//------------------------------// // 23. The Magic Touch // Story: Sunny's Days // by Anzel //------------------------------// “Lieutenant, this is highly irregular,” Sergeant Power said as I followed him and Skippy through the streets of Baltimare. “I know, but as I keep telling you, I’m doing research.” Sergeant Power shook his head. “It isn’t the research part, ma’am. It is the fact this has been going on for almost six months! Skippy is going to be a pro soon.” “And I’ll be there to see it. I want the whole experience, Sergeant,” I explained. He’d asked a lot of questions that I’d been waving off. He was a good guard. “I see… Well, I hope I get to see this research of yours someday. I’d imagine you—What is that?” Up ahead, there was a small crowd gathered around one of the little green spaces that were common throughout the Glen Barnie neighborhood. It was like Baltimore’s Canterlot Heights. “Not this again…” Sergeant Power sighed. Skippy and I followed along behind him as he trotted up to the crowd and started to gently push his way through. “Thank you, one and all, for coming to the Magnificent Trixie’s show! She hopes you’ve enjoyed it. Now, if you’ll just kindly place your bits in her hat…” The light blue unicorn started floating a ridiculous purple hat in front of the ponies gathered around her. It was the sort of hat that the wizards in ancient times wore. At least in all of the books, anyway. I often doubted that they truly did so. Where she’d found one, I’d never know. Of course, I rarely looked at her hat when we came across her. The Magnificent Trixie had a magnificent as— “Folks, please don’t do that! This is an unregistered performance. Go ahead and disperse,” Sergeant Power called. Trixie huffed. “Listen not to the tin pony! The Magnificent Trixie is not unregistered! She is known across all of Equestria.” The crowd looked at Sergeant Power, then Trixie, then back at Power. They all started trotting off on their way. “Wait! Wait, don’t go,” Trixie called before folding her hooves over her chest and glaring at Power. Skippy followed after his partner. “Now, Ms. Trixie, you know we’ve warned you about this before. You can’t perform in this neighborhood without paying for the license and registering. It really isn’t that big of a deal.” “The Magnificent Trixie would pay for the license if you’d let her collect from one of her shows.” Sergeant Power reached for her hoof. “Or you could perform in any of the neighborhoods that don’t require a license. You just want to cater to a wealthier group without paying. Now, as Skippy said, we’ve warned you several times. I’m afraid this time we’re going to have to take you to the station.” Trixie gasped and pulled her hoof back. “How dare you! The Magnificent Trixie is not some petty criminal or prankster! You will not take her.” That was a mistake. Especially with a guard like Power. Even if he was being a little too much of a stickler for the rules. This was a minor infraction that was neighborhood specific. He hopped closer to her, grabbed her hoof, and growled, “Oh, I will take her because she broke the law repeatedly! Now, come along. You’re cutting into my time to teach.” The light blue mare’s ears drooped and she got up to go with him. “Sergeant, if you want to continue educating Skippy, I’ll take her to the station,” I offered. It would be bad form to contradict Power’s decision in public. I’d just walk Trixie off, tell her to be good, and send her on her way. “What about your research?” he asked. “I can’t research if you’re just dragging her down there while she complains.” “Good point, she’s all yours. See you tomorrow.” I nodded, trotted over to Trixie and slipped a hoof under her foreleg. “Come on, let’s go.” We got out of sight before I let her go. “You realize you should just pay for the license, right?” I asked her as we walked side by side. She tossed her silver-blue mane. “The Magnificent Trixie realizes the fee for performers in this neighborhood is unfair! That is to say, Trixie cannot afford it.” “Oh I see. Well, Trixie could… you know… perhaps get a job?” The mare gasped as if she had been struck. She sputtered, “How dare you… you… orange-maned hussy!” My nose wrinkled before I started laughing. “I see. Well, you could always find a stallion to take care of you. You’re pretty, after all.” Trixie’s ears turned a bit pink and her head shook. “No. The Magnificent Trixie does not need somepony else to take care of her. She is going to be famous and have her name in lights! This city is not fair to Trixie, though! Everywhere Trixie goes, the ponies seek to hold her down. Ponies like you hold her down.” I snorted. “Ponies like me? Royal guards just doing their job?” “Yes! Well, no… more like your sergeant friend. He is mean to Trixie! He is jealous. He is like the ponies that insisted Trixie leave Manehattan and did not appreciate her shows either.” “Mmhmm.” Trixie glared at me. “Don’t you ’mmhmm’ Trixie! You don’t know what Trixie has been through. Trixie did not go to a fancy unicorn school. She did not grow up with a rich family. Her father only gave her a small loan of several thousand bits.” The verbal tirade continued on as Trixie tried to convince me that her life was horrible and that she was disadvantaged. She just kept droning on and on. Trixie this, Trixie that. I came to a stop, and she did too. Walking, that is, not talking. “And Trixie thinks you are being unfair for making her trot all the way—” About then was when I’d heard enough. It was time to shut her up and I wanted to use a different tactic, so I looped a forehoof behind her head, pulled her close, and planted a kiss right on her lips. Trixie’s eyes went big. She lifted a hoof to, I presumed, give me a light push. It instead ended up over my back. She nestled into the kiss and lingered there. I had completely misjudged her. Oh wow, thank you, Celestia, I had misjudged her! When our lips finally parted, she huffed, “You are a rude pony! At least buy Trixie dinner first.” “Oh yeah? Before or after I book you?” Her tongue poked out. “You are kissing a prisoner. Is that in your little guard book?” “So… do you like noodles?” “Trixie does! Trixie should probably know your name too.” “It’s Sunny Day. I’ve told you every time we gave you a warning.” “The Magnificent Trixie cannot be bothered to learn the names of all the ponies that love her! Now take her for noodles!” With a light chuckle, I grabbed her hoof and turned right at the next street. “Alright, come on.” ☼ A perky, light blue mare rump wiggled in front of me. Her silvery tail just kept batting my face. “Trixie did not know you were a model!” She had somehow found my copy of the C.O.C. Yes, I thought it was stupid, but I did look really amazing in it and part of me was proud. Trixie had it captured in her magic and she was staring at it. I was staring at her. “I’m not really a model. We do it for charity.” Her ears turned towards me before she looked back. “What charity?” “Oh, that is easy. It was for the… uh… Veterans for… Mares for… Uh, I’ll have to check. It is some charity! I promise.” She turned around and pressed her nose up against mine. “You look cute in socks, Sunny. Do you still have them? Trixie wishes to inspect you in them herself.” I looped my forehooves around her and pulled her to my chest. “They’re at the office, which I have to go to soon. If I let you go, are you going to go right back up to Glen Barnia?” Trixie shook her head. “No, Trixie’s reputation there is tarnished. She will try someplace else.” “I see, and will I see Trixie again?” Her ears wiggled and she nuzzled my cheek. “Do you want to see Trixie again?” “If Trixie is in my bedroom, I can be reasonably assured she isn’t out causing mischief. I think it is my duty to keep an eye on your booty. As a Royal Guard officer, of course.” “Of course. Then you will see Trixie again. When?” “Mmm, Friday night? I’ve got a double shift tonight.” That wasn’t entirely true, but I couldn’t give up my education for cute mare tail. “Very well! Trixie will be here Friday. Can she use your shower?” I nodded. “Yup! Just let me get ready for work. I can’t be late. You can stay as long as you like. Have some breakfast too, if you want.” She gave me a soft look. “You are very nice for a royal guard, Sunny Day. You do not assume Trixie is trying to con ponies for their bits.” That was true. That wasn’t the impression I got from her at all. No… Trixie just wanted attention. “No problem. See you later, Trixie.” I kissed her cheek, slipped out from under her, and went to start my beautification ritual. After all, today was a big day. Today was the day I forced Wonder to sign my captain’s training paperwork. I arrived early, as usual. That was my way to get acclimated before the insanity started. By insanity, I mean all the fawning over outfits and manes. The vice colonel’s way of motivating was to praise, praise, praise on everything except the work we did. As long as the comment cards were good, that is. Of course, they always were. Some ponies were so star struck they just filled them out right in front of us and dropped them off on the way out. We were, without a doubt, the highest rated unit. Not that anypony cared. Comment cards don’t make you royal guards. The back door opened and Mythic came in. “Hello? I assume the lights are on because you’re already here, Lieutenant?” “Yup!” “Always up bright and early, eh? Just like the sun?” “Yup! I’m surprised you’re out of bed. If I had a cute stallion like that, I’d never leave the house… or be able to sit down.” Outside of my door, I heard Mythic fumble with her papers. “Oh my!” she squeaked. A snicker crossed my lips but I kept it to myself and went back to my paperwork. There was a lot of paperwork in this job. We took all of the complaints seriously. They were all archived and filed so if somepony ever needed them, they’d have them. We had a whole warehouse full of them from all of the years we’d been in service. It was nuts! The door opened again and then slammed. “I can’t believe it!” came Van Glorious’s voice. “What is that?” Mythic replied. “I don’t have a date for this weekend! Not Friday! Not Saturday! Not Sunday morning. Nopony asked me and all of my regulars are busy.” “Oh… well, maybe they got tired of hearing no?” There was a derisive snort followed by the sound of mugs shifting. He wasn’t getting dates because he kept saying no and I kept saying yes. They were likely tired of hearing no, too. Over the next half hour, the others shuffled into the office. The last, as usual, was Vice Colonel Wonder. “Good morning, ponies! It is another lovely day and you all look lovely. Are we ready to do great work?” “Yes, ma’am!” everypony replied. I came out of my office and stood to attention. “Good morning, ma’am.” “Good morning, Lieutenant! You look lovely, too.” “Thank you, ma’am.” As she walked into her office, I trotted along behind her, a set of paper work captured in my magic. When she sat down, she blinked in surprise to find me so close. “Oh! You gave me a start. What can I do for you, Lieutenant?” The paperwork landed on her desk. “Captain’s school, ma’am. I’ve finished my first year and I’d like to go ahead and get my application in.” Her nose wrinkled and she looked at the paperwork. “I see. And you’re determined to do this now?” “Yes, ma’am. No time like the present.” “Well, if you wanted a four week vacation, we could just make that happen. You’ve got leave and I don’t mind looking the other way. You work hard enough.” My teeth caught my tongue just before it went off on its own. I smiled, shook my head, and replied, “It isn’t a vacation, ma’am. I want to learn something. I’m sure it will make me an even more effective leader here.” She looked at the forms and then shrugged. “Well… alright. I’ll have them done by the end of the day. If you’re sure.” “I am. Very, very sure.” “Alright then.” She waved me off. I trotted out into the open office feeling pretty pumped. I was going to go to captain’s school! That would let me network and I’d do a better job there. If I showed improvement, I could start looking for transfers. I’d also soaked up a lot of what Sergeant Power was teaching. He was an excellent pony. I’d have to send him a thank-you card someday. Someday later! For now, I had to get through the work day without looking too giddy. I was giddy, though. Nervous energy filled me. Shouting in glee wasn’t appropriate. Hmm… I could… prance? Yes! I could prance. I pranced my way to the office door. “Come on, ladies! Let’s open up early and get a head start on the line.” “Yes, ma’am!” they replied.