Jack of all trades

by xscar10

Rating: mature
Tags: Trixie, Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Romance, Original Character
Length: 5629

An actor becomes bored with him place, and joins a band of thieves.

Jack heart, an actor who enjoys his limelight has been on top of the world for years, but with each passing day he finds himself slipping further into mediocrity. As much as his fame has begotten him, he has found no peace in it. He longs for something more, something meaningful. So when he is met by a group of rouges that could make use of his particular talents, he jumps at the chance. He goes on with his new brothers to a far more exciting world... but when they go to far he will be forced to choose between love, success, and his own brothers.

Published 2012-09-27 06:34:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-09-27 06:34:01 UTC

Act I: A lowly hobble

The wind came down from the north, and the streets of Manehattan were enjoying a brisk breeze. Some of the days of life in Manehattan were less than fantastic, but no doubt there was always a wind blowing somewhere.

Jack Heart, a red eyed, white furred, and spiky white maned unicorn, with three red hearts for a cutie mark. If he were to be summed up in three words would be, cocky, vain, stallion. He held himself in high regards, and didn't much care for anypony he saw, but his reflection. Despite his ego, he was however an accomplished actor. He took his work very seriously, and nothing else. In fact it might have been the only time he was ever professional in his life.

He didn't have agents, or handlers, not because he needed money, but because he did all of his negotiations himself. He trusted nopony to do his job, but himself, because in his eyes, nopony could do his job but him. Off the job however... he was a loner, he didn't go to a party unless to accept an award. He didn't have, or make friends; either it was because they didn't like him, or because he didn't care for them. He was self important, but not rude. In fact he was very charismatic, but he didn't let time out of his schedule for anypony, but himself.

One day, as he's sitting alone in his penthouse, he's just relaxing as usual. He had just called for a massage, and a rather fetching mare was sent up to his suite to answer him. Having lived in said penthouse for years, he knew all the staff by name, but she was just recently hired.

There was a knock on his door.

"Room service!" She called out almost giddy to meet the famous Jack Heart.

"Come in." He answered, his horn shining red and unlocking the door. The masseuse came in and looked around the room. It was decorated with large flashy pieces of art. The decor was all done in white and red, looking all very modern. One large glass wall, showing the view of all of Manehattan, was also showing the even more dazzling view of the full moon. As she walked inside, there walking in from the bedroom was him, Jack Heart. She couldn't keep down her ear to ear grin.

"J-J-Jack Heart?" She squeaked.

"Aye, and you are new here. I haven't seen you before." He said walking up to her.

"Yes, I was hired yesterday." She said, a blush forming on her face.

"Well, it's nice to meet you... Candle." He read her name tag.

"Shall we get started?" She asked, rolling her massage table into the room. She opened up the table, and he laid down. She started the massage just like any other, and like many other masseuses she liked to talk.

"So, Jack Heart, one of the most famous ponies in all of Manehattan... what's it like?" She asked, and he rolled his eyes, he'd been asked that question dozens, or even hundreds of times.

"Honestly? It's tiring. As glamorous as it may seem, it's the same thing every day." He said, and even though the line was basically rehearsed, it was still true.

"You mean to tell me that all this isn't worth the work it took to get it?" She said, glancing around the room.

"Arguably speaking, yes. Though it's not so much my things, as it is my life. I can't go out without being recognized by almost everypony I meet, I even miss introducing myself, as odd as that sounds." He said with a sigh.

"You feel very tense, a lot of stress in your back." She said, kneading at his withers.

"I think I need to get out and do something... interesting. My life has been boring as of late. Ponies weren't meant to go without meaning in their lives." He said, a brooding tone to his voice.

"Well you have a cutie mark, don't you? Then you have a purpose right?" She said, and he gave it little thought.

"You'd think so, but my special talent is my charisma. I'm good at talking. How exciting is that?" He shook his head.

"We all have a place we need to be, maybe acting is your job, but not your calling?" She said, and his ears perked up.

"What do you mean?" He asked, glancing back to her.

"You don't have to be an actor full time, you can always do something else, something more your speed." She said, and and it had never dawned on him. He didn't need to be an actor. He was good at it, but there could be something else he's better at... or at least just as good, but more exciting.

"Surely you jest, I may be talented, but what could my wry tongue bring me more than wealth and mares?" He asked, and she thought for a moment.

"Ask yourself, what more to life is there than bits and flank?" She asked, and he again was brought to his thoughts.

"I don't know. I have not known any more in life." He said, laying his head down.

"What about friends? Family? A very special somepony?" She asked, leaning her head over.

"I have no friends, as for family all I had was my mother, and she passed away some time ago." He said, laying his chin on his hoof.

"What about a very special somepony?" She insisted, but to no avail.

"No, I have not one of those either." He said, turning his head to look out his window.

"Would all these be for a lack of trying or for a lack of skill?" She asked challengingly. He, never one to step down from a challenge, considered the idea.

"Maybe you're right... what am I if not skilled? My finesse with my tongue is unmatched, as many a mare will tell you. I doubt there's anything I cannot do." He said with a nod of his head. "I could turn mare's head in an instant, if I put my mind to it I could have my very special somepony... but who?" He asked himself, his head on his hoof as he thought.

Later that night he went into his costume closet, pulled out an old hooded robe, and headed out into the streets of Manehattan. He needed to get out and clear his head, and he thought maybe some fresh air would help. He set off, trotting and taking in the sights. They seemed so different from the ground... If you're on top of the world you look each sight in the face, but here you're basically on your knees before each sight. It was either humbling or demeaning. He walked slowly down the street, when he came across a tent in a back alley.

"You there!" Called out a mare's voice.

"Me?" He asked, pointing to himself.

"Yes you! You seem the brave and intelligent type, how would you like to have your future unfurled before you?" She asked, waving her hoof inside. She was covered by her cape, and her hat so he couldn't see her face or who she was.

"My future, you say? You would have me believe you have the talent to tell the future?" He asked, walking forward curiously.

"Nothing is beyond the grasp of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She said raising her nose to him, and showing her light blue fur and even lighter colored mane.

"Very well, if you truly are so powerful, then by all means, let's." He walked inside, and she closed the certain behind him.

"Keep in mind, the Great and Powerful Trixie's services are not free." She said, walking over to a table in the center of the room.

"Very well, tell me then... What cost is there for said services?" He asked, keeping his hood down low.

"Only a meager fee. Ten bits." She said, and without a second thought he had ten bits on the table.

"Now, what does my future hold?" He asked as she sat down. She put the bits in her bag, and he sat across from him.

"Give the Great and Powerful Trixie your hoof." She said holding her hoof out. He placed his hoof in hers, and she ran it tentatively across the rim.

"You are well endowed in many ways, but are less than pleased with your current state of living. You hunger for something with more meaning, more... passion." She said, and so far she was right.

"In your future I see... pain, and excitement. You will have two roads open to you, and be forced to choose between two things you hold dear. Very soon you will have a crown upon your head, but your fate will not be your own." She said, these seemed an odd interpretation, but it's not exactly unheard of.

"But wait... there's something else... I see... me?" She said, and lifted her head.

"What do you mean?" He asked, raising his head slightly.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie plays some major role in your destiny... but that can't be right." She said, and shook her head.

"What does it-" He started, but as he spoke his hood fell back.

"You! You're him! You're Jack Heart!" Her eyes widened with surprise before she regained her composure.

"I mean... of course you are. The Great and Powerful Trixie only serves the finest of clients." She said, standing and walking around the room. He raised his hood, and tried to disregard what had happened.

"Yes, yes, as you were saying?" He said looking to her.

"Wait, the Great and Powerful Trixie is in the future of the famous actor Jack Heart? What could this mean? Perhaps the Great and Powerful Trixie will have some effect on his destiny?" She said to herself.

"Excuse me madame, but as much as I enjoy watching you flaunt your exquisite figure, I do believe we were in the middle of something?" He said leaning on his elbow Trixie however seemed oblivious to his tries for her attention.

"If the Great and Powerful Trixie is in the future of Jack Heart, maybe this is my ticket to the top! I can buy a new caravan, and a brand new book of spells, and-" She would have kept going had she not been uninterrupted by his whistling to her.

"Umm... your ticket to fame is waiting for you to tell him what's going on." He said, tapping a hoof on the table a might impatiently.

"Oh! Yes I- I mean- the Great and Powerful Trixie is coming." She said trotting back over, but before she could the front curtains were opened, and a stallion walked in.

"Trixie, your fee is due." He said in a gravelly but kind sounding voice, and Trixie glared at him.

"Oh marvelous another interruption." Said Jack, leaning on his hoof.

"I thought I told you never to come in when I'm with a client!" She whispered, pointing to Jack, who waved to the stallion.

"Sorry Trixie, the boss wants his payment." He said, and she grunted in displeasure.

"Alright, give me five minutes, and I'll have it." She said, and he nodded silently.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie... apologizes for that minor annoyance." She said, and you could tell she wasn't used to apologizing.

"Not a problem, but tell me... Who was that, and why did he want your money?" He asked, glancing toward the entrance, then back to her.

"Nopony important, just a... business associate." She said, and sat back in her chair.

"Business associate? What sort of business?" He asked, and she smirked nervously.

"Oh, nothing really, just a... psychic's union." She said, she wasn't quite as good at sewing stories when being put on the spot.

"Mam, I have been in this city a long time, and can recognize a member of the guild when I see one." He said, shaking his head with a cocky grin.

The Guild of Brothers, more often just called 'the guild', is a group of thieves, pick-pockets, and con artists, that roam the streets of Manehattan. They usually recruit ponies off the street who are down on there luck, and need money badly. Once recruited, they would bring in a pretty good income, and paid the guild a monthly fee. Once you joined, you were in for life, and bound by the rules of the brotherhood. Nopony has ever betrayed the guild, and nopony knows why.

"Alright, the Great and Powerful Trixie is a member of the guild, but not by choice." She said, and shrugged her nose up.

"Few are, but why is one as 'great and powerful' as you working for them?" He asked, leaning on his elbow.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie... came into some bad luck recently. After defeating an Ursa major in battle, Trixie's caravan was destroyed. Trixie quickly found herself without a home or money. The guild took Trixie in, and helped her work her way back up." She said, and flipped her hair with her hoof.

"Impressive... though, I can't help but wonder... if you are in the guild, is this a con, or merely a psychic's tent?" He said, ushering in a sly smile.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie does not need to rely on cheap tricks to gain money!" She said, standing in her seat.

"Really now? Just how great and powerful is Trixie then, if she needs the guild's help?" He asked, arching his brow curiously.

"I don't! I mean, Trixie doesn't! The Great and Powerful Trixie will show you!" She said, tossing her hat off to the side, her horn glowing brightly, and standing on her table. As she stood, all the items around the room started to float around her. She struggled to keep everything up, and dancing around the room, but never the less, she did. After her show, she dropped everything back in it's place, and breathed heavily.

"How about that?" She said, flipping her hair again.

"I'll admit, that was impressive. I concede defeat." He said, with a chuckle.

"Good, now that you know just how great and powerful Trixie is, you understand." She said, with a foxy smile.

"And now that you know a little to much about the guild, you're coming with me." Said a gravely voice from behind him.
He felt a quick thump on the back of hid head, and he fell to the floor. His vision was blurry, and his hearing seemed to echo, but he could mostly hear what was going on.

"Hey! What are you doing?! The Great and Powerful Trixie was in the middle of something!" She said, in protest.

"Sorry doll, but Father Blint is going to want to see him." Said the stallion standing above him.
After that the conversation blurred into the darkness, and he fainted.

A few hours later, he awoke to the light of dawn on his face, peering through a perfectly circular hole in the roof. He seemed surrounded by darkness on all sides. He tried to stand, but soon saw his hooves bound together. He pulled his hooves under his body with a grunt, and sat himself up on the cold stone floor.

"Ah! finally! Our guest has awaken from his slumber. Tell me, boy. What is your name?" Asked a voice, it was a regal, and profound sounding voice.

"My name? Sly Feign, why?" Jack said, without a second thought.

"You pulled that off marvelously, lying for a living has it's benefits." Said the voice, as the hooded pony stepped into the light.

"That is my name." Jack said, without the slightest hesitation.

"No, it's not. You are Jack Heart, and a very talented liar." Said the pony, now standing above him.

"If you knew that, then why ask my name?" Jack asked, glaring at the strange pony.

"There are three reasons to ask a question: one to find the answer, two to hear the answer, and three to place an idea... You tell me what I was trying to do." He replied. He then pulled back his hood to reveal a zebra, with four scars on his mouth, and neck.

"What do you want from me?" Asked Jack, pointing his head off to the side, to look into the darkness, but saw nothing.

"I will be blunt. I want you to join me." Said the zebra, smiling a devilish grin.

"Me? Join the guild? Are you daft?" Jack said, half expecting a punchline.

"My wits are completely about me. Was it not you who said, just this morning that your life has been boring? I generously offer you a break from your insipid commonplace life, and you respond with such disrespect?" Said the zebra, leering at him.

Jack's smile quickly faded, as the zebra stepped forward.

"You will quickly learn your place when in my presence, boy. Up there you may be somepony, but down here even Celestia answers to me." Said the zebra. A small glimmer of light shown off a piece of straw in his mouth, and off a pendant around his neck.

"How did you... Why then, should I join you? It's not exactly honest work." Said Jack, and the zebra knelt down, bringing his face inches from Jack's.

"You know what? You can go home, back to your normal life, and act like none of this ever happened, but us? We don't have that luxury. I pull ponies off the streets who have no other choice, and give them hope. Every once and a while I come across one like you though. You are skilled, you are clever, and I offer you the choice to become a champion of the weak. Granted you are not poor, you are not without luxury, but that's precisely why I am asking you. These ponies need somepony like you." The zebra said, and pushed Jack into the shadows. Jack was sitting blind at first, but soon his eyes began to adjust, and he saw he was surrounded by homeless, and poor ponies, even children. Suddenly the words he spoke ushered a feeling of empathy through Jack's soul.

"Why would they need me? What makes me special?" Jack asked, and looked to the zebra doubting every word of this king of thieves.

"You are clever, and skilled, but you are without purpose. That means you can be anything... or anyone. I can give you the purpose you need in your life." He said, drawing Jacks attention to a couple of colts playing together.

"And if I were to refuse, what then?" Jack asked, and a few ponies nearby looked at him suspiciously.

"Then we take you home, and none of this ever happened." Said the zebra, spitting out the hay onto the floor.

"Do I have to choose now?" Asked Jack, and as he did the colts' mother came and collected the children.

"No, take all the time you need, we can wait. It's not like most of us are starving, or sick. Take your time, and make your decision, boy." The zebra said, but in a way that made you question whether it truly was sarcasm or not.

"I need time to think before I make a decision as important as this." Said Jack, not actually considering, but neither outright refusing, and the zebra nodded.

"Very well, you will have a slight headache, minor bruising and a bump. These will fade quickly." Said the zebra, and before a word was uttered Jack was out cold.

It's strange, the dreamless sleep. It's as if nothing happened at all, you were whisked away by your unconscious mind into the near future, but you know it's not true. You know there was a pass in time, because you were aware of it somewhere in your mind. You don't know how long, but you know there is some time you lost. No matter the time, Jack was also in a different place, the cold, hard stone was replaced by the soft touch of his feather bed. He wondered if it was a dream, but as he was still wearing his cowl, they established their reality as memories.

"My head..." He said, raising a hoof to rub his horn. "Did he seriously just hit me on the head?!" Jack said, feeling for a bump, and sure enough there was on on the back of his head.

"Finally awake, are we?" Said a voice from somewhere in the room. Jack turned to see Trixie standing in the doorway.

"And what am I to make of this exactly? Another pretty mare seems to have broken into my room. Are you truly so desperate for my attention?" Asked Jack leaning on his pillow.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is only here becau-... did you say another...?" Trixie said, breaking halfway though her sentence.

"Aye... Aye I did..." Jack smiled, showing his pearly whites as Trixie was stuck in her look of surprise.

"Never mind. The Great and Powerful Trixie is here because Father Blint told her to watch you." Trixie said, walking in next to the bed.

"And you just jumped at the chance didn't you?" Jack furrowed his brow, with a devious smile.

"No! Trixie even protested, but Father Blint insisted." Said Trixie, glowering sullenly.

"Can Trixie please speak in first pony? Jack would be ever so grateful." Said Jack condescendingly.

"No... The Great and Powerful Trixie may speak however the Great and Powerful Trixie pleases." Trixie said smugly, flipping her cape at him as she turned.

"Aye. We noticed. But it's so much more time consuming. Wouldn't it be easier to just say Trixie then?" Jack sighed, as he stood up.

"Again no. It is the Great and Powerful Trixie. Not merely Trixie, not I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, that is I." Trixie said stubbornly.

"Well now, house rules say everyone who enters must speak in fist pony, so either start saying I, or have your name changed to I, because you can't stay in my house if you refuse my rules." Jack said, walking over to his closet.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie can't leave, Father Blint ordered her to stay." Said Trixie, turning her nose up at him.

"Well then, you are at an impasse aren't you? Keep referring to yourself as 'the Great and Powerful Trixie' and disobey Father Blint, or speak normally and I let you stay. Take your pick." Jack said, turning up his nose mockingly.

"And Just how would you enforce this rule, hmm?" Trixie asked, raising a brow to him.

"Dear Trixie, I'm a celebrity, I have home security. Oh, Rho, please remove Trixie from the premises." Jack said, with a wave of his hoof.

"Yes sir, Mr. Heart." Said a very large female griffin now standing behind Trixie. She started pushing Trixie out the door, when the reality of the situation hit her.

"But that's- I mean you can't-... Fine... The Grea- I mean, I will fallow your meager rule, for now..." Trixie said, trying to hold her ground, her hooves scratching the hard wood floor as she was pushed.

"Alright Rho, she can stay." Jack said, and the griffin immediately stopped.

"As you wish, Mr. Heart." Rho said, and let go of Trixie. Trixie turned around, and Rho was mysteriously gone.

"How did she?..." Trixie started, and Jack chuckled.

"I have no idea, I've wondered that myself, but I never can figure it out." Jack shrugged walking into the kitchen. Trixie followed him, and disguised her amazement well.

"So Trixie... Who is this 'Father Blint' anyhow?" Jack asked, opening his refrigerator, and levitating out a bowl glowing in a red aura.

"Father Blint is the zebra you met not so long ago. He is our leader." Trixie said, rolling her eyes.

"And why call him Father?" He asked, and she gave a look tat just said 'seriously?'.

"It's called the Guild of Brothers... need I say more?" She said, and Jack shook his head.

"Just making sure this isn't some big cult." He said, and rolled the bowl onto the table.

"...Ahem?" Trixie mock coughed, gesturing to the bowl with her eyes.

"I'm sorry, did you want some?.." He asked, and Trixie nodded, as if to say 'duh!'. Jack bought a second bowl for her, and slid it across the table.

"Trixie, there is something I've been wondering..." Jack sat across from her, and pulled up his bowl. "and I want your opinion." He said, twiddling his hooves.

"What is it?" Trixie said, her curiosity barely strong enough to bring her to ask.

"This... thing, Father Blint wants me to do, would you do it?" He asked, looking down in his bowl.

"Me?... I mean... A chance at fame, power and glory, what else is there?" Asked Trixie before taking a bite of salad.

"I don't know. I have not known any more in life." He said, and tilted his head at the bowl in front of him.

"Well I'd take the offer if I were you. It looks to me like everyone benefits somehow." She said, and for the first time honestly smiled at him. He smiled back, and nodded.

"Aye. That's true, but I can't help but fear something is wrong..." He said, and took a bite of his own salad.

"Who are you going to listen to? A nagging feeling, or a beautiful mare?" She asked, leaning on her elbow.

"You have a point..." Jack said, and nodded his head.

"Then what's to choose? Join the Guild, and spice up your life." Said Trixie, with a shrug.

"Alright, very well then. I've made bold decisions before, and they always turned out fine. I'll do it. Jack Heart has joined the Guild!" He said, and smiled zealously.

Jack was then escorted shortly after, back to the Guild's hideout. He was blindfolded, and couldn't tell where he was going or where he had been, as to keep the location a secret. Hours past of travel, possibly in circles, but they eventually arrived at their destination. The Guild seemed to be meeting underground somewhere, as he had to walk down a staircase, into some cold, dank, air. They finally removed the blindfold revealing the same place he had first met Blint.

"Perfect!" Blint exclaimed, and a few guild members joined them at the clack of his hooves. "I'll have the initiation begin immediately!" He wasted no time at all, in minutes he had everything ready.

"Follow me into the catacombs, we have something prepared for you." He said, and motioned to a large pair of doors. A few guild members opened the door, and they walked down the dark, stone, hall. Jack, while following behind Father Blint, and in front of Trixie, noticed the stonework of the hall. It looked like it was reminiscent of Canterlot, but Canterlot didn't use stones like this. It was made of white, and green stones all throughout the structure.

They come to the end of the hall, and opened the doors. The room was filled with statues of somepony he had never seen before. They were carved out of the same green stone, but this was polished, and fine. Oddly enough the torches around the room were unlit, so the statues sat in darkness.

"Jack, when we first spoke, what was it you said your name was?" Asked Blint, as they came to a podium at the far end of the room.

"I said my name was... Sly Feign I believe, why?" Asked Jack, standing just in front of the podium. As they came to a stop, he noticed the other guild members following close behind us.

"Sly Feign will be your new alias. Preserve Jack Heart in the eyes of the people," Blint started, pulling out a cloak from the podium. "and Sly will carry out the deeds of the guild." Blint said, fastening it around Jack's shoulders.

"But if I'm a thief how will anyone know the name Sly in the first place, isn't the point to go unseen?" Jack asked, and Blint chuckled.

"No boy, that's only half the job. Many jobs require you be seen. Many require you speak, and many more require the most subtle slight of hoof. For instance, the magician. If you have an earth pony who claims he can do magic, you would not believe him... but then he shows you something you can't explain. You are astounded, an earth pony with magic? Only then have you fallen for a con. It's not just what you do not see, it's what you do see as well." Blint, smiled as he relayed his seemingly endless knowledge to Jack.

"So there are times when I'll need to be seen, and when I do I'l be Sly." Jack said, and Blint nodded.

"Exactly. Now to finish your initiation, you'll have to drink this." Blint said, holding out a thin vial.

"What... is it?" Asked Jack, taking it hesitantly.

"It's poison." Blint said candidly, Jack waited for a punchline he hoped would come, but with no such luck.

"You're serious? Poison? You want me to drink poison?" Asked Jack, waiting for an answer to strike a clever tone.

"Indubitably." Blint said, nodding his head. "It's a small enough dose to be nonlethal." Blint said, and Jack began to wonder if he had made a bad decision. But there was the chance it wasn't really poison, but merely another trick for him to show his faith.

"Alright... bottom's up then." Jack took in a deep breath, and downed the vial of the toxin. His head began to reel, and he began to loose his sense of gravity. Everything whirled around him, and spots appeared in his vision. Soon enough he was out again, fainting for the third time.

A hard throbbing in his head woke him from his sleep. There was a foul smell on his sheets and he was dripping with sweat. When he opened his eyes to see his bed soaked, he wasn't happy.

"All this stink, sweat, and the hangover, and I don't even get the pleasure of seeing a lovely lady beside me... Blast." He said, rubbing his eyes. He looked around his room, seeing Rho by the door, and Trixie asleep in a chair.

"Rho, did you stay and watch me all night?" He asked, inching his way out of bed.

"No sir. I was watching the girl as well." She responded, standing at attention as she spoke.

"Now Rho, I've told you, not so formal. I mean, after all, you can't get more informal than that night last mon-" He started, and Rho's wings unfurled as she blushed.

"You promised you wouldn't bring that up." She said, folding her wings firmly back into place.

"You agreed to be less formal." He said with brows raised questioningly.

"...Alright, informally speaking then." Rho said, turning her head to the side.

"Good girl." He said, before walking over to Trixie. "So, did she say anything I need to know?" He asked, looking at Trixie, but turning his head toward Rho.

"When she arrived with you, a hooded stallion said something of note. he said 'I leave him to you, give him his first contract. You are his partner now.' and then he left." Said Rho, sitting by the door.

"Well... that's maddeningly unhelpful." He said, kneeling down, face to face with Trixie. "I'll just have to get more information out of her." He smiled jauntily, nodding his head to Rho.

He closed his eyes, and in an astounding act of either bravery or indulgence, he kissed Trixie. She seemed to enjoy it, kissing him back, even letting that little moan of pleasure. That faded quickly as her eyes started to open. Her lashes fluttered lightly, and then quickly darted open. Upon seeing him, she pulled herself away, and fell out of the chair.

"Just what do you think you're doing!?" She stomped her hooves as she stood up.

"I was simply waking you, and you seem to have fallen." He said, sitting down beside her.

"You can't just kiss someone like that! It's just...!" She started, unable to find the words, and flailing in a disgruntled fashion.

"Just what?"He asked, awaiting her answer with mock enthusiasm.

"Wrong! It is wrong!" She said, stomping again.

"Really? Wrong? Am I to believe I'm being lectured on ethics by a con-mare?" He asked, a devious look about him.

"You-! You're-! Shut up!" She grunted, and turned away from him.

"Anyways, now that you're up, you can inform me on what I am to do now?" He laid his chin on his hoof, and his elbow on the chair.

"If you mean for the guild, nothing, or more accurately, not yet." She said, walking over to the door.

"Care to explain, love?" He asked, following her to the next room.

"I'm your new partner apparently, so I have to teach you how the operation works, but I cant tell you until we get a contract, and you don't get a contract until you get trained." She said, walking into the living room.

"Right then, how do we start training then?" He asked, and leaned on the doorway.

"Well I guess we start by getting a guild member to teach you one of our many skills. Where do you want to start?" She asked, and sat on the couch.

"Well... I can't say I can choose without knowing all the options." He said, looking her up and down.

"Then the Great and Powerful Trixie shall choose for you." Trixie said, levitating her hat to the side.

"Prepare yourself; you are about to receive a lesson in magic from none other than I, the Great and Powerful Trixie."