Showmareship

Among the many busy streets and alleyways of Manehattan there is one that stands out, the golden carrot that dangles before any performer's eyes. All shows, be they Vaudeville, musical, play or mere magic acts, crave to be upon this street, for it is a sign that they are the best of the best, reaching the pinnacle of showmareship. That street is Bridleway. Lined in bright lights and paved with gold, everypony wishes to someday have their name grace a marquee on famous Bridleway. It was the source of everything Equestria could need: Art, culture, class, entertainment, and stardom.

Even now, within a small drinks theater barely edging Manehattan's theater district, one worthy star was on stage practicing her craft. Pyrotechnics punctuated her every move in a blaze of smoke, a fanfare of trumpets, and a multicolored array that held the audience in awe. With the merest flick of her horn, hidden beneath her violet star-studded wizard's hat, birds flew free, flowers appeared from nowhere, trumpets would blare and daring escapes would me made. Be it the disappearing box, the straightjacket escape, or one of her most famous tricks, throwing knives at her assistant while chained by all four hooves to the ceiling above her, blindfolded and backwards, nopony could help but marvel at the magical mare on stage.

She was the greatest pony in Equestria, as those who paid to see her would agree, and had a title worthy of such a claim. "Watch and be amazed as The Great and Powerful Trixie reads your very minds!" The azure unicorn exclaimed, rearing into the air and letting her magenta eyes roll slowly over the crowd before her. 'Ah, just as Trixie had hoped,' she thought, seeing their enraptured faces, 'nothing but idiots and foals. Tonight's show shall be the easiest yet.' She walked confidently to the front of the stage, taking care to feather the hidden fan button with her front right hoof while she raised her left to her head and put on a face of deep concentration.

The violet cape that matched her hat billowed impressively in the breeze created by the fan, while the hat itself glowed a light lavender, raised in the air by her magic letting her silver mane blow around her. Her body was poised, every inch of it a pose practiced over hundreds of shows to awe the crowd while comfortably allowing for a simple scan of surface thoughts. Just a little concentration and enough distraction and their minds became as open books. Trixie smiled inwardly. 'Too easy.'

With a dramatic flair her hoof dropped from her head, pointing straight at a tan pegasus stallion in the front row, startling him with the sudden movement. Trixie spoke. "You wish to know your date's name, as it has slipped your mind." The stallion shied away from the golden pegasus at the table beside him, smiling nervously as he tried to hide from both her glare and the sniggering of the rest of the audience. Trixie's hoof slid over to the date. "And you doubt both your choice in colts and Trixie's power. 'Mind reading? Really?'" She put down her hoof, smiling smugly at the astonished look on the pegasus's face. "Worry not. One of these problems shall be solved tonight."

Leaving the couple to fight it out, Trixie's eyes shot across the room to an earth pony staring lazily into space, his attention far from the show. Her hoof jabbed at him accusingly. "You there! Do try to pay attention. I shall show you wonders far greater than any daydream of flight." The orange pony sat up stock straight, gasping.

"That's amazing!"


Trixie gave a confident, prideful smile in return. "Trixie knows." 'This is going even smoother than Trixie thought. If they are this amazed by her opening act, just wait until they see her finale.' She let her magic scan the room once more, sure that three instances would be more than sufficient for this crowd. 'Perhaps a unicorn, or somepony with a delicious secret.' As she sorted through the awe filled thoughts, there was one space that was a dark spot, her magic slipping over it at each pass. She renewed her scan, prodding at the mental defense to no avail. Her smile deepened. 'Ah! A challenge!'

Trixie struck her pose once more, altering it just slightly to maximize both the motions of her mane and cape and the angles of the light, giving her a more commanding look as she pointed to the locked mind in back. 'Got to phrase this right Trixie, show no weaknesses. At close proximity the defenses shall be meaningless. It is a privilege to be called upon by Trixie.' "You there! With the lavender fur! Come closer so that The Great and Powerful Trixie might see you clearly."

Trixie stood patiently on the edge of the stage, an arrogant smile affixed to her face, as the figure in the back nervously approached. As it got closer, light slowly revealed the indigo, pink and purple tri-toned mane of the mare. She wound her way around a table, letting light catch bother her horn and her cutie mark, a pink six-pointed star surrounded by white sparkles emblazoned on her flank.

Trixie's pupils shrank, hoof slipping from the fan button and heart pounding in her chest as she recognized the approaching unicorn. For as long as she lived that cutie mark would haunt her. A cutie mark was a symbol of a pony's special talent, Trixie's own being a star tipped wand swirling magic around it. Cutie marks made ponies unique, giving them purpose and meaning different from any other pony. Most became to others a simple identifying mark, like fur or eye color, but the one approaching Trixie has significance to her. Only that six pointed star had caused her nightmares untold.

Within an instant Trixie's hoof was back on the fan button, the dip in the breeze and the crack in her confidence almost imperceptible, though her arrogant smile had been replaced by grim determination. She allowed the lavender mare to come right to the edge of the stage and look up at her with violet eyes. "Yes?"

"You are Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia and Ponyville Librarian."

Twilight nodded. "Yes Trixie. We've met before." Trixie could feel the audience's attitude turning, a mumble circling the crowd. The spell of the show was beginning to weaken. One wrong move and it would break entirely...

Trixie's concentration redoubled in an instant as she put all of her will into piercing the strong mind before her. Her gaze never faltered, her act never fading, but internally she panicked. She probed against the solid defense of Twilight. 'Just one little fault. Just one little worry...' And then there, like a beacon in the dark, there was a tiny hole, and she dived through, seizing her chance.

"You also have a dragonling assistant, Spike, who you left at home coughing up flames uncontrollably." Trixie smiled at the unicorn before her, perhaps a bit too happily for the circumstances as she continued in a sing-song voice. "My, aren't you worried for your poor little dragon. So much so that you left him all alone."

Twilight stomped an indignant hoof at Trixie. "You leave Spike out of this, Trixie! I'm doing everything I can."

Trixie yawned, letting her confidence return. "Sure you are. Worry not, Fluttershy will be much more up to the task than you. Now leave Trixie, she is done with you." She turned pointedly, flicking her tail and allowing her arrogant smirk to grace her beautiful face once more. "And it's The Great and Powerful Trixie to you." Twilight left the front of the stage, face red, grumbling the entire way back to her seat as Trixie trotted upstage, lighting the fuse for the next batch of pyrotechnics and appearing a chest of swords and an assistant beneath their fiery display.

The rest of the show went off without a hitch despite the presence of her nemesis, with Trixie stunning the audience and garnering thunderous applause as she disappeared amid a puff of smoke and confetti, hoof steps hidden under the fireworks whizzing and reporting on the stage. Trixie smiled to herself, allowing the wave of adoration to wash over her before leaving the wings. 'You did good G&PT. Nopony could dispute that tonight.'

She walked into her small dressing room, a golden star hanging on the door that read "The Great and Powerful Trixie." She had insisted upon it, as well as the hay and oats smoothie that awaited her after each show. With her magic she removed her wizard's hat and cape, floating them onto a coat rack by the door. She then lit the lights of her vanity, sitting on a purple cushion before it and floating her shake to her waiting lips. Looking at herself in the mirror, she floated over a brush, running it slowly through her mane. Each stroke soothed her, and combined with the cool liquid running down her tired throat, she was finally able to relax, allowing her mind to wander.

It had been a shock seeing Twilight like that. What was she doing in Manehattan anyway? Last she'd seen that lavender harpy had been in Ponyville. Fire burned in her heart at the memory. How had that bookish little unicorn managed it? While Trixie was helpless she'd stepped in, stopping the rampaging Ursa Minor singlehoofedly with feats of magic more powerful than any ever seen before. They were a couple orders of magnitude above the minor conjurations, levitations, and telekinesis Trixie could manage, infinitely out of her league. In front of the entire town Trixie had been shown up, and under their disapproving glances and the angered mutterings of the crowd she'd fled.

The memory of the tears stung her eyes, blurring her vision as she gazed in the mirror. She blinked them away, shaking her head. "No Trixie. You've moved on. You're a better pony than that, above the simple cons of the traveling show. You have adoring fans! A stage!" There was a gentle knocking at her door, cutting off her motivational speech and causing her to glare at its reflection. "A producer." She took one more sip of her smoothie and returned her brush to motion before she responded. "Yes? What is it? Trixie wishes not to be disturbed."

The head of a yellow pegasus peeked in. "Sorry G and P T. Somepony came by saying they wanted to see you."

Trixie sighed, moving her brush to her tail. "Send them away Light Show. The Great and Powerful Trixie does not give private shows. She must rest until morning. If they wish to be amazed, they must come and see the show tomorrow!" The pegasus nodded as he slipped out, closing the door behind him. The sound of his hooves retreating let Trixie return to pepping up her reflection. "Your name is growing Trixie. Soon you're going to be big enough to get on Bridleway, and then nopony won't know you. You'll be as big as the Princess herself, and won't those foals who scorned you be sorry then?"

She smiled at her reflection, but it was hollow, no more than a flash of her brilliantly white teeth. Her reflection sighed. "Who am I kidding? I've been here for months and all I have to show for it is a herd of disappointed overzealous stallions. Not even somepony to talk to about it. At least there were dim servants when I was on the road. If only I could do something spectacular. Something that would bring me the fame I need for real fans. There's got to be a way..."

A knock came at her door a second time, leading Trixie to let out an exasperated sigh. "What could be so important as to warrant a second visit, Light Show? Trixie is busy!" She began the brush on her mane once more, taking another sip of her smoothie. If she was going to be bugged she'd at least do so while comfortable.

This time the voice came from behind the door, the coward not even bothering to open it lest he feel the wrath of Trixie. "Yeah, um, your visitor is refusing to leave. She said she knows you. Name of Twilight Sparkle?" Trixie inhaled sharply, coughing and sputtering as she choked on her smoothie and jumping frightfully as the brush clattered to the floor.

She stared at the door, angry at her own reaction. "Send her in. Trixie will see her." The hooves retreated once again, allowing Trixie to put down her drink and ponder. 'What could she want? Why does she want to see me? Is she mad about the show, or is she coming to gloat?' Her questions would be answered soon enough as the sounds of two sets of hooves approached. She had just enough time to pick up her brush and begin to run it nonchalantly through her mane again before the door opened.

Trixie watched Twilight Sparkle's reflection walk into the room, smiling to the door as it closed. She then stood at the back of the room, silently, awkwardly, like she wasn't sure how to broach a topic. Trixie took the first move, finally deigning eye contact through the mirror. "Yes? You wished to see Trixie?"

Twilight took a nervous step into the room, looking at the only decoration in the room, a potted plant, before sitting on the only other cushion there. "I was hoping I could talk to you."

Trixie snubbed her nose at the reflection, letting the brush continue its work. "Talk? Trixie doesn't just hold an audience on a whim. If you are going to waste her time with idle chat she suggests you leave. Don't you have a dragon to attend to?"

Twilight's reflection gained a hurt frown; this seemed to be a touchy subject. "You're the pony reading minds, aren't you? You should know I'm in town for medicine."

"Then why are you at a show? Shouldn't you be getting that?"

Twilight turned away, seeming to speak angrily to the wall. "I'd be back in Ponyville by now if I could be, but the medicine won't be ready for another three days! And sorry if I thought a magic show would be a good way to take my mind off my dragon for a while!" Her head turned back to Trixie, and seeing that the azure unicorn was continuing to ignore her, she breathed deeply, letting it out in a tired sigh. "Look, I just was hoping that we could close the book on that whole Ponyville business. Tonight's show, which was very nice, by the way, felt like it was being directed angrily at me. I know when I last saw you we weren't on the best of terms, but I was hoping we could get past it and leave here as friends."

"Friends? Friends?!" Trixie snorted, whirling around to face Twilight, her cool composure cracking. "How could you ever think that The Great and Powerful Trixie would want to make friends with the mare that ruined her traveling show? Why should Trixie play nice with the mare that showed her up with a display of raw magical power previously unseen by pony eyes? Friendship," she spat the word like it were a bit of rotten hay, "is quite out of the question."

Twilight sat back, ears flat against her head as she tried to diffuse the situation. "Now Trixie, it's not that bad. To be fair, the Ursa Minor was the one that stepped on your caravan, and it's not like I've been going around waving my horn about like a showoff. I haven't done magic like that unless it was an emergency since! Besides, most of Ponyville has forgotten the whole incident. I'm sure they wouldn't even recognize you!"

Trixie turned back to her mirror, shocked. "Ha! Trixie, Vanquisher of the Great Ursa Major, not remembered? You argue your case poorly."

Twilight rolled her eyes, her tone becoming flat. "You admitted you never vanquished star bears of any size back in Ponyville, don't even try to play that card on me. And it's not like your current show is so great. It's not even near Bridleway."

Trixie's hackles rose, her whole body tensing for a second before she huffed at the mirror, swatting her tail towards Twilight. "Trixie's show is very popular, she'll have you know! Besides, proximity to Bridleway means nothing if it's not a musical or a play."

Twilight's tone took on strong hints of annoyance. "Look Trixie, there's no need to be so defensive. I'm trying to extend an olive branch here." Her only response was Trixie staring daggers at her reflection. Unfazed, she carried on. "I can't stand the thought of you being so bitter against me. What can I do to make it up to you?"

Trixie was about to offhoofedly request some insane task that was sure to do nothing but anger the unicorn behind her, but just as she was about to speak, she stopped. 'This is the answer to everything, right here.' "You must face me in a magic duel."

Twilight's brow furrowed. "What?"

Trixie turned around, smiling confidently. 'Just stay calm, you get this and you've made your chance.' "You and Trixie, this stage, tomorrow. Magic versus magic, best showpony wins. Do this and I will drop the issue completely."

Twilight didn't look any less confused. "Really? A magical competition? We both know my magic is stronger."

Trixie's smile didn't fade, though her tail did whip angrily behind her. "It is not about power, it is about skill. The audience will decide the winner."

Twilight still looked suspicious. "And you want us to fight to become friends? You do know that competitions aren't exactly renowned for their ability to make ponies like each other, right?"

Trixie waved the concern away. "Trixie assures you that, win or lose, friendship shall blossom from the duel."

"I don't know..." The tone of voice conveyed everything Trixie needed to hear. The argument was already won, she just had to seal the deal.

"You have to wait for your medicine anyway. Trixie's competition will merely help pass the time. What do you say?"

Twilight sighed. "Are you sure this is the only way?" Trixie nodded, continuing to smile brightly. "Alright. I accept your challenge."

"Excellent! Trixie knew you would agree." Trixie cantered to the door, smiling smugly to herself. 'For all the books you read Twilight it's just as easy to read you.' She opened it, looking straight into the startled eyes of Light Show, who had been waiting outside. "Tomorrow's show shall be a duel between The Great and Powerful Trixie and The Princess's Student, Twilight Sparkle. Make sure to prepare for it. You may show Twilight out now."

"Yes Trixie. I'll get right on it." Light Show beckoned Twilight to follow him before walking towards the exit.

At Twilight left, she turned to Trixie looking slightly defeated, but mostly relieved. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. May the best pony win."

Trixie nodded, eyebrow raised smugly as she appraised her rival. "She shall." The two ponies outside left, leaving Trixie to close the door and be alone in her dressing room once more. She started to giggle excitedly to herself as she walked to her mirror, and looking at her reflection and couldn't help but smile. "The Great and Powerful Trixie duels Princess Celestia's top student? That will get me some attention." She levitated her brush, working her mane calmly, carefully, while she also lifted her shake, sipping at it.

The liquid within was tepid, but she didn't care, smiling anyway as she finished it off. "This is going to be good."

---

The following evening Trixie was once again in her dressing room, brushing her mane and tail to perfection and mentally preparing herself. Tonight was when she would shine. She would show up that bookish menace and, in doing so, rocket herself straight to Bridleway! She levitated some make up to her, delicately lightening the lids of her eyes and doing her best to accentuate her looks without getting trashy. "Must look your best Trixie! Your adoring crowd will be watching!"

Just as she finished with the make up and donned her wizard's hat and cape, the door slid open slightly, Twilight Sparkle slipping into the room. Trixie glanced at the other unicorn's reflection, seemingly indifferent to her arrival. "Yes Twilight? What do you want of Trixie?" She turned, seeing that Twilight looked no different at all from the night before, her mane plain and straight, her face lacking make up, and still lacking of any clothes. 'She does realize this is a show, right?'

Twilight looked at the floorboards, hoofing at them nervously. "Trixie, are you sure about this? I don't want anything sparking on the stage, and competitions aren't always friendly..."

Trixie laughed haughtily at her. "Of course not! Competitions are tests of top skill! But Trixie assures you that if you truly do wish to be her friend then you will have to go through with her challenge. It is the only way."

Twilight sighed. "Alright Trixie, whatever you say." She turned to leave, but was intercepted by Light Show.

"Ladies, please make your way to the stage. It's show time."

"Thank you," said Twilight to his retreating form. She then walked towards her side of the stage, looking back as she did to see Trixie going to her own side. "Good luck out there Trixie!"

Trixie flicked her mane stylishly. "Luck is not even a factor here." She flicked her tail at Twilight before walking to her wing, looking on stage to see Light Show addressing the audience.

"Ladies and Gentlecolts! Tonight we have a special treat for you! A competition between two mighty magical mares to determine which is the greatest magician! And it is you, yes, you that decides the winner!" The crowd cheered, Light Show's attempts to rile and warm it up going spectacularly. He smiled warmly, backing up and extending a wing towards Trixie's side of the stage. "First to arrive, the Mistress of Magic, the Unicorn with the Glowing Horn, Manehattan's own: The Great and Powerful Trixie!"

At that instant Trixie threw a smoke pellet on stage, dashing into it and magically triggering the fireworks she'd placed earlier. As the smoke cleared they sparked and spun, showering her in light as she reared up in her most impressive caster's pose: both front hooves raised before her as though she were in the midst of tracing arcane runes, a confident determination on her face. She scanned the crowd, surprised to see the whole house full, every table packed with ponies and even a line along the back wall. 'Perfect! Better than Trixie could have ever hoped!'

The stunned crowd cheered, applauding and chanting her name and leaving her to smile and soak it all in while Twilight nervously padded in the opposite wing. Luckily, Light Show put her out of her misery, calming the crowd down. "Now now, don't get worn out already! I haven't even introduced the challenger." He snapped a wing open, pointing to Twilight's side of the stage. "The Element of Magic, the Princess's Prize Pupil, Ponyville's Archiver of Archaic Knowledge, give it up for Twilight Sparkle!"

In the corner of her eye Trixie saw Twilight's horn glow briefly before she simply winked out of existence, reappearing on stage amidst a flash of light. The crowd oohed at her entrance, a polite applause following her appearance, but it wasn't nearly what Trixie had gotten. Trixie smiled to herself, confidence rising. 'I bet she didn't even place the fireworks LS gave her. What a foal.'

As the crowd's underwhelming reaction ended, Light Show took center once more. "The rules are simple. Magic versus magic, whoever gets the better reaction over the course of five tricks wins, so make sure to scream your head off for your favorite mare! Magician's ready?" Both nodded as he looked to them, Trixie confidently, Twilight with determination on her features. Fading upstage he held a wing above him. "Aaaaaaaaaand..." He shot the wing down in a clear signal. "Begin!"

Trixie stepped forward, beginning the magical duel with a simple trick. She stayed on her back hooves, moving her front ones around mystically before conjuring a bouquet of a dozen roses from the air. She then grabbed them in the crook of her leg, standing like the winner of the Miss Canterlot pageant and sniffing them softly. The audience applauded politely, but it had never been meant to wow the audience and so they weren't.

Twilight stepped up second, levitating a small flower pot from off stage and placing it on the floor before her. With no decorum, no hoof motions or flashy lights, she concentrated, her horn glowing softly. Pop! A rose bush appeared, garnering a similar reaction to Trixie's bouquet and leaving the audience slightly bored.

'Trixie can fix that.' She thought as she stepped forward once more, levitating the hat from her head. With a simple motion she stuffed the bouquet into the hat, then she held it forward, seeming to focus greatly on it as she stepped on the fan switch in front of her. Her hair and cape slowly began to billow, the hat seeming to tremble with energy. There was a puff of flash paper hiding the swap, followed by a dozen cardinals streaming from her hat and into the room, fluttering elegantly over the ponies assembled. There was a collective "Ooh!" from the crowd and a fair bit of applause, to which Trixie bowed. She then replaced her hat with a magical flourish, smile returning once more to her face. 'It's all in the presentation.'

Twilight had not seemed to learn that lesson yet, though she was catching on. She looked suspiciously over at Trixie, then let her horn glow once more. The cardinals wheeling about the room transformed, their plumage turning a rainbow of colors while they settled on the tables within. Twilight followed up her trick with an extended hoof and a feeble "Tada!" that warbled in tone. The audience applauded the birds, but the tada gained her nothing but a few snickers, one of which came from Trixie.

When the audience was quiet once more, Trixie started her next trick, turning on the hidden record player and starting a snake charmer's song. From her cape she produced a deck of playing cards, which she pulled free, shuffling them with her magic before sending them in a wide arc above her, landing them in her hoof. From there she spun, letting the cards slip out into a line that twirled around her like a gymnast's ribbon. As she continued to spin they collected into a deck above her before exploding out into the audience, each card landing before a pony sitting at a table and showing off the back, which had her cutie mark for a design. She remained on stage, her twirling ending in a deep bow just as the music came to an end.

Trixie remained in position while the audience applauded, only looking up from her bow when it was suddenly cut short. The cards from her trick had flown to center stage, forming into a giant card made of the many smaller ones. It then turned over like it was being drawn from a deck, all cards fusing as they revealed a giant picture of Twilight Sparkle with a Q and her cutie mark for the rank and suit. The audience cheered, loving the show and causing Twilight to smile brightly as she bowed to the ponies in front of her. Trixie felt her face flush red with rage. 'Playing with Trixie's tricks, eh? Let's see you follow this one up.'

Trixie lit off a bit of flash paper, the flames bringing focus back to her from Twilight's bowing. When the audience's attention was fully hers, she materialized a rabbit from her cape, it's beautiful white fur gleaming in the stage lights. She then magicked over a small ornate box on a wheeled pedestal from off stage, stopping it at stage center. She levitated the box, opening it and showing the audience that it was completely ordinary before placing it back on the pedestal and placing the rabbit within. With a large flourish she clasped the box, in the same motion willing up several daggers from beside it, which spread into a deadly fan above her. She proved their sharpness when she launched them into the giant card behind her, shredding it to confetti with a few swift swipes and causing Twilight to look slightly indignant. Trixie merely smiled at her warmly before continuing her set.

With one hoof she spun the pedestal, working up its speed until it was turning at a considerable rate. She then walked away, letting the daggers dance in the air above her as she made her way to the stage's edge. There she turned and, after barely a moment's concentration, sent the first blade tumbling through the air towards the spinning box. It's impact was audible against the box, as was the gasp that came from each and every pony in the crowd as the blade sunk in to the hilt. The second one flew soon after, impacting hard enough to bump the box over and get Twilight to visibly wince. There was a practiced pause between each throw, just long enough for the audience to truly cringe at each skewering before the next one occurred.

When the box stopped spinning it resembled a porcupine with dagger grips for spines. Trixie walked over to it, her confident smile still unfazed as she turned the entire pedestal around once more for all to see. She then lifted the box up, spinning it top to bottom to show it was still whole. Then, slowly, milking the moment for every drop of tension she could get from the audience, she placed it back on the pedestal, unclasping the box and dramatically reaching a hoof inside, retrieving from the box an intact rabbit. As the relieved sigh rolled through the audience, she reached into the box once more, procuring a carrot, which she gave to the bunny before setting it hopping on its way.

The crowd went wild, cheering and whistling at the display and leaving Trixie simply no choice but to bask in the adoration, waving and nodding to the audience. As the sound peaked she turned to Twilight, offering the stage to her while staring into her eyes and raising an eyebrow as if to say 'Your move.' In return she received an angry glare from the rival mare, who turned forward, nerves showing as she started her penultimate trick.

Twilight walked next to the rose bush from before, focusing her magic on it as her horn started to glow. It was faint, only a good showpony would see it, but there was strain in her opponent's actions, as though she were concentrating far too hard on her trick. 'The match is Trixie's, she just doesn't want to admit it yet.' It was almost sad, all that magical potential locked inside that nervous, awkward frame. Almost.

The rose bush grew rapidly, within moments becoming tall and wild. This seemed to almost startle Twilight, who jumped in place as she moved to the next phase of her plan. The bush began to rotate slowly, leaves, branches and flowers shrinking away and twisting on its form as it changed shape. The form moved steadily until it wavered for a moment, a blob between two shapes that, at the end of its third rotation, settled on a form. The pot touched down a quarter turn later containing a topiary of a telescope complete with rose lenses and dials. She then turned to the audience, smiling nervously and presenting the plant with outstretched hooves.

The crowd was mostly silent, the only sounds in the room an awkward cough and the oblivious twittering of the rainbow cardinals. Sweat began to bead on Twilight's forehead as she maintained her smile, knees beginning to visibly shake.

Trixie shook her head, laughing. "Let Trixie show you how it is done!" She walked towards center stage, heart pounding in excitement. 'This is it. The nail to seal the coffin.'

Trixie began her final trick of the night, unclasping the 'diamond' clasp on her cape and levitating it from her shoulders so that it formed a small star patterned curtain. Then, with just enough flourish to make the moment snap, she whipped it up into the air, producing from nowhere a cage three times her size that filled from the bottom up as the cape passed it. Then, as the cape reached the top of its arc, it gently wafted down in front of the cage, a tiger materializing from top to bottom with its fall and prowling as soon as it was full.

Trixie's cape clasped itself around her neck as it fell and, amidst the oohs of the stunned crowd, she walked around the cage displaying the beast within. As she reached center she looked at Twilight, smiling at the fearful, jealous look she received. 'Now she realizes I am the real deal.' With a smile built out of vindication as much as practice Trixie opened the cage door, stepping inside to the gasps of both the crowd and her opponent before locking it behind her with her magic. With a great flourishing bow she turned to the tiger, rearing back on her hooves in a pose of confrontation, her cape flying impressively behind her. The tiger reared as well, growling angrily before crouching low, preparing to pounce.

A tremor ran through the audience as it leaped, deadly claws outstretched and fangs bared towards the confident blue unicorn, a blur of orange and black bearing doom towards the pony. Twilight closed her eyes, looking away as the two forms connected...

And vanished in a cloud of smoke that enveloped the cage. Confused gasps and murmurs made their way through the audience for a mere moment before being cut off by Pegasian Candles that launched fire from the back of the house. A fanfare of trumpets filled the whole space, causing all heads to swivel to their source. Standing in the rear doorway in dual spotlights looking noble, great and powerful was Trixie herself, cape and mane flowing in a mystical wind and fireworks bursting around her. Attention turned from her display to the cage where the smoke was clearing, revealing a tiny tiger cub mewling cutely at the crowd.

The entire theater burst into uproarious applause, deafening Trixie as her fireworks finally ran out. Slowly, savoring each moment, she walked through the crowd and back to the stage, bowing and waving to her adoring fans. When, after a few minutes, the applause finally ended, Trixie turned to Twilight with an proud grin. 'Beat that.' she mentally dared.

Yet, instead of the defeated look she expected, Twilight looked determined, focused despite her trembling. Inside Trixie's own confidence wavered. 'Doesn't she know she's lost? She can't be going on.'

When finally silence returned to the theater, Twilight gave the crowd a nervous smile, stepping forward with sweat pouring down her determined face. Impatiently the crowd waited for her to make her move, but Trixie was having trouble keeping her act going. 'She wouldn't be going on if she couldn't win... She's preparing something. She wants something...' Twilight gulped down the lump in her throat and began to concentrate, closing her eyes and lowering her head as her horn began to glow.

Magic power pulsed and swirled around her, focusing on a point just off from the tip of her horn, which grew larger and brighter until it was visible, then tangible, a swirling ball of energy that steadily grew: starting the size of a marble, then an apple, then a pony's head, then much, much larger. Twilight's head rose, bringing the massive orb above her to fill the space between her and the roof.

Trixie's smile was gone as she looked at the brilliant sphere that shone like an opalescent pearl, completely solid, with beams shining off of it in all colors of the rainbow that bathing the audience in their glory. The entire audience was breathless, held in wonder at the show, while Trixie's jaw dropped. 'No... it's not possible... not again.' Lightning arced over the surface of the pearl, forming waves and ripples of power that it hurt to look at as they seemed to bend space itself around them. 'I'm going to lose to her again!'

The surface wobbled, Twilight's face contorting as the lightning and lights grew more wild, more unstable. Electricity crackled from the orb, striking out and scorching a table in the third row of the theater. Awe turned to panic in the crowd as everypony tried to duck for cover and cower behind tables and pillars. Light Show sidled off the stage, putting as much distance between himself and the magic while Trixie just stood stock still, staring into the spell's amorphous surface as it shook violently. It stabilized for a moment, the surface still and the electricity gone, a beautiful starry night visible through a milky haze. Then it unceremoniously collapsed in on itself in an instant, Trixie's smile growing as the orb shrank.

There was a blinding light and a deafening thunderclap. Cushions flew, curtains whipped wildly, props danced, birds screeched in alarm as a tiger cub landed among them, and ponies screamed as those who weren't in cover were tossed through the air. Then... silence.

All attention was brought to a slight sizzling noise coming from the stage. In the center of a swathe of destruction sat Twilight Sparkle, face and forelegs stained black, mane and tail standing on end behind her, and horn glowing white hot at the tip with smoke streaming from it. The air around her crackled, smelling of ozone as she wavered on the spot before shaking her head clear and looking around her. The sight of the destruction caused her to sink to the floor with a sad whimper, ears pressing against her head. To the side of the stage stood Trixie, her hat blown askew and her pupils small from the flash, but otherwise unstained as she smiled madly at her defeated rival.

The sizzling was the only noise for a few moments, silence reigning as everypony waited for the horseshoe to drop.

"Boo!" It was a single voice, but it was picked up by the multitude in moments. "Boo!" "Get off the stage!" "You're a menace!" "You stink!" Twilight sank further into herself under the abuse, forming a tight ball on the stage deck.

Trixie's smile disappeared when she looked at the soot-stained unicorn and the pathetic little ball her great nemesis had become. She took a step towards the trembling mare. "Twilight?"

Twilight bolted from the stage, ridicule chasing her off and tears streaming from her eyes. Trixie watched her go, wanting to follow but unable to as the jeers and heckling subsided and Light Show extracted himself from the curtains, making his way center stage. "Well, that sure was something, wasn't it folks? But I think the winner is clear! Now cheer your lungs out for the greatest magician, the most magical mare, your winner: The Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie's hoof was grabbed and raised into the air to the raucous cheers and roars of the crowd.

She gave them a showy smile and a bright wave before bowing deeply, stating the line she'd been saving for this moment. "Was there ever any doubt?" She continued to wave and bow automatically, but it was hollow, mechanical. When she could she glanced towards the wing where Twilight had run off, the gleaming of the stage lights on her tears sticking in Trixie's mind. She'd recognized those tears.

They were her own when she'd run from Ponyville.

As soon as was proper for the showpony, Trixie dropped a smoke pellet, slipping off stage under its cover. Amid the cheers and chanting of her name Trixie walked quickly backstage, stopped before her destination by Light Show. "Trixie! Are you hearing this? They love you!You've got to get out there and give them more, it's your big break!"

"Not now. I've got something more important to do." Trixie pushed past the confused pegasus, making a straight shot to the assistant's dressing room which currently had a paper pinned to the door reading 'Twilight Sparkle.' She listened to the door for a moment, a faint sobbing audible through the wood. She opened the door, peeking inside. "Twilight?"

A glow came from Twilight's horn, a red door frame appearing just within the actual one and slamming itself before Trixie's face. "Go away!" The voice was furious, hurt... anypony could have heard that.

Trixie tried to open the false door, but it was locked, so instead she lifted it aside, walking past it to find Twilight sobbing on the cushions, head laying on her front hooves and chest heaving with each breath. Trixie took another careful step into the room, trying not to startle her. "Twilight? Are you okay?"

Twilight's head rose from her forelegs, red rimmed eyes looking at Trixie and lines clearly visible where the tears had cut through the soot on her face. "Oh, go away Trixie." She turned back around, burying her face into the pillows. Trixie started to speak, but Twilight cut her off. "You got your victory. You're the better magician. Are you happy now?"

Trixie walked over to her, sitting down next to her and removing her hat and cape. "You know, I thought I would be..." The two sat in silence for a moment, Trixie just letting Twilight cry it out. "Hurts, doesn't it?"

Twilight nodded, sniffling. "I sting all over..."

Trixie shook her head, smiling softly. "Not that. Them. The crowd's reaction." Twilight nodded again. Trixie looked over at the vanity, the lights cold and the items on it untouched. "And that was just one room. One tiny theater, a hundred ponies tops. Think what it's like with a whole town." Twilight's silence spoke volumes, even her small sobs stopping.

Trixie magicked a brush over from the vanity, carefully running it through Twilight's mane to remove the charred bits and the ash. This brought a confused look from Twilight, causing Trixie to stall the motion, but when no argument came, she started once more. "Both of our special talents are magic, mine being the magic of show business. I go out there every day for a crowd that wants to eat me alive for my tricks and my Trixie. It's all I know how to do anymore. But your magic has unlimited potential. There's nothing that one day you won't be able to do. The pure raw power you displayed both tonight and in Ponyville is just... amazing. Far more than I ever can hope to achieve. And even with all of that power, last time I saw you you had five wonderful friends waiting in Ponyville for you, ready to support you through anything..." Trixie sighed, transferring the brushing to Twilight's tail. "I wanted you to feel what I do every day. Those eyes watching your every move, expecting, judging, ready to pounce on the smallest mistake. I have fans. I might even someday have fame, but I will never have friends like yours." There was a thoughtful silence between the two unicorns, the only sound the brush going through Twilight's tail. After a few moments of this, Trixie continued. "Even so, I went too far. I pushed too hard, making you go for that crazy spell. What was that you were trying to do, anyway?"

Twilight was sitting now, watching Trixie's brush move for lack of a better thing to focus on. "It was supposed to be Star Swirl's Starry Night on a larger scale. I wanted to transfer everypony to the peaceful glen it normally whisks a pony's mind to when they need to be calmed or think clearly, but I just couldn't maintain its integrity while changing it to apply to the real world." Twilight sighed, rubbing her face with a hoof and smearing ash through the clean streaks on it. "It's probably for the best anyway. I don't know how I would have gotten everypony out again without waiting hours for the spell to fade..."

Trixie looked at Twilight, stunned by her choice of spells. "Star Swirl's Starry Night? That's a tricky spell normally! There's only maybe a dozen unicorns that can manage it at all, let alone on a large scale. The fact that you'd even try that... Why would you do something so risky?"

Twilight looked to the floor. "I was trying to win. Under all that pressure and your amazing performance it was the only thing I could think of that might bring the crowd to my side. I had to win the competition! It was the only way you'd be my friend."

Trixie shook her head, returning to her brushing. "That wasn't the deal, though I still don't understand why you'd want to be my friend in the first place. Especially the way I acted..."

Twilight looked into Trixie's eyes, her own eyes sad at what they saw. "Because you didn't have one. It didn't take a genius to see that. The traveling show, the boasting, the attention grabbing... You needed a friend, somepony to be on your side, and when you left Ponyville you were all alone, just you and the world. When I saw you again here, I was hoping maybe I could be that friend for you, and maybe make up for what had happened before..."

"Apparently it did take a genius to see it, or at least one did either way." Trixie stopped her brushing, smiling at Twilight. "Thank you." She placed the brush back on the vanity, turning Twilight to the mirror. "There! Good as new."

Twilight's soot covered reflection looked at Trixie, smiling despite the tears still edging her eyes. "Thanks." It was then that her eyes went wide, Twilight spinning to face Trixie while her face looked as though she'd been hit by a sudden revelation. "You're not speaking in third person!"

Trixie's smile grew warmer. "Of course not! That's all just an act for the public. It's not nice to wear masks around friends." The two looked at each other for a moment, the weight of the last sentence hanging between them. Then Trixie tentatively raised a hoof, offering it to Twilight with a hopeful smile. "Friends?"

Twilight nodded, raising her own hoof to bump against Trixie's. "Friends."

The two hooves connected, the sound of their impact forever resonating happily in both pony's minds.