Spirit

It was raining outside in Ponyville, the sun already set some time ago. Nearly everyone was inside of their homes at this time of day, doubly so from the weather. All except for one pony whose identity was a mystery. The traveler was presently in a hurry as she heard that a mysterious artifact could grant her magical abilities, and easily obtainable in a local shop. She sprinted her way to this black market area. The traveler was relieved to see the lights were still on, meaning that they were either still open or about to close shop. Either way, she couldn't waste any more time!

Her pace slowed down as she got closer to the door. She practically barged into the shop as she hurriedly entered. Her breathing had grown heavier from the running she did, but this didn't mean the cloaked mare wouldn't be able to catch her breath.

The gray-coated earth pony running the shop looked over to the cloaked mare with a smile. "Why, I was just about to close shop before you came by. May I help you, traveler?" he asked.

The shop itself of course had strange items. But given that this was a magic shop, it would only be fitting that such objects would be available for purchase.

He walked back behind the counter, before he casually leaned against it, his fingers locked together. "There must be something here that drew you to my shop, otherwise you wouldn't have been in such a hurry to arrive here, hm?"

This was when the cloaked mare began to look around. She remembered earlier that the Alicorn Amulet had been just here earlier. But in its place... a leather box? She was certainly baffled as to why it's in the amulet's place, glass case and everything.

However, the shopkeeper took this prolonged staring as a form of interest. He looked over to the leather box, before returning his gaze to the traveler. "If you were hoping to get the Alicorn amulet, you can see that someone else got to it first. He kept his appearance shrouded, and didn't pay for it in bits...but traded for it with that leather box. He told me not to open the contents, as any stallion that even peeks inside of it would be risking his life, but mares would find great benefit from it." he explained.

Was what he was said true? And was it really that special if it easily replaced the Alicorn Amulet? This she had to see for herself. The cloaked mare brought her hand up to point at the leather box, before tapping the counter. The shop keeper lifted up the glass container to bring the leather box to the mare.

As she tried to reach for it, the earth pony brought his hand back, the mare's slowly backing away. "I expect that you'll be paying first before you decide to open it?"

She'd reach into her pockets to place a small bag of bits. He used one of his free hands to weigh the bag as to determine the amount of bits he received, a blank look on his face as he did this. He seemed to be satisfied as he pocketed the bits while his charming smile returned. "Would you like this gift-wrapped?"

She walked out of the shop as she held the box in her hand. The emblem on the top was rather simplistic; it contained a shiny golden ring tilted in a diagonal fashion. If she didn't know any better, she'd assume that this was a possible cutie mark. The mare opened up the box to reveal:

Nothing. She brought her hood back before exclaiming, "Are you kidding me!?"

Trixie couldn't believe that shop keeper had conned her out of the bits she brought with her! It was going to take more than a single one of her shows to earn back what she lost. Despite being quite outraged, she was about to march over to the nearest waste disposal unit to throw this useless box away, only to realize that while it was a waste of bits: she did pay good money for it.

Sighing, Trixie took another look at the box as she was wondering what to do wi--wait, what happened to the emblem on the top?

She could've sworn she saw it on the box just a few seconds ago. Were her eyes playing tricks on her? It's probably the weather or something. That or she just needs some shut-eye. Sleep is sounding good right now...

Trixie began to make her way to the nearest train station. Her home was in Canterlot, and this was also where she'd be retreating to in order to make some bits. Since the incident with Twilight humiliating Trixie, she had no choice but to relocate herself back to Canterlot. But at least the people there were wealthy and enjoy a decent magic show.

The shows will have to wait, though. Trixie arrived at the train station on time to head back to Canterlot and after she confirmed her ticket, she boarded the train and went to the room assigned to her. It would take a couple of hours to arrive at her destination, so she might as well spend it by either napping or thinking of what to do with this blank box. At the moment, she felt the former was a better idea, and so went onto the bottom mattress of the bunk bed and laid down to take forty winks.

Trixie tossed and turned as she was having a hard time getting some sleep. Something was bugging her... but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. Her answer had practically slapped her in the face as her eyes opened. They went even wider when she saw that someone was in the same room as her.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Trixie." The familiar figure gave the other unicorn a soft smile.

The blue-coated pony sat up on the bed as she was confused. "Twilight... what are you doing here?"

Indeed, it was the lavender unicorn. She seemed to be wearing a school uniform, which came with cute looking shoes and a skirt that goes well with her overall apparel.

"I'm here for the same reason you are-" Twilight walked over to the bed Trixie was sitting on, who was kind enough to scoot over and give the purple-coated unicorn room to sit "-I'm heading to Canterlot."

"At this time of night?" Trixie asked, crossing one leg over the other as she looked at Twilight. She didn't even want to know what the school outfit was about.

"Princess Celestia requested my assistance in some affairs. Though she told me not to tell anyone about it yet, since it's a surprise. I decided to take a trip now and then rent a room at an inn so that I'll be ready for what she has in store for me the next morning," Twilight explained. "I'm surprised you aren't holding a grudge against what happened the last time we met."

Trixie looked down as she tried to think of a good response. She remembered it all like it was yesterday. Her gratefulness for Twilight helping with the Ursa Minor situation was heavily drowned out by the fact that the results meant humiliation on her part. She's barely able to make ends meet on her shows without every now and then being mocked by the audience. It's amazing how word has yet to the spread to the point where she's ostracized altogether by the rest of Equestria.

"Well," - Trixie looked back over to Twilight - "sometimes I'm known to be the Great and Forgiving Trixie."

Twilight smiled hearing that. "Glad to hear it!" There was a pause, Twilight blushing as she was going to be quite forward with her next question. "I've always wondered... are you as good of a kisser as you are Great and Powerful?"

The other unicorn blushed. "And what made you decide to as Trixie that?"

"I've always found myself reading romance novels, and even read a guide or two on how to do it. I just thought you'd be the perfect mare to try it out on."

Trixie was reluctant, but nodded. "Trixie supposes she could help you in this endeavor." This was when the two mares slowly brought each other in a soft and cuddly embrace, their heads coming closer... and closer...

Before Trixie's eyes shot open and yelped in surprise. She quickly sat up in--

"Ow!" Well, maybe she sat up a without taking much notice of what she was sleeping in. She cursed under her breath as she rubbed the point of impact where her forehead connected with the top part of the bunk bed. At least she knew she was wide awake now. She turned her head over as she rested gently onto the pillow to see that she was alone.

It was just a dream...but why a dream about her? That explains why it was so damn cheesy... couldn't it have been with Prince Blueblood or some other stallion, though?

One of the cabin attendants gently knocked on Trixie's door. "Are you all right in there?" she called out through the door.

"I'm fine! How much longer until we arrive to Canterlot?" Trixie replied curiously.

"Only ten minutes."

"Thank you."

Ten minutes...she was almost there. Maybe when she finally gets home to sleep, she won't have another dream like that. At least, another one with Twilight in it. Soon enough, the train arrived at Canterlot and she departed from it. She once again examined the leather box, before sighing.

"I can't believe that I lost my bits to such a useless item. Other than possibly storing my unmentionables, I don't see how I could put this to any practical use. I don't know...maybe I'll think of something after I get some sleep." Trixie continued to take what was a relatively short trip from the train station to the apartment complex she lived in. She didn't like the idea of paying rent on top of trying to make a living, but it had to do since her wagon got squished. It's not like she was going to any place important, at least not until she can determine a way to restore her lost fame.

Ten minutes later...

The doors would open to reveal Trixie, as she would enter and close the door behind her. "Ahh...home crap home," she thought aloud as she removed her robe to reveal her blue tank top and jeans, both containing a familiar pattern of stars and the former having a crescent moon on one side of the chest. Trixie placed the robe on the coat rack next to the door, before she'd go to the master bedroom to commence her usual night time ritual of brushing her teeth. She used her magic to bring the toothbrush up before toothpaste would be lightly squirted onto it.

And while she was undergoing her dental hygiene, she examined the packaging of the toothpaste. The mare on it, Colgate... it was interesting how anyone can be hired to be a spokesperson or even a mascot just because their name matches the brand name of a product. The funny thing was that 'Colgate' wasn't even her real name. Although it was her legal name, the one given to her by birth was 'Minuette'.

Once she was finished, she left the bathroom and her magic to turn off all the lights in her home, Trixie would move the covers out of the way after stripping down to her underwear, then she climbed in and pulled the blankets back onto herself. Trixie gently closed her eyes, as would get some rest before the start of a new day.