Leaving

There was a new unicorn in town.

"Which one of you can out-do the Great and Powerful Trixie?" the blue unicorn smirked. "anypony? Or will Trixie have to be Ponyville's best?"

Spike begged Twilight to show up Trixie, but Twilight refused.

"That's it," said AJ, "I'll show her who's boss." Applejack then did a perfectly done lasso routine, flicking the rope with a flourish. Trixie countered this by tying up Applejack and stuffing an apple into her mouth. The other ponies did amazing tricks as well, being outdone each time by Trixie. After Rarity's conundrum, Comet spoke out.

"I think," he began, "That it is time for a little test of intelligence. Can anypony give me a difficult riddle or problem to solve?" He stood onstage, forcing his confidence.

      An old professor stepped forward. "Every month, a filly gets allowance. Assume that last year she had no money, and kept it up to now. Then she spends half of her money on crayons, then one third of the remaining money on games, and then one fourth of the remaining money on toys. After she bought all of that, she had seven thousand seven hundred seventy-seven bits left. Assuming she only gets money by allowance, how much money does she earn every month?"

Comet stood for a few moments, thinking. Trixie snorted.

"She earns two thousand two hundred twenty two bits a month." said Comet, in full confidence.

"That is correct." A few ponies cheered.

The professor than turned to Trixie, reading off of a scroll. "You have two blocks of clay in cube form and the edges are 10 cm. How many spheres with a radius of 5 cm can you make with that amount of clay? "

For a minute, Trixie was dumbstruck. Then she conjured a magic eight ball.

"What?" Comet blurted out.

Trixie shook the ball. "You can make three spheres." She then showed the crowd the "3" imprinted on the ball.

"That is also correct." said the professor. The crowd groaned.

Trixie smirked at the blue pegasus. "I'm clearly the sharpest knife in the drawer."

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Thump. Thump thump thump. Thump.

"Why do these ponies insist on knocking on my door?" Blaze sighed. He pulled it open. It was Spike.

"Blaze, right?" Spike asked.

"Yeah. You're Spike, huh?" Blaze responded. Spike nodded.

"Well," said Blaze, "Do come in."

Spike sat at the kitchen table, squirming.

Blaze raised an eyebrow. "Do you...Want something to eat...Or drink, maybe?"

Spike shook his head. He was trembling.

"Spike-"

"What can you do?!" Spike burst out.

"Uhh.." said Blaze, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Sorry." said Spike hurriedly. "What I mean to say was...What's your special talent?"

"Well," said Blaze, "There's nothing, really."

"Oh, come on." Spike insisted. "There has to be something."

There is, Blaze thought to himself. But everyone thought that they were good at singing these days. Even if they were horrible. Blaze could sing, very well, but how could he be sure? You never know until you try. A voice echoed in his head. It was unfamiliar.

"I can sing." said Blaze. Spike's eyes widened. They were a bright spring green.

"Let's hear you." said Spike, now enthusiastic.

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"That's great!" Spike exclaimed. "But what's that song even about?"

"Heheh...Don't you worry, Spike."

"But-"

"Shh...No, no... Now, why did you want to know of my special talents?"

Spike explained of Trixie's boasting. "-And Twilight doesn't want to do anything about it just because she doesn't wanna show off!" Spike huffed.

"Spike, Twilight is just being modest. She doesn't want to risk looking like Trixie with fancy tricks and such."

Spike sighed. "But Twilight really is the best unicorn! It's not fair..."

"You will learn," Blaze continued softly, "That life just isn't fair. And when things aren't going well, you'll just have to push through the day."

"Gee, Blaze." said Spike with a surprised look. "You don't look that old. How did you even learn that?"

Blaze smiled bleakly. "Don't worry about that. Besides, how's your little plan going to work if I'm not a pony? Won't everyone freak out?"

"You," Spike smiled sneakily, "can leave that to me."

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"Ready?" Spike whispered.

"Yeah." Spike handed Blaze the microphone. "Are you sure no one will find out?" Blaze replied.

"Of course. Nopony will guess. the curtain is too thick."

"Alright, Spike." said Blaze. "You owe me."

"Of course." Spike smiled. He left. The music played.

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The crowd cheered, wolf-whistling. "That was Ezalb, the mysterious and musical pony!" Spike announced.

Blaze quickly exited the curtain, darting around the trees and into the shadows.

"Oh, please." Trixie snorted. She drained a small bottle full of green liquid. She then proceeded to sing opera. Though many hated to think so, it was beautiful.

They had failed.

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     Spike hadn't bothered returning to Blaze's cottage. He was too upset. He decided he'd take a walk to calm himself. He crossed his arms. "What are you two doin'?" he asked Snips and Snails.

"Just bringin' the G & PT a-"

"The what?"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie!" the unicorn exclaimed.

Spike snorted.

"Just bringin' her a smoothie."

"How can you fall for her lameness?" Spike spat. "She's just a show-off. Unlike Twilight-"

Snips gasped. "The Great and Powerful Trixie vanquished an Ursa Major. Can your Twilight claim that?"

"Oh really? Were you guys actually there?" said Spike, annoyed.

"Well,uh no-"

"There!" Spike yelled. "The proof is in the pudding!"

"I like pudding." said Snails dreamily.

"Look," Spike sighed, irritated, "Unless an Ursa Major comes waltzing up the street for Trixie to vanquish, I am not going to believe a word she says. And neither should you!"

"An Ursa Major walking up the street, eh?" Snips said thoughtfully. "Snails, are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

"Why do they call it a flea market when they don't really sell fleas?" Snails said dumbly.

"Ye- no!" Snips shook his head. "Come on.."

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Blaze had heard of Twilight's feat of vanquishing the Ursa minor. He was rather impressed himself. He just didn't understand how constellations were creatures. But, then again, he reminded himself, this world just didn't make sense. Why were the ponies so kind? So caring? So decided? In the human world, it was all about being the best. Here, it was all about being yourself, and nothing else.

     Blaze returned home. He needed to talk to the Princess. He had questions. There were so many things on his mind, they were tumbling out. He tried to catch them, remember them. The best he could do was write them all down.