And so the stage was set, both literally and metaphorically. All of Trixie’s props were set up and ready to be used, with a large banner draped overhead reading, ‘Happy Birthday, Trixie!’
The event was hosted in the heart Canterlot, with the library as a temporary backstage facility for Trixie’s preparations. The party area was cordoned off by some light fencing, funnelling creatures into four possible entrances or exits. As predicted, the audience was a decent mix of Equestria-allied races, though ponies were still in the majority, with dragons being the fewest.
Pinkie Pie set up several stalls with traditional fairground games, some do-it-yourself stage magic kits, along with an assortment of sweet treats she’d baked with help from the Cake twins. Fluttershy organised a small petting zoo in a quiet corner, which Twilight had generously installed with a sound-dampening spell to aid those with sensory issues.
Rarity ensured the area was furnished proper, with velvet curtains for the stage and matching cushions tactically placed wherever creatures needed to relax. Though no party would be complete without a sample from her latest fashion line; featuring dresses, shirts and fabric-based accessories in a broad spectrum of colours and sizes.
On the stage, the Cutie Mark Crusaders kept the crowd entertained, starting with their famed Equestria Games entrance, perfected a decade prior. Thus far, beyond a few unfriendly glances, there was little in the way of conflict.
That, of course, was about to change, if one pony got her way. Night Light was an unassuming unicorn mare: dull purple coat, light brown mane, and a blue butterfly cutie mark. It was easy to slip backstage when one held the road crew tour pass Trixie's – stolen, of course.
The sign on Trxie’s dressing room door read: ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie: 'Master of Illusions' in bold blue letters. Master of illusions, eh? Night light thought, grinning to herself. Lord Torch is gonna want a mare like this among our ranks!
With a quick glance around to ensure no creature was looking, Night Light knocked on Trixie's dressing room door. “Five minutes, Trixie,” she said with feigned professionalism.
“What?!” Trixie exclaimed, followed by a startled clatter of items hitting the floor. “Twilight said I wasn't due until seven!”
“Turns out, there's been a scheduling conflict,” Night Light lied, her voice monotone. “The crowd's getting pretty reckless, so you might wanna hurry up.”
With yet more cluttering and disgruntled curses, Trixie yanked open the door to confront her stage assistant. “Let me see that—”
Their eyes met, and Night Light's horn crackled with dark magic.
“Now!”
At Trixie's call, Twilight and Starlight flashed out of hiding. Before Night Light could react, all three unicorns hijacked her spell, turning her midnight blue aura into a trio of light-purple lasouse. In a flash, she was teleported back to the stage, just in time for the CMC finished their act.
“Every creature, your attention please!” Starlight announced, levitating Night Light above the stage with their limbs tied back.
The unicorns and changelings in the crowd were the first to react, shivering as a sudden sense of foreboding washed over them. Soon, every creature’s attention was firmly captivated by the mysterious unicorn; her unassuming visage melting away to reveal a dull, cracked coat and black markings under her eyes.
“This mare’s aura matches the magical signature of recent crime scenes. We have captured the mysterious unicorn-napper!”
The crowd gasped, chattering amongst themselves about the sudden turn of events.
“Now, start talking,” Twilight yelled at the captive mare. “Who are you, and where are you taking the missing unicorns?”
To that question, Night Light threw her head back and laughed. “Well done, a good show, indeed! I would've expected nothing less from Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
“Answer her question already!” Magic surged from Trixie's horn, tightening the spell around the mad mare's chest.
“Easy there, Trixie,” Twilight shot her a warning glare. “Villains like these always have a flare for the dramatic. No need to play the bad cop.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely,” Night Light continued, trying to act calm despite her laboured breathing. “My name is Night Light, and I thank you for providing me an audience. I have an announcement, neigh, a prophecy to declare for every creature who has ears to hear! Dragon Lord Torch has been reinstated, and through the power of unicorn magic, he is bringing dragons back from the grave, making them stronger than ever before!”
“You mean they're...” Starlight hesitated, but she could think of no other word. “...zombies?”
“Impossible!” cried a dragon from the crowd. “She's lying! Ember is the Dragon Lord!”
“Didn't you hear?” a Pegasus pony shouted back. “Ember's been taken down! I saw her crash in ponyville!”
“Zombies aren't real, are they?”
“Shut up!”
The entire crowd broke into a frenzy of arguments, all the while Night Light continued to laugh. “Panic all you want; it won't change your fate. Torch is raising his army of the dead as we speak, and soon, it will be strong enough to destroy Equestria and establish a new rule: Dragon rule!”
“That's where you're wrong!” Twilight stated with a confident grin, hoping to calm the crowd. “Even if you could bring dragons back from the dead, sooner or later, your power will run dry. Compared to the magic of friendship, evil cannot last!”
“You think I'm joking?” Night Light scoffed. “I can't believe it. You actually think I'm joking! Well, if my words don't convince you, maybe my actions will!”
The magical hold shattered. In its place, a huge, swirling mass of black magic exploded outwards, enveloping Night Light’s body and knocking her captors back.
Like startled beasts, the crowd screamed, crashing into one another as they scrambled to escape.
“This way, every creature!” Applejack called, breaking open the fence with a well-placed buck. Spike and Smoulder followed suit, ripping out sections with their claws for others to flee through.
Starlight found her hooves first, shooting a beam of magic at the black mass, but it did nothing. She tried again, channelling her power into a continuous stream, to no avail.
“Twilight, Trixie!” she grunted, hoping to Celestia they were still conscious. “Buff my magic! We have to get this thing under control.”
Trixie groaned and sat up, rubbing her forehead. “What are you talking abou—” her jaw dropped at the sight. “On it!” Trixie threw everything she had at the bubble, her magic spiralling around Starlight’s beam to give it that extra push.
Twilight, however, took a different approach. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, letting her magic wash over the bubble like the tide. She painted a mental picture of it for any weak spots visible under her examination.
To Twilight’s surprise, Night Light was still conscious. She was actively channelling a huge volume of magic, far greater than one pony could handle without permanent damage.
Only then did Twilight realize her mistake.