Rise

Chapters

Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4

Act 1

"A society creates the heroes it needs, sometimes out of the most unlikely of materials."
-Clover the Clever

RISE

~~~~~Canterlot, The Royal Castle~~~~~

6 months before "The Dissonance Incident"

The Great and Humble Trixie sat nervously in the small lounge, her legs dangling off the expensive bit of furniture like a filly waiting to be scolded. The guards had forced Trixie to surrender her cape, but even the most stern faced and implacable among them had balked at the prospect of trying to take her hat. So Trixie gently turned the hat over and over again in her hooves, as she continued to wait in silence for the Princess to pass judgement upon her.

Trixie had come willingly, at the advice of an old friend, to confess her role in what had happened in Ponyville. She'd been assured that they would go easier on her if she didn't try running away. Not that I would have gotten very far, Trixie thought bitterly, eyes fixed to the bare stone floor. I lost everything when I left Ponyville the first time. All she had left were her cape and her hat. And her magic. Mom had always said that was all she'd ever need to get out of any jam.

Trixie looked around the small room with its beautiful but heavily locked doors, an absence of windows, and a lack of obvious escape routes and sighed mournfully. Getting out of this one might require a little luck too, Trixie thought moodily, continuing to kick her legs back and forth. Still, nopony has ever accused Princess Celestia of not being fair. What is the worst that could happen? She stopped swinging her legs for a moment, and facehoofed. Oh ponyfeathers, did I really just think that clichéd line?

A moment later, there was a brief knock on the door and the sound of the locks slowly coming undone. Trixie looked up expectantly, replacing her hat on her head as firmly as she could and putting on her bravest face. Whatever happens, Trixie, you will face it like the Great and Powerful mare that you are. It wasn't a terribly humble thought, but she needed a little confidence at that moment. Confidence which totally drained out of her as the door swung open to reveal the dark blue coat and piercing eyes of the Princess of the Night.

Trixie nearly died in her horseshoes as Princess Luna's horn lit to close the door behind her, the sound of the locks being thrown shut, hitting her ears like the nails being hammered into a coffin. Princess Luna quietly walked over to where Trixie was sitting, and pulled herself up onto the other chair. For a few long moments, all the Princess did was stare at her quietly. Trixie felt her forehooves start to shake, and gripped them together tightly in the hopes that they would stop shaking. Celestia might be well known for her fairness, but Luna had a nasty reputation for dealing harshly with those whom had aroused her ire. And surely attacking the village where it is said she first made friends is more than sufficient to do just that, Trixie thought miserably while waiting for the hammer to fall.

After a few more minutes, Luna spoke firmly but without rancor. "So. We have heard that you wish to own up to your misdeeds within the town of Ponyville. Is this correct?" Trixie nodded once, trying very hard to keep her expression penitent. Luna’s next words only served to make Trixie more nervous. "We are also given to understand you purchased an Alicorn Amulet illegally, and used its dark powers to entrap the city of Ponyville and abuse its citizens. Is this correct?"

Trixie nodded again, feeling a cold sweat start to travel down her spine. This is not going to be good, Trixie thought faintly, wondering why Luna looked so damn calm right now. Princess Luna spoke again after a moment, her head tilted to one side. "Do you have any idea why we are handling this particular matter, as opposed to our sister?" Trixie shook her head firmly, still a little too intimidated to speak. Luna smiled faintly. "Because matters pertaining to the misuse of Dissonance power and artifacts fall to us."

Trixie's eyes widened, and her pupils reduced to pinpoints. Fear seized her by the spine and she felt all of her remaining confidence completely abandon her. They think I'm a Sorceress! Trixie's voice clawed its way out of her throat as she shoved herself lower into the chair, trying to put as much distance as she could between herself and Luna. "B-b-but Trixie did not know! Trixie thought it was merely a magic enhancer, nothing more! If Trixie had known she would have turned the shopkeeper over to the Inquisition! T-T-Trixie is a good pony! I would never d-dream of using the dark arts!” Her voice squeaked out, her pupils reduced to pinpoints. “I swear!" Trixie babbled, her hooves trembled in fear, her words practically babbling. She knew what happened to Dissonance sorceresses - and it was not pretty.

Princess Luna held up a hoof and spoke in a firm and very loud voice. "Silence! We do not propose that thou hast dabbled in Dissonant Sorcery!" Trixie was nearly blown away by the blast of sound, a look of shock spread comically across her face. Oh. That's good, she thought faintly, still trying to collect her thoughts as Luna continued to speak with a bemused look on her face. "However, your actions were singularly irresponsible, and the cause of a great deal of financial damage and personal harm."

No longer frozen by panic, Trixie nodded miserably. "Trixie knows that now." She sighed a little, doing her level best to look sorry. "Trixie came here of her own accord to own up to that." As much as she hadn't wanted to. Still, it had probably earned a few fillyscout points in the process. What she'd wanted to do was run like Cerberus was after her, and not stop until she reached someplace they had never heard of Ponyville. Of course, the complete lack of bits had more or less put the kibosh on that plan.

Princess Luna was smiling faintly now, her hooves crossing in front of her. Trixie was particularly taken by those lovely silver boots that the Princess was always wearing for some reason. They reminded her of the ones her mother had worn on stage when she performed. It was an absurd thought in this situation, but Trixie simply couldn’t help it. Princess Luna's voice cut through her woolgathering, and Trixie's head snapped to attention. "Which was a remarkably brave thing to do, given the circumstances. So, " Luna arched an eyebrow. "allow me to present you with your options."

Trixie stared blankly at the princess before stuttering, "O-Options?" Trixie gaped a little at the mischievously smiling Princess. "Since when do c-criminals get options?" Trixie never could learn when to keep her mouth shut. It snapped around the last word, and Trixie could not help but be mortified. Great work, Trixie. Admitting guilt before you've even had a chance to explain yourself. Luna, however, did not seem to notice.

"Ah, so you understand the gravity of your crime." was the insufferably smug reply. Well, perhaps not insufferable: she was a princess after all. Princess Luna kept speaking right over Trixie's musings. "You are quite right that your actions were criminal, but I do not think this needs to become a matter for the courts." Luna lifted her head a little, a regal gaze directed right at Trixie. "You see, We have a rather unique problem that requires a unique solution. If you will agree to help the crown resolve this issue, we will happily sweep this matter firmly under the rug."

Trixie hesitated a little, tapping her hooves uncertainly together. On the one hoof, it was like a gift from Harmony itself. She would not only resolve her legal issues, but perform a service directly for the Princesses. That would undoubtedly earn her enough credit with the local nobility to pull herself back up by her horseshoes. On the other hoof, there was no telling exactly what Princess Luna was going to send her to do. It could be incredibly dangerous or incredibly dull. Trixie was not entirely sure which one would be worse. Princess Luna got that smile on her face again, and spoke in an almost jovial tone. "Of course, if you prefer to let the high court handle this case..." she let the words trail off suggestively.

Oh fie. She isn't really giving me a choice. She's telling me to co-operate, or end up in a cell for the rest of my life. Trixie really, really hated when ponies pulled that little stunt. She sighed gustily. "Trixie is ready and eager to assist the crown," she replied, trying her best to hide her distaste for this entire idea. "What can The Great and Humble Trixie do for the Princess of the Night?" Nothing for it but to try and fake enthusiasm. Maybe it would help soften whatever blow was about to come.

Princess Luna chuckled. "I knew you'd see reason. Come." She hopped off of the chair and briskly walked over towards the door. "I have something to show you."

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Princess Luna walked with a grace and poise that frankly annoyed Trixie. The Princess made it look so easy walking in that steady, liquid motion. Trixie would have killed to be able to walk like that - especially on stage. Audiences loved watching a performer move with style and grace, and Trixie had dedicated countless hours to perfecting each pose, walk and gesture she gave while performing. Of course, the Princess was thousands of years old - so perhaps it simply was the result of practice. It still annoyed her.

Luna led her into a dark, wood paneled office illuminated only by a half dozen candles burning in a chandelier above their heads. A fairly large oak desk dominated the room. The desk was covered at the moment in a large cloth map of Equestria, marked with little pins here and there. Luna gestured at the chair on the other side of the desk, and perched into the ancient but comfortable looking chair on the other. "Tell me what you know about Hollow Shades, Trixie." Luna said briskly, her tone of voice all business.

Trixie was still gazing at the straining shelves of ancient tomes upon the four walls of the room - most of them without any titles on the spines. Yet Trixie was willing to wager there were secrets of magic in those books that even Twilight Sparkle didn't know. Luna's words eventually penetrated and she blinked. "Huh. Trixie does not know terribly much." Hollow Shades was not a place a showmare like her went. There was simply no profit in it, given the town’s spooky reputation. "Trixie knows it is the home village of the batponies, and that many dark rumors that surround the place." She shrugged a little bit. "Trixie also knows the place has more myths and legends about it than Canterlot does."

Luna smiled slightly. "They prefer to be called thestrals, Trixie. I'd recommend not calling them batponies to their faces." There was a little smirk at that, and she tapped her hoof on the map, where the village was marked off as being somewhere deep in the Foggy Wood. "We have a situation currently developing there. Normally, I would send the Night Guard to handle the problem, but given the unique circumstances of the situation we feel that we need a unicorn." Luna leaned over the desk, her hooves touching each other. "Specifically, one who is an expert in illusions."

Trixie blinked, and then a smile blossomed onto her face. Illusions... I can handle that. " How fortunate that The Great and Humble Trixie happens to be an expert in illusion magic." She didn't quite preen, but she came awfully close to it. "Give Trixie the details." She leaned in towards Princess Luna now, much more enthusiastic than she'd been moments ago. "And you will not be disappointed in the results!"

Luna nodded and her horn lit with a gentle cerulean light, opening a cabinet on the desk and extracting a thin sheaf of parchment. "We received these letters about a week ago." She gently placed the letters on the desk, where Trixie quickly picked them up and began to read through them attentively. "The gist of them is that the town has been experiencing some sort of spectral invasion." Trixie blinked at her in confusion, and Luna nodded with a wry smile "These so called 'ghosts' have been causing all sorts of problems around town. Damaging property, causing road blockages and wreaking general havoc. More than a few ponies have been severely injured in the chaos they have caused.."

Trixie nodded, still reading slowly down the first sheet of parchment. Luna blinked at that and continued speaking slowly. "Equestrian Intelligence believes - and so do I - that these 'ghosts' are the product of some kind of malicious spell casting. When We sent a guard unit to investigate, they were ambushed,“ she gently tapped a thin black line leading into the forest, “here, in the middle of the Silent Road. There were a great many wounded, but none perished. The captain in charge of that unit reported that their weapons were useless against the creatures."

Trixie looked up from the letter with a raised eyebrow. Luna nodded with a slight smile. "Of course, we presumed there had to be illusions involved. We were originally planning to dispatch a unit from the battlemage division, but..." She shrugged, "Since you are here, I thought perhaps we could strike down two birds with a single stone." She blinked, and noticed Trixie just now moving on to the second letter. "Um.." Luna began a little curiously.

"Yes? Trixie is reading them." She half glared at the princess and went back to her work. Several awkward minutes passed between them. Luna coughed softly, and Trixie glared at her - completely forgetting who she was dealing with for a moment. "Trixie is reading as quickly as she can! Be patient!" she snapped, going back to the second letter with a touch of frustration. I swear, why does everypony expect me to blaze through this sort of thing? she muttered softly to herself, moving at last to the third and final letter in the stack.

For a time, neither of them spoke. Trixie slowly worked her way through the letters under the unnerving eye of the Night Princess. Every time Trixie glanced up, it seemed like Princess Luna was trying to restrain some inner frustration. It was a look Trixie was familiar with when she was reading and she sighed silently. Why was everypony in such a hurry when it came to the written word?

Finally, Trixie set the letters back on the table and looked expectantly at Luna. Luna nodded once before speaking in an exasperated voice. "Your mission is simple, Trixie - uncover the nature of these attacks and put a stop to them. Do you think you can handle that?"

Trixie smirked, placing her hoof daintily on her chest. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will be happy to put these ruffians in their place, whoever they may be!" Luna's slow smile should have warned Trixie, but she was too busy mentally rubbing her hooves together in glee. Finally, a chance to one up that annoying Twilight Sparkle!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fire Crackle's Cracking Good Fire Crackers and Crafts was the tongue-tangling name of the foremost purveyor of magical fireworks and amusements in Equestria. Trixie never actually said the full name of the place, of course. That would have been undignified. The store front was surprisingly modest, tucked away off one of the three market squares in the Equestrian capitol. Still, given the massive demand their business often had, Trixie supposed they really didn't need a flashy store.

Trixie adjusted her cape and hat nervously, having recovered the former from the stiff faced guard. She also made sure the heavy saddle bags were securely tucked under her cape. She didn't want the funds Luna had dispersed to her for 'expenses' to be stolen right out from under her nose; she had nothing else to fall back upon, after all. Still, it had been a long time since she'd seen Fire Crackle face to face.

Trixie inhaled deeply and pushed open the wooden front door to the shop. The place was a veritable riot of color, with bright cheerful signs proclaiming the latest and greatest in magical entertainments, all for a reasonable fee. The place was garish in the extreme, but it felt more like home than anywhere else.

"Fire Crackle!" Trixie called out, her voice rising a little. "Dragon Snap?" She called out a little louder as she wove her way around the stands. Nopony was sitting at the till, but that was normal for the middle of the day like this. Trixie wandered up to the register and gently tapped at the hanging silver bell, sending it ringing joyfully.

Moments later, a bright-blue maned unicorn filly with an orange coat popped her head over the counter top with a cheerful smile. Trixie blinked at her. What on earth is a little filly doing in here? This is hardly the place for foalsitting! The little filly cheerfully piped up in a squeaky sort of voice. "Hiya! What can I do for you today?" She was a remarkably well spoken young filly, and upon more careful inspection there was something awfully... familiar about her.

Trixie mastered her confusion and decided the best thing to do was to simply keep the show rolling. "Ah, is Mr. Fire Crackle here?" She asked the filly, trying to keep her tone as polite as possible. "Trixie wishes to speak with him." The filly looked disappointed for a moment, then hopped off her stool - which Trixie could now see had been positioned to be easily accessible to the little tyke, thanks to a little stack of books on top of it. - and ran off into the back room, yelling at the top of her lungs. "Poppa! There's a mare in a weird hat here to see you!"

Trixie's eyes went wide at that description and she stomped her hoof on the countertop, speaking in her loudest stage voice. "This is not a weird hat! This is the prized garment of The Great and Powerful—" Her voice was cut off a moment later as a bright-orange coated and flaming-red maned unicorn stallion burst out of the back room . He was a skinny sort of stallion with hidden strength in his wiry limbs and a set of cheerful bright green eyes. His forehooves were covered in shiny burn marks and he wore a thick leather apron over a white working shirt.

"TRIXIE!" the stallion cheered, leaping over the countertop like a dashing young rogue. He swept the powder blue unicorn up into his forehooves and hugged her with all of his not inconsiderable strength. Trixie let out a resounding 'oof!' sound before wrapping her hooves tightly back around the stallion. "Trixie, by Celestia! Why didn't you tell us you were coming by?" The stallion kept on holding her tightly; Trixie felt a little bit of moisture hit her coat right where his head might be.

Trixie gently patted his shoulder, and spoke gently. "I missed you too, Uncle Crackle." She hugged him tightly once more before trying to push him away a little. She had things that needed to get done. "Where's Aunt Snap?" she blurted out, and then she blushed a little - apparently her brain had different priorities.

Fire Crackle chuckled in his rough-throated sort of way. "She's in the back packing up an order of sky tubes." Trixie's eyes were on the doorway, and he followed her gaze with a smile. "Ah yes, and I see you've met our little joy." His voice was thick with happiness and no small amount of pride.

Trixie shook her head and couldn't help but smile. "Trixie didn't know, but Trixie is very happy for you Uncle Crackle." She shook her head slowly, and that teasing smile got a little wider. "Although Trixie is beginning to wonder why you did not tell her about this!" She poked her hoof into Fire Crackle's side, grinning widely. "Trixie knows you and Aunt Snap have been trying for years! And what is her name? Fess up, Uncle - or Trixie is going to start testing product inside the shop again!"

Fire Crackle burst into laughter, fending her off with his hooves. "No no! Anything but that! We nearly burned the place down the last time we did that!" He wiped away a tear and companionably wrapped a hoof around her shoulder, guiding her into the back room. "Her name is Sparkle Pop. She lives up to the name too! I swear, she gives us so much trouble sometimes. Even more than you did as a filly!"

He hoofed open the back door with a casual ease and walked her back amongst rows and rows of low-set tables. Each table, Trixie noted, was still piled high with boxes of magical crystals and alchemy mixtures, dozens of jars of various chemicals and cardboard tubes, boxes and containers stacked to the ceiling. "We had her four winters ago," he scratched his hoof against his chin, "and I coulda' sworn we sent you a letter." He shook his head. "Bah. Damnfool mail service." Trixie gave a wintry little smile, absolutely agreeing with that sentiment.

A few moments later, they came across a pegasus pony stacking paper-wrapped tubes carefully in a box. Trixie had always though Aunt Snap had the most beautiful coloration a pony could have - her entire coat started out a bright yellow near her head and forehooves, and slowly seemed to shift through orange into a bright red near her rear hooves. The entire effect had a little ripple pattern especially along her wings that made her look like the sunset. Her mane and tail were both charcoal grey and spilling around her face and flanks in a wave of tight curls. Her aunt's slightly slanted, bright green eyes and dainty appearance suggested a heritage from a faraway land, though Trixie had never asked her about that.

Moments after they entered the room, Dragon Snap looked upwith those gorgeous green eyes of hers and gasped aloud. Like all pegasi, she had a knack for sudden acceleration - and deceleration - when she got excited. Before Trixie knew it, she was being enthusiastically embraced by the mare, and soon by Uncle Crackle as well. For the briefest of moments, Trixie let all of her walls down and reveled in the quiet hug. Home, she thought, with no small amount of emotion, this is home. And it always would be, no matter how far she traveled.

The moment couldn't last, and everypony there knew it. So at last, her aunt let her go and then thwapped Crackle with her wing. He chuckled and let Trixie go too, and then she felt that firm yellow wing pressing under her lowered chin, lifting her head. "You remember what I told you, little filly. Keep that head high." There was an imperious note in her aunt's voice, one that suggested dire punishments if Trixie did not obey. "Still, it's good to see you, little one. You do not visit nearly enough." Her face blossomed into a smile. "Now, let me finish packing these boxes and you can join us for a little lunch before you run off on whatever fool adventure you’ve planned this time."

Trixie tried to raise her voice in protest, and there was that imperious yellow wing, pressing her mouth shut from under her jaw. "Hah, I know my little one." Aunt Snap spoke, in that regal manner only she could affect. "You have the look of a mare about to engage in a desperate feat of daring-do. We shall discuss it over lunch. Now, begone both of you! I need to finish packing this box. Crackle dear, send our little Sparkler out to pick up luncheon." She waved her wing at them imperiously before going back to her work.

Trixie couldn't help it, she laughed. "It is good to see that some things never change."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Within an hour, the three ponies (and one filly!) were seated at the little shop table, full of boxed food spread out for all of them. Sparkle had brought the food in a familiar little red wagon, proudly lifting each box to the table with her nascent magic - something Trixie fondly remembered doing herself at that age. After a stern word from her mother, Sparkler had stopped calling Trixie's hat 'weird'. She was now calling it 'funky' instead, which Trixie accepted with a weary sigh.

The four of them ate heartily - small talk nattering around the table about the newest fireworks and what Sparkler had been learning in school. Trixie tried her best to keep the conversation firmly away from her task, but she knew her Aunt. There would be no avoiding it entirely. Thankfully, Uncle Crackle was providing her with some nice cover. "Trixie, are you sure I can't convince you to come back to the shop? We could really use yer talents." Fire Crackle spoke earnestly, with a gentle smile on his face. "We've been looking to expand the business y'see. We've been doing so well lately, we've even got enough bits on hoof to hire on a fully-trained unicorn. Like a certain illusions specialist I happen to know." He waggled those eyebrows at her, and she couldn't help but smile at him.

Aunt Snap rolled her eyes. "Husband of mine, do stop trying to pressure her. We both know why she will not accept your offer and I, for one, am proud of her for following in her mother’s hoofsteps." She flicked a wing at him before smiling lovingly at Trixie. "Do not listen to my crystal-addled husband, little one. We are both proud of your choices and all you have achieved on your own. Now, what is this crazy task you have undertaken, hm? Going to try and put on a show for the Summer Sun Celebration all by yourself?" There was a sly smirk on her face as Trixie blushed - she had tried to do that one year with decidedly mixed results.

The blush quickly faded as Trixie felt a leaden weight of guilt in her gut. Her Aunt and Uncle knew nothing about how her career had gone - which was to say, badly. They also knew nothing about her... indiscretions in Ponyville, nor the loss of her beloved cart. She hadn't the heart to tell either of them about any of it. They had been so proud of her on the day she'd first set out to make her name as a Showmare. To follow in the hoofsteps of her mother, and her mother before her.

It had become obvious that while there might be no business like show business, it was not a business Trixie knew very well. And truth be told, Trixie, she thought with no small amount of bitterness, you were planning to come here to beg for a job.

Trixie had seen no other options when she had left Ponyville bitless and cartless. Her career had already been in tatters and her little temper-tantrum had thrown the remains into a fire and gleefully watched them burn. What little pride she had left had been the driving force which had sent her to turn herself in instead of coming to them for help - she hadn't wanted to face them as a failure.

She took in a deep breath, trying to banish the depressing thoughts and put on her best smile. "Trixie has been commissioned by Princess Luna herself to handle a special problem for her." Her fake smile turned into a real one, as she shifted in her seat. "Trixie will be dealing with an issue in Hollow Shades," she proclaimed, getting a gasp of amazement from the little filly. Her Aunt and Uncle, however, traded immediate sharp looks with one another - not the reaction she was expecting. "Um, is something wrong? Trixie thought you would be pleased," she ventured, a little nervous all of a sudden.

Uncle Crackle spoke first, slowly. His voice was happy, but he did sound cautious. "We are, Trix." He began, rubbing at his chin. "Just... old memories I suppose,” he said finally. His voice moving from worried to delighted, "So! I guess you're here to pick up some supplies for the trip, eh?" he rubbed his hooves together a little, leaning over the table. "Well, you'll get the family discount of course. What'd you have in mind?" Aunt Snap was still watching Trixie with narrowed, thoughtful eyes. Trixie knew she'd want to speak with her later, but for now she was going to make her Uncle's day.

She smiled and opened her saddlebags, lifting the carefully counted sack of bits onto the table in front of her wide-eyed uncle. "Trixie wishes to obtain a Cracklestraviganza package, if you please." She even managed to say the tongue-tying word correctly for once. She smiled brilliantly as her uncle gaped at the sack of cash. "Oh yes, and Trixie would like it shipped," she added modestly, gently biting through a crisp bit of broccoli.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was hours later that the group finally approached the Canterlot Train station. Her uncle was directing a small team of work ponies in carefully moving the six massive boxes, all labeled with his company logo, onto the train one by one. Trixie was actually quite pleased - upon seeing the six cases of ordinance, all the other passengers except for her had mysteriously found things to do elsewhere while waiting for the next train. She was looking forward to a quiet ride. For once.

Aunt Snap stood with her at the far end of the station platform, and before Trixie could react she'd pulled off Trixie's hat with her hoof and started dusting it with her wing. She tsk’d softly. "It's going to need patching soon." Trixie's heart raced with fear until her aunt smiled softly. "Do not worry. I still have a bolt or two of the fabric. When you return to Canterlot, we will spend some time mending it together."

Moments later, the hat was gently set back upon her head, her aunt's hooves coming down to touch her cheeks. "Child," she said softly, "be honest with me please. How bad is it?" her voice was calm and reasonable. Trixie looked up into those eyes for a moment and saw no judgment, no disappointment. Just concern.

Trixie looked away, her hooves tugging the hat down more firmly onto her head. She took a deep breath and exhaled softly. "If this does not fix Trixie's problems, can Trixie come stay with you?" she said, not wanting to admit anything more than that. Yet she couldn't lie to Aunt Snap, as much as she genuinely wanted to. Where else did she have to go? Who else would take her now? What use did anypony have for a washed up showmare?

Trixie didn't even notice the tears until a gentle wingtip brushed them away. Her aunt embraced her, comfortingly stroking her wing along Trixie’s back. "Of course, child. There will always be a bed for you here, and good work. We will deal with the rest as it comes." She brushed her wings along Trixie's cloak, scattering motes of dust into the air. "Fire would be delighted too. He's always thought you could one day take over the family business with our daughter." She chuckled brightly. "And Sparkle Pop would love a big sister."

Then Aunt Snap smiled encouragingly and gently tucked her wing under Trixie's chin - lifting it up high. "But I do not think it will come to that. You have your mother’s soul within you. You will find your path." She kissed Trixie's cheek. "Now go. But promise me that you will return for a time once you are victorious - Fire and I miss you so." There was a hint of admonishment in her tone, as stern as Aunt Snap got around her.

Trixie looked up at the aunt who had been like a second mother to her and smiled softly. "I promise." she spoke gently, nuzzling her cheek up against the pegasus before quickly trotting off to board the train. Trixie will not fail you again, Aunt Snap. No. This shall be Trixie's Finest Hour!

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Why do they call this the Friendship Express, I wonder? Trixie mused as the countryside slowly rolled by her window. It seems like a silly name for a train. She shook her head, returning her steady gaze to the open book in her lap. No time for that now. Focus, Trixie! She'd grabbed the book from a box of her old things, a very old book on Illusion magic and its practical applications. Once, it had belonged to her mother - Trixie had been studying it all of her life.

Her eyes steadily moved across the page, line by line - absorbing every word before moving on. She'd always carefully studied her texts, making sure she could remember every word of what she read. Sure, other ponies could read faster than she - but nopony could remember the things they read like she could. Of that Trixie was certain.

The time aboard the train passed slowly, as it always did - Trixie focused on her book. She was actually pretty excited, she'd always wondered what she might learn from the 'Tangible Illusions' chapter, but Mom had insisted she study everything else in the book before she tried this.

Tangible Illusions, or 'Complete Illusions' as they are sometimes known, are one of the most difficult feats to which any illusionist can aspire. As their name suggests, a Tangible Illusion is one which can actually interact with the physical world. Only somepony who has already mastered the other illusory arts can even hope to achieve them.

Some unicorns mistake this to mean that we are actually summoning creatures into this world. In reality, the illusionist is merely constructing an illusion so complete that it extends to all five senses. Therein lies the true challenge of the tangible illusion, in that the caster must be able to fool all five senses at once without breaking the spell.

Such illusions are incredibly difficult to conjure. Paradoxically, however, maintaining them is an extremely simple matter, only requiring a small yet constant stream of energy. The most powerful illusionists can exploit this to create several tangibles beforehoof, then resting for an extended period of time to regenerate their power.

One must always be aware, however, of the singular weakness common to all illusions: they are worthless if the audience does not believe in them - an illusion only has power if it is believed to be reality. This is the ultimate, terrifying power of the tangible illusion - one must make an enormous, conscious effort to disbelieve in them, despite all of their senses telling them otherwise.

Trixie was fascinated by the very concept of an illusion that could simulate a real pony. Well, I can think of a few good uses for that. She giggled softly at the thought, turning the page. Oh dear. This is... complicated. Magical formulae had never been her strong suit; she'd always learned far better by doing something - learning through trial and error. Still, Trixie ought to at least try to pick up the basics.

For the next eight hours, Trixie was very glad the train was otherwise empty. Casting an illusion focused on any single one of the sense was foals play, combining up to three was relatively simple - touch/sight/sound was a staple of nearly all her shows. Four was pushing it, however. When she tried to incorporate taste or smell, she often found the illusion too difficult to maintain for longer than a few seconds.

All five simply resulted in total, utter failure. Oh, Trixie came close - sometimes achingly close to weaving it all together in the right ways. Every time though, something was so fundamentally off that even Trixie couldn't convince herself of the illusion’s reality, which caused the thing to promptly vanish into nothingness. Over and over again, Trixie had tried and failed.

So few ponies ever saw this side of her, since she usually only did this sort of thing when out on the road. Countless hours of repeating an illusory trick of one kind or another, countless days of practicing that trick until it became second nature to her. She worked through trial and error until she brute-forced her way to a solution to any magical problem she might encounter. Somepony had once asked Trixie why she didn't research her techniques instead. She had replied simply that she wouldn't know where to begin - this was how she had learned magic in the first place, was the only way she had ever learned. Trixie wasn't likely to change those methods now, especially when she'd gotten so good at them. Usually.

This problem was starting to get on her nerves though. She had a feeling it was going to be like the time she'd tried to learn how to magnify the power and intensity of her fireworks. At least this time Trixie has not set fire to anything... yet, Trixie thought gloomily, sinking down into the train bench and breathing heavily. Blast it, she mentally snarled, kicking the bench in front of her in impotent fury. Trixie has a lot of work to do, it seems. She sighed and fanned herself with her hat, glancing out at the glowing sunset on the horizon.

Trixie's forelegs gently curled around the bright hat, hugging it close to her chest. "I will make you proud, Momma. I'll be even more famous than you were," she whispered softly to the window. "You'll see." She hugged the hat even tighter to herself, squeezing her eyes shut. "Trixie will not cry. Trixie will be a strong filly for you."

She lifted her precious hat up and planted it firmly back on her head. "Back to work," she proclaimed, wiping away the beginnings of tears from her eyes. "Trixie will master this skill!" She hopped off the bench and marched determinately into the middle of the aisle. She summoned her magic, and tried again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six hours later, Trixie was no closer to victory with the illusions but she was fast approaching Hollow Shades Station. Unlike most train stations, this one was nowhere near the city itself. The rail lines would have had to run through nearly a hundred and fifty miles of dense wilderness for that to happen, and nopony had been willing to pay for the expense. The only way to get to Hollow Shades was on hoof or by cart. Most travelers preferred the latter, and there were a dozen small carting businesses arrayed around the train station. Even at this time of night, most had lamps hanging from their carts indicating they were available for hire.

Like any town in Equestria, Hollow Shades loved merchants coming to town to sell goods that either couldn't be made locally or were in high demand. Despite the remote nature of Hollow Shades, it was still a sizable city. It was a prime stopping-off point for merchants on the Manehattan-Canterlot route. So Trixie was surprised to find the area around the train station to be mostly quiet.

It seemed there was nothing at all going on tonight. Perhaps this ghost problem has become even worse than reported, Trixie thought. Trixie hopes she has not gotten in over her head again. She shook her head firmly and stuck out her chest. “No! No more of those thoughts! You are the Great and Powerful Trixie!” her voice boomed out, drawing a few glances from other passengers as the last of her pyrotechnics were unloaded onto the platform. "Now! Where is Trixie's cartage? There are foes to smite!"

Her eyes darted around the exit and initially she saw nopony. Then there was movement as a dark wooden cart rolled smoothly up to the platform. It appeared to be made of the same kind of wood all over - some nearly black, tightly grained stuff that shined in the moonlight. The pony driving it was a batpony, much to Trixie’s surprise. She wore a deep-hooded blue cloak that wrapped around her throat and was held together with a shining sapphire gem - a gem cut surprisingly similarly to the one that held together Trixie's own cloak.

The batpony - thestral, Trixie corrected herself - looked up with those golden, dragon-slitted eyes and smiled slightly. "You must be Trixie Lulamoon." Trixie nodded cautiously, the thestral chuckled. "Lulamoon. An old name. A powerful name." She gently pushed her hood back for a moment, revealing a wild and short black mane. "I am called Shadow Song. We must make haste, there is much for you to do."

Trixie was already lifting her boxes into the cart one by one, along with the few small bags of personal items she'd brought with her when Shadow Song’s comment finally penetrated. "Wait. How do you know Trixie's last name?" The box of fireworks she had been moving began to tumble into the cart but Trixie's magic neatly caught it. She set it down daintily.

Shadow Song laughed - a soft, deep, rolling sound that sent a chill up Trixie's spine. "Your mother was Phantasma Lulamoon, was she not?" Trixie's gaping stare was all the answer Shadow Song seemed to need as the last of the fireworks were slipped into place. "She was well known in the City of the Night, Miss Trixie. That is all I shall say for now." She pulled her hood firmly back up. "Now come. We have a long way to travel before the night truly begins."

Trixie tossed her saddle bags over her shoulders and resettled her cloak over them. She glared for a moment at the mysterious thestral, contemplating a nice yelling fit. Alas, she is unlikely to bow to such tactics. With a supremely put-upon sigh, Trixie hopped down into the back of the cart and plunked her plot in the seat. Within moments, the cart was being pulled towards the looming black forest that dominated the eastern skyline. "Have you ever been to the City of the Night, Miss Trixie?" the thestral asked.

Trixie shook her head. "Not that Trixie can ever remember. Trixie has heard many rumors of course." She would never admit it in front of anypony, but as they passed into the forest she felt a little shiver of fear cross over her as the sky seemed to vanish behind the thick boughs of the trees, replaced by a barely illuminated carpet of leaves and branches hanging menacingly overhead.

At least the road is smooth, she thought, a little ironically. She didn't think she would have been able to take this claustrophobic atmosphere if she was being jostled and bumped every five seconds. Still, just to be on the safe side... Trixie gently unhooked her cape, carefully stowing it next to her as she pulled out one of her hoof-stitched show harnesses.

Long ago, she'd discovered that one of the most powerful things she could add to her show were her uncle’s legendary magical fireworks. She'd also learned how to carefully conceal them within her cloak and about her body so that she could set them off with a minimal amount of magic. This allowed her to make her shows even flashier, longer and more impressive. The harness was made out of cloth and metal hoops colored to be the exact shade of her coat - they let her mount any number of clever tricks literally up her sleeves.

Within minutes she'd given herself a flashy and powerful show load-out and resecured her cloak to her neck. Should anything try to attack her, they were going to be in for quite the rude awakening. When she was done, her thestral companion finally commented on the proceedings, "It seems you already know one of the most important rules of the City, Miss Trixie. I am glad to see you know the value of being prepared for anything." Shadow Song turned her head with a toothy grin, showing off her sharp fangs. "You will need those instincts if you intend to survive."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour had passed and Trixie had begun to notice the thousands of little sounds and sights that flitted through the forest in the depths of the night. They could not see the moon from here - but just enough light peeked through the branches to allow Trixie to see, a bit, once her eyes had adjusted to the light. There were a thousand creatures, some large and some small, that moved from shadow to shadow, just barely visible. Surprisingly, none of them seemed interested in the two ponies quietly making their way up the road.

In a way, Trixie was glad Shadow Song seemed uninterested in talking. Trixie had never been spectacular at first impressions and the fact that this pony had not merely known her name, but the name of her mother as well, disturbed her greatly. Trixie had long ago resigned herself to knowing very little about her mother beyond what Aunt Snap and Uncle Crackle had told her: that she had once been the greatest stage magician in all of Equestria, that she had even given shows to Princess Celestia herself.

It certainly was not unlikely that she could have performed in Hollow Shades, but there had been something about the way the thestral had referred to her... ’An old name’, what does that mean? Trixie frowned, glaring out into the woods. If Princess Luna is toying with me, I will be quite put out. That was putting it extremely mildly. Trixie hated being manipulated. She hated others trying to control her through emotions or words or actions. She would not be a pawn in somepony else’s game.

Later, Trixie would wonder how things might have gone if she had not been so intently staring at the passing trees. If she had not been so angry, if her frustration over the spell she failed to cast - even once - had not been so bottled up. Perhaps it wouldn't have mattered. But maybe it would have.

Trixie was the first to notice the shimmering glow of creatures ghosting through the trees. Each sparkled and shifted with a magic Trixie knew all too well. They took the form of thestral ponies in ancient tattered armor, wielding ghostly lances. Shadow Song's eyes widened in sudden terror as they burst onto the road, charging the cart with lethal intent. Trixie’s astonishment quickly turned to righteous anger.

Fling illusions at her would they? "You FOALS!" she cried out into the night, earning an astonished look from Shadow Song. "You know nothing of the pony with whom you trifle! I am The Great and Powerful TRIXIE!" Her hooves moved in a dramatic gesture - one she’d practiced a thousand times. Her horn suddenly lit and set off the full range of fireworks concealed beneath her cloak. A torrent of flame and light burst forth from her extended hooves, dozens of screaming rockets twirled through the air at their attackers and a mass of sparks and flame burst behind her, lighting up the night like a miniature sun.

The ghostly ponies reared and shied away as the magic of the fireworks slammed into them. Trixie knew these fireworks better than anypony except her aunt and uncle and she knew exactly how each and every one of them was supposed to work. The very way in which the fireworks collided with the ghosts was enough to make their illusory nature obvious, much to her delight.

Trixie focused her mind as strongly as she could. She forced as much magic into her horn as possible. "The Great and Powerful Trixie denies you, foul specters! You are nothing more than Illusion!" she cried out, planting her hooves in the cart. Trixie thrust her head up high, her horn shining brightly in the darkness. "BEGONE!" she thundered, magic granting her voice power and volume far beyond normal. Her horn flashed with power and a beam of magic lanced across each and every one of the ghostly figures.

There was a moment of dead silence, then a sound like the tearing of cloth. Two dozen explosions of light and magic echoed through the forest, like a cluster of fireworks going off in quick succession. A moment later, all of the ghostly ponies were gone - replaced by darkness and silence throughout the forest.

Billows of smoke rose from beneath Trixie's cloak, shrouding her face under the dim light of the moon. "Hah," she wheezily proclaimed, the smoke slowly dissipating. "Trixie is not... impressed... with your... shenanigans." She felt her legs giving out and her mind slowly sagging beneath her weariness. Perhaps Trixie overdid it a bit, was all she could think before unconsciousness took her.

Act 2

"We are not always what the world demands of us, when it demands it of us.
Sometimes, we must be honed, like a blade.
Sometimes, we must be rebuilt, like a wall.
Sometimes, we must be broken down to our basest parts, if we are to become what we are meant to be."
-Cmdr. Hurricane

~~~~~~~Hollow Shades, The Crimson Nightshade Inn~~~~~~~

Trixie awoke with the second worst headache in her entire life.

The worst headache she'd woken up with had been after the first disaster in Ponyville, when she'd imbibed on one too many glasses of brandy and a few too many salt licks. That one had taken four days to go away completely, and Trixie still couldn't look at a salt lick without feeling a bit ill. This one was still pretty bad, but nowhere near in that league. She recognized the effects of magical backlash immediately, and so was not foolish enough to try and light her horn to see in the pitch dark room she was in.

Not that she really wanted to - she was laying down on the most comfortable bed she'd been on in years, covered in a soft linen sheet that smelled faintly of strawberries. In fact, Trixie was more than perfectly content to snuggle up to the downy soft pillows and just stay here till the head-hurt went away. She knew she wasn't going to get that wish - the universe wasn't nearly that accommodating. Still, she would make the most of it while it lasted. So she hugged the pillow up to her and rolled around in the soft sheets.

True to form, the universe only let her snuggle into that soft bed for a few hours. Then the door to the dark room opened and a slim unicorn in nurse whites with a dark red coat sailed in through the doorway. Bright white light poured in after her, causing Trixie to pull the blanket up over her eyes to block it out. The sudden change from darkness to light still giving her a sharp prick of pain behind her eyes.

A voice tsked softly. "Still? That must have been one whopper of a spell." The door shut quietly and with it the accursed light. "Here, I brought you a little something to take care of that little backlash headache." Trixie could see the dim glow of a magical aura surrounding a small wooden cup. "Come on. We need to get you back on your hooves." The nurse's voice was soft and singsong, and Trixie didn't trust it for one second. She knew whatever was in that cup was going to be bitter as all get out, and probably would only vaguely distract her from the headache.

Still, she wasn't going to leave unless Trixie just gave in and took the medicine. So she sighed, and pulled the covers back down. "Trixie will drink." She muttered and the nurse gave a cheerful little giggle and pressed the cup up to Trixie's lips unerringly. Mm. She must have good night vision. Trixie thought, before parting her lips and letting the thick liquid be poured down her throat. It was not nearly as bitter as she'd thought - really, really acidic though. Enough to make her cough several times as she downed it in one go. "Blargh!" Was her only response.

Once again, Trixie was surprised as the ache in her head began to clear up almost immediately. There is only one explanation, that stuff must have melted my brain. Trixie stuck her tongue out in mild disgust, but the pain was vanishing too fast for her to much care. Moments later, the Nurse's horn lit up again and bright lights flicked to life. The room was surprisingly not in a hospital - but rather appeared to be a rather luxurious suite in some kind of inn or hotel. The walls were paneled in warm looking woods, and all of the furniture was of excellent quality.

The nurse was a yellow-coated unicorn with a sunny smile on her face. "Always does the trick that stuff! Welcome to the Crimson Nightshade, Miss Lulamoon. I'm Nurse Cross." She beamed brightly at Trixie before continuing on. "As soon as you feel like you can get up and about, a representative from the town council is waiting downstairs. He needs to speak with you about your assignment for the Princess."

Ah, paradise denied. Just when Trixie was beginning to hope she could enjoy this wonderful bed for a few more hours, her entire reason for coming to town was plunked back in front of her. She sighed dramatically. "Well, Trixie had best not keep him waiting then." Normally, she'd love to keep him waiting. But the faster she got out from under this sword of damarecles, the better off she'd be. Besides Trixie, you need to eat after spell casting.

The growl in her stomach punctuated that - especially followed by the cheerful chuckle of the nurse as she walked out the door. Trixie glared at her venomously, then sighed miserably. "Oh get over it, Trixie and go get a sandwich." Trixie found her voice speaking aloud. She shoved herself off the bed, grabbing her cloak and hat from the post next to the doorway, she quickly seated both on her body and gave herself a look in the mirror. Okay, Trixie. The Curtain's gone up. Preliminaries are over. Let's go see what the audience is like tonight. A moment later, she was heading down the stairs.

The Crimson Nightshade Inn was one of the oldest of its kind in Equestria. Like many of those old Inns left over from ancient days when they were often the only place to stay for travelers, it had a personality all its own - In this case, the entire place was done up in an eye-catching array of red shades and green highlights. Velvet hangings with leaf and vine motifs were prominent all over the place, and the main room was decorated with carved red fruits hanging juicily from carved vines.

Trixie wanted to roll her eyes a little at the place, but she had to admit the warmth of the colors lifted her spirits. In spite of the incredibly late hour, the place was positively bustling with thestrals. The atmosphere was raucous and merry, with plenty of foaming mugs of hard cider being passed about. A white unicorn mare with her hair tucked up under a broad brimmed hat and wearing a long tailed jacket was playing a soulful old tune on an ancient looking stand up piano against the wall.

Trixie shook her head a little, eyes traversing the room until she spotted a thestral waving at her quite obviously. He wore a pair of pince-nez glasses and had a frizzy mane of white, along with the traditional dark grey coat of his kind. Trixie quickly traversed the room with practiced ease - her bright cloak and hat stood out amongst the crowd, but no one was giving her a second look tonight. Likely a good thing. I have a feeling this business is just getting started. Trixie thought with a small amount of humor, slipping up to the table a few moments later. "Good evening to you, Councilpony." Trixie greeted the venerable with a slight smile. "Trixie hopes you were not kept waiting for long."

The thestral grinned with shiny white teeth, his fangs glinting in the dim light of the bar. "Not at all, Miss Lulamoon. Please have a seat." He gestured across the oak table to the awaiting stool. Once Trixie had perched herself upon it, he cleared his throat.. "First, I would like to state that I am immensely pleased that our Qu-" The thestral paused, clearing his throat again. "Ahem. That is to say, Princess Luna has sent us such a fine expert. Shadow Song has informed me that you have already dealt with one of the roving bands of spirits who have been plaguing our fair city." The thestral smiled brightly at her. "It was perhaps a bit difficult on you, but it is certainly more progress than we have made these past few weeks."

Trixie waved her hoof airily, trying to affect an aloof tone. "Trixie was merely unprepared for such a heavy use of magic. With a stout meal and regular rest, Trixie does not doubt she will be able to bring an end to this trouble swiftly." She gave her best confident smile - more of a smirk really, but who cared? "Trixie presumes you are here to tell her more about the situation." There was a sudden loud and rather annoyed growl coming from the pit of Trixie's stomach and she blushed a little. "Um. Trixie should perhaps order dinner first."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twenty minutes later, Trixie had almost gone through two big spinach salads (with extra watercress, just how she liked it!) Much to the amusement of the Councilpony Brightmane, who nursed a foamy cider and watched Trixie ravenously devour her dinner. "Hungry?" he intoned, obviously amused. Trixie nodded solemnly as she polished off the second salad with relish, chasing it down with a mug of the inn's own sweet cider. He was even more amused when Trixie waved her bowl in the air with a touch of magic, obviously calling for another. "Ahem. I hope you don't find it rude, but I really ought to get started briefing you on the situation." Brightmane said with a small smile.

Trixie nodded enthusiastically. "Ah, yes. Please do not mind Trixie." She gently waved her hoof, smiling slightly. "Trixie is simply trying to regain her strength after that little fracas." It was imperative that none of them realized she had really pushed herself to the utmost out there in the forest. Trixie already knew this job was going to be a complete slog, but she hoped - perhaps in vain - that one of the locals would unwittingly provide her with a solution. Oh get real, Trixie. You're hoping this problem will go away if you scare it a little. She almost snorted at that thought. With her luck? Yeah, right.

The Councilpony didn't notice these thoughts, as he was shuffling a few sheets of parchment from his bags and cleared his throat. "Yes, well. You've already seen the phantom ponies for yourself. Given Shadow Song's report, it seems you too believed them to be tangible illusions." He arched an eyebrow at her. "We believed this ourselves, but we have run into a small snag. It seems the traditional method of dealing with these illusions - which is to use strong willed individuals to deny their existence - is not working." He paused for a moment, coughing into his hoof as Trixie looked at him with a touch of disbelief. "Yes, I know. It's quite impossible, but there you have it."

Trixie set down her magically levitated fork and frowned as she began to feel a little bundle of nervousness come to life in her middle. "This does not make sense. That was the very method Trixie used to dispel them!" Trixie's thoughts halted. Wait. Was that all I did? She thought back as hard as she could, and realized after a few moments of thought the truth. No... I cast some kind of spell on them. But I wasn't really trying to cast a spell. It just sort of happened. That was frightening. Terrifying really.

Casting magic without knowing what kind of spell you were casting could lead to all sorts of nasty effects. Trixie knew better than most, she'd run afoul of those effects more times than she could count due to her less than traditional method of learning spell casting. Hence why her hair was now a bright silvery white, as opposed to its former natural color. Trixie shook her head a little. "Or... perhaps there is more going on here than meets the eye." Trixie suggested, looking and feeling pretty dubious.

The Councilpony nodded. "Yes, we agree. Unfortunately, we're truly at our wits end as to what that something might be." He shuffled several more bits of parchment before passing a few over the table. "These documents give you some authority over our guard Captain. He and his soldiers will be providing you with what few military resources we have at our disposal. I am afraid that beyond what we have just discussed, there is not much for us to tell."

The thestral frowned and then nodded as he continued to speak "With one exception. One of our local unicorns named Saddle Trelahny indicated she wished to speak with you on the subject. However..." he winced softly, as Trixie perked up instantly. "Do not get your hopes up. She is a kindly enough unicorn, but a little... Unhinged. She was disgraced from a professorship at the School for Gifted Unicorns many years ago and she has never quite recovered from the loss."

Trixie paused for a moment as her third salad was slid in front of her, and she floated a pair of bits to the waitress. Well. I suppose I of all ponies could understand that sort of reaction. she thought with no small amount of bitter amusement. "Yes, well. Trixie will be happy to take your words under advisement." She spoke lightly, carefully examining the documents he'd passed over. "Do not let Trixie keep you if you have other business to attend to, Councilpony." She said testily, as the thestral seemed to stare at her for a few more moments. Her tone was perhaps a bit snappish, but she hated being stared at when she was reading.

Brightmane actually blushed and shook his head. "Ah, yes. My apologies Miss Lulamoon." He stood up and then stopped as he fished a few bits from his purse out. "Which reminds me. Your things are currently being stored in a stone store room attached to the inn." He placed a shining silvery steel key on the table, with a little tag reading '12'. "Also, if I might be so bold..." He spoke hesitantly for the first time, tapping his hooves together nervously. Trixie gave him one of her best deadly glares. He blinked and winced a little. "Never mind. I am certain we could discuss that matter later. A fine evening to you, Miss Lulamoon."

As the Councilpony quickly trotted out of the Inn, Trixie went back to studying the documents he'd left behind. At least I will be able to commandeer some bodyguards. They would not be much help against the spectral foes, but they might be useful if Trixie ever found out who was behind this insane situation. Ghosts don't exist, Trixie. Everypony knows that. They're not illusions, they're So what in the world are you dealing with here? Trixie didn't have the answers yet, but she was sure as buck going to get some.

~~~~~~~~~

The early spring winds billowed Trixie's cloak as she stepped outside the Inn into the city of Hollow Shades. The City of the Night was glorious under the pale moon that hung high above their heads, reflecting the bits of quartz within the ancient slate roofs that covered most of the buildings in town. The ancient cobbles that made up the streets had been worn down by a hundred generations of hooves traveling across them, to the point that they were nearly flat. Trixie held tightly to her hat and frowned a little into the night.

The city was bustling like any other town might have been at midday, full of merchants selling food and other wares and the locals going about their daily business. Hmh, I think I should check out this Trelahny pony. Trixie thought, rubbing at her chin. She might prove to be my best shot at finding real answers, since nopony else in this town has the brains to come up with a solution. As Trixie picked up her pace to a trot down the street, she carefully tried to judge the mood of the crowd around her.

It wasn't a good sign. They're all tense, and they're not showing it. There was a veneer of calm over everything going on, but Trixie had picked up a thing or two about seeing past the obvious. By the moon, everypony is practically looking over their shoulders. The bundle of nerves that had bloomed in her gut during dinner began to grow considerably. The town was on the edge of panic, and she was expected to pull them all out of it. Sure enough, as she passed through the crowds, slitted eyes began to follow her.

Without even thinking about it, Trixie's head lifted a little higher - her walk began just a little bit more imperious, daring anything or anypony to stand in her way. She faced straight ahead and did not glance about like a tourist. A tiny touch of magic ensured her hat would remain firmly on her head as another gust billowed out her cloak. Trixie had to admit, she cut a rather impressive figure - and the locals seemed to think so too, many of them relaxing just a little as they saw her pass by. That didn't do much for Trixie's nerves though. You are officially in over your head here, Trixie. her traitorous thoughts whispered to her.

Trixie did her best to ignore them, as she followed the carefully written directions on one of the sheets of parchment provided by the Councilpony. Let’s see. End of Crescent street... She turned down the slightly dingy alleyway. Not dirty per se, just dingy - a little messy, a bit of litter here and there - but not nearly as bad as some she'd found in the bigger industrial cities. At the far end, the alley opened up into a little cul de sac, filled with old wooden buildings with battered signs hanging from posts at each doorway.

Hmm. Lilith Legal Aid, Big Pony Moving Company, aha! Saddle Trelahny's Potions and Prophecies. She blinked a bit at that one. A fortune teller? That was... not reassuring. Still, it was a better lead than nothing. Besides, Trixie - she could just be running a con to get by. Trixie carefully walked up the rickety wooden steps and pulled the door to the little shop with her magic. Moments later, she was hit with a powerful smell of cinnamon and cloves, and the gentle reek of too much burnt incense. Trixie nearly sneezed at the tidal wave of scent and sighed silently. Typical.

The shop kept getting more typical as she continued in further, the narrow front hall of the shop draped in deep red cloth of a dubious quality. Little cheap crystals hung from faux golden chains from the ceiling, catching each little twinkle of light in a dazzle of color. The main room of the shop was decorated in a similar vein, with three massive sets of shelves stuffed to bursting with unlabeled glass bottles - each filled with some sort of liquid or substance in a dazzling array of colors. Ah, yes. This is a con. Trixie thought quite confidently, as she passed a lightly enchanted crystal which filled the shop with a soft chime. Pretty good one too. Trixie had to admit, admiring how this Saddle lady had done a great deal with very little. Not that I'm going to tell her that.

A brown coated, dirty blonde maned unicorn mare breezed into the room a few moments later, looking a little thin for a normal pony but otherwise vigorous. She wore a pair of large lensed spectacles that seemed to magnify her eyes a little bit, and was swathed in a filmy veil of dark purple lace around her neck and body. She smiled at the sight of Trixie, peering down her nose through her glasses. "Ah, right on time. Just as predicted." Her voice was airy and soft, pitched to force anypony who wanted to listen to strain a little to hear her properly. "Welcome to my humble abode, oh Great and Powerful Trixie. I am Saddle Trelahny, and I sense you come with grave questions." She bowed in the manner of Royal courts, a knowing smile on her slender face.

Trixie had to admit, she was impressed. She's got her shtick down pat. She even sounds sincere. Well, far be it for Trixie not to meet a challenge such as this. Trixie struck her best stage pose, hoof boldly placed forward and a haughty look on her face. "The Great and Powerful Trixie has heard you wished to converse with her. Trixie has therefore deigned to grace you with her presence." She gave it her best booming stage voice, and didn't so much as ruffle Saddle's scarf. "Be swift! The Great and Powerful Trixie has villains to put paid to this eve."

There was a brief moment of silence as Trixie and Saddle sized one another up. Saddle broke her professional mien first and grinned broadly. "Well, about bloody time another professional rolled into town." Her airy-fairy voice had vanished entirely, to be replaced by a thick Trottingham accent. "You're gonna need that if you want to keep this town from going full buggercripes." She dropped herself into a huge pouffe chair, overstuffed to the extreme and waved an airy hoof at Trixie. "Have a seat kid, let’s talk shop. "

Trixie arched an eyebrow and dropped into the indicated chair - the very comfortable chair - and crossed her hooves over her chest. "You're not quite what Trixie was expecting." She said, dubiously. "Though Trixie is a little relieved you are not quite as crazy as the Councilpony suggested." Trixie's face split in a little grin. "Lay it on a bit thick around him, did you?"

Saddle howled a laugh, and slapped her hoof against the arm of her chair. "Ah, that old dingbat? Yeah, he doesn't 'get' magic very well. So I find it's easier just to play to his prejudices." She shrugged. "Anyhoof. You've got a serious problem on your hooves here. I thought I'd seen just about everything until these sods showed up." Her dark gold eyes narrowed a little, a serious look settling onto her face. "Listen, how are you for straight on combat magic?"

Trixie blinked at that question. "Trixie is..." She coughed softly, and tried not to look embarrassed. "Trixie is not very good with offensive spells. My mo- tutor did not teach me anything of any particular note." Other than the usual kinetic blast all unicorns learned of course, but that was less a spell and more of an instinctual response to danger.

Saddle snorted softly. "And you call yourself an illusionist? You can't tell me you don't know how to turn magical pyro into something stronger." At Trixie's blank look, Saddle Trelahny slowly frowned. "Sound blasts, then? Illusory body guards?" More blank looks from Trixie, and a slow astonished look on Saddle's face. "Wait, your tutor HAD To teach you about using magical fireworks offensively."

Trixie blinked then, and nodded cautiously. "Trixie... sort of picked up on that one on her own." She ventured, feeling a steady weight of anger and sadness settling upon her shoulders. "The rest, Trixie does not know." Now wasn't the time for boasting, or bragging. She was in deep and she knew it now. Damn you, Luna. She thought bitterly. If she hadn't known better, she'd be half ready to accuse the moon princess of intentionally sending Trixie to her doom.

Saddle went quiet for a moment and sighed. "Cripes." She whispered. "You just got taught all the basics." She rubbed at her eyes slowly and deeply. "Who the buck only teaches a kid the basic stuff and none of the self-defense stuff?" Trixie felt anger slowly boiling over as Saddle blithely kept going. "Lemme guess. Your tutor told you not to muck about with the spell forms - something about Illusions only working real precisely?" There was a sneer in her tone, and Trixie felt her limbs begin to tremble. "Yeah, that's horseapples kiddo. All the best illusionists muck with the spell forms, it’s how they make up their own signature. You got robbed by whoever taught-"

Trixie could not hold it a moment longer. She slammed her hooves on the wooden table between them - her voice deadly quiet. "Stop talking about my mother that way." All pretense to the third person was gone, and Trixie practically oozed barely contained rage. "My mother was a great illusionist. The Greatest, and I won’t sit here and listen to you talk about her that way." She was repeating herself. That was how angry she was. She stood up then, turning on her heels. "This has been a waste of time. I have bigger problems to deal with."

The unicorn behind her stared at Trixie's retreating back as she shoved her way out of the shop - and then facehoofed. "Oh bugger, she was taught by her mom. Smooth, Sadie. Real smooth."

~~~~~~~~

Trixie didn't know where she was going. She didn't know what she was doing. All she knew was she had to get away from that place, from that unicorn. To get away from the memories and the anger and the sadness. But the memories never left Trixie alone. So she walked in a dazed sort of silence, trying her damnedest to stay away from the crowds as her mind flooded with old memories.

~~~~~~~~

"Mommy, Mommy! Watch what I can do!" the young filly squinted really hard - power flooding up through her body and into her young horn and suddenly flashing brightly - and when the light had cleared, two little ghostly ponies were cavorting around Trixie. They gave off little giggles that echoed hauntingly in the air, and then a few moments later they vanished in a puff of smoke.

A tall and slender unicorn with a coat in a deep azure blue and raven black mane smiled softly, sweeping up the young filly in an embrace. "Wonderful, Trixie!" She enthused brightly, dark brown eyes sparkling merrily. "You're a natural Illusionist, just like me!" She winked cheekily. "And your grandmother, too."

That startled a giggle out of Trixie, who snuggled up warmly to her mother's trademark star-spangled cloak. Then she got a really fun idea and squinted her eyes tight - picking her mother's big wizard hat clear off her head and plopping it down onto her own. "I am the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She proclaimed in a squeaky, high-pitched voice.

Her mother laughed warmly and richly, gently nuzzling her cheek up to the little foal's. "Not quite yet, little one. But one day, you will be." Her head came up a moment later, as an older male voice called out behind her...Something Trixie couldn't hear. The older mare lifted the hat back onto her head and winked. "Go back to the dressing room, little one. Mommy's got to go do her show." She gently set Trixie down and scooted her off.

Trixie nodded solemnly and scampered off into the back room, but not before pausing to listen to a booming voice of their announcer, Mr. Chords. His deep basso tones rang through the backstage and over the crowd. "And Now, please put your hooves together for The Mysterious, The Beautiful, The Mighty Phantasma!"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey! Watch where yer goin, Hornhead!"

Trixie felt her body impact a larger one - this one encased in some kind of metal armor, and was rebuffed firmly by a suddenly unfurled wing, sending her crashing to the cobbles of the streets. Her hat fluttered off her head as she tried to regain her bearings, the sound of cruel laughter filling her ears. "What’s' this? Some kind of flank cover?" Trixie's eyes narrowed slightly, as she rolled back up to her hooves to glare at her assailant - a dark coated thestral wearing some kind of armor that reminded Trixie of the Night Guard's armor. Around him, a small group if similarly garbed friends sneered and chuckled.

Trixie spoke harshly - maybe more harshly than she should have given the circumstances, but anger and good sense don't go well together. "Give Trixie back her hat." She had shoved herself back to her hooves, her coat on the back of her neck standing up. "Now." She growled menacingly at the much larger, armored thestral.

He watched her with a small amount of amusement. "Lookit here, fellas'. We've got ourselves a tough girl." He smirked toothily at her, leaning down with a patronizing look in his eyes. "What're you, stupid? Do you have any idea who you're dealing with, little girl?" His wing held the hat firmly away from her, his eyes burning angrily.

Trixie of course, did not much care. Her horn suddenly glowed to life and she grabbed the edge of her hat, trying to tug it away from him as carefully as she could. "Trixie does not give a buck who you are." She snarled again, getting right up in his face. "You will give Trixie back her hat, or there will be consequences." Her voice was practically swimming in angry venom, as her magic tried desperately to pull her hat free.

The thestral wasn't having it though. He snarled back with his sharp teeth in full display, his wing clamping down onto the hat. "I dare you to try something, little girl." The rest of his friends - all of them in the same armor, the last detached part of Trixie's mind noted - had started to back up from the scene he was causing. "Go ahead." he spat at her hooves. " Show me what you've got." Some of the other ponies walking around in the street had started to pay attention to the scene, several of them staring from around the alleyway corners.

Trixie well and truly snapped. Rational thought flew out the window, and with it any semblance of fear. Trixie dragged every ounce of magic she could possibly muster into her horn and screamed at the thestral at the top of her lungs. "GIVE TRIXIE HER HAT BACK NOW!" Magic - uncontrolled, undirected magic - exploded out of the tip of her horn and smashed into the chest of the armored thestral with a searing lance of pain. His eyes widened just a touch before the blast sent him crashing into a wall across the street. Trixie's hat was blasted up into the air, and the snatched with magic back down to seat upon her head. She stood there panting slowly, with the rest of the armored thestrals now staring at her in fear.

The other thestral slowly sank down the wall unconscious as Trixie slowly walked past them. Passing the armored jerk, she noted that her spell had turned a him... into a her. She smirked tiredly. "That's what Trixie's got, bitch." She spat at ground and continued walking slowly but steadily up the street, trying to hold her head high and ignore the sinking feeling of depression in the pit of her stomach - wondering if anything had truly changed since Ponyville or not.

~~~~~~~~~~

Trixie knew she shouldn't be pushing her magic, especially not while recovering from magical backlash. Letting loose her rage at that stupid batpony had been a mistake; she was just as cornered as ever, except now with an even worse headache. What was she supposed to do? Taking out one small group of ghosts had put her down for hours with backlash and there was nopony in town that could conceivably help. All they had to offer were insults and obstructions. At least there was nopony standing in her way now, not in the immediate sense at least.

She scanned the street in front of her; not a single pony in sight. The houses looked older, more dilapidated. The doors were all shut, the windows all shuttered. Rather than alleyways between the buildings, there were large vacant lots overgrown with chest-high grass and strange bits of random junk—discarded by some passing pony who hadn't even considered it worth the time to throw out properly.

The street was silent. It wasn't just that the sounds of hoofbeats and chatter from passers-by had faded away, it was silent. Trixie perked her ears, swiveling them back and forth. There had been birds chirping in the forest before—and insects buzzing around her ears—she was sure of it. But even those sounds were absent from this deserted section of town.

Trixie spun, looking for anything else that was out of place. Something moved in the corner of her eye, shimmering. She spun to face the vacant lot to her right. It extended all the way back to the forest, just an old wooden fence poking up through the mass of vines and weeds at the back marking the edge of town. The lot seemed empty but she was sure she had seen something just a moment ago.

There it was again, a line of hazy shimmering just visible through the trees. Trixie squinted—they were ponies, more of those ghostly illusions from the look of it. And there were a lot of them, galloping straight toward her.

The ghostly ponies emerged from the edge of the forest, their legs and bodies running through the fence rather than leaping over it. The silence had become oppressive, the noiseless galloping somehow more threatening than the sound of living hooves bearing down on her ever could have been, as if the afterlife were leaking into the living world.

Trixie stared down the ghostly stampede. She tried to focus on some detail that marked them as figments. The failure of their hoofbeats to echo from the brick walls around her, the unnatural uniformity of their scent, but she couldn't hear hoofbeats at all and even the smells of the forest and the town had faded away. Her senses seemed washed out—or her exhaustion was effecting her more than she thought.

The phantom ponies bearing down on her certainly looked ghostly enough. They passed through the tall grass rather than trampling it, their manes were unruffled by the wind. Time seemed to slow down and Trixie began to feel vaguely cold, as if whatever warmth was in the air was stolen away by their wrathful presence. Perhaps whatever dimension the ghosts inhabited had reached out and pulled Trixie in.

She fumbled at her vest but—like the fool that she was—Trixie hadn't remembered to refill it with fireworks this morning. Stupid, useless, unprepared failure of a magician. Trixie tried to remember what she'd been thinking last night when she vanquished the illusions but whatever inspiration she'd had was gone now, lost in a haze of doubt and fear.

The ghosts closed the last few yards as Trixie let loose her magic in an uncontrolled burst. She hoped against hope that it would dispel the ghosts, but she suspected that whatever she'd done last night was unrepeatable. She looked up into the black voids of the lead ghost-stallion's eyes. They shimmered as her spell hit, the lines of his muzzle wavering and then coming into focus, becoming solid. It was as if he had crossed some invisible barrier and entered the real world.

As the stallion reared up on his ghostly hooves, something slammed against Trixie's side. The ground fell away beneath her and Trixie squirmed, unable to bend her neck enough to see more than a flash of black wings and the phantasmal ponies rising into the air in silent pursuit. The thought of them catching her while somepony held her aloft was even worse than being caught on the ground where she had some ability to fight back. They were perhaps fifteen feet from the ground and rising. If she was going to escape, she had to act now. With a kick and a wriggle, she felt herself slip free of the hooves around her withers.

It took no time at all for the ground beneath to rush up and smack Trixie's face with a rock. She tumbled forward, pummeled on all sides by rocks and roots until she slammed against a brick wall. She couldn't stand, but she managed to slide up along the wall until she was upright enough to see a dark shape touch down in front of her. The world was spinning but she was able to focus her vision just enough to make out the bat-wings of a thestral and the smoky grey shapes of the ghosts closing in around her.

The ghosts charged, an earth pony stallion with maggots crawling from his snout body-slammed the thestral, connecting with a meaty thud. A flick of its powerful neck tossed the thestral through the air. She hit the wall somewhere overhead and slid down it to collapse in a heap beside her. Trixie closed her eyes, hoping the world would stop spinning, and preparing herself for to join the ranks of the ghost ponies. Something wet and warm was running down the back of her head. She wondered for a moment if she'd have a blood-red mane as a ghost before she faded from consciousness.

~~~~~~~~

The putrid scent of her mother's favorite hangover cure pulled Trixie up from the fog of unconsciousness. A fitting welcome to the afterlife she supposed. Opening her eyes, Trixie was surprised and a bit disappointed to find the warmth on her skin was merely a soft blanket warmed by some unseen fire, rather than some ethereal warmth. Something was waving around in front of her, and she raised a hoof to swat it away.

Nurse Cross looked into her eyes, then pulled back the bottle of herbs she'd been moving around under Trixie's snout. "I'm awake, damn it." Trixie grumbled, her thoughts slow to return to sense as she tried to figure out exactly what had just hit her...

"Yes, but you likely have a concussion." The voice of the Nurse echoed painfully in Trixie's ears, and then continued, "Here, try to follow my hoof with your eyes." The nurse moved her hoof slowly back and forth. Trixie watched it, her focus blurring slightly. Nurse Cross nodded to herself and muttered something under her breath that Trixie didn't quite catch.

A big female thestral shouldered the nurse aside and yanked Trixie up by her mane, pulling her close enough to feel the hot breath against her nostrils. The look in the thestral's eyes was almost as venomous as her voice. "Well I'm glad you are all right. We certainly wouldn't want anything to happen to the great and powerful wizard The Queen sent to protect us. You've done such a good job, why without you we might have dangerous ponies like my Shadow Song walking around instead of being hauled off in a coma." Trixie stared at the thestral woman in horror, her last shreds of confidence shattering with every hard word spat into her face.

The councilpony from the inn—Brightmane or something like that—spoke up behind her, in a voice obviously attempting to soothe the mare, "Now Shade, Ms. Lulamoon may not have done much good here, but she is suffering from magical backlash. I don't think we can expect much from a pony still trying to recover from that kind of exertion. She certainly didn't intend for your daughter to get injured." He gently reached out - trying to seperate Trixie from 'Shade'...

'Shade' or whoever it was snarled at the councilpony, clearly having lost most of her wits. "We can't expect much from her at all, you miserable dingbat! We'd be better off if she just threw herself to them, so the Queen would send somepony better! You know she blew all her magic picking a fight with the town guards?"

At this, Trixie had to speak up. It hurt to speak, hell, it hurt just to breathe right then, but she wasn't going to take that lying down! "They were bullying me! Trixie didn't go up to them and start picking on them! I was trying to help and- "

The angry thestral somehow found new reserves of sarcasm, as she spat painfully into Trixie's face. "Oh they were mean to you, were they? You poor thing. That why you turned Captain Crescent into a mare? You're some kind of foal with no self-control?" She spat again - and memories of the Alicorn Amulet flooded Trixie's mind.

All she could see was red. All she could feel was hate. She wanted not just to hurt Twilight Sparkle, she wanted to crush her. Destroy her. Make her pay for ruining her life. Anything was on the table. Any atrocity, any act of violence or cruelty... anything in order to get her revenge. She humiliated them. Enslaved them. All of them, all of the ponies Twilight loved...

Until her own arrogance was too powerful for even the Amulet to contain. And then every thing she'd done had come back to her a thousand fold - every horrible action. Every depraved moment. And Twilight had just... forgiven her. Forgiven her for being too weak to stand up to the Amulet's power.

Weak. She was weak. Worthless. She had no right to live. She had no right to claim she could protect anypony...

"I-I'm..." Trixie was lost for words. She struggled to her feet, pushing the ponies around her away. The way they stepped back from her, it was as if they didn't want to touch her lest they be contaminated with her failure. She ignored the calls of the councilpony behind her, and the stern words still being hurled towards her by the burly thestral. None of it mattered now.

She stumbled forward, out onto the main street. Somepony jeered behind her, but Trixie didn't catch exactly what was said. She was sure she didn't want to. She snatched up her hat from where it was lying in an overgrown rose bush and limped along deserted street. Not so 'Great and Powerful' are you? No. A real unicorn would never have allowed this to happen. A real unicorn would never have let that stupid artifact rule them. she thought with ever increasing bitterness. A rock bounced off the cobblestones in front of her, she braced herself to be pelted by angry townsponies, but no more stones were thrown. She apparently wasn't even worth the effort of running out of town.

As she passed the last few scattered houses she let herself begin to sob, quietly. I'm just a fraud after all. A phony. Worthless. That thestral was right... they'd all be better off if I was dead. Her thoughts descended into ever increasing bitter anger. The road curved around a stand of willows and as she put the trees between her and the village, a crumbling, overgrown graveyard came into view. The ideal place for a failed ghost hunter. Or a wizard who wanted to die.

Author's Note

If this act seems a bit rougher technically, it's because my editors have all basically abandoned me for now. But since I don't want to make you good readers wait, I figured I ought to just keep releasing the acts as I originally intended to.

Act 3

"Only when we have been driven into a corner, when all hope has died within us and all that is left is despair.
Only when the world has beaten us down to our knees, when life has taken everything but our lives and our pride.
Only when our only choices are to die in the mud, or to die on our hooves still fighting.
Only then, can no force in the world stop us.
Only then, are we capable of doing anything."
-High Chancellor Puddinghead

~~~~~Hollow Shades Graveyard~~~~~

Trixie could feel the chill cast over her as she passed through the black iron gates of the silent graveyard. This was not a place for the living, and anypony could sense that in any number of ways. Unicorns in particular felt the powerful aura of death that often imbued such places, and Trixie was no exception. It hung like a pall over the moon drenched grasses that spread out before her hooves, carrying her into the section specifically set aside for unicorns.

Unicorns preferred cremation rather than burial - and had since time immemorial. Fire was a power which came naturally to many unicorns, and moving earth was an extreme rarity. So traditions grew up around burning the bodies of the fallen, often it was believed their ashes would carry their magical essence into the next life - or, for some, to be reborn. So the gravesites here were primarily memorials of one kind or another - some of them adorned with crystals, gems, or other ostentation that earth ponies and pegasi might have scorned. The one thing they all had in common were the urns - all of which were topped with the carefully preserved horns of those that lay within them.

Trixie did not know where she was going. Her hooves were carrying her numbly along, not really looking at anything, or noticing any movement or life. She just... walked, and kept walking as though her body knew that stopping would mean never starting again. The eldritch glows and gentle shines of silver, gold and enchanted stones glittered across the lawn, until her bowed head nearly rammed into one particularly large stone. Only the barest amount of awareness kept her from bruising her horn still further, and she stumbled into an ungraceful seat on the ground.

Trixie glared at the offending slab of marble, her eyes scouring across it for a name to curse for its insensitivity to her plight. Until her eyes settled upon the name carved into the white stone - just one name. But an unmistakable one. Phantasma Lulamoon it read, in bolt equestrian print. Trixie's eyes slowly trailed up to see... Mom. Well, a very superb carving of her anyway. Hat, cloak and all - she stood heroically over the carved head of what looked like a slain dragon. Trixie slowly stood up, circling around the monument (for lack of a better word) to what looked like the front of it, where an inscription explained its presence here...

In Living Memory of Phantasma Lulamoon, heroine of Hollow Shades.

On this spot, in August of the year 970 SY, Phantasma Lulamoon defeated the dread dragon Ironscale

Liberating our fair city from his tyrannical occupation, in the name of the Moon.

Vanished in 980 SY, she lives on in our hearts, survived by her daughter.

In nomine Lunae Reginae, requiescat in pace.

970... Just a few years before I was born. Trixie thought, gently tracing her hoof across the words, until they reached the word of her disappearance. Trixie bit down on her lip, and laid her head to the gravestone - the only one she'd ever seen for the mare who had meant so much to her. You were even a hero, mother. You never told me. Was there so much left for us to talk about? So much that you never got to say? Tears came again, gently dripping against the white marble as the worst memory of her entire life overtook her..

~~~~~One fateful day....~~~~~

"... And now, fillies and gentlecolts! The amazing Phantasma will perform one of the most incredible tricks of her career! She will vanish before your very eyes.... without the aid of any magic at all!"

The crowd gasped and applause rolled across the stage in a blanket of sound, as the announcer produced the unmistakable bulk of a limiter ring. Designed originally to contain unicorn prisoners and keep them from casting magic spells, they were often used for all sorts of applications in the modern age. Lesser limiters were often given to unicorn foals to help them build up magical strength. This one was nothing less than a genuine military model, designed to completely block all use of a unicorn's horn.

The crowd watched in awe as the beautiful light violet coated unicorn placed the limiter atop her horn, and gestured above it to show no strings attached - then focused a tiny bit of magic into the horn to show the limiter ring shorting out her power. The crowd applauded and whistled in excitement, as two assistants loped onto the stage and the announcer spoke again. "And now, the amazing Phantasma shall be bound in chains, and placed into... THIS BOX!" he gestured dramatically, and a flat, featureless black box was produced from someplace back stage.

Trixie watched from her extra-special hiding place, snuggled amidst the bright lights and sandbags which dotted the main scaffolding above and behind the stage. From here, she could see Mommy perform all her great tricks, and sometimes even learn how they were done! She'd learned that Mommy was really good at picking locks with her mouth from up here, and that the announcer guy was there to distract the Audience when Mommy needed another moment or two. Mommy was getting all cuffed up now, so she could do her fancy box-escape trick. Trixie still had no idea how Mommy managed it, but it was really cool to watch anyway!

The crowd gasped and applauded in all the same places the ones before them had, as Mommy stepped into the black box. And then... she did something funny. She looked up, like she knew where Trixie was hiding. Looked right up at her and smiled in a funny sort of way. Then she turned her head down and was locked into the box, just like normal. Trixie was confused... Mommy never did things on stage that weren't practiced. Ever! That meant something had to be wrong, but Trixie didn't know what it was!

The box was shut, just like always. The announcer went through his lines, same as he did at every show. And just like always, the box fell away into pieces and parts and the crowd cheered because Mommy wasn't inside anymore. Then Mommy was supposed to reappear in a big burst of magic and mist, and there'd be lots of applause!

But... Mommy didn't reappear that time. The announcer, Mr. Quills looked disturbed. The audience didn't know what to make of it. Trixie started to feel afraid - very, very afraid. She ran out from her hiding place, yelling for her mother. The crowd broke down, and so did the show. Curtains were quickly drawn, and the entire theater was searched from top to bottom, but only one sign of Phantasma could be found.

Only the careful attention of Uncle Crackle kept Trixie from running into the streets... as it was, all that they could find of Phantasma Lulamoon was her cloak, and her hat. Light purple, much like her coat - and bedecked with stars and moons.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trixie held that same hat in her hooves right now, bunched up and hugged to her chest like a stuffy. It was all she had left, all that she could find of her vanished mother. Nopony knew what had happened - nopony knew how the trick worked, after all. Some thought she'd had a panic moment, and her magic had run wild. Some thought she'd run away from some nebulous debt or threat to her life. Some even thought she had been summoned by Celestia herself to... someplace. None of it mattered to Trixie.

Her mother had been gone, and she had never come back. Uncle Crackle and Aunt Pop had taken her in, raised her like their own daughter. Trixie had never let that hat, or that cloak out of her sight in the years since. She'd spent untold amounts of money keeping it in good shape, paying for magical restoration whenever wear and tear got the better of it. Even now, Trixie could still smell that faint lavender and vanilla smell that was mom in her heart. I'm so sorry, Mom. I'm such a horrendous failure. Trixie thought in misery, her hooves sliding down to the base of the monument.

She'd been fooling herself. There was no career for her to go back to, no stage for her to perform upon. I'm supposed to be an expert in illusions, and I got my flank kicked by somepony I never even saw. And Shadow Song had paid the price for it. Never her, oh no - the universe needed Trixie completely alive and aware every time her failures hurt somepony else. Twilight Sparkle was never to blame for your mistakes, Trixie. You did this to yourself. And for what? For nothing, that was what. Petty self satisfaction - and she couldn't even manage that.

She looked up in sadness at the marble mare above her - as unreachable as the stars. If only you were here. You'd know what to do. You always knew what to do, even after Poppa left. Trixie stared into the ground as tears flowed freely, her breath caught on soft sobs. I've tried so hard, Momma. I've tried to be everything you dreamed I could be... Trixie started to smack her hooves into the ground at the base of the statue. I was always so close, but never quite good enough. She slammed her hooves into the ground and gave off a yelp as she felt something sharp jab into her hoof.

Trixie's hooves pulled away in sudden shock, as she felt around and found a particularly jagged piece of stone which lay there as if waiting for her. From where it had come, Trixie didn't know - but she was glad for it all the same. I can't do this anymore, mom. She thought. She wasn't great or powerful. She wasn't even competent. She was a broken failure of a wizard, a washed up wreck of a showmare. Trixie plucked up the sharp stone with her hooves - her magic as useless as the rest of her now. I can't be responsible for somepony else getting hurt because of me...

Trixie fumbled herself over to the monument - so she could pretend, just for a few moments, like she was sitting at mom's hooves again. Maybe she'd get to see her again in the next world, like someponies said you would. Maybe she could apologize. Maybe Mom would accept it, and they could be together again. Trixie shifted the sharp bit of rock in her hooves and began to dig into her arm with it, the pain a mere distraction against the hole in her heart.

The first bright red spots of blood began to trickle down onto the white stone next to her, as Trixie levered the cut into her wrist wider. It hurt, but it wouldn't hurt forever. That's more than enough. Sure, all the things she'd read said to take both wrists, but given how deep that cut was on the first one - Trixie was more than sure it would be enough. No one was going to come out here and save her. She spat out the sharp stone, shining and slick with blood and leaned against the white marble plinth, closing her eyes and feeling suddenly, awfully tired.

Time passed. Sleep, of a sorts, came to Trixie. It was not until she felt a stabbing pain...and then a complete lack of pain that she stirred from her uneasy rest. The pain in her limbs was gone, and even her horn didn't seem to hurt so much anymore. Was she dead? Dying? Maybe dying. Yet as she cracked an eye open, she did not look into the heavens, but rather at a dirty blonde mane that hung limply around a pair of bright spectacles that seemed focused on something. A unicorn horn glowed with a faint white magic aura, and suddenly more of the pain in her head vanished.

Trixie felt the world come into greater focus, as she began to realize who was sitting here - and holding her hoof no less. The cut in Trixie's hoof was gone, only a puddle of blood around where it had lain told the tale it had been through. The unicorn mare sat fastidiously away from the blood, and had obviously been crying herself from the streaks down her cheeks. "Please be okay.." She whispered, as if praying. "Luna, if you care even a little about your children, please save her..." the unicorn... no, Saddle. Saddle Trelahny had been her name. As Saddle whispered hopefully, her horn only barely, feebly lit with white power.

Trixie realized, all at once, what she was doing. She had been healing her. Something she undoubtedly was not even remotely trained for, but had managed to do quite an excellent job at. Or maybe she had been trained... and there was more to Saddle's story than she was telling. As though you weren't the same way. Trixie thought, rather viciously at herself, and exhaled slowly. Saddles' head shot up, her eyes filled with hope and tears and Trixie couldn't help it, she muttered bitterly. "Why did you stop me?"

Saddle shook her head and rubbed away the wetness from her eyes with a slightly dirty hoof, then gave it a sad look. "Because I've been down that road, kiddo. It isn't the solution," she said softly, dropping the wet hoof to the ground. "I was an idiot, then and now. I shouldn'ta said the crap I said back in the shop. You were right to give me a talking to for that, and I'm sorry." She shook out her dirty blonde mane, and sighed softly. "Death doesn't solve anything, Trixie. It just makes problems for everypony else."

Trixie wanted to glare, but couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't have any right to be talking down to anypony, right now. "Tri-.." No. No more of that third pony bullhockey. "I-I-I'm sorry I stormed out." She managed, quietly. "I was angry, and scared. I still am angry, and scared. I... thank you for saving my worthless life." She finally managed to get out the thanks, swallowing to try and lube her dry throat - unsuccessfully. "I'm...I don't know what to do. I couldn't help anypony..." That was the worst of it, finally out in the open. Trixie did not know what to do, and for somepony as self-assured as she always had been - that was perhaps the worst thing of all.

Saddle nodded, pulling her rear legs up under her and sitting on her flank. "Your life isn't worthless, kiddo. Everypony's life is worth something. I dunno much about you, but I'll bet you got family someplace that'd miss you." She tilted her head as Trixie looked away, cheeks flushed in shame. "Yeah, I figgered. Look, you're up discord creek. So. What can you do bout it?" Trixie blinked and looked up. That hadn't quite been a question. More like a rhetorical one. "You could ask a retired old showpony like me for a little help. I know a thing or two about the kinda magic you'd need."

Trixie looked up, stunned into amazement that this mare would even suggest helping her. Yet there Saddle was, bold as brass and with a twinkle in her eye that suggested she was dead bucking serious. "I...Trixie.." She stumbled over her words for a few moments and then shook her head firmly. In her mind, she could only see the gentle thestral who had stood over her body and protected her from harm. The one thestral who had believed in her, without hesitation, from the moment she'd entered town.

She looked up at the statue of her mother, standing boldly and triumphantly over a dragon. Mom would have stood up. Mom would have fought. She wouldn't be lying here in a pool of her own blood and all of this dirt. She'd have picked up every tool she could find and fought until she'd won. No time for pity, Trixie. Take the help. There are ponies counting on you. Bury your pride, right here in this graveyard. her thoughts quietly urged. When this is all over, you can go back to Uncle Crackle. Make fireworks for the rest of your life. Find a nice pony to settle down with, if you survive all this. But right now...

Her personal feelings didn't matter. Her safety didn't matter. For the first time she could remember, Trixie didn't give a damn about what happened to herself. Live, Die, it didn't matter. The statue above her was more than a grave stone - it was a reminder. Of the one pony in all the world Trixie wanted most to be proud of her. Mom would have fought. That meant Trixie had better start fighting, too. Get up. She told herself, and pushed herself up to four hooves. Get the buck over yourself. There are bucking lives at stake, Trixie. What are you gonna do about it? Trixie lifted her head, her voice soft but sure. "I need help, Saddle. Would you... Would you please teach me?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Aright. Now, what I'm gonna tellsya is gonna go against the grain." Saddle said wryly, her flank parked firmly atop some nameless pony's gravestone. "So what I don't wanna hear is 'That's impossible'. What I wanna hear is 'I'll try that.'." She tapped her hoof to the stone. "So. You need t'learn how to fight. So that's what I'm gonna show you how to get started on. Watch me carefully." Saddle tapped her horn. "Cuz I'm gonna show you somethin' real useful."

Trixie shifted herself on the soft grass, and wondered why on earth Saddle had insisted upon teaching her here. Perhaps to remind her of the stakes involved? As though Trixie needed another reminder of how her screw-ups had already endangered lives. Saddle's horn lit up with a silvery-white sort of aura, and after a few moments, a little filly pony cantered out from behind the stone she was sitting on. It was purely a visual illusion, with a little physical solidity thrown in to give the impression that it had weight and could step on the grass. nothing particularly fancy. Saddle winked at her cheekily. "Not much ta look at, eh? Until..."

The filly cantered over a good distance away...and then abruptly detonated in a flash of light an energy, leaving a small crater in the place where it had been standing. Trixie gawped. Sure enough, if she'd been asked her opinion on that spell, she'd have said it was impossible. "Bu..But...how?" Trixie blurted out, staring in disbelief. "I... It almost looked like you purposefully over-charged the illusion! That would break the spell, and cause a..." She stopped in mid-sentence and promptly buried her hoof in her face. "That's exactly what you did, isn't it?" She asked, no small amount of ironic humor dripping from her voice.

Saddle didn't even have to say a word. She just grinned. "Seems kinda a stupid thing, don't it? What unicorn purposefully bucks up a spell, right?" She leaned towards Trixie, a slow smile on her face. "That's lesson number one. Nine outta ten unicorns will tellya that screwing up a spell is a bad idea, cuz of magical backlash. The tenth unicorn's an illusionist - like you. Like me. Illusions dont cause backlash when they break. Usually, they just kinda poof." She waved her hoof "But... if you shove a whole ton of power into one and then make it break.... Boom!"

Saddle grinned roguishly at Trixie, pressing her hooves together. "We gotta find power where other unicorn's are too arrogant to look, cuz we can't win in a fight otherwise." She lifted a hoof and her horn glowed again, a little glowing butterfly appearing in midair, and then landing on her hooftip. "We already use magic to fool the senses. You just gotta be..." The little butterfly lifted off her hoof.

Trixie's eyes widened and she almost cottoned on in time, the butterfly exploding in a bright flash of blinding light - Next thing she knew, Saddle was right next to her, poking a fake little wooden dagger into her nose. "Flexible in what yer foolin." Saddle said, with a saucy sort of grin. "Illusions can make ya move silently, blind yer enemies, or give you a nearly perfect disguise. It can also make really big booms, make shields to hide behind with physical illusions, and if you know yer pyro - you can supercharge magical fireworks with your own power by charging up the magic that makes em work just before they blow." Saddle was still grinning like a maniac, though a very friendly one.

Trixie gulped and nodded hurridly, and Saddle trotted back to her grave-seat and hopped up on it. "Well, g'wan then!" Saddle catcalled and Trixie felt her eyes narrow. "Show me what you got, Miss Great and Powerful!" She jeered, and Trixie felt a flush enter her cheeks. That conceit had gotten somepony hurt today, and Saddle was throwing it back in her face? Saddle was watching her expectantly though, and Trixie was just pissed off enough to not care about her head still hurting.

Trixie planted her hooves and called her magic up through her horn. The backlash still hurt. It hurt like hell, truth be told, but it didn't hurt as much as the memory of Shadow Song lying there hurt. Because of her. Because she hadn't been strong enough. Trixie's horn lit up with bright cerulean power and she called up her very best physical / sight / sound illusion. Saddle wanted her to improvise eh? She could do that. It hummed to life, a ball of radiant energy that whirled and spun into a form - that of a young dragon which roared its defiance across the graveyard. It hurt. Gods help her, but it hurt.... but pain was a distant, pointless sort of thing right now.

Now she had to do something she'd never done before. The dragon illusion soared over Saddle's head with a blast of wind that sent her mane flying behind her, and conjured an impressed look on her face - The construct soared up into the air, and then dive bombed down into a gravestone some distance away from that both. Trixie grabbed the magical threads she'd built with it and then mentally yanked on them, surging power through every facet of the illusion. It went against every single thing her mother had ever taught her. It was one of the hardest spell casting things she'd ever done.

The effect was spectacular. The dragon hit the gravestone and detonated into a massive flash of light, sound and force which knocked Saddle clean off the gravestone. Trixie had to grab at her hat to hold it steady, and the shockwave pulsed out her cape in a pleasingly heroic sort of manner. It damn near laid her out with a reaction headache but... Trixie stared, completely ignorant of the pain. She slowly walked over to where the strike had hit, as Saddle hauled herself back to her hooves and blinked at her as she walked past.

Where once there had been an unknown, untended gravestone - there was now a hole. A hole at least two feet deep, and two feet across. Trixie stood at the edge of it, staring down in nigh incomprehension. She'd never done anything even remotely this powerful before. Her telekinetic blasts were pathetic in terms of raw power, and every other offensive spell she'd tried to master had simply fizzled, but this. This was incredible. "Whoa, nelly." Saddle observed as she came up beside her. "I knew your special talent was Illusion, but this is somethin' else." For just a moment, Trixie felt herself filled with a fierce pride.

One that she very quickly deflated. So what. I can blow a big hole in the ground? That's nice, but not precisely something new or useful. Still. It was a step in the right direction. "Looks like y'get the basic idea. Now look." Saddle spoke up, startling Trixie out of her thoughts. "I can't teach you specifics. You're gonna have to find your own tricks, like any good magician. Keep yer mind flexible, figure out how to make yer magic work for you, and you'll be fine. Aright?" Trixie nodded a little bit, and tried to conjure up a smile.

Saddle shook her head and grinned at her. "Just... Don't give up, Kiddo. Givin' up is fer sissycorns .You're not a sissycorn. You're a goddamn Lulamoon." Trixie stared at her suddenly, wondering what her last name had to do with anything. Saddle grabbed her shoulders and squeezed them. "I'm not ignorant kid. Your family's got roots in this town, and all of em speak of you folk bein' more stubborn than the bloody Apple clan. Your family doesn't quit, kiddo. So don't you go startin."

Trixie absorbed those words for a few long seconds and nodded. She turned and secured her hat firmly on her head, and tightened the cloak around her neck. No. She supposed she never was very good at quitting, even when she probably should have. She should have quit after what happened in Ponyville. She should have quit after the Alicorn Amulet. And now she was here, because she didn't know when to quit, and more ponies were getting hurt because of her. Her hooves picked up, one at a time, to carry her back to the town.

Trixie wasn't going to let anypony else get hurt because of her. No matter what it took.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was the work of maybe twenty minutes to make her way back to the inn, and the stone store room where her precious few belongings were being stored - including the massive boxes of fireworks. She stared at them for a moment, then closed the door firmly behind her. One by one, she loaded her stage vest up with the very best in the boxes. The splitter rockets, the big boomers, the roamin candle bundles. Then she grabbed a randomly discarded sack and (after assuring that it was dry) loaded it with the famous packs of fire-crackers and dragon-rockets that were the most basic of her uncle's works of art.

She sealed the rest of the boxes back up and turned resolutely towards the door, the sack of explosive potential over her shoulder. Nopony was around at this hour, most of them in the midst of their... work day? Work evening? Whatever. The moon was high up in the sky. If Trixie had to venture a guess, It had to be something like... what? Two AM? She squinted up, wishing she had a clock to go by.

The moon had just come up when Trixie went unconscious the first time, so that had to be about seven or eight, being very early spring. She'd been out for... a couple hours at most, or the Nurse would have said something. Figure eleven pm. Another hour of wandering about town. The... fight... and then some unspecified amount of time till Saddle had found her. All of these thoughts were rendered irrelevant when a thunderously loud bell pealed off twelve gongs, signifying midnight. Trixie facehoofed. How had she not noticed the town bell? Ugh, put her in nappies and lock her in a crib, Trixie had clearly reverted to the age of four.

Trixie trotted quickly along the boulevard, ignoring the sidelong glances of anypony who passed her by. They could hate her. She no longer really cared all that much about their personal opinions. But by the Moon, she would show them she kept her promises. The streets passed her in a blur, blending together into a murky miasma of forgotten memories. She was tired, she hurt, she was fighting off a truly horn-splitting amount of backlash, and she was probably running on stubbornness alone. She ought to be in bed, trying to recover from this headache. She ought to get some rest, and tackle this problem after she'd slept for about a day.

Which meant of course, that she'd hear the screams and clattering hooves that likely presaged another attack just a few minutes later, just as good sense was starting to reassert itself in her brain. Her head came up quickly at the sounds, hoofsteps picking up into a fast trot. Good sense flew out the window. No more. Her thoughts ran, as she rounded a corner at top speed.No more ponies get hurt because of me. No more alicorn amulets or ursa minors. No more Shadow Song's.

It was the town marketplace. A huge open field of wooden and stone stalls, carts and shops. All around Trixie, chaos reigned as ghostly ponies scythed through the crowd all around her - most of them just getting slammed into carts and sent screaming in terror. Fires had already broken out in several places in the square where food stands had gone unattended, and the press of ponies trying to escape was simply making matters worse. In spite of the very best efforts of tiny squadrons of thestral guards, nothing seemed to be capable of stemming the tide. It was a nightmare scenario waiting to happen - if something didn't break up the fight quickly, someone was going to die.

Trixie wasn't going to let that happen. She threw open the mouth of the sack on her shoulder and forced her magic to come to life through the pain and misery of the backlash. She knew she was damaging herself - knew that every ounce of magic she used just meant making it worse. But sense was not on the menu in Trixie's head. Her emotions were raw wounds, her mind wracked with guilt and pain. She was far from thinking properly. She only knew there were ponies here in danger... and she was going to do something about it.

Her magic began to grasp a bundle of the dragon rockets from the sack as she gathered her strength beneath her... there. Down one of the main thoroughfares, four or five of the ghostly illusions were charging a line of armored thestral guards. Trixie took off, dodging through the terrified locals and past debris scattered about the square. The guards were holding themselves well - but sure enough, their spears and swords did nothing to their foes. Ghosts. Illusions - she didn't know. She didn't care. She would fight with every weapon she had, damn the consequences!

With a wordless battle cry, she loosed the dragon rockets into the air and triggered their tiny fuses - sending them screaming into the faces of the ghostly foes. Only half knowing what she was doing, she grabbed at the tiny cores of magical substance in the rockets and tried to flood them with her power - Sure enough, the bottle-rockets detonated right in front of the charging front rank of ghosts with a series of small but powerful explosions of light and sound. They sounded like a handful of massive rocks hitting the solid earth, and the ghosts flinched in the face of them.

They flinched. Which meant they were no such ghosts at all. More Illusions! She exulted, plowing through the line of thestral guards, she screamed at the apparitions with a scratchy voice. "I DISBELIEVE!". She forced power through her horn and fired off a half dozen, half assed telekinetic bolts...and the ghosts vanished in a puff of magic and logic. She panted heavily, knowing she'd put out far less power than the first time... Wait...Why did that work this time? She thought blearily, as the guards stared at her in amazement - though she did not see their looks as she ran towards the next cluster of ghost-illusions.

Think, Trixie! Think! What did you just do? She frowned as she ran, squinting her eyes to try and see through the thick smoke from the burning stalls. I think... I forced the illusions to break. Instead of allowing my disbelief to take its course. I had to do it because everypony else around me still believed in their existence. The reason it was so hard on me the first time was even I still half believed in them! That made sense, from a purely magical-theory standpoint. Her thoughts came to a grinding halt as a ghostly lance just barely missed her after being hurled by one of the illusions - thunking realistically into one of the carts. Gahh! I have to remember they can hurt me until I break their power!

Trixie hurled herself back into the path - drawing out bundles of dragon rockets and letting them loose at her foes. They seemed to be endless, coming at the market from every direction in the town. She dodged under a blade and hurled a packet of fire-crackers into one illusions eye and the pure magical backlash of the firework going off actually dissipated it all by itself! Every little success brought a fiercer and fiercer grin to Trixie's face. She felt strength flood her limbs, and fought through the pain that lanced through her horn with every cast spell.

One by one, the bundles of thestral guards began to organize behind her. Little by little, a wall of bodies and willpower began to ease the pressure on the fleeing ponies of the town. Trixie dashed from one end of the square to another, hurling her fireworks her foes with reckless abandon - Little by little, her sack of basics began to run dry though - and the pain in her horn continued to grow worse, and worse. Every moment I buy them, is another moment for them to escape. she thought, fatalistically. She would not stop fighting - not until nopony was left in danger.

Then...The ghosts began to retreat. By design, by pain from so many backlashed spells, or perhaps even Illusions this thorough could feel fear, they began to run. A massive cheer went up from the line of thestral guards, and the ponies standing behind them. Trixie stood panting in the middle of the market square, her cloak and hat scorched and dark with smoke, and a warm fire burning brightly in her heart. She hurt - Oh sweet Luna, she hurt, but she had fought them off. She had stood her ground and held against the tide. For the briefest of moments, Trixie let herself relax.

Trixie could have predicted that everything would get worse in that moment. That was simply the way of the universe for her. A massive burst of power flashed in the sky, and a ghostly undead dragon swooped down towards the market square. It was massive - easily big enough to cause a truly massive amount of devastation. It roared in ancient anger - sending nearly everypony in the square to their knees. It was the most powerful illusion Trixie had ever seen in all of her life...

And one that sent a thrill of anger into her mind. This charlatan, however powerful they thought they were - thought they could intimidate her with such a blatantly obvious fake? Even still - the crowd behind her believed - oh yes, they believed quite thoroughly. Their terror was palpable even from this distance... and that moment, that single instant was when it hit her. How any of this, how ALL of this was even remotely possible for a single unicorn to pull off. It was a glorious, terrifying and sickening method - and Trixie could not help but admire the mind that had come up with it.

These illusions had been fed into reality by the very fear of the townsfolk.

It made perfect sense. It was no different than what she did on stage to amuse and amaze - if your audience believed what you created was real, the amount of power you needed to feed into it diminished. It stood to reason then - create a bunch of highly difficult to create and maintain illusions, and use them to build up belief in their existence. Slowly, one by one, add to the horde until you had an entire army of illusory soldiers that nopony could harm. Little by little, the locals would come to believe ANY such vision was real - and right now, there was a dragon the size of several large houses swooping down upon them.

Trixie knew what she had to do. Her head raised boldly as the dragon's body crashed into the market square in front of her, and roared its mindless rage at the crowd of ponies behind her. Trixie simply smiled at it - the crowd staring at her in disbelief. I'm going to have to break their belief that these things are real. I'm going to have to break the belief of an entire town in these illusions, and that's going to kill me. It was a terrifying sort of thought. If breaking the belief of just one pony had nearly sent her into a coma, an entire town was going to be far, far worse.

It didn't matter. When the townsfolk ceased to believe in these things, the local mages would be able to do the rest of the cleanup with ease. Nopony else would get hurt because of her mistakes. She would save an entire town with nothing but her own little magic and a few fireworks. Mom would have been proud. Trixie thought, unaware of the silvery tears that ran down her cheeks. It's a hell of a curtain call, Trixie. Not the kind of thing everypony gets to do. And that was fitting for her. Perhaps, when they dust finally settles... They'll finally call you The Great and Powerful Trixie.

Yeah. That would have to be good enough.

Trixie whipped her cloak open and screamed with all of her might. "You do not frighten ME!" Trixie bellowed towards the dragon, which snorted in confusion and backed up its massive bulk - crashing into some of the shops that surrounded the square. "I know what you are, foul creature! I know the truth about you, and all of your ilk! You are nothing more than dewdrops and glamor! You are a fake! A phony! A fraud! An Illusion designed to terrify these good ponies!" Trixie stomped her hoof into the earth - and a tiny bit of magic sent the sound of it rippling through the square like the hooftstep of a giant. She took a deep breath in the silence, her words intense. "And I, The Great And Powerful Trixie fear no illusion. I deny you, foul beast! And so I BID YOU BEGONE!"

Her horn lit - with every ounce and scrap of magic Trixie had left in her soul - An artillery barrage of fireworks burst out of her cloak a second later. The big Boomies went off with the force of cannon blasts, and hurled black balls of concentrated sonic magic into the face of the dragon. From beneath and behind her - a rocket barrage from the splitter rockets engulfed the air around her in flames and flying, screaming projectiles. And last, but by no means least, the bundles of Roamin candles exploded in rapid fire colors and explosions.

It was a finale performance her Uncle Crackle would have been proud of, and the finisher that came next was no exception. Trixie's could no longer see - so terrible was the pain that lanced through her head. She could not hear, or even think - but this was not the act of thought. Though she could not see it, her horn had gone translucent white. A white mist began to spread from her shoulders and burst into a radiant cloak of light around her body that whipped and whirled with impossible force amidst the color fireworks and explosions.

Amidst the light and sound, Trixie's mind calmed, and her breathing slowed. The white cloak of light billowed and spread into a pair of arcane wings from her back and her eyes were filled with a pure white light. There was no fear in her now. No hate. No anger. No pain. Around her hooves, little geometric patterns etched into the stones. Her power exploded silently, in a column of white power that sped towards her foe.

That sent the dragon into a screaming fit of fear - a single, solid beam of energy - easily two feet thick - lanced through the heart of the undead dragon ghost - which screamed its last and then vanished in an explosion of magical dust and energy which rocked the town with a wave of force that billowed out Trixie's cloak in a heroic enough fashion that even she would have approved.

Trixie had no feeling in her horn, or in her body. She had no sense of her magic. She had given everything to that final blow. The white cloak of power vanished into the air and her body collapsed to the cold stone of the market square, unmoving. Her thoughts were all she had left, amidst the searing, white hot pain of her own mind, and all she could feel was satisfaction. Silence had descended over the square, or perhaps Trixie had simply gone deaf. She didn't know - and didn't care. Whatever power that illusionist held over the town was now finished, and done for. Trixie had won. The townsponies were safe.

And that was enough.

Trixie slowly pulled open her eyes. She could feel herself becoming so tired. So very tired. Her eyes found the bright moon, hanging above the town like a blessing from Luna herself. Trixie allowed herself a smile as she felt the warmth of life slowly leeching out of her. She'd get to see Mom again. She'd get to see Poppa again. And nopony would ever forget what she'd done here today. Nopony would forget her name, at least not here. Maybe they'd put her statue next to her mother's. That would be nice.

It would say, Here lies the Great and Powerful Trixie. Worthy daughter of Phantasma. Heroine of Hollow Shades.

Yeah. That sounded good to Trixie.

Trixie stared up at the moon, and wondered what death might feel like.

The light of the moon overtook her, and she welcomed it with open hooves. Luna... bear me into light. she thought faintly...

But the end did not come for Trixie Lulamoon. A sudden warmth of life flooded through her body, and her eyes snapped open in stunned surprise to look up into the tear-brightened eyes of... Nurse Cross? "HURRY, CELESTIA DAMNIT!" screamed the nurse, somewhere off to her left. "SHE'S GOING INTO SHOCK! GET THAT BUCKING STRETCHER OVER HERE NOW!" She screamed again, then turned those bright eyes back to Trixie. Her eyes widened, and Trixie wondered what surprised her so much. "You're conscious! Stay with me, Miss Lulamoon. Do not go to sleep, I don't care how much you want to!" She scolded Trixie with a jabbed hoof, as a clatter of burly hooves filled Trixie's ears.

"Get her on there! We're going to lift you a little, Miss Lulamoon. Stay with me!" Nurse Cross continued, and Trixie nodded a tiny, small amount, licking cracked and suddenly dry lips - a tiny searing lance of pain in her horn making her wince. "Oh goddess above..." whispered the nurse, looking up at Trixie's forehead as a gentle power lifted Trixie's body atop what felt like a thick cloth suspended between two poles. "Trixie, do not attempt any magic! None!" She said firmly, as the stretcher slowly lifted on the shoulders of a massive pair of earth ponies. The nurse stayed right with her as they began to move. "Stay with me, Miss Lulamoon. We're going to get you help - the very best help we can. Clear the way! Somepony get us a wagon, RIGHT NOW!"

Trixie did not know what was happening, but staying awake didn't seem to be on the menu - her eyelids felt too heavy and slowly began to close. "Oh, Celestia - Hurry! We need to get her to the hospital!" Were the last words she heard from the Nurse, as unconsciousness overtook her once again...

Act 4

"Every truly great tale begins not with a hero, but with a simple, every day pony.
It could be a unicorn, or a pegasus, or an earth pony. Rich or poor. Powerful or not. It does not matter.
All that matters is that there be a pony, and some evil for them to oppose.
One who chooses to do something about it.
Everything else follows that one, simple choice."
-Star Swirl The Bearded

~~~~~~Somewhere... Somewhen....~~~~~~~

Trixie's consciousness floated on a soft sea of nothingness. At first, she could feel nothing physical - no pain, no pleasure - no... nothing. Then slowly sensation returned, but it was not pain. Her body felt whole, rested and relaxed in a way she had not felt in a very long time. She looked about this strange, vaguely luminescent place and wondered if perhaps she was dead. Her hooves found purchase on the ground, but there was no... feel to it. It was solid, but it had no texture. She walked slowly through the place. It was much like being surrounded by a calming blue light, with wisps of fog eddying about. If she looked up - she could see snatches of star scape and the moon and sun above her. "What a strange place." Trixie quietly observed, sitting down onto the nothingness.

Her hoof came up in an unconscious sort of gesture, and felt the soft fuzz of her heat - her cape a warm heat that hung from her shoulders. Good. All was where it was supposed to be. Well. Except her - Where was she, anyway? Trixie did not think she was dead. Although she supposed that could very well be the case - nopony really had any idea what happened after the end. Everypony had a different idea, it seemed - Trixie had always enjoyed the notion that she'd get to see her loved ones again. Perhaps this was some sort of spiritual waiting room?

That thought amused Trixie greatly, as she continued to wander aimlessly through the void - wondering idly what sort of music a spiritual waiting room might have. She imagined a grouping of comfortable chairs, and a smattering of old magazines nopony had seriously read in ages. She continued building the little room in her mind, filling out the details of the half-decent coffee and a fussy little secretary chawing on a big hunk of bubble gum and couldn't stop her giggles. This whole place was so utterly absurd, she half expected that annoying pink pony from Ponyville to show up and start talking to her.

That didn't happen of course. Instead, an altogether different figure slowly walked out of the mists - fuzzy and hazy at first, and then thrown into sharp relief. Trixie's steps and giggles stopped in an instant as she stared half believing at the mare that approached her - Her mane and tail a beautiful bright silver-white, streaked through with slashes of violet purple. Her eyes with a bright and soft lavender, and filled with the kind of love that stretched across time and space itself. Her coat was the same bright soft purple that it had always been, obscured only a little... By that famed cloak and wizard's hat that fit her perfectly, gently laid across her shoulders with an artful flow. Trixie could only stare in disbelief, as the mare spoke softly, her voice soft and loving. "My dearest Trixie... I have missed you so."

Trixie took one step, then another - the scent was right, the looks were right, even the hat was right... "Momma..." she whispered, the words dragged from her throat slowly. The mare nodded, a soft smile crossing her face. "Mom... Is... You're here... Momma... MOMMA!!" Trixie yelled out in a voice of steadily growing joy and disbelief. Steady steps became a canter, which became a trot - and then a full on run as she launched herself into the open and waiting forehooves of her mother. Tears flowed without cease from her eyes, and a sob caught in her throat over and over again. She couldn't speak - and she didn't want to. Alive, dead, it didn't matter. Mom was here. Everything was going to be okay.

"My dear one.." whispered Phantasma, slowly stroking her hoof down the cloak covered back of her daughter. "I am so sorry I have not been there for you." She shook her head slowly, and Trixie could feel her hoof lifting up her head to look up at her mother's. "You've grown so big and strong. A fine young mare, and so pretty too." There was a twinkle in her eye - and Trixie felt a smile tug at her lips even as tears continued to flow. Phantasma continued to speak, in a soft loving voice. "You've made me so proud, Trixie. But it is not your time yet."

That startled Trixie out of her tears, her mouth working for a moment, then her voice finally finding the means to speak. "But... What do you mean? I'm... I'm dead, aren't I?" She asked, her voice almost childlike. Trixie so desperately did not wish this moment to end - not now, not ever. "I can't... I don't want to lose you again!" Her voice cracked, and Trixie tightened her hooves around that familiar coat - those soft, gentle touches only half remembered from a childhood that seemed so long ago now.

Phantasma shook her head slowly. "Trixie... You are not dead. You are simply waiting for your body to be ready for you to awaken." She gently lifted Trixie's hat off her head with a touch of that familiar silvery white magic, and smiled, softly kissing her atop her head. "You never did lose me, child. I have always been here with you.." She gently brushed the cloak on Trixie's shoulders and replaced the hat on her head with a loving tug of the fabric onto her head. "Through thick, and through thin." She said with a soft smile. "Even if I have not been there in the way that I wished I could have been, I have never stopped watching over you."

Trixie stared up at her for a long moment, and the words tugged softly from her mouth - her heart hammering in her chest.. "But then... What is this place? You didn't answer my question!" Trixie felt her stubbornness growing in her voice, and half glared up at the slyly smiling figure of her mother... "And what did you mean by not in the way you... wished..." Then she stopped, as Phantasma nodded - very slowly at her, and Trixie quickly thought... Trying desperately to put the pieces together before it was too late.

Phantasma smiled slowly. "You have to go back now, Daughter. You have work yet to do." She softly leaned down, and kissed Trixie's cheek - then whispered, as quietly as a mouse. "Remember, there is nothing you cannot accomplish... so long as you have your hat..." She gently ruffled the garment atop Trixie's head. "And your cape." Trixie felt the cloth tugged around her shoulders - and a warmth blossoming in her heart. "And your magic." She finished gently, kissing Trixie's forehead - leaving a gentle wetness there.

Phantasma spoke firmly then, gently but firmly pushing Trixie to stand on her own four hooves before speaking. "I know you will make me proud, my Great and Powerful Trixie." Trixie's mouth opened, as a thought so impossible it had to be true rushed through her head. But suddenly, the void around Trixie began to fade away - along with the touch, and sigh and smell of her mother. Her mouth opened in a wordless cry of pain, wanting to voice that thought so desperately... silenced only by the words that whispered to her through that void as darkness claimed her once again...

"We will not be parted forever, my beloved daughter. We will meet again."

~~~~~Hollow Shades Hospital~~~~~~

"She's waking up! Quick, get Doctor House!"

Trixie slowly opened her eyes - then squinted them shut at the bright lights of the room sending a thrill of pain through her head - which slowly began to subside. Slowly, Trixie. Ow. She cracked open one eye slowly, inhaling deeply and slowly, feeling a tightness around her chest - and then opened the other one - adjusting slowly to the bright lights of the room. Once that was done she focused on trying to figure out everything else around her. She was lying on a rather soft bed, and covered with a thin linen sheet. There were the faint whirring and beeping sounds of medical equipment around her - well, that tracked. She was probably in a hospital - or someplace built and equipped like one.

A sharp, stern male voice began to speak as Trixie shifted her weight in preparation for sitting up. "I'd prefer if you let us do that, Miss Lulamoon. Just a moment." there was the sound of gears biting into one another, and the soft ratcheting of some kind of lever moving back and forth and working a mechanism. Slowly, Trixie found herself rising into a sitting position, the mattress of the bed moving her up, rather than any movement of her own. Slowly, the familiar Nurse Cross and a unicorn stallion with a goatee and a doctor's jacket came into view.

The stallion was leaning on a heavy wooden stick of some kind, and he had a half-bored, half fascinated expression on his face. "Well, I've got to admit, Miss Lulamoon. I've seen unicorns screw themselves up trying to cast spells they hadn't a clue how to use, and I've seen them do it from pure overwork and stress. But I've never seen one do both at the same time, and never quite as impressively as you have." He said with a sharp, amused tone to his voice - he was admonishing her, and probably making fun of her too - but he did sound impressed. "I'd recommend not using magic, by the way. You're incredibly lucky - Most unicorns don't recover from cracked horns like that." He paused, and gave a slight grin. "Then again, most unicorns that happens to don't get treated by me."

Trixie could only stare at him, then swallow softly. "Does... Will Trixie ever be able to use her magic again, then?" The air left the room for the few seconds the Doctor glared at her... until he nodded once, and Trixie let out a soft, relieved breath. Even if she couldn't be a showmare, she wouldn't be a complete cripple. "I... Thank you, Doctor. I am in your debt." She bowed her head to him, truly meaning those words.

Doctor House waved it off with his stick. "Thank the crown for paying my fee. I just did my job." He stabbed the stick towards her. "You ought to be able to completely recover, by the way. It was a segment crack, not a fissure. Result of nothing but extreme overstress of your horn. We sealed it, got a magical poultice on it after fixing up some of the damaged nerves and tissues in there. You are on strict no-magic for the next two months, at minimum. I'd recommend four, but no one ever listens to me anyway. " he turned to the nurse. "Make sure she doesn't hurt herself leaving here. I'll be going back to Canterlot now." And then he stalked out of the room without another word.

Trixie stared as he left, and the young nurse smiled a little. "If you're willing, you do have another visitor who would like to speak with you, Miss Lulamoon." Trixie blinked and nodded slowly, cautiously with a slight wince of pain. "Ah, let me handle that..." The nurse noted, and quickly trotted over, her hoof coming up to fiddle with a dial on some nearby machine... Trixie took this moment to look around a little - noticing the IV plugged into her left forehoof and the gentle moonlight shining through the small window.

"How long was Trixie out?" She asked softly, her other hoof stroking a little at the one with the needle in it - as the pain from her movement began to ebb away. Must be some sort of drug in that thing. She thought, eyeballing the machine the Nurse was fiddling with, and wondering what else it did.

"This is the fifth day." Nurse Cross said softly, turning with a slow smile. "After your rather dramatic stand, the attacks came to a complete halt all over the city." Her voice took on a matter of fact tone then. "You on the other hoof were suffering from shock, backlash sickness, magical contamination, bruised bones, a sprained ankle, a micro-fractured left foreleg, a badly cracked horn, and an extreme lack of rest and sustenance when they brought you in. You were in surgery for two days. You've been on life-support for four." She shook her head slowly. "You were very lucky, Miss Lulamoon."

Trixie felt her throat go dry, and licked at her lips slowly. "No...Trixie was not lucky." She whispered softly, feeling a tear slowly slide down her cheek, remembering the sight of her mother in a dream. Or was it a dream? "Trixie did not wish to survive. I'm...I wasn't worth it to save." She whispered again, miserably as the emotional reality of the past few days crashed into her like a wave. How many had gotten hurt? How many more lives, ruined? How many could have been saved if she'd simply been willing to swallow her pride?

Then she felt the firm hoof of the nurse grab her chin and force her head up, to stare intensely into her eyes. "I watched you, you know. I was there in that crowd." Nurse Cross said, softly. "I saw you dive into the middle of that chaos, battered, wounded, with absolutely zero regard for your safety. I watched you stand up for ponies you didn't know, put your life, your very magic on the line for them." Her voice rattled with intensity, and Trixie felt herself unable to move from that steely gaze.

The nurse continued, though her voice was much softer now it was no less passionate. "So don't you dare try and say you aren't worth it. You saved countless lives that night." She gently let go of Trixie's chin and turned away. Trixie stared at her as she reached the door to her room and paused at it, turning to say in a gentle voice. "We've got an old saying here in Hollow Shades, Trixie. A hero is nothing more than a coward who is afraid to run away." There was... pride in that voice. A fierce sort of pride. In her, she wondered? The nurse opened the door and stepped outside. "The patient will see you now, your Majesty."

Majesty!? Trixie thought with a thrill of panic and disbelief in her mind, shattering any notion of processing what Nurse Cross had just said to her - and sure enough, the figure who slowly walked in a few moments later was nothing less than Luna, herself. Standing there, in all of her royal glory with mane alight with the magic of the stars. She was smiling at Trixie, too. "Well. You certainly carried my request to quite the extreme." She said, with an amused smile upon her face, her voice redolent with a gentle power that made Trixie very nervous. "I hadn't expected you to work yourself into quite this state, else I would have sent you with some assistance. Though I would have preferred it if you had not turned Night Scythe into a mare." Luna paused, with a sly smile. "A very fetching mare I admit, but I am afraid he demanded he be restored to his original form."

Trixie coughed softly. "That was not... entirely intentional on Trixie's part. Trixie was..." She looked to one side, trying to avoid the direct gaze of Luna's unnerving eyes. She exhaled softly. "Trixie did not act particularly wisely." There. That was true enough, and avoided the direct subject of her acting like a complete flankhead. "So. Did they catch whoever was responsible for this madness, then?" She asked, looking back towards Luna and feeling an odd... something at those words. Some emotion conjured up in her chest that she couldn't immediately identify. Was it anger?

Luna shook her head. "I fear not. Though your actions did break her power over the town, she escaped from Our good justice." Trixie felt a hot fire burn in her belly, and continued to wonder, confused at the sudden onrush of emotions. Why in Equestria did she care about this Sorceress getting away? "And yes, we are quite certain now that it is a she. Her magic was laced with a feminine tone to it." Luna tilted her head towards Trixie, looking curious. "Why do you ask? You have completed your task here admirably."

Trixie frowned, her jaw tightening and her eyes narrowing. Why did she care? She'd done her job, cleared her name (At great personal pain and suffering, she might add) and there was nothing more she could do... Wasn't there? You care because the job isn't done, Trixie. She thought, softly. Because you haven't caught who did this. Who hurt Shadow Song, and all those other nameless ponies. You care because somepony has to care. She continued to think, her hooves crossed in front of her in silence. Luna did not speak - she was simply watching Trixie work her way through these thoughts.

She's giving you a way out, you idiot! Trixie's other thoughts yelled into her head. You can be done! You did the best anypony could have possible asked for! Do you want to get yourself hurt again!? That little voice continued to shriek loudly into her mind. Logically, it was right - she had done more than anypony had expected of her. And... yet... Trixie couldn't leave well enough alone. She'd never been able to, after all. "Because the job's not done yet, your Majesty." Trixie said quietly, even as her inner voice shrieked at her to stop. "Because the pony responsible hasn't been caught, and that's what you told Trixie to do." She finished quietly, knowing she was just digging herself right back into same the hole she'd been in before.

But no. Much as Trixie wanted to run, to hide away, to shut out the world and forget every mistake she'd ever made... She had a responsibility. Mom had even said so herself, that she had work yet to do. Trixie looked up, and felt a little thrill of amazement at the slowly nodding head of the Night Princess - and the broad, proud smile that graced her face. "I knew there was more to you than met the eye, young one." Luna practically purred out, a bright gleam of mischief in her eye. "That was exactly what I hoped you would say." Luna slowly trod across the room, and gently lifted a silver-clad hoof to touch her shoulder. "I decree any and all crimes you may have committed to be purged from the records, Trixie Lulamoon. Officially, the Crown expects no further action from you in this matter."

Trixie gawked at her, and Luna's smile got even more mischievous. "However, We shall contact you when We have actionable intelligence as to this rogue sorceress and her whereabouts. Her capture will be but the first task We shall set you, in your service to me and to the Crown." She whispered softly. "Rest now. Recover. Restore your body and mind to its fullest strength, and know that We have blessed you with Our favor..." Luna slowly began to fade from sight as she stepped back into the moonlight, vanishing before Trixie's own amazed eyes as her last words whispered upon the wind....

"My young Apprentice."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was three more days until the hospital cleared Trixie to leave for Canterlot. Most of which Trixie spent sleeping and in various forms of hurt - but by the end of that third day she could at the very least walk (If unsteadily) and carry the weight of her saddle bags. That was good enough for the hospital to transfer her to the care of her family back home - where she would make her more prolonged recovery. Trixie had packed up what few things she had into her saddlebags - except for the fireworks, which were already as packed as she could manage.

She now waited patiently on her bed for the return of her cloak and hat - which the hospital laundry had taken away for repairs and restoration. Even now, three days later, Trixie wondered and fiddled with the final words of Luna. On one hoof, the words terrified her - Luna had well and truly claimed her as one of her own, and it was a well-known truth that the Princess of the Night did not suffer failure lightly. She was a hard Mistress to please, even though she was just as protective and rewarding - and sometimes moreso - than Celestia was.

On the other hoof, it sent a wave of pure exultant joy through Trixie so powerful it bid fair to send her collapsing in a fit of giggles. At long last, she had drawn to parity with Twilight Sparkle. In truth, there was a great deal more for her to learn if she was ever to be fit to call herself the equal of that unicorn - but now? Now she had a chance. Now she had a patron Princess to guide and teach her the mysterious ways of magic. Greater still, Luna's power was often much in line with those of Illusionists - and that would mean she'd know secrets and tricks not even Celestia herself could master. It was the opportunity of a lifetime... once Trixie had gone through the horn-therapy and fully recovered her magic, of course.

A few moments later, a wrapped package of clothing was delivered to her room by a cheerful little batpony colt. He'd given her a big sunny grin before Trixie had tossed him a ten-bit coin as a tip. He bit down on the coin in his teeth and trotted off. Slowly, Trixie unwrapped her cloak to find it looking as good as new - if one ignored the holes in the cloth where not even soap could save it, and the desperate need of the thing to be patched up. Still - the hat was pressed and poofed out perfectly, the cloak's waterproofing had even been replaced... and the bright blue crystal clasp she'd so long used was gone - replaced by a crescent shaped piece of moonstone, set into a bright silver fixture, with a little star of sapphire set above it to look like her Cutie Mark. She had to smile. Luna's doing, no doubt.

Trixie donned the garments, and settled the soft weight of the cloth over her head and shoulders with a practiced ease. Then, one step at a time - took herself out of the hospital building. She had refused the use of a wheeled chair, or a stick. Trixie would walk herself to the train station, thank you. It only hurt to walk a tiny bit. The only way to regain ones strength was to push one's body to the utmost. Although she certainly was sweating and panting by the time she reached the foyer of the hospital building - after having vastly underestimated her old nemesis: Stairs.

Soon enough though, she was walking outside under the bright moonlight - and even as she stepped out under it, she could feel a new strength flooding through her limbs. No longer did the townsfolk look upon her with suspicion or curiosity either - They tipped caps to her, bowed heads in respect or acknowledgement - some even hailed her with a greeting or a gesture of thanks. For a long moment, Trixie stood quietly by the side of the street outside the hospital, and felt a powerful warmth formed in her chest. For the first time, in a very long time... she belonged somewhere. The townsfolk were not looking upon her with awe, or fear, or hatred... They simply looked at her like one might look at a well-known neighbor or citizen of the town.

It was a powerful emotion that swelled up in her chest and set her fit to bursting with happiness - when along came a wheeled, solidly built cart slowly pulling up in front of her made of pitch black wood, and bearing a familiar looking thestral wearing a deeply hooded cloak - with a white bandage wrapped around her head and a smile on her face. "Offer you a lift to the train station, Miss Lulamoon?" said Shadow Song, with a grin. "You look a mite unsteady on your hooves there."

Trixie found herself smiling brightly, and slowly clambering her way up on top of the cart. For a moment, nothing had to be said between them... and then, Trixie fiercely grasped the cloaked pony in a hug. "Thank you." She whispered softly, her eyes shut tight. "You saved me. In ways you could not possibly imagine."

Shadow Song chuckled softly and nuzzled back - a little bashfully, it had to be said. "No, Trixie Lulamoon. You are the one that has saved us. I simply did my part so that you could do yours." The hood lifted a little, and Trixie saw a bright, purple-colored eye wink at her in mischief. "The Queen was right about you yanno. You are worthy of the name Lulamoon."

Trixie smiled a little, settling down into the cart for the ride. Then she spoke softly, looking off into the distance. "Not quite yet, I'm not."

~~~~~One Day Later, Canterlot.~~~~~

Trixie gently limped her way up the alleyway streets in the wee hours of the morning. Only those merchants preparing their stalls and shops for the day ahead were around to see her slow trek up the street. For once, that was exactly how Trixie wanted it. Tucked into her saddlebag, a rolled up newspaper blared the headline: "Mysterious Unicorn saves Hollow Shades!" above a grainy picture of a cloaked and hatted unicorn blasting a beam of magic into the sky. The thing was of horrible quality, but even if nopony else ever knew, Trixie would always have one little shred of proof that she was more than just a showmare.

Three days of bed-rest and a day of silence on a south-bound train had been enough time for Trixie to mull over her choices in life - and the answer was clear. She had to come clean to Uncle Crackle and Aunt Snap. Completely, totally clean. About the Ursa Minor, about the Alicorn Amulet, about the cart, about her... career. Then... Then she was going to ask for a job. I have work to do. But it has nothing to do with the stage any longer. There was no career for her any longer in show business. She'd burned all hopes of that down when she'd rolled into Ponyville and lost her cool in front of the hecklers, and scattered the ashes to the wind when she'd tried to banish Twilight Sparkle with that thrice-damned amulet.

No. Trixie had a new job. A new responsibility. To a pony who she didn't know very well at all, who had saved her life without a moment of hesitation. To another pony, who had also saved her life, and then taught her something so incredible that Trixie was still trying to process how it would affect her magic. And now, most importantly of all, a responsibility to herself... to live up to the example laid down by her mother. To be fit to wear this hat, and this cape To become something more... so that nopony would ever have to get hurt because of her.

She would always love the stage - the attention, the glamour, the thrill of a perfectly executed trick, the warm ripple of applause. The press of the crowds aching for her attention. That unforgettable rush of pleasure that came from a show filling an entire audience with smiles. The peaceful road, after a long hard show - and the gentle satisfaction of knowing she had left a little more joy behind her than when she'd arrived. That warm feeling, deep inside, when she imagined her mother sitting out in the crowd and applauding her. She would miss those things, those moments.

Of course, she would also not terribly miss the lack of financial success, nor the difficulties of road travel. She'd miss her cart - it had been 'home' to her for quite some time. But not the difficulty of hauling it - plus all of her not inconsiderable gear - from small town to small town, desperately trying to build a reputation good enough to get into the theatres. She would not miss the blank, terrified stares of some country folk who thought her some kind of monster. She would certainly not miss the lack of companionship. There were far too many things Trixie had not done in far too long, enough so that it put a little blush on her cheeks.

There were many other things too, that she would not miss. In spite of all those things though, it still hurt terribly to surrender the dream. Of bright lights and a brilliantly lit stage - of an audience held in rapturous awe at her feats of legerdemain. Finally, her mother’s daughter in truth - and not merely in name.

And it was that thought which brought all of her musing to a crashing, sixty-car train wreck of a halt.

Trixie's thoughts went immediately to that white marble statue, hovering over the resting dead in the Hollow Shades graveyard. Of a mother who had once slain a dragon, and saved a town. Who had done so when she was not much older than Trixie was now. Oh, Trixie had no illusions about sallying forth to slay a dragon herself... for now. But perhaps... Perhaps there was more to the world than merely show business, now. She thought of Luna's words, and for the first time in days, felt a smile cross her face. And perhaps I am being prepared for a much bigger stage... with much greater stakes, and a far bigger audience.

Trixie realized suddenly that she'd been standing in front of the door to the shop, her head bowed in thought for some time. She lifted up her hoof and gently pushed open the door. Early though it was, Uncle Crackle opened the shop up when he woke up - and she'd never known him to wake up anytime but obscenely early. The interior of the shop was softly lit by the first rays of sunlight streaming through the windows, and the cheery bell that jangled as the door swung open was a lovely counterpoint to it. For a brief moment, Trixie felt like she was... passing through some kind of barrier as she crossed the quiet showroom.

Then the feeling passed, as the door to the rear of the shop swung open. Aunt Snap's glided through the door with bright and curious eyes focused on her - that then went far wider than Trixie had seen them in a very long time. Aunt Snap had a stack of small boxed tucked under one wing, and looked like she'd forgotten all about them as her eyes ranged over Trixie. "I'm home, Aunt Snap." Trixie said softly, slowly walking around the counter. The word home seemed to resonate through the shop, and through Trixie.

Trixie had to wonder just how bad she looked from the outside though, all things being equal. It must have been pretty awful, given how Aunt Snap still looked like she'd swallowed a live mouse. That mental image called up a smile. Soft and genuine, it spread overTrixie's face as she spoke again. "I don't suppose that offer of a room still stands, does it?"

Aunt Snap dropped the bundle of boxes to the ground and quickly swept Trixie up in her forehooves, her wings flapping mightily. Trixie felt herself soaring through the air in the embrace of the pegasus, Aunt Snap's voice ringing out firmly and sharply through the back room. "Crackle! Pop! Bring breakfast up to Trixie's room immediately!" Her tone brooked no argument from anypony involved - especially when she turned far softer words onto Trixie. "You are going into bed this instant, young lady. You need rest, and care. And don't even think about giving me any lip." Her last words were just as sharp as Trixie remembered from a childhood long, long ago. So she simply nodded in acquiescence.

Within minutes, Trixie found herself being flown into a very familiar bedroom - one still bedecked in the bright purples and violets that were once her favorite colors. Filled with books on illusion magic, and old posters of a particular showmare's career. Aunt Snap gently flicked the bed covers back with one of her wings, and tenderly laid Trixie into the too-soft mattress. She turned and pulled the curtains open a bit, throwing the small room into a sharp relief of color and vibrant life - the thin sunlight of the early morning shining against the glass of the picture frames showing a little blue filly wearing a hat far too big for her head.

Trixie swallowed for a moment - everything was exactly as she'd left it. Not so much as a scrap of paper or book out of place. Her Aunt ruffled her wings a little as she pulled open a window, and they flapped hard for several long seconds, pulling a large dose of fresh air in from the outside and driving away the slightly musty smell of a room long kept shut up. Then she turned, and Trixie felt the blush of shame already in her cheeks. "Aunt Snap, there is... There is something I need to tell you." Trixie said softly, her hooves gently tapping together in nervousness.

Her aunt paused, and then slowly pulled a small stool from under an old writing desk to perch upon next to the bed. Her wings flicked, and a soft sheet was tucked up under Trixie's chin - her cape and hat divested from her as Aunt Snap spoke. "I'm listening little one." She said softly, the cloak and hat settled onto the rack right next to the bed - not a word said about the new clasp that held the cloak together.

Trixie took in a deep breath and exhaled. "I've...I don't have a showmare's career, Aunt Snap. My cart was destroyed months ago. I...I let my temper get away from me on stage and... Everything sort of fell apart from there." Trixie could not cry now - she needed to get all of this out. She needed to tell her aunt at the very least. "I...I did some bad things, Aunt Snap. I... I hurt other ponies. I screwed up everything I worked so hard to build and now there's... Nothing left but this." She gently tugged on the cloak, sadly with one hoof. "Nopony wants to see me. Nopony wants to see my act, or any of the tricks I've devised. I'm completely broke except for what I've left from what the Princess gave me. I've failed, Aunt Snap..." And now the tears came, slowly sliding down her cheeks.

Aunt Snap said nothing at first, her hooves gently gathering the crying Trixie into her embrace and holding her there softly. Her wings wrapped gently around Trixie like a warm, feathery blanket and she made soft hushing sounds under her breath. For a while, Trixie simply sat there and let the last of her tears out. It was done. No more lies, no more secrets. "I know, Trixie. I have known for months." Aunt Snap said, softly - Trixie's head coming up in shock., "Oh come now." She continued, with a saucy smile. "You didn't really think you could hide anything from me, now did you?" She was smiling broadly, though there was a hint of stern reprimand in her voice.

Trixie couldn't help it - she smiled back even though her eyes were still leaking tears at a prodigious rate. Aunt Snap squeezed her in the embrace. "You are one of mine, Trixie. I will always love you, and always be here for you - no matter what you do, or what happens to you. I simply wished to give you the chance to do things on your own terms." Aunt Snap whispered hotly into Trixie's ear... and for a moment, Trixie could feel a touch of wetness on her cheek that had nothing to do with her own tears.

It wasn't until the door creaked open to reveal her fiery-maned Uncle Crackle and the bright curious eyes of the young filly peeking through the door that Trixie tried to take hold of herself. Her uncle was floating a platter with a delicious smelling bowl of oatmeal - plenty of brown sugar and butter, just how Trixie loved it - and a big glass of Orange Juice to go with it.

Aunt Snap gestured to him imperiously to come in, with all the dignity fit for an empress. Her uncle trotted into the room, with the little filly in tow, setting the platter down on the table side without a word. Then he wormed his way under one of the broad yellow wings of his wife and wrapped his own hooves around Trixie in a wordless hug. Trixie's breath caught in her throat, and she took a deep breath, exhaling it. "Uncle Crackle, I was wondering if there was still a job for me here?" She asked quietly, sniffling a little.

Her uncle looked up at her and smiled broadly, lovingly. His accent growing thicker with the emotion in his voice, "Course there is. Toldja there always would be, didn' I? You gots a job here s'long as you need one, Trixie." Uncle Crackle said solemnly, and Aunt Snap smiled in gentle approval of them both. "You kin stay here fer free too, as long as ya need. Till ya can get yerself back on yer hooves." He added, with a soft, gentle smile.

Then, suddenly - the bright eyed, orange coated little Sparkle Pop wiggled her way into the middle of the hug, and piped up in a bright voice. "Does this mean I get a big sister to play with!?" She exclaimed, so enthusiastic about the prospect that she promptly tumbled off the bed into a gentle heap - and Trixie could not help herself. She laughed.

It was good to be home.

As for her future?

Well. She'd figure that out when the time came. For now, she'd earned a little rest.

~~~~~~~~Canterlot Castle~~~~~~~~~

"You did what?"

Luna winced a little - though she could not stop grinning - at the sharp voice of her beloved sister, Celestia. Luna held up her hooves as her humorless sibling slowly began to glare at her, trying to ward off the killing look. "Peace, sister! I beg of you, allow me to explain my motives. I assure you, they are quite benign." Luna put on her very best winning smile - and that was usually enough to get Celestia to at least stop and let her explain herself.

Blessedly, it looked like today would be no exception. Celestia gusted out her cheeks and took a seat. "Very well. Please, do try to explain how this..." She wiggled her hoof in midair. "Plan of yours is anything more than madness. That unicorn is a threat to the peace of my Kingdo-"

Luna cut her off in mid-word - something she'd normally never do - but Trixie deserved a little support from her end. "That unicorn, Celestia, just fought off a powerful Dissonance sorcerer with absolutely no knowledge of Harmony magic. She did so in defense a civilian population with nearly no outside assistance, and at great personal risk to herself." Luna stamped her hoof on the ground and held her head high. "She deserves the chance, Celestia. There is great potential in here - I can sense it."

Celestia took the rebuke with good grace, lifting a golden shod hoof to stroke at her chin in interest. "A Dissonance sorcerer, you say? That does put a different light on things..." She tilted her head back and forth in slow thought. "You have always had a powerful sense for the potential in others, sister. Do you truly believe she has the makings of a Sister within her?" Celestia asked, her voice earnest and surprisingly gentle.

Luna smiled slowly. That was easier than I remember it being. "Yes, dear sister." Luna said sharply, punctuating her words with a firm nod. "I believe that young Trixie, properly guided and taught, could one day prove herself worthy enough to join even our ranks." She said with a ring of quiet conviction. All of it true - though Luna secretly doubted Trixie would ever possess such inner Harmony, she was strong enough to be an invaluable asset to her cause.

Celestia paused and exhaled deeply. "Oh, very well. I suppose it is a good thing she is not beyond redemption." Celestia said, in a turn of phrase that sent Luna to puzzling over the meaning of it. "Besides which... If she truly wishes to walk in the righteous hoofsteps of her mother, she will need a proper guide." Celestia turned her eyes to Luna, a slow smile on her face. "I am so very glad to see you are finally adhering to the ways of Harmony, sister. Are you certain you can handle a Student of your own?"

Luna bowed her head deeply. "Of course, Celestia. It will be my pleasure to guide her in the ways of the high path." She said, and smiled softly as Celestia's frown turned into a bright smile of her own. Celestia was always cheered by the thought of a new soldier in her righteous cause. Luna was cheered at the prospect of showing her sister the proper way to instruct an apprentice. And I can only but hope, Sister dear... that you realize your own errors before I have to act upon them myself. Luna thought with determination.

Celestia startled Luna out of her thoughts after a moment, with a bright smile and a thoughtful tone to her voice. "Hmm... You know, I think I ought to send her the book." Luna blinked at Celestia, and her sister chuckled softly at the shock plain on Luna's face. "You did say she was a very careful reader, did you not?" Celestia turned to walk down the hallway, her voice musing. "Yes. It will be good for her... Perhaps even good for us all." Celestia finished, with a slow, bright smile on her face. "And who knows? Perhaps there truly is the makings of a Sister in her. She does have quite the heritage, after all."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Three days later, Trixie mulled over the small paper bound package she had received that morning. It had weight, but not overly so. It felt like a book, but why in Equestria would Luna have sent her a book? Especially one with a message scribbled on the cover of the paper wrapping the book, reading only, "For when you think you are ready for something more." Well. Trixie never did know when to back down from a challenge!

Her hooves tore at the paper and twine, casting them aside to rub her hooves over the exceptionally fine hydra-hide cover. The superb, masterful stitch work in the binding - and the gently inlaid, gold filigreed words upon the cover. It was a book of legend, of myth. A book that wasn't supposed to exist. A book embossed with four simple words that sent a fluttering feeling of excitement into Trixie's heart.

Her hoof tip traced the words on the cover out, hardly willing to believe the words themselves, her voice softly speaking them as she read...

"The Code Of Harmony."

Trixie swallowed softly. It was impossible, inconceivable, and yet, there it was - right there in her own two hooves. A book out of legend. A book - it was sometimes said - that only found its way into the hooves of the worthy. Of those that Harmony had a higher purpose for. A book of heroes...

With a trembling hoof, Trixie gently lifted the cover of the book. Her nose assaulted by the smell of ink and parchment, and something else. Something more subtle. Fitting for the stuff of legend, the very first page had only a few words of its own upon it. Words that whispered of a promise... a promise not of power...

But of hope.

To Trixie Lulamoon,

May the words within this book illuminate you, as they have often illuminated me. The Code of Harmony is the path of redemption, and it is one I am happy to see you traveling of your own accord. We do not choose Harmony because we long for power, or position - we choose it because sometimes, the world needs those of us who will give selflessly for the good of all.

It is my fervent hope that one day I shall be there to guide you along to the ascendant path - to join myself and my sisters as a Princess of Harmony.

May you walk in Harmony, Trixie Lulamoon. Your mother would be proud of you.

By my horn and seal,

Princess Celestia Solaris, Sun's Glory.

Chapter 1 - There is no Wrath, There is Kindness.

~~~~~~~~To Be Continued....~~~~~~~~~~~