Chapter 2

Trixie ran as fast as she could, away from that stage and that ugly herd that had Twilight not intervened she was certain would have run her out of town anyway or worse. Twilight: a name that echoed in her mind as she fled down the street. Of all the ponies to help her, why did it have to be her? She was the one that caused her to fall from grace the first time and discover that she was neither Great nor Powerful. Then to make matters worse even with the assistance of the Alicorn Amulet she was still defeated thanks to the purple unicorn and her friends. She would have liked it if she never saw them again, but no once again Twilight appeared in her life, stealing her one chance of redemption.

And yet she did save her from what could have been something worse than rotten tomatoes and jeering from the crowds. But that didn’t matter now. All that mattered was to run away from this if nothing more than to salvage what was left off her pride and maybe, just maybe regroup in some other town. The possibilities were slim but when one had virtually nothing, any chance was a good chance.

Unbeknownst to her as the lights of Ponyville slowly faded away there was a pony who did follow her. Ever since her flight from the stage Twilight combed the area hoping to find the blue unicorn. The Princess knew that Trixie was hurt, just as anypony put in the same position. But this was much more than just a one-time event it seemed for the illusionist. This was the straw that broke Trixie’s back and to let her leave would solve nothing.

“Trixie, stop,” Twilight said as she flew above the mare, “I want to talk to you.”

The unicorn looked up, dumbfounded that Twilight followed her out of town.

“Leave me along Twilight Sparkle!” Trixie shouted as she kept running, “I don’t want to talk to you or your friends or anypony in your stupid town.”

“Please Trixie, I want to help,” Twilight pleaded to the mare while keeping an even pace.

“You want to help me? Just let me go. I’ll be gone from your life forever then.”

With a sigh Twilight flew away from Trixie to which for a moment Trixie stood and watched the mare disappear into the skies above town.

“Heh,” she said with a faint smile, “Good riddance.”

She turned around with a toss of her mane as if to shake off the imaginary dust on her from the town. It was then that she stood face to face with Twilight Sparkle.

“You… how… I saw you return to Ponyville!”

“You’re right, I did fly back there but then I realized I couldn’t give up that easily so I teleported back.”

“So, you’ve come back to gloat then, perhaps to give me one last jab before seeing me off?” Trixie said grumbling as she tried for a way to escape her situation.

“Really? You think that I helped you so I can gloat? Come on Trixie, you know I don’t do that. I’m here to help you, and it looks like you need the help.”

“What do you mean I need help? I’m fine.”

“Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You look like you haven’t bathed or slept well in a while much less had a good meal. Please, can you just once accept help from others and stay at the castle for the night? If you still want to leave then that’s fine.”

Trixie said nothing as she weighed the options in her mind. She was always a pony who was independent and certainly would never let a pony help her. When others asked to help she felt it was a denial of that dream to be her own mare. But she realized the shape she was in especially after the events on stage. The choice was clear but no less stinging to her mind.

“Fine, Trixie will accept your hospitality and stay at your place,” she said as she proceeded back into tow with her head held high, realizing she would be returning to the scene of her tragic encounter with the townsfolk. Twilight merely shook her head at the same way Trixie acted since the first time she met the unicorn and with a sigh followed her into town, knowing this would be a long night.