//------------------------------// // To meet an old friend // Story: The Greatest Showmare // by Koekelbag //------------------------------// "Spiiiiike!" With a soft sigh, the dragon put his comic down and got out of basket. As much as he wanted to continue reading, especially when he got to the best part, when his big sister used that tone to call him, he knew better than to just ignore it. So he left their shared bedroom and walked down two flights of stairs, claw gliding softly enough to not make scratches against the surprisingly still-alive wood of the walls. As he entered the main reading room of the old tree turned library, he found a very anxious unicorn mare looking outside the west-ward window. "Yeah?" he asked, though he already knew why she called. She went through a lot of effort to make sure her calender was free for today, giving Spike more than a few headaches in the process, but he decided to play along all the same. "She's here! Look, the airship has arrived!" Trixie said, hoof pointing out the window. Looking alongside the outstretched hoof, Spike couldn't help but let out a small whistle when he saw the giant floating zeppelin approaching, 'Sparkle's Troupe' written clearly on the side of the whale-shaped purple balloon, even at this distance. "Quite the contrast with that run-down cart she used way back. If the Troupe's shows can let her afford all that, maybe we and the girls ought to catch one as well sometime, right?" Spike wondered aloud, a slight hum being the only response from Trixie. Looking to his side, he noticed that Trixie seemed to be lost in thought, transfixed on the grand ship. "Hello, Hello, Equestria to the great student, anyone responding?" He said with a slight grin, a playful bump from his tail shaking her awake. Trixie looked around in bewilderment, before noticing the look Spike was giving her, and processing what he just said. "Ah, eh, yes... I'm sorry, Spike. I guess I'm just a bit too excited to see her again, I guess?" she replied with bit of a blush. "It's been, what, three years since we last met in person, at her brother's wedding? You know, uh, with the whole changeling invasion we miserably failed to prevent until Cadence and Shining had to step in, and all that..." Already anticipating yet another spiral of self-loathing his big sister was about to fall in, Spike hastily changed the subject. "But you regularly kept in touch through letters, right? I should know, I'm the one always sending them... anyway, what I mean to say, she's not going to be some kind of stranger once she knocks on the door later on. Also, you're the one who invited her in the first place. So why are you feeling so anxious now, Trix?" The mare shook her head, before looking at the ship again. "Just look at it, Spike. It's just as you said, she started journeying with next to nothing, nearly eight years ago now. And in just those eight short years, she's become so successful, leading her own company and even owning a private airship! She was always the more talented one between the two of us... Even if I somehow managed to become Princess Celestia's personal student, can I really compare to all, well, that?" Her voice was tinged with doubt, but Spike didn't hesitate to laugh, confusing the mare. Taking a moment to calm down, the drake began his counter-argument. "Sure, she's both a wildly successfully businessmare and an extremely talented spellcaster, but she's not the greatest student of Princess Celestia, nor a bearer of the elements." Trixie's eyes widened a bit, realizing where he was going with this. "And before you even try to suggest it, no, you were chosen by Celestia, chosen by the spark, not her. It was you and the girls that saved Equestria from the endless night." Trixie tried to protest, but Spike continued relentlessly. "It was you that saw through Discord's plan and found the elements before he could turn you and the girls against each other. The old Twilight would have just ran straight into that maze, but you didn't." "But the wedding-" Trixie said, some fire returning to her eyes, but Spike just crossed his arms over his chest, not letting up. "Even if you were the only one to believe Twilight that Cadence wasn't who she really was, it was still thanks to your trap exposing Chrysalis for the imposter that she was. Sure, it might have triggered the invasion early, but who knows how we might have ended up if they could actually fully prepare their attack. And as for what happened with Sombra..." The drake couldn't help but puff his chest out a bit. "Okay, I was pretty much the hero that day, but I couldn't have done it without your help! So you might be a bit of a coward at times, whoever said that was a bad thing? You never rush headlong into any dangerous situation, always taking the time to assess the situation and plan out a strategy. So don't you ever think you're worth less than any other pony, you got that?" The drake finished his speech, looking Trixie directly in the eyes, almost daring her to disagree. She was silent for a short while, before looking out the window again, gazing at the airship. Turning her head back to Spike, she smiled. "Yeah, you're right... thanks, Spike." she said. Spike merely replied with a short nod, satisfied. Trixie sat on her haunches, lifted her hooves in the air and lightly slapped her face a few times, before getting back up. "Everything is prepared for her visit, right?" She asked, determination clear in her eyes. Spike nodded again, walking over to a large reading table with a small list laying on it. "Daring's manuscript, in the top drawer, check. The ancient tome Celestia sent over, safely secured in the basement, check. Owlicious sleeping soundly on the top floor, check." He slightly grinned that this was even on the checklist to begin with. "Celestia's request we received yesterday, bottom drawer, check. And finally, baked goods from Sugarcube Corner, personally made by Pinkie, that's a check. Yup, everything seems to be in order." Trixie nodded. "Alright, then we simply wait." She looked at the ship again, now a frown on her face. "I do wonder when she'll come down. The ship has been hanging there for quite a while already..." "Oh, she already came down some time ago, in a smaller hot-air balloon." Spike said casually, not looking up. Trixie was suprised at this. "Wait what? How did I miss that?" Spike grinned cheekily. "Oh, well, it happened while I was giving that big inspiring speech. You know, I didn't want to stop my flow to point it out. Though, it did seem like the balloon was headed for town hall, not here." he replied, shrugging his shoulders. Trixie rolled her eyes while Spike talked, amused at his brashness. It did cheer her up, so she can't really say anything about it. "I imagine she wants to get permission first to keep the airship moored in Ponyville, as well as permission to have a show here." She said, having thought on it a bit. "Oh, right, she did reply that she agreed to stay a while in town now that she's here. Might as well hold a show to keep up with all the financial stuff that comes with managing that Troupe of hers, I suppose." Spike chimed in. They both nodded at each other, staying silent for a while. Before it became awkward, Spike asked, "So, uh, are you going out to see her?" Trixie shook her head. "Nah, I'd rather meet her here. I can wait a bit longer, no need to bother her if she needs to get some paperwork in order first. I don't imagine it'll take all that long in the first place." "Ah, alright. Eh, so it's ok if I, uh, go read a bit upstairs?" Spike asked, a sheepish smile on his face. He still ended on the really good part, after all. Trixie couldn't stop the small smile from appearing, nodding. "Oh alright, run along then. I'll be down in the basement for a bit. Just don't get too absorbed when I call, or I will-" "Directly teleport me downstairs, yeah yeah. Alright, see you in a few." Spike cut in, hastily leaving the room and going upstairs again. After making sure that the front door was locked, she opened the door to the basement and went down. *Might as well take another look at that damnable book, rehearse how I'm going to put this to Twilight.* --- An hour and a half an hour later, there was a loud knock on the door. Trixie looked up, surprised. She and Spike had already been waiting downstairs for quite a while now, both sure that Twilight wouldn't take too long to arrive. They might have underestimated that by a fair margin, but now she's here all the same. "Well, go on then. You invited her here, you should be the one to welcome her. I'll go prepare the sweets and drinks." Spike said, noticing Trixie's hesitation, and fled into the kitchen. Silently cursing Spike's agility when it really matters, she took a few short breaths, and walked to the door. Stay calm, Trixie. She's just an old friend, nothing to be nervous about. Open the door in three, two, one... She lit her horn up and the door was covered in a soft pink glow, slowly opening until she saw... two ponies she did not expect at all. Said ponies only smiled sheepishly back at her, no-one saying a word for a short while. Eventually, Trixie managed to process the sight in front of her. "...Flim? Flam? What the hay are you two doing here?" She asked, anger flaring in her voice. She certainly hadn't forgotten the last time they had met, when they almost put the Apples out of their lucrative cider-business, before hastily leaving town when they got caught out without even the slightest hint of an apology. Furthermore, perhaps the thing angering Trixie the most is that the two made a promise never to return if they lost that match, yet here they are. Put simply, Trixie cares a great deal about promises, perhaps even more than Pinkie Pie, so breaking one in front of her is never a good idea. Sensing the oncoming outburst, Flim and Flam hastily tried to defend themselves, but both fumbled over their words when they saw Trixie starting to light up her horn. "Don't worry, they're with me." A familiar voice came from behind the two, stunning Trixie. Not even having any time to react, a blurry purple thing barrelled from between the twin stallions straight for Trixie, catching her off guard. Before she could cast a shield spell, she realized someone was embracing her, and grasped the full picture. So she simply returned the hug, nuzzling against the face resting on her shoulder, blushing a bit. "Hey Twilight. Been a while, huh?" She asked, content to just stay in the embrace, her anger already forgotten. "Yeah, three years since my BBBFF's wedding. Too long." Twilight said, before breaking the hug. The two just looked at each other for a short while, staying silent, until Twilight cracked into a smile. "Did you put on weight?" She asked, tilting her head. "Yeah, yeah, Spike's constantly bothering me about that as well. You've gotten a lot more toned in comparison, right?" Trixie replied, not even bothered in the slightest. "Hmm? Oh, yeah, I suppose. We managed to score an exercise instructor two years ago, and he's been putting the Troupe through their paces ever since." The two fell silent again, enjoying the moment for a bit. Flim and Flam stood to either side, unsure what, if, to say anything. Trixie broke the silence. "Well, come on in then. Spike should be just about ready with some delicious food." --- As they all started to settle around the large table in the middle of the room, Spike entered, carrying a large tray on his head, all sorts of sweets scattered across it. He briefly stopped when he noticed Flim and Flam were there too, but simply shrugged and carried on, putting the tray down in the middle of the table. "Hey Twilight, long time no seen. I'm guessing those two are with you?" He said while taking a seat himself, nudging to the brothers sitting somewhat uncomfortably across the table. "Yeah, they are. I've been told I don't need to introduce them to the both of you." Twilight responded. "You can say that again." Trixie chimed in, annoyance clear in her voice. "Before we do anything else, let's start with the biggest elephant in the room. How in the hay did they join you?" Twilight looked to the twins, who conveniently were looking away. Shaking her head, she collected her thoughts and replied. "I hired them, actually." This caught Trixie and Spike off guard. "Uhm, Twilight, you do know they are grifters and frauds, right? They nearly ran one of the most respected companies of Ponyville out of town by goading them into a competition they knew they would win..." Twilight nodded. "Yeah, that's how I was introduced to them. About half a year after I had my performance in Ponyville, I think, I made camp for the night a few miles from Los Pegasus. I was preparing to go to sleep, until I suddenly heard a commotion in the distance, in the direction of Los Pegasus... and two unicorns galloping right at me. Say, Flim, what was it you said then?" She asked, nudging him, taking a cupcake from the tray. Flim looked pleadingly to his brother, who was suddenly very interested in the surrounding bookcases. "I, eh... 'Help us, please. They want to throw us into jail...' or something, miss." Twilight nodded with satisfaction, finishing the sugary sweetness. "Yeah, that was it. Now, I'm not one to abandon two strangers in need, so I let them enter the cart to ask what was happening, just before I saw this whole swarm of ponies running towards me as well. They apparently didn't notice them entering, as one of the mares came up and asked me, 'excuse me miss, have you seen two unicorns running this direction?' " "I could tell this crowd was out for blood, so I kept quiet, shaking my head, innocently asking 'I'm afraid not, ma'am. I'm just a simply travelling magician. Did something happen?'. That seemed to satisfy them, as she replied with, 'Alright. If you do see them, be aware that they are extremely charismatic but dangerous frauds. They managed to sell about fifty barrels of some sort of 'wonder tonic' in Los Pegasus, until someone decided to run some tests on it and discovered it was just a mix of apple juice and beet leaves. Because they actually claimed it had magical effects when it didn't, they have to pay everything back, but they just made a run for it when we confronted them." Twilight laughed a bit, leaving Trixie and Spike a bit confused. "Like, really? Apple juice and beet leaves? Either the ponies in Los Pegasus weren't bright to begin with, which I doubted, or the two ponies I was harbouring at the time were indeed that charismatic to sell so much of it before someone caught up... which gave me a great idea. My eyes must have lit up when I realized it, because the mare suddenly looked at me with suspicion, so I had to improvise. 'Oh, wait, was it that? Actually, I didn't see two unicorns running by, as I was about to go to sleep in the cart over there, but I did hear a loud rustling heading north. I thought it was just some of the local wildlife, so I didn't give it a second thought. Could that have been them?' I said, and she seemed to buy it, as the group immediately turned around and ran north." "You had an idea? And you had just been told you were harbouring frauds, but protected them?" Trixie asked, trying to keep up. Spike seemed to realize where Twilight was going, however, looking between her and the brothers. "You saw an business opportunity, huh?" He said, and Twilight nodded. "Mhm, that's right. If they can sell more than a dozen barrels of the stuff, imagine how much they could help me out by advertising my show! it certainly would have helped with my travel goals if more ponies came to watch my performances, so I just entered the cart and simply asked them. They didn't have any objections, we worked out a contract, and that was pretty much the start of 'Sparkle's Troupe'. Believe me, without them, the Troupe would have nowhere been near as successfull." She finished, a bit out of breath from the long-winded story. "Not like we really had a chance to object, with that mob on our heels.." Flam muttered, but Twilight glanced at him. "Ah, I mean, we were grateful for the miss to present this opportunity to us. We had never really considered living an, eh, honest life until then, and we certainly wouldn't want to go back to it now." Flim nodded in agreement. Spike cut in, "So that explains the constant miss thing, then? Part of the contract?" Twilight was about to reply, but Flim was faster. 'Oh absolutely not. The miss has treated us with nothing but respect, she would never lay such restrictions on us. We are simply really thankful for giving us the chance at a more honest and stable life, and so we wish to repay it in kind from our own volition." Twilight sighed. "Yeah, that's pretty much it. Trust me, I've tried for them to be more informal with me, but they won't relent. I just learned to live with it." She leaned forward a bit, looking at Trixie. "So, does that ease your worries?" Trixie nodded. "Yeah. If you say you trust them, I'll... tolerate them, for now." Twilight laughed softly at that. "That's fine, I can live with that. It was a lot harder to talk to the Apples about it, that's for sure." Trixie's and Spike's ears perked up at that. Twilight noticed. "Oh, right, I hadn't told you yet. The paperwork at major, uh, Mare, was it? Major Mare? Anyway, we got all the permissions we needed from the town hall pretty quickly, but I insisted we visit the Apples first before coming here, so those two could properly apologise and pay compensation for what they did all those years ago. Smaller towns like these, rumors spread fast, and I did not want that happening if we were to hold a show here." "Ah, that's why you took so long?" Trixie asked, remembering how long they had to wait. "Yeah. Compensation didn't seem to be needed, they apparently never sold as well as they did after their little tussle with Flim and Flim, but that Granny Smith sure wanted to give them an earful, I'm glad I didn't need to hear all that." Twilight laughed again at the fresh memory, while Flim and Flam were silently blushing, ears red. "So, anyway, what was that letter about in the first place? A spell even the Great and Powerful Trixie needed help with?" She said, with a slight grin.