//------------------------------// // Chapter Eighty Five: The Night's Revelation // Story: Trixie and Maud: Heart of Stone // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// HEART OF STONE Chapter Eighty Five: The Night’s Revelation Written by TheCrimsonDM “So you ready to take the nightshift, Pinkie?” Applejack asked quietly. Trixie stirred a little at the question. What are those two talking about? From her current position on the couch where she had been attempting to nap, she was able to see Applejack in the kitchen, talking to Pinkie. Although they were trying to be quiet, they were not nearly far enough away for Trixie to not hear them. “Yeppers,” Pinkie Pie replied. “Good, Ah missed dinner already, but maybe I can still make it in time to tuck Apple Bloom in,” Applejack said. “Ah will come an’ relieve you tomorrow after mah morning chores.” “Okie dokes,” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. In a more hushed tone she asked, “But, um… can you remind me what the rules are? I know that Doctor Timequill went over them over and over, but…” “First,” Applejack said quietly. “No sharp objects. Secondly don’t let her be alone, not even to use the restroom, and last give her all of yer love. She needs it.” Pinkie Pie nodded with a smile on her lips. “It’s nice having her back. It’s also nice being able to connect with her again. It was weird when I couldn’t read her mind or anything.” “Ah thought that you quit doin’ that,” Applejack said. “I never did it on purpose, well okay, I did do it in order to make sure that it was the real Trixie. It is.” “Good, Ah’m proud of you fer not abusing yer powers,” Applejack said. Pinkie smiled brightly for a moment, but the smile quickly faded. “Um… but ever since I learned who my real parents are, my powers have been… weaker. Is it weird that I’m actually kinda happy about that?” “Ah reckon yer just enjoying some privacy. Ah can’t rightly imagine what it felt like to hear another pony’s thoughts, especially if it was something out of context,” Applejack said. “Yeah, hearing Rainbow Dash’s thoughts on everypony’s rump all the time was a little awkward,” Pinkie agreed. “Ah… Ah didn’t want to know that.” “Sorry.” Applejack began walking to the front door and disappeared from Trixie’s sight, but she heard the apple pony say, “Good night, Pinkie.” “Good night, Applejack.” The door opened and shut quietly, signaling Applejack’s departure from the house. Trixie closed her eyes and sighed. Looks like things are going to be weird for a while after all. “Hey Maud,” Pinkie Pie said from the living room entrance. “Do you think that the Cake- um, I mean my parents, will mind if I take the next few days off from work? I heard Twilight talking and it sounded like we’re going to have a really busy time ahead of us. It doesn’t help that two weeks from now we’ll all be visiting Canterlot for some kind of reunion thingy.” “Twilight invited all of you to join her class’s reunion?” Maud asked flatly. The couch that Trixie was on sunk in a little bit and Trixie’s head was lifted up by a pair of gentle hooves before being set down again onto a warm and fuzzy lap. Trixie inhaled deeply and relaxed immensely. Maud sure does smell good. The other side of the couch sunk in and a blanket was laid over Trixie’s bare back. Pinkie Pie then said, “Yeah, well the whole thing was originally just her and her old schoolmates, but now she’s invited us and a few other ponies. Though I think she actually has something up her sleeve.” “Twilight doesn’t wear sleeves… she’s naked,” Maud stated matter of factly. Trixie could almost feel Pinkie Pie rolling her eyes as she said, “I know that. It’s a turn of phrase. Besides, you didn’t answer my question.” “No, I don’t think the Cakes will mind. You and your friends are heroes after all,” Maud answered. “No we’re not, we’re just ponies,” Pinkie Pie explained. “You fight giant, world-destroying demons and save the world from evil cultists. You and your friends are heroes,” Maud stated. “Okay, so we are heroes but Twilight says that if we start thinking that way it will lead us to becoming selfish and corrupted.” “But everypony sees you that way. Every choice you make, every word you say, it affects the entire country now. Why do you think it was so hard for Trixie after her show was bad mouthed here in Ponyville? Word spread that the ponies who defeated Nightmare Moon didn’t like her show, and so everypony avoided it,” Maud explained. She really understands me… ugh and I had to go and hurt that poor mare. What’s wrong with me? “I… we all know that now. Twilight’s put a lot of time and money into repairing Trixie’s reputation. Now that she’s an alicorn though, she should have no problem with fixing it the rest of the way,” Pinkie Pie said. “After all, according to the ancient laws of Equestria, all alicorns must be given royal titles… or something like that. It was a little hard to read Twilight’s old book. I wish we had a library so I could get a new copy.” Maud was quiet for a moment before asking, “Why don’t we have a library yet? It’s been a long time since the old one burned down, right?” Pinkie moved on the couch and said, “I think that they are currently turning the old windmill into a library, but they’ve been having a hard time getting somepony to work there. It’s supposed to be haunted.” “Ghost are weak to iron. Grab a fire poker before going in there,” Maud said without a hint of emotion. Good explain to Pinkie that ghost aren’t re- wait what? “That’s a great idea! Wait a minute… how do you know that?” “I know everything there is to know about rocks.” “Oh that makes sense… Um… but wait does that mean ghost are really real?” Pinkie Pie asked. “You’ve never fought one? I need to take you to Hollow Shades sometime. I’ll train you how to defend yourself against ghost,” Maud explained. “That sounds like a blast!” Oh sweet Celestia, am I surrounded by crazy ponies? Fighting ghosts is not fun, Pinkie! Maud’s legs shifted a little underneath Trixie’s head. “When I finish this book, I’ll be taking Trixie into the bedroom. Will you be joining us?” “Yeah, I will. But first I’m going to organize these notes that me and Trixie made. You see Trixie has a unique organizing method based off of relevance to her, so its going to take a little bit to figure it out.” Maud shifted again underneath Trixie’s head, causing a little bit of discomfort. Then a familiar scent gently eased into Trixie’s nostrils. What the Tartarus? Is she…   At first Trixie tried to ignore the smell, but there was only so much one could do when their head was sitting right on top of the problem. Slowly Trixie sat up and a tired yawn escaped her lips. She was still exhausted, but sleep just wouldn’t come to her yet. She looked at Maud and saw a familiar look to her lover’s eyes. I guess it would make Maud feel better, and maybe it will help with my sleep.   “Hey, uh… Maud,” Trixie began asking nervously. It felt wrong to be doing this, but it was clear that Maud wanted it. “Do you think we could… go to sleep in the bedroom.”   “Oh I’ll-“ Pinkie Pie started.   “No,” Trixie interrupted. “Just me and Maud right now.”   Pinkie’s face began to turn beat red as she looked away and said, “Oh… um… I’ll be out here, uh, reading… loudly.”   Trixie looked back at Maud and took in the gray naked body before her. Maud’s strong athletic form made Trixie’s heart speed up, and her face began heating up as well. Trixie’s eyes traced along Maud’s side until it settled on Maud’s rarely seen cutie mark. I missed this.   Carefully Trixie got up off the couch and cantered to the bedroom door. Maud didn’t leave the couch though. What’s wrong? Does she want to use the couch or something?   “Lulu, are you sure?” Maud asked.   Trixie raised an eyebrow and frowned for a moment. As her heart continued to race her body began growing hot, and a tight ball began forming in her chest. “Yes I’m sure. I mean, it’s what you want too, isn’t it?”   Maud got off the couch and walked past Trixie and into the bedroom. Trixie gave one last look at Pinkie Pie who was desperately trying to read a geology book, upside down. Although Trixie felt a little bad for the pink pony, she was at least content with the fact that they were not using Pinkie’s bed, this time. Trixie followed Maud into the room with great haste.   Inside, Trixie found her lover lying on her back on the bed with her legs sticking awkwardly up in the air. The sight brought a smile to Trixie’s lips. Maud’s face was already becoming more pink then gray, and Trixie loved seeing Maud like this. Using her magic Trixie closed the door behind them and climbed on top of the bed.   Slowly, Trixie crawled on top of Maud, Maud’s muscular chest rubbed up against Trixie’s and Trixie’s heart raced at the contact. Gently, Trixie eased herself forward until her lips met with Maud’s. As Trixie pulled away she brushed Maud’s cheek with her hoof and stared longingly into those eyes. It had been so long since she had felt Maud’s touch like this, and yet she couldn’t help but feel as though something was off.   They kissed again and then Maud moved across to Trixie’s cheek kissing it gently. Trixie closed her eyes for a moment and saw an image of Fluttershy, writhing in pleasure, her hooves cuffed to the top of the bed frame. Trixie's heart pumped even faster and her body began moving on it's own. She reached up and gently nibbled on Maud's ear.For a moment Maud froze, but then she continued kissing Trixie.   Maud reached Trixie’s neck, and her lips gently tickled her fur. Trixie was sure her heart was going to explode as she waited for the love bite to come next. But no bite followed and Trixie opened her eyes to see Maud slowly kissing Trixie’s neck with gentle pecks. Maud was staring at Trixie, and looked at her ear, there seemed to be some confusion in Maud’s eyes. That’s when it dawned on her that ear nibbling was something Maud hadn’t really done before.   Trixie let go of Maud’s ear and pushed herself up. To her surprise she saw a tiny red bite mark on Maud’s ear, she hadn’t meant to bite that hard. Something was off, she looked down and up Maud’s body, and all she could think about was what Fluttershy had looked like in this bed. The way Fluttershy cried out when tied up to the post, or when Fluttershy would force her down and sink her fangs deep into Trixie’s flesh like a vampire.   Why can’t I stop seeing Fluttershy? I’m with Maud, not Fluttershy. What’s wrong with me?   “Lulu,” Maud said in that gentle tone reserved only for her. “If you need to stop, it’s okay.”   Trixie looked at Maud. The sweet, tender-hearted mare that was currently underneath her,  just waiting for Trixie to perform the most sacred act that lovers can… and yet she couldn’t stop thinking about another mare. Trixie looked away from Maud in shame. I’m not worthy of her affections, not anymore.   Trixie looked around the room. Everywhere she looked she could only see and think of Fluttershy. I don’t love Fluttershy, not really. But the things she did to me, that I did to her felt so good.    A sudden dagger of fear plunged itself deep into Trixie’s heart. What if Maud’s not as good at this? Trixie rolled over and dropped off of the bed. She looked back at Maud and with guilt-ridden eyes. I can’t believe that I did this… that I ruined everything…   Trixie looked back at the door. I can’t be in here tonight. I’ve not only soiled this room, I may have really poisoned my relationship with Maud.   “Lulu, I’m here for you, no matter what,” Maud said.   Trixie shook her head slowly. “Maybe we can sleep in the living room tonight?”   “Okay.”   After retreating in the living room, Trixie found a spot to lay on the one of the couches. She didn’t feel very much like cuddling right now. At first Pinkie gave Trixie a very confused look, but soon enough that look became very worried. Maud made sure to wrap a blanket around Trixie before sitting next to her. At the very least she’s giving me my space, but is that really such a good thing?   “Lulu, I know that this must be hard for you,” Maud said.   Trixie scooted a little further away. Don’t pretend to be nice to me. I’m not good enough for you.   “Maud,” Pinkie Pie asked, her tone was full of worry.   Maud gave a stern look to Pinkie, effectively silencing her for now. Maud returned to staring with soft caring eyes at Trixie. “Doctor Timequill warned me that you might not be ready for intimacy yet. I’m not upset with you.”   I’m worthless. I can’t even please you anymore.   With a timid touch, Maud began stroking Trixie’s flank. “It’s okay.”   Trixie’s instant response was to cringe away from Maud’s touch. The last thing she wanted was to be touched right now.   “Lulu, it’s going to take a while before you will feel comfortable with this again,” Maud said.   Trixie covered her head with her forelegs and whimpered. “It’s not fair. I just wanted to be okay for once, just once. Why do I corrupt everything that I touch?”   This time Maud got off of the couch and walked around until she was facing Trixie. Maud reached over and gently began brushing Trixie’s mane out of her face. “One of the contributing factors to your suicide attempt was your affair with Fluttershy. If you were able to have sex with me, in that room, this soon, then I’d have to tell the doctor, because we would have an entirely new problem on our hooves. You tried your best, Lulu, and that’s all that matters.”   That sounds almost exactly like something Timequill would say, I bet she’s quoting him. “S-s-so you’re not… disappointed in me?” Trixie asked, followed by a sniffle.   “No I’m not.” Maud leaned over and gently kissed Trixie on the forehead. “Now why don’t we try and get some sleep.”   “Okay.”   Maud looked over at Pinkie Pie and said, “Okay, Pinkie, you may ask your question now.”   Pinkie Pie sucked in a large breath of air before saying, “Why do you have a bite mark on your ear? Is it bleeding, it sure looks like it's bleeding? I thought you hated rough stuff in bed. Why did you let Trixie do that to you if you hate it? Aren’t your ears really sensitive? And finally,” Pinkie Pie stopped inhaled and then asked, “Why are you looking at me like I just did something really bad!”   Maud simply glared at Pinkie, which surprised Trixie a little. Suddenly Pinkie’s words hit Trixie. Wait, Maud hates it rough? Why would she let me continue biting her if she didn’t enjoy it? Maybe she was scared that i’d get upset with her? Maud had trusted me, and I turned around and forced her into something that she didn’t want. The memories of what happened with Red Velvet came flooding back. She had initially agreed to let Red Velvet help her, and she was going to quit there at the last second. However, Red Velvet had other things in mind, and forced the spell onto Trixie. The spell that tortured her for a week and turned her into this monster of an alicorn that she is now. I’m no better than Red Velvet. I took the one thing that was sacred to us, the one that that should have been safe, and I ruined it. I’m no better than a… A dark memory flashed into Trixie’s mind forcing Trixie to cover her head with her hooves and sob. I am not that bad, I’m not.   Even though Maud was right there petting Trixie’s mane, it didn’t stop her from crying. It’s one thing for me to just be bad at this, but for me to hurt Maud, why is she still with me?    Pinkie Pie stayed quiet after that, almost like she figured out what was going on by herself. Maud stayed by Trixie’s side stroking Trixie’s mane. Finally Trixie cried as quietly as possible         until she eventually fell asleep. ***   Darkness surrounded Trixie, thick and black, it wouldn’t allow for any escape. Clip, clop went the sound of hooves from somewhere near her. Fear had its icy grip firmly around her heart. There was somepony else here, somepony she never wanted to see again.   “Trixie,” Called a sick and slimy stallion.   She could see the yellow stallion in her mind, his evil grin, the darkness in his eyes. The only thing he had for her was pain, torment and misery.   No! Not again, Maud promised me I’d be safe.   The darkness around Trixie gave way to a dim light. For a moment everything was quiet save for the sound of somepony snoring. Then something moved next to her head. What the hay is that?   Trixie sat up, her mind still racing from the voice she heard before. Her horn lit up as she mentally prepared to fire lightning down upon anything in her way, and stopped. She saw Maud, sitting on the floor with a blanket wrapped around her, and her head lying gently next to where Trixie’s had been not a moment prior. She released the spell and calmed down. It was just a bad dream, Trixie. That’s all.   “Oh my, and here I thought that we were just beginning to become true friends,” the stallion’s voice said, but this time Trixie recognized who it was.   ”Babble,” She cursed under her breath. What could he want at this hour?   Moving as quietly as she could, Trixie hopped off of the couch and looked back at Maud. It was too painful for her to just let Maud sleep like that, Maud deserved to be comfortable. Gingerly Trixie used her magic to lift Maud up off the floor and laid her down onto the couch. After tucking Maud in, Trixie turned to go and walk into the kitchen, she stopped when she saw Maud’s eyes opened.   “Lulu?” Maud questioned.   “Shhh, go back to sleep, honey. I’ll be back in a minute,” Trixie promised, in a whisper.   “Then will you hold me?” Maud asked.   “Of course I will,” Trixie said. Hearing Maud request something so gentle struck a chord with Trixie. I’ll hold you all night if you want me too.   After that, Trixie kissed Maud gently on the forehead, but her lover was already asleep. She decided to head into the kitchen, where she might be able to have a more or less private conversation with her own crazy. After sitting down at the table she looked around, there weren’t any reflective surfaces for her to look into. The full moon did cast its light through the window and spread her shadow onto the wall behind her.   “Oh, Trixie, come now,” Her shadow spoke to her.   Trixie turned to face her shadow and saw two glowing yellow eyes staring right back at her. They winked.   “What did you want now?” Trixie asked. I know he helped me earlier, and I should be nicer to him… but if I do that I’ll be admitting that he’s a real person. Clearly he’s just some fragment I’ve conjured up to protect me… or punish me.   “You don’t seem to be as happy as I’d imagine a pony would be after reuniting with their old fans,” Babble said, a playful tone in his voice.   “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong than?” Trixie asked. I shouldn’t have to explain myself to… myself.   “I’m afraid that I don’t have time to watch you all day, every day.”   “I…” Trixie searched for the words to explain what she did but was lost. What exactly did I do? I violated her trust, I… violated her.   Trixie lay her head down on the table and became very quiet. For the longest time she refused to talk, all she could do was repeat the mantra in her head. I violated her.   Only after the silence had gone on for some time, Babble spoke up, distracting her from her thoughts. “Excuse me, but I’m afraid that watching you nap on the table is getting rather dull. Tell me what’s on your mind.”   “I…” Trixie looked out the window. The night sky shined brightly, but even the stars couldn’t make her feel better now. “I bit Maud while we were… intimate. I violated her. Babble, I’ve been hurt more than anypony should be, and yet I turn around and hurt the one pony that can truly look past my sins. I’m no worse than those stallions.”   “You bit her?” Babble asked, there was confusion in his voice.   “Yes, I did.”   “That’s… that’s all? You didn’t tie her to the bedpost and force yourself on her or, or torture her hours on end? All you did was bite her?” Babble asked.   “What are you so confused about. She doesn’t like it, she didn’t speak up to me about it either. She’s just as scared and fragile as I am, and, and I,” Trixie started but stopped. The words got caught in her throat.   Babble gave a short laugh. “You are truly amusing you know that. Maybe you hurt her feelings a little with that stunt, but you can’t seriously expect me to believe that a little bite would break her so badly.”   “I did something wrong,” Trixie hissed back. “Sex is already the scariest and most evil thing that exists, it’s so easily turned into something wretched only used to hurt ponies. The only reason that I even bother with it is because of how much it means to her.”   Trixie’s shadow swirled around the room until a miniature version of her shadow rested on the table before her. Babble’s yellow eyes stared at her with serious intent. For a moment Trixie feared the shadow before her.   “Intimacy is one of the most spontaneous and romantic acts in the world, why do you think it’s evil?” Babble asked seriously.   Trixie had to think for a moment before explaining, “All I’ve seen sex do is hurt ponies. Sure when Maud taught me that it could be nice, and feel good, I loved it. But the only time I’ve seen it not hurt ponies was when I was with Maud. Fluttershy was in a magazine and it hurt her feelings to be in such a position. When I cheated on Maud with Fluttershy, it was so different and new, but it shattered Maud’s heart. Do you even know what Maud sacrificed for me?”   “So you’ve had a good experience and a bad one. Don’t get me wrong, I do so enjoy watching you destroy yourself with ridiculous assumptions. But even I can’t understand how you could get this impression. You’ve only had sex with Maud and Fluttershy so how could you come up with-“ Babble stopped mid-sentence when a magical bolt stabbed into his tiny shadowy body.   “Only with Fluttershy and Maud? Are you insane?” Trixie asked, her horn still glowing.   “Why yes I am, I’m so glad that you noticed my dear.”   “So we should just pretend that the thing with Rarity and Pinkie Pie never happened. Oh and what about Manehattan?” Trixie said, her voice nearly rose into a shout.   “Okay, so you did something crazy with Pinkie and Rarity, to quote our friend Fluttershy, yay. And you had some fun in Manehattan, good for you,” Babble mocked.   Trixie stepped back from the table. He’s mocking me! Mocking me for what those stallions did to me!   “SCREW OFF!” Trixie shouted as she her horn began to emit a baleful purple. The table lifted up into the air, and Trixie grinned madly as the sound of splintering wood cracked through the house. “I was victimized you piece of trash, you don’t mock me. I have power now, I am in control. Everything will go exactly the way Trixie wants it, or it will be destroyed.”   Suddenly Babble’s eyes went wide and fizzled just before the table gave one final groan of agony and shattered under the pressure of Trixie’s spell. The pieces of the table fell to the floor loudly, and Trixie gave a huff of victory. Her eyes were full of rage, and her heart burned with anger. I am Trixie.   “T-T-Trixie?” A quiet and timid voice called from behind her.   In that instant the anger was gone, replaced with fear as she spun around and saw Pinkie Pie standing in the hallway leading to the restroom. The pink pony’s ears were folded back, and her eyes were full of terror. Trixie looked back at the table and cringed. I… what did I do? ***   Trixie stood on the front porch while levitating what was left of the kitchen table outside. She promptly dropped it all off at the side of the house next to the garbage bin. With how late it was she couldn’t care less about making the front lawn look messy, but she was concerned with something else. Her shouting mixed in with the table’s destruction had awoken Maud, and scared Pinkie Pie. As Trixie stood out in the cold night air she could only wonder about her next move.   I could just run away now, than they won’t be able to scold me for what I did. But if I ran away, it would hurt everypony all over again. I’d be better off just accepting their punishment.   With heavy hoofsteps Trixie walked back inside. She stopped only long enough to lock the front door. Sure I’m I might be in Ponyville, but it’s better to be safe rather than sorry.   Pinkie Pie was sitting on the kitchen floor and staring up at her with wide eyes. Trixie walked past her and into the living room where she found Maud sitting on the couch. Maud looked up at Trixie and asked, “Do you want me to hold you?”   Trixie was a little taken by surprise when Maud didn’t mention the table, or the shouting. Now comforted by Maud’s offer, Trixie shook her head and said lamely, “You said that I could hold you tonight…”   Maud nodded and laid down before rolling over and facing the couch. “You can hold me then.”   Trixie looked back one last time at Pinkie Pie. Pinkie opened her mouth but no words came out, instead the pink pony just looked at her with confusion clearly labeled in her eyes. Although it was something that she didn’t normally approve of, Trixie reached out with her mind and in an attempt to get a good read on Pinkie’s thoughts.   Pinkie’s thoughts felt jumbled, confused, and scared. But Trixie clearly heard Pinkie Pie thinking, “What was that about? I just come out of the bathroom and she’s having a complete conversation with the table. Then she attacks the table out of anger… I really hope that I don’t look that bad when I do that.”   Trixie released her connection on Pinkie’s mind. It was a little strange to hear Pinkie Pie think about talking to inanimate objects. I guess I’m not the only one who's completely insane here.   After joining Maud on the couch, Trixie wrapped her forelegs around Maud’s waist tightly. Now that they were both covered up and secured on the little spot on the couch Trixie could feel herself falling back to sleep. The darkness of her mind seemed strong tonight as it began tugging at her, beckoning her back into its frigid embrace.   “Lulu, I love you,” Maud said quietly.   Trixie nuzzled the back of her lover's neck. I know, Maud. I know. And that’s exactly why I shouldn’t have hurt you.