A Great and Powerful Comeback

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter One - "It's the Pictures That Got Small"
Chapter Two - "Hello, Gorgeous"
Chapter Three - "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of"
Chapter Four - "Another Nice Mess"
Chapter Five - "Gotta Come Back a Star"
Chapter Seven - "I'm Ready For My Close-Up"
Chapter Eight - "Top of the World"
Chapter Nine - "Could've Been a Contender"
Chapter Ten - "Nobody's Perfect"
Chapter Six - "You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet!"

Prologue

“Step right up! Step right up! Fillies, gentlecolts, and every creature: behold the majesty of the School of Friendship! While you attend the school you will make friends with creatures from all across the farthest reaches of Equestria, go on amazing adventures as you set off on field trips, and experience the knowledge all your teachers have to share with you. Some of you may even make bonds and learn skills that will save the future of Equestria! Best of all, you will each and every one of you receive the best guidance you could possibly wish from the best guidance counselor you could possibly hope to have! And that guidance counselor is none other than yours truly: The Great and Powerful Trixie!!”

With a flick of her hooves, fireworks shot up from behind her, whizzing and exploding above her head in multicolour. She stood on her hindlegs, her forehooves outstretched to the sky in triumph, her coattails billowing behind her. She could have sworn she heard a flourish of music to help punctuate her declaration. Once the ringing in her ears stopped and the smoke started to clear, Trixie opened her eyes to see how her captive audience received her.

In front of her stood a crowd of young students. Mostly ponies but there were a spattering of griffons, hippogriffs and other creatures, even a Kirin or two. Since it was founded, Princess Twilight’s School of Friendship had admitted any creature with an interest in attending. The first school in Equestria to do so. Over the years the school was still mostly ponies but it had noticeably become more and more diverse. Undeniably, the one trait every creature in front of Trixie shared was their speechlessness.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Quite the contrast to Trixie’s firework display, however brief it was. Some of the new students looked on in confusion, some looked on with shocked, open-mouthed expressions, and others had no discernable expression whatsoever. This was clearly not what they had been expecting when they stepped into the famous school’s great hall on their first day.

Trixie finally dropped down to her forehooves and started catching her breath. She was not the energetic young performer she once was, and even an act like this was enough to tire her out a little, if only momentarily. She cleared her throat and smiled at her audience; that trademark cocky smile that she always wore when she knew she had captivated an audience.

Just to her left was Principal Starlight Glimmer and next to her was Vice Principal Sunburst. Trixie turned to face them, raising her eyebrows as if to say, “aren’t you impressed?” Sunburst struggled to find the right words to diffuse the awkward situation Trixie had put the staff in yet again, but Starlight just rolled her eyes and stepped forward.

“I think what Guidance Counselor Trixie is trying to say is that we hope you’re all looking forward to beginning your studies here at the school,” Starlight said. “If you would please follow Vice Principal Sunburst, he will give you a tour of the grounds and give a quick rundown of the different classes you will take. Right, Sunburst?”

“Oh, uh, yes that’s right,” Sunburst said, the ringing in his ears still lingering. “Follow me please students.”

He led the students down the corridor and one by one they followed toward the numerous classrooms that lined the halls. Trixie called after them. “Remember, if you ever need guidance, Trixie’s door is always open!”

“Do you really have to showboat every time, Trixie?” Starlight sighed to her long-time best friend. “All the students need is a friendly welcome to the school.”

“And what could be more welcoming than a display of showmareship, hmm?” Trixie countered.

“Well as much as I always enjoy your showmareship, I’m not sure it’s the first thing eager young minds expect when they walk inside an academic institution like this.”

“That’s what makes it so special, Starlight! It shows them that this isn’t going to be like other schools. This is a fun school!”

“Also, using your introduction to tell them they may need to save Equestria in the future,” Starlight continued, that’s a lot of pressure to put on them before their first term has even really started.”

“Trixie’s just saying that the school happens to carry a reputation of world saving graduates.”

“We want them to feel welcomed, not alienated,” Starlight countered. “Sure, the school is legendary and all that but it should also feel like a second home to every creature that walks through those front doors. These first impressions are important for us to make. And they need to know that they can feel comfortable going to your for guidance without being afraid of any fireworks or smoke bombs blowing up in their faces.”

Trixie gasped. “The smoke bombs are my trademark, Starlight. You know that. I’m just being me!”

“And I love you when you’re being you. Is it too much to ask that you, well, tone down the razzle dazzle?”

“I thought I was toning down the razzle dazzle,” Trixie pondered. “It was way less than what I did last year. Remember when I had those timberwolves jumping through hoops!”

“Flaming hoops, and yes how could I forget?” said Starlight.

“Or the year before when I rode a pyramid of cockatrices? I was so thankful Silverstream could help me train them…”

Starlight looked tired. Trixie had gotten carried away again and she knew it. She knew her friend had no interest in arguing, or reminiscing for that matter, as the first day of school left her with a lot to prepare for. Trixie had grown to really admire Starlight as the headmare and knew the right thing to do was respect her wishes.

Trixie sighed. “I guess I could try a … softer approach next time.”

“Thanks, Trixie,” Starlight smiled. “Make no mistake I appreciate the effort you make in trying to appeal to the students. That’s why I asked you to be the school’s guidance counselor in the first place. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to check the lesson plans for tomorrow one last time.”

“Tea later?” Trxie said with hope in her eyes.

“Tea later,” Starlight confirmed with a nod.

They hugged each other and headed to their respective offices. Trixie loved their one-on-one moments where they could leave the pressures of the school aside for a bit. Those moments were getting less and less frequent with each passing school year.

Before they were out of earshot of each other Trixie turned back to Starlight. “You still like my razzle dazzle though, don’t you?” Trixie asked with a raise of her eyebrow.

Starlight looked over her shoulder. “Oh yeah, just like old times.” Then with a smirk she added, “though I must say you’re getting a bit slow, old mare.”

Trixie shook her head and chuckled. “Oh, everypony’s a critic…”

Chapter One - "It's the Pictures That Got Small"

One week later and things were running smoothly. The new students had all settled into their respective classes, started coming out of their shells and formed circles of friends. The halls were filled with the sight of smiling faces and the sounds of laughter. Lessons were in full swing with all of the regular teachers back in class. The curriculum still largely followed the lesson plans of the school’s founders, all of whom had retired from their regular teaching duties to pursue their own interests and dedicate their remaining time to the Council of Friendship.

Rainbow Dash was now the commander of the Wonderbolts. Applejack decided the farm needed her full attention now that she was the Apple family matriarch. Pinkie Pie took over the job of running Sugar Cube Corner and found that between those duties and raising a family, she couldn’t devote a lot of extra time to the school. Rarity’s business kept expanding, adding additional locations in Fillydelphia, Las Pegasus, and Vanhoover. Fluttershy, who always found teaching to be too intimidating anyway, settled down in her animal sanctuary. And Princess Twilight, of course, took over the duties of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as the ruler of Equestria.

It was safe to say that the six founders, or the Mane Six, as they had come to be known, had left behind quite the legacy. Not to say that the current staff didn’t carry reputations of their own. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, for instance, were well known for getting the exact same cutie mark simultaneously, and their fame made their classes quite popular. And from time to time one of the founders would pop in for a visit or to give a special lecture for the day.

Yes, so far the term was going the way it usually goes each year, which left Trixie with practically nothing to do.

When she first took over the job of guidance counselor from Starlight, she was warned that most days there wouldn’t be any students visiting her at all.

“There’s not much need for a guidance counselor at a school of friendship,” Starlight had said all those years ago. “Students are encouraged to work problems out in class. That’s kind of the whole point of the school.”

Trixie was confused. “So, you’re offering me a disposable job? Is this payback for anything? I said I was sorry for the whole swamp thing.”

“Of course it’s not payback or anything. I wouldn’t put the entire student body at risk for something so petty.” Starlight rolled her eyes, then caught herself. “Not that you would ever put anypony at risk, Trixie.”

“Oh I appreciate your confidence, Starlight,” Trixie said sarcastically.

“It’s an important job when a student eventually does visit you. You need to actively listen to them and treat their problem like you would if they were your best friend. I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if there isn’t a line up down the hallway to your office. Kids are more capable of handling themselves than you’d think.”

“Then what did you do all day when you had this job?”

“I found ways to pass the time. Reorganizing my shelves, reading up on the students in case one decided to drop in…”

“Talking to your plant?” Trixie added with a snicker.

Starlight narrowed her eyes. “Phyllis and I understood each other.”

“I’ll get you a new one for Hearth’s Warming.”

“There was only one Phyllis.”

There was a moment of faux seriousness before a smile crept across their faces. The two of them laughed together.

Trixie laughed to herself, coming back from her memory. She was sitting in what was now her office. There was an empty chair at the other side of her desk waiting to be filled by a student in need of some guidance. There was a bookshelf against the wall to the right of the desk, filled with academic texts and scrolls, along with spell books, history books and miscellaneous works of fiction. To the left of Trixie’s desk was a soft blue sofa fixed with two fluffy pillows, a blanket draped over the back, and a wooden coffee table in front of it. Beside the sofa, a relatively large locked orange chest. By the door across from her there was a coatrack, a mirror and a ticking clock mounted on the wall. It wasn’t the biggest office in the school but it didn’t need to be. It was certainly cozy enough.

Right beside her was a gramophone, currently playing soft classical music performed by Octavia Melody, one of Ponyville’s most renowned musicians. At one point she was in consideration for the position of vice headmare of the school before deciding to focus on her music, a decision that ultimately paid off for her as her records were selling like haycakes.

On Trixie’s desk was a day planner, currently blank, some notepaper if needed, a quill with ink, along with a cup filled with various other writing utensils. In the righthand corner of the desk was a round fishbowl with a vibrant goldfish swimming inside. Potted plants weren’t really Trixie’s thing but she had to admit Starlight was onto something; having a friend of some sort to keep you company made the room feel more alive. So, Gail had been a permanent resident in that fishbowl for quite a while.

Trixie was currently reading an old mystery novel, Fled Filly, as she sipped on a mug of hot cocoa. She was quite content with where she was.

And it wasn’t like she just got to sit back and relax every single day. There was still plenty for her to do around the school that went beyond her job description. Starlight liked to run things in a collaborative way with her two best friends Sunburst and Trixie. Trixie would help with planning events like dances or sporting events, and even advised Starlight on certain matters with students, since Trixie’s job allowed her a closer relationship with them.

Things often became busy for her at the end of the year and students had no idea what they were going to do with their lives once they were sent off into the world. That was Trixie’s time to shine by listening and talking through their problems, offering any advice she could to help. But now, at the beginning of the year when students didn’t have many important issues on their plate yet, things were awfully quiet indeed.

Her eyes wandered around the office, taking everything in with a sigh of contentment. Her gaze finally came down to the quill. She set down her book and her drink as she used her magic to bring the quill up to her face. She squinted at it and smiled mischievously. “Teacup,” she whispered. With a small *ping* the quill instantaneously transformed into a pink teacup in a burst of magic. Trixie giggled to herself and looked at the door. It didn’t seem like anypony heard her so she looked around for something else to transform. She found an old note from Twilight in one of her desk drawers. “Teacup,” she said a bit louder this time. Just like the quill, where there once was a note, an empty porcelain teacup now rested. She pulled out some scraps of paper, knick knacks and more junk from the drawer. “Teacup. Teacup. Teacup!” She said louder and louder, her excitement getting the better of her.

She did this sometimes to relive the excitement of her first successful transfiguration spell, the one Starlight helped her figure out years ago. It never got old.

When her desk was now completely covered in teacups, all identical in appearance, she could contain herself no longer. She burst out laughing, tears streaming down her face at the absurdity of her own actions.

“Um…”

Trixie’s eyes shot open, startled. Standing in her now open doorway, unheard until this moment, was a student. She looked at Trixie, then down at the desk of teacups, then back at Trixie. Trixie’s face grew red. She didn’t know how much the student saw and she was too embarrassed to ask.

“Oh…,” Trixie said. She wasn’t sure how to explain. Luckily, she didn’t have to.

“I was wondering if I could speak with you, Guidance Counselor Trixie,” said the student. “Sorry I didn’t make an appointment.”

“No, no, that’s perfectly fine. Please come in and close the door,” Trixie said. “Uh … would you like some tea?”

“No thank you,” the student replied as Trixie did her best to discreetly brush the teacups into an empty drawer, deciding to turn them back to normal at another time. Of all the times to have a visitor…!, she thought.

“Please have a seat. Make yourself comfortable,” said Trixie, trying to compose herself. She turned the gramophone off to give the filly her full attention. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Scarlet Flair,” said the young unicorn. The name seemed to fit her. She wore a bright red scarf that looked quite the contrast to her beige coat and dark black mane.

“Well Scarlet Flair,” Trixie continued, “you are free to drop in whenever you’d like. Appointment or no appointment.”

“Thanks,” she said. Scarlet settled into her seat on the other side of Trixie’s desk.

“What brings you in today?” the guidance counselor asked. “Are you enjoying your classes so far?”

“Oh yes, very much. I’m particularly enjoying Professor Apple Bloom’s lessons on honesty. They’ve given me a lot to think about.”

Scarlet Flair dropped her eye contact. Trixie knew she had something to say that was going to be difficult for her.

“It’s okay, Scarlet,” said Trixie. “Anything you want to say doesn’t have to leave this room.”

Scarlet sighed, fidgeting in her seat a little. “I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do after school. My parents always wanted me to work at their business so I can eventually take over for them when they retire.”

“What kind of business do they own?”

“They run an antique store in Baltimare. The place is okay but it’s never really been my thing.”

“What is your thing, Scarlet?”

“Well, I really like fashion. I’ve been reading about Rarity a lot and I think what she’s done with Carousel Boutique is an inspiration. I like designing my own clothes and I think that if she could make a go for it and succeed then why can’t I?”

“You just have difficulty telling your parents, don’t you?” Trixie guessed.

“I’ve never told them about how much this means to me. Ever since I got my cutie mark and it turned out to be a needle and thread, I knew that this is what I was meant to do. But they just see it as like a hobby or something; not something I should take seriously. They don’t get that I want to make a living doing what I love.”

“Well I haven’t met your parents. I don’t know what kind of ponies they are, but they can’t force you to be somepony you’re not.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re already doing what you love!”

“I recommend talking to them for a start-“

“But what if they hate me!” Scarlet interrupted. Tears began welling in her eyes. It was clear to Trixie that this was the first time she let her fears be known to another pony.

“They’re your parents,” Trixie said with empathy. “I’m guessing they won’t hate you. Disappointed maybe. I’m not saying don’t be prepared to fight back at them if they don’t approve. I mean, your parents can be the best thing in your life when they’re supportive but…”

Trixie saw Scarlet’s eyes light up with horror.

“Sorry, not helping,” said Trixie, trying to backpaddle. “What’s more important is that you follow your passions. You shouldn’t let anypony stand in the way of your dreams. Even your parents.”

“Isn’t that selfish? What if my parents are counting on me?”

“You’ll never know unless you tell them first. That’s the first step I think you have to take and if you keep putting it off, these feelings tearing you up inside are just going to build and build until they come out in destructive ways. Trust me. Don’t bottle things up.”

Scarlet sniffled. “Okay.”

She didn’t seem satisfied but then Trixie had an idea. “If it helps, I can probably connect you with Rarity. If I know her, she would love to give you some tips,” Trixie added.

Scarlet’s jaw almost hit the floor. “Really?!? The Rarity? You’d do that for me?”

“Of course. I’m here to help!”

“Wow. Thanks Trixie!” Scarlet seemed to be in a much better mood already as she stood from her seat. “I really appreciate this.”

“Any time,” said Trixie. “Remember, feel free to drop in whenever you’d like.”

“Thanks again!”

Scarlet turned and headed back to the door, but something she said made Trixie stop her first.

“You know, this isn’t always what I did for a living,” she said.

“It’s not?”

“Nope. You said that I was already doing what I loved but before I worked at the school, I did something else.”

Trixie stood and walked to the orange chest. She unlocked it and pulled out a relatively large photo album. After placing it on the centre of the desk facing Scarlet, she opened it. Inside the album was an assortment of pictures of Trixie when she was younger. The photos depicted her performing various magic acts. There were card tricks, rope tricks, tricks with saws, locked boxes, handkerchiefs and trained animals. It was clear these weren’t being done with magic the way other unicorns traditionally produce magic through their horns, but with smoke, mirrors, slight of hand and other practical methods.

Alongside these photos in the album were snippets of promotional material with the title “The Great and Powerful Trixie” plastered on them in big bold letters, as well as newspaper clippings of reviews from many different towns and villages. Some of the reviews had words crossed out so they seemed to be more favourable than they actually were, but Scarlet couldn’t tear her eyes from the pictures.

“Well that certainly explains the fireworks during the welcoming speech,” Scarlet said with wonder. “And look at you. You look so happy.”

Trixie beamed proudly. “I toured across Equestria as the Great and Powerful Trixie! Magic shows were always my specialty.”

“Oh Celestia, is that Headmare Starlight?!” Scarlet exclaimed as her eyes caught one particular picture.

“Mhmm,” Trixie nodded. “She was my assistant one season.”

“Headmare Starlight was your assistant?! Wow, I bet you guys have some stories to tell…”

“I’d be happy to tell you some. There was the time when I had a Manticore as a part of my act. This was before I met Starlight, by the way. She-“

Scarlet cut her off. “I really should be heading to my next class. This was awesome though. I’ll be sure to stop by again soon!”

Before Trixie knew it, Scarlet was out the door. The office was quiet again, aside from the ticking of the clock. Trixie sighed happily. She did some good today. She helped out a pony in need.

With satisfaction. She closed her album and brought it back over to the chest. She was about to place it back inside when she hesitated. At the bottom of the chest, on top of which the album was resting, were items from her old act. Smoke bombs, scarves, a saw, and laying there folded up, were her old cape and wizard hat. Trixie set the album aside and picked up the hat.

With a smile she put it on her head and looked at herself in the mirror. She hadn’t worn the hat in years and yet…

Trixie turned to her goldfish. “Look, Gail. It still fits.”

Chapter Two - "Hello, Gorgeous"

Trixie pulled the cape out of the chest. It still had its familiar soft touch. Holding it activated memories she had long stored in the back of her mind.

Without haste she changed out of her coat and draped the cape around herself, fastening it securely around her neck. She stood in front of the mirror, adjusted her hat and took in the full picture she presented.

She admitted there was a bit of wear and tear. The colours of her hat and cape had faded a bit and some dust had gathered. The matching stars didn’t pop out as much as they used to.

“It just needs some ironing,” Trixie said with false hope.

She removed the hat and dusted it off a bit. In doing so, a little black spider crawled out.

“EEEEE!!” she squealed.

She jumped onto her couch to put as much distance between her and the spider as she could. The little hairy creature scurried off through a hole in the corner of the room.

Trixie looked back into her hat and saw the web the spider left behind. Using her magic to hold the hat away from herself, she shook out the spiderweb. She simultaneously brushed her hooves through her mane to make sure there were no other surprise spiders waiting to crawl out.

“Ugh!” she retched.

When she was certain it was free of any critters, she returned to the mirror and wore the hat again. The only thing that really stuck out now was how tired her face looked. The former illusionist wasn’t used to looking back at such an old face wearing this outfit. She leaned in close to the mirror and tried to smooth out some of the wrinkles under her eyes. When Trixie pulled her hooves from her face the wrinkles seemed to snap back into place.

“Nothing a little makeup won’t fix,” she muttered.

She didn’t hate the way she looked before but seeing herself now didn’t make her feel confident.

Trixie shook her head sharply, an attempt to shake the insecurities from her mind. She closed her eyes and took three sharp breaths, bouncing on her hooves.

“You’ve got this, girl,” she said, psyching herself up. “You’ve got this.”

All at once she jumped back from the mirror and reared up onto her hind legs. She flashed a coy, devilish smile with her eyes half-lidded. This was her signature pose and it was supposed to charm her audience. However, at present, she just looked like somepony’s mom trying to fit in at a party full of kids. She dropped back to all fours and closed her eyes again. She pressed her front hooves against the wall and pushed into it, forcing out all of the energy inside of herself.

“Okay, let’s try that again. Really feel it this time. They love you, they adore you,” Trixie said under her breath, psyching herself up again.

“This is your moment. 3… 2… 1… Look out Equestria! Trixie’s back at last!!”

She reared onto her hind legs again, posing for the world to see. It was as if time hadn’t passed at all. There she was, onstage again, her caravan behind her with makeshift curtains framing her in front of an audience. The centre of attention. The greatest performance act in Equestria. A one-of-a-kind star. The kind of star you had to see to believe. The kind of star whose talent and charisma everypony knew and loved. All around her, ponies were chanting her name: “Trixie! Trixie! Trixie!” Cameras flashed around her and roses showered the stage on which she stood a princess. No, more than a princess: a queen.

She knew this was what she was born to do…

Then she opened her eyes.

There was no chanting, no roses, no cameras blinding her.

She was standing alone in an office wearing a silly old costume. She was suddenly aware of how quiet it actually was. Only the sound of the ticking clock remained.

“Well…” she started, but before she could finish the thought her office door swung open to a familiar, if not confused, face.

“Oh,” Starlight said, clearly caught off guard.

Trixie instinctively pulled the cape around her face to hide, then realized that doing so didn’t help her embarrassment at all. She had been caught. There was no hiding from that.

Starlight knew Trixie didn’t want to be seen like that. She didn’t know if she should make eye contact or look away, so she settled for neither, glancing back and forth at her friend.

“If you’re in the middle of something I can…”

“What is it with ponies today?” Trixie asked in an attempt to change the subject. “Is this the year everypony decided knocking before entering was too much to ask?”

Starlight stifled a giggle. “Sorry, Trix. I’ve never expected to catch you in a … well … a compromising situation before.”

Trixie grunted in annoyance.

“And I thought you liked having your door always open.” Starlight finished.

“I swear I’m going to get a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign.”

Starlight entered the office and shut the door behind her. “Trying on the old gear, are you? How long has it been?”

“I don’t know. I’ve lost count of the years…” Trixie removed her hat and folded it up. “I was just feeling sentimental, I guess.”

She really did feel embarrassed being caught, even by somepony as close and as understanding as Starlight.

“Don’t worry about it, Trixie. I won’t tell anypony you still like to dress up if you don’t want me to.”

“I don’t still like to dress up. It’s just been such a long time since I wore it and I wanted to see if it still fit.”

Well it still suits you. It still looks like a second skin.”

Somehow Starlight always knew exactly what Trixie wanted to hear. Sometimes that fact irked Trixie to no end.

“If it was anypony but you, Star, I’d have to erase your memory. You know that, right?”

“Pffft, I’d like to see you try!”

Trixie smiled and swung the cape around, feeling it’s movement by her hooves.

“You really think it still looks good?” Trixie asked, posing a bit.

“Absolutely.” Then Starlight’s expression changed. “It could use a wash though. Smells a bit musty.”

Trixie brought the cape to her nose. “You might have a point there.”

She unfastened the cape and put it, and the hat, back into the chest.

“I had no idea you kept them so close,” said Starlight.

“Of course,” said Trixie, turning back to her friend. “How could I not?” She paused a moment, looking into the chest before closing it.

“So, are you ready to go or what?” asked Starlight.

“What do you mean?”

“Trixie, the day’s over. I was waiting outside for you.”

Trixie looked at the clock. Well how about that. It was the end of the school day. How long had she been posing in front of the mirror?

“Sorry. Lost track of time I guess,” said Trixie.

“C’mon, let’s go eat!”

“You head over. I’ve got, uh, some last-minute tidying to do,” Trixie said, remembering a desk drawer full of teacups. “And I need to change. I’ll catch up with you.”

“All right, just don’t take too long.” Starlight left the room.

Now that she was alone again, Trixie opened her drawer and began the tedious process of reversing her transfiguration spell on each individual teacup.

She had just lied to Starlight. A white lie, but a lie no less. She knew how long it had been since she last put on her cape and hat. She knew how many years, right down to the exact day. If today had taught her anything, it was that she couldn’t wait any longer to put the costume on again. She would perform in front of a crowd before the next moon. And she had a plan ready to be put into motion. She’d hear the masses cheering her name again.

Chapter Three - "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of"

“ … well that’s what you get when you come across a pair o’ sprites!”

The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Starlight grinned from ear to ear as she leaned in toward Sunburst and Trixie in anticipation. They were not reacting.

“Pair. O’. Sprites…” Starlight elaborated. “Parasprites?!”

“Oh, yeah, I get it Starlight,” Sunburst said in an attempt to humour his friend. “That’s a good one. Ha-ha…”

“Really? Fake laughter? You could at least groan at my bad jokes. I’d still take that as a win.”

“Oh sorry,” Sunburst said. He let out a low fake sounding moan.

“Fake groaning is even worse!” Starlight threw her hooves up in defeat. “Ah, the moment’s gone, Sunburst.”

“No, no. Maybe if you told it again I’d laugh more, now that I know what the punchline is.”

“That’s not how jokes work! It’s cheating if you know the punchline in advance. What about you Trixie? You always laugh at my bad jokes.”

Trixie wasn’t listening. She was staring off into space, lost in thought.

“Hello… Trixie!” Starlight exclaimed.

“Hmm? What is it?” Trixie asked as her attention was brought back to the room.

“I was just telling a joke and you didn’t laugh or groan at the punchline.”

“Oh, sorry. Could you tell the first part again?”

“Forget it. It’s about time get this meeting started anyway,” Starlight said as she pulled her chair.

“I think that’s a good idea. Now that the Headmare Comedy Hour has ended…,” said the vice principal.

“Good one, Sunburst,” said Trixie with a genuine laugh.

“Oh now you’re just rubbing salt in,” Starlight said with narrowed eyes. “I can’t win with you guys.”

The three of them were in a large boardroom used for faculty meetings. They sat across from each other at a long table. Sometimes the room was used to host larger meetings with all of the teachers present, but this was not one of them. As headmare, Starlight made it a point of order to hold a meeting every week to check in with Sunburst and Trixie, as well as to see if they had any ideas to bring forth regarding the school’s future. Starlight felt that keeping her two best friends at her side, essentially running the school in tandem with her, was the most productive way to keep things fair and democratic. It was a little awkward holding a meeting of three at a table made to seat 25 and the spaciousness of the room kind of ate the sound of their voices but Trixie never complained about needing to project.

“What is the first item on the agenda,” she asked. Trixie had been waiting for this meeting for days. She just had to wait for the right moment to lay her plan into action.

“Right.” Sunburst gathered his notes and adjusted his glasses. “First up, a matter that concerns school lunches. We now have a significant dragon population in our student body. These dragons have all signed a petition to add gemstones to the lunch menu.”

“Dragon exclusive options?” asked Starlight. “I don’t know… Gems aren’t cheap. And they aren’t really a necessary part of a dragon’s daily nutrition.”

“I know but gems are a major part of their culture,” Sunburst said, holding up the petition. “The consensus seems to say that they feel excluded without gems in the lunchroom in at least some capacity. Some non-dragon students have signed the petition too. I think to stand with them in support.”

“Hmmm,” Starlight pondered. “It could introduce some non-dragon students to some aspects of dragon culture. And this petition; I wouldn’t want them to feel discouraged from standing together in the future. How about we add gems to the menu once a week. At least to start.”

“Perfect,” said Sunburst as he began taking notes. “I’ll move some numbers in our budget around. This should be pretty easy to make happen.” He shuffled his papers to move on to the next subject. “Okay, next up we have an issue about the trip to Yakyakistan in a few weeks…”

These meetings were never Trixie’s comfort zone. More often than not she was bored out of her mind. She was happy to be included and chipped in once and a while but she usually sat quietly and let Starlight and Sunburst handle things. They were more skilled at this sort of thing anyway. Trixie wasn’t a planner, she was a doer. And today she just had to wait for the right topic to come up…

“One more thing I’d like to bring up is student mixers,” said Sunburst.

Bingo! Thought Trixie, letting Sunburst continue.

“The students have all gotten to know each other over the past week. It’s time we help them come completely out of their shells. They should feel free to be themselves around each other so they can start on the path to making life-long friends. Any idea-“

“Trixie has the perfect idea!” she stood up and declared.

For the entire meeting Starlight and Sunburst were speaking in hushed tones so the sound of Trixie’s voice suddenly reverberating through the room made them jump out of their seats. Trixie didn’t even let them settle back down before she continued.

“Trixie speaks to the students every … almost every day. Trixie knows what they want. They want a chance to make their mark here at the school. They want to feel the freedom to express themselves. To be able to say in front of everycreature: ‘This is who I am!’ That’s why Trixie suggests that we hold…”

She paused for dramatic effect.

“A talent show!”

“A talent show. That’s a good idea Trixie!” Starlight seemed to be immediately onboard. “That should be a lot of fun for everycreature. Think of all the different skills they’ll get to show off.”

“But wait, there’s more!” Trixie continued. “This talent show will give everycreature a chance to shine. And the best part is, the closing act will be none other than a comeback performance by the Great and Powerful Trixie!!”

Trixie had finished her pitch. She had been practicing it to herself all day, waiting for the chance to deliver. She, as always, expected to be met with applause and cheers. Instead her friends just looked at her uncomfortably.

“You … want to be in the show?” asked Sunburst.

“Of course. I’ll be right up there to support them.”

“You want to be in the students’ talent show?” he clarified.

“Mm-hmm what’s the problem with that?

“It’s a … highly irregular request, Trixie.”

“Think about it. What if there are certain kids, too self-conscious to gather up the bravery to get up onstage? Imagine how they will feel when they see their guidance counselor making it look easy. Think of how inspired they’ll be!”

Starlight and Sunburst just stared at her. They clearly didn’t follow this logic at all.

“Well, guys? What do you say?”

Sunburst looked at Starlight with pleading eyes so Starlight spoke up. “Trixie? Can I speak to you for a second?”

“Sure thing,” said Trixie.

“Thanks. Sunburst, we’ll be just a second. Okay?”

“No problem. Take your time,” said Sunburst, returning to his notes and shaking his head.

The headmare led Trixie through the door to the hallway. Classes were in session so it was quiet.

“Trixie, what is this about?”

“What do you mean?”

“C’mon. Trix… You’ve been so quiet today, then suddenly you’re all gung ho about this talent show idea of yours-”

“It’s a good idea Starlight.”

“-making declarations in third person.”

“Trixie doesn’t know what you’re talking about.” Trixie tried not to make eye contact with Starlight.

“I know you. I know you only speak in third person when you get really excited about something.”

“Well there’s no need to make Trix… um… me self-conscious about the way I speak…”

“And you want to perform in it? What’s going on, Trixie? Does this have anything to do with you putting on your old outfit again?”

Trixie sighed. She couldn’t keep anything from Starlight, could she?

“Star, that day I felt something I haven’t felt in years. It was this … burning. I don’t know how else to describe it. This need. A compulsion. It’s been so long since I did a show. A real magicshow. Not just some tricks for a welcome speech; an honest-to-Celestia, all out performance. That was all I did for the better part of my life. It’s all I thought I was good at before I put it all away for good. Putting on that hat made me feel young again.”

Trixie realized she was pacing with anxiety. This meant more to her than she had realized, but it was too late to stop and turn back.

“This isn’t just something I want. I think it’s something I need. My cutie mark is a magic wand for goodness sake, it’s who I am. And it’s not that guidance counseling isn’t unfulfilling. I like it very much, it’s just…”

“You’re a showpony,” Starlight finished for her.

Trixie finally met her eyes and was greeted by a warm smile.

“It’s who I was. It’s who I am,” Trixie concluded with a nod, a look of determination in her eyes.

There was a pause between them. Silence filled the hallway. Then Starlight started laughing. She put a hoof up to her mouth to contain it.

“Starlight!” Trixie said as she put her own hooves on her friend’s shoulders. “This is serious.”

“I know Trixie, but seriously, a TALENT show?” Starlight was laughing harder now.

“I thought it was a good idea.”

“I think so too. But not for you.” Starlight took a breath to compose herself. “I think it’s great you want to put on another show. But you didn’t need an excuse to do it. And you certainly don’t need to enter a talent show with the students. Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know. I thought it would be self-indulgent, you know. Self-centred of me to want to have the stage all to myself.”

“When has that stopped you before?”

“Well it… Hey! I resent that!”

“You know what I mean.”

She did.

“Trixie if you want to put on another show. Then that’s what we’re going to do.”

“We?” asked Trixie.

“You didn’t think I’d let you do this alone? I used to be your assistant, remember? I’ll help you every step of the way. We can even do it here at the school. But the talent show’s going to be a separate event.”

“I think that’s a good idea.” Trixie was beaming. This was a better result than she anticipated.

“Let’s head back inside,” said Starlight. “I think we’ve kept Sunburst waiting long enough.”

“Agreed.”

The two of them headed back into the boardroom. Trixie had an extra spring in her step. Starlight was happy too. This would be a fun change of pace for a while and it would make her friend happy. But one thing sat at the back of her mind that gave her pause. Trixie had said for the better part of her life she had been a magician.

The better part.

Now at first Starlight took it to be in the figurative sense; that if you took all the years of Trixie’s life, she had spent more of them performing rather than not. However, Starlight wondered if Trixie had meant it literally. Had her life been better before Starlight asked her to be the guidance counselor at the School of Friendship? Trixie always seemed happy. She never complained about the position. This was the first time she had expressed her desire to go back to performing.

Starlight shook her head. She was overthinking things. Twilight’s influence again, surely. It’s not like Trixie was asking to do this regularly. This was just going to be a one-and-done deal. Right? Then again, Trixie did seem awfully certain of how much she loved doing this. Did she want to go back to her old life?

Starlight didn’t have time to dwell on this now. They were already back in the room and seated and their respective places at the table.

“So…,” Sunburst began. “Talent show?”

“Talent show,” Starlight confirmed. “But first. You’re going to have to find room in the calendar for something else.”

Chapter Four - "Another Nice Mess"

“I swear this thing got heavier,” said Starlight in between heavy breaths.

“Maybe you’re just getting soft. Sitting behind your desk all day; it’s a far cry from the adventure and excitement of saving the world,” Trixie replied.

“Managing an entire school can be just as much of an uphill battle as fighting a changling queen,” Starlight panted. “And speaking of uphill battles, has this hill always been this steep?”

“Hang on I’ll go behind and push.”

Three days had passed since Trixie got the approval from Starlight to stage a revival of her magic show and a date was set; the school’s great hall was all hers at the end of the week. She set to work right away gathering her old props from her trunk. She made sure they were still in working order. For the most part they maintained the familiarity that Trixie hoped they would: the juggling balls had the same weight to them that she remembered, the chain used in her escape act was just as sturdy, and her trick handkerchiefs was just as colourful as ever. Even the trunk itself, which she used for her disappearing act, was in good condition.

The only thing missing was Trixie’s old caravan; purple wood paneling with a yellow trim, quaint windows on the side, and with stars, crescent moons and magic wands painted on to match her cutie mark. It was the wagon she used as a stage for her performances. The one she took on the road with her when she went touring. The one she slept in every night since she started performing, even though it was so jam-packed with props and tricks that it was impossible to toss and turn without making a racket. The caravan she used to call home.

She had been living at the school since she effectively retired from performing. The school provided room and board for all of its staff, but she couldn’t bring herself to sell the caravan. Too many memories, maybe? Maybe she felt like it was such an important part of her life that getting rid of it was like getting rid of a part of herself? Trixie didn’t know the reason and she didn’t think she needed one. It was a cool caravan, and it was hers.

Years ago, she found a secluded spot by a river on the outskirts of Ponyville. She decided that that would be the caravan’s new permanent parking spot. She would stop by every weekend to relax and unwind. It was quite the tranquil spot. Her home had now become her home away from home.

Trixie knew it wouldn’t be a true revival of her old act without the wagon so she and Starlight set out to bring it back to the school, taking turns pulling it all the way. It was currently Starlight’s turn and they were just about to arrive back in town…

Just as soon as they got the caravan up this hill…

“Don’t jostle anything around too much. You don’t want the smoke bombs going off,” Trixie huffed as she pushed from the rear.

“Smoke bombs!? Trixie they’re so old they probably passed their best before date ages ago,” Starlight strained.

“Not these babies. I only buy the best. Never go bad. Just keep pulling.”

“I am pulling but it’s-”

Starlight was cut off with a loud snapping sound. Her eyes went wide as she suddenly felt a whole lot lighter. She turned around as saw the cart free from its harness. It was rolling back down the hill, slowly at first, but quickly picking up steam.

“Starlight!! Don’t push it back to me! Are you trying to run me over?” Trixie called out.

“I’m not attached to the caravan anymore,” Starlight called back. “The harness broke!”

Trixie didn’t hear that last part because the caravan was now careening down the hill at a dangerous speed. “AAaaahhh!!!”

“Trixie!” Starlight called. She shook the harness off and gave chase.

Trixie managed to maintain a grip on the caravan with her front hooves. She held on for dear life to a small wooden ledge that jutted out from the back of the vehicle, her hind legs dragging underneath on the ground below.

The unicorn pulled herself up onto the narrow ledge, finding careful balance. Her heart was pounding. She tried to look for a place to jump off but she was hurtling past trees so quickly it made her dizzy. If she jumped at the wrong spot she could dive straight into a tree, or not get enough distance and risk being run over by a wagon wheel.

She turned to see where exactly they were headed and saw the journey was going to be quite short. The caravan was headed straight for a pile of rocks collected at the base of the hill. She was going to crash! She stood on her hind legs and pressed her back to the speeding caravan.

She closed her eyes and hollered: “Starlight!!!”

Suddenly, the wagon came to a dead stop right before it crashed into its destination, and Trixie became aware of a magical energy surrounding the caravan. However, the sudden stop caused Trixie’s momentum to propel her forward, and with a yelp she sailed over the rocks and into a nearby bush.

Trixie’s head popped out of the bush and she coughed up a few leaves. Her head was spinning but her vision was clear enough to see Starlight, who had caught up with the vehicle and stopped it by surrounding it with her magic. The caravan was now hovering slightly above ground and Starlight was catching her breath.

“Are you … okay … Trixie?” Starlight asked between breaths.

To be honest, Trixie was shaking and her heart still pounded with adrenaline, but she had a big smile on her face.

“Never better,” She said. “Best day of my life. Honestly.”

“Of course it is.”

“Thanks for having my back, Star.”

“I knew there was a good reason I came with you,” Starlight smirked as she set the caravan back to the ground. “How’s that for a bit of adventure, eh?”

She leaned up against the wagon and grinned with cocky satisfaction. Without missing a beat, there was a loud popping noise. The windows of the caravan burst open and grey smoke poured out. Starlight jumped back a foot in surprise.

The smoke bombs must have gone off. It was unclear if it was a delayed reaction to the excitement of rolling down the hill or if it was simply from the wagon being set down gently. It didn’t matter to Trixie because at least the bombs still worked.

“Told you I only get the good stuff! Hehehe … hehe…”

Trixie tried to laugh to diffuse the tension but Starlight just stared back, unamused.

“So…” Trixie began. “You wanna start back up the-”

“We’re taking the long way around,” Starlight cut her off. “Away from the steep, dangerous hill.”

“I figured you’d say that.”

“And it’s your turn to pull.”

“Yeah that’s fair.”

Author's Note

Decided to split Chapter 4 into two separate chapters. Enjoy!!

Chapter Five - "Gotta Come Back a Star"

It was about midday when the duo pulled the wagon into Ponyville. The town was bustling with ponies lunching and shopping; a typical afternoon. The two unicorns had to cut through the town in order to get to the school efficiently, but it wasn’t too long before Trixie’s stomach started to growl. She had been the one pulling the caravan since the incident on the hill and was growing tired.

“I could use a break,” she said.

“Yeah I can hear your stomach grumbling from here,” said Starlight. “Let’s stop for some lunch.”

“Ugh, I could devour an ocean of peanut butter crackers right now.”

“I don’t know what that means, Trix.”

“Never mind. Lead the way!”

The two made their way through the crowds of Ponyville until they arrived at Chamomile Corner, one of their favourite tea shops and cafés. Before you ask, no, they did not sell peanut butter crackers. They did, however, have an assortment of sandwiches and pastries that would satiate the hunger of the pickiest of ponies.

Trixie backed the wagon up next to the shop and unhooked herself from the harness. The two of them rounded the corner to the front of the restaurant. There were a few empty tables available for the taking out front. Perfect for such a clear day like this.

“Remember where we parked,” Trixie deadpanned.

“Ahehehehe…” Starlight humoured.

“Is that the kind of laugh you expect to get whenever you tell a bad joke?”

“Every time. And don’t you forget it, sister.”

The two friends shared a genuine chuckle between them.

“I’ll go inside and get us something to eat,” offered Starlight.

“You would do that?! For me?!” Trixie said with wide eyes.

“Oh, shut up and grab us a table,” Starlight turned to head inside.

“Some mint tea for me, please,” said Trixie.

“Sure thing.”

“Oh, make sure you get some fresh daffodil sandwiches.”

“Of course.”

“And a side of hayfries to split.”

“Will do.”

“Oh, and can you get that thing they do where they have a little tower and they put a bunch of little tarts and dessert squares on all the different levels? I love that.”

Starlight turned back to face Trixie.

“So our usual then?”

Trixie tilted her head and grinned. “Thank you, Star!”

Starlight rolled her eyes and headed into the shop. Trixie settled at an empty table for two next to the fence that created a perimeter around the restaurant’s patio area. She leaned back into her chair and breathed a sigh of relaxation.

Everything was coming together for her. In a few days time she’ll be back in her element with her best friend at her side. She closed her eyes and basked in the sun. It wasn’t too long however until her sun was blocked by an annoying shadow. She opened her eyes to see a stallion standing in between her and the sun. He was looking off at something, lost in thought.

“Excuse me sir,” said Trixie with a glare. “You’re blocking my sun.”

The pony turned his attention to Trixie. “Huh? Oh, sorry ma’am, I didn’t realize. Pardon me.” The earth pony stepped to the side. He clearly had no intention of causing any bother.

“Thank, you sir.”

He turned his attention back to what he was staring at before. Now that he wasn’t creating an eclipse, Trixie could get a clearer look at him. He was young, a shiny brown colour with a neatly trimmed sliver mane. He wore a silver business suit to match.

He turned back to Trixie. “Beg your pardon, ma’am. But you aren’t by chance the owner of that marvelous caravan, are you?”

Trixie looked in the direction the pony’s gaze. He had been staring at her wagon the whole time!

“What make you think it’s mine?” Trixie asked.

“The paint job matches the patterns on your coat. And your cutie mark.”

Of course, Trixie thought. She was so accustomed to the way her wagon looked it always slips her mind that it matches her look. Even though she was flattered at the compliment her caravan had gotten, she was a little irked that some strange pony had been contemplating her cutie mark without her knowing.

“It’s not for sale,” she said dismissively as she turned away from him.

“Oh, I’m not looking to buy,” clarified the stallion. “I’m just admiring it. That’s a fine-looking show-wagon.”

This comment caused Trixie to perk right up. The stallion now had her full attention. “How can you tell it’s a show-wagon?” she asked.

“I can see the seams where the stage unfolds. It’s my job to have an eye for these things. The name’s Star Search.”

The stallion pulled out a business card and passed it to Trixie. She took a close look at it and saw a picture of a yellow star with a microphone in front of it. When she looked back up to him, she saw his cutie mark was the exact same image.

“I’m a talent scout from Las Pegasus,” he continued.

Trixie all but jumped out of her chair. “Did you say Las Pegasus?!”

“That’s right ma’am,” Star Search affirmed with a chuckle.

Her eyes grew as wide as saucers; her hooves tingled with excitement at the mere mention of the name. Las Pegasus! It was the entertainment capital of Equestria! The finest, most respected, most thrilling entertainers performed there. Only the best of the best, the most dazzling acts, could have the opportunity to sign a contract guaranteeing a residency at a theatre or an arena.

Trixie picked her jaw off the ground and shook her head to focus back on the pony in front of her, the pony who just became much more interesting to her. She put her front hooves on the fence and leaned on it in a forced-casual way.

“So…,” she started with a flick of her mane. “Las Pegasus… What brings you all the way to Ponyville?”

“I’m here on business. See, it’s my job to scour Equestria in search of fresh talent. Sapphire Shores is retiring next year and that’ll leave an opening to be filled at Somnambula’s Palace.”

“Did you just say Somnam-,“ Trixie managed to squeak out before losing her grip, falling forward, and smacking her jaw on the fence.

“Are you alright, ma’am?”

“Oh yes I’m fine,” Trixie said, picking herself up, embarrassed. “It’s just that Somnambula’s Palace… That’s the ‘Home of the Greatest Entertainers in Equestria.’”

“That’s what it says on the marquee,” Star Search chuckled. “We try to take that slogan seriously though. Ponies pay a hefty sum to get a ticket and we make sure they get their bit’s worth.”

“You represent Somnambula’s Palace?” Trixie asked, still in awe.

“Yes indeed,” said Star Search proudly. “And I’m a touch embarrassed to say I’m a little lost. I’m supposed to see a local for an audition. Somepony by the name of Crescendo. Can you tell me where to find City Hall? That’s where I’m supposed to meet them.”

Trixie had no idea who this ‘Crescendo’ was. She must have been out of the entertainment scene longer than she realized. Then again, it’s not like she paid any attention to acts other than hers in the first place.

“Sure thing,” she said. It’s just down the road and to the left around Sugarcube Corner.”

“Thanks a bunch. Nice talking to you Miss…”

“Trixie. It’s been a pleasure.”

“Take care, now.”

Star Search turned to leave. Suddenly a pang of anxiety hit her. She couldn’t let him leave. A powerful instinct inside her forced her to call out to him before he got even half a step away.

“Ihaveanacttoo,” she blurted out before she even realized she did.

He turned back. “Beg your pardon?”

Trixie cleared her throat and tried to calm herself down but still couldn’t help talking with a little more force than she was used to. She was nervous beyond compare. “I said I have an act too. It’s mine. It’s a magic act. It’s my magic act.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“I figured that’s what the wagon was for.”

“You’re so … observant.” Trixie was trying her hardest to flatter him but honestly didn’t have a lot to go on. “You may have heard of me: The Great and Powerful Trixie?” she said with a not-so-subtle flourish.

“Ehhh, sorry can’t say I have,” he replied.

“Well you’re going to hear all about me if you’re in town for the next few days. I’m doing a, uh … a gig, at the School of Friendship.”

“Aha,” he said, clearly onto her game. “Listen ma’am, I’m sure it’s a good act, but Sonambula’s Palace isn’t really looking for a magic show at this time.”

“Well you’ve never seen a show like this before.”

“I don’t know, I’ve seen an awful lot. There are a lot of magic acts in Las Pegasus.”

“But have you seen magic performed by a magician that bested the changeling army in order to rescue the Princesses of Equestria?”

“I heard that story. Wait you’re that Trixie?!”

“The one and only!” Trixie never hesitated to tell somepony about the time Princess Twilight needed her help, even if Starlight and Thorax did most of the legwork on that adventure, a fact she didn’t mind leaving out from time to time.

“If that’s the case I’ve got to see what you can do first-hand,” the stallion decided.

“Wonderful! I’ll set a ticket aside for you.” The show was free but he didn’t need to know that. It was much more impressive if he thought she was raking in bits. “See you at the school in three days then?”

“I’ll be there. See you around!”

And with that, he was off. Trixie beamed and waved after him. “Don’t be a stranger!”

Once he turned a corner and was out of sight, Trixie’s chest suddenly felt heavy. She sat back down in her chair as a wave of anxiety took over. It was like she was having an out of body experience, out of control of her actions until just now when she became aware of what she had done. This was just supposed to be a revival brought on by nostalgia. A throwback. A one-off for old time’s sake. Now she was going to be putting it all out there for a big wig Las Pegasus talent agent.

I just couldn’t help myself, she thought. I saw an opportunity and I seized it. I couldn’t just let him walk away. And it worked! I’m going to perform for a real representative of the Las Pegasus entertainment world! But why do I feel nervous? What have I got to lose?

She fiddled with Star Search’s business card, spinning on the table with her hooves.

“Who were you talking to?”

The familiar voice startled Trixie. It was Starlight, using magic to make their food orbit around her head before she started setting the table.

“I saw you out the window. Was that a friend of yours?” she continued, setting Trixie’s tea in front of her.

“Oh, it was just…” Trixie hesitated. She didn’t know how her friend would react. Would she laugh in Trixie’s face? Or would she be concerned Trixie had ulterior motives for staging this show? Truth be told, Trixie didn’t know what her intentions were anymore.

She decided not to tell Starlight. At least not right now. “He was just somepony new to town; asking for directions.”

“Aren’t you Little Miss Helpful,” the headmare said as she blew on her hot cup of tea. “I saw the way he looked at you. I think he likes you.”

“Pfft, don’t you think he’s a bit young?”

“Sure. He matches your young heart.”

“You’re too kind Star, really.”

“Well, it’s good you have a young hear because your face isn’t doing you any favours.”

“Watch it missy!”

The two unicorns continued their banter, laughing and enjoying their lunch together, but not before Trixie slipped the business card into her coat pocket, unseen by Starlight.

She and Starlight had finished pulling the cart all the way to the school and parking it behind the building. That night Trixie hadn’t slept a wink. She had been tossing and turning, thinking about the sights of Las Pegasus. The lights of the hotels at night, so bright it was like walking in a dream. Hotels and resorts that towered above the clouds. Being a city that was already built on the clouds helped that last fact a lot.

A city where anypony could make their dreams come true.

That morning she was sitting in her office, her face flat on the desk. She was exhausted but she couldn’t slow down her thoughts.

She had just invited Star Search on a lark to impress him. All she ever did was try to impress ponies and this was no different. But what kind of impact would she leave now that he was actually coming? The impending reality of that performance seemed much more nerve wracking now.

She lifted her head off the desk. “Maybe he’ll like me and maybe he won’t.” Trixie said to her fish, Gail. “If he doesn’t like the show it’s no harm, no foul. Life goes on and I’m still guidance counselling every day… Right here… In this room…”

She took a moment to look around the room. For some reason, at this very moment, it seemed smaller than ever. It certainly felt like the farthest she could be from the expanse that was Las Pegasus. She stood up and begun pacing in circles.

“Though I guess I would embarrass myself for not living up to the expectations I set for him. And he’ll tell all his associates back in Las Pegasus about what a disappointment I was. That’d be the worst-case scenario.”

She paused for a moment before going back to those words: “Las Pegasus. Las Pegasus.” She let the words flow over her tongue like honey. She actually felt lighter every time she said them as if they were lifting her away to paradise.

“What about the best-case scenario? What if he does like me? What if he offers me a contract right there on the spot? What if I have my own residency at Sonambula’s Palace?”

The venue was the most famous entertainment complex and hotel in the city. Legendary performers had walked that stage: Countess Coloratura, Sapphire Shores, not to mention renowned magicians like Big Bucks and Jack Pot.

Trixie pressed her face right up to Gail’s bowl. “What have they got that I don’t? I could make it out there if I actually tried, right?”

Gail just blubbed in response.

“Why not? What makes me so different from them? I’m the Great and Powerful Trixie!! I beat Twilight Sparkle in a magic duel! I faced the changeling hive! I could have anything I wanted!!”

She sighed. She was getting so excited she realized she was out of breath.

“I’d have to quit the school. Starlight would understand. She always understands. It’s not like we wouldn’t be friends anymore. Plus, there are loads of ponies who can do this job just as well as I can. Maybe better… Maybe… But this is my dream we’re talking about.”

It was at that moment she realized performing in front of an enormous crowd had never stopped being her dream. Not just a fantasy or a pastime but a full-fledged life goal. Having the stability of the school job had been nice, especially since she was working every day with her best friend, but they also helped suppress this dream of hers all this time. Trixie admitted she now felt a little resentment for the school now. It had been holding her back from her true potential, and it just wouldn’t give her satisfaction anymore. She wouldn’t let it.

She opened her trunk of tricks and took out three juggling balls. She tossed them in the air one at a time. No magic this time, just her hooves and sheer concentration and reflexes. She was able to keep them all in the air in perfect synchronization. She hadn’t lost her touch one bit. All those years of practicing had not gone wasted.

Then a thought occurred to her. “This won’t be enough,” she said aloud, maintaining her juggling. “If I want to make it to Las Pegasus I need something more. This trunk of knick knacks is just a bunch of parlour tricks compared to what the show ponies of Las Pegasus can do. The magicians there are all about spectacle. Bright lights. Danger. They have high flying stunts. They use big dangerous animals to…”

One by one she caught the balls in her hooves and dropped them on her desk. “I know what to do,” she said, filled with determination.

Gail blubbed in response.

“ … um … you want what?” Fluttershy asked.

“A manticore. The bigger the better,” said Trixie. “I want the crowd to see drool dripping from its fangs, even if they’re sitting in the back row!”

The two of them were in the middle of Fluttershy’s animal sanctuary. The yellow Pegasus was pouring bird seed from one of the bags she was carrying into an assortment of colourful feeders. “I … um … don’t have any manticores here.”

Fluttershy sung out a simple yet elegant melody. On cue, a small group of birds flew over and began to eat from the feeders.

“But it’s for my grand finale!” pleaded Trixie. “I’m supposed to fire myself out of a cannon, into the open mouth of the manticore, then teleport myself out before I get eaten. It was my greatest death-defying stunt and it brought down the house every time.”

Trixie was using her hooves and body language to help Fluttershy visualize how much of a spectacle this trick was meant to be, though Fluttershy was devoting her attention to making sure her animals were being fed properly.

“It’s the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive!” Trixie continued. “I can’t do the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive without a manticore!”

“I remember that trick. It was certainly exciting,” said Fluttershy before adding “and dangerous” under her breath. “But I’m sorry I just don’t keep any manticores here. When they’re tamed, they still make the other animals feel unsafe. Even the lions, tigers and bears.”

“Oh my…” sighed Trixie. She really didn’t have time to go into the Everfree Forest, find a manticore and train it in a couple of days. “I guess they’ll have to do.”

“I’m sorry what?” asked Fluttershy.

“The lions, tigers and bears. I’ll take one of each, thanks.”

“I’m sorry but they aren’t for sale.”

“I don’t intend to buy them. I just want to borrow them for my show. Any dangerous beasts will do.”

“But they aren’t trained for the stage. And they aren’t dangerous. They’re quite peaceful.”

Fluttershy gestured to the pen where the predators were kept. They were all lounging around half-asleep, quite content with life.

Trixie rolled her eyes and grunted. “The audience won’t know that. I can make them look scary.”

“I don’t know…”

“Just one? How about just one measly little lion for an afternoon. You won’t even know he’s gone.”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

Trixie followed Fluttershy through the animal sanctuary until they came to a dozen small food dishes. From another one of her bags, Fluttershy dumped chopped lettuce and carrots into each dish before ringing a nearby dinner bell. A dozen white rabbits seemed to appear all around them in an instant and started to feast on their meals with glee.

“Aww they’re so cute!” Trixie exclaimed.

“I know,” said Fluttershy as she pointed at each bunny. “This is Snowball, and this one is Willow, and this one is Angel Jr., and this one-”

Trixie cut her off with another observation. “They’re well trained, Fluttershy.” Trixie put her hoof on her chin.

“Oh, thank you. They’re all very special to me.”

“Hmmm… You know Fluttershy,” Trixie began, “I used to pull a rabbit out of my hat during my old act. But I’ve never pulled a dozen rabbits out of my hat.”

“Goodness,” Fluttershy replied. “How would you even get that many rabbits into your hat?”

“A great and powerful magician never reveals her secrets. You’ll just have to check out my comeback performance to see how amazing the trick looks when these little cuties pop out of my hat one by one.”

“You want my bunnies in your show, too?” asked Fluttershy with mild panic. “They’re awfully young still. And they’ve never been in a magic show before.”

“They wouldn’t have to do much,” Trixie assured. “They’re already trained well enough to follow the sound of a bell. Besides, think of how the audience will react when they see them all onstage together. It’ll be completely safe I promise.”

“Well…”

“Pleeeeease!!!” Trixie got down on her knees and made her eyes as wide and sad as possible.

“If it’s going to be totally safe I suppose-”

“Great. You can bring the bunnies along with that lion the day of the show!” said Trixie jumping back to all fours.

“Okay I’ll… Wait…”

“I still have a lot of preparations to make but I’ll talk to you later. See you around, Flutters!”

Trixie took off, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake. She was in business mode, her mind on one track to get what she needed in time for the show. She left Fluttershy standing there with a confused look on her face. She turned to her bunny friends who were staring back at her in equal confusion.

“Did she just call me ‘Flutters’?”

Trixie was running out of time. She could have done the show any day she wanted. But no, she had to tell Star Search she was performing in just a few day’s time. She couldn’t change the date now; that would just look unprofessional. Stupid!

Lucky for her, she was a professional and she could make last minute additions to her act without any stress. Without much stress, at least. She already purchased as many fireworks as she could fit into the caravan. That took care of a bulk of the razzle dazzle. Now she had some live animals to make the act pop. All it needed now was a sense of danger.

She thought to herself aloud: “Where can I find a table saw at this time of day?”

Chapter Seven - "I'm Ready For My Close-Up"

“Ready Trixie?” asked Sunburst.

Trixie reached a hoof out from behind the curtain flicked it upward. With the signal given, Sunburst opened the house and let the ponies and assorted other species flood into the theatre. Creatures young and old shuffled to their seats, gawking at the décor of the theatre. Many of the creatures in attendance were students of the School of Friendship, so seeing the state of the great hall was especially awe inspiring to them.

“Wow look at those curtains! Aren’t they elegant?” came one voice.

“I can’t believe this is our school!” came another.

“Is that a wagon or a stage? How does it even function?”

From behind the upstage curtain, Trixie peered through at the crowd. She was disappointed to see that not every seat had been filled. She had obviously been hoping for a full house and clearly the marketing for the show had worked well enough, but those few empty gaps in the audience were sticking out all the more to her. They could have been filled so easily! she thought.

However, her spirits were lifted when she saw Star Search sitting there in the front row, flipping through his program. Wait, no, it wasn’t her spirits being lifted, it was her anxiety. Stage fright had never been a stranger to Trixie, even when she performed for a living. In some ways it was a necessity to heighten her senses and increase her awareness. It was a reminder of what was at stake if she didn’t give it everything she could onstage. Now, the nervous twinge in her stomach, the adrenaline rush that made her hooves feel numb, and the constant voice in her head screaming “Don’t mess up! Don’t mess up!” was back with a vengeance.

It was one thing to invite Star Search to the performance, another thing for him to show up to the theatre, and yet another thing entirely to leave an impression that would give her the chance she needed to sign a contract in Las Pegasus. She couldn’t possibly know what he was looking for in a prestige magic act, so she would have to give everything she had to offer and hold nothing back.

Seeing him sitting there proved another thing to her: she had a legitimate shot at the top. If he didn’t think she had what it took he wouldn’t have wasted his time showing up, but his presence in the theatre alone was telling her she had a chance. She was so close she could practically taste the Las Pegasus air, soaring high in the clouds with the rest of the city’s residents. This was the day she could make her dreams come true.

Peering over Trixie’s shoulder through the same break of curtain was Starlight. “Would you look at that crowd?” said the headmare. “Ready to give them a good show Great and Powerful Trixie?”

“Ready if you are, my Great and Powerful Assistant.”

Starlight took her eye away from the curtain. She trotted in place, a big smile on her face. “Eee! I’m so excited I’m getting goosebumps. I didn’t expect to be this excited. Or is this performance anxiety? Oh gosh, am I having performance anxiety?”

“You’ll do great, Starlight. Just followed my lead. You’ve never let me down before.”

“Okay. If you’re ready, I’ll signal to Sunburst to dim the lights and I’ll introduce you.”

“Wait.” Trixie stopped Starlight from going too far and passed her a rolled-up scroll. “I’ve written down my introduction. Just read from this.”

Starlight unrolled the scroll and skimmed through what Trixie had written on it. Her eyes narrowed. “Are you sure this isn’t a bit…” Her eyes softened as she glanced back at Trixie, who had a twinkle in her eye. “You know what, it’s perfect.”

“Thanks. I’m going to get in place below stage.”

Trixie turned but was stopped when Starlight placed a hoof on her shoulder. Starlight swung her around and pulled her into a tight hug. “Break a leg, Trix,” she said.

“You too, Star,” Trixie responded before returning a hug back.

“And try not to break a hip.”

“No jokes now please,” Trixie said warmly but firmly as she separated. “I’ve got to focus now.”

“See you on the other side then.” And with that, the two ponies turned away from each other, Trixie crawling under the stage to her entrance platform and Starlight walking toward the curtain.

Taking a deep breath, Starlight stepped onto the stage through the stage left wing. The audience members, who were making small talk with each other as audiences do while waiting in a theatre, took notice of her one by one and greeted her with clapping hooves, claws, etc. As the applause built, Starlight made her way to centre stage. She nodded toward Sunburst, who was hidden from the audience’s sight in the stage right wing behind a curtain. Taking Starlight’s cue, he used his magic to dim the lights of the theatre, save for one spotlight focused on centre stage, where Starlight was now standing.

The applause subsided and Starlight took in the crowd. Standing in front of the red curtain, all eyes on her, anticipating what she was going to do, she understood why Trixie loved performing. She had their full attention. The problems of whatever worlds they came from outside those doors were on hold because at this moment they wanted to be entertained, and Trixie was the only one who could provide them this entertainment. As terrifying as being onstage could be, the power that came with it was undeniable. Nothing in Equestria felt like this.

Better give them what they’ve been waiting for, Starlight thought. She cleared her throat.

“Fillies, gentlecolts, and everycreature,” began the headmare. “Welcome to the School of Friendship. I am Headmare Starlight Glimmer.”

There was a scattering of cheers that clearly came from some of the school’s students. Some of the other audience members politely laughed in response and Starlight couldn’t help but smile as she used her magic to float Trixie’s prepared speech up to her eyes.

“‘You are so lucky to be here, everycreature,’” she read. “‘You are about to witness sights that will dazzle your eyes and,’ um…” She trailed off.

“Say it!” came a familiar voice from below Starlight’s hooves. It was Trixie, hiding and waiting for her cue below the wooden stage. She was speaking with a forcefulness that Starlight could hear but the audience could not.

“‘…and razzle yours souls,’” continued Starlight.

“Nailed it!” came Trixie’s voice.

Starlight forced herself not to roll her eyes. “‘You will see wonderous illusions and daring feats of danger. All brought to you today by one very special mare.’”

“Put a little more showmareship into it. You sound a bit flat,” came Trixie’s voice.

Starlight quietly sighed before leaning out to the audience. She used the most exciting stage voice she could muster. “‘She toured the world from Canterlot to Saddle Arabia!’” she continued. “‘She tamed the great Ursa Minor! She harnessed the power of the Alicorn Amulet! She even rescued the great princesses of Equestria from the clutches of the Changeling horde’ … with my assistance, of course.”

The audience let out a collective chuckle. “That wasn’t part of the speech!” Starlight stomped one hoof to quiet Trixie.

“‘For years, only her legend remained, but whispers of her return have proven true.’” Starlight couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that cheesy line. “‘For you are about to witness this mare’s return to the realm of magic; bolder, wiser, and more powerful than ever before. Fillies and gentlecolts, it is my honour to present to you the comeback of the legend herself: the one and only, Great and Powerful Trixie!’”

Starlight led the applause and crossed to stage left, still in view of the audience but out of the spotlight, just as smoke flooded the stage. The applause ended and the audience waited in anticipation for whatever came next.

They waited … and waited … and waited…

Something was wrong.

Here’s what was supposed to happen: As the smoke built to its height, Trixie was to emerge from the trapdoor in the centre of the stage. The spring-loaded platform hidden beneath was designed to propel her up through the trap door where she would land on her hooves to greet the audience.

Here was the problem: the platform was stuck.

The door was open, but the platform wouldn’t budge! Trixie had her knees bent, ready to launch gracefully through the air but grew impatient and anxious as soon as she realized something was wrong. She stomped her hooves repeatedly onto the platform in an attempt to make it move. “C’mon, c’mon,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “Not now!”

She got flat on her stomach and peered over the side of the platform to examine the spring underneath. It was taught and ready to uncoil, but there was no clear problem in sight. She was losing time, and the attention of the audience with it. She could hear murmurs of confusion coming from above. As quick as she could, she slid herself around the platform, examining all sides of the spring but she could see nothing preventing the launch. It must have just been stuck in place.

Reaching out, she tapped the spring with her hoof. Nothing. “You are not ruining this for me!” she snapped at the spring. She tapped the spring again, harder this time. Again and again, harder and harder. “You rusty piece of junk! Do! Your! Job!”

With one final jab, Trixie heard a click coming from the spring and the platform moved up a touch. “Oh,” was all that escaped from Trixie’s mouth before she was launched into the air at full force. “YEAAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!” she screamed.

The platform shot her straight up through the field of smoke and into the open air beyond the open trap door, separating from the platform as it sunk back below the stage and the trap door closed.

Trixie heard the audience gasp as they saw her rocketing up from below the stage, summersaulting in the air and flailing her hooves uncontrollably. Higher she went, higher than she had intended on going. She was halfway up to the ceiling before she stopped gaining altitude. At the height of her launch, temporarily suspended in the air, she leveled her body and stopped flailing. She also realized something crucial.

In her attempt to examine the spring she had turned herself around and was now facing away from the audience. She had a split second to realize this before she started plummeting back down to the stage.

Trixie cleared her mind and focused on getting herself positioned properly. She paddled her hooves through the air to spin herself around. When she was facing the proper direction again, and halfway back down to the stage, she tilted her hat forward to hide the panic in her face from the audience. This would take a lot of concentration.

The magician, cape billowing behind her, angled herself so that her weight was distributed evenly to all four legs. She unlocked her knees and braced for her collision with the stage. This was all she could do to not literally break a leg, or four, before the show even began.

You can do this! You can do this! she thought as she made her landing. She came down hard on all fours, bending her knees to absorb the impact. Her hooves made a loud bang as they hit the wooden stage with force. Her cape flowed around her, creating a clearing in the smoke. She was shaking, but that was more from the adrenaline than because of any injury, of which she appeared to have none.

When she was relatively sure she was still in one piece, Trixie peeked up from under her hat at the audience. She could only make out their silhouettes as the spotlight blinded her of their faces. She had no idea what their reaction was until she heard it. A thunderous cheer erupted from the theatre. Trixie tilted her head up fully and proudly, letting the audience take in the pony who just accomplished this incredible feat of acrobatics.

They all think you were in control the whole time, Trixie thought. Perfect!

She beamed and shot them her signature look: a sly grin, with a raised eyebrow. Hiking back on her hind legs, she struck a pose; the cheers only got louder. She had the crowd right where she wanted them. Her eyes wandered to the side of the stage where her assistant Starlight had a wide grin frozen on her face, though Trixie could see relief in her eyes that Trixie didn’t hurt herself.

Trixie cockily wiggled her eyebrows at her friend before facing the audience again. “Behold, everycreature! The Great and Powerful Trixie has arrived! It’s showtime!”

Chapter Eight - "Top of the World"

The sweat that dripped down Starlight’s forehead was being illuminated by the stage lights. The wide smile she forced was beginning to hurt her cheeks. She couldn’t let up though. That’s not what a good assistant would do during a live show, especially right after an entrance as spectacular as that.

Unbeknownst to Trixie and the audience, however, was a bit of magical interference on behalf of Starlight. As Trixie was crashing down after being launched into the air, Starlight used her magic to land her friend as gently as possible. Trixie had built up so much momentum that she still hit the stage hard, but without Starlight’s help she knew the magician would have likely been seriously hurt. Thankfully the smoke was still thick enough at that point to hide Starlight’s magic aura, therefore maintaining the illusion of Trixie’s control. Starlight knew she would have to be on top of her game for this show. Who knew what was coming next?

Well, Trixie obviously knew what was next, and she was on top of the world. “I know what you’re thinking, everycreature,” she said. “You think you’ve seen all that magic has to offer. You think there’s nothing left to be impressed by. Well think again!”

With a flick of her hooves, two ropes fashioned from multicoloured handkerchiefs came shooting from behind her back. They soared over the heads of the audience who gaped up at them as they seemed to stretch endlessly.

“Watch in awe!” the magician proclaimed. With a stomp of her hoof, one of the handkerchiefs exploded in a burst of sparkles that shimmered over the crowd, all of whom gasped in amazement. Once again, they applauded. However, the second handkerchief rope was still suspended in the air, unchanged. Trixie cleared her throat. “Watch in awe … again!” She stomped her hoof a second time, but there was no change.

“C’mon,” she hissed under her breath. She took hold of the rope with one hoof and began to shake it. “Watch. In. Awe!” she punched her words with each shake. On the word “awe” the rope pulled back toward Trixie just as fast as it shot from her, like a fishline being reeled in at rapid speed. “Oops,” was all Trixie could get out before the rope wrapped around her tying her from head to toe. This unpleasant experience only lasted for a second before the entire wrapping of handkerchiefs burst in the same glittery mess as the first one.

Trixie inhaled some of the glitter and started coughing hysterically, waving the glitter from her face and eyes. A burst of laughter escaped from the audience while Trixie was still coughing. Unable to get any words out, she turned to Starlight for assistance. Starlight, leaning into the situation, said, “Boy, they sure don’t make magic handkerchiefs like they used to. Do they, folks?” Another burst of laughter came from the audience, followed by applause.

Trixie’s cough subsided and she nodded gratefully to Starlight. She knew how to play into the crowd’s behaviour and was thankful she was by her side through this. The magician regained her composure and turned back to the audience.

“Next I’m going to need one lucky member from the audience to pick a card.” She pulled out her deck and used her hooves to shuffle the cards. She learned years ago that certain tricks were more impressive if no magic was involved at all. Her slight of hand was just as impressive without any additional flourishes or magical accompaniment. Plus, she could show off her ability to toss her cards over her head with one hoof and catch them in the other, without keeping her eyes on them; a skill she had been practicing since she was a filly. As she did this, the audience let out a few “oohs”.

“You, young stallion,” she directed at a younger pony in the front row. She leaned toward him, holding out her cards splayed face down. “Pick a card. Any card.” The pony pulled out a card and examined it. Other ponies around him leaned in to see what he had just chosen. “You can show your card to anycreature you’d like. Just don’t tell me what it is and make sure I don’t see it.”

The pony lifted his card up and showed it to as many audience members that could see it. “Please return the card to the deck once you’ve committed it to memory.” The pony did just that and Trixie shuffled the cards again.

“Any great and powerful magician worth her salt can find your card without any challenge. All it takes are a few trick shuffles to keep the selected card in plain sight. I’ll let you in on a little secret too, folks, some magicians even like to cheat by marking the backs of the cards.” Trixie shook her head in disapproval, which lead to the audience booing those magicians. “Trixie likes to do things a bit differently folks. Trixie likes to use real magic. And to prove Trixie’s great and powerful abilities, I will pass this newly shuffled deck of cards to my great and powerful assist.”

Trixie then used her magic to pass the cards to Starlight, who now held them with her magic aura. She gave a trusting nod and a smile to Trixie, who reciprocated the gesture.

“I know what your thinking,” Trixie continued. “‘What’s going to stop her from cheating while she holds all the cards?’ Well, Trixie has complete and total trust in her assistant.”

This line was just a part of the act but Starlight couldn’t help but feel a comforting warmth inside her. Trixie meant what she had said.

“In order to demonstrate this trust, Trixie will now blindfold her assistant.” Trixie used her magic to tie a black blindfold around Starlight’s head, covering her eyes. Starlight turned downstage, facing the audience to let them see that her eyes were now completely covered. Some audience members muttered to themselves, trying to work out the trick before it even happened. Their curiosity made Trixie smirk in delight.

“Can you see anything, Starlight?” she asked in a theatrical manner.

“Nope, I’m totally in the dark,” Starlight responded.

“Turn back to face me now,” said Trixie. Starlight took an uncertain step back toward her friend, then another step, and then one too many; she turned too far and was now facing upstage. The audience laughed in amusement. She really looked blind.

“No, that’s too far, Starlight.”

“Oops, sorry,” Starlight chuckled.

“Just follow the sound of my voice,” said Trixie as Starlight turned back to face her properly. “Now, if you please, raise the cards in the air.” Starlight complied, using her magic to lift each card one by one so they were individually hovering over her head. “Now spin them for Trixie,” commanded the magician.

The cards began to spin around Starlight’s head, each one keeping equal distance apart as they made their orbit around the headmare. Starlight made sure to keep the back of each card pointed toward Trixie so that she couldn’t see which one was which.

“Trixie will now use all of her capabilities to determine which card was chosen. Watch in awe!” Trixie raised one hoof to the side of her head, squinting her eyes as she contemplated each card as it passed by.

The seconds ticked on and still no card was chosen. The audience leaned in, wondering how the trick would be accomplished, if she could accomplish it at all. Other than the sound of Starlight’s magic keeping the cards afloat, the entire theatre was dead silent until, without warning, Trixie shot out a beam of magic that snatched one of the cards out of the air. The audience let out a gasp of surprise as Trixie pulled the card in to examine it.

She turned it around so that only she could see it. She squinted her eyes at the card, keeping the audience in suspense. “Was this your card?” she asked as she flipped it around revealing the five of clubs.

It was an unimpressive card, sure, but the reveal caused the selected audience member to jump out of his seat screaming “YES!” The audience cheered along with him, stomping their hooves and whistling at a spellbinding trick, executed perfectly.

Now that’s more like it, Trixie thought. Starlight sorted the cards back into a neat stack and lifted her blindfold as she returned the props to Trixie. The two of them stood side by side as they took a bow. As they raised their heads, the two mares made eye contact. Trixie winked. “Told you this would work,” she whispered to her friend.

The entire trick had been just that: a trick, and the steps needed to pull it off were quite simple. The hardest part was the shuffling of the cards once the five of clubs was selected and returned to the deck. Well, it would have been hard if Trixie were not as skilled with slight of hand as she was. She made sure to use a trick shuffle to keep the card at the top of the deck by the time Starlight received them. This type of shuffle looked like any standard shuffle to someone with untrained eyes, or any audience members too far back to see these details.

Once Starlight had the cards, she put on the blindfold and, much like the shuffle, this was also a trick. The blindfold was made from a special see-through material that was transparent when you held it right up to your eyes, but which appeared to be totally blinding from a distance. Starlight sold the trick as best she could, pretending to turn too far, and the audience was completely fooled.

Seeing through the blindfold, and after being instructed by Trixie, Starlight knew the correct card would be on the top of the deck, so she kept an eye on it as she lifted the cards one by one, facing her and not Trixie. As the cards spun around her head, she gave the subtlest of nods as the selected card passed in front of her eyes, indicating to Trixie the one she needed to select.

After two rough starts, the card trick went off without a hitch and Starlight calmed down a bit while Trixie was riding the high of the applause.

The show went on smoothly after that with Trixie finding her old rhythm again. She broke out her old disappearing act, magic rings, trick knots, and they were all met with a warm reception from the audience members. This was everything she had hoped for, but the act was wearing thin on the crowd. They’ve all seen tricks like this before,Trixie thought. They’re going to get bored. She needed to bring out something they’d never seen before. She knew it was time to bring out the big guns.

“Now it’s time for you all to meet some very special friends of mine,” Trixie said out to her crowd. “They’ve all been dying to meet you so please give them a warm welcome!”

She gestured toward stage right as the audience applauded whatever guest she was welcoming. The spotlight illuminated the stage entrance by the curtain, but no one entered to meet it. This was all a part of the act and Trixie leaned into it.

“Huh, that’s funny,” she exaggerated. “Now where could they be?” She scratched her head with her hoof in performative confusion. She looked around the stage and below her hooves before finally looking upward to her hat. “I remember now.”

Trixie took off her hat and flipped it upside down. Looking inside she called out. “Hello? Anyone in there?” Reaching a hoof deep into the hat, deeper than it seemed physically possible, she rummaged around for something. Without much delay, she pulled out a small white rabbit and held it in her hoof.

A soft “aww” echoed through the theatre, accompanied by an even softer “yay” which could only have come from Fluttershy.

“I was looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?” Trixie asked the rabbit. The small creature obviously wasn’t trained and just looked out to the audience, frozen in the spotlight. Trixie leaned an ear in next to the rabbit, pretending it could actually answer her.

“I see,” Trixie said, responding to nothing. “And where are your friends?” Again, Trixie leaned in an ear. “Oh, they’re in Trixie’s hat too? Well why didn’t you just tell me?”

Setting the white rabbit on the stage, Trixie reached back into her hat and pulled out another rabbit. She held it up as the audience cheered. Then she reached in and pulled out another. Then another. She produced more rabbits out of this hat than could ever possibly fit inside. This was all accomplished with teleportation magic. The rabbits were actually kept in a pen backstage with Sunburst, who was instructed to teleport them into the hat one by one until the pen was empty.

After producing a dozen rabbits out of her hat, Trixie returned it to her head and took a bow. The audience clapped as the rabbits hopped about the stage freely. Trixie turned to her left to see Starlight, still onstage with her. Starlight clapped for her friend with the crowd.

“Thank you, fillies and gentlecolts! Now for Trixie’s next trick…” But before she could continue, a cute furry face poked out from below her hat as she was wearing it. Another bunny had come out of it and was now sitting on Trixie’s head. She looked up to see it. The bunny peered down and their eyes met. This was not a part of the trick.

“Heh, I guess I miscounted,” Trixie chuckled, lifting her hat up and placing the rabbit on the stage with the others. She glanced over at Starlight and tilted her head as if to ask, “what gives?” Starlight just shrugged and shook her head in response.

“As Trixie was saying, this next trick is something I have been working on for years…” As she paced the stage explaining her trick, she turned to her side. The audience could see yet another rabbit, this time poking it’s tail out from the back of her hat. They all started laughing, which confused Trixie, but she continued with her explanation, nevertheless.

As she trotted back and forth, the rabbit slid down her neck and sat on her back. This sensation startled Trixie and she jumped in surprise, which only made the audience laugh louder. Trixie reached behind her and scooped up the rabbit, placing it on the floor with the others.

“How many of you are there?” she asked. Lifting her hat to look underneath, another rabbit fell out and landed on her face. “Aaahh,” cried a muffled Trixie. She dropped her hat and tried to pull the rabbit off her face, but it was clinging to her. The audience was starting to lose themselves in their laughter. As Trixie stumbled around the stage, trying very hard to pull the bunny off her, more rabbits emerged out of the hat until there were nearly two dozen hopping around. Some hopped off-stage and around the audience’s seats.

Starlight hurried over to Trixie and gripped the rabbit, still clinging to her face, and started pulling. With one last pull, it came free, causing Starlight to stumble and Trixie to summersault backwards into a particularly dense grouping of rabbits. The creatures flew up into the air and landed in a heap on top of the embarrassed magician.

The audience was in tears, hooting and hollering at the chaos. Starlight used her magic to simultaneously teleport each rabbit backstage.

Trixie gave a tired yet appreciative look to Starlight. “How about another round of applause for my great and powerful assistant?” The audience responded accordingly. Starlight slightly bowed her head in thanks. She exited the stage to prepare for the next trick, right after shooting Trixie a concerned glance.

Trixie straightened her disheveled mane and smoothed her cape. She was embarrassed she let such a simple trick get so out of hoof. The audience’s laughter was absolutely not what she wanted to hear. She wanted to be seen as a respectable performer, someone who could command the stage, not some sort of clown to be made a fool of.

“Time for my next trick, everycreature,” she said, trying to keep up her energy. She wanted to move on from this blunder as quickly as possible. “You’ve seen Trixie’s cute and cuddly friends, but now it’s time to feast your eyes on a ferocious beast. The imposing king of the jungle himself. Bring out … THE LION!” she called offstage.

The spotlight shone toward stage right but once again no animal appeared. “We aren’t doing that bit again just bring him out here!” Trixie hissed toward the wing.

Starlight entered the stage lights with another frozen smile on her face. She was holding a leash which was attached to a collar worn by Leo the lion. Leo was taking some timid steps onto the stage, a bit too slow for Starlight who gave a few encouraging tugs on the leash to bring him up to centre stage.

Of course, his entrance brought a chorus of “awws” from the audience. Passing the leash to Trixie, Starlight whispered, “sorry, he was a little shy,” before crossing the stage and exiting stage left.

Trixie turned her eyes back to the audience who thought her “ferocious beast” was an adorable cuddle bug. She knew that if she followed a cute act with another cute act, her integrity would be lost. She had to convince them there was real danger here. She had won them back before and she knew she could do it again.

“Those of you with small children needn’t be afraid. Though he may look dangerous, Trixie has him under control.” The audience responded with laughter. “Although, do not be mistaken, he is incredibly dangerous. A mere swipe of his claws could rip a full-grown stallion in two.” Leo scratched the back of his ear with a paw, leading the audience to “aww” at him.

“Isn’t he precious,” said one audience member.

“And,” continued Trixie. “And a crunch of his jaws can break… uh… something really hard to break.” Leo rest his head in his paws and closed his eyes. Trixie ran over to him, lifted his head up to face the audience and, using both hooves, pulled his lips apart to reveal a wide set of teeth.

“Take a look at these chompers,” said Trixie. A few teeth did look sharp, but not nearly as intimidating as she made them out to be, and certainly not as dangerous as a full-grown lion or a manticore. The audience let out another “aww.” “Alright, enough of that,” said an impatient Trixie.

Trixie let go of Leo, who now seemed quite content and a little sleepy sitting centre stage. “Could Trixie’s wonderful assistant please bring out the second element to this act?”

Starlight entered once again, from stage left this time, pushing a large red cannon resting on two large wheels. Trixie heard an “ooh” from the crowd. That’s better, she thought.

The cannon looked very similar to Pinkie Pie’s party cannon. It towered over the little lion cub and it had a barrel wide enough to fit an entire pony in, which was precisely what Trixie had in mind.

“Fillies, gentlecolts, and everycreature, you see before you a cannon. This is Trixie’s special cannon which has been modified for professional use and I advise you not to try this at home. For I am about to do something unspeakably dangerous. Trixie will shoot herself out of the cannon and into the…”

She paused looking at Leo’s mouth. There is no way she would ever fit inside it, even if he did decide to keep his mouth open for her.

“… Trixie will shoot herself over the vicious lion … who could leap up and snatch me out of the air if he wanted to so … so yeah. Dangerous.”

A few ponies clapped but mostly there was a confused silence. There came a “psst” from the upstage side of the cannon. It was Starlight, urging Trixie to speak to her out of sight of the audience.

Trixie turned back to the audience. “If you will spare Trixie a mere moment, she needs to instruct her assistant on the details of this stunt.”

She turned and met Starlight behind the cannon. “Yes, my assistant?” she asked, maintaining the cadence of her stage persona.

“Yeah, um, what’s going on? You’re going to fire over Leo? Look at him! You could do that without the cannon, you’d just need to hop.”

“It’s not about what I’m flying over; it’s just about the act itself. The cannon is the act. Leo’s just the cherry on top. The audience only cares about the action.”

“It doesn’t sound like they care at all. They’re all confused.”

“I’ve got it under control. Just make sure you get a safety net secure for me to land in. The cannon has a long fuse so you should have enough time to get to the other side of the stage and set it up.”

Starlight was about to say something but couldn’t get the words out. She, instead, sighed heavily. “Well, let’s not keep them waiting.”

The two unicorns made their way back to the stage. Starlight boosted Trixie up to the mouth of the cannon and the show pony climbed in, turning herself around so that her head was still poking out. “Once again, Trixie cannot stress this enough, do NOT try this at home,” she said to the audience again.

Starlight, meanwhile, did some last-minute checks on the angle of the cannon. The trajectory would send her clear over the lion, with a landing point in the stage right wing. “Ready, Trixie?” she asked with a hint of real concern in her voice.

“Light the fuse!” called Trixie in response.

Using her magic, Starlight ignited the cannon’s fuse and then rushed off behind the curtain. Trixie felt the tension building again as she visualized her flight path in her mind. She would sail in a clear arc over Leo, landing softly in the net suspended out of sight from the audience.

After a few seconds, Trixie saw Sunburst and Starlight setting up the net in its place: perfect. She had plenty of space over the lion to get some considerable airtime: perfect. And Leo was right where she left him in the middle of the stage: perf- wait…

Leo was staring off to his left toward her wagon. He was looking at a rabbit, sleeping under one of the wheels. It must have been missed when the stage was cleared of the others. Leo took a few tentative steps toward it, moving himself out of Trixie’s flight path.

No! Trixie thought. If he’s not directly under my path, the stunt doesn’t work!

Trixie slammed her body against the inside of the cannon. Using her body weight, the cannon began to pivot ever so slightly to the right so that she could keep it pointing above the lion cub.

Starlight and Sunburst could only watch in horror from the other side of the stage. “What is she doing?” Sunburst hissed. “She’s not going to land anywhere near the net!”

The rabbit awoke, suddenly aware of the lion’s presence. The furry creature hopped away from it, encouraging Leo to give chase. The lion only wanted to play and had no intention of harming the rabbit, but the rabbit didn’t know that, so it hopped away out of self-preservation.

The two creatures circled around until they were on the cannon’s left, downstage. Trixie grunted in frustration and panic as she lost track of how much fuse was left to burn. She slammed her body into the other side of the cannon to turn it back. She hit the side again and again with her body, making it shift a little each time. The audience laughed once again at the chaos, not knowing how this bit was going to end.

Sunburst and Starlight waved their hooves with urgency, trying to signal to Trixie to fix the cannon’s aim so that she could land in the safety net. Trixie had her focus on the animals however, who took their chase, again, to the cannon’s right.

Trixie began shifting the cannon back to the right, grunting and muttering unintelligibly. She hit the side of the cannon harder and harder, getting tired with each strike.

Then after one last, powerful hit, the cannon shifted too much and started to drop. All the pivoting back and forth had loosened the axel too much and the barrel of the cannon plummeted until it hit the stage with a thud. Trixie was shaken and at a loss of what had happened. That is, until she could no longer hear the fuse burning. “Uh-oh,” she said to herself.

With a loud “KABOOM!” the cannon fired Trixie, sending her soaring mere inches above the stage. Leo and the rabbit had chased each other offstage left at this point and were nowhere near the stunt any longer. Rocketing at the speed of a train, Trixie headed straight for the other side of the stage. The good news was that she was pointing toward the wing of the stage where she wanted to be. The bad news was that she was about to fly clear under the safety net.

Every head in the audience turned from right to left in an instant as Trixie shot by. Starlight and Sunburst had no time to react as the magician flew past them, underneath the net, and crashing into a nearby shelf full of discarded props.

All the audience could hear was series of clangs and clatters as Trixie collided with the props shelf, leaving a good-sized dent in the wall behind it in the process. This racket lasted a while as things kept clattering backstage, during which the audience did not stop wincing.

As quick as they could, Starlight and Sunburst cleared the props off Trixie and got her back to her feet. Her head was rocking from side to side as her eyes spun in circles in her head.

“Trixie! Are you alright!?” Starlight asked.

Trixie pointed out with her hoof. “Why are there birds flying around Trixie’s head?” she slurred. “Trixie doesn’t want to work with animals anymore.”

“There aren’t any birds, Trixie,” Sunburst assured.

“Oh, well then get Trixie back on that stage!” she commanded, pushing past the ponies who clearly had more investment in her well being than she did.

Stumbling over her own hooves, Trixie re-entered the stage. The audience laughed at her disheveled mane and staggering gait. Trixie’s ears were still ringing from the crash and her head was spinning. It took a moment before she was able to fully absorb the reaction, and she didn’t like hearing more unwanted laughter.

There was only one way she could bring them back. Her last two tricks had blown up in her face, but she still had a secret weapon to hit them with. Something nopony had truly ever seen before. A smile grew across Trixie’s face as her own excitement built.

“Fillies, gentlecolts, everycreature, it is time for something special,” Trixie said once the laughter died down. Her cadence had dropped to something more sinister than magical.

“Up until this point you’ve all seen what I would call my tame tricks. What I have to show you next is something completely different. What you are about to see is not an illusion or a trick. It is something very real.”

She turned to her right to face Starlight and Sunburst, watching her with bated breath. Trixie smirked and waved for them to bring out the pendulum.

After a moments’ pause, Starlight and Sunburst pushed pendulum onstage together. As Trixie stood downstage, she was dwarfed by the towering mechanism. The audience’s reaction was a mixture of awe and fear. Murmurings of anticipation filled the otherwise silent theatre. And there stood Trixie, manipulating the audience’s expectations with total control, and she could not be loving it more.

“It is time for the Great and Powerful Trixie’s most daring escape yet.” As Trixie explained the act, Starlight wrapped a chain around Trixie’s body and Sunburst placed a metal table below the pendulum. “Trixie will lie on this table below the pendulum as it swings above. The sawblade will get closer and closer to slicing me up, but I have just enough time to unlock these chains and get out of the way in time.”

As she finished, Starlight secured a large padlock on the chains. “Starlight, are the chains secured nice and tight?”

“Yes, they are, Trixie,” replied Starlight. She had dropped the fake smile and was no longer hiding her concern.

“Place me on the table,” the magician commanded. Her forelegs were bound to her body by the chains; she could no longer walk. Starlight used her magic to lift Trixie up and lay her flat on her back on top of the table. Trixie’s head was now downstage, facing the audience. “Your help is no longer required, Starlight. This is to be done by Trixie and Trixie alone.”

Starlight didn’t budge. She met Trixie’s eyes with stone faced determination.

“I said, you aren’t needed up here anymore. Get off my stage,” Trixie hissed in a tone the audience couldn’t hear.

After a beat, Starlight walked offstage left without letting herself show emotion. She didn’t look back as she passed through the wing.

Sunburst stood by the pendulum, unsure of what to do next until Trixie made her next order. “Sunburst, after you flip the switch, clear the stage. It won’t be safe up here.”

Sunburst knew Trixie was saying these things to play with the audience, but he couldn’t help but feel terrified for her right now.

Looking up to the audience, Trixie closed her eyes. “Flip the switch!”

Sunburst did what he was told and flicked the switch on the side of the pendulum’s support beam. As it began to swing, he ran offstage as quick as he could.

The blade swung down and flew over Trixie’s body. She could feel the air blow past her as it cleared over her. The entire audience gasped in unison as it made its pass. As it reached the apex of it’s swing on the other side, it swung back and cleared Trixie again. That’s when the sawblade started to spin.

Despite the overbearing sense of panic and dread that filled the room, Trixie’s mind was as clear as day. Piece of cake, she thought. All she had to do was follow the steps of her normal escape routine and she’ll be free in no time. Trixie wiggled her right hoof under the chains, worming it around each link as she looked for gaps in the interlocking. The pendulum above her swung faster and faster with each pass.

Trixie made a hole in the layers of chain, clearing a path to get her hoof out. It burst through the chains in triumph, inciting a cheer from the audience.

Starlight and Sunburst watched from the wings. Sunburst was peeking out from behind his hooves, jumping whenever the pendulum swung close to her. Starlight was angry with Trixie for the way she had just treated her. Even though it was for the sake of the act, it still hurt, and Trixie was getting too carried away; taking things too far. She had to admit though, the trick was working. She couldn’t take her eyes away.

Trixie began working on the left hoof, working her way through the chains. Her attention was drawn to a clicking sound above her, followed by a groaning sound. She looked to her left to where the pendulum had swung and she saw what was happening. The pendulum had dropped down a couple inches. She didn’t know how, but she could tell the blade was definitely lower than before. It swung back toward her and she could feel the air as it barely cleared over her.

The audience could see the difference too and they cried out. Some even shrieked in panic. Sunburst, still covering his eyes, was now too afraid to look. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“It’s supposed to drop down remember?” Starlight said with a roll of her eyes. “Let Trixie have her fun.”

The pendulum groaned again as its parts slid against each other, dropping the blade even lower. Trixie pressed herself against the table as flat as she could. As it passed over her, she could swear the blade grazed the chains. The wind from the passing blade blew the hat off her head, sending it sailing into the crowd and out of her sight.

Starlight’s eyes went wide. “Okay, it’s not supposed to drop that far.”

Sunburst’s eyes travelled up the machine, trying to identify what went wrong. He pointed to the top of the structure. “There are supposed to be guardrails at the top. Where are the guardrails?”

“They must have come loose. Nothing’s keeping the blade from dropping.” Starlight started to panic. “We have to do something!”

But before either of the unicorns could make a move, the blade dropped yet again as it swung toward the left side of the stage. Trixie was out of time, and there were still too many steps to take in order to free herself before the blade came back down. Using all her might, she swung her body away from the sawblade, rolling off the table and landing on the stage flat on her face.

As she made her landing, the saw collided with the table, cutting the metal frame in two even pieces. The force of the pendulum sent both halves of the table flying over Trixie’s head where they landed with a clatter on the right side of the stage.

Some audience members had realized that this was not part of the act and stood from their seats. They were filled with adrenaline but were unsure of what to do. Starlight and Sunburst on the other hand, made their move and entered the stage, keeping their distance from the unpredictable swinging sawblade.

“We’ve got to shut it off,” Starlight decided. “Sun, go see if that switch will turn it off!”

Sunburst nodded and headed back around to the support beam where the switch was. Starlight turned her attention to Trixie, who seemed unhurt as she used her one free hoof to roll her way toward stage right. “Trixie!” Starlight called from the opposite side of the stage.

Trixie looked back at Starlight, feeling completely helpless to stop the act. She looked up when she heard another groan from the machine as the blade dropped lower. As it made its pass, it cut deep into the stage, sending wooden splinters flying. Trixie turned her back to shield her face from the chunks of shattered stage.

“I flipped the switch, but the momentum’s too powerful. It won’t stop!” yelled Sunburst.

Starlight looked up at the blade as it crossed back over to her side. With one final groan, the pendulum snapped off of its support structure and came crashing down. Starlight dove out of the way to avoid being crushed as the audience screamed. “Starlight!” Trixie called as she saw her friend dive to safety.

A crackling came from the support beams as they lost their integrity and began crumbling down toward the audience. Sunburst used his magic to levitate the pieces to keep everyone from being flattened.

At the same time, the pendulum had landed on the stage, but it wasn’t finished yet. The strain on the sawblade caused it to separate from the pendulum. The momentum had not stopped it from spinning, and it dug into the stage. It spun like a wheel, cutting a path for itself toward stage right where Trixie lay.

The sawblade cut a deep gash into the stage and it wasn’t showing any signs of stopping. There was no way Trixie could roll out of the way in time. She only had one hope of survival. Using all the magic she could muster, she cast her energy at the blade, urging it to turn upstage and away from her.

Straining her muscles and grunting hard, Trixie forced the blade to alter its course as it passed close by her wagon, cutting into the two wheels facing the audience. The giant blade then made its way by Trixie herself, passing on her left before crashing into an offstage wall, sending dust and smoke pouring into the theatre.

As the dust settled, the screaming stopped, and the theatre was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Sunburst lowered the support beams back to the ground as gingerly as he could. Starlight got back to her feet and Trixie took in the situation as best she could from her position, still in chains lying on the stage floor.

After a solid ten seconds pause, Trixie let out her breath, which she just now realized she had been holding in.

Somewhere on the stage came another crackling sound. Oh, now what, Trixie thought, looking for the source of the sound. It was quite evident where the sound was coming from when the caravan shuddered. Upon a closer look, everything became clear. The sawblade didn’t just leave a scratch on the wagon’s wheels, it had cut right into the spokes.

With another shudder, the wheels popped right off the wagon and fell to their sides. The wagon, now lacking support, tipped downstage and fell completely on its side, the roof of the wagon now facing out to the audience.

A faint fizzing could now be heard. Trixie and Starlight’s eyes went wide as they looked to each other, simultaneously realizing what was happening. The force of the wagon’s tipping had jostled the fireworks inside, activating the magic fuses. With the wagon now upturned, the fireworks would head straight into the crowd.

Starlight, wasting no time, jumped toward the audience and cast a force field around them all. With less than a second to spare, the fireworks shot out of the caravan’s roof, colliding or ricocheting off Starlight’s force field and exploding in impossibly bright colours and light, popping off with deafening cracks. One after another they shot off without leaving a break between the explosions. Everycreature covered their eyes as a blinding light filled the room.

After the last of the fireworks had been shot and the smoke settled, the headmare of the very school they stood in let her force field disappear and she started breathing heavily. It takes a lot of magic to protect that many creatures.

It was dead silent. No one knew what to do or say, least of all Trixie. She had just had her entire act collapse around her, literally. One pony could be heard clapping, followed by another and another. No one else joined in. This wasn’t the type of applause that anypony made when they were impressed. This was the type of applause made when they do not know what else to do; slow and scattered.

Trixie decided to just rip the band-aid off and put an end to this train wreck. Still wrapped in chains, she rolled herself back to centre stage and inched down so that she could see the audience. “Thank you for coming to see Trixie’s great and powerful comeback,” she said without a hint of performativity. “Have a safe travel back home everypony. Goodbye.” After a pause she added, “I’m sorry.”

She turned her head to face Sunburst and Starlight. “Bring the curtain down,” Trixie said. Sunburst trotted over to the curtain rope, tiptoeing over debris and gunpowder residue as he did. Starlight just hung her head and Trixie looked away. When the curtain started lowering slowly and with an annoying squeak, Trixie took one last look at the audience, all of whom looked confused.

Right before the bottom of the curtain met the stage, Trixie caught a glimpse of the spot where Star Search had sat at the top of the show. His seat was now empty.

Author's Note

Much of this chapter was inspired by The Play That Goes Wrong, and it's subsequent TV series The Goes Wrong Show. Check them out!

Chapter Nine - "Could've Been a Contender"

The theatre was empty now, save for three distraught and exhausted unicorns. The last of the audience had shuffled out and most of them had a lot of questions. How much of the performance was planned? Was Trixie ever in any actual danger? Was this some new performance art piece meant to deconstruct the necessity for a magic show in a world run by real magic? Nopony had any answers and Trixie certainly was not up to facing them.

She had finally gotten the last of the chains off her and she sat on one of her broken wagon wheels, which lay twisted and lopsided on what remained of the stage. Starlight, wasting no time, had silently picked up a broom with her magic and was sweeping up wood chips into a neat little pile. Sunburst was just re-entering after checking up on something.

“So the rabbits,” he began, sensing the tension in the room. “After Fluttershy’s animals were brought into the pen, I guess the back door was left open and a bunch of wild rabbits followed them to the pen backstage.” He waited for a response, but the others remained silent. “So, it was nopony’s fault. It was just a mistake, that’s all. One big stupid mis…”

He trailed off when he realized Starlight and Trixie didn’t care how it had happened. The fact that it had happened at all was the issue. Trixie hung her head low, her mane dropping down and covering her face. Starlight was tired too, but she had a lot she had to say before the day was through.

Sunburst could sense that the two needed time to talk alone to figure out what was to come next. “I’ll … I’ll just see that Fluttershy gets all of her animals back.” He excused himself and left his friends on the quiet, decimated remains of the stage.

Starlight stopped sweeping and looked to Trixie, who had not moved once she got the chains off. “So are we talking now, or…” Starlight asked.

Trixie didn’t move.

“I can talk first if…”

No response.

“Okay, I’ll start.” Starlight took a breath, then paused, not knowing where to begin. She decided to go a gentle route to start, despite her true feelings. “This mess … it’s going to get cleaned up. The ponies and creatures who saw you, they’ll forget all about this in time, I’m sure. It’s not like you’re the first pony to embarrass herself in front of the whole town.”

Trixie remained quiet.

“And even though you put them all … and me … and yourself in mortal danger to-” She stopped herself when she realized she was losing control of her tone. “Look, I may sound angry, but I don’t really mean to. I just…” She trailed off when she realized something.

Starlight released control of the broom, letting it drop to the floor with a clatter. “You know what? I do mean to be angry! I have a right to be! I’m the headmare of this school! It’s my job to be angry when a catastrophe like this happens on my watch because it’s my responsibility to clean it up. I put so much trust in you and look what I got for it! Look around you, Trixie!”

At last Trixie lifted her head up and took in the damage. Starlight could see how sad her friend’s eyes were, but she didn’t care right now. There was no stopping these thoughts from pouring out.

“You couldn’t have just stuck to your old tricks, could you? You had to do something big! And you couldn’t just wait to practice with the animals or that stupid pendulum – made sure they were safe. And Celestia forbid you tell me about them beforehand! You know, your assistant! Your best friend! I tried to talk some sense into you but, no! You just wouldn’t listen! Well, I just have one question for you, Trixie: Was it worth it? Was it all worth it? Do you think that guy was impressed? Do you think he’ll go out with you now that you’ve-”

“He was a talent agent,” Trixie cut her off quietly.

“What?”

“He was a talent agent.” Trixie slowly turned to face Starlight to make sure she would understand everything. There was nothing left to lose now. “From Las Pegasus. I didn’t want to go out with him. I wanted him to book me!”

Starlight’s mouth was agape. Of all the things Trixie could have said to reason her actions, this was low on the list. “What are you talking about?”

Trixie stood up and walked toward Starlight. “That day when I met him, he said he worked for Somnambula’s Palace in Las Pegasus, booking performers for the resort’s stage. And in case you didn’t know, Starlight, that stage is really hoofing big! It can fit a lot of ponies in a lot of seats. I invited him here to show off what I could do because I guess I thought I had a chance at getting booked for a residency at Las Pegasus. Stupid, right?”

“You’re saying this whole stunt was just, what, an audition? You lied to me?!”

Trixie looked Starlight dead in the eye but remained silent. She didn’t completely lie to her friend, but she certainly kept the whole truth to herself, something she was still too ashamed to come right out and say. She broke eye contact and looked down at her hooves.

Starlight’s anger began to boil back up to the surface. “You put our lives, the lives of everycreature here, in danger, to fulfil some sort of … some sort of fillyhood fantasy?”

Trixie snapped back up and pointed a hoof accusatorily in Starlight’s face. She no longer felt defeated, she was focused and on the defensive. “Don’t you dare call my magic a fillyhood fantasy, Starlight Glimmer. This is what I’m good at. This is the only thing I’ve ever been good at and you know it.”

“I know you struggled with it,” Starlight shook her head. “Even in your prime. You only ever got half your tricks right. You lived out of your cramped caravan. It was hard for you.”

“It’s supposed to be hard,” Trixie clarified. “I didn’t do it because it was easy. I did it because it made me happy. I was good at it. And on a good day I could make other ponies happy. I could share my passion for magic and performance with them.”

“Well I hope you’re happy now. I hope all of this made you happy today. I hope it was all worth it.” Starlight began to pace. “And just so you know, I was the one who carried you through this whole performance. I saved you when you botched your entrance. I protected the audience from your deadly firework barrage. I picked up the slack when you couldn’t keep up. So, good luck making it to Las Pegasus without me by your side.”

“Clearly I’m not going to Las Pegasus.” Trixie gestured to the destruction around her. “Not after tonight. Star Search is probably going to tell all his Las Pegasus friends to stay as far away from me as possible. ‘The Great and Powerful Train Wreck,’ that’s what they’ll call me. I guess that’s as clear a sign as I’ll need to pack it away for good. But thanks for rubbing it in, Starlight. I can always count on you.”

Starlight clenched her hooves in frustration, trying her hardest to control it. A few misbehaving students she could manage, but Trixie was a whole different kind of beast. “Nopony ever told you to pack your magic away for good. You do tricks for the students all the time. Why can’t you just do it for fun and be happy with that? Why can’t that be enough?”

“BECAUSE I WANT TO BE SOMEPONY!!”

Trixie screamed these words out with all the force of a banshee, her eyes red with ferocity. Starlight stumbled back from her friend. Never had she heard Trixie this emotional, and it made her afraid.

“Do you know what it’s like being friends with you? You saved the princesses, multiple times. Sure, I helped but you did all the heavy lifting. You always do the heavy lifting. Twilight took you under her wing as her apprentice. She hoof-picked you to run her school when she left. You’re a hero Starlight, people know who you are. Sunburst too. He was Princess Flurry Heart’s Royal Crystaller! Twilight’s a princess! All her friends got to follow their dreams and make something of themselves. Rainbow Dash made it to the Wonderbolts, Rarity’s an international fashion icon. Everypony got to keep doing what they loved, but not me! I got to give it all up to work at a school where I get to sit in a small office doing nothing all day!”

Starlight didn’t say a word. She didn’t know Trixie had ever felt this way. Trixie paused to catch her breath. She started pacing the stage, kicking around the scattered props and stage bits.

“I chose to work here because it meant I got to work with my best friend. That made me feel special. At the time it felt right, but now … I feel like I threw away what made me happy and chose something easy instead. Magic was hard. Performing for small crowds in nowhere towns, hoping nothing would go wrong onstage, making little money. It was all hard. But it was all mine. That was my story – it was who I was. Maybe if I kept going, I could have made it big. Maybe I wouldn’t have felt like I needed to settle for something less than my dreams.”

She turned back to Starlight, her eyes filled with tears.

“Maybe if I stuck with my magic, really worked on it and kept pushing myself, I could have made it to Las Pegasus. Maybe ponies would have chanted my name when I walked on the stage. I could have been somepony. But I’ll never know that now. I’ve come too far.”

Tears poured down her cheeks and Starlight’s eyes started to fill with tears too. Trixie turned to her wagon, still on its side. The wheels were in splinters. Smoke still wafted up in little wisps out of the holes in its roof. The inside had been charred black due to the discharge of the fireworks and anything that was left inside had been rendered burnt and unrecognizable.

Trixie fell to her knees and wept openly. Starlight trotted to her friend, sat next to her and cried right there by her side. She put a hoof around Trixie’s neck to try to comfort her. Right now, the destruction of the stage, the lies, none of that mattered. It would get cleaned up eventually. Starlight saw a broken pony sitting next to her, and she didn’t know what to do to make it better.

“I … I just…” Trixie managed between sobs. “I don’t know where I belong anymore. If I’m not The Great and Powerful Trixie anymore, I don’t know who I am.”

The unicorns perked up their ears when they heard hoofsteps coming from offstage. They stood up and wiped the tears from their eyes to greet who they assumed was Sunburst. When the pony appeared from behind the curtain, however, it was revealed to be Star Search.

“There you are! Wow, this school’s like a maze,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Star Search! What are you still doing here?” asked Trixie.

“I never left. I was trying to find you backstage, but I got lost in all the hallways,” Star Search huffed. “You were an absolute riot!”

Trixie and Starlight looked at each other, confused. “Me? A riot?” asked Trixie.

“That was absolutely one of the best vaudeville routines I’ve ever seen!”

Trixie looked at Starlight, who shared her confusion. “You mean you liked my magic?”

“Oh, Celestia, no!” the talent agent clarified. “Your magic was as fresh as a week-old sandwich. When you opened the show with that card trick with that obvious fake blindfold, I started rolling my eyes. Nothing about your magic is going to make you stand out.”

Trixie was crushed. She liked to think she was mature enough now to take criticism, but Star Search’s brutal honesty left her embarrassed and humiliated.

“However,” Star Search continued. “Your slapstick is something special.” He laughed and slapped his knee. “When that rabbit wouldn’t let go of your face I was practically rolling on the floor! Then when you shot yourself out of a cannon and into a wall, I just about lost it! You can take a hit like nopony I’ve ever seen before.”

Trixie couldn’t believe it. All this time, after all this work, and he was completely enraptured by all her mistakes. “So, what are you saying?” she asked.

“It means there may be a place for you after all,” he said with a wink.

Trixie’s eyes lit up. “You mean I’m going to be booked at Somnambula’s Palace?!”

“Oh no no no!” Star Search shook his head. “No theatre in Las Pegasus would dare book an act so crass. No, what I mean is, I also happen to represent a smaller company based out of Klugetown.”

“Klugetown?!” Trixie retched. Klugetown was known for a lot of things: it’s grimy and dilapidated infrastructure, it’s citizens’ penchant for exploiting others for their own monetary gain, and for being smack dab in the middle of a desert on the outskirts of Equestria. It was not known, however, for its entertainment industry.

“Yes Klugetown, there’s a big market for this kind of entertainment. You’ll have creatures of all kinds laughing themselves silly at your pratfalls. Everypony knows pain is universally funny, no matter what species you are.”

“I … I don’t know what to say,” Trixie said truthfully.

“Well, I do have some thoughts and adjustments to make to really bring the act together,” Star Search said as he looked around the theatre. “Getting tied up in handkerchiefs is good and fun but adding a pie to the face at the end would be the cherry on top.”

“I’m sorry, ‘pie to the face’?” asked Trixie.

“Oh yeah. You’ll be doing a lot of parties for kids and such, and the old pie-in-the-face gag always brings the house down.”

A moment of clarity hit Trixie as she finally put the pieces together. The slapstick, the kid’s parties, being pummeled with confectionary…

“A clown,” came a whisper. Trixie was thinking it, but the words came from Starlight, who had just broken her silence.

“Sorry, what was that?” asked Star Search, leaning an ear in.

“You want her to be a clown,” Starlight said in awe.

“Ah, and who are you again?”

“I’m … actually, who I am doesn’t matter,” said Starlight. “This isn’t about me, it’s about Trixie. The Great and Powerful Trixie, to be exact.”

“I know, and I believe she was just about to join-”

“Were you asleep during the show? Trixie isn’t a clown. Trixie is the greatest stage magician who ever lived!”

“I’m sorry, Miss, I don’t see what you have to do with-”

“Name me one other magician who can escape an out-of-control giant buzz saw while locked in chains. Name one other magician who can wrangle dozens of creatures onstage and still find time to launch themselves out of a cannon?”

Starlight looked defiantly at Star Search, daring him to counter her.

“The magicians of Las Pegasus don’t do these sorts of things,” he said. “It’s all tricks. It’s fake. That’s the fun of stage magic.”

“Well, Trixie is no fake,” Starlight continued. “I’ve known her throughout the absolute best years of my life and she never fakes anything. She’s entirely authentic. All real, all the time, and that’s what makes her so special.”

Starlight turned to Trixie whose eyes began to well up again, but this time she had a big, grateful smile on her face.

“And she’s certainly no birthday clown,” Starlight said, turning back to Star Search. “So, if you can’t see the greatness of the magician in front of you, then I say she’s too good for Las Pegasus and she’s too good for you.”

Star Search’s jaw hung open. “I’m not sure what to say to all that, but I’m not doing business with you.” He turned his attention back to Trixie. “What do you say, Trixie? I can have your first Klugetown booking ready next week.”

Star Search’s obliviousness was clear to Trixie. All this time he had been talking to her and he was all business, all professional. He had not once addressed her emotional state or altered his tone because of it, even as tears were running down her face. He didn’t care who she was or what she wanted because he didn’t really see her. She was just a potential business investment to him. Starlight was the one who came to Trixie’s defense, even after everything Trixie had done. Starlight saw her for who she really was and still chose to stand by her side.

Trixie looked at Star Search with unblinking eyes. “Thank you for the offer, Star Search, but I’m going to have to say no.”

Star Search raised his eyebrows. “Oh. Um, okay.” He awkwardly stood in silence for a moment. “That’s disappointing. You’ve really got something here, Trixie.”

Trixie turned to Starlight. “I know,” she smiled.

After another awkward pause, Star Search said, “Well, I guess I’ll be on my way then. Have a good night, ladies.” He turned and walked back toward the corridor he came from.

Alone onstage together again, Trixie and Starlight shared a look. Starlight smiled with satisfaction. “I think you made the right choice, Trixie.”

Trixie returned the smile but wavered slightly. Hers wasn’t a smile of comfort, but of uncertainty. “Yeah…” she trailed off. “I guess the stage isn’t going to clean itself.”

Trixie used her magic to pick up the broom Starlight had dropped. She began to sweep absentmindedly.

“Is there anything else you want to talk about first?” Starlight asked.

“Thank you, but I don’t feel like talking any more right now. I just want to get this done and get some sleep.”

“Alright,” Starlight nodded. She used her magic to clear the larger pieces of debris from the stage. “I’m surprised you were so polite to that guy after he insulted your magic like that.”

“He was just doing his job,” said Trixie dryly. “No reason to be rude to him.”

“I guess,” replied Starlight. Then another thought occurred to her. “Think he’ll be able to find his way back through the school?”

“I don’t really care,” said Trixie.

Chapter Ten - "Nobody's Perfect"

It took the ponies two whole days to clean up the mess, dismantle the stage and return the great hall of the School of Friendship to its former state. Looking at it now, Trixie could hardly believe the room had been converted at all. The transition back was so seamless, it looked as if the theatre was never built in the first place.

She was standing in the middle of the hall now, wearing her guidance counsellor’s coat once again. She never noticed before, but it felt somewhat constricting, especially compared to the freedom of movement her cape provided. She had returned the cape and any props that were salvageable back to the chest in her office. Her old trusty wagon could not be saved and had to be dismantled so it could be extracted from the school building. Trixie kept a couple pieces of the panelling that used to make up the wagon. She couldn’t bring herself to part with everything.

A bell rang and students began bustling past her on their way to class. A few of them greeted her with a friendly “good afternoon Miss Trixie” and a warm smile. So far, nopony had brought up her disastrous show, at least not within her earshot. Trixie wasn’t sure if it was because too few of them had seen it or if it was because they figured it was an event best left forgotten. Trixie figured they were probably onto something if the latter was true.

Trixie headed toward her office, down the same corridor, passing by the same doors she walked by for years. Maybe leaving the past in the past was all for the best. She could only keep moving forward after all. She tried to see that as a realistic outlook if not positive, but she couldn’t help but feel melancholy that she was closing the book on the better part of her life.

Her office was unchanged. The furniture was still there, the desk, the fish, and the clock ticking away. Trixie stared at the clock, letting a few of those ticks go by, before using her magic to take it off the wall and switching it off. She didn’t want to be reminded about the passage of time right now, so Trixie leaned the now silent clock against the side of her desk. She took her seat and let her head fall forward until it landed on the desk with a thud.

It was safe to say that she still had not recovered from the exertions of the magic show. Maybe this was just what getting old meant - being tired all the time. Maybe this was just going to get worse and worse as the years kept flying by. It wasn’t a thought she liked to hold onto, but she didn’t feel much like playing music or reading to distract herself. Letting this negativity swirl around her head like a stew of cynicism was all she felt like doing for a while.

Maybe she’d become a crotchety old mare like Granny Smith. She’d get a cat or three to keep her company after she retired. At this point that was the best she could hope for herself. At least it would be a little fun for a while.

Her thoughts were interrupted, however, when somepony knocked at her office door. Trixie did her best to lift her heavy head off the desk and look alert and ready to guide.

“Come in,” she said hoarsely.

The door opened and a familiar face poked in. It was Scarlet Flair, the pony who had previously visited her with anxiety about her future. “Is this a bad time?” she asked.

“No no, of course not, Scarlet. Please come in.”

“Thank you. I actually wanted to stop by to return this to you.” As the beige pony came through the door, she revealed she was carrying a hat. Trixie’s hat.

It was the hat that was a part of her magician’s outfit. The hat that had gotten blown into the audience during the escape act that went haywire with the faulty pendulum. In Trixie’s embarrassment and desire to clear away the mess as quickly as possible, she had completely forgotten about recovering the hat.

“It landed right in my lap when it flew offstage.”

“You came to see the show?” asked the guidance counsellor.

“Of course, I did!” Scarlet said with a friendly smile. “It was … something else. Heh…”

“I guess that’s one way to put it,” Trixie sighed, taking her hat from Scarlet.

“I mean it did get a little weird and … chaotic at the end, but otherwise it was really cool,” said Scarlet, trying hard not to sound awkward.

“Look, Scarlet,” said Trixie. “I appreciate you finding my hat and coming to the show, but it wasn’t a good night for me for a lot of reasons that I’d rather not get into.”

“I’m serious, Miss Trixie,” said an increasingly animated Scarlet. “I never knew magic could be so exciting. You were so fun and funny, and you seemed so … I don’t know, strong.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was like you were standing taller. You owned that stage. I thought it was really inspiring.”

Trixie perked up at the praise. Unlike Star Search, who had found praise in her greatest embarrassments, Scarlet seemed genuinely enthralled. She thought for sure everypony was going to hate her for ruining her own show. “What about when the pendulum broke and all the fireworks shot into the audience?” Trixie asked.

“Okay well that is where you lost me a bit. But before that when you were just focusing on the tricks and not messing with cannons and buzzsaws, that’s when you really came alive. You looked so happy.”

Trixie smiled warmly. “Thank you, Scarlet. That means a lot to me. Seriously.”

“Any time,” she replied. She turned to leave, seeming awkward for speaking in this candor to somepony who was still an authority figure at the school, but she stopped herself and faced Trixie again. “Oh! I almost forgot! I sent my parents a letter about wanting to be a fashion designer.”

“Oh? And what did they say?”

“They seemed hesitant at first, but they told me they would support me if that’s what I want to do!”

This news lifted Trixie’s spirits higher. “That’s fantastic!” she said. “What about your family’s antique shop?”

“They said it would always be there for me if I needed something to fall back on. In fact, it still seems like something they’d prefer I do with my life, but they aren’t going to stand in the way of my dream.”

Scarlet was glowing with excitement at her news; she was literally hopping in place with gleeful abandon. “I’m proud of you Scarlet. That took a lot of courage to be honest with your parents like that,” said Trixie.

“I feel like a big weight’s been lifted off me. Like I can start being myself and figure out who I’m going to be in the future. I never would have been able to do that without you Miss Trixie.” Scarlet came around to Trixie’s side of the desk and hugged her, catching Trixie off guard and nearly knocking her out of her chair. Scarlet pulled back suddenly. “Oh sorry, was that okay?” she asked. “I’m just really happy.”

Trixie straightened her chair and unruffled her coat. “Of course. I’m happy for you, Scarlet. I hope things work out.”

“Me too, Miss Trixie. Thank you!”

As she headed for the door, Trixie reminded her, “Remember, you’re free to stop by whenever you want. No appointment needed! Even if you just want to chat for a while.”

“I will Miss Trixie. And thanks again.”

With that, Scarlet closed the door behind her, leaving Trixie alone in her office again, although this time Trixie didn’t feel so alone anymore. Her attention turned to her hat, sitting on top of the desk. It was a little torn and some of the patches that made up the different stars had come loose, but it was holding together admirably considering what it had been through. She picked it up with her hooves so she could properly feel the tough fabric. She smoothed it out a bit and smiled.

“We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we?” she asked aloud.

Standing, Trixie walked to the chest and opened it, contemplating the items inside. They all had stories to tell. They had all been on her adventures with her. They indeed were a part of her life’s experience. She considered the hat for a moment, looking between it and the rest of the items in the box. Rather than place it with the others, she closed the chest.

Moving instead to the shelf against the opposite wall, Trixie cleared some room on the top shelf, using her magic to move some scrolls and books out of the way; that would be the perfect spot. Using her magic now to lift it to its new spot, she placed the hat on the shelf, adjusting it so that it would look properly displayed with pride.

While she was making these adjustments, there was another knock at the door. “Come in!” Trixie called.

The door slowly crept open, and in peered Starlight Glimmer this time. “Hey, is this a good time?”

“As good as any,” said Trixie, not making eye contact.

Starlight tentatively entered. She wasn’t sure how much, if at all, Trixie had recovered from her show and she didn’t want to invade her space if she needed more time to herself. “Redecorating?” she asked.

“Just moving some important things around.”

“Cool … cool…” Starlight rocked back and forth on her hooves, trying to find the right words. “Trixie … I know that magic is still important to you. I just didn’t realize how important until … recently. If you want to refocus your efforts on jumping back into the game, I’ll be the first one to support you. Now … I can’t say I will be your assistant, but if you need some time to get a plan together, I can help-”

Starlight was cut-off as Trixie pulled her into a tight hug. She was caught off guard but instinctively wrapped her front hooves around Trixie’s shoulders in return. Starlight didn’t notice at first but as she settled into the hug, she felt moisture on Trixie’s face. When the two broke away, she saw Trixie’s face, wet with tears.

“What’s wrong?” asked Starlight.

“I’m sorry for everything,” Trixie said. “I put everyone in danger because I had to have everything go my way. I couldn’t make compromises. I couldn’t stop controlling everything. I almost lost you, Starlight. And I’m so so sorry. Please forgive me.”

Starlight started to get emotional too, and this time, it was her turn to pull Trixie into a hug. “Of course I forgive you, Trixie. You’re my best friend in all Equestria. I don’t want to lose that.”

“I don’t want to lose it either. Never ever.”

The two remained in each other’s embrace for a second, savouring the moment as their friendship was rekindled. When they separated again, Starlight wanted to get right to the point.

“But what comes next, Trixie? If you aren’t happy here, where are you going to go?”

“I think my instincts were already right. I chose this path for a reason. You make me happy, Starlight. I’m surrounded every day by love and care, even if I don’t always see it. Being here gives me everything I ever wanted. I just didn’t realize it fast enough.”

“But what about your dream?”

Trixie let out a sigh. “Maybe that’s all it was ever meant to be. Magic was obviously, and still is, such a big part of my life. It’s just not all my life is going to be. I can still use it in small ways: to entertain my friends and the students and to talk about the journeys it took me on. The fact that I stuck with it for so long made me so happy, but it also made me selfish and vain. I’m proud of how far it took me, but I don’t think I want to be that kind of pony anymore.”

She took a moment to look around her office, at the books and items she gathered or inherited since this latter part of her journey began. “When I’m here,” she continued, “I get to make a real difference in everypony’s lives. I can leave an impact that matters. I get to really help ponies. Maybe some of them will even get to follow their dreams because of me.” Trixie made eye contact with Starlight, feeling a great warmth in her heart. “Not everypony gets to follow their dream. And that’s okay. Because I don’t need my dreams to come true in order to be happy and make and my mark in the world. I get to do that right here, with you.”

Starlight smiled. She had never heard such wisdom or maturity come from Trixie before. She looked at her best friend, the guidance counsellor, with admiration at all the personal growth she had accomplished. With all their ups and downs together, Starlight wouldn’t trade them for the world.

“Are you sure, Trixie? Because you can always-”

Trixie held up a hoof. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

Starlight only nodded, letting Trixie have the final word on the matter.

“Well, I don’t know about you,” Starlight finally said. “But an emotional heart-to-heart always makes me hungry. How about going out for some hayburgers?”

“I’d love to,” agreed Trixie. “Though I was thinking about playing a round of cards first.” She opened a desk drawer and revealed a deck of playing cards. “What do you say? You game?”

“Absolutely!”

“Great! Then you won’t mind shuffling.” Trixie passed the cards to Starlight with a wink and the two mares sat together on the office couch. Starlight used her magic to shuffle and cut the cards, much to Trixie’s bemusement.

“You’re not going to use your hooves? How boring,” Trixie said sarcastically.

Starlight side-eyed her friend. “We can’t all be showponies like you, Trixie.” She then transferred the deck to her hooves and finished shuffling. When suddenly, Starlight flipped one of the cards, sending it spinning over her head, and catching it in her opposite hoof. She didn’t even use magic to do this, much like when Trixie did the exact same thing during her show. Starlight looked to Trixie with a cocked eyebrow and a boastful smirk.

Trixie was legitimately impressed as her mouth spread to a wide, excited grin. “Have you been practicing slight-of-hand, Starlight?!”

“I guess you just rubbed off on me a little after all these years,” Starlight shrugged nonchalantly.

Trixie relaxed into the sofa, putting both front hooves behind her head. “You know, you could use a little more panache in your technique. If you ever want me to give you some pointers, I’d be happy to give a few lessons. It’ll cost you, of course. Master classes don’t come cheap.”

Trixie rose an eyebrow as Starlight smiled at her friend. She passed the deck to Trixie. “Shut up and deal.”

Author's Note

I came up with the idea for this story after watching the finale. I was struck by Trixie's continued presence at the School of Friendship during the final song. I wondered how a pony who talked about nothing other than her skills as a magician throughout the entirety of her screen time could settle for a job like that. I wanted to explore her reasoning and the healthy ways we can find compromise and happiness in our lives, even if it means giving up on our dreams. I'm at a similar crossroads in my life, deciding to leave a risky, creative job in order to go back to school for teacher's college. Trixie's journey resonates with me and I used my own experiences and feelings as inspiration for this story.

I didn't know if I would ever write it at all, but when the shutdown happened in March I suddenly had all the time I needed. My goal was to finish before summer ended, and seeing as how today is the last day of summer, I'm happy to have met my deadline in time. I knew if there was one story I would write about the show that's brought me so much joy through my life, it would be this one. Thanks for reading along!

Chapter Six - "You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet!"

Today was finally the day. Trixie, who didn’t want to make a big deal out of the performance at first, had only grown in exuberance as the day approached. She mentioned the show to anypony who passed her in the street, handing out flyers with images of her face on them. Sunburst had taken the liberty of making several posters and had put them up around town. The other teachers, who had been onboard with the idea from the get-go, had spread the news via word-of-mouth to get as big a crowd as possible.

The School of Friendship’s Great Hall had been transformed into a makeshift theatre. Trixie’s caravan was unfolded into its stage mode and curtains were hung appropriately to frame the wagon in the centre the proscenium. This was all raised on a wooden platform, creating as fitting a theatre stage as Trixie could ask for; at least here in Ponyville.

Hundreds of chairs had been set up in the hall facing the stage. At her touring performances, ponies would have to stand around the stage, but Trixie wanted this experience to feel classier. Starlight had been hard at work making this transformation happen. She even, upon Trixie’s request, added a trap door downstage centre with a spring-loaded platform underneath for her grand entrance.

Throughout the day Trixie had been hardest at work. She was up all night practicing her magic, her slight-of-hoof and working her new showstopping material into the performance. She wished she had more time to develop the act in order to impress Star Search, but alas, she will have to wing it to a certain extent.

That didn’t matter though. She was wearing her old hat and cape. She was back where she felt strong. Confident. Invincible. The first time she came to Ponyville she failed to tame an Ursa Minor; she was forced to flee the town in disgrace. But now, with her lifetime of experience behind her, there was nothing she couldn’t take on. Give her an Ursa Minor, an Ursa Major even, and she felt like she would have them eating out of her hoof in no time.

She was on her way back to the top. She could feel it. And nothing could stop Trixie now. At least, as soon as the last additions to her act arrived. They were supposed to be delivered to the school earlier that morning but were now officially running late. They’ll be here, Trixie kept assuring to herself. They must be close my now. She wasn’t sure how much of her thinking was optimism and how much was delusion.

With everything else running smoothly she had to admit their absence was throwing off her preparations. She had been dropping juggling balls and getting tangled up in her handkerchief rope. She considered dropping the new acts entirely. There was only so much even a professional like her could wing. But then her thoughts always returned to Las Pegasus. You need to leave an impression, she thought. Bigger is better. You’ve already come so far. You can’t turn back now. Las Pegasus is one performance away! She had to make it work somehow. Otherwise, how could she ever know she had the potential to be a star? Why would she, the greatest stage performer she knew, settle for anything less than the best for herself? She owed herself her dream job, she knew that much.

She was presently backstage inside her caravan. Inside with her was a large collection of fireworks for the grand finale. Trixie was triple checking all of them. They had all been planted securely, facing upward toward openings in the caravan's roof. They had been set to go off during her finale one at a time; going off any faster wouldn't leave as lasting an effect.

“Think they’ll be loud enough?” Starlight asked sarcastically as she peered in through the caravan window.

“Loud enough? They’ll hear us all the way in Canterlot!” Trixie chuckled. She exited the caravan and closed its door. “And they’re all set to pop off.”

Starlight was still peering through the window. “I don’t remember you using that many fireworks during your old shows.”

“Well who says I have to do everything exactly as I did it back in the old days? I’m a changed mare you know. I have grown. I’ve learned. Learned that ponies these days want more bang for their buck.”

“What do you mean ‘for their buck?’ This is a free show.”

“It’s not too late to change that.” Trixie wiggled her eyebrows mischievously.

“It kind of is. Ponies are showing up at the door already.”

Trixie’s heart leapt to her throat. “Oh my goodness. Where has the time gone?” And where are my final set pieces? She thought with furious anxiety.

“Ah, about those fireworks,” Starlight said. “Isn’t that many a bit dangerous to set off inside the school?

“Huh?” Trixie grunted as her attention was pulled back. “Oh yeah. No, it’s fine. I’ve set fireworks off in here before, remember?”

“Yeah, but not this many.”

“Trust me, Star. They’re just going off one at a time and they’re all angled in safe directions. It’s all perfectly fine.”

“Okay. If you’re sure. You know more about fireworks than I do, after all.”

Trixie hugged her friend. “Thank you for helping me set up, Starlight. The stage looks even more incredible than I could have imagined. You’re a miracle worker.”

“Eh, I just do what I do,” Starlight said. “Seriously though, that’s a lot of fireworks. Even for you.”

“For the biggest finale you’ve ever seen! This is going to be a special one, Star. I can feel it.”

A ruffle of the curtains caught Trixie’s eye. It looked like somepony was trying to poke their head through but couldn’t find the opening.

“The stage is for performers only,” Trixie declared. She was using her stage voice to full effect.

“It’s me guys,” came a nasally response. “I … can’t … find the-”

“It’s on your right Sunburst,” said Starlight.

After some more rummaging behind the curtain, Sunburst finally poked his head through.

“Aah! I’m changing!” Trixie exclaimed, pretending to cover herself.

“Oh, sorry I-” Sunburst stammered as he closed his eyes and backed out of the curtain.

“She’s just kidding, Sunburst,” explained Starlight. She gave Trixie a playful swat to the back of her head.

“Couldn’t resist,” Trixie shrugged.

Sunburst came back through and was fully backstage with the others. He was carrying a clipboard, acting as stage manager for this performance.

“You setting things up okay, Trixie?” he asked.

“Oh yes. I know my way around backstage like I know my way around the back of my own hoof,” Trixie said proudly.

“Uh, okay… Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that few ponies are gathering outside the front doors.”

“Starlight told me. Ugh, I wish I had more time.”

“Should I start letting them in?”

“NO!” Trixie exclaimed. She grabbed him by the collar and looked directly into his eyes, their faces practically touching. “You must let the anticipation build. When the time’s right to open the house, Trixie will let you know.”

Trixie let go, leaving Sunburst uncomfortable. “Of course.” He fixed his collar and checked his clipboard. “I also wanted to let you know that Fluttershy is here with a bunch of animals...”

“Perfect timing!” Trixie let out a huge sigh of relief.

Starlight looked confused. “Animals?” she asked.

“Just wait, you’ll see,” Trixie assured her before turning back to Sunburst. “Tell her to bring the animals around back, so the ponies out front don’t see. I don’t want to give away the surprise!”

“Sure thing Trixie.” And with that, Sunburst disappeared back through the curtain, after struggling to find the opening again, of course.

“Why did you ask Fluttershy to bring some animals?” asked Starlight.

“Follow me.” Trixie took Starlight by the hoof. “I’ll show you.”

Trixie excitedly led Starlight toward the rear of the school; Trixie practically yanked Starlight off her hooves as she pulled her friend through the corridors. Her energy was so infectious that Starlight couldn’t help but grin alongside her. This was easily the most excitable she had seen Trixie in years.

Bursting open the back doors Trixie was greeted by a startled Fluttershy. A dozen white rabbits, the same ones Trixie met when she visited Fluttershy the other day, were hopping around her hooves, munching on grass and playing with each other.

“Good day Fluttershy!” Trixie exclaimed with a flourish. “The Great and Powerful Trixie welcomes you to her theatre!”

Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow, unsure of how to respond. “Uh…”

“She’s in show mode,” Starlight assured. “Just go with it.”

“Okay,” said Fluttershy. “I brought the animals you asked for.”

“Trixie can see that,” the magician said. She searched around Fluttershy, looking for the one creature that seemed to be missing. “And the ferocious lion?” she added.

“Aww, they’re so cute and fluff- Wait. Did you say lion?” Starlight asked with a twinge of worry. This wasn’t a part of any act she was aware of.

“He’s right here,” said Fluttershy as she turned to look behind her. “Come on, Leo. Say hi to Trixie.”

Out from behind Fluttershy’s hooves, hidden this whole time, came an adorable lion cub. He tentatively peered around Fluttershy’s legs before letting out a soft ‘mew’ and disappearing right back.

“He’s just shy,” said Fluttershy softly. “He told me he’s looking forward to being a part of the show but he still has a bit of stage fright.”

Trixie was dumbstruck. Starlight didn’t notice her friend’s reaction as she was so enamored with the new adorable creature in front of her.

“Don’t worry Leo,” Starlight said as if she was talking to a foal. She bent down and reached out a hoof to try to coax Leo out from behind the yellow pegasus. “We’re not going to hurt you. Come on out.”

Taking a few nervous steps, Leo came back around and approached Starlight. He sniffed her hoof and gave it a friendly lick.

“That’s it. You’re such a good boy, Leo.” She scratched him behind the ears, which encouraged Leo to nuzzle up next to her. “Who’s the cutest thing? Who’s the cutest? You are! That’s right! You are!”

Trixie watched this sickeningly cute display of affection struggled to find words. “This is- Why did- How-” She closed her eyes and took a breath. “Fluttershy?”

“Yes?”

“What happened to the giant, ferocious lion I asked you to bring?”

“You didn’t ask me to bring a giant lion,” she responded in confusion. “I remember, you said you wanted a ‘measly little lion’. I admit I thought the word ‘measly’ was a bit mean but-”

“It was an expression,” hissed Trixie. “I didn’t literally want you to bring the smallest, cutest, most innocent looking creature in the animal sanctuary. He’s barely bigger than the rabbits!”

“Oh sorry,” Fluttershy said sheepishly, looking down to avoid eye contact.

“I wanted a monstrous beast to make the trick look dangerous. Nopony’s going to think Leo could eat me whole.”

“You said you could make it look dangerous without it actually being dangerous.”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie can dazzle your eyes with wonder, but she can’t perform impossible miracles. What am I supposed to do now?”

Fluttershy started backing away. “I’m so sorry Trixie. I didn’t mean to mess up your show. If you give me some time I can go back to the … the sanctuary and get … get…” Fluttershy tried to get the words out but her eyes had started welling up with tears.

Trixie instantly regretted blowing up in her face like that. She should have been clearer in her instructions the other day. If only she hadn’t rushed off. Stupid!

“Look, it’s fine Fluttershy. Thank you for coming all this way. I’m sorry I wasn’t clearer.” Trixie gestured toward the corridor that led backstage. “Can you please take Leo and the rabbits into the theatre?”

“Are you sure it’s-” Fluttershy started.

“It’s fine,” Trixie snapped. “Just … go. I’ll figure it out.”

Fluttershy looked unsure but nonetheless led her animals into the school. As the bunnies hopped in along and Leo disappeared back between Fluttershy’s legs, Trixie closed her eyes and rubbed her hooves against the sides of her head. She could feel pressure building up, and a headache was not a good thing to have before going onstage. When she opened them, Starlight was standing very close to her face, tapping a hoof impatiently. She very much looked like the School of Friendship’s headmare right now.

“Well?” Starlight asked with a stone face.

“I … wanted to … pep up the show a bit.”

“I didn’t know you wanted to use live animals!”

“Is that going to be a problem?”

“No. Not inherently, no. Thank Celestia it’s just a lion cub.”

“What’s so great about a cub? I wanted to get a manticore. Or the closest in resemblance, at least.”

Starlight’s eyes went wide and she took a step back. “Why would you want to bring a manticore into the school?” she asked.

“I wanted to recreate the trick with the cannon. Remember the trick I did with the cannon and the manticore?”

“Of course, I remember. But why didn’t you tell me? I thought this was just supposed to be your smaller tricks. Disappearing acts, escape routines, stuff like that.”

“It’s going to be that too.”

“Animals need a lot of care and if they aren’t trained properly they can get hurt.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Trixie has worked with animals before. Let me tell you, they’re way more well behaved than working with children.”

Starlight sighed. “Then you’re sure you can handle this?”

Trixie puffed out her chest. “The Great and Powerful Trixie can handle anything!”

“I just don’t understand why you left this addition so last minute.”

“I just had a feeling that what I had wasn’t enough. I wanted more pizzazz. More razzle-dazzle.”

“How much more razzle-dazzle?”

“Uh, excuse me,” came a high-pitched voice from behind Starlight. The headmare turned and somehow her eyes got even wider while her jaw hit the floor in shock.

The voice belonged to Ponyville’s mailmare, a grey pegasus with crossed eyes. Those eyes were struggling to study the clipboard she was carrying.

“I have a delivery for a … a ‘Miss Powerful?’”

“Miss Great and Powerful,” Trixie clarified. “And you’re late.”

“Sorry. Your package was kind of hard to get over here.”

Behind the mailmare was what must have been Trixie’s package. Well, it wasn’t really a package so much as a complex structure, one that Starlight had been unable to take her eyes off. It was a tower-like fixture made of wooden beams that stood at an approximate height of fifteen feet. Four of these beams connected at the top to a pendulum that dropped down in centre. At the base of the pendulum was the largest sawblade Starlight had ever seen, suspended a few feet above the ground.

“Please bring it into Trixie’s theatre,” commanded the magician. “And try not to delay the show any longer.”

The mailmare gave a curt nod and flew to the other side of the pendulum. The structure wasn’t on wheels, so it was an effort for her to push it. As the contraption was pushed slowly toward the doors, Starlight turned back to Trixie. Her eyes were glowing red with stress.

“So … funny thing…” Trixie trailed off.

“What is that!?”

“It’s a pendulum with a big sawblade attached to it. It’s kind of exactly what it looks like,” she said matter-of-factly. “It’s just another magic trick. No different than any of my other tricks or the tricks that other magicians do.”

“I’ve never seen you use something like that before.” Starlight pointed to the structure as if its size wasn’t apparent when it first appeared. The mailmare had managed to push it to the door to the school but was having a challenging time making it fit through the entryway due to its height. “Look at the size of that thing! It can’t even fit through the door!” Starlight finished.

“Well at first I wanted a regular table saw, but then I thought, why not go big?”

“Let me think, oh right, because it’s clearly a dangerous piece of … um…” Starlight was still unclear of the device’s intent. “What do you plan on doing with that thing, anyway?”

“It’s quite simple,” Trixie began as she lay flat on her back to demonstrate. “I lie on a table underneath he saw, bound tight with the chain from my usual escape act” Trixie then swung her hoof over her torso to visualize the contraption. “Then,” she continued, “as the pendulum starts swinging over me, the sawblade getting ever closer to cutting me in two, I make my daring escape at the last second and the audience cheers.”

Trixie got back to her hooves and lowered her head to the ground, swinging her hat away from her with a flourish. “Then I bow, the fireworks go off and the show ends. What do you think?”

Trixie forced a big toothy grin, but her eyes had worry in them. Not worry for the trick itself, she had nothing but confidence in that, but worry for her friend’s reaction.

Starlight simply closed her eyes and kept her voice as steady as she could manage. “Trixie, I gave you a lot of freedom for you to do this the way you wanted. I converted the school into a theatre for you, I pulled the wagon here for you, I even let you pack the house with fireworks, more than the school’s fire safety code allows.”

“We have a fire safety code?” queried Trixie.

“I let it slide because I trusted you knew what you were doing. And because you’re my best friend and I know how much this means to you. But going behind my back to bring a dangerous contraption and a lion-”

“A lion cub,” Trixie specified.

“It doesn’t matter!” Starlight snapped. “You could get hurt. Something could go wrong and you or someone else could seriously be-”

“It’s just a trick, Starlight. It’s not different from any of the other tricks I’ll be doing.” Trixie gestured up to the top of the pendulum. “There are these guardrails that keep the pendulum on a secure and predictable path. Those guardrails hold in place a safety mechanism that keeps the pendulum from dropping down too close to me. It’s not going to be anywhere near me. It’s just going to keep the audience’s attention busy while I slip out of the chains. I wouldn’t use it if it was ever going to put me in actual danger! Do you want me to cancel my card tricks too? Wouldn’t want to get a papercut!”

“Trixie, what’s going on? You’re acting like a total diva and I don’t know why you’re behaving this way. It’s not like you and all these new tricks are making me worried about you. Why are you doing this and what aren’t you telling me?”

Trixie knew Starlight was seeing right through her. Her friend was looking at her now, not with frustration in her eyes, but with empathy and understanding. Trixie knew she should have been honest with Starlight right from the get-go and she was pushing the headmare’s patience to the limit. Even amongst BFFs like them there was a limit to how far a pony’s goodwill can be tested; Trixie had to learn that the hard way many years ago.

Trixie swallowed her pride and stood tall with courage. Better to be honest later than never, she thought.

“Star,” she began but was cut off by the appearance of Sunburst, rounding the corner rather clumsily.

The bearded unicorn cleared his throat as he approached Trixie with a confused expression. “Trixie there’s somepony here asking about a ticket reservation. He said you’d know what he was talking about.”

Trixie’s eyes lit up; her train of honesty completely derailed as she turned her full attention to Sunburst. “Did he give you his name?”

“Star Search,” said the vice-principal as he checked his clipboard. “I thought we weren’t doing ticket sales.”

“We aren’t,” assured Trixie. She used her magic to unroll a scroll she had tucked away in her cape. The scroll read ‘Reserved for Star Search.’ “Please attach this to a seat in the front row. Front row centre if you can manage” she said as she passed the scroll to Sunburst. “And maybe you should lead him to the seat too. Just for good measure,” she added with a wink.

“Okay, yeah. I’ll be sure and do that…” Sunburst trailed off and headed back inside the school, still slightly confused.

Turning back to Starlight, Trixie saw she wasn’t confused anymore, or even worried. She simply had one eyebrow raised in annoyance.

“Please don’t make me ask.”

“Star Search is the pony you saw me talking to at the café the other day,” Trixie said, answering Starlight’s unasked question. “I invited him to see my show.”

“Is that what this whole thing was about? You wanted to impress this guy?”

“Yes,” Trixie sighed. “He’s a-”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” asked Starlight with an excited look in her eyes.

Now it was Trixie’s turn to look confused. “What?”

“You wanted to impress a cute guy? You could have told me. I’ll always be your wingpony. It’s a little … extravagant but I mean who would you be if you didn’t throw in everything but the kitchen sink just to leave an impression?”

“Uh, right. All the way…” Starlight wasn’t technically wrong. Trixie did want to impress him, just not in the way Starlight was thinking.

“You still should have told me about the new acts for safety reasons, but if you know what you’re doing, then I trust you. You can do the show the way you want to do it, new tricks and all.”

“Okay. Great,” said Trixie. She had come so close to coming clean, but at least she had Starlight’s trust again. That’s what mattered most. It would be fine if she left out the finer details for now. She couldn’t risk throwing off the rhythm of the show any more.

“Now come on Miss ‘Great and Powerful,’ we should get those doors open. It’s showtime!”

Now it was Starlight’s turn to grab Trixie by the hoof and lead her back into the school. Inside they passed by the mailmare, who had miraculously managed to fit the towering pendulum through the door.

“Wow, it looks even bigger inside the school,” Starlight said in awe.

“Gotta play to the back rows, right?” said Trixie. She turned to the mailmare. “Thanks again for the delivery.”

“Oh, just doing my job,” huffed the mailmare. She was clearly exhausted from pushing the pendulum. “I just had to take some pieces off to get it through the door.”

“That’s fine. Just set it backstage.”

“Okay. Did you want the pieces-”

Trixie was being pulled along out of earshot. “Just leave everything backstage, I’ll know what to do with them. And thanks again!”

And with that Trixie was whisked by Starlight down the hall to the stage, leaving the mailmare to push pendulum alone through the corridor. She strained with all her might to move the heavy device. Removing the guardrails from the top didn’t make it any lighter.

As she pushed on down the hall, she looked into all the empty classrooms. Then she looked back to the gigantic sawblade. “What kind of school is this?” she wondered aloud.