尽管还得想出完美的魔术表演，但她第二天就开始忙她在小马镇极为广泛的其它事项了。崔克茜准备完成不可能完成的任务。已经没有时间可以浪费了！她一边想，一边为主人们准备了丰盛的早餐。有烤面包、果汁和肉桂糖燕麦粥。没错，这是她想讨好暮光闪闪和星光熠熠。而这似乎起了作用，她们吃得津津有味，似乎对她高超的厨艺感到非常惊讶。「哇，崔克茜，」暮光闪闪吃着满嘴的肉桂糖惊叹道，「这燕麦粥太美味了！你用什么魔法做的？」

「没有魔法，只是我擅长的另一件事！」她哼着小调。结果换来两个白眼。三匹小马吃完后，崔克茜把不情愿的主人们赶走了，她保证会收拾干净，给她们一些安静的时间来上「重要的友谊课程」。崔克茜并不确定，但她觉得暮暮在离开房间时，不停地在侧过脸看崔克茜——一脸钦佩！

等她们忙起来后，崔克茜就悄悄溜走，径直向旋转木马精品屋走去，全然不顾她们不要打扰瑞瑞的警告。显然的，那匹独角兽正沉浸在自己的项目中——为某个时尚活动缝制裙子。呿，崔克茜一边小跑着穿过小马镇一边想：时尚，太时尚了。

「我 爱 时 尚！」崔克茜冲进前门时喊道。她舒舒服服坐到一张天鹅绒躺椅上，「神通广大崔克茜大驾光临，是因为她想委托你制作一件至关重要的斗篷……」崔克茜猛地站起。

「就在今天。」她闭着眼，鼻子翘得老高，似乎在说明她要求的严肃性。

「哦，崔克茜，亲爱的。你可真懂得如何登场。」瑞瑞笑了，把她一只锃亮的灰蹄子放在胸前，「我，所有小马，都很欣赏你这一点。」她继续用缝纫机的针推着珍珠色的雪纺绸。

「不过说实话，亲爱的，恐怕我今天做不了。我正忙着为格莱马奖制作这件礼服。你知道的——对于时尚、音乐或艺术界的任何一匹小马来说，这都是一年中最闪耀的夜晚。我不能让我亲爱的客户宝蓝莎莎以不完美的形象踏上红毯一步。」瑞瑞调整了一下她的红色工作眼镜，抬起头同情地看着崔克茜，「所以，今天不会有斗篷了。」

崔克茜的脸很快皱成了一团。

「你可以把你的名字加入我的委托名单！」瑞瑞尖声道，欢快地向墙上花体字写的长长的名单挥着蹄子。「不过可能要等几个月。」

「可…可是......我现在就需要一件新斗篷！」崔克茜可怜巴巴地抱怨着。「这是我进去……」她撅着嘴，「求你了？」

「『进去？』」瑞瑞挑了挑眉，她的兴趣被勾起来了。「去参加独家活动？」她起身小跑到一个身着薄纱白裙的假马模特旁，把宽大的衬裙摆弄得蓬松——布料似乎在灯光下翩翩起舞。崔克茜目不转睛地盯着它。

「星鬃魔术师协会！」崔克茜惊呼，并用蹄子跺了跺地以示强调。「它也是唯一一个在任何地方都有意义的魔术师组织。我一定要加入这个组织，否则我还不如不当魔术师呢！」

摆弄布料的沙沙声戛然而止，瑞瑞停顿了一下。「不当？」她很好奇。哈！没马能够抵挡崔克茜的魅力。

「嗯。」——崔克茜笑了笑——「要想参加星鬃的试镜几乎是不可能的，但我的计划比岩石农场的地基还要牢靠！」她说着在房间里踱步，用蹄子疯狂比划着：

「首先：请小马镇最出色的时装设计师为我设计新造型。瑞瑞，这就需要你了！

「然后，当你忙于施展你的魔法时，我会留在小马镇，在现场观众面前练习我那惊世的天才魔术直至完美。最后，我会悄悄潜入大魔术师舞会，为整个星鬃长老委员会表演。他们一定会目不转睛地盯着我那令马难以置信的才华，当场让我成为会员。哈！」崔克茜眼神狂热。

「你被邀请参加盛大的舞会？」瑞瑞咕哝着，显然没听懂崔克茜的全部意思。崔克茜几乎可以看到瑞瑞的脑子里在飞快地想着塔夫绸和高定头饰了。瑞瑞眨了眨眼睛，「那你有多一个名额吗，给你的设计师？」

「呃……」崔克茜紧张地笑了笑，坐回到天鹅绒沙发上，抓了一个蓝绿色靠枕，「我其实没有被邀请，但是——」

「哦，崔克茜。」瑞瑞摇了摇紫色的鬃毛。「参加一个你没有被邀请的晚会是很过时的，不是吗？」

「只有这样才能引起注意啊。」崔克茜回答。她吐出一口浊气，颓然躺下；确实是在装腔作势。

「我真希望我能帮你，但是这件格莱马礼服真的需要我倾尽所有心力。」瑞瑞小跑回到她披在模特身上的作品前，从角里向布料发送魔法。

每当魔法触碰到一个纽扣或接缝，就会发出轻微的咝咝声，从而激发出微妙的光芒。

瑞瑞正在三面镜中欣赏自己的作品时，忽然瞥见崔克茜愁眉苦脸的样子。

「另一方面——」瑞瑞转了一圈。「我可能会有额外的时间来安排。在礼服完成之后。」

「太好了！」崔克茜喜笑颜开，小跑着加入她在假马模特旁的行列。「就做成这样吧。」崔克茜指了指礼服，迷人的衣服在旋转时闪闪发光。「你可以把这些多余的衬裙去掉一层，现在就给我缝制成一件斗篷！」

瑞瑞皱了皱眉头，继续工作。「这不是我同意的，而且我现在真的没有时间。我还得在这儿和那儿加上一点金色镶边——」

「来，我演示给你看！」崔克茜一边打断她，一边俯身去拿布料。与此同时，瑞瑞的角向下摆发出了一道金光闪闪的魔法。魔法击中了崔克茜的右前蹄，发出咝咝声。

「哎哟！」崔克茜缩了一下，失去平衡。就像慢动作般——蓝色独角兽被另一只蹄子绊倒，撞到了旁边的桌子上，一只玻璃水杯岌岌可危地摇晃着。崔克茜伸蹄想截住水杯的掉落，「不——！」崔克茜的角上又射出一道魔法，正中水花溅落到的裙子上。固定魔法逐渐生效；被淋湿的裙子也开始撕裂。瑞瑞迅速用自己的发光魔法射向裙子以抵消效果。但为时已晚。裙子撕裂、湿透了。

「我美丽的作品！」瑞瑞惊恐地喊着，难以置信地摇动她紫色的鬃毛。

「哎呀？」崔克茜按摩着自己的蹄子回答道，它现在酸痛难忍。瑞瑞不用说什么，脸上恼怒的表情就已说明一切。崔克茜带着谦逊的耸肩和眨眼退出了商店。

到目前为止，这场势不可挡的魔术表演看起来更像是一场糟糕的彩排——礼服被毁；新斗篷也没有着落。

原文：

Even though she still had to come up with the perfect magical act, Trixie got right to work on the rest of her impressively extensive to-do list around Ponyville the next day. No time to waste when Trixie is preparing to achieve the impossible! she thought to herself as she whipped up a hearty breakfast of toast, juice, and cinnamon-sugar oatmeal for her hosts. True, it was an attempt to ingratiate herself to Twilight and Starlight. But it seemed to be working. The ponies devoured the delicious meal and seemed quite surprised at her brilliant cooking skills. “Wow, Trixie,” Twilight Sparkle marveled through a mouth full of cinnamon-sugar. “This oatmeal is delectable! What spell did you use to make it?”

“No spell. Just another thing that I’m amazing at!” she sang, only to be met with a double eye roll. After the three ponies ate, Trixie shooed her reluctant hosts away. She promised to clean up and give them some quiet time to work on their “important friendship lessons.” Trixie wasn’t positive, but she thought Twilight kept looking over her shoulder at Trixie as she left the room. She looked impressed!

Once the two of them were busy, Trixie slipped away and marched right to the Carousel Boutique, ignoring their warnings not to bother Rarity. Apparently, the Unicorn was immersed in a project of her own, sewing a dress for some fashion event. Pish, thought Trixie as she trotted through Ponyville. Fashion, smashion.

“I love fashion!” Trixie shouted as she burst through the front door. She took a seat on one of the velvet loungers and made herself quite comfortable. “The Great and Powerful Trixie has graced you with her presence because she would like to commission a cloak of utmost importance.…” Trixie stood up decidedly.

“Today.” She stuck her nose in the air and closed her eyes as if to illustrate the seriousness of her demand.

“Oh, Trixie, you do know how to make an entrance, darling.” Rarity laughed, putting a polished gray hoof to her chest. “Which I, of all ponies, can appreciate.” She continued pushing a pearly swathe of chiffon through the needle of her sewing machine.

“But honestly, darling, I’m afraid I can’t do that today. I’m terribly busy with this dress for the Glammy Awards. You know—the glitziest night of the year for anypony who’s anypony in fashion, music, or the arts? I cannot let my dear client Sapphire Shores step a single hoof onto the red carpet looking like anything less than pure perfection.” Rarity adjusted her red work glasses and looked up at Trixie sympathetically. “So, there will be no cloaks today.”

Trixie’s face quickly contorted into a mushy frown.

“You can add your name to my commissions list!” Rarity chirped. She waved her hoof to the long list on the wall with a flourish. “But it may take a few moons.”

“B-b-but… I need a new cloak now!” Trixie whined pathetically. “It’s my only chance of getting in.…” Her lip jutted out. “Please?”

“‘Getting in?’” Rarity raised a brow. Now her interest was piqued. “To something exclusive?” She stood up and trotted over to a ponnequin wearing a gauzy white gown. As she fluffed the voluminous petticoats, the fabric seemed to dance and swirl in the light. Trixie couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“The Starmane Society of Magicians!” Trixie exclaimed, stomping her hoof on the floor for emphasis. “Also known as the only organization of magicians that means anything, anywhere. I simply must be made an offer of membership or I might as well not be a magician at all!”

The swish of the fabric was silenced as Rarity paused. “At all?” She was intrigued. Ha! Nopony could resist Trixie’s charms.

“Well”—Trixie smiled—“it’s practically impossible to audition for Starmane, but my plan is more solid than a rock farm’s foundation.” The pony began to pace around the room, gesticulating wildly with her hoof as she spoke. “First step: Have the most magnificent fashion designer in Equestria design me a new look. That’s where you come in, Rarity!

“Then, while you’re busy working your magic, I’m going to stay here in Ponyville practicing my jaw-dropping feat of magical genius in front of a live pony audience until it’s flawless. Finally, I will sneak into the Grand Magician’s Ball and perform it for the entire committee of Starmane elders. They won’t be able to tear their eyes away from my incredible talents, and then they’ll have to make me a member right on the spot. Ha!” Trixie was wild-eyed.

“You’ve been invited to a grand ball?” Rarity cooed, clearly missing the entire point of Trixie’s speech. Trixie could practically see Rarity’s mind racing with visions of taffeta and couture headdresses. Rarity batted her eyelashes. “Do you get a plus one? For your designer?”

“Uh…” Trixie laughed nervously and took a seat back on the velvet sofa. She pawed at a turquoise cushion. “I haven’t actually been invited, but—”

“Oh, Trixie.” Rarity shook her purple mane. “Attending a gala you’ve not been invited to is rather passé, no?”

“Not when it’s the only way for a pony to get noticed,” Trixie replied.

She expelled a puff of air and slumped down. She was really trying to ham it up.

“I truly wish I could help you, but this Glammys dress really needs my attention.” Rarity trotted back over to her creation draped on the ponnequin and started sending little zaps of magic from her horn to the fabric.

Each time the magic touched a button or a seam, there was a tiny sizzle that activated a subtle glow. Rarity was admiring her work in the three-way mirror when she caught a glimpse of Trixie’s sad face.

“On the other hoof”—Rarity spun around—“I might have a little extra time to fit it in. After the dress is finished.”

“Excellent!” Trixie beamed, trotting over to join her at the ponnequin. “Make it just like this.” Trixie gestured to the gown. The mesmerizing garment glittered as it rotated. “You could just lose a layer of these excessive petticoats and sew it into a cloak for me right now!”

Rarity frowned and kept on working. “That’s not what I agreed to—and I really don’t have time right now. I still have to add some gold trim here and there—”

“Here, I’ll show you!” interrupted Trixie as she dove for the fabric. At the very same moment, Rarity sent a zap of glowing gold magic to the hem. It hit Trixie’s right forehoof with a sizzle.

“Ouchies!” Trixie winced, losing her balance. As if in slow motion, the blue Unicorn tripped over her other hooves, knocking into a side table. A glass of water teetered precariously. Trixie reached her hoof out to try to stop the glass. “Nooo!” Another zap of magic shot from Trixie’s horn right at the dress as the water splashed down. As the holding spell took effect, the drenched skirts began to tear apart. Rarity quickly shot a zap of her own glowing magic at the dress to counteract it, but it was too late. The dress was torn and wet.

“My beautiful work!” Rarity cried out in horror. She shook her purple mane in disbelief.

“Whoopsies?” replied Trixie, massaging her hoof, which now pulsed with soreness. Rarity didn’t have to say anything in response—the annoyed grimace on her face said it all. Trixie backed out of the shop with a humble shrug and a wink.

So far, the unstoppable magic show was looking more like a pitiful dress rehearsal—where the dress was ruined. And there was no new cloak.