No Third Prances

"That's, what, the third time you've ruined Twilight's plans? I've got some catching up to do," Starlight teased as she walked Trixie through the streets of Canterlot. "Seriously though, I'm amazed she's giving us another chance. You know what Twilight's like; she barely gave you your last chance."
"You can only cause conflict so many times before they all just sorta meld together into one," Trixie explained, as an expert in making enemies. "It's endearing, really."
"It's endearing to me, you great and powerful gremlin." Starlight lightly bumped into her side as they walked, prompting a foam snake to burst out from under Trixie's cape. "Promise me no manticore mouth-dives this time?"
"Oh he was a rental," Trixie said, convinced that sounded comforting.
"You're lucky no kids were watching. You never would've gotten away with almost killing yourself during a show for foals," Starlight reminded her, all too casually. "You know I love your antics, Trix, but this is a dinner with Celestia. Twilight wants to prove I'm learning friendship, and I do too. Please be on your best behaviour, okay?"
"You're beginning to sound like her," Trixie rebuked, "But fine, for you Starlight. I promise."


"Starlight, Trixie, welcome!" Twilight greeted from the entrance to Canterlot Castle, "Please, follow me." Twilight led the mares inside, lowering her voice to a serious tone, "No funny business Trixie. The princess has graciously afforded us a second chance, and I can't have you ruining it. Celestia hasn't met you, and first impressions are everything. No getting into trouble."
"Twilight, relax, Trouble was a rental," Trixie reassured.
Twilight blinked, perplexed.
Celestia sat at the table, awaiting their arrival. Immaculate ice sculptures and expensive artwork decorated the room. A phalanx of cutlery flanked each plate, and a comically oversized bowl of red soup crowned the table's centrepiece. The princess spared no expenses for this do-over, preparing an extravagant three-course meal. Trixie, having no doubts about her self worth, sat directly next to Celestia.
"Miss Lulamoon, is it?" Celestia greeted warmly. "I look forward to getting to know the first new friend of Twilight's pupil. I believe we tried to book your performance for Prince Blueblood's function."
"Trixie assumed those were spam," she replied, lifting her head in surprise.
Celestia continued the conversation, but Trixie had stopped paying attention. Something felt... off. Her hat felt heavier than normal. Tilting her head like a confused dog, she felt a weight shift under her hat. Then it hit her.
Ah.
That hat.
The hat with the bomb in it.
The hat she rigged to explode as the finale for an upcoming performance.
The firework hat.
Trixie's eyes locked with Twilight's, who was silently screaming at her from across the table. Did Twilight know she was ready to blow? It sure looked like Twilight was. Turning, she saw Celestia looking at her expectedly, blissfully unaware of the explosive immediately next to her.
"OH, Uhhhhh... YES, absolutely!" She replied blindly to Celestia's question.
"No no, we're just friends, your highness," Starlight interjected, "...I think."
Celestia rose. "I'm going to check the entrée. Please, dig in, don't wait for me."
As Celestia left, Trixie lit her horn to levitate a ladle into the soup. Big mistake.
The fuse lit.
She dropped it immediately, but it was too late. A hissing firework perched atop her head. Trixie was great, but not deathless, and she generally aimed for fewer than one near-death experiences per week. This was bad. She had to think fast, do something to extinguish the fuse.
Starlight levitated the ladle, oblivious to her distress, and began pouring Trixie a bowl of soup. "Careful, Trix, we want to make a good impression. Soup is slippery, try not to get any on your hat."
Trixie yanked her hat off her head and slam-dunked it into the soup bowl.
Starlight, unaware of the explosive device submerged in soup, blinked slowly to confirm her eyes weren't lying to her. She stared slack-jawed, like Trixie had just morphed into Queen Chrysalis herself, rendering her speechless in disbelief. A wall-eyed Twilight, dotted with flecks of soup, sat frozen in confusion and denial. A nervous grin betrayed Trixie as she looked sheepishly between the two.
Twilight was trying to convince herself this was a dream. Starlight's shock, meanwhile, melted into fury. She stared at Trixie, challenging her to find one spot in Equestria where she could escape her demonic wrath. Daggers glared straight through her body, pinning her to the ground.
Then, the soup exploded.
Mount Appetizer erupted from the table, shaking the walls and coating every inch of the grand dining room in soup. Crystal decorations shattered, the table collapsed, and fragments of the former soup bowl rocketed in all directions. Crackling sparkles rained down from the firework's payload, celebrating the chaos. A half-red Starlight was again tranquilized by disbelief, refusing to accept the events that her senses told her were reality.
Celestia, having heard the blast, rushed back in, and it took her seconds that felt like minutes to notice that all eyes were on Trixie. For the first time in her life, Trixie wished the spotlight wasn't on her. Celestia glared disapprovingly, although her face betrayed some amusement. Trixie needed to answer.
Trixie stammered, scouting the room, searching desperately for an explanation that wasn't there. Her mind grasped at mental straws. She looked to Starlight for help, whose glare said that she'd find none from there. Meanwhile, Twilight looked like she was in another dimension.
"I uh... I'm really clumsy," Trixie stammered, a snake springing out from under her cape.
Starlight looked at her like she was insane. Twilight, absolutely lost in the sauce, fainted.
"Soup... is slippery?" she offered. Nobody bought it.
Trixie muttered apologies and excuses, aimlessly smearing soup around with a cloth. Starlight and Celestia looked at each other, sharing an incredulous grin as they watched the train wreck.
Trixie looked up from the floor just in time to witness her sopping hat drop from a disintegrating chandelier to fall atop Celestia's head.