The Deeper Side of Magic

“Morning already?” You say trying to shield your eyes from the bright radiance of Celestia’s sun as it shines through your bedroom window. “9:00. Uuugghhh, better get dressed and head off to work.” You grumble at your watch.

You slowly push the covers off your body, and quickly rise to your feet. The memory of last night returns to your mind as you throw on a white pullover shirt and slip on a clean pair of cargo shorts. You loop your belt up before throwing on your socks and tennis shoes. You yawn and stretch out your limbs before heading to the stairs.

“I have a date tonight.” You say to yourself with a smile. Now do I tell my friends about this? They weren’t exactly too happy with the first impression they perceived of Trixie. I think I’ll hold off on it. Besides Rarity would probably kill me several times over and over again if she found out. Especially after what Trixie did to her mane yesterday. You think

You decide against coffee this morning knowing that on good days like this you don’t need it. You grab your sketchpad off the kitchen counter in case Rarity needed you to draw one her dress ideas.

I don’t really want to make breakfast this morning.

You eye the donuts on the kitchen counter. With a few swift steps to the kitchen you grab the box and open it. “One glazed left. Guess I’ll have to head to Sugarcube Corner and get some more” You say sighing.

You stick the donut into your mouth and open the door with your rather sticky but free hand. With thoughts of the mare you’ll have dinner with tonight filling your head along with the sugary glaze of Pinkie’s hoof baked donuts filling your mouth, you make your way out of your house and down the streets of Ponyville towards Carousel Boutique. You check your watch on the way and you notice it’s only fifteen after nine.

“Wonder if Twilight’s okay. She seemed pretty upset when she ran off yesterday.” You mumble.

With that thought in mind you figure it wouldn’t take but a few minutes to check up on Twilight. After all her house isn’t too far from yours. You finish off the donut you took from home and decide to head towards Golden Oaks Library.

With a noticeable bounce in your step you walk up to Twilight’s door. A particular male voice from inside catches your ear. Instead of disrupting the conversation you think it better to listen in.

My parents always told me eavesdropping is wrong. I say it’s only wrong if you get caught. You think as you put your ear against the wooden door.

“Twilight, would you put down that book and just listen to me?”

“Didn’t you see how they hated Trixie’s bragging Spike? If I go out there and show off my magic I run the risk of losing them as friends.”

So THAT’S what this is about. You think to yourself as you flip open your sketchpad, and begin to write what the two are talking about.

“It’s not the same thing Twilight. You’d be using your magic to stand up for your friends.”

You mentally facepalm as you try to keep listening to Spike trying to convince Twilight to show up Trixie.

“No, Spike, it’s exactly the same.”

“Come on Twilight. Any one of these tricks even the teeniest will be enough to show up Trixie.”

“I don’t want to be seen as a bragger like Trixie.”

You can’t help but feel a bad for Trixie that they took her show in such a bad way. You know it was just a performance to play to the crowd for excitement and amazement. It makes you angry to hear Spike one of your only guy friends or dragon friend trying to convince Twilight to make a fool out of Trixie.

You quickly push the thoughts out of your head and focus back on the conversation. The sound of a slamming door almost sends you into a panic. You decide to sneak a peek through the window and see Twilight had materialized a door with her magic and slammed it in Spike’s face. You hurry away from the window when you see Spike open the blue door Twilight slammed in front of him.

“But you’re the best!”

“Ugh. Please, Spike, I said no.”

You hear Spike sigh in defeat and think for a minute about fist pumping. No I’m not from Jersey so I don’t think so. You decide.

“If that’s the way you want to be then FINE!”

You hear a door slam shut for a few seconds before the sound of it opening again hits your ears as well as the patter of clawed feet on a wooden floor.

Sounds like Spike just left. Guess I know how Twilight is doing now. She seems quite conflicted. You think.

You check your watch and notice it’s nine forty-five. “Dammit I’m gonna be late for work if I don’t get a move on.” You say quietly sneaking away from Twilight’s house.

It’s ten o’clock on the dot when you scramble through the doors of Carousel Boutique. You look around the boutique and quickly spot Rarity working away, sewing together what you assumed to be a type of silk. Her glasses are perched on the end of her muzzle and she appears to be completely absorbed in her work as always. You quietly attempt to sneak in to one side of the boutique. Not before the door AKA your only exit magically slams closed behind you.

“Well aren’t you fashionably on time today.” Rarity says, the sarcasm ever present in her voice.

“The key word in there, though, is ON TIME.” You say putting emphasis on those two words.

“Hmph. I suppose so. Emphasis definitely isn’t on fashionably now is it?” She says with a smirk.

“Of course your discerning eyes are correct as always.” You say with a bow.

“Hahahaha. Oh darling way to play along there. I’m glad you’re in quite a good mood today.”

“Well, you know even I have my good days. So how’s your mane? After, you know, yesterday’s ‘incident’.”

“Oh don’t even speak of that it was quite a dreeeeaaadfuuullll mess to clean up. Nothing I couldn’t fix of course, but it still took me all night and four showers to clean out all that ugly green.”

“I like it best purple.” You say laughing.

“Well I do too of course. Anyway, on to business. You are here to work, after all, not to idly gossip with me.”

“Who doesn’t love a little gossip or playful banter now and then.” You note. “How’s Sweetie Belle been?” You ask nonchalantly.

“Ah well she’s been Sweetie Belle just like always. Whenever she comes over to visit things around here become a three-ring circus. Stuff is broken things are torn it truly is a rather appalling mess sometimes. Especially when she tries to cook. I swear that filly is going to burn down the boutique one day.” Rarity finishes with a sigh. “Anyway I wanted to ask what you thought of my dress yesterday? You know the one I made out of the eh....curtain.”

“I thought it was pretty good. You turned a bland curtain into a stunning dress. In short, I thought it was quite amazing to see.”

“Oh I’m so glad to hear you say that because I need you to draw it up from memory. Turns out the citizens of Ponyville loved it just as much as I did so get drawing please. I need to make several of these dresses for next week’s Ponyville Dance and I need you to sort out these color swatches.”

“I gotcha covered.” You say with a wink

You find your favorite chair in the boutique and sit down. You pull out your sketchpad and open revealing Twilight and Spike’s conversation from earlier.

“Shit.” You swear under your breath and tear the page out. You fold it up and begin to place it into your pocket when Rarity sees you.

“What are you folding there?”

“Just uh....botched drawing. It’s O.K., but not perfect, so I figured I’d touch it up later.” You give her a goofy smile hoping to convince the ivory-colored pony nothing was wrong.

Rarity eyes you suspiciously. You could tell she wasn’t completely convinced.

“Ok, darling, well keep trying at it. I know you’ll get it.” Rarity slowly trots away giving you a disapproving glance before turning away to her sewing machine.

The morning is filled with crumpled paper after crumpled paper. You spend most of the time taking glances at your watch. At about three o’clock you finally get Rarity’s new dress design drawn perfectly and sort through every color of fabric imaginable red, green, blue, yellow, purple, indigo, and even some gold here and there. By now you’re eager to leave for home and get dressed for your date.

“It’s perfect darling. Thank you so much for your time.” Rarity says with a grin. Her voice quickly snaps you out of your thoughts.

“I work here every day. You don’t have to thank me.”

“Well, I suppose you can go now. I don’t really have anything else planned for today except to start on those dresses.”

“Ok, if you need anything just ask.” You say heading towards the door.

“OH! Just one moment darling.”

“Yes?”

“Where are you taking your date tonight.”

“...”

“Oh come now you couldn’t really hide something like that from me. You looked uncomfortable all day. You were constantly checking your watch. You came into here this morning in a really good mood. So my intuition tells me you have date tonight with a certain blue showmare whom turned my hair green yesterday.”

Rarity’s gaze is soul piercing. It feels like she can see right through you.

“H..How did you?”

“I was up all night cleaning my hair remember? I looked out my window and spotted somepony quite tall who happened to be walking on two legs and carrying some articles of clothing. I easily noticed it was Trixie’s cape and hat, and I know of only one other human in Ponyville besides that John person Fluttershy is dating. So it was obviously you I saw walking around Ponyville.” Rarity pointed a hoof at you accusingly.

You couldn’t find any words to say to her nothing to hide or deny.

“I jumped out of the shower, dried off, and followed you. I was about sick of tailing you till you went to the lake on the outskirts of Ponyville. Where I found you and Trixie sitting together on the pier. You had your arm around her. It was quite sweet to watch.” Rarity finished her story with a big smirk on her face. “So I ask you again where are the two of you going tonight?”

You were still dumbfounded that she knew everything that had happened last night.

“W...We are gonna go out to eat. Pleeeaaase don’t tell the others.” You knew Rarity didn’t keep her mouth closed when she knew some good gossip.

“Don’t worry, I won’t. It’s not really my business. Before you ask, I’ll answer it for you. No, I’m not mad, more mildly irritated that you would pick her when there are plenty of other available mares in Ponyville.”

“Whoa whoa whoa I didn’t ‘pick’ her. I...she was upset and one thing just kinda led to another, and now I have a date with her tonight.”

“Well I don’t necessarily agree with your judgment, but I took the liberty upon myself to make you some nice dress clothes for tonight.”

Rarity levitates a black Stetson hat; a dark blue button up shirt, and some black pants over and places them into your arms.

“You don’t think this is overdressing a little?”

“Of course not. One can never dress too well.”

You check your watch again “4:15. I’d better start for home and get dressed.”

“Of course darling. I understand. Look you can date whomever you want. Our Friendship and my generosity come first. I won’t judge you by whom you date.”

“Thanks Rarity. That means a lot” You smile at her before leaning down and giving her a hug out of appreciation for her kindness.

You wave goodbye to the fashionista before heading out of the boutique and onwards in the direction of your house. On the way home you figure being that there was still plenty of time to spare before your date a quick stop at Sugarcube Corner was in order.

  As you walk up to the sweetly decorated building you see your good friend Pinkie Pie behind the counter.

“HEEEEEEEEEYYYYY!!!!” Pinkie exclaims in her usual cheerful tone as you walk in. “What brings you here at this time of day. It’s 4:30. You’re never here around this time. I was just about to close the doors early for tonight.” Pinkie gives you a big beaming grin. “So watchaaaa here for?”

“I was hoping to pick up a box of your double dipped glazed donuts if you don’t mind.” You say shrugging your shoulders.

“OOOOOHHHH I love those. I have a fresh box of them here and ready to go if you want them.”

“Uh sure how much?”

“No charge today.”

“Huh? Really?”

“YEP YEP YEP I’m in an extra PINKITASTIC mood today!!!”

“Why’s that?”

“Well I was wandering around Ponyville yesterday after that magic show and I ran into....”

“Pinkie.” You hear an unfamiliar voice call from another room.

“I’m in here talking to one of my bestest friends.”

You see a young man enter in from the adjoining room he had thin black hair and looked about five foot nine in height and was clearly no older than twenty-three.

“Hey Pinkie, you ready to go?”

“OH just a minute Josh and I’ll be ready.”

“Ok.” The man you assume to be Josh nods and exits the back to the living room.

“Pinks who was that?” You ask quite intrigued by the fact another human was living in Ponyville now.

“That’s Josh.” Pinkie says smiling.

“Well obviously, but spill the detes.”

“OOOOOOHHHHH you want to know more.”

You nod to her mentally facepalming to yourself at the same time.

“Well as I was saying earlier after that magic show yesterday I was trotting around Ponyville and I kinda bumped into him. He looked scared out of his mind. Well after an hour of talking to him and calming him down I convinced him to come to Sugarcube Corner where I threw him a WELCOME TO PONYVILLE PARTYYYY! Well after that I let him sleep on the Cakes’ couch, but we stayed up AAAALLLLL night talking. Now we are gonna go out and spend a night on the town so I can give him a tour and all that FUN AMAZING STUFF!!!” Pinkie finished and took a big breath of air apparently she didn’t breathe during her entire explanation which quite stunned you to say the least.

“Sounds fun. Well I won’t hold you up any longer. Thanks for the donuts Pinks.” You grab the box of donuts and make your way to the door.

“No problem.” Pinkie says with a wave of her hoof.

You pull the door open and exit Sugarcube Corner and get back on the dirt road to your house.

You arrive at your house around five thirty and place the donuts on the kitchen counter.

Ok have to get dressed, comb my hair, shower, and shave. Not in that order.

You run upstairs throwing Rarity’s clothes she made for you on the bed. You enter the bathroom and quickly shave being careful and making sure not to cut yourself. You pour aftershave into your hand and quickly rub down your face. You jump in the shower and turn the hot water and whistle to yourself while you wash. You turn the water off and step out. In one swift motion you snatch up a nearby towel and dry off. You pull open the bathroom cabinet and take your comb. You run it through your hair a few times to make sure it’s perfectly straight.

By now it’s 6:00 only an hour before you have to go pick up your date.

You walk into your bedroom and look at the dress clothes Rarity made.

Those are waaaaay too formal for a first date. You think. You open your dresser and pull out a black collared pullover shirt and a tan pair of pants.

“Much more casual.” You say throwing on the clothes. “Oh almost forgot.” You run back into the bathroom and brush your teeth quickly and rather sloppily. You gurgle and spit the minty mouthwash into the sink. “Ok I think I’m ready.” You look at yourself in the mirror and still feel like your missing something. You look over at the black Stetson on the bed. “Ah what the hell.” You say sarcastically. You throw the black cowboy hat on and charge down the stairs. “Shit, 6:30. Don’t want to be late.” You turn all the lights off in your house save for the kitchen and run out the door in a hurry.

You make it to Trixie’s caravan ten minutes early, but out of breath. You take a few minutes to regain your breath and your composure after having to run here from your house. You politely knock three times. You hear the sound of hooves from inside before a female voice answers back.

“Who is it?” The voice asks sweetly

You gulp nervously. “It’s me.”

The door slowly opens and you see the mare of the hour stick her head out.

“Oh you’re here right on time.” Trixie smiles at you before opening the door and stepping out to greet you.

You scan her body up and down to realize she isn’t wearing her signature cape and hat.

“So where are we going?” she asks you while still holding her gentle smile.

“Well seeing as how I’m treating you to dinner where do you want go.”

“Hmmmm I just got here yesterday, remember, so I don’t know everything that’s in this town.”

“Oh yeah right.” You say blushing and feeling a little stupid for forgetting. “Well there is this little restaurant in town I haven’t eaten because it looked rather ‘romantic’ and I haven’t been on a date since I got to Equestria.” You tell her as the two of you walk side by side down the street.

“Really a nice young gentlecolt....er gentleman in your case hasn’t been on a date with any mares yet?”

“Nope I went through several bad relationships back on my world and trying again for romance just didn’t peak my interest anymore.”

“Not until I showed up.” Trixie gives a sly smile and giggles to herself .

“Well...kinda. I couldn’t just leave you to be upset and cry your hours away.”

“That has nothing to do with this date and you know it.” She says nudging against your waste.

The two of you finally come upon a little restaurant that is dimly lit with inviting lights giving it a very romantic and homey atmosphere. The wooden sign out front says Realés Cafe.

“This place does look rather nice.” Trixie comments.

You open the door for Trixie to go in before you and the two of you enter the restaurant. The interior is just as warm and inviting as the exterior little glowing paper lanterns hang from the ceiling. The tables are lit with a flickering candle and accented by a single rose either red or white depending on the table. It’s obvious this isn’t a cafe for one to eat at alone.

You and Trixie are led to a table for two away from the main dining area. The waitress comes by and asks for your drink orders

“A Fireball if you please, my dear.”

“And for you miss?”

“An appletini please.”

The waiter trots of to get the drinks leaving you and Trixie alone to talk.

“I just noticed how nice you’re dressed.” She says pointing a hoof at you “I quite like the hat it works for you.” She gives you a smile and you can’t help, but feel lost in her bright purple eyes.

“Speaking of clothes I notice you’re not wearing your cape and hat.” You say trying to shake off her stunning gaze and continue the conversation.

“Oh please. You can’t expect me to wear that stuff all the time. Those things are mostly just for the show’s sake.” She replies.

The waitress arrives with your drink orders and levitates them onto the table. She levitates out a note pad and asks for your dinner orders.

“I’d like the pan seared salmon fillet with the garlic sauce and fresh salad.” You always thought it was kind of funny that a few restaurants in Ponyville serve fish but not any kind of red meat. You just figured they considered a little different somehow. Though you will never tell Fluttershy that you eat fish sometimes.

“And miss, what will you be having this evening.”

“I’d like the garden fresh salad tossed with a dab of pepper sauce please.”

The waitress tears the page of the notepad with the orders out and puts the pad back in her pocket. She trots away leaving the two of you alone again.

“So what is a Fireball?”

“Oh, it’s a cinnamon whisky my dad introduced me too back in my world. It’s quite a strong drink but very good straight. Wanna try it?”

“Maybe next time. It does smell quite nice though.”

“So how do you like show business?”

“Oh I’ll tell you there is nothing else like it. Amazing the crowd, dazzling them with magical feats, playing up the part to be super powerful. The looks on their faces are what I love. When they cheer for me it’s such an exhilarating feeling. I just love to see ponies smile. I only do magic shows because I enjoy it. There isn’t much money in a business like this, so anypony who practices magic does it because they enjoy it.”

“I understand. Your show yesterday was really good. I hate some of my friends got a little out of hand. I still plan on talking to them, and show them the real you.” You put your hand over her hoof causing her to blush.

The waitress returns with your food and levitates it onto the table.

“Hope you enjoy your meal.” She says giving a friendly smile before trotting away to another table.

“This looks delicious.” You say eyeing the pan-seared fish that’s been lightly glazed over in garlic sauce

“I agree this is a very lovely restaurant you picked out.” Trixie lifts her glass in her magical embrace and takes a sip of her appletini before levitating a forkful of salad to her mouth.

You chomp into your fish savoring every bite of the salmon. It’s not red meat, but it is a decent substitute especially when it tastes this good.

Several minutes of silence pass while the two of you eat before you get another good conversation topic in mind.

“So what are your dreams in life?” Trixie asks you suddenly.

Damn that was gonna be my question. You think to yourself.

“Well I guess the only thing left I really want to do is travel the world or Equestria I suppose, and find a wife, settle down and start a family.”

“That’s really sweet. I want to one day preform my show for the princesses. I want to be the greatest magician in Equestria. Finding a special somepony is also on the list after preforming for Canterlot.”

You both polish off your plates and drinks just in time for the waitress to arrive with the check.

You pay the check of eighty bits and leave a ten bit tip for the waitress. You refused to let Trixie pay a cent.

The two of you exit the restaurant and you decide to walk her home.

“Such a gentleman paying for the entire meal just to take this showmare out.” Trixie says nudging into you.

“Hey you deserve it after what you had to put up with yesterday.”

“I think you just asked me out because you find me attractive. Would I be right in that assumption?”

“Haha. It’s more half and half.” you say laughing.

“Well at least it’s more than my looks you like.” Trixie says joining in on the laughter.

Before you know it the two of you are back at Trixie’s caravan. A quick check of your watch tells you it’s 9:00.

“This was a really nice evening. We should go out again soon.” Trixie says giving you a sweet and slightly seductive smile

“Yeah we should. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Oh, you definitely will.”

Trixie’s horn glows with her magic and you feel the collar of your shirt get pulled towards her. Trixie throws her hooves around your neck and draws you into a passionate kiss.

You fall back a bit dazed at what just happened.

“Bye.” Trixie says with a wave before entering her caravan.

You can’t help yourself and begin fist pumping.

“Ugh Jersey Shore.” you say facepalming and laughing.

You head straight upstairs when you arrive home and retrieve Twilight and Spike’s conversation you had written down from the pocket of your blue jeans. You store it away in a little decorative box Rarity gave to you when you first started working for her. You fall into bed, but sleep is the last thing on your mind as thoughts of Trixie, the beautiful showmare, continued to dance through your mind.