Crystal Clear

“Fillies and gentlecolts…” answered a deep-voiced stallion over a stereo. “…From the shadows, a king was born. All of the power of the dark is his. Please give it up for our host, Sombra!”

To his somba theme music, Sombra proudly marched onto the stage and sat on his couch with a forboding smile.

“Welcome everypony… For a while I’ve anticipated tonight’s guest – A pony’s who’s been on my radar for almost a month now.” Sombra said. “…But we’ll get to that soon enough.

Right now I’d like to say happy Hearth’s Warming! I know it’s a little too late for that. Over the holidays Discord granted a wish to three… ambitious fillies. They had just tried starting a band together. They need some work. Discord pulled some strings to get them a recorded album. Since I ticked off Discord with some of my comments in the last episode, he gave me the first copy. I have to say, well played, Discord.

I’ve gotten around to thinking about the youth and this generation. It confuses me how some of the biggest complaints is that there isn’t enough change and that there’s just too much change. When I think about how some ponies have reacted to Twilight Sparkle’s coronation. There were more objections to that, then letting Nightmare Moon – Whoops, I mean Luna – becoming a princess.

I’m sorry, but that’s when someone should’ve said something. I mean, the mare breaks out of prison terrorizes Equestria, says ‘sorry’, then she gets to be a princess again by the next morning?!” Sombra paused to let the crowd cheered. “I know we live in a fairly sunshiney world, but we still know right and wrong when we see it and if that’s alright… Then I need to send Cadence a fruit basket and an apology card and get my throne back.

Now back to Twilight… Contrary to popular opinion here in Crystal Clear, I personally don't have any issues with her being a princess." Some ponies stood up in the audience. They were silenced by Sombra's fire-eyed glare. “I’ve only known Twilight for a short time, but I’ve come to understand that she, in a sense, is Celestia’s next generation. She’s learned about friendship because of Celestia, she’s turned Discord to stone just like Celestia, and has even dealt with her own ‘Nightmare Moon’, some nag named Sunset Shimmer or something like that. That whole transition into princess seems natural enough.

With that in mind, I can’t help but wonder who my next generation is. I hope that it doesn’t turn out to be that Stratocaster mare. Twilight will have no problem dealing with her. Although, I do see some potential in our guest to take my place.

Now before she comes out, I want to get a little something ready…”

Sombra reached underneath a new coffee table in front of him and pulled out a bottle of Forbidden Fruit and, using his magic, popped off the cork and took a few sips before setting the wine bottle back on the table.

"Alright… I'm ready. Now, allow me to introduce our first guest--"

Sombra stopped all of a sudden when the lights suddenly flickered off. Over of to the side of the set, a spotlight turned on as the same song that played when Discord appeared on the show. Just like that day, a motorcycle rolled up the gradual staircase was Trixie wearing her violet cape and hat. Small fireworks shot up and went off as Trixie progressed to the stage, a spotlight following her. When she finally arrived on the stage, she took a few laps before she finally dismounted her bike and took a seat as the music faded away.

"Everypony," Sombra began. "This-"

"I am the great and powerful Trixie!" announced Trixie. A trumpet fanfare played and a few fireworks shot up.

"Yeah…what she said." Sombra said with a roll of his eyes. "I have to say, you have… moxie."

Trixie closed her eyes and put a hoof to her chest.

“When you have the ability of the great and powerful Trixie, confidence comes naturally.”

“For somepony of your ability, you’re easily defeated; twice by Twilight Sparkle, twice by security.”

“Don’t even go there. Twilight Sparkle is a mare with friends with some sort of complex. I mean, they interrupt a magic act because I was showing off?! It’s my job, for Luna’s sake! I couldn’t even anticipate her and two deficient colts ruining my career.”

“Not everypony in Ponyville is so nice, huh?”

“It was a hick town anyways. Let me tell you, they should get a psychiatrist down there to take a look at all of the mud ponies down there. All they know is apples, gardening, and doing whatever the purple nag says.”

“Oh that place can’t be all that bad. I mean, that is where you found love.”

“Say what?”

“Oh yes. A certain stallion named Big Bri-“

Trixie leapt over the coffee table and slammed her body into Sombra, toppling his chair.

“Lies! Lies! All! Lies!” Trixie yelled as the armored security guards came to pry Trixie off of Sombra.

Sombra sat back up.

“Okay, Trixie…” he said to the restrained mare. “You put on so much effort just to sit down and say your name. I don’t want all of that to go to waste, so I’ll give you one more chance to behave yourself.”

Trixie shrugged off the guards and sat back down.

“Trixie will humor you, only for all of her fans everywhere.” she replied.

Sombra sighed.

“Anyways, you getting run out of Ponyville was a long time ago. What have you done to make ends meet.”

“Trixie is a mare of many talents. She has been into geological agriculture, the justice system, and even the food industry. She’s gotten far since Ponyville and she got  the bits to fix her stage and is currently on her fabulous world tour and is even doing a show here in the Crystal Empire tomorrow night.”

“Well Trixie, you talk a big game. Do you want to show us what your show’s all about?”

The crowd began to chant.

“As much as you’re all dying to see Trixie’s brilliance, Trixie doesn’t just give favors. If anypony wants to see, they’ll have to buy a ticket.”

Sombra, front legs crossed looked at her annoyed.

“Do you have something to say?” asked Trixie.

“All you do is talk.” Sombra answered. “You’ve defeated Twilight Sparkle and every time you show up here, you talk down to me. I want to see something amazing.”

The live audience’s chants continued in agreement.

“Fine.” Trixie sighed.

The mare flipped off her hat and held it out for all to see, and she pulled out a rabbit. Silence followed. One pony coughed, then it was silent again.

“Is that about it?” Sombra asked.

“Yeah..” she answered.

Trixie got up and began to walk out.

"Trixie?" said Sombra.

The magician turned around.

"Here." he said levitating a CD to her. "Here's a free album curtousy of us here at Crystal Clear."

A few ponies in the audience snickered lightly, but Trixie payed them no mind and took the CD, placing it under her hat, nodded to Sombra, and walked out.

When Trixie left, the audience cheered.

"I guess I have to thank Discord after all." said Sombra. "Speaking of giving, I have one more guest tonight. She's a very lovely mare, possibly the most sane pony from Ponyville. Everypony, please welcome, Ponyville's prominent philequinest, Day Dream."

A mare made her way onto the stage, several ponies stomping as she sat down.

"Good evening." Sombra greeted.

"Thank you." Day Dream responded.

"So, can you tell us a little about yourself?"

"I was a little filly growing up in Ponyville. I was always a wanting sort of pony, but I noticed that there was foals with more hopeful wishes than I, so now I work in political management to help make those more genuine wishes come true."

"So, what have you accomplished so far?"

"In Ponyville, I helped to set up a playground for all foals to enjoy wether they're pegasi or just orphans."

Everyone was staring at a snorting Sombra who had a hoof in front of his face.

"What?" asked Day Dream.

"Oh, oh, it's nothing." he answered. "It's just when you said 'orphan' it reminded me of a joke I used to tell my advisor, Shale." The silence continued. Sombra gave a nervous cough. "So, how's your project here in the Crytal Empire going so far?"

"It's a little slow-paced right now, but I was working with Cadence to help rebuild the market places that were destroyed during the last Crystal Rebellion."

"Ha, ha! I remember that! That was the funnest Tuesday I ever-"

Besides from a gasp, all was quiet as all ponies looked at Sombra with wide eyes.

Sombra nervously laughed again as sweat rolled down the side of his head. He reached for the wine on the table and drank another mouthful.

"If this is a government based project, then funding should be low considering the efforts to support Equestria, right?"

"Actually, yes. I try to work with what I do. I know the princess’s business is important too.”

“Would it speed things up, if I were to write out a check for - let’s say - 100,000 bits?”

Day Dreams eyes widened.

“Really?” she asked, believing she misheard Sombra.

“Sure. Who am I to leave ponies suffering?”

Sombra took a few more sips of Forbidden Fruit to find that he drank the entire bottle over the course of the show and suddenly he felt a little dizzy. Maintaining balance and composure, he took out a small book from his jacket pocket and wrote out a check that he levitated to Day Dream with some struggle.

“Thank you, Sombra.” said Day Dream.

“There’s donuts in the back for you.” Sombra spoke.

“Oh, well… okay. I’ll go get some… I guess.”

And on that note Day Dream trotted off to the backstage, leaving Sombra to stare blankly at his audience. His manager gave a warning cough and suddenly, Sombra remembered where he left off.

“Well, everypony,” he spoke. “The holidays are here, not for giving, but to remind us to give and just how good giving feels. It touches me to see that. It’s great to see Discord giving to foals, Cadence giving to the kingdom, and it feels great to give a little something to Day Dream. Even Trixie left her motorcycle for me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go ride it before I pass out. Good night! Thanks for tuning in! COPS Equestria should be on right about now! Bye!”

A mariachi band began to play. Sombra hopped on the bike that Trixie forgot about (much to the worry of his manager) and rode out of sight as the screen faded to black and the credits rolled.