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01--Risky Romp2,391 words
02--Up Down Adventure3,161 words
03--Rowdy Rumble2,874 words
04--The Promised Beginning1,897 words
Side Trixie--Drops of Poison2,174 words

Side Trixie--Drops of Poison

“Confound this spell…”

Trixie concentrated once again, her horn glowing bright in the dimly lit caravan. How many times had she been practicing this teleportation spell only to fail? Four? Five? She resisted to groan in frustration at having lost count. If she was to succeed at last, Trixie had to maintain her concentration.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel irked at her inability to perform the spell. All Trixie had to do was teleport herself from within the caravan to the street outside. Her show later that evening would require a fair number of jumps if her audience was to remain mesmerized throughout. As a showmare, Trixie saw it a travesty to leave any second untouched by suspense or surprise.

The problem was teleportation happened to be a rather complex spell, much more so than the basic arsenal of illusions spells and smokescreens she utilized in every show. Very few unicorns had the capability to cast it.

Such hindrances regarding said level of difficulty didn’t stop Trixie from trying, however. She always enjoyed a challenge in the magical arts. If she found a spell that came to her liking, she would put effort into mastering it no matter how difficult nor, occasionally, dangerous.

Trixie’s lips curled in a confident smile. Hindrances pertained only to the average unicorn, and she certainly was no average unicorn. No, she was the Great and Powerful Trixie, decorated student of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns and one of the most magical unicorns--no, the most magical unicorn--in all of Equestria. If she could summon fireworks, she could accomplish anything.

Even teleportation.

Her spirit bolstered, Trixie’s horn grew brighter and brighter until its pale illumination bathed the entire caravan. Tendrils of wind and energy began enveloping her until she appeared to radiate an aura of pink and white. Trixie grinned. She did it! She maintained the fluctuation of energies. Now all she needed to do was--

BOOM!!

Trixie found herself covered in soot and her normally kempt white mane blown back. She made to let out a frustrated groan, only to succeed in coughing up a puff of black smoke. This only fueled her ire, but as a proper mare, Trixie refrained from allowing it to push her over the edge. Instead, she took a slow, calming breath, then huffed.

“Perhaps the Great and Powerful Trixie requires a break,” she conceded. She had been at this for a while now. A few minutes of fresh air ought to do her some good, give her time to pick over the probable problems in her spellcasting. Then she could come back with a clear head and resume rehearsal for the upcoming magic show.

After a quick clean-up of her coat and mane, Trixie left her caravan and trotted off into the Ponyville streets. Things had certainly calmed down quickly since those creatures attacked. Disturbingly so, she had to admit. It was as if the town had never been attacked to begin with.

“I suppose the stories are true.” Trixie said to herself. Ponyville was a town known for its daily dose of disasters and its residents’ ability to rebound back to normalcy right after, a reputation she believed to be exaggerated. She even had second thoughts bringing her show here in fear--concern--of her audience unable to find amusement in it. When your town is the ground zero for a monster attack or freak magical accident on an almost frequent basis, mind-boggling magic acts seem tame in comparison.

At least, that was the impression she was under. But as those in the business say, the show must go on. Now that she had one performance out of the way, Trixie felt satisfied knowing she made the right choice to bring her show to Ponyville. The townsponies were just as easily enthralled as any other by it.

Her hooves soon lead her to an outdoor cafe. Trixie took a seat at one of the tables and leaned her head back to look up at the cloudless sky. Her satisfaction manifested itself in a confident smile. Yes, this was what she had hoped for: another town in the land of Equestria enamoured by her talent, but most of all another step closer to showing Twilight Sparkle that the Great and Powerful Trixie was indeed great and powerful.

Trixie’s confident smile wavered. Twilight Sparkle… she was always ahead of the class. So gifted with magic, she excelled at even the most difficult of spells; so bookish, she could remember random tidbits of information like the back of her hoof; so… so perfect, Princess Celestia took her in as her pupil.

And Trixie? Always second best, never succeeding her in ability or knowledge. How despairing--scratch that, a travesty it was for her to live in the shadow of Celestia’s prized student.

A sigh escaped her and Trixie suddenly felt more fatigued. She lay her head upon the cool ceramic of the table, her gaze blank. Even if she did prove herself against those creatures while Twilight turned tail and ran, Trixie would never surpass her. She never could then, so why would the present be any different?

“Always second best…” she muttered weakly.

A travesty indeed.

“Is that what drives you?”

Trixie blinked. She looked around, but found no one near her table. She then arrived at the realization the words came not from the anypony’s mouth, but within her own thoughts. All feelings of self-pity had evaporated by then. She couldn’t help but instead feel disturbed at the fact somepony had gotten inside her head, which by now was flooded with a million questions.

“Trixie begs your pardon?”

“Besting your rival. That is what drives you, is it not?”

The Great and Powerful Trixie habitually held her head high. “That’s none of your business, and even it were, there is nothing wrong with Trixie pushing herself with the incentive of becoming the best.”

When she brought it down, she nearly suffered a heart attack. In the seat across from her, which had been previously vacant, sat a pony. At least, she believed it to be a pony. Trixie couldn’t surmise breed, color, or even gender all thanks to the black cloak the stranger wore.

“Mayhaps, mayhaps not,” the stranger replied. It’s hoof nudged a tray with a daisy sandwich and hayshake towards Trixie. “I believe you will like this.”

For a lengthy moment, Trixie just stared at the tray of food, debating whether or not to indulge. In the end, and against her better judgement, she took a sip of her shake. “A hay shake? With extra hay?” Trixie shot a hoof at the newcomer. “The Great and Powerful Trixie demands to know who you are!”

Beneath its hood, the stranger’s eyes briefly flashed white. “A spirit of the darkness, one who knows much about you, Trixie Lulamoon.”

Trixie felt her stomach shift uncomfortably. Something was off, very off about this pony. Who was it, what did it want, and why Trixie? The showmare was positive an autograph was the least of the stranger’s priorities.

“You studied at a prestigious institution with a focus in illusions. You travel Equestria as an accomplished showmare. Your ego depicts you an equine of pride and power.” The stranger leaned in close. “Yet now you confess otherwise.”

The stranger in the black coat unsettled her more than she let on, though come to think of it, it didn’t really matter. If the stranger could get inside her head, then it knew more than enough of Trixie’s feelings, thoughts, and desires.

Trixie leaned forward as well, eyes narrowed. “There is such a thing called ‘privacy’,” she hissed. How dare this stranger pry into her thoughts!

“In my world, privacy has ceased to be relevant.”

She couldn’t tell if that was said matter-of-factly or mockingly. The stranger seemed more focused on being cryptic than putting emotion into its responses. She found it irksome regardless. “If it’s no longer relevant, then explain why you were eavesdropping.”

“To see where you heart lies.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Why do you seek to be the best? To simply hone your skills, or do your motivations run deeper than the mere prospect of excelling?”

Trixie rolled her eyes. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“I suppose it is to be believed so, but I prefer you to humor me and tell me aloud.”

Trixie refused.

“Your pride speaks for itself.”

“Indeed,” she replied with a smirk.

The stranger shrugged. “If you wish for this conversation to remain short, then very well, but allow me to impart meaningful words upon you. Envy and pride are difficult afflictions and I well know the power that can stem from them. A wondrous power, a dark power. However it is costly. Once you accept the darkness, it will consume you and all held dear shall be lost. Should you choose it, are you willing to accept the cost of such power?”

The stranger vacated the seat. “I trust you will make the right decision. Fare thee well, Trixie Lulamoon.”

And like a vapor in the wind, the stranger was gone.

Trixie couldn’t help but stare at the empty chair across from her. Who was that pony?

When her stomach growled, Trixie decided to throw caution to the wind and eat the meal the stranger had brought her. As she chewed over her daisy sandwich, she also chewed over the event that had transpired some moments ago.

So it knew of her true motivations, and in return she was offered a choice. Some would say temptation, but in the end choices and temptations were different shades of the same concept; either say yes or no, reap the benefits now, deal with the consequences later.

The benefits in this instance were readily apparent. If Trixie chose to succumb to temptation, the glory and power she had sought since youth would be hers. No more Twilight Sparkle this, no more Twilight Sparkle that, and certainly no more being second best.

Admittedly, the thought of losing herself to her darker emotions left Trixie rather anxious and filled with more questions, but again, reap now and deal later. However, one question would slip through and repeatedly bring its balled fist down on the door to her conscience.

Was giving in really necessary for her to achieve greatness?

Another sip of her hayshake. Maybe she didn’t need to dabble in the darkness. Trixie held merit through her travelling show and school records vouched for magical prowess; she had gotten this far without intervention, so why change her methods now when she stood only mere steps away from her goal? As the earth ponies say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

“Perhaps there’s more to that pony than it let on,” Trixie thought aloud. She caught herself, shaking her head. “No. I’ve come too far to allow some random stranger to mess this up." She didn’t need darkness on her side; she was a force all her own, a force Twilight Sparkle will soon reckon with.

Confident once again and resolute with her next course of action, she stood atop the table, posing herself dramatically. “All I need is me, for I am the Great and Powerful Trrrixie!”

“Laugh like a megalomaniac while you’re at it.”

“Yeah, you might get more of an audience.”

Her mouth remained curved in a confident smile. She knew those voices very well. “Twilight Sparkle.” When she turned, Trixie’s eyes fell upon the lavender unicorn and her accomplice. “And your little dragon friend, too. Spike, is it? It’s been a very long time. I’m surprised you’re not still hiding away in your library.”

Twilight ignored the barb. “Trixie, we need to talk.”

“Oh, we can talk later.” She leapt off the table and casually brushed her way past the pair. “The Great and Powerful Trixie needs to resume preparations for tonight’s show, and trust me when I say it will be quite the spectacle.”

When a pair of claws gripped her leg, Trixie stopped.

“You gotta stop and listen to her,” Spike pleaded.

“And why should I?” Why should Trixie listen to anything Twilight Sparkle had to say?

Twilight spoke up as she walked around to face Trixie, a concerned expression adorning her features. “What you’re about to do is going to hurt a lot of ponies. Those creatures that attacked earlier? I know what they are, and I know why they’re here.”

Journal Entries

Unknown
This stranger in a black coat approached Trixie with the knowledge to become truly great and powerful. Its identity and motivations remain unclear.

Trixie Lulamoon (II)
A travelling showmare with an ego to boast. Underneath all that bravado, Trixie feels ashamed at not being as adept as (or better than) Twilight Sparkle, and remains jealous of her because of it. What does she plan to do to best Celestia’s prized pupil?

Author's Note:

Twilight and Spike will get proper entries soon.

Comments, criticisms, and queries always appreciated.

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