//------------------------------// // Big Shot // Story: Fluttersized 2: Barro Vs. Trixie // by Barrobroadcaster //------------------------------// By some odd grace, the buildings that made up Unicorneversal Studios where Michael and Barro currently worked were unscathed by the recent mayhem. Not only that, the path from Barro's apartment to the studio was unobstructed, another grace. The two made it to the studio quickly in the early hours of the Canterlot morning. An indigo-colored pony sat in front of the gates to the studio entrance, his head held in his hooves. He let out a sigh and his two bat-like wings flexed. "En-gee! What's up?" Barro called to the half-pony, half-thestral as he and Michael approached. "Hey guys," Night Glider said, sounding defeated. "What's wrong, Night? What're you doing out here?" Barro asked his friend. Night sighed again. "I didn't get the part." he said. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." "What was the part of?" Michael asked. "Aw, I was trying out for Appletar 2. Was going for a lead role," Night explained, standing up. "Half the town is wrecked, production's been delayed across the board and they still won't consider me." "That sucks, En-gee. Did they tell you why at least?" Barro asked. "As a matter of fact, they did. Said they weren't looking for an original character," Night answered. "That's messed up," Michael stated flatly. "Neighmes Cameron's an OC himself. I bet so is ninety-nine percent of the staff. It's a crossover for harmony's sake. You should be able to get in no problem." "You'll find a story to get into soon enough, Night," Barro said, consoling him. "I might be able to find you a part in the next Transformares," Michael offered. "Um, thanks Mike," Night Glider sounded less than eager about starring in one of Michael's movies. "I'll uh,... thanks." "Don't mention it," Michael smiled. Barro picked up on Night's lack of enthusiasm but decided not to say anything. Michael's movies had a reputation: despite being very popular, grossing millions of bits all over Equestria, the greater cinema community didn't think much of them. Criticisized for being overly effects-driven, having shallow stories, many plotholes, lackluster acting and direction , despite being a hit at the box office, Michael Hay's films weren't well-recieved by critics and recieved mixed reviews from the audience. Michael found out very quickly that being popular and being liked were two very different things. His producers and the executives at the studio had still yet to respect him. In fact, his style of directing made ponies hesitant to work for or with him or invest in any of his projects. While he considered his ideas 'revolutionary', those around him called him 'unorthodox'. Barro had settled for looking at Michael as 'unconventional' and had done his best to support his friend since being kidnapped by him in the Author's Notes section of the first story. Michael showed his ID badge to the security gaurd and the three of them walked through the gates into the studios. Enormous, hangar-sized buildings occupied space to their immediate left. To their right and directly ahead of them were smaller buildings, studio offices, storage spaces and other buildings were packed tightly together. Normally, the studio would be busy with activity, it being a weekday but with much of Canterlot in ruin, the studio lot was empty as the three ponies walked through the lot to the offices. "I've got a few different projects I'm hoping to get started on very soon," Michael said. "I as they passed a large cardboard advertisement for Transformares. "Right now, we're going to requisition one of the studio's stagecoaches to get Barro's notebook. We've got something in it that the execs are going to want to see," Michael smirked. "Yeah, let's just make sure we keep track of the studio equipment this time. We shouldn't have even left that notebook out overnight," Barro said. Mike's determination was undeterred. "We return everything we borrow, Barro." Barro frowned at the casual use of his name being rhymed and his friend's exaggeration. "Okay, MOST everything," Michael corrected. "And it'll just be a quick trip there and back anyway. We'll get the book shrunk, get some footage of the town in shambles and be back before lunch." The three approached one of the office buildings. Strangely enough, it opened for them and another pony held it open as another exited. "...set right now but we can start preproduction right away," a purple pony in a business suit said as he opened the door for a familiar blue unicorn. Half a dozen other ponies were behind them, they all wore business suits, some were speaking into blue hooves-free devices attatched to their ears. A meeting must've just got out, this was normal but still a tad unexpected. Michael singled out the purple pony holding the door. "Scale! Hey!," he said as he walked over to the crowd. They assembled in front of the office building, still talking amongst themselves about princess only knows what. The blue unicorn, a mare wearing a magician's hat and cape stood with her head held eye and eyes pretentiously shut as they formed behind her. If she was listening to somepony talking to her in all the commotion, Michael, Barro and Night didn't know. "Oh, Michael, hi," the pony said. "Wasn't expecting you this early," "Yeah, I know. Me and my new writer need to borrow a 'coach for a little while, do some scene-scouting." True Scale, a mid-level producer and manager at the studio, tried to say something as the talkative crowd of ponies exited. "Excuse me but you're in the GREAT and POWERFUL Trixie's way so please, move aside," the blue mare said as she walked away. Barro noticed something peculiar under the mare's collar that made him stop and turn as the unicorn tried to walk past. "Hey, wait a minute," Barro stopped her. "What? What is it? Can the great and powerful Trixie help you?" "Yeah, you can; that's my notebook around your neck," Barro said, gesturing towards the journal. "Preposterous! How dare you claim that Trixie's book is your own," Trixie said, recoiling at the remark. Several of the ponies behind them stopped talking and others only talked softer, their attention now on the altercation between the unicorn and colt. "Your book? Where did you find that? That's MY notebook, I just wrote in it yesterday," Barro pointed at the book, getting annoyed. "This is Trixie's notebook, as you can see the name clearly on the front," Trixie declared, levitating it out in front of herself for all to see. Fluttersized written by Barro an original screenplay from The Great and Powerful Trixie "Wow," Michael said. "Barro, isn't "Fluttersized" the title of your story? Hers has the same title!" Barro practically facehooved. "That's because it IS mine Michael." Michael raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so you wrote it with the Great and Powerful Trixie? You... you haven't been seeing another director behind my back have you?" Now Barro actually facehooved. "Michael, that's MY notebook. She crossed my name out and wrote her own. You can even tell where she drew a line through-" "Silence!" Trixie said, returning the book under her collar. "This is my original screenplay idea and I've already submitted it to Unicorneversal Studios for recognition." "And it's already been approved for production," a voice said from behind them. Stepping out from the crowd was another blue unicorn, this one in a business suit, glasses and cap. His coat was a light blue but a different shade than Trixie's with a dark blue mane and matching beard. Barro noticed both Michael and Night's mouths hung slightly agape as he approached them. "An original screenplay based on true events written and starring a pony who first-hand experienced every breathtaking moment. How could we say no?" the colt said with a smile. "Ne... Neighmes Cameron," Michael said, studdering. "Oh, Michael. I didn't see you there. I'm sorry the studio rejected your project... uh, Cloverfed was it?" Michael gritted his teeth in annoyance. "It's Cloverfilled," he corrected. "I'm sure it is Michael. It's been nice catching up but we've got to get going," Neighmes Cameron said, starting to walk away with Trixie. "Wait just a minute," Barro halted the two of them. "Mr. Cameron, that's not her story; it's mine. I wrote it and I didn't submit it to the studio as a screenplay." Trixie turned around swiftly, almost snarling in rage. "For the last time Mr. Broadcaster, this is NOT your book, this is Trixie's! This is Trixie's movie idea as Trixie witnessed the events herself!!" she practically screamed. Everypony backed away from her ever so slightly, the crowd, just a tiny bit terrified of unicorn. A silence broke over the crowd as Trixie huffed angrily. Trixie's eyes looked at the crowd and noticed some of the frightened expressions. To break the silence, Trixie shouted, "Trixie!" one last time, making everypony take another cautionary step away from her. "Wait a minute," Barro said. "How did you know my last name?" "If I might point out," Neighmes Cameron interrupted, stepping forward. "This notebook happens to be studio property, including what's written in it. Unless you have any proof that's what written is yours, then I'm afraid you have no claim here." Trixie nodded in agreement, so did several of the crowd of the producers, even the ones using hooves-free devices. Barro opened his mouth to say something. "I... I... uh..." was all he managed, an outstretched hoof raised in denial, slowly he sat it back on the pavement again, unable to find the words. "Hey," Michael spoke up. "That's Barro's notebook and that's his screenplay, I know that for a fact and we're not just going to let-" "Really Michael?" Neighmes interrupted. "How many times have you lost studio equipment?" Michael was stunned into silence, several of the producers casted harsh gazes at him. "Now if you'll excuse us, we really must be going. We'll talk later Michael, Mr. Broadcaster," Neighmes Cameron said, walking away at Trixie's side. The crowd of producer ponies followed, picking up conversation again until their voices became an incoherent drone that slowly drifted off the studio lot like a storm cloud. Michael, Barro and Night stood there in silence, watching as they exited the studio gates. "Buckin' hay," Michael said, breaking the silence. "There goes our screenplay." "Our screenplay? What's that supposed to mean?" Barro inquired at his friend's choice of words. "Oh, uh,-" "You were planning on submitting my story, weren't you?" "Well, I-" It was Barro's turn to be mad. "I don't want that story submitted, Michael. I agreed to help you with Cloverfilled, not any of my stories." Michael backed away from the angry stallion. "But... but they rejected my idea and I was thinking if it was about a REAL story that happened we'd have a better chance and-" "You were going to submit my story as a screenplay! I told you I didn't want it getting that kind of recognition!" "But, it's really good and-" Michael continued to try to justify himself but was just not able to reach Barro. "That doesn't mean it's meant to be a movie, Michael!" "But why not?" Michael genuinely asked. Barro put a hoof to his face and closed his eyes. "It's likeTransformares, it's cliche enough already, if it becomes a movie than that's just the same thing on screen. And we don't need a repeat of Transformares. I'm betting that's why the producers declined on Cloverfilled." Again, Michael was stunned speechless. He realized now that he was jumping the gun; he hadn't considered what Barro said, he figured he'd want his story to be made into a feature-length film. Directed by Michael Hay. I mean, who wouldn't? But he hadn't considered what his friend wanted before he thought about it. "You're no better than Trixie, Michael," Barro said, looking down. That cut Michael deep. "If I might say something," Night spoke up before any more harsh words could be exchanged. "Did either of you notice what was around her neck?" "Yeah, my notebook and her cloak. What, has being out in the dark so often damaged your eyesight?" Barro asked, still angered. "Hey," Night took offense to that. "Don't take your frustration out on me, now did you see what was on her neck or not?" the halfling said. He understood Barro's anger but that didn't give him the right to talk to him like that. Still, Night was smart enough to know Barro didn't mean it. "I'm sorry," Barro took a deep breath and apologized. "I had a nightmare last night then I woke up and this happened..." "It's okay, Barro. Seems we all haven't been having much luck." Night said, recalling his own rejection. "But on her collar, did you see that thing she was wearing?" Night asked. "I think I saw some kind of pendant or something. What about it?" "That wasn't just a pendant. That was the Alicorn Amulet," Night Glider stated. "What's an 'Alicorn Amulet?" Michael asked, putting a hoof to his chin. No doubt, he was already thinking of how he could use it in a film of some kind. "It's an artifact of incredible magical power. Grants the wearer all sorts of abilities, the highest-level stuff. But it also corrupts whoever wears it, making them do malicious and evil things," Night explained. "Trixie used it along time ago, conquered all of Ponyville in the process." "So, what, she's actually evil now?" Barro asked. "Evil, powerful and with an ego to match," Night answered. Michael's hoof remained at his chin. "Powerful, corrupt and stealing ideas from ponies. She's exactly like... every other producer who ever lived." he surmised. "If Trixie has the Amulet, she could do a lot worse to this city than another giant pegasi," Night said, his voice conveying the grave implications of the situation. "We have to get that thing away from her then," Barro said. "And your story back," Michael added. Barro gared at him again. "Hey, I said 'story' not screenplay!" Michael pleaded. "How are we going to get it back though?" Night asked. "I think I have an idea," Barro said. "We're going to need to requisition some studio equipment Michael."