Trixie sighed as she sat at the local library; a little shocked that they actually had the book she needed in the reference section. It was kind of funny that a few short weeks ago she hated Twilight Sparkle with a passion and now she was actually helping the unicorn after the humiliation in Ponyville. Yet not only had Twilight made things up to her through her actions at the fair, though at the time she didn't know it was her, but the purple unicorn also reunited Trixie with the only unicorn she could consider family.
It had been years since she saw Sunset Shimmer, but when they both realized just who the other was, there was a teary reunion as they told each other everything. It was hard to believe that there was another world, but she also knew Sunset wouldn't lie to her about that. And it was also nice to know that Sunset just hadn't abandoned Trixie like a part of her feared happening.
Studying the book before her, she couldn't help wondering if this was such a good idea as to do what Twilight and Sunset wanted. To create such a thing as a self sustaining enchantment connected to each other was the easy part as Trixie's own broach was created by herself to make the fireworks and some of the illusions for her shows. Twilight and Sunset wanted more though, they wanted to be able to communicate if they are farther away as well as the ability to create illusions on the fly, which was possible though difficult. It could also be dangerous as the two gems that they would use would have to be imbued with a small part of their soul and to do so they would have to bare their hearts and souls to each other as they would have to enter the astral plane and their soulscape. If they weren't as close as they seemed the could end up seeing things that they could hate each other over. And if that wasn't enough, they would be creating an artificial intelligence with what they wanted to do that could actually end up being more and possibly dangerous if there was any darkness hidden in either’s soul.
"Why did Trixie agree to this?" Trixie sighed. "Oh yeah, Mrs. Velvet offered Trixie a contract for performing and a new trailer."
"I don't know about this, Twi." Melody hissed softly as the two walked down the street in their cloaks, yet keeping up their illusions as they didn't want any pony to spot them as their true selves, especially a certain five ponies that Twilight/Jem wanted to check up on after learning from her mother where they were staying. She felt guilty for being as hard on them as she was, yet Sunset felt that she wasn't hard enough after the pain they put her through.
"I know they hurt me, Sunset, I know that better than any pony." Twilight sighed, "I still care for them and I do want to know that they are okay. I don't plan on going back to them, I'm happy with what I'm doing with you and Vinyl, a lot happier than I was as Celestia's student. I just can't forget that they were my first real friends though and I still care for them."
"Well here's your chance." Sunset said, motioning ahead of them to see Rarity stuffing something in a trash can.
"Hello Rarity." Jem said, getting the unicorns attention to see the tear stained muzzle.
"Hello darling." Rarity said, her voice sounding sad and defeated.
"What are you doing?" Jem asked, sitting down to study the mare before her.
"I came here to compete in the fashion show, but I don't deserve to." Rarity said, angry at herself as she glared at the pile of clothing and papers sticking out of the trash. "I can't even come up with any good designs after what you said. You were right, I was acting like an idiot and it wasn't the first time."
"Look Rarity, I was a little harsh." Jem said moving over to hug Rarity. "You shouldn't give up on your dreams because of a silly mistake. If you truly are sorry for the things you did, then do your best to apologize when you get the chance but don't put your life on hold in the meantime. It won't help you or who you want to apologize for."
"Do you really know Twilight?" Rarity asked with hope shining in her eyes.
"I do, we are very good friends and if it wasn't for her Melody and I would have never met." Twilight said with a smile as she pulled back her hood revealing Jem, though Rarity already knew it was her. "I won't lie, she was very hurt over what happened at the wedding, but she doesn't hate you."
"What do I do?" Rarity asked, sounding lost.
"Well for starters, how about a cup of tea? Do you have any inside?" Jem asked, Rarity giving her a bit of a smile.
"How's it going, Trixie?" Velvet asked, sitting down across from Trixie who was just closing a book and adding it to the stack next to her.
"Great, Trixie has everything she needs now except for the gems." Trixie said as she held back a yawn. It was tiring and boring work, but worth it if she could help out her old friend and hopefully her new one.
"That's wonderful dear.” Midnight said happily though she had to admit she wished that Twilight and Sunset could just go about as themselves and not have to hide their identities. Even if they did though at least she knew the truth and had her daughter back which made her extremely happy. Even happier that she gets to spend so much time with her lately as she was traveling with them on this tour.
It was hard to believe that she was against Night Light investing in the recording company, and she was terrified that they were going to lose that when the previous owner that was then Night Light’s partner took a lot of the companies money and left. Night Light refused to let all those ponies lose their jobs and threw himself in trying to fix things while Twilight was missing as there wasn’t much they could do but pray for her. Now the newly named Twilight Music was the largest recording company in all of Equestria as they not only set up concerts and sold records, but they also managed other venues of entertainment such as magic shows and even fairs.
“Trixie has been thinking, she doesn’t want pity or given a chance because she’s doing this for your daughter.” Trixie sighed, kicking herself. This was her chance and she was throwing it away, but she didn’t want to make it look like the only reason she was helping Sunset was because of their offer of a contact.
“Honey, I’m not sure exactly what you are thinking, but I was planning to offer you a trial contact with transportation if you needed it after seeing your show. That was one of the most beautiful displays of illusions I have ever seen.” Velvet said, smiling to the show mare. “I truly believe that you have a bright future ahead of you and would be honored for us to be a part of it.”
“Really?” Trixie asked, her eyes growing misty.
“Really.” Velvet replied nuzzling Trixie who hugged her.
“I’m just having trouble coming up with designs and it’s almost too late. It probably is too late because I need models and after the argument I had with the girls earlier, I won’t have time to find any pony else.” Rarity sighed.
“Well, one thing at a time.” Jem said, smirking at Melody who was shaking her head no.
“No way, I am not doing any modeling.” Melody said frantically, but Jem used her magic to create an illusion of two different dresses on them as she started humming a little before starting to sing.
“Oh, oh, mood I'm in! Oh, oh, mood I'm in! I can be whoever I want to, anyone at all! I can strut, when I want to strut! Or hide behind a parasol!” Jem sang, thankful for all of the lessons her mom had her take by professionals learning to dance the last few months. She smirked when Melody got into it, joining in with her own voice as their outfits changed again.
Rarity watched, her jaw hanging open as the outfits that Jem created looked familiar, yet gave her a lot of inspiration. Quickly she grabbed her sketchbook and started sketching out some designs from the ideas of the private show she was getting.
“It all depends on the mood I'm wearin’, it all depends on the mood I'm in! I can be beautiful or truly outrageous, it all depends on the mood I'm in!” Jem and Melody both sang, each one changing the others outfit with magic making the illusions look so real.
Finally the song came to a stop as Rarity started wiping the tears she just realized she had away, thankful for the two mares help getting over her block. She didn’t know why Jem forgave her, but she was happy that she did. She promised herself to apologize to Trixie next time they met as Jem did have a point, she had treated the show mare wrongfully and intended to make up for it. She deserved the humiliation of green hair after what she did to Trixie the first time, interrupting the mare’s show.
“I can whip up these designs shortly, they’re simpler than I usually do but I don’t have the time for my usually fair.” Rarity sighed, “I still need models though.”
“I think we can help you with that.” Jem said as Melody facehoofed. “Oh come on, it’ll be fun. We can even get Vinyl to DJ it.”
“Thank you both so much!” Rarity said hugging them both.
“We’re so sorry, Rarity!” Applejack said, holding her hat while looking at Rarity with regretful eyes, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash beside her as the fashion show was going on in front of them.
“We should have stayed and helped you.” Fluttershy said softly.
“We still want to help, if you’ll have us.” Pinkie Pie said hugging Rarity, the unicorn hugging back.
“Its okay darlings, everything is under control.” Rarity said as a recorded song that they recognized as one of Jem’s began and the lights shone down on Jem and Melody strutting out on the catwalk.
“And our next models are special entries by one of the Elements of Harmony, Rarity Belle.” The announcer said as Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s jaws all dropped.
“How?” Applejack asked in awe as Pinkie Pie was wiping away tears of happiness.
“She said she was sorry for going a little overboard protecting her friend. And I told her that I was sorry also for both Ponyville and at the fair.” Rarity softly said, the others nodding.
“We really should apologize to.” Applejack sighed, “As much as I didn’t like her boasting, Jem had a point.”
“Yeah, I guess she did.” Rainbow Dash sighed, the group missing the next two entries during their talk as the fashion show ended.
“I have the results from our judges, it appears the up and coming fashions of Rarity Belle of Ponyville is this year’s winner!” The announcer said as Rarity froze in shock and every pony started cheering for her.
“Will you please tell Twilight when you see her that we are sorry and wish she would come home?” Applejack asked as the group gathered at Rarity’s temporary residence to se Jem and Melody off. While they were a little upset with the singer at first, they realized that they may have not shown their best side to welcome Trixie when she first arrived at Ponyville. And when they realized that they may have went overboard challenging the boastful mare, as well as realized what Jem said about being a show pony was true, they all apologized to Jem and promised to apologize to Trixie when the could.
“Applejack, Twilight doesn’t hate you. I’m not sure if she ever did, but what you all did to her cut her deeply and she’s not sure if she’s ready to face you again.” Twilight sighed, looking at each of them. She knew Pinkie Pie knew who she was; Jem could just see it in the pink pony’s eyes which was probably because of her Pinkie Sense which made no sense to Twilight whatsoever. She did know not to question it though.
“Will she ever come home though? We really miss her.” Rainbow Dash asked shocking Jem a little as there was no ego at all in those words.
“If you girls can keep a secret, I’ll let you in on something.” Jem said, getting nods from them all.
“Of course we can, we won’t ever let a friend down again. Never again.” Fluttershy said, her voice a little louder and full of conviction than Jem ever remembered it being.
“Okay girls, do you know that our tour will be coming to Canterlot in a few months time?” Jem asked, eyeing each pony as they nodded yes tentatively. “Well, what we haven’t made public is that it isn’t the final stop on our tour. Ponyville is. I can promise that Twilight will be there, but I can’t promise that she will see you girls. She has a lot to think about until then.”
“Thank you!” A chorus of cries came as the group of mares tackled Jem in a group hug as Melody backed away a little at the obvious insane mares. Though Jem looked as if she was enjoying it a little.