Celestia’s mind traced back to Sunset Shimmer time and time again, and all throughout her day, she found it difficult to focus on her most meaningful of tasks. What Luna and she talked about before brought with it a flood of memories. Still, having little to do didn’t mean she was without responsibility, and even reading the newspapers she could scavenge brought her back to the many instances involving her once cherished student.
Trixie was truly like Sunset in many ways, but not anymore. After finding out about the alicorn amulet, Celestia came to understand Trixie’s true disposition. To know what it’s like to wield such incredible, and magical power can give anypony a sense of restraint towards alicorns, and even before that, Trixie had a history with showing off.
There was one detail Celestia noticed, though. She was never seen with a princess in question of any kind. Rather, it was always regular ponies, pegasi and unicorns, and not of royal blood she worked on impressing so much. Perhaps this shy behavior she acted upon when near alicorns was in fact always within her from the very start, but the princess would never really know for sure.
“Aaand thus, Your Highness, you’ve got the problem with this “Canterlot High” phenomenon,” a reporter said while she signed away a few documents for her assistant. Celestia blinked, feeling colder now that this particular subject arose.
“Hmm?”
He looked up at her where she sat at her throne, stopped trotting back and forth, and repeated, “Seeing as how our world is supposedly intertwined with this newly discovered, or however you want to put it… What did you call it? A human world?” His high pitched voice cracked upon finishing his question.
“Yes,” Celestia confirmed, but raising a hoof to stop him. “It is where the sirens now dwell, to answer your upcoming question.”
“Great, hehe,” he mused with a sly grin, as if he’d juiced the information out of her. “Aaand, Sunset Shimmer? How’s she doing? Heard any word from her yet?”
“Not… really, sadly.”
He looked up from his notes. The pen he was holding lowered a little, tapping the wooden board that held all his jotted findings. “She… hasn’t spoken to you yet? About anything?”
“No, she hasn’t.”
“But, Twilight returned just recently from that very world! Aren’t you the least bit curious to know if she’s making progress? From the tales alone, it sounds as if she’s gotten much better at being friendly towards others. Maybe she could come back?”
Celestia kept a level head, and stated quite bluntly, “If these rumors, which I have heard of by the way, are to be true, then I wish she’d come back.” Her eyes averted towards a picture of Trixie which sat on her small side table. “It would be of a most ill timing to return, but she’d be welcomed if only to be granted access to the castle. Per her previous actions, you understand.”
“Yes, just before her disappearance, you ended her availability on the palace itself, didn’t you?”
Celestia nodded. “And then, she was gone. I found my guards had been countered, and ripples in the mirror you now know of. It hurt my heart dearly to know she’d stoop to such lengths just to get what she wanted. If I’d known the obsession that mirror would cause… but I’ve said too much.”
“But, maybe she’s just unsure of your acceptance! She,” he began, but stopped himself. “Well… Okay, Your Highness, but really, the stories I’ve heard are indifferent. It makes her sound nothing like the way you just described her. I guess that’s all I’ll be needing for my article, then.”
He turned, but had his attention caught one last time by Celestia asking, “What… did Twilight say about Sunset Shimmer this time around, exactly?” She smiled a little, almost unnoticeable. “I guess I am a bit curious.”
He turned for a moment, but only rubbed his chin. It wasn’t until after he placed his hoof back down on the cold floor that he answered, “She helped defeat the sirens, and with all the others, as Twilight described it, turned them into regular, “teenage” girls.”
Celestia became that much more animated, and said, “Thank you, you may leave.” It was in no way impolite, either. If anything, she seemed grateful to hear this. After he left, she stood, all alone in the throne room. “This is almost an impossibility… Sunset Shimmer was a prodigy gone wrong, or so I thought. I’ll never forget that night… and all the times she’d gotten herself into trouble. Breaking into the dark magic wing, learning all those spells that in no way helps one develop harmony…”
She trotted forth a little, if only to think. “Could there be a motive for doing this?” Celestia asked herself this over and over again. “Why would she assist Twilight in fending off the sirens? Not too long ago, I’d expect her to instead side with those three creatures, if only to become a siren herself!” She tried her best to deny the possibility of Sunset Shimmer simply trying to plot her way into more mischief, but found it incredibly hard to do so.
That’s when a letter came floating to her. She spoke as she wrote, “Dear Princess Twilight, I’ve been hearing these rumors of Sunset Shimmer, and would like…” She stopped writing, and lowered the parchment. “No,” she said sternly. “Don’t get involved… I have more important things to look after, like Trixie… Where was I with that?”
While she turned around, the note returned to its shelf found high above the roof, next to the chandelier, and she walked back to her throne only to resume reading the article she’d yet to finish. “With the help of Zecora, a local zebra dwelling in the Everfree Forest, Twilight and friends were able to…”
Still, she felt like doing something. Perhaps a test to see just how much Sunset Shimmer had changed. The sorting of the test would have to be done much later on, though. For the time being, Princess Celestia still wished to venture down the path she thought Trixie traveled upon, and would take off for her in due time. Little did she know, Trixie was coming to her instead. It would undeniably prove to be a warming surprise.
Meanwhile, Twilight and Trixie wandered the spry outskirts of the palace together, Trixie following not too closely behind as to avoid being lost in such a big place. It was difficult for her, however, thanks to all the distractions the town had to offer. Although she felt fairly confident in memorizing the streets and patterns of the many winding back alleys, Trixie knew good and well that Twilight would have to be her guide. It didn’t help much that Twilight felt the need to repeat, “Don’t stray too far from me. Canterlot’s a big place.”
She turned around to check on Trixie, but found herself to be utterly alone. There were some ponies passing by, but no sign of the mare she was just with not a minute ago. In a panic, Twilight quickly scrambled to the former street they’d recently turned on only to bump right into Trixie. She faced a group of admirers, and heeded Twilight little attention. “Yes, Trixie will sign. Of course, of course.”
Her magic held a quill, and before Twilight could speak, Trixie began scrawling away at a book, a picture of herself, and a filly’s right hoof. “I know that’s just gonna wash off,” the fan said gleefully. “I don’t care, though! I gotta get something signed by you. I might not have a chance like this ever again!”
Trixie smirked smugly. “Fans often do become quite paranoid about never meeting with the Great and Powerful Trixie again. No need to fret. Trixie supposes that before she leaves this place, she’ll put on just one last act just for you three.”
“You mean, you’re not staying?” Twilight asked, coming up to Trixie’s side.
“Oh, right… Trixie, uh, will give staying some thought,” she told the small group. “She is unsure on where to go and what to do about… You know.”
The one who’d gotten her book signed said, “You’ll become Celestia’s student!”
Another cheered her on. “Yeah! You’ll be even more greater, and way more powerful! We have faith in you, y’know!”
Trixie blushed even more, and looked at Twilight. “Can you believe this, Twilight?”
“They’re right,” the princess responded. “It’s exactly what you should do, is have faith. We all believe in you; everypony but yourself.”
The group bantered at that remark. “Hey! She’s the Great and Powerful Trixie! She can do anything!”
“Yeah!”
Trixie hoofed them to calm down, and turned towards the main road. “Thank you for the support…”
She walked off shortly after with mixed feelings. Twilight followed along, and directed her to take a left. “You see? It’s not just me that thinks you should do this. It’s your supporters, too! Think about this before reacting so rashly, and I’m sure you’ll come to the right decision.”
Trixie simply slowed her pace. “You’re probably right, Twilight. I’ve been a bit lacking in faith for myself. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
“That’s another thing!” Twilight and Trixie reached the palace gates, where the clearing was. With Twilight’s hooves echoing as she circled around to face her follower, she asked forwardly, “What’s with the constant third-perspective to first-perspective way of speaking?”
Trixie blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Ugh…” Twilight shook her head while looking down. “I’ve been meaning to bring that up ever since the diner. It seems that while near me, you speak like I do. You use “me,” and “I,” something you’ve hardly ever done before. Why?”
Trixie gulped. “Uhh… I just-”
“See?!” Twilight pointed to Trixie’s mouth as if to accuse it of some heinous crime. “There it is again!”
“Well, it’s just… you’re a princess now!”
Twilight huffed, “Wh-what’s that got to do with the price of hay in Appleloosa?!”
“Don’t you remember?” Trixie backed up against one of the large, stone pots that held a prospering shrub. “I just so happen to know how it feels to have such power. The alicorn amulet gave me a glimpse of what an alicorn is capable of. To insult, or disrespect an alicorn like you is just foolish, Twilight! That’s why…”
Twilight didn’t let her finish. Instead, her hoof touched Trixie’s lips to silence her for the moment. Once all was quiet save for the residual background noise coming from the outside surroundings, Twilight explained, “Alicorns are powerful, yes. I won’t deny that. You must understand, though, that princesses aren’t to be feared. Respected, yes,but acting this way is just absurd, and it’s not you. Princess Celestia would rather you be yourself, and so do I, Trixie.”
“But, Twilight!”
“Promise me,” Twilight continued with little regard towards Trixie’s defensive nature, “that you’ll at least try to be yourself whenever near me, and Celestia… and any alicorn! To be honest, when you act like this, you might as well be pretending to be Fluttershy. I like you better when you’re at least a little bit egotistical, but not so much that it becomes annoying. You know how to balance it out properly now, right?”
Trixie opened her mouth to argue some more, but closed it before any sound was made. She nodded there after, now making eye contact. “Yes, Twilight. Trixie will be less timid towards royalty like you in the future.”
Twilight smiled, and turned towards the gates. “That’s good. Now come on, it’s getting late. We need to catch Celestia before she heads off for bed.”
Trixie obeyed Twilight’s advice, that is until she remembered a vital item she needed to even be allowed access to the palace. “Oh no!” She gasped while checking her sides, but it was useless. Her belongings were miles away.
“What’s wrong?”
“M-my pass,” Trixie stuttered. “I can’t believe I forgot my pass! Without it…” Twilight giggled while her friend became more frantic with each passing second. “What’s so funny?! Stop laughing at the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Twilight indeed stopped, but only because of the sudden personality change. “You and she will have to walk all the way back to the caravan just to retrieve that stupid thing! Either that, or teleport…”
Twilight put a hoof around Trixie’s neck to yank her forward. In the back of her mind, she now knew of something that might be of some use for Celestia’s later tutorings. Coming up to the guard positioned just next to the entryway, Twilight merely smiled his way, and he bowed with blushing cheeks. With a tap on the door, it opened for the two, and Twilight walked Trixie in without a single problem to speak about. “Being a princess does have its advantages, I must admit.”
“But… how?”
Twilight smirked. “He’s a friend of mine, but let’s leave it at that.”
Trixie was naturally curious to find out more about the blue maned pegasus that had let them in without a word, but knew not to press the matter any further. There were more crucial things to pay attention to, like finding out just which way they were supposed to go from here. There were four paths to choose from.
On either side of Twilight and Trixie were halls stretching as far as the eyes could see, and then in front were stairs that split down the middle. They reared off into what looked like even more halls, but they wouldn’t need to contemplate on the directions long. Twilight quickly recognized the shadow of her former mentor leaving the path found up the stairway and to the left. Her timing couldn’t be more perfect.
Welllcooooomeee to the shooiow. Sit back n relax and enjoy another beautiful chapter
WHY WOULD YOU PUT WORST PONE HERE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
5254981 Specify, child. Who art thou speaking of? Surely not the wanded behind one!
5254981
>Complaining about Flash Sentry.
It seems the author has rustled your jimmies.
I think i like this chapter how it is, well i think you mean maybe Flash Sentry there, hope the Pegasus has a bit more Personaliy and such as the Human Flash, that is if you plan to use him more often.
5254981 I don't see Blue bi- I mean Blood... Blue Blood.... I don't see him mentioned here at all.
Don't you think Celestia is risking telling the reporters about the Other World that Twilight went to where ponies might have evil intentions?
5255091 Not really, no. It's up for discussion, though.
5255010 With that statement, I can just picture you with seniority.
5255010 FLASH BLEH-NTRY!!!!!!
5255087 No, Flash Sentry.
5255024 He has. They are officially rustled, and I am officially pissed.
5255269 Oh, him. I... don't really care for him either way. He's just there to push the plot along.
... GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER, YOU MOTHER F#CKING PERV!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Makes sense Trixie doesn't really understand the difference between being an alicorn and wearing the alicorn amulet, and alicorns would frighten her as a result. Also that Twilight would point out the desire of the alicorns to be treated "normal" as often as possible. It's clear what the "right" choice for Trixie is, and seeing Celestia teach in a different way would be very interesting, or even taking the initiative to visit Sunset Shimmer herself, and to see just how much her former student has changed.
5255293
But really he could have been replaced by any guard. Twilight's a princess. She could have just brought her in anyway. The guard didn't matter and so there was literally no need for him.
5255270
Just relax on the Flash Sentry hate. The Flash Sentry of Equestria has had one or two very small speaking lines and two on screen appearances. He literally has NO character at this point. Canterlot High Flash Sentry and Equestria Flash Sentry are two completely different characters who share a name and a few physical traits.
I must admit that this chapter is better than previous ones. I felt like the Trixie of this chapter was more in line with canon Trixie. I still feel like she's a little too modest, but the scene where she's surrounded by her fans feels almost like canon Trixie. It's still a little strange that Trixie and Twilight are getting along as well as they are, but it is somewhat believable.
one thing though about this line though:
Why the quotation marks around the word "teenage"? Teenage years and teenagers should not be a foreign concept to ponies. Even if they mature slower or faster than humans they should still have a concept of teenage ponies.
5255712 Yeah, she would be uneasy with the concept. My headcanon is that Trixie really didn't like what that amulet did with her, in retrospect.
Come to think of it. Alicorns = good. Alicorn Amulet = evil. Why name it after something so diametrically opposed? Was it originally pure and became corrupted? Hmm.
I think the word you're looking for is 'advantages', not 'quirks'. A quirk would be more of an inconvenience, like you're not allowed to go out for donuts anymore.
5256057
I think it has a more to do with a Unicorn not being meant to have the power of an alicorn and the only way to grant that power other than ascension is though dark magic. In my own head cannon pony biology in relation to make has to do with unique pony organs than channel unicorn, pegasi and earth pony magic. Unicorns having an extra "magic lobe" in the brain that allows them to directly manipulate the magic field, earth ponies having a magically trigger gland that causes their bodies to produce extra adrenaline, and pegasi having an "anti-gravity" organs near the wing bases . Alicorns of course have all three of these things, having all 3 kinds of magic, the amulet seems to work only for unicorns so theoretically is must channel earth and pegasi magic into a unicorn's magic lobe, the overload of magic causing madness.
With this is also explains Scootaloo's trouble flying despite other pegasi having smaller wings than she does, her anti-grav organs are under developed. Also with this theory I suspect Twilight Sparkle is a mutant, her magic lobe being over developed and she perhaps suffers "Alicorn Brain" with parts of her brain being alicorn equivilants not unicorn, explaining why after her ascension she is more mentally stable, her brain is "all matching parts" now.
Just guessing on what may happen later.
While learning under Celestia, Trixie demonstrates that she is a fast learner in illusion magic. Not the smoke and mirror method for her acts but develops a rapid mastery of magic spells that alter ponies senses (like sight and sound) within a certain area.
At least that's how I imagined Trixie for my own fanfic that is set about 15 years from current age
So, Celestia found out about the "Alicorn Amulet incident". Oh well. I was hoping Celestia would have found out more about Trixie before Ponyville. I guess she didn't have enough time. As for Trixie's change in speech, I just thought she had finally been able to separate Showmare Trixie from Everyday Trixie. In any event, let's see how this confrontation pans out.
5255892 ...Nobody gives a fuck; STILL WORST PONE.
Loved the update, keep up the great work!
5254981 Hmm, Diamond Tiara's about?
5256881 Eh, Diamond Bitch could change from story to story. Flash Bleh-ntry is here.
I always liked the idea that Trixie's egoistical personality and referring to herself in third-person was just part of her stage persona... and that when she put up her hat and cape she's actually a very nice mare
Keep 'em coming, Art. This is shaping up to be really good.
Not bad, I really like the developing friendship between Trixie and Twilight. Can't say I minded the minor Flash cameo either.
"I first met him in an alternate universe where we were all bald bipedal primates and Celestia's former student turned into a raging she-demon and tried to enslave us all"
5259852
What a crazy Tuesday that turned out to be.
I enjoyed this chapter. I like seeing Trixie's changes and starting to resolve her internal conflicts. I'm glad that Twilight is helping, even after all of the trouble that Trixie has caused - both the two-legged and four-legged version. The question is... what will Celestia decide to do? This Celestia isn't the calm, patient, serene version we've seen repeatedly in the show...
Interesting... And inconceivable!!! You managed to keep with every cannon I can think of! So rare a moment this is! Praise to you!
Trixie, stop being such a fluttershy!
Still... The Sunset Shimmer thingamajig threw me off of the story, as it seemed somewhat irrelevant to the story... Still, it will probably resurface again somewhere.
Some suggestions (chapter 4):
What Luna and her talked about before
- What Luna and she
There was some ponies passing by
- There were
To insult, or disrespect an alicorn like yourself is just foolish, Twilight!
- like you
Trixie will be less timid towards royalty like yourself in the future.
- like you
Twilight quickly recognized the shadow of her former mentor leaving the path found up the stairway and to the left.
- around (?)
Just another suggestion on word choice.
"Rashly" would be a better word instead of shrewdly. Shrewd means to be astute and having sharp judgement. Rashly would be hasty, and not given enough consideration.
5384759 Again, you're right. Fixed.
Woo! Flash Sentry cameo!
Cap.
____________
From here on out I'll just leave the comment: great and powerful Trixie >> Great and Powerful Trixie if you need that error pops up in a chapter.
When using titles, monickers, and nicknames, they always get capitalized.
_____________
5913042
Red -- Error/Incorrect
Green -- Correction
"When using titles, monickers, and nicknames. They always get capitalized."
When using titles, monickers, and nicknames, they always get capitalized.
The Error: "When using titles, monickers, and nicknames." is not a full/complete sentence. Merge it with the next to make a full sentence.
Apologies -- I'm a bit of a grammar nazi.
6099023
It's all good. I made the fixes, and to be honest I'd rather a grammar error be pointed out rather than not. After all how will I learn, if I don't get it pointed out from time to time ^_^.
I would like to register a mild complaint as to the canoness of equestria girls. But that's just because I personally dislike the movie. Sunset was a good character and I recognize the value of referencing her in this story which seems very good by the way.
6099023
bah whom neesd gramer, anyways?
Sorry, but I'm a bit of a troll
5255010 Why doth thou talk in ye olde speak?
6447742 it's cannon as of hhe end of equeatia games , suck it up
space the words.
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My account unstared the fic last time I read it. So I'm missing from chapter 16 on up but did Sunny show up yet? And if not, are you going to make her an Ali like she was during Friendship Games when she turned into an Alicorn Magic Girl of Adorable Hotness? Or will her return be pre-FG?
Still I think Alicorn Shimmy Shakes meeting Trixie and Tia would be awesome ^_^. Pure adorbs.
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7086357
Friendship Games not Equestria Games. But yep, as of that movie it's canon. But not the Mirror Magic show ... I don't know why they made her an Alicorn in Friendship Games, with lots of foreshadowing for it. Then suddenly decide to ignore it afterwards ... it's super stupid of them and takes away from all the character growth and development she's been through.