Consciousness came to Trixie slowly as her eyes opened blearily. She could somewhat make out some words that were being said on the edge of her conscious thoughts. “...alright?” “...think so…” “...hear us?” She started to sit up slowly, to alleviate the discomfort from her back. Her thoughts became more clear as she now could recognize the voice that spoke next as her boyfriend, Gearbox. “Oh thank goodness you’re alright! I was worried, you know.”
He hugged her tight as her eyes fully opened, taking in the room she was in. She was in a hospital room, which was frankly didn’t surprise her- she did pass out, after all. Pressure built on her back as it grew in discomfort. She had a strained smile and spoke softly. “A little… tight, don’t you think?”
At that, Gearbox let go reflexively. “Oh, sorry Trixie.” He stepped back, and Trixie got a chance to breathe. She could feel the discomfort lessen, though it was still there, somewhat. As if there was a part of her that was… constrained, inhibited.
Maestro approached cautiously. “You alright? Feel anything… different?”
The way Maestro phrased that implied that he knew something that she didn’t- but that was nothing new, considering who it was. But then she analyzed the others in the room- Twilight, Pinkie, Ashley, Micaela, Rarity, Ayumi, Alex, Janice, Phantom, Cheryl, Carmen, Rae, Dianna, Tyra, Brianna, Chessmaster- even Natalie and Gearbox looked as if they knew something that she didn’t. She glared suspiciously, hands on hips. That was when she noticed that something on her back tried moving. Yelping in surprise, she clamoured a bit. “What’s going on here!?”
Twilight tried to calm her down. “Easy now, Trixie. Just try and calm down. You’re still you, regardless.”
Eyebrow perked at those words, Trixie lapsed into third person for the first time in a long while. “Of course Trixie is still herself! She is not a numbskull, Radderson. She-” This is when she caught herself, cleared her throat, and continued. “I just want to know why you’re all looking at me like that!”
The group looked amongst one another, but Ayumi decided to break the ice. “Well, you’re not exactly your old self anymore. After all… you have wings now.”
At that, Trixie gasped. That movement from her back resurfaced, and this time it made sense. But there were still a few things troubling her. “Okay, so I’m an alicorn, then? But… why are my wings bound? What’s wrong with them?”
A bit of uncertain murmuring went through the group until Gearbox gave his thoughts. “None of us know why for certain; but I think I have a guess. Maybe the ascension was… incomplete, somehow? That’s my guess as to why your wings were damaged when we found you.”
Shaking his head, Maestro voiced his opinion. “I’m not so sure about that. I think that the ascension did work properly- but perhaps the sheer force of her fall banged up her wings.”
Ayumi decided to speak up on that bit as well “I’ve known alicorns who have normal wings at first, but after a bit they change their looks in the transition the wings damage themselves.” Ayumi spread her own dragon-like left wing “It happened to this one when it first changed.”
Clearly a bit upset, Trixie crossed her arms. “Well, it doesn’t matter what happened, the point is that even though I have them, I can’t use them!” The bandaged wings on her back twitched slightly in her agitation. She had wanted them so much, but now that she had them they were already useless!
Twilight then attempted to cheer her up. “Hey, it could be worse. You could have gotten broken bones! Your new wings may take time to be useful, but once you can use them, I assure you that any of us fliers will be willing to help you learn how to use them.”
Trixie was silent for a moment, until a small smile grew on her face. “Thanks, I guess.”
It was at that point that a human doctor came into the room with a tray of hospital food. He smiled at the sight. “Ah, she’s awake. Good timing!” He set the tray on her lap, and explained to her as she ate. “I have some good news- Your wings look to be healing quite nicely, so those probably won’t need the bandages in a few days. Remember to change them daily-” He handed her a small kit full of the proper materials. “Until they are fully healed. Though, I’d suggest not flying too high or fast with them until you get used to using them. I recommend coming in here at least once a week for a month to check with our anthro consultant on the progress of your wings.”
After Trixie finished the tray of food, she spoke up. “Is that all? Can I go now?”
The doctor chuckled a bit. “Not yet. We’ll do a few tests of your reflexes, and then you’ll be cleared to get going.” He turned to the others. “Now, if the rest of you would so kindly exit, I can begin.” The group followed instruction, and the doctor did the standard tests- the little hammer on the legs, the eye follow test, and so on. After that was all done, a nurse came in with the clothes that Trixie had been wearing earlier. He spoke. “Well, miss Evenlor. I’ll leave you to get dressed, and then you can go.”
The doctor left, as did the nurse after setting the clothes on the bed. Trixie got dressed quickly, until she was at the blouse. She didn’t quite know how she was supposed to do this, now that she had wings. Thankfully, Rarity came in at just that moment. She was about to excuse herself, but Trixie called out. “Don’t go!” She went up to her, and dragged her into the room. She showed her the blouse, and explained. “I don’t know how I’m going to put this on now that I have wings! Can you…”
Understanding, Rarity nodded. “Leave it to me!” She took out a pair of scissors, and went to work. She eyeballed the wings on Trixie’s back, running through a few ideas. She shook herself out of it, and returned to the task at hand. She carefully cut the fabric so that the wings could fit through, making sure to keep a steady hand. Once she had finished with both holes, she handed the blouse back to Trixie. “Try it now, darling. Hopefully it’ll work out.”
A bit apprehensive, Trixie looked at it for a minute. She wasn’t sure, but it was best to find out now- after all, she couldn’t go out half-dressed. She carefully put it over her head, fumbling a bit. But after a bit of struggle, she got it on and sighed in relief. She smiled. “Thanks, Rarity. I’ll probably have to send you my other blouses and have them adjusted, too. Luckily that dress you made has a low enough back to not worry about it.” She chuckled a bit.
Rarity smirked. “I suppose with that piece I had a bit of foresight or something. Regardless, I’d be glad to help you out with any of the clothes you have, free of charge.”
Rarity left the room, and Trixie sighed. She was pretty lucky to have friends, especially her main ones. She decided go spend some time with them- after all, it was them that helped her ascend. Smiling, she went to the front doors of the hospital, glad to see the five of them waiting for her. She spoke out. “So, where do you girls want to go?”
They left, discussing where they would go and what they would do when they got there- but Trixie was just glad to have them around her in that moment. It was the start of a new chapter in her life, and she was determined to get it right.
Elsewhere…
“She WHAT? How did that two-bit stage magician ascend!?” Starfall flinched at the very force of Starlight’s words. “Why I oughta...! JET! Get in here!”
Arriving on command, Jet responded. “What now? I have other things to do, you know.”
Starlight glared at him for his impertinence, but decided to let it go. He was pivotal at this stage, so she let him run his mouth… for now. “I need you to bring Trixie to me. I want those wings! I don’t care how you do it, just get her here!”
Jet stiffened a bit, but then sighed. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do. It’ll take a while, though. Nevertheless, it will be done.” At that, Jet dissolved into the shadows.
Starlight then murmured under her breath. “It had better be, Jet. Don’t fail me, or otherwise…” Starlight let the implications hang in the air, certain he heard.