Ordinary World
Golden pulled the covers tight, delighting in the warmth of the bed. She hadn’t any idea how much she loved her own sheets until she’d crawled into them last night. It had to have been one of the best nights of slumber she’d ever enjoyed.
Yet she’d been awake for a little while now. Awake and waiting, eager for this wonderful opportunity to arise. As she snuggled closer to her companion, she found that her chance was finally coming: Rarity began to stir.
“Ugh…” Her mare-friend’s leg moved slowly to rub her forehead. “Where am I?”
“Morning, sunshine.” Golden beamed as Rarity’s eyes crept open to peer at her. Though her mane was wild and her expression weary, those precious blues filled Golden with pleasure.
“Golden?” Rarity rubbed her eyes and offered a weak smile. “What are you doing here?”
Golden chuckled. “I live here.”
“Live here?” Rarity raised her head to peer at her surroundings with a yawn, her eyes widening just slightly as she saw that she was in Golden’s bedroom. “Indeed you do.”
She flopped back onto the bed and eyed her marefriend. “Golden, what am I doing in your bed?”
“I brought you here.” Golden gave a wicked smile and pulled Rarity close. “I figured I deserved a reward.”
“A reward?” Rarity raised a sleepy eyebrow… then her eyes began to widen. She raised herself up once more and looked about the room. “What happened to me? I… I remember somepony sneaking up behind and—”
“Don’t worry about him.” Golden caught Rarity and pulled her back to the bed before straddling her. She lowered so her muzzle was just barely touching Rarity’s, an eager smirk on her lips. “He won’t be bothering you again. And now—” she pecked Rarity’s muzzle, “—I expect some compensation.”
Rarity blinked with a blush… then gained a wry smile of her own. She pushed Golden back with a raised eyebrow. “Compensation? For all I know, you might be my kidnapper. Perhaps I should be screaming for help.”
Golden snorted. “Right, like I could come up with a plan like that.” She pressed against Rarity’s hooves in an attempt to get closer. “I was willing to sacrifice myself to save you.”
Rarity grinned and set a hoof over her face in her favorite damsel-in-distress pose. “Oh, yes, I’m sure you found me at the tender mercies of some terrible ruffian and fought tooth and hoof to save me! If only I remembered any of it.”
“Fine, don’t believe me.” Golden managed to push away the lone hoof holding her up, dropping so she had Rarity in a tight embrace. “You’re still not getting away from my bed! After all the work you’ve been doing, think of it as a reward.”
Rarity returned the embrace, though her tone was mocking. “I thought I was supposed to be rewarding you.”
“Then we can reward one another,” Golden replied, leaning up just enough to press her muzzle to Rarity’s. “Think of it as a preview of coming attractions.”
Rarity giggled and pushed Golden away a second time. “You are far too eager, Miss Harvest. It will have to wait until we reach Prance. I told you, I have way too much work to do before we—”
She sucked in a sharp gasp, her cheeks flushing and her eyes going wide as Golden’s hoof lightly brushed against her horn.
“Y-you… Where did you learn to…?”
“In payment of services rendered,” Golden declared in her best Fleur imitation, “I require your presence for the rest of the morning. I think that’s a fair bargain for your life, don’t you think?”
Rarity huffed as she tried to regain her composure. “Really, Golden, that sounds delightful, but I simply… must…” Her legs shook and a lopsided smile crept to her lips as Golden rubbed the edge of her hoof in rings around the tip of the horn. “I d-don’t know what circles you’ve been running in to… to learn about… th-that… but I am a Lady, and ladies don’t succ… succumb to…”
Her eyes rolled up in her head and her entire body trembled at another tease of Golden’s hoof.
“…oh, buck it!”
She rose up to deliver a passionate kiss to Golden’s lips, and for a couple seconds the two remained locked. Golden felt the sparks flying on her tongue and her heart slamming against her chest. She found herself dazed by the pure, unadulterated joy of knowing that this mare was all hers.
Rarity fell back, her face crimson and her breath coming in slow gasps that mimicked Golden’s own.
Golden leaned over her, that wry smile coming back as she effectively pinned her mare-friend. “Better get comfortable, My Lady, ‘cause for now?
“You’re all mine.”
Rarity didn’t object again.
Trixie chewed her lip as she eyed the front door. Her heart hummed in her chest and she feared she might bolt at any second. She sucked in a deep breath and glanced to her side.
Applejack smiled. “Ya ready?”
“No.” Trixie sat, partially because her legs felt weak but also to keep from fleeing. “They don’t know me. Wh-what if they…”
“Don’t worry.” Applejack set a hoof to Trixie’s shoulder. “It won’t be as bad as yer thinkin’.” She went to the door and opened it, then stepped aside and gave her friend a reassuring nod.
Trixie shifted from side to side, her eyes locked on the open doorway. Did she really want to do this? She was appreciative, but…
At last she stood and forced her legs to move. Crossing the threshold alone required all the willpower she possessed.
“Yer doin’ good, Trix.” Applejack rubbed her back before closing the door. “Everythin’ will be fine, Ah promise.”
Trixie couldn’t meet her gaze.
“Okay, everypony. We’re here.”
Trixie looked up, heart hammering in her chest as the Apple Family appeared from the kitchen to stand before her in the hallway. First came Granny Smith, who bore a smile far warmer than Trixie had anticipated. She was followed by Apple Bloom, who looked far less inviting with her firm frown and hard eyes. Big McIntosh came last, his head held high and his expression unreadable. Their combined gaze was enough to make Trixie take a step back, but a leg to her shoulder steadied her.
Applejack nuzzled her for comfort before stepping to the side and gesturing. “Everypony, allow me to properly introduce ya’ll to Miss Trixie Lulamoon.”
It was all Trixie could manage not to turn her face away in shame. “H-hello, everypony.”
There was a tense moment of silence as they continued to stare.
Then Granny Smith grinned. “Well good mornin’, Miss Licksie.”
Applejack and Big Mac both gained lopsided grins.
Apple Bloom elbowed her grandmother and whispered in her ear.
“What?” Granny frowned at her. “Well why didn’t ya say so?” She turned her smiling attention back on Trixie. “I meant, good morning Miss Twixie.”
Apple Bloom facehooved and Big Mac shook his lowered head.
Trixie couldn’t help it; she giggled. “Thank you, Granny Smith.”
She glanced at Applejack, who returned the look with a grin. Her confidence just a little higher, she turned her attention back to the family. “I wanted to thank all of you for yesterday. I had a very good time.”
Apple Bloom rubbed her chin and peered at Trixie. “So… ya took my sister’s place for a day, huh?”
“Umm… well, yes.” Trixie rubbed the back of her head with a forced smile.
Apple Bloom considered this with a deep frown. “So when ya told me ta treat ya like ya knew nothin’, that was fer real?”
“And you were very helpful,” Trixie assured her, latching on to the topic. “I’m sure your sister would be very proud if she’d been in my place. I learned so much about the farm, it was really quite eye-opening. Clearly Trixie has much more to learn.”
She felt Applejack bump her and blushed. “S-sorry, it slips out every now and then.”
“She’s really sorry for deceivin’ ya’ll fer so long,” Applejack told them. “She didn’t mean any harm by it, did ya Trix?”
“No! Not at all.” Trixie shook her head forcefully. “Th-that’s why Trix – I, that’s why I came here this morning. Please accept my most sincere apologies, I was only trying to be cautious.”
The three ponies shared thoughtful expressions… but then Granny and Big Mac smiled in unison.
“That’s all right, Twinkie,” Granny declared with head held high. “No harm was done, right Big Mac?”
“Eeeyup.”
Trixie relaxed a little at that… until she noticed Apple Bloom’s sour expression. Her nervousness came back tenfold as the filly’s eyes bored into her.
“Ah dunno,” Apple Bloom said, tilting her head back and forth as she scrutinized Trixie. “Ah really don’t like being used like that, ya pretendin' ya be my sister.”
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack stepped forward to glare, but the filly didn’t flinch.
Trixie thought a knife might have pierced her chest. Of all the ponies to doubt…
So she dropped to her knees before the filly. “Apple Bloom… I’m sorry. I took advantage of you so that I wouldn’t be discovered. Out of the three of you, I spent most of the day with you. You’re right, I used you, and it was wrong of me.”
Apple Bloom sat back, her expression sour.
“But…” Trixie offered a weak smile. “I want to thank you.”
“Thank me?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “Fer what, bein’ too dumb ta catch on?”
Trixie sighed and shook her head, then pressed her hoof against her own chest. “I spent all day with you, Apple Bloom. I… I had fun. I actually laughed, for the first time in ages. You made me feel like I belonged, like I was welcome. I haven’t felt that in a long time. You gave me a chance to live like an Apple, to be part of your family. It was so very nice.
“So thank you.” She bowed her head to the filly.
She turned her gaze up to Big Mac.
“Thank you.”
He offered a calm smile.
Her gaze went to Granny Smith.
“Thank you.”
Granny beamed.
Trixie turned her eyes back to the quiet Apple Bloom. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
The filly blushed and glanced away with a sheepish smile.
Trixie reached forward, hoof moving slow, and patted Apple Bloom’s head. It was all she could think of to do or say, so she stood and stepped back. All there was left was to hope the little pony would forgive her.
Applejack eyed her. “Feel better?”
Trixie stared at Apple Bloom, but the filly wouldn’t meet her gaze. After a moment she bowed her head with a sigh. “Mostly.”
“Good. Now—” Applejack stepped forward to catch the attention of her family, “—Ah got something important ta say.”
“M-maybe I should…” Trixie stepped back, but Applejack raised a hoof and she paused. She tilted her head, but the pony’s gaze was locked on her fellow Apples.
“Uuh, what’s up?” Big Mac asked with a raised eyebrow.
Applejack glanced at each of them in turn before sucking in a deep breath.
“Trixie’s gonna be staying in our guest room fer a while.”
Trixie’s jaw dropped and her mind went blank. The Apples all shared wide-eyed looks.
“That alright by ya’ll?”
The family shook off their surprise as one. Big Mac gained a big smile. “Eeyup.”
“Why Ah’d welcome yer friend, AJ.” Granny Smith nodded her approval. “Welcome aboard, Twerky.”
Trixie might have laughed out loud if her mind weren't still trying to process what was happening.
All eyes turned to Apple Bloom. The filly blushed at the attention and rubbed the back of her head.
“Well… Ah guess it’s okay. Ah mean Ah did have fun an’ all, an’ ya did apologize. So… yeah, Ah guess.”
“Good.” Applejack turned to beam at Trixie… only to find her still gaping. “Trix? You okay?”
Trixie pounced, engulfing the mare in a tight embrace as tears welled in her eyes. “You wonderful, wonderful pony! Why didn’t you tell Trixie you were planning this? It’s the most wonderful gift and Trixie doesn’t deserve it! How will I ever repay you?”
“Whoa, now.” Applejack pushed her back as her cheeks burned and the others laughed. “Ah’m just tryin’ ta do the right thing. Ah’m not about ta let ya live on the street an’ all.”
Trixie sat back and rubbed her eyes. “I’ll never forget this. I promise, I’ll earn my keep! I’m not a workhorse, I know, but whatever you need Trixie to do she will try her best.”
Apple Bloom rubbed her chest in a smug manner. “Don’t ya worry none, Ah’ll teach ya everythin’ ya need ta know.”
“Ya don’t need ta worry about it now,” Granny added, stepping forward to pat Trixie on the shoulder. “Applejack said ya were in bad times. We’re always happy ta help, aren’t we ya’ll?”
“Eeyup.”
“You bet, Granny!”
“We’re here for ya, Trix.” Applejack held the weeping pony at leg’s length with a comforting smile. “Just you wait, yer life will turn around before ya know it.” She pressed a hoof to Trixie’s heart.
“Ah bet you’ll even find what ya need in here ta finally face Twilight.”
Trixie stared at the hoof on her chest. Her eyes slowly went to the others. She felt so… warm.
“None of you have any idea what this means to me,” she whispered as the tears continued to stream unheeded down her cheeks. “I… I can’t thank you enough.”
“You are evil.”
Golden giggled next to Rarity, nuzzling close to her sweating body. Her marefriend set a hoof to her own forehead, breath coming in a slow, deep rhythm. Golden was panting herself, her heartbeat gradually falling to a normal rate.
Rarity peered at her with one eye, the slightest of smiles set upon her lips. “If this is what I can expect from you in Prance, I’m not sure I’ll even want to leave the hotel room.”
“Glad you had as much fun as I did,” Golden replied with a chuckle as she closed her eyes and began to relax.
Rarity stroked her mane, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “I really don’t know what came over you. Compared to how timid you were yesterday, this was downright ferocious.”
Golden frowned and unintentionally tightened her hold. Applejack had told her about how she’d woken in Rarity’s bed. She could only imagine how that must have felt…
Rarity shifted. “Golden?”
Golden looked up into those beautiful blue eyes. There was a light sensation in her chest, but it was in conflict with another, darker feeling.
“Things… happened.”
“Things?” Rarity tilted her head with a small frown. “What kind of things?”
“Scary things.” Golden reached up to feel her lover’s cheek, a complex wave of emotions flowing through her. She thought on Dr. Caballeron with his knife so close to that delicate throat… or, perhaps worse, of Applejack stealing her away in a fit of jealousy.
“I thought I was going to lose you, Rare. I… I couldn’t let it happen.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow, then smiled. “What, is this that ‘kidnapping’ story?”
Golden closed her eyes and pressed in close. For a long time there was only silence between them.
“Golden… you were serious?”
“Don’t make light of it,” Golden whispered, her hooves shaking. “You really don’t have the slightest idea how important you are to me, do you?”
Rarity embraced her in a tight grip. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… and I understand how much you care. I really do, Golden. I… Would I have arranged this trip if I didn’t?”
“I wish you had told me earlier.” Golden leaned back in the bed to give Rarity a small frown. “You went for so long without spending any time with me. I was… I was getting scared.”
“Scared? Of what?”
Golden couldn’t meet her eyes. “Rarity… what do I bring to this relationship?”
Rarity couldn’t resist a wicked smile. “You mean aside from a delightfully rugged body and surprisingly good bed skills?”
Golden winced and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry.” Rarity moved in to hold her close once more. “That was… it just came out. Here you are being so serious about this…”
Golden pressed her forehead against Rarity’s chest, her heart throbbing. “I spent that whole month wondering if you weren’t just avoiding me. Yesterday that terror hit home. I… I was starting to think…”
A terrible quiet filled the air as she clutched at the pony she loved so dearly. She tensed, praying that the silence was just Rarity trying to think of what to say… rather than having nothing to say at all.
Rarity’s voice touched her ears, soft and slow. “Golden, when I first heard that you were crushing on me, I admit I didn’t know what to think. I wondered why, and I wondered if I was even interested.”
She kissed Golden’s forehead. “Then that first day came, that wonderful day I arranged with Fancy just for you. Do you remember? How I escorted you around Canterlot, to the spa, the makeover?”
Oh, Golden remembered. It had to have been one of the happiest days of her life. She had no words to describe it… so she merely nodded against Rarity’s coat.
“That was the first time I really saw you.”
Rarity touched Golden’s cheeks and made her look up. Those blue eyes glimmered like precious jewels.
“You were so happy. True, you wanted to be with me, but it wasn’t just that. You spoke to me; everything that I knew, everything I wanted to talk about, you could comment on. True, your knowledge was weak, but that didn’t change the fact that you were interested. In my work, my efforts, my passions.”
Golden felt her heart skip a beat as Rarity’s sparkling eyes grew moist. “Everypony praises my work, but they don’t really get it. You, Golden? You understand that the work I do isn’t about pretty dresses. You understand me. I feel as if you always understood, even before I knew you were interested, and it touched my heart in ways you can’t imagine.”
Her hold tightened, their muzzles touched.
Golden’s heart soared.
“I love you, Golden Harvest. Don’t you ever doubt that even for a minute. I love you, and I don’t ever, ever want to let you go.”
Their lips touched. Golden held on as tightly as she could, delighting in Rarity’s taste and smell and warmth. She had no words.
Only tears.
Night had fallen on the farm, but Trixie couldn’t sleep. She had lain in bed for nearly an hour, just staring up at the ceiling and marveling at the sheer joy that had followed her through the day. Every time she thought she might drift off there was something that pulled her back into awareness. It was almost like she feared sleep. But did it not make sense? After all, for all she knew this could be a beautiful dream and sleep meant waking up.
At last Trixie threw off her covers and stepped into the hallway. She moved slowly, her eyes roaming the pictures on the walls, pictures of a family legacy. Ponies playing, ponies dancing, ponies laughing, ponies enjoying a sense of belonging Trixie had never enjoyed.
Until now.
She couldn’t possibly describe her emotions, for they were so phenomenally alien to her. Trixie prayed to Luna that they would never part. For once in her life, she felt like she might have finally found something special.
She descended the stairs, then paused in the hallway as she stared at something unexpected: the front door was open. Eyebrows rising, Trixie approached. Had Applejack or Big Mac gone out to do something? What could they possibly be doing at this time of night?
Trixie stepped outside and glanced around, but there was nothing. She sat and gazed up at the moonless sky, momentarily dazzled by the starry infinity above her head.
“Beautiful, is it not?”
Trixie’s breath caught in her throat as she jerked about. There, sitting by the house and gazing up at the stars, was Fleur de Lis.
Trixie took a moment to compose herself before glancing about uncertainly. “What are you doing sneaking about the farm this time of night? Shouldn’t you be in Canterlot?”
Fleur’s eyes were gentle, her smile soft. “I had some unfinished business to attend to.”
“Now?” Trixie swept her hoof about the farm. “Here? It’s the middle of the night.”
Fleur shrugged. “This is when I do my best work.”
Something about that phrase rubbed Trixie the wrong way, and she found herself backing away with head low. “What kind of work?”
Fleur’s smile broadened a touch. “Do you not remember? We had a deal.”
Trixie paused, an eyebrow rising as she considered the pony. “We… did?”
A puff of pink clouds appeared next to Fleur, who lifted her hoof just in time to catch a small bag. She extended it towards Trixie.
“This is for you.”
Trixie eyed the bag, then Fleur. Finally she used her magic to take it. It floated slowly towards her to hover at the height of her chest. Her eyes went wide as she found it was filled to bursting with bits.
“Think of it as a first installment.”
Trixie gazed at the mare, a small gasp escaping her smiling lips. “You mean… you’re going to pay me what you promised?”
Fleur blushed and averted her eyes. “Well… no. I did cause a lot more trouble for you than you deserved, so as compensation I’m tripling it.”
“Triple?” The bag hit the dirt, some of the coins spilling over the ground. “You… I mean… really?”
“And with the bits I offer my formal and most sincere apologies.” Fleur stood to take a proper bow. “What I did to you was wrong, Miss Lulamoon. It took an old friend to make me see it, but now I hope to make amends.”
Trixie gaped at her, then at the bits on the ground. “I…. thank you. This is so much more than I expected. This day has just been… thank you.”
She approached, and Fleur rose from her bow just in time to receive a hug. Trixie felt the pony shift under her hold, but all she cared about was the intense joy in her heart.
There was a long pause, but finally Trixie stepped back. She looked up to find Fleur blushing and averting her gaze.
“I’m sorry,” Fleur whispered. “I’m… not used to that kind of contact.”
“Neither am I,” Trixie replied with a weak smile, “but I think I can get used to it.”
Fleur sighed and bowed her head. “Please do, for both of us.”
Her tone brought Trixie’s pleasure down a notch. She saw the uncertainty in Fleur’s face and found herself wondering.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just…” Fleur raised her head, her eyes meeting with Trixie’s. For a few seconds they merely stared at one another.
At last Fleur smiled and gestured to the house. “I want you to enjoy this opportunity. There’s an ordinary world, Trixie. Those who were born in it can’t possibly appreciate it, but a pony like you understands the value of ‘ordinary.’ You deserve to be part of that world.”
Trixie stared at Fleur, then the house, then at Fleur again. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve never been part of it, either?”
“Nor will I ever be,” Fleur replied, her smile weakening a touch. “This is why it is so important I give you this chance; there are many who see that world only as a fleeting dream. So I’m taking steps: no more bill collectors, no more bad record.”
Trixie gaped. “You can do that?”
Fleur nodded. “I can do nothing for your reputation, but I think you are well on your way to fixing that.”
“How did you—” Trixie shook her head. “You didn’t have to go that far.”
Fleur’s smile became smug. She raised a hoof once more as another patch of pink clouds poofed into existence. A small scroll landed in her waiting hoof.
“I’m not even finished.” She offered the scroll to Trixie.
Hooves shaking, Trixie took the scroll. “Fleur… I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this. Between you and Applejack…”
Fleur only smiled and gestured to the scroll. With a sigh and a small touch of guilt, Trixie unrolled it. It was an advertisement, which perplexed her.
“A… magic school?”
Fleur nodded with a grin. “You have incredible potential locked away in that horn of yours, Trixie. If you could just learn to harness it you would never have to worry about finding work again. I have some contacts who can pull the right strings, so—”
“No.”
Fleur blinked and leaned back. “No?”
Trixie sighed and rolled the scroll. All her pleasure had faded in an instant, and she turned away from the pony in shame. “I… I can’t learn, Fleur.”
“I know you never had any proper schooling. That is why—”
Trixie shook her head. “It has nothing to do with that. I can’t learn. I did go to school for a little while… but everything the teachers said was gibberish to me. It’s like… like there’s some kind of communication gap.”
She stared at the scroll in her hooves, shoulders sagging with her heart.
“I just don’t learn like most ponies do. It doesn’t matter how prestigious the school is, they can’t help me if they don’t know how to teach me. I know I’m not dumb… it just doesn’t connect.”
“Ah.”
Trixie glanced up, surprised to see Fleur sitting at her side with a comforting smile.
“I have heard of this kind of handicap,” Fleur said. “What you need, then, is direct training: an apprenticeship.”
Trixie offered a weak smile and shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure it would help.”
A curiously musical laugh arose from within Fleur. “You misunderstand; I am not offering to make you an apprentice. I wouldn’t dare; it would throw this new life you’ve finally earned in complete disarray.”
Trixie’s cheeks burned as she glanced away. “Oh… I thought…. but if not you, then who?”
Fleur leaned down to look her in the eye. “I would urge you to consider Miss Sparkle.”
“Her? N-no way, absolutely not.”
“You want to earn her respect, do you not?” Fleur set a hoof to Trixie’s shoulder. “Can you think of a better way?”
“But I don’t have her respect now.” Trixie pushed Fleur’s hoof away. “Why would she accept me? She has no reason to.”
“On the contrary, you have Applejack’s endorsement,” Fleur reminded her. “That alone will go a long way in your favor. And my friend knows Miss Sparkle well enough, he could help. She would be willing, if you were but to ask.”
Trixie shook her head forcefully. “She won’t. She’d never accept me.”
Fleur heaved a deep sigh and stood to her full height. She gazed down at Trixie with a studious, critical air.
“The choice is yours, of course. I want to help you and I will be keeping an eye on you. Should you decide that you want to make use of the great gift the Goddess has given you, you will have my assistance. Choose a school, and I will see to it you are accepted. As for Twilight… I encourage you to seriously reconsider.”
Trixie stared at Fleur, her chest tight. “I… I’ll think on it. She won’t accept me, but… maybe.”
Fleur’s smile returned. “Good. I need to go; I have a carriage that needs to be returned to its owner before she notices it is missing.” She tilted her head, her smile becoming anxious. “Probably too late for that…”
She started to depart, but Trixie turned. “Fleur?”
Fleur paused to raise an eyebrow.
Trixie offered a smile of her own. “Thanks. Not just for the bits and the encouragement. If you hadn’t pushed me to chase after Caballeron, I wouldn’t be here. I know it’s not what you intended at the time, but it turned out right. So thank you, Fleur. For everything.”
Fleur blushed and turned away once more. For a few seconds she merely stood there, as if in deep thought.
At last she turned her head back to offer a warm smile. “If you want to thank me, do it by being the best unicorn you can be. I will accept nothing less.”
Trixie watched her go, a strange sense of pride and accomplishment filling her. For several minutes she waited, basking in the warmth that now filled her. There was a deeply-rooted idea that her life was about to take a turn for the better, and there was no way she could explain to anypony how appreciative she was. To Applejack, to Fleur, even to Golden, though she hardly knew the mare. Perhaps she would have to remedy that.
She took the bits and turned to the open door of the house. Inside slept her new friends, perhaps even the beginning of a new family. She stared within and felt her heart swelling. This wasn’t just a door, it was the way in – in to shelter from a life of mediocrity and shame, away from the mockery and disrespect, where she could do things without the world watching her every hoof-fall for a mistake.
It was the entrance to an ordinary world.
Trixie entered without hesitation.
The door closed.
The world didn’t even notice.
A lot of the ideas for this story, name included, came from this:
Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- PaulAsaran · 16k words · 69 2 · 2k views
- PaulAsaran · 11k words · 98 6 · 1.7k views
- PaulAsaran · 124k words · 116 5 · 2.1k views
- PaulAsaran · 93k words · 120 1 · 2.1k views
- PaulAsaran · 38k words · 70 3 · 2.2k views
- Zeck · 6.1k words · 28 0 · 1.3k views
- PaulAsaran · 6.7k words · 27 1 · 602 views
- Zeck · 4k words · 30 3 · 1.3k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.185 seconds
Total duration
809 users online
1,559,719 hits today, 2,879,217 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
I was literally just checking Fimfiction before I went to bed, and this pops into my screen. . . you have good timing, I'll give you that.
the world needs more Applejack and Trixie friend interaction.
4620695
Enjoying your praise, but I just had to note that you've clearly not read The Weed, for which this story also serves as a sequel. In that story Rarity's relationship with Golden begins (in fact that's all it's about), and you'll find that there's nothing sudden at all about it.
But I suppose that's my fault for not clarifying things from the get-go in the long description. I shall remedy that shortly.
4620277
you'll get no argument from me. I was actually rather surprised at how easy it is to work with the two of them.
Wow, Trixie really won the lottery in this one. It only took a ancient artifact of doom to pull it off.
A lovely story! My issues with pairings aside, I really enjoyed this. I got to see some sides of characters I normally don't see in fanfiction, which is a major reason I read stuff like this.
I look forward to any future works!
4623585
Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully next time I won't forget to mention super-pertinent story links in the description next time.
Twinkie? Twerky?
As always, another superbly-crafted piece of pony goodness from you; kudos sir!
Was rather neat to see Trixie in her initial TvE circumstances make an appearance in the main NH family of stories! I really love your depiction of her.
Although I am curious about the AU tag on this story? Pretty sure NH didn't venture into AU territory until book 4, and I dont recall any of the side stories being labeled as such. Just curious 
Only noticed a handful (hoofful?) of typos, but I couldn't stop reading long enuff to make notes
I'm seriously considering going back to read it again right away (yes, it was THAT good) and if so I'll jot them down. But I still need to read Tyrant, so, yeah, I'm torn 
Anyways, have yet another upvote and fave, and keep up the excellent work!
Oh, and also:
"Regarding Golden... there's a reason she can handle herself fairly well in these situations. It's a subtle nod that, when taken in context, can have some interesting implications."
Further hints plz? Cuz I don't get it.
4645431
Why thank you for the praise! It's always good to see a familiar face in the comments.
Ah, you make an easy mistake. Although some of the No Heroes history is valid for these stories, this is actually part of a different AU, which I've come to call the Fleur Universe. The Fleur AU is very similar to the No Heroes AU, but at some point (I haven't decided upon) the two universes took different paths. Right now I'm thinking that would be between books II and III. The Fleur Universe is so-named because she will have a presence – usually an important one – in all the related stories. The only exception is The Weed, where her appearance was little more than an unnamed cameo, but that's because I didn't know at the time that The Weed would be part of the Fleur AU.
Regarding the AU tag, I felt it was obligatory due to me having shipped Rarity with Golden, which is definitely outside of canon.
4645447
The point here is that Golden is much more than a mere farm pony. That's her reputation and it's how everyone sees her – Golden included – but she's smarter and more capable than anyone gives her credit for. Through her interactions with Rarity she has come to learn about etiquette and proper elite behavior, even if only on a subconscious level. This is one of the big things that differentiates her from Applejack, who is a farm pony through-and-through: if Golden moved to the big city, she would be able to adapt and, with a little encouragement and assistance, even thrive.
This is exactly what Rarity was talking about in her little confession: Golden might prefer the farmer's life, but she is capable of understanding and appreciating Rarity's lifestyle almost as well as Rarity does.
4967232
When I realized I was going to go the 'ancient artifact' route as the cause of everything, Caballeron immediately came to mind. He struck me as the perfect sub-par villain to be chasing after the Ring, and it saved me from having to conjure up some OC for the purpose.
Marvelous. Getting here was a bit of a trip, but The Weed was hardly a burden to read, and it's all been absolutely worth it. You wove together four very different stories into an engaging read, and used the body swap trope to good effect. Plus, there were lots of surprises! I'm impressed. :D
Also IF THERE ISN'T A TRIXIEJACK FIC SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD, SO HELP ME ASARAN
(Though I have to admit this is also a great setup for hilarious tsundere Twixie. Not that I approve of such shenanigans, mind.)
4967543
Yes, I noticed that was marked as a prequel to your newest story. If ever I have a chance, I'm going to have take time out and read your stuff, because I'm very intrigued by the world you've made.
4967582
Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully this redeems the... 'ick' that is The Challenge of Fleur.
Believe me, I am not unaware of the strong potential for a TrixieJack left in the wake of this story. I could of course turn it into a Twixie instead, and I fully acknowledge that I greatly approve of that particular pairing, but I'm much more likely to go with TrixieJack. It's far less common, which is what I look for. All I really need is a proper idea; I'm not going to write a sequel until something worth writing comes to me.
Although I should note that a TwixieJack triangle sounds like a ton of fun...
4967618
Two worlds, actually. Although the No Heroes AU and Fleur AU share a lot, they diverge at some point. I know, it's confusing, but there were certain things going on right out the door with both The Weed and The Challenge of Fleur that directly and blatantly contradicted No Heroes, and I hate plot holes.
4967624
DO IT
DO IT RIGHT NOW
WHY AREN'T YOU DOING IT
4967650
Ohhh. That's even more confusing. :|
Wouldn't be bad if they weren't able to switch back for once. Fleur knows how to Trixie spells, Carrot can... migrate to Prance, Trixie can run a farm and Applejack something apples.
I liked this story, everyone learns a lesson or comes out better than they started out at. Trixie begins to fix her reputation and her standing in the world, Fluer learns she needs to have Empathy with others, Applejack learns more about her friend and her neighbors, and Golden Harvest learns that she is loved by Rarity even though she had her doubts. Yes, in all of that it was a very nice tale.
Why doesn't this have more views? This was really good.
5339111
Hmm...
1) It features the (tragically) least popular of the Mane 6?
2) Rounded by two less-than-famous background ponies.
3) Trixie isn't enough on her own to catch readers attention with the others' presence holding it back.
4) It's about body swapping - already a common topic to the point of yawning - and isn't a comedy, which is expected in body swap stories.
5) It's too long for the 10-minute-attention-span crowd.
6) No clop.
Take your pick. Feel free to mix and match.
All sarcasm aside, I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's always nice when someone discovers this fic.
5339168 That's too bad. Looks like I've found a good amount of stuff to read. Well, on to the next one.
Really enjoyed this story.
I love how each character had some great conflicts going here. Fleur's attitude, Applejack's jealousy, Golden's insecurity, and Trixie's depression and need for respect.
Thank you for the story.
5385876
Glad you enjoyed it. This is certainly one of my favorite shorts of my own creation. Well, by my definition of 'short.' Maybe 'average' would be a better term? Point is, I'm really happy with how this one turned out.
I'd totally read a side-fic about Trixie working on the farm and going to Twilight for an apprenticeship. I think it'd be interesting to see how Twilight taught Trixie, as it would no doubt have to be somewhat unconventional from standard learning. Unless you already have one, in which case I'm commenting here looking like an idiot.
5521832
No, I don't have one. Yet. There's always the possibility, though, and I have to admit that the potential for some Trixijack or tsundere Twixie really appeals to me.
I've been reading so many of your stories (I'm currently reading Twilight's Inferno and will continue on with TvE once I've finished it) and I simply don't see myself slowing down, I love your writing that much. This story was just as good as the last. It really does deserve more attention than it has, perhaps you should submit it to ED over Of Angels, but it's a close second.
5707496
I have indeed noticed your name popping up in most of my stories by now. Always good to know that my work is appreciated!
Unfortunately, Ordinary World can't be submitted to EqD until The Weed is accepted, and that means it's going to be Of Angels for the time being.
5521851 I also would like to see a continuation of Trixie on the farm from this. A Trijack shipping (or Lulajack?) woeld be interesting to see, though not a requirement. I did enjoy this piece though!
5820009
!
What's this? People are still reading this story? Pardon me while I
But really, I dunno if I'll get to that sequel, but it is a very interesting and tantalizing thought. Maybe someday. Glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderful story. Fine Crime was pretty amusing in this, though what he did at the end with Fleur was pretty apparent. How long he planned it to turn out that way though I have to wonder.
I really liked Fleur trying to do a convoluted plan like her mentor without realizing how annoyed he would be at the lack of need for one. Does tell something about Fine Crime though, more on how people see him and his plans. His convictions about how messed up Fleur was treating Trixie's life was also a feel good moment to me.
A very nice read and continuation on the prequel's. Happy I finally read this.
5820886
*Reads the story. Enjoys it a lot, for how wholesome and wonderful it is in the end, and how things work out for all four of them in the end. Hopes to also see more of Trixie on the farm...and hopes the author doesn't get toooo surprised at folks still readin' their stories.*
9374717
Aaah, I miss this one. Thanks for reminding me it exists.
I actually ended up rereading this one because enough time had passed that I needed to refresh my thoughts on it. Not that I'm complaining, this is still an entertaining read and I got to notice a few new details and take in the full story with a broader perspective.
Having been going through so many of your older works, I feel that this one in particular marks a noticeable point in which your writing style and quality had begun to develop in the direction toward what it is now. It's a bit difficult to pin down exactly, but in general it comes off feeling more refined and concise. The descriptions are more varied and the characters are more fleshed out. No Heroes might have been stretched a little thin having to accommodate a cast of six different characters, in addition to the Mane Six and other side characters and villains along the way, but this story does a good job of juggling these four key characters, I don't think that any of them were especially left behind compared to others.
Something I find interesting is that the conflict for all of the characters is feeling some sense of inadequacy or general unrest in their lives. Golden Harvest is worried that she can't match up to Rarity's high standards. Applejack feels frustrated that Golden Harvest is catching Rarity's affection and doubts herself as a result. Trixie suffers from a lifetime of failing to achieve what she wants. Fleur de Lis is less obvious but she does go into this with a desire to show off to Fine Crime, and not only does that fail spectacularly but she's made to realize how empty her life is. Then each one in their own way comes out on the other side with the reassurance that they needed.
Between both this story and The Weed, Golden Harvest was another pleasant surprise for an inclusion of a character that I never really would've bothered to pay much mind to. I don't know if there's any fanon interpretations going into the decision to go this route with her. Funnily enough, I was rewatching Sweet and Elite recently and did notice that a pony that looked like her wearing a dress appeared at one of the parties, not sure if that might be part of it.
It's appropriate that Nye is the one who tries to bring Rarity and Golden together in The Weed since their relationship can be seen as very similar to that between him and Rainbow Dash. Golden struggles with the idea that she isn't worth Rarity's time and the anxiety that Rarity might have lost interest in her. I've never been in a real relationship myself, but I have to imagine that this is exactly how I'd feel if a Rarity-like individual were to snatch me up into a relationship with how often I beat myself up.
The only qualm that I have with Golden Harvest in this story is that she feels...not exactly underdeveloped or underutilized, more that she's out of the loop compared to the others. She doesn't have as much of a connection with the overarching cast and plot of the story. It's particularly notable that she's largely absent from the climax after everyone returns to their original bodies and Golden stays behind with the unconscious Rarity while the others run off. At the end of the day, Golden's main arc here is not about her connection with any of the other characters, aside from a brief heart to heart with Applejack, it's all about her relationship with Rarity. In that sense, it's more that she is the protagonist of her own separate story, a continuation of The Weed that incidentally happens to overlap with this other story about ponies dealing with bodyswap shenanigans.
It also seems odd to me that Golden doesn't really form any connection with Fleur, in contrast to any of the other swapped pairs (Golden/Applejack, Applejack/Trixie, and Trixie/Fleur), and I feel there's some real untapped potential there. Golden Harvest wants nothing more than to be a princess, to be fancy, to be classy, and what pony would be better to show her what it means to be that way than Fleur de Lis? I could easily see Fleur taking Golden under her wing and showing her what it really means to be a Canterlot mare so she can woo Rarity better, and for good measure she throws in some Kingsman-style self-defense training.
And if you don't do that then I'm going to have to do something like it myself. Eventually. Maybe.Applejack is a character that I have a complicated relationship with. I really, really want to like her, but I think that the show never fully realized what her potential could have been, her character didn't get explored much beyond...kind of milquetoast nice traditionalist person...and farmer. In that sense I feel that, more than any of the other main characters, writers really have an uphill battle with her if they want to give her a dynamic and engaging presentation. Kind of hilarious to me reading the author's note where you said you specifically wanted to go into this to give her more flaws and that's what I feel is really necessary for her to be more well-rounded. I'm oddly attracted to stories where Applejack is more openly flawed--there's also Bulletproof Heart of course, and Estee's Triptych comes to mind in particular.
I can understand a lot of readers coming into this story being perhaps alienated to Applejack's portrayal being so mean and selfish. On going through this again, though, it occurred to me how the way Applejack interrogates the idea that Golden Harvest and Rarity are together almost mirrors the way a skeptical reader might view their relationship--especially those who didn't read The Weed. I have to imagine that Applejack never truly loved Rarity, she just admired her and thought that she was pretty, and it was only when Golden came into the picture, when the possibility of having Rarity for herself was abruptly snatched away, that she wished she had acted sooner. She thinks that she, being more important, ought to be the one who deserves Rarity, but it's only when she sees how much Golden cherishes Rarity that Applejack realizes how shallow her own affections are.
I also like how Applejack's accent comes into play. I see some bodyswap stories in audiovisual media will just nonsensically swap the characters' voices too even though that doesn't make any sense. Here, though, Applejack's natural inclination to speak in her southern drawl carries over to Golden Harvest, so you get to imagine this character speaking in a completely abnormal way and having to stumble over themselves to avoid standing out to those who would be familiar with them. And the inverse happens for Trixie, now inhabiting Applejack's body and having to attempt to mimic the accent as best as she can in order to fit in with the rest of the Apple family.
Trixie is a lot like Lightning Dust--both in canon and in these stories. Much like Lightning Dust, I was disappointed in how Trixie got railroaded into staying a jerk when she finally returned to become a mainstay character, even though the ending of Magic Duel made it seem like she would be changing her ways. I guess it might have been kind of hard for Trixie to be a repentent former baddie unicorn in season 6 when Starlight Glimmer was going to be filling exactly that niche, a niche which had already been filled by Sunset Shimmer too.
Trixie shares a lot of Lightning Dust's qualities, of wanting to stand out, wanting to be recognized for something, but also of being unable to recognize how she is treading over others in the process. In particular, though, the way Trixie is presented here is almost like the end result of what would have happened if Lightning Dust had truly hit rock bottom in Lightning's Bolt--if she had really had an all-out brawl with Rainbow Dash and been fired from her job and maybe the team, and/or, heaven forbid, lost custody of Keen Arrow. This is a Trixie who recognizes that she messed up and wants nothing more than to make up for it, but at this point it's too little too late and she's left with nothing but to coast along on what little she has left. She no longer wants to be famous--if anything she hates fame; it's tragic how she has to go around terrified of simply being recognized--she just wants to be happy.
I also noticed Trixie swears in Luna's name instead of Celestia's. Interesting. It's kind of surprising that Trixie didn't appear in the No Heroes series at all, one would expect her to be a perfect fit there. Then again, I suppose therein lies exactly the problem, she's too easy of a pick for the team--I imagine that a lot of these Luna's team/alternate Mane Six stories from the early days of the fandom cast Trixie since she's such a natural foil to Twilight Sparkle. Maybe if Fine Crime hadn't ended up joining the team himself as it was implied he was supposed to be separate from it at first, Trixie could have had room to come on, but I could never see her replacing Upper Crust.
I have to wonder whether the rock farm she went to would be the Pie family one in this continuity considering Pinkie killed all of (or most of?) them in No Heroes.
Overall Trixie's arc is probably the highlight of this story, and I feel she is perhaps the true main character. She has the strongest emotional resonance out of all of the characters and the most to overcome. It's sad to imagine how simply existing as Applejack brought her more happiness than she had known as Trixie for a long time. I like how Fleur's meeting with her is like her own version of Fine Crime's interactions with Keen Arrow and Sunflower, urging her to move on happily with her life and continue to seek more. At long last, surrounded by ponies who love her, Trixie can live in an ordinary world.
But...on the topic of Fleur...
It goes without saying that reviews are largely based upon one's personal opinions and biases, but I feel like emphasizing here that a lot of what I'm about to say is the result of the particular way in which I approached this story and the expectations I had as a result, not necessarily the text itself.
I went into this expecting that Fleur de Lis was probably going to be a bitch. A stuck-up rich Canterlot mare with a hoity-toity job and also the position of illusionist and secret peacekeeper. It's all there for her to be in this role of a character who looks down upon others and needs to be taken down a peg or twelve. I was all for that kind of arc. That was exactly the content that I was interested in seeing when I started reading all these stories.
But I wasn't prepared for just how meanspirited Fleur turned out to have become. Willing to throw innocent civilians under the bus for her plans to go off? Not taking the time to do all the research necessary on the person of interest in her mission? Not even knowing the names of her subordinates? And all this...because she wanted to impress Fine Crime? I just don't understand where all of this came from.
The concept of the Fleur-Verse has...confused me. I said before that I came into it because I was really curious to see what a series of stories about Fleur de Lis would be like, I wanted to see how she would develop. And after Reddux the Tyrant, I was feeling pretty good on that front, it seemed like she was on a good path, I was genuinely really excited for what would be to come. Then...I waited...and waited...and I didn't get much in the end. Out of the ten stories which are listed under the Fleur-Verse banner, I'd only say three of them actively feature Fleur as a main character and entail her development--even in The Challenge of Fleur she's really only present to get the plot kicked off in what is ultimately a story about Luna and Fancy Pants. Then I finally get to Ordinary World, in which it turns out that all of the development since Fleur came to Canterlot has just...happened offscreen, and it turns out to have largely been to the effect of her becoming a worse person. I know that Reddux the Tyrant was written later, as it's hinted toward in this story, and I wonder if I wouldn't have been so bothered if I had come into this when it was first published and I could have had more neutral expectations.
There's really a lot of this jarring cruelty in this story where Fleur and Fine and the Archons are concerned. This is the most that we've seen of the Dark Archons in action since Reddux the Tyrant and No Heroes Part 1 (depending on chronological or publication order) and it's here that we see a lot more about how they are as an organization. And it's...really, deeply unpleasant? I'm not very fond of the way this shadowy group apparently has free rein to play with the lives of ponies as they deem necessary. Fleur's punishment is kneecapped somewhat by the fact that she's stuck in Trixie's body, which is part of a larger bodyswap problem, and if she doesn't get let out so they can fix this then they're all going to be screwed over, and the Archons know that this is the case. What was Fine going to do if Fleur didn't make this discovery about Trixie's untapped potential and promise to help her get better? Would he have just left her in the cell after all even if it meant dooming the others? For all his talk about not putting innocents in danger, he really doesn't show much compassion at all.
But the point where I have to draw a hard line is when Fine Crime dresses down Trixie. Beyond it being extraordinarily hypocritical of him after he was the one who brought up to Fleur how tragic and miserable Trixie is, it just doesn't make any sense to me. I can understand him being callous to Fleur since the point of this is to teach her a lesson and he needs to put up this act for the sake of consistency, but I see absolutely no reason to act that way toward Trixie when he easily could have subdued her without actively targeting her fragile emotional state. Even with all of them getting off the hook at the end, that's the kind of thing that can leave deep scars, and I really can't get behind a character who would act that way toward someone vulnerable, even more when they know how vulnerable they are, that's abusive manipulation shit. It makes me think of a lategame episode of Batman TAS where new-style gruff asshole Batman laughs mockingly at Harley Quinn before breaking down her fantasies, then shows no concern for her when the Joker shows up and nearly kills her, where pre-art-shift Batman would have shown a deep level of sympathy for her and his other antagonists when they were at their most vulnerable. Out of all the stories that I've read thus far, this is the one where Fine Crime comes off the most like a mary sue, the plot is constantly bending around him and talking up how cool and competent he is whenever he's onscreen, and there's convenient justification for all of his actions, no matter how cruel or harmful they might be. I think that he really needs to be a main character of a story to work best, because when you aren't getting his innermost thoughts you're only getting the surface-level impression, the illusion of being smug and confident that he puts on in public, and that doesn't really do him any favors.
In spite of all this, I really genuinely did have a lot of fun reading this story--I did read it twice, after all, and still enjoyed it despite knowing the parts that were going to get under my skin, however briefly. Despite still having aged a bit, it's written well and all of the characters have strong arcs, even Fleur's I have to admit is effective at its core. It's just that I have a hard time fully committing to everything that it wanted to show with what I had been led to expect from the stories that came before this. As much as I may not understand the cohesion of the Fleur-Verse as a whole, I can't really complain about it considering that I still read through it, and I still had a good time with the individual stories. I easily could have just skipped to this installment since it seemed to show the most of what I was looking for, but I wanted to see what might lead up to it instead. Shadow Pony confused me a little--I wasn't sure if Sunflower might have been Fleur at first and this was going to be her origin story--but I still kept going with it even after it became clear and I was surprised by how charming it was. I hadn't been sure if I could commit to reading a big story like Reddux the Tyrant, but it was clear that Fleur was actually in this one so I settled in and quickly got engrossed in the turmoil of the dragon war. I don't know if I would have given No Heroes a chance if it hadn't been included among these, but after Reddux I was curious for more so I kept eating it up. Without all this, I might not have bothered to read Lightning's Bolt, and that would have been truly tragic. And I might not have read the charming romance of Rarity and Golden Harvest in The Weed and the heart-pounding rollercoaster ride of Trixie in Ordinary World.
So, even with all its ups and downs, thank you for this story, and for the Fleur-Verse; it didn't entirely give me what I had hoped for, but what it did have to offer was a whole lot more than that.