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// Epilogue: Weeks later... 
// Story: Brag you Down 
// by Skyeheart 
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In the town of Neigh Orleans, close to the outskirts where no traffic congested the road just off the shore, stood a modest hospital. Upstairs, on the second floor among one of the many rooms, a dark navy blue occupant lay upon one of the bedspreads. His eyes were closed in an seemingly eternal slumber, the only movement showing he was still alive was the slight rising and falling of his chest and the steady blip of the vital monitor strapped to his fetlock.

The door to the patient's room slid open, and in quietly walked a younger azure mare, who stopped at the side of his bed, looking down to his face for several silence moments.

"Hello master," she finally said. "It's been awhile."

Another tense moment of silence passed before she spoke again.

"So...another year has gone by hasn't it? This particular one has been a rather wild and action packed one for me, you know? I'm living in Manehattan now, yes, living. I know, it's rather unorthodox for a magician of my age to start planting roots, but what can I say? Everypony has a favorite place they want to be. If I recall, you were particularly partial to our performances in Whinnychester."

She gave a rub of her chin. "Let's see, what else? Oh, did you know we have two Princesses now? Apparently Princess Celestia had a long lost little sister who's been trapped in the moon this whole time because she went all evil and jealous on her. She broke out just a few months ago. Oh, don't worry, she's not evil anymore, I helped cured her. Oh yes, that's another thing. I'm the bearer of the Element of Laughter now. It's a pretty big deal if you're wondering..."

She trailed off. Words seemed to fail her as she racked her brain for something more to say. "You know..." she started at last. "I'm still taking care of the cape and hat you left me." She paused again. "Ten years...I'm still chugging along, making my name heard. Still haven't gotten my first movie deal yet but...well you know how the ponies in Applewood are."

She then magicked up a tiny plate with a lone cupcake. "Anyways, happy birthday. It's your usual favorite, Black Forest."

Then Trixie took a step back, placing the plate on the small desk tray next to the cot, and stood there in somber silence.

"I'm sure he's proud of you."

Trixie turned to the lavender unicorn stepping next to her. "Is there really any doubt?" she softly spoke with a smile. She looked back to the comatose stallion. "Master, there're some ponies I'd like to introduce you to. This is Twilight Sparkle, Octavia Melody, Blossomforth, 'Auntie' Orange Sherbet, Honey Do-"

"He can call me Daring," the tan pegasus mentioned.

"-and Spike." She breathed in a deep sigh before continuing. "These...are my friends."

"Are we really doing this?" Spike whispered into Twilight's ear from on top of her back.

"Recent studies have shown that ponies in catatonic states are still sensually active and aware of their surroundings to a degree, so it's not like we're talking to a brick wall," she whispered back. She then approached the sleeping unicorn. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Twilight Sparkle. I've really enjoyed your work and...and I just want to say I'm honored to be one of Trixie's friends. She's so important to me...to us all."

"You know, I think I remember one of his shows back in Fillydelphia, back when I was a filly," the other pegasus of the group said. "He always used irises in his tricks if I recall."

"They were his favorite flower," Trixie explained. "He always told me they represented passion in the world of flowers." 

"They're also pretty darn tasty," Honey chipped in.

Trixie and Blossomforth looked to Honey with a deadpan stare. "You get that one, but only because it's true," the azure unicorn said with a wry smile.

She then looked back to the bed. "I was there, you know. The last night he was just barely awake, they finally let me in. He mustered up his last remaining shred of consciousness to tell me one last thing."

Curious, Twilight edged her head closer. "What was it?"

"You're the daughter I never had, never give up your dreams, standard pep talk, yadda yadda yadda. You'd think he was dying with how melodramatic and sappy he was starting to act." Trixie then felt the linoleum around the floor a little with her hoof. "But there was one thing that stood out in what he said.

The life of a magician is a long and lonely road, and few survive it for as long as I've had. I owe much of my later years to you in that part. Therefore, I bequeath this last request to my apprentice turned master. Go out into the world, and make some friends. Only then will you be able to truly call yourself 'The Great and Powerful Trixie'."

Trixie took off her hat to look into it for a moment. "Ten years I've spent visiting this room, never quite understanding just what those words meant. This year I do though." She put it back on and looked to the others. "Because I'm not the only one here this time."

Twilight nuzzled Trixie close to her. "You'll never have to be again. From now on, we'll come with you every year, until he awakes up. He will wake up someday. I just know he will. And we'll all be there with you to welcome him back when he does."

Everypony shared in the hug, then a certain dragon's tummy growled.

"Um, I know it's his birthday and all, but...you'd think he'd mind if I took that cupcake?" Spike asked with a twiddling of his index fingers. "It's not like he's really going to eat it, right?"

"I think we're all overdue for some lunch," Sherbet said in return. "Come on, let's head into town a grab a bite before taking the next bus back. My treat."

"I hear their specialty gumbos are to die for," Octavia conversed as they all proceeded to exit the cemetery.

Trixie lingered behind for just a moment to look upon her mentor one last time.

"Thanks for everything," she whispered to the aged stallion. "And you were right. Now I really am...The Great and Powerful Trixie."

And she scurried off to catch up with her friends, leaving the clean white room with nothing but the slow beep of the monitor. If somepony was in there room at that moment, and looked very hard, they would be able to see perhaps the faintest of movements from the edge of the unconscious illusionist's mouth, as it turned the tiniest bit upwards, breathing out of faintest of a happy sigh.

"Trixie..."