Two days passed before the new stage-wagon was completed and painted to Trixie’s satisfaction, and those days went by without much upset for little Cabbage Patch. She had been anxious about the public reaction to the return of the Element Bearers from Canterlot, but the ponies of Ponyville took Twilight Sparkle at her word when she declared that the Changelings were no longer a threat to Equestria, and so whisperings and rumors of ponies acting strangely died out. Trixie’s Thespians put on a couple more shows, but held Trixie and Cabbage’s joint act back until the big performance to commemorate and test out the new wagon. That performance inevitably blended into a farewell party courtesy of Pinkie Pie, which was thankfully short-lived. The Cutie Mark Crusaders gave Cabbage a couple extra official Crusader capes, along with the assurance that she wasn’t under any obligation to hoof them out, but they would be there if she did find some colt or filly who needed a friend.
Eventually, however, it was time for farewells, and the troupe set out for Canterlot early the next morning. Cabbage rode in the wagon, watching Ponyville disappear into the distance with a mixture of relieved tension and wistfulness. Maggie Pie came back and sat next to her, smiling warmly at the little sea-green pony. “Missing your new friends already, Cabbage?” she asked.
“I guess,” Cabbage answered. “A little bit at least. I’m happy we’re on the road again, away from any mistakes I might have made in that town. Away from anypony who might’ve exposed me as a Changeling.”
“You’re still worried about that?” Maggie asked, “Even after meeting those three fillies? Honestly, I’d think you’d be more worried that we’re going straight to Canterlot.”
Cabbage shook her head. “If the stories of Queen Chrysalis’s defeat are true, everyone in Canterlot will be so convinced the Changelings are gone nopony will be looking for one. And even if there are, Princess Luna is there with her promise to protect me. Apple Bloom and the others were nice even after finding me out, but in my experience ponies like them and you are still the exception. I’m not willing to push my luck any farther. I may never be.”
“Don’t be so down on yourself,” Maggie said, placing a comforting hoof on Cabbage’s back, “you’ve got a good thing going with the troupe here. The way I see it, you’re doing a lot more than merely surviving off our affection for you; you’ve got genuine friendship and a life a lot of ponies dream of. Just focus on that and don’t let anypony pressure you into doing anything you aren’t comfortable with.”
“Thanks Maggie,” Cabbage said, letting the last of her tension go.
A knock at the door broke Princess Luna from her meditation, and she made the interrupter wait in silence for a few moments before saying, “Yes?” with clear irritation. The door to her rooms opened slowly and the helmeted head of one of her Night Guard poked in.
“My apologies, Your Highness,” he said with sincerity, “but you asked to be informed as soon as Trixie was seen in Canterlot. They’ve been spotted looking for somewhere to set up in the lower district.”
“This is sooner than expected,” Luna said, troubled. “See to it that they find the performance space they need and don’t trouble them further until I send for them.”
“It will be done, Your Highness,” the guard said, and then pulled the door quietly shut. Luna tried to resume the meditation she’d been doing, but the guard’s report kept intruding on her thoughts and leading her to thinking about how her current plot depended on a real long shot of a theory. She gave up on meditating and went over to the door. She stepped out into the hall just long enough to tell the remaining guard on duty that she was not to be disturbed under any circumstances and then went back inside and removed her royal regalia. I should go observe Cabbage for myself, she thought as she wrapped herself in illusion magic. Her mane changed from a star-filled magical stream to ordinary black hair, her coat changed to a dark violet color, her wings vanished from sight, and her cutie mark changed into a gibbous moon. She then went out onto her balcony and teleported down to a gate leading from the castle gardens out onto the streets of Canterlot. So much will depend on her, I must be sure she’s capable of handling it.
A few minutes after the Princess’s departure, the guard cautiously peeked inside and noticed the discarded crown, shoes, and torc on the carpet. Closing the door and turning to his partner who had just returned from passing Luna’s orders along, he said, “It looks like ‘Stella Moon’ is out and about again.”
Barnacle Salt and Harlequin hauled the stage-wagon through the streets of Canterlot while Trixie sat up on the riding board on the lookout for a place open enough for the stage and an audience to gather and that wasn’t closed off for repairs. Most of the rubble from the Changeling’s destructive invasion had been cleared from the streets, but there were more buildings with gaping holes in the sides or in complete ruins than there were repaired or untouched. Ponies who weren’t busy restoring the city were an even rarer sight. “I’m starting to think that it would’ve been a better idea to wait a few more days before coming here,” Harlequin said.
“I may reluctantly have to agree,” Trixie said. “These ponies could stand to take notes on city repair from Ponyville. Then again, I don’t think even Tremolo caused this much damage…” She spotted a Royal Guard pegasus coming around a corner up ahead and pointed him out to the stallions. Barnacle and Harlequin slowed to a stop when they caught up to the guard, and Trixie addressed him. “Soldier, you wouldn’t happen to know if there is a location appropriate for The Great and Powerful Trixie’s Royal Thespians to put on a show today?”
The guard looked around thoughtfully for a minute before answering. “I know of a corner closer to the castle that’s mostly free of reconstruction work where you won’t obstruct traffic too badly. I’ll take you there if you wish.”
“That’d be most appreciated, mate,” Barnacle said.
“One moment,” Trixie said, searching along the edge of the wagon’s roof with a hoof. She located and pressed the hidden button she’d had installed and wire signs shaped like Trixie’s cutie mark, a sea pony, a bear, and bursting fireworks sprang out of disguised hatches in the roof, each one enchanted to wave about and glow in various colors. Little lights also started running around the edge of the signs bearing the troupe’s name on either side of the wagon. “Proceed,” Trixie said to the guard, who nodded and turned to lead the wagon down the street. Once they were underway, Trixie cleared her throat and cast a spell to amplify her voice. “Attention Canterlot,” she shouted grandly to the diligent work-ponies and random passersby, “if you desire a break from these broken and dismal streets, then follow us to a showcase by the one and only Great and Powerful Trixie and her royal Troupe of Thespians! We guarantee a performance that will lift your spirits and refresh your will! Come and see astounding acrobatics, listen to sensational stories of the sea and tantalizing tall tales, witness mind-blowing feats of magic, and of course Trixie will prove that she is the Greatest and Most Powerful unicorn in any challenge you may put her to.” She repeated the call every few blocks, slowing attracting an admirably sized crowd of ponies eager for some entertainment before they returned to work.
Luna found Trixie and company just as the show was about to start, and she managed to claim a large section of collapsed wall as a seat so she could see clearly over the heads of the audience. A platoon of Royal Guards was present to keep the still-growing crowd from blocking the roads, but their attention was clearly divided between that and watching the show. The opening act was the Great and Powerful Trixie attempting to deliver an introductory monologue while Harlequin repeatedly sneaked through the curtain behind her to do a pantomime mockery of Trixie, make funny faces, and silent clowning around only to hide when the audience’s giggles became too distracting for Trixie and she glared around to find the disturbance. This occurred several times until Trixie could barely get another word out before Harlequin’s entrances prompted fresh laughter. Seeming to finally catch on, Trixie spun around and charged through the curtains shouting Harlequin’s name, and the stallion himself somersaulted over her as she exited. Harlequin bowed to the audience’s applause and laughter and then performed an impressive tumbling and acrobatics routine.
When Harlequin finished and left the stage to make room for Barnacle Salt, Luna sat a little straighter and paid closer attention. Her gaze did not go to the grizzled former sailor, but rather to the sea-green, blue maned sea pony in the big glass tank of water that the curtains parted to reveal during Barnacle’s introduction. In the last performance Luna had been able to attend, Cabbage Patch had been extremely passive in her role as Mar, little more than a living piece of backdrop floating in the water with eyes wide and nervous. The sea pony in the tank now was a completely different creature. While Barnacle spun his riveting tales yarns, Cabbage moved about within her tank and reacted in small ways to Barnacle’s stories. Luna was too far away to make out much of Cabbage’s expression, but the little pony gave the appearance of being comfortable on the stage.
She’s smiling, Luna thought. A real smile.
When Barnacle was finished and the curtains closed on the sea pony tank, Trixie took the stage again with her trademark blend of illusions, grandiose tales of her alleged exploits, and exaggerated retellings of contemporary Equestrian legends. She began with a story about defeating an angry dragon by herself, which included an impressive feat of self-levitation at the climax in time with the illusory dragon moving to lift her off the ground. Trixie then went in to a classic variation of the ubiquitous Ursa Minor of Ponyville tale, one that went into slightly more detail and ended with a humbling for Trixie. As soon as the Ursa was removed from the illusory town standing in for Ponyville, Trixie banished every light construct and left the stage bare as she looked out at the audience.
“Trixie’s final tale needs no illusions,” she said, “for what I am about to tell you actually occurred, nearly one week ago. The Great and Powerful Trixie’s Royal Thespians had stopped over in Hoofington for a brief but necessary break from their travels. Instead of peace, they found a pony waiting for them; a unicorn with an irrational hatred of Trixie. He had confronted the Great and Powerful Trixie many times before, only to be sent off in humiliation. This time was different, for he had somehow obtained an ancient artifact of great, evil power: the Alicorn Amulet!” Trixie paused for effect, but nopony in the audience except Luna seemed to comprehend the weight of Trixie’s words. “This amulet,” Trixie continued unperturbed, “grants enormous magical power to any unicorn who wears it, but it also corrupts the mind and exacerbates the worst traits of the wearer’s personality. Now, Trixie had not even heard of such an amulet before, and so she was unprepared when the enemy unicorn challenged her to another contest of power. It was Trixie who was made to run off with her tail between her legs this time, but she did not give up hope. She sought out the history of the Alicorn Amulet and learned of its weakness, and then returned to Hoofington to challenge her foe not with raw power, but with cunning and misdirection. With the help of her friends, Trixie created a feat of stage magic so fantastic that none could ever discern its secret and wagered it against the Alicorn Amulet.” Trixie looked out at the audience and saw that she had their attention and curiosity wrapped around her hoof. “Words may not be sufficient to convey the greatness of Trixie,” she said at last, “so shall I demonstrate?” Cheers rose up from the crowd and Trixie nodded, taking a couple steps back toward the curtain. “This trick is not for the faint of heart,” she cautioned, “those who are troubled by resemblances to Changelings may wish to look away.”
Luna’s eyebrows rose slightly, and a few murmurs were heard in the audience, but nopony looked away or raised a voice. “Very well then,” Trixie said, “for this trick, Trixie requires an assistant. Cabbage Patch! Would you mind?”
Luna’s eyebrows went up a little higher and small smile graced her lips as the little sea-green earth pony, her mane still slightly damp from her sea pony act, walked out onto the stage and stood next to Trixie. The azure unicorn cast a quick spell to dry and style Cabbage’s mane into shorter version of Trixie’s own. “Now,” Trixie said, sliding back into her storytelling mode, “Trixie’s foe prided himself on being able to discern the secrets of Trixie’s magic and thought he had seen the full extent of Trixie’s abilities. The challenge proposed was this: Trixie would make a pony appear to change colors and species several times in one minute. Transformation to such a degree is something only the highest level unicorn can accomplish, and with nowhere near the speed that Trixie will attempt. Behold!” She proceeded to cast spells as fast she could, only pausing between them long enough for the audience to see how Cabbage’s coat and mane had changed color. After a few rounds, wings and horns started to appear and disappear from the little pony’s body along with the color changes, and the display ended with a grand flourish of magic from Trixie and Cabbage emerged from the smoke screen with zebra stripes, a horn, and widespread wings.
The crowd went wild as Trixie changed Cabbage back to normal and the two bowed deeply. Even Luna, who had a strong suspicion about the real magic behind the trick, was impressed. Cabbage Patch didn’t look at all nervous as she went backstage again and Trixie finished her story of how that very feat of magic had stupefied the crazed unicorn and convinced him to surrender the Alicorn Amulet. “And that will conclude out show, fillies and gentlecolts,” Trixie said after the applause died down again. “No need to pay,” she added when she saw ponies start to go for their coin pouches, “today’s shows are a public service.” Despite her words, coins began flying up onto the stage.
Luna climbed down off her improvised seat and left the crowd, taking a roundabout way back to the castle. She’d seen what she needed to see.