The Great and Powerful Friendship(Trixie oneshot no romance)

>You are Anonymous.
>You have been in Equestria for one year, four months, and ten days.
>There was a time when you had the hours down too, but you got too lazy to keep track of those after the fifth month.
>You could go back and do the math, but you hate math.
>Seriously, fuck math.
>It makes too much sense.
>Over time you've become accustomed to the fact that you are surrounded by technicolor ponies. You've even made friends with a lot of them.
>Twilight is one of your closest friends, and you work with her in the library.
>For the past few weeks there's been a slight... problem that's been interrupting the ever important work of managing the town's only library.
>There has been a nuisance.
>A nuisance by the name of Trixie.
>She has been showing up right in front of the library to do her stupid magic shows, and she's been shouting out nasty rumors about Twilight.
>She comes around the same time every day, one in the afternoon.
>Little does she know, you have a plan for her bullshit when she comes by.
>Twilight doesn't know, she doesn't want you going out there to give Trixie any attention.
>In fact, today is perfect.
>She has taken Spike to Canterlot for some important business with the princess.
>You try not to be too giddy in anticipation.
>It's time to send this cunt packing.
>Right at one, you hear the sounds of her cart riding up in front of the library.
>You get up just as you hear the sounds of her stage unpacking, and make your way to the entrance of the library.
>With your mighty boot, you kick open Twilight's already busted ass door, and shout at the top of your lungs,
"Hey you stupid bitch, keep it down!"
>You expected her to be on the stage.
>You don't expect her to be standing right at Twilight's door, glaring up at you, "How dare you speak to Trixie in this manner, hairless ape?! I'll have you know that I am a very renowned..."
"What the fuck do you want?"
>"Hmph, such insolence."
"You've been coming here for the past two weeks spreading nasty rumors about Twilight. Nobody comes to your shows, and nobody believes you. Why are you wasting your time?"
>"She has wronged Trixie."
"Oh? You mean when you got called out for being a shitty magician and ran off like a coward?"
>She lurches forward in an attempt to hit you, but you easily side step it.
>She goes tumbling head over hoof into the library, falling face first onto the wood floor.
>She winces heavily in pain, letting out a loud hiss.
>You give her a minute to recover, but she's not getting up.
>Finally, with a sigh, you approach her.
"You alright?"
>Suddenly, she hops up and grins widely, "Why yes of course, Trixie is fine! A mere fall wouldn't be enough to best her!"
>You can tell she's bullshitting. Her teeth are gritted and she's favoring her right front hoof.
"You know... back where I come from we'd put a horse down if their leg got too fucked up."
>You can almost see the skin under her fur pale, "Wh... wh..."
>You grin.
"Relaaax, I don't have the shotgun, wait here while I get something for the pain."
>"Oh well that's a relie... wait a minute, so you would do it if you did?!"
>You don't answer, instead you opt to make your way to Twilight's bathroom.
>This chick is a total bitch, but it was kind of your fault that she got hurt. >Besides, she wasn't doing any real harm, she was just annoying.
>You grab some pain killers, a cup of water, and the pony equivalent of Icy Hot.
>By the time you make it back to Trixie she's sitting on her haunches.
"Alright, show me your hoof."
>She frowns and holds out her left hoof, "Trixie can do this herself."
"Shut up and be grateful. You're lucky you're in this library right now."
>Surprisingly she doesn't respond.
>You apply the icy hot and she takes the pill and the water with her magic.
>You sit down cross-legged next to her and let out a sigh.
"So, you're doing all this because of a stupid grudge?"
>The glass floats to the floor and Trixie glares at you, "It is not a 'stupid' grudge. She ruined Trixie's reputation."
"From what I hear, what little reputation you had was built on a bunch of lies."
>"Trixie may have... bent the truth occasionally."
"Right, so can you please just leave us alone? Go practice your magic or something, maybe you'll get better."
>Trixie opens her mouth to respond, but nothing comes. Instead, she takes a deep breath and gets to her hooves, "Trixie will leave now."
>And just like that, she's gone.
>You sigh.
"Weird mare."

-------
>It's been three days.
>Around one o' clock on the third day, Twilight is staring out the window of the library with a little frown on her face, "That's... odd."
>You're stacking books in order by section in the center of the floor.
>Spike is off somewhere, the little traitor.
"What's odd Twi?"
>"Well, I haven't seen Trixie around anywhere. She's been showing up every day, it's weird for her to suddenly stop."
"You almost sound worried."
>"Well... maybe a little."
"Hahaha, you are way too forgiving. She'll be fine, probably just got tired of lying to everyone for once."
>"Hmm."
>The two of you continue to work throughout the day. Twilight and Spike go to bed early, and you stay up organizing books.
>It's around midnight that you hear an extremely light tap at the front door.
>At first you think it's the house creaking, but you hear it again, twice this time.
>You get up to answer the door, and there's Trixie.
>Her cart isn't in sight, and it looks like she's shivering.
"What the fuck are you doing? Get inside, it's almost winter."
>You keep your voice low for fear of waking Twilight and Spike.
>Trixie walks inside and you shut the door behind her. She shakes her mane around a bit, and you see her shiver as her body starts to warm up.
"What's your fucking problem?"
>"T... T... Trixie has b... been practicing."
"Christ, stay here."
>You rush to the kitchen and start the sink on hot, digging through the cupboards for the hot cocoa mix.
>A few minutes later you're back in the main room with a cup of hot cocoa.
>Trixie takes it and starts sipping from it.
"Why are you here so late?"
>"Trixie only came to see you, not the harlot."
"Wha..."
>"You suggested that Trixie should practice, so she practiced. For three days straight she practiced. It may be that... Trixie isn't as adept at magic as she thought."
>That actually looked like it was physically painful for her to say.
"Why are you talking to ME about it then? Shouldn't you be off practicing?"
>"Trixie wanted to show you."
"What? No way, none of your crazy magic in the library."
>"Oh, calm down ape. It's a simple trick, a small spell."
>You weigh your options here.
>It seems like what you said a few days ago really got to her for some reason. You start to see why Twilight was worried about her in spite of her being so insufferable.
"Alright, fine. Let's see it."
>"Really?!"
"Whoa, easy there. Why are you so excited about it?"
>Her face lights up in a blush, and she looks down at her hooves, "Trixie is just... celebrating that she gets to show how amazing she is."
"Alright, whatever you say, let's just get this done."
>She takes a deep breath, her horn lights up, and she rears back.
>A blue flame erupts from her horn, forms into the shape of what looks like a chinese dragon, and starts flying around the library.
>You can't hear anything, so it's easy to conclude that she simultaneously cast a silencing spell.
>Quite the feat for someone who was completely inept at magic a few days ago.
>The dragon makes its way back to Trixie and explodes in a shower of colorful sparks.
>Trixie is panting.
>It's obvious that she put forth great effort. Plus all the time she must have constantly spent training over the past few days, she must be exhausted.
>You nod.
"That was really good, looked like a good opener for a show."
>She smiles, still gaining her breath back, "Trixie used to only be able to do a fireworks spell for an opener."
"So... why do I need to see this?"
>She huffs, "Trixie simply wanted to prove you wrong."
>You can't help but smirk. This one is stubborn, that's for sure.
"Alright, so you CAN do it. Think you can take it even further?"
>She falls silent at that, but eventually, after a long moment, she gives a firm nod. "Trixie will show you. She will be back tomorrow."

--------
>Over the next few weeks Trixie would sneak to the library at midnight. She would always wait until Twilight was asleep before knocking.
>Every time she came to you she had either mastered or was working on a new show-spell.
>You have to admit that you're quite impressed with her, and you're starting to see her in a much different light.
>She's a stubborn mare, and she has an attitude, but you can see underneath her little act that she's a good person.
>And lord knows she puts on an act.
>The girl has serious confidence issues.
>You hope that this is helping her.

>On the last day of the third week it's scheduled to rain.
>She shows up a bit late this time, about an hour after Twilight's gone to bed.
>It's still raining outside, and when you let her in she's pretty soaked.
>You provide her with a towel from the bathroom.
>"Thank you."
>You almost miss it. It's a small little thing, but coming from her...
>You both stand there in silence for a long time. Trixie doesn't seem to have a new spell for you.
>After what seems like an eternity she finally speaks, "Trixie... had an audience yesterday."
>You don't respond, if you do you're afraid she'll clam up again.
>"They were quite impressed with the show. When the applause was finished Trixie realized something. She realized that Anonymous helped her."
"But I didn't do anything."
>"You didn't treat Trixie like she was useless, but you also didn't praise her presence and bow at her feet. You didn't treat Tri... ME like other ponies would."
"Why would I?"
>She gives a heavy sigh and sits on her haunches.
>You can tell something big is coming. It's been building for the past few weeks.
>"When I was a filly, I admired my mother greatly. She was the best show-pony in Las Pegasus. Ponies would line the block to see her preform on stage, and her shows were known far and wide. Then... she started to get sick. The doctor's said they couldn't do anything, and... it was hard for me to understand what was happening at the time."
>You step forward and sit cross legged in front of Trixie. You want to give her your undivided attention for this. When you went to confront her that afternoon you had no idea you would end up where you are now, but shit, here you are.
>"Every day she got a little bit weaker."
"What about your father?"
>"I didn't know my father. He left us when I was little."
"I'm sorry."
>"It's of no consequence. My mother was who was important to me. Eventually her time came. The day before she died we had a conversation about what I would do. I told her that I wanted to be a show-pony..."
>Her eyes water, and tears start falling.
>"And... and she smiled, and said I would be known across all of Equestria. I remember falling asleep on the hospital bed, and when I woke up the next morning I wasn't in her room. She passed while we slept. I was so frantic with grief that I didn't even notice I had a cutie mark, a cutie mark that showed I was meant to be just like her."
>You lean forward and wrap your arms around the crying mare.
>Her hooves reach around your back and she clings tightly to you.
>"I never got any better at magic... and I just became so frustrated with myself that I took out my anger on everypony around me. My shows were never any good, and my magic seemed to be getting worse. Eventually, I started to just lie about how good I was, and the lies came easier every day. Ponies believed them, at least until I came here..."
>She buries her head in your shoulder, and all you can do is comfort her while she silently cries.

-------
>You are Twilight Sparkle.
>You smile down at Anon and Trixie as they hug in the middle of your library.
>You turn and walk back into your room, grabbing a quill and some spare paper with your magic.
>"Dear Princess Celestia," you say softly as the quill begins writing, "Sometimes, things are harder than they should be, especially when it comes to getting to know the ponies around you. Sometimes, all you need is a helping hoof to get you through a tough time, and maybe a little bit of blunt advice to get you back on track. If you're honest with those around you, you may just find a friend in a very unlikely place.

>Your Faithful Student,
>Twilight Sparkle."