Gimmick!

Chapter 1: The One and Only

1

It was a hot summer day. There were no clouds, no winds. Just the boiling heat, under the heavy sun that was spread out on the Canterlot City streets.

Trixie Lulamoon, a slacking magician, was overheated. Her long white, sparkling hair, was drenched with sweat. She wore a large black cloak, as magicians wear, along with her large hat full of hidden mysteries. Underneath, was her common school uniform, with lots of blues, whites, and purples to match it all with her tall boots. Sitting under one of the small patches of shade, coming from the roof of the Sweet Snacks Cafe, were she was greeted by a friendly (not her friend) familiar face, Pinkie Pie. Who was kind enough to spare a ice cold drink and cherry popsicle as she past by her on her way to work. She refused to be treated by a member of the Rainbooms. They were her arch-rivals, even though recently with her involvement with Sunset on the verge of being forgotten, their relationship never flourished. As if, she was placed on the back burner for all her years of this supposed 'friendship.'

Trixie was baking under this intense heat. What was worse was the fact that her magical career was hanging by a thread. No one being as intrigued as they should be. No one even giving her a chance, to an opening so spectacular that even Houdini himself, raised from the dead to congratulate of her astonishing capabilities as a magician.

She couldn't get past her speech, from burning on the inside, over her previous involvement with the Rainbooms. Helping them reconstitute their friendship, but everyone believes she was full of it. Her hatred over the Rainbooms grew, while all the Rainbooms get to show off their magical abilities (which they never earned on their own), while herself is treated like a joke. The amount of planning and effort put into each of her showcasing on the streets, wearing a tremendous amount of black cloaks under the boiling heat, trying to be engaging and entertaining, but no one ever thinks to care. They all walk past her, never batting an eye. Although, whenever the Rainbooms show up, all the sudden everyone loses their minds.

Trixie decided to call it a day, and head back home.

She walked along, carrying a heavy case that had all of her instruments and toys to use for her act. The sweat was streaming down like a waterfall, and every single drop from her brow would fall into her eyes, which burned and made it itchy. She would rub her eyes, but it only irritated it worse.

"Ow!" Trixie cried, as a few pedestrians were stunned and tried to walk past without suspicion. Trixie tried to clear it up, but her eyes were bloodshot red when she took her hands away from her face. "Great, just great!"

Trixie paused to have a moment to breathe. People walking past her thought she was on drugs, as they would try their very best to sneak off to the other side of the street.

"Tsk! Rude!" Trixie commented, as she laid across a small bench meant for people to board the bus. "No one appreciates the great and powerful Trixie!" She got up, and continued to walk, still overheating. "I'll show them, I'll show them all what I'm made of! I will be bigger than the Rainbooms!" A shout of encouragement for herself to carry on for another half a mile to her apartment.

2

She arrived home, and threw off her cloak that she was so desperate to take off. Tossed out her large magician hat off to the coat rack, but missed the hook. She melted into the couch, just as she remembered, she dropped her case down the steps and had to go clean it up. Trixie sighed, and headed back down to gather her stuff.

Just as she walked out, she saw her poor fluffy show attraction, hop away. Leaving a scattered mess.

"There goes Fluffle Puffs..." Trixie sighed. She sat down at the bottom step and slowly gathered what she could back into the case. She held up a dish and opened it up to release a dove, that took off at the sight of light.

She headed back upstairs, and threw the case down at the side of the couch, as she passed out.

3

Trixie received a text that same evening, finding out that Maud was finished with her search. She got up from the couch, jumping for joy, as she remembered what she asked for.

Before school ended for the summer, Trixie recognized that the Rainbooms have an object that amplifies their magical abilities. She was slightly eavesdropping on the Rainbooms being questioned about their Geodes. It was organized by Micro Chips, who also was curious of their powers. He asked them about how they were chosen, and if it was at all available for anyone to use. They all refused to give an official answer. Micro Chips was also a little too fourth coming about the questions, asking them if they had any control over the matters at hand. Because he recently noticed there were increases of people being infested with power over dark and mysterious intentions. However, the Rainbooms left the conversation with many questions unanswered.

So, if they have object that gave them power, what if it was possible to have one? Trixie thought. To become a powerful being herself. Since the Rainbooms admitted during the interview that they all use it every day, which Micro Chips figured it was abuse of their power, and needed control over. Trixie could use it for her shows, and finally win over the people of Canterlot City.

She asked Maud to go to the Everfree forest to find something, an object that could amplify her magic. She paid her to find something, and Maud was not one to fool around when it came to exploration of something new. She was hesitant to do so, but Trixie wanted to give up anything to find her place in the world. Even if her magic career wouldn't work out, she would force the Rainbooms to include her in their little circle of 'friends.'

The doorbell rang, Trixie was excited to answer the door, and it was Maud. She always wore a plain grey dress, with a black belt tied around her stomach and waist, with a pair of black boots to match. Her hair was a faded purple, and her eyes were nearly the same color. The frequency of her presence became a little distorted, and deepened color auras, surrounding.

"Hi Trixie." Maud said quietly.

"Maud! What a pleasant surprise!" Trixie said, with much excitement, as she allowed Maud inside. "So, how was the search?"

"Well, since your request was pretty vague on what to find. I think I found something interesting." Maud said, as she reached down into a small handbag.

"What is it?!" Trixie said, as she strutted across the living room. "Is it an artifact? Is it magical, a magical artifact? Is the key to controlling mankind?!"

"No. But, look." Maud said, as she raised up a large crystal, it was clear, but in the light it gleamed a rainbow, like the prism on the Pink Floyd album. Trixie was fascinated by it.

"What is it?" Trixie asked with such fascination.

"A crystal." Maud said. "High pressured silicon-dioxide igneous rock. Due to large crystals the molecular density levels had to have slow high pressured magma that crystallized all throughout the early 1850s, which dates back at least 170 years of eroded dust, deep beneath the ground."

"Yes, well... is it... magic crystal?" Trixie asked, as her fascination became less of what it was.

"No, it's a common quartz crystal." Maud said.

"What?! But I asked for a magic... something?!" Trixie raised her voice. "Like the thing Pinkie Pie has!" As she gestured her hands around her chest.

"I'm not sure if I follow. There wasn't anything like that while I was searching." Maud said.

"Then what did I paid you for?!" Trixie yelled.

"Speaking of which, here's your money back. I'm sorry I couldn't find anything you wanted." Maud said, as she handed her a wad of cash.

"Fine." Trixie sighed, taking the wad away.

"You want to see something interesting?" Maud asked.

"What could possibly cheer me up?!" Trixie yelled, crossing her arms and pouted.

"Look." Maud said, as she raised the crystal. She held up a electrical wire, hooked to a small battery, and Trixie watched as the crystal light and sparked like a lightning bolt. "The physical properties allow it to become a electrical conductor, which is why it can light up, and could start a fire."

"Cool..." Trixie whispered. She shook her head and went back to being serious. "I mean, okay so? I'm still upset that you couldn't find anything."

"Well, I didn't want to disappoint you, so I gave you your money back as proof I was unsuccessful." Maud admitted.

"Well, at least, I won't have to starve this week." Trixie said, finding anyway to look on the bright side.

"Are you not financially stable?" Maud asked.

"Like I said, I was willing to give up everything to have magic... even the cost of myself." Trixie admitted, looking into her eyes.

"Trixie, you don't need to do that. I think you can make it without the use of magic." Maud said calmly.

"I'm the great and powerful Trixie! I don't need your sympathy!" Trixie said, as she raised herself onto the couch, and waving her hands around as she spoke. "I want to finally stop being just a circus clown on the streets, but to be a magician! A sorceress! I want to be all-powerful!"

"Very well. For the record Trixie, I admire your drive to be something, but you don't have to ruin yourself to do so. Turning away from others like you did with your band mates. I'm sure they miss you." Maud admitted.

"Well, I don't miss them!" Trixie said, as she crossed her arms again, looking away from her, snapping her eyes.

"I think I'm going to head out. I hope things will work out for you." Maud said, as she got up and left out the door. "Goodbye."

Trixie looked down at the floor, and felt terrible about the way she spoke, but it was already said and done. No use nagging her to stay. She jumped off the couch and sat back down, realizing it was nine at night.

Maud shut the door. She forgot to take her quartz crystal and the device she had with it. Trixie ran out the door.

"Hey, you forgot your thing!" Trixie yelled down the echoing hallway.

"Keep it, you might need it." Maud said, as she walked outside.

Trixie sat back down, and looked at the crystal. Out of curiosity, she picked it up and turn the device on. But, as she did, it jiggled in her hand. She immediately turned it off, and was stunned to feel it vibrate. Trixie turned it back on, and thought about what she meant.

"Damn you, Maud!" Trixie facepalmed, as it was revealed to be a naughty joke. Maud heard Trixie from the living room window, and gave a short, silent smile on her way down the street. Trixie sighed. "What now?" Trixie asked herself, as her stomach grumbled.

4

Trixie went into her bathroom to wash up. The perspiration was smelling sour, and started to stain her clothes. Taking a hot shower, as she contemplated on what to do now.

Her stomach continued to growl in pain for something to eat. However, her apartment was empty, and she had only enough to buy dinner for tonight. Unless, she goes all the way to the supermarket to buy stuff, enough to last her the rest of the week. She was unsure if she wanted to walk the entire way there and back again. Carrying bags, loaded with groceries.

She was done, and grabbed a towel from the hanger next to the folded shower curtain. She wiped her hand over the mirror above her bathroom sink. She looked at herself, as she wrapped the towel around her body. She was not entirely happy, and it was starting to show. Looking at herself, in which she didn't want to see. She smiled, and tried to look confident about what will be from now on.

"I'm the great and powerful Trixie!" Trixie said, as she lift her hands up. "I have the power to turn this whole situation upside down! Me, sinking low to the bottom?! No, I will be on top!" Trixie psyched herself so much that her body towel fell to the floor, exposing herself. "Regardless, I still got my glorious bod!" As she posed in front of the mirror, and winked.

5

She was dressed into a her usual sweater, she wore jeans this time, but it was still hot outside. Traveling down the street for something sweet to eat. It was tiring, but she came across the supermarket, and bought some groceries for the week. Even though, she would go for a thick, juicy burger she withheld that thought to have something for the next day.

Coming back to her apartment with several bags, hanging from her arm, weighing her down as she walked back up the stairs. She had a couple of bags hanging from her mouth as well, trying to take it easy, and breathe. It was, at least, much lighter than her magician case, she thought.

"If Maud couldn't find anything..." Trixie said, as she slurped up a full bowl of ramen noodles. "Then, I will have to find something for myself!" She swallowed. "I will not rest until I have it all!"

Trixie looked around her darkened room, then looked at the time.

"Starting tomorrow!" Trixie said, as she yawned, feeling tired from the exhausted day she was having.