//------------------------------// // A Bit To Build A Dream On // Story: Beanery // by TCC56 //------------------------------// Starlight's birthday was tomorrow and Trixie didn't have a present for her. That alone was reason to panic. Not that she was - or so she claimed - but if she had been it would be understandable. Fortunately she had help for her shopping trip in the form of Maud - a calming, steady rock if there ever was one. A pony so patient and understanding and unshakable that the very stones of the earth itself envied her resolve. "What is Trixie going to DO?!" Trixie's question was rhetorical as she shook Maud wildly, but asking it made her feel better. It didn't and also managed to get curious looks from the rest of the ponies in the market square. For her part, Maud patiently waited for the not-panic to subside before gently taking hold of Trixie's hooves and removing them from her frock. "Trixie," she said with every scrap of patience she could muster, "I'm still not sure how you got yourself into this mess." "Well, by procrastinating to start," Trixie admitted matter-of-factly. "But she still would have had enough time if the other part hadn't gone wrong!" Maud raised a single curious eyebrow that spoke more volumes than the Encyclopedia of Geology. With a sigh, Trixie started from the beginning. "Originally, Trixie was going to buy Starlight this amazing book about the history of kites - including designs for famous kites throughout history. But she found herself slightly lighter in the wallet than anticipated and thus short of the cost of the book. After her attempts to use her stunningly powerful charisma were blocked by the surprisingly resistant shopkeeper, the Great and Powerful Trixie decided to utilize her skills to bridge the gap." "You did a magic show," Maud summarized, skipping ahead through about ten minutes of irrelevant details. Trixie pouted. "Trixie did a magic show," she confirmed. Opting to not interrupt again, Maud gave her a little nod to resume. "Unfortunately," Trixie continued, "While the show itself was a success, there was a minor disagreement with certain members of local law enforcement and members of the government vis a vis the Great and Powerful Trixie and the theoretical non-existence of her busking license." Maud slowly blinked at Trixie. "Theoretical." "... Factual non-existence," Trixie admitted with a blush. "Which resulted in an equally factual fine, taking away all that Trixie had earned from her show and most of her wallet beyond that." "Which left you…" With a grumble, Trixie produced a single bit coin from behind Maud's ear. "Ta~daaaaa." Her lack of enthusiasm challenged Maud's own. "So now Trixie must acquire a birthday present for Starlight with just one bit and has only four hours to do it in." It was perhaps a testament to Maud's character and their friendship that the earth pony's first action was to reach into her frock and pull out her own wallet. And similarly it was a testament to how far Trixie had come that she reached out her hoof and stopped Maud. "No. Trixie will not taint Starlight's birthday like that. She will get her a present or face the consequences herself - she will not have somepony else bail her out from her foolishness." She paused, and smiled gently. "Even if the thought is deeply appreciated." The corners of Maud's mouth twitched slightly in the barest hint of a smile back. "Trixie is used to life on the road," she admitted, "So this is not the first time she has had to be both frugal and cunning. But Starlight... she deserves better than just whatever Trixie can throw together from what's available. But now she's out of time and money and… and…" Tears pricked the corners of Trixie's eyes, and she finally dropped her protections. "I don't know what to do, Maud." As Trixie teetered on the edge, Maud reached out and steadied her with a hoof on the shoulder. "You do. You're just thinking too hard. I want you to close your eyes, Trixie." Lower lip trembling, Trixie started to talk back to Maud - but stopped herself before saying a word. Then she did as commanded, closing her eyes. "I want you to take a slow, deep breath." Trixie did, the intake shuddering slightly. But it was smoother coming out as her jagged nerves started to ease. "I want you to think about Starlight," came the next instruction. She did - that was easy for Trixie to do. Seeing that smiling face in her mind's eye brought a similar smile to her own face. Starlight, looking at her without judgement - and occasionally with judgement but also with forgiveness. Starlight, who had turned her life around so dramatically and had brought Trixie along for the ride. "Now I want you to not think about this. Just react." Maud paused, waiting for Trixie to nod. When she did. "If Starlight were in your hooves, what would she do with her bit." The answer was obvious, of course. Starlight was selfish once, sure. But she was Twilight's student - she was a good mare. And she understood Harmony, maybe better than anypony else did. Trixie opened her eyes and scanned the market square around them. Over there was the Apple family stand and beside it was Golden Harvest's own produce. The Flower Trio further down the line and Burnt Oak's firewood tent near that. A stand for books; one for brooms; one for honey; one for pet food. And crammed in the midst of it all was a tiny little ramshackle table with a hoof-drawn paper sign hanging off of it. FUNDRAISER FOR PONYVILLE ORPHANAGE 1 BIT EACH And scattered across the table was a variety of crafts, mostly made from popsicle sticks and glitter glue. With the confidence of a goddess, Trixie strode up to the table and slapped her single bit down on it. The doe-eyed orange filly behind the counter startled slightly at Trixie's stunningly powerful charisma. The performer pointed at a little ballerina made from a popsicle stick, a cupcake wrapper and a pipe cleaner. "The Great and Powerful Trixie would like that one, please." For a moment the filly hesitated - and then scrambled to hoof it over. "Thank you! Thanks a lot!" Her smile was wide enough to challenge Celestia's sun. Trixie gave her a smile and a wink back before carrying the little piece of childhood art over to Maud. "Well?" Maud looked at the ballerina, then the little stand, then at Trixie. And she gave a confirming nod. "She'll love it."