Waking up, like she always did. Like always, then a certain procedure to follow. Not very rigid, for she was quick to adapt to various situations, but she had to go through several steps to properly wake up. The question she always asked sprang up again inside her mind. Where was she? What was she? Yes, mostly it started with her questionings. To assess her situation, to find her way around so that she could work out her inner workings of the mind and decide what to do; that was the basic structure to her plan. Subject to change, of course, but not ultimately changing again, no ultimate, fundamental change, but a change of a minor kind-maybe not minor, but something else-change itself steadfast, never changing-change always happened, and thus there was hardly any change, embodied by one great unchanging change.
The answer was always there-she just had to look for it, search for the right path that led her to the solution she sought. So many variables-but there was an answer, a ‘plural’ answer ultimately leading to one single concept as ‘answer’, leading her to what she sought for.
Thus she began her mind’s grand workings. She was Trixie, she was the Great and Powerful Trixie, Trixie outside the mirror. Where was she? She was back, in the world outside the mirror, staring at the mirror inside her cottage located at the outskirt of Ponyville. What was she? She was Trixie. How did she look? She was wearing a blue cap and a cloak that went over her body, buckled by a blue emerald that now somewhat lost its precious gem-light shining in the darkness. Anything else? There was one thing. In fact, there were many things-but one step at a time, it was always like that. An order that was never stable; but the random factors did form a pattern of their own, and Trixie could somehow comprehend their haphazard forms.
One thing she took notice: the gem was not shiny as it used to be. Or two things, three things-so many things were there to consider. The cape was stained. Quite much, actually. Also, her hat was crumpled-not completely crumpled, but to some degree. Somewhat. A bit. A little. It was unacceptable. Small things made big differences. The ever-wonderful yet annoying paradox of oppositions-the two extremes often meeting together, Trixie knew it well.
Yes, it was very rash of her-how could she not care about her looks? Her title demanded that her image and looks match its grandiose might. She knew recent turn of events were not very favorable for her; but still, how could she not pay any attention to her magician apparels? Even though she was trying to recuperate from her fiasco at Ponyville-or wait, maybe it happened because her cloth was not up to her magician standards? Yes, maybe, definitely possible; there was no way she could fully convince the audience with such messy costume. It could explain why there were those pesky neighsayers daring to challenge her. She must have looked quite foolish. Other ponies would not be so impressed.
She would polish it again later, like every time she did after finding various small dirty marks stained to the ornament. First she would rub it with her special gem-handling cloth, and then dip into the liquid-filled container that was made for storing gems and restoring it to its proper radiant glory. Also, not to forget ironing her cape and tidying up her hat. A process of recovery-it took time, but it had to be done. Her grand splendor could not just be maintained by its own. Only with her supreme mind could she fix any holes that might possibly threaten her image.
Like every time she woke up. Lost only momentarily, quickly awaking from her daze she surveyed her surroundings; her incredible mind-machine was now reactivated to function again. Of course the ever-steady flow did not stop at all, even in her sleepy state, but now she was going to assume more direct control-a varying degree, yes, a part of her trick, of dividing a concept into small tiny bits. Many small made one big, after all.
But first things first, prioritizing after prioritizing; it had to be done-still she had more immediate issues right now. Finding the first concern, and then thinking for a minute, wondering whether she missed anything that deserved her attention, the magician’s mind was starting to get busy. For Trixie it was a natural process taking little more than a fraction of a second. She thought monetarily, her mind coming up with an answer she was searching for.
The mirror incident, she remembered it well. She solved the mystery. By her own, for Trixie was so Great and Powerful. Talking with the alicorn princess was but just one part of her grand scheme, of her devising how she could get things done her own way. Now she was just about to test if her plan really worked out as she intended.
The Great and Powerful Trixie looked into the mirror. She saw Trixie, her own self, like she always did every time she stared at the object which reflected her own image.
Not enough. What she saw, what she thought she truly saw, was it really that she saw? Great trickery, ensuring great chaos, the question always lingered around her mind whenever she woke up from her partially oblivious slumber. Was she real? Maybe. After a bit of thinking, yes. Was she in reality? Maybe-maybe not-how could she know? But she knew, of course, for she understood the interwoven paths paved by lies and deceits, the fog of illusion covering the entire roads. Yet, by her experience, by her knowledge, by being so Great and Powerful, she knew where to go, where not to tread, where to turn, and then finally where to arrive.
Already she was finished with her plan, following it step-by-step. Trixie continued to look at the mirror. Trixie in the mirror smiled-because Trixie who was looking at the mirror was smiling. The Great and Powerful Trixie smiled-a bitters smile, but still grinning nonetheless. Yes, it was her smile right. She really was smiling. Silently laughing inside, probably.
Next step. Trixie raised a hoof. The figure inside the mirror did the same. Right hoof reflected as left hoof in the mirror. Or simply reflected as an image should be reflected in the mirror. She had to make it sure. She knew her illusion magic was absolutely supreme, but she always had to check one more time. Expect the unexpected. She knew what she did not know, to see beyond the darkness, stare at the void of uncertainty to conjecture what was about to befall her. Even then there still could be most extraordinary circumstances seemingly fantastically realistic; that fact too, she knew well, predicting her failure, or believing she could do so by scanty yet compelling evidences telling her something would likely to happen. Perhaps what she saw were infinite possibilities, not exactly able to be deciphered any other language than magic itself. Like the magic of illusion of which she was so familiar with.
She still remembered the spell. She could cast it again if she wanted to-or if she thought she wanted to, regardless of her concerns, going against her better judgment. A not so careless mistake, though still a grave error on her part. She had committed it once. And twice. Actually, lots of times. Surely it was not her first time, of failing to assert herself as the only and rightful master of the Great and Powerful Trixie. She thought it as a proof of showing a room for improvement. Not very good, but fairly alright in her opinion. She was Great and Powerful-thus not entirely so at the same time, not reaching the topmost state of being Great and Powerful, and thus, because of such position she had-of not being at the zenith but somewhere between, an obscure place which could not be easily determined-she was truly Great and Powerful. It was the most wonderful paradox that seemed to made little sense to her-at first only. She thought about it for a long time, and came to comprehend the fact. Sometimes she made mistakes, because she was not yet so Great and Powerful. Greater. More Powerful. A room for improvement-yes, thus so Great and Powerful. Truly a miraculous seemingly false truth that held great wisdom.
“I am Great and Powerful.” Trixie uttered the word. Her voice sounded so sweet and confident, like she always used to be being so Great and Powerful. She looked at the mirror. As she spoke those words the blue unicorn inside the mirror moved her lips in the same way she did hers. “Trixie is Great and Powerful.” Still the image replicated every movement her body made. “Good.”
The incident, though a great mistake of her, was in fact a boon. That was her conclusion of it. Indeed, she was to rise again, be restored to her proper place; so high above the stage, showing off her magnificent tricks, fooling her audience with unbelievable magical skills, being so cunning, so clever. Believing she could do so, and indeed she was going to achieve it. One way or another. By tricks and deceits and lies probably, she would let all Equestria know that the Great and Powerful Trixie’s show was not about to close down its performance. There was simply no room for abandonment of her business. Merely having a hiatus-yes, that was what Trixie was meant to do, reconstituting herself from the recent unfortunate events, thinking how she could further develop her skills in magic.
So she has returned to the world outside the mirror-or rather to the world of her reality, to be more exact. Other Trixie too, would now contemplate on her own actions, of deeds of Trixie outside the mirror. That she would figure it out her own-Trixie outside the mirror had her own issues to solve.
Anger, jealousy, and any other feelings which often crept inside her mind when she fell from her place high above the stage-it was still there, of course, for Trixie was a pony like everypony else, and as a pony it was natural to harbor ill emotions.
But that could be hardly an excuse. Always she controlled herself. Unfortunately, the Great and Powerful Trixie momentarily failed to be the master of her own self. It was-it had to be-always mastery before manipulation, clarification before control. If a magician could not be the master of her own being, then it could never work well. She has been learning her lessons from her previous failures well, of continuing to be placid and confident-and if not, make her to be-in most desperate and troubling situations. Still she could occasionally slip here and there, thus making her contemplating more and more on her issues. Sometimes it was petty mistakes-not knowing how to act in front of jeering crowds or forgetting the order of spells she was supposed to cast for the performance; petty in terms of not being the master, of course, for failing at her show was a grave matter. Still, she would choose such incidents to strike her if she could fully control her fortunes.
And there were more serious mistakes, of being tricked by her magic. She would allow herself to be tricked; why? How could she allow such incidents to happen? She was The Great and Powerful Trixie; and as her title suggested, she was so Great and Powerful. No amount of repetition was enough to emphasize her Greatness and being full of Power. Nevertheless-indeed, nevertheless-Trixie knew, as she realized again and again as she managed to gather her wits and stand up again from countless piles of mayhems she caused (or may not have caused, but still related to her somehow). The worst sorts of failures were herself throwing away the logic of a magician, but instead believing in tricks and likes like a foolish bystander at the show, so easily duped.
No, she was not such kind who went bewildered every time the magician cast her most meager tricks-not even worthy of being called ‘magic’-and then clapping her hooves. She was, the Great and Powerful Trixie was, high above the stage; that was her rightful place. Others would genuinely marvel, or at least be amazed at how much wonder she could produce. And for those who thought such acts were deceitful and not right, Trixie simply scoffed at those lowly crowds as ‘neighsayers’ who could never hope to accomplish high position as she. She would show them her magic, trick them as best as she could, and then laugh triumphantly. The neighsayers could never hope to understand even a fraction of her grand mind-hence if they were to challenge her, then of course, it was gladly accepted. It was such a joy for them to learn their place. A world of lies and tricks and truths and half-truths and many more-they could never hope to comprehend even a tiny fraction-maybe because one had to understand everything to know the part, and vice versa. Only a magician could ever hope to achieve such a state, being so familiar with tricks and illusions.
But then something happened-she had to consider the extraordinary. Always. Just a few days ago, she met an anomaly-Twilight Sparkle. But not just her-the lavender unicorn was with other ponies. Those around her accused Trixie of boasting herself unnecessarily. Trixie scoffed at them. So, another of those uncultured ponies who could not enjoy the wonderful show she graciously offered to present to others-she had dealt with them before, countless times.
First she was reluctant to face them directly, maybe because she was afraid of them. They seemed so overly confident that they were like her-being so Great and Powerful. But as she performed her shows again and again she gradually realized how to make them silent and awestruck. A little trickery was enough. They could never take the wonder she produced. A combination of quick wit, great deception, and simple trickery hit them by surprise, leaving them visibly startled and making another good laugh for the audience waiting for wonders.
But they were not like others. Different. Somewhat. Very much, perhaps. Only later did she find out that they were actually bearers of the elements, defeating two ancient evils and saving Equestria twice.
So what? They came to watch her show-and they were going to appreciate it. They had to, because it was her show, the Great and Powerful Trixie’s Magic Show. If they did not enjoy it-though she thought such instances were not possible at all-then they could leave. The Great and Powerful Trixie knew some ponies did not appreciate the kind of magic she was so fascinated with-well, then she would try to show that her shows were a spectacular sight to behold (for the Great and Powerful Trixie herself was there to present her show). Even then there could be the expected un-expectancy. Then she did not stop them. Just evidence that she could be still Greater and Powerful, thus ultimately being able to impress those unimpressed as well.
Many thoughts running in mind-though all ultimately leading to one issue, of figuring out how to continue her state of being so Great and Powerful-she began to look back on her memory. The most urgent cause was, of course, to continue meditating on her issue. Next, maybe contemplate on how to talk to the lavender unicorn-she knew she had to visit her. Her other version talked with her-if Trixie do not visit her, than probably she would eventually find her and then come to her place. For many reasons-including the need to show that her pride had not yet been completely tarnished-she had to visit Twilight. And then, she would tell it all. No, not all, but just say what she want to say. The Great and Powerful Trixie knew how to speak, how not to speak. What to hide, what to reveal, speak less truth but no lies, somewhere along the line she would start a conversation. A plan was already beginning to form inside her mind.
One solution ended. One small step. She figured it all out. By herself-with her decision to use others. Yes, by her own. She thought so, and so it was. Now she was to propose the second plan. She knew she had to go to Twilight-other Trixie met her, so she had to explain her cause.
“She will have to think just a bit more…of how to approach this issue. Trixie is now finished with the mirror-not quite finished, but done in Trixie’s first process, ready to be moved into the second step.”
The Great and Powerful Trixie looked at the mirror, thinking how to solve her issue. The image inside the mirror held a serious tone, showing the Great and Powerful Trixie continuing to inspect on finding the best path to thread this time.