Ah, now this is more like it. Twilight sat on her balcony, looking out on the beautiful views of Ponyville, sitting quietly with one of her favourite books. After everything that's happened recently, I could really do with more moments like this. Turning another page, she became more and more engrossed in her literature. I always loved this one. I know it's purely fictional, but it's nice to see Starswirl being portrayed in other ways. Recruiting twelve dogs and a Breezie to kick a dragon out of a mountain? Ridiculous I know, but entertaining all the same. Still, I wonder what the author would think of the dragon my friends and I will have to fight one day? Turning another page, Twilight chuckled to herself. Oh dear, looks like the party have got themselves caught by a trio of manticores. Here's hoping that little Breezie can save them before they're all eaten up. However, her smile faded somewhat as she began to look up, hearing a sound off in the distance. Looking down from her balcony, Twilight saw that there were many ponies all running towards the town square.

Hmmm...they don't appear to be in a panic. So I guess it's no disaster or anything. If it's a party, I'd have thought Pinkie would have told me about it by now. Letting out a sigh, she shrugged her shoulders. It's probably nothing. Remember, Twilight, this is supposed to be a relaxing moment. Don't concern yourself until the issue outright bursts in on you. However, at that moment, Spike immediately burst into the balcony area, huffing and panting from what seemed to be a long run. Frowning, Twilight used her magic to close her book. Well, it was a nice moment while it lasted. Putting her book away, she got up onto all four hooves and turned to Spike. Wow, he's really exhausted. Turning to her left, she looked down at a nearby glass of water she'd prepared for herself, magically levitating it in front of the young dragon, who gladly took it from her and began gulping it down enthusiastically. After finishing the last drop, and catching his breath, he finally managed to get out some words, each punctuated by more, albeit smaller pants.

"Twilight! You...gotta...come! There's...a new...unicorn...in town! She's...doing tricks! We've...gotta watch!"

Twilight rolled her eyes at that.

"A magic performer? Really, Spike, there's no need for..."

But, as she started speaking those words, memories of her future once more made themselves known in her mind. Images of a blue mare, one that she would contend with on more than one occasion. A bitter rivalry that she never asked for nor wanted. Trixie. It's her. She's here. I know this well. The showmare's actions, and her great dislike of Twilight, were just as fresh in her mind as if it had happened yesterday. This time...I’ll stop this before it begins. Turning, back to her assistant, Twilight put on a smile for him.

"You know what, Spike? I think it would be good for us to go out and watch this new unicorn."

Spike smiled at that, and Twilight smiled back, patting him on the head as she did so. So, with a skip in his step, Spike walked out, with his friend in tow. But, unbeknownst to him, Twilight's expression was harsher than normal, her mind awash with plans on what she was going to do. They made their way out of the house, walking down the street where everypony else had gone, and soon enough, they found themselves along with all the others, in the town square. Sure enough, a massive stage had been set up, and Twilight's friends were all in the forefront of the crowd, waiting for the main act. Twilight sighed as she approached them, taking her place beside Rarity. The alabaster unicorn turned to her and smiled in greeting, which Twilight returned, but their attention was then drawn to the stage, as a mass of fireworks erupted, sending a barrage of light and colour all over, All of the ponies there, save for Twilight and her friends, were in awe at this, and after a bright flash of light, there stood, at the centre of the stage, the mare that Twilight already knew so well.

"Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

As usual with these kinds of performances, the audience was already enraptured, looking upon the new mare with awe. For the time being, though, Twilight's friends were less than enthralled, and so simply kept watching as Trixie continued.

"Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!"

With those words, Trixie sent off another round of fireworks, complete with a fair amount of fanfare. The audience, as before, cheered this display, thought Rarity simply rolled her eyes at it.

"Ugh! That mare is foolish if she thinks such displays can impress the likes of me!"

Turning, she looked upon Twilight, whispering to her

"Twilight...you could perform circles around her! Go up there and show her what real magic look like!"

Twilight let out a grunt at that. When I showed off my magic to defend against the cows, I had a feeling it would come back to bite me. But I'm not going to cause a scene here.

"Rarity, I'm not going to show off here. My magic is used for real purposes. I don't use it just to impress."

Rarity looked to her friend, seeming slightly disappointed, but nevertheless nodded, accepting her decision. Turning back to the performance, they watched as Trixie continued casting spells, conjuring a brand new bouquet of flowers, much to the amazement of the crowd. Rainbow, seeing the behaviour of her fellow ponies, let out a scoff at it.

"Seriously? After seeing what Twilight can do, how can any of these guys be impressed by...that?!"

Rarity turned to her.

"Easily impressed, perhaps?"

It was here that Applejack finally stepped in with her own opinion on the matter.

"Well, personally, ah can't stand it when ponies talk themselves up like that. That Trixie is actin like a school filly with fancy new ribbons."

Twilight frowned at her friend's words.

"Applejack, she's a performer. Making herself seem more impressive than she actually is in reality is part of her job. Like a salespony talking up how good their product is to get ponies to buy them. We can't look down on her for that!"

The farmer let out a huff at that, clearly not swayed by her friend's words. Twilight shook her head at this, turning to look upon Trixie once more. All I need to do here is make it so that nopony challenges her. As long as I can do that, then there's no need for...

"Boo! Your act sucks!"

Snapping her head to the left, Twilight looked on with shock at Rainbow Dash, who was glaring angrily at Trixie. Slapping a hoof to her forehead, Twilight watched the inevitable fallout as the blue unicorn finally turned her attention to the group.

"Well, well...it seems like we have some neigh-sayers in the audience!"

Those words prompted yet another slap-to-the-forehead from Twilight. Ugh...even knowing that pun was coming, it still hurts. Lowering her hoof yet again, Twilight looked on as Trixie continued her tirade.

"Who is so ignorant as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie? Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?"

Twilight looked to her friends, all of whom were opening their mouths, ready to say their piece to the showmare. However, before any of them could get a word out, Twilight concentrated on her own magic, casting her teleportation spell and appearing right in front of all of them. Taken aback by this display, all of Twilight’s friends stood there in silence while the lavender unicorn turned to Trixie.

"Nopony! Nopony is going to challenge you! We're not here to cause any trouble!"

But, contrary to how Twilight might have expected Trixie to respond to those words, the showmare instead looked at Twilight with what could only be described as awe.

"You...you know teleportation magic?"

Twilight's eyes widened at that. Oh no! Looking on, she saw Trixie narrow her eyes at that.

"So...you have come to challenge Trixie!"

Twilight waved her hooves in a desperate bid to get everypony to calm down, but, unbeknownst to her, Applejack ran straight past her, right for the stage. Both Twilight and Trixie watched with some degree of shock as the farmer leapt up, landing on all four hooves on the stage with ease. The magician eyed the newcomer carefully, and as Applejack glared angrily at her, the former recognised an opponent when she saw one, smirking as she looked to her. Gesturing with her hoof, Trixie allowed Applejack to proceed with whatever she had planned, to which the latter merely chuckled before pulling out a nearby lasso. Twilight put a hoof over her eyes after seeing this. Here we go. Applejack, as expected, started performing a number of impressive rodeo tricks, jumping through her lasso in a big display of acrobatics and athleticism. Many in the crowd were impressed, as was Twilight to be honest. But, as Applejack stopped, looking more than a little smug, Trixie merely smirked, lighting up her horn and causing the rope to come to life, wrapping all around Applejack and hogtying her. Now helpless and virtually humiliated, Applejack remained on the stage as Trixie approached, after which the latter placed a hoof upon her tied-up prize and called out to the crowd.

"Do you see now? Nopony can match the Great and Powerful Trixie! No lowly pony like this fool here could even come close to it!"

Applejack continued to fume in her bindings, but, while everypony's attention was on her, they failed to notice Twilight. The young unicorn stood there, in utter silence, staring intently at Trixie, seething at what was happening before her. So, quietly and without announcement, she began to slowly walk forward. And as she did so, the others finally began to take notice. I tried to do this the easy way. I tried to keep the peace. But no...it seems I have to resort to more direct measures. Trixie, watching the rival unicorn appear, merely scoffed. But, as Twilight approached, the smirk faded somewhat as, with a glow of her horn, Twilight, somehow, began to conjure clouds above and around them all. Looking up with shock, and more than a little worry, the other ponies gazed upon the now-darkening clouds, many of which were rumbling with the threat of lightning. Trixie watched this, clearly taken aback to see a unicorn with control over weather like this, and so cleared her throat before lighting up her own horn, hoping to use Twilight's spell against her, much like she'd used Applejack's rope earlier.

But, much to the shock of the showmare, nothing happened. She could not influence Twilight's spell, and as the latter began to become almost bathed in her own magical aura, the showmare took a step backwards, showing outward fear at this point. Finally, Twilight began to approach her in earnest, her aura continuing to shine and the clouds continuing to rumble.

"I am willing to allow many things, Trixie. But I am not willing to allow the humiliation of those close to me. You think you know magic? You thing you know power? You...know...nothing!"

Trixie kept stepping backwards, fearful of the approaching mare. Indeed, many in the audience were also looking on with great concern, watching Twilight as if Celestia herself had entered their presence. Trixie, having gone as far back as she could without falling off the stage, instead dropped to her knees, whimpering as Twilight came to within a metre of her.

"And now, Trixie...it seems there is only one thing...that this situation calls for."

Twilight raised a hoof, and out of sheer reflex, Trixie covered her eyes, waiting for some kind of strike against her. However, as she stayed there with her eyes shut tightly, time passed, yet nothing happened. She counted the moments, eventually reaching a point where she finally started to open her eyes again. To her amazement, there was no attack, nor any kind of move against her. Instead, Twilight's clouds had disappeared, as had her aura. The hoof she'd raised was, rather than being used to attack, instead being offered to her. As Trixie watched with confusion, Twilight looked at her with a gentle smile.

"I’m going...to ask you to come and live with me."

"What?!" she exclaimed.

"What?!" Twilight friends all spike in unison.

"WHAT?!" the crowd all chimed in.

But Twilight stood there, her hoof still outstretched, looking down at Trixie with no hint of deception or trickery in her eyes.

"I mean it. You have exceptional talent in the field of magic, Trixie, Your abilities are something you should be proud of. But...you don't need all this to feel special."

Trixie looked at her, confusion still plastering her face, prompting Twilight to explain.

"When I look at you, I see a mare who loves, above all else, to be appreciated for what she does. For you, your talent in magic is your gateway to that. To be cheered on, adored by others, that is what you live for. But...you could be so much more than that. You don't have to live a life where you puff yourself up, or put others down. And so...I'm offering you a better way."

Slowly, the showmare got back to her hooves, still wary of the offered hoof.

"But...why?"

Twilight chuckled at that.

"When I came to live here, in Ponyville, my task was not just to further my magical studies, but to learn all I can about friendship. I can think of no better way to do that than by helping another to learn what I've learned."

Trixie raised an eyebrow.

"You...want Trixie...as an apprentice?!"

Unexpected, I know. But believe me, I've given a lot more thought on this matter than you could possibly know, Trixie. But, rather than say all that out loud, Twilight merely smiled softly again.

"I do. I want to give you the chance...to become as great as you've always said you are. To help you, not only in your magic, but in making friends. What say you?"

Trixie stood there, disbelieving at what was going on in front of her. But, as she stood there in silence, Twilight's friends looked to her as if she'd gone insane. If Trixie accepts, it'll be difficult. There's already bad blood between her and the rest of my friends, so this needs to be done delicately. But...I know it can be done. Trixie has it in her to recognise when she's done something wrong, to be the better mare, I’ve seen it. I just need to help her recognise it sooner. So, remaining silent, Twilight watched as Trixie finally seemed to be finished with her thoughts. Slowly, the showmare reached out a hoof, nervously putting it upon Twilight's, leading to a massive smile from the latter. Whether Trixie was doing this out of a genuine wish to learn and grow, or perhaps because she was simply intimidated, Twilight could not say. Still, she’s accepted. That’s a step in the right direction at least. Trixie chuckled nervously at all this, which Twilight couldn't blame her for. I'd be willing to bet anything that she wasn’t expecting her day to go like this. After shaking hooves, the two parted, and Twilight cleared her throat a little.

"My friend and I live at the Golden Oak Library, just down the road from here."

Trixie nodded at that.

"Well then...I suppose Trixie had better start unpacking."

The two nodded at each other, Trixie starting to move off the stage and towards her caravan, which was placed nearby. Turning, Twilight too began to walk off-stage, moving towards her friends, including Applejack, who had been helped out of the rope earlier. All of them stood there with their mouths agape as she neared them.

"Um, Twilight? Are you sure about this?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight nodded.

"I am. Despite what you might think, Trixie isn't a bad mare. She can be a friend...if we let her."

The group looked to each other, unsure about all this, but nevertheless seemed willing to accept their friend's decision. Although, as Rainbow folded her hooves, she seemed less than enthusiastic about the whole thing.

"Okay...but you gotta admit, it's not gonna be easy living near a mare who does nothing but talk about how great she is all the time."

Rarity looked to her pegasus friend with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, we've never had to deal with that, now have we?"

As Twilight rolled her eyes at her friends' remarks to each other, she turned, looking on as Trixie was busying herself with the preparations to her caravan. And so...the student becomes the teacher...sooner than Celestia planned.