//------------------------------// // Chapter XXVIII // Story: Why Do I Feel This Way // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Cotton Cloudy I sat tensely on Moondancers lap as we sat in a third row of a stage, watching a blue unicorn mare with a cape and hat rear back on her hind legs with a confident smirk as the other ponies stomped their hooves approvingly. “The Great and Powerful Trixie thanks you all for coming,” Trixie announced as she leaned against the wall with her trademark smile I’ve heard about so much. Lyra, Bon Bon, Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine sat around us as they all whistled approvingly, especially Lyra and Minuette. “What did you think?” Lyra asked enthusiastically with a wide grin that seemed a bit too wide to be on anyponys face. “It was cool,” I commented and examined my hoof as ponies started trotting away. “Well, it gets better because Trixie agreed to meet you,” Lyra continued. “I managed to convince her so Bon Bon can apologize.” “I’m a bit nervous,” Bon Bon admitted as Minuette gazed at the mulberry pony sitting next to her. “What about you Berry?” “A tad,” Berry Punch answered as she shifted her weight. “But Minuette agreed to come back if I came to Canterlot and apologized to Trixie so here we are. And Ruby is having fun too at least so that’s worth all the bits in the world to me.” “You’ll feel the same soon,” Minuette nudged Moondancer with a smirk as Moondancer blushed a deep red. “Hey, there’s Trixie so you two go ahead and we will wait.” Berry and Bon Bon gave each other worried looks before inhaling, trotting over to the unicorn who was levitating some of her magic items into her wagon. Trixie spun around after Berry clearly said something and Bon Bon waved a hoof around as Trixie raised an eyebrow. “How do you think it’s going?” Twinkleshine asked curiously as Trixie’s eyes widened before narrowing suspiciously. “Probably along the lines of you hurt the great and powerful Trixie and why should she forgive you?” Lemon Hearts suggested. “Based on Trixie shaking their hooves, I’d say it went well,” Moondancer commented as I watched Trixie drop Berry’s hoof and started trotting over her slowly with a confident but genuine smile. “The kind and friendly Trixie is pleased to make your acquaintance,” Trixie proclaimed as I looked up at her. Her hat seemed much larger up close. “What is your name?” “Cotton Cloudy,” I answered a bit more nervous than I normally felt. Something about Trixie basically commanded you to recognize her presence and that made me nervous. “Trixie sees. What did you think of Trixie’s show?” Trixie asked with a grin as the mare shifted her weight, the others all watching me. “It was good. I’ve never really been into magic but I liked the saw trick,” I admitted and she gave an eager nod. “Excellent. Trixie wasn’t sure about that one yet but she is glad it came out the way she planned. Tell Trixie, what do you want to do with your life?” Moondancer watched me intently as I chewed on my lip before inhaling. “Not sure. Maybe a librarian or a royal guard? Maybe I’ll be a Wonderbolt one day or a teacher,” I shrugged and Twinkleshine gave an approving smile. “Did you always want to be a magician?” “Yes,” Trixie answered as she sat down. “Trixie will tell you a story but if it gets out to anypony, she’ll one hundred percent deny this ever happened. Got it?” “Got it,” we all said in unison. “Trixie always knew she was destined for great things since day uno. After all, you don’t look this attractive for nothing,” Trixie flipped her mane with a grin. “Anyway, Trixie’s family was less than supportive and encouraged her to follow other interests like gymnastics but that only served to have Trixie add what she learned in her classes to her shows. Trixie is quite flexible.” Trixie tossed her cape and hat onto the ground, bending her back with a foreleg tucked under a hind quarter, pressing the back of her head against her back as our eyes widened. “Woah,” Ruby whispered in awe. “Doesn’t that hurt?” “It used to at first till Trixie kept practicing. Eventually Trixie was tossed out by her parents to fend for herself,” Trixie continued as she untangled herself and put her cape and hat on. “Trixie went from town to town, often doing odd jobs or drinking away her few bits in bars till she saw a magician performing. Naturally, Trixie wanted to follow in his footsteps and he caught Trixie attempting to steal his belongings in a failed attempt to be a magician. He surprisingly Trixie in after and taught her.” “How old are you now?” Ruby asked curiously as Trixie set down her water that I didn’t remember her getting. “Twenty six,” Trixie answered finally. “This happened about five years ago? Anyway, Trixie later surpassed him after his death. But Trixie won’t get into that, you’re too young. Trixie wishes her parents could see her now so she could rub it in their faces. Look at me now, known throughout Equestria for everything and anything but mainly magic. Trixie would thoroughly enjoy shoving her success down their throats. She admittedly may not have much money and only a wagon as a home, but she is happy.” I tapped a hoof on my thigh as the others watched her with stunned looks. I had heard of Trixie of course but her life prior was pretty well hidden from all of Equestria. “The moral of the story is don’t ever let anypony try to stop you from achieving your dreams. If you want to do something, you go for it and don’t let anypony get in your way. If you have to, you step over them,” Trixie slammed a hoof adamantly into the dirt. “You make yourself known and successful. Only then will you be respected.” “I’m not entirely sure that’s good advice other than telling her to go for her dreams,” Moondancer interjected cautiously. “I’m sympathetic to you though. Every pony should have supportive parents and well, I’m sorry you didn’t.” “We all are,” Bon Bon added as she traced a hoof on her thigh. “Reminds me of Lyra’s parents. Said she would never be a decent musician.” “Who are you to dear Cotton?” Trixie asked as Moondancer straightened. “I’m her adoptive mother. Her parents well, changelings and that’s all I’ll say,” Moondancer answered as I looked away and Trixie sighed. “I understand,” Trixie levitated her cape off and wrapped it around Ruby. “This is for you. Look after it.” Ruby gave a squealing sound as Berry rubbed her mane with a smile and shot Trixie an approving nod. “Trixie is giving you her hat,” Trixie levitated her hat on my head and I looked up. “Take care of it for Trixie, it’s one of her most prized possessions. We will meet again.” I stared up at the brim of the hat in silence as Trixie gave me a warm smile before she turned back to her wagon. “Thank you,” I said finally as she turned back to me. “You’re welcome. May we meet again.” “She was nice,” Lemon Hearts mused as Twinkleshine nodded her agreement. For once, I didn’t have any thing to say except nod my agreement with a a faint smile matching the one on Moondancers face.