Stress Relief

Twilight burst through her bedroom door, startling Trixie who had been reading a book on their bed. Trixie looked Twilight over and noticed that her marefriend wasn’t her usual chipper self. Instead she looked tired and disheveled; Trixie knew that this meant Twilight had been busy with whatever duties she’d been assigned today and all she would want is rest.

Twilight’s mane was frazzled and tangled. She had bags under her bloodshot eyes.

“Twily, are you alright?” Trixie asked, sounding a little worried for her partner. The two had been together for a little over two months now. Trixie had come back to Ponyville to start anew and begin a happy life by opening a small trick shop where she would sell ‘how to’ magic books and various little trinkets. Twilight had helped Trixie establish her shop by helping Trixie pay for the land and actually building the place with the help of the rest of her friends. Ever since then, Trixie and Twilight’s relationship had gotten stronger until Trixie asked Twilight if she would like to date her, and she’d said yes. The rest was history.

Twilight sighed.

“Yeah… I’m fine — just a little tired,” Twilight said with a yawn. Trixie put down her book and went over to her lover and embraced her in a warm hug.

“Twily, you’ve been working too hard! Trixie is worried about you. You’ve been staying up later than is healthy, and you haven’t been talkative lately. I know work can take up a lot of your time, but you have got to take it a little slower, Twily!” Trixie advised as she held Twilight closer.

Twilight pulled away with yet another sigh. “I would Trixie, but it’s really hard being a princess. Especially now! I mean, even though I’ve been a princess for a little over a year now, I’m still learning! I don’t know how to take care of a city, let alone a kingdom!” she argued.

“But you’re not taking care of the kingdom — Ponyville at the most, but not the entire kingdom. Look, you’re tired. Trixie will prepare a warm bath for you and you can come to bed when you’re finished. How’s that sound… hm?” Trixie offered as she began to make her way towards the bathroom.

“Yes, please. That sounds lovely, Trixie…” Twilight muttered as she approached the bed. She sat down on the left side — her side of the bed — as she faced the balcony. A thin layer of snow had began to form on the railings of the balcony, symbolizing it was near Hearths’ Warming.

Although the doors to the balcony were closed, she could feel the chill of the outside brush her coat as she shivered. She could hear Trixie in the back turning the water on, trying to find the perfect temperature between warm and hot. After some time listening to the running water coming from the bathroom, Twilight heard Trixie call out to her.

“It’s ready, Twily!” Trixie sang as Twilight got up to go to her awaiting bath. As Twilight entered her luxurious bathroom; a perk she personally enjoyed since receiving her new palace, she noticed Trixie filling the tub with a bubble bath mixture. Twilight gave Trixie a look.

“Trixie got this from those spa twins the other day. They say it’s good for refreshing the coat and cleaning wings. You’ll enjoy it!” Trixie said with a gentle smile. Twilight couldn’t help but smile back at her marefriend’s hospitality. Though something Trixie did caught Twilight off guard: she had stepped into the bathtub herself, and looked over at Twilight.

“Well? Won’t you join me Twily?” Trixie asked.

“Isn’t this bath for me?” Twilight asked. Trixie shrugged.

“In a way, but Trixie thought you’d like some company. Plus Trixie really needed a bath as well. Wouldn’t want to smell like a dog now, would we?” Trixie asked. Twilight sighed, but in hindsight, Twilight would like some company from her marefriend. Twilight slowly stepped into the tub, the warm soapy water swallowing her hooves as she lowered her body into the warm tub. She sighed with comfort.

“This feels wonderful. Thank you, Trixie…” Twilight said with a satisfied sigh.

“You’re very much welcome, Twilight,” Trixie said with a smile.

Twilight closed her eyes in bliss and decided to begin small talk with her lover. “So, how was work at the shop today?” she asked.

“Oh, it wasn’t bad. Quite enjoyable really, many young unicorns enjoy the tricks and books Trixie offers. Trixie does enjoy seeing them smile whenever they see her perform a simple trick they haven't seen before. Trixie has always loved children you know…”

“I know, Trixie — you’ve told me before. I do admit, you have a way with entertaining children and they all adore you like a hero! It’s quite amazing to see their eyes sparkle whenever you pull off a trick for them,” Twilight complimented.

“I do enjoy seeing their reactions as well. Trixie does hope she can have foals of her own one day…” Trixie lead on.

Twilight gave her a small smirk. “Now don’t go opening that can of worms again Trixie…” she said with a gentle chuckle.

“Trixie is just saying,” she returned with a smile. The two carried on with various topics of small talk until the bubbles of the bath melted away and the water became a little murky due to the filth and grime from both ponies. After drying up, the two carried on over to the bed and started to snuggle up under the covers on their respective halves of the bed.

Trixie clicked off the light that sat next to her side and kisses Twilight goodnight. “Goodnight, Twily,” she said calmly.

“Goodnight, Trixie,” Twilight said with a yawn.

Before she could escape to her dreamland, she felt a pair of hooves wrap around her and pull her closer to a fuzzy warm mass. Twilight couldn’t help but smile at Trixie’s cuddling. It was a little heartwarming to know Trixie wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully without holding something warm while she slept. She felt Trixie nuzzle the back her neck before finally settling into the new position. Leaving Twilight to finally fall asleep in Trixie’s warm embrace.

~*O*O*~

Trixie slowly stirred awake. Her hooves searching for the pony they’d held onto moments ago, now lost. After a failed attempt at searching for Twilight, Trixie finally opened her eyes and looked around. While her vision was blurred from sleeping, she could make out shapes and colors. She looked at Twilight’s side of the bed, but her lover was nowhere to be seen. She then looked up towards the balcony, where she saw Twilight leaning up against the railing, facing Ponyville, her head in her hooves as it slightly bobbed up and down.

Trixie got up from the bed and approached Twilight on the balcony. “Twilight? Is something wrong?” she called out, getting Twilight’s attention. Twilight’s eyes were red and teary. Trixie instantly embraced her partner in a loving hug, kissing all the tears away. “Twilight, what’s the matter?” she asked again.

“It’s nothing… I just—” Twilight started, hesitating a bit. “I was just thinking…”

“Thinking about what dear?” Trixie asked.

“It’s nothing important. Let’s just go back to bed, yeah?”

As Twilight tried to return to the bedroom, Trixie stopped her and pulled her into another embrace. Trixie rested her head on Twilight’s and kissed her horn. “You know, you’re a terrible liar, Twily. Now tell me what’s wrong.”

It wasn’t long before Twilight finally broke down into tears, hiding her head in Trixie’s chest. Whatever it was, Trixie knew this was tearing Twilight apart.

“I can’t do it! I can’t keep going, Trixie!” Twilight hiccuped as she cried.

“What do you mean, Twilight?” Trixie asked.

“The whole princess thing! I can’t be royalty! I’m only good with magic — I can’t lead a kingdom or a city! All this work is driving me crazy and I can barely keep up!” Twilight complained.

Trixie could feel her chest dampen from Twilight’s tears, but she didn’t worry about that. “Hey, it’s alright. All you have to do is take it easier,” Trixie hushed.

“It’s not just that Trixie! It’s the whole princess situation! I’m not ready to be a princess! I’ve never been ready!” Twilight argued. “I don’t even know truly why I became an Alicorn — I’m not even worthy of such a title,” Twilight said somberly.

Trixie then lifted Twilight from her chest and looked her straight in the eye. “Twilight, don’t you ever say that. Of course you’re worthy of being a princess. Of course you’re worthy of being an Alicorn. Celestia saw potential in you: if she hadn’t, you wouldn’t be a princess at all. It’s been a year now, Twilight, and if you ask me, you’ve been doing a great job as princess,” Trixie said with a calm tone in her voice, almost sounding motherly.

“Okay, but what’s the purpose of me being a princess anyway? Ponyville is still technically run by the mayor, so what’s my purpose!?”

You would have to be very depressed in order to forget your reason as to why you were in the position you are in. Trixie knew Twilight knew why she was princess, but apparently with depression she had forgotten that reason. Now it was Trixie’s duty to remind her lover why she’s a princess.

“Twilight, listen, and listen good. The reason you’re a princess is simple: you’ve accomplished things no average unicorn can do. You and your friends have beaten countless demons and evildoers with the power of magic and friendship. You’re the princess of magic and friendship, Twilight. You’re practically the element of magic itself. You’ve inspired ponies all over Equestria and you’ve touched the hearts of those whom you hardly know. Twilight, you were the one who inspired me to come back to Ponyville in the first place.”

Twilight was a little surprised. She was the inspiration for Trixie coming back? Not only that: Trixie was speaking normally, so she must’ve been truly serious. “I— Trixie, I—”

“I’m not finished, Twilight. You’ve helped so many ponies with their problems, all for the sake of friendship and goodness, while learning more and more about magic as you go on. Twilight, you have a purpose, and even though it seems very transparent and invisible, it’s there. And it’s there for a reason. We all have a purpose on in this world, Sparkle. You’re a smart and beautiful princess who has done more than she thinks. Not only are you Equestria’s princess of Magic and Friendship. But you’re Trixie’s princess too,” Trixie finished off, leaving Twilight starstruck.

It was clear now. Twilight knew exactly why she was princess and what her purpose as one was. Celestia saw potential in her: she saw that Twilight had the ability to inspire and teach those around her almost unknowingly. Twilight then felt Trixie pull her into her warm embrace even closer, her ear pinned against Trixie’s chest so she could hear her heartbeat. She felt Trixie rest her head atop her own as Trixie’s hoof brushed Twilight’s mane and back, not unlike a mother would a scared child.

“I love you, Trixie. Thank you so much…” Twilight muttered as she let even more tears stream down her face.

“Trixie loves you too, Twilight — more than you could ever imagine. Now why don’t we go back to bed, hm? It’s a little chilly out here and Trixie doesn’t prefer the cold over a warm bed.”

Twilight giggled. The two lovers made their way back inside and to their bed. Both snuggling up under the covers, holding each other in a warm and soft embrace, never letting go, even when they both entered Luna’s dreamland.