“Hey Twilight!”

The sound of her name being called dragged Twilight out of her thoughts and back into the present. She looked up to see a small purple dragon regarding her with a smile in the hall of her library home.

“Oh um, hi Spike,” she mumbled, as though snapped out of a daze.

“Something on your mind Twi?” Spike asked, taking note of her confused reaction.

“Yeah,” Twilight responded, closing the front door behind her. “I ran into somepony I really didn’t expect to at the spa today.”

“Oh, was it Rarity?” he asked with enthusiasm, his eyes rolling to the ceiling as his thoughts took him from the room.

“No Spike, why would I be surprised to see Rarity at the spa?” Twilight’s response held a hint of irritation. Spike only shrugged in response.

“Anyway, the pony I saw at the spa was… Trixie.”

“Trixie?!” the dragon yelped running over to Twilight. “Are you ok, did she hurt you, did she blow up the spa?!”

“Relax Spike, I’m fine and so is the spa. She was actually just there for a relaxing morning like me, and believe it or not; she was actually kind of friendly, in an aggressive sort of way…”

“I’ll choose not to believe it, there’s no way Trixie is back here without being up to something.”

“I don’t know Spike, I actually think she isn’t up to trouble this time.”

“Just… be careful ok, she could be planning to catch you off guard or something.”

“Oh Spike, I’ve dealt with much worse than Trixie before; I think I can handle her!”

“Yeah well, I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Aw, thanks Spike!” Twilight smiled and pulled the dragon into an embrace with a forehoof. “I promise I’ll keep an eye on her, but if Trixie is really willing to be friendly this time then I think she deserves a chance.”

*

Trixie lay on her bed in her small room in The Horse And Carriage Inn, located in the centre of Ponyville. It was a modest little place, with dated furnishings and a cosy atmosphere. It was just inconspicuous enough that not many ponies would notice a new resident in it, and that’s just how Trixie liked it. The elderly mare innkeep didn’t even seem to recognise her as the unicorn who had briefly enslaved the town. Having only been back in town a couple of days, Trixie had been fortunate enough not to run into anypony who recognised her yet, except for Twilight of course.

Trixie looked down at the photograph where the smiling face of the newly crowned Twilight Sparkle, clad in her spectacular princess gown; looked back up at her. Her eyes lingered on the picture as she sat in silence on her bed. Her silent contemplation was shattered moments later by the raps of a hoof on her door. She quickly shoved the picture into a drawer beside her bed and went to answer it. On the other side stood Twilight Sparkle, not dressed in a magnificent gown, but still looking none the less radiant.

“Hi Trixie,” she smiled.

“Ah so you’re back!” Trixie responded with a grin. “Can’t get enough of The Great and Powerful Trixie in one day?”

“Yeah that must be it,” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Well come on in, I swear my trailer had more room than this inn but what can you do?”

Twilight closed the door behind her, and hopped onto a small chair by Trixie’s bed. Trixie herself sat on the bed.

“Seems kinda cosy to me,” Twilight said as she regarded the room.

“It’s alright for the money I suppose. You know, I’d never go back to it; but there was a surprising amount of cash to be earned in rock farming. I never did find out who the farms actual customers were though…” Trixie trailed off as her thoughts went back to her time spent on the bizarre form of agriculture.

“Anyway what brings you back to Trixie?” she asked after putting the thought behind her.

Twilight sat for a few moments in silence, looking as though she herself was also deep in thought.

“I’m just going to be straight with you Trixie.” she began, her tone serious. “If you can promise me that you’re not back in Ponyville to cause any trouble to me, my friends; or the town, then I’d be happy to be your friend as well; assuming you want to of course.”

Trixie opened her mouth and leaned forward with a hoof raised, looking prepared to respond with one of her usual aggressive, quick-fire quips. Instead she just exhaled a breath of air, and leaned back against the wall by the bed. Her eyes glanced to the drawer containing the picture she had just hidden, before resting back on Twilight’s.

“I’m not here to cause any trouble to anypony,” she replied, her voice uncharacteristically solemn. “At least I have no intention to anyway.”

Twilight caught Trixie’s eye with her own as she said this, and the two sat, eyes locked for a few moments. The silence brought with it a heavy tension

“Ok, I can believe you,” Twilight said, cutting through the thick silence. “In that case, I’m having a birthday party tomorrow. All my friends are going to be there, that can include you now too.” She smiled at Trixie as she extended the invite.

“Alright, I think I can make that.” Trixie agreed.

“Great! Head over to my place any time tomorrow. Do you know where it is?”

“Yeah, the big tree right?”

“That’s the one! I Hope to see you there. I have some more preparations to do, so if you’ll excuse me.” Twilight got up to leave, but stopped at the door. She turned her head to look back at the magician.

“I’m just wondering, what did bring you back to Ponyville anyway?”

Trixie’s eyes grew wide at the question. They darted once again to the drawer containing the picture of Princess Twilight.

“Its… its private business,” she responded after a few moments.

Twilight’s eyes narrowed.

“Private wouldn’t happen to be synonymous with troublesome in this case, would it Trixie?”

Trixie swallowed, a bead of sweat forming on her head from the powerful glare Twilight was throwing her way.

“Its… I…” Trixie took a breath. “Look, just because we’re friends now doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything about my personal life right away ok? My business is my own.” Her words now had their usual confidence behind them.

“You’re right,” Twilight agreed. “Just know that if you are up to something, I’m not sure I could forgive you again.”

A grin formed on Trixie’s face

“You need to lighten up Sparkle,” she teased.

Twilight shook her head with a smile and left Trixie’s room, closing the door behind her.

Trixie exhaled a relieved breath of air. She slid open the drawer to look at her secret possession once again. I can't tell you why I'm back, not yet she thought as she gazed at the photo.

“Oh and Trixie,” a voice called from the slowly opening door. Trixie yelped, slamming the drawer shut with such force that it would have shattered the wood. It would have shattered it, were it not for the very unfortunate fact that Trixie’s hoof had not completely vacated the drawer in time with this action. She shrieked again as the closing drawer smashed against her hoof. She grimaced as she removed her throbbing limb, gently closing the drawer with her other hoof.

“Everything ok?” Twilight asked, one eyebrow raised as she took note of Trixie’s grimacing expression, along with the loud slamming noise and Trixie's pained scream.

“Uh yeah, my… my hoof slipped. What is it?” Trixie groaned as she cradled her injured limb.

“I was just going to say that I’ll talk to my friends for you before you arrive, so at least they won’t be surprised when you show up tomorrow.”

“Wonderful,” Trixie moaned in response.

“Ok… see you later.” Twilight left the room, more confused than ever.

Trixie exhaled another ragged breath as she was left alone once again.

"Stupid egghead," she grumbled to herself.