First Dates

"Haha! Behold, citizens of Canterlot! I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, now sit here, in this humble café, successful in obtaining for herself a date with the beloved and popular Flash Sentry! Many have coveted him, many have desired him, but it is I who have him! Look upon us now and weep, for none shall ever again reach this absolute height of quality pairing ever again! So sayeth the Great and Powerful...TRIXIE!!!"

Slowly, Flash blinked at his date's declaration.

"So...I take it you're happy to be here?"

Getting herself back into her side of the booth, Trixie folded her arms, looking to her partner with a smirk.

"Oh yes, very much so!"

Flash nodded.

"Good, because..."

He turned, looking upon the stunned, embarrassed and just downright confused expressions on the faces of the cafe's other patrons.

"...I think we might need to tone it down a bit after that."

Trixie rolled her eyes, waving him off.

"Pfft! Don't worry about it! Besides, when you're a couple like us, why not flaunt what you've got?"

Nervously, Flash took a sip of his milkshake.

"Trixie, I know you like to put on a show, but...do you really have to do that when you're on a date?"

The girl looked to him with a measure of incredulity.

"Oh? I'd have thought you'd know by now that this is the kind of thing I like. I mean, did you seriously expect to ask a girl like Trixie out on a date and not witness something like this?"

As Flash considered that, he sighed, nodding slowly.

"Yeah, good point. I probably should've seen that one coming."

Trixie put on another triumphant smirk.

"Good. Now that that's settled with, I assume you'd like to talk with Trixie about...you know...date stuff?"

Flash looked to her in silence for a time.

"Um...date stuff?"

Trixie nodded, suddenly looking like she was feeling hesitant about something.

"Yes, you know, the kinds of things boys and girls like to talk about when on dates."

Flash scratched the back of his head.

"Well, don't you know from all the other dates you've been on?"

To that, Trixie didn't actually answer. Instead, she looked away, as if ashamed of looking back at him. It took him about a minute, but eventually, Flash's eyes widened with realisation.

"Wait...I'm the first guy you've ever dated?!"

His surprise was clear, as indeed was Trixie's embarrassment as she waved her hands in front of him.

"Shhhh! Not so loud!"

Flash, looking around, understood.

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

Slumping down into her chair slightly, Trixie sighed, then gave a nod.

"If you must know, yes, you are the first guy I've ever dated."

After slurping some more of his drink, Flash looked at her with what could only be scepticism.

"Sorry for being blunt about this, Trixie...but you're a pretty good-looking girl."

Chuckling, Trixie swept aside some of her hair.

"Guilty, as charged."

But Flash frowned soon afterwards.

"My point is that it seems odd that you wouldn't have had at least some guys asking you out."

Trixie's smile faded, and she turned, staring out of the window.

"Let's just say that some boys don't approve of Trixie's...how shall I put it...exuberance?"

Flash titled his head just the tiniest amount, but it was enough to communicate his confusion. Grunting a little, Trixie looked back to him.

"I have a big personality and they're put off by it."

It took a moment, but Flash soon nodded to it.

"Ah, I see. Yes, I can understand how that might be a problem."

But then he smiled.

"Well, I wasn't put off by it at least."

Trixie gave a dry laugh to that, then looked to her date with interest.

"And that reminds me...why did you ask me out? You've never really shown that much interest in Trixie before."

Again, Flash nodded.

"Fair point. But after everything you did helping Sunset out with that memory stuff, I figured maybe you're someone I and others should spend some time with."

It was a genuine sentiment, and one that Trixie soon found herself softening over.

"Well...Trixie also considers you someone worth being with. After, all, it was nice, what you did for Trixie a while back."

Flash once more showed some confusion, prompting Trixie to elaborate.

"At the mall? When you helped Trixie with her crystal ball? It would have probably shattered into a million pieces if you weren't there to catch it."

Now remembering what she was talking about, Flash blushed slightly.

"Hey, I was just in the right place at the right time."

But Trixie shook her head to that.

"There's a time and a place for modesty, Flash, and today is not it. Most would not have been so helpful had they seen me."

A smile came to her.

"The magic show I was planning would have been ruined if not for that little bit of help you gave."

Flash smiled right back at her.

"Well, I hope your show ended up okay."

Leaning back into her chair, a somewhat smug look came to the girl.

"Oh, trust me, it was spectacular!"

She cackled a little.

"I can still see all the amazed faces of the crowds I'd brought in. All the oooooh's and aaaaaaaah's. I tell you, nothing is quite so sweet as being able to wow a crowd like that!"

Flash, happy at seeing his date return to her infamous enthusiasm for magic, raised his milkshake to her.

"Having seen your shows myself here and there, I can definitely vouch for them being impressive."

Trixie, continuing to be in her showman state of mind, smiled and gave a slight bow to that.

"You're very welcome, Mr Sentry!"

The two shared a laugh, with Trixie raising her own milkshake and gently putting it against Flash's in a silent toast. As they gulped down all the remained of their beverages, Flash soon looked to his partner with curiosity.

"Tell me...what made you want to get into magic to begin with?"

A nostalgic look came to Trixie after that.

"Oh, it was definitely my Dad. He used to put on magic shows all the time back in the day. Stopped after I was born, but he still taught me a trick or two."

She smiled to herself, looking out of the window.

"I do sometimes wonder what things would have been like if he'd kept it up though. The great Jack Pot, performing once more!"

Flash looked to her, stunned.

"Wait...the Jack Pot?!"

Trixie looked back to him, eyes wide.

"You've heard of him?"

Flash gave a hearty laugh.

"Oh, I've heard of him alright! My Mom used to be a big fan of his shows! When I was little, she showed me this old VHS recording of one time she went to see one of them. I loved seeing those tricks of his! The disappearing act, sawing the assistant in half..."

Trixie smirked.

"And the escaped from underwater trick?"

Flash sighed, himself now looking similarly nostalgic.

"Oh, that was my favourite!"

Pleased at this, Trixie tried to put on a more aloof attitude.

"Well, maybe if you're good, the Great and Powerful Trixie will demonstrate it for you."

Flash certainly seemed interested in that suggestion.

"In that case, give me a call if you ever need help in one of your shows."

Smirking again, Trixie tapped her chin with her finger, looking her date over, before giving a nod.

"Well...a good magician does always need an attractive assistant after all."