>Autumn leaves blew about in the wind, collecting in large piles against the tents of the carnival.
>Ponies of all ages bustled about the place in utter content and joy.
>Both laughter and screams mingled with the music emanating from the center of the fairgrounds.
>The pony playing the pipe organ certainly set a delightful mood.
>Sure, you had been to carnivals back on your Earth, but those paled in comparison to those hosted by the ponies of Ponyville.
>This particular event is put together this time every year, and after a 3 summers, you’ve decided to check it out for yourself.
>Mostly by Pinkie’s request though as she had volunteered to help out around the place.
>You didn’t find any interest in most of the attractions though, since you did come alone.
>The games and such would only be fun if you had company, but the lack of a companion didn’t stop you from wandering about the grounds in a childish sense of wonder.
>The place was truly amazing. The tents here were far larger than any you’ve seen back home, capable of covering entire houses.
>Various stands and booths sold goods of all sorts, from candies to souvenirs, even instruments and toys.
>Amongst the fairgoers, a vast number of carnies lurked in the crowds, on stilts or breathing flames into the air, leaving the ponies in gleeful awe.
>Passing by a clown rolling around on top of a large red ball, you make your way to a rather gloomy looking tent.
>Stripes of black and purple decorated it and a large flag with an emblem resembling a star-tipped magic wand atop, blowing in the breeze.
>The large wooden sign outside the entrance read in very smooth and stylized letters: The Shadow Show.
>Your curiosity is beyond piqued. This was far from anything like the rest of the carnival, cheerful and brightly coloured.
>Holding open the flap, you step through into the darkness within.
>Candles floating in the air cast a warm, though faint glow over the ponies inside.
>For as long as you’ve been in Equestria, you still had a hard time getting used to magic.
>Something about bending the natural laws of the universe just put you off slightly.
>Tapestries and banners hung from the ropes above, bearing the same emblem as the flag outside.
>Quiet whispers and hushed murmurs of impatient ponies, equally as curious as you, snake through the tent.
>Over the crowd, you spot a large stage towards the back, the curtain drawn shut.
>You tap the shoulder of the nearest pony next to you, a purple unicorn with a striped mane.
“Hey, do you have any idea what this is all about? When does the show start?”
>She looks to you and shrugs. “Dunno, but I’m starting to get the creeps. Nightmare Night must be coming early this year.”
>The little lizard by her side chuckles at her. “Oh come on Twi, don’t be such a scaredy cat.”
>The mare gives her reptilian friend a gentle shove.
”The sign out front wasn’t very descriptive, was it?”
>As the pony opens her mouth to speak, the candles suspended in the air are extinguished, leaving you all in pitch black darkness.
>You hear the lizard let out a whimper.
>Hah! Who’s the scaredy cat now, huh Spike?”
>”I-I’m not scared! I, uh, just stepped on a sharp rock is all! It’s not like I’m afraid of the d-dark or anythi-“
>A bright stage light illuminates the center of attraction.
>A feminine voice with a sinister tone of authority echoes through the tent.
>”Fillies and gentlecolts, have I got a special treat for you tonight!”
>The curtains are pulled open, revealing absolutely nothing behind them.
>After a moment of confused whispers, a loud crack rings forth from a sudden cloud of black smoke onstage.
>A blue unicorn with a flowing silvery mane stands tall and proud with a wicked grin on her face.
>The wide brim of her pointed hat cast a shadow over half her face, hiding her eyes.
>”The Shadow Show’s in town.”
>With her grin widening, her horn lights up with a deep violet magic.
>The darkness from the places not illuminated by the stage light creep forth like fingers across the stage.
>Shadowy tendrils draw to the center of the stage in a swirling maelstrom around the unicorn, forming in a large equine skull above her.
>With a screeching howl, the skull is sent hurdling through the air over the crowd, drawing shrieks from the audience.
>At the opposite end of the tent near the entrance, it rejoins the dark, disappearing from sight.
>With a giggle at the frightened ponies, she announces in that powerful voice of hers “Something wicked that way went!”
>Everybody but you in the audience seemed petrified with fear.
>In truth, this was by far the most entertaining show you’ve ever been to, and it’s only just started at that.
>More tendrils of shadow creep across the wooden stage towards the unicorn, now on her hind legs with her forelegs outstretched to the sides.
>The darkness seems to draw her into the air, her smug expression confidently smeared across her face.
>She had her audience in her hooves and she knew it.
>”The Great and Powerful Beatrix Lulamoon returns to Ponyville, her magical prowess honed to perfection!”
>The unicorn you spoke to lets out an exasperated groan, obviously unimpressed.
>She mutters “Oh, not this again…”
>Behold citizens of Ponyville! My superior arsenal of spells and magics! Truly, all others can only wish to be as skilled as Trixie!”
>The unicorn standing next to you rolls her eyes. “Those aren’t the only things in her arsenal…”
>Her little friend tries his best to stifle his laughter, failing considerably.
>So much, that it draws the attention of the showmare onstage.
>Her once smug grin turns more aggressive as she spots the pony next to you.
>”Ah, Sparkle. Couldn’t resist wishing you were as talented as Trixie again, could you?”
>The pony at your side shares a look equally aggressive to the one she’s glaring at.
>”Don’t give me that, you know exactly how things went last time. As I remember, you left town in te-“
>ENOUGH! Trixie challenges you once again Sparkle, to a battle of magic!”
>The purple unicorn grinds her hooves in the ground. “You’re on.”
>Her companion tugs at her tail. “Uh, Twilight, don’t you think once was enough? Maybe we should just leave.”
>”No Spike, Trixie obviously didn’t learn her lesson the first time.”
>At that, the pony makes her way onstage, joining her rival.
>This show just keeps getting better and better.
>”Very well Sparkle, I, the Great and powerful Trixie, will grant you the first turn. Amaze your audience, if you even can.”
>The blue unicorn stands back, flipping a lock of hair from her face.
>The other channels her magic, her horn ablaze with fire.
>She sends a twisting jet of sparkling flame through the air above the crowd, wrapping around the outer edge of the tent, temporarily illuminating the place.
>The fire then dies out, leaving clouds of sparkling dust.
>The audience cheers, stomping their hooves in the ground.
>You join them with your own clapping.
>Trixie however, seems quite bored with the performance.
>She steps forward, ushering Twilight out of the spotlight.
>”Anything you can do, I can do better…”
>She removed her hat from atop her head, letting her silver mane shine in the light.
>A certain joyful twinkle in her purple eyes seems to unnerve Twilight.
>”Sooner or later, I’m better than you.”
>Pointing her hat at the purple unicorn, shadowy claws leap out from within, wrapping around Twilight.
>She struggles in their grip to no avail as she’s pulled into the hat.
>Tail first, the black sucks her in, her face stricken with panic,
>”Spike, help!”
>After that, her cries are muffled and ultimately silenced.
>Trixie, with her smug smirk back, replaces the hat atop her head and makes a graceful bow to the audience.
>”What did you do to Twilight?!”
>The little lizard creature is pissed, small puffs of smoke spewing from his nostrils.
>”Oh, Trixie just showed her offstage to the corner over there, little dragon. She put on a petty performance if you ask me.”
>The dragon rushes to where the showmare pointed, finding his friend curled up in a ball, sobbing.
>She jolts upright at her friend’s touch, her face contorted with terror.
>She keeps muttering things about monsters in the dark as the dragon leads her out of the tent.
>He shoots Trixie a hateful glare before they make their exit.
>”Now that the challenger is defeated, let the show go on!”
>The unicorn’s horn flares to life once again, drawing the shadows into a spinning carousel in the air.
>The contorted faces of the shadowy ponies riding it were a mix of both joy and sadness.
>This mare certainly knew how to set that spooky sort of mood.
> She takes notice of you standing in awe.
>It would be hard not to notice you anyway since you were twice as tall as the ponies.
>She takes a moment to look you over.
>If you didn’t know any better, it seemed like she was inspecting you with admiring eyes.
>Her carousel suddenly disperses and ceases to exist.
>The volume of the music outside seems to be magnified as she suddenly bursts into a graceful spinning dance.
>Joining her, are what seem to be copies of your own shadow.
>Gliding and twirling about on the stage, she continues her dance with your shadows to the pipe organ playing.
>The audience is eating this up, rooting and cheering at her presentation.
>You joined them, letting forth a sharp whistle and excited clapping.
>You’ve seen magic shows back home, but those were complete shit compared to this.
>This was REAL magic.
>The music comes to a stop, the song ending.
>The amplified music dims back to it’s normal volume as Trixie sends the shadows back to the dark.
>With another graceful bow, she takes another look at you directly.
>”Thank you, thank you! My ways are dark to some, my mysteries known to none!”
>The light dims to a faint glow.
>”But pay no mind, the secrets you will find…”
>The light casting it’s glow on the stage dies out, the flaps to the tent opening.
>Ponies make their exit, chatting excitedly about the show.
>As you make your own way to the exit, you hear Trixie call out.
>”You there, the tall one.”
>You turn to see her standing behind you, her eyes looking you over from head to toe once again.
>”Meet Trixie behind stage.”