With another research project under their belts, Storm Shield and Twilight Sparkle busily worked their magical abilities in an attempt to master some minor spells. They only focused on the minor because each spell has one or two effects. They both understand the importance of mastering simple tricks despite already mastering a great deal of advanced magic. Learning as many simple tricks as possible helps build a unicorn’s capability to learn and master the more difficult spells. Storm and Twilight took turns learning these variety of tricks, as Spike and Blaze served as their cheering section.

“Come on Twilight,” Spike cheered, as Twilight got ready. “You can do it!”

Blaze just sat on his perch at Spike’s side, screeching his own support for his master.

“Okay, here goes,” Twilight said.

She proceeds to concentrate, as her horn began to light up. A glowing aurora surrounded the front of Spike’s face. A couple seconds later, a black mustache appears upon his face.

“Ha ha! Ya did it!” Spike said excitedly. “Growing magic, that’s number twenty-five. Twenty-five different types of tricks and counting.”

“Take a bow, Twilight!” Storm added. “You’re amazing!”

Twilight blushed a bit from receiving all this attention.

“And I think this is the best trick so far,” Spike replied.

He admired his new mustache in the mirror, stroking it tenderly.

“Hello, Rarity. What’s that? Aw, it’s nothin’, just my awesome mustache.”

Spike laughed to himself, when suddenly Blaze flew off his perch and swiped the fake mustache off Spike’s lips.

“Hey! Give that back!”

Spike chased Blaze around the library, trying vainly to get his mustache back. Both Storm and Twilight burst out laughing, as they watched the tiny dragon chase the Phoenix all around the library.

“A little help here Storm?” Spike pleaded.

“No way buddy,” Storm shook his head. “Last time I tried taking something from Blaze, he nearly pecked my eye out. Besides, this is just too funny to stop.”

“Sorry Romeo,” Twilight smiled.

“Wait!” Spike protested.

But it was too late, Blaze flew out the open window and well out of reach for the little dragon.

“Aw rats!”

Twilight giggled to herself, while Storm took a moment to ponder.

“Hmm… I wonder how I’d look with one,” Storm thought.

Just then, a mustache appears on his upper lips. Twilight examines him briefly, as Storm turned to her and smiled sheepishly.

“Hmm… nah, it’s not you,” She replied.

“Oh? Well, what if I did this?”

Storm stands before Twilight and Spike, magically conjuring a red painter’s cap and placed it upon his head.

“It’s-a me! Mario! WA-HOO!”

Twilight and Spike exchanged looks before tumbling onto their backs in hard laughter, over Storm’s goofy impression of an Italian (Complete with the accent). Storm found himself laughing along with his friends. Without a doubt, doing magic, especially with Twilight, was always fun.

*Deploy theme song here*

Later that day, Storm, Twilight, and Spike were enjoying a brisk walk through Ponyville. Spike still couldn’t settle down over Twilight and Storm’s achievements.

“Twenty-five, Twilight,” Spike said. “Twenty-five different kinds of tricks and counting. I thought unicorns were only supposed to have a little magic that matches their special talents!”

“True,” Twilight pointed out. “For ponies whose talents are for things like cooking or singing or math. But what if a unicorn’s special talent ismagic?”

“Or they are gifted with strong magical abilities?” Storm added.

“Like you two,” Spike said. “And you both know a ton of magic.”

“Oh Spike, stop it,” Storm replied. “I don’t know everything.”

“I’m sure there are lots of ponies right here in Ponyville that know just as much magic as us,” Twilight added.

“Are you kiddin’?” Spike retorted. “I don’t think there’s another unicorn in all of Equestria with your kind of ability, guys.”

Suddenly, two unicorn colts came charging by. One was short and a tad pudgy, while the other was tall and very skinny. Collectively, they were known as Snips and Snails, two local boys in Ponyville. Before Spike could move, they rammed into the little dragon as they sprinted by. Poor Spike found himself forced to hitch a bumpy ride on Snip’s head.

“Gangway!” Snips shouted. “Comin’ through!”

“Augh! Snips, Snails!” Spike shouted. “What’s goin’ on?”

“Wha, haven’t you heard?” Snails replied, turning towards Spike.

They both made a quick stop, sending Spike flying into the distance.

“Whoa!” Spike grunted, with a crash-landing.

“There’s a new unicorn in town!” Snails told them.

“A new unicorn?” Storm questioned, having caught up.

“Yeah! They say that she’s got more magical powers than any other unicorn ever!” Snips added.

Twilight Sparkle had just caught up with Storm Shield, but when he turned to her he knew she heard just as much as he did.

“Really?” The unicorns asked in unison.

To say they were both a tad insecure was a major understatement.

“Aw, no way, that honor goes to Twilight and Storm here,” Spike pointed out.

The two young colts just looked at them, as Storm and Twilight had a slight blush of embarrassment upon their faces from the praise.

“Where is this unicorn?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Ho, she’s in the town square,” Snails responded. “Come on!”

“Yeah!” Snips said. “Come on! Whooo!”

Twilight, Storm, and Spike exchanged some curious looks before following them. Soon all the other ponies gathered around a large stage that had been set up just outside of town hall. A large curtain completely surrounded part of it.

“Come one, come all!” The unicorn’s voice shouted. “Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

The platform appeared before them all, as the curtain opens revealing a cobalt, blue-coated unicorn wearing a purple wizard’s hat and matching cape.

“Ooh!” The numerous ponies gasped in awe.

Spike pushed a few ponies out of the way, this way he, Twilight, and Storm could get a front row view of Trixie. All their other friends were already there, watching the spectacle before their eyes. But one look at the traveling magician and Storm released a loud groan, as if he knew who she was.

“Oh no!” He muttered. “Not her!”

“You know her?” Twilight asked.

“She’s only one of my biggest bullies back in magic school,” Storm answered bitterly. “That girl would stop at nothing to get under my skin, always making me look dumb… in public.”

“I see, wait…” Twilight paused. “If she used to go to the same magic school as us, how come I’ve never heard of her?”

“She only pestered me when you weren’t around. Apparently, she tried to speak to you once or twice. But you were so absorbed with your studies it doesn’t surprise me you never knew she tried talking to you.”

Twilight smiled sheepishly, as that was precisely what she’d do. During their talk, Trixie continued with her show now that she had every pony’s attention.

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

As if her bragging wasn’t enough, Trixie conjured a large collection of fireworks to ignite complete with fanfare.

“My, my, my!” Rarity remarked, with an eye roll. “What boasting!”

“Come on,” Spike said annoyingly. “Nopony’s as magical as Twi—Twi—Twi—”

It was then he noticed that Rarity was literally standing inches beside him.

“Oh!” Spike replied, clearing his throat. “Hey Rarity, I… uh… Mustache!”

Spike dashed away from Rarity, who just looked rather clueless.

“There’s nothing wrong with being talented, is there?” Twilight asked worriedly.

“Nothin’ at all,” Applejack assured.

Although the annoyed look on her face, especially the way she watched Trixie showed off, that told a different story.

“’cep’n when someone goes around showin’ it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons.”

“Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does not make one better than the rest of us,” Rarity added.

“Especially when ya got me around being better than the rest of us,” Rainbow chuckled, before Applejack gave her a death glare. “Uh, I mean, yeah, uh, magic shmagic. BOO!”

Rainbow’s boo chant did not go unheard as Trixie faced her direction with a smirk.

“Well, well, well, it seems we have some neighsayers in the audience,” Trixie retorted. “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?”

Storm just shook his head in disgust.

“Good to know you actually grew up, Trixie,” Storm said to himself.

Trixie shifted her head, blinking her eyes. Storm just glared the moment she saw him.

“Storm Shield, long time no see,” Trixie said smugly. “I was wondering what happened to you.”

Few of the ponies actually gasped when they heard Storm knew who she was. A spotlight appeared just over his head, probably one of Trixie’s tricks. Now that all eyes were on him, Storm had no choice but to acknowledge.

“You haven’t changed a bit, Trixie…” Storm said. “So full of yourself… ready to tear apart any pony who doesn’t agree with your… stuck-up point of view.”

“Ha! I’ve become the most powerful unicorn of all time! And what about you? Decided you weren’t good enough for the Princess, that you’d come crying to this tiny town for some pity?”

Storm growled, as the rest of the girls looked rather offended. Rarity gave an indignant raspberry.

“Just who does she think she is?” Rarity asked aloud.

“Yeah!” Spike agreed. “Since we all know that Twilight and Storm here are—”

“Spike! Shhh!” Twilight blurted out.

She practically dragged Spike away from the crowd by the tail.

“What? What’s wrong?” Spike asked curiously, as Twilight let go.

“You see the way they reacted to Trixie?” Twilight pointed out. “I don’t want anyone thinking I’m a show-off.”

“I’m with Twilight about this, Spike,” Storm agreed. “I made that mistake once and it cost me nearly everything! In fact… I’m still paying for that one mistake. Trust me, in a situation like this, it’s better to keep our magical talents to ourselves.”

Twilight nodded in agreement, although she couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty.

“I never meant to rub that in your face,” She said quietly. “About the accident…”

“Don’t!” Storm cut her off. “As far as I’m concerned, I had it coming.”

Twilight Sparkle wanted to protest until more fanfare went off around Trixie. Snips and Snails seemed to be the only ponies impressed, while their friends looked indignant.

“So, ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’,” Rainbow replied sternly. “What makes you think you’re so awesome, anyway?”

“Heh, why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded ursa major!”

Trixie launched more of her special fireworks, as the fanfare played, and the explosions displayed an image of herself and the ursa major. The other ponies ‘Oohed’ and ‘Awed’ in amazement. Storm, Twilight, Spike, and their friends remained indignant, refusing to believe anything Trixie said.

“What?” Snips exclaimed.

“No way!” Snails added in amazement.

“When all hope was lost, the ponies of Hoofington had no one to turn to,” Trixie explained, theatrically. “But the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in, and with her awesome magic, vanquished the ursa major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!”

“Saw, sweet!” Snips and Snails shout in unison.

“That settles it,” Snips declared.

“Trixie truly is the most talented, most magical, the most awesome unicorn in Ponyville,” Snails added.

“No, in all of Equestria!” Snips finished.

Storm just face-hoofed himself. It was too painful watching ponies, specifically these kids, actually believing Trixie’s tall tales. Even if he expected this to happen during a magic show.

“How do you know?” Spike objected. “You didn’t see it! And besides, Twi—(ZIP) Mmph! M-mmph!”

Twilight Sparkle shushed Spike, by making a zipper appear along the side of his mouth and zipped it shut. Trixie merely laughed.

“It’s true, my enthusiastic little admirers,” Trixie replied. “Trixie is most certainly the best in Ponyville.”

The only response other than dead silence was the chirping of crickets nearby.

“Don’t believe the Great and Powerful Trixie?” She retorts. “Well then, I hereby challenge you, Ponyvillians. Anything you can do; I can do better. Any takers? Anyone? Hmm? Or is Trixie destined to be the greatest equine who has ever lived?!”

Once more, Trixie sets off some fireworks and fanfare. By then, Spike finally managed to unzip his mouth.

“Please! She’s unbearable!” Spike cried, clinging to Twilight’s neck. “You two gotta show her. You just gotta!”

Storm Shield felt sorry for Spike for acting so desperate, but he just couldn’t bring himself to show it.

“Spike, pull yourself together,” Storm said. “She’s a pain, I know. But there’s no reason to shed crocodile tears over her.”

“There’s no way we’re going to use our magic now, Spike,” Twilight added. “Especially since—”

“Hmm, how about you?” Trixie called out.

Twilight Sparkle turned as Trixie approached the front of the stage, her gaze aimed towards ‘her’. Twilight just gulps as the magician stares her down. Storm quickly stands in front of her, bearing an angry stare.

“Leave… her… alone!” Storm demanded.

“Why?” Trixie cooed. “Is she your mare-friend?”

Storm was so busy scowling that he didn’t even notice Twilight shed a little pink on her face. Granted, ‘any’ pony could claim they were an item consider they spend so much time together. Trixie, meanwhile, laughed at Storm’s expense before drawing her attention back to Twilight.

“Well, how about it? Hm?” Trixie challenged. “Is there anything you can do that the Great and Powerful Trixie can’t?”

Twilight grew more and more insecure by the second. Even Storm couldn’t make eye-contact with her.

“I—I—” She stuttered.

“That’s it! I can’t stand no more of this!” Applejack retorted.

The farm pony quickly came to Twilight and Storm’s rescue as she walked up toward the stage.

“You show her, A.J.!” Spike cheered.

“Can your magical powers do this?”

Applejack began to show off some of her lasso skills, hopping back and forth through a rope ring. Then she used the rope to grab an apple from a nearby tree. She brought the apple straight towards her mouth and gobbled it down in one bite.

“Whooo!” The ponies cheered.

“Top that, missy!” Applejack challenged.

“Oh ye of little talent,” Trixie replied.

Trixie’s wizard hat began to glow, as she removed it revealing the glowing aura emanating from her horn.

“Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!”

Using her magic, Trixie brought the discarded rope to life. It began to wiggle about like a snake, as she added ‘charmer’ music to boot. Storm refused to admit it, but he was slightly worried.

“Don’t look at the rope AJ,” Storm muttered. “Don’t look at the…”

Unfortunately, Applejack did look, and she appeared charmed by the spectacle.

“Oh boy…” Storm groaned.

But it was too late. Trixie grabbed another rope and proceeded to trip Applejack.

“Whoa! Uh!” Applejack muttered.

The cow pony was so distracted, that Trixie had tied Applejack’s four legs and pinned her upside down. And to add insult to injury, Trixie used her magic to levitate an apple from the tree and stuffed it into Applejack’s mouth. The ponies just laughed as Applejack hopped off the stage in disgrace.

“Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails,” Trixie boasted.

Just then, Rainbow Dash flew right up to her face.

“There’s no need to go struggin’ around and showin’ off like that,” Rainbow pointed out.

“Oh?” Trixie asked indignantly.

“That’s my job!”

Rainbow soon took off into the skies, using the nearby windmill to increase her speed as she flew upward. Blasting through several clouds until Rainbow posed in front of the sun before diving back to the surface. As she did, she used her slipstream to collect the dew from the clouds, spinning about through the windmill once again, and then came to a dead stop before Trixie. As the dew crashed into her, it created a miniature rainbow above her head.

“They don’t call me ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Dash’ for nothin’!” Rainbow said confidently.

The ponies all gave a loud cheer, but Trixie wasn’t impressed.

“When Trixie is through,” She remarked. ‘The only thing they’ll call you is loser.”

Trixie used her magic to make the rainbow above the Pegasus’ head shift into a multi-colored cyclone.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa-a-a-a!” Rainbow screamed.

The cyan Pegasus spun about and dropped head-first toward the ground, leaving her very dizzy as all the other ponies laughed.

“… I think I’m… gonna be sick…” Rainbow gulped woozily.

“Seems like anypony with a dash of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great Trixie,” The unicorn gloated.

As Applejack, who managed to get out of the ropes, helped the poor Pegasus to her feet, Trixie used her magic to create a small dark cloud above Rainbow…. Which shot a bolt of lightning at Rainbow’s back end.

“Ow!” Rainbow flinched, with a very girly shriek.

The ponies laughing in the audience laughed harder than before, as if this was all part of the show.

“What we need is another unicorn to challenge her,” Spike replied, his claws balled into fists. “Someone with some magic of her own.”

Twilight began to feel rather uneasy about the idea, especially where it was going.

“Yeah! A unicorn to show this unicorn who’s boss,” Rainbow added, fully recovered.

“A real unicorn to unicorn tussle,” Applejack finished.

Storm and Twilight grew more and more uncomfortable when a certain marshmallow unicorn stood before the two.

“Enough! Enough, all of you,” She said firmly. “I take your hint, but Rarity is above such nonsense. Rainbow Dash and Applejack may behave like ruffians, but Rarity conducts herself with beauty and grace.”

While Storm nodded in agreement, it puzzled him why Rarity was suddenly speaking in third person.

“Ooo, what’s the matter?” Trixie teased. “Afraid you’ll get a hair out of place in that rat’s nest you call a mane?”

Let this be a warning to those reading: NEVER insult Rarity’s mane.

You will NOT survive… you have been warned.

“Oh, it. Is. On!” Rarity exclaimed fiercely, taking the stage. “You may think you’re tough with all of your so-called powers, but there’s more to magic than brutish ways. A unicorn needs to be more than just muscle. A unicorn needs to have style.”

Rarity grabs one of the curtains with her horn, spinning the cloth around her before transforming it into a beautiful gown with Rarity’s hair styled in a beautiful done up-do.

“Ooh!” The ponies gapped in amazement.

“A unicorn is not a unicorn without grace and beauty,” Rarity concluded, with a pose.

“Rarity won’t let Trixie get the best of her!” Spike said proudly. “She’s strong, she’s beautiful, she’s—”

POOF!

GASP!

Spike stopped speaking as Trixie used her magic, leaving every pony stunned.

“Quick!” Rarity shouted, panicking. “I need a mirror! Get me a mirror! What did she do to my hair? I know she did something terrible to my hair!”

“Nothing!” Twilight smiled.

“It’s fine,” Rainbow said plainly.

“It’s gorgeous,” Applejack added.

“Never looked better,” Storm smiled awkwardly.

“It’s green,” Spike said.

The little dragon earned himself not just three, but a ‘fourth’ glare from Storm Shield himself.

“What?”

Rarity looked up and before her eyes what she saw was true. Her dark purple mane had suddenly turned a shade of forest green.

“Ugh, no!” Rarity cried out. ‘Green hair! Not green hair!”

Rarity rushed off the stage, crying through the crowds.

“Such an awful, awful color!” Rarity sobbed.

In her haste, she passed a pony named Golden Harvest. Ironically, she had a mane of the same color.

“Well, I never!” She retorted, walking away.

As the others watched Rarity leave, Storm’s eye twitched in anger. He grit his teeth as he breathed like a winded rhino. In the heat of the moment, Spike approached Twilight.

“Well Twilight, Storm, guess it’s up to you two,” Spike said, despite their hesitant faces. “Come on, show her what you’re made of.”

Several ponies turned toward the two, expecting the pair to give it a shot.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked innocently. “I’m nothing special.”

“Yes, you are!” Spike protested. “You are better than her! Both of you!”

“We’re no better than anyone!”

But despite her protests, the stares from the ponies increased. Even the cobalt unicorn herself stood at the ready.

“Hah! You think you’re better than the Great and Powerful Trixie?” Trixie questioned. “You think you’ve got more magical talent? Well, come on, show Trixie what you’ve got. Show us all.”

Storm glared silently, while Twilight felt more and more uncomfortable.

“Who, me?” Twilight responded. “I’m just your run-of-the-mill citizen of Ponyville. Same with Storm… whose single… and just my best friend.”

“Ooh!” Storm thought sadly. “Right in the heart!”

“No powerful magic here,” Twilight continued. “I, uh… I think I hear my laundry calling. Sorry, gotta go.”

Twilight took off suddenly. Storm just glared at Trixie, before shaking his head and following Twilight. All the while, Spike looked on with worry.

“Twilight? Storm?”

“Ha!” Trixie gloated triumphantly. “Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most amazing unicorn in all of Equestria. Huh, was there ever any doubt?”

As the ponies just dispersed to their regular business, Spike looked on toward Storm and Twilight in the middle of the shuffling, troubled by the fact they just ran away. All he could ask to himself is: Why?

<>

A short while later, Trixie stood before her large mirror. She was using her magic to brush her light-blue mane just outside her personal wagon, when someone offered her a drink.

“Here’s the oat smoothie you asked for,” Snips said, offering the drink. “With extra hay, just how you like it.”

Trixie flinched away, and rightfully so. Since the plate carrying the smoothie was served over Snip’s rear end. Snails wasn’t far, as he stood aimlessly nearby.

“Mmm, hay,” Snails said, in a slow zoned-out tone.

Trixie just rolled her eyes toward both of them but accepted the smoothie with a very long sip. She noticed the two unicorn colts were just staring at her, smiling at her. Now she could tolerate having ponies gush over her, but there was only so much she could take.

“Yes?” Trixie asked impatiently.

“Ooo, tell us another story, Great and Powerful Trixie,” Snips asked, bouncing excitedly.

“Yeah, tell us about how you vanquished the ursa major,” Snails asked.

“Guh!” Trixie snorted. “Trixie is far too exhausted from performing feats beyond imagination. Begone with you until morning.

“Oh, of course, Great and Powerful Trixie,” Snails groveled, backing away.

“Anything you say,” Snips added, moving back just the same. “We are at your beck and call.

‘Ah’ was all Trixie could say once they left. Snips and Snails continued moving backwards before nearly bumping into Spike.

“What are you two doin’?” Spike asked, with his arms crossed.

“Just bringing’ tehe Gee an’ Pee Tee a—”

“The ‘what’?” Spike asked, cutting off Snips.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie,” Snips explained proudly.

“Sheesh!” Spike muttered, rolling his eyes.

Wow, Storm was right about how pathetic it looks when ponies actually think she’s ‘great’.

“Just bringin’ her a smooth,” Snips said.

“How can you fall for her lameness?” Spike retorted, waving his arms. “She’s just a show-off. Unlike Twilight and Storm, who—”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie vanquished an ursa major,” Snips interrupted, leaning in Spike’s face. “Can your Twilight and Storm claim that?”

“Oh really? Were you guys actually there?”

“Well, eh, uh… no,” Snips stuttered, exchanging looks with Snails. “But…”

“But nothin’!” Spike snapped. “The proof is in the pudding.”

“I like pudding,” Snails laughed.

Suffice to say, Spike was more annoyed than amused.

“Look, unless an ursa major comes waltzing up the street for Trixie to vanquish, I am not gonna believe a word she says, and neither should you!”

It was then Snips began to think about the possibility as to whatever the little dragon said is true.

“Hm, an ursa walkin’ up the street, hey?” He pondered aloud. “Snails! You thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?”

“Why is it they call it a flea market when they don’t sell fleas?” Snails asked, in his usual tone.

“Yeah, uh…”

Snips realized that wasn’t even close to what he was talking about.

“Oh, come on!”

Soon the two colts took off, as Spike just watched them disappear before returning to the library.

<>

In the library, Storm and Twilight were actually reading from the same book when Spike arrived.

“Storm, Twilight, would you two put down that book and just to listen to me?” Spike retorted.

“Didn’t you see how they hated Trixie’s bragging, Spike?” Twilight pointed out. “If we go out there and show off our magic…”

“… we run the risk of losing them as friends,” Storm finished. “Nothing is worth that.”

Twilight gave him a sympathetic look before resuming her reading.

“It’s not the same thing, you guys,” Spike insists. “You’ll be using your magic to stand up for your friends.”

“No, Spike, it’s exactly the same,” Twilight shot back.

“There’s no point in stooping down to her level,” Storm said. “I admit most of her magic quips were humiliating, but nothing that needed us to intervene. Okay, maybe Rarity’s case… poor girl was so upset before I finally restored her mane to her original color… but the point is… we don’t need to fight fire with fire. Or this case, ‘magic’ with ‘magic’.”

“Come on, guys,” Spike said. “Any one of these tricks, even the teeniest, would be enough to show up Trixie.”

“I don’t want to be seen as a bragger like Trixie!” Storm and Twilight shouted together.

They both conjured a door frame with a door and slammed it shut on Spike’s waste. The little dragon wasted no time reopening it.

“But you’re the best!” Spike protest.

“Uh! Please, Spike, I said no!” Twilight snapped.

“And that is final!” Storm added sternly.

“If that’s the way you want to be, then fine!” Spike sighed. “Maybe Trixie was right about one thing: You two belong together!”

He slammed the door shut, while Storm and Twilight looked unamused since the door he slammed didn’t ‘really’ shut them out or lead anywhere. Spike, realizing this, reopened the door and slowly made his way back outside without another word. Storm and Twilight just watch him leave before sighing to each other sadly.

“He just doesn’t get it,” Storm muttered, continuing his reading.

Twilight, on the other hoof, look worried. She just couldn’t keep quiet about this issue any longer.

“Storm?” She asked quietly.

“Yeah?” He asked, turning a page.

“What really happened all those years ago? I want to know.”

Storm turned to her with a blank expression.

“Why does it matter?” Storm asked. “It won’t change anything; besides, you were right about me.”

Twilight looked sadly toward him.

“Storm, I know I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I’m sorry I never tried asking if you were okay or tried to help you after that. I just don’t understand how you know what it’s like to show off and lose friends because of it.”

“I don’t really wanna…”

Storm just lifted his book when Twilight’s aura dropped the book down and he stopped. He found himself staring into the large eyes of his best friend.

“I want to know what happened,” Twilight urged sadly. “I don’t know the whole story, but I do know you’re still hurting over it. I didn’t help you back then but let me help you now. Please?”

Storm stared at her for a few minutes, before releasing a large sigh and discarded the book.

“Alright… I’ll tell you…”

For the rest of the afternoon, Storm shared the entire story to Twilight. To her credit, she did a great job of hearing him out while doing her research and she even shared a hug with him when he cried. Storm had to admit it felt better to finally tell someone face-to-face rather than jotting the painful memories in a journal. Just to feel Twilight’s arms around him was helpful in his opinion. Still, he was very reluctant to show off his magical talents… and so was Twilight.

<>

By nightfall, two young colts wandered the Everfree Forest. They were apparently in search for something when they stumbled upon a cave and found themselves in complete darkness.

“Oh, how we gonna find an ursa major when I can’t even see my own hoof in front of my face?” Snips asked annoyed.

“Hold on,” Snails said.

The lanky pony grunted as tried lighting his horn. After a few false starts, he finally managed to keep his horn lit.

“Oh, heh. That’s better.”

The two boys turned behind them when they saw what appeared to be a large bear-like creature coated in a celestial pattern. Apparently, they were seeking an ursa major… instead, they just woke it up. The beast uttered a loud growl towards the colts.

“YAAAH!” Snails and Snips screamed.

They took off as fast as their four legs could take them, while the ursa pursued them with a mighty roar.

As it just happened, Spike was just outside the forest kicking a small pebble across the path. All of a sudden, Snips and Snails came rushing by, screaming.

“Hey, guys, where ya goin’?” Spike asked curiously.

“Can’t talk now,” Snips replied, breathing hard and still running.

“Got a major problem!” Snails called out.

“Yeah, ursa major, to be exact,” Snips said.

As the colts disappeared, Spike stood there puzzled when he heard a loud roar.

“Huh?” Spike exclaimed.

He looked up and his face turned to fright at the sight of the celestial bear coming his way. Spike took off running, trying to catch up with his two friends while the ursa roared.

“TRIXIE!” Snips and Snails screamed.

“TWILIGHT!” Spike screamed behind them. “STORM!”

Within record time, the two colts arrived at Trixie’s wagon, banging on her door frantically.

“Trixie!” They continued to change.

After a few heavy knocks, the unicorn opened the top half of the door.

“Trixie thought she said the Great and Powerful Trixie did not want to be disturbed!” She grumbled.

“We-We have a-a tiny problem,” Snips replied, chuckling nervously.

“Actually, it’s a big one,” Snails corrected.

“What is so important that you cannot wait until morning to disturb Trixie?”

A loud roar caught her attention and she saw the ursa break its way through the tears before her in the distance. Trixie screamed at the top of her lungs, taking off for dear life. Snips and Snails were stunned for a second before taking off as well, while the ursa used its paw to smash Trixie’s wagon to bits. Spike managed to reach the library a little after the two colts spoke with Trixie.

“Twilight! Storm!” Spike panicked. “You gotta come! Quick!”

“I already told you, Spike!” Twilight retorted. “I don’t want to show up Trixie!”

“So drop it!” Storm added sternly.

“No, you don’t understand,” Spike said frantically. “It’s—”

ROAR!

That got Twilight and Storm’s attention.

“Uh, is that what I think it is?” Twilight asked worried.

“I think it is,” Storm replied with dread.

“Majorly,” Spike added wearily.

<>

Meanwhile, the ursa managed to pursue Trixie, Snips, and Snails and backed them towards a nearby house. They were all fearing for their lives when Snips remembered something.

“Great and Powerful Trixie, you’ve got to vanquish the ursa,” Snips said.

“Yeah, vanquish it so we can watch,” Snails said.

Trixie was rather aghast at their request when it suddenly came to her.

“Wait, you brought this here?” Trixie gasped angrily. “Are you out of your little pony minds?”

“But you’re the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Snips protested.

“Yeah, remember?” Snails said. “You defeated an ursa major.”

The ursa roared at Trixie, the very sight of the beast made her gulp.

“Uh, okay,” Trixie said nervously. “Stand back.”

Using her horn, she summoned the rope and attempted to use her snake charmer trick on the ursa. She then bound what appeared to be two of its legs before smiling.

“Heh, piece of cake,” Trixie said smugly.

Until the ursa showed Trixie had only succeeded in binding two of its front fingers together and broke the rope with ease.

“Aw, come on, Trixie!” Snips whined.

“Stop goofin’ around and vanquish it, eh?” Snails added.

Growing more nervous, Trixie tried to summon her thunder cloud again. It seemed she was creating a massive storm… until you backed away and found the cloud was no bigger than the cloud she summoned against Rainbow. Trixie just gasped and gulping, and she’d e lucky if that even tickled the creature.

“Well, that was a dud,” Snails said bluntly.

“Yeah, pfft, come on!” Snips said impatiently. “Where’s all the cool explosions and smoke and stuff like earlier? You know.”

Trixie said nothing as her little cloud finally cracked a lightning bolt, leaving a burnt mark upon the side of the ursa’s back end.

“Uh oh,” Trixie squeaked.

The ursa gave a loud roar, sending the trio screaming and running for their lives. The ursa’s roaring woke all the other ponies living nearby. Many of them gasped at the sight as an ursa tore off a nearby roof, sending ponies scattering in fear. Storm and Twilight arrived on the scene just in time running right into Trixie and the colts.

“What’s going on?” Twilight asked.

“We brought an ursa to town,” Snips said plainly.

“You what?!” Twilight exclaimed, shocked.

“Don’t worry, the Great and Powerful Trixie will vanquish it!” Snails replied excitedly.

“Seriously?!” Storm grunted angrily. “When the brains were passed out, apparently you two forgot to take a number!”

“Heh… yeah we did,” Snails chuckled.

The fact Snails even answered that question so casually only proved Storm’s point, while Twilight looked unamused. Trixie hadn’t heard, having kept quiet during the whole moment.

“I can’t,” Trixie admitted sadly.

“WHAT?!” Snips and Snails exclaimed.

“Oh, I can’t, I never have!” Trixie confessed. “No one can vanquish an ursa major. I just made the story up to make me look better.”

“Made it up?!” Snips and Snails exclaimed.

“Wow, what a surprise,” Storm muttered.

Then the ursa gave a loud growl, roaring as it appeared above a house in the distance. Storm and Twilight looked uneasily, as the other ponies gasped fearfully. Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow were now in the crowd. Storm and Twilight turned toward each other, before Spike makes a gesture for them to do something. Storm gave out a loud huff.

“We don’t have a choice,” Storm spoke, turning to Twilight. “I’ll lure it here with the number twenty six. Then together, we deal with it.”

Storm made to approach it, but Twilight grabbed his tail pulling him back.

“Are you crazy?!” Twilight protested. “You can’t face that thing alone!”

“Yes I can,” Storm said. “Trust me. Number twenty six will keep me safe, while I lure it in range.”

Staring at the firm look on Storm’s face, Twilight sighed.

“Okay,” She said bravely.

But she didn’t the fact she was nervous nor the confusion over what number twenty six even was. Storm slowly made his way towards the ursa, while their friends watch from nearby.

“Wut in Celestia does Storm think he’s doin’?” Applejack asked curiously.

Once Storm was just a hair away from getting swiped, he pulled out a cookie in the shape of a star.

“How can he eat cookies at a time like this?!” Rainbow asked in shock.

Storm didn’t listen, as he used his horn to generate a spark causing the cookie to glow. By now, the ursa major had seen him. Storm quickly ate the cookie in one bite, as the ursa raised its paw to strike until…

*Insert Invincibility tune here*

Storm’s outer body began to glow a bright yellow with a slight flicker, generating an endless supply of sparkles. Storm slowly moved towards Twilight, as the ursa followed. It made occasional strikes, but its attacks were blocked, preventing Storm from being hurt or knocked back. The others stare in shock, while Rainbow’s jaw literally hit the ground.

“Oh wow!” Spike exclaimed. “The Invincibility spell! Storm’s been trying to perfect that move for years!”

Twilight was too surprised and too worried to reply, not knowing how long the invincibility would last. Storm too knew the spell was short-lived, as he’d been keeping track of the magic’s energy. He paced himself so he had enough time to get out of range right when the magic began to deplete.

“Four… three… two… one!” Storm called out.

Just as the invincibility wore off, Storm skillfully rolled into a one-eighty as he uncurled out of his ball and stopped beside Twilight. Now they stood, ready to deal with the ursa head on. Twilight gulped as she and Storm slowly got close to the ursa. Then they made their horns glow, their magic creating a small gust of wind that spread about the outskirts of town, generating a a soft, soothing melody that seemed to calm the ursa.

“Nice use of number sixteen,” Spike said, clearly impressed.

Storm and Twilight began to sweat as they kept the melody playing and proceed to remove a nearby water tank from its stand. They removed the water and slowly guided the tank through a nearby barn. Twilight kept the tank steady, as Storm used his magic to collect fresh milk from the cows, who mooed in surprised as they were magically milked, and their contents placed inside the tank.

“Golly, don’t cha know?” A random cow said.

When the tank was filled with fresh milk, Twilight created a rubber suction top to turn the tank into a giant bottle of milk.

“That’s new,” Spike remarked.

A metal clank indicated the tank had arrived, while Storm and Twilight groaned from all the multi-tasking. Despite sweating more profusely, they used their magic to lift the ursa into the air. Shifting it into a cradle position, they offered the giant milk bottle to the ursa, who drank it peacefully. Then, they slowly but surely transported the ursa back to its cave where it belonged.

Once it had been set down, Storm and Twilight released a long exhausted sigh as they tried to catch their breath. They were both tired yet triumphant. Just then, all the ponies cheered for them.

“Unbelievable!” Rainbow said.

“That was amazing!” Spike added.

“Heavens to Betsy!” Applejack said. “We knew you two had ability, but not that much.”

Twilight and Storm just looked rather sad.

“I’m sorry. Please, please don’t hate us,” Twilight plead.

“Hate you?” Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity asked together.

“Why, whatever do you mean, darlings?” Rarity asked puzzled.

“Well, I know how much you all hate Trixie’s showing off with her magic tricks,” Twilight explained. “And we just thought…”

“After my accident…” Storm stumbled. “I… I didn’t want to risk losing my friends because of my… talents… I know the invincibility spell was a little flashy, but… I had to protect my…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Rainbow cut them off. “Magic’s got nothing to do with it… or having a ton of talent. Trixie’s just a loudmouth.”

“Most unpleasant,” Rarity added.

“All hat and no cattle,” Applejack said.

“So, you don’t mind our magic tricks?” Twilight asked.

“Your magic is part of who you are, sugarcubes,” Applejack said. “And we like who you are. We’re proud to have susch powerful, talent unicorns as friends.”

“And after whuppin’ that ursa’s hindquarters, we’re even prouder,” Rainbow added.

“You are?” Storm and Twilight said together.

“Uh-huh,” Rainbow nodded.

“Mm-hmm,” Applejack and Rarity nodded.

Seeing that their friends appreciate the two as they are, Storm and Twilight rewarded their praise with warm smiles.

“Wow, Twilight, how’d you know what to do with that ursa major?” Spike asked.

“That was what we were doing when you came looking for us,” Twilight explained. “We were so intrigued by Trixie’s bragging that we were compelled to do a little reading up on them.”

“Guess you can say it pays to do your homework,” Storm added, rubbing the back of his mane.

“So it is possible to vanquish an ursa major all by yourselves?” Spike asked.

“That wasn’t an ursa major,” Twilight replied.

“It was a baby, an ursa minor,” Storm corrected.

“That was just a baby?” Trixie exclaimed in shock.

“And it wasn’t rampaging,” Twilight continued. “It was just cranky because someone woke it up.”

Twilight and Storm gave two particular young colts a glare. One look and they realized, they were in deep trouble.

“Awww…” They muttered sheepishly.

“Well, if that was an ursa minor,” Spike thought. “Then what’s an ursa major like?”

Storm and Twilight thought deeply to themselves. When they were moving the ursa minor, they actually deposited the baby into its parent’s lap, which was about twenty times the size of the baby.

“You don’t wanna know,” Storm and Twilight with a smirk.

“Huh!” Trixie snorted, pointing a hoof at them. “You may have vanquished an ursa minor, but you will never have the amazing, show-stopping ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

She then turned toward Storm Shield, who returns her attention with a frown.

“And you, Storm Shield!” Trixie pointed out. “You may have beaten Trixie this time. But one of these days you’ll see Trixie again. And next time, victory will belong… to Trixie!”

Trixie dropped a smoke bomb for a disappearing act. But she ended up tripping, and every pony could see her running away as the smoke disappeared.

“Why, that little…” Rainbow growled.

Rainbow was about to take off after her when Twilight held her back by the tail. By then Trixie ran far away from Ponyville, deep into the distance.

“Just let her go,” Twilight said. “Maybe someday she’ll learn her lesson.”

“I hope so, Twilight,” Storm sighed. “In all the years I’ve known her, Trixie never admitted to her mistakes.”

“We can only hope,” Twilight nodded, turning towards the young colts. “Now, about you two.”

The two young unicorns just chuckled to each other nervously.

“Ah,” Snips chuckled sheepishly. “Uh, we’re sorry that we woke up the ursa minor.”

“We just wanted to see some awesome magic,” Snails added.

“Yeah!” Snips added. “And the way you vanquished that ursa minor was awesome!”

Storm and Twilight just looked sternly at them, the two colts slouch in defeat.

“We deserve whatever punishment you give us,” Snails conceded sadly.

“For starters, you can clean up this mess,” Twilight pointed out.

Storm examined Trixie’s destroyed, abandoned cart as Storm held up a piece with his magic.

“And… What do you think, Spike? Storm? Should I give them number twenty five?”

Storm turned around, as Spike turned towards his friend. Storm nods silently in agreement and Spike winks an eye before facing Twilight.

“Oh, twenty five! Yes!” Spike nodded. “And I think I deserve it, too.”

“Heah?” Snips and Snails said, confused as Spike stood beside them.

“I think you’re right,” Twilight smirked.

She turns toward Storm Shield, who extends a hoof to let her do her thing. Twilight then made her horn glow, as she produced a thick black mustache on all their faces.

"Swwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!" The three boys said together.

Storm and Twilight chuckled to each other, before slapping their hooves together. Just then, Rainbow Dash and their other friends approached the pair.

“Yo Storm, about that little ‘accident’ you mentioned,” Rainbow spoke. “You care to fill us in on that? Or you going to leave us guessing?”

Storm Shield sighed before turning towards Twilight, who silently nods assuring they can handle it.

“Well…” Storm began. “Where do I start…”

The rest of the night, Storm retold the same story he told Twilight to their friends regarding the accident. Even though they didn’t understand the full extent of the story and while the rest of Ponyville were in the dark, Storm was very grateful for their sympathy. Of course, he did have to listen to Rainbow brag about how awesome his invincibility spell was until Rarity and Applejack practically dragged her away. Still, to have such caring friends, Storm couldn’t ask for any better.

<>

By next morning, most of the damager had been cleared away only now the two colts had to make some repairs to some broken rooftops. Meanwhile, Storm and Twilight were back in the library along the upper floor, as Twilight prepared their letter to Princess Celestia.

“Dear Princess Celestia,
We have learned a very valuable lesson about friendship: We were so afraid of being thought of as show-offs that we were hiding a part of who we are. Our friends helped us realize that it’s okay to be proud of your talents, and there are times when it’s appropriate to show them off… Especially when you’re standing up for your friends.”

Twilight had just finished signing the letter, as their friend Spike reached the top of the stairs.

“So, you finally admit that you two are the most talented unicorns in all of Ponyville?” Spike asked.

“Well, yeah,” Twilight said modestly.

“But it’s nothing to brag about,” Storm added. “At the end, we’re just regular ponies like all the others.”

“So, uh, how did it go with Rarity?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Eh, she didn’t go for the mustache,” Spike said, feeling rejected.

“You know Spike,” Twilight pointed out. “That mustache has nothing to do with who you really are. Maybe you should just try to be yourself.”

“Or… Maybe the mustache wasn’t enough,” Spike thought aloud. “Maybe if I had a mustache and a beard?”

“Uh, not this again!” Twilight groaned exasperated.

“Oh brother…” Storm agreed with an eye roll.

“Okay, imagine me with a nice, long, Fu Manchu type beard,” Spike explained. “Or maybe a goatee. Oh, no, a soul patch right on my chin!”

“Take my advice, Spike,” Storm interrupted. “Girls these days, they like their colts, or dragons, clean shaved.”

Storm then turns her attention back to Twilight, who went back to her reading. A smile forms on his face as he lets his mind wander.

“At least Twilight does…”