//------------------------------// // And Now Back to the Show-Off // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Adventures of the Book of Virtue // by ColossalGX //------------------------------// Omnifarious woke up early one afternoon. Things started to become dull around here, mainly because he promised to stay away from Mach Faiz and his horseplay as often as possible. At least he could get away from any trouble he'd cause. With nothing to do in this basement, much less this whole library, he decided to step out and find something to distract himself. So he put on his vest and kilt, and walked out the door. Omni wonders if there's anything good to eat, so he went over to Sugarcube Corner. When he finally made it, Omni rang the bell on the counter and out popped Pinkie Pie, "Hi, Omni!" she greeted with her usual enthusiasm. "Hi. Do you know what I can get for breakfast here?" "I know just the thing! Follow me! You'll find it on the counter!" Omni followed the pink pony back into the kitchen, the first time he didn't have to call the ambulance. Pinkie walked back to the counter and pulled some pastries out of the oven. Omni looked over to the large plate of pastries on the counter, "What are you making?" "Cinnamon rolls! I got help making them just right! Didn't I, Mr. Pillsbury?" Pinkie tickled Mr. Pillsbury on his fluffy white stomach. "Hoohoo! There's nothing that says 'I love you' like—hey! What the hell are you doing, you crazy bit—mmph!" Dough Boy got cut off by Pinkie rolling him flat. "I'm gonna have no trouble selling these!" Pinkie scooped some rolls into a paper bag and gave it to Omni, "Here! These are freshly made! On the house!" "Oh! Thanks!" Omni grabbed the bag into his mouth and left the shop. When he went out the door, he saw a few ponies running in a certain direction. Curious, he decided to follow them to a gathering at town hall. He carefully weaved through the crowd until he reached the front, where he met Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow and Twilight. "Whbf guun un?" "Hm? Did you say something?" Twilight turned to him. "Whbf guun un?" "Uh, one more time," Applejack said, "Without the bag?" "What's going on here?" New Moon, who just stepped into the crowd, asked. "She's performing here, that's what." The Mayor next to him answered. "Who's 'she'?" "Well, if you had come to our council meetings…" New Moon scoffed, "I'm not talking about no Council meetings. Just tell me who's performing!" "Come one, come all!" a voice bellowed overhead as the wagon in front of the crown opened, "Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" a blast of glittering blue smoke went off and when it cleared, Omni dropped his bag as a bright-blue mare stood on the stage, whose mane and tail are two lighter shades of blue. On her head is a wizard's hat, and around her neck is a purple cape fastened with a gem. The crowd cooed as her purple cape blew back, revealing a star-tipped wand as a cutie-mark, "Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!" fireworks and fanfare erupted, boosting the crowd's excitement. "My, my, my! What boasting!" Rarity muttered. "There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?" Twilight asked. "Nothin' at all," Applejack scowled at Trixie's performance, "'cept in when someone goes around showin' it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons." "Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does not make one better than the rest of us." Rarity lectured. "Especially when ya got me around being better than the rest of us," Rainbow swanked, then feeling a bunch of glares hammered on him, "Eh, I mean…" "BORING!" Faiz suddenly hovered over the crown, "I can do better tricks than what you're pulling out!" That seemed to catch Trixie's attention, "Well, well, well, it seems we have some neigh-sayers in the audience," the proclaimed, "Who is so ignorant as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie? Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?" "All I see is a blowhard!" Faiz countered, "Why don't you tell me what makes you so 'Great and Powerful! You can't do that, can ya'? I bet you don't even have a horn under that hat!" Trixie scoffed, "Why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded ursa major!" more fireworks danced from the stage, awing everyone with a decoration in the sky of a big bear and a small pony, "When all hope was lost, the ponies of Hoofington had no one to turn to, but the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in, and with her awesome magic, vanquished the ursa major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!" "Saw, sweet!" a couple of little onlookers sighed. "That settles it." "Trixie truly is the most talented, the most magical, the most awesome unicorn in Ponyville." "No, in all of Equestria!" Faiz blew a raspberry, "You sure you didn't paint a bear costume blue and dump glitter on it?! 'Cause it sounds to me you're just blowing smoke up everybody's—" suddenly a newspaper was smacked into Faiz's face. "Read it and weep; Hoofington's headline of that day to confirm it!" Trixie verified, then looked down to the crowd, "Anypony else doubting my talents? Well then, I hereby challenge you, Ponyvillians. Anything you can do, I can do better." "I'm not feeling to good right now. I think I should head on back…" Omni grabbed his bag and tried to excuse himself from Trixie's frequent ranting. But he couldn't get halfway through the crowd when he suddenly felt himself being dragged back by his tail and the suspended upside-down, face-to-face with a scowling Trixie. Omni quickly held his kilt against his legs. "I'm sorry, folks! Trixie was distracted by this pony who thinks he can walk off in a middle of Trixie's show! Do you think you're too good to witness my amazing talents?!" "Hey, leave 'im alone!" Applejack demanded, but was then held back my New Moon, "You're not seriously expecting us to just stand here, are you?" "Just trust me," the unicorn suggested, "Getting involved we'll just get roped into Trixie's sideshow." "Did Trixie hear correctly? Are you actually a stallion?" Trixie scoffed as her magic dropped Omni onto the stage. "Why would any self-respecting stallion be wearing a skirt!" "It's a kilt…" Omni muttered. "Uh, NO it's not! If you ever bothered to look into a dictionary you'd know that the official definition of a kilt is a hock-length garment with pleats at the rear, made of woolen cloth in a tartan pattern. What you have, my fashion-challenged little pony, is a skirt!" "I have to agree with her with that statement," Rarity unconsciously muttered, then feeling Applejack, Rainbow and Twilight glaring daggers at her, "Oh, please! Do you even see any pleats anywhere on that garment?!" "I don't see how this is any of your business." Omni tried to argue. "Tell Trixie; because she's curious: why would a stallion like you (or any stallion for that matter), be wearing mares' clothing under the place where your cutie mark is?" the smirk on the blue unicorn grew a bit wider, "Wait, it all makes sense now!" Omnifairous began to sweat under his fur, "I told you it's none of your business!" "The reason you hide your cutie mark is because you don't like to reveal your special talent!" "Huh?" "You think you're too good to share your talents! That's why you flaunt around shamelessly in mares' attire just to show off! Well, I got news for you: showing off is something only the Great and Powerful Trixie should do!" Omnifarious suddenly felt his kilt being tugged it by magic, and he consciously sat himself to the stage, "Stop! You don't wanna do that!" "What's the matter? Afraid I'll blow your grand unveiling if I show everypony your cutie mark?" The magic pulled harder. Omni panicked as he felt the kilt ready to slip off, "I'm serious! STOP!" "That's it! I can't stand for no more of this!" Applejack snapped and jumped on stage between Trixie and Omni, "Why don't you pick one somepony your own size!" Trixie scoffed, "So. Somepony's finally stepped up. Ready to be publically outshined by Trixie's magical powers?" "Can your magical powers do this?" Applejack twirled a lasso with her blonde tail, amazing people as she hoists the loop clear of the boards and worked it forward and back. With an expert flick she tossed the lasso and tugged back to pop an apple into her mouth. The crowd cheered just after she finished, "Thanks for the background, Boomhauer!" "Yeah-jackie; dang'ol-don't-mention-it." The black-hat farm-pony muttered as he waved off with his banjo. "Top that, missy." "Oh ye of little talent…" Trixie's hat began to glow from her magic and lifts clear off her head, "Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!" A gleam of the appendage brings the entire rope to life, mimicking the act of a hypnotized snake. It suddenly lashed out past Applejack and tied Omni's legs together and flipped him onto his back, "Wait! Hold on—" another apple stuffed itself into his mouth. "Omni!" Applejack gasped and glared back at Trixie, "That's a low blow!" "Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails!" Trixie announced as Applejack rushed to untie the blue stallion. That was when Rainbow flew on stage. "There's no need to go struttin' around and showin' off like that." "Oh?" "That's my job!" Rainbow then went flying through a windmill fan and shot himself into the air, piercing through some clouds. He stopped in front of the sun before diving in a reversed course back to the stage with a rainbow hanging above him. "They don't call me 'Rainbow' and 'Dash' for nothin'!" Rainbow said over the second batch of cheering. "When Trixie is through, the only thing they'll call you is 'loser'!" A beam from Trixie's horn caused the rainbow to zip off and wrap a retreating Omnifarious into a small tornado and carry him off into the sky screaming. The cyclone veered madly in all directions before slamming Omnifarious into a small crater and flying off. "Oh man! Omni!" Rainbow dashed towards the crater to the blue pony's aid. "Seems like any pony with a dash of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great Trixie." Seems like any pony with a dash of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great and Powerful Trixie." The blue unicorn throws another burst from her horn while Rainbow was busy pulling Omni out of the crater. A black stormcloud then came hovering over and zapped Omni back into the hole, bringing a an uproar of laugher from the crowd. "That's not funny…" a smoking Omni groaned. "What we need is another unicorn to challenge her," Spike suggested, "Someone with some magic of her own." "Yeah! A unicorn to show this unicorn who's boss." Rainbow agreed. "A real unicorn to unicorn tussle." Applejack added. "Enough. Enough, all of you," Rarity stepped in, "I take your hint, but Rarity is above such nonsense. Rainbow Dash and Applejack may behave like ruffians, but Rarity conducts herself with beauty and grace." "Ooo, what's the matter?" Trixie teased, "Afraid you'll get a hair out of place in that rat's nest you call a mane?" "Oh, that really hit a nerve," New Moon muttered, "This could turn out ugly." "Oh, it. Is. On!" Rarity growled, her 'beauty and grace' dropped out. "I don't think I can take any more of this," Omni groaned, "Maybe I should go ahead and head back to the library." He finally walked out from the crown. "Girls Gone Wild: Unicorn Edition!" Faiz announced over the crowd, "Taking all bets, 5 to 1!" Now onstage and circling Trixie, Rarity regained her composure, "You may think you're tough with all of your so-called powers, but there's more to magic than your brutish ways. A unicorn needs to be more than just muscle. A unicorn needs to have style," she lets her magic speak for her as she pulled a curtain from the stage and wrapped herself like a cocoon with it. A moment later and the audience awed as Rarity is wearing a fancy dress, "A unicorn is not a unicorn without grace and beauty." While the audience kept fawning, Omnifarious suddenly found himself walking back to the crowd, from the opposite direction he was going, "How the #%$& I get back here?!" that was when Trixie fired another blast of magic, which was for Rarity who quickly dodged and knocked Omnifarious out of the crowd and back into the crater. "Owww…" "Ooooh, look what you did." Faiz booed at the white unicorn on stage. "Omnifarious, my goodness!" Rarity hopped off the stage and excused herself through the crowd, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know that could happen!" Applejack and Rainbow pulled Omni back out of the hole. When he showed himself, everyone who saw him gasped and stared widely. "What? What's wrong? Why are you all looking at me that way?" "Your hair!" Rarity was the first to blurt out, "It's green!" Omni blinked and quickly dug into his coat and dropped a small mirror on the ground and looked over his head. Rarity's right, "Oh. Well, it doesn't look too bad, I guess." "Omnifarious, I just want you to know that I'm not one for unnecessary subtleties so I'm about to say this for your own good… YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! That is absolutely the last color you should want your hair dyed! It's putrid, hideous and downright despicable! Whoever thinks green can be considered a mane color has absolutely no sense in style! Please, I want you to name one pony who would look good with a green mane!" "There was this nice old lady I used to know…" Omni muttered in aggravation. "Well, I'm afraid no matter who she is, I will have to support the fact," Rarity huffed, whipping her gaze away, "I just regret not meeting this mare just to give her the plain truth." "…She's my late grandmother!" Rarity's eyes shot open after being caught with her big mouth. Her white cheeks flushed pink, "W-well I'm sure your grandmother looked fabulous in all colors of the rainbow. I just don't feel confident that I share the same level off—" one sudden flash later… "QUICK! I NEED A MIRROR! GET ME A MIRROR! What did she do to my hair? I know she did something terrible to my hair!" Rarity snatched up the mirror to look herself over, and she was not happy at what she's seeing. Evidentially Trixie decided to stick with her 'rats' nest' crack, "Ugh, no. Green hair! Not green hair! Such an awful, awful color!" As she ran off sobbing she passed an offended pony who actually has green hair, "Well, I never!" she scowled and walked away. "Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most amazing unicorn in all of Equestria," Sighing smugly, Trixie scoffed and decided to end the show and walk off, "was there ever any doubt…?" "Omni, I'm so sorry about what happened earlier." Twilight said. Back at the library she offered to help Omni dye his hair back to what it was. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything." "But I didn't exactly do anything while Trixie did all that stuff to you. I don't know why she kept aiming at you." "Of all the talk she was doing she also have the walk to back it up," the blue pony muttered, "Where does all that magic come from? Unicorns only use a little magic, don't they?" "That's kind of true. Unicorns use magic to assist them in the special talents they possess. But since Trixie's talent is magic, well… I guess that's another story." "And she uses it to degrade everyone else just to feel good about herself. If that's how people like Trixie behave, then I hope never to see another of her kind as long as I live." "I guess it would be for the best…" Omnifarious felt Twilight's hooves soften on his head, "Something wrong?" "Uh, no. Nothing to worry about… Done," after rubbing the dye in, she put a shower cap over his head, "Just keep that on for a few hours." After having the caped removed by Twilight, Omnifarious managed to get off the chair and back on his feet, "Thanks, Twilight." The unicorn smiled, "It's the least I can do." Suddenly there's a knock on the door and Omnifarious went to go and answer it. He tried to open the door but then remembered he has hooves, not hands. "Here, I'll do it." Using her magic, Twilight opened the door for him, and at the door was those two kids from the show earlier. "Can I help you?" Omni asked curiously. "Yeah! Trixie told us to find you!" one of them said, "She want you to come to town square!" Hearing Trixie's name soured Omni's mood, "I don't wanna." He stated and walked away from the door. "She said that you'd say that!" the other kid said, "That's why she told us to say this when you do say it! Um, what was it again?" "Oh, I know! She said, 'B is for Blue, the sad color of your coat'!" Omni suddenly stood stiff and looked back over to the two kids. "Wait, what?" "She said you'd know what it means! …So what's it mean?" Omni didn't respond and just walk passed them, "I'll be right back…" "Omni, what's going on?" Twilight asked, concerned, "You're not actually going, are you?" "Don't worry about it. I'll be right back." Omni sternly repeated, and went out the door. They walked down the street until they reached Trixie's wagon. There the unicorn was busy brushing her hair in front of the mirror. "We brought him here for you!" "Excellent. You may go now," the two kids zipped away, leaving Omni alone with her, "You know, when I last saw you I mistaken you for some nameless fashion confused pony. I would be lying if I said you're good at blending into the crowd. I just tend to make it a habit not to concern myself about average ponies. And considering you, make that less-than-average." "Just what is it that you want?" Omni asked impatiently. "Is that anyway to treat an old friend?!" Trixie gasped in mock, "You should be grateful I chose you at all!" "I'd hardly call you a friend. Especially after what you did…" Trixie scoffed, "Thing of the past. What matters is that you're here. I guess my old nursery rhyme still caught your attention." "That's not what I'd call a 'nursery rhyme'!" "Doesn't matter. I'm just glad I have someone to run my errands. I'm so tired." "Do them yourself. Because I'm not doing it." Omni turned his back and walked off. But Trixie is unfazed. "I don't think you have that choice. Not as long as you have your big secret," when Omnifarious stopped in his tracks, Trixie smirked; she called his bluff, " 'B is for Blue, the sad color of your coat', there's more to that, you know. Maybe I should make it my next performance," hanging his head low, Omnifarious skulked back to her, "Good boy. Now here's what I want you to do…" Later, Omni just came from the marketplace with a bag of apples in his teeth. When he came back to Trixie's cart, he could see someone near it with Trixie. He couldn't hear what they're talking about but he could tell they're arguing about something. He wouldn't know what it was about because when Trixie spotted him she shooed away the pony she's talking to. When Trixie took the bag from him she picked out an apple, only to roll her eyes and toss it over her shoulder to Omni's dismay, the process repeating over and over. "Why did you ask me to by apples if you're just gonna throw them out…?" Omni muttered. "Why didn't you get me what I ask?! I told you to bring back red delicious'; freshly-ripe red delicious'!" "And you think those aren't red delicious'?" "First of all, these are jonathan apples! I can tell the difference between red delicious' and jonathans; and I can tell whether or not they're freshly ripe!" Trixie tossed the last apple out, "I guess you're just as incompetent now as you were when you were a colt. Now my appetite's ruined," she tugged on the collar of her cape, "Ugh, this heat is getting my fur all sticky. I'll be needing a shower." "Why tell me that?" "Apparently I have to spell it out for you. Find me a rain cloud to shower under, preferably a large and dark one!" "What?! How do you expect me to get one from that high up?!" "That's your problem. You'll have to find a way to get one and bring it outside of town, someplace where I can have my privacy," Trixie turned her back towards him and shooed him away, "Well, go on!" Omni groaned and walked off. It hasn't been getting any easier trying to get those rainclouds. He asked as many Pegasus as he did, but none could be able to help him. Even he thought asking Rainbow Dash is an issue, especially when he'd ask what it's for. "What's up, Omni!" Unfortunately, he was too lost in thought to notice Faiz tailing him. Tired of thinking, he swallowed his pride and decided to ask, "Do you mind doing me a favor…?" It took little effort on Omni's part when Faiz brought a large rain cloud to a plain of pink trees, that's the least of Omni's problem when he sees Trixie's wagon, as it she knew he'd be here. Thinking she's inside he begrudgingly knocked on the door only for it to slightly crack open with a creak. Out of curiosity he looked around inside. Nothing came of interest other than a partially opened box. He decided to take a closer look and removed the lid and pulled out a large cloth, which turned out to be a large winged lion costume. Trixie must have pretty weird tastes in cosplay… "What do you think you're doing snooping around in there?!" before Omni could process what's happening he was pulled back outside, where Trixie stood over him, "Weren't you ever taught not to touch other ponies' property without permission?!" "Sorry! You door was open and there was this—" "Well it's off-limits, so stay out! By the way…" Trixie removed her hat and cape and dumped them on top of him, among other alike clothes, "This clothes are getting filthy. Clean them!" "What?!" "You heard me! I don't care how you get it done, it better be done!" Trixie turned to leave, "And they better be spotless and dry by the time I return for them." "But…but—" but Trixie ignored him and left him with her dirty laundry. Omni groaned in frustration. After somehow sneaking them all the way back to the library, Omni stuck himself in the basement scrubbing Trixie's laundry in a small turn on a washboard. There's a whole lot of capes with so much dirt on them. Somehow he thinks this isn't coincidental. "What're you doing, Omni?" Omnifarious jumped at the call of Twilight, who's standing at the top of the stairs. He can't let her see him like this! He quickly scooted himself in front of the pile of laundry out of Twilight's sight. "Nothing, just doing some laundry." "Really? Mind if I help?" "I appreciate it, but I can do this myself!" But Twilight suddenly popped up next to him, "Don't be silly. It'll go by faster if there are two people. Don't worry, it's no trouble," she then drew her attention to the pile behind Omni, "Do you normally have that many clothes?" "I wear a lot of clothes! I'm not really comfortable with—Twilight, no!" But it's too late when Twilight pulled out one of Trixie's wrinkled capes. Omni sweat a bit when she made a strange face and pulled out one of Trixie's hat next. Like Omni feared, it didn't take long for Twilight to put 2 and 2 together. "…Is this what I think it is?" "Twilight, it's not what it looks like!" "Hey, Omni! Trixie just asked for her laundry!" Faiz burst into the basement. "Crap…" Omni cursed. "Omni, what are you doing with somepony else's laundry, especially Trixie's laundry?" Twilight asked. "Look, this is just a misunderstanding—" "Omnifarious!" Rarity barged in, her mane thankfully back to normal, "That pompous blowhard came by my boutique and mistook it for a laundromat! She said you brought her heap of dirty laundry there!" "Rarity, I—" "Omnifarious, what's going on?!" Twilight asked, losing her patience. "Please! Just let me—" "Hey, Omni!" Rainbow flew in and dropped onto the basement floor, "I just heard you and Trixie are pals or something! You actually know that windbag?!" Omnifarious groaned and curled up in a fetal position. This really has gone out of hand… "Omni… I think it's time you tell us the whole truth," Twilight said, "Can you please do that?" He couldn't avoid it any longer, so it's best to brace himself and get this off his chest. A few moments passed when Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow and Faiz gathered with him on the floor level to listen in. "Okay, here's the thing: Trixie… We first met when I found her under a tree when its was raining that day. I helped her out and we've been close ever since. We were kids then and we used to walk together, play together…" After a moment's silence, Twilight spoke, "Then what changed?" "What do you think? She got her 'special talent'. Everyone was so amazed with what she can do. And me, well, no one wants to hang out with someone who didn't have a special talent, so she joined up with everyone else who picked on me for it. She didn't even say goodbye when she moved away. I thought I could forget about her; at least until this morning." "My goodness, that's so sad." Rarity said, after hearing his story. "Yeah, but there's another thing," Rainbow said, "what's with you doing all those errands for her just now?" "She's right," Twilight pointed out, "Normally something like this doesn't happen unless…" "I have to go…" Omni muttered and pushed himself out of the crowd, making his way up the stairs. "It's what those two kids said before you went out, isn't it?" Twilight asked, "Please, Omni, whatever it is, you can tell us!" "I can't." "But Omni!" Twilight pleaded when they reached the top. "Look! If I could tell you, I would!" Omni snapped, "But I can't, so I won't, alright?" Omni walked out through the thankfully-opened door and proceeded to go outside, but his hooves once again got in the way. "Um, if you don't mind…" Twilight sighed and opened the door for him, "I just need some time alone." "But Omni…" Twilight whimpered as she watch him leave the library, "Can't you trust us…?" Omnifarious left his sense of direction back at the library as he wandered outside Ponyville. He doesn't care where he's going, just as long as it's far off from his problems. It's too bad that he has to go back eventually. And as for Trixie, he can't think of any reason why she wouldn't broadcast his big secret to the town when she feels like it. It makes him sick to his stomach, he'd rather get mauled by a bear. Maybe he'd get some pity when they visit him in the hospital. His ears perked when he heard a lowly growl somewhere. From out of the bushes came a large bear! Wearing a porkpie hat! Now he's starting to regret walking so far out at dusk. Omni once heard that if he stands perfectly still the animals won't feel threatened; so that's what he did. The bear walked closer and sniffed at him. Maybe now it'll go away. "RRRAAAAAGGHH!" Maybe not! Trixie spent a while walking through the forest until she ran into the bear from earlier, right outside a large cave. "Ugh, finally I found you. Did anypony else follow you?" the bear shook its head, "Good. The sooner we pull this off the sooner we can leave this dump. Oh, and next time you decide to waltz my caravan, don't. I don't want everything I worked for ruined because someone couldn't learn to be patient." "You really know how to pull a scam, don't you." Trixie's jaw dropped. Did the bear just talk to her?! That moment the bear raised it paws and ripped its head off, showing Omni's face underneath. "Omnifarious?! But…" "But what? That you thought I wouldn't find out?" Omni scurried away from the towering bear, but it chased him through the forest. He looked for something at all to fight off the beast where one is heading towards him. Omni ducked under the low branch on the side of the tree and pulled it with his from legs. When the bear got close enough, he let got and let the branch smack the bear in the face, knocking it on it's back. But somehow that caused Onmi to panic more because it also seemed to knock the bear's head off! How did that even happen?! Omni moved over to the body to see the remains and saw something that doesn't belong on the bear's mutilated neck… A pony's head was sticking out of it! And unconscious, no less. Confused, Omni found the bear's head and looked into it; it's hollow! No brains, just mesh and eyeholes! This whole thing's a costume! He was being chased around by a guy in a bear costume! He fount a small tag attached to the rim of the mask: 'if stolen, please return it to…' "Somehow, that didn't surprise me; but I still can't believe it…" Omni said, "Everything you claim to be is all one big con!" "You just have to snoop around…" Trixie growled, "You just can't leave well enough alone, can you?" "What else is fake? Is your so-called special talent fake? Can you even use magic?" Suddenly, Omnifarious was knocked back into a nearby tree by Trixie's magic aura. "Don't you dare question Trixie's abilities! I can outdo anypony who challenge me!" she then shrugged, "…but the whole Hoofington incident was staged. Plus, I was nowhere near the everfree forest that time. It was mostly harmless backwoods." "But why? Why would you do it!" "Because these magic shows just blow on its own!" Trixie snapped, "Do you realize how many towns I visited just to prance around like a fool in front of ponies? Most of them were jealous because they wish I have the power they don't, and lead other ponies into booing me off my own stage! But if I could show those ignoramus' just how powerful I am, then they'll appreciate my talents and I could leave their backwater town a hero!" "So you pay someone to ransack a town just so you can step in and play the hero?" Omni reviewed, "What if you hurt someone!" "I had to make it look realistic. A few injured ponies are no big deal. Besides, they all thanked me as they watched me ride off into the sunset… Why can't you just mind your own business!" "You dragged me into being your errand boy! This is my business! And I'm not going to let you pull your scam in this town, or any other! This stops right here!" Trixie gave a sly smile, Oh, really? And who's going to stop me, you? Don't forget, I know you better than everypony else here? You know, I can blow the whistle anytime I want." That little reminder is all she's sure it takes to get him back in line. "Fine by me," Omni responded to Trixie's surprise, "Let's both step into the light together!" "You're joking, right? You're not serious, are you?" "Just watch and see if I am!" Omni was prepared to run back to town and tell everyone the news, when a loud roar blared from a distance, so loud it even stunned Omni, "Trixie… Is stat you?" "Do I sound like a bullhorn to you?!" the ground suddenly shook with small pebbles and rocks jumping around. Omni and Trixie feel very small when out of the cave came a colossal blue beast. "What the heck is that?!" Omni gasped. "It's an ursa major! Ever heard of it?!" Trixie cried. "That's an ursa major?!" the bear's second bellow is a warning that the two ponies should get out of hear as fast as possible. And that they did as they sprinted away through the forest, but not without the bear close behind them. "This is all your fault!" Trixie barked, "You had to make a scene and now you woke up an actual ursa major!" "I just followed what your note said!" Omni argued, "You're the one who picked the location!" "And you were stupid enough to come here!" "Whatever! Looks if we keep running like this we could lead him to Ponyville! We gotta steer him away from the town and somehow deal with him ourselves!" "Whoa, wait! What's with the 'we'?! I don't want any part of this!" "Well, too late now, Miss Great-and-Powerful! If Ponyville gets flattened and you're not there to save anyone, you really will be known as a fraud!" Running out of breath, Omni waited for Trixie's response. She then huffed, "Fine! I got an idea! Just stuck close to me!" "How would that help?!" "Just do it!" Omnifarious moved towards her, wondering what she's planning. When the gap's nearly closed, he leaned in, "One of us can just fight the bear off!" "Are you crazy?! That thing is huge!" "That thing is pretty big! Worst case scenario he'll eat you in one gulp, but if you're lucky, you'll probably wake up mangled on a stretcher, if anypony finds you!" "What are you talking about?!" Omni then realized her scheme, "Wait! You're not thinking—ack!" he was then kicked to the wayside and left behind. "If you don't wanna get mauled just run the other way and you'll keep that thing away from town!" Trixie called from the distance, "Nothing personal, Omni!" Omnifarious scrambled back up on his feet and saw the bear closing in. He tried to scamper away but the ground collapsed under him and hit his head… "Omni…Omni…" the world slowly came back to him as he woke up in the middle of the path. Hovering right over him there's a pair of purple eyes, "Omni! You're awake!" Twilight gasped and helped Omni up. After a moment Omnifarious regained a few of his bearings and looked around, but not without holding his head to keep his brain from popping out. "What happened…?" "I was hoping you could tell me!" Twilight wished, "I after what happened recently I was afraid you had gotten hurt! I'm just glad nothing bad happened to you!" "Well, I'm still in one piece… Wait!" Omni suddenly remembered, "Twilight, there's something you need to know! Trixie's a fraud! She staged the attack on Hoofington with a guy on a bear suit, so she could come out a hero! She's been doing this in every town she's been it!" "That makes sense…" Twilight said, "When the Ursa Minor found it's way into town—" "That's right, I almost forgot! Twilight, is everyone alright?!" "Don't worry, I took care of it! He won't be bothering us anymore. Anyway, she blew her own cover the moment it showed up. After that she ran off." "Figures. I'm just glad no one's hurt. We should be heading back now." "Yeah, we should." When Omni and Twilight made it back to town, they met with New Moon and Faiz back at the library, where they salvaged Trixie's wagon there. "Alright, let's see what we got…" New Moon rummaged through the small pile of newspapers he took out of the wagon, "'Trixie saves Trottingham from Terrifying Tiger.'" He said out of the print. "Got it!" Faiz tossed a cheap Tony the Tiger costume from out of the wagon. "Here's another one: Trixie rescues Baltimare from Barbaric Bandicoot.'" "Here's one!" Faiz threw out a Crash the Bandicoot costume. "Here's the last one, and the latest…" New Moon picked up the last issue, "Trixie helps Hoofington from Horrifying Hare.'" Faiz came out of the wagon and spat out a dirty Frank the Bunny costume from his teeth, "Where does she get these things!" "Well, that's all of them," New Moon tossed the last paper over his shoulder, "That unicorn's been pretty busy…" "I guess it's safe to say that she won't be causing trouble anymore," Twilight said, "Not without her supplies." "I'm still wondering about something," Omni said to Twilight, "How'd you get that bear to leave town?" "Oh? Well…" Twilight turned away blushing, "all I did was calm him down. Then when he was pacified I just carried him off back to the everfree forest." Omni has a problem wrapping his head around what he's just told, "But that thing's huge; I saw it myself. Even lifting something that big with magic's impossible. So how's that possible?" "If you had seen it yourself, you'd be made a believer," New Moon intruded, "Whether it's aided by her tutelage by the princess or that Twilight is unique, she pretty much mastered her special-talent of magic, and she proved it in saving this town from being stomped on." "She did that all by herself…?" Omni muttered and New Moon nodded, "Oh. Well… I guess I should turn in for the night…" he made his way to the basement for bed. "Omni, wait," Twilight stopped Omnifarious, "There's something I've been wondering for a while. I told you about my special-talent, but you don't want to talk about yours…" Omni looked over his shoulder, "If it's not too much trouble asking… May I know what your special-talent is?" "…Just forget about it. My special-talent isn't so special…" Omni walked through the basement door but Twilight followed. "But then why do you wear that—" "I mean my special-talent is nothing to be proud of," Omni snapped as he continued down the stairs, "It's best that no one knows…" "Omnifarious, if there's something I learned tonight, is that any talent a pony has is something to be proud of. I'm sure your talent isn't as bad as you may think…" Omifarious stopped at the end of the stairs, "Twilight, just trust me; it's best if this is left alone…" Under their noses, the Book of Virtues was left open, and a new topic was on a new page… Dear Princess Celestia, I have learned a very valuable lesson about friendship: I was so afraid of being thought of as a showoff that I was hiding a part of who I am. My friends helped me realize that it's okay to be proud of your talents, and there are times when it's appropriate to show them off... Especially when you're standing up for your friends. And the headliner above: Modesty. "Hey wait…" Omni looked the empty space in the middle of the floor, next to the basin and washboard, "What happened to all those clothes there?" Lighting a match, Rarity tossed it into a gasoline-soaked pile of capes and hats and watched the whole thing burst into flames, "Well now, that should count for closure…" the white unicorn trotted back indoors, leaving the small mountain burning.