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Context Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E6NoSecondPrances

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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/starlight_and_trixie_enjoying_each_others_company_s6e6.png]]
2[[caption-width-right:350: [[Advertising/TrixRabbit Silly Starlight, Trix are for... oh, wait a minute.]]]]
3
4->''"Please, Twilight! I know you're trying to help, but I need to make friends on my own if I'm going to become a better pony."''
5-->-- '''Starlight Glimmer'''
6
7->Written by Nick Confalone
8
9Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer are busily setting a table in the castle for a dinner with Princess Celestia that night. Starlight is surprised to see that Twilight has laid out four places at the table; the latter explains that, as a test, she wants Starlight to go to Ponyville and make a new friend to invite to to the meal. A nervous Starlight heads to town, where the rest of the Mane Six try to help her befriend various other ponies, only to run into trouble: Pinkie Pie introduces her to Mrs. Cake, and an overeager Starlight accidentally outdoes the baker with her magic; Applejack suggests Big Macintosh, only for Starlight to turn him into an uncontrollable MotorMouth with a spell; Rarity promises to make Starlight a new outfit to help her find friends -- a process that will take three weeks; Rainbow Dash goes to get Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, but Starlight shocks the speedy pony by admitting she's never heard of them; and finally, Starlight meets Angel Bunny (who loves her), but realizes that he doesn't really count. Determined not to let stress scare off other ponies further, Starlight decides to head to the spa for a quick facial to calm down. While there, she complains aloud about her situation, and another pony in a mud mask chimes in, admitting that she's struggled with people judging her for past actions as well. Starlight eagerly rushes to the castle to show off her new friend to Twilight, describing her as "great and powerful" -- and that's when Trixie walks through the door with a smirk on her face.
10
11Twilight is immediately distrustful of Trixie's intentions, but Trixie says she's only in Ponyville on tour with her new magic show. Starlight points out that Twilight said she could choose ''any'' pony as her friend, and the latter reluctantly lets the two continue spending time together. As Trixie sets up for her magic show with Starlight's help, other ponies come by and make it clear that they remember Trixie's cruel actions from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E5MagicDuel the last time she was in Ponyville]]. The magician complains about the difficulty of getting second chances from others, and Starlight agrees, strengthening the bond between the two. When they go to unload Trixie's wagon, Starlight is surprised to see Twilight spying on her from a nearby bush. Twilight tries to get Starlight to consider choosing someone else, including DJ Pon-3, Derpy Hooves, and Cranky Doodle Donkey, to be her guest at the dinner; an angry Starlight [[WhatTheHellHero accuses Twilight of not trusting her]] and runs off to help Trixie. She brings up the tension between the alicorn and the magician, with Trixie admitting that most of her actions toward Twilight were DrivenByEnvy -- Twilight is [[TheAce so good at everything]] that Trixie is compelled to find just one thing to do better. Starlight points out that Trixie is an excellent stage magician, and the latter admits that she's not skilled enough to perform a trick perfected by the great Hoofdini: the "Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive," which involves shooting oneself out of a cannon directly into the mouth of a hungry manticore, only to appear unharmed in a box nearby. Starlight offers to become Trixie's assistant and use a teleportation spell to help with the trick, but then realizes that she can't perform in the show that night because of her dinner, and is visibly upset when Trixie laments this fact.
12
13At the dinner, Twilight nervously introduces DJ Pon-3, Derpy Hooves, and Cranky Doodle Donkey to an annoyed Celestia, with Starlight nowhere to be seen. The alicorn runs into town to find her pupil, and discovers her helping Trixie prep for her show. While Twilight and Starlight fight, Trixie brags that the latter chose to help her with the show as opposed to attending the dinner with Celestia, and she has therefore finally beaten Twilight at something. A shocked Starlight [[WasItAllALie asks if Trixie just befriended her to get back at Twilight]], and in the heat of the moment, the magician agrees, though she quickly explains that she has developed a genuine connection with her. Starlight runs out in tears, and Twilight is prepared to give Trixie a tongue-lashing -- only to discover Trixie crying herself as she [[ImplausibleDeniability claims that she's]] [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial in no way at all upset for losing her first friend ever]]. Later, a decidedly less-than-enthused Trixie introduces the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive while Starlight watches from a nearby hill. Twilight approaches her pupil and admits that she was wrong to try to control Starlight, suggesting that she give Trixie a second chance. At the last second, Starlight rushes backstage and warps Trixie from the manticore's mouth, completing the trick to a thrilled audience. Backstage, Twilight sincerely compliments Trixie on a job well done, and the magician admits that she couldn't have done it without her "great and powerful assistant... and best friend" Starlight. All has ended happily... [[TheStinger except for the dinner party]], where Celestia is still waiting for Twilight and growing increasingly frustrated by Cranky's invasive questions.
14
15[[RunningGag Cue credits music]] [[{{Pastiche}} in the style of a Scott Joplin piano rag]].
16
17----
18!!Tropes:
19
20* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: During his magically-induced MotorMouth moment, Big Mac recounts "Annie Apple awoke and accidentally ate an auburn azalea."
21* AesopAmnesia:
22** This [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E22WhatAboutDiscord isn't the first time]] Twilight doesn't trust an unreliable former bad guy, to the point of fouling up the latter's attempts to make friends. (Two unreliable ex-villains in this case -- Trixie being the less reliable, if how she addresses Twilight is any indication.)
23** Twilight isn't [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E5MagicDuel quite as forgiving of Trixie]] as she thinks she is.
24** Trixie, in turn, doesn't seem particularly grateful for being freed from the [[ArtifactOfDoom Alicorn Amulet]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E5MagicDuel in their last encounter]].
25** Twilight has also forgotten [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E2TheCrystallingPart2 the advice Spike told her at the end of the Crystaling fiasco]] about letting your students have their space to make decisions for themselves. When she eventually re-learns it, she even tells Starlight this word for word near the end of the episode.
26** It's implied Fluttershy was scared of the Manticore [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E2ElementsOfHarmony though in the pilot]] she was the only member of the Mane Six not to be afraid of "Manny Roar". [[https://twitter.com/TheBiggestJim/status/726458082709004288 According to the show staff]] [[DeliberateFlawRetcon she was actually horrified at seeing it chained up.]][[invoked]]
27* AlliterativeName: The trick that Trixie wants to perform is the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive.
28* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Why Trixie is so frustrated with Twilight; she feels like Twilight is better than her at everything.
29* AndIMustScream: Inverted in practice, but played straight in spirit. Starlight casts a spell on Big Macintosh to make him more talkative, much to his horror. He even yells, "Make it stop!" when he realizes he can't do anything about it.
30* ArtEvolution:
31** Though Trixie's design was already subtly non-standard when she debuted (she has one highlight in each eye rather than the standard two), this episode gives her a slight increase in uniqueness, with less-detailed irises and a long horn that matches Twilight's.
32** The manticore seen in Trixie's show differs in appearance from the one seen in "Friendship Is Magic, part 2", in that it has shorter ears, [[BigOlEyebrows bushier eyebrows]], and a pair of horns (although it may just be a form of subspecies or sexual dimorphism).
33** Rainbow Dash's "freakout face" really stands out for being so detailed and expressive.
34* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Trixie wouldn't be able to wear her cannonball helmet at all without having a hole in it for her unicorn horn. But given the way it still fits on her head, it seems to be making her horn bend into the helmet which is not a good thing as unicorn horns would not even be that flexible.
35* ArtShift: Trixie's pastel poster almost looks psychedelic the way it clashes with the rest of the background.
36* TheAtoner: Trixie realizes what her manipulation has brought her, and apologizes to Starlight.
37* BeAllMySinsRemembered: Trixie and Starlight engage in some HeroicSelfDeprecation about their pasts as villains.
38* BecomingTheMask: Trixie really found herself liking Starlight, despite originally approaching her to show up Twilight.
39* BigSisterInstinct: Twilight feels the need to be protective of Starlight from being influenced by Trixie and later, when Trixie and Starlight have a falling out, she tells Starlight that she should make up with Trixie.
40* BothSidesHaveAPoint: More like three sides, but Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie each had their own reasons for behaving as they did in this episode, and none of them were completely right or wrong.
41** Twilight shouldn't have been so controlling over Starlight, but her reasons for not trusting Trixie were well-founded, and were [[ProperlyParanoid proven to be true]]. (And there are reasons for keeping Starlight Glimmer on a short leash as well.)
42** Starlight was right about Twilight not trusting her judgment or her friends, but she was wrong to blow her off without telling her and brag about it before being caught.
43** Trixie was right about others not completely forgiving her or trusting her even when she tried to change; but her behavior towards Twilight shows just why it is that she doesn't get much trust. She and Starlight connected spontaneously at first, but Trixie ''immediately'' turned it into a plot to get back at Twilight -- and then [[SayingTooMuch blurted that out out right in front of Starlight Glimmer]].
44* BuffySpeak: According to Rainbow, Spitfire is the only "[[DepartmentofRedundancyDepartment Wonderbolt-iest pony in the Wonderbolts.]]"
45* TheBusCameBack:
46** After a rather lengthy absence from the series, not counting the appearance of her counterpart in the ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestria Girls]]'' films, and a background appearance in last season's finale, the Great and Powerful Trixie returns in a major role, then promptly leaves again. {{Justified|Trope}} because she is still a traveling magician living out of her wagon.
47** Manticores haven't been mentioned since the second half of the series premiere.
48* CallBack:
49** When Trixie mentions her wagon is messy after spending a long time on the road, Starlight responds with:
50--->'''Starlight:''' Maybe I can help? I'm ''pretty'' good at organizing things. Magic props, [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E1TheCutieMapPart1 brainwashed crowds]]...
51** When Starlight tells Trixie that she is better at magic. Trixie's response?
52--->'''Trixie:''' [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E5MagicDuel Only when I'm wearing a soul-sucking evil amulet.]]
53* CaptainObvious: "And the knives... are sharp! Always be careful with knives!" Really, Twilight? Starlight might think they are ''soft as feathers'' and touch them.
54* CartesianKarma: The sole truly evil things Trixie has ever done were while she was under the influence of the [[ArtifactOfDoom Alicorn Amulet]], which turned her into a megalomaniac. Nonetheless, the inhabitants of Ponyville (including Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship herself) are still distrustful of her despite the regrets she expressed.
55* ChangingClothesIsAFreeAction: Rarity magically dresses behind a privacy screen while saying ''one'' sentence.
56* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: When you first hear Twilight saying she found a friend for Starlight, you almost think it's going to be something imaginary or a CompanionCube... The way DJ Pon-3 is lost in the music, there isn't much of a difference.
57* ComedicSociopathy: Starlight still has a bit to learn about boundaries and ethics regarding the use of her powers.
58* CommonalityConnection: The first pony Starlight is able to bond with on her own is a stranger she meets at the spa, and they bond over their respective troubled pasts.
59-->'''Starlight:''' ''[to Trixie]'' You're the first pony I've met who has any idea how I feel!
60* ContinuityNod:
61** Bulk Biceps is still working at the spa as seen in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E3CastleSweetCastle Castle Sweet Castle]]".
62** Cranky still has his new toupee from Steven Magnet that he got in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E9SliceOfLife Slice of Life]]".
63** DJ Pon-3 listens to the cello dubstep that she and Octavia made.
64** Another manticore appears in the show.
65* CringeComedy: Twilight embarrassingly trying to sustain the conversation at the dinner with an annoyed Princess Celestia and three oblivious guests is quite cringe-worthy.
66* CrossingTheBurntBridge: "The Humble and Penitent Trixie's Equestrian Apology Tour".
67* CucumberFacial: Both Starlight and Trixie meet at the spa while having a facial with cucumbers. Starlight is aiming at reducing her stress from not making any new friends. The mud mask and towel around the head temporarily hide Trixie's identity.
68* DeadpanSnarker: It's a side of Starlight's personality that is only beginning to show up in season 6, but she can be both very snarky and very deadpan in her delivery, like when saying hello to Twilight's "bush friend".
69-->'''Starlight Glimmer:''' ''[to Twilight]'' Great. Thanks for asking in a completely not creepy way.
70* DeathGlare: Applejack gives a scathing glare to Starlight after she uses a spell to talk eloquently on [[TheQuietOne Big Macintosh]] and causes him to freak out. Never mess with the Apple family, indeed.
71* DidntSeeThatComing: Starlight is surprised that the new friend she met at the spa is someone that Twilight has an unpleasant history with.
72* DiggingYourselfDeeper: When Trixie reveals that she originally only talked to Starlight to get back at Twilight, she tries to recover, only to say that she really felt a genuine connection after using Starlight -- and then adding in that "beating Twilight Sparkle is a bonus!". Trixie, for her part, [[LampshadeHanging recognizes that she's only making herself sound worse]].
73* TheDissenterIsAlwaysRight: Twilight disapproves of Starlight befriending another former bad-pony, [[MilesGloriosus the Great and Powerful Trixie]], suspecting that Trixie might be manipulating Starlight for her own ends. Starlight eventually gets fed up with Twilight's meddling and calls her out on being so suspicious of Trixie. Twilight is suitable ashamed--and then Trixie lets slip that she really ''did'' just befriend Starlight for the sole purpose of getting back at Twilight. (Although she [[BecomingTheMask grew to genuinely appreciate her bond with Starlight]].) It's an odd case where Twilight the dissenter is [[BothSidesHaveAPoint both right and wrong]]: Twilight still apologizes to Starlight for trying so hard to control her, while Trixie apologizes to Starlight for living down to Twilight's low expectations of her.
74* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: At least two examples:
75** Twilight's suspicious behavior towards Trixie makes her look like a helicopter-parent that doesn't want her daughter to fall in with a bad crowd.
76** The reaction by Mrs. Cake to Starlight's cake, where she rants about the fact that it's better than her's but made in a fraction of the time comes across as a joke that wouldn't be out of place in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''.
77* DoubleStandard: Starlight is upset at Twilight for not accepting Trixie and trying to hinder their friendship, but doesn't mind what Trixie originally did to provoke such treatment in the first place.
78* DrivenByEnvy: Slightly; Trixie reveals to Starlight that she's jealous of Twilight becoming a princess and eventually reveals she was using Starlight to show up Twilight but did come to like having Starlight as a friend. When her actions were eventually revealed, she tries to put on the usual bravado but it's clear [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone she knows what she did was wrong and that it (almost) cost her a genuine friendship]].
79* DudeNotFunny: When Twilight instructs her to make a new friend, Starlight jokingly suggests magically enslaving the citizens of Ponyville and forcing them to be her friends. Twilight is not amused, and immediately chastises her for it. Though later Starlight and Trixie are able to share a laugh over the same joke.
80* EasilyForgiven: Averted -- Twilight is very distrustful of Trixie, and as an unfortunate result, doesn't trust Starlight either. This leads to the both of them angrily telling Twilight off. Played straight in that Starlight comes to Trixie's rescue near the end of her act after Twilight convinces her to give her a second chance.
81* EatenAlive: The climax of Trixie's new show, the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive, has the magician appear to be this, only to show up unhurt. Trixie mentions it's only been done once before by Hoofdini, and notes that even she lacks the magical prowess to pull it off without assistance.
82* FacePalm:
83** Starlight facehoofs upon noticing that she offered to help Trixie with her spectacle tonight, just at the same time she's supposed to have dinner with Twilight and Celestia.
84** Trixie facehoofs when she realizes she's been [[DiggingYourselfDeeper digging herself deeper]] by saying that beating Twilight is just a bonus.
85* FaintInShock: Fluttershy faints when it looks like Trixie has gotten herself eaten by the manticore.
86* FirstFriend: The reason Trixie takes being "back to a solo show" so hard is because Starlight was the first friend she ever had.
87* FreakOut:
88** Big Mac, after Starlight causes him to speak more than usual with her magic.
89** Starlight has a minor one when her initial attempts at making friends go bust.
90* GratuitousForeignLanguage: Trixie's [[https://derpibooru.org/1143852 ad posters]] appear to be written (somewhat illegibly) with Greek letters.
91* TheGreatWhodini: Equestria has an equivalent to Creator/HarryHoudini in "The Great Hoofdini", who is Trixie's biggest inspiration.
92* HeartSymbol: Angel Bunny, of all critters, seems to like Starlight enough to produce plenty of little pink hearts.
93* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Twilight is worried that Trixie may be up to her old [[{{Pun}} tricks]]. While Trixie is a bit {{Heel}}-ish, her intentions with Starlight did eventually turn genuine.
94* HumanCannonball: The "Moonshot" part of the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive involves a pony being shot out of a circus cannon.
95* {{Hypocrite}}: Trixie is well-aware that Twilight hasn't really forgiven her, despite claims to the contrary, and needles her about it. When Twilight finally admits outright she considers Trixie a ToxicFriendInfluence, Trixie excitedly shouts, "Ah-ha!"
96* HypocriteHasAPoint: Twilight is definitely being hypocritical for forgiving Starlight but not Trixie. Yet, she may be correct on how both of their past history of evil could lead to a ToxicFriendInfluence, and is rather inclined to believe Trixie is ''still'' a jerk given the first thing she does upon reunion is engage in PassiveAggressiveKombat with Twilight. Indeed, it turns out that Trixie initially became friends with Starlight to get back at Twilight.
97* IconicOutfit: Trixie reintroduces herself to Twilight wearing the same RobeAndWizardHat from her previous appearances.
98* ImplausibleDeniability:
99** Twilight specifically denies remembering who said what when Starlight brought Trixie to the castle. Starlight doesn't buy it for a minute.
100** After chasing off Starlight, Trixie tries to go into her usual bravado claiming to Twilight she was glad to be rid of Starlight. Though her breaking tone and eyes welling up with tears say otherwise.
101--->'''Trixie:''' Thank you, ''Princess'' Twilight, for getting rid of that annoying pony who wanted to be my ''first'' friend. I am NOT sad ''at all''. I definitely don't feel like my heart is breaking into a million pieces!
102* ImpossiblyAwesomeMagicTrick: The Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive, wherein a magician shoots themselves out of a cannon into a manticore's mouth and gets swallowed whole, only to reappear in a nearby box, unhurt. Averted in Trixie's execution, as Starlight Glimmer's genuine (and very powerful) magic is used, but ambiguously played straight by Hoofdini. Hoofdini gets extra points for the fact that his performance has the manticore ''chewing'', while Trixie's swallows her whole.
103* INeedToGoIronMyDog: Twilight's pretext for walking out from the dinner with Celestia and her guests, to go looking for Starlight Glimmer, isn't too convincing.
104-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' If you'll excuse me, I need to check the kitchen. Maybe she got lost among the... uh... ARTICHOKES!
105* {{Irony}}: What do Starlight and Trixie have in common? A lot. They feel like misunderstood outcasts among the residents of Ponyville and each of them swore to take their own personal revenge on Twilight Sparkle because they were still stuck in the past with their anger and hate towards her... even though Starlight and Trixie were the ones who had transgressed against Twilight Sparkle first.
106* JustJokingJustification: The ColdOpen ends with Starlight giving one of these.
107-->'''Starlight:''' New friends? Hey, maybe I'll just force friendships by magically enslaving the entire population of Ponyville!\
108'''Twilight:''' ''Starlight!''\
109'''Starlight:''' Kidding! ''[nervous laugh]''
110* TheKlutz: Derpy is back in true form, flying into a sign.
111* LampshadeHanging: During TheStinger, Cranky Doodle asks Princess Celestia how she gets her hair to constantly move and wave. Celestia lets out [[NeverHeardThatOneBefore an annoyed sigh]].
112* LargeHam: Trixie, as usual, hams it up a bit, mostly in Twilight's castle. Her ham noticeably tones down while she's depressed onstage.
113* LeeroyJenkins: Starlight can be a little quick on the draw with her magic here, like at the beginning where Twilight is trying to tell her to set the table ''without'' it, only for her to hear "set the table" and magic the silverware into place.
114* MeaningfulEcho: When Trixie first sees Twilight again, she sneeringly calls her "princess". At the end of the episode, when Twilight congratulates her on her show, Trixie takes off her hat and genuinely uses the title out of respect and thanks.
115* MeaninglessVillainVictory: Trixie manages to keep Starlight from going to Twilight's dinner with Celestia and cites it as a victory over Twilight since Starlight chose to help her instead. But after Starlight runs off crying, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Trixie realizes that her "win" is meaningless if it costs her a genuine friendship]].
116* {{Metaphorgotten}}: Twilight starts off with the plate being a pony's head, and the spoon the heart. When she tries to make a metaphor about knives, she goes into CaptainObvious territory.
117-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' And the knives... are sharp! Always be careful with knives!
118* MobileShrubbery: Twilight tails Trixie and Starlight using a shrub she moves with her. She also hides DJ Pon-3 in another shrub.
119* MondegreenGag: Cranky mishears "Starlight Glimmer" as "nosehair trimmers".
120* MonochromePast: Trixie's flashback of Hoofdini is done as a black-and-white film reel.
121* MotorMouth: Starlight invokes this on Big Macintosh with a magical spell. It freaks him out and Applejack isn't pleased one bit.
122* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Trixie is overcome with regret and self-loathing when she realizes her petty scheming cost her the first real friend she ever had, which leads to Twilight Sparkle herself realizing her mistrust of Starlight and Trixie is actually hurting them, and preventing Starlight's growth as her student.
123* NaiveNewcomer: Starlight Glimmer is definitely new to Ponyville, and it shows. That, combined with her lack of any social skills, gives her a hard time making new friends with the Ponyville citizens.
124* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Hoofdini, a reference to Creator/HarryHoudini.
125* NonSequiturThud: Trixie gives one when she reappears inside the magic box after completing the magic trick, and then faints.
126-->'''Trixie:''' Behold, [[{{Spoonerism}} the Pate and Growerful Triskie]]!
127* NoSocialSkills: Starlight Glimmer's social awkwardness is in full display. She doesn't know who the Wonderbolts are, which freaks out Rainbow Dash, and she scares Big Macintosh away by casting a magic spell on him that turns him into a MotorMouth. Her reason? She can't converse with a pony who doesn't talk much. The only one she manages to get along with is ''[[SpoiledBrat Angel Bunny]]''.
128* NotHelpingYourCase: Trixie wasn't exactly putting in a lot of effort to appear non-antagonistic to Twilight.
129* NotSoAboveItAll: Celestia is clearly annoyed at being left alone with Derpy Hooves, DJ Pon-3 and Cranky Doodle, especially when Cranky asks how her mane keeps flowing.
130* OhCrap: The moment Starlight describes her new friend as "great" and "powerful", Twilight looks worried about where this is going.
131* OohMeAccentsSlipping: For a brief moment under the Talking Spell, Big Macintosh sounds like Time Turner. Maybe it's a side-effect of Starlight's spell.
132* ParrotExposition:
133-->'''Starlight:''' Twilight, guess what! I made a new friend.\
134'''Twilight:''' That's fantastic news!\
135'''Starlight:''' She's great!\
136'''Twilight:''' ''[happy]'' Great!\
137'''Starlight:''' She's powerful!\
138'''Twilight:''' ''[concerned]'' [[OhCrap Powerful?]]
139* PickACard: The floor of Trixie's wagon is littered with many cards, all of them aces, implying she cheats when she performs this trick.
140* PieInTheFace: Starlight accidentally drops the big cake she created through magic on top of Mrs. Cake. Pinkie Pie [[YouTasteDelicious can't resist tasting it]] nonetheless, and says it's delicious.
141* PopCulturalOsmosisFailure: Starlight has never heard of Equestria's premiere aerial team.
142-->'''Starlight Glimmer:''' I guess my first question would be "What's a Wonderbolt?"\
143'''Rainbow Dash:''' ''{{GASP}}!'' You've never heard of the Wonderbolts? [[RhetoricalQuestionBlunder Where have you been??]]\
144'''Starlight Glimmer:''' ''[{{mirthless laughter}}]'' Enslaving villages, I guess.
145* ProperlyParanoid: Twilight is right to be suspicious; Trixie really is using her friendship with Starlight to show her up, at least at first.
146* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: {{Deconstructed}}. Twilight is distrustful of Trixie for her past wrongdoing despite having forgiven Starlight for far worse. Starlight [[WhatTheHellHero calls Twilight out for how unfair this is]] and starts to doubt the genuineness of her own forgiveness. Despite their concerns about Trixie proving correct, Twilight realizes it still unfairly hurt Starlight and Trixie by damaging the redeeming relationship they developed and immediately help them reconcile and apologizes.
147* PunBasedTitle: On the phrase "no second chances."
148* ReformedButNotTamed: A key factor for Twilight's distrust of Trixie is that, while she did undergo a HeelFaceTurn to some degree, she ''still'' kind of acts like a low key {{Jerkass}}, with her and Twilight's first interaction upon TheReveal being ''extremely'' passive aggressive. The first time Trixie demonstrates sincere humility for hurting Starlight leads to Twilight taking her redemption at face value.
149* ReformedButRejected: Starlight's overriding fear is that everypony is secretly judging her for her past and not giving her a fair shake. That doesn't actually occur with those ponies she approaches before meeting Trixie, but her nervousness and stress over the idea cause her to make unpleasant mistakes. Trixie also says she suffers this a lot; we even see a few ponies whispering while looking at her just to demonstrate it's not a lie.
150* RememberWhenYouBlewUpASun: Trixie and Starlight never divulge their villainous pasts to each other in full; instead, they bring up details in bits and pieces, with remarkable and maybe unsettling casualness.
151* RhetoricalQuestionBlunder: After Starlight reveals she doesn't know who the Wonderbolts are, a shocked Rainbow Dash goes into this exchange:
152-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Where have you been all this time?\
153'''Starlight Glimmer:''' [[BrutalHonesty Enslaving villages, I guess.]]
154* RuleOfThree:
155** Trixie's long title RunningGag is used three times.
156** Twilight tries introducing Starlight to three different characters (DJ Pon-3, Derpy Hooves, and Cranky Doodle Donkey) to make friends with instead of Trixie. Twilight eventually invites all three of them to dinner.
157* RummageSaleReject: When Starlight tells Rarity she needs a new outfit by tonight, Rarity suggests a hat from the clearance bin. Starlight tries one on and promptly declines.
158* RunningGag: Trixie saying that the long title of her new show is "a working title".
159* SayingTooMuch: Trixie when she accidentally lets slip the reason she originally tried to befriend Starlight was to use her to finally upstage Twilight at something.
160* SelfDeprecation:
161** Trixie when she starts her show after her manipulation is revealed to Starlight.
162--->'''Trixie:''' ''[in an un-enthused tone]'' Come one, come all. Come and see the pathetic and friendless Trixie's "Way-To-Go-Dumb-Dumb-You-Really-Messed-It-Up-This-Time" Repentance Tour.\
163''[crowd murmurs in confusion]''\
164'''Trixie:''' [[RunningGag It's a working title!]]
165** Starlight engages in this almost constantly throughout the episode, nonchalantly making joking remarks about her past transgressions.
166* ShoutOut
167** The poster for Trixie's new spectacle is inspired by [[http://magicpostergallery.com/MagicPosterGallery/Bernardo.html a 1921 magic show advertisement poster]].
168** For that matter, the ball Trixie holds in the poster looks almost exactly like a Manga/DragonBall.
169** Fans are saying that the animators took notes from ''WebAnimation/PonyDotMov'' when they made Rainbow Dash's "freakout face", which is much too expressive and similar to what you find in the aforementioned video series to be a mere coincidence.
170* SomethingWeForgot: At the end of the episode, we see Celestia, Cranky, DJ Pon-3 and Derpy still at the dinner waiting for Twilight to get back.
171* StealthPun:
172** On excitedly saying "Spitfire!", Rainbow Dash accidentally spits in Starlight's face.
173** Trixie ''Lulamoon'', a pony with a crescent moon cutie mark, performs the ''Moonshot'' Manticore Mouth Dive.
174* SuperSpeed: Rainbow Dash again demonstrates her ludicrous flying speed, breaking the sound barrier to go find Spitfire. This is the first time we see her do this without generating a Rainboom so she must be getting better.
175%%
176%% SuspiciouslySpecifcDenial: Trixie's speech after she and Starlight have their falling out is not an example of this trope, but of ImplausibleDeniability.
177%%
178* TechnicallyASmile: The "grin" Twilight puts on when Trixie quotes her ExactWords on her. It's obviously forced and doesn't alter her still-frowning eyes.
179* TeleportationSickness: Starlight's teleportation spell to save Trixie from the manticore's gullet works, but it leaves Trixie frizzled, dizzy and feeling faint.
180* TookALevelInKindness: Trixie's breakdown over losing her first friend proves to Twilight that she has started to learn how to be a nicer pony. Trixie further demonstrates this by doffing her hat to Twilight and ''sincerely'' thanking her for a compliment.
181* ToxicFriendInfluence: Twilight fears that Trixie will harm Starlight's on-going reformation, and she's right. Trixie manipulates Starlight into being her assistant instead of going to Twilight's dinner just so she can one-up Twilight in something.
182* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: From the first preview clip for the episode, it's clear that the "fellow formerly-bad pony" mentioned in the synopsis is Trixie.
183* TraitorShot: Trixie's scene at the castle is loaded with them. She seems to be deliberately invoking it just to mess with Twilight.
184* {{Troll}}: Trixie turns several of Twilight's cutlery and napkins into a sculpture of herself, clearly just to tick Twilight off. Trixie's friendship with Starlight as a whole prioritizes this over being a good friend, befriending Starlight in order to rub it in Twilight's face as the main goal. Unfortunately, Starlight is deeply burnt by Trixie's selfishness when the truth comes out and Trixie realizes Starlight was taking their friendship seriously when she was not, which brings about genuine change at the end of the episode.
185* {{Tsundere}}: Trixie is a classic Harsh type, outwardly boastful and haughty, inwardly friendly and insecure, and using the former to cover up the latter.
186* TwinkleSmile: While Twilight is talking in hushed tones to Starlight, Trixie gives them a wide smile that actually twinkles. Her expression is not reassuring at all.
187* {{Understatement}}: Starlight tells Trixie she used to be "a tiny bit... ''[{{beat}}]'' completely and utterly evil."
188* UngratefulBitch: Even though Twilight saved Trixie from the Alicorn Amulet's corrupting influence in "Magic Duel", Trixie admits still being jealous of her, and has no problem going ahead with her scheme to "one-up" Twilight by stealing her student from her.
189* TheUnreveal: We never ''do'' hear Celestia answer Cranky's question about why her mane always moves the way it does.
190* TheUnsmile: As Trixie expresses her "gratitude" to Twilight for reforming her, the two both exchange very forced and snide grins.
191* VillainousBSOD: After her manipulation is revealed, Trixie realizes her manipulation cost her a genuine friendship with Starlight. Thus, when she does her show, she has virtually no drive in doing her magical act which almost gets her eaten. Luckily Starlight has came back, with some prompting from Twilight, to save her which (hopefully) leads to a genuine HeelFaceTurn.
192%% TheVoiceless is a series-wide character trait; it doesn't apply for just one episode.
193* WasItReallyWorthIt: When Trixie reveals she was just using Starlight and sees her run off crying. Twilight tells her she "won" and hopes she's happy with herself. It's pretty obvious Trixie finds her little victory very hollow.
194* WatchOutForThatTree: Derpy gets distracted by waving at Twilight while flying, and smashes her muzzle against a hanging sign.
195* WhamShot: The return of Trixie.
196-->'''Trixie:''' Hello, ''Princess''.
197* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: Starlight's attempts at making friends. In particular, she breaks out the magical manipulation again to make Big Macintosh a MotorMouth. Is this cause for alarm? This is the sort of stuff she used to do, but she has no experience making friends, and hardly any experience interacting with ponies at all without manipulating them.
198%%* WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises: Rainbow Dash.
199* YouTasteDelicious: Pinkie Pie manages a completely platonic example, eating some of Starlight's cake off of Mrs. Cake's head.

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