A/N: Sorry this one isn’t as long as the jumbo-sized chapter I wrote last time, but hopefully this chapter is awesome enough anyway. The plot thickens!
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Chapter 6
Trixie sat in Twilight’s room, idly playing with her friend’s baby dragon Spike. She levitated a small rubber gemstone just out of the tiny dragon’s reach, who cooed and giggled excitedly as he reached for it. Every so often, Trixie would let the toy bob downwards into Spike’s reach, just to pull it back up again as he tried to grab it. Spike never seemed to get bored of this game, and watching him was quite soothing.
Suddenly, the door banged open, startling Trixie and causing her to drop the toy, much to Spike’s delight. In the doorway stood Twilight, panting from her run. “T-Trixie!” she panted, grinning from ear to ear. A piece of paper floated behind her, encased in her magic. “I just got a letter from my parents!”
Trixie leapt to her hooves excitedly. “What’d they say? What’d they say?” She danced about impatiently. “Well?”
Twilight beamed triumphantly. “They said they’d love to have you over for Hearth’s Warming!”
Trixie gave a delighted squeal and tackled her friend in an exuberant hug. “Oh thank you thank you thank you!” she cheered. “This is gonna be the best Hearth’s Warming ever!”
Twilight giggled and hugged Trixie back. “You bet! I can’t wait to introduce you to my family! And I’ll show you my room and all my boardgames and my books! I don’t have as many books as the library here but I have all the Daring Do books, and some other really good fantasy books I’ll bet you’ll like!”
Trixie was equally excited. This was going to be her very first Hearth’s Warming, in a way. It had always existed, of course, even on the streets of Manehatten, but it was something that happened to other ponies. The Spirit of Friendship that Hearth’s Warming was supposed to be about always seemed to be missing when Trixie went looking for it.
Not this year, though. This year would be different, because this year she had Twilight. Together, this was going to be the best Hearth’s Warming in all of Equestria!
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This was going to be the worst Hearth’s Warming in all of Equestria!
Trixie squirmed in her seat on the chariot uncomfortably. Beside her, Twilight sat contently, oblivious to her friend’s discomfort as she buried her nose in a book; Trixie didn’t know or care what book. The pair were on a royal chariot loaned to them by the Princesses, and two Royal Guards served as escorts and bodyguards as they pulled the chariot along.
What if Twilight’s family didn’t like her? Trixie was painfully aware that unless one counted her teacher, Princess Luna, Twilight was the only friend Trixie had ever had. Normally, this never bothered Trixie - she had never felt like she needed friends before, and even now that she had one she didn’t see why she needed more. However, this was Twilight’s family; if they didn’t like her, they might make Twilight stop being friends with her! Trixie remembered how awful it had been, a few months ago, when she and Twilight had their first fight. She didn’t want that to happen again.
She needed to impress Twilight’s family. Unfortunately, she also needed them to like her, and most of Trixie’s methods for impressing other ponies involved antagonizing them.
Suddenly, an idea occurred to her, and she looked down at the package in her hooves. It was her Hearth’s Warming present from Princess Luna, which she’d been allowed to open a day early since Princess Luna wanted to see the look on her face. Trixie had been practicing with it nonstop since the moment she got it, and she was already pretty good at it. Princess Luna remarked it might have been an offshoot of her special talent, which the Princess suspected wasn’t ‘just’ magic the way Twilight’s was.
“Hey, Twilight?” Trixie spoke up suddenly, still staring at the package.
“Mmm?” Twilight didn’t bother to look up from her book.
Trixie reached into the package and pulled out her favorite part. It was a purple, pointed hat decorated with many stars of different sizes and colors. She swept it onto her head and grinned. “Do you think your parents would like a magic show?”
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“And for my final trick, the Great and Powerful Trixie will need a volunteer!” Trixie pranced across her imaginary ‘stage’, which was really just an open space in the Twilight family’s living room. In front of Trixie was her small but attentive audience of three: Twilight’s mother Twilight Velvet, and her father Nightlight, with little Twilight Sparkle between them. “Is there anypony brave enough to assist the Great and Powerful Trixie in her most stunning feat yet?”
“Ooh! Ooh! Me! Mememe!” Twilight practically leapt from the cushion where she sat with her parents, waving as hoof in the air. Ms. Velvet smiled affectionately at her daughter’s enthusiasm.
“Hmmm...” Trixie made a show of trying to pick, despite the lack of options. “The Great and Powerful Trixie chooses... you!” She dramatically flung back her starry cape to point a hoof at Twilight, who promptly squealed in delight and ran up onto the ‘stage’. “What is your name, miss volunteer?”
Twilight giggled and played along. “I’m Twilight Sparkle!” she chirped.
“Very well, Twilight Sparkle! Prepare yourself, for the Great and Powerful Trixie’s most outstanding magic trick of all time!” Using magic, Trixie whipped off her cape and turned to her audience, who were smiling encouragingly at the young fillies. “Watch and be amazed, as the Great and Powerful Trixie makes Twilight Sparkle... DISAPPEAR!”
Twilight’s parents dutifully gave a shocked gasp as Trixie dropped her cape over Twilight, subtly adding a resizing spell so the cape covered her completely. Then she extinguished her horn’s glow; the point was not to be seen using magic. The audience wasn’t supposed to know how it was done; she couldn’t just cast the key spell in the middle of a show. Luckily, there were other ways.
“Watch carefully now!” Trixie commanded her audience, before holding her hooves out towards the covered Twilight. “By the great greatness and the powerful powers of the Great and Powerful Trixie, I command you... DISAPPEAR!” She reached out with a hoof and swept the cape away, revealing empty space where Twilight had been.
Unfortunately, Twilight’s giggling rather spoiled the effect created by the Delayed Invisibility Spell on Trixie’s cape - the enchantment cost extra, of course, but Princess Luna appeared to be generous with Hearth’s Warming Gifts. Trixie resolved to study enchantment until she could add a silence spell as well. For now, she just ignored the giggles. At least Twilight’s parents appeared entertained.
“She has vanished, to the depths of the unknown aether! Even Trixie does not know exactly where!” Trixie announced, while Twilight’s parents put on expressions of mock horror. The invisible Twilight’s giggling increased. “But never fear, for the Great and Powerful Trixie shall bring her back!” She telekinetically held out the cape in front of whereTwilight stood, still hidden. “By the powerful greatness and great powers of the Great and Powerful Trixie, I command you.... REAPPEAR!” With her horn already glowing from holding out the cape, the Dispel Magic spell was nearly impossible to notice. Trixie swept the cape away to reveal Twilight, standing there and waving at her parents.
“And that, fillies and gentlecolts, is the end of my show!” Trixie put her cape back on with a flourish and a bow.
Twilight’s parents stomped their hooves in polite approval. It had been a very nice show, especially for a filly of Trixie’s age. “That was wonderful, dear!” Twilight Velvet exclaimed with a warm smile. Trixie beamed. “You must be very proud of yourself.”
“Th-thank you, Ms. Velvet!” Trixie’s face hurt from grinning so broadly.
“Oh, just call me Velvet, sweetie. Everypony does! Now come on, I have brownies in the oven.” Both Twilight and Trixie leapt up at the mention of brownies.
“Brownies? Sounds like I got home just in time!” Trixie didn’t recognize the voice that came from the front door, but it seemed Twilight did. She squealed and turned about, launching herself towards the pony that had just arrived.
“Shiny’s here! Shiny’s here!” the enthusiastic filly exclaimed, hugging the tall white colt around his neck.
“Easy on the neck there, Twily,” laughed the colt, telekinetically plucking her off and setting her down lightly. “It’s good to see you too!”
Twilight scampered off and grabbed Trixie’s hoof, dragging the surprised filly over to meet the older pony. “Shiny, this is my best friend in the whole world Trixie!”
‘Shiny’ stifled a bout of laughter, putting on a face of mock hurt. “Really? What am I, chopped cabbage?”
“No, silly!” Twilight giggled. “Trixie, this is Shining Armor! He’s my BBBFF - that’s Big Brother Best Friend Forever,” she clarified. “Which is completely different from a best friend, silly!”
“If you say so, squirt.” Shining Armor laughed, mussing up his sibling’s mane with a hoof. Then he held out a hoof to Trixie. “Nice to meet you, Trixie. Good to see my lil’ sis is making some friends.”
Shyly, Trixie took his hoof and shook it. Twilight had mentioned she had an older brother, but she hadn’t mentioned he’d be so... big. Yes, that was it. That was why her knees felt wobbly and her stomach felt jittery. She was intimidated by his size. It had nothing to do with how strong and handsome he looked, or how nice his mane was, or how long and impressive his horn was...
Ponyfeathers, was she blushing?
“N-nice to meet you too!” she squeaked out.
Shining Armor smiled, and Trixie’s knees turned to water even as he turned away from her. “So, mom! You said something about brownies?”
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“That was the best Hearth’s Warming Eve ever.” Trixie announced, collapsing on the bed. She and Twilight were in Twilight’s old room, and they’d agreed to share a bed - they did so frequently anyway, back at the school. Trixie was still a bit uncomfortable with sleeping entirely alone. “And tomorrow is going to be even better.”
“I’m glad!” Twilight said cheerfully, leaping onto the bed beside her. “I think my family really likes you, Trixie! Maybe now we can be sisters!”
“You think so?” Trixie entertained the thought for a moment. She wasn’t really sure what having a sister would be like, but she knew if she was to have one, Twilight would be the best sister ever. However... an image of Shining Armor flashed through her mind. “I dunno...”
Twilight gave her friend a concerned look. “What’s wrong, Trixie?” Her lip quivered. “Do you not want to be sisters...?”
“No! I-I mean yes!” Trixie hurried to assure her. “Of course I would! I-it’s just...”
“Just what?” Twilight pressed.
Trixie turned away to hide her blush. “Y-your brother.”
“What about him?” Twilight asked, brow furrowing. “Don’t you like him? He liked you!”
Trixie just blushed deeper at Twilight’s unintentional encouragement. “N-no... you just never mentioned he was so... so...”
“Yes....?” Twilight leaned in, smiling encouragingly.
“H-h-handsome...” Trixie squeaked out.
Twilight blinked at her, trying to process that. “What.”
“Nothing! Forget I said anything!” Trixie dived under the covers.
Twilight’s horn glowed as she seized Trixie’s tail in a magical vice grip, pulling her back. “You like my brother?” Twilight asked incredulously. “My brother?”
“I-I just said he was h-h-h-handsome!” Trixie squeaked. “I-I mean, he seems nice, but I barely know him!”
“But... he’s my brother!” Twilight repeated, uncomprehending. “That’s just so... so...”
Trixie was now blushing so hard her whole face seemed to be turning red. “F-forget it!” she insisted, levitating a pillow over to her and covering her head with it. “Trixie is sorry she mentioned it.”
Twilight sighed. Whenever Trixie started using her own name, it always meant she was upset. She laid down next to her friend and pushed the pillow off her. “Shining Armor is the best big brother in the whole world,” she told Trixie. “So I guess he’s probably the best coltfriend in the world, too.”
Trixie looked at her, startled, before grinning broadly. “Thanks, Twily.”
“Only Shiny can call me that!”
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“Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes!” Twilight exclaimed gleefully, leaping about in a circle. Her newly unwrapped present floated around behind her like a faithful puppy. She stopped suddenly and levitated the book closer to her face, grinning broadly. “Blue Star’s Guide to the Night Sky! The best astronomy book in all Equestria!” She hugged the book to her chest excitedly, before turning and hugging her parents. “Thanks Mom! Thanks Dad! This is the best Hearth’s Warming gift ever!”
“I’m glad you like it, dear.” Twilight Velvet laughed, hugging her daughter in return.
Suddenly, Twilight leapt away. “Oh! I just remembered, I have a gift for you, too!” She turned to where Trixie was watching the unwrapping quietly. “Come on, Trixie, I need your help!”
Dutifully, Trixie got up and trotted over to her friend. Twilight had been a mess last night, having just realized she didn’t have a gift for her family. Trixie, however, had come up with an idea that would combine their magical talents into the perfect Hearth’s Warming present. “Ready, Twilight!”
Twilight’s family watched curiously as the fillies lit their horns simultaneously. First, Twilight performed a simple conjuration, willing three blocks of wood into existence. Trixie could have done that herself, of course, but Twilight’s conjurations were sturdier, longer lasting, and more ‘real’ then hers. With the raw materials provided, Trixie concentrated on a tricky transmutation spell, forcing the blocks into the proper shape and color. There was no formula for this specific type of transmutation, so Trixie was forced to go by feel and sight, manipulating the blocks into the shape she wanted. Once she was done, Twilight quickly ‘grabbed’ the transmutation spell and added more power to it, lending it permanency. Finally, the two of them concentrated, combining their magic into one final spell.
There was a bright flash of light, and three little wooden figures clattered to the ground. Twilight’s family gasped in amazement as the perfect little replicas of the three of them got up on tiny wooden hooves and galloped towards them. Shining Armor picked up the little wooden Shining Armor, marveling at the detail. “This is amazing, sis! How did you two do that?” He dropped the miniature onto his leg, and it quickly clambered up onto his shoulder, then dove into his mane.
The two foals stood side by side, panting but grinning proudly. “I did the conjuration, and Trixie shaped them.” Twilight explained.
“Then we both worked together on the come-to-life spell.” Trixie continued. “We thought it up last night. The figures are permanent, but the come-to-life spell will probably only last a month or so.”
“This is quite the achievement, girls,” Nightlight said, sounding impressed. “What a wonderful present.”
The two fillies gave each other a triumphant hoof-bump.
“I’m so sorry we haven’t any gifts for you, Trixie,” Velvet apologized. “If we’d had more notice that you were coming...”
“It’s okay Ms.... I mean, it’s okay, Velvet,” Trixie interrupted. “This is my first Hearth’s Warming party ever! I don’t need any presents.”
Shining grinned and mussed up Trixie’s hair with a hoof, causing the filly to blush profusely. “Well now, that’s new. A filly who doesn’t want any presents? Hey mom, think we can trade her for Twilight? We’d save a fortune on birthdays and Hearth’s Warming!” Twilight pouted playfully as everypony else chuckled.
Suddenly, everypony jumped as a loud crash came from the front door. “I wonder who that could be...” Velvet mused, going to the door and opening it cautiously.
“Muffin call!” came a cheerful voice. In the doorway stood a grey pegasus mare with a bright blonde mane and a heavy-looking package on her back. Her eyes were crossed, but she looked straight at Velvet without much apparent effort. “Special Hearth’s Warming Muffin - er, package for...” She paused and craned her neck around to look at the label on the package. “Ummm... T... Tri... Trixie! That’s it! Trixie!” She turned back to Velvet. “Special Delivery for Trixie!” She saw caught a confused look on Velvet’s face, and frowned. “Did I get the wrong house again?”
Velvet shook her head. “Ah, no, no my dear! Trixie is right here. I’m just a bit surprised you knew where to find her, is all. She doesn’t normally stay here.”
The mailmare grinned proudly. “I always find the pony I’m delivering to!” Her face fell. “Well... eventually.”
Velvet just smiled and levitated the package of the mailmare’s back. It wasn’t as heavy as it looked. “Well, thank you very much for working on Hearth’s Warming. Happy Hearth’s Warming, and good night!”
“Happy Hearth’s Muffin - er, Warming!” the pegasus chirped, before turning and launching into the air. Almost immediately, she slammed headfirst into a lamppost. “...I’m okay!”
“Oh dear. I hope she’ll be alright.” Velvet made sure the pegasus could continue to fly before closing the door and bringing the package into the house. “This is for you, it would appear,” she said, dropping the package in front of Trixie.
“For me?” Trixie eyed the package warily. It was covered in festive wrapping paper and a bright ribbon. On top was a tightly-sealed envelope with her name scribbled on it in messy but energetic hoofwriting. “Who would send me a package?”
“Open the card, maybe it has a name!” Twilight suggested eagerly.
“O-okay...” Trixie said uncertainly, her horn lighting up as she levitated the envelope towards her and slowly opened it. Inside was not a card, as Twilight had assumed, but a letter, written in the same energetic style as the name on the envelope. Thankfully, it wasn’t so sloppy as to be difficult to read. Twilight and her family watched in anticipatory silence as Trixie began to read the letter.
With a sudden gasp, Trixie’s magic cut out and the letter fluttered to the ground. Trixie didn’t budge an inch; she stood stock-still, staring at the letter with wide, disbelieving eyes.
“What’s wrong, Trixie?” Twilight asked, bounding to her friend’s side. Trixie remained voiceless, and merely pointed a hoof at the letter. Her mouth opened and closed as if trying to speak, but nothing came out.
Twilight, curious as to what could have caused such an extreme reaction in her closest friend, picked up the letter. She glanced at Trixie, who gave her a wordless nod, before beginning to read out loud.
Dear Trixie,
Happy Hearth’s Warming! At least, I hope it’s Hearth’s Warming; I paid forty bits for this package and letter to reach you on time. I suppose you’re wondering why some pony you’ve never met would spend so much money to send you a Hearth’s Warming present, but you can consider it a partial apology for taking so long to contact you. My only excuse is that I had been unable to locate you until your new position as Princess Luna’s personal student became common knowledge.
You see, I have a friend on the Royal Guard recently mentioned, in passing, that the student of Princess Luna had a very distinctive locket in her possession. After asking him to describe the locket, I am quite certain it is the very same locket that once belonged to my close friend Guiding Light. I lost contact with her some years ago, and never learned what had happened to her or her baby foal. Now, I believe I know, at least in part.
Trixie, from the descriptions of you and your locket, I am quite certain that you are the daughter of my old friend. If this is so, then that would make me your godmother.
I’m sure this is something of a shock to you, but believe me when I say that I was just as surprised. I dearly wish I could come greet you in person, but sadly my job requires me to stay in Stalliongrad for the time being, quite far from Canterlot. Still, I hope this Hearth’s Warming present I’ve sent you will be of some comfort. It once belonged to your mother, and was left behind in her old house when she disappeared. I believe it to be some form of magical artifact, though I’m afraid my magical skills are somewhat lacking. Perhaps, as student to the Princess, you can unravel its secrets.
Again, I dearly wish I could meet you in pony. My job keeps me very busy, so I am unsure if and when I will be able to travel to Canterlot to meet you. Still, I look forward to the day we finally meet, and I hope you do as well. In the meantime, feel free to send me letters at the return address on this package; I’d love to hear from you!
Happy Hearth’s Warming
Bright Eyes
Twilight looked up from the letter with a broad grin. “Trixie, that’s great! Somepony who knew your mom!”
Trixie still had barely moved, but a wide smile had spread across her face. “I can’t believe it,” she mumbled. “This is... this is...” Her entire body quivered for a moment, before she suddenly leapt straight up with a gleeful shout. “THE BEST THING EVER!” She squealed excitedly and gave Twilight an enormous hug, grinning like a madmare.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so happy for you!” Twilight Velvet cooed, stepping forward to give a hug which Trixie gleefully accepted. “What a wonderful gift for Hearth’s Warming.”
Trixie broke away from the hug to dance about excitedly some more. “I can’t believe this! I have a godmother! A godmother! Oh, I can’t wait to meet her.”
While Trixie was celebrating, Shining Armor had picked up the letter and was silently rereading it to himself. His brow furrowed. He was currently training to enter into the Royal Guard, and while that day was a long way off something about the letter set off his budding investigator’s instincts. The letter was worryingly vague; not only didn’t this “Bright Eyes” name her “friend in the guard”, but she hadn’t elaborated on her mysterious “job” either. He supposed she could have just left it out, but it bothered him. What’s more, Stalliongrad was a week-long trip from Canterlot even by airship; unless you took an extremely fast chariot it was too long a journey for a young filly, not to mention expensive. The only way to have been further away would have been to be in a different country altogether, and if you did that then the Equestrian Postal Service wouldn’t be able to deliver your mail. Shining Armor couldn’t shake the feeling that it was intentional, to keep little Trixie from visiting on her own...
He shook his head. What was wrong with him? The poor filly had just discovered she had family of a sort, and here he was suspecting her godmother’s good intentions. He wasn’t even a guardpony yet; he wasn’t trained for this kind of thing. With a sigh, he placed the letter on the table and rejoined the others, who were gathering around the brightly-colored package.
“Open it! Open it!” Twilight cheered, and Trixie hurried to comply. Horn glowing brightly, she magically tore away the ribbon and wrapping paper around the package, eagerly pulling the box open. Inside was a mess of packing peanuts, which Trixie eagerly dove into in search of her gift.
“Well? What is it?” Shining asked, genuinely curious.
“Hang on... got it!” Trixie pulled her head out of the box, her gift held triumphantly in her hooves. “Wow... it’s so pretty...”
“I can feel the magic from here,” Twilight whispered, in a slightly awed voice.
“My... what an exquisite work of craftsmanship,” Velvet commented.
Trixie grinned as she hugged the ornate silver helmet to her chest. “Best Hearth’s Warming ever,” she confirmed.