Trixie had been ashamed. Driven from Ponyville. After living in the dark, she decided that was it.
After Trixie was living alone, in the shadows, she decided she couldn't take it anymore. She will go on a journey, ending with Canterlot, and requesting redemption from the Solar and Lunar princesses. The journey will have hardships, but Trixie wishes only to be accepted by the other ponies.
Laughter.....it's all I hear these damned days...foals, mares, and stallions...the ones that I encounter just laugh, and walk away. The cyan unicorn was laying curled up in a ball, remembering the times she had before...her. That blasted mare....she ruined me...drove me out... That specific mare is Twilight Sparkle. She had defeated the Ursa Minor that those two idiot ponies, Snips and Snails, awoke to try to see her skills right up close. Thinking of it...made her sick to her stomach. "I need fresh air. Perhaps I'll go out to the lake." Trixie stood up, and trotted out of the dim cave. It looked as though it might rain, and she was starting to get a headache. She decided not to stop and smell the roses. She walked to the trail that little creatures had worn from traveling to the body of water.
Trixie had arrived at the lake after a miserable walk, but that was all her life was now. Miserable. She looked up at all the stars in the sky and named all of them. Her mother taught all of them to her, so she knew them by heart. The stars were pretty to look at...but utterly, utterly useless. Trixie went to splash some water on her face at the body of water. She stared at the reflection. Who is this ugly pony, standing here before me? She can't be me...can she? Trixie got onto my stomach, still looking at the reflection. An image of her former glory appeared in the water. She felt tears in my eyes, looking at the once beautiful form of herself. "I'm still The Great and Powerful Trixie.....right?" After that, her voice cracked, and she started sobbing. She started screaming at the stars after they took the image of the face of the one pony she loathed the absolute most. "I HATE YOU, TWILIGHT SPARKLE! YOU RUINED ME! I WILL GET MY REVEEEEEEEEEEEEENGE!" Trixie knew that she couldn't hear her...nopony could...it was all a waste of time, just like her life now.
Twilight Sparkle drowsily looked out the window. She had been up way too long researching how to make her own spell. She raised to her hooves, knocking down a lamp as she did so. She cringed as soon as it hit the floor. "Oh....crap." The lamp hit a bookcase, and it fell down as well, and Twilight just knew that there would be a chain reaction. Sure enough, another shelf fell, crashing into another. Once all the bookcases were on the ground, she facehoofed. "Once again... Oh crap!"
"Twilight! Could ya keep it down! I'm trying to sleep!" Spike woke up, of course, and shouted at the mare. He would most likely be cranky in the morning. She decided to go to bed. When she was about to set a hoof on the stairs, she heard what sounded like a pony screaming. Spike was enraged. "Twilight!!! What is wrong with you?!?!?! I ask you to keep it down, and so you scream at me?!?!?!"
Twilight decided to use her magic to force the baby dragon to sleep. She flopped onto her bed, and fell asleep.
Fluttershy was jolted awake by the sound of an animal screaming in pain. "Oh, no....a poor little animal is hurt! I'd better go find it, poor thing!" She galloped towards the screaming, but wasn't expecting what she saw. It was the bedraggled shape of Trixie, a mare who had came to Ponyville, showing off her magic. She embarrassed her and her friends with it, but Fluttershy found it impossible to hold a grudge against anypony. She even forgave Discord for what he did. She walked over to Trixie, her sobs still breaking into the night. Fluttershy was bigger than her now, as she had lost a lot of weight, and her ribs and spine stuck out from her coat. She tucked her hooves in, and laid down beside Trixie. "There, there....it's okay....you don't have to be sad anymore....it's okay..."
I looked up, my eyes puffy, and tears streaking my face. It...it was Fluttershy! She was actually comforting me! After all I did to her....she forgave me? The thought made me cry more. "I-I-I'm so so-o-o-orry! I was such a terr-i-i-ble p-p-pony!" She had a gentle smile, and despite how I'm a fully grown mare, I put my head on her side, and cuddled with her, as if I were her filly. It would be hard for me later, but right now, all I cared about was this motherly mare, and how she went and walked out here just to comfort me. Is this really what some ponies would do for me? I didn't know...but the way she was treating me made me feel so safe and secure. Just like when I was a foal, the feeling I got from my mother. Before...before she died. I had never thought about it until now. But with Fluttershy snuggling me, it brought back memories. Memories that were...lulling me...into sleep...along with....the sweetest voice..I'd ever...heard...
Fluttershy looked down at Trixie, and started to sing a lullaby for her. "Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed~" Once she noticed that she had fallen asleep, Fluttershy carefully lifted the cyan unicorn onto her back, and started carrying her to her own cottage near Ponyville. She set the unicorn on her bed upstairs, and tucked her in. She smiled at the sight. "I always wanted my own filly...even if I can't, though, I can still practice. Goodnight, Trixie." She rubbed her nose on Trixie's forehead in the form of a kiss, then turned on a nightlight, and left the room, ignoring Angel's presence. Angel's jaw was actually on the ground, and he was staring at Fluttershy, then back to Trixie, and to Fluttershy again.
Fluttershy brought a small blanket to a couch in her living room, and curled up under it. Little animals wound around her, and fell asleep.
Fluttershy had woken up early in the morning. She wondered why she was on the couch, then remembered. "That poor Trixie... I hope she's okay." The shy pegasus trotted upstairs to find Trixie still asleep. She sighed in relief, and went back downstairs. "When she wakes up, she'll want to eat... I think I have enough food for a while." She went downstairs, and settled for daffodil sandwiches, along with a salad. As she turned around, she saw Angel doing his many random gestures. However, she didn't have time for him this morning. She scooted him away with her hoof, and carried the food up to her guest's room.
Angel, on the other hand, was purely shocked. Everypony knew that all of Equestria revolved around him! He had never been defied before, much less by his owner! He kicked a cage, letting several bunnies out. He started using his random gestures to devise a plan with his minions. One of the bunnies just looked down shyly, the other bounced around Angel happily, another eating an apple. A bunny had ran across the room at high speed and yawned, obviously bored. The last bunny trotted out, trying to read Fluttershy's cookbook. Angel raised an eyebrow, and started to think. Where had he seen this before? He shrugged, and thrust his paw into the air, a signal to commence his master plan.
I woke up, still remembering the kindness that I was shown the night before. I heard a shy voice say, "Trixie, I went ahead and made you breakfast since I didn't want to wake you up. I hope you don't mind!"
I smiled weakly at Fluttershy as she handed me a sandwich with a salad. "Daffodils? These are my favorite! Thank you, Fluttershy!" I couldn't resist hugging her warmly. As she stepped out of the room, probably to take care of her animals, I started to eat. I got lost with the first bite. I had eaten nothing but pine cones for the last few months, and Fluttershy was an amazing cook. It felt like Heaven on my tongue! Soon, I had eaten the whole thing, and set the dish on the table beside me. Soon, a bunny hopped onto the bed, and looked into my eyes with a deep, entrancing stare. It seemed to have a spark of kindness deep in the eyes. It reminded me of Fluttershy... maybe too much like Fluttershy. But I was too tired to care, I had fallen asleep again, hugging the bunny, despite it's little noises of fear.
Spike's eye twitched when Twilight started lecturing him on proper book returning etiquette. So what, all he did was put a bookmark in a book Twilight was reading while she was studying a rock, and threw it on the couch! Twilight made such a big deal out of so many things! He had an eye on a clock instead of on Twilight. 30 minutes... Gimme a break! Twilight sighed. "You're not even listening to me, are you? Fine... I'll forget it this time. Here, I need to do more research. I need you to pick up supplies."
By supplies, Spike knew that she meant food. "About time! I'm sick of eating flowers all the time!" Twilight gasped, and started to drill into another lecture on how flowers are healthy, they make bones strong, yada, yada. Spike simply lifted his hand, and walked out the door. He hadn't had fun in a while. However, he was wrong. Twilight threw the list at him, and he gasped at the length of it all. "Man, I'm never going to get five minutes to myself!"
He started on his 'long journey' through Ponyville. He looked up at the sky, seeing that it was almost noon. Suddenly, he smacked into something, and fell onto the ground, rather painfully. After letting out a groan, he sat up and saw that he knocked right into Fluttershy, the kindest pony he knew! He leaped into the air, and hurried to her, trying to help her up with a worried expression. "Fluttershy, are you alright?!"
"Oh, yes, Spike. I'm fine! I thought that I'd really hurt you! I'm the one that should be asking if the other one was alright! I mean... if that's alright..." Spike facepalmed. Sure, Fluttershy was the kindest pony he knew, but her weakness was how shy she was. If she was much braver, she would be a replica of Rainbow Dash, who was the opposite of Fluttershy, it seemed. Quickly, Spike retrieved his list, and looked at everything he needed to do.
"Well, Fluttershy, if you're okay, I have to be getting onto some errands for Twilight. She gave me a list of things to pick up, and I really need to get going! I can't just be standing around here like a tree, or Twilight'll get steaming mad!" Without another word, he ran off, leaving Fluttershy behind.
"I'd like to be a tree," she mumbled to herself happily.
Slowly, I woke up, and jumped about ten feet into the air. A bunny was right in my face, staring into my closed eyes while I was asleep. It was a frightening sight to see, especially after living in a place where every small thing that is underestimated could turn out to be your last sight. After recovering, I looked around, noticing that Fluttershy wasn't around. So, I took the opportunity to check my surroundings. Fluttershy's cottage was small, but on the outside, it was as big as a castle! I had to watch where I was stepping, since many small creatures were frolicking about. Fluttershy would be heart broken if I had accidentally injured one of them. I had a sudden urge to go to a library, and pick up a fun little book to read. I hadn't seen one for at least a month, so it was something that I just had to do. I left a hastily scribbled note for Fluttershy on her door, and I set out.
I was surprised that nopony was staring at me in shock, seeing as how I caused a huge load of trouble. I had left my cape and hat behind so long ago, so I was without it. It was a good thing too, since not only did it smell horrid, but it reminded me of terrible times. I beamed as the sun shone on my back, and I found the public library. I tilted my head, noticing that it was... in the shape of a tree? Shaking my head, I trotted to the door, and put my hoof up to it. I pushed it open slowly, the door letting out a groan as it was opened.
The bunny that was thrown off a bed earlier shook its head to clear it. She hadn't expected to be hurled across the room after the strange unicorn woke up. She felt a lump in between her ears, and rubbed her paw over it slowly. She knew that it would be there for a while, so she made a mental note to be careful of things that could hit the lump, and hopped into the garden, eagerly awaiting food.
Trixie opened the door to the library, seeing it immaculate. "This... I don't even know how to explain this," Trixie said, her eyes wide. "The pony that runs this library must have some total OCD. Speaking of which, where would the librarian be?" She looked all over, not seeing anypony around. She was about to give up and go back to Fluttershy's. However, as she turned, she heard a book fall to the ground, and her horn sent off a burst of energy from the shock. Once she managed to breathe easily again, she turned to see... a miniature pink-ish looking dragon was lying on the ground and groaning. Apparently, he had run into one of the bookshelves... which was now... uh-oh. The bookshelf was rocking back and forth, ready to fall any second. If it fell to the right, it would crush the dragon, but if it fell to the left, it would knock the others down in the process, and probably crush the both of them. "Damn these ponies!" She called out before running forwards towards the dragon, scooping him up into her hooves. She felt the sigh of relief quickly dissolve in her mouth as she looked back, seeing the shelf falling over. She stood over the baby dragon protectively, hoping that how she was standing, he would be okay. Well... I started from nothing. I'll go back to nothing. What have I got to lose? I have no achievements in life, so... nothing. She closed her eyes, feeling the shelf get closer and closer.... until...
Nothing? She didn't feel it fall onto her, nor did she feel wounded. She didn't even feel blood! Sliding the dragon out from under her, she looked over her shoulder, gasping. "Twilight..."
A few hours later, Twilight sat on her bed, looking between the two in front of her. Spike was still incredibly scared while Trixie was looking at the ground, secretly happy that she had run into Twilight. The lavender Unicorn cleared her throat. "Okay. I want to know exactly what happened, and why I had to save both of your lives. And don't leave anything out, or I'll know. Also... Trixie, why in Equestria are you here?"
Trixie sighed. "I'm here because... Well, I was living in the Everfree forest the whole time. Believe me, it isn't something I'd suggest. Eating pinecones, dodging Manticores, and avoiding Cockatrices isn't something anypony should have to go through. It was taking its toll, too." Twilight nodded, looking at Trixie's body. She could see the cyan Unicorn's ribs poking through her skin, for pony's sake! "Fluttershy took me in after I passed out. I should have been left to die, really. But she didn't see it that way. After I got better, she let me go into town to explore. I figured that there would be good books in the library. So, I came here, but I didn't see anypony. I was about to turn around when I heard a book fall, and out of fear and shock, a burst of magic flew from my horn, hitting a bookshelf, I believe. I saw your dragon lying on the ground in a daze, and I realized that I didn't have much time to save him. So, I dashed forwards. Unfortunately for me, the shelf was falling right at that moment, which is-"
"Which is when I came in and stopped the bookshelf." Twilight finished. She stood up, and walked past Spike, stopping at Trixie.
"Trixie, I-" "Twilight Sparkle, I-"
They had both started the same sounding sentence at the same time. They sighed, and tried again.
"I'm sorry," they said in unison. Twilight shifted her weight onto a different hoof. "I'm going to go downstairs and make us something to eat."
Trixie sighed, wondering what in the name of Equestria she had gotten herself into. She looked over at Spike, and nodded. Spike was a good dragon. Always there for his friend when she needed him. She trotted downstairs, suddenly enveloped in a purplish aura. "Gah!" As she was flipped upside down and brought to a bookshelf, she saw Twilight cleaning up the pile of books that had fallen onto the ground. She had her back turned to Trixie, so she didn't know that she was levitating another Unicorn. She instinctively let her own horn light up in a light blue aura to counter the lavender Unicorn's. She wrestled the magic, somehow managing to win. Probably because Twilight was using her magic across a wide span of items, and Trixie was only focusing on herself. "Eep." She crashed onto the ground, landing on her flank. She held back a yelp of pain as Twilight turned to her, gasping in surprise.
"Trixie, I'm sorry! I didn't realize you were there! Are you okay?" She trotted towards Trixie, a concerned look plastered on her face. "I was just picking up all the books that-" Trixie put a hoof in Twilight's mouth.
"No offense, Twilight, but you rant too much." Trixie smiled, removing her hoof. "Now... As I said earlier, I'm currently staying with your friend Fluttershy... But I'm sure that I'd run into the townsponies if I go out now. I don't believe they'd welcome me at all..."
Twilight sighed, thinking of what might happen if some of the more hostile ponies found Trixie. "You know... I believe everypony deserves a second chance. I should get Celestia to make an appearance, telling them all that you are welcome here... Would you like that?"
Trixie looked at the floor. "I... I don't know what to say..."
"Then how about we go now? Better sooner than later, don't you agree? Oh, and don't mind Spike. Last night, a strange animal cry woke him up, and he's been grouchy ever since."
Trixie blushed, biting her lip. That was me... She made a mental note to talk to him later, perhaps help him get to sleep.
Twilight made a note for Spike, and beckoned for Trixie to follow her out the door, and the two ponies made their way to the Ponyville train station. The destination: Canterlot Castle. Trixie was nervous, but knew that if she went through with this, she could live a normal life! As they got onto the train, Trixie slid to the window, giving Twilight enough room to join her. Slowly, Trixie dozed off, slightly uncomfortable because of how close Twilight was pressed up against her. Actually... It felt kinda nice.
Twilight would have moved, but thought that she'd wake Trixie up. "This is going to be a long ride..."
