“I think I already know who the Element of Magic is,” Surprise said. The pair had gotten their tickets and were on the train. Trixie had explained what each of the six elements were.
“Realy? How could you possibly know that?!” Trixie exclaimed. Noticing the looks she got from her outburst, she recollected herself, “Nevermind the ‘how’ for now. Who do you think it is?”
“You!” Surprise exclaimed, “It makes sense. You have the ability to see any magic trick and analyze it. You can break down the trick in your head, then recreate the trick.”
Trixie facehoofed at that claim, “I’m pretty sure stage magic isn’t what the tree is looking for,” Trixie groaned.
“But can’t you do that with spellcasting too?”
Trixie sighed, “If it were really that easy, don’t you think I’d have the Element of Magic by now?”
“Not if you need the other five first,” Surprise said, showing off a cocky grin that could match Trixie’s own.
Trixie gave it a thought, “Huh… Good point,” Trixie admitted, “I just hate being left in the dark like this.”
The train darkened as it entered a tunnel. The artificial lighting then activated, “Okay, that was kinda creepy,” Surprise said.
“I guess this train knows the art of stage performance and the part timing plays into it,” Trixie said with a smug smile.
The two sat there for a few moments, trying to think of what to talk about next. The growling that came from Trixie’s stomach helped to answer that question, “That’s right, I haven’t eaten lunch today,” Trixie said bashfully.
Another growl was heard, this time from Surprise, “I think our stomachs are growling at each other,” Surprise said with a bashful smile of her own, “Should we attempt to soothe the savage beasts, or should we wait to see which of our stomachs tries to eat the other?”
“I don’t think my stomach has the heart to eat it’s friend,” Trixie said. Banter with Surprise always seemed to bring out a more childish side of Trixie, “Then again, my stomach doesn’t have any heart at all.”
“That’s not nice! Stomachs have feelings too!” Surprise said in mock offense. Then another growl is heard, “And my stomach currently feels hungry. Should we go and see if their serving snacks?”
“The train from Canterlot to Ponyville isn’t long enough to warrant serving food,” a monotone voice said. Trixie and Surprise peaked over the back of Trixie’s seat to see a gray emotionless earth pony.
“You’ve been on this train before?” Trixie asked.
“No.”
“Then how do you know that the train ride is too short to provide food?” Surprise asked.
“You can see Ponyville from Canterlot. Unless the terrain is too difficult, being able to see your destination makes it too short of a ride,” the earth pony explained, “Other than the train tracks having to wrap around Mount Canterhorn, the terrain is smooth enough to not warrant a detour.”
“I suppose that makes sense,” Trixie said, “So what are you going to Ponyville for? Do you live there? Or planning to move there?”
“No. No.”
There was a pause as the two friends waited for an explanation. Surprise broke the silence, “Are you visiting family?”
“No.”
Another pause.
“Are you moving to Ponyville?” Trixie asked.
“No.”
Yet another pause. Trixie, hating not having information, finally asked, “Then why are you going to Ponyville?!”
“Rocks.”
Pause…
Granted, it was an answer. Not much of an answer, but an answer nonetheless, “Rocks?” Surprise repeated.
Before the pony could answer and most likely add to the inevitable echochamber, Trixie spoke up, “Could you specify? Rocks answers the question of ‘what’. So could you answer the question of ‘why’?”
“I’m studying to receive my roctorate.”
“What’s a roctorate?” Surprise asked.
“A rock doctorate.”
“I love rock! Are you a fan of Crush 40?!” Surprise exclaimed, jumping up and playing air guitar and singing, “Live and learn! Flying on the edge of tomorrow!”
“I study rocks.”
“There’s a degree in studying rocks?” Trixie asked.
“Live and learn! On the wings of yesterday!” Surprised continued.
“It’s an obscure subject,” the earth pony said before looking at the gem clip on Trixie’s cape, “That gem on your cape is a lapis lazuli.”
“Huh. Most ponies just assume it’s a sapphire,” Trixie said, “Even I thought it was a sapphire before Princess Luna corrected me.”
“Live and learn! Will you fly or will you fa-all?!”
“So what’s your name?” Trixie asked.
“Maudilina Daisy Pie,” the monotone pony answered, “But most ponies just call me Maud Pie. Or just Maud.”
“I’m Princess Luna’s prized protege, The Great and Powerful Trixie!” Trixie introduced herself in her showmare style.
“Live and learn! We will fly into the DAY!”
“WOULD YOU STOP SINGING AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF?!!” Trixie snapped.
“Sorry. I guess I got carried away,” Surprise said bashfully, “I’m Surprise, of the Lunarbolts. I love singing… a lot more than I’m good at it. Me and Trixie Lunamoon here have been friends since we were foals.”
“How many times do I have to tell you?” Trixie said, looking at Surprise, “It’s Lulamoon, not Lunamoon.”
“Meh. Lunamoon is easier to remember,” Surprise said, “I mean, it’s generally easier, and it’s fitting considering that you’re the princess’s personal prized protege.”
Trixie wiped off a layer of saliva that had built up on her face. Trixie knew that Surprise knew that saying it like that annoyed her because she ends up having to towel off after saying it. But she still says it that way for that exact reason. Still, she didn’t mean any disrespect about it.
“You remind me a little of my sister,” Maud said, looking at Surprise, “She’s also obnoxious.”
Surprise smiled at that comment before realizing what she said, “Hey!”
The three continue their conversation until the train ride ended, with Surprise talking about her interests and being a Lunarbolt, Trixie talking about magic and how great she is at it (AKA, boosting her own ego), and Maud talking about rocks and introducing them to her pet rock, Boulder.
The train reached Ponyville Station and the three exited, “Well, Maud, maybe we’ll see you around again sometime,” Trixie said waving to the earth pony.
“Yeah. Maybe I’ll take up rock collecting or something,” Surprise added, also waving.
“Goodbye,” Maud simply said before just walking away.
As they watch her walk away, Surprise thought of something, “Hey Trixie, do you think Boulder is housetrained?” Surprise asked, “I mean, he looks kinda young, so…”
“Surprise, it’s just a rock,” Trixie said with a facehoof, “It can’t be housetrained because it’s a rock and has nothing to train.”
“Oh. right.”
The two walk down the road, passing by the many different sites that Ponyville has to offer. But first things first. Trixie needed to find a place to stay.
As they entered the Independent District, they pass by a few places that open for rent. There was a bakery called Sugarcube Corner with a room for rent. But Trixie wasn’t much of a baker. Across the street was Bon Bon’s Candies. Same problem. None of the eateries were an option, seeing as Trixie wasn’t that great of a cook. An arcade, a few independent markets, a jelly market… Trixie was beginning to wonder what she was getting herself into.
Then she spotted it. Top Hat’s Trick shop, a magic shop. That was for her… until she read the sign that said “Going Out of Business Sale”. Trixie had to at least see what this store was about. When she opened the door, rather than a bell, there was a wind chime setup so that opening the door would hit multiple chimes in a row, causing the illusion of a magical sound. Trixie thought that was creative.
At the sound of the chime, a pony who looked old, but good for his age walked out. He was a gray unicorn with a wavy white mane and tail and wearing a black top hat, “Welcome to Top Hat’s Trick Shop!” the unicorn said, “I’m Top Hat. What can I do for you?”
“I saw the sign outside,” Trixie explained, “Is it true that this magic shop is going out of business?”
Top Hat sighed sadly, “Sadly, yes. It seems that there’s not a big market for magical trinkets,” he said defeatedly, “But most of these are just parlor tricks anyway, much of them can be performed without having to buy the materials at a trick shop.”
Trixie picked up one of the tricks and examined it, a simple magic wand. She gave it a shake, causing paper flowers pop out the end, “That’s the problem. The quality of these items are that of random household items,” Trixie explained, “But the problem aren’t the tricks themselves. It seems that if you put more effort into the presentation, you’d make more sales.”
“As much as I’d like to upgrade the items, better quality material requires bits. And if I’m not making sales, I can’t gain the bits to get better quality material,” Top Hat explained, “You have to spend bits to make bits. But the vicious truth is that if you don’t have the bits to spend, you can’t make the bits.”
“Then provide more than just magic props,” Trixie suggested, “Do shows, or even offer to teach classes.”
“I’d say that great magicians never reveal their secrets,” Top Hat said, “But that’s also part of the problem. I’m not a ‘great magician’.”
“That rule only applies to the more fantastical tricks. Parlor tricks are a different story,” Trixie said, “As for a great magician to perform and teach, look no further than right here. I am the Great and Powerful Trixie!”
This peaked the gray unicorn’s interest, “Am I to understand that you’re asking for a job?”
“And a place to stay… if it’s a possibility that is,” Trixie said bashfully, “I just moved here and need a place to stay.”
“I can’t pay you much, seeing as this shop doesn’t make much,” Top Hat said, “As for housing, the top floor of this building is a studio apartment. I’ll give you the first month without rent for you to get on your hooves.”
Surprise, who had been waiting quietly, wrapped her foreleg around Trixie, “Alright! We got an apartment!”
Trixie looked up in shock, “Wait, WE?!”
“Well, I don’t have a place to stay either,” Surprise said, “So I figured I could get to be your roomie.”
“It’s up to Top Hat,” Trixie said, “And I’m not paying for you. If you want to be my roomie, you’re paying rent too.”
“Aww, man. That means I have to get a job, doesn’t it?”
Top Hat just watched as the two friends bantered.
The next day, Trixie got started early to help Top Hat make his shop more appealing, “First things first. I think a rebranding would be a good idea,” Trixie explained to Top Hat, “‘Top Hat’s Trick Shop’ is too generic and bland. You need something that’s more fun and memorable. How about… Top Hat’s Bag of Tricks?”
“That does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” Top Hat wondered as he repeated the name in his head, “Top Hat’s Bag of Tricks it is!”
“Next are the trick you’re selling,” Trixie held up the magic wand from the day before, “You need better quality flowers and not just the paper flowers. Perhaps cloth instead of paper. Is there someplace in town where I could purchase some fabrics?”
“Well, she tends to be a bit picky. But there is a seamstress a few streets down,” Top Hat explained, “You’ll want to look for the building that looks like a carousel.”
The idea of a building that looked like a carouselle seemed strange to Trixie. But she did see a bakery that had a gingerbread house aesthetic.
“I’ve also made a prototype of an upgraded wand,” Trixie pulled out a crudely made magic wand. She then activated the spring loaded feature, making red paper flowers pop out, “It’s basically the same concept. But…” She then activated it again, causing blue paper flowers to come out instead.
“A color change trick?”
“It’s still a work in progress. But if it has fast action function, it can appear like the flowers are changing colors without looking like they’re being pulled in!”
“You have experience with stage magic, don’t you?” Top Hat asked in fascination.
“Ever since I was a filly,” Trixie said, “My father is also a stage magician. He does shows in Las Pegasus. And ever since I was a filly, I could figure out how any trick was performed, which is how I got into it.”
“So that’s how you were able to figure out how these prop wands work without even taking them apart?”
“It wasn’t hard to figure out. Since these are just props being sold to children, it’s unlikely that it would be that complicated to make,” Trixie said, going into analytical mode, “I’m a special case. But the simplicity of these can allow many children to figure out that the trick is that the flowers are hidden in the wand. This color change trick will make an obvious trick become a more fantastical trick.
“As for these magician outfits, there should be more than suits and top hats. As you have seen from what I wear, perhaps you could add wizard hats and capes to the attire. Perhaps the seamstress you mentioned would be willing to work on those as well. I wonder if she’d be willing to work together with your shop with other items as well.”
Trixie spent the rest of the morning explaining how to enhance the other items in the shop. After lunch, she would head out towards the carousel building.
“So Top Hat said to find her on this street, right?” Surprise asked.
“He was vague about the actual location,” Trixie said, “But from how it sounds, it should be easy to spot.”
“Is that it?” Surprise asked, pointing down the street.
From this angle, building didn’t look that special. But Trixie did notice what appeared to be a mannequin in a window.
“It couldn’t hurt to look, I suppose,” Trixie admitted.
The two of them walked over to the shop in question, and saw that when closer up, it does in fact appear to be designed like a carousel. Trixie wondered how Surprise was able to see that from that angle and from that distance. But that wasn’t important.
Trixie opened the door and walked in, hearing a bell ring to indicate the new customer.
“Just a minute,” a feminine voice came from the back room. That’s when a white mare stepped out, “Welcome to Carousel Boutique. My name is Rarity. How may I help you?”
“Of course it’s called Carousel Boutique,” Trixie sighed, more in how obvious the name is than thinking it was bad, “I currently started working at the magic shop in town. And I was-”
“You mean Top Hat’s Trick Shop?” Rarity asked, cutting Trixie off, “I thought that it was going out of business.”
“It was. But I’m trying to help prevent that,” Trixie said, “I have a passion for magic, and want to help get that shop on it’s hooves again. And I came by to ask if you’d be willing to help out a little.”
“Well, I suppose I could help out where I can,” Rarity said apprehensively, “But may I ask how I could help? My forte is fashion, not magic tricks.”
“That’s the thing though,” Trixie said, “I’d like to ask for your help with aesthetics if you can.”
“Well now, that is where I can help,” Rarity said, her interest peaked, “Though I’m still curious as to what I can do to help.”
Trixie reached into her saddlebag and took out a prop wand, “Well, these trick wands have compartments hidden within that hide paper flowers,” Trixie, with her showmareship, activated the wand, causing the paper flowers to pop out, “I was hoping that we could borrow some fabrics to hopefully replace the paper flowers with more realistic looking fabric flowers.”
“It’s not what I usually do. But I have made flowers for a few designs. So this shouldn’t be a problem,” Rarity said, “How many of these do you want?”
“Well, we’ve got a whole crate of these wands we wanna replace,” Surprise said, “And if things go well, we’ll probably sell more down the line.”
“Oh my. An entire crate?” Rarity asked, “How big of a crate?”
“If I were to guess, I’d say about one hundred wands,” Trixie answered, “And we’re also making enhanced versions that will have… well, let me show you.”
Trixie pulled out her prototype wand and activated it. Then showed off the color change idea that it’s intended to have. “This is just a prototype and a work in progress. But I was hoping to have the color transition to be quick enough to appear like the flowers switch colors. We’re still working on these though, so for now, you can focus on the single color wands.”
“If you can have part of the profits go to me, I believe we have a deal,” Rarity said, “After all, the materials won’t be free.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Trixie said, “How much?”
Rarity looked at the price tag of the wand, “Ten bits per wand?” Rarity said, “Raise it to fifteen bits, and I’ll take five.”
“So no loss on our part then?”
“I figure that since they’ll be higher quality, the price should raise with the quality,” Rarity said, “And I figure that I’d get the extra. Will that be all, miss…”
“Trixie Lulamoon.”
“Will that be all, miss Lu…la…” Rarity paused in thought, “Wait, you’re Trixie Lulamoon?! As in Princess Luna’s personal protege?!”
“It seems my reputation precedes me,” Trixie mumbled. Rarity then dragged Trixie to the back to take some measurements.