Trixie checked her appearance in her mirror, humming to herself as she examined both sides of her mane. “I’ll be taking a bath anyway, but Trixie should still look her best even before she washes up.” She levitated her brush into the air and brought it to her head, stopping just short of her hair. “But then, why exactly does Trixie need to go through the effort of looking good for that Pegasus? It’s not like we’re close or anything.

“But appearance is important. And the Great and Powerful Trixie always strives to look her best when she goes outside.” Trixie began to run the brush through her mane, wincing slightly as she felt it catch on some knots. “It really has been a long time since Trixie has properly tended to her beautiful mane. That Pegasus must think that Trixie looks like a complete mess…”

That thought made Trixie feel uneasy. The possibility that a such a rough and messy tomboy like that Rainbow Dash would actually look better than her was enough reason to continue brushing her mane, but she also didn’t like the thought of Rainbow Dash laughing at her and making fun of her untidy appearance.

After making sure that her hair was significantly tidy and appealing to the eye, Trixie sat down on her bed and waited. As she did so, however, she noticed that the top of her mane in a complete state of disarray. With a grunt, Trixie picked up her brush and began tidying her hair once more, but no matter how much she brushed, it would be no good. She had neglected her hair too much over the past year, and now it was coming back to bite her in the flank.

“No choice…” Trixie used her magic to levitate her hat from beside the front door and placed it on her head. She did the same with her cape, hesitating for just a moment before putting it on. “Hmph. Once that Pegasus sees how useless the whole situation is, she’ll give up this ridiculous exercise.”

Despite her confidence in those words, Trixie’s attention turned to door and she began her wait in silence for the knock to come. Five minutes passed, and Trixie still waited. Ten minutes, and Trixie was beginning to feel anxious. Fifteen minutes, and the showmare let out a sigh as she concluded that Rainbow Dash had indeed realised how foolish this whole thing was.

As that thought passed through her mind, a knock at the door came, and Trixie jumped up with a start. “Hey Trixie! You in there?”

‘She actually came,’ Trixie thought as she stood up. She didn’t approach the door immediately, though. She took a moment to remove the smile from her face, and then another moment to sniff her hoof to make sure she didn’t smell too bad. She decided that she didn’t smell any worse than she did yesterday and gave herself a nod in the mirror before proceeding.

“Hey!”

“Hold your horses!” Trixie yelled as she used a scanning spell to confirm that only Rainbow Dash awaited her outside. When she saw that only the Pegasus was waiting for her, she unlocked the door’s locks and opened the trailer door, making sure that Rainbow had backed away so that it wouldn’t hit her in the face.

At first, as the two made eye contact with each other, nothing happened. They simply stood in silence for a few moments, expecting the other pony to say something first.

Trixie wasn’t sure what she expected the Pegasus to say, but she had an arsenal of witty retorts at the ready for whatever smart-mouthed, degrading insult was thrown her way. And thanks to the food from last night, she was now able to retaliate magically, too.

Rainbow Dash, however, wasn’t sure what to say at all. She had told herself last night, and this morning, that this was just a casual meet-up to help somepony who was down on their luck, and nothing more. Maybe, if Trixie was willing to let bygones be bygones, the two could possibly hang out in the future, but right now this was strictly business.

So why was the first thought that crossed Rainbow Dash’s mind that Trixie looked good for somepony who hadn’t properly bathed for months? And why was she having so much trouble telling her that? Or even simply greeting her?

After realising that Trixie was waiting for her to say something first, Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and regained her cool. “So, uh… You ready to go?”

A part of Trixie was disappointed by the lack of challenge that Rainbow Dash gave to her, but that was overshadowed by the part that was grateful for the Pegasus seemingly staying true to her words from yesterday. “Sure. Just remember that you’re paying.”

“That’s fine,” Rainbow said, feeling a little upset with herself for giving in so easily. She decided to remedy that. “I mean, so long as you pay me back later.”

“Oh, of course,” Trixie said, still not sure if she would or not just yet. On one hoof, this was one of the ponies that had heckled her during her final successful show one year ago, and after she revives her career, there’ll be no need to stick around with her any longer. On the other hoof, if this pony truly was going to such lengths to help the showmare out…

‘Trixie used to be quite a grateful pony, back in the day. But that was before I saw how ungrateful ponies can truly be… Well, it’s only a few bits. It’d probably be safe just to pay her back and be done with it.’

After locking her trailer door with her magic, Trixie walked alongside Rainbow Dash through the park, and tried to ignore the comments she could hear from everypony around them. She tried to think about how much better things would be after her grand comeback show. How ponies will line up outside her trailer to apologise for wronging her in the past, and how children will once again seek her autograph to hang on their walls. And perhaps most importantly, how she will once again be able to brush her mane without it hurting so much.

Rainbow Dash could also hear the things being said around them, and wanted to avoid another incident like yesterday. She had no intention of telling Trixie, but on the way to her trailer today she found that the police were on their way to question Trixie about the aggravated assault, and was just able to shake them off by paying the fine that Trixie would have been issued, plus a little more. She didn’t feel good bribing the police like that, but she also knew full well how it felt to get into trouble for simply defending yourself when nopony else was willing to help.

In order to avoid Trixie losing her temper and knocking the lights out of some unfortunate pony, Rainbow Dash gave a hard glare to anypony she heard talking about Trixie. She wondered if perhaps she was just being too paranoid, but one look at Trixie confirmed that, despite the tough face she was putting on, she was hurting badly on the inside.

Rainbow Dash decided to try to break the silence and start a conversation with the other mare. Something upbeat, to drown out the negative remarks around them. “So…” Trixie acknowledged she was paying attention by shifting her gaze to her side. “You uh… like any sports?”

“… Croquet is alright, I guess. And golf.”

“Really?” Rainbow asked in surprise, an eyebrow raised. “But, they’re so dull. And the ponies that play them are all rich snobs who only know how to kiss the flanks of higher nobles.” She noticed the glare that Trixie was giving her, and quickly corrected herself. “Uh, and you too, of course…” she added with a nervous chuckle.

Trixie huffed and flicked her mane. “Trixie will admit that a lot of upper-class snobs like to pollute such sports with their presence, but that does not mean the sports themselves are without merit. They are peaceful, relaxing, and can get quite intense at times.”

“If you say so,” Rainbow said with a shrug. “Me, I can’t games that are so slow are quiet. I need speed!” Rainbow Dash extended her wings and shot into the air, shooting well ahead of Trixie before looping around and catching up from behind her. “I need action! And above all, I need a roaring crowd just cheering my name!”

Trixie grinned and held her hoof to her nose to prevent the dust built up from Rainbow’s little performance just now from making her sneeze. “Oho? And what was it you were saying about Trixie being loud and unpleasant the first time we met?”

“Whoa whoa whoa! I didn’t say you were unpleasant! Hay, I don’t say that about anypony. Pain in the flank gets the point across much better.” Rainbow touched onto the ground and gave Trixie a sidelong look. “I just said you were loud, but I never said there was anything wrong with it.”

“Then why bring it up at all?”

“Well, Twilight was worried that being good at magic made us think you two were the same.” Rainbow shrugged as she thought back to the incident. “I don’t really get it, but I figure she was worried we’d no longer see her for how special she was. That we could just replace her for you at any moment. I was just pointing out that, even though your talents are the same, the way you use them isn’t. And that’s what really matters. At least, that’s what I think.”

Trixie whistled in appreciation at the Pegasus’ explanation. “Even though you don’t look like it, you’ve got quite a head on those shoulders.”

Rainbow Dash smiled and felt her face heating up a bit. She wasn’t sure, but she feared that she may have been blushing, so she quickly turned her head away to hide it. “Well, I actually got it from a Wonderbolts cereal box when I was a kid.”

“‘Having talent isn’t enough. It’s how you use it that defines who you are.’” Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened and she looked back at the now-grinning Trixie. “Trixie also liked that cereal, back when she was a filly.”

Rainbow stopped for a moment to offer her hoof to Trixie, who also stopped to accept the hoofbump. The tension from earlier was now completely gone, and Rainbow felt like she could easily start any number of conversations with Trixie. To her surprise, Trixie seemed to have no problem starting a conversation, either.

“You’re not so bad, you know? Trixie almost feels bad for beating you so thoroughly that time.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and donned an unimpressed look on her face. “Eh, you just got lucky. I’ve improved a lot since then, so don’t think it’ll happen again?”

“Oh? What, have you been lifting clouds and drinking lots of milk?”

“Actually, yeah,” Rainbow replied with a grin, wiping Trixie’s own cocksure smile off of her face. “Clouds may be light, but ones with lightning storms inside of them require great care and precision. And milk’s the drink they serve up at the Wonderbolt Academy.”

Trixie stopped and stared flabbergasted at the Pegasus’ words. Rainbow Dash stopped and crossed her forelegs as she waited for Trixie’s next remark. “You’re… a cadet at the Wonderbolt Academy?”

“Yep,” Rainbow said without missing a beat. She could feel the awe and wonder coming from Trixie, and she was loving it so much. “Lead Pony, to be exact. Second fastest flyer in the whole Academy.”

“Second?” Trixie asked.

“Yeah, well, that’s only ‘cause my Wingpony is totally insane when she flies. One of these days, she’s totally gonna break her leg or something.”

“So, does that mean that you get to meet Spitfire and Soarin, and all the other Wonderbolts.”

“See ‘em? Heck, I’ve partied with them at the Grand Galloping Gala!”

Trixie continued to looked awed for a few more seconds, much to Rainbow Dash’s delight, before her face fell and she shot an angry look down at the floor. “H-Hey… you okay?” Rainbow asked, receiving a headshake from Trixie.

“It’s so unfair,” the showmare said. “Ever since Trixie first got into show business, she wanted to join the Wonderbolts and travel Equestria with them. But they wouldn’t let Trixie, and do you know why?”

“Uh… Because you’re a Unicorn?”

“Exactly!” Trixie shouted, stomping a hoof. “So what if Trixie can’t fly? She spent months perfecting the cloud walking spell to make up for that! Even if Trixie couldn’t race, her magic could have been used to enhance their performances tenfold! A firework here, correct lighting there, lightning strikes at just the right moment… But they said no. Because only flyers are allowed on their team, and Trixie was born without wings…”

Rainbow Dash bit her lip and gave Trixie a sympathetic look. “Wow… You… really wanted to be a Wonderbolt, huh?”

Trixie nodded. “It was Trixie’s dream for so long. And it was crushed in just one second, by just one simple word from their leader.” Trixie’s eyes looked up at the brim of her hat. If she wasn’t wearing it, she’d be glaring at her horn right now. “Trixie cursed this horn that day. She cursed the fact that she was born a Unicorn, and not a Pegasus. If only that one allele was just different…”

“I’m sorry to hear tha-”

“That’s when Trixie decided to forget about that impossible dream,” Trixie said, interrupting Rainbow Dash. “If the Wonderbolts refused to let Trixie onto their team, then Trixie decided she would simply start her own travelling performance. She’d become bigger than the Wonderbolts could ever hope to be, all on her own. And then, they would regret not allowing Trixie to join them when they had the chance.”

Rainbow Dash waited this time, to make sure that she wouldn’t be interrupted again. “Well, for what it’s worth, you’ve got some pretty neat magic in that horn of yours.”

Trixie rolled her eyes and scoffed. “First of all, magic is stored in the body as waves, and channelled through the horn,” Trixie said, causing Rainbow Dash to frown at the impromptu science lesson. “Second, you saw more of the Alicorn Amulet’s magic than you did of Trixie’s.”

“Yeah, but… I still saw some of yours. And anyway, I’m pretty sure not just anypony gets a Cutie Mark in magic.”

Trixie shifted her cape slightly and looked over her shoulder at her flank. “Well, that’s true. Only the best of the best receive a Cutie Mark as fine as this.”

“Just like mine!” Rainbow Dash added, puffing her chest out to strike a proud pose in front of the showmare.

“So you have the talent and the wings to join the Wonderbolts,” Trixie said bitterly as she turned her attention back to the Pegasus. “Whilst Twilight Sparkle has the talent and the good fortune to mark her place in Equestria’s history books.”

Rainbow Dash frowned and took a few steps towards Trixie. “Look, I’ll admit it sucks that your dream was stopped because you don’t have wings. That’s not really something you can control.” Trixie was about to respond, but Rainbow cut her off by raising a hoof. “But you can’t go holding a grudge on somepony just ‘cause they got lucky. And just because you didn’t have their luck, doesn’t mean things won’t pick up for you in the future. You just gotta keep trying.”

“Easier said than done,” Trixie muttered under her breath. She noticed the stern look that Rainbow Dash was giving her and let out a sigh. “Ponies only allow you one mistake, before they use it to judge you for your entire life. Now that Trixie’s reputation is in shambles, it will not be at all easy to revive it.”

“Which is why-”

“I know,” Trixie said. “… And Trixie appreciates the effort that you’re going through for her sake.”

Rainbow Dash scratched the back of her head and shifted her eyes to the side, resting her gaze on a store to her left but not really looking at it. “Yeah, well… Don’t mention it. I always did like siding with the underdog, even as a kid.”

The two continued to stand in silence for a few more moments, neither sure what to say next under the sappy conditions presented to them. Rainbow Dash didn’t like these kinds of situations, and Trixie was simply not used to them.

“So…” Rainbow Dash started, trying to think of some way to change the topic. “… You, uh… You’re a fan of Spitfire’s. You ever get her autograph?” Trixie shook her head, and Rainbow’s grin returned. “Want me to hook you up with one? I can do that, y’know?”

Trixie’s eyes widened suddenly and she felt all of the awkwardness from moments ago leave her completely. “You’re serious? You can get it, without having to wait in line for like, hours on a hot summer day?”

“All I gotta do is catch her on a good day,” Rainbow joked in response.

“… Damnit. Maybe Trixie should cut off your wings and glue them onto herself.”

“Nah. These babies come from the most athletic Pegasus in all of Equestria. A nerd like you wouldn’t stand a chance at using them.”

Trixie harrumphed and flicked her mane at the remark. “Forgive Trixie if she chose interesting and rewarding knowledge over unnecessary sweating and falling in dirt trying to chase a ball.”

“Pfft! You sound just like Rarity!” Rainbow said, unable to hold in her laughter.

“Rarity? And how do you know a famous designer from Canterlot?” Trixie gave the Pegasus a sly grin. “Got a secret hobby of playing dress up, Rainbow Dash?”

“Get real!” Rainbow said, hardly allowing herself to be fazed by the fact that Trixie had just addressed her by name for the first time. “And she’s not from Canterlot. She’s from Ponyville. You remember her, right? White coat, purple mane… which you turned green. You also made her make banners for you under your rule.”

“Oh. Her.” Trixie cringed slightly at the latter memory. “Trixie will thank you not to bring up the time that she was corrupted by that amulet. She still has nightmares about it to this very day.”

Rainbow’s face softened and she gave Trixie an apologetic look. “Oh. Sorry ‘bout that. Didn’t realise it was a touchy subject.”

“Well it is,” Trixie quickly snapped. “So don’t bring it up again.”

“Okay, okay,” Rainbow Dash said, surprised at just how touchy the subject seemed to be exactly for the showmare.

“… So, this Rarity,” Trixie started as she resumed her walking, Rainbow Dash following alongside her, “You’re not going to tell Trixie she lived out Trixie’s dream, too, are you?”

Rainbow Dash smiled and shook her head. “Not unless your dream was being an overly dramatic, OCD dressmaker who likes to buck apples.”

“She’s a farmer, too?”

“Not those kinds of apples,” Rainbow Dash said with a smirk. “You remember my other friend Applejack, don’t ya?”

Trixie nodded, picturing the orange pony in her mind for a second. She could recall blonde hair, a hat, a straw of wheat in her mouth, and three apples on her flanks. “… Oho?” When Trixie connected the dots in her head, she returned the look that Rainbow Dash was giving her. “So you’re saying-”

“Yep,” Rainbow finished, noticing that there were foals nearby.

“Well, this day might not be so boring after all,” Trixie said. She would have never imagined that Rainbow Dash was the type to gossip, and it had been a long time since the showmare has shared any ‘juicy’ stories with anypony.

“Was there ever any doubt?” Rainbow Dash asked in an impersonated tone of Trixie’s voice.

“Several,” Trixie responded with a harrumph. “But then, who would have thought you’d be such a cool pony to talk to?”

“Well, right back at ya,” Rainbow said, stretching a wing over Trixie’s body and pulling her closer. “Man, it’s a shame we got off to such a rough start. You’re alright, Trix.”

“… Don’t call me that,” Trixie said, her face turning red as she brushed the wing away from her.

Rainbow’s face also turned red as she realised she had just wrapped her wing around Trixie, and the two didn’t say anything more until they had reached the spa.

“No, no! You’re wrong, Rainbow Dash!” Trixie shouted, glaring at the Pegasus at the other end of the tub. “The only reason that Spitfire is the Captain is because she is smart, and a good team co-ordinator! The real fastest flyer of the Wonderbolts is Fleetfoot!”

“You’re crazy! It’s true that Fleetfoot is faster than ponies give her credit for, but faster than Spitfire?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie has seen over on hundred of their shows, and once possessed a copy of every single one of their annuals up to date! Trixie knows what she is talking about!”

“Well I’ve trained under them personally, and trust me, not even Celestia herself could keep up with her!”

“Excuse me.”

“What?!” both Rainbow Dash and Trixie replied in unison, glaring at the spa pony that had interrupted them.

“May I please ask the two of you to keep your voices down? There are other ponies here that are trying to bathe in peace.”

Rainbow Dash looked around at the ponies glaring at the two of them and nervously laughed it off as she settled down against the side of the tub. Trixie simply looked indifferent to the glares directed towards them, though truthfully was glad to feel those glares directed towards another pony as well as herself.

“So how is it?” Rainbow asked, drawing a questioning look from Trixie. “The water.”

“Oh. Well, it’s certainly nicer than using cold lake water, that’s for sure.” Trixie sank down into the warm bathwater, letting out a pleasant sigh as she felt all of her muscles relax. “A massage would be nice, too.”

“Yeah, well, I’m only paying for the bath,” Rainbow reminded her.

“And your choice of shampoo is appalling. Honestly, if Trixie wasn’t the gracious pony that she was, she wouldn’t have allowed that stuff anywhere near her precious mane.” Shifting her eyes towards the shampoo, Trixie smiled. ‘But at least now I can go out without looking like a natural disaster had struck my hair.’

“Whatever. It’s cheap and it gets the job done. I don’t need my mane to smell like a basket of fruit or nothin’.”

Trixie sighed out of exasperation and shook her head. “Trixie would have thought that you of all ponies would understand the importance of always maintaining one’s appearance, even for something as simple and mundane as crossing the street. If you want to be a star, the focus of everypony’s attention, then you have to look your best at all times.”

Rainbow Dash waved her hoof dismissively. “Maybe that’s your thing, but it sure isn’t mine.” As Trixie pouted and rested the back of her head against the side of the tub, Rainbow Dash took the chance to look over Trixie’s mane again. It was wet and flat, and dull in appearance. Running a hoof through her own mane, Rainbow had to admit to herself that her own mane was usually rough and untidy. When it came to flying fast, she never felt that beautifying her mane was all that important, as it would just get messy again in the future. But Trixie wasn’t a flyer.

“… Hey!” Rainbow called over to the spa pony tending to a nearby bathtub. “Could you come over here for a sec?”

“One moment.” The pony completed their task and walked over to the patron calling for her. “What can I help you with?”

Rainbow Dash looked over at Trixie. “Well? What kinda shampoo d’you normally use?”

Trixie raised an eyebrow at the Pegasus. “What, you’re treating Trixie to proper hygiene products now?”

Rainbow looked up at the ceiling coolly so that she wouldn’t have to look Trixie in the eyes. “Well, I just thought that you’ll need to look your best when you do your big comeback show, right? I guess you know more about this stuff than me, so if you say my stuff’s no good, then-”

“Well in that case, don’t expect Trixie to hold back,” Trixie said, grinning as she turned to the spa pony.

Rainbow sighed, but smiled as she watched the spa pony leave to fetch Trixie’s request. She then wondered why she was smiling. ‘This is stupid. Why do I hate seeing her sad like that? Why am I spending money on a ridiculously expensive shampoo for her?’

“Hey,” Trixie said. Rainbow turned her attention to the blue mare, who was now holding a white bottle of shampoo in her magic. “Here.”

“… Uh… what?” Rainbow asked.

Trixie’s brow furrowed and she scooted closer to Rainbow Dash, whose guard rose in response. “You’re going to be onstage with Trixie too, remember? You’ve got to look good too.”

Rainbow realised what Trixie was up to, and quickly shook her head. “Nuh-huh! No way! I don’t use weird stuff like that on my mane!”

“Oh come on! Your mane would look much bet-” Trixie paused and thought for a moment. “Cooler, if you just took the time to wash it properly every now and then.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened at the compliment, and she raised a hoof to touch her mane. “I don’t know…”

“Trust me. It’ll suit you.” Trixie shifted her eyes to the side as she felt her face starting to heat up. “You’re not an unattractive mare, you know? It’s a shame that you don’t care enough to make your good points stand out more.”

Rainbow felt herself beginning to blush too. “Y-You think so?”

“Yes. Now just let the Great and Powerful Trixie show you how to properly treat your mane. If necessary, you can consider thanks for all this.”

Rainbow still wasn’t sure, and took a moment to think it over. She really didn’t like fussing so much over her mane like her more upper-class friend Rarity did, not just because it was a hassle, but also because it didn’t go well with her image of being cool.

But for some reason this seemed important to Trixie, and the reasons that she gave seemed legitimate enough. ‘Well, I guess my friends aren’t here to see…’ With a sigh, she gave in. “Alright, fine. Just nothing too fancy, okay?”

“Fine.” Trixie opened the bottle and hovered it over Rainbow’s hooves, pouring some shampoo into them. “Any maybe a nice hooficure to-”

“Don’t push your luck,” Rainbow said. “I don’t like ponies touching my hooves.”

Trixie pouted as she poured some shampoo into her own hooves. “Spoilsport.”

As Rainbow washed the shampoo out of her mane with some water, she was surprised to find that it really did make a difference. As she ran a hoof through her mane, she found that it actually felt kind of nice. ‘And it smells… okay, too.’ Part of her wanted to ask Trixie the name of the product so that she could buy some more later, but she didn’t want to give something for the showmare to poke fun at.

When the two were done, Rainbow paid the fee for the both of them and they left the spa. Trixie took one step outside and stretched her legs. As she did so, Rainbow watched, admiring Trixie’s new dazzling appearance in the light of the sun. She looked almost like a whole new mare, and as she turned to smile at the Pegasus, she seemed to be so full of life in contrast to her appearance the day before.

“So what next?” Trixie asked, breaking Rainbow’s focus. “You mentioned having somepony fix up Trixie’s clothes. Got any ideas?”

Rainbow slapped herself mentally and snapped to attention. “Oh, right! Come with me. I know this mare who makes some really good clothes.”

After leaving Trixie’s clothes with the elderly tailor living around the corner to Rainbow’s father, the two mares decided to hit up the nearby ice-cream parlour. Rainbow Dash ordered chocolate flavour, whilst Trixie preferred strawberry.

The two were now talking just fine, without any of the tension or awkwardness that they felt earlier that morning. And they had learned a lot about each other, too. Whilst Rainbow took the time to tell Trixie of her achievements in Cloudsdale and in Ponyville, Trixie enlightened Rainbow Dash to her days learning magic as a foal, her trials through Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, and finally, what kind of magic the Pegasus missed out on during Trixie’s first visit to Ponyville.

“Artificial wings made out of gossamer and morning dew? Sounds like a spell that would be perfect for Trixie’s performances… but sadly, not strong enough to convince the Wonderbolts to let her join.”

“Yeah, they kinda burnt up really quickly when Rarity got too close to the sun.”

Trixie giggled at the story. “Just like the Unicorn sage Icarus. A good warning to all that mere mortals will always remain just that.” Trixie took a spoonful of her ice-cream into her mouth and swallowed it before continuing. “So, how did she survive? Saved by the Wonderbolts?”

“Actually, she knocked ‘em all out when she was flailing and screaming for help,” Rainbow said, almost making Trixie choke on her next spoonful of ice-cream.

“Seriously? She knocked out the Wonderbolts when they tried to save her?”

“Dead serious,” Rainbow said, her grin matching Trixie’s. “So it was up to me then. I swooped on down and saved all of them at the last possible second! And you wanna know what technique I used to do so?”

Before Trixie could answer, a stallion approached the two from the side and placed a hoof on their table. “Hey, you’re that showmare ‘the Great and Powerful Trixie’, right?”

“That is correct,” Trixie responded with a glare. “What is it you want? An autograph?”

The stallion laughed and shook his head. “That’s a good one! Almost as good as that whole ‘I slayed an ursa major’ story. Heard you couldn’t even beat a lost little baby.”

Trixie’s brow furrowed and her horn lit up, her eyes focussing on the stallions long dreadlock mane. However, before she could fire off any spells, a blue Pegasus mare entered her field of vision by shoving the stallion away.

“Yeah, what of it? Have you ever beat an ursa minor?” she asked the stunned stallion. “Well?”

“Uh, no. But-”

“Right, so why don’t ya just mind your own business, and we’ll mind ours. Sound good?” The stallion seemed ready to retort, so Rainbow Dash continued. “Or d’you wanna find out what happens when you get struck on the back of the neck by lightning?”

The stallion flinched and took a step back, looking between the two glares being sent his way. “O-Oh, would you look at the time? I should really get going now…” The stallion left in a hurry, leaving Rainbow Dash grinning proudly and laughing at the sight of him tripping over outside the door.

However, when she turned around to face Trixie, she found the showmare still looking rather annoyed. “What was that?” Trixie asked. “You interfered, again.”

Rainbow sighed as she sat back down. “Look, I just didn’t want you causing a scene and making things worse. This performance is gonna change everything, trust me. So just hold it in until then, okay?”

Trixie harrumphed and sat back in her chair, forelegs crossed. “The Great and Powerful Trixie can fight her own battles, Rainbow Dash.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second,” Rainbow said. “But a wise stallion told me once that it’s not enough being able to fight. You also have to know when to fight.”

“Who said that?”

“My dad. And he’s right. You shouldn't let yourself get drawn into petty fights like this. You just leave troublemakers like that to me, and in return, I’ll let you watch my back, too. Okay?”

Trixie considered her proposal for a second, before noticing something in what she said. She tilted her head at the Pegasus. “Wait, that makes it sound like we’re more than just business partners.”

Rainbow Dash suddenly realised that too, and took a moment to think about it before responding. “Well… maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.”

“… Trixie… thought she made it clear that she isn’t looking for friendship from you.”

“I know, but… I actually had fun today. You’re pretty cool, for a Unicorn.”

Trixie let out a momentary laugh at the comment. “And you’re not bad, for a ruffian tomboy.”

Rainbow Dash also laughed for a moment, before turning her attention to the side. She noticed a clock on the wall and widened her eyes as she read the time.

“Well,” Trixie began, “Maybe… we could still hang out more after Trixie’s big comeback show.”

“Huh?” Rainbow turned to Trixie and registered what she had just said. “Oh, yeah. Totally.” After finishing off the remainder of her ice-cream really quickly, Rainbow Dash stood up and picked up her saddlebags. “Uh, look, I’d like to stay longer, but I have to get going.”

Trixie felt her stomach tightening and her ears drooping, but tried her best to ignore them. “Really? You don’t want to stay and have dinner?” Trixie wondered why she was asking such a thing, but didn’t have time to wonder for long before Rainbow Dash answered her.

“I would, but I already made plans to have dinner with my dad. Sorry Trixie.” Rainbow felt a wave of sadness wash over her for a brief moment, but quickly shook it off. “Uh, but maybe tomorrow? We can even go out to eat, instead of you just having those cheap noodles.”

At that, Trixie’s spirits elevated immediately. “Well, if you have already made plans then it can’t be helped. But dinner tomorrow sounds perfectly acceptable.”

“Alright!” The two stared at each other in silence for a few moments. “Soooo, I guess I’d better get going then.”

Trixie nodded. “Indeed. Trixie will see you tomorrow?”

Rainbow nodded back. “Yeah. Tomorrow.” Another few seconds of silence followed, with both mares averting their eyes afterwards, and then Rainbow Dash slowly backing away from Trixie. “Then, catch ya later.”

“Later,” Trixie said softly, before jumping at the sound of clattering ahead of her. She looked up to see that Rainbow Dash had collided with a table, and was now apologising to the two ponies sitting there. After that, the Pegasus left rather quickly, leaving Trixie all alone with her bowl of quickly-melting ice-cream. “… This suddenly doesn’t seem very appetising.”

Grabbing her hat and putting it on, Trixie rose out of her seat and moved towards the door. ‘Guess I’ll just go back to my trailer and see if I can get some sleep.’ Trixie stopped as she reached the door to the ice-cream parlour, her eyes widening as realisation hit her. ‘Am I… Am I missing her?’

Meanwhile, in the air above the ice-cream parlour, Rainbow Dash flinched as she saw the blue mare walk through the door, and quickly took off before she could be noticed. “Argh! What the hay is wrong with me? Why am I acting so weirdly? I’m like Fluttershy was back when she-”

Rainbow halted immediately as memories of Flight School entered her mind. Memories of the time that Fluttershy acted stranger than usual, just days after the new colt moved in and started to talk to her.

Rainbow Dash looked back in the direction of the ice-cream parlour and her jaw hung open as the thought whirled around inside her head. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me…'