The Solo Performanceby WriteFriendSprite
Chapters
The First Day
>You are Trixie.
>You're a travelling unicorn magician in the land of Equestria.
>You go from town to town to put on shows for entertainment and money.
>Barely anyone doesn't know your name at this point. Especially those in Ponyville.
>Because of how often you travel you don't have any static roadies, just some misfits from each town to assist with your stage set up.
>This week you're scheduled to make your second stage appearance in Ponyville.
>As you walk along, you recall your previous visits.
>You had bested five of the six spirits of the Elements of Harmony.
>...Then you were driven out by that unruly Twilight Sparkle.
>Second visit wasn't any better.
>She, with the help of her friends, managed to trick you in your lust for power.
>You tip your hat down over your eyes in shame as you run through these memories.
>The mix of embarrassment and anger makes you pull your stage coach along faster.
>You hope that this time will be better.
>You are better. You worked to become better.
"Trixie is better than before... Yeah. She's not just some... Power hungry unicorn anymore."
>You talk to yourself for a while as you walk along the dirt roads.
>You finally reach Ponyville.
>Coming from Canterlot, it's quite a trek for a little pony like yourself.
>You drag your stage coach along to the town square.
>It was nightfall, so everyone was already indoors, if not asleep.
>You give a soft yawn as you use your magic to set down the coach stands and lock them in place.
>Slipping out of the harness, you unlock the door and step inside.
>It wasn't anything special. Just a small rack for your outfit, a bed, and a night stand with a picture of you on it.
>There wasn't any activity right now, but soon you'll have crowds cheering your name.
>Levitating your hat onto the rack, you climb into bed and cover up.
>Tomorrow was another day.
>You wake up some time after dawn.
>You went through your normal morning routine.
>Stretching, mane and tail brushing, food, brushie brushie...
>You step outside.
>You feel the bright sun on your coat, causing you o give a satisfied smile.
>Today felt like it was going to be a good day.
>You unlatch a large storage container from the back of your stage coach.
>Opening it up, it contained all the parts and tools to assemble your stage.
>You liked how easy it was to build the mechanism that converted your stage coach into a full on stage.
>You begin to assemble the structure.
>Various ponies come and go as they visit one another, and head to work.
>Most turned their noses up to you, others too preoccupied to take mind that you even existed.
>While tinkering with some complex internal latches, a mother and her son stopped to see what you were doing.
>"Mommy! Mommy! Isn't that the Great and Powerful Trixie!?"
>He sounded very excited.
>You take your head out of the the parts you were messing with to look at them, your ears perked in hope.
>"Come on, Pip. We have things to do. She isn't worth our time."
>You watch as she drags her colt along.
>Your ears droop down.
>You could almost feel your heart breaking.
"Maybe Twilight and her friends would like a friendly hello!"
>The thought of them possibly being friendly to you lifted your spirits some.
>You went back to work.
>You finish up with the construction of your stage mechanism.
>With one last bolt in place, you set the tools back into the storage unit and reattach the box to the stage coach.
>Looking into the window of the coach, you're able to see in a small hoof mirror on the table.
>Your face was covered in oil and your mane was a mess.
"Goodness, Trixie. You're a mess! You can't go out looking like that!"
>You quickly step inside to clean up and grab a bag of bits.
>It was late afternoon, but you still had things to do.
>Your first stop...
>You look out into the distance at a large, crystal castle.
>With a toss of your mane, you walk through the streets of Ponyville, saddle on your back, bits in the bags.
>You see various ponies whispering to one another as they seemingly stare you down.
>You try to keep a smile on your face, but it quickly becomes harder and harder to do so.
>You're totally unnerved.
>Picking up your hooves, you quickly speed up into a sprint as you make your way toward Twilight's castle.
"Wow, it's much bigger in person."
>You slowly walk up to the base of the crystal castle tree, looking up at it.
>This thing was gigantic.
>It almost made your ego look absolutely tiny.
>...Almost.
>Walking up the front steps, you knock on the door and wait.
>No one answered.
>You knock again.
>No one came.
>Eventually you pressed the doorbell twice.
>The all too familiar "Dong dong!" echoed through the halls.
>Eventually you hear a high pitched voice from behind the door.
>"Alright, ALRIGHT! I'm coming, sheesh!"
>The door opens a bit, revealing Spike.
>"If you're looking for Princess Twilight she---"
>He pauses to look at you.
>"Oh, it's you."
>He didn't sound very pleased.
>"What do YOU want, Trixie? Come to try and take over again?"
>He leans on the door as you sit down.
>That comment stung more than it should have.
>You're the Great and Powerful Trixie! You don't have to take shit from this dragon!
>Letting out a soft sigh to calm yourself down, you recollect your thoughts.
"Nonono, uh..."
>"Spike."
"Right, Spike. Trixie isn't here to take over, she was just in town and she uh..."
>He looks at you questioningly.
"Just wanted to stop by and give Twilight a friendly hello... It's been a while, you know?"
>"Uh huh? Right... Well, Twilight isn't here right now."
"Oh, that's uh.. That's okay. Could you tell Trixie where the others are?"
>Spike rolls his eyes at you.
>Second place.
>Sugarcube Corner.
>You simply couldn't miss the giant confectionery designed building.
>Just seeing it made you want to gag.
>You walk up to the door and knock.
>A light blue mare answered the door.
>"Oh, why uh hello there... Trixie..."
>She sounded very hesitant to see you.
>You tried to brush it off.
"Hi there uh... Mrs. Cake, was it? Is the pink one around?"
>You poke your head in through the top of the split door.
>"Oh, you mean Pinkie Pie? Oh, no, I'm sorry. She isn't! I think she said something about needing to help her friends with something."
>Your ears flatten as your gaze goes to the floor for a moment.
>A crash comes from the background.
>"Oh, I'm sorry, I'd love to stay and chat Trixie, but I think my husband needs help with the foals again. Toodles!"
>As quickly as she came, she left again, slamming the door shut on you.
>Something ate at the back of your mind.
>Probably just overthinking things.
>You knock on Ponyville Boutique.
>You expect the frilly frou-frou lady Rarity to answer the door.
>Probably give you some lip, but still answer regardless.
>The door opens.
>Without any warning, the Cutie Mark Crusaders barrel out of the Boutique and knock you down.
>Their constant shouting and jumping was going to drive you up the wall.
>"Oh my gosh it's Trixie!"
>"What's she doing here?"
>"Hay, wasn't she uh driven off the las' time she wuz here?"
>You stand up and dust yourself off.
"Trixie is here for another show, and she decided that she might... Try and make amends with the others."
>"Make amends? With you?"
>Scootaloo stuck her tongue out at you.
>"Why would y'all wanna do that? Nopony 'round here even really likes you!"
>"Yeeeeah, you kinda did mess up the town a bit with your take over..."
>"But that bubble was really cool!"
>They kept going on and on about your past visits.
>These fillies wouldn't be of much use.
>Dragging yourself along, you go to seek another home.
>That little cottage that served as a home for that yellow pegasus.
>What was her name...?
"...Fluttershy."
>It took you a while, but you finally found that little cottage she called a home.
>It actually didn't look that bad from the outside.
>You expected it to be a shack of sorts, being torn apart by the supposed wild animals she kept.
>You knock.
>No answer.
>You try the doorbell.
>Nothing.
>You look in through a window.
>Not a single soul.
>You felt your heart sink even further.
"Maybe they're just... Out fighting some monster? Yeah, maybe that's it."
>You try to convince yourself that was the case...
>But you have a sinking feeling that wasn't it.
>Walking along, you look up at a bunch of out of place clouds.
>This must be where that skittles pegasus lived.
>Rainbow Dash.
>You called out to her.
"Hello? Rainbow Dash? Anyone home?"
>Nothing.
>You stand there for a moment and remember when you zapped her ass with a bolt of lightning.
>You giggle quietly as the face she made.
>After a few minutes of awkward silence, you move on.
>On your way back to town you walk past Sweet Apple Acres.
>That place looked like a ghost town.
>In fact, it felt like a ghost town.
>You were there, alone. Not even Snips or Snails came to say hello.
>You watch as the sun hits the horizon.
>Ponies who were once talking have vacated the streets.
>Open windows shut to you as if you were some foreign monster.
>You hang your head in silence.
"Well, Trixie probably deserves this. She did try to best everyone, and enslave them..."
>You eventually reach your stage coach.
>You look at the stage housing mechanism before walking inside of the little room.
"Maybe it's best if Trixie just left town."
>You spend the rest of the night in your stage coach.
>Alone.
>Brooding yourself to sleep.
>You toss and turn in your sleep.
>You're locked in a nightmare.
"No... No... Trixie isn't like that!"
>You're a younger version of yourself.
>You seem to be in Magic Kindergarten.
>A group of other unicorns begin to surround you.
>"Wow, what a loser!"
>"I bet she can't even cast any basic spells!"
>"Aww, what's the matter? Is the little girl gonna cry?"
>You felt tears well up in your eyes.
>They continue to berate and tease you.
>Suddenly a very smooth, deep stallion voice pierces their laughter.
>"My daughter, whatever is the matter?"
>You open your eyes to see your father sitting next to you.
"D-Daddy?"
>He wraps you in a warm hug.
>"Is it the kids from school again?"
>You nods and holds onto him as tight as you can.
"They just don't understand that I'm a late bloomer and.. and..!"
>Just digging into these feelings began to draw out power from the magical well that resides in all unicorn.
>Your eyes glow white as you leave your own body, watching the scene from someone else's view.
>Your horn glows as a sudden burst of magic erupts.
>Your father is tossed across the room and lays on the floor, smoking.
>You lose control and let loose a powerful blast.
>Your room has been blown to bits, your father laying on the floor with fear in his eyes.
"Daddy... Daddy I'm sorry, please.. Help me...!"
>Everything goes white.
>You thrust yourself upright.
>Your horn is letting out a small magical discharge, just enough to create some beams of light.
>Shaking your head, you regain control of your magic before uncontrollably weeping into your hooves.
>At least once a month you see that dream. The same dream every time.
>You pick up the photo of yourself and flip the frame over.
>A picture of your family was hidden on the back.
"Mom, Dad... I'm sorry.. I wasn't good enough."
>You were always teased for not being on-par with your classmates.
>This led to many problems, both academically and socially.
>You were distant from everyone from that day on.
>Learning through each mistake every day on how to better control your magic.
>You lay down again and try to sleep some more.
>Tomorrow was another day.
The Second Day
>You roll out of bed reluctantly.
>Last night was terrible.
>The dream was so familiar to you that even after another round of sleep you still couldn't forget it.
>You proceed with your morning duties.
>Food, Mane, teeth.
>You step outside of the stage coach.
>Today was a cloudy day.
>Very cloudy.
>In spite of the clouds, you check your stage mechanism.
>You notice something slightly out of place, but shrug it off as just some wild animals toying around with the outer casing.
>The show must go on, anyway.
>You spend your morning preparing the fireworks and making sure the electrical is in order.
>Today was the day you'd dazzle them all with another performance.
>Several groups of ponies come and go.
>You mentally prepare yourself as you adjust your outfit.
>You cast a spell to amplify your voice.
"Fillies and gentlecolts! Behold, the one, the only! The Great and Powerful Trrrrixie!"
>With a flashy entrance, complete with fireworks and the stage popping open, you stand center stage, cape flowing in the wind.
>The ponies just grumble and mumble among one another.
>"Is she serious?"
>"She's trying this again?"
>"Didn't she learn the last time?"
"Why, ponies of Ponyville, Trixie means you no harm!"
>You conjure up a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and toss it to the quickly fading audience.
>"You tried this before! No one's interested!"
>"Yeah, go home you hack!"
>You jaw simply drops open.
>Sitting down, you try to keep their attention.
"T-Trixie isn't... She... I'm not like that anymore!"
>"Yeah, like we'll believe that."
>They continued to quickly disperse.
"Wait, Trixie.. She..."
>No one was left to listen.
>You sat on the stage, alone.
>Your ears perk up as you hear a loud snap and crunch sound.
>You turn your head to watch as your stage falls apart.
>Someone tosses a beam toward you from around a corner.
>"That was for trying to make us your slaves, Trixie."
>This is all you had..
>Your stage, your act, your home...
>Trashed in a single day.
>You weep.
>A few moments later, Spike approaches you.
>"Trixie? What're you doing out here? Don't you know it's going to rain? And---"
>He looks at the pile of parts behind you, matted and broken.
>"What happened here?"
>You're barely able to talk through broken tears.
>"All Trixie wanted to do was... Just put on a show..."
>Even though he didn't like you very much before, Spike felt sorry.
>"Well, uh... Hey. Even though your stage coach thing is broken, you could always stay at Twilight's until we got this fixed!"
>You look at him.
>He HAS to be pulling your leg.
>"What? Why're you looking at me like that?"
>He takes note of a few ponies staring at you both.
"Twilight wouldn't want Trixie around. I mean, why else would her and her friends be avoiding me?"
>The rain started to come down, light at first.
>"Look, the offer's there. Take it or leave it."
>He just looks at you sternly with his little dragon paws on his little dragon hips.
>You shake your head.
"Trixie has to clean up this mess and get out of town. There's nothing here for her anymore."
>Spike rolls his eyes.
>"Suit yourself, then."
>You get up and begin to try and sort out the mess.
>Piece by piece, putting it together.
>Trixie's stage, following the patterns break by break.
>Making sure the parts are sorted nicely...
>You heave a sigh.
>You look over the pile of wood and metal.
>The rain is coming down very heavily now.
>Your outfit is absolutely drenched, mane drooping.
"Might as well throw this out. Can't be fixed."
>You levitate the broken bits and set them into their container.
>"Trixie!"
>A familiar voice comes from behind you.
"What do you want, Sparkle? To flaunt? To send me off with the last laugh?"
>"What? NO! I'm here to check on you."
>You turn to look at her.
>"Spike told me all about what happened. Are you okay?"
>You snapped at Twilight.
"Does it LOOK like I'm okay!? It's raining buckets, everyone here hates me, my stage and coach are ruined, I'm totally drenched and...
>"Trixie..."
>Somehow, you found yourself wrapped in a towel and sitting in front of a fire in Twilight's castle.
>It all felt like a blur after you snapped at her.
>"Trixie, please, just.. Calm down."
"Why should Trixie calm down!? She's just lost everything! This whole trip here was a mistake!"
>Twilight looked at you in concern.
>"Trixie.. I'm sorry. The girls and I were out of town. We got called by our new map to go deal with a friendship problem."
>You threw a piece of broken lumber at the purple Alicorn.
"Like I haven't heard THAT one before..."
>You were simply seething with anger.
>"Trixie, please, just.. Why don't you come to my castle? We can get you warmed up, dry, fed... And get your clothes a lot less damp."
>You sit by the pile of broken bits, quietly sobbing.
>Twilight put a hoof on your shoulder.
>"Please?"
>You sip on some tea to help ease your nerves.
>You still felt pretty shaken up.
>Twilight walked into the room with a towel around her neck as if she just got out of a shower.
>She takes a seat next to you on a pillow.
>"Trixie."
"Sparkle."
>"You ready to tell me what that was all about?"
>She sounded so condescending, yet also genuinely concerned.
"Trixie just... Wanted to put on another show for the ponies... And to try to make amends for what she did."
>The embers of the fire in front of you reflect in your eyes.
"But all I managed to do was just ruin everything, and myself.."
>Twilight gently wrapped a wing around you.
>Using her magic, she takes the towel off your back and begins scrubbing your mane with it playfully.
"Gah, Sparkle!"
>She couldn't help but giggle at your reaction.
>"Is that all? The townsfolk here did seem pretty off lately, they probably just don't understand why you're here again."
>You said nothing.
>"I'm sure the girls wouldn't mind seeing you again, if what you say is true."
"They ruined my stage, Twilight. They ruined my coach, as well. All I have no is myself and my outfit."
>You felt tears welling up again.
>Twilight pulled you closer to her.
>"Who needs some silly little stage coach and stage?"
>You look at her with anger in your eyes.
"I do, Sparkle! What's a magician without her home? Her stage? Her props--"
>She silences you with a hoof put up to your mouth.
>"We'll remake it. Bigger, better, fancier."
>You just look at her in silence.
"You... You're kidding, right? That was themed just the right way to match The Great and Powerful Trrrixie! Plus it was one of a kind with collapsible parts..."
>"Then we'll do the same thing, but better. I'll even get the girls to help!"
>You look down at your tea, smiling a tiny bit.
"...Thanks, Twilight. Say, what was that about this... Map?"
>"Well..."
>You look at the large crystalline table with an entirely detailed map of Equestria.
>You jaw drops open.
"THIS is your map!?"
>"Yup! It has all of the places in Equestria, and even some outside of places we've been. Is this your first time hearing of this?"
>You nod some.
>"Spike didn't even tell you we were away on a trip?"
>You shake your head quietly.
>Twilight looked a bit annoyed.
>"SPIKE!"
>Right on cue the dragon rushes in.
>"Yes, Twilight?"
>"Why didn't you tell Trixie that we were out of town?"
>"Well, it IS Trixie we're talking about here."
>You watch as she gives him the stank eye.
>"You know that's not okay, even if it was someone that we weren't really friends with before."
>"Yeah uh... Sorry about that."
>You stick your nose to the sky.
"Trixie forgives you."
>"Spike, please go and prepare some food for tonight."
>"Counting Trixie, too?"
>"Yes, her too."
>"Yes, ma'am."
>He runs off as you two approach the map.
"Say, Sparkle..."
>"Yes, Trixie?"
>You point to the an area of the map that looked like Ponyville.
>Twilight's Cutie Mark was floating around it.
"What's up with the map doing this?"
>She giggles some.
>"When the map calls to one of us, our Cutie Marks glow and the map shows us where we need to go."
"So that means...?"
>She looks at you with a beaming grin.
>"Somepony in Ponyville is in need of some friendship help!"
>You give her a dumbfounded look.
"A... Map can tell you that?"
>"Well, I AM the Princess of Friendship, and this map IS magical..."
>Almost simultaneously, you both spoke.
>"It's magic. Don't gotta explain anything."
"Yeah, yeah.. I get it."
>You look down at the floor.
>"But don't worry about it. Hey, you want to see my library?"
>You spent a good portion of your evening traversing the castle with Twilight.
>You had to admit it WAS pretty impressive.
>That night you ate dinner with Twilight and Spike.
>"So, because of the whole, "I gotta send a letter every week" thing, I went nuts and the whole town started fighting over my enchanted Smarty Pants doll."
>You giggle softly at the story.
"And that's when Princess Celestia just rained down from the heavens to stop you?"
>She nods as she swallows some of her food.
>"Yeah. Let me tell you, when she's upset, she is REALLY scary."
"I can imagine..."
>"If it wasn't for my friends... I would probably be back in.."
>She pauses to shudder.
>"Magic Kindergarten..."
>Mentioning the name made your ears perk up.
"Uh... Yeah. Magic K..."
>You give an uneasy chuckle.
>Spike chomps down on his bowl of gems.
>"You okay there, Trixie? You look like you have something on your mind."
"Me? Oh, no! I'm fine, Sparkle. Trixie is.. Just fine."
>They both cock an eye brow at you.
>Seeing them do this, you begin to stuff your mouth with food.
>"Riiiight. Anyway, after we're done here, I'll show you to the guest room. You can stay there until we get things going."
>You nod quietly.
"Sounds uh... Sounds great."
>Twilight opened the door to a large room.
>Some books, a desk, a nightstand, and a bed were all inside.
>Your jaw drops open.
"THIS is the GUEST room?"
>You step inside to examine it.
>"Yep! We have a few of them, never know when company will stop in."
>Not only was it such a fancy room, it was also next to Twilight's.
"Are you sure Trixie can stay in here?"
>"Oh, yes. I mean, we offered to let you stay until we got your stage coach fixed so... Yeah."
>You sit on the bed.
>It was very plush and soft.
>It felt almost like it could swallow you whole if it wanted to.
"I... I'm very grateful, Twilight."
>You smile softly.
>She smiles back.
>"Well, I'm sure we'll have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"Yeah..."
>You weren't looking forward to meeting the others again.
>You felt that they would reject you like the rest.
>"Sleep well, Trixie."
"Uh.. You too..."
>That night the same dream came back.
>The same events...
>The teasing kids.
>The magical blast.
>A shadowy figure loomed over you, laughing from the creeping darkness.
>"The Great and Powerful Trixie? You're nothing but a fake! A sham!"
>The darkness closed in on you.
>You held your hooves up to try and protect yourself.
>The shadows consumed you.
>When you awoke, you were shaking, laying in the fetal position.
>Twilight burst through the door.
>"Trixie, are you alright!? Is someone else in here?"
>She turns on the light and sees you.
>You just look into the distance as you run through the imagery in your head over and over.
>"Trixie?"
>She waves a hoof in front of you.
>You snap out of your stupor and begin to weep.
>Instinctively, Twilight sat down next to you, sat you up, and held you in a hug.
>"Shh, Trixie. No one is there. No one will get you. What happened?"
>You clung to her as you spoke of the recurring nightmares.
>How they always brought back the terrible memories, and somehow got worse and worse.
>She merely rubs your back to calm you down.
>"Is that what the whole boasting thing was about before? You were afraid of being alone?"
>You nod, wiping the tears from your eyes.
"Yeah, it was... After all that, I didn't want to be seen like this..."
>She merely just holds you.
>"Because of your hard past, you were afraid to be yourself. I think I know who the map was pointing to, now."
>You put one of your pillows onto Twilight's bed before hopping up on it.
"Are you sure about this, Twilight? Trixie doesn't mean to impose..."
>She simply giggles a bit at your bashfulness.
>"Don't be silly, Trixie. Applejack and Rarity had a slumber party with me before. I was a bit of a train wreck at first, but... It was still good!"
>You give her a soft smile as you play with your mane a bit.
"Alright.."
>You two spent the rest of the night gossiping and reading about magical spells and famous unicorns.
>You eventually fell asleep from pure fatigue.
>Tomorrow was another day.
The Third Day
>The next morning you woke up before Twilight and Spike.
>Rubbing your eyes, you idly walk out of the room and to a balcony.
>The clouds had cleared up and the warm sun shone down on you.
>Off in the distance you can see the wreck of your stage and coach.
>You whine softly before laying your head on the railing.
>Some time later, you were at the dining table with Spike and Twilight.
>You ate your cereal idly as Twilight went over a list of things for Spike to write down.
>"So, Trixie..."
>Her voice snaps you out of your stupor.
>"Are you ready to meet with the girls today?"
>You look down at your bowl.
>You really weren't ready, but you knew you had to face your past mistakes.
"Yeah... Trixie supposes she is."
>Twilight tilted her head at you.
>"Something on your mind?"
>You said nothing.
>"Trixie?"
>You stand up and walk out.
"Excuse Trixie, she has to prepare."
>She just watches you walk out.
>You brush your mane in front of a mirror quietly.
>You continually run through everything in your mind.
>Would they actually forgive and accept you?
>It simply just doesn't seem feasible.
>Without you even noticing, Twilight was able to sneak up behind you.
>"Trixie?"
>You fumble with the brush before catching it.
>"You're afraid of them, aren't you?"
>Your ears fold down.
>"Trixie, it's been quite some time since you tried to take over Ponyville.. And since you made a mockery of them. I'm sure that they'd at least be willing to help you."
>You look at her through the mirror.
"You think so? Do you actually think they would help me, even after all that I've done?"
>Sitting down, Twilight wraps a wing around you.
>"Of course I do. I AM the Princess of Friendship, after all."
>You looked down, still feeling unsure and guilty.
>You helped Twilight take some tables and tools out to where your stage once stood.
>She laid out a blueprint page for you both to work on.
>You both worked on the basics and try to deconstruct and reconstruct your old stage's layout.
>She managed to distract you long enough for the other mane six to arrive.
>You flip and turn the page in front of you quizzically.
"Maybe if this goes here, then that could go..."
>"TRIXIE!?"
>Your face contorts into shock.
>You recognized that voice.
>Rainbow Dash took the page from you.
>"You want US to help HER? Twilight, you KNOW what she did!"
>"Now, RD, there's not need ta be like that. Ah'm sure she has a very good reason ta--"
>"She's the one the map is calling me to."
>"There is NO way I heard THAT right. Her? A friendship problem?"
>You sit there and watch them lightly bicker of you.
>"Now, now, everypony just calm down. I'm sure that Trixie feels absolutely horrible for what she's done."
>Rarity sits next to you, rubbing your back.
>"Even if she did turn my mane green... I can look past that."
>"You too, Rarity?"
>"Now, RD. Just because she zapped ya once, there's no reason ta hold such a silly grudge."
>"She tried to enslave us, AJ..."
>Twilight sighed and looked at Rainbow Dash sternly.
>"I'm not asking you to like it.. I'm asking you to help her. Trixie lost her stage and her home because someone tinkered with the stage's parts."
>She levitates a few of the broken pieces of lumber.
>"She doesn't have much left, and what are we, the Spirits of the Elements of Harmony supposed to do? Let her continue with nothing?"
>"She has a point..."
>Rainbow Dash pouted a bit.
>"Fine... Let's just get this over with."
>You smile a bit softly.
>You spent the next hour sorting through all the parts.
>Each of you sorted the parts out and scavenged what was still good out of the mess.
>Most of it was trash...
>You sat with the group as you planned out who was going to do what.
>"Pinkie, you and Fluttershy go and see if you can get the new things we need. Wood, cloth, paint, gears."
>Pinkie saluting.
>"Got it!"
>"Dash, you and Applejack will be our muscle. You'll help with the transporting and setting up of the frames."
>"Sure thing, sugarcube."
>They high hoof.
>"Rarity, you and Trixie will work on finishing the layout."
"I.. Are you sure?"
>"Why, darling, of course! We'll make it even more fabulous than ever before!"
"What about you, Twilight?"
>"I will handle the P.R. Ponies may not have liked you before, but maybe they'll listen to me."
>You scrunch a bit.
>"Everyone meet back here in two hours."
>They went their separate ways.
>You watched Rainbow and Applejack compete over who could move more at once.
>Rarity kept running over the plans.
>"And so I think--- Trixie, darling? Are you listening?"
>You shake your head and look at Rarity, then the blueprints.
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
>"If you're worried about them, don't be. They do this kind of thing all the time. Brutes, really."
>You hold a hoof to your mouth as you giggle some.
>"There's the smile I wanted to see."
>You spent the next two hours fussing and debating with Rarity over the stage design.
>You wanted ti to be fancy.. But not difficult for one pony to set up and maintain.
>Applejack and Rainbow Dash hauled the old, broken wood out to the outskirts of the construction area.
>The good wood was dismantled and piled neatly for use.
>Pinkie and Fluttershy, with the help of some stronger stallions, brought in the newer supplies needed to build the frames and mechanisms.
>But Twilight was nowhere to be seen.
>After a bit you began to worry if she was even going to come back...
>You sat with the other mane five in a circle.
>While waiting on Twilight to come back, you all gossiped and shared tales of your adventures.
>"So then Rarity shows up with this huuuge boulder on her back, thinking it was a diamond!"
>Rarity pouted some in slight offense.
>"I thought we agreed to never speak of that again!"
>You couldn't help but giggle.
"Hey, we all have our silly and embarrassing moments. Besides, you weren't exactly you anyway."
>You made a silly derp face.
>They all began to burst into laughter.
>Twilight suddenly runs up the road toward the group.
>"Sorry I'm late, girls.. Putting up posters and trying to convince other ponies to come was harder than I thought."
"You put up the posters again? But Trixie's were torn down..."
>"That's why I made new ones!"
>Twilight pulled a flashy poster out of her bag.
>It was colored to match your outfit with sparkling stars all over it.
>"So uh, where's Spike?"
>"He's putting up the last of the posters."
>"You sure he can handle that on his own? I mean, the little pipsqueak can barely reach the table, let alone a spot high enough for those."
>Twilight just gives Rainbow Dash a soft glare.
>"Enough about that, darlings. Trixie and I finally settled on a design for her new stage!"
>With the help of Twilight, you both went over the plans for the construction.
>No detail was left out.
>After the others began work on the frame, you sat off to the side, fiddling with the gears.
>You had a small easel next to you that held the advanced blueprints for the mechanism.
>Each piece fit together like a puzzle, but the more wrong pieces you picked up, the more frustrated you became.
"Aaaugh! Trixie can't make heads or tails of these pieces like this!"
>Twilight notices your little outburst and sits next to you.
>You're absolutely fuming right now, cute scrunch and all.
>She gives you a gentle nuzzle.
>"What's wrong, Trixie? Why are you so upset?"
"Trixie can't make heads or tails of all of this. She's been trying to follow the diagrams but there's so many pieces..."
>Twilight took the but of the machine you had already built and compared it to the diagram.
>"Well, there's your problem, silly filly! You're building from the inside out."
>She points to where the chunk fits and then points to some of the outer bits.
>"You should start from the outside. The more complex pieces then become more simple."
>She helps you by building a bit of the outer machine framework.
>You fold your ears down some before going back to work.
>She ruffles your mane some.
>"Everypony has to start somewhere."
>You all worked through the day.
>You spent another night at Twilight's.
>Tonight you and Twilight read over some magic history books and books of spells.
>Some of them seemed interesting. Almost interesting enough to use in your show.
>It was a slow night.
>New night, same dream.
>Tonight, however, when the darkness came, it was quickly banished by a blue light.
>You look around in confusion.
>As if a door was in front of you, a rectangular hole opened.
>You stepped out into what felt like space.
"Well... This is new."
>You just idly float around, not really looking for anything.
"Is this it? Has Trixie died? Did she fall into the abyss?"
>"I think not, young unicorn of magical tricks."
>You blink a few times.
"Who... Who's there?"
>A bright flash of light.
>"We are surprised thou don't remember our name. You are a moon, after all."
>A larger figure stood in front of you majestically.
"How do you know Trixie's last name?"
>"Because, my little pony..."
>They step into the light.
>Princess Luna stands before you solemnly.
>"We are the princess of the night."
>You flail in surprise, trying to bow.
>Because you were floating, your flailing was pointless.
"Princess? What are you doing here?"
>"I am the princess of the night. Thus it is my duty to watch over our subjects as they slumber. I was alerted to your tormenting dreams long ago, but a magical field prevented me from interrupting them until now."
>You fold your ears down and curl up.
"So you know about them, huh?"
>She nods.
>"And we do not blame you for those dreams."
>Suddenly, you fall down to what felt like a floor, as if gravity was turned back on.
>A hallway of doors showed up.
>"You aren't the only one who struggles with the past."
>She opens a door to what looks like Twilight's dream.
>Twilight seemed to be dreaming about what her life could have been like without the Elements.
>Without her friends. Without Spike.
>You felt your heart sink a little.
"Is... Is this what she actually thinks about?"
>"Indeed. Constantly worrying about alternate paths."
>You lower your head.
"She always looks so cheerful, though."
>"Do you know why?"
>You shake your head a bit.
>"It is because she has friends to rely on, and who rely on her."
"Oh... I suppose that makes sense."
>"Do you know what is stopping you from such things?"
>You flinch a bit at the question.
>You didn't respond, even though you knew the answer.
>Luna disappears into a flash of light.
>You're back in the Magic Kindergarten sequence again.
>"This. Little Trixie, you must learn to try and reach out to others, just as we had to do after a thousand years."
"But... How do I do it?"
>The dream begins to fade.
>"Trust in yourself."
"Luna... Wait... Wait!"
>Tomorrow was another day.