The Living Legend (RedCharge, Private)

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

The battle was over. Eclipse summoned and defeated, the Cult assimilated into Equestria, and truces made between the previously warring factions. All in the same day. Now Trixie had seen everything. She took part in the defense of her cult's pyramid, by conjuring up clouds of poison joke serum that she and Percheron had, ah, brewed a while back. Turns out Watermark was teaching her the right stuff after all. So. Many. Clouds.

Trixie shook her head as she walked down the central boulevard in Canterlot. She had retrieved all her belongings from the Cult camp prior to the battle, most notably her robes, hat, and photo of Twilight. Partly because she wanted to wear her Great and Powerful outfit while performing some sick magic, but also because she felt that the Cult's facilities wouldn't survive the night. It turned out she was right. Nevertheless, she was basically right back where she started in terms of possessions and demeanor when she joined up in the Cult. Her haughty and boisterous attitude had only partly returned, though. Her time with the cult had dulled it down enough that she didn't begin every sentence with her title and in the third pony.

After the raging battle had ended and she had done her part to help shield the combined forces from Eclipse's wrath, she overheard a rather peculiar conversation between RedCharge, Princess Luna, and some of the other higher-ups from both sides.

RedCharge was actually Professor Rainlock. The most enigmatic billionaire ever to walk the face of the planet. He also owned this super sweet mansion in Manehattan, but thats beside the point. Further conversation revealed his connection with the princess for a long time. Going by the name of Silver Dawn. The Destrier's Protégé.

So, Trixie naturally went looking for him. Watermark always said that sooner or later, with enough practice, she would learn from RedCharge himself. If everything went smoothly, that might end up being the case. Trixie figured Canterlot would be the most sensible place to start looking, seeing as such an important fellow would probably be in close proximity to the Castle, and subsequently the Princess herself.

[Red Charge]

She found Red Charge in the garden, discussing what he perceived as rather pointless affairs of the celebration honoring Eclipse's defeat. Not that he percieved the celebrations as pointless, no he more than anypony wished to celebrate the ending to the conflict and his relief to being embraced back into the Equestrian Kingdom. But the specific discussion he was having now, with the rather enthusiastic Pinkie Pie, was pointless in his eyes.

Perhaps because for the last fifteen minutes she had been recounting a dreadfully dull story about a cake disappearing in a train. As Trixie approached him he excused himself to the mare, now speaking to herself and took his leave of her.

"I thought you might come and see me, after all was said and done." He said with a smile, "You do not disappoint. Watermark will never admit it, but he was quite impressed with your performance at the Ritual. You did well, your poison joke clouds saved many lives." He gestured for her to lie with him on the grass, "But what do you wish to talk about?" He asked pleasantly.

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

So. Red was expecting Trixie. This conversation would probably end up being a lot more interesting then she first anticipated. She laid down on the grass comfortably net to him, it was perfectly trimmed and surprisingly soft for grass. She shook the thought train out of her head. She came here for information, not to observe the flora.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about something I overheard the night of the eclipse." She shifted uncomfortably, not able to anticipate his reaction to the fact that she was eavesdropping. "It's about your direct relation to The Destrier, the most legendary mage in all of Equestria." She liked saying that. It made her proud, for one very important reason that she had never revealed to anyone, ever.

"The Destrier... He is my ancestor. He was my great great great- whatever father. Seven greats I believe." She glanced around instinctively. Information like this would undoubtedly make her a pony of great importance, for better or for worse. She turned back to Red when she was comfortable nobody had been listening in.

[Red Charge]

"I know that, why do you think I had Watermark single you out?" Red asked casually, "I have been following his bloodline pretty closely. A sort of silent guardian if you will. Sadly I've come to learn that most of them were not very magically apt. You however, show potential." He pointed out.

He observed a casual butterfly flittering by, "Did you have any questions regarding him?"

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

"Wait you knew?" Trixie was a little dumbstruck at Red's little reveal. It only makes sense that Destrier's prime pupil would keep tabs on his descendants, but still. She thought the familial relation had been kept secret and his supposed descendants shrouded in mystery. Albeit she was a bit flattered that Red was saying she had promise, it was just a bit much to take in. With a little thought his story did make sense. Watermark did make quite a show when he recruited her into the cult, buttered her up by using her title and all. That was fun, and a long time ago. mlpcelestialdivide.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=froggyarchives&thread=748&page=1

She quickly regained her composure. No point in dallying around. "I actually wanted to ask you about his teachings, and if you could possibly impart some of his wisdom down to me." She wanted more than anything else to, quite literally, restore the reputation and glory of her family. That was why she had her Great and Powerful schtick, trying to show off and scrounge up even some kind of positive fanfare. Looking back, it was horridly immature, and now Trixie might have just found the right way to complete her self-imposed task.

[Red Charge]

"I'm sorry, I don't think you're ready yet. You should continue your apprenticeship with Watermark first." He smiled understandingly, "Don't be disappointed, later, when you're older and more experienced maybe. Trust in Watermark, his understanding of magic is only rivaled by his creativity and imagination. He's invented many spells."

He enjoyed the spring air and breathed in deeply, "I wasn't his only pupil, you know. He taught the Princesses." Red Charge mentioned, "Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were his prized pupils."

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

Trixie almost felt like pouting for maybe half a second, but she got over it. She could deal with Watermark and his cloud conjuring for a while longer. She gave Red a morose yet affirmative look. at least she had something to look forward to.

"I didn't know that he taught the princesses." Wheels turned in her head for a few seconds before she understood the implications of that. "Wait so he had the power to control the sun and the moon? And he also must have fought Discord one one occasion or another... This goes a lot farther back than what was detailed in any books."

[Red Charge]

"No to both account. He probably knew the spells but I've never heard or seen him do anything with it. He had a far more impressive spell in his arsenal anyway." Red said, his eyes glinting, "He was the only Equestrian to date who could cast the Meteor Shower spell. I never managed to, neither could Celestia and Luna. It's possibly the most powerful offensive spell ever invented." He said, a bit less enthusiastic than one would think he would, speaking of such a tremendously powerful spell.

"He was quite a stallion." Red nodded in affirmation to his statement.

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

"So he could call down a storm of matter from the depths of space?" Trixie had heard of legendary magic, but possessing the sheer power to extend one's magical energy out into space... Luna and Celestia could do that to move the moon and sun respectively, but asteroids were much farther out than any other celestial bodies. Whether he teleported them, moved them directly, or conjured up some himself, Trixie didn't know. And she doubted Red knew the specifics either.

Based on Red's near-wistful delivery of his admiration for Destrier, Trixie could only guess that this was a massive load off his back. It sure was for her, too. Seeing as they both had secrets kept for a very, very long time, finally being able to speak freely about them was wonderful in itself.

"Heh, the books probably don't even mention half of his story... I have an awful lot to live up to." Trixie scuffed the ground, contemplating just how much work she had set out in front of her.

[Red Charge]

"Yes you do, and it doesn't just happen overnight. There is a possibility that you may never get the chance to prove your worth. The most important thing is that in the end, you are content with yourself. I went through everything I did to learn how to protect Equestria." He looked at her again, giving her the same feeling that he did at the bog, that he knew everything about her, as though he could tell what she was thinking.

"And most important is, that even if you don't become as powerful as he was, you don't dismiss the progress you've made."

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

Trixie scrunched her nose at Red's comment. It was the cold hard truth, and the truth is always the best, but it didn't do wonders for her attitude or self-esteem. "Thanks... I think." She mumbled. Her frown softened when he noted that after all, she should be happy with herself. She let out a light sigh and turned back to face him with a grin. Any amount of training in magic, any new skills she could attain, anything and everything she would learn would indeed make her content with herself. She was feeling rather content with herself and her new path right now, anyway.

"Well, I guess I'd better get started..."

[Red Charge]

"You already know the basics of magic strengthening. But I'll give you this, battle-mage training the way Destrier taught it was intense - physically, mentally and magically. If I were you, I would find the strongest earth pony I could find to train you physically in parallel to your training with Watermark." The unicorn advised, "Elemental Burst and Barrier Spells are very taxing, but very good basics to work on and refine your techniques with. Especially element combinations such as Magma, Storm, Ice and when you become powerful enough, pure magical energy. However, I would not try any of those until you are absolutely sure you've mastered the basics." He continued, "And most of all, learn. History, Sciences, Alchemy, Tactics, Logic, Magic... Learn it all, practice it all. Keep your mind straining, growing, always seek to surpass your limitations until you forget you even have them. That's the very core of Watermark's training method and personality - never stop."

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

Trixie wished she had a quill and some paper. At the rate that Red was firing off these details, she'd have forgotten half by the time he finished. But she listened, she was intent on, and content with listening. And after numerous training sessions with Watermark, she was adept at opening her ears and mind.

Red noted two very interesting details, however. Her requirement to find two co-trainers, one an athlete, and another a scholar. She let Red finish his rather lengthy set of requirements before she had time to process them.

Constant, vigilant training. Surpass boundaries, magical combinations, and two new trainers. Trixie had a lot on her plate. But she was very interested in the whole thing about finding new trainers. "Do you have any suggestions where I could find two ponies with such specific specializations? I was thinking about Ponyville..."

Trixie remembered her last trip to Ponyville, the one that basically ruined her life. The town was quite diverse, and she was sure she could find two ponies to suit her needs in that little rinkydink town.

[Red Charge]

"If there's one more thing you need to learn, is how to research everything yourself. I knew how and where to find the ponies I wanted, knew their strengths and weaknesses, knew the who's, the how's and the where's." He explained, "It's one of those valuable lessons. Back in my day the physical trainer for the Princesses and myself was none other than the fabled Field Marshall Hightower. Of course, he wasn't a Field Marshal back then. Not to mention Destrier himself, who was just as strong."

He looked up at a bird flying nearby, glancing over at Pinkie Pie, now harassing a strange unicorn who seemed like he was far too busy to be disturbed. Chuckling slightly he turned back to Trixie, "You know what you need to do, now it's just a matter of doing it."

[The Great and POWERFUL Trixie]

Solo. Trixie had to find her trainers and do her research. All solo. That thought swam in her mind, much like much like when parents first allow their foal to go out for the night. She was equally excited as she was intimidated. Her life wasn't scheduled anymore, as it had been in the cult, and even before, where the only thing to look forward to was traveling to the next town. She felt alone, but empowered, finally able to do what she wanted.

Trixie gave Red a small bow after he finished. "Thank you, RedCharge." And with that, Trixie gave him a small smile and walked off to the train station. She would catch a train to Ponyville, and play things by ear from there.