The next day, they entered town. Aaron strode at Trixie's side. The town was lively with all manner of creatures. Many were bipedal, but others were on all fours. The ponies hurried as if they had urgent business, while many of the others strolled casually about. It was quite an interesting town to behold. "So where are we going first?"

Trixie chuckled softly. "Patience, minion. First we will find a place to put our things, and then Trixie will seek out the leader of this place." She looked left and right, scanning carefully. "Keep your eyes open for some open land to place our stage. We're hardly ready without that."

Aaron nodded quickly. "You got it, Trixie." He ruffled her mane just past her hat. "I'm on the case."

He jogged forward into the crowd, becoming lost, but only briefly. "Here!"

The area he found wasn't bad. It had a few rocks sticking up from the ground, but there was plenty of room around them, and some shade to make it pleasant for Trixie to work in. She sat and wriggled free of her harness. "This will do, minion. Trixie was wise choosing you." She pointed to her wagon. "Deploy the stage."

"You got it." He hurried around to the back of the wagon, unfolding the magical stage. He managed to get it set up without her assistance, bringing it around in front of her as she stood, looking pleased. "How's this?"

She climbed onto the stage and threw her hooves wide. "Ah, Trixie's faithful stage." She fell back to all fours. "It's lovely and ready. Aaron, minion, you keep an eye over it while Trixie visits the mayor or whomever is in charge of this place."

Aaron waved at her as she headed off. He turned to face the crowd, seeing plenty of creatures wandering around. "Hey, come see our show!" He'd practiced his speech a few times, and he was prepared to use it. "It'll be starting later." He dug out a handful of leaflets to hand to creatures that seemed open to it. "You won't believe your senses! Come behold the amazing, the incredible, the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

Several creatures approached. One asked, "Do you really have a pony?" It seemed genuinely amazed by that fact. "All the ones I met don't like being looked at."

Aaron hummed at that. "Well, this one loves having eyes on her. Come and join the crowd as she bedazzles and amazes!"

Trixie would have been proud of her minion, but she was busy pressing into the cluttered office they called a 'town hall.'

It wasn't an easy thing for her to do. There were odd creatures hanging about, all trying to get their voice heard. She took it all in stride. In truth, this place wasn't terribly different from a small pony town, despite not being ruled by ponies. If it wasn't for the clutter, and all the bodies desperately trying to be heard, it would, perhaps, rate as acceptable.

She didn't have to wait long before a short, furred creature waddled over to her. He looked like a guinea pig, but he could talk. "What can I do for you?"

Trixie glanced past him at all the others. "Trixie is not opposed to being seen first, but she wonders why you came to her when so many others have been waiting before her, without her shouting first." She suddenly pricked. "Oh, have you heard of Trixie before? Of course you have! It's so obvious now."

"Oh, um, no." The guinea pig shuffled in place. "It's just that ponies don't like being in public, so we get them in and out as quickly as we can."

Trixie considered that with a hum. "Trixie has plenty of experience dealing with the public. Still, Trixie wishes to speak with whoever is in charge. You know, about being friendly with Equestria."

The creature frowned at that. "The princesses send someone when they wish to speak with us. Unless you're an emissary?" He looked hopeful. "We haven't had one of those come to us yet."

Trixie flashed a smile at that. "You have guessed exactly what Trixie is. Now see your emissary forward, hm? She would love to meet with this place's leaders."

The creature scratched his chin. "The elders are all rather busy today, but I think I can get someone for you." He seemed to brighten at that. "Come on, follow me!" He led the way to the office of a tall female cat.

She steepled her fingers at Trixie came in. "Are you here to make another demand?"

Trixie offered a winning smile. "Nothing like that. Trixie is here to build bridges with this wonderful community." She tipped her hat at the feline. "You wouldn't be an elder, would you?"

The cat snorted and glared at Trixie's guide. "Get out of here." She waved them off as they fled. "He calls all of us that. I'm not old enough to be an 'elder'. Anyway, bridges? Where are you from?"

"Trixie comes from Equestria." Trixie puffed out her chest proudly. "As did Aaron, the finest assistant Trixie has ever had. You may have seen him preparing the stage. Tall, two legs, mostly furless."

The cat sneered at that. "Actually, yes. I had questions about that." She leaned over her desk towards Trixie. "And you have questions for me. We can both be happy today. What does Equestria want with us?"

Trixie flinched back. "Does it have to be about what Equestria wants? Can't it just be a friendly visit?"

"No." The cat leaned back in her chair. "They don't send ponies like you just to say hi."

Trixie waved it away. "Well, fine. You caught Trixie. They sent her to get all official about friendship. They want allies."

The cat rose from her chair. "Interesting. Well, that might not go so badly for us." She offered her paw. "You can call me Rubi."

"Rubi? Really? Trixie inclined her hat. "And Trixie is Trixie. What is required to finish this, hm?"

Rubi motioned with a paw. "I just need you to sign this. It will let us put in the request to have the elders meet with you and your pony-loving pet." She laughed at that. "Don't think I didn't see where his eyes kept wandering."

Trixie scoffed. "Where he looks isn't something she can control." She moved closer. "The sooner this is finished, the sooner Trixie can get back to her act."

"Well then, just sign here." She slid a paper before Trixie.

Trixie looked ready to do just that when hesitation came over her. "This is too easy. Trixie is too clever! What are you having her sign?

Rubi hissed at that. "Can you get it done and get out of here?" She scowled. "Look, you sign this, and we'll arrange a meeting for you. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

Trixie waved one hoof lightly. "At what price? Trixie has paid dear prices for things in the past, so she knows better than that."

"Prices? What are you talking about? This is just a meeting request. It's not like it's going to enslave you or anything." Rubi ground her teeth. "So sign it or get out of my office."

Trixie inclined her head, then lowered her eyes to the paper, actually reading over it. As Rubi had said, it was a simple request for a meeting. There were no secret bits. She grabbed a quill with her magic and quickly scribbled her ornate signature. "A pleasure doing business with you."

Rubi made a soft hissing sound as she took the paper back. "Just go already. I have work to do."

"Oh, but don't you wish to see Trixie's amazing stage?" She pointed the way outside. "She will be both amazing and astounding!"

Rubi considered her words a moment. "Well, I suppose I could." She reached down and produced a pair of opera glasses. "If you insist."

Trixie turned smartly on her hooves and trotted out into the hall. With satisfaction in her heart, she hurried back to Aaron's side. "Minion! How have things gone while Trixie was away?"

Aaron scratched at the back of his neck. "It's been pretty good, actually. I've got a few people coming for sure, and some asking about the show, but I didn't get around to really selling any tickets."

Trixie waved that away. "Don't expect tickets unless we're inside somewhere. Points for thinking of it, Aaron, but not for today, hm." She rubbed against him as she walked past. "You did well."

He moved alongside her. "Where are we going now?"

"Trixie must prepare for tonight." She vanished into her wagon, cramped as it was while being unfolded into a stage. "But she has started what we need. We are making progress, as if they could resist Trixie."

Aaron ducked into the wagon after her, taking his usual seat, just behind and to the side of Trixie's place of power. "I hope this goes well. I can't believe you actually got in there so fast."

"You have doubts?" Trixie fluttered her lashes. "This is the Great and Powerful Trixie we're speaking of. Getting things done is her specialty. But if you are so worried, then stay backstage with Trixie. She would not mind some company."

He perked at that. "Can I?"

"You wish to make yourself useful, do you not? Besides, Trixie prefers your attention to the antics of others. And, oh!" She perked up. "It occurs to her that she can continue teaching you the language of ponies."

It wasn't as if he couldn't speak to ponies. He had been since arriving. Still, the more ornate words eluded him. He stood up just to crash beside her on her hammock. "I'm all ears, especially if it's you."

She laughed softly at that, wiggling into place beside him. She propped herself up, laying against his chest as she turned to him. "Repeat after Trixie: Thy scion seeks sustenance."

He repeated those words slowly in the Ponish they were spoken. She rubbed under his chin and nuzzled as he got things right. Getting things wrong got little nips, but he didn't seem to mind those much. It was all play between them, and they got through it, both smiling.

When she was certain he'd gotten that one right, she tried another. "One: thou, two: thy, three: thine." She showed her teeth at him. "Unless it's a sentence like 'Trixie's', where it's 'my'."

He followed along faithfully as they worked. It hardly seemed like labor when it involved listening and responding to Trixie. That she didn't mind being pet during such lessons certainly helped.

"Alright, you've done well today. Soon, Trixie will be able to trust you with the important parts of her speech." She stretched her neck to lick his nose. "Until then, you'll just have to do your best for her, won't you? It should be about time. Come, let's impress the crowd that's gathered to see us."

Author's Note

No hot stuff this chapter, but they had to get settled in, right?

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