//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: I Dream of Trixie // Story: My little Dreamer: Dreaming is magic // by phantomflame03 //------------------------------// The pink mare awoke to the sun shining through her window and dragged herself out of bed. After the previous day’s storm, and the constant patrol before that, she was ready for a day off. She made her way slowly over to her kitchen, a modest design, and poured a bowl of honey oats; it was the last of the box. “Looks like I will have to go to town today,” she said to no pony. The milk was emptied out as well. The pegasus went through her kitchen noting down what she needed to get from Ponyville’s market place. After finishing her shopping list she strapped on her saddle bags and flew from her home. She flitted and ducked around ponies as she made her purchases, avoiding small talk when she could. She bought a variety of fruits and vegetables, picked up a box of oats, a jug of milk and a loaf of bread. As she was walking Carrot Top’s stand came into view. Feather Dream trotted over. “Hello Carrot Top, how is business?” Feather Dream asked the yellow mare. “Jus’ fine Ms. Feather Dream,” Carrot Top chuckled, “and now tha’ ya are here I s’pose I’m done fer th’ day.” Feather Dream nodded, “I was planning on making some carrot cake and carrot bread soon.” “I hav’ ‘bout two dozen carrots left from today.” “That is all?” “I hada lot o’ business today,” Carrot Top shrugged, “Do ya want th’ rest o’ ‘em?” “How much?” “Twenty bits” “Fifteen bits” “Eighteen bits” “Deal.” As Carrot Top hoofed over the bag of carrots she said, “Well, if ya were planin’ on maken any apple pie you’re out o’ luck. Apple Jack didn’t set her stand up t’day.” “I noticed. Do you know where she is?” “Nope, but I wonda’ if she thinks taken a day off wouldn’t hurt her sales,” Carrot Top grumbled, “I bet she thinks tha’ she could catch up no problem and sell tenfold tomorrow. Arrogant pony.” As she organized her groceries in her saddle bags Feather Dream commented, “I thought you two had made up and became friends. You seem to still be upset with her.” Carrot Top sighed and started to tear down her stall, “It’s jus’ tha’ she seems to think her apple products are so much better than my carrots tha’ she jus’ doesn’t need to work as hard, and before ya say it I know. Tha’ is wrong. Apple Jack works harda than anypony else, but I guess old habits die hard.” “So I have heard,” Feather Dream bid goodbye and trotted off with her groceries hanging in her saddle bags. She left the market and entered town square. Near Town Hall a large crowd had gathered in front of a stage. Fireworks were being shot into a pretty display. Feather Dream ignore the flashy show and kept walking until she heard a familiar voice calling out a challenge and an equally familiar voice accept it. “Trixie?” Feather Dream whispered, “Apple Jack? What is going on over there?” The pink pegasus made her way to the front of the crowd, ignoring the glares and occasional “well excuse you.” She arrived at the stage just in time to witness Apple Jack hog tied with her own rope and an apple in her mouth, courtesy of Trixie the show mare. After that Trixie embarrassed both Rainbow Dash and Rarity using her show magic. “What is going on?” Feather Dream repeated to no one in particular. “This show off came into town saying she was the greatest unicorn in all of Equestria!” a voice exclaimed from her left, “We all know that is completely wrong. Twilight is the best unicorn. Her magic is more powerful than any pony else’s!” “Spike! Shush,” said a second voice. The first belonged to a small purple and green dragon, the second a purple unicorn. She continued to whisper to the dragon, “I don’t want ponies thinking I am boasting like Trixie.” At that moment, as though she heard her name, Trixie turned her eyes to Twilight, “Do you think that you can best The Great and Powerful Trixie?” “No, of course not,” Twilight said sheepishly as she backed away, “There is nothing special about me. Just a regular unicorn. Excuse me.” She ran off through the crowd with Spike following close behind. “That is what Trixie thought,” Trixie scanned the crowd looking for a new target. The show mare’s eyes then met with Feather Dream’s and flitted away once she registered who she was looking at. Feather Dream turned and trotted away as The Great and Powerful Trixie continued her show. So that was Twilight? The Pegasus thought Very different from what I imagined. She is rather humble for someone from a big city. I could probably speak to her now. Wait…my groceries. Okay first home, then I will visit the Twilight Sparkle from Canterlot. Feather Dream arrived at the library in the mid afternoon and knocked on the door. She was answered by the small dragon from before, “May I help you?” “I wish to speak with Ms. Twilight Sparkle.” “Uh, okay. Hey Twilight you have a visitor.” “Just a minute,” said a voice from inside. “So, who are you?” Spike asked suspiciously. “Feather Dream.” “Nice to meet you Feather Dream,” Spike said with a smile, “I’m Spike, Twilight’s number one assistant.” Feather Dream nodded in acknowledgement just as the purple unicorn appeared in the doorway. “Hello?” Twilight said awkwardly. “Hello, Twilight. I am Feather Dream and I was wondering if I could speak with you.” “Oh? Of course, I would be delighted to,” the mare smiled and gestured inside, “Please come in and make yourself comfortable.” The two ponies and young dragon entered the building, and made their way to the center of the room. “So, uh,” Twilight shifted in her seat, “What did you want to ask me about?” “You specifically,” Feather Dream said bluntly. “Oh well, I would be happy to answer any questions you have.” “Why are you staying in Ponyville?” “What?” Twilight seemed shocked and maybe a little hurt. “I thought I was clear, but allow me to elaborate. I wish to know why you choose to stay in Ponyville instead of returning to your home in Canterlot.” “Well there are many reasons for that,” Twilight started slowly, “First of all even though I had lived in Canterlot all of my life I had never really thought of it as home. Also, and this is rather embarrassing, the other bearers of Harmony are my first friends, other than my brother and I never saw much of him. Another reason I am staying is I have been given the task to research the magic of friendship and report back to Princess Celestia each week on my findings. Of course I am very happy about this because Ponyville has become my home and I don’t want to leave my new friends.” Feather Dream sat in complete silence listening intently while Twilight had spoken her long winded speech. “That makes sense,” she said suddenly. “What does?” Twilight asked, unsure of her odd guest’s behavior. “Your attitude,” Feather Dream replied, “I had thought that your reaction to Trixie today was a bit strange for a pony from Canterlot. From what I had heard about you I had assumed that you would be more proud to show off your talents-” “Oh no!” Twilight exclaimed, “I don’t want to do that. I don’t want my friends to see me as a boastful mare. I saw how they had disapproved of Trixie and I don’t want it to happen to me.” “Trixie is a showoff,” Feather Dream stated, “but she is a show pony. A little exaggeration should not hurt anypony, but you are the barer the Element of Magic. You should be able to express your talent without coming off as a boasting pony. The amount of humility you show is proof of that.” “You think so?” Twilight asked a hopeful lift in her voice. “Yes, of course I could be way off.” “Why are you helping me?” “You were a curiosity. Now that I have satisfied myself and lent you a hoof for your troubles I can rest easy.” “Um thank you?” Twilight said. “You are welcome,” Feather Dream replied, “by the way what was Trixie boasting about this time?” “She said something about defeating an Ursa Major that was terrorizing some town.” Feather Dream stared blankly at Twilight. When she spoke it was in an even almost monotonous tone, “That makes no sense. Trixie does not fight. She hates confrontation even if she does not seem that way. I do not know much about Ursa Majors, but I doubt anything like that could happen.” “Really?” Twilight pondered, “I think I will do some research about them.” “I will leave you to your research then,” Feather Dream said as she headed toward the door, “It was enlightening to speak with you.” “No problem,” Twilight said her nose deep in a book. After a minute she glanced up suddenly, “Spike, did we learn anything about our new friend?” “Not really, although if you ask me she was kind of creepy,” said the baby dragon looking toward the door. “That is not very nice Spike,” Twilight reprimanded. “But it’s true! The way she talked was all slow and spooky. She didn’t smile even once or show any emotion that I saw.” “She seemed guarded,” Twilight nodded, “like she did not want to give anything away. It is strange. I should look into more about her. Oh, but first I must figure out this Great and Powerful Trixie situation.” * * * * * That evening Feather Dream made up her mind to visit Trixie. She flew down to town square where the traveling stage had been closed up for the night. As she approached, Feather Dream spotted two colts racing toward the same destination, calling Trixie’s name frantically. She settled on a rooftop and watched the scene unfold. The two colts, Snips and Snails, begged Trixie to fight an Ursa Major they had brought to town. The constellation bear let out a menacing roar shaking the buildings around it. Trixie attempted to restrain the creature, but failed miserably. Just then Twilight showed up, “What is going on?” Feather Dream flew down to Twilight saying, “those two colts said they brought an Ursa Major to town.” “You seem to be taking it well,” Twilight narrowed her eyes. “There is a powerful unicorn here,” the pegasus shrugged, “What is there to be afraid of?” Twilight turned her attention to the monster and took a deep breath as her horn began to glow. The Ponyville water tower was pulled up and emptied. Reeds were bent and broken to produce a soothing melody. The water tower was filled with milk, and Twilight cradled the bear with her magic letting him drink from it. He was then sent off to the cave where he came from. “Wow,” Spike said in awe, “you defeated that Ursa Major like it was nothing!” “That wasn’t an Ursa Major,” Twilight said, “That was an Ursa Minor. It was only a baby that somepony woke up.” She glared at Snips and Snails. “That was a baby?” Trixie exclaimed before composing herself, “Well you are still inferior to the Great and Powerful Trixie! You may have bested an Ursa Minor, but Trixie defeated an Ursa Major!” Trixie’s horn glowed brightly and a puff of smoke appeared. As it cleared Trixie was seen running off. Feather Dream set out after her and caught up easily due to her wings. Landing in front of the great and powerful showoff the pink pegasus stared at the blue unicorn who squirmed under her gaze. “W-What do you w-want with me?” Trixie stammered avoiding looking the other in the eye. “I want to speak with you.” “Right, that is never all you want,” Trixie muttered. “What do you mean by that?” “Let us get this over with. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Speak. With. You!” “Fine, I will attempt to be quick.” “Good,” Trixie glared at the ground. “If you need to, you can always find work with my brother’s troop,” Feather Dream said evenly. As soon as the words left the pegasus’s mouth Trixie boiled over with rage. “Are you insane? Do you really think that is a good idea? With the history between me and Odysseus why would you even consider it?” Trixie stomped her hooves and snorted. “You would be accepted warmly,” Feather Dream turned away satisfied with the conversation. “You, you freak! You will never understand!” Trixie shouted. “And you will never find a home unless you do as I say,” Feather Dream said over her shoulder, “It is a shame. All of that talent being wasted on you.” “Well,” Trixie neighed, “at least I have emotions you emptied shadow of a pony!” With that Trixie stormed out of town ready to forget the entire conversation. “I suppose she meant to harm me,” Feather Dream murmured, “Well since it is accurate I would think she would realize it would not work.” Feather Dream then took off and headed for her empty house. It was the perfect place for an empty pony. “But,” the pink pony pondered, “I am not so empty any more am I? I am…curious and I ‘felt’ worried for some pony other than Ody or Star. Logically this would mean I am gaining my emotions back. The question is if this is a good or a bad thing.” She shrugged, snuggled into bed, and picked up A Detailed Biography of Starswirl the Bearded. After reading a few chapters she felt her eyelids droop and placed the book and her glasses on the nightstand, turned off the light and went to sleep.