The sun’s set marked the end of the day’s light, its brilliant orange beams giving the painted rooftops one last kiss of warmth before dipping below the horizon. Already the streets began to cool, brisk winds lazily chilling the coat of any pony yet outside. Lanterns and streetlamps lit seconds later, providing light for all the couples that dined on cafe patios, guiding the way for the friends walking in the eve. Ponies of every make and status mingled casually, revelling in the serene peace and quiet that dominated most Canterlot nights.

Peace broken by the oncoming panting and clatter of hooves racing across the cobblestone. A bright blue pony rounded the street corner, hooves skidding across the ground as her cape billowed wide out behind her. “Pardon Trixie! She must be elsewhere now!” She called out ahead of time to the couple ahead of her, abruptly interrupting their conversation as she ran between them.

“Gah?! What a rude mare!” The elder of the two remarked bemusedly as they turned to watch Trixie run past,

“Was she wearing a cape?” The younger stallion looked less offended, more intrigued at the stranger than anything else.

“Yes, looked like something gaudy too. Quite ridiculous.” He hmphed before responding,

“You know, I heard of a magic show taking place today, somewhere in Underhoof Plaza. It had a picture of the magician, looked remarkably like that mare there.” Lip curling deviously, he smirked at this friend before continuing, “Perhaps we should check it out then.”

The elder mare gave him a quizzical look, eyes squinted as she tried to understand if he was serious or not, “And when is this show supposed to start?”

“As I recall, it was round about… now.”

“Hey when’s the show supposed to be?!”

“Do I have to pay for this?”

“Uhm, where’s the magic?!”

“Do you got refreshments?”

The voices cried out from behind as she slammed the cart door shut, a crowd full of ponies crying out at being ignored by her. She was finally able to breathe, breath coming hard and fast in gulps as she recovered from her sprint through the city. She collapsed to the ground, back held against the door as she placed a hoof on her chest, Trixie feeling her heartbeat steadily slow.

How had she been so late for her own show? She blamed marketing, placing posters all over the city would’ve been much easier if she had, for instance, more than herself to do it. Also didn’t help that hecklers had somehow managed to find her then, harassing her before she’d even put on a show yet. No matter, she stood resolutely in her mind as she sat on the floor, She would perform for all of them! Pulling herself to her hooves, she took a quick sip of water from a flask sat on a table before triggering the deployal of her stagecart’s namesake stage and performing her spiel through a magically projected voice.

“Come one come all, come and witness the amazing magic of the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie!” She appeared on the stage in a flash of smoke and light, glitter and bolts of light whirring in the air around her, “Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever seen by pony eyes!” Little reaction came from the crowd, those closest to her looking on almost right past her. Not a reaction she was unfamiliar to now, but it wouldn’t deter her. They were about to be astounded by her show.

Twilight held Rarity tight, arms wrapped around her friend’s neck as she tried to steady herself. “You’ll be fine in there dear, do you hear me? Do not worry yourself.” She nodded her head, nose buried in Rarity’s mane, the mare seemingly not caring in the least as she comforted Twilight. The halls of Canterlot's castle were quiet aside from her calming breathing and the reassuring murmurs from her friends. She’d already had the same reaction with her four other friends here, each of them giving her their best looks of confidence, and felt her heart surge a moment from their love.

Right, she had this, she had to. Like Pinkie Pie postulated earlier, maybe it was just a really awkwardly worded invitation to a party:

‘My Dear Student Twilight, I have dire need of you in Canterlot immediately. A situation requires your presence, and it requires your friends as well. Gather them and board the next express to Canterlot immediately.

Arrive soon, and safely.’

The Princess hadn’t even signed it with her name, an attribute Twilight didn’t think her teacher the kind to forget. She could only imagine Celestia suddenly hit with some dire news before sending a quick letter to her, already enacting backup plans and preparing Equestria for some potential trouble. Pulling away from Rarity’s embrace, Twilight cleared her throat and shook herself clear of remaining worries, “Don’t worry girls, I’ve got this.” She tried telling herself it as well, but couldn’t sound confident about it either way.

“Darn right you’ve got this, now you go and find out what the Princess is asking yer for, sugarcube.” Applejack was right, it was high time she found out what the Princess needed. Stepping foot in Celestia’s bedroom, she took note of the frantically writing Princess sitting at her writing table, ink spilled across her hooves as she held its sides tightly, quill held by magic scratching at paper so fast Twilight worried it’d ignite.

“Princess Celestia? It’s me, Twiligh-” The quill stopped and the white alicorn threw her head back, heaving an exhausted sigh, startling Twilight as she expected her teacher to be more composed.

“How good that you’ve arrived, dear student of mine.”

“Is something wro-”

“And not a moment too late.” She abruptly pushed her chair back, legs screeching against the flooring and making Twilight flinch, though Celestia seemed to hear nothing, “It’s no easy matter for me to summon you like this, and the knowledge of what I ask makes no simpler.”

Her student listened carefully, waiting patiently as a ragged and stressed Princess stepped up to her, a slouch in her teacher’s posture almost making her look Twilight in the eyes. “I have received news of anomalies in the Crystal Empire, and their… peculiarity has sparked certain concerns in I. You are the only pony I trust to go there and uncover a few things for me.”

Anomalies? Peculiar anomalies in particular? She wished had the same news Celestia had, or that she could understand what certain concerns were being spoken of. Twilight motioned for her to continue regardless, “Of course, please just tell me what I can do to help.” A smile appeared on the Princess’ face, like she’d only now allowed herself a moment to be happy.

“How lucky did I get to have a student such as you? Ahem, excuse me. I need you to travel to the Crystal Empire with your friends, and uncover the origins of and connections to King Sombra’s rise to power.” Twilight’s jaw dropped, was Sombra coming back?! “Sombra is, to my knowledge, still well and truly gone. But no matter will be put to rest until I can understand something, that which something you will discover for me.” Another heavy sigh escaped Celestia, the mare looking almost regretful that this was happening at all.

“As loath as I am to do this to you, you and your friends must go there immediately. A special train is ready to leave for the Crystal Empire and is waiting at the station for your arrival.”

“But, what should I be on the lookout for? Is there some oddity or mystery I need to find or what even are these anomalies you ment-”

“Please, Twilight. We have neither the time or I the ability to tell you exactly what is happening. I will enact whatever prudent contingencies I have in the meantime, and if all goes well you will report back home with no ill news. Please, go, and be safe.” She turned to go back to her table, quill already in her telekinetic grip once more and writing away at letters that Twilight had no angle to see. With little left to say then, she left the room, muttering a farewell as she returned to her anxious friends.

“Soooo, was I right?” Pinkie’s excited little smirk was almost smug, the pink mare eager to be vindicated about her surprise party idea. Rainbow Dash rolled eyes and looked ready to debate Pinkie about the likelihood of it before Twilight finally spoke up,

“We’d better get going, I’ll tell you girls on the way.”

After sun’s set…

“So we’re really supposed to just up and go there so we can, what, read history books…?” Rainbow trailed off, tongue held out in disgust at the thought. Twilight mentally rolled her eyes at the thought, Celestia would've already had the books here in Canterlot if it were so simple as that. Their pace kept her from responding though, hooves hitting the cobbled streets rather noisily as they tried to make good time on arriving to the train station.

“I’m of a certain mind as well, shouldn’t knowledge like this also be available here in Canterlot, darling? Perhaps the Royal Library even?” Rarity’s question made Twilight shake her head and slow down a moment. It seemed they didn't understand how exactly urgent it was they leave.

“I’m afraid not, you didn’t hear how insistent she was in there. I couldn’t even get a sentence out before she’d let me know that we had to be off immediately for whatever was in the Crystal Empire.”

Her glamorous friend hummed as she looked thoughtfully at her hair, “Well, perhaps it won’t be so boring a trip. I’m sure those crystal ponies have some fascinating new hair product that would do wonders for moi.”

“Are ya’ll forgetting that there might be some trouble needing fixing up there?”

“Of course not, darling!” Rarity’s rebuke earned only an amused scoff from Applejack, “Why, after we’ve solved the problem and helped the Princess out with her issue, we’ll have plenty of time to do a little shopping and sightseeing before coming home.” Twilight stayed quiet, their pace still slowed as she let herself ponder the issue a little more. What was she expecting to find out there? Would she disappointed if she didn’t find anything?

A familiar voice began to fade in over the evening’s quiet, overshadowing the petty argument happening beside her. Alongside it was the grumbling of a dissatisfied crowd. Seconds later, and their words became audible, with a nearby alleyway leading directly into the nearby plaza. Who exactly was it she heard? It itched at the back of her brain, annoying enough that she decided to investigate, turning off down the alley and startling her friends. “I thought we were gonna go ride the train?”

Pinkie’s question could wait a second, Twilight exiting out onto Underhoof Plaza and seeing the one and only stage and performance of the oh so Great and Powerful Trixie. “Ooh I’d heard there was going to be a show here tonight! I didn’t know it was gonna be Trixie though!”

She turned to face Pinkie Pie, who’d appeared right next to her with a surprised smile on her face, “You knew about this already?”

“Well duh, didn’t you see all those posters everywhere on the way to the castle? Didn’t get a good look at the pony on them, but they said magic show alright!” She was too embarrassed to admit that she’d been too preoccupied with her anxiety to notice much of anything before meeting with Celestia. “Oh please Twilight, can we stay and watch for just a minute? It’s been a hot potato second before I’ve gotten to see any big performances lately! And you look like you need a hot potato second to take a break too!” Her mouth opened in protest but… something felt off, like a subtle knotted string in the back of her mind, being pulled toward the show like a leash.

They approached the crowd, the other ponies within shouting and heckling Trixie ahead of them, and she hoped to hide among them without gaining the magician’s notice. It failed almost immediately with the showpony calling her out, “Hah! Has the Princess of Friendship come to witness true magic ability on the stage? Witness my-” Cut off by a loud shout from the crowd,

“What magic ability?! You pulled a rabbit from a hat!” Laughter erupted from the crowd, a young stallion succeeding at a good reaction better than any of Trixie’s feats had.

“Silence! That was merely the first act! None of you have even had chance before to see real magic before your very eyes! Twilight Sparkle, prepare yourself!” Twilight shrunk back, uncomfortable with being called out like this when she already had trouble aplenty on her mind. Maybe this wasn’t the greatest idea, she thought to herself as she slowly backed away from the show.

“Watch, one and all, as the Great and Powerful Trixie will walk on the very air!” Trixie’s horn flashed with energy for a second before popping, sparks flying out in a magnificently flashy manner. Then, as though it was as solid as the ground, she began climbing the air like it was a small flight of stairs, stopping only a couple feet in the air before prancing around her stage. She bounced along her imaginary ground, expecting clapping and the sounds of admiration before a dirty tomato was thrown at her head. The measly fruit didn't hit hard enough to hurt the mare, but the shock hit her hard enough to break her concentration, and the illusion fell away to reveal Trixie stood stock still on her stage.

“I- Who threw that?! Show yourself to Trixie!” The crowd erupted into jeers at the mare and cheers for the assaulting individual, the same young stallion from before who now puffed his chest out proudly.

“Can’t even do an honest bit of magic, can you?! All illusions and schoolhouse tricks. Get out of Canterlot, charlatan!” It seemed the whole plaza was ready to chase and boo Trixie out of the city, utterly unamused with her show, save for two large cloaked ponies near the front of the crowd, hoods hiding their identities strangely well. They merely watched, expressions unreadable.

“You- gah, you! Princess Twilight, show yourself! Did you have a hoof in this?!” What?! How could Trixie even think that she had a say in this? She literally just showed up herself! Why was she being singled out like this?

“I’m afraid you’re wrong there, Trixie. I’ve really got to be going, excuse me please.” A flurry of emotions flew across the showmare’s face, from confusion to fear to finally anger, ears flicking incessantly in odd directions to showcase some strange discomfort. Her horn lit up brightly, flaring light having lost its sparkling beauty from earlier. Sparks flew from it, magic crackling in the air as it clumsily escaped her grip, like a foal attempting their first spell. Before either mare truly understood what was happening, a small beam of power shot from Trixie’s horn, hitting Twilight true in the cheek.

“Assault on a Princess of Equestria; Royal Guard of Canterlot, you officially have permission to take her in.”

“What?!” The light vanished from the mare’s horn, surprised at even herself that she’d do such a thing. Her gaze landed on Twilight, horror appearing on her face as realization of her crime sank in. Twilight turned to leave, pain radiating from the knock and shock from her heart that she’d just been struck by someone so suddenly. The logical part of her only took notice of one cloaked figure now, hood fallen to reveal a hulking unicorn in guard’s armor, plainly the one who commanded those now surrounding Trixie’s cart. She… She needed to go.

There was no way, that… couldn’t have happened! Trixie would’ve never attacked someone like that, that just wasn’t her! But, it just… That wasn’t her! “Trixie Lulamoon, by authority of Princess Celestia, you are hereby arrested for the assault of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Anything you say can and will most certainly be used against you in a court of law.” The mare at the head of the guard barked at her subordinates, demanding she be brought in, and lucidity returned to Trixie. No, she wasn’t going to be arrested for this, not for something she didn’t do!

Standing up on two legs, she watched as two ponies approached on either side of her. “You’ll never catch, the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie!” She leaned backwards, tipping over while the previously silent crowd gasped, guardponies leaping forward to catch her. Poof, she disappeared in a puff of light and smoke, the trail instantly cold.

“Great… Well?” The guardponies looked to their leader, unclear of orders, “What’re you lot looking at me for? Go get her!”

Author's Note

After having recently been inspired by the new Tamers12345 series, I was really motivated to return to this series and finally offer something of my own to the fandom that has provided amazing content throughout many years of my life.

Feedback is highly appreciated, as my train of thought gets progressively messier the longer I write; there's likely some things to be fixed already.