The Greatest Show Unearthed

by BurningQuill

Enter, Stage Left

Wow! I apologize for that first try!

I hope that's a lesson for everyone else: do NOT upload something without proofreading first!

The first try was full of grammar errors, typos, inconsistencies, and formatting problems. Most notable among those were scene transitions. I had no idea bars I used to indicate a scene change were so faint on fimfiction's display. Without knowing the scenes changed made everything far more confusing than I meant for it to be.

Here's a second try, uploaded with the hope I've found all the problems and corrected them.

From now on, I will mark scene changes using seven asterisks, as shown below.

* * * * * * *

Chapter 1

Enter, Stage Left

A pleasant morning in Greely Valley. The lovely Iowa town was alive with excitement with children swarming from store-to-store, ready to blow their budgets for the season’s festivities. After all, Halloween was only nine days away.

The cool autumn air given a minute edge with the wind characteristic of late October, flowing listlessly through the sleepy town. The trees in the woods surrounding the town were ablaze with an inferno of autumn colors on the deciduous occupants.

A smattering of small cotton clouds decorated an otherwise clear and intense blue sky.

All was happy.

A sedan with a scuffed, dark blue paint job, bent antenna, and worn tires pulled up, taking a space in front of the local grocer and drug store. The driver exited the vehicle and made for the store’s entrance, kicking some wet leaves from his Land of Lincoln license plates.

The door clipped a small bell upon opening, signaling the new arrival with musical chimes. A kindly older gentleman with half-rimmed bifocals, brown slacks, a white shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbow, a green apron and thinning white hair emerged from the back room to investigate.

“How do you do, Jacob!” He greeted heartily. “That time of year again, huh?”

Jacob waved salutations to the old man. Though 24 years old, his big-city upbringing could never dull the attitude of the old grocer, nor could he ever turn a mean shoulder to the hospitality and kindness of the small town residents.

“Same stuff, different year.” Jacob announced happily. “Except this place never gets old.”

“If you were ten years younger and saw this place every day, you’d sing a different tune.” The old man jested. “Going on the usual trip?”

“Of course. Even if the stories are fake, the woods are still creepy.” Jacob explained.

“Heh. I should see you with a camera out here, sometime.”

“Maybe next year. In the mean time.” Jacob drew a small piece of paper. “I’ve got some shopping to do.”

* * * * * * *

The cold stone tower droned with electronics and machinery. The grey stonework clashed with the purple and green metal of the machines, most which had forgotten purposes, even to their creator. Every room of every floor stood veiled in a thick mask of shadow cast from snuffed torches and burnt out lights.

A spotlight shown upon a clearing in the center of the room, void only of completed machines, but still littered with parts and thick puddles of dust.

A figure clad in black, and tall… impossibly tall.

It’s mythically broad shoulders and muscular physique defined a masculine figure, suited in a tight body suit of midnight blue, complete with black metal armor pads covering his knees, elbows, shoulders, and pelvis in a blatant exhibition of his own vanity. His white boots rose halfway up his calves. His face had brought nightmares to many youngsters, with his round, red nose, pure white eyes, solid white face paint, red hair sticking out in a ring around his head, squeezing out beneath a black, circular piece of metal armor covering his scalp. His edged face was thick, but with lack of flesh or fat, and displaying a large, rounded chin and forehead, separated by deep eye sockets and high cheekbones.

The man was a clown, but only barely so, and only on the outside.

His museum of horrors set him high on the skyline and even in the absence of realistically reachable windows and a stage, he knew he perpetually had an audience.

Before the clown stood a frame with a drawn curtain hanging limply from the top panel. The black velvet draped over the opening created by two vertical poles bearing purple and green candy cane twists sticking upward and outward, like a triangle with the bottom point sawn off. The bottom of the frame was secured, anchored to a fixture of three bright red wooden steps. The same three steps descended from the opposite side, making the palindrome design symmetrically redundant.

As the clown loomed, circling and obsessively inspecting his creation, he failed to notice a small red figure sneak with swift silence through a uselessly high window opening.

* * * * * * *

Trixie dug through the old, crowded storeroom, receiving a face full of dust about every three seconds. The light blue-furred, white-maned unicorn was unable to take even one step without bumping into something or wishing for a spa treatment.

Shoving antiques of varying size away to clutter some other portion of the dry, wooden building, she searched, throwing the weight of her body into the relocation, unwilling to kick for fear of ruining her fresh hoof polish.

Impossible. There must be something to use!

In frustration, she screamed out, her horn igniting momentarily, shifting numerous pieces of junk around her.

I don’t care what I have to do, I will find a centerpiece!

Something caught her eye.

She turned to face a tall crate of drab description and color. Nothing logically should have made her notice it; it was equally bland as everything around it, and no visual triggers should have made it stand out. Yet, she saw it, it and nothing else.

Trixie drew closer, her hooves clopping on the creaky wooden floor with every step. She approached, releasing an elated whinny at the faded red circus lettering.

The Greatest Show This Side of Forever!

* * * * * * *

Jacob stumbled out the glass doors, struggling to keep his large paper bags from becoming large paper messes, with groceries thrown in for flavor, of course.

Whoever invented gravity can eat my apple.

Jacob stumbled, losing his footing and his bags. Able to catch one, he watched helplessly as the other…

…was caught mid-fall by an awaiting fan.

“Are you ever going to make two trips?”

Jacob beheld the pretty, blonde, country bombshell known as Betty.

“I just need to grow two more arms.” He chuckled.

“You’ll master space flight before you master your own pride.” She smiled.

Some children ran down the sidewalk toward them, all in costumes.

She still wore that tight and scant shirt with cutoff blue jeans that were barely more than a swimsuit. Her hair tied back in a ponytail was shorter than it usually was, only reaching her shoulders. From the style, Jacob gathered she’d grown tired of assailants grabbing her and was going for something more functional.

Meanwhile Jacob had his blue denim jacket, blue jeans, and black short-sleeved cotton shirt. Sporting a scraggly patch of fresh whiskers and messy short brown hair, he looked almost as generic as a stock protagonist from and early ‘90’s sitcom.

We are so ‘90’s…

“So.” She lowered her voice. “You’re going again?”

“Absolutely.” He responded, also lowering his volume. “Even if the locals think it’s just a legend, it’s too much fun for me not to do it again.”

“You know, at some point he’s going to outsmart you.” She warned. “He’s not going to do the same thing every time”

“He has so far.” Jacob joked. “Old dog, new tricks, you know?”

“Always the showman.” She said, her smile fading.

“Hey, I’m not going to just rot.” He defended. “I was a good kid for eighteen years. I want to live now.”

“You keep bugging him and you won’t live very long!” She stabbed back.

Jacob stopped. She cared, he knew she did.

Why DO I keep doing this?

“The worst thing in life is to waste it.” Jacob said.

Betty coughed out one frustrated but somehow amused laugh.

“What you need is a lobotomy!” She laughed.

“What I need is a scoreboard.”

* * * * * * *

The twisted clown peered through the frame of his curtain, greeted by the rest of the room on the other side.

What could be done with this model? How far could I go?

A maliciously perfect grin gashed his face.

How far will I push it before it breaks!

An inhumanly low chuckle emerged from his armored depths, flowing through the room like spilled oil.

There is no line I cannot cross! No prize that is not mine! I am the greatest performer in the world! I am-

“Ektor!”

The clown stopped, slowly turning to face his intruder who dared to address him in such a disrespectful manner.

“That’s Lord Ektor to you, bat.”

Edgar Ektor beheld the three-foot tall red bat clad in his black performance leotard with the obnoxious golden “A” with red bat wings protruding from the sides. His hands were covered with white gloves and his feet shielded by red boots equipped with golden bat wings affixed to the ankles and stretching backward. His trademark red jacket stretching just past his waist also bore the alphabetical insignia of the performer within a black oval.

Beneath the intruder’s short black hair and giant ears, his green eyes and white fangs stretched into a defiant grimace. He was ready for a fight.

“Aero the Acro-bat” Ektor mused. “To what do I owe this unwelcome annoyance?”

“You have Aerial.” Aero stated bluntly, his eyes never leaving Ektor.

“Aerial… Aerial…” Ektor fumbled with his memory. “Oh yes, the other half of your brother-and-sister act. Whatever makes you think I have anything to do with her disappearance?”

“She disappeared during a five-second blackout in the middle of the routine along with more than half the troupe.” Aero stated harshly. “No one else can pull that off but you.”

“I’m flattered, really-”

“And I broke out all the other performers on the way up, except for Aerial. Which means you’re keeping her somewhere else, likely as a bargaining chip against me.” Aero accused, a haughty air of ‘gotcha’ creeping into his voice. “And now I walk in on you marveling over one of your creations, so you clearly have another plan going on. I may as well foil that one while I’m here.”

Ektor’s eyebrow twitched, the only indication of a murderous fury his synthetic face would allow.

“Aero!”

The feminine voice echoed through the chamber, the many surfaces making it emerge from seemingly everywhere.

“Aerial!” The bat called to his sister.

“You’ll never find her.” Ektor taunted.

“Don’t count on it.”

Aerial dropped from the darkness to land beside her brother, giving a cute bow and striking a pose meant more as an insult than a show.

“How… I…. How… You…” Ektor’s mental clarity obscured, his mind becoming violent.

“I’m not totally helpless, you know.” Came Aerial’s snide reply.

The figurative camel’s back broke.

* * * * * * *

Twilight Sparkle stood beside the front step of the pink, cake-like Sugarcube Corner sweets shop and bakery. The Pegasus weather team had done another fantastic job clearing the skies over Ponyville and the townsponies were all out and about enjoying the warm and beautiful spring sun.

All up and down the even, unpaved streets was pleasant activity in some form or another. Rounded rocks placed at the edges of gardens and grass gave form to the paths through town. The structures all bore similar wooden architecture and color schemes that gave them the look of an old-world gingerbread house which, with the exception of the sweet shop, must have been unintentional.

“Thank you again, Miss Sparkle.” Nurse Redheart said. “I don’t want it to sound like I doubted your skills with magic, but I wanted to check up just to be safe.”

“No offense taken.” Twilight replied happily. “I understand it’s normal procedure, and honestly, I wanted you to, just to make sure I didn’t mess up.”

“Of course you didn’t! You’re the most talented magician in town!” Redheart replied. “Which reminds me, why didn’t you tell us you knew healing magic?”

“Well, to be honest, I’d never practiced before.” Twilight explained. “I’ve put statues back together, but that’s just a shaped stone. Healing deals with living things, and if I messed up, I could seriously hurt somepony.”

“Then I’m just glad you decided to help.” Redheart smiled back. “I have to get back to the hospital. The patients and the staff will always welcome you.”

“You’re welcome again!” Twilight called after Redheart as she started her trek back to the hospital.

Twilight’s head reared back as she enjoyed the Sun’s warming light upon her lavender coat. Her purple mane kept falling just in front of her eyes, persistently annoying the unicorm.

About time for another trim.

“Hello, Twilight.”

The gentle and barely audible greeting broke Twilight from her sun-induced trance.

“Oh! Hello, Fluttershy.” Twilight smiled, returning the greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“It was such a lovely day, I had to get out and enjoy it.” Replied the pink-maned, yellow-furred Pegasus. As shy as she was, Fluttershy had no trouble talking with her friends, unless there was the off-chance they were fighting amongst each other.

“I’m waiting on Pinkie Pie.” Twilight explained. “She’s bringing some snacks for a little outing. Would you like to join us?”

“Oh, I’d be delighted!” Fluttershy answered with about as much enthusiasm as her generally kind and gentle but meek demeanor would permit.

“Perfect! I’ll grab more cupcakes!”

Both ponies jumped with a start as the over-enthusiastic Pinkie Pie stuck her head out of the door’s mail slot to express her spastic delight before withdrawing back into the sweets shop.

“I’ll never get used to her.” Twilight commented, her heart slowing to a calmer rate.

“I’d just like to know how she heard us.” Fluttershy wondered aloud.

“Pinkie Pie is her own law of physics.” Twilight mused. “You’ll never explain that.”

On cue, the pink pony with a pinker mane leapt from the window beside the door and behind Twilight to land on the unpaved but tidy dirt road, laden down with saddlebags that would’ve made even the strong and sturdy Applejack buckle and stumble.

“Who’s up for a party?” She proclaimed with giggly exuberance.

“I don’t think relaxing on a warm day is rowdy enough to be called a ‘party.’” Twilight replied.

“Of course it is, silly!” Pinkie explained. “A Pinkie Party is wherever the Pinkie is partying!”

“I understood that.” Fluttershy said with nervous surprise.

Twilight couldn’t help but laugh. Her friends could always do that for her, brightening even her darkest moods. Even though several of them didn’t always see eye-to-eye and argued or fought in the process, after all was said and done, everyone would always laugh about the conflict later.

“O-ho-ho-okay.” Twilight interrupted, struggling to control her warmly amused laughter. “Le-het’s head to the park.”

Pinkie and Fluttershy both nodded in agreement and the group set off for the park, Pinkie Pie bouncing merrily the entire way.

* * * * * * *

“Spooky Sam’s Ghost Tour will be setting out in ten minutes. There are still open seats on the wagon that can be yours for only fifteen dollars. If you miss this trip, don’t worry! Spooky Sam has trips going all night beginning every hour on the hour. There are ghosts in these woods, and no one knows them better than Spooky Sam!”

The announcement echoed from its speakers over the impromptu theme park. Every year the Wilson farm turned into a homey, rural Disney Land devoted exclusively to the Eve of All Hallows, drawing tourists from all around. Everyone, young and old, came clad in some costume, the more elaborate ones bearing a numbered tag to mark their order in the costume pageant.

Wilson only ever planted warm weather crops freeing many acres for the town’s creepy capers. His barn was transformed into “The Blood Shed,” taking fresh victims in groups of no more than twelve every twenty minutes.

Locals all set up stands and tents where candies, baked goods, knick-knacks, and various gifts could all be found, each with an autumn or Halloween motif or inspiration. The bizarre bazaar arranged in curly rows, like the branches of a weeping willow, that somehow never became cluttered or cramped. The organizing of the hooking lanes could only come from a town that had been putting on the event since before the oldest citizen had been born.

Some years back, the Wilson family even decided to begin investing more money into developing the seasonal attraction, building a house-like structure whose second floor became the horrific headquarters. The first floor filled with merchandise, T-shirts, party favors, and costumes. Like a knothole in the great Halloween willow roads, the wooden house with the fiery orange paint job sat center stage of the entire park, from which the aisles of merchants all sprouted.

The costumes were the major sellers. Not only were the factory-made economy guises available, but for this month-and-a-half, seamstresses, tailors, and dressmakers from Greely Valley and many surrounding towns, all contributed to the collaborative effort of custom costumes. High-quality and made to order, the “Cloth Carvers” made the best costumes in the region and stood devoted to filling the night with monsters of every type and build.

Along the edge of the woods rested tents, benches, and picnic tables, all occupied with people enjoying cups of apple cider.

Beside a painted wooden sign advertising the forays into the woods, at the very edge of a foreboding dirt road, an old truck with a rickety wooden trailer waited.

A heavyset man in his late 30’s with blue plaid flannel shirt, work gloves, and overalls took a long sip of his hot cider before pulling his worn-out jacket over his arms. Ringing a bell, he made his public notice.

“Spooky Sam’s Ghost Tour is headin’ out!” Spooky Sam declared in his down home drawl. “The next trip’s in one hour. Everyone pack up, we’re movin’ out!”

A few couples, thrill seekers, and even some families with children all clamored onto the old dusty trailer, shuffling and shifting to find comfortable seats on the sparse, flattened pillows. The sun just dipped below the horizon and the full moon had begun to steal the stage.

The truck’s engine started and began to draw breath. The wagon departed. The people all found their places, settling in beside Jacob and Betty who sat on the back of the trailer in silence, as they had for the past thirty minutes.

* * * * * * *

The inorganically smooth roar reverberated through the chamber in deafening waves. To the large ears of the two bats, the effect was stabbing and nauseous. Aero forced his eyes open enough to see Ektor look toward his prey and charge forward in a mindless rage.

Aero kicked Aerial behind a what appeared to be a mainframe designed by a colorblind schizophrenic while he drew Ektor’s attention. The act was easier said than done with both hands preoccupied with the auditory onslaught.

Ektor slammed a desk covered with electronics and sent it flying toward the grounded performer. Aero just dodged the desk, but an outdated computer monitor shattered against his upper back, sending him to the cold stone floor.

The maniacal strongman bounded through the cluttered passage, horrifyingly silhouetted by the one lighting fixture in the room’s center.

Can’t get up fast enough!

A gigantic, decorative, and horribly inaccurate metal globe with a garish color scheme struck Ektor in the face, rolling him backward in a kinetic pratfall complete with a cartoonish honking of his bright red nose.

Aero followed the mechanical arm holding the planet as he rose to feet. At the controls, he beheld his sister, smiling mischievously and giving a triumphant thumbs-up. Aero returned the gesture with a proud smile.

A twitch out of the corner of his eye snapped his attention back to the fallen freak show. Ektor hopped onto all-fours and kicked off with a single, frightening leap.

“Aerial! RUN!”

* * * * * * *

Twilight and Fluttershy strolled down the clean dirt street with Pinkie Pie bouncing circles around them.

Literally.

Everyone was out and about, tending to carts and running their errands. A few restaurants had outdoor tables with ponies enjoying a meal in the sun.

The town gardening services made their rounds, caring for the gardens along the front of near every store and even the ones placed around town as small parks.

“Twilight!”

Twilight followed the voice to her left and saw Spike approaching from one of the miniature parks. The young dragon’s purple scales and green spines somehow blended in with the plants and flowers around him. Twilight knew the look of anger on his face, even at that distance.

“Hey Spike.” She greeted. “What’s wrong?”

“The Great and Powerful jerk is back!” He raged.

Twilight needed no further description.

“T-Twi-light?” Fluttershy peeped. “You look… um… angry…”

“Flutter, I think we should…”

“Girls.”

Both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy froze where they were, eyes snapping toward Twilight and paralyzed with fear.

“I think we have a show to catch.”

* * * * * * *

“I’m Spooky Sam and I’d like to welcome you on Spooky Sam’s Ghost Tour.”

The truck slowly jostled its way through the narrow path so rough and uneven it could barely be considered a path.

As lively colored as the surrounding woods were, this patch of forest stood defiantly dead. The locals hated coming out here, saying the trees weren’t normal; they were the first to lose their leaves in autumn and the last to gain them in the spring. Their twisted and jagged tendrils wove into a chaotic canopy, blocking out the already darkened sky. Their wood and bark flaked and cracked from dehydration and cold, looking for the world to be permanently dead.

The visibility had dropped to zero. The only hints of where anything was came from the lights of the truck and its attached trailer.

Jacob and Betty exchanged a nervous glance. Both felt it was near.

Both were prepared, more so than usual this time. Both carried backpacks, loaded with essentials and tools, and Betty had taken the opportunity to dress more conservatively, pursuing a more military appearance with red camouflage pants and jacket, black combat boots, and a grey tank top. Her hair was now firmly secured in a looped bun feeding through her black military cap.

Put simply, she knew what was coming.

“On your left you’ll see the tomb of Baron Ludwig von Tökkentäkker, where the legend of Greely Valley all got started.”

Snapping at their mark, both Jacob and Betty hopped silently to the dead ground, crouching so Spooky Sam would not notice their departure. When the truck continued on its way, they crept toward the old wooden fence and gates to the legendary burial ground.

The truck crawled further into the woods, Spooky Sam still going on his spiel.

“You all know the legend of Greely Valley…”

* * * * * * *

The hulking mass of leather, metal, and clown makeup slammed heavily into the tiny Aero, smashing into knots of useless metal instruments. Tiny metal pieces scattered across the floor, filling the cavernous chamber with the tinny rattling.

A sharp, stabbing pain burned in Aero’s lower right back. Ektor’s blind rage was clogging his cognitive abilities, as evidenced by his savage, animalistic growling and slobbering foam pouring from his mouth. The clown lost Aero for a brief moment, just enough time for Aero to scramble out from beneath the showman. Aero stumbled behind another mainframe, pulling a small metal rod from his back. The injury hurt, but seemed to be superficial.

Ektor searched in a roaring frenzy for his victim.

“Hey, Ektor!”

Both Aero and Ektor turned to see Aerial at the step of the curtain frame with a control remote in her hand, tethered to the device with a heavy industrial cable.

“What does this button do?”

* * * * * * *

“Watch and be amazed as the Great and Powerful Trixie shows why she’s great and powerful!”

The obnoxiously third-person pony stood upon her portable stage, deployed intrusively in the center of the town square. A large rectangular object remained covered beside her with a red velvet shroud. A small crowd of ponies gathered around her spectacle, not one smile among them.

Twilight approached, followed closely by Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Weaving her way into the crowd, Twilight found, much to her relief, three more of her closest friends were already present, voicing their disgust.

Rarity, the flashy white unicorn with a deep, royal purple mane looked about ready to charge the stage, her hoof scraping the dirt for the attack. The tough and strong orange earth pony, Applejack, made a half-hearted attempt at keeping her friend from a full-on brawl. The appropriately-named pegasus, Rainbow Dash, with her sky blue coat and rainbow-colored mane and tail, repeatedly flexed her wings as she always did before a show. Rainbow looked only a hair away from becoming a living missile.

Up on stage, Twilight saw herself if she had no restraint and the magical talent of a first-grader. The unicorn’s name was Trixie, a fact she was sure to bring at least twice a sentence. Her coat was a light blue and her mane was pure white, something Rarity had never believed was natural. As if her self-aggrandizing on an elevated platform weren’t enough to thoroughly alienate all who beheld her, she wore a purple cape with white stars and a matching hat of ludicrously large dimensions.

It fit her ego and little else.

Twilight and Trixie locked glares. Twilight was never quick to hate anypony and preferred to find redeeming qualities, but Trixie made it difficult.

“Twilight Sparkle!” said the unwelcome magician.

“Trixie.” Twilight replied.

“Come to witness Trixie's greatness first-hand?” Trixie asked, staring down her nose.

“I’m here to make sure you don’t hurt anypony again.” Twilight accused.

“TRIXIE'S skills are far too great to let any harm come to my fans.” Trixie said. “Besides, the Great and Powerful Trixie can fell any beast that should threaten her adoring audience.”

Applejack emitted an indignant snort.

“Oh, I’m sure nopony could forget how well the Great and Powerful Trixie did last time.” Applejack responded, her voice dripping with venomous sarcasm. “Why she nearly fainted dealing with that Ursa Minor.”

The audience joined in a roaring laughter in support of their local heroine. Trixie seemed affronted, backing up a few shuffled steps as her eyes fluttered about the crowd. Twilight could see the spark of panic in her eyes.

Just back down! I don’t want to humiliate you, but you can’t treat others like this!

Trixie regained her composure with an added edge.

“You dare doubt Trixie's strength?” She said. “Trixie will show this whole kingdom what she can do!”

With one violent flash of her horn, the cloth was flung from the object, revealing a purple and green magic box with a candy cane swirl pattern along the edges of the front opening.

“Has Trixie got a show for you!”

* * * * * * *

Jacob and Betty ignited their flashlights, flooding the choked, smothered clearing with light. As the thick ink of the darkness receded, the two saw the tombstones, sticking up at odd angles like crooked teeth.

Except one.

One tombstone stood straight. One tombstone was evenly and expertly cut and crafted. One tombstone was eerily, unnaturally clean, spotless even.

It towered above the smaller monuments with its straight edges, perfect lettering, and flowery carving imitating drawn stage curtains.

Jacob cast his light on the stone, illuminating the identity of its occupant: Professor Ludwig von Tökkentäkker. At the top of the headstone rested the sallow skull of a jester whose mouth was agape in a knife-toothed, screaming smile with a single vertical slot in its mouth.

Lowering his flashlight, Jacob reached for the small stone bowl at the tombstone’s base and lifted the large golden token into his hand. On it’s face it bore the visage of a wide-mouthed ringmaster and decorative words:

ADMIT ONE

* * * * * * *

Ektor bounded forward in a hunched, apelike posture. Aerial’s eyes flew quickly to one point in the room, letting Aero know she had a plan. The problem with plans is that anything could unravel them.

Aero dashed around another large hunk of metal with lights, jumping toward a table and leaping upward. Grabbing a hanging cable, the bat swung in a narrow arch, releasing the cord in favor of an antenna. The vertical metal rod was just flexible enough to spring Aero into the darkness above the machines.

Coming down hard on his sister’s assailant, Aero clung to Ektor’s head, punching him repeatedly in the side of the whitened face.

Ektor didn’t notice.

* * * * * * *

Trixie spun the box so everypony could see and inspect her new toy, even lifting it up to expose its base.

“As all of you can plainly see, Trixie hopes.” She said, the insult raising her audience’s temper. “There are no secret compartments. No extra doors. No way out.” Nopony liked the sound of that last line. “Yet, as The Great and Powerful Trixie will show you all, with a mere touch of her glorious horn…”

Trixie’s horn glowed with a blue flame.

Twilight braced herself. Her heart rate increased. Her veins hummed with adrenaline. Her breath became labored and stiff.

This magic feels weird. Something’s wrong!

Trixie’s horn moved closer to the door.

“STOP!”

* * * * * * *

Jacob held the golden disc in his palm. Betty held her breath. So did he.

Righting the coin, Jacob held it vertically and inched it toward Jester’s mouth and the slot just past it’s teeth.

* * * * * * *

Aero continued pounding his fists into Ektor’s head to no avail. The monstrous clown continued toward Aerial and the frame.

Aerial took a running start from the platform, dropping the control and taking off.

If this bastard weren’t moving so much, I could go for a different point!

As it was, Aero’s grip struggled just to stay on his target.

If I let go, I’ll never be able to catch up again before he gets Aerial.

Aerial, true to her name, took off with one powerful beat of her wings and vaulted over a knot of metal pipes and landed on top of an amorphous contraption.

Aero relinquished, rolling into a braced position. Ektor crashed among the mass of pipes and wires and began thrashing to free himself.

Aerial leapt overhead and made for the door, flying over the curtain frame in the center of the room. Taking the hint, Aero stood and sprinted after his sister.

Pipes and other objects began flying past him from behind.

He’s throwing stuff!

It was then that Aero realized when Aerial had dropped the control, the frame had activated. A deep blackness that drew light inward around it was now contained within the borders of the frame.

Aero chanced a glance back.

Ektor slammed into him, taking the tiny bat in one massive hand and continuing in a straight, uninterrupted line like a juggernaut.

They were headed for the curtain.

* * * * * * *

Trixie’s horn ceased to glow as she scanned the crowd. The crowd itself had all turned toward the lone protestor.

Twilight bumped and shoved her way to the front of the crowd in a panic.

“Trixie, please!” she begged. “That magic feels wrong!”

The haughty unicorn on stage scoffed.

“Just because you can’t muster the courage to try this, doesn’t make you any stronger!” Trixie shot back.

“It’s cold and angry.” Twilight said. Her voice was dead serious, her expression a grim plea. “It felt like a pillow was held over your face when you worked with it alone.”

Trixie’s confident smile faltered and she looked nervously at the box.

I’m getting through! Please, please stop this!

Trixie straightened up, her determined glare burned into the crowd.

“I will NOT take second chair to a brainy, little, wimp!”

Trixie’s horn burned with the magical blue blaze.

* * * * * * *

Jacob’s arm crept the last few milimeters toward the coin slot, his arm muscles tensed, ready to withdraw at a moment’s notice.

Come on, you little bastard, I know you wanna…

“Showtime…”

* * * * * * *

Aero writhed and fought, clawing and kicking everywhere he could, vainly trying to break free of the giant’s grip.

All at once, he felt like he was floating through a smothering cloud. In a flash, the curtain disappeared, and the two grappled in an oppressive void.

* * * * * * *

Trixie’s horn swung and stabbed at the wooden box, transferring the fire into the door.

* * * * * * *

The token slipped free and disappeared down the Jester’s throat.

The stone bust’s eyes lit up and its jaw snapped shut.

Jacob pulled his hand back and retreated several dozen feet.

The skull shot into the air with a cackle and a shower of purple and gold sparks.

The carnival had come to town.

Comments

[DiStort]

S' been quite a while since you first posted this thing, dude. Are you starting consistent updates now, or what?
Forgive me if I'm sounding condescending or something, I just really want to know if this story is actually going anywhere this time.

[BurningQuill]

353409
Actually it is still in the works. I have the outline for the story, now I just need to write it. Chapter two is nearing completion but will be annoyingly short and mildly uneventful as far as story and character development are concerned, I can tell you that right now. Luckily, the action will pick up immediately thereafter, so please bear with me. Sadly, no, I will not be doing regular updates. Though I understand the frustration, I must put real life issues and non-pony concerns first. Just to clear the record, this was not a revamp. The re-upload was me looking at the posted product and realizing how bad it looked, so I cleaned it up some.

[DiStort]

356852
Hey, no worries. Take your time. I just wanted to know whether or not you were still alive.