//------------------------------// // Four's a Herd, Five's a Crowd (by Bumblebeau) // Story: Romantic Mischief // by TheHardie-Boy //------------------------------// “Where is that Carriage? I'm going to be late!” a panicked Twilight said while triple checking her bags for the upteenth time to make sure she didn’t forget anything. Twilight had an important Summit to attend in Canterlot today, and pretty much every delegate from Saddle Arabia to Manehattan was gong to be there. She was waiting for a private carriage to pick her up at the butt-crack of dawn and escort her directly there. “It will be here any minute Twi,” I tried to assure her while placing my hand on her saddlebags. “And I’m pretty sure you’re prepared for this meeting and the next.” Unfortunately my efforts seemed fruitless as her ears perked up with anxiety. “What if I fall asleep at the meeting?! I NEED TO PACK COFFEE!!!!” She rushed towards the kitchen but stopped midway. “But what if that gives me coffee breath and everypony smells it?! I NEED MY TOOTHBRUSH!!!!” Now she was headed towards her bathroom but again stopped. “What if the water system is under construction and we can’t get clean water?! WATERBOTTLE!!!!!” I caught her as she flew towards the kitchen again. “Woah woah, calm down Twilight, you’re over-preparing again.” She struggled a bit in my arms before finally taking a deep breath. Once I was sure she wouldn’t literally fly out of my arms, I set her down so she was resting on her haunches, and I started scratching behind her ear. “I’m sorry this is just a huge meeting for me, historical even,” she said while showing calm anxiety. “We’re going to discuss how we should handle the Changlings now that they don’t serve Chrysalis anymore. This is a big moment for everypony, for all of Equestria!” “I’m so happy for you Twi, this is such a great opportunity for you, this will definitely put your name in the history books, if it wasn’t already.” She gave a small smile before looking away sadly. “What if I mess up? What if I say something wrong, or I choke on my words, or...” I stopped scratching her ear and placed my hands on both her soft cheeks and wiped a tear away with my thumb. I gently forced her to make eye contact with me again. “Twilight, it will be fine,” I said in the softest voice I could manage. “Celestia, Luna, and Cadence will be there too, and even if they weren’t, I’d believe you would do great all the same. Remember the Grand Equestria Pony Summit? You were able to organize it for three days straight, without any rest in between. I can’t imagine having that much strength or dedication to do that. I’m so proud of you Twilight, and I know you’ll do great.” True, I wasn’t actually there at the last summit, I was away on my travels, a decision I still regret to this day. I had heard about it when we last met with Cadence for some tea; she also brought up the trouble that “Princess Spike” got into at the time as well. I’d teased him about it relentlessly for days. Twilight gave me a soft smile as another tear dropped down her cheek. She then put both her forelegs behind me and nuzzled the side of my neck. I felt her tear go down my shoulder. “I love you, Jake,” she said in a soft voice. I placed my arms around her in a gentle but firm hug, my fingers being tickled as I caress her fur. “I love you too, Twilight.” As we were enjoying each other’s presence, time just seemed to stop, with no other sounds then our breaths and heartbeats. “Are you going to be okay by yourself?” Twilight asked me while rubbing behind my neck. Starlight had made plans to hang out with her childhood friend Sunburst today, and Sunset made plans with her friends in their world after school today. Rarity needed Spike’s help with gathering gems, and he left so quickly he didn’t even have time to make breakfast. And the rest of Twilight’s friends have their own plans and responsibilities to do today, so they didn’t have time to hang out hang. Twilight’s meeting may take up the entire day, meaning I could have the whole place to myself until this evening. “I’ll be fine; it will be nice to have some peace and quiet for once.” “I wish you could come too.” “Me too, but somebody needs to watch the castle while you’re away, especially with literally everypony else too busy to come on by.” Twilight continued to look at me with her beautiful amethyst eyes. “Why does it have to be Starlight’s turn to cuddle tonight? I just know I’m going to be so stressed out.” “Well hey, here’s the deal,” I replied as I break the hug to make eye contact with her. “If you can make it through the entire meeting on your own, we can spend the whole day tomorrow snuggling the stress out of you.” I ended the sentence by booping her on the nose. She gave a small snorting giggle. “I would love that,” she said while continuing our staring contest. Placing my hand behind her head, my fingers gliding through her mane, I pulled her in for a passionate kiss. As our lips pressed against each other, time just seemed to once again come to a halt. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! The sudden noise startled us both as it broke our trance and snapped us back to reality. “Princess Twilight? Your carriage is here!” we heard from outside the castle doors. “Looks like its time for me to go,” Twilight said while sounding disappointed. I felt the same. I grabbed her saddlebags and placed it on her back. We gave each other one last small kiss before she left. “Bye, Jake, see you tonight!” “Bye, Twily! Show those big wigs who’s boss!” Twilight gave me a glance back before finally disappearing behind the castle doors. Now time for some breakfast. After a few failed attempts at making pancakes, I decided to just have some eggs and toast. Spike makes it seem so easy. As much as I loved each of my marefriends, even I needed a little time to myself. So today, after breakfast, I planned to have a peaceful afternoon reading the latest Daring Do. Now that I have poured myself a cup of coffee my peaceful day can... KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! ...be interrupted by someone else banging at the front doors. Needless to say, I was not expecting any company today. It couldn’t have been Twilight or the others, it hasn’t even been half-an-hour since she left. I soon got my answer after another set of loud knocks echoed throughout the castle. “Jake Taylor! The Great, and Powerful Trixie demands your audience this instant!” It was too early in the morning for a pony this loud. Maybe if I’m quiet she’ll think I’m not home. “I know you are there Jake Taylor! Princess Twilight’s assistant the Small and Feeble.... um, Spit the Dragon has informed Trixie that you would be home today!” Danggit Spike! I really didn’t want company today, but knowing Trixie she would not stop until I at least speak to her. So much for a quiet day. I approached the doors right when another set of knocks rang in my ears. “I’m here Trixie! What do you want?” I spoke with the doors closed, hoping this would be a quick conversation. Looking back I was way too optimistic, or maybe just too tired to think straight. “The Great, and Powerful Trixie demands to speak to you face-to-face! She has a matter of great importance to discuss with you!” “Uggh, fine, hold on a sec!” After letting out a silent curse under my breath, I unlocked the doors to let in the Loud and Intrusive Trixie. “Alright Trixie what do you-” POOF! Suddenly, a large puff of smoke appeared, some of it entering my lungs, causing me to cough. “COUGH! COUGH! Trixie! What was that for?!” Amidst my shouting and coughing, I heard another set of coughs, supposedly from my unexpected guest. “The Great, *COUGH COUGH* and Powerful Trixie must always make a grand entrance, especially since she has a matter of great importance, which is sure to benefit the both of us wondrously!” She entered the castle before I could even ask what she was talking about. “Why don’t you come in?” I said with fatigued sarcasm. It was too early in the morning for me to deal with whatever this pony had planned, and I haven’t even had my coffee yet. I can get along with Trixie just fine, but now was not a good time. “Why thank you, Jake Taylor, you truly know how to make a mare feel welcome!” she said while eating my eggs and toast. I grabbed my coffee and took a sip before she could even think of taking that too. “So what is it that was so important you had to come by this early?” Trixie scowls at my question while eyeing my coffee mug. “Not even going to offer a drink to the Great-” “Trixie! It is eight in the morning! I just now had some coffee, and you just ate the last of our eggs! Can you please just tell me what you need?” Trixie recoils a bit at my outburst, but soon recomposes herself and clears her throat. “The Great and Powerful Trixie has graced this castle with her presence in order to finally accept her place as part of Jake Taylor’s Herd!” “......What?” “I have decided to become your marefriend, and allow you to give me some cuddles and kisses just like you do with Princess Twilight and Starlight Glimmer!” I took another sip of coffee so that I could be more awake for what was undoubtedly going to be a long conversation. “You may begin your duties Jake Taylor! Trixie thinks you should start by carrying her upstairs and give her some cuddles, and if you are satisfactory enough, I shall allow you to-” “Listen Trixie, I’m sorry to say this, but although I do think of you as a good friend...” when she’s not intruding on people’s homes and stealing their breakfast “...I’m afraid I don’t see us as being anything more than that. I’m sorry Trixie.” Trixie just looked at me with an offensive stance. “But why not?! Didn’t you include Twilight Sparkle in your herd just because you felt sorry for her?” I got a little mad at her statement, but I let it go. “It’s a bit more than that. Twilight and I, along with Starlight, have a deep connection with each other. And without that connection, I cannot accept anypony into my herd.” Trixie huffed her breath and continued her tirade. “I do not need your ‘connection.’ I only require you to give me cuddles and smooches, along with the occasional kind affectionate words of encouragement. You don’t need a ‘special connection’ to provide that do you?” I got a bit upset at her statement. “Trixie! I am not some piece of meat! I only do those things for mares that I have a special connection with, like I do with Twilight, Starlight, and Sunset. If there’s no spark between us, I cannot wholeheartedly do anything even remotely close to what you want!” Trixie is silent for a bit, with her hat covering her eyes. “I see... The Great and Powerful Trixie realizes that her time is wasted here, Jake Taylor. I shall take my leave and perhaps find a herd of my own, one that knows to serve scrambled eggs instead of over easy!” Trixie got up from the table and pushed away her cape as she made her way to the castle doors. I considered just letting her go, but a small voice in my head was nagging me to figure something out. “Trixie wait!” Trixie stopped in her place, but didn’t look my way. “Why did you even want to be part of the herd if you don’t feel anything for me?” After a few moments, Trixie finally broke the silence. “Every time Starlight Glimmer is with Trixie, she speaks very highly of you, Jake Taylor. She speaks of how you accepted her, despite her terrible past, how you give her confidence and comfort when she feels like she’s the last pony in Equestria that deserves it.” She paused for a moment before speaking again. “How you make her feel like no matter what happens in her life, she is never alone.” The atmosphere in the room started to feel heavy and cold. “I just wanted to experience it for myself because I have not been as..... greatly praised as I deserve to be.” “But whenever I go to your shows with Starlight, I see lots of ponies cheering you on; they really do enjoy your performances.” Trixie just blew a sour raspberry at my statement. “They are only fans who just want to see me disappear from boxes and get eaten by Manticores. They don’t care who I am outside of the show. And once they have their fun they just leave and I am left behind, alone.... with nopony to share in my great and powerfulness.” “But Trixie you’re not alone, doesn’t Starlight help you out during your shows? I’m sure she lets you know how much of a good friend you are to her.” “IT’S NOT THE SAME!” Trixie’s yell echoed throughout the entire room. After some moment of silence, Trixie finally recomposed herself and spoke again. “I am glad to have Starlight Glimmer in my life, and I appreciate her words of encouragement, but there are some things that can only be said by a special somepony, or maybe even..... a boyfriend.” I suddenly became cautious about what her next set of words will be. “I just want to see what it is like to have somepony who cares for me. I am so tired of going to bed every night and waking up every morning knowing I won’t have anypony to share my life with. How did Starlight end up with multiple special someponies when I can’t even find one?!” I considered correcting the fact that Starlight is only dating me, not Twilight or Sunset, but something told me that wouldn’t be the best thing to say right now. Trixie finally turned her head around and made eye contact with me. Her eyes were flooding with tears as she removed her hat and gave the saddest puppy dog face I’d ever seen her make. “Jake Taylor, after hearing how miserable I am, can you honestly say you don’t want to help me? Can’t we just be together for now and see if we get this ‘special connection’ thing later? Please?” She gave me a look that was both sad and hopeful. Honestly this conversation was starting to remind me of when Sunset and I first met, and she told me about her problems. But unlike with Sunset, I didn’t feel anything for Trixie. No spark, no connection, no attraction, nothing that made me even want to consider pursuing whatever feelings that may or may not be there. A lump in my throat formed as I knew what I had to say next. “Of course I want to help you, Trixie, but I don’t see us as being anything more than just friends. I’m sorry Trixie, but I don’t love you. And I cannot accept anyone in my herd I don’t love.” The look on Trixie’s face made me feel her crushed hopes. Her bottom lip was quivering violently as she did everything she could to hold back tears. But her fight was in vain as she completely covered her face with her hat. She immediately turned away from me and headed for the nearest chair where she curled into a ball and started crying. I felt bad for what I did, but deep down I knew that I couldn’t let Trixie, or any mare for that matter, have hope for a relationship that wouldn’t happen. After several minutes of crying she was finally able to speak in comprehensive words. “Maybe the reason why I can’t find anypony is because I'm supposed to be alone and loveless.” “Don’t say that Trixie, everyone deserves to feel loved and cherished, and you won’t be alone forever,” I said as I approached Trixie and got to eye level with her. “What gives you the right to tell me this?! You have your own herd to not let you feel lonely.” “Trixie, I don’t know what the future holds for any of us. But I do know that before I came to Equestria, I felt nothing but lonely after my parents died. I had nobody who wanted to comfort me or even try to understand what I was going through. And after 27 years of my life, I finally ended up with not one, but three of the best marefriends anyone could ask for. And every single one of them was worth the wait!” Trixie’s looks away from me. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she said without hiding the skepticism in her voice. “What I’m saying is that you just need to be patient; give it time and you will find somepony who will make all the pain and loneliness you feel into something wonderful. Until then, just focus on your own goals and continue making yourself Great and Powerful, so when you do meet them, you’ll be able to give it your all, and create the ultimate love story.” “How am I supposed to know when I found my special somepony?” “Because they will be somepony who will see you as everything you are, good and bad, and won’t see you as anything short of special. They will see endless potential in you, and you will start to see yourself as somepony special in their eyes, somepony who matters. Because you, Trixie Lulamoon, are a mare worth waiting for, and they won’t let you believe you are anything less.” Trixie finally gave me a warm smile. I offered her a hug, and she happily accepted it. We held that hug for a while, and I felt the chill of her tears on my chest. “Starlight is so lucky to have you as a boyfriend.” “And I hope you know that she is lucky to have you as a best friend.” Trixie looked up at me. “R-Really?” I smiled at her with confidence. “Oh yeah, she tells me all the time about how you stand up for her, and every now and then you can come up with some really good ideas when you put your mind to it!” Trixie rubbed her muzzle and sniffled, then regained her previous confident composure. “Well of course! The Great, and Powerful Trixie is always looking to do her best for her dear friends!” She suddenly pointed a hoof at me. “And you, Jake Taylor, I consider to be one of my Greatest, and most Powerfulest of friends!” she said with a bow. Then she took her hat back off and looked at me sincerely. “Thank you, Jake.” I gave her a small chuckle. “Anytime Trixie. I know I said I don’t feel the same way I do for you as I do Starlight, but I will always consider you as a dear friend as well.” Trixie placed her hat back on her head and looked at me with a big smile. “Well since Trixie will not be receiving any cuddles, it is best she be off now,” she said while pushing back her cape. “Until next time, Jake Taylor!” “Until next time, Trixie,” I said as she made for the door. As much of a handful as Trixie was today, I was glad she came over. Helping her with her problem made me realize how special the connection between me and my marefriends really is. I’m not with Twilight, Starlight, or Sunset because of pity or because of how lonely I can be, but because of how much I love them. And the next time I see them, I’m going to show each one how much they truly mean to me. But for now I decided to head towards the kitchen so I could remake breakfast and finally get some peace and quiet. Or so I hoped, Because just before Trixie left through the doors she suddenly stopped in place. “By the way Jake, I have to ask you something else...” I looked at her curiously and with some hope that she doesn’t ask if my feelings have changed for her or not. “....who is this Sunset?” “Sunset Shimmer? Oh yeah, this you never met her did you!?” “This me?” “Yeah, its kinda hard to explain, but Sunset is my girlfriend, and she is lives in an alternate version of Equestria. There she hangs out with other versions of our friends like Twilight, Spike, Rarity, you...” Trixie was stunned by the realization of another version of her existing. “Woah woah! There is another Great, and Powerful Trixie?!” “Yeah and she’s a-lot like you, except she’s a human like me and....” Thinking about the other Trixie, I suddenly remembered another detail about her I learned while I was with Sunset. I don’t know if relationships that work in that world work in this one, but it was worth a try. Love is always worth a try. “Say Trixie, do you know anypony named Flash Sentry?”