a fleeing, full-grown unicorn pony after a few short seconds.