Twilight Sparkle is reconnecting with old friends and making amends, Trixie being last on the list. She is dismayed by Trixie's pit of loathing self-misery, being Willfully Weak with a Power Limiter ribbon on her horn to avoid hurting others. Trixie's self-esteem is practically non-existent, and she is toiling away on the Pinkie rock farm.
After passing out from exhaustion, Twilight convinces Trixie that she is working and being too hard on herself, and invites her back to Ponyville. Although reluctant, after what she did to others while possessed by the Alicorn Amulet, she agrees. However, their journey takes a turn when their train car crashes off the mountainside and Trixie saves the princess's life.
A dark conspiracy unravels, bringing them closer, and places Trixie into the spotlight like never before.
The fic can be found here
at Fimfiction.net. A sequel titled "Scholar's Mate" has been published, but the last chapter seems to have never been completed by the still active author, leaving it in limbo.
This fanfic supplies examples of:
- All There in the Manual: The Stinger explaining the origins of the adventure is in the "Author's Notes" section at the end of the epilogue.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: Trixie did not initially choose to go on this adventure. In fact, the running theme is that taking charge to resolve matters is thrust upon her.
- The Stinger: Princess Cadence, and her Mook Discord are revealed to be behind it all.
