This problem was becoming a rather big problem. It was a big, constant, really annoying problem. It was kind of like a pest or rodent problem; the annoying bugger kept coming back again and again and you could never get rid of it. Those kinds of things that even an exterminator who specialized in getting rid of that exact thing had trouble doing.
That problem was Trixie Lulamoon; or ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’, as she always preferred. Every bloody year she would return to Ponyville with some crazy new scheme to increase her own popularity while simultaneously embarrassing Twilight and her friends. And yet, she had been beaten every time. You would think she would have learned by now.
Twilight had to be honest; it was becoming more of an irritating chore to keep Trixie in her place all the time. Every time she would bring Trixie back down to size, making her swear not to try anything again, only for her to come back and do exactly that.
“Does she ever learn?” Twilight mumbled to herself as she strolled through the woods.
She had gone into the Everfree mainly to calm down; it might not have been the best place to go, but the entire town was talking about Trixie and she just needed to escape for a bit. Besides, the forest was not that bad; once one got past the darkness and noises and other evil-ish qualities, it was actually a rather soothing place. And there was always something new to discover.
“Alright, let’s see. Maybe I could-ah!”
There was a loud explosion that sounded through the woods.
“What was-”
Several more cut her off, all from the same direction. She followed the sounds to a large, rocky area with a large, pointed boulder in the center. A lone figure stood atop it, waving his hand gracefully about. Each time he pointed or gestured, a large explosion would occur where he pointed. He seemed to look over and notice Twilight, and suddenly exploded in a cloud of smoke.
“Did he just… blow himself up?” she asked no one.
As if to answer her question, the creature exploded into being a few feet from her, scaring her.
“Ah!”
The figure stared at her for a bit with a simple, kind of knowing look on its face. It was wrapped in black clothing, and had a long, white beard and light skin. It also seemed to have horns on its head turning upside-down and long wooden stick in his hand and stood on two feet.
“Who are you? How… how did you do that?” Twilight asked.
“I… am an enchanter,” he replied.
Before she could ask another question, the enchanter pointed his fingers and caused several nearby, smaller explosions to demonstrate his power.
“Well, what’s your name?” she asked.
“There are some who call me… Tim…”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” she said. “My name is-”
“Twilight Sparkle,” he cut her off.
“You know my name?”
“I do!”
He turned around and caused three more large explosions on the rocks in the distance.
“But, how did you cause all those explosions? I’ve never seen any kind of magic that can do-wait.”
This enchanter could summon explosions out of nowhere; this was some entirely new kind of magic. Maybe if she could convince him to come back to Ponyville with her, he could put Trixie in her place. Something as terrifying as this could surely teach her a lesson that would stick.
“Excuse me, Tim,” she asked. “Would you mind-”
“I know why you are here,” he said.
“You do?”
“Yes,” he growled in a gravely, deep voice. “You seek the Holy Grail.”
Twilight stared at him for a moment with a confused look.
“Uh, no that’s not it.”
Tim’s eyes widened a bit in surprise.
“What?”
“I don’t even know what that is.”
“Oh.”
Tim quickly turned right cause another massive explosion.
“Are uh… are you sure you aren’t searching for the Holy Grail?” he asked. “It’s quite lovely, you know.”
“I’m pretty sure, yes,” she said. “I actually wanted to see if you would come back to Ponyville with me.”
“Why?” he asked.
He turned left and caused five quick explosions, which were actually getting a bit tiresome at this point.
“Well, there this showboating unicorn called Trixie who is always putting the town in danger because she wants to be famous,” Twilight explained. “I’m getting really sick of having to deal with her. I was hoping you could come and… deflate her ego, so to speak.”
Tim pondered on this for a moment.
“Very well!”
“Yes!” Twilight said, congratulating herself. “If you’ll follow me, Mr. Tim, we’ll be there in no time.”
“Are you sure you’re not looking for a Grail?”
“Yes, Tim,” Twilight sighed.
The two headed off in the direction of Ponyville. This time, Twilight was sure Trixie would stop. Maybe being bested by someone other than herself would put an end to all that jealousy. In fact, she was sure of it; and she could not wait until it was all said and done. Tim, along the way, kept babbling to her about the 'Grail', much to her annoyance.
“And for her next trick,” Trixie boasted to the gathered crowd. “The Great and Powerful Trixie shall-”
“-I mean other than all that stuff it’s a really nice cup!”
“Tim! For the last time, I am not going to look for this Holy Grail you’re talking about!” Twilight replied.
Trixie saw the two moving through the crowd, much to her anger.
“Who dares interrupt the Great and Powerful Trix-”
“Well it’s not that hard,” Tim retorted. “I mean sure there’s the evil Beast of Caerbannog, and after that there’s that other beast in the caves,… and of course you’d have to take the castle itself. But beyond that it’s really not too hard!”
“I’m not going Tim!” Twilight replied.
“Ah, you’re no bloody fun,” he sighed.
“What reason do you have for interrupting the Great and Powerful Trixie’s show!?” the showmare yelled at the top of her lungs at the two.
“Oh, this the one?” Tim asked.
“Yes, that would be Trixie-”
“-Lulamoon I know that,” Tim finished.
Well, at least his naming was spot-on.
“What kind of creature is this?” Trixie mockingly asked.
“I… am an enchanter!” he replied. “Some call me… Tim!”
Trixie laughed at the enchanter; Tim did not have much of a reaction.
“And just what can you do, Tim?”
Tim turned over to an empty space and gestured in that direction. Seemingly out of nowhere and for no reason, an explosion banged against the ground. He gestured again and again, each time answered by another boom. The crowd seemed awed at this new display; Trixie, on the other hand, was furious that her audience was being stolen by some new creature with a new kind of magic.
“Now… you must… beat that!” he said, taking his time.
“Oh, you want a duel?” Trixie said. “Fine, Trixie will give you a duel!”
Trixie launched several fireworks into the sky, causing a dazzling effect. Though the crowd seemed pleased, Tim was not impressed. He merely turned over to the currently unoccupied market and began his own string of explosions. While they were rather impressive, they caused a good deal of collateral damage.
“My stand!” Applejack cried.
“Now… try and best that!” Tim taunted.
Trixie launched more and the sparks took the shapes of flocks of birds dancing in the sky with their multiple colors.
“Think you can do better?” she returned.
Time replied by holding up his walking stick and shooting long streams of flames from its end; unfortunately, it was also in the way of some poor pony’s home.
“My house! You caught my house on fire!”
“Uh, Tim,” Twilight nudged, “could you maybe… turn it down a little?”
Tim did not seem to hear her, nor did he wait for Trixie, pointing his staff at the library and shooting a rocket out of it that turned the tree into an inferno.
“Tim!”
“And now… the grandest trick!” he proclaimed.
He began to swish and move his hands about as if he were conducting an orchestra. He took a couple steps forward, towards Trixie’s stage, much to her fright. With one final, strong movement he brought both hands up, and then down again.
The stage was the center of a massive explosion, sending debris sky high. The detonation caused a massive shockwave that ripped through the small town, blowing away buildings, ponies, and whatever else was there. Only Tim was able to keep his place, happily surveying his handy work and smiling as he gazed at the mushroom cloud that rose above town.
He walked forward through the smoke and wreckage. Most of the town’s inhabitants were trying to re-collect themselves after what just happened. Reaching the stage, Tim found Trixie lying there, burnt and beaten. She was alive, and ok, but seemed to be in a heavy daze.
“Ok, you win,” she murmured.
“Of course, Tim the Enchanter… always wins,” he replied in his wise, all-knowing tone.
The two were joined by an ash-covered Twilight, who seemed rather regretful of the whole ordeal.
“Gee, thanks a lot, Tim,” she sighed to the Enchanter. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“Oh, it was nor problem,” he said. “I always have fun showing others my work and practicing my magic.”
“So, what now?”
“Well, I suppose I’ll be off,” he replied, beginning to walk before stopping. “Now are you sure you don’t want to have a go at catching that Grail?”
“Yes, Tim,” Twilight sighed, looking at the ground in disappointment.
“Oh, well what about you, Lulamoon?” he asked. “Would you like to try to find the Holy Grail?”
“The… what?” she asked, still in a bit of a daze.
“No?” he said. “Anyone? Anyone here want to try and slay the beast to get to the Grail?”
Most of the townsfolk did not respond, only glaring at him angrily.
“Huh, I wonder who was supposed to find it, then,” he said. “Well, I suppose I’ll be off then.”
“Thanks, Tim,” Twilight sighed again, still starring at the ground.
“You know, this is a very… lovely town,” he complemented. “I think I may return some day.”
“Ok, Tim-wait what!?”
“Farewell, Twilight Sparkle and friends.”
He caused another explosion on his own position, disappearing in the fire.
“Was that your idea to bring him here?” Trixie asked Twilight.
“Yea, I guess it was,” she replied.
“Wow, that was kinda… dumb,” she said. “Really dumb, actually. I… I don’t think I want to compete with you anymore Twilight.”