//------------------------------// // The power of egos // Story: The Issue of Multiple Sunsets // by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof //------------------------------// The collected group decided that their were two main objectives: one was to go back to the park to try and reassemble Trixie's magic box and see if it could help bring back Sunset Shimmer; the other was to try and find where the evil Sunset Shimmers were, and try to rescue Crystal Prep Sunset. A lesser third objective was to figure out if there are more Sunsets that they had yet to find, and, if so, find them. The group that was going back to the park consisted of Trixie, Daydream Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, and Sonata Dusk. The Great and Powerful Trixie made it quite clear as they left that if anything happened to her van again, someone else was going to pay for it one way or the other. She worked hard to keep it well-maintained, but her budget was limited, and she had just paid for towing and new tires after what happened yesterday. She could not afford to keep up with these shenanigans. The drive was pretty quiet, with none of them talking for the moment. Trixie was driving, Sonata was making faces out the window, Twilight Sparkle was curled up in her seat, writing on a piece of paper, and Daydream Shimmer was sprawled out in the back to keep her wings from getting uncomfortable. As Trixie drove, a figure on the sidewalk caught her eye. A woman dressed in a dark red suit. A black cape rested on her shoulders, and a top hat sat on top of her red and yellow haired head. Trixie recognized her instantly as a magician, and as a version of Sunset Shimmer. Trixie slammed down on the gas, the entire van jerking and engine growling as the rest of it tried to catch up with the sudden increase in speed. It eventually got fast enough to catch up with and surpass the magician Sunset Shimmer. Trixie quickly pulled off the accelerator and onto the brake, bringing the van to a screeching halt as she pulled up to the curb. After putting the van in park, Trixie threw open the door and jumped out. Or tried to at least. She then unbuckled her seat belt and climbed out. As quick as she could, she ran to the sidewalk, stopping in front of the magician Sunset Shimmer. Trixie placed one hand on her hip, throwing her cape out with the other. "So!" Trixie cried out. "You are The Spectacular and Amazing Sunset!" The Spectacular and Amazing Sunset stopped and straightened up, grinning. Throwing her own cape back, she took a hold of her top hat, removing it as she took a large, sweeping bow. "Indeed I am," she announced, a wide grin on her face as she straightened up and put her hat back on her head. She then placed her hands on her hips, lifting her chin. "It's nice to know that my reputation as a great and powerful magician precedes me!" "There is only one great and powerful magician in the world!" Trixie yelled, stomping her foot. "And that is The Great and Powerful TRIXIE!!" "Who's that?" the magician Sunset asked, raising an eyebrow. "ME!" Trixie yelled. "I am The Great and Powerful Trixie!" "You?" magician Sunset said. Her gaze slowly drifted up and down Trixie, taking in the pointy, floppy hat, and the star covered cape, worn over a dark blue zip-up hooded sweatshirt. She then threw her head back and laughed. And laughed. And laughed. With each passing moment, with each chest shaking guffaw, Trixie's face grew redder and redder, her jaw clenching tighter and tighter. "It's not funny!" she finally snapped. Sunset finished her laughing, returning her attention to Trixie. "Look at you." She held out a hand, waving it up and down the length of Trixie's torso. "You look like something out of a cheap kid's cartoon." A low growl emanated from Trixie as she bared her teeth. Her hands clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. "You're one to talk!" she retorted. "You look like you should be performing at birthday parties for six year olds!" The Spectacular and Amazing Sunset took a step back as she let out gasp, looking like she had just been slapped. "You take that back!" she ordered. "I will," Trixie replied. "IF... you beat me in a..." She through her cape open and placed her hands on her hips "Magician's duel!" Fireworks went off behind her as she held the pose. "So be it," magician Sunset said, straightening up and puffing out her chest. She pointed a finger at Trixie. "I'll duel you! Any time! Any place!" "Great," Trixie said. She then turned and walked toward the van. "Come on. Hop in." The magician Sunset Shimmer stood there, her hand slowly lowering. The confidence she felt a moment ago quickly gave way to confusion as she watched the other girl walking away. "What?" she finally managed to ask. Trixie stopped and turned around. "We're not going to duel right here and right now," she said. "Since we're going to the same place, I might as well give you a ride." She then turned and continued walking. "Besides, I don't want you making an excuse about how you were tired or something when I beat you." "Ha!" Sunset called out as she finally recovered herself and walked toward the van. "As if someone like you could defeat the likes of me!" Trixie climbed back into the driver seat and shut the door, buckling herself back in. The side panel opened, letting the magician Sunset climb in. "Trixie, what are you doing?" asked Twilight. Trixie turned to look at her. "Challenging Sunset to a magician's duel," she answered. "Was that not clear?" She shifted to look at the others, raising an eyebrow. "I thought I made that clear." "I got it," Sonata Dusk announced, holding up a hand and grinning. Trixie turned back to Twilight. "See? She got it." "No," Twilight replied. "I mean we..." she turned her head, looking at the magician Sunset Shimmer, now buckled up beside her. She was quiet a moment, licking her lips and studying the new arrival. Taking a breath, she started again. "We are going to the park for a very specific reason," she said slowly. "One that does not include you fighting another magician." Trixie gave a snort and dismissive wave of her hand as she returned her attention to driving. "You girls can handle that," she said as she put the van back into drive. "You don't need me for it." Her eyes narrowed. "Besides, there's a matter of my reputation as the greatest magician in the city being at stake."