Return to Disharmony

Trixie saw herself standing on a large, wooden stage in the middle of the canterlot courtyard as legions of fans cheered below her. She saw colorful sparks dancing beside her as everypony in Equestria cheered and stomped their hooves in delight. She had everypony around her immersed in the show and now there was nothing left to do but begin the grand finale.

“Thank you, thank you all for your applause but now I must ask you to be silent for I, the great and powerful Trixie, am about to perform a trick that nopony has ever done before!”

Behind her, the purple curtains were enveloped in a spiky wave of azure energy as they were pulled back by an unseen force. The crowd gasped as they all laid their eyes on the dreaded Ursa Major. The Ursa Major was over fifty feet tall with large jagged teeth, beady yellow eyes, and blue fur which displayed the stars of the night sky all over its body. The Ursa Major snarled at Trixie from behind its metal cage while Trixie merely looked at her frightened crowd with smirk on her face.

“As you can see fillies and gentlecolts, behind me is the dreaded Ursa Major. Do not be alarmed for long for I, the great and powerful Trixie, shall tame this beast before your very eyes into becoming my trusty steed.”

From the murmurs quietly beginning to travel throughout the crowd, she knew that she had the audience’s full attention. Without a second’s thought, she enveloped the lock on the cage with spiky energy before unlocking it and allowing it to fall to the ground with an audible crash.

The audience was still, so quiet in fact that nothing could be heard but the sounds of the Ursa Major who had not yet discovered its own freedom. Trixie turned away from the audience and faced the Ursa as she enveloped the door in spiky energy and pulled so that it swung open before her, allowing the Ursa to escape.

At the sight of the released Ursa, many members of the audience screamed while others began to quickly make their way to the safety of their homes. Trixie was about to say something when the Ursa let loose a powerful roar which silenced her audience almost immediately.

“Now stay calm everypony, this act requires total and complete concentration.”

Trixie closed her eyes and began to concentrate. In her mind, she saw herself enveloping the Ursa Major in her energy before gently scratching the Ursa’s fur. The Ursa resisted for a moment before it started to calm down. She could feel the creature’s eyes becoming heavier and heavier as she continued to scratch its ears and muzzle.

It’s working. She thought to herself, it’s really working.

Suddenly, a loud knock was heard, causing Trixie to break her concentration. She tried to regain her composure when suddenly another knock sounded which shattered whatever instance of concentration she had left.

When her concentration left, her progress went with it for the Ursa suddenly made a loud roar before stomping one of its forepaws into the stage, splintering parts of it upon impact.

The crowd began to panic as everypony frantically tried to find safety from the wrath of the Ursa Major.

“She’s a fake!” One pony cried.

“A charlatan!” Another screamed over the rush of the crowd.

“She’s going to kill us all!” A third unknown pony cried in a panic.

While the crowd was busy running for safety, Trixie found herself shaking before the awesome sight of the Ursa Major. As the Ursa sank its head towards Trixie, she began to scream before the world around her gave way to the darkness.

•••

Trixie’s eyes opened wide as she sat upright in her cot. A ray of sunlight poured in through the hole in the roof of her small shack which blinded her before causing her to shut her eyes tight and block it out with her hoofs. As she groaned in pain, a series of loud thumps were heard coming from the other side of the door.

“Trixie, Trixie are you in there? It’s almost dawn, you need to get started!”

Trixie’s eyes readjusted to the sudden amount of sunlight in the room as she reluctantly crawled out of bed and put on her purple uniform. As she got dressed, she projected a wave of energy towards the handle on the door and “welcomed” her boss into the shack.

“Good morning Mr. Leo.” Trixie said sarcastically as she tried to shake the remaining sleep from her eyes.

Mr. Leo was a brown earth pony with short, squared off brown hair with a matching goatee. He had yellow eyes which shot an angry look at his tenant and a cutie mark on his flank which showed a chisel with its blade pointed towards a block of marble, represented his amazing knack for sculpting works of art from the toughest marble in Equestria and his job as the royal sculptor for the royal family.

“Don’t start with me Trixie, now you know that I don’t necessarily mind you using my shack while you’re in between jobs but I at least want you to start working in the garden on time, especially since you’re right here.”

Trixie met Mr. Leo shortly after she ran out of Ponyville. Broke and homeless, Trixie asked Mr. Leo for a place to stay and Mr. Leo allowed Trixie to stay in his spare shack towards the edge of the Canterlot sculpture garden. In exchange for room and board, Trixie had to help Mr. Leo keep the sculpture garden in shape for the many guests who regularly visit the garden to see many of Mr. Leo’s creations…especially the “newest” addition which was sent from Ponyville a few weeks ago.

“I’m sorry Mr. Leo…I’ve just been having a few late nights lately.”

“I don’t care Trixie,” Mr. Leo said impatiently, “you’re job here is to go out into the garden and help me manage the garden. If you’re in your hut all day, sleeping the entire day away while I’m in there busting my back then you’re not really earning your keep now are you.”

Trixie groaned under her breathe as reluctantly shook her head.

“It’s nice that you understand, now come on, you’re already a few hours behind and we have a lot of work to do today.” Mr. Leo said as he walked out towards the field.

“Yes sir.” Trixie said as she followed her boss out into the field.

Today’s going to be a long day.