Trixie wandered aimlessly through the streets of Canterlot, ignoring the cold pitter patter of rain against her coat. Rain water soaked her fur, and her hair clung in wet strands down her back. Ahead of her sat an old abandoned shop with a tattered awning that she hoped to find shelter under until the rain passed.
She trudged under the awning, sighing as she shook some of the rain from her coat. Her horn sputtered to life as she siphoned the rain off her body, condensing it into a smooth orb of water that hung in the air before her. Her eyes widened as she saw glimpses of an ethereal blue mane flash through the orb. Trixie spun on the spot, scanning the rooftops across the street for a hint of her so called “mentor.” Seeing no signs of her, Trixie huffed and threw the ball of water against the cobblestone road with a splash.
She stared at her reflection in the water, now more than ever regretting having her wagon parked at the castle. There was no way she was going to go back to the castle tonight, not with her nosey mentor looking for her. She had already seen guards sweeping over the cityscape looking for her, but she knew the damned bat guards of Luna’s would be waiting for her to return to the castle.
Trixie leaned against the wall of the building, fighting to keep her eyelids open. She yawned reluctantly, rubbing at her eyes with a hoof. “It’s not the first time Trixie has had to rough it…” She said slowly, remembering back to the days following the Ursa Minor incident. It had been rough without her wagon, forcing her to sleep under trees like a common bum. If it hadn’t been for that rock farm, she probably would be still living like a homeless mare.
“Stupid… Luna..” She murmured, finally slipping into an uneasy sleep.
“Miss Trixie? I-is that you?”
“Ugh… Who’s there?” Trixie asked, her voice thick with sleep. She sat up slowly, pushing her dirty mane out of her way as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She opened her eyes to see a small blue steel pegasus at her side, her peach mane hanging wetly against her neck.
“Um.. it’s me… Silver Star,” the young pegasus answered. Trixie felt a small body press against her side, helping the exhausted mare to her hooves.
“Oh... Silver Star. What are you doing out here so late?” The cerulean mare said, lifting her hoof to stifle a yawn. Silver cocked an eyebrow at her, giggling at the older mare.
“Late? It’s nearly noon, Miss Trixie.” She pointed up, gesturing to the sun hanging at its highest point.
“Oh… What are you doin’ out here, kid?”
“I was trying to get some food for my baby brother and sister, but… I can’t afford enough for both of them,” she said, slumping onto her haunches as Trixie frowned. Silver star lowered her head, her eyes not quite meeting Trixie’s as she talked. “I had enough but… I got hungry.” She said, her lip quivering as she sniffled. “I spent a little of it so I could have something to eat and now, my siblings won’t have enough.”
“Hey now. None of that,” Trixie said, leaning forward to wipe at the fillies cheek before lifting her chin, smiling at the young pegasus warmly. “Trixie will help you get enough for you and your family. Care to show Trixie where you normally shop?” She gave the young filly a stern look as Silver opened her mouth to argue, smiling only after she closed her mouth and stood.
Together the pair set off, back down the alleyway Trixie had found her shelter in for the night. As they walked, Trixie found herself watching Silver Star, fueled by a strange curiosity about the young pony.
“So… Why are you the one getting food for your siblings? Where’s your parents at?” Trixie asked, lifting an eyebrow as the filly stumbled ever so slightly.
“My mom’s at work. She has two jobs so she works a lot of the time… She leaves money for us, and I go out and get the food since I’m the oldest…” She answered, shuffling her hooves nervously. “My dad… left. He went to work one day, and he never came back.”
“Oh. Tri-Trix… Achooo..!” Trixie sneezed. She wiped at her nose before continuing. “Trixie is sorry to hear that Silver,” Trixie said quietly. It was obvious it upset Silver, but it was too late to take back now.
“The place I get food is right up here,” Silver Star said, extending a wing to point ahead, one of Canterlot’s popular side streets visible from the alleyway they stood in.
“Well then. What do you say we get dressed for our adoring public?” Trixie said, her trademark smirk appearing on her face as her horn lit up with a bright violet aura. Magic swirled around her head, slowly solidifying into an exact copy of her hat, closely followed by a cape a mere second later. She smiled, tugging at the quite physical construct now sitting atop her bedraggled mane.
“Woooooww!” Silver Star said, staring large eyed at the mare before her. “That’s really cool, Miss Trixie!”
Trixie laughed at the fillies enthusiasm, her horn flaring even brighter as she turned it on her tiny follower.
Silver Star squealed as magic collected around her head, condensing into another set of Trixie’s outfit. Silver pulled the hat off her head, a wide smile on her face as she tugged at the fabric between her hooves. She twirled around, giggling at the way the cape twisted and twirled around her.
Trixie looked down with a smile, beckoning for the pegasus to lead the way. Silver smiled widely, prancing about as she ran into the open street, eyes wide as she looked around at all the stalls she could pick from. Trixie leaned against the wall of the nearest building, watching the young pony run from shop to shop eagerly with a smile on her face. Trixie covered her mouth with a hoof, frowning as several coughs wracked her body.
Less than a moment later, and the small fit had passed, leaving her once again watching her new friend. She stepped forward as Silver called out to her, beckoning her over with her hooves. The filly was smiling widely, prancing in place as she stood over several apples that had fallen from a food cart nearby and rolled across the street.
“Look, miss Trixie! These apples don’t have very many bruises on them!”Silver said, rolling one of the apples over as she smiled up at the mare. “Usually they’re all bruised and mushy so we’re real lucky to find… these. What’s wrong?” Silver asked, her wings shuffling behind her as she shrunk under Trixie’s stare.
“Do you normally eat apples from the street?” Trixie asked, kneeling down to Silver Star’s level. The filly hesitated before nodding, her ears sagging as Trixie frowned.
“Well.. Not today. We’re going to buy some nice food this time.” Trixie said, smiling at the filly reassuringly. Silver stared at her in amazement, a large smile appearing on her face when she saw Trixie wasn’t laughing.
“Can we get some apples, Miss Trixie? And maybe some daisy sandwiches for later?” Silver Star asked hesitantly, not wanting to feel like she was taking advantage of the mare’s kindness.
“Of course we can. Hmmm Let’s just take a dozen apples, and we’ll get 4 or 5 sandwiches. Sound good?” Trixie said, glancing over the shiny apples in the bin before her. After a moment of silence, she turned to Silver with an eyebrow raised to see the filly staring at her suspiciously.
“Why are you helping me?” Silver Star demanded, staring at Trixie curiously as she stomped a hoof.
“What do you mean?” Trixie asked, frowning at Silver’s sudden attitude.
“Well.. Ponies don’t normally help others without expecting something in return… I-I don’t have anything I can give you for your help,” she explained, her ears sagging as if she expected Trixie to suddenly turn and walk away. She looked up in confusion when Trixie started chuckling.
“Trixie doesn’t want anything. Trixie just wants to help a little filly in need out. Now,” she said, smiling as she reached into her cloak and withdrew a sack bulging with bits. “How about we get that food?”
Trixie shook her head as she laughed at the filly running beside her, a large sack of apples floating along with them. They were heading toward the Canterlot downtown, in the direction of Silver Star’s home. Silver leapt into the air, pulling her cape around her as she pounced onto Trixie’s back. Trixie giggled at the sudden weight on her back, a smile on her face as Silver star squealed with each buck of Trixie’s hips.
Trixie groaned as her vision suddenly spun, her body swaying from side to side for a moment. The bag that had previously been floating beside her fell to the ground as her knees buckled, Silver’s and her own cape and hat dispersing back into magical dust. Silver leapt off her as Trixie crumpled to the ground, worry evident on her face as she spun toward Trixie.
“Miss Trixie! A-Are you o-okay?”
“Ugh,,, I’m fine. Just… just got a little dizzy there.” The mare responded, slowly pushing herself to her hooves as her horn flickered to life. Sweat broke out on her brow as she pulled at the bag of apples, until she was forced to forgo her magic. She stepped toward the bag, moving it onto her back with a little help from Silver Star. “How much farther is your home Silver?” Trixie asked wearily, panting slightly at the sudden wave of exhaustion.
“It-it’s just up here.” She said, running toward a small home just ahead of them. She knocked on the door hard, glancing back at Trixie before hammering on the door again.
“Who’s there?” A voice called out, from the other side of the door. Judging by the way Silver rolled her eyes, Trixie guessed it belonged to one of her younger siblings.
“It’s me! Now open the door!” She demanded with a stomp of her hoof.
The door creaked open, revealing a tiny light brown pegasus with a messy white mane. The filly stepped out of the doorway, pulling it open as her wings buzzed at the sight of her sister.
“Miss Trixie, this is my little sister Du- Miss Trixie!” The filly yelled, darting toward Trixie as the mare collapsed, blackness overtaking her as her eyes rolled into the back of her head.