Make your Mark - Chapter 2

>"Ya did what?"

>"Not me," Rainbow Dash points at you, "He did."

>You walk up on Dash and Applejack, who are talking by the side of the road, Dash is hovering a few inches off the ground.

"It was an accident," it was just a stroke of luck that you were able to stop that Ferris Wheel, you claim, joining them.

>"You can't 'accidentally' do something like that," Dash reasons.

"Well enough about me, are we going to get going now?"

>"Going where?" Applejack questions, you and Dash take a step away from her.

"You didn't tell her?"

>"I forgot," she sets down on the ground, "Do you want come with us to meet the others?"

>"What are ya'll doin'?"

"We figured we'll plan that out when we have everyone."

>"All right, I'm not busy."

>The three of you meet the other four around the marketplace, and they're arguing with someone else.

>A cloaked pony was confronting the other four her horn was sparking, Rarity and Twilight were in the lead, Fluttershy cowering in the back and Pinkie Pie cheering something.

>"What's going on?" Rainbow Dash flew in next to the three unicorns.

>"This mare destroyed my new dress," Rarity nodded her head at a small pile of ashes next to her.

>The cloaked unicorn removed the hood obscuring her face, she was a pretty blue mare, with a two toned white and blue mane.

"Who's that?" you ask Applejack.

>"Trixie," she says, squinting in displeasure at the newcomer.

>A strange amulet glowed around her neck.

>"You think burning a dress is Great and Powerful?" Dash remarks.

>She plops out of the sky forcibly, a red haze around her outstretched wings.

>"You and I have some unfinished business. My magic's gotten better since I was here last. And I'm going to prove it! Me and you. A magic duel. Winner stays, loser leaves Ponyville forever!" Trixie says, turning to Twilight.

>"I'll never make a deal like that."

>"Have it your way," Trixie horn bursts another set of sparks, Fluttershy's wings disappear.

>"AHHHHH, AHHHHH!" the former pegasus runs off.

>"Stop. Why are you doing this?"

>Trixie had Pinkie Pie raised in the air at a dangerous height, the drop would be fatal, but the Earth pony couldn't care less.

>Pinkie was giggling, suspended by Trixie's magic, just above the others.

>"Why? Because you humiliated me! After you showed me up with that Ursa Minor, I became a laughingstock! Everywhere I went I was laughed at and ostracized. I even had to take a job on a rock farm just to earn a living! A rock farm!"

>A small square screen provided a visual aid for the story.

>Two colts ran up, one fat and short, the other tall and thin.

>"The great and powerful Trixie!" they shout in unison, moving beside her.

>The unicorn keeps them at a distance with a red, hazy, force field.

>The unicorn notices you for the first time, you had remained back with Applejack.

>The mare seemed to let out a huff, and blushed a bit.

>Trixie turns away, dropping the suspended Pinkie a few feet.

>The Earth pony lets out an excited "Whooo!"

>But thankfully she's caught again before she hits the ground.

>"Fine, let her go, I'll duel you," Twilight says, looking nervous.

>"Excellent," Trixie lifts up a cart in the distance, a pony yells as it descends on him.

>You're about to intervene but Twilight has it, placing the wagon back down, saving the stallion.

>Trixie grunts, and conjures a group of pies.

>She tosses them all at Twilight, who summons a peculiar little sprite.

>The little insect ate all six of the baked goods.

>Twilight banishes the sprite the second a duplicate pops out of the original.

>She looks pretty drained, but Trixie looked quite calm and collected.

>A heap of snow fell from the sky, covering Twilight, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash.

>You see Applejack looks a little nervous, you weren't though, Twilight was a very skilled magician, she would win this simple duel.

>The snow covering them begins to melt away, Twilight and the others are revealed, her horn glowing a warm red.

>Trixie turns to the two colts, her horn practically humming with energy.

>The pair are shot into the air, returning as a foal in diapers and an old stallion.

>Twilight looked shocked.

>"An age spell? But- how could you do an age spell? That's only for the highest level unicorns!"

>"Do you concede?" Trixie's confident grin already knew the answer.

>"You can do it Twilight!" Pinkie shouts.

>She can't, her horn sputters and the two colts are lifted into the air for a brief second, but they come down unchanged.

>"Now you must leave Ponyville, FOREVER!"

"No she's not."

>How hard could a little age spell be?

>You breath deep, mustering your energy, then with  hand gesture the two stallions are enveloped in a hazy black.

>As it releases everyone can see that the two colts have been reverted back to their original age.

>Trixie looks surprised, but it only shows for a second.

>"No matter! My deal was with Twilight, she still must leave Ponyville."

"Than I challenge you to a duel, if I win Twilight stays and you go. If I lose I'll be at your mercy and Twilight leaves."

>She turns, as if to decline.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie refusing a challenge? I expected more of you."

>"Fine! Combat Magic is the game!"

>You look back at Twilight, you knew very little about combat magic, but you were able to pull off that age spell.

"Alright, you strike first."

>Trixie smiled, as if she had already won.

>"First to fall loses."

>A bolt of lightening strikes your chest without warning.

>You stumble, hunching over, but you keep both feet on the ground.

>It felt like your bones had melted into your body, the solidified again, but you recover quickly.

"What do I do?" you turn to Twilight and Rarity, who were standing by nervously.

>"Use a shielding spell," Twilight suggests, as if you know what that is.

>Worth a try.

>You wave a hand in a wiping motion, mostly as an instinct.

>It didn't seem to do anything.

>Your heart sank as that overconfident mare cast another spell, the cord of lightening rushes forward but it never hit.

>You flinch as the blackish translucent wall absorbs her spell.

>Now it was your turn to knock her over.

>You raise a hand, a wispy, dark orb of smoke forms in it.

>You've got no idea what's going on.

>You throw it at Trixie, who's tossed in the air and drops back down, recovering with a spell, all of her hoofs landed perfectly on the ground.

>She struck you with several bolts of jarring electricity.

>Your bones felt hot, and your skin tingled.

"Nyaahghhaa."

>She chuckles lightly.

"You fuckin'-,"

>You let instinct take over, your fist is brought back, and you throw another something.

>Your blue-white orb hits her square in the chest, the unicorn is tossed back.

>She lost, her battered form laying several feet away.

>You walk up to her, she's bruised badly and her nose looks broken, blood flowed from it.

>Another wispy blue orb forms in your hand, something tells you to bring it down on her head.

>You kneel beside her, bringing your hand up, with intent on crushing her smug little skull with your powerful spell.

>Her eyes widen and she tries to move, but she can't.

>"Stop!" Twilight calls, galloping over.

>You weren't going to, the orb dissipates in your palm.

"Are you alright?"

>Trixie moves out of the way, struggling to stand.

>She limps a good distance away before turning back.

>"This is not over," she growls.

"I didn't mean to hurt her like that! I though she'd just topple over or something-,"

>Then pain burst from every part of your body, your head felt like it was being cracked open.

>You move off the road, hunching over in a grassy patch near the bridge out of down, the others come over to you.

>You cough, it feels like you're about to be sick, you keep gagging and eventually you spit up a large amount of blood, you feel more stream from your nose.

>That was never a good sign.

>Your mark burns, looking at it find the flesh around it red and inflamed like before, the actual mark looking even darker.

>"Watch him, don't let him move, I'll be right back," Twilight rushes down the street.

>Your head pounds with an immense fury, like a migraine mated with a hangover, producing the pinnacle of cranial pain.

>You fall to your side softly, rolling over.

>The cloudless noon sky does little to easy your pain, but it was pleasant to look at.

>Unfortunately you had to keep your eyes half shut, lest you cause more pain to yourself.

>"Is he going to be okay?" Pinkie says.

>A huge, smiling, pink face blocks out the sun.

>"Do you want some cake?" she asks, holding out a small pound cake.

>where did she even get that?

>With some effort you manage to get some words out.

>"Pinkie," you say with a groan, closing your eyes completely, "please hush."

>Sorry," she replies with a half whisper that came out squeaky and louder than it should have been.

>"Oh, darling," Rarity comes up next to Pinkie, she looks distressed, "your nice shirt has blood and grass stains."

>You weren't going warrant that with a response.

>"Excuse me. Excuse me, sorry," Twilight takes Pinkie's place over you.

>A little blue vial comes into your field of vision, magically suspended just above your mouth.

>You take it, sitting up as you do.

>Once again you down the vile fluid.

>Immediate relief runs through you.

"This isn't going to come out is it?" you ask, looking down at your badly stained button up shirt.

>Rarity gives the shirt a look of concern.

"Is Fluttershy going to get her wings back?"

>"Yes, after a day or two, it's only a temporary effect," Twilight responds.

>"We should go see how she's doing," Dash says, taking flight.

>Pinkie, Applejack and Twilight start in the direction of the bridge.

>"You coming?" Twilight asks.

"Nah, I need some rest, give her my best though,"

>"Well somep0ny has to take care of you," Rarity says, making an attempt to help you up.

>Twilight nods and continues.

"You sure you don't want to go with them?"

>"I'm sure Fluttershy will be fine, you on the other hand need to get cleaned up. And you could use a new shirt."

>You don't even bother to wipe off the blood on your face, it felt like there was a lot though.

>Rarity cleans you up when you get to her boutique, and uses a clothing change as an excuse to undress you.

>On top of a new set of clothes she had just washed she also provides you with a pleasing dinner.

>Neither of you had noticed the sun set, giving rise to another great night in Equestria.

>Without warning her mood changes, she doesn't look like she's enjoying herself anymore.

>She excuses herself for a moment, taking the bottle of liquor you were sharing with her.

>she trots to the terrace attached to her bedroom, leaving the door open, as if to invite you.

>With caution and a twitch of uncertainty you follow her.

>She doesn't turn when you join her out there.

>"I never thought this would be happening."

>You closed the door behind you, moving to lean over the stone rail.

>You take a sip from your glass, not moving from your position.

>The stone feels cold on your forearms, your wine glass hangs precariously from your hand over the edge.

"What do you mean?"

>You look at her, she's gazing up at the bright stars above, her features spoke of a longing and sadness she would have trouble getting over.

>"I never thought I'd be with, well, somep0ny like you."

>Her eyes and tone make it seem like that wasn't a compliment.

"what are you saying?"

>"I'm - I don't know, I'm just thinking out loud."

>She finally meets your eyes, trying to play it off.

>You think of something, deciding to get it off your chest.

"I'm sorry I'm not royalty. I'm sorry I don't have money or fame. Or even proper dinning etiquette. I'm sorry I'm not well versed in all the formal ways of greeting someone. But I'm not sorry that I'd go out of my way to help you, to make you laugh. I don't regret falling for you, even though you probably deserve someone who could give you everything you want, sorry for that."

>It sounded pretty ridiculous saying it out loud.

>Maybe you could have said it differently, or have just kept your mouth shut.

>But it was going to come out one time or another, the doubt had been nibbling at you from the moment Rarity accepted that first date.

>She didn't respond.

>you hoped you hadn't misinterpreted what she said, but her reputation for wanting to run off with some member of royalty was well known.

>And by god the way she had said that certainly sounded like she wanted someone better.

>"And I apologize for not seeing I already had before me everything I could ever want," she places her forelegs on your chest, coming eye level with you.

>With a peck on the lips she leaves the terrace.

>A wave of relief rolls through you, you decide to stay and finish your drink before joining her.