The secondhoof store was full of junk, but some of it was good junk. There were some tools, gardening implements, housewares, and even a few odd things like clothing, which was out of place to find in a society that typically did not wear clothing.
The first thing that Trixie found as an old somewhat faded purple blanket that Trixie knew that she could sew into a passable cloak.
Hijinx continued to vibrate and took jittery jerky steps to keep up with Trixie.
After wandering through the crowded store full of junk, Trixie finally found something worth looking for. She cackled when she saw it, knowing that it was perfect for her student.
A somewhat battered purple velvet top hat. Some of the velvet looked a little rubbed, it had a rough patches, but it was perfectly suitable for a student. Trixie lifted it in her magic and plunked it down in Hijinx’s head. It stayed in place for a moment, but the vibrating foal made it fall over her eyes, and all that was visible was Hijinx’ muzzle and her wide manic grin.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie has a Cuddly and Adorable Student!” Trixie announced, prancing in place on her hooves with delight, quite overtaken with the new feeling deep inside of her.
“Y-y-y-y-y-y-y-yeah!” Hijinx stammered, completely unable to stay still.
“Trixie is not quite certain what is wrong with you, but your continued need to vibrate is unsettling,” Trixie said in concern.
“I-I-I f-f-f-f-f-feel g-g-g-g-g-good!” Hijinx stuttered. “T-t-t-t-the w-w-w-w-world i-i-is s-s-s-s-s-so s-s-s-s-s-slow r-r-r-r-right n-n-n-n-n-now.”
“Trixie is certain that it is. Even the world must slow down and acknowledge our Great and Powerful Superiourity,” Trixie acknowledged with a haughty nod.
Trixie led the blinded foal along and went to pay for the goods they had collected, drawing a few stares from other ponies in the store, which Trixie took to be looks of admiration.
Trixie emerged from the store with Hijinx in tow and there she was. Trixie felt her heart leap into her throat when she saw her. Trixie began to feel as though she was vibrating.
Princess Twilight Sparkle was walking with Discord and the two were talking.
“Hello Twilight Sparkle,” Trixie greeted.
Twilight and Discord both froze when they saw the vibrating foal.
“Hi… Trixie,” Twilight said slowly. “Your performance was quite good. Less boasting and more showing. What is wrong with that poor foal?”
“Yes, let us all get down to the heart of the issue here, what is wrong with that poor foal?” Discord queried.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie has taken on a Great and Powerful Student!” Trixie crowed. “The Clever and Crafty Trixie has finally done something that Twilight Sparkle has not.”
“You sure have Trixie,” Twilight agreed. “But what is wrong with your student?”
“Nothing is wrong with my student,” Trixie insisted.
Discord raised his eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Twilight.
“Trixie is a Considerate and Kind Caretaker. Trixie gave the foal a nutritious meal of jelly donuts and coffee. The jelly donuts are a fruit!” Trixie announced.
Discord covered his face with his lion’s paw and moaned.
Twilight Sparkle struggled to suppress a look of horror. “Coffee… foal… jelly donuts…” Twilight stammered.
“Even the all powerful Twilight Sparkle is awed by Trixie’s foal looking after abilities! Huzzah!” Trixie boasted.
“She sure is,” Discord agreed, rubbing his head and closing his eyes.
“Hijinx, this is Twilight Sparkle and this is Discord,” Trixie introduced, lifting the hat away from the foal’s eyes.
“H-h-h-h-h-h-hi!” Hijinx greeted in an all to perky voice that was almost a screech.
Discord moved forward, studying Trixie’s protege. He gently patted the foal on the side of her trembling face, looked her over, and then froze, his mouth hanging open in horror when he saw her cutie mark.
“Discord, is something wrong?” Twilight asked in alarm. Discord wasn’t afraid of anything. And yet right now, he looked terror-stricken.
Discord began to back away from the foal. “This foal will be the ruination of us all Twilight Sparkle,” Discord announced in a trembling voice. “Trixie, what have you done?”
Trixie started to reply but her words died in her throat. Discord was off, running away on all fours at full speed, his wings flapping as he ran. The draconequus was howling in fear, a keening wail that could be heard all over Ponyville.
“I wonder what’s gotten into him?” Twilight Sparkle quipped, her eyebrow raised.
“Discord is right to fear Trixie’s student. He recognises her supreme raw ability and sees it as a threat!” Trixie announced.
Twilight Sparkle heaved a sigh and summoned her patience. She studied the foal, trying to see what had frightened Discord. Two eyes? Two ears? Obnoxious orange colour that would make Applejack look dim? Twilight noticed the foal’s cutie mark. Which was a little odd she had to admit. A broken mirror. A broken mirror cutie mark that had scared Discord senseless somehow.
Twilight sensed there was more to this situation and resolved to investigate this budding mystery.
“FLEE!” Discord’s voice wailed in the distance.
Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes. What was it about her that made every dramatic soul around her flock to her? Trixie, Discord, Rarity and even Pinkie Pie. Twilight paused and reflected, perhaps I should introduce Hijinx and Pinkie Pie to one another she thought to herself. Just to see what might happen.
“Trixie, while donuts are fine for a snack, why don’t you come by the library later with Hijinks and we can have dinner together,” Twilight invited.
“Really?” Trixie asked, her voice full of disbelief.
“Yes,” Twilight replied, staring at the blue mare.
“You want dinner with the Great and Powerful Trixie?” Trixie asked.
“And your Caffeinated and Hyperactive Student,” Twilight responded, resigning herself to future annoyances.
“Is this a trick?” Trixie asked bluntly.
“No,” sighed Twilight. “I’m just worried about Hijinx. And you. You can’t survive eating donuts.”
“You worry about Trixie?” Trixie queried.
Twilight blushed. “Well, yeah, I worry about all of my friends,” Twilight mumbled, suddenly looking down at the ground.
A silence fell upon the former rivals that endured for several minutes.
“Trixie accepts your invitation. And Trixie gives you Trixie’s thanks. From the bottom of Trixie’s heart,” Trixie said appreciatively, ending the silence.
“THE END IS HERE!” a voice shouted in the far off distance.
“I wish I could understand Discord sometimes,” Twilight groaned. “He is much better after his reformation, but he has these moments where he just don’t make sense.”
“Trixie has been trying to make a few changes as well,” Trixie confessed, kicking the dirt with her forehoof. “Discord and Trixie have a lot in common.”
“WooooOOOOOoooooOOO!” Hijinx warbled as she began to jump up and down in place.
“Trixie, you should take her to the park and allow her to run around for a few hours,” Twilight suggested.
“That might be wise Twilight Sparkle,” Trixie agreed. “Any other advice on training a Great and Powerful Student?”
“Well, boosting her self confidence shouldn’t be a problem,” Twilight deadpanned.
“DOOM!” a faint voice shouted.
Twilight covered her face with a wing.
Trixie was sprawled on a park bench, feeling the sun on her sides. Hijinx was sprawled in the grass, finally down after several hours of running around in a circle shouting “woo woo” to herself. Trixie yawned, feeling the need for another cup of coffee. Perhaps giving Hijinx more coffee would be a bad idea.
She felt a strange and unknown stirring within herself as she gazed upon her student. Without being able to explain why she felt this way, Trixie wanted the foal to be happy. It was a mysterious feeling that unsettled her slightly.
She watched other mares in the park, playing with their foals, and felt the feeling once again stirring within her breast, and Trixie heaved a sigh. It was comforting to watch the mares and their foals playing. Hugging. Being close to one another.
Trixie felt the sudden urge to go and cuddle with her student who was sprawled out in the grass. She quickly dismissed the flight of fancy, Great and Powerful Teachers did not snuggle with their students. Certainly, when Trixie was in Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, no teacher ever cuddled with her.
Trixie wondered if Princess Celestia ever cuddled with Twilight Sparkle.
What if Trixie is in over Trixie’s head? she asked of herself.
It couldn’t be that hard. Teach magic, feed occasionally, what else was there? Trixie mentally reprimanded herself for making this more difficult than it needed to be. Clearly the foal could look after itself and very little was actually needed on Trixie’s part.
Trixie silently slipped off of the park bench, went over to Hijinx, and then sprawled out next to the snoozing foal. Being close almost satisfied this strange new itch. Trixie scooted a little closer, giving a haughty glance to those around her that might judge her for being cuddly with a foal in the grass. She could feel the foal against her side, her breath making her barrel expand and contract, faint snuffles coming from the foal’s nostrils.
“This is pleasant,” Trixie announced quietly to herself. “Trixie now understands the appeal of this action. Trixie shall do this more often. Trixie shall demand of Trixie’s student the occasional cuddle. After all, a student is in no position to refuse the demands of their Great and Powerful Master.”