The Great and Powerful MAGEEKS

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Trixie had no idea why she had signed up for this again. The last few times had been rather…meh. In fact, she wasn’t even that particularly interested in the whole dating thing, particularly since she now had her apprentice studies to focus on. Still, she was supposed to be trying to get out more, and this seemed an easier way to meet somepony than just wandering around town until she ran into somepony. Luna couldn’t fault her for trying to make more friends, right?

Since the last two times with stallions hadn’t worked out all that well, Trixie figured she would see what would happen if she put female. For her, personally, it wasn’t all that important, and the goal here was just to make a friend anyway.

For a location, it seemed that the moderators of the event had decided to place her at a karaoke bar. That seemed like it would work: Trixie was no foreigner to performance after all. Sure, she was a magician and not a singer, but she was glad to take on any challenge presented to her. That, of course, meant she had done a little singing in her time. As far as she knew she was an okay singer. Hopefully the pony she was supposed to meet was good too. If Trixie had to spend time listening to a carriage wreck of a singer she was going to leave asap.

Glancing down at the card, Trixie read over the name. She was supposed to be meeting somepony named Photo Finish. Something about the name sounded familiar, but Trixie couldn’t quite but her hoof on it. With a name like that she obviously had some kind of interest in photography, but that was a pretty wide area of possibility. Oh dear Celestia, hopefully she wasn’t some kind of paparazzi trying to score a scoop on the princess of the night’s new apprentice. Not that Trixie didn’t mind the attention, of course, but for Luna’s sake she figured she should at least make the token effort to avoid it if she could.

For now, however, Trixie simply laid back in her chair, watching as some new pony came up to the stage and started to sing. She wasn’t particularly good, and Trixie hoped that paparazzi or not her date would arrive soon so she could at least be a distraction from the noise.

[Deleted]

Photo Finish stood in her office, looking over a Magazine that had come out earlier that day. 'The Fear and Beauty of the Royal Guard.' It was a spread she had taken pictures for Pretty recently, detailing that, while they look stern and scary, the guards are good ponies all around, and should be seen in more than one light. A Clock on her desk beeped, and she glanced up at it. After looking back down at the little card she had received about her blind date, she stared toward the door, blinking just twice, and took off, realizing she was close to late.

She arrived at the Karaoke bar the exact moment the date was supposed to start, and stared into the place. She stared for a few moments, finding the only pony that seemed to be looking for someone, and made her way toward the Blue-and-Silver maned pony. As she approached, she realized that 'Trixie Lulamoon' was none other than 'The Great and Powerful Trixie.' A Pony that Photo Finish had heard plenty about, but had never actually met in the past.

She walked over to the Great and Powerful date and grinned. "Guten Abend, Miss Trixie." She started, reaching a hoof out to shake Trixie's. "I... am Photo Feenish! It eez a pleasure to make your acquaintance! I have heard you are good vith, ZE MAGEEKS?" she posed for a brief moment at the end of her question before taking a quick seat, listening to the pony on stage for a few moments before glancing back at Trixie behind her Fuchsia-lensed glasses. "Zis is an... Interesting place to have ze date. Perhaps you vill be singing?"

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Fortunately a better singer had come on stage in the meantime, allowing Trixie to be able to perfectly hear what had to be the thickest Germane accent she had ever heard. Glancing around, she found the source of it coming from the mare sticking her hoof out. Trixie went and shook it, realizing that this mare was most likely Photo Finish and therefore her date. Taking a moment to glance her over, Trixie determined she was…interesting, to say the least. The dress made her look like a referee or something, and what was up with the goggles?

Of course, Trixie was in her star studded cape so she was probably the last pony to be criticizing the choice of clothing of other ponies. And even she knew she was in no position to criticize a pony for posing during their introduction. After all, all Photo Finish did was a pose. Her own introductions, however, usually included a free light show as well, if she was in the mood for it at least.

”I’ll probably sing a little bit later. Right now I guess we should probably go with the whole introduction, getting to know each other thing, right?”

Now that she thought about it, she really didn’t have that much experience with these things. That Big Mac fellow had been rather quiet, and that time with that Silver Tongue fellow was spent more criticizing his lackluster story telling techniques than a date. Meh, she’d get the hang of small talk eventually.

”Anyway, I’m ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’, or at least that’s my stage name when I’m doing my showmare act. That’s been put on hold for a while though since now I’m Princess Luna’s newest apprentice,” Trixie said, a slight curl of a smile showing as she tried to not sound too boastful about it. Not that she didn’t want to boast, but she had to try and play it a little cool too.

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Photo Finish listened to the pony talk intently, her head wiggling in a nod at every few words, hoping to take in everything the Show mare had to say. When she mentioned being Lunas student, Photo Finish knew exactly what was going on. She'd photographed enough braggy models to know that Trixie was just trying to make Photo Finish feel inferior.

And it was true, Photo Finish didn't have any notable connections like that through her time in Canterlot, besides being a photographer and editor for a pretty big magazine around Equestria. And that was her fuel. "Hmm. Zat is nice." She said, playing it off as only mildly impressive. "I am Photo Finish. Photographer for Pogue Magazine. Perhaps you have heard of us? Ve have been trying to get her for ze Pogue magazine, though ve have been busy vith ze models and celebrities. I did a Photoshoot for Sapphire Shores new tour a few veeks ago, as vell as a photo shoot for ze Royal Guard more Recently." She said with a nod.

Photo Finish would probably sing as well, if her date did. Though, with her thick accent there were only a few songs that would be good for her, and she thought she had just the one in mind. "Out of Curiosity, vhat vere you thinking of Singing?" She asked, trying to reel in their Show-Off off, lest their egos destroy the bar they were in.

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Well, it seemed she was at least a little impressed by the position. It seemed that being the apprentice to Luna could in fact be useful for social conversation somewhat. Still, something told her she might have annoyed this pony somehow, but she wasn’t exactly sure why. Had she played it a little too strong perhaps?

”Pogue magazine huh? Yeah, I’ve heard of it, but haven’t really read much of it. Or listened to Sapphire Shores…I know a couple royal guards though!” Trixie replied, trying to latch onto something that she might have in common with this pony so she could at least make the effort to get along with her. Unfortunately for her travelling on the road meant she wasn’t exactly up to date on a lot of the pop culture stuff that this Photo Finish probably worked with….she should probably explain that was the case.

”But yeah, sorry, don’t really know a lot about your magazine there. Being on the road a lot meant I was kind of isolated from a lot of pop culture trends and stuff.”

Well, this was getting awkward. Fortunately, karaoke meant there was something else to talk about.

”Er, well, don’t really know. Wonder if they got a book or something we could look through….”

Glancing around, Trixie spotted one on a nearby table. Seeing as nopony was using it, she helped herself to it and levitated it over. Setting it down, she began to flip through it.

”So, uhm, you said you were trying to get Luna for the magazine?”

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Photo Finish listened as Trixie spoke, unsure if she was lying to say she'd never heard of the magazine, as it's stocked on most news stands. Photo Finish didn't say anything about this though, letting the mare continue what she was saying. She just smiled to the show-pony. "Perhaps reading ze magazine vould help keep up to date. Alzhough... sometimes I get zhese thoughts zhat are... Not quite vhat you would zhink are 'pop culture'" Photo Finish explained. "Like ze guards. Zhey are just zhere, but zhere is much more to zhem zhen ponies zhink"

She idly glanced at the book as Trixie flipped through it at the upside down names of songs (From her angle at least). She murmured to herself on the few she was able to decipher before Trixie flipped the page, unsure of which she wanted. "Oh, yes. Getting a photo shoot with zhe princesses vould be zhe highlight of my career, and it vould be very good for zhe magazine." She said with a nod. Pondering for a moment. "Perhaps if zhis date shows ve are not compatible, ve could call it a Business meeting. I am sure you vould bring some viewers to zhe magazine as vell, being zhe Great and Powerful Trixie." Photo Finish gave a soft smile, and her own brand of compliment.

[Trixie Lulamoon]

”Hmm, I guess I can try and catch a copy then on the way home or something,” Trixie replied. At the very least it would give her something other than magic textbooks and scrolls to read, for however brief the time would be.

As Trixie flipped through the songs, she caught that Photo Finish was trying to look as well. She adjusted her speed of looking just a little to allow the mare to at least read some of the song titles from upside down.

”I can talk to Luna about doing something maybe, as long as the date doesn’t go too bad,” Trixie replied, giving a bit of a sly grin at her condition. She honestly didn’t know if Luna would go for it: between her and Celestia Luna did seem the more reclusive. Being in a photoshoot for a magazine seemed to possibly be out of her comfort zone. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to at least ask.

A bit more surprising to her, however, was Photo’s addition that she would be able to draw some attention to it. Not that Trixie didn’t think she had the looks to be in such magazines. Based on her latest history, as “The Great and Powerful Trixie”, she just wasn’t sure the attention to be gained would be good. Then again, if ponies had forgotten about that incident and started focusing on her being Princess Luna’s assistant…

”Are you trying to flatter me Photo?” Trixie said, leaning back a little with the little upturned smile of a sly grin. She wanted to be sure that Photo was being serious about the suggestion before she said much else about it.

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Photo Finish shifted a bit in her seat to get a better angle reading the book, since it seems Trixie was slowing down the pace of her book to allow the Photographer an easier time reading as well. Photo Finish thought for a moment and gave her a nod and a quiet "Thank You." She smiled after a few more pages and returned to a normal seated position to sip her drink, having decided on a song.

"Pick up ze Magazine~ Just one. Zhat vould give you plenty to decide if you vant to get more of zhem. We keep up to date on ze latest fashion and celebrity news. Like, Ze Vonerbults. Two of Zhem are planning special events, debuting some new tricks. Zhat vas in ze Last Issue. One of our writers had ze Exclusive Interview vith Spitfire herself." Photo smiled, a little braggy, but happy that they had got the interview.

She let out a happy sound when Trixie mentioned talking to Luna. And, more importantly, talking to Luna about getting something for the Magazine. Photo didn't know what, but a Photo Shoot would be the greatest thing ever! Not only for Pogues reputation, but for Lunas as well. She knew there were still ponies wary of the Night Princess for... Previous Happenings. Images of some photos flashed into her mind, and she grinned, happy for the chance.

"Zhen, let us hope ze date goes vell." She said, blinking behind her shades at Trixies question. Flattery? Perhaps she had said something flattering without thinking about it. "Sorry. Zhe Flattery happens vithout me thinking. Usually zhe Models need to be ensured zhey are pretty every few minutes, or zhey get zhe idea zhey are fat." She said, letting out a laugh. Only a partial lie, really.

[Trixie Lulamoon]

To be honest, none of what she had said was in the magazine sounded all that interesting to Trixie. Celebrity gossip wasn't her thing, although she did at least recognize who Photo Finish was talking about.

"Spitfire? I met her once for a few minutes. Soarin had insulted my wagon and I made him buy me lunch to make up for it. Even got him to help me learn a cloud walking spell." Trixie replied as she finished looking through the book.

Apparently Photo was quite appreciative of Trixie offering to talk to Luna about being in the magazine. She was, however, confused by Trixie's claim of flattery. From the sounds of it, however, flattery was simply a second nature thing for Photo Finish. Still, Trixie felt like pressing it a little more.

"Oh, is that all? Cause it sounded to me like you were saying that I was good enough to be in your magazine. Did I simply misunderstand?"

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Photo Finish let out a little laugh at the prospect of a Wonderbolt being shamed into buying lunch for this pony. Perhaps she was Model material after all! Photo Finish sipped her drink and gave Trixie yet another look-over, this one a bit more appraising than the last time. At first, Photo Finish was less interested, but after that story, and the questioning, Photo found herself a little more intrigued.

"Vell, lets see." She said, sitting up a little in her chair and leaning closer to Trixie. "You haff ze popularity and starpower, zat is for sure." She said, a hoof reaching out and running across some of Trixies mane. "Ze Silvery Blue mane vould catch light beautifully, ze purple eyes are enchanting, and ze mare as a whole is luffly. Yes, you vould be a good pony to have in ze magazine." She said with a smile.

It took Photo a few moments to realize how flirtatious what she had said sounded. A realization that was followed by slowly bringing her glass up to her face to take a drink to hide any change in the color of the Photographers cheeks. Her eyes carefully watching Trixie, wondering how the showmare may react.

[Trixie Lulamoon]

While used to being appraised by a crowd, there was something a little more unnerving about being appraised by a single pony, particularly one who was supposedly a major deal. Maybe that was why she always got so nervous when being around Luna? In any case, apparently Trixie passed whatever standards Photo Finish had. Sure, depending on where you were Trixie had to admit her popularity was…iffy. Now that she was the apprentice of Luna maybe it would have gone back up?

As for the comments about her appearance, Trixie was rather satisfied, and the smile on her face expressed that. An ego as large of hers obviously included a belief she was quite attractive, but it was always good to hear somepony else state it as well.

”Well, if you’d like, I wouldn’t mind doing a spot or whatever it’s called in your magazine if you really think so.”

Glancing over Photo Finish, Trixie couldn’t help but notice that they weren’t that different in terms of color. She seemed a little brighter, what with her hair being white while her own hair was more silverfish. Trixie also had to admit she wasn’t big on the goggles: they kind of made it look like she should be swimming. Such activity, however, would be hampered a bit by the dress that made her look like a referee at a sports game. So Trixie couldn’t say she looked unattractive, but that was more because Trixie just simply didn’t know what to consider her.

”So, what made you want to photograph models instead of, say, be one? “

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Photo Finish beamed brightly when Trixie agreed for a Magazine Spot. Interview and Photoshoot maybe, something simple. "Zhat sounds Vunderbar!" Photo said, sitting back in her chair and looking toward the stage as the pony up there had finished, giving a light applause. She looked back to Trixie as the showmare went back to talking.

She was asking what got her started with models? Photo Finish laughed lightly. "It all started back in Germaney vhen I was but a Fohlen." She started, pulling a camera from her bag that looked chipped and held together with just a hope and dream. "I saved up money from odd jobs around ze city I grew up in. So I bought zhis. And took pictures of EVERYTHING. Soon, I needed to see more, and found myself around Equestria, and finally found ze Canterlot."

"Zhe models seemed to be vhat everyone wanted pictures of, and zhat got me here. I do, however, still take other pictures of families, or other zhings on zhe side." She said with a smile, taking her sunglasses off and rubbing her eyes gently. She looked across to Trixie with dark blue, almost black eyes and blinked a few times. <sub>"Perhaps wearing zhese all zhe time is bad. It is very bright in here."

"Vhat about you?  Vhat made you become a Showmare doing ze magick tricks?  AND zhen what brought you to be Princess Lunas Schüler?"  She asked, sliding the glasses back on as she spoke, not quite ready to be without them yet.</sub>

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Hah, score! Date or not, Trixie now had a brief magazine piece to look forward too. She had no idea how a photoshoot or anything worked, but it couldn’t be that different from her stage work. Luna probably wouldn’t mind it either. In fact, she could use the chance to give the princess some good publicity too! Everypony won over in this deal!

So from the sounds of it, Photo Finish was more into the photography itself than the models themselves. Trixie wondered if maybe she wanted to take photos of something else, but before she could ask she took her glasses off. Leaning in a little, Trixie finally got to see what was behind the glasses, finding that they had again similar colors, although Photo Finish’s were darker. Considering her earlier thoughts about them, Trixie figured she should say something.

”You know, I think you look better without the goggles: kind of make you look like you’re about to go swimming,” Trixie said with the normal grace and tact that she did.

Fortunately, Photo Finish moved onto Trixie’s favorite topic: herself. And while Trixie didn’t want to reveal the full extent of the story just yet, she was over all happy to oblige overall.

”Well, my grandfather was a magician at a circus, and I always got along rather well with him. And while a lot of my family was going into academics or government, I wanted to follow after him. Forced my family to go to my first show, and even if I did kind of burn the curtains down with my fireworks spell, I got my cutie mark,” Trixie said, still rather proud.

”As for Luna, well, I sort of got hit by that whole trapped in dream thing that happened, and Luna came and saved me. She offered me the position after that and, well, I obviously took it.”

[Deleted]

Photo blinked behind her shades. Or, Goggles as Trixie would call them. She shifted them on her head and looked to Trixie. "Zhey are part of who I am... I have worn zhem enough zhat I can barely stand zhe light too much. Plus, zhe pictures I take with zhem are vunderbar..." She said, shifting in her seat slightly before pulling them off and blinking a few times trying to get her eyes used to the new, sunglassless sensation. She put them in her bag her left eye twitching for a few moments as everything came back into focus. "But for you, I vill try to keep zhem off."

She listened to the Showmare talking about how she got started. The story was much more interesting than her own. 'I bought a camera and took some pictures' as opposed to performing, and burning down some curtains... Photo Finish smiled at the end of the story. "Vell, that is a fun story. If I vere to burn the Curtains I vould have been in huge trouble." She said grinning happily. _{"I know from experience!"}

The dream thing. Photo Finish thought for a moment, trying to recall. She believed that was the event ponies referred to as 'the Somnolence'. Photo nodded, leaning on the table a little as Trixie told her that Luna had saved her. "Zhat is vunderbar! If I vere to be caught up in ze big sleeps, I vould have loved to be saved by someone as great as ze Princess Luna. Zhe magazine tried to write about ze Somnolence, but no one zhat was caught in it vas very interested in reliving it."

[Trixie Lulamoon]

Trixie stayed quiet as Photo Finish informed her of the importance of the sunglasses or goggles or whatever they were. While she thought it kind of weird to wear them long enough that you couldn’t even stand light anymore, she did understand having a certain outfit or accessory you considered part of who you were. That statement was rather punctuated by the fact Trixie was, at this very moment, wearing her cape. Still, Trixie appreciated that she went ahead and took her sunglasses off anyway just because of her comment.

”About the only reason I wasn’t in trouble was my grandpa talked my parents out of it…still got banned from using my fireworks indoors till I learned how to make them fully illusionary though,” Trixie said.

Despite some of her earlier openness, however, Trixie started feeling a little uncomfortable when the topic turned to that Somnolence incident. Considering the rather personal nature of the dreams, she could totally expect ponies to not want to talk about it. And while she was glad about the final outcome of the whole thing, what with it leading to an apprenticeship with Princess Luna, she wasn’t exactly interested in talking more about it either.

”Yeah, well, I can sort of get that. The dreams were kind of personal so you wouldn’t really be able to talk about the details without digging up a bunch of stuff you might not want to put out into public,” Trixie said, her tone a little more down.

At that moment, however, the current singer finished, and the stage was once again free. Seeing the opportunity, Trixie grinned and stared down Photo Finish.

”Anyway, this is supposed to be a karaoke date: would you like to go first, or should the Great and Powerful Trixie just go ahead and be the star of the show?”