The New Timeline

by Jongoji245


No Second Prances (New Timeline)

In the dining hall of the Castle of Harmony, an important festivity was being set up. The chandelier was adorned with lilacs, the windowsills with violet ribbons, and the back wall had tapestries lined up with Starlight and Celestia’s portraits. Said unicorn was awaiting at the other side of the table when Princess Twilight pushed a cart full of plates and dinner utensils, grabbing a plate and placing it on the table

“First lesson of the day, we very carefully set the table without using magic, so that— Yikes!” Twilight just ducked out of the way, saving herself from the barrage of dinner plates, forks and knives. In a amazing feat, Starlight managed to set up the table using magic. But her new friend wasn’t amused.

“What?” Starlight asked.

“I said no magic,” - Twilight asked, shaking her head slightly - “You were supposed to do it by hoof so I could work in a friendship lesson.”

“Oh, I heard "set the table" and just kinda went for it.” Starlight added, holding her lower lip with her teeth as she waited for her apology to be accepted.

“Well, if you hadn't used magic, you'd have heard me say, uh…” - Twilight looked at the utensils before raising a hoof - “this plate represents your head, this spoon is your heart, and the knives... are sharp! Always be careful with knives.” - she held a grin for a while before sighing - “The metaphors make more sense when you're actually setting the table.”

“Should I... change it back?” Starlight asked as her mentor walked up to her.

“I just want to make sure you're ready for this dinner. Princess Celestia will be joining us tonight to see how the friendship lessons are going!”

Starlight noticed a fourth chair at the table. “If it's just you, me, and Princess Celestia, why are there four seats?”

“Well, the whole point is for you to bring a new friend. That way, the princess will see for herself just how far you've come.” The alicorn nudged her pupil “And how good a teacher you have.”

“Well, I can't choose. I like all your friends.”

“That's the best part!” - Twilight said cheerfully - “You have to make a new friend!”

“New friends?” - Aside from her reunion with Sunbust, she didn’t have much to say in regards with friends. She pondered for a moment before saying - “Hey, maybe I'll just force friendships by magically enslaving the entire population of Ponyville!”

“Starlight!” Berated Twilight

“Kidding!” Starlight gave the princess an uneasy smile, chuckling as she did before running out of the halls. Twilight sighed before inspecting her pupil’s work.

Out of Twilight’s eyes, Starlight slowed down and walked through the massive labyrinth of the castle, losing her way once more. The new resident looked at what she assumed to be the exit. She opened the door, finding not the exit, but Flash Sentry all bound up. A while after Twilight made herself comfortable in the Castle of Harmony, she has been recruiting a few guards, Flash Sentry chief among them. The sight of the Pegasus bound up amused her as she levitated him and brought him back into the closet.

She walked down the hall again, trying to find the exit. She looked to her right, watching as each one door loomed by her. That is until a door to her left slammed at her face.

“Oh, hey are you okay?”

Starlight looked up, finding the next resident, Sunset Shimmer, carrying a few scrolls in a saddlebag.

“I’m fine, Sunset, thank you.” - She notices the scrolls - “Additional invites?”

“Hm?” - Sunset looked at her bags before answering - “Oh no, these are Equestrian translations of Saurian writing.” - The two Unicorns looked inside the door; Cosgrove watched Dapplewood place a set of footprints on a large piece of paper, for Dinosaurs are not adept at writing with their hands or mouth - “We’ve just found that the Dinosaurs worship a being known as Krazoa, who is believed to have lived the in the volcano in the Unfrozen North.”

Starlight drew a smile at how the young colt and dinosaur actually contributing to the knowledge of Equestria. Ember also provided information about dragons via letters. This is a great development altogether. Sunset leaned her neck forward, noticing Starlight’s frowning face.

“Something wrong?”

“Well it’s just that Twilight wants me to find a friend for dinner tonight.” - Starlight looked at her neighbor - “I mean, who would want to be friends with a former time traveling slave driver?”

Sunset looked the other way before being held by her cheeks. “Your friend is several years younger than both of us, and he is doing much better at this than I am.”

“Because” - Sunset gentle pushed Starlight away - “I found some common ground between me and Cosgrove.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow, “Common ground?” she asked, prompting her orange neighbor to gesture to follow her.

A few flights down the stairs and through a tunnel and they were in the underground laboratory underneath what was once the Old Library. Cogsworth was at the computers once again, typing, commenting, and retyping the coding. The crippled Earth colt and the Unicorn were in mid conversation.

“Were you sent to prison?” Asked Starlight, stopping Cogsworth from typing.

“Juvenile Detention,” - Cosgrove closed his eyes, recalling the harsh memories, every shot from a gun barrel, the screams of his classmates and the begging for mercy - “but I still remember the pain I caused.”

Starlight drew her ears back. Having isolated herself for much of her life didn’t bring her in the loop in regards to news. Bringing a lack of free will to a town and changing the time flow several times is one thing, a kid being pressured to resort to deadly force is another. Cogsworth resumed coding, not paying attention to Starlight noticing the node attachments on his back. She then looked to her left, seeing the Changeling battle armor, Galgameth. She cautiously approached the mech, raising a hoof to touch it.

“Careful!” - Starlight flinched at the same time the armor raised its arms on its own before becoming idle once more - “I’ve been testing out a few modifications to the code.”

Starlight looked at the armor again before looking at the mechanic, “Why can’t you wear it now?”

“When I tried it just recently, it put a strain on my heart.”

“Well,” - Starlight walked towards the exit - “I’d better go out and find a new friend… you know before tonight.”

“Yeah,” - Cogsworth returned to coding - “you do that.”

Back outside, Starlight continued to look about among dozens of ponies both young and old. So many choices in so little time that would be running out soon.

“Let's see. Make new friends in Ponyville, the friendliest place in Equestria.” - Starlight - “Shouldn't be hard…”

“Need to make a new friend, huh?” - Pinkie Pie chimed in, scaring her new Unicorn friend before drawing her closer and touching cheeks - “I know just the pony for you!” - In a zip, Pinkie dragged Starlight over to the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner - “Miss Starlight Glimmer, meet Mrs. Cake!”

The two just stood and watched as the baker applied a ring of icing on the edges of a large cake. After “dusting” off a little excess, Mrs. Cake turned to the unicorn, “How are you, dearie?”

Starlight, amazed at Mrs. Cake’s progress, stepped forward, “Are you baking? Can I help?”

Using her magic, Starlight brought from the shelves kitchen utensils, flour and icing. With her skill, she made a complete birthday cake in just a snap. Proud of herself, Starlight kept the pastry in the air.

“Wow, Mrs. Cake!” Pinkie cooed “Look what your new friend made you!”

“New friend.” Mrs. Cake chuckled “I like the sound of– Howza-wowza!” She looked up, finding the finished cake before her
“A-Are you trying to put me out of business with your fancy magical-thingy-whatsit cake?!”

Feeling a little ashamed, Starlight canceled her magic, forgetting about the cake as it landed on the store mistress, covering her head in cake. “Sorry…”

Pinkie Pie approached her boss, looking up and down at the ruined pastry as it slithered down her face. She takes a lick of it, savoring it before swallowing, “In her defense, it is delicious!” She adds before taking another bite.

Pinkie Pie then referenced her over to Sweet Apple Acres. Knowing of her dilemma, the farmer lead Starlight over to part of the orchard.

“I think I have just the pony for you, Starlight.” - Applejack waved her hoof forward - “Meet Big Mac!”

The big stallion of the land had just bucked a tree clean of its apples, turning around to greet their guest with a simple, “Eeyup!”

Knowing this as her first time, Applejack added, “He's not much of a talker.”

“Nnope.” Big Mac agreed,

“Oh, that's too bad.” Starlight looked back “I love a good conversation.” but she wasn’t ready to give up. The unicorn lit up her horn before casting a spell that went down Big Mac’s throat.

“Eeyup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-y-y-y-y-you did something! Whoa! What's happening? I feel really weird! I'm talkin' so much! And I'm so articulate! Enunciating with such precise pronunciation!” Big Mac plugged his hoof into his mouth. Starlight clearly enchanted him with gossip talk. In some ways, he sounded a little like The Doctor. The only way to tell is... - “Annie Apple awoke and accidentally ate an auburn azalea!” - Big Mac screamed before running for the hills - “Make it stop!

His sister turned to Starlight, scowling at her as she growled.

“I can't be friends with somepony who doesn't talk.” Starlight tried to reason, only to get another growl “...And I guess my first instinct shouldn't be to magically command ponies to act the way I want them to?” Another growl from her friend ”Alright, I'll change him back!” she gave in, trotting the direction Big Mac ran off to.

Having been spared a deep kick in the flank, Starlight decided to take a new approach. Doing so would require a little advice. She trotted over to the Carousel Boutique.

“The trick to finding a new friend is to render yourself radiant.” - Rarity wrapped a light violet scarf around her neck before guiding Starlight over to a mirror - “First impressions count a great deal, you know.”

“I'm glad you all got past my first impression.” Starlight reassured herself as Rarity came back with a tape measurer.

“Well, everypony deserves a second chance. Ooh! Now, I have a top-notch idea.” - Rarity drew forth a set of sheets, wrapping them around Starlight head to toe - “I'm thinking pastel silk here and here with a crinoline underneath.”

“You really think a new outfit will help me meet ponies?” Starlight asked with a smile.

“Oh, with the right outfit,” - Walking through a private change curtain, Rarity walked out wearing a red-violet dress - “you can do anything, darling!”

“When will it be ready?” Starlight smiled at the thought of wearing an elaborate dress before Celestia.

“Three weeks.” the fashionista answered, bumming out Starlight’s excitement.

“Dinner's tonight.” She answered, her daydream dashed.

“Well then, how about a hat from the…” - Rarity cleared her throat before pointing to her left - “...clearance bin?”

Starlight lifted up a fancy fur hat from said bin and placed it on her head. But as a hat best fit for a hornless individual, the unicorn tried her best to stretch it, tearing the hat in half. “Maybe not.”

A distance outside of town, Starlight was just in the middle of a conversation with Rainbow Dash, hoping for more advice.

“Heh. Nopony's gonna make friends with you because of your outfit. The only thing you want a new friend draped in is coolness.” Rainbow Dash said with a gentle swerve in the air.

“Like you?”

“Yeah, but you already know me, so…” - Rainbow pondered before gasping, spitting out - “Spitfire! Heh. Sorry.”

Starlight rubbed the spittle off her furred muzzle, asking, “Who's that?”

Rainbow Dash gasped again, “Only the Wonderbolt-iest pony in the Wonderbolts! Come on, I'll introduce you!” - the pegasus sped out of view so fast that the turbulence blew against her hair and the trees around her. And it was a few seconds after that she came back. “You coming or what?”

With life outside of her world still unknown, Starlight has several questions left unanswered, “I guess my first question would be, "What's a Wonderbolt?"

Rainbow held Starlight’s face, her face clearly frightened to the point of being hilarious, “You've never heard of the Wonderbolts?! Where have you been?!”

“Enslaving villages, I guess…” Starlight said nervously.

“Right.” added Rainbow in a long drawn out tone as she slowly landed on the ground, remembering that fiasco.

A good distance away at a peaceful field, Starlight was tickling Angel on a picnic blanket alongside a bear, a squirrel and a duck. Though the rabbit doesn’t usually allow this on all but the closest of ponies, Angel was having a ball with getting a tummy rub.

“You're adorable,” - Starlight stopped petting the bunny and walked away, though she did leave her mark on Angel - “but probably not what Twilight had in mind.”

As the other animals waved her goodbye, Fluttershy, having wanted to converse with Starlight after seeing her with them, brought over a plate of carrots. Unfortunately, she was too late. Putting down the plate, the caretaker let out a sigh before resuming her picnic.

Now noon, and still no new friend, Starlight moaned and groaned as she walked in the park. Dozens of the inhabitants are there from Pipsqueak to Lion Tamer. She instead walks to a fountain, looking at the closest pony she knows: herself.

“What is going on? This is Ponyville! If I can't make a friend here, there's gotta be something wrong with me!” - Sighing in frustration, Starlight tried to calm herself. - “Okay, calm down. Nobody makes friends with a total stresscase.” - But with the dinner tonight and still no friend, how can one not be stressed. Fillies flying a kite, colts playing hoofball, or even senior couples celebrating their wedding anniversary was too much to handle - “Stop stressing... Stop stressing!

Her outburst silenced the park as the park guests looked at the unicorn. Starlight looked to her left, finding a custodial worker holding a trash picker as he looked at her. She looked to her right, seeing a startled mother holding her child defensively. With a chuckle, Starlight dashed off, allowing the daily lifestyle to resume. But that still hasn’t relieved the stress off of Starlight. Sensing this plight, Bulk Biceps has the answer.

“Ahh... This is just what I needed.” Starlight relaxed in a massage center, rubbed head to hoof to get the tense muscles out of her system.

“Tell me about it.” Added an unknown voice right behind her.

“You ever have one of those days?” asked Starlight as she gently lifted a hoof.

“For me, they're all one of those days.” - hearing Starlight giggle, the stranger continued - “I'm gonna start coming here every time I visit Ponyville.”

“I'm not from here either. I've been trying to make friends, but it's not easy.” - Starlight said in a slightly uneasy tone -
“They're not saying it, but I think everypony knows about my past. I may have been a tiny bit…” - Starlight twirled her hooves around before turning her head around - “completely and utterly evil?””

A pause, before the stranger added, “ Ponies judge me on my past too.”

Starlight perked her head up, twisting her upper body as she levitated a cucumber out of her eyes. “Finally, a pony I can relate to.” She said in relief.

Back at the Castle dining hall, Twilight was inspecting the table arrangements again, making sure everything is perfect to the finest detail. “Soup spoon, salad fork, pasta spoon, strawberry pick. I'm beginning to think that after friendship, the greatest magic of all is proper silverware placement!”

Twilight giggled when the door slammed open.

“Twilight, guess what?” - Starlight ran towards her teacher - “I made a new friend!”

And just about six hours away at that, Twilight spread her wings in excitement. “That's fantastic news!”

“She's great!”

“Great!” Twilight agreed

“She's Apologetic!”

“Apologetic?” Twilight was now uneasy, drawing her ears back as that word sounded familiar.

“She's-!”

“Hello... princess!”

Twilight and Starlight turned to the entrance of the dining hall, a blue Unicorn in a sun hat. Underneath the shade of the headwear, the smiling face looked up, revealing the all too familiar face, the Great, Powerful, Apologetic

“Trixie?!” Twilight exclaimed, flaring her wings out defensively as she gave the magician a glare.
Starlight looked back and forth before asking, “You know each other?”

“You could say that.”

Twilight and Trixie went way back indeed. They were classmates in Canterlot, but it was only three years ago that they have begun to notice each other. Their first reunion was ruined when Snips and Snails woke up an Ursa Minor. Humiliated in front of everyone, the magician sought revenge with the Alicorn Amulet, but afterwards had largely disappeared, her recent occurrence only a blur when she was reincarnated as an Alicorn. Then came her visits into the Human World, and both times Trixie’s human counterpart played an antagonistic role to some extent.

“Twilight gave me a second chance as well,” - Trixie approached Twilight, wrapping her hoof around her neck - “and I appreciate it.”

A long awkward pause, before Twilight gently pushed the magician aside with her wing.”So, um, what brings you to Ponyville?”

“Trixie requires a moment in the underground laboratory.”

The Princess of Friendship drew an uncertain grin on her muzzle before looking at her student.

“Starlight? A moment? Over here?” - Twilight asked in gradually strict tone before “dragging” her student like a rock with her magic to the other side of the dining hall - “I know I said make friends with anypony, but, well, with Trixie's past, and your past, I'm not sure she's the best... first friend.”

The two conversing unicorns looked back, seeing Trixie wave at them before they continued.

“But whatever she did, you've forgiven her, right?”

Noticing Starlight’s frustration, Twilight took her hoof off of her, “Of course. It's just... She wasn't the nicest pony.”

“Well, you did say anypony, and I just assumed that you'd trust me to make my own friends the way Princess Celestia trusted you.” Starlight rebuked, giving the Princess of Friendship a shove.

Starlight had a point; Twilight was just like her when she started out on her own friendship lessons. And now she was playing Celestia. Admitting defeat, she sighed. “You're right. I trust you. Just be back in time for the dinner.”

“Thanks, Twilight! You won't regret it!” In excitement, Starlight led Trixie through the halls towards the underground laboratory. Her new mentor still thought otherwise.She looked at the table, finding her finely placed utensils bent into the shape of a giraffe.

“I hope not.” Twilight sighed once more before beginning to dismantle the found art.

Back underground, Cogsworth was just adjusting a piece of coding, changing the color from red to blue. His ears turning to the sounds of steps approaching the lab, he turned to find Starlight Glimmer again, this time with Trixie.
“Hi, Trixie.”

“Hello…” - Trixie closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before exhaling with a smile - “Galgameth.”

Cogsworth gave a dry smile before resuming his work.

“You know her too?” Asked Starlight.

“Stumbled at her during my journey of self discovery.” - He answered before resuming his work, noticing Trixie’s slightly darker shade of blue fur that would otherwise had her camouflaged with the interface - “How can I help you?”

“Trixie has attained information that could relate to tonight’s festivities.” The magician placed a file on the desk, in which the mechanic inspected.

Starlight’s curiosity drew her eye to the file, spotting a black and white photograph of a one eyed stallion donning a crossbow. The mechanic shuffled through the images, revealing to her a series of photos of Equestrian aristocracy marked with red x’ Noticing her shadow, Cogsworth slapped both end of the file.

“I can send for Sunset and-”

“No!” - Trixie stopped him before looking at her host - “heh, heh, not that is any of your concern. Trixie needs to return to her wagon, preparing for tonight’s event.”

“Can I come?” Asked Starlight, giving her a pleading look on her face.

Trixie still had an uneasy smile on her muzzle. She looked at Cogsworth before walking forward.

“Sure…”

Trixie and Starlight were outside the castle strolling towards Trixie’s mode of transportation. As they were, several former witnesses on both accounts of Trixie turned to each other and whispered at earshot.

Trixie groaned, lowering her head so to make it parallel to her body. “Everypony always says they'll give you a second chance, but deep down, they never forget.”

“That's what I'm worried about.” Starlight added, hearing Trixie’s sigh as she looked at the other townsfolk.

“I heard what Twilight said about me, and she's right. I wasn't very nice.” - The magician stopped in her tracks, looking ahead as Starlight turned around - “So I'd understand if you didn't want to be friends.”

“Are you kidding? - Starlight embraced Trixie as if she were a teddy bear - “You're the first pony I've met who has any idea how I feel!”

While she has made a few friends during her “exile,” making new ones in this sake can be dangerous. Especially if her career now involves… odd jobs. The magician looked around, seeing if no one is around before drawing Starlight closer. “Can you keep a secret?

“What are friends for?” Starlight smiled.

Trixie looked around again before drawing her snout towards her new companion’s ear. But before she could spill the beans, a bush shuffled on its own towards the two unicorns.

“Pssssssst! Pssst! Psssssst!” - Starlight moved the branches of the larger bush, finding Twilight Sparkle hiding among them before giving her a large shushing.

A little embarassed, Starlight turned over to her friend. “Uh, I think there's something in my hoof. Can we talk about it somewhere else?”

“Sure.” - Trixie turned around and walked away, stopping at she was at the corner of a house - “The wagon's right around the corner.” She finished before continuing on.

Starlight turned over to the foliage disguise, looking embarrassed and angry. “So, how's it going with your new friend?” Twilight asked with puppy eyes, trying to seek forgiveness..

“Great.” - Starlight answered sarcastically - “Thanks for asking in a completely not creepy way.”
Twilight popped out of another section of bush, “Because you know, if it isn't working out for any reason, I could introduce you to my friend here.”

Believing the bush to be the friend, Starlight rubbed her hoof, unamused. “Nice to meet you.” She greeted in an equally deadpan voice.

“No, no!” - Twilight leaned over to the bush - “You can come out now!” - On cue, another unicorn popped out of the bush, the case here being popular DJ Vinyl Scratch. As usual, she wore her glasses and wireless headset, blaring music so loud that a whisper can be heard - “You like music, right? Vinyl’s the perfect friend for tonight's incredibly important dinner with Celestia. You know, if you decide to make a last-minute change. Heh.”

Starlight furrowed her brow. “So back at your castle when you said ‘I trust you’, you meant ‘I don't trust you’.”

Her teacher chuckled nervously as her student continued her glare. “Who can really say who said what? I know I can't!” She turned to her left - “Can you?” - Vinyl was already a distance away when she asked that. Twilight turned back to Starlight leaving Twilight as well in a huff. The alicorn shuffled out of the bushes and caught up to her - “Starlight, I'm just trying to look out for you.”

“I appreciate it,” Starlight turned around, gently pushing her friend away “but you're wrong about Trixie. She's just like me. We have a real connection.”

“That's kind of what I'm afraid of.” Twilight’s eyes fluttered around before fixing on something “Oh! What about her?”

The one in question is Derpy. Like Pinky Pie, the wall eyed pegasus would be a good candidate to be a good friend. Derpy was in the middle of delivering mail when she saw Twilight, losing her focus when she bumped into a signpost, scattering letters around.

“Please, Twilight! I know you're trying to help, but I need to make friends on my own if I'm going to become a better pony.”

Twilight stretched out a hoof again. “But do you really think Trixie's the one to help you with that?”

Starlight narrowed her eyes, disgusted at what Twilight just said. “Wow. Trixie was right. You're not really giving her a second chance. I wonder what that says about how you feel about me.”

Starlight turned around, bumping into Cranky. His orange toupee messed up, the donkey rearranged it giving the unicorn a snort through his untrimmed nostrils before walking forward. Starlight continued her journey in a huff, not even bothering to look back.

True to Trixie’s word, Starlight found her wagon just at the corner. Compared to the old one, this wagon had a series of blues, with metal wheels and above all, much wider than her old one. Starlight entered the mobile home, just in time to see her new friends identity revealed. Trixie held the Mare Do Well mask in a aura when she found Starlight too late to put it away.

“You’re-!” The pink violet unicorn was pulled in, the door slamming shut behind her followed by the light turning off. Starlight tried to look around the pitch black area before feeling a hard object slam against her head.

It was now dinner time. Twilight was sitting next to Princess Celestia, fidgeting her hooves as her former teacher played around with the kitchen utensils. “Our friendship lessons are going so well!” Twilight broke the silence - “She made three new friends!” - Such friends consist of Cranky (with a blue jay messing with his toupee), Vinyl Scratch casually listening to her headset, and Derpy just snacking on few berry muffins. - “She has such great taste in friends.”

A nervous chuckle from Twilight, but that wasn’t enough to appease the Princess of the Sun. Twilight looked around, focusing her attention to Sunset, Flash Sentry, and Hooflock guarding the hallway entrance. The first of the three already proved that she is doing well teaching a student of her own and is making new friends on the way, but she stayed by to watch. The orange unicorn twirled her hoof as she looked at the clock, now a quarter past seven.

“Starlight Glimmer should be here, heh, any minute, heh.” - Twilight looked around, still noticing the unfazed look on Celestia’s muzzle - “Any minute now…”

“Starlight Glimmer?” Cranky joined in the silence - “I thought you said ‘nosehair trimmers’!” - He slams a hoof on the table, scaring away the bird on his head - “What's going on? I'm hungry! And my nose is too hairy.” he finished his rant with a snort.
Twilight was going to be in for it now if Celestia finds it to be a waste of time. “Ha-ha, Cranky Doodle! You're so funny!” - The small alicorn stepped out of the table, making her way towards the door - “If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna check the kitchen. Maybe she got lost amongst the, uh... artichokes!” Twilight ran out of the door, praying that Celestia doesn’t summon her back for punishments unknown.

Starlight herself slowly awoke, groaning as her vision became clear that she was on a bed. Above her was the only light in an otherwise dark room. No sound either. “Hello? Is anyone here?”

“Evening, Starlight.”

Starlight rose out of bed, looking around the one light in a dark room. Her ears flicked around, waiting for another sound. She soon got her wish as a series of thumps disturbed the silence. Louder and louder, until a figure covered head to toe in a dark cloak, wearing a large hat as well. Starlight curled back, ready to fend herself, even more so when the figure raised a hoof. The figure grabbed the mask, pulling it back and revealing the blue furred unicorn Starlight had just known.

“Trixie…?” She asked, getting a slow smile in return.

“That is the secret I want you to keep.” Trixie lit up her horn, turning on the lights in the wagon. The interior was adorned with technology similar to that of the underground lab back at her home. One part of the wall had newspaper clippings of her past adventures. Another part of the wall displayed her weapons of choice from a metallic bo staff to sharpened horseshoes.

Starlight looked around before turning to the former magician at work, asking, “You're the Mysterious Mare Do Well?”

“Do not panic, you are among the few who know of my identity.” Trixie answered before a blue screen popped into view. Starlight took a look, widening her eyes that it was Cogsworth on the other side.

“If you can call it ‘few’.” he says before drawing out a large list of Ponyville inhabitants who were there during the fight with the Umbrum.

The light violet unicorn noticed a darker patch of purple on Trixie's suit. “You're bleeding!” - Trixie grabbed her cape and drew it forward to cover the wound - “What’s going on?”

Trixie stopped typing, looking down on the keyboard for a while before manipulating the mouse over, and pulling up a file. A criminal file; it was a stallion with an eyepatch on his left eye, a ring of facial hair on his muzzle, scowling at the photographer. On the right was a rifle the size of one of the policemares that turned him in. Trixie turned to her new friend, if she be her new friend.

“He goes by the name Sharp Shot. Aptly named by his very precise marksmanship. A paid assassin, he goes about to end the lives of politicians and public speakers.” Trixie motioned the gun wound “He just went for Mayor Mare.”

Starlight slowly gaped her mouth, looking at the criminal file again.

“Starlight, I need you to get back to the castle, right now.” - Starlight looked at the clock at the bottom right of the screen. 7:30 pm now. - “Any of the princess’ are in danger.”

Starlight raced out of the wagon, rushing her way back to the castle. But among the crowds of multiple colored ponies, Twilight mistakenly passed her student.

“Starlight? Has anyone seen Starlight Glimmer?” I'm looking for her!” Twilight remembered that the last pony she was with was “Trixie.” She growled before running towards the wagon and slamming the door open. “You!”

“Twilight?!” Trixie stood up, wincing applied weight on her wounded shoulder.

“Where is Starlight?!” She roared, spreading her wings in a threat display.

“Running towards the castle, looking for you!” Trixie rebuttled.

Twilight groaned before turning around, looking back at the pony she once fought “Can’t believe I let her trust you with her-” Trixie interrupted her by diving at her, rolling around before pinning her to the ground - “Trixie, what are you-?!”

Before she could answer, the second Mare Do Well slammed a smoke bomb on the ground next to them, making a quick escape with the grappling hook as a targeting laser scanned the ground. The wielder was Sharp Shot himself, hissing in irritation as he was foiled again.

Starlight ran over to the castle, down the halls and slamming the doors open. All company accounted for, except for one. “Where’s Twilight?”

The guests at the table were silent before Derpy answered, “Wasn’t she just looking for you?”

Celestia ruffled her wings, regaining her composure before inviting Starlight over. “Now that you’re here, tell me about your friends.”

Back on the rooftops, Sharp Shot scanned the area around him, waiting for either Mare Do Well, or Twilight, to come into view. “You made me miss my shot twice tonight, Mare Do Well. Nopony makes me miss!”

A distance away, Trixie and Twilight hugged by a small statue, curled up to be a small as possible to avoid the laser spotting them.

“I can play this game all night if I have to.” the assassin chuckled, making another sweep with the targeting laser.

Trixie slowly inched an eye out of her hiding spot, seeing the laser move away from them. She pointed down on the ground, signaling Twilight to remain as she makes her move.

“Trixie.” - Trixie remained and listened- “I was wrong. All that trouble that happened, I wish you have been treated fairly. The reason why I was sketchy is because of your counterpart in another dimension. You’re much better than that, and I have to hand it to you. Starlight could never have found a pony like you to be a friend. “

Trixie turned around, pulling out her cowl and giving out a small smile. “Thank you, princess.”

“You wanna try your luck?” - Trixie pulled the cowl back on and began her sneak assault on Sharp Shot - “Once I got you, I’ll take Twilight out, then Mayor Mare, then Celestia.” - Trixie then used a storm drain, no free from the sniper’s sight - “Come on! Show yourself already.”

On cue, Trixie jumped out of the storm drain, relieved Sharp Shot of his weapon before knocking him out with a punch to the head. A while later, police officers surrounded the assassin as he hung by his feet. The gun has all been smashed and scattered on the pavement. The commissioner gave a soft whistle. “Alright, boys. Let’s take out the trash.”

Back at the dining hall, the wait couldn’t be any more obvious. The swan ice sculpture has all but a puddle. Derpy was stuffed with muffins. Cranky’s tummy was still rumbling as he awaited his meal. Starlight was now in the same predicament Twilight was, sitting right next to Celestia. The Princess was still unfazed; trade one for another she thought to herself.

The doors opened once more, drawing everypony’s attention as Twilight and Trixie (now on a splint and bandaged) walked over to the table.

“Trixie apologizes if we are late.” - Trixie placed the splint down as she sat on the chair - “Trixie had an accident that needed attending to.”

Starlight giggled when Twilight reached out to her. “Starlight, when I first came to Ponyville, Princess Celestia gave me room to make my own decisions and my own friends. I need to give you the same freedom. I shouldn't have tried to pick and choose your friends for you. Just like me, you have to make your own decisions and your own friends.” - The two looked at the then former student at Canterlot, then former magician and now the second Mare Do Well - “From what I've seen, Trixie’s the real thing.”

Satisfied with her wait, Celestia wrapped a wing around Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie. Sunset as well gave smile, Twilight has finally learned what it is hard it is to be a mentor figure, all the trials and hardships to go through. Derpy and Vinyl Scratch clapped their hooves at this momentous occasion. Cranky however was distracted by Celestia’s flowing mane.

“How do you get your hair to do that all the time?” he asked, getting a heartfelt laugh in return.