In the forest, Trixie had finally awoken yet again from the fuzzy feeling of sleep, only to be confronted with the cold world around her. She shuddered as she saw dark trees rising high above her into a black sky of leaves.
Somewhere far behind, she got herself turned around. She became not sure which way she came from or which way to go. She felt a new feeling well up to her heart, and it wasn’t a warm one, but one of being lost.
She turned around from the spot on which she slept and walked back to find the way she came. She looked to the ground, trying to find any sort of path in which she could be led out. She ran for was felt like several miles before slowing to a stop, knowing she couldn’t have possibly gone this far.
“I…” she began, tears forming under her eyes. “I’m lost…” She looked far out to the darkness in front, behind, and everywhere else. “… and no pony knows where to find me.” She fell over and began sobbing. Similar to before, she sobbed herself to sleep.
* * * * * * * *
Trixie was in the dark world and listened carefully. No ponies voice echoed through the world. She saw straight ahead of her a pony walking closer. The pony was dark with a moon for a cutie mark. The new pony had a horn and wings and a crown, obviously being a princess. Trixie had never seen such a pony.
“Hello, Trixie,” the newcomer spoke. “I am Luna, bringer of the night.”
Trixie was befuddled. “H…how do you know my name?”
“I know all ponies who dream,” Luna stated firmly, yet, somehow, softly.
“What do you want from me?” Trixie was afraid of whatever her answer could be, but stuck to her guns.
“To help you,” Luna stated warmly.
Trixie was thankful this powerful being was not going to be a threat to her well being. “Help me with what?” Trixie asked, less forceful, but still questioning.
“To find your way home.”
Trixie was amazed. She hadn’t been home in so long. The entire town seemed so disappointed of her being showed up by a student, she couldn’t conceive of them taking her back.
“Remember,” Luna stated, interrupting Trixies’ thoughts. “Home is where the heart is.” Suddenly, Luna disappeared, being replaced with a town.
Trixie saw Ponyville. She saw the world she had created inside the magic dome she placed. The panic. The terror. The power. She saw it all. She saw ponies running from her eyesight lest they be changed into a way comical to their ruler. She saw everypony frightened to move, yet terrified to stand still. As she witnessed the fear, she looked upon her chest. No Alicorn Amulet held her robe. No amulet, in fact, just the gem she’d originally had.
Just then, her subjects all fell to a floating mass of, what could best be described as, ectoplasm, and began to swirl around Trixie. Horrified, she watched as they swirled, like little faces laughing at her misfortune. The noises of the displaced air around her began to sound like cackling.
Trixie made out one of the swirling masses and watched as it giggled before moving in closer to her trembling form. It pressed against her fur and dissolved into her body. As soon as it touched her, she felt a terribly cold feeling. She felt the feeling of sadness, a feeling that had become normal since running from Ponyville. She fell to the ground as other little faces closed in and took control, also being absorbed into her trembling body, each one bringing Trixie more pain.
Finally, only the final face swirled around her. This one looked calm. It didn’t seem to be cackling, but laughing. Trixie felt its laughter, but felt it as a warm, happy sort. It wasn’t a mocking laughter, but a laughter of friends. She began to slowly smile as the before masses seeped out of her and melted into a liquid mesh, eventually rolling away into the forest.
Trixie smiled an ear to ear smile before she gave a giggle. Then a chuckle. Before long, she was mad with hearty laughter, laughing with the spirit. Their madness only making them laugh louder.
They stayed that way for a bit, before slowing down to a chuckle, and, finally, gasping for air. Trixie looked to the mass; its form seemed to radiate some sort of light.
Suddenly, it disappeared. Trixie raised a hoof to follow it, but it was futile. Her final friend was gone, and she was alone in Ponyville. She felt like crying, but didn’t want to.
A purple hoof was placed on her shoulder from behind. Turning around, Trixie saw Twilight in her Alicorn form. She was whole, except for her face, which was the last spirit. The last spirit shifted in shape before forming Twilight’s face and horn. The warm feeling from the spirit was emanating from Twilight.
Both girls sat there, smiling to each other. Then, Twilight spoke. “Welcome home, Trixie, welcome home.”
Trixie watched Twilight and Ponyville slowly dissolve away back to her black, cold world. Yet, Trixie smiled. She knew Twilight would be her friend. Even the dark world laid out before her couldn’t dampen her spirit. She had a true friend, who let a fire burn in her heart, soothing her whole body.
Twilight’s voice echoed through the darkness. “Trixie, you’re always welcome here!”
Trixie smiled, but heard her own voice echo through the darkness. “Thank you, Twilight. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.” Trixie’s smile slowly dropped to a confused frown.
Nevertheless, Twilight responded to Trixie’s voice, “Trixie, we’re friends. What are friends for?”
Trixie called out to Luna. “What is this? Who is speaking for me?”
Luna didn’t appear as she had before, but instead, let her voice rumble the ground Trixie sat upon. “Only you may decide…”
Trixie awoke up from this one pleasant dream to a bright, new morning sunrise. She could see an opening through the thick trees of the forest, leading to the old quarrypony’s rock farm. Trixie was overpowered with joy and began running to hug her employer, something she never in a million years would have thought she’d do.
* * * * * * * *
Twilight was having a great ‘welcome home’ party; it wasn’t unlike Pinkie to throw amazing parties. Although her friends were having a wonderful time listening to Twilight talk about her time as a princess, they were unaware of Twilight’s worries. They knew Trixie was on Twilight’s mind when they went searching for Trixie, but they had no idea she was still worried about her. They had all but forgotten about the search for Trixie; too distracted by the fun of the party.
Spike, similar to Twilight, wasn’t easily taken away from their friend’s disappearance, he was intently listening to Twilight’s stories, but he was still worrying.
“The worst part was probably sitting through the discussions,” Twilight continued. “They were important ponies and all, but I wasn’t too sure about their ideas for Equestria.”
Rarity looked dreamily, “I bet they wore the most gorgeous of outfits.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow, “I don’t know much ‘bout them fancy politics, but did ya’ll talk anything ‘bout the apple business?”
Twilight thought for a while. “I don’t remember anypony mentioning apples…”
Rainbow Dash started floating around in the air. “I wouldn’t be able to stand staying there that long!” She rested her forehooves behind her head in a relaxed state.
“I had a hard time staying awake,” admitted Twilight with a smile on her face.
A new voice came from behind Twilight. This one she knew, but hadn’t heard it in such a while. “Even the Great and Powerful Trixie would have fallen asleep!”
Everypony present turned to see Trixie walk in, her cart a few feet behind her. She smiled as warmly as she could. Bowing her head, Trixie began her request for forgiveness. “Twilight Sparkle, The Great and Powerful Trixie bows her head to a magician of far greater powers.” Her eyes were closed, similar to her first dream. “I ask that you may accept my apology and maybe accept me as an active member of your wonderful town.” Trixie kept her head down and eyes closed, still worried of Twilight’s reaction.
The six ponies and single dragon gathered there stared at Trixie, looked at each other for a bit, and then focused on Trixie again. Twilight spoke up. “That’s all?”
Trixie felt a lump grow in her stomach. It was turning out to be her dream all over again. Biting her lower lip, Trixie awaited the rest.
Rainbow Dash looked to Twilight. “You know she didn’t even need to apologize, right?” Trixie opened her eyes, still to the ground.
Twilight smiled. “Of course not, she was forgiven all along.” Trixie raised her face to view theirs. They seemed sincere. Tears began to well under her eyes.
“GROUP HUG!” Pinkie Pie shouted in her normal, giddy tone, quickly pulling everypony and Spike into a giant ball of a hug.
Trixie felt an amazing fire start in her heart; it warmed her body and cleared her mind of any doubts. The ones she had treated so rudely, so cruel, so vile, were now her friends. Joy overtook her, sending chills of happiness coursing her body. A single tear rolled down her eye, but this one was different from the rest. This one was of joy. Great, overpowering happiness.
Satisfied, each pony and dragon backed away and began laughing. Twilight must’ve had a thought strike her as she realized something. “Oh, wait here, everypony!” She hurried into the library. A little while later, she came out carrying a box. The box Trixie sent to her.
Trixie stared at the box, thinking of its contents, her mouth partially opened in awe.
“It’s yours, Trixie,” Twilight began, her face smiling in great pride. “All magicians need their outfit.”
Trixie dreamily looked at the box. She loved that cape and hat for all its worth. It meant more to her than anypony could understand. It stood for popularity, often meaning love to the popular one. Trixie quickly looked away. “I’m sorry, Twilight,” she began, “it was meant for the greatest magician alive.”
“That’s why it’s yours!” Twilight stated, smiling warmly. “I’m not a magician, I just know magic.”
Trixie had more tears roll down her cheeks, again being those of joy. “Th…thank… you, Twilight…” Trixie undid the wrapping and revealed the legendary starry hat and cape. She put them on, their tight confines like an old friend on her naked body. Carefully placing the hat on her head, she felt whole again.
“Oh, and Trixie,” Twilight started.
“Yes?” Trixie looked up to Twilight’s eyes, them being still warm and friendly.
“Try to keep the bragging down a bit.” Both girls had a few laughs out of Twilight’s comment. Smiling, Trixie realized she now had a best friend. The closest friend ever. And she intended to keep it that way.
* * * * * * * *
Trixie had just finished setting her wagon up for a permanent home along the outer corner of Ponyville when Twilight walked by. “How’s it going here, Trixie?”
“Fine, Twilight,” Trixie smiled. “Just setting up some final weights to make sure it stays still.” She looked to the wagon, thought for a while, then asked, “Are you sure it’s okay for me to live here?”
“Trixie, you’re always welcome here!”
Trixie smiled, “Thank you, Twilight. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
Twilight responded, “Trixie, we’re friends. What are friends for?”
Trixie knew she heard that conversation from one of her dreams, the most recent one, in fact.
Rainbow Dash flew by. “Hey, Trixie! Twilight!” She flew lower to the point in which her legs were dangling at Trixie’s eyelevel. “Pinkie just made a new game. Everypony’s waiting by the tree over there,” she pointed her hoof to Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie who were all walking over, anxious to get the final two ponies involved. “Let’s play!”
Trixie gasped a bit, careful not to let Rainbow or Twilight hear. The voice from the dark world was Rainbow’s! She smiled a bit to herself. “I don’t know…”
“Come on, darling, it’ll be fun!” Rarity stated.
“I think you’d like this game!” Fluttershy remarked, hovering inches from the ground.
Trixie still wasn’t willing to stop it there. The dream’s voices were almost complete. Tauntingly, she dejected their offering. “Trixie's not sure she'd like to play.”
“C’mon sugarcube, you’ll love ta play,” said Applejack.
Trixie pretended to think about it. Finally, she closed her eyes, smiled, and stated “Okay.” Twilight patted Trixie on her shoulder under a thin layer of cloth.
“Whee! We’re gonna have sooooo much FUN!” began Pinkie before she yammered on and on about the most random of things.
* * * * * * * *
Dear Princess Celestia,
I have learned something about friendship from my new friend, The Great and Powerful Trixie. She’s taught me that your true friends are the most important thing to have around you when you’re sad. She also taught me that you must watch your friends carefully when they are down, as they may do something rash. It scares me to say that I almost lost a friend, but am happy to announce that she is well and living here in Ponyville with us.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
P.S.
This is Spike. I just wanted to add that I learned that even the most heartless of enemies can need a crying shoulder. Forgiving somepony isn’t easy, but when it’s done right, it gives the strongest of friends.