//------------------------------//
// What's in a Cutie Mark? 
// Story: The Magician's Bubblegum 
// by Starlitomega 
//------------------------------//

Following another early morning wake-up call and fitful breakfast, Trixie found herself on Applejack's doorstep once again. She scarcely had time to raise her hoof before a familiar voice called out to her.



"Over here!"



Peering to her left, Trixie saw Applejack pulling a cart out of the barn. She stepped away from the door and walked over to greet her. The cowpony’s gait was sluggish, her hooves barely scraping along the dirt.



"Good morning to you, Applejack. Why are you pulling a cart? Are we not bucking apples today?"



Applejack laughed nervously. "Heh heh, about that…" the cowpony hopped out of her harness. "I uh, didn't really expect you to come back this morning..."



Trixie raised an eyebrow curiously. "And why is that?"



Applejack sighed, plucking her stetson from her head. "I got a confession to make. I kinda overworked ya a tad bit yesterday. Well, more than a tad. Tain’t often us Apples buck trees the whole day like that. Even I'm sore in the saddle this morning. Heck, I don't know how y'all ain't limping around like a dog that got in a tussle with a porcupine."



A slight smile played at Trixie’s lips. Thank the heavens for that massage.



The cowpony’s gaze fell. "I wanted to show you that us regular ponies work hard for what we got. I wanted to teach you a lesson… but I didn't expect you'd make the whole day, much less come back for seconds."



"So that’s why you told me I could stop early."



"Eeeyah. In the end, the only thing I really accomplished was giving myself a sore back," Applejack said, holding her hat close to her chest. "I'm mighty sorry. If you find it in your heart, whaddya say we try this again? No hard feelings?"



Pride welled up in Trixie's chest, though she kept it from crossing her lips. "Of course. I understand the struggle with pride."



Applejack flipped her hat back on her head. "Alright. Well, one good thing about what we did yesterday is that there’s no more apples ready to buck right now. The east field won’t be ready for another week or so. Instead, we'll be movin’ the apples from the barn to the cellar."



"That's it?"



Applejack snorted. "That might not seem like much, but believe me, there's a lotta apples to haul. Follow me and I'll get y’all set up."



Trixie followed the cowpony into the barn, thankful that she might actually be capable of walking back to Sugarcube Corner without limping by day's end.



























Any hopes Trixie had of an easy day were dashed pretty quickly. Lunchtime had come and they had already moved what she thought was at least thirty carts of apples. After an especially large haul, she took a moment to lean against a tree for a quick break.



"Why don’tcha join us for lunch?"



Trixie looked up at Applejack, not believing the words out of the cowpony's mouth.



"I'm not so sure that would be a wise idea," Trixie said, rubbing her hooves together.



Applejack snorted. "What, ya think my kin are gonna lay into ya? They see what yer doin’ here. It'll be fine."



Trixie's stomach growled at the mere mention of food. She had forgotten to pack a lunch that morning, and her belly was doing a great job reminding her. 



"If you're sure it's alright with them..."



Applejack extended a hoof, which Trixie grabbed to pull herself up. "Of course! C'mon, let's go get you some grub."

























Years of being impulsive trained Pinkie on impromptu lessons of courtesy and privacy. Usually in the form of a stern lecture. Of all her impulsive habits though, curiosity had to be her greatest foe. Whether it was putting cake batter in her party cannon, or testing an improvised ten foot tall slingshot, Pinkie could scarcely contain herself when it came her curiosity.  



Today the object of her curiosity was Trixie’s luggage. Particularly, her saddlebags. Even as she neared it, circled it like prey, she knew snooping wasn't a good thing to do. Glancing to the door again, she made sure it was locked before slowly reaching for the bags.



“The window!” 



Like a blur, she ran to her window and looked about to make sure nopony else was looking in before pulling the curtains shut. 



Satisfied she was now completely free from any prying eyes, she reached over and flipped open the bag. She spent quite a while looking over the contents before digging in so she could remember how they were arranged. The first thing she did was push a large book aside and pull out Trixie's hat and cape.



Pinkie whipped out the cape, wrapping it around herself and plopped the hat atop her head. Trotting over to the mirror, she peered at her reflection. “Oooooh, I'm magical!” she exclaimed with a playful giggle.



Taking the accoutrements off, she realized they were a bit dusty and slightly wrinkled, as if Trixie hadn't worn them in quite awhile.



Trixie always wore her hat and cape before. Why would she stop now?



Tossing the hat and cape aside, Pinkie dug through the bag and pulled out that book she ignored a moment ago out. It was a large book that ponies usually wrote important money stuff in. She couldn't remember what it was called, but she had seen the Cakes write in their own all the time. She tried to learn about it once, but ended up falling asleep, collapsing face-first into a delicious chocolate cake.



If Pinkie were completely honest with herself, the collapsing into the cake might have been less than accidental.



The book seemed to be in near flawless shape. Very few marks or scratches marred its cover which seemed odd considering the first date written in it was ten years ago. Flipping through the pages, she could see that Trixie actually made quite a few bits over the years. She wrote down every show, every signing, every expense… even the cupcakes she had bought two days prior. Her accrued fortune of bits dwindled rapidly over the course of just a few short months. She stopped doing shows, stopped any extra spending, and even cut back on food. Looking at the dates, she saw it all started going downhill around the time Twilight had laid her low during their duel. Pinkie closed the book, hugging it like a stuffed animal and sat on her rump, lost in her thoughts.

























The entire Apple family gathered around the table in anticipation for lunch. Even Apple Bloom came home during her lunch period in anticipation of the meal. 



True to Applejack's word, not a single one of the Apples complained, whined, or moaned about Trixie eating with them. This may have been more because they were busy filling their mouths with food. Trixie learned through the years that sometimes, the best way to shut a pony up was by putting a good meal in front of them. Unfortunately, the silence did finally come to an end.



"How come yer not wearing yer cape an’ hat?" asked the oldest pony at the table.



Trixie looked away. "It... needs to be washed."



"Granny, please," Applejack said.



"What? I was just askin’ a question! I thought they looked mighty pretty, that's all," the older pony groused.



Silence took hold again as the family continued their meal.



"So, uhhh, Trixie. You said ya did some bucking for other farms, right?" Applejack asked.  



The unicorn swallowed the last remnants of a delicious apple fritter and cleared her throat. "Yes, actually. I spent the majority of my time harvesting for a group of pear farmers outside Hoofington. It was part time work, but it helped keep me afloat, nonetheless. I seem to recall them mentioning the Apple family several times during my stay."



Apple Bloom's eyes lit up. "Really? What'd they say?"



"They were complaining about the harvest being behind. That's why they hired me in the first place. The eldest pony shouted now and then that the Apples wouldn't stand for running behind like that, and they shouldn't either."



Granny Smith tapped her hoof on the table, her eyes searching the ceiling for an invisible clue. "Eldest pony, huh? Pear farmer out of Hoofington?"



Trixie nodded.



"By gum, that has to be Bartlett! Ah ain't heard hide nor hair ‘bout him in a dog's age. He keepin’ them kids in line, Ah hope."



"You know him?" Trixie asked.



Granny Smith slammed the table, causing everyone's plates to jump. "Sure do, young'n! Bartlett ran a tight ship for years. Chances are if you’ve eaten a pear on the other side of Canterlot, it was a Bartlett Farms pear. Ah should probably write him sometime. Sounds like he still runs a decent farm if he helped train you. You buck apples pretty good for a prissy pants pony. Don't she, Big Mac?"



The larger, intimidating stallion gave a nod. "Eeeyup."



"Granny..." Applejack started.



"Don't you granny me, ya stubborn filly! Ah saw her workin’ yesterday. Tain't many ponies keep up with Applejack here! She didn't even wanna get up today, her rump was so busted."



Big Mac let a deep laugh escape his lips, just in time to see Applejack glaring at him. Of course, with Pinkie's massage last night, they weren't exactly competing on a level playing field.



"It's nothing, really," Trixie said.



Granny Smith winked at her. "Nonsense! Something about ya has changed since you were last here, and Ah'd say it's something for tha better.”



If you consider being homeless better...



"Whew. I think I'm done with lunch," Applejack said, pushing her plate towards the center of the table. "If I eat anymore, I ain't gonna feel like workin."



Trixie pushed her plate away. "I think I’ve reached my limit as well."



"But, ya only had two apple fritters," Apple bloom pointed out.



"Yeah!" Granny Smith agreed. "Last time y’all were around, you were a bit more healthy lookin’. Now ya look like one a dem scarecrows we keep standin over tha corn! Ya really should eat a bit more."



Ever since the bits got tight, Trixie had cut to back on her eating. Looking down at herself, it was probably pretty obvious she had skipped a meal or two now and again. 



"It’s nothing, really. Just a new diet I've been trying." Though her lie was flawless, it didn't take an expert to see that none of the ponies present believed her, nor did they protest.



"Well, alrighty then. Guess we'd better get back to it," Applejack announced, grabbing her hat off the back of her chair.

























Despite the lean meal she had at lunch, Trixie had enough energy to keep going. She kept pace with Applejack, but only just. Massage or not, Trixie just didn’t have the raw stamina that the cowpony did. 



"Alright, I think that's enough for today," Applejack announced as she jumped out of the empty cart's harness.



Trixie hid her relief as best she could. "Really? Yesterday we worked closer to sundown.”



"Right, but we had plenty of work to do yesterday. Now that the apples have been bucked and stored, there just ain't nothing left for us right now," Applejack explained.



“Oh. I guess that would be a problem. Will you need me tomorrow, then?"



Applejack rubbed her chin. "Ya know, being that Apple bloom don’t have school tomorrow, I might just get you two to handle my chores. Might be nice to have a day to myself during the harvest season."



"Is that a yes?" Trixie asked hopefully.



"Sure! Why not? Be here early tomorrow morning. You help Apple bloom do her chores, and I'll finally turn ya loose with your pay."



"Thanks, Applejack. I'll be here," Trixie said as she turned to leave.



"Bye, Trixie! Tell Pinkie I'll be by sometime soon for another of her cinnamon swirl cakes!"

























Pinkie eyed the list before her very carefully. Being a good host means knowing your guests, and choosing an appropriate activity is extremely dependent on your audience. She learned the hard way that you don't go playing apples to oranges when Applejack is around.



Only problem is, Pinkie didn't know Trixie that well. What good is there in choosing something to do, when you know next to nothing about the pony in question? She knew there was only one way to decide what they should do. She rolled up the scroll, closed her eyes, unrolled it, and put her hoof on a random spot.



"That will be perfect!"



Pinkie rolled up the scroll and dashed downstairs in a flash.

























Trixie was quite excited, having finished her job early, but now she realized what the most beneficial part of going back to Sugarcube Corner in the evening was.



There were a lot fewer ponies on the street.



Today, in the midday sun, she caught quite a few nasty glances, and several ponies backing away in sheer terror.



It's hard to imagine them being frightened of me now.



As carefully and quickly as she could without raising suspicion, she reached Sugarcube Corner and darted inside.



"Hey, Trixie!" Pinkie called out. "You're back early today."



The unicorn walked swiftly through the lobby, not wanting to linger in front of the patrons eating and enjoying each others company. "Applejack said we were done, so she let me go early."



Pinkie furrowed her brow. “Wait, if you're done, does that mean you're off tomorrow?"



"Not exactly. Applejack said she wants an off day, so I'll be filling in to do her normal chores."



"Oh, okay! I was just finishing something special for us to do," Pinkie said, motioning for Trixie to follow her into the kitchen. Trixie obeyed, following the pink mare. On the cooling table sat a large assortment of various baked goods and pastries piled high.



"Ta-da! These are new ideas I had for experimental treats! The Cakes said they want me to come up some new items, and the best part is, you're my new taste-tester!"



Trixie eyed the assortment of baked goods carefully. "There's nothing weird or disgusting in them? Like licorice, or toothpaste?"



Pinkie shook her head frantically. "Nope! Everything here is completely safe to eat!"



"I suppose there wouldn't be any harm in just offering my opinion then."



Pinkie smiled, scooped up the treats, and placed them on a platter. Unfortunately, there were a few too many, so they started tumbling down. Trixie caught them with her magic and placed them on a separate platter. 



"Thanks a lot! C'mon! Let's take these upstairs!"



Trixie followed closely behind with the second platter as her stomach rumbled in anticipation.

























"Uggghhh... how did I let you talk me into this?" Trixie groaned.



"How did I talk myself into this?" Pinkie complained, rubbing her sore belly with her hooves.



Both ponies were lying down on Pinkie's bed. Between them, the platters were now completely empty, barring a few crumbs.



Trixie rolled over slowly so as not to upset her stomach any further. "If you held a harness to my head, I would have to say the triple fudge macadamia brownies were the best."



Pinkie nodded in agreement. "I think the only real bomb was the prune and apple muffin. Prunes and apples just don't go well together."



Trixie nodded in agreement. During their marathon tasting session, the sun had fallen outside, blanketing the town in darkness.



"Trixie?"



The unicorn looked to the mare lying next to her. “Hmmm?”



"Why don't you wear your hat and cape anymore?"



Silence fell for a moment.



"I have no need of them."



"Why not?"



"I... I haven't worked a show since I last left Ponyville."



"But... isn't performing your special talent?"



Trixie let out a slow sigh. "After the duel, it never felt right. Something changed in me that day. I had told myself before that I was great if I simply said so. Your friends showed me just how wrong I was."



Pinkie rolled over and tapped a hoof to her chin. "Wait, you mean you're not going to put on shows anymore? What are you going to do to make money?"



"I... I don't know. Maybe I'm just not cut out to perform. Perhaps my cutie mark wasn't meant for performing in the first place."



Both ponies sat quietly, lost in their own thoughts. Without warning, Pinkie slid off the bed and walked to her dresser, while Trixie merely watched in curiosity. After rummaging through her drawer, the pink mare removed a pack of playing cards, causing Trixie to raise an eyebrow.



Pinkie popped open the cards and dropped one into her left hoof. She showed the card openly to Trixie, revealing it to be a nine of clubs. She winked at Trixie and made a flourish with her hoof, causing the card to disappear. Pinkie rotated her hoof to show that the card had, indeed, disappeared. Pinkie then pulled out five cards from the deck. She revealed them one at a time, and when she got to the last one, she flipped it to reveal it was the nine of clubs.



"Ta-da!"



Trixie clapped softly and smiled. "That's a good trick. It's been some time since I've seen that one. Why the impromptu show?"



Pinkie put the deck back in the drawer. "You can still put on shows! You should do illusion magic!"



Trixie thought about this for a moment, but quickly shook her head. "I have done illusionary magic in the past, but it's been far too long. Besides, I would need equipment and costumes. I appreciate the thought, Pinkie, but I don't think I'll be doing any more performances."



Pinkie's smile drooped, obviously disappointed that Trixie had shot down her idea. The unicorn thought it best to let the subject stay down rather than disappoint the pink mare further. She reached for the pull out bed and slinked into it.



After a few minutes of shuffling and getting comfy, the lamp by Pinkie's bedside went out, bathing the room in darkness.



"Good night, Trixie."



"Good night, Pinkie."

























Trixie crested the final hill to Sweet Apple Acres, the awkward breakfast at Sugarcube Corner still rattling in her head. All morning long Pinkie seemed quiet, not offering any witticisms or random outbursts. They simply ate breakfast and said their goodbyes for the day. Luckily, she wouldn't have too long to ruminate about her roommate’s odd behavior, as Apple Bloom stepped out of the farmhouse to greet her.



"Mornin', Trixie! Applejack said you and me’s got the chores for today."



At least she doesn't appear to be holding a grudge.



"That's what she told me yesterday."



Apple Bloom scampered off toward the barn. "Well, what're ya waitin’ for? If we get the chores done early, I can meet up with the crusaders and we can go find our cutie marks!"



Trixie started after the energetic filly in the vain hope of keeping up. "What are we doing first?"



Applebloom looked back at Trixie. "First thing is feedin' the pigs!"



Pigs... how wonderful.

























Pinkie’s eyes darted in every direction, scanning for nearby spies or ne’er do wells. Once the coast was clear, she dashed across the road and jumped into a nearby barrel. She looked through a hole in the side and peered through it. Next, she ran down the main street, dodging and weaving through the empty thoroughfare. With surprising grace, she jumped into a flowerpot, burying herself completely beneath the plant. Once more, she looked around to ensure nopony was following her. 



She quickly raised her hoof from under the dirt and knocked on the door. Seconds later it opened, and a mare with a blue coat and an orange mane stepped out.



"Hello? Who is—"



The pony was interrupted by a pink blur, which tackled her and closed the door behind them.



"Pinkie Pie, what are you doing? Oh, is that the—"



"Shhhhh!" Pinkie said, holding a hoof over the pony's mouth. The restrained mare calmly smiled, removed Pinkie's hoof, and stood up.



"Honestly, Pinkie, I don't know why you're so high-strung over this."



Pinkie rolled her eyes and pushed her parcel into the mare’s hooves. "Because it's supposed to be a secret, duh!"



"Right, okay then. Top level secrecy. I'll take a look at these tonight and see if I can make something with them. I can't imagine it will be that difficult. I'll bring them by when I'm finished."



"Pinkie smiled and hugged the other pony. "Thanks, Iris! You're the best!"



Iris chuckled in her Canterlot accent. "You know it."

























Trixie would never claim to be an expert farmer, but after a few days with the apples, she thought she might know enough to fool another pony into thinking she was. Having fed all the animals, the only thing left to do was water crops and clean the pigs. Trixie held a garden hose with her magic, spraying a large section of corn, making sure she didn’t soak any one area too much.



"Hey, Trixie?"



The unicorn looked down at Apple Bloom. The filly looked hesitant, as if she might have done something wrong.



"Yes?"



"I was just wonderin’, what's your special talent?"



Trixie stared back at the filly. She didn't exactly know how to describe it in a single word or as a label. She thought for a moment and came up with a good summation.



"I am a performer."



Apple Bloom lifted one of her eyebrows questioningly.



"I tell stories to ponies that leave them amazed and bewildered," Trixie clarified.



"You mean stories like the time you beat a giant bear?" Apple Bloom asked with a huff.



The unicorn's face went beet red. "T-Trixie... may embellish the truth at times," she admitted.



"So, is what Applejack said true?' The little filly asked.



"What do you mean?"



Apple Bloom scratched the ground nervously. "Like, how ya don't have no home, or that you're runnin’ outta money, and that ya have no friends."



The garden hose hit the ground with a solid thump, dropped by her faltering magic. Though she had heard two other ponies describe her life in such a dire way, it still hadn't quite lost its bite. It sounded even worse coming from a filly of more than half her age. Trixie picked the hose back up again with her magic and resumed her watering.



"It is true. The wagon I rode to Ponyville in was my only home. After the ursa smashed it, I lived from inn to inn and job to job. Ponies all over Equestria by then knew me as a fraud. I could no longer perform without being jeered offstage."



"So, if your special talent is performing and you can't do that anymore, how are you supposed to live up to your cutie mark?" Apple Bloom asked.



"I don't know..."



The only sound to follow was the gentle spraying of water falling onto the crops.

























At the Ponyville Spa, two ponies in particular were lying on therapeutic beds while Aloe and Lotus worked their magic. 



"It's been far too long since I done this."



Applejack moaned gratefully while Aloe gently, but firmly, kneaded her back.



"Doesn't it feel so wonderful to relax after working hard all the time?" Fluttershy asked.



"Sometimes I think you and Rarity are crazy for coming to this place so often. I gotta admit, though, it sure beats trying to get a massage out of Big Mac. Lemme tell ya, last time I asked him to work out the kinks, I thought he’d snapped my spine."



Fluttershy smiled at her. "We all need a break now and then."



“This is true, Miss Applejack,” Aloe began. “If you came to us sooner, you would not be in such pain.”



Applejack rolled her eyes. "I know. It’s just hard to get away from the farm is all. Speaking of pain, Trixie sure weren't the pushover I was expectin’ her to be."



Fluttershy lifted her head. "Oh? What happened?"



Applejack huffed. "Well, I ain't none too proud of this, but the first day she came over to work, I pushed her pretty hard. We both got more done than I usually do in three days! The next day, she shows up like tweren't nothing to it! Meanwhile, I'm nursing an aching back. I hadn't seen anything like it!"



Fluttershy tilted her head. "Maybe she came here and got a massage?"



Aloe and Lotus shook their heads, continuing their careful work.



"Well, that rules that out. One thing's for sure. She ain't crumbling like I thought she would.”



Fluttershy's eyes widened. "You don't think she found some spell or something, and that she's just waiting for the right time to use it for revenge like Rarity said, do you?"



Applejack closed her eyes and thought back to the time she had spent with the unicorn. "Ya know what? I might just be plain foolish, but I think she has changed. She just ain't the same pony she used to be. Apple Bloom kicked over one of her baskets and she didn’t even so much as raise her voice. I was half expecting her to hogtie her for that."



The silence hung in the air like a raincloud threatening to ruin a picnic.



"Applejack, do you think a pony like Trixie should be given a second chance?"



The cowpony mulled over Fluttershy’s words. "I don't think it rightly matters. I think if a pony knows what they did is wrong, and they do everything in their power to avoid doing it again, I think they should be forgiven."



A kind smile appeared on Fluttershy's lips. "I think so too."

























Meanwhile in a place far from rest, relaxation or comfort, Trixie found her frustrations being put to their maximum limits. 



"Just let me wash you, you beastly creature!"



A small piglet ran between Trixie’s legs as it squealed and scampered around the pen. Apple Bloom and the extended audience of pigs were content to watch and let out a laugh or snort now and again.



"Don't you want to be clean so you can go and get dirty again, you little beast?"



Trixie followed the little piglet around the edges of the pen. She was breathing heavily as she struggled to close the gap. Finally, mere inches away, she leapt into the air, reaching out for the piglet. Right before her hooves made contact, the piglet turned. Trixie hit the ground, burying her face in a puddle of mud. 



The unicorn’s eyes flared as she stood up in the goopy slurry. "Rrrragh! Now you're going to get it!"



Trixie's horn glowed enveloping the piglet in a magical aura. The piglet squealed louder as it left the ground, thrashing about as if it were in mortal danger. The garden hose lifted as well in the unicorn's magical grasp and sprayed the creature, removing days of caked on dirt, mud, and Celestia only knows what else.



"Ya know, normally I'd frown on using magic on my farm, but Scampers there is quite a handful," Applejack said as she neared the pen.



Trixie blew a lock of mud caked hair out of her eyes. "I can see why the little terror earned such a name," Trixie replied. 



The piglet, now clean but still squealing, gently touched the ground. Trixie released the magic holding it in place and watched as it ran off to the side of the pen where its mother waited patiently.



"Apple Bloom. Are y'all just now gettin’ around to cleanin’ the pigs?" Applejack asked.



"Course not, Sis!" the filly answered as she clung to the fence. "When Ah told Trixie here how bad Scampers was at takin a bath, she said we should do it last."



Trixie's shaking hoof peeled off a clump of mud and let it fall to the ground with a wet splat. "I'm not sure I could have made the entire day in such a state," she muttered, her lips quivering in a pout.



Applejack nudged the blue mare in her side. "Aw c'mon now. Y’all said ya weren't afraid to get dirty."



"Dirty is one thing, this is... unbearable!" Trixie complained. She felt a strong hoof tug at her gently.



"Well c'mon in and get cleaned up. No need being all filthy since y'all are done," Applejack said.



Trixie nodded and followed the cowpony and her energetic sister to the farmhouse.

























"Here it is!"



Rainbow Dash blew across the top of an old box, sending a dust cloud up in the air. She grabbed the box and thrusted it towards Pinkie. "Here you go. I gotta warn you, though, I don't have any good reels for it."



Pinkie grabbed the box and smiled back at Rainbow. "Don't worry about that! I know where I can get a ton of them."



"If you say so. Don't forget to grab the screen, too."



Pinkie stopped her march to the door and reached out for the roll of plastic and its stand. "Thanks again, Rainbow! You should come over one night and have a slumber party with us," Pinkie Pie suggested.



"I'll think about."



Pinkie smiled and opened the door with her mouth, her hooves being full and all. She couldn't wait until tonight.

























Trixie stepped back and looked at herself in the mirror. She scrutinized every last inch of her face, looking for any mud she might have missed. Perhaps she wasn’t as healthy as she used to be, maybe her mane wasn’t as well kept as it once was. Even in these trying times, Trixie took every step she could to keep her appearance at it’s best.



Perfect!



She placed the towel, emblazoned with apple symbolism, into the hamper. She gave herself one last look in the mirror and smiled. Trixie walked out of the bathroom and made her way down to the kitchen where Applejack was hastily scrawling numbers into a ledger.



"I can only imagine how hard it is to keep one of those on a farm," Trixie offered, breaking the silence.



Applejack closed the ledger and rolled her eyes. "Boy howdy, you ain't a kiddin’! We used to take turns writing things down, but I got tired of trying to guess if Big Mac's I's were L's, or if somepony forgot to write something down. After awhile, I decided it would be better if I handled it."



Trixie smiled a knowing smile and took a seat at the table. "When you want a job done right..."



"Do it yerself," Applejack finished. After a little more scribbling in the book, the cowpony dropped her quill and pulled out a pouch of bits. "There you are! Two hundred bits."



Trixie looked almost aghast. "T-two hundred? Isn't that a bit much? Not that I'm complaining, mind you."



Applejack just waved it away dismissively. "We got lots more done than I ever would’ve without ya. Go on now... take‘em. You earned it."



Trixie smiled gratefully, grabbed the pouch, and put it away. "Thank you, Applejack. At this rate, it won't be long before I can buy a new wagon."



The cowpony tilted her head. "I've been meanin’ to ask, what are y'all gonna do after all this?"



The joy in Trixie's heart melted instantly. "I... I don't know. I would love to perform again, but it hasn't exactly worked out well for me lately."



Applejack snorted. "No offense, but just maybe ponies don't like hearing other ponies bragging about themselves, and then bein’ hogtied to prove their point."



Trixie cringed. Looking back now, she could scarcely believe the stunts she pulled. "I know. It's just... it's all I've ever done."



The cowpony's face softened. "Ya know, Sugarcube, maybe you could tell stories about other ponies. Ya sure seem to know how to draw a crowd."



"That I do," the showmare said with a wry smile. "I should probably get back soon. Pinkie will start wondering where I’ve gone."



Applejack rose from the table. "Alright then. We're about to start up supper soon anyway. Tell Pinkie I said hey. It sure was good having an extra set of hooves on the farm."



"Bye, Applejack. I hope to see you around," Trixie said as she made for the door.

























The walk back to town was fairly uneventful. Trixie garnered fewer glares and spiteful looks. The ones she did receive, though, still bothered her. Pushing open the door to Sugarcube Corner, she caught yet another derisive glare from Mrs. Cake. Trixie walked across the lobby of the bakery quickly, not wanting to become the center of attention. She went up the stairs and down the hall to Pinkie's room.  Anxious to get off her feet, she opened the bedroom door.



"Oh, shoot!"



Trixie felt something hit her hooves. Looking down, she saw a round flat canister lying on the floor. "Problems?" Trixie asked, raising an eyebrow.



Pinkie, who seemed to be chasing several of the canisters rolling about the room, fired her a quick grin. "No, no. I've got everything under control! Just you wait, this'll be great!"



Trixie walked into the room cautiously, dodging another canister rolling across the floor. "Ummm, what exactly will be great?"



Pinkie abandoned the chase and turned to Trixie. "I borrowed the projector and screen from Rainbow Dash. We're gonna watch a movie!"



Trixie pulled her ledger out of her saddlebags and placed it on the nightstand. She wasted no time in scribbling down the bits she got from Applejack and then tucked it away. "A movie? That should be interesting. It's been quite awhile since I've had time to watch one. I finished working with Applejack today."



"Cool! That means tomorrow you'll be working for—"



"Rainbow Dash. How am I supposed walk on clouds anyway?" Trixie asked.



Pinkie trotted over to her nightstand and reached in to grab something out of the drawer. "There's two ways. You can either have Twilight cast a cloudwalking spell..."



"Or?"



Pinkie pulled out a small necklace and tossed it toward Trixie. "Or you can wear this! It's a necklace that Twilight enchanted with a cloudwalking spell."



Of course she did. I’m surprised she hasn’t learned how to just give a pony wings.



Trixie stared at it curiously. "So, I just wear this, and I can walk on clouds? Has anypony tested it?"



Pinkie nodded furiously. "Yup! I tested it myself! I fell the first time, but that was because I forgot to put it on and left it in the basket."



"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Trixie rolled her eyes while Pinkie smiled obliviously. "What movie are we watching?"



"I can't tell you, it's a surprise!" the pink pony announced.



"A surprise? Well, what kind of movie is it?"



"You'll see..."

























“I can’t tell you about our clients. That’s confidential. Anyway, how is your personal life?”



Trixie's eyes were glued to the screen in morbid curiosity. She had long since stopped reaching for the popcorn Pinkie offered to share, and instead absorbed the cinematic catastrophe happening on-screen."What in the hay am I watching?"



"It's pretty terrible, isn't it?" Pinkie asked. Popcorn mulch flew out of her mouth.



Trixie tilted her head sideways in an effort to make it all work somehow. "It's like watching two trains barrel straight for each other.You know you can't stop it from happening, and you can’t look away. The only thing you can do is watch them explode."



The actor on the screen tried to give what he probably thought was a threatening glare. “As far as I'm concerned, you can drop off the earth. That's a promise.”



"Just... wow," was all Trixie could manage. Her head drifted to the right until it hit Pinkie's shoulder. She immediately sat up straight, a blush staining her cheeks. “Sorry."



Pinkie abruptly stopped eating her popcorn. Her eyes fluttered, her ears flapped a few times, and then she let out a sneeze directly into the bowl of popcorn, scattering it several feet in front of her. A bashful grin crawled across Pinkie's lips. “Oops…”



Trixie just grinned and picked up the scattered popcorn with her magic. “Gesundheit.”