Trixie doesn't look so great and powerful anymore, does she?
"Twilight finds Trixie homeless on the streets in Canterlot. Can Twilight help her get back on her hooves? And will Trixie even LET her?"
Getting Back On Your Hooves is a My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fanfiction by Kendell2 and Shadow Raikou with cover art by Paraderpy, available on Deviant Arthere, Fanfiction.Nethere and FIMFiction.net here.During a trip to Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle and Spike encounter a familiar face: Trixie, who is now an unkempt, miserable hobo. Feeling somewhat responsible for Trixie's condition, Twilight sets out to help the fallen entertainer her get back on her hooves, starting by letting her live in the library. But will the haughty, prideful Trixie even let her? How will Twilight's friends handle Trixie's presence in Ponyville? And what does Checker Monarch, a cold and quietly terrifying unicorn mare, have to do with it?Kendell2 also made a side story set in the same universe called Perfect Companions which deals with how the Mane Cast got their pets.The story is presently complete, though the writers have shown interest in writing more stories in the same universe. This includes a one shot titled "HappyMother's Day" and its Optional Canon companion piece Another Happy Mother's Day (by Alexwarlorn) (Warning! Contain spoilers for for the main fic and Perfect Companions in both the story and the trope listing below) and Word Of God is they intend to write more one shots.Two separate live readings have started. here and here. The first is up to chapter 4 and the second to half of chapter 9.
An Alicorn I Am: Checker Monarch's worldview has shades of this, even if she doesn't outright say it, though hers is a more realistic depiction of a god complex than most.
She also assumes the form of one in the dream world. The protagonists are less than impressed, having faced off against the real deal before.
Abusive Parents: Trixie's father appears to have been of the emotional variety though Checker was actually making it seem worse than it was.
Helping Hoof's father forced him to act exactly the way he thought he should act, never letting him do what he wanted. As a result, he never got his cutie mark. Because of this, he called him worthless and belittled him, driving him to work for Checker.
Action Mare: Turns out, Rarity knows how to fight unfortunately for the Diamond Dogs. Her chapter of "Perfect Companions" reveals she learned how to fight because she was bullied frequently as a filly and needed to protect herself.
Adult Fear: What makes Checker Monarch so terrifying (other than ice-cold creepiness and sociopathy) is that she has the power and capability to ruin other ponies' lives completely and coming off legally clean. (And being willing to do so for minute gains.) She could have taken the Mane six's homes and livelihoods away in a heartbeat (if they hadn't gotten the evidence to foil her) because you can't fight corrupt businessponies with Harmony or Love. Once she drags them into her Lotus-Eater Machine trap, the game changes, though.
A Glitch in the Matrix: The key to the Lucid Dreaming technique Trixie teaches Twilight is finding something in the dream that doesn't make sense and use that as proof that it's a dream, which gives you power over the dream.
Alternate Universe Fic: Word Of God has declared it such in the same way as the Pony POV Series; events run alongside the show until canon contradicts the story at which point they go their separate ways (though the story will continue to go for Original Flavor) because the author felt that'd be easier on everyone.
According to Word Of God, the timeline diverges at "Magic Duel", though the actual split was between seasons one and two. Godzillawolf has stated plans to write an alternate version of "Magic Duel" in the future.
An Aesop: To keep with the Original Flavor of the series, several letters to Celestia are written throughout the story and Trixie deciding to write one herself is a huge sign of Character Development on her part. The over all aesop, however, is that the best way to defeat an enemy, is to make them your friend.
Armor-Piercing Question: Twilight does this to Prince Blueblood during a "The Reason You Suck" Speech. After explaining how Celestia and Luna seek such a close relationship with their subjects, a stark contrast to the self obsessed, high and mighty Blueblood, she asks him a question that, for once, actually makes him think about his actions:
Twilight Sparkle: If they're the highest royalty in the land, Blueblood, what does that say about how you behave when you're so much lower than they are?
The ending implies it actually stuck. When Applejack meets him again, he apologizes for how rude he was to her at the Gala.
Artifact of Attraction: Checker knows the 'Want It, Need It' Spell and cites it as one of her favorites. She uses it to distract Spot and Fido so she can talk with Rover to convince the Diamond Dogs to work for her and later on Trixie and the Cutie Mark Crusaders to set Trixie up to trigger a Rant Inducing Slight in AJ. Notably, she's much more adapt at canceling the spell than Twilight, due to it falling under her Special Talent.
The Atoner: Trixie becomes determined to make up to Ponyville for the Ursa incident.
Helping Hoof lets himself be arrested for the part he played in Checker's plans. Fortunately, he only serves a few months.
Awesome McCoolname: Spike In-Universe considers Trixie's (actually her grandmother's) last name, Midsummer, a cool name.
Badass Boast: Rarity gives one to Checker after Checker goes One-Winged Angel and turns into an Alicorn in the dream world.
Bad Dreams: Twilight's been having recurring nightmares about Discord's brief reign, and the effect he had on her friends. Trixie helps her find a way to cope with them, as an early sign of her Character Development.
According to Applejack in chapter 11, all of the Mane Six have been having nightmares since then. Trixie, who by this point considers them all True Companions, offers to teach them the Lucid Dreaming trick she taught Twilight to help.
Bat out of Hell: The Ropen, a giant bat-like monster in Everfree Forest that Trixie has to fend off to protect the Cutie Mark Crusaders as its blind, meaning Fluttershy's Stare has no affect.
Battle in the Center of the Mind: The final confrontation with Checker has her trapping Trixie and the Mane Six in their worst nightmares, only for them to fight back and defeat her.
Big Damn Heroes: Fluttershy performs this to save Trixie from the Cockatrice in Everfree.
Trixie ends up doing this to protect the CMC from the Ropen as well.
Big NO: "Tirek" at the end of Trixie's play, and Checker when her plans are exposed. Pinkie lampshades it both times.
Checker gets another one when she's defeated in the dreams. There's no lampshading this time.
Blatant Lies: When Trixie is telling the Cutie Mark Crusaders how she got her Cutie Mark and gets to the part where she's about to go on stage for a talent show:
Trixie: All in all, Trixie thinks she handled the stress pretty well.
Twilight: Long story short; Rainbow Dash went overboard showing off for the Wonderbolts, Pinkie Pie was...well, Pinkie Pie, and the animals in the palace garden ignored Fluttershy, causing her to go temporarily insane and chase all animals into the castle ballroom while screaming 'You. Are. Going. To. LOVE ME!' at the top of her lungs…
Breaking Lecture: Checker is good at these. Justified, as she has a spell that lets her see what the victim's insecurities and fears are, letting her use them against them.
Brick Joke: When Trixie faints in a dramatic fashion, Sweetie Belle comments that she does so in the same manner as Rarity. When Rarity herself does faint likewise a couple of chapters later, Trixie comments that Sweetie Belle was right.
Break the Cutie: Arguably happens to Trixie at Checker's hooves after she's become a nicer person. Multiple times.
Checker does this in the final confrontation, using their worst nightmares combined with Breaking Lectures to nearly drive the Mane Cast over the Despair Event Horizon. They manage to recover when they realize that both their loved ones are cheering them on and that they're in a dream.
Break the Haughty: Trixie begins the fic like this, having lost everything she owned as well as having had something traumatic happen to her since then. Specifically, having Checker (supposedly speaking on behalf of their father) disowning Trixie and kicking her out of the house.
Chekhov's Armory: Pretty much everything that happens around the middle of chapter 11 helps set up the Engineered Public Confession near the end. And many of those things where introduced previously in the story, mostly during Trixie's charity play.
Chekhov's Gun: Trixie teaches all her friends her Lucid Dreaming trick which allows them to defeat Checker in the final confrontation.
Chekhov's Gun Stallion: Helping Hoof starts out as merely Checker's butler, but ends up playing an important role in the story.
Childhood Friends: Turns out that Trixie and Helping Hoof (Checker's servant) were friends when they were foals…or they would have been, if Helping Hoof's father had allowed him to have any friends.
Climax Boss: The Ropen, who caps off Trixie learning caring for others doesn't make one weak by showing her she can be strong when she's protecting something she cares about.
Control Freak: Helping Hoof points out that Checker Monarch relishes control, especially the control she has over him and Trixie. According to Word Of God, this is a big part of Checker's motivation for ruining Trixie; her control over them is how she proves her twisted worldview to herself by giving herself absolute control over someone since she can't control the entire world like she thinks she should. As a result, when that control is broken, the shock and her denial of the fact her worldview was completely wrong was too much her already unstablemental state.
Corrupt Corporate Executive: Checker is the owner of her own corporation, stated to be one of the biggest in Equestria. It isn't until chapter 10 this has any baring on the plot, however.
Crazy-Prepared: Twilight has yet to come across a situation she doesn't have a book for.
Once they counter Checker's Dream Weaver abilities, first the Mane Six and then Trixie easily defeat Checker's One-Winged Angel forms.
Cut Song: Checker Monarch was meant to have a song in chapter 9, but it was cut for time. Ironically, it was meant to based off another Cut Song; "Humiliate the Boy" from Aladdin.
Dangerous Forbidden Technique: It's mentioned that most unicorns have more magical power than they can safely use, and while its possible to expand their limits through training, using their full, unrestrained power could cause serious damage (compared to how muscles are often stronger than the body can safely make use of). Checker does this in a a last resort, and ends up severely damaging her horn in the process.
Darker and Edgier: As this fanfic continues, the confrontations between Trixie and Checker Monarch gets more and more intense and Checker herself spells terror as this series goes on.
Dark Secret: Helping Hoof turns out to still be a blank flank, having never managed to find his special talent.
Deadpan Snarker: Trixie quite often. Spike also has his moments.
Deal with the Devil: Helping Hoof agreed to work for Checker in exchange for her helping him make his father proud by faking earning a job and Cutie Mark, but Checker won't let him leave; threatening to ruin him if he does so. He even calls it a "deal with the Draconequus". He eventually breaks the deal and turns on her.
Death Glare: Besides Fluttershy's Stare, Checker Monarch seems to have a near-constant one going, leaving everyone who makes eye contact with her unnerved at the least and terrified at most. In chapter 10, there is a Stare-Off between Checker and a ratherangry Fluttershy. Checker loses, being left shuddering and filled with instinctual fear of the Pegasus.
This is also how Fluttershy deals with the part of Checker's consciousness that attacks her in her dream.
Defeat Equals Friendship: While subverted with Checker, who ends up going so insane she'll likely spend the rest of her life in an insane asylum, its played straight with Trixie and the Diamond Dogs, who both perform a Heel Face Turn and are befriended. This is ultimately the moral of the story delivered by Twilight in a letter to Celestia at the end, even quoting the 'the best way to defeat an enemy, is to make them your friend' line.
Defrosting Ice Queen: As Trixie lives with Twilight, she gradually opens up and becomes a much nicer mare to everypony.
Rainbow Dash gives Trixie the cold shoulder throughout the story, but eventually eases up when she realizes she's been acting like the bully she accused Trixie of being, and warms up some more when she realizes they have stuff in common.
Despair Event Horizon: Trixie very nearly crosses it due to Checker's manipulations. Fortunately, she is pulled back by the efforts of her friends, and pulls herself out completely when she faces off with Checker in her dream.
Disaster Dominoes: Trixie causes an accident while working for Rarity, who lampshades it by noting that "Sweetie Belle has made bigger messes and I really need to stop setting up my shop in such a way that one little thing toppling over somehow sets off a chain reaction that wrecks the entire room…"
Disney Villain Death: While none of them actually kill her, being it's a dream, Checker gets defeated in dreams this way a total of three times (once in Trixie's dream, then twice later during her final dream attack in Pinkie's and Rainbow's dreams). When it happens in Rainbow's, she actually says 'Not again'.
The Dog Bites Back: In chapter 11, Helping Hoof finally has enough of Checker's crap and helps the Mane Six save Trixie and expose her.
There's also a literal example in that chapter, as the Diamond Dogs likewise turn on her.
Don't You Dare Pity Me!: Trixie's general mindset throughout most of the fic, due to her belief accepting help makes one weak. She gradually grows out of it though.
Dramatic Thunder: There just happens to be a thunderstorm going on when Checker comes into Sugarcube Corner to confront Trixie and introduce herself to the Mane Six.
The Dreaded: Checker Monarch. Trixie just seeing her name causes her to freeze up in fear and Rarity is actively terrified of her, simply due to her menacing and cold personality. The Diamond Dogs are also deeply unnerved by her, even though they just met her once.
Lucid Dreaming is also a plot point, as teaching it to Twilight is how Trixie helps her overcome her nightmares about Discord and Trixie commonly uses it herself. Checker's words and actions imply she's using Lucid Dreaming to obtain this affect in addition to her dream infiltration spell. She only manages to successfully manipulate Trixie in her dreams by crafting a dream world based off her detailed observations of reality so Trixie can't find A Glitch in the Matrix to realize its a dream.
Dude, Where's My Respect?: Rainbow Dash gets rather exasperated at how few ponies actually recognize them for the world-saving national heroes they are, Trixie and Checker included.
Earn Your Happy Ending: While the Mane 6 have to work as well, this applies heavily to Helping Hoof and Trixie, both of which have endured hell all their lives due to their respective Abusive Parents and Checker until they finally find redemption and happiness.
Engineered Public Confession: Double Subverted. The Mane Six and Trixie set up a scheme to get Checker to confess to her crimes in front of all of Ponyville, only for Checker to anticipate this and destroy their hidden microphones. But then Helping Hoof betrays her and plants another microphone on himself, helping the plan succeed.
Et Tu, Brute?: Trixie's reaction when she realizes that Helping Hoof is aiding Checker in ruining her, albeit unwillingly.
Eureka Moment: The girls are at a loss to figure out how to help Trixie recover, until Twilight compares Trixie's present predicament to her own at the Winter Wrap Up. She suddenly realizes that how she managed to turn that around in might work for Trixie to.
Even Evil Has Standards: The Diamond Dogs may be willing to do a lot of things, and work for Checker to ruin the life of a mare they don't know for gems, but even they are horrified when Checker Mind Raped Rainbow Dash with a dream infiltration spell. They still work for her, but after this they're actively terrified of her.
Diamond Tiara may be a bully — and proud of it — but even she is sickened when it's revealed that Checker has been ruining her own sister's life.
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Checker Monarch has shades of this, especially when Rainbow Dash goes against her expectations and forgives Trixie, rather than running her out of town.
Justified, as Checker Monarch is confirmed by Word Of God to be based off a Sociopath, who, by definition, are incapable of truly understanding empathy and compassion.
Eviler than Thou: Checker hires the Diamond Dogs to be her Mooks with them being Only In It For The Gems. It takes about two chapters for her to begin doing things that disturb and terrify them (particularly, her Mind Raping Rainbow Dash) and have them so outright terrified of her they're too afraid of her retribution to defy her.
Evil Is Petty: Checker, oh so much. It doesn't help that she outright admits to viewing the entire world as her Unwitting Pawns.
Fainting: Trixie when it hits her what she just did to protect the Cutie Mark Crusaders (which included going deep into Everfree Forest and dealing with two monsters that could've killed her or worse) and later when discovering Princess Luna was Tirek in her play. Rarity also does it when it turns out one of Pinkie's Doozies was simply Trixie genuinely apologizing for her transgressions. Both Sweetie Belle and Trixie herself comment they do so in the same manner. Given their personalities, it's like they're just being over-dramatic.
Fatal Flaw: Checker Monarch's inability to anticipate empathy. Her otherwise good plan to have Trixie run out of town and rob her of what little self-confidence she has left hinged on Rainbow Dash kicking her out...then Dash saw her in a Corner of Woe.
Fate Worse Than Death: Perfect Companions reveals that Checker is incarcerated in an asylum, her sanity having degraded to the point that she's unable to do anything for herself and forced to have others help her with anything, in direct opposition of her Social Darwinist philosophy. Her business empire is gone, and even if she got out nopony would ever want to work with her again. And Trixie doesn't even care about her anymore - even the slight influence she could claim by having Trixie hate her is denied. She has lost her pawns, her business, and her self-control.
For the Evulz: Essentially why Checker Monarch decided to start picking on Trixie again.
Fragile Flower: Trixie, once she's age-regressed by Poison Joke. Justified in that not only does she have the emotional maturity and control of a child, but she had a rather traumatic childhood, and being physically and emotionally regressed made all those old wounds become fresh.
Freudian Excuse: Trixie is implied to have one involving her family. And about half of it was Checker's fault.
It's heavily implied that Rainbow Dash's treatment of Trixie is due to having been bullied as a filly, thus meaning Trixie's humiliating her in public was far more painful for her than it otherwise would be.
Future Me Scares Me: Checker tells Diamond Tiara she reminds her of herself as a filly, and Trixie's Flashback to her and Checker's childhood shows Checker was a lot like Diamond. At first Diamond is ecstatic...until she sees Checker'sTrue Colors, at which point she's horrified that she has the potential to become like Checker. According to Word Of God, this was intentional and Checker was partly intended to be what Diamond could grow up into if nothing changes.
Good Costume Switch: Trixie gets a new costume to wear from Rarity after she's accepted the group as her friends. Her taking control of one of her dream confrontations with Checker is normally signified by her donning this costume.
Green-Eyed Monster: Checker Monarch, who pretty much says her motivations for harming Trixie is jealousy of having the spotlight divided between them. Of course, this is mainly because Checker believes It's All About Me.
Guile Heroine: Trixie ultimately becomes this, using illusions, stage magic, and misdirection.
Rarity, particularly when she begins tricking Checker's backers into thinking Ponyville isn't a good place for a mall...but might be a perfect place for a theater and also simply paying the Diamond Dogs BETTER than Checker did to get them to turn on her.
He Knows Too Much: According to Word Of God, this was why Checker planned to dispose of the Diamond Dogs. Thankfully, Rarity uses this fact (and some bribery) to get them to pull a Heel Face Turn.
Hidden Depths: Helping Hoof is first introduced as Checker's cowardly servant, but is gradually revealed to be a Childhood Friend of Trixie and an adult Blank Flank due to his father refusing to allow him to be himself. He made a Deal with the Devil with Checker for her to help him fake getting a Cutie Mark and a job so his father would be proud of him. Now he's simply too terrified of her to back out until the end when he turns on her.
I Am Becoming Song: The first song of the fic "Through New Eyes" is about Trixie coping with how her world view has been changed and the conflict that's causing her. Twilight joins in and sings about how she was changed by her first visit to Ponyville to reassure her. After she leave, Trixie finishes the song with her realization she's got a True Companion to help her through her uncertainty.
I Am Not Left Hoofed: When confronted by the Diamond Dogs again Rarity attempts to whine them into submission like she did the first time. When that fails, she breaks out her martial arts skills and delivers a Curbstomp Battle. According to Word Of God, this included to show she could have beaten the Diamond Dogs to a pulp the first time, she just preferred the nonviolent approach.
I Am Song: The second song, Checker Monarch's "Through My Eyes", gives us an insight into her cruel, manipulative persona.
Idea Bulb: Happens to Twilight in chapter 9; turns out Spike was replacing a bulb above her.
I Hate Past Me: Trixie when facing the Great and Powerful Trixie (actually Checker in disguise) in a dream. She ultimately ends up giving her past self a "The Reason You Suck" Speech and declaring she'll never be her again.
I Lied: Checker said she'd leave Trixie's friends alone if she agreed to go into exile. Naturally, Checker decides to go after them anyway.
Trixie: How did she…when did she…where did she g…What just happened?!
Fluttershy: Um…Pinkie does things like that… Sorry, I can't explain it any better than that, but even Twilight can't figure out how Pinkie does a lot of the things she does…She's tried…
Intergenerational Friendship: Trixie forms one with the Cutie Mark Crusaders after she saves them from a Ropen in the Everfree Forest (though Sweetie Belle already liked her before then).
The finale has this apparently happened between Pinkie Pie and Trixie's grandmother Helena during the time skip.
Trixie again when she realizes that the pony playing Tirek in her play is Princess Luna.
Knight of Cerebus: While it has some dark points, the story is pretty lighthearted…then Checker Monarch shows up.
Know Your Vines: Trixie takes a blue flower from the Everfree Forest after her adventure there, unaware it's Poison Joke. When Twilight informs her of this, she doesn't take it seriously because she's immune to Poison Ivy and thus assumes she will be to Poison Joke. She isn't.
Trixie's words imply she forced herself to have this due to her childhood though mainly Checker's lies, but is regaining her sense of empathy now that she sees it was stupid to suppress it in the first place.
Trixie: Of all the days for me to start actually caring about somepony else's well being…
Large Ham: Trixie, naturally, even after her Character Development. The others don't mind, however, accepting it as part of her personality.
Master of Illusion: Rarity's skills with illusion spells come into play for the charity show, where she makes the back drops. Trixie also knows a few illusion spells and knows the same trick Zecora used to tell stories on Nightmare Night. According to Word Of God, Helena Midsummer and Stage Hoof also qualifies due to their special talents being theater.
Meaningful Rename: Helping Hoof does a Heel Face Turn, then earns his theater Cutie Mark while in prison (Equestrian prisons apparently have very good inmate learning programs). As a result, he changes his name to Stage Hoof.
Mind Hive: During their final dream confrontation, Checker splits her consciousness in order to go after Trixie and all the Mane Six at the same time.
Mind Rape: Checker Monarch subjects Rainbow Dash to this via a dream infiltration spell, giving her horrible nightmares involving Trixie to turn her against her. And it almost works. This act even horrifies the Diamond Dogs.
There's a more subtle example later when she infiltrates Trixie's dreams and Breaking Lectures her about how the town will never accept her. Trixie is left so traumatized that the next day she's barely able to bring herself to go on stage for her public apology.
How Discord broke Twilight and Trixie during his reign is depicted this way, as unlike the show Twilight been traumatized by the event and has suffered horrible nightmares about it for a good while afterwards, and Trixie nearly breaks down crying recounting what he did to her.
Checker's manipulations and efforts at sabotaging Trixie qualify as a more mundane but still effective method of Mind Rape. Notably, her coat starts graying, implying that Checker is managing to Discord her.
Moment of Weakness: Applejack and Rainbow Dash are manipulated into growing ever more frustrated throughout the course of a day, with the intent that their anger will boil over and get directed at Trixie. Rainbow Dash subverts it, ultimately.
Mook Face Turn: Both Helping Hoof and the Diamond Dogs turn on Checker in chapter 11, for different reasons.
Multi-Part Episode: "Checkmate", the final three chapters, which were based off of the actual two part episodes of the series proper (though some previous chapters were split in two parts due to text limits, including all three parts of "Checkmate").
My God, What Have I Done?: Applejack, upon realizing she just blew up at Filly!Trixie over an accident and left the poor girl in tears. Later, Rainbow Dash comes across Trixie and is about to finally give her a piece of her mind (as she's been wanting to do all story), then sees Trixie sobbing and realizes that she's becoming just like the bullies she faced in Flight School. That snaps her out of her anger at Trixie quickly, and she finally lets go of her grudge against her.
Helping Hoof's section of the group song "The World I Want To Be In" in chapter 11 basically boils down to this.
Never Mess with Granny: Checker's chauffeurs learned this the hard way when dealing with Helena.
Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: According to Word Of God, Checker Monarch's actions are responsible for the events of "Magic Duel" not happening in this universe (or at the very least, Trixie not being the villain), either because she and Helena don't exist in the main timeline or Checker simply took active steps to further ruin Trixie's life after "Boast Busters", humbling her to the point she was willing to accept Twilight's help and was afraid of becoming like Checker influenced Trixie further.
A straighter example is when she tells Trixie she'll be like their grandmother during an up until then successful Breaking Lecture. This results in Trixie getting a Heroic Second Wind as she realizes she is like her grandmother, and her grandmother was a lot stronger than either of them believed.
Noodle Implements: Pinkie's planned attempt at cheering Trixie up apparently involved her wearing a large gift package around her body, swim fins, and big sunglasses, and carrying a lot of balloons.
Noodle Incident: Apparently, during one of their attempts to get their Cutie Marks, the CMC ended up in a wrecking ball crane and set it off.
The Diamond Dog's second attempt to ruin Trixie's charity performance. While we know they went under the stage and the mane six had set boobytraps (and some animals as guards), we don't see it actually happen, just the end result.
Trixie apparently once had a show be ruined by a swarm of hamsters.
No Sense of Direction: While trying to find a camp spot in the Everfree Forest, the Cutie Mark Crusaders get so lost they somehow end up in the middle of a cave.
Apple Bloom: How'd we even get in here?
Not Afraid of You Anymore: While she admits she's still afraid of Ursas, Trixie tells Checker that she's no longer afraid of her.
Oh Crap: Trixie upon realizing the three ponies she publicly humiliated are three of the heroines who saved Equestria twice.
She has one earlier, when she realizes that Twilight is the Princess' personal student.
She has another one, this one played for drama, when she merely sees Checker Monarch's name written down on the tag of an article of clothing, causing her to freeze up incatatonic terror.
Trixie has yet another one when Checker infiltrates her dreams.
Then it's Checker's turn when, during her second dream attack, Trixie fights back and manages to defeat her.
Checker gets another one in chapter 11 when she realizes she's been Out Gambitted.
Gets another one in chapter 12 upon realizing the mares she's facing were the ones who saved the world twice.
One Degree of Separation: While Trixie didn't earn her Cutie Mark due to the Sonic Rainboom, she did earn it thanks to the story about Granny Smith founding Ponyville inspiring her act. The same Summer Sun Celebration that inspired Twilight's love of magic also inspired Trixie's as well. Twilight points out this isn't that surprising by referencing the Aesop of "Cutie Mark Chronicles"; that friends can share a special connection before they've even met.
One-Winged Angel: During the dream fights, Checker turns into an Alicorn when facing the Mane 6 collectively, and an Ursa Major while going after Trixie.
Clipped Wing Angel: The girls aren't very impressed, having fought a real Alicorn, and use the Elements of Harmony to defeat her. As for the Ursa, they help Trixie overcome her fear, and she proceeds to curb-stomp her.
It's because of this that Rarity is able to bribe them into changing their loyalties near the end. Of course, the fact that she revealed that Checker was going to betray them anyway helped.
Only Known by Their Nickname: Checkmate Monarch is Checker's full name, but even the more professional Rarity refers to her as Checker. The only one who consistently calls her Checkmate is Trixie her younger sister.
Original Flavor: Specifically stated by Word Of God to be one of their main goals with the fic. According to many readers, they've succeeded.
Pep Talk Song: Pinkie Pie's song, "Things Are Going To Get Better", in chapter 8. Was written in an attempt to emulate Pinkie's singing style in the show.
Persona Non Grata: Sweetie Belle tells a story to Twilight about the Cutie Mark Crusader's attempt to earn tennis Cutie Marks. The audience doesn't hear much of it, but it ended with them being banned from the tennis court. Later, when Trixie is in their tree house, she discovers a poster marked 'list of places we've been banned from trying to get our Cutie Marks' and notes its unnervingly long.
Pragmatic Villainy: While she is owner of her own corporation and fabulously wealthy, Checker refuses to spend more than the gems she gives the Diamond Dogs to ruin Trixie because it'd be a waste of money. Unfortunately, in chapter 10 she discovers a way to make money and ruin Trixie, and also had a Villainous Breakdown that cost her what little restraint she had.
Produce Pelting: A disguised Checker does this to Trixie during her attempted public apology to Ponyville.
She tries again during Trixie's charity play, but is prevented by Twilight.
Punch Clock Villain: Helping Hoof, Checker's butler, only helps her with her schemes because he works for her. And he seems perfectly willing to keep information from her.
The Diamond Dogs are shown to be working for Checker Monarch only for the eventual payday and fear of her. At least, until Rarity offers to pay them gems regularly, as well as telling them she planned to build her mall over the quarry they've made their home.
Rant Inducing Slight: Invoked by Checker Monarch, who manipulated events to get Applejack and Rainbow Dash so frustrated that they'd explode on Trixie at the moment Checker desired.
Trixie also gives one to the defeated Checker…sort of. She then says she's done hating Checker, forgives her, and she's done letting her control her life, even through justifiable hatred. Which arguably hurts Checker worse than the speech itself.
Running Gag: Trixie and Twilight messing up the Pinkie Pie Swear.
A guilty Trixie pointing out that she humiliated the girls, with someone pointing out that she also bragged about it, and her quickly admitting to it.
Someone mentioning the Smartypants incident around Trixie and Twilight, only for the latter to shut them up.
Sadistic Choice: Checker tells Trixie to either leave town, or she'll ruin all of her friends completely. Naturally, when Trixie chooses to leave, Checker decides to ruin the others anyway out of spite.
Sanity Slippage: Checker gradually loses her mind as the fic progresses, going from a calm composed individual to a psychotic lunatic to finally a completely broken mare. According to Word Of God, she was found criminally insane and is presently locked up in an insane asylum for what is likely the rest of her life.
"Another Happy Mother's Day" sadly expands on this, showing that Checker ultimately retreats into a fantasy world to escape the reality of her crimes.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When Checker's plans are exposed, her servants decide to abandon her. Unfortunately, Helena overheard them discussing their involvement, and decides not to let them get away with hurting Trixie.
Shadow Archetype: Checker is this to Trixie, representing what the Great and Powerful Trixie could have become if she hadn't seen the error of her ways. This is shown most directly when Checker assumes the form of the Great and Powerful Trixie in Trixie's dream. In the end, it's only by accepting she was really like that and that she's changed that she managed to defeat Checker and finally be happy with herself.
Shapeshifter Guilt Trip: Checker does this to most of the mane six during the Final Battle, taking the form of their loved ones and giving them a Breaking Lecture based around their personal faults and saying those faults have in some way harmed said loved ones. Special mention goes to Rainbow Dash's, which involves her how she handled Discord'sSadistic Choice, something she feels genuine guilt for.
Shout Out: During an argument with Rarity, Applejack comments that "Ah ain't got no accent!" In fact, the entire subplot going on there appears to be based on that fic.
Checker Monarch appears to be based on Azula, a perfectionist Manipulative BitchChessmaster who is jealous of a younger sibling whom she bullies and has an overbearing father. Moreover, both characters are deeply insecure beneath all their arrogance.
Trixie is apparently a big fan of the Harry Trotter novels.
Several Shout Outs to the Pony POV Series were included due to the author being friends with Alexwarlorn.
The charity play Trixie puts on with help from her friends and Princess Luna is "Rescue at Midnight Castle", the original G1 My Little Pony special.
According to Word Of God, what happened to the Diamond Dogs during their second attempt at sabotage the charity play was based off the Home Alone films
She later tells the story of Grogar to the Cake Twins. Both of those stories are used by Trixie to defeat Checker in her final dream attack.
Pinkie Pie doesn't make cupcakes where audiences can see anymore, and angrily mutters about wanting to sue someone for defamation of character.
In chapter 11, Applejack mentions a time Twilight messed up a spell and sent the six of them to a gender-flipped alternate universe.
Chapter 12 takes some references to Persona 4including Checker's One-Winged Angel transformation into an Ursa Major referencing the Shadows' transformations.
Pinkie's dream confrontation with Checker in chapter 12 contains references to both Scooby-Doo and Wile E. Coyote.
According to Word Of God, Checker's obsession with controlling Trixie and Helping Hoof is inspired by the one Breach from Generator Rex had for her 'dollhouse', namely the fact its the only thing allowing them to maintain any semblance of sanity.
Shut Up, Hannibal!: Trixie delivers one to Checker (though she doesn't know its her at the time) in her second dream attack on her, combining this trope with a "World of Cardboard" Speech.
Later, each of the Mane 6 get their own against Checker when she attacks them in their dreams, followed by Trixie doing it again to finally defeat her once and for all.
Sixth Ranger: Trixie. Derpy also deserves a mention, as she forgives Trixie completely and assists with the charity play, the desert rescue and the Engineered Public Confession.
Smelly Skunk: Trixie ends up getting sprayed by one, named Sally, while working for Fluttershy.
The same skunk (according to Word Of God) ends up spraying the Diamond Dogs when they try to sabotage Trixie's charity show.
Fluttershy turns into one and sprays Checker in the face during their dream confrontation.
Spanner in the Works: Checker's initial plans are ultimately derailed by, of all things, Featherweight's photography hobby, which first clues the CMC and Mane Cast into the fact that someone is sabotaging Trixie's efforts at making up for the Ursa.
Social Darwinist: Checker is a type 4, and uses it to justify her God Complex and It's All About Me behavior. Trixie was formally a relatively mild type 1 (as was their father, who they both get it from, Checker just took it too far), but leaves it behind after seeing what The Power of Friendship is capable of.
The Sociopath: Checker Monarch, who was modeled after one — and it shows.
Stink Bomb: While visiting Canterlot, Spike asks Twilight if he can throw one of these that Rainbow Dash gave him into Prince Blueblood's room to pay him back for how he treated Rarity at the Gala. Twilight says no on the grounds one of Spike's pranks had already got them arrested once during that very visit. He does it anyway when she's not looking, causing Twilight to end up going to Canterlot to clean up the mess.
The Stoic: Checker Monarch shows very little emotion other than icy, sadistic joy at times. This seems to be an effect an effect of her and Trixie's father apparently not wanting them to show much emotion around him and the fact she's The Sociopath.
Not So Stoic: When her Berserk Buttons are pushed, she does show more outright ranger, but its not until her Villainous Breakdown her composure completely fails and she shows outright anger.
Surrounded by Idiots: Checker ultimately has this reaction after the Diamond Dogs fail to ruin Trixie's charity show twice as a result of her growing Villainous Breakdown.
Sympathetic P.O.V.: We see Trixie's and Checker's father, Centurion from both their perspectives, but ironically, its Checker's perspective that shows him in a more sympathetic light, as Checker intentionally made him out as a more Abusive Parent in Trixie's perspective to hurt Trixie.
Sympathy for the Devil: Helping Hoof feels a brief moment of pity for Checker as he explains her past to the Diamond Dogs, wondering if someone with her unending lust for power could ever be truly happy.
Helena's reaction to Checker's downfall is this as well.
Taken for Granite: Twilight being turned to stone by a Cockatrice in "The Stare Master" is mentioned several times. Trixie runs into the same Cockatrice in Everfree and gets almost completely turned to stone, but is saved by Fluttershy.
Taking You with Me: Checker tries to pull this at the end of "Checkmate Part II"/most of "Checkmate Part III". She knows using the dream infiltration spell is illegal and she'll go to prison for it (since she just used it in front of a large crowd of witnesses), but she figures it's worth it if she can destroy Trixie and her friends in the process. She fails.
Third-Person Person: Trixie, though when she gets emotional, she slips out of it.
True Companions: What Trixie eventually becomes with the Mane Six and the CMC. Especially Twilight, who she admits now feels like a true sister to her as opposed to Checker.
The Mane 6, CMC, and Derpy (who Trixie befriended as well) show just how much they care about her by braving a dangerous storm to save Trixie.
Uncanny Valley: In-Universe, this is part of the reason ponies find Checker so terrifying when she's not hiding it according to Word Of God. In a culture founded on The Power of Friendship and acceptance, someone completely lacking that trait comes off as this. Even more so for the mane six, who are more sensitive to it because of their deep friendship and can detect it even when she's hiding it.
Ungrateful Bastard: Averted. Trixie becomes significantly nicer to the Mane Six after being allowed to lodge.
Unwitting Pawn: According to Checker Monarch's worldview, everypony is this for her.
Not necessarily a verbal tic but the book repeatedly describes Trixie's jaw dropping/almost touching the ground.
Vile Villain Saccharine Fan Fic: Checker Monarch. She was based off real life Sociopaths but in a fan fic written with the intention of maintaining Original Flavor. The author did this intentionally due to the show's habit of having major villains be disproportionately dark.
Villainous Breakdown: When she's prevented from ruining Trixie's charity show, Checker starts cracking. Then, when Trixie finally fights back against her mind games (albeit in her dream without realizing it's Checker) and successfully beats her, Checker ends up developing full-blown Cutie Mark Failure Insanity Syndrome and completely snaps.
Villain Song: Checker Monarch gets one in chapter 7, called "Through My Eyes".
She gets a short reprise in chapter 8.
She gets "Checkmate" and "Checkmate (Reprise)" in chapter 10.
Her part of "The World I Want To Be In" in chapter 11 also counts.
Villain Team Up: Checker Monarch and the Diamond Dogs. They ultimately get bought off by Rarity, who also reveals that Checker was going to betray them anyway.
Villain with Good Publicity: Checker Monarch is this, due to being the owner of one of Equestria's largest companies and her wrong doing being unknown to most ponies. She cites this as one of the reasons she's not afraid the Diamond Dogs will back stab her; no one would believe their word over hers. This complicates things when the Mane 6 have to take her down, until they trick her into an Engineered Public Confession.
Wham Episode: Chapter 10. Trixie is left to die in a desert thousands of miles away from any form of civilization, and Checker is planning to destroy the Mane 6's homes and replace them with a giant strip mall, just because the Mane 6 accepted Trixie as their friend.
What Could Have Been: The Ropen's roll was originally meant to be given to the hydra in Froggy Bottom Bog, but Word Of God said they felt something more unique was needed for the part.
Checker's Shapeshifter Guilt Trip to Twilight was originally going to be of Celestia telling Twilight she's been arrested for apparently destroying Ponyville with her out of control magic. After Twilight believes it was caused by Checker's Taking You with Me attack, 'Celestia' states that Checker was never in Ponyville and the confrontation with her was her hallucinating due to Trixie abandoning her (instead of being kidnapped by Checker) before Twilight finally finds A Glitch in the Matrix to retake control. This was abandoned for being seen as too dark.
Who's on First?: Happens in chapter 2 between Trixie and Owlowiscious when they first meet.
Trixie: Um…hello there…
Owlowiscious: Hoo?
Trixie: Trixie.
Owlowiscious: Hoo?
Trixie: Umm…Trixie.
Owlowiscious: Hoo?
Trixie: Trixie!
Owlowiscious: Hoo?
Trixie: You stubborn bird! I said my name is Trixie!
Owlowiscious: Hoo?
Twilight: Trixie, he's an owl, that's all he can say!
Trixie: Oh… Um yes… Trixie knew that! Oh look at the time! Goodnight…
"World of Cardboard" Speech: Trixie gives one in the form of a story when confronting her old personality (actually a disguised Checker) in a dream that ends with her declaring that she will never go back to the way she was before.
Each of the Mane Six get one on Checker during the Final Battle, managing to overcome what Checker was using against them and Trixie ultimately gives another, telling Checker she's Not Afraid Of You Any More. Justified in that so long as they deny those doubts instead of facing them, their mental state was compromised and Checker had the advantage.
Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Naturally, this gambit is in Checker's arsenal and she threatens to use it if Trixie tells the authorities, and apparently did so frequently as a child to get Trixie in trouble. Ironically, Trixie ultimately does a variation of this to Checker as part of the Engineered Public Confession, acting and dressed up to appear in far worse shape than she really is to make Checker think she'd hiked all the way back to Ponyville.
You Are Not Alone: The Mane Cast are all driven to the brink of the Despair Event Horizon by Checker's Dream Weaver abilities...until their loved ones all begin cheering them on and help them find A Glitch in the Matrix to turn the tables. They (with Helping Hoof and Helena cheering her from the outside) proceed to do the same for Trixie, who is faced with her worst fear; an Ursa Major, helping her overcome it to defeat Checker once.
Book Ends: "Happy Mother's Day" begins with the Apple siblings telling their deceased mother happy Mother's Day as they do every year. It ends with Applejack wishing her Parental Substitute, Granny Smith, a happy Mother's Day after realizing she'd picked up where her biological mother left off.
Fake Memories: Self inflicted by Checker Monarch in "Another Happy Mother's Day". Her insanity and denial of her crimes and flawed beliefs has caused her to invent a new history for herself where they never existed. She believes their mother never died, she was actually a good sister for Trixie, a Benevolent Boss for Helping Hoof, and that the events of the original fic never happened. The main author has said that its possible what she remembers Discord doing to her were False Memories as well, as his original game would no longer make sense.
Generation Xerox: Fluttershy and her mother Posey. Subverted with Rarity and her mother Pearl, despite Applejack's initial expectations.
I Was Quite A Fashion Victim: Rarity's mother Pearl mentions what fashion was like when she was a teenager while bonding with Rarity by invoking this trope. Rarity's reaction?
Loose Canon: "Another Happy Mother's Day" is Optional Canon, and the main author has said its simply one of the possible fates of Checker Monarch.
Loss of Identity: Checker in "Another Happy Mother's Day" seems to have done this to herself in her insanity. Her denial of committing actions or believing ideas that she can no longer deny were wrong or the monster she was resulted in her retreating into a fantasy world were their mother never died and she never believed the beliefs or committed the actions at all. Even Fluttershy, who visited her, admits its difficult to tell she's the same person.
Meaningful Echo: "Happy Mother's Day" in the story of the same name.
Nonverbal one from the same story, Rarity does her over dramatic faint Running Gag once more when she realizes she has nothing in common with her mother and thus won't be able to give her a good Mother's Day. This time, her mother catches her and consoles her.
Noodle Incident: Apparently, while she was staying with Applejack after disowning Rarity in "Sisterhooves Social", Sweetie Bell tried making breakfast for Applejack. It went as well as to be expected.
Orphan's Ordeal: Applejack's grief over her parents death, while touched on in the main stories, is the central point of "Happy Mother's Day", though all three Apple siblings are shown to be still be grieving on some level. According to Word Of God, the reason it hit her the hardest is being the middle child, she was old enough to remember them (unlike Applebloom), but young enough to still be emotionally dependent on them (unlike Big Macintosh) when they died.
Signature Style: "Another Happy Mother's Day" was written by Alexwarlorn, author of the Pony POV Series, and is...well, more of a POV narrative than the mane fic, even though its written from the third person minus the last scene.
Through the Eyes of Madness: "Another Happy Mother's Day" is written from the perspective of the now insane Checker Monarch, who has retreated into a fantasy world and invented Fake Memories.
Unreliable Narrator: "Another Happy Mother's Day" is written in the third person except for the last scene, but is still from the POV of Checker Monarch, who's completely insane and living in a fantasy world complete with Fake Memories she gave herself, so its difficult to tell how much was actually true about her past and how much was simply an invention of her shattered mind.
Villain Episode: "Another Happy Mother's Day" is written from the perspective of Checker Monarch after her defeat and decent into insanity at the end of the main fic.
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