//------------------------------//
// A Memory of Reflected Light 
// Story: Tricks, cloaks and wands: The Lost Tales of a Traveling Magician 
// by divinearcadia 
//------------------------------//

To get this out of the way, I have no control over the characters of and related to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. This is a piece of literary fiction, the events of this story are not intended to reflect the actions or incriminate anypony.

Chapter Two: A Memory of Reflected Light

There is nothing. All that she sees is a diffuse white light that neither hides nor reveals anything. A question drifts, echoing from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. 
Who are you? The question is nagging, pulling and prodding. “I don't remember, but I want to be somepony I can be proud of...”
What have you done? This question is bothersome in a different way. “I don't remember, but I want to do something to repay the kindness given to me...”
Why are you here? This question changes the world. “To remember...”
There is now direction in this world, vertigo is the first sensation she feels, then blackness as the disorientation comes to a crashing halt.

“Trixillianna...” A sweet, soft voice calls from far away, “It's time to get up dear.”
A hoof gently shakes the shoulder of the small filly sleeping on a cot in the corner of the living room. The older mare shares the same light blue of the little filly but in mane only, her coat is a deep sea blue. She pulls the blanket off the small filly and goes to a small window with ill fitting glass panes, pushing back the hangings so that bright spring sunlight bathes the little filly, highlighting her silvery mane.
“Mmmoooom...” she grumps out, “It's Saturday, can't I sleep in just a bit?”
“No, little one. We have a busy day today and I need your help at the market. Now go wash yourself and get ready.”
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, the little filly hops from the cot and sleepily walks to the bathroom to do as her mother bids. They live in a small, spare apartment in Manehatten. Her dad, a unicorn by the name of Alabaster Slate, was off to work early again. He was a quarry worker, cutting and moving blocks of heavy white marble. He doesn't make much so her mom, a unicorn as well by the name of Azure Folds, helps in every way she can. She works as a seamstress next door, repairing tears and making plain but sturdy clothes that the ponies of this area buy for their hard work. Together, they make enough bits to be a happy family, even if her dad was a little grumpy sometimes and her mom stern occasionally, they still loved her, and that made her feel like the most important little filly in the world.
After taking care of her morning ablutions, Trixie walks back into the living room and sees her mom standing by the door, basket by her feet. Knowing she doesn't have much time she quickly grabs a small, thin book she had been reading and canters over to her mom, dropping the book in the basket.
With a smile on her face, Trixies mom asks “Ready?”
Trixie nods in the affirmative and they leave together, happy to spend the day together with her mom. Once out on the street, they get swept up in the steady stream of ponies moving along towards the market. They make it to their usual spot between a pair booths, one sells spices and the other small wooden carvings.
“Why, good morning Trixie!” calls the old mare selling spices, “I see you're making a habit of helping your Mother now that you're such a big filly now. It's good that you're such a helpful daughter.”
“Uh huh! I still don't like getting up early on Saturdays though,” Trixie replies with a little grump and blush, “but I'm glad I can finally help Mom out with the stall.”
“Ha ha ha, I remember when I was your age little'un,” she says leaning a little closer in a conspiratorial whisper, “I still hate getting up early Saturday mornings too.” She finishes with a wink eliciting a giggle from the little filly.
While Trixie was talking with the wizened stall keeper, her Mom had began to take the objects out of her basket. Trixie noticed her mom beginning to set up and making a hasty goodbye to her neighbor and hurries over to help her mom set up. This was her favorite part, seeing all the different things her Mom had made during the week before they went to different homes. What her Mom did to make a few extra bits was to take little scraps and pieces of fabric they would normally throw away and take them home, with the shopkeepers permission of course, and she would spend hours awake at night sewing these scraps into a little menagerie of stuffed and folded cloth creatures. Trixie had a special one, the fabric and materials were a gift from her Moms boss and made by her Mom with extra special care. It was a little pony, half her size with the same color coat and mane with violet buttons for eyes, given to her as her birthday present and she couldn't have been happier.
Her Mom set up the cloth over the crate they were given to use for renting the space leaving Trixie to pass each little creature to her Mom who then put in a spot that was just right until only her small book was left in the basket. Having only done this one other time the previous Saturday, Trixie knew that it was going to be a long day, but not a hard one. She sat happily with her mom for a little while as she began to attract a few customers. They looked at her creations, delighted that something like that could be found at a small market in Manehatten, they ask her their prices and their faces light up as they realize that they're perfectly affordable for something so unique and hoofmade. She stands next to her Mom, leaning slightly against her foreleg as she goes about her business. She watches the faces of the ponies that visit their little stall and watches as each one walks away with a smile on their face and a little treasure in their saddlebag. Trixie feels a happiness that her Mom is able to make so many different ponies happy from little scraps of cloth sewn together and she day dreams about the day her Mom will teach her how to do the same thing.
After a while all but the smaller pieces had been sold and customers started to stretch farther and farther apart. This was when Trixie moved to sit behind her Mom and pull out her book to read while the last few pieces found their way to some new home. She let the dull buzz of the market fade to the background as she became immersed in her story. After a while, her Mom nudged her out of her story asking “How about you go to the food section of the market and find us something to eat, and a couple bottle of cider for us honey,” she says with a smile, “Take the basket with you so you can carry everything.”
“I'll tag along with her Azure, I need something to hold my skin and bones together anyways.” Chimes in the spice seller, the other pony at her stall, likely her husband smiles at Trixie who smiles back.
“That'd be wonderful. Now be courteous to Mrs. Zest now now and don't run off.” Azure says, passing Mrs. Zest some bits.
“I'll be good Mom, don't worry.” She replies with a smile.
Smiling, meg picks up the basket and begins down the lane at a slow pace, letting Trixie catch up to her after giving her Mom a hug. “So how do you like helping your Mom, Trixie?” she says as the filly catches up beside her.
“It's nice, but I get bored when business slows down. I brought a book this time like Mom suggested in case I got bored.”
“That's good advice, so make sure you remember it. If something turns out in a way that you don't like, make sure you're prepared to turn it into your favor.” She says turning an eye towards the filly.
“I'm not sure I know what that means Mrs. Zest...” Trixie replies, a furrow on her brow shows she's seriously thinking about it though.
“When you're doing something important or even going somewhere, think of what could go wrong as well what's supposed to go right. That way you can always make it right, or turn it into something good when something goes wrong. I've had to learn that the hard way little'un, so remember this advice as you grow up.”
“I'll try,” Trixie replies.
“That's all I ask dearie,” she finishes as they fall into a companionable silence.
They walk around the food stands, picking up something here, something there and they finally have the basket filled with delicious smelling food. As they begin walking back to their stalls, Mrs. Zest gives a piece of honey preserved apple to Trixie who beams at the unexpected treat. “Don't tell your Mother or we'll both get into trouble,” she finishes with a wink.


Almost a year passes in this fashion. As her moms creations become more and more popular, she begins making more and more of them, setting a few bits aside every week. Then one day, instead of walking to the market with her mother, they step in front of a small, narrow store front. Trixie looks up at her Mom with a questioning look, and she replies with a big smile and a wink. She pulls a key from under her shawl with magic, puts it into the keyhole, and gives it a twist and the door opens with a soft click.
They walk into together, Trixie looking around. There are some small tables and shelves, along with a deep display behind the narrow front window. Running around the store and looking everywhere, she sees that all of the available surfaces are covered with her Moms little cloth creations.
With a quick gasp he turns to her Mom and yells “THIS IS AMAZING!!!!”
Squealing with delight, she spins in a circle before launching herself at her Mom.
Barely containing her laughter at her daughters enthusiasm, Azure smiles broadly and says, “That's because I have such a good daughter to motivate me.”
“All this because of me?”
“Yep. Because your Father and I both love you so much, we worked a little harder to save up enough money so we could rent this place. Now everyday after I pick you up from school, we'll come here to mind the store and make more of our little friends. I even have a place set aside in the back for you to do your homework”
“I can't wait until school on Monday! I'll get to tell all my friends about how amazing my Mom and Dad are!” She finishes with a fit of giggles as her Mom pokes her in the side with her hoof.
“Don't go bragging too much Trixie, you're like to get a head as big as a balloon.” She finishes with a giggle of her own, sweeping the filly into a tight hug. 


With word spreading amongst her most common customers, Azure Folds has a bustling business before the month is out with everypony wanting a small treasure of their own. She begins taking on commissions for the more well to do pony customers and paying some of her friends at the seamstress to work part time to help her keep up with the demand. 
One day, only a few days before winter is to come, Azure Folds is sitting behind the counter, needle, thread and cloth moving deftly on a new project at the command of her carefully controlled magic. The store is empty but warm, the wood stove in back providing a cozy atmosphere throughout the store. As she works away, a cloaked and hooded pony walks through the front door, the bell above it chiming gently, setting a small phoenix spinning from its place on a mobile as a small wetly chilly breeze enters behind the pony.
“Why hello, welcome to Scraps of Treasure, where you can find any marvel you can think of, if we don't have it, we can make it,” She says warmly with a professional smile, “Is there anything I can help you with or anything you're looking for in particular?”
The pony shakes its head silently looking around without taking its hood off. Azure sets her latest project down on the counter and watches the pony, smile frozen in place, making sure hoofs put things back where they belong. The pony wanders about the store, putting everything back where it belonged and leaves.
“Thank you, come again.” Azure calls, feeling relieved because Trixie was in the back room doing her schoolwork and didn't want anything to happen to her daughter. She had lived in a moderately poor section of Manehatten since she was a little filly and she knew which kind of ponies to watch out for. I'm going to ask one of the patrol ponies to keep an eye on my store tonight she thinks, a little worried.
The rest of the day passes by without innocent, though she thinks she sees the cloaked pony walk by across the street again. As the sun begins to set, Alabaster shows up to walk his daughter and wife home. He walks through the door weary, but smiling at the radiant smile from his wife and the youthful joy of his daughter. Trixie runs forward to hug her Dad, and Azure walks up to muzzle affectionately with him, forehoof wrapped around his daughter. 
“How're my girls doing?” He says with in rumbling voice. “Busy day today?”
“About what you'd expect for a Tuesday. Go get your things Trixie, it's time to close up and head home now.”
“Ok Mom.” She says trotting into the backroom.
“Had a strange pony in today dear,  I think we should ask one of the patrol ponies to keep a sharp eye on the store tonight.”
“We'll make sure to ask on the way back.” He replies reassuringly.
Azure nods with a smile, feeling better since Alabaster had come to pick them up. He still couldn't pick them up reliably with his job, but every time he did, it always made Azure feel like everything was going to get better. Trixie comes back with her small saddle pack and a big grin on her face. 
“Mom says we can have apple pie tonight for desert.” She, like her Dad had a soft spot for apple pie.
“Is this true?” Alabaster gives his wife a serious look.
Laughing, she replies “Yes dear,  it most certainly is.”
“Then lets mosey on home, I'll make that extra stop after I walk you two to the front door.”
“Thank you dear.” Azure replies with a small kiss on the cheek as they all leave, walking out into a sunset that's slowly taking on a red hue.
They get about a block away before Azure suddenly stops.
“Something the matter honey?” Alabaster asks.
“I forgot to check the back door of the store,” she says looking behind her, “I'll just run back and make sure, it won't be but a minute.”
Alabaster, a worried look on his face nods, knowing his wife knows to be careful. The pair waits on the street for a couple minutes. Alabaster turns to Trixie and tells her to go wait on the stoop of the store on the corner. She does as told and watches her father canters back to the store, turning down the narrow alley between the stores, he disappears. Trixie shuffles around in the cold on the stoop, impatience and wanting to spend precious time with her parents overcoming her Dads order to wait, she trots back down the street, following her fathers path around to the back of the store. When she gets to the back of the store, she finds the door ajar.
“Dad?” She calls out quietly. No reply comes through the door. She opens the door and walks inside, stepping around the familiar obstacles in the evening gloom, a red light shining from the front of the store as the sunset lights the interior of the store. As hears muffled noises coming from the other room, she goes to look. As she walks into the front room, the light flares brightly, blinding her. As she rubs her eyes, she sees her dad, kneeling on the floor, his whole body wracked with silent sobs and choked words.
“It was only a couple minutes...” His voice was strangely pitched to Trixies ears, “She was always careful, never took chances...”
“Dad?” Trixie says frightened, not understanding what she was seeing.
Alabaster turns around in a sudden jerk, eyes wide he stands up quickly and rushes over to Trixie, pulling her into a hard embrace, holding her head to his chest. Sobs wrack his body as he holds his daughter, large tears soak into her mane.
“What's wrong Dad?” Trixie asks beginning to cry out of fear, not understanding why her strong Dad would be crying like this.
“I'm so sorry Trixie... So, so sorry...” He says, whispering at the end.
Trixie, shifting to look over her dads shoulder to see the reason why he was crying, sees her Mom lying on the floor, blood red light reflecting off of a mirror on the wall to illuminate her unmoving form.