Golden pulled the covers tight, delighting in the warmth of the bed. She hadn’t any idea how much she loved her own sheets until she’d crawled into them last night. It had to have been one of the best nights of slumber she’d ever enjoyed.
Yet she’d been awake for a little while now. Awake and waiting, eager for this wonderful opportunity to arise. As she snuggled closer to her companion, she found that her chance was finally coming: Rarity began to stir.
“Ugh…” Her mare-friend’s leg moved slowly to rub her forehead. “Where am I?”
“Morning, sunshine.” Golden beamed as Rarity’s eyes crept open to peer at her. Though her mane was wild and her expression weary, those precious blues filled Golden with pleasure.
“Golden?” Rarity rubbed her eyes and offered a weak smile. “What are you doing here?”
Golden chuckled. “I live here.”
“Live here?” Rarity raised her head to peer at her surroundings with a yawn, her eyes widening just slightly as she saw that she was in Golden’s bedroom. “Indeed you do.”
She flopped back onto the bed and eyed her marefriend. “Golden, what am I doing in your bed?”
“I brought you here.” Golden gave a wicked smile and pulled Rarity close. “I figured I deserved a reward.”
“A reward?” Rarity raised a sleepy eyebrow… then her eyes began to widen. She raised herself up once more and looked about the room. “What happened to me? I… I remember somepony sneaking up behind and—”
“Don’t worry about him.” Golden caught Rarity and pulled her back to the bed before straddling her. She lowered so her muzzle was just barely touching Rarity’s, an eager smirk on her lips. “He won’t be bothering you again. And now—” she pecked Rarity’s muzzle, “—I expect some compensation.”
Rarity blinked with a blush… then gained a wry smile of her own. She pushed Golden back with a raised eyebrow. “Compensation? For all I know, you might be my kidnapper. Perhaps I should be screaming for help.”
Golden snorted. “Right, like I could come up with a plan like that.” She pressed against Rarity’s hooves in an attempt to get closer. “I was willing to sacrifice myself to save you.”
Rarity grinned and set a hoof over her face in her favorite damsel-in-distress pose. “Oh, yes, I’m sure you found me at the tender mercies of some terrible ruffian and fought tooth and hoof to save me! If only I remembered any of it.”
“Fine, don’t believe me.” Golden managed to push away the lone hoof holding her up, dropping so she had Rarity in a tight embrace. “You’re still not getting away from my bed! After all the work you’ve been doing, think of it as a reward.”
Rarity returned the embrace, though her tone was mocking. “I thought I was supposed to be rewarding you.”
“Then we can reward one another,” Golden replied, leaning up just enough to press her muzzle to Rarity’s. “Think of it as a preview of coming attractions.”
Rarity giggled and pushed Golden away a second time. “You are far too eager, Miss Harvest. It will have to wait until we reach Prance. I told you, I have way too much work to do before we—”
She sucked in a sharp gasp, her cheeks flushing and her eyes going wide as Golden’s hoof lightly brushed against her horn.
“Y-you… Where did you learn to…?”
“In payment of services rendered,” Golden declared in her best Fleur imitation, “I require your presence for the rest of the morning. I think that’s a fair bargain for your life, don’t you think?”
Rarity huffed as she tried to regain her composure. “Really, Golden, that sounds delightful, but I simply… must…” Her legs shook and a lopsided smile crept to her lips as Golden rubbed the edge of her hoof in rings around the tip of the horn. “I d-don’t know what circles you’ve been running in to… to learn about… th-that… but I am a Lady, and ladies don’t succ… succumb to…”
Her eyes rolled up in her head and her entire body trembled at another tease of Golden’s hoof.
“…oh, buck it!”
She rose up to deliver a passionate kiss to Golden’s lips, and for a couple seconds the two remained locked. Golden felt the sparks flying on her tongue and her heart slamming against her chest. She found herself dazed by the pure, unadulterated joy of knowing that this mare was all hers.
Rarity fell back, her face crimson and her breath coming in slow gasps that mimicked Golden’s own.
Golden leaned over her, that wry smile coming back as she effectively pinned her mare-friend. “Better get comfortable, My Lady, ‘cause for now?
“You’re all mine.”
Rarity didn’t object again.
Trixie chewed her lip as she eyed the front door. Her heart hummed in her chest and she feared she might bolt at any second. She sucked in a deep breath and glanced to her side.
Applejack smiled. “Ya ready?”
“No.” Trixie sat, partially because her legs felt weak but also to keep from fleeing. “They don’t know me. Wh-what if they…”
“Don’t worry.” Applejack set a hoof to Trixie’s shoulder. “It won’t be as bad as yer thinkin’.” She went to the door and opened it, then stepped aside and gave her friend a reassuring nod.
Trixie shifted from side to side, her eyes locked on the open doorway. Did she really want to do this? She was appreciative, but…
At last she stood and forced her legs to move. Crossing the threshold alone required all the willpower she possessed.
“Yer doin’ good, Trix.” Applejack rubbed her back before closing the door. “Everythin’ will be fine, Ah promise.”
Trixie couldn’t meet her gaze.
“Okay, everypony. We’re here.”
Trixie looked up, heart hammering in her chest as the Apple Family appeared from the kitchen to stand before her in the hallway. First came Granny Smith, who bore a smile far warmer than Trixie had anticipated. She was followed by Apple Bloom, who looked far less inviting with her firm frown and hard eyes. Big McIntosh came last, his head held high and his expression unreadable. Their combined gaze was enough to make Trixie take a step back, but a leg to her shoulder steadied her.
Applejack nuzzled her for comfort before stepping to the side and gesturing. “Everypony, allow me to properly introduce ya’ll to Miss Trixie Lulamoon.”
It was all Trixie could manage not to turn her face away in shame. “H-hello, everypony.”
There was a tense moment of silence as they continued to stare.
Then Granny Smith grinned. “Well good mornin’, Miss Licksie.”
Applejack and Big Mac both gained lopsided grins.
Apple Bloom elbowed her grandmother and whispered in her ear.
“What?” Granny frowned at her. “Well why didn’t ya say so?” She turned her smiling attention back on Trixie. “I meant, good morning Miss Twixie.”
Apple Bloom facehooved and Big Mac shook his lowered head.
Trixie couldn’t help it; she giggled. “Thank you, Granny Smith.”
She glanced at Applejack, who returned the look with a grin. Her confidence just a little higher, she turned her attention back to the family. “I wanted to thank all of you for yesterday. I had a very good time.”
Apple Bloom rubbed her chin and peered at Trixie. “So… ya took my sister’s place for a day, huh?”
“Umm… well, yes.” Trixie rubbed the back of her head with a forced smile.
Apple Bloom considered this with a deep frown. “So when ya told me ta treat ya like ya knew nothin’, that was fer real?”
“And you were very helpful,” Trixie assured her, latching on to the topic. “I’m sure your sister would be very proud if she’d been in my place. I learned so much about the farm, it was really quite eye-opening. Clearly Trixie has much more to learn.”
She felt Applejack bump her and blushed. “S-sorry, it slips out every now and then.”
“She’s really sorry for deceivin’ ya’ll fer so long,” Applejack told them. “She didn’t mean any harm by it, did ya Trix?”
“No! Not at all.” Trixie shook her head forcefully. “Th-that’s why Trix – I, that’s why I came here this morning. Please accept my most sincere apologies, I was only trying to be cautious.”
The three ponies shared thoughtful expressions… but then Granny and Big Mac smiled in unison.
“That’s all right, Twinkie,” Granny declared with head held high. “No harm was done, right Big Mac?”
“Eeeyup.”
Trixie relaxed a little at that… until she noticed Apple Bloom’s sour expression. Her nervousness came back tenfold as the filly’s eyes bored into her.
“Ah dunno,” Apple Bloom said, tilting her head back and forth as she scrutinized Trixie. “Ah really don’t like being used like that, ya pretendin' ya be my sister.”
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack stepped forward to glare, but the filly didn’t flinch.
Trixie thought a knife might have pierced her chest. Of all the ponies to doubt…
So she dropped to her knees before the filly. “Apple Bloom… I’m sorry. I took advantage of you so that I wouldn’t be discovered. Out of the three of you, I spent most of the day with you. You’re right, I used you, and it was wrong of me.”
Apple Bloom sat back, her expression sour.
“But…” Trixie offered a weak smile. “I want to thank you.”
“Thank me?” Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “Fer what, bein’ too dumb ta catch on?”
Trixie sighed and shook her head, then pressed her hoof against her own chest. “I spent all day with you, Apple Bloom. I… I had fun. I actually laughed, for the first time in ages. You made me feel like I belonged, like I was welcome. I haven’t felt that in a long time. You gave me a chance to live like an Apple, to be part of your family. It was so very nice.
“So thank you.” She bowed her head to the filly.
She turned her gaze up to Big Mac.
“Thank you.”
He offered a calm smile.
Her gaze went to Granny Smith.
“Thank you.”
Granny beamed.
Trixie turned her eyes back to the quiet Apple Bloom. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
The filly blushed and glanced away with a sheepish smile.
Trixie reached forward, hoof moving slow, and patted Apple Bloom’s head. It was all she could think of to do or say, so she stood and stepped back. All there was left was to hope the little pony would forgive her.
Applejack eyed her. “Feel better?”
Trixie stared at Apple Bloom, but the filly wouldn’t meet her gaze. After a moment she bowed her head with a sigh. “Mostly.”
“Good. Now—” Applejack stepped forward to catch the attention of her family, “—Ah got something important ta say.”
“M-maybe I should…” Trixie stepped back, but Applejack raised a hoof and she paused. She tilted her head, but the pony’s gaze was locked on her fellow Apples.
“Uuh, what’s up?” Big Mac asked with a raised eyebrow.
Applejack glanced at each of them in turn before sucking in a deep breath.
“Trixie’s gonna be staying in our guest room fer a while.”
Trixie’s jaw dropped and her mind went blank. The Apples all shared wide-eyed looks.
“That alright by ya’ll?”
The family shook off their surprise as one. Big Mac gained a big smile. “Eeyup.”
“Why Ah’d welcome yer friend, AJ.” Granny Smith nodded her approval. “Welcome aboard, Twerky.”
Trixie might have laughed out loud if her mind weren't still trying to process what was happening.
All eyes turned to Apple Bloom. The filly blushed at the attention and rubbed the back of her head.
“Well… Ah guess it’s okay. Ah mean Ah did have fun an’ all, an’ ya did apologize. So… yeah, Ah guess.”
“Good.” Applejack turned to beam at Trixie… only to find her still gaping. “Trix? You okay?”
Trixie pounced, engulfing the mare in a tight embrace as tears welled in her eyes. “You wonderful, wonderful pony! Why didn’t you tell Trixie you were planning this? It’s the most wonderful gift and Trixie doesn’t deserve it! How will I ever repay you?”
“Whoa, now.” Applejack pushed her back as her cheeks burned and the others laughed. “Ah’m just tryin’ ta do the right thing. Ah’m not about ta let ya live on the street an’ all.”
Trixie sat back and rubbed her eyes. “I’ll never forget this. I promise, I’ll earn my keep! I’m not a workhorse, I know, but whatever you need Trixie to do she will try her best.”
Apple Bloom rubbed her chest in a smug manner. “Don’t ya worry none, Ah’ll teach ya everythin’ ya need ta know.”
“Ya don’t need ta worry about it now,” Granny added, stepping forward to pat Trixie on the shoulder. “Applejack said ya were in bad times. We’re always happy ta help, aren’t we ya’ll?”
“Eeyup.”
“You bet, Granny!”
“We’re here for ya, Trix.” Applejack held the weeping pony at leg’s length with a comforting smile. “Just you wait, yer life will turn around before ya know it.” She pressed a hoof to Trixie’s heart.
“Ah bet you’ll even find what ya need in here ta finally face Twilight.”
Trixie stared at the hoof on her chest. Her eyes slowly went to the others. She felt so… warm.
“None of you have any idea what this means to me,” she whispered as the tears continued to stream unheeded down her cheeks. “I… I can’t thank you enough.”
“You are evil.”
Golden giggled next to Rarity, nuzzling close to her sweating body. Her marefriend set a hoof to her own forehead, breath coming in a slow, deep rhythm. Golden was panting herself, her heartbeat gradually falling to a normal rate.
Rarity peered at her with one eye, the slightest of smiles set upon her lips. “If this is what I can expect from you in Prance, I’m not sure I’ll even want to leave the hotel room.”
“Glad you had as much fun as I did,” Golden replied with a chuckle as she closed her eyes and began to relax.
Rarity stroked her mane, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “I really don’t know what came over you. Compared to how timid you were yesterday, this was downright ferocious.”
Golden frowned and unintentionally tightened her hold. Applejack had told her about how she’d woken in Rarity’s bed. She could only imagine how that must have felt…
Rarity shifted. “Golden?”
Golden looked up into those beautiful blue eyes. There was a light sensation in her chest, but it was in conflict with another, darker feeling.
“Things… happened.”
“Things?” Rarity tilted her head with a small frown. “What kind of things?”
“Scary things.” Golden reached up to feel her lover’s cheek, a complex wave of emotions flowing through her. She thought on Dr. Caballeron with his knife so close to that delicate throat… or, perhaps worse, of Applejack stealing her away in a fit of jealousy.
“I thought I was going to lose you, Rare. I… I couldn’t let it happen.”
Rarity raised an eyebrow, then smiled. “What, is this that ‘kidnapping’ story?”
Golden closed her eyes and pressed in close. For a long time there was only silence between them.
“Golden… you were serious?”
“Don’t make light of it,” Golden whispered, her hooves shaking. “You really don’t have the slightest idea how important you are to me, do you?”
Rarity embraced her in a tight grip. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… and I understand how much you care. I really do, Golden. I… Would I have arranged this trip if I didn’t?”
“I wish you had told me earlier.” Golden leaned back in the bed to give Rarity a small frown. “You went for so long without spending any time with me. I was… I was getting scared.”
“Scared? Of what?”
Golden couldn’t meet her eyes. “Rarity… what do I bring to this relationship?”
Rarity couldn’t resist a wicked smile. “You mean aside from a delightfully rugged body and surprisingly good bed skills?”
Golden winced and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry.” Rarity moved in to hold her close once more. “That was… it just came out. Here you are being so serious about this…”
Golden pressed her forehead against Rarity’s chest, her heart throbbing. “I spent that whole month wondering if you weren’t just avoiding me. Yesterday that terror hit home. I… I was starting to think…”
A terrible quiet filled the air as she clutched at the pony she loved so dearly. She tensed, praying that the silence was just Rarity trying to think of what to say… rather than having nothing to say at all.
Rarity’s voice touched her ears, soft and slow. “Golden, when I first heard that you were crushing on me, I admit I didn’t know what to think. I wondered why, and I wondered if I was even interested.”
She kissed Golden’s forehead. “Then that first day came, that wonderful day I arranged with Fancy just for you. Do you remember? How I escorted you around Canterlot, to the spa, the makeover?”
Oh, Golden remembered. It had to have been one of the happiest days of her life. She had no words to describe it… so she merely nodded against Rarity’s coat.
“That was the first time I really saw you.”
Rarity touched Golden’s cheeks and made her look up. Those blue eyes glimmered like precious jewels.
“You were so happy. True, you wanted to be with me, but it wasn’t just that. You spoke to me; everything that I knew, everything I wanted to talk about, you could comment on. True, your knowledge was weak, but that didn’t change the fact that you were interested. In my work, my efforts, my passions.”
Golden felt her heart skip a beat as Rarity’s sparkling eyes grew moist. “Everypony praises my work, but they don’t really get it. You, Golden? You understand that the work I do isn’t about pretty dresses. You understand me. I feel as if you always understood, even before I knew you were interested, and it touched my heart in ways you can’t imagine.”
Her hold tightened, their muzzles touched.
Golden’s heart soared.
“I love you, Golden Harvest. Don’t you ever doubt that even for a minute. I love you, and I don’t ever, ever want to let you go.”
Their lips touched. Golden held on as tightly as she could, delighting in Rarity’s taste and smell and warmth. She had no words.
Only tears.
Night had fallen on the farm, but Trixie couldn’t sleep. She had lain in bed for nearly an hour, just staring up at the ceiling and marveling at the sheer joy that had followed her through the day. Every time she thought she might drift off there was something that pulled her back into awareness. It was almost like she feared sleep. But did it not make sense? After all, for all she knew this could be a beautiful dream and sleep meant waking up.
At last Trixie threw off her covers and stepped into the hallway. She moved slowly, her eyes roaming the pictures on the walls, pictures of a family legacy. Ponies playing, ponies dancing, ponies laughing, ponies enjoying a sense of belonging Trixie had never enjoyed.
Until now.
She couldn’t possibly describe her emotions, for they were so phenomenally alien to her. Trixie prayed to Luna that they would never part. For once in her life, she felt like she might have finally found something special.
She descended the stairs, then paused in the hallway as she stared at something unexpected: the front door was open. Eyebrows rising, Trixie approached. Had Applejack or Big Mac gone out to do something? What could they possibly be doing at this time of night?
Trixie stepped outside and glanced around, but there was nothing. She sat and gazed up at the moonless sky, momentarily dazzled by the starry infinity above her head.
“Beautiful, is it not?”
Trixie’s breath caught in her throat as she jerked about. There, sitting by the house and gazing up at the stars, was Fleur de Lis.
Trixie took a moment to compose herself before glancing about uncertainly. “What are you doing sneaking about the farm this time of night? Shouldn’t you be in Canterlot?”
Fleur’s eyes were gentle, her smile soft. “I had some unfinished business to attend to.”
“Now?” Trixie swept her hoof about the farm. “Here? It’s the middle of the night.”
Fleur shrugged. “This is when I do my best work.”
Something about that phrase rubbed Trixie the wrong way, and she found herself backing away with head low. “What kind of work?”
Fleur’s smile broadened a touch. “Do you not remember? We had a deal.”
Trixie paused, an eyebrow rising as she considered the pony. “We… did?”
A puff of pink clouds appeared next to Fleur, who lifted her hoof just in time to catch a small bag. She extended it towards Trixie.
“This is for you.”
Trixie eyed the bag, then Fleur. Finally she used her magic to take it. It floated slowly towards her to hover at the height of her chest. Her eyes went wide as she found it was filled to bursting with bits.
“Think of it as a first installment.”
Trixie gazed at the mare, a small gasp escaping her smiling lips. “You mean… you’re going to pay me what you promised?”
Fleur blushed and averted her eyes. “Well… no. I did cause a lot more trouble for you than you deserved, so as compensation I’m tripling it.”
“Triple?” The bag hit the dirt, some of the coins spilling over the ground. “You… I mean… really?”
“And with the bits I offer my formal and most sincere apologies.” Fleur stood to take a proper bow. “What I did to you was wrong, Miss Lulamoon. It took an old friend to make me see it, but now I hope to make amends.”
Trixie gaped at her, then at the bits on the ground. “I…. thank you. This is so much more than I expected. This day has just been… thank you.”
She approached, and Fleur rose from her bow just in time to receive a hug. Trixie felt the pony shift under her hold, but all she cared about was the intense joy in her heart.
There was a long pause, but finally Trixie stepped back. She looked up to find Fleur blushing and averting her gaze.
“I’m sorry,” Fleur whispered. “I’m… not used to that kind of contact.”
“Neither am I,” Trixie replied with a weak smile, “but I think I can get used to it.”
Fleur sighed and bowed her head. “Please do, for both of us.”
Her tone brought Trixie’s pleasure down a notch. She saw the uncertainty in Fleur’s face and found herself wondering.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just…” Fleur raised her head, her eyes meeting with Trixie’s. For a few seconds they merely stared at one another.
At last Fleur smiled and gestured to the house. “I want you to enjoy this opportunity. There’s an ordinary world, Trixie. Those who were born in it can’t possibly appreciate it, but a pony like you understands the value of ‘ordinary.’ You deserve to be part of that world.”
Trixie stared at Fleur, then the house, then at Fleur again. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve never been part of it, either?”
“Nor will I ever be,” Fleur replied, her smile weakening a touch. “This is why it is so important I give you this chance; there are many who see that world only as a fleeting dream. So I’m taking steps: no more bill collectors, no more bad record.”
Trixie gaped. “You can do that?”
Fleur nodded. “I can do nothing for your reputation, but I think you are well on your way to fixing that.”
“How did you—” Trixie shook her head. “You didn’t have to go that far.”
Fleur’s smile became smug. She raised a hoof once more as another patch of pink clouds poofed into existence. A small scroll landed in her waiting hoof.
“I’m not even finished.” She offered the scroll to Trixie.
Hooves shaking, Trixie took the scroll. “Fleur… I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this. Between you and Applejack…”
Fleur only smiled and gestured to the scroll. With a sigh and a small touch of guilt, Trixie unrolled it. It was an advertisement, which perplexed her.
“A… magic school?”
Fleur nodded with a grin. “You have incredible potential locked away in that horn of yours, Trixie. If you could just learn to harness it you would never have to worry about finding work again. I have some contacts who can pull the right strings, so—”
“No.”
Fleur blinked and leaned back. “No?”
Trixie sighed and rolled the scroll. All her pleasure had faded in an instant, and she turned away from the pony in shame. “I… I can’t learn, Fleur.”
“I know you never had any proper schooling. That is why—”
Trixie shook her head. “It has nothing to do with that. I can’t learn. I did go to school for a little while… but everything the teachers said was gibberish to me. It’s like… like there’s some kind of communication gap.”
She stared at the scroll in her hooves, shoulders sagging with her heart.
“I just don’t learn like most ponies do. It doesn’t matter how prestigious the school is, they can’t help me if they don’t know how to teach me. I know I’m not dumb… it just doesn’t connect.”
“Ah.”
Trixie glanced up, surprised to see Fleur sitting at her side with a comforting smile.
“I have heard of this kind of handicap,” Fleur said. “What you need, then, is direct training: an apprenticeship.”
Trixie offered a weak smile and shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure it would help.”
A curiously musical laugh arose from within Fleur. “You misunderstand; I am not offering to make you an apprentice. I wouldn’t dare; it would throw this new life you’ve finally earned in complete disarray.”
Trixie’s cheeks burned as she glanced away. “Oh… I thought…. but if not you, then who?”
Fleur leaned down to look her in the eye. “I would urge you to consider Miss Sparkle.”
“Her? N-no way, absolutely not.”
“You want to earn her respect, do you not?” Fleur set a hoof to Trixie’s shoulder. “Can you think of a better way?”
“But I don’t have her respect now.” Trixie pushed Fleur’s hoof away. “Why would she accept me? She has no reason to.”
“On the contrary, you have Applejack’s endorsement,” Fleur reminded her. “That alone will go a long way in your favor. And my friend knows Miss Sparkle well enough, he could help. She would be willing, if you were but to ask.”
Trixie shook her head forcefully. “She won’t. She’d never accept me.”
Fleur heaved a deep sigh and stood to her full height. She gazed down at Trixie with a studious, critical air.
“The choice is yours, of course. I want to help you and I will be keeping an eye on you. Should you decide that you want to make use of the great gift the Goddess has given you, you will have my assistance. Choose a school, and I will see to it you are accepted. As for Twilight… I encourage you to seriously reconsider.”
Trixie stared at Fleur, her chest tight. “I… I’ll think on it. She won’t accept me, but… maybe.”
Fleur’s smile returned. “Good. I need to go; I have a carriage that needs to be returned to its owner before she notices it is missing.” She tilted her head, her smile becoming anxious. “Probably too late for that…”
She started to depart, but Trixie turned. “Fleur?”
Fleur paused to raise an eyebrow.
Trixie offered a smile of her own. “Thanks. Not just for the bits and the encouragement. If you hadn’t pushed me to chase after Caballeron, I wouldn’t be here. I know it’s not what you intended at the time, but it turned out right. So thank you, Fleur. For everything.”
Fleur blushed and turned away once more. For a few seconds she merely stood there, as if in deep thought.
At last she turned her head back to offer a warm smile. “If you want to thank me, do it by being the best unicorn you can be. I will accept nothing less.”
Trixie watched her go, a strange sense of pride and accomplishment filling her. For several minutes she waited, basking in the warmth that now filled her. There was a deeply-rooted idea that her life was about to take a turn for the better, and there was no way she could explain to anypony how appreciative she was. To Applejack, to Fleur, even to Golden, though she hardly knew the mare. Perhaps she would have to remedy that.
She took the bits and turned to the open door of the house. Inside slept her new friends, perhaps even the beginning of a new family. She stared within and felt her heart swelling. This wasn’t just a door, it was the way in – in to shelter from a life of mediocrity and shame, away from the mockery and disrespect, where she could do things without the world watching her every hoof-fall for a mistake.
It was the entrance to an ordinary world.
Trixie entered without hesitation.
The door closed.
The world didn’t even notice.