Twilight Sparkle stood staring at the massive, very eager-looking crowd gathering around her. Her gaze quickly found its way to Gold Star. She non-verbally asked him for help, but all she got was a shrug in response.
Okay Twilight, you can handle this, come on.
Twilight stood up on her hind hooves, she nearly fell over but managed to regain her balance.
With a very unconvincing smile, she declared "prepare to be dazzled... by the uh... Great and Powerful Trixie!"
With that, she magically launched a series of fireworks into the air, and the crowd cheered wildly. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief and began to head for the edge of the stage.
"Where are you going?" a member of the crowd called out disapprovingly.
"I - uh - Trixie said one trick, that's all! I - ugh - Trixie isn't prepared to pull off a full performance safely."
"BOOOOOOOOOOOO! WE WANT MAGIC!" came the overpowering reply from the audience, repeated several times.
Twilight took a deep breath and trotted back to the centre of the 'stage'.
"Okay, just this once", she finally gave in.
The booing faded into cheering and thunderous applause as Twilight stood there petrified. This made the crowds at royal speeches seem like a quiet chat with friends.
Twilight's eyes darted upwards as she tried to think of something to do.
Uh huh!
She lit up her horn and shot a beam of magic into the crowd, causing a mare in the audience to sprout a thick, black mustache.
What were you thinking Twilight, she thought to herself, somehow not noticing the crowd cheering wildly and holding up the lucky pony who got a mustache from the 'Great and Powerful Trixie'.
This is terrible, this is terrible - uh huh, I know what'll turn it around!
Twilight took a step back and lit up her horn. She'd been practicing this spell recently out of curiosity and become quite proficient. With a flash of magic, beautiful butterfly wings sprouted from Gold Star's back, sending beams of colour flashing all over the crowd like a disco ball at one of Vinyl's parties. The crowd cheered wildly as Gold Star flapped his new-found wings, smiling widely as he lifted himself into the air.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a breeze began to pick up, lifting the young colt into the sky. Thinking it was part of the act, the crowd ooh-ed and aah-ed as Gold Star was blown further into the air and began to drift towards the other side of Canterlot. Twilight wasted no time in chasing after him, the crowd happily moving out of the way to let her through before joining her in her pursuit, cheering her on wildly.
---
Things weren't going any better in the dragon kingdom. Trixie and Spike found themselves surrounded by thousands of dragons, all cheering on - or more roaring on - their young king. Celestia buried her face in her hooves in disbelief, while her sister leaped into the air.
"Take him down Trixie!" Luna called excitedly.
"You can't seriously be enjoying this?" Celestia whispered in disbelief.
"Ha! Thy hath grown soft, sister! Not enjoying a good duel once in a while!"
Trixie and Spike squared each other up. Trixie smiled confidently, she could take this little pipsqueak easily, she was Trixie, she overpowered a future princess once!
Spike meanwhile took a brief look around him. His eyes lit up with realisation, but he didn't let on whatever it was he realised, and turned back to Trixie.
"GET 'EM!" Luna called out, which seemed to be enough to signify the start of the battle.
Spike attacked first, blasting a beam of green fire at Trixie, which the pony easily held back with a glowing pink shield spell, before charging at him with his horn lit. Spike leaped out of the way, causing Trixie to fire the spell straight into the wall of the cave.
With a loud rumble, a pile of rocks came crashing down in front of Trixie. The pony jumped back, startled, and Spike took the opportunity, racing towards her while she was distracted and sending a massive beam of fire into her side.
Trixie went flying into the air and came crashing down about a metre away, stirring up a pillar of dust.
The three princesses raced to Trixie's side in concern while the dragons continued to cheer wildly.
"Will she be alright?" Cadance asked.
"Pretty sure she will," Spike explained, "the flame I used wasn't high temperature, just pressar - pressher - fast-moving air. Only her pride will be hurt."
Celestia lifted a dazed and sorry Trixie onto her back with her magic, and dragged Luna away by her front hoof before she could start fangirling over the battle, all while doing her best to keep up a calm and friendly smile. On the plus side, it seemed like Trixie's strategy of 'start a fight with the leader of the country' was a surprisingly effective diplomatic strategy. She'd never seen a group of dragons look happier.
---
Back in Canterlot, Twilight was, unfortunately for her, completely conscious. The whole performance had gone tumbling down the stairs like Spike after waking up early, and now Gold Star was in serious danger.
Alright, alright, stay calm. You're going to resolve this. Although if you don't, Gold Star could be seriously injured, or worse! And Trixie's career could be destroyed! And you could be demoted from princess, and sent back to - STOP IT, just do something
Twilight did her best to take a deep breath while running as fast as her hooves could carry her - it wasn't easy - before creating a massive magic net in front of Gold. The net held for a few short moments, but then disintegrated as quickly as it appeared. The crowd following behind her cheered as they caught the little bits of magic rope that rained down on them.
She thought to herself for a moment, and then decided to go for another strategy. She created a giant lasso out of magic, and flung it in Gold Star's direction. Unfortunately for Twilight, she wasn't quite as talented as Applejack in the field of lassoing, and ended up catching herself, causing laughter from the crowd.
Quickly, Twilight regained her footing and continued the chase, her cape starting to blow in front of her face.
Okay, one more shot, come on, this has to work.
She pushed the cape away from her face in annoyance and aimed a spell carefully in Gold Star's direction. A bubble of magic formed around the young pony, and he began drifting towards the ground.
Yes... yes...
POP! The bubble hit a lamp post, and it was back to square one.
Stupid architect!
Twilight's eyes widened as she noticed Gold Star approaching the cliff face at the edge of Canterlot. The crowd began to realise this might not be a performance and gasped in shock. Twilight skidded to a halt and panicked, face-hoofing a couple of times before suddenly having an "AHA" moment!
With no time to lose, Twilight Sparkle lit up her horn an sent a huge flash of light across the sky, which lasted only a second, The wind slowed down to a gentle breeze, and Gold Star gently fluttered his way to the ground, his wings disintegrating as soon as he touched the ground.
The crowd cheered uncontrollably, and Twilight ran up to Gold Star and gave him the tightest hug of his life. He giggled with a mixture of joy and relief, not knowing how else to react. Suddenly, Twilight's face lit up with realization.
"Of course! That's it! Gold Star, I think we've found your solution!"
"We... have?"
Twilight quickly lifted Gold onto her back and raced back the way they came, followed closely by a crowd of adoring fans snapping pictures and begging for autographs.
---
Trixie got up to find herself back in Equestria. She looked around to find herself in a dark room, with bright lights scattered about, reminding her of the night sky. She was greeted by an excited voice.
"Trixie! Thou art awake!"
Trixie attempted to reply but was cut short by Luna.
"We would - I would personally like to thank thee for bringing back the art of duelling! We - I can give thee lessons?"
"Uh, Trixie would rather not..."
"Nonsense! Thou art highly talented, and have wonderful potential!"
Trixie couldn't help but smile at this, Luna did raise a very valid point.
"Well, Trixie is pretty amazing, Trixie admits that. Alright, once this whole body-switching thing is over, Trixie will give it a try. Maybe."
Luna clapped her hooves excitedly and called for her guards - a few minutes later, they returned with a set of armour, covered in beautiful illustrations of the night sky.
Trixie examined the armour silently, she didn't know how to say it without seeming... 'nice'... but it looked amazing.
"It... suits Trixie."
Luna gave Trixie a surprised look.
"Really?"
"Yeah, Trixie has always liked the night sky. After all, it is Trixie's cutie mark, and anything to do with Trixie must be awesome!"
"Y-you like the night?"
"Of course, it's Trixie's favourite time to perform! It's like there's a billion magical spotlights in the sky!"
Before she knew it, Trixie had been pulled into a hug of such epic proportions it was like being hugged by an Ursa Minor.
"Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou!" Luna declared, close to crying with happiness.
Trixie stood there awkwardly.
Did I... say something?, she thought to herself.