Heart of Stone
Chapter Ten: The Best Night Ever
Written by TheCrimsonDM
A few hours later and Trixie was released from the hospital. She was stunned to hear that she had been unconscious for three days, she didn’t want to go back to sleep anytime soon. Of course she had to wonder if she missed anything important while she was asleep, though from both Twilight and Maud’s accounts it looked like everypony was too worried to do anything other than wait.
On her way home with Maud, Trixie found that she was still able to hear other ponies’ thoughts, and feeling their emotions was something that she was growing accustomed too. It did gave her an advantage with understanding Maud, so that was always good. When she got home she found everypony waiting for her, they had thrown a surprise party for her. Trixie enjoyed the small party with the seven other ponies. The chocolate cake was delicious, and Trixie ate more than her fair share of it.
Near the end of the party Trixie found herself sitting on the couch while talking to Fluttershy. Trixie was concerned with how she was holding up. She still looked shaken and Trixie could feel how nervous she was. “How are you doing?”
Fluttershy was still wearing the cape that Trixie had given her. “I’m doing… better. Um, how are you?”
Trixie could hear Fluttershy’s worry and after Trixie looked a little further into Fluttershy’s mind. “Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay.”
It worried Trixie that Fluttershy was only thinking these three words over and over again. “I’m fine, in fact I’m better then fine. For the first time in forever I have friends who care about me, and I… feel good.” It felt odd to think that things were actually looking up for her, but that was the truth and she knew it now.
Fluttershy smiled sweetly towards her before taking another timid sip of her cider. Trixie wasn’t sure where they had gotten all of the cider from, but it was nice watching everypony unraveling from the events of the past week. Unfortunately for her, she couldn’t drink much of the Cider. Alcohol didn’t mix well with her brain. Trixie left Fluttershy on the couch and went into the kitchen where Rainbow Dash and Rarity were sitting.
The two were having a conversation about hats, although with how red Rainbow Dash’s face was, and adding the amount of empty mugs sitting on her side of the table. Trixie could assume that she was either drunk or enamored with the white unicorn, probably both. On Trixie’s approach the pair stopped their conversation to greet her.
Rarity took a sip of the cider that she had lovingly poured into a wine glass. “How are you feeling, darling?”
Rainbow Dash was balancing precariously on her chair. “Hi.”
Trixie nodded at the two and concentrated on their thoughts. Rarity’s mind was clear and precise. “That poor Maud, she was so upset over nearly losing her lover. I’ve never seen a pony cry that hard, not even me.”
Rainbow Dash’s thoughts were muddled and jumbled, but Trixie believed she had picked up the words, “I can’t lose you, Trixie.” After a short pause she also heard, “She’s hot.”
Trixie felt her cheeks grow a little warm. It was decided that Rainbow Dash’s thoughts were going to be off limits until she sobered up. Still Trixie needed to say something to the pair. “I’m sorry that I scared you like that. Somepony had to do something to save Twilight, and I was the only one who could do it.”
The pair of ponies smiled and then Rainbow Dash said, “Look it’s uh, scary being the hero and all. But um, something about being awesome?” Rainbow Dash looked confused by the time she finished.
Rarity rolled her eyes. “I believe what she meant to say was, ‘being a hero is hard. Sometimes you have to make tough choices, so long as you can keep fighting for what you believe in though. Then it’s all worth it… oh and that you’re awesome.’ Is that right?”
Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement and almost lost her balance on the chair from the slight movement. Trixie smiled at the two of them as she left. She then moved on to the front porch where Applejack stood staring at the night sky. Trixie stood next to her and looked at the beautiful shining stars that gently floated far above them. The air outside was nice and cool, and she could still smell the scent of fresh rain.
Trixie looked at Applejack and for a moment she couldn’t hear anything, so she concentrated. It was getting harder to read ponies thoughts but she managed to hear Applejack thinking, “I can’t believe it, we’ve survived so many things and never came so close to losing somepony we care about. We nearly lost Trixie to those monsters, I don’t want to lose anypony… again.”
Trixie then looked at the sky again and offered, “It’s a lovely night.”
Applejack pointed a hoof up at the sky near the moon and asked. “What do ya suppose that’s all about?”
Trixie looked to where she was pointing and to her surprise there was a message written in the stars. The stars were aligned in such a way that from her position she could read them. They said, “Get well soon, Trixie.”
She stood there in complete shock for a few minutes simply staring at the night sky in bewilderment. The only pony she knew of that could rearrange the stars was Princess Luna, but why would she go through all of that trouble just for her?
Twilight appeared at Trixie’s side. “Even Luna was worried about you. She came down to visit you in the hospital even. Celestia was busy, though she asked me to wish you well for her.”
Trixie looked over and found that Applejack had gone back inside. Even if it was odd Trixie felt so happy inside to know that so many ponies actually cared about her well being. “Thank you, all of you. I’ve never felt so loved in my entire life.”
Twilight smiled and gave Trixie a small hug. “Were family, all of us here tonight. I mean once Pinkie Pie adopted you, well you had no chance to avoid all of our love after that.”
Trixie returned the embrace. “Can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done to you?”
Twilight said. “Of course, you’re my friend after all.”
Trixie concentrated and heard Twilight’s thoughts. “I know why you blame me for all the bad stuff that’s happened. I’ve hurt you so badly by accident. I’ll do everything I can to get you home again.”
Trixie then said. “You don’t have to feel bad, I forgive you for what happened, and I don’t blame you for taking my home anymore. I’m sure that… that we can fix this somehow.”
Twilight blinked. “What? How did you know that I was worried about that?”
Trixie pulled away and misdirected the truth. “When I saved you I caught a glimpse inside your mind. I was inside your head, though only for a bit, I know how badly you regret hurting me. We’re friends now though. So please don’t feel bad.”
Twilight smiled. “Thank you. I’ll get you home soon, and then you can visit your mom again… I never meant to take that away from you, too take her away from you.”
Trixie shook her head. “I wanted to be Ponyville’s pride and joy, but I came in too cocky and rude. I brought some of this on myself, although I can finally admit that a lot of what happened was not my fault… it’s hard not blaming myself for everything that went wrong.”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah, I know the feeling.”
After that Twilight went back inside letting Trixie stare up at the night sky for a few more minutes. Pinkie Pie bounced outside and up to her. “Wanna dance with me?”
Trixie turned to face her and said. “I’m not the best dancer. I’ve got four left hooves.”
Pinkie Pie giggled. “You and Twilight both. It’s not about being good, it’s about having fun.”
Trixie sat there for a moment and then concentrated at Pinkie Pie, it was getting much harder to read minds then before. “Am I really your sister?”
Pinkie Pie said. “Of course you are.”
Pinkie Pie thought. “Of course you are, you’re the best…wait a minute, are you reading my mind?”
Trixie took a surprised step back and lost the connection she had to Pinkie’s mind. Pinkie Pie’s smile turned sly and mischievous. “You know it’s rude to do that to ponies.”
Trixie looked away feeling ashamed. “I’m sorry… I just wanted to-“
Pinkie Pie cut her off by saying. “I know, you just wanted to make sure that we actually loved you. If you were a normal pony I would tell you that friendship is about trust, and that’s why what you’re doing is wrong. But I… listened to your heart… you have been hurt so badly by ponies pretending to be your friends, so I don’t blame you. Just don’t abuse our trust okay.”
Trixie smiled and nodded. “I promise. Although I’m beginning to lose the ability.”
“That happens when you use it too much, try to only use it once a day at most. At least until your better at it, also practice reading emotions more often it’s much less invasive and more informative then mind reading.”
Trixie could only wonder at how the pink bouncy pony knew so much about this sort of stuff. She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts. It was too late to wonder about crazy things and Pinkie Pie was probably the craziest thing out there. After that conversation Trixie went back inside and enjoyed the rest of the night with the other ponies.
The party had calmed down just after midnight, with a few of the ponies having fallen asleep on the couches. The others decided to make small beds on the floor of the living room and sleep here tonight. Safer to let the drunk ponies sleep it off here, rather than having them walk back to the inn. As the last few ponies got snug in their beds Trixie walked back to her room. That’s when she noticed something a little bit different. Maud’s bedroom door was ajar.
Trixie pushed the door open with her muzzle. “Maud, are you in there?”
Maud responded as the door opened enough for Trixie to see a darkly light room. “You can come in, Lulu.”
Trixie opened the door all the way and felt excitement running through her as she saw Maud’s room for the first time. The carpet was light pink only a shade lighter than the walls. Pictures of Maud and her sister adorned the walls. There was even a small cat bed in the corner, with a small pebble lying on top of it. The bed had a name tag reading “Boulder”. Maud’s bed was queen sized and had pink everything. Trixie guessed that Maud’s favorite color had to be pink, and thinking about her sister it made a weird amount of sense.
Trixie however didn’t have time to think about these things, as the sight of Maud lying on her back in the bed had captured Trixie’s eyes. Maud held her blanket up to her chest with her left foreleg, the other one was patting an open spot next to her. Trixie stood their stunned.
Maud snapped her out of it by asking flatly, “Are you joining me?”
Trixie couldn’t say no to her, she walked in and using her hind leg she shut the door with a deft and quiet motion. Trixie joined Maud lying next to her in the bed. Maud had a nervous sort of energy about of her.
Trixie wasn’t sure what to do next, kiss Maud, hug her, something more? Trixie could feel her face heating up from embarrassment, which only got worse as Maud leaned in. Maud whispered into Trixie’s ear, “Shh, Lulu, just lay down. This is my present to you.”
Trixie laid down feeling very nervous as Maud began nibbling Trixie’s ear, Maud then moved to kiss her gently, she could feel Maud’s hoof sliding down her chest, sending tingly sensations running through her entire body. Maud’s hoof hovered on Trixie’s belly button for a moment. It was kinda like the first time, when Maud stopped to ask permission. Of course Trixie caught on and said, “It’s okay, I’m not scared.”
Maud then proceeded to make this the best, night, ever.
***
After the two of them had finally had their fill of each other, they lay together in a tight embrace with Trixie’s head lying on top of Maud’s chest. Trixie could hear her lover’s heart beat, steady and full of life. She could also feel something more from Maud it was a warm feeling almost like the sun was shining down on top of her. She wondered to herself if this was what true love felt like.
Maud’s voice came out as a whisper, “You were wonderful.”
Trixie snuggled into her chest and said, “I’ve never been… you know… You’re the first pony to love me like this.”
Maud ran a hoof through Trixie’s hair and kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad I could be your first.”
Trixie looked up at Maud, she was so happy to be here in Maud’s legs. She didn’t want to die ever again. It was impossible to avoid looking into Maud’s wonderful eyes. Though for some reason Trixie now remembered her father, and how he had left his family when she was still a foal.
Maud must have caught on because she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Please don’t leave me.”
Maud’s smile grew as she said. “Don’t worry, Lulu. I won’t ever let you go again.”
“When I was young my father left us. Me and my mom all alone. It… changed us, changed my mom. It broke her.”
“Why did he do that?”
“It’s… complicated. He was always a wild pegasus. He said he was going on an adventure. Did you know that he once slew an Ursa Major?”
“No.”
“Yeah, he always told me the story. The story of how the great adventurer Moonlight Sonata fought for the defense of Hoofington. I always wanted to be just like him, but I was never good enough. Maybe now though...”
Trixie grew quiet and silence passed between the two for a few seconds.
“Thank you for sharing that with me. I love you, Lulu.”
“You’re welcome. I love you too, Maudie.”