Chaos in Equestria Book One: It was almost a good idea...

  The Great and Powerful Trixie preformed her amazing feats of wonder to a less than attentive crowd. Out of all the towns she had been to, Trottingham had the all-time worst crowd. Only five ponies were in the audience, and two of them were asleep. What a show she thought to herself.

  She made lights appear and explode. She made flowers turn to life and dance. She could do more than that; she had become more powerful ever since Twilight had humiliated her. Although she could do more, the small audience didn't deserve to see her greatness. But they would all see some day. She finished her act with small a fireworks show that shot from her hoofs, and took a bow. She didn't expect much applause, but to her pleasant surprise two audience members started to cheer. They were both unicorns, and they looked very similar to each other, only one of them had a rather large handlebar mustache. However, a much less pleased pegasus from the audience began to heckle her, "Boo, that was totally fake! You can't do magic! I bet you're not even a unicorn!"

  Trixie began to cry and dashed off the stage. Flim and Flam had been in the audience during the entire show. They watched Trixie run to her trailer in shame.

  "Boo, you still can't do magic!" The heckler continued.

  Flam had had enough, "Gilda, show this man some manners, would you?"

  Gilda woke up from her nap on a park bench, "Huh, oh yeah, sure."

  Flim and Flam walked to Trixie's trailer, ignoring the sounds of Gilda's manner lesson. They approached the dainty, wooden structure and knocked on the door. After getting no response, they knocked again. This time, the door flung open. Trixie stood in the entrance, covered in tears and red with rage.

  "Who dares disturb the Great and Powerful Trixie!?" she yelled.

  Flim and Flam removed their hats in gentlemen-like respect. "Allow me to introduce myself," Flim requested, "I'm Flim, and this man here is my brother Flam. We couldn't help but notice that you seemed to be... er... holding back on your magical talent. Now, if you're not so attached to this town, we may be able to give you an offer."

  Trixie wasn't convinced, "What does it pay?"

  Flam grinned, "Are you into unimaginable fame, Trixie?"

  Trixie finally gave them her full attention, "I can imagine a lot."

  "Oh but we can imagine more, and we can offer more," Flim promised.

  Trixie thought hard for a good ten seconds, "I'll see what your offer is. Then I'll make my choice."

  Flim stepped out of the doorway, "Just follow us, miss. See for yourself."

  Flim and Flam led Trixie to the old shack where they built there machine. The flying machine almost didn't fit outside of the shacks doors as it was slowly towed out by the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. As soon as it was completely in view Flim grinded the machine to a halt.

  Flim and Flam hopped off the Cider Squeezy, "Well, what do you think ma'am?" Flam asked.

  Trixie was sitting beside the shack, next to Gilda. She was no longer wearing her magician robes. "What in Equestria is that thing?" she said. Her tone was not flattering.

  Flim and Flam opened their mouths to sing, but stopped when they looked at Gilda. "It's a flying machine, my dear, the first ever." Flim answered.

  "Okay, and it's very pretty," Trixie said, "I know you wouldn't dare waste the Great and Powerful Trixie's time. So tell me what you need me for."

  Flam cleared his throat, "Well, you see ma'am. We will be presenting this machine in Canterlot two days from now."

  "The word is already out, we got a chance to show the machine as the opening act for a wonderbolt show! Everypony who's anypony will be there, including the princess herself!" Flim added.

  "Yes, and we need one last thing before this machine can become famous. We need a powerful unicorn!"

  "Well, look no further!" Trixie boasted, "I am powerful!"

  "Exactly," Flam agreed, "We need somepony with your talents! do you think you could sit in that back seat and use your amazing magic to power the engine?"

  "Maybe..."

  Flim jumped to her side, "Did I mention unimaginable fame?"

  Trixie smiled and jumped onto the machine, "Oh, I almost forgot! Unimaginable fame, people watching me, adoring me! Oh, they will come from miles around just to chant my beautiful name: The Great and Powerful Trixie! Now, what do I do?"

  Flim and Flam exchanged smiles, "Well first of all, you're in the pilot's seat," Flam pointed at the back seat, "That's were you go."

  "...Oh..." Trixie corrected herself by hopping to the back seat, "Now what?"

  "Now," Flam instructed, "you need to use your magic to power the engine. Just get it to heat up!"

  Trixie looked down. The engine was right at her front hoofs in a compartment below the seat, "Okay," she said nervously, "here it goes." She took a deep breath and concentrated all her energy into the engine. Her horn started to glow bright blue. The engine made a few gurgling noises, and the propeller started to spin very slowly. This lasted about five seconds before Trixie stopped and fell down in her seat from exhaustion.

  Flim shook his head, "Well brother of mine, it looks like this will never happen, looks like we're ruined."

  Trixie jumped in front of them, "WAIT!" she screamed, "I can't do it, but I know how to make it work!"

  Gilda pushed Trixie to the ground, "Buzz off, you had your chance."

  "But, I'm not going to be the one to do it!"

  Flim replied confused, "What do you mean?"

  "Twilight Sparkle," Trixie proposed plainly.

  "From Ponyville?" Gilda asked, "We don't have a good track record with that town..."

  Trixie smiled, "Nor do I. So, we force her to help us! And while she powers the machine, I'll stand above her and my adoring fans will be none the wiser!"

  Flim looked to her curiously, "How?"

  "Come in closer, I'll tell you. I hope you don't mind getting your hoofs dirty."