//------------------------------// // Chapter Thirty: Problem Solving // Story: Trixie and Maud: Heart of Stone // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// HEART OF STONE Chapter Thirty: Problem Solving Written by TheCrimsonDM The door was shut behind Doctor Timequill. Trixie stayed in bed with Maud by her side; she held tightly onto Maud’s hoof. Timequill gave a reassuring smile to Trixie as he explained, “I have some good news for you, Trixie. Physically speaking you are perfectly healthy; there were no signs of anything wrong.” Trixie was a little confused about a number of things, but she had only one question at that moment. “Why are you the one telling me this, I thought you were a psychologist, not a medical doctor.” Timequill continued to smile as he explained, “I have experience in the medical field. But you are correct; Doctor Horse was working on your tests earlier, but he was called out to see another patient. It looked serious, so they were going to send the nurse to release you. I thought it would be a kindness to come and visit you myself.” Trixie was happy to hear that Timequill took the time to come and visit her. Trixie was smiling as she said, “thank you.” Maud however asked in a flat tone, “what do you mean she is fine? She has been puking and coughing up blood for the past two days. What could make her do something like that, and still be ‘fine’?” Timequill’s happy smile faded a little as he explained, “I apologize, I should have been more careful with my wording. Trixie is just fine physically, I’m not actually sure what it means. She could just have had a sore throat, maybe it was something she had eaten, but I agree that this does sound a little strange. Unfortunately there is not enough reason for the hospital to keep her here. My suggestion would be too keep a close eye on her, if it gets worse bring her in immediately.” Maud was frowning at his words, and Trixie could feel Maud’s anger towards the hospital. Maud stayed quiet though and Trixie was just glad to get out of the hospital if for nothing else, she had a few urges that only Maud could fix for her at home. Trixie smiled softly and asked, “so that’s it, I’m free to go?” Timequill returned the soft smile and said, “yes you are, the nurse is currently bringing up the release papers now. That being said I did have a reason for coming here to visit you.” Trixie didn’t like the sound of that. She looked at Maud and then back to Timequill before asking, “what is it?” “Trixie, I get the feeling that something is wrong; it would seem to me, that you might not have been taking your medication properly. Is there a reason you might have forgotten too?” he asked gently. Trixie noticed Maud looking at her, and instantly she felt guilty. Trixie had no idea if she had actually taken her meds for the day, and she knew that she hadn’t taken them yesterday. On top of that, all the stress she has gone through in the past couple of days. Trixie let out a depressed sigh before saying, “I didn’t take them yesterday, I was sick. And today I…actually can’t remember if I have taken them or not.” Maud nuzzled Trixie gently and said, “Lulu, you should have told me.” Trixie looked at her and opened her mouth, but shut it. Trixie wasn't sure what to say, she should have told Maud, but she didn't. Trixie then said very quietly, “Trixie is sorry. She forgot all about them.” “Trixie is there something you would like talk to me about. I’m here to listen to you if you need it,” Timequill offered. Trixie smiled and said, “Trixie would like that…” Trixie then looked at Maud and said, “do you mind if Trixie talks to Timequill in private?” Maud nodded. Maud was very understanding, and kind. Trixie knew that she had chosen the best pony to fall for. Maud left the room quietly, leaving the two to talk alone. Timequill waited very patiently for Trixie to feel secure enough to speak. “Trixie…has been having a hard time, “Trixie admitted. Trixie decided to stop caring about speaking properly and spoke in a way that felt safe for her. “Things have been hard for Trixie in Ponyville. Trixie has had one of the worst days today, and worse yet, Trixie has remembered why she came to Ponyville in the first place. Trixie came here to run a show for a good friend of Trixie’s…Trixie came here for Fluttershy. Fluttershy invited all of her friends to Trixie’s show, because Fluttershy wanted to introduce them to Trixie’s show. “Trixie knows that her show was a little...over the top, but that was on purpose. Trixie was angry when the ponies began making fun of Trixie. Trixie did not know that these rude ponies were actually Fluttershy’s friends. So now Trixie knows now that Fluttershy’s heart must have been destroyed by her friends…Trixie is so angry with them…but Trixie is also friends with them now too…so Trixie doesn’t know what to do.” Timequill was quiet for a moment before he finally said, “that makes a lot of sense. It is too bad that you had blocked out a lot of your old memories. If we had known about this event earlier it could have sped up recovery. But we know about it now and that’s the important part.” Timequill then proceeded to pull out a clipboard from…actually Trixie still had no idea where ponies pulled things out from. “Where did you get that? Why do ponies keep pulling things out of nowhere, next time a sofa will fall out of Rarity’s butt and then Rarity will dramatically faint on the magical butt sofa. Trixie demands to know what sorcery everypony is using to make items appear from nothing.” Timequill had one of the oddest looking expressions on his face when Trixie had finished her rant. At length he said, “I…um…the clip board was attached to the end of your bed. I’m actually a little surprised it is sitting here, I believe this actually came from my desk.” Trixie seemed a little confused about this just like he was, and asked, “may Trixie see the clip board?” Timequill smiled and said, “sure, it’s the same one that you have seen before.” Trixie held the clipboard as she lay on her back. She had indeed read this before, but she had been so emotionally dead that she had barely given it any attention. The clipboard was an analysis on Trixie’s personality, and her history. It was a rough overview but she read the first paragraph and noticed it hadn’t been updated since her last appointment with Timequill around a month ago. “Trixie Lulamoon is a unicorn mare with a blue fur coat and a mane of blue and silver. She lives at the edge of Equestria on a small rock farm right next to the Badlands. Although she has worked here for nearly a year now, she has had a hard time connecting with anypony who she works with. A relatively quiet and nervous pony, she has been trying her best to stay out of the way, and with even more effort, she has been trying her best to not stand out.” Trixie was a little perturbed at seeing the words “a relatively quiet and nervous pony”. She had never really thought about what her personality had lost when she attempted suicide. Or at least she never considered it too deeply before. Trixie didn’t like being a quiet and nervous pony. Trixie missed being talkative, and brave. But the more she considered it, the more she realized that she has been talkative, and brave. “Trixie is not quiet and nervous. Trixie was working proudly at an apple booth earlier. And that apple booth was made better for having Trixie’s help. And Trixie was very nice to the costumers,” Trixie explained to the piece of paper before her hooves. Trixie gave the clipboard back to Timequill and said, “Trixie believes you need to update that piece of silly paper again.” To her surprise Timequill was actually smiling. Trixie felt a little weird that he would smile at her words, frowning was what she had expected. Trixie then asked, “what are you smiling at Trixie for?” Timequill then gave a short chuckle before explaining, “I have waited over a year to see you act like this. Didn’t you notice that you are standing up for yourself? You’re finally proud to be yourself again, aren’t you?” Trixie’s mouth was agape for a few seconds as she took in his words. He was right, it had taken her all this time, but she was finally defending herself for once. More than that, she was actually proud to be…herself. Maybe…”Trixie could become a magician again?” she thought aloud. At seeing Timequill’s grin Trixie knew that she was indeed getting better. She might have done some bad things, and even got into a fight with one of her dearest friends, but Trixie was…Trixie. This revelation made her want to jump for joy and even do a little dance, but she would’ve fallen off of the bed. Timequill looked at Trixie and said, “you know, this is wonderful. You should tell Maud exactly how you feel as soon as you leave the room. But first I feel as though there was something you wanted to talk about.” Trixie felt a little bad as she remembered what it was that she was worrying about. Trixie took in a deep breath before explaining, “Trixie has a lot of problems right now, but she doesn’t know how to fix them. Maud is keeping something from Trixie, and it worries Trixie that Maud doesn’t trust her enough. Trixie also attacked Rainbow Dash, but Rainbow Dash was insulting Trixie’s mother…but that’s not an excuse. Finally Trixie is terrified that she is not pleasing Maud, when they're making love. Trixie just wants to make Maud happy. What is Trixie supposed to do?” Timequill was silent for a moment but finally he explained, “to the first problem. Try talking to Maud about how you feel. Don’t try and push for an answer, but let her know you are afraid that she doesn’t trust you anymore. The second problem is easier to work out. Apologize to Rainbow Dash, and try to explain to her how it made you feel. Rainbow Dash is a little hard headed but she is an understanding pony. The last problem is a little different. If you want me to give out any honest advice about it, then I’ll need to know a little more about your relationship. I’ll understand if it’s too private for you to discuss with me though.” Trixie was silent for a few moments before admitting, “Trixie does not have experience past Maud…when it comes to mare on mare…intimacy. What do you need to know?” “Well first of all, who is usually the one…receiving?” Timequill asked. Trixie’s face felt like it was going to catch on fire again, but this still wasn’t the most embarrassing conversation that she had ever had with Timequill. There was a much more embarrassing, and much darker one she had discussed once before. “Trixie…is usually…um…receiving.” Timequill then asked, “has Maud asked you to do anything new, maybe a little weird?” Trixie could swear that her face was a furnace now. “Trixie has been asked to use bondage, and to do…um…mouth…um oral…things to Maud.” “In your case I wouldn’t suggest any form of bondage or anything that feels forced, that could damage you emotionally. But with regards to giving back to Maud, I would suggest it. In fact it could be beneficial if you surprise her, and give her all your attention some night. Maybe the change in pace could be all that Maud needs from you,” Timequill suggested. Trixie imagined it, and liked the idea of giving back to Maud. Maybe Trixie would surprise Maud tonight or sooner if Trixie had her way. Trixie smiled nervously at Timequill and said, “thank you. Trixie doesn’t know how you know about all of this stuff. But Trixie thanks you for it.” Timequill smiled back at her and said, “you’re welcome, Trixie. This is my job after all. Now I’m going to write you a prescription, it’s for your medication. I feel as though you could benefit from an increased dose. You have been put through so much stress lately that even taking your meds regularly might not have been effective enough.” *** After getting the new prescription, and signing off on the hospital records Trixie walked outside to see all of her friends sitting inside the hallway waiting for her. Even Twilight Sparkle was here for her. Trixie gave Maud the biggest hug ever and said, “Trixie is…Trixie is,” it was hard to break out of her old speech patterns,”…I am proud to be myself. I know I’ve made some mistakes, but I am happy to be who I am.” Everypony seemed happy about that. Even Rainbow Dash smiled, with her lip the way it was though, it hurt Trixie to see. Trixie walked up to Rainbow Dash and wrapped her legs around her saying, “I’m so sorry about attacking you. I…it’s just that ponies used to make fun of me over my mom…and you sounded so much like them. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me but-“ Rainbow Dash cut Trixie off with a hoof covering Trixie mouth. “It’s cool. One time Applejack and me got into a hoof fight over a race, right in front of Princess Celestia. I mean that was pretty embarrassing for Twilight,” Rainbow Dash explained. “I screwed up Trixie; I messed up big time when I said those things. I…I’m sorry. I guess you can’t really forgive me for that but…I’ll spend every moment I can making it up to you. I promise.” Trixie smiled as a warm feeling filled her heart. Rainbow Dash had apologized to her, and that meant more to her than anything else she could have done. Trixie felt a tear running down her face as she said, “thank you, Rainbow Dash. I forgive you.” Twilight looked in much better condition then she had before, maybe she had taken a nap. Twilight smiled at the Trixie before saying, “I’m glad to see your feeling better. I heard that you wanted a few books from me, ones detailing the history of Celestia’s Heroes. I left them at Sugarcube Corner; I hope they help you.”