//------------------------------//
// Afternoon Rays 
// Story: House of Doors 
// by Devela 
//------------------------------//

I took a deep breath before looking at the door before me. It was one with a dial but this one was different then most. It moved through time instead of through dimensions. This dial had three sections to it instead of the four for the front. Each one had a different symbol on it. The first was of a pacifier, color light blue with sparkles around it. Next to that was a Wand and  Moon set against a brown background. Finally there is a black triangle with a skull and crossbones on it. I eyed the final one, so tempted to open it but always resisting the urge to. The door was on the middle one, making me smile some before giving a rapt tap on the door. "Trixie, you ready yet?" I knew my voice was carried through the wood, to the current setting. 

"Almost, but you can open the door." The reply was quick to come before I did so, looking into the small wagon from the doorway. It was filled with clutter of all sorts. I saw several spell books littering the floor as her various cloaks and hats were set about different hooks and racks. Fast Food wrappers littered the spots here and there, all from various places and locations. Trixie was standing there, adjusting her smallest hat in the mirror as her cape billowed behind her in the wind from a fan. 

"Heh we going to perform today or just a walk through the town?" I teased, standing there as I leaned on the frame and crossed my arms. 

"Trixie enjoys presenting herself for a potential audience. You never know where the next performance will occur, for the world is a stage. The need and urge to perform fills one at any time and the key to success is to..." She takes a moment before stomping her hoof as a set of magical sparks shot off behind her. Her horn not even glowing at all. "BE PREPARED!" Her voice rang out in the small little wagon house before echoing off the walls in some sort of distancing volume before dying out.

I stood there with a smile on my face before stepping away from the door before bumping her with a hip to her shoulder. "Nice Trixie, now tell me. How did you do that all without your horn glowing like a lamp." 

A smug grin crossed her lips before she snorted before walking towards the door. "Trixie shall never reveal her secrets like any good performer. Now tell me, where in Ponyville shall we be going?" 

I frowned a bit before walking out behind her and closing the door, watching as the selector fade away. The wand and moon in the place of a peephole looked the same as Trixie's cutie mark. "Well about that, the Elements tried to zap me again. So I decided we should go somewhere else for today."

A frown touched her lips before glaring back towards me as she swung her nose up in a pouty stance. "Hmm well then where are we going?" Her tone sounding annoyed and a bit hoity.

I winced a little as I knew that face and voice, I was metaphorically in the dog house. If I didn't make her happy she wouldn't visit me for at least a week. She was one of my few friends from Equestria, and it kinda was cute when she got like this but it hurt me. Slowly I walked down the hall before standing before a door holding a symbol with long points reaching up from the base. I placed my hand on the knob before swinging it open as a gust of wind rushed through and filled my house with the smells of a city followed through. 

I stepped out onto a balcony, looking down across the golden city before us. Spires of metal rising up into the heavens as various small ships flew between them. Walkways filled with people of all shapes, sizes, and races filled the city. A heavy thumping filled the air as smoke billowed out from stacks atop a few massive ships high above. Their hulls slowly rising up towards the sky as they began moving away from their moors. Grinding filled the air from below as walkers of all shapes and sizes moved through the streets, lowering or stepping over walkways and carriages. All the colors a muted bronze or gold, reflecting the sun of mid morning sun high above. 

Trixie looked out from the doorway, her eyes wide as before stepping forward as if she was in a dream. One of her steps might disturb it and make her wake up. It made me smile before stepping on the edge of the balcony. Her eyes twinkling with a love of it all before reaching the balcony as she was looking at the machines and ships all over. Then the races all around them made her smile as she was overjoyed about all of this. 

I looked towards her as the door closed before the magic from the house took over my form. I groaned softly as the bones popped in my shoulders before two giant copper and brass wings sprouted. I had traveled to many different worlds and well, I kept my door open for a reason when I went out.  My body changed to be something fitting for the world more. The new wings had a leather stretched across rings to keep it taught when open. I stretched them a little as the feeling of having them was odd but natural, just part of the magic of my house. I looked towards the balcony and Trixie peering out over the spires before walking up as my clothes shifted to a bit more fitting for the city. "Welcome madam to the City of Spires Mardane." 

She looked up at me with bright eagerness before gasping at the sight of the wings and my hands grabbed by the barrel before lifting her up. My wings opened wide before I stepped onto the rail and fell forward. Trixie grabbed onto me tightly and started screaming as her wails filled the air as we started to fall. I flapped my wings once before we started to move through the Spires. I was gonna impress her no matter what.