A knock on the door interrupted a fairly lazy Saturday evening for Rarity. She yawned and put a bookmark in the cheesy romance novel she'd been reading before setting it down and going to open the door. She smiled when she saw Applejack on the other side.
"Oh, good evening, Applejack. How are you today?"
Applejack returned Rarity's smile and tipped her hat. "Doin' just fine, Rarity. Just poppin' on by ta see if y'all wanted ta come to some magic show that's happenin' in Town Square in about twenty minutes. You've been cooped up in yer house all day, so Ah figured you might wanna get out for the evenin' and see what this is all about."
Rarity shot Applejack a grateful smile. "As a matter of fact, I was thinking about doing something around town this evening. I was considering going somewhere for dinner, but this works just as well."
"Well, then, let's go!" Applejack said.
Rarity followed her out of her house and out into the cool evening. She took a deep breath and stretched a little bit, ignoring the slight twinge on her side from the stab wound that hadn't fully healed yet. She cracked her neck a little and followed Applejack to Town Square. As she walked, she noticed many other ponies from around town walking in the same direction, many of them muttering about the upcoming show. Rarity smiled when she saw Twilight and Spike in the crowd as well. She'd have to get Twilight's opinion on the show, given Twilight's own talent for magic. If this pony had her own show, she must be good.
Rarity and Applejack stopped in front of a large stage setup lined with blue curtains with star patterns on them. After a few minutes of chatting, a disembodied voice echoed from all around them as the lights on the stage began dimming.
"Come one, come all! Come and witness the incredible magical talent of the Great and Powerful Trrrrixie!"
Fireworks shot out of the stage as the audience began politely clapping. In a flash of smoke a blue unicorn pony appeared on the stage, standing on her hind legs with her forehooves spread in the air. With a burst of her horn, a few more fireworks appeared as she went back to all four legs, her cape flapping in the wind. Rarity raised an eyebrow at the pony's idea of fashion sense. Her magic might be good, but she could use a fashionista to give her some costume ideas.
Trixie fired off a few more fireworks, and the sparks formed into the shape of a big blue bear. "Gaze in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie relays the awe-inspiring tale of how she defeated the terrible Ursa Major!"
Rarity glanced over at Twilight, who was giving Trixie a look of disbelief. While Rarity wasn't fully clear on what an Ursa Major was exactly, it was clear from Twilight's expression that this Trixie pony might be one who told a few tall tales. She sighed and looked back at Trixie, who was shooting more sparks at the Ursa Minor.
"Is this the entire show, then?" she whispered to Applejack, who was frowning at Trixie.
"Looks like it might be," Applejack muttered. "Pity. Ah was lookin' forward to a nice, entertainin' show."
"As was I," Rarity replied.
"Booo!" Rainbow Dash called out, taking Rarity and Applejack out of their conversation. "Come on, get to the magic stuff already!"
Trixie glared at Rainbow Dash and turned to face her. "Well, it looks like we have some ponies who doubt that the Great and Powerful Trrrixie is the most amazing unicorn who ever lived!" Trixie shot Rainbow a smug smile. "Anything you can do, Trixie can do twice as well. She was once in Celestia's school for Gifted Unicorns!"
Rainbow Dash scoffed and jerked a hoof in Twilight's direction. "Yeah? So was she! She was Princess Celestia's personal student." Twilight blushed and looked away.
"Reeeally? Trixie said, turning her venomous grin to Twilight. "Well, then, how about a contest of skill? Your hick town's best unicorn versus Trixie in a unicorn to unicorn duel?"
Rarity clicked her tongue and turned back to Applejack. "You know, darling, I really don't care to see this. I'd rather get some work done in my shop than watch some egomaniac boast for a few hours."
"Trixie heard that!" Trixie roared, turning to face Rarity. "Will you--" Trixie paused when she made eye contact with Rarity. She blinked once before shakily lifting a hoof to point at her. "Y-you're that mare, aren't you? The foal mur--"
Before she could finish her sentence, the entire crowd began booing Trixie, with some throwing garbage onto the stage. Trixie yelped and began blocking the trash with her magic.
"She's a good pony!" Roseluck yelled, triggering affirming noises from the audience.
"Ten times the pony you are!" Daisy agreed. "She's more than paid for what she did!"
"Yeah, leave her alone!" Sea Swirl said.
Rarity sighed and shook her head. "I'll see you later, Applejack. I'm going to go get some work done."
'Okay," Applejack said sadly. "Ah'll come by at some point tomorrow."
"Delightful." Rarity began pushing through the crowd, ignoring the angry shouts about her in Trixie's direction. As nice as it was to have the whole town defend her, she didn't need any more reminders of her past. Let the mare have her own opinions on her. It didn't affect her in the slightest.
She grimaced when she felt the twinge of pain from her stab wound again.
* * * *
Rarity set down her sewing needles and stepped back from her latest design with a smile. On a whim she had begun making a cape and hat much like the one Trixie wore, but not quite so... garish. She ran a hoof down the back of the cape and nodded in approval. It wasn't something that she would ever personally wear, but at the same time it was a fun little side project to while away the hours.
Rarity ignited her horn and lifted the hat and cape off of the dress form, but before she could move them to her laundry room for a cleaning, the ground shook beneath her, and a mighty roar pierced the previously tranquil night. She yipped and her magic gave out, causing her to drop the cape and hat. She blinked in surprise just as she heard the roar once again. A part of her wanted to see what was going on, but it was a sufficiently small part that she quickly suppressed. Rarity rushed up to her room and turned out the lights before crawling underneath her covers. She flinched back when she heard the roar again.
"Applejack will be around once it's over," she whispered to herself. "It's all going to be okay." She thanked Celestia that Sweetie Belle was with their parents.
As she listened for another roar, she could hear the voices of a few of her friends talking to Twilight. Yes, Twilight! She would know how to stop whatever was attacking Ponyville. Or what if she didn't? What if this was a job for the Elements of Harmony? Rarity groaned as she poked her head out from under her covers. If the Elements of Harmony were needed, that meant she was needed. She sighed and slid out from under her covers. If her friends needed her, she would be there.
She ran out of her house and followed the noises until she reached Town Square. She saw the beast before she arrived at her destination. It was the largest bear she had ever seen, but its body was like the night sky. She guessed this was an Ursa Major. She stopped in her tracks for a moment, wondering if she was really needed.
"Oh, get ahold of yourself, Rarity!" she groaned to herself as she spotted Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow and Pinkie. "It's going to be okay!"
She resumed running and made it to her friends in a few short moments. "What's going on?" she asked. "How can I help?"
"Snips and Snails lured an Ursa Major here for Trixie to beat," Applejack said with a glare. "Right now Twilight's fixin' ta send it back to the Everfree Forest."
"Trixie couldn't do it?" Rarity asked. "But I thought she had already done it."
"Guess not," Applejack grumbled. "Lot of tall tales, Ah guess."
"Of course," Rarity muttered. "But what can Twilight do about it?"
As an answer, Twilight ignited her horn, pouring so much power into it that it began glowing brighter than Rarity had ever seen. Twilight's magical aura surrounded the Ursa, and, to Rarity's utter shock, she began lifting it. Twilight began rocking it in her magic as she emptied out Ponyville's water tower. She floated the water tower into Applejack's barn before floating it back to the Ursa, who took it in its claws and began sucking on it.
"My word," Rarity whispered as Twilight floated the Ursa back to the Everfree Forest. "I didn't know she was capable of such a feat."
"Me neither," Applejack said breathlessly. "That was plain amazin'!"
After a few more moments, Twilight's horn powered down, and she sat down, breathing heavily. Rarity, Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie all approached her with huge grins on their faces.
"That... that was amazing, Twilight!" Rarity said.
"I'm sorry!" Twilight turned her head to her friends, her ears flat and a guilty expression on her face. "Please don't hate me!"
"Hate you?" the others all said at once.
"Why in Equestria would we hate you?" Rarity replied.
"Because I showed off my magic and... I dunno, you all got so mad at Trixie for being a showoff, so I thought--"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, magical ability has nothing to do with it," Rainbow said. "We didn't like Trixie because she was a loudmouth. Way different."
"You used your magic to save the town from a super-scary star bear thing!" Pinkie said. "Why would we be mad at you for that?" Pinkie giggled and booped Twilight's nose. "Silly."
"We're all plum proud of you, sugarcube," Applejack said, triggering nods of agreement from the others. "You ain't got nothin' ta be ashamed of."
"Mhm," the other three said in unison.
Twilight's eyes began brimming with tears, and she got to her hooves, allowing her friends to all hug her. "Thank you, girls. You really are the best friends that I could ask for."
The friends broke away from the hug and began chatting animatedly among themselves about what had just transpired. However, their words were cut off when a familiar obnoxious voice cut through their chatter.
"You may have defeated the great Ursa Major this time, Twilight Sparkle, but you will never come close to beating the Great and Powerful--"
"Oh give it a rest!" Rainbow Dash said, glaring at Trixie. "Haven't you boasted enough for one evening?"
"Go back to yer wagon and leave us be," Applejack agreed. "There ain't no need for you ta keep goin' on with yer boastin'"
Trixie glared at Applejack, but even from where she stood, Rarity could see pain in her eyes. "Fine. Trixie will leave. She may not have her wagon home anymore, but that doesn't matter! She'll... she'll come back and be stronger than ever! She'll beat ten Ursa Majors!"
"Trixie..." Twilight stepped forward. "That wasn't an Ursa Major. That was a baby: an Ursa Minor."
Trixie froze where she stood for a few seconds, her jaw wobbling, before turning tail and running away without another word. Rarity stared at her retreating form, her head slightly tilted. Something didn't seem right about all that.
"If you'll excuse me, Applejack, I think I need to get going."
Applejack nodded. "'Course, Rarity. See ya later, okay?"
With a round of goodbyes, Rarity walked away in the direction Trixie had gone. She picked up the pace a little once she was out of sight of her friends, scanning the road for any signs of Trixie.
She didn't have to search too long. As she passed by a tree on the side of the road, she heard faint sobbing coming from behind it. She moved to the tree and, sure enough, Trixie lay behind it, her head in her forehooves, crying her eyes out. Her cape was askew, and her hat lay on the ground beside her. Rarity gently walked up to her.
"Are... are you okay, darling?"
Trixie gasped and shot up, looking around wildly until her eyes landed on Rarity. She stared at her in shock for a moment before glaring. "What are you doing here? Come to make fun of me? Come to demand that I leave town, never to return?"
"No, darling, not at all. The opposite, actually." Rarity gave Trixie and comforting smile and stepped closer. "You don't seem to be doing well. Do you have any place to stay for tonight?"
Trixie glared at Rarity suspiciously for a few moments before sighing and shaking her head. "No. I did have something, but my home was smashed in the Ursa attack."
"Well, you are more than welcome to stay at my house until you get back on your hooves. Nopony deserves to be out in the cold for the night." She extended her hoof to Trixie. "Is that something you'd like?" Trixie stared suspiciously at the outstretched hoof, making no effort to grab it. Rarity sighed, but didn't put it down. "Look, darling, I know what I did in the past. I know I can never erase it, but I can be a different pony than I was that day. I haven't hurt so much as a fly since then, and I'm certainly not going to hurt you. I obviously cannot force you to accept my help, but my help is there for you to accept, should you want it."
Trixie continued staring at Rarity's hoof for a few moments, but eventually she shakily reached up and took it, allowing Rarity to help her up. Rarity smiled fondly at her. "That's it, darling. My home isn't too far from here. Follow me."
Rarity began walking back to her house, turning back after a few steps to see that Trixie hadn't begun following her. Rarity beckoned her forward, and Trixie let out a quiet sigh. She finally nodded and began following Rarity.
The trip back to Rarity's house was short, but silent, despite Rarity's attempts at friendly conversation. She gave up after a few moments, and the two walked back to Carousel Boutique without even making eye contact. The town had wound down for the night, and the streets were silent, so the two were not disturbed. After a few minutes, Rarity and Trixie reached Rarity's home, and Rarity opened up her door, stepping aside so that Trixie could enter first.
"Here we are. Home sweet home," Rarity said, giving Trixie a warm smile. "I have a guest room in my basement, but if you don't like that, my sister's room is open for the night. She's with our parents at the moment."
"Whatever works for you," Trixie muttered, her gaze darting around the house.
Rarity shrugged. "Either one is fine with me, darling."
"I guess the basement is okay, then."
"Excellent." Rarity led Trixie down into her basement and into her guest room. "There's a bathroom upstairs if you need it. It's to your right."
Trixie sat down on the bed and fluffed the pillow a little bit in her magic. She didn't make any eye contact with Rarity. "Why are you helping me? Why are you being nice to me at all? I was mean to your friends."
Rarity gave Trixie a comforting smile and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Because I've been there, darling. I've been at rock bottom, and I wouldn't have gotten through it without help. You needed my help today, and I want to help you as others have helped me."
"I guess," Trixie muttered.
"Feel free to stay as long as you need, darling," Rarity said. "Just let me know what you need, and I'll do my best to help."
"I guess," Trixie repeated. "Thanks, I suppose."
"It's no trouble at all, darling. You just sleep as long as you need to, and I'll make us some breakfast when you get up, how does that sound?"
"It sounds like there's about to be some kind of catch," Trixie said.
Rarity shook her head. "No catch. Like I said: I've been where you are. You needn't worry about repaying me in any way. I just want to make sure you're okay, darling."
Trixie didn't respond. She merely laid down on the guest bed, not even bothering to go under the covers, and curled up into a ball. Rarity stared at her for a few moments before shaking her head and walking back upstairs to her own room.
* * * *
Rarity's eyes fluttered open and she let out a yawn as she sat up in her bed. A quick glance at her clock told her that it was just past nine. A perfect time to get some breakfast going, if the grumble in her stomach was any indication. She set her sleep mask down on its usual spot on her bedside table and went down to her kitchen. She opened up the cabinets and grimaced when she realized that she had forgotten to go shopping again. Toast and cereal it was. Hopefully Trixie wouldn't be too offended by that.
Rarity was about to get the milk out of her fridge when she heard her doorbell go off. She shut her fridge and went over to her door, opening it and smiling when she saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack on the other side.
"Good morning, you two. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Heya, Rares, we were just comin' over ta see if ya wanted ta get together with Twilight today. She's still kinda down after that whole Ursa business, so we thought we'd cheer her up a bit."
"Well that sounds lovely," Rarity said, stepping aside to let her friends in. "I was just about to get some breakfast going, if that's not too much bother for you."
"Well we were thinking about taking her to Sugarcube Corner for some breakfast, but if you want to watch your 'girlish figure'..." Rainbow jokingly made air quotes with her hooves, triggering a smirk from Rarity.
"Actually, I was just going to prepare some cereal and toast."
"See, what did I tell ya?" Rainbow Dash said, nudging Applejack's side. "She can't handle anything with more than... YOU!"
Rarity turned to see what Rainbow pointed at, and flattened her ears when she saw that Trixie had come up the stairs. Rainbow snarled at her and flared her wings out. "What the heck are you doing here?! Get out of here!"
Rarity scowled at Rainbow and put herself between the two. "On the contrary, Rainbow Dash, it is you who must leave my home!"
"But... but she--"
"She is a guest here, and I will not have you barging into my house to expel my guests, is that understood?!"
"Look, Rares," Applejack began. "You weren't there ta see how she treated us yesterday. She intentionally embarrassed us in front of the whole town!"
Rarity snorted. "Oh, is that all it takes now? Is that the unforgivable sin in Ponyville? Murder a few foals? Welcomed back with open hooves! Embarrass somepony in front of the town? Off with her head!"
"I can go," Trixie said quietly. "I don't want to cause a fuss."
"You needn't do that, darling," Rarity said, turning back to Trixie with a smile. "It's like I said: you are a guest in my home. You are welcome here as long as you need it."
"B-but Rarity, she tied Applejack up with her own rope!" Rainbow insisted. "She's--"
"And that's some unforgivable sin?" Rarity retorted. "Are you even listening to yourself? I just told you that she's a guest in my home! Her home was smashed during the Ursa attack, and now she has no place to go! I'd be a poor Element of Generosity if I left her out in the cold. In fact, I'd be a poor pony if I just left her out there." Rarity walked over to Trixie and put a hoof over her shoulders. "She's staying as long a she needs, and you have no say in that."
Rainbow and Applejack exchanged a helpless look, as if they felt they just needed to explain it the right way for Rarity to see their side of things. Rarity huffed and rolled her eyes.
"She embarrassed you. Fine. It hurt your feelings. Fine. And that's grounds for being run out of town?"
Rainbow growled and ran a hoof down her face. "It's... it's not like that! I mean, you..."
Rarity narrowed her eyes. "Be very careful with how you finish that sentence, Rainbow Dash."
"We don't mean to offend no one, Rares," Applejack said. "We just..." Applejack sighed and bowed her head. "Ya know what, Rares? Yer right. We were inhospitable. We don't get ta kick out a guest in yer home."
"But AJ, she--" Rainbow stopped when Applejack shot her a look. She stared back at Applejack for a moment before sighing herself and nodding. "Yeah, I guess you're right. We're sorry, Rarity."
"It's not me who you should be apologizing to," Rarity replied, turning her head to look at Trixie. Trixie flinched back and flattened her ears.
"I-it's fine. I don't care."
"We're sorry anyway," Applejack muttered.
"Yeah, sorry," Rainbow agreed.
The room filled with awkward silence for a few moments before Applejack cleared her throat. "Well, we gotta go, then. We'll see ya later, okay?"
"Very well," Rarity replied stiffly.
Rainbow and Applejack silently filed out of Rarity's house, with Applejack shooting Rarity one last glance before turning her head and leaving. Rarity sighed and shook her head before turning back to Trixie.
"I am terribly sorry about that, darling. I don't know what came over them."
"Well, I didn't treat them as well as I could have," Trixie admitted.
"Regardless, they behaved inappropriately."
The two stood in silence for a minute, Trixie looking down at the ground while Rarity merely observed her. Finally Trixie broke the silence.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why would you stand up for me like that? I hurt your friends."
Rarity smiled kindly at Trixie and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Because I know what it's like to feel alone for a mistake. Even though I had friends during my time away, I still felt alone, like nopony could help me. I don't want anypony to ever feel that way. Speaking as the wretched of the earth, it's terrible."
"Okay." Trixie sniffled and wiped her eyes with her hoof. "It hurts. It really hurts. When I was on the stage, I felt nopony could touch me. Nopony could do anything to beat me. Then the Ursa happened, and my home was destroyed, on top of me being forced to confront the fact that Twilight was better at magic than me. Nothing I could do would ever compare to what she could achieve."
"And why does that matter?" Rarity asked. "Twilight will always be better at magic than me too. But magic is her special talent. It's what she's the best at, and that's okay. My cutie mark is about bringing inherent beauty forward. Yes my cutie mark is gems, and I'm good at digging them up, but they are merely the tools I use. They're not who I am as a pony. If you spend your life comparing yourself to others... you'll never be happy."
"I guess."
Does performing make you happy?" Trixie nodded. "Then be the best performer you can be, and don't worry about Twilight Sparkle and her talents. She can't perform like I'm sure you can." Rarity grinned conspiratorially and leaned in close to Trixie. "Between you and me, she's a good public speaker, but when it comes to performing, she can get very nervous. She doesn't have the natural talent that you have."
A small smile crossed Trixie's face. "I suppose." Before Rarity could respond, Trixie threw her hooves around her shoulders in a hug. Rarity chuckled and returned it. "Thank you, Rarity." Trixie sniffled. "I didn't know how much I needed to hear that."
"It's no trouble at all, darling."
"But it still means a lot." Trixie broke away from the hug and wiped her eyes again. "I thank you for your generosity, Rarity, but I feel I must go now. I have some sisters waiting for me at home." Trixie's smile flickered for a second, but it changed so quickly that Rarity began to wonder if she imagined it. "I need to spend some time with them. I haven't in a long time."
"Well then have fun with them," Rarity said. "Celestia knows that my sister kept me going through the hard times." Rarity put her hoof on Trixie's shoulder. "Never lose your family, Trixie. There are no better ponies in your life."
Trixie's smile faltered once more. "Yes, I suppose you're right. I need to help my sisters. We can't make it without each other." Trixie's smile turned back into the confident one she wore when Rarity first saw her. "And then I'll be back! The Great and Powerful Trixie will perform her show, and it will be better than ever!"
"I'm certain it will be. Just don't go telling stories about Ursas anymore. Just be Trixie as she is. If you do that, I don't think there will be a better show in all of Equestria."
"Of course not," Trixie replied. "The next time it will be bigger! The magic will be more impressive! And..." Trixie chuckled. "I won't compare myself to Twilight Sparkle."
"And you'll be happy."
"Someday," Trixie muttered wistfully, unheard by Rarity. "I'll give the greatest show ever, and my mother will see it and be proud."
"I'm certain, but don't do it just for her. Do it for you."
"I will, Rarity." Trixie hugged Rarity again. "I can't repay you for your kindness."
"And you will never have to."
After a short breakfast, Trixie left. Rarity smiled as she left, feeling in her gut that everything would be alright with her.