//------------------------------// // Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Nine: A Few Days Later // Story: Trixie and Maud: Heart of Stone // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// Heart of Stone Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Nine: A Few Days Later Written by TheCrimsonDM A few days later, Starswirl was in critical condition and under maximum guard. Rainbow Dash was wearing bandages for her bruised ribs. Fluttershy was better now, but she was still a batpony. Meanwhile Rarity, Spike and Sweetie Belle were all on the apple farm admiring Applejack and Soarin’s little filly. This left Trixie, Maud and Valiant sitting quietly in Twilight’s crystal tree castle waiting for Princess Celestia and Luna. Rainbow Dash was with them as well, though she looked tired. “So,” Rainbow Dash said. “I uh, I’m going to be on medical leave for like awhile.” “Your ribs were hurt that bad?” Trixie asked. “No,” Rainbow said shyly. “After I went to the doctor he told me that I’d be out for a couple of weeks, but then he noticed something strange. He did some tests, and I was about to think he was some kind of weirdo until he told me why I’ve been feeling strange.” Trixie smiled at her. “Is there anything I can do?” “Can you fast forward time by about nine months?” “W-why nine months?” Rainbow Dash grinned. “It turns out I’m so awesome, that I’m three months pregnant.” Everypony was quiet for a long time after that. Finally Maud said, “Congratulations.” “Yeah, thanks, I think. Ugh, I’m going to have to track down the father and make him marry me or something now… I, do, not, want, to marry him.” “Who’s the father?” Trixie asked. “That’s a great question,” Rainbow Dash said. “If it’s any of the suspects I have in mind, than I’m screwed… well okay, I was already screwed, that’s how I ended up this way, but you know what I mean.” Trixie shook her head. “You should be happy you have a kid.” “I am,” Rainbow Dash leaned back against the wall and rubbed her belly. “More than I knew I could be. It kinda sucks to not be a knight for awhile, but I’m going to be a mama like AJ. My kid’s going to have better rainbow hair.” Trixie laughed. “How can it have better rainbow hair?” “Because it comes straight from the one and only Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow Dash said with a grin. Trixie smiled, and for a few more minutes they were quiet. Finally the door opened and Celestia walked in, Luna stood behind her. They were both still wearing bandages. Celestia gave a kind and knowing smile to Rainbow Dash. “We agreed, Rainbow Dash, you will become one of Twilight’s knights the moment she awakes.” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Sounds great.” She stood up and walked to the door. “I gotta go and tell the others about the good news, see ya later, Trix.” Trixie shook her head. The door shut behind Rainbow Dash leaving the room with only Celestia, Trixie, and her family. Celestia found a place to sit on the floor nearby and offered a kind smile to Trixie. “How have you been feeling?” Trixie glanced at her bare shoulders, the bandages covering the wounds still stung a little. “Much better, but… I’m not a princess anymore am I?” “We are still receiving reports of ponies waking up as alicorns, so far we have counted over fifty alicorns and growing. Some of our laws have been changed with great haste; so far there are precisely six active princesses in Equestria… I mean five,” Celestia said. “Why did you say six?” Trixie asked. “I have called in a temporary replacement for Twilight, just until she wakes up from her coma. As for you, you’re still a princess, alicorn or not you have shown great courage and leadership skills during this war. If you would still like it, I would ask you to stay onboard. Ponies need to see the princesses staying strong, especial with what happened to Twilight.” Trixie looked down. “Yeah… I’m sorry.” “Don’t apologize, you redeemed yourself. Luna told me of your bravery, and the way you defeated the greatest threat that Equestria has ever seen. I am willing to overlook your involvement with Red Velvet.” “About that,” Trixie said as she looked up and met Celestia’s soft, kind eyes. “What happened to them?” “We have no idea, simply put they have completely vanished. We will keep our ears out just in case they show up, and when they do I will offer a truce. I can only hope they do not wish to start another conflict with us so soon.” Maud spoke in a dry and toneless voice, “Is Starswirl dead yet?” “Dead?” Celestia asked. “No, he’s healing, slowly. We have made sure to strip him of all of his magic and as soon as he is able to be moved we will do so.” There was only one place that Trixie could of, to put such a monster. “Tartarus is going to love having him.” “I’m afraid not,” Celestia said. “He knows Tartarus inside and out, keeping him there would be too much of a liability, but there is one place that even he can’t escape from. Me and Luna have only used it lock up the most dangerous of creatures that we have ever met, we call it The Depths.” “He’ll be stuck there?” “The place eats magic and willpower alike. He will not be able to leave once he’s inside,” Celestia said. “Why not execute him,” Maud suggested. “Maud!” Trixie exclaimed. “It’s quite alright,” Celestia said. “You have a right to ask me that. The truth is that although he deserves such a punishment, he was like a second father to both me and Luna, and I simply cannot bear to kill him. What I am doing may in actuality be worse, but at least his blood won’t be on my hooves.” “When are we going to take back Canterlot?” Trixie asked. “Soon,” Celestia answered with a smile. “In fact this is some of the only good news that I have; first of all, the ursa seems to have fallen off of the mountain and did not survive the impact, secondly, after Starswirl was downed, the windigo seemed to become displaced, and began wondering back toward the north. The city is virtually empty at this point.” That brought a smile to Trixie’s lips. “So at least that’s looking nice.” “Yes…” A sorrowful look came over Celestia’s eyes. “Even so, it will take months if not longer to repair the city and it may never return to the bustling city it once was. Until things are complete there, I will be staying here in Ponyville. There is… a problem.” “What’s wrong?” Celestia stood up, and stretched her wings. She cringed and pawed at the bandage on her chest before quickly sitting down again. For a few seconds her breathing was strained. “Twilight’s condition is grave. She will survive these wounds, but she will need cared for in a private and quiet place for some time. Cared for by somepony she and I both trust.” Trixie nodded. “There’s a place down south called New Slate. You’ve been there before. Me and Maud still have the deed to that cottage, and were already considering going down there for some rest ourselves. We would love to have Twilight join us if you think that would be wise.” “Even if that means you won’t be able to be a hero and get to go on adventures such as this anymore?” “I don’t want to get wrapped up in this kind of stuff ever again. We almost lost everypony… I just want to settle down with my family.” Celestia rose again, this time slowly. “I would dearly appreciate that. You two are precious to me, and it would mean the world to me if you could only help each other in times like this.” Trixie stood up. “Twilight took me when I was at my most damaged, and saved me. Of course I would do anything to help her.” Maud and Valiant rose as well. Celestia walked to the door and stopped at it. “You may also want to know that our replacement princess has taken a home down in New Slate for the very same reasons that you mentioned.” The door handle began to glow with golden light. “I would very much like to introduce you three to her.” The door opened up and just behind it Trixie saw somepony she hadn’t seen in such a long time. The peach colored mare walked in with her fiery mane and wearing a black jacket that looked awkward with her new alicorn wings. Starfire walked in and gave a wink to Trixie. Celestia smiled. “Trixie this is our replacement for Twilight Sparkle, Princess Sunset Shimmer. “How goes the search for truth?” Sunset asked. The grin that spread over Trixie’s lips was full of warmth. “Ever seeking.” The End