dC/dt ≠ 0

by I Thought I Was Toast

Summer's End (Morpheus) Part 4

Next, we rode rides. The experience was interesting to say the least.

No. That’s a lie. Actually, it was downright terrifying to be on the screaming death traps Pinkie had gotten the fair.

My chitin was bone white as we exited from the Round Up roller coaster. “I’ll take a ride that isn’t the demonic hybrid spawn of classic carnival rides, please.”

Twilight scrutinized her list with a scrunched face—tongue poking out of the side of her mouth. “I don’t think we have many of those.”

“Is there something that’s not a screaming, metal death trap?” I looked back at the monstrosity we had just faced frowning.

“Well, Pinkie was in charge of most of the rides this year, so…” Twilight smiled sheepishly.

I sighed, wings flicking as I slowly returned my chitin to its natural black luster. “If that’s the case, I’d rather just go back to the tunnel of love.”

“Nope!” Twilight sputtered, trying to hide her blush behind her list. “No way we’re headed back there. We can just…” She hastily browsed the list. “Aha! We’ll go and watch Trixie’s show! It’s late enough that her puppet shows are over for the day and she’s getting ready for one of the magic shows.”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie?” I arched an eyebrow. “Ve thought you two were on less than stellar terms.”

“Oh…” Twilight waved a hoof dismissively. “She’s not that bad once you get to know her. Really. She’s a natural at stage magic and illusions, so I know you’ll just love her.”

“I guess if you want to, then.” I shrugged. “Oh! Can I disguise myself as her and bluster my way into being a volunteer from the audience?” A flash of emerald flames and fireworks set me up to help prove my point. “Behold! The Great and Powerful Trixie will both amuse and bemuse you by sawing her lesser half in half— she means, quarters!”

Several ponies jumped at my sudden shift in form and the green pyrotechnics accompanying it. Everypony on the block stared in silence for a moment before a series of snickers broke through the crowd.

Twilight outright laughed at the sight, but shook her head no even as she giggled. “I don’t know…. While I’m pretty sure Trixie wouldn’t mind the attention, I wouldn’t want it to end up embarrassing her somehow. That was why I told the triplets not to transform into anypony.”

A burst of flames returned me to my original form, yet I was unwilling to completely relent. “If we get there first we could always ask her.”

“We could,” Twilight nodded, “but, if she did have a problem with it, don’t you think just asking could harm your first impression?”

“True….” I scowled and several ponies squeaked. The chances of the two events being linked were highly probable. “Ve suppose it would be safer to simply watch, then.”

“Twilight, there you are!” Trixie latched onto Twilight and I with inequine speed and pulled us both into her wagon as we neared.

“I almost thought you weren’t coming to any of my shows.” She sighed, momentarily dropping the confident facade, before flaring her cape and tossing her head haughtily in the air. “Yet here you are, as Trixie knew you would be! Now, the Great and Powerful Trixie has need of your changeling!”

Both Twilight and I blinked several times before snickering.

“And I thought she might not want your help if you offered.” Twilight snorted. “Guess I was the one being paranoid for once.” She looked to at the showmare. “What do you need him for?”

“I took Manuel to Fluttershy’s for the dental work I owe him, and Fluttershy mentioned some manticore friend of hers to him, and apparently they’re family, so he called in his vacation early to go galavanting about the Everfree.” The magician latched onto Twilight again, knocking a small table with books over in the cramped confines of the wagon. “Now Trixie has no manticore for her Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive! That trick has been my calling card since Starlight helped teach me to pull it off! Help me, Twilight! You’re my only hope!”

“Don’t you mean I’m you’re only hope?” I arched an eyebrow.

“Psssht!” Trixie dismissed my comment with a wave. “As Trixie hears it, Princess Twilight keeps you on a tight leash with a whip in hoof.”

Twilight groaned and my eyebrow rose further. “As far as ve’re aware, that wasn’t in any of the rumors found by my agents. Ve would be most interested in knowing who told you that.”

A soft glow illuminated Trixie’s dresser as a small, slightly crumpled, magazine was drawn out. The cover showed a clearly edited photo of Twilight in faux leather holding a riding crop.

“Trixie… is that a copy of the Equestrian Inquirer?” Twilight facehoofed. “No, Trixie. Just no. How could you possibly believe that dribble? That’s the same magazine that claims I’m Celestia’s secret lovechild every other month.”

“It’s a very hit or miss magazine!” Trixie stomped her hoof into the wagon’s floor.

I snorted. “Perhaps, but it gets about one hit for every five hundred stories—a veritable needle in a haystack. Even ve don’t look into it for those small nuggets of actual information.”

“But— But— Whatever!” The showmare huffed, her head thrown mightily back as her cape flared in the non-existent wind once more. “The point is that the Great and Powerful Trixie requires a replacement manticore!”

“Yeah….” I rubbed the back of my head. “Ve’re not sure what you were expecting, but non-equine creatures are really hard to sell. I can do inanimate objects a bit easier as long as they’re relatively solid – like a ball or a rock – but anything with movement tends to fall apart without an immense amount of effort and energy to maintain the illusions and transfigurations.”

The magician hummed. “Trixie supposes, if your disguise is in fact a combination of illusion and transfiguration magic, too much disparity between the two halves might destabilize the whole spell.”

I nodded. “If you want an actual manticore? Yes. Either that or I’d burn myself out in seconds without some serious love fueling me. I could get by with a more glamour-heavy base, but it would have all the standard weaknesses that come with illusions, too.”

“Of course…” Trixie hung her head. “I should have known better than to get my hopes up….”

“Hold on, now. I didn’t say I couldn’t help you.” I bared my fangs in a grin. “What would you say to a new trick nopony has ever seen before? I can promise you it’ll net some big attention.”

“Trixie does like being the center of attention.” The showmare shuddered at my words and smile in a mix of sweet joyous anticipation and sour fear. When the adrenaline kicked in, her body settled on interpreting the two as euphoric, and she giggled. “Yes. Yes, Trixie does. Tell the Great and Powerful Trixie this plan of yours.”

My grin grew. “Well, there are these three triplets…”

Twilight and I applauded with the rest of the audience as Trixie set forth a flock of doves from her hat. The majority of ponies were too distracted from the rain of pristine white feathers to notice the birds disappeared a set distance from Trixie’s stage. I, however, could appreciate the seamless way the glamourous doves melted into the feathers Trixie had actually thrown from her hat.

As the crowd cheered, Trixie took a bow, sending her hat through a grand sweeping gesture that took it under her cloak, through the hidden trapdoor ve were ninety-five percent sure was there, and replacing it with an identical hat primed for a new trick. All in one smooth motion.

And the doves were just the latest trick of a wondrous show of subtle illusions augmenting basic stagecraft.

“For Trixie’s next trick, she will need an audience member!”

Several fireworks accompanied the announcement as all the foals—and plenty of foal-like adults—clamoured to be picked. Ponies hopped up and down and flailed their forelegs about as the Great and Powerful Trixie scrutinized them all just long enough for them to reach a fervor end pitch. Humming and hawing, she squinted with exaggerated focus, finally pointing to a small blue-white unicorn colt.

“You! The Great and Powerful Trixie requires you to pick a card! Any card!”

From within her ‘totally-still-the-same’ hat, she produced a deck of cards featuring a crescent moon motif. Splaying them facedown like a fan before the colt, she patiently waited for him to stop bouncing with glee.

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!”

And waited.

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!”

And waited.

“Yes! Yes! Ye—"

“Sweetie, dear, she wants you to pick a card.” The colt’s mother nudged gently with her muzzle and smiled sheepishly at Trixie.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Three more hops. “This one! I pick this one!” He yanked at least five cards from the deck, looked them all over, and put four of them back. “This one! I want the—"

“Please don’t tell Trixie your card yet!” Trixie smiled as if absolutely nothing was wrong even as we tasted the heated spices of frustration. “The Great and Powerful Trixie needs you to memorize it and place it back in the deck, please!”

The colt stared at the card intently, tongue sticking out to the side as he scrunched his face. After an entire minute of this, he put the card back in, completely oblivious to the impatient murmurs from the crowd. “Alright, I’m good!”

Levitating the cards back to the stage, Trixie deftly shuffled them with dexterous hooves that’d leave many an earth pony and pegasi jealous. As she finished shuffling, she tossed them outwards in a controlled explosion of telekinetic finesse—each of the many cards floating in a veritable solar system of cards orbiting around her.

“Is…” she reached out, frowning in concentration before snatch one of the many satellites surrounding her, “...this your card?”

Her assistant shook his head. “Umm… I can’t remember?”

Trixie stared for a moment—the heat of anger beginning to build behind her smile—until the mother spoke up.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Trixie, but he chose the princess of hearts, not the nine of stars.” The mare squeaked as the crowd continued to murmur at the foal’s words.

“Aha! You mean, this princess of hearts?!” Trixie peeled back the nine of stars to reveal the princess of hearts behind it. I barely managed to catch sight of the flicker of illusion covering the joker—or rather the spirit, as this was an Equestrian deck—with an image of the princess of hearts.

Applause rang out once more as Trixie gathered the cards back together and handed the deck to her volunteer. “Thank you for your help. Please, take this deck to remember the occasion by. The Great and Powerful Trixie promises you that practicing your own tricks long enough will one day make you as great and powerful as Trixie herself.”

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

The colt exploded in energetic hops once more as his mother smiled gratefully. The sweet taste of the ecstatic foal almost completely masked the heat of Trixie’s emotions mellowing to a pleasant warmth as her smile grew wistful. The showmare tasted of fine spiced wine heated to the perfect temperature. She briefly looked at the colts flank, telling us exactly what she was recalling, but, as no mark appeared on the colt, she returned her attention to the audience, cape flaring as fireworks flew.

“Behold, though! For the Great and Powerful Trixie has one final trick she wishes to share with you!”

The violet velvet-lined box that was wheeled on stage had been hastily fabricated by Twilight for Trixie according to my specifications. Unbeknownst to the audience, it was currently filled with three highly compressed triplets hiding in a concealed compartment in the bottom of the box.

“Trixie is quite sure you all are familiar with the the ‘sawing a pony in half’ trick, but she promises you that you have never seen it like this! Look into the box, and see with your own eyes that it is empty!”

Standard procedure to sell the trick, of course. Those who knew the inner workings of the trade would expect there to be a hidden compartment, but those with an eye for such things would see a box too small for a hidden compartment to be feasible. As the box was turned upright once more, I received a message spell confirming that the Echo triplets were moving into position.

As the Great and Powerful Trixie climbed into the box, her hooves, head, and tail emerged from the holes in the box and wriggled to show they were alive and well – her horn purposely not glowing – before she levitated several razor sharp sheets of metal from beside her and jammed the first two through the box such that she was supposedly bisected laterally.

Again, her legs, head, and tail wriggled for emphasis as she pulled the two halves of her body apart before levitating the other four sheets up and driving them into her lower half and splitting that box into thirds. There were now four boxes – one for her upper half, one for her left hind leg, one for her right hind leg, and one for her tail.

This was the point I noticed several ponies tilting their heads in the crowd as—not even counting the lack of room for a concealed compartment—the current arrangement of boxes holding her hindquarters and tail were too small to hold another pony to act as her disembodied limbs. With the sheets in place, her horn was no longer glowing—meaning there was no illusion in place—and the wriggling of the limbs were too life-like to be simple prosthetics. It was highly unlikely that they’d consider the idea of three extra compressed changelings acting as the three separate hind appendages, making the trick seem impossible.

For now, at least.

Of course, the majority of the crowd would be unable to appreciate the so-called impossibilities of the trick, but Trixie struck us as a showmare who knew how important reputation was—be it professional respect among her peers or the audience’s adoration. Those few who truly understood the subtle majesty to what she had done would talk, and, with a little luck, that talk would reach the right ponies and help her reputation significantly.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that I planned to send an infiltrator or two to spread those rumors myself. I wasn’t comfortable with getting free seats to the show, and it was the least I could do for the showmare after seeing her performance tonight.

Well, that and assigning her three more harvesters to act as assistants and repeat the trick in other shows, but, really, that was more of a business deal than a favor. Ve had a feeling those harvesters would end up reaping a lot of love and adoration from fans.

The cool sensation of a muzzle prodded me, and I blinked, realizing I had lost myself in our musing while Trixie had wrapped up the show and finished the trick. Everypony was applauding except for me, and I hastily rectified that by adding my own hooves to the thunderous stomping of hooves.

“Thank you! Thank you!” The showmare bowed. “The Great and Powerful Trixie appreciates your patronage and wishes to remind you she will be here all week should you seek an encore!”

Standing, she walked to the curtain. “If you will excuse Trixie, however, she will be taking a break for an hour or so to meet with a friend. Tell all your friends and family that the next show is at eight!”

As the crowd of ponies dispersed muttering excitedly to themselves, Twilight and I walked back around to Trixie’s wagon. Trixie burst from her home as we approached, squeeing as she picked me up and whirled me around in a hug.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She dragged us both into the wagon before we drew any more stares. “This is going to do wonders for my reputation! I saw at least three scouts out in the audience scratching their heads! I can’t possibly repay you enough for helping me tonight, but the least I can do is pay for dinner.”

She finally released me, but the world kept spinning. “There’s this stand about three rows down that makes the best carrot dogs. Even better, it’s right next to Colouratura’s stand— You know Colouratura, right? She mentioned you and Applejack when we first met, but that’s not the point. She owes me a favor, and her show is in ten minutes, so we can probably grab both dinner and a show.”

Twilight giggled, settling me with a wing. “That sounds great, Trixie. I didn’t even know Rara was in town.”

“She lets you call her Rara?” Trixie’s eyes widened.

“It’s not that big a deal….” Twilight smiled sheepishly. “Applejack is the one who really knows her. I’m more like a friend by association.”

“Still—" Trixie laughed,some of her bravado returning "—it’s just another milestone for Trixie to cross if she is ever going to catch up to you.”

Twilight chuckled weakly. “I’ve told you. It’s not a competition.”

“Debatable.” Trixie smirked and I tasted cotton candy that left an itchy burning sensation in my heart. Happiness. Jealousy. Minor irritation.

It had to be hard trying to keep up with Twilight Sparkle, and I couldn’t help but admire her tenacity. As we began to walk to the carrot dog stand, I let the showmare banter with Twilight, just quietly watching the two of them catch up with a smile on my face.

I sank my fangs into the last carrot dog and an explosion of flavor met my taste buds. Sweet, buttery, carrot flesh all but melted with little resistance, ripped apart to mix with the tang of a spicy mustard mixed with cinnamon. It was absolutely delicious, and I was only slightly guilty for ordering four. Ve would have worried about impinging upon Trixie’s generosity, but that ship had long sailed after Twilight ordered ten, ravenously tearing into them as they came off the grill.

“That was so good….” Twilight sighed, fresh burbling contentment radiating from her.

“Trixie told you.” The showmare smirked as she walked up and pointed towards a large voluminous tent visible from several lanes over. “That’s Colouratura’s tent. Trixie took the liberty of procuring us front row tickets while you two were pigging out. Couldn’t get a word in edgewise with all the carrots flying.”

“They were really good, alright?” I felt emerald green creeping up my neck. Perhaps I had impinged a bit on her generosity, then. I should have at least kept up my manners.

“So you’ve said.” Trixie giggled, leading us along the lanes.

We quickly made it to our next stops entrance and walked in to find the place packed and then some. A wall of flesh stood between us and the stage, but Trixie bumped her way through the crowd without a second of hesitation. Twilight and I hesitantly followed and tried not to lose sight of Trixie.

Finally, we made it to a section up front that was roped off. Trixie was talking to one of the beefiest bouncers ve had ever seen, waving some sort of pass before him. The giant seemed to be glowering in suspicion until we appeared, nodding reluctantly, but letting us pass.

There were actual cushions for us to sit on in the VIP section, and Twilight and I gratefully flopped down in them after having to press through the crowd. It seemed we were just in time too, as the lights dimmed seconds later.

There was the thunder of hooves applauding as a spotlight lit upon a pony seated at a piano. She was a pale blue-green—almost white—and had an incredibly curly dark purple mane with teal highlights.

She smiled at the crowd and waved, waiting for the applause to die down so she could speak. “Last time I was in Ponyville, you all helped me realize what Svengallop was doing to me. This time, I’m back as myself with a manager who sees me for me.”

There was scattered cheering, but she waved it down. “As some of you know, I’ll be releasing a new album soon called Chasing Perfection. What you may not know is a lot of the songs in it were inspired by my new manager—who has become a near and dear friend to me over my latest tours. Tonight, I’m going to share one of those songs with you, because Ponyville helped me to become who I am today. It’s a little different than I’m used to, but I hope you’ll come to enjoy it as much as I have.”

The thunder of applause filled the room once more, quickly quieting as Colouratura readied herself at the piano. The melodic tinkling of keys filled the air, mesmerizing us all even as she opened her mouth to sing

“I remember when I was a filly~ With all those hopes and dreams~ Wanting notoriety~ To find my own Prince Charming~

“And here I am today!~ As the music starts to play!~ My family’s in the crowd!~ The cheering oh-so loud!~ And I’m missing just one thing~ That tell-tale hoop and ring~

“For love is a fickle beast!~ It’s smooth as smoke~ Like a silken web~ It traps you in its wicked snare~ Drifts away when you care~ Is both foul and fair~

“I still remember that day~ My perfect stallion was taken away~ His heart no longer mine~ He cast me to the side~ And still I trudge on~ Just keep singing my song~

“For love is a fickle beast!~ It’s smooth as smoke~ Like a silken web~ It traps you in its wicked snare~ Drifts away when you care~ Is both foul and fair~

“I still remember that day~ She came to take him away~ With naught but a look~ A kiss was all it took~ She put him under her spell~ Had him hear wedding bells~

“For love is a fickle beast!~ It’s smooth as smoke~ Like a silken web~ It traps you in its wicked snare~ Drifts away when you care~ Is both foul and fair~

“For love is a fickle beast!~ It’s smooth as smoke~ Like a silken web~ It traps you in its wicked snare~ Drifts away when you care~ Is both foul and fair~

“For love is a fickle beast!~ it’s smooth as smoke~ Like a silken web~ It traps you in its wicked snare~ Drifts away when you care!~ Is both foul and fair!~”

As she finished there were a few moments of silence before the crowd burst into thunderous applause once more. Colouratura rose to the take a bow before pulling a rather serious looking grey pegasus mare with glasses on stage and all but forcing her to take a bow.

“Everypony, this is my manager, Crystal Wing!”

The applause continued, causing the business mare to momentarily blush before storming off stage. After several more minutes of applause, ponies finally began to filter out. It being too loud to talk without screaming in the tent, Trixie motioned for us to follow her out.

The sky was turning a mix of oranges and purples as we made it out, and, with a sigh at the sight, Trixie bowed. “I’m sorry, but it’s time for me to head back and prepare for my next show.”

“It’s alright.” Twilight hugged Trixie. “We had fun, right, Mo?”

“Indeed.” I nodded. “You are a most skilled illusionist, and a generous friend. Ve believe you are far closer to Twilight Sparkle than you give yourself credit for—if not quite in the same way. I can only hope I learn to be as good a friend as you’ve been today.”

Trixie beamed, hugging us both one more time before running off with a wave.

Twilight chuckled as she watched Trixie go. “You’re both closer than you think, Mo. Try not to forget that.”

The Ferris wheel had taken me higher than ve’d thought possible. The air was so thin it was almost a challenge to breath, and we were well and truly alone far above the rest of the fair. The moon seemed large enough to reach out and touch, while the tents below were so far away as to seem like nothing but a sea of flickering fires and gaudy colors.

Twilight and I looked up at the stars, nestled together as she held a wing over my back to keep me warm. I had modified my internal chemistry for her in kind, causing minor exothermic reactions so I might return the favor.

Every so often, she would point to a constellation, and tell me the story behind it. I would nod and listen—even though ve knew it already. Occasionally, she’d ask me about our own constellations, and I’d point out one of the few ve could remember. There had been many more once—memoirs of our greatest heroes who passed the Azure Veil—but time had not been kind to our memory of them.

Perhaps it came from the fact that noling had been deemed worthy enough to be added to their ranks in centuries, turning it into a dying practice full of dying memories. Twilight seemed to enjoy what ve could remember, though.

Twilight had bribed the operator with the rest of our tickets to keep us up for as long as he could, and we got a solid half an hour of stargazing, but eventually it had to end. The non-euclidian journey back down was long with other ponies having made similar bribes, but it allowed us to have more time to stargaze – even if it was from less strategic positions.

At roughly one in the morning we were still only three-quarters of the way down, and Twilight decided to fall asleep, drooling on my shoulder. It was not fun having to drag her back to Castle, but the rest of the fair was closed by then, and I couldn’t ask Hera for help because she had to chase down the reporter who got a picture of me carrying Twilight off the Ferris Wheel.

It was worth it for the view, though. You should ask Twilight to show you her sketches of it during your next meeting.

Author's Note:

Debating whether or not to make an acapella version of that song since music doesn't really translate well when written.

Also, Ferris Wheel cuddles are a thing. I originally had this big thing planned for that scene, but thought a simple little conclusion would suffice after everything else in this arc.

Regardless, thanks to Malefactory for editting this time. Critique is always welcome, but try to say at least one positive thing amid any negative comments. It may not seem like much, but it can be the difference between a comment appearing to be a senseless bash rather than thoughtful advice.

Obligatory Patreon Link

Comments

[TheStratovarian]

Ah, heart melting and fun. I liked the trixie, both as fun and as the presented way. Someone who has the gumption and work effort to try for grandeur, without it being a negative thing. The musical number was nice, and certainly I dont really have a bad thing here. This was a lovely thing to read through and through.

[Gem of Memory]

Yep, the simple conclusion really wrapped it up nice and sweetly. A perfect ending to a packed day, really.

[EchoWing]

Shame they can't sue that tabloid for libel. Just like the real world, it seems.

[Dlaf rferg]

That's a good ending. Such a busy day ending on such a quiet note.

[djthomp]

Loved the magic show and short concert. Really great take on Trixie.

That is one wild ferris wheel.

[Adjier]

Very cute. I love me an excited Trixie.

Twi and Mo are fun to watch. I hope their journey is long and full of love. Yes I said it.

[AyanamiRei]

The Great And Powerful Trixie really added a lot to this chapter! <3

[Sidetrack]

The colt exploded in energetic hops once more as his mother smiled gratefully.

So I just imagined a colt going *boing* *boing* *BOOM* in a literal explotion.