The Ordinary Ponies

Chapter 3: The Terminator of Boasters-Part 1

Another day had come to an end, and Mr. Miracle had completed today's learning task. This was the fifth day since he studied under Apple Bloom, and he had become proficient in walking, brisk walking, and fast galloping. He was still learning letters and writing, but his progress was fast and he would soon be able to fully master them.

For example, he actually knew the letters, which correspond to the 26 letters one by one. The words remained the same, only the writing was different from what he knew. As long as he learned how to write the 26 letters here, he would naturally be able to learn other words and sentences.

He had never been hungry again. There were plenty of fragrant and sweet apples in the acres, but he definitely couldn’t take any further. He wouldn’t eat until he was six tenths full and had made up his mind to repay in the future.

On the other hoof, Apple Bloom also learned a lot, but Mr. Miracle doubted whether she really understood, after all, sometimes she asked some very profound questions.

“Goodbye, Apple Bloom!” After spending these few days together, perhaps influenced by Apple Bloom’s childishness, Mr. Miracle became more outgoing and talkative.

“Goodbye, Mr. Miracle!” Apple Bloom also changed, becoming a bit more...steady?

Two ponies bid farewell to each other and returned to their respective homes. Their learning location was in Sweet Apple Acres, and Applejack had never noticed any abnormalities.

After Mr. Miracle left, Apple Bloom returned to the farm for dinner. As soon as she entered, a filly with an orange body, golden mane, emerald green eyes, and a cowboy hat also walked in, carrying a basket of apples.

“Applejack! What are we going to eat today?”

Applejack put down the basket and patted Apple Bloom’s head with her hoof, saying, “Are you hungry, sugar cube? Today we're going to bake apple pie.”

“Great!”

Then Applejack was ready to start baking. As she picked up something, she complained, “I feel like several apple trees are missing fruit. I don't know if it's just my imagination.”

“Ah?” Apple Bloom couldn't believe it. Applejack really knew what fruit every fruit tree should bear! “Did you really count it?” she asked.

“How could that be? It's just a sense.” said Applejack, busy on the stove without looking back, otherwise she would have seen Apple Bloom’s awkward yet polite-fake smile.

“So that's it,” said Apple Bloom, shaking the sweat off her head. “Maybe it's your imagination. Who would steal our apples for no reason?”

“I hope so. Speaking of which, I heard from ponies outside the town that there is a so-called ‘great magician’ coming to Ponyville to perform. Would you like to come with me to watch it tomorrow?” asked Applejack.

“Magician? Who is that?”

“I haven't heard of her before, so-called ‘the great and powerful Trixie’. Isn’t it funny? Who would be so arrogant and call themselves ‘great and powerful’?”

“That's right. I bet she's not really ‘great and powerful’.”

……

The next day, it spread in Ponyville that “the great and powerful Trixie” was going to perform. The ponies were curious about who this so-called ‘great magician’ was and dared to make such wild statements.

Outside the town, Mr. Miracle had just finished his morning run and rested under a tree, and he saw from afar a filly wearing a magician's pointed hat, a purple cloak, a blue body, and a white mane. She was pulling a caravan behind, looking proud and imposing.

Mr. Miracle looked closely and knew who she was and what would happen next. So he was thinking: should he try to make a change? After thinking for a long time, he finally decided to give a friendly reminder.

When she walked past him, he said calmly without lifting head, “If you want to go to Ponyville, I suggest you just finish your performance and leave. Don't tell those old lies anymore.”

“What? Who’s speaking?” The blue pony looked left and right, and finally locked her gaze on a light-brown ordinary male pony under a nearby tree. “Did you say these words in front of ‘the great and powerful Trixie’?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean.”

“I mean I know who you are - Trixie Lulamoon, a unicorn magician, and I also know you are about to perform magic in Ponyville,” Mr. Miracle didn't get up, still just spoke lightly, as if he were saying ordinary things.

“The residents of the town should welcome those novel tricks, but lies and boasting? I don't think they like it. I suggest you just perform, and you will receive the applause you deserve; don't say those unnecessary lies anymore, they won't benefit you in any way.”

Trixie was a little shocked. She didn't even know this pony. How did he know her background? Was he also a magician, skilled in mind-reading tricks? Very likely, this was the only way which can explain everything.

“Hahaha, how could the great and powerful Trixie lie? All the achievements I have made are real and the evidence is conclusive,” Trixie said proudly with one hoof pressed against her chest and closed her eyes. “As the greatest unicorn magician, Trixie’s magic is a powerful guarantee for the safety of all the ponies. Just like before, I used magic to defeat Ursa Major –”

“Yeah, yeah, ‘I defeated Ursa Major with magic’ - what a childish lie.” Mr. Miracle clapped his front hooves and pretended to applaud. “I know you're lying. You haven't even seen Ursa Major, and even in the words you use to lie, it actually describes Ursa Minor.”

Trixie opened her mouth wide, but quickly recovered and forced herself to remain calm, saying, “I don't know why you want to slander the great and powerful Trixie, but I won't argue with you because a powerful unicorn is broad-minded.”

“I think it's because you can't do anything to me that you don't care, right?” he challenged.

“I don't even know you, why are you slandering me like this?”

“I didn't slander you. I was just telling you the importance of being honest! Why don't you understand?” sighed Mr. Miracle. “Listen, I think the prospects of being a magician are still promising, after all, there are no ponies competing with you. Why don't you study the real magic rather than telling lies? I'm saying these words for your own good.”

“Enough! It seems the great and powerful Trixie must show you some moves today to convince you!” Trixie suddenly took off her hat, with her horn shining brightly. “Witness the extraordinary power of the most powerful unicorn in history!” she claimed.

Then the caravan behind her opened a gap and a hemp rope emerged, wriggling like a snake. “How about it? Have you been shocked?” she asked proudly.

Mr. Miracle shook his head and said, “Not much.”

As soon as the words fell, a cloud nearby was pulled over and condensed into a dark cloud, causing a thunderbolt out of thin air and burning a small grass.

“It's not that good either,” He sneered.

“Ah!” Trixie exclaimed in a strange voice, as if she were provoked. “Rude! How dare you challenged the great and powerful Trixie? Then be mentally prepared for your failure. Look at my power!”

The wriggling hemp rope tied up Mr. Miracle directly, and then the dark clouds struck a thunderbolt on his tail.

“Are you convinced now?”

“Oh~~you're really amazing - bullying me who is known to be the most useless – you’re really ‘awesome’!” Mr. Miracle didn't get angry at all, just rolled his eyes at Trixie. “Come on, you know these are just tricks. Maybe they can be called beautiful magic performances, but they are not enough to support the title of ‘the most powerful unicorn’.”

“Whatever you say.” Trixie was not listening. “The great and powerful Trixie is going to find the real audiences. Just stay here and reflect on your disrespect towards me.”

After saying that, she put on her magician hat again and pulled the caravan towards the town.

Mr. Miracle's voice sounded from behind, “I warn you one last time, don't lie! Otherwise, I will personally expose you!”

But Trixie didn't stop and soon disappeared from his sight. He was tied tightly with hemp ropes all over his body, so he had to lie on the ground and complain. He shouldn't meddle in this affair. Now, he had to wait for a pony to pass by and rescue him.

……

One hour later, in Ponyville.

Twilight and Spike were walking on the road, discussing the 25 magic spells they were practicing in the library. Immediately afterwards, two little male unicorns, one tall and one short, hurriedly ran past them. They were Apple Bloom’s classmates, Snips and Snails.

They said that “the great and powerful Trixie” had arrived at the town square, and all ponies should witness her super magic.

Twilight and Spike exchanged a glance and ran over.

On the town square, the ponies who came here crowded the road to the brim. Just in front of the town hall, Trixie’s caravan gradually unfolded, and her voice could be heard from it:

“Come and witness the magical power of the greatest Trixie!”

As soon as the words fell, dark smoke suddenly burst out, and the nearby ponies were choked and coughed. After the smoke disappeared, Trixie appeared in the center of the stage where the caravan unfolded, wearing a magician's hat and cloak.

“Witness, the great and powerful Trixie will perform the most spectacular stunts, making you open your eyes!” After speaking, countless dazzling fireworks exploded beside her, which indeed looked like something.

Many ponies in the audience remained noncommittal and discussed it. The loudest voices are from Applejack, and Rainbow Dash - a blue female pegasus with rainbow colored mane, and Rarity - a white beautiful unicorn with elegant temperament, flowing purple wavy mane and tail.

Trixie squinted her eyes and stared at these challengers, nodding irritably and saying, “Well, well, well, it seems that some ponies hold a different view. Who are so overconfident and want to challenge the greatest Trixie’s magic? Don't they know they are facing the most magical unicorn of Equestria?”

“Why do you think you're amazing?” Rainbow Dash leaned in and asked.

“Because only the greatest Trixie can defeat Ursa Major...uh, Ursa Minor with her unique skills!” She cast a slight spell, and the nozzles of her caravan once again spewed out a large amount of fireworks, creating a simple scene in the air.

There were two creatures displayed above, a giant bear and a scaled-down version of Trixie. In her explanation, Fireworks Trixie released a magical stream of light, defeating Ursa Minor and exploding into purple sparks.

So Snips and Snails, the two most loyal fans, jumped up and argued with Spike, who held a negative opinion in the audiences. Twilight kept stopping him, afraid that he might slip his tongue and puff her.

Amidst the exclamation of the ponies, Trixie set off another round of fireworks as if victorious. What did that strange pony know? Since she knew she was the greatest and most versatile unicorn, she naturally needed to display everything. Only in this way could there be these pleasant voices of praise.

“If anyone don't believe it, just come up and challenge me. Whatever you can do, the great Trixie can do even better!” she claimed.

Unable to bear it anymore, Applejack took the stage to challenge, but only to be tricked by those tricks.

Although Trixie did not replicate her skills at all, which meant she didn’t prove that she could do better, the audience was still stunned by this momentum and had no time to think.

If it were the previous Apple Bloom, she might not even come this time; But Mr. Miracle’s previous words of “seeing more of the world, seeing a different world” touched her, so she came, only to see her sister being defeated.

Immediately after Applejack, Rainbow Dash also prepared to join, but Apple Bloom felt that she probably couldn't win either - Trixie was completely playing tricks, how could these simple residents of Ponyville win the battle? Wait, the residents of Ponyville couldn’t win...but what about someone outside the town?

Apple Bloom had a sudden idea and squeezed through the crowd, heading straight to the outskirts. Although Mr. Miracle didn't know many skills, he was indeed the smartest pony she had ever seen. He must have a way to fight against that deceitful magician.

When she arrived at the outskirts, she saw Mr. Miracle slowly wriggling on the ground, bound like a cocoon, and his destination was the town.

“You are here!” Apple Bloom hurriedly ran over and used her teeth to bite through the rope to rescue him. “Mr. Miracle, you must hurry to the square. There is a deceitful magician –”

“Say no more, I know – otherwise who do you think I'm bound by?”

“You have solutions?” Apple Bloom was overjoyed for a moment, but also a little unsure. “However, she never responds directly to challengers, just using tricks to prank the challenger. My sister was tricked by her too.”

“Let's walk and talk. Come quickly.”

So Apple Bloom and Mr. Miracle ran side by side towards Ponyville. In order to increase speed, Mr. Miracle had Apple Bloom sit on his back and then ran at full speed. He ran as well as other ponies now.

“Apple Bloom, do you remember that I told you about ‘true ability’?”

“Remember. You said, ‘Don't show off your true abilities casually, because then other ponies will know you don't actually have.’ You even used your own example at that time.”

“Yes. Why didn't she respond directly to the challengers? Did she not want to? No, it was because she couldn’t,” Mr. Miracle spoke with a confident tone. “She thinks showing off would make ponies respect and fear her, but she doesn't know this also make them see her true nature of being ‘strong outside but weak inside’. As long as we target her outdated tricks, she won't have a chance.”

“Great, let’s defeat her fiercely and make her never dare to tease other ponies again!” Apple Bloom cheered.

But Mr. Miracle didn’t continue with her, instead turned the conversation around and said, “No, we won’t take the initiative to defeat her, but let her defeat herself. Only then will she truly learn something.”

“Ah? What should we do specifically?”

“You just need to follow my instructions later.”

The two ponies discussed and rushed all the way, finally arriving at the town square before Trixie left. At this moment, Applejack’s hooves were tied with hemp ropes, and Rainbow Dash was made into a mess, and Rarity’s mane was messed up. Meanwhile, Spike was still requesting Twilight’s help.

“It seems that the greatest Trixie has proven herself to be the most powerful unicorn,” Trixie proudly declared on stage. “I hope no one doubts anymore –”

“Wait a minute!” A male voice came from behind the crowd. All ponies stepped aside and turned around, only to see an ordinary pony with a light-brown body and a black-mane standing behind, with a resolute expression; Apple Bloom stood beside him with an expression of victory.

Trixie widened her eyes and saw this pony who had slandered her, which made her stomach uncomfortable. “What do you want to do? Do you want to challenge me? Ha, you don't even have a cutie mark!”

“Yeah, I really don't,” Mr. Miracle admitted confidently, then spoke loudly to the audience present, “but defeating the challenger doesn't prove that you're the greatest pony. At most, you can only prove that you're a little bit better than the pony you defeated. It's like when a pony beats me in running, it only proves that he's faster than me, but doesn't prove that he's faster than any other pony.”

“It seems so.” “That's right.” “Make sense.”...The ponies were discussing and the atmosphere of distrust towards Trixie was rapidly spreading. And this made her furious, the applause and cheers she had finally won were now in vain – all because of just a few words from him.

“So what do you say? If no pony dares to challenge me, doesn't that prove I'm better than them?” she asked in reply.

“Some may be afraid, while others may be merciful. For example, it is well known that Rainbow Dash is the fastest pegasus in Ponyville, but she definitely won't compete with a newborn pegasus, right? Pinkie won't compete with me in cooking, and Rarity won't compete with me in fashion, both for the same reason.”

“That's right.” “That's right, it makes sense.” “Does it mean that some ponies are actually powerful enough to challenge, just don't want to bully Trixie?” …

“Enough!” Trixie became even angrier and walked forward, saying word by word, “What do you want me to do to believe I am truly great and powerful?”

“Simple. Who is the greatest pony without doubt? That's right – Princess Celestia. If you can prove you're more powerful than her, then we really believe in you.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the field immediately fell silent. Did they hear it correctly? Proving that she was better than Princess Celestia?

Princess Celestia was the dean of School for Gifted Unicorns, the ruler of Equestria, the great wizard who controlled the sun, and an alicorn! Could Trixie really compare with her?

All the ponies were waiting for Trixie’s answer. However, her lips turned white and she trembled all over. It took her a while to say, “She, she...is an alicorn! I mean a unicorn...so it doesn't count.”

Although this answer was reasonable, it still greatly disappointed the audience. They knew there was a 99.9% chance that Trixie would say she couldn’t compare to Princess Celestia - no pony could compare; But the obvious retreat, fear, and timidity like Trixie’s still greatly diminished her authority.

In order to salvage her reputation, Trixie straightened her back and said, “Despite that, I have defeated Ursa Minor! May I ask which pony had done it? I have! Isn't that enough to prove my greatness and power?”

The audience began to discuss again, and Trixie’s smile had somewhat recovered, but Mr. Miracle's smile was even more intense, making her break out in a cold sweat and having an ominous premonition.