It was a hot and humid morning in the outskirts of Ponyville. A blue unicorn was in her wagon, pondering about her life with her head resting down on a chair.
"I'm the great and powerful Trixie." She mumbled. "I'm the great and oh so powerful…Trixie."
Trixie yawned sleepily as she stuck out her tongue and licked her muzzle. Not only was she getting tired, she was also getting hungry. So, she slowly and reluctantly lifted her head up from the chair, got on all fours, and began trotting slowly toward the exit of her wagon in hopes to find a nearby berry bush for a morning snack.
As she was galloping, she heard the loud sound of a quill bottle fall on the floor behind her. She then looked back and stood in horror at the shattered glass on her floor with the inky content spilling out.
"My ink!" Trixie shouted as she ran toward the black puddle.
Trixie began levitating the bits of glass from the floor with her magic and placed them in a nearby trash can. She then levitated a mop toward her and started cleaning up the ink.
"Great, now I have to go to the store and get some new ink." Trixie complained.
Trixie then looked over toward the table where the ink fell and gazed at a loosely bundled up book with no cover on it. She smiled with joy as she lifted it up with her magic and admired the first page that was the substitute for the front cover.
"The life of an extraordinary equine. A story all about a great and powerful pony." Trixie read aloud.
Trixie grinned with pride as she carefully placed the book down onto the table and trotted out into the outside world of Ponyville, forgetting about the need to eat.
"I am so proud of that book." She whispered to herself as she closed the wagon's door behind her.
§
The light of the sun beat down upon Trixie as she galloped into town, eyeing all the ponies that passed by her.
"Hope they still remember that spectacular firework performance I gave them a while back. Those Saddle Arabian ambassadors wouldn't surely forget." Trixie whispered to herself.
"Um, excuse me." A voice spoke behind her. "Are you that pony that did that thing?"
Trixie looked back in delight and gazed at a yellow-maned, gray pegasus with crossed yellow eyes that were filled with curiosity.
"Why, yes! I am that pony!" Trixie smiled with joy.
"Awesome!" The pegasus shouted as she pulled out a pencil and paper. "Can I have your autograph? That was one of the best published books I've ever read!"
Trixie's smile had now turned south. A look of shock had shined in her eyes.
"Book? What book? I haven't published any of my books…yet." Trixie replied nervously.
"What do you mean?" The pegasus questioned. "Your book is being read by everypony. They're selling like hot muffins."
"They?!" Trixie shouted. "You mean, there are copies?!"
"Um, yeah. There are copies. Why do you ask?" The pegasus questioned with a confused look.
Trixie stood in dead silence at hearing this. What could this mean? Was somepony secretly taking her book and publishing it?
"Um…I was just…you'll never take me alive!" Trixie shouted as she started running toward town.
"Wow, that is one crazy pony." The pegasus whispered as she watched Trixie speed off. "Wait a second…who is she again?"
"Alright, Trixie. Just go to the store, get some ink, and then get out of Ponyville." Trixie whispered to herself as she sped into town.
Trixie's hooves galloped fiercely on the dirt ground as she looked at the signs that were on the shops. She was hoping to find a sign that would look ink-related. Suddenly, she stopped and gazed in wonder at a shop with a green roof and a sign right above the door.
"Quills and Sofas shop." Trixie sighed happily. "This has got to be it."
"Free lemonade, ma'am?" A voice behind her spoke.
Trixie turned her head to see a white mare across the street in a lemonade stand hold up a cup of lemonade in offering.
"I don't want your lemonade!" Trixie shouted across the street.
"Well, fine! I didn't want your customer satisfaction anyways!" The mare shouted as she watched Trixie go into the store.
Trixie looked at the floor and shook her head in disbelief as she closed the door to the shop behind her. Today just wasn't turning out to be her day.
"Alright, Trixie." She sighed. "You're at the place where you need to be. So just get what you need and get out."
So with that said, Trixie took a deep breath, and looked up to find Twilight Sparkle signing books.
"Next please." Twilight's voice spoke from a crowd of ponies surrounding her.
Trixie stood in awe at what she just heard. She couldn't believe this. Twilight was signing books at The Quills and Sofas shop!
"Twilight Sparkle!" Trixie shouted as she galloped toward her and the crowd.
"Trixie? What are you doing here?" Twilight questioned as Trixie approached her.
"I was about to say the same to you." Trixie snapped as she put her front hooves on the table.
"Um, excuse me. I was next in line." The pony behind Trixie spoke.
"Sorry, but you're going to have to go next. No offense." Trixie replied without looking at the pony. "Now, Twilight. Ask me why you are here.
A long and oddly nervous moment of silence followed from Twilight Sparkle until a purple light started glowing around her horn. Trixie looked in utter surprise as Twilight lifted a gigantic manuscript from underneath the table and stared in curiosity as she placed it in front of her.
"I'm signing books so ponies can sign my manuscript." Twilight explained.
"Say what now?" Trixie asked in confusion.
"She meant that she is signing our copies of the book she wrote and that we sign her manuscript in return." The pony behind Trixie spoke up.
"Exactly!" Twilight praised. "So, wanna sign the cover, Trixie? You can have a free copy of the published version signed by me in return."
Trixie looked at the papery cover of the manuscript in curiosity. Suddenly, she stood back in horror at what she saw on it. It was the title.
"The life of an extraordinary equine. A story all about a great and powerful pony!" Trixie shouted out loud.
"That's its name. Don't wear it out." Twilight chuckled.
"Don't wear it out?! Don't wear it out?!! I happen to be the owner of this story. Thank you very much, you…you…story stealer!" Trixie retorted.
"Excuse me?" Twilight said sincerely. "I happen to be a respectful author. I don't steal from others! I didn't even know you were an author!"
"As a matter of fact, I am an author. I just don't tell other ponies," Trixie replied. "And it just so happens that your story has the same title as mine!"
A look of total aghast had fallen upon Twilight's face.
"Are you serious?" Twilight said shockingly. "Why, I didn't know you were into the history of Celestia."
Trixie raised an eyebrow at Twilight.
"What does the title of a book have to do with Princess Celestia?" Trixie asked in confusion.
"That's what my story is based upon." Twilight explained happily.
"It is?" Trixie asked in shock.
"Yes!" Twilight smiled. "Isn't yours?"
A long silence followed as Trixie started breaking into a sweat.
"Well, not exactly. It's…about me." Trixie coughed.
"Really?" Twilight said in wonder. "That was pretty obvious."
"What did you say?" Trixie snapped.
"Nothing." Twilight squeaked quickly.
"Good!" Trixie grinned. "So tell me, why did you steal my story?"
Twilight's expression had now reddened with annoyance. A glimmer of impatience was in her eyes.
"For the last time, I did not steal your story! We just have the same title. Just change the name on yours, and everything will be okay." Twilight suggested.
"Change my title?" Trixie gasped. "Why don't you change your title?"
"How can I do that when their's already one thousand published copies with that name?" Twilight asked sternly.
Trixie looked at Twilight with a small anger in her eyes.
"Well then, what do you think I could change it to now?" Trixie said maddeningly.
A long moment of silence followed until Trixie heard the voice of the pony behind her:
"How about instead of saying that it's a story all about a great and powerful pony, you can say that it's a story all about a powerful and great pony!" The pony asked.
Trixie stared straight ahead at the wall behind Twilight in deep thought. She had never thought about it that way. It sounded a bit risky, but it might just work.
"I'll do it!" Trixie said at last.
Cheers of happiness and relief erupted from the crowd, causing Trixie to blush with embarrassment.
"Oh, and by the way, Twilight. Do you happen to have any ink?" Trixie spoke over the cheering.
"Sure! I do happen to have bought some today. It's the reason why I set this book signing…table thing here in the first place." Twilight chuckled as she levitated an ink bottle from underneath the table.
"Thanks, and um, sorry about me accusing you earlier about the whole story thing." Trixie blushed as she grabbed the ink bottle with her magic.
"It's alright." Twilight laughed. "I'll see you later, Trixie! Oh, and what chapter are you on with your story if you don't mind me asking?"
A long silence had followed as Trixie wiped a few beads of sweat off her forehead.
"Oh, I haven't started with it yet. I basically just have a blank manuscript with only a title." Trixie chuckled.
The entire room had suddenly gone silent to where the dropping of a pin could be heard. Trixie's face had now turned red with embarrassment, but this embarrassment was of awkwardness.
"Gotta go." Trixie whispered as she ran toward the exit with her ink being carried by her magic.
"Well that was weird." Twilight spoke as the door to the shop slammed behind Trixie.
"Umm, is it alright for me to approach the table now, Princess Twilight." The pony that used to be behind Trixie spoke up.
"Sure thing, Princess Celestia. You can come now. Sorry you had to see that, by the way." Twilight spoke respectfully as she turned her attention back to the crowd.
