To Turn Over A New Leaf

Wednesday evening came, and Trixie was backstage at the garden party in Canterlot. It was one of Fancy Pants’ parties. She was all prepared for the show, but she was nervous. This was a perfect chance for her to get a fresh start on her show life. She couldn't afford to mess it up.

Right then, Blueblood appeared behind the stage and walked up to her.

“You’re up in a few minutes,” said Blueblood.

"I'm nervous," she said.

Blueblood tried to give her a reassuring smile. He wasn't sure what to say to her. Making other ponies feel better about themselves had never really been one of his strong points. And besides, he was nervous himself. At the moment, all he had to go on was Trixie's word that she really was a skilled magician and could put on a good show, and if Trixie didn't put on a good show, then it would make HIM look bad in front of all those Canterlot ponies. In the back of his mind, he knew he had done a good thing by helping this mare out, but he was starting to wonder if he had made the right decision be giving her this chance. Of course he didn't think it would be a good idea to let HER know that.

"Well... I'm sure you can do it," he ultimately decided to say. "See you on stage. I'm going to get back to the party." And with that, Blueblood walked back out from behind the stage and rejoined the other guests.

'You can do this,' Trixie told herself.

A few minutes later, Fancy Pants walked up onto the stage and spoke into the microphone that was there. “Hello, my friends." The crowd quieted down as they heard his voice. "Thank you again for attending my party here this evening. Now, Prince Blueblood has graciously provided us with a bit of entertainment this evening. Lets see what he has surprised us with, shall we?” Fancy walked back off the stage and joined the rest of the crowd.

It was time. Trixie took a deep breath and pumped magic into her horn, getting it ready for all of the spells she was about to cast for her show. She used her magic to amplify her voice.

“COME ONE! COME ALL! COME AND BE AMAZED BY THE GREAT AND POW… err… HUMBLE TRIXIE!”

Using her magic, she created a bunch of fireworks and dazzling lights in the air above the stage. Then she created a puff of smoke on the stage, and quickly leaped out onto the stage. The smoke cleared, making it appear that she magically appeared out of nowhere.

The reaction from the crowd was not very encouraging. Not that she had expected much better. She was met with looks of impalement and mockery. She also noticed many ponies looking at Prince Blueblood, as if saying, “what the hay was he thinking inviting HER to be our entertainment?”

Blueblood looked up at her anxiously. Nervous, Trixie walked up to the microphone. She gulped and began to speak.

“Hello, everypony,” she said. “I can imagine you aren’t too excited to see me, and I understand why. Yes, I’ve showed off and lied about my magic a little in the past.” She saw the crowd’s expression harden even more. “Okay, a lot! And… I’m sorry. I really am. The truth is,” she sighed, “I’m not a hero like I claimed I was. I’ve never done any of those amazing feats I said I had. Of course, you all ready know that. It’s been common knowledge for over a year now. But magic shows are still my special talent, so if you will all just give me a chance, I would like to entertain you all tonight with a show.”

The Canterlot ponies face’s remained skeptical, but none of them said anything.

Trixie took this as a sign to continue on with her show.

She started off with some simple tricks like making flowers appear out of no where, and pulling a white rabbit out of her hat. All the while she was careful not to boast about what she was doing at all.

The audience was watching, gradually becoming a little more interested in her magic with each trick, but their mood still appeared to be sour towards her. She noticed Prince Blueblood twitching in his spot down in front of the stage nervously. Trixie realized it was time to pull out the big guns.

“And now,” said Trixie after several more tricks, “for my next trick, I will need a volunteer from the audience.”

That got the crowds interest as they all began to mutter amongst themselves about what this next trick could be.

Trixie pointed at Prince Blueblood. “Would the handsome Prince please step onto the stage?”

Everypony looked at Prince Blueblood as he walked up onto the stage next to Trixie, a confused and curious look on his face.

“Now watch and be amazed as I turn this stallion into a mare!” said Trixie.

Blueblood’s eyes opened wide. “Wait! What?”

Trixie’s horn glowed, and a puff of smoke appeared around Blueblood. When it cleared, the Prince was gone and in his place was a beautiful pure white mare with a golden mane and tail, and Blueblood’s compass rose cutie mark on her flank. The female Blueblood looked out at the crowd with a shy smile.

“Hey, Blueblood! Looking good as a mare!” shouted some stallion in the audience. The rest of the ponies chuckled at that. Blueblood blushed.

“Okay, I think Prince Blueblood has spent enough time as a mare,” said Trixie. “Time to change him back.”

Trixie’s horn glowed and Blueblood was once again clouded in a puff of smoke. When it cleared, Blueblood was back to his normal stallion self.

The audience applauded. Not just to be polite, but a genuine applause.

“Thank you,” she said as Blueblood walked off the stage. “I learned that trick from…” she paused. She didn’t want to say Twilight Sparkle’s name, so she just said, “… From an old acquaintance of mine.”

Trixie continued on with her show, no longer as worried. The audience finally seemed to be in a better mood.

After about an hour, Trixie got to her final trick. She opened up several animal carriers with her magic and levitated the several woodland animals she had recently captured out of them. She levitated them up into the air and began to spin them around in an infinity pattern.

The audience looked up at it in amazement.

‘I don’t get it,’ she thought to herself. ‘All I’m doing is just levitating animals in the air and spinning them around. It’s not really that hard too do, but whatever.’

Finally, Trixie cast a finally of fireworks to end her show.

The crowd began applauding. Trixie was overjoyed at the sight. True, it wasn’t as great of an applause as she had in the past, and she did notice a few ponies in the crowd that still had looks of disdain for her, but still, it was the best thing she had gotten in a really long time. Trixie took a bow, and then walked off of the stage.

As the crowd got back to talking to each other, Trixie walked over to Blueblood.

“That was an excellent show,” Blueblood said.

“Thank you,” said Trixie. “I can’t thank you enough for giving me this opportunity.” She then leaned up and kissed Blueblood on the cheek. The Prince’s eyes widened in surprise and he blushed.

“You’re welcome,” he said with a huge grin. For the first time, Blueblood was noticing just how beautiful Trixie was.

“Oh, and be sure to thank Marey for me for also helping out,” said Trixie, referring to the maid she had met in Blueblood’s house, who had played the part of the female Blueblood during the show. She had made the switch between them while the smoke screen was around them using a secret trap door in the stage.

“I will,” said Blueblood, having been in on the plan for that trick the whole time.

“Excuse me,” said a voice beside them.

Blueblood and Trixie both turned their heads to see none other than Fancy Pants walking up to them. Next to him, leaning against him femininely was a very tall and thin white and pink unicorn mare who Trixie guessed was either Fancy Pants’ wife or girlfriend.

“Miss Trixie,” said Fancy Pants, “I quite enjoyed your show. I must say, I haven’t heard very many nice things about you, but from what I saw of you today, you don’t seem so bad too me.”

“Thank you,” said Trixie, allowing some pride to fill her at the moment, believing she had earned the right to some for the time being.

“You have quite a gift with magic, Miss,” he said. “Tell me, have you attended any type of magic school?”

“No, actually, Trixie is self taught,” she said. When she was a filly, her parents hadn’t been wealthy enough to send her to any type of great magic school like more wealthy unicorns could, so she had to teach herself by studying and training as hard as she could.

“Impressive,” said Fancy Pants. “Anyway, I’m hosting another party this Friday at my place. Would you do a show for that one as well?”

‘More clients ALREADY?!’ Trixie thought to herself. This was wonderful, she tried to play her answer cool, but she just couldn’t contain her excitement.

“YES!” she exclaimed happily, almost shouting it, but catching herself in time.

“Splendid,” said Fancy Pants.

Just then, another pony spoke up. “Um, my wife and I would also like to request a show from you.”

Trixie turned and saw a gray unicorn stallion with glasses and a cutie mark of three jets standing next to a yellow unicorn mare with a violet and white mane and tail and a cutie mark of three dollar signs.

“Yes,” said the mare. “It’s for our nieces birthday party next Monday. I’m sure she would love to see your show.”

Trixie was at first reluctant to waist her talents on something as trivial as a filly’s birthday party, but then she remembered that she was trying to change her arrogant ways and that she really needed the money.

“I’ll be happy to do a show for your niece,” Trixie answered, forcing herself to swallow her pride.

A couple more ponies asked her to do a show for them. Trixie somehow got the feeling that it might have had something to do with the fact that Fancy Pants had liked her show, so all these other ponies were trying to show they liked her too just to be popular, but she didn’t really care at the moment. She was getting to put on more shows and gain good publicity.

Trixie looked back at Blueblood with a smile. “Looks like I’m going to be staying in Canterlot a bit longer now.”

Blueblood found that he was happy about this. He enjoyed Trixie's company, and this meant that he could spend a bit more time with her. He wasn't quite sure what, but there was just something about her that he liked. "That's great," he said. "Perhaps we could see each other some more. Would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?"

"I'd like that," Trixie said. "Where at?"

"I know this most delightful place on Fleet Street that serves the best pies," said Blueblood.

"That sounds great!" said Trixie.

"Great!" said Blueblood. "Lets meet at the fountain at noon tomorrow, and I'll show you where it is."

Trixie nodded. "See you then." And then she and Blueblood got back to the party for the rest of the evening.