//------------------------------// // Army of one // Story: M.A.G.I.C. Tournament // by RarityEQM //------------------------------// She had promised. "Y-You, you promised!" Trixie squealed while Twilight frantically raced through the library, collecting every book she could find on the Minotaur Provinces. Welcoming ceremonies, clan introductions, declarations of war, courtship rituals, Displays of Honor, Strength, and Loyalty. Displays of-... "SPIKE! BRING ME "STRENGTH OF THE TRIAD," PLEASE! Trixie, I'm sorry, I really am! I just-" Twilight squeaked as she flipped open another book. Rules to Minotaur combat. "At the beginning of the year Trixie asked you, Trixie asked you if you would help Trixie train for the M.A.G.I.C. competition! You said yes! You promised me we'd be a team! That we'd win the competition together, like Rocky and that other guy!! You were going to be that other guy, Twilight! You were Trixie's other guy!! We were so excited we even had that catchy little song and dance number! " Trixie snarled, pacing behind Twilight whilst the purple pony darted from one end of the library to the other. "I know, I know and I'm really sorry, but with the Minotaur King coming by on such short notice, Princess Celestia needs all the hooves she can get to make sure this goes over smoothly. The Minotaur King has some...temperament issues. I know I said we'd do the tournament, thing, but the Princess asked me personally to help! I couldn't just refuse!" Twilight explained as she piled books on top of one and other. The Minotaur Race was proud and strong. They valued Strength, honor and loyalty over all things, and the strength of one's proper greeting made for loyal ties and honor bound alliances. "Yes! You could have! You could have said, "I'm sorry, but I owe my marefriend her dream of winning the M.A.G.I.C competition! I promised her I'd help her win, even if some random foreign dignitary comes along!" Trixie barked, as Spike burst into the bed room, carrying a large purple tome over his head. "Strength, honor and loyalty, Twilight!" Spike chirped. Twilight nodded her head and took the book from him in a lavish burst of magic. She immediately flipped it open, and started scanning the table of contents, mumbling to herself. Trixie frowned and it only grew and grew while she waited for Twilight's next bombardment of apologies . When they didn't come, and Trixie realized Twilight had forgotten about her and the conversation entirely in the span of that short few moments, she reared back and smacked the book out of Twilight's hooves as hard as she could. The book slammed to the ground in a clatter and Twilight gasped in shock, peering down at the book, then back up at her mare friend. The seething froth that overtook her came out of nowhere, but then again, the weight of helping royalty keep another country happy and avoiding something that might lead to a war had a way of boiling stress levels to a head. "TRIXIE, THIS IS IMPORTANT!" Twilight snapped at a stunned unicorn. Didn't she understand that?! Did she not know what could be at stake?! Trixie glared quietly at Twilight, the fur on her necked heckled and her ears peeled back. "So is this." She hissed quietly. They stared at each other for a long few moments, before Trixie gave a snort, and stepped passed Twilight with a flick of her tail. "Humph. The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't need your help. The Great and Powerful Trixie will go ahead and win the competition without you." Trixie replied crisply. She then turned around and trotted past Spike, clip-clopping her hooves as she went. She grabbed her cape, grabbed her hat, and slammed the door in her wake. Leaving Twilight to her books. The purple unicorn gave a haggard sigh. If this was so important, then why did she feel like such a jerk? * * * Trixie pressed her back against the chair, throwing her head back and peering at the ceiling while letting a lengthy breath bleed from her lips into the ostentatious air of the Carousel Boutique. Quietly, she opened an eye and glanced at the unicorn sitting at the table across from her hopefully. At first, Trixie had stormed her way right over to Sugar Cube Corner, where she had intended to worry at her woe over a batch of fresh Straw Berry Cupcakes. But she was frustrated and sometimes Pinkie's bouncy hyper activity rubbed her the wrong way. Then she decided to go to Lickety Splits and order her favorite hay shake. For some reason, that place always made her think of Manehatten, and her friend Coco. And stories of romance so it seemed. Not that she was in the mood for that right now, either. No. What she wanted was...What she wanted was....What she wanted was somewhere to vent. To growl, and pout and express her frustrations physically and destroy something beautiful. So even though it made perfect sense to show up at the Carousel Boutique, Trixie felt somewhat disturbed this was the first place her hooves had taken her. Rarity, however, turned out to be a fantastic listener, so Trixie discovered. She set her dress making aside, and pulled out the tea set, then they sat and...talked. They actually talked, which was more then Trixie had expected when she'd wandered over to the shop. "As much as I would absolutely adore spending the afternoon blasting you in the face darling, I simply haven't got the time, and I really can't believe I'm turning this down. I've orders piling up and I agreed I'd help Sweetie Belle with her homework assignments tonight. I simply can't help you train for hmmm...what was it again?" Rarity purred, peering up from her tea cup at the groaning magician. "Mystical Ability Gauge and Interaction Competition. M.A.G.I.C It's the biggest dueling competition in Equestria. Trixie has always wanted to participate, but never had the proper motivation or time or money with her show. Now that she's more rooted to the spot, Trixie thought...That maybe with Twilight's help..." Trixie trailed off with a frustrated groan. Rarity smiled sadly and nodded her head. "Oh, darling, you must understand, that Twilight and Princess Celestia have a very close bond, and being asked to assist in something so personal is a great honor. But I can tell that you know that. It doesn't make it any easier and it's still not fair. She promised you and one does not simply break a promise to one's chéri " Rarity said curtly, forcing Trixie to raise an eyebrow. Rarity gave a quiet snort, leaning back into her chair. "But don't blame her. Twilight didn't have many friends, before she came to Ponyville, how in Equestria do you expect she'd handle a relationship? ... Poorly. As you can see. That being said, darling, I'm terribly sorry I can't help you train for your competition, but I do know some pony who might be able to. Zecora." Rarity explained. Trixie stared for a long few moments, before quickly shaking her head. "Wait, wait, wait, The Great and Powerful Trixie demands you rewind! Are you saying you're taking Trixie's side?!" Trixie squealed. Rarity rolled her eyes, but smiled none the less. "No, darling. I'm not taking any pony's side. She promised you, and I can see how it would upset any pony who had been promised something they were looking forward too. But on the other hoof...Technically...Twilight has been ordered by royalty to help maybe prevent a war. As far as excuses go for skipping out on a date, that's...well darling, that's up pretty high up there." Rarity explained. Trixie gave a quiet sigh. "They did tell me you were the perceptive one." She mumbled. Rarity grinned and sipped at her tea again, quietly. "I do have a fine eye for detail. Anyway, Zecora." Rarity explained quietly. Trixie tilted her head to one side. "Ze-what?" She asked. "Zecora, dear. She lives out in the Ever Free forest. She's a bit of a mentor to Twilight when Celestia isn't around. Very skilled potion brewer and shaman. I bet she can help you. " Rarity explained, standing up with her tea cup. Trixie stood up too. Well, pounced to her hooves would be more accurate. "Wait, another magican?! Why didn't any pony TELL Trixie there was another powerful mage in this a town! Trixie must visit her at once! Hahaha! Trixie shall prove the most greatestest, and most powerfulestest of all!" Trixie squealed. Rarity shook her head slowly, trotting into the kitchen with the china in tow. "I didn't say she was a mage, darling. I said she was a Shaman. Still, she should be able to give you some decent advice. Just be careful venturing out to meet her, darling! The forest can be unfriendly!" Rarity called out after Trixie burst out the door towards the Everfree Forest, and she had no idea if the showmare heard her or not.