“What happened to you?” Rainbow Dash asked, as Robert limped through town. “Make one joke too many?”

“Yes.” Robert replied. “Of course, at least she apologized.”

“Who did it? I'll kick their flank for you?” Rainbow punched the air a couple of times.

“Trixie.” Rainbow hung in the air for a moment. “No worries. I'm a big tiger, and it's not the first time I've been hit by furniture.” Rainbow opened and closed her mouth a couple times.

“You're friends with Trixie?” she managed. Robert took a breath.

“Yes. Were you not aware?” he asked, calmly. She shook her head.

“Why did nopony tell me?” she asked plaintively.

“I suspect the author forgot you.” Robert offered comfortingly. Rainbow glared at him.

“No one forgets Rainbow Danger Professionalism Dash.” she crossed her forelegs. “Not if they know what's good for them.”

“We had several entire chapters, with you.” Robert waved a paw. “Besides, we're breaking the fourth wall and that's Pinkies job.”

“I suppose. Where was I?” she asked.

“Indignant rage over not being told about Trixie.” he answered.

“Right, got it.” she threw her legs up into the air. “Trixie, how could you possibly be friends with that hyper-competitive, self absorbed, braggart?!”

“It's hard at times. But she's mellowed out some.” Robert shrugged. “Being able to tolerate her is one of the many skills I've cultivated. Besides, she helped me get here, and I helped her with her shows.”

“Really?” Rainbow landed. “Why?”

“She seemed really down on her luck when I met her. We found ourselves in a mutually beneficial situation. I helped her get her act together, pun intended, and she helped me find Ponyville.”

“Huh. I guess the trouble here was worse than we realized.” Rainbow said.

“Indeed. She was more than a little... not broken. It'd take more than even the Alicorn amulet to break Trixie. But humbled I think.” Robert shook his head.

“Oh. I didn't even think about it like that.” Rainbow rose into the air again. Robert doubted she'd even noticed she'd done it. “Do you think she'll ever come back here?”

“She's been back.” Robert replied, and explained what had happened.

“Oh. Well...” Rainbow chuckled and rubbed her head. “I guess I was asleep when that happened huh?”

“Yes, but so was the rest of the town. I only woke up Twilight and Rarity. Then slept the rest of the night. Fortunately, those two made the evening.” Robert grinned.

“Really? I wouldn't have expected Twilight to be a romantic.” Rainbow grinned.

“As far as I know, mostly she just gave them a restaurant to go to, and paid for it. Rarity made a dress, and Trixie did the rest.” he smiled. “I presume it went well because now she's expecting a proposal.”

“Wow, moving a little fast aren't they?” Rainbow asked. “And you know, it's me asking.”

“Oh, yes, the very last thing Trixie wants is a wedding, where she's the sole focus of every ponies attention.” Robert said, voice dripping sarcasm. Rainbow chuckled.

“Yeah, I see your point.” Rainbow paused a moment. “So why were you talking to Trixie?” she asked after a moment.

“Guard thing. Very hush, hush. I'll tell you about it when it's over.” Robert looked around furtively. Rainbow chuckled. “What are you up to?”

“Trying to get to know Pinkie's Sister.” Rainbow said. Robert raised an eyebrow. “Her name is Maud. She likes Rocks. A lot.”

“Sounds interesting.” Robert replied.

“Umm... no.” Rainbow said after a moment. “She's as boring as Pinkie is fun.”

“Depends on your interests.” Robert noted. “I'd like to meet her.”

“There she is, I'll introduce you.” Rainbow lead the way. “Maud?”

“Yes?” she turned.

“This is Robert, another friend of Pinkie's.” Rainbow said and backed away.

“Charmed.” Maud held out a hoof.

“Likewise.” Robert shook the hoof.

“Okay, so I'm gonna go... fluff the clouds.” Rainbow vanished.

“She out of earshot?” Robert asked. Maud nodded. “Excellent. So I've been informed you're a rockologist?”

“I will be. I'm going away to school for it.” Maud nodded.

“So opinions on 'Magical crystal formations in sedimentary stone layers?'” Robert asked.

“Complete and utter hogwash. Unsupported theory, no evidence to support his accusation. Plus he used Diorite's second theory, which was discredited years ago.”

“Thank you. Finally someone who doesn't think the sun rises and sets for the sole pleasure of Granite Shatterhoof.” Robert sighed.

“I'm surprised to meet a fellow Rockologist here. I hadn't expected that.” Maud admitted. “Particularly such a brilliant one.”

“A good measure of intelligence is how much another person agrees with you. By that reasoning, we must be geniuses.” Robert grinned.

“Clearly.” Maud smirked for a half-second, then was back to normal. “And Orthoclase' treaty on the healing effects of calcine crystals?”

“Rarely have I seen such a large number of correct conclusions for such wrong methodology.” Robert shook his head.

“You're not suggesting he was right?” Maud asked, incredulously.

“I am. He was wrong about it being the natural state of them. But properly prepared, and touched with the right amount of magic, they can heal certain maladies.” Robert replied. “But this idiot has to believing they'll cure anything from a cold to near-death in a natural state.” he shook his head.

“They do have a rejuvenating effect on , unicorn horns though.” Maud noted.

“True. Tiger Fangs as well, but only with a high silicon count.”

“Precisely.” Maud shook her head. “Most ponies I've met find rocks very boring.”

“I know. Most tigers feel the same.” Robert smiled. “So, have you considered your thesis?”

“Mmm...” Maud nodded. She flicked a glance around, then leaned close. “Rocks.”

“A stunning proposition.” Robert nodded. Maud stared for a moment, then smiled for a moment.

“I though so. Now, I have to go try and be friends with Twilight.” Maud sighed. “I hope this one goes better.”

“Just remember, it's for Pinkie.”

“So it is.” Maud nodded, set herself and walked into the library.

---

“So? You ready?” Sure Shot asked.

“Si Mi Generale.” Robert answered. Sure Shot blinked. “Yes, I'm ready. That's the seventh time you've asked me.”

“It's... I hate relying on mercenaries.” Sure Shot admitted. “We've been burned in the past.”

“Ah you know mercs, bunch of whiny little foals.” Robert shook his head. “Besides, I'm not actually a merc, and I'm the only option you've got.”

“That's what worries me.” the stallion admitted. “Just be careful. I'd hate to have to tell the princess something happened.”

“Nothing will happen. The GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE will make sure of that.” Robert said and transformed. !Trixie settled her hat and cloak into place. “Now that I look fabulous, it's time to steal the show.”

!Trixie trotted out of the concealment of the encampment and into the forest. Finding Cutter's Draw was a challenge in itself, but not one that !Trixie was not up to. Particularly since the original Trixie had provided instructions and the general had provided a map. And if this forest wasn't as dangerous as the Everfree, it was still dark and damp. After five minutes of tromping, !Trixie flicked a glance around, then lit her horn and rose above the ground. The lavender glow of her horn matched the glow of the long shoes she was walking on, keeping her out of the mud. The cobblestone landing that was the entrance to the path to the draw was the first dry ground she had seen in the forest. The clicking of hooves on stone brought guards from the brush. Two unicorns, horns alight, and two earth ponies, hoof axes gleaming.

“Stay thy hoof, and raise thy hat that we might know thee.” a voice, from none of them called.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie removes her hat for nopony, and would hope that you know her already, or she will find most unpleasant ways to ensure you do not forget her again.” !Trixie snapped. All the same she raised a hoof, and pushed the hat back on her head to reveal her face.

“Well well, if it's not the Great Magician come slinking back to us.” said a Pegasus, dropping from the canopy to land in front of her. !Trixie saw the key in his belt and contained a smile. “I heard you'd gone straight.” the guards closed, now slightly less on edge, but only slightly.

“The rumors of Trixie's straightness are greatly exaggerated.” she proclaimed. One of the earth ponies laughed. 'THWOCK.' He toppled over from the blow. “That is not what Trixie meant, uncouth pervert.” The pegasus laughed and lost his key.

“As amusing as this is and it is, you were banished from this place and told only to return under one condition. Which was?”

“Beneath A Moon Dark Sky. Which has not happened since Luna returned.” !Trixie grunted.

“Hmph. Very well, let me unlock the gate.” The pegasus turned and led her to a great stone door set in the side of a cliff. He reached for his belt and fumbled. “Hey, where's my key?”

“Where it has always belonged, in the possession of Trixie.” !Trixie said and clicked the lock open..

“Fine, fine, inside.” the pegasus waved her in with a wing, then threw up his hooves after she was gone. “She's only gotten more annoying... and she took the key.” he continued to mutter to himself as he beat his wings and flew into the trees.

---

Through the door was a room. It wasn't terribly large, but it didn't need to be. One wall was a one way mirror, and examination showed small nozzles scattered around the walls. !Trixie found that from some curiosity of her eyes, she could see through the mirror. There were three ponies and a griffon on the other side, one of each of the tribes. The griffon spoke.

“Alright, you know the procedure Miss Lulamoon. Prove yourself.” she said.

“Excuse me? You're not going to tell The Great and Powerful Trixie who you are? Yet you expect her to prove herself to you? You are sorely mistaken if you think that The Great and Powerful Trixie needs to prove ANYTHING TO YOU.” !Trixie inhaled.

“Yes, we get it. It's you. Welcome back. Now go away.” the unicorn's horn glowed and another door opened. !Trixie smiled and trotted through. The door shut behind her. Laid out before her was a huge market, containing all sorts of illegal and unsavory things. Piles of pony parts, and particularly perverse pleasures prohibited by law and common decency.

Robert found himself torn between wanting to change back and have a decent burger, wanting to change back and scour the place clean, and remaining Trixie and completing his mission. The last of these won out and he decided to scourge the place later. Wanting to get out as quickly as possible, Robert attempted to tap into the tracking spell. Unfortunately, while Robert the Tiger had been keyed into the spell, Trixie the Unicorn had not. On the upside, while might not have gained Trixie's talent for illusions, Robert was not completely hopeless at them. Finding an abandoned alleyway was the first challenge. Not that it was hard to find an alley, since most of the Draw seemed to consist entirely of them. Finding one abandoned was more difficult. Every alley seemed to contain one or two ponies, sometimes more. Occasionally they were all nearly identically attired, presumably all the same gang, though they might simply all have shared fashion tastes. !Trixie was certain Rarity would have fainted at the mere suggestion that that was fashion.

She was of course accosted once or twice, once by a drunken lout who fell over when pushed, and then by an attempted pickpocket. He came away with a hoof caught in a rat trap. Propositions came from several places, both offering and hoping for an offer. !Trixie ignored, or denied them all. The alley that finally reared it's head was in the deepest part of the Draw, and was abandoned when she found it. The illusion cast was not what might have been used to avoid visitors in other places, but the scene in the Draw was one that would not only keep away other ponies, but one that would actively discourage them. Most ponies wouldn't countenance compulsion, and even most Tigers would find the idea repugnant, but Robert went ahead and added in a compulsion effect to force any pony or anyone else that looked upon the scene that was unfolding to want to turn away as quickly as possible. Of course such a scene had to be tailored to any who might be looking. Ponies would see one thing, griffons another. Robert had seen no Minotaurs, but he wasn't willing to take the risk, and had left something for them as well. While there was always the chance of someone who fancied the macabre coming past, that was why the compulsion. That was not subtle in the slightest, but it was not meant to be. A second compulsion, aimed at unicorns in specific and magic users in general was far more subtle, in directing them to not investigate as being unworthy of notice.

Finally a second illusion, with the same compulsions covered the alley from the air. Far too many griffons and Pegasi to leave that to chance. Technically the illusion had three sides, since all three had to match, but it was a dead end, and no one should have been coming from that direction anyway. Satisfied that it was safe, Robert shifted back to his normal form. The tracking spell immediately shone bright as the sun above. He stared at it for several minutes before changing form again. She waited for the illusion to reach a certain point, then let it fade. No pony was watching, but she left the compulsion to unravel. Anyone who walked into it would find an aversion to the area, but it wouldn't leave any other trace.

She moved across the draw, finding another alley. Again the same precautions, but the illusion different this time. No good to have the compulsion hit the same pony twice and have them think on the details. Practice paid off, and on the second try she had a close position of the tracking target. Slipping into the area where the tracking spell pointed. There were three buildings in the vicinity.

The alleys were too crowded to lay down an illusion, and !Trixie didn't want to be remembered as too interested. So she trotted past, head down as if searching the ground for something lost. A glowing horn was hard to hide, and could be detected even if you did. So disguise was the best thing. So she trotted around, horn glowing, lifting pieces of paper, and other detritus as if searching for something. True the hat hid the horn from physical view, but unicorns could feel others using magic, and she was aware. So instead she appeared to be using magic for something mundane. Were someone to ask, she had a story prepared, and was ready to regale them with a dazzling tale.

“What're you doing?” a guard pony asked, as she levitated him into the air.

“Looking.” !Trixie said, dropping him to the ground. He landed with a grunt.

“Boss don't like no one looking around.” he said and stepped forward, hammer hooves clicking against the ground. They were a perfect weapon for a knowledgeable user. Capable of debilitating blows, as well as killing ones.

“Unless he's stolen my rabbit, he's in no danger from me.” !Trixie said, lifting the top off a rubbish bin. She stuck her head in, and pulled it out. “Of course, Trixie is willing to pay well for the return of the rabbit.”

“Rabbit? What rabbit?” The guard asked, confused.

“The rabbit Trixie pulls from her hat.” she rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”

“Oh, right. Well, I ain't seen no rabbits around here.” the guard said. He opened his mouth to say more, but she pecked him on the cheek.

“You could have just said so. Trixie is away then.” she turned and trotted away.

---

“Trixie returns your key.” she said to the pegasus at the gate. He fell off the branch he was sitting on. He rose into the air again.

“Thank you. How did you get up here?” he demanded.

“Neither a lady, nor a magician ever reveal their secrets. Trixie is both, and thus reveals neither.” she raised her nose, then dropped to the ground. It was quite the distance, but a Soft Fall spell is one of the first many unicorns learn, and Trixie was no exception. It did of course require prior preparation, so it wasn't as useful as Slow Fall, but it could make a very interesting impression. She slipped out of the forest without further incident. Sure Shot was waiting.

“I found them.”

“Umm... You're still not you.” Sure Shot noted. !Trixie shifted back. “Better. So, who is it?”

“How should I know? I'm not a local, which is why you used me.” Robert replied. Sure Shot's eye twitched. “I did get the sigil on the guard of the building.” he trotted to a table with a blank sheet of paper, and picked up a pencil. His eyes closed, and he drew. After a moment he opened them. “Well, that's not quite right, but I hope you get it?”

“Yeah, I know exactly who they are.” Sure Shot sighed. “We're going to need some back up.”

“Bad?”

“Very. However, you did exactly what we asked, and for that, I'm giving you a bonus.” Sure Shot passed him a bag of bits. “Head on home. We'll take it from here.” Sure Shot patted his shoulder.

“Will do. Good luck.” Robert said. He trotted out of the field, spread his wings and took off. The air was thick with Pegasi guards. A short time later, he found himself turning around and winging back towards the encampment. Sure Shot didn't seem surprised that he'd come back.

“Had a change of heart?” the unicorn asked.

“Forgot my hat and cape.” Robert said. The unicorn's jaw hung open. “Why? Did you expect something else?”

“I... no, I guess not.” Sure Shot sighed.

“Look, if you want me to get the stuff back, I can. Keep your soldiers out of it, and you know, just sort of generally avoid the pointless death.” Robert offered. “Of course, there might be a few pointy death's but somethings can't be avoided.”

“Are you sure? You'll be going in unsupported, and without any backup.” Sure Shot offered.

“That's the way I like it.” Robert grinned.