Anon's Bizarre Adventure: Pt.2

CHAPTER 8: Diamonds are forever

>You are The Great And Powerful Trixie
>This was your big break, here in Manehaten
>You had managed to reserve The Outdoor stage in the park for the weekend.
>All week you spent your time setting up the stage the lighting the magic the seating arrangements, and your own props.
>Whatever time not spent doing this was spent going around in person advertising the whole event to anypony who would listen, and hanging up fliers and posters for the event.
>The event however put you in a desperate position, spending the last of the bits you had to reserve the stage and print the fliers for it.
>It was do or die for your career, if it was successful the proceeds alone could continue to fund your traveling magic show for another year or more comfortably, if not it was all over.
>You already had to pawn the carriage to afford the whole extravaganza and you were more than a little desperate.
>So when nopony showed up the heart break was soul crushing.

>You were sitting on the edge of the stage, hind hooves dangling beneath while your forehooves held the star hat your mother gave you.
>It was 11pm, the show was scheduled for 8.
>This was it, my dream is over.
>All my bits were tied into this mess, I went all out with it, just by population density somepony should have showed up out of curiosity.
>What to do now thou? I have zero bits to my name, there was no way I would be able to get the carriage back and what am I gonna do about food?
>I sighed heavily, this was to be expected nothing good ever happened to me any more.
>It was happening all over again, I'm out of a job once again nopony is going to hire me, and I'll be damned if I'm going back to the rock farm.
>But then what would I do?
>If only I kept to just doing magic tricks, but no I had to be the little showpony who could do everything.
>It made you the laughing stock of Equestria, made it difficult to get a minor gig for a fillies party.
>And what were you thinking when you went back with the amulet?

>I thrust my hoof down into the flooring putting a good size dent in the wood but also sending pain up my hoof.

>Despite Twilight forgiveness your reputation was forever ruined.
>I thought it was going to be like before making a living with your traveling magic show but to them Twilights forgiveness meant nothing.

>Only a few options were left.
>Pawn the rest of my meager belongings and buy a train ticket to the only pony in Equestria who gave a shit about you.
>Mom
>She would care, take care of you for a while but then what?
>You could contact Twilight and see if she had anymore work for you like with the Saddle Arabians.
>But she tends to only use the Elements of Harmony to do her work, and your pretty sure There was another Unicorn helping her as an assisstant or something.
>That leaves the Rock farm...No.
>Love the pies to death but I'm damned if I go back there!
>If I cant get off the ground now I'll never do it if I go back to the farm.
>You sighed heavily and began to pack your things.
>I'm pretty sure the pawn shop had a 'open 24/7' sign in it.
>I could sell my stuff and get one more night at the motel, and hopefully a train ticket to somewhere in the morning.
"Well I guess that's it then" I said levitating some props from there stage position, shrunk them with magic and stuffed them into the trunk.
>"A drama Is it? I thought the signs advertised a magic show?" A voice said in the most calm and soothing voice you had ever heard.

>Looking up towards the stands you saw the stallion sitting with his forhooves crossed in the center seat.
>He was a sea foam green Batpony with a yellow mane,and orange almost red eyes which bore through you.
>He wore a black vest which left the back open for his leathery wings, and a purple scarf wrapped around his neck.
>He had a red cloak drapped over his flank, its sleaves tied around his midrift.
>I was so entranced by his presence I was taken aback when he spoke again.
>"-Or am I mistaken?" He finished.
"huh?"
>A slight smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
>"Why the magic show of course! are you not The Great And Powerful Trixie?"
>You broke eye contact and stared at the the stage floor.
"The Poor and Miserable Trixie is finished Tri....I'm going to go home now"
>You finished turning back towards what was left of your things.
>Home it is then, Mom would love to see me again, and I think I need her now more than ever after all thats happened.
>"hmmm a pity then, Me and my friends were looking forward to seeing your performance" His voice called after you.
>It was too calming, seductive even, it felt like he was massaging me with his voice and I wanted to hear more of it.
>Looking back over I could see more ponies entering and taking seats in the row behind the Batpony.

"Who are you ponies?"
>"forgive my rudeness I am Diamond Brand an archeologist who lives here in Manehatten, and these" He said gesturing to the line of ponies behind him "-Are my friends"
>There were about 10 in total, and they all wore a hood to hide there presence.
>he assumed a comfortable sitting position with his hind-hooves crossed and fore-hooves outstretched.
>"I also can see you are in dire straits so we will pay upfront" He said while gesturing to another pony with his outstretched hoof.
>A Pony stood and threw a bag onto the stage.
>Levitating it over you could tell it contained well over a 200 bits in coins and an unknown amount of paper money as well.
>"So how about it Trixie do you think you can give us one last performance?" He said with a smile revealing his needle like fangs.
>This money at the very least could get your carriage back and get you back on the road.
>This could save me.
>The show must go on.
"THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE accepts your proposal! And Trixie promises this will be the greatest display of magic any of you have every seen"

>And you were damned if it wasn't.
>You earned your namesake, every trick you ever learned.
>From relatively simple sleight of hoof tricks, to more complicated tricks involving heavy amounts of magic.
>Imbuing ropes dangling from the stage with magic they came to life as Snake's which you easily soothed into baskets before turning them back.
>Using magic to divide up a volunteer pony using unseen portal giving the illusion of cutting them to pieces.
>Harnessing laser lights with magic bending them into various shapes and even physically manifesting them.
>And using telekinesis to make a dragon out of fire and water which soared over the crowd until you reased it in an explosion of steam.
>The crowd ate it right up.
>Diamond sat entranced at your magical talent his slit like eyes danced as the magics displayed before him did the same.
>With that light show finished you came down to the last trick.
"For the final Trick Trixie will stop a bullet with nothing but raw telekinesis, I need one last Volunteer from the audience"
>Thou there were only 10 or so of them seeing nothing but smiles on there faces filled you with hope.
>All 10 of them raised there hooves and some even fought for the opportunity, knocking over some of the liquor bottles they brought with them earning the ire of some.
>"I reckon I'll give it a shot".
>All eyes save 2 shot towards the back of the sitting area
>A pony at the entrance behind the chairs said trotting down the aisle.
>The earth pony had a red orange coat and tan mane.
>He wore a duster and desperado hat a lit cigar still smoking in his mouth.

>"Ahh Pumpkin you joined us at last, but it seems you missed the performance" Diamond spoke as smoothly as ever without even looking at him.
>"Fraid your wrong there partner, this show is just gettin started" Pumpkin said with a scowl.
>He trotted up the stairs to the side of the stage and tipped his hat to you.
>His body had several bruises that looked only a few days old.
>I noticed the 2 large revolvers strapped to his side.
"I-is there a problem with this arrangement?"
>I said looking towards Diamond, who didn't so much as shift in his seat.
>"This man is no danger to you Ms. Lulamoon, proceed as you normally would"
He said with a wave of his hoof.
"Very well like Trixie said she will stop a bullet with only telekinesis"
>"So you have a piece for me or should I use one of mine" The stallion interrupted gesturing to his guns.
>I levitated over the gun from my box. It was a caliber I was used to working with.
"You may use Trixie's gun for this, hmm You seem familiar to Trixie, a professional shooter perhaps?"
>He removed his hat with a bow.
>"Pumpkin Smash ma'am, Ive got about 14 awards to my name 4 of which being gold medals in marksponyship"
"Good! Trixie will have you inspect that weapon to ensure its authenticity"
>He released the cylinder and removed the bullet and inspected the backside of it before moving on to make sure the cylinders cycled and hammer worked properly, but something caught your eye.
>The bullet was floating in mid air.
>Was he actually a Unicorn?
>No there's no way I would be able to see a bump or something in his hat let alone an aura around the bullet, but there it was just floating there.
>He spun the cylinder around and the bullet flipped back into the gun and he closed it with a click
>he pointed the weapon at Diamond and pulled the trigger several times until he came to a stop on the loaded chamber.
>Diamonds lips curled into a smile revealing his needle like fangs.

>"Shes the real deal so now what?"
"Now Trixie will give you instructions on what to do"
"Go to the opposite end of the stage, aim at Trixie and ON 3 you will pull the trigger"
>This trick was delicate to perform, anypony could with some practice make a shield or portal that could render a bullet harmless.
>The real test was using telekinesis to force the bullet to lose its energy, it was a display of raw magical strength.
>He turned and trotted towards the end of the stage the whole time he was watching Diamond who sat cross hooved.
>He turned back to you and stood on his hind-hooves and aimed the weapon.
"1"
>I brought the weapon to the forefront of my minds eye.
>The gun took on a blue aura
"2"
>He cocked the hammer back as I focused on the bullet inside the chamber, not the cylinder not the barrel, not even the casing, the bullet.
>The aura disappeared and a light appeared down the barrel.
>Sweat already began to bead on your forehead.
"3"
>It happened so fast most of the crowd couldnt register the ordeal.
>But as the words left my lips I focused all my remaining magic on pushing that bullet back as he pulled the trigger.

'BANG'

>It left the barrel at lethal velocity towards me but despite the headache it gave by the time it reached me the magic had slowed it to a crawl and I easily plucked it out of the air with my mouth.
>A chorus of hoof clops greeted me as I spun around in a flourish of my cloak displaying the bullet still in my maw before spitting it onto the stage.
>You took a bow before the ponies, covering your face so they couldn't see you gasping for air.
>Even the newcomer was impressed by the display and joined in the applause.

>Several minutes passed as you went to clean up once again after a job well done
>Diamond Brand stood up from his chair as his entourage began to take there leave while talking amongst themselves about your performance.
>My mood had improved immensely at the prospect of being back on the road, and I hummed a tune to myself.
>"Bravo Trixie a remarkable performance I haven't seen a magic show like yours since I was a little colt" Diamond said
>His hooves were crossed over his heart.
"Thank you Trixie put her heart into that, and because of you and your friends Trixie realized why she did this in the first place."
>"What will you do now I wonder?"
>That was a good question thou he gave you a lot of money and you could go back to what you were doing how long would that last until you were right back here again?
"I'm...Trixie is not sure where her path leads...home perhaps to collect herself for a time"
>"Ahh I see, but what is it you want to do?" He said with his soft smile tugging at his lips again.
>He flipped his hoof producing a rose clasped between them, and tossed it to me.
>A simple Sleight of hoof but it was a nice gesture, I plucked it out the sky enjoying its scent.
"Trixie wishes she could take her performance somewhere more...permanent, Trixie's dream is to have a show in Las Pegasus"
>"And a worthy dream that is, your talents definitely are worthy of such a destiny, Another question!"
>He stood and trotted elegantly towards the stage never taking his eyes off me.
>"Why is it you are still doing jobs like this where the ponies disrespect and ignore you when you come to town"
>He stood on his hind hooves leaning against the stage which only went up to his breast with his right hoof against the side of his face while the other crossed in front of him.
>"I wonder" He whispered.

"In my old show I was very headstrong perhaps too much so, and I boasted my abilities to the moon and back and when I was called out on it I proved myself right through my magic"
>He continued gazing into my eyes which made me a little uncomfortable, but he was so handsome for a bat.
>I lowered myself to his level and continued.
"And when my show came to Ponyville It all finally caught up to me when a mare named Twilight Sparkle called my boast and won"
>"And this ruined you did it not?"
"It ruined my reputation and soon enough I couldn't even get a birthday party gig"
>You lowered your gaze to the floor but he caught your muzzle in his hooves raising it back to him.
>"Well miss Lulamoon I don't think I can repair your reputation, and if you still desire to go home I will not stop you"
>His voice was like velvet, and it caressed your soul.
>"But if you wish to stay with me I can give you a power only few have"
>You couldn't resist him you inched closer to the edge of the stage and closer to him.
>"As long as you posses the willpower needed you will be more powerful than the Princess of friendship who damned you to this fate"
>His voice alone made your cares bleed away.
>"with some luck you may once again be on track to the greatness your heart desires"
>You blushed as he leaned forward to kiss and you found yourself doing the same.
>"Now I wouldn't believe that silver tongue of his just yet"
>Diamond pulled away and looked past you.
>Tracing his gaze I saw the stallion before still smoking his cigar at the back side of the stage but now he was standing on his hind-hooves, In each of his fore-hooves he held one of his massive revolvers.
>There was a certain Aura about him, I could sense the energy it was giving off.
>"Sorry Missy I ain't gonna let y'all fall into the same trap I did"
>He fully extended his left hoof towards Diamond while bringing the other just under his chin.
>"Specially when y'all got something to lose"

>"hmmm Pumpkin are we really going to have this exercise?" Diamond said leaping onto the stage with a single flap of his wings.
>This close I could appreciate how large he really was.
>Thou not as big as Bigmac from Ponyville He towered over the other Stallion, and he was packed with muscle underneath his fur.
>"Ain't no exercise Y'all know why I'm here and I demand to get er back"
'click' 'click'
>The same kind of aura you sensed around Pumpkin now surrounded Diamond.
>I backed away towards the back of the stage grabbing my own gun in my magic and telekinetically loaded all 6 chambers and hid.
>Were they actually going to fight? And what is Pumpkin talking about?
>"Go ahead take the shot see what happens, if you can"
>"Don't take yer eye off him Serenity" Pumpkin said spitting the cigar from his mouth.

>Diamond trotted slowly towards him with his small smile turning into a twisted grin displaying his fangs proudly
>"Go ahead Pumpkin give me your best shot" He said standing onto his hind-hooves leaning back farther than any pony should be able to while wrapping himself in his fore-hooves.
'BANG'
>Diamond didn't even bother to dodge the shot, he didn't so much as flinch, but to your astonishment he stood unfazed.
>Was this some kind of trick?
>Something hit the stage with a thud, It was the bullet he fired and it was completely unscathed.
>"Ah so yer one of those kinda Stand users, unlucky fer you I got some experience with yer kind" He said spinning the weapon around his hooves
>"oh you've never seen a Stand like mine I can guarantee that" Diamond said menacingly.
>A stream of projectiles appeared out of thin air towards Diamond, but before it made contact some kind of shield a meter in front of him deflected the stream away.
>I ducked as the stream was broken and the projectiles flew wildly through the stage.

>"Pathetic, a weakling like you has no place challenging me, even in my weakened state I outmatch you." Diamond said continuing his slow trot towards Pumpkin.
>After a short pause another stream of projectiles flew towards Diamond which he somehow deflected away again.
'THUMP'
>A large cylindrical object flew towards Diamond from an unknown source.
>The shield batted the object away to Diamonds right but not before Pumpkin fired another shot.
'BANG'
'ping'
>A round bounced off the cylindrical object and into Diamonds head which jerked it around sickeningly.
>Your hooves reflexively went to your mouth to suppress a gasp.
>Pumpkin tossed his left gun into the air, and rapidly fired the right one like a cowboy.
'BANG' 'BANG' 'BANG' 'BANG' 'BANG'
>When the left one succumbed to gravity he tossed the right and fired the left.
'BANG' 'BANG' 'BANG' 'BANG' 'BANG' 'BANG'
>all nine shots impacted Diamond as he fell limply off the stage.
>Pumpkin began spinning his revolvers before him in perfect symmetry until he toss the left weapon into the air besides him.
>Again to your surprise the weapon never touched the ground and it continued to spin in sync with Pumpkins before he finally reloaded the weapon.
>How is this possible is this some kind of ghost?

>You felt breathing on the back of your neck which sent a shiver down your spine and caused the hooves beneath you to give.
>Turning around you saw the large form of Diamond who came up beside you from the shadows.
>"Shhh don't panic its not a ghost, its the power I talked about" He said in a hushed whisper.
>"This is the power I spoke of, they're called Stands and you can only see them if you yourself are a user, but to you this must look like some paranormal phenomenon"
>He brought his muzzle up to your ear.
>"Can I tell you a secret?"
>I was so scared my body shivered uncontrollably, but I managed a nod.
>He laid down next to me resting a hoof over my shoulder.
>"My Stand's name is [HOLY DIVER]"
>He pointed towards Pumpkin Smash who finished reloading and holstered his weapons.
>"and its already too late for Pumpkin Smash over there"
>He stood back up and trotted towards Pumpkin Smash.

>"A good trick Pumpkin Smash, Took me completely off guard"
>Pumpkin without hesitation drew his revolvers and pointed them...at the lawn?
>"For that entire battle your breath was steady, your aim true, and even your heart beat was controlled"
>Diamond continued trotting towards him but as you watched he began to fade until his form disappeared entirely.
>Pumpkin shook his head in disbelief and shifted his aim to the edge of the stage.
>"You have earned your title of greatest markspony in Equestria"
>"Damn you! where the hell are you ya snake?!" Pumpkin said shifting his aim again and again to different parts of the stage.
>You saw Diamond in the seating area now walking towards Pumpkin, but as you focused on him he once again vanished.
>"Whats wrong Pumpkin don't you want to put a round between my eyes? Riddle me full of holes?" Diamond taunted
>His voice seemed to be coming from everywhere at once.
'BANG'
>Diamond stopped and his head rolled back, his body twitching.
>"Just kidding" Diamond said with a smile regaining his posture and vanishing.
>Pumpkins once steely gaze was now full of panic as his eyes and weapons struggled to focus in on a single target.
>And I couldn't either, every time I focused on Diamond his position seemed to shift again.
>What kind of magic are these Stands?
>"H-h-how is this possible? Y'all cant be everywhere at once"
>"Calm yourself Pumpkin you can never hope to challenge me while in a panic"
>You gave up following Diamond it was pointless the faster you would focus on him the faster his position would change.
>"Trixie since you are still watching I think it is safe to assume you are still interested in these powers"
>Diamond Stopped and got back up onto his hind-hooves in the images.
>"And that you have made up your mind on whether to stay or go, I know this must all seem bizarre to you, but please keep paying attention its about to become very clear"
>Diamonds image drew a knife.

>"You freak! Yer just poisonin er with them words, DON'T LISTEN TO HIM MA'AM!" Pumpkin yelled again pointing his weapon all over the room trying to find his target.
>"I said calm yourself Pumpkin, or should I take back that compliment from earlier"
>"Damn you Diamond, quit yer hiding"
>"Pumpkin" Diamond said in his soothing voice "I'm going to give you to the count of 10 to figure out my ability, If you succeed I'll give you what you want if not" Diamond waved the knife in his hoof.
>Pumpkin closed his eyes and tried to keep as quiet as possible.
>"Ten"
>He didn't move.
>"Nine"
>Again no movement.
>"Eight, whats the matter Pumpkin? have you given up"
>"Seven"
>"I ain't never given up before and I wont start now, and I think I got a way to beat yer Stand"
>"Hoo Hoo Hoo I can hardly wait, Six"
>He still didn't move from the position.
>"Five"
>"Four, Last chance"
>"You'll keep yer promise If I win right?" was all Pumpkin said
"Three, I'm a man of my word" Diamond said coldly
>"Two"
>Pumpkin lowered the hat on his brow.
>"One"
>"Do it" Pumpkin said in a cold voice.
>"Zero"
>Diamond trotted closer with the knife poised to stab.

>But he suddenly stopped.
>"Heh...heh...ha..HA! HAHAHAHAHAHA" Diamond roared in laughter.
>Diamond is laughing? at a time like this? could it be something else I cant see?"
"You must be thinking to yourself 'I'll just wait until he comes in to stab me and I'll just shoot him through me with my Stand'"
>"What? No!" Pumpkins eyes were wide open now looking desperately for a place to evade to.
>Diamond flipped the knife into the air, again something caught it and threw it towards Pumpkin who was staring in the complete opposite direction.
"A USELESS GESTURE FOR A USELESS PAWN!"
>The knife embedded itself tip first into Pumpkins left midriff sinking a few inches deep, but the horror only just began.
>Something began to repeatedly impact against his body with great crashes.
"MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA" Diamond yelled over and over again as the onslaught continued.
>Abruptly he stopped the attack and turned his back to Pumpkin who flew into the chairs on the lawn knocking several over.
>"Pumpkin since you are still alive listen closely"
>Diamond looked over his shoulder back towards Pumpkin.
>"The only reason you are still alive is because you have experience fighting her Stand, that is the only reason I haven't killed you tonight!"
>I could hear the earth pony moaning outside my vision.
>"This is the last time we are having this exercise, the next time you fail I WILL kill you"
>He finally returned to all fours and trotted towards you a satisfied smile on his lips.
>"So Then will The Great and Powerful Trixie care to join me tonight, or will The Poor and Miserable Trixie go back home to her mother?"

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