The light found her buried underneath her covers and her sheets; her head suckled by her pillow and the comfort of her bed wrapped around her like a hug. Twilight drew open a lazy eye and let it trace around her room.

Her room?

Trixie's room. The one Twilight had been using for the past week. Outside, somewhere there were birds singing to the sun, and the sweet, succulent smell of breakfast was gently prodding Twilight's nose, and it was more than enough to draw her to her hooves and venture into the cottage.

On the center of the table was a golden stack of waffles, caressed with syrup, butter, and an assortment of berries. Trixie was standing at the kitchen sink, swinging her hindquarters back and forth, humming a version of "Momma's little filly loves shortnin' bread." She turned and flashed Twilight a gentle smile, before returning to the sink, where she cleaned and scrubbed the dishes.

Quietly, Twilight sat down at the table, and Trixie joined her shortly after, leaning forward with her hooves under her chin and grinning from ear to ear.

"Go on...Try them. They're scrumptious." Trixie grinned. Twilight rolled her eyes, but indeed sliced a portion of the waffles free and slid it into her mouth. Her eyes widened, and Trixie's grin grew. They weren't just scrumptious, they were magnificent! And Trixie knew it. Twilight rolled her eyes and leaned back, giving a playful little shrug.

"...Eh...they're ok...I guess." She said as apathetically as possible. Trixie drew back with an overly dramatic grasp and lifted up on her hindlegs, hooves over her heart, as if she'd been struck.

"LIES! BLASPHMEY! TRIXIE'S WAFFLES ARE THE GREATEST WAFFLES YOU HAVE EVER EATEN, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" The blue mage snarled. Twilight almost- alllllmost apologized....before she noticed the slight hint of a smile twitching at Trixie's lips.

Again, Twilight shrugged and took another bite, looking thoughtful as she rolled the delicious morsel about on her tongue. Her lips twitched into a grin.

"Eh...I dunnoooo...I've had Applejack's. Those were pretty good." She giggled. Trixie frowned and crossed her arms with a snort.

"See if Trixie ever makes breakfast for you again! Trixie's great and amazing waffles are not for the likes of a pony whom cannot appreciate the taste of such delicacies!!" Trixie snarled. Twilight slammed a hoof onto the table and gave a growl.

"Oh yeah? I will have you know, I am an AMAZING cook! I have dined at the castle and with the finest chefs! You want a delicacy? I'll make you the greatest breakfast you've ever had tomorrow! So AMAZING that your head will explode!!" Twilight barked. Trixie rolled her eyes and snickered.

"Trixie will believe it when she tastes it! HUMPH!" The blue mare grinned, sitting down across from Twilight. They both burst into giggles after a few moments and began to indulge in the creamy delight of Trixie's waffly goodness.

"You know, Trixie, it occurs to me, that I've never actually SEEN your show." Twilight said, her mouth full of syrup and waffle. Trixie frowned, perking her ears in curiosity. Nonsense, Twilight had seen it when she entered ponyville. There was the huge crowd and...no wait...it devolved into Trixie humiliating Twilight's friends who dared heckle her. Slowly, Trixie nodded her head. Twilight hadn't ever seen it...

"...Trix-" Twilight began, only to be silenced when Trixie erupted from her seat with a dramatic sway of her arms.

"SILENCE! The great and powerful Trixie, is deciding if she should AWE you with the majesty of her performance! It is a show to explosive to believe! It will leave you stupefied and struggling to understand what you've just witness! Trixie is not sure if Twilight could HANDLE the incredible brilliance of Trixie's MAGIC." Trixie exclaimed.

Twilight stared at Trixie.

Trixie stared at Twilight.

Twilight stared at Trixie.

Trixie stared at Twilight.

"....Gimme five minutes. " Trixie mumbled, and quickly dipped into her room, and shut the door.

Five minutes came and went, slipping into nothingness. Then ten minutes. Then an hour riddled with "Just a minutes" and "Almost dones" From the other side of Trixie's door. Twilight was dozing on the couch when the explosion forced her to jolt upright and wide eyed. There, out of nowhere, with a haze of blueberry smelling mist, was Trixie. Her arms were out stretched, her cape billowed behind her, and her teeth gleamed with an extra super shiny gleam.

"BEHOLD THE WONDEROUS MAGICS, OF THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!!!" The mare shrieked. Twilight tilted her head to one side, watching in wonder, and Trixie frowned. And coughed. And frowned again.

"...AHEM..." She snorted. Twilight gasped and quickly started clapping, which resulted in a warm smile.
"THANK YOU, THANK YOU! PLEASE, HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, PLEASE, PLEASE, TRIXIE IS AWARE SHE IS AMAZING, BUT TRY TO CONTROL YOURSELVES!" Trixie barked. Twilight sighed. What had she gotten herself into?

"Trixie has been from one corner of this world, to another, through cities and villages, and NEVER has Trixie come across such a spectacular place as THIS town! Trixie is VERY glad to be here, and VERY thankful you get to watch her perform! As a world traveled master magician, Trixie has heard stories, and tales, and experienced the unbelievable! Trixie battled with the Leviathan of Aquastria, discovered buried treasure in Saddle Arabia, defeated an Ursa Major in the Green Mountains and even rescued a flock of Breezies from a tyrannical dictator! Yes, Trixie knows all, and tells all, and for TODAY, you lucky ponies, get to hear one of Trixie's magnificent tales!! Trixie, shall tell the tale of...THE BUZZARDS LAST MEAL!"

Twilight tilted her head. The Buzzards last meal? Trixie was beaming a grin and waved her hooves- as she did, the corners of Twilight's vision grew dark, darker and darker still, until Trixie was the only thing she could see. Illusion magic, of course. Twilight was impressed at the transition of the spell, and how seamlessly it occurred with so little effect.

"On an adventure in the neighara desert, it was a hot, hot, hot day. "Trixie explained, spreading her arms, and as she talked, sand began to blow over Twilight's hooves, and the room started to heat in temperature.

"It was HOT. How hot, you ask? Well, the woodchuck wouldn't chuck wood, the spider wouldn't sit down beside her, the sheep wouldn't go near the meadow, and the cow said "Nu uh!" to the corn. Trixie's point has been made. It was a HOT day...and on this hot day- there were no creatures to be seen ANYWHERE....Except one. And that one, was the buzzard. A large bird, most notable for it's colors! Oh, yes, very very strange! You see, this buzzard had bright yellow feathers and a bright pink beak! ...Wait...wait no that's not right. It had bright red feathers and a bright blue beak! Hold on, that isn't it either. ERmm, was it green feathers and a purple beak? HUMPH. YOU THERE! What color was the buzzard?" Trixie shouted, pointing a hoof at Twilight. Twilight frowned. How in Equestria was SHE supposed to know what this imaginary buzzard looked like? She shrugged. Trixie frowned.

"Trixie has asked you a question! What. Color. Was. The. Buzzard?" She snapped. Twilight was at a loss. What was she supposed to say? Was it a riddle? A game? Slowly, Twilight bit at her lower lip and shook her head.

"Um...purple...and blue" Twilight asked nervously. Trixie flashed a mysterious grin, and slowly took her hat off, and placed it on the floor in front of Twilight.

"That's right, that's right! It was a purple and blue buzzard!!" Trixie announced, and lifted her hat. To Twilight's complete and utter amazement- there it was. A semi transparent illusion of a buzzard, with bright purple feathers and a big blue beak. Twilight was transfixed and her mouth dropped open. Trixie had conjured an illusion of Twilight's specific words. Even if she clearly had the spell memorized before hoof, and did a color swap, this was quite impressive.

"Buzzard flew rooooound and roooound and roooound . " Trixie explained, and the little buzzard illusion slowly started to swoop around in the room.

"You see, it was breakfast time, and Buzzard was quite hungry. He was lookin' for something, or someone to eat! Well after a short search, Buzzard spied a little rabbit poking his head out of his burrow in the ground! The rabbit was white...err...no, pink? Green? Ugh. Trixie is horrible with colors. YOU, there! What color was the rabbit?!" Trixie barked, pointing at Twilight again. This time, Twilight's grin stretched out so hard it made her face sore.

"Yellow!" Twilight giggled, and to her merriment, Trixie placed her hat on the floor again, and when she lifted it up, there was an adorable little yellow rabbit peering up at her. Twilight squealed and clomped her hooves against the floor, but Trixie's story continued.

"Well, Buzzard, quicker than a flash, shot down and tried to grab that little rabbit but- rabbit was quicker still. The bunny shot back into his hole and Buzzard landed right next to it.

"MMmmmm, Hello Rabbit...why doncha come out and play for a while?" Buzzard squawked.

"Nope! Not today! Too hot outside! Hot up there, hot down here, hot everywhere, ain't goin' no where!" The bunny squeaked. Well, besides it being hot...the bunny knew about the buzzards reputation, and wasn't about to be fooled into leaving his home- but Buzzard was more than a little crafty.

"Oh, if it's the heat that's bothering, you I can help. You see, I fly up high, where the coconuts grow...way up high, where the cool breezes blows!" Buzzard sang. He flapped his wings once, then twice, and suddenly..."

Trixie grinned. Twilight was watching in awe, and the blue pony placed her hat to the floor. When she lifted it up, there was a coconut float underneath- a long red and white straw sticking out of it, ice bubbling all over it, foam and whipped cream and a cherry on top.

Yes, thats right, there was a huge coconut float sitting next to Buzzard. "Just the thing to beat the heat!" Buzzard said, and that's all the little rabbit needed. He climbed up out of his hole and grabbed hold of the little float and started drinking it down. MMMMMMMMM it was good!" Trixie announced. While the little illusion bunny was drinking the float, Trixie placed her hat upon the ground and lifted it- revealing a second float, one that she nudged towards Twilight. Curiously, Twilight reached out and took the soda float in her hooves. It felt...real?

She pulled the straw to her lips.

It ...was...real? IT WAS A REAL FLOAT?! Twilight's eyed bulged out as the cool, creamy treat trickled down her throat. Impossible. How could that be possible?! It was an illusion! It was supposed to be an illusion! How had Trixie done it?! Trixie, however, continued right along with her story, not breaking her character in the slightest, even though it tickled her to no end how absolutely astonished Twilight seemed.

"Want to go for a little ride, Rabbit? Nice and cool up in the air..." Buzzard squawked. The rabbit couldn't say no. Not now that his lips were wrapped around the straw of that delicious float. Why not? He climbed up on Buzzard's back and the two of them took off. Up, up, up into the sky they went, higher and higher. Buzzard circled around once....then twice....and the rabbit closed his eyes. It was so wonderfully cool, and relaxing and refreshing, just as Buzzard said! Twilight could feel the breeze over her face and whipping back her mane. It was WONDERFUL!

And then...Buzzard grinned. "Time for a landing, Rabbit!" He said. Rabbit didn't notice that wicked smile and kept drinking that wonderful float- just as Twilight did.

The little illusion buzzard quickly pulled into a steep dive-bombing dive! He shot towards the ground at a tremendous speed- and pulled up juuuuuuuust at the last minute." Trixie announced, and let Twilight watch the little bunny slip from Buzzard's back and go crashing to the ground. The room went dark. Trixie disappeared, as did the sand and the heat, the buzzard and the bunny. Nothing but darkness.

"And that...was buzzards breakfast." Trixie's voice whispered.

"...About lunch time...Buzzard was getting hungry, again. He'd been lucky that morning, and he decided to try his luck again!" Sand blew over Twilight's hooves and the heat returned, sweltering down on the poor thing. The Buzzard reappeared, purple feathers, blue beak, and circling in the 'sky' above Twilight's head.

"Well...after a little bit of searching, there was an adorable squirrel that poked his head out of his tree. This squirrel, too, was oddly colored...he was um....um...uh...Lil help?" Trixie asked. Twilight gasped, ears perked and a wide smile twisted across her face.

"Red! No, green!" Twilight barked. Trixie grinned and placed her hat down on the floor. When she lifted it up, there was an adorable, lime green squirrel standing in front of Twilight. Tail all twisting and flickering. Well, when Buzzard saw that squirrel, he shot down and landed on the branch- but Squirrel was inside already.

"Hey, Squirrel...why dontcha-'" Buzzard began, but the squirrel was smarter than that crafty old buzzard.

"Not. Interested. " Said the squirrel, and Twilight giggled, when the squirrel held up a little paw to shoo the buzzard away. But Buzzard wasn't about to give up. Ooooh no- this little squirrel was lunch...Buzzard did his little trick, pulling out a delicious coconut float (One Twilight expected would go to another member of the audience if there were any other ponies watching)

Well, that little Illusion squirrel couldn't help himself when he saw the sight of that delicious looking coconut float. He scampered out onto the tree and grabbed the glass, suckling on it reeeeeeal tight. Buzzard grinned.

"Say...Squirrel...you know an even better way to beat the heat? How about a ride?" Buzzard asked quietly.

"NO! DON'T DO IT! IT'S A TRAP!" Twilight screamed suddenly. Her cheeks turned crimson and she bit her lower lip- but Trixie just grinned.

"O, ok..." Said Squirrel, climbing up on Buzzards back. The two went into the sky- and the same familiar breeze rippled past Twilight's mane. She sighed, sipping nervously on her float, while Buzzard circled around, and around...

"Headin' down for a laaaanding, Squirrel!" Buzzard explained- but Twilight didn't see anymore. She squeezed her eyes shut and waited.

All she heard next, was "And Buzzard, had Squirrel for lunch. "

The room was dark again, complete and totally black when she opened her eyes. No Buzzard. No Squirrel. No sand or sun. Just the darkness. And Trixie's Voice.

"Now, you may be wondering how Trixie knows of this tale, and this buzzard? Well, Trixie DID say she dug for buried treasure in the desert and that is just what she was doing! Trixie discovered MANY precious, priceless jewels in her search!" Trixie explained, and pulled of her hat. Reaching into it, the blue mage casually tossed something into the audience.

Candy!

Red 'gems' that were atomic fireballs. 'Emeralds' that were green jolly ranchers, Black liquorish, grape jaw breakers, all of it scattering across the floor in front of Twilight, who was rapt with attention.

"But while Trixie was busy, Trixie also noticed this nefarious Buzzard, and Trixie decided he needed to be taught a lesson. So that evening...when Buzzard came around again...Trixie was waiting for him!

Buzzard reappeared- circling around and around the sky. Sand rippled over Twilight's hooves. The sun was hot. The float was gone, and there was nothing but the Buzzard flying in the sky. Trixie had vanished. But there...there she was. An illusion of Trixie- tiny and standing in the middle of a small 'desert' watching Buzzard flying around.

Eventually, the Buzzard spotted Trixie and went down to investigate. Trixie seemed much much smaller, than normal- the size of a foal.

"Hello little pony! My goodness, what are you doing so far from home?" Asked Buzzard. Trixie looked up and sniffled quietly. "I'm lost...c, can you help me find my mommy?" Buzzard grinned an evil grin and nodded his head.

"Well, I think I can help ya, why don'tcha just go ahead and climb onto my back, we'll have a look in the sky!" The Buzzard explained, but before Buzzard could take off, Trixie's illusion vanished, and the regular sized Trixie leapt forward, pouncing the buzzard and holding him by his neck.

"Trixie believes YOU, have been a very naughty bird, and YOU are going to keep your floats, your claws, and your flights, ALL to your self from NOW. ON. " Trixie snarled. Buzzard squealed in surprise, flapping his wings and kicking his feet, but he was no match for a full sized pony. It was that day, that the buzzard learned a lesson- and it is why today, you only find Buzzards that eat dead meat. "

Trixie explained. The buzzard, the squirrel, and the rabbit all reappeared and gave a formal bow in front of Twilight, as did Trixie, flashing her brightest smile. Twilight couldn't help herself. When the lights came back on, and the illusions had all vanished, a minute later, Twilight was still clapping wildly.

"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE, TRIXIE! That was the most amazing story telling I'd ever seen! And the way you blended your magic in with it, making me feel like I was really there! And the float! HOW DID YOU DO THE FLOAT?! That was...that was...m, more! MORE!" Twilight squealed. Trixie's cheeks turned a dark shade of crimson and she casually waved a dismissive hoof.

"Thank you, Thank you, Trixie is AWARE she is great and powerful...b, but Trixie now needs...a...nap..." Trixie mumbled, and stumbled forward suddenly into Twilight's arms.

"What? Trixie are...are you...?" Twilight squeaked, but she already knew the answer. Illusions like the kind Trixie was doing were powerful. Especially doing them on the fly. Especially mixing them all together, with illusions atop illusions layered over other illusions. The candy, the float, telling the story, all while visually animating it ...Trixie had to have been casting, and channeling multiple spells at once. Twilight was in awed. The poor pony had stretched her powers to the limit- over strained herself all on the sake of putting on a show for Twilight.

"A show for me. She was trying to impress me."

Quietly, Twilight helped Trixie into her room. Twilight had never ventured into it, since she'd started staying at the cottage, but here she was in Trixie's inner sanctum, trying to hold up Trixie herself.

There was a huge vanity mirror pressed against the wall, a dressed with a few pictures sitting on it. A small white bed in the corner, and a wardrobe closet against the adjacent wall. There were pictures hanging left and right, older and younger ponies, Twilight assumed were Trixie's family. Slowly, she helped Trixie into bed and drew the covers over her. Trixie shivered and mumbled something quietly, but other than a meek waggle of a hoof- she didn't stir. Twilight frowned. Mana sickness. She could tell instantly. The poor thing was going to be out for a while until her body restored enough magical energy to function again. It was a condition most young unicorns encountered when over using spells for the first time. After a while they would learn to balance it, but it was known to happen to adults too. Especially unicorns that made excessive use of magic. Like Trixie. Every show...she did this for every show, Twilight realized. Twilight's mouth spilled open and she stared at the unconscious unicorn in front of her. Trixie gave it all for her family- she had said. She was sacrificing her health to make money for her family...and now...

She was sacrificing her health for Twilight. Twilight almost felt bad for Trixie- almost... until the hanging portrait on the wall drew every inch of Twilight's attention.

It was a medium sized portrait. Hanging in silence on the wall. It was a painting of shadowy trees in a forest somewhere. There was something about it- something familiar, like she'd been to that place before. Like she'd visited a place in a painting. Twilight's mouth dropped open.

The whole cottage was like a painting.

The place was picture perfect.

No other ponies around.

The food was always perfect, because it was supposed to be.

Run as far as she could but she was right back at Trixie's cottage.

Always sunny. Perfect weather. Everything got silent when Trixie wanted to duel. No squirrels. No wildlife. Twilight stared at the painting, until she realized it was the Everfree forest, she was looking into. It wasn't a painting.

It was a window.

It was right there, in front of Twilight's face the whole time! It was no vexing circle that was keeping her prisoner! It was no horrible curse! It was an enchanted painting that Trixie used to pull Twilight into a world that SHE controlled. How dare she.

HOW! DARE! SHE! Ripped away from her home in the middle of the night, her friends worried sick, no contact with anypony else other than TRIXIE for almost an entire week! Twilight slowly glanced back at Trixie, who tossed feverishly on the bed back and forth. She was sick...

Served her right though...it's what she deserved -And as far as Twilight was concerned, she deserved to go home. The purple unicorn took a deep breath and walked forward, until she could reach up at touch the painting- her hoof disappeared. That was the key.

Twilight leapt forward and vanished into a blinding light.

Author's Note

One more chapter to go!!

(Changed the name of this chapter to "Twilight's Treat" from "Trixie's tragedy" Since both of those make for better titles as they describe the chapters more so.)