//------------------------------// // When there's something Great in your NEIGHborhood... // Story: Princess Rainbow Dash, or An Alternate Ending to How Rainbow Dash Got Her Cutie Mark // by LuluCalliope //------------------------------// Princess Rainbow Dash Life in Ponyville was calm for about a week or so. Then the next bit of excitement came in the form of a travelling show pony. Rainbow had been passing by Town Hall one morning, and she saw the large crowd the portable stage...and it's performer. She was a stunningly pretty blue mare with a silver mane, lavender eyes, and a long horn, almost as long as an Alicorn's. "Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She shouted, rolling the "r" in her name. The ponies in the audience "ooohed" and "aahed". "Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!" The mare continued as she set off fireworks on the stage. "My, my, my! What boasting!" Rarity scoffed as Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and two Unicorn colts named Snips and Snails arrived. If you don't like her performance, you can leave. Nothing's stopping you... "There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?" Twilight asked, seeming worried. "Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does not make one better than the rest of us!" Rarity said. "Why, all of the ponies have magic within them. It's what makes Earth ponies strong and fast, what gives Pegasus ponies the ability to fly...just because Unicorns can harness the magic and influence the world around them does NOT mean that they're superior!" "Especially when ya got me around being better than the rest of us!" Rainbow interrupted, laughing. Her friends shot her a glare. "Uh, I mean...boo! Magic, schmagic!" Rainbow flushed, going back to her inner turmoil: she was an Alicorn. She had the heart of an Earth pony, the wings of a Pegasus, and the horn of a Unicorn. What was her special spell? What could she do with her Unicorn horn to show that she was special with magic? She couldn't raise the sun or moon or spread Love whenever she wanted to...so what was it? "Well, well, well, it seems we have some neighsayers in the audience!" Trixie sneered. "Who is so ignorant as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie? Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most magical Unicorn in all of Equestria?" "Why do you think you're so Great and Powerful?" Rainbow asked, raising her voice so that Trixie could hear. "Heh, why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded Ursa Major! When all hope was lost, the ponies of Hoofington had no one to turn to, but the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in, and with her awesome magic, vanquished the Ursa Major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!" "That settles it!" Snips declared. "Trixie is the most talented Unicorn...no, pony...in all of Ponyville..." Snails continued. "No, Equestria!" "It's true, my enthusiastic little admirers. Trixie is most certainly the best in Ponyville." The sound of crickets chirping could be heard in the audience. How come crickets are always attracted to silent crowds, even during the day? "Well then, I hereby challenge you, Ponyvillians." Ponyvillians? Seriously? "Anything you can do, I can do better. Any takers? Anyone? Hmm? Or is Trixie destined to be the greatest equine who has ever lived!? What about you?" She pointed her hoof at Twilight Sparkle. "Is there anything you can do that the Great and Powerful Trixie can't? Well, little hayseed?" "That's it! Ah can't stand for no more of this!" Applejack declared, coming to Twilight's rescue. She stepped up to the stage. "Yeah, show her, AJ!" Spike shouted. "Can your magical powers do this?" Applejack tied a rope to the end of her tail. She launched into a rodeo routine, jumping in and out of the rope as she twirled it in perfect circles. The audience applauded at the end, but Trixie only smiled. "Oh, ye of little talent." She cast a spell over the rope, making it dance like a charmed snake. Applejack watched one end of the rope, distracted, while the other end wrapped itself around her legs, tying her up. "Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails!" Trixie shouted, triumphant. Okay, MY turn... "There's no need to go struttin' around and showin' off like that. That's MY job," Rainbow announced as she stepped up to the stage. "They don't call me 'Princess Rainbow Dash' for nothing!" "When I'm finished, the only thing they'll call you is 'Princess Loser'," Trixie snorted. The ponies in the audience gasped. "Can she talk to the princess like that?" "ATTACK!" Derpy shouted again. The ponies began to swarm around the stage. Rainbow Dash held up a hoof, remembering the incident from Sugarcube Corner. The angry mob stopped in its tracks. "Whoa, whoa, calm down, everypony. There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition. Besides," she grinned. "I've always wanted to make a living out of being awesome. If you're just as awesome as me, then I won't stop you!" She proceeded to launch into an awesome flying routine, finishing it with a small Sonic Rainboom. "It figures that an ALICORN would use her wings to triumph over a Unicorn!" Trixie sneered. "You're an Alicorn. You may have an advantage with those wings, but let's see if you can perform a simple magnetism spell!" Trixie charged up her horn. As it glowed, ponies in the audience cried as their metal objects started to move away from them and towards Trixie's horn. A few moments later, all of the metal objects in the audience were clinging to Trixie's horn...even old Hayseed Turnip Truck's false tooth. Rainbow Dash gulped and charged her horn. Think, magnetism spells, think...I know this... She closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel the presence of metal in her surroundings...now, all she had to do was make the presence come to her...and she could feel it...she could feel it! ...she could feel it because Granny Smith's walker hit her in the head. She tumbled off of the stage and landed on the ground, rubbing her head and gritting her teeth from the pain. "Seems like any pony with a DASH of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great Trixie!" The Unicorn laughed, and few ponies in the audience giggled. "Maybe the Great and Powerful Trixie should become an Alicorn princess of her own! She'd be more magnificent than Princess RainBORE Dash! Perhaps she'd mentor the other princesses with their magic skills!" More ponies in the audience laughed, and Rainbow Dash felt her cheeks burning with anger...and embarrassment. "We need a Unicorn to go and show her who's boss!" Spike shouted. "Someone with some real magic of her own! ...uh, no offense, Rainbow Dash..." Ouch...that hurt... "Enough. Enough, all of you," Rarity interrupted. "I take your hint, but Rarity is above such nonsense. Rainbow Dash and Applejack may behave like ruffians, but Rarity conducts herself with beauty and grace." She paused. "Um...no offense, Princess Rainbow Dash," she said with a smile. "When I said that you behave like a ruffian...I meant it in a positive way." Rainbow rolled her eyes. She's starting to sound like Trixie! She's referring to herself in the third person! DOES ANYPONY ELSE NOTICE THIS? "Ooooh, what's the matter? Afraid you'll get a hair out of place in that rat's nest you call a mane?" Trixie taunted. THAT got Rarity up to the stage. "You may think you're tough with all of your so-called powers, but there's more to magic than your brutish ways. A Unicorn needs to be more than just muscle. A Unicorn needs to have style!" Rarity used her magic to take one of the curtains from Trixie's stage and fashion it into a rather beautiful dress. But Trixie's horn glowed, and Rarity... "GET ME A MIRROR! I NEED A MIRROR!" She screamed. "WHAT DID SHE DO TO MY MANE?" "There's nothing wrong with your mane," Twilight lied. "It's fine! It's gorgeous!" Applejack added. "It's green," Spike blurted. It was true: Rarity's mane had been turned the most unattractive shade of moss green. "Ugh, no! Green hair! Not green hair!" She ran off the stage, sobbing. "Such an awful, awful color!" "Well, I never!' Carrot Top exclaimed. She had just dyed her mane green. Granny Smith, a green pony, looked up and glared at the retreating Rarity. Apple Fritter and Daisy, two green-haired ponies in the audience, shot Granny comforting glances and went to comfort Carrot Top. "Ha! Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most amazing Unicorn in all of Equestria!" The stage mare declared. "Was there EVER any doubt?" She turned her back to the audience. Rainbow frowned. That's it. Show off your skills, fine. Beat me and my friends in some competition, okay. Have ponies laugh at me? Red flag. Make my friends cry? Bigger red flag. Take pleasure from their tears? Oooh, there ain't a flag big OR red enough... She narrowed her eyes. I think I'll have a little talk with her... Rainbow Dash stayed long after the show and waited to catch the magician alone. Snips and Snails stayed the longest, bringing Trixie a milkshake and asking for her to tell more stories. But then Trixie dismissed them, and Rainbow approached her. She cut straight to the chase. "Just because we knew each other at Canterlot Academy does NOT mean that you can talk to me like that in public...or talk to my friends like that." Trixie's eyes widened. "You remember me?" "How could I forget?" When Rainbow Dash and Cadance became princesses, they continued their regular school studies at Canterlot Academy, the second most exclusive school in Equestria. The first was Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. It was at Canterlot Academy where Cadance and Shining Armor fell in love. Rainbow Dash made less than memorable memories at the school, but the one that stood out the most to her was the day she met Trixie Lulamoon. The silver-maned pony had strut through the halls and approached Princess Rainbow Dash. "Give Trixie your lunch money, princess," she had demanded. "No way," Rainbow had snorted. "But Trixie wants to buy peanut butter crackers," she had whined. "Go find your own!" From that moment on, the two had been the best of frenemies. They graduated the same year and went their separate paths and had not seen each other since...until now. "If you remember Trixie so well, you should also remember why she was in that school in the first place!" The blue mare huffed. Rainbow Dash placed her hoof to her chin and thought. She remembered that Trixie had transferred to the school late during the spring semester of junior year...Cadance and Shining Armor had graduated by then... "I was thrown from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns!" Trixie snapped. She was so upset that she forgot to use the third person. "It was the most humiliating moment of my life!" "But you seem to be doing well now!" Rainbow pointed out. "Vanquishing an Ursa Minor...but seriously, you need to rein it in a little. There's a line, and you crossed it today with me, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity." "Oh? Look who's talking! 'There's no need to go struttin' around and showin' off like that. That's MY job!'" She mocked. Rainbow blushed, and Trixie scowled. "Don't throw stones if your house is made of glass, Princess Rainbow Dash. Now, if you'll excuse me, Trixie is exhausted and will rest now." She closed the door to her caravan, and Rainbow Dash sighed and trotted away. Rainbow returned to her Cloudimonium and began to reflect on what Trixie had said. I've been to Hoofington before...but no one EVER talked about Trixie...hmm... She picked up a piece of parchment and a quill and began drafting a letter. "'Dear Mayor Draft, How are you? I'...okay, good start! Let's see...let's change that to 'It was such a pleasant surprise to see you at the last Rainbow Falls Trader Exchange. I believe that I will be next year's hostess, so maybe we'll see each other there.' Good, sounds diplomatic and stuff! 'I am writing to ask about a certain event that may have happened in your town. A travelling magician by the name of Trixie has come to Ponyville, claiming that she single-hoofedly saved Hoofington from an Ursa Major. Is this true? I have not heard of such an incident. Please respond soon! And say hello to the little ones for me! Yours truly, Princess Rainbow Dash.'" Rainbow took a step back and admired her work. "Who says that I'm not eloquent? Now to actually send it..." She looked out of her window, looking for Spike...but then she spotted something MUCH better! "DERPY! DERPY HOOVES! UP HERE!" She shouted, waving. The wall-eyed pony looked at Rainbow and flew up. "What can I do for you, princess?" "Have you finished your regular mail route today?" "Yeah, why?" "Great! I need you to make a speedy delivery to Hoofington! Can you place this in the hooves on Mayor Cream Draft when you get there?" Rainbow handed her the letter. "No problem, Rainbow Dash, but...aren't you the fastest flier in Equestria? Couldn't you do it much quicker than I could?" "Well, yes, it's all true," Rainbow said, sleeking her mane back. "But...I have duties here. Royal duties. And if you can do this in record-breaking time...I'll put in a good word with Mayor Mare and get you promoted to Head Delivery Pony!" Derpy's eyes widened and she was off! "That was easy," Rainbow smiled. "Now...to that royal business..." She flumped on her bed and was asleep within moments. Rainbow Dash slept all afternoon, dreaming of flying, Sonic Rainbooms, and finding her special magical spell. Maybe it was something powerful enough to cast every storm cloud within a fifty mile radius away! Maybe it was creating something bigger, better than a Rainboom! Maybe she could banish an Ursa Major on her own and send Trixie flying from out of town to the moon! All of the ponies would watch and cheer for her. "Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!" Her dreams were interrupted, along with her sleep, when there was a knock at the door. She jerked awake and glanced outside. Whoa, slept all day. Buck it, I'm a princess, I deserve this. She went to see who it was: Derpy, clutching the mayor's reply. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash! I sure hope I get that promotion!" She beamed. Rainbow nodded and opened the letter and read it aloud. "'Dear Princess Rainbow Dash, It's always a delight to hear from a member of royalty, unless it's Prince Blueblood. Speaking of him, did you ever make copies of his diary? I would very much love to read it. Anyway, I have not heard of anypony by the name of Trixie, and nopony in town has seen an Ursa Major. We intend to keep it that way. I think that the next time somepony hires entertainment for you, they should check his or her credentials and references. Yours very truly, Mayor Cream Draft.'" Rainbow looked at Derpy. "So she is a liar! Trixie never banished an Ursa Major." "...that's kind of a problem," Derpy mumbled, one eye looking down. "What do you mean?" "Look." She pointed down to where her one eye was looking. There, in plain sight under Luna's full moon, was an Ursa Major, rampaging through town and creating chaos. "Oh, no!" Rainbow and Derpy flew down. The Ursa had cornered Trixie, Snips, and Snails, but Trixie was shouting at the two colts. Rainbow moved in to hear, and she noticed that Twilight was on the scene with Spike, too. "Are you out of your little pony minds?!" Trixie cried, addressing Snips and Snails. "What happened?" Rainbow asked, landing next to Twilight. "We brought an Ursa to town to watch the Great and Powerful Trixie vanquish it!" Snails announced. "You what!?!" Twilight shouted. "Oh, I can't, I never have! No one can vanquish an Ursa Major! I just made the whole story up to make me look better!" Trixie confessed, bowing her head in shame. The Ursa was close now, and Spike looked at Twilight and Rainbow Dash with panic. Rainbow was worried. She knew NOTHING about Ursas or how to deal with them...but Twilight did. Rainbow and the rest of the town watched as Twilight used her to magic to SOMEHOW get the monster to sleep and back into it's home in the Everfree. (Rainbow forgot the important details in the panic and shock of the moment, but all that mattered was that Twilight had saved the day by being AWESOME!) "Please don't hate me..." Twilight whispered as the crowd cheered for her. "Hate you?" Rainbow echoed, confused. "I saw how much you hated Trixie's showing off, and..." "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Magic's got nothing to do with it. Trixie's just a loudmouth, even for a travelling show mare," Rainbow explained. "AND she's a liar. I sent a letter to the mayor of Hoofington today to ask about the stories...and she says that she never even heard of Trixie!" "That brings up another point...Trixie's stories intrigued me so much that I did some reading on the subject. Turns out that it's not possible to vanquish an Ursa Major, or if it is, no one has recorded it yet! THAT was just an Ursa Minor!" "Well, if that was an Ursa Minor, then what's an Ursa Major like?" Spike asked. "...you don't wanna know," Twilight replied. "Hmph! You may have vanquished an Ursa Minor, but you will never have the amazing, show-stopping ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" The blue mare sneered, threw a smoke bomb to the ground, and was last seen galloping away as the smoke cleared. Derpy looked ready to chase her, but... "Ah, let her go," Rainbow waved it off. "If she REALLY causes trouble again, I'll just issue a royal decree prohibiting her from performing in Ponyville! Now...about you two..." She turned to Snips and Snails, who cowered in fear. "Have mercy, oh Awesome Princess Rainbow Dash," Snails begged. "We'll do anything you want!" "...well..." Rainbow stroked her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. "I do have some ideas...for starters, you can repair Sassaflash's roof." She pointed to a house. The Ursa had bitten into the roof of it during the rampage. "And we WILL talk to your parents and teacher about this. They'll have to punish you, too. And...Twilight, do you have any ideas?" "Number twenty-five!" "...I have no idea what that is, but okay!" Rarity had restored her mane to the proper color and gotten a good night's sleep after that nasty business with the Ursa Minor. She woke up now, stretched, and began to think of the work she had for the day. She had just gotten some magnificent ideas for a new collection! They came to her in a dream. She smiled and removed her sleeping mask, only to see... "WHO THE BUCK PAINTED MY HOME GREEN?" Everything was painted green. The walls were olive green. The furniture was forest green. The carpet was lime green. When Rarity ran from the bedroom to her work room, she saw that the mannequins had been painted sea green. All of her fabric was missing...except for the green ones. Rarity ran outside of her home and saw that the exterior was now various shades of emerald green and spring green. She threw her head back and screamed to the heavens: "WHY?!?" Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Fritter's ears perked up as she heard the wails of a certain Unicorn. "Did you hear something?" She asked Granny Smith. "Must have been your imagination, dearie," the elderly pony replied, and Apple Fritter turned and winked at Carrot Top.