Night had fallen over Equestria and the citizens of Ponyville were mostly all camped out in tents, lined up for Trixie’s big show in the morning. Spike looked among the crowd realising that almost everypony in town was here. Even Rarity’s extravagantly large tent was out there taking up a lot of room, much to the discontent of the ponies around her. Rainbow Dash flew up next to Spike, landing softly on the ground.
“This is getting hopeless.” Rainbow said to dragon, keeping her voice down. “We still can’t get anywhere near Trixie’s wagon.”
They had been waiting for an opportunity to get inside but with the two guards stopping any pony getting near, they haven’t had a chance.
“If we can’t find a way in, we’ll have to make one.” Spike said while looking over to the wagon that Trixie has been using as a home. He’d have thought that with Trixie being so beloved that she’d demand to stay in a fancy hotel or something.
He was about to voice his thoughts when the door to town hall opened up and out stepped a light purple unicorn wearing half-moon glasses, her mane was done up in a tight bun and she was floating a clipboard next to her. The mare walked right up to Trixie’s wagon and knocked on the door, unstopped by the guards. Trixie answered and the two exchanged words. Spike and Rainbow moved close to try and eavesdrop on the conversation but it ended as quickly as it started. Trixie stepped out her wagon, locking it behind her and followed the mare towards the town hall. She motioned for one of the guards to follow and then the three of them went inside, leaving one guard behind.
“Dash, I don’t think we’re gonna get a better opportunity then this.”
Rainbow Dash nodded, looking over at the only remaining guard.
“Alright, I’ve got a plan.”
- - -
The guard stood at the front of the wagon, looking for any trouble makers. As usual, nothing was happening, fans were a problem during the day, but night time it was mostly quiet. He watched the tents as ponies were all getting ready to go to sleep, but a few of the more excited were still talking about the Great and Powerful Trixie. Just then the grey stallion heard a noise coming from beside the wagon. He walked around quickly to find a pegasus mare with a rainbow mane trying to get in through the window.
“Hey, what are you doing?” The guard called out trotting over to her quickly.
“Err, duh. Obviously I’m trying to see Trixie!” She said, still trying to open the window. The stallion went to grab her but she quickly flew backwards out of reach. “Hey! What you think you’re doing?!”
He really hated this part of the job, over enthusiastic fans who don’t know anything about boundaries.
“Mam, you can’t be here. I’m going to have to ask you to leave before I call the authorities.”
With the guards back turned, a small purple dragon began sneaking his way around to the other side of the wagon towards the front door. Rainbow Dash was doing a good job of keeping the stallion distracted, but she had to also make sure she didn’t get herself into trouble or make the guard call for backup. Spike had no time to waste. The door to the wagon was locked, but luckily he had some experience with locks. With a deep breath, he blew his dragon fire breath against the lock and melted it. There would be no going back now. Trixie would know she’s had intruders but hopefully the guard wouldn’t notice before then. Spike looked around the corner briefly and gave a thumb’s up to Rainbow Dash before silently slipping inside.
The inside of the cabin was very compact. There was a dresser, a wardrobe built into the wall in the back and a full length mirror which seemed to have been shattered along the bottom. Papers and other litter were also scattered about the room. Spike silently started digging through the dresser to see if there were any clues as to what Trixie had been up to. Anything related to mind control spells or potions. The first draw held nothing but a hairbrush. The next draw down had many copies of the same photo. Trixie posing and holding a bouquet of flowers while looking at the camera proudly. Each photo was pre-autographed sighed by ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’. The little dragon rolled his eyes and kept searching. The bottom draw was locked and he couldn’t open it. His dragon fire breath wouldn’t help him here. He’d burn the entire place down if he used it.
Suddenly there was a soft rising of voices from outside. A group of ponies had come up to the wagon, insisting they wanted to see Trixie. There was a soft gentle tapping on the window. That was the signal, but Spike needed more time. He hopped up onto the dresser and looked out through the hole in the shutters and he was greeted by the face of Rainbow Dash.
“Spike. You’ve gotta hurry up. Have you found anything yet?” Rainbow asked with a whisper.
“Nothing yet and I’ve barely been in here for longer than a minute.” Spike whispered back, feeling rushed. “Quick, help me look about.” He opened the window and Rainbow flew in quickly.
“Geez, did you make this mess?” the cyan pegasus asked keeping her voice low.
“No, it was like this when I got in. Check over there, I wanna try and open this draw.”
Rainbow turned around, taking in the surroundings. Looking at the mirror she noticed that several shards of glass were still on the ground beneath the mirror. She wondered why hadn’t Trixie tidied that up? Suddenly there was a click from the dresser that was almost deafening in the tiny room despite the noise outside. Spike withdrew his claw from the lock and slid open the drawer open. Inside was a little blue book with the words ‘Trixie’s Diary’ on the front.
“Hey Dash. Think we’ll find something in here?”
“Read it quick, I’m gonna keep looking.” Rainbow turned back around, with only the wardrobe left to check. She gently opened it and immediately the smell of rotten eggs attacked her nose and she had to cover up her mussel with a hoof. On the other side was a foldout bed that looked like it was covering up whatever it was that’s making the smell.
“Hey Rainbow, listen to this.” Spike began reading aloud from the diary.
20th July: I’ve decided to make a clean go of it. I’ve made mistakes by telling lies and they caught up to me, I should have seen something like that happening. And the incident in Ponyville still hurts to think about. I have apologized for my actions and while Twilight Sparkle may have forgiven me, I’m not too sure the rest of the town was so quick to forgive. I’m heading to the Crystal Empire to start my traveling performance again. No more lies. It’s time to show these ponies some real magic.
21st July: This day went better than expected. The Crystal Ponies were incredibly welcoming of me and really enjoyed the show. I feel like this really is a new beginning for me. They loved seeing the show and I plan on giving them another one tomorrow. Better than ever!
22nd July: Today was fantastic. The ponies were going wild as I performed perhaps some of my most amazing tricks. I really must remember to thank Twilight Sparkle for that one trick with the flying animals. But now I’m being invited inside the castle! This is almost too much. After meeting Princess Cadance personally, she said that the time to charge to Crystal Heart was due and she’d like me to lead the ceremony. I was so overcome I felt like I could power that heart by myself! On the way back home I met with a strange mare. She told me she was looking forward to seeing me again very soon. I was polite and humble of course, but she gave me the strangest look before leaving. Gave me the creeps.
I just saw that mare again. She’s was outside my home, but when I went to see her she was gone. I really need to sleep, it was probably just my imagination.”
“That’s where it ends.” Spike said, flicking through the rest of the blank pages. “Trixie hasn’t updated it since.”
Rainbow looked around the room again. The litter, the broken mirror. There must have been a struggle. But why wouldn’t Trixie have tidied up afterwards? And if the diary was to be believed, Trixie hasn’t been casting any mind control spells at all. Rainbow looked back towards the bed in the wardrobe. The smell was still strong, stinging the pegasus’ nostrils.
“What is it, Dash?” Spike asked seemingly ignoring the smell.
She didn’t reply, instead she slowly lowered the bed. Lines of green slimy stuff were connected to the bed from inside the wardrobe, stretching before breaking and hanging loose. The grey bed sheets were rotten with the sticky stuff. Rainbow Dash and Spike looked up into the wardrobe and behind the bed was a huge hanging green pod that was wet and oozing, pooling below.
“What is that?” Rainbow asked, looking horrified. Spike got up onto the bed and looked closer at it. Inside he saw the outline of a pony, not moving at all.
“Dash, there’s somepony trapped inside.” Rainbow’s eyes widened as she looked about for something to cut the pod open. She turned to the jagged mirror shards on the floor and carefully picked one up in her mouth. Spike took the shard from her and proceeded to cut the thing open. The pony fell out and Rainbow caught her, laying the unconscious unicorn onto the bed. Dash made sure she was still breathing and was grateful to see that she was. She was covered head to hoof in the green slime but they could just make out her blue coat and light blue mane.
“It can’t be…” Rainbow said to herself then quickly brushing off the mare’s flank to reveal a wand and crescent moon cutie mark. “Trixie?”
Spike looked just as stunned as Rainbow Dash.
“But… we just saw her…” He didn’t finish.
“What in Equestria was that thing she was in?”
“That’s a… a...”
“A chrysalis, oh little dragon.”
Spike and Rainbow Dash turned towards the door and saw Trixie standing before them flanked by her two guards. Her horn glowed green as she placed a shield up, blocking off the door behind her.
“And you two, are going to be seeing a lot of them.”