The Magician and Musician

It was a blistering hot summer day, the sun shown down, the sky cloudless. along a nicely kept road our story starts with a light blue pony, her purple hat shading her eyes from the glaring light. We fall upon Trixie Lulamoon, pulling her carriage, stage and home to her next gig, a planned show in Fillydalphia which was supposed to get her name out there in the world again after her last Problematic trip to Ponyville.

"Well," started Trixie, exasperated "it could be worse, and I think I see the city. Just a few more minutes of walking." she was sweating heavily, sighing she wiped her brow and moved along. She couldn't tell if she really wanted this gig but she knew that it had been set up for a while now, just a few months and the world would forget her if she didn't do this.

Trixie walked up to the city, a new venue with a new feel and a fresh audience, she couldn't wait for tonight, her show was going to rock the globe this time. She had been working this routine for a few years now; she had just perfected it, a show made to get the highest ratings and entertain all ages with no tricks. The carriage she had been pulling was starting to feel heavier for some reason, Trixie just thought she was getting tired. She smelled something sweet, it was familiar to her, yet she couldn't quite put her hoof on it. Turning the corner she decided to try and find the source of the smell, maybe wherever it was coming from would have some affordable food.

"Hey, what are you looking for ma'am?" a stranger approached, he was a lavender unicorn stallion with black and purple mane, his basic style was a top hat and a shirt with the collar unbuttoned. He looked at Trixie softly and spoke the same, his tone made her spine tingle and her hair stand, but not in a bad way. He pulled his glasses up his nose with his magic as she stood there with her mouth half open trying to find the words to explain.

"ah... but... ah..." she cleared her throat, "I'm sorry, i'm looking for an affordable cafe or restaurant nearby, would you be able to help me?" she blushed, other stallions never made her feel this way.

"For sure" he responded kindly, "may i ask though, what's your name? i can't exactly just call you ma'am, it's too formal, and while i can be," he looked around, "I don't see a ballroom around us."

"Just call me Trixie." she said, "what's your name?"

"Chrome, " The stalion replied, "Chrome Blade, and a man of my word." he looked behind himself and pointed with his hoof, "Over there is a cafe I frequent, it has some very good food and is reasonably affordable, i don't make much but i can always go there for a quick drink or some muffins." He rambled on a bit awkwardly and looked back, she was staring at him her eyes mesmerized, entranced with him, she tensed up and thanked him, offering to buy him a drink. declining he said that he was just leaving there when he noticed her. "I guess this is goodbye for now Trixie, but don't worry. I have the feeling we'll be seeing each other again soon enough." he winked and walked away, pulling out his hookah pen and taking a long drag.

Trixie stared as he walked away saying his name under her breath she wandered into the cafe, where had she heard that before? But more important, she finally recognized the smell, chocolate and java, the entire cafe smelled like it. "Chrome Blade, where have i heard that?" she walked up to the counter and asked for a latte, four sugar lumps, two hits of cream and a chocolate chip muffin.

"Something on your mind?" the barista pony asked.

"What does the name Chrome Blade mean to you?" Trixie asked, staring off into the distance, her question didn't have an exact answer but she knew that whatever answer is was she wanted it more than being left in the dark.

"Chrome Blade?" the barista looked at Trixie with the drink in her hand, "well he's a regular, has three special talents somehow all in one cutie mark, and is a famous musician pony who lives nearby in this city. Why do you ask?"

"No real reason." Trixie paid for her food, walking out of the cafe she found her carriage out front, finishing her food and heading to the town hall, the person she was supposed to meet was there, a younger man who had asked for her to perform. When she was writing letters to him before, it was when she was calling herself the Great and Powerful Trixie, a time which she was happy to pass after a while. Her title was probably more of a stage name in all honesty, and when she reached town hall she was ready to talk business instead of dwell on the past.

She walked in and approached the service desk, asking the secretary which room her meeting was in, she said trixie and the mare immediately pointed to the room just right of the desk.

"You're later than expected." the man said at the other end of the table, he had his back turned to her and looking out of the third floor window, the room faced almost nothing but taller and taller buildings, she wondered what he was looking out at.

"I know, i had to get some food since i was exhausted walking here." Trixie was annoyed, she just wanted to get this all over with and get her pay. "so when should the show start today? I was thinking just around sundown, or maybe dinner?"

"There will be no show, i sold your slot."

"Oh ok... wait, WHAT?!"