"I'm just not sure what kind of school I'd want to go to next year," Sunset said as she and Twilight pushed open the doors to Canterlot High, escaping the rains that had marked the beginning of autumn. "I honestly haven't thought about the idea of higher education in this world at all. And the top colleges want me to send applications by next month?"
"Yeah, I was working on my CrysTech application all weekend," Twilight replied. "But you've still got time!"
"I guess... but I still have to figure out where I even want to go! And some of these big universities seem really sketchy... there was this movie I saw about a prestigious school where this frat house rigged a contraption to rain a whole bunch of bras down on the crusty old dean?"
Twilight looked incredulously at Sunset. "I keep telling you, those old college comedies are not realistic representations of modern college life! And they weren't even accurate at the time!"
"I just couldn't bring myself to root for either Dean Bitterman or Chugalug House in that situa-"
They were interrupted by a sudden burst of smoke that left them hacking and coughing.
"Hi, Trixie," Sunset sputtered. "Could you maybe not do that directly in front of us?"
"The Great and Powerful Trrrixie would have pulled it off perfectly if you two hadn't kept moving so fast in the middle of my trick!" Trixie replied, indignant.
"We didn't know you were doing a trick," Twilight said as she finally managed to stop gagging.
"Well, naturally," Trixie said, rolling her eyes. "The best tricks are the ones that catch you off guard! It's not much of a surprise if you see it coming."
"Is there a point to this?" Sunset interjected.
"Well, of course there is, Sunset Shimmer, but I'll never get to it if we can't-"
"Alright, how about we just get to it!" Twilight replied, her voice noticeably irked.
"So pushy!" Trixie reached into her back pocket and pulled out a set of cards -- not the playing cards one might expect from a magician, but business cards. She handed them to the girls, who read the emblazoned words "The Great and Powerful Trixie Demands Your Vote for Princess of the Fall Formal!"
Twilight looked up at Trixie strangely. "Wait, you're running for Princess this year?"
"Yes!" Trixie replied. "I tried last year, but there was too much competition! Since, you know, people weren't afraid to run anymore." She winked at Sunset, who let out an uncomfortable groan. "But now that it's just Diamond Tiara this time, I wanted to do it for real!"
"But... why?" Sunset asked.
"For the crown, of course! Everyone knows I'm the greatest and powerfullest -- isn't that right, yearbook president?" Trixie winked again, and it took concentrated effort for Sunset to not roll her eyes immediately. "But that crown would really sell it! Imagine, the Great and Powerful Princess Trixie, Super-Magician!" She threw up her hands as if she expected sparks to fly from them and grandiose fanfare to play behind her.
"Uh... huh," Twilight replied.
"So... is this just you trying to get our vote?"
"No! Well, yes, of course Trixie would love your votes. In fact, Trixie insists upon your votes! But I wanted more than that. You see..." Her face fell. "The Great and Powerful Trixie has not had much luck drawing attention to her campaign."
"Really?" Sunset remarked. "But you've always been good at... well, drawing attention to yourself."
"Very true," Trixie declared. "Buuuut it's a bit harder sometimes to leave a lasting impression."
"What kind of things have you tried?" Twilight asked.
"Well, last week I tried hosting a special benefit magic show, but barely anyone came!"
"A benefit show? Who were you benefitting?"
"Me, naturally. I needed the money for new magic supplies!"
Twilight groaned. "Of course."
Sunset elbowed Twilight. "What Twilight means to say is that a benefit show probably doesn't have much chance of doing well if there isn't an attractive cause people might want to support. Fluttershy and I could help you with that later, if you want. But what else did you try? What about your band? Couldn't you do a show with them?"
"I would, but Fuchsia graduated last year and Lavender's always too busy! So I tried coming up with a song like the one your friends did in the cafeteria to help you--"
"They were actually very specifically trying to help my opponent, but go on."
"Well it worked, right?" Trixie turned to Twilight. "How is your cousin, anyway?"
Twilight's brain misfired. "Uh... whuh... she's not my cousin! She's my interdimensional double!"
"Oh, right, she's from that horse-world-thing from the boat. That's weird and confusing. Whatever, the point is writing songs is hard and the Great and Powerful Trixie might be a one-hit wonder on that front. And now I'm having to resort to these business cards that people are throwing straight into the recycling bins! Not even waiting until they're out of my sight!"
"So... where do we fit in to all this?" Sunset asked.
"Trixie is glad you asked! Since it's clear Trixie isn't going to get much traction on her own, then the best person to ask for help is obviously someone who's won the crown before!" Trixie exclaimed as she pointed dramatically at Sunset.
"Me?" Sunset's eyes widened. "Oh no, Trix, you do not want my advice on how to win that crown. I played every dirty trick in the book to win freshman year and I will never, ever do anything like that ever again. Aren't there better winners you can ask? Muffins won last year -- what about her?"
"Oh please, Sunset, no one could ever duplicate that kind of lightning-in-a-bottle win! And since Twilight's identical horse cousin or whatever doesn't go here anymore, that leaves you, Sunset!"
"Trixie, I'm sorry," Sunset said in turn, "but I have to put my foot down. I'm not that person anymore, and I'm not about to show anyone how to imitate my work. I can give you what honest advice I can, but I won't be speaking from experience-"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is not asking for your 'experience', Sunset Shimmer!" Trixie shouted angrily. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is asking for you! You, personally." She paused and inhaled slowly. "I want you to be my date to the Fall Formal."
Sunset froze, blindsided. That was not the sentence she had expected to come out of Trixie's mouth right then. Twilight, meanwhile, managed to stammer out the exact type of thing Sunset would have said had she been able to speak in that moment.
"Buh... wha... you want... uh... bu'why?"
"Well... you're all so popular! Everyone loves you! You and your friends keep saving the school from all these terrible things and you have like crazy powers... everyone knows who you are! And even if Sunset Shimmer isn't running for Princess, if her date is, they'd totally vote for her!"
"So..." Twilight pondered aloud. "This is all just to grift on us? But why Sunset? Why not Rainbow Dash, or Rarity, or..."
"Or you?" Trixie asked with a bit of a smirk.
"Huh? No! I have a boyfriend!"
"If you say so."
As Twilight grumbled, Sunset finally spoke. "She, uh, raises a good point, though. Why are you asking me, specifically? It can't just be that I won before. Is... is it just because you're friends with me more than the others? Is this just like a friendly date?"
"No!" Trixie said, louder than she'd meant to -- she immediately covered her mouth with her hand, cursing slightly under her breath. Twilight looked up, startled. Trixie composed herself and continued.
"No, I... I do want this to be real. I mean, you're right, we are friends, I think." She paused for a moment and smiled when Sunset nodded. "But I've kinda... ever since that day we helped each other out last spring. When you saw something in me I'm not sure anyone else at this school ever has. I've wondered if there could be more going on."
"Oh," Sunset said. She could feel her cheeks flush, and she saw Twilight staring at them out of the corner of her eye.
Trixie hadn't noticed, and her face had started to fall. "It's okay if you say no," she sighed. "I'm sure you'd rather just go with your real friends... the Great and Powerful Trixie is no match for them, after all."
After freezing again for a moment, Sunset took a deep breath and replied. "Trix... I get where you're coming from, I do. And if it really is more than just using me as a prop for your campaign... then I'll say yes."
Twilight's jaw fell open as Trixie lit up like a firecracker. "You... you'll go with me?" the magician asked with barely restrained glee.
Sunset nodded, her lips slowly forming into a smile. "It's been a long time since I've been on a date. Maybe I should give it another shot. Perhaps there really is something to what you said."
"YES! Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes!" Trixie leapt into the air and blissfully floated down like a cartoon character as the bell rang for class.
"Alright, well, we gotta get to going, Trixie," Twilight exclaimed, grabbing Sunset by the arm and starting to pull.
"Well, obviously," Trixie replied, clearly a bit embarrassed as she came down from her high and noticed the public spectacle she'd just made of herself. "I'll see you in third period, Sunset Shimmer. The Great and Powerful Trrrixie will have a schedule prepared for you with all of our strategic public appearances and plans for our joint media campaign! Royalty will be mine!"
With that, Trixie strode triumphantly down the hallway as Sunset and Twilight went toward their shared first period class, whispering furiously at each other all the way to the door.
"So... tell me one more time so ah have it straight," Applejack said to Sunset as the seven of them sat at their lunch table. "Trixie pops up in front of you, says she wants to run for princess, asks you out, sayin' it's 'cause you've won before and could help her win, but really you think she might actually be in love with you?"
"Well..." Sunset stammered, "love might be a little strong a word for it. But it definitely sounds like... I don't know. She said something about how I understood her on a deeper level than she thought anyone else did. That we had a connection."
"That's preeeeetty weird for Trixie," Rainbow Dash commented. "She's like the last person I'd ever imagine to have a romantic side to her."
"Indeed," Rarity added. "The only person I'd have ever expected her to date was herself."
"I mean, she did have a point," Sunset replied. "The two of us been pretty good friends for the last few months, but none of you are very close with her. I'm not saying that to blame you or anything, that's just how things worked out."
"That's fair," Twilight noted. "And, well, she did a lot to help you when... when none of us would."
"When none of you could," Sunset replied forcefully. An argument over responsibility for one's actions whilst under the influence of a magic rock was not a discussion priority at the moment. "But Trix can definitely have a bit of a sensitive side to her. We sit together a lot in gov class and... I dunno, she just opens up a lot more around me now that she thinks of me as a friend. But I never imagined it went this deep."
"What are you saying?" Twilight asked.
"I think she's used to always being on the defensive around people, thinking everyone's rolling their eyes at her. Maybe she's still getting a handle on what it's like to not be that way around someone?"
"You think she's confused on the boundary between friendship and attraction?" Rarity said, a concerned look on her face.
"Maybe, but I think it's less confusion, more... experimenting. Testing whether one can become the other."
"What about you, though?" Fluttershy piped in. "Do you think it can?"
Sunset hesitated, trying to collect and arrange some complicated thoughts. "Well... at first, I almost said no, just because I was afraid I'd be humoring her. I didn't want to just string her along through this whole thing if I knew I'd have to let her down at the end. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I'm not exactly an expert on this either. And when I thought about whether I could imagine the two of us actually being, like, a couple... I have to admit it didn't seem impossible."
Pinkie responded with an Awwww!, causing Sunset to blush furiously.
"Really, Pinkie?" Rainbow exclaimed.
"It's cute! I can see it! They're both big personalities, they both play guitar, they both used to be jerks, they both like being in charge, they're both really hot..."
Twilight spat out her drink as Sunset buried her face into her hands, wanting nothing more than to shut herself in a locker and never emerge. "Pinkie, please..." she moaned.
"Well, it's true!" Pinkie said, but softened her tone as everyone at the table side-eyed her. "Sorry. I just got excited thinking about you being in a couple!"
"It's... it's fine." Sunset said, slowly regaining a degree of composure. "I just, um..."
She was grateful when Fluttershy stepped in with a new direction for the conversation. "So does that mean you're riding over to the Formal with Trixie?"
"Oh? Well, um, I guess I hadn't really thought about that. I know this is only our second Fall Formal as friends, but it would feel a little like breaking tradition to go separately from all of you."
"Darling, we can handle it," Rarity replied. "It's not as though we won't see you at the dance itself."
"You should go with her, Sunset," Applejack added. "If you really think there might be somethin' there, then it's important that you find out. If either of ya are right, it could be a big step in your lives."
Sunset nodded, then looked around the table. "D-do all of you think that?"
"Oh, yes, absolutely!"
"Totally! Even if it's with Trixie!"
"Yes! I've already come up with like four couple names for you! SunTrix, Trixset, Lulashimmer and Sunamoon! I thought about Suxie, but then I realized that sounded awful out loud, and..."
As Pinkie continued to ramble, Sunset looked over at Twilight. "Twi? What about you?"
Twilight stared at her for a moment, visibly hesitating, but then smiled. "Of course, Sunset. You know we'll always have your back."
Sunset beamed, and the warmth of her smile made Twilight's own grow.
"Thank you so much, all of you," Sunset said as she looked around the table again. "I'll give it my best. In the meantime, though," she went on, pulling out a large sheet of paper with Trixie's handwriting scribbled all over it, "I have a long, long schedule of public appearances to maintain for Trixie's Princess campaign. So if all of you could come and cheer for us right outside the main entrance just after 7th period..."
"This is real, right?"
"You're right, if I were the Great and Powerful Trrrrixie's date to the Fall Formal, that's what I'd be saying too!"
Sunset snorted and punched Trixie in the shoulder. "That's not what I meant!"
The two were walking down the sidewalk toward the Canterlot High courtyard, having met up just outside Sunset's flat. It had been an exhaustive (and exhausting) several days of campaigning, with Sunset and Trixie promoting the latter's Princess campaign during everything from Fencing Club tryouts to the CHS football team's big game. (Though their efforts to stage an appearance in the library had been met with a very hostile reception.) Now it was the night of the Formal itself, and Sunset was dressed in one of Rarity's finest this-old-thing dresses, a fiery red ensemble with splashes of green. Trixie, meanwhile, had surprised Sunset by trading out her blue dress from previous formals for a tuxedo, asserting that it would go far better with the crown.
Trixie rubbed her shoulder a bit from the punch. "Well, what's so weird about it? You're Sunset Shimmer, I'm surprised you haven't been on more dates!"
"Well... I don't really know why, honestly. I mean Flash and I went on a few dates, but those were pretty fake on my end and he knew it. I ended up apologizing for them. But otherwise... I've gone on coffee dates with a few people, but those were always meant to be pretty casual, so it wasn't a failure if we didn't click. So this is... new territory, for me."
"Well, that's the fun part!" Trixie replied. "Forget expectations! It's our date and we can make it special however we want!"
Sunset smiled. "Well, when you put it that way..."
Trixie cheered as they turned toward the Canterlot High steps. "Look out, Fall Formal! The Royal Couple has arrived!"
They found the Rainbooms waiting for them at the top of the stairs. Soon the two of them were surrounded as Sunset's friends gushed compliments over the couple while her cheeks flushed bright red.
"I knew that was the right dress for you, and here's the proof!" Rarity proclaimed. "And it goes so well with Trixie's bold choice!"
"We all voted for you," Applejack noted, "but now I really hope ya win. Don't see too many Princesses of the Fall Formal wearing a suit!"
"Conventions were made to be broken," Trixie replied, grinning, "and who better to break them than moi?"
"Well, I'm sure it'll look great in the picture," Fluttershy commented.
"Picture?" Sunset asked blankly, before it hit her. "Oh, right! Are you all getting your picture first?"
"That's the plan," Applejack responded. "Wanna come with?"
"Ummm..." Sunset pondered for a moment. She looked over at Trixie. "Actually, we were going to hit the dance floor first, I think. But we'll see you around!"
"Well, good luck out there," Applejack replied. "We'll meet up with you when Celestia brings out the crown."
"Have fun, lovebiiiiirds!" Rainbow Dash called out as the couple headed inside.
Trixie looked oddly at Sunset as they walked down the hallway. "You didn't want to go get pictures with your friends?"
"Well... I just thought it'd make more sense if we did at least some stuff tonight by ourselves. I didn't want you to feel like an eighth wheel."
"Now aren't you being the romantic, Miss I've-Never-Been-On-a-Real-Date-Before!" Trixie laughed as Sunset rolled her eyes and giggled. "Well, lucky for you, Trixie's greatness and powerfulness extends to the magic of dance as well!"
"Glad that's true for you," Sunset commented as they stepped into the gym, once again converted into a ballroom. "Sometimes I still feel like I have four left hooves. Er, feet. Two left feet."
Indeed, Sunset proved somewhat inept when it came to partner dance, at least at the start. A bit too used to just dancing solo, she ended up tripping over herself and stepping on Trixie's feet more than once. After a few botches, however, she soon learned to watch and follow the magician's movements, initially carefully and methodically, but soon adding more verve and energy as she got a handle on things.
Sunset was very grateful for Trixie's fashion choice for the evening, as the lack of a dress made it much easier to mimic her footsteps. It occurred to Sunset that she'd mentioned her lack of dancing knowledge to Trixie earlier, during their campaign; perhaps Trixie's fashion choice wasn't a coincidence. If so, she certainly appreciated the gesture.
After about five songs, though, Sunset was ready for a break. Especially when the next song on the evening's setlist was "True Original".
"Hey, do you wanna take a breather?" Sunset asked. "I'm kinda really sick of this song."
"Weren't you onstage with PostCrush like a month ago?"
"It's... a long, long story."
"Whatever, I could use a moment. You weren't kidding about being a bad dancer."
"Only at partner dance! I mean, I grew up in a body that's not really capable of gripping or holding anyone."
"You should stop reminding me this is technically some kind of interspecies date, it's weirding me out."
"Sorry," Sunset laughed as they walked toward the exit by the bleachers. Before they could reach it, Sunset heard Rainbow Dash's voice, loud enough to hear over the music.
"Sunset! Where are you going?"
"Rainbow?" Sunset asked as she and Trixie stopped. "We were just stepping outside for a--"
"No time for that!" Rainbow replied as she and Fluttershy caught up to them. "I just ran into Celestia and Luna and they said they're about to announce the winner!"
"Oh?" Sunset looked over at Trixie, who had a giddy grin on her face. "Well I guess we'd better go up toward the--"
She was interrupted when Rainbow seized the two of them by the arms and yanked them across the room in an instant, where Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity and Applejack were waiting.
"--stage."
Rainbow disappeared momentarily to pull Fluttershy over while Trixie rested a hand on her forehead. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is feeling a little woozy..."
"Whoops, sorry, first time's a little rough on everyone," Rainbow noted.
"I still don't understand how that doesn't rip our arms off," Sunset remarked.
"I mean it is magic..." Rainbow replied.
As the song came to an end, Celestia took the stage, with the noise of the crowd dying down as the suspense built. "Thanks to all of our amazing students this year for helping put on a great Fall Formal," her voice boomed over the gym. "I know this dance has gotten a reputation for being, well, hectic sometimes, but I'm pleased to announce tonight's has already been one of the best I've ever had the privilege to participate in. And now, without further ado, I'd like to announce the winner of this year's Fall Formal crown!"
As Luna walked across to Celestia with the crown and the envelope naming the winner, Sunset could see the excitement grow on Trixie's face. The magician had a gleeful smile and was trembling with anticipation.
Celestia took the envelope. "The Princess of this year's Fall Formal is..." She pulled out the slip. "Diamond Tiara!"
As the crowd applauded, Sunset looked back at Trixie again. She was still trembling, but now with muted fury.
"That... that posh little twerp... beat me?" Trixie growled, grinding her teeth. "Beat the Great and Powerful TRIXIE?"
Sunset stepped over to face Trixie, putting her hands on the other girl's shoulders. "It's okay, Trix. It's just a silly little crown."
"It's not fair, though! We did everything right..." The anger drained from her face, and she looked grim. "Didn't we?"
Sunset was a little alarmed. She'd expected Trixie to be annoyed or angry if she lost. She hadn't expected her to look genuinely hurt. "Trixie...did it really mean that much to you?"
The other Rainbooms gathered around as they noticed Trixie's discomfort, with Fluttershy laying a hand on the magician's shoulder.
"Not just the crown... I just really wanted to be on that stage, you know? With all those people watching, cheering me. To really feel great and powerful. Especially if you were there with me."
"You'd have wanted me up there?" Sunset asked, surprised.
Trixie nodded. "I mean you said you felt like your crown from before was a cheat... I figured, since we campaigned together, that maybe I could share it with you."
Sunset smiled brightly. "That's really sweet of you, Trix. Even if I can't imagine anyone at this school being excited to see me wearing a crown."
A quiet laugh escaped from Trixie. "Maybe. But... I just wanted a really special moment for us."
Sunset thought for a moment, then walked right up to Trixie and laid a hand on her shoulder as Fluttershy, uncertain what was happening, withdrew hers from the other. "You know," Sunset noted, "it still could be, if you want."
"Huh?" Trixie looked blankly at her for a moment before it clicked. "Oh! Well, um..."
And she leaned forward and kissed Sunset right on the lips, wrapping her arms tightly around the redhead. Sunset reciprocated immediately, and the Rainbooms let out a collective gasp.
It appeared that gasp was audible from the stage, since, as Celestia was placing the crown on Diamond Tiara's head, she visibly glanced over in their direction. A good number of eyes from the crowd followed hers, and soon everyone who could see the two of them was looking. Rarity, observing this, projected a shield in front of the couple, which Rainbow Dash indignantly strode in front of.
"Hey! Keep your eyes onstage, people!" the star athlete of Canterlot High declared to the crowd. "There's nothing you need to be staring at!"
Onstage, Diamond Tiara was looking infuriated at having her thunder stolen, while behind the shield, Sunset and Trixie had broken their kiss, blushing furiously as they realized what had happened. "Well..." Sunset said as she struggled for words.
"That was certainly... attention-grabbing," Trixie mumbled. "Not sure about the kind of attention..." As Sunset felt her cheeks flush once again, Trixie clarified. "The moment, I mean, not the kiss. You're a way better kisser than dancer."
Now Sunset's whole face was crimson. "T-thanks? I think?"
The onstage ceremonies came to an end and the music began to pipe back in, and Rarity dropped the shield. There was still a good number of people looking in their direction, however. "I'm sorry, I should've known people would be watching me like a hawk at this dance. Since I, y'know, tend to make a scene... do we just wanna get out of here?" Sunset asked.
"Maybe... but we never got our photo!" Trixie exclaimed.
"Is it worth it?"
"Absolutely, dears." Rarity interjected. "You couldn't possibly end such a momentous evening for the two of you without professional photography!"
"Don't worry, we got your back!" Applejack added. "Ain't no one gonna get in your way while we're around!"
"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Or I could just zip you over-"
"No," Trixie and Sunset stated in unison.
"T-that's fair," Rainbow replied sheepishly.
"Besides," Trixie declared, the confidence and ego returning to her face, "as much as your assistance is appreciated, it won't be necessary."
Sunset tilted her head. "It won't?"
Her date smirked. "Please. Anyone can be embarrassed for a moment. But it's gonna take more than a few prying eyes to keep Trixie down for long."
Swiveling around, Trixie began to march forward, Sunset trailing along behind. "Behold!" Trixie shouted to the onlookers. "Witness the glory of the Great and Powerful Trixie and her nearly-as-phenomenal date Sunset Shimmer! Bask in our joint magnificence! Bask!"
Sunset fought the urge to cringe at Trixie's bravado, but she was glad the magician seemed to have recovered strong. It wouldn't be Trixie without that amazing ego of hers, after all. And as much as it went against her instincts regarding being judged by the student body, she knew it was better to embrace this moment than shrink from it.
Especially when the moment had felt so good.
Soon they'd crossed the room and gotten in line for their picture. Photo Finish was clearly making the most of her final year handling photography duties, nearly rendering Lyra and Bon Bon blind with constant camera flashes. After getting Sunset's assurances that the two of them would be fine, most of the Rainbooms dispersed to head back to the dance floor, but Twilight still stood across from them in line.
"Sorry Timber couldn't make it," Sunset commented.
"I never really expected him to, his campus is just too far away," Twilight replied. "He sends his regards, though. Guess I'll have to tell him about this later..."
"Oh geez," Sunset laughed a bit. "I guess that's three Fall Formals now where I've made myself the center of attention... and I probably felt less exposed in the crater."
"So people saw you kiss, big deal. It'll be gossip for a few days and then people will move on. And then you can just, well, be a couple!"
It occurred to Sunset that the ramifications of the kiss itself, outside of the public reaction to it, still hadn't quite sunk in. "A couple? I guess we're a couple? I think?"
She looked at Trixie, who noted "I'm pretty sure we're a couple now whether we want to be or not."
"And... you want to, right?"
Trixie leaned over and planted a kiss on Sunset's cheek. "Does that answer your question?"
A grin exploded across Sunset's face. "I guess that makes me the greatest and powerfullest girlfriend."
Trixie laughed. "Powerfullest isn't a word, Sunset."
"Oh, don't you try to throw that in my face-"
Too late, Sunset noticed Twilight trying to signal a warning; she and Trixie had reached the end of the line, and suddenly Photo Finish was physically shoving them in front of the camera, twisting them into poses like figurines. Before either of them could comprehend what was happening, she'd taken at least 27 shots and shunted them off before moving to the next couple.
"I think... I think we're done for the evening," Sunset declared dizzily as she slumped forward onto her knees, Trixie and Twilight running to help her up.
Sunset and Trixie were back in front of Sunset's flat, embraced in a tight hug.
"I don't know what I really expected tonight to be, Trix, but I'm glad that was it."
"Agreed."
"And I can't wait for next time."
"Agreed again." She leaned forward and gave a goodbye kiss, which Sunset happily accepted. "But for now, I must bid you adieu with... a magician's exit!" And with that, she backed a short ways down the pavement before dropping a smoke bomb.
When the haze cleared, Trixie had only made it a few feet away. "Errrrrrgh... one day I'll get that trick right again!"
"Are you telling me you had that with you this whole time?" Sunset shouted. "And you never thought it might have been a good idea to use it earlier?!"
"Trixie's outta here!" And she ran off into the distance as Sunset began to giggle stupidly, wondering just what she had gotten herself into.
