Twilight's plan was failing. The morning after the night in the barn, she, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash had rallied the rest of the Mane 6 to Twilight's idea of finding Trixie and helping her see the error of her ways. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, none of them had yet been able to find any sign of Trixie.
"We need to find her," Twilight told her friends, now gathered in Twilight's library.
"We looked everywhere for her darling," said Rarity. "And I cannot say I'm saddened by our failure." Like Rainbow Dash, Rarity had been firmly against the idea, while Pinkie pie had been downright enthusiastic.
" Me and Fluttershy flew all over the place, and we didn't see her anywhere," spoke Rainbow Dash. "She'll turn up eventually, so what's the big deal?"
Twilight sighed.
"Pony's don't think straight when their angry, especially Trixie," replied Twilight. "We have to find her before she does something she will regret." Twilight knew all too well Trixie's temper, and could only imagine what the blue unicorn might do to avenge her defeat in Ponyville.
Spike, who was standing beside Rarity, spoke up.
"I still don't get how you can be so forgiving of her," Spike said. "If I were in your position, I'd be glad for teaching that bully a lesson."
" Vengeance is a poison Spike," Twilight said firmly. " If we let it dictate our actions, it would destroy us from within."
"I...I for one agree with Twilight," Fluttershy put in nervously. "We will never know if Trixie can become a better pony unless we try to help her."
Applejack stepped forward.
" We all respect what you're trying to do here Twi," Applejack said, "But there's not much else we can do to find her."
" Well, I for one will think better on a full stomach," said Spike. " I'll fix us some snacks in the kitchen."
"I for one am starved," said Rarity. She and most of the others followed Spike into the kitchen. Only Twilight remained in the livingroom.
"I'll be there in a bit," she called out.
This is all my fault, thought Twilight. If Trixie had become Celestia's apprentice instead of me, this never would have happened.
Twilight knew that the root of Trixie's bitterness lay in her rejection by Celestia. Trixie should have won that duel. Indeed, as Twilight knew, Trixie's defeat had not come at the hooves of exclusively Twilight. Twilight had in fact not seen Trixie's illegal move coming that day, nor expected it. I had no idea she had grown so resentful....or desperate. After the match, Twilight had questioned Celestia, knowing that she was the only pony who could have interfered. Celestia had admitted her involvement. She had cast a protective shield, invisible to the naked eye, around Twilight before Trixie's spell could fire. When Twilight asked Celestia why she had done this, Celestia's reply was simple.
" Trixie's victory would have meant nothing if it came through spite, and underhanded deception."
Guilt had continued to eat at Twilight for a long time afterwards, stopping only after her arrival in Ponyville. She had been reminded of the past after Trixie's reappearance.
"I won't give up," Twilight vowed. " I owe it to Trixie to make this right."
BOOOOM!
Twilight was knocked back by sheer magical energy, and it took her several seconds to regain her bearings. When she looked up, she saw her friends staring in shock at what had happened. A perfect picture had been carved in the floor by lightning. A picture of the Crystal Caverns.
"What does this mean?," asked Applejack. The cowmare kept her distance from the picture, which was radiating with magical energy.
" I think it's a sign," said Twilight. The other ponies, and Spike looked at her in confusion.
" We need to go to the Crystal Caverns."