//------------------------------// // A Brief Meeting // Story: Trapped // by Gylden Glor //------------------------------// I smile warmly as the blue unicorn walks into the room, her eyes searching and wary as she slowly walks in. Her head hangs low due to her timid fear of the castle's imposing qualities, and her revelations that she is, in fact, not the center of the universe. "Hello, Trixie Lulamoon," I announce. She starts at her full name. "How do you..." "I'm the Head Royal Technician," I remind her. "I can see any Royal Archive I want. Now, if you wouldn't mind - could you close the door, please?" She nods, and quickly closes it with an audible click. I motion for her to take a seat by my side, and she does so with a respectful nod. After a moment of silence, which is probably awkward for her, I break the silence. "I bet this isn't what you expected," I announce, gesturing towards my humble form in the hospital bed. "You were probably expecting some grand hero, weren't you?" She nods. "Yes...I thought the one that saved my life wouldn't be bound to a hospital bed..." I give her a light chuckle. "Yeah, well...it's being that 'grand hero' that landed me here," I announce. I motion towards my midsection. "Without a horn, I couldn't expel the radiation from using magic, so it all just settled in my digestive tack. Several tumors eventually developed - they were all expertly removed, but I can't use magic for the next two months..." "Then...how will you train me?" She asks, seeming more worried about her training than my well being. "Not all of it is about my magic," I inform her. "Most of it is about finding your inner strength. If you're able to harness that...you could do wonderful things, Trixie." I give her a small smile. "Things that would put your petty firework shows to shame." She blushes at the mention of her failed career. She looks away, unable to admit defeat to her newly adopted mentor. I chuckle dryly as I recline in the hospital bed. "In any case, I think we should get to know each other first. There's no sense in teaching you unless I have an idea of who the fuck you are, huh?" Trixie smiles at the remark, and nods. I nod as well. A moment of silence passes, during which she fiddles with her hooves. "I'm sorry if I've disappointed you," I announce. "Yet I'm afraid that this is all our sessions can be, until further notice." She nods. "I want you to come here tomorrow, Trixie. I know this has been quite short, but I just wanted to meet you. Tomorrow will be much more...interesting. I promise." She nods, and bids me farewell before politely excusing herself. I can tell that, despite my best attempts to be completely jovial, she's rather fearful of me. I'll deal with that later, but for now, I've got something more important to deal with... Five Years Later... Rainbow Dash and I sit across from each other at the small table, smiling as we enjoy the moment. "So, how'd it go with your student?" Rainbow asks, taking a quick sip of tea. "You mean Trixie?" A nod. I push my lips into a tight line as I remember the unicorn. "She's...learning." "You seem disappointed." "I'm a lot of things," I sigh. "Unfortunately, disappointed is one of them..." "I understand." I give a solemn nod as I turn back to my tea. We pass a few moments in silence, but I break it as I take her hoof in my hand. We look to each other for a moment before I let loose a hefty sigh. "We should get going," I announce. She nods, and we both stand to prepare for the journey ahead of us as we regretfully cast off our ties to the small oasis. Rainbow casts a quick glance around. "It's weird...I've spent so much time here, it almost feels like a house..." She smiles at me. "But it never quite felt like a home." I extend a hand to her. "Let's go home, then."