The Great and Daydreaming Trixie's Adventures

Chapters

First Day
The Late and Tardy Ninja
Ponies of Might and Magic
Frights At Midnight
A Hoof-ful of Bits
Where No Filly Has Gone Before

First Day

“Ha! No trick nor trap is a match for the Daring and Dutiful Trixie!” the ecstatic blue unicorn filly in the purple pith hat and vest cheered as she looked down at the gaping pit where a massive spiked ball had just recently rolled itself into.

The Temple of Death was left alone and empty for ages, until this hardy and valiant young explorer had chosen to test the many obstacles that had made it true to its name. Falling spikes, crumbling floors, and numerous other hazards had already failed against the filly’s keen eye and catlike agility and grace. None could compare to her, the Daring and Dutiful Trixie!

Amethyst eyes widened as their owner saw the doorway ahead, leading into the chamber where the legendary Tome of the Arcane sat bathed in a blue light, its pages were said to tell of the deeds and spells of many unicorns of old, invaluable to anypony so fortunate as to get their hooves on it.

Desire to charge forward and claim her prize, however, was halted by common sense, for while Trixie was indeed most daring, she was not without common sense. Every jump had been a leap of faith, every step a risk on her life. Were she to rush this, she would surely become another tragic addition to the countless bones strewn about of the many fools of the past who’d sought what she now came for.

Rubbing her chin with her hoof, the filly looked carefully at the doorway, its arch resembling a mouth of some kind with two glowing red eyes embedded atop it. Cocking her head, Trixie swatted a nearby bone towards it. In an instant, the eyes lit up, and three spikes came crashing down from the archway, embedding themselves into the floor beneath it for a second before retracting back up. Grinning, the brave filly floated out a smoke bomb from her vest pouch and tossed it at the archway, filling it with smoke and rushing safely past the blinded trap and into the sacred room. Before her, leading to the small set of stairs that the pedestal sat upon, was a small bridge of stone tiles, three scratches on the floor right at her hooves.

“This must be the Daring and Dutiful Trixie’s final puzzle!” she declared gleefilly, clapping her hooves and looking it over. “Hm, compelling yet Trixie has solved it in an instant!” Taking a crisp hop, Trixie landed on the third tile, and the third tile after, and the third after. Looking back, she nodded in satisfaction. Ascending the stairs, she stood before the book as it sat there on its pedestal and gazed up at the moonlight shining through the opening above, illuminating the preserved relic.

“Hm, in the future Trixie should perhaps seek rooftop openings and spare herself of frustrating traps!” she said with a sigh, using her magic to float a rope from her saddlebag and up to the opening in the roof, guiding it so it’d secure itself and provide easy escape. Her way out secure, Trixie floated the book from its place and into her waiting hooves.

“HA HA! Through cunning and magic, Equestria’s true greatest explorer has acquired the secret to ultimate unicorn knowledge!” the filly shouted proudly, holding up the tome.

TRIXIE! a terrible voice boomed from beneath her, startling the filly as the gateway she’d entered from smashed open, a towering stone pony with glowing red eyes glaring at her as it entered, torches all around lighting up instantly. “Go to sleep! You have your first day of school tomorrow!” it bellowed.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Sitting on her toybox, a blue unicorn filly dropped her new school textbook to the floor and tumbled down shortly after, smiling sheepishly at her visitor.

“Heh heh… sorry, dad!” she said, climbing back into bed as her father nodded and closed the door to her room once more.

Perhaps she had gotten a little carried away back there. Trixie couldn’t help it, though. Tomorrow was her first day at Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns and she couldn’t wait to begin the path to becoming the kind of pony that got admired and revered. She would start the following morning, and make the kind of impression a new student who had passed the entrance examination should.

A proud smirk on her face and her things all packed for the first day, Trixie strode proudly through the streets of Canterlot and through the gates of the esteemed Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns. A gifted unicorn… she liked that term. It said all she needed to know to feel good about herself! Trixie was gifted, and one day would be seen as more then that. Though some ponies stared at the filly as she walked past them, her muzzle pointed upward with pride as she ascended the stairs to the door, Trixie didn’t mind. Nopony could be blamed for being so overly excited about the next big step in their lives, after all!

…But one could be blamed for colliding with somepony else. Trixie fell backward, hurriedly getting her things, only to see the filly she’d walked into turn and glare at her.

“Um… Trixie is sorry, she did not see you…” Trixie said; trying to keep her dignity but the other unicorn just scoffed at her. She was older then Trixie, maybe by two years or so by her guess, with a rich yellow coat and piercing green eyes. Her mane and tail were a deep red with gold streaks running through them.

“Honestly, are you blind or just incredibly stupid?” the other filly asked.

“Trixie is not stupid! She made it into CSGU didn’t she? And Trixie is quite certain she has perfect vision as well!” Trixie protested indignantly at the older pony.

“Oh, so you’re new? Well that’s wonderful!” the second filly replied, her mood improving dramatically. “You know, kid. You have spunk, I can see with that little third-pony act you got going there when I got mad. I like that,” she continued, giving her a charming smile as she patted Trixie on the head.

“Um… thanks?” Trixie asked, a little surprised by the change in demeanor when a second ago the other filly seemed ready to beat her into the ground.

“My name’s Sunset Shimmer. I’m what you might call the top student around here. Flawless GPA. The one behind the little… plant incident that made the papers once?” she asked.

Trixie gasped. She couldn’t believe it! She had just run into… her! “You’re the Sunset Shimmer? As in Princess Celestia’s personal student! Tri—I-I mean, I’m so honored!”

Sunset gave her a warm smile. “The honor is mine, I know potential when I see it. Is there anything you need before I return to class?” she asked, making Trixie blush with glee that a pony as worthy of respect as her; respect Trixie hoped one day she, too, could be worthy of, was willing to help her after that embarrassing mistake.

“Uh… I need to find Ms. Mana Script’s class for Unicorn History of Equestria first,” she said nervously.

“Oh, you’re in luck, then! I know this school inside and out,” Sunset replied. “Once you go through these doors, take the stairs to your left, go up three floors, and then the first left turn, then second right, all the way down the hall to the last door on the right!” she explained.

“Thanks, so much! Trixie intends to make a first impression that will make everypony in this school love her!” Trixie declared, rushing into the doors and hurrying down the halls as per the directions she had been given. Grinning as she went up the stairs, Trixie imagined what it’d be like if she made it there first. If she did, she’d already get in good graces, and no doubt the other students would adore her and be expected to follow her example! This was the start of a great day!

Author's Note

And first chapter, done. Figured I'd take a break from The Tunes Are A-Changin and just make a random, cute Equestria-based story.

As a key, a single ~ means a scene shift, while ~o~o~o~o~o~o~ will signify the beginning and ending of the fantasy sequence our hapless heroine goes through.

The Late and Tardy Ninja

“What?! What do you mean the other side of the building on the ground floor?!” Trixie protested; staring agape at the stallion who was teaching the class she’d walked into.

“Exactly as I said, Miss Lulamoon. I don’t know where you’d get the impression Ms. Mana Script’s class is remotely near this area of the building but if you want to get to Room 124 remotely on time, you have about....” He looked at the clock on the wall, then back at the shocked filly. “…Five seconds…” he said, closing the door to his classroom and leaving the filly by herself.

Oh no! Tardy on her first day? Why would Sunset Shimmer give her those directions?! She’d never make it now! Thoughts raced through Trixie’s mind and were suddenly interrupted when she was stopped in her tracks by the sound of the bell going off, signifying that class would start any moment now. She had quite a trip ahead of her and the hallway patrol would be out in no time. While they probably would have been helpful in getting her to her class, Trixie had her pride and her desperate attempt to look capable and independent to think about!

“No! Trixie will not be made a fool of!” the filly declared to herself. “I just need to be quiet and careful and not get caught! I sneak into class, and they might never know I wasn’t there!” Staring at the now empty halls, Trixie slipped behind a locker and closed her eyes.

Quiet… careful… she thought to herself.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

It was a time of conflict in the distant lands of Neighsia, a kingdom to the far east of Equestria. For now, the Empress had been taken captive within her own palace of Uma Shiro by an evil usurper who would force the land under their rule and put an end to an age of heroes and honor in favor of tyranny and oppression!

It would not be so, if the Cunning and Roguish Trixie, the super-secret ninja assassin from the great and powerful order of Shi-Neigh-Bee whose loyalty to the Empress was unfailing, had anything to say about it!

A young blue filly in a black bodysuit and mask stuck to the shadows of the long hallway of the palace. Her informant who had helped her get past the guards had been a lowly traitor in service to the Empress’ enemies and had served to stall the honorable ninja by misdirecting her, as she never would have been able to best her in a fight! Luckily, Trixie had interrogated one of the usurper's guards and forced him to reveal the truth behind the location of the room they had taken the Empress to.

Sighing, the ninja wiped her forehead with her hoof in exasperation and looked behind her. The interrogated pony lay unconscious and hidden away in the room behind her qas to avoid the alerting of her presence, so now her mission could truly begin. She knew that even armed with this information, it did little to change the fact that there were many halls and guards between her and the Empress who needed her help! The clever ninja checked her saddlebag, hoping for anything that could help her in this important mission should she run into danger. A short sword and her ninja powders would have to suffice in this case. A moment of shame was felt, for a ninja should always be prepared for all!

“No! The Cunning and Roguish ninja master adapts to all threats regardless of what she has on her! We always improvise!” Trixie declared, covering her mouth when she realized she may have alerted the pretender’s guards! Noticing a small compartment, the ninja rushed over to it, using her magic to pop it open and ducking inside. Her keen eyes narrowed as she watched two soldiers pass by, their blades sheathed as they looked about for intruders. They looked dangerous, but Trixie knew she had eluded them!

Her face fell when they stood there, looking around. One drew closer to her hiding place, suspicion in his cold, ruthless glare. Holding her breath, Trixie waited to see if he’d draw closer, his horn glowing as his katana began to unsheathe itself from the strap on his back… only for it to return to place as he began to walk away, rejoining his companion; the two of them continuing down the hallway immediately after.

Trixie let out a silent sigh of relief as she watched them leave. She was a powerful and deadly ninja master, but she could not raise suspicion by taking lives along the way to her destination. It would be far better to continue with her strategy of having nopony know she was here.

Making a quick dash down the hall, the stealthy and invisible Trixie passed several doors, each one decorated with a beautiful brushstroke painting representing a different part of Neighsia’s history or the room's purpose. Trixie, however, was a ninja, not an art critic, so their only importance to her was which one would inform her of the room which the Empress was being held. By her briefing, that would be the record storage room, where the traitors of the land hoped to burn her along with all history of the feudal age, an outcome that was sure to pass where Trixie to fail her mission. All it'd take was a quick study to find how far she was from it, now.

That thought in mind, Trixie realized she may have needed some help, even if it cost her a moment. First, however, she needed to make sure she would not be seen! Spotting a door that lead to a servant’s supply room, identifiable by its brush-stroke art of a bucket and mop over its rice-paper doors, Trixie used her magic to slide open the door and swiftly ducked inside. Sitting down and floating out her map of the palace, the young but skilled ninja used her horn to light up the blackened closet and look over the directions carefully. Her false informant had sent her a good distance from her destination, but her observant and ninjalike perception allowed her to find where she needed to go in seconds.

“Yes! Nothing will halt Trixie’s mission, now!” the young ninja declared.

“Somepony in there?” a voice asked, approaching. Trixie’s eyes widened, having risked giving herself away. She needed to use the super-stealthy skills she’d learned in her years of rigorous ninja training if she were to avoid capture! Quickly grabbing up a towel, Trixie flung it over herself and lay down in the corner next to a broom, once more holding her breath as she heard hoofsteps approaching.

The sound of the door sliding open and light filled her hiding place shortly after, Trixie kept silent, knowing the guard need only lift up the towel she’d hidden herself under to discover her.

It was most fortunate that the conqueror’s forces were not the most persistent sort, as a few seconds later darkness returned to the young ninja’s hiding place and the sound of the door shutting followed after. Emerging from her hiding place, Trixie leaned over and pressed her ear against the door, listening to the fading hoofsteps of the guard.

Once she was certain she was safe, Trixie slid open the doors once more and rushed out towards the stairs. She was running out of time, thanks to having to stop and get directions, so she would need to be quick if she were to succeed at her mission! Leaping with the grace and precision of a grasshopper, Trixie jumped onto the rail of the stairs and wrapped her forelegs around it, sliding down the winding passage with far more ease and silence then she would have made at full gallop.

The stealthy and innovative ninja grinned in satisfaction at her brilliance as she drew closer and closer to the ground floor, but the end of the rail came much sooner then she’d expected and the young ninja could not stop herself in time. With all her momentum she’d built up on her rapid descent, the filly was sent flying into the air, her tiny legs flailing about helplessly as she attempted to avoid landing on her face and while fortunate enough not to, she instead ended up rolling across the floor and right under the legs of a castle servant that had been walking by, leaving him behind in the dust with a bewildered expression as she continued tumbling down the hallway.

Finding herself upside-down in the hallways of the palace, Trixie slid to the floor on her back and away from the wall she’d landed against. Looking around, Trixie saw that her short sword and explosive powders lay next to her, thankfully intact. Getting up and dusting herself off, the filly quickly floated them back inside her saddlebags and looked at the doors. There appeared to be one with a pony playing wind instruments over a pond that she figured to be dedicated to music, and one that depicted a Neighsian landscape.

“Hm…” Trixie looked them over, noticing neither of them had the number she had sought on them. There were voices within, no doubt of captured servants and the enemy’s guards. She would free them in time, for now, the ninja warrior had her mission to complete!

Noticing the door on her left sported an even number, and the right an odd one, Trixie rushed over against the wall on her left and leaned against it, sneaking along carefully as she counted down the numbers of each door she passed.

Her eyes widened when she turned and looked at the latest door she had leaned against and saw that it sported several calligraphy-covered scrolls and the numbers 1, 2, and 4 engraved above it. Leaning against the door, Trixie could hear a mare’s voice within, no doubt the Empress herself. She was saying the names of several ponies, no doubt those who would be able to help end the false ruler’s plans for domination of the eastern world! She could not afford to miss this.

“Hey!” a voice suddenly shouted and Trixie turned, seeing the servant she’d slid past earlier and two of the enemy soldiers.

“Oh no!” Trixie cried out, realizing she’d been spotted and drawing out her short sword, which only caused the three stallions to stare in confusion at her.

“Ha-ha! You will not bring the most cunning and capable ninja of the Neighsian world to your master! The Empress shall be freed from your evil!” Trixie declared proudly, floating out her explosive powder and setting it off, creating a cloud of smoke that quickly hid her. Waiting until it had started clearing up, the brave ninja sliced her way through the rice paper door and sprinted through as fast as she could.

“…Trixie Lulamoon?” the Empress inquired as the young ninja threw herself onto a cushion and sat herself up at attention, surrounded by other but far less promising pony ninjas.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

“Present!” Trixie declared proudly, floating her ruler into her saddlebag and sporting the biggest smile she could muster. “As you can see, Trixie was not tardy at all!”

A moment of silence passed as the other students and the teacher, Miss Mana Script, stared at the filly in confusion. Before Trixie could say anything, however, the custodian and two other stallions walked in through the open door, one of them floating a small, burnt-out smoke bomb over to the teacher’s desk.

“Um… Trixie can explain…” the filly said sheepishly, slowly sinking behind her desk in embarrassment as all eyes continued to be on her.

Author's Note

And that's another chapter and the latest of the Young and Filly-Age Trixie's adventures into her imagination. It has been a long and frustrating week, to say the least, but this story has been fun to write so far. What crazy adventure will the young Trixie get into next? Find out eventually! :trixieshiftleft:

Ponies of Might and Magic

“Stupid Sunset Shimmer!” Trixie cried out as she stormed out of the Dean’s Office in a less-then-pleasant mood. “Stupid custodian,” she mumbled, staring down at the floor and coming to a stop.

“What’d you get busted for?” a filly asked, causing Trixie to look up at her. The other unicorn looked about her age, with a wild blue mane, a white coat and magenta eyes.

“Trixie was not busted! She is blameless but wrongly accused for that stupid Sunset Shimmer’s lies that took her to the wrong side of the school, making Trixie tardy and stuck with a lunch detention on her very first day!” Trixie protested.

“Oh, Sunset? Pfft, she’s mean to everypony,” the other filly said with an eyeroll. “She thinks just ‘cause she’s Celestia’s personal student she can treat other ponies bad! Can you believe she said my music sounds like drunken cats and ducks in a barfight?” the filly asked. "My music’s gonna be awesome, just like that concert my big brother took me to!” she said with a grin, raising her hoof proudly.

Trixie cocked her head at the other filly. “What makes your problems with Sunset Shimmer any concern of Trixie’s?” she asked, trying to hold her dignity after her recent humiliation that had cost her recess and outdoor lunch.

The filly took a step back, a hurt look on her face. “Sorry… just…” she looked downcast, dropping the cool demeanor she’d had a second ago. “I started here just last semester and I don’t have any friends. Most of ‘em just wanna study and I wanna just learn how I can use my magic to make good music that’ll rock every party and show I play it at and become Equestria’s coolest deejay!” she declared.

“Hmph, Trixie intends to become the next great unicorn magician! She’ll make hit shows that’ll sell out from Fillydelphia to Las Pegasus, and earn the love of everypony who sees them!” Trixie replied. “Even that stupid Sunset Shimmer will be jealous, then!”

“Cool to meet another pony who’s going for show business!” the other filly said, her mood upbeat again. “Think there’s still any hope? How about we hang during lunch?” she asked.

“Do I have to remind you I have lunch detention?” Trixie asked, frowning and dropping her third-pony act. “They would have given me a week of suspension for the smoke bomb I tried to use to sneak into class before roll call was over, but since it was my first day they went easy on me... or so they say.”

“Whoa, you tried to use a smoke bomb to sneak into class?” the other filly asked, staring agape. “That’s so cool! I wish I coulda seen that!”

Trixie rolled her eyes at the strange filly. “Well, nopony else seemed to think so. They’ll be sorry when Trixie is a million bajillion times the success story Princess Celestia’s meanie of a student thinks she is!” she said, sighing a little and smiling. It was at least nice to see she had something resembling a fan already. “Maybe after school we can “hang out” and you can witness Trixie’s amazing magic that got her into this school!”

“Cool!” the other filly said, a huge grin on her face again. “Name’s Vinyl Scratch by the way. I’ll catch ya later!” she said, preparing to leave.

“Hey, wait a sec!” Trixie called out, causing the filly to stop. “You asked what I got in trouble for, did you do something, too?”

“Heh, I may have switched the music in my Equestrian History class with some techno. Seriously, that classical stuff was puttin’ everypony to sleep!” Vinyl replied with a smirk before running off again to her next class.

“Equestrian History…” Trixie floated out her schedule and looked it over, noticing it to be her next class.

By the time Study Hall had come around, Trixie had found herself sitting in the school library with no less then five large books lay about on the table before her. A few other fillies were wondering about the shelves but paid her little notice as Trixie flipped through book after book in frustration over her first big assignment she’d gotten in Equestrian History class.

“Hey there, stranger!” Vinyl’s voice announced; interrupting the filly from her studies as she strutted over to her in synch to the beat of whatever music was playing in her ears from the oversized headphones she currently wore. Trixie wasn’t entirely sure how loud that music was but she could faintly hear it regardless.

“Oh, hello, Vinyl,” Trixie replied, opening the next book she’d gotten ahold of, titled Tales of the Everfree while Vinyl floated her headphones down to hanging around her neck. “I see you have study hall as well?”

“Free period, decided to chill here since it started raining outside,” the other filly replied, tilting her head towards the large window where an impressive deluge went on outside.

“Clearly you don’t pay much notice to weather schedules,” Trixie replied dryly, her mood still a little sour from getting in trouble earlier and this assignment.

“Do I look like a pegasus? I prefer to be surprised anyway!” Vinyl declared.

“SHHH!” a librarian snapped, causing the two fillies to flinch.

“Sorry,” Vinyl whispered, keeping her voice low as she continued to talk. “So, what’re you up to?”

“A big assignment from Equestrian History. As if a future magician needs any knowledge of such things!” Trixie said, barely avoiding getting loud as well.

“On your first day? Wow the teachers have really amped up their game this semester,” Vinyl answered.

“It’s actually not due till the end of the month. Trixie, future star student,” the blue filly said, putting her hoof to her chest proudly. “…is going to get a head start and prove her greatness over all the other students who will likely put it off till the last minute.”

“…Oh,” Vinyl replied after a five second pause.

“So, please, let Trixie have some time to get some notes so she can ace this before anypony else can,” Trixie said, returning her attention to the book that lay open before her.

“Sure, no problem,” Vinyl replied, albeit a little hurt by her new friend brushing her off but guessing it may have been the events from earlier affecting Trixie’s mood. “Hey, how about we hit Donut Joe’s after school’s out. We can chat then,” she offered.

“Hm, after today, I wouldn’t mind an oat milkshake,” Trixie said, rubbing her chin with her hoof thoughtfully. “Very well. Donut Joe’s after school.”

“Aw, YEAH!” Vinyl cheered, hopping into the air.

“SHHHHH!!!” the librarian said, louder and more firmly then last time.

“…Sorry,” Vinyl whispered once more, slinking away to one of the bookshelves and putting her headphones back on.

Now free of distractions and the pleasant idea of a tasty treat to forget about a bad first day, Trixie began her studies once more.

With the downfall of the chaos god Discord, it would seem as though the newly-founded Equestria would once again find peace and harmony again. At this time, Starswirl the Bearded had founded his own magic academy to educate young unicorns in the many wondrous spells he had both mastered and created…

Trixie grinned widely. If there was any pony she wanted to be just like, it was Starswirl, the legendary unicorn wizard of the past. What she would have given to be taught by him, then everypony would have respected her!

With Princess Luna’s treachery, and the destruction of the Castle of the Two Sisters, the Everfree Forest fell into a chaotic state, overrun by monsters and other hazards, such as the dread timberwolves and the mighty Ursa Major. Only the bravest ponies would dare venture in, and even then only on the most urgent reasons, for while the forest was full of danger, it also held some of the most exotic and unusual findings that were needed for unique and powerful spells. It was said that Starswirl would task his apprentice, as a rite of passage, to enter the forest to recover a rare ingredient for their final spell he would teach them.

Trixie’s grin faded to a discontent sigh. Times had truly become less exciting then they once were. Letting out a yawn as she continued to read, the filly flipped a few pages ahead to one of Starswirl’s adventures during the post-Nightmare Moon Equestria, musing over what it would have been like to have been a part of such timeless and memorable lore as her eyelids grew heavier and heavier with each passing word…

With his apprentice on the verge of becoming a magical acolyte, Starswirl had one final task, a quest of great importance he would rely on her for…

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

“Master, must you entrust this quest upon me, your humble but talented student?” A blue filly in a star-patterned cloak asked the venerable unicorn wizard.

“Young Trixie, I am old now, these bones aren’t what they once were. I may know more magic then anypony in Equestria but I lack the strength for many of them,” the aging, bearded white unicorn explained, walking over to the tower window and gazing out into the lands. “Princess Celestia is just now becoming accustomed to using her powers to command both day and night with the recent banishment of her younger sister, as well as overseeing the continued building of our new home of Canterlot. It is for these reasons, as well as all the promise you have shown as my student, that I know I can trust you to accomplish this task.”

“I understand,” Trixie replied with a bow of her head.

“It is dangerous to go alone, bring your wand, apprentice,” Starswirl ordered, floating his student’s magic wand into her satchel as well as a book and a map. “The Everfree Forest is a place of great peril now that the two sisters no longer reign within it, home to the deadliest creatures and wayward unicorn magicians who seek to use the rare artifacts and flora for their own ends. Return with the emerald flower so that I may continue my studies, and I shall deem you worthy of magic acolyte!”

“I will use what you have taught me, and will not disappoint you, Master!” the filly declared proudly, floating her supplies around her neck and galloping down the winding stairs of the tower and into the rainy streets of Canterlot.

The city was still under construction, several larger buildings were only partially made and cheap thatch-cottages lined the cobblestone streets. The castle itself stood further up the ledges, overlooking the growing city and the vast valley below it. Down below, Trixie spotted the Everfree forest out in the distance, surrounded by swirling, murky weather that was not wrought by pegasi but by the strange and mysterious power within. The young apprentice had heard many tales of this forbidden place but had never ventured in, for such things were forbidden to all but those permitted to do so.

“Ah, what do I see, whom could it be? Perhaps my good friend and Starswirl’s apprentice, miss Trixie!” a young voice sang in improvised rhyme to the rhythm of the mandolin that played along with it, causing the filly to turn.

“Ah, greetings, minstrel,” Trixie said to the blue-maned, white unicorn filly using magic to play a mandolin. “The Great and Esteemed apprentice Trixie is about to embark on a most daunting quest! A journey into the legendary Everfree Forest, itself!”

The young minstrel hit a sour note on her instrument and stared agape, the mandolin dropping to the ground beside her. “Madness! Nopony dares enter there! Timberwolves! Cragadiles! Manticores! Oh, my; even a dastardly witch is said to now reside where once the two sisters dwelt!” the minstrel insisted. “Were you to venture there, I find I may be preparing your funerary ballad in a day!”

“Not to fear, for Starswirl has trained Trixie well!” the young apprentice retorted proudly, patting her chest with her hoof. “And when she returns, you shall sing many great and riveting tales in her name!” she declared as a pair of pegasi guards pulling a small chariot descended from above and landed next to her.

“Cool!” the unicorn minstrel replied with a grin, her strange word choice causing Trixie to raise an eyebrow but the blue filly chose not to comment on it. “When you return, we shall celebrate at the Joe of Donut’s Pub!”

“Suits Trixie fine. Farewell!” Trixie declared, climbing into the chariot and soaring off towards the dreaded forest down below.

Her hood up and keeping her mostly dry from the rain, Trixie stood before the entrance into the mysterious and menacing Everfree Forest. The two pegasi who had brought her seemed to keep their distance, but Trixie stood her ground with great resolve. The map Starswirl had provided her would help lead her to the place where the plant he needed grew, as well as point out several landmarks including a small canyon, the ruins of the old castle, the bogs, as well as the lair of the Ursa Major. So long as she followed the path he had drawn, regardless of obstacle, she would accomplish her mission!

Approaching the gloomy trees, Trixie paused at the sound of the distant roar of some unknown beast. Looking back, she could see her escorts beginning to tremble. A part of her considered turning back, but she knew this was what she had been trained for! How could she let her revered mentor down now?

“Wait here for Trixie’s return, faithful escorts!” Trixie ordered, getting hasty but nervous nods in response as she then walked into the dark, foreboding overgrowth ahead of her.

The path was still mostly intact from its days that the two sisters had reigned in the old castle, but as she continued on, Trixie noticed how the plant life had slowly but surely began to lay claim to it after the years of neglect, and the hooting and growls of unseen creatures along the rain dripping from the forest canopy added to giving the place an unwelcoming feel. Yet despite such things, even they could not deter Trixie from this task she had been trusted with, especially with promotion to the next level of her studies almost in hoof’s reach! Her eyes narrowed as she looked to and fro, her way lit by the magic of her horn as she would steal an occasional gaze to her map as it hovered in front of her.

She paused, suddenly, as something dashed across the path in front of her. It was quick, a blur of motion that appeared to be an animal of some sort. Standing still, Trixie could feel the sensation of being watched. For all her courage the filly could feel a chill run up her back.

“No. Nothing stops Trixie from completing this task!” Trixie declared, floating her star-tipped wand out in front of herself and grasping it in her hoof. The blur of motion scurried in the thick brush surrounding the path and stopped at a large tree. Gritting her teeth, Trixie aimed the wand and fired a burst of magic, incinerating the bush and leaving behind a rather frightened raccoon holding its paws up nervously.

“Rodent! You have given Trixie quite the scare. Begone!” the filly ordered. The raccoon nodded and scurried off quickly as to not incur the skilled apprentice’s wrath any further, chittering to itself in annoyance.

Snorting at the experience the pest had brought upon her, Trixie prepared to continue her journey when suddenly a thick blue mist began to spread from the brush and surround her. Glowing green eyes began to light up various dark corners of the forest around her followed by the sinister growls of cragadiles and the foul odor of timberwolves. Holding her fear, the unicorn looked about in suspicion. She had learned many things about Everfree monsters, and summoning blue mist was not a trait timberwolves or cragadiles were known for. “Who is responsible for this sorcery? Show yourself!”

Her answer came in the form of a sinister chuckle as a hooded pony emerged from the thick clouds, her eyes glowing a blue-green like the magic light of her horn as she tossed back her ragged black hood. She looked to be not much older then Trixie herself, with a flowing red and yellow mane and tail. “Welcome to my forest, little filly. Are you lost?” the cloaked pony asked.

“Trixie is not lost!” the filly replied, glaring at the pony in suspicion. “It would seem the tales of witches in these woods were not so exaggerated after all!”

“Only when you imply there being more then one, foal!” the witch responded haughtily. “That old fool Starswirl is sending his apprentices into the domain of Lady Dusk again? How utterly delightful!” she said with a laugh. “Nopony dares enter here, not when I have the power of these woods at my beck and call. Every creature here hangs to my every word and adores my superiority!”

“Your words bore Trixie! Now step aside so she may complete her mission and she may spare you for your heresy against Celestia and the laws of magic!” Trixie ordered, her wand glowing once more.

“Such jestful boasting, what he has taught you is nothing compared to my power!” Lady Dusk declared, levitating into the air and landing on the back of a massive shape. As the mists cleared away, Trixie’s eyes widened when she saw what it was that the witch now rode upon.

The towering beast’s bearlike body was a translucent blue, with glowing lights drifting within and a mark resembling a star on its forehead. Its glowing yellow eyes narrowed down at the unicorn filly before opening its jaws and letting out a terrible roar.

“Th-the Ursa Major…!” Trixie cried out.

“Indeed!” The witch declared, stroking the top of the creature’s head as she lay comfortably atop it. “I was considering giving you a chance to run, but why let my pet go hungry? Destroy this unworthy, inferior foal at once!” she ordered, the timberwolves and cragadiles that had made up her audience backing away and receding into the woods as the gigantic beast began to approach the tiny blue unicorn.

Trixie had barely moved out of the way in time as the beast swung its massive paw at her, knocking several trees away while its rider continued to laugh and taunt her.

“You have no business being Starswirl’s errand-pony, let alone his pupil!” Lady Dusk sneered as Trixie teleported away from the Ursa’s snapping jaws and fired several magic bolts at it. “Even when the aging fool passes away, you’ll only be second best to me!”

The other pony’s taunts quickly caused anger to overcome the filly’s fear as Trixie hid under a fallen tree. What did the witch know about power and greatness? Trixie would be infinitely better then her with all the hard work she’d done up to this point! Quietly taking her spellbook from her bag while the Ursa continued to search for her, Trixie flipped over to a spell that was still advanced, but she was certain would help her win and gave it a quick look-over. It would wear her down a good deal with the mana output it needed, but it was her only hope!

Her hasty study was interrupted as a pair of huge jaws clamped onto the tree she was hiding under and flung it away. Lady Dusk’s black cloak billowed as her eyes and horn glowed brightly, an evil sneer on her face as she prepared to command her beast to end the apprentice’s life. “So ends another second-rate unicorn!” the witch declared with a maniacal laugh, framed by a dramatic strike of lightning behind her.

Immediately, Trixie focused all of her magic into her wand, the star on its tip growing brighter and brighter by the second. The witch stopped laughing and stared down at the filly in confusion, her mount doing the same as it began to back away from the incredible light shining from its intended prey.

“No! This cannot be!” Lady Dusk shouted, noticing the fear in the Ursa’s eyes. “Finish her, now!” she commanded, but the astral bear did not obey.

“Ursa Major, Trixie commands you to BEGONE!” Trixie bellowed, firing a brilliant blast of light and stars from her wand and knocking the Ursa on its back. Letting out a whimper, the great beast suddenly began wailing like a child and thundered off into the dark recesses of the Everfree forest, leaving its former rider behind and at Trixie’s mercy.

“Say it!” Trixie ordered, aiming her wand at the fallen witch, who looked around in terror as the timberwolves and cragadiles she’d brought to witness the fight soon fled as well.

“Fine, you’re greater and more skilled then I!” the witch cried out, sobbing and backing away from her. “But how, how did you vanquish my Ursa Major?” she demanded.

“Trixie was the student of Starswirl, and he has taught her even his mightiest spells before deeming her worthy of this journey!” the filly declared. “And soon, Trixie will be the greatest and most powerful unicorn in Equestria!”

“I surrender, Trixie! Spare me, despite my evil ways and let me live with my shame!” Lady Dusk pleaded.

“Very well, if you will allow Trixie passage to find the emerald flower!” the young apprentice replied.

“Oh, one of those? I have one right here, just leave me be!” the witch replied, reaching into her cloak and tossing it to the filly, who immediately caught it in her magic aura and floated it into her saddlebag.

“Thank you very much,” Trixie replied with a smile, slowly backing away from Lady Dusk. “Now change your evil ways or I’ll be back for you!” she threatened. “You have been warned by me, the Great and Powerful Trixie!” the filly declared, setting off a smoke bomb and fleeing back down the path as it cleared away.

“Trixie… has… returned!” Trixie declared, grinning as she immediately fell to the ground in front of the pegasus escorts upon emerging from the forest. True to its warning, the spell had all but completely spent her magic and she’d used all the energy she’d had left to return outside safe and sound. Her grin still fixed on her face; Trixie rolled over and laughed as the pegasus guards stared down her her, one finally nudging her a few times. “Hey? Kid? Hello?” he asked.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Trixie’s eyes snapped open as she saw the librarian standing over her, nudging her as the filly looked away from the book she’d fallen asleep reading.

“Library’s closing, kid. Time to go home,” the librarian said.

“Sorry!” Trixie said nervously, blushing in embarrassment as she quickly began floating her notes and quill into her bag and making a quick gallop to the door.

“Sup, Trixie?” Vinyl suddenly asked, joining her side and lowering her headphones. “Still up for eating out?”

“Trixie supposes so, yes,” the filly answered.

“Cool. Learn anything exciting?” Vinyl asked.

“Much, and the best story ever to get an A+ for this class!” Trixie declared proudly. Great and Powerful Trixie the filly thought to herself with a grin. I like that…

Author's Note

And another chapter; a longer and more detailed fantasy experience which the ones that follow will be more like.

Yes, the ursa depicted was obviously the Ursa Minor, but Trixie has mistaken it for the Ursa Major as we've seen she misidentified it in the show. Much like any child's fantasies, one of the harder parts is "correcting" things to make them "wrong" as they have to be limited to anything Trixie would know, play out, or just make up off the top of her head at that age.

What sort of adventure will Trixie experience next in her imaginative world? Will she ever become great and powerful? Tune in next time. :twilightsmile:

Frights At Midnight

“The past of the town of Hollow Shades remains the source of many an old ponies’ tale to this day,” the Equestrian Lore teacher explained before the class of young unicorn fillies. Trixie had studiously attempted to take notes whenever she took time away from doodling in her parchment. She admittedly did enjoy the spooky stories, but the teacher had the speech pattern of somepony who hadn’t slept in days and it was losing the filly’s interest quickly.

“The Headless Horse is a very well-known campfire story, it is said it sometimes patrols the streets of this dreary town at night, drawn to the supernatural energies supposedly emanating its vast, intimidating Midnight Manor that remains hidden away within the woods at the far corner of the town. Nopony goes near it, and some say it’s haunted, and that its former owner still dwells there, walking its halls and continuing life beyond the grave…”

Trixie’s interest was finally and truly piqued despite the monotone of the instructor. She’d heard the tales of the Headless Horse ever since her dad told it on a camping trip a few years ago, but this one was new to her. Immediately the filly raised her hoof.

“Yes, Miss…” the teacher looked at the roll call sheet, it still being the second day and having yet to become completely accustomed to names. “…Lulamoon?”

“What kind of pony lived there?” Trixie asked.

“Well, there’s a lot of tales around it,” the teacher explained. “Some say she died long ago, having lived back before the banishment of Princess Luna. Very little is actually known about her when she was alive, only that she inherited the manor from a long family line that chose to live there rather then Canterlot to distance themselves from other pony nobles after Equestria’s founding. Being very reclusive, she gained many rumors, including one where she was a sympathizer of Princess Luna’s treachery, due to her having a fondness for the night. In fact, they say that was the only time anypony ever saw her.”

“Like a vampire?” Trixie asked, eyes wide with curiosity, only to sink a little at several giggles from her classmates.

“Well, there are some who claim that, but as I said, very little is known fact and most is old ponies’ tales. While it is true the batponies that used to function as Princess Luna’s personal court took residence in the once-abandoned town after her banishment, perhaps due to its almost permanently overcast skies appealing to their nocturnal nature, next to nothing is known about the unicorn Countess’s manor. Some claim their distant ancestors served her in life, and that the manor is in fact, haunted, but it may just be silly boasts for all we know,” the teacher replied.

“Hmph, who would be so desperate for attention they’d boast about things that aren’t true?” Trixie mused with an eyeroll. Still, an actual vampire pony and a haunted manor would be neat to learn about, even through such a sleepy, tiring monotone like the teacher was using was beginning to lose her again…

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Nopony dared visit the notorious Midnight Manor, a massive and imposing estate that competed with the Castle of the Two Sisters in terms of sheer size and was said to be haunted. Even the batponies who lived in the dark town of Hollow Shades wouldn’t go too close to it, fearing the Countess Midnight Shade, the final heir to the noble family that had founded the town generations before its current residents moved in, still roamed its halls and preyed on anypony foolish enough to enter her home.

But that was about to end, once and for all. For the Great and Fearless exorcist and monster hunter Trixie Van Horsing intended to enter the manor and put a stop to the undead countess’s reign of terror over the town!

“Are you really so sure about this?” the aging batpony bartender asked as he slid the black-cloaked, fedora-topped unicorn filly a glass of milk. Within the tavern, several other batponies that had once talked amongst each other had now put their full attention on the blue filly; some of them snickering at her preposterous claim, others fearful she would go through with it.

“Trixie Van Horsing fears nothing! Not ghosts and goblins, nor ghouls and ghosts! For too long has this town lived in a shadow of fear from that manor, the Countess Midnight Shade must be laid to rest for good!” the filly declared, tossing back her cloak and revealing the belt and straps she wore that held celestial water, a sun talisman, and a crossbow.

“Even the most foolish ponies haven’t dared go past its gates, young filly,” the batpony warned, a crash of thunder and lightning went off outside as if to emphasize his words more ominously. “But if you are so confident… or foolhardy… to enter, I advise you work fast, for come midnight hour she is said to awaken from her grave!”

“I will find her and end her before she can!” Trixie declared proudly, floating up the glass of milk and chugging it down.

“Then beware, it is said the manor is full of many perils, and no doubt she will be well-hidden,” the bartender replied as Trixie hopped down from her barstool and started for the door.

“Trixie Van Horsing wouldn’t have it any other way,” the filly said with a confident smile as she walked out the tavern door.

The gigantic manor of black stone and metal spires loomed over the young monster hunter like a towering demon; its many windows barred shut or cracked here and there and its iron gates laying open as if inviting any fool to enter. As she drew ever-closer, Trixie could feel a chill forming in her body, defying her claims of being fearless. The windows, for an instant, were illuminated by a strange, teal light as if something were there, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. The filly shook her head, refusing to let this stop her. Ponies depended on her success against the evil vampire Countess and she would deliver!

Lightning crackled across the sky, a crash of thunder followed. Trixie watched as the eyes on the dragonlike face that served as a door knocker glowed and the door suddenly opened itself with a loud creak.

Cautiously, the filly entered, looking around the main hall but seeing very little due to the darkness. A loud thump was heard behind her, causing Trixie to turn and discover the door had slammed shut and trapped her inside. In another flash of lightning, Trixie could see a large, unused chandelier above her. Narrowing her eyes and feeling the place could use some illumination, the filly charged up her magic and fired a blast of light at it, lighting all the candles above and getting rid of the darkness, allowing her a far better look at her surroundings.

The main hall boasted a dusty, white tile floor covered in red carpet, though it was worn and dirty from centuries of neglect. A pair of suits of armor stood on either side of a great stairway that lead to the next floor, each with their foreleg around a spear and covered in cobwebs. At the top of the stairs was a great portrait of two wealthy unicorn nobles, both in upper-crust finery and regalia of the older days of Equestria. The stallion stood in a regal pose, the mare embracing an unseen foal wrapped in a crimson bundle. Their eyes both had a cold, almost condescending gaze that matched the frowns beneath them, as if glaring down at any who entered. Ascending the stairs, Trixie placed her hoof on the portrait.

“The parents of the Countess… how appropriate. If only they’d have known what their daughter would become,” Trixie said, before noticing an inscription beneath it on a gold plate.

A secret that this manor keeps, down below from the sun its Countess sleeps! At midnight’s call, she comes out to prey. Where she cannot be seen, will be found the way!

Trixie rubbed her chin with her hoof. “Where she cannot be seen, will be found the way?” she wondered aloud, only for her thoughts to suddenly be interrupted by a strange wisp of light that flew down from above and circled her.

“Back, spirit!” Trixie ordered, and as if in response, the ghostly orb flew towards one of the suits of armor and entered it. The armor suddenly shook, its helmet that served as its head turning completely around and teal light glowing from its eyeholes. Without a word, it began to walk up the stairs towards the filly.

“Back, I say!” Trixie yelled, firing blasts of magic at it that seemed to do very little to deter its advance. Bathed in an ethereal teal light, the armor’s spear hovered up next to it before shooting forward at the filly, who’d barely leaped out of the way in time and avoided getting impaled. The animated armor grunted and swung its metal hoof at Trixie, who quickly guarded with a magic barrier. As the metal monstrosity continued to beat against her barrier, the young monster hunter crouched down, ready to make a move and deactivated it.

The instant her barrier went down, Trixie floated out her sun talisman from her bag and hovered it in front of herself. The possessed suit of armor began to back away, as if warded off by the gold talisman. Grinning, Trixie used her magic to send it at the armor, and the moment it impacted against its chest, a bright light erupted from the openings of its metal body before it collapsed in a lifeless heap.

“That takes care of that. Now to find the Countess!” Trixie declared, galloping down the hallway to the right of the portrait and using her magic to light the candles along the way to ensure she would not get lost.

As she continued, the young monster hunter discovered several closed doors on each side, and no certainty of which to open first. Moving her forehoof at each door, Trixie deduced through eeny-meeny-miney-mo to go through the second door from the end on her left and opened it.

A snarling ghost pony emerged instantly, its eyes glowing a same teal light as the previous spirit she'd encountered as it flew at her. In a panic, Trixie rushed into the door behind her, only to discover herself back in the hallway emerging from the fourth door on the left, the ghost still in hot pursuit but now with two others having joined it. Gritting her teeth as she ran as quickly as possible, Trixie used her magic to open the door ahead of herself and ran in, only to find herself back in the hallway emerging out of a door at the end on the right side with her pursuers now having been joined by another suit of possessed armor. Rushing down the hall to a different door, Trixie used her magic to open it and then found herself once more back in the hallway, only this time the supernatural creatures pursuing her were now the pursued. They paused as if realizing this and turned, snarling at the filly and rushing at her again, prompting her to retreat back into the door she came out of and upon finding herself again brought into the hallway, Trixie stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of a double of herself emerging from the door mirroring her shocked expression before both immediately retreated back the way they came.

Finding herself in the hallway yet again, Trixie found she was alone this time and let out a sigh of relief. “Well, that was certainly interesting!” the filly mused, when suddenly all the doors but the one on the end also opened, revealing ghost ponies and animated armor suits that quickly advanced upon her. “Enough of this!” Trixie bellowed, not wishing to get caught up in another bizarre chase and once more floating out her talisman.

The supernatural beings froze in their tracks and recoiled, driven back as Trixie smirked at them. “If you’ll excuse her, Trixie Van Horsing now has a meeting with your master!” she declared, quickly using her magic to open the door behind her and rushed in, closing it right away.

Looking around at where she’d ended up, Trixie discovered she had found herself in front of a winding stairway leading up, a series of windows showing the thunderstorm outside along its side. Taking a deep breath, the filly galloped up the stairs, ascending as fast as she could to reach their top. Surely this would lead her to the answer of the Countess’ riddle!

Seconds later, Trixie Van Horsing found herself standing before another door, the sound of water beating against it suggesting she would be finding herself outside. Opening it with her magic, Trixie found herself emerging from a decrepit tower and onto a narrow stone bridge connecting to another part of the manor’s roof where the entrance to what she gathered was its personal clock tower awaited. Galloping across the bridge, Trixie paused as a flock of bats suddenly flew out from underneath, fluttering around her in a panic.

“No! Away, foul creatures!” Trixie ordered, curling up to shield herself from the frenzied animals long enough to light up her horn as brightly as possible and drive them off. In a wonderous flash of light, the bats immediately backed off and flew away as quickly as they could, leaving the young monster hunter by herself once more. Satisfied, the filly stood back up and raised her hoof proudly in triumph.

“Ha-ha! Trixie Van Horsing triumphs again! Is that all you can muster, evil Countess of the night?” she declared, only to be answered by a sinister whinny. Her eyes widened as she slowly turned, and there behind her stood a looming figure of a horse without a head! "...Trixie had to go and say that..." she muttered nervously.

The Headless Horse pawed at the stone roof, preparing to charge at her. Trixie, however, did not give it a chance to do so as she immediately galloped for the doorway ahead of her and opened it, closing it behind her as fast as she could while her new pursuer broke into a gallop of its own. The filly leaned against the door as she heard the entity’s hooves beating violently against it from the other side. She knew she couldn’t stay here all night, not when she had a vampire to slay! Her expression brightened, however, when she noticed a fallen plank of wood in the room she’d ended up in and floated it into the bar hooks on the door, closing it effectively and allowing her to move away from it. The pounding continued, however, prompting the filly to run as fast as she could up the creaking stairs overlooking the old clock’s inactive gears.

As she stood at the top of the stairs, a massive bell hung lifelessly before her, connected to the face of the clock that made up its only window. It did not appear as though there was any other way out except where the Headless Horse was currently trying to get in.

A fact which quickly changed when Trixie heard the sound of doors splintering as their assailant bucked them down. She shuddered as she heard the Headless Horse approaching, trying to think of what to do next and looked through her things. The crossbow would do no good, and the talisman was unlikely to scare away something that didn’t have eyes, or a head for that matter. She then recalled the small jar of celestial water she’d brought, and an idea came. Smiling, she floated out the jar and smashed it at the top of the stairs her pursuer would be reaching any minute now and waited. Five seconds later, the Headless Horse did not disappoint as its neck rose into view, followed by the rest of it as it took its first step onto the floor where the filly waited for it.

The moment it did, the spirit’s hoof began to smoke, and suddenly luminous blue flames erupted from it after. The Headless Horse recoiled for a moment, as if confused by what had happened before attempting to advance once more. As it did, however, smoke once more began to rise from its hooves, then up its legs and body with increasing intensity as it attempted to reach its prey. Trixie began to back away, but before the terrible specter could reach her, blue flames erupted all over its body. The Headless Horse reared back in agony, letting out one last terrible whinny before vanishing in a flash of sacred fire.

Letting out a sigh of relief, the filly took a step back, and noticed the odd echo of loose wood under her hooves. Climbing away from the old rug and brushing it aside with her magic, Trixie discovered a trap door underneath. Smiling, she nudged the bar lock loose and floated the door open with her magic, discovering a small stairway underneath.

“Prepare yourself, Countess, for the brave and remarkable Trixie Van Horsing draws ever-closer!” she declared proudly as she quickly descended the stairs, her horn lighting the way as it lead her down to a door she discovered upon opening lead to an incredibly posh bedroom. Looking around, it was rather well-kept in comparison to the rest of the manor, with a polished gold bed frame boasting a plush red mattress and canopy, along with a mahogany dresser, a painting mostly covered by a curtain, and most curiously of all, a large mirror.

“Hm, by Trixie’s assumption, this would be the Countess’ bedroom when she was alive. But why keep it so clean? And why have a mirror when vampires have no reflection?” she wondered aloud. “Wait… where she cannot be seen, will be found the way!” she said, excitement building with every word and causing a small squeal of glee to escape the young monster hunter as she approached the mirror. It was embedded into the wall, so she would not have been able to move it aside. With no other option available, Trixie used her magic to float a chair at the mirror and shattered it completely, revealing a hidden passageway behind it.

“And this must be the way to the evil vampire pony’s crypt!” she announced, floating out her crossbow and galloping down the stairs the passage lead to.

The further she went, the more dank and cavernous the place seemed to become, as though it had brought her to a basement or cave under the manor; indeed a perfect place for a vampire to hide from the sun were it to ever shine here. At the bottom of the stairs she found herself in a spacious tomb, the faint chattering of bats could be heard on the ceiling above, though none of them seemed to acknowledge her presence. A few stone caskets lay on either side of the thin path going down the middle, leading to an ornate, crimson coffin with yellow gold trim around the edges. By her guess, this was the resting place of the feared vampire Countess Midnight Shade. Approaching the coffin, the filly grinned widely as she knew her quest had finally reached its end, and now all that remained was to remove the lid and pierce the heart of the creature laying within with her silver crossbow bolt.

“At long last, Countess, your reign of evil shall—”

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNGGG!!!

The tiny red and gold alarm clock sitting next to the coffin went off impossibly loudly like a…

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

…School bell’s ringing, causing Trixie to jerk up in her seat, awake and noticing other students floating all their things into their bags and hurrying out the door. Staring down at the doodles of herself as a monster hunter and several ghost ponies and bats on her parchment, Trixie let out an annoyed sigh as she quickly used her magic to gather them into her saddleback and head out the door to her next class. The daydreams she’d been having had been so much more exciting then this class had been, for the most part; of that much, the filly was certain!

“Stupid vampire alarm clock…” she grumbled to herself, vowing to be a more successful hero next time.

Author's Note

And another chapter out of the way! :yay: I want to thank everyone who has faved it so far and I hope you continue to enjoy it as much as I have writing it :twilightsmile:

A Hoof-ful of Bits

Recess, a time of fun and freedom for fillies and colts that provided a break from studies and submission to lengthy lectures and work. This was what recess was meant to be, though it only felt like such a thing to those who had friends to enjoy it with; those who did not often found themselves sitting alone waiting for the next bell to ring, and whichever teacher was in charge of them at the time to call them back in.

Trixie trotted out into the playground at a leisurely pace, a book in her saddlebag as she knew she’d be spending it alone. Vinyl had a different time then her so she would be unavailable for company even if Trixie wanted it, but the young blue filly quickly found she had a different problem at hoof regarding who she shared this time with.

“Good to see you could find your way out here,” Sunset Shimmer said, suddenly walking alongside her.

“That was awful what you did! I got detention thanks to you!” Trixie protested.

“Me?” Sunset asked, mocking offense. “I don’t recall being the one who threatened custodians with rulers and set off a smoke bomb to sneak into class!”

“If I hadn’t been tardy, I wouldn’t have had to!” Trixie replied, gritting her teeth.

“I’m practically doing this place a favor. Honestly, its standards have really gone downhill with the kinds of ponies it lets in these days,” Sunset replied, floating out a book from her saddlebag. “To its credit, though, I suppose it does make me look that much better by comparison.”

“Is that your way around having no friends or anypony admiring you?” Trixie asked, hoping she could offend the other pony but Sunset just sneered.

“I don’t want or need those losers. I’m going to guess you’re the next step below that; the kind that can’t make friends and has to live in her own little world to feel like she’s worth anything,” the older unicorn said, causing Trixie to feel smaller and smaller with each cutting word. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do then hang around gullible amateurs.”

Trixie snorted angrily as Sunset turned away sat down on a bench away from the crowds, reading whatever book she’d brought with her. As she looked around, nopony ever seemed to approach the other unicorn, which made her suspect Sunset had already done enough to ensure none of the other students ever bothered her. Looking back at the playground and seeing the other colts and fillies having fun, Trixie let out a sigh; Sunset Shimmer’s words felt true in a lot of ways. She’d had no friends in magic kindergarten, and Vinyl for all she knew just befriended her out of convenience due to being in the same boat as her. Downcast, Trixie felt the desire to be alone, now, and walked over to an empty sandbox where a few crude wooden playhouses sat.

Walking around them, Trixie discovered that indeed nopony else was playing here, giving her the place to herself. “Hmph… stupid Sunset. What does she know?” Trixie muttered. “Trixie will be a great hero! Better then her! Better then anypony! She just…” she paused. “She just needs to be cool enough for everypony to love…”

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

It was a time of lawlessness, out in the vast badlands of San Palomino. The sun was hot and the wind was often weak. The small, rustic towns lived in mostly isolation and thus were often under attack by bandits and outlaw gangs. Bounties were posted to catch them, for anypony brave or stupid enough to try.

One such town, will be getting a visit from a mysterious pony known only as the Wanderer; left to drift because she was too powerful and great to be a lawmare. Little did she know she would be experiencing her next adventure there…

“Hm…” a blue filly in a poncho and hat mused as she looked at the hanging sign swinging gently in the breeze outside the town gates. On either side stood several wood buildings, some of them homes, some of them businesses. Over in the distance she could see some townsponies wandering about while a few fillies and colts played outside. Tipping her hat, the filly walked past the gates and made her way to the one with the Saloon sign hanging over the double-doors.

The saloon was filled with shifty ponies of all kinds, some of them playing poker, others enjoying drinks of cider or salt blocks. Several looked back at the filly in curiosity, including the pianist who had stopped playing the lively tune that filled the place. The Wanderer looked back with a steely gaze before walking past them and to the bar table.

“Milk. Chocolate.” The Wanderer said firmly. The bartender, a heavyset earth pony stallion with a bottle cutie mark, nodded and poured her a glass, sliding it to her.

“Don’t reckon we’ve seen ya ‘round these parts,” the bartender said. “What brings you to One Horse Town?”

“Jus’ lookin’ for a quiet place for a drink an’ meal,” the Wanderer said coolly, before her eyes caught sight of a wanted poster on the wall. “Whose that’un?” she asked.

Everypony in the room froze.

“That’s Miss Sundown! She runs a buncha of diamond dogs that be bird-doggin’ this town fer ages!” One pony said from his spot at one of the tables.

“They call ‘emselves the Sundown Mob, ‘cause they always show up when the sun’s settin’,” said the pianist, a white unicorn filly with a messy blue mane and tail. “And ah reckon it’s ‘cause’a their leader’s name, too.”

“That so? Why don’t the Sheriff do somethin’ about it?” the Wanderer asked.

“He got more chicken in his background then a cockatrice,” the bartender replied. “But nopony else is crazy enough to take the job ‘cause the Sundown Mob takes ‘em down right quick, so we’re stuck with what we got.”

“Why come causin’ a ruckus around here?” the filly asked. “This town ain’t exactly rollin’ in the bits from the looks of things.”

“Oh it was, till the Sundown Mob took the gem mines. They just come here to cause trouble and act like they run the place… which they more or less do, now.” the pianist answered.

“You say the Sundown Mob shows up when the sun sets, right?” the Wanderer asked.

“Yes?”

“Then we let ‘em come,” the blue filly said, downing her drink and floating it back to the table. “Dealt with a few nasty types in my time, an’ that there price is mighty temptin’,” she added, glancing over at the bounty poster.

“Yer talkin’ crazy!” one of the ponies playing poker shouted.

“Nope, ah’m talkin’ serious. ‘Cause ah’m tougher then any mob’a thieves,” the Wanderer said confidently, smiling as she turned her hat with her hoof. “Now get me my meal. House special, what’e’er it is,” she said, floating some bits on the table. The last she had for now, but she knew soon that wouldn’t be a problem. Miss Sundown an’ me got a little business comin’ up!”

One delicious salad with a serving of salt lick later, and the mysterious pony drifter’s ear twitched as she heard the sound of the clock tower bell, the time the sun would set and the Sundown Mob would be arriving any minute. “Y’all wait here. Once this is over, that Sundown Mob won’t be botherin’ these parts no more!” she declared.

“And if you lose, they’ll be razin’ this here town to the ground!” the sheriff protested. The Wanderer approached, her eyes narrowing at the trembling stallion before she quietly used her magic to pluck the badge from his vest and pinned it to her poncho.

“Gonna borrow this,” she said coolly before turning to face the window. The clock tower rang once more, and the cawing of crows could be heard above. Nopony was out, now, and several of the shudders on the windows of neighboring buildings had been closed up. The town knew what to expect, but what they expected certainly didn’t.

A distant bounding was suddenly heard, and the Wanderer peered out the saloon window. Several shapes were rapidly approaching the gates, and as they drew closer she recognized them to be the reptilian canines known as diamond dogs, with two larger ones pulling a wooden chariot of some kind further back. Coming to a stop in the middle of town, the diamond dogs looked around, sneering as they began opening sacks they carried and started flinging rocks and rotten fruit and vegetables at the buildings, laughing every time something broke or fell over.

“Enough!” a female voice declared from the chariot as its owner, whom the Wanderer presumed to be Miss Sundown rose up. She was a light orange pony with a fiery red and yellow mane and tail, wearing a wide-brimmed black hat, a loose white scarf and a brown duster. As the Mob’s leader tipped her hat up, the Wanderer could see her piercing, teal eyes as she looked right at the saloon window. “I have to say, today’s been downright boring for my dogs! Barely any gems today, your town’s gonna have to find some other way to pay up for leavin’ you alone!” She looked over at one of the dogs standing behind her chariot and nodded. The dog immediately pulled away the sheet in the back, revealing a stack of dynamite.

“Anypony wanna come out with a few solutions or do we give every building a little more ventilation?” she declared.

Without a word, the Wanderer went to the door, pausing when she felt her tail caught in a magic aura. Turning, she saw the pianist shaking her head nervously. The Wanderer stared at her a moment, a stern glare as the other filly quietly released her magical grip on her and backed away. With a nod, the blue filly used her magic to open the double-doors and stepped out into the open.

“You must be new here, don’t reckon ah’ve seen your face ‘round here,” Sundown remarked with a smug smirk.

“Get that a lot,” the Wanderer replied, her firm glare not wavering.

“So that yellow-belly chicken finally couldn’t take it anymore? Gotta admit, a new sheriff who thinks they can handle me?”

“Just long enough to put you down for good.” the Wanderer said. “This town made me realize you’re… worth it.”

“Get that a lot,” Sundown answered, repeating what the other pony had said. “So that your business with me?”

“Let’s just say I’m callin’ you out, Miss Sundown,” the Wanderer answered with a smirk.

“A duel, then?” Sundown asked as she leapt down from her chariot while the diamond dogs began letting out several ooh’s and ahh’s. “I accept.”

The Wanderer looked behind her, noticing everypony in the saloon was now at the windows and door, watching her. Looking back at Miss Sundown, she quietly walked towards her, the gang leader moving towards the middle of the street.

“Much as ah appreciate a little fun every once and awhile, ah should tell ya nopony’s ever won a duel against me,” Sundown said.

“Figured as much, seein’ how you’re still standin’,” the Wanderer replied.

“The best part is, most of the ones that tried were facin’ away from me, and tryin’ their darndest to get as much distance between me an’ them as they could ‘fore I put ‘em down,” Sundown answered, turning her back and standing up against the other unicorn. “Ah’m bettin’ all the gems my dogs have pulled from that mine you’ll be no different, beggin’ for your life.”

“The price on your head’s enough not to,” the filly answered as she began to pace away from her.

“Funny, that’s what all the others said. Sheriffs an’ bounty hunters alike!” Sundown answered with a laugh, pacing away as well, the ponies from the saloon slowly emerging from the doors to get a better view while the diamond dogs watched eagerly for the outcome.

Dead silence passed for several seconds, the wind blew and the crows cawed once more. The Wanderer stood tense, counting down to the final step and immediately tossing off her hat and turning, charging her magic to fire a shot.

The chance never came as she was suddenly struck down by a blast of teal magic that sent her tumbling across the dirt road. At the other end she could see Miss Sundown sneering at her, her horn glowing as the filly felt herself lifted off the ground. The ponies at the saloon gasped while the diamond dogs cheered. Immediately, the Wanderer was pulled across the road and was slammed into Sundown’s chariot for good measure and scattering its contents before she was pulled up to only a few inches from the ruthless gang leader.

“Nothin’ but another second-rate amateur!” Sundown taunted. “This town oughta be thankin’ me for showin’ the losers that come in these here parts their place… which if you’re wonderin’ is under my hoof or right up there on that hill behind ya!” she said, gesturing to the direction of the town cemetery. “One Horse has been my town for quite some time, everypony knows that, an’ all you are to me is just another weakling that don’t belong here!”

The filly struggled to break free of Sundown’s magic aura, but to no avail. The diamond dogs were cheering and whistling loudly now, egging their boss to finish her off. The ponies at the saloon gasped and began to back away, knowing this fight was going to reach its end soon.

“Don’t!” the pianist pleaded, catching Sundown’s attention long enough to drop the Wanderer to the ground.

“Wait your turn, missy!” Sundown answered, firing a blast of magic at the white unicorn’s hooves and causing her to back away. “Now, where we?” she asked, grinning down at the Wanderer.

“Where ya give Celestia your prayers!” the Wanderer said with a smirk, casting aside her poncho and revealing a dynamite stick she’d gotten from the chariot when she’d been thrown into it earlier, freshly lit. Before Sundown could do more then stare in astonishment, the filly flung it at her and leaped behind the fallen chariot, the other ponies and diamond dogs taking cover just in time for the unicorn gang boss to be engulfed in a fantastic explosion. As the Wanderer emerged from behind the now scorched chariot, she watched as the smoke cleared, only the black hat remaining as it drifted down from above to where its former owner had once been standing.

“She took out the boss! Run for your lives!” one of the diamond dogs shouted in a panic, and immediately the entire pack fled, yelping in terror as they ran as fast as they could out of the town and out of sight.

As soon as they were gone, the doors and windows opened, ponies rushing out into the streets and cheering as they surrounded the victorious filly.

“With the Sundown Mob without a leader, ah doubt we’ll be seein’ their kind ‘round these parts anymore. We’ll get some ponies to the mines right away and see about that reward for ya!” the sheriff said as the Wanderer floated the badge back on to his vest.

“Some ponies’re so used to lookin’ down on others they just go an’ assume stuff that ain’t true about ‘em,” the filly said with a smirk, floating her own hat back onto her head and straightening her poncho.

“By the way, you got a name, stranger?” the pianist asked.

“Ah don’t give my name,” the filly replied.

“Well, that was some great slight-of-hoof tricks ya pulled back there against Sundown, so we’ll just call ya Trixie while you’re here. Just so we got somethin’ to cheer on!” the pianist replied.

“Jus’ don’t forget my pay and that suits me fine,” the Wanderer replied.

“Let’s hear it for Trixie!” the sheriff declared. The filly couldn’t help but smile a little as the cheers echoed around her.

“Trixie! Trixie! Trixie! Trixie!”

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

“Trixie!”

“Trixie! Recess is over! Come inside!” one of the fillies shouted urgently, snapping the young unicorn out of her fantasy.

“What? Oh… okay,” Trixie said with a sigh as she floated her saddlebag back on her back and began to head back towards the school.

“You’re weird,” a mint-colored filly with a lyre cutie mark commented.

“I saw her arguing with herself by the old playhouse and then she hid from a smoke bomb she set off… are those things even allowed?” a blue filly with an hourglass cutie mark wondered.

Trixie sighed again as she listened to her classmates talk. Her adventures during recess had been fun for her at least, and Sunset was wrong about her. She'd show her when she got to experience a cheering crowd for real one day!

Author's Note

And another chapter complete. Stay tuned for the next adventure of the little filly with the great and powerful imagination. :twilightsmile:

I try to make it consistent with the kinds of childhood fantasies we often have, which often include:
-us as a super-cool hero
-our hated enemies as the villain
-friends cast in little side-roles
-real life having a way of interrupting them at the most inconvenient times

Seeya next time and hope you've enjoyed it so far! (rides off into the sunset for another long week of two grueling jobs)

Where No Filly Has Gone Before

“Hey there, Trix!” Vinyl said, announcing her presence as Trixie emerged from her latest class. “Anything new and exciting?”

“Well, it looks like everypony’s finally forgetting about me making a fool of myself on the playground three days ago,” Trixie answered. “I was just playing. We don’t have recess together so I was… well… alone,” she said, hanging her head.

“Right, bummer, that,” Vinyl answered.

Trixie sighed. When last she was on the playground, she had been trying to save Equestria from a terrible demon from the depths of Tartarus with the Sun Sphere, a sacred relic from Princess Celestia herself that was meant to defeat the beast, but all it did was make it mad and chase her all over the land blasting her with magic.

“I heard you threw a dirt clod at Sunset Shimmer. I know she’s the biggest jerk and all but still, I wouldn’t wanna keep getting on her bad side,” Vinyl said, checking her music player.

“Trixie fears nopony!” the filly declared proudly.

“Is that so?” a smug voice said behind them, causing both fillies to turn.

“Uhhh hey, Sunset!” Vinyl said with a nervous smile as she stared up at their visitor. “Nice afternoon, huh?”

“Oh, yes, very much…” Sunset walked past them, deliberately shoving them both as she did and looking back at the two with disdain. “Honestly, Vinyl… it’s no surprise you spend all your time listening to music, and looking to this clumsy piece of work as a friend,” she explained, her smug tone not fading in the least. “...Because you’re not gonna amount to being anything but a slob with ear-grinding noise for music that only ponies less air-headed then you would ever want to listen to.”

Vinyl grit her teeth, Trixie was about to open her mouth to speak when Sunset cut her off.

“Don’t bother. I know what you’re going to say. That sales pitch about becoming a great and powerful magician that got stale the first time I heard it?” Sunset asked, sneering at her. “Me, on the other hoof? Let’s just say I already know my destiny, and trust me, it came from a very reliable source!” she said, continuing on her way. Whatever Sunset's words had meant, both fillies could tell the upperclass-pony seemed completely serious and even showed a hint of excitement about it.

As Sunset continued down the hall, Vinyl sighed, downcast. “I really, really don’t like her,” she muttered.

“Hmph, she can act all big all she wants, but one day Trixie Lulamoon is gonna be better then she’ll ever be!” Trixie said angrily.

“Me, too,” Vinyl said. A moment of silence passed before the white filly spoke up again. “So, where’re you off to?” she asked.

“The observatory. Trixie has an Astronomy assignment to do,” Trixie replied.

“Oh, with all the star patterns and history of the moon and stuff?” Vinyl asked.

“They’re called constellations,” Trixie answered.

“Yeah, what you said,” Vinyl replied. “I just read a lotta Star Trot and Space Pony Wars comics so that’s about all I know.”

“Pfft, Star Trot is colt stuff. Trixie does admit to enjoying Space Pony Wars, though. At least before they started making those prequel stories,” the other filly said, beginning to walk towards the hall leading to the observatory.

“Makes you wonder, though, doesn’t it? If there’s other worlds out there like in those stories,” Vinyl mused. “That’d be seriously cool!” The filly floated her headphones off her neck and to her ears. “Well, I’m gonna let you get to work, the sun’s gonna go down soon, anyway,” she said. “Get in touch with me tomorrow! We’ll hang out again.” With that, the white filly gave Trixie a wave and galloped off down the hall, leaving Trixie alone with the winding stairway ahead of her.

Opening the door that awaited her when she reached the top of the stairs, Trixie found herself in a large room with a domed, glass ceiling that allowed her to see the entire sky. Several telescopes stood in the room, allowing ponies who would need them to get a closer look at the stars when night came. Having been the great and intelligent Trixie and all, the filly had been smart enough to get the assignment done right away rather then wait the rest of the week when others would be filling the place up, so she now had it all to herself!

Sitting down and floating her notebook from her saddlebag, Trixie turned the telescope she was sitting next to towards herself and waited. A few minutes passed, and the sun finally crept below the horizon and the moon rose up seconds after, granting Trixie a full view of the night sky. With a big smile on her face, the filly rushed over and eagerly peered through the telescope, looking at the moon and spotting the pattern that resembled a pony’s face. “Mare on the moon, check!” the filly said with a triumphant giggle, using her magic to scribble down some notes and returned her attention to the stars that now filled the sky. "The ever-watchful Trixie will have this assignment done in no time!"

She had to admit, now that she was getting a better look at them, the stars were very pretty, and Vinyl’s comment earlier about other worlds suddenly came to mind. It would have been way more cool, cooler then imaginable to travel among those stars, and for ponies to make the kind of super high-tech space colonies like they had in Space Pony Wars, and become a cool space hero the whole cosmos would know!

“If only it were that cool,” the filly muttered as she felt her eyelids get heavy from a long day of work. Any effort to stay awake and continue her assignment quickly gave in to the sweet, sweet embrace of sleep.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Two thousand years into the future, ponies had not only learned how to travel into the cosmos but make their homes there. Colonies and ships of all shapes and sizes drifted and flew around the stars in the great ocean of space, living in peace and forming the Celestial Republic.

But peace did not last, for a new threat from the darker parts of the Horsehead System; an evil force of conquerors known only as the Midnight Empire rapidly began to grow in power, seizing numerous colonies and worlds under their villainous rule as their mysterious leader draws ever-closer to reach the center of the Republic. Their one goal? To blot out the sun and bring darkness to all worlds forever!

When it seemed all was lost, a hero was found; a hero who had the power and greatness, the bravery, and the coolness to stop the Empire’s leader and bring back peace to the Republic. And her name was…

“Trixie Lulamoon! Also known as the Star Mare!” the blue unicorn filly in the purple space suit with a big silver star on the neck declared proudly, tossing back her long coat dramatically as she stood on her hind legs for a moment to pose.

“Star Mare…?” one guard asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, THE Star Mare!” Trixie corrected them with a smirk. “Nopony else is cool enough to have that name so there is only one, and I am she!”

“Yeah, whatever,” the second guard said. “Anyway, the Star Mare,” he continued, the sarcasm in how he said their visitor’s name not concealed in the least. “Her Highness will see you, now.”

“Yay!” Trixie cheered, rushing through the metal doors as they slid open and found herself in a beautiful white chamber, a massive window overlooking the gorgeous landscape of a forest world where several colonies hovered just above the planet. Seated at a throne and flanked by four guards was Princess Celestia, the benevolent leader of the Celestial Republic. Immediately the filly bowed respectively to her.

“You may rise, Trixie Lulamoon, the Star Mare of the Horsehead System,” Celestia said, prompting the filly to comply.

“You have called for me, Princess?” Trixie asked.

“Indeed, I require a pony of your extensive skill and greatness to handle a task of utmost importance,” she stood from her throne and her horn glowed, opening a circular panel on the floor that lit up, creating a hologram image of a large fleet surrounding a circular object. “As you know, our efforts against the Midnight Empire have been unsuccessful. They seem to be assisted by some ancient and dark magic that I cannot identify, and their goal appears to be to eclipse the sun, which our Republic is dependant on. Were they to succeed, our system will fall into eternal darkness and they will be unstoppable,” she explained.

“And what do you want me to do?” the filly asked.

“Our forces have attempted an open assault but they have done well at keeping us back. I believe, however, there may still be a chance; a chance for a pony as skilled as yourself to sneak aboard their new station and face their leader, you should be able to find a way to deactivate it. By doing so, their plans will be halted.

“The Star Mare is always happy to blow up those Midnight jerks!” Trixie declared proudly. “But why would they do such a thing? Who would have anything to gain from there being no sun?”

“I do not understand their leader’s motives, but that is not important,” the Princess replied. “What matters is that they do not succeed in their plans. Can I trust you with this mission? Your reward will be great.”

“Half now, half after is my usual fee,” Trixie replied.

“Of course. Arrangements will be made, and I wish you the best of luck,” Celestia replied, giving a nod to the young hero.

“Ready VIN-1” Trixie asked her ship navigation system.

“Like I wouldn’t be!” the speakers replied, a holographic image of a white unicorn with a wild blue mane appearing on the dashboard.

“Then let’s teach the Midnight scum they crossed the wrong pony!” Trixie cheered as she flew her ship from the cruiser hangar and towards the approaching enemy fleet.

Dark blue ships flew all around her, engaged in combat with silvery white ones. Trixie rolled out of the way of an incoming ship as it fired several blasts of magical energy from its guns. Up ahead, the filly could see the massive, dark sphere that was the Midnight Empire’s station which they intended to eclipse the sun with. No doubt it was well-armored and defended. If she was going to get inside, she’d have to find a way to make the launch bay door open again, and she knew of only one way to do that.

“VIN-1! Get ready, because we’re gonna blow up a buncha these guys!” the filly ordered, pressing a button and a pair of targeting goggles lowered from the panel above her and rested in front of her eyes.

“Combat mode enabled. Let’s do this!” the holographic pony replied, summoning a turntable and exciting music began playing.

Weaving about through space, Trixie’s starfighter dodged every blast the enemy fired at her, shooting back with incredible aim and leaving countless fighters blown to tiny bits. With the other fighter ships from the Celestial Republic helping out, she knew they’d have the results she was aiming for in no time.

“Hey, one more and you’ll top your old score!” VIN-1 cheered.

“Well let’s see if we can get it, then!” Trixie replied, before noticing energy blasts shoot past her ship from behind. “Uh oh…” She pressed a button on her control board and an image came up of an Imperial fighter on her tail.

“Think you can stop us?” a male voice asked on her speakers that belonged to the other ship’s pilot. “Space will be your graveyard!” he declared.

“Not if the Star Mare can help it!” Trixie declared, pulling her controls toward her and performing a backflip that put her behind the enemy ship.

“What the heck?!” the other pilot cried out just before Trixie unloaded several blasts of magic from her ship’s guns, blowing the enemy fighter to smithereens.

“Woo-HOO! Now that’s what I’m talking about!” VIN-1 cheered. “Adjusting new score!”

“Yay! The Star Mare wins again!” Trixie shouted out, pressing the switch for her targeting goggles and they retracted back into the ceiling panel. Narrowing her eyes at the gigantic station that lay ahead, she waited patiently. “Come on, open up!” she said impatiently.

Seconds passed, and a light appeared at the center, ships beginning to fly out of it. “Ha-ha! Let’s go, VIN-1!” She declared, setting her thrusters to maximum as she soared past the enemy fighters and towards the launch bay, blasting a ship in front of her to bits before it could collide with her. The bay door began to close as she got nearer, but Trixie’s ship was faster. Before it could close too much, the small fighter bolted through and landed in the hangar.

“Looks like we gotta give ‘em a hello!” the holographic unicorn said, adjusting her shades. “Adjust to rapid-fire?” she asked.

“Absolutely!” Trixie replied, and in seconds the surprised imperial troops standing in the hanger were blasted away. “Sorry, foals, but the Star Mare has an appointment with your boss!” she declared, shutting down her ship and leaping out of the hatch door as it opened. “Later, VIN-1! Don’t do anything Trixie wouldn’t!” she said, floating out her remote from her jacket and the ship let out a beeping sound confirming its defense mode was on in case anypony tried to tamper with it in Trixie’s absence.

As she prepared to leave the hangar, the iris door ahead of her suddenly opened and a group of unicorns in black space armor rushed at her, their horns glowing as they prepared to attack.

“Ha! You foals think you have what it takes to top the amazing Star Mare?” Trixie asked with a grin, using her magic to summon a barrier that blocked their magic attacks. Leaping behind a stack of metal crates, Trixie noticed a rolled up cable laying next to them and focused her magic on it, using it to lash out at the enemy troops as they charged for her, causing them to all trip over it and on top of one-another. Satisfied, the filly rushed past them and through the door, racing up several metal stairs and up to an elevator, pressing the up button with her hoof. In an instant the doors slid open and Trixie stepped aboard.

Listening to the catchy elevator music, the renowned space hero tapped her hoof as she felt herself ascend higher and higher into the imposing space station. “Get ready, evil ruler of the Midnight Empire, the Star Mare is coming for you!” Trixie declared proudly as she saw the light confirming they’d reached the bridge floor go off and the doors slid open. By her guess the means of shutting down the station would be here, and with everypony looking for her, their leader would be, too. She felt a brief knot in her stomach as the anticipation grew ever-stronger, but she couldn’t turn back now. She had a republic and countless ponies to save!

The moment she stepped out of the elevator and into the hall, several gun turrets emerged from the walls, firing continuous energy blasts at her. Thinking quickly, Trixie summoned her barrier to deflect them. While this did provide her cover, she could not get any closer to the door at the end while she sustained it. How do I get by, now?! she wondered, looking at her surroundings as her barrier took even more abuse from the endless gunfire. Looking ahead, she decided she had no other option.

“One… two… THREE!” Quick as a flash, Trixie dropped her barrier and sprinted to the side, the guns taking a second to re-adjust before firing again. Running as fast as she could, Trixie maintained her zig-zag pattern to just narrowly stay ahead of the gunfire and reach the door, slamming her hoof on the switch with one great leap and causing the iris to slide open, allowing her entry before the guns could strike her down as she did a quick roll inside.

The next corridor was empty, save for windows along the left side that overlooked the battle going on outside as Trixie slowly ascended a winding metal stairway leading up. As she drew closer to the top, the filly noticed several strange statues of batponies decorating the walls; an odd choice for a space station if she’d ever seen one. The filly didn’t have much time to ponder it as she finally reached a large double door at the stairs’ peak that immediately slid apart when she arrived, allowing her access into the station’s bridge. Taking a deep breath as she knew her foe no doubt was expecting her, Trixie entered.

The room was pitch-black, and Trixie heard a sinister laugh as several lights cut on, illuminating the chamber. Several control panels were up ahead but strangely abandoned, and the windows were covered with metal shutters. The center of the room had a large holographic map of the sector where the battle was taking place, as well as the station’s placement and distance from its destination, and a large throne hovered above it in the air, facing away from her.

“Welcome, Star Mare, or do you prefer Trixie Lulamoon?” a female voice asked from the throne as it turned around, facing the young space hero and revealing its occupant.

Trixie recognized her in an instant. “Countess Midnight Shade?!” she asked, shocked by the discovery.

“You were expecting Nightmare Moon?” the vampire unicorn asked with a haughty laugh. She had a yellow coat, a flowing red and gold mane, and a black high-collared cape with a purple inside trim, held together with a silver broach resembling a bat. “The last time anypony ever sought to challenge me, they were scared off by an alarm clock of all things! I’ve waited a very long time for an opportunity to face another renowned hero who thinks herself worthy of my attention, and who else was there, but you?”

“Is that why you wanted to eclipse the sun and take over the Celestial Republic?” Trixie asked.

“Oh, no. I’m not that petty,” the Countess replied with a hoofwave. “I’m a vampire, little filly. The sun is bad for my complexion. How else was I going to conquer the entire Horsehead System if daytime still existed? You’re here to be made an example of for anypony who tries to oppose me!”

“If you think you can beat the greatest and most powerfulest hero of the space age, you’re wrong, Countess! The Star Mare shall see to that!” Trixie declared, taking a defensive stance.

The vampire unicorn let out another noblemare’s laugh. “Oh-ho-ho! This is going to be fun!” she said, flashing a grin down at the filly that revealed a pair of long, sharp fangs before swishing her cape over herself and vanishing from her throne in a flash of green light.

Instantly she reappeared in front of Trixie, backhoofing her with supernatural strength and sending her rocketing towards the door. Thinking quickly, Trixie summoned her barrier, protecting her from the impact before she landed to the floor. The Countess let out a laugh as she hovered in the air, opening her cape and shooting three fireballs at the filly, who quickly rolled out of the way to avoid them as they exploded against the door. Scowling a little, the Countess wrapped her cape around herself and vanished once more, reappearing further up in the air as she suddenly swooped down at Trixie, her mouth opened wide as she attempted to bite her but Trixie managed to catch her with a blast of magic that sent the vampire spinning backwards in the air. Gritting her teeth angrily, Countess Midnight raised her hoof up and dark magic crackled around her horn, dancing down along her upraised hoof and into the air. Trixie’s eyes widened in horror as she hurriedly summoned her barrier again to protect herself from a barrage of lightning bolts.

“What’s the matter, hero? Gonna run away like the last one?” the Countess taunted as the lightning finally subsided.

“The Star Mare admits she was not prepared to face vampires!” Trixie protested indignantly, firing another magic blast at the Countess, but missed her as she teleported away. “But she will win regardless!”

“Keep telling yourself that, foal!” Countess Midnight shouted, reappearing directly in front of Trixie and fanning out her cape again, shooting three fireballs at her once more. Trixie’s barrier managed to keep her from getting incinerated, but the force of the explosions was enough to knock her backwards and send her rolling across the metal floor. “A mere mortal filly against a creature of darkness, it doesn’t matter what you are! Brash monster hunter, overconfident space hero, or hopeful magic student! You’re the same second-rate nopony through and through that’s all talk and no show!” she explained as she landed and began to approach.

Trixie’s eyes snapped open, and she turned to face the vampire countess with her magic fully charged. Midnight lunged at her, fangs bared but Trixie set off a burst of smoke, slipping out of the way as her enemy flew past her and crashed into the floor, tumbling into the door. As Countess Midnight stood herself back up, she saw the young filly smirking as her horn continued glowing. The vampire barely had time to register what was going on as Trixie fired a magical blast at her, knocking her back over.

“You’ll pay for that!” the Countess shouted, raising her hooves up and she became a solid black silhouette that suddenly broke apart into a swarm of bats that began flying all around Trixie, swatting at her with their wings and knocking her around as they continuously slammed into her. The filly would not give up, though. She was greater and more powerful then any vampire!

Struggling against the onslaught from the bats, Trixie summoned her barrier again as she attempted to protect herself so she could come up with something, anything that could destroy the Countess. Her eyes fell upon the shutters covering the bridge windows and she grew curious. Why would she… Trixie’s eyes turned to the holographic map in the center of the room. “Of course!” Trixie shouted with an excited cheer, using her magic to drop her barrier long enough to create another explosion of smoke and made a run for the control panel. Just as she reached it and found a switch that indicated raising and lowering the window shutters, the filly noticed the bats flock together and reform into Countess Midnight once more.

“What do you think you’re doing?” the Countess asked, spreading her cape open again to fire another trio of fireballs at the filly, just as Trixie hit the switch with her hoof and the window shutters immediately slid upward, revealing the sun behind them. Countess Midnight had barely enough time to scream as her body instantly exploded in a burst of ash, bringing an end to the vampire pony’s evil ambitions of galactic conquest.

"So who's the winner now, Countess Dust-Pile?" the young space hero asked triumphantly, kicking away the Countess' smoking remains for good measure.

The filly let out a sigh of relief as she turned around and hit the giant red button that was the station's power switch, and the sound of the its power draining could be heard all around her. Smiling in satisfaction, Trixie turned and looked out the window, relieved as the sun shined in the distance and the Celestial Republic could now live another day thanks to the great and heroic deeds of the Star Mare!

~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Trixie moaned softly as she rubbed her eyes, realizing that she’d been laying right under the sunlight that now shined in her face. Turning over, the young filly looked around and saw she was still in the school observatory. Her notebook lay open before her, filled with a few doodles and scribbles, but not nearly enough notes she would have needed to get anywhere for her Astronomy report. A quick look at the clock and the sun outside told the unicorn all she needed to know about the ugly and embarrassing truth of the situation.

“Oh noooo! I've gotta wait a whole 'nother day, now! Stupid sleepiness!” she whined indignantly, falling on her back and kicking her legs up angrily that she now had to spend another night up here for her assignment.

Author's Note

And finally, another chapter done. Hope you all enjoyed the plot twist for the final battle. One more chapter left to go, and thanks everyone for sticking with me so far! :twilightsmile: