//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: The "Great and Powerful" // Story: A Ponyville Switch-a-roo! // by WRLB //------------------------------// Chapter 9 The "Great and Powerful" Twilight was running through Ponyville, trying to get to the market. She just came back from reading her spells and incantation books. She wanted to see if combining spells could change her two friends and the mayor back. Spike rested on her back, holding a list of items. Her mind was so busy on trying to find a cure and figuring out the firework situation that she didn’t see the stallion right in front of her. With a big “thwwummmp,” she hit the stallion head on. The stallion, Twilight, and Spike fell on the ground with a loud thud. After a few seconds the stallion yelled at the top of his lungs, “Why excuse me! Who do you think you…” He paused. Twilight looked up. The stallion was looking at her in awe. He was a unicorn with light blue skin, silver colored wavy hair, purple eyes, and was wearing a bright violet cape with stars and crescent moons that was held together by a pink emerald. “Princess Twilight!” he said, amazed, and lowering his voice, “I am so sorry, I should have watched where I was trotting. Here, let me help you up.” “No, no,” Twilight said getting up without the stallion’s help, “I was lost in thought; I’m the one who’s sorry.” “I insist,” the stallion replied, “please accept my apology.” “You don’t have to.” “Please, it’s the least I can do.” “Alright, I accept your apology.” Spike stood up and looked at the stallion with an odd expression. “Who are you?” he asked. “Oh, I’m sorry,” the stallion apologized, “In the hustle and bustle I forgot to introduce myself.” With that, the stallion cleared his throat and said in a dramatic voice, “I am the great and powerful Trixter! A professional in awe-inspiring magic, traveler of lands near and far, and the most dashing stallion in Equestria!” “If you say so,” Twilight replied. “I don’t say so,” Trixter corrected, “I know so. In fact, my magic has dazzled Princess Celestia herself! I’ve been as far as Yakyakistan! Not to mention, I have beautiful mares in every town, city, and village!” “That’s nice…” Twilight said, uncomfortably, but the stallion wouldn’t let her finish. “But oh, Princess Twilight,” he replied, “there is no signal mare who compares to you.” “I’m flattered,” Twilight said, trying to leave. “In fact,” he continued, “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?” “Ummm…” Twilight ponder. No stallion had ever asked to have dinner with her before. But then she realized, how could she go on a date with some random stallion she never knew? “What’s it to you, bub?” Spike asked defensively. “I was asking the princess,” Trixter clarified, “not her dragon.” “Well…” Twilight replied, “I appreciate the offer, but I’m really busy. Maybe next time. Now if you don’t mind, I really need to get going.” “But,” Trixter said confused, “any other mare would swoon if I asked to have dinner with them!” “In case you haven’t notice,” Spike said, sitting on Twilight’s back, “Twilight is no ordinary mare.” Defeated, Trixter stood and watched as Twilight and her assistant walked off in the distance. “Stupid mare!” Trixter exclaimed under his breath, then his facial expression twisted to the left. “Trixter…” he said in a hoarse whisper, “I thought you said you were ‘great’ and ‘powerful!” “I am!” he assured himself, twisting his face back to where it originally was. “I am great and powerful…I am Trixter! The one and only!” “And yet…the princess trots away from you. Why is that?” “She’s just stubborn!” “For your sake, I hope you’re right!” “I just need a new plan. A new angle. There must be some way I can get to her.” “Hi!” said Pinkie Pie appearing out of nowhere. The stallion screamed and jumped back. “Who, what?” he exclaimed. “My names Pinkie Pie,” she announced, “what’s yours?” “Trixter,” he replied, still bewildered. “Do you talk to yourself a lot?” Pinkie Pie asked nonchalantly. “Sometimes,” he replied, still confused. “I do, too!” she exclaimed before saying in a dark voice, “No, we don’t!” Then, awkward silence followed. Pinkie was smiling and staring at Trixter, who was starting to feel a little squeamish by the pony’s presence. “How much of that conversation did you hear?” he asked curiously. “Well…” Pinkie Pie said, “First you said ‘Stupid mare!’ then you said ‘Trixter…I thought you said you were great and powerful!’ then you said ‘I am, I’ am the great and powerful…I am Trixter! The only one!’ then you said…” “I get it,” Trixter said not wanting to hear her talk anymore, “So what do you want?” “I want to help you get to know Twilight better!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “She always wants to get know other ponies and make new friends!” “Oh, really?” Trixter smiled. “Please tell me more.” Listening to Pinkie Pie babble about Twilight’s history was a small price to pay for the big payoff he had in store.