//------------------------------// // Chapter One Hundred and Seventeen: Princess Meeting // Story: Trixie and Maud: Heart of Stone // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// Heart of Stone Chapter One Hundred and Seventeen: Princess Meeting Written by TheCrimsonDM For the next few days Trixie spent time slowly healing. By the time Rainbow Dash came back to town she was looking much better… well ear looked like it had gone through a garbage disposal and she had an almost flattering scar over her eye, but other than that her injuries looked healed. Perhaps Luna sped up her healing process up? Speaking of Luna, Trixie was fated to again meet the mare late in the evening over at Twilight’s castle. From what she could understand from the letter Spike delivered, it was to be some kind of princess meeting. Trixie wasn’t sure that she belonged in it, but she wasn’t about to refuse an official summons. With magician’s cape and hat, Trixie trotted off to the castle. On her way there she passed by the Penn’s Books. The only bookstore found in Ponyville. The library still hadn’t been rebuilt, so Trixie was fairly familiar with this place. Candle Light was wearing a white hooded cloak only a few shades darker than her fur, walked out with saddlebags filled with books. This was a curious site. “Candle Light? What are you still doing here? I thought that you’d left already.” Candle Light shook her head, but smiled. “No, me and Moondancer are personal guests of Twilight Sparkle until the gala.” “Well I’m glad you’re still here. What did you buy?” Trixie asked. “I found a few good buys to add to the Library,” Candle Light said. “Twilight’s allowed me to purchase any books I find worthy of joining the collection with a special fund. Though I have to admit, I was really surprised to find a copy of Truth in Spades.” Trixie had heard of that one. It was a decent enough mystery with plenty of blush worthy romance. “Oh wow, I uh… that’s a good one.” Candle Light smiled. “I thought you would say that. It’s actually a lot harder to find then it should be, as far as I know the Canterlot Library only has one copy of it.” Trixie nodded. “The author wasn’t very popular.” She gave it a moment before asking. “Why are you buying books for the library?” “Oh didn’t you know? Twilight’s allowed me to become the next Librarian,” Candle Light said this with a smile. “First a seeker, now a librarian? Life’s been kind to me as of late.” “Canterlot will be lucky to have you,” Trixie said. Candle Light raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean Ponyville?” Trixie stood there for a moment. “Wait… you’re going to be Ponyville’s new librarian? That’s actually happening?” “Well I’m not the only one. Twilight’s been putting a lot of effort into this, and has completely converted the abandoned windmill for the sole purpose of turning it into a Library. We’ve been brain storming a new name for it, but unfortunately all our names sound like bad… body humor jokes,” She said. Trixie thought about it. “You call it Windy Reads Library.” Her face became a bit rosy around the cheeks. “P-Pinkie Pie already showed us what was wrong with that name. And pretty much anything that had the word wind in it.” “What’s wrong with that, pegasi make wind all the time,” Trixie said. She heard Pinkie Pie shouting from somewhere in the distance, “They also break it!” Trixie and Candle Light sat there in complete silence for nearly two minutes. Finally Trixie managed to ask, “How did she know what we were talking about?” Candle Light shook her head. She looked a little tired. “I still don’t know. Every time we came up with a new title, she’d either pop out of nowhere and make a far- bodily function joke, or she’d be shouting it from the distance. Twilight didn’t seem surprised one bit.” “Okay, screw the word wind,” Trixie said. “Windmill Archive?” “So far we’re calling it Windmill Library, but it just doesn’t sound as nice as it could be,” Candle light said. She looked over at the castle and stared in silence for a moment, which just so happened to remind Trixie of where she was supposed to be already. “I got to go, princess stuff,” Trixie said as she stood up and trotted away. “Trixie,” Candle Light said, there was something soft about her tone. “If you want to stop by the library when it’s finished. I’d be glad to welcome you.” Trixie looked back but didn’t slow down. “Thanks, I’ll take you up on that offer!” Due mostly to her conversation with Candle Light, Trixie arrived fashionably late. With everypony sitting in the map room around the table map, Trixie was left to wonder about what they were going to discuss. She didn’t have wait long. “Trixie Lulamoon!” Twilight nearly shouted. With a dark look from Celestia and Cadence, Twilight calmed down. “Welcome to the castle, we have business to discuss.” Trixie looked at Cadence and bowed her head respectively. “Princess Cadence, it is a pleasure to meet you.” “Oh, Trixie,” She said with a kind smile. Trixie’s heart fluttered as she looked at the pink mare and realized with startling efficiency; Cadence was hot! “That’s not needed, but thank you.” Trixie straightened up and quickly avoided her gaze. “Yes, well let it not be said that Trixie would be rude to such a cuuuu-“ Trixie froze on the word. Everypony stared at her for a long few seconds until she coughed and stammered. “Ahem, Trixie is polite. To everypony, not just the sexy… I-I’ll shut up.” Trixie took a seat between Luna and Celestia and avoided the stares she got from everypony. It would seem however that her choice of company was not the best. Luna leaned in and whispered, “You do realize that she’s married right? And so are you… wait, do I sense political adultery ahoof?” Trixie shot her best death glare at Luna, but the mare simply smiled and looked away. Thankfully Twilight intervened. “First of all, thank you for showing up.” She said it as though she did not want Trixie there. “Our first order of business is an important one. We must discuss our old policy on knighting.” “These rules have stood for well over a thousand years, you can’t go changing them now,” Luna said. “Sister, these rules were changed for almost a thousand years. I was the only permitted to grant such an honor. I only switched it back when you returned to us because I wanted to show you that we were still equal,” Celestia said sweetly. Luna rolled her eyes and Trixie agreed. There was no way that Luna carried as much power as Celestia did, and Trixie wasn’t entirely against that fact. It was more or less reasonable to slowly reintegrate Luna into power. Maybe after a decade or so, but a few short years, one of which was spent mostly in solitude, was not enough to fix the damage done between them. “Since there are five of us now,” Cadence said. “I would like to motion for a three to five pony vote on any future knighting. That way the majority still holds sway.” “And little usurpers can’t go behind our backs,” Twilight spat. Celestia smiled warmly. “Cadence has a point. If it had been just four of us, it wouldn’t have been such an issue. Ever since the documents were signed, Trixie’s presence among us has changed a few things. It will take time to adjust, just as it did with Twilight, but I am sure it will be a good thing.” Trixie gave Celestia an odd look. “I… I don’t understand. What do you mean five of us? Luna was quite clear about the fact that Cadence now rules her own kingdom.” The silence that fell in the room afterwards was so thick that Trixie could practically swim through it. “Excuse me?” Twilight asked, her tone had shifted from the bitter rage to complete shock. “Princess Cadence rules the Crystal Empire, surely she counts as a foreign dignitary now,” Trixie said. Luna was looking at the door as though it was a life ring. “Right?” “No,” Twilight said. “It doesn’t work that way,” Cadence added. “The Crystal Empire is officially a territory under my rule,” Celestia said. “Legally speaking, Cadence is a duke along with her husband. They do have sovereign rights and if they ever so choose, they are allowed to break away to form their own kingdom separate from ours. Though it would be a poor decision so early in its lifespan to do so.” Trixie leaned back in her chair. Felt the butterfly carvings rub against her back and let out a pathetic, “Oh…” “Did… did you lie to Trixie about the situation?” Twilight asked while staring at Luna. “No, I simply explained that Cadence has her hooves full with her own people. She does not have enough time for us. It is hardly my fault that she came to such a conclusion, and it hardly effects what we are talking about now,” Luna said coolly, almost sounding offended by Twilight’s accusation. “Furthermore, I am upset that a single knighting would cause such a fuss between the three of you. Me and Trixie both agreed that Rainbow Dash was fit.” Trixie sat up. “Wait, you guys aren’t mad at us are you?” She looked at Twilight and slowly sat down as the mare glared at her. “This is hardly fair. I only made a call based on my judgment, Luna asked me if I believed she was ready. I do.” Trixie looked between Twilight and Luna, and could only imagine how much this decision might affect them on a more personal level. “We are not upset with either of you,” Celestia assured her. “You are still young, naïve and new to this. I simply wish you would have asked for some friendly advice about this topic before making a decision. We may have been able to explain the importance of it.” “Isn’t that how you convinced Twilight to vote against Rainbow Dash last time?” Trixie asked while looking at Celestia. “What are you talking about?” Twilight exclaimed. “I simply meant that you value her opinions very highly, you virtually worship Celestia. Asking her for advice may have… tinted your decision. You would have been better off going to a natural party,” Trixie said, she nodded toward Cadence. “I went to Cadence for advice, and she decided to stay out of the decision. She was a natural party,” Twilight said in frustration. Now it was Trixie’s time to feel surprised. She looked slowly at Luna and the mare only offered her a cold smile. A lump formed in Trixie’s throat as she said, “You said that Twilight went to her mentor for advice…” “She did, we are all her mentor… in a fashion,” Luna said. A dirty and shameful feeling spread over Trixie. She didn’t think it possible; she hadn’t expected it could happen to her, not to the great and powerful Trixie. She had been used… manipulated and used for Luna’s gain. It… it hurt. She refused to show it. In order to avoid crying she bit the inside of her cheek. The pain helped her keep her composer, but anypony could be sure that as soon as she got home, or at least somewhere more private, she was going to break down. “I apologize for my quick judgment,” Trixie said. “I have been through a lot, and did not give much time to thinking. My injuries and the pain medication I was on may have influenced by understanding of Luna’s words. What it did not influence was my decision. Rainbow Dash has done so much for us, and she deserves the honor of being a knight.” “Whose knight?” Twilight asked. Excuse me? Trixie thought, but what she actually did was look at Luna and ask, “I am unfamiliar with this part. What is she referring too?” Luna smiled. “She is my knight. I named her nightkin after all.” “You named me nightkin as well,” Trixie said. Twilight frowned and lowered her head before growling in frustration, “She doesn’t know a darn thing.” Celestia was much kinder. “Trixie, our knights our special as they fall under the control of the individual princess who knighted them. Since it was Luna who knighted Rainbow Dash, she is Luna’s knight first and foremost. I am unable to give her any missions or orders that defy Luna’s.” “So… she’s Luna’s soldier but not yours?” Trixie asked. She felt too dumb for all this political junk. “In a sense, yes. A knight is not a warrior however. They are something more, something powerful. They are an extension of us, and hold great sway over the ponies in the land,” Celestia said. Twilight buried her head into her hooves and groaned. “You can think of them as half princesses.” Sweet Celestia, I just made Rainbow Dash into a virtual princess. What is she going to do with such power? “Considering that Trixie was not aware of this, if she were to change her mind on Rainbow Dash’s validity is there any way we can… I don’t know revoke her title?” Cadence asked in as gentle of a voice as she could. “I just mean until she is ready.” “Sadly no,” Celestia said. “The most we can do now, is begin her training under an elder knight. This may avert some of the damage she may end up causing by accident.” Luna leaned back in her chair, well not hers but the one she was sitting in. “Who can we send? Twilight’s knight is hardly what I’d call an elder, and Cadence married hers.” “I will be having her train with Cinnamon Butterscotch,” Celestia said. Luna’s jaw dropped. “Do you mean to tell me that Butterscotch is a knight? The pacifist pony?” “Yes, he is quite the talented and honorable knight. He was not chosen for any traditional heroics, or for some skill with a blade. As you know little sister, I have always admired him for his ability to change a pony’s minds through his words, and his actions. He does not need a weapon, nor magic to help the kingdom. All he needs is good intentions and his determination,” Celestia said. “You’d do well to have a pony like him by your side as well.” Luna growled. “I’d sooner get lectured by a math teacher.” Trixie looked at the two. She was still hurt from what Luna had done to her, but now she felt foolish on top of everything else. Luna had given her every clue as to her true nature. Why couldn’t she see it sooner? Twilight stood up and everypony looked to her. “Decisions? Should we increase the number of votes needed for knighthood to three.” Celestia nodded. “Yes, that sounds like a sound move.” “It’s a shame we could not have done this earlier, but yes I agree as well,” Cadence said, her tone soft. “It sounds like a wonderful idea,” Luna said coolly. “Well everypony already knows that I agree with it, how about you Trixie?” Twilight asked, this time her voice was serious and not at all damning. Trixie nodded and said lamely, “It’s for the best…” “Okay it’s decided, from now on it will take a three princess vote of confidence to make a knight,” Twilight said. She looked at Trixie. “And Trixie, for future note, it is required that all of us are made aware of who is up for knighthood, and that we must all give our votes, before it is allowed. We may opt to stay natural if we so choose. Since Rainbow Dash had already received our votes, and Cadence stayed natural, your vote was the only one needed in the chain.” Trixie nodded. “Alright everypony, I say we break for dinner, and a breather. After that we can all get back together for the second topic, the most recent windigo attack,” Twilight Sparkle said. Everypony agreed and slowly drifted from the map room and into the halls. Celestia walked with sudden regency down the hall. Twilight and Luna took off to a separate room, the look in Twilight’s eyes told her that things were about to get ugly in there. Trixie walked further down the hall and made a quick turn, the sound of hooves lightly tapping against the crystalline floor behind her made her stop. Cadence trotted around the corner and without warning she embraced Trixie with both forelegs and spoke so softly that Trixie almost missed it. “I’m so sorry, Trixie. I am so sorry that this happened to you. Please do your best to forgive Luna, I’m sure her goal wasn’t to demoralize you or to make you look so foolish in front of us. We all know what you have been through; there was no time for you to learn all the rules. I’m just so sorry.” That was all it took. Trixie’s heart broke, and tears over flowed. She wrapped her legs around the older pony, pulled close to her and cried silently. “How? How did you know?” “I can feel ponies emotions,” Cadence explained. “I’m an empath, it’s how I find ponies who are in love.” Trixie rubbed her muzzle against the pink fur,  she smelled like lilacs. Trixie tried to forget how she’d been used. She cried silently, and held on close for a good few minutes. When she finally did pull away she was sure she looked like a mess. Cadence was kind enough to take her to the nearest rest room, and with a little bit of makeup that she had summoned into existence with magic, she helped Trixie fix herself up. By the time she was done, runny nose, wet cheeks and red eyes were transformed into a completely normal and if Trixie dared say, fairly attractive looking face. Cadence must have been Trixie’s fairy godmother in disguise. Getting the pain out like that also helped her refocus her drive so that she could do better in the second round of talks. This time, she made sure to distrust anything Luna said on basic principle.  Never again would she allow herself to be used like that. The dinner as Twilight had called it was nothing short of a feast. Several cooks had been hired along with several cleaning servants to make sure that this meal was truly wonderful. Trixie couldn’t help but to sense the loss of Spike though, and judging from the look on Cadence’s face, she must have noticed it as well. After dinner was over, and the large alicorns had fed themselves greedily, they retreated to the map room once more. Trixie still couldn’t believe how much they could eat by themselves, it was almost as bad as watching Pinkie Pie eat, or Fluttershy… Trixie changed seats to being between Twilight and Cadence. She refused to sit anywhere near that backstabbing traitor. Luna had changed positions as well it was doubtful that anypony other than Cadence realized what Trixie was doing. Twilight stood, using the table as balance and began speaking. “As you should all be aware by now, the windigo threat has increased slowly throughout the past couple of months. At first we would see no more than one to three windigo in our skirmishes with them. I was able to destroy most of their scouts in large thanks to the Wonderbolts. “Sadly…” She paused as her horn lit up and a dozen if not more red dots appeared across the northern half of Equestria, in a jagged line. “A few days ago the first real assault we have faced by the windigo occurred. Nearly every battle was won, so places like Tall Tale, The Crystal Empire and even Hollow Shades are still safe. Sadly a lot of the smaller settlements were either lost or damaged badly enough that the ponies were forced to relocate.” Most of the red dots went orange, and a few grayed out completely. “These gray towns are ones that we have lost. The orange ones are safe for now, the red ones are where the fighting is still going on. Those fights are looking good at least, we should win them soon.” Trixie didn’t realize sooner, but there was a red dot over the Crystal Empire. Her mouth worked before her brain. “What’s going on in the Crystal Empire?” Twilight looked at her, and gave a half smile. “The Crystal Empire is both the most protected of these settlements and the one in the most danger. Its powerful shield keeps out the windigo, but it is much further from the rest of Equestria. If Equestria were to be over run, The Crystal Empire would be cut off almost immediately. As our first response outpost it’s imperative that we keep it.” Celestia frowned. “It would seem that they are testing our defenses, finding the weak points and attempting to exploit them. We should focus on reclaiming the territory lost and reinforcing it. What about the refugees?” “That’s already taken care of,” Twilight said. “I’ve sent them in several groups to different townships. Hopefully this will make the integration easier on them. Though… the windigo didn’t leave a lot of survivors.” A thought slammed into Trixie as she stared at the map. “Out of the towns we lost, were any attacked by an Ursa Major?” Twilight gave Trixie an odd stare. “Well, yes actually.” She pointed at a small town near Rainbow Falls. “The soldiers have taken to calling it Frost Bite, and it destroyed this town within minutes. We also heard that there were two ponies riding it. One of them matched the description of Frailty, the other is yet unknown.” Trixie frowned. “I think that Frailty has a master. This other pony may very well be him.” “How do you…” Twilight stopped herself, frowned and continued quietly, “Did you have one of those dreams?” “After we saved Valiant Heart, I had dreams about Frailty for a while. Though I wasn’t sure it was her, after meeting her again in Ponyville, I am positive it was. I can’t remember all the details perfectly, but I do know her power scares me. The ability to take over an Ursa Major though… I can’t believe that it was just her. I think this stallion aided her,” Trixie explained. “You’re sure it was a stallion?” Twilight asked. “That’s what it sounded like. At the time I was in Frailty’s body, and she was too… injured to see anything. Let alone argue with his offer of power and revenge,” Trixie said. “How long have you had such dreams?” Luna asked. “I… don’t know. Ever since I died in those caves when we took down the deep one…” Trixie explained. “That explains a lot,” Celestia said calmly. “Did you not ever think to tell us about this?” Trixie lowered her head. “It’s not like I wanted this. I just wanted to have a quiet and peaceful life. Trouble… follows me no matter where I go.” Twilight sat down. “So we suspect that there is a pony behind all this, some kind of stallion with powerful magic. I can only hope he doesn’t turn out to be another Starlight Glimmer. Otherwise a straight on assault with him would be suicide… it probably still is. We also know that they had the ice dragon Artica under their control. Rainbow Dash defeated that threat. So perhaps this stallion has learned some secret to controlling the minds of powerful monsters… this doesn’t bode well for us.” “While you strengthen our borders I can send scouts to try and locate and identify the stallion,” Luna said. “If you dare to use Rainbow Dash for that,” Twilight threatened. “Don’t worry, I would not dream of sending an untrained and loud mare to do this job. Only a pony as quiet as a ghost could pull this off,” Luna assured Twilight. “I have just the group for it.” “I can lend aid to the ailing refugees. There are many talented healers in my kingdom that I can lend out,” Cadence offered. “It looks like we have this under control. Is there anything else, Twilight?” Celestia asked. “Yes, actually there is,” Twilight said in a low, dark voice. “We found bodies near Rainbow Falls, they were… mutilated. A few of them lived just long enough to tell us some of the horrors they suffered. This Frailty mare, she is far crueler than I could have imagined. To her it doesn’t matter if one is a male or female, adult or foal, she takes pleasure in torture and murder. I… I don’t think we can let her get away with this, there is no saving this pony.” Trixie looked down at her hooves. They were shaking. She was scared. “You can’t be suggesting that we kill her,” Cadence said. Twilight shivered. “I… how… how strong is your constitution?” “My what?” Cadence asked. “Can you look at… horrible things and still function?” Twilight asked again, quieter. “Because I… I have pictures.” Trixie closed her eyes hard. “I-I can’t. Twilight, I can’t see it, can’t experience it a second time. Me and Val… it’s too much.” A gentle hoof grabbed her shoulder and she looked over to see a kind, understanding look in Twilight’s eyes. “Don’t worry. I wasn’t asking you.” Cadence looked at Trixie, her eyes slowly widened and her lip began to tremble. “I’m so sorry, Trixie. I… I didn’t know.” Trixie shook her head. “I-it’s okay. I… I didn’t want to think about this anymore. All I can say is this, if Frailty ever gets near me or my family again, I will not hesitate to kill her. This time it will be swift. I’ll leave no chance for her to hurt us again…” Luna stomped a hoof against the table hard, the sound echoed across the room. “You mean to tell me that this wretched monster had both you and that filly of yours at some point.” She closed her eyes, her body shook with fury. “I will not condone this, Frailty is to be burned at the stake should I ever catch her.” Celestia didn’t speak, she simply looked on with sad eyes. Cadence looked at Twilight, her eyes were soft, scared. “This mare is our Kingdom’s enemy? I… judging by Trixie’s response, you may be right, Twilight. This mare might need to be put down… it feels wrong to do that… but even Tirek didn’t take pleasure in…” She shivered. Twilight nodded. “Yeah, he just destroyed and killed. Not torture… I think this meeting is adjourned.” “One last thing,” Celestia said. “I know that with this war going on, the idea of going to a gala sounds out of the question. However, seeing a few princesses their enjoying themselves would do wonders for the kingdom’s moral. We simply cannot afford to show weakness or fear at a time like this. I urge both Twilight and Trixie to join me at the gala. I suspect that Luna will be busy, as she always is this time of year, and Cadence has her own celebration to take care of in the Crystal Empire.” Twilight nodded. “Sound reasoning. I was also planning on bringing my old schoolmates together for this occasion as well. Since my earlier reunion plans were ruined.” Luna stood and stretched her neck and back out. “These tiny chairs are less than ideal.” She looked up at Twilight. “I think that this year I too should go to the gala.” Princess Celestia smiled. “Thank you everypony. This will go a long ways to making our subjects feel safe in this time of need.” She looked at Trixie. “Will that be three tickets for you than? One for you and each of your family?” Trixie nodded. Celestia’s horn lit up with a golden radiance and three tickets popped into existence before her. They floated over to Trixie and stayed floating midair. They must have been enchanted. Trixie found herself curious, she’d just been invited to some sort of gala, but she wasn’t exactly sure which one. “So which gala is this? Magica Exotica Gala, Royal Ribbon Society Gala?” Celestia allowed herself a sly smile as she said, “The Grand Galloping Gala.”