//------------------------------//
// Episode 8: Showtime 
// Story: EoH Evolution: Season 1 
// by Bahamut0 
//------------------------------//

Ace was on his way to Twilight's library. Hope Twilight's got a monster field guide. The Nightmare Forces are our primary concern, but they've been quiet lately. And there's all kinds of beasts from the Everfree Forest that might decide to stir up some trouble. Best to be prepared for when the time comes. Ace knocked on the door, and Spike answered. "Mornin' Spike! What's up?"

"Not much Ace." Spike said with a shrug and a small smile. "Except the fact that Twilight's been mastering all sorts of new tricks. She even grew a moustache on me!" Spike then pouted. "Could've used that to win over Rarity."

Twilight giggled at Spike's frustration. "Glad to see you think so highly of me. Want me to work on a love spell too?" Spike blushed at hearing this! "Hi there Ace. How can I help you out?"

"I wanted to see if you had a field guide for monsters and other mythical creatures roaming around the kingdom." Ace replied with a smile. "It can't hurt to have a little extra information should a monster from the Everfree roam into town." Twilight returned a moment later with the book in tow. "Thanks Twilight. Say, you got any plans?"

Twilight shook her head. "No. Just going out for a walk. But I suppose Spike and I could use some company. And I'd like to hear how things are going with you, Burst, and Inferno." And with that, Ace and Twilight set about talking. "I know you don't have a weapon like the others, but how do you help in the fights?"

"It's quiet right now, but Burst's assigned me as the team's strategist and observer." Ace replied. "But if I get grounded, he and Steel are teaching me to hold my own in a fight. Then again, the whole point of a team is to have people who are good at different areas. You and the girls for example. Applejack's your brawler. Fluttershy's your animal expert. Rarity is your technique fighter. Rainbow Dash is your speed and air fighter. Pinkie's your wild card. And obviously, you're the magic specialist. From what Spike says, you're pretty skilled. Especially since your Princess Celestia's private student."

Twilight beamed at the praise. "Well, that's very nice of you to say Ace. But I'd prefer not to elevate the status of my skill that much. Normally most Magi have a small pool of magic to draw from that's linked to the talent represented to their Talent Crest. But since my talent is magic, I've got quite the larger amount of magic to draw upon. I haven't exactly been able to test my full capacity, but maybe I could try it with Burst! He's certain durable enough. And he's got a huge amount of magic to pull from since his dad's an Avatar."

"I'll see if I can pencil you in." Ace said with a chuckle. He soon came to a stop when he saw a crowd gathering around a stage. "Huh? What's going on here?"

"COME ONE, COME ALL!" A boastful voice called out from behind the stage curtain. "WITNESS THE AMAZING MAGIC OF THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!" As the curtain pulled apart, a smoke bomb went off! Revealing a blue Magi woman wearing purple boots, black leggings, a white short-sleeve dress shirt with a blue vest, and a purple hat and cape with stars and moons on it. As soon as she had the audience's attention, Trixie began boasting about various feats. In particular, vanquishing an Ursa Major. And her boasting didn't sit well with the rest of the Main 6 in the audience. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack challenged Trixie, and she utterly humiliated them in front of the audience. "Are there any other naysayers out there? Come on out! Trixie challenges you Unityville! Anything you can do, Trixie can do better!

Ace noticed Twilight starting to leave, and stopped her. "And just where do you think you're going Twilight?"

"Ace...you saw what Trixie was doing up there." Twilight said sadly. "She was flaunting her magic around, and used it to mock my friends! They HATED seeing her use magic! And if I go up there, they'll probably hate me too for showing off!"

Ace sighed. "Twilight...that's not why they hated Trixie." Ace put a hand on Twilight's shoulder. "They didn't like Trixie because she's up there boasting of feats she couldn't possibly have accomplished. I should know." Ace lifted up the Dragon's Eye gem of his necklace, and looked into Trixie's heart. "Behind all that bluster is someone whose true skill is pitiful. She does what she can to make herself look good." Ace let go of his necklace, and looked to Twilight. "You shouldn't be afraid of showing what you can do. Your magic's a part of who you are. And there's nothing wrong with taking a stand for your friends. What you have doesn't matter. What matters is what you do with it." Ace then offered Twilight an encouraging smile. "The stage is waiting for you Twilight. It's showtime!"

Twilight slowly smiled, and calmly walked up to the stage. "I accept your challenge." Twilight then used her magic to conjure up a spectacular display of a warrior fighting a dragon! One that put Trixie's fireworks to shame. Needless to say, Trixie didn't take defeat gracefully.

"Hmph! It appears you have some talent on you." Trixie said with a flip of her hair. "Your mentor obviously knew what they were teaching you. So how did you learn such barely passable skills?"

Twilight frowned. "I learned at Celestia's School for Gifted Magi. And my teacher was Princess Celestia herself. Maybe I could get you to attend a few lectures and learn some real magic?" Trixie's smug look was instantly gone. Twilight stepped down from the stage, and saw her friends gather around her. "I'm...sorry you had to see that." She was pleasantly surprised when they all scooped her into a group hug.

"What's there to be sorry for?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You shut that loudmouth up good! Who knew you had sick burns in you?"

Applejack nodded in agreement. "Ain't no shame in talkin' big if you can keep it up sugarcube. And hoo boy! Did you back it up big time up there!"

"Simply marvelous darling!" Rarity chimed in.

Pinkie nodded excitedly! "Uh huh! Uh huh! You TOTALLY owned her up there!"

"yay!" Fluttershy said meekly. But as Twilight was showered with compliments from her friends, Trixie was seething with jealousy. She stormed off to her wagon, and tried to think of ways that she could prove herself the better Magi. 

How could a nobody like her be Celestia's private student?! Trixie mentally screamed! Well, it's the princess's loss! I'm glad I dropped out! Those idiots wouldn't know magical talent if it bit them in their butts! I just need a way to prove I'm better than her! And it was then that Trixie got an incredibly stupid idea. Maybe it's time I make my little vanquishing tale come true. That night, Trixie made her way to a cave in the forest. "Finding a dangerous creature to vanquish out here shouldn't be too hard. And how hard could slaying one possibly be?" Trixie brought her light spell right into the face of an Ursa! And the gigantic bear didn't take kindly to being rudely awakened! "AAAAAHHHH" Trixie screamed as she ran back to Unityville! The Ursa giving chase! The cosmic bear's roar waking the whole town! It wasn't long before the whole town was cowering before the beast! 

But just as the cosmic beat was about to attack, the faint sound of music began to lull the beast. Everyone looked to the grass, and saw magic blowing through it! They then saw Twilight using her magic to not only blow wind through the grass, but also to levitate the town's water tower like a giant bottle as she lifted the Ursa with her magic! Once the bear was safely returned to its cave, Twilight let out a sigh of relief. "That took some doing."

Ace, clad in his pajamas, approached Twilight. "Well, you can add one more feat under your belt. You've officially vanquished and Ursa Major."

"About that. Trixie's story got me to do some research." Twilight said. "That wasn't an Ursa Major. That was a baby. An Ursa Minor. And trust me. You don't want to know what the grown-ups look like."

Trixie stomped over to Twilight. "This isn't over! You hearing me clearly?! I'll be back one day! And when I return, this whole town's going to be at my feet!" Trixie threw a smoke bomb, and ran off with her wagon in tow!

"Ace?" Twilight asked. "Did I just get a rival?"

Ace shrugged. "Eh. Give it a season or two."