Double the Greatness

"Behold, mere mortals! The Great and Powerful Trixie will astound and amaze you with magic the likes of which has never been seen before! Watch on and be amazed as Trixie transforms herself... into..." Trixie paused. This was the part where her double was supposed to start the drumroll machine and get into position. This silence was disturbing. Trixie cleared her throat and tried again a little louder, "Trixie will transform herself INTO!"

Was the drumroll machine not working properly? Oh well. The show must go on.

She stared out at the crowd that had gathered around her makeshift stage. Mostly only plebs but one or two of the infamous Canterlot unicorn elites. Trixie was sure that some of these ponies paved their driveways with bits. She could stand to make a bundle... if the two of them could pull this off smoothly. The rehearsals may have been a little bit rushed but the Alicorn Princess version of herself had seemed to have understood the gist of things... at least Trixie thought she had... in between stammering and looking confused.

"An Alicorn Princess!" she roared with extra volume to make up for the absence of percussive support. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd of onlookers. A feat that should be impossible even for the most powerful of mages. A trick unlike any other ever attempted. And there would be no fake wings on her alicorn double for neigh-sayers to point at and sneer. Long gone were the days of making oafs gape at trivial temporary hair colour changing spells or rope tricks. Trixie was headed for the big leagues at last.

"Observe closely as Trixie steps into her Alicorn Box and begins her transformation into full alicornhood in mere instants!" she flung open the wooden door of the large black box that stood beside her on the stage, "Now tremble in awe as Trixie steps into the realm... of the Gods themselves!"

Trixie slipped inside the wooden box and slammed the door. Now, all that was left to do was open the secret compartment and switch places with the Princess. Oh! And remember to put the hat and cloak on her alicorn self as well. It was the little details that set Trixie apart from the run of the mill performers. Trixie always went that extra mile to... wait... why was the secret compartment empty? Where was that other Trixie?

Trixie opened the trapdoor and peered under the stage. No... the double wasn't under here either. This... was... not good...

"Uhhh..." Trixie stepped hesitantly out of the magic box into the accusing stares of the audience, "Um... well... Trixie could turn into an alicorn but... um... you know... Trixie's mom always said she loved Trixie just the way Trixie is... um... so... maybe all of you could follow that example and-"

The murmurs of malcontent slowly rose to a crescendo.

"Uh... w-w-well that's not Trixie's only trick! Maybe... you would like to see Trixie eat a pinecone! A whole pinecone! In one... or maybe more than one... bite! How 'bout that! Or a rope that acts like a snake... with... um... fireworks... That's like... almost the realm of the Gods... isn't it?"

It wasn't.

~~~

Trixie scraped the thin layer of fruit juice off of her front hooves. She'd retreated to the relative safety of her caravan to lick her wounds and mourn her fourth most disastrous performance to date. At the very least the ponies in Canterlot were rich enough to throw fresh fruit... not like those Las Pegasus cheap skates. Some of the fruits were even in a good enough condition to serve as Trixie's dinner. She'd managed to store some of them in her hat as she scurried off stage. Always the silver lining. Now if she could only find that miserable, treacherous, two-bit alicorn double.

Trixie's ears twitched as she heard a thump near the back of the small, slightly shabby caravan. As she stalked closer she noticed one of her boxes of props trembling. Trixie narrowed her eyes.

She flipped off the lid to find an azure alicorn curled into a trembling little ball amidst the pinecones, spools of rope, bouquets of flowers and ribbons that Trixie uses for her acts.

"What are you doing in there?" she snapped, jabbing a hoof at the miserable pile of other Trixie.

The snivelling heap peeped up at her from behind one of her wings.

"Um... h-h-hiding..."

"I can see that," snapped Trixie, "And Trixie is terribly sorry to have interrupted your game of one pony hide and seek but she distinctly recalls asking you to help her with the magic act!"

"I c-c-can't..." squeaked the cowering Princess.

"Of course you can! There's nothing you can't do! You're Trixie... aren't you?" Trixie grabbed her double and heaved her out of the prop box, scattering half squashed flowers all over the caravan's dusty wooden floor.

"B-b-but I have s-s-stage fright... I c-c-couldn't possibly go out in front of all those other ponies. I simply couldn't! I mean... appearing in front of ponies for a formal event is one thing but... marching out on stage as a performer is just... I simply couldn't. I'm s-s-sorry I let you down..." the Princess cast her eyes down in shame.

Trixie sighed. She simply couldn't be mad at herself.

"Fine. Trixie forgives you," Trixie put a comforting hoof on her second self's shoulder, "We can work on that stage fright and once we do we'll be rolling in bits."

"Hay! Wait a second! Why am I apologizing to you?! You lied to me! You said we were here to save the universe! And I'm beginning to have serious doubts that this is the future! Why is Queen Celestia's face on the kingdom's bits? Where are your wings? What was that mirror thing you pulled me through?" protested the Princess.

"We are saving the universe! We're saving the universe from a fate worse than death! We're saving the universe and all its inhabitants from failing to appreciate Trixie's brilliance! And this is the future! Your future! As Trixie's gorgeous and beautiful assistant!" Trixie chucked the Princess' chin affectionately. Seeing herself as an alicorn never failed to improve her mood.

Princess Trixie squawked in surprise as a blush spread across her cheeks.

"Wh-wh-what?! I'm n-n-not beautiful or anything! I'm just... normal... less than normal...I... I... I mean... I... wait... mmmmfff!" Trixie silenced her by popping a strawberry into her mouth.

"Don't mind if it's a bit crunchy... it may have gotten some sand on it when it fell on the ground... three second rule you know... Trixie got some decent quality pears here too and a squash... or maybe it's just a pumpkin that got squashed. Either way it'll make a good supper," chuckled The Great and Powerful Trixie, taking off her hat and examining the fruit and vegetables she'd salvaged from the ones that the audience had flung at her, "Here! Come sit on Trixie's bed with her! It's high time Trixie explained things to you..."