"I'm telling you, Twilight. It'll be worth the trek."
"So you've said. I just can't imagine a silly thing like coffee getting you this riled up."
Two unicorns approached a somewhat uninspired looking building among the sparse mid-morning traffic of Manehatten. With all the flashy signs and grand entrances scattered about this city, Twilight was having a hard time believing her friend was so interested something behind this pitiful facade.
She was right to be doubtful. Rarity wasn't the type of pony to enjoy time in what some might call a "rundown shack" for fear of dirtying one of her garments or, heaven forbid, her immaculate white coat. Yet she marched onward with the confident air of a mare used to life in the big city.
"Believe me. If all you wanted was coffee, we could have gone to the StarBucks in Ponyville. If you want the real thing, you must do some digging."
"But it doesn't even have a sign."
Rarity shook her head as if her friend was a filly asking silly questions. "The best businesses don't need signs. And this one is the best."
The white unicorn pushed open the front door and trotted in, drawing the eyes of the shop's many patrons. Smiling at the attention, she thrust her chin upward and adjusted her curly mane while waiting for her company.
Twilight entered next, receiving the same amount of attention. It was hard not to get a stare when your entrance is accompanied by a soft bell in a quiet room. She ignored the others and scanned what was apparently "the best coffee shop ever".
It certainly looked cozy. With an assortment of high and low-topped tables, several sofas, and an unlit fireplace that must have been lovely in the winter, Twilight could imagine spending some quiet time here with a book and a warm beverage.
"Why don't you go find us a table while I order?" Rarity said. "What would you like?"
"Err," Twilight mumbled as she squinted at the menu posted atop the counter. There were several terms on the board, most ending in -ccino and few familiar to the librarian. An adjacent column listed every flavor one could want in a whatever-ccino. There were just to many decisions.
"I trust you. Here." The purple pony began to pull out some bits from one of those invisible bags ponies were carrying these days. They were promptly covered in a soft blue aura and shoved back inside.
"When will you learn?" the fashionista mused as she set off to the growing line.
Twilight frowned as her friend walked up to the -ccino counter. Rarity's constant generosity was nice and all, but one couldn't help but wonder where all of her wealth came from. Sure, she had her own business that thrived more often than it flopped. There was also that jewel finding spell she was so fond of using. But still, the excessive tipping must have put some sort of dent in her funds.
"I don't even remember the last time I paid for anything," Twilight mumbled as she searched for an empty table. "I think these bits are from the piggy bank I had when I was a filly."
Fortunately for the pony who didn't like decisions, there was only one empty table to be found in the building. It was one of those high tops with the tall chairs that look stylish and destroy your back from a lack of support. A creature with longer legs may have been comfortable there, but ponies weren't known for their height.
"I wouldn't have this problem if I was an alicorn," she said, smiling at the mental image of her with an absurdly long horn and even longer legs. Then she broke into giggles.
"Yeah. That'll be the day."
...
I'll just get her something simple. No need to overload her on her first taste.
Rarity stood second in line behind another unicorn, trying to choose which flavor to accent her beverages with. To her surprise, there was nopony behind her. The shop was normally more crowded than this.
But despite the lack of a long queue, nopony at the counter moved and the mare in front of Rarity did not step forward.
"Pardon me, Miss. Are you in line?" she asked politely.
"Hm?" The mare turned around, confused. Her head must have been elsewhere. "Oh, no. You go ahead. I'm still deciding."
"Thank you." She motioned to the cashier who simply nodded upon seeing the familiar face. "And, if I may make a suggestion, you can never go wrong with vanilla. It's all very fresh here."
"Is it really? I'll have to try it."
Rarity knocked lightly on the counter. "Make it three, please."
Examining the white unicorn in front of her, the mare couldn't help but find her somewhat familiar. Few ponies had that sort of mane.
"Say, have I met you somewhere?" she asked with a hoof to her chin. "I'm almost positive I've seen that beautiful mane before."
Rarity smiled and finally took a good look at the apparently polite pony behind her. "Thank you, darling. It's possible we've seen each other before. Although I couldn't possibly see myself forgetting that lovely mane of yours. Naturally silver, I presume?"
She smiled back. "Naturally. Have you been to Canterlot recently?"
"Recently? No. Although I've had a few interesting experiences there. I was actually briefly famous there a while ago for this and that. Art, food, dresses-"
The mare knocked a royal blue hoof against her head. "That's it! You're Rarity, aren't you?"
"The one and only."
"I knew it! Oh, it's such an honor to meet you! I've loved every one of your works! You are just amazing!"
Rarity smiled, hoping that her humble and calm face was disguising the torrent of giddiness overcoming every fiber of her being.
EEE! I have a reputation! Ah ha ha!
"Oh stop," she shakily replied. "I've had my fair share of failures."
"Don't lie to me, Rarity. Modesty is so last season."
Rarity giggled as the cashier returned with a carrier containing three steaming Styrofoam cups. She simultaneously offered several bits to the cashier and one of the cups to her new companion. Both accepted, the latter with uncertainty.
"Er. What is this?" she asked, peeking into the small hole in the lid.
"It's your coffee dear. Now why don't you come sit with my friend and I. You know all about me but I have yet to hear anything about you." Rarity began to walk off, beckoning the mare to follow.
She did so, reaching into her invisible pocket. "Well thank you very much. What do I owe you?"
The fashionista was becoming agitated with those around her, always insisting on repaying everything. However, she reeled in that anger and gave a slight chuckle.
"I don't want your money. If you must give me something, how about your name?"
Big city ponies offering a free drink? The mare was seriously considering checking the beverage for poison. But that could be done at the table with this friend they were meeting.
Subconsciously, the mare hoped this friend was the cute purple unicorn giggling to herself at the high top. To her delight, she was headed in that very direction.
...
"Twilight! I have someone I'd like you to meet. This is-"
Twilight had turned at the sound of her friend's voice, suddenly eager to hear what she had begun to say in such a cheerful tone. One glance behind said friend put to rest any thoughts of a "cheerful" encounter. The beginnings of every combat spell she knew sprung to life in her head, ready to turn incoming frogs into butterflies or an anvil into vapor.
"Trixie?!" she squeaked courageously as she fell to a strategic heap on the floor.
"Oh good! You know each other. Why have you been hiding such a friendly mare from me?"
Trixie frowned. "I didn't think we've met before. Have we?" She offered a hoof to the fallen unicorn.
Twilight ignored it and rose on her own. "Of course we've met! The magic show, the pranks, the ursa minor? How about the alicorn amulet? Rarity, she took over the whole town and banished me to the Everfree!"
The fashionista glanced between her two friends, wearing an interesting combination of confusion and concern.
"Perhaps caffeine isn't the best thing for you right now."
"Caffeine is fine!" Twilight exclaimed, snatching a cup from Rarity's magical grasp. "Do you honestly not recognize her? She turned your hair green!"
"I would most certainly remember green hair, Twilight. Please stop shouting. This is a quiet establishment."
Trixie eyed her accuser, confused as all get out. "Er, perhaps I should go." She took a single step away before unfamiliar magic broke through her natural defenses and shoved her into a chair at the table.
"Oh no," Twilight growled. "You're staying right here until we figure this out."
"Are you sure? Because it seems to me that you think I've done horrible things to your town."
"You have. I distinctly remember. Rarity should as well."
Said unicorn began to feel amused by her friend's flustered outbursts. The calming effect of her favorite coffee also helped put her at ease. Surely Twilight Sparkle hadn't fallen off her rocker just yet.
"I'm sorry, Twilight," Rarity said, shrugging. "I have no recollection of these atrocities our new friend has committed. In fact, the real atrocity here is that neither of you have tasted your coffee yet. Do you plan on letting it get cold?"
They did so promptly, Trixie calmly sipping manageable amounts and Twilight angrily gulping down more of the still scalding liquid than her pain threshold was prepared for. She stifled a wince and tried to ignore the delightful medley of flavors dancing across her tongue. Enjoying anything would take precious attention away from that fiend across the table.
What a shame. She wouldn't be tasting anything for a while afterwards.
"Mmm," cooed the enemy. "This is amazing."
Rarity smiled. "Isn't it? What do you think, Twilight? Was it worth the train ride?"
Twilight did not answer. She did, however, continue to glare menacingly at Ms Trixie.
The blue unicorn tried not to feel perturbed. After all, that fixation of hers could very well be a way to break the ice. It might be worth the ire if it meant becoming more acquainted later.
"So how far did you two travel to get here?" she asked.
"Far enough for this to consume most of the afternoon."
"All afternoon? I mean, this is good and all but you came all the way to Manehattan for coffee?"
"That may have been the reason for this journey, but time wasted in Manehattan is hardly wasted time, hmm?"
Trixie nodded. "You've got me there."
"Speaking of, what brings you to Manehattan?"
"Nothing good, I'm sure," Twilight muttered, immediately met with her friend's glare.
Trixie ignored the slander. "I have some business in town. I'll be- uh- performing this afternoon."
"Performing," Rarity murmured, examining the blue unicorn. "Are you actually a magician?"
"Well, yes. I-"
"Twilight, how did you know that?"
"Because we've all met before!" the librarian yelled. "Do you believe me now?"
"Hm. I believe you sneaked a peak at our guest's cutie mark. A wand generally signifies more theatrical magic, after all." Rarity then cracked a wry smile. "I've never known you to be so observant of ponies before," she said, wiggling her eyebrows.
Trixie's blue cheeks went red, tail swishing about her flanks. The other unicorn, however, remained unchanged in her temperament.
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm observant. She's dangerous, Rarity!"
Rarity's eyes remained half-lidded in doubt as she observed the supposed danger fiddling with a strand of her mane, blushing like a little filly.
"Ah yes. How could I have missed such blatant malice."
"You're making fun of me?"
"Truly she is the scourge of Equestria!"
"This isn't funny!"
"I disagree, Twilight. I think it's very funny. In fact, miss Trixie? May my friend and I attend your performance today? I'd like to see just how evil you are."
That request snapped the magician from her daydreams into cold, unforgiving social interaction. "M-my performance?" she squeaked. "Um, I don't really think you'd enjoy it. It's not exactly, er, geared towards- oh gosh. What's the word I'm looking for?"
"If it would make you uncomfortable, we do not need to attend."
A brooding Twilight grew a cocky grin at this chance. "Actually, I definitely think we should go."
Trixie's blush returned at the attention. "A-are you sure?" she stammered.
"Yes, I am." Twilight then leaned her head in to her enemy, glowering into her eyes. "That is, unless you have something to hide."
"I-I-"
Rarity watched her two friends' altercation with amusement, sipping at her delicious coffee. "Then it's settled! Miss Trixie, you've just gathered two new members into your audience."
Trixie seemed less than happy about this, still avoiding eye contact. "If you insist. I'm not so sure they'll let you in, though."
"Oh, they'll let us in, Trixie," Twilight assured her. "Where and when?"
...
"Now I'm sure it's a trap."
The Ponyville duo approached a large complex within Canterlot's center, the white unicorn having picked up quite a few shopping bags in their bout of killing time.
"And why is that, dear?"
The purple unicorn shot her friend an incredulous look and pointed to the building before them.
"That is a hospital. Trixie's 'performance' is at a hospital."
"Yes. And?"
"Who holds a magic show at a hospital?!"
"A showpony that is not picky when she selects a venue? We are in downtown Manehattan, darling. Do you know how much rent can cost?"
"Seriously? You don't find it the least bit suspicious?"
Rarity rolled her eyes, deciding it was best to ignore the crazed mare for now. She led them through the automatic doors, her friend grumbling behind her.
The sliding doors opened to reveal a bleached white interior with several service desks set up before the hallways leading within. Ponies in scrubs walked about briskly, spouting medical jargon whenever their faces left their charts.
"She's going to lock us in a room and infect us with something," Twilight whispered. "Are you up to date on vaccines? We should really get out of here."
"Excuse me? Miss?" Rarity asked the nearest pony with a red cross on her hat. "Do you know where a Miss Trixie will be performing?"
The bored receptionist blinked her tired eyes and directed the duo to the elevator where they ascended to the second floor.
Twilight rubbernecked around the elevator, checking for traps. "Did you see a name tag on her? She might be in on it too."
"I did. Honestly, Twilight. If you're so afraid of her, why don't you wait outside?"
"And leave you alone with her? No. I have to be around to help when she attacks."
Rarity raised her eyebrows. "In your current state, that's not very reassuring."
A few "dings" later, the two unicorns arrived in a similar white hallway, albeit less populated. In fact, it seemed completely deserted. Each passing room contained some "get well soon" balloons and an empty bed. Rarity had to admit that the stark white interior of a hospital seemed rather creepy with nopony else in it.
"Do you believe me now?" her companion asked. "This is the set up for a horror story. Next, the lights will go out and, we'll hear screams, and then-"
Paranoia made way for actual fear when a series of childish cries echoed through the halls accompanied by a roar of what sounded like a large animal. Twilight yelped and leaped in front of her friend, summoning a purple barrier around them.
"Look out!" she cried.
"For what?" Rarity shouted back. "Twilight, what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to protect us!"
The fashionista grunted and pushed Twilight aside. "Nothing is happening! Take this down, we're missing the show." She knocked her hoof on the sensitive inner barrier, causing it to flicker out of existence.
The caster flinched and stumbled back. "Ow! Don't do that! What- hey! Where are you going?"
"I'm following the laughter, dear. Do try to catch up when you've settled down."
Rarity strutted onward to the only room with a closed door and peeked through the window.
"Oh goodness. It seems you were right, Twilight."
"What!" the purple pony cried. "What is she doing to them?!" Twilight rushed over and pushed her friend aside to investigate the horrors that lay beyond the door. Surely they would shatter her innocence and leave her a jaded husk incapable of compassion. Surely.
"She's attacking those poor sock puppets!" Rarity mocked. "The horror! What kind of pony does such a thing?!"
Twilight didn't respond. She was much to busy trying to comprehend the sight before her. That villain Trixie sat smiling in a chair, a blue light emanating from beneath a gaudy star spangled wizard's hat. Before her, a crowd of children, each armed with a sloppily crafted sock puppet, attacked the wizard's projection of a bear-like creature writhing on the floor.
"The brave heroes fought with all their strength and finally brought the beast to it's knees!"
The "heroes" cheered and raised their sock puppet personas in triumph. However, the illusory monster at their hooves still stirred.
"But it wouldn't be defeated so easily!" Trixie narrated. "The beast loosed a mighty roar, knocking the heroes back!"
On cue, the bear roared and the little fillies and foals did their best to pretend to fall back. Their feigned screams could barely be heard over their laughter.
"But the monster's act of desperation left it exhausted. It was vulnerable! Is there anypony among the heroes still able to fight!?"
"Pewter's still up!"
"Yeah! Go get it, Pewter!"
The children ushered a gray-colored filly to the front lines. Her shining silver mane was pressed down by a large bandage wrapped around her head.
"Ah yes," the storyteller continued. "The bravest of them all, Knight Pewter, answered the call! She cast aside her weapon, knowing that her own strength would see her through anything!"
A blue glow removed the paper sword from the puppet on Pewter's hoof. The filly gulped but stood strong against the beast looming weakly above her.
"She wound up her hoof and, with one final blow, launched the monster back into the sky!"
Pewter did her best to follow the narrator's instructions, offering a rather meek punch to the hologram with her socked hoof. The bear, however, reacted as though it had been hit by a train. Its body crumpled around the hoof for a moment before being flung into the ceiling. There it exploded into a shower of brilliant illusory stars and even more brilliant non-illusory candy.
The filly stared dumbfounded at the display only break out of her stupor when her friends started cheering her name. Bashfully, she held up her socked hoof in what she hoped was a victorious pose.
"She'd done it!" Trixie cried from her chair, throwing up her forelegs in applause. "Knight Pewter had saved Equestria from the Ursa Major! No longer would the villagers fear for their lives or, much more importantly, their candy! The brave heroes would..." The blue unicorn trailed off, noticing that she'd lost the children's attention to the sweets she'd scattered about.
"...would much rather eat their candy than listen to me babble," she muttered, smiling.
The purple unicorn outside the door was not smiling. It's not that this blasted barrier kept any of the candy from blowing her way, although it certainly didn't help.
What's her plot then? she thought. Are the children involved? Did she buy the services of child soldiers?!
Rarity was having no such thoughts and was instead on the verge of tears.
"It's so-oh adorable!" she whined, hugging her friend close.
"Quiet, Rarity! We still don't know what her- Rarity?"
In an instant, the fashionista had ended the hug and pushed through the doorway, all the while not listening to the warning. Twilight reluctantly followed, if only to protect her friend.
The children still busied themselves with collecting the small plastic-wrapped goodies that had fallen on the floor. The room appeared to contain no medical equipment and instead housed a collage of pictures depicting bandaged or otherwise injured fillies and colts fiddling with arts and crafts projects.
A familiar blue unicorn could be found in over half of them.
Said unicorn could be found chatting with a nurse that had been hidden in the corner of the room, supervising. The nurse attempted to present Trixie with a pouch which the unicorn immediately pushed back into the nurse's hooves.
"Please, Miss Trixie."
"You and I both know that money can be put to much better use here."
The scrub-clad mare huffed and shoved the pouch back into her pocket. "One of these days, you will let me compensate you."
"Whatever you say. You just let me know when I can come back."
The nurse rolled her eyes and turned to the candy-frenzied youth she now had to control. Trixie gave another soft smile and began her exit, which left her face to face with the guest she almost evaded.
"Oh! Er, h-hey you two! I guess I, uh, gave you the wrong time, huh?" The showpony swiftly removed her wizard hat and hid it behind her back, blushing furiously.
"Not to worry, darling," Rarity answered, smirking. "We made it just in time to see the climax! Very impressive!"
"Yeah," Twilight added without hiding her suspicion. "Real convincing."
"I can explain! Really!" Trixie sputtered.
Rarity nodded. "I'm sure you can. In fact, why don't you explain everything over a nice lunch on me? I know a perfect place nearby."
"Lunch? Oh, I couldn't. Not after you bought me coffee."
The white unicorn's raised eyebrow was all the acknowledgment that remark would receive.
"I-I mean I just ate!"
"No you haven't. I'd wager you came straight here from the cafe."
Trixie backed away a step, glancing about the room. "I-Oh fine. Where is it? I'll meet you there."
"Actually," Twilight interrupted. "I think you'll just walk there with us. Come on."
With that, the powerful purple pony gripped the blushing object of her suspicion by the tail and dragged her out into the hall. Rarity followed behind cheerfully as though they hadn't just abducted a pony.
This is turning out to be a lovely day! Rarity thought.
I'll find out what you're plotting no matter what it takes! Twilight thought.
Trixie did not think. That cute little unicorn had decided that Trixie would join her. Who was Trixie to object?
Who indeed.
Author's Note
"Oh my gosh. A side project? You can barely handle a normal project!"
Yeah, but the idea came to me and if I didn't write it down I'd just keep thinking about it and-
"And what about that other side project? The one that has even less direction?"
I'll figure it out. I promise.
"Sure you will. In, like, a few years when the fandom is dead."
Whatever.
