//------------------------------// // Curtain Fall // Story: Boast Bypassed // by GreyGuardPony //------------------------------// The sun was beginning to dip back over the horizon by the time the Cutie-Mark Crusaders had finished their very important task of running to every end of Ponyville, proudly declaring that the Great and Powerful Trixie would be doing a magic show tonight. Much to their disappointment, their efforts had not provided them with any cutie-marks, so their enthusiasm was somewhat muted as they walked back towards their homes. “Well, at least we'll make some bits.” Sweetie pointed out. “And everypony seemed really excited about the show!” “Ah'm really lookin' forward the show!” Apple Bloom grinned, her disappointment forgotten, “Travelin' shows don't come through here all that often. We should get over there early ta get some good seats.” “Actually,” Scootaloo commented, “Tonight's my mom's night off. So I'd like to go and see the show with her.” Apple Bloom nodded, accepting her friends explanation. It was kind of an unspoken agreement between the three members of the Cutie-Mark Crusaders to not talk about how Scootaloo rarely got to see her adopted mom, the sole night watch member of the Ponyville town guard. Scootaloo smiled to her friends. “Anyway, I'll see you girls tomorrow and we'll go back to crusading!” Waving goodbye, she trotted off to her own house. It was a smaller building, only one story; it was all her mother could afford on a guard salary. Not that she cared. The house was warm and comfy- unlike the orphanage- she had the coolest mom ever, and she could hang out with her surrogate big sister Rainbow Dash! “Moooooom!” She called out as she stepped inside. “I'm home!” “I'm in the kitchen!” She trotted into the kitchen, the smell of coffee reaching her nose halfway down the hall. Her mother was sitting at the kitchen table, a large blue mug resting before her, steam rising from it's surface. It was a very normal scene, which made her mother's more exotic appearance stand out all the more. And Scootaloo thought that it was awesome! From her mother's vertical pupiled yellow eyes, to the cool looking fangs that were part of her smile, and the two great bat like wings that grew from her back; to Scootaloo, the fact that she was a bat pony just made her all the more amazing. Her light gray coat was marked by a hooded lantern cutie-mark and her mane and tail were the dark blue of a twilight sky. Rushing forward, she nuzzled her mother's side. Her mother laughed softly, wrapping her wings around her daughter and pulling her close. The two ponies held the embrace for a long minute before Night Crescent let her go and got to her own hooves, moving to the cupboards for food. “So! What do you want to have for dinner tonight?” “Can we have pancakes?” “For dinner?” “It's breakfast for you mom.” Her mom's ears slicked back, a deep frown crossing her muzzle. A knot developing in her stomach, Scootaloo quickly moved to assure her mother. “But I really like your pancakes mom! Please?” “Okay,” She smiled, “Pancakes it is.” Scootaloo was quiet while her mother cooked, the embarrassment of tripping over that sore spot still churning in her gut. The time that they could spend together was usually measured in hours, and then Scootaloo would have to go to bed and Night Crescent would have to go to work. The one night a week that Crescent had off from her guard duties was the one major exception. If only the night watch would get some more members, so that her mom wouldn't have to work almost every night. The soft 'tink' sound of a plate being placed on the table, and the smell of warm fluffy flapjacks snapped Scootaloo out of her internal moping. Flashing a grin at her mother she tore into the plate. Night Crescent took her own seat with her own pancakes and began to eat in a more thoughtful, deliberate manner as she watched her daughter. “So, what shall we do tonight?” Cheeks bulging with food, Scootaloo launched into an enthusiastic explanation, complete with animated hoof gestures. “Mmmph! Thempha maggaic fow ahnd the ghirls...” Night Crescent did her best to maintain a stern expression but when a bit of pancake landed on the tip of her snout she broke out into a giggle. “...Not with your mouth full, dear.” Scootaloo swallowed the food and tried again. “There's going to be a traveling magic show in the town square tonight. Can we see it, please?” “A traveling magic show huh? It's been a while since I've seen one of those, that sounds nice. Do you want to ask Rainbow Dash if she wants to come with us?” Taking another bite of pancakes and swallowing Scootaloo shook her head, her ears drooping slightly. “She's out of town. Got a letter from the princess about something.” “Well, then tonight you and I shall enjoy the show as part of the crowd. Now finish your dinner.” “Okay mom.” - - - - Roseluck couldn't shake the itching sensation in the back of her head as she trotted through town. All around her, ponies were beginning to move towards the town square, some aiming to grab the good spots right in front of the traveling cart. She, on the other hand, was looking for Cherry Berry. She knew full well what that itching sensation meant. So called “pure” changelings had a natural hive mind that tied into their subservient nature to the queen of their hive. In the Venexian strain, however, the hive mind was almost completely muted. It was a trade off for their increased individuality, which suited Roseluck just fine. But while Venexian changelings couldn't mentally communicate with each other like their chrysalis counterparts, they could still vaguely sense the presence of other changelings. And with that itch...that itch... “Roseluck!” Came the shout, Cherry Berry rushing to her side from a side street. “Do you feel it? I...” “Yeah Cherry. I feel it.” “There's another changeling in town!” Cherry Berry hissed. “Did you hear anything from Queen Magnolia on this?” “Far as I know, she wasn't sending any agents this way,” Roseluck commented, her eyes scanning each pony as they passed, “Which probably means that we have either one of Chrysalis' brood...or a Lernerian.” The frown on Cherry Berry's face was very deep and for good reason. In their time working for Queen Magnolia the pair had clashed with the renegade group known as the Lernerians, when they had tried to set up a cell in the Free Hive. “What's the play, Rose?” Roseluck thought carefully, tapping a hoof on the ground. “Could still be one of ours that we just lost the notification on,” She pointed out, falling back into an old role like it was an old comfortable dress, “We aren't active agents anymore, favors to Celestia aside. So, we play it by ear and get ready to move when we need to. Anypony who we don't recognize is top priority.” Cherry Berry nodded, her own mind beginning to fall back into old routines. “The show mare, Trixie...she's the new variable over the last few days. No buzz of recognition when she first arrived, so she's not the changeling...” “She's most likely the target, if this is a hostile agent.” Roseluck finished. “Then let's get our tails over to town square before something bad happens.” The two changeling ex-spies slid into the crowd. The hunt was on. - - - - Town square was already beginning to fill up as Thorn, Storm Front and Muddy Waters moved along its outside edge. Thorn could feel the itch in her withers that signified the presence of other changelings about and it had put her in an even darker mood. She was wearing the form of Rising Note. It would be useful in getting close to Trixie. Of course there are other changelings in Ponyville. Why wouldn't there be other changelings in Ponyville. With a baby dragon, the elements of harmony, and a creature from another world living here, why not throw in a few changelings to round out the collection of oddities! “So, what's the play?” Storm Front interrupted, his words cutting through her internal monologue, “I don't see that dragon you were so afraid of anywhere around here.” “How do you know so much about Ponyville, anyway,” Muddy Waters asked, his eyes scanning the crowd, “Thought you were a Neigh Orleans girl.” “The element bearers,” Thorn responded, “Are considered to be creatures of interest to my group. We know a great deal about them, their families, and their associates. Just in case we ever have to run an op against them.” “No foolin? Huh, you people sure are prepared.” “We commit espionage for money.” Thorn deadpanned as she scanned the crowd herself, “It would be foolish to not know as much as possible about Celestia's rainbow generating brigade. And speak of the devil...” Muddy Waters and Storm Front followed her nod towards the purple coated unicorn that was walking along side an orange coated earth pony. “Twilight Sparkle, element of magic. Don't see her little assistant though.” She paused as two ponies stepped into the square, a pale yellow coated one leading a pink one. So...this is where Roseluck and her partner decided to retire to. Getting sloppy, just walking around in forms they've used before. “How about you two go and check the library. If the dragon isn't around, the files might be there if Trixie doesn't have them. It's the tree.” Nodding, the pair cut across the open ground of town square, Thorn keeping her attention locked on Roseluck and Cherry Berry. The two ex-spies quickly exchanged words, Cherry nodding and following them towards the library. “Stay out of the game for a while, ladies? Then be left in the dust.” She chuckled, quickly trotting for Trixie's cart. With a slight flick of her wings, she landed on the top step leading to the door and gave it a sharp knock with her hoof. Trixie's annoyed voice reached her ears as the door opened. “About time you showed up! We won't be able to....” Trixie's admonishment died in her throat, as her eyes fell on Thorn, “Rising Note? What are you doing here?” “Well, I considering the unpleasantness that happened back in Hoofington, I didn't think it was fair to send you off without a reward.” Reaching into her saddlebags with a wing, she presented the necklace to Trixie. “I want you to have this. A proper reward for the hero of Hoofington.” Trixie took the necklace with her magic, looking it over with a slight smile. “Thank you Rising Note. It is...appreciated.” Thorn beamed, nodding her head towards the necklace. “Going to try it on? It looks like you got a show to do soon, and it would be a nice little flourish.” Trixie tilted her head to the side, examining the necklace again before beginning to float it towards her own neck. “Trixie!” Thorn twisted around, getting a full view of Skitch-Sketch as she came charging through the gathering crowd. She skidded to a hault at the base of the steps, breathing hard. Her eyes flicked to Thorn for a moment, a nod of greeting thrown her way, before she looked back to Trixie. “Sorry I wasn't here sooner Trixie. Things ran a little long at Fluttershy's.” Trixie nodded her head towards the interior of the cart. “Come on then. I want you to show me what you can do, then we'll run over the routine and get you something more...stage appropriate.” The necklace forgotten, Trixie hurried Skitch into the cart and closed the door behind the pair. Thorn just frowned. “...Great.” - - - - Skitch took in every inch of the cart's interior as she stepped inside. It was a little bit on the cramped side, which she'd expect from a space that served both as living space and dressing room. Costumes hung on short racks against the walls, trunks of props and fireworks slid underneath them. Trixie's cot like bed was tucked away in the back right corner. A small collection of photos was pinned to the wall next to the bed, including one that showed Trixie as a young filly, flanked by an adult mare and a much older looking stallion. “Right,” Trixie said facing Skitch, pulling her attention away from the photos, “Show me a landscape.” Skitch grinned, calling upon her memories to show Trixie a wind swept desert landscape, twin suns blazing in the sky. “Good. Now show me a monster,” Trixie motioned for her to continue, “Something I haven't seen before.” “Something you haven't seen before, eh?” Skitch grinned. “Ya sure about that?” “What? You think that the great and powerful Trixie can't handle what exists in the depths of your mind?” She motioned again. “Now show me what you got!” Skitch's grin grew all the wider as her horn began to glow. The illusion began to take shape. A large spider lower body, easily twice the size of either pony, the front two legs tipped with grasping claws. Where the fanged spider head would normally be, a sinuous eel like neck and head rose, brushing against the ceiling of the cart's interior. It leered it's fanged maw down at Trixie, the unicorn staring back up at it with a raised eyebrow. “Looks like something out of Oubliette's and Ogres.” “Something like that.” Skitch shrugged as she let the illusion fall. Trixie was already rummaging through a few drawers and trunks, picking out bits of clothing, considering them for a moment and then tossing them away. “So, do you have any experience with performing or stage magic?” “Not...really. I've done illusions in combat like situations though.” “Hrm.” Trixie hummed, as she settled on a glittery silver dress. “Beautiful assistant it is. Try this on for size.” Skitch caught the dress, raising an eyebrow. “Beautiful assistant? Really?” Trixie shrugged. “I'll need to be able feed you directions and the most low impact to the show way to do that is with you as my assistant. Now, on with the dress!” Rolling her eyes, Skitch pulled the dress on. It consisted of two parts, a glittering band that rested around the neck and then the skirt portion that draped neatly over Skitch's hindquarters, it's hem falling just above her hooves. “Well, it sure is sparkly.” “That's the point...though I think it's missing something...” Trixie's eyes darted around the cart's interior as she searched for an ephemeral something to finish off the look. Her expression lit up as she remembered the necklace that was just given to her. She snatched it up with one smooth motion and yanked it over Skitch's neck. “There we go! It's the little things that complete the look sometimes.” Her smile was wide. “Ready?” “As I'll ever be.” Skitch smiled back. - - - - Rarity shuffled off the train her hooves feeling like they were made out of lead, her saddlebags like they were full of rocks. Well, rocks aside from gems that is. Spike walked along side her, carrying the rest of her dress making supplies. He was still full of energy. But he hadn't had to deal with the bride from Tartarus. “Spike,” She yawned, “The next time a bride in Canterlot offers me a rush job, remind me of today.” The young dragon smiled up at her. “For what it's worth Rarity, I thought all your designs were great. I don't know what the problem was.” Rarity shook her head head as the pair moved through the streets to Carousel Boutique. “Difficult clients are an unfortunate part of the business, and when weddings get involved it can get even more difficult. Some brides chase the idea of perfection.” “I feel bad for the stallion stuck marrying her.” Spike chuckled. Rarity couldn't disagree with the sentiment but right now all she wanted was to crawl into bed and get some rest, so she settled for a nod and walking the rest of the way in silence. Open reaching her home, she unlocked the door, pushed her way inside and dumped her saddlebags by the door. “Put those over there please dear,” She motioned to the little platform before the mirrors where clients would stand to model their dresses, “I'll get them in the morning.” Spike happily obliged as she yawned again. “Thank you dear.” She muttered as she followed Spike to the door, “Please thank Twilight for letting me borrow you for a day.” “Will do Rarity, but you know she didn't mind.” “Still, it is polite to thank. Goodnight Spike.” As the door closed, Spike stretched and began to walk back towards the library. Best to check in with Twilight. - - - - Cherry Berry glowered at the Golden Oaks Library. It seemed that her partner's hunch about the two strange ponies being up to something was correct. They had disappeared into the library a moment before, the earth pony of the pair having picked the lock on the back door. She had opted to go ahead and follow the pair, while Roseluck stayed behind to keep an eye on Trixie in case she was the target as they had originally guessed. Creeping through the open door and closing it quietly behind her, Cherry dropped back into her normal form with a flash of emerald light. Like Roseluck, she preferred to live in her pony form, but when danger was a possibility she'd rather bank on fangs and an exoskeleton. She crept to the kitchen door and paused to listen, the sound of rummaging and conversation floating down from the second floor. Find out what they were up to and get out. Easy enough to accomplish. “Ten thousand books in this place, and we're supposed to find twenty five pieces of paper. And that assumes that they're even here.” “We'll have to trust Thorn to search Trixie. Sides, if that dragon shows up here we can grab him.” “Wanna silence him?” “I dunno...we'll play it by ear. The assistant of Princess Celestia's student. That's a whole lotta heat, even for us.” Cherry Berry softly hissed through her teeth. Thorn. She would be involved. She was about to turn and head back out the door to let Roseluck know what was going on when she heard the front door open and then close. “Twilight?” Spike called, “I'm back from helping Rarity! Are you in these book stacks...somewhere?” “SPIKE! RUN!” Cherry shouted, rushing into the main room. The strange pegasus jumped down from the second level, diving right for Cherry while his partner rushed down the stairs. The pegasus threw his body into the stacks of books that were hemming in Cherry on either side. They wavered for a moment, before toppling over in a rain of paper and covers. Cherry backpedaled, barely avoiding the tidal wave of toppled literature. Muddy Waters sprang over the piles of books tackling her, using his body to pin her to the ground. Storm Front didn't waste any time, dropping down next to her and grabbing Cherry's head in his hooves. “I.” He bashed Cherry's head against the floor, pain lancing through her as her vision swam. “Leave her alone!” Spike yelled, clambering up a pile of books and throwing himself at Muddy. Landing on his back, he dug his claws into the earth pony's side. “I said, leave her ALONE!” “Gah!” Muddy Waters yelled, rolling off of Cherry's body. “Storm, drop this stupid bug and help me with the gecko!” Spike continued to hang on tight, spitting a gout of flame into the back of Muddy's neck. He yelped in pain, jumping around the room in a series of wild bucks as he tried to dislodge Spike. Storm Front ignored his partner, lifting Cherry's head up again. “Do not.” She screamed in pain as he smashed it to the floor again, black blotches beginning to spread across her vision. “Appreciate ponies who like to play hero!” With the third impact against the floor, and another cry of agony, Cherry felt something crack. A smirk crept across Storm Front's muzzle as he let go, turning to assist his partner with the young dragon. Cherry Berry felt her consciousness slipping away. “Spike...” She moaned reaching out towards the baby dragon in desperation. The last thing she saw before blacking out was Spike being tackled by Storm Front. - - - - “And now, for my next trick, I will make my beautiful assistant disappear!” Trixie was beaming, awash in the adoration and applause of the crowd as she produced a blue silk cloth blanket, dropping it over Skitch with a flick of the hoof. It was moments like this that kept her going. With Skitch covered, she waved her hooves at her chanting in a suitably mystical sounding, but entirely made up language. On the last beat, she dropped a smoke pellet and took a half step backwards to step on a switch that was hidden in the stage. Skitch neatly dropped through the trap door, just as planned. The trap door closing, Trixie held up the cloth to show off the fact that green colored unicorn was in fact gone. “And now,” Trixie proclaimed, while Skitch quickly crawled under the stage and snuck back into the cart, “It will be a trifle to summon your good neighbor back! Behold the magical aptitude of the Great and Powerful Trixie!” She unleashed a great flash of purple and green smoke mixed with glittering silver sparkles, giving Skitch the cover needed for her to take her position again. When the smoke faded, revealing Skitch to the raucous cheer of the crowd, both she and Trixie took a bow. Trixie trotted over to Skitch, quickly whispering to her. “Ready for the big finale?” “Yeah. I got my monster on standby.” “Good. Remember, drop some growls on the left hand side of the square, then when I drop my creatures on the stage, bring yours in too.” “I got your back Trixie.” Trixie nodded, striding back to center stage. “And now, the Great and Powerful Trixie will pierce the veil between worlds and present you a feat of magic that not even the alicorn sisters that guide the sun and moon can duplicate!” The familiar shocked gasp ran through the crowd, though Twilight Sparkle in the front row gave a derisive snort at the claim. Trixie just began to layer the illusions instead, coiling the magic around her as she set up her floating, glowing eyed visage. “Behold! The Great and Powerful Trixie is peering between worlds! I see the truth of it all! The secrets of creation!” She gasped in mock horror. “We are in danger! Horrible creatures are coming! I can see them crossing the veil between worlds! They're...they're...HUMANS!” The mutter of the crowd was unexpected to Trixie. Less the ripple of fear and confusion from Hoofington, and much more of an uncomfortable shifting about from being stuck in the same room as fighting relatives. She'd just have to hook them with the banishment portion of the trick. “Trixie, stop this!” Skich hissed. “I can't! They're already here!” She played to the crowd, as she began summoning her illusionary portals and the monstrous “humans” that came with them. Trixie rolled into the banishment, grabbing one of the humans and folding it into a rose, just like she had done a dozen times on this road trip. Unlike in Hoofington, most of the crowd did not cheer, though a small contingent lead by a pale magenta filly and her blueish-gray friend were clapping enthusiastically. Most of the crowd was doing their best to not look directly at the stage. But there were a few faces among the sea of ponies that were downright livid, including Twilight and an orange coated mare that was sitting next to her. Trixie let her spells end, the momentum of the performance lost. She glanced over at Skitch her jaw dropping slightly at the expression that was on the unicorn's face. Her face was twisted in a mask of rage, a wide snarl crossing her muzzle, her amber eyes wet with tears and blazing with anger at the same time. Without a word, she turned on her hooves and ducked back through the curtain. Some ponies, sensing that the show was over, tossed a small collection of coins into the box at the end of the stage. Trixie looked back to the crowd, doffing her hat with an apologetic bow. “The Great and Powerful Trixie apologies for the performance everypony. I wish you all a good night.” Grabbing the box and pushing her way through the curtain herself, Trixie was almost hit in the face by a silver dress thrown by an amber magic aura. Skitch was shaking as her eyes bored into Trixie's form. “...Have you been doing that trick in every town you've gone through?” She demanded, voice wavering. “...Yes.” Trixie responded. “But why...” “Because I'm the human!” Skitch shouted. “Or I was before that mad man did this to me. And here I thought that all I had to deal with was the Canterlot nobles slandering me, and now I hear that you're in on it too?” Trixie frowned. “Look, I didn't know that you were still on the planet. The papers said that you left after The Collector died...” “You didn't know? How can you not know? Those same papers also said I came back! What, you haven't read anything since then?!” Trixie bristled. “Yes! I've had my own problems that I've been trying to deal with!” “So that gives you the right to slander humans? To slander *me*?” Skitch snapped, stomping a hoof, “I'm just trying to live a normal life while paparazzi hunt me for photos, lies get printed about me in the paper, and nobles steal my house, and the last thing I need is the Great and Powerful Trixie making me look like a monster as she travels from town to town!” “Oh, boo hoo.” Trixie growled, her own anger rising. “I saw the ponies in the audience. At least you have friends willing to stand up for you and you don't have anypony trying to kill you!” “I already almost died for this planet!” “Well fantastic for you! Doesn't do much to help me when ponies are luring ursa minor into towns after me!” Skitch growled. “Just give me my bits and I'll never darken the doorstep of the so called “Great and Powerful Trixie” again!” “Well, thanks to how this ended, I barely got anything!” She motioned to the necklace. “Take that. I'm sure you can hock it for a pile of coins if money is all you care about.” Skitch growled, her magic lashing onto the box and wrenching it from Trixie. With a final hoarse scream of frustration, Skitch threw the box to the floor. The scant number of coins in the box scatted and rolled across the boards a few dropping through the small gap between the stage and the cart. A snarl split Trixie's muzzle as she pointed to where the bits had vanished. “You're on your way out already. Go. Get. Them.” Skitch snorted, stomping out the door. - - - - “Stupid, stuck up, brat!” Skitch growled as she shuffled along, searching the grass for the spilled gold. It was a tight fit underneath the cart and it's stage, something she had been happy to do during part of the show, but now it was sheer aggravation. “Really damn ironic that the mare that got the Alicorn Amulet is ranting and yelling at me.” She frowned, “...Or will get...maybe...bah!” A few more shuffles forward and another visual scan revealed the coins, grinning she snatched them up with her aura. “Gotcha.” “Skitch!” She stood up, temporarily forgetting where she was and with a resounding crash and a following of explosion of pain, cracked her head off the underside of the stage. A pulse of magic danced down her horn, sending the coins scattering again. “Damn it!” Applejack's face appeared at the other end of the stage as she peered at her friend. “Ya all right?” “Yeah, just hit my head.” She grumbled, collecting the coins again before crawling out from underneath the stage and tossing them to Trixie. “There's your money. Don't spend it all in one place.” “I won't!” Trixie snarled, slamming the door behind her. Skitch rolled her eyes stalking away from Trixie's with Applejack and Twilight, missing the small shadow that scuttled through the shadows under the cart's stairs. - - - - “Skitch, ya need to calm down.” Applejack, Twilight and Skitch were walking back towards Golden Oaks Library, though in Skitch's case she was more stomping than walking. “I don't want to calm down.” Skitch growled, “Anger is working for me right now.” “She's just a loud mouth show mare.” Twilight pointed out, “You can't let this get under your coat.” “Like I can't let the news articles get under my coat? Like I can't let the fact that I've been taking up space at Applejack's get under my coat?” “Skitch!” Applejack interjected, “Stop that! Ya help out with the chores and the farm. I ain't gonna have ya talk about yourself like yer a burden.” “I agree!” Twilight grinned as they reached her house, “Now let's get some tea and forget about Trixie.” The door creaked open with a push, revealing the devastation contained within and the unconscious changeling sprawled out on the floor, green ichor staining part of her mane. Twilight gaped for a moment before rushing into the room, Skitch and Applejack right behind her. The sound of hooves on boards seemed to pull the changeling back to the waking world for a moment, her eyes locking onto Twilight. “T-Twilight...” “She sounds like Cherry Berry.” Applejack blinked, “...She's a changelin'? “They...they took him Twilight.” She groaned. “Who? Who'd they take?” Twilight gasped, “And who are they?” “S-Spike...they...they got Spike...” She moaned, collapsing again. Twilight bolted upstairs, peering under her bed. When that did not reveal her assistant, she moved onto the spare bed. “Spike? SPIKE! Oh Celestia, she's right, he's gone!” “Focus Twilight!” Applejack shouted, “Cherry's really badly hurt! We need ta get her to the hospital! Ah need you and Skitch ta hold her steady on my back!” Twilight took a shuddering breath before coming back downstairs. “R-right.” The unconscious changeling was carefully wrapped in magic twin magic auras and settled onto Applejack's back. “Hold her tight girls!” The three ponies charged out the door, bearing their wounded neighbor along as they rushed to save her.