GREAT, POWERFUL, FATAL

It was yet another morning in the yard. Some of the engines had already set off to work, namely the shunters, Diesel, 'Arry, Bert and Steamie. BoZo was finally being overhauled - the workponies' intention was to make him resemble the original Kitson-Still locomotive more, while being a hundred times more efficient.

Such privileges were simply impossible for the Thin Git's pocket - not for Equestrian Rail's.

The big engines rested in the shed, idly chatting - they were still sleepy for real conversations...

"So... You prefer Mozart over Beethoven, right?" Bowler asked.

"Well, yes..." Cromwell replied "I mean, Beethoven's works are truly inspiring, especially for the never generations - and certain sadistic teens -, but Mozart's symphonies have more... Passion!"

"I see what you mean..." the green Class 40 replied.

"Say... Bowler..." CoBo spoke up, interrupting them.

"What is it?"

"Do you have a driver?"

"Hmmm? What, you mean, a driver employed by the Princesses' program?"

"Yeah..."

"No, not yet..."

"You better hurry up, lad, the writer is running out of filler stories!"

"...What?!"

"Nothing."

Two fillies were trotting down the dirt road.

It wasn't even a road, just a path where the grass was stomped into nothing by the workponies who frequently used it. One of them, the gray one, had her ear perked up, a smile on her face, as she trotted towards the fence going around the side of the shunting yard.

"Do we really have to do this?" the purple one asked.

"You were the one who agreed to come along." her friend replied "You know what you were into."

"No, I didn't!" the other filly snapped "You haven't told me anything about this!"

The gray pony had to agree.

"Look, it's the end of Summer, literally my last chance to get it! He's the only one left!"

"That's exactly my point! It's the end of summer! We should be doing something fun, not just run around taking pictures!"

"But his picture is the only one I need!"

"Exactly! It's just one picture!" the filly reasoned "Couldn't it wait?"

"No!" the other announced sharply, ending all other conversation. She then turned to her photo apparatus "Now, all I gotta do is..."

"Hi, Silver Spoon! Diamond Tiara!"

The two fillies jumped, and looked ahead - the path led through a loose row of tall trees with vertical branches reaching up, giving the trees a distinct pillar-shape. It was smaller hill, and the road on the other side sloped slightly. Ahead of them, at the bottom of the slope, were the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

It was Sweetie Belle that called out to them, while Apple Bloom stared in surprise, and Scootaloo, with suspicion.

"What are YOU two doing here?" she asked, sharply.

Diamond Tiara didn't liked this tone. She was about to make a witty remark, but Silver Spoon was quicker - she knew it very well that the sister (and the idol) of each crusader worked on the railway, and she was not willing to pass up this chance.

"We're here to take a photo of a train!" she announced enthusiastically.

The CMC were surprised.

"Are ya?" Apple Bloom asked.

"...YYyeah... Why?" the gray filly asked. Beside her, Diamond Tiara was squirming in embarrassment.

"Ah just... Didn't took ya fer a trainspotter..." the earth pony replied, shrugging.

"Actually, I only need one more picture!" Silver Spoon replied.

"Oh, really?" Scootaloo asked, narrowing her eyes.

"About what?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Not "what". Who."

"You want a picture of the Doctor?" the unicorn asked, raising a metaphoric eyebrow.

The gray pony shook her head.

"I need a picture of a certain train. I got the picture of everyone, except him."

"Him? Who is it?" Scootaloo asked curiously.

"That black, boxy engine with six wheels. The one we first met on our field trip." the filly explained.

"Who? Diesel?" Apple Bloom asked, before smiling "Why didn' ya said so before? He's easy ta find - he's a yard shunter, after all!"

"Yeah... Hard to believe you haven't saw him before..." the pegasus filly added, her suspicion returning.

Silver Spoon knew she was thin ice, so she went forward, and asked:

"Could you take me to him? I only need his picture."

Scootaloo was about to deny her, but Sweetie Belle, being the ever-courteous sort, was quick to help.

"Sure!" she replied.

"But ya'll been tryin' from th' wrong side..." Apple Bloom mused.

"Wrong... Side?" Diamond Tiara muttered.

"Yeah. Diesel works on the other side of the yard." the ebony unicorn explained "You have to go around..."

"Go... Around?" the purple filly uttered desperately. She wanted to get out of the situation badly. Being seen by a bunch of blank flanks, while doing such nerdy things was already excruciating - asking them for help would be another spadeful of manure.

But her friend was inexorable.

"Can you show us the way?" she asked, smiling brightly to numb the effect of Diamond going "AUUUUGH!" in the background.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo exchanged looks, but Sweetie Belle smiled back.

"Sure! Follow us!"

They led them around the yard, with Sweetie Belle, and eventually, Apple Bloom chatting with Silver Spoon about her hobby, and trains... Doddering behind them was a moody Diamond Tiara, and at the end of the group, Scootaloo, marching behind the rich filly, keeping an eye on her.

They arrived to the other side of the yard in jiffy, and soon, Silver Spoon was busy preparing for the shot...

Diesel wasn't happy.

Sure, he wasn't having such a rough job as he thought he would, but still, it was a boring, bothersome shift this morning. He was biffing a row of trucks into their place, when...

"Excuse me, mister, ummm..."

"Diesel."

"Diesel!"

He turned his eyes to the side.

Five fillies were on the fence, one of them holding an old fashioned photo camera.

"What do you want?" he asked on the most patient voice he could muster.

"A picture?" the gray filly in the glasses asked.

In response, Diesel showed his nefarious smirk. The machine clicked, and it was soon done.

"Thank you!" the fillies called out, and left.

Diesel smirked to himself. Perhaps, this day isn't going to be that bad, after a--...

From the corner of his eye, he saw a blue mare with a silvery mane and tail on the road heading towards the town. She had an all-too-familiar cutie mark, and a listless, yet, determined look on her face.

"Crap..."

"Hey, check this out!" Spike called out. He was taking out a book from one of the top shelves - quite an old one, by the looks of it.

"What have you found, Spike?" Twilight asked, half looking up from her own book.

"Something you've never read before!" the dragon announced proudly, only to have the book snatched from his claws.

"'The Parchment of Gods'." the unicorn said, reading the title, before opening it on a random page. At instant, all of her interest was drawn to it.

After some minutes, her expression changed from delightful to earnest...

"Twilight?" her assistant asked.

"'Many ponies could tell that Magick is an everlasting, complete power that is everywhere.'" she read out loud "'Three kinds of it are known: Elemential, Adeptian, and Arcane. All three folks of the Equines have Magick within them, but it, but it differs for each folk: Right ponies have Elemential Magick flowing through their veins, which they use to communicate with Mother Nature. The closer one right pony stands to a unicorn, the stronger it his or her Magick gets - giving the pony the ability to control the Four Elements: Earth, as in Mud, Iron and Rock, Water, as in ice, steam, clouds, bog water, poisons, healing potions, and the like, Fire, of every sort, and Air. Only unicorns are capable of mixing the Elements.'"

"Whoa..." was the only thing Spike could say "Wait... 'Right ponies'?"

"An obsolete label for earth ponies..."

"Oh... And what about the "standing close" thing?"

"It probably means being closely related to one."

"Aha... Go on..."

"'Pegasuses use, even without knowledge, Adeptian Magick - it is the very thing that gives a pegasus foal the knowledge to use his wings.'"

"He means instinct, right?"

"Of course. 'Adeptian Magick isn't related to any Element, though pegasuses often use it to create weather - Rain, thunder, lightning, snow, sleet, and the like. It is a Magick that helps with the things we always do.' This means that everyday and action-based spells are all Adeptian magick!"

"You mean, "magic", right?" the dragonling smirked. Twilight just frowned, and continued:

"'Archaic Magick is the way of the unicorns. They can use the other two kinds as well, but they are the only ones who can show visible Magick - the spark and essence of it. Yet, it is not know HOW they can produce such anomaly of Nature. And so, their kind of Magick has been named as such, it's origins covered by dust and lost memories...'"

"Huh... Odd..."

"Yeah... I wonder when this book was written."

"Why?"

"The origin of Unicorn magic remains a mystery to this day... And nopony knows when was the question even brought up, and by who?"

"Wasn't it... Starswirl?"

"That's plausible. Many clues, and his recently discovered studies lead to him, but still, too many questions remain to circle it down onto him..." the mare replied, flipping the through the pages... When something caught her eye.

"Yeah, but still... Twilight?"

"'Many Gods and Godesses are said to exist in the great Aether beyond Equestria. Most well known ones are our Princesses, Celestia Amaterasu Solaris, and Luna Tsuki Selene, their parents, King Universe and Queen Galaxy, former rulers of the Land, and the old, evil or insane God, Discord Kaosu Confusius. Also notable is the Changeling King Chitin, who's respectable and prosperous empire fell during the reign of Discord.'" Spike, this book is ancient!"

"Hmmm..."

"Hmmm?"

"First of, I didn't know that the Princesses even HAD parents - or second AND third names. Second, I didn't know that the Changelings once had a venerable empire. Third..." he looked at the mare "How come the book describes Discord as either evil, or insane?"

"Well, he is, pardon, WAS the spirit, and, apparently, god of Chaos - they couldn't decide whether he was truly vicious or simply mad."

"...Still, I don't know..."

"Neither did they." Twilight muttered, rolling her eyes "Let's give it the benefit of doubt."

"OK. Go on..."

So Twilight continued:

"'Magick also belongs to them. It has been decided that Allicorns are with Elemental Magick, mostly - for the only ones we had seen are bound to Sun and Moon, but they can perform the feats of all three pony folks. Changelings are the masters of Adeptian Magick - the main source of their shape-shifting powers. Draconequuses use Arcane Magick - the Magick capable of changing the flow of time, the picture of the land, and the ways and likings of ponies alike.'"

"Wait, so there's MORE than one draconequus?" Spike gasped.

"Not any that we know of." Twilight replied, flipping the page "This certainly is an interesting book. Thanks, Spike!"

"Your welcome..." the dragon smiled.

The next chapter in the book was entitled "Prophecies and Curses", and large list of foretold tales - neatly separated as curses or prophecies, and whether they became real or not. Most of them thankfully weren't, and a large number remained unsolved. Most of them was utter horseapples, but the last one caught Twilight's interest.

"The Triumph of Mortality" was it's title.

"'It is said that one the anniversary of the end of an ancient calendar, new Gods will enter the land of Equestria - brought forth by heroes of another world, who shall team up with the heroines of Equestria, two defend our world from many adversaries - even the Gods and their own selves.'"

"'The new Gods will be alien to the Magickal land of ours, one being the bearer of Knowledge untold and unimaginable, another possessing great Respect, bound in cold, the third one harboring great sadness aside his powers of Tradition, the third one cruel and insane, yet prejudged, holder of Lies and Pain, the fourth one holding a hammer in his hand, bringing forth the spring of the folk, while he will darken the sky, the sixth one hidden away from the eyes of the living, tolling the dead on their journey to Eden, and the last one, though not a God, will change it's side from the enemies to the equines.'"

"'And Chaos, Darkness and Mascara shall aid the heroes and heroines, as they, with the help of the Gods themselves, shall defeat enemies greater than Celestia, greater than Discord, greater than War, Famine and the likes, and greater than Death itself. And in the end, the heroes shall become one with the heroines. And a new time of peace shall reign over Equestria - into eternity.'"

The two friends exchanged puzzled and worried looks.

Why did it... Sound so real?

A frantic rapping on the door interrupted their thoughts. Rainbow Dash burst into the library.

"Twilight! Quick! It's an emergency!" she cried.

"What? Why? What's wrong?" the unicorn asked anxiously.

"Trixie!" Dash explained "She's back."

"Crap..."

She trotted through the town without any interruption. Ponies hurried away from his path, merchants retreated under the shadows of the canopy of their stands. Fillies and colts rushed out of her sight. She kept her gaze straight ahead, not bothering to look to the sides. She wasn't stomping, marching or galloping. Just trotting at a comfortable pace.

A group of mares came running towards her.

"It's showtime..."

"Trixie!" Dash called out angrily, as they approached the mare. Trixie didn't reply. She just stared at her, listlessly.

"What are YOU doin' back 'ere?!" Applejack snapped. The showmare didn't reply. Her gaze slowly moved around on each pony.

"Nothing..." she finally replied, and trotted on, pass the mares.

The Mane 6 exchanged confused looks.

"Have I heard it right?" Rarity muttered "'Nothing'?"

"That's what she said, alright..." Applejack nodded, musing.

"She didn't had her hat or cape..." Twilight uttered.

"Well, she DID left it all behind after the Ursa Minor attack, right?"

"Yeah..." Rainbow muttered, wondering "...What's up with her?"

"She looked so... So... Indifferent..." Fluttershy muttered.

"I think she's possessed." the polychromatic mare replied, successfully grabbing the full attention of her friends "Have you seen her face? No emotion! Almost as if..."

"Ah don' think she's possessed, R.D.." said Applejack.

"What, why?" Twilight asked.

"Why not?" Rainbow added.

"Ah saw her face when she said it. An' Ah heard her voice crystal clear..."

"A.J., she's a showpony!" Rainbow argued "It could've been an act! She could be just playing to make us feel a false sense of safety, then WHAM!" she exclaimed, with much gesticulation.

"Didn' ya said tha' she was possessed, just a few seconds ago?" Applejack muttered.

The pegasus just frowned, while Rarity spoke up.

"Applejack has a point, Rainbow. And as the Element of Honesty, I believe she knows more about truth and lies than any of us."

Rainbow sighed.

"Fine."

"So, what do you think, A.J.?" Twilight asked.

The applefarmer thought back. She noticed the blue pony's odd behavior even before they confronted her. Something was off.

"She was tellin' th' truth, alrigh'." she said, looking up "Bu' sum'thin's really wrong with her... As if... Sum'thin' really bad has happened ta her, tha' took all o' her motivation. Her will ta boast, ta fight..."

She shuddered.

"Even her will ta survive!"

The others exchanged worried looks. All except for Rainbow Dash.

"She faking it." she announced "I think we should keep an eye on her..."

"That IS the plan, Rainbow Dash." Twilight replied "Something's not right with her, and we have to figure out what it is!"

"Why?" the cyan pegasus asked "I like her better this way. No boast, no fuss."

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity snapped "How could you say such a thing?!"

"What?!" the mare asked, looking down at her friend from the sky "Don't say you don't prefer THIS Trixie over the one that brought the Ursa into the town!"

"Well, first off, it wasn't Trixie!" the white unicorn reminded her "It was Snips and Snails."

"Only because she told them lies!" Rainbow snapped back "None of that would have happened if she would kept her mouth shut. Which she is doing right now, so there!"

The others glared.

"Well, I can't believe how HEARTLESS you can be!" Rarity huffed "I would say that 'Arry and Bert are a bad influence to you, but, having actually talked to them, I can clearly see that even such a duo of thugs know better than YOU!"

"What?!" Rainbow snapped.

"Anyways..." the unicorn went on, clearing her throat "Even though Trixie's actions in the past may had disastrous consequences, we can't just sit and laugh when she's in such a state..."

""State"? C'mon, Rarity, aren't you overreac--..."

"The mare's broken, Rainbow Dash!" the white mare exclaimed "Something made her so... Numb and indifferent! She's not the same mare she was. And even though I did suffer from her... "Stage act" the last time, I can still think this isn't right. It's almost, as if..." she searched for the right effect "Discord had possessed her, the same way he possessed us! You honestly can't wish THAT to anyone!

Rainbow just frowned.

"Hmph!" she uttered, and turned her back to them. Rarity was speechless...

She did found her voice, eventually...

"Well! I would've never...!"

"Settle down, Rare!" Applejack called out to her, before turning to the pegasus "Look, Rainbo'... Ya may be right... Maybe she IS acting. In fact, maybe she IS tryin' ta have us fall in'o her trap."

She paused.

"Bu'... Weren't YOU th' one who argued with us tha' we didn' put trus' in ya?"

Rainbow's eyes widened, before she turned to the others.

Applejack stared back at her with a serious look.

Finally, the cyan mare pouted.

"Are you guys going to bring this up EVERY time? 'Cause it was YOUR fault in the first place, not MINE!"

"R.D...."

"Fine, fine!" she sighed, giving in "I'm sorry..."

"Don't say that to us..." Twilight replied "Say that to Trixie!"

"Oooh... Where is she?" Fluttershy asked.

The mares looked around, puzzled. Pinkie, who, to everyone's surprise, had been even more quiet than Fluttershy, stared into the distance, with eyes widened, mouth slightly agape.

Dash was quick to notice this...

"Pinkie?"

The mare kept staring, eyes the size of saucers, pupils like pinpricks. The others noticed this, too...

"Pinkie?" Twilight asked "Are you alright?"

The pink pony didn't reply for a long them.

Then, she took a wheezing gasp of a breath, as she began screaming.

"OHMYGODNESSSHE'SGOINGFORSUGARCUBECORNEEEEEEER!!!"

"That'll be five bits, please." Mr. Cake said with a smile. The young mare in front of him nodded, and took out a very empty looking bitbag. She gently put the the exact amount on the counter, wordlessly, took her mignon, and sat down at one of the tables. She looked vaguely familiar, but the stallion couldn't recall her name for his life.

His wife seemed more concerned.

"Poor dear..." she muttered, trying to be quiet so the mare wouldn't hear her.

"What do you think, what's wrong with her?" her husband asked.

"I don't know..." Mrs. Cake replied "But I've never seen anyone look so bereft of emotions..."

"She only ordered a single, caramel-chocolate-coated kugler..." the stallion added "...Without any drinks!"

Mrs. Cake's eyes widened slightly.

"Nopony orders such a sweet thing without anything to wash it down." she uttered "Even if she didn't had the bits, she should at least asked for a glass of water..."

"She had her mind set when she came in." the baker went on "I saw her pick the mignon through the glass of the door, and she came in, coming straight towards me - no smile, nothing!"

The two stared at the mare, sitting quietly with the sweet treat on the table in front of her, untouched.

"I've never seen such an empty glance in my life..." Mr. Cake added, as quiet as possible.

"And only heartbroken mares could stand sweetness at that caliber..." Mrs. Cake put in "Perhaps... She lost her loved one?"

"Forever, by the looks of it..." her husband agreed.

They settled with that, still staring at the mare... Until they noticed Pinkie and her friends outside, staring at Trixie through the grand window, suspiciously.

"Look at her!" Rainbow exclaimed "She's just sitting there!"

"Well, her expression didn't change, tha's fer sure..." Applejack mused.

Pinkie was still panicking.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! She'sinSugarcubeCorner! WhatisshegonnadotoMr.andMrs.Cake?! Whatisshegonnadotothetwins?! Whatwill-Hey!"

The others looked up.

"She only ordered a chocolate and caramel covered kugler..." the pink mare mused.

"You mean, mignon?"

"Nopony eats JUST a kugler without any drink, unless..."

Pinkie suddenly gasped, as a sad expression spread on her face.

"What?!" Twilight asked.

"She's depressed!" Pinkie explained, pouting.

"D-Depressed?" Rainbow uttered "THIS much?"

"This IS serious, girls!" Twilight announced "If Pinkie's deduction is right, the Trixie is soo depressed that she's been pushed into acedia!"

"And what's that?" Dash asked.

"Acedia is an extreme form o' sloth." Applejack replied. She saw Twilight was about to disagree, so she quickly went on:

"Sloth is being too lazy ta change anythin' around ya. Apathy is not caring anymore about the world around ya, thus, ya do nothin'. Acedia isn't simply bein' lazy, careless o' ignorant... It means ye're too depressed ta even care anymore abou' ANYTHIN', even yer own self!. Too melancholic ta care abou' yer friends an' family, too disconnected ta care abou' ta world, too discouraged ta do anythin' with yourself! It isn' simply ignorance o' laziness, i's depression!"

"I see..." Rainbow muttered "But I don't see why is that such a problem..."

Then, she realized something...

"Unless she wants to kill herself..." she uttered, eyes growing wide.

"I think she's beyond the point of contemplating suicide." Twilight replied, a worried look present in her eyes "I'm going in!"

Trixie quietly sighed, blocking out the gossiping of the bakers, as she set out to eat her mignon.

She gently lifted the sugary goodness with her magic, and took a bite.

Heavenly sweetness filled her mouth - it reminded her of her fillyhood. A foalhood, gone so fast...

She sighed again, munching the sweet treat as quiet as she could... When someone sat next to her.

Looking up, the grinning face of Twiligh Sparkle greeted her.

"Hi!" she said, looking at the downcast mare "Can I sit here?"

She finished chewing her bite, swallowed, then replied:

"You are."

With that, she took another bite.

Twilight looked at the confectionery - she had approximately 4 bites left. She had to be quick.

Clearing her throat, she grabbed the blue mare's attention again.

"So, Trixie..." she began, mentally whacking herself on the head for such a cheap start "How are you?"

She paused, abruptly, before continuing:

"We haven't seen in ages..."

"A year, actually..." the mare replied, after swallowing another bite "I'm fine."

"This is going nowhere!" Twilight thought, and silently motioned her friends to come in.

They all walked in, bringing along an atmosphere of awkwardness. They sat or stood around Trixie's table, as she ate...

"Soooo... Where have you been?" Rainbow asked.

"Around Equestria..." the showmare replied, not looking up from her "meal".

"Aaand what have you been doing?" Rarity asked, with the sunniest smile she could muster - a hard thing to do if grey clouds cover the sky outside.

"The usual." Trixie uttered "Making a living."

"Uhuh..." Rainbow huffed "With what? Lying and cheating?"

A nonchalant glance from the showmare shut her up quick. In fact, it made her slowly lower to the ground, and lower her head, as she uttered:

"Sorry..."

Trixie just looked back at her mignon, now half of it's original size.

"But... What's with the frown, Trixie?" Pinkie Pie asked "Last time you were here, you were all proud and extrovert!"

"Charismatic..." Fluttershy added.

"But now, you're just a shadow of yourself..." Pinkie added, receiving the same glance Rainbow had, making her squirm.

"Please, don't put my mouth in the bin!" she begged.

Trixie did't do as much as raise an eyebrow, she just turned her stare back at her plate.

"Did something happen along the way?" Twilight asked, scuttling closer to the showmare "You seem so... Disheartened..."

"Is there anything troubling you?" Fluttershy asked "You can tell us... Um, if you want to, that is..."

"I'm fine." Trixie repeated, on the same shallow, monotone voice she had been talking.

"Then... How was your recent show?" Rarity asked, smiling.

"It was three months ago." Trixie replied "That's when I stopped trying."

The others exchanged worried looks.

"But... Why?" Twilight asked, contemplating on whether or not she should stroke the mare's hoof as a form of sympathy "You're an excellent showmare!"

"If a bit boisterous..." Rainbow uttered...

"The public didn't thought the same..." the mare replied "Not any more..."

"Well... Why is tha'?" Applejack asked, although she felt she knew the answer.

"I cannot tell. - Trixie muttered "Everywhere I went in the past year, I have been humiliated and ostracized. Ponies made fun of me behind my back. Sometimes, in front of my face as well..."

"I think I know the reason behind that..." Rarity replied, remembering the Foal Free Press incident "It was because of that... Tabloid, right?"

"Partly..." the mare exhaled "The case of the Ursa Minor didn't help, either..."

"Well, that's a pity..." Rarity replied "Anything we can do to help?"

Trixie finished her mignon, then stood up.

"No. I don't need your help." she replied sharply, making the mares jump slightly, who had grown accustomed to her quiet, monotone voice.

"Why?" Twilight asked.

"Why not?" Rainbow asked.

Trixie looked up, and made the pegasus take aback. She had the most hateful glare that the mares had ever seen. Not even Nightmare Moon, Discord, OR Chrysalis could sport, or possibly even muster such a loathful look.

"Why not?" Trixie repeated, her voice still having that sharp edge "Because, apparently, every pegasi in Equestria thought that wherever I may roam, I shall suffer from the worst weather possible. Me and me alone."

The mares gasped, and turned towards their cyan friend.

Rainbow couldn't say a word... She just slumped onto the ground, not daring to look into the eyes of her friends...

"Rainbo' Dash!" Applejack growled "Why, Ah nevah even thought...!"

"Or how about certain ponies that ALWAYS lead the angry mob that chases me out of town..." Trixie added "Oddly, they all seemed to be a member of ONE, certain farming family."

Another wave of shock ran trough the mares, as they stared at the cowpony. Applejack bowed her head, trying to cower her face with her hat...

"Ah... Ah don't..."

"Well, this is just great!" Rarity snapped "Applejack, just... How could you...?"

"And then, there were the aristocrats..." the showmare added, silencing the white unicorn "Every big city I went, I was abased and decried by the local upper class. The creme of society that used to adore me, as humble of a showpony I was, now rejected me and abused their powers to make my life miserable... Oddly enough, they all seemed to get their clothes and clothing ideas from the very same mare..."

Now, it was Rarity's turn to squirm, as she blushed and shut her eyes, turning her head away from her friends.

Pinkie glared at her friends.

"Why!" she snapped "I thought you guys were the best friends a mare can have! NOW, I see you can be just as much of a bunch of meanies as...!"

"The mare who organized all of the... "Welcome parties" in each town I went, going as far as to leave her signature in every nasty set-up?" Trixie asked ahead.

Pinkie's eyes widened, as she lowered her head as well. She didn't wanted to see the shocked gazes of her friends, or the disappointed frown and aghast glance of Mr. and Mrs. Cake.

"And let's not forget the horde of wild beasts that assaulted me on my way between towns..." Trixie added, making the others cast a horrified look on the dumbfounded Fluttershy.

The cream colored pegasus thought deeply - the idea of her animal friends attacking a... Relatively innocent pony seemed... Impossible! She would never condescend to do such a thing... But then, who...

A glint of anger lit up her eyes...

"Angel... Bunny..." she growled to herself. Thankfully, the others didn't notice, as Trixie had moved along.

"But these were just tips on the iceberg..." the showmare declared, somewhat regaining her original voice "My biggest shock came in Canterlot!"

Everyone in the room fell silent.

They were to horrified to think were this was going...

"As my last attempt to regain at least, SOME part of my former glory, I went and attempted to talk with the Princesses themselves... When I met them, they were consulting with a skinny, tall, bipedal guy with a round head, wearing railway officer's cap."

Twilight gulped.

"They were infuriated by my mere presence!" the showmare spat "I tried to talk to them reasonably, ask them for advice, plead, beg... They wanted none of it! They said that I was completely worthless and hopeless! That I hadn't a reason to exist! They contemplated, loudly, whether or not I should be kicked out of Equestria, or executed on the spot! In their final burst of rage, Princess Celestia promised me that if I EVER dare to show up in Canterlot again, she'll personally exile me into the center of the Sun!"

The mares were simply thunderstruck. Never, in their lives, have they seen or heard the Princesses acting with malice - they widely known for their benevolence and patience. The way Trixie depicted them made them look absolutely viscous!

"The only one who was somewhat nice to me was that tall guy.." the mare went on "He offered to take me out of Canterlot, instead of having the guards parade me across the city. He teleported me out, and muttered something about the Princesses being stressed by recent events occurring in the Royal Garden and other nonsense."

The others looked up, suddenly more interested.

"Actually, I owe him my thanks." the showmare explained "As he was the one who actually told me that YOU, Twilight Sparkle, are the personal student of Princess Celestia herself, and above that, the Element of Magic."

Twilight's eyes widened, as she slumped onto the ground. She couldn't believe her ears... Could the Princesses...? But she didn't...!

"No..." she uttered "No, this can't..."

The showmare was leaving.

"Trixie, I... We... It wasn't on purpose!" she called after her.

Trixie stopped and shot her a glare above her shoulder.

"I. Don't. Care." she uttered, leaving the shop...

The mares just sat there, feeling no better than the blue pony did when she entered the bakery...

Then, shaking her head and the oppressing sadness out of it, Twilight pursued her onto the street.

Trixie's overall appearance changed now. She had that air of fatality around her, and her movement was now more profound, more determined. Ponies still got out of her way, none daring to cross her.

Apart from two colts...

"Trixie! TRIXIE!" Snips called out, running towards her.

"Wait up!" Snails added.

The mare glanced towards them, sweeping her mane out of her face, revealing her glare.

The two colts stopped dead in their tracks.

"Great and Powerful Trixie..." Snails began...

"We've... We've heard you were back..." Snips spoke "We wanted to see if you're... Alright."

Trixie growled, as indigo and blue magic lit up her horn, wrapping the two colts in an aura of the same color, before tossing them away into the air.

...Until they made close acquaintance with a nearby wall.

"I think... She's still mad at us..." Snails moaned, as he slowly came off the side of the building, bringing down a lair of paint and insulation.

"Yeah..." Snips muttered, as he did the same.

The showmare just trotted on, not caring what happened to the two dumb colts, as Twilight finally caught up to her.

"Trixie! Trixie!"

She paid no attention.

"Trixie! Look, I'm... We're sorry!" Twilight began "We didn't mean to...!"

"If you were REALLY sorry..." Trixie hissed "You wouldn't have done it in the first place!"

"But... We didn't!" Rainbow Dash replied desperately, as she caught up to the two "You got it all wrong!"

"We didn' told anypony ta antagonize ya!" Applejack added, also catching up.

"Oh, really?" the mare asked with a venomous tone.

"Yes!" the lavender unicorn replied "We would never do such things!"

"Then explain this to me, Twilight Sparkle..." Trixie snorted "WHY did they happen?!"

Twilight didn't know what to say. Luckily, her friends did.

"I never told my animal friends about you!" Fluttershy explained "But I was there with my pet bunny, Angel... The naughty critter must have decided to have revenge on you... For some reason..." the mare finished, becoming quiet.

She wasn't picked on by Trixie... She didn't understand...

"Hmph! SOME Angel!" the showmare growled, not stopping.

"Ah remember tha' Ah DID mention ya last Apple Family Reunion..." Applejack spoke up "Ah didn' mean' ta cause ya any harm, but mah family probably decided tha' ya deserved ta be taught a lesson!" she finished, before talking to herself, grumpily "Ah thought we had agreed NOT ta resort ta such stupid, hillbilly thin's... Ah gotta have a LONG talk with 'em next time..."

"Look..." Rainbow Dash began "I would NEVER, not even if it was my biggest nemesis, would have other pegasi gang up against someone!" she explained "Come to think of it, I wouldn't even be able to do it! I mean, we pegasi are a team, we hold together, but it doesn't work like that!"

"Ah thin' they were jus' joinin' th' mobs..." Applejack added.

"And I would NEVER, even if my LIFE would depend on it, would organize parties AGAINST someone!" Pinkie exclaimed "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

Trixie just flared her nostrils, still glaring.

"I admit, I am a gossipy sort, and so are the aristocrats..." Rarity admitted "But I would NEVER even THINK of having them associate for such viscous activity as paying ONE, humble mare out. Heck, even THEY wouldn't even think about resorting to such a malicious thing on their own!"

"Which is why they needed YOU!" Trixie reminded her, successfully silencing the mare.

Twilight finally found her voice.

"Trixie, look, even though I am the apprentice of Princess Celestia, I would never ask her to treat you in such a way. And she wouldn't comply, either! Perhaps... You did simply caught her in the wrong time, like Alexei said..."

"Oh, so you KNOW that tall being!" Trixie grunted "PERFECT!"

"What?! Trixie, I... Aaargh!" Twilight sat down. They were at the limits of Ponyville, and she had ran out of breath...

The others stopped as well, but Trixie kept trotting, out of the town. Finally, Twilight sighed.

"Look, Trixie... If there's any way we could make it up to you, then please... Tell us..."

The showmare stopped.

The Mane 6 looked up, anxiously.

Minutes, like hours, passed in complete silence.

Finally, Trixie turned her head.

"Well, there is one way YOU could make up for it, Twilight Sparkle..." she said.

"How?" the mare asked, surprised.

Suddenly, the showmare, spun around, now face to face with the librarian.

"Twilight Sparkle!" she called out to her "I, Beatrix Lulamoon, challenge you to a Magical Duel of the highest level!"

The mares gasped. Twilight's eyes went wide...

"The... Highest level?"

Trixie nodded.

"You and I, Twilight Sparkle, shall compete in a battle of magic, on the field beside the end sidings of Ponyville's train yard, this afternoon." she went on "For one of us... It shall be the last!"

With that, she turned around, and trotted off...

"What th' hay was THA' all abou'?!" Applejack exclaimed.

Twilight didn't reply... She just stared in front of herself, eyes dilated with pupils dot-sized and shaking. Her mouth was slightly agape, and her face was very, very pale...

"Twilight?" Fluttershy asked upon noticing her friend's condition.

Rarity, who seemed to be in the same sort of trance, snapped out of it...

"Oh... My... HARMONIA!" she shrieked, sitting down onto the ground as well.

"Could somebody explain what's going on?" Rainbow Dash snapped, circling her friends.

"Trixie had just challenged Twilight to a Top Level Magic Duel." Rarity uttered.

"So?" Pinkie asked, confused.

"Only alicorns were allowed to compete in such battle, but it was banned, even for them, one thousand years ago..." the white pony spoke nervously.

"Why?" Dash asked.

"...Because it's a battle of life and death..."

The others jumped, looking at their friend.

Twilight had finally spoke up, although she looked like she was about to faint or vomit... Or both...

"WHAT?!" her friends gasped.

"A Top Level Magic Duel, or Alicorns' Challenge is a magical battle 'till death." the unicorn uttered.

"The opponents attack each other with all of their magic concentrated into one, vaporizing beam. The first one to loose his or her focus automatically dies, unless the other is able to retreat his or her magic in time... But that had never happened before..."

The others gasped, for the umpteenth time, and felt a knot forming in their stomachs as well...

"Well... What are you gonna do, Twi'?" Applejack asked, after a long pause.

"She's obviously NOT going to attend it!" Rarity replied instead of Twilight, indignantly "It's illegal, after all!"

"I have no choice." Twilight sighed "If I forfeit, Trixie wins by default. And, according to the rules of the Alicorns' Challenge, if she wins and I'm still alive, she has sword right over me..." she added, before gazing at the others "She could have me killed any time she wants to..."

"That's just... Insane!" Dash yelled "Is she nuts, or something?!"

"No, Dash, she's quite clever..." Rarity hissed "She must be fully aware of the rules, that's why she challenged Twilight! She has her in her web, the shifty little witch!"

The others stared at their friend in shock. They had never seen Rarity act so out of character.

"I don't think she's going for victory, girls..." Twilight sniffed, sounding close to crying.

The others turned their attention towards her, looking surprised.

"What do you mean, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"Think about it, girls..." the unicorn sighed "She had lost her fame, her stage, her reputation, everything, and was hunted like a beast in the past year, partially because of us!"

The others sat down, their eyes growing wide with horror, as the pieces fell into place...

"She didn't challenge me to beat me..." their friend went on "If she does, then she'll kill, or will, at least, hold the life of one of the most magically strongest unicorns in all of Equestria in her hooves! But iff she loses..."

No... She couldn't go on... But she had to...

Gulping back her tears, she continued:

"Then I'll... Complete what she thought I... We... Wanted all along..."

Her friends stared, stunned with horror...

"Destroy her..."

To be continued...