“Get rid of it!”
“But Star she’s just a foal.”
“I don’t care! I can’t afford to have any more mouths to feed around here, get rid of it!”
“But Star-”
“No Dawn, I want that thing out of here by tomorrow, and that’s final. Just put it out on the street. Somepony will pick it up; there’s always some fool out there who’ll take it in.”
“Star if you would just-”
“I don’t want to hear anymore about this.”
“Star-”
*SMACK*
* * *
She awoke with a start, her mane dripping wet as she tried to calm her breathing. She looked around at the trees around her as her heart raced, eyes searching through the darkness for any sign of movement. After a long pause, she finally relaxed.
It was only a dream.
Golden beams of sunlight began peeking through the edges of the trees to her left. She got up and stretched, arching her back and groaning as her joints popped.
She decided to get moving. She didn’t want to go back to Manehattan after all. She gathered up her last apple using her magic, and trotted off through an opening in the trees.
Feeling hard packed dirt beneath her hooves once again, she turned towards the morning sun.
“It’s a new day.”
Bringing her apple to her mouth, she took a bite as she began cantering down the road towards the sunlight.
“Hey kid, get back here with those apples!”
She had never run so fast in her life, that stallion had meant business. She hadn’t meant the storekeeper any ill will, but she had been desperate, and if nothing else, she had survived.
Damn those stupid colts! This was their fault.
The sun rose over a town in the distance, shining on the buildings’ thatched rooftops. Trixie gazed out at it and allowed herself a small smile; it would be good to finally have a warm bed again. She glanced down at the apple core levitating beside her, and felt her stomach growl.
The road before her widened into an open field.She let out a sigh as she slowed to a walk in the soft, cool dirt, kicking it up as she did. It was all too tempting to just lie down in the soft, moist soil, off of her tired hooves, but she knew she had to find shelter first. This place is too open, I’ll need something like...
“That.”
There right in front of her, almost too big to miss as she came over the top of a hill, was a large red barn. She blinked, staring at the open door to the barn. As she peered inside, she saw that it was empty, and looking through the other side, she could see the town from before, just below the hill.
Suddenly she heard a door creak open to her left, and whipped her head around to see a small farmhouse partway down the hill.
“Come on Apple Bloom, let’s go check on the- What in tarnation?”
An orange earth pony walked out of the open door, only to stop in her tracks as she stared out toward the field. Following the earth pony’s gaze, the unicorn realized she had left deep hoofprints in the field as she’d passed through... and they led straight to her.
“Hey, you!”
She turned to see the earth pony running toward her. Oh no! Not again. She quickly fled through the open barn door, dropping what was left of her apple core and bolting through the other side towards the town below.
“She went through the barn! Apple Bloom, you wait here, Ah’ll see if Ah can catch her.”
She could hear hoofbeats pounding the earth behind her in hot pursuit, as the town grew nearer.
“Now hold on now, Ah jes wanna talk to ya. Hey, git back here!”
Not on your life.
Putting what little energy she had left into her gallop, she raced on toward the town. If she could just get to the houses.
The earth pony was bearing down on her now. Finally she reached the buildings, as the hoofbeats behind her grew ever closer.
Drawing up the magic, she allowed it to flow from her horn and collect in a tiny blue orb, before exploding into the ground, creating a large cloud of dust behind her.
Immediately rounding a corner between two buildings, she galloped to the end of the alleyway, and quickly hid behind a stack of barrels in front of the store beside her, gasping for breath. Not daring to poke her head out, she tried to quiet her breathing, and simply listened for any signs that the earth pony had successfully followed her.
“Now where did she go? Oh pony feathers.” The sound of retreating hoofsteps assured her that she had evaded capture, and she raised her head to observe her surroundings.
Oh, of course my perfect hiding spot would have to be the center of town. Getting up, she dusted herself off, and began to explore. I suppose this would be the best time to find a more permanent residence, and maybe then I can- She stopped dead in her tracks. I know this place. It was exactly the same as the place she had visited two years ago, when she had lost everything. They’ll never accept me here; they all hate me. What am I going to do?
Trotting over to an apple cart in the middle of the clearing, she looked around to see if anypony was watching. No, stop it. You’re not a thief. She set down the apple she had been about to take, and sighed. Not anymore anyway. Hanging her head in defeat, she turned around, only to smack right into somepony whose head was buried in a book.
“Ow!” the other pony exclaimed.
“I’m so sorry, are you alright?”
The other pony picked herself up and dusted off her book. She was a unicorn, with a lavender coat, deep purple eyes, and a midnight blue mane, with one pink streak in it.
“Yeah I’m fine. I just need to pay more attention to where I’m going, silly me.”
That voice. Something about this mare seemed, very familiar.
“I was just going-” The other mare stopped. Their eyes locked, and the two unicorns gazed at each other in deafening silence for a long minute, before the other one spoke.
“You.”
It was just one word, but the emotion contained within that one word was overwhelming. It was not of malice, or disdain, but of understanding, and compassion.
“I remember you.” She said.
The purple one blinked.
“What are you do-”
I don’t have time for this right now. She put a hoof over the other unicorn’s mouth. “Look I know we didn’t leave off on the best of terms but, could we not do this in the middle of the street?” she said, looking around. That earth pony was sure to still be looking for her, and she did not want to deal with that right now.
The other mare looked around, as if she had just realized where they were.
“Oh, right. Hold on.”
Her horn gave off the familiar glow of aura. She closed her eyes, and the two of them were enveloped in white light. There was a faint *pop*, and a room materialized around them.
Trixie blinked. Did we just teleport?
“What just happened?”
“Oh, well, you suggested we get off the street so, I brought us here. Welcome to the Ponyville Public Library.”
Trixie looked around. Books lined the shelves covering the rounded walls of the circular room. Are we inside a... tree?
Just then, a small purple dragon walked down the stairs next to the bookshelves.
“Mmmmm, good nap.” he groaned, stretching. “Oh, hey Twilight, hey... what is she doing here?” He asked. Trixie jumped back momentarily as the dragon advanced on her, before taking back her ground, and staring the little creature down.
“Calm down Spike,” Twilight replied, placing a hoof on the dragon’s shoulder, “there’s no need to go berating her like that. Although I was just wondering the same thing,” she continued, turning her attention back to Trixie, a much more, distrustful tone in her voice this time .
“Oh, I’m sure the great and powerful Trixie is just here to try and show you up again.” The dragon added, mocking her old performance voice and waving his arms theatrically.
“Actually it’s just Trixie now,” she said, her gaze falling. I lost the hat. Trixie lowered to the ground, her lip trembling.
The dragon rolled his eyes. “Oh okay, ‘just Trixie’ what happened? Not so ‘great and powerful’ now that Twilight beat you at vanquishing the Ursa Major?”
“What’s the matter kid, can’t find your mommy?”
“Well, no.” Trixie sniffed. “The Great and Powerful Trixie was just my stage name. I lost my hat and cape, along with all my other things, back when the Ursa smashed my wagon. It was all destroyed, and without them I’m just... well, just Trixie.” I’m sorry Sarf.
“Serves you right for being such a mean braggart.” he retorted.
Trixie was silent for a few moments.
“Hey kid. Yeah you, what the buck was that?”
“Trixie was merely displaying her magical talent, is that such a crime?”
“It is when you start using it to attack the audience. That poor pony was in tears. That don’t fly here.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, “I got carried away that day. It’s not something I’m proud of.”
Twilight and the dragon looked at eachother for a moment.
“I–” Twilight began.
“Twilight!”
The door flew open and in ran the same orange earth pony from before. All heads turned toward her.
“Twilight, have you seen–” She stopped, suddenly noticing Trixie sitting in the corner as she ran in. She pointed a hoof at Trixie, eyes thinned slightly and lips taut. “her.”
Walking right up to her, solid as a rock, the earth pony stared her down with an icy glare.
“What in tarnation were you doin’ by the barn?”
You again. Trixie met the earthpony’s dagger-like gaze in kind.
“Yeh made a mess of one of our fields. Big Mac jes got done plowin’ that yesterday.
“Look what you did you stupid brat! I can’t sell these apples now, they’re all bruised and dirty. Go home to your parents and stop bothering everypony.”
“Ugh! I was just looking for a place to stay for a while! Get off me about it.”
Dammit Trixie! Now everypony here hates you too.
She fled straight through the open door, to nowhere in particular. I’ve just got to get away from here.
She finally stopped near a tree, having gone past all the buildings and houses. Crawling behind a bush growing at the base of the tree, Trixie curled up and lay there. Her throat knotted up as she began to cry.
* * *
A beam of light shone suddenly across here.
“Hey! What are you doing? Get out of there.”
Something hard connected solidly with the side of her head, knocking her from the side of the dumpster. She landed hard on her back and rolled to face her attacker.
“Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to go through other ponies’ trash? Scram!”
The door closed, leaving her in darkness again. She rubbed her back and picked up the apple beside her.
“I have no parents,” she sobbed.
* * *
“Hey there, silly filly.”
Trixie woke to find an enormous round pink object obscuring her vision.
“Watcha doin’ over here?” it squeaked. She now realized it also had big blue eyes, and it was another earth pony.
“Huh? Nothing. I’m just resting, go away, just leave me alone,” she snapped, curling up again.
“Okie dokie lokie,” said the earth pony, before dissappearing around the bush.
“She’s over here, Twilight,” the pony called as she hopped away.
Trixie groaned. I thought I said to leave me alone.
She could hear hoofsteps approaching. “Over here you said Pinkie? Where? Ah don’t see her,” came the orange one’s voice, very close to her hiding spot.
“She’s behind the bush silly filly, just open your eyes,” came the pink one’s squeaky reply.
I’m going to murder you for that.
“Trixie, are you over here?” Twilight called, walking around the tree.
No. Just go away.
“Ah didn’ mean to frighten you like that.” The orange pony joined her now. “I was jes wonderin’ what in the hay you were doin’. Sorry ‘bout that.”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie is not scared, of anypony.” Trixie snorted, standing up and firing a deadly gaze at Applejack.
“Oh yeah, then why’d you run an’ hide?” Applejack retorted.
“Ugh, because you were just, attacking me or whatever. I was getting sick of it.”
Applejack sighed. “Look, Ah ain’t mad at yeh, an’ Ah’m sorry for comin’ off like that. I didn’t mean yeh no harm neither. Ah’m a mite irritated perhaps, cuz yeh were walkin’ through a freshly plowed feild, and Ah’m still mighty curious what yeh were lookin’ for in the barn, but Ah ain’t mad,” Applejack replied.
She spoke with a soft voice this time, her eyebrows rolled back, and smiling too.
“Oh,” Trixie said, looking down again.
“What were you doing in the barn?” Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
“Oh I was just... trying to find someplace to stay. That wagon I used to pull around was my home, I haven’t ever really lived anywhere. I’ve been living on the streets since it was destroyed, working dead end job after dead end job. It’s been tough without all my stuff.” Trixie replied.
“Oi! don’t you come back here. I’ll get the police on you ya hear?”
They don’t need to know about that. That’s not who you are anymore.
“Well where did you live before then? Didn’t yer parents ever look after you?”
“No. I never met them. I grew up on the streets as an orphan.”
“Well ain’t that jes the saddest tale ever?” Applejack said, shaking her head a little.
You don’t know the half of it.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind lettin’ ya help out around the farm if ye’d like, you could stay with us at Sweet Apple Acres.”
“No, that’s okay. I’m not really a farm girl anyway,” Trixie replied, feigning a smile.
Not, Happening.
“Well you can’t just live out on the street. Why not stay at the library with me? We’ve got a spare bedroom, and loads of books about magic. It could be fun.” Twilight asked.
Trixie considered the offer. I do need someplace to stay, and it’s better than living in a barn at least. I might even get her to teach me how to use that teleportation spell. That could be useful for my act if I ever get back into show business.
“Very well um, Twilight, was it?” After receiving a nod, she went on. “I’ll stay with you at the library until I can find myself a new outfit, but I can’t stay very long in Ponyville, there’s somewhere I need to get to very soon.”
“Ooh, ooh, Where are you going? Is it a party? I love parties!”
They all turned around toward the pink earth pony from earlier, true to her word, staying far back and leaving Trixie alone as she watched and listened to their conversation.
“Oh, nowhere special, I’m just visiting an old friend of mine,” Trixie answered.
I’m coming Sarf. Hold the performance.
* * *
“Hey kid, whatcha doin’ out here?”
She turned to see a tall chestnut unicorn, wearing a tight scarlet suit and a long sparkling cape, peering out at her through the door to his wagon house.
“Where’s your parents kid?” he asked, opening the door and trotting over to her.
“I don’t know,” she said, tears running down her face.
“Well where do you live? They gotta be worried sick by now, it’s after dark.”
“I don’t have any parents,” she sobbed.
“What? No parents?” He reached up and rubbed the back of his head, looking around. “Geez kid I- I can’t just leave you out here on the street, it’s cold outside. Why don’t you come in and enjoy a nice cup of hot cocoa?”
“Um, okay,” she said, perking up at the thought of warm cocoa.
He led her inside, and picked her up onto a stool by the counter.
“Here ya go kid, sit tight for a second.” He walked to the other side of the dimly lit room and stepped behind a wall. She looked around at the various objects scattered throughout the inside of the wagon. There was a raspberry colored top hat hanging on a hook by the wall where she came in, with his discarded matching cape beneath it.
“You got a name kid?” the unicorn asked from the other side of the wall
“No,” she called back, “I’ve never needed a name.” There was one bed on the opposite wall, where the purple unicorn was hiding.
He trotted out from behind the wall again, this time levitating two steaming mugs in front of him. “The names Sarf, by the- WHOA!” Slipping on a stray banana peel, he fell face forward, flinging both mugs into the air. She covered her head with her hooves as they came pelting straight at her, only to fall short and slam straight into the counter, splattering hot cocoa everywhere.
Except that it didn’t hit her. The two mugs had stopped just before hitting the counter, and were now hovering above the spilled cocoa, which perfectly formed the word: SPLAT!
“Gotcha,” Sarf said, chuckling as he got up off the floor. The two mugs,surrounded by a faint purple aura, righted themselves as the cocoa magically flew back into each of them, refilling them.
“Ah, you shoulda seen your face kid. Sorry about that, couldn’t resist a little joke. Little magic tricks are my game you see. Sarf the Magnifico! Magician extraordinaire, at your service, milady.” Sarf gave a considerable bow, as he finished.
She clapped her hooves together, laughing as she did.
“Now what would be your name little miss? You seem like a talented young pony,” he said, extending a hoof toward her.
“I already told you silly, I don’t have a name,” she said, still laughing.
“Oh nonsense, non-sense. Everypony’s got a name, we’ve just got to find it.” He put his hoof to his chin and stared up at the ceiling for a moment. “I’ve got it!” he said, eyes wide and mouth grinning. “Fillies and Gentlecolts! Introducing, for the very first time, Sarf the Magnifico’s fantabulous assistant, soon to be the most talented young unicorn in all of Equestria: The Great, and Powerful,TRIXIE!” he declared in a booming voice, as if calling out to an imaginary audience. “Yeah I like the sound of that Trix. You’ll be my assistant, and old Sarf’ll teach you the ‘Trix’ of the trade.”
They sat and sipped their cocoa after that. It was so sweet and it spread warmth throughout her entire body as it slid down her throat.
* * *
Trixie woke to somepony jabbing her in the side.
“Come on Trixie, get up.”
Go away you stupid dragon, I was enjoying that dream.
“Come on, we’re heading over to Rarity’s.”
“Who?”
“At the Carousel Boutique! Come on, Twilight’s gonna have Rarity make you a new cape and hat, but she says we can’t leave until you get up.”
New cape? And hat? “Fine.” She grumpily rolled out of bed, and followed Spike down the stairs to the other room.
“Your dragon says we’re going to see somepony named, Rarity?” she asked Twilight when they reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Yes, I figured you could use a new outfit if you’re ever going to get back into performing. I’m sure Rarity won’t mind,” Twilight replied, smiling.
“Fine whatever, let’s just get this over with.” It will never be as great as Sarf’s.
They soon arrived at a large colorful octagonal building. The longer Trixie stared at it, the more artistic details she seemed to notice in its design. As she followed Twilight through the door, an array of various dresses and mannequins greeted their eyes. Wow, she knows the owner of this place?
A white unicorn with a deep purple mane stood in the middle of the room, levitating several small ribbons of various colors in front of her. Upon hearing the bell on the door, she turned to notice them.
“Oh, Twilight darling, and Spike. To what do I owe the pleasure of--wha-HA!” The unicorn shrieked upon seeing Trixie standing just behind Twilight.
“Rarity, you remember Trixie don’t you?” Twilight asked, pointing with her hoof.
Rarity was silent, her lower jaw still agape.
“I think I remember you. Weren’t you the pony whose hair I colored green?” Trixie asked, attempting to make a joke.
Rarity’s eyes narrowed as she spat out the next line through gritted teeth.
“Yes. I remember that injustice all too perfectly.”
Trixie sighed. “I hope it didn’t upset you too much, and I’m sorry I did it,” she said. “I let my own ego get the best of me. I had been such a successful showmare at that point, I kinda let it all go to my head, and it went a little overboard,” She went on, her eyes downcast.
“I uh, oh. Well um, it wasn’t too much trouble correcting my coiffure as I remember. Apology accepted I suppose,” Rarity replied. She turned to return to her sewing when Twilight spoke up.
“Um, Rarity, there’s another reason we’re here.”
“Oh?” Rarity asked, turning back to them.
“You see, Trixie’s stuff was destroyed when the Ursa attacked, and she’s been living out on the street,” Twilight went on.
“Oh, you don’t say,” Rarity replied, glancing over her shoulder.
“And we were wondering if you wouldn’t mind making another outfit for her. Say, another cape, and a new hat?” Twilight went on, smiling really wide.
“Oh, I-um,” Rarity stammered, eyes darting around, looking anywhere but at Trixie.
I may as well milk this. Trixie turned her eyes up and curled her lip, staring with as watery eyes as she could manage.
Rarity began sweating as she tried desperately to avert her gaze, but in the end, Trixie’s pleading stare won out, and Rarity conceded defeat.
“No need,” she said, sighing. Lowering her head, Rarity turned and walked slowly toward a chest in the corner. “I have them.”
She what?! “You have them?” Trixie asked, eyes wide.
“Yes, I do.” Rarity sighed, pulling out a star spangled purple cape, and matching pointed hat. “I found them when I was helping Twilight clean up the mess left by the Ursa Major.”
“Minor,” Twilight corrected her.
“They were hardly damaged at all, thankfully, and the material was just so exquisite, I just couldn’t let them go to waste. I was planning on using them for an ensemble at some point, but I suppose they’re rightfully yours.” She handed over the cape and hat, although not without some reluctance.
My performance ensemble.Trixie could feel her eyes tearing up, as she stared adoringly at the fine silk between her hooves. Donning the cape without further ado, she placed the hat expertly atop her head, loving the way it felt against her coat and mane. Oh how I’ve missed it.
“Thank you Rar--Ahem. The Great, and Powerful Trixie is most pleased, and thanks you immensely for preserving her ensemble.”
* * *
“Here we are kid. Ready for your first big show?” Sarf called from outside the wagon.
“Of course, was there ever any doubt?” Trixie replied. I am so going to own this.
“You remember what I taught ya kid?
“Every word.”
“Alright, go get ‘em miss Great and Powerful Trixie. Knock ‘em dead kid,” he said, panting.
Opening the door with her magic, Trixie pranced through the door, head held high. Finally, after so much time--
She was shocked to find Sarf not already in his usual crimson and raspberry suit. “What? aren’t you at least coming on stage with me?”
“With Trixie,” he corrected her, wheezing. “You gotta stay in character, especially when you’re on stage, that’s what sells the show. And no, you take this one kid. 40 years I’ve been in the business and never once missed the big show in Baltimare. The crowd here already knows me, but you, you’re a fresh young performer. This is your time to shine.” He instructed her, mopping sweat from his brow.
“Are you alright Sarf? I–Trixie thinks you seem a little, fatigued”
“What?” he asked, grunting. “Oh, Nah I’ll be fine kid, Just a little--Ooh--exhausted from the trip, that’s all. Just make sure you sell em’ good. It’s all about entertaining the crowd, by any means necessary, remember that. You’re gonna be an amazing performer someday Trix, I can already see it. Never be afraid to shine.”
Okay you old coot. This is for you.
She pranced out onto the stage, using her magic to amplify her voice and project it out over the enormous crowd, just like Sarf taught her, Staring out at the hundreds of ponies all staring up at her. This was her night.
“FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS, COME ONE COME ALL, AND WITNESS THE AMAZING MAGICAL TALENT OF THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!”
* * *
She trotted along the road, happy to finally be arriving back in Baltimare again. It was time for her big show after all. And she wouldn’t be back this year if not for her new friends back in Ponyville.
“Do you really have to go Trixie?”
“It’s a big tradition we had, it just wouldn’t be right. And I’ve been here a week as it is, I really need to hurry if I’m going to make it on time. But thanks so much for the cape; I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
“Well, we’ll miss yeh. Do be sure to stop back in Ponyville anytime yeh like, yer always welcome here.”
“Yeah, then we’ll throw a humongous super duper fun gigantic party, and invite everypony, so you can put on a super fantastic show. Ooh this is going to be so exciting.”
Trixie smiled. “The Great and Powerful Trixie will certainly provide a spectacular performance for Ponyville, and her friends.”
She cantered through downtown, admiring the many shops and boutiques that had sprung up over the years. Things really had changed since she had first come there. She recalled fondly her performance that night, as she had dazzled the crowd with several different tricks taught to her by Sarf the Magnifico.
It was really all just special effects; no fancy magic actually needed, but it fooled the crowd, and that’s what counted. Oh that reminds me. She had almost forgotten the real reason she had come to Baltimare, just like every year since that fateful night: to visit Sarf, her old friend and mentor.
She stopped in front of a shop near the center of town. Is that--? She glanced up at the sign on the front, and took a step closer to peer in the window. It is. Trixie walked inside, gazing admiringly at the many colorful objects lining the shelves of the magic shop.
“Excuse me, Miss. Do you need any help?” the shop owner said from the counter.
“No,Trixie is just browsing for now,” she responded. “But thank you,” she added as she continued scanning the store.
“Hey, I think I recognize that lovely looking cape of yours,” the old pony called back to her, “Is that one of mine?”
He does remember.
“It is actually,” she said, cantering back up to him. “A very dear friend of mine got it for me when I was just a filly.” She took off the hat, admiring it as she remembered back to the day she’d first set hoof in this store.
* * *
“Follow me kid, I’ve got a surprise for ya.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Can’t tell ya kid, then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“Aww, come on” she whined, tugging on his cloak.
“Nope can’t do it. But I can show ya though.” he said, winking.
They walked into a small store by the corner. Dozens of really cool-looking items were scattered throughout the shop: from wizard hats to sparkling powder, to wands and crystal balls. She reached up toward one of the hats that looked interesting. She just managed to catch the edge of it with her hoof, and it slid off, landing on her head. It was far too big for her, but with a touch of levitation she could see out from under it.
“Hey kid where’d you go? I got somethin’ for ya.” She heard Sarf’s voice calling from the front of the store, and immediately ran to see what he had gotten her. She found him standing next to the counter, with a purple cloth in hoof. “Check it out kid, I got you a nice cape to go with mine, pretty cool huh? What’s that you got there?” he said, nodding to the large wizard hat on her head.
“I found it. Can I get it please, please please,” she begged, hopping up and down with excitement.
Sarf chuckled. “All right kid we’ll get it for ya. It’s not everyday you get to perform at your first big show in Baltimare.” He turned to the pony behind the counter. “Throw the hat in too please. And hey what do you know, it matches the cape,” he laughed.
“Alright, with the cape, and the hat, that’ll be... 30 bits,” the pony behind the counter replied.
“Whoa thirty bits! isn’t that expensive Sarf?” she asked.
Sarf smiled. “You’re worth it kid,” he said. “Besides, you wanna look nice on stage dontcha? You’re gonna be performing in front of a lot of ponies tonight.”
“Yay thanks!” she squealed, running up to him and hugging his leg. “You’re the best, ever.”
* * *
She bid the shopkeeper a good rest of his day and re-donned the hat as she headed back out into the fading sunlight.
“Alright Sarf, here I come. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
She trotted on past all the shops and buildings, past the scattered houses on the outskirts, to a grassy field, all too familiar. Trixie paused by the gate, reading once again the same sign she had read every year for the past six years:
Baltimare Cemetery
“Hello Sarf,” Trixie called as she walked in. “Did you miss me?”
She sought out the same slab of granite upon which was emblazoned his beautiful name, stopping in front of it to kneel in the grass.
SARF THE MAGNIFICO
1948-2007
“Never be afraid to shine”
“I’m sorry I missed the performance the last two years, I ran into a bit of a crisis, and I had a small ego problem that needed adjusting, but I found that ensemble again. You remember don’t you? The one you bought for me, back when you first brought me here. I was so young then. But I’ve got you to thank for rescuing me. You were the closest thing to a father I ever had.” A few tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
“I wish you could have seen me that night. My first solo performance; It was amazing. I had the crowd completely entranced, you would have been so proud.” Her tears began to drip onto the grass beneath her.
“I’ve got a show to get to now. You wouldn’t want me to miss that would you? Anyway, take care Sarf. The Great and Powerful Trixie is about to take the stage.”