May I spend the night?

by Elektric Smile

May I spend the night?

Thunder rumbled loudly overhead, it’s low bass momentarily drowning out all sounds. When the rumble subsided, all that could be heard was the consistent pitter-patter of the heavy raindrops falling on the small houses.

The Ponyville Weather Team had informed the residents that they were scheduled to have a rainstorm sometime that week, but nopony knew specifically what day. As misfortune would have it for the citizens of Ponyville, the storm turned out to be much more than a simple rainstorm. The Weather Team had received last minute orders from Clousdale to bump the storm up to what the Weather Team called a “Class Alpha” lightning storm. Many ponies didn’t know of this change, and found themselves caught in the downpour. However, this was much earlier in the day when there was still a crack of light from the west, illuminating the small town. Now it was very dark, and very late, and not a single soul was outside of their house, away from their cozy fires and asleep in their warm beds. All of the lights in the town had been extinguished many hours ago, all of them except for the ones in the Golden Oaks library in the center of town. Through the downpour, the lights radiated, the soft candlelight penetrating the sleepy silence.

“But Twilight!” the little dragon moaned, struggling under the heavy load of books he had been assigned to re-shelve.

The library was a complete and utter disaster. There were books all over the floor, stacked up on the desk and even on the kitchen table. Twilight had gone on a late night studying binge, so that she could finish her report to Princess Celestia on the dangerous effects certain kinds of magic had on ponies.

“Don’t complain, Spike. The sooner we get these chores done, the sooner we can go to bed. “

“But it’s almost 2:30 in the morning!” he cried out.

Twilight frowned. She glanced at the clock.

2:24 AM

She hadn’t realized it was so late. It was way past both their bedtimes. She usually was very aware about her sleep schedule. Exactly 8.5 hours of undisturbed sleep, she reminded herself. But that night, she had been kept up quite late writing her report. She had required her faithful assistant’s help to keep her work area clean while she did her research (unfruitful as somehow the library ended up a mess anyways). She was so involved with her work that she hadn’t fully realized she had been keeping the poor dragon up this late.

“You’re right Spike. I’m sorry. You can go to bed now. I’ll finish up down here.”

“Finally!” said Spike as he dropped the books he was carrying on the floor. Twilight winced. She hated when people dropped her books.

“See you in the morning Twi.” Spike said through a yawn.

“Goodnight Spike.” Twilight said, resisting the urge to yawn, herself.

She watched the dragon drag himself sleepily up the stairs. She would continue to clean up while he went to bed.

She levitated the books Spike dropped on the floor, and began to float them over to their proper homes.

“Alright.” Twilight said out loud. “A History of Magical Mishaps. Check.” She floated the book to the H section, and looked at the next title in her floating collection. “Infamous Magical Murders”. She particularly enjoyed that one. She floated that one over to the Non-Fiction section. “Check!” The next one was Spellbinding Sicknesses: A Guide to Bizarre Afflictions. An interesting work. I’ll have to re-read that one, she thought.

Twilight continued to sort the books until she realized that there was none left. She tended to enter her own world whenever she concentrated on something, completely absent from anything else that occurred around her. It was only until she turned around to levitate the next pile of books over to her when she realized that she had shelved the last one. With the task complete, she finally gave in, and indulged in a yawn. It was at this time when she realized…she had no idea what time it was. She usually lost all awareness when studying or organizing, only to be brought back to reality when the task was finished.

She glanced at the clock.

2:57

Twilight yawned once more, this time, her tiredness truly sinking into her body.

I should really get to bed.

Finished with her chores, and satisfied with her work, she began up the stairs to the second floor where her fluffy and comfortable bed awaited her. The unicorn had just gotten to the top of the stairs, when she heard a pounding noise emanating from downstairs.

She turned to look down the stairs at the source of the pounding. It was coming from the door. Twilight merely stood there for several seconds before the realization hit her that somepony was down there, requesting entrance. Looking longingly at her bed, she sighed and ventured back downstairs to face her late-night visitor. When she got to the bottom of the stairs she could now fully hear the pounding. It was much louder than she realized.

“Sorry! The Library is closed!” she called to the unknown voice. I should really put a sign up with the library hours.

Twilight was surprised when the knocking continued, this time even faster. Who the hay could want to check out a book this late? She thought. Frowning, Twilight illuminated her horn, and the brass doorknob slowly turned. The door then opened, revealing the last pony she would have expected.

Sitting in the downpour, was a baby blue unicorn holding a magician’s hat decorated with stars.

“Trixie?”

Twilight couldn’t believe her eyes. What is she doing here? I though she left town two weeks ago?

The librarian tried to look Trixie in the eye, but Trixie only avoided her gaze, and it was at that moment when Twilight saw the small streams of moisture running down her face, moisture that wasn’t caused by the rain. A million thoughts went into Twilight’s head as she stared at the blue mare. What WAS she doing here? And is she CRYING?

“Uh, w-why don’t you come in?” Twilight finally manage to say.

The stage magician only nodded, stood up, and began to enter. Twilight’s eyes widened when she saw that Trixie was walking rather funny. She was limping.

“Are…are you alright?”

Trixie turned around, and for the first time made eye contact with Twilight. Her purple eyes were bloodshot and puffy. She slowly shook her head. Twilight’s breath caught in her chest when she noticed a red substance trickling down from Trixie’s chest, dripping and forming small pools on the library floor.

“Oh, Celestia…Trixie…”

The injured unicorn gave Twilight one last sorrowful look and her eyes blurred, and her mind became dark as she collapsed on the ground.

The last thing Trixie heard was Twilight yelling her name before she slipped into unconsciousness.

Trixie’s eyes slowly opened. She gave the room a quick scan before realizing she didn’t know where she was. She tried to call out for somepony, anypony, but she stopped as pain ripped at her chest. She didn’t know why she was hurting, and she was in an unknown bed. She tried to listen to see if she could figure out where she was. She could hear ponies talking to one another a floor below, but she couldn’t make out their voices. She tried to listen to what they were saying, but her mind wouldn’t follow the conversation. At one point, she made out her name, and the fact that whoever was down there was talking about her. Where was she? All she could remember was falling...then pain...then everything went dark...Trixie was shaken from her memory by slow, soft hoofsteps coming up the stairs. The door opened, and a unicorn entered. Trixie’s eyes rested on her face. Instantly, the events prior to her waking up flooded back into her memory.

“I’m so happy you’re awake.” Twilight whispered. She paused, and then spoke again. “I did what I could to fix your chest. I’m not a doctor…my magic will only help for so long. You’ll need to see a real doctor soon. You had several broken ribs, a fractured foreleg, and a large gash down the left side of your chest.

Trixie removed the covers, and saw that her entire chest was bandaged, along with one of her front legs. Twilight watched Trixie’s face wince in pain as she pulled the covers back over her broken body.

“Trixie…W-who d-did this to you?” Twilight’s face was red and puffy. It was obvious that she had been crying. Trixie avoided her gaze. She didn’t want Twilight to see the tears creeping up in her own eyes. Trixie was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking about her response. Several moments passed before Trixie gave her answer.

“I did...” Trixie whispered.

Twilight gasped, appalled at the terrible answer. “You…tried to…T-Trixie…Why?” The tears that were welling up had begun to flow from Twilight’s eyes, leaving shiny, watery trails down her face. “Why would you do this?”

Trixie looked up at Twilight. She sighed.

“Do you know what it’s like? Being tormented everywhere you go? Laughed at by ponies you don’t even know?” Trixie asked hopelessly.

“I...What?”

“Of course you wouldn’t. You’re Twilight Sparkle, the most powerful unicorn in Equestria and bearer of the Element of Magic. You wouldn’t know anything about what I’ve been through.” Trixie looked away again, tears re-surfacing in her eyes.

"I-I-I don't understand."

Trixie looked up at Twilight.

“My whole life, I’ve been a failure.” Trixie said miserably. “I never got good grades, and I failed out of fillyschool. I’d always loved being on stage, so I thought I’d try performing in Manehattan. I got hired for the show Mare Poppins. It was my first live show ever. I was so excited...but I failed that too.”

"What happened?"

“I messed up my lines. I ruined the most important scene and got booed off the stage. I was fired the next day due to the terrible reviews. It was the worst day of my life. WAS. At least, until I came to Ponyville.” She added grimly.

It was Twilight’s turn to look away. She knew where this story was going.

Trixie continued. “I thought I’d try continue being a showmare. I thought I try my hoove at magic. I earned my cutie mark at it several weeks after I left Manehattan. I toured in Las Pegasus, Phillydelphia and Baltimare. I came to Ponyville on my fourth stop. I came with my head held high. I was so sure that I finally found something that I was good at! I was so proud...Too proud. I tried to be show stopping, but I only came off as a cocky foal.” She looked away. "I was humiliated. I tried other towns, but it didn't matter. I was a laughingstock. My reputation was ruined. Everywhere I went, ponies laughed at me. Some even threw things..." Trixie squirmed around in the bed, giving Twilight a view of her left shoulder. There was a pink mark. It was a freshly healed wound.

Twilight couldn't take this. She was aware that she was fully crying now, tears flowing freely from her eyes.

"I failed school, I failed as an actress, and I failed as a stage magician. I even failed to end my own miserable life.” Trixie looked back at Twilight as a fresh stream of tears came pouring down her face.

Twilight was devastated.

Twilight’s head was bubbling with emotions and thoughts, however, one thought managed to dominate the rest…

She almost died…Because of me…

“Trixie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Things would have been different if I had known what you’d been dealing with. I would have been there for you! I would have helped… Trixie I…I’m sorry…”

“It’s too late for that. I can’t go back and change my life, and neither can you.” Trixie said grimly.

“But it’s not too late…It’s never too late! You can’t give up…you can’t…”

Trixie noticed the clear drops of liquid falling from Twilight’s eyes, making little splatters as they hit the floor. Twilight spoke again.

“Why would you come here after what I did to you…I ruined your career!”

Trixie thought for a moment, and then spoke.

“I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself. I realized it isn’t your fault…I’m worthless…”

“But you’re not!” Twilight yelled, causing Trixie to look up. Twilight continued to speak, but this time her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

“You’re not…This is all my fault. I should have been there to help you…I’ll make this up to you. I can help you…can you forgive me, Trixie?”

The blue unicorn was silent for a several moment, clearly thinking about what she was about to say.

“I’ve always been too proud of myself. I thought I was Great and Powerful…But now…I’m nothing. Why would you want to be my friend? Why would you want to help me?”

“Because I care about you. I may not have cared before, but I do now. You came to me. You need my help, Trixie. It wouldn’t be right if I let you leave here with these scars. I couldn’t…I couldn’t forgive myself…”

Trixie shuffled in the bed, sniffled, and then wiped the tears from her eyes.

“You care about me?”

“Yes. I do.”

The baby blue unicorn looked at Twilight, gazing into her purple eyes. At that moment, Trixie felt hopeful. Things would be different now. She could feel it.

“Thank you Twilight Sparkle.”