Home is Where the Hearth Is

by TheCrimsonDM

Chapter Eight: Magic Mischief

Well, turns out being strapped to a chair with a slightly demented unicorn dominating me was not as fun as it sounded at first. Probably due to the fact that all she wanted to do was study my brain using weird magic that made my brain feel ticklish. The looks she gave me when I laughed were mortifying to say the least, you’d have thought I’d had wet myself or something.

Twilight let her magic die off and gave out a sigh. I wanted to turn my head to look at her but my head was strapped into an unmoving position. I felt the straps being released one by one. Once free I leapt off the chair and turned to face her.

Twilight wasted no time in explaining her findings. “Well it’s about what I figured, but I’m going to require more help to fix it.”

“What did you find?”

“The Alicorn Amulet has damaged some of your memories, mostly those closest to when you first put it on and took it off. It also has a stranglehold over your mana lobe.”

I blinked. “My… what?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You did go to the same magic school that I did, right?”

I waived a hoof. “Of course I did, but biology was not one of my strong suits…” Unless one counted studying attractive mares and their bodies.

Twilight smiled. “The mana lobe, is the organ in our brain that gives everypony magic. It is directly connected to our cutie marks as well as our dreams. I suspect it has hindered your magical abilities.”

I blinked. “But… I don’t feel that weak, I can turn invisible for a full six seconds.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Six… seconds. With your mana lobe that damaged…” she put a hoof to her chin. “Once we heal your mana lobe you might very well be able to stay invisible for hours in that case.”

“Is my magic really that damaged?”

Twilight met my eyes. “Remember when you first challenged Rainbow Dash on stage. You were able to create a lightning bolt that stunned her, later that night you created one powerful enough to actually harm an Ursa Minor, albeit only by a little but still a feat none the less. After you were done wearing the amulet you attempted to fire another lightning bolt at Rainbow Dash but that time it was only enough to tickle her. There was a significant decrease in your magic potential.”

“So… So I’m actually supposed to be good at magic?”

Twilight walked over to me and put a hoof on my shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze. “Trixie, you are good at magic. Rarity couldn’t hope to become invisible or to lift as much with her telekinesis. The fact is that you are already good, but you could become even more ‘great and powerful’ if that’s right phrase.”

Hearing her use my catchphrase, it almost hurt but it also made me feel warm inside. I knew I was tearing up already so I looked away and tried to change the topic just a bit. “So how do we heal it?”

“Like I said, I’m going to need help. Luna is much more versed in the magic of dealing with one’s mind than I am. It will take a little bit of time but I’m sure we can heal you.”

I nodded. At this point at least I had a plan to try and get this fixed. So I’d apologized to everypony, I had a plan to fix my broken mind, everything should be fine now. Yet, somehow I felt that something was still missing. No matter how I racked my brain, I couldn’t figure out what it was.

Twilight added. “There is one more thing. The side effects of the amulet are preventing Luna from entering your dreams from a distance. She’ll have to be a lot closer to do so. So I’ll reach out to her and see when she’s able to come over to help.”

I smiled. “I apologized to everypony, I don’t think I’ll have nightmares anymore.”

“We can hope.”

After that Twilight took me downstairs so we could eat dinner. Eating dinner with her and spike was interesting. I even got to hear about Twilight’s apprentice, a mare named Starlight Glimmer. Her track record for villainy made mine pale in comparison. If Starlight could come back from such a thing, maybe I could too.

After dinner we went to bed. Well at least I did. I’m sure that Twilight stayed up studying, I suspected the mare never actually slept. The bed was as comfy as could be, it was like it was made out of clouds it was so fluffy.

As the weight of sleep deprivation laid upon me I heard voices outside my door. They sounded far away but I recognized them. It was Twilight and Rarity.

Twilight spoke first. “Rarity, you really need to forgive her. None of are free of mistakes.”

Rarity scoffed. “Well at least I made up for mine.”

“What do you think she’s trying to do here? Really, Rarity, we’ve already talked about this, between that one time in Manehatten and when you used that magic book to ‘Rarify’ the entire town, you of all ponies should have more sympathy.”

Rarity’s voice changed slightly. “I, I know.”

“Maybe you’re not even mad at her, maybe you’re mad at yourself. Because even after the alicorn amulet incident you ended up doing the same things as-“

Rarity cut her off. “Stop, just stop, Twilight. Please, I’m trying okay. This is really hard for me darling, and I’m trying so hard to not be so full of hate but…”

“But what?”

“I think I spent too much time thinking about her as nothing but this powerful evil force that seeing her like this, it’s insulting. This isn’t Trixie, its some pathetic imitation.”

Twilight’s tone turned serious. “She’s not pathetic.”

“Then why hasn’t she challenged me even once. She’s just rolled over and taken everything I’ve said or done. I could tell her the truth and she’d just accept it like some kind of-“

“Victim.”

“I was going to say weakling.”

I heard them the begin to walk away. “Rarity, I need your help on this. We all do. Trixie’s hurt in ways even I don’t know how to fix.”

Rarity’s voice replied, it was further away but I could hear something different in it. Something vulnerable, something weak. “Yeah, and I fear it may all be my fault.”

After the voices disappeared sleep came over me and washed me away into the dark embrace of rest. Maybe for once, I would get good dreams.

Once more I found myself standing on my stage. Performing such feats of wonder and magic that nopony in the audience could be left with anything but awe. At least that was true until the four ponies of nightmare appeared once more before me. This time they jumped onto the stage and faced me. I stared back.

Rarity nodded at the other two. Rainbow Dash spoke first. “You’re worthless, trying to pretend like your great, or powerful, give me a break. You’re nothing but a sick joke of a pony that is better left in the trash where you belong.”

Applejack stepped up. “Ah reckon a liar like you could never amount to much. Yer not even good enough to work on a rock farm.”

Twilight’s voice came in next. “Every bad thing that’s ever happened to you, you deserved. All the times you were hurt, bullied, or made fun of. All the times you lost a job. You deserved all of them.”

Rarity was the last one move. Her horn flickered to life and the curtain behind me was ripped off the wall. “You don’t need a stage, but I do need a new dress.”

I walked forward reaching out desperately for my curtain. “That’s expensive, please don’t rip it. I can’t afford another one!”

She glared right into my eyes. “Didn’t I already tell you were garbage? Garbage like you really doesn’t need a curtain. But I really want a new dress and as a proper ‘real’ unicorn I deserve one.”

An invisible force hit me in the chest knocking me backward. I rolled several times before I stopped. I looked up and saw Jack Pot standing there. “What did I tell you? I told you to stop trying and go work on a farm. It’s about all your good for.”

I couldn’t process this. It was all too much. My heart was breaking into a thousand tiny pieces. As I looked down at my chest I saw an open hole there with black liquid seeping out. My heart was gone. I looked back up to see my heart in Jack Pot’s hoof. He handed it to Rarity.

Rarity smiled. “Oh that will make a wonderful component in my dress.”

“No, please, I need that.”

Rarity glared at me. “No, you need to die, Trixie. That’s all you need.”

Something was shaking me. I woke up to see Twilight shaking my side. “Wake up, Trixie. Please wake up.”

I pushed her hooves away. I sniffled and tried to speak. “W-why?”

Twilight had a pale look on her face. “I heard you crying. You looked horrible. I… I couldn’t let you stay like that. Are you okay?”

For a moment I looked around the room. I was still in Twilights’ castle. The light was on and the door was open. Spike stood just outside the door looking in at me. Even he looked worried. I closed my eyes. I was so tired. So, so tired. I could feel hot tears running down the side of my face.

A pair of warm legs wrapped me up into an embrace, followed quickly by those wings that cocooned me into the warmest hug I’d ever felt. I leaned my face into Twilight’s chest and quietly let the tears roll into her. “I’m so tired.”

Twilight’s words came out gentle as could be. “I know, Trixie. I know you are. That’s why I’m having Luna come here tomorrow to help you out. We’re not leaving you behind this time. I promise.”

I sniffled. I was just so tired. I couldn’t help it, my body was already so heavy, that when I leaned into Twilight and closed my eyes, my mind fogged over. Everything went dark, and I just slipped off into sleep once more. At least this time, I didn’t have any dreams, no nightmares, no memories, just darkness. Peaceful, wonderful darkness.

When I opened my eyes again all I saw was purple fur. My entire body felt warm, still wrapped up in that cocoon of warm fur and feathers. For a moment I just wanted to continue lying there like that.

Twilight’s voice came out in a hushed whisper. “For the last time, Pinkie. I am not ‘moving onto your turf’ She fell asleep like this and I don’t have the heart to wake her.”

Pinkie’s voice replied in a hushed whisper. “I still don’t like it, why didn’t you get me to come here and take your place, so I’m the one cuddling her.”

Twilight replied. “Because you’re attracted to her and I don’t trust you not to… um… what I mean is, it might be too easy for you to get a little too cozy with her when she’s vulnerable like this.”

Pinkie let out an aggravated sigh. “Whatever, I’m not leaving until she’s awake and safely out of your thieving embrace.”

Twilight groaned. “Pinkie, you’re being jealous.”

“Yes, yes I am.”

I gently pushed myself up and out of Twilight’s embrace. Looking around Apparently Twilight had been sitting next to me holding me while I slept. Sunlight was drifting through the window. Yet I still felt exhausted and tired. At least I wasn’t in threat of passing out this time.

I looked at Pinkie. “Pinkie, it’s okay to be jealous, but Twilight was helping me.”

“I coulda helped too ya know!”

I smiled at her. “Yes, but I might be tempted to do other things than sleep with you around. At least this way I make sure all I do is sleep.”

Pinkie looked at the floor for a moment. Then replied, “That’s… a good point. We might have too much fun for you to sleep, and you do look really tired. So long as all you’re going to do is sleep, then… I’ll accept it.”

“Thank you, Pinkie. You really are the best.”

Pinkie’s cheeks grew a bit darker in shade. “I am the best, aren’t I?”

I looked at Twilight. “Sorry about causing a scene.”

Twilight shook her head. “No it’s all good. We’ve got things prepared downstairs. Luna’s here and she knows exactly how to fix this. Lucky for you, all you need to do is sleep, the rest of us will do the hard work.”

“Rest of who?”

Twilight smiled. “Why, the Elements of Harmony of course!”