The colts & fillies squirmed in excited anticipation as they sat on the grass before the wagon-stage, their parents watching from a nearby park bench, happy for the chance to relax.
“Welcome, fillies & gentlecolts, ponies of all ages!” announced a voice. “Thank you for your patience, for the moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived! Put your hooves together, for the Great and Wonderful Trrrrrixie!”
The foals cheered as the curtain opened and a shimmering burst of smoke revealed a smiling Trixie!
Ever since her visit in Ponyville, Trixie had become a changed mare. She’d taken Midnight Blaze’s advice to heart and sought to better herself. It wasn’t easy, for her ill behavior back then and previously over-inflated ego had left her with a rocky start to face. But she’d persisted. She’d traveled and offered her help using her magic. She’d helped handy-stallions make repairs, helped little old mares across streets, run errands, all the while asking for next-to-nothing in return save food and a place to sleep.
Before long, ponies started warming up to Trixie and she made the decision of going back to performing. She traveled Equestria, doing shows in parks and public areas in different towns and cities, and the amazed ponies threw her bits for wowing them with her performances.
Sometimes she asked colts or fillies to assist her and these foals often walked away with a wonderful experience and a nice gift from Trixie, sometimes candy or a toy, sometimes she even gave them capes or wizard hats much like the ones she wore!
Trixie even changed her nickname to the Great and Wonderful, if only to sound more humble.
Needless to say, Trixie was so much happier than she’d been before, back when she’d been acting like a pompous blowhard of a showoff trotting around like a filly with new ribbons, with her nose up in the air, behaving with a sense of undeserved accomplishment.
She’d reinvented her image into a dazzler of a magician who used her talents to perform and wow as well as to aid and support, asking only for minimal payment, and graciously accepting the bits she earned from performing.
As with all good things did Trixie’s show come to an end, but a colt happily left with a bag of (foal-friendly safe) magic firecrackers, and had repaid Trixie with a hug. It had been a very warm hug.
“Thank you all for coming and I am so very glad you enjoyed the show!” Trixie bowed. “The Great and Wonderful Trixie hopes to dazzle you all again!”
The ponies cheered and threw bits into the bucket set before the stage, and began to disperse.
Trixie was happy and proud. Gone was the arrogant and full-of-herself unicorn she’d been and in her place was a helpful and gracious unicorn who loved to see ponies smile as she wowed them. Getting down from her stage, she moved to collect her earnings when something was thrown in, making a heavy ‘clink’ among the bits. Curious, Trixie looked and was surprised to see some kind of charm. It was impressive and looked valuable but at the same time it looked rather foreboding. It was composed of a black material, with a red gem, a fearsome unicorn head sided by wings, and she sensed it immediately!
This charm, whatever it was, beheld untold powers!
“A priceless gem for a lovely mare…”
She looked up and saw a mysterious pony cloaked with his face concealed within the shadow of his hood, only a unicorn horn hinted anything about his identity.
“Um, can I help you? And what is this… lovely necklace?” Trixie asked politely, a hint of nervousness fluttering in her chest. “For though I am grateful, I don’t think I can… accept this.”
“Whoever said I was giving it to you?” the Hooded Pony said with a rise of his voice. “I find myself in need of a task needing doing, and I think you’re just the unicorn to carry out my will. As in, you will use this amulet to empower your magic and you will confront Twilight Sparkle and Midnight Blaze.”
“Twilight Sparkle, Midnight Blaze?!” Trixie instantly knew, whoever this pony was, he was trouble. “I’ll have nothing to do with whatever vendetta you have against two ponies far better than me as mages and as ponies! In fact, I think I should call the authorities to have a word with you!”
“Oh Trixie…” the Hooded Pony said with a condescending tone. “Whoever said I was giving you a choice…?”
The last thing Trixie saw was a blinding light!