Times had changed... Trixie had changed. From magician to bard, but always the mare of the show. But to say that Trixie completely changed her ways... there are those who say she did good... she... she doesn't know.
Trixie remembered that her best audience members had always been children, so, needing a pick me up, she deliberately sought to perform for them. Celestia suggested to perform at orphanages across the country, because few ponies focused on those children. Trixie agreed to do so for a time, and thus she came to the Melony Foals orphanage.
At the door she was met by a pink mare with a snow white mane. Behind her, Trixie saw her audience members gathering, several foals cheering her name, especially one yellow pegasus filly who flew around the room, wings beating hard. The filly cheered loudly, zipping around and suddenly dived down and grabbed up a small blue earth pony colt. The colt was startled, but seemed okay with being taken for a ride.
Trixie chuckled to herself, watching the antics of the pegasus filly, as well as her goofy appearance. The girl had a strange back mane, that flopped around, looking somewhat like a lightning bolt, and then her front mane was sparse only having a small comb over for styling. Her face had freckles on only one side.
The... rather patient colt that she was flying with, was a simple looking kid. Cyan coat with a navy blue mane and tail, both in a rather normal style. He did have yellow highlights which stood out a little.
Melony looked over her shoulder at the filly, then back at Trixie, chuckling too. “Well someone is happy to see you... um...” Trixie floated a bag from her cart to herself.
Trixie reached inside and pulled out two small dolls, one in the image of Rainbow Dash, the other Apple Jack, two ponies who had not been very nice to her in the past, but who, nonetheless, played a role in her reformation. Besides, kids tended to love Rainbow's mane. She held them up and waved them specifically at the flying filly, who squeaked and shot over to her. Trixie used her magic to levitate the toys right to the filly. The filly quickly put down her friend and looked at the toys. Trixie then suddenly felt a pull on her magic from somewhere... it must have been a unicorn... but the toys were meant for the pegasus, for making her laugh. She tried to tug the toys back, but they just kept being pulled harder and harder, until Trixie grunted and just took the toys back. “Trixie is sorry dear,” she said as the filly looked at her with big disappointed eyes. “Whoever was trying to take those, that was not nice, not at all,” Trixie scolded. “Trixie intends on having gifts for everyone, don't be greedy!” The filly stared at Trixie, mouth gaping open. “I- Trixie... Trixie will give them to you later, don't worry.” But instead of looking reassured, the filly simply dropped to the floor, stopping her humorous flight.
Melony shook her head and waved at Trixie. “Don't worry about her, her mood changes like lightning- that's her name after all. Lightning Strike.”
“Trixie thinks that's a cute name,” Trixie said. “However she-”
“I'll take care of her... where will you be setting up?” she continued.
“Outside of course, Trixie's performance uses fireworks and smoke, hardly good for indoor entertainment.”
“Well the children have been waiting a long time to see you, why don't you set up and I'll take care of Lightning.” Trixie looked over at the small yellow filly, who looked ready to cry. Melony stepped out of the way and the other children streamed out of the small foster home, about eight in all. Trixie noticed that the blue colt from earlier didn't follow, he stayed inside with his friend. Trixie turned to go back to her cart with her enthusiastic crowd as the door closed behind her.
But Trixie hesitated. She walked over to the closed door as the children crowded around her wagon with eagerness in their eyes, a few asking if they could help set up. She waved at them to stop as she listened.
She heard the mare on the other side. “Dusk, go on now, you've been looking forward to this show just like the others-”
“NO!” came a young male voice Trixie easily guessed the owner of.
“Honestly I'll never understand the two of you, Lightning, come on I eh... fine, follow if you must Dusk.” Trixie heard them walking away. Trixie didn't know why, but something just didn't seem right. She quietly turned the door knob with her magic and slowly opened the door to see the three leaving the main room. Trixie followed far behind as they went into a small alcove.
The mare opened a small closet and gestured to Lightning, who slowly walked inside. “Look, if you're good and quiet this time, I'll tell Trixie you got sick and just give you the dolls she offered, I'm sure she'll let me have them.” She closed the door on the filly, the blue colt sitting on the outside with one of his hooves resting on the door. Melony walked away and straight into Trixie.
“What... what did she do wrong?” Trixie asked, trying to reach for any good explanation for what she was seeing.
“I... I... you weren't supposed to see that,” Melony replied.
“Trixie gathered...” Trixie started to glare.
Melony grunted. “Look, judge me all you want. I keep ten children in my home, stretching every dollar to make this work so I don't have to let even one of them go. I have managed to keep all of them together for years at great personal expense.” She pointed at the closet, “I have no idea what to do with that one. She has telekinetic powers. It freaks out other ponies. Let me guess, even you are surprised right?”
“So that's why she was so upset. No one was taking the dolls-”
“Except your intended recipient.” She sighed looking back. “Sorry. You even finding out about this is all my fault, I should have put her away before you even came to the door.”
“Because she has some weird ability?” Trixie said. “Trixie should consider putting you away!” She was about to speak up again but Trixie didn't let her. “You let her back out this instant!” The pink mare looked back, then tried to move past Trixie, but Trixie stood tall, glaring down at her. Finally the mare walked back, opened the door and immediately a small yellow filly shot out of the closet and hugged Trixie tightly.
Trixie hugged Lightning back and set the foal on the ground. “Here,” Trixie said, giving the filly the two dolls again. “Take good care of them.” she said.
The colt and filly ran out of the hallway to be with the other children. “So, what are you going to do?” asked Melony.
“Trixie is going to continue the show, it's what everyone is waiting for.” Trixie turned around, not wanting to dain to give the mare another look.
“I mean after that.”
“Trixie... is not sure.” Trixie admitted.
“If you report me, I won't stop you,” Melony looked down. “But say what you will, what makes you better than me exactly?”
“Plenty,” Trixie snarled.
“Fine, report me then, have all of these children removed from my custody, so that they will be tossed from home to home every few months for the rest of their lives, all for your sense of justice.” Trixie gritted her teeth. “Do you have any idea what it's like for them? I treat even her well enough, but if you honestly believe being tossed around like a piece of trash no one wants, is a better future for even Lightning, do what you want.” Melony walked away.
Trixie sat down in place as Melony walked away.
Perhaps if Trixie really was ignorant, perhaps she would have done the right thing. However Trixie had known a number of orphans near her home and she understood the truth of the words Melony spoke all to well.
Trixie then made a decision she would regret for a long time to come. She did her show and moved on.
Trixie does not know how to say how sorry she is. She has met that filly again, now adopted by a good family. Lightning remembers Trixie fondly and still has the gifts Trixie gave her... she thought they were purchased, but the bits she gave Trixie weren't enough, Trixie gave them to her out of guilt. Lightning had the entire collection of dolls of Twilight and her friends. Each time Trixie hears that girl praise her, her heart sinks. Lightning thinks of Trixie as her hero... Trixie knows she stopped short of actually being one.