Trixie and Maud: Heart of Stone

by TheCrimsonDM


Chapter Nineteen: Memories Aflame

HEART OF STONE
Chapter nineteen: Memories Aflame
Written by TheCrimsonDM


Trixie stood there silently staring forward as the tears continued to stream down her face. Screw Loose sat there staring at the wall. Trixie finally took a step toward her and watched as Screw Loose turned around. There was a gentle smile on Screw Looses face filling Trixie with hope that maybe her mom had gotten better. Screw Loose then barked happily at Trixie before returning her attention to the drawings on the walls.

Trixie’s hope was shattered instantly, and Trixie began to wonder how this happened. Screw Loose had once been a sane pony. In fact she was the best mom, at least in Trixie’s opinion. One day a fire broke out and nearly destroyed her home, after that her father left the family to go on his big adventure. Things were never the same after he left.

Trixie was told that her father had left, because he was a bird who needed to spread his wings. She didn’t know what that meant, but she never saw him again, at least not until she had died. Her mom slowly went crazy over the next couple of years. It was hard enough being a unicorn who had both earth pony and pegasus origins, but with her mother slowly going crazy…things were difficult growing up.

Eventually Screw Loose lost her mind completely and believed herself to be a dog, it was a horrible time for Trixie. If not for Celestia coming down to Ponyville and taking Trixie in to her school…Trixie wouldn’t know where she would be. Maybe things would’ve been easier that way, perhaps they simply would’ve been harder. Either way Trixie can’t change the past, that was impossible.

Trixie stood there staring for the longest time, until she began to feel something different about her mom. Her mom was giving off a deep feeling of love for Trixie, the kind of love that only a mother could give. Trixie was surprised and wondered if that meant that Screw Loose remembered who Trixie was.

Trixie cleared her throat although her voice was still shaky when she spoke she asked, “Hey mom, do you remember me?”

Screw Loose scooted over and nuzzled Trixie’s chest for a moment before licking Trixie cheek. Screw Loose then barked happily. Trixie felt a deep pain welling up inside her heart. Trixie’s mom was still crazy, she had heard that Screw Loose had almost been cured a few times, but would always return to this state. Maybe it was easier to be a dog?

Trixie wrapped her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly. Trixie couldn’t help but apologize for all things that were out of her control, and the things that were. She apologized for her father, she apologized for leaving Screw Loose behind, she apologized for not being able to visit, and finally she apologized for not being able to fix it.

The longer Trixie stayed there the more she began to hear Screw Looses mind, Trixie wasn’t trying to listen in on purpose. But with the close proximity and the broken state of her mother’s mind it was far too easy to listen in.

Screw Loose’s thoughts were disconnected from one another, like a lot random puzzle pieces that didn’t fit together. Screw Loose’s mind was also strangely familiar. Trixie was curious despite her sadness, and now she was looking in on purpose. Trixie was finding odd feelings sitting inside her mother, memories of Trixie when she was young, and something she never expected.

An image of a burning house, and a cloaked pony standing at the doorway appeared to Trixie. Trixie pulled back as she recognized the house. It was her old home that was burning. Trixie didn’t know anything about the cloaked pony but something was odd about the image. She found herself very curious and decided to take a deeper look.
Maybe this cloaked pony could explain why Trixie’s father left them. She wanted to know why so badly, and she didn’t expect to ever receive the answer from him. So this was her only chance to learn.

Trixie closed her eyes while taking a deep breath. She braved herself for whatever she may find inside her mother’s mind. Trixie opened her eyes again and stared into her mother’s purple eyes. Trixie focused on Screw Loose’s mind and began to feel herself being pulled into it. The room around her quickly began to fade and Trixie found herself in a very familiar place.

***

The moonlight was cast into the room allowing Trixie to see the wooden floors and walls. The pictures on the walls were all of a young Trixie and her parents. The bed behind her had two sleeping ponies laying on it. One was a young earth pony with a teal coat and silver hair. The other was a pegasus with a deep blue coat, and white hair. Trixie was standing inside her parents’ room.

She stood there unable to think properly and only watching for a few minutes until her father, Moonlight Sonata began to stir. He sat up and his long white mane fell in front of his face. He looked around cautiously before standing up and walking towards the bedroom door. Trixie prepared herself as he walked toward her, and then right through her. That old feeling of wrongness came back instantly.

Trixie realized that this must be a memory she was in. After Moonlight Sonata left the room her mom sat up in the bed. Screw Loose looked a little worried about what was going on. Screw Loose quietly snuck out of the bed and walked over to the door. Trixie backed out of the way, she didn’t like being walked through, and being able to stand on her hooves inside of a memory was a small blessing.

Trixie followed Screw Loose into the living room where they could hear Moonlight Sonata talking. Moonlight Sonata was standing at the front door talking to a cloaked pony who stood just outside. Screw Loose wasn’t able to get a very good picture of the pony, but the pony was much taller than the pegasus stallion, and she had white fur. Trixie didn’t have to guess too hard to figure out who it was.

Screw Loose hid just behind the wall of the hallway and listened in.

Moonlight Sonata yawned before saying, “so how long do we have?”

The cloaked mare replied, “I’m not sure. It could be only a matter of days before something serious happens. I would deal with this myself, but…I’m busy with a troubled student.”

Moonlight Sonata rubbed at his eyes while saying, “okay, I get it. I’ll get the group together. Celestia’s Heroes will save the day again…your heroes will save the day.”

The cloaked mare, which Trixie knew had to be Celestia at this point, gave him a reassuring smile before jumping into the air and taking flight. Moonlight Sonata closed the door after a few seconds and said, “sorry sweetie, looks like I have work again. I’ll be leaving tomorrow to deal with this little problem. It’s only some weird pony cultist in the southern mines. We’ll have them rounded up before the weeks over.”

Screw Loose stepped out from beyond the corner and asked, “why does she always send you on these dangerous missions?”

He grinned at her and said, “somepony has to kick flank and stop evil. Not everything can be solved with words. Some ponies are simply too bad and need to be beaten up and locked away in Tartarus.”

Screw Loose walked towards him and embraced him before saying, “we have a daughter now though. We need to be here for her. You need to be here for her.”

Moonlight Sonata nuzzled into her neck and said, “I know, but Celestia needs strong ponies. My group is one of the only things she has to keep the land safe. The border patrol is already dealing with increased Changeling raids, and the frozen north is acting scary again. If this all keeps up Equestria might be in deep trouble soon.”

Screw Loose snuggled into him and said, “I understand, please be safe.”

Moonlight Sonata was quiet as he held her for a few minutes before he asked, “is she showing any signs yet? You know, of being like you?”

Screw Loose simply cuddled into him and said, “not yet, but I didn’t begin showing signs until I was in my late teens. By the time my parents realized something was wrong with me I was already beginning to be barking mad.”

Moonlight Sonata smiled softly and said, “you know I don’t find that joke funny.”

Screw Loose replied, “humor is a way for ponies to defeat worrisome things.”

Moonlight Sonata pulled away from their embrace and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. Well I’ll be leaving tomorrow. Do you have enough of your med’s?”

Screw Loose looked back towards the hallway, towards Trixie. Even though she didn’t see Trixie, if felt like she was looking right at her. “Yeah I have enough med’s. It’s funny how these med’s make me feel like I’m on a leash even though there helping me stay…normal.”

Moonlight Sonata stretched a wing around Screw Loose. “You are perfectly normal. Being insane isn’t a bad thing, we will keep a close eye on Trix and make sure that if she inherits any of your problems…that she will be taken care of. Okay?”

Screw Loose cuddled into his wing and said, “that sounds like a good plan.”

***

The memory shifted into a new one taking place in the kitchen where Trixie could see her mom cooking something on the burner. It smelled delicious. It looked dark outside the windows and Trixie wondered what Screw Loose could be making this late at night. Trixie heard the front door open.

Screw Loose then let out a whistle and said, “I’m making dinner for you two. It will be done soon so I hope you’re hungry.”

After a few moments of silence Trixie began to worry. Something felt wrong here and it looked like Screw Loose thought so too. Screw Loose shouted again asking, “Did you two have fun at the carnival?” after a moment of no reply Screw Loose carefully grabbed the kitchen knife in her mouth. Trixie followed Screw Loose as she walked over to the door leading to the living room.

The front door was wide open but there were no signs of anypony in the house. Screw Loose looked worried. Screw Loose took another step into the living room and a pony quickly charged into her. Screw Loose was knocked her off her hooves and onto her side. The knife went sliding back into the kitchen.

A pony stood in front of Screw Loose wearing a dark red cloak with gold trim, most of his face was obscured by the hood but his red muzzle stood out. He looked down at Screw Loose and a sudden deep red glow surrounded Screw Loose. As Screw Loose was lifted into the air by the magical aura Trixie let out a scream. Screw Loose’s eyes began glowing red for a few moments before she closed her eyes and fell unconscious.

The cloaked pony began to laugh in a low almost growling tone before saying, “your husband should’ve stayed out of our way. We almost completed our sacred mission until he interrupted us at the mines. Now he will learn his place.”

Trixie could only watch in horror as she realized that this must have been one of the cultist her father was supposed to deal with. That meant that this memory was taking place at a much later date, and that her father had failed in his mission.

Screw Loose floated helplessly in the air. The cloaked stallion dropped her onto the ground and then looked away towards the door. As he began walking away a red aura surrounded his head and fire flew out from the aura. The fire landed on the walls and ceiling catching and spreading where it touched. The cloaked stallion then continued walking forward. “For Tirus,” were his last words before he walked out into the night and disappeared for good.

Trixie watched in horror as the fire grew larger and consumed more of the house. Screw Loose was still unconscious laying there on the floor. The fire raged around her. Trixie tried to grab her mom but her hooves went right through her. There was nothing she could do but watch horrified.

Trixie heard a shrieking filly outside the house looked to the door just in time to see a blue pegasus stallion runs into the house. He looked determined as he galloped to Screw Loose’s side. Quickly Moonlight Sonata picked up Screw Loose and brought her outside. Trixie fallowed him outside.

Just outside Trixie saw a small blue filly with a silver and blue stripped mane sitting down and sobbing with a group of ponies standing behind her. They looked worried as they watched the house burning down. Moonlight Sonata gently set Screw Loose down next to the blue filly and looked back towards the house. Trixie could see a deep festering rage burning in his eyes. He scowled towards the house and Trixie fallowed his gaze. On the ground just outside on the ground was a burned imprint of the symbol of a cage with fire inside it.

Moonlight Sonata stamped a hoof into the ground and said, “damn you Ash. I will find you, and I will gut you for this.”

Trixie looked back at Moonlight Sonata and watched his expression transform into worry. He turned back to his family and quickly wrapped the filly Trixie into a tight embrace. Screw Loose began to stir than and she sat up carefully. Trixie looked into her eyes and saw something different inside them, like something was missing.

Screw Loose looked very confused for a few moments before seeing Moonlight Sonata at her side. Screw Loose then barked and nuzzled into his chest. Moonlight Sonata looked taken aback for a moment, than he simply looked sad. He brought her into his embrace as well. A deep look of guilt was worn across his face as he said, “I am so sorry for bringing this home to you two. This should never have happened.”

Screw Loose pushed away and smiled at him. One of her pupils had shrunk but she looked a little less confused as she said, “it’s okay, it-it-it’s not your fault.” She then buried her head back into his chest and whimpered.

Trixie watched as the young form of her just hugged her mom, it was a memory that Trixie had remembered but seeing it again she realized that she had never noticed certain things. Trixie already knew what would happen next, and she didn’t like it. The memory began to blur around her and a strange sensation came over Trixie as she felt herself being drawn back into her own body.

***

Trixie found herself pulling away from her mother with a new found understanding. Trixie’s mom had always suffered from her insanity. And with the red stallion attacking her, and Moonlight Sonata leaving her alone with a young Trixie, it had simply been too much and broken her. Trixie wished she could fix her mom but there was nothing that she could do right now.

Trixie had an idea of why her father left on his big adventure now, he was trying to keep Trixie and Screw Loose safe. Unfortunately Trixie could also guess as to what his big adventure had been about. She could only guess that her father was trying to get revenge on this red stallion named Ash.

Trixie also had a name of interest, one that she could easily do research on. Celestia’s Heroes. That was the group that Trixie father had been a part of, so she had to be able to find information about him from doing research on that. Not to mention that the name Tirus could be useful. For once Trixie finally had leads, leads that she could do research on. Trixie didn’t feel so lost now.

Whatever Trixie’s father had been doing he had been doing for Celestia. Trixie felt determined to find out exactly what was going on back then, and just how it connected to what she had seen so far. Looking at the symbols on the wall Trixie could only wonder in fear as too what exactly these symbols meant. Then one of them stuck out to Trixie, it was the symbol of a cage with fire inside of it. This was the symbol that was left by Ash.

Trixie looked back at her mother and could still see something missing from her eyes. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was, it was almost like her mother’s…spark was gone. Screw Loose gave a happy little bark and tried to lick Trixie again. Trixie backed out of reach though, she didn’t like being licked.

For some reason Trixie found it kinda funny how her mom acted. But at the same time, it was devastating for her. To see her mom, the pony who had raised her single hoofedly after her father left, to be reduced to…this. It hurt Trixie in so many ways that could not be easily explained, or even understood. Trixie couldn’t bear to see her mom like this any longer.

Trixie gave her mom a goodbye kiss on the forehead before leaving. Trixie felt pained from seeing her mother like this, but maybe if she could figure out what had happened she could feel at peace. As Trixie walked away she could hear her mother whimpering, like a lost puppy. Trixie began crying tears, tears that wouldn’t go away.

***

On her way out Trixie was left alone as Nurse Redheart was called away for some reason. She walked alone with all hope of seeing her mom sane again now gone. Trixie began to feel her heart sinking from seeing her mom in that state. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn’t stop thinking of her mom. This whole trip began to feel like a mistake.

As Trixie approached the entrance she saw a familiar pony. One that she had been trying to avoid, although she couldn’t think of why. Maybe she just didn’t like being reminded of the fact that she was only a few steps away from becoming like her mom.

Doctor Timequill stood at the hospitals front desk talking to a nurse. His Mahogany mane was still all spiky like a porcupine and his tail still looked like a raccoon’s tail. He saw Trixie and smiled, his green eyes looked surprised to see her.

He waved good bye to the nurse before walking up to Trixie and greeting her, “Miss Lulamoon, what brings you here?”

Trixie looked at him and said somberly, “I was visiting my mom.”

His happy smile faded a little and he asked, “Oh…and how did that go?”

Trixie looked away and said, “It reminded me that I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff.”

Timequill gave her a gentle smile and said, “You and your mother suffer from completely different issues. Lulamoon you don’t need to worry about losing your sense of self, you will always be the pony you want to be.”

Trixie was having a hard enough time dealing with her depression at the moment, she didn’t need or want any pony other than Maud to be kind to her. Trixie didn’t feel like she had deserved any kindness. Trixie didn’t look at Timequill but she said, “and what if I want to be an evil pony, a conquering pony. What if I want to enslave everypony who ever did me wrong. What would I be than, an evil crazy pony who leaves her only daughter completely alone?”

Trixie surprised herself with what she had just said. She opened her mouth to explain, but she didn’t really know why she had said all that. It just felt like she was going through too much.

Timequill looked at Trixie with gentle understanding eyes. He let out a sigh and said, “It’s been a hard adjustment for you, I know this. But I also know that you will be a wonderful parent someday. If you ever need to talk I’ll be here. I have been hired to work with your mother, I will be doing my best to help her. I promise you.”

Trixie was baffled by this revelation. He was a really good doctor, and if he was assigned to work with her mom…then maybe there was hope after all. Trixie pushed away all her fear and pain and said, “Thank you. I know you will do a good job.”

Trixie walked past him to leave. She had things to do and couldn’t spend any time more time here. When Timequill said goodbye she barely found the strength to return the gesture. There was no more Trixie could do here, and that hurt her. She needed to go to the library for some research, but at the moment all she wanted to do was lie down and cry into Maud’s chest. Her depression found its way, creeping slowly back into her heart numbing her slowly in the process. But worse than even her depression was the sickly feeling that Trixie was beginning to feel again.