Hayseed: Mother of Magic and Illusion
Trixie sighed as she looked over the hill of her newest destination. Pulling out a spy glass she carefully looked over the town and nearly smiled at the town. Nearly being the key word as she brought her spy glass over to the town hall and frowned. “How wonderful, yet another night in the woods with only pinecones and nuts to eat.” Trixie said sadly as she lowered her spy glass putting into her poor beaten and overly abused saddle bag. In the town yet another poster had gone up, one that stated that she was sadly a fraud. There were also naysayers she had seen in the town as well. They obviously had followed her from the last set of towns. “Sweet Celestia, why oh why must Trixie suffer?” Trixie asked as she trotted the woods for a place to sleep. “Trixie tried to protect the town, she truly did, but… but…”
Trixie soon stopped and gasped at the sounds she was hearing from the woods. They were back! Quickly gathering her magic Trixie teleported to the hill over the town and fell as she soon saw it was too late. The Ghouls had arrived and with it… death. “No…no… not again, not another town…” Trixie said as she quickly galloped towards the town. She would not allow another town to become a victim of the Ghouls. Grabbing a set of hard stones in her magic Trixie charged with a need, a need to protect. She had seen what these things had done in the last town and would not allow it again. “Feel Trixie’s wrath!” Trixie yelled as she began firing heavy stones at the heads of the Ghouls, ending their suffering quickly. “Flee Ponies! Flee! They care not for the living, those injured leave behind and flee!” Trixie called out as she attacked and defended the town’s inhabitants.
Soon a young filly scream was heard and Trixie turned and fired a free stone just in time to save the young filly’s life. Frighten the young filly got under Trixie as she created a protective shield around them. “Worry not Trixie will not let them pass.” She said gently to the filly.
Concentrating she teleported herself and the filly to the edge of town where a happy mare galloped over and took the filly into her front limbs. “Thank you.” the mare said crying.
“Glad to help.” Trixie said before beginning to leave.
“Wait, please. Your name, your name so I may inform the others of their hero.” The mare cried out to her.
“You don’t want her name!” a known naysayer yelled pointing at her. “She brought those things to the town. She’s no hero, quick grab what you can before she leaves and force them those creature to…” Trixie gasped at the sound of a hoof hitting a jaw.
“How dare you say that?” the mare yelled gaining the attention of the town’s survivors, “She risked her own life to tell us to flee, she risked her own life to save my daughter, and you say SHE brought those things here? How do we know YOU didn’t bring those, those, monsters to our home?”
The naysayer got up and was about to be joined by his friends before the town pounced on them. “She came after the monsters. She fought to save our homes! She saved a foal! What did you do other than naysay this mare? All you did was come and spread hate to the town! You brought them when we told you to knock it off!” The town’s ponies yelled over one another causing the naysayers to slowly turn pale with fear.
“Enough!” Trixie yelled, gaining everyone’s attention. Everyone stopped and parted ways for her to trot up to the naysayers. “Ghouls go where they please and harm those that are living to gain more numbers. You’re naysaying has placed… some in great danger only to do so to get to… me. Yet you are not fully wrong as… I… am no hero. I… am… merely a mare seeking refuge as well as a place to eat. I… was only passing through though… I… would not allow such a tragedy to happen again. I shall go, head to Canterlot as it is a safe haven.”
At this Trixie turned to leave before the mare from earlier gently got her attention. “Will you not come with us?”
Trixie thought on this. “There is safety in numbers lass.” An old stallion said with a smile.
“The mayor is right, please come with us we can help one another and we know these lands well.” The mare said gently.
Trixie sighed and with a smile… nodded. “I… would be honored.”
***
Opening Theme: Papermoon (From Soul Eater by Tommy Heavenly6)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Music used for this story as they are owned by their proper owners. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro and Miss Faust. Only characters I do own are as follows: Candy Lane, Harry Hoofdini (my version no one else’s),
***
Twilight Velvet sighed as she went through yet another writers block. It had been weeks since her publisher had contacted her about continuing her romance series, Roses, which she had not touched in over a year. Her last book had gotten rave reviews but she felt that she needed to end her series on the last book, Roses: Kisses on the Wind which ended with one of the main characters leaving for the cold north. Sadly the fans had spoken and the need to continue the series had outweighed the need for relaxation. It was the sacrifice one had to pay for fame. Shaking her head she got up from her desk to gain some needed tea as well as some much needed inspiration.
As she trotted through her home she looked to the multiple picture frames that hung on the wall. Each picture was of her and her husband Nightlight’s family. Many of the pictures had gone back as far as the founding of Equestria which Velvet was both proud and not so proud of. Sighing she stopped before one of the oldest pictures of her current family which she took off the wall to look at. It was of her daughter Twilight getting her acceptance letter from Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. It had taken them a lot of work to get her into the school but not even they were expecting them to give her and entrance exam after the letter.
Smiling she returned the picture to the wall and looked to the one below it with a single tear running down her cheek. It was of her other daughter. She had been sick since birth and was a few years behind Twilight for education but she still was able to get into a very well-known school. She thought back to it as if it were yesterday.
Velvet was in the kitchen making pancakes beside her second daughter smiling. She was so glad she was so interested in cooking, unlike Twilight who only was interested in books. “Mm, are those your famous strawberry pancakes girls?” a voice said from the doorway.
“Daddy!” the young filly yelled gambling over to her father.
“Hey there sweetie, are you helping your momma again?” Nightlight said nuzzling his daughter.
“Ah huh, mixed the batter.” She replied smiling.
“I’m sure that was fun.” Nightlight said looking to his wife lovingly.
“Has the mail come in yet dear?” Velvet asked flipping the pancake onto a plate.
“Yep, and you won’t believe what we got.” Nightlight said smiling. Finishing her task Velvet turned off the stove to look at her husband as he pulled out a letter with a seal on it.
“Is that?” Velvet asked before taking it into her magic. Carefully she opened the letter and read it over before gasping with tears in her eyes.
“Momma what’s wrong?” their daughter asked worried.
“Sweetie, we have some news for you.” Velvet said smiling.
“What is it?” their daughter asked soon getting excited.
“Well remember that school you’ve wanted to go to? Well you just got accepted.” Nightlight said showing her the letter. “Congratulations sweetie, you’re going to The House of Illusions!”
It was the happiest day in their lives… for a while. Years after she had gone to the school Velvet and Nightlight’s second daughter had vanished without a trace. They had contacted the school many times inquiring just where she had gone with only the explanation of her being an apprentice. It heavily angered her to the point she had gone back to how she once spoke which was not enjoyable. Still… she always wondered where her daughter had gone to… and where she was now.
***
Trixie was thankful for the town’s pony’s aid in helping her with her things. She had been on her own for a long time and the company was well accepted. She needed a rest after carrying not one but two saddlebags filled to the brim with her magic gear. It was a known fact that magicians carried their own gear where ever they went however she heavily missed her old trailer. Sadly she could not blame the foals of the town she lost it. It was her own fault for boasting that she could take an Ursa Major but she did do her best to defend the town. They didn’t really teach Ursa battle one oh one back at her old school, her school… oh how she loved and hated the school. Growing up there was not a pleasant memory.
“Speak right!” the Dorm leader said smacking her again.
“Trixie can’t help she…” Trixie said before the Dorm leader hit her again.
“I you little brat. I can’t help how I talk. You’ll either speak right or…”
“Or you’ll what?” a stern voice said behind the Dorm Leader. Turning the Dorm Leader gulped as he got face to face with one of the schools most famous instructors, Harry Hoofdini. “Go on. Tell me what you’ll do to this student if she doesn’t speak like a normal foal?” Harry demanded looking right at him.
“I… I… Nothing Professor, I wasn’t going to do anything.” The Dorm Leader said backing up a bit.
“That's what I thought you’d do.” Harry said sternly before looking around him and smiling pleasantly at Trixie. “My, my little one you’re quite bruised up. Why don’t we go to the nurse and get you patched up. Then maybe we can see about a treat. What do you say?” Trixie perked up at this as she limped over to the kind hearted stallion. “That a girl.” Harry said before looking to the Dorm leader. “Know I WILL be speaking to the Head about this behavior of yours. I will NOT tolerate the mistreatment of foals in this or any school.” Harry then used his magic to gently pick Trixie up and place her on his back before trotting off towards the Head’s office.
It was from that day on she had gotten personal teaching from the famed Illusionist. Though the Dorm Leader still got a hit in from time to time she knew the Harry would always defend her. She even remembered the day he had gone so far as put the Leader in his place with a powerful illusion spell, one that she had tried numerous times to master. Sadly such spells were out of her reach at the time. She still practiced it to this day but knew very little of it as it was Harry’s personal spell, Dragon’s Illusion.
“Miss, excuse me Miss?” The mare next to her asked catching her attention.
“Oh, um, yes?” Trixie responded with her ears low.
“No need to be worried Miss, I was just wondering what your name was since you did save us all.” The mare said smiling.
“I…I rather not madam as I…I do not wish to give your fellow villagers a bad reputation.” Trixie replied nervously.
The mare waved this off gently. “Nonsense, whatever your past was doesn’t matter to us now. It’s what you do now that interests us.”
Trixie thought on this then smiled. “Very well, it’s Trixie. Trixie Lulamoon.”
The mare smiled at this. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Trixie, I’m Candy Lane.”
Trixie smiled back and began speaking with the kind hearted mare. “So you don’t remember where you came from other than your school?” Candy asked frowning.
“Yes, Trixie thinks it is due to the Dorm Leader’s treatment when she was still a foal.” Trixie replied glad her new friend didn’t care for her form of speech.
“I’m so sorry. Do you have any clues?” Candy asked worried for her friend.
“Sadly Trixie does not. Trixie remembers very little of her foal hood. She does remember the smell of pancakes and singing.” Trixie replied thinking.
“Well that’s a start. Do you remember what the pancakes smell like?” Candy asked thinking as well.
“Not really, Trixie however Trixie does love pancakes but each time she eats them she is sadden that they do not taste… correct?” Trixie replied with the end being a question.
“Well if we knew what the pancakes where that could trigger a memory for you.” Candy said smiling before thinking again. “What about the singing?”
Trixie thought on this as she tried to recall a song she remembered someone singing to her once but sadly could only remember the melody. “Trixie cannot recall the words but she does remember the melody.”
Candy smiled at this. “Well it’s a start. Mind humming it for me?”
***
Velvet sighed as she looked around her home’s attic for a very special set of boxes. A set of boxes she and her husband put away years ago when their daughters had moved out and into their new lives. “Ah ha, there you are!” Velvet said pulling the boxes out. The first one had the name Twilight on it and held mostly all her foal hood toys and well books. The other box however was the one she had been looking for. Opening it she smiled as the memories held inside for so many years. Giggling, she pulled out and put to the side a small black top hat with a star wand beside it. She then pulled out a set of posters which had be carefully rolled and sealed in tubs to be put up at a later date that sadly never came. She then pulled out a set of foal clothes she had forgotten she had put away long ago. She wondered if her daughter would even remember wearing such clothes.
Finally she came to something she held dear to her and her child. A record that they sang to once in a while when they had the time or was just needed a pick me up. It was a foal’s record of course and only had two songs on it but that was all they ever needed. Smiling, she gently put it to the side and began to hum a tune before singing to herself as she pulled more and more items from the box. ”You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you’ll never know dear, how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away…” It was their favorite song to sing and was kept between them. It was sadly the only song her daughter could only remember due to her health.
For Nightlight saying those words in that room before him was the last thing any smart stallion would have never said. But sadly most soon to be fathers did say just the words he just did. "It can’t be that bad, now can it?", to a normal mare that was fine to say as you’d just get bucked or yelled for it. Saying that line to your pregnant wife was NOT something to say as it would get you tossed around the room and out the door with a scream of "I should rip off your…" which would make any sane stallion cringe. Sighing he hoped his wife was fine behind those doors.
Inside Velvet was livid! “HE DID THIS TO ME! NOT ONCE! TWICE! IN VELVET’S SHORT LIFE HE’S DONE THIS TWICE TO HER! YOU SHOULD HAVE LET VELVET STRANGLE HIM FOR THIS! YOU KNOW HE DESERVES IT! YOU KNOW IT! AH!”
The doctor nodded as she soon saw the horn and crown of the foal starting to come out. “The foal’s crowning Mrs. Sparkle. One more push and its out.” Velvet just gave the doctor a very dirty look before another contraction came and she just pushed screaming loud enough for Nightlight to hear outside before the sound of a foal crying was heard.
“Congratulation Mrs. Sparkle it’s a filly.” The doctor said hoofing the small purple filly with a dark purple and pink streaked mane to a nurse before Velvet screamed a second time. “Velvet this may shock you but it looks like you’re having twins. You’re going to need to push again.” Velvet was about to yell before she had to push yet again this time giving birth much easier than the first however… there was no crying. “She’s not breathing, get a tube.” The doctor said seriously.
“W-what’s wrong with my baby?” Velvet asked worried, the pain finally gone.
“Clear her throat, that’s it.” The doctor said finally getting a weak cry for the foal. “There we go, that’s a good girl.”
Twins, she had twin girls, this brought a relieved smile from Velvet but she still worried. Why was one cry weaker than the other? Was something wrong with her babies? Sadly she was tired and couldn’t ask anything. She just hoped Nightlight would know what to do. Outside Nightlight paced as waited for someone to tell him what was going on. Soon a nurse stepped out alongside the doctor who was frowning. “How’s my wife? My foal, how are they?” Nightlight asked worried.
“Your wife and fillies are fine Mr. Sparkle however…” The doctor replied before Nightlight stopped her.
“Wait did you say fillies as in two girls?”
The doctor nodded to this. “Yes, however I have some news I need to share with you.”
Nightlight sat down as this frowning. “Mr. Sparkle, your wife is fine and you’re now the proud father as a set of twins. However, one of the twins, a filly with a brilliant azure coat with pale and very pale cornflower blue mane, is not well and we’ll need to keep a close watch on her for a few weeks but the other one, a filly with a pale light grayish mulberry coat and moderate sapphire blue, moderate violet, and brilliant rose streaked mane, is very healthy and should be able to go home tomorrow.” The doctor said frowning.
“Do you know what’s wrong with her?” Nightlight asked concern for his children.
“It’s very possible that she may have been born with a weakened constitution.” The doctor replied looking down sadly.
“A weakened constitution, what do you mean?” Nightlight asked serious.
Sighing, the doctor looked to him, “It means that her health is in a much weaker state than her sister, it’s rare but does happen is some twins. Best we can do for her is to give her medication and tender care. Your wife will have to come in periodically to feed her but that should be it. Just leave the rest to us.”
Nightlight didn’t like the idea but… agreed. “Very well doctor, do what you need to.”
Velvet was very upset at the news back then but over time she grew to understand why it had to be. At least she was able to visit her filly every day. She loved her children dearly and wanted to be there for each of them when she could. It was also why she loved being an author as well. It allowed her to be home constantly while only disappearing during book signings or meeting with her publisher, which she had convinced to do at her home for now on since she was taking care of fillies at the time. Sighing, she looked at the box and gasped as what she had finally found. “I knew it was in one of these boxes.” Velvet said happily pulling out a long forgotten medical file.
***
Trixie could not believe the news her new friend had for her. A set of villagers had heard the song before and also knew its title. “It’s called My Little Sunshine dear.” An elderly mare said kindly as they sat down for a quick bite to eat. Many Ghouls where still out and about and sadly not one pony in the group had seen a Royal Air Guard yet to help get them to safety faster.
“If I remember correctly it was a very popular song for foals back then. It was mostly played in the big cities though.” The old mare’s husband said smiling.
“So Trixie came from a city?” Trixie asked munch away at a daffodil sandwich.
“It is possible dear. However I can’t recall where it was the most popular. Do you dear?” the old mare said looking to her husband.
“Now that I think about it I do recall the song being sung a lot in Canterlot.” The old stallion said rubbing her chin.
“Canterlot,” Trixie said almost dazed, “Trixie may have been from Canterlot?”
“What of pancakes sir? Were pancakes very popular there?” Candy asked for her friend.
The old stallion rubbed his chin more before shaking his head. “No I don’t believe so… however I do believe a certain fruit was popular with the foals back then. What was it now?” He looked to his wife wondering what it was.
“Don’t you remember dear, it was strawberries, our grandchildren could ask for strawberries every time we came to Canterlot right beside that Zap Apple Jam.” The old mare said smiling as Candy looked to friend who was looking off into the distance.
“Trixie does this help?”
Trixie blinked at this and nodded slowly. “Yes… Trixie… Trixie remembers strawberries…. in her pancakes.”
Candy smiled at this. “Then we know where to find out where you’re from, Canterlot.”
***
“Velvet, I’m home!” Nightlight called as he entered his home. Work at the paper was becoming much harder now that more news was coming through about the evacuations as well as the Ghoul attacks. It got even worse when the demand for papers jumped in the past few weeks. “Velvet you home?” Nightlight called again walking farther inside only to find his wife at the stove cooking.
“Oh Nightlight, your home, sorry I didn’t respond I was focused on cooking us something to eat.” Velvet said smiling at him.
“Really, because I was thinking we’d eat out tonight. But since your already cooking I don’t see why we can’t eat at home.” Nightlight said smiling before going to clean up. As he trotted away from the kitchen something caught his attention. The smell from the food Velvet was cooking. It smelled familiar for some reason. Shrugging he got ready for dinner. A shower later Nightlight returned to find a stack of delicious looking pancakes where he normally sat alongside a goblet and bottle of strawberry juice, and syrup. Something about all this was starting to click but he couldn’t remember what.
“Come and eat dear, then we need to talk about something.” Velvet said patting the chat next to her.” Trotting to his seat he sat down and poured his wife a goblet of the juice before taking a test bite of the pancakes before looking to his wife quickly.
“Velvet… strawberry pancakes? Why would… you… It’s about her isn’t it?” Nightlight asked looking to her.
“Yes, I found her medical file up in the attic… I’m thinking of seeing if the medical center can help find her again.” Velvet said looking to her stack.
“Oh Velvet, you know we’ve tried everything to find her before. What makes you think we’ll find her now?” Nightlight said nuzzling her.
“The evacuations,” Velvet replied nuzzling him back, “there may be a chance that she came here in one of the evacuations and she’s here.”
Nightlight thought on this and nodded. “You may be right sweetie but we can’t be for sure.”
Velvet just looked at him tearing up. “I… I have to find her Nightlight. She’s my daughter and… and…”
Nightlight looked to the pancakes and remembered the last time he had seen his filly. The look on Velvet’s face when they returned home broke his heart… and he wasn’t going to let it break again. “I’ll put an ad in the papers tomorrow for any information on her. I’ll put everything we remember about here in it and Celestia help me we will find her Velvet. I promise.”
***
It had taken Trixie and her friends a week to get her but they finally made it to Canterlot, the place for any and all refugees who had lost their home. “Alright everyone, who’s your leader or mayor?” a guard asked looking the entire group over.
“That would be me sir.” The mayor of the group said stepping forward. “We came from the east after a set of Ghouls attacked out home. We were lucky to have gotten here at all.” The guard nodded to this and directed them to a medical tent.
“They’ll check you all out before letting you into the city. I do apologize that we had no patrols out that way and that you all lost your home. Step lively now.” Trixie followed everyone into the tent where each and every pony was given a full medical checkup along with sanitizing baths as well as some kind of spell cast on each of them for security reasons according to the guards. Even their clothing was given the same treatment. Once Trixie was checked, cleaned, and given back her cape, hat, and saddle bags she waited for her friend to come out smiling.
“That was interesting, refreshing yes, but interesting.” Candy Lane said smiling to her friend.
“That it was… but what does Trixie do now?” Trixie said then asked worried.
“We get ourselves something to eat then search for answers on just where in Canterlot you came from.” Candy said as they trotted into the city. There they saw the mayor who instructed them to live as they like since the town was no more but to also keep in touch and let him know exactly where everyone was living so that after the danger had passed he could reunite them back to their true homes. Trixie even got personal thanks for aiding their town in the crisis and awarded a simple medal since it was he had to give.
“Trixie… Trixie shouldn’t, she did nothing special.” She said nervously.
“Oh but you did miss. You saved my town’s ponies. And for that you deserve this reward along with our thanks.” The mayor said before hoofing over the medal.
“Trixie… Trixie thanks you for this honor and… hopes you all well from this point.” Trixie said blushing.
“The same to you miss. I hope you can find your family here.” The mayor said before leading his group into town.
“So… where do you wish to begin?” Candy said trotting beside her.
“Trixie is not sure. She thinks maybe the royal archives?” Trixie said pointing towards the castle.
“True but let’s try a more local approach.” Candy said pointing to a paper seller.
“The paper,” Trixie asked looking to her friend, “why there?”
Candy trotted over and bought a paper before hoofing it over to her friend. “Well with all the evacuations going on someone might be looking for you.”
Trixie thought on this and nodded to the idea. It was possible. “Very well, let us read this over some food. Trixie is very hungry from all that trotting.” Candy could only agree as they trotted over to an outdoor diner.
After ordering their food Trixie opened the paper and looked it over with Candy as they ate. “Hmm what’s this?” Candy said sipping her shake.
Trixie looked from her section of the paper to her friend. “What did you find?”
Candy pointed to a small article in the sections labeled Looking for. “Check this article out. Searching for lost family member described as a unicorn with a brilliant azure coated mare with pale to very pale cornflower mane and dark grayish violet eyes. Was last seen at The House of Illusions and has a tendency to speak in third person. Anyone with information please come to the address listed below. I think they’re describing you Trixie.”
Trixie just could not believe what was read to her, or what she had read herself. It was far too simple. “Trixie… is not too sure of this. It could be describing another lost pony.”
Candy looked to her friend at this. “You’ll never know unless you look Trixie. Who knows, maybe, just maybe, somepony up there is looking out for you, and saying it time to finally go home.”
Trixie thought on this and smiled at the thought of her mentor having looked out for her after her run in with the Ursa Minor. Maybe, just maybe, the Ursa was his way of telling her she needed to step back and remember who she really was, a pony, not some super powerful unicorn with a chip on her shoulder. “Maybe… Maybe you are right Candy. I will give this a try but… if this is not Trixie’s family…”
Candy placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Then we’ll keep looking.” Trixie smiled at this before giving her friend the first hug she had given in many years.
***
Velvet smiled at the article her husband had placed in the paper. Though it was simple it was straight to the point of exactly who they were looking for. They didn’t want to give a name yet as they wanted to be sure if it was really their daughter. Putting the paper down Velvet was about to take a bite of her morning toast when a knock came to the front door, “Coming!” Velvet called as she put her toast down and trotted to the front door. Smoothing out her mane she took a steady breath before opening the door. “May I help you?” Before her stood a very nervous unicorn mare that looked exactly like her daughter.
“Y-yes ma’am, you placed an article in the paper stating you were looking for somepony.” The mare said shyly looking at her under her hat.
“That I am. Do you have information on the pony we are looking for?” Velvet asked hopeful.
“Yes, hopefully.” The mare replied looking to her.
“Can you tell me your name dear?” Velvet asked looking into the mare’s eyes. “I-it’s Trixie… Trixie Lulamoon.”
Velvet’s jaw dropped before quickly asking, “Which school did you go to?”
Trixie gulped at this. “T-the House of Illusions: School of Escapology.”
Velvet nearly cried. “Tell me… please… what is your favorite song as a foal?”
The mare looked to the side before looking back to her nervous. “Y-you are my Sunshine.”
Velvet’s hope grew more. “Do you… do you speak in third person… normally?” The mare gulped before speaking,
“Y-yes, Trixie has spoken this way ever since she was a foal.”
Velvet soon pulled the mare into her front limbs. “It is you! Trixie, oh my darling Trixie I’ve missed you so much.” The mare, Trixie just sat there as she hugged her before stepping inside to show coming out to show her a picture of her daughter as a foal.
The mare gasped as she looked at the picture then back to her. “H-how do you have a picture of Trixie? Are you… are you Trixie’s mother?” Trixie asked nearly crying.
“I am dear, welcome home.” Trixie just cried as she leaped into Velvet’s hooves. “Momma, oh momma I’ve found you… I’ve finally found you.” Both cried as a mare watched them in the distance smiling.
“Welcome home Trixie, welcome home.” Candy said before trotting off to find her own home.
The end (and to be continued in Hayseed: Cherished Memories)
Ending theme: Kimi Ga Irukara (From Kenichi: Mightiest Disciple by Joe Rinoie and Hiromi Uchida)