There's a stage set up just beyond the residential part of town in a grassy clearing, where a crowd of ponies look on excitably.
You head closer, watching from a distance, and see it's a magic show of some kind.
A light-purple Unicorn is up on the stage with a big metal box, wrapped in padlocked chains. It was an old trick you'd seen done a thousand times before at birthday parties as a foal, but you watched on regardless.
"So now, as you can see, the great and powerful Trixie has been locked; sealed tightly in this impenetrable box. If you look above the box, you'll notice this tank of water is slowly, but surely, emptying into the very same box! How is the great and powerful Trixie going to possibly escape this particular watery, deadly prison!?"
The crowd oo'd and aa'd as the water level in the tank steadily depleted, with the locks and chains seemingly unmoving.
"Oh, no! Maybe this is truly it for her!" The unicorn gasped with an exaggerated, dramatic lilt. You thought she was laying it on a little too thick, personally, but the crowd were eating it up; gasping along with her and leaning forwards on their seats, as if they truly believed she would be in any real danger.
"Gasp! It looks like the box is filled with water, and there's still no sign of Trixie!"
The crowd reacted expectedly, until a voice came from behind them - and you.
"I think you mean the great and powerful Trixie!"
An azure-blue unicorn wearing a magician's hat and cape was inexplicably standing behind you, holding a pose as the audience roared with laughter and applause.
Had she been there the whole time? You couldn't remember seeing her as you arrived.
"Thank you! Thank you! You've all been such a wonderful audience, but I would be nothing if not for my wonderful assistant: Starlight Glimmer!"
The unicorn on stage smiled humbly and bowed, and the crowd headed back towards town, passing Trixie who was holding out a small bucket.
"Please, any donations are much-appreciated!"
You heard a few clinking coins.
Once the audience had emptied out from the field, Trixie headed over towards the stage where she met with Starlight.
You decided to head over, just to tell them their performance was good, even if you'd only caught the last few minutes. Despite the fact you'd already seen a similar trick performed before, they both certainly put a lot of effort into entertaining the crowd.
"Damn. They really were tight today. Looks like it's beans again for dinner." Trixie complained, looking into the bucket.
"Oh, that's not all bad." Starlight giggled to her partner, as if she were making some insinuation.
As the two unicorns noticed you, they stopped their discussion.
"Ah. What is it? An autograph? Would you like my assistant here to take a photograph of you alongside the great and powerful Trixie!" It was as if that grand, actorly demeanor had just been switched on again for you.
"Well, no, I was just going to say I enjoyed the show."
"Thanks." Starlight smiled at you warmly, though Trixie seemed to scoff a little at the idea somepony wouldn't want her autograph.
"I don't think I've seen you around town before."
"I just got here today. I'm actually here on business... of a kind, anyway."
"What kind of business?" Trixie's eyes inspected you as she asked.
"I'm supposed to be assisting the princess."
"Wait. Really?" Starlight's face seemed to light up, "I live with Twilight most of the time. I would probably be there right now, but Trixie asked if I could help her out for a week and I said yes. Small world, huh?"
It wasn't surprising everypony had a close connection to Twilight in this town. She was the princess of friendship, after all.
"I'm supposed to be staring tomorrow, but I thought I'd explore around town a little and get to know the place."
"Well, I'm sure you've also heard of me." Trixie once again held a pose.
You hadn't, but it was rude to say that, and she clearly enjoyed the attention, so you told her you had.
"I'm sure it's a real pleasure to finally meet me, then."
"Oh, come on, Trixie. Drop the act. What's your name?"
"Peppermint Swirl. I'm afraid to say you definitely haven't heard of me." You laughed.
Looking you up and down again, Trixie looked as if she'd just suddenly had an idea.
"You know, Starlight, he'd be perfect."
"Oh, no. We wouldn't want to deprive him of his job here. I'm sure Twilight's pretty swamped without me at the castle this week."
"Uh... perfect for what?" You interject, and the two mares look round as if they'd momentarily forgotten you were even there.
"Well, it's just that me and Starlight have been... how should I put this... we've been looking for somepony to join us."
"Join you?"
"That's right. There's... a few things we've been wanting to try... in private... and we've been trying to find a victi- uh... I mean... participant... to help out."
"Like... a new trick or something?"
The unicorns shared a knowing glance.
"Something like that."
There was something a little suspicious about how vague Trixie was being.
"And you haven't found anypony willing to help? Not even one of those ponies watching your show earlier?"
It was Starlight who spoke up next.
"Well, no. It's not something most ponies would be comfortable helping out with."
Trixie added; "...and, let's just say, we don't exactly want... our secrets being shared with somepony who lives here."
Starlight nodded in agreement. "People here spread things around a lot. Someone like you - an outsider - we'd feel a whole lot safer sharing these... secrets with you."
You weren't sure why they couldn't just come out and be a bit more direct. "What kinds of secrets, exactly?"
"Well... it's not so easy to just tell you," Trixie began, "Not until you've accepted. It would be easier to just show you. We wouldn't want you going around just telling everypony our secrets if you decide to decline. I'm afraid if you want to know... you'll have to say yes."
That would also mean that once you said yes, it would be hard to exactly get out of it, too. Still, it did seem interesting. You'd always had an interest in magic, and in all honesty you were now just interested in what these big secrets were anyway.
"Well?" Trixie pressed, clearly impatient.
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author