//------------------------------// // Trixie: Last Date // Story: Stranger in a Strange Land // by Andrew Joshua Talon //------------------------------// Two Years before Nightmare Moon returns... Moondancer stared intensely through her glasses at Prince Ryan. He was so strange, but... That was attractive to her. He was studious, tall, and took care of himself. And he was inventive. She wouldn't have noticed, if it was some random stallion. But he wasn't just any random stallion. He had... "Here," Ryan said, handing over a rare tome. Moondancer blinked as she studied the book he had handed her. "Prince Ryan," she said, "this is a first edition of Magical Theory and Application." "Yeah," Ryan said, "you needed it, right? You said you didn't have this book. So, here." "This is a first edition," she insisted. "And? Do you want the latest version instead?" Ryan asked. "N-No... This is fine," she said quickly. Ryan smiled, and nodded. "Good," he said, "good luck." He headed out of the library. Moondancer watched him go, eyes shining. He had given her a first edition like it was nothing, out of kindness. That had gotten her attention. Now? He had her interest. But... What would he see in a recluse like her? She sunk down into her uniform jacket. Depression hit her hard. Moondancer sighed. She would just watch him, and pine after him for a while. Until she figured something out... Cadance hummed as she observed Moondancer from behind a magical screen. She then smirked. This will be fun... The last thing Twilight Sparkle needed was to be accosted by some fanfilly of Prince Ryan, but here she was, even as she ascended the steps to the Canterlot palace entrance. The only reason she was tolerating it was because the filly in question was one of her friends... Sort of. "You mean you haven't seen him without a shirt?" Lemon Hearts asked, incredulously. "No Lemon Hearts, I haven't, nor do I wish to," Twilight groaned, "and can we please focus on our project? We're supposed to get it done together." Lemon Hearts rolled her eyes as they walked into the main courtyard, where several guards were training. "Look, I know you have this weird rivalry with him, but come on! You have to admit he's easy on the eyes!" "Pfft," Twilight scoffed, "first of all, I have no interest in that sort of thing-" "So you like fillies?" Twilight shook her head with a roll of her eyes. "I don't care about anything of that nature! At all! And even if I did..." They rounded the blacksmith shop in the courtyard, headed for the stairways that would take them to Twilight's Tower. "If I did," Twilight emphasized, "I wouldn't admire some stuck up, snarky, immature show off-" They paused by a water barrel as a dirty faced colt burst from the smithy, his undershirt on fire. He tossed the heavy apron and shirt off, and dunked his head into the water barrel. He pulled himself back up with a gasp... and both fillies stared. The colts skin was hairless, which showed off his very well developed muscles as the water ran down his pecs and abs. His black hair waved in the wet, casting a brief rainbow through the droplets. And his blue eyes smoldered out of his hairless, angular face. Twilight's cheeks burned bright red as a primal hunger filled her, her eyes greedily taking in every inch of- "Sparkle? Lemon Hearts?" "PRINCE RYAN?! Twilight screeched, covering her face up with her bookbag, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" "Preventing myself from bursting into flames," Ryan spat, "the Tartarus are you doing here? Spying on my new project?" Twilight scoffed, grabbed Lemon Hearts' hand, and pulled her away. She kept her nose high. "As if! Like I wanna see you burn yourself to death! Like you probably will!' "Trixie says he won't!" Thr blue filly came out of the workshop, wearing goggles, an apron, and a blush. Twilight ignored her, as best she could. "Whatever!" Twilight stormed away. She only stopped when they reached the skyway, and turned to glare back in Ryan's general direction. "Who does he think he is, stripping like that in front of us?!" Lemon Hearts stared back dreamily, as Trixie helped the young prince into another tight sleeveless white shirt. It showed off his well developing arms. "Hm? You say something, Twilight?" She asked. Twilight groaned. "Just... Ugh! This is why I'm having nothing to do with this-this sort of thing! It doesn't affect me at all!" "Oh Trixie, you lucky nag, how dare you feel him up," Lemon Hearts growled, not paying attention. Twilight looked... Saw Trixie happily feeling Ryan's chest up as she helped him back into his apron... Twilight felt the sudden urge to call lightning down on Trixie's head. A lot of lightning. She shook her head rapidly, grabbed Lemon Hearts, and dragged her off to her tower. They had work to do! Why was she here? Twilight found herself asking that question in her mind every second, as Ryan buzzed about the dining room excitedly. "Okay, put the blue plates here, yes, yes... That mirror's reflecting the moon too much, gotta adjust it-" "I adjusted it already, Prince Ryan," Twilight said wearily. Ryan turned back to her, beaming. "Thanks! Oh..." His face fell as he sprinted to the tablecloth for the small table on the balcony. It was overlooking the Sunny Valley, bathed in moonlight. "No, no, it can't be that length, she might trip...!" Twilight raised her eyebrows. "I checked that already, Prince Ryan!" "Oh? Oh, so you did," Ryan said, standing up from the floor, "oh damnit! I've got dust on my suit!" He cast a cleaning spell... Then another... And another... "Prince Ryan, you look fine," Twilight stated. She actually reached out and grabbed his elbow, and he started like he'd just received an electric shock. "Honestly, what's gotten into you? This is the forty-first date you've had with Lulamoon-" "I know! I know," Ryan said. The human prince took deep breaths, rubbing his temples. "Then... Why is this date so much more important?" Twilight asked suspiciously. Ryan glanced at Twilight quickly. Far too quickly, before his eyes settled on a far wall. "Important? What's important about this? It's the forty-first date," Ryan said quickly, "no different from the last twenty! Okay it's a little different. It's not the fortieth date. That was to Manehattan." "Yes, it was also the last school trip before graduation," Twilight groused. She shook her head, giving him a gimlet eye. "How you still snagged the valedictorian position while partying with Lulamoon, I will never know. Between all the face sucking and humping and... And who knows what else?!" Twilight shook her head, crossing her arms under her chest. "You really shouldn't act so shamefully! You're a prince, and you're still dating, I..." Ryan was frantically turning out his pockets. Twilight sighed. "What are you looking for?" "Where is it, where is it?!" Ryan pulled off his jacket and shook it violently. Twilight sighed and tapped her hoof impatiently. The prince blinked... Then smacked his forehead with a groan. "Right, right..." His ring lit up, and a small, fuzzy box rocketed to his hand. Twilight blinked, curious, as she walked behind Ryan to look over his shoulder. Which was hard, he had gained a lot of height. "What's...?" She trailed off as Ryan opened the box. Inside... Was a shining diamond, mounted in a beautiful platinum and silver ring. Ryan flushed, and looked to the side sheepishly. "Er... Well... Um..." "You're going to ask her to marry you?!" Twilight gasped loudly. Ryan covered her mouth with his hand, and waved the other frantically. "Shhhh! Do you want her to hear you?!" He hissed. Twilight pulled his hand off and glared. "She's not here yet!" She hissed back. "What business is it of yours?!" Ryan whispered back. "Don't you think you're rushing things a little?!" Twilight angrily whispered back. "You two have just graduated and-" "And so what?!" Ryan retorted. "We're in love! That's all that's needed!" "I've read a dozen books on marriage, Prince Ryan, and love is vital, but not the only thing you need!" Twilight insisted. "Again, why do you care?" Ryan sniffed. Twilight tried to bite her tongue, she really did... "Because I am concerned about your well being! That's why!" Twilight growled. Ryan rolled his eyes. "I'm flattered, but let's be honest, Sparkle: You're only doing this because my mom told you to." He tucked his ringbox reverently into his jacket pocket. Twilight's eyes narrowed. "Yes, she did! She told me to look after your well being and I'm going to do that-Does she know you're going to propose?!" "Oh yeah, I'm gonna tell my mom that I'm proposing to my marefriend," Ryan snorted, "come on Sparkle. We're not foals anymore." "UGH! Fine!" Twilight growled, throwing her hands up into the air, "do whatever you want!" "Thanks! I will!" Ryan shot back. Twilight stormed out of the room, found a chair, and slammed herself into it angrily. A few minutes later, Trixie arrived, practically bouncing with excitement. She favored Twilight with a big smile. "Hey Twilight! Great night, isn't it?" She asked earnestly. "The best," Twilight said sarcastically. She nodded to the door. "Ryan's in there." "Thank you~!" Trixie laughed, nearly skipping into the room. Twilight scowled after her. "Didn't even close the door," she grumbled. She nearly shut it behind the energetic unicorn girl... But paused. There was an insatiable curiosity in her. A fear of what might happen, and not being able to see it. So she closed the door... But left just enough of a gap to spy on the inside. She was perfectly positioned, too: She saw Ryan and Trixie embrace and kiss. "Mmm... It feels like we've been apart forever," Trixie sighed melodramatically. "It's been a few hours," Ryan laughed. "Felt a lot longer!" Trixie laughed back. "So! Let's eat!" The meals were teleported to the table, and they ate. They had standard small talk, nothing major... Ryan kept fiddling with his pocket, and the object inside. "You all right, Ryan?" Trixie asked, looking concerned despite the aura of good cheer she still had, "you're kind of distracted." "Distracted? Me?" Ryan asked. "Ah, no, of course not." "W-Well, um, I'm a little out of sorts myself," she said happily. "Oh? Well uh... Yeah," Ryan said, "I'm... Er... Yeah. So! Trixie... I wanted to ask you something-" "Oh! Oh! Please do, please do!" Trixie said happily. Ryan took a deep breath, already moving out of his seat. He was going to kneel, already planning on going for the ring box- "But!" Trixie chirped, and Ryan froze, "Trixie has great news! I-I mean, I have great news!" Ryan sank back in his chair, and smiled, fingers fiddling with the ringbox furiously. "Go ahead! Tell me!" Trixie grinned ear to ear. "I got a job offer! To begin performing in Las Pegasus!" Ryan's eyes widened, and he grinned. "That's great, Trixie!" Trixie actually got up out of her seat and hugged him tightly. He returned it. "So, when do you start?" Ryan asked. "Tomorrow," Trixie said happily. Ryan's eyes widened. "Tomorrow?!" "Yeah! I gotta be down there! I'll be the opening act for some stallion named Jackpot, but the pay is amazing! And after six months of that, I'll take the show on the road!" "O-Oh," Ryan said, "ah... Why so sudden?" Trixie snorted. "I did all these auditions, but they didn't actually choose a winner until last minute-Freaking theater ponies, huh? I've got one week to get there. So!" She beamed. "In one week, I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, will be opening up for Las Pegasus' Golden Horseshoe Casino Main Stage! It's everything I've ever wanted! And... And I really owe it all to you!" "Oh, well, uh," Ryan stammered, "that's... That's great..." Trixie kissed him happily, and tightened her hug. "And it's all thanks to you! Thank you! My wonderful prince!" "I... Yeah," Ryan said, looking a bit more deflated. Trixie smiled happily at him. "So! What did you want to ask me?" "Uh..." Ryan was still a genius, even if he was off his game right now. "How... Often would you come back to Canterlot?" "Not often, I'll admit," Trixie said with a shrug, "new performer, gotta prove myself. I'm probably not gonna have much of a social life... Though you know, I'd always make time for you." Ryan stared at Trixie's beaming, guileless face. He slowly nodded. "I... Yeah, I'd like that," he said. "But... I mean," Trixie winced, "not... as much as I'd like." "Are you sure you can't... Wait?" Ryan tried. "I mean, there are other shows, and you're so talented-" "I..." Trixie looked down, a bit shamefully, but her eyes rose and they burned with fire, "I'm a little worried, too. That I'm jumping the gun. But... But this is my dream, Ryan. It has been since I was a foal. I got my cutie mark making some sick fillies and colts laugh and cheer at a hospital-Did you know that?" "Yes... Yes, you told me that story. Many times," Ryan said quietly. Trixie nodded. "I... I mean, our relationship... There are a lot of things I... I want, but... But this is my dream, Ryan. I don't... I don't think I can give it up." Ryan was silent in the face of Trixie's pleading expression... Before he nodded slowly. "Yeah," he said quietly, "yeah, I mean... I understand. And... And I'm very proud and happy for you, Trixie." Trixie smiled broadly. "You are?!" She gasped. "I-I mean... I'm not going to break up with you-" Ryan rested a hand on Trixie's head, and shook his own head slowly. "Let's... Let's just call it a break, huh?" Ryan suggested. "I mean... It-It bucking sucks... But we are, ya know... Growing up. And we... We started as friends..." Trixie smiled happily, and hugged him. "That part will never change, Trixie swears it," she murmured. Ryan hugged her back again. The rest of the dinner was quiet. They exchanged promises to write. Ryan said he was happy to see her at graduation, and she said the same. They had one last kiss goodbye... Before Trixie parted, beaming, and headed out of the palace. Twilight had hidden herself in an alcove, and watched the perky unicorn leave a bit sadly. It was only when Trixie was out of sight, that Twilight cautiously entered the balcony dining room. "Prince Ryan?" The human was standing at the balcony railing, hands bracing him up. Alarmed, Twilight ran up behind him and wrapped her arms around his stomach. "Don't!" "ACK! Sparkle!" Ryan turned around, glaring... Through tears. Twilight started. "I-I-!" "What?" Ryan demanded, "did you think I was going to jump or something?!" "I-er... Well..." Twilight looked aside. Ryan was silent, but he turned back to face the valley. Twilight let him go, and stood there awkwardly. "I... I could always-" "No," Ryan said, short... Then he added, more gently, "no... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you." "I'm sorry, Prince Ryan," Twilight said quietly, "I-I didn't mean to-" "It's fine," Ryan said, a bit thickly, "It's fine..." Twilight hesitated. "You... You could always ask her at graduation. I-I mean... You really love her, and-" Ryan shook his head. "This is her dream, Sparkle," he said, "what if you had to delay realizing your dream to be my mom's apprentice? Could you do it? For love?" "I... I don't know," Twilight admitted, "I've never been in love before." "Yeah, well..." Ryan sighed, and pulled out the ringbox. He turned it over in his hands. "... I want her to be happy," he said. He tucked the ring back into his pocket, and turned to the table. He patted it twice. "Wine," he ordered. A bottle appeared. Ryan picked it up, uncorked it, and began to drink from the tap. Twilight gasped. "What the Tartarus are you doing?!" "What everyone does after they've been dumped by the prettiest unicorn in the world," Ryan stated, before he went back to chugging. An hour later, Twilight was struggling to help the inebriated prince up to his room. She grunted as she held him. It wasn't easy, with how he kept shaking and wobbling. "Oh thank Celestia," she muttered, as she found the right room. She opened it with her magic, and guided the prince in. "Okay, easy does it...! Easy...!" She stayed on her hooves for about three steps, before Ryan tripped over his own feet and sent them falling onto the floor. Twilight just barely kept Ryan from slamming face first into the tiling. With another loud grunt, she guided Ryan to his bed, and let him fall facefirst into the mattress. She got up, turned to head out... Then walked back in, grumbling. "Can't let him choke, stupid prince," she grunted. She flipped him over. "There... Now you can breathe," she huffed. "I wanna die," Ryan mumbled drunkenly. "No you don't!" Twilight insisted. "You... I know this sucks... It really sucks! But it's not the end!" Ryan managed a slurred giggle. "Heh... You shaid shucks... Gonna tell Mom..." "Don't you dare!" Twilight hissed. She shook her head. "Besides, what would she think of you drinking?!" "It's not the best winesh, sho she'd be cool," Ryan mumbled. He sniffled again. Twilight sighed. "Oh, no, please don't cry again-" "Shorry... I'm pathetic," Ryan mumbled. "No! No, no you're not!" Twilight insisted. "You're not!" "Yer jest telling me that cause you work for my mom," Ryan whimpered. "That's not true!" Twilight growled, slapping his chest, "I-I really... I really do care about you, Ryan! Like... Like friends!" She poked his chest with her fingers. "You are my friend! You got it?! And you're not pathetic!" Silence. Twilight blinked. "Ryan?" A snore answered her. Twilight groaned, stood up, and stalked out the door, slamming it behind her. The next day, Ryan would begin work with his mother's court, Twilight got her dragon assistant Spike, and Trixie headed out for Las Pegasus. And for two years, Twilight and Ryan would barely exchange a few words... Until Nightmare Moon returned.