Chapter 9
Calm Before the Storm
It had been three weeks since the six mares visited the sick performer. Storm and Dash found that Celestia and Luna would keep their photo a secret, provided they keep a copy for ‘official records.’ Trixie had gotten enough strength to start walking around the farm. She even ventured out and met Applejack’s family. They were kind, but kept their guard up.
Hex was working in the South field as Trixie sat under a tree and watched. The two Unicorns heard a faint zooming sound and looked up to see Thunderlane rocketing towards them. Hex immediately jumped in front of Trixie with his horn glowing as the dark stallion landed in front of them.
“What do you want?” Hex asked in a spite filled tone.
“Just to talk. That’s it.” Thunderlane said with a sigh. “Look, I did some thinking and...I’m sorry.” He said as he looked at the azure mare. “I know that you were just trying to protect your sister and I get that. Celestia know’s I’d buck up anypony who messed with my little brother.”
“Understandable.” Hex said as he still kept his guard up.
“I also heard from Big Mac that she’s not as annoying as everypony makes her out to be.” Trixie had a weak smile on her face. “I don’t trust her yet, but Mac is usually a good judge of character.” He said as he looked at the performer. “Again, sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. Trixie knows she can be a hoofful sometimes.” Thunderlane gave them each a nod and took off back towards the sky. The two let out a sigh of relief as Applejack and Twilight came trotting up to them.
“Hey y’all.” The farmer said with a smile. “Why was Thunderlane just here?”
“He apologized to Trixie.” Hex explained.
“Sounds like you’re starting to fit in around here.” The scholar said with a warm smile.
“Thanks to you anyway. Trixie will admit that she was rather nervous to come back here.” She said as Hex took his position in front of another tree.
“Yeah, I’ve been wondering about something.” The azure mare looked a the lavender book worm with her head tilted. “Why did you come back if you knew how they would treat you?” Trixie’s eyes shrank and face hoofed hard enough to leave a mark.
“Buck!” She yelled. “Trixie completely forgot.” She said as she looked at her brother. “Hex, Nightshade wants to speak with us.” As the words left the azure mare’s lips Hex lost his concentration and missed the tree. The stallion frowned and cracked his neck.
“Tell that asshole, he can take whatever he wants to say, write it down on a piece of paper and shove it up his-”
“Hex!” AJ said.
“Sorry.” He said with a groan.
“Who’s Nightshade?” Twilight asked.
“If you want a biological term then you could say he’s my father.” He said with a grunt. The mares looked at him in shock. “Did you need something Twilight?”
“I was just wondering if you could train me on illusions again.”
“Gotta check with the boss.” He said as he smirked at the orange mare.
“Go on.” She said as she gave him a light peck on the cheek. Twilight slightly gritted her teeth and threw on a fake smile. Hex summoned his hat which was now in a fez form. “What in the hay is that thing?” She said with a chuckle.
“I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool.” He said with a grin Applejack looked at Trixie who nodded. The farmer swiped the hat off his head and threw it up. Trixie’s horn flared and a bright magical bolt struck the hat, making it morph back into it’s top hat form. “You killed my Fez!”
“Had to be done sugar cube.” Applejack said as she kissed him.
“Farewell my friend.” He said as he put the hat back on top of his light blue mane. The blue Unicorn then followed the scholar back towards town. Applejack looked at Trixie and smiled. She then realized that she had never spent any real one on one time with the performer.
“So Trixie, Hex told us about how you’re related to Star Swirl.” Trixie gulped at the info. “Why didn’t you use that in your act? That would be sure to draw a crowd.”
“Trixie does not need to ride on the coat tails of her predecessors to be great and powerful.” She said in a strong tone.
“Ya wanna make it on your own steam?” The azure mare nodded. “That ah can respect.” She said with a smile. “Hey, how come Hex doesn’t want to see his dad?”
“It’s....complicated.” Trixie said with a sigh.
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The two Unicorns entered the library to see Spike stacking a few playing cards in a castle formation. As Hex closed the door the vibrations made the house of cards crumble.
“Awe man, that took me forever!” The dragon pouted.
“Sorry, Spike.” Twilight said with a smile. The dragon let out a sigh and collected the playing cards. Hex snickered and summoned a book.
“Okay, have you been practicing?”
“Yup, I can hold a book for over ten minutes.”
“Good, that’s an improvement. Now let’s try something a bit different.” He said in a flat tone. “Try transforming into something you’re familiar with.” He said as he looked around. He spied a picture of Twilight and her five friends. “Here, try changing into Rarity.” He said as he pointed towards the white Unicorn mare.
“I’ll try.”
“Do or don’t. There is no try.” He said as he narrowed his eyes. Twilight chuckled and focused her magic. Her horn flared and a veil of light purple magic enveloped her. As the veil wrapped around her she focused her magic. The veil vanished and the once lavender coat was replaced by one that was white as snow and her mane was violet along with her now sapphire eyes.
“Did it work?”
“Spot on, except for the voice, but that’s expected.” The blue stallion’s horn flared and he transformed into the white mare. “You look fabulous darling.” Hex said in Rarity’s voice. The door suddenly opened to reveal the real Rarity.
“Sorry to barge in on this Twilight I-” She was cut off as she saw the other two white mares in the room. Her right eyelid twitched as Hex smirked.
“Darling, it’s been ages since we’ve talked.” The sound of the mare’s voice made the baby dragon run out of the kitchen with a smile on his face.
“Hey Rarity I-” His brain stopped working as he saw the three identical mares. The dragon’s eye twitched and fainted.
“Is he going to be okay?” Twilight asked as she looked at her assistant.
“He’ll be fine. I’m sure we just fulfilled his dream.” Hex said in his usual voice.
“Wait, Hex? Twilight?” The stallion smirked and let his disguise shatter.
“In the flesh.” He said with a smile. Twilight then canceled her illusion and staggered forward. Hex caught her and put her on the couch.
“Is she okay?” Rarity asked.
“She’ll be fine.” He said with a nod. “She’s just not used to illusion spells like that yet.”
“Why did she change into me?” Rarity asked as she cocked an eyebrow.
“It’s would be easier then trying to do me or something that’s not a Unicorn.” He said with a sigh. “Changing into something that you’re not familiar with is harder for first timers like Twilight. She should be fine in five minutes.” He said with a grin. “What did you need?”
“I was wondering if I could borrow Spike for a bit, I have some things I need organized and I’m behind on a few clients.”
“I’m sure Twi won’t mind.” He said as he summoned a bowl of water and dumped it on the dragon.
“Who? What? Where?” He said as he shot up.
“Rarity needs a hoof with some organizing.” The dragon immediately sat up and shook himself dry.
“No problem!” He said with a smile. The dragon and fashionista nodded goodbye to the stallion. Twilight’s eyes fluttered open and saw the bark blue stallion looking down at her with a smile on his face. The lavender mare’s face turned bright red and gulped.
“You okay Twi?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She said with a nervous laugh. “I guess I’m not used to using that spell yet.”
“Yeah, still you kept it up for three minutes. Not bad for your first time.” He said with a warm smile. Twilight blushed again, but quickly hid it. “Let’s just take a short break.”
“Good idea.” She said with a smile. Twilight readied a pot of hot tea and sat down next to the blue stallion on the couch. “Hey Hex.”
“Hm?” He said as he looked at the mare.
“Why did you freak out when Trixie mentioned your father?” Hex grunted and set his tea cup down.
“When my mom died, the hospital located the next of kin, which was my dad. We were supposed to go live with him but,” He gripped his leg in anger. “He just.....gave Trixie and I up! Just like that. No explanation, no goodbye Nothing!” Hex said in a spit filled tone. “He signed the forms without a shred of remorse and dumped us in that orphanage.” He said in anger. Twilight put a hoof on his shoulder and gulped.
“Trixie didn’t seem that upset.”
“Trixie never really had a lot of time to spend with him. He had just opened up a shop in Trottingham which kept him preoccupied.”
“What did he do?”
“Potion maker.” He said in a flat tone. “It’s just,” Hex struggled to find the words. “he shows up after all these years out of the blue and wants to talk to me?” He said in a flat tone.
“Maybe he thought that you’d have a better life.” Twilight said. “Why did you and Trixie run away anyway?”
“The orphanage tried to find families for us, but I wouldn’t go anywhere without her.” He said in a flat tone. “Most ponies wanted either one or the other, not two orphans.” Hex held his head in shame. “We spent about five months there before we went off on our own.” Twilight hesitated as she wrapped him in a comforting hug.
The lavender mare felt her heart rate increase as she felt her coat brush against his. The mare’s cheeks were as red as strawberry’s. Hex broke the hug and let out a sigh. “Sorry for dumping this on you Twi.”
“I-It’s fine.” She said as she hid her blush.
“Thanks, you’re a good friend.” The word 'friend' cut the lavender mare like a hot knife through butter. The lavender mare held back her grim feelings and gulped. “Now on with the lesson.” He said as he got to his hooves. As they were beginning to start the door burst open to reveal a soaking wet cyan Pegasus mare. “Hey Dash.”
“Hey guys, just came by to tell you that theres a massive storm coming in like five minutes. Better find some cover.” She said in a flat tone.
“Need a place to stay?” Twilight asked.
“Nah, I’m just going to tell Rarity and then I’m heading home.”
“Could you tell Spike that he can stay over at Rarity’s for the night? I don’t ant him getting struck by lightning while he’s trying to get home.”
“You got it Twi.” She said with a salute. The cyan mare then rushed out the door as the rain started. Hex looked out the window and saw that thunder and lightning cracked in the sky.
“Well, buck. Now I gotta walk through that.” Hex said with a groan. An idea popped into Twilight’s mind as she blushed.
“Y-you could stay here for the night.” She said in a nervous tone.
“I don’t want to bother you or-”
“It’s no trouble. Since Spike is at Rarity’s it’ll just be us here.” Hex weighed his options and shrugged.
“Okay, if it’s no bother.” He said with a sigh. Twilight blushed brightly at the answer. “Let me just tell AJ. So she doesn’t worry.” He said with a smile.
“How?” Hex removed his hat and the brim started to glow.
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Back on Sweet Apple Acres the apple family and the azure performer were sitting down to eat dinner. Applejack was tapping her hoof impatiently as Granny Smith turned the stove off. The orange mare then felt something poke at her mane. She removed her hat. As she did the blue stallion’s head came out of the brim.
“Hello.” The head said with a smirk.
“What in tarnation?” AJ yelled in surprise. The rest of the group looked in surprise at the hat. “How in the hay are you doing that?”
“All hat’s bend to my will.” He said in an over lord voice.
“Where are ya? It’s supper time.” She said with a frown.
“Yeah, the storm is really picking up out there," He said as a clap of thunder could be heard in the backround. "so Twi offered me to stay the night.” Applejack cocked an eyebrow and let out a sigh.
“Alright, just be back here by noon or you’ll get punished.” She said in a playful tone.
“You do realize that you just said that in front of your grandmother, brother, your sister and my sister right?” The orange mare’s face turned red as she looked at the snickering grandmother, the angry stallion, confused filly and the agitated Unicorn mare.
“Um....” Hex couldn’t help but snicker. “Laugh it up pretty boy, you’ll get what’s coming to you come morning.” She said in a menacing tone.
“Okay, now I’m scared.” He said in a frightened tone. AJ rolled her eyes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Smell’s like Twilight is trying to cook.”
“You’d better stop her before she lights the whole place on fire.”
“Good plan. See ya tomorrow.” He said before the head went back into the brim and vanished. Applejack looked at the other ponies and gulped in embarrassment.
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After Spike got done with organizing several boxes he and Sweetie Belle started building card houses. The baby dragon heard a hard knock on the door. He opened it to see a drenched Rainbow Dash.
“Hey Dash, what’s up?”
“Just letting you know that Twilight want you to stay here for the night since the storm is really picking up.” The cyan mare then saw the white fashionista.
“Oh hello dear, what brings you here at this hour?”
“Just letting you know that Twilight wants Spike to stay her cause of the storm.” The fashionista looked out the window and saw the buckets of water pouring down as lightning flashed in the sky.
“It’s perfectly alright. So is Twilight alone?” Rarity asked.
“Last time I was over there Hex was there. I guess he’s gonna stay the night.” She said with a shrug. Rarity’s right eye twitched and some color drained from her already white face. “You okay Rarity?”
“Y-yes, perfectly fine.” She said with a weak laugh. Dash shrugged and took off back towards her own home. Once she was gone, Rarity hoped that things would not spiral out of control.
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Back in the library Hex sat across from the mare who had a pouting look on her face. “Oh come on Twi, for your books sake I had to stop you.”
“I am not helpless in the kitchen.” She stammered.
“Spike told me that you almost burned down the library.”
“It was an accident!”
“Five times?” Twilight scrunched her nose and quietly ate the salad that the blue stallion had prepared. The two spent the meal in silence. After doing the dishes, the two sat down on the couch. Hex ignited his horn and lit a fire in the library’s stone fire place. The lavender mare tried to hide her blush as she sat next to the blue stallion.
“You got any movies?” He asked.
“Y-yeah, hang on.” She said as she got to her hooves and pulled out a television set with a working DVD player. “Sorry if it’s a bit outdated. I don’t use it too much and I don’t have that many movies.”
“That’s fine. What do you feel like watching?” He asked as he plugged the device in.
“One movie that I havens seen in a long time is Coltablanca.” Hex smirked and reached inside his hat and pulled out the movie. “No way!”
“My own copy. An oldie but goodie.” He said with a shrug. The stallion popped the disk into the player and hit the play button.
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Rarity sat across from Spike and her sister. She ate her food in silence. Her mind was consumed with worry about having Hex over at the library with Twilight alone. “You okay sis?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yes, why?”
“You’ve been really quiet since Rainbow Dash left.” The filly said as she raised an eyebrow.
“I just have a lot on my mind. That’s all.” She said with a weak grin. Spike raised an eyebrow at this. “Now, how about I read you a story before bed, hmm?”
“Okay!” The filly chimed. Rarity walked her sister upstairs and red her ‘The Colt Who Cried Timber Wolf.’ Afterwards she trotted back down stairs to see Spike sitting on the couch.
“Okay Rarity, what’s going on?” He asked in a flat tone. “I know something’s up and if it concerns Twilight then I think I have a right to know.” Rarity weighed her options. One; she could tell Spike and face the wrath of Pinkie Pie, or keep her promise and possibly see one her friend’s hearts get destroyed. The mare let out a sigh and walked up next to him. She sat down on the couch and made her decision.
“Spike, what I’m about to tell you is very important. I’m breaking a Pinkie Promise by doing it.” The dragon gasped as he remembered what Twilight told him when they last visited Dodge Junction.
“Are you nuts?” He said in a panic filled tone.
“I feel that friendship is more important than some promise and I’ll accept whatever punishment Pinkie has in store for me.” The white mare gathered her courage and motioned for the dragon to come closer. “I believe that Twilight has feelings for Hex.” As she spoke the last words, a bolt of lightning struck her home. Killing the power.
“Seriously?” Spike said in a concerned tone. Rarity levitated some candles over to them. Spike obliged and lit them. “For how long?”
“I believe since the hydra incident. At first I thought that she’d get over it after he and Applejack became a couple. Now I’m not so sure.” She said with a sigh.
“Well, we gotta do something!”
“Like?” Rarity asked.
“I don’t know, something.” He said with a sigh.
“Look, it’s too crazy out there to do anything now. I suggest that we sleep on it.” Rarity said as she levitated him a pillow and a blanket. “Hopefully, it won’t be too late.” She said to herself.
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As the credits rolled, Hex let out a yawn. He looked to his right to see that the lavender mare was sleeping on his shoulder. He silently levitated the mare onto his back and carried her upstairs to her room. Hex set the mare down on the bed and put the covers over her. The blue stallion walked over to a closet and pulled out a pillow and blanket.
The stallion trotted back down to the living room and set himself up on the couch. He let out a yawn and drifted off to sleep.
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Early the next morning Applejack woke up at her usual time and let out a yawn. The mare quickly brushed her man and styled it in the her usual ponytail before placer her signature Stetson atop her head. The orange mare trotted downstairs to see the azure mare sitting at the table sipping some tea.
“Morning Trixie.” She said with a smile.
“Morning.”
“How are ya feeling?” She asked as she grabbed an apple.
“A lot better than I was and don’t worry, I’ll be out of your manes soon enough.” She said with a smile.
“It’s no trouble.” The orange mare said with a smile. “You’re actually not that bad. ah guess I misjudged ya and ah’m sorry about that.”
“Your judgement was wrong. Trixie knows that she can be a hoofful and I’m grateful to you and your family.”
“Forget about it, ah think Hex is the one ya should thank.” Trixie gave a chuckle and nodded.
“May Trixie ask a question?”
“Sure.”
“What does my brother mean to you?” AJ was taken back by the performer’s question. The orange mare put a hoof to her chin and thought about the past few weeks.
“Ah know that we haven’t known each other for that long, but ah think ah can say that ah love him.” Trixie gave a hopeful smile and sighed.
“Thank you.” She said as she wrapped the mare in a hug. “Hex has spent so many years taking care of me, I was worried that he’d never live for himself.” Applejack returned the hug and smiled. “I’m glad he met you.”
“Thanks Trixie, that means a lot.” She said before leaving.
“Oh and Applejack.” Trixie said. “Hurt him and Trixie will turn you inside out.” She said in a tone that could freeze a volcano.
“G-got it.” Applejack said with a weak smile. Trixie smiled at her and gave her a nod. As the orange mare walked past the stairs she was stopped by her sister.
“Hey Applejack where are you going?” The filly asked.
“Ah’m gonna go get Hex from the library.”
“Um, wait there for a sec.” Applebloom said before she zoomed back to her room. The filly then returned with a book in her mouth. “I borrowed this book from Twilight and I need it returned. Think you can do it?”
“Sure thing Bloom.” The orange mare said as she gladly took the book from her sister. As the orange mare trotted down the road she thought about the blue stallion. Do I really love him?
He’s been there for us since he got here.
He’s nice, smart and hot.
Maybe.....No, he is the one. Filled with confidence, the young farmer galloped towards the library. As she neared it she saw a familiar purple dragon with a shocked look on his face. The mare shrugged and opened the door. What she saw next shocked her to the core. Time slowed as her watering green eyes fell upon the dark blue Unicorn stallion lip locked with Twilight Sparkle.
The two Unicorns looked at the doorway to see the distraught farmer glaring at them both with tear filled eyes. Hex pushed Twilight away and looked at the farmer.
“AJ....I don’t know what-” Was all he got out before the mare dropped the book and galloped back to her farm with hooves that could rival Rainbow Dash and a shattered heart. The magician gave chase, leaving the lavender mare sitting on the hardwood floor with nothing but guilt in her mind.
