The room was relatively dark, with a small shimmer of light shining in front of a mirror on one side. In its reflection could be seen a small filly with a light blue mane. She hums to herself contently, a hair brush floating on its own running through her hair. With a pony this calm, it would be hard to believe that this was one of the most important days of her life. Suddenly a distant voice could be heard downstairs.
"Trixie, we're going to be late to your entrance exam if you don't hurry."
"Coming uncle!" she exclaims with a confident smile as she lays her brush on the table and rushes out of her room. She trots downstairs in what could only be described as a curiosity shop. Every inch of the walls hung shelves of strange odds and ends and mysterious doodads. This was her home, as long as she could remember. Without her parents, Trixie was raised by her uncle Fizzlesnap, a much older pony with a dark brown mane and a firecracker for a cutie mark. For many years he has owned and operated his curiosity shop in Canterlot and is well re-knowned for its rare and unique merchandise. Every night before bed he would tell stories to his niece about the many powerful and fabulous ponies in the world, like Starswirl the Bearded and Whiteflash the Magnificent.
"One day, I want to be as famous as these ponies!" She says one night. Her uncle chuckles "Well if you try hard enough and believe in yourself, then it'll happen."
All her life she has been brought up around magic and its vast power and wonder. Very soon it would be her moment to shine.
As they approach the front door of the shop about ready to leave, Fizzlesnap looks down at his niece with a smile.
"Now Trixie, whatever happens today, I'll be proud of you no matter what, and you'll always be great and magical in my book."
Trixie looks up ecstatically, not sure what to say all she could do was nod vigorously. Together they make their way into the heart of Canterlot with the Royal Castle looming overhead.
What seemed like an eternity, they reach the Royal Canterlot grounds. The Royal guards point them to an amazing structure made of gold and ivory, a name could be seen etched into the facade that reads "Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns." At this point Trixie was starting to become quite nervous, but she couldn't allow that to show for fear of others that might be watching her. A few flights of stairs and couple hallways later, they reach a large adjacent room with many other small fillies and their families waiting anxiously for their turn. Names were being called out one by one, some of them returning moments later with joy and excitement in their faces, or exhaustion and defeat. Almost every filly could be seen with their mother and father, this only brought more anxiety to Trixie. She looks back at her uncle who stays close and comforts her, thinking the same thing. "Don't worry, I'm right here with you." This boosted her confidence considerably knowing that he was right beside her. Anxiously waiting what seemed like ages, a distant voice cried out
"Trixie Lunamoon, you're next."