Trixie was anxious. It was Tuesday, and she was already in a bit of a panic. Gearbox had asked her out. Now, she’d gone out with him before, but this time was different. After all, She had been warned in advance that they’d be going someplace fancy this Saturday- one of those place that really expected you to dress nice. After school, she went over to Rarity’s shop, hoping that she might be able to help her. She found the boutique easily enough, after all, it was quite the standout location compared to the surrounding area. She opened the door and came in a huff. “Oh, this is no good! Trixie has nothing good enough to wear!!” She then storms over to Rarity, and grabs her by the shoulders. “You’ve gotta help Trixie! She’s going somewhere real fancy this Saturday, and she can’t disappoint!”
Ashley looked over at Rarity, then to Trixie, “If she can make Alex look good, Ah reckon she can help ya out, Trixie.”
Trixie looked over to Ashley in confusion. As she was about to ask who “Alex” was, she noticed a mouse on the dresser. She stared for a bit, and realized that it was an anthro. Trixie raised an eyebrow. “A mouse? Well that’s a new one.” She then saw the dress it- she, Trixie mentally corrected- was wearing. It was a miniaturized alteration of a dress Trixie had seen elsewhere in the shop. She looked back to Rarity. “Trixie knew you were good, but didn’t realize how good.” She then rummaged through her pockets, and managed to pull out a piece of paper. “That’s got a few suggestions for the dress, along with my measurements. I’ve gotta go- I’ll be back to check on it on Friday.” She then handed the paper over to Rarity, and was about to leave, but turned to the mouse anthro, whom she surmised must be Alex. “Listen, Trixie wishes she could stay a little longer, but she needs to go. Maybe we’ll see each other later, though.” She then exited the building.
She was so consumed in her thoughts that she couldn’t make out if anyone had said good-bye as she left. Not that it mattered. Today she was on the edge, just wondering what could come next. She heard that there’d be a party for that mouse-girl, but she wasn’t in the mood at the moment. She met up with her friends, and chatted about how things were going for them. Later, they saw Flora come out of the party. They talked with her about the project with Xavier until Maestro came out of the party, muttering something, dragging a hand through the reddish-brown portion of his hair, just missing the turquoise streak in the center. “Xavier, how much longer until you’re back to your old self?” The door closed behind him, just missing his seven-colored rainbow tail. He then took a look at those that awaited him, and smiled. “So, shall we?”
Xavier had beaten them to the place once again, but only by a small margin. Flora, Diana, and Valerie were psyching up for what might be the hardest lesson yet- getting him to remember his former kindness. Flora was a tad nervous, so Diana decided to start her section first. ”Kindness is showing empathy to others, especially to those who need a friend to talk to or vent. There are times when being too kind may make you look like a pushover...no offense, Flora.”
It was clear to Xavier that they were trying a bit harder this time around. He even noticed that Flora took no offence from that final statement. But Xavier was not about to cave in this early. He was going to win this bet, so he had to up his game. “So what? Is that really worth it? To just be nice to everyone, no matter what?”
Composing herself, Flora decided to try and answer Xavier’s questions. “You might not think so, especially with people that are constantly rude or abrasive. But, being the better person, and showing kindness to all you meet is its own reward, especially when you see it spread to others, affecting people that you thought unlikely.”
This caught Xavier off-guard. Wasn’t she the shy one? One look in her direction that was pointed enough though, and she was reduced to an anxious mess. Still, he was genuinely impressed that she powered through like that. However, he was certain that with this next blow, he’d stump them for sure. “Really now? Compassion ripples? What nonsense! How could it, in a world like ours, where darkness is rewarded, and light is shunned? Do you have anything to say to that?”
Shaking her head, Valerie sighed. “We may not have the words to tell you, but we have something of an example.” She smirked, confident he’d accept the challenge. “If you would follow us to the hospital, we can begin.”
Now Xavier was intrigued. An example in the real world? Now this could be interesting. He was confident that it would blow up in their faces, so he grinned. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to see where this goes. Lead on.”
The group was eager to see this, and followed to the hospital. They went to one of the rooms, and entered with permission. Inside was Clyde, sitting up on the bed. Nobody else was in the room, save for Gearbox. Clyde looked to the group of anthros, and smiled. “Well, what do we have here? Lovely ladies here to visit me? How courteous.” He winked, and a few of the girls visibly blushed. Not Trixie, though. Clyde turned to Xavier, and raised an eyebrow. “Who’s this guy? He looks pretty intimidating.”
Adjusting his labcoat a smidge, Gearbox spoke. “That’s an old friend of Maestro’s, as I understand it. The girls are here for a little demonstration I cleared with the hospital. Take it away, Valerie.”
Valerie then looked to Xavier, and spoke. “You see, Xavier, compassion can be expressed through many veins. Allow me to demonstrate.” She then turned to face Clyde. She struck up a conversation. “So, Clyde. How are you feeling this day?”
He sighed, and shrugged. “Better, I suppose. Still not quite 100%, but I’m getting there.” Thanks for asking.”
At Clyde’s smile, Xavier noticed something unprecedented. As the conversation continued, Clyde and the others seemed to have this positive energy spread across the room. But why? It was only words. Why did there seem to be this power about them? Xavier had missed most of the words spoken because of his shock, but he did notice when Valerie turned to him again.
“Do you see now, Xavier? The power Compassion has?” At Valerie’s words, Xavier stepped back. He’d never seen something quite like this, but… He refused to accept what he was seeing. He would not let them see that he’d been shaken.
At the surprise of the group, he shook his head, and scoffed. “So what? That’s all? A scripted act to try and sway me?” As Valerie was about to respond, he cut her off. “Ha! As if I’d fall for that!” He then turned to Maestro, and smirked. “Well now that I know that you’re willing to stoop to this level, how about a little higher stakes, eh?”
As the rest started to panic, Maestro raised a hand to hush them. “Oh? And what do you suggest, Xavier?”
Xavier’s grin grew wide. “Well, let’s see… If I win this little wager, I want you to admit that I’m right- and cut off all ties to your friends.”
The whispers from the others grew heated, but Maestro showed no hesitation. “Very well. But, if I win this wager, I want you to accept my apology, and make a new friend.”
Once again, Maestro had outstretched his hand. But this time, Xavier shook it immediately. “You’ve got yourself a deal.” After the deal was sealed, Xavier still seemed smug. “Well. I hope you’re ready to uphold your end of the bargain when the time comes, Maestro. See ya!” He then walked away, confidently.
After he left, Rarity came in. “Did I miss something?”
Carmen went over to her, sighing. “Only Xavier once again shrugging the lesson off. Even a demonstration wasn’t enough…”
It was then that another came into view. It was Janice’s pale friend. She spoke up. “I don’t think so. I could tell that he was more shaken by it than he let on.” Before the other two asked, she introduced herself. “I don’t believe we’ve had the opportunity to meet. I am Patricia Aromis.”
The other two looked at each other for a moment, then to Patricia. Rarity spoke first. “So, Patricia, what do you think we should do? Go a similar route? Or try something different?”
She thought on this a while, and nodded. “A little of both. Let us meet later to talk specifics- Your place, Carmen?”
“Mm-hm! I’ll set it all up! See ya later, then!” With that, Carmen went off.
The others soon left, even Gearbox. This left Clyde alone to think. “That Xavier guy… He’s more troubled than he appears.” He went silent for a bit, and swung his legs to be over the floor. “But… my question is… What else is there? Sure, he had a falling out with an old friend, but… That doesn’t seem like enough.” He then looked out the window. “I’m sure that it will come to light soon…”