When the rising sun hit Sunset's eyes and slowly brought her back to a waking state, she found that Sterling Honor had already straightened out the camp, cleaned up the fire, and packed away his sleeping bag. She cast her eyes around slowly, and saw him sitting off to the side a bit, facing Trixie who was speaking animatedly to him.
"... and of course, Trixie could tell you were impressed with her magical abilities, not to mention Trixie's steadfast convictions to stay true to what she believes in! Trixie simply adores a stallion in uniform, so you never know. If you play your cards…"
Sterling coughed loudly as he noticed Sunset stirring, and hurriedly got to his hooves and trotted over to her. "Sunset Shimmer! Good to see you are awake! We need to pack up and get moving, we don't want to lose any daylight!"
Sunset was surprised to see he looked somewhat fatigued, and a little relieved to see her awake. Her eyes interrogated him, and he replied very softly.
"She talks in her sleep - rehearsing her show. The strange voice kept waking me up all night. Then she came out here and wouldn't stop talking…!"
"Trixie can hear you," called Trixie from across the field, slight irritation in her voice.
"Sorry Trixie," called Sunset back. "I'll roll up my sleeping bag and we can be on our way!"
"I don't think she can really hear us," muttered Sterling.
After Trixie stowed the sleeping bag, she locked her wagon and cast a protective spell on the door. Then she pointedly put the element around her neck on a small chain, so that she wore it as a simple necklace.
"Remember," Trixie warned. "Trixie gives the element only to Princess Celestia. Touch it and the deal is off, and Trixie will unleash all of her powers upon you!"
"It's all right, Trixie," soothed Sunset. "We're on the up and up. We'll get you there by this evening."
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Trixie. "You know, since Princess Celestia is repaying Trixie anyway, Trixie knows this wonderful haycake stand on the other side of the city. They cost a little more, but Trixie promises they are the best haycakes in northern Equestria. Trixie will treat you!"
Sterling rolled his eyes as Sunset smiled. "Um, sure, Trixie, as long as it's not too far out of our way."
"Oh, just a couple of miles," assured Trixie. "It doesn't take long at a trot!"
By the time the detour included the extra distance, two wrong turns, and a forty-five minute line, Sunset could see that Sterling's patience was wearing thin. Trixie kept up a steady stream of excited, happy chatter the whole time that largely centered on herself, but never had much of substance. By the end Sterling's ears were pressed flat to try to block some of it.
Still, as Sunset bit into the haycake, she had to admit that Trixie was right about it. She had never tasted anything so delicious. Even Sterling paused in his steady stride for just a moment as he bit into his.
Sunset mused as she chewed her haycake, and finally spoke her thoughts aloud. "After we return this element to Princess Celestia, we still have to figure out where to go for the next one…"
"Oh, Trixie knows where the next one is," offered Trixie through a mouthful of cake. "Las Pegasus."
"What?!" gasped Sunset. "How do you know that?"
"Trixie read about it in the Weekly Whinny," she replied. "It's being used in a new show."
"The Weekly Whinny," snorted Sterling, "last week reported that there were flying saucers over Vanhoover, and that they landed to buy oats then left without tipping."
"Trixie trusts her sources," asserted Trixie. "Why, this week's issue has a very revealing article about how ponies in the north are suddenly wearing denser socks than usual! VERY mysterious."
"Are we there yet?" moaned Sterling.
"Hush," chided Sunset, grinning a bit. "Trixie… can you tell me how you activated the element? I tried for years, and never got anything. You've only had it a couple of days!"
"Trixie is… just… that amazing!" Trixie stammered. She stomped ahead a few paces, leading them for a moment, before slowly dropping back beside Sunset again.
"Trixie knew it was special," she began. "Trixie knew long enough ago to save up for moons to be able to afford it, all the while hoping that nopony else would recognize it. But the only time it did anything was when ponies were laughing at Trixie… it would glow a little. I guess now Trixie knows why."
"So, you didn't activate it?" asked Sunset. "But the effects?"
Trixie smirked. "No pony is better than Trixie at misdirection and illusion, NO pony! Trixie just enchanted it to glow and sparkle and spin. But Trixie would have gotten it, given time. Don't ever underestimate The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
For a while, Trixie stopped talking, and just walked quietly with them. But when they crested a hill and the mountains of Canterlot rose before them, she stopped.
"This element was Trixie's big chance. Do I really have to give it up?"
"Yes," snapped Sterling.
"Yes," replied Sunset, much more gently. "I promise Celestia is prepared to pay for your troubles."
Trixie frowned. "Trixie wants a new wagon, too. Her wagon is too small, and in poor repair. She can barely perform her show."
The sun was setting by the time they reached the castle. With Sunset and Sterling as escorts, they led Trixie through the hallways, upstairs to the grand hallway outside the throne room. Beyond the great doors, across the hall, and on the large balcony they knew Celestia would be performing her daily duty, lowering the sun so that her sister could raise the moon, all the way from the Crystal Empire in the north. Sunset and Sterling waited patiently, but Trixie ran around from corner to corner, from item to item, her mouth wide.
"Trixie has never seen such things! The artistry! The detailing! The sheer grandeur! This castle is amazing! Trixie MUST perform here!"
Besides the guards watching Trixie out of the corners of their eyes, nopony paid her much mind as she ran about and gushed at everything. But then the grand doors opened.
The guards dropped immediately into a bow, and Sterling was in perfect sync with them. It took a moment longer, but Sunset also bowed as Celestia came through the doors into the hallway.
Princess Celestia stood nearly twice the height of the average unicorn, tall and elegant with a pure white coat. Her horn spiraled nearly two feet off the top of her refined head in front of a golden crown. Her mane swirled behind her, pastel-colored plasma stripes in continuous motion as her magic fed through it. Her long neck fed down to a solid body supported by four long, thin legs, each with a golden shoe capping the hoof. A golden breastplate wrapped around her chest and was secured behind her neck, leaving the rest of her body bare. Large feathered wings were folded at her sides, reaching back to her cutie mark - a large, bright orange sun emblazoned on each flank. Behind her, her tail flowed with the same magical plasma as her mane.
Trixie just stood, jaw agape in the middle of the hallway as she stared at the Princess. Celestia seemed tired for a moment, but recognizing the group in front of her she smiled broadly, and stepped forward.
"Sunset Shimmer! You have returned earlier than I expected!" She extended her wings to Sunset, who stood and returned the embrace with her hooves.
"Yes, Princess," replied Sunset. "I'm sorry we came to you so late in the day!"
Celestia clicked her tongue and raised her head to look at Trixie. "And who is this?" she asked, bemused.
Sunset opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Trixie who seemed to snap back to awareness.
"Princess Celestia, prepare yourself!" she began. "You are about to experience the most amazing, the most jaw-dropping, most spectacular experience known to pony kind! I am the one! I am the only! Presenting…" Trixie was suddenly surrounded by a poof of smoke. As it cleared, she was still standing in the same place, but had risen onto her hind hooves and spread her forelegs out in a very showy gesture. "... The Great and Powerful Trrrrrrrrixie!!"
Celestia's own jaw dropped as she stared for a moment, but then she laughed and applauded by stomping her hooves appreciatively. Sterling cast a sideways glance at the unexpected display, and even Sunset looked bemused. Celestia cleared her throat and grinned.
"My apologies, that was just very unexpected. Guards, as you were!"
Sterling and the rest of the guards stood again. The guards returned to their attention stance, while Sterling remained alert nearby. Celestia approached Trixie.
"To what do I owe this honor, Great and Powerful Trixie?" asked Celestia.
Trixie grinned mischievously. Sunset noticed that at some point during the smoke bomb the element had disappeared, so she had a feeling that she knew what Trixie was about to do. She decided not to say anything.
"Princess Celestia," repeated Trixie. "I must ask for complete silence for the feat of magic that I am about to perform. As you can see, there is nothing up my sleeves!"
Sterling quietly noted that Trixie wasn't wearing anything with sleeves, but Celestia watched attentively, nodding.
Trixie began to move her hooves in swirling patterns before her, and a slight glow appeared in the air as her horn lit. "I call upon the ancient powers," she chanted. "I call upon the magic that has protected Equestria for generations of ponies! I call upon all that is Great and Powerful to bring us back that which has been lost!"
The glow intensified, and little sparks appeared. "Princess Celestia, I present to you…"
There was a flash of light and a cloud of smoke, and as the smoke cleared, the element was suspended between Trixie's hooves, spinning slowly. "THE ELEMENT OF MAGIC!!"
Celestia's eyes widened, and she smiled broadly, applauding once again. "Wonderful!" she cried. She leaned in close, suddenly a little more serious. "Is that really the Element of Magic?"
"Laughter," corrected Sunset as she stepped in. "Trixie had it for us."
"Saying it's the Element of Magic is much more dramatic for the act," grumbled Trixie.
Celestia nodded and chuckled. "I completely understand, Miss Trixie. Canterlot is grateful to you for returning it to us." She hesitated, and nodded her horn towards the element. "May I?"
Trixie nodded, and Celestia's horn lit. She brought the element back towards herself, studying it. "It's been so long since I've seen them… it still looks the same as after…."
Her voice trailed off softly. After a moment she stopped staring into the element, and the smile returned to her face. "Once we have them all gathered, Luna and I can try to activate them again. Did you get any clues for the others?"
"Trixie knows…" began Trixie, but Sunset cut her off.
"We don't, Princess. Nothing came up." Trixie sniffed at Sunset and stuck her nose into the air.
Celestia chuckled softly. "Very well… Sterling Honor?"
Sterling snapped to attention. "Your Highness?"
"Will you please take Trixie down to accounting and see if they are still awake? Have them reimburse any expenses she has accrued on our behalf. Then take her to housekeeping and have them outfit a room for her to stay in tonight."
Trixie looked surprised. "Wait… Trixie gets to stay IN THE CASTLE?"
Celestia smiled softly. "Well, of course, dear. I couldn't possibly send you away after your long journey."
Trixie looked absolutely ecstatic, and began chattering rapidly to Sterling as he led her away, his ears flat against his head once again. Celestia invited Sunset back into the throne room with a nod of her head.
Once they were inside, and the door closed, Celestia relaxed her stance a bit. "It looks like you found a new friend," she suggested.
Sunset chuckled. "I don't know if I'd say that. We're so different!"
"I like her," chuckled Celestia. "A little brash, but she's fun. Are you taking her with you?"
"Oh, gosh!" exclaimed Sunset. "I don't think Sterling likes her."
"He'll warm up to her," suggested Celestia. "He always starts like that."
"Do you think we should?"
"Friends are important," emphasized Celestia. "I think I would at least offer."
Sunset pondered. "Well, we'll see if she wants to. But I don't know where to go next."
Celestia nodded, her mood suddenly much more business-like. "That's why I wanted to speak to you in here. You're going to the Frozen North next. Princess Luna has located an element there, you just need to go collect it. We'll have to outfit you with some warm clothing, but otherwise it should be simple." She smiled apologetically. "It will be a much nicer visit than your last one… I hear the Crystal Ponies are very welcoming to visitors."
Sunset thought back to her last experience in the Frozen North. Celestia had just recovered the Crystal Empire from its thousand year exile, inadvertently bringing back the evil King Sombra as well. Defeating him had been a challenge for all of them, but ultimately Luna trapped him in an eternal dream, and their success led to the re-unification of the two sisters and the return of harmony to the land.
But the Crystal Ponies who called the city home didn't come back until Luna had returned to lead them through the veil. Most ponies in Equestria had not even met a crystal pony yet, and that included Sunset.
"Enjoy your evening in Canterlot and rest up, Sunset," advised Celestia. "I bet you didn't think this quest would be so easy? Don't worry. We'll all keep working with you to track them down."
"If we're already two down," grinned Sunset, "then we might even be done this month!"
Celestia smiled. "I'm sure there will be a little more to it than that, but there's nothing wrong with being optimistic!"