The Preparations

“This is not good, not good…” muttered Trixie trotting back and forth in her room as Sally just watched her.

“How could Trixie forget Twilight is the Princess’ personal student?! Trixie is going to be crushed! And then…”

Trixie’s mind was filled with memories of being ponies laughing, ponies insulting. Being pelted off stage by rotten tomatoes.

The showmare shivered at the memory. “No, not again…I-I can’t be a laughing stock again!” she muttered, pinning her ears back in fear.

“I’ll get demolished! And in front of P-Princess C-Celestia!” Trixie exclaimed, her mind filled with a mental image of Celestia laughing at her humiliation. “The first I will ever perform in front of Princess Celestia and I’ll be humiliated! I’ll have to flee town in shame and live as a hobo…again! I might even have to work on a rock farm! Imagine me! On a rock farm!” she exclaimed, almost hyperventilating. “Well…there is one thing I could try but…I’m not sure…” she stated out loud, desperation in her tone. “I haven’t considered getting that since…”

She blinked, feeling something tapping her leg. She looked down and saw her pet skunk looking up at her. “…Yes Sally?”

The skunk gave some chattering, pointing to a picture nearby with her tail.

Trixie followed the white stripe to a picture of a certain white unicorn stallion. “Stage Hoof?”

The skunk nodded.

“You’re suggesting Trixie talk to Stage Hoof about this situation?”

The skunk gave a nod with a smile.

“A-Alright, Trixie doesn’t think Trixie has anything to lose by doing so and most of Trixie‘s mental images don‘t include him laughing at her…she hopes…”

Twilight paced back and forth, mane becoming disheveled. “Oh this is not good, this is not good!”

Spike walked down from the upper floor of the library and blinked, watching Twilight’s antics. “Uh…Twilight, what’s going on?”

Twilight jumped slightly. “Spike, it’s horrible!”

Spike sighed. “Did you forget to schedule time to schedule next month’s schedule…again?”

“No! Worse!”

Spike blinked. “Wow…this must be bad…” the little dragon said, walking down to the floor. “What is it?”

“It’s my magic duel with Trixie!” she said, pulling her copies of the friendship lessons off their shelf via telekinesis.

“…Yeah? It’s happening, what about it?” the dragon chick asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Carrot Top came in and pointed out one BIG flaw in it! A REALLY big flaw!” the lavender unicorn exclaimed, feverishly looking through her Friendship Reports.

“And that would be?”

“I’m me!”

Spike faceclawed “And how is that a problem?”

“Because I’m Celestia’s personal student! You said it yourself! I’m the strongest unicorn in Equestria! Trixie isn’t! I’m going to crush her! She’ll be humiliated! And I’ll be a horrible friend for doing it in front of the Princess! When I’m supposed to be studying friendship! I…I don‘t want to hurt my friend…Trixie is my friend! I will not hurt her!” Twilight said, a pile of read through friendship reports forming beside her.

Spike blinked. “That…is actually a problem…”

“Of course it’s a problem! Why would I be panicking if it wasn’t?!”

Spike gave a flat look. “Because you’re Twilight.”

“Put it in the schedule for me to glare at you for that later! I need to figure out what to do!”

“Couldn’t you just, you know, hold back?” the little dragon asked simply.

“No! It’s in front of Princess Celestia! I can’t hold back! She’ll know I held back! Or think that I’m falling behind on my studies! Or-AHH!”

Spike looked up at the now drenched unicorn, holding a metal bucket. “Twilight, calm down.”

Twilight took a breath pulling a hoof to her chest and extended it while breathing out. “Thanks. I needed that…”

“Twilight, you really think the Princess would be mad at you for holding back so you don’t hurt a friend?” the baby dragon asked, putting the bucket down. “Remember when she rewarded you for letting me and Cadence stop King Sombra instead of you?” he asked, a bit smugly as he mentioned helping defeat the Crystal Empire tyrant.

Twilight nodded, but her worry didn’t seem to subside. “You’re right but…that’s not the only problem.”

Spike sighed. “What else?”

“Trixie won’t LET me do that.”

“Uh…why?”

“Because her pride won’t let her accept me taking it easy on her!” exclaimed the unicorn, placing another friendship letter into the pile.

“Then why not give her a talking to? Like you did with Applejack back in Apple Buck Season?”

“Because that might hurt her worse!” Twilight replied. “Can you imagine how she’d feel if I told her ‘you’re too weak to stand a chance against me?!’ Hearing stuff like that hurt her enough coming from Checker! It’d crush her coming from her friend!”

Spike rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah, you’re right. It’d destroy her. Totally crush her, completely devas…I’m not helping, am I?”

Twilight gave a cry of anguish and slammed her head into the floor.

“Sorry…”

“And none of my friendship reports have the answer! We haven’t had a friendship problem like this before!” Twilight exclaimed, putting the last one into the pile.

“What about ‘when you try to please everypony you’ll end up pleasing nopony, especially yourself’?” Spike asked, looking at the report in question.

“I thought about that, but I don’t want to hurt my friend! No pony involved wants Trixie to get hurt! Her getting hurt would please nopony!”

“Oh…yeah, good point…“ Spike scratched his chin, thinking about it. “Hey, why not ask one of the others? I know one of our lessons has been about that.”

Twilight’s face brightened up. “That’s right! They’re my friends! One of them is bound to have the answer! Thanks Spike!”

The baby dragon chuckled and gave a smirk. “What would you do without me?”

Twilight hugged Spike. “I never want to know.”

“…so I’m going to be humiliated! I’ll have to run out of town in shame and become a hobo again!”

“Trixie-”

“Do you think rock farms are as dull and boring as they say?!”

“Um…Trixie?”

“I don’t want to work on a rock farm!”

Sally leapt up on the table and hissed, lifting her tail in Trixie’s direction, causing the started unicorn to cover her muzzle with her hooves in preparation of being sprayed. The skunk simply lowered her tail and smiled to Stage Hoof.

“Thank you, Sally,” the stallion replied. They were sitting in his apartment in Ponyville. The walls were decked out with theatre posters and other memorabilia. In fact, it seemed the entire room was themed after theatre, including the curtains resembling those found on a stage. A basket set near the window, Stage Hoof’s pet fox Violet curled up asleep inside.

The skunk gave a nod and jumped off the table, allowing her owner to recover from the surprise and uncover her snout. “You could’ve told Trixie a little louder.”

“I know…sorry…” said Stage Hoof, somewhat timidly.

Trixie rubbed her head. While Stage Hoof had gotten a lot better, he had still spent his entire life under somepony’s hoof, whether it was his father or Checker Monarch. It was little wonder he had some issues with asserting himself.

“But be that as it may…Why couldn’t you simply back out?” asked Stage Hoof. “Twilight wouldn’t think less of you.”

“No…she wouldn’t…but Trixie would think less of herself. And so would the town,” Trixie said, looking down at her hooves. “Trixie would be a coward…again…” Her ears pinned back as the mocking echoed in her head once more.

Stage Hoof gave a sympathetic look. “Well…what about…you know…asking Twilight to pull her punches?”

“No! Trixie is NOT going to ask Twilight to hold back!” Trixie replied, suddenly serious. “Trixie still has her pride, she is not going to beg anypony to go easy on her!” she continued…before her confidence seemed to just vanish and be replaced by vulnerability. “Besides…I made such a show of challenging Twilight that there’s no way I’d be able to live down backing out or asking her to go easy on me...”

Stage Hoof frowned. “Well…perhaps you could try and train?”

“What’s the point?”

“Well that way maybe you could perhaps manage to at least make a good show out of it? Maybe that way you won‘t do badly and you can at least come out smelling like a rose?”

Trixie blinked, looking up. “I…Trixie supposes that could be a good idea…but…who? Grandmother isn’t going to be here until the duel itself.”

Stage Hoof rubbed his chin. “Hmm…what about Zecora? You did learn from a Zebra when you were a filly and from what Twilight said, she is a very wise mare.”

Trixie gave a small smile, though not a confident one. “That…might just work…it most certainly couldn‘t hurt…”

“My Twilight, that is quite the situation,” said Rarity, rubbing her chin as they set in her boutique, Spike eating the leftover gems she had provided him with. “But why come to me right away? This feels more like a problem Applejack could help with.”

Twilight sighed. “Applejack is a good, honest, dependable pony, but she’s a terrible liar. And Trixie knows all her tells like the front of her hoof. All it’d take would be for Trixie to ask the right question and she’d know something’s wrong.”

“Well, Applejack is the Element of Honesty for a reason,” Rarity replied. “But as for what I think you should do…perhaps you could make the subject of this magic duel her forte? Stage magic?”

Twilight shook her head. “Then Trixie will feel like I’m giving her a handicap, and so will the town. That might hurt her worse than me holding back.”

“Hmm…I suppose you’re right…“ Rarity stated, putting a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “Then why not make it something that negates both your advantages? Be fair to you both?” the fashionista suggested. “That way you won’t be able to humiliate her?”

Twilight sighed. “That sounds good, but think! My special talent is magic and it’s a magic duel! There’s nothing we could do that I wouldn’t be at least decent at while Trixie’s special talent is stage magic: if I take that away from her she’ll do even worse!”

“I do suppose that is a problem…”

Opal suddenly gave a meow, pointing to a dress with her tail.

“Oh! Thanks for reminding me, Opal! Sorry Twilight: I have an order I need to get to,” the white unicorn explained, then looked concerned. “…But I could tell the client I need an extension if you really need my help darling,” she added, remembering the Smartypants Incident and the lesson learned from it.

Twilight sighed and shook her head. “No, Rarity, it’s fine, I’ll be okay, I‘ve still got four friends I can get advice from…” she replied. Even if defeating Checker Monarch had gotten a dangerous criminal locked up and helped Trixie and Stage Hoof finally have lives of their own, Checker was one of Rarity’s high profile customers. While losing her business hadn’t crippled Rarity by any means, Twilight didn’t want to risk her friend losing another customer on her part.

“Alright, but if you need me, darling, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“So you see, Zecora…Trixie needs to get better…” the showmare said, her and Stage Hoof sitting across from the zebra, tea in her telekinesis. “And you’re the only one Trixie…I thought could teach me…” she said, humbly…well, as humbly as Trixie ever got.

The Zebra listened attentively the Trixie before setting down her tea cup, which she balanced on one hoof. “I hear your plight my friend, and I understand why you want it to end. Thanks to the Ursa Incident you have suffered much humiliation, you have a right to fear more tribulations. You finally broke free from your sister’s chains, but that incident still causes you much pain. And you are my friend, Trixie dear, so of my abandonment you need not fear.”

Trixie gave a relieved smile. “Oh thank you, Zecora. This means a lot to Trixie.”

Zecora gave a nod, then stood up and trotted over to her shelves. “A magic duel is a complex thing. Into one no potions may you bring. However, your special talent permits illusion, is that correct or a delusion?”

Trixie nodded. “Illusions are one of Trixie’s specialties! And her grandmother Helena has taught her well!” she announced, her characteristic pride finally showing itself a bit.

Zecora gave a smile. “Then I think I know a thing or two, the might just be of much help to you.”

“Oh my…” said Fluttershy with a frown, sitting with Twilight in her cottage, Angel and Spike sitting close by glaring at each other. “It does sound really…uncomfortable…”

Twilight nodded. “It is, I honestly don’t know what to do! It feels like everything I’m trying just won’t work! And if Trixie gets hurt, it‘s all my fault!”

“Um…what about calling it off?” asked the timid pegasus. “If that’s okay…if it’s causing you so much trouble, I mean…”

Twilight sighed. “I can’t, somepony has to entertain the Princess and the Saddle Arabian delegates. And besides, there’s no way Trixie would accept this being taken away from her. It’s her big chance to finally put the Ursa behind her once and for all. She needs this.”

Fluttershy nodded slowly. “Well…maybe…if you think it’s a good idea, you could let her do something on her own?”

Twilight looked down thoughtfully. “I…I wouldn’t be able to perform in front of Celestia…she’s counting on me too…”

“Um…s-sorry if I’m overstepping but…didn’t she put you in charge of entertainment?…You…uh…never said anything about having to perform personally…Um, sorry if I’m not understanding right…”

Twilight blinked. “That’s right…so as long as the delegates are entertained, I guess I won’t let her down…”

Spike looked concerned. “Twilight, you think Trixie could do it on her own?” he asked, before Angel hit him in the head with a carrot, prompting him to glare at the snickering rabbit.

Twilight gave it some thought, then nodded with a smile. “I know I can trust Trixie to put on a good show, she’s come a long way since we met her, she’s learned a lot. Even if she’s not strong enough to match me in a magic duel, I know she’s good enough to entertain the princess…” Twilight’s confidence suddenly took a dive. “But…how do I convince Trixie to do that? She won’t accept me just backing out. Especially if she knows I’m afraid of humiliating her.”

“Well…maybe you could pretend you’re sick?” asked the cream colored pegasus softly. “If you think it’s a good idea…”

Twilight blinked. “Pretend I’m sick?”

“Um…yes…I did it once to try and get out of something with Rainbow…”

Spike smirked. “That’s a good idea! We’ve even got that book on Pony Illnesses! And we could borrow some make up from Rarity!”

“Um…it didn’t-”

Twilight nodded uncertainly. “I suppose we could…I don’t like lying to Trixie but…it seems like the only way…”

“When I tried it-”

“Thanks Fluttershy, you’re a life saver!” said Twilight, hugging her friend. “We’ll see you later, I need to hurry!”

Fluttershy blinked as Twilight and Spike left. The pegasus sighed. “…it didn’t work…”

<hr>

Trixie stood in a completely black area, no light. She had her eyes shut tightly and focused.

“An illusionist needs to not be fooled by their own trick, but for that they must see through it. However, a spell that can be seen through from one direction, can allow your target the same detection,” Zecora’s voice said from the darkness.

Trixie sniffed lightly. Trying to focus on the scents in the air around her. There was decaying plants, some animal smells. Stage Hoof’s shampoo…she quickly tried to phase them out and focus.

“Something many ponies take for granted, is while an equine’s nose is not enchanted, we have a powerful sense of smell, and it still works if the eyes are blinded by a spell. In this forest tracking has always been vital, so to me this skill is pivotal.”

Trixie sniffed again. As her nose picked up the scent of tea, she turned and launched a relatively harmless beam from her horn.

…Hitting a tree about ten feet from Zecora herself and leaving a pink mark on the trunk. Thick green dust fell to the ground, allowing light to reenter the clearing outside of Zecora’s house.

The Zebra gave a smile, setting down the tea cup she was balancing on her hoof. “For your first lesson that was quite well, in the wilderness did you once dwell?”

Trixie nodded, rubbing her nose a little bit. “Yes, Trixie was used to be a traveling magician…before the incident…after which she was a hobo…Trixie is not proud of that last part…Trixie had to eat wild berries. Occasionally they turned out to be poisonous. Which was extremely unpleasant.”

Zecora nodded. “I can see why that would be true, but in this exercise it may have helped you. Whether or not in your conscious mind the knowledge dwells, while scavenging you relied on your sense of smell.”

Trixie blinked, thinking back to her time traveling Equestria. “It is true Trixie supposes…what should we do now?”

“We continue this lesson, my friend, and then others will begin. In addition to the illusions you can perform, what other types of spells can you form?”

“Well…Trixie knows a little weather magic…She isn’t sure how it relates to her talent though…” Trixie stated, remembering the lightning clouds she knew how to generate.

“It wasn’t immediately apparent why Checker could learn a dream manipulation spell with her talent though,” Stage Hoof pointed out, standing nearby. “It might be a similar connection.”

“Regardless of the reasoning for it, I can help with that bit,” Zecora replied. She pointed to the area around them with a hoof. “The Everfree has a natural magic energy, and helpful to you that may be. I can give you some tips I’ve noticed from this place, which help you weather magic ace.”

Trixie gave a quick nod. “That sounds fantastic, Zecora. Asante.”

“Mwakaribishwa, Trixie,” the Zebra replied, giving a smile at the opportunity to use her native tongue. “Come my friend, we have much to learn before the day ends.”

A long time later, Trixie stood outside the library with Stage Hoof. “Stage Hoof…Trixie still isn’t sure about this…” she said, carrying herself a little confidently, but still not back to her normal self.

“Trixie, you’ve gotten much stronger thanks to Zecora’s training. You’ll do fine,” Stage Hoof encouraged, giving her a smile.

“Trixie knows, it’s just…she doesn’t know if it’s enough…”

Stage Hoof put a hoof on her shoulder. “You’re stronger than you think, have a little faith in yourself, okay?”

Trixie blushed a little with a sheepish grin. “Okay…Trixie…I suppose I can try.”

The showmare trotted up to the door and knocked slowly. “Twilight? Trixie is here! The duel is in an hour!”

Trxie watched the door open and blinked as Twilight emerged, covered in red spots and looking quite sickly.

“Hello Trixie, I…I‘ve been looking for you.”

“Trixie was with Zecora, but what wrong?”

Twilight coughed a little bit, carefully covering her mouth as she did so. “Oh…it’s nothing…I just seem to have contracted the Pony Pox…”

Trixie gave a genuinely concerned look, but reflexively took a trot back, not wanting to catch it herself. “Will you be okay? You look positively dreadful.”

Twilight covered her muzzle and sneezed into her foreleg. “Yes, I’ll be fine but…I’m afraid I won’t be able to make the magic duel in this condition, I’m sorry but you’ll need to put on your own show for the Princess and the delegates.”

“Really?! That‘s g…I mean, I’m sorry to hear that, Twilight,” Trixie replied, frowning. True, her confidence had gotten a boost from Zecora’s training, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t relieved to hear the dreaded moment would now never come. But naturally, her pride wouldn’t let her admit that. Besides, she certainly didn’t want to look like she was pleased her best friend was ill. “Trixie was really looking forwards to it, she even spent the entire day training with Zecora in preparation,” the azure unicorn continued, feigning disappointment in a way only an actress could.

Twilight’s expression fell even more as her eyes widened. “R-Really? The duel meant that much to you?”

“Of course! When the Magnificent Trixie commits to something she commits to it!” Trixie announced, regaining her swagger. Somewhat. “She was most certainly looking forwards to challenging you before Ponyville! To finally getting the Ursa Minor incident behind her! But Trixie understands, Twilight, she cannot blame you for becoming ill,” she replied, giving concerned look. “Just try to get well, alright, Twilight? Trixie can handle the show.”

Twilight gave a nervous and somewhat guilty look. “I…I’ll do my best Trixie…”

Trixie nodded. “Trixie has much to do! She shall see you later!” Trixie replied and began trotting away.

Twilight went back into the library and suddenly looked guilt-ridden as she dropped some pepper she‘d kept on her…and then carefully levitated it to its proper place on a shelf before continuing her hysterics. “Oh…this is not good!”

Spike blinked. “Why? Trixie bought it, you’re off the hook.”

“But Trixie was really disappointed! She was looking forwards to this! And I spent the whole day looking up the Pony Pox just to deceive a friend! How could I be so insensitive?!” Twilight replied, then her eyes widened. “Oh no…”

Spike sighed. “What now?”

“Trixie spent the whole day training for a magic duel and I just dumped the entire show on her without any warning at the last minute! She’s not prepared!”

“Uh, Twilight, not everypony need-”

“Trixie’s a great showmare, but if she’s not prepared, then she might choke! And if she chokes she’ll be humiliated again! And not only will she be humiliated, she’ll be humiliated WORSE because they’ll think she’s a bad magician instead of just not as good of a magician as I am! It’ll be worse than if I beat her!”

“Twilight, I don’t think everypony needs stacks of checklists to-”

“And the crowd might not like just Trixie there when they were expecting a duel between us! They’ll feel cheated if we‘re not both there! They might even think Trixie sabotaged me to get the show for herself!”

“Uh, I’m not sur-”

“Not only is she disappointed with me, she’s going to be worse off! I haven‘t helped her! I made this worse!”

Twilight was suddenly hit by another bucket of water. “Twilight, calm down,” Spike said, looking up to the lavender unicorn.

Twilight shook herself off, finding the spots washed off. “You’re right! Thanks Spike!”

“Wait, what-” Spike started, but was interrupted by Twilight teleporting away. The baby dragon gave an annoyed sigh. “I hate it when she gets like this…”

Suddenly, Twilight teleported directly in front of Trixie. “Trixie! I’m all better!”

Trixie backpedaled in surprise. “W-What?! How?!”

“I saw how disappointed you were that we couldn’t have our duel so found a healing spell!” said Twilight, giving a smile. “The magic duel is back on!”

Trixie’s eyes went wide and her pupils shrank down to pinpricks. “A h-healing spell? An instant healing spell?”

“Yep! We can have our duel now!” Twilight replied.

Trixie shook her head to clear it. “Y-yes, that’s…great…I-Trixie is very happy to hear that…” the azure unicorn replied with a forced smile.

Twilight nodded. “Alright, see you at the duel!” she replied and trotted away.

Trixie‘s expression turned to panic the moment Twilight was out of sight. “Sweet Celestia why must I be such a magnificent and convincing actress?!”

Stage Hoof trotted over and blinked, seeing her expression. “What is it, Trixie?”

“She knows healing spells that work on the Pony Pox! Instantly!” Trixie replied, frantically. “Instant healing spells! Only high level unicorns know those! I’m doomed! I am so doomed!”

“Trixie, it’s not-” Stage Hoof started, only for Trixie to gallop off for her place. The stallion sighed. “-the end of the world…”

“The duel is back on!” Twilight replied triumphantly.

“Yeah, but what about the whole ‘you’re stronger than her’ thing?” Spike asked flatly.

Twilight‘s eye twitched. “…Please excuse me for a second…” Twilight squeaked out, her voice slightly disheveled. The mare trotted over to the nearest wall and began pounding her head against it.

Spike faceclawed. “Smooth…really smooth…”

To be continued...