//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: Ready Or Not 
// Story: The Magician's Mantle 
// by DEI Caboose 
//------------------------------//

            'Masked Mare Evades Police'

'Mare-Do-Well Saved My Life'

'Fillydelphia's Vigilante: Police Refuse To Comment'

'Mare-Do-Well Stops Break In: Public Voice Support'

'Commissioner on Mare-Do-Well: "She's putting herself at risk."'

'Fifth Fire This Month: Are They Connected?'

"Don't need you," Trixie said dismissively as she tore the unwanted newspaper clipping away, throwing it onto a quickly growing garbage pile filled with other discarded scraps of journalism, all of which didn't fit the criteria she so desired.

The recently awakened mare was sat on the carpeted floor of her caravan, illuminated by the light of the morning sun peeking in from behind the closed curtains. She was surrounded by dozens of cannibalised newspaper pages, all reporting on the antics of the recently revived Mare-Do-Well over the past week. She carefully cut clippings out of each paper that detailed her exploits, before delicately placing them into a folder to preserve them, throwing what paper was left into the trash. She didn't care what else was on them, she just wanted the stories about her.

Who cared for fires, or that the new Marshal was coming to town. She was living the high life. Ponies were talking about her, gossiping and predicting when she would turn up next. Excited and awed, just as she had hoped for.

It was everything she had worked for. Everything she had yearned for. 

But that wasn't even the best part. It was that feeling that she got when ponies saw her in the act. That look of shock on their faces that would slowly morph into wonder at her image, and then to joy in realisation.

They felt joy at her presence, for the first time in a long time.

And that meant the world to Trixie.

Finishing up with the last scrap of newspaper, Trixie took a moment to look over her collection, running a hoof between the stack of clippings to estimate its thickness. It was only a few pages wide, and yet it still felt like a novel to the publicity starved magician. "A few more exploits, then it'll be time for the mask to come off," she thought aloud with glee, the fantasy of a crowd of fans chanting her name causing her to release an exhale of happiness.

That dark night in that alley had been something of an eye-opener for Trixie. The time she had saved that suited stallion from that loathsome mare. Trixie had realised that she could be more than a mare who simply got her fame from stealing another's accomplishments; she could make her own. Be the hero the public thought she was, not with deceit, but with genuine effort. Effort that Trixie was more than willing to give.

Effort that whether she admitted it or not was starting to be a strain upon her health. Her legs were sore and her horn ached constantly; mostly due to her use of magic and general exertion during her nightly endeavours as the costumed hero. It came as a surprise to Trixie just how tired she was becoming, having become remarkably durable for a unicorn from dragging a heavy cart around Equestria for most of her life.

She rested when she could and practised her magic when she could. She was tired now for sure, but eventually she would grow use to the pain.

Or at least she hoped she would.

With a groan, Trixie sprang up from the floor, arching her back into a stretch to combat any and all stiffness she felt. She then wandered over to her pile of groceries, grabbing a carrot from one of the bags. It was something of a habit of hers to nibble on something as she performed her daily stretches, having decided to start when her legs began to ache after her first few nights on the town as Fillydelphia's new guardian.

Bending her legs one after another, Trixie reflected on everything that had happened over the past week. It had gone by so fast it was almost like a blur. Her abysmal first outing. The alleyway encounter. The pickpocketer she chased into a dead end, forcing him to surrender his claims. And that break-in she had foiled, scaring the perpetrators away. It felt alien to know that she was the one at all of those events. That she had saved those ponies and prevented those thefts.

And she was barely getting started.

The longer she performed, the better she would get. It was just the natural progression of things. She would get stronger. Endure more. And not just her body, but her magic also. She had checked out an advanced spell book or two from the local library, and when she could she would brush up on her defensive and offensive spells, having neglected perfecting both types during her time at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, instead to focus on honing her love of illusion magic.

It would take time of course, fortunately she had all the time in the world.

There was one concern she had over all this however; the police. They had generally kept quiet about her and her activities, save for one comment by the Commissioner to a single reporter, which was seemingly spoken by accident. Trixie simply decided to avoid them entirely, she stayed out of their ways which would mean that they stayed out of hers. She did not need to make enemies amongst those who should be her allies.

Still, she didn't think she would be befriending any of them any time soon after the debacle that was her first appearance.

Dismissing any further thoughts on the subject, Trixie proceeded with her stretches and the rest of her morning routine; consisting of breakfast, washing, and grooming. Today was to be something of a rest day for her, having only just gotten her sleep cycle back on track after spending the last few nights gallivanting across the city. She would practise her spells of course, but she did not have any pressing issues to attend to that she could think of, or that she could remember.

Sitting at her mirror with a brush in hoof, Trixie was startled by a sudden knocking at her door. Quite odd she realised, since she didn't expect any visitors; considering only a certain few knew where she lived at all. Placing her brush down, Trixie approached her door and peeked through the window at its side, herself concealed behind the drawn curtains. She noticed the familiar orange coat and lime mane immediately, and almost pulled the door open then and there in order to greet her recently discovered new friend. 

She resisted the urge however, her gaze falling towards the folder of clippings and newspaper trash that littered her floor. A sudden sense of dread overcoming her. 'Yes, that certainly doesn't look suspicious at all does it!' Trixie thought in alarm.

She squeaked as the door was tapped on again, noticeably harder and with evidently less patience than before. "Trixie, you in there?" asked a disgruntled Apple Leaves, shifting on her hooves outside on account of the chilling winter air.

Trixie almost didn't hear her, having began to frantically push down on the pile of garbage, hoping to squeeze it all into an unfairly small trash can. She couldn't let Apple Leaves see it. "Uh... Just a sec! Trixie isn't ready!" She blurted out as she threw a blanket over the trash can, concealing its bloating and incriminating contents. 

Trixie kicked the folder under her bed as she approached the door, preparing to turn the key. She hesitated again before she could unlock it however, turning towards the mirror to gaze upon her perfect coat and cared for hair, she then decided with a groan to intentionally dishevel her styled mane; in order to provide her with a much desired excuse.

Turning the lock, she pulled the door open, revealing Apple Leaves shivering on her doorstep, clad in simple brown winter attire. The mare appeared annoyed, most likely at being kept waiting in the wind, but couldn't help but burst out laughing at the sight of Trixie, specifically at her ridiculously unsightly hairdo.

"What- What the heck it that?! You look you've been chewing on electric cables!" she said between laughs, motioning towards Trixie's mane.

Trixie was not amused, and could practically feel the heat rising in her checks. She stomped a hoof in annoyance. "Shut up! You interrupted Trixie's beauty sleep!" she whined, attempting to get her mane under control, but without the assistance of a brush it was a useless effort.

Leaves continued to laugh, but a sudden bout of wind caused her teeth to chatter whilst doing so. "Burr! Look I'll laugh at you later. Can Ah come in? I’m freezing mah flank off!" she pleadingly asked.

With a roll of her eyes Trixie stood aside, monitoring for her friend to come in. Who gladly accepted the offer. As she passed her by, Trixie noticed a large brown parcel Leaves was carrying on her back, which peaked her curiosity. She decided to greet the Apple first before asking about it however.

"Whoa! How can it get so cold! It's not even snowing yet and Ah can't feel mah hooves!" Leaves complained as she placed her hooves close to Trixie's stove, lit to provide extra warmth to the fragile caravan. She would have preferred a fireplace, but that was a luxury that Trixie presently couldn't afford.

"It's the coastline, there's nothing to break the wind. At least... Trixie thinks that's how it works. I'm a magician not a weather pony!" Trixie disgrunty replied, still fruitlessly attempting to fix her mane. Her eyes flickered in Leaves' direction every so often however, realising she had yet to actually say hello. "It is nice to see you however, Trixie doesn't often get visitors as you can probably imagine."

Apple Leaves responded with a mock curtsy, before taking a few more moments to warm herself. Her gaze started to wander around the room, having realised that aside from a peek or two through the windows, she had never actually been inside of Trixie's home. She took in the sight of the cramped spacing and hastily repaired and re-repaired furniture, all worn with time and use. It almost startled her to realise just how close to Trixie she was in the tiny area.

The magician, who was once again sat before her mirror, trying but failing to comb her mane flat, addressed her guest via her reflection, taking notice of how she was looking around the room in an almost pitiful way. "I know what you're probably thinking, but I happen to like having my bedroom, living room and kitchen all be the same thing. It makes for less walking," Trixie nonchalantly said. She would have preferred to have more admittedly, but the status of her home really didn't bother her all that much. It was all hers after all.

"You sure you don't want to stay with us in the house though? Or at least put this thing in the barn? Ah mean it's cozy for sure, but them walls ain't gonna keep the warmth in and the cold out once the snow falls," Leaves quizzically asked, respectful of Trixie's decision.

If she had been a stranger, Trixie would have just told Leaves that her wellbeing was none of her concern. But... They were friends. "It really is quite alright, Leaves. Me and this old thing have survived plenty of winters together without the assistance of mares as generous as yourself, thank you very much." 

Leaves found it quite endearing how Trixie was able to sound both condescending and complimentary at the same time. It was just another thing about Trixie that made Leaves want to befriend her in the first place. "Well... If you insist," Leaves stated simply, taking another look around before her gaze fell back to Trixie's reflection, who was still attempting to comb her mane.

"Why'd you come by anyway? We agreed on tea and cakes every other day," Trixie stated, recalling the accord they had reached after their night out a week ago. After Leaves had sobered up of course. It was also at that point that Leaves had informed Trixie that her mother had forbade her from going out to socialise on days she was due to work in future, much to the Apple's dismay and Trixie's alike. It had been a fun night after all.

Leaves then grabbed the parcel perched on her back, placing it before Trixie at the desk she was sat at. "You've got mail," she answered, before giving Trixie a sly look. "May I ask why you put down the Apple farm as your address?" she asked, nudging Trixie's shoulder.

Trixie chuckled, grabbing the package in her magic, which she proceeded to unfold open. "Unfortunately 'the caravan between those two trees and the fence by that ridge,at that farm' didn't seem like a viable option," she stated in amusement, with Leaves staring over her shoulder in curiosity, hoping to get a glimpse at the boxes contents.

Cutting the tape along the seams, Trixie opened up the boxes top, a smile quickly adorning her face once she recognized what was housed inside. "Yes! That creep came through for me!" she proclaimed, before taking a sheet of paper out of the box and holding it up at Leaves face, who identified it as a flyer; specifically a flyer with Trixie plastered on the front, advertising one of her upcoming shows. Leave's attention was currently elsewhere however.

"What’s this about a creep?" she asked in befuddlement.

Trixie was all too eager to explain, laughing as she reminisced. During the past week she had decided to print a few flyers to advertise her shows over the holidays. Unfortunately, she had neither the resources nor the finances to print them herself, forcing her to seek out an alternate solution. While scouting out a printing press, hoping to barter the price down, a particularly rambunctious young stallion had taken a liking to her. Trixie was at first disgusted of course, but when the stallion revealed himself to be the editor, Trixie decided to take advantage as much as she could. A single date for a few flyers, that was the agreement. And who knew? Maybe he would turn out to be the one.

Probably not, but Trixie could dream.

"That's gotta be like... harassment or extortion or som'thin' isn't it?" Leaves asked when Trixie's story was finished with, having taken a seat on her bed during its course.

"Perhaps, but I have to admit he was quite fetching!" Trixie laughed, before turning back to the piles of flyers she had taken out of the box and stacked on her desk. After having finally restored her mane to its former glory of course. There had to be at least three hundred of them, all of which featured Trixie on their fronts, proclaimed her glory for all to see. 'I might just make it dinner and a show.' she sultry thought.

Mare-Do-Well was one part of her life now, with her performances being the other. She needed to put a few on to stay afloat. But ultimately the reason she performed her shows at all, even though she had hit so many bumps along the way, was because she actively enjoyed doing them. Entertaining was her art and magic was her life, nothing that had happened had changed that and nothing ever will.

Not even Mare-Do-Well.

Now that she had the flyers, Trixie knew that the rest day she had charted out could unfortunately not go ahead as planned. "Now, as much as I have enjoyed your stay here, Apple Leaves, I'm afraid it must come to an end!" Trixie boomed as she rose from her seat, her hat and cape flying over from their stands onto her form. "Now that my flyers have arrived, I need to place them up all over the city, and I'll need to start soon if I am to be ready in time for the performances." 

With her cape wrapped snuggly around her, with the collar upturned to provide further protection against the cold, Trixie returned the flyers to the box with her magic. Placing it on top of her back with her saddlebags underneath; which her Mare-Do-Well costume was housed within. She then made her way over to the door, ready to leave with her Apple companion, who was also readying herself for the outdoors.

"Why don't ya put the flyers in the bag?"

Trixie's eyes bulged, though thankfully she was still facing away from Apple Leaves, whose question seemed innocent enough to her, but was utterly dismantling for Trixie. "Um... Well." Trixie's thoughts were frantic, she needed a reason why she couldn't use her bags for the flyers, but also a reason why she was using them at all.

"They're full..." she hesitantly began. "With my lunch?" 

'Lunch which she didn't see you pack, for an outing you didn't know you were having!'

Deciding that her answer wasn't good enough, Trixie decided to talk some more before Apple Leaves had the chance to respond. Trixie just hoped the bluff would be enough. "It's a real shame though," she exaggeratedly explained. "I would have preferred some of those apple treats you brought me before, they were so good! Say..." she said, as if it was a thought that just came to mind. "I might just pop by the Apple stand later on, buy myself some. Maybe I'll even meet your Mom! If she's working of course?"

Trixie prayed that the change in subject would be enough to divert Apple Leaves' undivided attention, she hoped she could appeal to whatever remnant of an ego the Apple mare possessed. She held her breath in anticipation.

"Nah, Mom's at home today, me and Bushel got the stand! I would have offered to help you put up dem flyers otherwise."

And released that breath silently upon realising that the bluff worked. If there was one part of the whole 'secret identity' thing that Trixie despised; it was the lying. She was quite adept at lying, as it was essentially her profession, but to do it so often to those she cared for, knowing full well their entire perception of her would change the instant they knew the truth, was taking its toll on Trixie to say the least.

She pushed all thoughts regarding what would happen between her and her friends once her identity was revealed to the world as far as they could possibly go into the depths of her mind. It was just a topic she just didn't want to think about at the moment.

The mares walked out the door side by side, with Trixie taking a moment to cast her security magic upon her home before they left proper. Both then walked towards the direction of the city, exchanging small talk before they reluctantly parted ways for the day to pursue their own endeavours.



		

Train journeys, especially ones of such length, were so tedious that Shining could barely stand it sometimes. It was fine when he was traveling with his wife, family, or friends, but this time he was all by his lonesome, cooped up in a luxury train cart with nothing but his luggage, complimentary drinks, and mountains of paperwork that he needed to go over before he arrived at his destination of Fillydelphia.

But then again he wasn't entirely alone, but his personal detachment of royal guards obligated to accompany him were strangers to him at best. He was more than capable of handling himself, but the guard protection was a requirement he himself had insisted all royalty have; implemented after the changelings were able to replace Cadance during their wedding with such efficientcy that it was a miracle that Shining wasn't considered a laughing stock amongst the guard for that blunder.

Shining had to pause his reading at that thought, habitually rubbing his head, as if he could still feel Queen Chrysalis' dark magic infecting him. Imprisoning him in his own mind.

That was a nightmare he would rather forget.

With a sigh, he resumed his readings, the memories of those days fading away. He shifted atop of the cushion he was sat upon, it was so soft and fluffy that he almost slid off of it whenever the train rocked on its sides. The papers he was looming over covered a variety of topics, but all were concerned with what he would be doing during his time in Fillydelphia. A scheduled meeting with the Commissioner here, a press conference with the Mayor there. He'd even been asked to attend the Hearth's Warming lighting ceremony, which was brought forward the moment the city officials found out that he was on his way.

How could he say no?

His first order of business however would remain on why the Royal Guard was called upon in the first place. A series of suspiciously similar fires and an emerging vigilante. Both were considered problems, and both would be dealt with in due time.

"How far are we now do you reckon?"

"Dunno, I can see the mountain, so we gotta be getting close."

Shining could not prevent his ears from twitching in the direction of the two guards stationed outside the door at the end of the carriage. Both had been stood there for the entire duration of the trip, and were apparently so bored that they had started to converse, despite being disciplined against it. Not that Shining minded of course, it was a long and boring journey and he could let it slip just this once.

"Why are we going to Filly' anyway? Did he tell you?"

"Nah. It's his press tour I think, he's probably just getting started early."

Shining had not actually told any of the guards specifically why they were going yet; he had been in such a rush that morning to get moving that he opted to tell them all when they arrived at the city. They had left so early and with such abruptness that Shining could not even find an adviser to accompany him to handle his schedule. The guards got up when he told them to, the advisers needed to be informed in advance; union rules.

"I actually heard a different reason for why we're going."

Shining's ears turned towards the door once again as a third voice had now joined in on the conversation, which Shining recognized immediately as belonging to one of his Lieutenants. He ceased his readings in order to hear what was about to be said.

"I asked Peddy before we left, you know? Armor's old assistant?" Shining listened intently, his eye twitching slightly due to them mentioning him behind his back. The Lieutenant soon continued, his voice almost a whisper. "He said he got a letter from the police Commissioner, and that the Marshal's gone to deal with the problem personally."

Shining felt the need to step in, after all he intended to brief them all on the matter himself once they arrived, not have them be informed with second-hoof information. But the conversation continued before he could reach the door to stop them.

"No way! Why's he going? This has got to be something big right?" asked one of the guards at the door, noticeably excited.

The Lieutenant simply scoffed in disagreement. "Nope. It was just something about a few fires and a nopony vigilante. The Commissioner just wanted some guards to show up for public reassurance."

The other two guards were noticeably confused. "What? Why the heck are we going then? What about the press tour?"

The Lieutenant looked through the tinted windows of the carriage door, wanted to make sure that his superior wasn't listening in to what he would say next. Unfortunately for him, Shining had ducked behind the door, and the Lieutenant just assumed he was still at his desk reading his paperwork, on account of being barely able to see through the glass at all.

"If you ask me, I think he's trying to prove something," he began quietly, his companions listening intently, and Shining silently seething behind the door. "I mean think about it. His sister becomes an alicorn, gets coronated, and now he suddenly gets promoted? I'd take every opportunity to be seen as a hero too if my baby sister was getting all the recognition and doing me favors like that."

'He did not just say that.'

"LIEUTENANT!"

Shining heard the scrambling behind the door and the frantic whispers of dread clear as day. He rose from his position and stood in the centre of the room, back facing the door as it creaked open and a set of hooves shakily made their way inside. The door was promptly closed once the figure had entered the room, with the stallions stationed behind it staying as silent as possible, both to hear what would happen and in an attempt to be forgotten about by their evidently unhappy superior.

"Err... Ye-Yes, Sir?" the Lieutenant fearfully began. The fact Shining was not looking at him was somehow even worse than if he had been.

Shining remained silent for several moments before taking a glance out the window, spotting the large snow-topped Foal Mountain drawing ever closer from the distance. "We'll soon be arriving in Fillydelphia, inform the troops to prepare for inspection," Shining stated in an eerily calm tone.

The Lieutenant grew considerably confused, but didn't question why he was not being reprimanded for what he had said at all. He just wanted to leave the room. "Yes, Sir. At once, Sir." 

He started to back away, growing more relieved with every step, and was almost out the door when Shining turned back to him once more. "Oh, and Lieutenant?" Shining began, causing the guard to freeze in place. Shining just maintained his tranquil expression as the Lieutenant tried but failed to sport one of stoicism. "I'll also be sure to inform you all of the real reason we're going to Fillydelphia too. Is that clear?"

The Lieutenant gulped, all feelings of relief crumbling. "Understood, Sir," barked the guard. He then hastily made his way out of the room, the two guards positioned at the door following close behind. They could not help but chuckle at how their superior was effectively running with his tail between his legs, regretting everything he had thought and said about the new Marshal up to that moment.

Shining contained his fury, though he could not prevent a spasm in his neck as he roughly stacked the papers that lay upon his desk together. Guards spoke behind his back. Guards spoke behind everypony's back, regardless of status or rank, that was just the norm. But never before had he overheard a conversation that had irked him so... emotionally.

'Jealous of Twilight? A glory hound? That's what they think I am?!'

He growled, then composed himself. He was better than that. He wasn't that petty. 'Maybe he needs to be reminded just what he signed up for,' Shining thought in disgruntlement, stuffing the papers into his bags as he did. He was there to carry out his duty as a Royal Guard, it was not that hard of a concept to understand, and he was certainly not there to ensure his legacy as a solider.

With little delay, Shining sealed his suitcases, leaving them to be picked up by the trains staff when they disembarked at Fillydelphia's central station. He had an inspection to give and a briefing to undertake, as well as still needing to finishing writing up a risk assessment.

Though he sincerely doubted there would be much risk involved.





"Do do do do do tricks up my sleeves..." Trixie hummed to herself as she affixed yet another flyer to a street lamp, before she was once again on her way in search of another one. The streets were quiet today. Pleasant. Nothing much was happening in the city at the moment, except preparations for the winter events yet to come; then the streets would be packed, of that Trixie had no doubt.

Balancing the box of adverts on her back, Trixie trotted along down the pavement. She took in the sights, something she had been unable to do on account of her be occupied for most of the week, running errands and fighting crime.

'That sounds so weird. Arrogant little Trixie, defender of the innocent!' The thought was enough to make Trixie laugh out loud. Her claims of grandeur were slowly becoming reality, soon she would be able to enjoy success she had always craved, but also share it with those she had grown to care for and even those she had made peace with. 'We'll just have to wait and see...'

Finishing up with another street lamp, Trixie took a moment to check how many flyers she had left. The revelation made her gawk. "Only half done? Ugh!" She thought she had been making good time, but that didn't mean she couldn't be annoyed that she hadn't been going faster. At the rate she was going she probably wouldn't even be done by nightfall, and she had already been at this for hours. “Surely I can walk faster than this? I do it often enough!" she grumbled, slouching her neck forward to relieve the weighted feeling on her back.

'The idea behind advertising is to build anticipation before you perform, not after!' she thought in frustration, relishing the moments she had taken to rest. She didn't savour it for long though, and with a sigh, she continued on her way down the paved streets. The impact of her hooves seeming to echo throughout the surrounding maze of buildings. The sun was low and the air was cold, but despite her frustrations, Trixie still considered herself happy.

"What in the...?" Trixie stopped, squinting into the distance. She could see something, rising into the air, and it was a sight all too familiar. "Is that smoke?" she wondered aloud, even though the answer was obvious. A thick cloud of the blackness had suddenly sprouted from behind some small buildings further down the street, easily visible against the now orange sky. It was practically mesmerising to Trixie, who stared for several moments more before she began to hastily make her way towards its suspected source, the box bouncing on her back, threatening to fall off at her hurried pace.

The smoke only began to flow higher, and was likely visible across a large portion of the city. Trixie spotted several pegasi in her peripheral vision flying in the same direction as she was heading, with expressions that varied from franticism to curiosity. Others were flying away from the smoke, towards areas of the sky that held sources of rainclouds, most likely to try and quell what Trixie assumed was a fire; and a rather large one at that.

She could hear things now, as she drew ever closer. Screaming, yelling and crackling, the result of the flames unfaltering path of destruction. "Help! Somepony call the fireponies!"" was one of the frantic shouts Trixie heard as she reached the street corner, her jaw promptly dropping open as she was met with the sight she had almost eagerly ran towards.

It could not have been happening for long, as ponies were still running out of the doors and down the fire escapes. But the sheer magnitude of the flames and the extent that they covered the interior of the building of appartments was unsettling to say the least. The roof was a sea of red fire, and was spreading to the lower floors of the building quickly. Thankfully though the building was detached from the others around it, so hopefully it would be contained, and if the large crowd of ponies stood outside was any indication, it seemed as if the building was deserted, or was at least getting there as less and less were running out in panic.

At least Trixie prayed it was.

Shifting the weight on her back, she approached the crowd of coughing, soot covered building residents. Maneuvering her way around a taxi cart parked across the street from the building, it's driver noticeably fidgety. Not that Trixie could blame him, he was watching a building burn down after all.

Shuffling through the crowd, Trixie approached a stallion shouting orders to the pegasi in the sky, who were attempting to spot any stragglers still inside. The residents sat on the curb were watching in an almost tranquil fixation, while others were bawling into the coats of those nearby. All were motionless, watching their home burn and utterly helpless to stop it. Nopony, not even Trixie with her limited weather manipulation abilities would be able to quell the flames, hinder them maybe, but she had arrived too late to make much of a difference. 

"Fireponies are on their way!” Trixie heard being yelled from behind her, not that she or anypony else had much of reaction. She approached the stallion continuing to bark orders into the sky, his coat noticeably darkened to the point Trixie couldn't even tell what his natural colour was.

Walking to the stallion’s side, Trixie could feel the heat on her face, if she was any closer her fur would likely be singed. "Is there anypony still inside?" she blurted out to the stallion, as she found herself undeniably concerned over the situation.

"That's what we’re trying to find out,” was the stallion's simple reply, not even turning his head to look at Trixie, instead opting to scan the windows of the building for any sign of movement. They both stood in relative silence, and Trixie found herself holding a hoof to her saddlebag’s clip.

“Somepony on the top floor!” shouted a pegasus from above, who then tried and failed to approach the building, the heat driving her back in an instant.

Down on the ground, Trixie heard the stallion curse at her side, and found herself instinctively grabbing her saddlebag tighter. The fact that nopony had made any sort of movement whatsoever was unnerving to Trixie to say the least, and upon whipping her head to the crowd behind her, she was only met with expressions of dread and fear; an expression she herself had also adopted.

"Aren't we going to try and do something?" she pleadingly asked to the stallion beside her, whose own face was shadowed with defeat. Before he could reply, the front door took that opportunity to collapse inwards, wood and ash showering into the street, forcing the crowd to draw back further.

The stallion’s expression only worsened. "No way we can! At this rate this building’s coming down in a few minutes tops! That ain't worth the risk!" was his frightened response, drawing back into the crowd himself, into the arms of a soot covered mare. Trixie remained alone at the front of the crowd, her eyes in pain from the heat and her staring. She grew contemplative, closing her eyes as she debated what to do, since at that very moment a pony was potentially burning to death above her.

She looked down to her hoof gripping her saddlebag, and then she walked off in the opposite direction of the burning building.

The pegasi had all but given up trying to approach the building’s top floor; the heat was too intense and the violent winds threw them off course whenever they drew near enough. The experience was maddening to one particular pegasus, who wondered aloud what was taking the fireponies so long to get there. "Where are those prissy little-"

"Look! It's Mare-Do-Well!"

The stallion's gaze fell to the pony who had shouted at his side, who was pointing to the crowd of ponies below, where a purple and black clothed unicorn was sprinting forwards, passed the stunned ponies and through the burning entrance of the building, which collapsed completely when more ponies approached to follow and help.





Up the stairs she went, never taking a moment to so much as pause for fear that the wood and concrete would collapse beneath her. Her suit provided her with minimal protection against the flames; her undersuit was fireproofed as required in order to perform her more dangerous performance acts. But she didn't consider the protection enough, and the flames were nipping at her cape and hooves, making Mare-Do-Well instantly consider the possibility that maybe this was not such a great idea.

Sprinting up and up, she watched as the numbers that indicated which floor she was on increased ever higher, soon it reached number twenty; the highest floor not including the roof, and also the floor somepony had apparently been seen on from the outside.

She ran into the hallway and found herself in a four-way intersection. "Hello!?" Mare-Do-Well cried, her voice reaching above the sounds of burning and breaking. She observed for any movement or anything that even resembled a pony, but could find nothing of the sort. At the same time she was attempting to form a plan of escape in her frantic filled head.

Escapes were Trixie’s specialty, but she usually had far more time to plan ahead. This time she was not so lucky. She ran through possibilities in her mind; she remembered a fire escape out the window to her left, the stairs behind her that was almost completely engulfed in flames, and a building at the end of the hallway to her rear that was shorter than the one she was currently in, a sufficient last resort.

Mare-Do-Well hoped she would not have to make the trip alone, and once again called out, and then again when she received no reply. The flames had grown even more intense now, and Trixie could swear that the floor below her was becoming softer, as if the very foundation of the building was collapsing in on itself. She covered her mouth on account of the smoke, thankful that her mask protected her eyes and breathing to an extent.

"Is there anypony here!?" She called out one final time, though it appear to be futile. Nopony answered and nopony came. Trixie was not about to burn to death on the off chance somepony was still alive anymore, since if she delayed any further in escaping the fire would claim her before it finally did the building.

As she turned to run, Mare-Do-Well heard something, a thumping on wood. One knock, two, and then on a third a violent crash resonated throughout the passage to her front. A door flew off of its hinges down the hallway from Trixie, the flames around her reacting furiously as air rushed into the now opened room. Trixie shielded her face, but her orange tinted vision never left the sight of the splintered doorframe

A black figure mutely emerged from it.

"Hey!" Mare-Do-Well immediately yelled, both in worry and triumph that the pony was still alive despite the desperate situation. She then had the opportunity to take in the pony's appearance, and the sight made her straighten up in an instant.

Whoever the pony was, they were almost completely covered in black and yellow attire, from head to knees; it was thick and matte, and appeared to provid ample protection from the heat and fire. On their face they wore a pair of goggles, making their eyes appear white against the reflection of the flames. What Trixie found of interest most of all however was their front two hooves; there was not a single hair upon them and they appeared to have been horribly scarred to the point that any and all pigmentation had been lost, leaving behind pale, ugly and warped remains.

Even with their expression concealed, Mare-Do-Well could tell from their posture alone that they was just as surprised as she was that they were laying eyes on each other. "Who are you?” Trixie spoke calmly and loudly, with as much authority as she could muster. She suspected this pony of ill intent the moment she had laid eyes on them; their apparent calmness to the chaos around them also did little to relieve Trixie of her concerns. She deepened her stance.

The figure lifted up a still burning piece of the door they had just kicked in, which was laying at their side, and flung it at Trixie the moment her posture had changed. They then wasted no time in bolting in the opposite direction down the hall, with Trixie in hot pursuit after dodging the hurling hunk of wood.

Leaping over the destroyed door, Mare-Do-Well ran as fast as she could, even though she had no idea what to do if she did in fact get a chance to lay her hooves on this pony, seeing as they clearly had no intention of giving Trixie the opportunity to do so. Any chance she had of doing it was lost however, as the black and yellow clad pony leaped through the window at the end of the hall, the glass having shattered long ago from the heat.

Trixie was sure that the pony had just leapt to their doom; there was nothing on this side of the building to break the pony’s fall except for the pavement. But upon reaching the window, Trixie had the displeasure of seeing the concealed pony flying away with similarly concealed wings sprouting from their back.

‘Now that’s just not fair…’ Trixie thought in defeat as the pony disappeared into the city's winding infrastructures, nopony around apparently deciding to pursue. With no time to think on the matter further, Trixie pivoted around and began to sprint back in the direction she had just came, no longer wishing to remain in the soon to certainly crumble building. She reached the intersection in the halls and ran in the direction of the fire escape, but screamed upon realising that the hall towards it was completely engulfed in the raging fire.

Turning to the stairs she had ran up earlier, Trixie screamed again upon leaning over the bannister and finding that the stairs had collapsed in its entirety some time ago. She regained her balance and returned to the relative safety of the hallway, growing in desperation every second as the fire grew ever stronger and the floor seemingly sunk below her even more.

Trixie cried as she turned towards her only option left; the one that held the most considerable risk also. She made her way down the only corridor not blocked by overwhelming heat and smoke, and soon saw the shorter building outside come into view. She flung her hooves at the window’s opening latch, and drew her hooves back immediately as unbearable pain overcame her. She screamed into the air as she held her hooves to her face, the wrappings on her hooves had been burned right through to her skin, stream was even flowing off of them.

She cursed her own idiocy, realising she had just grabbed the window’s scalding metal frame. Her horn lit up and the window opened in an instant; air rushed in and the flames grew higher. Mare-Do-Well ignored the pain as she returned her forelegs to the ground, and ran as fast as she could as the floor finally gave out beneath her. She flew through the window, stretching herself out as she fell several feet down and grunted when her body impacted with a hard gravely surface; the surface of the roof opposite the building on fire.

Trixie stood on shaky hooves, and watched as the roof of the complex collapsed inwards; right onto the floor she had just been on. Turning away, Trixie brought her forelegs to her face, and with a cry she ignited her magic, and her forelegs were engulfed in purple. The wrappings on her hooves started to unravel, and Trixie shrieked when she ripped them off of her burns, the heat having seared the two together.

Her rear legs buckled, and Trixie unceremoniously fell to the ground, sobbing and cradling her hooves against her chest. She was so occupied that she did not even notice the black and yellow covered figure watching from the sky above, their wings flapping lazily against the wind as they observed the Mare, and the burning building eventually crumble to the earth.