Ch. 1
"I don't know..."
"Please?" Apple Bloom pleaded with her mother.
Applejack had almost always been susceptible to the little filly's cuteness, and as Apple Bloom poured on the adorability, tonight proved no different. She began to relent. "But you just moved back in, and now you want to go running around Equestria?"
Apple Bloom could tell she had her right where she wanted her. "I'm just going to help Trixie out with her Manehattan show, then I'll be right back. I only have a week off from school. Be back before you know it."
"Fine..." Applejack sighed, giving in.
Apple Bloom jumped and hugged her mother, nearly toppling them both over. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Easy there, you'll hurt somepony. Now go get ready for bed. It's late."
The little pony gave another squeeze, then trotted toward the stairs. When she reached them, she stopped and looked back. "Can I have a story tonight... Mom?"
"Of course, Sugar Cube."
"Wow, you look terrible."
Apple Bloom shot a few daggers Trixie's way. "It's your fault. I was so excited, I couldn't sleep."
"And how is that my fault?" Trixie put a hoof over her heart, feigning offence. "Here I am, letting my baby sister help me put on the best show in all Equestria, and it's my fault she can't get any sleep the night before we leave? I'm wounded!"
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry." Apple Bloom smiled a bit, despite herself. "When is this train boarding, anyway?"
Trixie looked around. "Should be any minute now. Ah, there's the conductor."
The conductor gave the 'all aboard', and Apple Bloom and Trixie joined the throngs of ponies filing on to the train cars. Almost immediately, somepony recognized Trixie and the throngs turned into a mob, all trying to get an autograph. Trixie sent her sister ahead to find their seats. This way, the crowds wouldn't crush them in the more confined space.
Apple Bloom thought the plan was a good one as she settled into their booth and started hoofing through a complimentary menu. She could definitely get used to first class.
But first class service came with first class security. A few minutes after Apple Bloom sat down, one of the train ponies approached her. "I'm sorry, miss. We usually don't let fillies as young as you ride the train alone."
"I'm not alone." She informed him. "I'm with her."
The stallion looked where Apple Bloom was pointing and scoffed. ""You're with Trixie? As what, her mascot? I seriously doubt it."
"I am, though." Apple Bloom insisted.
By this time, the crowd had started to disperse. Trixie strode over and regarded the security pony with a fierce glare. "Are you bothering her?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but it's train policy to not allow ponies to ride alone if they're too young."
The glare didn't abate. "Did she not tell you she was traveling with Trixie?"
"She did." The poor stallion stammered. "But I didn't believe that-"
"Well she is." Trixie walked past and sat primly in her seat. "If you must know, the Great and Powerful Trixie is allowing this filly to shadow her for a school project. Now, if you don't mind, run along and send a porter our way. Trixie requires breakfast."
Apple Bloom waited until he was gone before asking, "Why didn't you just tell him I was your sister?"
"Trust me, Apple Bloom." Trixie smiled. "You don't want the ponyrazzi finding out we're related. Better that everyone thinks I'm just being magnanimous on a whim."
The filly had another point to bring up. "Have I ever told you that you're a little scary when you're like that?"
Trixie's smile widened. "It's good that they're a little scared of me."
"You want them to be afraid of you after what happened in Ponyville?" Apple Bloom couldn't believe it.
Her sister nodded. "A tiny bit of fear is another form of respect." She gestured with her hooves. "If they're afraid of what you can do, they'll be left breathless with the anticipation of what you'll do next."
Apple Bloom thought on that as a food cart arrived, bringing with it a selection of popular magazines. She grabbed a few and helped herdelf to some delicious looking strudels, as well as a plate of hash browns. Trixie was a bit more picky. After a fair amount of what had to be forced indecision, the showpony settled on a stack of pancakes. But she was missing something. "Trixie was wondering if you had any smoothies?"
A breakfast later, Apple Bloom was mesmerized by a particularly un-illuminating article on Ponyville's resident party planner. The little pony wondered how it was possible to know less about Pinkie now than when she'd began the piece. She shook her head to dispel the confusion and looked up, wondering what Trixie was reading to pass the time.
Turns out it was a well-worn copy of Gaston Lascaux's The Filly of the Opera. Seeing how bent the spine was brought the confusion right back. "Trixie?"
Trixie took a sip of her second smoothie before answering. "Yes?" Her eyes never left the page she was on.
"If you already know how the book ends, why do you read it again?"
That got her muzzle out of the story. Trixie placed a bookmark to save where she was, closed the novel, and sat up a bit straighter. She seemed excited for the chance to explain. Or maybe, Apple Bloom realized in a flash of insight, maybe it was who she was explaining it to. "Mysteries aren't really about the crime. Well, at least not for me. It's about the presentation. How were the crimes committed? How does the investigator, and thus the reader, figure out who committed them? That set up is what I love."
"I get that, I think." Apple Bloom said, rubbing her chin.
Trixie looked at the pile of magazines. "Are you already through with all of those?"
"Yeah." Apple Bloom sighed. "They're mostly advertisements."
The showpony levitated her book towards the filly. "Have you ever read this one?"