Gimmick!

by Notowa

Rating: teen
Tags: Equestria Girls, Trixie, Horror, Profanity, Violence, Slice of Life, Wallflower Blush, Human, Drama, Juniper Montage
Length: 12131

The time for sorrow has come to the end, as Trixie, the great and powerful, shall take on the darkness and stop what is to come.

During the events of the Rainbooms being cancelled and disbanded. Trixie, the great and powerful, takes it upon herself to find a way to make it to the top, by finding a Geode for herself. To become a greater magician. Even forming her own following greater than the Rainbooms. However, what she comes to discover, of what she's truly missing in her own life?

Published 2020-09-09 18:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-10-02 01:40:07 UTC

Chapter 1: The One and Only

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.

Chapter 2: Not The Only One

Chapter 2: Not The Only One

1

Juniper Montage, a woman who recently had connection with dark magic. She worked with her uncle on set for the filming of Daring Do, and turned against him, when he didn't cast her for the main role. She sabotaged his sets and stolen his props, only to be stopped by fans of the series, the Rainbooms. After they found out, they had her in custody of the authorities.

Some time later, she was working in a movie theater, helping with concessions, being discouraged and ridiculed with much abuse from her former employer. When all she wanted was to be noticed as a movie star.

It was until she received a mirror that granted her powers, seeing herself become something special, something she wanted so desperately. A mirror that channeled her wishes, by saying the words 'I wish,' and she would unleash her powers as such to her liking. However, it all changed when she encountered the Rainbooms, who had magic like her own, but somehow more suited to their own needs.

She trapped them inside a small hand mirror, nearly shattering their existence. It was about to be the end of the Rainboom, but was saved as it was from the help of that one special girl. She saw who she was, and what she was becoming. Her empathy took away the confusion and hurt, seeing for herself, that she's not the only one wanting to be noticed. To be someone special.

It appeared they all were friends with similar stories, of trying to be something. Who made a lot of mistakes in the process, but that's what made their friendship stronger.

They treated her, and befriended her. But, it was not to last.

Before the Rainbooms decided to break up, due to the amount of pressure and people becoming violent on the cancelling of their magical friendship. She stood by them. She wasn't the only one who stood by, but they broke up, ending their relationship entirely.

Just like most, she was forgotten as well. Even though she wasn't there a whole lot, there was not a single reply or wanting to come together again. She was back to where she was, alone, discarded, and faced with the reality that friendship was not forever.

She still held onto that mirror. She took it as a reminder of her most troubling, and her most cherished moment of her life. It still held a single shard of glass within. Wondering if it left any trace of the magic inside?

She didn't want to test it, as she started to feel a darkness overflow into her mind about it. As if it was calling to her to draw in more of her sorrow and anger. It no longer represented her finding friends, but abandonment and grief.

She threw it away, hoping it will never see the light of day.

2

Wallflower Blush, a student at Canterlot High, president of the gardening club. She was informed of the happenings between the public and the Rainbooms, but she remained out of the argument, as she was starting to question her own relationship with them.

She was like most, who was just normal, average, and ordinary. Micro Chips really brought the attention to most, about them being left out of the group.

She grew jealous of how Sunset was treated. She was once the most hated in all the school, now treated like a goddess. Being the center of attention while she was being completely ignored, like a walking ghost haunting Canterlot High School. If she was just a ghost, not a single soul would care to find out how she became this way, only just a faint memory.

Which by her luck found an object that could wipe it all away. Though, it never made her seem noticeable, it did erase theirs. To the point where they could not remember a thing, it took weeks of work, but it only made her even more invisible. She took it out on the Rainbooms, trying to make everyone see that they were the ones, fooled by Sunset.

But, she was serious, even sacrificing her own mind for the protection of their friendship. After they destroyed the stone, it all returned. Wallflower was included for once, as a person. Finally having some recognition, and being president of the gardening club. She found life, it seem meaningful. However, after all they've done, they never spoken again.

She didn't have a big part to play with the Rainbooms either, and that made her upset that there was no real relationship between her and them.

She began to question, but it was in none of their interest, as she was starting to lose followers and partakers of the gardening club as well. Nothing felt more like before, once the Rainbooms were entirely out of reach.

Being alone and not remembered as she previously was. The only real conversation she had with any of the Rainbooms was to ask her about any potential pieces or traces of the memory stone. She pointed it out to Twilight Sparkle, as she was out trying to find traces of previous artifacts for testing. But, that was all she got out of their relationship.

She remained in club, regardless if anyone showed up to any meetings, but what made it possible was the fact that the summer had changed her life as she knew it.

Today, as she saw Micro Chips, Bulk Biceps, and Ditzy-Doo out on school campus. At the mirror and stallion statue, trying to move pieces out of it to find any traces of magic.

They saw large streaks of light coming from it, and spread out across multiple locations, as it was a plot to find where they landed to solve a greater mystery of why those particular spots in general. Wallflower decided to take advantage on her own to find where one of them could have possibly landed.

3

Trixie awakened to a bright and beautiful morning. She was excited, as she was reminded of going out to search for magic.

She hopped down to the kitchen to grab a small juice pouch she bought last night. Starting to wake up, as she read about the news on Vignette's new trending outlet called "ViVa." She was follower since the time she took down the Rainbooms. Vignette was one of the first to actually take them down a peg, in which Trixie thought was needed, given it was her time to shine as one of the best and greatest of them all.

"If I could find what they have." Trixie thought, as she looked on her phone, and saw all the comments bashing the Rainbooms. "Then, I will use this time to finally get some recognition! Of course, when I'm all popular, I will take pity on the poor Rainbooms! It will be all mine! Reestablishing them, as their new leader!" She squealed on that fact. That is, of course, if she could find anything on magic. But, nothing like an adventure! Trixie thought.

She turned on the TV, as she was getting ready. The news appeared on screen, on schedule. There were discussions and interviews with a familiar face. She turned around and looked as it was Gloriosa. She was being interviewed with some of the more recent happenings around Camp Everfree.

"Gloriosa, can you care to explain the increasing acreage of the Everfree Forest?" The interviewer asked.

"There is honestly not much I could explain, it seems almost magical." Gloriosa responded. "The fact that the forest has grown exponentially... I suppose, mother nature has a way of battling against recent forest fires... and deforestation over the years..."

The rest of new anchors decided to go over some made-up statistics about the growth, saying it has more than doubled in size. Also announcing that Camp Everfree would like participants to go and help mark down areas necessary for boundary control.

"Interesting..." Trixie said.

4

She walked out, wearing a blue tank-top, white skirt that had a blue ribbon tied around the waist. The only running shoes she had, and they were sneakers, all white with the rims of blue over the heels. Her hair was tied, one large ponytail, with her bangs falling over the side of her face, kissing her cheeks. It was another hot day, so she wore what was only appropriate.

She walked out, feeling energetic about wanting to find something magical. However, as she began to take a step, she walked right into Wallflower Blush, passing by on the sidewalks.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" Trixie bickered, as her eyebrows narrowed.

"You..." Wallflower hesitated. "Watch where you're going..."

"What are you doing?" Trixie asked, crossing her arms, trying to remember who she was.

"Nothing." Wallflower said.

"Nothing, huh?" Trixie taunted. "You look familiar."

"Of course I am!" Wallflower screamed. "I go to the same school as you!"

"Really? I haven't noticed." Trixie admitted. Wallflower rolled her eyes, and walked away. "Wait a minute!"

Wallflower turned around, not wanting to talk. Trixie walked in closer.

"I'm walking that way!" Trixie announced, as she raised her arms to the air.

"No, I am!" Wallflower denied.

"No, I am!" Trixie argued.

"Whatever." Wallflower said, as she started walking that same direction she was heading.

Trixie was enraged, and so she ran up to her. She jumped over her head, and slammed into the ground in front of her. Wallflower was stunned, and was annoyed by her.

"I go this way!" Trixie said, as there was dirt all over herself. She picked herself up, and dusted herself off. She began to walk down the street. Wallflower rolled her eyes, and continued.

They both were at each other's side. They locked their eyes onto one another, and started to briskly run, trying to get ahead. Their arms wrestled, they gritted their teeth, as their speed picked up.

They began to run, Trixie had the upper hand, and Wallflower was lost in the dust. Trixie laughed, as the distance began to widen. She looked back, facing the direction she was running to, but stopped at the sight of a large semi-truck, flashed in front of her, honking at the stupid girl trying to outrun the truck passing by. Trixie screamed as loud as the horn. She couldn't move, as it was so sudden, she remain stiff as a statue.

Wallflower came up to her, and burst into laughter, as Trixie turned around, snapping out her state. Trixie blushed, as she crossed her arms.

"Watch where you're going!" Wallflower shouted sarcastically, coming up to her on the crossroads. She passed by, and continued to walk when the light flicked to imply it was safe to cross.

Trixie couldn't take it, and slammed her boots to the ground, and marched toward her.

"Well, I never suspected you to be the sarcastic one!" Trixie said, as she caught up to her.

"How can you suspect me of anything? You don't know me!" Wallflower countered.

"Troubled are we?" Trixie taunted. "Well, no wonder you aren't noticed!"

"Look who's talking!" Wallflower stopped to face her. "You're just as alone as I am!"

"I'm the great and powerful Trixie! I need no one!" Trixie shouted.

"Yeah, sure." Wallflower said, as she rolled her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, I know what your deal is!"

"Oh you do huh? What of it?"

"You want to have power, so you can finally have friends like the Rainbooms!" Wallflower stated.

Trixie stopped, and looked into her eyes. Her brows narrowed, feeling doubts in her words through her own ears.

"How would you know!" Trixie backfired.

"Cause you said it many times before!" Wallflower yelled. "I pass by you every time in the halls, and you'd never shut up about being greater than the Rainbooms. You even turned away from your band to do so!"

"How dare you speak of me like this!" Trixie bantered.

"It's true." Wallflower said.

"Truth? Ha!" Trixie countered.

"You think it will work, it won't!" Wallflower admitted.

"Again, how would you know?!" Trixie questioned.

"Because I've been there!"

Trixie paused for a moment.

"I know what it's like to have no one... it's hard to be alone, and you would do anything to have someone by your side. But pursuing magic... what would magic do for you anyway... besides hurt people?" Wallflower confessed. Trixie looked away.

"Magic is who I am." Trixie said.

"Don't mess with things, Trixie. It will only make things worse!" Wallflower said.

"Why would you care?!" Trixie responded. Wallflower was angrily silenced.

"You know what, fine! You're right, I don't care!" Wallflower replied.

"Good, because what I've got going on, is none of your concern!" Trixie yelled.

"No wonder you're alone..." Wallflower said under her breath.

"Look who's talking!" Trixie stated back. "You didn't have anyone to begin with!"

Wallflower stopped entirely, and walked away. She curled up, and went back down the road they previously walked.

Trixie looked to the ground, and stood silently. The heat was intense, and was making her melt into the cement. She continued walking down the sidewalk, on her way to find something.

"She doesn't know what she's talking about." Trixie said to herself. "Magic will make me become bigger than the Rainbooms! Just you wait!"

5

Trixie was strolling though the small town area, and kept looking around for anything unusual. Unfortunately, the town was as dull and quiet as the Canterlot Public Library. Almost no one was inside that place, only a few people who looked like they never seen the light of day, Trixie thought.

She continued on, but did not see anything that sparked her interest.

She went down to the beach, and saw a few people hanging out. A few familiar faces, of course, in a relationship and making out as she walked passed them. Get a room, Trixie thought, as she walked by. She couldn't remember the names of them, beside recognize the two have always been together as far as she could remember. Bright minty green, like the plant, always played some sort of stringed instrument. The other was a light yellow, like a pale dandelion, with her swirly pink and blue hair. Always reminded her of candy gumdrops.

There were others, as she knew DJ PON-3, always rocking out to something with her large earphones, and her friend who always plays the cello. She never smiles, but would always be around her.

A mother and her child. They were sitting peacefully, as they both ate an ice cream cone together. She recognize them anywhere, a single mother who had green curly hair, as did her little boy.

No one of interest or anything suspicious around the area. Trixie started to walk back, until she heard a scream coming from the rocky hills, near the edge of the shoreline.

A person she didn't recognize, she was flustered and hyperventilating. What was she screaming about? Trixie thought. She jogged to her, and wanted to see what was up. The girl had thick purple glasses, with pointed edges. She had green hair, and light yellow skin. Her hair was separated, twin tails with two large rubber bands with a movie reels on each side.

A couple of others walked up along with her, but as she got up, she threw away a shining object. While the others were wondering what it was, Trixie walked over to the object.

It was buried in the sand, and was washed over with the waves. She picked it up, as it had some heft to it. It gleamed in the sunshine, and had panned over a sparkling touch as if it was calling to her. She picked up a small hand mirror. Trixie looked at it, and was a little confused.

She looked back at the girl who had it. She was looking back at her with fear.

Trixie walked up to her, and she slightly scooted back away from her. Her pupils shrunk from just the look of her.

"Is this yours?" Trixie asked cautiously. She shook her head, nervously. She looked away. And the other two who walked up with Trixie were unsure of what to do. They were talking to each other. After they were previously making out. She got up, and ran off from the beach to the parking lot. "Weird..." Trixie continued, as she examined the dirty mirror.

The other two were looking at Trixie, and watched the girl take off. They walked away, as they were unsure of what to do. Trixie thought about why it scared her so much? She kept it on her, not sure of what to make of it.

6

Trixie returned home, she cleaned the mirror in the sink. It shined. The glare from her bathroom light would blind her. She looked at it, and it was kind of a beautiful piece. A full mirror, just sitting in the sand. She looked into it. And she saw herself, and smiled. Definitely more finer quality than her bathroom mirror, she thought.

"Why be afraid of this?" Trixie asked herself. "This is a glorious object!"

Trixie played around with it, and it sparkle in the ray of sunlight from her windows.

7

It was later in the evening, and Trixie was unsure if she'd really found anything remotely magical. However, the mirror was a stunning find, but was it magical? She thought.

She placed it down on the table, as she fixed herself a small microwavable entree.

It was steaming hot, but the food inside was still cold. She had it a few moments to cool before she could take it out. She looked at the mirror again, and was still contemplating the events today. Running into some familiar faces, worn-out places, and almost died. Quite an interesting day? Trixie thought. She took a small bite into her entree, and it tasted a little funny to her.

She held up the mirror to take her mind off of it, and just wanted to reenact a famous line from the top of her head.

"Mirror, mirror, in my hand... who is the most powerful of all the land?" Trixie smiled of how cheesy it was to mimic her favorite line from a show she watched.

The mirror in her hand, started to shake. Trixie felt that same odd feeling she had with Maud's odd crystal device. She dropped it on the floor. And it continued to shake on the ground. Trixie curled up on her kitchen chair, unsure of what to do.

"What's going on?!" Trixie yelled. It stopped.

"Hello?" It spoke. "Hello?!"

Trixie was fidgeting in her chair, as she went down slowly to gasp the mirror into her hand. She turned it over, and looked into it.

"Hello?" It continued.

"H-hi?" Trixie said back. Shaking, and was holding it away from her face.

She brought it closer and looked into the glass pane, and saw herself. But, she moved on her own. It was her, talking to herself.

"Hello? Who are you?" She spoke.

"Trixie, who are you?!" Trixie shouted, she was freaking out, and couldn't control herself.

"Trixie?" It said. "Hi, Trixie... I'm Trixie..."

"What? But..." Trixie couldn't find the words.

"So weird... We are both Trixie?" It said.

"You are in a mirror!" Trixie yelled. "Are you real?! How am I talking to myself in the mirror?!"

"Woah, woah... don't shatter me... it's okay... what do you mean? I just found this mirror?" It spoke.

"What?!" Trixie said.

"Yeah, I found this mirror laying on the beach." It continued. "I brought it home, and cleaned it..."

"What?! That's what I did!"

"Weird... is it like... some portal to another universe?"

"I don't know..."

"Well, this is awkward..." She said.

"No kidding..." Trixie continued. "Are you... alone in there?"

"Well, I'm not with anyone. If that counts?" She said.

"Haha. Same." Trixie chuckled. She chuckled back.

"Could I..." Trixie said, as she brought up her hand to the mirror and touched it. She did the same. They both felt a spark between them. "Woah!" They spoke. "This is some weird magic..." Trixie announced.

"No doubt!" She said.

"So... what do we do?" Trixie asked.

"I'm not sure." She said. "This is beyond me."

"Yeah. No doubt." Trixie responded. She smiled, as did she.

8

Trixie was unsure of what to do, as she was feeling like the entire day. She found something interesting, but this was something she did not expect. Another her in a mirror, talking to herself.

Trixie went into the bathroom, and puked. Flushing the toilet, as she grabbed a few tissues to wipe herself and threw it in before the water swirled away. She got up, and saw herself in the bathroom mirror. She thought about something, as she touch the glass with her hand.

"Trixie, what are you doing?" She asked.

"Just bear with me!" Trixie said.

Trixie brought up her small hand mirror. She held it up, and allowed the glass pane to be reflecting an endless line of the reflection. She didn't know if it would work, but she said "mirror, mirror." It glowed again, and the mirror shook in her hands, and the mirrors glowed.

She stood back, and saw herself. The odd thing was, she was looking at herself from her bathroom. She stood across from her, and she wasn't on the other side of the mirror anymore. The mirror turned into a blank glass, and her bathroom mirror looked the same.

She looked at her, and was freaking out. She somehow brought her out of it. Her color was different. She had orange skin, black hair with light orange swirl, and her eyes were light yellow.

They both screamed.

Chapter 3: Reflected

Chapter 3: Reflected

1

It was impossible, how? She asked herself. She ran out, no matter where she went, she wanted to be anywhere, away from it.

She finally arrived, somewhere she thought she could be safe. Away from it, away from it all. Running made her exhausted, trying to catch her breath, as droplets of sweat fell from her forehead.

The room was darkened, and felt cooler from being outside. Switching on the lights, it was clean, plain, without anything out of the ordinary. Luckily for her, nothing was out of place. She sat down on her soft futon. Taking in the cooling air from her conditioner, sitting above her, mounted in the window. She would look out to see a nest that housed a pigeon. It would annoy her with all the cooing, but she found eggs sitting inside.

She got up, after she felt her nerves settle. Heading into her guest restroom, to wipe off the sweat from her oily face.

A soft green hand towel, soaked with cool water running through from the faucet. She wrung it out to a damp sensation for her delight. Turning off the faucet, and patted it down on her face. She looked up at the bathroom mirror, and there she saw her reflection. But, she remembered something. In it, she could see her face, but it was turning. Turning into something other than human.

Her strong cerulean hair growing, spiraling, choking her. Popping off her two movie reel hair ties. Her eyes growing darker, her eyebrows arching forward. Giving a smirk of something sinister and evil. She could see it reach forward for her face. She screamed and threw whatever she could grab at the mirror. It shattered, as a ceramic toothbrush holder broke on impact. It disappeared from her.

She screamed. It never stopped haunting her.

"Why?!" Juniper screamed.

In a fit of rage, she ran out to every room. She grabbed every hand mirror, including her phone, and she would throw it down with excessive force. It would break, marking the floor with it's plastic and metallic handle. Continuing on with the master bedroom bathroom mirror. Gripping a large, heavy object, and threw it across. The glass fractured, but not entirely removed. She got up to it, and ran her hands threw until it peeled off the wall. The glass ripping her skin, causing it bleed with the sharpened edges tearing through. She screamed, but nothing felt more satisfying than see it fall into the empty floors.

She obliterated the living room TV, making it dropped to the floor, causing it to crash down. The impact caused a little shake, which made the conditioner in the living room tilt. It made the nest scoot toward the edge. She had another one, in her room, and chucked it across the hallway. It was small and inexpensive, so it was not a loss for her. There was one in another room, and it was much more heavier. She carried it, but it was too much weight, and dropped it toward the wall. It broken the screen as intended. The nest tilted toward the edge and dropped two of the eggs. And only one remained.

The last one, her large closet mirror. She had a hammer in her hands. It dripped with her blood, running down the handle to where it could just slip off, but no matter where it landed, she wanted it gone. She threw it, it burst like a heated glass thrown into a cold pool of water. She laughed at the scene of her face not reflected back at her. The glass falling, her hands twitching.

She knelt down on the floor, arched over to tear up, but she could see her reflection on the polished floors. She kept seeing herself. It made her crazy, that she could never get rid of it.

"Leave me ALONE!" Juniper screamed, as she bashed her arms into the floor, until her glasses fell from her face. The last thing she remembered, the glass that could make her see. She picked it up, and punched it down into the floor.

She continued, until she was grabbed by someone.

"Juniper, stop!" Someone said. His voice was heavy, saddened, and old. Her uncle was trying to get her to stop, but she couldn't. He quickly called for help on his mobile phone, and she could see the blank black mirror in his hands. She yanked it from his hands, and bashing it to the floor. "Enough!" As he slapped her across the face, she stopped.

Juniper began to cry, as she touched her burning cheek, unsure of what to do with herself. She couldn't stop seeing herself. He went down to comfort her, but his large bottle capped glasses, made her want to get rid of it.

2

Trixie woke up, she felt so uncomfortable being on the floor. She looked out, and saw it was sunshine outside. She yawned, and rubbed her aching neck.

Picking herself up from the floor, and saw a small hand mirror in her right hand. Trixie barely remembered what happened the night before. All she remembered was the lukewarm taste of her microwaved food. She couldn't stomach it, and threw it out in her toilet. She kept looking into the mirror, and saw her own reflection. The hefty mirror was not so appealing to her anymore.

She took a drink from the bathroom sink, and looked up to the large empty glass of her bathroom mirror.

"Wait a minute..." Trixie examined. She was reminded of her... herself, that is. She brought her hand to the mirror, and was astonished.

Trixie ran out of the bathroom to look around, to see if she was anywhere. There was no one, but an empty apartment. She was slightly relieved given it was too unreal, having someone coming out of the mirror. She looked into again, and it finally hit her of how creepy it was. So, she placed it in her wardrobe, placed in between her soft cotton shirts. It was still a stylish hand mirror, so it could be worth something.

She sat down, feeling the cushions sink into her. She wondered if she was going to continue searching for a thing that would give her powers, but she felt too exhausted to move. Nothing made her motivated to see it through. She had no one to talk to, and felt the loneliness sink in quicker than the cushions.

"What am I going to do?" Trixie said to herself. "I never felt this bored or dreaded since..." She turned toward her phone on the couch. She looked up her contacts, nothing new, besides the last conversation between her and her band mates.

She would have been okay with only making music for a living, but even the Rainbooms monopolized that. Everything about them took over everything, and it only left for her magic career to be the only thing going for her, but everybody only wants to see the magic they had.

Lavender Lace and Fuchsia Blush, Trixie thought. They've only wanted to continue, but nothing felt right for her. In the end, she gave it up.

"C'mon!" Trixie said to herself. "You've got this! You have to keep going!"

Trixie was reluctant to look at any mirror, as she saw her own reflection in the phone. Whatever that was, she couldn't grasp the idea of how?

3

Later on that day, she remained inside her home, contemplating about the girl in the mirror. It was just her reflection, but her color was different. Why? She asked herself.

She entered her room, slowly opening the door, and opened her dresser. The beautiful mirror, she could sell it, but what of the person on the other side?

It made her stomach churn like last night, however it was the food she ate. Trixie was still okay, but she reminded herself in making sure to read the directions on the side of the box before cooking her microwavable entrees. But, she still was a little curious of her.

Trixie sighed.

"Mirror, mirror..." Trixie said, it shook in her hand, and the mirror opened to her face again.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hi..." Trixie said.

"Sorry about, last night..." She said.

"It scared me, but I didn't think anything was going to happen." Trixie admitted.

"Yeah, I had no idea I was about cross over." She continued. "So bizarre."

"Haha. Yeah..." Trixie chuckled. "So... your name is also Trixie?"

"Yeah, and your name is Trixie too, right?" She spoke.

"Yep, the great and powerful Trixie!" Trixie announced, as she held her head up high.

"Maybe we are just a parallel world, the same powerful Trixie, but different place?" She said.

"Yep, and that's great and powerful Trixie!" Trixie corrected.

"Right! Great and powerful Trixie!" She concluded with a smile.

"You know, maybe we should just start with... common questions?" Trixie hesitated, shrugged.

"Sure. But, I don't think anything is really different." She replied.

"Really? Not even having friends, being popular, having magic, or even being the greatest magician of all time?!" Trixie examined.

"Nope, I'm not apparently..." She humbled. "I don't have much of anything... I'm just..."

"Alone..." Trixie interrupted.

"Yeah..." She continued, stroking the back of head. "I actually was surprised to see you, I had no idea what to expect, you know?"

"Yeah." Trixie said. "So, I'm not so sure on doing that again, at least until we get to know each other."

"What do you mean? I'm not so sure if there is anything different between us. After all, we are just reflections of each other, right?" She examined.

"I suppose you're right... should we give it another shot then?" Trixie asked.

"Sure?" She said, her voice raised from the idea. "It wouldn't hurt to try?"

"Alright then." Trixie said, as she turned toward the door.

4

Trixie walked into her bathroom mirror, and pointed out the mirror, facing each other until she saw the reflection multiplied.

"Mirror, mirror..." Trixie said, as they both felt a connection. Once again, she saw herself on the other side of the bathroom. She had the same colors as before, black hair with streaks of orange, light orange skin, and her eyes were bright yellow. She looked completely identical, except for the fact that her bangs faced the other direction.

"Hi?" She said. She was nervous, pigeon-toed, and her hands behind her back.

"Hi?" Trixie said. She too, did the same thing. "So?"

"So?" She said.

She nervously chuckled.

"I understand if we are the same person, but your colors..." Trixie said.

"It doesn't bother you, right?" She asked.

"Not at all! But, what if we gave you another name?" Trixie asked. "Just so we don't confuse each other?"

"Really? I will be okay with that!" She jumped.

"Let's see..." Trixie examined her. She was reminded of something, odd of how it was even brought up, given it was the start of summer. "Let's give you the name... Pumpkin?"

"Pumpkin?" She said. "I like that!" Pumpkin smiled, and was blushing.

"Yes? Wonderful!" Trixie chuckled. "Are you naturally that color?"

"No. I'm normally the same color as you, but I guess... opposites?" Pumpkin questioned. "Funny... I guess..." She chuckled.

"I guess we'll figure that out later." Trixie said. "So, what should we do?"

"I don't know. I'm a little curious of everything right now!" Pumpkin admitted.

"You know what... I feel the same way!" Trixie delighted.

5

She arrived home, before it all started. Being humiliated, being thrown down. Why me? She asked herself.

She walked through her front door, and saw many beautiful, diverse plants laying around. She smell was graceful, breathing life everywhere. Alone with her small shack, filled with herbs. It was all she had, it was home.

She plotted down on her small bed, beside a small cactus sitting above on a shelf above her. If it were to fall it would prick her face, but none of that would ever happen. She thought.

She curled up inside the blankets, she began to cry. Her leafy green hair, tickled her face, being buried in it. She was the most rudest person she'd ever come to know. She thought. Why me?

She got up, she looked to the side of her. It was large aloe plant. The first time she got it, it was no smaller than a muffin. She loved it, as it was a gift from the Rainbooms. Being the first present ever brought to her. Even if it was out of pity, it was special. Watered and fed it daily, until it grew up to almost touch the floor.

Plants, she felt, were the only things in life that felt real to her. Seeing them grow, getting much more healthier and blossoming into a beautiful plant. Growing until it decays all on it's own. If only she could be like them, having being loved and cared for, then blooming into a beautiful woman. A rare flower. But, it's not what she was, or ever will be. Just a common blade of grass on the dirt, being walked over many times, and being polluted on. Only to come back to start the cycle over again.

"Such beauty." Wallflower said, as she stroke a blade of the aloe plant.

6

Wallflower got up, and went to see what was on the news. She sat comfortably on a small couch, having a flavored tea from one of her plants.

It appears they covered some odd event happening over at Camp Everfree. They mentioned it had more than doubled in size, and was asking for participants to help with boundary control.

"Interesting..." Wallflower said.

The camera peered into the Everfree forest, and in a split second she saw a strange sparkling light diving into it. She quickly rewind it, to see if it was real. She paused, and it did look all too familiar.

"No way!" Wallflower shouted. As she was astonished of the video capturing a stream of light into the forest. "I... I have to go there!"

Wallflower stood up, she thought of how to get there? There has to be a way. Wallflower thought.

She remembered earlier that day, she saw Micro Chips, Bulk Biceps, and Ditzy-Doo out on the school campus. They might be interested in going, given they were trying to scope out magic as well. Maybe there was a connection? She thought. She was so ecstatic that she couldn't pass up the time to find out.

She headed out, looking for them.

Chapter 4: Me, Myself, and I

Chapter 4: Me, Myself, and I

1

It was midday, the sun was peering down to the hills. Stretching out it's last few hours of sunshine toward the horizon. Still heated and with little to no clouds or moisture to circulate.

One thing was for certain, Pumpkin wore the exact same clothes coming from the mirror, and the colors were complementary. Every single strand was the exact opposite. Her skin, her hair, her hairstyle, and her eyes were all different. The only thing that remained was her voice, her strut, and the shape of her body. How are those the only ones that remain the same? Trixie thought. She figured, if she was her opposite, then all of her should be opposite. Perhaps, if she went through another mirror? Trixie thought. Maybe she would have achieve different results?

Upon walking out of the apartment complex, Pumpkin peered out to the world, as if she had never seen it before. She was amazed of the colors the sky brought, she could feel the heat in her face, smell the fragrant grass with freshly dug dirt, and could hear in the distance, cheering of children in the nearby park.

"So, are things different from the inside?" Trixie asked, given her reaction toward Pumpkin.

"A little, but not too much." Pumpkin said, she slowly turned to face Trixie. "I suppose, it's just refreshing to see the right side?"

"Right side?" Trixie questioned.

"Yeah, it's like... how you would use a light board, after drawing something, then you place it down to see the flipped side." She answered.

"Interesting..." Trixie commented. "So, you're entire world is literally a mirror image?"

"Yes. But, it's the same thing if you would go through to see it." Pumpkin suggested.

"Perhaps, but we have other matters to worry about!" Trixie reported.

"What's that?" Pumpkin asked.

"Well, in case if you're a little behind. I'm on a mission!" Trixie hyped up, throwing her arms into the air. "To find magic!"

"But, I thought we are magical?" Pumpkin countered.

"But, I need something a little more... spectacular!" Trixie argued, slowly closing in on Pumpkin, making her back kiss the fence behind her. "It is something I need to get my name up in lights, to show I cannot be messed with, and to finally take revenge against the Rainbooms!" Trixie shouted. Pumpkin shriveled in the metallic knots, but popped out once Trixie took a couple steps back.

"Okay then!" Pumpkin agreed, as she started walking off to the left. "Let's go!"

"Wait a minute!" Trixie said, as she pulled Pumpkin in. "We go that way!" Trixie stated, as she pointed the opposite direction.

"Oh yeah!" Pumpkin said. "I suppose, I'm too used to the other side of the world?"

Trixie chuckled, and both began to walk down the street they were destined.

2

"So, what magical thing are we looking for?" Pumpkin asked, as she walked beside Trixie.

"It's small, like a piece of jewelry, or a pendant, an amulet of some kind." Trixie said.

"Oh, I see!" Pumpkin enlightened. "Jewelry, huh? How about there?" Pumpkin pointed out a small interesting store ahead of them.

"A jewelry store?" Trixie said with discontent.

"Yeah?" Pumpkin delighted. "It's seems like a place would carry magical objects? It says so on the signs!"

It appears Pumpkin was correct on that, as it does say 'Make ONE MAGICAL evening, a LIFETIME' on a banner outside the shop. However, it could be just one clever marketing scheme, Trixie thought, but Pumpkin insisted they look into it, as they both entered the shop together.

"Wow, such pretty objects!" Pumpkin said, as they approached the cabinets.

The room was air-conditioned, with a sinking dark green rug that dragged on throughout the store. The cabinets were clear, and glistened with much precious metals, diamonds, and other stones that would be most eye-catching.

Trixie walked up to see many shinning rings of various sizes. She would see how desirable they would be, as the lights inside made them attractive, like a bug to an electrical zapper. She looked up at Pumpkin and saw the gleam in her eyes, such happiness and fascination in such objects, made her wonder if she ever seen anything like it.

"Never seen such things?" Trixie asked, as she walked up to Pumpkin. As her eyes drooled over the tiaras and necklaces. Pumpkin turned to look at her.

"Not... really..." Pumpkin said softly, as her eyes focused on the jewels. "Everything inside the mirror don't shine like this."

"Really? Why?" Trixie asked, as she was unsure of what she meant.

"Well, since it's shiny on this side, it is dull in the other." Pumpkin said blatantly. Trixie felt her heart pump, as it was something she didn't consider. Everything in that world is the opposite, Trixie thought. Pumpkin had never seen shiny things, no wonder she was so keen to see them. Trixie thought more about who she really is, and what she could be going through her head as she saw a world opposite toward her's.

"Well, they are magnificent, aren't they?" Trixie added, to give a sense of comfort toward the odd silence.

"They are, this one has such beautiful colors!" Pumpkin smiled. She held up an small emerald pendant with a silver chain. Trixie saw how immensely happy she was, holding to the light.

"Can I help you two young ladies find anything?" A sale representative said. It made both of them face him, as he snapped them out of their focused state of mind.

"No, just looking." Trixie said.

"Okay, just letting you know we have a couples' special on bracelets and necklaces." He said.

"We're not a couple!" Trixie cleared up. He was a little put off from her.

"My apologies..." He said.

"Well, we are more like clones." Pumpkin said with a passive smile. Trixie jumped in to clear things up again.

"What she actually means... we're twins..." Trixie said, giving an awkward smile.

"Really?" He said. "Interesting." As he examined them both, as they did look like each other, but their color was too different to really know.

"So..." Trixie said, as she walked up to him. "Do you have anything... magical?"

"Pardon?" He said, as he was still contemplating on the two. "Magical? I suppose if you mean by our store's standards, of making a magical lifetime happen, then just take a look around as you can find some of the most elegant pieces, handcrafted, and..."

"No! I mean actual magic, like anything unusual about any of these pieces?" Trixie interrupted, as she crossed her arms.

"Oh, uhh..." He hesitated, he pulled up a large case, and uncovered it. Pumpkin was stunned to see such things. "How about our signature Oracle's Jewel, an excellent cut Marquise diamond, encrusted in radiant, white gold band, and with silver plated chain?"

"Yeah, yeah... is it magical?" Trixie rolled her eyes.

"What do you think?" He said, as he pointed it toward Pumpkin, being hypnotized by it's radiance.

"Let's go!" Trixie said, as she pulled Pumpkin out toward the door.

"But..." Pumpkin pouted, as she exited the store.

3

"Stop looking so glum, we're on a mission!" Trixie announced to Pumpkin, as they sat on a bench.

"Sorry, they just look so pretty..." Pumpkin said softly. "I want one of those!"

"Does it look like I have the money?" Trixie argued. "Besides, it's just a gag anyway."

"What do you mean?" Pumpkin asked, as she looked into her eyes.

"The only people who buy those things is when someone messes up in the relationship. It's just more money being thrown away as it sits there and collects dust!" Trixie said, as she closed her eyes to cool off from the blinding sun. "Don't even get me started on marriages!"

"Really?" Pumpkin worried. "Why are marriages bad?"

"Don't you watch the news? People are divorcing each other back and forth, no use spending a bunch of money for it to be wasted within a year or two!" Trixie said.

"Is that why you don't want a relationship?" Pumpkin questioned, as she looked away. Trixie was silenced, having to sit up and look at Pumpkin. "J-just considering that we both are not in one!"

"Well, is it worth it?" Trixie argued. "It seems more work than what it's worth."

"I don't think that... I think it would be great to have someone be there for you, you know?" Pumpkin admitted, as she smiled.

"Look... whatever fantasies you are dreaming of, just keep them to yourself for now." Trixie said, as she got up from the bench to pose structurally. "We have more important matters to worry about!"

"Well, what places do you have in mind?" Pumpkin asked.

"I'm thinking... the only places to have something worth looking into, is antiques!" Trixie said, as she pointed out the nearby shop, filled with old stuff.

"Okay!" Pumpkin enlightened.

They both entered the shop, and it smelled like old people and old carved wood. It was a little heated inside, as there was a runned down air-condition system that dripped from the ceiling. The entirety of the place was filled with a bunch of old clothes, old toys, trinkets, and bunch of handcrafted wood works. Most of this stuff was handed down, and donated by a bunch of people. They also were talking of some of them being taken from old and abandoned storage units.

The enormous stacks upon stacks of furniture, stretched further out into the store. It seemed endless walking through various places, it felt out of this world and walked right into a new one.

"Ugh! Why would anyone waste so much of their life, making things that are so worthless?!" Trixie commented. "Look, all this scratchy clothing, all this random wood work!" Trixie strolled as she thought Pumpkin was beside her. "And look at these creepy dolls?! What kid would buy these creepy-ass things?!"

Trixie kept her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary, however everything surrounding her was distracting and displeasing to her eyes. Everything was too out of the ordinary.

On the other side of aisle, two boys overheard Trixie talking about "what kid would buy such creepy-ass things?" They thought she was referring to them and their fond of collecting their favorite pony toys from their favorite TV series 'My Glitter Pony: Rainbow Spectacular.' They both placed down their ponies, and walked the other way.

Pumpkin, on the other hand, was fascinated with all the amazing work people put their time and effort into making. If she had a house, she would fill that house with all this artwork to spruce up the place. Feeling like an old woman with a house full of heart and soul.

"Such wonderful pieces!" Pumpkin expressed. "If only I could give these things a home."

Pumpkin danced around the aisle, swinging with joy, as she looked into the shelves for something new and different. Something that someone made entirely for her.

Pumpkin accidentally bumped into someone from the next aisle.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Pumpkin apologized sincerely. She closed her eyes and smiled. When she opened them back up, she saw two boys who were saddened by something. "Are you boys okay? I didn't mean to hurt you..."

"No, it's fine..." One of the boys whimpered.

"Yeah, it's cool..." The other boy said.

"What's wrong?" Pumpkin asked, as she looked concerned for the two of them.

The boys were a bit hesitant to speak to her and to tell her anything, but she was pleasing to look at. She looked like she was genuinely curious of what was up with them. They both looked at each other for confirmation to ask her something personal.

"Do you think... collecting pony dolls are stupid?" One of the boys said, as he blushed. Embarrassed to look into her eyes.

"Yeah... is it creepy... girly even?" The other added.

Pumpkin looked a little confused, as she didn't know why it would matter at all.

"I don't think so." Pumpkin said calmly. "If you enjoy something like that, then I don't see why it would matter?" Pumpkin looked around to see if she could give an example. "Like, all these pieces of art, carved out of wood. It certainly isn't for everyone, but it was made for someone who would enjoy it!"

"Really?" The boy asked, as he wiped his eyes.

"You really mean that?" The other added, sniffing in the mucus in his nostrils.

"Of course!" Pumpkin smiled brightly. "As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, then I think it's fine!"

The boys looked at each other, and took off toward their favorite aisle. Pumpkin was certainly happy, making the two feel comfortable for liking something they enjoy.

Moments later, Pumpkin saw Trixie walking back and forth for something. She caught her down the aisle.

"There you are!" Trixie yelled, as she stormed toward her.

"Oh... sorry..." Pumpkin said sincerely.

"I was apparently talking to myself for about an hour now!" Trixie said.

"You are talking to yourself though..." Pumpkin assured. Trixie paused to angrily inhale, and let it all out in huff. Trixie walked up to her, as Pumpkin receded until her back was pushed into the dressers. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." She flinched, and was holding out her hands.

"Look, I'm not in the mood for games..." Trixie sighed, as she took a couple steps back. "I really want to find something... can we please get out of her before my breath starts smelling like this dense air?!"

"Okay..." Pumpkin sadly agreed.

"Thank you." Trixie rolled her eyes, as she began to walk down toward the end. Pumpkin caught up to her.

"For the record, you and I both know you don't brush your teeth that often." Pumpkin said sarcastically.

"That's not true!" Trixie discouraged.

"Really? Did you today?" Pumpkin asked.

"Did you?!" Trixie countered.

"Of course not!" Pumpkin argued. "If you didn't then I didn't!"

"Whatever!" Trixie complained. "Let's go!"

After walking down, passing up many things Pumpkin liked to look at. Pumpkin stood for a moment, and saw something that caught her eye. Trixie noticed, and it annoyed her that she was not following her out.

"Pumpkin, do you see anything..." Trixie said, as Pumpkin was being sucked into a mountain of clothes. She reached out her hand and shook it as she was begging for help. Trixie screamed, and grabbed her hand. She tugged her, pulling her as hard as she could, but felt it overpowering her. "No!" Trixie yelled, as was pulled into the clothing.

"Wow, Trixie look!" Pumpkin said, as she picked her up from the floor. Trixie got up, as she was covered in dust and with a few shirts piled on her.

"Where are we?" Trixie asked, as she got up. "What the...?"

Trixie and Pumpkin walked into another lane filled entirely out of mirrors. They saw many of them, different sizes, shapes, and covered with various wood carvings.

"Why did you bring me here?" Trixie asked, as she dusted herself off.

"Look!" Pumpkin said, as she pointed out to a mirror sitting beside them.

Trixie looked into the mirror, and it was blank like the one in her bathroom. She didn't understand what was the big deal about as it was just a broken mirror.

"What? What's the problem?" Trixie asked, feeling a little annoyed.

"You don't see it, look into another one!" Pumpkin freaked out, as she pushed Trixie in front of another one. Trixie saw the same thing within it, just an empty space.

"I don't get it." Trixie said, bored of whatever she was trying to establish. Pumpkin facepalmed, and told her as she walked up into one with Trixie.

"You don't see it because there is nothing to see." Pumpkin said with a worried tone.

"So?" Trixie said.

"Our reflections... there are not present..." Pumpkin cried. Pumpkin looked deep into the mirror, and saw nothing. Trixie began to see what she meant, and she walked up to many of the mirrors down the aisle and saw nothing.

"You're right!" Trixie cried, as she strutted across the walkway. "I'm gone!"

"No, I don't it means that..." Pumpkin suggested, as she grabbed her. "Listen, it's because I'm the one you're supposed to see..."

"What?" Trixie shouted.

"I'm your reflection, and when I'm on this side of the world... it's gone..." Pumpkin said. "That's why the mirror back home is blank!"

"I guess that's true..." Trixie said, as she calmed herself. "This is scary... I can't see myself in the mirror like a vampire... am I going to start dying... and not be able to walk out into the sun?!"

"Trixie, calm down..." Pumpkin said with a comforting tone. "I believe it is just our reflection, nothing more..."

"Are you sure?" Trixie said. "And if you go back, will it return?"

"I guess we'll see..." Pumpkin sighed.

4

After a bit of an existential crisis, Pumpkin and Trixie headed out the store. Trixie kept trying to look at herself within the windows, as she saw many people walking past her would see their's, but not her's.

"Hey... it's okay Trixie..." Pumpkin said, as she held her close in her arms. "Let's go explore some other place, maybe a little walk through the park?"

Trixie nodded her head, as she was starting to feel a little weak and sick by the thought of herself not existing.

A couple of familiar faces ran up to Pumpkin. It was the two boys she met earlier, they wanted to thank her for her kindness. She smiled. Trixie was unsure of what happened, but the two boys she recognized as it was once her two companions that used to do her bidding, named Snips and Snails. They always hung around girls that gave them chores to do, in exchange for their viewing of having some eye-candy. These two always went after dominant females, that included Sunset, herself, and now Pumpkin. But, Pumpkin was not like herself which made this an odd association, Trixie thought.

They both watched them walk together, happily holding onto some dolls that meant so much to them. Trixie stuck her tongue out of how childish and girly it was, she stopped collecting dolls years ago, after she ripped them apart trying to do the old saw in half trick. She was never able to perfect it.

"What was up with them?" Trixie asked, she was quite disgusted on the fact that she talked with them, as she was still disturbed from everything she saw.

"I just told them if they had interest in something that makes them happy, then they could go for it." Pumpkin smiled.

"But, not everyone has good interests..." Trixie questioned.

"Well, I did say as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, then I don't see a problem with it at all." Pumpkin stated. Trixie frowned, as it was something she knew before, but somehow forgotten.

5

They sat together on a park bench, and watched people taking a last minute stroll, children playing at the park, and a few others sitting around and talking. Pumpkin smiled on the thought of all the playful and bright livelihood those people had. The grass was bright green, the skies were a tainted blue, she could see many birds take a flutter into the open world. She would look down at the grass and saw squirrels and raccoons ravening through the park's trash cans, looking for something to eat.

Pumpkin felt her stomach grumble as well, as she just awoke from the mirror.

"Hey, I bet you are feeling a little hungry?" Pumpkin smiled, calmly asking Trixie, who had curled up into a small space in the corner of the bench. She was still worried of it all, and not so observant than she was. Pumpkin looked out, and saw that there was a guy rolling out an old 99 cent hotdog stand. Pumpkin got up to get a couple before he disappeared.

Trixie remained seated, and focused on the ground. She wondered about who was Pumpkin, and if she was able to enter into her world, could she enter into her's?

"Trixie?" Pumpkin asked softly. Trixie looked up, as she held up a hotdog in her hand for Trixie to have. Trixie smiled and took it from her.

"Thanks." Trixie said, as she held it snug in her hand, and took a bite.

"Mmm... so good!" Pumpkin smiled, as she ate. "You okay?"

"Yeah... I just want want to know more... maybe looking around for something magical isn't worth it..." Trixie questioned herself.

"It's okay. I'm just glad we hung out today." Pumpkin said, as she smiled. Her hotdog was halfway eaten. "How about you?"

"You know... it was fun today." Trixie said. "Even though I didn't find anything, it was still interesting to hang out with each other."

"Yeah." Pumpkin said, as she took another bite.

"I'm sorry for what I said... I guess... I just don't like to admit I'm..." Trixie hesitated, as she stuffed her face.

"Alone?" Pumpkin questioned.

"Yeah..." Trixie said quietly.

The sun was kissing the horizon, about to go down into the hills, buried under the trees in front of them. The skies burned away, and began to get dark. Almost everyone was dispersed into their own cars, and drove away. All that was seen was the night stand-posts began to brightened up, and people's phones light up in the park.

"I get it. I felt the same way too..." Pumpkin said, as her leftover piece fell to the ground.

"Pumpkin?!" Trixie yelled, as she saw Pumpkin become slightly transparent. She saw her fade little by little. Pumpkin stood up, and was not able to touch anything. "What's happening?!"

"Relax... it happened last time I was outside." Pumpkin said with a sad look on her face, but she had a smile on her face. "When you first did it, and fell unconscious, I faded back into the mirror..."

"But..." Trixie cried, as she dropped her hotdog on the ground. A couple of brave squirrels decided to scamper toward the uneaten food. They quickly picked it up, as they left immediately after. "Pumpkin..."

"It's okay..." Pumpkin said, as she gave a passive smile. She held up her hands, and pretended to touch her saddened face. "Be good, okay?"

After she said it, she disappeared completely.