Everywhere that Rainbow Dash looked throughout the dark castle appeared to be the same. Locked doors, reflective, crystalline walls, and many Trixies all looking at Rainbow Dash with mixed expressions of confusion, fear, and even anger.

Occasionally, Rainbow Dash would be attacked or her path would be hindered by these Trixies. She had noticed that whilst they all fundamentally appeared to be the same, there were certain differences between them, some subtle, some not-so-subtle. For example, there were a few Trixies that were far more aggressive and vulgar than their counterparts, and then there were those that were terrified and hid behind their friends’ legs. There were also those that were just a little braver than the average Trixie, and some that were a little more wise.

Rainbow Dash learned the secret to getting by these Trixies fairly quickly. She had to remind them of who she was, and what she meant to the real Trixie. It seemed that just one memory each was enough to do it.

“And then remember how we stopped that hurricane together? Your magic and my flying. We were like an unstoppable force!”

The Trixie blocking Rainbow’s path dropped her spear as she gasped. “T-That’s right! I remember! Oh, Rainbow Dash, how could I have ever forgot?!”

Rainbow Dash smiled. This wasn’t as bad as it was the first few times, but she was starting to worry that she might run out of memories to share eventually. “Hey, d’you think you could show me around this place?”

The Trixie shook her head. “All of us have our places to be. We cannot leave them.”

“Well, you think you could point me in the right direction? I’m trying to find Trixie.”

“Trixie is standing right before you.”

Rainbow shook her head. “No, I mean the real Trixie.”

The Trixie tilted her head. “Trixie doesn’t follow.”

Rainbow Dash sighed. “Never mind. I’ll just look around on my own.”

“Sure thing. You’re more than welcome in Trixie’s mind.” The Trixie stepped aside with a smile to let Rainbow Dash pass.

The trek through the castle continued. Rainbow Dash continued to spread her memories with Trixie amongst the many Trixies that she encountered and noticed that, each time she did so, the walls around her would brighten up ever-so-slightly.

Eventually, Rainbow Dash came to a large, chained-up door. There was an odd feeling coming from behind the door, as well as a purple light resembling Trixie’s magical aura seeping through the cracks. Rainbow Dash couldn’t see what was behind the door, but her gut was telling her what she needed to know. Trixie was there.

“Trixie! I know you’re in there! Let me in, now!” No response came and Rainbow Dash groaned. “Look, I’m not mad! I just wanna talk! You can trust me, right?” ‘Great. ‘Cause naggin’ always works great.’

To Rainbow’s surprise, that actually seemed to work as the chains fell off of the door, allowing it to open for the pegasus. She was greeted to an bright, warm light. She knew that Trixie was in there; she could feel it. Lifting a forehoof, Rainbow Dash stepped into the light.

Twilight Sparkle stood face-to-face with Sunset Shimmer in front of the Manehatten Central Hospital, a cold wind wisping by as ponies peeked out of their windows into the street.

Rarity gulped. “T-Twilight…”

“She’ll be fine!” Pinkie Pie assured her friends. “This’s Twilight we’re talking about! Remember how she beat Sunset Shimmer last time?”

“But she had the Element of Magic back then,” Rarity pointed out.

“Okay, but remember how she beat Trixie with the Alicorn Amulet?”

“Ah don’t think a trick is gonna work on this one,” Applejack said. “She seems more together than Trixie did. ‘Sides, we all had ta help back then.”

“… Well, remember when Cerberus-”

“Fluttershy handled that one,” Rarity said bluntly.

“… TWILIGHT! GET OUTTA THERE!”

Applejack looked around the hospital room. “Hey, where’re those two guards?”

Rarity also took a glance around the room. “You mean Flint and Coal?”

“Yeah. Ah coulda sworn they were here jus’ a second ago.”

“Princess!” Twilight blinked as two pairs of hind legs stepped out before her, their owner standing at the ready with their spears pointed towards Sunset Shimmer. One of the pegasus guards looked over his shoulder at the confused alicorn with a reassuring grin. “Please stand back! We’ll handle this!”

“W-Wha?” Twilight asked in a startled tone.

“It is our job to protect you, Your Highness,” Flint said.

“Do not fear! We are highly trained for just this sort of event!” Coal added.

“G-Guys-”

“You needn’t worry!” Flint turned back to Sunset Shimmer, narrowing his eyes as he took a deep breath. “We do not fear death.”

“That’s very noble, but-”

“I know you want to help, but please, leave it to the professionals,” Coal said. “You have magical expertise, so if you be our brains, we’ll be your brawn.”

“You’re floating.”

Flint and Coal looked down to find that they had indeed been lifted off of the ground in a bright, green glow. “W-When did this happen?”

“You two are just in the way,” Sunset said as she flicked her head to the side, throwing the two guards into the building on the other side of the street. The two simply lay in a heap on the ground, dazed and disorientated until they finally passed out. “The one that I’m interested in is Celestia’s dog.”

“I’m not a dog,” Twilight protested as she cast a glare at the poltergeist. “I’m an obedient student. That’s why Celestia didn’t expel me.”

“‘Obedient’ is just another way of saying that you’re her willing slave. Well, I suppose that is one way to earn power, but only under her control.” Sunset’s horn lit up and several small flames ignited around her, startling her opponent before taking a step forward.

“I trust the princess! I don’t question her judgement and she always pulls through for us!” Twilight pushed herself into the air as she spotted two flames being thrown her way, using the blast to propel herself forward and wrapping her forehooves in magic as she closed in on Sunset Shimmer.

“I trusted the princess once, too,” Sunset said as she teleported to the side. Twilight turned in the air and attempted to strike again. “I realised what a mistake that was, though. In a world where everypony looks out for themselves first, those with power cannot trust anyone. Least of all those above them.”

Twilight felt herself slowing down and gasped as she recognised the spell from Sunset Shimmer pushing against her. She pulled herself up, flying high into the air and breaking out of Sunset’s spell. Hovering in the air, Twilight looked down at the poltergeist beneath her. “I know that the princess would never have expelled you unless she felt you weren’t using your power responsibly!”

Sunset Shimmer gritted her teeth together and fired a shockwave into the air, forcing Twilight’s wings to close and sending the alicorn plummeting towards the ground screaming. Twilight’s horn sparked as she clenched her eyes shut and she disappeared moments before she hit the concrete road beneath her.

“You understand nothing!” Sunset Shimmer yelled. “Princess Celestia expelled me because she feared me! She denied me my rightful place as a Princess of Equestria because she feared I might overtake her! But she was a fool to think that would be enough to stop me!”

Twilight Sparkle reappeared behind Sunset Shimmer and fired a sedation spell towards the back of her neck. Sunset’s barrier deflected it and Twilight had to duck to avoid being.

“Well!” Sunset yelled as she turned around and delivered a roundhouse kick to the side of Twilight’s head, knocking the princess to the ground. “If she wants to make an enemy out of me, then so be it!” Sunset lifted Twilight’s limp body up and slammed it down into the ground. “I will become a princess, whether it’s with wings or not! Whether it’s by Celestia’s side…” Sunset held a forehoof up and cast a spell, casting a fire around it as she thrust it forward into Twilight’s stomach, “… Or over her dead body.”

“You’ll have to walk over my dead body, first!”

Sunset Shimmer dropped Twilight’s body and fell forward as she felt a sharp jolt passing through her system, her magic disappearing and her hooves twitching. Using all of her might, Sunset managed to turned her head to see behind herself. Twilight Sparkle stood there, her horn glowing and a large storm cloud hanging above her head.

“I’ll have to thank Trixie for mentoring me in illusions,” Twilight said as she cancelled her magic, allowing the storm cloud and her limp ragdoll body to disappear.

“Illusions? Impossible,” Sunset Shimmer argued. “My barrier should dispel any and all magic sent my way, including illusions. That’s why all those who fought me couldn’t-”

“So that’s why my brother lost to you,” Twilight deduced. “He must have tried to detain you with a barrier, but then yours was stronger. Trixie’s illusions would have been no good, either.” Twilight closed her eyes and took a single, soothing breath. “… But there’s one thing you didn’t account for.”

“… What’s that?” Sunset asked as she watched Twilight Sparkle opening her eyes. Purple streams of mist leaked from their sides and her white sclerae had turned green. “… Why? Why wouldn’t the princess turn something as dangerous as you away?”

“Like I said, the princess isn’t like that,” Twilight said.

“No. I think it must be that she learned her lesson,” Sunset argued. “‘Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer’… How interesting.” Sunset’s hoof twitched and, with some effort, she began to push herself up, much to Twilight’s shock and surprise. “I see. I understand now. That storm cloud wasn’t real; it was an illusion. And knowing that, I can recover just fine.”

“No way! Even if it was an illusion, the impact it had on your was real and should have stayed!”

“I was Celestia’s star pupil,” Sunset Shimmer said. “A mere trick like that won’t work to keep me down! First, I’ll crush you, and then I’ll kill your precious mentor!”

“I won’t let you!” Twilight yelled as her horn flared so, black streams of magic spiralling as she lowered her head and prepared to fire her spell towards her opponent.

“Now that I know you’re casting illusions, I won’t be caught off guard like I was before,” Sunset said calmly as she extended her right forehoof to the side, flames spiralling around it and gathering at the tip, mere inches from a startled Twilight’s muzzle. “You had one shot. You should have gone for the kill.”

A bright explosion filled the area, and all that Twilight’s friends could do was call out her name from the hospital room’s window as smoke began to rise into the air.

Looking into the white void ahead of her, Rainbow Dash wasn’t quite sure what she was expecting, but this was definitely at the bottom of the list. It was herself, holding Trixie and telling her that everything was going to be okay. Trixie kissed the other Rainbow’s cheek, making Rainbow Dash’s eye twitch.

“Hey! Get off my marefriend!” she shouted, charging forward, only to hitting an invisible wall. “What the? Hey!” A thought crossed Rainbow Dash’s mind. “Hold on. What if this’s just like a memory or something?”

Rainbow Dash continued to watch the scene. The other Rainbow pushed Trixie away and began to leave. “Get lost. I never want to see you again.”

“What?!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“No, please! Don’t leave me! I-” Trixie gasped, the tears rolling down her face coming to a sudden stop. “W-Where am I?”

“You’re awake?” Trixie turned around to find Rainbow Dash standing behind her.

The real Rainbow Dash watched with confusion as the fake moved in to hug Trixie, the previous imposter having already disappeared moments before. “What’s going on? Did she forget what just happened? Why is that fake being nice to her now?”

“Such is the work of a truly accomplished magician,” a voice behind Rainbow Dash said, prompting the pegasus to turn around quickly and find Sunset Shimmer standing behind her. “My spell hasn’t just locked away feelings of love and trust. I’ve also locked her into this eternal cycle of hope and betrayal. Over and over, for as long as she lives, she will find hope in the one she loves… and then be betrayed. It will never end.”

“How could you do something so horrible? Why would you even do something like that?!” Rainbow Dash demanded, ready to pound Sunset Shimmer at a moment’s notice.

“To teach her a lesson,” Sunset replied. “Just the coma was enough to bait Celestia into my trap, but that mare, she seemed to truly hold feelings of love for this ‘Rainbow Dash’ in her heart. At the same time, I could feel the same darkness coming from her that I felt when Celestia betrayed me. Feelings of doubt, of insecurity, the feeling of being all alone with nopony to trust. She had experienced this all at some point in her life, yet now she has the gull to act as if she is happy, to act as if there is a place where she belongs.

“It infuriated me, so I thought I would teach her a lesson.”

“What the hell are you talking about?! What kinda reason is that?! I showed Trixie that she can trust ponies! I’m the one who brought her back from being all alone, and we’ve been happy together ever since then! Just ‘cause you’re jealous, doesn’t give you the right to-”

“Silence! You understand nothing! It is in the nature of every single pony to betray each other. Sure, we work and act as these so-called ‘communities’ for the sake of survival, but when it comes down to it, when it becomes necessary, we betray each other at the drop of a hat! This mare would never last if she continued to believe that some ponies were different. Really, keeping her locked up in here was a kindness!”

“You’re crazy!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “Just because you think Celestia betrayed you, doesn’t give you the right to-”

“I was betrayed! And I will make her pay… I’ll make you all pay!” Sunset Shimmer charged forward, her horn alight. Rainbow Dash dodged to the side as a blast of magic was fired her way. “How dare she… How dare she climb out of the darkness, smiling and laughing like there isn’t a problem in the world! Once you’ve been betrayed, you should know better than to trust in others! Who does this mare think she is!”

“Oh, boohoo, Celestia was hard on you! Get over it! There’s more to life than trying to impress one pony!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “Y’know, before me and Trix got together, she went all over Equestria and still had problems dealing with other ponies, but she still kept goin’! You gave up after just one pony lost their faith in you!”

“Shut up!” Sunset Shimmer yelled, her horn and eyes sparking as magic leaked out. “You know nothing! You understand nothing!”

“I get that you’re a quitter and a sore loser! Trixie’s not that weak, though! Even when things were at their worst, she still kept goin’! She didn’t run away to some other world or whatever, she just kept trying!” Rainbow Dash turned to Trixie, sitting deeper into the void with another Rainbow Dash striking her cheek, and shouted, “THAT’S WHY I KNOW YOU WON’T QUIT NOT, WILL YOU, TRIXIE?!”

Trixie gasped and looked all around her. “What was that?” she whispered.

“You fool!” Sunset Shimmer shouted. “She can’t hear you!”

“Oh no?! Hey Trixie! C’mon, how ‘Great and Powerful’ can you be if you just sit there all depressed your entire life?!”

Trixie narrowed her eyes. “Why do I feel like I have just been insulted?”

“Hey! You don’t really think that me over there is real, do you?!”

Trixie turned to the Rainbow Dash who had just struck her. “… Are you… real?”

“Would the real me hit a pony who just woke up and doesn’t know what’s what?!”

“The real Dash would never strike a pony who’s down.”

“What are you doing?” Sunset asked, watching in disbelief as Trixie rose to her hooves with a determined look on her face.

“Would I leave you just ‘cause you’re out of it?!” Rainbow Dash shouted, ignoring Sunset’s question.

“Rainbow Dash would never betray somepony, let alone somepony who’s not even conscious!” Trixie declared, pointing a hoof towards the Rainbow Dash before her.

“What did I say before I left for the academy?!”

Trixie narrowed her eyes. “Dash is going to wait for me, and she asked me to wait for her.”

Sunset Shimmer stomped her hooves down onto the ground and unleashed a shockwave of magic. “NO! You are wrong! Ponies betray each other! She can’t be trusted! NONE OF YOUR FRIENDS CAN BE TRUSTED!”

Trixie gasped and took a step back as images of all of her friends appeared before her. Applejack and Rarity were armed with tomatoes, Pinkie Pie was glaring, Fluttershy wasn’t even looking at her and Twilight Sparkle was holding up a scroll entitled: ‘Decree of Banishment’. Finally, Rainbow Dash gave the signal, and everypony attacked at once through harsh words and produce thrown towards the showmare’s face.

“Come on! What part of that looks anything like our friends?!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“I know, right?” Trixie responded. “Fluttershy would never turn a blind eye to abuse.” The image of Fluttershy vanished in the blink of an eye. “Pinkie Pie only glares like that when somepony hurts a friend.” The Pinkie Pie also vanished. “Rarity and Applejack may be stubborn and hold grudges, but they’re not violent. Twilight doesn’t wave her authority around like that, and Rainbow Dash… above all else, she would never gang up on any one pony.”

The rest of the images of Trixie’s friends disappeared, and the showmare turned her head to face Rainbow Dash. The real one, this time. “Heh. I knew you could do it.”

“Thanks to you,” Trixie said. “One year ago, I never would have doubted the images I just saw. But you showed Trixie the true nature of ponies. We stick together!”

“NO!” Sunset Shimmer yelled. “NO NO NO NO NO! Do not trust her! She will betray you! When the time is right, she will toss you aside and leave you with nothing but painful memories and deep regrets!”

Trixie put a hoof to her chin. “Hmmm… Nah. That doesn’t sound like my Dashie.”

“You fool! Don’t you get it? It’s a trick! Do you honestly trust her that much?!”

Trixie gave the image of Sunset Shimmer a quick grin, before teleporting to Rainbow Dash’s side leaning against her partner. “Yes. I do.”

“And I trust her,” Rainbow Dash said. “So what now? You still think you can drive us apart? Go ahead and try! It won’t work, though!”

“You… How dare… I will…” Sunset’s mane and tail caught fire as she unleashed a bloodcurdling scream that echoed throughout the void. “DIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!”

“Here it comes!” Rainbow Dash shouted as the enraged Sunset Shimmer charged towards them, her entire body now just one big flame that forced the two mares to shield their eyes.

“You’ve got my back, right?” Trixie asked. “This time, Trixie’s got yours, too!”

Quickly, Rainbow Dash folded her wings to shield herself and Trixie, whilst Trixie simultaneously erected a barrier that deflected the incoming attack. “You can’t get through to us!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “Face it, you might as well just give up!”

“This is Trixie’s mind,” Trixie said. “Dashie is welcome in here anytime, but you are not!”

“You will regret placing your trust in another,” Sunset warned as she looked down at the blue unicorn through the barrier.

“I’ll take my chances. It’s worth it to be with Dash. Now, away with you!” Trixie’s horn flared and the image of Sunset Shimmer cried out as the barrier consumed her, dissolving her before the mares’ very eyes. The cries slowly died down along with the light caused by Trixie’s magic. Eventually, the two were left all alone in the large, white void together.

“Is she gone?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Seems like it,” Trixie said. “Hey… thanks for saving Trixie.”

Rainbow Dash smiled. “Well, it’s kinda my job. I mean, somepony’s gotta look out for you, since you’re always getting into some kinda trouble.”

“You don’t have to make it seem as though Trixie is some sort of child,” Trixie said in a flat tone. “Anyway, you should probably leave now. Trixie is waiting for you out there.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, before looking around for a few seconds. “Uh… how?” A door suddenly appeared beside the two mares, with a large sign above it reading: ‘EXIT’. “Oh. Well, that’s helpful.”

“Thanks again,” Trixie said, leaning in and giving her saviour a quick kiss on the cheek. “Trixie will never forget how you saved her today.”

“Well, just remember the next time I need you to do something for me,” Rainbow Dash said with a grin before turning to approach the door. Grabbing the handle, Rainbow Dash paused to take a deep breath, before pulling the door open and stepping out from the light and into the darkness ahead.

Flint and Coal found themselves once again being lifted into the air and hurled to the side by Sunset’s magic, crashing into the side of a building and falling hard onto the ground below.

“Y’know, sometimes I feel that the guard only exists for appearances,” Flint said to his partner in a dazed tone.

“D-Don’t think like that. It’s bad for your health,” Coal responded, before the two passed out for the third time that day.

“Those two sure are persistent,” Sunset growled as she teleported to the side to dodge an incoming beam of magic. “As are you.”

“I… have to… stay strong…” Twilight said between pants as she slowly moved her body to face Sunset Shimmer again, each slight movement causing her joints to ache. Sweat rolled down her forehead and mingled with the tears slowly leaking from her eyes, but she kept a strong glare fixed on the poltergeist ahead of her. “It’s my job… as a princess!”

Sunset’s eyes narrowed as she ignited a fire quickly beneath Twilight’s right forehoof, causing the alicorn to back away quickly with a yelp. “You must want to die. I’ll say it again: you are not fit to bear that title! A true princess isn’t only somepony who can lead; it’s also somepony with power! The strong will rise and control the weak! Anypony who threatens that peace must be stopped at an early age! In my case, I was expelled…”

Sunset Shimmer teleported just one inch before Twilight, startling her opponent as she reached a forehoof up and tapped her muzzle. “In yours, you were just moulded into something soft and naïve.” Pushing her forehoof forward and enhancing her kick with magic, Sunset Shimmer pushed Twilight backwards until she crashed into the wall of the hospital behind her. The dark streams flowing from Twilight’s eyes vanished, and the sclerae returned to normal.

“Princess…” Twilight tried to push herself up, but found that she lacked to strength to do so. “Have to… protect…”

“Give it a rest,” Sunset said. “There’s no reason for me to kill you at this point. If you just stay like that, only your princess needs to die today. You’re smart. Surely you can see the logical thing to do here.”

“… I… I will… not let you down, Princess…”

With a sigh, Sunset stepped forward, moving closer to the downed alicorn with her horn flaring. “STOOOOOOOP!” The poltergeist did indeed stop, and then moved backwards very quickly with a surprised look on her face as a boxing glove made contact with her cheek, knocking her down onto the ground before retracting into the large, silver canon planted firmly on the ground outside of the hospital.

“Uh, Pinkie?” Applejack asked as she knelt down beside Twilight, throwing a blanket over her shivering friend. “Isn’t that yer party canon?”

“Yep! Slightly modified to protect my friends!” Pinkie Pie cheered as she patted the canon, causing the glove to spring out suddenly before retracting. “… I wouldn’t stand in front of it.”

“Guys?” Twilight asked as she looked up at her friends. Rarity stepped into her vision and brought a wet hoofkerchief down to Twilight’s face, wiping away some of the blood on her forehead. “What are you doing? I told you to stay inside!”

“Well we couldn’t just leave ya while you were in trouble!” Applejack told Twilight, looking over to Sunset Shimmer with a hard glare as she removed her hat. “… Haven’t ya realised from our past battles, Twilight? We work best together.”

“Even if we don’t have the Elements, six heads are better than one!” Pinkie Pie said in a cheerful tone. “Though I guess we don’t have Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy right now. Still, four head are better than one, too!”

“Y-You guys…” Twilight gasped and quickly shook her head. “No, it’s too dangerous! Besides, if you’re all out here, then who’s protecting the princess?!”

“Actually, Twilight, about that,” Rarity began, only to be cut off by Applejack pushing and pinning her down to the ground. “D-Darling! This is hardly the time or the place,” she said with a blush and a slight grin.

“Not mah intention,” Applejack deadpanned, pointing a hoof to the wall beside them, which was sizzling from the centre of a freshly-made scorch mark.

“This is your entourage?” Sunset Shimmer asked as she looked over the small group that had now gather before her. “Pathetic. One looks and sounds like a simple country bumpkin. Another looks far too frail and delicate to be of any use in an emergency. And the other…” Sunset grimaced as the pink pony standing behind the canon smiled and waved enthusiastically towards her. “… Is an idiot.”

“What?!” Pinkie Pie shouted in shock, now glaring rather than smiling. “What do you mean I look like an idiot?!”

“Actually, she never said ‘looks like’,” Rarity whispered to Applejack.

“L-Let’s just pretend we didn’t hear nothin’,” Applejack whispered back.

Twilight put some effort into standing up once more, this time succeeding in rising to her hooves and facing Sunset Shimmer with a determined gaze. “These aren’t my bodyguards or my servants or anything like that! They are my friends!” Twilight turned and smiled to her three friends, each of them smiling back. “And I trust them all with my life! I know that together, we can stand up to anything!”

“That’s nice, for a fairytale, but real life doesn’t work like that. The truth is, reality is much harsher,” Sunset Shimmer said as she took a step forward.

“You are most correct.” Sunset stopped and turned around quickly, wondering who could have sneaked up on her without her sensing anything. “That is why the Royal Guard of Equestria exists, to serve and to protect the citizens. And, at the very top of this military structure…”

“W-Who are you?” Sunset asked the new dark-blue alicorn standing before her. “Another princess? You’re not Mi Amore. Just how many students did Celestia replace me with? No, there’s no way she could have appointed two new princesses in such a short time.”

“It seems that you do not recognise me. Perhaps you would know me better as ‘Nightmare Moon’?”

“N-Nightmare Moon?!” Sunset took a step back, her body trembling as she now realised who she was faced with. “It couldn’t be… You are Celestia’s sister?”

“In the flesh. I hear that you have caused many of my sister’s students a great deal of harm.” Luna’s horn lit up and the sky above her began to darken. “I shall not permit this to go on any further.”

“She’s here!” Pinkie Pie cheered, bouncing up-and-down in celebration. “Hey Princess Luna! What took you so long?!”

“P-Pinkie!” Rarity scolded. “Please! I’m certain that the princess had a good reason to-”

“Actually, Princess Celestia sent that letter some time ago,” Applejack said. “It shouldn’t have taken this long for her to have gotten here.”

“Well, let’s just say that my sister has never been the best when it comes to directions.” Everypony turned to the hospital’s entrance, finding a large, white figure emerging from within. “Even to this day, she still has trouble navigating our castle.”

“P-Princess Celestia!” Twilight cried as she ran to her mentor’s side, tackling the larger alicorn in a hug.

“Sister! Please do not bring up unnecessary subjects!” Luna shouted with a light blush.

“You’re awake already?” Sunset Shimmer asked, her shaking eyes focussed on the white alicorn staring calmly back towards her. “I-Impossible. After what I did to that mare, there’s no way she could have been saved that easily… No way…”

“Clearly you don’t know who you were messing with,” Trixie said as she stepped out from behind Celestia, a hoof draped around Rainbow’s neck as the two stepped forward. “Not only am I the Great and Powerful Trixie…”

“But I’m the awesomely amazing Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow added.

“Together, we are Equestria’s strongest duo!” Trixie declared, shooting firework into the air that exploded into rainbow patterns. She then coughed up a small portion of blood, startling her marefriend.

“H-Hey! I told you not to overdo it!”

“B-But it was totally worth it! Did you hear how in sync our lines were?”

“I don’t care! Safety first, idiot!”

“Not like ye’re one ta talk,” Applejack muttered.

“What was that?!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“You…” All eyes turned to Sunset Shimmer, who was staring at the two mares in complete and utter shock. “You… actually got her out of that coma? You risked your own neck to defeat my spell?” Sunset’s eyes turned to Trixie. “And you! I showed you what would come of trusting others! The pain that comes when you are betrayed! Don’t tell me that… even after all that, you still trust that mare beside you?!”

Trixie leaned into Rainbow’s shoulder and said, “The Great and Powerful Trixie has deceived and been deceived. She has also trusted and been trusted. Unlike you, Trixie didn’t give up at the first hurdle. That is why she was able to live long enough to understand how to trust others, and the value of being loved. Your spell can’t break me that easily!”

“Even though I was the one who had to go in and break it for you,” Rainbow Dash muttered, earning an elbow to her side.

“Sunset Shimmer, please stop this meaningless revenge-seeking,” Princess Celestia said, stepping forward to confront her former pupil’s ghost. “What happened between us can never be taken back, but there is still an entire future where we can make amends and-”

“Silence! You told me that I was destined for great things, that I was above the rest!” Sunset’s horn began to spark as she lowered her head and pointed her magic at the princess. “You said that you would guide me and I followed you like you were my own mother!” Tears streamed down the poltergeist’s face as the magic flared, illuminating the area with an intense light. “I was always prepared to do whatever you asked of me, and how did you repay me?! YOU THREW ME AWAY! And now, I’ll throw you away, FOREVER!”

“Princess Celestia!” Twilight cried as she felt herself being pushed away by the princess’ magic. Sunset’s spell stopped short of Celestia’s face as it collided with a wall of dark-blue mist.

“Celestia,” Luna said, “This creature is not your student. She is but an image from the past, tormented by pained memories. You must put her out of this misery, for all our sakes.”

Celestia hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Sunset Shimmer… I pray that you are still doing well in your other world.”

“So you’ll throw me away again? Well I won’t let you!” Sunset’s horn sparked again, but this time her magic was cancelled as a blue blur followed by an explosive rainbow raced past the poltergeist. “W-What was-”

“Okay, Princess, you’re good to go!” Rainbow Dash shouted from behind Sunset Shimmer.

“Trixie enhanced Rainbow’s kick with her magic,” Trixie told the princess before grunting and falling to her knees. “That creature won’t be able to conjure up another spell any time soon.”

Celestia nodded, and began preparations for her own spell. The frightened Sunset Shimmer began to back away, turning around and running as soon as the white glow from Celestia’s horn spread to her eyes.

“Farewell, my faithful student.” An intense light washed over the area, blinding everypony nearby for a short time before the magic began to die out, revealing the scene exactly as it was before… but with one less poltergeist, and one more teardrop rolling down the white alicorn’s face. “I’m sorry…”

“OW OW OW OW OW!” Trixie flailed her hooves about in protest as Rainbow Dash tortured her. Pinned down to her own bed with no means of escape, and in no condition to use magic, Trixie thought that the end was about to come. “Why are you trying to kill me?!”

“What’re ya sayin’?!” Rainbow Dash asked as she pressed her hoof down into Trixie’s back, earning another shriek from the showmare. “I used to massage my dad all the time and he always said I was awesome at it!”

“Well then you’re dad’s either a liar or incredibly messed UH-HUP!” Trixie tried to inch forward, but the mare sitting on top of her was just too heavy. “Can’t you be a little more gentle?! Use your wings or something!”

“My wings?” Rainbow Dash flexed her left wing for a moment before bringing it down experimentally to Trixie’s back. After a few soft, gentle movements of her wing, Trixie gave a pleasant sigh as opposed to the agonised wailing from earlier. “Better?”

“Much better.” A moment of silenced passed as Trixie lay contentedly with Rainbow Dash in her trailer. “Hey, Trixie heard that Spitfire and the others were discharged this morning.”

Rainbow Dash paused for a moment. “Oh, yeah… Their wounds are better now, so they’ll be returning to the academy later today.” A few more seconds of silence filled the air before Rainbow Dash said, “I’ll be leaving, too.”

Trixie sighed. “Well… at least we got to spend a little time together.”

“Yeah. I mean, it would have been nice if we could have actually gone somewhere…”

“Well excuse Trixie for being ill after a life-threatening coma.”

“Hey guys!”

Rainbow Dash jumped the sudden intrusion of Scootaloo in her field of vision, causing her to accidentally press a hoof down into Trixie’s back, which led to the showmare screaming in agony once more.

“You little…” Trixie’s eye twitched as she growled at the little interloper, smiling angelically back towards her. “What are you doing here?!”

“Just came to say goodbye! Our class is leaving today!”

“Hey,” Rainbow Dash said, “You’re okay, right? I mean, you’re not still hurt or anything?”

Scootaloo shook her head and raised her foreleg to prove her point. “Nah! I’m feelin’ better already! Though, truth-be-told, I was already feelin’ good enough to go and help you guys out in just one hour!”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Well, it’s the thought that counts, right? But thanks for not rushing into trouble this time.”

“Trixie bets she was rushing into trouble,” Trixie said, casting an accusing gaze over the filly before grinning and adding, “Maybe she got distracted by the big city stores along the way?”

Scootaloo flinched and took a step back. “O-Of course I didn’t! What d’you think I am, a kid?”

“Yes.”

“… A-Anyway, I just wanted to give you some souvenirs real quick.” Scootaloo reached into her saddlebag and pulled out two gift-wrapped items, giving one each to the two mares. “C’mon, open them!”

With a smile, Rainbow Dash unwrapped her present, finding a small box with a coffee mug inside. On the side of the mug were the words: ‘World’s Best Sister’. “Wow, thanks, Squirt! This’ll really help with those early-morning exercises.”

Scootaloo smiled proudly at her good deed. “A wand,” Trixie deadpanned as she held up the small black wand with white tips. The top half of the wand suddenly fell to the side and a small roped inside connecting the two halves was revealed. “It’s, uh… okay.”

“Well, I’ve gotta go now! Miss Cheerilee doesn’t like me being out of sight,” Scootaloo said as she rushed to Rainbow Dash’s side and hugged the mare.

“I wonder why,” Trixie muttered, before being caught off guard by a hug from the filly. “… Uh…”

“Okay, bye!” Scootaloo shouted before dashing out of the trailer and running down the street outside into the distance.

“Even if she isn’t truly your sister, Trixie must admit a strong resemblance,” Trixie said, staring at her new wand for a second before shrugging and levitating it into her pile of props in the back of the trailer.

“Actually, I should probably get goin’ now, too,” Rainbow Dash said as she climbed off of Trixie.

“What? Already?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Sorry, but Captain Spitfire wants to make up for all the training we missed.” Trixie climbed to her hooves and Rainbow Dash took a step forward to kiss the other mare. As the two parted, Rainbow said, “Hey, we’ll see each other at Heath’s Warming, okay?”

Trixie nodded her head reluctantly. “I suppose it can’t really be helped. Trixie will still continue sending you letters though, maybe with a few photographs to help you through those lonely times?”

“Hey, now there’s an idea,” Rainbow Dash said with a grin. “Try to be conscious next time I visit, alright?”

Trixie harrumphed and escorted her marefriend outside of the trailer. “It’s not like you gave Trixie any notice this time around.” The two stopped just outside, staring into each other’s eyes for a few moments, before sharing one more farewell kiss together.

“Well, be seein’ ya,” Rainbow Dash said as she pulled away, scratching the back of her head.

Trixie nodded as she watched Rainbow Dash slowly lift into the air. “… Good luck up there.”

“Thanks,” Rainbow said with a smile. “You work hard, too. I want a great show when I get back!”

As Rainbow Dash took off into the air, Trixie watched the rainbow trail leaving her and sighed. After taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Trixie turned back towards her trailer and stepped towards it. “I should get back onto the road soon, too. Trixie can’t let Dashie have all the fun, after all.”