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 Five: Though the Seasons May Pass
It was the day after her test and Trixie had slept in. Instead of being overly groggy, she was overly acute in her senses as the golden light refracted off and through her smooth lead-crystal water pitcher. She had been in a haze ever since she had left the Guild Hall yesterday. Upon seeing her condition, Olive knew she needed a day to rest and recover, especially since this was her first time over channeling her magical talent, and took her back to her Aunts residence and letting them in on the happy news. The rest of the day was both a trial and a bit comedic for Trixies family and mentor as she puttered about on a cloud of bliss and got up to all kinds of mischief. Both her Aunt and Olive know what it's like to over channel ones talent, but mixing it with the lingering euphoria of gaining your cutie mark can lead to something like this. Olive left after being treated to a filling lunch and returned to his wagon to ready for his first performance of the early afternoon.
Trixie never really regained herself that entire day, but her Aunt knew she'd be better in the morning, so she kept the young mare busy with a constant flow of hot cider and filling food. She would try to putter out to the store front only to be turned back by her Uncle with a smile. She wandered about the house, looking at the familiar objects with a new curiosity and would spend small amounts of time sitting in chairs or lying on couches. She would occasionally drift off to a light sleep that she would start from as though she wouldn't allow herself to go to sleep on this special day. Her Aunt found her stretched out on her back on a couch in the living room when it was time for a late dinner. She hopped off the couch meandered after her Aunt while her stomach growled lightly. She didn't know what to think about the sight that greeted her when she made it into the main dining room. It was brightly lit and filled with all manner of smiling ponies. Most of her immediate family: Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Second Cousins and all manner of other relations were looking at her with warm and happy expressions. Surprisingly enough, even Olive Branch was there as well beside her Uncle chatting amiably with another relative until she had walked in. The chatter died off and everypony turned to Trixie and began clapping, shouts of congratulations and encouragement coming from the throng.
“As soon as you left today, we began preparations on this party for your passing the test, but we had no idea it'd be the trigger for you cutie mark.” Trixies Aunt says while putting a comforting foreleg around her shoulders. “This has been a long time coming Trixie, but I know your parents would be immeasurably proud to see that their little filly had grown up into such a fine young mare.”
At her words, Trixie turns to her Aunt and begins to cry into her shoulder. She had been working for this moment for so long and now that it was here, being confirmed by her Aunt had given her the sense of accomplishment that she had been striving for. She doesn't stay like this for long as her Aunt hugs her tightly, stroking her mane gently with a free hoof and says softly, “Come now Trixie. Your family has come together to congratulate you and wish you well on your journeys to come.”
She spends another short moment like this before ending the embrace. She rubs a forehoof across her eyes and sniffles a little as a small smile. “Thanks Auntie.” She says in a small voice. She turns smiling to the crowd of family members and the rest of the night passes in a blur of warm golden light and satisfied happiness. She sits on the edge of her bed now, echoes of the previous night still coursing through her chest. Smiling, she gets out of bed and gets around quickly and heads downstairs to warmly hug her Aunt who's busy making yet more bread and then to the storefront to hug her Uncle who's currently between customers at the counter. She trots back into the house proper to fix herself a bit of breakfast of leftovers from last night. On the counter, there's a letter in Olives flowing script.
Picking it up, she reads:
Trixie,
Congratulations on attaining your cutie mark, and in your award, for that was your talent and ingenuity solely. I knew you had it in you to pass the test, but to get your mark in performance? Magnificent, my dear. As you know, there is still much more for you to learn and long days ahead. I have talked with your Aunt and Uncle about our looming departure and they have given me their blessing in taking you out into the world. I will give you a three day reprieve to gather some personal belongings, clothes among other things you may need in the months to come. You know the size of our living quarters and should pack accordingly.
Once again my dear, congratulations on your success;
Your mentor, guide and friend
Olive Branch
She puts the not down on the counter again and continues to eat her snack with a pensive look on her face. I should ask Auntie for some advice, she thinks as she has never had to pack for a journey before. She finishes her snack with a tall glass of milk before heading back to the big kitchen to ask for help from her Aunt. “Of course I can help Trixie. I have all the gifts you received last night tucked away for you. We can go shopping in an hour after I get these set in the oven. Now go get something to eat dear, you had a long day yesterday and you need a lot of food to help you on your way.” Trixie nods in reply and a smile on her face as she trots back to the kitchen. Surprisingly enough, her stomach grumbles at her just as she returns to the fridge. Laughing, she begins to get a plate full of food and sets to it with a will.
It was dark when Trixie wakes up. Today's the day. She thinks as she takes a huge breath and a feeling of nervous electricity jolts from her chest to her hooves. A quick flare of her horn and she brings a lantern to light and wicks it to a warm glow revealing the room that had been hers for the past two years. She sits on the edge of her bed, looking around with a blank mind. She was a stranger to the life she had lived up till just yesterday and while she was moving forward with confidence, there was a small part of her that longed to stay in the past. She lets herself slide off the bed and walks to her window and looks out to see the faintest of light blushing the horizon from the looming sunrise. With a deep breath and a near silent sigh, she turns to go about her daily ablutions. She is alone in the family kitchen and eating a small meal when her Uncle comes in, clearly looking for her.
“Morning Trixie.” He says, “Over the past couple years I may not have been the most loving of ponies towards you, but to your Aunt and I, you're like a daughter to us and nothing makes us happier than seeing you about to become a mare in your own right.” At this moment, her Aunt walks in with a smile on her face.
“And like any daughter, we thought you should be the first to know that you're going to have a little brother or sister next year,” she says with tears of happiness welling in her eyes, “We weren't sure until a week ago, but I went to a doctor when I woke up five days in a row with a queasy stomach and she told me. We know it's not the best time to give you the news, with you leaving today, but everything just came around so fast. We were planning on telling you sooner but the timing never seemed right.” She finishes with a chagrined look.
“Oh...” Trixie manages in a small voice.
“We know we aren't a replacement for your real parents, but we thought you should know that you're in our hearts and that there will always be a place for you in our house and at our table.” Her Aunt says, with an agreeing nod from her husband, in response to Trixies look of being caught in front of a runaway wagon.
It takes Trixie a moment to wrap her head around this new information but only a moment passes and with bubbling laughter, she realizes that she had felt her Aunt and Uncle were closer to her parents than as close relatives. She runs over to the pair and brings them with laughter filling the air and brings them all together in a hug. “I don't know what to say to you two except that I love you two so much and I'm so happy for you two! Do you know what you'll name the foal?”
A quick look passes between the married ponies and a small smile graces her Aunts face but it's her Uncle who responds. “We thought about Azure if we have a filly and Alabaster if we have a colt. Your parents were two very special ponies, and they worked very hard to raise such a special pony despite the difficulties. We'd like to honor them in this way, if it's fine with our...” he clears his throat as a sudden roughness stops his words, “daughter.”
Trixies only response is to nod enthusiastically and hug the pair all the tighter. The slightly teary trio breaks apart after a short while, Trixies Uncle deciding to make a hearty breakfast for the small family while Trixie and her Aunt sit side by side at the table talking animatedly as dawn comes to their small corner of the world.
Trixie no longer felt like she was split in her dedications now as she stood between her Aunt and Uncle in front of their shop while they waited for Olive to show up. Now, she thought in the bright morning sunlight remembering the test administrators words, it's time for me to take the stage. At the thought, she sees the familiar shape of Olives wagon as it crests the top or a rise down the road, a portable stage on two wheels trailing behind. They wait together as Olive approaches and eventually stops in front of the store and the trio.
Over the past few days, Olive had the wagon repainted in light blue and mint green. A sign hanging from the front of the wagon parallel with the traces read: Branch and Lulamoon: Traveling Magicians Extraordinaire. Trixie smiling at this notices for the first time the unique set-up he had for the traces. She had always thought of them as being spaced for single file pulling, but they were in fact adjustable for a side-by-side arrangement as they were now.
“Being my partner means splitting the work.” He says with his typical smile. “As such, you will be relieved of some of old responsibilities and take on others. Helping us get around is one of those we will share together in.”
Trixie nods, giving her Aunt and Uncle a quick strong hug each, and quickly puts her belongings in the wagon. She quickly hurries back around and gets into the harness on Olives right side, her magic making the job a matter of seconds. With a quick “I'm ready” from Trixie, Olive nods and they take the first steps on their journey.
Trixie had no idea where she was. It wasn't that she was actually lost, but she was lost to the world through the fatigue of a long days journey. It would be the first of many for her and she knew it in the back of her mind, but at that moment, she just wanted to go to sleep. They had left early that morning for good reason as they avoided the even earlier farmers wagons heading in and the heavy traffic of mid morning. Here they were, easily ten miles from the outskirts of Manehatten and it was only a little after noon. She suddenly jerks back to reality as Olive steers the cart to the side of the road and they slow to a stop in the lush turf. Trixie looks to Olive questioningly and gets a single worded response that almost makes her legs turn to jelly out of sheer joy, “Lunch.”
“Oh thank Celestia.” She says in a breathy whisper that elicits a smile and a raised eyebrow from Olive. He doesn't say anything as he undoes both of their harnesses and goes about preparing their lunch. Trixie almost lies down where she had stopped, but thinks better of it as she spots a comfortable and well shaded patch of grass a few paces off and wobbles over. Olive comes back out with a few sandwiches for the pair only to see that Trixie had flopped onto her side a short ways off and was soundly asleep. I'll give her a half hour to rest up, he thinks as he smiles remembering all of his past apprentices and his own copious “breaks” when he started out on his own.
Trixie turns over to try to get away from hoof prodding her in the shoulder, only to be prodded on the other shoulder. She takes the hint though as she turns back over and opens her eyes to see the older stallion standing beside her. “Time to eat Journeymare Lulamoon.” He says using her formal title with a small smirk.
“As you say, Master Branch.” She replies with a smile. “So,” she says after taking a bite of her sandwich, “Where are we going to first on our circuit?”
“We'll be turning north soon and we'll follow the coast of Equestria. The first place we'll stop at for half a day will be a small fishing village by the name of Flotsam. We'll spend the summer and early fall months making our way up the coast and then we'll turn inland after our last stop, the town of Sea Crest, which is also my home town.”
“You're home town? Doesn't returning ever make you want to stay? I mean, it's where your family is and your friends as well.”
“Once upon a time, that temptation was there for me. But after having tasted life on the road, I couldn't stay for more than a week before my hooves ached for the feel of an untraveled road under me. Ever since though, I've made sure to visit every other year at a minimum.” He says with a wistful expression of a rueful memory.
Trixie thinks about this quietly as she eats her sandwich and watches the clouds float by on a breeze that stirs the tree tops. Aside from the ache in her legs at that moment, she felt as though she were content with what lay before her.
Oh Celestia, make the pain go away! Was the first thought Trixie had when she got up the next morning in the dark. The cart and platform wasn't nearly as heavy as they would have been due to some well spent bits on an enchantment, but the unicorn had been definitely hauling a good amount of weight all of the previous day and had more to look forward to. That thought made her shudder on the bottom bunk in the wagon. The top bunk was actually hers, but Olive had mercy on her as she was barely able to crawl into the wagon at the end of the day and let her sleep in the bottom one. Olive certainly didn't have any mercy this morning as he poked a hoof into her aching shoulder and sternly told her it was time to get out of bed and join him in his stretching exercises. A flicker of green and a pair of mounted lamps flare to life.
Trixie whimpered at the sharp prod, but took her time getting out of bed. She tilts her head up and sees his no-nonsense look is in top form. No mercy. She gets up and exits, only to collapse right outside as her leg gives out under her own weight. Olive, thankfully, doesn't smile or chuckle when he sees her in that state. He gets down and helps her get back to her own hooves. The exercises that she had done so routinely were now torture with her muscles a mixture of achy, jelly-like and still cramping. Aside from the occasional whimper and tear, she finally finished her exercises while Olive watched sedately while sitting by the open door. Surprisingly enough, after she finished, she felt stronger and the sharp pain that she had been was now reduced to a dull throb.
“Better?” Olive says noticing Trixies amazement at her miraculous recovery.
“Better.” She replies.
They retreat back inside the now relative warmth of the wagon and Olive begins to whip them up a breakfast of pancakes. “I'm glad you got up as well as you did Trixie. I've had recalcitrant Journeymares and Journeycolts in the past who've regretted not doing what you just did. I've developed these stretches to not only be used in performing, but also to help a ponies body recover from and prepare for the labors of the day.”
Trixie says nothing as the lessons point had been made quite sharply. She had the sneaking suspicion that more pointed lessons were coming her way in the near future. As Olive cooks, she thinks about how her Aunt and Uncle were up and about hours before she was and already hard at work. She may be waking up a little later, but she wouldn't be working any less hard than they would. It's not long before Olive levitates a plate stacked with pancakes and a small pitcher of syrup to rest beside it. The sight and smell suddenly making her ravenous and she sets to her meal with a will. It's not long before Olive sits across the small table with his own plate of pancakes and they eat in silence for a short while. When they're done and now busy digesting their meal, Olive rests his forelegs on the edge of the table, one on top of the other. Alerts go off in Trixies mind as she recognizes his serious talking posture.
“Trixie. Do you have any idea what it was you were doing during your performance test?” He begins, catching Trixie off guard.
“Yeah, I was using the lessons you gave me and made them my own. Were my Illusions flawed? I wasn't sure I could pull off my giant duplicate with a Manipulation of that scale, but I think I did ok.” She responds slightly worried that she may have more intensive work to do on top of everything else.
“Everything was fantastic dear. I meant about your magic itself. I've been around you so much now that I can tell when you're using magic and where your magic had been. But during your performance, I wasn't sure at first because we spend so much time together that I may have just overlooked it, but I couldn't sense or see any magical influence on the powders you manipulated.”
“I... I don't understand what you're saying Olive.” She knew what he was talking about with the feel of magical talent, but leaving no magical trace or having no aura?
“Listen to me very carefully Trixie. Can you levitate your plate for me? Just levitate it like you normally would.” She nods and complies with his request. Olive nods his head and she lowers it back to the table. “Now, can you levitate it again except with the same feeling you had during the test? Take your time to recapture the feeling.”
Trixie is silent for a bit thinking about her time on stage. The tightness in her chest, the desire for clarity of thought, the grinding of her teeth as she concentrated under stress. The floating feeling as her mind separated from her body in search for absolute concentration. She feels her talent come to her in a different way, as though it's cold and breezy instead of warm and thick. She shivers slightly as she opens her eyes and levitates her plate. To her eyes, it's as though she is seeing a shadow of her power, barely a disturbance around the plate. Olive inhales sharply at the sight. She lowers it again a second later.
“Trixie. You've done it my dear, you've done it. You have a very special and unique ability my dear. I will tell you now that this ability is dangerous. Deadly dangerous. Many ponies will seek you out, wish to make you their thrall, to make you their tool. You must learn to use your magic this way because your life may rely upon somepony not knowing you're using magic. You will not use your magic in this way while we're in the open. Only when we know we have absolute privacy. Do I make myself clear?”
Trixie nods silently, a little afraid of her mentors tone and the sheer force of his personality pressing against her. Am I really in so much danger? She thinks to herself, not fully believing Olive and voices her thoughts on the matter since he had always valued her open minded honesty in the past.
Olive sits back a little in his chair, only his hooves resting on the edge of the table now. He takes a deep breath and exhales silently before he speaks. “The price for secrecy, power and unique talents is one many ponies won't think twice about. The ponies who would seek to turn you into a tool will point you in a direction and you will go out and you will bring about nothing but death until your goal is completed. I have known many ponies over the years given to me that were nothing but tools in the hoof of another. Many were broken and cast aside while others were used until they were dull, bent and rusty beings that have nothing left of their selves. That is if you become one of their tools, for they are jealous creatures who would rather see you broken than in the hooves of another to be used against them. There are yet more dangers that you will face from within yourself as some abilities are so strong that they can change the pony in ways not only destructive but frightening as well.”
By this time, the sun has just come up and as its top edge clears the top of the forest in the distance, light suddenly flashes into the small wagon. “It's high time we were on the road dear. There's a road to walk and a place to be, now lets be on our way.”
After Olives lecture, Trixie was more than a little shaken and worries about herself. Olive never warns without reason and he has been around for more years than I know. I know that he honestly wants me to succeed and live a successful and peaceful life, so I should continue to give him my unguarded trust as he knows best. Shaking her head, she clears her head of worry and places herself in the hooves of experience. By now though, Olive has everything put away and the dishes cleaned by an experienced use of magic. It's time to get the show on the road, she thinks as she pushes herself gently to her feet from the chair and heads outside into the bright morning light.