>...-= The GAP (II) =-...
 
>"Trixie?"
 
>From her stage atop the bench alongside the casino front, Trixie's eyes flinched slightly in Sunset's direction.
 
>She was certainly dressed for the occasion. Adorned in an outfit and elaborate make-up that complimented Las Pegasus and what it had to offer.
 
>Trixie's eyes lit up.
 
>She briefly flashed a grin, nearly breaking her act to reply. The show must go on.
 
>She held her arms out with her palms upwards, her fingers held in such a way that suggested mystical divinity.
 
>"Gather around, travelers of the Desert Jewel!"
 
>Sunset scratched Faust's ears in an attempt to calm him down as a small crowd of curious and intrigued onlookers began to gather.
 
>"Affix your eyes upon your enchantress!"
 
>A pair of lackluster roman candles hidden behind the bench erupted into the air.
 
>Trixie looked into the sky, her eyes burned with determination and mysticism.
 
>"For I!"
 
>She clapped her hands together with a sharp, frightening crack that echoed off of the glass and masonry of the Strip.
 
>"Am the Great! And Powerful-
 
>The desert sorceress laced her fingers together with her palms pressed against one another
 
>TRIXIE!"
 
>Excited gasps and sparse clapping erupted around Sunset as herself and the crowd was showered in a colorful array of flower petals as Trixie's hands fanned outwards away from her.
 
---------
 
>"Sucked!"
 
>Sunset scoffed at the audacity of the heckler behind her
 
>The residents of Las Pegasus were very difficult to impress apparently
 
>Trixie's eyes snapped in the direction of the voice
 
>"Step forth you misguided misanthrope!" Trixie traced her fingertips down the length of her cloak as she stepped down off of the bench.
 
>The young man approached with his arms crossed
 
>Trixie held out her hand with her palm inches away from his face.
 
>Suddenly she flipped her hand around fanning out a deck of cards  facing away from her within her grasp
 
>"Choose." She demanded.
 
>He pulled a card from her hand and held it over his shoulder for the eyes behind him
 
>Six of Clubs
 
>"Replace!"
 
>He obliges her, Trixie shuffles the deck in both hands, placing two fingers on top
 
>"Is this your card?"
 
>She reveals the card, proudly holding up...
 
>The King of Hearts
 
"Are you kidding?"
 
>Trixie raised an eyebrow and glanced at the card. She was un-amused by his antics.
 
>"I see... Here, let Trixie take a closer look"
 
>She held the bottom of the deck with her thumb and the top  with her fingers, she clenched her fingers together and the deck of cards assaulted the naysayer
 
>"Hey- Wha-!"
 
>With the deck of cards depleted out of her hands, the pile lay all around him
 
>Six of Clubs
 
>Trixie turned her back to him and strolled away with a wide grin.
 
>Sunset and the audience applauded as the disgruntled bystander made his way out of the crowd
 
>"Now begone! This next feat of magic is only for the strong of mind"
 
----------
 
>"Trixie will prove to you now, her power is endless! Behold!"
 
>She reveals a simple fork to her onlookers.
 
>"Stainless steel." She proclaimed
 
>"It melts like butter before the magic of Trixie!"
 
>She held out the fork horizontally within her finger and thumb gently.
 
>She closed her eyes focusing her frightening mental abilities on the fork.
 
>The fork creaked and twitched slightly.
 
>The two ends began to bend upwards in short jumps
 
>Hushed gasps fell over the crowd. Sunset tilted her head in curiosity.
 
>'Equestrian magic... here?'
 
>Sunset wasnt sure what confused her more: Magic in this world or that Trixie had somehow channeled it effectively.
 
>Trixie passed her other hand over the contorted fork and held it out to her nearest admirer.
 
>The woman took the fork in her and attempted to bend it back into place. It was a no-go on her part.
 
>Sunset smiled, her mouth agape
 
>'Wow..'
 
>Trixie took the fork and tossed it into the garbage behind her.
 
>Her eyes met with Sunset's.
 
----------
 
>"Trixie requires the energy of someone within the audience! This next dazzling array of sorcery requires another of an equally powerful divine semblance!"
 
>A number of hands raised from the audience.
 
>She tapped her fingertip to her chin, as she closed her eyes.
 
>Her finger left the corner of her mouth. Her hand paced over the crowd, and her finger pointed out her volunteer.
 
>"Will the known as Sunset Shimmer please make herself known to Trixie?"
 
>A hushed chuckle escaped Sunset's lips.
 
>Sunset took a few steps forward, eyes darting from left to right in feigned bewilderment. She took the time to cradle Faust with one arm.
 
>"H-How did you know my name?"
 
>"All secrets are known to Trixie" She said to the crowd "Your thoughts are not safe from Her!"
 
>Sunset played along. She glanced over at the crowd with a tinge of fake fear in her eyes, seconds later to be replaced with genuine terror.
 
>Trixie produced an elegant saber out from underneath her cloak, gently touching the blade to the tip of Sunset's nose.
 
>It threatened to draw blood. Sunset raised an eyebrow in uncertainty at her.
 
>Trixie withdrew the blade, and held out an apple in her other hand.
 
>She pressed the blade to the peel and sawed it in half with minimal effort.
 
>Razor sharp.
 
>She sheathed the weapon and handed half of the apple to Sunset, taking the other half for herself.
 
>Trixie exposed the sliced apple to the crowd, and tossed it into the trash behind her.
 
>"Sunset Shimmer." Trixie drew the saber from its sheath and presented Sunset the golden hilt.
 
>"Take ahold of Trixie's mighty sword!"
 
>Sunset turned her head slightly with legitimate concern. She grabbed the sword with great hesitation.
 
>Trixie stood before her clasping the blade flat in between her palms. She guided the point against her belly with her hands and let her hands fall to her sides.
 
>"Trixie... What?"
 
>"Go on." The great illusionist nodded
 
>"Kill Trixie."
 
>"What?"
 
>"Kill her. Impale her upon the blade"
 
>Sunset thrusted the weapon forwards slightly.
 
>Trixie had clenched her eyelids together in a twinge of pain.
 
>"-Guh-hnn!-" Trixie grunted and leaned forward slightly as the blade went through her
 
>Sunset was terrified. Her eyes darted from the pained grimace on Trixie's face to the back of her cloak. She could see the cape upon her back begin to raise as the sword pierced through her abdomen.
 
>Trixie grabbed ahold of Sunset's shoulders.
 
>"Ghhh-Ahhhh!" She pulled Sunset closer to her, driving the hilt to her belly.
 
>Trixie threw her arms around Sunset and hung limply from her body.
 
>Sunset looked down in horror as the life began to fade from Trixie's twinkling purple eyes.
 
>Trixie clenched her eyes together once again and grunted in agony.
 
>"Remove the sword from within Trixie!"
 
>Sunset retracted instantly. Flicking the blade downwards, and gazing at the blade.
 
>Blood.
 
>It dripped from the hilt and onto the sidewalk
 
>Trixie collapsed the the ground, sinking to her knees.
 
>Her hands clutched around her abdomen.
 
>Sunset dropped the sword and raced over to her.
 
>She pushed her down against the sidewalk gently.
 
>Sunset reached for the bottom of her bloodied blouse and pulled it up, revealing her blood-soaked abdomen.
 
>Trixie jolted up suddenly, and panting at an alarming rate.
 
>Trixie wiped away the blood... And her belly remained intact.
 
>"Trixie chose correctly!"
 
>She lept up off of the ground and held Sunset's hand in the air proudly.
 
>The crowd cheered and many made generous donations to the tip jar just beside the bench. After the excitement and the crowd moved on, the two shared words.
 
>"Are you impressed?"
 
----------
 
>They exchanged a hug and took a seat down on the bench.
 
>"I cant even begin to understand how you did all of that."
>'How the hell did you make it work /here/?'
>"How did yo-"
 
>"It's magic."
>"Trixie doesn't have to explain anything"
 
>'I guess she really doesn't...'
>Sunset chuckled and smiled at her friend.
 
>"How long have you been in town?"
 
>"I just pulled in actually, not two hours ago."
 
>Trixie's eyes widened a bit in surprise.
 
>"Really?"
 
>"Uh-huh, I drove in from Canterlot. Just to kinda... See what I could see."
 
>"You couldn't have chosen a better place to see things Sunset."
 
>Trixie stood and held out her hand.
 
>"How long wil you stay?"
 
>"For a while. Im not exactly on vacation."
 
>"I see... Where are you and your little friend staying?"
 
>Faust had hopped off the bench, his nose led him on a trail not far from Sunset's sight
 
>"Nowhere yet."
 
----------
 
>Sunset took Trixie's hand and stood herself up.
 
>"Unacceptable. You will stay with Trixie"
 
>A mysterious smile crossed her lips
 
>"It would be a crime to waste such a kharmic blessing."
 
>"What do you mean by that?"
 
>"To see someone from home all the way out here... It heals."
 
>"Yeah."
>"It's good to see you Trixie."
 
>They hugged one another again, leaving a stain of fake blood down the front of Sunset's shirt.
 
>Trixie shrugged apologetically and hopped up, collecting a small black bag and her jar of tips.
 
>"Shall I show you home?" Trixie asked, motioning with her eyes just down the sidewalk.
 
>Sunset smirked and hopped up, whistling for Faust and following Trixie's lead.
 
>The three traveled a few blocks down away from the strip.
 
>The growing worry in Sunset's mind was quelled as their destination was close-by the garage where Panzer had taken refuge.
 
>'Valu-Inn'
 
>Many of the windows of the rooms along the parking lot were cracked, negligent of any kind of cleaning in quite some time. Questionable individuals skulked along the rows of doors, smoking in the door frames and blaring music from their vehicles.
 
>Oh boy.
 
>"Do not judge Trixie! It's rates are... agreeable"
 
>Sunset giggled as the two approached.
 
>"Heyheyhey! No judgement here... Ive spent the night in worse places before."
 
>Trixie shot her a a playful but accusing stare.
 
>Trixie placed her things on the ground and fumbled around in her costume for the key.
 
>She turned the knob and the lock and bumped her shoulder against the door.
 
----------
 
>Sunset tossed Faust inside and picked up the jar and Trixie's bag.
 
>She shut the door. The room wasnt too bad. Smelled as if it were just freshly vacuumed.
 
>It consisted of one sizeable room with a single bed, A couch, A desk, and a dresser with an old fashioned turn-dial TV. In the back was a sink, fresh towels and a door that led into the bathroom.
 
>Trixie had stripped the cloak off and tossed it onto the couch.
 
>Some decks of cards followed.
 
>A pair of sheathed swords.
 
>'Ahh... I see.'
 
>"Trixie is going to hop into the shower... Make yourself at home, alright?"
 
>Sunset nodded, and the desert sorceress shed the rest of her clothes as she strolled into the bathroom.
 
>Sunset looked around the room and sat down on the bed, glancing over at the window.
 
>She exhaled and laid back, resting her eyes.
 
>"What..."
 
>"What luck"
 
To Be Continued