//------------------------------// // 1. Not So Great and Powerful // Story: Trixie Lulamoon: Child of the Moon // by FenixBlaze979 //------------------------------// “All right, boys, the show’s over! Trixie will be here same time next week!” The silver-maned cyan unicorn bowed to her audience as the red curtain closed on another great magic performance. Working at the Main Stable in Fillydelphia for a few months now, “The Great and Powerful” Trixie Lulamoon heaved a sigh of relief as she trotted off backstage. She went into her ready room to strip off her costume and makeup. The owner and producer of entertainment, Winding Clock, barged in at the usual time, just after Trixie was ready to go home. He had been a gracious stallion, taking in Trixie for his entertainment club. He spoke with sort of a Brooklyn accent. “That was anodda great performance from ya, Ms. Trixie!” Winding Clock smiled warmly on a job well done. “Thank you, Mr. Clock”, Trixie smiled back, “I feel like I’m really home here at the Stable!” Winding Clock’s expression then changed to a more solemn look. Trixie hesitated, anxiously looking at his eyes which had shifted down and away from her presence. “Ms. Trixie, I dunno how to tell ya this. I’ve really had the pleasure of a beautiful mare like you coming in and entertainin’ the folks out dere”, he hesitated for a brief moment before continuing. Trixie’s expression now grew more worrisome, “It pains me to have to do this. You’ve been a real peach, Ms. Trixie, but people have been grinding my ass trying to run ya outta town. I tell ‘em the fellas love ya out dere, but the general public, and now the mayor is on my case about you, Ms. Trixie. You have to understand that I need to stay in business. I’ve been making a profit here for many years now, and Fillydelphia has been nothing but kind to me.” Trixie’s heart sank after hearing what the people of Fillydelphia were saying about her. It had been about seven months since she took over Ponyville out of revenge against her rival and former classmate of the Canterlot School for Magically-Gifted Unicorns, Twilight Sparkle. Trixie had used the Alicorn Amulet to enslave the ponies after beating Twilight in a magic duel. When Trixie was eventually bested by Twilight in a rematch, she later apologized for her vengeful ways, and vowed to become a better unicorn pony. Ever since then, she has lived in the outskirts of Fillydelphia, away from the glaring public eye, which had not been as forgiving as Twilight was. Even though word got out that she was sorry for her actions, Trixie still had her detractors. “Isn’t there anything Trixie can do to sway the people?” Trixie asked. “Nope, I’m afraid not,” Winding Clock said solemnly, “Pack ya things here, Ms. Trixie. I’ll escort ya out when ya done packin’” Trixie hung her head in disappointment as she slowly gathered her performance things together. Her horn glowed as she lifted the costumes from the studio closet into her travel suitcase. Then, Trixie put her makeup and brushes into the suitcase before finally closing it up. She followed Winding Clock out of the backstage area, into the narrow studio hallway to the back door with her suitcase levitating behind her. Winding Clock opened the door, and Trixie slowly walked out of the club. “It’s nothing personal, Ms. Trixie. It’s just business”, Winding Clock pointed out; “Take care of yourself out dere. Hope some otha boss will take ya in.” Trixie looked back at him and smiled weakly. Hope was something she never really had these days. “Goodbye, Mr. Clock. Thank you for everything”, Trixie uttered, trying to hold back tears. “See ya, Ms. Trixie”, Winding Clock said softly. He closed the door, letting go of the only thing that made him so much profit for the Main Stable. Winding Clock tried to hold back his own tears as he walked into his office, trying to find someone who brought a crowd like Trixie did. Trixie had walked for about a couple miles before finally reaching her trailer home in the middle of the woods. After her old wagon was destroyed, Winding Clock had bought a new trailer for Trixie to use so she could live in a cozier atmosphere than when in her old wagon. Gray streaks ran down from her eyes where her mascara had run from her tear-laden eyes. She needed to make herself dinner since no one in town would serve her. Trixie went off into the forest path, looking for sticks and dry leaves to make a fire. There was usually a good place that she had found many large sticks and dry leaves over the edge of the path where it drops off about a couple feet to a lower part of the forest. Trixie always liked the edge because she could see the moon standing on the edge where the trees gave way to the bright, loving moonbeams. Somehow, looking at the moon gave her a warm feeling inside, as if it was a compass of sorts to her destiny. Even though she never really believed in hope, Trixie felt different whenever she looked at the moon. After gazing at the round, heavenly source of nightlight, Trixie worked her way down to the bottom of the forest to the place where the stash of dry leaves and large sticks were found. To her surprise, she found a squirrel laying in the pile of leaves. The squirrel seemed startled for a moment, as the squirrel and the blue mare locked their gazes onto each other. “What do you want with the Great and Powerful Trixie?” she asked in her typical smug fashion. The squirrel ignored Trixie’s boisterous icebreaker as it scurried around Trixie. They locked eyes again. The squirrel then pointed over the horizon of the tall trees. “What are you pointing at, little one? Do you want Trixie to follow you?” Trixie asked the squirrel still with a sly grin on her face, “I guess I’ll amuse you, go ahead, Squirrely!” The squirrel, satisfied with Trixie’s answer, darted ahead towards the dark horizon. Trixie followed, galloping right behind it. A few minutes later, they reached the horizon to a small clearing in the forest. An alicorn mare with a flowing, starry mane was passed out on the forest floor. It was tough to tell if the dark blue mare was hurting or not. Trixie surveyed the area to see if there was anything suspicious. While looking around the mare, she found her cutie mark. It was a navy blue spot marking with a holy white crescent moon over the marking. Trixie’s eyes widened. It couldn’t be her; how come she is just lying here, she thought. After looking around one more time for anything dangerous, Trixie sparked her horn, and attempted to levitate the sleeping mare. It was moderately successful, as only the mare’s back hooves dragged along the forest floor. Trixie, satisfied with that result, headed back up the path to her house, taking her dry leaves and sticks in tow. She wondered if this mare would be alright. Surely, this must be a dream for Trixie to find a golden opportunity like this.