December 13th, 6:27 P.M., City of Manehattan
What am I? Trixie thought as she stared at the fractured image in the glass. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of what she saw, but she could see a ragged mare, with a swollen lip and bags under her eyes. She didn't look happy. If I'm not meant for the stage, then what am I? Who am I? Trixie ran her hoof over the cracked surface of the glass, drawing away with a start when she knocked loose a corner of the mirror. She stared at the shard that had fallen, transfixed by it. Am I just a broken mirror? Some worthless curio tossed into an alley, with no hope of being whole again? With a quiet sniffle, Trixie picked up the shard with her magic, examining it as tears began to well in her eyes. With a melancholy smile, she placed the glass back into the corner it had fallen from. "There," she mused, "not so broken now....All your pieces are together, but nopony can see the whole picture...." She rested her head against the broken mirror, her smile vanishing. "....because of all the faults." She closed her eyes, sobbing defeated sobs. I know your pain, little broken mirror. I'm no good to anypony anymore, so I've no choice but to rot in this alleyway. She cried for a long minute, then, with a shaky sigh, drew away from the mirror, gazing upon the poor mare once more. Now, she could see her own tears, falling down the cheeks of whoever it was she saw in this fractured mirror. This mare, mane knotted and eyes bloodshot, was a pitiful sight to see. She obviously was down on her luck, the world's pressures too much to handle. Trixie's sobs worsened, as she was just now coming to grips with who it was she saw. That poor mare....the one who looks so sad...is me. Trixie buried her head in her hooves, trying to muffle her wailing. This is what I've become. A street rat. A worthless, good-for-nothing broken mirror. She fell to her side, her sobs weakening. What went wrong? What did I do to deserve this? She pulled her hooves away from her face, staring coldly as her head rested on the filthy concrete, then whispered to herself, "How have the cracks spread so far?"
December 7th, 3:58 P.M.
"Huh?! What?!" Trixie stammered as she was jolted from her sleep. She was quickly on her hooves, alert as she glanced about the alleyway. She found nopony in her 'temporary home.' Putting a hoof to her cheek, where she had felt a sharp chill, she panted, then glanced to the skies, seeing that snow had begun to fall. "Oh...snow..." Trixie said between breaths. To compose herself, she gulped back her panicked breathing, then trotted out of the alley, moving to a sidewalk where large crowds of ponies were walking to wherever they needed to be. She smiled at a passerby, only for him to hold high his nose with a disgusted harrumph.
"Homeless ponies. Honestly." He murmured, doing away with Trixie's smile. Trixie dropped to her haunches, eyes gleaming as she watched the ponies of Manehatten walk by, many pretending like Trixie wasn't even there. Trixie tried to stop the few who would spare her a pitying glance with a hopeful smile, but along they went, too busy to cater to her.
Why am I doing this? They didn't care about me then, why should they now? Trixie thought. She sighed, sliding a hoof along the ground to turn back into the alleyway. Clink. Trixie paused when her hoof hit something metallic. She picked it up with her magic, finding it to be a rusty mug riddled with dents. Trixie looked it over for a moment, then glanced to the busy ponies that walked the sidewalks outside the alley. With a sharp inhale, Trixie stood, holding out the mug with her magic. "Spare some change?" She asked, having to ask strangers for money deeply painful. "Spare any change for a magician down on her luck?" Although many ignored her, as she expected, the occasional generous gentlecolt would toss a bit or two to Trixie, which would cause her to laugh with joy and shout after them, "Celestia bless you!" Although she only ever received an indifferent shrug or a dismissive nod in response, Trixie meant what she said. She wasn't going to be a diva now, of all times.
After a solid hour of begging, Trixie was thrilled to find that she had filled her rusty mug a little more than halfway. She retreated into the alleyway, seating herself and breathing hot breath onto her hooves as she rubbed them together. Trixie emptied the contents of her mug onto the concrete, a giddy grin on her lips as she excitedly counted out the bits she'd collected. Totaling out to sixteen in all, Trixie jumped for joy, returning the coins to her mug. "Enough for a hot meal!" She chimed, merrily skipping out of the alleyway with her money magically in tow.
After pushing her way through the sea of ponies both coming and going, and having successfully fended off those determined to swipe her cash, Trixie arrived at a far less crowded boulevard. She scanned fervently for her goal, then squealed with elation when she spotted it: the carrot dog stand. Trixie arrived at the short line for her first decent meal all day, anxiously trotting in place and noisily smacking her lips. Although this disconcerted the ponies ahead of her in line considerably, they didn't express their displeasure beyond a simple scoff or impatient shake of the head. The line seemed to crawl by from Trixie's perspective, but it was worth the wait when she finally stood before the stand, first in line.
With an airy grin and a lucid shine in her eyes, Trixie meekly began, "Hello, sir. I'd like one-"
"I'm so sorry to interrupt," began the gruff, bristly, voice of a stallion from out the blue, "but I need to have a word with Twinkle Hooves here." Trixie's heart sank upon hearing the voice. With a weak gulp, she turned her head to see the pony it belonged to. She was met with a meaty snout, breathing rancid breath. Trixie tried to scramble away, throwing her foreleg over her mouth, but a burly hoof caught her by the mane, dragging her out of line as she yelled and thrashed. Much to her dismay, the thug "escorted" her over to the nearest empty alley without being disturbed in any way. With a guttural grunt, the thug threw her to the ground. Trixie, curling up and quaking in fear, held close her mug filled with bits and put a ginger hoof on her scalp, where her mane had been viciously pulled at. Only able to muster shallow gasps, Trixie looked over the thug, finding him to be just who she had feared running into on the streets. He stood stocky and sneering, his violet eyes seeming to ripple, his sooty gray coat bending to accent his muscular physique.
With a flustered sigh, the stallion ran a hoof through his crop-cut blue mane, then asked without a measure of politeness, "What's the fricken hold up, Twinkle Hooves?"
Trixie blinked a few times, then nervously stammered, "Are y-you talking about the m-money?"
"Nah, I'm talkin' about ya letters. Ya never writes to me no more." He backhoofed Trixie, snorting with malcontent. "Of course I'm talkin' about the money."
Trixie quivered as she held a hoof to her cheek, weakly mumbling, "Iron Sides...you hit me...I thought...I-I thought you were above violence..."
Iron Sides rolled his shoulders, gritting his teeth in frustration. "Well...I don't crack skulls as a hobby, but when Gold Tooth is pissed, he's pissed. That means ya better fork over what ya owe him, real pronto-like."
Trixie bit her lip, a wary look on her face as she glanced to her mug, which contained only a scant sixteen bits. "How much do I how him, pray tell?"
"Oh, I'd say you're out about seven grand." Iron Sides answered bluntly, scowling at the mug Trixie held at her side. "How much ya got on ya?"
"S...S..." Trixie tensed, then jumped up and turned to dash away. Iron Sides was too fast, however, as he stomped down on her tail, foiling Trixie's escape. Iron Sides bit down on Trixie's tail, then jerked her back, the frightened mare landing with a startled yelp.
Iron Sides held Trixie by the chin, bringing her face close to his. "How much ya got?"
Trixie panted, struggling to free herself. "Seven thousand is but a dent in Gold Tooth's wealth! Why is he so insistent on collecting from me?"
Iron Sides pinned Trixie to a wall by the throat, Trixie coughing weakly and frantically scratching at Iron Sides's foreleg. "The money itself ain't important, really. Gold Tooth operates more through respect, ya see." Iron Sides ran his tongue over his teeth, puffing a hot exhale on Trixie, causing the unicorn to gasp and shudder. "Surprisingly, he's been real lenient with yas. Month outta work, and this is the first time he's sent a heavy ya way. But when he can't collect, no matter who he's fixin' to collect from, it looks bad on him. Real bad. In his world, lookin' bad is about the worst thing that can happen to a fella."
"Appearances? Big-time crime lords are concerned with vanity?" Trixie stole a single triumphant "Ha!" before Iron Sides pressed harder on her throat, cutting off her breathing.
"Look, I'm gettin' tired of this crap. Either yas got the money, or ya don't. So do ya?" Trixie tried to force away Iron Sides's hoof with her magic, but his physical strength was too great. Unsure what to do, she dumped the contents of her mug onto the ground, the coins clinking against each other as they clattered onto the pavement.
Iron Sides stared coldly at what Trixie had to offer, then released her, the mare swallowing air desperately as she fell, curling up and coughing quietly. "This is just splendid." Iron Sides said, flicking aside a lone bit with an annoyed scowl. "Fricken fantastic. How much have ya got here?"
"Sixteen." Trixie answered, looking to Iron Sides with a pleading look in her eye. "Sixteen bits. Please...have mercy..."
Iron Sides rolled his neck, staring at Trixie blankly. "Sorry, toots. Gold Tooth said to 'convince' ya to get the money if ya didn't have it already."
Trixie's lower lip quivered, her eyes glassy. "Please...don't..."
December 7th, 10:22 A.M.
"'Tacky?!' You dare to call any possession of the Great and Powerful Trixie tacky?!" Trixie shouted, slamming the counter. Many eyes in the lobby were turned to her, the receptionist behind the desk scowling furiously at Trixie.
"Ma'am, there is no need to overreact like that." The receptionist scolded, pointing at Trixie with fire in her eyes. "Furthermore, it was your choice to apply here while dressed in a magician's getup. If you can't take criticism for such a choice, then you probably shouldn't be wearing that in the first place."
"Unthinkable! Unfathomable!" Trixie put her hoof across her forehead to enhance her drama. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is a born performer! To demand she cast off her fabulous ensemble is like demanding she cast off her very skin! The Great and-"
"Stop it!" Barked the receptionist, slamming the counter with a great deal more force than Trixie. "If you're just gonna go on a tirade like some nut job, then you can turn your sparkly ass around and walk out of here right now!"
Trixie gasped, horrified. "Unacceptable! You should feel deeply honored that the Great and Powerful Trixie has even considered employment at this shoddy hotel! Your heinous slander of Trixie is nothing short of atrocious!"
The receptionist calmly pressed a button on her desk, speaking into a microphone in a pleasant, almost singsong voice, "Security to the lobby. Please escort the cerulean mare dressed as a magician out of the lobby."
Trixie jumped up on the counter, her horn glowing and her teeth bared. "The very notion that you would even consider forcefully removing the Great and Powerful Trixie from anywhere is outrageous! Trixie demands she be hired immediately!" A pair of overbearing pegasus stallions arrived shortly after being called in, hooking their forelegs under Trixie's. "Just what do you think you're doing?! Release me at once! You'll be sorry for this! You'll pay!" With this, Trixie was thrown a remarkable distance out the front door of the hotel. The hotel she'd attempted to get hired at as a bellhop.
Picking herself up and dusting herself off, Trixie muttered profanities to herself as she trudged back to her current home, deprecated and frustrated. "Refuse my service, will they?" Trixie whispered to herself. "I'll show them! When I regain my stardom, I'll amount to the greatest of riches. I'll use that money to buy the place. Yes! Then I'll fire each of them! Each and every one!" Trixie laughed to herself, continuing to elaborate on her plan aloud as she trotted along. Many concerned and even disturbed glances were sent her way.
Trixie paraded down the hallway of the apartment complex she'd arrived at, a smug grin on her face and an air of confidence about her. She hummed happily, her eyes closed as she bobbled her head and trotted toward the apartment she was staying at. She knocked at the door, still humming. Her humming faded, and led into silence as there was still no answer at the door. Trixie opened her eyes, scowling at the unopened door, but she was taken aback by the note she found posted there. She rubbed at her eyes, then gave the note a thorough read. "...eviction?" Trixie read aloud. "She's been evicted...that means..." Trixie slammed her hoof against the door, angered as she added, "I'm evicted as well!" Trixie stormed down the hall and into the lobby as fast as equinely possible. Trixie singled out the receptionist, stomping over to her with huffing breath and wide eyes.
"Can I help you, miss...?" The receptionist asked, clearly a bit off put by Trixie's silent hostility.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie demands an explanation for the eviction of her hostess and roommate, Leafy Green!" Trixie shouted in response.
"Leafy Green, Leafy Green..." The receptionist stared off into space, her lips pursed in thought, "...room 4B, right?"
"Yes!" Trixie answered, impatient as can be. "As of now, Leafy Green is not within room 4B, or anywhere near this apartment complex. Why has she been evicted?!"
The receptionist rolled her eyes, looking as if she were drawing a blank, then mumbled, "All I know is that the police said that nopony should be concerned over it."
"Nopony should be concerned?!" Trixie stomped her front hooves, growling with annoyance. "That's my current home! Without Leafy, I have no means by which to remain in the apartment."
"Well, you could always pay the rent yourself." The receptionist suggested, grinning acutely.
Trixie pouted, a somewhat shameful gaze turned to the floor. "About that...uh...would you happen to know where Leafy is now?"
The receptionist shrugged, looking a bit on edge as she answered, "Something about the witness protection program, I think..."
"Witness protection program?" Trixie shook her head, her fury rekindled. "Trixie saw her this morning! How can the police move in on a crime and clean it all up so quickly without Trixie knowing about it?"
The receptionist scanned the lobby, then motioned for Trixie to lean over the counter. Puzzled, Trixie did just this, the receptionist whispering in her ear, "Don't tell anyone, but I think old Leafy Green was in it with some of the top dogs of Equestria's crime syndicates. They probably removed her from the building discreetly so as not to alert any of those syndicates."
"Preposterous!" Trixie shouted, the receptionist frantically throwing her hooves over the unicorn's mouth.
"Not so loud! No telling what'll happen to the likes of us if they know we know anything!"
Trixie swatted away the mare's hooves, asking dryly, "Just who is 'they?'"
The receptionist nibbled at the tip of her hoof, then whispered, "You know. Them."
Trixie raised an eyebrow. "Them?"
The receptionist sighed, dire as she whispered, "The G-O-" Out of the corner of her eye, the receptionist could see a police stallion wander through the front door. With a quiet gasp, she continued (rather boisterously), "G-E-T-T-H-E-M!" Trixie and the police stallion both gave the receptionist confused looks, as she was now standing on her chair with her front hooves outstretched. She nervously glanced from the cop to Trixie and back, sweat rolling down her cheeks, then she pointed at Trixie and shouted, "That spells 'go get them!' So go get 'em!" She laughed nervously, cleared her throat, then collapsed back into her seat.
While Trixie studied the receptionist with great perplexity, the police stallion stepped beside her, stating bluntly, "I'm here to see a unicorn by the name of Trixie."
"That would be me." Trixie said, puzzled as to why a police stallion would be seeking her out. "Is there a problem, officer?"
The officer turned a glare to Trixie, stern as he said, "You're to come with me. We need a few questions answered down at the station."
Trixie pursed her lips, eyeing the officer with fear. "What kind of questions?" The officer's glare became firmer as he pointed to the door without looking away from Trixie. Trixie gulped, proceeding out the exit as instructed, then asked again, "What sort of questions will you be asking me?"
"Oh, I'm sure you know already." The officer said, his gaze never leaving Trixie.
"Uh...right..." Trixie glanced about warily, then pointed in a random direction with a gasp, shouting, "Sweet Celestia! A hate crime!" The officer turned to look at the crime, only to discover that he'd been fooled. The officer looked back to Trixie with a snarl, finding that she had already taken off.
"Halt! In the name of the law!" He took off after her, Trixie running as fast she could to escape him.
December 13th, 6:33 P.M.
"Tragic, isn't it?" Asked somepony from behind Trixie, startling the mare to her hooves.
"Who...are you?" She asked, rubbing frantically at the tear stains on her cheeks. "What do you want?"
"Money. Power. Mares." He shrugged, cocking his head. "Just the basics, really."
"No, no, no!" Trixie said, shaking her head. "What do you want from me? I don't have any money, and-"
"Relax," the stallion interrupted, his smile rather charming despite how unappealing the rest of his features were, "I don't want anything from you. Just needed to tell you something."
"Tell me what, exactly?" Trixie asked, sounding fearful.
"You seem really on edge." Astutely observed the stallion, his eyebrow raised. "Perhaps you haven't eaten in a while?"
Trixie frowned, hanging her head. "Well, I haven't eaten very much lately."
"Then today is your lucky day!" Trixie's interest was piqued by the stallion's declaration. "Just a couple blocks down this avenue," he nodded to the sidewalk, pointing to the left, "in a little worn-out building, a group of equinitarian workers have prepared free food for all the transients."
"Free food?!" Trixie asked in disbelief, her lips curled into a beam. "Where are they?"
"Just start down the avenue and keep going." Answered the stallion, returning Trixie's smile. "You can't miss it!"
"Oh, thank you so much!" Trixie shouted, briefly hugging the stallion and bursting out of the alley. The pegasus watched her go, then strode over to the cracked mirror that lay on the ground. He picked it up, studying his fractured reflection, then chuckled with dark satisfaction.
"All according to plan." He turned and threw the mirror at the wall, cackling with sinister glee as the glass shattered and fell to the concrete in shards. "All according to plan."