//------------------------------// // Hey, Trixie // Story: Starring Trixie // by metroid_freak //------------------------------// Acting captain’s log, Stardate…why can’t I ever remember how this works? It’s been two days since we left the Sphere and I have no trouble admitting that I’d rather never see it or the Voth ever again. The Ranger’s been docked at Starbase 234’s repair facilities for the past 36 hours getting a few odds and ends fixed up. The damage wasn’t bad (for a change) but still warranted a day or two of TLC. Anyway, I think it’s time to cash in that overflowing Tsundering Jar and kick things up a notch. Well, I say that now but it all depends on whether or not Trixie feels up to my little ‘plan’. While we’ve been at Starbase 234, I’ve been in contact with/practically harassing the Federation embassy on Equestria trying to hunt down some information. It took two days and I probably owe those poor record-keepers each a sizeable chunk of my soul but it was definitely worth it. I mean, doesn’t everyone deserve to be taken out for their birthday? We live in a galaxy of fascinating phenomenon occurring around us all the time. I should know; we’ve been caught by some of those ‘phenomenon’ enough to write a damn book. Fortunately, this is also a galaxy loaded with incredible coincidences, this situation being one of them. Seriously, what are the odds that her birthday would coincide with our downtime? It’s like First Contact, when the Vulcan ship just happened to pass by while Zephram Cochrane was making his first warp flight. Anyway, thanks to the testimonies of Captain Remy and Captain Shon during the debriefing, we’ve got a few days to ourselves before its back to business as usual and I intend to make the most of them, starting tonight. Right now, Trixie’s down on the Starbase talking to the station’s entertainment coordinator about doing a few shows over the course of the week, which gives me the perfect chance to plan everything out. Actually, there’s no other time I could’ve done it. Besides being unusually quiet and subdued, Trixie’s been really ‘clingy’ lately. Ever since Starfleet rerouted us back to the Alpha Quadrant, we’ve basically spent every waking moment together. I mean, I don’t mind at all, trust me. It just struck me as a bit strange for somepony who’s usually so independent to suddenly want to sleep in the same bed as me every night. Again, not that I’m complaining; she’s great to cuddle with. In any case, I’m taking it as a good sign but part of me still worries about her. We all went through a lot in the Sphere but she’s the one who personally witnessed a whole ship full of people die. That fucks you up, trust me. You’re never quite the same after a traumatic event like that and I’m hoping that I can turn her mood around and lift her out of her funk. She refuses to talk about what happened on the Repulse and hasn’t said a work about her ‘new’ Amulet either and although I haven’t pressed either issue. I’m sure those are both weighing heavily on her mind. That’s why I need to make this as awesome as possible for her, if only to lighten her mood enough to have a heart-to-heart and help her sort things out. That’s why I recommended that she pursue something she really enjoys, which is also why I sent her to the Starbase to talk to the station’s entertainment coordinator about doing some shows. Hopefully, doing something she loves will help her recover. I only wish I knew what else to do… “Computer, pause recording,” I stated before resting my chin on an open palm as I stared up at the ceiling. “Date, date, date…okay, who’s ever heard of a human and a pony going on a date? What should we even do?” I was at a loss; blazing a new trail for relationships was exciting and interesting but hardly easy and definitely not my forte. How exactly does one date outside their species? Maybe I was still preoccupied with that little detail; we weren’t the same species. I shook my head and banished the traitorous thought to the darkest regions of my psyche, condemning it to boil for eternity in a pool of “who gives a shit”. That wasn’t important…anymore. I took a deep breath and told the computer to resume recording. I’ve already researched a few likely spots but they’re either too expensive or too far away for my plan to work. We need to stay pretty close to the station; the farthest we could possibly go without messing up my totally awesome plan is New Romulus. The only problem with that is that New Romulus is still pretty wild right now. I mean, there’s the embassy and a few small settlements but not much else, at least not much that Trixie would be interested in. I’ll put that one on the backburner for now, at least until I think of something else. (End recording) “Computer, music,” I exclaimed, stretching my tired muscles. “Specify.” “Something…I dunno, 21st century?” “Specify.” “What are my choices?” “There are 687,394 songs in the database.” “Okay, I get the picture, don’t get your plasma conduits in a knot. How about…something upbeat, something…inspirational to help me plan our date.” “Specify.” “Oh yeah, that’s right; I forgot you had a fetish for getting things spelled out for you. Alright, then. Play something popular from the mid-21st century. Something catchy.” “Specify.” I rolled my eyes. “Fine! Surprise me!” “Acknowledged.” With that, the song began to play. I felt a strange, inexplicable calmness wash over me as the tune began. Even when it soon changed to a faster tempo, that relaxing feeling did not leave as I might’ve expected. Instead, it took my hand led me into a state of near-perfect concentration, a state in which I could visualize the perfect evening with the mare of my dreams. That’s when the words I was hearing began to change. I found myself humming a set of alternate lyrics in time with the actual lyrics, which genuinely surprised me. I don’t know the first thing about music or writing it or anything like that and yet, here I was writing a different version of the song. Well, it was more like ‘adapting it to suit my needs’ but it was a start. And more importantly, it gave me a wicked idea. I had a date with the holodeck. Later… “Trixie can’t believe you forgot about her,” the perturbed showmare huffed over her dinner. As an apology for completely neglecting to watch the time, I had promised her whatever she wanted to eat, a readily agreeable proposition due to the fact that we’d been eating nothing but replicated food for weeks. Unsurprisingly, she selected the most upscale place on the station. “Hey, I said I was sorry, right?” I replied, not overly concerned. After all, I may have annoyed her yet again but at least this time, I had a trump card. “Besides, 20 minutes isn’t that late.” “You still shouldn’t have been late,” she mumbled, averting her eyes. “Trixie was getting worried…” Ah, so that’s what it was. I should’ve known she might still be spooked from the events in the Sphere. One of these days, I’ll finally learn how to talk without chewing on both feet at the same time. I leaned forwards and gently took her front hooves in my hands. She could be so cute when she tried to sit like a biped. “I know and next time, I promise I’ll be super-early but if I could have your forgiveness for just a little bit, I have an idea that I hope will make up for it.” And the fact that I still haven’t told you how I feel. “No, scratch that, an idea that I know will make up for it.” “You do?” she asked quietly. “I do.” I confirmed with a nod. I cleared my throat. “A-hem! Trixie Lulamoon…will you go on a date with me?” Aaaaand cue awkward silence. Okay, maybe I was just a little too enthusiastic and just maybe I had accidently grabbed the rapt attention of nearly every patron in the comparatively quiet dining room. In any case, it was a combination of that ensuing silence and the shocked, rapidly reddening face of Trixie that prompted me to act and save us both from an awkward evening. I sighed and stood up, looking at all the patrons surrounding us as if daring them to say something judgmental or otherwise stupid. “Oh yeah, like none of you have ever thought about asking an Equestrian pony out,” I exclaimed indignantly. It did the trick; unwilling to share the spotlight with me, the patrons quickly returned to their meals and whispered conversations. I offered Trixie an apologetic smile…only to find the seat across from me completely vacant. “Great,” I muttered. “Nice one, Romeo. She probably teleported to the ship and took off with it.” Can’t say I blame her, I thought as I quickly paid the bill and got up to leave. That was poorly-executed. That’s when I noticed something amiss. Beginning at Trixie’s plate, I spotted a small trail of…you guessed it. Remnants of a mostly-eaten piece of bread formed an edible path off the table and, upon immediate inspection, out of the restaurant. Well, I guess that’s better than nothing, I thought as I followed the clues out and into the station’s promenade. Here’s hoping that the witch at the end of the trail’s not in an incinerating mood. *** My journey along the trail of breadcrumbs eventually found me in a fairly secluded part of the station, the starbase’s observatory. I breathed a sigh of relief as I found the large, open room to be completely deserted…well, with one exception, of course. I mean, where else would she go if not to get a glimpse of what brought her peace of mind and soul? I could scarcely blame her; the stars were especially bright and mostly unobstructed owing to the lack of starships around. I heard a small sniffle and slowly approached the source, taking a seat on a couch directly across from where I guessed the showmare to be. “Why didn’t you just teleport?” I asked gently. No response, save for a sniffle she’d obviously tried to withhold. “Would’ve been easier than cloaking and running, doncha think? Faster, too. Unless, of course, some small part of you wanted to be found. The breadcrumbs were a nice touch, by the way.” “D-did you mean it?” a small voice asked from the space directly in front of me. “Mean what?” “T-that you…that you wanted t-to go…on a d-date…with me…?” “Of course I did,” I assured her, gently ruffling where I thought her ears might be. “Y-you mean like…a real “date”?” she asked, quivering slightly under my touch. “Yes, Trixie!” I exclaimed. “I want to go on a real, actual, legit, genuinely romantic date with you! I honestly don’t know what else I could possibly mean!” “It could mean a lot of things!” the showmare cried after rapidly de-cloaking. She glared up at me with angry, tear-filled eyes and my heart almost melted at the sight, especially since this was exactly what I had been trying to avoid. “You could be talking about going to lunch or the holodeck or some stupid planet or almost anythi-mmph!” She had a point but that didn’t stop me planting a deep, reassuring kiss on her lips, a move I’d seen in countless holonovels and classic 21st century films, and one I’d always wanted to try. Hey, so I’m a romantic sap; sue me. Lo and behold, it did the trick and she simply looked up at me with those big, lavender eyes that could turn steel into butter. “So?” I ventured, taking her hooves in my hands once again. “So what?” she whispered, trembling a little. “So what’s your answer?” “You didn’t meet Trixie on time…you humiliated Trixie in front of everyone at the restaurant,” she began, glaring up at me. “Then you chased her all the way here…” I wanted to remind her that technically, she wanted me to follow her but I decided to just shut my big yap and hold on for the ride. “Then you still have the nerve to ask the Great and Powerful Trixie something like…like that!?” she finished with a shout as her horn sparked. “Um…yeah?” I replied rather lamely. She pounced on me. Like, literally jumped on me with predatory intent. I would’ve been afraid for my life had she not attacked my lips with hers in what had to be the single greatest about-face I’ve ever seen. It was a surprise attack that I gratefully weathered, kissing her back as well as I could, given the complete lack of warning and awkward position we were in. After a minute or so of rather frenetic lip-play, she drew back and once more subjected me to those adorable purple weapons of mass capitulation. “Yes,” she answered breathlessly but with a small smile. “I would love to go on a date with you.” *** Now I’ve done it, I thought as we made our way back to the Ranger’s berth. Here I go making a grand spectacle of everything and I still don’t know what Trix and I are gonna do for our date! I mean, I need an idea and I need one fast; I mean, it’s not like I’m gonna just stumble into one… “Aah-oof!” I hissed as I tripped and fell flat on my face. A series of frightened yelps emanated from somewhere around me and as I slowly got back up, I surveyed the floor for the one responsible. I didn’t wait long; moments after, I heard a “Gotcha!” from my blue companion. Levitated in a field of light-blue energy was a small, green animal the size of a kitten that looked like a cross between a rabbit, a pig, and a dog. I was sure I’d seen something like it before but another voice called out before I could remember. “Please don’t hurt him!” Trixie and I turned to find a young Romulan girl running towards us as fast as her diminutive legs could carry her. She was panting hard when she finally caught up with us and looked up at me with a heartrending expression, complete with tears and quivering lips. “He didn’t mean to get in your way, I swear!” Now, how could anyone in their right mind stay mad at such a raw display of unrelenting adorableness and concern for their furry friend? As you might expect by now, I practically melted. “Of course he didn’t,” I replied with a warm smile. “He was just running around and enjoying life. I definitely can’t blame him for that. Besides, accidents happen.” After a moment, she looked up at me with a smile of her own. I knelt down to her level as Trixie gently levitated the little fellow to his adorable warden. “Here you go, safe and sound.” “Thanks,” the girl replied softly, hugging the little creature. It made no effort to escape and seemed quite content to rest after the excitement a few moments ago. “Does he have a name?” I asked. “Subject E-384.” she replied a-matter-of-factly. Trixie and I exchanged surprised glances. “That’s an…interesting name…” Trixie ventured. “Not really,” the girl answered. “My mom named him. She’s in charge of all the epohh research on New Romulus so she gets to name all of them. See?” She gently loosened a grey collar around its neck just enough to read the number “384” printed on it. “Ah, that explains it,” I mused, nodding my head in understanding as Trixie did the same. “Is that where she is now?” I asked, a plan beginning to form among the barren, ashen ground that made up my dating experience. “Probably. She’s usually out at Epohh Fields all day working with the other scientists.” The girl explained with a shrug. “I’m Tari, by the way.” she added, holding out a small hand towards me whilst keeping her epohh secure against her side with the other. “What’s your name?” “My name’s Cole. Cole Stevens. This is my friend, Trixie.” I replied, shaking her hand before gesturing for Trixie to do the same, which she did. “It’s nice to meet you, Cole.” she stated, a hint of eagerness in her tone. “And you too, Trixie. You have really nice hair,” she added, studying the showmare’s mane with curious eyes. “It’s super-pretty. Like a star or something else that’s really shiny.” Awe man, could she possibly get any more adorable. Trixie didn’t seem to think so; rather, she slowly approached Tari and sat on her haunches next to her. “You really think so?” she asked with a hopeful smile. “Yup.” Tari confirmed with a nod before looking at me and then back to Trixie. “Hey, you wanna play some epohh tag?” she asked eagerly. “Tari? Tari! Where are you?” the voice of an older woman called from somewhere behind us. Dressed in a white outfit with grey patches and sleeves, she looked every inch a researcher. “I’m here, Mom!” Tari replied, waving her free arm. “I just had to grab Subject E-384!” She ran up to her mother and held the epohh up to her. “See?” “Well, I’m glad to see he’s safe but why did he run off?” the woman asked. “I thought he really liked you.” “Oh, he does,” Tari assured her. “He just gets really bored easily and really likes to run around. I was telling Commander Temer about them and kinda forgot to hold him the whole time.” She looked back at us and smiled. “But then Mr. Cole and Miss Trixie came along and caught him for me!” “That was nice of them,” the woman replied, giving us a smile before approaching. “My name is Toreth. I’m the head researcher for Dewan epohhs, or New Romulus epohhs if you prefer. Thanks again for helping my daughter.” I nodded and shook her hand. “It was no problem at all,” I assured her. “I’m Cole Stevens and this is my friend, Trixie.” “It’s wonderful to meet you both,” Toreth answered. “May I ask what brought you here to Starbase 234?” “Well, I work for Starfleet as a courier and Trixie here is one of the single greatest magicians and illusionists you’ll ever meet.” I gave the blushing Trixie a gentle nudge and a wink. “We’ve been travelling together for a few months now.” “I see,” Toreth mused. “I must confess that I’ve never seen a live Equestrian before. As a scientist, this is rather exciting.” “Ooh, can she show me a magic trick?” Tari interrupted, unable to withhold her excitement any longer, her pleading expression fixed firmly on the blue showmare. “Pleeeeeaaaaase? I’ll let you pet Subject E-384 as much as you want!” There was a brief pause, during which I gave Trixie another gentle nudge after her mother nodded in approval. “O-of course she can!” Trixie exclaimed. “The Great and Powerful Trixie would be happy to entertain you!” With that, they relocated to a close-by table and Trixie jumped up onto it while a thrilled Tari promptly sat on the floor in front of it with her epohh in her lap. She squealed as a light shower of bright sparks showered the table, prompting Toreth to smile appreciatively. “That is a remarkable friend you’ve got,” she said. I nodded in agreement. “I know.” Alright, this is your chance. “Actually, I’d like to ask you about something, if you wouldn’t mind.” “Of course. How may I be of assistance?” Toreth offered. “Her birthday’s coming up tomorrow and I’d really like to take her somewhere special.” I didn’t think it necessary to divulge my personal business; regardless, I was glad I had another reason to put Toreth on the spot. “I know that New Romulus is probably the best closest place so…what do you recommend? What is there to do for fun on New Romulus?” “Hmm…” Toreth thought about it. “To be honest, not much at the moment. We’ve been focusing most of our energy on getting the planet ready for large-scale colonization. As it stands, we don’t have much in the way of entertainment.” “Darn…” I muttered, wondering what else I could do now that my best option was more or less gone. “Although…” Toreth mused, instantly grabbing my attention. “While we don’t have much traditional entertainment, there are some beautiful places to visit if you enjoy the outdoors. Vastam Peaks provide some of the best views of the night sky while Epohh Fields in Isha Forest are a great spot to relax and be close to the local wildlife.” It was then that I realized I had mere minutes ago, in every sense of the word, literally stumbled into the solution to my problem. “So…Epohh Fields is nice, huh?” I mused, stroking my chin. “Perfect for say…a date?” “Sure.” Toreth replied with a shrug. I nodded thoughtfully. “Well then, if you wouldn’t mind, I would love to hear all about Isha Forest and Vastam Peaks.” “Sure. What would you like to know?” Meanwhile… “Wow!” Tari exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically as another trick concluded. “You’re really good, Trixie!” “Thank you, thank you, you’re far too kind!” Trixie replied with a smile and sweeping bow. She hopped off the table and sat beside Tari. “Trixie thought you’d like them!” “Oh, I did!” Tari assured her, nodding vehemently. “Miss Trixie, can I ask you something?” “Of course you can.” “Could you maybe…come back here and do some more tricks some time? There isn’t much on New Romulus for the other kids to do and I know they’d all really like it if you did a show for ‘em!” Trixie was taken aback by the power of the girl’s words; never had she had anyone approach her so…selflessly. Usually, they just wanted more for the sake of getting the most out for their Bits, but with Tari…she was able to remember why she’d started doing magic and illusions in the first place. If it wasn’t to see someone’s face light up with sincere wonder and admiration, then why do it at all? The revelation, or possibly reminder, minor as it was, caused a tear to roll down one of Trixie’s cheeks, a detail that did not go unnoticed. “Are you okay?” Tari asked quietly and with a look of concern. “Oh, yes, absolutely!” Trixie replied whilst quickly wiping the tear away. “Are you sure?” “I’m fine. Please don’t worry. I just…thank you for your kind words,” the showmare answered with a nod. “They…meant a lot.” “Here, give Snuffles a hug,” Tari offered, holding the epohh out to her. “I know you said you’re not really sad but that always helps me feel better.” “I thought his name was Subject…E-something.” “I changed his name,” Tari explained before putting a finger to her lips. “Ssh! It’s our secret!” she whispered. “Our secret,” Trixie confirmed, also with a whisper. With that, she carefully beheld the furry creature with her front hooves, hugging it gently to her body so he wouldn’t slip out of her less-then-perfect grip. Sure, she could’ve levitated him but there was something intriguing about such tactile contact that felt somehow reassuring. In short, holding the admittedly cute critter felt good and Trixie made a mental note to do it again sometime. Maybe even get one of her own someday… “Hey, Trix, sorry to interrupt but Toreth’s running late for her meeting and we should get moving, too.” I informed the girls after joining them with Toreth. “Awe, do we have to go?” Tari asked as she pouted up at her mother, who smiled back apologetically. “I’m afraid so. Besides, I’m sure Mr. Stevens and Miss Trixie have their own matters to take care of.” “Afraid so, kiddo,” I added. “I’ve got a starship in the shop right now and I’m sure someone’s getting hungry for dinner right about now.” It was then that Tari wrapped her arms around Trixie’s shoulders in a warm hug. “Thanks for everything, Miss Trixie,” she murmured happily before looking up at her. “You’ll come back again and see everybody…right?” The azure mare smiled and gave her a small nuzzle. “Trixie wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I returned my attention to Toreth and shook her hand once more. “Thank you for the information. I’ll definitely put it to good use.” “It was my pleasure, Mr. Stevens. Good luck!” “Bye, Miss Trixie!” And with that, they were off. *** While our dinners had been quiet as of late, something about this particular one had me concerned for my blue friend, and not just because she’d insisted on eating back on the Ranger. She had been staring at her bowl for several minutes, and rather intently at that. “Hey…” I ventured. “Is something wrong? You’ve been staring at your food for like, 10 minutes. I know it’s just Crispy Chex but I didn’t have anything else non-replicated and I know how sick you are of the replicator. I could go to the station and see if there’s anything fresh I could get for you.” Trixie shook her head but offered me a small smile. “It’s okay, really. I’m just…thinking.” “Bit for your thoughts?” “Oh, um…it’s just something Tari said. Got me thinking.” “Way to answer the question, Trix,” I replied. “But hey, if you don’t wanna talk about it, that’s cool, too.” “No, no, it’s just that…what am I doing here?” Her question caught me off guard. “I dunno…eating?” I asked, unsure of her question’s deeper meaning, if it in fact, had one at all. “No, I mean…what am I doing in general? Why am I going all over the place? Is it just to do shows or am I really only concerned with getting famous?” “Why can’t you have both?” “Because what if I’m doing what I love for the wrong reasons? What if the only reason I’m doing this is to get famous?” “Wasn’t that the point, though? Isn’t that why you joined me for this crazy ride?” “I thought it was, too. But now…” She paused and took a deep breath. “…I’m not so sure.” I slowly nodded and leaned forward on the small table. “What’s going on, Trix? What’s on your mind?” I asked gently. “I…I don’t know if…I can do shows anymore.” She saw my eyes widen and quickly continued. “I mean, for profit or fame. After what Tari told me about her homeworld and the other children…I feel…no, I need to do something for them. Even if it’s just doing some magic…as long as it makes them happy…then I don’t care about the Bits...or the credits.” I looked back at her in wonderment. “Trixie, that’s extraordinary.” “No it’s not.” “Yes it is, and I’ll tell you why. When I met you, you would’ve laughed at the very idea of something non-profit. And now look at you; wanting to make people smile without any kind of reward except for their appreciation?” Before she knew it, I grabbed her in a hug, lifting her up and out of her seat, making her blush as she squeezed back. “You’ve really come a long way since then and I’m so incredibly proud of you right now that I just wanna hug you forever.” Yeah, maybe I am just a big sap at heart. “Thanks, Cole,” she whispered. “Of course…Trixie couldn’t have gotten here without you.” I felt her lips against my cheek and felt myself blush as well. “Awe…it was my pleasure, Trix. Always happy to help.” “Still…thank you…for everything.” I felt her lean back and adjusted so I could still hold her as she looked up at me with those beautiful eyes. “I love you, Cole.” There was a pause as I struggled to voice a response that would do such an incredible declaration justice. “I…I…” “It’s okay, you don’t have to say it back,” Trixie added, her head dropping slightly. “Being with you lately has just…it’s made me realize how lucky I am. If you hadn’t come along and…and…” “…crushed everything you owned?” I said, trying to lighten the mood. To my surprise, she actually smiled a bit. “Yes, that. I…I know it’s a lot to think about but I just really wanted you to know before…something else happened and I…couldn’t tell you in time.” she finished in a whisper. “Trixie?” I said, gently tilting her chin up. “I love you, too.” She involuntarily let out a small gasp before crushing her lips to mine, wetting our faces with the tears of joy running down her cheeks. “Do you…really…mean it?” she stammered out between kisses, allowing us each a quick breath before resuming our tongue-dance. “Of…course I do…you silly mare…” I replied when I could get a word in edgewise. She paused and looked up at me once again. “You…didn’t say ‘girl’…” “I know.” “But that means…” I smiled warmly at her. “I accept you for who you are, Trixie. Yes, I know you’re Equestrian. Yes, I know we’re quite different.” I paused to plant a soft kiss on her lips. “But you’re also the Great and Powerful Trixie…my Great and Powerful Trixie.” It was all she could take. All the emotions she’d kept bottled up came spilling out in the form of more joyful tears as she hugged herself to me and simply cried. All the while, I held her. I gently massaged her back. I murmured reassuring words to her and told her over and over that I loved her. And all the while, she cried, although her tears finally began to subside after a few heartfelt minutes. “Y’know,” I whispered. “I was gonna wait until our date tomorrow to tell you but I’m glad I decided to do it now.” Trixie sniffed, wiped her tears away, and smiled at me. Suffice it to say, I’d never seen such a happy, sincere expression in my life. “Me too,” she replied. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t said it back.” “Hey, I would’ve said it eventually.” “Of course you would’ve.” “Are you teasing me right now?” I asked. “Just a little…” she admitted with a small, mischievous smile. “Now there’s the Trixie I know and tolerate.” “Know and what?” she demanded, hitting my chest with a front hoof. “Whoa hey, just kidding!” I exclaimed. “Know and love, know and love! There! Happy?” She smiled and nodded, resting her head on my shoulder. “Never been happier.” *** For the first time in what seemed like months, I woke up the next morning genuinely feeling like I’d had a proper night’s sleep. No nightmares, no cold sweats…nothing. Just the comforting softness of Trixie’s azure coat as she slept quietly beside me, exactly how she’d been when we had fallen asleep. Now, I know what you’re thinking; no, we didn’t ‘get busy’. That could wait, and to be honest, I don’t think either of us were clamoring to jump to that stage. That isn’t to say there wasn’t any mutual physical attraction; it’s just that intimacy would be a huge step for us, what with us being different species and all. Despite the wonderful feeling that engulfed me whenever we were together, I was still hung-up on the idea of ‘doing the deed’ with someone so outside my…‘usual fare’. To say otherwise, I believe, is to utter bullshit. No one knows what they’d do unless placed in that exact situation. I smiled as I wondered how Kirk did it and whether or not he ever wrote a holobook about the subject of inter-species fun-fun time. For the time being, however, I wasn’t gonna worry about it. Don’t misunderstand; I wasn’t gonna ignore it and was still perfectly willing to discuss the idea with Trixie if it ever came up but in the meantime, I was quite willing to cross that bridge if and when we ever ended up there. I felt Trixie squirm around under the sheet beside me and quickly fixed the blanket around her, tucking it in gently around her sleeping form before getting up. I checked the time; it was just past 6 AM. Perfect, I thought with a small smile. That gives me at least four hours before she wakes up. I think I’ll grab us some fresh breakfast from one of the Starbase’s restaurants and we can have breakfast in bed. I bet she’d really like that. Funny how meeting the right person…Equestrian…whatever, can have such a profound effect on your priorities, huh? Usually, I would’ve headed to the holodeck for some Dead Space: Ultimate Trilogy Holodeck Edition or even planned my route for the day, where I wanted to go and so on. This time, however, I wanted nothing more than to start the day by putting a smile on Trixie’s face. So that’s exactly what I did. Taking advantage of Trixie’s ability to sleep through a warp core breach, I dressed up and headed for the station in search of the perfect breakfast, making a mental note to pick up a few more boxes of delicious Crispy Chex, not to mention check up on a little side project I’d started soon after we’d docked at the Starbase. That meant a trip to Station Engineering. A couple hours later… There, all set, I thought as I returned triumphantly to the docked Ranger. It was done; the plan I’d been toiling on was finally complete. I hope you’re ready for the best date of your life, I thought as I returned to my bed and gently stroked her head, having completed my morning tasks. Not only had Engineering come through in spades and given the ship a clean bill of health, I had found the one place in the entire sector that sold authentic strawberry crepes. Needless to say, the mess hall’s cooler, besides keeping my surprise dinner cold, also held a generous number of the delicious items. Smiling, I set a plate piled high with still-warm crepes on my small bedside table, but not before waving it in front of her nose for good measure. Her snout responded with gentle sniffs before convincing her to wake up and investigate the source of the intoxicating aroma. “Mmmuuurrgh…” she mumbled before stretching and slowly opening her eyes, which immediately widened when they beheld the feast in front of them. She looked at them and then up at me. “Cole…are these for us?” she asked somewhat groggily. “No, they’re for Q,” I replied with a wry grin, grabbing one and taking a bite. “Of course they’re for us. I thought you might like some breakfast in bed before our date.” “I…Trixie doesn’t know what to say…” she replied, apparently overwhelmed by such a simply gesture. Score one for me, I guess. She suddenly blushed as her stomach weighed in on the subject. “By the way,” I added before giving her a surprise kiss. “Happy birthday.” She looked at me with an incredulous expression. “H-how did you know?” “I didn’t,” I confessed and her eyes narrowed slightly. “Starfleet did. See, I wanted to do something cool for your birthday so I got in touch with the Federation Embassy on Equestria. It took some doing but they finally got back to me a couple days ago. Guess you guys like keeping records too, huh?” I didn’t have the chance to say anything else as, for the second time in less than 12 hours, Trixie pounced on me with predatory intent. Let’s just say that for a little while, she might’ve mixed me up with breakfast. Not that I was complaining, of course. “These are amazing,” she exclaimed happily, finishing the last one just as I was about to reach for it. “Are these fresh strawberries?” “Yep!” I replied proudly. “Asked about ‘em and everything.” “That was one of the best breakfasts Trixie’s ever had,” she declared upon completion of our morning meal. “You’re the best,” she added, giving my cheek an affectionate, albeit surprising lick. “Okay, I know for a fact I didn’t have whipped cream on my face this time.” “You actually remember that?” she asked. “Why wouldn’t I? That was one of the most unique and unexpected experiences of my life.” Thinking deviously, I dabbed my finger in some of the leftover whipped cream on the plate and smeared a bit on Trixie’s cheek. “Hey! What are do…ing…” she murmured as I slowly licked the cream off her cheek. “There. Now we’re even.” I whispered. “You’re really strange, you know that?” she asked, trying to suppress a smile. “I prefer ‘eccentric’, if you don’t mind.” “Hmm…” she hummed thoughtfully with a hoof at her chin. “Nah, I’ll stick with ‘strange’.” she stated, sticking her tongue out at me. “Hey, whatever floats your boat, oh Cute and Cuddly Trixie,” I answered, giving her a hug. A somewhat awkward and foreboding pause ensued. I grinned innocently as Trixie gave me a ‘look’. “Cute and Cuddly Trixie…?” Oh crap. And just like that, I was off like a shot, laughing like a crazy person and ducking under magical blasts on my way out. I braved a look behind me; sure enough, there she was, hot on my tail with a familiar gleam in her eye. “CUTE AND CUDDLY TRIXIE!?” “That’s right, tell the whole galaxy that you’ve changed your name from the Great and Powerful Trixie to the…ouch!” I yelped, grabbing my singed behind. “It’s a complement, Trix! YIKES!” I grabbed the corner and practically swung around, making a bee-line for the turbolift. I dove in, shouted “Bridge!”, and slumped against the side of the turbolift, trying to catch my breath. At least from the bridge, I could seal off the turbolift and hopefully forestall my execution. Confident in my plan, I strolled out onto the bridge without a second thought as soon as the turbolift doors opened. “SURPRISE!” A flash of light momentarily blinded me and the next thing I knew, something fuzzy collided with me, knocking me down and using me to break its fall. I rubbed my eyes and soon found Trixie smirking victoriously at me as she sat on my stomach. “Right…forgot you could do that…” I admitted, capitulating to her unfairly advantageous abilities. “Ready to apologize?” “Not a chance.” “Then I guess it’s time for Trixie’s secret weapon…” she replied with an evil grin, her horn lighting up. “Do your worst…” I dared with a smirk of my own. “Very well! You leave Trixie no choice!” she exclaimed as her horn began to spark with power. “Ready?” “Bring it!” “Fine! You asked for it!” With that, she brought a front hoof up…and gently tapped me on the nose. “Boop.” she whispered as her horn returned to its normal, non-sparking version. “Boop.” I replied, returning the favor. “You were scared.” “Was not.” “Was too.” “You really think I was scared?” I teased, quickly standing up, making her yelp in surprise before clinging to me for dear life. “Now we’re even.” “Fine,” she said with a sigh before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Trixie accepts your terms.” “Good. Now, if there’s anything you need to do before our date, I suggest doing that now. A soon as we’re clear of the Starbase, it’s not long to New Romulus.” I replied, earning a strange look from the showmare. “Now? Isn’t it a little early?” “Well, the thing is, I planned this date as more of an outing,” I explained. “See, I wanted to make it extra special for you today so I decided to make the entire day our date. Sound good?” Her face lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. “Sounds great.” *** Later, in orbit over New Romulus… “I don’t think I’ve ever actually been on this part of the deck,” Trixie mused as I led her to a fairly unused part of the ship. Truth be told, it wasn’t an area I frequented either but this time, it happened to hold the key to our entire day. “Where are we again?” “Deck 04, just in front of the auxiliary deflector,” I replied, examining a control panel. “Ah, here it is. Now I remember.” With that, I pressed a few buttons and the floor panel immediately in front of us slid open, revealing a short ladder going down a tube and ending in a small room. Trixie looked at me quizzically. “Ladies first,” I invited, motioning for her to descend. “Cole…what is this?” she asked, hesitation present in her voice. “Just trust me. You’re gonna love it,” I assured her. She looked at me for a bit longer before resigning herself to the task at hand, which she accomplished by carefully levitating herself down the tube. I followed soon after and took a seat in the front of the V-shaped room. Trixie jumped as several panels above us closed with a hiss. “It’s okay, really. Just…come up here with me and I’ll hold on to you, alright?” She nodded and did so, pressing her side up against mine. I put my arm around her and tapped a nearby control panel a few times. Trixie gasped as the room came to life around her. Panels and screens lit up, displaying all kinds of data, but what got her attention the most was the sudden appearance of a joystick directly in front of me, previously hidden within the control panel. I turned to her and grinned and before she could protest, she felt a sharp lurch as if whatever they were sitting in had just been shaken loose. Her eyes widened as the visor-like front of the room suddenly filled with stars and the openness of space, and after a moment, the blue, purple, and green world of New Romulus. “Trixie, I’d like to introduce you to the Waverider shuttle,” I exclaimed as she placed her front hooves against the window, staring out eagerly at the breathtaking sight outside. “Since I’m not allowed to actually land the Ranger where we’re going, I thought this might be more fun than just beaming down.” “Trixie agrees…” she murmured, too busy staring at the sights to dedicate much time to acknowledge my creativity. Which was just fine and dandy to me; after all, this was her special day. I was just there to make sure she got it. “Pretty cool, huh?” I asked, easing the Waverider into a nice, smooth flight path towards the planet. “It’s amazing, Cole!” Trixie replied happily before giving me a big hug. “You’re right; this is way better than beaming! When did you have the time to do…well, this?” she asked, gesturing about the chevron-shaped cabin. “Well, I’d like to say that I bought it just for the occasion but the truth is that I’ve actually always had it. It just needed some repairs so I asked the Starbase engineers to give it a complete overhaul.” I looked about the cabin. “And I’d say they succeeded.” “I love it,” Trixie replied, giving me a kiss. “Not that I’m complaining but why wouldn’t they let us take the Ranger?” “I guess might as well tell you where we’re going. I thought it’d be really cool to spend the day in Epohh Fields, maybe do some hiking up to Vastam Peaks for some stargazing. What do you th-mmph?” For the second time that day, Trixie’s lips interrupted me. “Wow…” I said breathlessly. “Somepony’s in an affectionate mood.” “How could I not?” she asked, blushing. “This is the sweetest thing anypony…anyone’s ever done for me.” “Hey, I’m pretty pleased myself,” I added, giving her a quick squeeze with my free, non-piloting arm. “I get to spend the entire day with the most beautiful Equestrian in the galaxy.” “Don’t forget ‘Greatest and Most Powerful’.” she reminded me, complete with a grin. “That’s funny, I thought it was ‘Cutest and Most Cuddly’.” I laughed as she poked my side with her hoof. “Alright! Anyway, as I was saying, since we’re going to what they consider an important nature reserve, landing a starship in the middle of it could hurt the local wildlife. However, since small shuttles are allowed to land in those areas, the Waverider is the perfect way to get there and tour the planet at the same time.” “Trixie has to hoof it to you,” the blue mare replied, nodding slowly. “This is a pretty great way to start a date.” Aside from a little atmospheric turbulence, the trip to our destination went very smoothly. I took us on a small detour over the famed New Romulus Embassy and even dipped low over the ruins for some excellent sightseeing. It was my hope that we could spend some more time on the planet to explore and maybe even help out but it ultimately depended on what Starfleet had planned for us. We ended up about a kilometer away from the main research camp in Epohh Fields, which meant that a bit of a hike was in order. Neither of us minded the walk, seeing as we had dedicated an entire day to our date and therefore had time to spare. As we hiked over the hills and across the plateaus of New Romulus, we chatted animatedly about anything that happened to enter our respective trains of thought. I told her about my time on Deep Space 9 working for that Ferengi, while Trixie regaled me with tales about the Elements of Harmony and her many travels. Truth be told, we didn’t share much we hadn’t shared before but neither of us were too concerned about that; instead, we simply listened, laughed when appropriate, and immersed ourselves in each other’s experiences. “Eep!” Trixie suddenly squeaked, jumping in surprise. “What is it?” I asked as she quickly scanned the area around her feet. “Something touched my hoof!” “Really? What was it?” “If Trixie knew that, she wouldn’t need to ask!” “Right. Maybe it was him…” I replied, pointing down at the space in front of her. The showmare’s demeanor changed immediately the moment she laid eyes on the little creature sitting in front of her. “Cole, look!” she exclaimed as the epohh cocked its head to the side, regarding her with curious eyes. “It’s one of those epics…epochs…” “Epohhs?” I suggested. “Yes, epohh!” I couldn’t help but smile as Trixie knelt down on all fours and leaned towards the critter, which replied in kind before giving her an experimental sniff and running off. “Aren’t they the cutest little things?” The follow-up squee almost gave me a heart attack. “They certainly are, oh Soft and Sappy Trixie.” She looked at me with narrowed eyes and furrowed brow. “Can’t really deny that one, can I?” “You can’t really deny any of the new nickname’s I’ve come up with.” “Trixie will forgive you for being a stubborn mule this time…but only because this is the best day of Trixie’s life.” “Fair enough,” I replied with a shrug. “I guess this mean’s we’ve officially reached Epohh Fields.” It was a landscape that lived up to its name in every conceivable way. Rolling, green hills made up the verdant environment in which hundreds of epohhs of every color and size played and ran about. Carefree and completely unafraid of us, they staged their investigation of us in a pattern of run up, sniff, and run away only to repeat the process. Trixie and I shared in many a laugh as we watched the spectacle and we soon found a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the perfect warm and sunny day. “Y’know…” I began as we stared up at the clouds. Just to my left, Trixie turned her head and regarded me. “I really think my parents would’ve loved it here.” “They were…diplomats, right?” I nodded. “Yeah. As far as I know, they were the only members of the Federation diplomatic corps that actually liked their station on Romulus. They knew what their jobs entailed and how difficult, if not outright impossible it was. But they never gave up on the idea of a long-lasting peace between us and the Romulans. And now, being here surrounded not only by Romulans but hundreds of other types of people…I know my parents would be so proud right now.” “I know they would, Cole,” Trixie replied softly, edging right up against me. “And I know they’d be proud that you’re here to see what they worked so hard for.” I nodded once again and slowly scratched behind her ears. “This…this is everything they ever wanted, everything they worked for. It’s just…it’s just a damn shame that they’re not around to see it, y’know?” I rolled over to face the azure mare beside me. “I’m glad you’re here, though. I-I wouldn’t have wanted to come here alone.” I hugged her closely and planted a soft kiss on her head. “Thanks for coming with me, Trix.” Trixie’s heart raced as she finally realized the significance of what was happening. Yes, it was her birthday, which made the date a fantastic coincidence and a very special day solely on that basis. However, the real significance lay in what had just been said. She was part of his family now. It was clear to her; like countless others, he had lost his family when Romulus was destroyed and like those who were left, had travelled to the new homeworld to begin anew; to start new careers, to pursue new opportunities, to re-establish their family lines and continue their legacies and the legacy of Romulus. To find love among their shattered hearts and memories. Truly, their excursion was so much more than a simple ‘date’. It was a declaration of trust offered to the showmare by her companion, a sign that he was ready to begin anew as well. A sign that they were both ready. Cole had lost his family, Trixie had lost herself and way of life, and yet, there they were, stronger and more determined than ever…just like the world on which they took their first steps together as one. They were each other’s New Romulus. “Hey,” I murmured, making Trixie shake her head and open her eyes as if lost in thought. “Everything okay? You kinda drifted off there for a bit.” “No…” Trixie replied with a smile. “Everything’s perfect.” Mmrroooowwgurglegurgle… “Oh, heh, heh,” I said as my stomach protested my lack of attention. “Time for dinner, huh?” “Actually, that would be great,” Trixie agreed as her tummy rumbled as well. “Those crepes must’ve been hours ago.” “Then shall we continue to Vastam Peaks? We can watch the sunset while we eat and stargaze from the top of Mt. Vastam.” I suggested. The blue mare smiled and kissed me. “Trixie would love that.” *** “See?” I exclaimed, pointing up at the sky as we finally reached our destination about an hour later. “We’re just in time for the sunset!” “Okay, okay, you were right,” Trixie agreed, sitting beside me. “This place is pretty amazing.” Our perch overlooked the massive Vastam Canyon and was literally the last soft, grassy spot before the natural trail we’d been following turned into rocks and boulders. Thus, it was the spot I selected to watch the sun go down…and of course, to fill our growling stomachs. “Hey Trix, wanna see a magic trick?” I asked, dusting off a nearby large, flat rock. “I thought we were here to watch the sunset.” “Why not do both?” I asked with a shrug. “You’re always showing me magic; I think it’s time to return the favor.” “Oh, Trixie has got to see this,” she exclaimed with a smirk, sitting at the opposite end of the rock. “A-hem!” I threw my hands into the air and slowly brought them downwards, wiggling my fingers as I did so, all the while exclaiming “Ordinateur, transporte les nourritures rapidement!” What? Saying “Abra Kadabra” would’ve been clichéd as Hell and I needed to maintain the element of surprise. Besides, I was pretty sure she didn’t know any French. Just as I pronounced the last syllable of my impromptu magic chant, there was a bright flash, revealing two bowls of salad. I sat proudly as she stared at me with an incredulous expression. “And voila!” I announced, gesturing towards the dishes. “Dinner is served.” “Trixie knows how you did it.” “Oh, does she?” “You told the computer to beam that food down when you said…whatever you said.” “Maybe,” I replied with a shrug. “But I’ll never tell. A magician never reveals his tricks. You should know that better than anyone.” “You just don’t want to admit that Trixie’s right.” “Just keep telling yourself that.” “Trixie’s gonna eat now.” “By all means,” I invited, gesturing towards the food once again. She took an experimental bite and chewed thoughtfully. I smiled as her eyes lit up. “This is wonderful!” she declared. “What is it?” “Ferasan Chag Salad.” “Good thing it tastes better than it sounds!” “I’ll say,” I agreed, taking a bite of my own. It actually wasn’t bad once you got past the fact you were literally eating grass. “Not that I don’t appreciate it,” Trixie said through a mouthful. “But why are you eating it? I didn’t think you liked salad for dinner.” I shrugged. “I wanted us to enjoy the same meal together on our first date.” I explained. “You…really know how to make a mare feel special,” Trixie half-whispered, blushing as she looked up at me. “This may sound really…well, corny, but…I never want this day to end.” “Well then, how could we do this tomorrow or next week or any other time if this day never ended?” I asked. “I, for one, would like to have many more days like this.” I looked up at the setting sun and smiled. “After all, the night always brings a new day, right?” Trixie nodded thoughtfully and joined me in my appraisal of the evening sky. “Yeah…it really does.” *** The stars were absolutely incredible that night. As we lay on the softest patch of grass we could find, Trixie marvelled at how clear the sky was, how different the night sky looked from the Ranger and her homeworld, and anything else that tickled her fancy. All the while, I simply listened and held her, adding little tidbits here and there. After sending the used dishes back to the Ranger’s replicators, we had decided to forgo dessert in favor of some stargazing, during which we actually nodded off for a while, waking up a short hour or so later. Unwilling to risk our lives in a search for the shuttle in pitch-black darkness, I ordered a beam-out to the Ranger, planning to retrieve the shuttle the next day. “That was perfect,” Trixie said as we made our way to the last portion of my expertly-planned evening. “The walk, the food, the stars…just…perfect.” “And it’s not over yet,” I replied as we entered the turbolift. “I know we’re both tired but I just want to show you one last thing before we pass out.” “Trixie promises not to fall asleep until you’re out of things to amaze her with.” “Then I hope you like insomnia.” “Oh, aren’t you funny?” “I try. Anyway, here we are,” I replied, motioning for her to exit the turbolift. “Where are we going?” “Holodeck.” “What’s on the holodeck?” “You’ll see. Don’t worry, you’ll like it!” I exclaimed, hoping I was right. I felt her head under my hand as she walked close beside me and I instinctively gave her an impromptu scalp massage. She grinned up at me. “I’m sure I will.” Upon reaching the holodeck, Trixie found herself ushered into a large circular room with a strange ceiling, strange mostly because there was no ceiling. Instead, the tall, ornate round walls extended up into an incredible starscape. Trixie couldn’t help but stare up at the dozens of shooting stars, bright nebulas, and other cosmic phenomenon as she slowly circled the room, eventually sitting on one of several round couches near the centre. Just as I’d planned, she hadn’t even noticed my disappearance until a spotlight focused on an elevated part of the room, revealing me holding an old-style microphone. “Is this thing on?” I asked, accidentally causing a negative feedback screech that forced us to cover our ears. “Computer, lower volume by one-third!” “Acknowledged.” “Cole, what’s going on?” Trixie asked. “Well, I was planning our date yesterday while you were at your meeting on the station and…” “That’s why you were late?” she asked. “Yes, exactly,” I replied. “I lost track of time when I heard an old hit from the 21st century and…well, allow me to show you what I came up with.” I cleared my throat. “Computer…hit it.” “Acknowledged. Music starting in ten seconds. There will be no further audio warning.” Alright, this is it, I thought as a bead of sweat ran down my forehead. Hopefully, my terrible singing voice won’t make Trixie’s ears bleed. Maybe I should’ve selected an auto-tune filter... I had little time to ponder the idea; the music made sure of that. Instead, I took a deep breath, waited for my cue…and hoped for the best. Hey, Trixie, There’s a galaxy to re-discover. Hey, Trixie, Come with me, we’ll see it all together. The showmare’s eyes widened and her ears perked up at the mention of her name. Oh, if your world is crumbling down ‘round you, There’s nothing among the stars I wouldn’t do. I’ve never been much of a singer; truthfully, I’m pretty bad at it. This time, though, I actually felt like I was doing a half-passable job with the song. I had only practiced it once or twice but I was strangely calm throughout the first few lines. Of course, Trixie’s look of amazement and utter disbelief didn’t hurt. Hey, Trixie, Where must I venture for you to miss me? Hey, Trixie, What must I achieve for you to kiss me? We both partook in a blush at that part. Oh, if your world is crumbling down ‘round you, There’s nothing among the stars I wouldn’t do. What if we’re far from home? Oh Trixie, what if you ask and I don’t know? What if we risk it all? Oh Trixie, we will make it somehow. Oh, if your world is crumbling down ‘round you, There’s nothing among the stars I wouldn’t do. It was near the end that I took a look at Trixie’s face and realized that she did not care one bit if I was a terrible singer or not. She was too busy wiping her eyes after every verse. Hey, Trixie, There’s a galaxy to re-discover Hey, Trixie, When I think of love, I see no other. Oh, if your world is crumbling down ‘round you, There’s nothing among the stars I wouldn’t do. What if we’re far from home? Oh Trixie, what if you ask and I don’t know? What if we risk it all? Oh Trixie, we will make it somehow. Oh, if your world is crumbling down ‘round you, There’s nothing among the stars I wouldn’t do. Complete silence filled the room as soon as the song ended, prompting me to wonder what Trixie had really thought of my little performance. “Um, I call that one “Hey Trixie”, and it was inspired by the lyrics of “Hey Brother” and of course, the one I love.” There was no better way to put it and I simply stood and watched as the showmare made her way to the front. I stepped down from the ‘stage’ to meet her in a quiet, tear-filled embrace. “D-did you like it?” I asked quietly, feeling her nod against my shoulder. “I loved it.” she whispered. “Whew,” I replied, wiping my sweaty brow. “I’m not the greatest lyricist in the world and can’t sing worth a damn but…” It’s probably a good thing that she stopped me with a fierce and passionate kiss, otherwise I might’ve listed faults all night. Fortunately, as she kissed me and continued to kiss me, any self-doubt or anxiety left my system and I was able to relax and return the favor. We left the holodeck rather breathless a few jaw-cramping minutes later and instinctually headed for my quarters, yawning rather vigorously during our trek. All the excitement had left us both absolutely exhausted and nothing was more appealing than jumping ‘neath my soft sheets and getting a good night’s sleep after one more round of “I love you”. Which is exactly what we did.