//------------------------------// // Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Six: Heavy // Story: Trixie and Maud: Heart of Stone // by TheCrimsonDM //------------------------------// Heart of Stone Chapter One Hundred and Twenty Six: Heavy Written by TheCrimsonDm Wind rushed through the cold night air, whipping at Trixie’s cloak. Snow had just begun to fall. And the ursa major was staring down at the group of ponies. Friends, guards, and others who had somehow managed to stick around long enough to end up in the worst of places. It was a cold night. Twilight’s body lay limp on the ground, thankfully the snow put out the fire. Trixie was unable to tell if she was alive or dead. A horrible shriek escaped a familiar mare’s voice, and Trixie spun around to see to her cousin and dear friend about to be slaughtered by a pack of angry windigo. Trixie wanted to look away, she wanted to find a dark hole and hide in it. Failing that she wanted to gallop out to her cousin’s rescue. She couldn’t do any of those things. All she could do was clutch tighter to Pinkie’s sides as the pink mare galloped for dear life toward a stone brick wall. Thankfully she wasn’t the only one who had similar beliefs, and the others were still able to move without crying. Wind Rider had already arrived by Twilight’s side and had her cradled in his forelegs. He was making his way toward the wall. Rainbow Dash was streaking in from above, and about to do something that Trixie had only seen once before. The air took on physical presence as it bent around Rainbow Dash’s form, and she did her best to aim herself into the middle of the largest swarm of windigo. Just as she reached the center mass of the windigo knights, Rainbow Dash exploded! A wave of prismatic energy splashed out around her, and everything caught in the blast was thrown back with so much force that it shattered their crystalline forms. Rainbow didn’t stop as she raced past the few windigo still standing, she reached down grabbed Applejack and rocketed past Trixie and the others before Trixie could even blink. Only a shimmering rainbow streak of light was left behind as the mare darted to the wall and landed in front of it. Pinkie Pie was galloping as fast as her hooves would carry her, and Trixie realized shamefully that the mare would have been moving at least twice as fast had she not been carrying Trixie’s dead weight on her back. Being the first one wounded just wasn’t fair. Trixie hadn’t even gotten to redeem herself yet. She really was just a hindrance. Pinkie Pie stopped at the wall first, followed by Maud still carrying Valiant. The brown guard with his yellow eyes showed up next, and then Moondancer and Candle Light. A half dozen of the original guards managed to survive the onslaught to make it to the wall. It only took a few extra moments for Wind Rider to show up with Twilight in tow. He held her, as he looked at the group. Trixie focused primarily on Twilight, and the small up and down movements of her chest. Her head rolled over to face her, and Trixie saw what had happened to Twilight’s face, specifically to her eye. It should have been impossible to vomit when there was nothing left in her stomach. That did not stop Trixie from hurling over the side of Pinkie’s shoulder. Pinkie Pie didn’t react as volatile; she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. “She’s alive,” Pinkie Pie said. “I can’t believe that she’s still alive…” Applejack was whimpering, moaning and kicking her legs furiously in Rainbow Dash’s grip. She let out a scream, and because this was how things always worked for her, Trixie knew exactly what Applejack was going to say, before she even said it. “The baby’s coming!” Applejack shouted at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash’s eyes bugged out of her skull and her mouth worked wordlessly for a moment. She cleared her throat. “What… what do we do?” Trixie looked up at the ursa major, and grimaced. There were a few guards straggling behind, or wounded on the ground. The ursa was taking its sweet time picking them up, bringing them to its mouth, their screams went silent as they were devoured. The old stallion was looking directly at Trixie; his hood was drawn back now. She’d seen him somewhere before, though she couldn’t quite place where. “Okay, you,” Pinkie Pie said. She bounced up, Trixie went up and off of Pinkie’s back. A tiny scream escaped her lips as she somehow landed on Moondancer’s back. Pinkie Pie finished, “Hold her, I’ll destroy the wall. Everypony get back!” Pinkie Pie pulled what looked like a triple layer cake complete with icing and strawberries from her mane. Took a short gallop and threw it with all of her strength at the wall. Rainbow Dash looked panicked as she flew back behind Pinkie Pie and faced away from the wall hugging Applejack closer. Trixie looked at Pinkie Pie. “This little hoof went to the market,” Pinkie Pie said. Trixie covered her ears. Even she could figure out what was about to happen. “This little hoof ate steamed yam,” Pinkie said with a manic grin. Moondancer opened her mouth to speak, Trixie saw the motion and was reminded about an old school lesson on this subject. Trixie shouted, “Cover your ears and open your mouths!” Pinkie Pie jumped into the air shrieking, “And this little hoof went kabloowie!” The cake detonated and the wall exploded in fire and smoke. After a few seconds the only thing left was a smoldering hole where the wall had once been, at least fifteen feet in diameter. It was then that Fluttershy appeared next to the group, her vicious eyes looked around until she saw the brown guard. She flew next to him, drew back her foreleg, and hit him in the face so hard that he fell over. “DISCORD! You could have done so much to help us here! You could have stopped Twilight, stopped Luna, saved lives! You selfish arrogant son of a bi-“ The stallion’s body stretched grotesquely and scales, fur, feathers, and hair all appeared before Trixie’s eyes. When it was finished, a vaguely draconic shaped creature with each limb belonging to a very different creature stood there with pleading yellow eyes. “But, Fluttershy,” It said with Babble’s voice. “What could a simple spirit of chaos like me do?” She turned her back on him, saw the ursa major and her eyes went wide. The creature was beginning to move from its feeding spot, and was now looking directly at the only source of meal left. Trixie swallowed hard. Rainbow Dash cried, “Come on!” Everypony watched as Rainbow Dash flew through the hole in the wall and down into the nothingness below. Sure everypony left knew the plan, but that did not mean it looked like a smart one. The one good thing about a giant hungry beast coming after you, it makes even stupid plans seem brilliant. Everypony left galloped as fast as they could through the hole. Trixie watched the faster ponies go first, jump off and heard screams that ended almost immediately. Maud went over the edge cradling Valiant in her forelegs. Pinkie was already gone, and Candle Light was keeping up with Moondancer. They both jumped off at the same time, which meant Trixie went along with them. For the first few feet, they flew nothing but forest lay in front of them and over a thousand feet below. Then they began falling only to land seconds later on the hardwood surface of the one and only Lightning Runner. Moondancer promptly sat down once she was on deck. Trixie fell off, and rolled over. Her back went up in flames as her shoulders touched the hard surface. Around her most of the ponies were sitting down, looking wary, unsure, and relieved. Maud and Valiant were right next to her. “Did we do it?” Trixie asked. As a draconequus and a yellow bat pony flew overhead and landed on deck. Trixie heard the clear and rough voice of the captain. “Alright, everypony. The Lightning Runner is now scheduled for takeoff. Please keep your tails and heads on deck at all times.” The vehicle shift into motion and began descending. Trixie had expected that they would fly straight away, but it seemed that Lightning Dust had some other plans. Or maybe this was part of Twilight’s original scheme as well. Either way, it looked like they were in the clear. Trixie paused, looked around, and let out a sigh of relief. The coast was clear as Ponyville skies. A few minutes went by, and they slowly pulled underneath the mountain as they continued their descent. Canterlot was built on an overlooking cliff edge, the castle actually extended even further from the cliff. It was the kind of insane, and unsound architectural design that only somepony as insane as Starswirl the Bearded could come up with. “Crazy, stupid unicorns,” Trixie whispered. Maud leaned over her, and Trixie expected the mare to ask what she was talking about. Instead Maud lowered her head, put her lips to Trixie’s and kissed her. Hot tongues met, and wrestled in an attempt to pin one another to the wall of somepony’s mouth. Trixie tasted Maud, it had a hint of flower and grape taste to it. When she began feeling a hoof sliding down her chest, over her belly and continue its descent. Trixie was sure she was about to be in the worst kind of trouble. Applejack’s screaming stopped any of that kind of illicit activity right then and there. Trixie rolled over, her pain forgotten by one single desire; the need to protect those close to her. Her muscles burned with every step, but she managed to half limp over to Applejack’s side. Fluttershy was there, a white blanket was lying underneath Applejacks rear. “Breathe, Applejack, can you do that for me?” Fluttershy asked. Her eyes had returned from the red depths of Tartarus, they were still bat-like but they looked friendly. The rest of her still looked like a bat pony. Applejack was panting, and let out another terrible scream. She managed to screw her face up and look directly at Trixie. “Why does it have to be a darned bat pony that helps me give birth!” “It’s Fluttershy,” Trixie said, almost unsure of that herself. “Ah Darn well know it's Fluttershy! Ah just don’t understand why she looks like a baaAHHH-“ Applejack trailed off in a horrible scream. Trixie and Maud both laid down next to Applejack, and held her hoof. Trixie tried to smile for Applejack. “It’s going to be okay, you have family here. We are here for you.” “Ah’m gonna get Twi for this!” Applejack shouted angrily. “She dun dropped me an’ this happened!” Valiant Heart joined them as well, only she was at the wrong end. She sat next to Fluttershy and said something so quietly that for a brief second Trixie thought she was only mouthing the words. Fluttershy’s ears perked up and she looked down at the filly surprised. “You can talk?” Fluttershy asked astounded. Valiant repeated whatever she was mouthing. Fluttershy shook her head. “Okay, well I’m glad that one of us has done this on ponies before. Animals are easy. Um, water? Hot water?” Valiant nodded, and trotted off. She grabbed Rainbow Dash and dragged her toward the cabin. Trixie and Maud both looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy returned to looking at Applejack and said, “Did you let that filly help give birth?” Trixie shook her head. “She lived on the streets… she must’ve helped another one of the vagrants or something.” Fluttershy shook her head slowly. “With that filly’s help, this might actually be really easy.” “EASY!” Applejack screamed. “I’m being ripped in half!” The next hour or so was slow, painful and even worse; humiliating. Valiant Heart knew just as much as Fluttershy about childbirth, maybe more. She had to walk Fluttershy through most of it. But just as quickly as it had started, it ended. Fluttershy cleaned the baby off and gave a tiny pink filly to Applejack. The filly’s rainbow mane was a nice, but odd touch. Applejack smiled, that’s actually not quite right. To call her expression a smile was to call a pebble a boulder. If anything, Applejack’s expression was the pure embodiment of joy and pleasure that any rightful mother should have. Seeing this made Trixie feel like she understood Maud a little better, knowing what the mare had lost but also what she had found again in Valiant. Maud had wandered off near the railing with Valiant, leaving Trixie to sit next to Applejack holding her brand new baby. “What are you going to name it?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Mah family has a tradition where you name yer child after the thing you were thinking when you went into labor or you gave birth, something like that,” Applejack said. “All Ah could think of was how beautiful that sonic rainboom looked when Ah was lying there, sure that me and mah child were about to…” She sniffled, and a few tears ran down her face. She looked up at Rainbow Dash. “Ah’m gonna name her Color Splash, after yer rainboom.” Rainbow Dash sat down, and the unexpected happened. She began sobbing and weeping like a little filly. Pinkie Pie ended up having to hold Rainbow as she completely broke down, the only things she managed to say between sobs were along the lines of, “I’m glad you’re okay. I was so scared. Thank you.” After that display of raw emotion, Trixie decided to go and meet up with Maud. As she approached she noticed that Maud had wet cheeks, and her eyes were glossy. Valiant Heart held Maud’s hoof tightly. “Hey,” Trixie said quietly. “Are you okay to walk?” Maud asked. Trixie took a seat down next to Valiant. “Yeah, my body doesn’t hurt so much anymore.” Trixie looked over the edge. The top of the forest was just below them and they were about to land. Pretty soon they were going to be able to go and meet up with the other evacuees. “How are you feeling?” Trixie asked. “I… I’m not sure,” Maud said. She looked back at Applejack. “I’m more happy for her than you could ever imagine. At the same time I’m… my heart is broken.” “Because of Boulder Dash?” Trixie asked as gently as she knew how. Maud nodded. “I told Valiant everything, and she… she still wants to be with me, be with us.” Trixie patted Valiant on the head. “That’s not surprising, she’s a good kid. Heck, she’s more adult than me in some ways.” “Did you know I can’t have any more kids,” Maud said flatly. It was like somepony had stuck a sword through Trixie’s heart. Hearing those words was… too hard for her to hear, but she needed to hear them. They were Maud’s and as strong as she was, even Maud needed a crutch to lean on sometimes. Trixie promised to be that very crutch when they got married. “No, I didn’t,” Trixie said. “The doctors told me that I might be able to get pregnant, but my stress with Boulder Dash and with losing Rainbow Blaze was too hard on me. I’d likely never be able to carry to full term and have a miscarriage within a few weeks,” Maud said. “I haven’t tried to get pregnant again, and I won’t. I have three wonderful sisters who can have babies for me. I won’t put myself through that again… but… I also have you, Lulu. I’m sure that one day you’ll want to have kids of your own.” Trixie nodded. “I don’t know if I can. I never had any tests done to see if I’m still able too, but… yeah one day I want to have a baby unicorn if it’s still possible… actually, being an alicorn might have made it more possible.” “I thought alicorns had trouble with having kids,” Maud said. “You know what happened to me,” Trixie said somberly. “The things that happened to me in Manehattan probably ruined my insides. But if I was told right, the alicorn transformation did more than just heal my mind, it also healed my body. Supposedly the alicorn ascension can regenerate limbs. If it can do that, why not make my baby parts fresh and unscarred.” Maud nodded. “Then it’s decided, one day you’re going to have a baby.” “It’s still one hundred to one odds, you know, because alicorn immortality messes with the baby making process and I highly doubt that I’m a fertility alicorn like Cadance. But we can try hundred times if we need too,” Trixie said. The Lightning Runner dipped into the tree line and sunk beneath the forest sea. Trixie pulled away from the rails and turned only to see the monstrous Discord standing right behind her. His body waved like a serpent but those yellow eyes were the same ones she’d always seen in what was supposed to be her crazy. “Babble,” Trixie said. “Or should I just call you Discord now.” “I told you once, I go by many titles,” He said honestly. “It is hardly my fault that you assumed I was part of your insanity.” “I tried to crush you with a table,” Trixie replied. “Yes, and that was all in good fun. I was right at the time was I not?” He said, his voice purred. Trixie reached out, grabbed his beard and pulled his head down to meet hers. “I want you to leave me alone. My family alone. I am sick and tired of your games, and if you are not my own crazy than I can forbid you from entering my house.” Discord looked away. “Aww, but you were so fun. Are you positive you don’t want my assistance in the future?” Trixie growled. “Fine, fine, but if you ever find yourself in need of the spirit of chaos don’t come crying to me,” He said. Trixie released his beard and he stood up straight. “Fluttershy was quite right to threaten me to stay away from you. I suppose my game with her has run its limit. She won’t listen to my advice anymore.” “You told her to confess her feelings for me,” Trixie said. “Why would you do that?” “It was eating the poor thing up on the inside. I also told her to make a few moves and try to steal you away, I hardly thought that you would actually accept her indentations and well, join her,” Discord said. “You were supposed to tell her no, and then the two of you could do that thing Twilight is always on about, that making up and forgiving your friends thing.” Trixie looked at him, she reached out and felt his chaotic and alien mind. She could detect truth coming from him, though it felt confused, like maybe he wasn’t even sure of what his intentions were. For a brief moment she considered the idea that maybe, aside from a few personal actions of his, he simply did as his nature told him to do. That he was no more evil than he was good. He simply was; chaos. “You… almost did good,” Trixie said. “But the things Red Velvet did to my mind. I can’t believe that I could ever call her my friend now that she’s taken her power from me. Somehow, I had gone from wanting to kill her, to wanting to keep her safe. That… shouldn’t have been possible. If she could do that to my mind, what else could she have done? How else did she manipulate my emotions?” “I’m not so good with the emotions and stuff, perhaps you could discuss this better with Fluttershy?” Discord said with a wave of his paw. Trixie stood in stunned silence for a moment. Red’s last words had been something about the things she’d made Trixie do, all to make her suicidal. If Red realized that Trixie had feelings for Fluttershy, and how bad Trixie would feel if she had… “That… monster,” Trixie said. She then shook her head. “No, it, it couldn’t have been all her fault. That would be too easy, but I’m sure of it now. She was the one who made me think that Fluttershy would kill herself if I didn’t sleep with her, it was Red who made me think Fluttershy was suicidal. I had no indication to believe that at all…” “What are you saying?” Maud said. “I’m not saying that I was in the clear,” Trixie said. She closed her eyes. “Just that, I was pushed into a state of mind that made it easier for me to make some poor choices. They were still my choices.” “So… you were drugged?” Maud asked. Trixie thought about it. “Kinda… or like another form of insanity. Either way, my actions were still mine. I share that blame with Fluttershy, and I share the guilt. This doesn’t absolve me of anything; all it does is help me understand why I did it. I… I think I can actually accept what I did now.” Trixie looked Maud in the eyes. “Can you accept it?” “Lulu, I accepted it and forgave you for cheating on me an hour after you did it… give or take a few weeks… I accept it. I forgive you,” Maud said. She leaned over and embraced Trixie. Trixie returned the embrace and felt like another weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. She had committed sins, and they were still very much her fault, but it was a relief to finally understand why she was going crazy. It had nothing to do with needing an extra dosage of medication, no medication in the world could have fought the poison that was running through her mind, her body, and her soul. She was cleansed of it now, and that was the best news she could have received. If she should ever meet Red Velvet again, she would have some words for her, though something told her that she would never see the mare again. That left her with an even deeper sense of relief. The Lightning Runner finally landed on solid earth. Lightning Dust’s voice came out loud and clear once again, “Alright everypony, here we are. Your one stop trip to the bottom of Canterlot Mountain, please remain on board until preparations to leave are ready.” “Why did it take an hour to land?” Rainbow Dash asked a little too loudly. Lightning Dust looked over the deck, at the wounded mare and at the brand new mother. “We had too much weight, and any faster could have made the trip needlessly dangerous. This ship is a fine vessel for a small crew, but we have a nearly thousand pound princess on board.” “Twilight is not a thousand pounds!” Rainbow Dash shouted. The door to the cabin swung open and much to everypony’s shock, Princess Luna, covered head to toe in bandages limped out. The first thing she did was glare at Lightning Dust. “I am not a thousand pounds, I barely make seven hundred mark while on holiday.” “Luna!” Trixie exclaimed. Luna looked down at Trixie and smiled. “Where is my… our fellow princess?” The deck grew tense, and darkly quiet. Luna picked up on that and looked around with nearly desperate eyes until she saw a blanketed mare off in the corner. What was exposed from under those bandages of Twilight’s lavender face was pale, but her breathing had returned to normal thanks to Moondancer. Luna’s limping steps were heavy, and Trixie could feel the deck vibrate with each one. As she passed Applejack and the newborn she stopped. “Is she yours?” Luna asked, quietly. Applejack nodded. Luna lowered her head. “Name?” “Color Splash.” “Color Splash,” Luna said. “That’s a good name for such a wonderful child. May the stars shine their favor on you, young one.” After that she pulled away and continued limping to Princess Twilight. She stood there a moment, looked at her legs, attempted to bend them and cringed. She gave up and sort of fell onto what must have been her good side. The entire ship rocked a little as she did so.  She didn’t say a word; she just laid still and stared down at Twilight with sad, lonely eyes. “If it had not been for Trixie’s intervention,” Discord said. “Twilight would have been killed. She went against the Pinkie Sense and lost.” “What does that mean?” Luna asked. “That Twilight is a lion who decided to take on a dragon,” Discord said. “Trixie saved… most of her from the fire.” Luna lifted up the blanket. She was lucky that Moondancer had already bandaged Twilight’s face and side. Luna looked back at nopony in particular.  With a hurt tone, Luna asked the one question that nopony wanted to answer. “Where is her wing?”