A Tale of Sparkles and Black Magic

The day of the festival was upon Equestria and it showed throughout the populace. Ponies buzzed with excitement and chatter, going from venue to venue in their own cities enjoying food and games and socializing. Every city was decorated in ways unique to each, streamers and colorful lights being universal elements.

Pinkie Pie had helped in Canterlot, leaving the ponies of Ponyville to fill in the party pony’s horseshoes at home. All things considered, they’d done a good job. Town Square was lined with carnival booths, filled with games of all kinds. The sounds of bells ringing whenever a prize was won broke through the chatter from the crowds every once in a while. In addition to the usual decorations, a giant banner was strung across Town Hall saying, “Enjoy Yourselves!” and that’s exactly what everypony was doing. Those who hadn’t journeyed up to Canterlot were gorging themselves on food, lining up for the booths, or just hanging around talking with each other. A certain yellow pegasus was more intent on staying away from the large crowds in her cottage, choosing to watch the fun and merriment up in Canterlot on her Crystalvision set with her animal friends.

While Spike and Starlight Glimmer went about enjoying themselves in the festivities, Twilight and Trixie sat on Rarity’s drama couch, watching as the fashionista refitted Black Magician Girl’s outfits with stretchier fabric used for the torso area. Now that she wasn’t so restricted, the sheer comfort these new dresses afforded her was brought into sharper focus. It was like a piece of the Sanctuary in the Sky had been woven specifically for her. It made the idea of going back to her normal clothes far more difficult to consider.

“So, how do you like it?” Rarity asked.

“It feels amazing!” She held her breasts up in her hands, moving them up and down, relishing in the freedom they now had. “I wish I could pay you for such amazing clothes.”

“Well, there is one thing you could do,” Rarity replied. “I would love a chance to expand my business into your world.”

Selling clothes in the Spirit World? That was a new concept to her.

“Duel Spirits have a wide variety of body shapes,” she explained. “There’s a good number of human types, but I don’t know how much money you could make. Money isn’t a common practice; most monsters are hunter-gatherer types if they can even talk to start.”

“Oh, even a little bit is fine,” Rarity assured her. “Being able to share my passion with more people is greater than monetary value.”

“Well, my fellow spellcasters might be interested. Except my mentor.” She blew up a wuff of air, flipping her hair. “He’s too stuck up to play around with his appearance.”

“What is your relationship with this Black Magician fellow anyhow?” Rarity asked. “Your feelings toward him seem complex.” Her eyebrows wiggled playfully. “Might you have some possible romantic affection towards your teacher?” she asked, earning a round of giggling from Trixie and passive neutrality from Twilight.

Black Magician Girl felt a blush creep across her cheeks. “N-no, don’t be ridiculous.” She huffed. “It would be improper conduct for any student of the Black Magician to seek such a relationship with him. Besides, he’s as straight as an arrow, not interested in romance whatsoever.” She sighed. “I’ll admit, a part of me finds that boring. But that’s just how he is.”

“And what about you, darling? Might you have a crush on somebody?”

“No. I’m too busy kicking butt to worry about getting a boyfriend. I have lots of admirers in the human world as it is, so I’m not wanting for attention from boys who want to claim me as their own.” She shuddered as unpleasant memories resurfaced, things she’d rather have never seen. “You’d be horrified to see some of the things people want to do to me out of some perverted form of affection.”

“Ah…” An apologetic look crossed Rarity’s face. “Perhaps I was rather insensitive. My apologies.”

“It’s okay. I do look up to Black Magician as a great teacher, though. I hope to be as powerful as him someday.”

“I may not know much about magic in your world compared to ours,” Twilight spoke up, “but you seem pretty powerful already.”

“Believe me, my mentor’s knowledge and power far exceed my own. But I’m going to match him someday, mark my words.”

“Well, good luck,” Twilight said.

“Indeed, always strive to do your best,” Rarity added.

“Indeed, running competition is necessary to keep the Great and Powerful Trixie from falling behind in her own drive to become better. Perhaps your mentor wouldn’t mind taking on another apprentice…?” Trixie flashed her best puppy dog eyes.

“Oh no, that trick isn’t going to work on me,” Black Magician Girl said. “Nor is it going to work on my mentor. I’ll ask him on your behalf, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“Trixie will keep her hopes to a reasonable level. Let him know that she’ll be a good student and do whatever he asks of her.”

“I will.”

“Until then, Trixie must do her best to steal the show up in Canterlot with her dazzling display of magical prowess!” She turned to Twilight. “Thank the princess for giving me the opportunity to make it big.”

“That would be the third time you asked, but yeah, sure,” Twilight replied with a smile.

They spent some more time chatting before the time eventually came to go to the train station. Rarity packed all of her dresses and a few accessories in a suitcase, neatly arranged and wrapped in sealed plastic. Trixie did the same with her magic show supplies. Passing through town, they overheard a Crystalvision.

“Green Gale here. The festivities are well underway up here in Canterlot, as you can see. Races from all over Equestria numbering in the hundreds are absolutely filling the streets, enjoying the assortment of activities on offer. Of course, the highlight of the festival will be Hoity Toity’s Festival Fashion Extravaganza. Word on the grapevine is that a special, otherworldly guest will be the highlight of the show. We look forward to seeing how that pans out in light of recent events in Ponyville…”

“The news sucks,” Trixie said.

The other ponies nodded their agreement. Black Magician Girl remained silent, not knowing what they were saying. The train station was mostly empty, save for the last remaining batch of ponies wishing to journey up to Canterlot. The train arrived in good time and they all boarded, taking seats near the back where there were no other passengers, granting them the freedom to be as loud and boisterous as they wanted. The train took off soon after, rolling out of Ponyville Station into the great woodland between it and Canterlot.

“We’ve got some time to kill before we arrive,” Twilight said. “I’d love to hear some more stories about what things are like in the Duel Monster Spirit World.”

“I as well,” Rarity said. “More specifically, I’d love to know what places would be best to trade my dresses.”

“Trixie admits to being curious about your world as well.”

“You all sure love to know everything about my world,” Black Magician Girl remarked. “Is your world not that interesting?”

“We haven’t gotten to visit your world, darling,” Rarity said. “But you’re here, in our own world, experiencing it for yourself.”

“Good point.” Black Magician Girl thought for a moment. “Well, here’s something new to say. There’s a forthcoming event that has come to be known as the Cybernetic Revolution, one that many prophets throughout the land believe will either destroy the old ways or self-destruct, spreading chaos and destruction.”

“That sounds rather grim,” Trixie said.

“It should be for Rarity,” Black Magician Girl continued. “Those who subscribe to the old ways consist mainly of warriors and spellcasters, the majority of whom are humans. If our fate proves disastrous… well, let’s just say that most machines don’t much care about wearing clothing.”

“You’re surprisingly casual talking about the potential destruction of everything you know and love,” Twilight said, worried.

“I believe that magic and machines and even undead can live together in harmony. But sometimes, you need to give those who refuse to believe that a little kick in the bum to shape them up.” She giggled. “Of course, sometimes they refuse to listen no matter what you do, so that’s when you gotta use lethal force. Not that undead ever stay down but beat them up enough times and they’ll eventually realize they’re fighting a losing battle.”

“... Trixie doesn’t know whether to be impressed or horrified by what you’re saying.”

“Can’t say I feel the same, not after what happened last week,” Twilight said. “But I’m just glad we won’t have to face that reality again, at least while the extra protection we gave the Window lasts.”

“I concur wholeheartedly,” Rarity said.

At that moment, they felt the train’s brakes suddenly activate, making them all lurch forward while the loud screeching of the brakes grinding against the rails filled their ears. Then a loud bang sounded from the head of the train, followed a second later by the coach they were in falling off the rails. They tumbled all around the coach, screaming in confusion and fear as it slid along the ground. A loud crash signaled the coach’s impact with a tree, bringing it to a halt. Cries of pain and despair filled everyone’s ears from the other coaches and the faint smell of smoke hung in the air.

“Is everyone okay!?” Twilight called.

“I’m fine, darling…” Rarity droned.

“Trixie is too,” she added.

“Me too,” Black Magician Girl added.

She pulled herself up off the floor. Or, rather, the window, as the coach was on its side. The ponies were thrown around the coach in tangled heaps, their suitcases flung open and luggage littering the sideways seats and windows. None of them had any visible injuries, at least.

“What happened?” she said.

“I don’t know,” Twilight said.

The rear door of the coach opened a few moments later and the conductor crawled inside. “Is everyone alright?” he asked.

“We’re fine,” Twilight said. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Come on, get out.”

One by one, everyone filed out of the rear coach, gathering on the grass nearby the derailed train. The sight was horrifying and puzzling. The entire train was spread horizontally across the tracks with the coach roofs facing away from them. Several ponies, including the driver and firepony, were escaping the wreckage, helping each other and doing what they could to treat each other’s minor injuries.

“At least everyone seems to be okay,” Rarity observed.

“Look,” Trixie said, pointing with her hoof.

They followed where she was pointing. The train engine’s wheels were sliced apart with only the top half remaining attached. A short distance away from their own position they spotted the lower halves lying on the grass near the treeline.

“What could have done that?” the conductor asked aloud.

As if on cue, a new figure emerged by hopping from behind the train onto the middle coach, drawing everyone’s collective attention along with a few surprised gasps. They were a hideous fusion of a goat, a tiger, and a snake, but instead of having the heads of those animals, two headless corpses hung limply while the center had a blonde, male human head. A head with an evil, sadistic grin as he sized them all up like prey.

“You thought you had gotten rid of me,” he said in a tone that tried, and failed, to come off as charming. “But Dio Brando never dies!”