Slip of the Tongue

“You’re lucky I’m even offering you a room!”

Trixie shrank under the inn-keeper’s glare. She knew that some of the Ponyvillians would still be a little upset, but she didn’t expect they would stoop to price gouging to get their revenge.

“But, a hundred and twenty bits a night is highway robbery!” Trixie protested.

The older mare behind the counter smply pursed her lips. neered at her. “You’d know a thing or two about that wouldn’t you, Miss Great and Powerful? One hundred and twenty bits, or no room.”

Trixie bit her lip and considered her options. Stealing a glance out the window, she spied an ominous grouping of dark clouds hanging in the sky. The last thing she wanted was to spend the night outdoors during a rainstorm. With a sigh of resignation, she levitated her pouch over the counter and tipped out the bits. “Trixie... concedes to your terms.”

The older mare's eyes lit up at the pile of money. Spinning around, she grabbed a key off the board behind her and tossed it across the counter.

“It’s the first room down the hall and to the right. Would you like a wake up call, Miss Great and Powerful?” she asked with a sneer.

The unicorn shook her head. “No thanks. Trixie will wake on her own,” she replied, leaving the counter. The inn itself wasn't exactly spacious. It wasn’t the smallest place she had ever stayed, but it would certainly sit somewhere in the top ten.

Using the key, she opened the door, hoping the room had at least been cleaned properly since the last guest. A sizable bed took up most of the space in the room. The decor was minimal to say the least. It consisted of a few rustic pieces of art hanging on the wall, mostly just poorly defined paintings of various outdoors scenes. She shut the door behind her and peered into the bathroom. Everything from the shower to the sink seemed to shine in the artifical lighting.

At least they seem to clean often.

Satisfied with the state of the room, she plopped down on the bed without even bothering to remove her saddlebags.

Her hooves ached, letting her know she had gone too long without a break. Her horn sparked to life, engulfing her front hooves in magical energy. She worked them over, trying to ease the pain so she could at least properly relax for the night. Trixie’s ears perked up at the pattering of rain on the inn’s roof.

It may have cost more than I would have liked, but staying here probably saved me a lot of trouble...

Looking out the window, she saw a white pony in an expensive looking outfit dashing to the safety of a nearby building.

…and some dry cleaning, too.

The unicorn laid in bed, wondering what the other ponies would think of her return. Of course, she was hoping she wouldn’t see very many of them during her brief stay. There was only one in particular she came to see, but Trixie knew that small towns talked fast, and word of her arrival would spread quickly. Her eyelids drooped as the rain played a lullaby, seemingly conspiring to set the unicorn to sleep.

I just hope this wasn’t a wasted trip.

“So that’s three dozen vanilla milla cookies, four mega-sized chocolate alicorn cupcakes, and one dozen chewy chocolate brownie bars?” Pinkie asked, rattling off the lengthy order.

“That’s everything. Oh, and they’ll need to be ready for pick up at noon tomorrow for the Ponyville Town Hall Committee,” Mayor Mare instructed.

“Sure thing, Mayor Mare... Mare Mayor... oh my gosh, I’ve only just realized how fun your name is to say!” the pink mare enthused. “Mayor Mare? Mare Mare? Mayor Mayor?”

The older pony smiled, apparently taking Pinkie’s excitement in stride. “Thanks, Pinkie Pie. I shall be by tomorrow then.”

“Bye, Mayor Mare!” Pinkie said, waving her off enthusiastically. She took the note with the hastily scribbled order into the kitchen and placed it on the corkboard with a push pin.

“Order tomorrow for the mayor!” Pinkie called out.

Mrs. Cake’s eyes flew up from a batch of pralines she was working with. “Tomorrow? What time?”

“Noon.”

“Oh, good!” the motherly pony replied. “We have that order of cookies for the weather team tomorrow evening, and the Ponyville Housing Authority in the morning. Shouldn’t be too hard to squeeze that in as well.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Cake, I learned my lesson on overbooking,” Pinkie said. Her mind returned to that horrible day when she carelessly took on three triple digit orders in the same one hour window. She shuddered just thinking about the angry mob in the sweet shop’s lobby.

Pinkie’s ears perked up at the sound of the door chime. “Oooh! Another customer! Be right back!”

Pinkie dashed through the double doors and launched into her spiel. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, where—Ahhhhh!”

Pinkie shrieked at the familiar unicorn staring back from the other side of the counter. “Trixie! What do you want?” Pinkie demanded. She glared at the pony on the other side of the counter, her reign of tyranny still vivid in the pink mare's mind.

“Tri... I mean, I just want to place an order!” Trixie objected as she shrank beneath the earth pony's glare.

Pinkie leaned across the counter. “An order, huh? You wouldn’t be looking for an order of revenge, now would you?”

“No! I mean... of course not! I just want some cupcakes; a custom order, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Pinkie eyed the unicorn suspiciously. She knew from her last encounter that Trixie couldn’t be trusted, but everypony should be given a fair chance at cupcakes. Pinkie grabbed the pencil off the counter. “Well, Miss Great and Powerful, why don’t you tell me what you want, and maybe we’ll see about cooking it.”

Trixie nodded. “I would like one dozen chocolate cupcakes, but when you pour the batter in the pan, I’d like you to place one of these mini candy bars in each of the cups,” the unicorn explained, dropping several candy bars on the counter.

Pinkie smiled. It wasn’t every day a pony came in and knew more about baking than just throwing some batter in the oven.

“And if you have edible rice paper, I’d like the cupcakes to be cooked with that,” Trixie explained.

Pinkie finished writing and cleared her throat. “That’s one dozen candy-filled cupcakes with rice paper. That’ll be twenty bits.”

Trixie seemed to be shocked by this. “Only twenty?”

Pinkie pointed at the menu where it listed prices for cupcakes. “See? Twenty bits for a one dozen custom cupcake order.”

“Oh, right. Of course.”

“And when do you need them?”

“As soon as you can bake them,” Trixie said.

Pinkie scoffed. “Well, it’s going to take a while to make them. I hope you weren’t expecting me to magic them up or something, Miss Magic Pants.”

Trixie shook her head. “No no! Of course not! I’ll just wait here in the lobby until they’re ready."

Pinkie glared, her eyes boring holes through the unicorn.

"Please, listen for a moment," Trixie pleaded. "I know it may not mean much, but I’m sorry for what I did last time I was here.”

Pinkie continued her stare, her blue eyes never leaving Trixie's apologetic face. Not sure what to think about the unicorn’s odd behavior, she quickly regained her composure and swept the candy bars off the counter into a bag to bring with her into the kitchen.

“It’ll be about twenty minutes, take a seat and somepony will call you up when they’re done,” Pinkie instructed.

Trixie only gave a slight nod in response before retreating to one of the numerous tables in the lobby.

Pinkie pushed through the double doors into the kitchen and dropped the bag of candies on the counter. She grabbed a cupcake pan and set about collecting the ingredients she would need for the order.

“Pinkie, dear. I think we have enough cupcakes for display,” Mrs. Cake called out to her.

“They’re not for display, they’re for a walk-in,” Pinkie replied.

“A custom order? For who?”

“For Trixie…”

Mrs. Cake looked blank for a moment. “Trixie? As in ‘enslave all of Ponyville’ Trixie? Why in Equestria is she here?”

“I... I don’t know... but she seems different.”

“Be careful with that one,” Mrs Cake warned. “She preys upon innocent ponies like you for a living.”

“Yes, Mrs. Cake,” Pinkie answered as she set about her duty.

Using expert care and precision, Pinkie put the final swirl of frosting on the freshly baked cupcakes.

“Whew, all done! Now to find you guys a home.”

Pinkie reached under the counter for a box and unfolded it. Many questions bounced around the pink pony's head while she tended to her work, not the least of which being Trixie’s purpose for coming back to Ponyville in the first place. She let her mind wander on the possibilities while boxing up the cupcakes.

Maybe she forgot something last time she was here.

She grabbed one of the big blue ribbons from the cabinet and tied it around the box in one smooth motion.

Maybe she’s trying to get her money back for the Alicorn Amulet. It must have been crazy expensive!

Neatly packaged and ready to go, Pinkie carried the box out into the lobby. She scanned the shop for the unicorn and finally spotted her. She sat in the very far corner away from the window by herself at the table Pinkie called ‘the dark spot.’ She called it ‘the dark spot’ because it was usually the first place sad or lonely ponies sat in Sugarcube Corner, mostly because the light fixture above the table was on the fritz.

“Order for Trixie!”

All eyes in the lobby flew first to Pinkie behind the counter, and then immediately to the unicorn seated at the far table. Some glared, while others looked on in shock. Pinkie almost felt sorry for her as she made her way to the counter beneath the eyes of a roomful of angry ponies. Pinkie slid the box of cupcakes across to the waiting unicorn.

“Here are your cupcakes,” Pinkie said, casting her suspicious gaze at the unicorn.

Trixie wasted no time in grabbing the box off the counter, and turning to leave. Suddenly the mare stopped and turned back to Pinkie.

“I don’t blame you or your friends for hating me for what I did. I just hope one day you’ll see how truly sorry I am.”

With those words, Trixie turned away and walked to the door. Pinkie stood behind the counter, watching as the unicorn stepped out. The words Trixie spoke rattled around inside her head, echoing louder and louder in that same sad voice. Pinkie’s shoulders slumped as she recalled them, word by word.

“But... I don’t hate anypony…”

A Place to Lay Her Head.

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A low ponderous sigh left Pinkie’s lips. Her eyes rested upon a chocolate cupcake sitting on the counter, a cupcake that made her sad. This was due in no small part to the fact that this cupcake rightfully belonged to Trixie. After all, it was leftover from her order. Pinkie’s original justification for pilfering the cupcake was simply payment for the grief Trixie put her and her friends through during Trixie’s last visit. Avoiding the cupcake’s gaze once more, she glanced at the clock. This warranted another sigh when she realized it had only been five minutes since the last time she looked.

The day had passed rather slowly to Pinkie Pie. She had her own way of dealing with the boredom or stress, but that usually entailed daydreaming or planning her next big party. Today, those tactics just weren’t working. She looked once again at the ill-gotten treat she planned to wolf down and felt guilt wrack her conscience. By now, every pony in town was either home or headed for home as the sun edged ever closer to the horizon.

Soooo boooored.

Her eyes widened as the bell above the shop door rang out. Looking up, she saw something that made her heart skip a beat.

Trixie, the pony whose words weighed so heavily on her, returned to the same seat in the corner as earlier. Seemingly by design, Pinkie finally got a chance at something she missed out on during Trixie’s first visit; a chance to talk with the unicorn. Pinkie scooped up the cupcake, put it on a saucer, and beelined for Trixie’s table. Getting closer to the unicorn, she could see bits of frosting and cupcake pieces stuck to her coat.

Looks like somepony has been in a food fight.

She had been rehearsing what she would say all day had she been given the chance to talk with her again, but it all flew out of her head right then and there. She struggled to find something to say, and instead, just said the first thing to come to her mind.

“I don't hate anypony…”

Trixie, who had been staring outside, snapped to alertness. “Huh?”

Pinkie sat down at the opposite end of the table. “Earlier, before you left, you said you don’t blame me and my friends for hating you, but I don’t hate you. I don’t hate anypony,” Pinkie repeated.

Trixie seemed distant, lost in thought. “I... see. Maybe my words were a bit too strong. Tri— I mean, I’m just having a hard time dealing with being the most disliked pony in town. Not that I don’t deserve the title.”

Pinkie lowered her head, allowing the saucer with the cupcake to slide off onto the table. “This is yours.”

“Mine? What do you mean?” Trixie asked.

Pinkie sighed. “You ordered a dozen cupcakes, which would normally be twelve, but we bake cupcakes as a baker’s dozen, which is thirteen. I had planned to sneakily eat it earlier...”

“...but that would make me a thief and a meanie.”

A grumble from Trixie’s stomach cut through the relative quiet of the shop.

“Besides, it looks like you ended up wearing the cupcakes I made instead of eating them.”

Trixie nodded. “I suppose I could do with something to eat. Thank you, ummm, Miss Pie?”

Pinkie giggled at the unicorn’s sudden and uncharacteristic formality. “You can call me Pinkie Pie if you want, or Pinkie, or Silly. Some ponies call me that. Wait, are you one of those ponies who only likes formal names and stuff? Oh gosh, I don’t even know your last name!”

“Trixie is fine.”

“Trixie it is!” Pinkie beamed a smile down upon her guest, hoping it might rub off. “Do you want some milk or anything with that cupcake?”

Trixie seemed to ponder Pinkie’s offer for a moment. “Milk would be great.”

Pinkie smiled, glad to offer her something to make up for her attempted bad deed. “I’ll be back in two shakes of a Pinkie's tail.”

Trixie watched the pink mare trot away from the table towards the kitchen. Her eyes fell to the cupcake resting before her.

She not only felt bad for taking it, she held onto it until I returned. Perhaps I should eat here for the duration of my stay. At least she won’t gouge me.

“One glass of milk!” Pinkie declared proudly as she set the glass on the table.

“How much?” Trixie asked, reaching for her bits.

“On the house!” Pinkie proclaimed.

Trixie furrowed her eyebrows. “I don’t understand…”

“Consider it an olive branch... or an olive milk... or... I’m confused. Anyway, it’s my way of saying ‘sorry’ for trying to steal your cupcake earlier.”

Now Trixie was genuinely shocked. Surely this pony remembered the cruel things she foisted upon her. She remembered Pinkie in particular being distraught at not being able to eat the treats she loved so much, or not being able to talk.

“Is this seat taken?” Pinkie asked, tapping a chair on the other side of the table.

“It is your shop.”

Pinkie hopped onto the adjacent seat with a smile. “Actually, it’s the Cakes’ shop, I just work for them.”

Trixie stole a glance behind the counter and spied Mrs. Cake trying to feed two young foals.

“I’m sure they’re grateful for the help. They appear to have their hooves full as it is.”

Pinkie nodded excitedly. “Yup! I’ve been learning how to run the shop by myself in an emergency.”

Trixie focused on her cupcake. Using her magic, she brought it to her mouth and took a large bite. She loved chocolate, and the cupcake did not disappoint. At least this time she actually got to eat it.

She lowered the rest of the cupcake to her plate and grabbed the milk next. With a quick tip of the glass and a swish of the liquid in her mouth, the remaining bits of cupcake washed away. It had been quite awhile since she had anything this tasty. Though she tried to ignore it, she felt Pinkie’s gaze upon her.

“Go ahead and ask.”

Pinkie wore an expression of feigned ignorance, easily seen through by a pony of Trixie’s experience. “Ask you what?”

“Ask me what I’m doing here in Ponyville. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”

Pinkie eyed her suspiciously. “You’re good… So, what are you doing in Ponyville?”

“I was visiting an old friend... a former friend. You might remember him as the pony who I made cluck like a chicken and sing his most embarrassing secrets out loud. I came to apologize. Alas, he didn’t even hear me out.”

A knowing look crossed Pinkie’s face. “Ohhh... I get it now! So that’s why you ended up wearing the cupcakes instead of eating them.”

“I am probably fortunate I didn’t decide to bring a hot pot of soup instead.” The unicorn shuddered at the thought.

“So you came to say you're sorry to one pony and then leave?” Pinkie asked.

“He was... not just anypony,” Trixie said, with hesitation in her voice.

“Ohhhh I get it now. He must have been somepony really special if you came back here. So what'll you do now?”

“There’s nothing left in Ponyville for me. I will buy a new wagon and start traveling again from city to city. Trix— I mean, I am a showmare, after all. It's time for me to move on.”

Pinkie’s face fell into a sad frown. “It must be lonely on the road all the time.”

Trixie took another bite of her cupcake and chased it with more milk. “In most towns that I stopped, I was treated like a queen. Ponies would shower me with gifts and praise. Undue praise of course, born out of stories, each more fantastic than the last. It wasn't until Twilight Sparkle bested me that it all seemed very... shallow.”

“I don’t think I could last a week without seeing the smiles on my friends’ faces, much less my whole life,” Pinkie explained.

Trixie shrugged. “I’ve never had many friends. Oh sure, I had several admirers, but they just wanted to hear more about the pony I lied about being, instead of the pony I really was.”

Trixie downed the last bit of her cupcake and milk and stepped up from the table. “Thank you, Miss Pie”

“Pinkie.”

“Thank you... Pinkie. I believe I'll return to my hotel room for the night. The cupcake and milk were great. I can see why your name is known in other towns for your baking and party skills.”

Pinkies pupils shrunk to a pinpoint. “Other ponies in other towns know me for my baking?”

“I'd heard other ponies in Hoofington mention your Key Lime Showtime Surprise on more than one occasion. Perhaps if I come back again I'll order one,” Trixie said, rising to her hooves. She walked to the door without another word.

Trixie lay in bed, finding sleep a difficult chore. The pink mare's sentiments echoed in her head. She never had a need for friends, such was the length of her visits to each town. Ever since the incident with the ursa minor however, nothing had been quite the same. Her pride took quite a hit after the first defeat. Her second loss at the hooves of the ever resourceful Twilight Sparkle really shook her though. Watching how the six friends worked together and helped one another set her down a path of self doubt she had yet to recover from.

Trixie simply must leave Ponyville, that’s all. Once she is back on the road, Trixie will wow and amaze crowds once again.

Those self assurances did little to quell the doubt in her heart.

Pitoo!

A glob of toothpaste spattered against the sink. Pinkie grabbed her cup and filled it with water to rinse out the remaining toothpaste in her mouth. After a few swishes, she spat that out too and smiled broadly in the mirror.

Pinkie valued her smile and made sure to take care of it in any way she could. Her dentist was always impressed with each and every checkup. After all, very few ponies except the foals in town could claim to have a cavity-free smile.

With her usual energy, she trotted back to her bed and hopped under the covers to prepare for a new day in the morning.

After turning off the lamp and sitting in the dark, though, that sleep didn’t come. Instead, her thoughts went back to Trixie. Pinkie sometimes dreamed of traveling Equestria, spreading smiles and delicious confections to ponies all over, but the thought of doing so without her friends terrified the party pony.

One day, Princess Celestia specially ordered a cake to be delivered for a function. Pinkie had to deliver it herself since the Cakes had to take care of the twins. Having to spend the night in Canterlot by herself was one of the most frightening things ever, even in the special suite the princess prepared for her. When she got back to Ponyville, she gave all of her best of best friends a test to make sure they didn’t forget her. Rainbow was the only one to get a question wrong, claiming that she put down Pinkie’s eye color to be gray as a joke.

Every now and then she quizzed the pegasus again just to be sure.

The thought of not having friends who knew exactly what kind of hot sauce should go with chocolate muffins scared her. A small tear fell from her eye and crawled down her cheek when she imagined living like Trixie. No friends to call her own, always moving town to town with no home, and no readily accessible sweets. It was a fate she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemies. She quickly decided this wasn’t something she wanted to dwell on. Sleep overcame the pony as her friends smiling faces filled her thoughts.

Maybe one day Trixie could have that too...

After waking up, Trixie swiftly gathered her meager belongings into her saddlebags and left the inn, intent on buying a wagon so she could finally leave Ponyville. After she made it to the wagon store, she had a nasty surprise.

“Two thousand bits?” Trixie asked incredulously.

“That’s my price,” the stallion repeated from behind the counter.

Trixie pointed to a nearby sign. “But, that sign says fifteen hundred bits! This is fraud!”

The older stallion left his seat with a groan and walked over to the sign, giving it a swift kick. “That was the sale price yesterday. Today it’s two thousand bits!”

“But I only have sixteen hundred bits! Surely we can work out some sort of deal,” the unicorn pleaded.

The stallion nodded. “Sure we can. You come back with four hundred more bits, and the wagon is yours.”

“W-well, do you have any other wagons. Perhaps a cheaper one?”

“Won’t have any others for at least a month.”

Trixie fumed. “I can’t believe this! I should report you! Price gouging is against the law!”

“And what are ya gonna do about it? Tell the mayor? I wonder how likely she’ll be to help you out after you made her act like a sheep,” the older pony said with a smirk.

Trixie shrank back as the words hit her. She cowered as she walked away, knowing that getting a wagon would be impossible for now.

“One blueberry muffin for you, Roseluck,” Pinkie said, handing over a bag with the confection inside.

“Thanks, Pinkie,” the pony said, leaving the counter.

As Roseluck walked to the door, another pony walked in. The same pony as yesterday, wearing the same sad face as yesterday, who walked over to the same dark table as yesterday. Fearing she was stuck in a time loop, Pinkie looked at the calendar to make sure it was, indeed, today and not yesterday.

Whew! Close call!

With the possibility of a time loop out, she decided to approach the unicorn. She tried to move quietly she as she neared the table, not wanting to give herself away until the last moment.

“Hey there, Trixie. I didn't expect to see you here after what you said yesterday.”

The unicorn looked up and forced a fake smile, likely for the pink mare's benefit. “Yes… well, it appears my plan has hit a snag. After breakfast I need to come up with some other way to obtain a wagon. Your shop does serve some sort of breakfast menu, doesn’t it?”

Pinkie nodded furiously. Sure we do. We aren’t the only shop in town though. Not that I don't want you to keep coming back, but why don't you try going to other places for food? Do you just keep coming back because you like talking to me?

Trixie’s head fell. “Not that I don’t enjoy talking with you, because I do, but I’m afraid this is the only place in Ponyville I can count on a fair price. Every other store or shop is gouging me for bits I don’t have. Even the room I’m staying in is charging a hundred and twenty bits a night! I can't keep staying here, nor can I afford to leave, as the wagon salesman has increased his prices, as well.”

Pinkie grew angry. “Why those no-good sock-sniffing glue bags! I have half a mind to cross them off the birthday surprise list!”

Trixie shrugged. “Many ponies would consider this my just desserts.”

Pinkie slammed her hoof on the table, causing the unicorn to flinch. “No dessert should make a pony sad!” All of a sudden, Pinkie's mouth turned slowly from an angry scowl to a beaming smile.

“Wait just one moment! I had the most perfect Pinkie Pie idea!”

Mr. and Mrs. Cake stared in disbelief at Pinkie Pie. Finally, Mr. Cake was the first to break the silence.

“You want Trixie to stay here? At Sugarcube Corner? With you?”

Pinkie nodded excitedly. “Uh huh! She even agreed to pay half the rent!”

Mrs. Cake glared at the unicorn, who simply sat there awkwardly.

“And just how did you go about planting this ridiculous notion into Pinkie's head, missy?”

“She didn’t plant any ideas, or trees…. or even bushes in my head!” Pinkie interrupted.

Mrs. Cake’s mouth nearly fell to the floor. ”But, but, Pinkie Pie, this is the pony who enslaved all of Ponyville! Took away your mouth, banished your friend! How ever could you trust her to stay with you?”

Pinkie just smiled. “Everypony deserves a second chance, and besides, as long as she’s paying for rent, does it really matter what she did before? She says she's sorry, and that's good enough for me!”

The Cakes huddled together, sharing frantic whispers which ranged from quiet murmurs, to near shouts. After a few more moments, they both separated and Mrs. Cake cleared her throat.

“Trixie, if it were up to me, you'd be looking at the other side of a closed door right now. However, Mr. Cake and Pinkie both think you should get a second chance. As long as you pay rent and keep yourself honest, you can stay. If you help with the baking and dishes, you may eat here as well. But know this, If we have a single problem out of you, you'll be sitting outside on top of your belongings. Understood?”

Trixie nodded slowly.

Pinkie engulfed her in a hug. “Yay! I've got a roommate!”

Trixie smiled gratefully back at the pink mare. “Thank you, Pinkie. Now I’ve got a place to stay that won't break me in just a few days time, but I'm going need to find a job or something to obtain enough bits to get that wagon.”

Pinkie put her hoof to her chin. “Hmmmm... wait a minute, I have the perfect idea!”

“Another one?” Trixie asked.

“Yes, and it is a little bit risky, but I’m sure it will turn out better than my idea for gelatin pants.”

“...What?”

“I’m sure you’re all wondering why I called you here today,” Pinkie announced, her voice filling the library.

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy all stared back at her.

“What if I told you somepony here in Ponyville needed our help really, really, bad! She has no home of her own, she's running out of bits, and she's all alone!” Pinkie wailed, playing up the melodrama.

Her friends faces grew heavy with concern.

“Oh dear... here in Ponyville?” Fluttershy asked.

Pinkie nodded solemnly.

Twilight looked confused. “This is the first I’ve heard of it. We have to help her!”

Applejack stepped forward with a resolute gleam in her eye. “So what’s the plan, Pinkie? Ya wanna throw together a bake sale so she can get back on her hooves?”

Pinkie shook her head. “Nope! She says she wants to earn it, honest and fair.”

"Golly, that sounds right commendable," Applejack said.

“So, she just needs some extra bits from doing some side jobs? I don’t see anything wrong with that. Who is it?” Rainbow demanded.

Pinkie fidgeted with her hooves. “About that... you have to promise not to freak out and listen before you answer.”

They all nodded in unison.

“Pinkie Promise!”

After a sudden, chorus of displeased grunts from her friends—except Fluttershy—each pony did the required gestures to the pink mare’s satisfaction.

“Happy?” Applejack grumbled.

“Okay, lemme go get her.” Pinkie walked over to the door and poked her head out. After some whispering, she stepped out and gently shoved Trixie inside. Most of her friends groaned in disapproval.

‘Pinkie Pie, now why in the hay would ya wanna bring her in here for?” Applejack complained.

“Yeah! Don’t you remember what happened the last time?” Rainbow growled.

“I know I certainly haven’t,” Rarity hissed.

“Now, now, you all Pinkie promised.”

“But she’s not even from Ponyville!” Rainbow protested.

Pinkie placed a hoof over her heart. “I never said she was from Ponyville, just that she’s in Ponyville, but it doesn’t change the fact that she needs our help!”

“I could use a hoof with the critters now and then…” Fluttershy thought aloud.

“Wait, you’re actually considering this, Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked incredulously. “She embarrassed us all in front of everypony and captured the town!”

“She was under the influence of the Alicorn Amulet during the whole town takeover incident, and she did apologize,” Twilight pointed out. “What do you think, Applejack?”

The cowpony seemed deep in thought as she looked Trixie over. The blue unicorn shrank under the insistent glares of the ponies present.

“She seems awful skittish now, not quite the same hellcat that came to duel a few months ago. Of course, I’m not exactly sure she’s cut out for work on the farm,” Applejack added.

“Tri— I mean, I can try! I'll do my best, and if you aren't satisfied... you can keep your bits! I just want a chance to try,” Trixie pleaded.

The other ponies seemed stunned by her plea.

Applejack rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “So, you’re sayin’ that if I don’t like how you work for me, you'll just go without demanding any bits in return? How do ya know I won’t just make ya work and say I'm not satisfied?

“You are the element of honesty, are you not? Other ponies say you admire hard work. As long as I do my best, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“Hmmm... okay, why not? We could use a hoof to help move the apples to the cellar and get a little jump-start on the harvest,” Applejack conceded.

“Spike could use a day or two off. He's almost always working at the library,” Twilight reasoned.

“This might actually be kinda cool. I could use somepony in my cloud home to clean up a bit when I don't feel like it,” Rainbow said.

“Now hold on a minute there. I called dibs on her first! Besides, the harvest won’t wait forever!” Applejack argued.

“See? Now they're even fighting each other to hire you! I told you this would work!” Pinkie said. Trixie smiled back at her weakly. It wasn't a smile that would brighten a room with its presence, or persuade others to wear one of their own, but it was a sincere smile of gratefulness and appreciation. Pinkie could see a dim happiness burning in the unicorn’s heart, and more than anything, wanted to see a genuine smile from her.

“Excuse me, but aren't you all forgetting something?” Rarity called out. The ponies in the room all stared at her with puzzled expressions.

“This is Trixie were talking about! She enslaved Ponyville, kicked Twilight out against her will, and brought an Ursa Major to—”

“Minor,” Twilight corrected.

“I beg your pardon?” Rarity asked.

“It was an Ursa Minor, not a Major, and technically Snips and Snails stirred it up,” Twilight corrected.

“Whatever. My point is, this is probably some elaborate ruse by this roaming knave to con us!”

Pinkie jumped between Trixie and Rarity. “Hold on! She might have done some terrible things before, but she still deserves a second chance!”

“I think she’s already had too many chances,” Rarity stated flatly.

“I didn't hold it against you when you stayed in Canterlot on my birthday just to party with a bunch of nobles,” Twilight added.

Rarity grimaced. “I thought we agreed not to mention that again…”

“Yeah! Twilight gave you a second chance, why shouldn't we give Trixie one?” Pinkie reasoned.

Rarity put herself nose-to-nose with Trixie, staring down the blue mare with an aggressive look. “I don’t know what sort of plan you’re working on this time, or what kind of hex you’ve placed on Pinkie Pie, but I am not falling for it! As far as I’m concerned, there is some poetic justice in your life falling apart,” Rarity said as she started for the door. “One day you'll all regret this!” Without another word the unicorn left.

Pinkie looked on as Trixie slumped sadly. “Hey, don't listen to her, she's just upset, that’s all. Nopony should have to be all alone,” Pinkie said, offering a comforting hoof.

Trixie sighed heavily. “She has every right to be upset. Everything she said was true.”

“Are you sure this is the same Trixie?” Rainbow asked, giving the unicorn an exploratory poke.

“Of course she is, Rainbow,” Pinkie said. “Unless she’s some sort of alien monster who stole Trixie’s skin to try and infiltrate the Equestrian government. You’re not an alien trying to infiltrate the Equestrian government, are you?” The pink pony asked narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

“Uhhh, no?”

“Good enough for me!” Pinkie proclaimed, wrapping a friendly arm around Trixie’s waist.

“Trix—I mean, I’m grat— I mean…” The unicorn looked at the other ponies in the room, each one smiling back at her.

“Umm, thank you for giving me a second chance. You won’t regret it.”

Applejack slapped her on the back in a friendly, but forceful manner.

“Don’t thank us yet. We ain’t gave you a second chance; ya gotta earn it, startin’ tomorrow. Be at the farm early and I'll show you how to buck apples. Y’all gonna learn an honest days work.”

“Wait ‘till you see what I’ve got planned for ya,” Rainbow said slyly.

Trixie’s face blanched. “I’m suddenly not so sure this was a sound idea, after all…”

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Pinkie threw open her door and launched into a pirouette, spinning into her bedroom. “Make yourself at home!”

Despite Pinkie’s enthusiasm, Trixie found herself at unease being in the bedroom of one of her former foes. At the moment, however, it meant a cheap place to stay.

Pinkie's room was pretty much what anyone would expected. Lots of bright colors, and a general party atmosphere. Party themed furniture and decorations made up most of the energetic pony's room. It also came as no surprise that living in a sweetshop left a faint scent of sugar in the air at all times. The smell of latex from the countless balloons Pinkie kept on-hoof was noticeable as well. She was fairly sure Pinkie wasn’t even paying attention, but Trixie at least tried to look like she wasn’t snooping. It wasn’t until her eyes landed upon a framed picture that she broke her silence.

"Is that... Princess Celestia sitting with you and your friends?"

Pinkie followed Trixie's gaze to the picture they had taken at Joe’s Doughnut Shop. "Oh yeah! Princess Celestia is really nice! We shared doughnuts and laughed a whole bunch that night! She has really good taste in doughnuts, too!"

Trixie stared at the pony in shock. "You dined with her?"

Pinkie nodded excitedly. "We sure did! She even laughed at some of my jokes nopony else laughs at. She's super duper nice."

Trixie turned away from the picture, not wanting it to consume her thoughts any more than it had. Instead she focused on another important detail.

There's only one bed! Oh no, this is gonna be one of those really awkward situations where we argue back and forth about who is sleeping where until we both agree to sleep together. I just can't stand that sort of nonsense!

Pinkie reached over to her bed and pulled a handle on it’s side. a large drawer pulled out with a mattress and pillow waiting inside.

"I know it's not the same as a normal bed, but here ya go! It's a lot more comfy than it looks!"

Or perhaps she's already had friends over before.

Trixie felt a small twinge of disappointment at the anticlimactic resolution of the scenario her mind cooked up. Putting that aside, she climbed into the pullout bed and slid beneath the covers. It felt weird having what could be considered a sleepover now that she was a grown mare, but Trixie thought it would be a good idea to make the best of it.

Pinkie climbed into her bed, sliding her legs beneath the covers. "Good night, Trixie. Don't worry, I'll make sure you wake up early enough to be at Applejack's in the morning."

Pinkie’s eyes closed and she began snoring before her head even hit the pillow with a soft wumph.

Wow, perhaps she's a tad narcoleptic.

Seeing Pinkie’s chest rise and fall silently in the throes of sleep, it seemed impossible that this could be the same noisy and rambunctious mare who could play ten instruments at once. Trixie decided it best not to dwell upon it and lay her head down as well, letting sleep overcome her weary bones.

An unpleasant weight on Trixie's chest forced her to stir. She gave her legs a long and slow stretch along with a wide gaping yawn. Upon opening her eyes, she came face to face with a green monster, inches from her nose.

"Oh no, get it off, get it off, get it off!"

Trixie rolled out of the pullout bed, sending her and the green monster to the floor. She backpedaled away from the vacant-eyed creature, and stared it down.

"No fair, Gummy. I was supposed to wake her up!"

Snapping her eyes to the open bathroom door, Trixie saw Pinkie sticking her head into the room, staring the reptile down.

"Pinkie, you have a... a thing in your room!" the unicorn cried out while trying to climb the wall behind her.

Pinkie trotted into the room and neared the green creature. Without warning, it lunged towards the unsuspecting pony’s head.

"Watch out! It's going to attack!"

The pink pony simply stood there as the green monster bit onto her ear and clamped down. Its body went limp and dangled from Pinkie's ear like an overgrown earring.

"Don't mind Gummy. He just wants to say hello!"

Trixie stared in disbelief at Pinkie's temporary and unusual fashion accoutrement.

"You mean you own this thing?" the unicorn asked incredulously.

"Gummy’s my pet! He's an alligator, but you don't have to worry, he doesn't have teeth."

On cue, the alligator let go of Pinkie's ear and fell to the ground. Beneath his blank stare, his mouth hung open long enough to prove it was completely devoid of any pony munching apparatuses.

Trixie breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh. I suppose in that case he's rather harmless."

Gasping in shock, Pinkie scooped the unresponsive animal up and cradled it like a child. "Don't say that! He's very sensitive you know?” Turning to the creature, Pinkie cooed at it lovingly. “Don't you worry, Gummy. I'm sure one day you'll grow big sharp teeth and terrorize everypony in Ponyville."

Trixie sat there, a contemplative frown upon her face. "Uhh, anyway, isn't it a little early for me to be up?" she asked, noting the black of night in the window.

"Applejack starts work not long after the sun comes up," Pinkie informed her. "Besides, you don't want to work on an empty tummy, do you?"

Trixie's stomach let out a low, guttural growl.

"I suppose I shouldn't."

Pinkie beamed at her and clopped her hooves together. "Hooray! I'll make some of my chocolatey chipperiffic waffles!"

Trixie came to a sudden realization that she might want to get acquainted with Ponyville’s dentist if she ate Pinkie's cooking for any prolonged period of time.

The trek to Sweet Apple Acres was a rather pleasant and quiet affair. Being a performer, it was rare for her to see the early morning sunrise. Even she had to admit, the early morning walk was actually quite a poignant experience.

Apart from the map.

She wasn't sure Pinkie's cartography skills were trustworthy in the first place, much less when she received a piece of paper with lots of intersecting lines and dots.

It wasn't until she realized Pinkie had drawn a big smiley face in the middle of the map that it started making sense. cresting the last hill in the road, she saw Sweet Apple Acres stretched out before her. Nestled between the silo and the barn sat a cozy little farmhouse where Applejack and her family were supposed to reside. Her eyes scanned the surrounding land, looking for anypony that might already be up. With nopony in sight, she trotted up to the homely abode and raised her hoof to knock.

"Howdy!"

Trixie nearly fell over in shock. Before her hoof even hit the door it had swung open revealing a bright-eyed and bushy tailed Applejack.

"Oh, uhhh, good morning," Trixie said while trying to recover.

"I gotta admit. I sure didn't expect you to get here this early," Applejack confessed.

"Pinkie Pie told me how important it is to you that we start work early in the morning. Though If I were to be honest, I'm not much of a morning pony."

Applejack laughed, wrapping a hoof around the showpony’s side. She pulled her to a nearby rain barrel and pointed at the reflection in the water. "No offense, but one look at yer mane says that much!"

Trixie looked at her reflection and gasped. Her unruly mane looked like it would be more at home on a punk rocker's head than her own. "I knew I was forgetting something."

"Don’t you worry none. Ya don't need a fancy do to work hard. C'mon, let's get going. The earlier we get started, the sooner we'll get done," Applejack said, motioning for Trixie to follow.

The early morning flew by while the two ponies worked tirelessly bucking trees and moving apples. Heaps of the delicious fruit fell into Trixie's basket following an especially forceful kick.

"Wow, Trixie, Where'd you learn to buck apples like that?" Applejack asked incredulously, scratching the hair beneath her hat.

More fruit fell into Trixie's basket following another vicious kick. "After my... defeat at Twilight's hooves, Tri— I mean, I, had to take some unusual jobs to get by. I did some orchard work bucking pears at Hoofington."

"Well, I gotta admit, I plum expected you to be begging for mercy right about now. I'm starting ta wonder if Pinkie sees something in ya after all."

Trixie smiled. She knew if she could sway a tough pony like Applejack, the others should be pretty easy to convince as well.

"Have a good day, Rose!" Pinkie shouted as the earth pony walked away with a box full of donuts.

The lunch rush had come and gone leaving a scant few patrons loitering at the tables. Pinkie pulled out her polishing cloth and started wiping down the counters so they would shine once more.

I wonder if Trixie is doing okay over at Sweet Apple Acres.

She thought back to when Twilight switched all of their cutie marks. All the bucking of the trees, the hauling of the apples, not to mention the tilling and plowing! She cringed as she remembered the soreness she’d felt all over.

Poor Trixie. I bet her hooves really hurt right now… wait! I know exactly what to do!

Pinkie dropped her cloth and ran into the kitchen.

“Mrs. Cake? Can you watch the counter while I go take my lunch break?" she asked.

Cup Cake looked up from her paper. "Sure thing, Dear. Do you want me to make something for you to eat whil—"

Mrs. Cake's offer fell on deaf ears as Pinkie dashed through the kitchen doors, setting them swinging.

Despite having previously worked on an orchard, Trixie's hooves just weren't used to such a marathon of hard labor. She tried to hide her fatigue as much as possible, but anypony with a keen eye could tell the unicorn was slowing down.

The sound of a basket tipping and apples spilling onto the ground caught Trixie's ear. She glanced behind her to see Applejack's little sister standing next to the overturned basket with a nasty sneer on her face.

"Whoops! Ah guess mah hooves slipped. Ya don't mind pickin’ that up, do ya, Trixie?"

Deep in the unicorn's heart, a feeling of indignation and anger sparked to life. Unfortunately, she knew it would probably cast herself in a bad light to accuse the filly of malicious intent, or demand she pick them up herself.

"I'll pick them up," Trixie sighed.

"Apple bloom!"

Both Trixie and the filly nearly jumped out of their skin at the tone of Applejack's voice. The cowpony marched up to the pair, her face set in anger. "Just what do ya think you're doing?!"

Applebloom took a hesitant step back, her eyes darting away from her sister’s. “Ah-Ah was just walking by and I acciden—"

"Don't you lie to me, young filly!" Applejack warned. "I saw ya plain as day kick that basket over. Just what were you tryin’ ta pull?"

"Applejack," Apple bloom whined. "Trixie turned Ponyville into a nightmare! She tied Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and mah tails together! Why do I gotta be nice to her?"

Applejack stared down the little filly. "Ya don’t gotta be nice to her, but you sure ain’t gonna treat her as bad as she treated you and your friends!"

Apple bloom hung her head in shame prompting Applejack to reach over and pull her sister close. "Listen, Sugarcube. Trixie’s in a bad way. She’s reapin’ the bad crops she’s done planted. She’s got no friends, no family to help, and not even her own place to lay her head. Pinkie Pie and the Cakes are helping out by giving her a place to stay. She says all she wants is a chance to prove herself and earn some bits. For an Apple, there’s only one way to do that."

Apple bloom’s eyes lit up. "Good old-fashioned hard work!"

Applejack smiled. "That’s right. Now go on. Apologize to her and pick them apples up ya hear." the cowpony said, pushing her sister towards Trixie.

“Ah'm sorry, Miss Trixie,” Apple bloom said, hanging her head.

Hearing Applejack’s description of Trixie’s fall from grace turned the unicorn's stomach. Before all of this insanity, Trixie would have objected and told Applejack off for impugning her honor.

Staring into Apple bloom’s apologetic eyes though, Trixie could not summon any outrage.

"Thank you… though I cannot blame you for disliking me, considering what happened last time I was here."

Apple bloom began picking up the multitude of apples that had spilled from the basket. Applejack walked over to the showmare, bearing an apologetic smile. "I'm mighty sorry ‘bout that. I didn't expect her to haul off and do something like that. Listen, you've been going at it pretty hard all day. Maybe you should kick off early."

Trixie would have loved nothing more than to knock off for the day, but she knew she wanted to prove to Applejack she was more than just a simple performer.

"No. Tri—I mean, I will do the job I was hired for," the unicorn stated flatly. She felt a small twinge of satisfaction at the shocked looked on the cowpony's face.

"Iff’n you say so."

Applejack walked away to continue filling her basket, leaving Trixie to finish bucking the fruit off of her own tree.

Bye, Raindrops!" Pinkie shouted while waving her hoof emphatically. The evening rush at Sugarcube Corner had just died down, affording Pinkie Pie a bit of a rest.

Whew. It feels like everypony in Ponyville wanted something here today!

With a lobby of content customers and an empty line, Pinkie gleefully trotted into the kitchen. The first thing to catch her eye was Mr. Cake staring intently at the oven as if he were a mother bird glaring at her eggs.

"Hey, Mr. Cake! You drop your contacts in the oven?"

"I don't wear contacts, Pinkie."

The pink mare giggled. "Oh, that's right! Then why are you having a staring contest with an appliance?"

"The oven is giving him trouble, Dearie," Mrs. Cake said while wiping the cooling table free of excess crumbs.

"Stupid thing is taking longer to cook than usual, so I can't use the timer like normal. I just have to keep staring and testing the cake until it's done," Mr. Cake explained.

Mrs. Cake sighed. "I hope the oven isn’t going out on us yet. With the wedding season coming, we’ll need both of them running well if we hope to keep up."

"I know, Sugarplum. We’ve had the thing since we opened for the first time. I suppose we're lucky it's lasted this long. Maybe we should try and use the other one as much as we can," the earth pony suggested as he opened the door to get another look at the cake inside.

Pinkie’s eyes traveled to the clock.

"Oh! I almost forgot! I have to get ready!" Pinkie exclaimed. She sped out of the kitchen, leaving the Cakes to shrug and dismiss the outburst as a Pinkie-ism.

All day long, the bucking, the hauling, the walking... through it all, Trixie seemed to be just fine. For some bizarre reason though, as soon as Sugarcube Corner came into view, her hooves started to ache. She stumbled through the street feeling like a shambling zombie rather than any sort of great and powerful weaver of arcane magicks. Gently, she pushed the door open to a shop mostly devoid of customers which Trixie chalked up to the sun threatening to dip below the horizon. Mrs. Cake stood dutifully behind the counter.

"Good evening, Trixie. You look like you had a good time working with Applejack." The blue pony wore a grin of satisfaction which Trixie could only guess stemmed from the obvious pain in her gait.

"Trixie admires Applejack for her... work ethic. I believe I could use a shower, so I also believe I'll be going straight upstairs."

Mrs. Cake seemed content to glare smugly as Trixie ambled up the stairs. Each one seemed further away than the last until the very top which felt like pulling herself up a cliff.

Hang in there, Trixie. Just a few more steps and you can treat yourself to a warm bath!

She trundled over to the door and slowly pushed it open. A quick survey of the room showed no sign of Pinkie anywhere.

Perhaps she's downstairs in the kitchen with the other one.

Giving thought to little else, she walked to the bathroom to soak away the stress of her day.

Trixie placed her towel in the hamper using her magic. She always enjoyed a warm bath anytime she could manage to get one. Given the tidbits of information she had about Pinkie, the bathroom, and bedroom were much cleaner and more organized than she would have ever imagined. Every item had its place, and the basin and counter were grime and spot free. Reaching into her essentials bag, Trixie pulled out her toothbrush and toothpaste to give her pearly whites a proper scrubbing. A true showmare had to have a bright and confident smile after all.

Not that she felt confident. She hadn't felt confident in quite awhile. Being shown up by Twilight Sparkle was one thing. The real kick to her gut was what the Alicorn Amulet did to her. It robbed her of her self control, and, even worse, her rationality. She spat the mixture of toothpaste into the sink and rinsed her mouth out with the warm running water.

Trixie decided not to dwell too much on those events, as it always seemed to hurt more than help. Knowing that the next day would be filled with more hard work, she thought it best to just relax and get some sleep. However, upon exiting the bathroom, she realized that something was off.

The bedroom light was off. The only ambient lighting in the room at all was the tiny lamp upon Pinkie's dresser which had a blue cloth draped over it giving the entire room a calming cerulean tint. Several blankets were piled on top of the bed.

"Enjoy your bath?"

Trixie's eyes bulged and she nearly tumbled backwards in surprise. Pinkie stood next to her, smiling broadly.

"I uhh, well, ummm, I did," Trixie stuttered, not sure just what the pink pony had in mind.

Pinkie smiled happily at her. "Neato! I've got a special surprise, just for you!"

"S-surprise?"

"Yup! I was thinking earlier about how you were working at Applejack's and that you probably aren't used to doing so much hard work, so I decided I would give you a massage!" Pinkie beamed. She grabbed Trixie by her hoof and lead her to the bed.

"M-massage?" the unicorn asked while being reluctantly tugged along.

"Mhm! I'll have you feeling like a new pony in no time!"

Trixie slowly climbed onto the bed under Pinkie's eager gaze. She knew from past experience that Pinkie could be a bit scattershot and impulsive, but she truly had no clue what her motivations could be in this situation. She lowered herself onto the pile of blankets, marveling at how soft they felt on her slightly damp fur. Pinkie pulled out a bottle of something she didn’t get a good look at and vigorously rubbed it on her hooves.

Trixie gasped as the pink pony started rubbing her back. "Wha-what are you doing?"

"I already told you, silly! I'm giving you a massage." Pinkie continued rubbing Trixie's back firmly. "You're too stressed out. You need to relax."

Trixie had received massages before. She knew the difference between a novice and a masseuse. Pinkie's work felt more like the latter. She had expected to get roughed up like a lump of dough in the bakery’s kitchen, but instead, received the work of a professional.

"This... this is pretty good. I thought you were a cook."

"No silly, I'm a party pony! But that doesn't mean it’s the only thing I can do," Pinkie added.

"How did you learn to give such a divine massage, anyway?" Trixie asked through half-lidded eyes.

Pinkie's face brightened. Though the mare didn't seem conceited or narcissistic, Trixie got the feeling she enjoyed talking about herself.

"One day, Aloe came over and told me that Lotus had caught the Pony Pox. I told her I could try filling in, and after just a few hours of training, I was giving other ponies massages like a pro. Aloe said I was a natural! Then, two days later, Lotus got better, but then Aloe got sick! So, I helped fill in for her too."

"I see." Trixie let the conversation die there, content to stay quiet and enjoy the massage. It wasn't often she could get one absolutely free from an experienced set of hooves. Regardless, she felt a nagging question biting at the back of her head.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Huh? Because you worked hard today and you hurt! That's the best reason to get a massage, isn’t it?" Pinkie asked.

"No, I mean, why are you helping me? You've taken me into your home, fed me, helped me get a few odd jobs, and now you're giving me a massage. It seems a bit generous for somepony who took your mouth away."

Pinkie remained silent.

"Well?" Trixie prodded.

Pinkie's massage became lighter, less powerful than when she started. "I... I started thinking about what it must be like... to go from town to town... to not have any friends."

"You pity me, don't you?"

Pinkie said nothing.

"You shouldn't. I believe your friend was right when she said I'm getting what I deserve."

"But... nopony should be alone," Pinkie said, stopping her massage entirely.

"I've been alone most of my life. Why should that change now?"

This time, there came no answer. Instead, Pinkie resumed her massage, disturbingly silent. Trixie just relaxed and tried to enjoy her pampering, putting the pink mare's objections into the corner of her mind. After what felt like a few more blissful minutes, Pinkie ceased her massage.

Trixie slowly got up, feeling like a newborn foal. "Thank you... for everything."

Pinkie smiled a sheepish smile and fidgeted with her hooves. "You said you don't have any friends, right?"

Trixie nodded.

"Well, I was thinking, would it be okay if I could be your friend?"

Trixie didn't really know how to respond. Of all the ponies in Ponyville, Pinkie seemed to be the most forgiving and helpful of them all. Even after the torment Trixie subjected her to, the pony still seemed to be genuinely concerned for her.

"I don't see why not—"

“Yaaay!”

The unicorn scarcely had time to finish her sentence before Pinkie cheered and wrapped her up in a tight hug.

"Oookay, that's enough of that," Trixie said pushing the pink pony away as quick as she could while still trying to seem friendly. Pinkie didn't look discouraged in the slightest though, seemingly content to sit with a goofy smile on her face.

"Thank you for the massage. I feel better than I did when I got here, that’s for sure."

"I'm just glad I could help," Pinkie said, smiling widely. "Wait! I have a great idea!"

Uh oh. Somehow that scares me.

“I should totally throw you a “you just made your first friend” party!”

“I don't know how much I'll be able to party, since I'll be so busy working during the day."

Pinkie hopped forward like a fisherman trying to keep their catch from going overboard. "Well, maybe not a party, maybe just something fun to do tomorrow when you get back?”

“I… I guess we coul—”

“Woo hoo!” Pinkie cheered and broke out into an impromptu dance on her bed ending with a backflip.

“How your bedsprings are still intact is a mystery to me.”

Pinkie fired Trixie a winning smile. “I would get some board games for tonight, but you should probably sleep instead.”

Trixie nodded and hopped off the bed. Her horn sparked to life and pulled out the trundle bed. “I think I will. If tomorrow’s work schedule is anything like today’s was, I might not last the whole job.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ll be just fine! Applejack isn’t a mean pony. I’m sure she’ll understand.” Pinkie removed the cloth covering the lamp and hovered her hoof over the switch.

Trixie laid down on her tiny bed and nodded at the pink mare. Pinkie turned out the light, letting darkness fill the room. Moments later, sheets and blankets shuffled noisily for a moment before falling quiet.

“Good night, Trixie.”

“Good night, Pinkie.”

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Following another early morning wake-up call and fitful breakfast, Trixie found herself on Applejack's doorstep once again. She scarcely had time to raise her hoof before a familiar voice called out to her.

"Over here!"

Peering to her left, Trixie saw Applejack pulling a cart out of the barn. She stepped away from the door and walked over to greet her. The cowpony’s gait was sluggish, her hooves barely scraping along the dirt.

"Good morning to you, Applejack. Why are you pulling a cart? Are we not bucking apples today?"

Applejack laughed nervously. "Heh heh, about that…" the cowpony hopped out of her harness. "I uh, didn't really expect you to come back this morning..."

Trixie raised an eyebrow curiously. "And why is that?"

Applejack sighed, plucking her stetson from her head. "I got a confession to make. I kinda overworked ya a tad bit yesterday. Well, more than a tad. Tain’t often us Apples buck trees the whole day like that. Even I'm sore in the saddle this morning. Heck, I don't know how y'all ain't limping around like a dog that got in a tussle with a porcupine."

A slight smile played at Trixie’s lips. Thank the heavens for that massage.

The cowpony’s gaze fell. "I wanted to show you that us regular ponies work hard for what we got. I wanted to teach you a lesson… but I didn't expect you'd make the whole day, much less come back for seconds."

"So that’s why you told me I could stop early."

"Eeeyah. In the end, the only thing I really accomplished was giving myself a sore back," Applejack said, holding her hat close to her chest. "I'm mighty sorry. If you find it in your heart, whaddya say we try this again? No hard feelings?"

Pride welled up in Trixie's chest, though she kept it from crossing her lips. "Of course. I understand the struggle with pride."

Applejack flipped her hat back on her head. "Alright. Well, one good thing about what we did yesterday is that there’s no more apples ready to buck right now. The east field won’t be ready for another week or so. Instead, we'll be movin’ the apples from the barn to the cellar."

"That's it?"

Applejack snorted. "That might not seem like much, but believe me, there's a lotta apples to haul. Follow me and I'll get y’all set up."

Trixie followed the cowpony into the barn, thankful that she might actually be capable of walking back to Sugarcube Corner without limping by day's end.

Any hopes Trixie had of an easy day were dashed pretty quickly. Lunchtime had come and they had already moved what she thought was at least thirty carts of apples. After an especially large haul, she took a moment to lean against a tree for a quick break.

"Why don’tcha join us for lunch?"

Trixie looked up at Applejack, not believing the words out of the cowpony's mouth.

"I'm not so sure that would be a wise idea," Trixie said, rubbing her hooves together.

Applejack snorted. "What, ya think my kin are gonna lay into ya? They see what yer doin’ here. It'll be fine."

Trixie's stomach growled at the mere mention of food. She had forgotten to pack a lunch that morning, and her belly was doing a great job reminding her.

"If you're sure it's alright with them..."

Applejack extended a hoof, which Trixie grabbed to pull herself up. "Of course! C'mon, let's go get you some grub."

Years of being impulsive trained Pinkie on impromptu lessons of courtesy and privacy. Usually in the form of a stern lecture. Of all her impulsive habits though, curiosity had to be her greatest foe. Whether it was putting cake batter in her party cannon, or testing an improvised ten foot tall slingshot, Pinkie could scarcely contain herself when it came her curiosity.

Today the object of her curiosity was Trixie’s luggage. Particularly, her saddlebags. Even as she neared it, circled it like prey, she knew snooping wasn't a good thing to do. Glancing to the door again, she made sure it was locked before slowly reaching for the bags.

“The window!”

Like a blur, she ran to her window and looked about to make sure nopony else was looking in before pulling the curtains shut.

Satisfied she was now completely free from any prying eyes, she reached over and flipped open the bag. She spent quite a while looking over the contents before digging in so she could remember how they were arranged. The first thing she did was push a large book aside and pull out Trixie's hat and cape.

Pinkie whipped out the cape, wrapping it around herself and plopped the hat atop her head. Trotting over to the mirror, she peered at her reflection. “Oooooh, I'm magical!” she exclaimed with a playful giggle.

Taking the accoutrements off, she realized they were a bit dusty and slightly wrinkled, as if Trixie hadn't worn them in quite awhile.

Trixie always wore her hat and cape before. Why would she stop now?

Tossing the hat and cape aside, Pinkie dug through the bag and pulled out that book she ignored a moment ago out. It was a large book that ponies usually wrote important money stuff in. She couldn't remember what it was called, but she had seen the Cakes write in their own all the time. She tried to learn about it once, but ended up falling asleep, collapsing face-first into a delicious chocolate cake.

If Pinkie were completely honest with herself, the collapsing into the cake might have been less than accidental.

The book seemed to be in near flawless shape. Very few marks or scratches marred its cover which seemed odd considering the first date written in it was ten years ago. Flipping through the pages, she could see that Trixie actually made quite a few bits over the years. She wrote down every show, every signing, every expense… even the cupcakes she had bought two days prior. Her accrued fortune of bits dwindled rapidly over the course of just a few short months. She stopped doing shows, stopped any extra spending, and even cut back on food. Looking at the dates, she saw it all started going downhill around the time Twilight had laid her low during their duel. Pinkie closed the book, hugging it like a stuffed animal and sat on her rump, lost in her thoughts.

The entire Apple family gathered around the table in anticipation for lunch. Even Apple Bloom came home during her lunch period in anticipation of the meal.

True to Applejack's word, not a single one of the Apples complained, whined, or moaned about Trixie eating with them. This may have been more because they were busy filling their mouths with food. Trixie learned through the years that sometimes, the best way to shut a pony up was by putting a good meal in front of them. Unfortunately, the silence did finally come to an end.

"How come yer not wearing yer cape an’ hat?" asked the oldest pony at the table.

Trixie looked away. "It... needs to be washed."

"Granny, please," Applejack said.

"What? I was just askin’ a question! I thought they looked mighty pretty, that's all," the older pony groused.

Silence took hold again as the family continued their meal.

"So, uhhh, Trixie. You said ya did some bucking for other farms, right?" Applejack asked.

The unicorn swallowed the last remnants of a delicious apple fritter and cleared her throat. "Yes, actually. I spent the majority of my time harvesting for a group of pear farmers outside Hoofington. It was part time work, but it helped keep me afloat, nonetheless. I seem to recall them mentioning the Apple family several times during my stay."

Apple Bloom's eyes lit up. "Really? What'd they say?"

"They were complaining about the harvest being behind. That's why they hired me in the first place. The eldest pony shouted now and then that the Apples wouldn't stand for running behind like that, and they shouldn't either."

Granny Smith tapped her hoof on the table, her eyes searching the ceiling for an invisible clue. "Eldest pony, huh? Pear farmer out of Hoofington?"

Trixie nodded.

"By gum, that has to be Bartlett! Ah ain't heard hide nor hair ‘bout him in a dog's age. He keepin’ them kids in line, Ah hope."

"You know him?" Trixie asked.

Granny Smith slammed the table, causing everyone's plates to jump. "Sure do, young'n! Bartlett ran a tight ship for years. Chances are if you’ve eaten a pear on the other side of Canterlot, it was a Bartlett Farms pear. Ah should probably write him sometime. Sounds like he still runs a decent farm if he helped train you. You buck apples pretty good for a prissy pants pony. Don't she, Big Mac?"

The larger, intimidating stallion gave a nod. "Eeeyup."

"Granny..." Applejack started.

"Don't you granny me, ya stubborn filly! Ah saw her workin’ yesterday. Tain't many ponies keep up with Applejack here! She didn't even wanna get up today, her rump was so busted."

Big Mac let a deep laugh escape his lips, just in time to see Applejack glaring at him. Of course, with Pinkie's massage last night, they weren't exactly competing on a level playing field.

"It's nothing, really," Trixie said.

Granny Smith winked at her. "Nonsense! Something about ya has changed since you were last here, and Ah'd say it's something for tha better.”

If you consider being homeless better...

"Whew. I think I'm done with lunch," Applejack said, pushing her plate towards the center of the table. "If I eat anymore, I ain't gonna feel like workin."

Trixie pushed her plate away. "I think I’ve reached my limit as well."

"But, ya only had two apple fritters," Apple bloom pointed out.

"Yeah!" Granny Smith agreed. "Last time y’all were around, you were a bit more healthy lookin’. Now ya look like one a dem scarecrows we keep standin over tha corn! Ya really should eat a bit more."

Ever since the bits got tight, Trixie had cut to back on her eating. Looking down at herself, it was probably pretty obvious she had skipped a meal or two now and again.

"It’s nothing, really. Just a new diet I've been trying." Though her lie was flawless, it didn't take an expert to see that none of the ponies present believed her, nor did they protest.

"Well, alrighty then. Guess we'd better get back to it," Applejack announced, grabbing her hat off the back of her chair.

Despite the lean meal she had at lunch, Trixie had enough energy to keep going. She kept pace with Applejack, but only just. Massage or not, Trixie just didn’t have the raw stamina that the cowpony did.

"Alright, I think that's enough for today," Applejack announced as she jumped out of the empty cart's harness.

Trixie hid her relief as best she could. "Really? Yesterday we worked closer to sundown.”

"Right, but we had plenty of work to do yesterday. Now that the apples have been bucked and stored, there just ain't nothing left for us right now," Applejack explained.

“Oh. I guess that would be a problem. Will you need me tomorrow, then?"

Applejack rubbed her chin. "Ya know, being that Apple bloom don’t have school tomorrow, I might just get you two to handle my chores. Might be nice to have a day to myself during the harvest season."

"Is that a yes?" Trixie asked hopefully.

"Sure! Why not? Be here early tomorrow morning. You help Apple bloom do her chores, and I'll finally turn ya loose with your pay."

"Thanks, Applejack. I'll be here," Trixie said as she turned to leave.

"Bye, Trixie! Tell Pinkie I'll be by sometime soon for another of her cinnamon swirl cakes!"

Pinkie eyed the list before her very carefully. Being a good host means knowing your guests, and choosing an appropriate activity is extremely dependent on your audience. She learned the hard way that you don't go playing apples to oranges when Applejack is around.

Only problem is, Pinkie didn't know Trixie that well. What good is there in choosing something to do, when you know next to nothing about the pony in question? She knew there was only one way to decide what they should do. She rolled up the scroll, closed her eyes, unrolled it, and put her hoof on a random spot.

"That will be perfect!"

Pinkie rolled up the scroll and dashed downstairs in a flash.

Trixie was quite excited, having finished her job early, but now she realized what the most beneficial part of going back to Sugarcube Corner in the evening was.

There were a lot fewer ponies on the street.

Today, in the midday sun, she caught quite a few nasty glances, and several ponies backing away in sheer terror.

It's hard to imagine them being frightened of me now.

As carefully and quickly as she could without raising suspicion, she reached Sugarcube Corner and darted inside.

"Hey, Trixie!" Pinkie called out. "You're back early today."

The unicorn walked swiftly through the lobby, not wanting to linger in front of the patrons eating and enjoying each others company. "Applejack said we were done, so she let me go early."

Pinkie furrowed her brow. “Wait, if you're done, does that mean you're off tomorrow?"

"Not exactly. Applejack said she wants an off day, so I'll be filling in to do her normal chores."

"Oh, okay! I was just finishing something special for us to do," Pinkie said, motioning for Trixie to follow her into the kitchen. Trixie obeyed, following the pink mare. On the cooling table sat a large assortment of various baked goods and pastries piled high.

"Ta-da! These are new ideas I had for experimental treats! The Cakes said they want me to come up some new items, and the best part is, you're my new taste-tester!"

Trixie eyed the assortment of baked goods carefully. "There's nothing weird or disgusting in them? Like licorice, or toothpaste?"

Pinkie shook her head frantically. "Nope! Everything here is completely safe to eat!"

"I suppose there wouldn't be any harm in just offering my opinion then."

Pinkie smiled, scooped up the treats, and placed them on a platter. Unfortunately, there were a few too many, so they started tumbling down. Trixie caught them with her magic and placed them on a separate platter.

"Thanks a lot! C'mon! Let's take these upstairs!"

Trixie followed closely behind with the second platter as her stomach rumbled in anticipation.

"Uggghhh... how did I let you talk me into this?" Trixie groaned.

"How did I talk myself into this?" Pinkie complained, rubbing her sore belly with her hooves.

Both ponies were lying down on Pinkie's bed. Between them, the platters were now completely empty, barring a few crumbs.

Trixie rolled over slowly so as not to upset her stomach any further. "If you held a harness to my head, I would have to say the triple fudge macadamia brownies were the best."

Pinkie nodded in agreement. "I think the only real bomb was the prune and apple muffin. Prunes and apples just don't go well together."

Trixie nodded in agreement. During their marathon tasting session, the sun had fallen outside, blanketing the town in darkness.

"Trixie?"

The unicorn looked to the mare lying next to her. “Hmmm?”

"Why don't you wear your hat and cape anymore?"

Silence fell for a moment.

"I have no need of them."

"Why not?"

"I... I haven't worked a show since I last left Ponyville."

"But... isn't performing your special talent?"

Trixie let out a slow sigh. "After the duel, it never felt right. Something changed in me that day. I had told myself before that I was great if I simply said so. Your friends showed me just how wrong I was."

Pinkie rolled over and tapped a hoof to her chin. "Wait, you mean you're not going to put on shows anymore? What are you going to do to make money?"

"I... I don't know. Maybe I'm just not cut out to perform. Perhaps my cutie mark wasn't meant for performing in the first place."

Both ponies sat quietly, lost in their own thoughts. Without warning, Pinkie slid off the bed and walked to her dresser, while Trixie merely watched in curiosity. After rummaging through her drawer, the pink mare removed a pack of playing cards, causing Trixie to raise an eyebrow.

Pinkie popped open the cards and dropped one into her left hoof. She showed the card openly to Trixie, revealing it to be a nine of clubs. She winked at Trixie and made a flourish with her hoof, causing the card to disappear. Pinkie rotated her hoof to show that the card had, indeed, disappeared. Pinkie then pulled out five cards from the deck. She revealed them one at a time, and when she got to the last one, she flipped it to reveal it was the nine of clubs.

"Ta-da!"

Trixie clapped softly and smiled. "That's a good trick. It's been some time since I've seen that one. Why the impromptu show?"

Pinkie put the deck back in the drawer. "You can still put on shows! You should do illusion magic!"

Trixie thought about this for a moment, but quickly shook her head. "I have done illusionary magic in the past, but it's been far too long. Besides, I would need equipment and costumes. I appreciate the thought, Pinkie, but I don't think I'll be doing any more performances."

Pinkie's smile drooped, obviously disappointed that Trixie had shot down her idea. The unicorn thought it best to let the subject stay down rather than disappoint the pink mare further. She reached for the pull out bed and slinked into it.

After a few minutes of shuffling and getting comfy, the lamp by Pinkie's bedside went out, bathing the room in darkness.

"Good night, Trixie."

"Good night, Pinkie."

Trixie crested the final hill to Sweet Apple Acres, the awkward breakfast at Sugarcube Corner still rattling in her head. All morning long Pinkie seemed quiet, not offering any witticisms or random outbursts. They simply ate breakfast and said their goodbyes for the day. Luckily, she wouldn't have too long to ruminate about her roommate’s odd behavior, as Apple Bloom stepped out of the farmhouse to greet her.

"Mornin', Trixie! Applejack said you and me’s got the chores for today."

At least she doesn't appear to be holding a grudge.

"That's what she told me yesterday."

Apple Bloom scampered off toward the barn. "Well, what're ya waitin’ for? If we get the chores done early, I can meet up with the crusaders and we can go find our cutie marks!"

Trixie started after the energetic filly in the vain hope of keeping up. "What are we doing first?"

Applebloom looked back at Trixie. "First thing is feedin' the pigs!"

Pigs... how wonderful.

Pinkie’s eyes darted in every direction, scanning for nearby spies or ne’er do wells. Once the coast was clear, she dashed across the road and jumped into a nearby barrel. She looked through a hole in the side and peered through it. Next, she ran down the main street, dodging and weaving through the empty thoroughfare. With surprising grace, she jumped into a flowerpot, burying herself completely beneath the plant. Once more, she looked around to ensure nopony was following her.

She quickly raised her hoof from under the dirt and knocked on the door. Seconds later it opened, and a mare with a blue coat and an orange mane stepped out.

"Hello? Who is—"

The pony was interrupted by a pink blur, which tackled her and closed the door behind them.

"Pinkie Pie, what are you doing? Oh, is that the—"

"Shhhhh!" Pinkie said, holding a hoof over the pony's mouth. The restrained mare calmly smiled, removed Pinkie's hoof, and stood up.

"Honestly, Pinkie, I don't know why you're so high-strung over this."

Pinkie rolled her eyes and pushed her parcel into the mare’s hooves. "Because it's supposed to be a secret, duh!"

"Right, okay then. Top level secrecy. I'll take a look at these tonight and see if I can make something with them. I can't imagine it will be that difficult. I'll bring them by when I'm finished."

"Pinkie smiled and hugged the other pony. "Thanks, Iris! You're the best!"

Iris chuckled in her Canterlot accent. "You know it."

Trixie would never claim to be an expert farmer, but after a few days with the apples, she thought she might know enough to fool another pony into thinking she was. Having fed all the animals, the only thing left to do was water crops and clean the pigs. Trixie held a garden hose with her magic, spraying a large section of corn, making sure she didn’t soak any one area too much.

"Hey, Trixie?"

The unicorn looked down at Apple Bloom. The filly looked hesitant, as if she might have done something wrong.

"Yes?"

"I was just wonderin’, what's your special talent?"

Trixie stared back at the filly. She didn't exactly know how to describe it in a single word or as a label. She thought for a moment and came up with a good summation.

"I am a performer."

Apple Bloom lifted one of her eyebrows questioningly.

"I tell stories to ponies that leave them amazed and bewildered," Trixie clarified.

"You mean stories like the time you beat a giant bear?" Apple Bloom asked with a huff.

The unicorn's face went beet red. "T-Trixie... may embellish the truth at times," she admitted.

"So, is what Applejack said true?' The little filly asked.

"What do you mean?"

Apple Bloom scratched the ground nervously. "Like, how ya don't have no home, or that you're runnin’ outta money, and that ya have no friends."

The garden hose hit the ground with a solid thump, dropped by her faltering magic. Though she had heard two other ponies describe her life in such a dire way, it still hadn't quite lost its bite. It sounded even worse coming from a filly of more than half her age. Trixie picked the hose back up again with her magic and resumed her watering.

"It is true. The wagon I rode to Ponyville in was my only home. After the ursa smashed it, I lived from inn to inn and job to job. Ponies all over Equestria by then knew me as a fraud. I could no longer perform without being jeered offstage."

"So, if your special talent is performing and you can't do that anymore, how are you supposed to live up to your cutie mark?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know..."

The only sound to follow was the gentle spraying of water falling onto the crops.

At the Ponyville Spa, two ponies in particular were lying on therapeutic beds while Aloe and Lotus worked their magic.

"It's been far too long since I done this."

Applejack moaned gratefully while Aloe gently, but firmly, kneaded her back.

"Doesn't it feel so wonderful to relax after working hard all the time?" Fluttershy asked.

"Sometimes I think you and Rarity are crazy for coming to this place so often. I gotta admit, though, it sure beats trying to get a massage out of Big Mac. Lemme tell ya, last time I asked him to work out the kinks, I thought he’d snapped my spine."

Fluttershy smiled at her. "We all need a break now and then."

“This is true, Miss Applejack,” Aloe began. “If you came to us sooner, you would not be in such pain.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. "I know. It’s just hard to get away from the farm is all. Speaking of pain, Trixie sure weren't the pushover I was expectin’ her to be."

Fluttershy lifted her head. "Oh? What happened?"

Applejack huffed. "Well, I ain't none too proud of this, but the first day she came over to work, I pushed her pretty hard. We both got more done than I usually do in three days! The next day, she shows up like tweren't nothing to it! Meanwhile, I'm nursing an aching back. I hadn't seen anything like it!"

Fluttershy tilted her head. "Maybe she came here and got a massage?"

Aloe and Lotus shook their heads, continuing their careful work.

"Well, that rules that out. One thing's for sure. She ain't crumbling like I thought she would.”

Fluttershy's eyes widened. "You don't think she found some spell or something, and that she's just waiting for the right time to use it for revenge like Rarity said, do you?"

Applejack closed her eyes and thought back to the time she had spent with the unicorn. "Ya know what? I might just be plain foolish, but I think she has changed. She just ain't the same pony she used to be. Apple Bloom kicked over one of her baskets and she didn’t even so much as raise her voice. I was half expecting her to hogtie her for that."

The silence hung in the air like a raincloud threatening to ruin a picnic.

"Applejack, do you think a pony like Trixie should be given a second chance?"

The cowpony mulled over Fluttershy’s words. "I don't think it rightly matters. I think if a pony knows what they did is wrong, and they do everything in their power to avoid doing it again, I think they should be forgiven."

A kind smile appeared on Fluttershy's lips. "I think so too."

Meanwhile in a place far from rest, relaxation or comfort, Trixie found her frustrations being put to their maximum limits.

"Just let me wash you, you beastly creature!"

A small piglet ran between Trixie’s legs as it squealed and scampered around the pen. Apple Bloom and the extended audience of pigs were content to watch and let out a laugh or snort now and again.

"Don't you want to be clean so you can go and get dirty again, you little beast?"

Trixie followed the little piglet around the edges of the pen. She was breathing heavily as she struggled to close the gap. Finally, mere inches away, she leapt into the air, reaching out for the piglet. Right before her hooves made contact, the piglet turned. Trixie hit the ground, burying her face in a puddle of mud.

The unicorn’s eyes flared as she stood up in the goopy slurry. "Rrrragh! Now you're going to get it!"

Trixie's horn glowed enveloping the piglet in a magical aura. The piglet squealed louder as it left the ground, thrashing about as if it were in mortal danger. The garden hose lifted as well in the unicorn's magical grasp and sprayed the creature, removing days of caked on dirt, mud, and Celestia only knows what else.

"Ya know, normally I'd frown on using magic on my farm, but Scampers there is quite a handful," Applejack said as she neared the pen.

Trixie blew a lock of mud caked hair out of her eyes. "I can see why the little terror earned such a name," Trixie replied.

The piglet, now clean but still squealing, gently touched the ground. Trixie released the magic holding it in place and watched as it ran off to the side of the pen where its mother waited patiently.

"Apple Bloom. Are y'all just now gettin’ around to cleanin’ the pigs?" Applejack asked.

"Course not, Sis!" the filly answered as she clung to the fence. "When Ah told Trixie here how bad Scampers was at takin a bath, she said we should do it last."

Trixie's shaking hoof peeled off a clump of mud and let it fall to the ground with a wet splat. "I'm not sure I could have made the entire day in such a state," she muttered, her lips quivering in a pout.

Applejack nudged the blue mare in her side. "Aw c'mon now. Y’all said ya weren't afraid to get dirty."

"Dirty is one thing, this is... unbearable!" Trixie complained. She felt a strong hoof tug at her gently.

"Well c'mon in and get cleaned up. No need being all filthy since y'all are done," Applejack said.

Trixie nodded and followed the cowpony and her energetic sister to the farmhouse.

"Here it is!"

Rainbow Dash blew across the top of an old box, sending a dust cloud up in the air. She grabbed the box and thrusted it towards Pinkie. "Here you go. I gotta warn you, though, I don't have any good reels for it."

Pinkie grabbed the box and smiled back at Rainbow. "Don't worry about that! I know where I can get a ton of them."

"If you say so. Don't forget to grab the screen, too."

Pinkie stopped her march to the door and reached out for the roll of plastic and its stand. "Thanks again, Rainbow! You should come over one night and have a slumber party with us," Pinkie Pie suggested.

"I'll think about."

Pinkie smiled and opened the door with her mouth, her hooves being full and all. She couldn't wait until tonight.

Trixie stepped back and looked at herself in the mirror. She scrutinized every last inch of her face, looking for any mud she might have missed. Perhaps she wasn’t as healthy as she used to be, maybe her mane wasn’t as well kept as it once was. Even in these trying times, Trixie took every step she could to keep her appearance at it’s best.

Perfect!

She placed the towel, emblazoned with apple symbolism, into the hamper. She gave herself one last look in the mirror and smiled. Trixie walked out of the bathroom and made her way down to the kitchen where Applejack was hastily scrawling numbers into a ledger.

"I can only imagine how hard it is to keep one of those on a farm," Trixie offered, breaking the silence.

Applejack closed the ledger and rolled her eyes. "Boy howdy, you ain't a kiddin’! We used to take turns writing things down, but I got tired of trying to guess if Big Mac's I's were L's, or if somepony forgot to write something down. After awhile, I decided it would be better if I handled it."

Trixie smiled a knowing smile and took a seat at the table. "When you want a job done right..."

"Do it yerself," Applejack finished. After a little more scribbling in the book, the cowpony dropped her quill and pulled out a pouch of bits. "There you are! Two hundred bits."

Trixie looked almost aghast. "T-two hundred? Isn't that a bit much? Not that I'm complaining, mind you."

Applejack just waved it away dismissively. "We got lots more done than I ever would’ve without ya. Go on now... take‘em. You earned it."

Trixie smiled gratefully, grabbed the pouch, and put it away. "Thank you, Applejack. At this rate, it won't be long before I can buy a new wagon."

The cowpony tilted her head. "I've been meanin’ to ask, what are y'all gonna do after all this?"

The joy in Trixie's heart melted instantly. "I... I don't know. I would love to perform again, but it hasn't exactly worked out well for me lately."

Applejack snorted. "No offense, but just maybe ponies don't like hearing other ponies bragging about themselves, and then bein’ hogtied to prove their point."

Trixie cringed. Looking back now, she could scarcely believe the stunts she pulled. "I know. It's just... it's all I've ever done."

The cowpony's face softened. "Ya know, Sugarcube, maybe you could tell stories about other ponies. Ya sure seem to know how to draw a crowd."

"That I do," the showmare said with a wry smile. "I should probably get back soon. Pinkie will start wondering where I’ve gone."

Applejack rose from the table. "Alright then. We're about to start up supper soon anyway. Tell Pinkie I said hey. It sure was good having an extra set of hooves on the farm."

"Bye, Applejack. I hope to see you around," Trixie said as she made for the door.

The walk back to town was fairly uneventful. Trixie garnered fewer glares and spiteful looks. The ones she did receive, though, still bothered her. Pushing open the door to Sugarcube Corner, she caught yet another derisive glare from Mrs. Cake. Trixie walked across the lobby of the bakery quickly, not wanting to become the center of attention. She went up the stairs and down the hall to Pinkie's room. Anxious to get off her feet, she opened the bedroom door.

"Oh, shoot!"

Trixie felt something hit her hooves. Looking down, she saw a round flat canister lying on the floor. "Problems?" Trixie asked, raising an eyebrow.

Pinkie, who seemed to be chasing several of the canisters rolling about the room, fired her a quick grin. "No, no. I've got everything under control! Just you wait, this'll be great!"

Trixie walked into the room cautiously, dodging another canister rolling across the floor. "Ummm, what exactly will be great?"

Pinkie abandoned the chase and turned to Trixie. "I borrowed the projector and screen from Rainbow Dash. We're gonna watch a movie!"

Trixie pulled her ledger out of her saddlebags and placed it on the nightstand. She wasted no time in scribbling down the bits she got from Applejack and then tucked it away. "A movie? That should be interesting. It's been quite awhile since I've had time to watch one. I finished working with Applejack today."

"Cool! That means tomorrow you'll be working for—"

"Rainbow Dash. How am I supposed walk on clouds anyway?" Trixie asked.

Pinkie trotted over to her nightstand and reached in to grab something out of the drawer. "There's two ways. You can either have Twilight cast a cloudwalking spell..."

"Or?"

Pinkie pulled out a small necklace and tossed it toward Trixie. "Or you can wear this! It's a necklace that Twilight enchanted with a cloudwalking spell."

Of course she did. I’m surprised she hasn’t learned how to just give a pony wings.

Trixie stared at it curiously. "So, I just wear this, and I can walk on clouds? Has anypony tested it?"

Pinkie nodded furiously. "Yup! I tested it myself! I fell the first time, but that was because I forgot to put it on and left it in the basket."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Trixie rolled her eyes while Pinkie smiled obliviously. "What movie are we watching?"

"I can't tell you, it's a surprise!" the pink pony announced.

"A surprise? Well, what kind of movie is it?"

"You'll see..."

“I can’t tell you about our clients. That’s confidential. Anyway, how is your personal life?”

Trixie's eyes were glued to the screen in morbid curiosity. She had long since stopped reaching for the popcorn Pinkie offered to share, and instead absorbed the cinematic catastrophe happening on-screen."What in the hay am I watching?"

"It's pretty terrible, isn't it?" Pinkie asked. Popcorn mulch flew out of her mouth.

Trixie tilted her head sideways in an effort to make it all work somehow. "It's like watching two trains barrel straight for each other.You know you can't stop it from happening, and you can’t look away. The only thing you can do is watch them explode."

The actor on the screen tried to give what he probably thought was a threatening glare. “As far as I'm concerned, you can drop off the earth. That's a promise.”

"Just... wow," was all Trixie could manage. Her head drifted to the right until it hit Pinkie's shoulder. She immediately sat up straight, a blush staining her cheeks. “Sorry."

Pinkie abruptly stopped eating her popcorn. Her eyes fluttered, her ears flapped a few times, and then she let out a sneeze directly into the bowl of popcorn, scattering it several feet in front of her. A bashful grin crawled across Pinkie's lips. “Oops…”

Trixie just grinned and picked up the scattered popcorn with her magic. “Gesundheit.”

A Glimmer of Hope

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Rainbow Dash wasn't a morning pony, and Trixie was fine with that. As far as she was concerned, waking up when it's still dark out was for the birds. That being said, she had to admit, having someone else wait on her was infinitely better than waiting on them. Sitting next to Sugarcube Corner, Trixie tapped her hoof impatiently. After what felt like an eternity, a rainbow streak sped across the sky, aimed straight for her.

Deep breath. I can't even begin to imagine what she has in store for me.

Rainbow Dash touched down in front of her, sending a dust cloud into her face. "Hey there, Trixie. You ready to earn some bits?"

Waving the dust away, Trixie glared at the cocky pegasus. "I'm ready. I'm just not clear on one small detail."

"And what's that?" Rainbow asked.

Trixie pointed up at the sky. "How exactly am I supposed to get up there?"

Rainbow laughed. "Don't worry, I've got it handled. Did you have Twilight do that crazy cloudwalking spell?"

Trixie smiled and pulled the necklace from her bag. "Even better, Pinkie let me use this."

Rainbow's smile disappeared. "She let you use that?"

Trixie nodded.

“Oh… alright then. You better hang on."

Trixie barely had a second to react as Rainbow lunged forward, wrapping her hooves around the unicorn's waist. "What are you doing? Let me go this instant!"

Ignoring Trixie’s demands, Rainbow took to the skies, carrying her passenger haphazardly. The unicorn shut her eyes, not really pleased with being hauled off like a sack of flour. Wind whipped through her mane as they turned and spun through the air. After a few moments of dizzying flight, they finally slowed in speed, coming to a hover.

"And here we are: Rainbow Chateau!" Rainbow announced.

"You don't really call it that, do you?" Trixie asked as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Nah. It's just home to me."

“Just home" seemed a bit of an understatement. Pillars of fluffy white clouds and rainbow waterfalls decorated the large structure, which was already impressive without the accoutrements.

"Now, if I remember what Twilight said, the enchantment on that necklace might wear off. I wonder if it has..." Rainbow posited.

Trixie's eyes widened as she clung to the pegasus tighter. "W-wear off?!"

"Oh well, only one way to find out!" Rainbow tossed Trixie unceremoniously at the clouds.

"No! Oh Celestia, help!" the unicorn pleaded as she flailed through the air. "Oof!"

Trixie's rump hit the soft clouds, stopping her fall. She clutched her chest and rapidly beating heart.

"I guess it didn't wear off!" Rainbow said, cackling at the unicorn. "C'mon, let's get started."

Trixie, half scared to death, followed the rainbow maned pony inside. She didn't even need to walk completely into the structure before coming up with a few choice words for Rainbow's home.

Dump. Sty. Pit.

It was obvious the pegasus anticipated Trixie's arrival, and decided to get her money's worth. Empty energy drink cans littered the kitchen and living area. The sink was full of dirty pans and plates, some with food still clinging to them. A couple of empty pizza boxes stood by the counter, awaiting disposal. All in all, it was a disaster area.

"As you can see, there's lots to do, but there is one requirement before you can work for me." Rainbow walked into her bedroom for a moment. She returned with a garment on a hanger and a lecherous grin on her face. "You have to wear a uniform."

Trixie eyed the gaudy black and white outfit with frills and lace. She easily recognized it as one of the traditional maid outfits from olden pony times. "You're joking... right?"

Rainbow shook her head.

Trixie reluctantly took the garment and studied it for a moment. She couldn’t even begin to guess why a pony like Rainbow Dash had the thing in the first place. Nevertheless, she could tell Rainbow wasn’t going to budge on this, so she slipped into it as quickly as she could. Apart from being a bit loose around the midsection, probably meant for a curvier pony, it fit rather comfortably.

"Satisfied?" Trixie muttered.

Rainbow Dash eyed her over carefully before giving a nod of approval. "Okay, first thing on the agenda: clean up all this junk," she said, gesturing to the paper and wrappers on the floor. "Don't forget the energy drink cans!"

Trixie sighed and ignited her horn. “I suppose this trash won’t pick itself up…”

Trixie smiled as she placed the last bit of garbage in the garbage can. As humiliating as it was to wear such a horrible outfit, at least the bits would be worth the effort.

The unicorn walked into the living room where her employer sat in a recliner with her legs propped up on the table and a book in her hooves. "Rainbow Dash, I have finished cleaning up like you asked."

"Miss Rainbow Dash," she corrected

"I beg your pardon?"

Rainbow huffed. "Call me, Miss Rainbow Dash."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Miss Rainbow Dash, I have finished cleaning up."

The pegasus looked up from her book and eyed the room like a noble scrutinizing a tray of Hors d’oeuvres.

"I suppose that will do." She slammed her book shut and left her seat. Trixie waited patiently as Rainbow rummaged through a nearby cabinet until she pulled out a notebook and quill.

"Here, you'll need these," she said, pushing them into Trixie's hooves.

"And just what exactly am I going to be using these for?"

"Dictating! Well, actually, I'll be dictating, you'll be writing."

Maybe this won't be as easy as I thought...

Boring.

Pinkie hated that word. Even the word itself was boring. She always got to the 'or' part and felt like passing out. Like any business, Sugarcube Corner had its busy days, and it had its slow days, and boy was this a slow day.

Mrs. Cake, who had become accustomed to such days, busied herself with a crossword puzzle, and Mr. Cake was asleep under his hat.

Boorrr...

Pinkie's head hit the counter.

The door chime sounded as somepony entered. Pinkie appeared next to them throwing out a generous amount of confetti.

"Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can— oh, hey Iris. What's up?"

The orange maned pegasus blew a stray curl out of her face. "Not much, Sugar. Just bringing you that top secret thing you wanted," Iris said, holding out a bag.

Pinkie took it excitedly. "So it worked?"

Iris nodded. "She can do plenty with it now, provided she has the skill."

Pinkie ran behind the counter and scooped up a cupcake. She placed it in a bag and dashed back to Iris. "Here ya go! One cupcake for the road! I mean, to take with you. Don't throw it on the road. Roads can't eat."

"Thanks, Pinkie Pie. Make sure to stop in next time you're in a pranking mood," Iris called out, walking to the door.

"Byeeee!"

Pinkie looked in the bag again and giggled. She couldn't wait for Trixie to get home.

"And so, Thunder Flash caught the falling mare just before she hit the ground. The crowd went wild and the leader of the Won— I mean, Thunderbolts walked up and thanked her personally."

Trixie scribbled furiously while Rainbow Dash made wide, sweeping gestures while spewing out what the unicorn could only describe as 'literature vomit'.

Why, oh why would a pegasus walk over to her, and when did she land? According the story, she is still flying.

Trixie continued writing, mostly on autopilot while Rainbow continued the incredibly familiar tale of a young, brash pegasus fighting to gain the attention of an elite flying team. She briefly considered writing at the top “original concept” in crayon.

"Well? What do you think?" Rainbow asked, her eyes shining with pride.

At this very moment, had Trixie been a chicken, there would most certainly have been a freshly laid egg on the floor.

"I, uhhh, it's well, ummm... hmmm. There's something here. I think you should have somepony look it over for some polish and, uhhh then you'll... you'll have something for sure."

Rainbow appeared to be blank. Sweat formed on Trixie's brow.

"Yes! I knew I had something there! It's such a good story! Ha! Good at flying, good at writing. Who knew, right?" Rainbow asked with a sly wink.

"Eeeyes, of course... so, what else is there for me to do? This uniform isn't exactly comfortable." Trixie tugged on the lacy garment covering her flanks.

"Oh yeah, gotta think of something else for you to do." The pegasus rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Shortly after, a devious grin spread across her face. "I have the perfect idea…"

Trixie watched as Rainbow walked to her recliner and jumped in. Like an ancient ruler, she waved the unicorn over.

"I want you… to lick my hooves clean," Rainbow said, extending her hooves.

Trixie blinked in disbelief. "Wait, what?"

"You heard me. Lick them clean, and do it carefully. I have very sensitive hooves," Rainbow ordered, wearing a wicked smile.

"But... but that's unsanitary! There could be all sorts of germs and filth on them!" Trixie protested.

Rainbow sat up with a scowl. "You calling me dirty? Look, you want the bits or not?"

“Y-Yes.”

“Then snap to it.” The pegasus leaned back in her seat with a sigh, her eyes closed in anticipation of what was to come.

Trixie, for her part, felt like she was being held prisoner as she brought her mouth close to Rainbow's hooves. She closed her eyes and wished she were anywhere else in Equestria. She'd even take a dragon's cave right about now.

“I’m waiting.”

Trixie pondered how it all went so horribly wrong, being forced to do such a dirty act just for a few bits. How she let it all go so horribly wrong. Trixie closed her eyes, and in that moment, became a timid filly all over again. She wasn’t great, or powerful. She was simply a pony doing what she needed to get by, to get to the next town, to get the next meal, to buy her freedom from Ponyville.

"Tri-Trixie? Are you crying?!"

The unicorn opened her eyes, only for them to meet Rainbow's, filled with worry. A soft sob escaped her lips. In the pressure of the moment, she hadn't even realized a few tears had worked their way down her face. She turned her head, not wanting to cry in front of Rainbow.

"Awww jeez. Look, I'm... I'm sorry, okay? Here, let me take this stupid thing off."

Rainbow grabbed the uniform and pulled it off Trixie carefully, who was still crying quietly. "There. Is that better?"

Trixie shook her head. "It... it doesn't change anything. I deserve this, all of it!"

Rainbow grabbed Trixie by the shoulders. "Hey! No you don't! This was just me and my stupid idea! I didn't think you were sorry at all, so I..." Rainbow sighed. "I tried to think of a bunch of ways to humiliate you. Man, if my dad were here, he'd give me a bonk on the skull."

Trixie wiped her face, trying to regain her composure. "Your dad?"

Rainbow smiled. "Yeah. Back at flight school, these bullies would pick on me and my friends. Then one day, I got one of them back. I messed up his suit on the night of the big dance. His date laughed at him and went off with somepony else." The pegasus shook her head sadly. "I was laughing. Laughing at him because now he knew how we felt. My dad... he told me the truth. He said it made me no better than him. When he said that, I thought back to all of those times we were picked on or made fun of."

Trixie dried her eyes, enthralled by the pegasus' story. She was content to sit quietly and listen.

"It made me mad. I was no better than he was! Just a no good stinking bully, and that's what I did tonight. So, I'm sorry. We cool?" Rainbow asked offering her hoof.

Trixie let a small smile cross her face as she bumped Rainbow's hoof. "Your dad sounds like a smart pony."

The pegasus beamed a proud smile. "Hay yeah he is! Ya know, I think Pinkie might have been right about you."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"She told me that you weren't bad at all. You just ended up doing some things you didn't mean to, and before you knew it, pow! Everything got crazy."

“I did allow myself to get a bit out of hoof, to be sure," Trixie admitted. She felt a strong tug on her shoulder.

"C'mon, let's go cook something for dinner. I dunno about you, but I'm starved."

Trixie followed Rainbow into the kitchen. She felt for a moment that she might've broken through the pegasus' rough exterior.

"So then, like a half second before she hit the ground, I pulled off a sonic rainboom, caught the Wonderbolts and Rarity, and flew back up to the stadium to drop them off," Rainbow finished proudly.

Trixie simply listened in awe. After their simple dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches, the two ponies shared tales from days past. Rainbow Dash had the better stories by far.

"I'm surprised they didn't make you a Wonderbolt on the spot."

Rainbow laughed. "When I was flying with them afterwards, they said they would have if it weren't for regulations and 'favoritism," Rainbow explained, making air quotes with her hooves. "Anyway, how's it living with Pinkie Pie?"

Trixie pushed her plate away gently. "I can't lie, I've never met a creature quite as eccentric as her."

The unicorn noticed Rainbow eyeing her warily.

"Not that I'm ungrateful for what she's done, by no means. She just has a few... quirks I guess you could say?"

Rainbow tapped her hoof impatiently on the table. "C'mon, out with it. What'd she do?"

"She ate an entire cake in one bite! I've never seen anything like it!" Trixie shuddered as the memory of seeing an entire cake disappear into the black hole that was Pinkie's stomach came back to her.

"Hah! No big deal! Pinkie is way weirder than that. You wanna see something even crazier?"

“I'm not sure I do..."

"This is what you do. Tonight, wait till she's asleep. Then, grab her tail and turn it clockwise. I guarantee your jaw will drop!" Rainbow said with a mischievous grin.

"W-what?" Trixie stuttered. "I'm not going to do that! That sounds awful!"

"Eh, suit yourself." Rainbow shrugged. "Looks like it's time I got you back down to Ponyville."

Trixie scooped up her plate and made a grab for Rainbow's. "I can at least do these few dishes before I leave."

The pegasus smiled. "Hey, thanks. You know, when you're not hog tying other ponies, and showing off, you're not a bad pony to be around."

"Uhhh, thanks... I think..."

Trixie sighed in relief as her hooves finally touched the soft grass again. It wasn't as if clouds were uncomfortable or anything, but standing around hundreds of feet in the air with nothing but an enchanted necklace to keep her from falling to her doom wasn't exactly reassuring.

"Here we are, Sugarcube Corner. Here’s your pay." Rainbow pulled out a small pouch of bits and handed them to Trixie. The unicorn looked inside and swiftly closed it.

"There must be a hundred bits in here!"

Rainbow rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. "More like a hundred and fifty..."

"But... why? Applejack gave me a two hundred for three days of work."

Rainbow sighed. "Look, I don't get much company at home. Most of my friends aren't even pegasi, and it's hard enough to get Fluttershy to fly over a tree, much less to my house. It was cool having somepony over to do my bidding."

Trixie stared at Rainbow suspiciously. "this is an awful lot for company and cleaning for a day."

"A few bits is nothing to me. But, if you tell anypony I got all sappy with you, I'll get my money back by kicking your flank. Deal?"

Trixie took her hoof and shook it firmly. "Deal."

Rainbow flapped her wings and started off. "Bye, Trixie. Tell Pinkie I said hey!"

Trixie waved as the pegasus became a distant blur in the night sky. She pivoted around and walked into the sweetshop. The door bell alerted a somewhat bored blue pony sitting behind the counter.

"Evening, Trixie. That's funny... You don't look like you've worked all that much today. Rainbow Dash must be getting soft."

Trixie immediately faked a bad limp and wiped her brow. "That... that rainbow-maned pony is an absolute taskmaster. I shall head to bed forthwith!"

Trixie hobbled up the stairs under Mrs. Cake's suspicious gaze. She walked down the hall, casting backwards glances to make sure she wasn't being followed. Quickly, she opened and slammed Pinkie's door shut and let out a sigh of relief.

"Hello!"

Trixie nearly leapt out of her skin. Spinning around, she saw the bright blue eyes of Pinkie Pie beaming back at her.

"Oh... Pinkie. You nearly scared the mane off my head."

The pink mare smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. Looks like I have to put another bit in the startle jar!"

Trixie furrowed her brow. "Startle jar?"

Pinkie nodded as she walked over to her dresser. "Yup! Ever since I surprised Fluttershy while she was drinking hot tea, I started putting bits into my startle jar." Pinkie dropped a bit onto a jar overflowing with coins.

"You do know you're supposed to empty it at some point, right?" Trixie asked.

"Ohhh! I thought you just collected them like a wishing well. I wonder what I can buy with this," Pinkie pondered aloud, shaking the jar and sending coins all over the floor.

Your own bakery by the looks of it.

"Dashie didn't work you too hard, did she?"

Trixie shook her head. "I've had worse. How about you? How was business today?"

Pinkie stuck out her tongue. "Ugh! Boooring!" Suddenly, the pink mare's eyes lit up. "Oh! I have something for you... But, you have to promise not to get angry."

"Ummm, sure?"

Pinkie reached under her bed and pulled out a gift bag. Trixie reached inside and pulled out two familiar items.

"My hat and cape? I don't understand."

"Look closer!"

Trixie did as she was told and inspected the garments with more scrutiny. It wasn't until she saw the inside of them that the secret had been revealed. Along the lining of the cape were pockets and straps strategically sewn into it. Her hat had a pocket too, along with a false bottom for her to stash items suspicion free.

“Pinkie Pie… this is… amazing! This is the work of a master magician and seamstress. How in the world did you do it?”

“I didn’t! My good friend Iris runs the joke and magic shop and she knows a lot about sewing. I asked her if she could do something with your hat and cape, and as you can see, she totally did!”

"Well, that certainly couldn't have been cheap," Trixie pointed out.

Pinkie waved her off with a smile. "Don't worry! Iris and I do all sorts of stuff for each other! One month when she got in a terrible accident, I baked and delivered food for her until she was well enough to run her shop again. With this, you should be able to perform."

Trixie bit her lip. "There still is the small problem of everypony in Ponyville not liking me very much."

"Hmmm... you're right," Pinkie said, rubbing her chin. "What if you made it more like a comedy show?"

For a moment, Trixie imagined herself dressed like a clown on a unicycle, futilely trying to ride the contraption before hitting the stage, face first.

"No offense, but I'm not entirely fond of banana peels, balloons, and the other nonsense that comes with it."

"We are definitely going to fix your problems with balloons, but that's not what I meant. What if you went on stage and messed tricks up on purpose to make them laugh? It's hard to be angry at a pony who can laugh at herself."

Suddenly, Trixie found herself out of arguments. Sure, if she really tried, she could probably scrounge up some small detail and make a big deal out of it. Seeing Pinkie's hopeful eyes beaming back at her though, she really couldn't bring herself to crush the poor mare's efforts. She wrapped her arms around Pinkie's neck and squeezed her tightly.

"Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I can't remember the last time somepony did something so nice for me.

The pink mare returned the hug affectionately. "Awww, I was just trying to help! I'm super glad you weren't angry at me for taking your hat and cape without asking."

Trixie whirled around, flourishing her cape. "Are you kidding? If I can perform again, I just might have a reason to wear them!"

Spinning Her Wheels

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Much of Trixie's night before she finally fell asleep was spent brainstorming magic tricks. It had been quite awhile since Trixie felt like she might have a future in performing once again, so any ray of hope was better than none. When sunrise came, she had an extra spring in her step she hadn’t felt in months. All morning long she and Pinkie laughed and made small talk while helping the Cakes prepare the bakery for the morning rush.

All of her enthusiasm vanished however, when she found herself standing before the residence of her former nemesis. When Pinkie first dragged her to the intimidating crystal castle, Trixie didn’t have much time to think before being ushered inside. Now that she was on her own, it took her several minutes to work up the courage to climb those steps. Reluctantly, she raised her hoof and knocked on the door. Surprisingly, the sound carried well through the crystal, despite her less than forceful knocking.

Too late to change your mind now...

The door swung open revealing a bright-eyed Twilight Sparkle.

"Good morning, Trixie! We just finished breakfast, c'mon in!" Twilight turned and led the unicorn inside. Despite the friendly greeting, Trixie couldn't help but feel like she was walking on dangerous ground.

"Twilight! Look out! Trixie is right behind you!"

Both ponies turned on their hooves. Spike stood in a doorway, pointing frantically at the unicorn.

Twilight giggled. "I know she is, Spike. She's here to help out at the castle so you can take a break."

Spike's eyes narrowed angrily. "Oh, I see how it goes. First you get an owl to try and replace me, and now you're so desperate to get rid of me that you have to team up with your former enemy?"

Twilight stamped her hoof in annoyance. "Spike! That's not what's going on at all! Trixie is having a hard time right now, and she needs to earn some bits. I thought you could use a day off, so I invited her over so we could give the castle a good shakedown."

Spike's suspicious glare shifted from Twilight to Trixie, and then back again. He marched over to the unicorn and poked his claw at her chest.

"I've got my eye on you. If I even so much as think this is a trick to get back at us, I'll give you a taste of my fire breath!"

A purple aura surrounded Spike, plucking him from the ground. With little fanfare, Twilight dropped him gently at her hooves. The baby dragon looked away and crossed his arms defiantly.

"Spike, this is your chance to do whatever you want for the whole day. You can spend it here glaring at Trixie, or you could spend it outside doing anything you want."

Spike uncrossed his arms and sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll go see what Applejack and Rainbow Dash are up to." He walked over to the door and opened it. "But Twilight, if she goes crazy again, all you have to do is call your number one assistant and I’ll take care of her quick, fast, and in a hurry!"

"I know I can count on you," Twilight said warmly. The dragon tottered off closing the door behind him.

Now, with just the two of them, Trixie and Twilight exchanged nervous glances.

"So what did yo—"

"Maybe we shoul—"

They stared at each other hoping the other would continue their thought.

Finally, Twilight spoke up. "I wanted to start in the library. I uhhh, don't know if you know how libraries work." Instantly, Twilight blushed. "Oh, of course you know how they work, I mean if you know how they're sorted and catalogued."

"I had a little experience in Canterlot, though I suppose I could use a refresher."

Twilight's eyes brightened. "You do? That's great! Basically, I'd like to clean and sort the east side of the library first, and then the west side." Twilight hurriedly shoved a feather duster at Trixie using her magic.

"Uhhh, okay. That shouldn't be too hard, I suppose."

Twilight clapped her hooves excitedly. “Great! Follow me and I’ll show you to the library!”

Applejack bit down into her treat sending a spray of crumbs flying out of her mouth. "Mmm, now that's good stuff right there!"

"Yeah! Who says you have to go camping to eat s'mores?" Rainbow Dash agreed.

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Spike sat under the shade of a large apple tree, enjoying each others company, and a round of s'mores.

"Hit me up again, Spike," the cowpony asked, holding out a stick with a marshmallow on it. A burst of green fire engulfed the marshmallow, melting it to the perfect consistency.

"Not that you need an excuse or anything, but why are you here with us instead of at the library with Twilight?" Rainbow asked.

Spike stood up as tall as he could and pounded his chest with a balled up fist. "I marched up to Twilight this morning and said, ‘Twilight, I need a day off!’ Needless to say she begged me not to, and told me she would double my gems for the day, but I wasn't having it. So I came over here to hang out with you guys."

Rainbow fell over in laughter. "Yeah, I'm sure that's how it went down!"

Applejack let out a small chuckle. "C'mon, now. Tell us what really happened."

Spike’s shoulders slumped. "Okay, fine. Twilight thought it would be a good idea to hire Trixie so I could have a day all to myself while they get the castle clean."

"Hah! Their loss!" Rainbow said, as she jammed another s'more into her mouth.

Spike started munching on his s'more as well, though his eyes were locked on the ground.

"Hey, Spike. Iff’n this is yer day off and you're s'posed to be enjoying it, why are ya actin' like a filly that's dropped her snow cone?"

The dragon ate the last bit of his treat and then dismissively kicked a rock. "I don't know, Applejack. It just seems strange having Trixie do my job for me. What if she's better at sorting and cleaning than I am?"

"Uhhh, Spike..." Rainbow began.

"I mean, Trixie has magic! If she knows where a book is in the library by memory, she could fetch anything Twilight needs way before I could! How am I supposed to compete with that? What if Twilight decides she doesn't need m—"

A friendly hoof wrapped it's way around Spike's back, interrupting him. "Now hold on a minute partner. Twilight ain't about to go replacing you. Does that sound like the Twilight Sparkle you know?" Applejack asked.

A small smile crept upon the dragon's face. "Yeah... you're right."

"Heck yeah she is! Now let 's finish these s'mores. When we're done I've got a great idea for a prank we can pull on Pinkie Pie," Rainbow said, thrusting her hoof toward her friends.

Applejack bumped her hoof. "Count me in! I still owe her for the itching powder in my bed!"

"Me too!" added Spike, bumping both of their hooves with his claws.

"Uhhh, where does this one go?" Trixie asked, holding a book aloft with her magic. Twilight trotted over to get a better look.

"Let's see... Polynomials. That should go over here."

Twilight walked over to one of the bookcases on the north side of the library. Trixie followed closely behind, watching intently as the purple pony tried to find the correct spot.

"Polynomials, Polynomials, Polynomi— whoops!"

While walking alongside the bookcase, Twilight accidentally bumped against the ladder Spike used to reach some of the higher books. She resumed her search without much thought, but Trixie glanced up at the ladder. A pile of books were precariously placed at the top. Unfortunately, the bump Twilight gave the ladder unbalanced the stack.

"Twilight, look out!"

"Huh?"

Trixie lunged and pushed Twilight out of the way just as the pile of books buried her. A dull pain echoed through the unicorn's head.

"Oh gosh! Trixie, are you okay?" Twilight asked as she pushed the books aside. The unicorn slowly rose to her hooves as her eyes focused.

"N-never better."

Twilight Sparkle looked speechless. "Wow, I... I don't even know what to say. I didn't even see the books up there. Thanks."

Trixie smiled ruefully. "I probably could have saved myself a headache if I had thought to grab them with my magic."

Twilight gave a quick look around the library. "Hey, we're making good time right now. Why don't we take a break. Would you like a glass of lemonade?" Twilight offered.

"Sure."

With that, Twilight left for the kitchen. Trixie hopped out of the pile of books, making for the nearby table. She scarcely had time to take a breath before a glass of lemonade appeared before her.

"Here you go."

Trixie flashed Twilight a thankful smile and took a small drink.

"So, uhhh, Trixie. You seem kind of... different," Twilight started as she took a seat across from the unicorn.

Trixie lowered her glass. "Don't sound so shocked, Twilight Sparkle. I tried telling you and your friends that I've changed. I should probably be grateful at least Pinkie Pie believed me me enough to forgive and help me."

"Well, what happened? I mean, a pony like you can't change at the drop of a hat. I feel like there's something you're not telling us."

Trixie stared at the floor as she frowned. "Imagine waking up tomorrow and finding out your horn doesn't work. The one thing that makes you who you are, your cutie mark, no longer means anything."

Trixie's hoof hit the table in anger. "I can't perform anymore! Nopony wants to even hear me out! My cutie mark and my special talent are completely useless!"

Twilight jumped at the sudden outburst. "Trixie... I'm, I'm sorry."

Looking down at her lemonade, Trixie let out a long sigh. "Don't be. Performing wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. I find myself in limbo. While I performed, ponies treated me like a queen, but they never did so out of respect or admiration. They did so out of fear. Fear that I would make them look like fools."

"Well, not to be rude, but you seemed completely fine with that the last two times you were here."

Trixie's frowned deepened. "And what did it get me? I had an artifact of tremendous power, power like nopony had seen before! You and your friends beat me. Not by using a greater power, but by making a fool out of me. I became envious of you and your friends. The few times I could get a pony's ear in a performance, I couldn't bear to do the horrible and embarrassing things I did before."

Silence fell again between the two ponies. Trixie finished her lemonade and rose to her hooves. "Thanks for the drink. Maybe we should get back to the shelving?"

"Huh? Oh uh, yes, of course," Twilight said as she too stood up. Trixie felt a sting of shame at the pitiful look the alicorn left her with.

“Comets for Casuals!"

Trixie caught the book with her magic. Scanning through her bookcase she found the spot almost instantly and plugged it in. "Got it! What's next?"

"That's it. We're done!" Twilight announced.

Trixie crumpled to the ground and took a deep breath. "Never in a million years would I have guessed this would have been more stressful than working on Applejack's farm."

Twilight landed next to the unicorn sprawled out on the floor. "Well, a library requires mental and physical concentration. Sometimes when I get through writing an essay, it feels like I've spent an entire week on Applejack's farm."

Trixie raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever spent a week on Applejack’s farm?”

Twilight’s face went beet red. “Well… no. Only a day or two.” Twilight extended a friendly hoof toward the unicorn. Taking her up on the offer, Trixie pulled herself up with a grunt. In Twilight's other hoof was a pouch of bits. "Here you go. I'd definitely say you earned it.

As much as she hated to admit it, Trixie enjoyed actually working for her money. Seeing Twilight’s smile and the obvious impact that she had on the library left a small warmth in her heart. "Thank you, Twilight."

"Huh? For what?" the alicorn asked, tilting her head curiously.

"For giving me a chance to prove myself."

"I'm just glad this wasn't some crazy trick to somehow get revenge or something. Also, I..." Twilight started.

"Huh?"

"I hope you're able to perform again one day."

Trixie's mind wandered back to her newly modified cape and hat waiting at Sugarcube Corner. "Yeah... maybe one day." Without another word, she walked to the door and opened it.

"See ya around, Sparkle."

Once again, Trixie avoided Mrs. Cakes venomous glare and made her way to Pinkie's room. She had quickly learned that guessing what lay on the other side of the door was an impossible affair, left to ponies smarter or stranger than her. Steeling herself, she took a deep breath and opened the door.

The first thing to catch her eye was Pinkie Pie gnawing on her tail.

"Should I even ask?"

Hearing the unicorn's voice, Pinkie's eyes lit up. She spat a small pink glob onto another, larger pile of pink goop. "Heya, Trixie! Don't mind me, I'm just digging this bubblegum out of my tail."

"And why is there bubblegum in your tail?" Trixie asked, shedding her saddlebags.

"It was just a prank. Don't mind me, the shower’s all yours," Pinkie said before stuffing her tail back into her mouth.

"Sounds good to me."

What Trixie intended to be a shower, quickly turned into a bath. During the course of the day, she had used muscles she never knew existed. A soaking hot bath was exactly what she needed to chase away the soreness in her body. Walking back into the bedroom, she saw the pile of bubblegum now sitting in the trash. Pinkie herself was sitting on the bed, reading a letter by her lamp's light.

"I guess you got it all out?"

Pinkie looked up from her paper and smiled. "Yup! Just takes a little time."

Trixie walked over to her pullout bed and plopped down. She intended to ignore Pinkie and her mysterious paper. Before long, however, the curiosity started to eat at her. Slowly, she peered over the side of the bed to try and get a better look at the mysterious parchment. Unfortunately, there wasn't much she could tell by looking at the back of the paper itself.

"What are you reading?" she finally asked.

The pink mare lowered the letter, meeting her with a smile. "This? It's just a letter from my folks back home."

"What? Back home? But I thought they were your family," the unicorn said, pointing at the closed door.

"Who? The Cakes? No silly, I just work for them and they let me stay here. If they were my family, they wouldn't have to write me a letter!" Pinkie giggle snorted.

Trixie thought about the kind of ponies Pinkie's parents had to be to give birth to such a crazy mare. Unfortunately, Pinkie returned to her letter without any further explanation.

"Have they arranged for any wild and raucous parties?" Trixie asked, trying to goad more information out of her. Pinkie rolled her eyes.

"Hah! Yeah right! They don't do parties very well. Lemme tell ya, being a rock farmer doesn't exactly mix well with being a party pony."

If they weren't stuck in her head, Trixie's eyes would have fallen out and rolled across the floor. "R-Rock farmer?"

Pinkie folded up her letter and placed it on the nightstand.. "Yup. Everypony in my family is a rock farmer, except me. What about your parents?"

Trixie felt a twinge of shame. "My parents? They are... well, they are nobles in Canterlot. They pulled some strings and got me into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

Pinkie's eyes went back into her head. "That sounds really familiar. Oh wait! Twilight went there! That's where I remember hearing it! Did you and Twilight share a class together?"

"I never saw her. Wherever she was, I was either in a separate class, or I had already left."

Pinkie rolled upside down on her bed while keeping her eyes glued to Trixie. "Left? Did you graduate early?"

Trixie shook her head sadly. "No. My parents... they never thought I would amount to anything. No matter how well I did in school, they would always expect more. One day in the middle of the night, I took the savings I had kept from my allowance and ran away. I told myself after I became famous all across Equestria, I would return and tell them they were wrong, Trixie Lulamoon is somepony." The resolute tone in Trixie's voice faded to one of sadness. "Seeing where I am now, however, maybe they were right."

Pinkie gasped. "No! You can be somepony! You just gotta try again! I bet if you tried really hard and practiced magic, ponies from all over Equestria would come see you."

Trixie's eyes drifted to her crumpled cape and hat in the corner. "I appreciate the sentiment, but that's far easier said than done. I'm not sure I'm good enough to perform for a large crowd. Besides, if I were to perform for such a crowd, I would need at least another pony to be my assistant."

"Then we'll practice together!" Pinkie proclaimed, standing on her back legs.

"Wha-what?"

Pinkie pounded her hooves together. "You heard me! We can do magic together! I can be your partner!"

The first gut instinct Trixie felt told her to scream out no! Pinkie Pie struck her as scatterbrained, loopy, and not quite there mentally speaking. The more she thought about the offer however, the more it made sense.

Anypony who can bake such elaborate goods, and help run a bakery surely has to be responsible enough to learn a few magic routines.

"I suppose we could try learning a few tricks together. I'm not altogether sure this is quite in your skillset though."

Pinkie's eyes widened. "What do you mean? My special talent is throwing parties and having fun! A magic show is totes a party, and I'm sure we can have fun doing it," Pinkie said, falling back on all fours.

Trixie bit her lip. “You certainly have a way with ponies. Maybe you and I could do a few routines and see how it goes.”

Pinkie Pie jumped on her bed with glee. "This is gonna be so fun! I’m telling you, Trixie, we can be the best magicians Ponyville has ever seen!"

The excitement bubbled over in Trixie's heart. For the first time in quite a long time, a small ray of hope seemed to shine inside her. Without thinking, she fell onto the bed and giggled like a school filly. Needing little prompting, Pinkie followed suit laughing as if somepony had used a cheesy pun.

"I suppose we should get some sleep for now," Trixie finally said. Slowly, she crawled off the side of Pinkie's bed and nestled into the pullout bed. She stared at the ceiling and waited for Pinkie Pie to turn off her lamp. After a few moments, a pair of blue eyes stared down at her as Pinkie craned her neck off the side of her bed.

"You know... you don't have to sleep down there if you don't want to..."

Trixie put on a trivial smile. "It's not too bad on your back if you lay just right. Besides, I couldn't dream of taking your bed from you."

"You wouldn't have to! My bed is really big! I don't even take up half of it."

A small twinge of pain shot through Trixie's back. Thinking back to their laughing fit, the bed did seem rather large for just one pony.

"I'm not sure I should..."

Trixie was given no further opportunities to protest. Pinkie took her hooves and pulled her onto the bed in one smooth motion. "We'll try it for one night and then you can choose whether you want to keep doing it. Deal?"

Trixie nodded. "That sounds fair to me."

Pinkie smiled and wiggled her way under the covers. Trixie followed suit, pleasantly surprised that there was more than enough room between them to fit another pony if they had to.

Craning her head to the right, Trixie couldn’t help but smile at the mare sitting next to her. “Pinkie, I just wanted to say, thank you so much for all you’ve done for me. For the first time in months, I feel like there might be a place for me in this world once again.”

Pinkie smiled brightly. All of a sudden, her eye went blank, then started fluttering. Her ears started flopping wildly, and she let out a huge sneeze that shoved the bed against the wall another couple inches. Pinkie lifted the blanket, covering the blush on her cheeks. “S-sorry…”

Trixie let out a soft giggle and rolled over in bed. “Good night, Pinkie.”

Giving no warning, Pinkie turned off her nightstand lamp. “Good night, Trixie.”

Partners in magic. This is certainly not how I envisioned my stay in Ponyville going.

A content sigh from her roommate was the last thing Trixie heard that night.

Hit the Ground Running

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On this morning, muffled humming served to awaken Trixie from her slumber. Looking beside her through bleary eyes, she saw ruffled sheets and a pillow turned askew, abandoned by their owner. Her eyes focused as she peered into the bathroom at a fuzzy pink blur, busy preparing for her day.

Pinkie stood on her hind legs, one hoof on the cabinet, the other vigorously scrubbing her teeth clean with a pink toothbrush.

No surprises in color choice there.

One moment later, Pinkie spit into the sink. Trixie sat up in bed, trying to wake up just as the pink pony hopped back into the bedroom.

"Good morning, Sleepy McSleeperson! Did ya sleep well?"

Trixie smiled. "Good morning, Pinkie Pie. It certainly felt better than the tiny bed down there."

Pinkie’s grin brightened. "See? I told you the bed was plenty big enough! Anyway, I'm going down to help the Cakes. You should too, when you're ready!"

Trixie just smiled as Pinkie left the room.

I must admit, it does feel good not to wake with a crick in my neck.

The unicorn tossed aside the blanket and hopped out of bed, eager for a warm shower.

Feeling revitalized after her shower, Trixie marched downstairs, ready to get a start on the brand new day. Walking through the kitchen doors, she saw the Cakes and Pinkie standing over one of their ovens, each bearing concerned looks upon their faces.

"C'mon, you pain in the flank," Mr. Cake said, giving the oven a sharp buck. Pinkie and Mrs. Cake stepped back as he was rewarded with a belch of smoke for his efforts. Mr. Cake finally hung his head. "I think that's it, Honeybun. She’s kaput."

Mrs. Cake held a hoof to her heart. "Oh, but dear, the wedding season is about to go into full swing. How will we handle it with only one oven?"

Mr. Cake tossed off his apron and started for the kitchen doors. "There's nothing else we can do. I'm gonna go see Filthy and ask him for a loan."

"But dear, you remember what happened last time? When we hit a slump, he tried to take the bakery! We had to work double time and deliver all the way to Canterlot to get the money to repay that lecherous fiend."

During the exchange, Pinkie Pie remained quiet. Unnaturally quiet for her. Her ears folded flat against her head as the painful truth became clear.

"We have no other choice, Cinnamon Bun. At least we'll be able to keep up with the orders."

Trixie stood there silently during the whole exchange. Her eyes flitted between the downtrodden ponies as something well up inside her. A knowing grin crossed her face as Mr. Cake approached.

"Let me by, Trixie."

"No."

“No?” Mr. Cake stumbled backwards in surprise. "What do you mean, ‘no’?"

Faced with that question, a sly smile crossed Trixie’s face as she extended her hooves to block the doorway completely.

"There will be no need for me to move because I, Trixie Lulamoon, have the perfect solution to your money troubles!" she declared.

Mr. Cake could only roll his eyes. "Like what? A pyramid scheme? I have a hard time believing that a homeless pony has the magical solution to our problems."

Trixie's smile only grew wider. "Your words wound me, but the answer is, indeed, magic!"

Mrs. Cake tossed her apron off in a huff. "What is it, this time? Some sort of ancient anklet to duplicate bits? Or maybe you’ve found some way to turn lead into gold?"

Trixie turned her nose in the air. "Of course, more insults, but I assure you that my intentions are pure. It's quite simple. I, along with the help of my new assistant Pinkie Pie, shall put on a magic show for all of Ponyville to see!"

Far from being amazed, the Cakes simply stared at her as if she had just put a lampshade on her head and declared herself The Princess of Panties.

"And just who in their right mind is going to pay to go to your show?" Mrs. Cake asked.

Trixie laughed, once again in complete confidence. "Why, that's easy. Nopony."

The Cakes, and now even Pinkie Pie seemed stunned, their jaws hanging open.

Pinkie scratched her head in confusion. "But... if nopony is going to pay to watch us perform, how will we make any money to buy a new oven?"

Trixie's smile brightened at that moment, triumphant and brimming with confidence. "That's simple. We charge for concessions. Admittance is free to the public, but popcorn, cupcakes, punch, and candy will be sold throughout the entire show, at a generous markup, of course."

Mr. and Mrs. Cake and Pinkie stood in silence in the revelation of Trixie's plan.

"I don’t believe it. That... that just might work," Mr. Cake muttered in disbelief.

"But are you sure you can raise enough?" Mrs. Cake asked.

"Any money is better than no money. I also know a certain pegasus who might be able to get a few flyers into the outlying towns." Trixie's eyes fell on Pinkie Pie, who had been abnormally silent. "Is something wrong?"

"Partner."

"Huh?"

"You said ‘assistant’. I don't want to be an assistant. I want to be a partner, remember?"

Trixie cursed herself silently. The moment she felt her confidence return, she had immediately put herself in the spotlight, forgetting who had gotten her this far.

She held out her hoof and gave a small smile. "Of course, Partners."

Brushing aside Trixie's hoof, Pinkie pulled the unicorn into a bonecrushing hug.

"Yay! I can't wait! Let's go get the others!"

Trixie cleared her throat loudly, the sound echoing throughout the royal library in Twilight’s crystal castle. "I'm sure you are all wondering why I've gathered you here," she began.

"Uhhh actually, Pinkie Pie came and got us," Applejack said, motioning to herself and Rainbow Dash.

"I live here." Twilight pointed out.

Rolling her eyes, Trixie sighed. "Right. Trixie shall just get to the point, then. We are here because the Cakes need our help."

Low murmuring spread between the five ponies.

"The Cakes? What happened? Are they okay?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"Rest assured, they are just fine. Their business, however, is not. This morning, one of their ovens finally broke for good."

"Oh no! The caterin' business is just fixin' ta pick up! They need both of them to keep up with all of the orders headed their way!" Applejack exclaimed.

Trixie gave a solemn nod. "Now you see the problem."

"Hmmm. I bet we could figure out a solution if we just put our heads together," Twilight stated resolutely.

"Actually, I already have a great idea if you'll hear me out," Trixie offered.

"Oh, I'm sure this will go well," Rarity said her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Let her speak, Rarity," Applejack interjected.

Trixie cleared her throat and pulled Pinkie to her side. "I present to you, my newest partner in magic!"

"Partner?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Magic? But she's an earth pony," Twilight protested.

"Not this kind of magic," Trixie explained, tapping her horn. "Illusionary magic. Pinkie and I shall perform a show right here in Ponyville, and the proceeds from that event shall be what funds the Cake’s new oven," the unicorn stated proudly.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Yes, because ponies will be lined up for days to come watch you perform again! I doubt they would even give a single bit to see you show off."

"That's the best part. They won't have to. The entire show will be free. We'll charge for concessions. If we get a sizable crowd, the money will roll in all on its own as ponies buy popcorn, candy, and baked goods."

Twilight's horn ignited in a purple aura as she pulled a quill and scroll together. "That just might work! You'll need quite a crowd, though, since not everypony will actually want to buy something."

"That's where you come in," Trixie said, pointing at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow jolted upright. "Huh? Me?"

"Yes, you. We shall print flyers and give them to you. You hit the nearby towns and make sure that they're easily visible. If we're lucky, we’ll have ponies all the way from Canterlot in the stands!"

“The Cakes are pretty cool, and there’s no way I’d let them or Pinks down. I'm sure I can fit in a quick flight."

"What can the rest of us do to help?" Twilight asked.

"How about a stage?" Pinkie suggested.

"Hmmm, yes. A sturdy stage with a few trapdoors," Trixie added. "In addition, The Cakes will likely need the use of your oven, Applejack, to prepare all the food for the show."

"No problems there. Big Mac can even help haul it to the show."

Rarity jumped forward. "Wait a minute! Now we're taking orders from her? This is lunacy!"

"Rarity..." Twilight put a hoof to her head in annoyance.

"Don't you 'Rarity' me! How do we know this isn't some sort of trick?"

Trixie pointed out the library's window toward Sugarcube Corner. "Fine. Go check the oven yourself! Ask the Cakes if you wish. This isn't some sort of scheme!"

Rarity took a shaky step back. "Oh... right. I suppose they would have to be in on this too if it were some sort of plot."

"That's what we tried to tell you!" Pinkie exclaimed.

Rarity closed her eyes for a moment. "Alright, fine. I'll help however I can, but, I'm only doing this for the Cakes!"

Pinkie Pie appeared behind Rarity, tackling her with a vicious hug. "Yes! Thank you so so so so much!"

"Thank you... Rarity," Trixie finally said.

"Now then. What is it you need from me?"

Pinkie put a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm. We could use some curtains for the stage. Nothing too fancy."

"Pinkie will need a suit and several changes of outfits. Exotic ones if you have them," Trixie added.

"Suit, curtains, outfits, got it. I think I can, ‘whip something up’, as they say."

Trixie finally allowed herself a sigh of relief. She actually convinced Pinkie's friends to help her in the crazy idea. With all the preparations underway, a new problem surfaced.

"Pinkie Pie?"

"Hmmm? What's up?" Pinkie asked.

"I just realized... we need a routine. We have no tricks or equipment."

Pinkie nodded gravely. "Yes, that is a problem, but I think I have a solution!"

As quick as a flash, the pink pony zipped over to Trixie and put her mouth close to the unicorn's ear. "Pstpspspsspsst."

"Uhhh, yes?" Trixie asked.

"Pspsssspspsppppspaspspsps."

"Uhhhhh riiight..."

"Pssstpsspspspspspast."

"Ummm, Pinkie Pie?"

"Yea, Trixie?"

"All you are doing is making whispering noises without actually saying anything."

"Well, yeah! If I said anything being so close to the others, they would hear me and it wouldn't be a secret!" Pinkie exclaimed.

Trixie rolled her eyes.

"A magic show, huh," Twilight said, moving to one of the numerous bookshelves in the room. "I'm betting you don't even have a routine yet."

Trixie's eyes fell upon the cold, crystal floor. "Ummm, not really, no."

One by one, Twilight pulled several books out of the shelf and flung them toward Trixie who started catching them in her hooves. "Then you may wanna do some research. I have books on some of the greatest magicians in Equestria here!"

Trixie stared up at the tall pile of books in her hooves, watching them teeter one way, and then the other.

"See, Trixie? We'll have a super awesome amazing magic act going in no time!" Pinkie cheered, patting the unicorn on the back.

Everyone winced as the stack of books collapsed, burying Trixie. The books floated upwards in a magical aura, uncovering the unicorn. Twilight blushed and stacked them on a nearby table. “Maybe I'll just put these in your saddlebags."

Trixie and Pinkie walked through Ponyville towards a large building shaped like a jester’s hat.

“I thought this was the joke shop.”

"Joke shop, party supply store, magic trick outlet, it's all three in one!" Pinkie exclaimed, bounding off towards the building. She propped the door open just long enough for Trixie to squeeze through before galloping away.

The front of the shop had all of the trappings Trixie expected from such an establishment. Bright blue flooring marked what appeared to be the first section of the store. The first four aisles or so we're devoted entirely to practical jokes. On wooden shelves rested all of the timeless classics. Sneezing powder, itching powder, disappearing ink, among other favorites. She toyed with the notion of grabbing something to have some fun with, but thought twice about it. Given the current attitude the Ponyvillians had towards her, even a stink vial might be seen as a chemical weapon attack.

Abruptly, the flooring turned to pink. It didn't take a trained eye to tell that this was the party supply section. Down the first aisle were streamers and banners. Every occasion from graduations to cute cenara's was represented.

The next aisle hit her hard with the smell of latex. From the front to the back, every inch of shelf space was devoted to plastic buckets filled with balloons of every type and size.

"Trixie! The magic stuff is down here!"

The unicorn looked ahead at Pinkie who was waving at her. She decided to cut her sightseeing visit short and just go to her partner. The flooring changed color again, this time to a darker color just a few shades lighter than black. Passing all of the aisles, she finally saw a large counter across the back of the store being tended by a blue coated mare with an orange, spiky mane.

"So, you're the Trixie, are you?" the pony behind the counter asked. Her voice seemed serene and confident.

Trixie struggled to place the mare’s face with a name, but failed. Perhaps in her conquest of Ponyville, she forgot about this one. "Ummm yes, I am. I don’t recall seeing you before though."

The pony laughed. "Of course you don't. Anytime I get a whiff of trouble here in the humble town of Ponyville, I go to my panic room. It’s been a very worthwhile investment."

Muffled gasping drew Trixie’s attention away from the shopkeeper. She turned to see Pinkie with her neck caught in a set of metal rings, her face turning blue from lack of oxygen.

"Excuse me a moment," Trixie said. The pony behind the counter smiled and gave a nod. With a sure hoof and deft movements, Trixie pulled the rings apart, removing them from each other and her partner’s neck.

Pinkie shook her head and smiled. "Thanks! All of the colors were starting to blur there for a second there!" Trixie put the rings back together with a fluid motion and placed them back on the shelf.

"Sorry about that. She tends to get a bit excited, though I'm sure you know that as well as anypony, Miss...?"

The pony extended her hoof for a gentle shake. "You can call me Iris. I've been running this shop for going on seven years now."

"Ahhh, Iris. So I suppose you know why I'm here then?" Trixie asked.

Iris’ lips curled into a smirk. "I would guess that you have a performance coming up soon and you need some supplies for a routine."

"That... is a-ahem-accurate if not simplified description of my situation."

Iris smiled. "Well, you need look no further than my shop. I have enough magic supplies to run entire years worth of shows... in the right hooves of course. I'll even give you a discount, being such close friends with Pinkie and all."

"You... you altered my hat and cape, didn't you?"

The pegasus smiled. "Gold star, Miss Trixie. I did indeed. See, I owe Pinkie Pie a great debt. One day my husband was working on a construction site when the crane malfunctioned. Pinkie Pie, dressed as a costumed hero, saved him and several other ponies."

Trixie narrowed her eyes. "Are we talking about the same Pinkie Pie?"

"Oh yes. She ducked and weaved through the entire site while debris and equipment rained around her. I owe her a debt I can never repay. I'd do anything to help her out."

Looking at the pink mare wrestling with a hoof trap, Trixie could scarcely believe that it was the same pony who braved a death zone to save countless lives. “She’ll have to stop surprising me at some point.”

"She is certainly quite special. Anyway, what can I get you?"

Trixie rubbed her chin, looking at the selection of good behind the counter. "Hmmm, I suppose I’ll need the essentials. We'll need at least twenty sealed decks of playing cards, let’s say five small rubber balls, three of the trick boxes and two illusion sheets.”

Iris reached under the counter and gathered the items Trixie requested, piling them ontop in an orderly fashion. “Anything else?”

“Yes! We need these!” Pinkie interrupted, dropping several more items on the counter. Trixie reached in, digging through Pinkie’s selection. Pulling a deflated balloon nearly as large as Trixie herself out of the stack, she eyed the mare warily.

“Any reason we need balloons this big, a helium tank, and… the rest of this stuff?”

Pinkie bobbed her head frantically. “Yup! I’ve got a great idea for a trick! If we do it right, it’ll be a surefire hit!”

Trixie nodded to Iris.

“All right. Your total is three hundred and twenty bits.”

Trixie raised her brow. "For all of this?"

Iris nodded. "Like I said, any close friend of Pinkie gets a discount. I couldn't help but notice though..."

"Notice what?"

Iris scrunched her nose seemingly lost in thought. "You don't have a wand do you?"

"I did at one time..." the unicorn muttered beneath her breath, the mental image of her smashed wagon dancing in her head.

"Excuse me." Iris turned and walked through a doorway closed off with a velvet curtain. Trixie sat at the counter tapping her hoof patiently waiting for the mare to return.

I hope we have enough time to learn an entire routine.

She had barely started rehearsing planned tricks in her head before Iris returned. The pegasus placed a large silver wand on the counter. At the very top was a crystal star that shimmered in the light.

"This little gem used to belong to a wandering illusionist years ago. He disappeared one day except his costume and wand which were found in his hotel room. I'd be willing to let you have it for thirty bits."

Trixie picked up the wand, eyeing it closely. The light hit the star perfectly refracting inside the crystal creating a rainbow of colors.

"Thirty bits is a a little expensive for a regular old wand, isn’t it?”

Iris nodded. “You would be right, if this were any ‘regular old wand.’ This wand is quite special. It’s said to reflect the desires of the heart of anypony who holds it.”

Trixie looked into the wand and saw nothing but a spectacle of lights and colors. “I’ve spent more bits on less important things. Toss it in.”

Iris smiled and started bagging Trixie's purchase.

"I get the feeling you know quite a bit about illusionary magic. Maybe we could have lunch one day and sort of... pick each other’s minds?"

Iris placed the last of the purchase in a bag and pushed them across the counter. "Now surely Miss Trixie, you of all ponies should know that a magician never reveals her secrets."

The sound of a machine grinding to life filled the shop as the smell of oil and steel wafted toward the pair of ponies.

"Hey, Trixie! Watch me juggle!" Pinkie called out from the corner of the store.

The color drained from the unicorn's face. "Uhhh, excuse me a moment. I've got to stop my partner from maiming herself!” Trixie dashed away from the counter at full speed. "Pinkie! Put the chainsaws down!"

"Just a little more..."

Applejack pulled on the rope ever so slightly.

"Right there!"

Twilight's horn lit up in a red aura. Using her magic, she grabbed a hammer and nail and started securing the board in place.

"Woah. You two work fast," Rainbow said as she hovered overhead. Applejack growled in response.

Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash. "We might’ve been further along if you had helped us rather than taking a nap," Twilight noted "Okay, Applejack. You can let go now."

The cowpony spit out the rope letting it go slack. "Yeah, what she said."

Rainbow crossed her front legs. "In case you two forgot, I'm going to be flying all over the place in a little bit dropping off flyers."

"Ah well. Ah s'pose it can't be helped. We're almost through with the supports anyway," Applejack said.

On the edge of Ponyville closest towards Sweet Apple Acres, they had the beginings of a stage started. While it didn't yet have a floor, it now had the support going up each side.

A sing song voice cut through the air. "Rainbow Dash."

"Oh hey, Fluttershy, what's up?"

The yellow pegasus slowly trotted over with her saddlebags bulging. "Ummm, here are the flyers

you needed."

"It sounds like everything is coming together."

Twilight and the others turned to a now familiar voice.

"Hey, Pinkie, hey Trixie. Applejack and I are working on the stage. We'll probably have it all together tomorrow afternoon."

Pinkie bounced in place. “It already looks supependerrific! I can’t wait to do some amazing tricks on it for everypony to see!”

"I’m taking these flyers to the surrounding towns. Heck, I should be fast enough to drop a bunch in Canterlot even!"

Trixie laughed apprehensively. "Yeah... Canterlot is great, but who is going to handle Ponyville?"

"We'll leave that to Fluttershy. You've got Ponyville covered, right pal?" Rainbow asked, extending her hoof. Fluttershy bumped it lightly.

"R-right! You can count on me." One of the flyers fell out of her bags and came to a rest in front of Trixie. She grabbed the paper with her magic and skimmed through it until she found the date.

"The twenty-second... what's today's date."

"The nineteenth," Twilight answered, pounding down a few stray nails in the stage.

"What?! Three days? Are you serious? Pinkie and I have only three days to come up with and practice a full show? Why in Equestria would you all handicap us in such a way?" Trixie cried out.

Applejack huffed. "We tried to get it set up for later, but the mayor said all next week there's going to be a group of ponies from Canterlot to set up a wine and cheese tasting something or other."

"Exhibition," Twilight corrected. Rainbow Dash flew into the middle of the discussion.

"Whatever. You're the great and powerful Trixie, aren't you? If you're half as cool as you make yourself out to be, then you shouldn't have trouble making it happen."

Twilight smiled. This was the moment. The moment Trixie should have tipped her hat back, looked Rainbow in the eyes, and declare that she, the great and powerful Trixie would put on a show the likes of which these pitiful towns had never seen.

Unfortunately, the desperate eyes looking back at them was anything but confident.

"But I... I don't know if that's enough time! We haven't practiced a single trick yet!" The unicorn protested.

Applejack hopped up on the stage to hammer a few more nails in. "Then ya best stop wasting yer time around here! You and Pinkie's got a lot of work to do, so get to practicing."

"Y-yes, of course. we'll be off then."

Twilight watched with a twinge of sadness behind her eyes as Trixie walked away. Pinkie shot one last worried look toward Twilight before following her partner.

"Girls?"

"Is it important, Rainbow? We're kind of busy here," Applejack grunted in frustration.

"I don't know if she's up for this."

Twilight nodded. "I'm worried too. I hope she can keep it together. It might be hard for her to perform again..."

"This is it, Pinkie Pie." Trixie stood over their haul from the magic shop, sorting the items out. "We have to take this junk, and turn it into a full length magic show worthy of the best magicians of Las Pegasus in less than three days... somehow."

Pinkie erupted without warning from the pile of stuff causing Trixie to jump in surprise.

"I've been thinking about something, and this time it is 't frosting. Maybe we should make it a magic and comedy act!"

"Comedy? How so?"

"It's simple, silly. We play jokes on each other on stage. The ponies who think they know you as a meanie pants lemon grump won't be expecting us to make fun of ourselves."

Visions of Pinkie dropping banana peels and throwing pies in her face danced in Trixie's head. "I, I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"Oh, c'mon, it'll be great! Why don't I show you what I mean and if you don't like it, we can forget I ever mentioned it."

"Hmmmm...."

"Puhleeeassse?" Pinkie begged, batting her eyes like a sad puppy.

"Alright," Trixie relented. I suppose it couldn't hurt. Besides, maybe it'll fill in some of the gaps between routines we're sure to have."

Pinkie hopped in the air excitedly and bounced around like a rubber ball.

"Don't wear yourself out early. We only have three days to prepare for this show. "

"And that should do it," Trixie said, laying her quill down.

"Mmmhmmm."

The night had gone on long for the aspiring magicians. The moon had since risen in the night sky leaving both ponies tired. Pinkie and Trixie both had their heads close to the foot of the bed.

"I just hope they actually give us a chance before they boo me off-stage," Trixie said, letting out a gentle sigh.

"Mmhmm."

Trixie looked at the pony lying next to her, taking in the sight. For the last thirty minutes or so, Pinkie had been trying to sneakily close her eyes here and there for a few winks. It now seemed like the pink mare had finally lost the battle, her breaths becoming more and more shallow. Trixie couldn't help but smile at the sleeping mare.

Without thinking, she reached over and gently tousled the frizzy mane. So many times she had wondered what it felt like, and to little surprise, it did feel like candyfloss. Pinkie's bushy tail twitched sporadically as well. It was just then that Trixie remembered something.

"Pinkie, are you awake?"

A few moments went by without an answer. Nervously, she reached over and gently grabbed the bushy tail. Remembering the instructions, she turned Pinkie’s tail clockwise, her eyes scanning for any sort of change.

Suddenly, Pinkie's mouth opened with a "bleeagh." Trixie watched in morbid fascination as Pinkie's tongue, still coiled in her mouth, unrolled, going across the bed and falling onto the floor.

"Eeep!" Trixie hurriedly slapped her hooves on her mouth to stop any further sounds from escaping. Guesstimating from the height of the bed and the length on the bed and floor, she would have to put Pinkie's tongue at around four foot long. There was a small problem Trixie faced now.

How am I supposed to get it back in!

She briefly considered leaving it out so as not to worry about it, but she felt responsible for it happening. Out of curiosity and desperation, she gently cranked Pinkie's tail counter clockwise. Fortunately, inch by inch, Pinkie's tongue began pulling back into her mouth.

Thank goodness! I don't know how I would have explained that to her! Though, she probably would not have given it much thought.

With a final twist of Pinkie's tail, the tongue finally coiled back into the pink mare's mouth. Now there was no sign or semblance of the bizarre event remaining. Just a smile and quiet snoring.

Trixie rested her head, trying to forget it happened in the first place, trying to think of anything she could except Pinkie's tongue, at least long enough to fall asleep.

Nerves

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For the first time since she arrived in Ponyville, Trixie awoke, not because her back hurt, Pinkie's latent skill as an alarm clock, or a nosy alligator. She woke because she felt rested. She rolled onto her back, stretching her legs and letting out a large yawn in the process.

She rolled over just in time to see Pinkie's eyes flutter open as well. Pinkie smiled for a moment, but only for a brief moment. The smile changed into a scrunch as the mare worked her jaw side to side.

"That's weird. My tongue feels funny!" Pinkie announced, her brows knit in confusion.

"Heh, heh, y-you don't say?" Trixie laughed nervously.

In a flash, Pinkie's smile returned. "Oh well. Hey, let's go get the Cakes going early so we can get to practicing our magic."

Trixie watched the pink pony bound into the bathroom and finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Applebloom! You be careful up there, ya hear?"

"Don't worry, Sis! Everything's A-okay up here!" the filly shouted back.

Twilight stared up at Apple Bloom hammering together the top of the stage connecting each of the sides. She couldn't help but giggle at Applejack who had her hat covering her face in anxiety.

"Wow, AJ. I don't think I've ever seen you this nervous before."

The cowpony moved the hat to her chest. "Twi, that's mah kin up there! You expect me to be calm about this?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Well, considering I can just catch her with my magic, and that she and the crusaders have fallen from much higher than this before, yes."

"That sure don't make it much easier. Rainbow Dash! Why ain't you up there hammering that wood instead of mah sis?"

Rainbow, who was currently sitting on a nearby cloud shrugged. "Ummm, hello. I don't know anything about construction! I'm more of a destruction type pony."

Applejack snorted angrily. "Well, the least you can do is park yer little cloud closer so you can catch her if she falls!"

"Fiiine."

Rainbow hopped off of her cloud and pushed it closer to the stage. Apple Bloom looked over and gave the pegasus an apologetic grin.

"Jeez, I hope Trixie and Pinkie are pulling their weight practicing or something. I'd hate for all of this to be for nothing."

"The only thing you're doing is napping!" Applejack pointed out.

"Hey! I was up until two in the morning last dropping off flyers! Not only that, but I still had to go to work this morning."

"Girls, please, can we not build a stage without going for each other’s throats?" Twilight pleaded.

"Oh Twilight, you just don't understand how Applejack and Rainbow Dash flirt."

Twilight and two other blushing ponies turned to the new voice.

"Rarity, Rainbow and I are not flirting! Like I would even be interested in a multicolored mess up like RD!"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Very convincing. You have the curtains for the stage?"

Rarity pulled the long red curtains from each of her saddlebags. "They're not the most elaborate curtains I've ever made, but given such short notice, they're the best I could do. They're certainly better than that fraud deserves."

"Rarity, this isn't for Trixie, remember? This is for the Cakes," Twilight pointed out in a chiding tone.

"Yes, yes, I know. It just seems wrong, that's all."

"You two wanna keep gabbin' or would ya maybe like to help get this thing together?" Applejack called out to them.

"Reset!"

Pinkie tumbled to the floor face first. "Shoot! We were so close too!"

Trixie sighed. The sun had started its descent into the horizon as a visible reminder to how little time they had left.

"Worry not, Pinkie. We're at about fifty-fifty with this trick. You just have to slide out quicker."

“I'm calling for a cupcake timeout," Pinkie said as she made for the door. "You want anything?"

Trixie's stomach growled at the offer. "I could go for an apple."

"I'll see if there are any left from baking this morning!" Pinkie called back, closing the door behind her.

Allowing herself a breather, Trixie finally noticed that Pinkie's room had become a disaster area. Various props and decorations littered the floor from their intense routines.

It's a bit stuffy in here.

Trixie walked to the window and opened it. She was immediately rewarded with a cool breeze flowing through her mane. The ponies of Ponyville busied themselves with their routine, not paying attention to her overlooking them. In the distance, she could make out the stage Twilight and her friends worked so hard to build. It looked to be complete. The only thing it needed now was an audience, and some performers.

This could be it. If we manage to pull this off, ponies might be willing to watch me perform again.

A mint green unicorn walked out of a nearby store and nuzzled a pony waiting outside. A tan pony with a candy colored mane. She remembered during the occupation of Ponyville, she had used her magic to force the unicorn to divulge her most embarrassing secrets for Trixie's pleasure. She remembered the crimson blush upon the unicorn's face as she admitted her crush out loud.

At the time, the secret did little to amuse Trixie, but seeing the two ponies walking together, hearts joined in harmony, she couldn't help but feel slightly envious.

At least some good things came out of my reckless behavior.

The sound of the bedroom door opening caught Trixie's ear. She held up her hoof in anticipation. She felt something light and soft pushed into it.

"We were out of apples, so I grabbed an apple cinnamon muffin instead," Pinkie explained right before she jammed a cupcake into her mouth.

"Many thanks."

Trixie nibbled at her muffin, her eyes still looking out Pinkie’s window.

“Something wrong?” Pinkie asked, having already devoured her cupcake in a single bite.

“Trix-I mean, I’m not sure. I always envisioned that one day I’d be a wielder of arcane magicks. Somepony with untold power at the tip of her horn. Yet, here I am, reduced to a lowly illusionist. A glorified circus seal for other’s amusement,” Trixie lamented.

The air grew tense for a moment.

“Oh…”

Immediately, Trixie’s ears shot up. She looked to Pinkie who sat beside her, lips curled into a frown. Even more alarming, Pinkie’s hair seemed to droop. It felt foreign to see the party pony in such a state. Unnatural, and heart breaking.

“D-Did I say something wrong?”

Sitting back on her haunches, Pinkie tapped her front hooves together. “I thought you liked performing and making ponies happy like I do. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all…”

Trixie’s eyes flew open as she turned to Pinkie. “No! I don’t mean anything by it, I just…” letting out a frustrated grunt, she smacked her head against the window. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!”

Scrunching her nose, Pinkie looked more confused than before. Trixie sighed and looked to her companion. “Listen, Trixie is still new to this whole, friendship thing. She says things she isn’t exactly sure of herself. I’m sure Miss Perfect Sparkle occasionally messed up too when she was learning.”

Pinkie looked at her with a blank face prompting Trixie to fold her ears. “Please tell Trixie that even Twilight Sparkle didn’t get everything right on the first try…”

A knowing gleam crossed Pinkie’s eyes. “Oh, you meant Twilight! I was about to say I didn’t know any Perfect Sparkles! Sure she did, but she always learned something every time!”

Trixie breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank Celestia. Trixie was afraid Twilight really was perfect for a moment there. Listen, all Trixie is asking for is a little understanding when she says something she might not mean.”

Pinkie seemed pensive, but after a few terse seconds, that familiar smile spread out on the mare’s lips. “Got it! I, Pinkie Pie, shall be the most understandingningest friend ever! I think that’s way better than what Twilight wanted.”

At this, Trixie raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s that?”

“Twilight showed up with a stack of books and scrolls this tall!” Pinkie demonstrated by stretching her hoof into the air above her head a good bit farther than should be possible. “She wanted to give you friendship lessons, but I said, ‘Twi-Twi, the bestest way for Trixie to learn would be to learn the same way you did!’, but Twilight said my suggestion of using a time spell to have you replace her in the past in an alternate timeline might cause problems. So, I suggested you learn the same way she did. Just do it!”

Resting her head on the windowsill, Trixie let out a pathetic moan. “It sounds so simple when you say it.”

“It’ll be fantastic! No, wait, it’ll be terrific! No! Even better, it’ll be fantas-terrific!”

Lifting her head, Trixie gave Pinkie a warm smile. “With you by my side, I think it just might be.”

In the middle of Ponyville, the finishing touches were just being put to the stage for the next day’s performance. What Applejack thought would be a simple build, turned into a nightmare. The stage itself wasn’t the problem, so much as the extras they had to build into it. Mostly the trap doors. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with her hoof and stared at the finished project in the evening sun.

“Dern thing nearly killed us, but it’s finally complete. Now all she needs is a crowd,” Applejack declared.

“Hey, Applejack. Where’s Rainbow Dash?”

The cowpony nearly hopped out of her skin. Placing a hoof over her heart, she gave a relieved sigh. “Jeez, Twilight. I didn’t even hear ya come up behind me. Rainbow’s at home. Apparently she was plum tuckered out after deliverin’ all those flyers and then doing the weather on top. What’ve you been up to?”

“Ugh! Fighting with the mayor. I went to town hall today to get approval for the show, and she turned me down at first! The moment I said Trixie’s name, she nearly flipped! Once I told her it was for the Cakes, she demanded to see the broken oven before signing off on the show. Can you believe it?”

“Actually, I can,” Applejack admitted. “I didn’t think Trixie was sincere neither. Weren’t till she showed up after overworking her did I even consider she might be on the level. She did a lot of bad in this town, Twi, and she’s lucky you talked them down after last time.”

During Trixie’s “occupation” of Ponyville, Twilight imagined locking the unruly unicorn away herself a couple times. It was only Trixie’s heartfelt apology that stayed her hoof. “I guess you’re right. This time I think she’s really trying though. From what Pinkie and the Cakes say, the show was entirely Trixie’s idea, and she didn’t even demand a cut of the money.”

“What do you suppose she’s gettin’ out of it then?” Applejack asked.

Twilight’s eyes drifted to one of the myriad posters advertising the upcoming show. “Maybe she just wants her cutie mark back…”

Applejack furrowed her brow. “Wait, what?”

“Nothing, just thinking to myself,” Twilight said as she started the walk back to her castle. “Later, AJ.”

“Night, Twi.”

Trixie looked up from the dishes, her eyes narrowed. “What?”

“I said, tomorrow’s the big night, isn’t it?” Mrs. Cake repeated.

In the time she spent living at Sugarcube Corner, Trixie rarely got a peep out of the matron of the bakery. If she bothered to speak, it was just work related. Even that was rare. Most of the time, Mrs. Cake had nothing for the unicorn except a derisive glare.

“Yes, of course,” Trixie said, shaking off her confusion.

Trixie returned to her dishes, unsure if she should try to continue the conversation or not. Instead, both ponies sat in the uncomfortable silence, as Sugarcube Corner had closed thirty minutes ago.

“Do you… think you’re ready?” Mrs. Cake asked.

Trixie didn’t know how she should respond. On one hoof, she could be confident to try and reassure the elder mare everything was shaping up to be fine. A less appealing, but more common choice for her as of late, would be to simply tell the truth, as it had served her well recently.

“Trixie… doesn’t know. It has been many moons since she has performed, and most ponies in attendance might hate her. Without Pinkie Pie, Trixie probably would stand little to no chance,” the unicorn admitted.

“Oh.”

Standing over the sink of dishes, Trixie returned to her task.

“I can handle that,” Mrs. Cake said, nudging Trixie out of the way gently.

“Are you sure? Trixie hasn’t helped much in the kitchen today.”

For the first time since she arrived, the elder mare gave Trixie a warm smile. One she gave any other resident of Ponyville. One Trixie had been longing for since she first moved into the bakery. “I’m sure. You and Pinkie Pie have a busy day ahead of you. It would do you both well to get some rest.”

Utterly dumbfounded, Trixie didn’t even know what to say. “Trixie is-I mean, I’m very grateful. Thank you. I won’t let any of you down.”

Mrs. Cake simply nodded, still wearing the same smile. “Good night, dearie.”

Without another word, Trixie removed the apron she wore and hung it up on her way out the kitchen. She couldn’t help but take note that the walk upstairs wasn’t an unpleasant one. Her hooves no longer ached from overuse, nor did her head sway in exhaustion. It made sense really. All she had been doing is practicing her routine with Pinkie and help the Cakes with the shop. Nudging Pinkie’s door open, she spied the pink mare sitting on a stool, humming happily to herself while hunched over her desk.

“Hello, Pinkie.”

Spinning in her chair several more times than was necessary, Pinkie finally came to a halt, her eyes still reeling until she shook her head. “Heya, Trix! Finished already?”

Trixie shook her head. “No, actually. Believe it or not, Mrs. Cake volunteered to finish for me. She said we should get some rest.”

Pinkie’s eyes flew toward the clock, and back to her desk. “She’s right! It’s getting late and we both need sleep if we’re gonna wow anypony with a trick that doesn’t call for passing out on stage. I just have to finish this real quick.”

“Finish what?” Trixie asked, climbing onto the bed.

“A letter to my family of course! Tomorrow’s a big day and I can’t wait to tell them all about it!”

“Ah yes. I guess that’s true. How silly of me. I thought this would be just another performance for you.”

Pinkie threw her hooves up haphazardly sending her quill flying into the wall above Trixie. On reflex, the unicorn buried her head all the way up to her eyes beneath the blanket, staring at the projectile embedded in the wall a mere foot above her. Pinkie held her letter up triumphantly and then slipped it into an envelope. “Ta-da! Anyway, this isn’t just another party, I’ll be performing with a totally new partner.”

“R-right. I guess that is noteworthy,” Trixie said, gently extracting the quill from the sheetrock with her magic. “So, it all comes down to tomorrow, doesn’t it?”

“Incoming!”

Pinkie Pie, given to flights of fancy, apparently chose that exact moment to cannonball into bed. Trixie bounced several feet in the air, spinning head over hooves.

“Ooof!”

When the unicorn finally regained her senses, she realized her head now rested at the foot of the bed. Pinkie on the other hand was tucked snugly beneath the covers. Firing an annoyed glare at the oblivious pink pony, Trixie righted herself and crawled back to her original spot.

“Are you nervous, Trixie?”

Trixie leaned back into the pillow, her eyes trained on the ceiling. “It’s just another show for you. For me… it might be my last chance to perform. For all I know, they might just run me off the stage.”

A shudder ran through Trixie’s shoulder’s as a warmth tickled her ear. “Don’t worry too much. I’ll be right there with you.”

Pinkie’s gentle whisper brought with it a pleasant tinge of bubblegum from the mare’s toothpaste, and a reassurance Trixie couldn’t even conceive of until that very moment. “Thank you, Pinkie Pie.”

The lamp went out abruptly, leaving the pair of ponies to the still of the night.

Fillies and Gentlecolts...

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The sun had fallen over Ponyville. The last shades of orange and purple were finally starting to fade from view giving way to the spotlights shining on the stage that came together piece by piece over the past few days. The seats in front of the stage were packed, and more pegasi were flying in benches which were filling up as soon as they arrived. The crowd chattered impatiently, waiting for the show to begin.

Applejack peered through the curtain at the gathering of ponies. "Landsakes, Rainbow! Where in Equestria did you deliver all them flyers too?"

Sitting in a chair, Rainbow kicked her legs up with a smug grin. “Here, there, everywhere..."

"Holy smokes, Trixie! Look at all of the ponies that came to see us!" Pinkie said as she hopped excitedly. Dressed in her tuxedo, Trixie had to admit that Pinkie commanded a strong presence. Seeing the mare's bowtie turned sideways, Trixie lit up her horn to straighten it.

"Yes, well, it looks like the Cake's little money problem will be resolved after tonight. If we don't botch it up somewhere along the way that is."

Twilight's eyes fell upon the showmare, her face engraved with worry. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

The crowd outside started getting louder and more impatient, stamping their hooves into the dirt. The unicorn stood tall and tipped her hat back slightly using a touch of magic.

"Trixie is always ready."

Without a second look back, Trixie strutted out of the curtain's protection and into the full view of the entire crowd. She let a smirk cross her face as the loud talking and shouting changed not to applause, but to quiet murmuring.

"Good evening fillies and gentlecolts! Rejoice, for I, the Great and Powerful Trixie bless you with her spectacular presence!" she proclaimed, throwing up her hooves much the way a deity might if they were looking for attention.

"Tonight, you shall all bear witness to the supreme command I hold over magical arts, and I will never have to use my horn to perform a single one of them."

"C'mon! Get on with it!"

"Yeah! Where's Pinkie Pie?"

The crowd started getting restless. Trixie let her smile falter into something close to a scowl. "Pinkie Pie? Why in Equestria would you ever want to see her?"

More terse shouting went through the throng of ponies which soon fell into a chant.

“Pin-kie Pie! Pin-kie Pie! Pin-kie Pie!”

Rolling her eyes, Trixie scoffed. "Alright, alright. I suppose I should bring her out. You heard them, Pinkie Pie. You're up!"

From the other side of the stage, Pinkie trotted on-stage, her smile even flashier than the suit she was wearing.

"Good evening everypony! I hope you're excited because we have a super amazing show for you tonight!"

The crowd went absolutely wild as many ponies left their seat altogether. Pinkie for her part waved and drank in the attention. About fifteen seconds into the applause, Trixie put on an annoyed expression and started tapping her hoof. Still, the applause didn't let up. Trixie walked to the edge of the curtain and grabbed a cardboard box.

"Okay, show stealer, I think that's enough of you," Trixie said just audible for the audience to hear. She dragged the box over and raised it over Pinkie's head. The crowd gasped as Trixie slammed it on top of Pinkie.

"It's too bad, fillies and gentlecolts, that you didn't get to say goodbye because she had to go!" Trixie exclaimed, lifting the cardboard box to reveal nothing on stage. With a quick flip of the box, she showed it to the crowd to leave no doubts it was empty. Scattered applause trickled in from the crowd.

The unicorn tossed the box aside. "Well, now that she's taken care of, we can get back to my show."

The crowd gasped as Pinkie fell from the top of the stage directly on top of Trixie. Laughter erupted from the audience as Pinkie hopped cutely onto her hooves and stood next to Trixie, waiting for her to patiently get up. After dusting herself off, the unicorn finally cleared her throat.

"Well, it appears that we are stuck with each other this evening. I suppose we'd better make the best of it."

Pinkie turned her head quizzically. "Huh? I can't hear you!"

Trixie thought for a moment. "Hmmm, I wonder if you have something stuck in your ear?" reaching her hoof over to Pinkie's head, she reached at the edge of the pink mare's ear and pulled out a bit, holding it up triumphantly.

Only a few polite ponies in the crowd applauded.

"Huh. It looks like there might be more in there."

Reaching in again, she pulled out another bit, and then another, and then another.

"This could take forever." Trixie finally just grabbed Pinkie by the head and started shaking, causing a small cascade of coins to fall out. The crowd finally started clapping and cheering until Trixie held up her hoof.

"Wait! I think I found the problem!" Trixie leaned in close and blew into Pinkie's ear. Not a moment later, a flock of doves flew out and took to the sky. Wild cheering and whistling spread throughout the crowd as Trixie bowed graciously.

So far, so good.

The Cakes had set up a makeshift stand to the side of the stage. They worked tirelessly all day to bake lots of tasty treats for the gathered crowd of ponies, hoping their work wouldn’t be in vain. It was clear after the first break that it wasn’t.

"Here you are. One hot chocolate and two brownies. That'll be eight bits," Mrs. Cake said, pushing them across the counter. "Enjoying the show?"

The pony, a tan earth pony wearing a turtleneck dropped the money on the counter and scooped up his order. "Abso-lutely! Those two are just dynamite together. Why, when I heard that loathsome unicorn would be performing, I almost didn't come! But I was in town for the wine tasting and thought, hey, it's free. Why not? It's been such a delight!"

Mrs. Cake smiled. "Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. They've been working really hard, and I tell you, that Trixie character seems like a brand new pony. Enjoy the rest of the show!"

Mrs. Cake dumped the bits into a bucket threatening to overflow.

"Oh, Carrot! This is going so well!" the earth pony enthused. Her husband had just handed off yet another order himself.

"I'm not sure if we'll have enough food to keep selling!" he said as another customer stepped forward.

"Now don't ya'll go worryin' none! Applejack has got your back!"

Mrs. Cake turned to see Applejack pulling a cart filled with all sorts of pastries, pies, and bottled apple juice.

"Oh my goodness, Applejack! You didn't have to go through all of that trouble!"

Applejack waved her off dismissively. "Don't you worry none. I have to help a fellow pony in need. Besides, if ya'll go out if business, Sweet Apple Acres will lose one of it's best buyers!"

Mrs. Cake wasted no time in grabbing the new pastries and putting them on display.

"Well, I must insist on paying you somethin for all of this trouble you've gone to."

"Only if ya got enough left over after buying the oven. Deal?" Applejack asked, extending her hoof.

"Deal!"

Trixie, and Pinkie Pie sat behind the curtains, preparing the final stretch of their show during intermission with Twilight and Rainbow Dash’s help.

"How much time do we have left?" Trixie asked.

"About five minutes," Rainbow replied. Trixie turned to the pink pony sitting beside her. "Looks like our break is almost up."

Pinkie nodded. "Yup! I can't wait until the grand finale! They're gonna go wild!"

"It’s not very scientific proof, but looking at the lines at the concession stand, I think the Cakes will have more than enough for a new oven," Twilight said.

Trixie sat up in her chair and cracked her neck. "I guess we better get ready."

"Omigosh! Wait! I have to do something very important!" Pinkie exclaimed causing everyone else to jump in surprise. Before they could ask what was going on, Pinkie had already disappeared in a pink blur.

Trixie shrugged dismissively. "I'd say that was unexpected, but honestly, I'm getting used to it by now."

The lines at the concession stand had dwindled to nothing. The show was due to resume at any moment and it was clear nopony wanted to miss it.

"I think the crowd has thinned enough, Applejack. I won't keep you here any more. Thank you so much for your help,” Mrs. Cake said.

"Think nothin' of it! Here in Ponyville, us ponies gotta stick together.”

A sudden breeze hit Mrs. Cake and Applejack. A pink hoof grabbed one of the few fritters that hadn’t sold and dragged it into the waiting jaws of it's hyperactive owner.

"Hey, Applejack, thanks for the applesnack!"

"Oh, well uhhh, think nothin' of it Pinks. You two sure are puttin' on a good show." Applejack's pupils became pinpoints. "Wait a minute! The show is fixin' to start! Why in tarnation are you over here?"

Pinkie gulped down two more fritters and grabbed Mrs. Cake by the shoulders.

"I came here to say something very important! Mrs. Cake, Applejack, I need you two to listen carefully," Pinkie started, her voice turning grave.

"Why sure, dear."

"Something wrong, sugarcube?"

Pinkie took a heavy breath. "I know this will be hard for you two, especially you, Mrs. Cake, but no matter what happens on the stage tonight, I need you two to trust me and Trixie. Capiche?"

Applejack raised a brow at her. "Uhhh, I don't rightly know what that last word means, but sure."

Mrs. Cake scrunched her nose. "If you say so, but please be careful, Pinkie."

The pink pony wrapped her hooves around the older mare tightly. "Thank you." Her eyes flew open abruptly. "Oh no! I gotta go! The show is starting again!"

In the blink of an eye, Pinkie, and two more fritters disappeared, leaving two bewildered ponies.

"What do ya think that was about?" Mrs. Cake was the first to break the silence.

"Notta clue," Applejack replied. "I guess we'll find out soon enough."

Trixie marched back on stage wearing a confident smile. Despite her brave display, she was afraid Pinkie wouldn’t make it back in time.

"Hello again, Ponyvillians, and our guests from the surrounding towns. I hope you're ready for the last half of our show."

She cut her intro short as her partner scrambled on stage in a frilly pink dress. She made it roughly halfway across before tumbling to ground.

"Ouch! Sorry to keep you all waiting! I wanted to dress up really nicely for the last part of the show!" Pinkie said, climbing to her hooves.

Trixie shook her head. "Pinkie Pie, the suit was fine."

The pink mare's ears lowered in disappointment. "Awww, you don't like my dress?"

Trixie eyed the garment with a critical eye. "It’s a fine dress, but I think it's a bit too flashy for magic. Here, lemme try this."

Pinkie rose to her hooves as Trixie covered her in the magic sheet. With a quick tap of her wand, she swiped the sheet off to reveal Pinkie, this time wearing a red dress with ruffles and sequins.

"Oooh, fancy!"

Trixie clicked her tongue. "Also not very well suited to magic. Let me try again."

Once more she threw the sheet over Pinkie's head. Another tap of the wand and just like that, Pinkie was now sporting an exercise outfit.

"Are we going for a run?" Pinkie asked hopefully. Scattered laughter and applause came from the crowd.

"Hmm, this might take a while."

This time Trixie flashed the sheet over Pinkie for a much shorter time. Pinkie was now wearing a cowpony outfit. With an exasperated grunt, she flashed the sheet again, this time not stopping to tap her with the wand or even really look at what the outcome was. Outfit after outfit went by and earned little more than a "No," or a "Nuh uh." from Trixie. The crowd noise slowly picked up into full blown applause and laughter as the pile of discarded clothes soon grew taller than Pinkie Pie.

Finally, Trixie pulled away the sheet one last time to reveal the tuxedo the pink pony sported earlier in the act.

"Ahhh, perfect. Now, let's continue the show, shall we?"

Pinkie smiled and nodded. "Of course! I hope you’re ready everypony, because we’re gonna knock your socks off!”

Raucous applause filled the air as Trixie and Pinkie ended their trick with a flourish. All night a feeling of electricity had been building in the crowd. The atmosphere was supercharged in anticipation of what was sure to be a heart stopping finale. Trixie winked at Pinkie who promptly ran behind the curtain.

The unicorn stood on her hind legs and pointed out to the crowd with her wand.

"Fillies and gentlecolts! You have been privy to some of the most amazing feats in illusionist history! Now, for our grand finale, I will... solve a rubik's cube!"

Confused muttering flowed through the crowd as Pinkie pushed a helium tank, a giant balloon, and rope to the middle of the stage. Trixie, using her horn, pulled a nearby chair to sit in and produced a rubik's cube.

"Unfortunately, Pinkie Pie told me that just watching me solve a rubik’s cube is boring. Boring! Can you believe the nerve of her? I told her anypony would be lucky to observe Trixie do the most mundane of tasks, but I reluctantly caved to her whims of making it more ‘entertaining.” So, while I solve it, Pinkie will hold her breath in this giant balloon. Of course, this won’t be entertaining at all as I will no doubt have it solved in mere seconds, being the genius that I am."

More confusion spread throughout the crowd as Pinkie threw a net over the balloon and stuck a hose in it. With a spin of the valve, the helium started to fill the balloon.

"You see," Trixie began, "Pinkie claims she can hold her breath forever. So, while I solve the cube, she will be holding her breath in the balloon filled with nothing but helium. By the way, the record for holding your breathe is six minutes and two seconds, a record she scoffed at.”

Through her explanation, the balloon filled and widened several feet and lifted from the ground, pulling tight against the net.

Abruptly, Trixie gasped. “Oh! I almost forgot!” Reaching into her hat, Trixie pulled out a thick set of papers and a quill and floated them over to Pinkie with her magic. “Pinkie Pie, my dear partner, can you sign the last page on these please?”

Pinkie, still filling the balloon, nodded happily. “Sure! What are they?”

“Just some insurance forms. Accidental death, dismemberment, etcetera, etcetera.”

Gripping the quill with her mouth, Pinkie hastily scribbled her signature on the last page. “There you go!”

Trixie pulled the papers back and tucked them back under her hat. “Thank you. You’re so willing to do anything Trixie says. Trixie loves that about you.”

Pinkie nodded happily and continued filling the balloon which was now several feet large.

“Hey, Pinkie Pie?” Trixie called out.

“Yeah?”

“Did you ever fill out that pesky do not resuscitate form?”

Pinkie’s eyes narrowed. “Ummm, I don’t think so. why?”

Trixie shrugged. “No reason.”

The crowd started muttering amongst themselves as they waited patiently for the balloon to fill. Trixie amused herself by staring into a mirror and styling her mane.

“All done!” Pinkie announced.

The balloon was now massive, straining the net it was trapped under. Leaving the comfort of her chair with a grunt, Trixie walked over to it and grasped the neck. “Last chance for fresh air.”

Nodding wildly, Pinkie gasped. Trixie opened the balloon long enough for Pinkie to squeeze in and tie it off with a rope. “And now, the countdown begins!” Trixie declared, hitting a nearby clock with a bolt of magic. Pinkie smiled and waved from her pink translucent sphere.

Returning to her seat, Trixie picked up her rubik’s cube and started in earnest. The click clacking of the plastic cube did little to wow the audience. Regardless, Trixie flipped it this way and that to try and line the colors up.

After an agonizingly long minute or two, Pinkie started looking nervous. All of the crowd locked their eyes on the pink pony trapped in her rubbery prison.

"Hmmm, I think I'm right back where I started," Trixie said, holding up the cube in puzzlement.

By now, Pinkie Pie had started pounding the side of her balloon, making it echo like a drum. The earth pony's eyes were frantic and darted this way and that.

"Please keep it down, Pinkie. I need to concentrate," Trixie said.

The crowd started murmuring and grew restless while Trixie continued twisting and turning the rubik's cube.

"Why isn't she stopping the show? Her partner is dying!"

"How could she be so callous?"

"I hope that dense unicorn solves it quickly!"

Trixie kept at the cube with no real sign of progress when a loud thump echoed through the night. Firing a quick glance into her conveniently positioned crystal wand, she could tell Pinkie had fallen inside the balloon, apparently unconscious.

"If nopony else is brave enough to stop this, I will!" A large stallion in the crowd yelled out. He stood up and headed for the stage.

Trixie quickly pointed her horn in front of him and casted a shield. "No offense, but the stage is no place for amateurs."

The crowd became even louder, yelling their displeasure at Trixie. Multiple ponies left their seat to storm the stage.

"Hold it right there!"

Everypony halted in their tracks. They turned to the pony which had yelled at them.

"Pinkie and Trixie came here to perform, so we have to trust them," Mrs. Cake said.

"But, but... she's killing that other pony!" one of the stallions protested.

"Sit down!" The mare commanded.

The crowd returned to their seats in disbelief. Trixie looked up quick enough to see that Mrs. Cake also looked kind of nervous. The unicorn dropped the rubiks cube letting it shatter into countless pieces.

"Oh well, I never was good at those things." She turned to the giant balloon with the pink pony lying inside.

"It appears we have a bit of a problem. It looks like I might need a new partner. Any volunteers?"

Not a single pony in the crowd seemed to be in a hurry to accept her offer.

Trixie laughed and pulled off her cape. "Oh, listen to me. Trying to hire a new partner when the old one is still lingering around. Luckily Trixie knows how to clean up after herself." The unicorn held her cape in front of the balloon.

"And now fillies and gentlecolts, watch me make this body, disappear!"

With a quick flourish, she yanked the cape off revealing Pinkie standing beneath the balloon, both hooves stretched to the sky, and a huge grin on her muzzle.

The crowd was quiet for only a second. An ear piercing roar of applause and hoof stomping filled the night air as Pinkie and Trixie took their bows. The unicorn's eyes fell upon Mrs. Cake who gave her a broad and relieved smile. After what felt like an eternity, the crowd finally quieted down enough for Trixie to speak.

"Thank you so much you wonderful ponies! It was a great pleasure to have performed for you! Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go!"

Trixie and Pinkie both grabbed and held tight to the rope tied to the balloon. She fired a bolt of magic at the net, evaporating it and freeing the balloon. Both ponies held onto the rope as they climbed higher into the sky grinning and waving at the crowd beneath them.

"Oh my gosh, Trixie, that was amazing!" Pinkie exclaimed. "We had them on the edge of their seat!"

"Are you kidding? Some of them left their seat altogether! It feels so wonderful to perform again!"

Trixie turned and meet Pinkie's bright eyes which were only outshined by her enormous smile. "Thank you so much, Pinkie Pie. For the first time in a long time, it feels like my life has meaning again."

Both ponies grinned at each other, lost in the euphoria of the moment. They drifted further across the night sky, high up in the air where nothing but the wind could be heard. They moved their mouths closer together, slowly eliminating the gap between them. Abruptly, Pinkie’s eyes fluttered, her ears flapped, and she let out a cute sneeze.

“Gesundheit,” Trixie said with a giggle.

Pinkie blushed but didn’t say a word.

"I just realized something," Trixie blurted out. Pinkie gave her a quizzical look.

"How are we supposed to get down?"

Pinkie blinked for a moment. "Oh. That’s… a really good question."

Trixie looked around and then below them as a sly grin spread across her face.

"What are you thinking?" Pinkie asked, eyeing the unicorn warily.

Trixie pulled out her magic wand and with a quick toss, sent it hurtling into the balloon.

Applejack, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom walked down the road towards their farm under the soft moonlight.

"Land's sakes! I ain't never seen a magic show like that! Those two were dynamite, right, Big Mac?"

As usual, the stallion didn't even bother to look at Applejack."Eeyup."

"Them ponies in the crowd sure looked angry until Pinkie Pie appeared. I was afraid she was hurt or something," Apple Bloom said.

Applejack nodded. "Trixie sure knows how to play a crowd. At least this time there was a lot less bragging, and a lot more magic."

A loud pop echoed through the night air.

"What in tarnation was that?" Applejack asked as she looked around for the source of the noise.

"Applejack! Up there!"

The cowpony looked up and her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Beyond the tree line she saw a pink pony and a blue pony falling to earth. "Oh no! It's Pinkie and Trixie! They're falling from the sky! C'mon ya'll!"

The three ponies galloped hard through the trees, running to the last place they saw the two ponies falling. Another noise echoed through the night. Applejack gasped. "Oh my! I think they hit the ground! I sure hope they're okay!"

They raced through the trees as another sound started getting louder and louder.

"Ya'll, am I goin crazy, or do I hear laughing?" Applejack asked, a look of befuddlement growing on her face.

"Sure sounds like it to me," Apple Bloom agreed.

They slowed down as they approached the last few trees. Suddenly, Applejack held out her hoof, holding back her siblings. She breathed a sigh of relief and let out a relieved laugh.

In the river, Pinkie and Trixie were swimming and splashing each other. Shredded remnants of the pink balloon which they had escaped on fell around them as they laughed and soaked each other.

"I think they're just fine." Applejack smiled, sharing a laugh with her brother and sister.

Sugarcube Corner's door slammed open. In walked Trixie and Pinkie, still sopping wet from their nighttime swim

"We totally got a standing ovation! They loved it!" Pinkie squealed in glee.

"It's been so long since I've been on a stage, I'd forgotten how it feels. It was strange ending a show and having nothing but cheering at the end..." Trixie trailed off as she noticed Mrs. Cake staring at her with an unreadable expression.

"Did... Trixie do something wrong?" the unicorn asked reluctantly.

"Pinkie dear, I'd like to speak with Trixie alone, please."

The pink pony's jubilant cheering faltered. Her ears fell and she nodded slowly and turned to Trixie. “I'll be in my room.."

Trixie watched as the pony walked upstairs nervously. Mrs. Cake finally cleared her throat.

"I want you to know that I haven't forgotten the nasty things you did last time you were here. All this time I've been wondering why my husband and Pinkie thought it would be a good idea to welcome you in our home. I racked my brain trying to understand what got into those two.”

Trixie's heart fell. She had figured this was coming for awhile now, but the way Mrs. Cake opened up to her the night before gave her hope it wouldn’t.

"I, I mean, Trixie understands. She will wait until Pinkie Pie is asleep and leave in the cover of night."

Mrs. Cake looked taken aback. "Wha-What?"

"Trixie knows you don't wish for her to linger around anymore. If she left during the day, there would be arguments and lots of unpleasantness. This way, Trixie will simply vanish.”

The motherly pony's face fell into disbelief. "No, that's not what I meant at all..."

The elder mare left from behind the counter and placed her hooves around Trixie, causing the unicorn to flinch.

"I'm trying to say... I was wrong about you. You aren't a bad mare at all. You just haven't had enough love, have you?"

Trixie gasped, at first afraid to do anything but let the mare hug her. It wasn't long, however, that she finally melted into Mrs. Cakes embrace. Tears started in her eyes, unbidden, but far from unwelcome. Memories of her foalhood came flooding back to her, from before her parent's windfall causing them to reach nobility status.

It was years ago in a little cottage on the lower end of Canterlot. The district where the commoners lived. Trixie had just burst through the door, so excited to see her mother again.

"Who is momma's special filly?"

"Twixie is! Twixie, Twixie, Twixie!"

Trixie had just completed her first day of magic kindergarten and was so excited she couldn't help but jump and leap for joy around her mother’s hooves. Her mother scooped her up in a tender embrace.

"You're going to be star one day. Momma knows it."

The little filly threw her hooves around her mother's shoulders, hugging her as tight as she could with her tiny hooves.

"You'll see, momma, Twixie will be a star!"

Trixie sobbed in Mrs. Cake's embrace. Entire continents of pain made themselves known to her in the blink of an eye. For so long, this simple maternal gesture, denied her by two parents more concerned with status than love, quenched a thirst she had just become aware of.

"You poor thing. This is what you've needed for so long, isn't it?"

Trixie chose not to respond, she couldn't respond, not through the tears in her eyes, and the sobs choking out her words. When the sobbing finally relented, Mrs. Cake finally eased the unicorn away and looked at her tear-stained face.

"You haven't been loved for so long. I promise you this, Ponyville is a place with plenty of love to give, if you let it."

Trixie wiped her eyes with her hooves. "I don't deserve it..."

Mrs. Cake gave her another quick hug and patted her gently. "Hush now. Of course you do. It may not seem like it, but you're on the right path. Go on now, don't leave Pinkie waiting."

Trixie slowly got up and walked up the stairs. For the first time in many years, she felt an enormous weight lifted off her heart. Her hooves moved quicker, and she just felt light in general, as if she were instead made of fluffy clouds. She opened the door to Pinkie's room and trotted in.

Pinkie Pie sat on a chair nervously twiddling her hooves. “Is she mad at you? You were crying! What happened?”

“Don’t worry, Pinkie. Everything is alright."

"But, you've been crying..."

"Mrs. Cake... gave me something I've needed for a long time now. These are good tears, Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie lowered her head in confusion. "Oh. Everything is gonna be okay though, right?"

Trixie smiled as the night's events replayed in her head. "Yes, Pinkie. Everything is going to be fine. Now go get your shower, The Great and Powerful Trixie requires a shower too!”

A Relaxing Day

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Sugarcube corner had been open for less than ten minutes and a crowd had already formed around one of the tables. Pinkie, her fellow elements, and Trixie sat on the edge of their seats, listening in rapt attention.

"I fully expected the show to go over about as well as a lead balloon," Twilight read aloud from the newspaper in her hooves. "Trixie Lulamoon instantly lit up the stage with her natural charisma and the comedic timing of her partner Pinkie Pie. With Trixie playing the aloof heel, and the bubbly Pinkie Pie to counter her, the entire show hit the ground running. With an in your face and dynamic attitude when it comes to magic, this duo really stands out. If this pair of ponies, gifted in the illusionary arts performs again, absolutely go see them, no matter the cost. I went to the show with some tomatoes stowed away in my saddlebag fully expecting to chuck them at Trixie. Now, I think I'll use them for spaghetti instead to celebrate such a wonderful performance."

Confetti exploded as Pinkie bounced around like a superball. "Did you hear that, Trixie? They loved it!"

Twilight folded the newspaper and put it to the side. “I'd say they did. Especially if the author rushed to get it in the newspaper today."

"Even better," Mrs. Cake began, "we made more than enough money to get a new stove!"

Pinkie somersaulted, firing off even more confetti. "Best day ever!"

Mrs. Cake set a small bag of bits in front of Trixie and Applejack.

"We had that much left over?" Trixie asked in astonishment.

"We sure did. Oh, this is just wonderful!"

A customer entered the shop and headed straight for the counter. "Gotta go, girls," Mrs. Cake said, rushing to the register.

Trixie opened the pouch of bits, giddy at the sight. Just then, however, something hit her. She opened the pouch, counted out half, and shoved it to Pinkie Pie.

"I never could have done this without my partner's help, and partners split fifty-fifty."

Pinkie blushed and scooped up the pile of bits. "Awww, just doing my Pinkie-best."

"Well I'll be. Looks like things are turning out pretty well so far. Why, you'll probably be able to afford that wagon and be on the road in no time!" Applejack said.

A twinge of sadness made itself known in Trixie's heart. She had always intended to leave at some point, but, now more than ever, she didn't want to even think about leaving Ponyville.

"Yes, Trixie supposes she will be ready to leave at some point in the future.

"Have you ever thought about staying here in Ponyville?" Twilight suggested.

Rarity cleared her throat. "You can't be serious, darling. I know we have had so much fun together, but if there's one thing Ponyville doesn't need, it's a hobo sticking about."

"Rarity, we've been through this," Twilight said, putting her hoof on the table. "If Trixie were out for revenge, she's had plenty of time to do something already."

"I can see there's no convincing you all," Rarity said, leaving her seat. "Know this, when she does make her move, I'll be the one to say I told you so!"

Everypony sat in uncomfortable silence as Rarity left the shop.

"Well, uh, Trixie. You have anything planned today?" Applejack asked, breaking the silence.

"Nothing too strenuous for me today. Maybe I’ll just relax a bit."

"Sounds like a good idea. You're welcome to rest up on the farm if ya like," Applejack suggested.

"I'd go with you, but the Cakes need me to help with the shop while the repair ponies install the new oven," Pinkie explained.

"Then perhaps I'll take you up on your offer, Applejack.”

“Just make sure you take care if you wander on the east orchard. That’s where some of them fruit bats have holed up, and they might take a liking to any sort of snack you bring,” Applejack warned her.

Trixie waved her away with a dismissive hoof. “Sure, sure, fruit bats, got it.”

The thought of a relaxing day appealed to Trixie so much that she dropped a few bits for some snacks. Packing some cupcakes into her saddlebags, she wandered out Sugarcube Corner. Just as she stepped out the door, she came face to face with a pony she had seen around several times. She was a pink mare with yellow(?) hair and a flower for a cutie mark.

“Oh, sorry. I’m in the way aren’t I?” Trixie asked, stepping off to the side.

“It’s okay,” The pony started. “I wanted to say I enjoyed your show very much. My name is Lily.”

“Thank you. Trixie was happy to help the Cakes with their problem, and she got to perform again, so you know… bonus!”

Lily smiled. “Hope to see you around, Trixie.”

Trixie watched, almost bemused as Lily walked into the shop.

Is this what it’s like when ponies like you? When they aren’t scared of you? Trixie could get used to this.

With an added spring in her step, Trixie headed for the applestand to grab a little something extra for her solo picnic.

Finding a suitable spot in the orchards wasn’t hard. Trixie could have plopped down anywhere and felt perfectly content. Trixie, being the pony she was, took her time and searched quite a while for the perfect spot. After at least thirty minutes, she stumbled upon a clearing which afforded her a view of the farm house. Unpacking her basket, she placed a blanket on the ground and a couple of apples she purchased from the stand, along with a bottle of apple juice. She turned to dig out the rest of her picnic when she heard a noise, picking her ears up.

“What was that?”

The sound cut through the air again.

“Sounds like it’s coming from the trees…”

A fluttering of wings disturbed the peace as rustling leaves and branches shook above Trixie. The sky suddenly dimmed as a swarm filled the air.

”Ahhhhh!”

Hurriedly, Trixie grabbed her blanket and crammed it into the basket, carrying it all with her magic. Her eyes darted wildly, looking for any escape from the swarm. At the edge of the orchard was a line of bushes where the Apple family’s land ended and Whitetail woods began. Kicking up her hooves, the showmare panted as she struggled to stay ahead of the swarm.

“Trixie did nothing! Leave her be!”

Trixie’s protests did nothing to dissuade the horde. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her.

“Oh Celestia! I think they’re in my hair!” she screamed as she felt something touch her right ear. Diving into the brush, she endured the whipping of foliage as the swarm fell behind. The sound of flapping wings and screeching fell away giving Trixie a chance to look back. A quick glance showed that her pursuers were turning around, unwilling to follow into the brush.

She turned around just in time to see a sticker brush slap her cheek.

“Ow!”

Crying out in pain, she slowed her gallop, giving her a moment to breathe. While she panted for air, her eyes went back to the retreating swarm.

“Oh… right. Fruit bats. I guess I should have been paying more attention.”

Touching the fresh wound with her hoof, Trixie grumbled and turned back to the farm, this time to find a safer spot to relax.

I must admit, there is a certain rustic charm to a place like this.

Trixie sat against an apple tree with her hooves behind her head, eyes closed, and a smile on her face. Without the pressure of chores, hauling apples, or running from fruit bats, Sweet Apple Acres was quite a relaxing getaway. In another time, and another world, Trixie thought she might like to be a farmer. She could make her own hours, she wouldn’t have to answer to anyone but herself, and ponies from all over would come to get a mere sample of Trixie’s extraordinary produce.

It was right about then that memories of giving Scampers a bath returned to her.

On second thought, I'm fine with a profession outside of the mud.

"Say cheese!"

Trixie's eyes fluttered open just in time to catch a flash from a camera. Rubbing her eyes, she cleared them out just quick enough to see the tail-end of the three fillies hightailing it with a camera. She recognized one of them as Applebloom, but she had yet to meet the other two. Of course, by the time Trixie realized what happened, it was far too late to give chase.

I wonder what that was about.

Trixie turned and looked at the setting sun just barely peeking over the horizon behind her.

Did I really sleep here all day? I guess I needed to relax more than I thought. Maybe I should give a surprise visit to Twilight and see if she has any books regarding illusionary magic I have yet to read.

Slowly, Trixie rose to her hooves and made her way towards Ponyville as the setting sun fell behind her. In the scant few minutes it too her to make it back to Ponyville, the sun had already set and night blanketed the town. Walking toward the castle, she saw Twilight standing in the doorway.

"Hey, Twilight! Is it okay if I come in real quick? I wanted to see if you ha- what the?"

Trixie felt two pairs of strong hooves grab her and force her front hooves together. A set of shackles were slapped on her hooves, latching them together. She looked up to see two royal guards, clad in imposing armor, blocking her way.

"Trixie Lulamoon, you are hereby under arrest for wanton destruction of property exceeding two thousand bits in damage. You're coming with us," one of the guards prattled off.

Twilight dashed from the castle and approached the guards. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing you need to be concerned with, Your Highness," the guard said as he started dragging Trixie away. Twilight grabbed the guard with fire in her eyes, her horn lit and ready to take action.

"You're arresting my friend, so it does concern me!"

The guard shrank back apologetically. "I-I'm sorry, Your Highness. I’m simply following the mayor’s order. If you need to know more, please come to the courthouse. They will be able to explain it better than I can."

Twilight grunted, but finally relented, letting the guard go. "Don't worry, Trixie, I'm going to go tell Spike not to wait up for me and I'll be right there!"

Trixie just nodded dumbly and followed along with the guards, her eyes following Twilight as she ran to the castle.

"Lulamoon, Trixie."

The unicorn's ears perked up upon hearing her name. Knowing that Twilight would be there soon, the guards, rather than take her to a cell, took her to the visitor center instead. Rising to her hooves, she followed the guard as he led her to a stall with a chair and reinforced glass with holes for speaking through. Trixie walked in, greeted by the worried faces of Twilight and Pinkie Pie.

Trixie sat down in the chair, but was still too shocked to say anything.

"We talked with the mayor and the guards. They said you destroyed somepony's stand in town today," Twilight explained flatly.

Trixie leaned forward, pressing her hooves against the glass. "Why in Equestria would I do something like that? Besides, I was at Sweet Apple Acres almost all day. I couldn't have done it!"

Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Trixie, tell me right now you're innocent. I have to know."

"Of course I'm innocent! There's no reason for me to do something like that! Please, Sparkle, you’re a princess, can’t you get me out of here?”

At this, Twilight’s ears folded. “I wish I could, but I already did when you enslaved Ponyville. The mayor threatened to send a message to Canterlot if I pardoned you again.”

"I see. Isn’t there anything you can do?" Trixie asked hopefully.

"Yes. I'll defend you in court. They're bringing in a prosecutor from Canterlot. She's supposedly undefeated in court. Trixie, I’ve never done this before. I don’t know if I can win."

"Please, Twilight, you have to try! I have no one else to turn to!" Trixie pleaded.

Twilight nodded. "I'll do my best. Here, Pinkie had something to tell you.”

Pinkie squeezed in, flattening Twilight against the wall of the tiny stall. "Trixie! Just hang in there! If anypony is super smart enough to save you from this mess, it's Twilight. I'll be cheering you on tomorrow!"

Trixie felt a small smile grace her face. "Thank you, Pinkie Pie. Take care until I'm out of here, alright?"

Pinkie nodded. Trixie jumped as a guard rapped his baton on the glass.

"Your time is up. You gotta go to your cell."

Trixie stood up and slowly walked away, seeing the sad faces on her friends and their hooves upon the glass.

Trixie's cell wasn't that bad. It had all the amenities a pony would need. Decent bed, functional toilet, good lighting...

...But it was still a prison cell. Trixie had done some awful things in the past, but never once did she think she'd end up in prison.

I suppose I should be grateful Twilight pardoned me after enslaving Ponyville.

Nevertheless, she was still here in prison. Her life had been a rollercoaster as of late. Going from such highs to such lows was starting to wear thin, and Trixie was just about ready for it all to stop.

Curling up on the stark white bed which smelled of cleaning chemicals, Trixie covered her eyes and cried as she wished she was back at Sugarcube Corner, sharing that large bed with her pink friend.

A Few Good Pones

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Come on, Twilight, stay focused.

Town Hall was a buzz of activity. Ponies of all sorts loitered around like a garish tapestry of colors and shapes. Above them all, one could see a shiny crown glittering atop a purple head. The crown spoke of authority and grace.

The head did not.

It spoke of worry, fear, and mild hyperventilation.

After an evening of studying and pushing all the “what if’s” out of her head, Twilight felt she might have enough legal experience to talk a Canterlot guard out of a jaywalking ticket. Bringing a hoof to her chest, she took a deep breath before letting it out, just as Cadance taught her. Her eyes traveled amongst the crowd and happened to fall upon a shade of orange nopony had been unfortunate enough to have been born with. Flanked by two guards and dressed in the aforementioned orange prison attire, Trixie miserably sulked into Town Hall as if she were already sentenced to the gallows.

"Trixie! Are you alright?”

Twilight regretted asking the question the moment it left her lips. She might as well have asked if someone on fire needed a glass of water, or if a half starved pony could do with a side of hay fries. Trixie’s mane looked like it was doing a timeshare with a mop. Her hooves were bound in shackles, and a magic nullification ring sat locked upon her horn, the insulting cherry on the insult sundae that was her imprisonment.

“Of course Trixie is not alright! She is a prisoner!"

Twilight nodded, her gaze falling to the floor as if it had suddenly become quite interesting. "I know. I pulled an all-nighter to study everything I could about the law. I promise I'll do everything I can to prove your innocence."

Trixie managed a smile, strained as it was. “Wait, where’s Pinkie Pie?”

“Heh heh… ummm, she’s not allowed in Town Hall during court anymore. The last time she went in, she tried to throw a ‘guilty party’ during a trial.”

Trixie’s smile faltered just a touch. “Oh. That sounds like her...”

"This is the criminal?"

A new voice rang out among the throng of ponies. It fell sharp among Twilight and Trixie, as if it were a spear, pointed right between their eyes. They turned as one toward the commanding voice which belonged to an unfamiliar mare.

Standing by one of the pillars, a red, fiery mane caught their attention first. As their eyes naturally scrolled down, they saw a set of bifocals resting on her muzzle framing a pair of green, piercing eyes. Further down, a strand of shimmering pearls rested around her neck which stood out from her cream colored coat. The mare radiated an aura which screamed confidence, much the way a sword aimed at one’s throat does.

Twilight wasn’t impressed. She had faced uglier creatures with far more power, and many more eyes.

"And you are?”

The mare laughed and tossed her mane to the side. "Me? You don’t know? I thought I overheard heard you say you studied the law, and my name didn’t come up? That’s homeschooling for you.”

Twilight simply pursed her lips, unwilling to give her any satisfaction.

“My name is Blind Justice. I will be your adversary today. I must admit to some disappointment in our venue. Having this ramshackle Town Hall masquerade as a courtroom is hardly suitable for somepony of my caliber. Regardless, this will be quite a treat. It isn't often I get a chance to put a princess in her place."

Twilight bristled in anger, the fine hairs on her back standing at attention. "Excuse me?"

Blind ran her hoof through Twilight's mane the way a mother would a filly. The only reason Twilight didn’t smack it away was that it had felt just the same way it did when her mother would comb through her hair.

"Feisty aren't we? Don't get your hopes up, little one. It’s not a poor reflection upon your abilities. I'm simply a perfect prosecutor, I never lose. Two hundred and forty-three cases, and not a single loss. Princess or not, you're outclassed."

Twilight shivered. She wasn’t sure if it was the arrogant pony’s touch, or the way she described her impending battle as futile. Regardless, Twilight swallowed hard and leveled two blazing eyes at her opponent. "Well... you better be ready to lose this one, because I know Trixie is innocent."

Blind placed a hoof upon her chest and laughed. It was a deep laugh, not a chuckle, or even a chortle, it was a laugh that said the she knew something Twilight didn’t. Twilight quickly decided she didn’t like this laugh.

"Oh, come now. You think I've gotten this far by taking any case without reviewing it first? I don’t accept cases unless I know I can win. This victory has already been assured, and I couldn't ask for a better gift. Another perfect prosecution, just handed to me."

"Everypony to your places please," the bailiff announced.

"That's our cue," Blind said, patting Twilight on the head. "Please make it interesting. I'd hate for my first crack at a princess to be short. Let me... savor this victory."

Twilight and Trixie waited, half in fear, half in revulsion, for Blind to step to the prosecution’s stand before they began their own walk to the defendant’s stand.

"I don't like her," Trixie whispered surreptitiously.

"Really? I think she reminds me of you," Twilight fired back with a smirk.

"You wound me, Sparkle..."

The bailiff marched to the front of the courtroom and cleared his throat." All rise for the Honorable Mayor Mare."

The door in the rear of the room opened slowly. Dressed in robes of black, Mrs. Mayor trotted through and hopped into her seat the way a filly would hop on a roller coaster, and with the same beaming smile.

Trixie leaned in close to Twilight. "Wait, she's the mayor and the judge?"

"There's not a lot of crime in small towns like Ponyville, so rather than have judges appointed, the town’s mayor doubles as a judge," Twilight whispered back. “Don’t worry. I know the mayor. You can count on her for a fair and just trial.”

"This is case number one-one-seven, Ponyville versus Trixie Lulamoon. You may be seated." The bailiff passed the folder over to the mayor and stood next to the bench, unflinching in his duty.

Mrs. Mayor adjusted her glasses and cleared her throat in an unnecessary show of authority. "It's been quite some time since I've had to dust this robe off. Let's make this worth it, shall we? Will the prosecutor give her opening remarks, Miss… Justice?” Mrs. Mayor looked up from her folder, her eyes brightening. “Blind Justice? Is that you?"

Miss Justice smiled and nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed it is, Mrs. Mayor? I didn't think any stallion had the gumption to drag you into wedlock."

The mayor chuckled and dismissively waved her hoof. "Ohohoho! I didn't think I would find one either, but life is so full of surprises. It's so good to see you again. We'll have to catch up sometime for a drink."

A bead of sweat rolled down Trixie's forehead, settling into the frown upon her lips. "Fair and just? This doesn't bode well for us, Sparkle."

"N-now now... I'm sure the mayor will be completely impartial in her duties," Twilight stuttered, unhappy with the possibility of eating her words.

The mayor turned her eyes toward the defense stand, her smile vanishing instantly. "Oh, look who it is. Can’t say I’m surprised. I've been itching to see you in that seat, Ms. Lulamoon."

Twilight buried her snout in her hooves, suddenly wishing they were made of sand. "Or not..."

"Alright. Let's get this trial underway," the mayor said, banging her gavel. "The prosecution may start with their opening remarks."

Blind took to her hooves in a flash. Not so fast as to look like she was in a hurry, but speedy enough to look important. Her vivacious hair bounced as it fell into place, and all eyes flew toward her as if she were the only pony in the room. As a prosecutor, she wanted to own the court, and it scarcely took her from the time she left her seat to the time she stood in the center of the room to accomplish that feat.

"Your honor, there is a law stating that the simplest explanation is most likely the truth. Well, the prosecution's claim is simple. Yesterday evening, the defendant destroyed a vendor’s stall, causing more than two thousand bits of damage to it and their merchandise in the process. She was apprehended just after sunset trying to sneak back into town. These are the facts of this case.”

Justice turned, removing her bifocals and adopting a grim visage.

“Now I’ll tell you the truth in this case. Trixie Lulamoon, a known vagrant and troublemaker who has already been bailed out of trouble by an irresponsible princess, went into town yesterday with malicious intent, and destroyed an honest pony’s stall, causing them significant hardship. That is all.”

Blind took her seat in the same dignified manner in which she left it. The smile she wore made it clear she was fairly confident in her victory as she tugged on one of the pearls dangling around her neck.

The mayor turned to Twilight and Trixie. "And the defense?"

Twilight stood up and immediately tangled her hooves in her chair. The result was the princess getting a face full of hardwood floor and a quiet chuckle that died once everyone remembered that Twilight was the princess and could possibly send them to a gulag.

If Equestria had any gulags. The official stance was that they didn’t, but some of the commoners would tell you that’s what the princesses wanted you to believe.

Righting herself, Twilight fired a nasty look at the chair and strolled to the middle of the court.

"The defense claims and maintains that the crime in question could not, and was not perpetrated by Trixie. While my client has done terrible things in the past, we must ensure we dispense justice fairly. We must not use this trial as a means of revenge. Trixie is on trial for this crime, and no other, and it’s a crime she is one hundred percent innocent of.”

The ponies in the crowd whispered amongst themselves as Twilight took her seat, glaring at Blind from across the room.

"Well, this should be quite entertaining," Mayor Mare said. "Miss Justice, you may begin."

The cream colored pony reached into a manilla folder and pulled out several pages. "Here I have one, two, three... all told, eight signed statements from various witnesses saying that a pony wearing a hat and cape adorned with stars destroyed the stand in question. Given the unicorn’s penchant for wearing magic themed clothing, I don’t think it’s hard to surmise who was wearing them. I don't know about you, fillies and gentlecolts, but that sounds pretty decisive to me. That is all."

Twilight's mouth hung open either in surprise, or in an effort to catch any stray flies that had found themselves into the courtroom.

How in the world am I supposed to defend Trixie against that!

She felt a pair of hooves shake her back to the present like a boxer who had just been knocked to the mat. "Come on, Sparkle! This is where you fight back!" Trixie reminded her.

"But how am I supposed to fight back?"

Trixie grabbed her in desperation. "If we both know I'm innocent, then there is no way they could have seen me!"

From across the courtroom, a loud tsking could be heard. Miss Justice shook her head in mock sadness. "And I thought a princess would be more of a challenge. Well, Mrs. Mayor? Pretty airtight, wouldn't you say?"

The mayor nodded in agreement. “Seems that wa-”

"Objection!"

Twilight slammed her hoof on the bench as if it had personally insulted her. Everypony in the courtroom flinched, besides Miss Justice of course. She merely raised her head, unfazed by the outburst.

"Yes, Princess?"

Twilight thrusted her hoof toward Trixie. "The reports state they saw a pony with a hat and cape, but anypony could make a hat and cape like Trixie's."

The crowd murmured at Twilight's proclamation. She had found a small crack, one that even intrigued the crowd, so she intended to follow it.

Miss Justice raised an eyebrow. "What are you trying to say?"

Twilight sneered at her enemy. "I think it's quite simple. Somepony is trying to frame Trixie! Somepony doesn't like that she's here in Ponyville, and is trying to get rid of her!"

The crowd immediately grew loud, arguing and shouting amongst themselves, drowning out any normal speech.

"Order, order!" The mayor shouted, slamming her gavel.

Blind's face never lost its confident smirk. "So you're saying that the ponies who signed these reports are lying?"

Twilight leaned across the bench, sticking her nose out quite far. "I'd prefer reports less vague than what you've given us, especially from a town that, quite frankly, has an unhealthy bias against my client!"

Miss Justice frowned and let her shoulders slump in mock resignation.

"I could go through all of these statements and watch you nitpick them… but that would be dreadfully boring. Instead, I will now call a witness that is so decisive, you'll have no choice but to surrender."

"Twilight put her hooves on the bench. “If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it’s that I don’t surrender!”

Blind cracked a smile. "It’s your funeral, Princess of Friendship. Your Honor, the prosecution would like to call Miss Applejack to the stand.”

Twilight's mouth fell open. "Wha-what?!"

In the middle of Ponyville, three fillies loitered about, having just finished their latest attempt at a cutie mark. This one only costed one of them their eyebrows, so they looked at it as a slight success.

"I wonder where everypony is at?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Probably at Town Hall like mah sister," Applebloom said. As they walked through town they saw Pinkie Pie further ahead, running in circles around a lamp post and wearing an impressive trench in the ground. Well, they would have seen Pinkie Pie, if the trench hadn’t been so deep. As it were, they saw her mane, running circles around the lamp post.

Scootaloo gave her friends a worried glance. "I'm afraid to ask."

Applebloom trotted over to the pink blur, unsure of how much distance would be safe. She quickly settled upon three yards and opened her mouth. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing! Just panicking! You girls are welcome to join me!" The pink pony shouted as she continued circling the post.

"Why in Equestria are you panicking? Is something wrong?" Sweetie asked.

Pinkie skidded to a halt. Climbing out of the trench, she jumped in front of the three fillies, causing them to take an extra cautious step back. "Trixie was arrested for breaking somepony's stand yesterday and they brought in some sort of special genius miracle class prosecutor from Canterlot and she's going to be found guilty for sure!"

Pinkie backflipped into the trench and continued her panicked sprint, running even faster than before.

"You girls hear that?" Sweetie asked.

"Yeah, that doesn't make any sense! Trixie was on the farm yesterday relaxing! We’ve even got the photo to prove it!" Apple Bloom said.

“Rarity says Trixie is a troublemaker and that the sooner she’s gone, the better Ponyville will be.” Sweetie Belle looked torn. “What do we do?”

“Applejack says you have to tell the truth, no matter what. Even if we don’t like Trixie, we can’t just stand here and let her be locked up forever for something she didn’t do!”

“You’re right!” Scootaloo pulled out her scooter and motioned for the others to tag on. “Come on, girls, we have to go get that photo!"

The crowd mumbled and muttered to each other in hushed tones. Their eyes followed Applejack to the stand as if they were anchored to her, being dragged along unwillingly. Applejack was the kind of pony to wear her heart on her sleeve, that is to say, she didn’t hide her feelings. It came part and parcel with the whole “Element of Honesty” deal. Her scowl said most prominently that she did not want to be there. So it was that she reluctantly took her seat at the stand, legs folded across her lap, slouched back in the seat.

Blind’s hoof struck the witness stand like a bolt of lightning. Applejack’s hat rocked sideways and she nearly fell forward in shock.

"Witness! You will tell the court what transpired yesterday right before sunset!"

Applejack composed herself in an attempt to regain her lost dignity and straightened her hat.

"It's quite simple really. It was right at sunset. I was tending my stand, selling to some of the late shoppers before closing up, when all of a sudden, Trixie comes running by! She looks me dead in the eye with a smirk, pushes it over, and smashes it! Then she just ran off. I ain't seen anything like it! It was like she was possessed or something!"

Applejack's testimony dredged up noise from the crowd, forcing the mayor to pound her gavel.

"Order, order! I must say, Miss justice, this certainly sounds like definitive testimony, and from the Element of Honesty no less!"

Blind returned to the prosecution stand and took a curtsy, her smile never wavering. "I never disappoint."

The mayor eyed Applejack, then Miss Justice. Silently nodding to herself, she pounded the gavel once and cleared her throat.

"I think I'm ready to make a judgement in this matter."

Trixie grabbed Twilight as if she were the last stone on the edge of a cliff. "We’re about to lose! You have to do something!"

"Cross-examination!" Twilight blurted out, with little impulse in the matter.

The mayor leaned forward, lowering her glasses.

"Pardon me?”

"I have the right to cross examine the witness!" Twilight said, stamping her hoof.

Mrs. Mayor stared at Twilight as if she had just suggested a coup against Celestia herself. "But... this is Applejack. Honest Applejack. How could she possibly be lying?"

Twilight grimaced, swallowing hard. "All possibilities... must be explored, Mrs. Mayor."

The mayor banged her gavel and motioned to Applejack. "It's your funeral."

Twilight left her seat, keeping her head tilted to avoid meeting Applejack's venomous glare. "Tell me again what you saw when Trixie flipped your stand."

Applejack gave an annoyed huff. "I told you, I saw Trixie looking dead on at me. She flipped over my stand and smashed it, simple as that. I don’t like it anymore than you do, but it all matches, Twi. Everything from her hat, her cape, right down to those baby blue eyes of hers.

Nothing in Applejack’s statement seemed wrong. It was all so simple, so cut and dried. Twilight hoped for more, like cutting into a tree and finding a nest of nasty worms, crawling about and making a mess. All she found was wood, a solid testimony. There was nothing there for Twilight to even stall with.

“Is that all, princess?” Miss Justice called out in that way that said she wasn’t asking her, she was telling her there was nothing left.

Twilight turned and gave Trixie a mournful look, staring deep into her sad eyes. Trixie of course tried to look sympathetic, trying to tell her that she knew Twilight had done all she could. Unfortunately, she could see otherwise in her eyes.

Wait… her eyes...

"Objection!"

Twilight turned as if stung and pushed her head quite close to Applejack’s. "Did you just say, 'baby blue eyes'?"

The cowpony looked taken aback. "Well, yeah. They stood out like an apple in a basket of oranges."

"Interesting you would say that, since Trixie clearly has purple eyes!”

The crowd erupted like a volcano of noisy chatter. Mrs. Mayor banged her gavel, bringing the flow to a halt.

"Applejack, what's the meaning of this?" Mrs. Mayor demanded.

The cowpony fell back in the seat, the stetson sagging off her head. "I... I don't know!"

Blind gripped the pearls around her neck a little tighter and cleared her throat, causing everyone to look at her. "All of this noise over nothing. Princess, did it ever occur to you that maybe the light caught Trixie's eyes a certain way? Surely eye color is a detail too small to worry over. in a professional courtroom, this would be laughed aside."

"Small details are all I've got to work with!" Twilight protested.

Mrs. Mayor shook her head. "She’s right. It was near sunset. Maybe it colored Applejack’s vision. Eye color is not important enough for me to strike her entire testimony over. Find something else, Your Highness."

Twilight groaned. it was quite frustrating. One moment she had something, the next it slipped through her fingers, or hooves, as it were.

"Come on, Twilight! You found one loose thread, there has to be something else! Keep pulling!" Trixie encouraged her.

Twilight, never one to give up at the first sign of trouble, ran her mind through Applejack’s testimony again and again. "Applejack, was there anything different about Trixie at all? Something about her face, her cheeks, makeup?"

The cowpony tilted her head back and forth. "I don't recall anything... and we were face to face. If there was something, I’d have noticed."

Twilight smiled as she prepared to pounce.

"Then something is definitely wrong, because you should have noticed this scratch on Trixie's face!"

Twilight cantered to the defendant stand and turned Trixie's cheek for the courtroom’s benefit. The mark from the sticker brush left a red, nasty cut that everypony could easily see.

Applejack gasped as if she had just discovered a landmine in her seat. "But... she didn't have that when I saw her!"

From across the courtroom, a laser focused glare shot toward the alicorn. "Come on, princess, what are you getting a-?"

"I'm not done,” Twilight interrupted abruptly, earning a glare from her opponent. “Applejack, was Trixie's horn glowing?"

Applejack nodded. "Yeah, it was glowing yellow. I didn't think much of it."

"Did she use her magic to knock over your stand, or teleport away when she finished?"

"Nuh uh. She used her hooves to knock over the stand, and then she ran away. Plain and simple."

"Twilight, what's going on? Do you know something?" Trixie pleaded.

A knowing grin crossed Twilight's face. "It's simple. Applejack is telling the truth. She saw Trixie knock over her stand."

Trixie suddenly wasn’t sure whose side Twilight was on. "Are you crazy? Are you trying to get me arrested?! I’m innocent!"

Twilight gave a sage nod. "I know you’re innocent. If I know you didn’t do it, and Applejack thinks you did, the answer is simple. Somepony disguised themselves as you and committed the crime."

For the entirety of the trial, Miss Justice had been the very model of professionalism. All things must come to an end, however, and this was the end of Miss Justice’s cool mannerisms.

"This is ridiculous! You can't possibly shop such a crazy theory here in this court!"

Twilight stamped her hoof in defiance. "I am serious! Applejack's testimony is all wrong! She got the eye color wrong, she didn't notice the scratch, she got the horn aura color wrong, it all points to an imposter!"

Blind tugged at the pearls around her neck which suddenly felt like somepony strangling her. All at once, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and composed herself, seemingly transforming into the pony she was at the beginning of the trial

"All I hear is conjecture and coincidence. The courtroom is for evidence and decisive testimony. Trixie could have gotten that scratch at any time. If you want to push this theory, I want to see something that proves Trixie had the scratch before the supposed time when Trixie broke the stand."

Twilight reeled, her mane fluttering in the non-existent wind of the Town Hall. "But... I can't prove that!"

"What a shame. You see, Trixie only needed to go scratch her face after destroying the stand and then voila, instant alibi. Well I, nor this court, will fall for such a cheap trick."

Mrs. Mayor shook her head. "Twilight Sparkle, if you have nothing else, I'm afraid I must render a judgement."

Twilight's shoulders slumped. She had no other trump cards, no more testimony to scrutinize, not a single pebble to skip. "I'm sorry, Trixie. I did everything I could."

Trixie sighed, sinking in her seat. "That's okay, Twilight. I know you tried. Perhaps this is just destiny’s way of finally catching up with me."

Mrs. Mayor banged her gavel once. "In the case of Ponyville versus Trixie Lulamoon, I hereby find the defenda-"

"Waaaaiiiit!"

A shrill scream drowned out the mayor’s words, echoing through Town Hall and carrying out even further. It turned out this shout had more effect than intended as a pack of dogs staying at Fluttershy’s cottage abruptly left without so much as a bark or an arf, leaving a very confused pegasus behind.

Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo ran through the confused crowd up to the defendant's bench. Pinkie dropped a photo in front of Twilight with a wink, and ran back out leaving the Cutie Mark Crusaders like a set of luggage. Twilight scanned the picture, her eyes widening the longer she did so.

"Oh my gosh! Your honor, I have a new piece of evidence to present!" Twilight announced. She flickered her horn to life and levitated it to the mayor.

"This is a photo of Trixie... with the scratch on her face!"

Blind leapt to her hooves like she had sat on a tack. "What? Impossible!"

"And she has a rather impressive mustache too..." the mayor trailed off as she passed the photo to the bailiff who then passed it over to Miss Justice.

"Actually the mustache is just drawn on," Apple Bloom admitted.

"We were kinda planning to use it as a dart board," Sweetie Belle confessed.

"Yeah, but when we heard Trixie was on trial for breaking somepony's stand, we knew there was no way she could have done it! We saw her at the farm!" Apple Bloom explained. “That was when we took her picture!”

Blind’s demeanor fell back into seething rage. "This means nothing, princess! She could have destroyed the stand and then ran back to Sweet Apple Acres to get the scratch!"

For the first time since the trial began, Twilight suddenly felt like she had the upper hand. She let a smirk cross her lips and shook her head. "No way, no how! Look behind Trixie in that picture!"

Blind looked at the photo. "I don't see what you're ge-Gah!" Her mane flew back, as if somepony had lit a fire right in front of her.

Twilight nodded, knowing she had struck a severe blow. "That's right. Behind Trixie in that photo, we can clearly see the sun about to set, which means..."

Twilight slammed her hooves on the bench, aiming her next words like a finely sharpened arrow. "There's no way she could have been in town destroying the stand, and at Sweet Apple Acres getting her picture taken by the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

The mayor nodded. "Indeed. It does seem impossible for that to have happened."

Blind sputtered, taking wheezing gasps. Her hooves wrapped themselves tightly around the pearls clinging to her neck as if they were choking the life out of her. With a loud snap, the pearl necklace broke free, and hit the floor with a thud. Blind's eyes rolled up into the back of her skull and she fell in a crumpled heap behind the prosecution stand and out of eyesight. The crowd became restless, chattering amongst themselves, prompting the mayor to bang her gavel.

"Order! Order! Can we get a medic in here?"

After a brief recess, Blind Justice returned to her bench with an angry scowl and a broken strand of pearls sitting on the table in front of her. The audience seemed on the edge of their seat, filling the air with electricity as they waited with baited breath on the finale.

"It seems the facts of this case are increasingly clear," Mrs. Mayor announced. "That being said, can you enlighten us a little more on what exactly happened, Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight cleared her throat, and rose to her hooves with confidence. "I believe somepony made copies of Trixie's hat and cape, and then used a shimmer spell to disguise themselves as her."

The mayor raised her eyebrows. "A shimmer spell?"

Twilight nodded. "A shimmer spell is a spell used to take on the form of another pony. It's not perfect though. It will oftentimes fail at replicating certain small details such as eye color, or even horn aura, as Applejack saw. Another downside is that the spell requires continuous channeling, so they can't perform any other magical tasks while maintaining the shimmer."

"So that's why she couldn't teleport away," Applejack reasoned.

Twilight nodded.

"Well I think that ties everything up neatly. If there's no further objections, I'm ready to render my judgement," Mayor Mare announced.

Blind growled from her side of the courtroom, feeling quite cheated out of her assured victory.

"In the case of Ponyville versus Trixie Lulamoon, I hereby find Trixie, not guilty!"

"Yes! You did it!"

Twilight was immediately set upon by a pink missile the moment she stepped outside Town Hall.

"You're the bestest and smartest pony ever! Twilight can do anything!" Pinkie cheered to no one in particular, as she was won’t to do. Twilight carefully extracted herself from Pinkie’s hooves the same way she would a bear trap.

"Hahaha! okay, Pinkie, Just calm down!"

The pink pony immediately turned her attention to Trixie, tackling her in a hug. "I knew you were innocent! Some ponies tried to say you finally snapped, but I said 'nuh uh!', and what do you know? I was right!" Pinkie declared smugly.

Trixie gave Pinkie a smile, the first genuine smile she had given anyone since being arrested. If felt good to smile again, and she realized she’d quite like to do it a lot more.

"Thank you, Pinkie, for believing in me." Trixie turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders next. "And thank you for bringing that picture. If you hadn't, Trixie would probably still be in prison right now."

The three fillies blushed. "Ahhh, it was nothing. Applejack always says the most important thing is the truth, so we had to say something," Apple Bloom explained.

"That's right, Apple Bloom. Telling the truth is the most important thing you can do," Applejack interrupted. She took off her hat and placed it against her chest like a gracious loser. "I thought for sure it was you who messed up my stand. I felt so betrayed after everything we’ve been through... but I guess that's nothing compared to how you felt, spending the night in prison for something you didn't do."

Trixie smiled. "It's all right. Somepony went to a lot of trouble to frame me. It’s just another bit of my past, catching up with me."

Applejack shook her head and replaced her hat. "Maybe, but you still don't deserve to sit in jail for something ya'll didn't do, and I'm sorry for that."

"It's fine. Now we've proven I'm innocent, and prison is the furthest thing from my mind. I’d rather think about something much more pleasant," Trixie lied. Truthfully, she could think of little else but prison, and how happy she was that she wouldn’t be sitting in it.

Pinkie Pie hopped in place. "Oooh oooh! Lemme guess what you're thinking! Uhhhh... you really want an eyepatch?"

Trixie laughed. "Nope! I was just thinking I could sure go for a cupcake right now."

"Shoot! That was going to be my thirty-fifth guess!" Pinkie lamented. “Oh well, who cares about that because it’s party time!” the pink pony shouted, practically dragging Trixie along with her.

Trixie turned, giving Twilight a pleading look for help. Unfortunately for her, something else had caught the princess’ attention.

"You girls go on ahead, I'll catch up."

"Okey doke lokey! You better be there soon though, or I’m coming back to get you!” Pinkie threatened, still dragging her captive behind her.

Twilight walked over to the steps that led into Town Hall and took a seat. Her eyes rested on the horizon, waiting for the right time to speak.

"I'm sorry I had to break your record."

Blind Justice sat on the steps, leaning forward and cradling an open wine bottle. She tipped it back with little ceremony, drinking straight from the bottle. Taking a generous sip, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hoof.

"Casa De Luego. It's my favorite wine. I always drink a bottle after a win." Justice leaned back, letting her shoulders rest on the step behind her.

"But... you lo-"

"Yes, yes," Justice said, interrupting Twilight. "I normally drink it out of a glass... in my office."

The pony took another pull of wine and rested the bottle next to her. "I should thank you, Your Highness."

"Please, Twilight is fine."

Justice smiled. It wasn’t a sarcastic smile. It was a pleasant and honest smile. A smile that Twilight was sure not many ponies have seen.

"Twilight then. I've gone into every trial knowing what the outcome would be for years. I only took cases where I knew I could find the suspect guilty. It got to the point where the trials no longer had anything to do with the truth. They were just about winning."

"I... see."

"The Element of Honesty. A pony who would stand up for the truth no matter what. That's the only reason I took this case. Little did I know that she had been fooled. I forgot somewhere along the way that the truth was the most important part of justice. Not winning."

The ponies in Town Hall had all filed out leaving just Twilight and Justice to themselves. Only the ticking clock dared break the silence.

"So... what will you do now?" Twilight asked.

Justice smiled and picked her bottle back up, cradling it like a child.

"Now... now that I no longer have a record to protect, I'll fight for what I'd forgotten about for so long: The truth. Why don’t you ask me what you really want to know?" She asked, raising her eyebrows provocatively.

Twilight blushed. She knew that many ponies saw her as an open book, but few read her out loud. “I’m that obvious, huh? For you to come all the way to a place like Ponyville, someone had to ask for you by name."

Justice gave a wise nod. "You really are a smart one. I can see why Celestia chose you as her student. Yes. Somepony here in Ponyville requested me specifically. Said it was a slam dunk. It probably would have been, had it not been for that photo."

Right before Justice put the bottle to her lips once again, Twilight put a hoof on it. "I need to know who called you."

Justice laughed once again, this time dryer, and in a cynical manner. "Sorry, Your Highness. I'd like to tell you, but I can't break confidentiality."

Twilight looked down at the grass, once again feeling her chance at the truth slip through her hooves.

"Now now, none of that. You know and I know that whoever brought me here knew Trixie was innocent, which means..."

"They'll have to try again," Twilight reasoned.

Blind winked at her. "Bingo. They're desperate, which means they'll make a mistake for sure, and then you can ask them yourself. As for me," Justice said, rising to her hooves, "I've got to find my hotel before I get too far into this bottle. I can already tell tomorrow morning will be a hangover day."

With a smile, Justice thrusted the bottle forward. "To the Princess of friendship! May her reign be long and true!"

Twilight smiled, a blush breaking out across her muzzle. "Good luck, Miss Justice."

With a crooked smile, Blind Justice started her trek to the hotel. Despite having lost, she walked away with her head held high and the same confident gait with which she first entered the courtroom. At this time, Twilight realized that even though Miss Justice had lost, some part of her had won.

Twilight found that thought comforting, and chalked it down as a win for everyone.

Celebration

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The atmosphere at Sugarcube Corner seemed to buzz in anticipation. Ponies were already milling about outside, lining up and peering in through the window to watch the future party take shape. She recognized several of them trying to sort them in the categories of ‘ponies who still seemed to hate her’ and ‘ponies who were tolerating her presence.’ At first she was surprised to see a few from the former list until she remembered that the draw of a Pinkie Pie party was second only to free food in Ponyville. Trixie was so engrossed in this that she barely noticed when the bakery fell deathly silent.

“Ya’ll might wanna take cover, Sugarcube,” Applejack said, gently tugging Trixie’s shoulder.

It was only now that Trixie noticed that the other ponies present were hiding behind the tables, the counter, chairs, and anything that would at least partially obscure them. The peculiar scene reminded her of magic kindergarten when they did regular drills to duck under the desk in case of spontaneous explosive magic discharge.

“Does everypony know something I don’t?” Trixie asked. She already knew the answer was yes, but knew she had to ask the question anyway. It was the same force that made a solitary wheel roll out of a wreck, or the last dish spin to a halt after a kitchen disaster.

Applejack pulled her behind the table with a much firmer hoof this time. “We know that you never want to take a point-blank hit from Pinkie’s par-”

“Party cannon time!” Pinkie exclaimed.

She followed this exclamation by pulling a large blue canon out from her back the way one presents their wallet, or a breath mint. The problem in this scenario is that Pinkie had no pockets to speak of, and that the cannon was a fair bit larger than a breath mint.

“What in the hay is that?” Trixie shrieked.

Pinkie Pie jumped nearly three feet in the air before slamming her hoof down onto the device. It erupted with a deafening party explosion, spontaneously producing decorations, several tables and streamers at a time.

Morbid curiosity took Trixie’s thoughts. “Has anypony ever been hit by her party cannon?”

“Twilight did on one occasion,” Applejack said, her countenance grim. “She was sneezing and belching confetti for at least a week. I warned her not to be reading those books of hers before one of Pinkie’s parties.

Everypony watched as from the safety of their cover as Pinkie spread decorations all over using the cannon. As quickly as the chaos started, it stopped, and the room fell silent.

Applejack hazarded a glance above the table and then tapped Trixie on the shoulder. "C'mon up, it's safe now."

Trusting Applejack's words and her far greater experience with Pinkie Pie, Trixie slowly rose up from behind the table, letting her eyes pop up first. The cannon was no longer in sight and seemed to disappear as abruptly as it had appeared. Fluttershy, Applejack, and the Cakes all took cautious steps toward Pinkie who was busy scribbling on a banner.

"Pinkie? Why are you throwing a party?" Fluttershy asked.

The pink pony grabbed the banner with both hooves. Trixie was sure Pinkie’s front legs weren’t quite that long earlier, or the day before, or ever for that matter. As her eyes started to cross, she quickly decided that it wasn’t worth thinking about. She watched Pinkie dash to the counter, still holding the banner. Tacking up each side, the pink mare did a backflip off of the counter and tossed her hooves skyward.

"Ta-da!"

Pinkie stood below the banner on her hind legs, obviously proud of... whatever she had accomplished. The banner read: ‘Congratulations Twilight and Trixie!’

Trixie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Seems a bit vague..."

Pinkie scoffed. "I know, right? I started by writing 'Congratulations Trixie on not being declared guilty and sentenced to hard time, and Twilight for beating a super smart pony at something you've never done before', but there wasn't enough room. So, I flipped it over and wrote this instead."

Trixie walked behind the banner and looked up at the writing. "Oh, yeah. I can see some of that..."

The front door swung open, jingling the bell wildly and drawing everyone's attention.

"Sorry for keeping you girls waiting." Twilight traipsed into the shop, stopping just in time to keep from crashing into Pinkie Pie who had suddenly appeared before her.

"Hey! It's the other guest of honor! Don't worry, Twilight, I was just going to grab some snacks and mix up the punch," Pinkie shouted as she started for the kitchen.

Trixie waited long enough for Twilight to draw a relaxed sigh before sidling up to her.

“Did you find out anything?” she asked.

Twilight shook her head with all the remorse she could muster under the circumstances, which if she were to be honest, wasn’t all that much. After all, she just decimated a courtroom legend for Trixie. She was due for a break and some gratitude. Nevertheless she put on a good show of it.

“Sorry, she wouldn’t tell me who called for her.”

Trixie frowned. “That was the best lead we had too. How hard is it to do a shimmer spell anyway?”

“Not hard. The spell isn’t difficult, but finding it is. It’s a spell that only somepony with access to the Canterlot Library could possibly learn,” Twilight explained.

Trixie furrowed her brow. She didn’t think of herself as the thinking type. Not that she couldn’t mind you, but thinking was the sort of nonsense that usually happened to other ponies. However, as she struggled to turn a new leaf and put her past behind her, she realized that she was having to think more and more all the time. It was quite tiring.

“So, who could possibly have access to the Canterlot Library?”

“Me, any of my friends, the princesses, Moondancer, and anyone she would allow in there… lots of ponies. Take away ponies with a motive, and it gets slightly easier.”

A terrible thought occurred to Trixie. One she didn’t even want to consider. “Twilight, would anypony who attended Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns have access?”

Grimly, Twilight nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

Bright pink exploded between the two ponies as reality bowled aside to let Pinkie squeeze between them. “Hey! No more frowny frowns, or gloomy gussing! This is a party, and it’s time to have fun!”

Pinkie’s legs took off before her head did, apparently a little late on getting the memo. Once all of her had arrived at the record player in the corner, loud music kicked in, filling the entire bakery. It was at this moment a thought occurred to Trixie.

“I’ve never been invited to a party,” she admitted sheepishly.

Twilight adopted a smile and threw a hoof across Trixie’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, we’ll break you in gently.”

Over the course of an hour, Trixie received a crash course on Pinkie Pie parties. Crash being the operative word. Pinkie was generous enough to give her a tour of the party, but Trixie came to the realization that the scant ten seconds of hurried speech didn’t exactly stick in her mind. Luckily enough, Fluttershy quietly and patiently showed her around. There was enough cake, punch, and snacks to sentence a pony to the dentist for decades. Games and activities were stationed all around the bakery like emergency exits. Trixie also noted the vague purple magic field that encapsulated the staircase. A magical field, Fluttershy had explained, so that the Cakes and their little ones could actually get some sleep on the night of a Pinkie Pie party.

Feeling a bit self conscious, Trixie wandered near the dance floor and began doing subtle motions that might be confused for a dance. Once she realized no one was judging her performance and that the ponies already engaged in the act looked much more ridiculous than her, did Trixie really let herself go. She bounced and threw her head from side to side, feeling the music travel through her like a lightning rod.

She was so caught up in her dancing that she barely noticed Applejack’s brother doing a rather impressive dance that one might confuse as a mating ritual for blind ponies. His legs splayed and flew out at many angles. He was so entranced, he didn’t even notice his rear hoof kick out and strike a bucket of ice on the nearby table sending it hurtling through the air. The scene looked to be in slow motion once she realized it was heading straight for Pinkie Pie. She wanted to scream, to shout, to warn the oblivious mare in some way. It was then Trixie noticed it.

Pinkie’s tail, looking like a clump of candy floss, wiggled insistently. The pink mare turned her head, clutching it in a curious manner. Her eyes flew skyward, instantly locking onto the ice bucket sailing straight for her. With speed that would make a mantis shrimp do a double take, she threw out her hooves, catching the ice bucket and the cubes that had errantly left during its flight. Like a mad queen, she crowned herself with the ice bucket and carried it to the table, placing it safely where it belonged.

“How in Equestria did she do that…” Trixie muttered, her jaw halfway to the floor.

“Pinkie sense,” replied the soft, sophisticated voice next to her.

Trixie frowned. She recognized that voice all too well. It was one that hadn’t yet been associated with terribly good memories. As much as she didn’t want to, she felt compelled to turn to its owner.

“Pinkie sense?”

Rarity nodded. “I have absolutely no clue how it works, but Pinkie Pie gets these, shudders if you will. They tell her all sorts of things.”

“Like, ‘Hey, a rogue ice bucket is about to hit me in the head’, sort of things?” Trixie asked.

“Not quite. Did you see her tail twitch?”

Trixie couldn’t help but see the bushy tail flop about. “Yes?”

“Well, that tells her something is about to fall,” Rarity explained. “She has all sorts of twitches and aches. Twilight studied her for quite awhile before conceding defeat.”

“I see…”

Rarity paused at the silence. It wasn’t a normal silence. It was the sort of silence that swallowed everything up like a black hole. In the middle of a party with more than twenty guests and a record player to boot, this silence was strong enough to cast all of that noise into nothingness, belch, and then ask for more.

“You’re probably wondering why I’m even speaking to you,” Rarity said, turning her head in a fashion that Trixie could mistake for shame.

“Well… yeah, actually.”

Rarity went through the motions of taking a seat, only stopping for a brief moment as her magic pulled a cushion to break her rump’s fall.

“This trial nonsense had me thinking that maybe I have been a bit too harsh on you. I realized that I wasn’t being generous enough in giving you a second chance.”

Trixie felt awkward. She gave the imaginary shirt around her neck a bit of a tug and threw on a friendly smile. “Even if I was under the influence of a magical amulet, I did do some nasty things. It’s only natural some ponies would be a little… upset.”

Rarity gave a sheepish smile. “As somepony else who was possessed by a magical object, allow me to say they’ve been a bit harsher to you than they were me.”

“Magical object? What kind?”

“A book.”

It suddenly occurred to Trixie that maybe there were a few magical trinkets banging about Equestria which should be better protected. Maybe Twilight could send a little to the princesses about that.

“Point is,” Rarity started, interrupting Trixie’s train of thought and sending it crashing into the valleys below. “I’ve been a bit too harsh on you. I want you to know I’m terribly sorry, and if I can make it up to you in anyway, please, just say the word.”

Giving a grateful nod, Trixie smiled. “Uhhh, well, thanks.”

The unicorn got up, taking her cushion along for the ride. “Remember though, if you get any funny ideas about splitting up our friendship or some other nonsense, I will make you regret it. Are we clear?”

“O-of course not! I mean, of course! It never even crossed my mind!”

That was a lie of course. The moment Trixie put on the alicorn amulet she thought of little else but destroying Twilight and her friend’s friendship. It was, in fact, her first move when she returned to Ponyville. However, that was before, and Trixie reasoned that since turning over a new leaf, it hadn’t really crossed her mind. Truth be told, the only evil thought that crossed Trixie’s mind was usually an act of violence against whatever awoke her before the crack of noon.

Unless they were pink.

“Ta-ta!” Rarity called out as she disappeared into the crowd of ponies.

Once again, Trixie found herself in possession of a smile that she didn’t quite understand, but enjoyed immensely. She silently hoped that many more were to come.

"Oof!"

Trixie fell face first onto the floor. Despite the nausea and dizziness, she laughed just as hard as her new friends. Slipping the blindfold up, she saw that the tail had not been placed correctly. Thanks to the power of stories, this tail had been firmly placed on the pony’s nose.

"I don't think that's where it goes!" Pinkie giggled as she fell backwards into a laughing fit.

It was astounding to Trixie. Ponies were laughing at her, and she wasn't mad, nor was she angry about it. In fact, much like the magic show, she enjoyed it. It was a different kind of laughter, one that fell in pleasant layers around her.

"You know it’s been a rough game of pin the tail on the pony when the tail on the ponies hoof is the winner," Rainbow cackled.

The peals of laughter slowly died out one by one as the fatigue of the night’s events finally hit the partygoers. Tears of joy were swept aside, sighs of contentment wafted through the crowd, and many yawns spread like wildfire.

Applejack finally stood up, having previously fallen from her attempt at pin the tail on the pony. “Ah don’t know about you gals, but I’m beat. Ah think it’s time I hightailed it back home.”

Had she been conscious, Fluttershy would have agreed with her companion. Curled up in the corner, Fluttershy had fallen into a blissful slumber. A blue aura lifted her gently from the hardwood floor and swept her onto Rarity’s back. “Poor dear let herself get carried away I’m afraid. I’ll take a detour and bring her home. Good night, everypony.”

After waving Rarity off, Rainbow Dash managed to stagger to her hooves as well, bleary eyed from the night’s revelry. “Yeah, I got cloud duty tomorrow. It sure was fun though."

"Bye girls! Take care!" Pinkie shouted as they headed for the door.

One pony stood alone by the punchbowl, quiet and contemplative.

"Are you staying late, Twilight?" Trixie asked.

The purple pony jolted, as if struck in the flanks.

"Huh? What?"

"The girls just left. You can stay the night if you like, it could be a sleepover," Pinkie offered, her eyes shining with hope like bright blue gems.

"Sorry. Maybe another time."

Trixie couldn’t even pretend to know Twilight very well. Until a couple weeks ago, she thought the alicorn a boastful and mean spirited noble pony. This, of course, was due to their personal history. Tonight, Trixie had been doing her best to read Twilight, and it was clear something was bothering her.

"You've been very distant, Sparkle. Is something wrong?"

"There is, actually. I'd like to know who was trying to frame you."

Trixie growled at the thought of the imposter. "Right. Isn't there some way we could catch them?"

"Technically, unless they try again, no... but I have an idea. Do you think I could borrow your cape?"

"Sure, if you think it will help." Trixie started to stand up, but she was quickly overcome by lingering dizziness. Her motivation faltered, and in that moment, decided it would be better to stay down.

So she did… with a muffled thump.

"Don't worry Trixie, I'll go get it," Pinkie said, disappearing in a pink blur. A moment later she returned, magical cape in hoof. "Here you go, Twilight. Take good care of it," Pinkie said, patting the alicorn's head much like Applejack would pet Winona.

"R-right. Thanks for the party, Pinkie. You two have fun." Twilight walked out the front door, Trixie's cape safely tucked away in her saddlebags.

Trixie let out an exhausted sigh. "Well, that was something. Now I know why everypony calls you a party pony."

An eerie silence fell over the sweetshop. Trixie finally rose to her hooves and looked toward the pink pony. A frown had mysteriously appeared on her once bright face.

"Pinkie Pie... are you okay?"

The edges of Pinkie's face curled up slightly. "I'm alright. I'm always like this after a party. All my friends have to go and I have to clean up. It's always a bummer."

Trixie's horn ignited with its signature red aura. She lifted several piles of trash from the floor. "You're not cleaning up alone tonight. Not after throwing me my very first ‘Pinkie Pie party’."

"It's okay. You can go to bed if you want. I'm used to cleaning by myself," Pinkie said while pulling down a set of streamers.

Over the last few months, Trixie got to learn about a mysterious force called, her conscience. It never troubled her before. Only recently did she find that this mysterious force could rob a pony of a good night’s sleep, the enjoyment of ill-gotten gains, and the willingness of taking candy from foals of a far younger age spectrum than herself. Even if she could bring herself to leave Pinkie Pie to clean up the mess, she knew that she wouldn’t enjoy a single wink of sleep the entire night. Oddly enough, another force, one much more mysterious and foreign to her told her this wasn’t an option.

"Nonsense. Trixie is going to help you clean this mess up, and she won’t hear otherwise," Trixie proclaimed. She looked up at Pinkie and gave her a smile. Naturally, Pinkie looked back at her. The pink pony's ears flopped about and she rapidly blinked her eyes like mad. "Aachoo!"

"Gesundheit," Trixie said with a smile, before returning her attention to a nearby pile of trash.

After a night of sleeping on what felt like paper towels, soft sheets were a luxury Trixie would not take for granted anytime soon. Slipping beneath the cover on Pinkie's oversized bed, she felt a shiver of happiness start at her hooves and work its way up to her very core before exiting as a contented sigh.

"What was it like?"

Trixie let the question sit in the air for a moment, not to build suspense or to wait for clarification, but more so she could properly answer the question. Summing up such an experience so hastily was not something in the long list of things Trixie felt like she excelled in.

"It was... awful. The cell itself wasn't that bad, really. It was more just knowing I was trapped. Suddenly, I realized I was helpless. I couldn't leave anytime I wished. I couldn't go outside when I liked... I couldn't even eat anything but what they brought me. I guess it felt exactly like it should. A cage."

Trixie stared up at the ceiling. The shiver of happiness she felt earlier now seemed like a distant dream. She gasped as pink filled her eyes. Pinkie had thrown her hoof around Trixie's neck. Her poofy mane brushed against Trixie's face, forcing her to smell Pinkie's bubblegum scented shampoo.

"Uhhh, Pinkie? Are you okay?" Trixie asked.

"Mmhmm. You just seemed like you needed a hug really bad."

Trixie smiled and placed a hoof around Pinkie's shoulder. "Thank you. I guess I did."

Pinkie lifted her head and pulled away, smiling all the while. Rolling over to the lamp, she switched it off, bathing the room in darkness. Through the curtains, slivers of moonlight strayed through the window, painting the floor in its glow.

"Good night, Trixie."

"Good night, Pinkie."

The Magician's Bubblegum

by Starlitomega

Slip of the Tongue

A Place to Lay Her Head.

New Friend

What's in a Cutie Mark?

A Glimmer of Hope

Spinning Her Wheels

Hit the Ground Running

Nerves

Fillies and Gentlecolts...

A Relaxing Day

A Few Good Pones

Celebration