Trixie blinked the sunlight out of her eyes, slowly returning to the waking world. She sat up in bed and rubbed her head, momentarily forgetting where she was. The world came into focus, the familiar sight of the hotel room greeting Trixie as she woke up. She smiled; despite having slept here once before, she still wasn’t used to sleeping somewhere that wasn’t the bed in her caravan or, once right after her Ponyville escapade, out in the wild. She laid back down, nuzzling her head back into the pillow. Just five more minutes… she promised herself. Then Trixie will get up… go get some breakfast, plan tonight’s show, hunt down that cape thief…
Trixie jolted awake. The thief! He could be out and about at this very moment. No time for rest, Trixie must go find that charlatan as soon as she can! The sooner she gets back what’s rightfully hers, the better she can plan her performance. She got out of bed, pausing only a minute to grab her bits pouch from off the table beside her. She left her apartment and headed to the first floor, moving quickly down the stairs. She trotted through the lobby and exited, emerging out on the streets of Canterlot.
Ponies bustled around, inhabiting the entire city now that there wasn’t an event for them to watch. Though most of the festivities happened near the festival area, there were quite a few ponies selling carnival souvenirs or just having a good time overall. Trixie passed by few musical ponies, playing an upbeat tune as they led a group of dancing ponies through the streets. Trixie paid them no mind, instead opting to focus on seeking out the pony that she hoped would still be wearing her outfit.
Trixie patrolled the streets, keeping an eye out for any sign of the mysterious pony. Hours passed, the sun rising up into the sky above her, with no success. Half past noon, Trixie decided the search could wait just a moment, taking a detour into the nearest café.
Trixie took her place in line behind a few ponies, browsing the menu as the line slowly surged forward. Moments later her turn came, and Trixie strode up to the yellow-coated teenage colt running the counter. She ordered a muffin and tea, dropping her bits pouch on the counter as the colt went to retrieve her order. She counted out the payment, noticing that her money supply was starting to get low.
This could be a bit troublesome, she realized. Trixie’s going to have to cut back on a few meals… or, Celestia forbid… get a day job. With a shudder, Trixie reattached the pouch to her side as the colt returned, carrying a steaming cup of tea and a blueberry muffin. Trixie thanked the cashier and exited the line with her lunch, making her way towards the nearest table and curiously glancing out the café’s front window.
…Wait a moment. Trixie paused, focusing all her attention on what she saw outside. From the left side of the window walked a pony, the hat on its head blocking its face. “MY hat,” Trixie breathed, breaking into a run. She realized too late that ponies weren’t made to run on just two legs as she tripped over her own feet, clumsily landed flat on her stomach. Her muffin fell to the floor right in front of the exit, getting splashed by the tea that fell right after it. Trixie groaned and quickly rose to her feet, determined not to let the thief escape her. She stepped forward, only to bump into the cashier colt.
“Let me help you with that miss,” he offered. He bent low to wipe up the spill, blocking Trixie’s path.
“Er… thanks, but could you possibly move out of Trixie’s way?” The unicorn asked, worriedly glancing out the window and seeing the cloaked pony exiting from view.
The colt didn’t budge. “A little patience mam, I’ll get this cleaned up and we can see about getting you a replacement…”
“Oh no, there’s no need, Trixie just wants to leave. Could you… hey, are you listening?” The colt continued to block the door. This foal’s wasting time! Trixie thought, considering her options. Deciding a some rudeness was warranted, she let a short burst of magic flare out of her horn, shoving the colt out of the way.
“Hey!” He protested, sliding a short ways across the room. Trixie ignored him, barging out the exit and back into the streets. She looked around, the shady pony nowhere to be seen. Blast! she cursed, quickly pondering what to do next. She began dodging through the throng of pedestrians and carnival celebrators, heading in the direction she saw the thief going. She ran, realizing only right before she got there where she was heading to.
Trixie glanced up, inspecting the sign hanging from a couple lampposts. She groaned, realizing it was the one place she was hoping she could have avoided during these two weeks. Determined to keep up the hunt, Trixie ran under the sign, leaving it behind to declare it’s message to anypony passing by:
Welcome to the Celestial Carnival fairgrounds!
Trixie was immediately overtaken by how different the heart of the holiday was from its outskirts. While ponies were prone to reveling everywhere in Canterlot, the fairgrounds itself was filled to the brim with ponies having a good time. Ponies surrounded her on all sides; some were getting into lines for rides or food stands, some were offering their wares or going about their business, but everypony was having fun. The downside to that, of course, was that Trixie could barely see ahead of her with the massive crowd surging around her.
Trixie passed through the crowd, shouldering her way through protesting ponies. She found a break in the group, stepping out into the middle of the street. Catching her breath from the run, she enjoyed the lack of ponies as she eyed her surroundings. Up ahead stood a tall building, adorned with shiny yellow and gold fabric. Trixie’s eyes narrowed as she saw something enter the building; a fleeting glimpse of purple. With a grin, Trixie resumed her run and charged into the structure. I’ve got you now, you…
…you… oh my. Trixie blinked, a reflection of herself responding in kind. She stepped forward, a thumping sound resounding around the room as she walked straight into a wall. She rubbed her nose and felt in front of her, inspecting what she’d run into. The reflection in front of her repeated her motions, its face falling as its owner came to a realization.
A hall of mirrors. Trixie looked around, and dozens of copies of her looked back. It can never be easy, she moaned. She began weaving her way forward, occasionally bumping into a reflection of herself. Minutes passed by, with Trixie beginning to get dizzy from all the circles she’d managed to walk in. Suddenly, a flash of purple shot across the mirror she was looking at.
“You there! Stop!” She commanded, changing her path and running towards where she saw the scrap of purple.
Slam!
Trixie bounced off the mirror, dazed. She peeked up, noting that a purple caped-pony was glancing around curiously. Trixie watched as the pony’s reflection shrugged and began walking away… into the sunlight of the exit.
“No!” Trixie cried out, quickly getting back on her feet. She began working her way through the maze again, taking caution to not have another embarrassing run in with herself. Moments later, a glow began to grow in front of her. Trixie walked to it, emerging back out onto the fairgrounds. Trixie smiled, glad to be free of the confusing building. The smile fell, however, when she realized the pony was gone once again.
Cursing under her breath, Trixie decided she’d had enough of this. “You! With the purple hat and cape! Show yourself!” She looked back and forth, glaring in all directions. Ponies began shooting her nervous looks as she eyed them up and down, a few ponies quickening their pace to get away from the shouting unicorn. A flash of purple walked a little too close to Trixie and she lashed out, turning to face the intruder.
“You!” She accused. The random blue stallion backed away slowly, his purple wristband glinting in the sunlight.
“I…I don’t want any trouble, m-miss,” the pony blathered before turning and breaking into a run. Trixie just then noticed the nervous and curious looks being shot her way, a warm blush rising to her face as she calmed herself down. Deciding to walk away with what little dignity she had left, she snuck into the crowd, headed back in the direction of her apartment.
Okay, you win this round, thief, Trixie mused. But it’s not over yet. If you were looking for me at the show yesterday, surely you’ll be looking for me tonight as well. And Trixie will be waiting for you, oh yes…
Trixie peered out from backstage, scanning the crowd. It took her a bit, but eventually her eyes settled on the all too-familiar figure of the cloaked pony seated near the front of the stage. Trixie maneuvered herself around, trying to get into a position where the stage lights weren’t blocking the pony’s appearance from view. With a sigh, she gave up, deciding to watch the show onstage. It was a few acts before it would be her turn to go, and she ran her plan through her head again as she watched a few acting ponies perform a relatively good rendition of Shakestallion for their performance.
Trixie thinks she can recall the spell… after all, she did do it successfully back in Ponyville. But what really matters is what the spell is supposed to deliver… She took her hat off her head, the same hat as last night, and checked to make sure what she needed was still within. Inside sat a scrap of paper, with ‘201E, Pegasus Plaza’ scribbled onto it. Trixie smirked, planting the hat back on her head.
Trixie watched the next few acts go by. She’d finished planning her act early, and had decided to head to the stage right afterwards. Trixie watched from the wings as act after act went by; a musical interlude from a white unicorn DJ got the crowd dancing, followed by a group of dressed-up mares performing a dancing routine. Finally, the jester from yesterday put on another show, deciding to use the fire again to hit targets placed around the stage. The show ended when the performer got a direct hit on a target way in the back of the stadium, and the audience went wild. The jester took his leave, and Trixie took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing, she thought. Grabbing a cluster of smoke bombs and aiming carefully, Trixie let loose with a barrage of the little black pellets. They spread out over the stage, bursting and clouding the stage in a dark mist. Trixie snuck through, depositing props around the stage as the smoke took its time dissipating. Trixie dropped off the last prop and took her place in the middle of the stage as the smoke finally cleared.
“Fillies and gentlecolts!” She began, starting her usual tirade. “Gaze in awe at the stupefying magic of the Great and Powerful TRIXIE!” Trixie peeked out of the corner of her eye at the props she’d grabbed: a plethora of fireworks, some rope, and the piece de resistance, a small, mobile cannon she’d found backstage. She grinned gleefully. Oh yes, this will be quite the show.
Trixie stood tall on her hind legs, basking in the applause. “Thank you, thank you!” She called out, bowing low. She quickly scanned the crowd with her eyes, noting the mysterious pony was still in the crowd. Here goes nothing… Trixie stood up and took her hat off her head, raising a hoof over it. She reached inside and let magic course through her horn, focusing intently on the image she wanted to conjure. A few seconds later and Trixie had done it; a small bouquet of bright red roses was now resting inside her hat. Easy, she thought, grabbing the bouquet and the note she’d stashed in one fluid motion.
She dropped her hat back on her head and bowed low, quickly slipping the note deep within the bouquet as she did so. “Thank you, you’ve all been a wonderful audience! Trixie shall see you all again tomorrow!” With that, Trixie released the flowers into the audience, making sure it was directed towards a certain figure.
Trixie began walking offstage, keeping her eyes on the crowd. She smiled brightly and waved at the crowd, watching the bouquet sail away as she did so. A few ponies reached for it, but it eventually fell right into the mystery pony’s hooves. The pony brought the roses close, seemed to smell them, and reached their hoof in when they noticed something odd. They pulled out the note and read it, and Trixie smiled to herself. Success!
She slipped backstage, dropping off her green cape and hat. If things go according to plan, Trixie won’t be needing those shoddy things again, she thought. Trixie shot one last glance out at the crowd, watching it start to disperse, before she exited the stage. She walked out onto the streets of Canterlot, headed back home to prepare for a confrontation with a certain thief.
Trixie watched as her apartment’s door creaked open slowly, a pony in a purple star-adorned hat and cape making its way into the room. The pony glanced around curiously, not noticing when Trixie strode up and swiped the hat off its head. “Now listen here, cretin, Trixie doesn’t know where you get off stealing her things, but…” she blanked out as she saw who she was scolding. A lavender unicorn grinned sheepishly at her.
“Erm… hello to you too, Trixie.”
“…Twilight Sparkle?” Trixie’s confusion turned to anger as her rival stood across from her, wearing the cape she thought had been destroyed. She walked over and swiped the cloak off Twilight’s back, taking care to make sure it was unlatched from around Twilight’s neck first. “First, you have the gall to show up the Great and Powerful Trixie at her own show,” she began,” and then, you steal her prized possessions. I‘d like to say I‘m surprised, but…” Trixie slung the cape onto her back and placed the hat on her head, a sense of calm overtaking her as she reunited with her outfit.
“Excuse me?” Twilight asked, sounding offended. “I dug those out of the ruins of your caravan! I didn’t steal them, I was trying to return them to you! How was I supposed to know they were so special?”
“That’s no excuse.”
Twilight sighed. “Look, I didn’t come here to fight. My friend Pinkie Pie comes here every year with her bosses, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. They usually stay the whole event, and told Pinkie she could bring her friends along. I came to study the event, and… well, I heard that you’d be one of the performers for the festival. I figured it would be the perfect chance to return those to you.” She pointed towards Trixie’s hat and cape.
Trixie thought for a moment. “You… really dug these out of the rubble?”
“Well, it was the least I could do after we treated you like that back at Ponyville. Not that you weren’t asking for it… but, well, we were a little harsh.”
Trixie rubbed her hoof along her cape, the familiar silk a comfort to have back. “Well… thank you, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight smiled. “Also… I had an offer.”
Trixie turned to face the purple unicorn. “Hmmm?”
“Well, I think everypony got off on the wrong hoof. So I was thinking, maybe tomorrow I could take you out to lunch? We could check out the festival grounds, and I could reintroduce you to my friends. What do you say?”
Trixie turned away, pretending to think it over. What does Trixie say, Twilight Sparkle? She says to hay with you and your friends; Trixie’s gotten what she wanted, now you can get out and… her eyes passed over her bit pouch, laid out on the living room table. Its near-emptiness made Trixie rethink the situation. …well, she did offer to take Trixie out to lunch. I’m sure I could put up with that for one day.
Trixie turned back to Twilight. “Well… fine. Trixie accepts.”
Twilight burst into a grin. “Great! How about… hmm… I come get you, tomorrow morning? I know a nice place we can stop at for lunch, and we can see my friends on the way.”
“Yes, sure, fine. Trixie is tired from the show,” Trixie lied, “It’s been lovely getting reacquainted, but Trixie needs her rest. Good night, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Oh, um… okay. Good night, Trixie.” Twilight turned to leave, pausing at the door. “Trixie?”
“Yes?”
“Give my friends a shot; I’m sure they’ll do the same for you.”
Trixie rolled her eyes. “Good night, Twilight Sparkle,” she repeated. Her guest bid her goodnight and left with a wave, leaving Trixie alone. Trixie shrugged and turned, heading down the hall to her bedroom.
Trixie laid down in the dark, thinking over the events of the last hour. What has Trixie gotten herself into, she groaned. Trixie’s plan was to get the two weeks over with and get out. Now, she’s having lunch with her foe, and going to chitchat with her enemy’s friends as well. Trixie sighed, nuzzling further into the bed and wrapping her cape around her. It’d been awhile since she’d used the cape for anything more than a stage outfit; she recalled that the last time she’d used the cape as a blanket, she’d been just a filly. But having it back after thinking it was destroyed was a relief, and she found herself snuggling into the silky cover.
Well, Twilight did reunite Trixie with her cape and hat. She shot a glance to her magician’s hat, resting on the dresser across from her. Trixie is grateful for that. And she did offer to pay for lunch, saving Trixie from wasting anymore of her dwindling funds. She flinched as she recalled Twilight’s friends: an orange earth pony, hogtied onstage for all to see. A white unicorn, obviously upset when Trixie did something as little as changing her hair’s color. A rainbow-maned pegasus, dragged around in a rainbow tornado and deposited out in front of the crowd. Trixie can’t say she’s excited about a reunion with them, though.
Trixie shrugged off her thoughts, deciding to just go to bed. She nuzzled into her pillow, wondering if she’d gotten herself in over her head.