Scootaloo
"Careful, now, Scootaloo! We don't want this falling over!"
"Sorry, Rainbow Dash!"
I was helping Rainbow Dash prepare for the Summer Sun Celebration. There was a lot to do. There were clouds to be cleared, decorations to be put up, food to be made, and Fluttershy's songbird choir had to be ready by tomorrow. Not only was this to be the second Summer Sun Celebration held in Ponyville, it was the third anniversary of Twilight's studies on the magic of friendship here, so It was extra special. We'd got everything taken care of... Except for our special thing. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were planning a special performance just for Twilight. It was Pinkie Pie's idea. This time, we were "Playing to our strengths," as she put it. Sweetie Belle was working on the costumes, I was doing the choreography, and Applebloom was designing the set.
That Evening
After the performance (which everyone agreed was much better than our first) I was heading back to Rainbow's place when I saw something, or somepony, heading into the town square. When I looked closer, I saw somepony I'd never expect to see back in town.
"Trixie?"
"Hello, little filly! The Great Trixie has returned in most of her glory to provide some extra kick to the entertainment for the celebration! Take me to Twilight Sparkle!"
I led her to Twilight, confused as to what she meant by "extra kick."
"Thank you, Scootaloo," Twilight said after I brought Trixie to her. "You can run along now. I'll handle this."
Yeah, right. Like I was just gonna let Trixie waltz into town and have a secret talk with Twilight without getting an earful of what was going on. I pressed my ear to the door. I couldn't hear much, though.
"...The Great Trixie...magical fireworks display..."
"...I'm exhausted...celebration tomorrow..."
"...Not been in Ponyville long...stargazing highlights...check out books..."
"...Nopony's...books...Spike?"
"Right here, Twilight!"
The doorknob started turning. I hightailed it out of there before either of them saw me. Magical fireworks? Stargazing highlights? What in Equestria did that mean?
I took a corner too sharp and ran into a pony I hadn't seen in a while. Not since the wedding, I think. I stood there, trying to remember her name.
"Um, Vinyl, right?"
"Yeah, that's me. Where ya goin' in such a hurry, half-pint?"
"Uh, I was just going to see my friends Sweetie Belle and Applebloom."
"Ah. Can I ask what about? Or is it a secret? I can keep a secret, don't worry."
She winked. It couldn't really hurt to tell her. She hardly knew Trixie or Twilight. She didn't know any of Twilight's friends either. The only pony she knew that could tell Twilight might be Pinkie Pie, but she did say she'd keep a secret...
"I just came from Twilight's place. Trixie's back in town, and she's gonna be doing some magical fireworks for the celebration. I heard something about stargazing. That's pretty much it."
"Fireworks? How cool is that? Mind If I gather a few friends and watch? I won't tell anypony else. If they ask, I didn't hear it from you. I was just passing by when I heard Twilight talk, and I decided to listen in. I promise."
It couldn't hurt to watch the fireworks with other ponies besides the rest of the Crusaders. Plus, if anypony asks, they can say that they decided to supervise us.
"Just tell me where you're going to meet up, so me and my friends can join in."
"Awesome! Thanks, short stack. I'm thinking one of Twilight's telescope hills. You know the one?"
"I think so..."
"Cool. Tell your friends to bring some tents. See you there."
I headed to the Crusader clubhouse, where Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were waiting for me.
"What took you so long?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Yeah, we were waitin' for, like, half an hour for you." chimed in Applebloom.
"Sorry I'm late, girls, but you'll never guess what I found out."
I told them about the fireworks and about Vinyl and her friends watching them with us.
"Good idea. You know how our sisters can get about 'Adult Supervision.'" said Sweetie Belle.
We packed a few things and headed up to the hill. There was Vinyl, and Time Turner, for some odd reason, and somepony who I'd never seen before. She said her name was Octavia. The way she talked and acted, she sounded like she was from Canterlot. If these were Vinyl's friends, they were an odd bunch.
We chatted for a bit, though Octavia seemed more interested in some book than making small talk. We settled in into individual tents. Rainbow had been teaching me how to shape clouds, so I grabbed some fog and made a makeshift shelter with it. It wasn't perfect, but I was still learning, and It was good enough for one night. I nodded off to sleep after that.
Twilight
Ugh. I was not ready to deal with Trixie right now. The day had been an ordeal, making sure that everything went as planned (my usual job) and the performance, while it was enjoyable, stretched on for a lot longer than I'd expected it to. The celebration was tomorrow, and I had to get plenty of sleep to help get the final preparations in place for Princess Celestia's arrival. Things were not going to go as bad as last time. I'd checked all the possibilities. Discord was still petrified, Luna was off in Saddle Arabia overseeing a trade agreement in her sister's place, I'd set up a perimeter around the Everfree Forest, and the Crystal Empire was still safe and sound, no Sombra in sight. Just in case, I had asked Shining Armor to help me buff up security around here, and he had dispatched two of his best colts to help me out, as he was on his long-delayed honeymoon with Cadance and couldn't come personally. And I wasn't about to let Trixie spoil everything by trying to get back at me again.
"Alright, Trixie, what is it you want this time? Another duel? Can it wait? I'm kinda busy right now."
"The Great Trixie only wishes to add her own little touch to the celebration, that's all."
"The Great Trixie, huh? Why the demotion?"
"Trixie might not be as powerful as you, but she is still great!"
"Whatever. What exactly do you mean by 'your own little touch?'"
"Trixie means exactly that. Right as the princess raises the sun, The Great Trixie shall light off a magical fireworks display the likes of which Equestria has never seen!"
"Well, that's great. But what exactly do you need me for? I'm exhausted, and I've got my hooves full with getting ready for the celebration tomorrow."
"Trixie needs your help finding a spot to launch from. You know as well as Trixie does that Trixie hasn't been in Ponyville too long, and the one time she stayed there, she was too busy - ahem - doing other things - to check out the local stargazing highlights. You know all the best spots to watch the skies. Plus, your library contains books on magical pyrotechnics. Ponies are allowed to check out books at your library, yes?"
"I guess. Nopony's asked to check out a book before, though. Let me see... Books on magical fireworks...Spike?"
"Right here, Twilight!"
"Ah, thank you, Spike. Now, if that's all you need, then - wait, an atlas. Almost forgot. Here. Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to get some sleep. Try to return these after the celebration tomorrow."
"Of course. Do not let The Great Trixie bother you any further. Goodnight, Twilight Sparkle. Goodnight, and prepare to be amazed tomorrow!"
I levitated the books on fireworks and the atlas of Ponyville over to her, and shut the door. I thought I saw something orange move away from the door, but I passed it off as one of the many bookmarks I'd stuck in my Atlas of Ponyville, 21st Edition.
Good. Now that she was gone, I could get some sleep.
Octavia
"Just over here, Octavia!"
I was reading a novella near the fire in my favorite cozy armchair when Vinyl burst in, babbling nonsense about fireworks and an orange pony and Trixie and the celebration. After I got her to calm down, she told me that she got a tipoff from some filly that that boastful magician Trixie would be adding to the celebration. She said the filly overheard something about fireworks. I was reluctant, but Vinyl insisted I go with her to see them. We picked one of Twilight's stargazing hills and set up a tent there.
"This is gonna be sick!"
"Yes...sick."
"How are you not as excited as I am, Octavia? These are Trixie's fireworks we're talkin' about here! She may have been a huge loudmouth, but she did have some awesome fireworks, even back with the Ursa Minor!"
"I happen to enjoy different things than explosions in the sky, Vinyl. I have more... sophisticated tastes than that. You know how it is."
"Yeah, I know how it is. You are a composer after all."
"Exactly. so-"
"So it's kinda your job to be uptight."
"I'm not uptight, Vinyl. I just have better things to do than camp out all night just to see ten minutes of colorful explosions. It's just not worth it."
"Well, at least you took the trouble to come down here with me for the celebration. I thought Ponyville was too rustic for a Canterlot native such as yourself."
"I'll have you know I am searching for inspiration for a new piece, and the sight of Celestia raising the sun on the longest day of the year would be extremely helpful for pushing past this block I have on my hooves."
"Well, It's a good thing I invited Time Turner, so I'll have somepony to share the experience with. Somepony who isn't so uptight about cool stuff like fireworks."
I sighed. She'd invited Time Turner? A pony less enthusiastic about things like fireworks I couldn't imagine. Still, at least they'd be distracted with each other and leave me alone to finish my novella in peace. To my surprise, three little fillies came cantering up the hill shortly after. They introduced themselves as Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle, and called themselves Cutie Mark Crusaders. I'd heard of something like that up in Manehattan. Time Turner arrived before night fell, and we dozed peacefully inside our tents.
Time Turner
6:00 on the nose. I arrived at the campsite at 6, talked with Vinyl and Octavia until 6:23 and 47 seconds, and headed off to
bed at precisely 7:00. Once you work with clocks and other timepieces, you tend to keep track of these things. It becomes second nature. I'm not that into fireworks - loud things like that give me headaches - but I was glad for the break from work. I was supposed to make sure the princess raises the sun at exactly 6:00, no earlier, no later. Twilight herself had given me this job, and I knew how Twilight got when things didn't go according to plan. I shuddered just thinking of it. Besides, after a
week straight of working in the shop, I'd started to hear ticking while out around the town, and I needed a break from all those clocks and hourglasses and sundials and what have you. There were three fillies I'd seen around town. I remembered
them from that school newspaper's gossip column. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom, those were their names. At any rate, we headed off into our tents. I nodded off at around 7:36 and 54 seconds.
I woke up before everypony else. 5:35 and 34 seconds. I had exactly 24 minutes and 26 seconds before the moment Celestia was supposed to raise the sun, and I was not going to be late for that moment.
I ambled over to the town hall, and met the princess in the top chamber.
"12 minutes and 42 seconds, Your Majesty."
"Why, thank you - Time Turner, was it? I think I can time it by myself - I have been doing this for over a thousand years - but thank you for going to the trouble of waking up early and getting over here."
"It's no trouble, really, but if it's all the same to you, Twilight gave me this job, and I mean to see it through."
"Well, if Twilight gave you the job, it must be vital. How long, then?"
"10 minutes and...35 seconds."
"Thank you."
We sat in silence for a good five minutes. The only sound was the ticking of my wristwatch and our quiet breathing.
"I love times like this." I said. "When it's so quiet and serene."
"Yes, times like these are rare and beautiful. Where exactly do you work, Time Turner?"
"Oh, I work in the timekeeper's shop just over there." I pointed it out with my hoof. "I take care of clocks, hourglasses, sundials, anything that can tell time, really. I know how to clean, fix, and maintain nearly everything you can bring in, and if I can't, then I'll learn how. Speaking of time, 2 minutes and 18 seconds, princess."
"Ah, thank you, Time Turner. I should stop by your shop after the celebration. I have a grandfather clock that's stopped ticking. Do you think you might be able to take a look at it?"
"As I said before, Your Majesty, it's no trouble, and I'll see what I can do about that broken clock."
She rose to her hooves and spread her wings.
"45 seconds."
"I'll be off then. See you soon, Time Turner."
"Goodbye, princess."
She few off towards the east. 25 seconds. I hoped I'd timed it right. 10 seconds. She flew higher and higher. 5 seconds. She started to spread her wings. 4. 3. 2. 1. Yes! My timing was impeccable. The first ray of sunlight hit the platform at exactly 6:00. My work finished, I flew back to the hill as fast as I could, and I managed to make it back to the campsite just as the first fireworks started to go off. Vinyl and the little ones were sitting outside, eyes on the sky. I peered into Octavia's tent. She was writing something in a notebook.
"Don't you want to see the show, Octavia?"
"Thanks but no thanks, Turner. Inspiration has struck. I have numerous great ideas begging for my attention, and I do not wish to be disturbed while I sort them out."
"Okay, then."
I headed back outside to watch with the others. The little fillies were awestruck with the display, as was Vinyl. Personally, I didn't think they were all that good. They were a bit too loud and flashy for my taste. I was glad to see the others were enjoying them.
"Yo, Turner, look at that one! It's huge!"
A rather large firework was shooting up into the sky, growing larger and brighter. All of a sudden, it stopped for a second, glowing even brighter, then continued its journey, slower this time. There was something else, though. Something brighter. Something bigger.
"What is that?"
"What's what? Oh. OH. Whoa! Hey, girls! check this out!"
Vinyl pointed out the object to the girls, and they all looked at it in awe.
"A comet!"
That's what it was! A comet! It seemed that Trixie's timing was even better than mine. She'd managed to time her display perfectly with a meteor shower!
"Wow! A comet? How awesome is that! Way to go, Trixie!"
Still, something was wrong. That firework was going slower now, still getting brighter by the second, but almost crawling across the sky. The comet was getting bigger. Fast. It was like it was...
"Run!"
It was getting closer to us! It was going to hit this very spot! We had about a minute. I burst into Octavia's tent.
"Octavia, sorry to disturb you, but there's a rather large meteor heading this way, so could you please pack up and move sometime in the neighborhood of right now?"
I'd packed up my tent when I left for town hall, so I helped Octavia pack hers. 30 seconds.
When we got outside, Vinyl had packed her tent, and was helping the little girls pack theirs. 15 seconds. We ran as fast as we could down the hill until I was sure we were safe. Then, and only then, did we look back at the hill. 10 seconds. We saw the firework finish its journey and reach the top of its arc. 5 seconds. We saw the meteor hit the firework mid flight. 4. 3. 2. 1. We saw the firework explode just as the meteor hit the hilltop. We felt the shockwave and were blasted back off of our hooves.
But we were not ready for what was to come.
Trixie
The Great Trixie was showing her stuff to the people of Appleloosa. They were awed by her displays, they were amazed at her magic, and they threw roses onto the stage once she had finished. Trixie even had a couple of curtain calls. After the show, Trixie headed to the nearest inn to book a room and sample some of the local fare. As she ate, she heard that the Summer Sun Celebration was to be held in Ponyville this year. The celebration was only a week away, and promised to be the best one yet. Trixie sat in her hotel room, musing it over. Should she go back to Ponyville? She would probably have a warmer welcome than last time, seeing as how the town had forgiven her for her cruel actions while using the Alicorn Amulet. Then again, she had done some really cruel and tyrant-like things during her short stay. Would they trust her after what she'd done?
It was decided, then. Trixie would go to Ponyville and show them that she could be trusted by igniting the largest and most grand fireworks display EVER!
Trixie set out at once, spending days on the road and nights in her roving stage-tent. She managed to arrive in Ponyville the evening before the celebration. As she walked into town, an orange filly approached her.
"Trixie?"
"Hello, little filly! The Great Trixie has returned in most of her glory to provide some extra kick to the entertainment for the celebration! Take me to Twilight Sparkle!"
The orange filly took me to a library made out of a tree. Trixie had heard that this was where Twilight Sparkle lived. It seemed fitting for a pony rumored to be obsessed with books, magic, and books about magic.
When the door opened, Trixie saw a very frazzled-looking Twilight emerge. Twilight groaned.
"Alright, Trixie, what is it you want this time? Another duel? Can it wait? I'm kinda busy right now."
"The Great Trixie only wishes to add her own little touch to the celebration, that's all."
"The Great Trixie, huh? Why the demotion?"
Trixie was thinking of it less and less like a demotion and more like a title these days. 'Trixie, second only to Twilight Sparkle.' It did have a certain ring to it.
"Trixie might not be as powerful as you, but she is still great!"
"Whatever. What exactly do you mean by 'your own little touch?'"
"Trixie means exactly that. Right as the princess raises the sun, The Great Trixie shall light off a magical fireworks display the likes of which Equestria has never seen!"
"Well, that's great. But what exactly do you need me for? I'm exhausted, and I've got my hooves full with getting ready for the celebration tomorrow."
"Trixie needs your help finding a spot to launch from. You know as well as Trixie does that Trixie hasn't been in Ponyville too long, and the one time she stayed there, she was too busy - ahem - doing...other things - to check out the local stargazing highlights. You know all the best spots to watch the skies. Plus, your library contains books on magical pyrotechnics. Ponies are allowed to check out books at your library, yes?"
Trixie tried to put on her best sheepish look as she said 'other things.' She didn't like talking about the time she conquered Ponyville under the control of the Alicorn Amulet. She didn't much like hearing about it either. Thankfully, Twilight didn't bring it up any further.
"I guess. Nopony's asked to check out a book before, though. Let me see... Books on magical fireworks...Spike?"
"Right here, Twilight!"
"Ah, thank you, Spike. Now, if that's all you need, then - wait, an atlas. Almost forgot. Here. Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to get some sleep. Try to return these after the celebration tomorrow."
"Of course. Do not let The Great Trixie bother you any further. Goodnight, Twilight Sparkle. Goodnight, and prepare to be amazed tomorrow!"
Trixie turned away to see that orange filly from earlier dart off. She considered chasing the filly down, but decided not to. So what if she told her little friends that Trixie was lighting fireworks? The more people watching in awe, the better, Trixie thought.
Now that Trixie had some extra knowledge and a selection of hills and platforms to choose from, Trixie settled on a hill near the eastern edge of the city. She looked toward the hill next to her and saw five tents perched on top. She kept watching, and saw that orange filly come out of one of the tents and make a makeshift tent out of fog. Excellent. They would get the show of their lives, come tomorrow.
The next day dawned on Trixie's amazing display. She lit the first fuse just as the sun rose, and the fireworks shot up into the sky and exploded in multicolored balls of fire and glory. It was so spectacular, it even amazed Trixie herself! She got so enthusiastic about the show that she accidentally lit her 'Grand Finale' firework - a firework that absorbs magical energy to go higher and brighter than any other firework - a minute early. She had no choice but to use magic to restrain it. The problem was, though, that the longer it stayed still, the more magical energy it absorbed. It was taking all of Trixie's strength just to slow it down to a crawl. By that point, the firework had so much magical energy inside of it that if it hit the ground, it could dramatically alter Ponyville forever.
"At least it'll detonate harmlessly above Ponyville." Trixie reassured herself. Then she saw a bright ball in the sky and remembered. The meteor shower! only from this hill and the hill next to it could the shower be seen with the naked eye, and it looked like some of her fireworks had gone so high they'd knocked one of them out of orbit! Trixie tried to release the firework from its slowing spell, but it was too late. The meteor hit it just as it was going to explode, and carried it down towards that other hill.
"I hope that filly and her friends are okay." I thought.
Then the world turned upside down and flashed white, and then there was nothing.
Chapter End.