Bounty knows no bounds

The show mare went back into her little wagon after being deserted by the audience. The reason? She oh so foolishly proclaimed that she was as powerful- no, more powerful that Celestia herself! Hm, now I can see why she is to be hunted...

"Hn... Stupid audience... Trixie doesn't deserve this kind of treatment..." She grumbled as she pulled her wagon into a small, isolated alley. I smirked. This was my chance, after all. However, I had to get her closer to the castle if I need to successfully transfer the Target to the Client. After all, Bon Bon did offer a pretty hefty amount of bits to be spent.

"Trixie?" I asked. Her head turned.

"Who's there?"

"I'm here." I waved my hoof and her eyes landed on me.

"What in Equestria are you?" She asked in disgust. I kept my poker face on. "Trixie means, you look like a shrunken pony infused with an insect! Yuck! Trixie hates insects!"

"For your information, I am a breezie." I said emotionlessly with my half lidded eyes, frustration beginning to boil. "And I heard you say how powerful you are."

She immediately smiled and her eyes twinkled slyly. "Oh, yes. Trixie is the most powerful mare in Equestria, wouldn't you say?" She boasted. "After all, Trixie is the best pony around!"

"Well, I'll believe it when I see it!" I mocked. "I'll believe it if you can teleport near the castle walls from this spot. I dare you to!"

"Er..." Her actions became shifty as a drop of sweat rolled down the side of her face. "Eh, well, you see, Trixie has better things to do than to follow your silly request! I have defeated a Ursa Major before, and shall be off to save Equestria-"

"Don't tell me you're scared of a little competition!" I taunted. She paused.

"No, Trixie is never one to turn a competition down!" She snapped.

"Then what are you scared of?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, but Trixie will prove you wrong, then you'll have to believe me!" She growled as her horn glowed.

In a poof of white smoke, her wagon, cape and hat disappeared. I arched an eyebrow. "Really?" I asked.

She glared at me. "Hey, at least Trixie sent something there!"

"Let's just hope nopony's hurt." I grumbled under my breath. "I need to follow you just incase you teleport somewhere else, so take me with you on the next round."

I placed my hoof on her shoulder as once again, her light purple aura fired up. In another cloud of white smoke, her mane and tail was gone. I stared at her in horror as she shrieked. "AHH! TRIXIE'S FABULOUS HAIR!"

"Teleport there, it should correct the mistake." I dully said. She didn't hesitate to try one more time, and this time I felt the familiar tugging sensation on my belly before I appeared in a pop! on the street, next to the wagon. Somehow, Trixie had her mane and tail attached to her, and her cape and hat draped over her.

"See? Trixie has everything under control!" She boasted vainly, seemingly forgetting that she had failed twice.

"You failed twice." I pointed out.

She spluttered. "W-Well, you're just jealous of Trixie's magical abilities." She huffed.

Thankfully, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Joe trotting towards us, along with a white pegasus that I can only assume to be 'Sunny Skies', Princess Celestia in disguise. I looked over to them and glanced around, noting that there were not many ponies around.

I waved a hoof at them and Celestia arrived. "Dark Sting?" She asked.

I bowed in mid air. "Your Highness." I said.

She smiled, a gold arch shooting up and splitting into two, an invisible dome falling around us. All sounds from the street were immediately blocked off, not even the sound of wind passed through. I know this spell; it's performed by highly capable unicorns, makes anyone in the bubble invisible to the outside world, and I've only seen it three times. Well, considering Celestia is the one who casted it, it should stay strong and hold for a long time. Her form glowed golden, the light blinding her form. Before my eyes, she shifted and grew into the form of an alicorn.

Trixie began to sweat bullets, her legs shaking. Pony Joe smirked and gave Celestia a small nod.

"I assume you're Dark Sting?" She asked. I nodded, still in a bow. "You may rise, my little breezie."

I looked up. "Your Highness, this is the pony, alive and well. I should be expecting my payment soon in my account."

"Yes, very well. You've done good." She says, before her eyes averted to the trembling unicorn. "And your punishment awaits."

I raised my hoof and waited patiently for Celestia to pay attention to me. "Uh, if you don't mind," I began, earning an amused smile from Celestia. "Can you please say why she's being punished? What crimes did she commit?"

Celestia frowned. "She placed my student and my little ponies in danger, twice, and attempted to use an ancient artefact for her own personal gain after I specifically kept it out of the way. And also, she did say that she was more powerful than me. We'll see about that."

"Oh, okay then." I said, before I bowed. "I shall travel back now, your highness."

"You're welcome." Celestia smiled. "And also, I'll save you the trouble."

Her horn glowed golden and I felt the tug at my navel, and in a flash of gold, I appeared on the train headed straight for the Whitetail woods.