Trixie didn’t remember gathering up the remaining essences, nor did she remember leaving the city but she assumed she must have with her first clear memory being of herself clutching the saddle bag tightly while Detective Legrass was asking her what had happened with the room of study circling above her.
“Blood payed back blood, Legrass” was all she said before everything went black again but the next time she awoke it was in a hospital bed,she shot up looking around only to have a nearby nurse come and calm her down. After a few panic filled moments the nurse calmed her down and Trixie went back to resting.
“Trixie? Are you awake?” came a male voice she didn’t recognize and she opened her eyes to find a unicorn with a dark mane and blue fur in a doctor's coat.
“I am now. Where?”
“You at Mercy’s Rest in Hollow Shades and I’m Doctor Cross Stitch. Do you remember being brought here?”
She shook her head weakly.
“Not surprised, I’ve never seen a pony with such an extreme case of both magical and physical fatigue. With how banged up you were I was worried you might not wake up.”
“So what should I do doc?”
“Rest and let the healing spells work and as soon as you can try to eat, Ok?”
She nodded and was about to turn over to sleep but the doctor added just before he left, “Oh by the way you have some visitors. Do you feel up to seeing them?”
She mulled it over for a moment before nodding, wishing to get it over with no matter who showed up. To her surprise the first pony who walked through the door was a lavender alicorn with a purple mane followed by the portly earth pony detective Legrass.
“Trixie!” the alicorn exclaimed, “I’m so glad your ok!”
“Sparkle? You are?”
‘Well of course I am Trixie I worry about all my friends.” She said giving Trixie a hug and well she was stunned for a second she was more than happy to return the hug
The stallion coughed into his hoof, “Sorry for interrupting but there are some questions that need to be answered,” Twilight let go of Trixie and Trixie asked, “Like what?”
“Like what happened? Not just too your Grandfather but to you? you were gone for all of a day atleast, So spill.”
Trixie took a deep breath and was quiet for time before speaking, “The short version is that a crazy cultest killed my grandfather to keep him from interfering but I interfered instead and ended the cultist’s plan.”
“Okay..and the long version?” He asked.
“Would be hard swallow but if you two want to hear it then close that door and pull up a chair. It started long ago in Saddle Arabia with the centurion Righteous Guard…” Trixie with no drama or gravatas told the detective and the princess everything starting with Righteous and the tome and ending with her ritual against Ulyaoth.
“Umm Ms. Lulamoon that story is something else but I have to ask you is it the truth?”
Twilight turned from the detective to look at Trixie who only nodded. Legrass sighed and said under his breath “I always get the weird ones,” Before saying aloud, “I’ll put your short version in the report and i’ll return you saddlebag shortly.”
Both Trixie and Twilight blinked for a second before Trixie asked, “Just like that? You believe me? I mean it happened to me and I have a hard time believing it.”
“Ms. Lulamoon… Trixie I had known your grandfather for a while and being friends with him I have seen some strange things. So yes I believe you and I also never heard the long version of your story got it?”
“Yes Sir,” Trixie said quickly even putting in a quick salute and with that the detective left leaving just Twilight and Trixie there.
“I should be going too.” Twilight said making her way to the door.
“Sparkle..err Twilight wait.”
“What is it?”
“In my saddlebags that Legrass is getting there is a tome and several bell jars hold strange things. With me so far?”
Twilight nodded in the affirmative.
“I want you to seal them away. Where and how I don’t care but please make sure they never see the light of day or night ever again. Please Twilight.”
Twilight was stunned for a second never seeing Trixie this serious or vulnerable before but she gave a resolute nod and said, “Of Course Trixie. In fact I just found Starswirl’s old lab and-” Twilight kept talking about something she had found or did but Trixie didn’t hear her because with that weight lifted she slept sound like a filly napping next their Pop pop.
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A week later and Trixie was back at the mansion under her own power and well she still ached and suffered headaches when casting all but the simplest of spells she couldn't help but smile as she sat in an easy chair in the library, drinking tea with both Sparkle… er Twilight and the pink one, er Pinkie who was gone getting cupcakes.
“So you’re sure that the items are secure Twilight?”
“For the umpteenth time Trixie yes,” The lavender alicorn responded slightly exasperated, “Besides if you’re so worried about the tome and such why not hand over the runes as well?”
“Because,” She steadied herself, “Because if or when of the others try to take our world I fear that the runes might be the only weapon we have to wield against them so I wish to study them.”
“Okay Trixie if that is your wish I don’t agree with it but I’ll go along with it.” And with that the conversation entered a lull till Pinkie returned with trays of goodies both balanced on her head and back.
“Alright everypony here’s the cupcakes and some super special mega delicious red velvety thanks for saving our collective plot cupcakes for you Trixie!” Pinky proudly announced passing out pastries to every pony present.
Trixie held the cupcake in her hooves and looked at it for a second before saying, “Thank you Pinkie for the cupcakes and this low key party. To be frank I didn’t know you did low-key.”
“Of course I do Trix! I mean sure I love doing bombastic extravagant ostentatious parties but I wouldn’t be a premier party planning pony without being able to do the quite kind as well and knowing when that kind of party is needed.” Pinkie finished with a proud smile that somehow squeaked.
The three ate in silence for a moment before Pinkie asked, “So now that the big bad gone Whatcha gonna do now? Amaze audiences with magic that ends in a k instead of a c?”
“I don’t know really I might go back to school here at the Muskatonic or I might just relax at home either way I think I need a break from the life of a traveling magician.” Trixie was silent for a moment before adding with a smile, “But enough about me, What’s this I hear Sparkle about you and traveling tutor? How scandalous princess.” She finished with a laugh as the lavender alicorn’s face became a brilliant shade of red and quite excellently bungled out a series of sounds, none of them words that left the other two ponies laughing and that is how the day went between the three friends now that everything was fine.
The End