Baltimare, affectionally called Balmare by its inhabitants, despite being a big city of earth pony industry, managed to stay beautiful and tourist friendly. It was a rare instance, having both heavy machinery and factories being captured in the same frame as colorful, flowerful (pretty sure its not a word, but meh) parks. It was also a center of education, containing one of the biggest known public libraries in Equestria, second only to Canterlot itself, along with multiple colleges and universities. But whereas Canterlot specialized in magic, art and social studies, Baltimare was all about earth pony industry.
Sunset Shimmer had nothing against earth ponies. They were an important part of equestrian society and she doubted they would ever go obsolete (unless ponies find a way to survive on photosynthesis) and she appreciated them as fellow pony beings, not better or worse than other tribes. But even with her overwhelming respect and adoration of the working class, she couldn't deny that listening to the lectures on industrial machinery which effects she could replicate with her horn in her spare time between waking up and first cup of morning coffee, made her closer on the line from "behave, ponies are watching" to "I will gut the first pony that speaks to me", making the "Do it, filly-buttom" all that more appealing.
That's when Moondancer bumped into her, as they walked out of the sugar refinery. "Ugh, I thought the snoozefest would never end!" She yawned. "Remind me to not get excited over university funded field trips ever again. Sunny, why do you look like you want to cut me up with a dull sawblade?"
"...no reason." She muttered, pondering over how easy it would be to hide the body in those containers.
"Ohmygosh, that was so educational!" A purple beacon of happiness (Twilight Sparkle) caught up to them, magically trying to fit in her bags all the pamphlets and notes she kept taking during the tour. She was wearing a t-shirt and baseball cap both with 'I <3 Baltimare' on them. "It sure makes us appreciate how everything we take for granted works. I'll never look at sugar the same way ever again, not after seeing..."
"Twily, please!" Moondancer rolled her eyes. "The tour's over!"
Twilight pouted, but recovered her enthusiasm five seconds later. "So, next stop- Enoch Trott Free Library! Imagine, going into one of the oldest public libraries in Equestria! I just can't wait!"
Moondancer took a glance at her other best friend, then caught up to Twilight. "Actually, maybe we should relax for a bit first."
"Don't be silly Moondancer!" She slowly turned to her. "We only have three hours to spare, we can't waste even a preciouse seco--..." she stopped mid sentence, as her gaze wandered over where Moondancer was subtly pointing with her eyes, to a gray, clouded creature with murderous intent, walking inside the only foggy, raining segment in the entire, sunny city. When Sunset Shimmer was in a mood, she used illusions to prove a point. Also, death threats.
"...urge... to... kill... raising..."
Twilight swallowed. "Let's take a break first!"
"Aaaah, much better!" Sunset Shimmer sighed with relief, blissfully smacking her lips as she levitated the cup of black coffee back on the table of an outdoor cafe.
"You're not yourself without coffee for too long!" Twilight remarked, placing her half finished double moccha at the table.
"Or," Moondancer leaned closer to Twilight, putting a hoof over her shoulder, then announced dramatically "that's the real Sunset and caffeine is the only thing holding her back!"
The two friends gasped and looked varily at bemused Sunset. "Sure, why not?" She shrugged. The three waited for a moment, until one after the other snorted and launched into a fit of laughter.
Eventually, after finishing their drinks, Twilight stood up, placing a cap back on head.
"Okay, we're wasting time girls. We only have... two hours and thirty two minutes until the train leaves. Come on, the library won't visit itself!" She happily announced, oblivious to the other two groaning. Normally, Sunset Shimmer would be the first to answer her, usually with a snarky comment, but Moondancer beat her to it.
"Woah, hot stuff at seven o'clock!" She smiled, glaring at two bulky, muscled earth ponies that just passed by. Sunset peeked at the two and shrugged, giving them a six out of ten- passable, but she could do better. "And there's two of them, which means..."
"Oh no..."
"What? It's not often we get to socialize with... Balmareians? Balmarenians? Whatever, can't miss an occassion!"
"We are NOT chasing after stallions! And it's Balmarians!" Twilight protested. "Not when there's so much to see and read and see! Or ever, for that matter!"
"Oh please, like they don't have copies of all those books back home!"
"That's not the point, those books here have..."
"...the air, sweat and dust of our predecessors, I know!" Moondancer rolled her eyes.
The conversation went for a short moment longer, but Sunset Shimmer sat quietly and kept sipping her coffee, all too aware how this whole debacle will end.
"Sunset?" The purple one and white one turned to her, each smiling brightly, inviting her towards their cause.
She weighed her options. On one hoof, a library full of books about industrial history was the most boring thing that even her nerd side wouldn't be able to sit through without wanting to burn a wing or two (whether she meant pegasus or library wings was up to debate), but at the same time she never knew what else she could find in the "Misc" portion of the library, as she often did before.
Then there was Moondancer's double date, which she had absolutely no mood for right now, especially if her date happened to be a pushy, horny jerkface who required a zapping and/or pushing him to Moondancer (always open to... suggestions), but then again she could easily manipulate him into treating her to a nice, expensive dinner and THEN push him towards Moondancer.
Struck with two options just as viable, annoying and potentially dangerous, she picked the obvious one...
"I love the third option!" Sunset mused to herself again, enjoying a third cup of coffee today. Alone. Sending BOTH of her friends packing was quite possibly the best solution to most of her problems.
"No Twilight, no Moondancer, just me, my cup and beautiful landscape. Peace and quie--"
CRACK-OOM!
A sudden explosion in the distance made her jump and spill her coffee everywhere, including her coat. She groaned at the sight of a stain that would take at least five minutes to wash away (or a simple cleaning spell), then faced the direction where the explosion came from. It was followed by a few others, each one coming from a set of colorful, barely visible on bright daylight fireworks that shot from around the corner, where already a bunch of ponies started gathering.
She looked irritated at her now empty cup, stain and the spectacle, wishing she could ignore it just to spite whoever was there. She placed a few bits for her unfinished coffee as she left her seat.
"Dear universe..." she muttered, as she walked towards the commotion. "...@#$% you!"
"Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrrixie!"
The pawn of the universe that was against Sunset's life this time was a light-blue mare in a purple, star-covered cloak and pointy hat, standing on a stage, her forehooves extended joyously to the skies as fireworks shot all around. Sunset rolled her eyes at the overacting mare in ridiculous clothing. She decided to stay and watch, having a lot of time to kill, now that her coffee was gone.
For the next five or so minutes Sunset Shimmer was a witness to a medium tier magic, that while looking pretty, was a far cry from being "Great" or "Powerful" (though there were tricks, for sure). Simple, colorful explosions, along with rapid growth of some flowers from seeds, but mostly illusions of different kinds and shapes. Almost as boring as a trip to that wretched factory, though the audience would beg to differ.
"T'mare there sure is sothing'else!" Said some random earth pony to Sunset. "I'neer seen magic scool in milife!"
Sunset snorted. "Yeah, she's something... amateurish. Though I don't blame any simpletons (no offense) for mistaking these parlor tricks for real magic."
The pony tilted his head. "What'cha mean, hon?"
Sunset rolled her eyes. Talking was a bother, so she looked around for something to bring her point a bit easier. She noticed a Flower Shop nearby, in particular a long sunflower that stood at the entrance. She levitated a single seed from it and placed it on her hoof. She concentrated some of her magic into it, which made the seed suddenly shake and open up, as a small sappling rose from it.
"They teach that on first year at Academy in Canterlot." Sunset shrugged, while her spectator gasped loudly at the miracle he was witnessing. "Though earth pony farming is far more efficient in the long run."
"Hot dangit, sneet stuff here!"
"Sneet?" Her eyebrow raised.
"What'cha doin?" Another pony noticed the two and entered into the conversation.
"That lass'ere's makin stuff grow wit magic too!"
"Really? Lem'see!"
"Oh, kinya do da firwoks too?" A third suddenly one asked and before Sunset knew it, she was surrounded by a crowd.
Normally she'd shun them away, but instead took her time to replicate the effects of the showmare around, except in a much less exagerated way. There was something very satisfying about taking the audience away from an attention whorse like that "whatsherface" was doing with magic that she was clearly taught in the same school. And speak of the devil, Sunset heard coughing coming from the stage.
"Excuse Trixie, but The Great And Powerful Trixie would appreciate other ponies NOT stealing her audience, thank you very much!"
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, hon," Sunset aswered, smiling slyly "there's no off switch to my awesomeness!"
"Trixie can relate. However," she stepped closer to the edge and stared Sunset in her eyes "this city has place for only one Greatness and Trixie's has been here first!"
"Fine!" She shook her head and started turning back, slowly trotting away. "I know when I'm not wanted. I'll just take my Awesomness and waaalk aawaay..." as she passed through the crowds, she could clearly hear some dissapointed whining.
Exactly as planned.
"After all," Sunset stopped and turned back to have a glance at Trixie on her stage "The Great and Powerful Trampy" everypony gasped "does not wish to be overshadowed by a SUPERIOR magician," another gasp "no?"
As Sunset expected, she saw Trixie's jaw drop, only to then grit her teeth, as her face was getting redder and redder with anger, though to her credit, she did her best to compose herself, taking deep breath after another, until she was ready for a civil remark.
"First off all, Trixie is Trixie. And second, since there are no ponies Greater than Great and Powerful Trixie in the entire Equestria or beyond, she takes no offense in your meaningless boasting. Especially..." her eye narrowed, her smile growing more sinister "...coming from a pony that runs away, intimidated by Trixie's Amazingness!"
The crowd gasped again, now turning towards Sunset, who unlike the azure magician held her emotions in complete check. If you don't count the fire that could burn an entire Tartarus if it got passed her eyelids.
"Oh, is that a challenge?"
"Anypony comparing herself to Trixie has to put more than words into their arguments! Or they could run away. Trixie won't be compared to... chickens!"
The crowd gasped once again, now all eyes turned at Sunset Shimmer, who had yet to turn back towards the stage again. She couldn't just show them her face right now. After all, the big, evil grin she was wearing could ruin the entire effect she worked so hard for.
"Well, if you put it that way..." her horn started glowing bright, until it exploded with blinding light. Once everypony regained their sights and removed their hooves from their eyes, they witnessed the Great and Powerful Sunset Shimmer turned towards them, except now wearing an ensamble identical to Trixie's. A long cape and pointy wizard hat, except hers were of dark shade of crimson, with tiny explosion patterns instead of stars. "...I have an hour or two to kill."
The crowd around Sunset cooed and marveled at her new looks. Trixie raised an eyebrow, then hummed and smiled with realization.
"Ah, it appears Trixie's style is more inspiring than even she initially thought. But even though Trixie is impressed by your little trick, she won't be taken for a fool that easily!" She turned around to face the back of her stage, then magically pulled away one of the curtains, revealing... a surprised Sunset Shimmer, with her horn still glowing. She was not wearing her new clothes. The crowd gasped, then looked between two Sunset's- one at the stage, the other still standing between the crowds and looking fabulous. One pony tried to touch her, but his hoof passed right through the holographic image.
"Trixie is impressed a pony other than herself could combine multiple, complex spells in a seemless sequence. Trixie especially loves the way you used a blinding light and illusion with different clothing to confuse the audience. It takes practice to do that, teleport and contain the image without being seen or heard. Sadly for you, the opponent you face is The Great And Powerful Trixie. Not a third rate magician like you thought Trixie was!"
The crowd applauded the two, though nopony was sure if majority went towards Trixie's briliant deduction or Sunset's magical prowess. Sunset stood in place for a longer moment, only blinking. She then snorted. "Well, well, well, this dog can do more than just yap and bark!" She smiled widely and viciously. "Foals socks are off, then."
Trixie hummed and smiled as well. "Neither will Trixie hold herself back anymore."
Their gazes met and some ponies could swear they saw lightning buzzing between their eyes. The lightning was in fact real, as both unicorn magicians provided an illusion of their own, giving an even more dramatic feeling. After all, they were both ponies with style to maintain.
Sunset being a challenger, started with the big one. A spell that not even her teachers back in Canterlot could replicate and you had to be born to Shimmer family to ever be allowed to find out its secret's (at which point Sunset hoped to Celestia Trixie wasn't somehow related to her). After a minute of proper incantations, her horn exploded with flames and all of a sudden, her entire body bursted into flames. As the crowd gasped with terror, Sunset made no big deal out of her mane and coat being turned into fire, as she nonchallantly stood where she was.
"Now that an hot'mare!" Yelled some random Bawlemareian, with most in the crowd agreeing, applauding loudly.
Trixie was not as impressed, yawning.
"Really? You complain that Trixie uses mere illusions, yet you show no better? Trixie expected more."
Sunset only smiled, her horn glowing to levitate a random chair from nearby estabilishment (the owner didn't seem to mind).
"Illusion? Please, is a mere illusion able to do..." she touched the chair, burning it to ashes in a manner of seconds "...this?" Getting another set of gasps and applause (you'd think the audience would stop being so surprised after all this time).
Trixie's eyes narrowed as she looked closer at the flames and ashes. She walked closer and closer, trying to get a better look, noticing a strange trend as she walked. Sunset invited her to come even closer.
"Come on, I don't bite. You can touch it!" She cooed the showmare, also earning a few whistles from the crowd. "NOT LIKE THAT, YOU PERVS!" It didn't stop anypony from shipping the pair. At least Moondancer wasn't anywhere nearby.
Either way, Trixie swallowed, then reluctantly, slowly extended her hoof towards the literally firey one, at which point she also had an epiphany.
"Those flames... they're cold?" She said, retracting her hoof, only to notice it catching up in flames too.
"I'd say lukewarm, but hey, semantics." She shrugged, snorting as she saw Trixie trying to shake the flames away, only making them stronger in the process.
Eventually, Trixie gave up on shaking and summoned a bucket of water and submerged her hoof in it, taking them out, but exposing a naked batch of skin which was underneath the flames, which of course provoked a few naughty whistles from crowd. Trixie rolled her eyes at them and quickly used her magic to grow her coat back. She was not above giving her crowd some fanservice, but this was too lewd even for her.
"Your move, Avarage and Overrated One!"
Trixie groaned, but quickly composed herself and coughed, before coming up with a retort.
"Very clever. Trixie is impressed, she really is. She has heard rumors of a region in Equestria where this magic is taught, but she never managed to catch a glimpse of it, despite her best tries. Which is why Trixie is thankful for such an educational experiance. After all, the entire point of Trixie's journey is to be the Greatest And Most Powerful magician there ever was. And yes, Trixie is aware that the thought of Trixie becoming even greater than she already is is an intimidating thought in itself but fear not, Trixie will be a benelovent Princess once she marries into the royal family."
Sunset blinked. So did the audience.
"You sure love to hear your own voice, do you?"
"First step in becoming Equestria's most benelovent magician is to start appreciating one's own self, which Trixie mastered way, way before a filly like you ever started learning magic... not that Trixie is implying that Trixie is old, since she is not, but Trixie does apologize for dragging this monologue for so long. You see, it was imperative that you held your attention to Trixie's words and mouth and not the spell she was discreetly forming." She ended with an innocent smile. Sunset raised her eyebrow at that statement. Trixie pointed up, so Sunset looked up, at which point her eye widened with shock when she saw a giant, wooden tub levitating just above her. Her eye twitched.
"Let Trixie help you with that FIREY temper!"
"You gotta be fu--"
SPLASH!
And then at least ten gallons of cold (lukewarm) water splashed onto her. The flames were doused as expected, leaving only a dripping wet Sunset Shimmer. Trixie, along with the male and fillyfooler audience, were slightly dissapointed to note that her mane and coat were not burned like Trixie's, but the resulting view of wet-maned Sunset Shimmer was just as effective. It was especially commendable that Sunset managed to compose herself in time, giving a sultry smile towards the audience and posing seductively, earning herself a few dozen male (and some female) fans. If she was going to be humiliated, she might as well use it to her advantage. She still wanted to kill Trixie, though.
"You do realize this means war?"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
One hour, dozens of spells, mana in thousands later, the battle continued. The two mares stood opposite to each other, each at her wits end, panting heavily, their horns almost fizzling out of reserves, as the stage around them was slowly getting crowded from the multitude of props, such as countless balls, plates, chainsaws and even a kitchen sink, which the crowd would never forget. Neither were any of them ready to give up nor was the crowd getting bored of the spectacle. In fact they liked it more with every passing minute and the square they were placed on was running out of spectator space, few ponies sat on buildings, at the windows or lampposts, while pegasi stayed midair to marvel at the battle.
"Are you ready to stop fighting with the Great and Powerful Trixie?"
"What, you're giving up already?"
"Ha! As if!"
Trixie hummed and looked at the audience. With her mana going low, she had to think of something a bit less consuming, but equally as impressive. She smiled as an idea entered her mind.
"For this next feat, Trixie will require... a volounteer from the crowds, let's see..." she scanned through the crowd of ponies, each shouting and raising their hooves up, until she noticed exactly what she was looking for. "You!" She pointed at a scrawny, slim stallion, barely in his adulthood, much different than the other, tough looking Balmarans. "Yes, you! Don't be afraid, Trixie will take goooooood care of you."
Swallowing, the stallion reluctantly entered the stage and found himself before Trixie, who was already working on a spell.
"Now, watch in awe as Trixie transforms this plain looking, unattractive pony (no offense), into a stallion worthy of your dreams, using only a few simple moves!" She shot him with a beam and suddenly, facial hair started growing from him. That's where the levitating pair of scissors, comb, water spray and few cans of beautician products came in.
"Now, hold still!"
A minute of combing, cutting, spraying and male terror later, Trixie was finished.
"Presto!"
The crowd whistled as the scrawny looking, unattractive feeble stallion was gone. Now he was sporting a long, blonde well groomed mane, along with a scrawny, not quite grown, "five days not shaving worth" beard, not unlike a certain actor that played an alicorn of thunder in a certain, popular comic book adaptation. Few females of faint heart in the audience had to be hospitalized from seeing so much hotness. Even Sunset had troubles hiding a slight blush on her face.
"This..." She coughed, looking away from the stallion (now busy adoring himself with a small mirror) "is acceptable. Seven out of ten, but only because the movie was kinda meh."
"Trixie agrees, it was underwhelming. The crossover though..."
"Ohmygosh, that was the most epic thing I've ever seen!"
"Trixie knows, right? She bought two tickets so she could see the battle in Canterlot again!"
"I was squeeling like a fangirl when he beat that big snake with one buck!"
"Or when Iron Mare taunted the villains and offered them drinks? Trixie has shivers just remembering it!"
"Have you seen the posters for the sequel?"
"Trixie can't wait! She'll be there in Applewood when it premieres!"
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"I'm so jealous right now!"
"EKHEM!" Two mares looked at the audience, coughing at them to get on with the show. They looked at each other and realized they were still enemies, so they narrowed their eyes and warily stepped away from each other.
Now it was Sunset's turn. She looked at the impersonation of Thunder God and smiled, as a new idea popped in her mind. "Alright then. Let's go a little further..." She cast another spell on the stallion, completely ruining the perfect image of thunder good with more hair, then followed up with her own makeover session.
This one however, was a little different.
The glorious alicorn of thunder was gone, so was the plain looking scrawny stallion. In their place appeared a beautiful, twin tailed mare (?), with thick, but masterfully applied eye shadows, slight blush, elongated eyelashes and a thin layer of crimson lipstick.
"Not bad, if I do say so myself." Sunset smiled nonchallantly, holding a mirror at her creation, letting it bask in its newfound glory.
"HOT DIGGITY!" A large portion of audience exclaimed at the same time. The male portion, to be exact. A gay portion, along with tons of sexually confused or bicurious stallions, startd blushing and lowered their heads from shame they shouldn't feel in the accepting society like Equestria.
Trixie couldn't hide her blush either. She blinked, then coughed, hiding her face behind the collar of her cloak.
"T-Trixie finds this... acceptable. But don't get cocky, Trixie is far from done, she still has more tri--"
"THERE SHE IS!"
Two magicians, along with the rest of the crowd, turned towards the newcommers, which was a group of stallions, each dressed in a nice suit and sunglasses. One of them, the one who shouted, was pointing at Trixie. The azure mare herself shrugged, then turned to Sunset.
"Trixie had fun, but she appears to be out of time."
"Wait, what? Who are they?"
"Trixie calls it a draw. We'll continue it next time." She reached inside her cloak and pulled out a small objet. "Now if you excuse Trixie..." She threw the thing at the wooden floor of her stage, exploding in a big smoke. Sunset Shimmer coughed a few times and fanned the smoke away, only to notice that Trixie was gone!
"What the, how did she...?" She looked around herself, then realized one more thing. She looked down, at the stone pavement of Baltimare's square. No stage anywhere nearby. "Where's the...? How...? ...what?"
"SHE'S GETTING AWAY! AFTER HER!" The stallion in suit shouted again, but then was smacked in the back of his head by one of his comrades.
"She wouldn't be getting away if, I don't know... somepony didn't SHOUT AT HER BEFORE WE MADE A TRAP!"
"Oh... oops?" He shrugged and smiled sheepishly.
"Why does this always keep happening..." His comrades rolled their eyes and groaned, then went after Trixie, wherever she was.
As the crowd started dispersing, Sunset Shimmer found herself alone, confused and angry, but mostly confused. Other than herself, she noticed the "whathisface" stallion she turned into a beautiful mare, still adoring him/herself in the mirror.
"I guess I should turn you back now?" She asked.
"Actually, I like this look. I think I'll keep it."
Sunset blinked. Then turned and walked away, no questions asked.
Some time later, in the train back to Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle and Moondancer sat nervously, as the third seat remained empty and the train was about to get off.
"Where is she?" Twilight lamented, nervously tapping her hooves. "We were supposed to meet fifteen minutes ago... do you think she's..." She didn't get to finish her sentence, as Moondancer waved at the entrance.
"Oh hey, she's back!"
The (figuratively) firey maned unicorn sat across them and looked outside the window, completely ignoring her friends. Moondancer and Twilight looked at each other, then back at Sunset.
"Sunny, you okay?"
"Just peachy..."
"Are you sure? Did something happen?"
Sunset took a while to answer. "Nothing. Not. A. Bucking. Thing!"
Her two friends swallowed. As the train finally took off, Twilight noticed a snack cart nearby.
"Excuse me, my friend would like to get some coffee!"
"Urge... to... kill..."
"Make it double!"
