//------------------------------//
// This Strange Other World 
// Story: Misadventures of Trixie 
// by Tau22 
//------------------------------//

The Everfree was silent, if only because of the mighty storm that raged far above. Trixie trudged on through the rain, all of her concentration focused on maintaining a crude magical field that functioned as an umbrella. Twilight made it seem so easy, but then again, that was Twilight.

The rain wasn't the main issue, though. Lightning and thunder worked in tandem, trying to rip the world itself asunder. Bolts dashed across the sky, often reaching for the ground itself, which made her all-the-more nervous. She was quite sure that her little water deterrent wouldn't be quite as effective as a lightning rod.

One such bolt suddenly cut through the air, close enough for the thunder to make her ears hurt and her bones tremble. She yelped and glanced in its direction. It had thankfully avoided the trees, so... her body tensed as she suddenly felt an intense surge of raw magic. Lightning had always been seen as a very strange force. On one hand explained by scientific methods, on the other still possessing strange, arcane qualities.

Often, mad wizards sought to channel its power for experiments and rituals of a dangerous, unpredictable nature. Other times, a fateful strike would bring to life ancient artefacts or relics, forgotten remnants of long-gone civilisations.

Whichever it was, it was bound to be troublesome, if not downright dangerous. Against her better judgement, the showpony decided to investigate.

She crept through the undergrowth for a few metres, when a bestial groan attracted her attention. She turned and to her relief, it was a timberwolf. Now there was a sentence few other ponies would utter. What pleased her the most was the absence of its regular odour. The wood-wraith stood in the rain and it seemed almost delighted. It regarded her with a bark and she replied:
"Enjoy yourself. You lot could use a shower more often, frankly."

Trixie returned to the task at hand. Finally, after a few more moments of careful creeping, she came to the source of the magic. The rain, being as thick as it was, had filled some sort of crater, hopefully not a massive footprint or anything of the sort, resulting in a small pond. Immediately, she knew something was off.

The water did not ripple in the rain. It sat perfectly still, so much so that Trixie could see her reflection clearly. With a frown, she levitated a tiny stone and threw it. It vanished, again without a ripple or any other sign of its passing. She took a few steps closer and gazed into the pond. A fateful mistake.

The edge of the pond was not exactly reinforced. As the showpony moved her weight, the ground under her hooves crumbled. Her trusted travel bag did not help, either, throwing her off-balance and accelerating the fall. She fell face-first into the pond, yet felt no moisture. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.





A strange sensation washed over her for but a fraction of a second. Her entire body tingled, twisted and turned, yet without pain or greater discomfort. Her muzzle itched, her hooves felt like they could burst asunder. And then, it was over. She stared at the ground, more precisely at a rather fashionable violet rug. It was wet. Not too far, she could see a tiny stone.

A strangely familiar, female voice filled her surroundings:
"Who... what... how is this even?"

She looked up and froze. She had never seen a creature like the one before her. Distantly, it reminded her of a monkey, or ape, yet it did not seem to have actual fur, just smooth skin. It was slender, overall, with a clear distinction between its upper and lower body parts. Its skin was a slightly dark shade of blue, its hair a... pale, pearlescent blue. Its eyes were violet, just like her own.

Trixie's mind worked overtime, putting the puzzle pieces together. She raised her front hoof and... where in the hay was her front hoof?! In its stead, she gazed at what she could only describe as a dragon-like claw, yet far less lethal-looking. It did seem to have something akin to talons, but they were trimmed and... rather fashionable? Where did that thought come from? And how did these digits work? She flailed them about for a few seconds, then managed hit her forehead. Her horn was missing?! How could it...?!

Trixie took a few deep breaths to calm down, then gazed again at her other self. Her twin sported a set of what she assumed was casual wear. Short-sleeved, violet shirt with simple, matching pants. A quick glance revealed that she was in full show attire, with several pieces of added garment which now hid her bare skin. Such an uncanny transformation.

The two Trixies met gazes once more, mouths wide open. They sat in silence, breathing heavily, before the ex-pony finally commented:
"Ummm... I'm sorry for dropping in unannounced. This is all rather strange."
She... that is, the other her chuckled. This was already getting confusing:
"I do believe our current feelings are... mirrored."
She snortled and took herself up on this game:
"I will have to reflect upon this later."
"Not with alcohol, though. You might see double."
"I... hmmm," clumsily, her digits curled into a fist and she rubbed her now-existing chin, "is that all the puns? We need a thesaurus."
"I would agree, but I think I need some answers, first."
"Oh, right."

Considering the vast number of potential questions, their little session got to the gist of things in record time. Parallel universes, parallel Trixies, no magic but advanced technology, yada yada. Twilight had mentioned visiting this place, hay, she had a humongous machine set up in the castle for that very purpose. These facts also explained her twin's rather nonchalant behaviour. Apparently, this place had seen far weirder things than a dimensional twin. Then came perhaps the most interesting part of the conversation. The whole 'What the buck am I in another dimension?' thing.

A rare topic for discussion, surely. The ex-pony answered first:
"Well, currently I'm running a little travelling theatre. It's all a one-mare show, thanks to illusions and a few patented tricks. Making a name for myself and doing quite well, actually."
Her normally-humanoid twin continued:
"Well, I'm still technically studying, but me and a few friends have a popular band. Popular by local standards, anyway. With some luck, we could get it going places. Maybe."
"Ooooh, a band! What's it called?"
"The Illusions," she smirked, "used to be Trixie and the Illusions, but we agreed that didn't sound good at all."

She did not respond immediately. A name like that had a vibe of arrogance and ego to it. Arrogance and ego pony-Trixie had left behind. No, she did not wish to judge based on just a few titbits. She needed to know more:
"You said you were still studying?"
"Yup, at Canterlot High. Pretty great place, especially, as the local students have learned in recent times, if you like the occasional dash of magic and evil masterminds. A unique selling point, if you ask me." 

She nodded while scanning the area. It seemed to be a small place, but more than enough for a single student. A couple of rooms, a bed and basic necessities. A comfortable space for living, almost luxurious based on her usual setup. She attempted to get up on her strange, thin legs, only to almost fall over. Luckily, human-Trixie caught her in time:
"Careful there."
"Ugh, thanks, this will take some getting used to."
"I can't even imagine."
"Is this place, well, yours?"
"Technically rented, but yes. That reminds me, I still need to pay this month's rent."

At first, the showpony pondered the fact that her twin was able to keep up with payments, something she had not been able to do in her time. That band must have really been popular. Then, she noticed a nearby cabinet. It was unremarkable by itself, but several photos were placed on top. One immediately caught her eye and she froze.

Slowly, she took a few clumsy steps forward and just gazed at it. A purple-skinned man with unfittingly yellow hair, a grey-skinned, beautiful redhead. And between them, a smiling little girl. Her.
Supporting herself against the cabinet, her free hand awkwardly fished through her travel bag, until finally, she managed to grab hold of the desired item. Encased in a protective shell, was a photo. A proud stallion with a purple coat and unfitting yellow mane, a beautiful mare sporting a crimson manestyle. And between them, a smiling little filly. Her.

Other-Trixie noticed the photograph and remained silent for a moment. Then, she said:
"My... our parents. They're... well..."
"Gone."
"Y-yes. In a..."
"Train accident?"

The two doppelgangers met gazes and both nodded solemnly. Some things, it seemed, were a constant. Without another word, the two shared a hug. It felt good, if all-too-brief. They parted and just smiled at each other for a few second, before the bandmate said:
"While I do enjoy the company of myself immensely, I think we need to find a way for you to get back to your world."
"I would tend to agree. I need to somehow get in touch with Twilight Sparkle."
"Oh, her? Haven't seen her around in a while," native Trixie rubbed her chin, "our best bet is talking to her friends. As far as I know, they have some way for contacting her."
"In that case, our mission is clear! Now we just need a way to slip by without causing commotion."
"Commotion?"
"Dimensional duplicates, remember?"
"Honey, this town has seen weirder things than that. If someone particularly nosy comes along, I can always just claim you're an especially adoring fan."
"More like unhealthily attached fan."
"Either way, it works."





Of all the things that impressed her, it was what the locals called ‘mass transit’. A large carriage without handsome stallions or complex magic, yet capable of movement through some sort of technological means. She was aware that similar constructs existed in her reality as well, mostly in the countries to the far west of Equestria, though they were always very... purposeful. Always looked more like a siege engine than a proper vehicle.

This was comfortable. Non-aggressive, without random levers or cogs waiting to dig into her side. Stranger yet, the other pon... people within did not seem to particularly care about the two of them, the identical girl and magician duo. She turned to her twin, who was happily bobbing her head to music, carried to her ears via some sort of cable from a tiny, box-like gadget:
“Hey.”
“Hmm?” the twin mumbled, pulling out one of her earphones.

She looked around and continued in a whisper:
“Why... why is nobody even glancing in our direction? We are quite eye-catching, in more ways than one.”
“We’re on a bus,” her twin grinned, “the only thing people care about on the bus is getting off the bus.”
“I can’t imagine why, this is rather nice.”
“The magic wears off after the first rush hour,” she sighed, then suddenly, her eyes seemed to flash, “say, you wanna’ listen to a song me and the band made?”
“Oh, I’d love to!”

The other presented the earbud. Slowly, with a face of pure concentration, she managed to close her fist around it. After realising the potential complications this approach caused, she let her twin, more experienced with blasted fingers, to put it in her ear instead. She then fiddled with her little music box and...

As soon as Trixie heard it, her eyes grew wide. The instruments themselves were different, but the melody was unmistakeable. They both listened to the tune, before her twin started quietly singing the first verse:
“Ya’ better believe, I got tricks up my sleeve.”
Much to the human’s surprise, she continued:
“And I captivate, ‘cause I’m powerful and grea-ea-eat.”
Native Trixie stared in confusion for just a second, but then smiled anew and continued:
“Ya’ better believe, I got tricks up my sleeve.”
“See me dominate, ‘cause I’m powerful and grea-ea-eat!”

Needless to say, the remainder of the bus ride was quite enjoyable.





They exited the bus in a united giggle. The building was beautiful. Its rose-tinted walls stood tall, while the expansive courtyard before it housed not only well-groomed plants, but also a large statue. A stallion on his hind legs, roaring at the world. Beautiful, she had to say.

The place was filled with what she assumed were students. As the two walked, many stared with a bit of confusion, before shrugging and returning to their previous activities. She tried to return any waves sent their way as best she could, though her limited finger control proved troublesome.

They approached a strangely familiar trio. Gray skin, some rather feral traits. One was large, but very timid. Another was almost comically short, bursting with energy. The third, and perhaps most recognisable, was tall and slim, with a very recognisable, crimson jacket. The duo approached and native Trixie called out to him:
"Hey, Rover!"

They all looked up from their work. It seemed like they were just digging at a random spot in the ground. The leader called back:
"Oh, hi... Trixies?!"
"Long story, I'll tell you later. Listen, have you seen the Rainbooms?"
The not-dog rubbed his chin:
"I think they're practicing right now, so I'd start there."
"Thanks a bunch!"
"No problem!"

They made their way inside, attracting many more gazes as they passed through the halls. She asked:
"Were they, by any chance, digging for gems?"
"How'd you know? Ever since they've found this funky old map, they've been digging for treasure that's supposed to be buried on the school grounds."
"Is that even, well, allowed?"
"No, but Principal Celestia gave up after a while. Now, as long as they fix it back up, they don't get in trouble. They're actually nice guys, once you get to know them."
"That much I know."
Her doppelganger shot her a puzzled look:
"You know, this whole dimensional twin business is a lot to wrap my head around."
"I concur. It feels like I'm seeing double."
"I already used that pun!"
"Darn, you're right..."

As they went deeper into the school, the hustle and bustle slowly died down. It seemed this part of the building was reserved for various maintenance and utility rooms, plus the odd science lab here and there. And then, she heard the music. Energetic, light-hearted, put simply, it rocked. Five voices could be heard, singing in unison:
"Now we're better than ever! Wo-oah, wo-oah!"

Five familiar voices, she thought. They approached the door and she turned to her twin with a smile:
"Let's wait for them to finish and then we," the other's demeanour was changed, suddenly nervous, unsure, "you okay?"
"Yeah It's just, ummm, m-maybe you should... go in alone."
"What are you talking about," Trixie's eyes narrowed, "what's wrong?"
"Well, I just... has Sparkle told you about the last time she was here?"
"Let's see... seductive, music-powered demigoddesses, right?"
"Yeah, that's one way to put it. Even though the whole school went crazy, I... I took it further than most. I almost ruined everything, then I just left like some spoiled brat. I was so ashamed of myself when I got back home."

She came closer and placed a hoof, err, hand on her twin's shoulder. They met gazes, one was smiling, the other still extremely nervous. The ex-pony said:
"And let me guess, you just kind of avoided them until now."
"Well, yes. I just... I never knew how to start the conversation."
"Buck it," her eyes narrowed and she smirked, "we're going in there right now, so you better think real quick."
"But, I-!"
"No buts," their song finally reached its climax and came to an end, "right here, right now!"

Grabbing her twin by the arm, she almost yanked her through the door. At first, the entire reunion was dominated by silence, as each group took in the important details. For one, she hadn't expected them to possess pony-like ears, or for them all to have long braids that ended in something which resembled a tail.

Nonetheless, it was still undoubtedly them, five of the six Elements of Harmony. Eye-catching Rarity. Athletic Rainbow Dash. Timid Fluttershy. Down-to-Earth Applejack. Physical-law-shattering Pinkie Pie. All in fashionable, fitting little outfits. She could even locate their 'cutie marks', or local equivalent, on earrings or other such accessories.

Applejack was the first to break the silence:
"What in tarnation is going on here?"
As Trixie tried to muster a response, Pinkie, of course, beat her to it:
"One of you is actually a Trixie from another dimension slash world, probably the one Twilight is from herself. You got here after a craaaazy magical mishap of some sorts and you need to find a way back home!"
The group first looked at her, then at the Trixies, who nodded. The dimensional traveller added:
"Yes, but there is also another matter. I have... that is, your Trixie has something to say. Celestia, I'm getting confused again."
"Well, I," being gazed at by everyone certainly did not help her stammer it out faster, "I... I'm sorry. For what I did during the band battle. And for just... just being myself. You have every right to be angry with me and I understand if you don't want to talk to me or anything, but..."

"Stop right there, sugarcube," Applejack smiled first at her, then the rest of the group, "Ah'd say what's done, is done. Ya' were caught up in the moment, them sirens’ magic sure as hay didn't help, either. If ya' ask me, yer a-okay. Forgiven."
Pinkie almost jumped to the ceiling:
"Yes indeedilly!"
Rainbow gave her a thumbs up, while Rarity and Fluttershy simply smiled. She teared up on the spot, though she did try to hide it:
"T-thank you."
Crying was out of the question, and one pink-skinned ball of energy had just the trick:
"Group huuuuuug!"

All seven of them joined in, giggling as they did so. Personal space standards be damned, it was a rather nice experience, what with all the friendship and everything. Then, however, the dimensional traveller heard a female voice that she did not recognise:
"Well, I seem to have missed more than just band practice."

She did not remember a pony like her, certainly. Her skin was a bright shade of yellow. Her hair was like a firestorm, bright crimson mixed with flaming yellow. Her clothes were dominated by a black jacket, complimented by a stylish skirt and a light blue shirt. An image was emblazoned on the shirt, a blazing sun which matched the colours of her hair. On her back, a guitar or similar instrument rested in a purple case. A pair of sky-blue eyes gazed from one Trixie to the other, putting two and two together. She crossed her arms with a grin and finally addressed the magician:
"I take it you came looking for a way to call back home."
The showpony answered:
"That is indeed the case. Mending some relationships is an added bonus."
The fiery newcomer glanced at the local Trixie, then back:
"I can see that," she offered her hand, "my name is..."
"Sunset Shimmer," Trixie shook it, noting the surprised expression, "Twilight Sparkle has mentioned you on numerous occasions."
"Has she, now? Well, isn't that sweet. And speaking of her, your timing is strangely perfect!"
"How so?"
"We were planning on inviting her for a little performance we're having tomorrow evening. I now cunningly intend to use your presence as leverage, making sure she cannot refuse the invitation to join us."
"A masterful strategy, I must say!"
"Quite," the fiery student turned once again to the still-progressing group hug, "and I do believe this little reunion has presented us with new options."

The Trixies met gazes, then looked back at Sunset.





The building itself wasn't anything too special. A small, unassuming structure close to the city centre, sporting a shiny neon sign to attract clientele. The words on that sign immediately caught her attention, however. Sirens' Bar and Karaoke. A single look and nod from Sunset Shimmer answered all her initial questions.

The twins and their blazing guide entered. The insides were quite spacious, and, she had to admit, rather stylish. The whole decor had a very futuristic tinge to it, with sharp angles and bright, neon lights. Most prominent was a small stage nestled between the tables, often used, judging by the many scratch marks on its surface.

The place was almost completely empty, save for a few patrons in the corners, probably wishing to be alone with their beverages. It therefore did not take long for them to be noticed. An overly-excited, high-pitched scream filled the entire building:
"Shimmyyyyyyyyy!"

A blue missile in mostly pink clothing locked onto its target and launched itself, her long ponytail waving in the air majestically. Sunset somehow withstood the impact and even returned the hug with the warmest smile imaginable. As soon the shockwave faded, she commented:
"Good to see you, too, Sonata."

The girl reminded her so much of Pinkie Pie, it was frightening. The way every movement seemed to have just a bit too much energy behind it, that constant, excited spark in her raspberry eyes. That dangerously infectious, impossibly wide smile. After hugging Sunset just a while longer, her attention turned to the two Trixies:
"Oh, my gosh, duplicates! I knew Pinkie was onto something with those pod people stories!"
"No, you dummy," Sunset said it in such a loving way, "this Trixie is from Equestria."
"Oh. Oooooooooh. That makes loads more sense, actually," she gave a small curtsy, "Sonata Dusk. Super-great to meet you!"
"The pleasure is mine."
"We need to talk to Dagi, is she in?"
"Oh, yeah! Wait here, I'll go get her!"

She sped off on what Trixie noticed was a pair of roller skates, dashing between the tables with uncanny agility. She turned to Sunset:
"You two are an item, I take it?"
Again, she received a surprised look:
"You're perceptive, you know that?"
"I wouldn't say so. Not even Pinkie throws hugs of that magnitude lightly."
"Heheh, I guess. But yeah. A bit of a weird start, what with the whole world domination scheme and all, but we worked it out."
"Well, you look quite cute together. Wouldn't you agree, me?"
"Oh, indeed, myself!"
"You two are enjoying this whole twin business, aren't you?"
In perfect unison, they answered:
"You can't even imagine."

A new figure soon entered the area. Tall and slim, she seemed to have a natural, commanding presence. Her skin was yellow, her hair orange with streaks of gold. The size of her hairdo was quite impressive, probably large enough for a person to hide within rather comfortably. She regarded them all with a stern look, but Trixie could see a spark flash in her violet eyes. This siren liked keeping her emotions mostly hidden, it seemed:
"Look who we have here. Sunset and... two Trixies. Not something you see every day, I admit."
"Tell me about it," there didn't seem to be any underlying hostility in Sunny's voice, "listen, Adagio, about our performance tomorrow..."
"Yes?"
"Would it be possible to squeeze in a second band? Maybe if we drop a song or two?"
"Well, now," she walked past her and looked at the twins. Finally, she met gazes with the human Trixie, "I do wonder who you might have in mind. The night is long, I think we'll be able to manage. And I do remember," her facade was broken by a warm smile, "that you were quite good. If you have any dazzling special effects in mind," Trixie could swear one of the patrons chuckled, "do let us know, so we can set it up."

The bandmate Trixie almost managed to contain an excited squeal:
"Thank you so much!"
"It's nothing, truly," she then turned to the traveller, "and an introduction is in order, I think. Adagio Dazzle. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise."
"And I look forward to seeing your performance."

With that and an additional, unexpected Sonata glomp, they parted ways.





After a brief scheming session with Sunset and the girls, it was decided that Twilight would be contacted on the following day. Afterwards, their trap would be sprung and their lavender-coloured prey would have no chance of escaping. Until then, however, it was time to get some rest.

As the flat's owner fumbled through her keychain, her twin asked:
"So, how exactly did the mind-controlling demigoddesses mend their ways and end up opening a bar, of all things?"
"It was a fairly long process, really," she finally found the correct key, "the three were all kind of miserable after they got their butts kicked by the Rainbooms. I don't know the exact details, but Sunset somehow hooked up with Sonata. And well, how do they say it? The magic of friendship happened."

They both snortled as they finally entered. Immediately, the travelling twin noticed a poster on one of the doors, overlooked beforehand, but immediately visible from her current angle. The person within was strangely familiar, and not just because her clothes were a copy of the showpony's own. With a keytar in hand, the grey-skinned beauty screamed to her audience, raven hair almost reach her rump. The name underneath, she knew well:
"Lucretia Stargazer?"

They both came closer to the poster and her host replied:
"Yup. Once upon a time, a really popular singer. She died very young to an illness, before her career really got rolling. I've always kind of admired her, though. She always strived to achieve her goals, no matter what.
"I think I know exactly what you mean. Now, then, you said you had an idea for the Illusions' performance tomorrow?"
"Oh, yes," her eyes practically sparkled, "I've had this idea for a song stuck in my head for a while. I just didn't know how to pull it off just right. But with you here, it's now or never. Let me just."

She dived into a nearby drawer and started pulling out sheet after sheet of musical notes and attached lyrics. She was dedicated, that much was apparent. Finally, she pulled out the fateful one and squealed, before showing it to her twin. The traveller immediately knew which song it was and smiled. This was indeed the perfect opportunity for a performance:
"You're a genius, me."
"I know, myself!"





The trap was set. A short message through an enchanted book was all they needed for their lure. The ambushers were set up in strategic positions around the statue to negate all possibilities of escape. Finally, the statue's pedestal began to shimmer and their prey stepped forth from another world. 

To Trixie, it was amazing how Twilight could maintain her cute, loveable nature across dimensions and even species. Her clothes were modest, yet only seemed to bring out her beauty. She didn't have time to ponder the situation further as the order was given:
"Attack!"

Eight figures immediately surrounded the princess and threatened to suffocate her with forceful hugs. She yelped, though not in a displeased fashion. After a shared, heartfelt laugh, she finally managed to break free and commented:
"Wow, that's what I call a surprise!"
"The best is yet to come, Sparkle," the travelling Trixie commented, "a night of festivities has been planned."
"And I suppose I am now at your mercy and must attend whatever event you have in mind?"
"That is correct."
"In that case," she shot her that smile which sent butterflies into Trixie’s stomach, then assumed a mockery of a royal stance, clearly practiced in the use of hands, "escort us to these festivities, dearest Trixie."
"It will be my pleasure, Your Highness."





The rather sizeable entourage, which included two separate bands and even a few enthusiasts they managed to pick up on the way, arrived just in time to see an unruly patron get thrown out into the street. The young man scrambled to his feet and made a run for it, while a female voice filled the area:
"And stay out," the aggressive tone didn't quite fit the girl that stepped out, her skin a dark shade of pink, with two purple ponytails on her head. She noticed them and while her tone didn't change too much, she at least tried, "oh, you lot came in full force, didn't you? Come on, your stuff is ready."
As warmly as the Sun itself, Pinkie shouted:
"Thanks, Aria!"

The inside was dramatically different from before. Now practically bursting with patrons, both young and old, the place was clearly a popular destination. Sonata stood out among it all, bringing refreshments in record speed without too many problems. She noticed them soon enough and skated closer, turning first to the princess:
"Oh, looky, it's Twilight Sparkle! Special seats for you, right up front," and then she glanced at the identical bandmates, united this time in clothing, as well, "Illusions, you go first, Rainbooms, get your stuff ready!"
She then dragged the purple one off towards the stage, much to Twilight's dismay.

Both Trixies, in the meantime, retreated backstage. The visiting twin felt a bit strange, nervous even. It certainly wasn't because of the crowd itself, she was well-versed in the arts of avoiding stage fright. It soon dawned upon her. She had never sung in front of people who actually knew her. Most certainly not a potential romantic interest. Och, Celestia, why did that thought torment her so?

She suddenly felt someone touch her shoulder and spun around. It was one of the other bandmates, the one with blond hair. Oh, what had been her name again? So embarassing. She had a supportive smile plastered on her face:
"Hey, you alright? You zoned out there for a second."
"Oh, yes, yes. Just the regular pre-performance stage fright, you know how it goes."
"Heheh, me, not so much. Fuchsia, on the other hand..."

As if on cue, the final member of the Illusions ran into the room, flailing her arms in panic:
"Guys, I think I lost my hat," the Illusions' trademark headwear was indeed missing on top of her pink hair, "what am I gonna' dooooooo?!"
The real leader of the band turned towards her with a sigh:
"Calm down, dear. Now, think with that pretty little head of yours. When and where did you see it last?
"Ummm, changing room. Like, five minutes ago."
"Try checking there."
"Ooooooooooh! Be right back!"
As she ran out of the room, human Trix turned to the blonde:
"Lavender, please make sure she doesn't forget her whole head this time."
"Aye, aye, cap'n!"

The twins met gazes soon afterwards. Herself was just as nervous as her, it seemed. She made a thumbs up, and the other twin reciprocated. Then, finally, came Adagio's voice:
"Welcome, one and all, to the Sirens! Tonight, we have two separate bands for you! Each is hoping to give you the time of your life! Both of them are, as it so happens, local sweethearts. First, give it up for the Illusions!"

The stage was almost immediately covered in a thick cloud of smoke. A repeating set of notes filled the Void, before finally, one Trixie appeared, in an utmost dramatic fashion. She raised a microphone to her lips and sang in a slow, deliberate way:
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall."
Her doppelganger manifested on the other end of the stage and continued the verse in the same fashion:
"Who is fairest of them all?"
The twins met gazes and pointed at each other, then continued in unison:
"Is it me, or is it you?"
"Divided, if only we knew!"

At that moment, a strange, ethereal glow surrounded the stage. A familiar smell reached her nostrils, along with a well-known tingling along her spine. Magic was in the air. Before she knew it, her hair grew spontaneously, forming a short, fashionable ‘tail’. She could feel two decidedly inhuman hears poke the insides of her hat and with a brief look at her bandmates, she could see they were experiencing similar phenomena.

And while the band was thrown out of sync for just a few moments due to sheer surprise, nobody seemed to notice. Rather, everyone seemed to love it. The audience was theirs, cheers and whistling filling the building. For the travelling Trixie, however, the greatest reward was seeing Twilight smile and nod to the beat in the front row.





The night had been phenomenal. As the Illusions and Rainbooms sat in the bar, enjoying a few drinks and other refreshments, Trixie couldn't help but smile. Both bands had earned themselves a roaring applause, mostly on the back of a few select songs. For them, it had been the simply breath-taking initial performance of 'Mirror, Mirror'. For Sunset and the gang, it was the ex-mastermind's own song, 'My Past is Not Today'.

A truly heartfelt performance, that one. One could almost feel the trials she had gone through. And as Trixie well knew, tugging on a few heartstrings was the most effective, if not the easiest, way of grabbing an audience.

The night was still only beginning and she was busy enjoying a rather lovely cocktail. Sonata suddenly sped closer with a tray of more delicious drinks. Immediately, she met gazes with Pinkie Pie, who was otherwise busy enjoying a queen-sized milkshake:
"Hey, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Banana-tiramisu-sundae surprise?!"
"You were thinking what I was thinking!"
"Well, duh!"

In the blink of an eye, they were gone, performing various crimes against culinary delicacy. In a twist of fate, Trixie found herself in the company of Sunset Shimmer, who was still gazing after her partner in life. Lingering questions surfaced and Trixie asked, loud enough to be heard above the amateur karaoke brigade:
"How did you two get together, anyway? That must be quite the tale."
She gave her a long, contemplative look:
"That is a bit of a long story."
"Do you feel we don't have enough time?" she said, gesturing towards the stage, where Rarity and Rainbow were busy pushing Fluttershy towards the microphone, much to her dismay.

"Fair point," perhaps the small amounts of circulating alcohol helped her reach that decision, "well, where do I start, really? It wasn't long after we beat the Sirens. I was just on an everyday walk through the park, when I heard someone crying. I come closer, and who do I see? Sonata, our one-time nemesis turned into this... this sad, miserable wreck of a person. It broke my heart on the spot. After getting her a cup of coco, she told me that the three of them had started arguing and basically just fell apart. She just..."
"Didn't know what to do?"
"Pretty much. I couldn't just leave her there, you know? Enemy or not, she didn't deserve that. So I took her in. Properly introduced her to everyone, helped her find her cheerful self again. Whenever I saw her smile, my heart skipped a beat. Eventually, we managed to find the other Dazzlings and got them back together, in a sense. Friendship is magic, am I right?"
"That you are," she stole a glance at the princess, busy dancing with her friends. Trixie didn't know human legs could move in such angles, "Twilight has a profound influence on one, doesn't she?"
Sunset looked in the wingless alicorn's direction, then nodded:
"Yup. She's a really amazing friend."
"Yeah... friend." 

She stared into her glass for a few moments. Sunset turned back to the showpony. Without saying a word, she simply nodded, suddenly understanding the situation perfectly. They sat for a few moments in silence, before Trixie asked another question:
"How did you, well... how did you tell Sonata how you felt?"
"Simple. After I finally realised what it was, I just did."
"Bah, you make it sound so simple."
"Isn't it, though? If you wait for the right moment to come by, you could be stuck waiting forever. I just took a few deep breaths and said it. I swear, her eyes literally turned into stars for a moment."
"Haaah, it'll take me a while to muster that kind of courage."
"Well, take your time, Trix. As long as you do say it at one point. That's what counts."
"I suppose it is," she looked into those sky-blue orbs, "you're a good pony, err, person, uhh... you know what I mean."
"Heheh, I think I get the gist of it. And thanks. After all the trouble I've caused, I'm just trying to be the best I can be, you know?"
"I know how that feels," the blazing sun and trickster moon met gazes once again. Trixie raised her glass, "I propose a toast. To kindred spirits!"
"Hear, hear!"

Their glasses clashed with a satisfying clink and they downed their only-mildly-intoxicating beverages. At that moment, the energetic duo of Sonata and Pinkie returned, gorging on some strangely-alluring culinary abomination.

It was a great night.





The goodbyes were always the hardest part. Made all the harder by having to say farewell to someone just as attractive and enchanting as yourself. With the same hairstyle and eyeliner choices. She soon realised that was a very niche concern by most standards. Well, that just meant she was uniquely qualified in this area.

That didn't of course mean parting with the others was any less saddening. Most of all, she thought, with Sunset Shimmer. The firehead shot her a smile:
"Come on, Trix, put a smile on! You can always visit later."
"That much is true," Twilight chimed in, "the portal technology I devised is almost completely stable!"
"Somehow, your exact choice of words does not make me feel less at ease, Twi."
"Perhaps you simply know me well, dear Trixie. And if that is indeed the case," she suddenly reached down into a small bag, "you can very easily tell me what this is."

She pulled out a small, folded paper. Richly decorated and dyed into a golden hue. Trixie positively gasped:
"A ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!"
"Woah, big stuff," Sunset commented, eyeing the coveted ticket, "who's it," Twilight placed it in her hand with a smile and it dawned upon her, "oh, gosh. Oh, gosh."
"I figured, being a princess and all, I'd be allowed to hand out a few invitations of my own. Princess Celestia agreed wholeheartedly."
"I... I don't know what to say. Except," her eyes went wide, "horseapples, I have nothing to wear."

Princess and showpony shared a knowing look, then replied in unison:
"That can be remedied, dear Sunset."