Leaving behind the stage and the dispersing ponies, the group departed. They didn't go to Vinyl's place. "The stallion's probably already asleep," demurred Vinyl. "How big's your place?" She was looking at not-Trixie.

Not Trixie nodded softly, perhaps a bit numbly. "Y-yeah, plenty of room, kinda soft." She started leading the way in the awkward walk of someone taking a considerable loss.

Trixie rolled her eyes as she easily matched the pace. "Don't look like that. You were going against the Trixie, how could you win? If it helps, I thought you made a decent effort, but let's face it, you were doomed."

Starlight trotted up between the two Trixies, nudging her friend away from her doppelganger. "What she means is that you are your own pony, and you don't need to be Trixie."

"That is what I said," grunted out Trixie as if that had been perfectly clear.

Vinyl chuckled softly, walking along behind them with music drifting from her headphones.

"Trixie?"

Trixie turned an ear at her double. "Mm?"

"What was that name you gave me?"

"Long Story," chimed Trixie, looking quite proud of herself. "Just like the one we're going to hear, and the one you told this evening. I figured since you like stories, why not that?"

Long Story spoke the name under her breath, measuring the weight on her tongue. "Yes, Long Story... I can live with that." She reached up and adjusted her hat, only for it to be pulled away in glowing magic.

Trixie tucked the hat away. "Trade dress goes with the name. Get your own style."

Starlight huffed softly. "Do you have to strip her of her things in the middle of the street?"

Long shook her head. "It's alright." She raised a hoof to the front of her cape, her magic undid the clasp as the other Trixie's magic yanked it away, making her wobble a step. She was left naked. Even as her cheeks warmed, she remembered that the pony beside her, Starlight, was equally exposed.

Still, it was Manehattan, there were plenty of ponies in plenty of clothes inside the city, and she had become not one of them. "I'll have to find a new look."

Starlight smiled a little at Long. "If Rarity was still here, she'd help with that, it's her thing."

Long quirked a little smile. "I'll find something. Manehattan doesn't hurt for clothing options."

Trixie glanced around as they pushed towards Long's home. "This does not look like the 'good' part of the city. Are you certain we should be here?"

Long's smile deepened a little. "Is Trixie scared?"

"No!" Trixie stomped a hoof mid-step, glaring at her former double.

"My apartment is just a block away, and I can assure we won't be harassed here." She was literally with the local mafia. No random thug with a brain cell would dare to mess with the wizard of their gang. She felt fairly safe. "Besides, most of the ponies here just want to make it through the day, like any other pony."

"Yeah," joined in Starlight, bumping Trixie. "Stop assuming the worst."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "I have performed in many cities, Starlight. I am not 'assuming' anything. I speak from experience. There are some parts in a city you shy away from if you like your things staying your things."

"Trixie," came a male voice, a big stallion emerging from the darkness of an alley. He was looking at Long Story, though his eyes darted towards the other. "And... Trixie? What's the deal?"

Trixie shied behind Starlight for cover. Long Story waved at her as she smiled. "Meet Trixie. I'm not that anymore."

"Yeah?" Rags looked over the group. "Is that, uh, DJ?"

Vinyl raised a hoof. "Yo." She didn't seem worried about his presence or much else.

Starlight nodded at the stranger. "And I'm Starlight. Nice to meet you..."

Long waved at him. "This is Rags, a friend and co-worker you could say."

Rags snorted at that. "Co-worker, ain't called that in a while. These friends of yours? And if ain't Trixie, what are ya?"

"That is a Long Story, and so am I." She smiled, looking self-satisfied. "I'll explain everything, later. Let me get them off the street, alright?"

"Yeah, ain't no thing." He nodded firmly. "Uh, you, uh..." He looked away, colored faintly. "The bare look suits you."

Starlight burst into laughter suddenly, moving between Long and Rags. "You can compliment her fashion choices later, Rags. For tonight, we're with her."

Trixie snickered, her fear abated. "I think you have somepony that likes you." She nudged Long with a grin. "He has good taste."

Vinyl walked on past everyone as if the conversation wasn't happening, her head bobbing to the music. Long spotted her going and rushed to catch up. "See you later, Rags! This way." Soon she could ascend the stairs to the building that held her boss, her 'co-workers', and her apartment.

They all piled into the elevator and it began to raise towards her floor. "I didn't know I'd have guests today."

"I'm sure it's not that bad," assured Starlight. "We're not here to judge."

"Says you," teased Trixie with an impish smile. "Let's see what squalor my would-be double dwells in."

With a ring, the door opened and they spilled out into the hallway. It was a short trot to her door. A key floated from her pocket and had it open quickly. "Mi casa es su casa," chimed Long with a bow and a wave.

Starlight perked an ear. "I'm not sure what you said but that sounded friendly enough." She moved past Long into the softness of Long's apartment. The thick shag carpeting her first contact with it. "Oh..." she walked gingerly, feeling the softness as she went. "You could toss an infant in here and they'd be safe."

Trixie hurried in after her, only to stagger on hitting the soft carpet in surprise. The apartment was not squallor. There was a pizza box on the table, but other than that, it was neat. Neat, and soft. Trixie tossed herself onto the couch, sinking into its plush depths. "I think I like this... I may have to get one for my wagon."

Vinyl was the last of the guests to enter, walking along as if nothing was unusual. "Nice place," she complimented, her eyes wandering. "What job do you have to get such a nice place? Does it involve that bruiser we ran into out there?"

Long willed the door shut behind her as she joined her guests. "Welcome to my house, um, yeah. Like I said, he's worked with me before. So... can I get anyone a drink? This is a Long Story after all."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "We're glad you're already enjoying your name, but get on with it."

Long hopped up onto one of her chairs, as soft as everything in the room. "Alright, so... This starts a while ago. I didn't even have hooves then."

Trixie blinked, then her eyes went wide. "Human!" she squeaked out. "My double was a human?!"

Long's story deflated in her mind. "You know what one of those are?"

Trixie pointed at Long accusingly. "Of course I know what one of those are! I mean... Long Story, please, continue."

Starlight hiked a brow at Trixie. "Yeah huh... Anyway, yes, please, go on."

Long nodded as she sat up fully. "Right, anyway, fingers, lack of fur, and a general malaise about the direction of my life. The idea of a world of color and sweetness had a lot of appeal. When I got the invite, I jumped for it, and ended up like this." She pointed at herself. "I was a stallion back then."

Trix snorted softly. "My double was also--" She didn't get to finish, being bopped on the head by an irate-looking Starlight. "Yes, yes, go on."

Though burning with curiosity, Long proceeded. "So, as I was saying, I came here, and was given this body, and the mental baggage that came with it." She tapped at her head. "Part of me wanted to just... give in and become Trixie, but the other part, the human, refused. I was me, and I liked me, even pony me."

Vinyl raised a hoof from the floor. "I can dig that."

Long nodded at her, smiling. Vinyl was also a once-human. It was nice having someone who felt similar things. "So I became... not-Trixie. I did things my own way."

Trixie leaned forward without bothering to sit up, enjoying the softness of the couch too much. "And you started telling stories when?"

Long thought back. "It was on the street. Some foals recognized me, as you, and wanted me to put on a show. I wasn't feeling confident enough to put on a full magic show, so I told a story instead with some magical backup... It went well, and I really liked it."

Trixie wrinkled her nose. "Did you have the sense to collect some bits." She glanced at Starlight glaring at her. "What? She did the work, she should get paid. It's only fair."

Vinyl looked left and right. "I don't think Long's hurting for bits. She paid for my show and she lives in a nice apartment. I'd rather a two bedroom, but other than that, pretty cool. I wonder how the carpet affects the acoustics."

Long put a hoof behind her head, absent of a hat as it was. "Um, yes. It was not too long after that, poof, Trixie appears in a crowd, challenging me."

Trixie sat up at that. "You're skipping things!" She pointed at Long accusingly. "You never said how you got all those marks. That has to be worth mentioning. How did you take this--" She gestured her face. "--perfection and do... that." She pointed at Long with a frown.

Starlight nudged her friend with a hoof. "Maybe that's just how she came here in the first place. Nopony said it was, you know, perfect."

That was a good excuse, but with the three of them watching her, Long didn't feel confident in any outright lies. "I said that before... I tried to teleport too far with too much stuff. An entire tub full of stuff, across town."

Trixie tilted her head. "And you couldn't do it?"

Starlight's eyes rolled. "Trixie, do not try that, ever. Teleporting is an act of finesse and power. The farther you go, the more finesse is needed. The more you bring, the more power you need. If you don't have enough of either, bad things happen. If you're along for the ride, more bad things can happen. It's one thing to chip a stone table." She glanced aside at Trixie with clear accusation. "It's another for that same pressure to be applied to a living body."

Vinyl bobbed her head once out of the tune of her music. "I stick with the easy stuff, magic-wise. Vinyl was never deep in on magic, and this Vinyl isn't either. We prefer the magic of solid music, and that's more than enough for the both of us. Teleporting a record is about the most I need."

Trixie waved the thought away. "Trixie was meant for magic, flashy magic that can entrance a crowd. She's only growing better over time at bedazzling her gaping fans to their accolades and cheers." She grinned triumphantly, as if the crowd were calling to her just that moment.

Long shook her head. "I'm sure if you had tried it, you would have done it without being sent to the hospital for it."

Trixie cringed. "She is sure she would have... You're alright though?"

"I'm fine." Long hopped down from her chair. "Better than fine. I met some wonderful friends."

"Hey, no problem," assured Vinyl. "You're welcome to stop by even if you don't have a gig."

Starlight didn't share in the easy smiles. "You've been avoiding what you do, and I don't like the hints I've been given so far. Long Story, if you're being pressured, now is the time to ask for help. Are you being forced to do something you don't want to do?"

Author's Note

Let's learn about Long Story! Starlight is not easily misled.

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