Trixie's New Life in the Crystal Empire

by Yukito

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Sad, Original Character, Trixie, Crystal Ponies, Shining Armor
Length: 49549

Trixie, having nowhere in Equestria to go, leaves the Country behind in search of a new land to call her home... or her final resting place.

Feeling broken and defeated, Trixie Lulamoon leaves behind the Country of Equestria, and all of the ponies within it that don't want her there, in search of a new land that she may either call her home, or her final resting place.

She discovers the Crystal Empire, and to her shock, the ponies there aren't nasty, hateful creatures, but are actually kind, and welcoming to this new Unicorn stranger in their land. Appletini and Azure Eminence offer to help Trixie in rebuilding her career, and promise that she doesn't have to go back home if she doesn't want to, and the broken Unicorn slowly begins to feel right at home in this new land.

Published 2013-01-04 20:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-22 15:04:45 UTC

A New... Friend?

I stir about in my bed for a bit, as if trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Truthfully, I’m actually trying to make myself uncomfortable, so that I won’t drift off into sleep. The nightmares haven’t gotten any easier, even with Appletini’s word that I don’t have to go back to Equestria. I still had that same dream, where every town I had ever visited, and every pony I had ever met in those towns, gathered around and took turns berating me, laughing at me, and finally, banishing me to that cold, lonely rock farm.

“Hey,” Appletini calls out to me, making me bolt up and charge my magic on instinct. A big mistake, since doing so immediately takes its toll on me. I was so drained yesterday that I fainted, and it’s not as my body has had much chance to recover. Not with those dreams keeping me up.

“Ow… Don’t startle me like that,” I say, my voice raspy from my parched throat. She must have expected that, because she was already offering a glass of water to me as I spoke. “T-Thanks…” Carefully, I take the water from her hooves, and examine it for a second. It could be drugged. She might be planning to sell me out to the Royal Guard, or maybe she wants to do something weird to me in my sleep…

Shrugging, I bring the water to my throat, and down the whole glass in one go. Who cares if it’s drugged, or poisoned, or whatever? At this point, I hardly have anything to lose. Quite frankly, I’d rather try some of that crystal nectar right now. That stuff was good, though maybe if they removed the whole ‘not getting drunk’ thing from it…

“Breakfast?” Appletini asks, taking my glass away from me as soon as I finish it. I look down to see the tray that she was holding. On it is a stack of pancakes, with some kind of red, sparkly liquid on top. “It’s crystal red berry pancakes. They’re really good.”

Is everything in this place made of crystal? “What about the ponies?” I mumble to myself.

“Huh?”

Oh, shoot. I’ve gotten used to speaking my thoughts out loud. A side effect of spending a whole year in isolation. “Nothing. They look good, and smell great.”

She smiles, but I can tell she’s not satisfied. “C’mon now. You’re a stranger to these parts, so I understand you may be a little confused here-and-there. Like we were when we saw you use magic without your hooves.” I look down at her hooves. They aren’t glowing, which means she isn’t using magic right now. That’s right, she said yesterday that ponies in the Crystal Empire only have magic related to their talents. Does that mean they can’t even do simple levitation unless it’s included in their special talent?

“If there’s anything you’d like to ask, go ahead. I’ll answer anything to the best of my abilities for you.”

“Then, why is everything here made of crystal?”

“What do you make things out of in Equestria?”

“Wood, stone, marble… Y’know, materials that are good for building things.”

“Well, here, there isn’t much of that stuff around.” True enough. I can vauegly remember a distinct lack of trees (living ones, at least) when I was running for my life yesterday. Wait… “I saw plenty of trees in the field outside of town.”

“Crystal trees. Just like all the plants and animals living in the Empire, besides us, they are artificial trees made of crystal.” Appletini places the tray of pancakes onto my bed. My stomach rumbles, so I decide to take a bite while she continues her story… These are good. “We use them for photosynthesis, and for decoration purposes. They make good building material, sure, but the magic crystals found in the mines further north from here work better, and create the barrier that separates us from the icy wasteland outside.”

“So that’s what it is.” I pick up another pancake, and quickly wolf it down. I don’t even care if I’m in the presence of another pony right now, I had forgotten what good food – real food – tastes like. “And these ‘crystal berries’ are just like natural berries, I take it?”

Appletini nods. “Because there is no life out here, besides the magical ice wolves, we must create our own life instead. The Crystal Ponies weren’t always magical creatures; we used to just be regular Earth Ponies. But I think being exposed to the magic of the crystals in the Crystal Empire for so long changed us. Evolved us into a whole new type of pony.”

“I see… I think.”

Appletini giggles, and gently pats my head. I don’t particularly like it, but I’ll bear with it for now, since she’s offering me shelter here, and even giving me this great breakfast. “Don’t worry, just know that you’re safe here. The cold outside can’t reach you as long as you’re inside this barrier, and neither can whatever troubles you faced in Equestria.”

“… Don’t you want to ask me about it?” Appletini pulls back her hoof, and shakes her head. “I’m a complete stranger, hiding from the Equestrian Royal Guard, and you’re not at all curious as to-”

A knock at Appletini’s door cut me off, and gave both myself and Appletini a start. With a soft giggle, Appletini gets up and starts to move towards the door. “Don’t worry about it. You’re frightened, and alone. That’s all I need to know.”

I watch as Appletini leaves, so shocked that I had stopped chewing my next pancake halfway. I hear voice from downstairs, and try to listen carefully to hear what they’re saying. One of the voices is without a doubt Appletini’s, but the other one I’m not too sure about. That stallion from yesterday, maybe?

I try to move out of the bed I’m in and get closer to the door, to see if I can hear them more clearly. I take my first step out of bed… and a wave of dizziness hits me suddenly. My body suddenly feels cold outside of the bedcover, and I not feel a throbbing headache all of a sudden.

My nose itches, and I let out a few sneezes, each one increasing the pain in my head and making me realise just how sore my throat is. I manage one or two steps forward, and then my legs suddenly buckle under my own weight, forcing me to collapse onto the floor with a loud thud!

A few seconds pass, and I remain helpless on the floor, simply groaning as I hold my head in my hooves. I hear the sound of a door opening, followed by hoofsteps running towards me.

“Trixie! Are you okay?!”

Stop shouting. It hurts.

“Holy cow! You’re burning up!” I feel myself being lifted up, and can see the floor beneath me moving farther away. “Let’s get you back in bed, quick!”

Stop. Shouting.

“My, I thought you said she was doing better,” a new voice says. A male one. Her visitor? I manage to lift my head up, and look in the direction of the voice. I was right. It is indeed that same stallion from yesterday, whose name escapes me right now. All I can really focus on is the ringing in my ear.

“She was, but then, she hadn’t tried getting out of bed yet.” I feel a warmth enveloping my body, and something soft touching against my coat. Looking down, I can see Appletini placing the bedcover back over me, and tucking me in, as if I were some foal getting ready for bed. Well, in this state, it’s not like I can fight back.

“You should really stay in bed for today, Miss Trixie,” that stallion says, and I can tell he’s now walking closer to me from the sound of hooves clopping against the floor, which I guess is also made of crystals. “The cold up here isn’t like the cold in the rest of the world. It’s much more dangerous. After all, it’s been tainted by Sombra’s miasma.”

“Sombra?” I ask, out of curiosity.

“Our last leader,” Appletini explains to me as she places her forehead against mine. Why is she doing that? She’s too close. I don’t like it. “He came to power one thousand years ago. A Unicorn from the west, who suddenly appeared without warning, overthrew our king, and forced his wife and daughter to flee to Equestria for safety. After that, he forced us to mine more and more crystals, so that he could use their power to attain immortality.”

Immortality? How ridiculous. Whoever this Unicorn was, he was certainly a fool. Immortality isn’t real; everything has to end at some point, after all… Wait. “Did you say… that that was a thousand years ago?” Appletini nods. “Then… you have been leaderless for one thousa-” A few coughs escape my throat, and I take a moment to have another drink of water. “For one thousand years?” I refuse to believe that immortality is real.

“Well, it’s complicated.” Appletini lifts my head up for a second so that she can reach down and fluff my pillow. “When King Sombra fell, he took the Empire with him. Actually, until just a few months ago, we were locked away in a deep sleep, in the Arctic North.”

“But enough about that,” the stallion says, interrupting Appletini’s history lesson, which I was actually enjoying. “Miss Trixie, I’m afraid we have some problems. You see, it seems that word of your arrival has spread around the Crystal Empire rather quickly… and now, the Royal Guard is coming to collect you.”

I suddenly bolt up to say something, but the pain from earlier returns with full force, and all I can do is sit there in that bed, clutching my head in pain. Appletini steps forward.

“I won’t allow them!” The pain in my head is still there, but now, I can only stare at Appletini with wide eyes. Surely I misheard her. I know she said that I wouldn’t have to go back, but… there’s no way she could actually mean to fight the Royal Guard for me, is there?”

“We don’t really have much choice. She crossed the border illegally. She’s to go back with them at once.”

“… Trixie? Would you like that?” I quickly shake my head. I can’t go back there. Anything but that! “That’s all I need. I won’t let them take her against her will. And what about you, Azure?” Ah, right. That’s his name. “Can you just hand her over to them, knowing that she has no desire to go back there.”

“Like I said, we have no choice. We have to-”

“Well then, in that case, I’m going to call in that favour you owe me!” Why is she defending me so passionately? That’s not how the story goes. Trixie walks into a town, ponies recognise her, then gather around to take turns belittling her. Calling her names, laughing at her humiliation, mocking her, maybe the occasional tomato… But there’s never been a character in that script that defends Trixie. So why?

“Aw, come on, Tini! Don’t do this to me…”

“I want you to distract them while I sneak Trixie out! I’m gonna take her to your house so that she can recover. I expect you’ll cooperate, and not reveal her location?”

“… She really doesn’t want to go back? Why not?”

“I don’t know. But I do know one thing: she’s scared.” I’m right here, and I can hear you, you know? “She’s scared, and alone, and wants to stay here. And I will not let them take her without a fight!”

I see Azure look over to me. His eyes seem to be heavily focused, as if he’s examining every last detail of me. “… Fine.” Did I hear that right? Now another pony wants to help me? What is wrong with this place? “For now, I’ll cooperate. Since it’s so important to you. But, I want the full story as soon as she gets better. Understand?”

I can tell that that last question was directed at me, and I weakly nod my head to acknowledge that I understand. OW! Even slight movements hurt.

“Right, then I’ll go and distract the guards.”

Azure turns around and walks outside of the bedroom. Meanwhile, Appletini wraps her hooves around me, and lifts me onto her back. With minimal effort. Either she’s one strong mare, or the lack of eating these past few months has made me so light that she just didn’t need to put much effort into picking me up.

“Don’t worry, Trixie. I don’t know what your reasons are, but I won’t let them take you away.”

“… And how do you intend to get past them?”

“Oh, that’s easy.” Appletini walks towards the fireplace in the room, and reaches a hoof towards one of the crystals poking out. Suddenly, the wall next to it opens up, revealing a spiral staircase leading down into who-knows-where. “These secret passes were installed all over the Crystal Empire when Sombra first appeared. Not that we ever managed to use them; as soon as he became King, we were simply too frightened to even dare try to defy him.”

I have so many questions that I want to ask her. Why is she helping me? Why is she so passionate about it? Why doesn’t she ask me many questions? Does she have any medicine to remove this building headache? So many questions… but for now, I think I’ll just settle for resting on her back as she leads me away. He coat is quite comfortable, and her mane has a pleasant, soothing scent coming from it. I’m able to relax like this, just lying on her back. Besides that bed, it’s probably the most comfortable thing I’ve lay down on since that incident with the ursa minor…

“Heads up,” I hear her say, so I turn my head to see what she was talking about. A low hanging stalactite comes into my view, and inches its way closer and closer as Appletini keeps moving… Oh n-

THUNK!

Author's Note

Okay, so as you may have noticed, I've decided to switch to first-pony present tense narrative. Why? Two reasons:

1) I've never done it before.
2) I think it's an interesting style, and would probably work well for this story.

If the sudden change bothers you, just pretend that the first chapter was kind of like a prologue - Trixie explaining how her new life began.

~~Also, that final sound effect (CRASH!) was for the stalactite colliding with Trixie. I'm not entirely sure what sound effect to use there, so if anypony has any suggestions, feel free to post them in the comments.~~

Gone with THUNK!, as per the suggestions in the comments. Thanks banjo2E and Seether00 for the advice! :)

A New Friend

Two ponies drag me across the cold, snowy ground. It doesn’t matter how much I scream or flail my legs. They just keep dragging me along, ignoring my protests. And as they keep dragging me, the jagged stones and rocks on the ground scrape my skin and dig into it. I can now see a trail of blood being left behind in my path, but I don’t care. The bleeding I can tolerate. The pain I am used to. But what I can’t take… what I absolutely won’t allow, is the place these two guards are taking me.

“Okay, we’re here,” one of them says, in a gruff voice. I close my eyes tight and shake my head. It can’t be true, it just can’t be! I can’t be here. Not again, not after I had finally escaped! “You’re back where you belong: Equestria!”

“Now go on! Get out of our sight, and don’t let us catch you crossing the border again!”

“Please,” I beg, refusing to get up. “Please don’t. I don’t want to be here. Anywhere but here. Send me to the Arctic North. Banish me to the Badlands, hell even lock me in the moon! Just, please… don’t send me back there.”

“Too late. You’re here, and this’s where you’ll stay.” I am yanked up to my hooves by one of the guards, and forced down a cobblestone path, where I can see a small town in the distance. “Go on. I’m sure you’ll find somewhere to stay there.”

‘No I won’t. I know what will happen if I go there…’

Hesitantly, I begin to move down the cold path towards the town. All is quiet around me. No sounds of ponies, wolves, or the wind blowing. Even my hoofsteps produce no sound. I eventually reach the town, and stop at the entrance. There are two ponies staring at me, both of their faces hidden by a mysterious shadow.

“Hey, look who it is!”

“It’s the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

I smile nervously and take a step forward. It seems these ponies aren’t going to mock me. There may still be some hope yet-

“Didn’t she run away?”

“Man, so pathetic! And she has the nerve to call herself ‘Great and Powerful’!”

“How dare she show her face here?”

“C’mon, let’s show her how welcome she is!”

Something hits the side of my face, and I take a few steps back, hurriedly charging my magic to create a barrier.

“Got her!”

“Nice throw! Lemme try.”

A few tomatoes fly towards me, but all are deflected by my barrier. I’m safe in here. If I just wait it out, they’ll surely give up and go away soon. Right?

My barrier begins to waver, and I let out a loud yelp as I try to pour more magic into it. But it’s no use. My barrier is too far gone. It breaks, and I’m left completely vulnerable to these ponies’ abuse.

“Stop it! Stop it, please!”

“Stop? Why should we?”

“Know you place, Trixie! You’re not one of us!”

“Nobles live in luxury! Commoners live happily so long as they work hard!”

“But trash, will always be trash!”

“Mother Faust only created you for one sole purpose: to be even lower than us! To be the trash of the pony race!”

“Your only job is to sit there and stink! You have no right to happiness!”

“No right!”

“Trash!”

“Vermin!”

“You’ll never belong!”

“Never!”

“Never!”

“Never…” I mumble as I slowly open my eyes. I’m suddenly no longer in that town, receiving abuse from those ponies. I’m now in an unfamiliar room, though I recognise the features. Crystal fireplace, crystal lights, crystal furnishings… Everything is made out of crystals. Where have I seen this before?

Oh, that’s right. The Crystal Empire. I travelled there by mistake, and met that pony… Appletini. She said that she would protect me. That I wouldn’t have to go back to Equestria if I didn’t have to. But she’s lying, I know she is. After all, who in their right mind would protect me?

I’ve already accepted the truth… The only reason I live, is so that others can feel better about themselves. I’m a kicking bag, as far as everypony else is concerned. I didn’t ask for this fate, and I certainly don’t like it… but there’s nothing I can do about it. I belong nowhere. I can never be with others. I’m cursed to forever be… alone.

“Good mornin’.” I turn my head to my side. Appletini is standing there, smiling at me from a doorway on the other side of the room. “Well, that’s what I’d like to say, but it isn’t morning yet. You were only out for about an hour.”

“… So you haven’t sold me out yet,” I mumble. Amazing. She really intends to drag this façade on for as long as possible, huh?

“Hm? Your coats a little darker than it was earlier… I guess you got pretty dirty going through that cave.”

I look down at my hoof. Indeed, my coat seems to be rather dim. Even in this low lighting, I can tell that it isn’t quite as blue as it usually is. Wait. “Why is there so little lighting?”

“Well, because we’re in hiding, of course.” Appletini begins walking towards me. I try to move, but my legs are completely unresponsive. “I treated the wound on your head, but just to be on the safe side, I think you’d better let me take a proper look at you.”

“I’m fine.” Despite my protests, Appletini reaches over and places a hoof to my forehead. “I said I’m fine. As soon as I can walk, I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind giving you a place to stay for a while. In fact, I think I’d rather like the company. It’s been pretty lonely since my parents…”

“There’s no need. I’ve already made up my mind.”

“Oh? What about?” Appletini backs away and gives me a smile. A warm, gentle smile. I’ve seen those before. Those smiles that are worn by the ponies of Equestria when they talk to their friends or family. It’s amazing how quickly such a beautiful face can become so wretched. So vile and disgusting as scorn and hatred take over.

Kindness doesn’t exist.

“It’s none of your business. It’s not like you’d care anyway.”

She’s been lying to me this whole time, I’m sure of it. Ponies lie to get what they want. They lure you in with sweet words, and then turn on you at a moment’s notice. If you have no use in this world, there’s no reason for them to keep you around any longer.

Honesty doesn’t exist. Neither does loyalty.

“Try me. I may not look it, but I’m actually pretty good at giving advice. Azure says I’m quite wise for my age. Though sometimes I think he forgets that I’m older than I look.”

A giggle escapes her lips. Laughter. More bait to lure me in. The sweet, melodious sound of laughter lure ponies in, and lulls them into a false sense of security.

Laughter – true laughter – doesn’t exist.

Generosity doesn’t exist either. Ponies only give when there’s something to gain. If she were to give me anything, it would only be until I have nothing left to give her. Then, she would toss me aside. It’s happened too many times before. I won’t fall for it again.

“There’s no point in me staying any longer. I can’t outrun the Royal Guard, that much is clear. And I have no intention of going back to Equestria.”

“Then like I said-”

“But I’ve realised something. Living for the sake of living… just isn’t worth it. What do I have to look forward to each day? I wake up, and am faced with a choice: go out hunting for food, or do a job I don’t like, just to earn enough money to eat. Then I go to sleep, alone and miserable, and repeat the cycle. What is the point of that? A life like that… I may as well be dead.”

I see Appletini’s smile fall. Don’t give me that. You’re not sad. You’re not feeling sorry for me! You’re just trying to extort me as much as you can before you throw me aside! Well I’m through! I’m through being everypony’s plaything! I won’t allow you ponies to have the last laugh!

“Then, what do you want to do?” That’s not quite the reaction I was expecting. “What would make life worth living for you?”

“… I like magic.” My gaze moves down to the floor, and when I look back up, I notice that she followed it towards my flank. “I like to tell stories, and to entertain others with my magic. But I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“What do you mean, ‘why not?’?” She seems genuinely confused by this. “Nopony will allow me! Nopony likes my shows! The moment I appear on stage, I’m immediately booed off and chased out of town! Could you even begin to imagine what that’s like?! A pony’s special talent is their destiny! Their reason or being! So what reason is there to live, when your destiny is something that everypony hates?! Something that you’re denied from following, and that only brings you pain, because nopony will even GIVE YOU A CHANCE?!”

I haven’t vented like that in a long time. Truth be told, I haven’t really had anypony to vent to in a long time, and now that I am in the zone, I can’t stop just yet. “Nopony will give me the chance! They judge me on one incident! One little story that they’ve heard, and refuse to even acknowledge that I have feelings too!” Tears are starting to pour out of my eyes. I have to stop them! I can’t show my weakness in front of the enemy! “That’s why… I can’t stay here… Nopony will accept me. I’ll just be shunned and ostracized again…”

My entire body suddenly feels warm, and heavy. Why is that? I feel something tightening around me, and decide to see what’s happening… Appletini is holding me. She’s wrapping her forelegs around me, and squeezing my tightly. What is she doing? Trying to kill me herself?… No, it’s too gentle for that. Then, what?

“Trixie… if performing is what you love, then perform here.”

… What? Wasn’t she listening? Has she even heard a word I said?! “I can’t perform! Nopony will allow it!”

“I will! And Azure will, too!” Appletini pulls away from me, and places her forehooves onto either side of my face. I try not to meet her eyes, but she won’t allow me to turn my head away. Those eyes… That stern, steady gaze. “I’ll have a word with the others, but I’m sure there’ll be no problem. After all, ever since King Sombra’s defeat, we’ve been looking for new entertainment to add to our Crystal Fairs.”

“Why should I believe you?”

Appletini moves her head forward. Her gaze is drawing me in. I can’t… Why can’t I bring myself to doubt her right now? I shake my head. This can’t be happening. It’s impossible! Ponies aren’t supposed to be-

“Trixie. I can’t read minds, you know? You’ve got to speak up, if you want ponies to understand you.”

“… Ponies aren’t kind.” Her gaze doesn’t falter. What’s wrong with this mare?! “W-What is wrong with you? Ponies aren’t kind! They don’t give others chances! They’re horrible, despicable creatures! You’re not supposed to be cheering me up right now! You’re supposed to be kicking me while I’m down! Hate me, detest me! Tell me I have no right to live with others! That’s what you’re supposed to do!

“This… doesn’t make any sense…”

I continue to stare straight into her eyes as I pant heavily from my rant. She remains silent for a bit. “… You done?” I give her no response. “Listen, I don’t quite know what could have given you such an… interesting view on ponies, but you’re only half right.”

“I… Wha?”

“Ponies aren’t kind, or generous. They’re not sweet, or loyal, and they’re certainly not saints. But at the same time, they aren’t hateful, or wicked, or greedy, or anything else you might think they are. Those are generalisations. Ponies are just… ponies.

“And each pony is different. Each pony is unique, and while there are those that will hate you, and never accept you…” She leans in and wraps her forelegs around me again. “… There are also those that will accept you for who you are, and who will always offer you a place to stay. There are always ponies that are right for you… you just haven’t found them yet, that’s all.”

I should push her away. I should push her back and make a run for it. Some feeling has returned to my legs. I think there’s a knife in the distance. If I can grab it, I can end it all now. I can finally be free from all of this pain. I’ll do it. I’ll push her away, reach the knife, and end it. I’ll do it. I really will…

Why are my tears flowing faster? Why is there sobbing coming from my mouth? Damnit! I’ll bury my muzzle into her shoulder! I can’t let her hear me making such weak sounds! Now to push her away… Why am I… reaching my forelegs around her neck? S-Stop it… I don’t need her… I don’t need anypony! I… I…

“C’mon, what have you got to lose? I promise you, you’ll feel right at home here.”

That’s it. I can’t take it anymore. I hold onto Appletini tightly, and just let myself go. The room is filled with the sounds of my wailing, and I’m sure I’m hurting her with how hard my hooves are digging into her back. Yet, she doesn’t seem to mind at all. Instead, she simply strokes my mane, and pats my back, telling me to let it all out.

Who is this pony? Just seconds ago, I was resolved to end my life! Now, I’m bawling into her shoulder, and not from sadness, either! I’m smiling! I’m happy! Happy that somepony is accepting me into their life! Happy to find that she isn’t lying! Happy that I… have a shoulder to cry on.

“All done?”

My tears have dried up now, but I still don’t want to part from her embrace. I feel so warm and secure like this. I feel like I’m shielded from the rest of the world. Nothing can reach my right now. Nothing can hurt me, as long as I’m protected by this warm light. Wait, light?

“I thought so.” Appletini pushes me away, and looks over my body. “The Crystal Heart’s influence is reaching you. Look.”

I look down my body, and see that my coat, which was so dark just moments ago, is now so bright and sparkly. And it almost looks like crystals… “What’s happening to me?”

“The Crystal Ponies don’t always look like this, y’know? When we’re feeling down, our coats get dimmer, and our sparkles disappear. But when we’re happy, we appear as bright and radiant as you do right now. It seems the Crystal Heart is reaching out to you, and changing you appearance to match your feelings.

“See? I told you you’d feel right at home here. Why, if it weren’t for the horn, I would think you were just a regular Crystal Pony.”

If it weren’t for the horn… I feel something being placed on my head, and shift my eyes up to see something purple hanging over my forehead.

“You dropped this in the tunnels earlier. It covers you horn pretty well… Now it’s hard to think you’re anything but one of us.”

I feel something tugging at the corners of my mouth. I turn my attention back to Appletini, who is now smiling at me the same way she did earlier. This time, I can’t help but smile back… I smile back, and let out a little bit of laughter. “Y-You think?”

“Most certainly! And, once things die down, and you’ve recovered your strength, you can put on some shows down at the park! If anypony tries to give you trouble, just come to me or Azure! We’ll no accept anypony bullying our friends!”

“Friends?” Why did my voice sound so hopeful then? I was trying to show how ridiculous I found such sentiment!

“Friends.” Stupid! Don’t fall for it again! Don’t be lured in by pretty words!

“I see… I have a friend now.” My hoof moves up to my eye, and wipes away a tear. “And I can trust you… right?”

“Who knows? That’s up to you to decide. Do you trust me?”

“… I would like to.”

“Then do it! You only live once, y’know? If you see something you like, take it! Grab life by the horns! Enjoy the ride! Do whatever makes you happy! Etcetera etcetera…” I let out a louder laugh than earlier. “I can’t wait to see your show, Trixie. We don’t have many stage magicians here in the Crystal Empire. ‘The Spectacular Trixie’, I bet they’ll call you!”

“… That… sounds great…”

“Did you have something else in mind?”

“Um… I used to go by another name…”

“Can I hear it?”

“… The… Great and Powerful… Trixie…”

“Great and Powerful?” I nod. “Ooh, sounds nice! ‘Great and Powerful’, huh? Sounds like a show you don’t wanna miss!”

“Not many ponies liked it back in Equestria.”

Appletini tilts her head to her side. “Why not? Y’know, ever since the current Princess took over, we’ve heard nothing but good things about that Country. Yet, from what I’m hearing now, Equestria doesn’t sound it’s all that great a place to visit.”

“What more would you expect from a-” I quickly silence myself. I’ve finally made a friend, so I want to be careful with what I say around her.

“Go ahead. Tell me what’s on your mind. Showponies are supposed to have high self-confidence, right?”

“… It’s… I was just going to say, what more would you expect, based on its origins?”

“It’s origins? Ooh, you mean the windigo incident, right?” I nod my head.

“It’s not something I’ve really thought about until recently, but Equestria was founded on the premise that we love each other, or we die. Obligated love. False love.”

Appletini raises a hoof to her chin. “That’s how it is, huh? Y’know, I’ve been saving up for a ticket to Equestria once they finally release this quarantine around the Empire, but now, I’m not too sure I want to visit that place.”

“Well I for one will never visit that place again.” I suddenly yawn, and feel my eyelids beginning to close. I hear giggling coming from Appletini’s direction.

“Tired? Come on, let’s get back to my place. Azure should be done with the guards by now.”

I silently nod, and try to stand on own two hooves. The entire room won’t stop spinning, though. Stupid room. I trip over my own hoof, and fall onto something soft.

“I’ll carry you back.”

“… Sorry.”

“No need to apologise. It’s what friends do. Didn’t you know that?”

“I didn’t.”

Appletini giggles again. “Okay, then while you’re recovering, I’ll teach you all you need to know about friendship! How’s that sound?”

“Sounds… okay, I guess…”

“Trust me. When I’m finished, you’ll be begging for more lessons.”

I only acknowledge her statement with a silent nod as I feel myself being carried away. My eyelids begin to flutter shut, and I let out another loud yawn.

This is stupid. This is crazy. There’s no way she’ll let me. I can’t do this. I have to stop. I’m just being ridiculous.

I extend my hoof quickly, using my magic to enhance my kick as it hits the bed below me. The mattress explodes, and feathers begin to fly everywhere. Well, no going back now. I pick up the pillow at the head of the bed with my teeth, and begin moving towards the door leading outside of the bedroom.

This is stupid. Idiotic. Foolish. Ridiculous!

“Trixie?” Appletini turns over in her bed, and makes eye contact with me. “What’s up?”

I open my mouth to speak. The pillow drops down to the floor. “I, um… My bed b-broke, so I, um… have nowhere to s-sleep now…”

My entire face feels like it’s on fire. I knew this was a stupid idea! I need to get out here! I think there was a closet I passed on the way here. Maybe I can hide in ther-

“Okay, then I guess we’ll have to share for tonight.” I pause for a second to make sure that I had heard that right. “C’mon, get in. I don’t want your cold getting worse.”

“… Y-You don’t mind?”

“Not at all. What kind of host would I be if I made my guest sleep on the floor?”

I swallow the lump in my throat, and slowly make my way towards the bed. It’s only a single bed, but it’s just about big enough to hold both of us at the same time. If we squeeze close together. Which, I guess, is what I wanted in the first place. The nightmares still came to me, even though I have my new friend. Maybe… Maybe I need to be close to my friend, to make them go away.

It was that line of reasoning that led me to this. Sleeping in the same bed as my new friend, Appletini, with our two bodies practically pressed together. This won’t work, surely. What possible scientific reasoning could there be for friendship being able to deter nightmares? I was a fool to think this would work…

“G’night, Trixie.”

“… Good night.” Oh well. At least I’ll have somepony to wake me up when the nightmares come for me.

A New Home

I open my eyes to the sounds of ponies laughing and playing outside. My lips are bone dry, and my stomach is rumbling. I haven’t eaten in so long. I need to go outside and find some food, fast. Of course, I can’t buy anything, since I have no money, so I must resort to sneaking around and stealing from the nearby farms. They have plenty of food, I’m sure they can do without one or two… or maybe five oranges.

So this is it. I’m leaving my cave for the first time in three days. Maybe since I locked myself away, ponies have forgotten all about me? I can start anew, and maybe earn some bits from my shows?

Not a chance. I leave the small cave that has been my home this past month. Winter will be ending soon, and I can move on to another town just as soon as the snow clears. Oh, look. Somepony left a half-eaten pear on the floor. Free food. I quickly run over to it and start gobbling it up, not even bothering to check how dirty it was. It tastes foul, and I’m sure I look pitiful… but it will keep me alive a bit longer.

I make my way towards the town in the distance. As always, everypony looks at me as I enter. Even if I’m lucky, and they don’t recognise me, my dirt-covered coat, my scruffy, blood-coated mane, and the putrid smell of not having washed for weeks coming from my body is enough to gain the attention of anypony I pass by.

I hear giggling to my left, and immediately turn around to confirm what I already knew: ponies are laughing at me. Two little fillies are laughing at me, and calling me names. The mares that I assume to be their parents or guardians are doing nothing to stop them. In fact, they join in.

“Didn’t we tell you to get out of here?”

“Weak and Helpless Trixie!”

“You’re not welcome here!”

“Weak and Helpless Trixie!”

“Hey!” I turn around to the new voice behind me, and see a rainbow-maned, blue Pegasus floating in the air. “I thought I told you to scram! If you’re here for your trailer, we already turned it to firewood!”

They what? But… all of my possessions were in that trailer… A purple cloth that used to be part of my cape, a glass bottle that I could use to hold some water, and a flask that had just a little bit of gin inside of it. I could really go for a drink right now…

“Too bad!” the Pegasus shouted. “You can just go back to that cave and rot there! We don’t want you stinking up our town!”

The ponies around agree with her, and begin to cheer when the Pegasus picks me up and starts to drag me out of the town. I would resist, but I’m far too weak right now. I can barely even move my legs enough to walk, let alone to fight. Hence, I submit to my fate of being thrown onto my rump outside of their town.

Before the mob can get any more aggressive, I think I should just leave. No food today, I guess. Maybe tonight, when everypony’s asleep… Wait, who’s that? Who’s standing at the entrance of my cave, staring at me with a warm smile on their face?

Their face is overcast by a shadow, so I can’t make out any features. Whoever that pony is, I’m sure their intentions are hostile. Great, so now I can’t even isolate myself inside that cave anymore. Whatever, I’ll just go find a nice ditch somewhere and-

The pony begins to move towards me, causing me to panic. I have to run. I have to get away from here, fast! I do just that. I turn tail, and move my legs as fast as I can… I get barely two steps away before I trip over myself. I’m so pathetic right now.

“Are you okay?”

Do I look okay? Just get it over with already. Taunt me, humiliate me, do whatever it is that gives you your kicks at my expense! I’ll just add you to the list… As soon as I have power again, I will have my revenge against you! Whoever you are!

“It’s okay. I’ll make the pain go away.”

… What? Did I just hear that right? Who is this pony, anyway? I turn around to get a better view, but all I see in front of me is a cloud of purple. There is some white in there, and then some more purple within the white. Is that the pony’s face? Why is it so close to mine?

“You have a fever. Poor thing. You should have come to me sooner. I’ll be happy to help.”

Who are you? Wait, that voice sounds familiar…

“Trixie.”

It couldn’t be! The purple moves back a bit, and I can get a better view of the pony before me now… This pony… I know her. But from where?

“Trixie.”

Oh, that’s right. It’s that pony. That one pony that changed my whole life. That one pony that turned my whole world upside-down… and then dared to show me kindness. That one pony who destroyed any hopes I had of finding a place to call ‘home’, and yet is still the only pony who may have given me a chance, had I let her…

“Trixie! C’mon, rise an’ shine!”

I open my eyes to the sounds of birds chirping and ponies laughing outside. Before me is the face of the pony I am now living with: Appletini.

“About time! You’re a heavy sleep, y’know? Though it looked like you were having a pretty nasty dream.”

“… It was just a dream.” That’s the same thing I always say, whenever I wake up in the morning. It was all just a dream. All just a terrible nightmare, and it’s over now. There’s no need to be afraid any longer… For a while, it helped, but over time, it became more of a habit than anything else.

“Sorry I couldn’t help any,” Appletini says. Why would she be sorry? How could she help? “Anyway, I got a bath all ready for ya. Why don’t you go wash up, an’ I’ll make us some breakfast.”

I simply nod my head, and climb out of bed. I blush upon remembering that I had been sharing this bed with Appletini last night. And it didn’t even help any, either. I’m so pathetic…

“What’s all that noise outside?” I’ve got to get my mind somewhere else.

“Oh, just the usual parade of kids flocking to school. What d’you wanna eat? I got some more pancakes, if ya like, or I’ve got some Crystal Rice Krispies. Uh, that’s a cereal brand, just FYI.”

“Either would be fine. Frankly, I’d be willing to eat just about anything right now…”

“Alright! Then you go enjoy your bath, and I’ll have your breakfast ready when you’re done.”

I nod, and make my way past Appletini and leave the room. I really do smell bad. I hadn’t really paid it much notice… my thoughts were mostly focused on living. A nice hot bath sounds like heaven right now, and knowing that breakfast will be waiting for me when I finish? I wonder if this is how most ponies feel when they win the lottery?

I enter the bathroom and close the door. There it is. The tub has been filled with water, and is just sitting there, waiting for me to enter it and clean off the months worth of filth that has clung to my coat. Appletini really does care for me, doesn’t she?

Aaaah, the water feels great. And the scented candles really help take away the stress that’s worked itself up inside my mind… Wait, why are there scented candles here, anyway? Did Appletini light them up for me? Was she really that concerned? Wow… not only a pony that cares, but one that cares so deeply… I’m starting to think that, maybe all of the world’s kindness was placed solely into her. Well, not really, but it is nice of her to do all of this for me. I must really pay her back for all of this… As soon as I am able to, of course.

“Trixie? Are you alright in there?” Oh no. I completely spaced out. The water just feels so great, and the aroma of the scented candles… When did they melt so much?! “You’ve been in there for twenty minutes! Are you okay?!”

“I-I’m fine!” Okay, so this is embarrassing. I imagine my face is red from more than the heat of the bathwater right now. “I’m almost finished. I’ll be out soon.”

“Okay! I just thought you should know that Azure’s downstairs, and that he wants to talk to you!”

Azure? The other pony that helped me? What does he want? Hopefully he’s just dropping by to say ‘hi’… Anyway, I should clean myself up real quick, and then get out of here. I levitate one of the nearby shampoo bottles over to me. Good. My magic seems to be working again, and my fever seems to be gone, now that I think about it.

I quickly wash myself with the strawberry-scented shampoo. It smells rather pleasant, but then, I imagine that anything would smell pleasant compared to smelling like a garbage dump.

Okay, that should be good enough. I return the shampoo bottle to where I had found it, and pull the plug in the bath. Next, I need to dry myself off. Let’s see… is there a towel anywhere? Ah! I find one resting on a radiator, and pick it up with my magic. I begin to dry myself thoroughly with it. I don’t want to drip water all over the house, after all. If Appletini gets mad at me and kicks me out… Well, let’s not go there. I’ll just have to make sure that that doesn’t happen.

I’m now sufficiently dry, and start to make my way downstairs through the house. “Over here, Trixie.” I turn my head to my right as I set my hoof down at the bottom of the stairs, and I see Appletini in what I assume to be the kitchen, waving over to me. Next to her, is the stallion I recognise as Azure Eminence.

“You’re looking better.” He smiles at me as he says that. It’s the same kind of smile that I receive from Appletini. A genuine smile. One that shows that he cares for me, and that shows he is concerned for me, but doesn’t want me to worry over it. A kind smile. “As I have just told Appletini here, the Royal Guard has eased out of the 47th district, and are now searching neighbouring districts. If you’re going to flee, now’s your chance.”

Flee? Is that… Does he want me to go?

“Don’t worry, Trixie,” Appletini says. I look at her to see her placing two bowls of cereal down onto the kitchen table. She motions for me to join her. An offer that I accept. “You can stay for as long you want. If you need some time to work out what you’re going to do, then by all means, stay here while you think.”

“Though it’ll be risky,” Azure says. “If you don’t want the Royal Guard to catch you, you’ll have to hide your identity from them. Luckily, I’ve managed to convince the district that you’re just an ordinary Crystal Pony, who was merely putting on a show for the Crystal Fair. I told them that you passing out was because you were sick. Incidentally, a lot of them are hoping you get well soon.”

“I see… Thank you.” So I’m safe, for now… Just as long as-

“You’ll need to hide your horn, though, for this ruse to work.” Yeah, I figured as much. Well, that shouldn’t really be much of a problem, really. I just need my ha-Wait, where is my hat? And my cape, too, for that matter.

“Is something wrong?”

“Appletini… where are my clothes? The ones that I was wearing when I first got here.”

“Oh, that. I asked a friend of mine, Stitch N. Sew, ta fix ‘em for ya.” I breathe a sigh of relief. My hat and cape are okay… That’s good. Those two pieces of clothing have saved my neck a few times before. During the winter, whenever I struggled to get a fire going, they would keep me warm long enough to finally light one up. Without them, I would be dead right now.

“So in other words, if you’re going to leave the house, make sure you cover your horn up. And try not to use magic in public. Not unless you can do something about the lack of glowing coming from your hooves.”

Well, that won’t be a problem, either. A simple spell will allow me to project a magical aura around my hooves, similar to the ones I’ve seen from ponies in the Crystal Empire so far. Of course, that will make my magic a bit more draining… I may need to practice a little bit, first.

“Trixie, aren’t you going to eat?” Appletini’s question reminds me that I have a bowl of cereal in front of me, and that my stomach is still rumbling from my hunger. With a blush, I pick up my spoon with my magic, and begin to dig in.

“And finally, even though the guards didn’t know your name, it might not be a bad idea to use an alias for now. Just in case, y’know?”

I swallow the spoonful of cereal in my mouth, and give a nod. “Right… I guess I don’t really have much of a choice, do I?”

Azure extends his hoof forward. What? Oh, he wants me to shake it… Well, it’s certainly been a while, but I’m sure that, if Appletini says he’s okay, I can put some faith into him.

“Then, see ya later, girls!”

“Aren’t ya gonna stay and have some tea?” Appletini asks as Azure gets up. Personally, I would prefer for him to leave… Even if he is okay, I’d still prefer not to be around so many ponies right now. Not until I’ve regained enough strength to defend myself from any sudden attacks. You never know when a pony will reveal its true colours, after all.

“Sorry, Appletini, but I’ve got a lot of work stacked up in my office. And I’m being pressured by the other districts to work faster. Amber and Violet are personally coming over today, in fact, to make sure I’m not just slacking off in my office!”

The two ponies share a quick laugh together, and Appletini offers to show Azure out. I don’t really mind… Well, except, I do. I don’t like being left all alone like this… I don’t like being around ponies when I’m weak and can’t defend myself, but I don’t like just being left behind and completely forgotten about, either.

This is stupid. She’s not leaving me, she’s just showing a friend of hers out! Have I really become so paranoid during my time alone? Honestly, it’s like I’m a filly again.

But this cereal is good, at least. It helps me to relax as I eat it. She’ll be back soon. I’ll just enjoy this breakfast until then.

BZZZZZZZZZ!

KYA! T-There’s a wasp buzzing around in here! If there’s one thing I hate more than Equestria, it’s these nasty little things! I’ve hated them ever since my first sting, back when I was four years old! A-ha! I see you, you pesky little-

Hey! You’re not getting away! Let’s see, what can I use?… Magic in such a confined space would be bad, but I can’t see anything around that I can swat it with…

OH SWEET-It’s right in front of me! Screw rational thinking – fire the horn laser!

CRASH!

… Well, I got the wasp alright. But that’s not all I got. Damnit, why did I have to panic like that?! Appletini’s gonna kick me out for sure over this! Just when I had found somepony who I could trust. Somepony who accepted me, offered me the chance to be myself, and genuinely concerned themselves with my wellbeing…

“Trixie? Is everything okay?”

Oh no! She’s coming! She’s going to see what I did, and then she’s going to get mad, and kick me out of her house, and tell everypony that I’m a fugitive from Equestria, and then I’ll forced into exile in the frozen wastelands outside of the Crystal Empire!

Okay, breath, Trixie, breath. She’s on her way… but there’s still time! I can fix this! Well, not fix fix. I don’t know the first thing about repairing pottery, or whatever this vase was that I broke. It sure looked expensive, whatever it was. But I can certainly hide the problem! Just got to gather up all of the fragments, find somewhere to hide them… the closet should do for now, and then I can find somepony to fix it later. There has to be somepony in the ‘Crystal Empire’ who can fix it, right?

“Trixie?”

“YES?!” Okay, even without the look on her face, I can tell that I must look pretty suspicious right now, back pressed against a closed closet door and all. I’ll try again. “Yes?”

“… What was that sound? Are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine! I just… tripped, that’s all!”

“You tripped? You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

There it is again! That look of concern, of genuine worry towards my health! I can’t lose that, I just can’t! I’d better steer her away from this closet, just to be on the safe side.

“Well… No, I’m fine. Hey, could you tell me some more stuff about the Crystal Empire? There’s still so much I’d like to know about it.”

She smiles at me. Good. The crisis seems to have been averted. She leads me away, back towards the kitchen table, and we resume eating our breakfasts as she answers any and all questions that I have about the Crystal Empire.

So I’ve managed to secure my place of safety within her house, and I get to hear more about this wondrous new land. Two birds with one stone, as they say. Now I just have to wait for my hat to be repaired, and I can leave the house and find somepony to repair that vase, before Appletini finds out, and all will be good once more!

A New Hat and Cape

“Can I open my eyes yet?” I ask as I’m led by hoof through Appletini’s house. She woke me up earlier (which I don’t mind, seeing as I was having yet another nightmare), to tell me that she had a present for me in the living room. But she doesn’t want me to open my eyes until I get there, hence, she’s leading me through the house, very slowly.

“Almost there. Just a little bit more…” I round a corner, and slow to a stop as Appletini does. We must be there. What could she have possibly gotten me? I’m kind of excited, actually. Nopony’s ever got me a present before. Well, fans used to bring me flowers and refreshments after my shows, back before that stupid ursa minor incident ruined everything! But I had never gotten a real present before. “Okay, you can open your eyes now!”

I remove the blindfold almost immediately, and see… nothing in front of me. Maybe it’s to my left? My right? Nothing… I don’t get it. Where’s the present? “Appletini?”

She’s laughing at me… Not a mocking laughter, or one filled with malice. Just an innocent, light-hearted giggle, I’m sure of it… “What?”

“Try looking up.”

Up? What, at the ceiling? Is my present something that flies around, and attaches to walls and ceilings? If so, could she have gotten me a pet? I’ve never had a pet before. Taking care of myself was enough of chore as it is, I didn’t really have the resources to care for a pet as well.

I tilt my head up, but there’s nothing there. Nothing except for the living room lights, and I’m sure that’s not my present. Wait, I felt something just now… Something just fell off of my head. I turn around, to see what it was… and there on the floor, looking better than I could ever remember, is my hat. My purple, star-patterned hat, sparkling clean, and looking so good that you wouldn’t even be able to tell that it was damaged at all before!

“Appletini…” I’m not sure what else to say. This hat and my cape have seen me through some hard times, and in a way, they have become part of me. When I lost my original set, I had to make some new ones, and when I lost those, I had to make another, and another… Eventually, I just gave up, in favour of a black cloak that would hide my face from those around me.

But before leaving Ponyville for the second time, that white Unicorn, Charity, I think, gave me a brand-new hat and cape. I still don’t really understand why she did it, but I suspect it was just to get me out of there or something. Still, they fit quite snugly (which is strange, considering I never gave that mare my measurements), and have kept me warm through the coldest of days. This time, I swore to never let anypony get me down, and to never abandon my stage clothes… Well, at least I was able to do one of those things.

“Yup!” Appletini walks up to my hat lying on the floor, and picks it up for me. She gently places it on my head, and I can feel its warmth covering my horn once more. “Now you can go outside! Isn’t that great?”

“… Yeah… great…” Truthfully, I still don’t think that I’m ready. Whilst Appletini may be on my side, and Azure is on hers, that still leaves an entire Empire out there, and I have no idea where they stand! Unfortunately, I have to leave. Because I still have to fix Appletini’s vase, before she finds out that I broke it. “I-In fact, I think I’ll go take a stroll outside right now!”

“Are you sure?” She looks concerned. “I mean, I don’t doubt that you’ll keep your identity hidden, but… are you sure you’re ready to go out by yourself?”

“… I’m just going to take a look around, so that I know where things are. I’m not going out to socialise or anything.” I can’t let her come with me. I have to find somewhere to get her vase fixed without her knowing. “And, I’d rather not have you waste your time, leading me around.”

“I don’t mind. Today’s my day off, after all!”

I have to think of something! “Even worse! You can’t waste your precious time off for my sake! Really, I’ll be fine! No need to worry about me at all.” She stares at me for a few seconds, her face completely unreadable to me. Is she buying it? Is she suspicious? What should I do? How can I get her to-

“Okay.”

Maybe if I try telling her that-Wait, did she just say what I think she did. “O-Okay?”

“Yeah. If you say that you’ll be fine, then I’ll believe you. And it’s not like you’re a child or anything.” She turns around, and walks towards the kitchen. “The ponies here are nice, and I have faith that you’ll be just fine on your own! And if you want to go alone, then even better.” She turns back to me, with that reassuring smile on her face again. “Have fun, Trixie! … Oh, wait! Have you decided on an alias? That is, if you want to use one.”

“… Will-o-Wisp.” That’s what my name will be from now on. Trixie Lulamoon is dead now. Hopefully, Will-o-Wisp will have the break in life that I never got. But… “But, can you still call me Trixie, when we’re alone?” It’s sad to just let Trixie die, without anypony to remember her, or notice that she’s gone.

“Of course I can.” I can tell that she means it. She smiles at me, and I smile back. Who would have thought, that I’d ever be able to do such a thing ever again? “I suggest you stay away from the district borders for now. The Royal Guard is still looking for you, and they’ve increased security on the borders. Azure can protect you in the 47th district, but outside of that, you’ll be on your own.”

“That’s nothing new for me.” I only meant that as a joke, but I guess it wasn’t funny, from the frown on her face. “… I’ll stay well away from the borders. I’m not going to be alone again.”

“… Darn right you’re not!” She’s smiling again. That’s good. I hate seeing her sad, after all she’s done for me. And I certainly don’t want to be the cause of her sadness. “Well then, I guess I’ll go read my book! I started it one thousand years ago, maybe now I can finish it!” We share a quick laugh together. “Oh, and your cape is by the front door.”

I nod me head, and then make my way to the front door, whilst she walks into the kitchen. My cape is indeed hanging by the door, on a hook attached to the wall. My hat will draw enough attention as it is, but if I wear it on its own, it may look suspicious. I had better wear the entire costume, just to be safe.

The Crystal Empire truly is a beautiful place. After leaving Appletini’s house, I decide to start by heading left, past various other houses. After about ten minutes of walking, and making sure I don’t make eye contact with the ponies around me, I find myself in what appears to be a marketplace.

There are a lot of ponies here, buying and selling various goods. Crystal fruits, crystal vegetables, crystal drinks, flugelhorns… I’m not quite sure what a flugelhorn is, but from the way it looks, I’m guessing some kind of musical instrument.

“Hi there.” Another pony stops to greet me. I only respond with a wave, and tilt my hat down, to hide my face.

Some ponies must have recognised me from my little performance a few days ago. Azure assured me that he had convinced them that I was an ordinary Crystal Pony, but that doesn’t exactly stop them from looking at me, possibly judging my every action, just like everypony else does. It doesn’t stop them from talking about me under their breaths, probably mocking me, and planning how to humiliate me, and drive me out of their district. Or maybe even out of the Empire.

“Excuse me, miss.” And here it comes. I’d better prepare a spell, just to be on the safe side. My energy has recovered, so I can conjure up a quick smokescreen spell to run away. I can’t fight them; Appletini would surely side with them sooner than me if I did that.

“Yes?” I ask as I turn around. I see a stallion standing before me, wearing a white apron, and looking at me with a concerned look on his face.

“Are you okay? You look rather dull…”

Dull? What does that mean? Is he telling me that I’m boring? Sorry pal, but I’ve heard much worse than that. You’ll have to try harder to break my spirits. “Is that so?”

“Yeah… I don’t know what’s wrong, but cheer up!” Cheer up? Wait, isn’t he… Why is he asking me to cheer up, when he’s trying to mock me? “Ah! You’re getting duller!”

What is he on about? I’m getting duller? And why is he looking over my body? What’s… Oh. My coat. That’s right, Appletini mentioned something about Crystal Ponies react to their emotions by becoming ‘dull’ when they’re depressed, and ‘bright’ when they’re happy. Apparently, the Crystal Heart’s influence is affecting my body, making it copy this aspect of the Crystal Ponies.

“Miss, are you alright?” I turn to my left to see a mare standing beside me, also with a concerned look on her face. “Would you like to come and talk to me? I’m on my break right now.”

“T-Talk to you? About what?” What is with these ponies?

“About your problems, of course! Wait… you’re that new pony, aren’t you?” I nod. “Well, here in the 47th district, we don’t like to see dull coats walking around! That’s why, if you’re ever feeling depressed, you can always count on those around you to lend an ear, and offer some advice.”

‘Advice?’ Is she saying that she wants to help me? Like Appletini? Should I trust her? I got lucky with Appletini, but I doubt I’ll find two trustworthy ponies, so close to each other. “I’m fine, really.”

“You’re a performer, if I recall correctly, aren’t you?” the stallion asks. I turn back to him and nod. “Why don’t you put on a show for us? Business has been slow today, what with everypony exhausted from cleaning up after the fair, and it maybe it’ll cheer you up!”

“… You… want me to perform?” The stallion and mare both nod, and a few ponies around them that just happened to overhear the conversation seemed to be interested in the idea of me putting on a show. I can’t believe it… For the past two years, ponies have been doing all that they can to make sure I don’t perform, but now, here I am, surrounded by ponies I’ve never met before, and they are not only giving me permission, but requesting me to put on a show!

I haven’t performed in such a long time… I miss it. I miss standing up on that stage, displaying my wonderful magic to my admiring fans, sharing my stories of awe and wonder with my enthusiastic audience, and basking in their praise every time I performed one of my tricks.

But, what if they just want me up onstage so that they can humiliate me during my performance? What if this is all just a front, and they’re just trying to make me lower my guard? I wouldn’t put it past them. Even if I don’t know them, they are ponies, and that’s reason enough to doubt them.

Even so, the idea of being able to perform again is just too appealing, and I would like to cast a little magic, after spending two days recovering from a fever… “I guess… I can spare some time…”

“Awesome!” The stallion turns around and waves to a group of ponies behind him. “Hey guys, take five! Miss…”

… Oh, he’s waiting for my name. “Tr-Will-o-Wisp.”

“… Miss Will-o-Wisp is gonna put on a show for us!”

Suddenly, ponies from all over the marketplace begin to gather around. To me, it looks just like the angry mobs that would gather around in towns that didn’t want me… Well, minus the smiles. But smiles are easy to fake. I had better be careful.

“Here,” the mare from earlier says as she places something beside me. “You’ll need a stage to perform on, right?”

“R-Right…” I climb onto the small box to my right. This feels like when I did my first performance, back when I was just a little filly… I was probably just as nervous back then as I am right now. Although back then, it was through lack of confidence in my ability. This time, I’m just keeping my eyes on everypony around me, waiting for ever the slightest hint of malice from any of them.

“Well?” the stallion asks, looking at me expectantly.

I should start off with something simple. Save the best tricks for last. But I don’t want to bore them, so I have to try and put some glamour behind it. “W-Well then… to start, may I have a volunteer from the audience?” Having a volunteer by my side will ensure they won’t start throwing things at me all of a sudden. To my surprise, a lot of ponies raise their hooves. I’ll just pick that stallion at the front, the one with the white apron.

He climbs onto my stage, and I ask him to introduce himself. His name is Merch, and he is the head of the 47th district’s branch of the Merchant’s Guild. What that means exactly, I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll ask Appletini later. But for now… I charge some magic into my horn, and quickly remember what Azure had said yesterday. I cast another spell to make my hooves glow with a purple aura, and then perform my main trick. Before me, a bouquet of flowers appear seemingly out of nowhere, earning a round of applause from my audience.

“And now, watch as I make these lovely flowers disappear…” I throw the bouquet in the air, and as the audience watch it fly up into the air, I cast my next spell. The bouquet disappears, and the ponies to gasp collectively. “… And then reappear in my lovely assistant’s apron pocket!” I’m starting to get into this. I’d better not let down my guard.

Merch checks his apron pocket, and pulls out the same bouquet as before. “Amazing! How did you-”

My body acts on instinct at the question that I know is coming. “A magician does not reveal their secrets,” I answer, and then dismiss the stallion as the audience applauds. I then turn back to them. I’m feeling a little more confident now… but I’m still not going to give them the chance to humiliate me. “For my next trick…”

I don’t understand. What happened? I performed trick after trick after trick, and the audience loved it. They praised me, they cheered for me, and they requested more. And not once, during the entire show, did anypony ever demand that I stop, or tell me that I was terrible, or anything of the sorts.

Why did they do that? Why did they accept me? What makes them different from the ponies in Equestria? Is it the Crystal Heart? Or is it something else? I don’t know what it is, but when I was up there, performing to my heart’s content, I could feel their love for my show flowing into me, warming my very soul.

Earlier, my coat was so dull that I stood out easily in this bright, sparkling city. Now, my coat is every bit as bright as the ponies around me, and I can’t get this big, goofy smile off of my face! Stop it! I’m showing weakness! Ponies will attack me if I don’t seem tough enough to defend myself! Stop… smiling!

“That truly was a great performance, Will-o-Wisp.” And why did I agree to walk home with this mare – Aurora – anyway?

“Thanks… not many ponies think so.”

“Really? How could they not? It’s nice to be able to unwind every now and then, and ponies like you are just what we need to do that. Work is tough, and with all that needs to be done to recover from King Sombra’s reign, what we really need right now is entertainment.”

“But what about the jousting tournaments, and all the fun events that go on at the Crystal Fairs?”

“Well, yes, those help. But I mean in everyday life. Your magic is phenomenal, and I was practically on the edge of my seat watching all of your ticks up there! Wondering what you would do next, and trying to figure out just how you pulled off all of your other tricks… Though, I can’t help but feel that you were lacking in spirit up there. Like you weren’t too sure of your own abilities…”

“That’s not true…” It really wasn’t. It’s the ponies here I lack faith in… They act nothing like ponies! They act like… like something out of a fairytale! They actually accepted me up there. They actually loved my performance. Or if they didn’t, they at least had the courtesy not to vocalise it!

… Oh! Oh no! I had been enjoying finally being able to perform again, I completely forgot why I had come out here! “Excuse me, but do you know anypony that knows how to repair vases?”

“Repair vases?” I nod. “Hmmm… If you’re looking for somepony like that, I would suggest you pay a visit to Crafts Fare. He knows all of the ponies in this district whose special talents involve handicrafts and the like, so he should be able to point you in the right direction. His address is… Oh, here, let me write it down for you…”

She pulls out a piece of paper and a quill from her saddlebag, and writes something down for me. She hands me the paper. It’s an address… I don’t understand it, but I guess, if I ask around, I could probably find it no problem. “Thank you.”

“It’s quite alright, deary.” She stops in front of a house, and tells me that this is where she lives. She waves goodbye to me, and I wave back… that smile still on my face.

I’d better take a moment to wipe this thing off. I can’t be caught wearing such an expression on my face. It’d be an open invitation for somepony to kick me down while I’m actually happy.

…

Alright, smile’s gone! Now to get back home, gather up the broken vase, and find this ‘Crafts Fare’ pony, before Appletini notices anything at all!

I walk through the front door of Appletini’s house. I’d better call out to her, to make certain of where she is. “Appletini?” I receive no answer. “Hello?” Nothing. I guess she must be out. Excellent! Now is an opportune moment to gather the fragments of the broken vase, and sneak them out of the house, before she notices them!

I’ll just walk on over to this closet here, open it up, and… Where are they? Where are the vase fragments that I hide in here? I’m sure I hid them right here. Where could they have gone?!

…

Oh, no. Oh, no no no no NO! “Apple-” It’s as I feared. Sitting in the living, on the table in the centre, are the fragments of the broken vase. And, sitting beside the broken fragments, is Appletini. She is moving some of the fragments around, seemingly trying to fit them together again. And there are tears falling out of her eyes.

She turns around and looks at me. “Trixie…” No… Don’t look at me like that. Please… Please smile, Appletini. “Trixie, what happened to my vase?” Please, don’t look at me with those sad eyes! I don’t… want to see you so sad. “It’s in pieces…” It’s just a regular old vase, right? Even if it was expensive, I’m sure you can always just buy a new one. I’ll even help you! I’ll find a job, and raise the money for you to buy a new vase, so- “My grandfather’s favourite vase… it’s ruined…”

… No way. There’s… There’s no way that this can be happening to me. Just when I had finally found it. The place where I can feel safe. The place where I am actually wanted… I can’t… I can’t just lose it, so soon after finding it!

“Appletini, I-”

“This was my grandfather’s favourite vase! This meant more to him than his life, and now it’s in pieces!” She’s… She’s screaming at me. The usually calm, happy Appletini… I guess… I guess that that’s it, then. “How? How could this…” Those tears are my fault. There’s no way I can stay here anymore…

“I’m sorry.” That’s all I can offer her. Just those two simple words, followed by me bolting out of that door, destined to never return, ever again.

I’m sorry, Appletini. And thank you… Thank you for everything. I know I couldn’t stay with you forever, but I do wish I could have stayed a little longer… Still, I guess I’ve already overstayed my welcome, huh?

… There’s a familiar feeling. My tears, flowing down my face. My vision becoming blurry as a result of my crying. My chest feeling heavy as I choke back my sobs, and legs slowing down to a stop, so that I can wipe away my tears.

I know I have no right to be crying right now. After all, I broke something so important to Appletini. After all that she’s done for me, all I’ve been able to do return is make her cry. Maybe… Maybe I do deserve to just live on my own, away from all forms of society…

“Are you okay?”

W-Who’s that?! I quickly turn around, and see a tall, shadowy figure approaching me.

“Are you crying? Please, tell me what is wrong.”

The figure approaches me, and I can make out the colour pink on their coat… and the wings sticking out of their side… Wait, wings? But, Crystal Ponies don’t have wings.

“I hate to see one of my subjects in pain.”

She has a horn, too! W-Who is this pony? Could she be… Princess Mi Amore Cadenza? Then, that means…

“There’s no need to be afraid. I’m not going to harm you.”

An Equestrian… An Equestrian is walking towards me! “G-Get away from me!” That doesn’t seem to work. I-I’ve got to run. I’ve got to run away, now!”

“Please, tell me what is bothering you, my little pony.”

“NO! GET BACK!” I try to turn around and run, but it’s no use. My body is frozen with fear. I can’t move at all! She’s getting closer, and closer! She’ll find out who I am, and she’ll force me back to Equestria! And then, I’ll be forced to deal with the hate-filled glares of the ponies there! Their mocking laughter, their taunting echoes! And then, I’ll be forced to sleep all on my own, out in the cold rain, or in a dark forest, with nothing but wild animals to keep me company!

“You need not fear me. I only wish to help you.”

This is it. It’s over. She’s right in front of me, and she’s looking down, right into my eyes! She’s extending her wings, and moving in to finish me off! It’s over! It’s all over!

A New Day

This pony has both wings and a horn. She’s that Princess, Mi Amor Cadenza! A Princess! W-Why is she here, standing before right now? … No, the reason doesn’t matter. I just have to hide my horn! If she sees that, she’ll know I’m from Equestria, and she’ll force me back there!

“Are you okay?” she asks as she takes a step forward. I quickly pull down on my hat. I have to hide my horn, no matter what. “You’ve been crying. What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing.” My voice is weak, and shaky, and it’s clear that she isn’t buying it. “Really, I-I’m fine.” I wonder if she can hear the fear in my voice? Maybe I should try to blind her with my magic, and make a run for it.

“Please, miss. Let me know what’s wrong, and I’ll see if I can help you.”

… Help me? Has she not realised that I’m not one of her subjects? Well, that’s a relief. But, I can’t let down my guard just yet. This could just as easily be a trick. I’ll just make something up to get her out of here, and then… I don’t know, I guess I’ll just keep going north. Nopony knows what lies out there, which means I don’t have to worry about running into anypony if I go there.

“You know, you remind me of a certain young filly I used to sit for, back in my teenage years.” Huh? What’s she getting at? “Just like you, she didn’t like to share with anypony what was troubling her. But I discovered one method that proved rather effective at getting her to open up.”

“Look, I just want to be alo-” Before I can even finish, she moves forward at lightning speed, and pulls me towards her. Crap! I totally let down my guard! Now she’s got me right where she wants me! Where I can’t escape! Where I can’t fight back! Where I… A-Actually, she’s not holding me that tightly. I can probably squirm my way out with ease, and then run away.

… Oh no! My hat! My hat came off when she grabbed me! Please tell me she didn’t notice! I look up to check. Good, her eyes are closed. Why they’re closed, I have no idea, but at least I’m safe. Now I can just levitate my hat back onto my head, before she notices my horn.

“You don’t have to talk, if you don’t want to,” she says, her voice soft, and quiet, and… rather soothing, actually. “And you don’t have to stay, either. It’s up to you.” … Well, if that’s the case, then I’d better get out of here already. Her grip really isn’t that tight, so it won’t be hard at all to get free.

But… for some reason, my body isn’t moving. For some reason, I can’t seem to find the will to break out of her hold. I feel so warm like this. So safe, and secure. Even though she’s an Equestrian, I feel like… I could just fall asleep, right here, and not have to worry about the nightmares coming to haunt me.

“Do you feel better now?” she asks after what seemed to be an eternity of silence. I had actually forgotten that she was there… I think I was about to go to sleep, but her voice must have stopped me. “If nothing else, could I at least know your name?”

“… Tri-” No, wait! Phew, that was close. I almost gave out my real name without thinking! What’s wrong with me? Why am I even answering her? “Will-o-Wisp.”

“Will-o-Wisp, it’s pretty late, and the weather team have forecast a cold night tonight. I would suggest you head on home and get some sleep, but… if you don’t want to be alone, you’re welcome to stay at the palace for the night.”

At the palace? Is she serious? Why does she care so much about one random subject that she just happened to see crying? Why would she care? Since when do Royals care for anything other than grooming themselves to look all pretty, and stuffing their faces with so much high-class food that their flanks start to cover the sun?

Whatever the case, I’m not going. Not with an Equestrian. Not happening. “No,” is all I manage to say, but I still can’t manage to free myself from her hold. What kind of magic is she using on me?

“Are you sure?” I nod my head. For Faust’s sake, let me go already! “Well, if you say so.” She releases me, so now I can walk off and be alone. Right? Wrong, apparently. She does something else entirely, that I, again, wasn’t expecting. I feel something rubbing against my head, and look up to see this mare… nuzzling me. It feels nice, but I don’t get it. What is she after?

Huh? Why am I… crying? What am I feeling right now? It’s just like what I felt when Appletini said that she would protect. It’s not a bad feeling, I don’t think. It’s almost like… I think I can trust her… Despite the fact that she’s an Equestrian, this mare is somepony that I can trust, and confide in. And it will all be fine. That’s what my mind is telling me right now. Clearly, I’ve gone mad. Surprised it took so long.

“… I have nowhere to go.” Why am I telling her this? “But I don’t want to stay with an Equestrian…”

“Why not?” Her tone suggests that she’s not asking out of curiosity, or that she feels insulted in any way. So what is it? It’s so similar to the way Appletini spoke to me, when I told her that I don’t want to go home.

“… Because how do I know that you won’t try to harm me? What reason do I have to trust you?”

She looks sad… Good. It’s about time that somepony other than me feels that way. “Well, if you don’t want to, I can’t exactly force you. But, what did you mean when you said that you have nowhere to go? What happened? Don’t you have a home to go to, or a family to confide in?”

I wish I were that lucky. “No. I don’t. I had an… A friend…” That word still feels funny to say. “… Who let me stay at her place for a little bit. But I can’t go back there now. She’ll never forgive me, and now I’m back to being all alone again. I… I…”

Her wing wraps around my body. “Ssh. It’s okay. Don’t cry, little one.” Cry? Who’s crying?! … Oh, I am. “It’ll be alright. Now, what exactly did you do to upset this friend of yours?”

“… I… I destroyed something important to her. It was an accident, and I was going to repair it before she noticed! But… she found out.” The painful memory of Appletini yelling at me as I returned to her home suddenly comes flooding back to me, and no amount of warmth from this pony’s wing can slow down my tears. “She was the first one who ever truly accepted me, and I blew it…”

“Are you sure?” I look up at the mare before me. “I mean, if she’s your friend, then surely she’ll forgive you. After all, that’s what friendship is all about. Forgiving each other when you make mistakes, and having fun together.”

No, that can’t be right. “I don’t think so. Ponies aren’t capable of forgiving others.”

“… I don’t know why you would ever think such a thing, but you’re wrong.” No, I’m not! I have experienced it firsthoof! Ponies don’t forget the past! They don’t think stuff like: ‘Oh, I’m sure you had your reasons. I’ll give you a second chance.’

“Appletini hates me now. There’s no way she would ever let me stay with her again.”

“Are you sure?” What is with this pony? She’s a Princess! Shouldn’t she know how ponies work? Shouldn’t she know that there are no second chances in life?! “Did she, herself, say that she hates you?”

“… Well, no, but-”

“Then how can you know for sure? And did she say that she would never forgive you?”

“No, but-”

“Then talk to her. Never give up. If you quit this early, then of course you’ll wind up alone. But if you keep fighting, your friendships will never die. And believe me when I say that, in the end, you’ll be glad that you kept going.”

…

“Now, how about I leave the two of you alone?” … Wait, what? The two of us? Who is she-

“Thank you, Your Highness.” That voice. I know that voice. It belongs to Appletini! Then, that means that she’s been here, this whole time?!

Cadance moves away from me, and flaps her wings to lift into the air. “Don’t give in to despair,” she mouths to me as she ascends into the air. She flies away from me, soaring into the night sky. Leaving me alone. No, not alone… I turn around, and sure enough, Appletini is standing there behind me.

“Trixie,” she says as she walks towards me. Is she… out of breath? “I’m so glad I managed to find you. Why did you take off like that?”

“… You know why.” She stops walking, but she doesn’t look angry, like I thought she would.

“Enlighten me.”

“… I broke your vase. Your important vase… It’s destroyed now, thanks to me. It’s irreplaceable, right? Therefore, there’s no way you’d want to be my friend anymore.”

A silence passes over us. It drags on for a little bit, before Appletini begins to walk towards me once more.

SLAP!

… S-She just…

“Who do you think I am?!” she shouts. I jump back, but she simply takes another step forward, closing the distance once more. “Do you think I would honestly break it off with one of my friends, ‘cause of one little mistake like that?! Do you really think that I would treasure the past much more than my present?! That vase may have been important to me, but so are you!”

I’m… important to her? “I said that I would help you, didn’t I? I told you that I’d be your friend. Yes I’m mad that you broke my vase, and then lied to me about it, but that doesn’t give you the right to suddenly decide we’re not friends anymore!

“Now come on! Let’s go home!” She turns around, and begins to walk away. I don’t follow. My mind’s in complete disarray right now. I don’t get it. So, we’re good, then? We’re… still friends? She stops and turns around to me. “It’s getting late. We’ll talk about this whole thing tomorrow, but right now, I wanna get some sleep. And I can’t do that if I know my friend is outside, freezing herself to death.”

“… Appletini…” I take a small step forward… and see her smile. That’s all the motivation that I need to keep going. She’s not angry at me. She doesn’t hate me. And she’s not trying to chase me out of town! She… actually wants me to come back to her. I can’t believe it… My movements pick up speed, and I’m soon walking alongside Appletini at a leisurely pace. “I’m sorry.”

“… It’s okay,” she says as she wraps her foreleg around my neck. “I forgive you, Trixie. If you wanna make it up to me, you can help me with my work tomorrow.”

“But… that won’t bring back your broken vase, will it?”

Appletini doesn’t reply straight away. “True, but nothing will, now. Best I can do is have it repaired, but even then, it still won’t look the same. Still, don’t see where the sense would be in losing two important things, as opposed to just one.”

She called me important again. I’ve never been important before. That privilege is usually saved for ponies that just happened to be born into the right families. But to her, I’m important. Somehow, that washes away all the sadness I had just moments ago, and allows me to just calmly walk together through the streets of the Crystal Empire, in the warm company of my… friend.

“So,” she says, breaking the peaceful silence all of a sudden, “Was that… really the Princess that you were speaking to just now?”

“Oh, yeah… I don’t know what she was doing out here, but she…” I stop as I remember the conversation that I had with her. All of it comes flooding back to me, in good detail. And the I realise something. “… No way…”

“What? What is it?”

“… She got me!” I shout, and rightfully so. That Princess, how did she? “She actually got me to spill my guts!” Something the Princess said comes back to me. ‘But I discovered one method that proved rather effective at getting her to open up.’

“Trixie?” I turn my attention to Appletini. Not even this pony could get me to open up like I did with Cadance. It seems that Royals really do have some frightening powers. I’d better be careful, if I ever encounter her again.

“It’s nothing,” I say with a smile. Or, what I hope is a smile. I’m not really used to those yet. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”

She nods. Did I convince her? “Yeah, maybe we should pick up the pace.” … Her voice sounded a little different just then. I don’t think I managed to fool her… But, at least she’s not pressing me on it. So it should be fine, right?

I’ve been here before… It’s a place I recognise all too well. It’s that rock farm. The one owned by the Pie family. I stand before a huge boulder, with a rusty mining pickaxe in my hooves. Am I expected to mine this thing? No… I won’t! That’s not who I am! I am Trixie Lulamoon! It isn’t my destiny to mine rocks, and harvest the gems within them!

My destiny is to dazzle ponies with my spectacular magic! My destiny is to become a living legend! A hero for foals to look up to, and an idol for the common ponies to admire! I am the Great and Powerful Trixie! That’s what my Cutie Mark is telling me! … What?!

M-My Cutie Mark! It’s… It’s not there! No, it is, but… there’s something over it. Is that… It’s her Cutie Mark! “Twilight Sparkle!”

“Yes?” My ears stand up, and I turn my head to the source of the familiar voice. “What are you doing? Start mining, now!”

“H-How dare you?! Who do you think you’re talking to?! I am the Great and-”

“Just shut it and start mining already!” a new voice calls out. I turn around, and see that it belongs to that Rainbow one. Behind her, there are many ponies, most of which have their faces hidden behind shadows. “It’s all you’re good for, anyway.”

“T-That’s not true! I have a wide variety of talents, and-” A rock hitting my face cuts me off. “Hey!” Another rock hits my face. “STOP IT!” A third rock comes my way, followed by a fourth, and a fifth. The sixth brings me to my knees, and the seventh one is accompanied by a storm of angry, scornful comments.

“Nothing but a fake!”

“You’ll never belong!”

“Never show your face in our town again!”

“STOP IT!”

… Wait, that voice wasn’t mine. And… the rocks have stopped. I dare to look up at the crowd of angry ponies… There’s somepony new there. Do I know her? She looks familiar…

“I said stop it!” she shouts. Her voice is every bit as angry as those ponies that were just scorning me, but it’s not directed towards me. “She may not mean much to you, but to me, she’s important! She’s my friend!”

Appletini! What’s Appletini doing here? More importantly, is she defending me? The ponies in the crowd turn around, and begin to walk away. I turn around, and find that Twilight Sparkle is no longer there.

“Are you okay?” I turn back to Appletini, and see her smiling at me. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

“I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”

“Is there something wrong with me being in my own house?” I look around, and realise that she’s right. We’re no longer in that cold, lonely rock farm. We’re in her house… Her house in the Crystal Empire. “Of course we’re both here. After all, this is our home, right?”

Home? This is… my home? The place where I belong?

My eyes open to the feel of something shaking me about on my bed, and the sounds of somepony calling out my name. I look over at the window… it’s still pretty early. Oh, that’s right. I agreed to help Appletini out at her job today.

I roll around in my bed, and sure enough, there she is. Appletini, the mare who took me in, when I had nowhere else to go. The mare who forgave me when I hurt her. And, the mare who drove away the nightmare that has been haunting me for the past year.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” she says as I sit up, groaning from the effort that it takes. “You sleep well?”

I turn to her with a smile on my face, and nod. “Thanks to you.” She tilts her head and gives me a confused look, and I guess reaching out to her and hugging her wouldn’t exactly help any… Ah, screw it! The urge is too great! “Thanks,” I whisper as I wrap my forelegs around her neck.

“Um… D-Don’t mention it?” Yeah, I don’t blame her for being confused. Truth is, I’m just as confused about this whole thing as she is. But I don’t need an explanation. I’m happy, and that’s all that matters right now. “Hey, not that I’m against a little morning display of affection or anything, but if we don’t hurry, we’re gonna be late.”

I pull back from her, and hear my stomach rumbling. Well, that’s embarrassing… She begins to laugh at me, but it’s not the jeering, mocking laughter that I’m so used to. It’s a beautiful sound, that I’d hate to hear end. At the same time, I can’t help but feel embarrassed as she continues to laugh.

“Silence!” I shout. It doesn’t work. “I order you to stop that at once!”

“Or else what?” she asks. That look in her eyes, and the grin on her face… Is she challenging me?

“… Or else, I’ll make you stop.” She sticks her tongue out at me, and then turns around and runs out of the room.

“To do that, you’ll have ta get out of bed! Then you’ll have ta catch me!”

Challenge accepted! “Just you wait ‘til I get my hooves on you!” I shout as I jump out of bed, and charge towards her with all the dizziness of a pony who’s had one-too-many drinks. She runs down the hallway, and I can hear her running down the stairs quickly.

“Can’t catch me!”

Oh, it. Is. On! I rub my eyes, and let out a loud yawn. I stretch my legs, and give my brain a moment to switch on. Right, now it’s time to show this pony why I’m called the ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’. I charge out of the room, turn around the corner, and gallop full-speed towards the stairs.

“Trixie, careful on the-” CRASH! BAM! POW! “… Stairs.”

A New Complication

In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have run around like such a little foal on their birthday, completely ignoring everything around me. I’ve spent the last two years of my life in a state of constant awareness of my surroundings. If it was going to rain, I would know to find a cave, rather than sleep out in the open. If anypony started to laugh behind my back, I would know about it, on be on my guard.

Which begs the question: why did I fail to notice those stairs whilst I was chasing Appletini through the house? And why was I chasing her in the first place? I’m not some little kid, so I shouldn’t be acting like that. Taking part in some silly little game of tag like that… and enjoying it, to boot!

Still, it was… nice… while it lasted. Come to think of it, I used to laugh like that as a child, didn’t I? Back when I had no idea what kind of troubles lay ahead of me… and what kind of evils existed in this world. So, what, being around Appletini makes me feel like I’m a kid again? Should I be happy, or scared for my sanity?

Well, one thing’s certainly different about now than when I was a child: there was never anypony to help me with my ‘boo-boos’ back then. Not that I really mind a few scrapes of bruises all that much. I guess the one plus with living a life on the streets is that it toughens you up. Even if a few tears may have formed in my eyes after my fall – and I’m not saying that they did! – but even if they did, it’s hardly something that would bother me again in the future.

In fact, the only reason they’re hurting right now, is because – ow! – because Appletini won’t stop fussing with them. She insists on cleaning out my cuts, and putting plasters over them – with little smiley sunflower faces, I might add – to avoid risk of infection. Infection? Please! I’ve spent nights sleeping in gutters, in dumpsters, in caves where animals went to… do their business… This body of mine’s practically built up an immunity to silly little things like that. That one fever a few days ago was merely a fluke.

And the only reason I’m allowing her to do this, despite it being completely unnecessary, is because she won’t make breakfast until I let her. I could easily fix up something to eat myself, if I just took a minute to map out her kitchen, but I don’t want to overstep my boundaries and risk being kicked out again. I’ve been lucky to find somepony so great, who would let me stay, even after I bucked up so badly.

“There we are!” she says as she applies the last plaster to my foreleg. Great, now my body looks like a kindergartener’s art project. Some of these plasters have duck faces on them… Huh? Oh. You look at them upside-down, and they’re bunny rabbits… Cute. I guess I can’t really complain, though. Even though it was completely unnecessary, she was clearly worried about me. And she spent her precious time and medical supplies on me, to make sure that I was okay. She really is unlike other ponies…

“Great,” I answer. “But aren’t we going to be late to your job because of this?”

“Nah, it’s fine.” That’s clearly a lie, but again, she’s doing it for my sake. Call me selfish if you will, but after all I’ve been through, there’s no way I’m going to pass up a chance to be spoiled silly by this mare. “We’ll just have to skip breakfast, that’s all.”

… Oh. Well, I guess I should have that coming. Hey, it wouldn’t be the first time I skip an important meal of the day. I’ll just have to do my best not to think about food, that’s all… Wait, is she laughing at me right now? “What’s so funny?”

“You honestly believed me just then, didn’t you?” … So… that was a joke? “Oh my gosh, you’re too much!” Yeah, I think it was a joke. “You think I’m gonna skip breakfast, just to make sure I make it to my job on time? Please! You’re looking at the girl who was known for being late to every one of her classes throughout High School.”

That’s not something to brag about, you know? Though, at least now, I know we have something in common. I wonder what else we have in common? Any hobbies, interests, or fears? Come to think of it, I wonder what her job is? I don’t believe she ever told me.

“Hey, I was wondering…” She stops and looks at me expectantly. “Well, what exactly is your job? If I’m going to be helping you out today, I should probably know.”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you?” Not to my knowledge. “Well, I’m actually a freelance caterer! I travel all over the Crystal Empire to cater events, both big and small! … Or, I’d like to, at least. But so far, only a few districts outside our own have actually recognised me so far.”

So she travels. Yet another thing we have in com- Wait. Did she say… “‘Our’ district?” She nods in response.

“Yeah. Remember? Azure’s smoothed things over for you, so you’re officially a citizen of the 47th District!”

I nod, and even smile a little bit. “Right… So, you’re a caterer then. I would have figured a barmaid or something, from your Cutie Mark.”

“Well, mixing drinks is my specialty, but today, there’ll be none of that. Since our client today is the headmaster of the 47th District Primary School.”

“‘Primary School’?” I’ve never heard of such a type of school.

“Yeah. Y’know, just before High School? For foals aged four to eleven?”

“Oh. I see.” In Equestria, they’re called ‘Elementary Schools’… I think I like the Crystal Empire’s name for it better. Everything about this place is just better than Equestria in every way. “So, what, we’re lunch mares for today?”

“That’s right. It seems there’s some flu going around the school, and a lot of the lunch staff there are off ill. So they asked a professional to come in and help ‘em.”

“Who?”

“Uh… me.” We stare at each other in silence for a bit. “Wait, did you just… make a joke?”

Oh crap, I did. “Uh, yeah… I guess I could’ve made it more obvious, huh?” Appletini suddenly starts laughing. Huh, I guess it was a delayed reaction. Whatever, I got the desired result in the end: Appletini laughing, and me smiling.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell… this early in the morning? Though I guess I shouldn’t make assumptions about the customs here in the Crystal Empire. Still, I can’t say I’m too happy right now. I was having fun, and now I’ve got to hide.

“I’ll just go wait in the living room,” I tell Appletini. Of course, I could just put my hat on, but I don’t really see any point, since I’m sure whoever’s at the door isn’t here for me. And I have no intention of ‘mingling’ with other ponies. At least not until I can be sure that the ponies here can be trusted.

“You sure? You could at least say ‘hi’, y’know?”

“I’d really rather not.” Thankfully, Appletini shrugs, and seems to let it go as she walks towards the door. I duck around the corner, into the living room, and close the door… Darn it, my curiosity is telling me to listen in. But, what if I get caught? And it’s revealed that I’m the fugitive pony from Equestria? Not to mention, Appletini probably wouldn’t like me eavesdropping.

“Oh, Azure!” I hear from the other side of the door… Well, technically, it’s not eavesdropping if I can hear without even trying to listen in. “What’s up? If you’re here to hit on Trixie, I told you to give her some time. She’s still a little shy right now.”

… Shy? Shy? Is that what she thinks of me? I’m not shy, I’m just… cautious, that’s all. There’s a difference!

“I’m not here for that. It’s something serious.”

“Serious? From you?”

“Listen! Word about the fugitive pony from Equestria travelled pretty fast around the Empire, as expected. But, there’s one pony in particular who took an interest in the case, and he’s-”

“Oh, Azure. What a surprise to see you here.” A new voice. I don’t recognize it, but it’s definitely male.

“C-Crimson?! W-What, I can’t visit my friends in my spare time?”

“You only have a fifteen minute break. Surely you didn’t think you could woo over this mare in such a short amount of time?”

“So what if I did? Wait, how do you know my schedule, anyway?”

“Irrelevant. Like you, I am short on time, and my business here is with Miss Appletini. I assume you are her, ma’am?”

“Cut the crap. You already know that I am.”

“… I… beg your pardon?”

“What, you forgot me? I know it’s been a while, but-”

“Aah, I thought you looked familiar. You’re the mare who dated Lilac for a while. My condolences, by the way.”

“What do you want with me?”

“Right, I’ll cut right to the chase. I’ve heard eyewitness reports that link you with a blue Unicorn mare, who collapsed on the street, and was taken in by you to receive treatment. Is this correct?”

“It is not.” Wow, she answered quickly. Was she prepared for something like this? “The mare you’re referring to was a long-time friend of mine, who was putting on a show for the Crystal Fair. She merely used an illusion to look like a Unicorn, but pushed herself a little too far. That is all.”

Wow. She really has been preparing for something like this… Thank you, Appletini.

“Oh, is that so?” … “Well then, I do hope that this friend of yours is alright. I guess I’d better get back to my duties then… I just hope, for your sake, that you aren’t lying to me. After all, we don’t want to upset Equestria, and risk a conflict, now do we?”

I hear hoofsteps gradually moving away from the house. I guess he’s leaving… Which means that I’m safe for now, right?

“I take it Crimson was the one who took a special interest in the case, then?” I hear Appletini ask.

“Yeah. And he won’t give up so easily. He hates Equestrians, but fears their power. He wants them to stay out, but remain happy.”

“And, he’s also got that whole rivalry thing with you. If you’re hiding a fugitive, he’s definitely gonna do his best to reveal you.”

“Incidentally, how is Trixie doing? Or should I call her, Will-o-Wisp?”

“Where did you-”

“I heard that some mare named Will-o-Wisp put on a show yesterday. And there’s nopony else in our district, besides those two foals, whose special talents are magic.”

“I see. Well, we were just about to have breakfast, and then head over to the school for a catering job.”

“Together?”

“She’ll be assisting me today.”

“I see. Looks like you two are getting along just fine. Well, guess it’s too late to turn back now. Just remember, stay vigilant.”

“Don’t worry. If I get caught, I’ll make sure your involvement is kept secret.”

“… Idiot. Just don’t get caught.”

I hear hoofsteps moving away from the house again, followed by the sound of the door closing. I sit silently in the living room for a few seconds, before the door opens to reveal Appletini on the other side.

“Sorry ‘bout that. Just Azure, stoppin’ by ta hit on me, since his work’s been keeping him from doing that lately. He says ‘hi’, by the way.”

It’s clear she doesn’t know I heard everything… and that she’s trying not to make me worry. Even though I’m the cause of this whole mess… and even though it’s her neck on the line, as well as my own… she’s trying to take this whole thing on by herself. Why? Why not make me shoulder some of the burden? Or all of it? Does she think I’m incapable, or is this what ‘friendship’ means?

“So, wanna eat breakfast real quick, before we have another interruption?”

… Well, she’s seems happy, anyway. I don’t want to ruin the mood right now. Maybe I’ll tell her later, but for now, I just want to… to eat whatever is causing that wonderful smell from the kitchen.

I always had mixed feelings about foals. A lot of them were loud, and annoying, and always bothering me whenever I just wanted to relax. But then some were just so cute, I almost wanted to take them on as my magical students.

Some were always demanding more from my shows, and some would just sit quietly and respectfully as they watched… And then, of course, there were the foals that would seek to interrupt my shows with rude comments and outbursts. And of course, defending yourself against hecklers isn’t so easy, when the heckler is a kid.

However, it wasn’t until after the whole ursa minor incident that kids really became a problem. For the most part, if I just showed them something ‘awesome’, they would instantly fall in love with my shows, and would thus drag their parents or guardians along to watch them. After the ursa minor incident, though, children across Equestria took after their parents… and join them in shunning and scorning me whenever I set hoof in their towns.

And, again, I can’t defend myself against foals. Punching bitch mares that graffiti my trailer, or bastard stallions that throw produce at me, is one thing, but I can’t very well raise my hoof against a child, now can I? No, because that stupid, ‘benevolent’ Princess would lock me up and throw me down into the Canterlot dungeons, and then I wouldn’t even have my freedom anymore.

Stupid ponies… Stupid Princesses… Stupid EQUESTRIA! Who needs it?! The Crystal Empire is my home now! This is where I belong now! Where I will stay! Where I will-

“Will-o-Wisp?”

Ah! Oh, crap. I got lost in thought, didn’t I? Let’s see, Appletini just called out to me… Huh? Where’d she go? She was just walking in front of me a second ago…

“Where’re you going?” I turn around to find Appletini standing behind me, stifling a giggle. “You space out or something? Anyway, we’re here.” She motions her hoof over the building to her right. The plaque at the front indicates that this is the ‘Primary School’. And she’s still laughing.

“Stop that,” I say, and I swear I’m not blushing. It’s just a little warm out today, that’s all. “I was just preparing myself for the task ahead. Making sure I was in ‘culinary mode’.”

“Oooh, riiiiight.” The sarcasm is strong with this one. “Well then, you must be really prepared, because you’ve been ignoring me this entire walk over.”

“… No I haven’t.”

“Yes you have.”

“No, I was just being a good listener.”

“And a poor answerer.”

“Look, are we going to go in there and cook some food already?”

“Sure. Just as soon you apologise for ignoring me.”

What? If you wanted me to answer, you should have just spoke louder. Or nudged me or something. I can’t help it if my mind likes to wander off… But, I don’t want to upset her… Maybe I should just apologise and get it over with.

“… Sorry…”

“What was that? Didn’t quite hear ya.”

“Don’t push your luck. I know I spoke loud enough for you to hear me just fine.”

“Maybe I’ve got a hearing problem,” she says, not at all convincingly. “Okay, okay. I’ll accept your apology. Now, you ready to cook some delicious crystal cuisine?”

“I guess.” I can’t help but notice that everything in the Crystal Empire, even the food, contains… well, crystals. I’m not particularly accustomed to making crystal food… Well, I’m sure it can’t be that much different. Just gotta ask for a cook book, take a few minutes to read through it, and I should be good to go.

Since when was the art of preparing and cooking food so dangerous?! I mean, sure, the kitchen is a fire hazard. Sure, you could burn your hoof on the grill. I even hear that the griffons have this dish called ‘fugu fish’, which, if prepared wrong, is poisonous. Why anyone would ever eat food like that, I have no idea. Seems kind of like a northern roulette.

However, I have never heard of a case where preparing a pudding could be an explosion hazard! Or where preparing mashed potatoes could produce an acid strong enough to burn through metal! Thankfully, they use crystal counters, which is able to resist said acid, but my hooves aren’t crystal! And I have no intention of losing either of them, thank you so very much!

“What’s wrong?” Appletini asks, as if I was complaining about a little dirt from walking in a field. “I thought you’ve cooked before.”

“I’ve cooked proper meals! Meals that don’t blow up in your face if you get the temperature one degree wrong! Meals that don’t eat away your hooves if you mix just a little too fast!”

“We have special gloves for that, y’know?” … Actually, I didn’t. Still!

“That’s beside the point! Why is your food so… dangerous?!”

Appletini sighs, and puts down the mixing bowl she was holding onto the counter next to us. I back the hell away from it. “It’s not like we can help it, y’know? Remember, this far north, plants and things just don’t grow. And, even with the barrier protecting the Empire, back when it was first created, we didn’t have trains back then. We couldn’t trade goods with Equestria. Hay, we didn’t even know about Equestria until a good one hundred years before Sombra’s rule.

“We had to use crystal replicas of plants and animals, not just for décor, but for supplies, too. All our feathers, wool, food ingredients, and all that… they come from crystal replicas. And, as a result, they’re a lot more dangerous to handle than what you might be used to. Of course, since we had nothing to compare it to, we never really noticed. It was all we had, so we just focused on minimising the risks of handling such things.”

… Wow. That’s… That’s gotta suck. When you could die, just from trying to prepare a simple meal. Though, I guess the Crystal Ponies, having to deal with this way of life for so long, have managed to make it so that it’s not so dangerous anymore. Even so…

“But, I’m not a Crystal Pony,” I say. I still don’t trust whatever’s in that mixing bowl. “I’ve… never prepared food like this before. To me, the only kind of hazards when I could anything was a fire if I knocked something over.”

Appletini looks at me… is that pity in her eyes? She’s pitying me, for not having to deal with such dangerous methods of cooking before?

“I understand,” she says. “Sorry, I should’ve realised that you wouldn’t be used to preparing crystal food. Well then, how about you go help set out the table placements, if you’re feeling uncomfortable preparing anything in this kitchen?”

“… N-No. I said that I would help you, and I will!” Actually, I just don’t want to be stuck doing something so small and insignificant.

“Actually, it’d be a big help if you did. There are about three hundred places to set, and none of the lunch mares seem particularly keen on doing it.”

I can see why. Three hundred placements to set out? I’m going to go out on a limb, and assume that that’s for the whole school. Well, I guess… it’s safer than preparing mashed acid-potatoes…

“The crystal plates won’t blow up if I set them wrong, will they?” I ask. Appletini laughs, and assures me that they won’t. From her tone, she must have thought I was joking. But I was being deadly serious… Well, whatever. She’s laughing, I’ve got a much safer job now, so I can’t really complain.

Okay, that’s placement number forty eight done… Aaaand, I’m keeping track. Great. Couldn’t they have at least put a radio out here, so I could listen to some… Actually, what kind of music do they have here in the Crystal Empire? I should ask Appletini about that later. Placement number forty nine. I think I’ll take a restroom break at six-

“Hi!”

AH! W-What the? Where did this colt come from all of a sudden? Kid’s lucky I managed to catch the plates with my magic before they-

“Wow, cool! You’re using magic, but there’s no glow!”

Glow? What does he… AH! I forgot to make the glow appear around my hooves! “U-Uh, that’s… Just a trick!” I quickly conjure up some magic, and my hooves begin to glow. “See? I’m an illusionist, after all, and, uh…” He’s not buying it, is he?

“I knew it!” … Or, maybe he is. “I saw your show yesterday, in the market square. You were awesome! I wanted to talk to you after the show, but you walked away before I could, and then my mama caught my skiving, and I got in serious trouble. I tried to use one of your smoke illusions, but it totally failed. I’m such a klutz with my magic when I’m under pressure. Hey, that trick you did with the cards, when you-”

Oh Faust, is he going to keep talking forever? C’mon, kid! I’ve got a job to… Oh, who am I kidding? This job was boring me anyway. Let’s see, he said that he was in the crowd yesterday… I don’t recall seeing any yellow-coated, red-maned colts in the audience… Then again, this shrimp would probably have been hidden behind all of the older ponies there.

Hm? Oh, would you look at that? His Cutie Mark… it’s a shooting star. Astronomy-based Cutie Marks are often signs of one of two things: either a special talent in astronomy (duh), or a special talent in magic.

However, judging by his Cutie Mark… and the way he’s talking so enthusiastically about my show, I’d wager his special talent is indeed magic-based. Maybe somewhere in the field of… ritual magic? Nah, not that. Maybe illusions… Welp, safe to say his life’s not gonna be happy. Not if Cutie Marks truly do decide your destiny.

“Hey, Ms. Will-o-Wisp!” Oh, I’d better continue setting out these placements. “Can I ask you something?”

“What is it, little…”

“Astra!” he answers. “Astral Projection is my full name, but everypony just calls me Astra for short.”

… Not a bad name, I guess. “What is it, Astral? And could you move aside, so I can place these plates down?”

“Oh, sorry!” He quickly scurries out of the way, and I resume the job I was asked to do by Appletini. “I was wondering, if you could make me your magic apprentice!”

The sounds of plates crashing on the ground echo across the room.

A New Apprentice

“Please?”

Persistent. “No.”

“Please?”

Very persistent. “No.”

“Please?”

I wonder if it would be okay to zip his mouth shut? He’d probably like it, considering he’s clearly such a fan of magic. “No.”

“Please?”

Just concentrate on setting the plates and cutlery. I’m about halfway do- Darn it, I put two forks down by mistake! Just swap that with a knife…

“Please?”

Okay, so ignoring him doesn’t work. It was worth a shot. “Don’t you have classes you should be getting to?”

“Please?”

He doesn’t even answer my question! What is with this kid? “Go away.”

“Please?”

There’s only so much I can take… Why is he being so insistent? “Look, kid-”

“Astra.”

Oh, he said something different. Perhaps there’s hope after all. “Look, Astral, I have no intention of taking on an apprentice right now.”

“… Please?”

GAAAAAAAH! What will it take to get this child to back off?! I mean, besides saying ‘yes’, of course. “What makes you think I can even teach you magic, anyway?” … A part of me feels betrayed for asking such a question, but if it makes him just go away already…

“You’re the only one who can!” I stop and give him a curious look. “Nopony else in this district specialises in magic! Well, except Mist, but she’s the same age as me! You’re the only one who can teach me magic!”

“… Even so, I really don’t think I can right now. Sorry kid, but I have my own problems to deal with.”

“Pleeeeeeease?” Oh, this again? I would be more frustrated, and probably be on the verge of telling him to shut up right now… except, he seems to be running off on his own. Huh. “I know! I’ll show you what I can do?” … From inside a closet? What is he planning? “So?”

AH! What the?! I turn around quickly, and find… A-Astral?! But, how?! Did he teleport? At his age? No, that’s not it… “An illusion?”

“Yup!” he responds cheerfully with a nod. Right, that would explain how he’s floating in the air right now. “Pretty neat, huh? But without somepony to properly teach me, I can-” … “I can’t maintain it for very long,” he finishes as he exits the closet behind me, his illusionary image now just mist hanging in the air.

“… Well, that’s certainly impressive, for a self-taught colt of your age. Reminds me of myself, when I was young.” Wait, now that I think about it. “Well, I guess you are over one thousand years old.”

I thought it was pretty clever, but apparently he didn’t agree. Not by the confused look on his face. “Well, yeah, but… aren’t you, too?”

… Oops. “Uh, y-yeah! Of course I am! I was just… S-So, illusionary magic, huh? I warn you, it’s not an easy lifestyle!”

Astral shakes his head, his long bangs flying left and right as he does so. “From what I saw yesterday, it sure looks pretty awesome! And besides, I love illusions!” Awww, I think he’s starting to grow on me. “They’re great for pulling pranks, and peeking in the fillies’ changing room!” … Aaand, it’s gone.

“Well, what you just used was certainly an interesting form of illusionary magic. Astral projection, through a solid surface… Not many ponies can do that.” I don’t think he needs to know that it’s one of the skills I myself lack. “You certainly live up to your name, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in seeing where you go with some training.”

Great, now he’s looking at me with the most hopeful smile on his face. I didn’t mean to lead him on… I should probably just break his heart now, and be done with it. Quick and painful, like ripping off a bandage. “But unfortunately, there’s just no way I can be your tutor.”

“Why nooooot?”

“It’s complicated! I have my reasons, okay?!”

“Isn’t there anything I can do? I’ll pay you, if you want! Or I could do some chores for you! Or I could-”

For the love of… Wait, I think I have an idea. “Say, kid. What are your current test scores in… let’s say, English and Math?”

“Huh? What does that have to-”

“Just answer the question.”

“… Thirty-five in Math, and… twenty in English…” … Yeah, this should work.

“Okay, here’s what I propose. You double those scores of yours when your next test comes along, and I’ll make you my apprentice.”

“What?!” Yeah, I think this’ll work. “What does that have to do with magic?!”

“A good magician needs to train all aspects of their mind to succeed.” Well, not exactly. Math and English really have nothing to do with being a good magician. I just want him to leave me alone!

“But, the next test is tomorrow! You can’t expect me to-”

Oh, this is perfect. “Well then, you’d better get off to class and take some notes, shouldn’t you?” He gives me a pleading look. As if to tell him that this is all a joke. Or as if I’ll change my mind if I just look into his big puppy dog eyes. Sorry, kid, but those eyes don’t work on me. Not since I learned the truth about ponies. You may look all cute and innocent, but I know better than to judge from external appearances… Still, damn. He’s pretty freaking adorable. But then, so was the filly that threw a pie at me a little over a month ago.

“You’re losing precious time,” I tell him, to let him know that I’m quite serious. He quickly turns around, and starts to dash off down the hallway. And with that, that nuisance is gone. Now I can finally get back to this boring job that Appletini asked me to do, whilst time completely slows down around me… At least I don’t have to talk to anypony. That’s always a nice bonus…

“Hey.” AH! What is it with ponies in this Country, always sneaking up on others?! Wait, Appletini? Shouldn’t she be in the kitchen right about now? “I just finished up in the kitchen. Well, for now, at least.” What are you, a mind reader? “No, I can’t read minds. You’re just a easy to read, once you get to know you. Anyway, I thought I’d come and give you a hoof.”

“That’s really not necessary. I’m getting along just fine on my own.”

“Really? Five broken plates, and you’re just barely half done.” Blame that stupid brat, not me! “Besides, I bet you’re bored. We can talk to each other while we work. What d’ya say?”

… Well, I guess, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. “Sure, why not? If you’re fine with boring yourself stupid.”

“Hey, no worries there,” she answers, laughing light-heartedly as I pass some of the plates to her. Okay, so maybe this won’t be so bad after all… Thanks, Appletini.

Yawwwwwnw…

If there’s one thing I can say for sure since I started living here, it’s that my sleep schedule has made drastic improvements. I’m no longer being woken up in the middle of the night by terrible nightmares, and I’ve not been trying to keep myself up at night anymore.

It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do for somepony. There are times when I wake up in the morning wanting to break into song. And I never realised that my magic had actually been suppressed these past two years.

It’s been four days now since that whole, nasty incident with the vase, and I have to admit, they have been the best days of my life, as far as I can recall. I performed another show just a few days ago, and the ponies loved it! Or, they seemed to, at least. The ponies in Equestria seemed to love my shows at first, too, but that changed rather drastically.

…

No! This isn’t Equestria! This is the Crystal Empire, and the ponies here aren’t-

Knock knock!

An early morning visitor? Is it Azure again? I never really thanked him, for taking part in hiding me from the Royal Guard. Though, to be fair, I haven’t really seen that much of him, either. That guy must be busy, being in charge of an entire district. Now that I think about it, there was that other stallion, ‘Crimson’, who was looking for me, right? Could he be trying to keep Crimson from finding me? Would he honestly go to such lengths for me?

Well, if what Appletini says about him is accurate, it could just be an attempt to get into bed with me. That’s certainly a new one. Usually, ponies are desperate to drive me away, not lure me in.

“Trixie?” I look up towards the guestroom door, where Appletini is currently standing, looking down at me. “There’s a visitor here for you. Would you like to talk to him?”

“… Who is it?” If it was Azure, surely she could just bring him up here. But, who else would be here to see me?

“It’s a colt name ‘Astral Projection’.” … What? “He says he’s here to become your apprentice.” What? “He seemed very enthusiastic about it. What’s this all about, exactly?”

“… Nothing. I’ll take care of it.” This kid really is persistent. I need to deal with this right now, before he continues being a problem. “But, why is here so early in the morning?”

Appletini giggles. Why? Did my mane look dis-shelved or something? I mean, more so than it usually does in the morning? “Actually, it’s afternoon.” It’s what?! And she didn’t think to wake me earlier. “Sorry, but you looked like you were having such a nice dream. I didn’t want to wake you.”

I was having a nice dream? I can’t really remember it, but… “Anyway, tell him I’ll be right there.”

Appletini nods, and leaves the room. I sigh and turn towards my dresser, where my hat is laying atop my neatly folded-up cape. I just need my hat, to hide my horn. It’s pretty warm this morn- … This afternoon, so I won’t really be needing my cape right now.

“Alright, time to just get it through this kid’s head, that he can’t be my apprentice.” But first, I’d better brush my mane. Even if it’s just a child, I should still tidy myself up a bit. Especially if it’s one of my fans… Hmmm, maybe I could give him an autograph or something, so he doesn’t feel like he came all this way for nothing?

… Wait, how did he even find this place?! Is he a stalker or something? Now that I think about it, he did say something about using his magic to peek on fillies… Well, he’s just a colt. Just as long as he stops bothering me after today, I don’t really care what he does in his spare time.

I quickly tidy my mane up, and put on my hat. Horn successfully hidden. Now to have a little chat with this colt.

I leave the guestroom and make my way downstairs. The colt is standing there at the door, waiting patiently for me, with a huge grin on his face. It almost breaks my heart to have to turn him away. Almost.

“You really don’t know how to take no for an answer, do you?” Rather than looking upset, or pleading for me to accept him, like I expected he would, he looks confused instead.

“But, I thought you said you would take me on as your apprentice, if I doubled my test scores.” … Oh yeah. I did say that. Wait, he couldn’t possibly mean- “Well, read ‘em and weep!” His hooves light up, and his saddlebag opens. Out of it, comes two pieces of paper, which he presents to me.

An English test paper: ‘67%’. And, a Math test paper: ‘76%’.

… Oh. Well, that plan certainly blew up in my face. Time for plan B: gotta dissuade him from wanting to be my apprentice in the first place.

“So, I can be your apprentice now, right? What you gonna teach me first? Teleportation? Enchantments? Summoning demons from Tartarus?” Which may prove to be a challenge. And summoning? I’m an illusionist, not a conjurer! At best, I can summon flowers from a short distance away.

“Astral, isn’t there anypony else in the Crystal Empire who you’d rather-”

“You said you’d teach me if I doubled my test scores!” he shouts, cutting me off. “And I did that, so now you have to teach me!”

Okay, so he’s clearly not going to back down, no matter what I say. And, I did make a deal with him… “I guess I have no choice,” I say with a sigh. “But, you must first get your parents’ permission, so that I can’t be held accountable if anything happens to you.” Should’ve thought of that earlier. Better late than never, I guess.

“I have that!” He pulls out another piece of paper, and shows it to me. It’s… written consent from his parents to let ‘Will-o-Wisp’ teach their son, and that said mare will not be held accountable for any injuries their son might endure in his training, signed by both parents. “See? No problem!”

I guess, but… who the hay entrusts their son’s safety to a complete stranger so easily?! “Well, I guess there’s no harm in teaching you some magic… Alright, fine. Come back here tomorrow afternoon, and we’ll get started.” I’ll just find some complicated spell for him to practice on his own. Something that’ll take him at least a couple of weeks to do. After that… it’s future Trixie’s problem.

“Awww, can’t we start right now?” Again with the puppy dog eyes. Like I said, that won’t work on me!

“Oh, you’re taking on a pupil?” a voice behind me asks. “Neat! Mind if I watch your class? I haven’t really got anything to do today, anyway.”

Appletini… don’t make things more complicated than they already are! “Pleeeeeease! I brought a boxed lunch so that I could stay for a while!”

“Why don’t you? You were just planning on snoozing the day away anyway, weren’t you?”

“Oh please oh please oh please oh PLEEEEEASE!”

“How could you say ‘no’ to that face?”

This is ridiculous. This whole situation is just ridiculous! And why is Appletini suddenly on this colt’s side?! Argh, fine! It seems there’s really no other way out of this. “Alright, alright! I’ll teach him some basic stage magic for today… but after lunch! Trixie is starving right now.”

… Why is everything suddenly so silent.

“Who?” Astral asks… D-Did I just-

“M-My cat!” Appletini quickly exclaims. “My pet cat. I call her Trixie. And Will-o-Wisp is right; Trixie can get might agitated when she’s hungry.”

… I’m not sure if that was part of the act, or if she actually was talking about me when she said that. “Right, so why don’t you go outside and warm yourself up, whilst we have our lunch in here?” I say to Astral, who seems to have bought the whole cat story. “About one hundred push-ups should do the trick.”

As expected, Astral groans and complains. It’s to be expected; magicians are, for the most part, lazy, and not very good at physical exercise. “Do I have to?”

“Who is your tutor?”

“… You are, Ms. Will-o-Wisp.”

I shoot him a smile, and pat him on the head. I think I could actually get used to this. “Good. Now, one hundred push-ups, whilst your tutor has her lunch. And then, we’ll get started on your training.”

That seems to have perked him up, as he quickly jumps to attention and salutes me. “Yes, ma’am!” he shouts. He runs outside of the house, leaving me and Appletini alone.

“What was that all about?” Appletini asks. I assume she means Astral.

“Remember that kid I was telling you about three days ago? The one that wanted to be my apprentice?”

Appletini shakes her head. “No, not that. I kind of figured that the kid you met was Astra. I was actually talking about your third-pony. You’ve never done that before.”

Oh. That. “Yeah, I actually used to do that all of the time. It’s just how I liked to speak, and I guess it kinda… slipped out?”

Appletini giggles. At what, I’m not sure of. “Oh, sorry. I just pictured you speaking like that in casual conversation, and it sounded pretty cute.”

“Cute?” That’s not quite the ‘Great and Powerful’ image I was going for… but at least it’s not a negative comment. “Well, I’m gonna have to be careful about that, huh? Can’t just go around revealing my true name like that.”

“Well, on the plus side, it certainly sounds like you’re doing a lot better now.”

‘Doing a lot better’? … Yeah, I guess I am. But, it’s only because of you being there for me. Because you accepted me, as if I were one you Crystal Ponies. Because you didn’t throw me aside, no matter what. Because you… never knew of my past. You never knew of my humiliation at the Unicorn’s hooves. Or how I succumbed to that dark amulet, and enslaved an entire town… And I intend on keeping it that way.

“So, what’s for lunch today?”

“Well, since you skipped breakfast…” Totally not my fault. “… Appletini thought she’d make you something big for lunch today.”

“… Are you mocking me?” I ask, and Appletini tilts her head, looking confused.

“Appletini isn’t sure what you mean.”

Okay, I’ll play along. “Trixie doesn’t appreciate that. Stop that now, or you shall face her wrath.”

“Ooh, Appletini is so scared! She’s practically shaking in her boots.”

“You’re not even wearing boots, and you should be scared of the Great and Powerful Trixie’s power!”

“‘Great and Powerful’? Well, the, uh…” She hesitates for a moment. “… Charming, and Generous Appletini, begs to differ!”

“Then Trixie will show you just what kind of power you are messing with!”

“Then Appletini won’t make you any lunch!” My stomach growls before I can say anything in response. Stupid internal organs. How dare you betray me?! “I thought so. Now be a dear and set the table for me, and Appletini will have your lunch ready before you can say ‘crystal’.”

“‘Crystal’.” As expected, no lunch. I smile triumphantly. It’s only a small victory, but it’s still a victory, nonetheless.

Appletini wasn’t kidding about it being a big lunch. After I had finished eating, I felt like I had enough energy to do just about anything! Even put up with this annoying like colt, still begging me to teach him some ‘awesome magic’. Well, I’m in a good mood right now, so I think I’ll oblige. And the first thing I’ll do is teach him the very first spell that I ever learned: illusionary fireworks.

Not quite as enchanting or as loud as real fireworks, unless you specifically tune them to be so, at the risk of going too far and harming your audience. Overdoing you illusionary spells can cause damage to a pony’s brain, so it’s important to know when not to go too far with them, and how to control your magic at all times.

They may be as good as real fireworks, but on the plus side, they can be used indoors, since there is no risk of causing a fire. It’s also a good way to save money.

So, here I am, giving my very first lesson to somepony. My own apprentice. My own personal student. Somepony who actually looks up to me, and admires me, and doesn’t bring giant, rampaging beasts to a populated area… Maybe I should give him a lecture on that later, just to be safe.

“Like this, Ms. Will-o-Wisp?” he asks, charging magic into his hooves and pointing them at the ground. A few sparks of light form from the grass, but that’s all.

“Not quite the same, is it?” Appletini asks. She decided to tag along and watch us, just like she said. I don’t really mind… In fact, if I slip up again, it may prove useful to have her around.

“Try just with one hoof for now. The result will be less than satisfactory, but it will be easier to get a hang of the spell, before you move on to both hooves.”

Astral nods, and lowers one of his hooves down to his side. Appletini approaches me, and leans towards me to whisper: “How d’you know that? I thought you Unicorns used your horns for magic.”

A good question. “When I do magic here, I have to charge some of it into my hooves, to produce a glowing aura. It’s easier to produce that aura in just one hoof than two, so I figured the same principle would apply here. At the very least, I can test my theory.”

“So he’s a lab rat?”

“Of course not. Rats are cute.” Appletini facehooves, but laughs anyway. That stops when a familiar pony approaches us.

“Hey there, you guys.” Azure? Was he looking for us? “Will-o-Wisp, nice show you put on the other day.”

“You were there?”

“Sure was, though I didn’t get a chance to speak to you afterwards, what with all of the ponies swarming you. Most ponies are wondering if you’ll be performing something special during the next Crystal Fair.”

The Crystal Fair… an event that happens four times a year in the Crystal Empire, once a season. The premise is simple enough: the ponies have fun at the fair, take part in activities, and then use their ‘love’ to power the Crystal Heart. Almost like some video-game side-quest sort of thing.

“Well, I may consider it,” I answer nonchalantly. I’ll do more than consider it, though. If these ponies want, want, me to perform, then of course I’m not going to say no! I’ll be the talk of the tow- District! Ponies from other districts will be crowding my stage, begging for autographs, and asking me to move my show into their districts! I won’t be able to, of course, because of the Royal Guard, but it’ll be great! I’ll be the centre of attention! I’ll be loved by the masses once more! I’ll have an audience that will never want me to leave!

“Hey,” Azure says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “You, uh… know that you’re drooling, right?”

I am? … Oh crap, I am! I quickly wipe the drool away from my mouth, and turn to face Appletini as she giggles.

“I imagine she was picturing herself making it big at the Crystal Fair. I believe I was the same way, when I set up my own stall for the first time during a fair.”

Azure joins her in laughing. “Yes, a lot of ponies get excited for their first time taking part in a Crystal Fair. Though, I feel I should warn you, the first time doesn’t always go so well.”

“Yeah, my first time was terrible. Completely messed up my fritters, burned the cookies, spilled the cocktails everywhere… not to mention how many orders I got wrong.”

Azure nods. “My first time wasn’t exactly something to brag about, either. I made a complete mess of the scheduling, and as a result, the entire district was in a state of complete and utter chaos.”

“Your first times?” a voice behind me asks. I turn around to find Astral looking up at us, with a curious look on his face.

“Yes. Everypony’s first time is-” Azure stops, and also looks down at the colt, who is now grinning and obviously resisting the urge to burst out laughing.

“Oooh, you’re talking about firsts? Let me in! I need to take notes!”

I can’t help but grin as I see the blushes on Azure and Appletini’s faces. Hey, this colt isn’t so bad after all.

“N-No!” Azure quickly says. “Not that kind of ‘first time’! We’re talking about the Crystal Fairs.”

Astral looks disappointed. “Well, that’s no fun. What’s the point of the Crystal Fairs? I’m not in ‘em yet, after all.”

Appletini kneels down, and looks Astral in the eyes. “You could always, I dunno, join your class performances?”

Astral shakes his head. “Too many ponies. I hate working with others. Things get too complicated, and I like to do things according to my own schedule.” He looks up at me. “On the other hoof, I wouldn’t mind helping Ms. Will-o-Wisp during her performance!”

Awww, well ain’t that cute? The kid thinks he’s worthy of sharing the stage with me, and it’s only his first day of training. “We’ll see, Astral,” I tell him, patting him on the head, and roughing up his mane a little bit. “For now, how are you doing with that spell?”

“Oh, the fireworks? I think I got it.” He holds up one hoof, and it begins to glow with a yellow aura. Sparks of light begin to emerge from the ground, followed by two tiny, very slow fireworks. Now, whilst such a thing would utterly fail to impress an audience… such progress, from such a short amount of time training, was very good. The kid definitely showed promise.

Perhaps I won’t regret this after all.

“Not bad. Perhaps you will be sharing the stage with me someday soon.” He gives me a proud grin. “But not by the next Crystal Fair,” I clarify, instantly shattering his grin, and prompting him to immediately move on to using two hooves for the fireworks spell.

It took me three days to learn this spell. And by learn it, I mean doing it to a standard that would be deemed passable in your average Magic School. Let’s see how long it take Astral… I’ll give him five days. If he can learn it by then, then I think I’ll give him a little reward. Something to show him that I’m willing to take him seriously as my apparent-

!!!

I turn around quickly, and scan the area around me. What was that? I felt a malicious intent just now… But, it felt different than what I’ve felt in the past. I’m not sure how to describe it… It was unmistakably the eyes of a pony, watching and studying its prey, but…

“What’s wrong?” Azure asks. “Shouldn’t you be watching your ‘pupil’?”

… Well, whatever it was, it’s gone now. And, with Appletini and Azure here, I don’t think I have anything to worry… about…

“Will-o-Wisp?” Appletini asks.

I quickly shake my head. “It’s nothing. I’m just… I was just thinking, I’m so glad to have met you both.”

Appletini blushes, and turns her head away. I think that’s a good sign. Azure simply laughs, and pulls me into a headlock. Not a violent one, but a playful one. As if I were his kid sister. Though, a week ago, I would not have known the difference, and would have reacted violently. But I know now. He’s my friend, too, just like Appletini is.

“You moron, don’t go getting all sappy on us! Alright, let’s get it all out of the way! You’re our friend, Trix, and we’ll always be here to help you when you need it!”

“That’s right,” Appletini says, pushing Azure away to free me from his hold. “And, we’re glad to have met you, too. Even if you do have trouble following your hoofsteps, we’ll gladly take it on with you.”

“Me too, me too!” Astral shouts, tugging at my tail from behind. I turn around quickly, to make him stop. “I wanna be your friend too! Can I?”

I’m not sure how to answer, but it turns out I don’t need to. Azure leans down, and lift Astral up onto his back. “There ya are, Trixie! Three friends right here for ya! And an apprentice!”

“Yaaaaay!”

… You jerks… You’re making me smile against my will! You’re making me feel something I haven’t felt since what feels like forever! Something that I thought had died within me, and would never come back…

But, Azure’s right. This is getting way too sappy now. I should probably end this moment, before it drags on, and starts to make somepony – definitely not me – shed a tear.

“Alright, alright. I was merely trying to be friendly, that’s all.” I turn back to Astral, who is now standing on the ground once again. “Well then, you’d better get back to work. My record for learning that spell was three days. Can you do better?”

“Watch me!” he shouts back, very enthusiastically. This kid… is gonna go far. “Just one question: why did Mr. Azure call you ‘Trixie’?”

… AAAAAAZUUUUUUUURE!

A New Enemy?

Appletini should be finishing up her job now, and then she’ll be on her way home. No, wait. If I recall correctly, she’ll be stopping by Stitch N. Sew’s on her way back. I wonder what she’ll be making for dinner tonight. I’m in the mood for some crystal waffles myself, but-

“Ms. Will-o-Wisp!” Oh, is he done already? “Can you show me one more time? I think I’ve almost got it!” I guess not. Astral’s been making some fine progress, to be sure. At this rate, I have no doubts he’ll have the fireworks spell down before the end of today. Of course, it helped that I identified his real talent a few days ago…

“Oh, very well then. But this is the last time, so pay close attention.” Astral nods vigorously. I get up off of the bench that I was lounging on, and position myself right next to my pupil. “Remember, pay close attention to the way my aura shifts about.”

This would be so much easier if I could just show him my horn. But, even if he is just a kid, that is one secret that I must take to my grave. Thankfully, it wasn’t hard to divert his attention from Azure’s little slip up regarding my name a few days ago, but there’s no way I could make him forget about my horn if he ever saw it.

Instead, I must make do with trying to reproduce the aura around my horn when I cast magic, around my hooves. Because of this, it takes a little longer to build up my spell, but fortunately, I can pass this off as me taking it slowly, for Astral’s sake.

I point my hooves forward, but I’m not aiming at the ground directly in front of me. Instead, I’m aiming at the ground a good few feet away. Why? Because of Astral’s special talent: long-range magic.

At first, I thought that he was an illusionist, just like me. But that’s not true. He’s adept at all forms of magic, but only if they’re long-range. Short-range, I’ve found him to be less than competent at even the simplest spells.

That explains how he was able to perform astral projection through a solid object, yet was having so much trouble setting off illusionary fireworks right in front of him. It’s not matter of how long he had practiced the different spells. It’s just that his magic is suited to long-range, and through solid object, even if it’s just into the room right next door, is the same as a very long-range spell.

Many ponies don’t realise that there’s a difference between short-range and long-range magic. They think that, if a pony’s special talent is magic-based, then range doesn’t matter. But it does. No matter what your special talent is, range is always a key factor in any magic. Think about it like golf: long drives and short putts are two very different skill sets, and more often than not, ponies find themselves much better at one than the other.

As proof of this, the moment Astral began to perform the fireworks spell at a much longer distance – one that even I would have trouble performing at – he began to make rapid progress. I even asked him to try a few over types of spells, just to confirm that he wasn’t purely an illusionist, and sure enough, he revealed himself to be what is commonly referred to as an ‘omnimage’. As the name implies, he is a mage that can perform well in all disciplines.

Omnimages, however, are often limited in their capacity of each magical discipline. Simply put, they have a wider variety of spells, but less power attributed to them. He could easily become a master illusionist, but he’ll never be able to surpass somepony whose talent is dedicated to it.

The exception to this rule is for ‘special cases’. A rare talent that only very few magicians posses. Starswirl the Bearded possessed it, and so does… so does she. Unicorns whose special talent is raw magical power. They often become omnimages of great talent. A wide variety of magic, and plenty of power to back it up.

Hmph. Well, even if she is one of those ponies, she’ll never best me in a battle of illusions. She’s not the only pony brimming with energy. Just ‘cause she was in the right place at the right time, and made the right connections with the right ponies, doesn’t mean she’ll ever amount to my level of talent!

“Uh, Ms. Will-o-Wisp?”

Okay, so I can’t beat an ursa minor. Who can, to be fair?! But so what?! I’ve trained hard to get where I am today! I’ve pushed myself to the limit! Practised so hard that my horn bled (I don’t recommend it, by the way), and I am a great illusionist!

“Ms. Will-o-Wisp!”

You may be the Princess’ pet, and yes, you have talent. But that does not mean you are better than me! Could you survive living out in the streets all on your own, shunned by everypony you meet, and without your precious friends by your side? No! You wouldn’t have survived a week of what I endured, and-

“Ms. Will-o-Wisp!”

What the what? OH! I’m still doing my spell, aren’t I? … Ah, great. Her face made me increase the spell’s power too much. I think I scared a few ponies passing by. I stop the barrage of fireworks shooting out of the ground, and take a deep, calming breath. I have to forget about her… She’s not here anymore, and I’ll never have to deal with her, or that town, ever again. The ponies here love my shows, and accept me into their lives. So suck on that, Sparkle! You didn’t get the last laugh, after all!

“Relax. They’re only illusions,” I tell Astral. Okay, so illusions can be pretty lifelike to those not in the know, or who aren’t as experienced as the one who cast them. And I can totally understand why he’s so freaked out right now, since one of the fireworks seemed to have flew right by his head during my rage. Still, I gotta play it cool.

“Y-Yeah. I know that. I wasn’t scared at all.” And of course, he’s playing it cool, too. “I was just thinkin’ ‘bout the ponies around us, that’s all.”

Of course you were, Astral. I smile and reach forward to pat him on the head, but he immediately moves back. I still get him, anyway, causing him to cringe as I mess up his mane a bit. Yeah, he hates it, but he looks so cute when he’s cringing like that. “As expected of my number one pupil.”

“… I’m your number one pupil?” Well, duh. You’re my only pupil. “YES! I’m your number one pupil!” He starts to cheer and run around excitedly. Oh great, I’ve done it now. He’ll be like this for a while.

Hmmm… It’s getting pretty hot. “Hey, I’m going to go buy us some ice-cream. What flavour would you like?”

“Strawberry!” he shouts as he continues to run around.

“Alright. Make sure you keep practising while I’m gone.” I’m not sure if he actually heard me or not. Whatever, I’m sure he’ll get back to practising as soon as he’s calmed down a bit.

I begin to walk through the park, making my way to where I remember there being an ice-cream stall. I see a small filly walking towards me… in similar clothing to mine. That is to say, a cape and a pointed hat. The colours are different, though; they’re dark-green, instead of purple. And the patterns, too. Instead of a star pattern, she has what looks likes… mist? Steam, maybe?

“Excuse me, Ms. Will-o-Wisp?” the filly asks as we cross paths. I stop to answer her. Or, try to, at least. She continues before I can say something, however. “I’m such a huge fan of yours. Can I have your autograph please?”

A fan, eh? Yep, today is certainly shaping up to be a great day! “Why, of course you can! But, why didn’t you ask me during my show?”

She scoffs, and rolls her eyes. “It would be pointless then, since I’d just be getting the same thing as everypony else. I want something unique!”

“I see. You want to be individualised, is that it?”

“Pretty much. I like to stand out from other ponies. That’s why I always wear these clothes whenever I’m outside.”

“Yes, I feel much the same way. Very well then! I shall give you an autograph like no other!” And I have a fine idea of just what to give her. She takes out some paper and a quill from her cape, and presents them to me. “To whom am I making this out to?”

She grins, and jumps back… quite a good distance, actually. What, is she on the long-jump team or something. She raises her left forehoof, and touches it to the brim of her hat. “The Amazing Mist Veil, at your service!”

… Oho. I think I’m going to like this filly. “Very well then. To the Amazing Mist Veil…”

I finish writing down her ‘unique autograph’, and pass the paper and quill back to her. She studies the paper immediately. “… From the ‘Great and Powerful’ Will-o-Wisp?”

“A new name I am working on. What do you think?”

“… Hmmm… I dunno… Doesn’t really roll off the tongue that well. Maybe ‘Will-o-Wisp, the Great and Powerful’?” Yeah, she’s got a point. Maybe I should come up with a new title… Oh well, I hope she likes the autograph, at any rate. “Well, thanks for the autograph, Ms. Will-o-Wisp.”

She folds the paper up, and stashes it back into her cape. “No problem. I hope you have a nice day.”

“Say, is it true that Astral Projection is your student now?” Oh? I wonder if he’s been bragging about it in school? “He’s kind of a nuisance, isn’t he?”

No argument there. “Yes, well… Let me tell you, I was very much like him, at that age.”

“Seriously? You were like that numbskull?”

Something tells me she doesn’t like him. “Very much so. Very excitable, and eager to hone my magic skills. And, just like you, I liked to stand out, and not just copy everypony else.”

“I see… Tell me, how much do you care for him?”

What? What kind of question is that? “You mean Astra? I guess… Well, I guess I care for him like any other teacher would care for their pupil.”

The filly turns around, and lets out a quiet chuckle. “Then, you’d better keep an eye on him… Who knows when something bad might happen?”

… Uh, I’m not entirely sure, but… was that a threat? “I’ll keep that in mind. Right now, Azure Eminence is watching him while I go and get ice-cream.”

“Well then, there should be nothing to worry about.” The filly begins to walk away.” Ciao! And thanks for the autograph!”

… What a strange filly. Still, she’s a fan of magic shows, so she’s definitely not a bad filly. Trust me, that’s totally how it works.

I turn around, and continue my walk through the park.

I’m glad I didn’t have to queue very long for these ice-creams. Now to get back and see how Astral is doing in his training. Maybe I should have got something for Azure, too… Come to think of it, he’s been pretty quiet for a while now. I wonder what’s up with him?

I arrive back at where I had left Astral and Azure… and understand why he’s been so quite. “Of course,” I say to myself sarcastically as I approach the sleeping stallion. So, after all that asking to watch Astral’s training, he just dozes off part-way through. And as for Astral…

Where is he? I told him to keep practising. Could he have gone to the restroom? Well, he’d better hurry up, or his ice-cream’s going to… melt…

Is that… Is that a note sellotaped to Azure’s face? Did Astral leave it here for me? Seems like something he would do… Nah. On second thought, Astral would probably forget to leave a note altogether.

I rip the note from Azure’s face, causing him to yelp and wake up quickly. “GAH! What was that?!”

I ignore him, and just focus on the note instead…

Ms. Will-o-Wisp,

If you want to see you’re pupil reterned safe and sound, you will meet me at the top of the clok tower. Come alone.

The Ama

“… Hey, Azure. Take a look at this.” I hand the letter over to Azure, who studies it closely for about half-a-minute. “What do you think?”

“Well… It’s not from Crimson, that’s for sure.” He turns to me with a worried look on his face. “But, I don’t like the looks of this. Somepony’s kidnapped Astra, so that they can get close to you… They might know your secret.”

“That’s what I was thinking. Incidentally, Astra would still be safe, if somepony hadn’t fallen asleep, instead of watching over him.”

“Oh, right.” He laughs, and then stretches his legs as he yawns. “Guess the weather was just too pleasant, and I got a little lazy. But, what about you? Where did you go?” I hold up the two ice-creams in front of him. “Ah, I see… Well, for now, let’s think about how we’re going to approach this situation.”

“What are you talking about? The letter made it very clear that I should go alone. And we can’t really call in the Crystal Guard, now can we?”

Azure seems to be thinking deeply about our options. “Hmmm… I guess you’re right. An investigation could reveal your secret. And if we don’t follow the foalnapper’s demands, they might just blab your secret to the guards themselves.” He shakes his head. “But, I can’t let you go in alone, without any knowledge of what’s there waiting for you.”

We really have few options presented to us at this stage. We know nothing about this foalnapper, or what they might do not just to me, but to Astral, as well, if their demands aren’t met.

…

? Wait a minute. I know nothing about them… and chances are that they know nothing about me. Even if they do, the past two years of my life, I have been, for the most part, starved, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived. I was certainly not at my best for the past two years, so maybe…

“Tri- Will-o-Wisp? Is there something on your mind?”

… This might work. “Azure, I’m going to go in alone.”

“Like I said-”

“I want you to contact the Crystal Guard if something happens to me.” I reach into my cape, and pull out a small device. “Stand outside of the clock tower, with this in your ear. It’s a one-way listening device.” It’s how I time some of my tricks during my shows. “It’s range isn’t very far, but it should be enough as long as I’m only in the clock tower. If it seems like things are going bad, contact the guard. I’ll let you use your own discretion for that.”

“But, if the guard finds out who you really are-”

“It’s my fault Astra got caught up in this. At the very least, we should make sure he gets out alive.”

Azure shakes his head. What’s his problem? “I got a better idea. You go and rescue Astra, and I’ll be there ready to back you up. And I won’t lose either of you, you got that?”

… Pfft!

“Hey! What’s so funny?!”

Oops. Did I just laugh out loud? “You’re not usually so serious like this. It just… amused me a little bit, that’s all.”

Azure seems offended by my comment, but I’m too busy laughing to care. “Hey, even I shape up when my friends are in trouble!”

“Right, right…” I should save this for later. Right now is no time for laughing. “Well then… I guess it’s time I make my grand comeback.” He gives me a confused look, just as I had hoped. “Will-o-Wisp, the Great and Powerful, is taking the stage!”

I walk into the clock tower carefully. I have no idea what could be waiting for me inside, but nothing can catch Will-o-Wisp, the Great and Powerful, by surprise!

“BOO!”

AH! Okay, except maybe for a skeleton suddenly falling from above, and dangling before my face the moment I close the door. Of course, it only lasts a second. I can see now that the skeleton is only a fake. That isn’t to say that it’s a prop. Rather, it’s an illusion.

Any professional illusionist would have no problem seeing through this. There are small distortions in the air around it, and the skeleton itself just reeks of magical trickery. Of course, this is probably on purpose. Whoever is challenging me, I can’t imagine they would do so with so little talent.

I look around, and cast a quick spell to check for any illusionary traps that may have been placed. I detect none… Still, a talented magician can protect against such scrying spells. I shouldn’t assume that it’s safe just yet.

I start to make my way up the spiralling staircase. I’ve got to say, the interior to this clock tower is rather different than what one might find in Equestria. It seems that, in the Crystal Empire, everything has to look fabulous. Even the places that ponies may never see in their whole lives.

But, I’m getting distracted. I came here to rescue Astral, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do! … Still no traps yet. I’ve been walking up this for a few minutes, you’d think I’d have encountered something by now. Ah, I should probably let Azure know that things are going smoothly.

“Still no sign of Astra or the foalnapper. I’m almost at the top.” Of course, he can’t reply to confirm he got the message, so I can only hope that he did.

In any case, I am now at the top of the clock tower. Just beyond this door should be Astral, hopefully. But, I can’t just go rushing in there, totally unprepared. And so, I pull out a small mirror from my cape, and press my back against the wall, right next to the door.

I can’t hear any sounds from the other side. I open it, slowly, and then use my mirror to try and get a good look at what’s inside. It’s too dark, though. I can’t see a single thing. Well, guess I’m gonna have to go with plan B.

I toss the mirror inside, and wai-

ZAAAAAAP!

SMASH!

… Well, that confirms that my enemy is in there. Now what do I do?

“Just come in already!” a voice calls from the other side. A somehow familiar voice. “I wanna face you one-on-one!” … It can’t be. Only one way to be sure, though.

I push the door open completely, and walk inside. The room suddenly lights up, and standing in front of me right now is…

“Finally!” the filly shouts as the glow surrounding her hooves dies down. “I thought you were gonna keep me waiting forever!”

“… Mist Veil?”

The filly grins, and strikes the same pose from before. “The one and only! Oh, and don’t worry about Astra. He’s over there.” I follow her hoof to where she is pointing, and find Astral tied to a post, with some tape around his mouth… and looking rather angry. “Now then, Great and Powerful Will-o-Wisp! Time for you to meet your match! HYA!”

She charges some magic into her hooves, and fire a green blob of energy towards me. It makes its way slowly toward my body. Very slowly. Very, very slowly. Oh, crap. I forgot to tell Appletini about all this… Ah, I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’m a big girl, she knows I can handle things on my own. I think. Has that thing still not reached me yet? Come on already! Okay, here it comes. Three… two… one…

I charge some magic into my hoof, and swat the small ball away with a single strike. It flies into the wall on the other side of the room, and… goes straight through it. Holy… It didn’t have that much power in it, so it was easy to bat away, but… it would certainly be a dangerous spell if it actually connected with its opponent. Thankfully, this filly seems to just be an amateur with lots of potential.

“Not bad! As expected of my number one rival!”

“… Your what now?” What is she on about?

“But, I was merely warming up! Behold, the Amazing Mist Veil’s next spectacular attack!” She throws some smoke bombs onto the floor, and I can sense her charging up some magical energy. Though, it dies down, and only the sounds of her choking can now be heard. Heh, newbies. One should be careful with how much smoke they use to mask their presence, otherwise, it’ll just bite you in the flank.

“Uh, I don’t quite understand what’s going on, but, Astra has a lot of training to do, so if it’s all the same to you, I’m gonna go ahead and take him back now.”

“Impressive!” Mist shouts as the smoke starts to dissipate. “You managed to take my own attack and use it against me! I never saw it coming.” … I did nothing of the sort. You just messed up. “Well then! It looks like I’ll have to get serious!” You mean you there’s more?

“I won’t let you, Mist!” a voice shouts from my side. Astral’s voice. But, wasn’t he tied up?

“Astra, wait!” Azure’s voice? What the? When did he get here? Oh, I see. He must have decided to come on up after hearing that the ‘enemy’ was actually this filly… But, how did he get here so quickly? There’s more to this pony than meets the eye, apparently.

More importantly, I can see Astral’s hooves glowing… Is he charging up his magic? Wait. He’s not challenging this filly to a duel, is he?! Two inexperienced mages, duelling in such a confined space as this?! Bad idea!

“So you broke free, huh?! Well, take this!”

“You’re magic is nothing, compared to mine!”

“STOP!” I shout, but it’s too late. I use my magic to teleport in-between the two foals, just as they both fire beams of magic at each other. With one hoof, I stop Astral’s attack, and with the other, I stop Mist’s. “I said stop, both of you!”

They both seem taken aback, and it seems I may be able to reason with them now.

“Wow! Awesome!” Astral shouts, jumping up and down excitedly. “Oh man, I can’t wait ‘til you show me how to do magic like that!”

Mist harrumphs, and turns her head away. “It’s impressive, sure. But it won’t be long ‘til I will be able to defeat her.”

Okay, so now that the situation seems to be resolved, all that’s left is to try and make some sense of the situation. And I think I’ll start with the pony who’s currently laughing his flank off at my current dilemma. “Azure, can I have a word with you, please?”

“That’s it, Astral! Keep at it!” I shout as Astral manages to summon four fireworks this time around. “Get to five, and I may consider giving you a break.”

“C-Can’t I at least have some ice-cream?!” I shoot him a hard glare, and he seems to get the message. As it turns out, he wasn’t foalnapped at all… He simply accepted Mist’s challenge to a magic duel, and lost. And then, Mist decided that, since she had bested the pupil, her next step would the teacher: me.

“Don’t you think you’re being a little too hard on him?” Azure asks me, though he seems to be enjoying himself regardless.

“When a student cuts class, is it not the teacher’s job to discipline them?”

“Even so, at this rate, he’s going to have a magical meltdown…”

“He’ll be fine. He’s a lot more resilient than that, trust me.” And now, to deal with the other nuisance child. I turn around, and face the tree behind me… The tree that’s way too small to be a tree, and was not there ten minutes ago. She’s held it for pretty long. I’m impressed. However… “Are you going to just sit there and watch, or would you like to join in, too?”

Azure must not be able to see through it like I can, because he’s looking at me as if I’m crazy. So, I use my magic to cancel out Mist Veil’s illusion, and reveal the filly sitting where the tree was moments ago. She panics for a second, but then regains her composure, and walks up to me, her head held high.

“Yes?” I ask.

She kicks the ground, and seems to be shifting her gaze everywhere except at me. “Um… I was wondering… when your next show is…”

… Huh? My next show? “… Well, I guess, I can perform one two days from now, at, say, noon?”

“Two days from now, at noon. Got it.” She nods, and then turns around. “That is all. The Amazing Mist Veil will concede her defeat for now, but enjoy your stay at the top whilst you still can! For one day, the Amazing Mist Veil will surely-”

“It’s getting pretty late,” Azure says. And he’s right, too… I guess I didn’t notice, since it doesn’t get dark until much later here in the Crystal Empire than it does in Equestria. I still haven’t got used to that, huh? “Shouldn’t you be getting home to your parents?”

Mist clears her throat, and then reaches into her cape. “Well then, I bid you, adieu!” She throws a smoke bomb on the floor. Only one… she’s learning. Through the clearing smoke, I can see Mist Veil’s retreating form through the park.

“So, that’s the other magical pony in this district, huh?”

Azure nods. “Yeah. She and Astra have never really gotten along that well. They’re always picking fights with each other, and trying to prove who is the better pony. And it certainly didn’t help when they both found that their special talents were so similar. They both specialise in magic.”

Mist’s Cutie Mark, from what little I saw of it, seems to be a silhouette of a pony, shrouded in mist. From this, I can deduce that he talent is similar to mine. Whilst mine is illusions and enchantments, geared towards the theatrical arts, Mist Veil’s seems to be purely focused on illusions. I daresay she may even surpass me, when she becomes a fully-grown mare. That is, given she receives the proper training.

Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem interested in becoming my pupil. If what Azure said about her and Astral is true, then I can understand it, but… It seems like such a waste, to see a talented pony like her not nurturing her talent correctly.

“So, should we call it a day for now?” Azure asks. I turn my attention back to Astral, who seems to be reaching his limit. Yeah, I suppose that I should stop now…

“Astral, that is enough!” Astral stops, and faces me with a thankful look on his face. “We’ll pick up where we left off tomorrow morning! Until then, go home and get lots of rest!”

He seems disappointed. Possibly because I told him we’d continue in the morning… Heh, just a few days ago, he was practically begging me to take him on as my apprentice. It seems that now, he’s starting to understand what a rigorous path this is after all.

“Azure, can you take him home for me? Since you live in the same direction and all.”

Azure nods. “Sure thing. It’s been great spending time with you like this. I hope I can get more time off when things quiet down a bit.”

“Yeah. It was fun… whilst you were actually awake.”

We both laugh together, before saying our goodbyes, and taking off in different directions.

It’s quite peaceful at this time of the day. The sky is a beautiful orange colour, and the birds up in the trees singing a peaceful melody are the only sounds that can be heard right now, besides my hooves clopping on the ground…

Wait, that’s not just my hooves. I guess somepony else is out, huh?

“Excuse me, ma’am?” Hm? Who could that be? Another fan?

I turn around to see who just called out to me… N-No. Why? Could they have… B-But how?!

“Ma’am,” the white Unicorn before me asks, his stern gaze sending shivers down my spine. “I’m sorry to disturb you like this, but I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

P-Prince… Shining Armour…

A New Ally

What do I do? What do I do?! There’s only one reason this guy would be approaching me, and that’s because he knows who I am, and wants to take me back to Equestria! … No, m-maybe I’m over thinking it. I mean, it’s not like he has proof, right? If I just keep my hat on, and play it cool, I should be able to talk my way out of this…

“Ma’am? Is everything alright?”

“YES?!” Crap, that was totally suspicious. “Yes?” That’s right, just gotta play it cool. I can do this…

“I’m sorry if I’m being a bother, but I would like to ask you some questions.”

“Questions? About what?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard of the fugitive pony from Equestria.” Eep. “We’d like to ask you some questions regarding that.”

Calm down, Trixie. It’s hard to play it cool when you’re sweating like this… “W-What makes you think I know a-anything?”

“Actually, it’s Azure Eminence that we suspect right now.” What?! “We suspect that he is withholding information, and protecting the fugitive.” Oh, that’s what they meant. I thought they meant that they suspected he was the fugitive, but that would have just been stupid…

Wait, wait, wait! This is still a bad situation here! Azure’s under suspicion right now, and it’s all my fault! I know! I’ll just feed them false information! Whatever they ask me, I’ll just make something up that will throw off their investigation! It shouldn’t be too hard… But if I mess up, and they find out I was lying, then I’d be under suspicion, instead.

Right, it’s do or die. Oh, and one final touch, just in case… “Well then, please hurry it up. I’m in a hurry to get home. My roommate can get pretty impatient, you see.” A little magic to make my voice sound different. My horn’s glow is masked by my hat, and right now, I don’t know what kind of information they have on me, so it couldn’t hurt to be a little cautious.

“I understand.” He pulls out a notebook and a quill with his magic. “Then, let’s start with your name and date of birth.”

Easy enough. “Will-o-Wisp, born April 1st.” He jots that information down… Wait, if he checks that later, or tries to use it to look me up… Damnit!

“What is your relation to Azure Eminence?”

“Friends,” I answer with no hesitation. I love being able to do that.

“And have you noticed him acting strange lately? Any suspicious actions or-”

“Not at all.” … Very creative, Trixie. Very, very creative indeed. “Well, nothing that pops to mind, at least. But, perhaps you could be more specific?”

“Any odds speech patterns, or him suddenly not being around? Maybe he’s acting secretive, or paranoid, or he’s tired… Pretty much anything that stands out from how he usually is.”

“Hmmm… Ah! I just thought of something!” The dumb Prince leans forward, looking very excited. Oh, this is fun. Well, almost. As much fun as I can have when my life is at stake. “He’s been getting a little chubby lately! I told him to cut back on the snacks!”

Shining Armour sighs, and gives me a disapproving stare. “So that’s it? Nothing else jumps out at you?”

“Sorry, nothing at all.”

“And Azure hasn’t shared any information with you, or said anything out of the ordinary?”

“Not a single thing. Other than his pickup lines getting a bit stale, but then, it’s hard to keep ‘em fresh for a thousand years.” I laugh at my own joke, but apparently, the Royal Guard either has no sense of humour, or are just forbidden to laugh.

“Alright, well, if you can think of anything… anything at all… please tell us immediately.”

“Sure thing. Good luck, fellas. I hear Unicorns are pretty sharp, after all.” Oh, I am on fire today! … What, they don’t get it? Y’know, ‘cause their horns and all… Why are they looking at me like that?

“Ma’am… how did you know that the fugitive from Equestria is a Unicorn?” … “Ma’am?” I’m thinking, shut up already!

“Um… C-Crimson Eminence!” That’s right! I can use him! “H-He came round to ours to ask about the ‘Unicorn fugitive’!”

“That’s impossible,” Shining Armour says. “We have not disclosed the pony’s race yet, since we are ourselves are completely unaware of it. Or the pony’s gender, for that matter. The guards that saw them did so at night, so there’s really very little information that we have of them.”

You’ve got to be… Wait, maybe I can… “T-Then, doesn’t that mean that Crimson is suspicious?”

Shining Armour shakes his head. Why is he shaking his head? “Crimson Eminence has been staying at the Crystal Palace for this investigation. Whilst it is apparent that he is withholding information, he has not had the opportunity to harbour a fugitive, or make any suspicious movements without us noticing.

“In fact, what I’m curious about, is why he would think to visit your home. Unless he’s just going around, asking ponies one-by-one?” I could go along with it, but he’ll find out I’m lying soon enough if I do. “Well?”

Shoot! I can’t believe I slipped up like that! I get it… Crimson heard about a Unicorn in the 47th District, and came to investigate on his own. It doesn’t seem as if they’re aware of this yet… But if they find out, then I’ll be-

“Will-o-Wisp, there you are!” That voice! I recognise it! “I’m glad I managed to find you! Hm? Am I interrupting something?”

I turn around, and find a rather handsome young stallion, with a with a silver coat, slightly darker silver mane, and a Cutie Mark of a needle and thread on his flank. Stitch N. Sew. “W-What-”

“Sorry, I forgot to give this to you earlier!” He pulls something out of his saddlebag, and gives it to me. Some thread? Why is he- “Oh, the Royal Guard? What’s going on?” He gives me a sly grin. “Will-o-Wisp, this wouldn’t be a secret rendezvous with the Prince, now would it?”

Is he mad?! “How are you disrespect the Prince like that?!” one of the guards shouts.

“At ease!” Shining Armour barks, and his two guards immediately fall back. Is he… blushing? He almost looks kind of cute… but also totally lame. This is a Captain? Not to mention, one of the ponies I’ve been so scared of for the past year? … What the hell?

“Eheheh… Sorry, sorry. But seriously, what’s up? First Crimson, now you?” What?

“Crimson visited you?” What’s going on?

“Yeah. He figured, since I’m an expert tailor and all, that maybe I designed clothes for this fugitive pony. ‘Course, I would never do such a thing knowingly, but…”

Shining Armour stares at Stitch for what feels like an eternity… “I see… But then, why did he also visit this mare here?”

“Ah, I was supposed to meet my buddy here for tea that day, but something urgent came up. I sure got an earful from Crimson for it later. He hates it when things don’t go his way. Such a child, that one.”

“Agreed,” Shining Armour mumbles. He seems to be mulling this over in his head. Is Stitch… protecting me, right now? But why? “If you didn’t supply clothes to this fugitive knowingly, then it’s probable that we’re dealing with an Earth Pony. But, I wonder why Crimson seems convinced that our target is a Unicorn?”

“He’s convinced, you say?” Does Stitch know what I really am? Did Appletini or Azure tell him? No, they wouldn’t. Surely not. After all, they’re… ponies. And ponies betray others at a moment’s notice. Of course they do. So, maybe-

“According to Ms. Will-o-Wisp.”

“Ah, I think there may be a misunderstanding, then. Rather than convinced, it’s more that he’s paranoid. After all, the last Unicorn besides you, Prince, to enter the Empire was… Well, you know…”

He’s… not ratting me out? What’s he hoping to achieve with this? Maybe… Maybe he’s just being… kind? Wishful thinking, but still, I can’t imagine that Appletini would tell anypony about me, and she seems to have Azure wrapped around her hoof, so maybe…

“I see. So that’s all it was…” He bought it! He really bought it! That means my secret is safe… right? “And? I don’t suppose you could tell us anything? About any suspicious ponies, or about Azure Eminence?”

Stitch shrugs. “I don’t really know Azure all that well. We’ve met, and exchanged pleasantries, but we’re not exactly close. And I certainly haven’t seen him much recently. As for suspicious characters, I’m afraid that there’s really nopony that jumps to mind.”

“I see. Well, thank you for your time.” Shining Armour turns around, and motions for his guards to follow him. “Let’s get back to the castle. It’s been a long day.”

“Yes, sir!”

The three ponies begin to walk off down the street, the sounds of their hoofsteps becoming quieter and quieter each passing second. It feels so good right now. I was this close to being discovered, but now, I’m safe! I’m safe, I’m-

“That was close, huh?”

… Well, almost. I still have to deal with him. “Close? How so? You almost make it sound as if I’m guilty of something.”

“But you are guilty…” He reaches his hoof forward, and grabs the brim of my hat. Oh no you don’t! I’ve already got this baby planted firmly on my head with a spell! It won’t come off so easily! “After all…” His hoof glows, and he pulls my hat off with barely any trouble at all. “You’re the fugitive from Equestria, aren’t you, Trixie?”

… Okay, God of Dreams. I’m ready to wake up now… Nothing? Really? Okay then, plan B. RUN AWAY!

“Hold it!” Damn! He’s got my tail! What now?! Wait, what am I thinking? I can just use my magic and- “Relax, Trixie. I’m not gonna tell anypony.” He puts my hat back on my head. Is he serious? He really won’t tell anypony about me? Well, he didn’t tell the Royal Guard, sure, but… “Please, just trust me, alright?”

… That voice. It’s not quite as gentle or as reassuring as Appletini’s, but… maybe I can trust it. I stop trying to run away, and turn around to face my new foe. “How long have you known?”

“Since Crimson visited me.” What? You mean that actually happened? Makes sense, I guess. The best deceptions are always wrapped in truth, after all. “He told me that the fugitive pony may ask for something to hide themselves. Like, say, a hat for their horn, or a cloak for their wings, depending on their race.

“Interestingly, Crimson had no clue about the ‘Unicorn’ that was actually a Crystal Pony. In fact, as it turns out, nopony outside of the 47th District knew that at all. I then realised how odd it was, that Azure would hold a town meeting, just to tell us that the Unicorn we saw was actually just an illusionist. I guess he wanted to ensure that news of it wouldn’t spread too far, huh?

“In any case, the moment Crimson had suggested to me that the fugitive may be hiding under my clothes, I remembered the hat and cape that Appletini asked me to make in a hurry. The same hat and cape that belong to you, who introduced yourself as ‘Trixie’, but then suddenly started to go by the name ‘Will-o-Wisp’. According to Jack, those injuries of yours didn’t seem like mere illusions, and I may not be an expert, but even I found it strange that your horn didn’t vanish when you passed out.”

… This guy. This freaking guy… “So… you figured all of this out, but didn’t tell anypony?”

Stitch simply shrugs in response. “Appletini’s my friend. If she’s willing to hide you, then I am too. And besides…” He reaches his hoof forward again, and lowers it onto my head. Who the hell does he think he is, petting me like I was a dog?! I swear I’ll bite him if he doesn’t sto- … Yeah, that totally doesn’t help my case, does it? “You must have your reasons for not wanting to go back to Equestria! At first, I considered that you were a criminal, but I just can’t picture you that way! You’re so helpless on your own, and way too dense.”

“I beg your pardon?!” Are you picking a fight with me, pal?! “Helpless?! Dense?! Perhaps you are not aware that you are referring to the one, and only, the Great and Powerful TRIXIE! The pony who singlehoofedly defeated a swarm of mad harpies all on her own!”

“What’s a harpy?” … Is he serious? “In any case, I’m not talking about your magic, or your physical strength. I’m talking about your stubbornness, and your total lack of social skills.” He’s patting my head again. “If you were left alone… Why, I don’t even wanna think about it! I doubt you’d last long, and if that happened, because of me, then it’d be like I did it to you myself.”

“So, what, you took pity on me? Just because I happen to be inexperienced at making friends?”

“Pretty much. But I also wanted to help you in that regard, too. Y’know, by being your friend, like Appletini and Azure are?” A-Another pony that wants to be my friend? “And don’t worry. You’re secret’s totally safe with me, Will-o-Wisp.”

He offers his foreleg to me, and smiles. Great, it’s just one problem after another, isn’t it? Should I trust him, or not? … Well, if he was going to tell anypony about me, I’m sure he would have done it already. And besides, I’ve taken plenty of chances since I’ve been here already. What’s one more.

I locked my own foreleg around his, and allow him to walk me through the streets of the 47th District. “Very well then. Will-o-Wisp, the Great and Powerful, will put her faith into you, for now, Sir Stitch N. Sew.”

“Whoa! When’d I get knighted? What’re you, some Princess from a foreign land?”

“Indeed. A vile monster has attacked my family back home, and now I am forced to live here, hiding until I gain enough power to fight back.”

“Aah, so that’s it! Well, now I definitely can’t let you go back! Not until I see how this tale ends!”

“If you’d like to learn more, you should come to Will-o-Wisp’s next show. It’s free of charge, and you can hear even more stories of her greatness.”

“I’d be honoured to, Your Majesty.”

We both share a laugh together. My heart feels so much more at ease now. He really is just like them… Just like Appletini, Azure Eminence, and Astral Projection. Heck, even that Mist Veil was easy to be myself around.

I like these ponies… and I like this Country. The Crystal Empire, I love it here! So much! I don’t ever want to leave this place, and be separated from all of the friends that I’ve made here! I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that my secret remains just that! And, maybe… maybe I can call on a friend or two, to help me out, from time to time.

Suddenly, something crosses my mind. “How did you manage to remove my hat?”

Stitch simply laughs, and holds up a hoof. “I’m a tailor. Magic on clothes is my speciality.”

… Five minutes now. It’s been about twenty minutes since I parted ways with Stitch N. Sew, and for the past five minutes, somepony has been following me around.

Maybe I should take a turn at this next alley, and confront this stalker directly. No. I’m almost home now… I’ll get home, and tell Appletini about this. She’s my friend, so she’ll be able to h-help me.

But still, I wonder who this pony following me could be? Shining Armour? Crimson? Maybe… that Princess? Oh lord, please don’t let it be the Princess. A Unicorn or a Crystal Pony is one thing, but how the hay am I supposed to outmanoeuvre somepony who holds all of the power and authority in this Country?

Almost there… It’s just around this corner now. He’s getting closer! I’ll pick up the pace a bit… Almost… I can see the door now! Aaaaaaand… “Safe!” I shout as I open the door, and quickly run inside. I close the door behind me, and look through the peephole.

“Welcome home, Trix- … Uh, you alright there, Trixie?”

“Appletini, I need-” … Darn it, this is harder than I thought it would be. Come on, Trixie. She’s your friend. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, right? Heh, let’s face it… she’s seen you in a much more embarrassing state. “… T-Trixie needs your… help, with something…”

… Huh. That wasn’t so bad, at all.

“Oh? What with?”

And she’s not laughing at me, or chiding me for being helpless… Since when was getting help from others so easy? “Well, you see… I was being followed, on my way home, and I think that they’re still out there. So, you see…”

“And, you need my help for this?” She giggles a little bit. “What gives? Why didn’t you just… use your magic, or something?”

“… I’m a fugitive.” She settles down, and then turns her head away. “I can’t… I can’t risk standing out too much right now. And if that pony is suspicious of me, then-”

“Say no more! I’m not gonna let anypony give my friends a hard time and get away with it!”

Wow, she’s just… incredible. “Thanks.” I should ask for help more often. I must admit, it doesn’t feel so bad, letting others take a load off of your shoulders every now and then. “So, what’re you-”

Appletini moves past me, and opens the front door. She rushes outside, before I can even ask her what she’s planning to do. Is she… going to confront the stalker by herself? Shouldn’t I back her up? Yes, I should. Even if she’s offering to do it as my friend, as her friend, I should leave her to fight what could be a dangerous foe all on her own.

So what if I get hurt a little bit? I enjoy spending time with Appletini, and I’ll be damned if I let anypony take that away from me! I am the Great and Powerful Trixie, after all. I should defend what’s mine, and that includes my friends!

“Problem solved.” … What? Did I zone out again, and miss the whole thing? Appletini’s standing before me right now, with a colt standing next to her, looking at the ground and kicking it with his right foreleg. Is he the stalker? He looks like a teenager…

“Who’s this?” I ask, pointing to the colt.

“The ‘stalker’,” Appletini responds. Well, that answers that.

“I wasn’t… That wasn’t my intention! I was just… trying to…” He mumbles the last bit, so I can’t hear it.

“I’m sorry, you were what?”

“… I… I wanted to g-give you these…” He reaches behind his shoulder, and pulls out a bouquet of flowers. It looks awful. None of the flowers compliment each other, and a good portion of them are dead. “I-I’m sorry! See ya, bye!”

He runs off rather quickly, leaving me with this rather awful gift, and many unanswered questions.

“You look confused.” You don’t, so it’s clear you know something, Appletini. “What, you’ve never met a pony with a crush on your before?”

… Oh, that’s what it was. “Wait, ponies give you flowers when they have a crush on you?”

“Hm? Oh, sometimes. Traditionally, you keep ‘em in a vase if you accept the other pony’s feelings.”

If I recall correctly, those two colts from Ponyville must have bought out the entire store, with all the offerings they gave me. Does that mean… Ah, whatever. Those two little brats are lucky I didn’t press charges against them. I think having their feelings crushed by me eating the flowers they gave me is perhaps a little too light a punishment for them.

“So, that colt was following me because…”

“Pour soul was probably just too afraid to work up the nerves to approach you.” She giggles, and offers to take the flowers off of my hooves. “I’ll go put these in some water.”

“But, Trixie isn’t accepting his feelings.” She seems confused by that. How is that confusing? It doesn’t take a genius to work out why I’m not accepting his feelings. “He’s a colt. Barely a teenager. And, besides, Trixie doesn’t even know him.”

“Ah, I think you’re misunderstanding. You can accept his feelings, but it doesn’t mean you have to return them.” Oh. Well, when you put it that way, I guess it makes more sense.

“But, I still don’t know him. Why should I accept the feelings of somepony I don’t even know?”

“… You mean, like I did for you?” … Ouch. That stung a bit.

“T-That’s different! You’re quite clearly a special case! I mean, I’ve met hundreds of ponies that never once accepted me, so-”

“Isn’t that why you should accept his feelings, Trixie? Do you honestly want to lower yourself to the same level as those other ponies? To become as cold and heartless as them? To make other ponies feel the same way you did, whenever you were rejected?”

… Damnit, Appletini! Stop using your logic on me! I’m still new at all this friendship stuff, but even I know that you can’t just immediately place your faith into somepony without reason. That’s just begging for trouble!

…

No, she’s right. Equestria rejected me, and I felt like I was nothing. Less than nothing. The Crystal Empire accepted me, and I’m now able to feel all of these wonderful new feelings, because of it. I know which life I’d rather live… and which of those feelings I’d rather not make somepony else go through.

“… Give me those.” I snatch the flowers from Appletini. “I’ll put them in some water. And then, I’ll let that colt down lightly, next time I see him… I… have another request of you.”

Appletini gives me that trademark smile of hers. “Ask me anything.”

“I’ll… need advice, on just how to do that. On how to let him know I’m not interested, but in a way that he isn’t crushed by it.” Oh god, I feel so stupid right now. Thankfully, only Appletini is here with me, and she isn’t laughing. Something I’m very grateful for.

“Of course I’ll help you. But first thing’s first: dinner’s almost ready, and I’m starving right here!”

The thought of food causes my stomach to rumble. “Eheheh… Yeah, you’re right. Dinner first, then strategy meeting.”

That’s right. This isn’t Equestria. And as long as I remain here, with my friends… I just know that everything is going to be alright.

Old Faces

In Equestria, one cracks an egg open by simply smacking it against the side of a bowl. In the Crystal Empire, eggs must first be submerged in water, before being gently cracked open by a table spoon or something. The reason for this is because, if you don’t, it’ll cause a mess everywhere. Compared to the consequences of mis-preparing other food items, it’s not so bad, and that’s why I’m alright with doing it right now. Though I’d better hurry up, if I want to get down to the market square in time for my show…

“Hey, how about you leave early, and let me take care of the rest?” As expected of Appletini, but no. I want her to come to my show, and see it all from the very beginning, so if that means I’ll start a little bit late… then so be it. “I really don’t mind-”

“Rather than talking, let’s just get this finished up quickly, so that we can both make it in time for the show.” Sorry, Tini, but I’m not gonna let you argue with me on this one. “Are you absolutely sure that this is what was requested of you?”

“Yeah, I found it odd too… Why would the Princess ask us to put jewels in the cake? Judging from your reaction, I’m guessing it isn’t an Equestrian thing…”

“Who knows? Maybe it’s a game? ‘Whoever finds the cake with the jewels in it wins a free vacation’, or something along those lines.” Appletini giggles at that.

“Well, in any case, I’m just honoured that the Princess asked me to bake for her… I mean, sure, she asked a number of chefs, but, y’know what I mean.”

“So what exactly is going on, anyway? Trixie may have a sharp and brilliant mind, but even Sherclop Pones wouldn’t be able to deduce anything from ‘yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!’.

“Sherclop who?” … Right, yet another reference that she would never get.

“Never mind, not important. But seriously, what’s this event all about?”

“Don’t know. The letter just said that important guests would be arriving at the castle, and that the Princess requests my services. No idea who they are, or what’s going on, but I can’t imagine it’s anything important, or else Azure would have told me. Heck, word would have spread around like wildfire already if it was important. Most likely just an official from Equestria, coming to collect a report from the Princess or something.”

An official from Equestria, huh? I don’t like the sound of that. But then, if it’s just somepony with a desk job, coming to collect and sign some documents or whatever, then it shouldn’t be too bad. The jewels still elude me, though.

“Maybe it’s a changeling,” I suggest jokingly. Appletini seems to take it seriously. “Uh… I-It was a jo-”

“The changelings are still alive?!” She asks, running up to me with eyes full of… hope?

“Uh… y-yeah…”

“No way! How do they survive without the Crystal Heart? That makes no sense!”

“Um… W-What do you mean?”

“The changelings used to live with the Crystal Ponies, before it was sealed away! Didn’t you know?” I didn’t, and I tell her as much by shaking my head. “It was a small group of about fifty or so, that wandered into the Empire on night, starving, and on the verge of death. With them, they brought a rather terrifying beast: a behemoth!

“But, the power of the Crystal Heart was able to heal the changelings, and provide them sustenance. Their Queen then defeated the behemoth, and drove it away. The King at the time then made a deal with the changelings: in exchange for the changelings lending their powers to serve the Empire, the Empire would share the Crystal Heart’s power, which seemed to be the only thing that could give them strength.

“About two hundred years before I was born, the changelings defected, and fled the Empire with the Royal Broach, a magical artefact that is said to grant the user great power, at the cost of their own soul.” … What? That sounds… familiar. “It was created by mixing the blood of the changeling Queen with the Crystal King, in an attempt to create a weapon to defend the Empire against unknown threats.

“The result was something that couldn’t be controlled, and it was locked away. When the changelings stole it and fled, we all figured that they would die out eventually, anyway, considering they need the Crystal Heart to survive… I wonder how they’re still alive?”

“Well, according to what I’ve heard, what they need isn’t the Crystal Heart, but love.”

“Love?”

That’s right. “The Crystal Heart is powered by the love of the Crystal Ponies, right? That must be how the changelings were able to use it in order to survive.”

“I see… By the way, how long are you going to be mixing that?” I stop, and look down into the mixing bowl in front of me. “Eheheh… We should probably stop yammering, and pick up the pace a bit, don’t you think?”

“… Agreed.” Well, that was certainly an interesting story. But something about it bothers me. A magical broach, that claims the wearer’s soul? Where have I heard of such a… “The Alicorn Amulet?”

“You say something?”

“Uh… no.” Nah, there’s no way.

Please don’t be too late, please don’t be too late, please don’t be- Damnit, I’m too late! Making those cakes with Appletini took a lot longer than expected. I was supposed to be here, starting up my show about thirty minutes ago, but now…

“Hey guys.” I turn to see Azure approaching the two of us, along with Astral. It seems that those two have been getting close lately. They’re almost like brothers, now that I get a good look at the two of them together. “What happened? You two didn’t fall passionately in love or something, did you?”

“Not today,” I answer. He gives me a disappointed look. I’m the one that should be frowning, here! “So, I guess I missed my show?”

“Nah.” What? I didn’t? “Luckily, Melody’s band offered to swap places with you. You’ll be on as soon as they’re finished, so how about we just chat ‘til then?”

So I’m still on. Good. “Well, I guess I should show my appreciation to Melody… Which one was Melody again?”

Azure chuckles, and points a hoof towards the stage. The pink mare with the blue mane? The one that’s singing? “That’s her. She’s the band’s vocalist, and easy on the eyes, too.” … Isn’t she seventeen? Oh Azure, sometimes I worry about you.

“Will-o-Wisp!” Oh, dropping the title now, Astral? “Check it out!” His hooves light up, and he lets out a series of groans as his cheeks poof out. I turn around to where his hooves are pointing. A few fireworks shoot out of the ground suddenly, startling some of the ponies nearby. They go pretty high up, before finally exploding. A bit too high to actually be heard. He still needs to work on the timing. Still, this is a great improvement. “What d’ya… think?”

Heh, he’s totally out of breath. Still, he did it. He learned this spell to an acceptable standard within the deadline that I set for him. And now, for his reward… “That was very well done, Astra. Now, close your eyes.” He tilts his head and looks at me questioningly. “Your teacher wishes to reward you for your hard work.”

He suddenly looks very excited, and starts to bounce up and down before me. “You do? Awesome! What is it? A new spell? Unlimited candy? Can I be in your show? Is it-”

“Astral!” I shout, and immediately, the colt stands at attention and salutes. “… Close your eyes.” This time, he nods, and does as he is told. I open my saddlebag with my magic, and levitate something from inside. A red hat and cape, in a similar style to my own, but smaller, so that they would fit their rightful owner…

“What was that?”

“Okay, you can open your eyes now.” He does so, and gasps when he realises what he is now wearing. “Congratulations, ‘Great and Powerful-In-Training’ Astral Projection!”

“Now that’s a mouthful,” Appletini comments next to me. “What’s with the ‘in training’ bit?”

I flick my mane, and point my nose into the air. “One does not simply reach this level-” I point a hoof towards myself. “-Of Great and Powerful with just one fireworks spell. However, it is a start.” I pull out a sheet of paper from my bag, and open it up to show Astral.

On the sheet is an artistic drawing of the colt. The beauty of my art is sure to drive them to tears.

“What the heck is that?” Azure asks. Well, he’s looking at it from the wrong angle, to be fair.

“Is that parasprite?” Appletini asks. Okay, seriously? How could somepony be so dense as to think that-

“I thought it was a demon from Tartarus.”

Ugh! Why does everypony have to be a critic?! My drawings are masterpieces, you just have to look at them right! “A-hem! As I was saying, this is where you currently stand right now, Astral.”

“… OH! That’s me?” I will take that hat and cape back if you don’t watch what you say, kid. “I’m next to a red cape… and there’s an orange one below me?”

I nod. Good, they can at least tell what the capes are. “That’s right. Once Will-o-Wisp, the Great and Powerful feels that you have advanced to the next level, she will reward you with the Great and Powerful-Apprentice cape! Then the yellow one once you reach Great and Powerful-Squire, and so on, until you finally achieve the final level!”

A little pause for dramatic effect.

“The fabled, purple cape, of Great and Powerfulness!” Astral regards me with awe. Naturally. “So you see, Astra, you keep working hard, and you will one day earn the right to wear the same hat and cape as your dear mentor.”

“Yes, Will-o-Wisp sir! I’ll do my best!”

“That’s the spirit! And you can start by fetching me a crystal hay smoothie, extra crystal hay!” I give the colt some bits to buy the drink with, and he takes off into the market square. I notice Azure giving me a strange look out of the corner of my eye. “What?”

“Is that really necessary? All those different levels of ‘Great and Powerful’, and different coloured capes to match?”

“… It’s not so different from how martial artists wear different coloured belts. And it feels more like we’re teacher and student like this.”

“But-”

“I think it’s a pretty neat idea,” Appletini says. I knew she’d be on my side. She’s such a good friend. “And Astra seems to like it, too, and it might help him to stay focused if he has clear goals to work towards.”

“Exactly! That’s exactly what was running through my mind when I thought this up!” Well, maybe not, but… it sounds better than ‘I was bored one afternoon, and wanted to pass the time’.

“Will-o-Wisp, I got your drink!” Wow, that was fast. “Crystal hay smoothie, extra crystal hay, just like you asked for! So, am I at the next level yet?”

I take the smoothie from him, and take a drink. Aaah, refreshing. Oh, right. He just asked me a question, didn’t he? “Oh, no. Not yet. You’ll have to do a lot more than simply fetching me a drink in order to advance to the next level, Astra.”

“Well, I’m ready for whatever you’ve got!”

Azure nudges my shoulder, and I turn around to face him. “Hey, you’re on in five minutes. You might wanna get ready.”

I look over to the band, to find that they have indeed finished, and are now packing away their set. “Very well then. You guys get ready to be thoroughly amazed.”

“Will do!”

“Roger!”

“Good luck!”

Alright, time to start. A lot of ponies have turned up to see this, as expected. Let’s just start off with a simple introduction…

“Come one, come all!” Get a fireworks spell ready… “Come and see the amazing magic…” Aaaand… GO! “… Of Will-o-Wisp, the Great and Powerful!” The curtains preventing ponies from seeing me part, and a series of fireworks shoot up as a thin layer of purple smoke forms at my hooves. The cheers of the crowd are a pleasant sound in my ears… It’s time to give them what they came here for: a Great and Powerful show!

I’ll start off with a classic ‘pulling things out of a hat’ trick. Only what I pull out won’t be a simple rabbit. No, I intend to pull out… First, I show the audience that there is nothing in the hat. And then… “Oh my, it is often the case that ponies take Will-o-Wisp’s hat by mistake… but not the other way around!” I pull out an illusionary image of Shining Armour from my top hat. I give him a baffled look, as if he has no idea where he is, or how he got here. The ponies cheer and laugh. “Well, now we know what the Prince likes to do in his spare time!”

I stuff the image back in there. Now to pull out something solid. Something like… “And what do we have here?” I use my magic to teleport a bouquet of flowers from backstage, and then pull them out of the hat. “Now, who shall be the first lucky pony to receive a souvenir today?” I already know who, actually. He’s there, near the front. The colt from yesterday.

Inside the bouquet is a note. A simple note, that basically tells the colt I am flattered, but am not looking for a relationship right now, and that I hope he’ll continue to cheer me on and support me in the future. Appletini helped me to write it, and suggested I give it to him during the show today… The actual writing is a bit too cheesy for my tastes, but I’ll trust her judgment.

I close my eyes, as if I’m throwing blindly, and remove the aura from my hooves. I throw the bouquet, and then focus my magic on it, to make sure that it lands in the hooves of that colt. Because of my hat, and the fact that the audience doesn’t know I’m a Unicorn, it looks like the bouquet just happened to find its way to him. Of course, to pull this off, I need to cast an extra illusion to mask the aura around the flowers. He’d better appreciate the hard work I put into this…

“Now, how about we kick this thing into overdrive?!” I’m met with even more cheers as roaring flames begin to shoot out around me, and a few concerned gasps. It seems that some ponies still aren’t aware of my amazingness… I’ll fix that. With a bright flash from my body to temporarily blind everypony, I put out the flames, and cast a spell to prepare my next trick. “Fillies and gentlecolts, the trick you are about to see is dangerous! Please, for your own safety, and for the safety of those around you, do not attempt this at home!”

The light dissipates, and this time, the entire crowd gasps, as they see me juggling a variety of dangerous objects with my magic: a sword, a one tonne weight, a crystal that explodes if dropped on the floor, a bottle of bees, and Appletini, who does not seem happy with suddenly being teleported onto the stage. Hey, she did say she would help me onstage for this show. It’s not my fault she never asked what she’d be doing.

So far, so good. The show has been a great hit, and with the first portion of showing off my magic and performing tricks to wow everypony over, it’s time to move onto the second portion: telling a tale to my captive audience. Only this time, rather than simply tell it, with pictures to back it up, I’m going to try something new…

“And now, for what I’m sure most of you have been waiting for, it’s-”

“WILL-O-WISP’S GRAND ADVENTURES!”

Oh? Looks like the foals at the front have been really looking forward to this. Last time, I told the story of how I, Will-o-Wisp, stumbled upon a lost tribe of Aztecan Ponies, who tried to use me as their sacrifice. It was kind of hard, since the Aztecan period was long after the Empire had been sealed away… I kind of had to warp the timeline a bit, and tell them that the Aztecans really existed before the Crystal Empire. The foals had no problem believing it, but to be honest, I’m not too sure about some of the others in the crowd. Regardless, they still seemed to like the story that I told them, and that was all I needed to continue with this little segment in my shows.

“Now, today, Will-o-Wisp has planned to-” My horn lights up, in preparation for my next act…

“Trixie?!”

… Did I just hear that right? Somepony just called me… Trixie? It was a mare’s voice? Appletini? No… She looks just as confused as I do. Then, who-

“What are you doing here?!”

Oh no. I recognise that voice. But… how? Why?! What are they doing here?! “Uh…” W-What should I say? The show has to go on, but if they’re here, then-

“And you’re still doing this same old show? Give it a break already!” No! She’s going to ruin everything! That stupid, blue Pegasus pony, attracting everypony’s attention with her wings and colourful mane… “You’re a fraud! A liar! And everypony knows it!”

SHUT UP! Just shut up already! Why are you even here? Is it that important to you that I don’t succeed that you would track me down to even here?!

“That’s right!” the orange one below her shouts out. “Don’t believe a word she says! She said she could burst an ursa major, but was powerless ‘gainst even a minor!”

STOP IT!

“Then she had the nerve to come into our town and just take over the place!”

SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADYYYYYYYY!

…

O-Oh no… I just… I just fired a huge blast of magic at them, didn’t I? It doesn’t look like anypony was seriously hurt, but-

“Ow! What the hell?! You trying ta kill somepony?!”

“I… I just…” It’s over… It’s all over… These six ponies, and that baby dragon that tags along with them, are all here, and they’re going to ruin me. They’re going to reveal everything to these ponies. And then I’ll… A-Appletini, help me. Please. I don’t want to leave. Azure? Stitch? Somepony… please help…

“Hey, do you mind?” W-Who? “We’re trying to watch a show here.” That stallion… I don’t recognise him.

“Yeah! I’ve had hard day fixin’ the weather up, and I’ve been looking forward to this!” Jack? He’s… defending me?

“You say she took over your town? I find that hard to believe.” Mist! “After all, she’s a Crystal Pony. When would she have had the chance to-” W-Why is she staring at me like that? And everypony else, too.

“Trixie! Your hat!” Appletini? What do you mean? What about my- MY HAT! Oh no, it must have come off when I attacked that Pegasus with my magic!

“So that’s your newest lie? Lemme guess, she’s been boasting about her ‘greatness’ an’ all that, claiming she’s defeated all kinds of monsters of something, right?” Does this pony never shut up?! “It’s all a lie! She’s just doing it to inflate her own ego, and con you all out of your bits!”

“… Are you quite done?” Stitch? I thought he said he would be busy today. “Ms., do you honestly think we didn’t realise that already? That her stories are… at the very least, exaggerated?”

“They’re entertaining, though,” Appletini says, approaching the group of Equestrians. “As is the rest of her show. And we like that. We like to just enjoy a nice show every now and then, and lose ourselves to the fantasy of it all, after we work hard each and every day.”

“Illusionists aren’t meant to be ‘real’ real.” W-Well said, Mystic. “What, are you honestly telling me you can’t separate fantasy from reality? That you just take everything you see and hear seriously? How boring your lives must be.” … Wow, that filly’s something else.

“Besides,” Appletini continues, “How exactly is she conning us out of our bits? Any money she’s received so far was in the form of tips from her audience. She has yet to ask for a single bit from anypony for her shows.”

T-This is unreal. It’s not just my friends… The entire audience… seems to be gathering around, to tell these hecklers to be quiet. To let them just enjoy the show, and to sto- … To ‘stop bothering their friend’.

“Alright, alright,” Azure says, clearing a way towards the bewildered-looking group. “I take it you’re the ‘special visitors’? You were supposed to go through the 8th District, not the 47th.”

“The ‘8th District’? We weren’t told about anything like that, we were just asked to-”

“Well, in any case, perhaps you should be on your way now? Unless you’re willing to stop causing a disturbance.”

“Disturbance?! She’s the one who-”

“R-Rainbow Dash, maybe we should just… be on our way?”

“But-”

“I agree with Fluttershy, darling. We shouldn’t keep the Princess waiting.”

Rainbow Dash gives me one final glare, and then turns around and begins to walk down the street with her friends. All except for that one… Twilight Sparkle.

“Trixie, what’s-”

“Shut up.” I’ve had it. I’ve had enough! “Don’t say a damn thing! Why do you always do this to me? Whenever our paths cross, I lose something precious to me! My home, my happiness, my entire life! Why?! Is it that important to you that I suffer? Is that what your Cutie Mark represents, Twilight Sparkle?!”

“Trixie, I never-”

“I SAID SHUT UP! I don’t want to hear it! Do me a favour, and never show yourself before me EVER AGAIN!”

I use a smoke bomb to mask my escape. That’s it. It’s all over now. What little happiness I managed to live… It’s all gone. I should be happy that I was able to enjoy my new life while I could, but… but I don’t want it to end. I didn’t want it to end, but I guess it can’t really be helped.

“Trixie, wait!” Shut up… Just, shut up, will you? Maybe I should go try my luck in the desert. If I stop by Appletini’s home, I can leave my money behind and take some water. But then, where exactly will I go? “I said wait!”

Somepony grabs my hoof from behind, stopping me in my tracks. “Wha?”

“Where are you going?!” Appletini?

“… Where do you think?” I try to pull my hoof from her grasp, but her grip is tight. “I can’t stay here anymore. Everypony knows what I really am now… What I did in my past…”

“… Perhaps you’d like to talk about it, Trixie?” Talk about it? Why? What good will that do? I’d rather not relive those two tragic events, thank you very much. “If you’re sure you have to leave, I’d at least like to know why. As your friend. Otherwise, I can’t in good conscience let you go.”

… I guess… I guess I can tell her, as a parting gift. Once she learns the truth, she’ll no longer want to be my friend. Then, I’ll be free to do… whatever. It doesn’t matter what I do, those ponies will surely ruin everything again.

“So that’s it?! You couldn’t defeat a colossal monster, and you’re suddenly an outcast throughout the whole Country?!”

“That seems rather harsh, if you ask me.” Well nopony asked you, Azure. “And then, in your rage, you used that ‘Alicorn Amulet’ to try and take your revenge… and it drove you bonkers, essentially.”

I nod my head. “That’s right. That’s everything you need to know, now if you’ll just let me go, I’ll-” Appletini suddenly pulls me towards herself, and hugs me… I’ve given up trying to understand her. She just makes no sense.

“You know, all that story did was confirm what I already knew about you: that you’re such a dolt with social situations, and you have no idea how to ask others for help!”

Well nopony ever taught me that stuff. How am I supposed to know? “Like I said, just let me go, and I’ll-”

“That’s why, there’s no way we can just let you go! Not on your own, where you have nowhere else to go! What kind of ponies would do that to their friends?”

I look up at Azure, who simply nods. “Everypony makes mistakes, you dork. Doesn’t mean we’ll suddenly abandon you. On the contrary; part of being friends is always being there for each other, even when such mistakes are made.”

“Don’t you see? You need us, Trixie, to keep you from making such mistakes in the future. To show you the right path, when things look their bleakest. And in return… you just be yourself, and greet us every day with a big smile.” As if to demonstrate, she smiles down at me. “Seeing your friend smile is reward enough for helping them in their times of need.”

… You know… that actually sounds familiar… That’s right! All this time I’ve spent with her, I’ve been doing my best to make sure she was happy, and I hated it whenever she was sad. Is that what’s she’s feeling for me right now? Is she… sad, because I’m sad?

“Hey, are you crying, Trixie?”

… “N-No! Of course not! I’m just…” Curse this mare! And those stallions! And those two brats! What are they doing to me? What is ‘friendship’? “… Just this once.”

“Hm?”

“Just this once! I’ll show you this side of me only once, so savour it while you still can!” Without giving her the chance to ask any questions, I throw my hooves around Appletini, and bury my face into her shoulder. She seems to accept me, as her hold over me tightens… Hm? Somepony else is holding me now? I open my eyes to check, and see Azure Eminence.

“Hey! Can I get in on this, too?!” Astral? How long has he been here? Whatever, doesn’t matter. I nudge Appletini to signal for her to move aside. She does so, still not letting go of me, allowing room for Astral to join our little group hug.

“You guys… Thank you… But, you know that I can’t stay here.”

“Why not?”

“I’m a Unicorn, and now everypony knows it.”

“Didn’t I already tell you that I’d protect you?”

“… Even if you guys don’t mind, what of the others? Surely they-”

“Don’t be so fast to judge the ponies of the 47th District.” Stitch? He’s here, too? Mist is beside him, as well. “Why don’t you give them a chance, before deciding how they feel about you?”

“Everypony’s still waiting for you to continue your show,” Mist says. They are? But- “A lot of foals are going to be disappointed, if you end it now.”

“… T-They really don’t mind? That my boasts are…”

Appletini releases me, and rubs a hoof against my face, wiping away the tears running down my cheeks. “Only one way to find out. And no matter what the outcome is, we’ll always be here for you afterwards.” Well, when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound bad, but… “Come on. The show must go on, right?”

“… Right.” Right. I’m not alone anymore. I have friends, too. You can’t destroy my life anymore, Twilight Sparkle. I won’t let you, because… I have no intention, of ever leaving my new friends. “Well then… before I return to the stage, let me just make one thing perfectly clear: tell anypony about this-” I motion to the group hug still in progress. “-And I will end each and every one of you. Got it?”

Appletini simply laughs, and helps me up to my hooves. “Well, I guess we could just keep it as a secret between friends. Now, go back on that stage and do your thing!”

“You got it!”

… Easier said than done. Even if I have my friends beside me, offering their support, that crowd that came to watch me was pretty huge. What happens when they start to throw produce at me? When they start to break out the hateful words, and tell me to get lost?

Appletini grabs my hoof as we walk. There’s definitely some kind of magic at work here, because somehow, that simple act suddenly helps to ease my nerves, at least a little bit.

We all arrive back at the market square, where many ponies are still waiting around the stage… all staring at us. Or rather, at me.This isn’t going to go well… but, Appletini is giving me that smile that tells me everything will be fine, so…

“Uh, hi, guys…”

“Hey, the show’s still on, right?” … That… wasn’t what I was expecting to hear.

Three young foals walk up to me. “Ms. Will-o-Wisp, what’s an ursa major?” …

“They’re…” I’d rather not talk about it. Instead, I’d rather… “They’re nothing special. Instead, wouldn’t you rather hear the story that I was about to tell you, before I was so rudely interrupted?”

Their eyes light up quickly. “Yes, please!”

Many of the ponies behind them also seem to be interested in the story I had planned out for today. So she was right… They really don’t care about my past. Just who I am right now… And what I am doesn’t seem to matter to them. This is the magic of the Crystal Heart, isn’t it? Or maybe… it’s the magic of friendship.

“Very well then! Will-o-Wisp, the Great and Powerful, apologises for the delay! Now, prepare for a story like no other: the epic tale of a mare who, against all odds, managed to bring down the dark lord Tirek!”

It seems the tale of Tirek is known even within the Crystal Empire. However, what I had planned for today, wasn’t a simple self-insert fic, brought to life by my magic. No, I had something much more thrilling planned.

About five minutes into my story, I gathered up my illusionary magic, and created a ghastly image on the stage. Incredibly lifelike, to the point that most of the crowd backed away upon seeing it. An image of Tirek’s ‘reborn form’, Kerit, had appeared onstage to cast his revenge upon me.

And thus began our epic duel together, both of us casting spells at one another, and the crowd going wild with each one. Every time Kerit was hit, the foals would cheer. Every time I was hit, the foals would become worried, but then cheer again as soon as I got up.

Right now, I’m at my favourite part: where I am about to be defeated, but then make my great and powerful comeback, using the love of my admiring fans as strength! Inspired only in part by the Crystal Heart…

Anyway, just one more spell, and then I’ll bring this story to its clima-

BANG!

A firework spell? I didn’t use a firework spell. Is somepony trying to steal my show. I’d like to see them try… I turn to the source of the spell, and find…

“Attention, everypony! I have received word that a pony from Equestria has been sighted here! A blue Unicorn that goes by the name ‘Trixie’!”

Y-You’ve got to be kidding me. They went to the Royal Guard with this?! Damn you, Twilight! I won’t go down without a fight!

“You must be mistaken,” Azure says, attracting Shining Armour’s attention. “Nopony here but us Crystal Ponies, just trying to enjoy a little magic show.”

“Do you take me for a fool? That mare onstage is a perfect match to the witness’ description, minus the horn! Which, by the way, could easily be hiding beneath that hat!”

“… Okay, so she’s a Unicorn. So what?” W-What are you doing, you- … Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter anyway. If I hadn’t removed my hat willingly, I’m sure he could have just removed it himself. “What’re you gonna do, take her away? You’ll have to get past me first.”

Is he mad?! I’m flattered and all, but this is the Prince of the Crystal Empire, is it not?!

“How dare you stand in the way of the Prince’s investigation?! You insolent little-”

Appletini steps forward, placing herself in-between Azure, and the guard approaching him. “Lay one hoof on my friends, either of them, and I’ll make you wish you stayed in your own Country!”

Appletini too? They do realise that they’re going up against the Royal Guard, don’t they? This isn’t something they can just get out of by feigning ignorance. They’re going to be locked away for this. I have to stop them!

“Stop it, you two!” I shout, and jump down from the stage. I approach the Prince, and remove my hat. “Fine, go ahead and arrest me. I’ll go willingly.”

“No you won’t.” Stitch? “Because you’re a member of the 47th District, and no Equestrian is going to say otherwise.”

Azure nods. “The Royal Guard is here to protect us as we rebuild our own strength. That is what our Princess, and your own Princesses, decided. However, that does not give you any rights to impose your power over us.”

“She may be a fugitive in Equestria, but then, she’s not in Equestria, is she?” Appletini asks as she walks closer to me. “If you want her, you’ll have to go through us. And I wonder… do you have permission to use force on another Country’s subjects like that?”

“If those subjects are interfering with efforts to uphold the law,” Shining Armour says, in a threatening tone. “The Crystal Empire is under quarantine for a reason. And she does not have permission to be here. She must be returned to Equestria, it is as simple as that.”

“No!” Astral shouts, running in-between me and the Prince. “She’s still got lots of magic to teach me! You can’t take her away just yet!”

“And I still have to beat her with my own magic.” Yeah, but that’ll be a long time form now, Mist.

“Why do you want to take her back so badly, anyway?” Appletini asks. “From what I understand, there’s nothing even waiting for her there, and she’s certainly no threat to us!”

“The law is not for us to question, but to follow.” A typical Royal Guard response. Funny how they only uphold that principle when it doesn’t help me in any way. “Hand her over. That is an order.”

“We don’t take orders from Equestrians!” Azure shouts, and a good number of ponies behind us voice their agreement. “And we don’t betray our friends, either!”

“Then, in that case, we have no choice but to take her by for-”

“Prince Shining Armour!” A Pegasus lands suddenly before the Prince, and extends his hoof to him, presenting a rolled-up scroll. “A message from the Princess!”

“From Cadie?” Really? That’s what you call her? How lame. “… I see…” He turns around. “We are to head back to the castle immediately!” He turns back to face me. “This isn’t over yet. But it seems my part in this case is done with.”

What’s that supposed to mean? Is he giving up? What was in that letter?

“Man, that was kinda fun!” Fun, Azure? In what way? “Those Equestrians are a real pain sometimes, always using their influence to take control of our decisions at meetings. Still, I wonder why he gave up so easily?”

Who knows? “Hmph. It matters not, because all it means is that the show can still go on.”

The crowd behind me cheers, and I turn around to make my way back to the stage. “AZURE!” Oh, come on! Another interruption?! “What the hay do you think you’re doing? Have you lost your mind?!”

I turn back, to find five ponies approaching us. One is red, another is brown, the third is yellow, and the last two are just slightly different shades of green.

“Oh, Crimson! And you brought some friends along, too!” Oh, so this is Crimson. I’ve never actually seen him before, now that I think about it.

“You moron! We saw what you just did! How you tried to pick a fight with the Prince…” He points his hoof towards me. “Just to save this fugitive Equestrian! What were you thinking?!”

“Just trying ta save a friend, that’s all.”

I don’t think Crimson’s too happy with that response. “Hand her over. Now.” This again? I’m never going to be able to finish this show, am I? “Hand her over to the Equestrians.”

Azure shakes his head. “I won’t.”

“I said do it! This is your last warning.”

“And what will you do, Crimson?”

“… If you refuse… then, in that case, twenty-six of the fifty-two districts have agreed to move against you, and force you to hand her over.”

What? Is he serious? But that means- “Hey, now. You realise what that means, right? If you did that, other districts would join the fold. It would lead to a civil war within the Empire!”

“If you understand, then hand her over already.”

“It’s you that must be mad! Why do you want her so bad?! What does it matter to you, whether she lives here, or in Equestria?!”

“It matter because that is the law laid down by Princesses Celestia and Luna!”

Appletini steps forward. “They’re not our Princesses! Why should it matter what they decide? You want to appease them so badly?”

“Of course I do!” Is that… fear, in his eyes? “You weren’t there… You didn’t see… what they could do. When they defeated King Sombra, all on their own. King Sombra had reached a level beyond that of mere mortals. He was no longer subject to harm by anything that this world had to offer, and yet, they…”

“So that’s it? You saw one little spell, and now you’re scared of them?” Azure, I wouldn’t exactly call that a ‘little spell’.

“You moron! Think about it! They could destroy the entire Empire if they wanted to! We’re literally at their mercy! One wrong move, and-”

“You really think they’d do that? Over one little pony?”

“I sure don’t want to take the risk! When King Sombra returned, did you see the two Princesses come back to fight him once more? No! And why not? Because they care not for our safety! Because they wanted our Empire to fall! Because they wanted to show us that they had other powerful forces at their disposal! I don’t know which, but the reason doesn’t matter! All that matters, is protecting the ponies of the Crystal Empire, until we are finally able to stand on equal ground with Equestria!”

“… I agree. And Trixie is a member of the Crystal Empire.”

“Damnit Azure, stop being such a fool already! If we have to take down one district in order to save the other fifty-one, then so be it!”

I look around at all of the ponies gathered at the market square. Some look uneasy. Some look unsure. But the vast majority… still haven’t moved, and seem to be ready for a fight.

This isn’t good. If these ponies fight to try and protect me, then it’ll all be my fault that they get hurt. Azure… what are you planning?

“… Alright, you win.” A-Azure? “You can take her away. You can kick her out of the Empire.” What?!

“Azure, what’re you saying?!” Good question, Appletini. I mean, it’s to be expected, really, but somehow… it hurts to hear him actually saying it.

“But I’m going with her. You can go ahead and pin all of the blame on me, if kissing up to that Princess is really so important. But I’m not leaving her all alone. She’s my friend, and friends don’t abandon each other.”

Azure, you really mean it? You would leave you life here behind… just for me?

“Heh, well then, I guess I’ll join ya!” Appletini… “You two’ll need somepony to cook your meals for you, right? Not to mention, I need to make sure you don’t try anything funny with her.”

“You hurt me with your accusations, Appletini.”

You guys…

“I’m going too!” Astral. “I’ll have ta ask mum, but I’m sure she’ll be cool with it!” … Remind to go visit your mother at some point, if I ever get out of this mess, Astral. There’s something seriously wrong with your parents, if they would really be okay with something like that.

“No matter which way you go, you’ll need protective clothing.” Stitch? You’re coming, too. “… I’ll make you some suits before you leave.” Oh. Guess not. Somehow, I can’t help but laugh right now.

“Well, that’s certainly an improvement!” Appletini says, though I’m not sure what she means, exactly. “Laughing, even during a situation like this… doesn’t it feel better than worrying?”

… Well, yeah, but-

“Are you guys really so stupid?” Uh-oh. Crimson’s hooves are glowing a dark-red colour, and he looks pretty angry right now. Azure’s hooves are glowing a dark-blue colour… This isn’t going to end well. I’ve got to help him. “The Equestrian is going back where she belongs, so that we can show the Princesses that we support her fully.”

“I don’t know what kind of ponies the Princesses are any more than you do. If they’re benevolent rulers, then I don’t think we have to worry.” Actually, I don’t know what kind of rulers they are, either. At the very least, though, I suffered under their rule. So I certainly don’t support them. “And, if they’re tyrants, who use their power to oppress others… then forget waiting. We’ll never support their rule.”

“You fool! I won’t let you endanger the Crystal Empire like that!”

I charge magic into my horn, ready to back my friend up. “Azure, I certainly hope you don’t regret this later!”

“Little late to be saying stuff like that now, don’t ya think?” True. “Don’t worry, Trixie. We’re your friends.” I take one final look around me. A good number of ponies from the 47th District… are all smiling at me, and some are getting into fighting stances. “And we’ve got your back, even against an entire Country, if necessary.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Crimson gasps, and the glow around his hooves vanishes in an instant. Whose voice was that? And why is Crimson suddenly bowing his head?

“P-Princess Celestia!”

WHAT?!

I turn my head around, and sure enough, there she is. One of the rulers of the Country of Equestria. The pony that raises the sun every day, and whose influence is the most powerful in all of Equestria. Anything she says, goes. And she’s here, right now, standing before.

…

She’s taller than her pictures make her seem.

“Please, everypony, at ease.” I wasn’t bowing anyway. But everypony who is bowing rises up slowly. The tall white Alicorn approaches me… She’s also much more horrifying than her pictures make her seem.

“Y-Your Majesty,” Crimson starts, “What brings you here? If you had told us of your arrival in advance, we would have arranged a welcoming committee to come and meet you.”

“Well, I had only decided to stop by earlier today.” She turns her attention on me. Gulp. “My student, who is currently visiting my niece, informed me that there was a pony in need of my help here.”

Really? Who’s that?

“Are you the fugitive Trixie, who had been caught sneaking into the Crystal Empire some time ago?”

“… Y-Yes. That’s right.”

She nods, and closes her eyes. Somehow, I don’t think I’ll be able to get away from this by just running. “I see… You are aware of the number of crimes that you have committed, are you not? Illegally crossing the border, entering an area that was off-limits to you, resisting arrest…” Yeah, yeah, I get it already. Just get it over with. Whatever punishment you have in store for me… Just… let me say goodbye to my friends first, okay?

“Princess, what are you-” Appletini begins. Celestia cuts her off.

“For your crimes, I could have you locked away, or doing community service, for a full one to three years… However, I have decided on a different punishment for you.” Here it comes. “Trixie Lulamoon, you are hereby banished from the land of Equestria, and your Equestrian citizenship is hereby revoked!”

… D-Did I just hear that right? “W-What?”

“That shall be your punishment for your crimes. You are no longer welcome within Equestrian territory, and you are no longer one of my subjects.” She turns her attention to something behind me. “That means, I do not want to see her in my Country. Do I make myself clear, Crimson Eminence?”

“… Crystal, Your Majesty. But, what of the Empire?”

She smiles, before turning around. “The Crystal Empire is not Equestrian soil. That decision will be left up to your own ruler. Isn’t that right, my dear niece?”

“Yes, aunt.” Gah! When did she get behind me?! “I apologise for dragging you all the way out here, aunt Celestia.”

“It is no problem at all.” The Princess turns her gaze towards me, and… smiles? Her mouth moves, but no words come out. I could be mistaken, but I believe what she just said under breath was: ‘Good luck’.

Good luck? With what? I’ve now officially been cast out of Equestria, the Country in which I was born. True, there was nothing there for me anyway, but still… Actually, now that I’m no longer a citizen there, doesn’t that mean… I am no longer bound by their laws?

But, what about my life here? Will I still be able to live my life here, just as I have done for the past weeks?

“Ms. Lulamoon?” Celestia takes off into the sky, and now, I am approached by this Princess. “I would like you to come with me, please.”

Appletini steps in front of me. “What for?” I ask.

She simply continues to smile down at me, and kneels down, facing me at eyelevel. “To take your Crystal Empire citizenship test, of course.”

My eyes widen, and the sounds of many ponies gasping fills the area around us. “My… My what?”

“Your Crystal Empire citizenship test, to determine whether or not you will be accepted as a member of the Crystal Empire.”

“… A… test?” The Crystal Palace looks nice. The Princess seems to a have good taste in art. And the symmetry… Oh, the symmetry! And there’s a spa in her? Tch, figures… Spoiled, Royal Princess… Oh, right. The test. “Um… this is kind of short notice… Shouldn’t you give me a chance to study up a bit first?”

She ignores me, and instead points towards a small table in a big, empty room… Why exactly does this room exist? Seriously, it’s just a big, white, empty room, with this one table in the centre of it. And on the table, is a stack of papers. Presumably this ‘test’ of hers.

I’m totally not prepared for this.

“Relax. You’ll find that this is a different sort of test than what you’re probably used to.”

Oh? How so? … I doubt she’d answer me, even if I asked. With a sigh, I walk over to the table, and take a seat on the floor.

“You may begin when ready. And don’t worry. There is no time limit.”

Alright, deep breath Trixie… And now, question one: ‘You see a pony trip in the middle of the street, and her purse falls out of her bag. Do you: A, help the mare up, and offer her her purse, B, help the mare up, but take her purse, C, don’t help the mare up, and take her purse, or, D, ignore the situation entirely’.

… Ah, I see. Anypony can look up a thousand years of history, or the ways in which the Crystal Empire’s government works. What they want, isn’t ponies with knowledge… It’s ponies with good hearts. This is a morality test.

And naturally, the answer is ‘A’. GAH! T-The quill was just… blasted out of my magical hold.

“Please answer the questions honestly. If you try to lie, the magic spell on the quill will activate, and it will be thrown across the room, like just now.”

… Damn. I am so screwed… Well, let’s just get this over with. ‘D’. The next question wants me to elaborate on my answer… I guess, it just wouldn’t cross my mind to help out. Not unless somepony like Appletini were to suggest it, or I took the time to think about it, which I doubt I would do.

… Yep. I’m screwed.

“I passed.” That’s about the fiftieth time I’ve said that in the past minute, only this time, it was actually directed at somepony. I still can’t believe it… I pass that test? With those answers?

“So, that means…” That hopeful look on Appletini’s face… It’s kind of cute. I almost want to just let her hold onto it for a while. But…

“That means… I’m now officially a citizen of the Crystal Empire.”

All at once, Appletini, Azure, and Astral cheer loudly. Ow, my ears. Behind them, Stitch is clapping his forehooves together, and Mist looks… uninterested.

“Well, that’s good,” the filly says. “That means I haven’t lost my number one rival.”

“I thought that was me,” Astral says, earning a huff from Mist. “Anyway, this great! I get to keep my teacher, and stay with my family!” … I still don’t believe he was serious about his parents allowing him to leave, but I should go an check in on that, at some point.

“Congratulations, Trixie… Er, is it Trixie now, or still Will-o-Wisp?”

A good question, but one that I’ve already thought about. “If you wouldn’t mind… I would prefer Trixie. Trixie was abandoned by everypony in Equestria… I swore to myself long ago, that I would be the one pony not to abandon her.” I turn to Appletini. “That’s why, I asked you to still call me that in private.”

“Well, Trixie or Will-o-Wisp, I’m just glad that you’re able to stay!”

Azure nods. “Yes, and to celebrate, I say we all hit the Forty-seventh Heaven! Drinks are all on Trixie, naturally.”

“Wait, what?!”

Appletini nudges him with her foreleg. “Drinks are on us, Azure. Well, ‘cept the kids.” She turns to look at the two foals. “You two are coming, right?”

Astral nods enthusiastically, and Mist gives Appletini a grin. “Free drinks? I guess I’ll tag along, then.”

“Nothing alcoholic, you two,” Azure says, and immediately, their faces drop.

“And maybe afterwards, the Great and Powerful Trixie can finish her show your guys. A private show, just for her friends.”

“Sounds fun,” Stitch says.

“Great, then let’s go hit that tavern up!” Azure cheers, energetically pumping his forehoof into the air.

I nod, and the six of us, together, head off into the 47th District. To a new life, here in the Crystal Empire, surrounded by ponies I can call my friends. And, to a new future.

A New Life

Beep beep! Beep beep!

Hm? I open my eyes, and take around myself. That’s funny… Wasn’t I just in the Crystal Palace, surrounded by all of my friends, being crowned a Princess by Cadenza?

Beep beep! Beep beep!

The food was delicious, the wine was rich in flavour, and the turnout was great.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

I no longer have my wings? And my horn… is the same as it was before I became a Princess. What’s going on?

Beep beep! Beep beep!

And what is that incessant beeping? I turn my head to find out… Oh. It’s my alarm clock… Oh.

Oooooh. It was a dream. Well, that’s depressing.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

Shut it, already.

Bee-

There, much better. Seriously, why did I even bother setting that thing? Today’s a Saturday, but I decided to have the day off today. I don’t have a performance later, so I can’t see why I would need to get up early.

… Unless I had something else planned. Did I have something else planned? Let’s see… Appletini? Something to do with Appletini and Azure? And Astral and Stitch and Mist…

“AH!” That’s it! I just remembered! The six of us are supposed to be meeting up at the park this morning for a picnic! Darn it! I’d better get ready! Let’s see… my cape is just thrown across the floor, and my hat is lying on its side on my nearby desk… Awww, my lava lamp must have fallen over at some point. Now it’s broken, and I’ve gotta buy a new one. That’s just lame.

Anyway, I’ve got my magical attire on, and I’ve got the tin of crystal chocolate chip cookies that I baked last night. Excellent! Park, here I come!

I quickly brush my teeth at my sink, and then make my way out of my trailer. I lock the door, and make my way towards the park.

“Good morning, Will-o-Wisp.”

“Good morning.” Some ponies still call me by that name… Well, guess I can’t really fault them for it. After all, there are ponies here whose names I can’t remember at all. At least they know me by some name.

“Good morning, Wi- Trixie!”

“Morning, Starlight, Sweet Heart.”

The weather team’s doing a good job today. Looks like we’ll have clear skies all day. Yay.

“Hey, Trixie!” Appletini calls out to me as I approach her in the park. She’s already laid out the blanket for everypony, but it seems that we are the first two here. “Good morning. You sleep well?”

“Well enough. That trailer is pretty snug, and plenty warm.”

“That’s good. Sorry we couldn’t make it any bigger, but-”

I shake my head. “It’s fine, Tini. Really.”

“So, what district you planning on visiting first?”

“Whatever you do,” a voice behind me says, “Steer clear of the 13th District. That’s Crimson’s district.”

I turn around, and find Azure approaching us, carrying a white box on his back. “I thought I could safely approach Crimson now.”

“You can.” Azure places the box down, and opens it up to reveal several canned drinks surrounded by ice. “Want one?” He offers me a drink, and I accept it. “Legally, there’s not a thing he can do, now that you’re a citizen here. Still, he’s not overly fond of Equestrians, and I don’t really want him chewing my ear out about it.”

“Well, can’t really fault him there.” I open the can of crystal orangeade, and take a sip. “But then, I’m no longer an Equestrian, now am I?”

“Now now, Trixie,” Appletini says, reaching over and taking a drink for herself, “If it wasn’t for Equestria, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now, or even know each other, for that matter.”

“… Tch. Whose side are you on?”

“Just laying all the facts down. In any case, don’t worry about Crimson. I’m sure he’ll warm up to you.”

“Right. Just, not any time soon.”

“Hey! You guys started without us!” I look to my side to find Astral running towards us, wearing the red costume that I gave him before. “Trixie, check it out! I got a D- in my latest Math test!”

… It’s amazing how he can say that with such a cheery face. “You realise that that’s less than what you got last time, right?”

His smile doesn’t falter. “Well, there was nothing on the line this time! And a D- is still a pass!”

“Meanwhile, I got a C+,” Mist says. Suddenly, Astral’s smile turns to a frown. So Mist is the only thing that can upset this kid, huh? “Looks like Trixie’s ‘number one pupil’, still has a long way to go, before she can compete against the Amazing Mist Veil.”

“And? How is your magic coming along?”

“… I’m thirsty.” She completely dodges my question, and reaches over towards the icebox. Honestly, this filly… I’d love to teach her some magic, really I would, but she’s just so stubborn. She won’t train under me as long as Astral is also my pupil.

Instead, she just watches from a distance, thinking that her illusions are keeping her hidden. From Astral, maybe, but definitely not from me.

Stitch is also here, now, meaning that the whole group is together. “Good morning, everypony. A fine day today, isn’t it?”

Appletini nods. “How’s work going?”

“Pretty well, actually. The quarantine around the Empire will be lifting soon, so I’m preparing many ‘exotic’ costumes for the swarms of Equestrians that are sure to flood into the Empire.”

I shudder at the thought of such a thing. I’m really not looking forward to this happening at all, but it’s not like I can do anything about it. “Well, don’t milk them of all their bits, or else they won’t be able to leave.”

Azure and Stitch both laugh. I’m being quite serious, here. “I’ll keep that in mind. And how about you, Appletini? I hear the Princess was quite pleased with your cooking, and had offered you a position in the Royal Kitchen.”

She did? “Ah, yeah, but… That would require me moving to the Palace, and… I don’t wanna do that. If it means not being able to hang out with you guys as often, it’s not worth it.”

“I see. And you, Trixie? You’re going to be leaving this district soon, aren’t you?”

“Only for two days,” I tell him. “I want to visit more of the Empire, now that the Royal Guard isn’t after me. I’m going to check out the neighbouring districts, and maybe put on a show or two.”

“Any chance of some souvenirs?” Astral asks.

I laugh and shake my head. “Sorry, but I’m not quite that loaded.”

“Well,” Stitch starts, “I hope you have a good time. There is much to see here in the Empire, and even more things to do.”

“Looking forward to it.” And I am. I truly am. But right now, just being here with my friends, is satisfying enough. And the thing I’m looking forward to most, isn’t touring the remaining fifty-one districts, or spreading my show to every corner of the Empire, or holding a special show during a Crystal Fair… It’s spending more days like this one. Just forgetting everything for one day, and simply hanging out, and having fun with all of my friends.

I’m sure they’ll come soon, but I just can’t wait for them. And when they get here, I don’t ever want them to end. But I know that they will, and that’s why, I’m going to make the most out of all of them.

A New Land

Name: Trixie Lulamoon
Sex: Mare
Race: Unicorn
Age: 21
Date of birth: 1st April 979
Blood type: B-

Why am I telling you this? Good question. It’s all meaningless information. It’s meaningless to me, because I already know who I am. It’s meaningless to the officials up in Canterlot, because as soon as I cross the Equestrian border, they’ll never come across my name in their documents ever again. And it’s meaningless to anypony else, because the only thing ponies need to know about me, is that I am unwelcome in their towns.

It happened sometime last year. You may have heard of it: the incident in Ponyville, regarding an ursa minor. My boasts of being able to defeat an ursa major were revealed as the lies that they were, and ever since that day, I had been unable to perform anywhere, because ponies would laugh at me, and chase me out of their towns before I could even start up my show.

So naturally, I got a little mad. Okay, very mad. But it’s hard to take revenge against an entire Country, y’know? Much easier when the target is just one pony in particular. Twilight Sparkle. The Unicorn that had showed me up, by defeating that accursed ursa minor that ruined my career.

When my desire for revenge first appeared, I heard a voice call out to me. A voice claiming to be able to help me defeat Twilight, and finally regain the respect and admiration that I once had as ‘the Great and Powerful Trixie’.

Go ahead and blame me for what happened next. Tell me I was out of line. That I had no right to do what I did. But let me ask you: have you ever been turned out of practically every town in Equestria? Have you ever been forced to sleep outside, hoping that the Pegasi would take mercy and forgo just one scheduled rainy night? One skill I gain was that I no longer required pillows, because my neck and my head have adjusted so that rocks now feel somewhat comfortable when I lie on them.

So, yeah, I kind of gave in to the alluring power of the Alicorn Amulet. It’s not like I’m happy with what it made me, and I’m glad it’s gone and all… And when Twilight didn’t hand me over to the Princess, and even forgave me for what I did, I had almost regained all of the hope that I had lost over the previous year.

All it took was a single month to shatter those hopes, and remind me why I sought revenge in the first place. If the ursa minor incident had screwed up my career so badly, what do you think the Alicorn Amulet fiasco could have done? Now, ponies really didn’t want me performing in their towns. Some had even taken up arms to keep me away. Pitchforks and torches were my welcome party whenever somepony recognised me!

Now, there are only three places in Equestria where I can still go, provided I’m careful and remain in the shadows: Manehatten, Las Pegasus, and Canterlot. Even then, none of those places will accept me. Nopony will come to my shows, or offer me even a shred of sympathy. I have been cast out of everywhere in this Faustforsaken Country. Hence, I have decided that it would be best to simply leave.

Of course, suicide was an option that presented itself to me, but alas, it seems I truly am as weak and pathetic as everypony claims I am. I can’t even bring myself to just take that one step off of the Manehatten Tower. No matter how easy it would be, I’m too weak, and too stubborn, to end my life…

No! That’s not it! It’s not that I’m too weak, I just simply don’t want to give these ponies the last laugh! Yeah, that’s what it is. I’ll happily leave this Country, and I’ll gladly denounce my Equestrian citizenship, but I am not going to lose my life for the sake of these… these…

I’m not even sure how to describe them. Ponies are such horrible, vile creatures. As proof of that, just look at that stupid holiday that’s coming up: Hearth’s Warming Eve. A day where ponies all across Equestria spread love and kindness. That one day, out of the whole year. And why do they do it? Because they love their fellow ponies? No. Because it’s the right thing to do? Not a chance.

Obligation.

For this one day out of the year, ponies show love and kindness to each other, out of nothing more than a mere sense of obligation. Either they are afraid of the windigos describe in the history books, or they are simply keeping up with tradition, but either way, it’s sickening.

“Hey, you aren’t deserving of any love or respect, but count yourself lucky you caught me on this day. Here, have some kindness, but don’t expect any more tomorrow.”

All I need is one show, just one good show, and I’m confident I can bring myself back! If I can just show these ponies that there’s more to me than those stupid stories they’ve heard… If I can just show them my magic, my illusions, they’ll forget the ursa minor, and the Alicorn Amulet. Just one show… Hearth’s Warming Eve is the perfect chance, because nopony would dare to interrupt a Hearth’s Warming play.

Except, I don’t think I want to anymore. I’ve seen ponies for what they truly are: monsters. Despicable, horrible creatures that shun their own kind, and survive by making sure others suffer in their stead. Like bullies. Ponies are nothing but bullies, who form communities for their own protection. If you don’t belong to a community, you have no right to any happiness. That’s how this Country works.

Even Princess Luna, who is still feared throughout all of Equestria, receives nothing but the highest respect, the most comfortable bedding, the warming baths, and the finest cuisine, simply because she belongs to the most powerful community of all: Royalty. Nopony would dare shun her outright, because she happens to have Royal blood in her veins. Me? I’m nopony. I have no family, no connections… nothing.

And so, with my resolve set, I took my first step outside of Equestrian territory. There were five places I could go:

The jungle to the west was a cool climate, but filled with dangerous predators, and poisonous creatures. Also, with no map available to me, I would only get lost in there, so I decided not to take that route.

The desert to the south was vast, and, although it would eventually lead to Saddle Arabia, I had my doubts that I could survive the smouldering heat, and I had no money to purchase any water.

The badlands also rested to the south, but from what I’ve heard, no plants grow there, and as a result, nothing survives there, either.

To the east was the ocean. Now, I am certainly an accomplished swimmer, and I’m sure that I could hijack a boat just fine if I were to use a little cunning. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a navigator, so I would only end up getting lost out at sea.

That really only left me one option: to venture north, into the frozen wastelands, where Celestia only knows what could be waiting for me. Literally; Princess Celestia’s Royal Guard patrol the borders, and prevents anypony from leaving the Country via the north. Something about the northern lands being far too dangerous, and uninhabitable. But, nothing is too dangerous for the Great and Powerful Trixie! And I swear, if I have to spend one more night hiding my face from passing ponies, I will march back to the Everfree Forest and take back that accursed amulet!

“Stupid… icy path,” I said as I ascended the frozen, unstable pathway leading up the Crystal Mountains. Weird name, considering there were no crystals at all to be found on it. This was the one way to get past Princess Celestia’s Royal Guard, as they weren’t patrolling the foot of the mountain at all… Why am I still calling her ‘Princess’? I’ve thrown away my citizenship, and besides, what has she ever done for me? Why does she deserve my respect, when she has lifted not one hoof to help me, her starving subject?

As my thoughts drifted to food, I felt my stomach rumbling, which, when combined with the terribly low climate and oxygen levels found at the top of a mountain, made me realise why Celestia didn’t bother to guard the Crystal Mountains: nopony in their right minds would try to climb this thing!

But then, I had managed to not only reach the top, but also make my way back down the other side. That was proof that I was great and powerful, right? What other pony could have done that other than me? Admittedly, I was mostly running adrenaline right now as my body screamed at me to find shelter from the cold, but even so, I had made it this far. And now, here I was, in the frozen wasteland to the north, in the middle of a blizzard, with the howling of wolves filling the air…

“AAAAAAHHHHHH!” I screamed as I ran across the frozen plains, three frost wolves hot on my tail. Okay, so maybe Equestria wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe the scorning eyes and hateful words of ponies passing me by was just a little better than being chased through a sub-zero land by a pack of ravenous wolves. Maybe.

As my fight-or-flight response pushed me to my very limits, I began to wonder how things would have been if I had never visited Ponyville in the first place. If I had never put on that show, that inspired those two colts to bring an ursa minor into town. If I had never been revealed as a fraud, and had never been reduced to menial work just to buy my next meal.

Why didn’t I just go back to the rock farm? Why didn’t I just go into hiding, change my appearance, and get a job in some remote location? While that may have been okay for most ponies, I refused to do so simply because it would be pointless! The symbol on my flanks shows that I am destined for the stage! It is my passion. What I was born to do. Everypony has a special talent, and their destiny is branded onto them the moment they discover it.

If I were to reject my special talent, and just spend my days doing some job I didn’t even like, then what was the point of even doing it at all? Living for the sake of living? No! That’s not how the Great and Powerful Trixie rolls!

… But then, is there also any point in living when your special talent is something that everypony hates? Where your destiny involves ponies scorning you, and chasing you out of their towns, whenever you simply try to do your job?

Thinking about it that way, maybe I should just… stop running. Let the cold take me. Let the wolves have my flesh. At the very least, I can provide sustenance for those three hungry animals. Who knows? Maybe that was why I was born in the first place.

Stopping in my tracks, I clenched my eyes shut, and waited. Waited for the predators tailing me to pounce, and rip me apart, piece-by-piece. And so ends the legacy of the Great and Powerful Trixie…

“Huh?” I asked as I opened my eyes, and for the first time, I noticed that I wasn’t cold. I wasn’t shivering, and in fact, my body seemed to have been getting warmer. And not just me; the snow all around me seemed to have been melted, and before my eyes, I could see a vast, beautiful field, with many different types of flowers, trees, plants, and critters playing together in peace and quiet. Behind me, the wolves were nowhere in sight. “Where am I?”

I wondered if my brain had been damaged by the icy cold winds, and if this was just a figment of my imagination. But it felt so real… The warmth, and chirping of birds, and gentle breeze that caressed my cheek. And what’s more, the giant, beautiful crystalline structure that I could see in the distance. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and believe me, I’ve seen some strange things.

Slowly, I moved one hoof in front of the other, and began to move forward. OWCH! It seems that, at some point, I had stepped on a jagged rock whilst running, and while I was so wrapped up in my fears of being eaten alive, I must have not even noticed it.

Carefully, I lifted up my forehoof, and slowly pulled the rock out. Blood poured out of my wound, and stained the grass and I continued to walk down the plains, my hoof stinging every time I put pressure onto it.

As I got closer to the gigantic crystal structure, another view soon presented itself to me: what seemed to be a huge city, easily twice the size of Manehatten, lay before my eyes. It had many structures made of what appeared to be crystals, and the entire place shone and glimmered like something out of a fairytale. There was a strange warmth coming from this city, and it prompted me to investigate.

‘If this is a city that Equestria doesn’t know about,’ I began thinking to myself, ‘Then maybe… maybe news of my failures haven’t reached here yet!’

It was a faint hope, but it was enough to bring a smile to my lips as I picked up my pace towards the city. As I got closer, I saw clouds arranging themselves in the sky, without any Pegasus ponies around to move them. Now that was a strange sight, and I was determined to find out what was going on.

Below the clouds, I caught sight of a couple of Earth Ponies chatting to each other, each one waving their hooves about in the air. They looked like a couple of idiots. That is, until I noticed the glow around their hooves. I slowed my approach, and stared at them as they continued waving their hooves about. Looking back up at the sky, I could see that the clouds were moving with their hooves, and my jaw must have dropped to the ground as I pieced it all together: these Earth Ponies… are performing magic.

“You okay there, miss?” one of the two ponies asked as he approached me. His partner joined him, and I stumbled on my words as I tried to find something. “My goodness! You look terrible!”

That was understatement of the year right there. I haven’t eaten a proper meal in weeks, I’ve been surviving off of lake and river water, I haven’t bathed in a full month, my hat and cape were in tatters, and I can’t even remember the last time I managed to get more than an hour’s sleep at night.

“What happened to you?” the other pony asked, both of them looking at me with worried looks on their faces. That was a good sign; they didn’t seem to recognise me. Maybe I could find somewhere to perform in this city. But first, I would need some information about where exactly I was.

“It’s nothing. Say, could you tell me-”

“This is not nothing!” one of the two ponies, the taller, yellow one, said. He moved the front of my cape aside, and they both gasped at what they saw. Annoyed, I yanked my cape from his hoof, and covered my starved figure up again. “When’s the last time you ate?!”

“… Not important,” I said, “I just want to-”

“Jill, I’m going to take her to the fair! You mind explaining things to our boss?” the shorter, orange one suddenly said.

“Not at all, Jack,” ‘Jill’ said. Okay, ‘Jack’ and ‘Jill’? Really? Whatever, they seemed to be willing to take me to their city, so I didn’t bother saying anything.

“So, what’s your name?” Jack asked as he led me towards one of the streets of the large city, which I noticed was filled with stands and stalls, and ponies running around, laughing together and having fun. It was also then that I noticed just how shiny their coats were. Shiny, and sparkly… “Miss?”

“Oh, uh, Trixie,” I said, cursing myself as soon as I did. Why did I give out my real name? What would that accomplish? If they knew who I was, they’d surely-

“Trixie, eh? That’s a nice name.” I breathed a sigh of relief as we continued walking down the street, and soon, the unmistakable scent of freshly baked apple fritters caught my nose. My stomach rumbled, causing a blush to form on my face as I tried to look innocent. “Eheheh, you must be really hungry,” he said as we both approached the apple fritter stand. “Heya Appletini! How’s business?”

“Great!” the pony at the stand, a green Earth Pony, answered with a smile on her face. “Who’s your friend? Not cheatin’ on the Mrs. now, are you?”

Jack laughed, and once again pulled my cape aside to reveal my starved figure. With a grunt, I aggressively pulled my cape back, and threatened him not to do that again. Though my threat came out pretty weak, what with my throat being so parched.

Appletini simply gasped in horror at my bony figure, and quickly offered a tray of six apple fritters to me. “Here ya go, sugarcube! On the house.”

I gave her a sceptical look. Nopony gives things away from free, so I knew that something had to be up. “Really? I can just take these?” I asked. She nodded quickly, that smile still on her face. “At no cost?” Another nod. “And you won’t demand payment later?”

With a groan, she practically shoved the tray into my forehooves. “Just eat ‘em already! I won’t stand for nopony goin’ hungry in my district!”

“District?” I asked as I sniffed the fritters. By Faust did they smell good. I levitated one into the air, and popped it into my mouth. Even in my weakened state, I could still do magic. A sign that it was my specialty, as well as my Cutie Mark, of course.

“That’s right,” she said. “This here’s the 47th district, an’ the best on of ‘em all, if’n you ask me.”

I guessed that ‘districts’ were kind of like streets or something. “How many districts are there?”

“Fifty two,” she answered. “The 47th is the poorest, but that don’t mean we’re down in the dumps or nothin’… Wait, how do you not know all this?”

“And how are you doing that?” Jack asked, pointing at the tray of fritters in my hoof. He had an incredulous look on his face, and I looked between him and the fritters to try and determine what he meant. “Your hooves aren’t glowing… How are you using magic?”

I suddenly remembered the display of magic I witnessed from Jack and Jill earlier, and then it hit me: every pony I had seen thus far in this city was an Earth Pony. Not a single Unicorn or Pegasus among them. I wondered if all of them could perform magic like that.

Seeing that Appletini had joined Jack in staring at me in shock and awe (which also prompted a smile to form on my face), I reached up for my hat with my free forehoof, and pull it off to reveal my horn, coated with my faint purple aura.

“A-A Unicorn?!” Jack exclaimed, and suddenly, it seemed that everypony in the entire street was swarming me. I dropped the tray on the floor, though there were no longer any fritters on it, so it didn’t really matter, and I began demanding the ponies crowding me to give me some space, feeling like I was going to suffocate if they didn’t.

“Okay, everypony! Settle down already!” a voice called out, and the crowd parted so that a tall blue Earth Pony could get through. “Terribly sorry, miss. We don’t get many Equestrians around here… Well, none, actually. I’m afraid everypony simply got excited.”

“I’m not an Equestrian,” was my immediate, cold response. I had no intention of being lumped together with them anymore, hence I left that Country in the first place.

“You’re not?” he asked with a puzzled look on his face. “Then where’re ya from? And what’re ya doing all the way out here?”

“… I’m not from anywhere, and I’m here purely by accident.” I looked around, examining the ponies around me. They all that amazing sparkling quality to their coats. “What kind of ponies are you, exactly?”

“You don’t know?” the blue one asked, and I shook my head. “We’re Crystal Ponies.”

Oh, right, of course. Silly me. How could I not have known that? “I’m sorry, you’re what?”

“You’ve never heard of a Crystal Pony before?” I shook my head again. “I see… Well then, how ‘bout I give you the grand tour?”

“Um, sure… As long as it doesn’t take too long.”

“Great! First of all, allow me to introduce myself! The name’s Azure Eminence, an’ I’m the mayor of the 47th district!” He offered his hoof to me, and I slowly extended my own to his.

“Trixie Lulamoon,” I said, cringing at how raspy my voice was as I spoke. “I’m sorry, but do you think I could get a glass of water?”

“Water? Don’t think so!” Here it comes. I knew they were just playing nice earlier. There isn’t a single place in this world, it seems, that will actually accept me… “This here’s the Crystal Fair! If you’re gonna drink something, it should be some refreshing crystal nectar! Brewed right here in our very own district!”

“… That sounds alcoholic.” He nodded enthusiastically, and called over a green Crystal Pony carrying a tray of what I assumed to be the ‘crystal nectar’. I had heard that drinking alcohol when you’re hungry is a bad idea, so I assumed that drinking it when you’re starving was even worse… But then, when I thought back on everything I’ve endured this past year, the idea of a drink sounded far too appealing to pass up. “Um… Cheers, I guess.”

I downed the whole drink in one go, and much to my surprise, it was the most refreshing beverage I had ever tasted. Although, something didn’t quite feel right… I didn’t feel any different, but that’s just it. Shouldn’t I have at least gotten a little drunk off of that?

“What d’ya think?” Azure asked me, to which I wasn’t sure how to respond. “Even though it’s alcoholic, ya can’t get drunk off of it! That’s the magic of the Crystal Empire for ya!”

“Crystal Empire? Is that where I am right now?”

“Sure is,” Appletini said, offering me another tray of apple fritters. Not about to pass up free food when my stomach was still rumbling, I accept the treat and once again used my magic to levitate them. This stirred up the crowd around me, which, in turn, brought back familiar feelings from my old life as a travelling magician.

“Is that really so entertaining?” I asked, though I couldn’t help the smile forming on my face as the ponies around me regarded me with awe. “You guys can do magic too, right?”

“Well, yeah,” Appletini said. “But only magic that matches our Cutie Marks.” Appletini showed off her Cutie Mark, which was a martini glass with an apple slice in. That explains the name, at least. “Ponies like Jack, whose special talents involve the weather, can use weather magic. Ponies like me, whose special talents are cooking, can use magic to help with that.”

“What about ponies whose special talents are magic?” I asked out of curiosity. “Do those exist in your ‘Crystal Empire’?”

“They do,” Azure said, reaching for one of the fritters on my tray, but pulling his hoof back when Appletini slapped it away. “But they’re pretty rare, and hard ta come by. Here in district 47, we have two like that, but they’re both still foals.”

“And they’re always at each other’s throats,” Jack said with a laugh, joined in by some of the ponies around him. “What about you, Trixie?” he asked. “What’s your talent?”

With a proud grin, I moved to shift my cape aside, when I remembered how filthy I was underneath it. Instead, I settled with placing my hoof on my chest and posing theatrically. “My talent is illusionary and enchantment magic. More specifically, using such magic in the theatrical arts.”

“So you’re a showmare?” Azure asked, with a face as if he had just reached some grand realisation. “I see. That explains the outfit.”

“… Yes. I am, or was, a travelling magician. I travelled all over the land, performing my shows in various towns and villages.”

“So what happened?” Azure asked, intrigued by the story. He wasn’t the only one; all around me, ponies were moving in closer so that they could hear the rest of my story.

“… I’d rather not say.” With disappointed faces, my captive audience pulled back and let out collective ‘awww’s. “… Instead, how about I give you an example of one of my shows?”

The crowd perked up at that, and began cheering and making way for me to perform for them. I looked around at all the ponies watching her. All of the expectant looks pointed my way, waiting for me to do something amazing to wow them.

Clearing my throat, I nervously began to gather magic into my horn. It had been a while since I had last performed, so perhaps starting with something small and simple was in order. Conjuring up some energy into my horn, I tried to start off with a spell to create illusionary flowers…

“Whuh?” As my vision faded to black, the sounds of the ponies around me slowly began to die out, and the last thing I felt before passing out was a strange warmth surrounding my body…

Waking up in a familiar town, I looked around to try and get some idea as to where exactly I was.

“What’s the matter, ‘Great and Powerful’ Trixie?” a voice called out behind me, but when I turned to look, nopony was there.

“Awww, can’t even stand on your own four hooves?”

“Where’s all that ‘amazing magic’ you were bragging about?”

“Defeated an ursa major? Hah! You couldn’t even defeat a baby!”

“Get out of our town! We don’t want no stinking con-artists here!”

“Get lost!”

“Liar!”

“Fake!”

“Go back to magic kindergarten!”

“HAHAHAHAHAH!”

As the sounds of angry voices and mocking laughter filled my ears, I tried to shut my eyes and make it all just go away. I brought my hooves up to my throat… but they stopped. My eyes shot open, and I immediately came face-to-face with her. Twilight Sparkle!

“Trixie…” she said, a malicious grin appearing on her face. “Enjoy your new life. It’s all your deserve.”

I was about to question her, when suddenly, I was plunged into a vast, cold wasteland, filled with nothing but rocks. Mountains and mountains of rocks, with no path in sight. I was trapped, and the only contact with the outside was a pickaxe that suddenly appeared before my eyes, with a note:

Start digging, or die. Either is fine. Your life is over now.

I felt tears streaming down my face, and I quickly got up and tried to blast my way out of this area. But it was no good; my magic wouldn’t work, and even if I got out what would be waiting for me out there? More laughter? More ridicule? I can’t… I can’t face that anymore… I just want it all to go away… All of it… All of it…

“JUST GO AWAY!” I screamed as I bolted up out of my bed, covering my ears to prevent the scornful cries of the ponies around me from reaching me… “Huh?”

I looked around, and noticed two things that were off. First, this wasn’t my room. Second, I wasn’t alone. Sitting beside me, looking positively startled, was a familiar looking Earth Pony, staring at me as if she had just seen a ghost.

No, wait… Not an Earth Pony. These are ‘Crystal Ponies’, if I remember correctly.

“Oh, my,” Appletini said, bending down to pick an apple up off of the floor. Did she drop it when I startled her? More importantly, where was this place, and why was I here? “That… must have been some dream you had there…”

“… Where am I?”

“Not to worry, Trixie. You’re in my home. I brought you here after you passed out.”

“I passed out? And you brought me here?”

“Well, I took you to the hospital first, but they said that you were simply exhausted, and so I brought you here. I could hardly leave you with Jack or Azure… A pretty mare like you in such a vulnerable state? Those two would turn into wolves the moment I left the room.”

“… How long have I been out?” I asked, not caring if I came across as rude or impatient. I was impatient, and I had no intention of being in this mare’s debt any longer. I just wanted to get my answers, and then leave, as quickly as-“AGH! My eyes!”

“Oh, sorry!” Appletini said as she smiled at me. She had just opened the curtains by the window, and my eyes were suddenly exposed to the morning sun outside… Wait, morning sun? “You’ve been out since yesterday afternoon. To be honest, I was beginning to worry. I was afraid you would never wake up.”

I climbed out of bed, against Appletini’s wishes that I stay still for a bit, and slowly walked over to the window. I sniffed a few times, and had to hold back a few sneezes as I walked. It was then that I noticed my stuffy nose, and my sore throat. “I must have caught a cold from climbing the mountains,” I said to myself, and then I cringed at how raspy my voice sounded.

I looked outside the window, and was almost in awe at the beautiful sight outside. I didn’t really pay much attention yesterday, but now I could see why this place was called the Crystal Empire; everything really did seem to be made out of crystals. Even the ponies! Well, except for the two walking down the street, wearing…

“EEP!” I shouted, ducking down beneath the window as quickly as I could. What were two members of the Royal Guard doing here?!

“Trixie?” Appletini asked, kneeling down beside me. “Is something wrong?”

“T-Those two ponies, wearing the armour…”

“Oh, Equestria’s Royal Guard. I’ll admit, it’s a rare sight… They must be delivering a message to the Princess. Still, they usually go through the 1st district, not the 47th.”

“I can’t let them see me!” I said, covering my head with my hooves. Faust I must have looked pathetic. “Please… Please don’t tell them that I’m here!”

Appletini wrapped a foreleg around my shoulders, and gently asked me to calm down. I didn’t, though. Having another pony getting close to me was even more discomforting, and she seemed to get the hint when my trembling only increased.

“I won’t, but… D’you mind if I ask why?” Appletini said as she pulled away, her voice gentle yet firm. “I mean, that’s the police of our neighbouring Country, y’know? I think, if I’m gonna hide you here, I at least deserve an explanation as to why.”

“… I… I crossed the border illegally,” I said, fearing gripping my throat as I spoke. “T-They’re going to send me back… They’re going to drag me back into that Country, but I can’t go back there! I WON’T GO BACK!”

Appletini quickly shushed me, and asked me to calm down, gently stroking my mane as she did. It… felt kind of nice, but I still didn’t want to drop my guard around her just yet.

“Why not?” Appletini asked. “Why can’t you go back?”

I looked up into her eyes, my own vision blurred by my tears, and I did the one thing I had hoped I would never have to do in my entire life: I begged her. I begged her to not send me back. I begged her to stay here, in this ‘Crystal Empire’. I never told her why, I just didn’t want to go back there. Not to that place. Not ever to Equestria! Even Tartarus would be better than living there!

With a sigh, Appletini silenced me by placing a hoof to my mouth, and then pulled me into a gentle embrace. “Alright,” she said. “You don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to. And I won’t let them take you against your will, either.”

I never asked her why. I never questioned her reason for helping me, a complete stranger, who never offered any reasons for my own wishes not to go back. Instead, I simply showed my appreciation for the rest of the morning, by letting out all of my tears into her shoulder. Until I was done, she never left my side, or uttered a single word. She just held me, as I released more tears than I realised I still had left.

When I was done, she suggested I spend the rest of the day resting up, and getting over my cold. I accept the offer, but I refused to fall asleep. Sleep was where the nightmares were, waiting for me so that they could tear my psyche apart piece-by-piece. I did whatever it took to stay awake. Cards, dominoes, biting into my forelegs… but it was no use. The need for my brain to recharge overpowered me, and that night, as predicted, the nightmares once again plagued my mind.