"Trixie, I will end you if you finish that sentence."
Starlight entered her old room at the Castle of Friendship carrying a box of star-shaped dolls with grotesque faces in her magic. She set it down in an empty spot of floor near the back wall. The outline of her old bed frame remained on the hard carpet, despite the weeks that had passed since she moved to the master bedroom.
A box of smoke bombs, a pile of fake blue legs, a box of flowering magic wands, a box of similar-looking explosive wands… the room was filled with magical props. Starlight made a note to talk to Trixie about labeling the wands at some point.
Trixie entered the room carrying a pile of books. “Thanks for helping me empty out the wagon.”
“The alternative was sitting in the library waiting for you to finish, so…”
Trixie giggled. “Still, I appreciate it. And you letting me use your old room to store my stuff.”
“Well, even if we’re not living together yet, I’ll take any reason for you to be around the castle more.” The two embraced.
Trixie broke away to set her books down. A piece of paper slipped out from the pile right before it hit the floor.
Starlight picked up the paper. It was a flyer. "'Come see the Magnificent Jack Pot's Magical Mystery Hour, only at the Sky Palace Casino and Resort.' Who's Jack Pot?"
Trixie's eyes widened in surprise. "Did I never tell you about my dad?"
Starlight shook her head. "I don't think we've ever talked about your family."
“Starlight.”
“What?”
“We need to go to Las Pegasus. Now.”
“What?”
“Come on!” Trixie ran out of the room.
Starlight was dumbstruck. “What–but–Trixie! The school! Also everything else wrong with going to Las Pegasus on a whim!”
No response. Starlight could hear Trixie’s hoofsteps growing more and more distant.
“TRIXIE!”
After convincing Sunburst to watch over the school while they were gone, Starlight and Trixie set off toward Las Pegasus. Thanks to favorable winds, their balloon landed before the sun set. Starlight followed Trixie through the strip, taking in the sights as they went. Hotels reached even higher into the sky, and she could hear the screams of ponies riding a rollercoaster which seemed to weave in and out of one of the casino resorts. Soon, though, they’d passed through the glitz and glamor of the strip and found themselves in a more dilapidated part of town.
Starlight’s awed expression gave way to concern. “Trixie, are you sure you know where we’re going?”
“Duh? I grew up here.”
“Here here?” Starlight gestured to a nearby theatre. Its sign was rusted, its lettering strewn about the ground below it. The windows were almost all shattered or boarded up, matching those of the abutting buildings.
Trixie paused. “My dad used to perform in that theatre with my mom. It’s been closed for as long as I can remember, though.” She turned to Starlight. “But yeah. Here.”
Starlight stuttered. “I-it’s, uh… rustic.”
Trixie giggled. “It’s a dump. But it is a Great and Powerful dump!”
“Ok, thank you, I don’t know that I could have kept that up.”
They continued down the road. Trixie glanced at her companion. “You’ve met me, Starlight. Where did you think I grew up?”
“When somepony says ‘Las Pegasus,’ they usually think of the big fancy casinos, not… old piles of bricks that used to be theatres.”
“Wealthy ponies do not live in wagons, Starlight.”
“Alright, yeah, that's a fair point.”
They turned down a side street. Trixie led Starlight into an apartment complex. It was painted long-faded shades of yellow and blue, much of which had chipped away over the years. The iron stairs they climbed creaked and groaned with every step. Bits of rust sprinkled down like snow.
As they reached the door, Trixie turned to Starlight. "Okay, so before we go in… I should proooobably warn you that my dad's a little… well, you know?"
"Know what?"
The door creaked open. A tall unicorn stallion stood before them, his coat and mane color a dead-on match for Trixie's.
He spoke. "Hello?"
"Daddy!" A blue blur tackled the stallion, sending him to the ground.
"Oof!" The stallion gasped as he opened his eyes. "Only one pony tackles me in greeting, and that would be my Great and Powerful Daughter!" Both of them stood up. He dusted off his off-white blouse; Starlight could see the rest of a magician's ensemble scattered on a couch behind him. "Trixie! What are you doing here? I didn't expect to see you for another month."
"Oh, well, Starlight–that's her, right there, I told you about her–hadn't ever heard of you!"
Starlight waved, an awkward smile on her face.
The stallion's eyes widened in surprise. "So this is the mare you've been talking about!" He extended a hoof, and Starlight shook it. "Jack Pot. It is very nice to finally meet the young lady who stole my daughter's heart."
Starlight chuckled. "Well, I don't know about stole–"
"Yes, yes, she told me all about it." He turned to walk further inside. "Please, come in!"
The apartment was, charitably, cozy. A small living room with an old couch and a beat-up coffee table abutted a combined kitchenette and dining area. Starlight took a seat on the couch. It was uneven, clearly worn by age.
Jack moved to the kitchen and prepared a few glasses of water. "Trixie, did you end up using the marching band?"
Trixie stood next to him, excitedly bouncing. "No, daddy. We had this little get-together, and I may have gotten a teensy bit tipsy–"
"Ah, alcohol! Say no more. You know, I confessed to your mother the same way."
Starlight guffawed. "Tipsy? Trixie, you put your horn through the table!"
"Nothing burned down, though!"
Jack pulled a tea bag out from behind Trixie's ear. "Well, if nothing burns down, can one truly be called drunk?"
Starlight's face froze as she stared at Jack Pot.
"Just a joke, darling." He set the kettle to boil on the stove before turning to Trixie. "Would you be a dear and get a pack of cards from my room? I'd like to show both of you a new trick once the tea is done."
"Sure." Trixie happily skipped toward the back of the apartment and disappeared around a corner.
Jack chuckled. "So. You and my daughter, eh?"
Starlight nervously tapped the floor with her hoof. "Yep."
"She's told me a lot about you." Jack Pot walked to the couch and sat, beckoning Starlight to take a seat opposite him. "Did you really travel through time?"
"Uh… yeah. Look, I don't really like to talk–"
"Sorry, sorry. I don't exactly meet many ponies who've quite the story you have."
"Does Trixie really talk about me that much?"
Jack adjusted his posture on the couch, trying to make himself comfortable. "Well, yes. Trixie has never been…" He cleared his throat. "When you work as a traveling showpony, you don't have many opportunities to make friends. She appreciates the ones she does make all the more."
"Well, I was in a similar boat when I met her." Starlight scratched the back of her head. "So did you travel a lot?"
"Oh, no, I've always been a Las Pegasus pony. But Spectacle, now she was one hell of a showpony."
"Spectacle? Who's that?"
Jack Pot's expression fell slightly. "Trixie never told you about her mother?"
"Uh, no… she never came up."
"Oh." He coughed. "Well, I guess that's to be expected. Trixie never knew her."
"Did she… was..." Starlight struggled to find the words.
"When Trixie was born."
"I'm sorry."
Jack smiled sadly. "Don't worry about it."
"So… huh. Did you raise her all by yourself, then?"
"Oh, no, no. Big Bucks–you'll meet him, he's great–he helped out a lot. We traded off on cooking, teaching Trixie–"
"Wait, you taught Trixie?"
"Yes, though I'll admit, in hindsight, that we probably should have saved the magic lessons for after… more elementary teaching."
"Ya think?"
"But she took to it so quickly! She was doing card tricks as a little foal, and cannon shots before she even got her cutie mark!"
Starlight slumped back in the couch, shellshocked. "This explains… so much."
Jack backpedaled, frantically waving his hooves. "All done in the safest of circumstances, I assure you, aha!" He coughed to clear his throat. "Anyways, so yes, Big Bucks was, well… a second father to Trixie. I don't know what I would have done without him."
Trixie came back into the room, looking very confused. "Uh, daddy, there weren't any cards in your room."
"Oh, silly me," said Jack Pot, making a show of slapping his hoof to his forehead. "They were right here all along!"
Jack Pot stood and walked over to his daughter, running a hoof through her mane and behind her ear, before producing a pack of playing cards. Just as he pulled the cards out, the kettle emitted a sharp whistle. He levitated the cards alongside himself as he poured three cups of boiling water. He opened the box and pulled out three bags of tea, earning a bit of applause from Trixie.
The three sat to drink their tea. Trixie lay comfortably on the couch while Starlight sat upright, Trixie's head resting against her.
Jack smiled, and waited for Trixie to start drinking. "So, Starlight, would you like to see Trixie's baby pictures?"
Trixie spat out her tea. "Daddy!" she complained.
"Yes, I would like that very much, please."
As the sun went down, Trixie began yawning. "Hey, Starlight, I'm going to lie down."
"Alright, I'll come in a bit." She turned back to Jack. "Now what were you saying about illusion magic?"
"Yes, see, I've always found the trick to casting illusion spells like Mystical Mesmerizer to be putting on a good show!" He leaned back and chuckled. "You won't believe how many Canterlot unicorns try to make it in showbusiness out here and drop out because they can't sell a soul on their acts."
"Oh, that's fascinating!"
"Not that there's anything wrong with being a Canterlot unicorn! Trixie told me you studied at the university there."
"Haha, yeah… that's a funny story, that one."
"Mmm, I'm sure." Jack leaned over to look at the hallway to the back of the apartment. "I hope this doesn't impose too much on you, but there was something I was hoping to discuss with you privately."
Starlight raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"To tell you the truth, I've been seeing someone for a while now. I'm not entirely sure how Trixie will feel about that."
"Oh."
"You two came at the perfect time. I'd like to tell her tomorrow, after my show at the Pony Fantastique. There's a lovely restaurant in the resort and we can talk about it then." Jack Pot put his hoof to Starlight's shoulder. "Could you keep an eye on Trixie for me?"
"I already do that every second of every day."
"Good!" He patted her shoulder. "Then this should be easy. Thank you."
Jack Pot walked off toward his bedroom. Starlight was left alone in the living room, standing where he'd left her. She sighed. "What could possibly go wrong, right?"
When Starlight entered Trixie's room, she was greeted by Trixie. Five of them, in fact; between her girlfriend on the bed, three old posters for childhood shows, and a small statuette of Trixie wearing her cape and magician's hat, five Trixie's stared at Starlight as she gaped.
"What?" Trixie was concerned.
Starlight quickly shook her head. "Nothing. It's just… exactly what I expected."
"That's good, right?"
Starlight lay next to Trixie, pulling the covers over both of them. She kissed Trixie's forehead. "Yes, it's good."
"So… what do you think?"
"I mean, it's a little weird to have so many pictures of yourself, even if they are posters–"
"I meant about Daddy."
"Oh! Of course. He's, uh, a lot like you. Or you're a lot like him, I guess."
Trixie beamed at the comparison.
Starlight continued. "I like him. Which I guess isn't too much of a surprise."
"Yes! He's just the best, isn't he?"
Starlight giggled, covering her mouth with her hoof.
"What exactly were you trying to warn me about when we got here?"
Trixie cringed. "Oh, well, that's… I was worried he might be 'too much,' if you know what I'm saying."
"What? But he's just like you."
"Yeah, and I know I'm not always the easiest pony to deal with." Trixie sighed. "I kind of annoy myself sometimes."
Starlight chuckled. "Trixie, it's alright." She turned in the bed to gesture towards one of the posters, this one on the ceiling. "I knew exactly what I was getting into when I agreed to give 'us' a shot. Yes, you can be, uh… let's go with really high energy, at times, but you're also passionate and dedicated to the things and creatures you care about. And if you took away any of those things, you wouldn't be the pony I fell in love with."
"I love you, too, Starlight." Trixie smiled, pulling Starlight into a cuddle. "So does this mean I don't have to try not to annoy you anymore?"
"Eh… don't push it." Starlight booped Trixie's nose. The two kissed, and went to sleep.
The door to Trixie's room slammed open, startling the lovers awake. Jack Pot held a bat in his magic and terror in his eyes.
"Trixie! I think a bunch of raccoons must have gotten inside! Are you–" He was cut off by a pillow slamming into his face.
Trixie held another pillow in her purple aura, ready to throw. "Daddy, get out!"
Starlight was still blinking the sleep out of her eyes when Jack Pot left. "Wha' happened?"
"I think Daddy might have confused your snoring for a wild animal."
"Oh, right. We probably should have warned him, huh?"
"Don't you know some silencing spells?"
"They only work so long as I'm awake, and I'm not gonna try to invent a whole room enchantment version of the spell in the middle of the night." Starlight sat up in the bed. "Do I still snore a lot? I figured I must have stopped since you haven't been saying anything."
"Uh…"
"Oh no."
"I may have a big box of earplugs for when I sleep over."
"Trixie, why didn't you tell me? I would definitely have tried to figure something out."
Trixie sighed. "Yeah, you probably would have. I'm sorry, I'm just excited we're finally together. Like, together together, of course. I don't want to make a big deal over this."
"I don't want you to feel like you have to hide things from me." Starlight held Trixie's hoof. "We've been best friends for years; I don't want this–us–to change that."
"Thanks." Trixie rolled to face the ceiling and stretched her forehooves up. "So then, how about that silence enchantment?"
"Trixie."
"Kidding."
In the morning, Starlight and Trixie joined Jack and walked to the casino together. Along the way, Jack and Trixie traded notes on their latest advancements in prestidigitation. Jack had invented a new way to hide cards involving three mirrors, a rope, and a squirrel, while Trixie had perfected her hoof-concealed smoke bomb technique.
By the time Starlight finished coughing, they'd arrived at the casino.
Jack gave Trixie a hug. "I need to go schmooze with the patrons for a bit; I've got to drum up an audience for our show later. Not the most glamorous part of show business, I'm afraid, but it is necessary. Oh, and Trixie?"
"What is it?" said Trixie.
"I've got a special announcement; come see me after my last show, if you kindly would."
"Sure. Good luck, Daddy!"
As Jack walked away, Trixie chattered at Starlight. "We should go see the animal show in the theatre, then we can get lunch in the pavilion, and then we can play blackjack, and–"
"Do we have time for all that?"
"Oh, well, Daddy does a few shows every day. I figure we'll catch the last one and meet up with him after." Trixie wrapped a forehoof around Starlight's shoulder. "We're finally getting our girls' trip to Las Pegasus! I want to make the most of it."
Starlight giggled. "Okay. Show me the way!"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is not afraid of flamingos!"
Starlight glanced sidelong at her companion. "So that's why you wrapped yourself around me during the Flights of Fancy show."
"Nothing that goofy looking should be able to fly!"
"Well, they're not here, so you can let go of me."
"But you're warm and comfortable, and Trixie is cold and uncomfortable."
"We can't really get food unless you let me stand up."
"Hmm…"
Starlight cocked an eyebrow. "What is it, Trixie?"
"Trixie is determining if she is hungrier than she is cold."
"Well, I definitely am." Starlight lifted Trixie in her magic and carried her away. "Let's go eat."
The restaurant at the casino was huge; hundreds of ponies grabbed food from the luxurious buffet, which featured foods ranging from hayburgers to Canterlot haute cuisine and Hippogriff-style sushi.
Starlight grabbed a cucumber salad; Trixie, a hayburger and a large pile of fries.
"So, did you spend a lot of time at the casino when you were a filly?" Starlight munched on a leaf from her salad as she spoke.
"Oh, yes. Daddy let me watch his show every day."
Starlight raised an eyebrow. "You didn't have school?"
Trixie put down the hayburger she was stuffing into her face. "You saw where I grew up, right? Schools around there aren't exactly…"
"Ah."
"Yeah. But I turned out great, so there's nothing to worry about!" Trixie chewed on some of her fries. "Besides, I learned a lot about showponyship from seeing Daddy and Uncle perform."
"Is Big Bucks 'Uncle'?"
"Oh, yes."
The two ate in silence for a while. Starlight finished her salad, then munched from Trixie's mound of fries. "Hey, Trix."
"Mmm?"
"How come you never mentioned your mom?"
Trixie thought for a moment. "I don't know. I guess it just never came up."
"Okay." Starlight paused. "You know, if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here for you."
Trixie smiled. "Thanks. But there really isn't anything to talk about." She picked at her plate, eating the last few scraps of her burger. "I never met her."
The two got up to refill their plates. Starlight's curiosity got the better of her, and she grabbed a plate of the Hippogriff-style sushi, uttering a silent prayer that it contained no meat. Trixie grabbed more fries.
Starlight hesitated as she considered her words. "So… you ever thought about what it'd be like if your dad started dating again?"
Trixie slowed her chewing as she thought. She shrugged. "Not really. Why?" Her eyes lit up. "Oh, did you hear something from your dad?"
"Uh… sure, something like that."
"He's finally back on the market, eh?"
Starlight was mortified. "Oh, dear Celestia, I hope not."
"Hey, Celestia is retired now. Maybe Firelight is trying–"
"Trixie, I will end you if you finish that sentence."
"Well, if he needs somepony to perform at a wedding anytime soon–"
"Trixie, please." Starlight shuddered. "It was weird enough when Mom left. I know I don't want some strange pony calling me her daughter, and I'm sure Dad feels the same way." Starlight bit into her sushi, nearly choking on it.
Trixie reached over the table to pat Starlight's back. "You ok?"
Starlight coughed. "Yeah, fine."
Trixie switched sides to sit next to Starlight, rubbing her back as she kept coughing. "Working the casino show… well, you saw me when I was still touring. There aren't many opportunities for a social life. If Daddy found somepony he loved…"
"You'd want him to be happy?"
Trixie nodded. "Besides, I have you to shower me with all the attention I could ever want. The Great and Powerful Trixie will remain the center of the world, no matter what." She winked. "Wink."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Heh. Of course you will."
"And even if your dad starts dating Celestia, I'm sure he'll still have time for you."
"Don't even joke, Trixie."
"Trixie, how many bits did you lose?"
"It's not my fault!"
"How many bits. Did you lose?"
"Uh… 1000?"
"Trixie! You said you were going to play the low stakes tables!"
"I did! But they make it so confusing with the chips, and how was I supposed to know there were so many face cards in a deck?!"
"Trixie! You're a magician! You do card tricks all the time!" Starlight pulled Trixie away from the table, and placed a large bet. "Hit me."
An hour later, they broke even. "Ok, and we are never coming to the tables again."
Trixie was dumbfounded. "Starlight, how did you do that?"
"Uh, beginner's luck?"
"You won every single split."
"Ah… well… you know, buying land to found a village is very expensive, and I may have… sought alternative income. Heh."
Trixie sighed. "You counted cards?"
"I counted cards."
"We should leave."
"Yes, we should leave."
"WOOHOO! Yes! That was awesome."
Trixie stumbled out of the roller coaster car, her face a worrying shade of green. "Starlight, I'm going to be sick. Blegh."
"I can't believe they have a roller coaster in the building!"
"I'm seriously gonna–HURK!"
"Oh, no, Trixie!" Starlight picked Trixie up, cleaning her with her magic. She carried her to a nearby bench, setting her down gently.
Trixie lay dazed while Starlight bought a bottle of water from a nearby kiosk. Trixie took the bottle as Starlight sat down, the former adjusting her position to lean on the purple mare.
"Feeling better?"
"Mm-hm. Feeling a little woozy now, but better."
Starlight ran her hoof through Trixie's mane, fixing it where the wind had blown it into a pile of frizz.
"Thanks," mumbled Trixie.
"I would have thought you'd be used to flying through the air given all the cannon tricks."
"That's that and this is this."
"What do you mean?"
"Once I'm in the air, I'm not getting jerked around like on the coaster."
"Gotcha." Starlight sniffed the air. "Blegh! Trixie, you stink!"
"Yeah, well, you try throwing up and see how good you smell."
"I didn't mean it like that; your dad wants to tell–I mean, he wants to meet up with us later, right?"
"Oh, shoot, you're right! What are we going to do? Starlight, you've got some magic that can fix this, right?"
"Yes, but how badly do you like your mane? As in, having a mane?"
"Trixie's great and powerful mane is one of her most prized possessions."
Starlight giggled as she rolled her eyes. "Right. So you don't want me using my magic here."
Trixie narrowed her eyes. "Hmm. Point taken."
"We could go back to your dad's apartment."
Trixie waved her hoof, dismissing the idea. "No way. We wouldn't make it back to see the show!"
"But–"
"Also, we don't have a key."
"I can teleport us in!"
Trixie raised a single eyebrow, her eyes wide open. "That seems a little extreme."
"Do you have any other ideas?"
Trixie gestured broadly around her. "I mean, we're in a casino resort. We could get a room."
"How are we going to afford that?!"
Trixie glanced at the blackjack tables.
"Trixie, no."
"Starlight, yes!"
After some card counting and skillful evasion of casino security, Starlight had won just enough money to rent a room at the casino. Starlight lay on the massive bed as Trixie used the shower.
"This is just what I needed." Trixie's voice echoed off the bathroom walls. "You know there's room in here for two…"
"Oh, that's alright, Trixie." Starlight sat up and walked to the room's window, gazing at the ponies wandering the Las Pegasus strip below. "I'm fine waiting. It'd probably be cramped in there if we both tried to shower at the same time."
"I… do you… okay, uh… oh, no, Starlight, the Great and Powerful Trixie requires assistance washing her…" Trixie's voice was as sultry as she could make it. "Hard-to-reach areas. Could you come in here and help her out?"
Starlight approached the bathroom door. The heady scent of bath soap mixed with the humid air, filling her nostrils with a sweet aroma. "Trixie, is something wrong? You normally don't have any problems with your levitation."
Trixie banged her horn against Starlight's as she opened the door. Trixie's mane and coat were shopping wet, with soap and shampoo bubbles all over. She rubbed her horn, as she looked at Starlight, unamused. "Trixie is coming on to you."
"What? Oh." Starlight barely finished her thought when Trixie pulled her into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Twenty minutes later, they were both sparkling clean.
Trixie and Starlight made it to the theatre just as Jack's magic show began.
"Ladies, gentlecolts, and magic lovers of all varieties, prepare yourselves for feats of mystical amazement, the likes of which have never before been seen by ponykind! Welcome to the Magical Mystery Hour!"
Fog filled the room as spotlights danced across the audience and stage. The crowd murmured excitedly as music swelled over the theatre sound system. The crowd erupted with applause as the curtains raised to reveal Jack entering the stage through a cloud of smoke, which Starlight recognized.
"Wait, did your dad teach you how to make your smoke bombs?"
Trixie hushed her, pointing at the stage. She was bouncing in her seat.
From the other side of the stage, a purple stallion with a green mustache walked on. He waved to the audience as he met Jack in the middle of the stage.
"Is that Big Bucks?" asked Starlight.
Trixie's eyes remained glued to the stage. "Yes. Now watch!"
The magicians performed a few tricks Starlight recognized from Trixie's show, but with noticeably higher production value. Each trick was punctuated with swells of music from the speakers. Starlight glanced around the theatre, eventually spying a soundhouse nestled in the back. A middle-aged mare was watching the performance while manipulating a mixer. During each of the tricks, Jack winked, and the mare nodded, as the crowd cheered with the music's peaks.
After a trick involving a tiger–something Starlight remembered Trixie describing as "slightly easier than the Moonshot Manticore mouth dive… but only slightly"– Jack stood by Big Bucks at the front of the stage.
"For our next trick, I'll need a volunteer from the audience!"
Trixie stood on her seat. "Me! Me me me me me me me me me!"
Jack spotted her. He smiled, stifling a laugh. "Well, would you look at that! We have a very enthusiastic volunteer!"
Trixie jumped out of her seat and zipped down the aisle and onto the stage.
"Now, I assure you, dear audience, that the resemblance between this lovely lady," said Jack, pausing as Trixie brushed out her hair with a flourish, "and yours truly are totally coincidental." He winked to the audience. "Wink."
Starlight laughed along with the audience. "So that's where she gets it from."
Jack leaned over and whispered into Trixie's ear. Her ears perked up, and she nodded enthusiastically.
From the side of the stage, Big Bucks wheeled out a cannon whose colors matched Jack's and Trixie's, pointed out towards the back of the theatre.
"For our final trick, I will shoot my daughter out of a cannon, into a box at the back of the room." Jack then pointed to a box Big Bucks was wheeling out. "In the meantime, I shall be in this box here; now, watch, and be amazed as I appear there, and she appears here!"
The audience cheered as Trixie fastened on a helmet and lowered herself into the cannon, giving a small salute to the audience as she disappeared into its depths. Meanwhile, Jack hopped into the box on the stage.
Big Bucks closed the door, talking to the audience. "Now as I lock Jack into this box, I want to remind you that all of us, including our dear volunteer, are trained professionals! Don't launch yourself out of your cannons at home!"
The cannon went off, sending a blue blur soaring over the heads of the audience. It was much quieter than Starlight had expected; she remembered Trixie mentioning that most indoor shows used spring-loaded cannons to spare the audience's ears. Trixie landed in the box at the back with a loud crash, and the door slammed shut behind her from the force.
"And now, for the big reveal! Jack, why don't you step out for us?"
The box at the back of the theatre opened, and Jack stepped out, a smirk on his face. The audience applauded enthusiastically as Jack bowed.
Big Bucks called out, "But if you're over there, then who's in here?"
The door burst open, revealing Trixie. The audience cheered louder as Jack joined Big Bucks and Trixie onstage, and they all bowed together.
Jack stepped forward. "Members of the audience, I give you my daughter, the Great and Powerful Trixie!" More cheers. "Thank you all for coming! You've been a great audience. Please enjoy the rest of your stay at Sky Palace! Good night!" The three magicians disappeared through the wings of the stage as the curtains closed.
Starlight waited for the audience to shuffle out before trotting backstage. There she found Trixie, Big Bucks, and Jack Pot sharing a group hug. Starlight stood at the wings of the stage, waiting for them to finish.
Big Bucks spoke, his voice slightly hoarse after a full day of announcing. "Trixie, you did amazing out there."
"Indeed! I'm glad to see you still remember the Last Pegasus Double Shuffle." Jack beamed at his daughter.
"Well, I may not perform as often as I used to, but the Great and Powerful Trixie is a professional; I'd never forget a trick."
"Great work, Trixie." Starlight stepped into the magicians' view. "I've never seen you pull off that trick before.
Trixie ran up to her and hugged her tightly. "Yes, please, praise Trixie more."
Starlight giggled as she returned the hug. "Yeah, yeah. I'd say not to let it go to your head, but I've met you."
Big Bucks approached the two, extending a hoof to Starlight. "Big Bucks." Starlight shook his hoof as he continued, "I've heard an awful lot about you, Missy."
"All good, I hope!" Starlight chuckled. "Nice to meet you."
"Did you really travel through–" Big Bucks stopped as Trixie frantically waved her hooves at him, shaking her head. "–I mean, all this way just to see us?"
Starlight cleared her throat. "Well, Trixie found one of your posters, and then one thing led to another… you know how it goes."
"Indeed I do. Well, any pony who loves our Trixie is okay in my books." Big Bucks turned to Jack. "So! We're all going out?"
"Yes! I've reserved us all a table at the finest restaurant on the Las Pegasus strip. Shall we away?"
Trixie jumped between the two and started making for the exit. "Let's!"
Starlight looked around the dingy tables and harsh fluorescent lighting of the restaurant Jack had brought them to. She rested her hooves on the table, only to pull them away with a faint pthick as the sticky surface resisted her movements. She leaned over to Trixie. "This is the finest place on the strip?" she whispered.
Trixie glanced at Starlight, unamused. "Starlight, we could barely afford a falafel when we tried to go to Saddle Arabia; magic does not pay very much."
"How much does magic make, anyways?"
"Well, the student counselor position pays, oh… ten times as much as I made on the road?"
Starlight's jaw dropped. "Trixie, the student counselor position… we work for a school! How in Equestria did you get by?"
"You remember, don't you? I had lists, stayed in the wagon. Worked a bunch of odd jobs, too." Trixie glanced over at the counter, where Jack and Big Bucks were considering their options on the menu. Returning to Starlight, she added "Did I ever tell you about the rock farm?"
"No, you didn't. How has none of this ever come up before?"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie has led an exciting life filled with adventure! Surely, you can't expect her to mention every single little detail."
Starlight giggled. "Of course not."
Jack and Big Bucks arrived at the table, their orders placed. Jack raised his hoof in the air as he proclaimed, "Truly the finest cuisine Neighjing has to offer, here!" He settled down, looking at Starlight. "I hope you don't mind the modest fare. We don't eat out very much."
Starlight dismissed him with a wave of her hoof. "Oh, no, don't worry. Trixie was just explaining a bit more of what it's like to be a magician, compensation included."
"In that case… Trixie, I–we, rather, have something to tell you." Jack glanced at Big Bucks, then back to Trixie.
"Oh, no." Trixie backed her seat out slowly. "Is this an intervention? I promise, I can stop throwing smoke bombs any time I want to–" Trixie pulled a smoke bomb out from her mane, preparing to throw it. "–I just don't wa–"
"No, no, Trixie, no, it's nothing like that." Jack looked at Starlight, confused.
Starlight shrugged. A waitpony brought a plate of potstickers, setting it on the table.
"Trixie, you know I loved your mother very much. And I want to be clear that just because things are changing, I'm not…" Jack searched for words. "I knew I should have written something down. I'm not trying to replace your mother, but the truth of the matter is–"
"You and Uncle Bucks are officially dating?" Trixie nibbled on one of the potstickers. "Hey, Starlight, these are good, you should try one."
Jack and Starlight stared at Trixie, mouths agape. Big Bucks slapped a hoof on the table, howling with laughter. He pulled Jack into a side hug. "See, I told you she wouldn't be surprised. You were so worried!"
Jack rapidly shook his head. "Wait, how long ago did you figure that out?"
Trixie shrugged. "Probably one of the times I saw you both asleep on the couch, holding each other. Or that time with the flowers, or–"
Jack blushed. "Yes, thank you, Trixie, I get it now."
"Wait, how are you so cool with this? And why didn't you mention anything earlier?!" asked Starlight.
"I kinda overheard you and Daddy talking yesterday. That apartment isn't that big." Trixie ate another potsticker.
"Well, I worried for nothing then." Starlight pressed her horn against the table, trying to bury her face. A waitpony prodded her to move as food was set on the table.
Jack coughed. "I appreciate the effort regardless, Starlight. But yes, we've decided to move in together, finally." Jack looked at Big Bucks. "I suppose I should have done this years ago."
"Eh, don't worry about it."
Trixie thought for a moment. "So… does this mean I have two daddies now?"
Jack and Big Bucks laughed, while Starlight smiled and rolled her eyes at Trixie.
"What? I'm serious."
Starlight and Trixie bade Jack and Big Bucks goodbye the next morning, setting off for Ponyville. As they arrived at the castle, Starlight stopped and turned to Trixie.
"Good to be back, eh, Trix?"
"Mm-hm. I'm gonna go park the wagon."
Starlight hesitated for a moment. She reached out a hoof to Trixie's shoulder as she turned to move the wagon.
"Need something, Starlight?"
"Yeah. I…" Starlight coughed awkwardly into her hoof. "I was thinking that maybe we could give living together a trial run."
Trixie blinked. Then a massive grin appeared. Trixie jumped to hug Starlight, but was yanked back to the ground as her wagon's harness asserted its presence around her waist. Starlight laughed, helping Trixie out of the harness. Then she was tackled to the ground by a blue blur.
Starlight poked at Trixie. "I'll take that as a yes, then."
Trixie nodded furiously. "But why the change of mind?"
"Well, I… maybe it's time I got a little bit better at handling change." Starlight ran her hoof across Trixie's cheek. "I want this."
Trixie pulled her into a long kiss.
Sunburst coughed loudly. "Hey, Starlight, Trixie. You're back!"
Starlight threw Trixie off her. "Sunburst! What are you doing here?" She stood up and pointed at him. "How much of that were you there for?"
"Uh… Let's go with 'I just got here.'" Sunburst reached under his cloak and pulled out a letter. Starlight recognized Stellar Flare's seal. "Mom sent me this, and I think you're going to want to read it. Looks like your dad signed it, too."
Starlight took the letter. Trixie leaned over her shoulder as she scanned through it. Starlight returned the letter to Sunburst, confused. "They want us to come home?"
"Yeah. What do you think's going on?"
"I don't know, but it looks like we'll be gone a while longer."
Trixie spoke. "So, I shouldn't put the wagon away?"
Starlight sighed. "Sorry, Trix, but if Sunburst and I are going, we'll need you to watch over the school."
"Oh, alright." Trixie and Starlight hugged. "Just hurry back soon, okay?"
"You got it."
