Flawless got an early start the next morning. No visions of her past haunted her slumber.

She made her way to the soup kitchen and after her own meal, volunteered again. She hated taking charity, so she deemed it necessary. After a few hours she contacted one of the other workers.

"I will be making my flawless exit! It's time for my first performance in this city." She gave a smug grin.

"Oh I was wondering if you performed! Well thanks again for the help hon. You've been a real blessing. Celestia bless you and y'all be safe out there."

Ugh, Celestia. She managed to nod in response but her mind was elsewhere. She barely noticed the passing faces on the street.

The two alicorns crashed down, horns already aglow.

"We told you we sensed a disturbance, sister!" Some alicorn with a dark coat. She should know this one right?

"Then let us make short work of her, this creature was never meant to be." Said the one in white. Her voice was calculated and cold.

"Jealous because I'm this perfect?" She gave them a flashy smile. "Come on, the show's just beginning! Must I keep doing this song and dance with every pony I meet?"

"There will be no time for either when we exterminate you like the vermin you are." The sun princess looked with anger in her eyes and blue magic on her horn, her every word envomed. "Prepare to die."

Flawless had never heard such cruelty in one creature. Shaken to the core, she teleported away, only leaving behind a plume of confetti.

She shook her head and tried to push did the memories. Lesson learned. One Princess was a bitch, and the other one was her bitch.

Grim thoughts about equestrian royalty wasn't going to stop her though. She went to the area where she usually saw street peddlers and performers. This was as good a spot as any. Parking herself in front of an abandoned building, she cleared her throat.

"Fillies and gentlecolts! I, the mysterious mare of the mirror, will show you tricks the like of which you've never seen before! With but a simple deck of cards I will wow and amaze you!"

She scanned the area. Most creatures just ignored her. A posh man rolled his eyes. An elderly couple hobbled past. She sat down her hat for donations, undeterred.

"Absolutely no cost to you! No obligation! See the mare who will set this city on FIRE with her fantastic magic. Step right up! Trained from two of the best, brought into your humble city!"

Kids she'd seen around the park ran right past her. A gaggle of girls didn't even look her way. Such a mass of creatures and not one was interested??

"May I remind you this is a LIMITED time performance! You're only going to get this today! No cost to you, watch the masterful Flawless Sparklemoon wow you with tricks you've never seen before!"

At this point her heart felt like a rock in her chest. No one gave her more then a glance. Was she stupid for trying this? She certainly foolish, standing on this curb shouting. Before she could get too depressed, a slubby looking man approached her.

"How about this missy, I'll bet ya two whole bits you can't show me nothing I ain't sent before."

This gave her some pause. She didn't actually HAVE two bits to bet with. At the same time, this was a golden opportunity to perform. She made up her mind.. now was the time for confidence!

"I like your gumption. I'd even wager five!" She shuffled the deck in a flashy manner to emphasize her point. (Though it was only a simple riffle shuffle with a bridge.)

"You're on!" Said the man who she wasn't entirely convinced whether they were drunk or not. By now a few passerbys were stopping. Time for her to strut her stuff.

"Well start off extremely simple and will give the cards a good mix." She gave the deck a few faro shuffles, adding a bridge for style.

"Now my friend." She floated the cards out in front of her, spread flat. "Pick any card in the deck and do not show it to me."

The man looked amused and picked his card.

"Good! Remember that card because I have no idea what you picked! Alright." She gave the cards a shuffle again. "Go ahead and put it anywhere in the pack."

The man did so she she went on to shuffle again. She then pulled out the two red aces and told him they would find his card. This was a classic trick. Time for a magical twist.

"And between the two cards iiiiiss." She pulled out a blank card "how odd. You've seen for yourself this deck has no blank cards!" The man looked smug, apparently thinking she failed.

"Ah here we go!" She gave it a flex and suddenly it was the five of clubs. The man looked skeptical "Sorry dear volunteer! The cards like to pull pranks on me from time to time.

"Yeah like giving you the wrong card!" The smirked at her wider.

"Oh did it now? Naughty little things. Well we can't have that. Let's put that little trouble maker back into the pack..." she demonstrated " ..and give them a good mix! Now, I can Guarantee this next card will be your. Pick any card in the deck."

This was where the actual magic happened. The man picked his card, and sure enough it was the seven of hearts.

"See? That's a magician's promise! Oh but go on, try picking another card. See how close I was."

The listened and when they picked another card. It was also their card. And another. Flawless spread out the deck

" I knew for certain that was your card because the deck felt awfuly sorry about it earier pranks, so now they're all your cards! Except for one troublemaker." She slowly removed a singular out of place card.

"The five.. of clubs."

She hadn't realized there was a crowd and until she heard them clapping. It was a small assemblage but it was her crowd! She took a performers bow, remembering to turn her deck back into a ordinary deck. The man grumbled.

"Alright, you got me. Five bits it is." Her heart skipped a beat as she heard them make a dull thunk on the inside of her hat. The first time she had EVER had money. She felt pride welling in her chest. (Though that could also be the stab wound that had scared over.)

From their her night picked up. She continued to wow and amaze with magical versions of old slight of hand. It felt like the calling of her destiny. She'd never actually gained get Cutie Mark, just having been made with it. But she could tell this was where it was taking her. How strange it was to feel this way. It made her feel... Real.

Eventually traffic slowed and she began to count her coins. She summoned a 'meal' and sat down to relax with a paper. It was her first ever purchase on her own bits, and she was egar to spent it on something useful. Maybe the classifieds had callings for stage magicians. She nearly spat out her sandwich when she discovered a familiar name.

"Special effects artist for hire: Cloud Shaper. Located at... Blah blah blah.. specializing in practical effects, 'if the weather can do it so can I?' " She looked at the paper, incredulous.

"That girl's a special effects artist???"

Author's Note

GRRRREEEEETINGS DEAR READER. Be wowed and amazed by the authorial comments!

I used to watch card trick asmr for sleep. Always fun to watch someone strut their stuff. I'm sorry if anyone who actually knows card magic finds this little trick bad or underwhelming. It.. will probably happen again with a diffrent form of stage magic.

Looks like i'm off to look up classic stage magic. You stay safe out there!

confetti's away!