//------------------------------//
// North by Northdeath (Boast Busters) 
// Story: Scootaloo Dies a Bunch 
// by alexmagnet 
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	Fireworks exploded in a brilliant display of pyrotechnics above a small stage that had been set up in the middle of the town square. Scootaloo noticed there was a large crowd gathering around the stage, so she decided to see what was going on. If there were fireworks, it was bound to be something awesome. 

Squeezing her way through the crowd, she popped out right in front of the raised stage. She looked up and saw a blue mare balancing one hoof on a ball while she juggled with the other three. It was exactly as awkward as it sounded, and Scootaloo was loving every second of it. She stared wide-eyed up at the mare, enthralled by her performance. 

“The great and powerful Trixie will now perform feats the likes of which you simpletons have never seen!” 

Biting her lip, she sprung up and switched the leg she was balancing on, all while still juggling the balls. Well, that’s how it would’ve gone if she hadn’t fallen flat on her face and sent balls flying everywhere. It didn’t matter though, Scootaloo was still stomping her hooves and cheering. 

“Do over! Trixie demands a do over!” shouted the mare as she pulled herself up and started waving her hoof angrily. Just then, she noticed Scootaloo cheering and a wide smile crossed her face. “You there, filly. I need a volunteer for my next act.” 

Scootaloo jumped up and down, fluttering her wings excitedly. “Oh, oh, oh, oh, me! Me! Me! Me!” 

Trixie waved Scootaloo on to the stage and displayed her to the audience. “Now then, Trixie shall perform her most dangerous illusion of all.” Her grin widened to an arrogant smirk as her horn lit up and she started to pull back a large curtain. “Trixie shall saw this young filly… in half!” With a flourish, she flung the curtain open and revealed a massive saw leaning against a blue box covered in stars and other whimsical shapes. 

Scootaloo’s jaw dropped. “Whoa… sweet.” 

Trixie leaned down and whispered into Scootaloo’s ear. “Hey, I’m not actually going to saw you in half, but I need you to pretend like it’s happening. It’ll be more dramatic that way.” 

Scootaloo nodded excitedly. “Sure, yeah! Whatever you say.” 

Trixie then ushered Scootaloo over to the box and told her to lay inside. She spun the box around to show the audience there was nothing odd about it, then closed the lid and picked up the saw. Holding it above her head, she said, “Inside this box a filly lies in mortal peril. If Trixie were to make even one mistake, it could cost the filly her life.” She held the saw over the box and surveyed the crowd. They were all staring at her wide-eyed, and open-mouthed. She grinned. 

Inside the box, Scootaloo was giddy with excitement. Her wings fluttered, and she couldn’t keep her hooves still. Unfortunately, this nervous kicking accidentally moved the box slightly to the left. When Trixie lowered the saw and began to cut into the box, Scootaloo became increasingly aware of the metal now tearing into her flesh. 

Trixie, meanwhile, just smiled and kept sawing. The further the saw got into the box, the more difficult the sawing became, and by the end, Trixie was standing on top of the box forcing the saw to go deeper. When she finally finished, Trixie jumped off the box and tossed the saw aside. 

Setting off a few fireworks for flair, she split the box in half and pushed both halves away from each other. “Now, Trixie will open the box and show that filly was completely unharmed.” As she bent down to open the box, Trixie noticed that there was some red goop trickling out through the cracks. It was then that Trixie happened to see the fake pony legs hidden behind the curtain. The fake pony legs she was supposed to use.

Trixie paused. “Change of plans!” She pushed the box off the edge of the stage, causing Scootaloo’s torso to tumble out. “Trixie will now juggle more balls!”