The Jack of All Trades -Chapter One-

"I win again. Shame too, you almost had me."

>No he didn't. That was a line of confidence, a line with a hook cast short most of the time, but sometimes...

>"Then I'll play again! I'm sure I can beat you!"

>It's a hook, line and sinker.

"Alright then, reset the board."

 

>It was a bit past 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and you were getting a little bored of this game of chess.

>Maybe he took the bait a little too hard...?

>Regardless, it's profit. Something you don't usually turn down.

>The victory count was currently 2 to 0.

"Sorry, but that's checkmate again."

>Apologies, 3 to 0.

>"Augh, I just messed up that one time! Again!"

>Hell nah.

"I have business to attend to elsewhere. Sorry friend, perhaps another time."

>"Wait!" he grabs you by the coat sleeve.

>You turn and give him a somewhat cold stare. You do not like to be yanked, gripped or any sort of physical term relevant to touch.

>"How are you so good at this?"

>You smirk.

"I guess you could say..."

>You shake his grip and begin to walk away.

"...I'm a professional."

 

>You exit the room and move on to the library.

>Places to go people to see. Like other visits though, this next one was of nothing but pleasantries. Just a visit between friends.

>Sometimes you have to hop off the money train.

>But that doesn't happen as often as you'd like.

>While you are a professional, you don't exploit it like some sort of money scheme.

>Well you DO, but it's just a thing to do. You prefer a calmer life. Like a nice cup of tea.

>"Hey Anonymous."

>Just like this fine young woman.

 

"Why hello Trixie."

>"Come to read again?"

"Of course. We do this every day, remember?" You tap her on the forehead lightly. Enough to be felt, but not to hurt.

>"Hehe, of course I do. But how am I going to know if you have other plans and you were strolling by?"

>You didn't come to get trapped in a conversation. She always did this little game where she'd try to best you at everything, just like this exact moment.

"Trixie this is a one way hallway. I'm not coming to the end just to turn around and leave."

>"Aheheh...right..." she had a blush on her face.

>You beat her. Nothing new.

"Shall we?"

>You both walk into the library and pull up to chairs.

"One moment."

>You walk away into bookshelves for a moment.

>You pull down one of the books that was always in order, just to make sure it wouldn't be moved.

>A nozzles comes down from the bottom of the upper shelf.

>You search a bit and find the teacups that you always leave there. That's not to say you never clean them.

>A professional doesn't get sick.

 

>You return minutes later to Trixie with the two cups of tea. She already has a novel out and is reading it quite intensely.

"Here you are."

>She doesn't turn away; curious.

"Trixie?"

>"Oh Anon, sorry. How did you..." she looks at the tea.

"Remember the promise. I get us tea, you don't question how I get it." You wink.

>She lets out a sigh, defeated. "Fiiiiiinnneee. At least I get tea out of the deal."

>You chuckle, taking a seat.

>She had placed down her tea and went back to the book. You didn't grab a book however.

>Of course she hadn't noticed this. It takes a little time for things to register for people who aren't you unless it's blatantly obvious.

 

>A short time of sipping tea later, Trixie finally looks down from her book.

>She picks her cup up, then glances in your direction and makes a puzzled face.

>"Anon, you didn't grab a book?"

"No I did not, I got tea."

>"You've just been sitting here the whole time silently drinking tea and doing nothing?"

"I'm always doing something, you know that."

>"Oh yeah? Then what were you doing?"

"Waiting."

>"For what?" She scoffs.

"You."

>Now the look is back to puzzled.

>"Waiting for me to do what?"

"Tell me Trixie, why do we meet everyday like this in the library."

>"Because you told me you would?"

"Of course I did. Remember the day we met, you started that conversation."

>"That has relevance how?"

"If you didn't start it, I wouldn't be in the library everyday."

>"Anonymous, I'm not seeing your point here."

>You sigh and rub your temples. And she was the smartest person you knew.

"This is the first time you've noticed I haven't read a single book."

 

>Her eyes widen. "B-But that's impossible! We've been here so often!"

"Not a single time have I gotten a book. If you want we can ask the librarian, she would have all check-outs listed."

>She looks down, deep in thought. It's clear that's shes thinking back to past visits.

>She looks back up, eyes wide. "You're right..."

"I'm always right. Now on to the matter at hand. I remember all the books you've been checking out."

>She looks nervous now. You had her on the ropes. It's a good thing that-

"I remember all of the names of the books. I have them written down too. Another thing you may have failed to notice."

>Now she's shaking.

"Now my question to you...what is an Element of Harmony, who is Nightmare Moon and why is the Astronomy book you have now relevant."

>She's sliding the book back into her satchel with the rest.

>This was expected. You had this little confrontation planned since book number two.

"Trixie please. You don't have to run away from me to avoid telling the truth. I never spread rumors, tell secrets and all of the lot. Look at me."

>Her eyes fall upon yours once more.

"Have I ever done anything wrong that you've heard of?"

>She looks down.

>"I understand Anon. I just can't understand why you're so...so..."

"Perfect? That's the word."

>She scoffs. "Self-coincided is another."

"But that's two."

>"I can't take this anymore! Come with me right now!"

"Alright, if you say so."

 

>You follow Trixie out of the library, down a few hallways. She stomps furiously ahead of you.

>Whatever she wanted to show you, it was going to be interesting. And non-sexual.

>You always know if it's like that. To be honest, you thought that may have been the case a few times.

>But somehow you knew that she was hiding something from you. Something that one day she would show you after trust building.

>It's not like you only spent your time with her for trust building. That was just an added benefit. Overall she was a nice girl to chat with.

>But as of right now...

>"Move it!"

>Not so much.

 

>You both come to a stop in front of a door you've passed by many times. Simply put the room was entitled:

"Music Room B. Did you finally learn the piano like you told me you would?"

>She huffs. "That was a long time ago and you know it was just a crazy dream anyways!"

"Of course I knew. But it never hurts to try right?"

>She punches you in the shoulder.

>You do not like to be touched in general. By women it depends, but violently? No.

"Trixie." you say in a cold demeanor. "I do not like to be struck."

>You were not a man of revenge, but when push comes to shove...it's their fault for making you an enemy.

>"I'm sorry but hurry up and get in here."

>You revert back to your regular state of relaxing and enter the room.

>All the instruments had been put away it seemed. And in the center of the room was several large circles. Huh. Runic words around the outside and inside too.

"You probably want me to stand in that don't you."

>"That would be nice, yes."

"I can't say I care for magic Trixie. But for you..."

>She puts on an innocent smile; one you've seen so many times before. It's a good thing you've trained yourself against it.

"You know that doesn't work."

>"Look, I'll answer all of your questions. I just really, really need your help right now."

"It can wait."

>"Not really!"

>There's really no winning or losing here for you, but for her it's means something.

>You'd have to say you value friendship more than being a professional.

 

"Alright..."

>You step into the runic circles. She wastes no time joining you.

>"Hold on to your hooves!" the circle begins to glow and hum, vibrant with magical energies.

"...hold on to my what?!"

>White encases you and Trixie, as the music room becomes no more.

>Suddenly, you can hear a few voices. Mostly female, one male by the sounds of it.

>"She's back!" the male voice calls out.

>The white encompassing you slowly dissipates until it is no longer.

>You look around at your new surroundings. Wooden walls surrounded with books and a living area upstairs.

>Below your feet are small horse-like creatures; ponies as it seems given the size and details. Some with wings and horns separately.

>Pegasi and Unicorns.

>And beside them a small green and purple lizard creature. Unsure exactly what it is, but it does have scales.

>You turn and face Trixie to find a startling revelation.

>She is now a pony as well; a small purple unicorn with streaks of pink in her hair.

>Your having a little trouble with your composure at the moment. This has never happened to you before.

"T...T-Trixie why are you...who are these...what is that..."

>"Please, call me Twilight. Now, let's get started. What were your questions?"

 

>You promptly pass out.