The sound of jazz echoed and bounced off of ornate buildings, fading and drifting into another song being played by somepony else on some other street. Gas lamps while crude but still luminous, lit the bustling streets. Pony pulled chariots clipped and clopped up and down the narrow cobblestone streets, taking the more wealthy of towns ponies to one party or another. There is a saying in Neigh Orleans that the days were for sleeping off the previous nights, a fact that one particular mare knew all to well. Neigh Orleans was filled to the brim with artist of all kinds, so it wasn’t any mystery that the great and powerful Trixie had come to call the crescent town her home.

A magician by trade Trixie ran her own street show out of the back of her favorite old wagon. She was far from financial freedom, but she made enough to get by, made a little more than that too during tourist season. It’s no wonder then that she was shocked to receive an invite to perform at the renowned LaLaurie Mansion right in the heart of the city.

Trixie looked around nervously at all of the lavish pageantry that surrounded her Ponies glanced her way but no one seemed to take a particular interest. She let out a sigh of relief, she loved being the center of attention, but that was only on stage, interpersonal conversations was a different story.

She moved a hoof up to pull her magicians hat down to obscure her face, only to realize in horror that she had elected to leave it in her wagon for fear of looking less professional, she was starting to regret that choice.

Trixie made her way through the courtyard and up the stair to the overlooking balcony,
desperately looking around for the mare who had invited her in the first place.

“Looking for me, ma Cherie?”

An accented and silky voice from right behind her ear made Trixie nearly jump out of her coat as she spun around. Before her was a tall, elegant mare with a light pink coat and flowing purple and blue mane. She had the most striking eyes Trixie had ever seen.

“Star Lueur lumière, Pleasure to meet you Miss Lulamoon, quite a pleasure.”
Trixie took a moment to recompose herself before addressing her ambusher
“Star? I thought this was madam LaLaurie’s estate.”
Star rolled her eyes, “oui, it is, she is a very old friend of mine, though I am the one who took the liberty of inviting you dear”

“Do I know you?” Trixie asked perplexed.

The mare calling herself Star grinned a sultry grin.

“Non, but I know you,”

Star jumped up on a chair from one of the nearby tables , “The Great and Powerful Trixie!” she exclaimed with as theatrically as she could before hopping back down and trotting up to a now very embarrassed Trixie.

Star put a hoof on Trixie’s shoulder, “you my dear have something not many ponies have, Bravado, passion, and ambition.”

“Well, I don’t know about all that,” Trixie stammered her face turning a hot red.

“No? you came here tonight on the whim of somepony you don’t even know? Dressed up for the occasion too I see.”

Star moved in Trixie's side before directing her attention with a hoof at a pair of other ponies.

“You see that couple over there? They are here to petition our host for a grant to help the buck there run for mayor.”

Star pointed her hoof at another pony in the courtyard.

“that one over there, pacing like a mad pony is here to rendezvous with a secrete lover that will never arrive, because his wife is busy with the very same one.”

Star chuckled before pointing at a group of finely dressed gentlecolts on the opposite balcony.

“And that hypocrisy, that senator and the mob are here shaking hooves while drinking the same liquor they fight over.

She sighed, “everyone here is playing a game ma Cherie, but you are like a breath of fresh air.”

Trixie looked around at the party now with a much different perspective, the ponies she thought were all better than her were now cast in a different more unflattering light.

“And you want me to perform for them?” Trixie asked.

Star shook her head, “Non, I want you to perform for me,” she said in a low sultry tone, gesturing with her tail for Trixie to follow as she trotted into one of the rooms attached to the. Balcony.

Trixie hesitated, not quite sure exactly what it was that Star wanted from her.

“Coming ma Cherie?”

Trixie heard Stars voice but didn’t see her mouth move as she stared back.

Trixie trotted quickly up to her, “how did you do that?”

“Do what?” Star said innocently as they both made their way to one of the sitting rooms.

The room was large with dark oak floors and maroon carpet, a fire place lit the room nicely with a warm glow, a comforting contradiction to the cold night air, Star flopped down lazily onto one of the velvet couches, gesturing to Trixie to sit next to her.

Trixie sat primly on the far end of the couch.

“Why so far away? I don’t bite” Star said with an easy smile, before shaking her head with a laugh, “It’s quite all right dear you probably need to stand to show me some magic no?:”

Despite being invited to the party specifically to perform her magic, Trixie was still caught off guard that, that was still what Star wanted. She would have never even come to the soiree if she had known it was only at the behest of some sycophant. But despite that, she still followed her into the room. Something about Star had caught her curiosity.

So, not knowing what better to do, Trixie pulled out her small box of trinkets and tricks, she figured it was easiest just to start with cards. She noticed Star looking at her the same way a cat eyes a bird. But before she could start, a loud --BLAM! – rang out, vibrating the windows, followed by another, and another! Before long the air was filled with a cacophony of thunder.

Star let out a exaggerated sigh before moving to the window.

“au milieu de mon repas, ces idiots!”

“What’s going on, who’s shooting?!”

“The Mob, and the police, going at it, like I said, these silly ponies play games, but sometimes those games have deadly consequences.”

Star turned back around to face Trixie, she looked annoyed but otherwise unshaken.

“let me get you out of here darl-“

Without warning the door behind Trixie was kicked open with a loud thud. Two police officers both unicorns with guns drawn held by their magic. One of them pointed a gun at Trixie and the other at Star. But that’s all they did…

Trixie looked up at the officer who looked like he was about to shout something, but who was now as still and unmoving as a statue. Baffled, she moved out from under the gun backed up towards Star to look at the two frozen ponies.

“What happened?! What's wrong with them?”

“A great many things are wrong with them, this one pointed a gun at you for starters.”

Trixie again noticed her speaking without moving her lips

“Come along, I’ve lost my appetite,” she drawled as she pushed passed one of the officers and out of the room.

Trixie, still shaking and confused, followed after her, as she couldn’t think of what else to do.

They made their way into the courtyard. The gunfire had died out a while ago and all that remained was the shredded remains of the once mighty estate, the courtyard was destroyed and the ornate walls were riddled with bullet holes, Trixie had to look away from the carnage in the middle.

Star led Trixie outside through the back into an empty alley way.

Trixie reeled on her, “ok, you are going to tell me what’s going on this instant!”

“what is going on sweet thing, is that the sun will be up soon, luminosity that I have an aversion too,” she turned and grinned at Trixie, “ Perhaps I will invite you to over to my estate, things are certainly more interesting when you are around ma cherie.”

Before Trixie could respond, the mysterious mare had already gone.