//------------------------------// // Dream of Victory // Story: Equestria's Mirage: Dream Warriors // by Alchemystudent //------------------------------// Dream of Achievement         Trixie slowly shook her head as she felt the last of her spirits return to her. Her body felt weak and a little woozy, as if she had ran a marathon, “Note to self, splitting your mind six ways is not the best plan.” Giving herself a few more minutes to compose herself, she smirked a little at her recovery time.  Since training with Luna, the showmare's ability to recover her mana and strength from pushing her limits had been growing exponentially.She let out a confident breath of air as she walked down the darkened hallway, “Where is Trixie?”         As if in answer to her question, a light violet flame appeared on a torch next to her. As she took another step, another light appeared, followed by another and another until it reached the end of the hallway. As the room she was in became brighter thanks to the violet flame, Trixie saw that what she thought was a long hallway was in fact, rows upon rows of bookshelves. They extended from where Trixie stood, both in front and behind her, in a seemingly endless length that went on for miles, “Makes sense. This is her dream of victory, so of course Twili-” “Hello, Trixie,” a voice said from behind Trixie. Her soft feminine tone carried above the hoofsteps that sounded against the echoing marble floor. “Who...”Trixie asked, but was stopped when she gazed upon the mare who spoke. “Twilight?” she gasped as she gazed upon the alicorn. No longer was she Trixie’s size, but now matched Celestia in size, her mane now flowing in the breeze as she stood before Trixie, “But how?” “Lucid dreaming,” Twilight responded plainly as she walked to stand before Trixie. “Something I figured out how to do around the three-hundredth year or so.” “Three hundred...how long have you been here?” Trixie asked, eyebrow raised. “Two thousand, four-hundred and eighty seven years. Time moves differently in the dream world after all,” Twilight said, pulling a book out with her magic and looking in it. Trixie was about to ask the question about how she lived so long, but stopped herself and asked, “If you know this is a dream, then you know that Mirage is behind all of this, and that you have to get out.” “No,” Twilight said, putting away the book and walking past her. “What? Wait, WHAT?! Why?” Trixie asked, following behind Twilight. “Well, you see,” Twilight said, creating an image out of thin air for Trixie. “When I first was waylaid by that trap, which I shouldn’t have fell for,  I found myself stuck in this library with nothing but books for company. At first, I was confused, but then I began to read the books on the shelf. Then I read some more, and then some more, all the while shocked that I felt no hunger or thirst as I read. Around year ten, I had read about a tenth of the books in this room and solved the solution to curing diseases like cancer. Year twenty, and I began to feel the affects of aging take me, and by twentyfive, I fixed that problem. Year one-hundred was fun, as I began to solve the problems of how to beat different opponents and by the end I had the knowledge of how to beat every opponent I would ever come across. And so it continued until this point, where we are now.” Trixie watched as the image faded, blinking a few times in an attempt to figure out what has been going on, “So, if you know all this, then why aren’t you leaving?” “Simple, because I came to the realization that there is no more challenge left for me,” Twilight remarked, looking down the different bookshelves. “After I had started to solve the problems of the world, I began to realize that with enough time that I could conquer any challenge. There is literally nothing I could not beat with enough time and effort. What’s more, I realized that I have learned and seen everything there is to be seen and to be discovered. If I wake up, I will eventually encounter the same problem there as I did here. I will eventually see that there is all to be seen and learn everything. There is nothing left for me to conquer.” “Then what about your friends?” Trixie asked. “Give them my regards,” Twilight said, giving Trixie a photo album. “Tell them I love them dearly and that I love being stuck in this particular dream.” “Are you saying you don’t care?” Trixie growled. “Oh no, I do care. I love my friends dearly,” the princess stated, “however, I also know that I will eventually see all that there is to be seen with them. I will run out of things to do with them and will surpass any gifts they may have.” Stamping her hoof in rage, Trixie ran in front of Twilight and put a hoof to her chest, “Are you saying you would abandon your life and everything you love, just because you think you have surpassed it all!?” “Yes,” Twilight said in a plain tone. “What is the point when you know that eventually, you will reach a point in your life when you have seen and done everything.” “Because there is always something new to learn, something new to challenge, and something there to challenge you. Trixie once thought she could beat everypony at her own game, but a mare showed her that there is always somepony better,” Trixie said, glaring at Twilight. “Then prove it, tell me something shocking that I would not expect,” Twilight said. “Fine then, earlier today, Luna took Trixie into a private room and said... “One last question, Trixie. One I will trust you to answer truthfully,” Luna said, watching Trixie nod in response, “IF, I were to give you the same opportunity that my sister had given Twilight not too long ago, would you take it?” “You mean, make Trixie a...a...” Trixie stuttered. “Yes, an alicorn. If I were to give you the chance to become one, with all of the power and prestige that came with it, woud you take it?” Luna asked. Trixie stood there for a few moments, shocked at the offer. For a few seconds her eyes went back and forth across the room, trying to think of a response before taking a deep and breath and say, “Trixie would...”         “What is surprising about this? I know what you are going to say,” Twilight closed her eyes. “You are going to say yes.”         Trixie smirked, “Actually...         “Trixie would have to say,” Trixie said, bowing before Luna. “She would have to humbly, reject your offer.”         “What!?” Yelled Twilight, a look of shock in her eyes as she stepped back. “But why? Why would you give up the chance to become a goddess? You would finally have the power you have always desired! You would finally be able to match me in power.”         “Let Trixie put this in perspective,” Trixie began, walking around Twilight. “Let's say, Trixie becomes an alicorn and beats you in combat. It wouldn’t be that special, all that would be said is ‘Alicorn beats alicorn.’ Our final battle would just be a mere footnote in the annals of history. It would be nothing special, nothing grand, and it would be plain. But,” Trixie held up a hoof and smiled. “If she were to beat you now, as she is, just a normal unicorn with no title and no power.. .then think of what the papers will say! ‘Unicorn beats alicorn!’ ‘Trixie greatest mage in the world!’ ‘Trixie proves that anypony can win!’ ‘Trixie is the best mage in the world!’ Trixie’s name would go down in history as the greatest mage in all history!” Twilight raised an eyebrow at this, and then began to laugh out loud, “Oh, so is this how you plan to beat this dream? With lies?” “Trixie does not lie!” Trixie growled. “You know that Chrys-” “Chrysalis only won thanks to being hyped up on love magic, as well as Celestia holding back. Discord’s plants absorbed magic, but I could overload them. A unicorn, especially one like you, stands no chance. A unicorn, who’s only ability is being the best with illusions and mere parlor tricks, stands no chance against me.” “Trixie begs to differ,” Trixie said, running a hoof through her mane. “She knows how to beat you.” “Really?” Twilight asked, giving a look of disbelief. “Then prove it.” She looked at the mare with narrowed eyes. “Fine!” Trixie said, pointing her hoof at the alicorn. “She challenges you to a magical duel, here and now. If Trixie wins, then you have to admit that there will always be a new challenge for you to conquer, and that there is alway someone out there to beat. There will alway be something for you to learn.” “Fine,” Twilight said, looking down at Trixie. “And if I win?” “Then, Trixie will renounce her magic,” Trixe said plainly. “She will never cast another spell, make another illusion, or do another show ever again.” “What?!” cried Trixie’s friends from the ether. “Y-you can’t. You love performing, you can’t give up your magic like that,” shouted Lyra. “Please, Trixie, don’t do this. I’ll take back everything I have ever said,” Carrot Top shouted. “You can’t just get rid of an important part of yourself,” Octavia said. “It’s like killing you.” “Think about what you’re doing!” shouted Blossomforth. “Don't!” Screamed Lighting. “Sounds like you have some important and concerned friends,” Twilight said hearing the screams. Trixie smiled, “Yeah, I do.” “So, when does the match start?” Twilight asked. “It’s starting now,” Trixie said, her horn glowing as she began to move the books around the shelves out of order. “Really?” snarked Twilight, grabbing a few books in her magic. “That’s it? Just moving my books around?” “That is not all Trixie is doing to your books,” Trixie smiled. “Look inside.” Twilight shrugged her shoulders and opened one of the floating books, only to let out a gasp of shock as she saw the blank pages, “W-What did you do!?” “Some of the books that Trixie is moving around, she is erasing the words from their tomes,” Trixie chuckled as she began to move more and more of the books. “Oh, and one more thing.” “What?” Twilight asked, frantically grabbing the books she could and trying to reorganize them. “Could you help schedule some appointments with your friends,” Trixie asked, blinking her eyes frantically. “Um, sure! What do some of them want?” Twilihgt asked, getting a pen and paper out. “Well, Rainbow Dash wants to show off her newest stunt, Rarity has a show in Manehatten, Fluttershy wants to check up on Owlowiscious, Pinkie Pie has a party planned, Applejack wants some help with a barn, Spike wants to perform a comic book run, Lyra has some music lessons that she is going to need help planning, Raindrops has some problems with her brother that she wants you to help with, Cheerilee wants you to be a guest, Carrot Top has a magical problem with her mom’s house, Ditzy wants some lessons with her daughter, Blossomforth and Octavia want to start a band, Orange Sherbert is having money issues, AK Yearling is missing a book, Lighting Dust needs medical help, and...” As Twilight began to write everything down, she started to look over the list, “Slow down! I need time to schedule everypony, I can’t do them all! Wait, I have an idea!” and with that, she ignited her horn and produced three of her, “There. Now, you two handle the books, and I’ll handle the scheduling.” “Oh, that is not all,” Trixie smiled as she walked  away from her illusionary clone that kept adding pony after pony that wanted some of Twilight’s time. “Trixie wants you to try and solve some of her illusions.” Creating a new clone, Twilight watched as Trixie produced a pack of cards, “You use your horn, there...is...no...cha-” Whatever Twilight was about to say, was interrupted by Trixie making the cards fly from her hoof and turning into birds, her horn not glowing once, “Trixie never uses her horn for her stage magic. Ever. See,” the azure mare began, creating a stage from nothing, with a giant neon sign that read ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie!!!”, “Trixie doesn’t think you know who you are messing with. Maybe you might need a reminder, and allow her,” and with a flick of her hoof, spot lights turned on her and the stage flashed in a brilliant glow of light. “To remind you!” and a upbeat and jovial tune began to play as Trixie smiled. I'm Trixie Welcome to the show Got Magic tricks so here we go At the word go, Trixie began to ddouse herself in flames and then walked to an icec ream stand and began to eat it. As Twilight began to try and figure out how Trixie did it, she began to hear the crackling of flames right behind her. Letting out a gasp, she saw some of her books on fire. We're gonna have some fun hold on to your hats With that, Trixie began to adjust her hat, before throwing some onto Twilight. Angered, the alicorn began to respond to Trixie’s song with her own voice. Twilight: I don’t care who you think you are Just give up and leave me alone You claim you will succeed Don't make me laugh Trixie rolled her eyes at Twilight’s insult, instead choosing to create three new illusions for Twilihgt to try and solve. Then she created a new clone of her that walked next to the alicorn princess, and smirked  I  am something more At that, she threw a lightning bolt Twilights way, followed by a few other select spells. Twilight shrugged each blast away and began to respond in kind.  I've seen it before Trixie shrugged as she responded in her usual upbeat tone. It's much more special Twilight let out a shudder as she felt Trixie run her hoof along her chin and flew up. Only to meet a Trixie in a floating balloon. Growling, she shoved Trixie aside, singing back I rather be dead As Trixie floated, she smiled at Twilight, creating a chalkboard and a table from thin air. and then returned the song in kind with an almost bragging tone.  It might be the same act be patient you'll see you will call this fake but this is real magic... real magic... Trixie went to the chalkboard and began to write down a series of complicated math, magical, and science equations. In her hoof sat, ‘complicated equations for great and powerful students, by Beatrix Lulamoon.’ Trixie smirked at Twilight as she calmly began to set up a chess game with her rival. As Trixie began to create more tasks for her to perform or to beat, Twilight looked around her library and at all the clones of both her and Trixie that littered the place. It seem like the library was covered with Trixies, each one performing a task that was becoming harder and harder for her to beat. Her mane began to become frazzled as she heard Trixie startede singing in her jovial tone. Look as I make  this library levitate Turn your mane into a snake Twilight let out a scream as she began to try and get her mane back to normal while trying to dispel Trixie’s magic. and of course, your enemies appearing from from a hat! From behind the real Twilight, Trixie appeared with a giant hat. Tapping it with a magical wand, a bright light flashed and from out of it: Nightmare Moon, Trixie, Discord, Chrysalis, Nightmare bearers of harmony, Sombra, Sunset Shimmer, Tirek from days gone by, three women who Twilight had never met before but had magical jewels on their necks, a pink unicorn with a blue mane, Mirage, Titan, Red Eye, Checker Monarch, a killer angel bunny, an evil Cadence, and the world snake came with a look of murderous intent. As all of them growled, Twilight got herself into a fighting stance and charged, only to discover that some of them were fake, while others were all too real. Without missing a beat, Trixie landed back onto the ground with cards in her hooves and she began to sing, Got magic cards And so much more With a flash of magic, Trixie created a human version of herself with Twilight’s friends and a red and yellow haired girl standing with them in rock and roll outfits. With the Rainbooms at her back, the human Trixie began to sing her own song that didn’t interrupt Trixie current one. This shocked Twilight as she quickly began to try and create her own band to fight Trixie’s in a battle of the bands. From out behind the stage, another Trixie clone appeared and lit up her horn, singing in a sultry tone. I will even create some fireworks For you to watch and enjoy At that, a group of fireworks launched all around the area, blinding and distracting some of the Twilights while taking out some of the others, causing Twilight to try and replace some of them again. Watching around her, at all of the chaos and madness that this little duel was causing her, Twilight’s mane became more and more frayed. Her eye twitching, she laid down and began to beat the ground, singing I don’t care about this This is just the same thing Everything here is stuff I've seen before Trixie appeared before Twilight as she began to beat the ground, a small chuckle in throat and a smirk on her lips as she sung her up beat song again, even adding a skip as her horn glowed one more time. It is the same again but this is special you see you can call it fake but this is real magic... Trixie created a clone that started go on a long rant to Twilight that the alicorn had to try and argue with, while another clone began to write down a speech that she had to edit. All the while, Trixie began to walk away with a cunning grin on her face. real magic... Twilight growled and charged at Trixie with her horn, only to watch as the showmare vanished from sight, appearing on top of the shelf. Letting her clone chase after Trixie, Twilight turned to a Trixie that was standing still, drinking a bottle of bourbon with some peanut butter crackers in a bowl of chocolate chilli sauce. Angrily, she pointed her hoof at the sitting Trixie, singing, Why do you still want to succeed? I keep trying to tell you That this act is old! You are failing at winning Trixie shrugged her shoulders, and took a slow sip of her drink before biting down on the cracker.  I heard all what you have said But I don't think I should be mad the most important thing Is to enjoy what you do! Twilight took a step back as the weight of the clones, the tasks, and trying to win all were beginning to weigh down on her and she began to shake her head. I am not failing Trixie chuckled You are getting tired Twilight shook her head again, mouthing out the word no as she began to sit down on her haunches I say this is impossible Trixie simply smirked as she began to make each one her clones to ignite their horns in a brilliant pink glow. And I am still performing! Trembling, her mane a  mess, and breathing hard, Twilight held up her hooves in defeat.  I give up at this point! A smile creeped onto Trixie’s face as she looked at the beaten mare. be patient you'll see you can call it fake Trixie then stood on her hind legs, throwing her hooves into the air as the other Trixies joined in, each causing their horn to glow brightly as they threw their forelegs into the air. Combined, the mares all stood in a shape that resembled Trixie’s cutie mark, complete with the horns glowing ot make little stars. but this is real magic... real magic... “STOP! You win,” Twilight whimpered as she dismissed all of her clones and laid on her stomach. “Y-y-you beat me. You actually beat me.” “Was there any doubt?” Trixie smugly said, fixing her cape in triumph. “How?” Twilight asked. “Simple, Trixie attacked your greatest weakness, other than your friends,” Trixie smiled as she gave Twilight something to drink and finished her own cracker. “Your OCD and perfectionist attitude. Trixie has studied you and she knows that you have to do everything by the book, and you want it to be perfect. It has to be, otherwise you are afraid of disappointing your friends or Celestia. You need to have checklist upon checklist to do a task, and you see every task until the end. But, have too many, and having to break your focus, and you lose your greatest strength, your control and focus. It was Trixie’s method to defeat you.” “Wait, you thought about this?” Twilight asked. “Yes, just in case it was up to Trixie to take down any of the princesses, she had come up with a number of ways to defeat each one of you. Five for Cadence, four for Celestia, two for Luna, and one for you. Sadly,” Trixie sighed, “now she has to think of a new way to beat you.” “W-what do you mean?” Twilight asked. “Well, now that Trixie has played her card, you are already thinking of how to beat it. You probably already have a few tricks to beat this weakness and to overcome her strategy. You have to, you wouldn’t be Trixie’s rival otherwise,” Trixie said. Then she arched an eyebrow as the purple alicorn began to laugh her head off, “What’s so funny?” “Hahahahahahahahahaha! I’m sorry, but do you realize what this means?” Twilight asked. As Trixie said nothing, Twilight smiled, “You could only ever beat me... in your dreams!!” Trixie began to think about this for a moment, and then as she began to realize the truth, she began to laugh just as hard as Twilight,. Leaning in, she began to hold Twilight close, laughing on her shoulder. The two began to share a special kind of laugh in that library, a laugh shared not between bitter rivals or hated enemies, but between two close friends who trusted and cared for one another. As Trixie finished laughing, she looked at Twilight, “So, what did teacher Trixie teach you?” “That there is still something for me to learn, and that no matter how old I get, there is always something new to experience with my friends, a new lesson to learn, or a new adventure to be had with them. There is always something new just waiting for me, when I am with my friends,” she said, as she began to turn into a gem and fly towards Trixie’s hoof. “I am ready to go home now.” “You are home, “ Trixie smiled as she was glomped by ten mares. “TRIXIE!!” cried the girls. “Trixie, would you really ha-” Applejack was about to ask,but was interrupted by Trixie. “Like Twilight, Trixie has friends that she can’t disappoint,” Trixie said, looking at the mares around her. “If she could not have saved Twilight, then she did not deserve to be with you. Through this adventure, Trixie has seen you do things that are quite admirable, and she is glad to call you all, her friends.” smiling, Trixie watched as the six gems flew out from each mare’s hoof and combined into one, before latching onto a nearby door. “Trixie...”Lightning Dust asked. “The final nightmare, the nightmare of corruption,” Trixie said, adjusting her cap, “It’s where Twilight’s continuous lies and the rest of her soul. It’s going to be tough, but I believe in all of you. Are you girls with me?” The bearers and Trixie’s team stood alongside the mare, a determined look on their faces. “Lets go and save Twilight!” As Cadence sat in her bedroom, awaiting word, a sinister laugh began to echo through the chamber and a claw reached out for her. At the same time, one reached for Shining and Spike, “Well, let’s get the end game ready them?” Mirage began to laugh.