Heart of Stone: Recovery Light

by TheCrimsonDM

Chapter Two: And Happiness Returned to Equestria

Celestia found herself a seat next to Twilight. Of course no matter how large the table, the mare found a way to make this entire house feel like a toy. Since Luna wasn’t here Trixie had to assume that it was less than official business. Even so, she didn’t like being around Celestia anymore; Celestia only reminded Trixie of just how much she screwed up.

“Rule number seven, Trixie,” Trixie reminded herself.

“I’m afraid that I am out place here, to what rule do you refer?” Celestia asked.

“Sunset’s Rule’s of Training, number seven: no self pity.”

“Oh, that sounds like a wonderful rule to have. Why do you bring it up?”

Trixie looked at the wooden floor. “What did you want?”

Celestia let out a sigh. “I did not mean to interrupt your dinner. I just wished to see how things were going for myself. After moving into the Ponyville Castle, I have learned that Princess Twilight was not… she was suffering from things that I had not been aware of. I feel that this whole event is in some part my fault.”

Trixie shook her head. “You did the best you could, I tried, and everypony else here did everything in their power to avert this situation. What could you have actually done differently?”

“Not much I’m afraid.”

“Now why are you really here?”

Celestia lowered her head but that did nothing to make her seem any less imposing. “Is it really so wrong to come and visit my former students? You, Twilight and Sunset were all students of mine.”

Trixie let out a sigh. “I suppose there’s no harm in that.”

Maud set a bowl down with some stew in it for Princess Celestia and a couple of bread rolls. Celestia nodded to her. “I am very grateful for your hospitality.”

It wasn’t long before the chatter around the table picked up again and Trixie sort of blinked out of importance. Simply basking in the warmth of others was enough for her. Despite the fact that things would never be quite the same again, Trixie found that she was able to cope with and maybe even enjoy Celestia’s company after a time.

Things were rather quiet inside, and the stars lit up the night sky wonderfully. The cool night air brought with it a sense of relief from the hot house. Celestia stared up at the sky seemingly lost in thought.

After a moment Celestia smiled down at Trixie. “Good night, Trixie. Keep my student safe.”

“I will.”

A bright gold flash signified Celestia’s teleport. Of course Trixie knew the mare couldn’t be teleporting all the way back to Canterlot, but surely Celestia had simply gone back to whatever ride she used to arrive here in the first place. Trixie didn’t want to go inside yet, it was late though and she wasn’t up to being alone quite yet.
 
Once inside she saw five different ponies all sleeping in the living room. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were cuddling on the floor. Rainbow Dash had one of the couches to herself, meanwhile Rarity took another one. Applejack, her filly, and Soarin were all snuggled on the floor as well.

Trixie nearly went straight to bed but stopped when she noticed the light on in Twilight’s room. She approached and saw Valiant Heart walking with a book in her mouth over to Twilight’s bed. She climbed up it and sat down next to the injured mare.  Twilight didn’t even blink.

Once the filly opened the book, she cleared her throat with such a tiny voice that Trixie could have sworn she sounded more like a mouse than a pony, Valiant read aloud, “Once upon a time there was a young filly named Little Red Riding Hoof.”

Trixie watched as the filly continued reading the book, and slowly Twilight’s expression shifted. A small smile grew over Twilight’s lips and her eye almost sparkled. Trixie watched in silence as the filly continued reading the full story to Twilight. Once upon a time Valiant had said she could help Twilight, and now she was making good on that promise.

When the story was finished, Valiant let out a yawn, laid her head down next to Twilight’s and closed her eyes. Trixie walked in and picked up the book, covered them both up and turned the light off. Before she left she kissed Valiant on the forehead and whispered, “Sleep tight.”
Maud was waiting for her just outside the bedroom. She looked tired, but there was something else that Trixie couldn’t quite place. Something was off.

“Everypony’s asleep,” Maud said, she was a little too quiet.

“Yeah, they are.”

“What are you going to do?”

Trixie looked at herself. “I’m still covered in dirt and sweat from training today, so uh, I was thinking about taking a bath. Wanna join?”

Maud nodded. “It’ll give us some privacy.”

Trixie smiled at her and trotted into the bathroom where she didn’t hesitate to start the faucet running hot water. Maud was acting a little weird, and if Trixie had a suspicion that she might have been sad. So she also dumped some bubble bath into the mix and watched as pink bubbles filled the bottom of the tub. If there was ever a cure for the soul, bubble baths would be it.

The door shut behind Trixie and Maud stripped the dark blue dress off. Simply the sight of her bare gray fur was enough to make Trixie go crazy for the stoic earth pony. When Maud took her place beside Trixie nuzzled into her neck Trixie thought she was going to lose it. Her entire body was growing hot.

“Trixie,” Maud said, her tone soft.

“Yes, Maud?”

“My father is still pushing me to use the choosing stone. He came over today while you were out with Sunset. I didn’t want to talk to him but he wouldn’t leave until he told me what I needed to do.”

Trixie nuzzled back, planting soft kisses along the length of her lover’s neck. “Doesn’t he realize we’re married?”

A gasp escaped Maud’s lips as Trixie found a particularly sensitive spot. “He doesn’t care.”

“What’s wrong with the rock?”

“I don’t need a rock telling me how to live my life. It was wrong before, and I won’t let it be wrong again.”

Trixie paused. “What if it says that we were meant to be together?”

“The last time it told me to be with somebody… they died.”

Trixie pulled back, noted that the tub was nearly full and turned off the hot faucet with a bit of magic. “Then we don’t need the stupid rock to tell us how to live our lives. You’re parents are just going to have to learn to live with it.”

Soft fur brushed against Trixie’s rear and a yelp escaped her lips as Maud found something new to nuzzle. “Let’s talk about it later.”

Trixie nodded eagerly. “Yes, later.”

Early the next day after everypony had taken the train back to wherever they now called home, Trixie and Maud decided to go out. They left both Valiant and Twilight at home in the care of Sunset. Even if they weren’t going to be gone long, Trixie still felt a bit uneasy about it.

They stopped at a small store and picked up some groceries, after the dinner last night they needed to restock. It was just about the time that they were leaving when they saw a young mother pushing a stroller; a brand new baby foal was sitting inside and sleeping soundly. Maud stared at them for a long moment.

“You okay?” Trixie asked.

“It was really nice having our niece over last night. Did you know she likes to hoof paint?” Maud asked.

“She’s barely three months old, and she’s hoof painting already?”

“I remember hearing that the cakes children were discovering things at that age too.”

Trixie shrugged. “I don’t really know a lot about foals I guess.”

They exited the store together and turned toward home. Maud looked pensive. “Lulu, I… I’m glad that we have Val.”

“Me too, she’s a great kid. A bit weird but still great.”

“She’s not just a filly…”

“No, she’s really not. That makes it easy to take care of her though.”

Maud cleared her throat. “You ever think about having a baby?”

Trixie shrugged. “Yeah, but I mean, we’re both mares. That doesn’t work out in our favor.”

“You could always do artificial insemination.”

Trixie gave Maud an even look. “So could you.”

“No. I can’t.”

They were quiet for awhile after that. When somepony did finally speak it was Maud. “I read in a magazine recently that it’s possible with transmutation magic for two mares to create a baby. Of course their child has a ninety percent chance of being a female.”

“That sounds like something we could do I guess…”

“Do you want to have a baby?”

Trixie let out a sigh. “I don’t know right now. We have a lot to do and stuff to take care of. “

Maud looked over at her with pleading eyes. “Please, Lulu. I need your help.”

The sorrow and pain flowing off of Maud washed over Trixie, and she knew that she couldn’t hurt the poor mare by simply saying no. The truth was that she had considered it and although appealing she wasn’t quite ready. There were lots of reasons Trixie didn’t want to have a kid yet, but she was nineteen, and most mares her age were already married and pregnant. Even all of her friends seemed to be settling down.

The question then became; was it time to fully settle down or not?

“It would take a long time to have a kid.”

“A year.”

“And that’s assuming that any of the um… whatever actually takes.”

“It’s called sperm.”

“Y-yeah, and I’ll need to be in heat.”

“It’s spring.”

“And… Twilight’s still catatonic.”

“So?”

“So it would be hard to care for a catatonic vegetable princess and a newborn foal at the same time.”

“Do you really think she will still be like this in a year from now? And if she is, are we really going to take care of her until then?” Maud asked. “We need to start a family soon, we can’t sacrifice our lives for your guilt forever.”

Trixie shivered with the memory that Twilight’s current condition was partly her fault. “Y-yeah… we’ve been living together for two years, dating for one, and married for just a few months. You’re right; we should probably have a kid soon. I mean Val wouldn’t mind having a baby sister… I think… Look I can’t promise anything yet. When I do go in season though, if, if I feel up to it maybe we can try. We’ll need a powerful unicorn to help though if we’re going to have a baby between the two of us.”

“Sunset should know how to do it.”

The thought of Maud with male genitalia, no matter for how short of time that might be was deeply disturbing. Trixie didn’t like boys, she didn’t like boy parts, and she didn’t particularly like those toys that Maud was in love with either. At least I’m finally allowed to tie her up with ribbons… I’m weird.

“Tell you what, the second that Twilight’s back with us, I’ll agree to having your baby.”

Maud smiled warmly and nuzzled against Trixie’s neck. “Thank you.”

“You know I love you right?”

“I love you too.”

When they did get home, they found Sunset sitting on the front porch. She had a particular look in her eyes that made Trixie fearful for today’s training session. Maud gave a knowing look to Trixie that told her she was going to need to ask that question.

“Maud,” Sunset said with a nod.

Maud walked past her, “Good morning.”

Just as Maud entered the house Sunset looked at Trixie. “She having a bad morning or something?”

Trixie pawed at the earth. “She’s probably embarrassed.”

“Why?”

“Well for starters our house is still messy after our visit last night, and we still had to ask you to come over and help watch Twi anyway. Also I need to ask you if you could perform a certain spell for us when the time is ready?”

Sunset gave Trixie an odd look. “What spell?”

“Maud and me want to have a baby.”

“Canterlot was barely retaken, there could be dozens of other threats left to our country. Are you sure that right now is a good time for this? Half the mane six have already forgotten that they have responsibilities to home and country.”

“My life this past year has been plagued by nothing but drama and monsters. I might as well try and get pregnant when I go in heat. Though we are waiting until Twilight wakes up first.”

Sunset bit her lower lip. “I won’t tell you what to do, I mean after Canterlot was taken back Celestia forgave you right?”

“Yes.”

“So… I’ll need to transform Maud into a boy?”

Trixie nodded.

“Geez, transmutation magic. That stuff is a bit worrisome. It’s going to hurt like Tartarus, and that’s not including how it’ll feel for her to be turned back into a female. I can do it, sure, but is Maud really willing to do that? Just so you two can basically make a clone of yourselves?”

“Clone?”

“Neither of you are men, and even if she gets turned into a boy it’s not like her sperm are… normal. Your kid is going to be some kind of clone of the two of you, unless… Well there is something I saw Twilight researching, a method that might work. I’ll work on it, just know that this particular union usually has some odd side effects.”

“Like what?”

“Children might have some minor psychological problems, major side effects such as mutation or physical handicap are rare but not entirely out of the question. This is after all, spitting in the face of nature. You can’t expect to not have something go wrong.

“That said, Twilight’s research has indicated to me that she’s found a way to increase the safety of this type of procreation by seventy percent.”

“How do you have access to Twilight’s research?”

“She’s not living at her castle. I might as well go digging through her crap.”

Trixie let out a sigh. “Well at least it’s possible, and with Twilight’s notes it might even be ‘safe’.”

“Yeah, just you know, I can barely understand what the hay Twilight was trying to write down. Half of those research notes look like incoherent nonsense.”

Trixie gave her a small smile. “I used to go to school with her, she sort of forced us to learn her method of madness. If I can’t understand those notes than nopony can.”

“Great, next time I’m in Ponyville I’ll get the notes and we can do some research. This might actually help me understand her research on Starswirl as well. We’ve only deciphered maybe half of what she’s got written on him.”

Trixie pushed open the door and Sunset followed her inside. When Trixie saw Inkie and Blinkie sitting in her kitchen her heart dropped out of her chest. For a long moment she simply stared at the pair, Maud was picking up some of the mess the mane six had left the night prior, while Valiant stood on a kitchen chair writing messages to Inkie. Twilight was sleeping in the living room as peaceful as could be.

“Oh, yeah, your sisters in law came to visit,” Sunset said. “They wouldn’t leave.”

“You know, I’ll say it again,” Blinkie said while looming over Maud’s shoulder. “We come all the way out here to visit our dearest older sister, and we are welcomed to a dirty house and a rude filly. Seriously?”

Maud swept up a pile of candy wrappers. “Pinkie and her friends were over last night.”

“Oh, you let her make a mess? I would have sworn that you would have thrown her out the window or something for this,” there was venom in Blinkie’s tone.

“It’s just a mess.”

“Yeah, and Maudie Potty is just a mean nickname.”

Maud stopped and gave a level stare at Inkie. “I come home and find you two sitting in my kitchen. That’s trespassing.”

“No, it’s family and entry. Right, sis?”

Inkie lowered her head and stayed quiet.

“I said, ‘right, sis?’”

Inkie pawed at the floor and had no confidence in her voice as she replied, “Mmhmm.”

“What did you two want?” Maud asked, she looked at Trixie with pleading eyes.

“What we want,” Blinkie said, “Is for you two to go visit mom and pop soon. I mean it. You two are wasting everypony’s time with this whole, ‘oh I’m so hurt that you didn’t accept me at first’ routine. Nopony cares about who you’re bucking anymore. You want to sleep with an ex-criminal that’s fine. Mom just wants you to visit.”

Inkie lowered her head until her nose was practically touching the floor. “Mmhmm…”

Maud dumped the spent candy wrappers into the trash. “I’ll think about it.”

“You know that because of your selfishness mom hasn’t gotten to properly be introduced to your filly.”

Maud frowned. “I-I know.”

“Oh so you kept the little thing away on purpose?”

“No.”

“Then it was just a happy accident that mom hasn’t gotten to know her granddaughter yet?”

“No.”

“Which is it, did you keep her away on purpose or are was it an accidental blessing?”

Maud’s lower lip trembled and Trixie decided enough was enough. “Blinkie!”

The gray-purple mare gave Trixie a sly devilish grin. “Yes?”

“Maud does not need to answer any of your loaded questions; furthermore this is our home, our sanctuary. If you can’t respect either of us while you are here, you need to leave.” Trixie looked at Inkie and gave her a soft smile. “Inkie of course is welcomed anytime. You’re very polite.”

That brought a smile to Inkie’s face. Blinkie however scowled. “Fine, whatever. See if I try to help out again. Come on, sis. We’re leaving.”

Blinkie got up and started toward the door, opened it and stepped out. Inkie Paused and nodded toward Valiant before walking reluctantly after her sister. Once they were gone Maud slumped against the wall and slid down to the floor. Trixie hurried to her side and nuzzled the mare’s cheek. Sunset looked at the door for awhile.

“Their horrible,” Sunset said coldly.

Valiant shook her head and scribbled something down.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Trixie asked.

“I’m the next in line for ownership of the farm. I thought that my parents took that away from me when I married you… if I’m still in the will than that might explain why she’s so mean,” Maud said, her voice weak.

“Do you want to own the farm?” Trixie asked.

“No… maybe I should talk to mother and father.”

“Probably.”

Sunset walked over to the couch and took a seat. She leaned over and stroked the sleeping princess’s mane. “So what are we doing, Trix?”

Trixie looked at her. “We?”

“Of course, you’re not only my student, you’re my friend. I want to help.”

Trixie smiled. “Oh okay, um… Maud?”

“I’ll need to visit home, and talk to my parents. Without Blinkie if possible.”

Sunset gave them a cruel smile. “So you just need a distraction? I can keep her busy.”

Trixie let out a sigh. “Don’t hurt her.”

“I’m mean, not evil. I’ll just keep her too busy to interrupt you two.”

The Pie family rock farm was quiet, dull, and surrounded by nothing much more than weeds, rocks, and a few dead trees. Trixie remembered how many nights she’d lay in bed while working here, staring up through the holes in the old wooden ceiling and thinking about how far her life had gone downhill. It hadn’t occurred to her back than that she had been sleeping in Pinkie’s old bed.

Trixie paused for a moment to take a look at the giant petrified dragon’s egg that lay in their front yard. Sure they had always told her it was just a rock, but Trixie knew better than that. If this thing had been stolen from a dragon’s nest, than it was something valuable to the dragon. The mere thought of what it could be gave her chills.

Sunset Shimmer stepped up to Trixie’s side and pointed a hoof at the horizon. Where she was pointing Trixie saw a lone Blinkie Pie chipping away at a boulder with her pick axe in mouth. Inkie was nowhere in sight. A short laugh escaped Sunset’s lips. “I’ll keep her busy.”

Maud walked past Trixie and toward the door. “Do you think Twilight will be okay?”

“Valiant Heart and Dusk will keep an eye on her.”

“Val’s seven and Dusk is… not much better.”

“Again, we both know that Valiant’s way too mature for her age. Besides we won’t be gone long,” Trixie promised.

Maud nodded.

Together they made their way to the front door and Maud raised her hoof but hesitated. “Lulu, I haven’t been back here since they disowned me.”

“I know, but we can do this.”

Maud knocked and for a while things were quiet. When the door opened Maud took a step back and her ears folded back. Cloudy Quartz stood in the doorway with wide eyes. “Maud, Trixie?”

“Hello mother,” Maud said quietly.

“Miss Quartz,” Trixie said politely.

Cloudy Quartz smiled and beckoned for them to come in. they followed her inside. “It has been too long daughter of mine, how hast thou been?”

They entered the living room where Cloudy Quartz took a seat on a rocking chair. A ball of yarn with a pair of knitting needles sticking out rest on the table next to it. Trixie and Maud took a seat on the couch.

Maud looked a bit uncomfortable on the seat. “It’s quiet in here.”

Cloudy Quartz smiled softly at her. “Thy father is out buying supplies to fix our roof. Sun rot wore a hole through. Should you choose to wait I am sure he would be pleased to see his daughter.”

Maud shook her head. “I am here on business.”

“Oh?”

Maud met her mother’s eyes. “Who is the farm going to in the will?”

Cloudy Quartz looked away, choosing rather to look at the fireplace. “Should that matter?”

“Yes.”

“The will… has not been changed if that is what thou were wondering.”

Maud shook her head. “I don’t want the farm. Give it to Blinkie.”

“But Limestone is not in line for...”

“We both know that Pinkie couldn’t get the farm anyway.”

Cloudy Quartz frowned. “Are thou sure? The farm is the greatest gift we could give to our children.”

“No,” Maud said as she stood up and motioned for Trixie to follow. “It’s not.”

Trixie followed a little reluctantly and they left the house behind. Maud stopped once she got a few paces away from the house. “I can’t do this.”

“Give your sister the farm?”

“Deal with my parents, their lies, and their betrayal,” Maud answered. She sniffled. “Let’s go home.”

Trixie nodded. She caught a glimpse of Cloudy staring at them from the window. The old mare looked sad.

Trixie was about to call out for Sunset Shimmer when she saw Blinkie Pie gallop across the road, her eyes were wide and she was screaming as a pair of giant limes went rolling after her. The mare quickly vanished without saying a word, the limes rolling forever after her.

“What… what?” Trixie asked.

Sunset dropped from the sky, landing next to them. “What, I thought it would be funny?”

Trixie gave her an odd look. “You have giant limes, chasing after Limestone?”

“Yes!” Sunset said with a pleased grin.

Trixie shook her head, and continued forward. The others followed. “I, I think you’re insane.”

“Oh don’t worry, our training will be much worse.”

“Ugh, no…”

Sunset looked at Maud with gentle eyes. “Everything go okay?”

Trixie shook her head. “It’s hard for Maud to be here.”

“You know we could always get you some Cheesy Puffs and weed,” Sunset suggested.

“Sunset!” Trixie complained.

“What?” Sunset said. “It always worked on the other one…”

Trixie grumbled something unkind under her breath.

“I heard that.”

After yet another brutal training session with Sunset Shimmer, Trixie found herself relaxing inside the house with a nice bit of homework. Specifically a copy of, ‘Rules and Laws of the Governing Princesses’. Of which there were currently six that held power. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Trixie, Sunset and Starlight. Starlight was as far as Trixie was aware only a temporary princess until Twilight could resume her duties.

One thing that Trixie had heard about awhile back, and as soon as she had she’d acted on it was the fact that a princess could legally adopt any pupil or apprentice that they wanted to; with our without parental permission. Sure, Valiant might be an earth pony but she could clearly use magic. She made a great apprentice/daughter.

That had raised the question of Celestia’s students. According to this law, Celestia never had to ask permission to adopt foals. Of course she did ask permission, and she respected the parents’ wishes, though few ever thought about declining her offer of adoption. The prestige was simply too great to ignore. The fact stood that she did not need to.

“Hey,” Sunset said from the couch.

Trixie glanced up. Sunset was lying on her back reading what looked to be some sort of comic book. The front cover had a picture of a house made out of four squares and a triangle. Four ponies stood on the cover, each one of them looked sort of ridiculous. Maud was busy looking through a collection of rocks on the table. Meanwhile Valiant Heart was reading a book to the empty husk of an alicorn.

“What is it?” Trixie asked.

“So I’m reading this thing right, and I’m at the part where two of the main characters kiss… only she’s kissing her lover’s decapitated head from her past-present body. And I just realized the most important thing ever!”

Trixie had no idea what the Sunset was talking about, but decided to humor her anyway. “Oh, what’s that?”

Sunset tossed the book onto the table, narrowly avoiding the carefully spread out rocks. “This story is convoluted and full of needless drama that does not forward the plot… and I love it!”

“Oh… that’s nice?”

“I just wish that Fishrika would make another appearance, she’s been dead for like three books.”

“Then how would she-“ Trixie began, she stopped short as she remembered the one thing she learned since getting to know Sunset on a close level. Never ask about the weird book series.

“Sunset, you almost hit my rocks,” Maud warned her.

“Sorry, I was trying to be dramatic.” Sunset sat up stretched her forelegs over her head and grabbed the book in her telekinetic aura. “I’m going home. I have a fish pony that I don’t have to wait for because she’s not dead, and she’s married to me!”

Sunset stood up and walked over to Valiant Heart. “See ya later, Val.” She rubbed the top of Valiant’s head messing up the already wild mane. Valiant glared daggers at Sunset.

Sunset didn’t leave though, instead she leaned against the wall and stared at Twilight while Valiant continued reading. Trixie listened into the filly’s tiny voice. Considering Valiant refused to talk to ponies, this was about the only time she really got to hear it.

“So it was,” Valiant began, her tiny voice the only real sound in the room. “That the evil wizard was banished from the land for all time. Thanks to Starswirl the Bearded, life returned to normal. The sun was shining, the plants were full of life, and nowhere could the dreaded smooze be found. Ponies could once again frolic and play-“

Twilight blinked and said, “-and happiness returned to Equestria.”