//------------------------------// // The Greatest Showmare // Story: Hereafter Ponies & the Magic of Friendship // by Julian San Miguel //------------------------------// Inside the laboratory underneath the Golden Oak Library, Spike passed gem after gem to Midnight Errant, the protégé combining the stones with the heart-shaped crystal that was set onto a pedestal in the middle of the room. “Midnight!” Featherdew and Clover Quartz raced downstairs, the bracelets back around their hooves. “She’s here!” “Who?” Midnight said, merging the last stone. “Trixie!” “Who?” Spike wiped the dust off his claws. “Oh yeah! You remember Trixie, right Nightie? The unicorn who would always talk about herself as if she was some other pony? She’d say ‘Trixie did this’ instead of ‘I did this’.” Midnight’s eyes widened. “Wait, Trixie? Trixie Lulamoon?” “What?” Clover said. “You know her?!” “Yeah. We went to school together.” “Okay!” Feather said. “That’s very interesting, but she is here and she’s hosting a magic show and we have to get over there right now!” Midnight groaned. “Don’t tell me this is an episode… I’m busy with the—” His pony friends began pushing him upstairs. “No time! Let’s go!” Spike ran after. “Hey, I want to go, too! Wait up!” In front of a large wagon next to town hall, a large herd of ponies waited for the show to begin. “All right, ponies! Move aside! Coming through!” Clover and Featherdew pushed their way into the front row and started looking around. “Sorry; sorry; excuse me; sorry, if I could just…” Midnight squeezed out of the crowd, Spike on his back and the enchanted medallion around his neck. “I don’t see what’s the rush. I mean, it’s not as if Trixie was at fault.” “Well, yeah,” Clover said, “but I think Snips and Snails show up around here.” “Assuming that events will repeat themselves in the exact same manner as in the show. Aren’t those two grown stallions in this timeline? They can’t still be that stupid as to lure a—” “Oh! Sheriff!” Clover waved his hooves in the air. “Sheriff Mayberry! Over here!” Patrolling the area, an orange earth pony stopped and walked over. The older mare wore a sheriff’s hat over her gray mane and a cutie mark of a pair of sunglasses. “Hello, Quartz. How’s your new assignment?” “Yeah, it’s great; listen, have you seen Snips or Snails anywhere?” “Didn’t you hear? The boys went off to Appleloosa for that hoofball tournament.” Mayberry’s eyes narrowed. “Why? What’d they do this time?” Flinching, Clover raised his hooves. “Oh! No! It’s nothin’, Auntie! Just wonderin’, that’s all!” The sheriff’s glare stayed on him for a minute. “Well… alright. If you say so.” She turned and nodded at his friends before leaving to continue her patrol. Fanfare from the wagon began to play. “Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie™!” The vehicle opened, unfolding itself into a large stage backed by a dark blue curtain. Then, in a puff of smoke and sparkles, a brilliant blue pony appeared wearing a purple, pointed hat with a star-studded design over her pale blue mane and matching robes clasped together with a crystal broach, the flowing fabric uncovering a cutie mark of a twirling magic-wand spreading stardust. The young mare stood there, posing as she basked in the applause of her audience. “Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie™ performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!” The showmare set off an array of fireworks with a spell. “Magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded ursa major!” The crowd gasped as the pyrotechnics conjured up an image of a pony fighting against a colossal bear made of stars. “When the fearsome megafauna attacked, the city of Fillydelphia had nopony to turn to. But then, just as all hope was lost, the Great and Powerful Trixie™ stepped in and, with her awesome magic, vanquished the ursa major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Yearling Forest!” She then went on to describe her many Great and Powerful feats using a series of magic tricks, like the time she saved a wedding by turning a packet of seeds into a bouquet of flowers or how she escaped from a group of ruffians through the creative application of ropes and ladders. “This is so weird,” Midnight said. “I mean, I knew her as a filly. Why didn’t you two ever tell me she was in the cartoon?” Featherdew turned her head without looking away. “It’s been a lifetime since we’ve seen the show. You can’t expect us to remember every little detail.” Clover gave him a glance. “Shouldn’t you be more interested in the show right in front of you? You’re the magic pony here; be amazed!” Midnight shrugged. “I’m more interested in that stage she’s on. Must have taken her ages to enchant that thing properly.” “And now for my final trick, the Great and Powerful Trixie™ will need a pair of volunteers from the audience!” Spike raised his hand. “Oh! Oh! Me, me! Pick me!” “How about…” She pointed at Clover and Featherdew. “You two. Come on up here and become my Great and Powerful Assistants!” While Spike sulked, Featherdew shrunk back. “Oh… I don’t know if we should—” “Well, alright!” Clover said as he marched up to the stage. “B-but who’s going to guard Midnight?” “Feather, I can take care of myself. You’re taking this job way too seriously. So, go ahead, get up there.” “Okay, if you say so. Keep an eye out for trouble, Spike.” “Yeah, yeah, I’ll watch him…” With her new assistants onstage, Trixie threw a smoke bomb, summoning a large, black box. “Prepare to amazed, Ponyville! For the Great and Powerful Trixie™ shall make these two ponies disappear!” With fanfare blaring in the background, she removed her hat with a flourish — revealing a ring around her horn — and motioned for the duo to enter the box. Midnight’s jaw dropped. She had that this whole time? How is she casting spells? Is the stage’s enchantment more elaborate than I thought? The protégé kept a glowing eye on her. “Now you see them…” Trixie stomped her hoof. Nothing happened. Eyes widening, Midnight negated the enchantments on his friends’ bracelets, letting the stage teleport the two backstage and causing the now empty box to collapse. As the audience gasped and gave her another round of applause, Trixie in turn gave Midnight a quick glare. “Now you don’t. But fear not! For the Great and Powerful Trixie™ shall now bring them back from the great beyond!” She threw another smoke bomb and had the stage teleport Clover and Featherdew back before the smoke cleared. “Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie™ has proven herself to be the most amazing unicorn in all of Equestria! Until next time, Ponyville!” Setting off more fireworks, Trixie took a bow before the cheering crowd as the curtain came down on the three ponies. Stomach gurgling, Clover covered his mouth. “Ugh… I really shouldn’t have had that fritter this mornin’…” Trixie took the ring off her horn and placed it onto a nearby table. “Trixie has some tea that could help with that nausea.” He shook his head. “Thank you kindly, but no. I ain’t fond of drinkin’ the stuff.” Featherdew fluttered about. “That show was spectacular! Hey, did you really attend Queen Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns?” Trixie held her head up high. “Of course! Trixie even graduated as one of the top students in her class.” Spike ran inside from a side entrance. “Trixie! That. was. amazing! How did you do that vanishing trick? Are you staying in Ponyville? For how long? You can stay in the library if you need to. I’m sure Midnight won’t mind.” Said pony followed after. “Spike! Sorry, Trixie. It’s nice to see you again.” Trixie huffed. “In the future, refrain from meddling in the middle of Trixie’s final act.” “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that those amulets were interfering with your enchantments, and I—” “Trixie knew that! She didn’t need your help. She was about to fix it before you stuck your horn in. Besides, Trixie’s enchantments were made with a complicated matrix of spells. You could’ve damaged something.” “Sorry, but there’s no way that would’ve happened. I knew what I was doing.” She started stalking toward him. “Oh, so now you’re better than Trixie?” He stepped back. “Hey, I didn’t say that—” “But you’re not denying it. What? You think that just because you were the Queen’s personal student that it makes you better than me? Alright, fine!” Trixie stopped and nearly jabbed her hoof in his eye. “Midnight Errant, I challenge you to a duel!” The room gasped. Midnight frowned. “You can’t be serious.” “Oh, yes I am. You think you’re better than the Great Trixie? You think you have more magical talent? Well then, show Trixie what you’ve got. Anything you can do, I can do better.” “Oh, really?” Using telekinesis, Midnight lifted Spike into the air. “Hey!” the baby dragon said as he was placed between the two unicorns. Trixie stepped back. “What?! No! Trixie wants a proper duel!” Featherdew gasped. “Oh, that’s right! Dragon’s have magic resistance!” Clover frowned. “But he’s always liftin’ him up like that. Is it really that hard?” “Midnight’s been with Spike since magic school,” Trixie said. “He’s had time to overcome that resistance. Using them against Trixie is cheating!” “You challenged me. That gives me the right to decide the dueling format.” “B-but this isn’t dueling! It’s playing catch!” “Would you rather have a trial by tea party?” “Yes!” “Well, too bad. I’m not some great showpony that likes to perform in front of a big crowd. Either lift Spike off the ground using telekinesis or forfeit the duel.” Midnight smirked. “Or maybe Trixie is too exhausted from ‘performing feats beyond imagination’.” “You know what? Fine! Feast your eyes on the magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie™!” The showmare tried to lift Spike into the air, but that only produced a sputtering aura around the baby dragon. She tried harder, managing to lift herself instead. Clover snorted, which earned him a winged smack by Featherdew. Shutting her eyes, Trixie gathered as much mana as she could, enveloping herself in a thick, pale magenta aura; and then cast the spell with all her might, lifting Spike off the ground. After getting him back down, Trixie gasped for breath. “There… I did it…” Midnight burst out laughing. “What… Why are you laughing at Trixie!?” “That was amazing!” Her eyes widened. “W-what? B-but, but—” “Oh, I’m not saying you’d win like that, but the fact you could even lift Spike at all says a lot about your magical talents. I mean, look at the enchantments on this stage. You’ve applied them so many times that it’s burnt into the— Ah! I just remembered what I was going to ask you earlier: How long did it take you to learn full-body mana conduction? That’s what you were using onstage, right? I was always too busy to practice in Canterlot, but now I have a lot more free time, and I live in a library, so I might get around to it.” Trixie blushed. “O-oh! Y-you noticed! Well, I, I— Wait, no! Trixie is mad at you!” Clover’s ear tingled. “No, you’re not. Somethin’ else is botherin’ you.” Trixie’s eyes widened. “What? N-no! There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Great Trixie!” Featherdew shook her head. “Oh, Trixie… It’s okay! I’m sure it’ll make you feel better if you tell us.” “It’s nothing!” Trixie looked away. “I-it’s dumb…” Spike walked up to her. “Trixie? Is something wrong?” She pawed the floor. “Trixie isn’t popular…” Spike leaned in. “What?” She groaned. “Trixie isn’t popular!” “What?” Clover said. “Trixie isn’t—!” Clover shook his head. “No, no, I heard you. What do you mean, ‘not popular’? Didn’t you see the crowd outside?” Trixie pulled back curtain, showing a now empty town square. Clover shrugged. “It’s the middle of the day. Ponies have work to do.” “Honestly,” Feather said, “I’m surprised you pulled in such a big crowd on such short notice.” “Trixie is also surprised. She usually gets a smaller turnout.” “That’s ’cause it’s a small town,” Clover said. “Folks around here aren’t used to seein’ any magic other than a simple spell or two, so when a unicorn like you comes to town, word gets around real fast.” “Why don’t you think you’re popular?” Feather said. “Some ponies would cut their own manes off for that kind of crowd.” Trixie sat down with a huff. “Trixie has been on tour since she left magic school. Since then, nothing has changed! She is sick of doing these two-bit shows!” “I know how that feels,” Feather said. “I used to work in the performing arts. The best part I ever had was being the understudy for the role of Celestia in Sombra Rex. I never got past that, so I found something better. But hey, that’s show business!” She wrapped a wing around Trixie. “You need to be able to endure the grind if you’re doing it for the right reasons. Just don’t burnout trying to reach the top. Take care of yourself.” Trixie sighed. “I just want somepony to take me seriously.” “Is that why you came to Ponyville?” Clover said. “Did you want an old classmate of yours to reassure you or somethin’?” Trixie sprang up. “What!? No!” “Wow,” Feather said, “you must really admire Midnight to come all this way.” “I don’t! I just needed the extra bits until I got to Canterlot!” Midnight frowned. “Why would she come to me for reassurance? There are lots of other ponies she could’ve gone to, like Aramau. Her flame spells were inspired.” “Wait,” Spike said, “didn’t she declare herself your eternal rival one time because you were ‘hogging the spotlight’ according to her.” Midnight groaned. “It wasn’t like I wanted to be the center of attention. I could never tell if they admired me or my title.” “Enough!” The stage teleported the Trio outside. They then watched as Trixie stuck her head through the curtain. “The Great and Powerful Trixie™ does not need reassurance! And she doesn’t admire you either!” Pulling her head back, Trixie turned to find Spike still inside. The baby dragon shrunk under her glare. “Uh… I guess I’ll see you later.” He ran through the curtains. “Great show, by the way!” That night, a pair of mismatched unicorns ran up to the wagon, still parked by town hall. The two stallions then began pounding on the door. “Help! Trixie! Come out! You gotta help us!” The door was opened by a frowning young showmare out of costume. “The Great and Powerful Trixie™ does not want to be disturbed! Begone with you!” The short, grayish-opal pony chuckled. “W-we have a, a tiny problem…” “Actually, it’s a big one,” the tall, amber-colored pony said. “What is so important that you cannot wait until morning to disturb Trixie?!” Across the river, a gigantic blue bear made of stars came into view. Spotting the ponies, the creature roared and ran toward them. With a shriek, Trixie ran off, knocking the other two away. Getting up, the now-screaming stallions followed after her just before a great paw smashed the wagon to splinters. The house-sized ursine roared in pain, waking up all of Ponyville as it sat down with a earth-shaking thump. Trixie skid to a halt. “No! My wagon!” “Great and Powerful Trixie!” the short pony with a orange mane said. “You’ve got to vanquish the ursa!” The tall pony with a sea-green mane grinned. “Yeah! Vanquish so we can watch!” “It took a lot of trouble to get that thing here.” “Wait! You brought this here?” Trixie gasped. “Are you out of your little pony minds!?” “But we missed your show!” “Yeah, and we heard it was awesome, so we went into the forest where you banished the ursa major last time.” “And then we brought it here. So, come on, Trixie! Show us some cool explosions and smoke and stuff.” In a flash of light, Midnight Errant teleported into the area with Spike riding on top. “What’s going on here?!” His eyes widened as he spotted the ursa nursing it’s paw. “Is that what I think it is?” Smiling, the short pony stood tall. “We brought an ursa to town!” “You what!?” “Don’t worry,” the tall pony said, “the great and powerful Trixie’ll vanquish it.” Said showmare glared at the two ponies. “I can’t!” “What?!” the pair said. “Well, of course I can’t! I never have! I just made the whole story up to make my show look better. Nopony was supposed to take it seriously!” “Made it up?!” “Hey!” Midnight said. “You two, shut up. Trixie, I’m going to need you to cast Traquility.” “I, I don’t think I have the energy to—” Midnight turned around. “Snips and Snails, right? Be ready to charge your horns. You got that?” The short one and the tall one nodded, their cutie marks being a pair of scissors and a snail respectively. “Spike, go find some cover. Everyone else, follow me.” While Midnight’s little brother hurried off, Trixie ran beside him. “H-hold on, I don’t think I can—” “Trixie, I know you can do it. You are the best when it comes to mind magics. Besides, I’ll be right here to guide you.” The ursa continued to lick it’s paw, unaware of the four unicorns coming up beside it. “Trixie, prepare the spell!” Gritting her teeth with her eyes shut, she came just short of casing it as her glowing horn summoned an uncanny breeze. “Snips! Snails!” Once their horns were lit, the protégé pulled out their excess mana and energized Trixie’s spell. The glow from her horn intensifying, Trixie cast a humming melody which wormed its way into the ursa’s ear and out the other. Eyes drooping, the blue bear yawned, its body teetering from side to side. Skimming off the top of the nearby river, Midnight used the moisture to create an enchanted bed of clouds. Then, he lifted the ursa off the ground and onto the bed, casting a soundproof bubble around the creature to help it fall into a deeper sleep. Coming out of hiding, all of Ponyville cheered. “I don’t believe it!” “Incredible!” “Wow, big bro!” Spike said. “How’d you know what to do with that ursa major?” Blushing, Midnight shook his head. “This isn’t an ursa major. It’s a baby: an ursa minor.” “That is just a baby?” Trixie said. “And it wasn’t rampaging. It was just cranky because someone woke it up.” Snips and Snails shrunk under everyone’s glare. “Well, if that was an ursa minor, then…” Spike’s eyes widened. “What’s an ursa major like?!” Fluttershy flew in. “Oh my goodness; oh my goodness!” She stopped by the ursa, fretting over its hurt paw while avoiding the magic barrier. “Oh, you poor thing…” She turned to Stare at Ponyville. “Who did this?” Everyone jumped aside, leaving Snips and Snails to cower alone. Fluttershy flew down. “Snipsy Snap! Snailsquirm! What do you have to say for yourselves?!” Snips chuckled despite himself. “Uh, we’re sorry that we woke up the ursa minor.” Snails nodded. “W-we just wanted to see some awesome magic…” “By creating a path of destruction from here to the Everfree Forest?! Do you know how many creatures you’ve left homeless?! Well?! Do you!?” “Ma’am, I’ll take it from here.” Sheriff Mayberry walked over with the shaken mayor in tow. “Snips! Snails! Get off your hind-quarters and come with me! Now!” Nearly tripping over their own hooves, the duo followed the sheriff back to her office. “F-fluttershy!” Mayor Tiara said. “What do we do with the ursa?!” “Leave her to me.” Fluttershy turned around. “Midnight?” Horn still aglow, Midnight snapped to attention. “Yes, ma’am!” Wow, she’s pretty scary… And she’s scary pretty, wow! “Follow me, please. I’ll need to see to her paw before we can send her home.” Featherdew and Clover Quartz rushed in, wearing hair rollers and a nightcap respectively. “Oh, perfect timing, you two. Keep an eye on the creature while I carry her away from here. Spike? Take care of Trixie, okay?” Nodding, Spike waved goodbye as Fluttershy and the Trio rushed off with the ursa. Turning around, he noticed Trixie standing in front her ruined wagon, her head hung in sorrow. Spike walked toward her. “Are you okay?” “My entire livelihood has just been destroyed; of course I’m not okay!” “I mean, did you get hurt?” Trixie blinked. “Oh. No, thank you.” Groaning, she covered her face. “What am I going to do? My life is over!” “Not if we can help it!” The pair turned to find Mayor Tiara and the other ponies behind them. “On behalf of Ponyville, I offer my deepest apologies for what just occurred. So have no worries, Ms. Lulamoon! Your wagon will be repaired free of charge!” “What?! B-but why?” “The town marketplace had quite the increase in business since you performed your magic show. You are a great showmare, Trixie. Your first visit to our town shouldn’t be soured by a pair of foals.” “Isn’t that great?” Spike said. “In the meantime, you can stay with me and Midnight.” The other ponies began to crowd around the showmare. “Wait, you’re staying in town?” “My stall sold out in Manehattan minute thanks to you!” “Good going with that monster!” “I can’t wait for you next show!” Surrounded by adoring fans, Trixie Lulamoon’s grin grew wider. On a sunny road north of Ponyville, Midnight, Spike, and the rest of the Trio waited by the newly-repaired wagon as Trixie waved goodbye to a few of her fans. Featherdew smiled. “Looks like somepony’s popular.” “Of course! Trixie is loved by all of Equestria! Was there ever any doubt?” Clover coughed. “Self-doubt!” That earned him a glare by the showmare as she walked toward the front of her wagon. “Do you really have to go?” Spike said. “You could just stay for another week or two.” Strapping herself onto the wagon’s harness, Trixie shook her head. “Sorry, Spike, but the Great and Powerful Trixie™ can no longer keep Canterlot waiting. Besides, I’ll be back for my Southern Equestria Tour™. Small towns have quite the untapped market, you know.” “Be careful out there,” Midnight said. “With your luck, you might run into a tatzlwurm.” Trixie rolled her eyes as she pulled the wagon away. “Whatever, that’s not real. See you later.” Waving goodbye with Midnight and the others, Clover leaned over. “They’re not real, right?” “I wouldn’t worry about it,” Feather said. “They mostly keep to the Badlands. I mean, it’s not as if we’ll have an adventure there any time soon.” Midnight looked at her, eyes wide. “Why would you say that?”