One week later and things were running smoothly. The new students had all settled into their respective classes, started coming out of their shells and formed circles of friends. The halls were filled with the sight of smiling faces and the sounds of laughter. Lessons were in full swing with all of the regular teachers back in class. The curriculum still largely followed the lesson plans of the school’s founders, all of whom had retired from their regular teaching duties to pursue their own interests and dedicate their remaining time to the Council of Friendship.
Rainbow Dash was now the commander of the Wonderbolts. Applejack decided the farm needed her full attention now that she was the Apple family matriarch. Pinkie Pie took over the job of running Sugar Cube Corner and found that between those duties and raising a family, she couldn’t devote a lot of extra time to the school. Rarity’s business kept expanding, adding additional locations in Fillydelphia, Las Pegasus, and Vanhoover. Fluttershy, who always found teaching to be too intimidating anyway, settled down in her animal sanctuary. And Princess Twilight, of course, took over the duties of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as the ruler of Equestria.
It was safe to say that the six founders, or the Mane Six, as they had come to be known, had left behind quite the legacy. Not to say that the current staff didn’t carry reputations of their own. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, for instance, were well known for getting the exact same cutie mark simultaneously, and their fame made their classes quite popular. And from time to time one of the founders would pop in for a visit or to give a special lecture for the day.
Yes, so far the term was going the way it usually goes each year, which left Trixie with practically nothing to do.
When she first took over the job of guidance counselor from Starlight, she was warned that most days there wouldn’t be any students visiting her at all.
“There’s not much need for a guidance counselor at a school of friendship,” Starlight had said all those years ago. “Students are encouraged to work problems out in class. That’s kind of the whole point of the school.”
Trixie was confused. “So, you’re offering me a disposable job? Is this payback for anything? I said I was sorry for the whole swamp thing.”
“Of course it’s not payback or anything. I wouldn’t put the entire student body at risk for something so petty.” Starlight rolled her eyes, then caught herself. “Not that you would ever put anypony at risk, Trixie.”
“Oh I appreciate your confidence, Starlight,” Trixie said sarcastically.
“It’s an important job when a student eventually does visit you. You need to actively listen to them and treat their problem like you would if they were your best friend. I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if there isn’t a line up down the hallway to your office. Kids are more capable of handling themselves than you’d think.”
“Then what did you do all day when you had this job?”
“I found ways to pass the time. Reorganizing my shelves, reading up on the students in case one decided to drop in…”
“Talking to your plant?” Trixie added with a snicker.
Starlight narrowed her eyes. “Phyllis and I understood each other.”
“I’ll get you a new one for Hearth’s Warming.”
“There was only one Phyllis.”
There was a moment of faux seriousness before a smile crept across their faces. The two of them laughed together.
Trixie laughed to herself, coming back from her memory. She was sitting in what was now her office. There was an empty chair at the other side of her desk waiting to be filled by a student in need of some guidance. There was a bookshelf against the wall to the right of the desk, filled with academic texts and scrolls, along with spell books, history books and miscellaneous works of fiction. To the left of Trixie’s desk was a soft blue sofa fixed with two fluffy pillows, a blanket draped over the back, and a wooden coffee table in front of it. Beside the sofa, a relatively large locked orange chest. By the door across from her there was a coatrack, a mirror and a ticking clock mounted on the wall. It wasn’t the biggest office in the school but it didn’t need to be. It was certainly cozy enough.
Right beside her was a gramophone, currently playing soft classical music performed by Octavia Melody, one of Ponyville’s most renowned musicians. At one point she was in consideration for the position of vice headmare of the school before deciding to focus on her music, a decision that ultimately paid off for her as her records were selling like haycakes.
On Trixie’s desk was a day planner, currently blank, some notepaper if needed, a quill with ink, along with a cup filled with various other writing utensils. In the righthand corner of the desk was a round fishbowl with a vibrant goldfish swimming inside. Potted plants weren’t really Trixie’s thing but she had to admit Starlight was onto something; having a friend of some sort to keep you company made the room feel more alive. So, Gail had been a permanent resident in that fishbowl for quite a while.
Trixie was currently reading an old mystery novel, Fled Filly, as she sipped on a mug of hot cocoa. She was quite content with where she was.
And it wasn’t like she just got to sit back and relax every single day. There was still plenty for her to do around the school that went beyond her job description. Starlight liked to run things in a collaborative way with her two best friends Sunburst and Trixie. Trixie would help with planning events like dances or sporting events, and even advised Starlight on certain matters with students, since Trixie’s job allowed her a closer relationship with them.
Things often became busy for her at the end of the year and students had no idea what they were going to do with their lives once they were sent off into the world. That was Trixie’s time to shine by listening and talking through their problems, offering any advice she could to help. But now, at the beginning of the year when students didn’t have many important issues on their plate yet, things were awfully quiet indeed.
Her eyes wandered around the office, taking everything in with a sigh of contentment. Her gaze finally came down to the quill. She set down her book and her drink as she used her magic to bring the quill up to her face. She squinted at it and smiled mischievously. “Teacup,” she whispered. With a small *ping* the quill instantaneously transformed into a pink teacup in a burst of magic. Trixie giggled to herself and looked at the door. It didn’t seem like anypony heard her so she looked around for something else to transform. She found an old note from Twilight in one of her desk drawers. “Teacup,” she said a bit louder this time. Just like the quill, where there once was a note, an empty porcelain teacup now rested. She pulled out some scraps of paper, knick knacks and more junk from the drawer. “Teacup. Teacup. Teacup!” She said louder and louder, her excitement getting the better of her.
She did this sometimes to relive the excitement of her first successful transfiguration spell, the one Starlight helped her figure out years ago. It never got old.
When her desk was now completely covered in teacups, all identical in appearance, she could contain herself no longer. She burst out laughing, tears streaming down her face at the absurdity of her own actions.
“Um…”
Trixie’s eyes shot open, startled. Standing in her now open doorway, unheard until this moment, was a student. She looked at Trixie, then down at the desk of teacups, then back at Trixie. Trixie’s face grew red. She didn’t know how much the student saw and she was too embarrassed to ask.
“Oh…,” Trixie said. She wasn’t sure how to explain. Luckily, she didn’t have to.
“I was wondering if I could speak with you, Guidance Counselor Trixie,” said the student. “Sorry I didn’t make an appointment.”
“No, no, that’s perfectly fine. Please come in and close the door,” Trixie said. “Uh … would you like some tea?”
“No thank you,” the student replied as Trixie did her best to discreetly brush the teacups into an empty drawer, deciding to turn them back to normal at another time. Of all the times to have a visitor…!, she thought.
“Please have a seat. Make yourself comfortable,” said Trixie, trying to compose herself. She turned the gramophone off to give the filly her full attention. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Scarlet Flair,” said the young unicorn. The name seemed to fit her. She wore a bright red scarf that looked quite the contrast to her beige coat and dark black mane.
“Well Scarlet Flair,” Trixie continued, “you are free to drop in whenever you’d like. Appointment or no appointment.”
“Thanks,” she said. Scarlet settled into her seat on the other side of Trixie’s desk.
“What brings you in today?” the guidance counselor asked. “Are you enjoying your classes so far?”
“Oh yes, very much. I’m particularly enjoying Professor Apple Bloom’s lessons on honesty. They’ve given me a lot to think about.”
Scarlet Flair dropped her eye contact. Trixie knew she had something to say that was going to be difficult for her.
“It’s okay, Scarlet,” said Trixie. “Anything you want to say doesn’t have to leave this room.”
Scarlet sighed, fidgeting in her seat a little. “I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do after school. My parents always wanted me to work at their business so I can eventually take over for them when they retire.”
“What kind of business do they own?”
“They run an antique store in Baltimare. The place is okay but it’s never really been my thing.”
“What is your thing, Scarlet?”
“Well, I really like fashion. I’ve been reading about Rarity a lot and I think what she’s done with Carousel Boutique is an inspiration. I like designing my own clothes and I think that if she could make a go for it and succeed then why can’t I?”
“You just have difficulty telling your parents, don’t you?” Trixie guessed.
“I’ve never told them about how much this means to me. Ever since I got my cutie mark and it turned out to be a needle and thread, I knew that this is what I was meant to do. But they just see it as like a hobby or something; not something I should take seriously. They don’t get that I want to make a living doing what I love.”
“Well I haven’t met your parents. I don’t know what kind of ponies they are, but they can’t force you to be somepony you’re not.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’re already doing what you love!”
“I recommend talking to them for a start-“
“But what if they hate me!” Scarlet interrupted. Tears began welling in her eyes. It was clear to Trixie that this was the first time she let her fears be known to another pony.
“They’re your parents,” Trixie said with empathy. “I’m guessing they won’t hate you. Disappointed maybe. I’m not saying don’t be prepared to fight back at them if they don’t approve. I mean, your parents can be the best thing in your life when they’re supportive but…”
Trixie saw Scarlet’s eyes light up with horror.
“Sorry, not helping,” said Trixie, trying to backpaddle. “What’s more important is that you follow your passions. You shouldn’t let anypony stand in the way of your dreams. Even your parents.”
“Isn’t that selfish? What if my parents are counting on me?”
“You’ll never know unless you tell them first. That’s the first step I think you have to take and if you keep putting it off, these feelings tearing you up inside are just going to build and build until they come out in destructive ways. Trust me. Don’t bottle things up.”
Scarlet sniffled. “Okay.”
She didn’t seem satisfied but then Trixie had an idea. “If it helps, I can probably connect you with Rarity. If I know her, she would love to give you some tips,” Trixie added.
Scarlet’s jaw almost hit the floor. “Really?!? The Rarity? You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. I’m here to help!”
“Wow. Thanks Trixie!” Scarlet seemed to be in a much better mood already as she stood from her seat. “I really appreciate this.”
“Any time,” said Trixie. “Remember, feel free to drop in whenever you’d like.”
“Thanks again!”
Scarlet turned and headed back to the door, but something she said made Trixie stop her first.
“You know, this isn’t always what I did for a living,” she said.
“It’s not?”
“Nope. You said that I was already doing what I loved but before I worked at the school, I did something else.”
Trixie stood and walked to the orange chest. She unlocked it and pulled out a relatively large photo album. After placing it on the centre of the desk facing Scarlet, she opened it. Inside the album was an assortment of pictures of Trixie when she was younger. The photos depicted her performing various magic acts. There were card tricks, rope tricks, tricks with saws, locked boxes, handkerchiefs and trained animals. It was clear these weren’t being done with magic the way other unicorns traditionally produce magic through their horns, but with smoke, mirrors, slight of hand and other practical methods.
Alongside these photos in the album were snippets of promotional material with the title “The Great and Powerful Trixie” plastered on them in big bold letters, as well as newspaper clippings of reviews from many different towns and villages. Some of the reviews had words crossed out so they seemed to be more favourable than they actually were, but Scarlet couldn’t tear her eyes from the pictures.
“Well that certainly explains the fireworks during the welcoming speech,” Scarlet said with wonder. “And look at you. You look so happy.”
Trixie beamed proudly. “I toured across Equestria as the Great and Powerful Trixie! Magic shows were always my specialty.”
“Oh Celestia, is that Headmare Starlight?!” Scarlet exclaimed as her eyes caught one particular picture.
“Mhmm,” Trixie nodded. “She was my assistant one season.”
“Headmare Starlight was your assistant?! Wow, I bet you guys have some stories to tell…”
“I’d be happy to tell you some. There was the time when I had a Manticore as a part of my act. This was before I met Starlight, by the way. She-“
Scarlet cut her off. “I really should be heading to my next class. This was awesome though. I’ll be sure to stop by again soon!”
Before Trixie knew it, Scarlet was out the door. The office was quiet again, aside from the ticking of the clock. Trixie sighed happily. She did some good today. She helped out a pony in need.
With satisfaction. She closed her album and brought it back over to the chest. She was about to place it back inside when she hesitated. At the bottom of the chest, on top of which the album was resting, were items from her old act. Smoke bombs, scarves, a saw, and laying there folded up, were her old cape and wizard hat. Trixie set the album aside and picked up the hat.
With a smile she put it on her head and looked at herself in the mirror. She hadn’t worn the hat in years and yet…
Trixie turned to her goldfish. “Look, Gail. It still fits.”