//------------------------------// // Not What I Expected // Story: Rise to the Bottom // by CanRock //------------------------------// In the royal sisters private meeting room. Princesses Celestia and Luna stared speechlessly at the only evidence of Trixie's disappearance. A burn mark on the floor. Luna said, "Zounds! I did not expect to see that with mine own eyes." Celestia said, "Indeed." Luna jerked up. "Well I must take my leave! It is my turn to welcome Equestria's newest alicorn." She started to cast a spell, her horn glowing. "You might want to fetch Twilight. I am sure that she will want to be here." She turned into a dark starry mist. Which collapsed upon itself and then disappeared. Celestia concentrated and with a flash teleported herself to the skies, high above Ponyville. Opening her wings she glided in a big spiral until she saw the entrance of Princess Twilight's Crystal Castle of Friendship. Teleporting again she appeared in front of its doors. Using her magic, she opened them and ran inside. She soon found Twilight Sparkle in her office dictating a letter to her assistant Spike. Startled at Celestia's entrance Twilight looked up. "Pr- Celestia what are you doing here?" "Time sensitive princess business has just come up Twilight." Celestia placed herself above Twilight while facing in the same direction. "But I-" "You will want to be a part of this." She turned to Spike. "Twilight will be back in a few hours at the latest Spike." After a moments concentration she teleported herself and Twilight away. Spike was left staring at the spot where they were. "Huh. Must be a surprise dedication ceremony for an all night pastry shop." He crumpled up the paper he was holding in his claws and threw it into the recycle bin (for loose leaf paper – type scrolls.) "Won't be needing that anymore." Back at the royal sisters private meeting room, Celestia and Twilight appeared. "Celestia! What is the meaning of this! I am busy! I have..." She spotted the burn mark on the floor and stared at it. "to..." At the center a solid black classic 5 point star. At the edge a few fuzzy dots, that going towards the center became more numerous. Eventually they overlaped each other creating a solid dark-grey background. "find..." Twilight turns to Celestia. "This looks like the burn mark I left behind when I became an alicorn! Only, different. Is this... Trixie's?" Celestia raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Trixie Lulamoon?" "Yes!" "Please tell me Twilight. How did you come to the conclusion that Trixie is connected to that burn mark." Twilight facehooved. "Urg." She took a deep breath and released it. "Well..." Trixie looked around herself. Through the haze, she only saw stars. "Well... This is different." She looked down, she was standing on a path made of stars. She poked at it with her hoof. "Looks like my cutie mark. Only without the wand." She took a deep breath. "Remain calm Trixie. Do not get excited. This might not be what you want it to be." She looked around some more. "This might be limbo. Trixie might have died in an explosive magical backlash. This might be Trixie's final resting place. Hmp. This is going to get super boring super fast. So, no. Second option! More likely in Trixie's opinion. That Trixie was caught in a minor magical backlash. Thus rendered unconscious and thus Trixie is now dreaming. Why any moment now The Guardian of Dreams, Princess Luna might ap... pear. "oh." Princess Luna glided down and landed next to Trixie. “Why do you look so sad my little pony? A moment ago you appeared so lively!” Staring down and not looking up Trixie said, "I'm dreaming." "Dreaming?" Luna blinked. "Oh! You were expecting my sister. Fret not. I may be the Princess of Dreams but you are not dreaming. 'Tis merely my turn to welcome Equestria's newest alicorn." Trixie looked up at Luna. “You mean?” “Indeed. Today you d-” She blinked. "Did Twilight tell you what my sister told her when she was where you are now?" "Yes?" "Tsk. This is most vexing. What is there left for me to say?" "Do not let that stop you. I am not one to interrupt a show." Luna smiled. "Still, I would say something of my own." She muttered for a few moments until, "Yes, destiny! Celestia believes that destiny is etched in stone. When Celestia first met Twilight she saw that she was destined for great things. She did not know what that destiny was, only that it was great. She guided her to be able to meet that unknown great destiny. Imagine her surprise as Twilight surpassed her every expectations! Even as the Bearer of the Element of Magic she still had a great destiny ahead of her.” “Oh, please praise Twilight Sparkle some more.” “Nay, I have finished. The point I was getting to is that you, unlike Twilight, achieved the same goal by yourself. You saw a goal, you went to it and reached it by yourself. Well, you had help from a few friends, but you asked for that help. You had no mentor. You were not guided. Being an alicorn might be your destiny. But you were the driving force that led you here. In this... astral... incubation realm.” Luna looked around. “We really need to give this place a name. Anyways, you are on the cusp of being reborn, becoming an alicorn. We merely have to wait.” “Do you have any idea how long?” Luna looked at her and tilted her head. “Hmm. Now.” Trixie looked down at herself, she was glowing and floating upwards. Rising above Luna. “Fare thee well on your new life, Trixie Lulamoon.” With a flash Trixie was gone. She reappeared in the royal sisters private meeting room. “I'm baaackoumph!” Trixie found herself on the floor with Twilight above her. “Where have you been? Are you OK? I was so worried! Wings! You really got wings? Oh wow! Congratulations! That spell! What was that spell that you used? I didn't recognize it! Duh. Of course I didn't recognize it. Tell me! Urk.” Twilight was magically lifted off Trixie by Celestia. “Now dear, I do not think that is the proper way to welcome Equestria's newest alicorn. I am pretty sure that Gentle Manners' Guide to Etiquette says that one must give somepony a chance to answer a question before asking another.” Still in Celestia's magical hold Twilight said, “Sorry.” She was gently put down on the floor. “Trix-” Twilight hesitated as Luna appeared from a starry mist. “Trixie what happened? One moment I was filling out paperwork. The next a blue sphere asked me, with your voice, if I wanted to talk. I said yes and then fizt it was gone. I thought something bad happened to you!” Trixie scratched the back of her head. “Well, I wanted to become an alicorn. I mean, if you can do it so can I.” Twilight eye rolled at that. “But I was missing something and I came here. Princess Celestia was kind enough to give me the final clue. The power of friendship. So I modified a spell I was working on. Ironically, I was planning on abandoning it. As, on the one hoof, I was concerned that a communication spell was not unique enough. On the other, I could not figure out how to connect to another pony. It turns out I only needed to call on the bonds of friendship. Obvious in hindsight. “So, I called one of the few ponies I can call friend. You answered and like a switch being thrown I suddenly found myself in a field of stars. Where Princess Luna gave me a most excellent welcome! And now, I am here with feathers growing out of my back.” She rasped out, “The horroooor.” Princess Celestia stepped forward. “As amusing as this may be. Let me the third to congratulate you on becoming an alicorn Trixie Lulamoon. Or should I say Princess Trixie Lulamoon.” Trixie squeaked out, “Princess? No! You barely know me! Why would...” She took a deep breath and then said, “While I would make a great princess. Would it not be better to make me a Duchess or Countess instead? I mean there are already three of you. Is that not more than enough?” Twilight said, “Four.” “Four?” “You forgot Princess Cadance.” “Oh, her. Well that only strengthens my argument. 'Too many chiefs and not enough bisons,' is the saying I believe. Unless Princesses Celestia and Luna become Quee-” “No!” Celestia coughed. “We are princesses; no more no less.” “Okaaay, if you insist on giving me peerage, which I do not want, then I think it would be best that I be made something other than a princess. Perhaps a new title dedicated to alicorns. Awesomeness Trixie, I like the sound of that.” Twilight told Celestia, “If you do that, I suggest some other title than Awesomeness.” “Oh?” Celestia asked. Twilight sighed. “I can just see Rainbow Dash trying everything in her power to try to become an alicorn, just to be called Awesomeness Dash. She'll make the Cutie Mark Crusaders look tame by comparison.” “Zounnnnnnnnnnds,” Luna breathed. Celestia's lips twitched. “Yes, well. Trixie, you have made a valid argument.” She looked up thinking. “But, no. In the peoples minds, alicorns equal princesses. If we do not make you a princess, there will those who will say that it is because we do not think you are worthy of it. Am I wrong Trixie?” Trixie scowled. “No.” “Then you will become a princess. After the coronation we will say that any other alicorn will not automatically become royalty.” Celestia continued, “However declaring a new alicorn princess so soon after Twilight will be politically tricky. There will be many behind the scenes issues that I will need to manage before an official announcement is made. It will take a week, maybe two. Until then what will we do with you?” Celestia turned to Twilight. “Twilight, my faithful former student. Are you ready to take a student of your own?” “Trixie? As my student? Why?” “Trixie needs to learn to be an alicorn as well as a princess. Both of which you can teach her.” “But I'm still learning myself!” “Learning a subject well enough to teach another is an excellent means of learning.” “That's another way to do it I suppose.” “Very good. Trixie being away from Canterlot will be helpful.” “So I will have to stay in Ponyville for two weeks.” Trixie sighed. “I am getting to appreciate, that the saying 'May you get what you wish for,' is a curse.” Twilight looked hard at Trixie, a smile slowly grew on her face. The smile disappeared before Twilight said, “Relax Trixie. Being Luna's understudy won't be so bad.” “Luna's understudy?” “Why yes. Celestia and Luna are the Diarchs of Equestria. Now that there are two junior alicorn, us, we can serve as their backup. I as the Senior Junior Alicorn will server under Celestia the Senior Senior Alicorn and you as the Junior Junior Alicorn will serve under Luna the Junior Senior Alicorn. Makes sense yes?” Trixie was speechless until, “Are you kidding me? Princess Celestia and Luna are lauded as physical representations of the day and night. Look at them! Now look at me. Trixie's coat is the colour of the daytime sky!” Trixie passed her hoof through her mane. “Trixie's mane is like a clear lake glittering in the sunlight! Trixie is perfect to be Princess Celestia's assistant! Whereas for you, with your dark coat and mane, you are practically one with the night! You would be a most suitable assistant to Princess Luna.” Twilight nods. “A cogent argument. But I have a better one that even I can't argue against.” “Ohh, this I have to hear. What is this argument that even you can't argue against.” “I call dibs.” Trixie blinks. “D- DIBS? Are you... Did you hear her? Dibs! Calling dibs is for trivial matters! This is not trivial! Plus, I am pretty sure that these two would like a say on the matter!” Celestia said, “Indeed. But that matter can wait. For now Trixie please go to Ponyville. Twilight and the Bearers will help you adapt to being an alicorn and a princess. Please be discreet. I would prefer that your being an alicorn not be public knowledge until we make the announcement ourselves.” “Um, Ponyville and I have a history.” “Diplomacy is a skill expected of princesses. Hooves on experience will do you well.” Luna added, “Here, you will need a cloak to cover your wings. You can borrow one of mine.” With a flash a dark grey cloak appeared near the ceiling. With a telekinetic twist the cloak moved over to Trixie and settled down on her. Completely covering her. Twilight giggled. “Er, I can fix that. A simple reduction spell.” Luna's spell shrank the cloak until it fit properly. “There, that should at least last until daybreak.” Celestia said, “Very good. Now if there is nothing else. I have things to do before I sleep. Good night ladies.” She opened the doors and left. “And I, have a country to run.” She started to leave. “Oh! One last thing. I did not say anything before because I did not want to interfere with your ascension. Great things from you is a given. I expect more; I expect good things. I failed once and... did not do good things. I do not want anypony else to fail as I have. I will not let that happen again.” Luna got into Trixie's face. “Even if we have to give a certain pony a container of whoopass. Do we make ourselves clear?” Trixie nodded very fast. “Good! Fare thee well ladieeees!” Luna closed the door behind her. Twilight said, “Huh. It seems that she likes you.” “She does?” Twilight nodded. “When I ascended she gave me her shovel speech.” Seeing Trixie's confused look, she added, “She wax poetic about how useful and versatile they were. Particularly memorable was how, in detail, they can be used as weapons and how they be used to dig graves.” “That... is... rather dark.” “She comes from a darker time. She missed centuries of peace during her exile. She's adapting.” An awkward pause. Trixie sighed. “I suppose it's time to go to Ponyville.” “Um, well.” Twilight looked right and left. “Before we go... Can you show me your new spell?” “You. Are. An addict.” “No I'm not! I can qu-” Twilight grimaced. “Quenching a thirst for knowledge is not in any shape or form bad in anyway. Quite the opposite.” “Well, if it's quite the opposite of bad. I suppose I could.” A moment of concentration and suddenly a large scroll the height of the room appeared. “What?” “Oh! I forgot! Now that you are an alicorn, you are more powerful than you use to be. You'll be reflexively putting more power into your spells than you'll need to. You'll have to relearn how to use your magic.” “Again!?” Trixie sighed. “At least it's from the other direction this time.” She shrank the scroll illusion to a more reasonable size. Twilight read the scroll. “Clever. Your spell is sheer elegance in its simplicity. With the exception of your call on friendship. Could be better.” “You dare criticize the Great and Powerful Trixie's spellcrafting?” “I ah...” “Relax, I'm kidding.” She dismissed the illusion. “I improvised that bit. I'll polish it up later.” “You sure got me there. Um. Can I... give it a try?” “Even if it's horribly flawed?” “It's not horribly flawed.” Twilight smiled. “Medium flawed at most.” Trixie rolled her eyes. “Fine. But only once. I don't want to stay here until Hearth's Warming Eve.” She put a hoof to her chin. “Then again...” “Great! I'll just need to decide who to call and...” Concentrating her horn started to glow. A magenta sphere separated from her horn, it rose up. Growing, its shape changing into a pony. Its color changing to orange. Finally a double of Applejack was before them. But it was not perfect. It was staticky one moment, out of focus the next and wavy after that. “-i is tha- -ou? I -pe tha- -er not de-” “Applejack I'm using a spell to contact you from Canterlot. The quality of the message is disappointing. It could be the distance. It could be because that you're an earth pony. It could be that I miscast the spell. It could be that the spell is flawed.” “Is not!” “Wa- a mo-” Applejack's avatar started to walk in place, seemed to shoulder something aside then stepped down. “There that's much better. Can you hear me Twi?” Twilight gasped. Applejack's avatar was now perfect. “You stepped outside and are using your earth magic to strengthen the signal! Applejack you are a genius!” “I have mah moments.” Applejack looked aside. “What do you mean whom am I talking to? Can't you see that I'm talking to Twilight's not ghost? “You're not a ghost are you? Talking from beyond the veil?” Twilight giggled. “No. I'm in Canterlot. Your family can't see or hear me?” “Nope.” Twilight turned to Trixie. “You?” “I can see and hear her just fine.” “Ohhhhh. There are too many variable to just speculate. I have to collect data, design and set up some experi-” “TWI! You can be a mad scientist on your own time sugar. I assume that there was a reason you called me with your fancy new spell?” Applejack frowned. “How new is this spell of yours anyhow?” Twilight extended her wings. “Very.” Applejack face hooved. “We sure do live in interesting times. Anypony I know?” “Trixie.” Applejack stared for several seconds. “The great and powerful one herself?” “Yes.” Applejack sighed. “Dash'll flip when she hears.” She smiled. “Can I be there when you'll tell her? Pleeeeease.” Twilight laughed. “You're a little too old to pull off the Puppy Dog Eyes Of Doom, Applejack.” “Dang.” “Still, do me a favor. Gather the girls for a meeting at the castle in an hour, no make that two. There's some news that you'll need to hear. You can watch Dash's reaction then. Oh and this is a royal secret so don't tell anypony what you just heard or even hint to the girls what I'll tell them. OK?” “Sure, I don't want to spoil Dash's surprise.” “And please tell Spike that we'll have a guest for a fortnight. Is there anything else? No. Then we'll see you later Applejack.” “We'll be waiting.” Applejack's avatar blinked out of existence. “That was amazing! This spell will revolutionize communications as we know it.” “I don't know,” Trixie replied. “The spell as is can only allow somepony to talk with a friend. If it was with anypony, then I would agree. It could be a good thing that it can't though. I know a pair of ponies who would be certain to call everypony they can in order to sell them stuff.” “We can talk about it later. For now, Ponyville! You still live in that caravan of yours?” “Yes.” “OK, arrange for your caravan to be taken to Ponyville. Get a sky-charriot. Stop off at your caravan to get some necessities. Then off to Ponyville. We have a plan; time to go home.” Twilight opened the door. “Joy, two weeks at your place.” Trixie perked up. “Which is a castle. Castles have servants. This might not be so bad.” “I don't have a budget for servants. But I will, starting next quarter. In two months.” Trixie groaned. “Relax, this is the first day of your new life. Things can only go up from here.” Trixie groaned again. "This is totally not what I expected."