//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: School Magic // by Ricky Otaku //------------------------------// “Behold, for my last trick…” As she said that, Trixie removed her magician hat. Starlight was sitting down in the empty classroom they had borrowed so that Trixie could put on her little private show. Starlight seemed particularly interested in the various magic tricks, as amazing (or far from impressive) as they were. Trixie was thrilled by the attention she was getting, missing the feeling of having a genuinely captivating audience for her show. She wiggled her prop magic wand above the hat before giving it a light tap. “Prepare to be amazed by the Great and Powerful Trixie’s wonderful trick!” Trixie confidently stuffed her arm inside the hat, her hand looking for something. Her self-assured expression slowly turned to confusion, then worries. Starlight cocked her head. “Trixie? Is everything alright?” Trixie gulped. “Y-yes, everything is-” “What’s this bump under your shirt?” Starlight asked. “Huh?” Trixie immediately looked down, noticing the bump on her belly. She could feel something wriggling between her t-shirt and her jacket. “Ah, it’s moving!” Trixie exclaimed. The magician quickly unzipped her jacket, revealing what was hiding under it. Starlight looked at it in confusion. “Is that…?” Yes, it was a bunny. The very bunny that was supposed to appear in the hat. The small animal jumped from Trixie’s jacket onto the nearby table. “... T-tada! This was obviously what I had planned for! Totally…!” Trixie let out as she put back her hat, trying to hide her blushing face underneath the trim. Starlight snorted, clearly trying to hold back her laughter. Trixie blushed even more in embarrassment. “No, no, I’m not laughing at you!” Starlight tried to reassure her. “I just think you’re funny.” “The Great and Powerful Trixie isn’t trying to be funny. I am a magician, not a comedian.” “This was a compliment…” Trixie sighed, sitting down. “I know… I know you meant well. But… this has to be perfect! Trixie can’t make any more mistakes!” Trixie buried her face in her hands. Starlight stood up and walked towards her. “Hey, there’s no need to feel that way. No one expects you to be perfect-” “I have to be!” Trixie suddenly jumped up. “I can’t settle for just being great and powerful now, my tricks need to be perfect and flawless, especially since…” Trixie suddenly stopped talking. She didn’t want to vent like this, especially to someone she just met. She felt pathetic for even feeling this way. It was unsightly of her. She suddenly felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. Trixie looked up, greeted by Starlight's reassuring smile. “I know we just met, but you can feel free to tell me anything that is troubling you. Trust me, I'm the last person who would judge you. When I said I wanted to get to know you, I truly meant it… but I won't force you to talk about something if you really aren't comfortable to.” Trixie felt like she had received more kindness and sympathy from this stranger she just met than her own schoolmates she had known for months. She was the first person to show her genuine interest as well as in her magic tricks for a long time, which pushed Trixie to want to trust her. “It's just that, even since there is magic at CHS- real magic- people aren't as interested in my shows anymore. And who could blame them… why bother with fake magic when they can have the real deal? If only my tricks were even better… then people would admire me again!” Trixie was rarely ever this vulnerable with others. She'd rather hide her insecurities with her boasting act and bravado. But she felt at ease with Starlight, like she could allow herself to be truthful. And it felt good to finally show what was in her heart to someone. Starlight remained still, stoic. It was like she was processing what she had just learned and carefully picking what she would say next. For a moment, Trixie was worried she may have vented too much and annoyed her new friends and started to regret this fleeting moment of vulnerability. For a brief moment, Trixie thought she saw a sad look in Starlight’s eyes- was it pity? Remorse? Trixie wasn't quite sure. But it lasted only for a split second before her expression turned warm. Maybe Trixie had imagined it. “You shouldn't put yourself down over that,” Starlight began with a soft smile. “There is nothing wrong with your magic tricks.” “But if I had real magic I could-” “Then it wouldn't be a true magic show anymore. The point is to make people wonder how you did it, there would be no point anymore if it was just actual magic. People wouldn't even think anymore. It would just be brainless entertainment. What you have is true genuine entertainment to make people think, ask questions, you leave them speechless by how you manage to pull off tricks they can't even fathom. And that, it's something ‘real’ magic can never wish to accomplish.” Those words filled Trixie with new confidence. “You are right. The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't need magic to be the greatest and powerfulest magician! Even a nobody can use magic, just look at the Rainboom- but it takes genuine talent to pull off any of my tricks!” “It's already hard to get your talent acknowledged in such a biased and unfair world, there's no need to also worry about real magic,” Starlight muttered bitterly.  “Exactly! I won't let these magic pony girls steal my thunder anymore! I'll show them all the best magic performances of their life!” Trixie then seized Starlight by both shoulders. “And for that, I will need your help, Starlight Glimmer!” “M-me…!?” “Most of my more amazing tricks require the help of a second person.” “Oh, you mean like… a special show helper?” “More like an assistant. Obviously, the Great and Powerful Trixie will require a great and powerful assistant to help her.” “You mean… me?” “Of course! Who else could it be? From my perspective, you are perfect for the job.” Starlight looked pensive for a moment before smirking. “Well, if you'll have me, I'd gladly accept your offer, Trixie. As your assistant, I'll do everything I can so your next show is a success.” “What… do you think these two are talking about?” Fluttershy wondered. “Beat me, I don’t think she’d have anything interesting to say to anyone, and yet…” Rainbow Dash commented. “Don’t be rude darling, with the right audience and presentation she can be quite interesting,” Rarity argued. “And clearly her current audience is interested.” “No offence, but who would be interested in hearing her talk about rocks?” Applejack said. “Hey! Maud can make anything sound exciting, even rocks! Don’t you dare disrespect my big sister!” Pinkie Pie let out. “I-I think rocks can be quite interesting personally…” Twilight nervously said, adjusting her glasses. “We are not disrespecting your sister Pinkie Pie, we are just wondering why she of all people is talking with her…” Sunset said, glancing at the person in question. Starlight was having a rather animated conversation with Maud Pie- well, as animated as Pinkie’s sister could be. Starlight did seem very interested in whatever (probably rock-related) Maud was telling her. Maud on the other hand had her usual deadpan expression. “Wow, I don’t remember the last time I saw Maud seem so excited! She must be happy to have someone to talk to!” Pinkie exclaimed cheerfully The rest of her friends all looked at Maud with confusion. To them, she looked the same stoic and emotionless Maud. “I’m sorry Pinkie, I… don’t see it,” Applejack admitted. “What!? Have you even looked at her?! Her eyes are shining with glee! And her mouth! It’s small, but she’s definitely smiling!” Pinkie insisted. “Uh… maybe the corner of her mouth is slightly smirking?” Rarity said. “Exactly! Maud is smiling from happiness because she made a friend!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Only you can see through Maud’s stoic demeanor huh,” Rainbow Dash said. “Of course! We’re sisters after all! BSFF! BEST SISTER FRIENDS FOREVER!” Twilight stepped closer to Sunset and whispered into her ears. “I still can’t believe these two are part of the same family.” “You are not the only one,” Sunset replied. While her friends simply mused lightly about the situation, Sunset couldn’t help but feel unease. Why was Starlight talking with Pinkie Pie’s sister? Was she really that interested in rocks? Or was there a more nefarious reason why she had an interest in Maud? Sunset tried to chase away those doubts. “I’m being paranoid. Why would this Starlight be up to no good? Just because she’s talking to Pinkie’s sister? It feels like I’m just making up reasons…” And yet, Sunset simply couldn’t fully chase away this bad feeling in her chest. Starlight eventually walked away, waving goodbye to Maud. The latter reciprocated with a more nonchalant waving. Unable to contain her excitement and curiosity anymore, Pinkie Pie rushed towards her sister as soon as she was alone. “Maud! Congratulations on making a new friend!” she said, tightly hugging her older sister. “Oh, Pinkie Pie,” Maud said, deadpan. “I didn’t see you coming.” “What were you two talking about?” Sunset asked, suspicious despite her. “The usual. Rocks.” “I doubt ‘rocks’ are a usual topic of discussion…” Applejack said. “It is for me,” Maud replied. “But is it for Starlight?” Sunset inquired. “She’s the one who brought up the subject,” Maud revealed. “Huh, really,” Sunset said. “Maybe Starlight is also interested in rocks,” Twilight added. “She wanted to know more about them. We are supposed to hang out later to talk more about it,” Maud revealed. “Is that so-” Sunset began to say. “It’s awesome!” Pinkie Pie interrupted, hugging her sister once again. “I’m so happy for you that you made a friend who shares your interest in rocks!” “Yes. I’m happy too,” Maud said, emotionless. Sunset wanted to ask more but she felt like it might be inappropriate. Both Pie sisters seemed happy- in their own ways. She didn’t want to ruin the moment with her suspicions. “But still, I feel like we are forgetting something about Starlight Glimmer,” Pinkie Pie suddenly said. “I do too-” Fluttershy whispered. “Oh, well, if we can’t remember it’s probably not important. What matters is that Maud made a new friend!” “... never mind.” Despite Pinkie Pie’s enthusiasm, Sunset couldn’t share her happy feeling. Something odd was going on, and she needed to get to the bottom of it before something bad might happen to her friends. “The trick with an S.L.K. is not to make the spars too heavy. But if they're too light, you've got no ballast and then good luck tacking against the A.O.I.!” Starlight was explaining with enthusiasm all the little complexities of kites while flying one in a park near the school. Maud was silently listening to her, with her usual stoic expression. Starlight suddenly looked embarrassed. “I'm sorry, I've been rambling ever since we got here, I just… really like kites.” Maud continued to stare at her with her expressionless eyes and Starlight looked even more nervous. “Kites are cool,” Maud eventually said, breaking the unbearable silence. Starlight sighed in relief. “But enough about kites, I’m interested to learn more about rocks,” Starlight said. “Which rocks in particular? Minerals? Gems? Precious stones? Granites? Crystals?” “Uh… rocks out of the ordinary, unique even. Special if you'd prefer.” “All rocks are unique and special in their own way,” Maud replied as she pulled out a small rock from her pocket, deadpan. “This one’s name is Boulder. The line over there tells me he's over two thousand years old.” “Woah, you can tell that only from a line!?” “You’d be surprised by what one can tell simply by observing a rock. Each one has a different story to tell.” “I see… Is that why you're so fascinated by them?” “Among other things. I also like them because they don't judge or exclude you if you happen to be… different from others.” It was rare for Maud to be so talkative, especially with someone she barely knew. But when it came to rocks, she was always happy to share her passion with whoever was willing to listen. She had a hard time telling if someone was interested or not, so for her to have someone actually ask her about rocks felt like a blessing. She couldn't help but get a little personal. Starlight nodded at her explanation. “I think I understand… I do admire your passion and enthusiasm for them. Making friends can be so hard, you never know what could happen… but rocks wouldn't betray you.” “Boulder sure wouldn't,” Maud said nonchalantly, giving a little smirk at her rock pal. “Does your sister also like rocks?” “My sister and I are very different, as you probably noticed.” “Yeah… I imagine you're the odd one out in your family.” “Quite the contrary, Pinkie Pie is the odd one out. I come from a family of geologists. Pinkie is the only one who doesn't share our passion for rocks.” “Oh… wow. I was not expecting that. Interesting,” Starlight looked pensive for a moment. “I assumed she must be given her rock necklace.” “Rock necklace?” “Yeah, well I think it's a rock?” Starlight had that thoughtful expression again. “Now that I think about it, her friends also wear similar necklaces, just in different colours and with a different symbol engraved on them.” “Oh, you mean their magic geodes.” “Magic… geodes?” “A geode is a nodule of stone having a cavity lined with crystals or mineral matter-” “Yes, I know what a geode is… I meant the magic part.” “Oh. My bad. I forgot you were new at CHS. This kind of thing isn’t really uncommon there so I didn’t feel the need to elaborate further.” “It’s alright,” Starlight replied. “I’m just wondering… why do your sister and her friends have those magic geodes? What do they do?” “They gave them powers,” Maud replied nonchalantly. “Powers…? Like, superpowers?” “Yep. Magic powers essentially.” “That sounds… incredible. Almost unbelievable… where did they find something this powerful?” “A crystal cave at camp Everfree.” “Huh. Interesting…” Starlight remained thoughtful for a moment before she suddenly handed her kite to Maud. “Wanna try?” “Sure,” Maud accepted. “I think kites are starting to grow on me.” “And I think I’ll become quite fond of certain types of rocks myself,” Starlight said with a smirk. “So, about that crystal cave…” “Alright students, it seems our class keeps growing bigger! Four new friends will be joining us today!” Miss Cheerilee said cheerfully. Sunset raised her head. Having one transfer student at this time of the year was already unusual, but now five? This wasn’t just highly unusual, it was… odd. Suspicious even. Four teenagers step inside the classroom, two boys and two girls. The first boy to step inside had short straight white hair with a long fringe and skin of the same color and blue eyes. He had a “pretty boy” esthetic and looked charming. The other boy had short curly blue hair and skin of the same colour, but lighter. His eyes were also blue and he had a wide, cheerful smile on his face. As for the girls, one of them had pink skin and long curly purple hair kept in a single braid and bright cherry eyes. Contrasty with her more girly and feminine appearance, the second girl was more tomboyish and sporty. She had dark blue skin and short wild white hair, and her eyes were electric blue.  “Please, introduce yourself,” the teacher asked. “The name’s Double Diamond, nice to meet you!” the white-haired boy said. “I’m Party Favor! Let’s have fun!” the blue-haired boy exclaimed. “My name is Sugar Belle. I hope we can get along,” the girl with a braid said with a warm smile. “Night Glider. ‘Sup,” the other girl said nonchalantly. Instinctively, Sunset looked at Starlight’s seat. Much to her surprise, Starlight was absent today, Was she sick? Was it only a coincidence? Or was it somehow related to these four new students? One thing was sure. Sunset had a bad feeling about this.