Luna's Apprentice

Chapters

A filly named Silver Star
The Princesses Night
First Lesson
Trixie Fails
Lunch with Nobles
Dreams and Designs
Falling Out
Silver and Sickness
Mother Grace, and a trip to Canterlot Palace
Silver Star meets the Princess
Doctors Decision
Hashing it out.
Nightmares and hairbows.
Talks and Terrors
Training and Tests
Fabrics and Fairs
Date and Drinks
Wagons and Wants
Trixie Tricks
Tales, and Talks
A Chariot Trip
Arriving in Neigh Orleans
Meeting the Parent!
The Father's Legacy
A Proposition over Lunch
Dream Disaster

A filly named Silver Star

Trixie Lulamoon laid under her threadbare blanket on her lumpy mattress in her cold drafty caravan. Her silver mane pooled down her back, hiding the mare’s malnourished ribcage from view. She sat with her chin laid upon her crossed forelegs, her dark violet eyes resting unseeingly on the moon visible through the cracked window of her wagon.

She sighed quietly to herself, mumbling as she forced herself to her hooves. She stood, a hoof rubbing her belly as her stomach grumbled loudly. She walked across the tiny interior of her wagon, pulling a rickety cabinet open with her hooves. She reached into the cabinet, running her hoof around the inside of the cabinet with practiced ease.

A moment later she stood, a curse on the tip of her tongue as she peered into the empty cabinet. Her horn flared as she levitated her cape and hat across the caravan, depositing her hat into her hooves. She ran a hoof over the worn hat, poking at a small hole that was wearing through the sateen fabric. She closed her eyes, levitating the hat atop her head before snapping the clasp on her cape around her neck. A small bag of bits levitated to her side, slipping into a hidden pocket in her cape.

Trixie stood outside her caravan, her eyes lowered to the ground as she passed through the alleyways of Canterlot. She passed through thick shadows from one of Canterlot’s large towers, her gaze drifting to the alleyway around her. Even in the alleyways, the shadows from Canterlot’s wealthy were rubbed in the muzzles of the less fortunate. A mess of boxes sat against the wall of a local business, a single hoof sticking out of the refuse. She passed the boxes, turning her head away as the pony inside coughed quietly.

She gazed towards the palace, easily visible from just about anywhere in Canterlot. She used to think she would live on one of the large estates flanking the palace… Now, she was lucky if she could even keep her wagon in one dead end alleyway for a few nights. She had been shunted from a life leading upwards to a life going nowhere off the main street of Canterlot.

Trixie walked forward, exiting the alleyway onto one of Canterlots numerous side streets. Even this late at night, vendors off the main street sold their wares to the poorer ponies of the city. She wandered from stall to stall, sighing as she turned her sights on the few diners still open closer to the main street. She tucked her tail closer to her side as a filly went running past, bumping against her.

Trixie opened her mouth to yell at the filly, but stopped when the filly glanced back at her with fear in her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Trixie said, stepping closer to the young filly. The filly stepped back, breathing hard as she peered over Trixie’s shoulders. She yelped, her hooves scrabbling for purchase on the cobblestone as she tried to flee. “W-what is wrong with you?” Trixie asked, stomping her hoof as the filly took off.

She paused as the sound of galloping hooves filling the air. She looked over her shoulder slowly, yelping as three large stallions rammed into her, throwing her to the ground. The stallions didn’t even spare a glance in her direction as they chased the filly into a dark alleyway.

Trixie stood, dusting herself off as she glanced down the alley the trio had vanished. “You better run! The Great and Powerful Trixie would hate to have to… teach you a lesson…” She muttered, trailing off slowly. She started to walk toward the main street when a loud scream echoed out of the alleyway behind her, drawing her attention in a heartbeat.

She slipped to the side of the alley, peering into the shadowy alleyway silently. About halfway down the alley, Trixie could make out the three stallions standing in a tight circle around the filly from a moment before. The stallion in the center stepped forward, pushing the filly roughly against the wall. Trixie narrowed her eyes, pressing herself against the wall as she sucked in a deep breath.

She took a moment to gaze up at the moon as her horn flared brightly. Magic wrapped around her body, swirling and twisting around her body, slowly creeping up her legs, pass her belly and creeping up her neck.

“Princess Luna if you can hear this… please don’t let me mess this up.”

Cross Bar stepped forward, shoving the filly against the wall roughly. He towered over the filly, his bulky shoulders blocking any chance the filly had at escaping to either side. Beside him, Brass and Iron hoof stood guard, their thin and lanky bodies better suited for being watchouts. The Hoof brothers laughed as the filly tucked herself into a ball, her hooves over her head in fear.

“I saw you steal that piece of bread from me…” Cross said, his voice booming like gravel crunching. He grabbed the filly by the chin and forced her to look at him, glaring at her as he did.

“I-I’m sorry! I was sta-starving! It was old and I di-didn’t know it was yours!” The filly said, tears running down her cheeks as she pulled away from the larger pony.

“Well now you do.” Cross Bar said, glancing at the ponies beside him with a menacing grin. “But, I’m gonna have to teach you to respect other’s property.” He lifted a large hoof into the air, and started to swing it at the filly.

“Stop right there, criminal scum!” A deep voice called out, drawing the trio’s attention. Two large ponies stood at the end of the alley, golden armor pressing down against their white fur. Cross Bar lowered his hoof as the two guards stepped out of the moonlight, their armor clanking against their sides as they approached the trio of ponies.

The guard who spoke stepped closer to Cross Bar while the other attended to the filly, who was still sniffling against the wall. The guard spoke to the filly in a low tone, reassuring her and checking her for wounds. The guard met eyes with his partner, waiting for a nod before speaking again.

“I’ll have you know I can take you in for this. Assault is no laughing matter.” The guard barked, poking Cross in his chest. Behind him, the Hoof brothers glanced at each other, hooves nervously kicking at the stone below them. Cross Bar glared at the two guards for a moment before turning, his tail flicking to hit the guard behind him.

“Come on. I think she got the message already.” Cross and his companions trotted out of the alleyway, not even sparing a glance behind them as they trotted into the night. The guard still whispering to the filly grew silent as they left, his armor clanking as he stepped closer to his partner. The filly cocked her head as the pair grew silent, freezing in place for a moment.Suddenly, they seemed to be blown away by the wind, revealing a single azure mare in their place. The mare swayed from side to side, steadying herself against the alley wall.

The filly stepped away from the unicorn, her instincts screaming for her to run away. Just as she took a few steps down the alley, the mare called out to her.

“Wait kid! Trixie wants to make sure you’re okay before you go.” Trixie said, relaxing onto her haunches as she forced a smile onto her face.

The filly eyed the alleyway behind her, before nodding slowly and trotting closer to Trixie and sitting down across from her.

“What happen to those guards?” The filly asked, eyeing the mare’s horn.

“There never was any guards. The... Trixie made them with her horn. It’s called an illusion.” She said, scrunching her face up as she tapped into her magic once again, causing a bright green spark to dance in the air around the filly. She giggled as she followed the spark with her eyes.

“So kid… Umm… What’s your name?” Trixie asked after a moment, sparking several different colors to flow around her. The colors lit up the dark shadows, casting light on the small filly. At her side, Trixie could just make out wings tucked into her side on her blue steel coat, her peach tinted mane spilling over her shoulder as the pegasus twisted her head to follow the sparks.

“Silver Star.” The filly said, smiling at Trixie for the first time. “Thank you. Fo-for saving me I mean.”

Trixie smiled, a genuine smile this time as she nodded toward Silver Star. “Well… Trixie was... in the neighborhood.” Silver Star put a hoof to her belly as it grumbled loudly, her cheeks blushing wildly as she looked down at herself. Trixie closed her eyes, silently arguing with herself before she levitated her bag of bits out of her cape pocket. She opened the bag and turned it upside down, frowning at the 5 bits that fell into her outstretched hooves. She tossed the bits back into her bag and tossed it into the fillies lap.

Silver Star looked up in shock, her head already starting to shake as she tried pushing the bag back. “I-I can’t take this Miss Trixie.”

Trixie smiled, levitating a bulging bit bag out of her cape as she mimicked for Silver Star to keep that bag.

“Calm down. Trixie has a lot more bits where those came from. That’ll be enough for you to get a hot meal for the night.” Silver Star dropped her blue eyed gaze to the bag in her lap. She lowered her head and picked the bag up by her teeth, smiling at Trixie as she mumbled her thanks around the small bag.

Trixie stood, stretching her rear legs out as she trotted beside the filly to the mouth of the alleyway. Silver Star looked up at her with a large smile, the small bit bag hanging between her teeth. Trixie patted the filly on her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as the filly turned, her smaller form vanishing between two mares walking down the street.

Trixie’s smile slipped from her face as she pulled the bulging bit bag out of her cape. She sucked in a deep breath as she blew on the bag, her eyes following the magic as it dispersed into the air, leaving her empty hoofed.

She sighed, her shoulders slumping as she ignored the growling in her stomach. She turned, her tail dragging on the floor lifelessly as she trudged back to her wagon.

Luna smiled as she watched the mysterious blue mare walk away. Unbeknownst to the unicorn, the Lunar Princess had arrived moments after Trixie cast her illusion magic. Princess Luna had spent a peaceful night resting atop of one of Canterlot's taller towers, one that gave her an amazing view of the night sky without the lights of the castle diminishing the beauty of her stars. The calm night was broken when a filly's scream broke the silence, drawing her attention away from the stars sky above her.

The princess had launched herself off the tower, gliding to the top of a building just below her. She trotted to the edge of the building, gazing into the alleyway opposite her only to find two guards had already beat her to the scene. She settled down, watching curiously as one guard settled down beside a small filly huddled against the wall, while the other confronted the large stallion before her.

She stood, stretching her wings out at her sides as she prepared to head back to her tower for the night, when a flash of light drew her attention back to the alleyway. To her surprise, the guards were blowing away in the wind, revealing a unicorn unsteadily standing in their place.

“That has to be some of the most impressive Illusion magic I have ever witnessed… She managed to combine not only a physical illusion, but also auditory! ”

Luna crouched down, peering over the edge of the building as the Trixie talked to the young filly, entertaining her with a small show of illusion magic. A moment later, the azure unicorn threw the filly her bit bag and revealed a large bulging bag of bits from a hidden pocket in her cape.

Luna nodded, the pieces finally clicking in her mind. “The mare is obviously of noble blood. I should ask ‘Tia if she recognizes that mare’s parents.”

The mare walked out of the alleyway, patting the filly on the head as she walked away. Luna narrowed her eyes as the mare pulled out the large bit bag, balancing it on her hoof.

“Why would she pull out such a large bag in such a… shady part of Canterlot.”

Her eyes widened as the bag copied the guards, blowing away in the wind a moment later. She shook her head, disbelievingly staring at the mare’s empty hoof.

“She lied to that filly. She convinced her she had more money so the filly wouldn’t feel bad about taking the bits…”

Luna stood, following Trixie as the mare traveled down dark alleys and side streets until she came to a rickety wagon in a dead end alley. Luna watched as the mare entered the wagon, a light flickering across the threadbare curtains on the windows of the caravan. A moment passed, and the light went out, leaving the alleyway shrouded in darkness. Luna turned, her wings flapping behind her as she headed back to her tower in the palace.

Luna stood in her bed chambers, her mind once again drifting to the blue unicorn she had seen earlier that night. She sighed, glancing out at the moon over Canterlot before smiling slyly. She strode across the room to her bed, tucking her legs underneath her as she laid herself upon her covers.

She closed her eyes, breathing evenly as her horn began glowing a low deep blue that slowly wrapped around her body, until she felt herself floating into the air. She rolled over in the air, backflipping slowly as she stared down at her body, a faint blue light visible beneath her closed eyelids. She gently ran an astral hoof over her mane, smiling as her hoof passed through it like it didn’t exist.

She turned her eyes on the city outside her window, willing herself forward. She soared through her window, smiling as she floated above the cityscape silently. Luna loved the feeling of floating in the aether; the sheer bliss of leaving her physical body behind her was amazing. At times like this, she felt like she could easily let centuries pass her by.

However, tonight Princess Luna had someone to visit. She turned, suddenly appearing outside the caravan belonging to her mystery unicorn. She stepped forward, her head sliding through the door as if it was non existent.

Luna stepped into the room, glancing around the small caravan. The mare’s hat and cape hung from a small hook beside the door, next to a wrecked set of cabinets. One door hung by a single screw, and the other had a small hole clear through the door. Beside the bed lay a few scarce books, one open and dog eared. The floor had what was once a cushy red carpet, but had worn down to the wooden floor below it in many places.

Luna crossed the floor, stepping around a loose floorboard as she stepped to Trixie’s side. She lowered her horn, resting the tip against Trixie’s head, her eyes closed as she entered the mare’s dream.

Luna found herself in Ponyville, in the center of a large group of ponies. Trixie stood beside her, her cape torn and hat missing as the ponies around her taunted her.

“All your fault! All your fault!” They yelled, chanting together as Trixie shrunk away from the crowd, backpedaling in fear from the frenzied ponies. A tomato soared through the air, smacking against her side with a sickening squelch. Luna watched sadly as the mare fell to the ground, scrabbling to her hooves in the dirt.

Trixie bit her lip, forcing back tears as she forced herself to her hooves. She trotted forward, attempting to work her way out the crowd. A deep roar filled the air, drawing a scream from the startled unicorn. She ran, shoving her way past the ponies around her, ignoring their angry yells.

She glanced over her shoulder, eyes wide with her pupils dilated at the sight of a massive Ursa Minor. The beast towered over the tallest buildings in the village, easily crushing a cottage between its claws. It stepped forward, its eyes locked on the terrified mare.

Trixie galloped as fast as she could, her hooves kicking up dirt clouds behind her as she ran. Luna took to the skies as Trixie passed the outer rim of Ponyville, making a beeline for the relative safety of the Everfree forest. The earth shook as she passed into the tree line, trees collapsing all around her. Luna soared closer, watching in amazement as a tree nearly flattened the mare, trapping her in a small clearing. All around her trees fell, leaving a flat plane all around her.

A deep laugh echoed through the air, followed by a distorted voice that the unicorn obviously recognized.

“Well, well, well. If It isn’t The Great and Pathetic Trixie.” The voice taunted, ground shaking with every word.

Trixie shivered as a massive azure hoof came down before her. She slowly lifted her head, following the limb to the sneering face of a giant cloaked Trixie. The giant’s eyes glowed a disturbing red, glinting nastily as it laughed.

“Even now, you are as pathetic as ever. Even the almighty power of the Alicorn amulet could not help you!” The giant screamed, horn flaring a bright red as Trixie was pulled into the air. She squirmed in the creature’s grasp, her own horn flaring a weak blue before sparking out entirely.

“You will never be able to surpass me, and without the amulet, you will never be somepony. Give up Trixie. You are nothing!” The giant roared, horn sparking one last time as it released its hold on Trixie. Trixie screamed, eyes closed tightly as she fell, only to be caught by a very angry Alicorn.

“She is more than you will ever be you decrepit beast. You are nothing more than a mare wrestling with her past, and like every other challenge in life, she will overcome you.” Luna said, her voice low and cold. Her voice penetrated every inch of the dream, easily heard over the giant’s furious yells. “She may need help, but she will have it if she should ever ask for it.” Her horn flared, the light flooding the dream like a million suns.

Luna stood, gazing at the now peacefully sleeping unicorn. She turned around, her body suddenly appearing in her tower halfway across Canterlot. She glanced at the small table beside her bed, smiling as she took notice of the small tea cup, steam curling above it listlessly.

“It seems ‘Tia paid me a visit while I was out.” She stepped forward, her horn merging with the horn of her physical body. She opened her eyes, blinking rapidly before standing. She stretched her limbs out, glancing once more at the teacup beside her bed.

A small scroll lay beside the cup, tied with a simple red ribbon. Luna smiled to herself, levitating the scroll before her. She unfurled the scroll, eyes scanning the friendship report from her sisters student. She snagged the cup in her magical grip, bringing it to her lips as sudden inspiration hit her.

She dropped the tea cup, completely ignoring the shattering of porcelain as she strode to her writing desk. She laid down a fresh scroll, eagerly dipping a quill into a full ink well as she scribbled at the paper like a mad pony. She re-read her letter, eagerly sealing the scroll in fresh blue wax before directing her magic at her fireplace.

A fire popped into existence, a crackling flame of deep reds and bright yellows. She concentrated, recalling spells that had last been cast hundreds of years ago. With a spark, a beam of magic shot into the fire, turning the flames a sickly green. She grinned as she threw the scroll into the fire, watching as it turned into whisp of smoke and vanished up her chimney.

Tomorrow would start a grand new chapter in Luna’s life, and all she had to do was wait.

Luna hated waiting.

Author's Note

A/N: The first four chapters are already written, and I will be posting chapter Two this Friday and a new chapter every Friday after that!

Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think so far!

To anyone reading, Italics means things being thought, not spoken!

The Princesses Night

Luna sat impatiently, her forelegs crossed as she tapped her foot incessantly. She glared at her fireplace, glancing out at the moon to check the time once again. A wisp of smoke caught her eye, twisting its way through the sky straight toward her tower. She stepped forward, pushing the window open with her hoof as the wisp collected on the other side of the glass.

The wisp shot into the room, materializing into a scroll in a flash. Luna stretched out her hoof, snagging the scroll out of midair. She peered at the scroll, wrapped tightly in a fresh blue ribbon before lighting her horn, pulling the string with a tug of her magic.

The letter unfurled, her magic carrying it closer to the light from one of her lanterns so she could read the words upon the scroll. Her eyes darted from side to side, a thoughtful smile growing on her face as she approached the bottom of the scroll. Luna smiled as the letter rolled back up, her magic directing the ribbon to retie the letter.

She crossed the room, her thoughts drifting as set the scroll down on her bookshelf, stacking it beside other scrolls all adorned with blue ribbons. She smiled, her eyes roaming over the numerous other scrolls from her sister’s student, Twilight Sparkle. Ever since her visit to Ponyville during Nightmare Night, she and Twilight had kept in contact.

She stepped away from her bookshelf, her eyes drifting to the moon outside, sitting just above the horizon, almost tauntingly.

“For the first time in a long time… I find myself looking forward to the lowering of my moon.” She sighed, trotting grumpily to her bedside. She threw herself onto her bed, stretching her hooves out before her, wrapping them in the luxurious silk covers the maids had provided for the night. She rolled onto her back, gazing at her ceiling listlessly, an impatient groan escaping her lips. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to take a deep calming breath as she tapped deep into her magic.

Even with her eyes closed, Luna could see the glow of light above her. She opened her eyes, smiling at the shining tapestry of magic above her. In the air below her ceiling rested a scale model of her night sky, stars and moon shining brightly, and even the occasional shooting star playing out above her. She cocked her head at the display, reaching out with a hoof to nudge a star to the side. Above Canterlot, a single star drifted to the side, aligning itself to match the model inside the tallest tower in Canterlot Palace.

She waved her hoof at the model, watching as the days passed by in the stars. She would stop the model regularly, nudging a star here, fixing a constellation there. She sighed after a moment, dispelling the model with a flare of her horn. The stars exploded, spiraling out into twirling remnants of magic. As the silvery glow faded from the room, she shot another exasperated glance out to her balcony, clenching her jaw as she stared at the moon. The giant orb had dipped, but only low enough to just touch the far horizon.

She groaned, throwing her bedroom doors open with her hooves. The two bat stallions to either side of her door jumped, spinning on a dime and leveling spears at the amused Alicorn. They blanched, lowering themselves into hasty bows.

“Apologies Night Mother.” The bat ponies muttered, staring at her hooves. Luna shook her head, giggling as the two glanced up at her from the floor.

“Arise Silver Wing, Quickshot. Tell me, do either of you know if my sister is in her chambers?” Luna asked, smiling as the two stood, rolling their shoulders to adjust their armor. Silver Wing extended his wings, almost as if showing off their silver membrane. He retucked his wings, the unique coloring standing out against his dark blue fur. His mane was a bright silver, almost to the point of whiteness.

Beside him Quickshot smiled, revealing two fangs on either side of his muzzle. He fidgeted, his fur a near mirror image to the pony beside him, a shade lighter if only just. His wings were slightly smaller than Silver’s, with a color that matched his coat. Thin, but clearly defined muscles bulged under the coat on his forelegs from the intense archer training the stallion preferred. His mane was a dirty brown, cropped close to his neck.

The two glanced at each other, sharing a silent conversation. Silver Wing nodded his head, calmly meeting his rulers eye.

“When the last patrol made its rounds, Princess Celestia was in her bed chambers, presumed to be asleep.” Silver Wing said, nodding his head as he spoke, his silvery mane ruffling in the air.

Luna nodded, smiling at the pair. “Thank you Silver. You may both return to your post.” She said, already trotting her way down the hallway. Behind her, she could hear their armor clanking as they nodded, before retreating to their guard positions.

The alicorn trotted through the castle, nodding at any servants she passed at such an early hour. To Luna, with her night winding down, she would usually be getting ready for bed. For everyone else, the day had hardly even started.

Unlike Luna, Celestia enjoyed having her room close to the heart of the castle, instead of the large towers Luna favored. As she came to the lip of the hallway, she slowed herself to a crawl, peeking around the corner silently. She grinned devilishly as she spotted the two guards at her sisters door, their spears hanging listlessly at their sides.

She pulled back from the lip of the hallway, her horn alight with a dark blue aura. She smiled as her hooves faded from view, shadows idly rolling off her horn in waves. She giggled quietly as her entire body faded from view, the shadows rolling from her position being the only clue she was there.

“Did you hear that?”

“Will yah stuff it Bronze! I’m tryin’ tah sleep…” The pegasus guard replied, cracking a single eye open to glance at the pony beside him.

“Wake up Roller!” The earth pony whispered, eyeing the hallway wearily. The pegasus stood straighter, slowly extending his wings threateningly as he glared at Bronze.

“I have told you before, Rookie! My name is Rolling! Rolling Breeze! Do not… I repeat do not. Call. Me. Roller!” The pegasus yelled, glaring at his partner. To their left sat an empty hallway, stretching down about fifty feet and than turning to work its way back into the castle. To their right, the hallway stretched the same length as the left, but the end of the hallway was shrouded in what appeared to be a cloud of shadows. He looked past Bronze, cocking his head at the deep shadows at the end of the hall. “Shouldn’t it be nearly morning now?”

“That’s why I tried to wake you up…” Bronze said, voice trailing off as he looked at Rolling with hurt in his eyes. He snapped to attention as the sound of hooves clacking on porcelain filled the air, originating from the shadows at the end of the hallway. Beside him, he could see Rolling snap to attention, both staring forward at the wall.

The sound of the hooves came closer, his head turning ever so slightly to look to his right. Beside him, he could hear Rolling grunt to get his attention, but Bronze ignored him as he stared into the shadows. Unless his mind was playing tricks on him… the shadows were actively moving closer.

The hooves echoed eerily, four hoof beats evenly spaced apart, as if someone was walking in the depths of the shadow. The shadows overtook the pair, twisting and cloaking them in a blanket of blackness. Bronze shivered, turning to look at Rolling, only to see the pitch black all around him. It was so dark, the poor earth pony couldn’t even see the wall behind him.

Within the shadows, the hooves cantered on slowly approaching the two stallions. Bronze shook, his coat standing on end as he gripped the shaft of his spear, tightening his hoof on it nervously. The hoof beats stopped suddenly, directly in front of him.

Bronze could feel his heart beating, so loudly he was sure Rolling could hear it beside him. He sucked in a deep breath, his pulse picking up as a hoof tenderly stroked his cheek, causing panic to rise in his chest. He touched a hoof to his muzzle, twitching at the icy feeling spreading across his jaw, slowly inching its way down his neck. He whimpered, rubbing his cheek with his hoof.

He closed his eyes, muttering quietly to himself. He jumped, his armor rattling loudly as the hoof beats started once again, slowly moving away from him down the hallway. The shadow slipped away, giving way to the moon’s rays once again. He followed the black mass with his head, his eyes going wide as they slipped away revealing Rolling beside him, his body stiff at attention, his face determinedly pointed forward. The tapping of hooves echoed through the hall, broken only by Bronzes panicked breathing.

“Rolling… Wh-what was-s that?” Bronze said, repressing a shiver as the shadows vanished around the far corner.

“It was me!” A voice whispered, from the center of the door between the two. Bronze whirled around, his jaw dropping as he stared into a pair of razor sharp teeth easily as long as the head of his spear. The mouth curled into a large smile, two large blue slitted eyes opening to stare at him. The mouth seemed to be part of the wall behind him, a slight mist spreading across the surface of the wall. Bronze blinked twice, smiling weakly before slumping over, his eyes rolling their way to the back of his head.

Luna cocked her head at the earth pony, glancing at Rolling Breeze with a lifted eyebrow.

“New guy?”

“New guy.” Rolling confirmed, stepping closer to the unconscious pony. He nudged him with a hoof, shaking his head at the recruit. He turned, bowing low to the alicorn extracting herself from the wall before him. “Good evening Princess Luna. I assume you wish to speak to Princess Celestia?”

Luna smiled, nodding as she stifled a giggle with her hoof. She stepped forward, slowly inching the door open. She slipped inside once the door was just her size, turning to poke her head through the gap between doors before closing it.

“I will only be a few minutes. When…” She trailed off, beckoning at the earth pony beside Rolling.

“Bronze Shield.”

“When Bronze Shield wakes up, please express my apologies to him.” Luna said, ears flattened apologetically.

“Will do Princess.” Rolling said, tapping Bronze with a hoof once again. From the ground, Bronze groaned.

Luna chuckled, stepping into Celestia’s bedroom and closing the door with her rear hoof. She looked around the sparsely decorated bedroom.The room was furnished in delicate golds and oranges, and deep reds and rolling crimsons. Most ponies assumed Celestia loved these colors because of the sun, but Luna knew that Celestia picked these colors for her love of Fall. Even as a filly, Celestia had loved the Fall season. She had always told Luna, it was the one point in the year when their respective season, Summer and Winter, cooperated and painted a tapestry of beauty across the land.

Unlike Luna’s own room, which showed obvious signs of being lived in, Celestia’s room had an almost unnatural sterile feel to it. The floor was devoid of any clutter, the books upon the shelves were perfectly shelved, with a thin layer of dust upon most of the spines. A massive window, currently blocked with velvety red curtains, sat directly across from Celestia’s bedroom door. A desk sat at the foot of the window, the only signs of anyone living in the room being located here. Scrolls sat unfurled, ink pots empty, with quills laying sprawled across the wooden surface.

In the center of the room, sat a massive bed. It could easily hold three Celestias, with room to spare on either side. Luna crept closer to the bed, smirking as she spied Celestia’s muzzle sticking out from under a pillow on the far side. She smirked, snatching several pillows from the bed, allowing them to slowly orbit around her head. She cocked her head, mentally comparing Celestias position on the bed, to the pillows floating around her.

Her horn hummed ever so quietly as she slid the pillows into position, just off the edge of the bed, creating an improvised cushion. She slid closer to Celestia, sucking in a deep breath as she prepared to give Celestia, the traditional royal wake up call!

“Don’t. You. Dare.” Celestia said, muzzle still poking from under the pillow. She lifted her head, pillow balancing perfectly atop her head as she sat up. Celestia yawned, tugging the pillow from her head with a flourish of her hoof as she smiled smugly at Luna.

Luna stared at her, trying, and ultimately failing to stifle laughter at her sister’s bed mane. Celestia’s pink mane stuck up in a frizzy ball, leaving her with a look reminiscent of Twilight Sparkle’s friend, Pinkie Pie. Celestia frowned, hoof going to her mane as she sighed. Her horn flared brightly, a sound not quite unlike the crackling of summer flames filling the air as her mane took on the shimmering rainbow look everypony was familiar with.

“Party pooper…” Luna muttered, pursing her lips as she pouted. She smiled as Celestia laughed, a music like quality to the sound. “How did you know, anyways?” She asked, jumping up on the bed beside the white alicorn.

Celestia cocked her eye at Luna, groaning as she stretched her hooves above her head. “Please Lulu, you honestly think you can get anything past your older sister? Now, is there a reason you are waking me so early?” As if to accent her point, Celestia drew the curtains away from her window, revealing a moon that was merely half way set upon the far horizon.

“Well sister… I want your opinion on a potential student.”

Author's Note

A/N: Leave a comment below, let me know what you think!

Edited by: Phaoray & The Abyss

First Lesson

Trixie sighed as the warm water licked at her coat, steam curling off the bath water. She sunk lower until only the tips of her ears poked above the surface, her cheeks puffed out as she held her breath. The mare closed her eyes as the hot bath soothed her aching muscles, only opening them once she felt the need for air. She broke the surface, gasping for air as she ran a hoof through her mane.

She pulled her mane in front of her, smiling at it’s pale blue coloring. A grimace appeared on her face as she examined her hooves, rubbing the wrinkly skin together as she reluctantly tugged the stopper out of the drain. Trixie pushed herself out of the bath, humming quietly as she stepped onto a large fluffy towel she had set upon the floor before bathing.

A violet glow surrounded a towel as it floated to her side, rubbing across her until her coat was nice and dry. The mare stepped forward, turning to admire her now clean coat in the wall length mirror. She discarded the wet towel, snatching another one from a rack on the wall as she poked at her exposed ribcage.

”Just take those old records off the shelf…” Trixie sang, wrapping a towel around her mane and tucking it in on itself with a flare of her magic. She snatched her hair brush off the countertop, flipping it around to use as her microphone.

”I’ll sit and listen to ‘em by myself. Today’s music ain’t got the same soul,”

““I like that old time rock n’ roll.”” Trixie trotted toward her bedroom with a noticeable sway to her hips. She turned, nudging the bathroom door open with her flank as she backed into her room. She lowered her head, her flank swaying from side to side as she whipped her tail from side to side.

“Don’t try to take me to a disco. You’ll never even get me out on the floor, ten minutes and I’ll be late for the door.”

She danced in place, her hooves clacking over the bare stone below her. She gazed around her empty bedroom, smiling at the large bed against the wall, decorated in a cerulean comforter that perfectly matched her coat. She mentally reminded herself to ask Princess Luna about her allowance. She really needed some furniture.

“I like that old time rock n’ roll. Still like that old time rock n’ roll.” She stomped her hooves, rearing onto her back legs as she pulled the microphone close.

“That kind of music just soothes the soul. I reminisce about the days of old,
With that ol’ time rock n’ roll. Won’t go to hear them play a tango. I’d rather hear some blues or funky ol’ soul…”

She lowered herself to her hooves, flicking her mane over her shoulder as she pulled the hairbrush close. She spun, planting her hooves onto the stone as she sucked in a deep breath when her eyes finally landed on Princess Luna standing in her doorway. Trixie blushed, her cheeks turning crimson as she dropped the hairbrush.

“You startled me...” Trixie murmured, shooting an embarrassed glance at her teacher.

Luna cocked her head, smiling even wider at the mare. “I’m sorry Trixie, it’s just that, that song was old when I was a filly.” She teased, chuckling as Trixie busied herself with the towel around her mane.

Trixie coughed, the red in her cheeks finally fading as she unwrapped the towel drying her mane. A quick burst of magic later, and the towel sat in a pile with the other towels she had already used. She trotted to her bed, lifting her newly repaired hat and cape off her mattress. Her horn flared violet as she pulled the hat close, examining the stitching with a critical eye.

After a moment of silence, Luna cleared her throat, drawing Trixie’s attention away from her hat. “I was hoping that we could go ahead and get started on your first lesson.”

“That is fine with Trixie.” The mare said dismissively, snapping the clasp of her cape together. She set her hat on her head, tugging at the edge of the fabric carefully. Her hooves clacked over the stone floor as she crossed the room, waiting for Princess Luna to step out of her doorway.

“Well then. Follow me?” Luna said, stepping further into the hallway as she made room for Trixie to exit her bedroom. Trixie turned to head down the staircase leading from the tower her bedroom sat in, but to her surprise, Luna headed further up the tower. Trixie trotted slowly behind Luna as they set off down the hallway, glancing at her new mentor out of the corner of her eye. Luna ignored Trixie’s staring for a moment, before sighing lightly.

“Go ahead Trixie.” Luna said, turning to the unicorn with a bemused, if not slightly forced smile.

Trixie paused for a moment, startled at Luna’s suggestion. She smiled sheepishly as she collected her thoughts.

“What is it like being back?”

Luna chuckled, growing silent for a moment as they came to a set of stairs. They were halfway up the stairs before Luna spoke.

“As a princess, my night court is still avoided by ponies. I do not know if it’s by choice, or circumstance. Ponies no longer fear my night as they used to, although there is still just as much to be afraid of in its depths. Some ponies even go so far as sleeping during the day, and working through the night. The ponies of Canterlot gather in droves to watch meteor shows and all manner of nighttime events now. It is an interesting change of pace from… before.” Luna explained, a genuine smile on her muzzle.

“However, I am happiest when I get to spend time with Celestia, or the rare times when I am allowed to visit Twilight Sparkle.” Luna elaborated, glancing at Trixie as she mentioned Twilight. To Luna surprise, Trixie allowed a small smile to appear on her face. “I do not get to spend as much time with them as I wish though. We are simply too busy with our day to day duties.”

“Trixie is sorry to hear that.”

The two ponies grew silent, Trixie lost in her own thoughts while Luna mentally examined the lesson she had made for the unicorn. Trixie watched the stone walls pass by, her gaze drifting to the windows set into the wall. After another set of stairs, the pair came upon the doorway to Luna’s bedchambers, two familiar bat stallions guarding the door.

“Well look at you, Blue!” Quickshot said, smiling as Luna and Trixie trotted into view. “You don’t look half bad!” He winked at the mare as she shot him a flat glare.

“And you look just as bad as you did when we first met!” She said grumpily. “My name is Trixie, not Blue!”

He laughed, wagging his eyebrows at her as she fought back a wry smile. Luna smiled at the pair’s antics, nodding in thanks to Quickshot as he pushed her bedroom door open with his rear leg.

“Come along Trixie.” Luna said, stepping past her guards into her bedroom. Trixie stepped into Luna’s bedroom, waving at Silver Wing as she passed him.

Trixie gazed around Luna’s bedroom as her mentor shut the doors behind her. It was a fairly large room, laid out in a simple half circle. Across the room from the door they had just entered, a large floor to length window exposed a breathtaking view of Canterlots skyline. She tore her eyes away from the window, resting them on everything in the room for a moment before moving on.

Luna sat, huffing as she stretched her wings waiting for Trixie to focus on her. The unicorn turned, making sure to keep the ends of her cape afloat with her magic as she sat across from Luna.

“You have one task for your first lesson. This,” she explained, opening her wings to indicate the room they stood in. “Is my bedroom. I want you to tell me three facts about my life that you can learn in the time it takes me to lift the moon. If you can do so, it will show me that you are able to think logically, allowing me to teach you much easier…” Luna trailed off as Trixie set her jaw, looking around the room with a disappointed air. “Are you okay Trixie?”

“You promised I would learn powerful magic!” Trixie exclaimed, gritting her teeth angrily. She stood, facing away from Luna with her tail twitching agitatedly. “Not teach you about your own life!”

“I promise you Trixie; if you can prove yourself proficient at this, you will be able to learn any spell you set your mind on.” Luna explained, stepping toward her balcony, speaking over her shoulder to the mare. “Your time starts,” Luna said, her horn aglow with dark shadowy blue magic. “Now.”

Trixie glared after Luna, muttering under her breath as the alicorn stepped out onto the massive balcony outside. She lifted her horn to the sky, the length of which was twisting and spiraling with a dark aura as she eased the moon into the sky.

She sighed loudly, turning her observation to the inside of the room. On the same wall they had entered sat two more arches, a library study visible through one, with a large bath visible through the other. With a bored sigh, she continued examining the bedroom as she had been instructed.

A large bed sat against the wall, furnished with royal purple covers, silver accents splayed across the fabric in seemingly random patterns. A long table sat to one side of the bed, books piled high upon the dark mahogany furnishing. Several of the books laid open, while others had small bookmarks nestled between their pages. She walked over to the table, grabbing several of the books in her telekinesis.

She flipped the books open, scanning the pages that were bookmarked before snapping them closed. She dropped them back onto the table before continuing her investigation.

To the other side of the bed sat various objects of entertainment. An artist easel sat beside the wall, a large mirror hanging on the wall next to it. A nearly finished self-portrait sat upon the easel, brilliant blues shifting into deep purples upon the canvas. Behind the easel, she could just make out canvases resting against the wall. She stepped around the easel, a violet glow lighting her corner of the room as she shifted through the stack, examining each painting.

The first painting was of Canterlot, as seen from Luna’s bedroom, but much like the self portrait had been abandoned. The second was of Celestia, and the last of a beautiful full moon, each unfinished in some way. The painting of Celestia had been abandoned as a basic sketch, while the moon had been very near completion. She started to set the canvases back in a pile when she spotted one hidden behind the headboard of the bed.

She glanced toward the balcony, eyeing Luna as she silently eased the canvas out of it’s hiding spot. She turned it to examine the picture and felt her mouth drop ever so slightly as she took in the scene that had been perfectly painted upon the tarpaulin. The bottom of the canvas was painted a dreary grey, with rocks and craters dotted throughout the barren terrain. The dark blackness of space filled out much of the remaining canvas, with a small globe of blues and greens sitting peacefully in the center of the canvas.

She carefully eased the canvas back into place, chancing another lingering glance toward her mentor. Her gaze lowered to what had once been a telescope by the looks of it, with several lenses laying haphazardly around the shelling. The shell actually lay in multiple pieces, screws and bolts in a neat pile beside it.

She nodded to herself as she trotted to the opposite wall, examining the all around clutter and lived in feel the room gave off. She trotted up to the large bookshelf placed against the wall, lifting herself onto her rear legs as she cast her gaze over the shelves. Dozens of books in various conditions sat on the shelf, ranging from books in pristine condition, to ones that had broken spines and peeling covers.

Trixie lowered herself to her hooves, eyes drawn to a shelf full of scrolls, each tied with a dark blue ribbon. Trixie reached out with her magic, picking a letter at random and unfurling it with a tug of her magic.

“Dear Princess Luna,

It is good to hear from you again. I don’t know if Princess Celestia told you, but we had a little incident with Spike the other day. He got presents from the girls, and for the first time, his dragon greed took over… Blah... Blah… Blah…” Trixie read, skipping to the bottom of the scroll quickly.

“I hope to see you in Ponyville again soon.

Best wishes,

Twilight Sparkle”

“Are these all from Twilight?” Trixie asked herself, casting an eye over the shelf as she rolled the letter back up, tying it securely with the ribbon and depositing it back on top of the pile. She turned with a smug smile on her face as she settled back onto her haunches as Luna stepped into the room, the moon hanging proudly behind her.

“So Trixie. Care to share your findings?” Luna asked, striding across the room to lower herself onto her haunches before the mare.

Trixie nodded, pausing for a moment as she organized her thoughts.

“Fact one. You do not like to leave your tower, except for when you must attend night court, and to raise the moon.” Luna smiled, nodding at Trixie’s theory.

“Can you explain how you came to that conclusion?”

“You have an entire shelf dedicated to letters from Twilight Sparkle. There are various distractions throughout your bedroom, ways you can keep yourself entertained without having to leave your chambers, as well as the lack of any pictures of you out with other ponies in the city.” Luna nodded, motioning for Trixie to continue.

“Fact two. You are working hard to catch up. You study books on any and everything that has happened in the last 1000 years, such as new laws and discoveries. You dissect all kinds of recent inventions, such as that new telescope, trying to understand how our new technology works.” Trixie said, finding herself smiling as Luna nodded once more.

“Fact three. You want to move on but you can’t. You start painting, or reading to get past your time… away. You start all these projects, wanting to find new hobbies to help you move past that, but you never let yourself finish them.” Trixie finished quietly. Luna stared at Trixie, her eyes unfocused as she gazed through the unicorn, lost in her own thoughts.

“You are… much better at this than I imagined you would be.” Luna said after a moment of composure, slowly focusing on Trixie once more.

“Trixie is a showmare. She has to be able to make these types of observations with much less time and information.” Trixie explained, a smug smile on her face as Luna slapped a hoof to her forehead.

“You mean I could have given you a harder test!” Luna said, glaring at Trixie.

“You didn’t ask...” Trixie replied, shrugging as she studied the lining of her cape.

Author's Note

A/N: This chapter almost didn't get posted on time! I lost internet yesterday around 4 and was told that charter would not be able to get out to my house until next Wednesday, but we bugged them this morning and they showed up at 10 and fixed it!

The stories gonna start picking up here so leave a comment and let me know what you think!

For anyone curious, Tu m’as fait peur= You startled me!

Edited by: Phaoray

Trixie Fails

“Seeing as you are already familiar with logical thinking, we shall be able to squeeze in one more lesson tonight.” Luna said, gazing into the distance as she ran over several lessons in her mind. She smiled as the perfect spell drifted to the front of her thoughts, a plan forming around it.

“Watch closely Trixie. Your lesson’s will not be able to continue until you manage to cast the spell I am about to show you.” Luna explained, leveling Trixie her most serious look.

“Trixie is the gre-greatest magic user ever born!” She said, stuttering as she puffed her chest out. “She can do any spell you throw at her.” Trixie ignored the strange look Luna threw in her direction, focusing on her mentors stance and copying it.

Luna closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling as she forced deep even breaths through her nose. Magic appeared at the tip of her horn, spiraling slowly down its length as it dispersed into the air like smoke. Luna’s horn shimmered, slowly losing color until the appendage had vanished entirely, followed soon after by the top of her mane and head. Within moments, her chest and forelegs had vanished leaving Luna’s flank and tail visible from Trixie’s viewpoint.

Trixie leaned forward, pressing against where she knew Luna’s forelegs to be. She could feel Luna’s fur under her hoof, even if she wasn’t able to see it at the moment.

“Invisibility spell?” Trixie said, poking Luna as she watched the last bits of the alicorn disappear from view. From start to finish, the spell took nearly four minutes to render her invisible. “Trixie doesn’t understand how this spell is so important. There are plenty of other invisibility spells around.” She pointed out, gazing just above her mentors head.

Luna chuckled, sending a shiver down Trixie’s spine. Her mentor slowly bled back into view, starting at the tip of her horn. “That is true. There are many other spells that render the caster invisible. But,” She said, drawing a small tome from her bookshelf as she spoke. “This one is undetectable. You would not have been able to detect me magically, even if you had tried.” Luna passed the book to Trixie, holding it open with her magic. “Take a moment to examine the spell, and cast it when you feel you are able to.”

Trixie took the book in her own magic, glancing at Luna over the edge of the tome. She lowered her eyes to the pages, examining the spell. Her jaw slowly opened as her eyes scanned over the difficult spell, a stunned expression on her face as she looked up to Luna. Luna stared back at her with a smile on her face, almost as if challenging Trixie.

Trixie took a deep breath, setting the book aside as she closed her eyes to concentrate. She dug deep into her core, pulling and pushing at every ounce of magic she could find, attempting to power the spell she had been challenged to cast.

Sweat beaded at her forehead, slickening her coat. Spots appeared at the edge of her vision, blurring the room before her. She could distantly feel herself swaying as she pushed more and more magic into the spell, a slow headache building at the base of her horn.

“Trixie!” A voice rang out, nearly drowned out by the loud ringing in her ears. She gasped, coughing roughly at the dryness in her throat. She felt her forelegs slipping, her chest roughly hitting the ground as her magic suddenly died. She panted, sucking in deep breaths as she forced herself to lift her head and focus on Luna.

“Di…Did I… do it?”

“Not quite... A for effort though. Stay still for a moment. This should help you wake up a bit...” Luna said, patting the exhausted mare on the shoulder. She lowered her head, touching her horn to the tip of Trixie’s horn, dark blue magic already bubbling at the tip. Magic coursed down its ivory length, arcing from her longer horn to Trixie’s. Trixie sat up, gasping for air as lightning flooded through her veins. Her eyes went wide, her heart pounding furiously against her chest. She stared at Luna in amazement, before frowning as she dropped her gaze.

“Why didn’t it work? What kind of bull headed unicorn made this stupid spell!” She exclaimed, a slight whining tone behind the disappointment in her voice.

“Because it was not supposed to.” Luna said, lifting herself to her hooves. She leaned down, stretching her forelegs as Trixie cocked an eyebrow at her. Luna turned, her tail darting out to tap Trixie on her nose as she walked toward her bed.

“What do you mean it wasn’t supposed to?” Trixie demanded, rubbing her nose and glaring at the retreating form of her mentor. Luna’s horn lit up dimly, the covers on her bed shifting to the side as she climbed onto her mattress.

“It was not supposed to work. If you had been able to cast that spell right off the bat, you would have astounded me. Quite simply put, My sister and I are two of the very few alive who have enough magical power to cast this spell correctly.” She explained. “Think on the purpose of the spell, think about how it works. Imagine the parts that have to happen to make it perform, and ease it along. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to bed. ” Luna explained, horn flaring as she snuffed out the lights around the room. The light dimmed, a silver glow cast across the room by the full moon hanging just outside the window.

“Wait!” Trixie said, stomping a hoof as she glared at the lump beneath the covers. “I don’t understand!” She huffed as Luna moved, but only to grab a pillow and pull it over her head.

“Trixie does not need your help anyways! She is sure she can do this…” She said, trailing off as she scooped the book up in her magical grip. She stepped quietly across the room, fumbling with the book and door in her telekinesis. She groaned lightly, stepping forward to grab the door handle between her teeth haughtily.

“Hey Blue!” A voice called out, startling Trixie. She jumped, her ears pinned back as she glared into Quickshot’s smiling face.

“My. Name. Is. Trixie!” She said, glaring at the bat stallion. Beside him, Silver wing sat calmly against the far wall, a smile on his muzzle as he observed the two.

“Oh come on Blue. Everypony needs a nickname!” Quickshot exclaimed, sliding up to her with a wing extended. He put his wing around her shoulder, pulling her close to him as he gazed into the distance. Trixie glared at him through the hat scrunched up against her cheek.

“Wha’ about… Luly? No.. that’s too close to Luna… Trickster? That’s longa’ than Trixie..” Quickshot said, mumbling to himself as Trixie struggled in his grip. She shot a glare in Silver’s direction as he laughed.

“I got it! Mirage!” Quickshot exclaimed, throwing a hoof in the air suddenly. Trixie yelped as the support she had been fighting against vanished, leaving her to tumble to the floor unexpectedly. She rolled onto her back, glaring at the stallion as he stood above her with an ear to ear grin.

“Mirage! Cause you like illusion magic!” He said, holding out a hoof to help the mare up. Trixie batted his hoof away, pulling herself to her own four hooves. She dusted herself off despite the lack of dirt on her coat, slowing as a thought entered her head.

“How did you know I like Illusion magic?” Trixie asked, glancing between the two stallions.

Quickshot hesitated, glancing at Silver than to Princess Luna’s bed chambers. “Um.. I don’ think I’m supposed tah tell you just yet. Night Mother would want to be the one to tell yah.”

Trixie opened her mouth to question the two further but decided against it with a weary sigh
“Very well. Trixie shall head to the library to work on Princess Luna’s lesson.” She turned away from the pair, bidding them goodnight as she started down the staircase. She had just wound her way around the corner when a thought entered her mind.

“Um... Quickshot?” She said, slowly walking back up the staircase. She cleared the top of the stairs, biting back a groan as the stallion stepped toward her.

“Could you show Trixie how to get to the library?” She asked, grimacing as a large smile appeared on the stallions face.

“Trixie?” A familiar voice called out, slowly drawing the unconscious mare back to the land of the living. Trixie opened her eyes slowly, slamming them shut as Celestia’s cursed ball of fire drilled into her cornea. She lifted her head, wiping away a string of saliva that had leaked from the corner of her mouth. She risked opening her eyes again, finally able to take a look around.

She sat in the library, a large table before her with dozens upon dozens of books stacked high around her. The tome Luna had lent her sat before her, it’s cover spotted with the unicorns drool. She blinked a few times, lifting her eyes to take in Princess Luna sitting across from her, a bemused smile on her muzzle.

“Did you come here and read until you passed out?” Luna asked, glancing up at the tall books towering around Trixie. “How many of these did you read last night?”

Trixie looked down at the book before her, before looking to her right and left.
“Um.. Including this one?” She asked, indicating the book before her.

Luna nodded eagerly, clearly impressed.

“Um… One.” Trixie confessed, blushing as Luna’s jaw dropped.

“What is with all these books around you then?”

“Trixie used them to… hide… from the librarian…” She said, avoiding Luna’s gaze. “To be fair, Trixie did study the spell.” Her shoulders slumped as she pushed the book away. “But… I don’t understand it. Trixie has never been good learning from books…” She said, trailing off as her cheeks heated up.

“I think I can help you with this.” Luna said, smiling as her horn flashed.

Mist coiled out of the air, collecting in a rolling and twisting mass just above the table. The fog darkened, slowly spreading across the table until it spilled gently over the edge, small dots of light appearing in its depths. Swirls of light and color appeared in the strange creation, slowly swirling and twisting in the dark nether.

“Is that... the night sky?” Trixie said, eyes narrowed as she studied the magical construct before her.

“It is. I use it to help me make sure my stars are in their correct places. It is not necessary for me to control the night sky, but I find a closer visual is a great aid when I have changes to make.” Luna explained, absentmindedly scratching at her chin as she gave a quick once over to the model before her. She reached across the table and nudged a single star to the side, smiling at the action.

“I do not know what it is, but Polaris does not like to stay in place.” She chuckled at Trixie’s awed expression. “Now. This spell does not just model the night sky, that is merely what I use it for the most nowadays.” Trixie tore her eyes away from the model, shaking her head as she refocused on Luna.

“Imagine the spell as… More like a giant… Hmm.” Luna said, trailing off quietly. Her ears laid back against her head as she thought.

“I got it. Imagine this spell as a meal.” She said, drawing a skeptical look from the unicorn before her. “Just listen. Meals have many ingredients. You would have to be a master cook to be able to take a single glance at someones cooked meal and know exactly, in that moment, how to cook it yourself.” She explained, smiling as Trixie nodded.

“This spell is similar. To understand how to cast it, you must take it apart and view it from it’s ingredients.” Her horn flared as the model condensed into mist once more, before expanding outwards to several arcane symbols, each glowing with a different form of magic. Trixie reached out slowly running a hoof through the mist, shuddering at the strange feeling.

“To cast this spell, just imagine taking apart the spell in three dimensions. Imagine being able to turn and roll it around in the air, to be able to examine it from a different point of view.” Luna waved a hoof through the air, dispelling the magic as she leveled an expectant gaze at Trixie.

Trixie took a deep breath, nodding as her horn sputtered to life, a violet glow surrounding the appendage as she copied Luna’s instructions. A moment passed without any results, but slowly light blue mist formed in the air above the table, swirling and twisting over each other like Luna’s had done. It spread out slowly, taking up only half of the table unlike Luna’s previous model. The mist condensed into arcane symbols once more, thin trails of colored smoke linking them together.

“Good job Trixie.” Luna said, smiling at her student. “First try.”

Trixie nodded, flipping her mane over her shoulder as she reared onto her back legs. “Of course Trixie performed on the first try! Was there ever any doubt?”

Luna shook her head, smiling despite herself at the unicorns actions. “If you will excuse me, I am heading to meet Celestia for lunch. If you would like to join us, you are more than welcome to.” Luna said, turning and waiting for Trixie to decide.

Trixie bit her lip, running a hoof through the mist from her new spell idly. After a moment she passed a hoof through the spell, dispelling it into magical contrails.

“Trixie will honor the princesses with her presence.” The mare said, arranging her features into the definition of a haughty smile. If Luna had not been waiting for a response from the mare, she would not have noticed the slight quiver in Trixie’s voice, or the way Trixie’s eyes were widened just a bit too big for a natural smile.

“Very well. Come along then.” Luna said, her gaze lingering on Trixie for a moment longer than necessary. She finally turned, winding her ways between bookshelves back toward the open lobby. Trixie ran after her, skidding to a stop as she returned for the book Luna had loaned her.

She finally caught up to Luna outside the library, the book hovering just behind her as she ran. Luna smiled as Trixie fell in place beside her, speed trotting to keep up with Luna’s longer gait. The mare stuck close to her mentor, not quite familiar with the castle just yet. Luckily for her, the dining hall was quite close to the library.

“Trixie.” Luna said suddenly, stopping just outside the doors with her horn aglow. She remained quiet until Trixie focused on her, glancing toward the doors uncertainly. “You will sit beside me, which will place you between Celestia and I. There will be other ponies dining with us, but they should… well, ignore you. If anyone speaks to you, just answer their questions and… try to mind your manners.” She said, pleading with the unicorn.

Trixie lifted a hoof to her chest, an affronted look on her face. “Trixie is the very picture of eloquence. She can have these nobles twisted around her hoof in seconds!” She said, stomping past Luna with fire in her eyes.

She turned around, bucking the doors wide open with her rear legs. She spun in place as the doors opened, rearing onto her back legs as she dramatically flapped her cape behind her.

“THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE HAs… arrived.” She said, trailing off as she took in the ponies before her. Dozens of nobles sat in the large dining hall Trixie had been taken through earlier that week, each staring at her with a mixture of confusion, arrogance, and disgust. Behind her, she could hear Luna’s hooves shuffling nervously.

“Sister…” Luna said, speaking to the large white alicorn at the far end of the table. Celestia had a bemused smile on her face, a hoof over her lips as she held back a musical laugh. “Trixie... as everyone can now see…” She said, mumbling under her breath. “Has decided to join us for lunch.”

Author's Note

A/N: Decided to put out my chapter a day early! Chapter 6 will introduce a new big player into the story so be on the lookout for that!

As usual leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Edited by: Phaoray

Lunch with Nobles

Luna stepped into the dining hall, her silver horseshoes clicking over the tile floor. Luna glanced behind her to see Trixie following closely in her wake, her eyes nervously gazing over the nobles at the table. Even as she watched, Trixie schooled her features into the smug smile Luna expected, even after a mere two days of mentoring the arrogant unicorn.

As they neared the head of the table, Celestia lit her horn, drawing a chair from the wall of the room and setting it firmly between herself and the seat Luna was heading toward. Luna sat down, smiling at her sister over the offered chair. Trixie sat down a moment later, glancing uncertainly between the two rulers of Equestria.

“I’m sorry I am late. I was searching for my new student, and did not find her until I checked the library. ” Luna said, speaking over Trixie. She grinned at the mare’s embarrassment, chuckling as Trixie tugged her hat lower to cover her eyes.

“Ah say no more.” Celestia said, smiling at the little bit of Trixies muzzle she could see under the brim of her hat. “I remember many a day that I had to drag Twilight from the library. She would stay in there for days and days rea-”

“She wasn’t studying. She was sleeping.” Luna said, interrupting her older sister. Celestia blinked, before smiling as she closed her mouth.

“I would not expect anypony else to have such a love for studying as Twilight does.” Celestia said after a moment of silence.

“Ho-How is Twilight?” Trixie inquired, glancing between Celestia and Luna. Celestia’s grin widened ever so slightly as she shot a victorious glance in Luna’s direction. Trixie turned to see Luna mouthing “Later” at Celestia before refocusing on Trixie.

“She is fine last I heard. She has been dating her friend Rainbow Dash for the last several months. They have had several dinners with me and Luna, and I find them both to be quite happy.” Celestia responded, picking at the salad that was placed before her by a servant. She poked at a juicy tomato with her fork and lifted it to her lips, demurely nibbling at the small orb.

Trixie smiled, nodding absentmindedly.

“I did not know you and Twilight Sparkle were on good terms?” Luna said as she levitated a glass of orange juice to her lips.

“We weren’t at first. Trixie had gone to Ponyville to bless the town with her presence once again, but before Trixie could get started, Twilight Sparkles friends started to heckle Trixie! Probably out of jealousy… or some other foalish reason. Once Trixie dealt with the hecklers, a pair of colts decided to show the town how great Trixie truly was. They dragged an Ursa Minor into town. Trixie was... not at her best that night. Though she did do very well against the beast, in the end, Twilight put the creature back to sleep after Trixie tired it out. She is a very gifted unicorn.” She said, directing her last remark toward Twilight’s teacher. Celestia smiled, nodding her head in agreement.

“After Ponyville, Trixie left to… try… to restart her traveling magic show. Almost all of Trixie’s belongings had been destroyed by the Ursa… Only Trixie’s hat and cape had been spared, albeit a little worse for wear. Twilight got them out of the remains of Trixie’s wagon, and kept them hoping Trixie would return soon.” She stopped her story for a moment, motioning for a servant to bring her a bowl of carrot soup. “After traveling to a few other towns around Ponyville, Trixie realized she… had become a laughing stock. Ponies would see Trixie coming into town, and would laugh her right back out before she could even secure a place to perform.” Trixie nodded at the stallion as he set a bowl of soup before her, eagerly digging into the meal to avoid anypony’s eyes for a moment.

Luna frowned at this, glancing at Celestia over Trixie’s head. Celestia met her eyes for a moment before peering at the nobles seated around them. Even though they busied themselves with their meals and idle small talk, she could tell each and every noble within hearing distance was hanging on Trixie’s every word.

“After a few weeks, Trixie managed to acquire work on a rock farm near Ponyville. Trixie didn’t realize it at the time, but the rock farm belonged to Pinkie Pie’s family. After making a little bit of money… Trixie made a mistake.” She said, trailing off to a quiet whisper. Luna reached out, patting the mare on the shoulder. Trixie lazily stirred her soup with her spoon, taking a moment to steady her nerves.

“Trixie headed into the nearby town one day and found a curious little shop, just off the main streets. Trixie looked around for awhile and… I found myself drawn to a strange… amulet.” She said, shaking her head. Luna closed her eyes, frowning as she pulled her hoof away from the mare.

“The Alicorn Amulet…” She muttered, saying the amulets name like a curse. Beside her, Trixie nodded her head jerkily.

“Over the next year, Trixie worked and worked. At first, Trixie was working for a new wagon… then somehow I came to the conclusion that… I-I could only make Equestria stop laughing at me by challenging Twilight and beating her in a magical duel. It was supposed to be a friendly challenge… but the weeks went by, and I… I kept going back to that shop. The more time I spent near it, the more my goals changed.” Trixie’s voice wavered as she talked, obviously fighting through some tough memories. She forged on though, as if unable to stop talking until she had finished her story.

“I went from wanting a friendly challenge, to wanting to destroy Twilight Sparkle. I wanted to show all of Ponyville that she was the fake, and that I truly was Great and Powerful!” She said, saying the title like it left a filthy taste in her mouth. She wet her lips absently, her eyes unfocused as she recited the past.

“I bought it. I put it on… and I almost hurt them. Twilight and her friends I mean. But once again, she saved everypony without anypony getting hurt.” Trixie said, smiling faintly. “Even after all the trouble I had caused, Twilight offered me a room in the library.” She took a deep breath, rubbing at her eyes in what she hoped was an inconspicuous movement. “Trixie accepted, and stayed in Ponyville for a few days after the amulet was removed. Trixie woke up for the first time happy and refreshed. Trixie no longer wanted to defeat Twilight, or take over Equestria. Trixie simply wanted to move on with her life. Twilight gave Trixie back her hat and cape, and Trixie started to head out of Ponyville.”

“What did you do next?” Celestia asked after several long minutes of silence, pushing her now empty salad away.

“Three ponies stopped Trixie before she could leave. Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. Those three were responsible for heckling Trixie during her show. They had apparently heard how hard Trixie’s life had become since then, and felt responsible for it. So they had secretly been working on a present for Trixie. A new wagon.” Trixie said, a large smile appearing on her face.

“Applejack had used wood from Sweet Apple Acres, Rarity had decorated it with materials from her boutique, and Rainbow Dash had provided the liquid rainbow to dye the materials and paint the wagon. Trixie loved it.

But… I was still a laughing stock. Even worse, after my second visit to Ponyville everypony now saw me as a cold hearted evil bitch…” She blushed suddenly, throwing a hoof over her lips. She glanced between the two princesses, smiling nervously through her embarrassment. “Sorry…” She mumbled, dropping her gaze to the table.

“Wait.” A new voice said suddenly. Trixie turned her attention to a white unicorn stallion to the left of Celestia, lifting an eyebrow at him as he took his time to wipe his mouth with a napkin. “You mean to tell me, you’re the Trixie responsible for the blackout in Ponyville?”

“Well Trixie didn’t mea-” Trixie began, only to be rudely interrupted by the stallion.

“Yes yes, that is all very well and good, but your actions cost me quite a bit of money.” The stallion said, leaning forward to glare at her. “I am heavily invested in Sweet Apple Acres, and when you had your little temper tantrum and blocked off Ponyville from the rest of Equestria, the apple market suffered heavily.”

Trixie opened her mouth to answer, but was silenced by Princess Luna.

“Trixie, I would like to introduce you to Prince Blueblood.” She said, rolling her eyes as she pointed to the stallion.

“I am Prince Blueblood.” He said, stressing his title. “I demand to know what thi-this criminal is doing here! She belongs in the dungeons, not sitting beside royalty!” He said, slamming a hoof down on the table. “Take her away!” He said, directing his words to the servant filling his glass with fresh juice.

“Just ignore him.” Celestia said kindly, smiling at the bewildered servant. “Now Blueblood, please calm down. She was under the effects of a powerful magical artifact, that is now hidden may I add, and had little, if any, control over her actions. Twilight herself checked Trixie out and concluded that the artifact was warping her personality.” She smiled serenely at Blueblood, but with an obvious “this conversation is over” air to her tone. A tone which sailed right over Blueblood’s head.

“Oh yes, because we should all listen to Twilight Sparkle and her little band of trouble makers.” He said, speaking her name like a foul obscenity. “She has not always been the most sane of ponies, need I remind you Aunty. That just goes to show what kind of upbringing she has had.”

“What?!” Luna said, mirrored by the flash of anger across Celestia’s face. Trixie glanced to Luna’s right, as two ponies stiffened suddenly, glaring at the stallion with everything they had.

“It’s obvious is it not?” Blueblood went on to say, oblivious to the outraged expressions centered on him. “She was obviously raised wrong.”

Luna laughed suddenly, a dismissive little chuckle that hid her anger from most of the ponies at the table. Blueblood smiled, laughing along with the princess in what he obviously thought was victory. Trixie’s eyes widened slightly, before slowly leaning away from the angry princess of the night.

“Twilight is not the only pony who has had her moments of insanity.” She snarled, glaring at the stallion. Blueblood’s smile faded from his muzzle, the insult he had just leveled at the princess just dawning on him. “I myself seem to remember a brief time that I could be called insane…” She said, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

“No I did- It wasn- I’m so-” Blueblood stammered, waving his hooves in front of him.

“Now, now sister. No need to bring up the past. I don’t think Blueblood needs to hear how you gave Ghastly Gorge its name.” Celestia interrupted, smiling serenely as she eyed her half eaten soup. Her eyes flashed dangerously, darting to the panicky stallion.

“As far as ‘Insane’ trouble makers go, I seem to remember a certain Prince hiding his bed sheets in my closet after he wet the bed in his younger years, and trying to convince me that I did it! When I called your lie, you tried to convince me a monster beneath my bed did it. Or, in a much more recent event, the time you tore down several of Canterlots antique buildings just to make way for a personal swimming pool for you and your friends.” She said, still wearing her calm and collected smile. Blueblood shook his head, silently begging the princess to stop her embarrassing tirade.

“Oh, maybe everyone would like to hear about you and your adventures with your stuffed dragon, Gam-Gam?” Luna added in, smirking at the stallion.

“No!” Blueblood practically shrieked, his cheeks burning red as his eyes darted from Luna to Celestia.

“No? Well what about, and this is a personal favorite of mine, the time you made out with the wooden griffon we keep in the library, because you were too drunk to tell the difference between a living pony, and a wooden griffon.” Celestia finished, eyes locked on the flustered stallion.

Blueblood whimpered, lowering his head to the table. He pushed his chair away unexpectedly, carefully walking out of the dining hall without another word.

“Thank you for defending Twilight, your highness.” The stallion of the couple beside Luna said suddenly.

“You do not have to thank me Night Light.” Celestia said, pushing her crown to the side with her hoof. “You know as well as I do that Twilight is like a daughter to me. I couldn’t let him insult her or her friends.”

“Night Light… Night Light… Where does Trixie know that name?” Trixie said, cocking her head at the stallion and, what Trixie assumed to be, his wife.

“I’m Twilight’s father. This is Twilight Velvet, her mother.” He said, motioning to the mare beside him.

“Oh! Twilight mentioned you when Trixie stayed with her!” Trixie said, smiling at the pair. “I think she misses you alot.”

“We miss her so very much.” Twilight Velvet said, smiling sadly at the mare. “Ever since she left for Ponyville, we see her even less than we did when she stayed at the castle.” Her ears went back as she dabbed at her eyes with her napkin.

Night Light watched her for a moment before smiling. “Princess? Do you think you could send Twilight a letter for me?” Velvet looked at him in confusion, before turning to listen for Celestia’s answer.

“Of course I can Night Light. What would you like me to tell her?” She asked, pushing her bowl away.

“Tell her… Tell her, her parents are coming to visit.” He said, pulling Velvet to his side as he smiled at her.

Velvet smiled widely, grabbing Night Light’s muzzle in her hooves, and kissing him deeply. A moment later, the couple parted for air, a slight blush on Velvets face, while Night Light bore a goofy grin.

Celestia chuckled, pushing her chair back as she stood, followed a moment later by Luna. “I will go and write her a letter before I head to my afternoon court. If you hurry, you might be able to get on the train before she even gets the letter.” Celestia added, giggling as the two turned and headed for the dining hall door.

Trixie stood, stretching her front legs as she followed the princesses out of the dining hall. Once they had cleared the doorway, Luna glanced over to Trixie with a smile on her face.

“Just ignore Blueblood Trixie. He boasts, and complains to anyone who lends him an ear. He may spout a lot of hot air, but he’s harmless.” Luna said, turning away from Trixie to face her sister.

“Now, Celestia and I must attend to a few royal duties, so while I am gone, I would expect you to work on the task I gave you.” She said, stepping to Celestia’s side before stopping.

“Trixie will have that spell figured out before you return!” She said, puffing her chest out proudly. Luna rolled her eyes as the two princesses walked down the hallway and turned to walk around the corner.

“Oh, Wait!” Trixie called out, galloping down the hallway to skid to a stop before the two alicorns. “Why did you mouth later to Celestia when Trixie asked how Twilight was doing?” Trixie asked, glancing between the two.

“Oh.” Luna said, huffing as she glanced at her sisters beaming face. “We had made a bet after you became my student…” She sighed as Trixie waited for her to continue. “I bet her that you would hate Twilight, and she bet that Twilight and you would be friends by now. I was trying to tell her I would pay her later.” She confessed, avoiding the smirk on Celestia’s lips.

“Well pay up!” Trixie said, smiling at her mentor.

Luna grumbled as she lit her horn, a small bag popping into existence in front of her. She levitated it over to Celestia, who took the bag in her own magic. Just as she was about to pop the bag to her room, Trixie put her hoof out.

“Trixie may be on better terms with Twilight, but Trixie would not count them as friends yet. That being said, neither of you win so Trixie will take the bags.” The mare said smugly, smiling at Princess Celestia. Celestia stared at her for a moment, before smiling as she set the bulging bag in Trixie’s outstretched hoof.

“But ‘Tia! That was a bet between us!” Luna said, stomping her hoof as she stuck her tongue out at Trixie. Celestia laughed, flaring her horn as she popped a second identical bag into existence beside the first.

“Than Trixie should win from both of us.”

Trixie stared at the two bags, her face splitting into a large smile as she tucked the bags into her cape and turned to gallop away. Behind her, she could hear Luna and Celestia laughing, there hoof steps growing faint as they trotted down the hallway.

Trixie trotted through the halls of the palace, smiling at the new jingling sound coming from her cape. She approached the stairway leading to up the tower to her bedroom when a voice called out.

“Miss Lulamoon.”

“Wha-ahh!” She shrieked, jumping as Prince Blueblood stepped out of a doorway recessed into the wall.

“I’m sorry if I scared you, I just wanted to apologize for my behaviour at dinner.” He said, smiling at her as she clutched at her chest with her hoof. “I must confess, I may have let my temper get the better of me, so I was hoping I could clear the air so to speak, and make sure you didn’t get the wrong idea about me.” He said, speaking haughtily at her.

“Trixie is listening.” She said after a moment, unsure of the stallions behaviour. He walked around her, circling her until she was forced to turn to keep him in front of her.

“My name is Prince Blueblood. I am one of the most politically powerful unicorns in Canterlot, if not in all of Equestria. Ponies tend to do what I say, when I say it. And you, my dear?” He said, coming to a stop directly in front of her, his eyes locked on hers. He reached out suddenly, grabbing her by the chin and forcing her head to the side. He leaned down, staring into her eye blankly. “You are scum.” He released her head, ignoring Trixie as she stepped back several steps glaring at him.

“You are unfit to be licking the stone beneath my hooves, let alone be Princess Luna’s personal student. I will not tolerate you being Luna’s student any longer. As a matter of fact, I will not tolerate you being in this castle unless you are doing the job you deserve, which is that of a maid…” He stared at her for a moment, before shaking his head and slowly walking past her.

“I promise you this. One way or another, I will not be seeing you in this castle by this time next month.” He whispered, his hooves clacking over the stone below him as he trotted out of sight.

Trixie turned, staring in the direction the stallion had just left. The mare shook herself, ignoring the way her coat stood on end as his words echoed in her mind. She had the uneasy feeling that she had just made a powerful enemy in Canterlot.

Author's Note

The Rainbow Dash/Twilight dating part is a reference to my first story on Fimfiction, Spell to Happiness :pinkiehappy:

A/N: Sorry this is a few days late, but for those who haven't seen my blog post, I was in a car accident Thursday and have been on some pretty strong pain meds as a result. I will be writing the next chapter this week and hope to have it uploaded by Friday, but I will be busy car shopping so it might also be late! Ugh just so much to do... Anyways!

Tl;dr: Car accident made story late, next chapter might be late due to car shopping!

Tell me what you think please! I feed on comments and I'm starving lately! :pinkiehappy:

Dreams and Designs

Trixie cantered down the hallway slowly, lost in her own thoughts. Even with Luna’s assurances that Blueblood had more bark than bite, she couldn’t shake the nervousness from her stomach. She slowed to a stop as she came to her doorway, horn flaring as she slung the door open. Peering into her bedroom, she sighed at the lack of furniture.

The blue mare crossed the room to throw herself on the bed, jumping as her cape let out a loud jingling sound. She reached into the cape, cocking her head at the small bag of bits she had received from Luna and Celestia. Sighing, she tugged at the rope with a hoof, turning the bag over to pour the bits onto the comforter.

Instead of bits, small jewels fell from the bag. Trixie stared in slack jawed amazement, hesitantly picking a single jewel up in her hoof. Two different types of jewels fell from the bag, one a vivid white with a blazing sun in the middle, the other pitch black with a beautiful moon in the center. The jewels seemed to glow faintly, each beautiful in their own right.

She brought the moon jewel close to her eye, peering at the glass like surface of the jewel in wonderment. She could make out each and every crater on the moon inside the crystal, its surface a perfect replica of the lunar body. She scooped the jewels back into the bag, gripping it tightly in her mouth as she turned to gallop out of her bedroom and to the nearest jewel merchant.

As she crossed her bedroom, she slid to a halt as thoughts of Luna’s assignment crossed her mind.

“Trixie could just go out real quick and sell these… and stop for some furniture!” She thought, smiling to herself. “Oh, and some new fabric for my cape! Or maybe just an entirely new cape… No! Trixie need’s to work… For once, she will not let anyone down.”

She set the bag on her bed, glancing at it for a moment before slowly nudging it under her pillow. Once her spoils were suitably hidden, Trixie turned away from her bed and trotted into the large open space to the side of her bedroom. She sat down, straightening her back as she took several deep even breaths.

She focused on the spell in her mind, imagined picking and pulling at the spell until it was spread apart in a three dimensional blueprint before her. She could feel a tug at her magic as light danced down her horn, forming a fine mist in the air before her. Unlike her first attempt in the library, this mist seemed to take up quite a bit of the room.

Arcane symbols formed in the mist, smoky trails of colored light linking everything together. Trixie walked forward, stepping into the middle of the mist with a confused look upon her face.

“So… what now?” Trixie said to herself slowly, gazing around with a calculating eye. She stepped closer to the nearest mote of dark blue energy, cocking her head at the foreign entity. She wasn’t sure how she knew it, but she could almost feel the magics intention at work. She stepped forward without thinking, a flare of magic racing down her horn to encircle the twirling mote of magic.

The moment her magic surrounded the energy, a cold numbness swept across her body, stopping at her foreleg. She glanced down, careful to keep her horn alight as she studied her hoof. Where her coat had once been cerulean, it now had a pasty white hue to it.

She released the spell, panting lightly as the feeling in her hoof came back to her. She lowered herself to her haunches, turning a weary eye on the next mote. She gathered her magic once more, hesitantly reaching out with her magic until she had encircled the next mote.

She was able to resist the urge to flinch as magic rushed across her coat, a cold numbness once again spreading across her coat. She looked down in surprise as her foreleg seemed to blur until she had trouble pinpointing where her foreleg ended, and her surroundings started. She released the energy once again, smiling after a moment. Unlike the first time, she wasn’t left panting after releasing her spell.

She encircled both of the previous motes, a confused look on her face as her foreleg vanished from view, leaving the rest of her body visible. Trixie’s horn dimmed as she released her magic, allowing it to sputter out.

“If these two motes form the invisibility spell… than what are all the other symbols for?” She pondered, studying the mote absentmindedly.

She sighed, grumbling to herself as she fetched a piece of parchment, and a quill. It seemed the show mare was in for a busy afternoon.

“This. Is. Stupid.” Trixie repeated for the fourth time, cross referencing the pages before her against each other. “No matter how many times Trixie checks this, this spell seems to be… well stupid.”

She glanced at the model rotating before her, glaring at the offending construct as she slowly pushed her hooves together. The model shrunk further, before drifting toward the mare. Trixie examined the model closely, referencing the papers before her once more.

“From what Trixie can tell…” She said, speaking slowly as she watched the motes spin in her hoof. “This mote binds the entire spell together, making it so that all the different parts cooperate. Meaning…” She trailed off, scratching at her chin with the pencil held in her magical grip. “meaning that everything has to travel through this mote eventually.. which takes considerable power to make sure all the motes get cast. But this one,” She exclaimed, pointing to a mote within the cluster of magic. “Is where the spell starts… so… that means… Ugh.”

“This spell is so wasteful. Trixie could design a better spell than this… this stupid spell!” She hesitated, tapping the pen against her hoof as she rethought the spell. “Instead of rendering the entire body invisible, it renders each body part invisible. Trixie cannot seem to bend the magic to work over the entire body instead of in parts… “

She sat up suddenly, a sudden look of comprehension appearing on her face. “Bend.. Bend the magic… Bend light. I could bend the light around myself, and it should make me as invisible as this waste of a spell!”

Trixie smiled, drawing power from her horn as she channeled magic around the mote. She poured magic into the mote, frowning as the mote resisted her attempts at change. She broke the connection, gasping for breath as her heart thumped against her chest. She glared at the spell, huffing in frustration.

“Fine… If you don’t want to work for Trixie, Trixie will make a new spell!” She said, instinctively condensing her magic into a small ball in front of her. A blazing mote appeared next to the others, strangely colorless compared to the others. Trixie studied her mote for a moment, tossing ideas around in her head.

The cerulean mare bit her lip as her horn flared brightly, a bright orb of light appearing in the air before her. She hesitated, studying the orb with her magic. She smiled as she found a chink in the orb, a place she could squeeze magic into. With a grunt, she forced magic into the ball, slowly bending the light until it started to stutter out of her view.

She gasped in relief as the orb finally vanished from view entirely, panting as she released her magic. She wrapped the mote in her magic, pushing the urge to hide herself from view and focusing her magic the same way she did a moment ago. Even as she bordered on exhaustion, she smiled at the small orb, which now hummed with magic.

Trixie turned away from the orb, idly banishing the model with a flick of her tail. She stumbled toward her bed, eyelids struggling to stay open as she glanced out the large windows. She gave a half smile at the sight of the beautiful silver orb hanging in the sky. The unicorn rubbed at the base of her horn, eyes closing as her head thumped painfully. She then threw herself on the bed, sighing at the soft mattresses cool embrace. She was asleep before her head even hit her pillows.

“She’s having another nightmare.” Luna said slowly, her eyes closed in concentration. “That’s one every night so far.”

Celestia glanced toward her younger sister, idly scratching away at the stack of degrees, laws and request that sat on her table. “Have you been visiting her in her dreams?”

Luna sighed, letting out a low breath as she opened her eyes and lifted her head. “I did the night before she became my student.. but I’ve refrained from doing it again.”

“Why?”

“I… I’m not sure.” Luna confessed, lowering her head to lay it upon her forelegs. “I don’t want her to become too reliant on me. She needs to be able to face her own fears.”

Celestia turned away from her desk, slowly placing down the quill she had been levitating in her grasp. “Help her Luna. I wish I could go back and help you when… when you needed it. But I wanted you to be able to overcome it yourself… and look how that ended. You are her teacher now. It’s your job to help her learn, to ease her along her path to greatness.”

Luna turned toward Celestia, staring at her face for a moment before looking toward her tower across the courtyard. She gazed at the darkened window she knew to be Trixie’s bedroom with a sad look upon her muzzle. “Thank you sister. I’m going to go help my student.”

Celestia smiled, turning back to her paperwork as Luna moved to her bed, gazing at her sister before resting her head on her forelegs. She closed her eyes and concentrated, a faint smile on her face as shadows danced around her horn. Luna stepped out of her body, glancing to her sister one last time before she set her sights on the far tower.

Trixie smiled as she stared out over the audience, soaking in the cheering and screaming crowd before her. Thousands of eyes watched her every move, each pony on the edge of their seats as she thought about her next trick to perform. A bright light centered on her from the back of the auditorium, staying on top of her with the help of her trusty stage hands.

She glanced off stage, smiling at her father’s reassuring figure hidden just behind the stage curtains. He smiled back at her, winking reassuredly as he tipped his hat at her in a familiar gesture. She winked back at the blue stallion, giggling quietly to herself as his white mane spilled down his neck.

She turned back to her audience, flashing a bright smile at her crowd as she trotted across the stage to a small table, scooping a pack of cards off it’s wooden surface. She twirled around, her cape flipping through the air as she ran a critical eye over the crowd. She stepped forward, spreading the cards before her with a flourish of her magic. A tan mare at the front of the crowd smiled as Trixie leveled the cards before her, facing away from the showmare.

“Please madam!” Trixie said, projecting her voice to be heard over the now silent crowd. “Pick a card! Make sure not to show it to me, but make sure the rest of this amazing crowd sees it!”

The mare hesitated, her hoof moving slowly over the offered cards. She glanced up to Trixie before grabbing a card and sneakily glancing at its face. She turned around and showed the ponies behind her the face of the card, displaying the face for all to see. The mare replaced the card back into the deck as Trixie smiled at her, before shuffling the cards behind her back. She snatched a black piece of cloth off the table, deftly blindfolding herself as she began flipping and spinning them through the air wildly. She stomped a hoof and a dagger appeared in a puff of smoke above her, falling to the stage before she snatched it out of the air.

She spread the deck in the air, facing away from herself as she twisted and threw the dagger at the deck of cards, earning a shriek from the crowd. She recalled the cards to a single stack, holding the card her dagger had pierced out before her.

“Is this your card madam?” She said, a large grin on her face. After a moment of utter silence, her smile fell slightly, her ears twitching for any sound of the restless crowd. She lifted the blindfold, staring at the now empty place before her, save for a single mare. Her eyes went wide at the sight of the mare, the deck of cards falling to the ground as she lost control of her magic.

The mare stood perfectly still, simply staring at Trixie with her pale violet eyes. Her silver mane set upon her shoulders, hanging down her back much like Trixie’s own mane. A silver star constellation cutie mark sat upon her flank, blending well against her light purple coat. She stared at Trixie unblinkingly, a look of disappointment and sadness on her face.

“No…” Trixie muttered, taking an uncertain step back. “Mom… Trixie is…” She trailed off as the mare looked down, slowly shaking her head. Trixie slumped to the ground as the mare made her way down the aisle of seats, before turning and slowly walking out of the auditorium. Trixie stared at her as the mare looked back once before leaving through the large double doors at the end of the auditorium.

She turned her head, tears springing to her eyes as she took in the curtains where her father had been standing moments before. Like the others, he too had vanished. She fell to the ground, crying silently as she stared at the empty audience.

The sound of hoofsteps filled the empty room, slowly drawing closer to the distressed mare. Trixie lifted her head, slowly taking in the four dark blue legs that now stood before her. She lifted her head, tears glistening on her cheeks as she looked into the kind face of Princess Luna.

“I…” Trixie began to speak, growing silent as Luna pressed a wing tip against her lips.

“Shhh.” Luna said, smiling down at the mare. “We can talk later.”

She turned, sitting down beside the unicorn. Luna hesitated, before extending a wing in an unspoken invitation. Trixie lowered her eyes to the stage before slowly scooting to Luna’s side, tensing up as Luna folded her wing around the upset mare.

Trixie relaxed after a moment, slowly leaning against Luna until she had her head buried in the alicorns coat. Luna wrapped a foreleg around the mare, gently patting Trixie on the back. Luna rested her head atop Trixie’s, humming quietly in the back of her throat. She could feel Trixie’s tears soaking into her coat, but she couldn’t help but smile as Trixie slowly quieted, a hiccup escaping the mare’s mouth every few minutes.

“Thank you Luna.” Trixie turned, resting her head against Luna’s chest as she looked out at the empty auditorium. Luna glanced down, a smile on her face as she took in Trixie’s tired expression. She leaned down, tapping Trixie’s horn with her own.

“Sleep a dreamless sleep Trixie. We shall talk in the morning.” Trixie’s eyes slowly closed, her hearing fading as Luna spoke. Blackness filled her vision as her dream faded away, but even in her state of oblivion she could still feel Luna’s body pressed against hers.

Author's Note

A/n: Huge thanks to Phaoray He helped me with a lot of the ideas for this chapter!

I hope everyone likes it! I am hoping to have an update by this Friday to get my schedule back up to date, and also start working on the Silver Star side story! Please read and review! I love hearing what people think about my story so far!

Falling Out

Trixie awoke the next morning refreshed, the memories of her dream already slipping away. She shook her shoulders, shaking the covers that had bunched up around her through the night. The blue mare stood with a small smile, patting down her mane with a hoof as she pushed herself toward the edge of the bed.

Her hooves clopped over the stone below her as she lowered herself to the ground, making a beeline toward her bathroom. After her morning business was taken care of, she spent a few minutes brushing her mane and coat. She jumped slightly as a tall figure stepped into view through the open bathroom door.

“Princess Luna! How are yo… Is something wrong?” Trixie asked, ears lowering slowly as she cocked her head at the towering alicorn. Luna was staring at Trixie with a strange look on her face, as if trying to solve a puzzle that was missing half of its parts.

“No, I just… I was… Everything’s fine.” Luna said after a moment. She smiled at Trixie, stepping out of the mares way as she exited her bathroom. Trixie stared at her for a moment before looking away, a light blush on her cheeks.

“Well then.. Trixie has something to show you!” The unicorn blurted out, prancing in place excitedly. Luna lifted a brow at her, shaking her head in amusement as Trixie trotted to the far side of the room.

She took several deep breaths, focusing on sending a steady stream of magic to collect at the tip of her horn. She pushed the magic away from herself, mist slowly spiraling off her horn to collect in the air before her. Sparkling orbs of light began appearing before her, slowly growing larger and larger until apple sized motes of energy hung in the mist’s depths.

“Wait Trixie!” Luna suddenly blurted out, startling Trixie and breaking the mare’s focus on her spell. The mist coiled in on itself, rolling and rumbling faster and faster until a loud bang sounded through the room. Smoke appeared where Trixie stood, blocking the mare from the princesses vision.

“Oh no!” Luna yelled, horn flaring as summoned a gust of wind to blow away the smoke. Trixie stared straight ahead, ignoring Luna’s stifled snickers as the alicorn took in Trixie’s new appearance. Where before Trixie had a beautiful silver mane, her mane now stood up at odd angles, tinged black and singed in different places. Her face had thick black scorch marks on her cheeks, and a single eyebrow had a small flame burning at its tip.

“Trixie… umm. Your eyebrow is still…”

“Trixie knows…” She said, still as a statue as she glared heatedly at her mentor.

Luna stared at her, opening and closing her mouth several times, hesitating to speak. Her ears slowly laid flat against her skull as she avoided Trixie’s glare, pretending to be very interested in the reflection coming off her shoe. After several seconds of silence, she slowly leans toward the smoking mare, pursing her lips together as she blew out the small flame.

“Hehehe… All better now… Right?” Luna asked, smiling nervously.

“If you will excuse Trixie… she is going to freshen up and you can explain what you need to talk to her about.” Trixie said slowly, her voice even but with a frustrated tone to it. She stood, trotting into the bathroom before she slammed the door behind her.

Luna stared at the door for a moment, before her eyes darted to the empty room around her. Her horn flared with shadowy energy as two fat pillows popped into existence. They fell to the ground with a low plop, a stylized moon sewn into the center of the dark fabric. She stepped toward the nearest pillow, lowering herself onto her side as she nestled into the comfortable furnishing.

Trixie walked out of the bathroom, still shooting a half hearted glare at Luna. She spotted the pillow, and Luna could see the question on the tip of the mare’s lips, but to her credit, she didn’t ask. She nestled into the pillow across from Luna, patting at her mane as she turned her full attention to her mentor.

“Alright.. You haven’t been my student for long, hardly even a week so far... but you act differently than I was expecting.” Luna said, watching Trixie’s expression carefully. “I mean, I had heard of how egotistical and… braggy you could be, but you aren’t.”

Trixie frowned, her brows furrowing together as she thought over her actions from the last week. She opened her mouth to speak, but was suddenly interrupted by Luna.

“I mean, you say the things I was expecting, and you flaunt yourself like I was expecting… But there’s no heart in your actions. You hesitate and doubt yourself and at times, you over act.” Luna said, wetting her lips as she waited for Trixie to respond.

“Trixie doesn’t know what-”

“Yes you do Trixie. You alternate between being afraid to speak and begging for attention. I know what you’re going through Trixie… I went through the same thing when I let myself become N-Nightmare Moon.” She said, shivering as the hated name slipped off her tongue. “You’re trying to act how you think you should, but you’re not being yourself… You are trying to be who you used to be…”

Trixie stared at her for a moment, before dropping her gaze to the floor below her.

“Trixie has just had a stumbling point or two… or three. Lately. She is trying to adjust from living in squalor to something much more befitting her status. It’s just taking me time to get over… things.”

Luna stared at her with a brow lifted, before slowly shaking her head. “You also have this bad habit of slipping in and out of your… normal… speech whenever you are trying to convince someone else how you’re doing.”

Trixie leaned forward, slapping the floor with her hooves as she sputtered incoherently. “I-Trixie has no idea what you mean! Trixie does not need to convince anyone else how she is doing! Trixie is doing just fine!” She yelled, stressing her name as she glared at Luna.

“Physically maybe… even after a week, your ribs are starting to become less pronounced against your skin, and your coat is starting to grow in nicely. In a matter of weeks, you will be a picture of health once again, and if I may say so, quite a beautiful mare.” She said, a smile appearing on her face as she let her gaze slide over Trixie’s body, lingering on her cutie mark before she continued.

“Are you trying to imply that Trixie is not a ‘beautiful mare’ right now?”

“No Trixie, I assure you I find you to be quite…” She trailed off, blushing as she noticed her eyes lingering on Trixie’s cutie mark for a moment too long. “...captivating. But in the future you will only become more beautiful as your body recovers fully.”

“Oh… umm. Trixie’s… glad you cleared that up…” She said, shifting uncomfortably with a bright blush on her cheeks.

“But mentally… I worry about you, Trixie. You tell everypony you are fine, but I can see that you’re hurting. If you want to talk, you know you can, right?”

“Trixie is fine. I promise Luna.” Trixie said, a smile on her face, that even Luna could tell was fake.

“You were much more honest in your sleep…” Luna muttered, sighing with irritation. She glanced up as Trixie shrieked.

“WHAT?!? You’ve been watching Trixie in her sleep?” Trixie eyed the Alicorn, her hooves sliding over the floor as she tried to shift herself and her pillow a few feet away from Luna. “While Trixie is used to others viewing her with… lustful intentions she would thank you if you would cease acting like a stalker this instant!”

Luna chuckled at Trixie’s rant, earning another glare from the mare. “I have not been watching you while you sleep Trixie, but I have visited you in your dreams. Twice, so far,” she said, anticipating the question before Trixie could voice it. “I visited you the night before I took you as my student… You dreamed of Ponyville,” Luna said slowly, leaving the contents of the dream to be remembered by the mare before her.

“And the other?” Trixie said, her voice oddly level as she sat stiffly, an odd look in her eyes.

“Last night. I noticed you were having another nightmare… the 6th or 7th since you became my student, so I decided to try to help you.” She said, her brows furrowing as Trixie suddenly clenched her jaw. “I am sorry if you feel that I overstepped my bounds. I was not trying to invade your privacy, but merely relieve whatever was troubling you.”

“What did you see?” Once again, the mare’s voice was disturbingly calm, almost emotionless.

“You were performing a show. But as you performed a card trick… the crowd vanished.” Luna said, studying Trixie’s reaction as the mare’s stiffened even further. Luna licked her lips, worry starting to creep into her voice as she spoke.

“A single mare stayed.. and you called her mother… and she walked away.” Luna explained, avoiding Trixie’s eyes as the mare stared past her, relieving the dream from last night.

“So.. that was the real… you. In my dream..?” Trixie said, trailing off as Luna nodded. They remained silent for a moment, Luna too hesitant to speak, while Trixie was too angry at the moment.

“What happened between you and your mother Trixie?” Luna said after a moment, shattering the uncomfortable silence between the two. She instantly regretted her curiosity as Trixie leveled a glare that Luna was sure would kill a lesser pony from pure intent.

“Nothing.” She bit out, her voice thick with anger. “Just forget what you saw.”

“Please Trixie… let me help you.” Luna said, almost begging the mare. “I know what happens when you leave things unresolved like this…”

“No Princess. Just leave it.”

“Trixi-”

“I abandoned her okay! I decided I knew better than she did, so I left in the middle of the night and I never once looked back! I never saw her again, and If I’m lucky, I never will!” She screamed, throwing the pillow she had just been sitting on across the room with an angry snort. A crack rang through the room as Trixie’s horn flared brightly, her eyes locked on the alicorn before her.

“I left our house in the middle of the night, taking the cape and hat my father made for me, and I left her all alone!” Trixie screamed, her voice cracking as an angry tear splashed the ground between the two.

“I’m sorry Trixie… I didn-”

“No you didn’t know.” Trixie said, her voice low and almost horrifyingly empty. She lifted her head to glare at Luna, before turning away from her and stomping to her bedroom door. She slung the door open with a burst of magic, sparing a single glance over her shoulder at the bewildered mare.

“Stay out of my dreams…” She opened her mouth to say more, but after a moment snapped her mouth shut. “Just… stay out.” She turned, her magic slamming the door shut behind her as she galloped down the hallway.

Luna stepped forward, glancing down in surprise at the sound of crunching tile. A spiderweb of destruction radiated out from where Trixie had sat just moments ago, destroyed in an awe inspiring loss of control. In places the tile no longer resembled a single floor, but resembled sand and crushed rock.Luna blinked slowly, before her body leapt into motion.

She raced across the room, her hooves skidding across the stone floor as she burst through the doors. To her dismay, Trixie was already out of her sight. The dark mare galloped down the hallways, sliding to a stop as she came to the corner that would take her to the palace entry way. At the end of the hallway she could just make out the tip of a silver tail vanishing around the corner, the clopping of hooves fading into the distance.

Luna took off, racing down the hallway as she tried to catch up to the angry mare. Blood pumped in her ears as she ran, her veins on fire as she zoomed down the hallway, sliding to a stop at the balcony railing that overlooked the staircase leading into the main hall. Trixie raced away from her, having just left the staircase before Luna entered the large room.

“Trixie!” Luna screamed, eyes widening as the mare stumbled, sparing a second to glance back at the balcony.

“Please don’t go!” The cerulean mare slid to a stop, staring at her for a moment before looking away, anger appearing on her face once more. She turned, her hooves slapping the stone below her as she galloped out of the palace, rushing past a pair of confused guards.

“Princess? Is everything okay?” A guard she recognized as Broad Star asked her.

“No… But I hope it will be.”

“Princess? Are you listening to me?”

“Of course I am. Please go on.” Celestia answered, smiling as the noble seemed to puff himself up before continuing with his… whatever he was droning on about. She cocked her head, idly wondering how the Noble would react if Celestia was to doze off on him. She had to stifle a giggle with her hoof, playing it off as a rather unconvincing cough.

Celestia jumped in her seat as the throne doors were suddenly slammed open, revealing Celestia’s sister and co-ruler in their place. Celestia opened her mouth to greet her sister but let her voice die in her throat at the expression on Luna’s face. She unconsciously scooted away from her sister, a deep instinctive worry filling her body as her sister stepped closer.

Luna passed the nobles without a word, ignoring the indignant cry from the one who had previously been holding audience with Princess Celestia. Luna’s shoes tapped metallically across the steps leading up to Celestia’s seat, a sharp almost hypnotic pattern emerging from the depths of her furious walk.

“I-Is something the matter, Luna?” Celestia asked, seeming to shrink in on herself as Luna came to a stop directly in front of her. The dark alicorn slowly leaned forward, until her lips were nearly touching Celestia’s ears before speaking.

“YOU SUCK AT GIVING ADVICE!” Luna screamed into her ear, aided by the untamed fury that was the Royal Canterlot Voice. Celestia flinched, nearly taking flight as she sought to put distance between her and the angry screaming. She ended up slipping over the armrest of her seat, taking shelter nearly behind her throne before Luna stopped screaming.

Luna panted slowly, shooting a death glare at her sister before spinning around and leaving the throne room without another word. The nobles slowly stepped out from behind the various pillars they had taken shelter behind, staring at the doorway as if afraid Luna would reappear at any moment. Celestia herself could be seen peeking around the edge of her throne in bewilderment, her eyes wide and her hair blown back as if by a large invisible wind.

“What did I do to deserve that?” Celestia said weakly, glancing at her two guards who had remained motionless throughout the ordeal.

Author's Note

A/N: I apologize for the long wait, I've been extremely busy with work and personal matters. We are down to 3 cashiers, including myself at my work out of our usual 8 so you can imagine the hours I am working. On top of that, I spent this last weekend away from home for a memorial for my grandmother.

Anyways, I hope you like the new chapter. I am writing the 9th chapter as we speak so hopefully I'll have it posted before Friday. Please make sure to Comment below so I can see how people like my chapter :pinkiehappy:

Silver and Sickness

Trixie wandered aimlessly through the streets of Canterlot, ignoring the cold pitter patter of rain against her coat. Rain water soaked her fur, and her hair clung in wet strands down her back. Ahead of her sat an old abandoned shop with a tattered awning that she hoped to find shelter under until the rain passed.

She trudged under the awning, sighing as she shook some of the rain from her coat. Her horn sputtered to life as she siphoned the rain off her body, condensing it into a smooth orb of water that hung in the air before her. Her eyes widened as she saw glimpses of an ethereal blue mane flash through the orb. Trixie spun on the spot, scanning the rooftops across the street for a hint of her so called “mentor.” Seeing no signs of her, Trixie huffed and threw the ball of water against the cobblestone road with a splash.

She stared at her reflection in the water, now more than ever regretting having her wagon parked at the castle. There was no way she was going to go back to the castle tonight, not with her nosey mentor looking for her. She had already seen guards sweeping over the cityscape looking for her, but she knew the damned bat guards of Luna’s would be waiting for her to return to the castle.

Trixie leaned against the wall of the building, fighting to keep her eyelids open. She yawned reluctantly, rubbing at her eyes with a hoof. “It’s not the first time Trixie has had to rough it…” She said slowly, remembering back to the days following the Ursa Minor incident. It had been rough without her wagon, forcing her to sleep under trees like a common bum. If it hadn’t been for that rock farm, she probably would be still living like a homeless mare.

“Stupid… Luna..” She murmured, finally slipping into an uneasy sleep.

“Miss Trixie? I-is that you?”

“Ugh… Who’s there?” Trixie asked, her voice thick with sleep. She sat up slowly, pushing her dirty mane out of her way as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She opened her eyes to see a small blue steel pegasus at her side, her peach mane hanging wetly against her neck.

“Um.. it’s me… Silver Star,” the young pegasus answered. Trixie felt a small body press against her side, helping the exhausted mare to her hooves.

“Oh... Silver Star. What are you doing out here so late?” The cerulean mare said, lifting her hoof to stifle a yawn. Silver cocked an eyebrow at her, giggling at the older mare.

“Late? It’s nearly noon, Miss Trixie.” She pointed up, gesturing to the sun hanging at its highest point.

“Oh… What are you doin’ out here, kid?”

“I was trying to get some food for my baby brother and sister, but… I can’t afford enough for both of them,” she said, slumping onto her haunches as Trixie frowned. Silver star lowered her head, her eyes not quite meeting Trixie’s as she talked. “I had enough but… I got hungry.” She said, her lip quivering as she sniffled. “I spent a little of it so I could have something to eat and now, my siblings won’t have enough.”

“Hey now. None of that,” Trixie said, leaning forward to wipe at the fillies cheek before lifting her chin, smiling at the young pegasus warmly. “Trixie will help you get enough for you and your family. Care to show Trixie where you normally shop?” She gave the young filly a stern look as Silver opened her mouth to argue, smiling only after she closed her mouth and stood.

Together the pair set off, back down the alleyway Trixie had found her shelter in for the night. As they walked, Trixie found herself watching Silver Star, fueled by a strange curiosity about the young pony.

“So… Why are you the one getting food for your siblings? Where’s your parents at?” Trixie asked, lifting an eyebrow as the filly stumbled ever so slightly.

“My mom’s at work. She has two jobs so she works a lot of the time… She leaves money for us, and I go out and get the food since I’m the oldest…” She answered, shuffling her hooves nervously. “My dad… left. He went to work one day, and he never came back.”

“Oh. Tri-Trix… Achooo..!” Trixie sneezed. She wiped at her nose before continuing. “Trixie is sorry to hear that Silver,” Trixie said quietly. It was obvious it upset Silver, but it was too late to take back now.

“The place I get food is right up here,” Silver Star said, extending a wing to point ahead, one of Canterlot’s popular side streets visible from the alleyway they stood in.

“Well then. What do you say we get dressed for our adoring public?” Trixie said, her trademark smirk appearing on her face as her horn lit up with a bright violet aura. Magic swirled around her head, slowly solidifying into an exact copy of her hat, closely followed by a cape a mere second later. She smiled, tugging at the quite physical construct now sitting atop her bedraggled mane.

“Woooooww!” Silver Star said, staring large eyed at the mare before her. “That’s really cool, Miss Trixie!”

Trixie laughed at the fillies enthusiasm, her horn flaring even brighter as she turned it on her tiny follower.

Silver Star squealed as magic collected around her head, condensing into another set of Trixie’s outfit. Silver pulled the hat off her head, a wide smile on her face as she tugged at the fabric between her hooves. She twirled around, giggling at the way the cape twisted and twirled around her.

Trixie looked down with a smile, beckoning for the pegasus to lead the way. Silver smiled widely, prancing about as she ran into the open street, eyes wide as she looked around at all the stalls she could pick from. Trixie leaned against the wall of the nearest building, watching the young pony run from shop to shop eagerly with a smile on her face. Trixie covered her mouth with a hoof, frowning as several coughs wracked her body.

Less than a moment later, and the small fit had passed, leaving her once again watching her new friend. She stepped forward as Silver called out to her, beckoning her over with her hooves. The filly was smiling widely, prancing in place as she stood over several apples that had fallen from a food cart nearby and rolled across the street.

“Look, miss Trixie! These apples don’t have very many bruises on them!”Silver said, rolling one of the apples over as she smiled up at the mare. “Usually they’re all bruised and mushy so we’re real lucky to find… these. What’s wrong?” Silver asked, her wings shuffling behind her as she shrunk under Trixie’s stare.

“Do you normally eat apples from the street?” Trixie asked, kneeling down to Silver Star’s level. The filly hesitated before nodding, her ears sagging as Trixie frowned.

“Well.. Not today. We’re going to buy some nice food this time.” Trixie said, smiling at the filly reassuringly. Silver stared at her in amazement, a large smile appearing on her face when she saw Trixie wasn’t laughing.

“Can we get some apples, Miss Trixie? And maybe some daisy sandwiches for later?” Silver Star asked hesitantly, not wanting to feel like she was taking advantage of the mare’s kindness.

“Of course we can. Hmmm Let’s just take a dozen apples, and we’ll get 4 or 5 sandwiches. Sound good?” Trixie said, glancing over the shiny apples in the bin before her. After a moment of silence, she turned to Silver with an eyebrow raised to see the filly staring at her suspiciously.

“Why are you helping me?” Silver Star demanded, staring at Trixie curiously as she stomped a hoof.

“What do you mean?” Trixie asked, frowning at Silver’s sudden attitude.

“Well.. Ponies don’t normally help others without expecting something in return… I-I don’t have anything I can give you for your help,” she explained, her ears sagging as if she expected Trixie to suddenly turn and walk away. She looked up in confusion when Trixie started chuckling.

“Trixie doesn’t want anything. Trixie just wants to help a little filly in need out. Now,” she said, smiling as she reached into her cloak and withdrew a sack bulging with bits. “How about we get that food?”

Trixie shook her head as she laughed at the filly running beside her, a large sack of apples floating along with them. They were heading toward the Canterlot downtown, in the direction of Silver Star’s home. Silver leapt into the air, pulling her cape around her as she pounced onto Trixie’s back. Trixie giggled at the sudden weight on her back, a smile on her face as Silver star squealed with each buck of Trixie’s hips.

Trixie groaned as her vision suddenly spun, her body swaying from side to side for a moment. The bag that had previously been floating beside her fell to the ground as her knees buckled, Silver’s and her own cape and hat dispersing back into magical dust. Silver leapt off her as Trixie crumpled to the ground, worry evident on her face as she spun toward Trixie.

“Miss Trixie! A-Are you o-okay?”

“Ugh,,, I’m fine. Just… just got a little dizzy there.” The mare responded, slowly pushing herself to her hooves as her horn flickered to life. Sweat broke out on her brow as she pulled at the bag of apples, until she was forced to forgo her magic. She stepped toward the bag, moving it onto her back with a little help from Silver Star. “How much farther is your home Silver?” Trixie asked wearily, panting slightly at the sudden wave of exhaustion.

“It-it’s just up here.” She said, running toward a small home just ahead of them. She knocked on the door hard, glancing back at Trixie before hammering on the door again.

“Who’s there?” A voice called out, from the other side of the door. Judging by the way Silver rolled her eyes, Trixie guessed it belonged to one of her younger siblings.

“It’s me! Now open the door!” She demanded with a stomp of her hoof.

The door creaked open, revealing a tiny light brown pegasus with a messy white mane. The filly stepped out of the doorway, pulling it open as her wings buzzed at the sight of her sister.

“Miss Trixie, this is my little sister Du- Miss Trixie!” The filly yelled, darting toward Trixie as the mare collapsed, blackness overtaking her as her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

Author's Note

A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates, been busy with work and stuff still. Hopefully soon I'll be caught up though!

Comment and tell me what you think!

Mother Grace, and a trip to Canterlot Palace

“Ughh…” Trixie moaned, swallowing around the desert that sat where her tongue used to be. She forced her eyes open, blinking dizzily at the unfamiliar roof above her.

“Miss Trixie? Are you okay?” A voice called out from her side, drawing her attention to a young colt beside the bed she currently laid in. He smiled warmly at her, drawing a weak smile from the bed bound mare.

“Wh-” She coughed into her hoof, frowning as her vision lurched. “Who are you?”

The colt smiled widely, apparently delighted at the prospect of introducing himself to Trixie.

“I’m Comet!” He declared, his wings flapping with a tiny droning buzz. He lifted off the ground a few inches, his hooves skidding across the dirt as he threw himself forward and hugged the sickly mare. Trixie stiffened in surprise, her arms frozen at her sides as she hesitated to move. After a moment she reluctantly returned the hug, her eyes widening as Silver Star stepped into the room, a small filly right on her heels.

“Are you feeling any better, Miss Trixie?” Silver Star asked, rushing to her side at a gallop. Trixie sat up, groaning as another wave of vertigo swept over her. Her figure paled as she fought back the urge to vomit, sweat beading at her brow sickly.

Silver Star pushed her back down, pressing a hoof against the mare’s forehead worryingly.

“Just lay down!”

“Trixie is fine!” She protested, struggling weakly against the fillies hoof. “Let Trixie out of this *cough* bed, immediately!”

“Give her some room, girls.” Her ear twitched as the new voice drifted to her from the next room. She leaned up, struggling against the impossibly strong filly holding her down, craning her neck to catch sight of the doorway. A pale white pegasus stepped into the room with a folded blanket slung over her back. A steaming bowl that smelled strongly of apples balanced precariously between her wings.

“How are you feeling?” The mare asked, cocking her head as Silver assisted her in removing the blanket and bowl from her back.

“Trixie is fine!” She insisted, scowling at the worried expressions facing her. Her face fell as a vicious cough wracked her frail frame, her body shuddering with every cough. “Trixie… Trixie will be okay.”

“Well Miss Trixie, after coming home and being told of the generous, yet ill, mare in my bed, I couldn’t just throw you out. I was a little worried when I came home to find them eating food we… we can’t afford. I assumed Star had “acquired” food on her own again.” She explained, shooting said filly a disappointed scowl.

Well, Miss Trixie, after coming home and finding a generous mare who had bought my children food had fallen ill moments later, I couldn’t allow you to head out in your shape,” she said, smiling as she sat back onto her haunches, sweeping the bowl closer to herself with a flip of her wing. Trixie allowed herself to fall back onto her pillow, giving Silver’s mother a quick one over.

Even from her position in the bed, Trixie could see the dark circles under her eyes standing out in sharp contrast to her pale coat. Judging from the ragged state of the mare’s fur, it didn’t look like she had always been such a pasty off white, but had merely lost color from working inside for hours on end. Her golden mane hung limply down her spine, the ends split and worn.

“I made this soup for you.. It-it’s not much, but it’s all we were able to make,” she said, smiling at Trixie as she stifled a yawn. “Do you need help...eating it, I mean?”

“No,” Trixie declared, an uncertain look on her face as her horn sputtered to life, the bowl floating through the air slowly. The bowl fidgeted, drops of the steaming liquid splashing onto the blanket atop the cerulean mare. “I can do it,” she said, speaking through clenched teeth. “Thank you for the soup miss..?” She trailed off as she realized she didn’t know the mare’s name.

“Grace,” she said, nodding her head in acknowledgment to Trixie’s unspoken question. “Grace Feather.”

“Well then. Thank you Grace.” Trixie said, smiling as she wrestled with her magic to keep the spoon floating still. The spoon rattled against the side of the bowl weakly before clattering back into the soup, Trixie panting in annoyance and exhaustion. She glared at the spoon as she picked it up without the aid of her magic, slurping at the soup as it eased the dull ache in the back of her throat. Her eyes widened at the pleasant taste, and she found herself smiling despite herself.

“It’s very tasty Grace.”

Grace nodded jerkily, her eyes heavy and half lidded as she smiled. “I do what I can. If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to go lay down before work.” She draped the second cover across Trixie as the mare hungrily sucked down the delicious seasoned apple soup. After assuring herself that the mare was content, Grace turned and left the room.

After a moment, Trixie spoke. “Didn’t she just get back from work?”

“She meant her second job.” Silver Star said, speaking up as Trixie turned her focus on the young filly.

“Oh..” Trixie murmured to herself, staring at the doorway the mare had passed through a moment before.

“I just fail to see how you would believe that a… commoner such as her would be able to stand up to the duties befitting the apprentice of one of the princesses.” Blueblood said, for what Luna was sure was the 10th time in the past half hour. He drawled on as she tuned him out, her gaze shifting to the large window before her. Her eyes lost focus as she stared into the distance, her thoughts lingering on her wayward student. She blinked in surprise as an annoyed snort sounded from just behind her. She turned, her eyebrow cocked in faint astonishment at the entitled look her nephew gave her.

“Aunty! I was saying that we should remove her position at once, and give it to someone who deserves it.” He said, puffing his chest out as he pretended to toss the applicants around in his head. “I, of course, would be honored to become your student Aunt Luna.” He smiled once more, a sickeningly wide smile as if he believed she would fall to her knees begging him to let her teach him.

“Go away.” She said, flipping her mane behind her as she turned back toward the sky.

He blathered on, ignoring the princess as surely as if she had not spoken. “Not only will you be able to teach someone who is able to keep up with your lessons, but you’ll-”

“Go away!” She screamed, whirling on the stunned stallion with fire in her eyes. The pure force of her Royal Canterlot Voice blew his mane out behind him, ruining his tenderly worked coiffure. “If thou wishes to remain a royal, thou will listen when we give an order! Now go!”

Blueblood stared at her wide eyed before fleeing, his tail tucked between his legs as he skidded around the corner. His hoof steps disappeared into the distance as he ran through the castle, leaving the angry princess to stew in her own thoughts.

Outside the sun could be seen creeping toward the horizon, the sky slowly darkening as the day came to an end. Before long, she would have to lower the moon, and mark another day that Trixie was out on the streets. Her mind flashed to the sight of the mare’s ribcage when she first came to the castle, and Luna felt a deep sorrow fill her. A tear slid down her cheek as she turned away from the window, her hooves directing her toward her bedroom without further thought. Behind her, a single meteor streaked across the sky, mirroring the tear’s path down her cheek.

“Oh Trixie.. Where could thou have gone?”

“Momma..” Trixie groaned around the pain in her throat. She opened her eyes as a cool cloth pressed against her forehead, her mother hummed gently to herself as she smiled down tenderly. Trixie smiled weakly, nuzzling against the older mares hoof as her mother gauged her temperature.

“Shhh…. Everythings going to be okay.” Her mother said, her voice lowered to a near whisper. Trixie groaned in reply, the whisper driving spikes into the headache she just realized she was suffering from. “Just lay still, and let your fever come down. It’s still high..” Her mother said, glancing off behind her suddenly, her attention focused elsewhere. When she turned back, her mothers kind, caring expression had shifted into one of deep sadness, unshed tears visible in her magenta pupils.

Trixie shivered involuntarily, drawing the covers tighter to her body. “Momma..?” She said slowly, a cough rattling her chest once more.

“Yes, yes… just relax.” Answered a new voice, a suddenly masculine quality to the sound. Trixie flinched, her eyes wide as she stared at her father. He smiled at her happily, his trademark hat and cloak hanging from his head and back, as was the usual for him. He winked at her, happily ruffling her mane with his free hoof. She wiped at her nose, frowning as tears appeared at the edge of her eyes.

“I… I’ve missed you so… so much.” Trixie started, her voice cracking. She grew silent as her father placed a hoof over her mouth, a gentle smile on his face as he leaned forward, hugging her tightly against himself. She giggled weakly, her eyes drifting close as she savored her father's embrace.

“It’ll be okay Trixie. Just relax dear.” Her father spoke, but a voice not quite his own issued from his mouth. The voice was of her very own mentor, Princess Luna. Despite her confusion, Trixie felt a strange heat blossom in her chest at the affectionate name coming from Luna.

“Luna…” She croaked, sniffling pathetically. “I’m so-sorry Lu-luna.”

“Luna? Does.. Does she mean Princess Luna?” Silver Star asked, glancing at her mother from her place beside Trixie.

“Hmmm..” Her mother hummed, sparing her daughter a quick glance before she stood, groaning softly as her neck popped. “Well baby.. I hate to leave her like this but I have to get to work. I’m already cutting it close today.” She said, shooting Silver a stern glance as she saw the young pegasus open her mouth in protest.

“Okay momma.” Silver responded sullenly, hugging her mother before buzzing back to Trixie’s side. Distantly, Silver heard the front door of their home snap shut and knew her younger siblings would wake up soon. She sighed, turning her eyes away from the unicorn and directed herself into the small kitchen across the hallway. After scraping together a breakfast of apples and sandwiches, provided by Trixie the day before, she refilled Trixie’s bowl with fresh soup.

Silver trotted back into the room the sickly mare lay in, balancing her own bowl between her wings with Trixie’s bowl between her teeth. She set the bowl down, scowling in distaste at the strong medicinal taste of the soup. She grabbed her own bowl between her hooves and lifted herself into the chair beside Trixie’s makeshift bed, a small smile gracing her face as she nibbled at her own breakfast.

Once her food was eaten, she glanced out the nearby window, watching as several of her neighbors went about their daily business outside her home. An hour passed quickly, and before Silver knew it, her eyelids were sagging heavily. The filly eyed Trixie for a moment before curling up in her chair, her head resting on her forehooves. She hummed to herself for a moment, glancing around the small room before yawning once more. She had been up much of the night scuttling back and forth for things as her mother called for them. After a moment her eyes drifted shut, blackness claiming her vision for a much needed rest.

She nearly jumped out of her fur as a wailing cry rang from her side. For a moment Silver was sure her siblings had injured themselves.. again.

“Daddy! N..NooOOoo.. Not my daddy..” Trixie cried, sniffling pathetically as her head lolled from side to side. Silver leaned up onto the bed, pressing a hoof against Trixie’s forehead worriedly. Her eyes shot open at the heat coming off the mare’s skin. Her cerulean fur was splotched a unhealthy red from the fever, as if she had suffered a slight sunburn across her face.

She flinched as her younger siblings burst into the room, Comet’s wings fluttering excitedly.

“What’s happening?” He asked, fear and worry etched upon his face.

“I.. I don’t know. She was fine a minute ago, and I took a nap and she just screamed!” Silver said, her cheeks flushed as she trotted in place nervously. “She’s hallucinating and her temperature is really high!”

“Go get someone?” Dust suggested, hiding behind her brother as she looked on.

“Who can I ge-” She trailed off as Trixie’s muttering from earlier came back to her.

“She knows Princess Luna! If anyone could help, the Princess would!” She said, trembling as she thought of having to talk to the former Nightmare Moon. She stilled herself, sucking in a deep breath as she calmed herself.

“Alright. Comet, go get some rags, make sure they are damp and keep them on her forehead. Dust, go get her a glass of water, and make sure she drinks plenty of fluids if she wakes up.”

“Where are you going?” Dust asked, looking down the hallway as Comet ran to the bathroom for the rags.

“I-I’m going to Can-Canterlot Castle.” She stuttered, gulping heavily. “I need to get Princess Luna.”

Author's Note

I apologize for the long wait between updates, but I've had a lot going on in my life. Since my last chapter, I've made manager at work and have had my hours nearly triple. While that does mean a lot more money per check, I also have a lot less time to write, which isn't good for anyone! But I'm back now! I hope to have the story back to a regular schedule, but with my wacky work schedule I can only hope to post when I have the time to! Chapter 11 is half written now, so it shouldn't be much longer. Hope everyone's happy to see the stories back :pinkiehappy:

Silver Star meets the Princess

Silver sprinted through the streets of Canterlot, her wings pushing her faster and faster through the crowd of ponies. Sweat beaded at her brow as she galloped toward the gleaming bastion that was Canterlot, home of two of Equestria’s princesses. The tall pristine towers of the castle reminded many of Princess Celestia, while the shadows that blossomed forth reminded others of Princess Luna.

Vendors yelled over one another, each competing to draw attention to their various wares. Ponies bustled to and fro, bags and wares clutched in magical grips, and between teeth. Small groups of pegasi flew overhead, with the occasional pegasus taking to the sky at random. Silver stared at the pegasi overhead enviously, a jealous gleam to her eyes as she stared at the way their wings flapped in the wind.

Silver’s eyes went wide as a massive stallion stepped into her path, his large form towering over her. She dug her heels into the dirt, trying and failing to slow herself.

“Hey!” The stallion yelled out in shock, leaping to the side as Silver darted underneath him, her mane just grazing his underbelly.

“Sorry!” She called back over her shoulder, her head swiveling toward the shocked stallion. She tripped as her hoof caught on an uprooted stone, her momentum sending her rolling forward like a furry ball. She grunted as she slammed into a sturdy foreleg, her head ringing as she slowly lifted her eyes.

She gasped at the guard looking down at her, a single eyebrow cocked as he smirked at her meanly. He pushed her off his foreleg, chuckling to himself as she tumbled to the floor roughly. Silver Star shook her head as she stood, giving the stallion a light glare.

“I-ah... I need to see Princess Luna!” Silver panted as she pleaded with the gleaming unicorn stallion. “Her friend Trixie is very sick!”

“Bah!” The stallion snorted, pushing his helmet up with a single broad hoof. “Princess Luna is much too busy to worry about some sniveling filly. Just turn around, and head on home.”

“Bu-but!” Silver protested, stomping her hoof as she raised her voice. “Trixie was mumbling the princess’s name and she’s very sick! Please just- Just go get her!”

“I said get out of here!” The stallion yelled, irritation evident in his voice.

"No! Just g-go get the princess!" Silver insisted, screaming at the unicorn stallion. He glared at her, eyes narrow and jaw set as his horn flared to life. He shot a bolt of yellow light at her hooves, sending the filly dancing backwards. She yelped in surprise, fear flashing across her face as he leveled his horn at her once more, a bright yellow gathering at the tip.

“Hey! That’ll be just ‘bout enough of that!” A voice called out from behind the stallion, drawing a quick salute from the stallion that had just been picking on her. Silver gasped as a bat stallion stepped out of the shadows, his deep purple armor shimmering and shifting as the fading sunlight ran across its metallic facets. His lips were pulled back in a horrible snarl as he glared at the guard, trying in vain to catch the flushed stallions eyes.

“This filly is obviously tryin’ to tell you somethin’ and your damn head is so far up your own plot, you shove her! An’ you two didn’t even think to stop him!” He said, shooting a glare to the two guards standing nearby, only looking away once the two lowered their heads in shame.

The night guard turned back to the guard and stepped forward, shoving his broad chest against the stallions breastplate. “I’m gonna pretend I did’n even see you light that thing…” He said, flicking a hoof toward the unicorns horn. “Cause if ah did… It’s gonna be mine.” He said, slapping the guards horn with a snap of his foreleg. The guard winced, flinching as he stumbled away from the irate bat pony. “Now get out of here. You migh’ as well head back to the barracks and wait… Ah’m sure princess Celestia will want to have a word with you.”

The unicorn swallowed loudly, panic evident in his eyes as he stammered a response.
“N- But I- I mean, You we- You can’t just-”

“You gave me the right to do anythin’ I please the moment you picked on a filly a fourth of your size. You two will watch the gate until a replacement is sent.” Without another glance the bat stallion turned toward Silver, an obvious dismissal to the guard. He knelt down on his foreleg as he smiled at the filly before him. “Hello there little one. My name’s Quickshot. Are you okay?”

Silver nodded wearily, studying the night stallions smiling face. Behind him, the guard moment ago stomped off, grumbling under his breath. “I’m fine.”

“Ah wasn’t quite able to make out what you needed, but Ah’m sure I can help ya out better than that… that… ugh..” He trailed off, chuckling weakly as he scratched at his mane. He popped his neck, groaning to himself as he rolled his head in a circle.

“Oh!” Silver said, wings buzzing as she remember her entire reason for making the trip to Canterlot. “Miss Trixie is very sick and she was mumbling about Princess Luna! The princess will know what to do right?” She asked, fidgeting in place with her ears pressed back against her head.

“You know where Blue is!” Quickshot yelled, jumping to his hooves as he peered at the filly. Silver hesitated for a moment before nodding, flinching ever so slightly as Quickshot extended a single leathery wing.

“Climb on.” He said, rolling his broad shoulders as he crouched down beside her to help her climb onto his back. She sucked in a deep breath, glancing at his cat like yellow eyes, sharp fangs and strange wings before letting the breath slip through her lips slowly. She straightened herself and stepped forward, tentatively placing a single tiny hoof in the crease of his wing. She pressed down, smiling to herself as he glanced at her reassuringly.

She pressed forward, hooking her rear legs just behind his wings as she clenched at his fur with her forelegs. He extended his wings and shot into the air like a rocket with a quick pump of his leathery appendages.

“Whoaaaa!” Silver yelled, a gleeful smile on her face as she dug her forelegs into his side, tightening her grip on the stallions body. He glanced back at her with a wolfish grin, his wings twitching as he spun the duo in a tight spiral. Atop his back Silver squealed with happiness, cheering and yelling as they spun. He rolled to a stop, directing the pair toward the tallest of the castles many towers. Within moments the pair had flown through a window open at the top and skidded to a halt, his metallic hoof braces sliding across the polished marble floor.

Silver looked around as she slid off Quickshot’s back, her hoof reaching up to push her bangs out of her sight. She stood in a vast circular room, with a large glass roof above her head. The room was sparsely decorated, with a single massive telescope in the middle of the room. The metallic viewer had dust clinging to many of its surfaces, and Silver could just feel that the room had only recently begun being used again.

To the edge of the window they had just flown through sat a much smaller telescope, not pointed to the heavens above like one would expect, but out into the city. It was the single new item in the room, still sparkling with the faint scent of oil hanging off it.

Star charts, constellations, and many charts full of notes and drawings of astronomic figures filled the walls of the room. Some were intricately drawn, with perfect measurements drawn in a curling looping script, while others were hastily drawn and scribbled upon. She could see one entire side of the wall seemed to be dedicated to a single star arrangement, with streaks that she could only guess were meant to be meteors dottings its surface.

She looked back to Quickshot, a broad smile on her face as she danced in place, her mane bobbing up and down as she did. “Ohhh that was aw-awesome! I can’t wait until I can… I can… fly…” She trailed off as a dark blue alicorn stepped forward, peering at her through a single large cyan pupil.

“Night Mother.” Quickshot said, bowing low to the ground with a rattle of his armor. He stayed still as Luna studied Silver, his bangs brushing the floor as he waited.

Luna slowly dragged her eyes from Silver’s peach tinted mane, down to her bare flank, where she knew her cutie mark would appear one day. She finally turned her gaze from Silver to Quickshot, a questioning smile on her face as she rested her eyes on her ever loyal guard.
“Rise Quickshot.”

Quickshot stood, glancing at Silver with an eager grin as he faced the Princess of the Night. “Princess. This filly tells me she knows where Blue is!”

“Blue..?” Luna trailed off, cocking her head quizzically for a moment before her eyes snapped wide. “Trixie! You know where Trixie is!” She said, lowering herself to Silver’s level, her belly flat against the floor. She hesitated as Silver took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Can you please show me where she… is? I.. I recognize you…” Luna said slowly, a hoof to her lip as she searched her memories to figure out where she could have met the young mare before.

“Princess?” Silver said, waving a hoof in front of Luna’s distant gaze. “Please… Trixie is… is so sick.” She whispered, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she struggled to get Luna to focus.

“Trixie is sick?” Luna inquired, her voice cracking with stress as she stood abruptly, her eyes snapping to Quickshot.

“Quickshot! Go fetch the royal doctors and have them waiting in my bed chambers before I return. Tell them they are to bring everything they could possibly need to treat a sickly mare.” She thundered, her voice ringing through the room loudly. Quickshot sprinted out of the room, his leathery wings unfurling from his back as he vanished from sight out the nearby door.

“What is your name?” Luna studied Silver for a moment, before trotting to her side.

“Si-Silver Star.” She stuttered, fidgeting as Luna towered over her.

“Can you take me to Trixie?” She asked, a gentle smile gracing her muzzle. Silver hesitated, before nodding jerkingly. “Good. Climb on.” She commanded, lowering herself to the floor much like Quickshot had moments before.

Silver stepped forward, quickly climbing onto Luna’s back. Once Silver was situated, Luna ran forward, throwing the pair out of the tower with her wings flat against her side. They plummeted toward the ground below as Luna savored the wind roaring past the pair. Silver tightened her grip, her eyes wide as the wind ripped a startled scream from her mouth. She tugged on Luna’s fur, begging the princess to pull up before they slammed into the ground.

As the ground rushed to meet them, Luna snapped her wings out, the pair slowing instantly as her wings caught the wind under her feathers. They soared away from the palace, off toward the middle of Canterlot’s vendor district. Luna shot an apologetic glance back at the filly upon her back, grinning sheepishly at her. Silver sucked in a deep breath, trembling slightly as she looked out over the darkened city of Canterlot. She released Luna’s fur, nervously smoothing out the lush midnight blue coat.

Luna flapped her wings, effortlessly propelling the pair higher and higher until all of Canterlot lay below them. Luna spun slowly, twisting her head around until she could just make out the young pegasus filly upon her back.

“Which way is it to Trixie?”

“Um…” Silver stammered, glancing around at the city below them for a moment. “I’m not… I’ve never seen it from above like this… Oh! There’s my house!” She said, pointing toward the outskirts of Canterlot at a small jumble of buildings. Luna immediately turned, dipping her wings until they were descending in a slow dive toward Silver’s home.

“You’ve never seen the city from above? Surely one of your parents is a pegasus?” Luna inquired, glancing back once before refocusing on her flight.

“Both of my parents are, but my mom works constantly and my dad.. he left a long time ago.” Silver explained, tightening her hold on Luna’s neck as the alicorn dipped suddenly, her hooves clattering loudly against the cobblestone streets of Canterlot.

“Hmmm..” Luna hummed to herself, her eyes roaming over the messy road. Unlike the main Canterlot road, the stone here was loose in many places, and outright missing in others. Weeds sprouted between the stones, and dirt made up most of the road in this section of the city. Even without seeing the ponies here, Luna could feel the downtrodden air that hung over the area.

“She’s inside!” Silver said, trotting toward a small building across the street. Luna followed close behind her, her long neck twisting and turning as she gazed around the decrepit street. Her ear twitched as the muffled cries of a filly reached her ears.She turned a concerned eye on Silver, her mind drifting for the fleetest of moments before Silver pushed her door open, releasing the suddenly clear cry of Luna’s student.

“Trixie!” She yelled, darting forward, careful to avoid stepping on Silver and what seemed to be two of her surprised siblings that had appeared in the doorway. “I’m coming!”

Author's Note

Getting a little more free time now, so I had time to get some writing done! Hope everyone's looking forward to the next chapter, cause it is packed full of Lixie goodness! We have a hallucinating student and a panicky princess! Fun times for everyone! Never realized how many ! mark's I use per sentence!

Doctors Decision

The two doctors of Canterlot Palace, Tender Heart and Soothing Tone, stood around Princess Luna’s bed uneasily, glancing at the large clock on the wall as they made small talk. They fell silent after a moment, both cocking their heads back to gaze at the near dozen nurses standing just across the room giggling amongst themselves. Soothing, a large brown unicorn turned his eyes away from the nurses, and glanced to the single bat stallion in the room, meeting his yellow eyes for a moment. He nodded and received a nod in return from the stallion. After another uncomfortable silence stretched a little too long, Tender snorted, grumbling under his breath as he turned to stomp out of the princesses bed chambers.

“Come on Tender, get back here.” The other doctor said, rolling his eyes as he frowned at the doctor trotting away. He scratched at his foreleg slowly, his horn popping to life as he smoothed his silky white surgeon’s coat.

“No! We get disturbed just before dinner, get ordered to rush to Princess Luna’s chambers, and here I am, expecting to finally get to work on something more important than some nameless guards pulled muscle. But no, we rush here only to find the room deserted, with what seems to be half the hospitals medical equipment, and the other half hanging out the door!” He yelled, pointing with one fat hoof to an iron lung sitting just outside Luna’s bedroom. “To top it off, we get ordered to wait beside the bed until our patient arrives! I am sick and tired of the way th-”

*Pop*

“The- the- the- princesses are the best!” Tender Heart finished, backpedaling after his muzzle bumped into Luna. He gaped at Luna until she stepped past him, tenderly levitating a cloaked object onto the midnight blue fabric covering her bed. Tender stepped toward the bed, craning his neck to get a better look at the strange object. He jumped as the bundle let out a gurgling moan, followed by a weak sniffle.

Luna gently pulled Trixie’s cape and hat off her, draping it carefully over Quickshot’s back as the doctors rushed to the mares side, followed by the stampede of hooves as the nurses bustled to the bed. Luna stepped back as all the medical ponies tried to squeeze in at once, her eyes narrowing as she prodded one of the nurses in the side.

“Oh.. poor Blue.” Quickshot said, chewing on his lower lip as he took in her sickly appearance. Her cerulean coat was now a pasty white, with her hair hanging lankily down her side. The sick mare’s nose and muzzle was caked in a thick mucus, and her breath was coming low and shallow. Trixie’s chest was wracked with a thick cough, and he could hear a sickly gurgle whenever she tried to clear her throat. Her eyes were shrunken into her skull, with dark rings visible underneath them.

“Excuse me, but is this many nurses really necessary?” Luna asked, gazing over the mob that stood around her bed.

“I’m sorry princess. Captain Quickshot ordered everything we had to be brought to your bedroom as soon as possible.” The nurse answered, looking around sheepishly at all the equipment that cluttered the room. Luna turned, shooting a steely glare in Quickshots direction.

The stallion in question had suddenly found a nearby heart monitor fascinating and was fiddling with the buttons and knobs as if he had become personally invested in the machine. The monitor went off suddenly, a shrill beeping filling the room as Quickshot looked around in surprise. Noting Luna's increasingly angry glare at him, Quickshot panicked, steel covered hooves snapping out as he started kicking the machine. After several kicks the machine started to sputter and shoot sparks out. Smoke came out of the monitor as the machine gave out one last slow beep before going silent.

“Um..” Quickshot said, scratching at the back of his head as he glanced around the room. “I can pay for that..”

“How many nurses would really be needed to take care of my student?” Luna inquired, turning away from Quickshot to focus on the nurse before her.

“Hmmm… One would be more than enough? The doctors can do most of it, the nurses are just here to fetc-”

*Pop*

Tender Heart looked up, cocking an eyebrow at the nearly empty room. “Where did everyone go?”

“Away.” Luna answered, her eyes not once leaving her students sickly body. “There were simply too many ponies, and too much equipment for you to possibly do your job. Will one nurse be enough after all?” Luna asked, ears slowly folding back as she second guessed her rash actions.

“Of course Princess.” The other doctor answered, peering into Trixie’s eyes with a small magnifying glass. “If we need anything else, we will be sure to let you know.”

“Thank you Soothing.” Luna stepped to the beds side, lowering her head until her eyes were nearly level with Trixie’s closed eyes. “What is wrong with her?”

The pair looked at each other for a moment, talking amongst themselves before speaking to her.

“It seems she has a bad case of pneumonia. Has she been outside recently, or been somewhere wet for long periods of time?” Soothing asked, his horn humming as he scanned her body.

Luna bowed her head, avoiding the doctors gaze as she sighed.
“She.. She ran away from the palace two days ago and spent the nights in the city. It’s my belief that she was out on the streets during the rain storm the pegasi had brought in.”

“Yes.. that would do it.” Tender answered distractedly, narrowing his scan on a dark patch at the base of her horn. “To make matters worse, it would appear that she had nearly exhausted her magical reserves just before being out in the rain for so long.”

“Oh no..” Luna muttered, her body shaking ever so slightly as she laid her head in her hooves.

“What?” Quickshot said, glancing between the two uneasily.

“When a unicorn gets sick, their magic fuels their recovery. Since Miss Lulamoon had exhausted her magic, she wasn’t able to ward off any of the illness and I’m afraid it has taken a serious toll on her health. I.. I don’t want to make you feel any worse princess, but if she hadn’t come in soon, it could have easily damaged her magic, not to mention the damage her already weakened immune system could have taken. She will recover of course, but she will have to stay away from using any magic for quite a while. Two weeks at the very minimum.”

Luna stepped forward, lowering her head to nuzzle Trixie. Trixie mumbled to herself as she tiredly nuzzled Luna back, babbling nonsense to herself. Luna sighed, biting her lip at the weak look on the mare’s face from something as easy as nuzzling her in return.

“She is in a horrid condition Princess.” Tender Heart said, glancing down at her as Luna flicked her eyes upwards without moving. “There is not much we can do, besides give her the medicine she needs.”

Trixie forced her eyes to stay open as Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle bent over the bed, both of them narrowing their eyes as they studied her.

“She will just have to be taken away from Luna. We’ll give her two weeks at most.” Twilight said, glancing at Celestia as the princess nodded.

Luna stepped forward, nuzzling Trixie’s ear sadly. Trixie struggled to lift her arms, groaning as she attempted to lift the lead weights holding her hooves. She settled for weakly rubbing her muzzle against Luna’s neck, her eyes half lidded with exhaustion. She struggled to speak past her numb tongue, but couldn’t find the energy to make herself heard over her own babbling.

“She is too horrid for Luna.” Celestia agreed, eyeing Trixie like a piece of rubbish that had stained her fur. “There’s nothing we can do, besides find someone better for Luna.” She said, glancing at her sister sadly for a moment.

“Noo!” Trixie finally grumbled, lurching forward until she slumped on top of Luna’s head. “Trixie doesn’t care what you have to say, she’s mine!” She hugged Luna’s head tightly, rubbing her cheek against her horn repeatedly. Trixie then buried her head in Luna’s mane, taking in the indescribable scent that seemed to hang around the lunar princess at all times. She pulled her head out of Luna’s mane just as her stomach grumbled loudly, a strange look coming across her eyes as she licked her lips slowly.

“P-Princess?” Tender Heart said slowly, avoiding her gaze. “Miss Lulamoon seems to be eating your mane.”

“I.. I realize.” Luna answered slowly, her horn sparking to life as she slowly pulled Trixie off of her. Trixie flopped onto the bed, giggling weakly as another round of coughs rattled her chest. “Mmmmm… Does all of you.. taste that good..” The cerulean mare asked, eyes closing as she passed out.

“You can all go now.” Luna squeaked out, her cheeks burning brightly even through her dark coat. Her ears pressed back against her skull at the high pitch of her voice as she avoided the doctor’s eyes. She flipped her mane forward, hiding behind it as the two stallions hid grins behind their hooves.

“Let us know if she gets any worse. We will have a nurse check up on her every hour to be on the safe side.” Tender Heart said, smiling as he trotted for the exit. Luna merely nodded as the door closed behind the two stallions.

“Is she doing any better?” Princess Luna asked, neck craning to peer over the mares shoulder as the nurse checked Trixie’s vitals.

“She’s still asleep. She just needs to rest for now.” The nurse answered, nodding to Luna as she stepped away from the bed. Luna sighed tiredly, lowering her head to rest her chin upon her forelegs.

“Very well. You may go for now. Thank you for checking on her.” Luna said, stifling a yawn as she smiled at the mare. The nurse nodded, leaving the room without another word. Luna stared after her for a brief moment, before switching her attention to Trixie’s peacefully sleeping form. She was nestled under Luna’s comforter, with the blanket pulled tight against her chin. Luna’s mind drifted off for a moment, thinking back to the young filly who had made it all the way from the far side of Canterlot for her student.

After a moment of thought, Luna focused back on Trixie, a faint smile on her face as she decided to step out for just a moment. She closed her eyes slowly, a bright white light appearing behind her eyelids as she entered the dream world.

Luna looked down at her body as she stepped out of it, before turning her gaze to Trixie’s unconscious form. She stepped forward, tracing a hoof down the cerulean mare’s cheek before turning to look out over the greater Canterlot area. Passing through her balcony doors, she swung her head from side to side, observing the city below. Luna threw herself into the air, wings snapping outwards as she soared over the walls of Canterlot palace. She directed herself toward the outskirts of Canterlot, making a beeline for the small rundown home of the filly that had alerted her to Trixie’s dire condition.

She landed just outside the house a moment later, her eyes roaming over the decrepit yard just in front of the home. Two of the three windows she could see from the front yard were boarded up, while the third window was cracked at the corner. The paint on the home was peeling in many places, and the lawn was overgrown with weeds and grass. Large dirt holes were prevalent throughout the yard.

From her viewpoint, most of the other homes up and down the street were in a similar state of disrepair. The houses closest to Silver Star’s seemed to be abandoned, with one missing its front door entirely. A single light flickered from just behind one of the curtains that still hung in the window before her.

Luna trotted through the ragged yard, stopping briefly to glance at a half deflated ball resting in the grass beside the door. Her ears twitched as a muffled talking drifted through the badly worn wood of the front door, perking her curiosity once more. She stepped forward, passing through the front entrance until she stood just inside.

The inside of the house was much better than the outside, but was still what one would classify as “rundown.” A faded couch sat against the far wall, with the blankets Trixie had been laying upon folded neatly on its cushions. A beat up coffee table sat in front of the worn couch, with broken crayons laying atop a child’s drawings. Luna bent down to glance at the drawings closer, smiling faintly as she realized how many of them had Trixie’s trademark hat present.

Voices drifted to Luna’s ears once more, leading her further into the house to what she assumed was one of the two bedrooms. The bedroom was small, barely large enough to hold the bunk beds and single bed that took up much of the room. A single bedside table was the only other piece of furniture in the bedroom, with a broken lamp sitting atop it.

Silver and her younger brother sat upon the bunk bed, with her younger sister asleep in the top bunk.

“Come on Comet! Finish up your apple and we’re going to head to bed.” Silver pleaded, pushing the last half of an apple toward her younger brother. “Dust is already asleep so eat up.”

Comet sighed, nodding tiredly as he chewed the last part of his snack before bed. He laid against Silver Star, yawning as he rubbed at his eyes jerkily. Silver wrapped a foreleg around her younger sibling, hugging him against her as she laid back with him laying beside her.

“When’s mom gonna be home?” Comet asked, eyes half lidded.

“It’ll be a few hours.. Shhh. Just go to sleep and she’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Mmkkay.” He grumbled, drifting off as Silver slipped her arm out from under him. She tucked the cover over him, smiling to herself as she grabbed the dirty bowl he had been eating from between her teeth. Silver walked into the kitchen, rearing up onto her back legs as she shoved the bowl onto the stained counter top. She pushed it further onto the counter with the tip of her nose, before dropping back onto all fours.

Silver trotted across the room, jumping onto a wobbly chair that sat in front of their dining table. She lifted her head, peering at the now empty bag of apples Trixie had brought them two days ago. Silver sighed, slumping onto her haunches as she looked around the empty kitchen. She already knew that the cabinets were mostly empty, with the various odd scrap of food here and there. She rubbed her belly, ignoring the muted grumbling as she stood.

“I hope mom brings something home…” She murmured to herself, wings fluttering as she lowered herself to the kitchen floor.

As the filly stepped out of the kitchen, Luna frowned, sighing quietly to herself a moment later. She closed her eyes, ignoring the flash of light from the tip of her horn.

Luna opened her eyes, staring at the design on her covers distantly.

“I need to do something…” She trailed off, looking over at the slumbering mare beside her. “But what..? How could Celestia be okay with them living like this… Or… or maybe she doesn’t know?” She laid her head upon her hooves, ears laid back against her skull as she wrapped her tail around herself. She tossed a few different options around in her head, quickly coming to the conclusion that she would need to talk with her older, and more modern sister before making a decision.

“I’ll talk to her in the morning..”

Author's Note

This chapter has a lot of filler, but its necessary. The next few chapters will have a big change coming Trixie's way, as well as Luna and Trixie growing much closer over the time of her recovery. Stay tuned, and make sure to leave me a comment and tell me how the stories going so much!

Also, Any theories on what happened with Trixie's parents yet? Just curious :pinkiehappy:

Hashing it out.

Consciousness returned to the cerulean mare slowly, and it was several minutes before Trixie registered the quiet breathing from just beside her. Her eyes opened reluctantly, blinking slowly in the darkness surrounding her. She reached out hesitantly, drawing her hoof back quickly as she brushed against warm fur.

She opened her mouth, coughing feebly at the intense dryness in her throat. Warily, she reached out once again, running her hoof over the fur until her hoof ran over a smooth piece of metal, with a small chain toward the back half of it. From her guess, the chain and flat metal piece felt like some form of jewelry. She squinted in the darkness, her eyes just making out the outline of a white crescent moon upon the otherwise dark surface.

The mare slumped against the bed, her surroundings finally clicking into place. Judging from the weight to her side, she was currently lying in a very comfortable bed, with the one and only Princess of the Night beside her.

Trixie’s brow furrowed as she struggled to recall the last thing she remembered. She came up with brief flashes of speech, Twilight Sparkle, and the most delicious taste in her mouth. She licked her lips absentmindedly and dug further into her memory. She distantly remembered shopping for food with Silver Star, but now she was obviously in in Luna’s bedchambers.

“Miss Lulamoon! Are you thirsty? Or perhaps hungry?” A feminine voice called out from the darkness to her side. She jumped, rolling her body toward the unseen visitor wearily. Two yellow eyes peered back at her from the darkness, a mischievous look sparkling in them. A flame sparked to life at the tip of a small candle, revealing a dark furred bat pony standing nearby, with a broad smile on her muzzle.

For the moment, Trixie ignored the new batpony and glanced around, taking in her surroundings with the new light source. She was laying upon a familiar dark purple cover, its surface decorated in the same icy silver swirls and flourishes as the last time she saw it. Beside her, at the center of the bed, sat Princess Luna, eyes closed with a hardly noticeable silver glow behind her eyelids. She sat with her legs tucked beneath her, and wings tucked tightly against her side as she looked out over the city, staring unseeingly at the curtains blocking the city lights from the rest of the bedroom.

Trixie felt an uncertain lurch in her chest at the prospect of being in Luna’s presence once again, let alone sleeping in the bed beside her. She ripped her eyes away from Luna, instead using the new light to study the bat pony beside her.

She was a lithe mare, with a long flowing black mane. Her eyes were yellow much like the other bat-ponies she had seen, but her fur was a dark brown, nearly black in appearance, but had grey highlights up and down her coat. She wore the female version of Quickshot and Silver Wings armor, but it fit snugly against her body whereas it fit loosely on the stallions broad chests.

“How..” She coughed, swallowing painfully as her throat ached before nodding toward the mare and gesturing toward her throat. The bay pony giggled amusedly, before turning and walking away, the flickering candle bobbing away with her as she exited the bedroom. She returned but a moment later, relaxing onto her haunches beside the bed as she helped Trixie take a sip of the drink without spilling it down her coat.

“How did I get… back here?” Trixie asked slowly, voice lowered as she shot Luna’s still form several glances.

“Well, If what I heard is true, Night Mother retrieved you herself… Although, Quickshot has been in quite a state over you.” She said, smiling as she prodded Trixie in the side. Despite herself, and her sour mood, a hint of a smile found its way onto Trixie’s muzzle.

“Can you tell him Trixie is okay? Trixie will be back up and about before he can worry mu- ow.” She muttered, wincing as a wave of pain ran across her head suddenly. “What’s your name?” She asked, rubbing at the base of her horn.

“The name is Duskfall.” She said, extending her wings and baring her teeth as she struck a dramatic pose before Trixie.

“So Spooky.” Trixie rolled her eyes sarcastically at the mare. “You look very intimidating.”

“More intimidating than a bed-ridden magician.” Dusk said, poking her tongue out at the dumbstruck expression on Trixie’s face.

“Enough Trixie.”

Trixie turned, glancing at Luna’s stern expression before coldly turning her back on the princess.

“So what’s your role around the palace?” She asked, brow furrowed as she focused on Dusk.

“Ugh.. Well I usually… just… um..” Duskfall stammered, glancing past Trixie at Luna’s narrowed eyes.

“You may go Duskfall. Thank you for watching Trixie while I was busy.” Luna spoke, her voice light but with an undeniable command below it.

“Of course Night Mother. Farewell miss Trixie.” Duskfall said, bowing to the pair of them before turning and trotting out of the room. As she passed through the doorway, Trixie just caught sight of her glancing back at the room worriedly.

A loud silence filled the room as Trixie stared at the door tensely, waiting for Luna to speak.

“Trixie…” Luna finally spoke, an uncertain tone to her voice.

“Did you follow Trixie?” Trixie glared at Luna accusingly.

“Wha- No! I didn’t follo-”

“Than how did you find Trixie? The last thing Trixie remember’s she was with Silver Star!” Trixie demanded, brow furrowed as she pursed her lips.

“She came to me! You had collapsed and were hallucinating, so she-”

“You should have just stayed away!” Trixie yelled, coughing weakly as she over-exerted herself. “You stuck your horn into my dreams and invaded my privacy!”

“Be quiet!” Luna yelled, her voice raised as she glared at the unicorn. “You seek to make me into some kind of villain, like I was sneaking about!”

“You were! It was none of your business!”

Luna’s voice lost volume as she ran out of steam. “I was trying to help you… and maybe I didn’t go around it the right way, but my intentions were good. You were having Nightmares, and I wanted to shield you from them… I didn’t mean to see anything you didn’t want me to..”

“But you did! I left here to get away from you, but no… You had to follow me.”

“That is more than enough.” Luna snapped, finally growing tired of the mares attitude. “You want to say I did wrong by you, that’s fine. But you have your own head so far up your plot, you can’t even see how your ridiculous actions affected me. I had to cancel my Night court, because I was too concerned about you for some stupid reason, that I cannot even understand now.”

“I had my Night guard out the entire time you were missing scouring the city. Countless Bat-ponies out all night and day searching for you…” Her voice cracked as hot tears spilled down her cheek, despite her attempt to stifle them. “I thought you were going to die..”

An awkward silence grew between the two, until Trixie couldn’t stand the oppressive silence hanging between them. “It’s just… You brought up things.. that I really wish would have stayed in the past.” She huffed, crossing her hooves as she stared at her blanket. “It was supposed to be a dream.. A horrible one, but still only a dream. I would see it, and I alone would have to deal with it, just like normal. I would wake up the next morning, move on and everything would be fine!"

"But no, you were actually there… How did you expect I would react? Happily?” She asked, glaring dismissively at the night princess.

“I expected you to be grateful! I was trying to help you, and shield you from whatever nightmares you were facing. Instead of being grateful, you're only looking at how my actions went wrong, not my intentions behind the-” Luna pleaded, huffing as Trixie interrupted.

“Well Luna.. There’s a saying we use now a days. ‘The road to Tartarus is paved with good intentions.’” Trixie said condescendingly, ignoring the way Luna flinched at the obvious reference to her time… away.

“You are so selfish.” Luna said a moment later, her voice quiet but strangely hollow. “You look at this horrible ‘past’ and treat it as this horrible burden that you can never move past, but you fail to even contemplate the idea that others have had a much harder life than you…"

"My sister did her best to have our ponies look up to me, to be around me, but in the olden days, it was just not possible. Without the magic, safety and technology we enjoy now, it was unreasonable to expect ponies to try to make their living under my night. But, instead of listening to her, and the ponies around me, I let my own feeling cloud my judgment, and I neglected my duties.. We were always alone. We had our sister, tis true.” Luna said morosely, eyes glossing over as her mind traveled through her memories. Trixie looked up at Luna uncomfortably, doubting she realized the sudden break in her sentence or that she was slipping into old equestrian.

“But unlike us, Celestia sleeps. The ponies needed her by day, so what time could she make for us, her little sister? Surely we had our night duties, and those that came for our guidance, right? T’was not so. Ponies slept at night, Celestia slept at night… They all slept at night. All we had by our side was the moon, and the stars… We took up arms and tried to make the world love us by force.” She said, her voice wavering ever so slightly. “We attacked our own sister… Because we were jealous…”

“I know the story Luna.. we all do now.” Trixie said, rubbing uncomfortably at her forelegs.

“Of course thou would.” Luna laughed angrily. “But thou never once stopped to think of what we actually went through! To thee, it is ‘merely a story’, but it t’was our life Trixie! T’was our loneliness! A thousand years on the moon, away from the few things we had! Never getting to see our sister, and watching the few friends we possessed waste away…"

"T’was not even the worst part. What we did to Celestia… T’was unforgivable. As much as our actions hurt ourselves, they were still OUR actions!” She thundered, voice slowly raising in volume. “We deserved punishment, and accepted it readily once the Elements had freed us of our crazed state… But Celestia.. We forced our own punishment against her, in the worst possible way.” Hot tears spilled down Luna’s cheeks, darkening her already dark coat. Trixie shifted uncomfortably, eyes gazing over the Alicorn restlessly. She had never seen Luna look so… aged before. Trixie wanted to go to her, to comfort her and tell her it was in the past, but she was too enraptured to respond, to even attempt to make a sound of comfort.

“A thousand years of knowing that we had forced her hoof. Every night, We could feel her sorrow at having to lock us away.. Every night.. she lowered our moon, and was forced to look at our imprint upon it. We… We would spend the rest of our life apologizing to her… if she would only let us.” She trailed off, eyes staring off into the distance as she grew silent. She breathed deeply, and shook her head, glancing at Trixie ashamedly before speaking.

“I.. I nearly destroyed Equestria, and my sister because I was jealous, Trixie. Whatever you did, whoever you hurt, they will forgive you. You just have to work for it.” Luna said slowly, brushing tears from her eyes before continuing.

“I will help you if you’ll let me..” Luna said, voice weary.

Trixie tried to hold onto her bad mood, but each time she opened her mouth to say something back, shame filled her chest and quenched her angry words. “I’m sorry Luna. I… I really am. I didn’t mean to scare you so much… I over-reacted. I know you were trying to help.. I-I just have some stuff in my past I’d much rather leave forgotten…” Trixie said slowly, a pained expression on her face.

“Please Trixie.. you have to talk to me.”

“I… I will Luna. Just, give me a few days to rest first okay?” Trixie said, glancing at the alicorn before lowering her eyes again.

Luna sighed, words already forming to convince Trixie to talk to her, but she let them die on her tongue instead. She could tell Trixie was hurting, and for the moment, the promise of a talk was more than enough for her.

“Okay Trixie. Just know that I’m here if you ever wish to talk.” Luna said, forcing a smile as the mare met her eye finally. Her smile became more sincere as Trixie wiped a few stray tears from her eyes.

While happier, the silence slowly began to permeate the room again. Luna looked around briefly, trying to come up with a quick change in topics.

“Anyways… Oh! I had one of the palace doctors take a look at you when I first brought you back.” Luna said, lowering her head to rest upon her forelegs. “You had a horrible case of pneumonia, and unfortunately, you had used up nearly all your magic while you were sick. You’re looking at quite a recovery.” She warned, smiling weakly at the eye roll Trixie gave her.

“At least 2 weeks in bed, with absolutely no magic use.” Luna giggled as Trixie’s jaw dropped ever so slightly, her face going pale at the thought. This was going to be a rough two weeks.

“Well.. for now, I guess I’ll go back to sleep.” Trixie said, pouting with her forelegs crossed.

“Go ahead. I’ll be here, if you don’t mind?” Luna said, watching Trixie out of the corner of her eye.

Trixie rolled over, hugging the blanket tight against her chin to hide the blushing in her cheeks. “It’s your bed. Trixie can’t tell you to leave.”

Luna merely smiled in response.

“Alright guys.. I think we know why I’ve gathered us here today, right?” Dusk said, drawing two blank stares from the bat stallions sitting lazily before her. The mare had flown into the Bat-pony caves in a fuss, flat out ordering the two senior stallions to follow her without delay.

They had followed her to the top floor of Canterlot’s second tallest tower, sitting a mere dozen feet below Luna’s personal tower, to the spot the bat ponies fondly nicknamed “The Roost.” It was from this position many of the bat-ponies had sat watching Luna’s tower in her absence, wishing that there Night Mother would return to them. Since her return, a small group of guards would be stationed here nightly, in case anything was to approach from Canterlot proper.

“Ummm… cause yah told us tah follow ya?” Quickshot deadpanned, glancing at Silver Wing with a confused expression.

“We are here, to help the Night Mother snag Trixie!” Dusk exclaimed, waggling her brows suggestively.

“Blue!? Why would Luna wanna to “snag” Blue?” Quickshot exclaimed, shooting forward in surprise. He glanced at Silver, who merely shrugged in response. He missed the slight tightening of Dusk’s eyes as he looked to Silver, and by the time he had returned her gaze, she was shaking her head at him.

“Uhh… She likes her?” Dusk said, cocking a brow at the dense stallion. “Come on! It’s obvious!”

“Prove it.” Silver Wing spoke, quick and to the point as always.

“Well-uh… Okay, You know exactly how private she is. How many other ponies can you think of that have seen the inside of her bedroom?”

Quick and Silver Wing glanced at each other, before shrugging and turning back toward the irritated female before them with blank looks on their faces.

“Okay… have either of you ever been inside Luna’s bedroom, outside of your guard duties?”

She slaps a hoof against her face as both Silverwing and Quickshot raise their hooves slowly.

“How about without Trixie present?”

Silver cocks a brow at her, but smiles smugly as Quick kept his hoof raised along with him. Dusk looked away, grumbling to herself angrily. She bit on her tongue for a moment before her eyes shot to the pair beside her.

“Wait… Did… Did the Night Mother know you were in her room?”

She gasped, squealing in laughter as the pair’s cheeks burned bright red, neither suddenly willing to meet her eyes as they lowered her hooves.

“Night Mother let those docter’s and nurses in ‘er room though.” Quick pointed out.

Dusk stared at him for a moment, before chuckling. “Do you happen to remember what happen the last time you were in her room? At least, the last time you were there with her knowledge.” Dusk teased, giggling at the redness in Quick’s cheeks.

“Umm..”

“Night Mother kicked you out for leaning against one of her chairs. You got booted out of the room, and she lectured you on your reckless endangerment to her furniture.” Among the bat-ponies of Canterlot, Princess Luna’s knack for cleanliness was legendary. Beside the mess whatever project she was working on currently caused, her room was always the epitome of spotlessness.

“Oh… yea ah remember that.” Quick said, scratching embarrassedly at the back of his head. “Why’s that matta anyways?”

“Night Mother asked me to watch over Trixie during the night, and… well she surprised me. Night Mother has an ordered chaos to her room. After the doctors and nurses had cleared out, the room was an absolute mess. Everything was out of place, her furniture had been moved in spots, and there were medical supplies laying about.”

Quickshot chuckled, imagining the chaos in his room. “Oy, Ah bet Night Mother didn’t enjoy that.”

“I wouldn’t know. She hasn’t cleaned anything.” Dusk said, staring pointedly at Quickshot.

Quickshot froze, surprise evident on his face.

“She spent most of the night watching Trixie sleep. Night Mother was too scared that she would take a sudden turn for the worse to even think of cleaning. She sat right beside her, constantly fussing over a mare who didn’t even realize she was there.” Dusk said, glancing at Quickshot pointedly. She scowled at the disbelieving expression on his face.

“I jus’ don’t know Dusk.. Trixie is her student… it makes sense for her to be worried about her.” Quickshot murmured, scratching at his chin dismissively.

“That proves it even better!” Dusk said, slapping the ground with a steel covered hoof. “Night Mother saw something special in Trixie, something that made Night Mother want to take on a student… for quite possible the first time!”

“Even if you are crushing on her Quick, It is our duty to make our Night Mother happy.” Dusk said slowly, gauging the stallions response carefully.

“Wha-! I don’t like Blue!” He shouted, shaking his hooves frantically.

“That’s not what I’ve been hearing..” She said flatly, her jaw set and her eyes narrowed. “Is it not true that you’ve been watching her bedroom window quite a few times on your nights outside the tower? You know, when you’ve been supposed to be watching Night Mothers?”

“Well-That-I mean-” Quick stammered, eyes wide at the bat-mare’s sudden angry outburst.

“And, there’s the score of doctors you pulled into Night Mothers room when Trixie was sickly.” Dusk said, prodding the stallion’s chest as she spoke. “Looks to me like you care an awful lot for a mare that’s new to Canterlot!” She said, sarcasm literally dripping from her fangs as she spoke.

“Fer the las’ time, Ah don’t like Blue n’ that way!” He said, slamming a hoof onto the floor irritatedly. “Ah mean sure, she’s cute for a unicorn, an Ah really like er’ mane! ‘Er color blue is nice to, and the way she gets mad is kinna sweet… Ah’m not helpin’ mah case ere’, am ah..?” He trailed off, falling onto his haunches as his shoulders fell.

“Does Trixie like Night Mother?” Silver Wing asked, cutting across the two arguing bat-ponies effortlessly.

“Ugh-I…” Dusk took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she retreated a few steps and sat down, tail sweeping across the floor. “It seems like it. I haven’t been around her much, but if what Quickshot said is true,” She said, glancing at the stallion briefly. “she kissed Night Mother in front of two doctor’s. So that’s gotta mean something, right?”

Silver wing nodded curtly, cocking his head as he mulled over her words.

“And if she didn’t like Night Mother, why would she get so upset and run away like that? She chose to nearly die, than to remain in the castle. From what I have seen so far, Trixie seems pretty keen on her luxuries. If Night Mother had made Trixie angry, and Trixie didn’t like her, she would have stewed for a few days, and that would have been the end of it. But we saw how that ended right?” Dusk said, an almost pleading tone to her voice.

“Ah suppose.” Quickshot muttered.

“Look.. I’m a mare, and I know how mare’s work. Night Mother might not even realize she likes Trixie yet, And Trixie might not realise she likes Night mother, but to me, it’s obvious that they do. We’re sworn to protect our Mother and this will make her happy, Quickshot. Happier than she has been in a very… very long time.” Dusk pleaded, lip poked at over her fangs as she pouted up at him.

For his part, Quickshot didn’t immediately buckle. But even the coldest hearted stallion could only last so long against Dusk’s batty pout face, and she fully knew this.

“Fine… Ah’ll help you with this cockamamie plan, but if Night Mother gets angry, it’s coming out of your flank!” He said, poking the mare in the chest as he stood, strolling past her to look out the window. He could just make out the curtains pulled across Luna’s windows, blocking him from seeing any further into the room. “If yah honestly thought it’d make Night Mother happy, I’d go to tartarus and back.” He declared, slapping a hoof against his chest armor.

Across from him, Silverwing copied the movement, earning a shake of the head from Dusk. She loved her fellow guards quite dearly, but only stallions could prove to be so corny at times.

“Alright than. Here’s what we do first…”

“This is really good!” Trixie murmured, cheeks full of food as she spooned more of the soup the maids had brought to her bedside earlier. “You should try some!”

She prodded Luna’s side, frowning as the princess remained perfectly still.

“Oh wait, Trixie forgot!” She said sarcastically, brandishing the spoon as she waved it back and forth while she talked. “You're off in Dreamland!”

She grumbled to herself, staring into her soup for a moment before setting it to the side grumpily. “Trixie is so bored.. Food doesn’t even interest her anymore..”

She sighed, slumping against the bed as she stared at the ceiling once again. She was proud to note that even if this whole Princess’s student deal didn’t work out, she would be able to tell anypony who would listen that she knew the exact number of stars in Princess Luna’s bedrooms ceiling mural. Not everypony could say that.

She sighed, staring at Luna and thinking of the good work she'd done while bored. Luna's mane now sported about a dozen little braids and bows, the bows made from a ball of sparkling twine Trixie managed to reach that was sticking out from under Luna's bed. What was she doing with twine anyways? Is she making something? Trixie wished she could peek under the bed more, but explaining to Luna why she woke up with Trixie lying on the floor would be awkward.

"Stupid sickness.." Trixie wiggled one of her near useless hooves, annoyed at the jelly-like weakness she got from them.

“Uhhhh…” She groaned, slumping onto her side discontentedly. “Stupid pneumonia… Stupid rain… Stupid Luna..”

“I resent that.”

“Well of course you do…” Trixie said, blinking slowly as the voice clicked into her mind. She blushed bright red as she turned, a faux smile on her muzzle as she grinned at Luna. “Um- Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I would resent being stuck in a bed for hours.” Luna said, smiling at the little pony lying beside her.

“Trixie bets.” Trixie said, cocking her head at Luna. “Is that why you spend all your time Dream walking? So, you can be here, in case anything happens, but still not have to actually BE here?” She asked, curiously.

“Actually, I cannot dream for myse-”

“Like ever?”

“Like ever. I haven’t been able to dream since I began raising the moon, and if I could before than, I do not recall any of them.” She explained, looking out over her bedroom slowly. “Since I cannot dream for myself, I visit the dreams of my citizens, helping them where I am able to, and warding off their nightmares. It is a mutual benefit. I gain the sleep and relaxation I need, and my citizens get an easy nightmare-less night of rest.”

Trixie mulled over this for a moment, before a question formed inside her head.
“So.. when a pony is having a nightmare, you can find them specifically?”

Luna nodded. “Yes. It is much like a… a cry for help in a silent world.”

“So… you really were just trying to help Trixie. You couldn’t help but see her having Nightmares…” She said guiltily, avoiding Luna’s eyes. “Trixie is sorry, Luna. I didn’t think, and I.. I just jumped to conclusions...”

“It’s… I can’t say its okay. You worried me greatly… But it will be okay.” Luna said, smiling reassuringly at the mare. “Soon enough, you’ll be healthy and fit, and it’ll be like it never happened.”

“Yea, Until than, Trixie is stuck in this dumb bed though!” Trixie blurted out, waving a hoof across the cover.

“Why don’t you read a book?”

Trixie leveled a dead panned expression at Luna, drawing a chuckle from the dark furred mare.
“Point taken… I’m sure there’s something we can find for you to do…” She trailed off, looking around the room slowly.

“Is… is it possible to take somepony with you?” Trixie asked, shifting restlessly. Luna raised a brow at her, a question forming on her lips before Trixie elaborated. “Trixie means, is it possible to take somepony dream walking with you?”

“It is.” She smiled, mulling over the question for a moment. “Would you like to come Dream walk with me, Trixie?”

“It would be better than having to sit in this bed for hours on end. Despite the abundant softness of your fur, it gets rather old counting the stars on your ceiling by the way.”

“Very well. We shall go over the basics of dream walking for now, and as it grows dark… I will take you with me.”

Author's Note

Sorry it's been so long since an updates everyone! I've been slammed in work, so I sat myself down, redid my notes and started writing! I forgot how much I missed it lol Anyways, a little bit of a longer chapter tonight, and some special artwork will be coming soon :p

I have a friend drawing me up some refrence photos for my Oc's, so be on the lookout for them!

Silver Wing

Nightmares and hairbows.

“It’s dark.”

“Yea.. Give me just a moment… andd…” Luna’s voice trailed off as the surroundings exploded into light. “There we go.”

Trixie raised a hoof, shielding her eyes as she attempted to blink away the bright spots in her vision. She shook her head, lowering her hoof as she studied her surroundings. The darkness had given way to a richly decorated hallway, with gleaming quartz flooring and golden trim along the wall. Large pillars sat along the hallway, with circular golden patterns twisting up their sides. Doors in various states of disrepair, ranging from mint condition, to barely holding together, sat along one side of the hallway. The opposite side of the hallway was completely empty, with nary a single decoration marking its length.

Trixie cocked an eyebrow at the hallway, before turning her attention to her smugly grinning mentor.

“So… your dream world is a hallway?”

Luna frowned defensively at the skeptical tone in the mares voice. “Of course not. This entire realm is mine, and as such, I can twist it and make it appear however I wish it to. I just figured this would be the easiest way to present it to you..” She trailed off as Trixie rolled her eyes at her.

“Right..” Trixie said, only half paying attention to Luna as she glanced down the seemingly endless hallway in each direction. She stood slowly, trotting aimlessly down the hallway as Luna fell into place beside her. As they walked, Trixie found herself almost missing the now familiar jingle of Luna’s jewelry in its absence. “So the doors are..?”

“Dreams. Behind each door is a pony dreaming at this moment, about one thing or another.” Luna pointed to a nearby door, its surface cracked with paint peeling and a dull rumbling was coming from just behind it. “Doors like this one, represent the state of the dream going on inside the ponies mind. The worse the door-”

“The worse the Nightmare?” Trixie guessed, finishing the princesses sentence for her. Luna nodded, missing Trixies smile as she studied the doorway before them.

“Would you like to take a closer look?”

The cerulean mare glanced at Luna, mouth agape slightly as her ears perked up. She opened her mouth to respond, but grew silent at the sight of a strange pitch black door against the opposite wall.

Even as she watched, it faded away, leaving the wall unmarred and featureless once more. She trotted forward, hesitating as she reached out and touched the now empty stretch of wall. Her hoof slid over the flat surface, circling where a handle had sat just moments before.

“Trixie?” Luna asked, glancing between the mare and wall slowly. “Are you alright?”

“Yea.. I just… Nevermind.” She turned away from the wall with a shake of her head, ears laid back as her eyes darted about confusedly.

“Anyways…” Luna said, glancing at the black doorway Trixie had just turned away from with furrowed brows. “Would you like to take a closer look at a door?” She asked, extending her wing to fan out at the hallway.

“I get to choose who we help?”

Luna nodded. “You are the new comer today. It’s only polite after all.” Luna ruffled her feathers, smiling at the mares contagious enthusiasm.

“Hmmm…” Trixie trailed off, tapping a hoof against her chest slowly as she let her eyes roam over the doors. She studied each door closely, as if she was able to judge each pony just by the warped wood’s appearance. Trixie trotted further down the hallway, stopping to trail a hoof across a particular door with its paint peeling. The wood was badly twisted, and the handle hardly seemed functionable.

She cocked her head at the door, feeling strangely drawn to its battered surface. Trixie glanced back at Luna, a question on the tip of her tongue as her eyes went wide again. The mysterious door had appeared once more, its surface as deep and dark as the dimmest of nights. Patches of dark blue and light purple could be seen melded into the door. Before she could comment on its appearance, her hoof pressed against the door knob, and her world went black.

Snow shine ran, her hooves pounding against the pavement beneath her as her chest heaved, a sharp pain throbbing against her side. The buildings of Manehatten rushed past her in a blur, illuminated only by the moon shining brightly overhead. The moon threw sharp shadows between the towering skyscrapers on either side of the tiny alleyway she found herself in.

The mare ducked down yet another small alleyway, hoof pressed against her side as she struggled to suck in a deep breath. She glanced behind her, slowing to a trot as she finally allowed herself to hope that she had escaped the creature chasing her. Slowly, Snow fell onto her stomach, sucking in desperate gulps of air. She pressed at the stitch painfully digging into her side, massaging it as best as she could. No matter what she tried, Snow just couldn’t get her body to stop shaking, or her vision to get any less blurry from tears.

“Oh.. Oh… I really.. need… to run… more..” She panted out, groaning as she stretched out her back leg. Snow’s body froze, her shoulders going tense as a low growl echoed through the alleyway. Slowly getting to her hooves, she stared at the two large cerulean eyes peering out of the dark shadows between the buildings before her. The pain in Snow’s side came back as bad as ever as her body began to shake harder. Tucking her tail close to her body, Snow shuffled backwards, her breathing getting harder as her mind screamed at her to break eye contact with the creature staring at her. A trigger went off in her head, and Snow bolted, hooves clattering across the cobblestone as the fast moving shadow sped down the alleyway, mere seconds behind her.

The shadow twisted upon itself as it ran, eventually settling into the shade of a timberwolf barely feet behind the mare. It lunged suddenly, pawing at Snow Shine’s shadow, and knocking her to the ground as it hit. Snow rolled onto her back, scooting backward as the shade snapped at her hooves. The beast gave a low growl and stalked forward, strands of drool dripping from between its dark, black teeth.

The spectre lunged once more, snapping at Snow’s heels, only to be met with a powerful kick from the earth pony. The creature hit a wall and collapsed in a pile, its form losing shape as it seemed to roll and twist in on itself. Snow leapt to her hooves, sprinting down a small opening in the alleyway before the creature could pull itself back together.

The mare twisted and turned down the various alleyways, her breath catching in her throat as she collapsed beside a small dumpster. She crawled beside it, taking shelter against its metallic side while she struggled to catch her breath. Snow froze as the sound of flesh against stone reached her ears, coming from the alleyway she had just left. Snow pressed herself against the dumpster, crouching down into as small a ball as she could. The creature approached, stopping on the other side of the dumpster, its long nose sniffing at the air.

Snow flinched as her hoof hit a rock, before snatching the rock up and throwing it further down the alleyway, away from her current hiding spot. The moment the rock clattered against the cobblestone, the creature took off after the sound, chasing its non-existant prey. She peaked around the corner of the dumpster, eyes wide at the sight of the liquid black stallion moving away from her. It’s form periodically dropped large black drops onto the road, leaving dark sickly splotches where they landed.

The mare smiled grimly, running a shaking hoof over her rumpled coat. Her white coat appeared silvery in the metallic moonlight from above, not that she noticed how much brighter the moon appeared to be glowing. She pushed herself to her hooves slowly, stumbling over a metal bar laying beneath her. Reaching down, she intended to bat the bar aside, but screamed as the bar wrapped itself around her limb.

The bar traveled up her forelimb, holding her in place as several more black tendrils shot out from below the dumpster, wrapping themselves around her body painfully. The tentacles slithered up her body, coiling around her throat and pulling at her mouth, as if trying to force her lips apart. She grabbed at the limb, attempting to pull it away from her throat, but couldn’t force the appendage to budge. Her grip loosened as her vision blurred.

Her eyes had just drifted shut when the limb around her neck vanished suddenly, a hum of magic filling the air. Snow glanced up, chest heaving as she sucked in deep breaths, and massaging at her throbbing throat. The creature hung in the air, snarling and hissing at a large horned mare standing before it, a disdainful look upon her muzzle. Snow gasped as the electric tingle of the mares magic washed over her, the light humming growing louder in Snow’s ears. A shimmering bubble appeared around the creature, sealing it inside a soundproof shield with an ear popping rush of wind.

“What now?” A snide, yet obviously frightened voice called out.

Snow jumped at the second voice, peering into the darkness between herself and the large mare.

“Calm yourself.” The mare responded, stretching her wings as she glanced in her direction. “Are you okay, Snow?”

Snow froze, her eyes wide at the realization that THE princess of the night, was speaking to her. She stammered out a response, that she hoped was in the affirmative. Princess Luna nodded, her horn shimmering dimly as Snow felt her eyelids grow heavy. She resisted the urge to sleep, but within seconds, her head rested against the dumpster behind her, and she knew no more.

Luna glanced at the shadow figment twisting at her side, its mouth barred to reveal a pair of long thin fangs, blazing cerulean eyes staring her down. Trixie cautiously fed magic into her horn, lighting the alleyway up in a brilliant white light. The creature hissed, throwing its wide arm in front of its eyes as it twisted away from the light.

“What is it?” Trixie asked, shivering as the creature’s form shifted and rippled upon itself. It held a vaguely bipedal look, with large arching shoulders and arms that would easily drag the ground as it walked. Even as she watched the creatures legs shifted, growing thicker and more muscular as they pounded against its magical prison.

It let out a guttural clicking as it snarled at the pair, its form flickering as if lit by an unseen fire. A long scorpion like tail grew from its back side, slashing and stabbing at the magical shield around it.

“It is the manifestation of the Nightmare that slumbers between your world and mine.” Luna answered, avoiding Trixie’s eye as she spoke. “It is what I fight against each time I visit this dream world.”

“They are always in our dreams? Why have I never heard of these?” Trixie asked, prodding the shield with a hoof as she cocked her head.

“You have. They rarely take this form so you would be hard-pressed to find evidence of them. You, yourself have actually seen one recently.” Trixie shrugged her shoulders at Luna, unable to recall ever seeing such a strange creature.

“Ah… Think back to the nightmare I… intervened in.” Luna prodded.

“I don’t recall seeing anything like this?”

“Well. As I said, it would rarely take this form..” Luna trailed off as her horn blazed, expanding the shield as she forced her will upon the creature. It twisted and turned, legs lengthening and neck growing until it assumed the form of your average pony.

It’s features softened, with a small nub upon its forehead growing out into a unicorn horn. It’s black coat gave way to light purple, a patch of silvery fur growing across the flank. Silvery hair sprouted from the back of its head, cascading across the mares shoulders until it closely resembled Trixie’s own.

Luna felt, as well as heard Trixie gasp as the creature opened its now pale violet eyes.

“What now?” Trixie asked, avoiding the creatures eyes.

“We destroy it.” Luna said, voice low as her horn flared ominously. Before Trixie could speak, a bright light filled the air and Trixie’s vision blurred.

When Trixie’s vision cleared moments later, she found herself in a tiny room. It could hardly be called a bedroom, but judging by the stallion and decrepit bed before them, it was used for that very purpose.

A raggedy stallion laid upon a tattered mat of blankets, tucked in on each other to form a makeshift mattress. He was shivering slightly, head propped upon the crook of his foreleg. Trixie swallowed uncomfortably, reluctantly reminded of her time on the streets. Even though it was a mere month ago, it felt so much longer.

“Are we back in Canterlot?” Trixie asked, attempting to peer out the pitch black window beside her. She could only see her own reflection in the glass, with nary a star visible in the sky above.

“We are still in the dream world. We are simply in this stallions dream.” Trixie cocked an eyebrow, mouth open to snap out a snarky remark.

“Yes, when you do not dream, your dream world is merely you, in your bed.” Luna answered, smiling smugly as Trixie’s jaw shut.

“So… What happens next?” Trixie asked, studying her hooves as she avoided the stallions form.

Luna glanced at the shadow creature, still hanging in the air beside her, eyeing the creature with obvious distaste. “I already told you. We destroy it now.“

“How do we do that?”

Luna hesitated, avoiding Trixie’s eye for a moment as she sighed. Trixie narrowed her eyes, the hairs on the nape of her neck standing on end as Trixie glanced between the bed and the creature floating beside her.

“Luna..” Trixie said, shoulders stiff as she stared the alicorn down. “What..?”

Luna stepped forward slowly, her echoing hoof steps being the only sound as she crossed the room to the stallions side.

“Tell me you aren’t..” Trixie closed her eyes as Luna simply looked at her, confirming her suspicions without a word. “Don’t!” Trixie said, shaking her head ruefully. “Nightmares should never be forced upon anyone!”

“It has to happen. These… These Nightmare, can only be banished in the moments after using their powers… the moments immediately following them forcing themselves upon its victim. I am simply transferring the nightmare from an innocent mare, to this… this guilty stallion.”

“Guilty of what!?” Trixie demanded, slamming a hoof down as she forced herself between Luna and the stallion. “What did he do!?”

“He mugged that mare we saved moments ago. Do you not wonder why she was having a nightmare of being chased through alleyways? He is the very reason she was targeted.” Luna snorted, horn flaring as the shimmering bubble drifted over Trixie to hover above the stallion.

“I have to do this Trixie. If this creature isn’t vanquished now, it will only get stronger… and harder to kill.” Her horn flared as she released the creature, forcing it toward the sleeping stallion. The creature lashed out with sharp claws, digging its fangs into the stallions fur as it crawled further up his body, its draconic eyes only leaving the stallion to glare at Luna and Trixie for a moment. It pulled the stallion tighter to it, fading into his fur soundlessly as the pair watched.

For a moment, Trixie allowed herself to hope that the nightmare had vanished. Hopes that were smashes as the stallion sat bolt upright, his eyes wide but unseeing as he stared at the opposite wall.

“It’ll be over soon.” Luna murmured, although even to herself, her words sounded false.

“Stop…” Trixie whispered through gritted teeth. Her chest tightened as a raspy voice spoke from the other end of the room.

“You’re wortless… Jus’ like yah fathar, you are…” An elderly mare said, her hooves clopping across the floor as she slowly cantered out of the shadows. The stallion stared at her in horror, his mouth moving soundlessly as he struggled for words.

“Leavin’ a poor mare all by herself jus’ ta head to tha big city and strike it rich… Bah!” The mare spat, a glob of shadow splattering against the floorboards, withering and spreading from the moment it landed.

“No mah.. I went to find him.. He didn’ leave us.. he.. he just.. he couldn’t come back yet..” The stallion defended, tears welling in his eyes as he frantically backpedaled away from the approaching mare.

“Stop.” Trixie said, louder as her voice cracked with anger.

“Don’ you lie to yah momma now!” She thundered, stomping a hoof angrily. “He was nothin’ but a no good dead beat, and yah followed in his hoofsteps.. You abandoned me.. righ’ when Ah needed yah most..”

“I… Said… STOP!” Trixie screamed, her horn shooting sparks as she slammed her hooves against the floorboards. A loud hum filled the room as the very air shimmered, twisting and shaping itself to her want. The stallion froze in place, staring unseeingly at the twisted form of the Nightmare before him. Trixie gasped for air as magic spiraled up the tip of her horn, gathering at the tip before dispersing into the air with an electric crackle.

A magenta wave of magic exploded outwards, throwing open the broken door of the room, revealing the empty and warped streets of Canterlot just outside. She shot a fearful glance at Luna, before shaking her head and sprinting from the room, tail vanishing down the street before Luna could bring herself to move.

It took several minutes for Luna to overcome the shock of having her world ripped from her control by the angry show mare. After all, it had never happened to her before.

Trixie’s eyes darted from side to side as she ran blindly, ducking down side alleys and darting between shadows. She peered over her shoulder, eyes strained for any flash of blue fur or celestial mane in the brief moments she could see the night sky overhead.

“Trixie, slow down! Wait!” Luna commanded, having just rounded a corner. Trixie briefly watched Luna spread her wings and flare her horn with magic, before looking forward again.

Trixie closed her eyes as she ran, anger and betrayal welling up inside her. Thoughts of her own past kept popping into her mind, and she attempted to use the darkness to drown the images out. She distantly heard the sounds of things crashing around her, and she felt rocks underhoof, but she was far too gone to care. Being in a dream meant little to Trixie when her mind could still conjure up nightmares.

“Trixie! Stop!” She cried, watching her student about to run head first into the side of a building. Her eyes went wide as she realized she wasn’t going to be able to stop Trixie’s imminent collision. Magic flared at the tip of her horn when-

Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!

Luna's magic abruptly fizzled out as her mind went blank, stunned by what her apprentice was doing. Trixie had smashed through the wall, without injury, or even slowing . Then, she went through the next, and the next, until before she realized it, Luna was looking at a half dozen Trixie-shaped holes.

‘That shouldn't be possible for her-’

Mid thought, Luna heard a cry from Trixie, who looked to be trying to stop her forward momentum. A second later, there was a sickening crash of pony meeting wall, and she crumbled to the floor, groaning. Hesitantly, Luna started squeezing through the holes in the wall, and approached the fallen mare.

Trixie wobbled to her hooves, uneasily stepping forward as she shook her head. A large wall appeared before her suddenly, crushing Trixie’s hope that she would still manage to run off once again.

Her chest heaved as she stared at the mortar between the bricks, refusing to turn her head to face the slow clip-clopping of hooves approaching from behind her. Luna cocked her head, studying Trixie for a moment before speaking.

“Trixie.. You need to cal-”

“You are a monster! You are no different than you were as Nightmare Moon..” Trixie’s voice lost steam, just sounding disappointed as she looked down to the ground. “You are still as evil as you were when you were Nightmare Moon..”

Luna recoiled, eyes wide as she stared at the back of Trixie’s head, mouth slowly open as she struggled to respond. “No! I’m.. I’m not evil! I do what I have to do, and I protect the innocent, and make sure that ponies in Equestria who deserve them get the nightmares instead of the good ones... “

“I could easily have been that pony!” Trixie snarled, flipping around to stare at Luna. She ignored Luna’s protest, horn flaring as she produced a magical picture floating in the air before her. The picture depicted her laying restlessly in the worn down wagon in a darkened Canterlot alleyway.

“I more than likely would have been that stallion! If you hadn’t taken me in, I would have run out of money and started to use my magic to rob others just to make it by.. So a single difference, and it would be me sitting in that room, having their worst nightmares forced upon them..” Trixie said, her voice low and steely.

“What would you have me do?” Luna demanded, mane whipping around behind her as she angrily questioned the mare.

“Find another way to destroy the nightmares! There has to be someway to beat them without forcing them upon others.”

“There is not.. I’ve searched Trixie. You cannot understand how long I searched.. I even tried not battling them.. but... “ She sucked in a deep breath, staring at Trixie for a moment before speaking. “I allowed the nightmare to grow more powerful than you could imagine.. and it became so powerful that it crossed over into our world..”

Trixie’s eyes went wide at the sudden revelation. “So.. not fighting them caused…”

“Yes.. Caused me to become Nightmare Moon. I grew.. tired.. for lack of a better word, of having to unleash Nightmares onto the ponies I swore to protect. During the day, I struggled to make the ponies love me like they loved my sister, and yet, at night.. I had to take the ponies, and.. unleash nightmares on them.”

“Do not tell me how unfair it is… or how evil it is.. I understand my job better than you ever will, but it is my job, and my duty alone.. I have no other choice.” Luna steeled herself, jaw set as she spoke. “If you cannot deal with it, I will not expect you to return next time with me.”

Trixie looked down, regretting the unkind words she had spoken to her mentor mere moments before. “Luna.. I’m-”

“Let us go for now.” Luna said quietly, cutting off the mare before she could apologize.

“Okay.” Trixie said, trotting awkwardly to Luna’s side as the alicorn’s horn flared a brilliant blue.

Trixie opened her eyes, peering listlessly around the room as her vision slowly swirled before clearing. The bed creaked beside her, drawing her attention to the Alicorn that was extracting herself from its surface.

“Luna, I-”

“Not right now, Trixie. I need to see my sister.” She said tensely, avoiding the mare’s hurt look as she strode toward the door.

“I’m sorry!” She yelled out, frustration coloring her voice and making her cheeks color red.

“As you should be Trixie. You are my student, but every time I try to teach you, or help you, you attack me.” Luna said, lip curling into a frown as she slowly shook her head.

Trixie made a small noise, something akin to a cross between a whimper and a sigh of resignation. Luna groaned inwardly at this as the image of Trixie with her head down on the bed, wearing a dejected look flashed through her head. Curse it all! I have every right to be mad at her, so why is it so hard?

Luna slowed at the doorway, glancing back for a moment. “Apology accepted. But I still must speak to my sister.” She turned, the doors opening soundlessly before her as she passed through her doorway.

Trixie slumped against the bed, groaning at the ceiling as her eyes drifted closed.

“Trouble in paradise?” A feminine voice asked from her left, startling the mare.

“Are you sure?” Celestia asked, eyebrow cocked at her younger sister as the dark alicorn paced back and forth.

“Of course I’m sure, Celestia. She screamed ‘stop!’, and the dream froze. She controlled MY dream world!” Luna said, slamming her hooves against the carpeted floor. A loud crack echoed through the room, followed by Celestia stifling a groan.

“Again.. Really?” Celestia said, glaring at Luna as her sister sheepishly stepped off of the carpet, horn alight as she lifted it up. Below the carpet, the concrete sported a fine series of cracks, nearly matching the previously mortared cracks in the concrete that had been ever so carefully covered up with the stylized throw rug.

“Well ignoring the damage to my floor… again… What does this mean?” Celestia asked, setting down her quill as she pushed the pile of paperwork away from her.

“I…” Luna paused, the anxiety in her voice fading as she pondered over it. “I don’t know.. I’ve never met anyone who could control the… my dream world…”

“Well.. She cannot make it to the dream world without your help, correct?”

“Correct.” Luna said, although her answer sounded less than sure.

“Than do nothing.” Celestia said, quill floating back into the air surrounded by her golden glow.

“Nothing!?” Luna said exasperatedly, head cocked as if she wasn’t sure she had heard Celestia correctly.

“Nothing. It will not matter if she cannot enter the dream world without your direct assistance. You can test her at your leisure once she is recovered from her sickness.”

“Interesting… I might take you up on that ‘Tia.. Thank you for your advice.” Luna said, smiling as she turned and began the walk back to her own bedroom.

“Wait! Come, sit and talk to me for a bit. We have not had much chance to see each other lately. I miss our talks, Luna.” Celestia said, smiling as she trotted across the room to stretch out upon her bed, patting the covers beside her.

Luna glanced at the doorway for a moment before nodding, a reluctant smile on her face as she turned to sit beside her sister.

“What did you wish to talk about?”

“Oh.. I don’t know.. How about we talk of… Trixie?” Celestia said, a sly smile gracing her muzzle.

“Didn’t we just do that, Sister?”

Chuckling a little, Celestia’s smile turned to a smug smirk. “ Well, yes. But, I meant of something else relating to her, something that might not end with me purchasing a new rug. There have been certain… rumors spreading through the castle as of late.”

“Oh really?” Luna asked cautiously, cocking an eyebrow. “What rumors?”

“I must say,” Celestia added, earning a frown from Luna as she ignored her question. “That I love what you are doing with your mane.”

“My.. mane?” Luna said, twisting her head to attempt to look back at her locks. She growled, swiveling her head back and forth to try to see what her sister was talking about. Briefly, Luna was able to catch a flash of bright pink, and then another of baby blue. Rising to her hooves, Luna strode over to Celestia’s mirror, enabling her to see all the little bows a particular showmare had placed in her hair. “I am going to kill that girl..” Her horn sparkled as she began picking the ribbons and braids from her mane. Her eye twitched as she caught the sight of even more foal-like ribbons in her tail.

Just visible in the mirror, Luna could see Celestia mischievously smiling at her from the bed.

Author's Note

Took a while, but I'm finally back!

So alot's happened since my last chapter! I now own a house, am expecting a child and have gotten a nice promotion at work, so I apologize for being busy, but what can ya do! :pinkiehappy:

Talks and Terrors

Trixie hummed to herself, a sly smile on her muzzle as she finished tugging on the last silken bow. A quick burst of magic, and the ribbons faded from view, leaving nothing but a shimmering expanse of celestial mane behind.

She laid back slowly, flicking her eyes toward her mentors still glowing ones. Luna had been spending more and more time walking amongst ponies dreams as of late, so the bed bound mare had started entertaining herself with finding ways to hide more ribbons and bows in the alicorn’s mane. After the first few days, it became more about being creative than original, and it wasn’t like Luna was allowing her to go out and get more materials.

Luna had quickly learned to start checking her mane before leaving the room, so Trixie began hiding the ribbons with her illusions. She won some, while Luna won others. It was one of the few things she had to look forward to outside of the limited amount of magical work Luna allowed her to perform.

Right on schedule, Luna shook her head, the light behind her eyes dimming as she turned her focus to the unicorn laying beside her.

“Not reading? Surely there is nothing else in this bed keeping you entertained.” Her tone was sarcastic, and laced with suspicion. She knew Trixie wouldn’t have just sat quietly in the bed, without doing anything. She pushed magic through her horn, searching across her body for any sign of Trixie’s tampering. A light shimmer across her mane and flank revealed that once again, the mare had cast an illusion across her body. Trixie had already cast an illusion across her once before to hide the bows. Luna gave a short laugh at the thought that Trixie wouldn’t expect her to check this time as well.

Luna dissolved the magic with a thought, chuckling as the cerulean mare frowned. She unraveled several bows, pulling them from her mane and tossing them at Trixie with a smirk.

“You’ll have to be much more creative, little filly.” Luna teased, sticking her tongue out as Trixie grumbled and growled.

“It’s not my fault I’m so bored! You know how I feel about books!” She spat the word like it was an insult, drawing a chuckle from the alicorn beside her.

“Hmmm… well I might have something you can do, but I’ll need to talk to my sister first.” She stood, stretching out her front legs as she flicked her tail behind her. “If you will excuse me for the moment, I shall return shortly.”

Trixie huffed, feigning disinterest as she rolled, facing the wall. Luna chuckled once again as she exited her bedroom, nodding happily to the familiar bat ponies standing to either side.

Dusk nodded in return, glancing across the doorway at Silver Wing. Silver’s eyes narrowed as Luna turned around, his eyes locked on her tail and flank. He opened his mouth, but shut it with a snap as Dusk extended a wing and clipped him in the chest. She shot him a glare and beckoned toward the bedroom behind them with her head. He sighed, nodding slowly as he relaxed back into a guard position.

Luna walked on, heedless to the strange amount of attention her flank and tail were drawing. She neared the doors to the throne room, eyes wide at the impressive line her sister had once again drawn to her day court. The line stretched down the far hallway, disappearing around the corner, and presumably out of the castle.

She hesitated at the entryway, a mischievous smile on her face as she surveyed the crowd. She smiled at the mare standing just outside the doorway, before closing her eyes.

With a burst of magic, she wrapped her mane around herself, her body shifting and shimmering as she lost several inches in height. Her mane and tail shrunk down, losing their ethereal appearance as the color drained away, leaving them a dull grey. Her fur turned dark grey, with lighter blotches randomly splattered across her coat. She smiled, opening her eyes to reveal their new bright sunshine-yellow coloration.

She ignored the raised eyebrows and quiet gasps from the citizens standing before her. Trotting forward, she stopped beside the mare she now perfectly resembled.

“Would you mind if I cut in front of you, miss..?”

“Night Shimmer, your highness.” The mare responded, bowing quickly. “Please, go right ahead.”

“Bring in the next case, Scroll.” Celestia said, smiling at the stallion standing beside the large ornate door. He nodded regaly, peering down at his scroll before glancing upward at the Cream colored pegasus.

“Now presenting… Night Shimmer.” Scroll drawled, hardly sparing a glance at the mare just outside the throne room’s doorway.

“Night Shimmer”, galloped into the room, her wings twitching nervously as she slid to a stop before the throne, and the princess. She threw herself to the floor before Celestia, wings shaking every so often.

“Rise Night Shimmer. What can the court… Is something wrong?” Celestia asked, finally glancing up from her royal papers to see the way the mare shook in place.

“Thank you, princess. I’m sorry to be before you in such a state.. but it’s Manehatten! There’s been a terrible tragedy!“ She bowed once again, apparently fearing the duty of having to interject the dire news into the day courts going-ons.

“What is the nature of this tragedy?” Celestia asked, hoping against herself that her ponies were over-reacting like they were so want to do.

“The entire city is starving, after an attack by a white coated menace.” At her words, Celestia leapt to her hooves, matching eyes with the surprised delegate from the city in question. His horn flared as he nervously shuffled various reports in the air before him, his eyes darting from side to side before he shrugged helplessly.

“Explain!” Celestia demanded, standing from her throne as she began cantering down the staircase, stopping only to issue commands to the guards at the throne’s base. As the stallions moved out of the throne , her eyes returned to the pegasus, who was now hovering in place, frantically rubbing her hooves nervously.

“It was terrible, your majesty! This great hairy beast descended from the sky, magic alight with golden beams as it systematically ate through the food of each and every building in the city. Its rear end became larger with each bite! Once the food was gone, it began summoning the snacks and desserts of the town…” She darted backwards as Celestia approached.

“Come with me, and tell me everything you saw while I begin issuing aid to Manehatten.” Celestia ordered, mane shimmering agitatedly.

“Of course, your highness.” The mare responded, throwing herself at Celestia’s hooves once more.

“Now tell me, what did this creature look like? It must have been very strong… What manner of offense has the city taken?”

“Um.. Well it was white.” She said, stammering as Celestia focused on the mare.

“Just breath Ms. Shimmer. You are not in any trouble, I just need to know what has already been attempted to repel the beast.”

“Of course.” Night Shimmer took several deep breaths. “It was white, with two large wings, nearly as large as yours, princess. A great spiraled horn sat atop its head, and it had a shimmering mane draped across its shoulders, in various hues of the rainbow.”

Celestia slowed at the creatures description, confused by the mares words.

“It took great pleasure in devouring the cities supply of Angel food cake! The guards attempted to lead it from the city, but it refused to be tempted away before the last one was consumed.” By this point, Celestia was staring at her with a deadpanned expression.

“....We’re doing this, now?”

“Oh dear blessed mother, no!” Night Shimmer cried, pointing a hoof at Celestia’s flank. “Its exactly the size of the great beasts! Are you in league with the monster, your highness!?”

“We’re really doing this to each other now, aren’t we? My vengeance will be swift, sister.”

“Woe to the poor foals of Canterlot! With how engorged your flank is-”

“Luna!”

“-surely this means that not a single dessert is left! Why, great Princess, why would you do this to your ponies!?”

“Ugh.. Luna… I am going to just… Ugh..” She huffed, walking off as Luna cackled, her horn flaring as she dispelled her illusion. She grinned as she walked past her sister, flicking her nose with her tail.

“Relax sister, it was just a joke.”

“It was not funny. I now have to catch several bewildered guards before they make it out of Canterlot, or they will be understandably confused upon their arrival in Manehatten.” Celestia commented, shaking her head slowly. She looked around at the gaping delegates, impressed at how strong of will they must have been to hold back the laughter she clearly saw in more than a few of their eyes. “I am afraid that I will be taking a small break from Day Court. Stop in the dining hall if you would like something to eat, and once court is brought back to session, you will regain your position in line.”

The crowd dispersed slowly, but not without a few groans of discontent. She smiled reassuringly to the crowd gathered, before stepping past her sister. “Before you go though, nice ribbons.”

Luna froze, eyes wide as her smile slipped off her face. She turned, jaw set as she faced her sister. The white alicorn was smiling widely, pointedly looking at the mare’s tail, which now had bright pink and white dotted ribbons running throughout its shimmering length. “Impossible! I checked myself before I left my room and found her illusions... “ After going silent for a moment, she sighed, and covered her face with a hoof. “She used two illusions.. and when I dispelled mine, I dispelled hers as well..”

Celestia giggled as she left the throne room, not missing her chance at a parting shot. “Looks like you will be one step behind that mare for a bit longer, at least.”

Luna growled to herself, her magic flaring as she ripped the bows out of her mane and tail, tossing them at Celestia with a scowl. “Actually… I have something I want to discuss with you.” She huffed, trotting after her smug sister.

Trixie laid against the large pillows atop Luna’s bed, staring at the ceiling absentmindedly as she thought over her earlier talk with Dusk. The bat mare’s words still echoed through her ears, and she could feel heat come to her cheeks despite Luna’s absence.

Dusk had entered the room silently, stopping just beside Luna’s bed as she liked to do. Grumbling, Trixie glanced over at her.

“Trouble in paradise?” She snickered, giggling at the startled glare from the unicorn.

“Trixie would rather not talk about it.” She rolled away, facing toward the wall and ignored the mare’s presence.

“Then don’t. You don’t have to say anything, but I have a few things to say.” Dusk said, swishing her tail underneath her as she sat down.

“Trixie is just dying to hear.”

“I understand that you have a rough past,” She commented, a slight disdain evident in her voice. “but so does Night Mother. You two are so much more alike than you realize, and if you would just open up to her, you would see how much better you could be.”

“Better? Are you insinuating that Trixie isn’t well as she is?”

Dusk nodded.

Trixie’s stare hardened and she huffed before putting a pillow over her head. “Trixie has no interest in listening to the inane ramblings of a guard. Go back to protecting hallways and leave Trixie to her greatness.”

“What? Like living in a broken down trailer? Or how ‘greatly’ you’ve been lying in bed for the last week? That’s cute for now, but it does nothing to help Night Mother, or yourself.”

A pillow hit Dusk right in the muzzle.

What do you mean?” Trixie asked, cocking an eyebrow as she looked at the mare. Dusk huffed, but gave a fanged grin as she tossed the pillow back onto the bed.

“ Okay, listen ... ” Dusk said, taking a deep breath. “Night Mother needs a friend. Before you say that she has us, we are her guards first and foremost.” She said, cutting Trixie off before the mare could speak. “We care and love Night mother, but she is our ruler. No matter what we try, she will always hold us at forelegs length away. She needs someone outside of her guard to befriend her… Someone like you, Trixie.”

“Technically, Luna is Trixie’s ruler as well, you know. Not like she’d be silly enough to try and pull rank on her, but Luna is above Trixie.”

“But that doesn’t seem to matter to her at all, at least, in your case. Whether you realize it or not, Night Mother loves you.She might not even realize it at the moment, but she does. She treats you closer to an equal than I’ve seen her treat anypony else, and I can just see a light in her eyes now that I haven’t seen since she was reunited with her sister. You are good for her.. and if… If you do not feel the same way, you need to either set the record straight with her, or leave.”

Trixie’s eyes widened at the conviction in Dusk’s voice, and the obvious unspoken threat. She opened her mouth to retort, but was shaken by the sudden smile on Dusk’s face.

“However, I know you feel the same way about her.”

“Trixie does-”

“Yea, yea, Trixie doesn’t blah blah blah.” Dusk said, waving a hoof dismissively. She ignored the scowl shot her direction, and the slack jawed expression the mare wore. “I know you don’t agree, but I see the way you look at her, and the way you react around her. You pour yourself into your work when she isn’t looking, and you try your hardest to impress her. I know for a fact that you worked yourself to exhaustion in the library, even if you played it off by telling Night Mother you were hiding from the Librarian. I also know you have a stack of books hidden in this room, despite how much you keep saying you hate reading.” Dusk took a short glance around, “I’m really surprised, I know they are here, but I still can’t see them, and Night Mother hasn’t either, if my guess right.”

Trixie went wide eyed at that, and she glanced around suspiciously.

“Have you been eavesdropping on me? Spying on Trixie?” Trixie asked skeptically.

Dusk ignored her, although her smile grew slightly larger. “I also feel as if I know you a bit. You love having the luxury of the castle, and yet the first major disagreement you’ve had with Night Mother and you-”

“Don’t talk like you know Trixie so well!” Trixie blurted out, glaring at Dusk. She attempted to appear stern, but the heavy blush in her cheeks ruined her stare.

“Me thinketh, the lady doth protest too much.” Dusk said, smirking as she headed for the doorway. She ignored the sputters coming from Trixie as she tried to form a retort.

“Look, either kiss her, mount her, or get her to mount you, I don’t really want to go into which one of you thinks they should be on top. Just make a move already, okay?. Everypony in the castle is tired of waiting for you to get over your little tantrums.”

“T-Tantrums!? Trixie is not some little-”

“Oh, its not all you. Night Mother has a lot of her own issues that I’m sure isn’t making it easy for you to nail her.”

“Look you stupid, horny fruit bat! Trixie-”

“But maybe that’s why Night Mother is attracted to you, your as messed up inside as she is.”

“Stop interrupting Tri-”

“I’m rooting for you, Trixie! You’re already in Night Mother’s bed, so the rest should be pretty easy for you. We’ll talk again later. I have quite a few bits riding on you two!”

Dusk quickly closed the door, just as something heavy crashed into it behind her.

“If Luna didn’t tell Trixie not to leave this bed, she’d come out there and see how far you can fly with two broken wings!!”

In hindsight, blurting out that last line did not help Trixie’s case at all.

Trixie rolled over and faced the door again as she came out of her thoughts. This was perhaps the third or fourth time she had gone over the exchange in her head. Each time still made her just as mad and flustered as the first. Once again, she needed to vent.

Dusk sighed as Silver Wing scooted further down the hallway, attempting, and ultimately failing to discreetly fan the air in front of him. The first one had only gotten her a quirked eyebrow. But, by the fourth such incident, Silver Wing had slowly started to inch down the hallway. By now, it was unclear just which door he was actually guarding.

A loud fart echoed through the hallway again, directly behind Dusk, causing her to blush brightly as she turned and glared at the doorway behind her. She didn’t need to see inside the room to know who was causing this.

Okay, maybe I went a little overboard. And maybe I shouldn’t have had that talk the same night I was assigned to Night Mother’s door. Feh, I hope she gets back soon, a few more, and Silver Wing will be rounding a corner..

Author's Note

Just needed to add that this chapter wouldn't have been possible without Phaoray's help! He really helped me work out most of this chapter, so props to him!

Training and Tests

“Trixie?” Luna repeated, waving a hoof in front of the unicorn’s vacant eyes. When this proved ineffective, she gave Trixie’s side a poke. “Equestria to Trixie!”

“Hu- What?” Trixie said, shaking herself as Luna prodded her side. “S-sorry. I just have a lot on my mind... at the moment.” She trailed off, looking at the covers before her as Luna cocked an eyebrow.

“Would- Would you like me to come back later?”

“No!” She coughed, embarrassed at her sudden outburst. “Stay. Please.”

“Alright… Are you feeling okay? You seem a bit flushed.”

Trixie didn’t quite trust herself to speak, and settled for a nod. Luna waited a moment, slightly confused at her usually over talkative apprentice’s behavior. When no words were forthcoming, Luna sighed.

'Figures she would not make this easy on us to bring up.'

“Well-” Luna shifted her eyes to the side slightly, beginning to lightly tap the floor with a hoof in agitation. “ I wanted to... to apologize for being a poor teacher up to this point. You’ve been living in the castle for about a month now, and I have failed to teach you a single spell-”

“Thats not true!” Trixie interrupted, throwing the covers off of her as she got to her hooves.

”You did teach me one spell!”She trotted a few feet away, a slight frown on her face as she slowly called her magic forth, causing a soft hum to fill the bedroom.

Trixie’s horn flashed brightly, leaving Luna blinking in surprise. She rubbed the spots from her eyes and peered about the room, her ears flattening against her head at the sudden lack of a certain unicorn. Seconds later, a disembodied voice spoke from near her side.

“Ta… da…” Trixie panted, smiling triumphantly as she faded into view beside Luna, and reared onto her back legs in triumph.

Luna put a hoof up to her muzzle, but couldn’t help letting a few giggles escape at Trixie’s ridiculous looking pose. Though it was difficult, and took longer then Luna imagined, she finally managed to direct her face into a small scowl. “Ta da indeed. It amazes me how little regard you give to a doctor’s orders to not overexert yourself. Then again, you rarely listen to mine, so why should I be surprised?”.

She gave Trixie a slight smile, which quickly went to a frown as Luna went back to the previous discussion.

“One spell, Trixie. I should have been focused more, but… other things have gotten in the way so far. For that, I apologize. As your mentor, I should have focused on making sure you were learning, instead of letting our personal drama get in our way.”

Trixie shook her head, putting a hoof on Luna’s shoulder. Or, at least, as close to her shoulder as her reach allowed. “Stop. Alot happened, and we both had some things we needed to work out before we could really get anywhere with each other, okay? It needed to be aired, so don’t beat yourself up over it.” Trixie smiled warmly. “We have all the time in the world for Trixie to resume her role as the greatest magician to ever live.” She lifted her nose in a faux pout. Luna rolled her eyes, smiling at the mare’s continued antics.

“Well, be that as it may. I have spoken with your doctors, and despite your hasty magic use a moment ago, they have cleared you to use high amounts of magic sparingly. As such-,” Luna continued, despite the gleeful expression on Trixie’s face. “As such, I want to give you a few simple tests, so that I may better gauge your magic. But, after that, I would kindly ask you to wait a few days before using any more strenuous magic.”

Trixie nodded, patting Luna’s shoulder/leg with her hoof dismissively. “Can we not go ahead and add my perfect scores to the test already? It’s just a formality at this point after all..”

Luna looked at the hoof on her, directing a raised eyebrow at Trixie. A slight reddening of her cheeks, and Trixie quickly removed her hoof. “I see you have gained some of your trademark confidence back, but you would do well not to underestimate these tests.”

Trixie narrowed her eyes at Luna, but nodded seriously, a thoughtful expression on her face as Luna exited the room. She returned a moment later with a transparent pouch holding a few small crystals inside, each about a hoof length tall and a third as wide. Luna avoided levitating them, and instead used her magic on the very lip of the pouch.

She flipped the bag upside down, rolling several crystal’s out onto the bed.

“This is a very magic sensitive crystal. The lightest brush of magic is amplified ten fold. I want you to levitate one for now.” She said, smiling serenely at Trixie. She raised a hoof, halting Trixie from speaking. “However, the test is not to see if you can lift it, but how well you can control its movement. Any unicorn can use her magic, but I want to see how much control you have. So lift this crystal, and keep it as steady as you possibly can. Like so.” She said, closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths.

A blue haze appeared around one of the crystals, causing it to very slowly lift into the air and levitate before her. It stayed perfectly still, not even moving an inch in any direction. For all intents and purposes, the crystal could have been firmly anchored in that spot, and it would not have moved any less than it currently was. Luna smiled triumphantly, releasing her hold on the shard as she turned it over to the showmare.

Trixie switched her gaze to the crystal, eyes narrow as she studied its sharp angles. Her horn sparked to life as she grazed its surface with a tendril of magic, sending the crystal shooting across the bedspread. She jumped back in surprise, withdrawing her magic tendril from its surface.

She grit her teeth, tongue poking out between her lips as she very lightly touched the crystal with her magic, working to levitate the crystal into the air. It quickly shot upwards, exploding against the ceiling like a recklessly thrown glass cup.

“Ha!” Luna giggled, horn already alight as she floated a new crystal over to the bed spread. “Easy does it, Trixie.”

Trixie gave a brief glare at Luna, before turning her full attention to the crystal, a single thread of magic circled the tip of her horn as she attempted to levitate the crystal once more. It quickly jerked upwards, coming dangerously close to crashing against the ceiling before she was able to lower it to an acceptable hover before her. Her cheeks puffed outwards as she concentrated, snarling each time the crystal bobbed up and down.

Despite her best effort, the shard moved by a good two to three foot margin, bobbing up and down like a lure in a rather violent storm. Trixie sucked in a deep breath, eyes closed as a vein appeared upon her forehead. The crystal began shaking spastically, growing further unstable as it matched her frustration.

It snapped to a stop suddenly as Luna’s magic surrounded it, halting its movement immediately.
“That’s enough, Trixie. I just needed to know how good your control was.”

She held up a hoof, ignoring the sweat covering her face. “W-wait! Trixie was just getting a feel for the crystal! She was just warming up! She-”

“-Was about to burst a vein in her head, resulting in an angry doctor and another few weeks of bedrest. Yes, I am aware of what she was about to do.”

Trixie blushed, partly in embarrassment, and partly in anger at herself. Despite her redness, a scowl was on her face, along with a defeated look. “So.. How bad was I?”

“Well.. I have seen worse..” Luna replied slowly. “But, you should truly look at this as a good thing, Trixie.”

“How is this possibly a good thing?” The mare crossed the room quickly, staring dejectedly out the far window. “I apparently have the magical control of a snub horn.”

Luna cocked an eyebrow at the term, but chose not to award Trixie a remark. “Because, if you can do the level of magic you're currently doing, imagine how much you will improve after a few simple control exercises. Now, if you are done pouting we can move on with the next test.”

“Trixie was not pouting… Trixie was… contemplating ways to improve her magic.” The mare defended, sticking her tongue out at the night princess. Luna merely cocked an eyebrow at her again.

'I should have her read a few of the history’s on me. It would be rather amusing to see if she changed at all after reading what I supposedly did to ponies in the past for far less.'

“For your next test, I want you to levitate this crystal for as long as you can. It will steadily float in your grasp until it can no longer draw power from you. Once you can’t hold onto it anymore, we will move onto your final test.” Luna explained, gesturing to the next crystal, a slender blue one lying among the others on the bed.

Trixie eyed the crystal for a moment, before she took a deep breath and summoned her magic. She levitated the crystal into the air, brow narrowing at the lack of activity from the shard. Just as she began to open her mouth to question Luna, she felt a slight pull on her magic as the crystal grew warm in her magical grasp.

Moments passed in silence, with only the sound of Trixie occasionally shifting to banish the minor discomfort of the constant magical drain. It felt uncomfortable, and a little creepy even, to feel her magic slowly being leeched away like this. As Trixie grew weaker, the crystal grew heavier. She guessed the shard had to weigh just over 100 pounds at the moment, but it was starting to feel like an immense pressure against her forehead.

Sweat beaded on her brow as she grunted, face scrunched up in concentration. Pain began to wrack her head, and she could feel the muscles in her neck and barrel beginning to burn. Gasping, she struggled even harder as the shard began to slip from her grip.

N-No! Trixie will not look like a foal in front of her again! J-just have to hold on a f-few more minutes. A-and-

Trixie’s thoughts were interrupted when she felt something sharply impact her horn, causing her to lose what little control she still had on the shard. The crystal promptly crashed to the floor with a loud thud. Opening eyes she didn’t realize had closed, Trixie found herself looking at a irritated Princess. She was about to ask why she was interrupted, but couldn’t quite manage a word due to her heavy panting. Trixie held back a moan at how badly cramped the muscles in her body were at the strain she had placed on them seconds ago. She was also pretty sure the heat radiating from her horn could have melted stone.

“I don’t know why I am surprised. Trixie, I am not going to continue these tests if you are going to keep showing me how eager you are to injure yourself again.”

“B-but Trixie is just doing her-”

Luna stamped the ground with one of her hooves loudly. “There is a difference in doing your best for a test and burning yourself out!”

She looked to Luna, a bit confused. “That doesn’t make any sense. You should do your best for a test, and worry about the pain afterwards. It’s like running from a angry crowd, you don’t care what part of you is injured while escaping, just that you escaped.”

Shaking her head, Luna looked down at Trixie in disbelief. “Those two are in no way linked.”

“Of course they are. The goal is to pass the test and worry about what you injured after you succeed.”

Luna gave an exasperated sigh and mumbled “....How did she manage to get through school with that kind of attitude?”

“She didn’t.”

Apparently Trixie had heard her. Luna cursed herself for forgetting how unnaturally observant her apprentice was at the worst times.

“Sorry...I didn’t-”

“Forget it. It’s fine.” Trixie said unemotionally. For a few seconds, Luna saw a eerie void present in the unicorn’s eyes, the frown Trixie wore told Luna that it was in fact, anything but fine. Before Luna could react, the expression disappeared underneath a fake grin. “So, how was she on this one?”

'Yet another mystery about my apprentice. Do I stick my hoof in this one as well, with what happened last time?'

“Actually, you did well, up until you nearly injured yourself. I believe the test ended around one hundred and twenty pounds or so. Not an easy feat for even a trained unicorn to achieve.”

Trixie’s grin became much more real after that, to Luna’s relief. She had seen her student depressed much more than she liked lately.

'Though she has the cutest pout when things don’t go her way, if-'

“So, on to the next test then?”

Luna nodded, horn sparking as she hefted the blue crystal in the air, before turning and suddenly smashing it against the wall. Trixie jumped a little at the impact, a gasp of pain emitting from her mouth as her body protested the quick movement.

A magenta colored swirl of magic erupted from the shattered crystal, and launched itself at Trixie.

“Umm…”

“It’s fine, Trixie.”

The magic circled around her, slowly soaking into her fur as she looked on in concern. After the first few seconds of this, her horn began to feel better, that hollow feeling of her magic nearly being drained was disappearing. She was still covered in sweat, and her muscles still ached, but magically? She felt ready for whatever Luna threw at her. So long as she didn’t have to dodge it, at least.

“What just happened?” Trixie asked, glancing at the shards dully sparkling on the ground.

“I released the magic you put into the crystal back to you. No need in having you tired before your final test.”

“Which is what exactly?”

“This test will be to see how much power you have, so that we can set a baseline for your training.” Luna explained, motioning for the mare to follow her.

Trixie followed behind Luna sullenly, head low as she dwelled on the results of the last two tests. Despite Luna’s kind words, she couldn’t help but punish herself. She was the self called “Great and Powerful Trixie”, and yet she couldn’t help but see her first result as a failure.

“Ahem.” Luna coughed quietly, a small grin on her face as Trixie finally looked up.

“I thought we were going to the roof?” Trixie said, glancing left and right. She often got turned around in the castle still, but she was fairly sure this was not the entrance to the roof courtyards.

“We are. I wanted to show you something first.” Luna explained, pushing the door open quietly, and trotting into the room without a backwards glance.

“Okay..” Trixie sighed irritatedly, but followed without argument. She sat down beside Luna, who seemed at ease peering at the ceiling aimlessly. She looked around the room, finding it sparsely decorated. Only a few pieces of furniture adorned the room, leaving a large cleared space in the center.

“What did you want to show Trixie?”

“What do you notice about this room Trixie? The ceiling in particular..?” Luna prompted, beckoning upwards with her hoof. Trixie followed her gaze, confusedly searching for what was snagging her mentor's attention.

The ceiling was relatively plain, except for dozens upon dozens of small splotches of discolored paint throughout the room. Trixie lost count at 70 patches before growing bored.

“The paint used here is sub-par?”

Luna giggled, mane flowing quicker with her laugh. Trixie found a sincere smile appear on her face as Luna laughed. Despite her best attempts, Trixie felt her cheeks burn ever so slightly at her response.

“No, not quite. This was where my sister trained her previous student.”

Trixie ‘s gaze darted to Luna, brows narrowed. “Twilight was trained here? What does that have to do with me?”

“Well, once upon a time, she was a filly. A filly with terrible control of her magic.” Luna explained, turning to face her student fully. “Did you know she became my sister’s student due to her magical outburst?”

Trixie nodded slowly. “Yes. Trixie was in Canterlot that day to try out for Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. I was attempting to get a scholarship so I could attend.. My parents were not the most wealthy..” She trailed off, rubbing at the back of her neck uncomfortably. “A baby dragon broke through the ceiling of the testing chamber however, and my application was canceled.”

“Surely they rescheduled it?”

“They did.. Tri-Trixie couldn’t make the next appointment.” Trixie explained emotionlessly. “So Twilight was just as bad at control as me..?” Trixie prompted, her meager attempt at changing the topic not going unnoticed.

“No.” Luna said, grinning at Trixie’s sudden frown. “She was much much worse.” Luna waved a hoof upwards, gesturing to the mismatched paint spots once again.

Trixie studied the spots once more, eyes widening as it finally clicked in her head. “These were Twilights attempts with the crystals?”

“Yes. As you can see, it took her much longer to even reach the stage where she was not breaking the crystals. To be honest with you, she still does not have perfect control of her spells. She tends to overcharge them most times.”

Trixie lowered her gaze, smiling finally. “Thank you Luna.”

Together, Trixie and Luna stepped onto the roof of the palace, hoofsteps echoing across the rooftop. Trixie cocked her head to side, eyes darting toward the large crystals set at the far end of the roof courtyard.

“So… Target practice?” Trixie asked, glancing toward her mentor skeptically.

“Not quite. Your goal is to hit the crystals, but you need to weave as much power as you possibly can into your spellwork.” Luna explained, beckoning toward the shards. “They will let me determine your power.”

“Ah.” Trixie remarked, stepping closer to a small line Luna apparently had drawn on the roof. “What spell should I use..?” She trailed off as Luna shook her head.

“No spell, just concentrate energy at the tip of your horn, and release it in the direction of the crystal. They are enchanted to draw energy toward them, so you only need to get your magic close to them.”

Trixie closed her eyes, slowly pooling magic at the tip of her horn. She could feel the pleasant wash of her magic as it raced through her veins, crackling loudly. After a little less than a minute of gathering her energy to the tip of her horn, sweat was beading her forehead. A headache began forming at the base of her horn as she attempted to summon yet more and more power.
She could just make out a pale magenta light through her eyelids before Luna spoke.

“No Trixie. Your funneling your magic into a light spell, but you need to clear your mind, and keep the magic from becoming visible until you release it. Focus on only summoning the magic, not on a light source, and once you’ve gathered every ounce of magic you can, release.”

“Trixie will try.” Uncertainty colored her voice as she took a deep breath, releasing as she slowly pooled magic into her horn. A stray sparkle of magic appeared for a moment before quickly losing color once more, fading from view as quickly as it appeared. Her back legs began to shake as she drew power from deep within herself, using the power in her muscles to fuel the spell.

Just as her back legs began to give out, she thrust her horn forward, releasing the spell with a strangled cry. She collapsed to the floor, eyes half lidded as she watched the ball of magic soar down the courtyard, slamming into the crystal with a low pitched ring. It began glowing a pale magenta, magic swirling back and forth soundlessly as the crystals greedily absorbed it.

Luna strode across the rooftop, horn flaring as she gazed deep into the crystal. A few moments passed, in which Trixie forced herself to roll onto her back, chest heaving. She wiped sweat from her brow, before slowly pushing herself onto her hooves unsteadily.

Another moment passed as Luna looked through the crystals, inwardly frowning.

'This...well..maybe I missed....no, no...that's all of it...'

"Soo....how amazing is Trixie?"

'...How do I put a positive spin on this?'

Luna coughed embarrassingly, hiding her face. "S-so, that's enough for today. Let's head back."

"Really? W-well, Trixie feels up to another test or two still, but if you are tired, that’s fine. Let’s head back once you confirm for Trixie how good her score was.."

"Ya know-" Luna started "Perhaps this was a silly idea, we should not be concerned about 'scores' and 'tests', its not like they can really measure a ponies..ummm...inner strengths, right?"

Trixie's panting slowed drastically, and her ears started to sink against her skull. "W-well, perhaps ‘powerful’ isn’t the most honest part of her title, but impressive is pretty close still, right?”

“I-I’m not so sure I would use ‘impressive’ to describe your results on this test. It is rather impressive that you have managed so well despite-er...I mean…”

Trixie turned away from Luna, her voice coming out heavy, and a tad strained. ”B-but, Trixie's meant to be ‘Great and Powerful. W-what is she supposed to become if she isn’t… I-I’ve worked hard to earn that title….” Sniff. “a-and-”

'Crap...spin it better, spin it better!'

"Look-" Luna said, taking a few strides to Trixie and giving her a smile. "I didn't look to train you because I thought you were powerful,-" Trixie looked back over to Luna again, eyes widening as Luna continued. "-Or because I thought you would be a good apprentice at all-" Luna could see Trixie's sad expression start to take on a crushing look "-I decided to train you because you were interesting, because your actions that night with saving that filly showed me you were a much better pony than all the rumors I had heard of you. So what if your magic is only slightly above average? That's still more powerful than half the unicorns in Equestria, right?"

"S-so her title is...is Trixie the Average and Interesting...?"

'Yeah, those are tears. Oh Discord why didn't I pay any attention to those empathy classes Celestia insisted on!?'

“Of course not! I said above average! Trixie, above average!”

“R-right…” Trixie woodenly stood up, and started making her way to the stairs. “W-well, I-I shouldn’t take up anymore of your t-time…”

Luna was bad at understanding others, but she knew enough about Trixie by now to understand that she was perhaps minutes away from seeing her apprentice trying to bolt out of the castle again.

'….Buck it, I wasn’t Honesty, that one was Tia’s burden.'

Luna trotted over to Trixie, placing herself in between the staircase Trixie was slowly heading towards. With a regal hoof, Luna gently, but firmly forced Trixie’s head up, just enough to look into her eyes. Trixie’s eyes were teary, and a few slid down her cheeks even as she tried to hold them back. “Trixie, listen to me but a moment more.”

Growling with frustration, Trixie tried to back out of the hold Luna had on her. She felt ashamed and embarrassed at her performance. Not to mention the grip Luna had on her kept reminding her of what Dusk said the night before. Still, Luna refused to let go, forcing a slightly flushed Trixie to remain in place for the moment.

“Trixie-” She started, bringing her muzzle down to briefly nuzzle along Trixie’s hair. A strong desire to breath in Trixie’s scent made its way to the front of her mind. Why do I get so easily distracted around her? Focus Luna! “I was the same at one point. Even now, if I were to try to move both the sun and the moon for more than a few years I would burn out, where my sister did it for a whole century. I know the frustration of feeling weak.”

“But, power can be gained. Twilight didn’t start with much control, and you are not starting with alot of power. Given time and training, you could even rival her in your own way.”

“R-really..?”

Luna nodded, letting go of Trixie’s muzzle and going back to lightly nuzzling her hair again. It was surprisingly nice for Luna, much like when she did it with Celestia, but different in a way she couldn’t quite place.

'Now, Please don’t ask me how you could rival her. I haven’t worked that part out yet.'

“You are Trixie, The student of Princess Luna, and the first dream walker, besides myself, in a thousand years.” Luna smiled. She mentally cheered as Trixie perked up, chest puffing out slightly at her words. “And, once your training is done, you will be Trixie, the great and powerful, protege of Princess Luna, and controller of dreams!”

Trixie wiped the tears that had been forming, a broad smile on her face as she giggled a little. “I look forward to the day I can call myself that, though I may have to shorten the title a bit. I would like to be truly powerful, to show other ponies wonders they’ve never seen before. Just think, to be able to walk onto any stage in the world and be welcome. To have fillies and colts be amazed, knowing that Trixie is going to give them a show…” She trailed off, a spacey look in her eyes as she imagined some unknown scene.

“Why stop there?” Luna asked, sitting down beside her as she gazed across Canterlot’s gardens, the magic orbs sparkling in the garden below them as the sun set. From so high up, the slowly twinkling orbs resembled stars, lighting the path of the various garden bound ponies.

“What do you mean?” The unicorn asked, shaking herself. “What would be better than that for an entertainer?”

“Why stop at the stage? Yes, bringing wonder to other ponies is admirable, but you could make a huge difference in the world, if you tried. With a gift such as yours, there are many ways in which you could help others.”

Trixie stayed silent for a few moments, contemplating what Luna said. “...Like what?”

Luna shrugged, turning to face her student. “I believe that is for you to discover.”

Trixie stared at her for a moment before looking out over the gardens, brows knit. “Trixie believes you are correct.”

They sat in a companionable silence for a moment, before Luna perked up suddenly.

“By the way, we have an outing tomorrow. Our first one, as student and Mentor.”

“Oh? What will we be doing?” Trixie asked, peering curiously at the alicorn beside her.

“That would be telling.” Luna said teasingly, booping the mare on her snout.

“How will I know what to bring?” She stomped, voice raised in protest.

"Just wear something comfortable, but fancy enough to be around a princess in public."

"Got it."

"But not too fancy, else you may look too good compared to everypony else, and in turn, make me seem like I am too good for normal ponies."

"R-right.."

"Oh! But you should definitely try to look impressive at the same time, you are my student after all! But don't look intimidating."

"W-what?"

"And I would recommend some kind of make-up. Like, a casual date look, almost. But a casual date you would have with a Princess. I'll see you early tomorrow night." With that, Luna stood up, briefly giving the dazed unicorn one more nuzzle before heading down the stairs.

Trixie remained lying there for several minutes, trying to wrap her brain around Luna’s recommendations and failing.

".....HOW DO ANY OF THOSE GO TOGETHER!?"

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait on this chapter! It's been crazy busy in my life lately.
Since my last chapter, I have gotten married, gone back to college, and am one month away from my daughter being born, so as you can tell my life is very hectic! HOWEVER, with that said, I am not into a part of the story I have been looking forward to for a while, so expect more updates in the weeks to come. Once my daughter is born though, there will most likely be a month break where I will not get much done as I adjust to dealing with her lol

Fabrics and Fairs

“Look. Trixie gets that you don’t like her. Despite all the love she has given you. Trixie even understands that, despite the expensive conditioners and shampoos she buys you, that you might have some grudge against her for all she’s put you through on the road… But for the love of Celestia, GIVE ME BACK MY COMB!” Trixie cried, yanking at the brush firmly tangled in her mane. Her eyes watered as the roots of her hair protested against her vicious yanking.

“If you keep pulling like that, you’re going to tear your mane out.”

“At this moment, She does not care. Perhaps it’ll serve as a good example to what’s left!” Trixie cursed, horn alight as she grasped the handle of the comb.

“I’m just saying, Night Mother has never been known to like the bald look. Something to keep in mind for your date.”

“It’s not a date! It’s a teacher student outing that involves dressing up and spending the evening together!”

“Pfft, sure, Trix. I’m sure Night Mother loves the innocent act.”

“It’s not an act, you-you…” She froze suddenly, registering the snide voice from just behind her. “Why are you in Trixie’s room, anyways?”

“Oh, you know...” The voice trailed off, replaced by a muffled shuffling sound. “Just being nosey.”

Trixie turned around, glaring at Dusk. The look would have been much more effective if she didn’t have a comb hanging out of the side of her mane, and if Dusk was even facing her. Instead, the mare had her head buried in one of Trixie’s dresser drawers, a few crumpled capes laying on the floor behind her.

“Do you mind removing your face from Trixie’s drawers?”

“I don’t mind actually.” Dusk drawled, pushing the drawer shut with a hoof as she turned to smirk at Trixie. “There’s nothing sexy in there anyways.” She winked, drawing a light blush to the unicorn’s cheeks. “What are you going to wear tonight?”

“It’s on the bed.” Trixie grumbled, turning back to peer angrily at her mane.

Dusk trotted across the room, eye’s traveling across the bed for a moment, and lingering on the mangy cloak before she raised an eyebrow. “Is it under the cape? Or are you going naked?”

Trixie shot her a glance in the mirror, mouth open to defend her attire choice. “N-”

“I mean, I get it. Going naked will definitely make it easier for you and Night Mother later, I just didn’t realize y’all were already so far in your… relationship.” Dusk teased, grinning at the crimson blossoming on Trixie’s cheeks.

Trixie snapped her jaw closed, her mouth in a thin line as she turned away from the mare. She fussed with her hair, making an attempt to show Dusk she was being ignored.

“Would you like some help with that?” Dusk asked, slouching against the tall bed. She received only a huff in response.

The mare giggled into her hoof, and trotted across the room quietly. Once behind Trixie, she reached forward, plucking the brush from Trixie’s mane almost effortlessly. Dusk then flipped the brush around, pushing Trixie down into a sitting position before the mirror as she began to work on her mess of a mane.

“Let me help you. You’ll get nowhere if you just keep pulling like that.” She leaned forward, running the brush through Trixie’s mane like water, the bedraggled hairs straightened easily under her attention. “See? It’s not about forcing the brush, it’s a gentle give and take. You pull, and your hair gives!”

“Yeah, yeah…” Trixie closed her eyes, relaxing against the repetitive gentle tugging at her mane. Her ear perked up suddenly as she lifted an eyelid to glance at Dusk. “How did you manage to get in here, anyway?”

“Hah.” Dusk chuckled, flicking a hoof toward her bedroom window, which lay open.

“Oh. Any particular reason you’ve decided to stop by?”

“I wanted to see how you were fairing before your date. Glad I did, cause you were struggling.” She laughed, prodding the mare with a hoof.

“Well Trixie is sure she would have managed eventually..” Trixie turned, glancing at the batpony suspiciously. “Did Luna mention our outing?”

Dusk grinned slyly, setting the brush beside the mirror as she trotted a few feet away, then spinning around with a flourish before she sat. “Lets just say, there might have been an extra statue on the roof yesterday.”

“You were eavesdropping?” Trixie glared, huffing as she shot Dusk a disdainful stare.

“Well me and… a few other statues.” Dusk confessed, scratching idly at the back of her head.

“That’s impossible! I would have noticed you, especially with those cow spots you call fur.” Trixie snarled, fighting the light blush on her cheeks.

“Eh, it’s a lot easier to hide in plain sight than anypony ever expects. A dash of magic, a bit of makeup, or mud and clay, if you're in a pinch, and everypony's eyes slide right over you. It’s actually become a bit of game between the guards, seeing who can stay hidden on the rooftops the longest…” She pantomimed a statue, chest still as she stared forward unseeingly.

“Well, that explains a lot…” Trixie deadpanned, heavily emphasizing her last word.

“Explains what?” Dusk said, studying her hoof absently.

“Explains why Equestria is constantly in danger… I mean, at least until the Elements step in and save your asses.”

“Its funny that you have time to sit around and insult me, when you have nothing to wear to Night Mother’s date.” Dusk pointed out, choosing to not respond to Trixie’s insult. “If you’d like, you could come with me to see how bat ponies live and I could lend you one of my dresses...and maybe something nice for Night Mother to go under it?”

“Trixie would rather go naked.”

“Well, at this point, that might be the only choice you have left!” Dusk pointed out, trotting toward the doorway carelessly.

Trixie stood, glancing around her room as she grumbled, and followed after the mare a few moments later. She blushed when she stepped out of her room and saw Dusk casually waiting for her at the end of the hallway. Dusk gave her a toothy ‘I knew you couldn’t say no’ grin before disappearing behind the bend of the hallway. Trixie trailed along lazily, hesitating after every few turns through the castle. She reluctantly followed the mare, putting hope into her dress selection.

She found herself slowing at the entrance hallway to the castle, glancing back as she spoke. “Do you not live in the castle?”

“Of course not. We are Night Mothers guards, but that does not mean we sleep inside the castle walls.” Dusk responded, nodding at a fellow guard.

“I just assumed you lived.. under it, or in the towers, or something.” Trixie said, rubbing the back of her neck guiltily.

“Racist much?” Dusk said, sticking her tongue out. “We don’t actually sleep underground, and we can even see fine out in daylight. Our vision is much better in the dark, but we don’t prefer to live in the dark all the time.”

“Oh, I know! I just.. I…” Trixie trailed off, flushing guiltily.

They walked in silence for a few moments, hugging the walkway that ran parallel to the castle. As time went on, Trixie noticed fewer and fewer ponies on the streets, until it was nearly just the two of them. This creeped her out a little, as she had never seen a section of Canterlot, even at night, with so few ponies around.

They walked underneath a large archway, that seemed to divide the blocks on either side of it into two distinct styles. On one side, the buildings stood tall, white surfaces gleaming with their golden designs. On the other side, the white brick gave way to dark grey stone, and dark red roofs replaced the purple and golden roofs. The large shining windows gave way to open space, windowless openings visible in each of the various buildings dotting the next few blocks. Nearly every building here was at least four to five stories high.

“Welcome to Bat Country!” Dusk exclaimed, gesturing at the nearly empty street with a sweep of her hoof. Trixie was almost positive she saw a tumbleweed blow into an alleyway in the distance.

“Bat country?”

“It’s an… affectionate name from the citizens of Canterlot ever since the bat ponies moved into this section. We’re the only species living here, since most other ponies don’t exactly... get along with us.”

“Oh.” Trixie replied, brow furrowed. “Why?”

“Well, I think it’s partly that we weren’t exactly a common sight in Equestria until Night Mother returned.” Dusk explained, trotting down the street, waving at a few other bat ponies as they passed them. “Then, there’s just the differences between us and other ponies. Between the fangs and us sleeping upside down, I guess it freaks you ponies out.”

“Oh, Trixie guess that makes sense.”

“You realize we don’t actually sleep upside down, right?” Dusk glanced over, smiling bemusedly at the naive mare.

“Just keep walking!” Trixie snapped, cheeks flushed once again.

They passed several more buildings, moving into what was now the homes in this block, judging by their smaller size and more vertical aspect. Finally, they came to a stop outside a tall building, with dozens of open windows facing the street they stood on, with a small door off to the side. Dusk extended her wings, flapping quickly to gain a few feet of air.

“I’ll have to head inside real fast. We don’t use doors for the most part…” She said, hovering in place as she turned toward what Trixie assumed was her living room window. She darted off, cutting through the air as she made her way up three floors before zipping into the nearest open window.

Trixie sat on her haunches, an awkward smile on her face as she waved at a nearby batpony filly. The batpony eagerly waved back, a wide smile on her snout. Trixie’s gaze lingered on the filly’s fangs, which appeared far too large for her tiny mouth.

CRACK!

She flinched at the sound and quickly jerked her head towards the door. Dusk was in the now open doorway with a sheepish look on her face. Trixie glared at her until her eyes noticed something that caused her to groan in exasperation.

“Hey! This door isn’t usually used.. it was stuck!” Dusk defended, beckoning her closer. “Come on, my house is just up here.” She stepped to the side, allowing Trixie to step into what was, at least used to be, a very nice apartment complex. The paint on the walls was faded, with several of the lights down its length blinking or out. Trash littered the hallway, and it was overall worn down.

Sighing, Trixie turned to Dusk and pointed a hoof at the door, specifically at the now utterly broken door latch that was halfway up it. “It wasn’t stuck…”

Dusk’s cheeks turned a slight red before she turned around and huffed. “I was in a hurry and it’s not like anyone uses this door anyways.” Dusk began trotting down the hall, grumbling.

Trixie eyed the hallway skeptically, gingerly stepping over the trash scattered across the floor as she followed Dusk down a branching hallway, making their way to a small staircase. As they entered the third floor, the trash had all but vanished leaving a dim and nearly lightless, but otherwise clean area.

They entered Dusk’s apartment, the unicorn wide eyed at the bright furniture and exotic paintings on the walls. The walls were a bright blue, reminiscent of the sky, while the carpet and furniture ranged from deep browns to vivid reds and shimmering purples.

“What do you think?” Dusk said proudly, gesturing out at the living room with her hooves.

“Trixie thinks… that if your choice in clothes is as inventive as your choice in furnishing, that she should look else where…”

“I’ll have you know, my mother picked all of this furniture!” Dusk said defensively, glaring at the mare.

“You still live with your mother..?” Trixie said, stifling a giggle into her hoof.

“Yea, well at least I wasn’t homeless.” Dusk shot back, heading toward her bedroom door. “She’s not here right now anyways…”

“At least I don’t have big hips…” Trixie remarked, sticking her tongue out at Dusk’s back.

“Night Mother is in for a treat if you’re as bitchy with her as you are with me.” Dusk drawled, trotting across the living room and darting into her bedroom. Trixie glanced around for a moment, glancing curiously at the pictures dotting the room. Most of them showed Dusk with different bat ponies, but one in particular showed the mare standing beside Quickshot and Silver Wing.

She picked the photograph up in her magic, levitating it closer so she could study the photo for a moment. She smiled at the expression on Dusk’s face, blushing deeply as the mare in question coughed behind her. She replaced the photo quickly, smiling sheepishly at the mare with a shimmering purple dress draped across her back.

The dress was made of dark purple silk, and part of it would shimmer as light hit it, or if you moved your head. Judging by the dresses length, the sleeves in front of the dress would cling tightly to the wearer's hooves before billowing out a little before the wrist. While Trixie was no expert on dresses, she surmised that the dress would cling tightly to her, like a second skin, up until the back where it billowed out into a simple, and slightly too short for her liking, skirt. Two holes on the sides of the hips would show off her cutie mark, and maybe tease the looker with a little more. The dress was more...provocative then she liked, but it would have sufficed if not for two things.

First, there were two rather large holes that would reveal the majority of her upper backside.

Second, there was a much larger hole in the stomach area, akin to an eye in its shape. This became even more of an issue as she saw that one of the ends narrowed and almost seemed to be pointing directly at her...unmentionables...if she stood on her hind legs. A feat she was known for.

While the second one was easily fixed by her working to not stand up at all during the night, the first was more...problematic. One did not show that much skin off in a dress that also revealed your cutie mark unless you were...well...expecting something more than Trixie was comfortable with happening that night.

“What are these holes?” Trixie asked, pointing at the two holes just below the shoulder blades.

Dusk raised her brow, flexing her wings slowly. “I have wings, Trixie.”

“Oh. Yea.. Well, what about this hole then? And the two on the sides?” She pointed to the large hole where her belly would be, and then the other two on the sides.

“Oh… those show off your belly and cutie mark.” Dusk whispered into her ear, smiling lewdly.

“Well, yes I can see that... I suppose I can just wear my cape to cover the wing holes and the flanks...” Trixie cocked her head, mentally sizing up the cape for a moment. “Yes, it’ll be...tolerable, with Trixie's cloak on."

"Wait, what? Yeah, they match, but that ruins the-"

"You forgot about these when you let me borrow the dress, didn't you?" Trixie pointed to the two wing holes. “This is fine for Pegasi and, I guess, Bats like yourself, but you do realize what it implies for a Unicorn to show off this much fur, right?”

Dusk simply smirked. “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. You know, it’s not like giving Night Mother a few less than subtle hints wouldn’t help your relationship out. A virgin mare like you can be hard to read when you’re nose isn’t stuck in the air.”

Trixie’s face went crimson. “I am NOT a virgin, you overblown guano factory! And stop trying to distract Trixie!”

“Hmph I figured you would be more distracted by the hole displaying your-”

"Right! The cloak should cover those up nicely, and remove quite a bit of Trixie's embarrassment over the giant gaping holes in this dress." Trixie stammered, blushing at Dusks lewd words.

"But-"

“Thanks!” Trixie said, stepping into Dusks bedroom quickly and slamming the door behind her.

“Hey!” Dusk banged on the door. “Just what do you think you’re doing!?”

“Trying the dress on! Now wait out there and let Trixie change in peace!”

“And you couldn’t do that out here because?”

“For stars sake! I am not dressing in front of you, Dusk. How did a perverted bat like you ever get into the guard in the first place?”

“By sleeping my way up?” She replied, sarcastically. “And how is me seeing you dress perverted?”

“If you even need to ask that, then Trixie is not telling you, now quit distracting her!”

“Crazy ass mare.” Dusk grumbled, walking back to the living room.

Trixie glanced around Dusk’s room, surprisingly darkened compared to the colorful decor in the rest of the house. It seemed to fit Dusk’s personality much more than the living room did, but even here, Trixie could spot a few small touches probably picked out by her mother. The room was painted a deep blue, with light splotches of white, similar in appearance to a clear night sky.

Her bed was pitch black and heart shaped. Dusk had it shoved against one side of the bedroom with various pictures hanging upon the wall next to it. She had a single bookshelf against one wall, but there weren’t any books on it, merely a few ragged magazines and what appeared to be makeup products with a small mirror.

She spotted a small edge of white underneath the black pillow on the bed, and casually moved it aside, giving a small smirk at what she found there. A picture of Dusk and Quickshot. Dusk had a wing wrapped around Quick, who was giving the camera a uncomfortable smile.

Hmm...Trixie can have some fun with this. She thought, eyeing the makeup supplies nearby.

Once she had left her surprise for Dusk, Trixie placed the picture back underneath her pillow, and looked around the room for anything else that looked amusing.

A beautiful moon sat on the far wall, a small glow emanating from the orb. Trixie crossed the room, cocking her head at the orb handing against the wall. She could feel magic wrapped around the orb, and her curiosity got the best of her. She lit her horn, wrapping it around the magical aura and willed it to expand.

She smiled, gazing at the intricate magic weaves that anchored the orb to the phases of the moon. She probed one of the nodes, grinning to herself as the orb flashed through several different phases of the moon before defaulting back to a waning crescent.

She gazed around the room once more before her magic gripped the dress and pulled it into the air.

“What’s taking her so long? That dress has enough holes in it that she could wear it upside down and nopony would frigging notice.”

Dusk glared at the door to her room, about to pop off with a few chosen curse words when she heard the front door open. Glancing behind her, Dusk gave a small, nervous smile as she spotted her mother walking through the door. A few grocery bags were hanging from her mouth.

Dusk had clearly gotten most of her looks from her mother. Despite her mother being a few inches shorter, and her white spots having just the barest hint of grey in them, both mother and daughter were similar enough that it would be hard to tell them apart. Her hair lung limply at her collarbone, instead of cascading down her back like Dusk prefered.

She smiled at the sight of her daughter, and waved happily as she started putting her groceries away. “How are you today, Dusk? I didn’t expect to see you pull yourself away from the castle until this weekend.”

“I’m still on duty, I just wanted to snatch a dress for my...friend to borrow.” Dusk said, glancing back at her locked doorway.

“Oh? Which dress?”

“The dark purple one.”

Her mother whistled. “Somepony is looking to get lucky tonight then.” She pouted. “How could you get so far with a mare, and not have introduced her to your mother yet? Is she planning on leaving a toothbrush here to make visiting easier?”

“M-mom! It’s not like that!”

“Oh?” she grinned teasingly. “What’s it like then? One night stand? Drunken mistake? Or are you the mistress her husband doesn’t know about?”

Oh come on! How could anypony think teasing their daughter like this is cool?

Her mother smiled mischievously as Dusk glared, glancing around the room quickly. “Well, where is the lucky mare?”

“She… she kinda locked herself in my room."

"Hmph, I keep telling you not to be so aggressive, Dusky. You keep frightening them off like this, and you'll end up old and alone."

"M-Mom! I'm not trying to bang her!"

"Oh! Too good to give me grandchildren before I die, and now you're too good for a lovely mare like that?"

“Ugh! How about you take your opinions and shove them up your-”

*Cough*

Dusk’s head snapped around to a flushed Trixie, her cheeks rosy red as she glanced between Dusk and her mother. Trixie had the dress thrown over her back, parts of the fabric effortlessly held in her magical aura, to keep the dress from dragging the floor.

“How long were you standing there?”

“I wasn’t!” Trixie blurted out, avoiding her gaze. “I mean, not long!”

“Right..” Dusk drawled, shooting a glare at her mother, who was nearly doubled over in laughter. “My mother likes to embarrass me by constantly inquiring about grandchildren, despite having no interest in having a child… Making a child is a different story though!” Dusk said with a wink. She allowed a smile to creep onto her face as Trixie blushed slightly.

“Well I need to get going!” Trixie half yelled, her voice an octave higher than she was used to. She trotted mechanically to the door, slamming it behind her.

“Awww, she’s cute!” Her mother draped a wing over Dusk. “And so innocent! Those are the fun ones. Good luck breaking her in, Dusky”

Dusk groaned.

Trixie shifted nervously, second guessing her attire. She was waiting at the palace gates, flattening her cape over the tail end of her dress, or lack thereof. Luna had asked to meet her at six, and six had come and gone ten minutes ago. The mare was slouching against the palace walls when she heard the soft clink of metal over stone.

She turned, expecting to see yet another soldier passing by on his patrol, but instead, found herself standing beside a modestly dressed Princess of the Night. Whereas Trixie had dressed up for their ‘Outing’, it appeared that Luna had dressed down. Instead of her traditional Onyx regalia, she had on a soft silver necklace, with silver shoes matching her jewelry choice. Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and cascaded limply down her back. This was one of the few times Trixie had seen Luna’s hair not flowing out in waves.

Trixie immediately felt woefully overdressed. Her cheeks burned as Luna froze, staring at her with her mouth hanging open limply.

“You look… amazing, Trixie. But I ugh… I didn’t expect you to be so… dressed up. I did say comfortable clothing, right?” Luna stammered, glancing down at the ground in thought.

“Y-you said a lot of things...You said comfortable, but nice enough to wear around a princess… D-Dusk recommended this dress.” Trixie squeaked, her voice a pitch higher than she was used to.

“Ah. That would explain it.” Luna said quietly, eyes roaming over Trixie again. “It looks nice.” She confessed, cheeks slightly rosy. “Alas, it is a bit overdressed for a Carnival.”

Trixie nodded absentmindedly, thoughts of getting back at Dusk filling her mind. It took her several seconds to register the last bit of Luna’s words. “Wait... A Carnival?”

“Yes! There is a Carnival in Canterlot tonight, and I thought it would be fun if we went together!” Luna said, clapping her hooves excitedly. She glanced down at Trixie, hesitating at the expression on the mare’s face. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” Trixie said, taking a deep breath at the hard tone in her voice. “No, I’m just way overdressed for this... one second.” She stepped away from Luna, horn alight as she faded from view.

Luna glanced around uncertainly, brow arched at the magical hum and sounds of cloth being shifted. She slowly fed magic into her horn, expanding her magical aura outwards until she could just barely feel Trixie’s presence. The mare was only a few feet away, but her magic felt slippery in Luna’s, almost as if the mare was constantly moving around her.

“I did not realize your spellwork allowed you to evade locator spells.” Luna said, glancing toward the spot she last saw Trixie standing.

“It does?” Trixie sounded surprised. “That’s weird. I’m not sure how to block locator spells, so I’m not really sure how it does that…”

“Well, I can feel that you’re near me, but it’s as if you’re constantly moving.. It’s disconcerting at the very least.” Luna confessed. She sat down on her haunches, waiting patiently for the mare to release her spell.

Sure enough, a moment later, and the mare appeared with a shorter dress on made of the same shimmery material, but lacking the revealing holes. Thankfully, her curiosity overcame the disappointed tone that attempted to work its way into her voice.

“How did you..?” Luna trailed off, cocking her head at the mare.

“Oh, it’s just an illusion. I like the dress, but frankly, I don’t think anyone would enjoy my stomach,shoulders, and cutie mark hanging out at a fair.” Trixie said, a thin smile on her face. She missed the blush on Luna’s face as she glanced out at the city, the sounds and lights of a fair just visible in the distance.

“R-right.” Luna stared at Trixie a moment longer, a secret, quiet part of her mind wishing that Trixie was just a touch less good at illusions, if only for one night.

W-well, let’s go ahead and go.” Trixie said, trotting off toward the city center. Luna followed her a moment later, a frown on her face as she glanced from side to side in thought.

“Do we need bits? Or anything else?” Luna asked as they walked, the sounds of cheerful yells and screaming carnival rides filling the air. It was dark outside, but the sky had a faint glow to it from the numerous carnival lights.

“Well, yes we will need bits. Have you never been to a Carnival?”

“No.” Luna said, avoiding Trixie’s surprised look. Trixie closed her eyes, nodding silently as she thought about Luna’s past 1000 years. She studied the uncertain way Luna looked around at the towering Carnival rides, utterly bewildered by the towering roller coasters and ferris wheel.

It looks like Trixie will be paying for the night then. Good thing she’s been careful with her bits.

“Well then, Princess Luna, you are in for quite a treat!” Trixie said, a large smile on her face as she waved for Luna to follow her. “Let’s go get some tickets, than we can hit the rides and games!”

Author's Note

God, it seems like its been a year since I've uploaded! Between School, Work and my newborn Daughter, I have been absolutely slammed! I plan to update more often though so lets keep our fingers crossed!

Leave a comment if you enjoyed it, they always mean alot!

Special shout out to Phaoray, without him this chapter would probably still be months away >.<

Date and Drinks

“So, would you like to try a few rides first, or maybe play a few of the games?” Trixie said, idly eyeing the colorful booths to her left, her eyes lingering for a moment on her personal favorite; the ring toss.

“I…” Luna hesitated, ears slicked back as a roller coaster came to a stop nearby, shaking the thick metal railing that supported the ride. “I am not so sure about these rides Trixie.”

“What do you mean?” Trixie asked, stopping to look over the various foods a nearby stall was selling. She quickly snatched her bag, dropping a few bits into her magical aura as she purchased a funnel cake from the earth pony manning the stall.

“Well.. they didn’t exactly have rides of this… magnitude before my time away.” Luna explained, staring at the coaster track nearby with a critical eye. Her ears twitched with each clack the coaster made as it ascended higher and higher into the sky. As the coaster approached the top of the hill and started its descent, the group of ponies riding it began screaming in delight as it picked up speed. Luna snapped out her wings in surprise, knocking the funnel cake plate from Trixie’s grasp.

Trixie poked her top lip out as she gazed mournfully at the fallen snack, her gaze slowly drifting to Luna who was staring wide eyed at the coaster line. “How can you be scared of a roller coaster? Not only do you have wings and a totally unfair amount of magic, but you’re kind of immortal on top of it.”

“...”

After a moment of silence, Trixie sighed and slowly lit her horn, applying pressure to Luna’s flank and pushing the mare toward the coaster.

“I don’t know Trixie, I just think... “ She trailed off as the coaster roared by on a track nearby. Her skin paled beneath her fur, as her eyes darted around rapidly.

“How about that ride? We could give it a try instead!” Luna said pleadingly, pointing at a colorful ride across the fairgrounds.

“The teacups?” Trixie cocked a brow at the princess. “You would be more comfortable riding the teacups? The ones that you wouldn’t even fit in?”

Luna nodded, her eyes pleading. A small part of Trixie’s mind was rather fond of the look Luna was giving her.

She promptly squashed down on that part and rolled her eyes.

“So much for acting your age.” She muttered. “Fine. You win. Lead the way, scaredy cat.” Trixie murmured, turning to head towards the garishly colored children’s ride. She stopped as she bumped into Luna's flank unexpectedly, spluttering as the Alicorn princess turned a dark eye toward her.

“What was that?” Luna said coldly, legs stiff as she slowly turned to face the unicorn. Trixie stared at her in surprise for a moment, before understanding clicked into her mind.

“I was just saying, you must be an awfully big scaredy cat to be afraid of such a ride.” Trixie commented, moving to strut past the stationary Alicorn. “I just figured for one of the rulers of Equestria, you wouldn’t be so easy to -EEEP” Trixie yelped as a silky appendage wrapped around her back leg, sweeping her off the ground by her leg and lifting her into the air.

Slowly, Trixie spun in place upside down until she was faced with a very unamused looking mare. “I am Princeps Noctis, Princess Luna, Ruler of the Night and all things inside its Domain. Keeper of the Moon, and Co-ruler of Equestria!”

“The dark mare who challenged her sister for the throne!” Trixie continued for her, as calm as ever despite the blood rushing to her head. “The one who makes all, ponies and otherwise, bow to her in submission! The pony foals still wet their bed over!"

Luna noticed the stares the two of them were now getting, and grew a little concerned. "I-uh…wouldn't put it that way anymore Trixie. Why are you-"

"Oh, but what has happened to Equestria’s bold Princess!? Woe to Equestria! To think that one of its greatest protectors must run in fear of a rollercoaster! What would the carnies do if this knowledge ever got out!? Truly we are all doomed should the fairs and carnivals of Equestria rise up and-oof!"

"....."

“…..”

“…You dropped Trixie.”

“…That we did...now…if you are done…shall we go on this rolling coaster?”

“Trixie thought you’d never ask.”

Silently, they got in line together. As the minutes went by, Luna’s nerves began to fray, so she turned to Trixie.

“If we are going to ride this, can we not skip to the front of the line and get it over with?” Luna asked, lowering her head to speak into Trixie’s ears over the sound of the intercoms and crowds.

“Everyone has to wai-” Trixie murmured, her mouth snapping closed as she turned and looked at the alicorn beside her. “Yea, we can probably skip this line, actually. Come on!”

The pair stepped out of line, Trixie giggling as Luna awkwardly crawled under the pony sized line railing. They approached the mare running the ticket counter at the front of the line, a magazine spread across the counter as she idly flipped through it, not even lifting her gaze to the two.

“Excuse me, is there anyway me and my companion can skip this line and grab a car for ourselves?”

“I’m sorry, you’ll just have to wait until your turn in line, but if there are enough seats we will do our best to accommodate your request for a solo car.” The mare said, shaking her hoof toward the spot they had exited the line.

“Perhaps you do not understand, but I am Princess Luna. I am sure you could find us a cart.”

“Mhmmm. Princess Luna, you say? Well, you can join the other princesses in the V.I.P. line to your right.” The mare said, irritatedly jabbing a hoof to the right, where several other ponies stood.

Luna cocked her head at the various ponies, mostly mares, but with one or two stallions standing in a tiny roped off area. Luna's mouth gaped at the cardboard wings and colored cutie marks that some of the mares seemed to sport, with a select rare few wearing very realistic prosthetic horns or wings, depending on the individual. Many of the ponies were dressed after her own sister, while the others were dressed similar to herself. They even had one or two of the ponies dressed as Cadance, with a stallion being one of them.

“Excuse me, I think-”

“Please either join the VIP line, or return to your place in this line. We can’t have anyone hanging around outside the line ma’am.” The mare recited, in an obviously practiced manner.

“You don’t understand, I really-”

The mare slammed the magazine closed, a fierce glare on her face as she turned to stare Luna in her eyes.

"...Nice get up, Princess, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to get security to throw you and your skanky date out of the fair, now. Cleft! Hey, Cleft!"

A big, brown earth pony walked over and presumed to give Luna the stink eye. "Yeah Pop 'n' Fresh, what's up?"

"Got a couple of line jumpers that won't take no for an answer."

"Gotcha. Look-" Cleft put a hoof on Luna's shoulder. Trixie only needed a second to wind herself up to blast the idiot.

That second was too long for several others in the area.

"Gah!"

Cleft was immediately forced to the ground by a half dozen bat guards, all of them shouting at once to frighten Cleft into not standing back up.

"You're under arrest! Did you really think you’d get away with placing a hoof upon the Princess!?"

“Whoa, wait!” The stallion protested, his words growing fainter as the bat ponies quickly dragged him away. Trixie took a moment to register what had just happened before turning to Luna.

“So… Where exactly did they come from?”

“They followed us here, today. Did you not notice half of the line we just skipped was members of my Lunar guard?”

“Truthfully? No.” Trixie glanced back slowly, shaking her head as she finally spotted the various bat ponies hidden amongst the crowd. Well, not hidden so much as standing in plain sight in various positions around the area. Some were wearing armor, others were doing a fairly bad job of being incognito. “I am not paying enough attention today, I think.”

“That does seem to be the case.” Luna responded, turning her regal gaze back to the mare at the booth. “So… Fresh, was it? May we go ahead and get a car?”

The mare nodded her head slowly, her eyes still as wide as saucers. As the coaster came to a stop and others got out, Pop’n’ Fresh stood up and escorted them to the front of the coaster, Ignoring the rest of the line.

As the pair entered the cart, a sudden thought crossed Trixie’s mind. “Why did he get arrested for touching you? I brush against you all the time and all I get is sarcastic comments from the guards.”

“Well you’re my student, so of course you don’t count.” Luna explained, shrugging her shoulders as the mare wordlessly lowered the chest bar across them. It was a slightly tight fit for the alicorn, since they were not built with Princesses in mind.

“Oh, yea I guess that makes sense.” Trixie nodded, a cheeky grin appearing on her face. “So, what you’re basically saying is I can just touch you whenever I want to?”

“Yea, pretty muc-.” Luna froze, a blush on her cheeks. She opened her mouth to retort when the coaster jerked forward, click clacking up the tracks. Trixie stiffened as Luna’s wing jerked suddenly, almost clipping the mare. If the chest bar had not been in place, Trixie would have been sporting a serious headache.

The cart climbed slowly, the sound of Luna’s chattering teeth nearly drowning out the sound of the chain pulling them up the incline.

“Are you okay over there, Miss Princess of an entire nation?”

“W-We a-are j-just f-f-f-innee.”

Trixie sighed and placed a hoof on top of Luna’s who had a near death grip on the metal bar holding them in place.

“It’s all right, Luna. Look, nothing bad is happening, right?”

While Trixie’s hoof gently caressed her own, Luna managed to take a few deep breaths. Slowly, Luna looked around, catching sight of all the beautiful lights in the fair, the small fireworks a family was setting off on a hill close to the fair, and her own moon. If it wasn’t for the clacking of the coaster, it would be almost peaceful for her.

“Y-you’re right, Trixie. I don’t know why I was-”

The coaster hit the top of the rails and began making it’s way over the hump, leaving Luna breathless for several seconds as she gazed down the track she was about to plummet.

“No No NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Trixie’s eyes widened in terror as Luna’s hoof grabbed onto her own and pulled. Unfortunately for Trixie, the restraining bar, meant to hold both Luna and Trixie in place, was loose for her due to Luna’s larger size. With one manic pull from the Princess of the Night, Trixie found herself completely out of her seat. Panic immediately set in.

"Luna are you bucking crazy! Stop the ride! Sto-"

She was silenced by Luna crushing her against her chest while screaming into her mane. A mane that was painfully close to Trixie’s ears.

Never again. Trixie swore as she started fading in and out of consciousness.

“W-wait...what?” Trixie groaned out in disbelief. She had only awoken a few minutes ago on the bench with Luna outside of the roller coaster. She felt a little awkward at the moment, as she was still lying down with her head cradled in Luna’s lap. She had been ordered not to move when she had tried to sit up.

Luna grinned ear to ear while they sat on the bench outside the roller coaster. “I said that it twas fun. At least, after the first half. The anxiety at the start, along with that morbidly high fall was the worst of it.”

Trixie sighed lightly, thankful for the cold compress that was on her head. “I’m glad it turned out so well for you.” she huffed.

Luna chuckled a little, the rumbling it made causing Trixie’s head to bounce up and down slightly. “Oh, don’t be like that, my apprentice. If not for you, the ride would have been most unbearable.”

Trixie eyed her curiously. “What are you talking about? I was unconscious for most of it.”

“While true-” Luna lightly poked Trixie on the tip of her muzzle with her hoof. “It would have been much worse if I had not had something warm and soft to hold throughout it.”

A touch of heat ran along Trixie’s cheeks, despite the cold compress. Trixie waved Luna off and rolled off the bench, landing on her hooves with only a slight stumble.

“W-well then, now that Trixie has recovered, where to next?”

Luna stood up and took a few steps forward. It took her less than a second of thought to reply. “Now that we have gotten over our...minor apprehension, it would be wonderful to try the coaster again.”

“A-actually, how about we just do a few games before we ride it again?”

“But I want to rid-” She froze at the pleading look on Trixies muzzle, her voice drastically changing as she swung her head towards the games. “Oh those games do look like a lot of fun though!”

“Oh thank Celestia..” Trixie muttered, glaring at the princesses backside as she walked behind her.

“I heard that.”

“So. How are they doing?” Quickshot mumbled, idly rolling a piece of wheat between his lips. He laid stretched out on his back across the canvas of a nearby fair game, forelegs stretched out behind his head with his wings splayed out at his sides.

“Well, they finally got off that stupid ride, so at least we don’t have to watch them go around it again. Looks like they're heading towards a fair game.” Silverwing answered. She was crouched further up the slightly sagging awning, head just peeking over the cloth as she followed the princess and her student.

“Well that’s different at least. Which one are they heading towards?”

“The one under us.” Dusk whispers, slapping at him with a wing.

“Do you think they saw us?”

“...”

“Nah..”

“So, how do you play this game?” Luna asked, eagerly looking out over several dozen tall glass bottles. Her magic was enclosed around 20 small rings, each meant to fit over the neck of a bottle, if she was lucky.

“Throw the ring, land it on a bottles neck. If you make five of them, you get a prize.” Trixie answered, waving her foreleg at the cheap plushes hanging from the booths faux ceiling.

“Is that a tiny me!?” Luna squeed, horn alight as she drew a plush close. Indeed, it was a soft woolen doll replica of the Princess of the Night, complete with adorned jewelry. “I want this!”

“Then you have to win it!” Trixie goaded, floating a few bits onto the booth owners counter, who happily passed her 20 rings, and nodded at her.

“Princess,” The stallion bowed low, not quite meeting her eye as he glanced at the cloth above his tent. “Do you happen to know you have a few guards on mah roof..?”

“Oh yes!” She replied, tongue stuck between her lips as she eyed the bottles through a ring, calculating distances and angles in her mind. “But don’t let them know you know they’re there. I have learned they prefer to think ponies don’t notice them.” She leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially. “But honestly, how hard can it be to miss a pony in midnight purple armor with bat wings?”

He stifled a chuckle as nodded. “Ah’ll keep that in mind. Well Princess, you and your friend can go ahead and play whenever you want.”

Luna bit her tongue, magic flaring ever so slightly as she mentally cocked the ring in her grasp. It sailed through the air, landing perfectly around the bottles neck. “Oh my! This game is easy!” Luna cheered, moving another ring into position. It too sailed through the air, but leaped off the side of a bottles neck, falling to the ground below. As did the rest of the rings she had previously held. She stomped her hoof, glaring at the single ring taunting her from its position atop the bottle.

“Tough luck.” Trixie said, munching on a small bag of popcorn off to one side. Tucked into the small saddlebag at her side was the very doll Luna was trying to win, its tiny head poking out of the saddlebags flap.

“How did you get that!” Luna demanded, lowering herself so she was eye to eye with the plush. “I tried my best to win and I couldn’t…”

“I know. You spent 20 minutes lining up each shot so after I won I went and grabbed some snacks…” Trixie trailed off, glowering at the princess. “Anyways, I’ve been around fairs half my life, I’m just lucky. Go ahead, try again and you might do better. Don’t worry about angles, just throw them.”

Luna nodded her head sagely, taking the unicorns advice to heart. She turned back to the booth, slamming a few bits down again. “20 more rings good sir! I will win one of thy Luna plushies!”

He raked her bits into his hoof before cringing. “Actually princess, Your student just won the last Princess Luna plush we have.. You are quite popular at fairs it seems! We do have quite a few Celestia’s though..?” He offered, waving a hoof at two boxes bulging with small plushes of the sun princess.

“Bah!” She frowned, swinging her head toward the taunting Luna plush. “Can I have that one?”

“No!” Trixie said, throwing her arms around it protectively. “I won it fair and square!”

“I will.. Uhmm..” Luna trailed off, snatching at straws. “I’ll play you for it!”

“What do you mean?”

“Three different games. Winner gets the plush! Loser gets a Celestia?” She offered, wagging the other plush in her grasp. The stallion at the booth looked puzzled at how a Celestia plush was in Luna’s hoof, but wisely remained silent.

“You won’t beat me, but deal!” Trixie wagered, a cocky grin on her face as she stuck a hoof in front of her. Luna shook it, turning her attention back to the ring game. She stepped forward, hesitating as she lifted the rings into the air.

“Would you care to go first?”

“I guess.” Trixie huffed, tucking her popcorn into the opposite side of her saddle bags. “One game please.” She levitated a few bits into the stallion’s hoof, a small grin on his face.

“Watch and learn Princess.” Trixie flicked a ring forward, missing the neck of the bottle by a mere inch. “Oh..” She scrunched her nose in concentration.

“Haha! Not so easy is it?!”

“Oh hush..” Trixie said, throwing several more rings. With only 5 rings left, she had only nestled a ring around 3 of the bottles. “I can do this…” 2 more rings flew through the air, landing around two respective bottlenecks. She stomped the ground as the last 3 darted off to the side.

“So.. You made five.” Luna said nervously, glancing at the bottles as the Stallion lifted her rings and reset the game. “I can beat that..” She tossed several rings, netting one around a neck. “Okay, so far so good..” A dozen throws later, and Luna had 3 rings left, with 2 rings on the bottles/. She huffed angrily, flipping another ring through the air. It bounced off the bottle and ricocheted back at her, coming to a stop around the princesses horn.

“Are you serious.” Luna huffed, glaring at Trixie who was giggling. She tossed another ring, missing the bottles once again. “AHHH!” She screamed, heaving the ring at the bottles angrily.

It hit a bottle, cleaving straight through the fragile glass and destroying several dozen glasses behind it.

The stallion stared in horror, mouth open as he gaped at the broken bottles. Two heads popped over the side of the booth, eyes wide as they took in the scene.

“I think that I won.” Trixie stage whispered, earning a snort and a glare from her tall companion.

“How did… what am Ah.. Uh..” The stallion groaned, a frown on his face as he turned to the princess exasperatedly.

“Send a bill to the palace, and I will see that you are compensated well for the lost wares from tonight.” She pulled a small paper out of her saddlebag, and passed it to the stallion. He took it gingerly, glancing at the paper before nodding at the princess.

“Ah guess Ah’ll just pack up for the night then..” he said, a small grin on his face.

“What was that paper?” Trixie asked, glancing back as they walked off.

“It shows that he is allowed to skip towards the front of the day court line.” Luna answered, peering around at the other games through the area.

“Won’t that just make the ponies who waited fairly mad?” Trixie asked

“It is not my court, it is not my problem.” Luna responded absentmindedly as she spotted an interesting game across from them. She trotted over, receiving a hurried bow from the booth owner. A tall column sat at the end of the booth, while a large seesaw sat at the bottom. At the far side of the seesaw sat a large round weight, a golden bell at the top with a heavy hammer sitting at its base. She smiled at the mare, bits already floating in the air beside her. “How much for two games?”

“4 bits each, your majesty.” The mare answered, nose still firmly touching the ground.

“Here you are! Trixie, you go first again!” She declared, stepping aside for the mare to step forward.

“Yea yea..” Trixie eyed the hammer warily, horn flaring brightly as she lifted it into the air. “Oh sheesh..” She lifted it up, sweat gathering at her brow as she slammed it down onto the seesaw, the weight shooting upwards before slowing just below the bell. “Oh, I did better than I thought I would…” Trixie murmured, with no doubts that Luna was about to beat her.

Luna giddily stepped forward, hefting the hammer into her grasp. She made a show of bouncing it up and down, getting a feel for the hammer that was very nearly weightless to the princess. She stuck her tongue out, hefting it into the air and slamming it down onto the seesaw. The saw broke in the middle, with the weight screaming up the column and heavily denting the bell, which now made a dull thud instead of a clear ring.

“Oh buck me..” Luna groaned, rubbing a hoof across her face. The owner of the booth fell heavily to the ground, eyes wide as she turned toward the princess. “Bill the palace, and I will pay for your missed night.” She drew another piece of paper from her bag and passed it to the filly. “Sorry about that… Come on Trixie.”

“At this rate.. I hope you have a lot of those papers!” Trixie snarked, sticking her tongue out at the alicorn.

“Shut your mouth…” Luna whined, glaring. She perked up suddenly, a smile on her face. “At least I won this time! That’s one to one. Winner of the next game gets the amazing Luna plush! And the loser gets this ratty old Celestia one!”

Far away, Celestia’s brow lowered in irritation.

“Hmm..” Trixie teased as they walked on. “Which would Trixie prefer to sleep with tonight? Celestia or Luna? Perhaps Trixie will lose the next game on purpose...”

Luna gave her a playful glare. “How about you pick the game this time and we just see who is sleeping with who tonight?”

“Fiiine.” Trixie rolled her eyes dramatically before peering around. While there was several other games like Whack a Diamond Dog, she was looking for something a bit more comical. Something that might lighten Luna’s souring mood. Her eyes came across several tables near a pony selling beers, and she grinned.

“How about a drinking game?”

Luna looked at her confusedly. “You’re challenging me to a drinking contest? You realize that I used to drink with the gryphon ambassadors? Being able to hold their alcohol was literally half the reason they go those jobs..”

“Hmph, key word being, ‘Used’ to.” Trixie smirked, sauntering past the princess to a long bench with large beer mugs sitting haphazardly on its surface. A flare of magic to push the mugs to the side, and she found herself sitting across from Luna, bits already passing into the hooves of the nearby vendor.

Two tall mugs slid down the bench, sloshing to a stop before each mare.

The pair stared at each other, horn sparking to life as they lifted the mug into the air slowly. They threw back their heads, downing the entire mugs in seconds. Trixie wiped her lips, sighing at the cold rush of heaven crossing her muzzle. Luna appeared pleased with the beverage as well, judging by the grin on her face.

“Not to complain, but you know that I am nearly double your size, meaning I can drink at least twice as much as you can.” Luna drawled, nodding at the stallion as he passed two more drinks down the bench.

“We’ll see!” Trixie boasted, holding the mug in the air as she tapped the bottom of it with a hoof, draining it to the very last drop. “You may have years on me… And I mean quite a bit of years.. Like… Hundreds of yea-” Trixie snapped her muzzle shut at the glare from Luna. “I just mean, you may have years on me, but that does not mean I’m not an experienced drinker!”

“It’s your funeral. Instead of boasting, how bout you get to toasting?” Luna prodded, smirking as the unicorn drowned her third drink.

Less than a half hour later, and over a dozen cups littered the table, some standing upright while other were laying on their side as the Alicorn goddess stared at her student. Despite Trixie’s smaller body, she was keeping pace with the much larger Alicorn. Though it was clearly hitting her much worse than it was affecting Luna. She was sporting a mild buzz, while Trixie appeared to be very inebriated.

Trixie swayed back and forth ever so slightly, a vacant smile on her face. She slouched against the bartop, her foreleg soggy with the remnants of spilled beers. Trixie tossed her head back slowly, draining the last of her cup as Luna nursed her own.

“Anosher drink.” Trixie demanded, slapping a hoof into a puddle of beer again. Luna grimaced as she wiped the side of her cheek, subtly shaking her head at the stallion before he could pass them another round of drinks.

“Actually, Trixie I think we should be getting back to the castle. But,” Luna added, seeing the mare’s face scrunch up in protest. “I’m gonna need your help getting back, because I don’t think I can get there myself.”

“Whyzzat? Are yous shrunk or something?” Trixie slurred, frowning at the mugs as they lifted into the air and floated to a nearby cart.

“Oh, yes. Quite drunk actually.” Luna giggled to herself, lurching from side to side in faux drunkenness. “I didn’t expect you to drink so much and now I need your help getting back to our tower.”

Trixie stared for a moment, a large happy grin erupting on her face. “Yahs means I won! I won ze-the contesht?” She pulled out the Luna doll from a side pocket on her saddlebags.

“You did.” Luna said, smiling bitterly at the doll. Trixie squealed and hugged it tight against her chest, and Luna felt a flare of heat across her cheeks. “Come on, let’s head back.”

Trixie stumbled to her hooves, groaning as she fell to one knee for a moment. Luna shook her head exasperatedly, before effortlessly snatching the mare up in her magical grasp. Trixie yelped in surprise, floundering and kicking for a moment before going limp, a low gurgle coming from the drunken mare as she tightly held the doll under one hoof..

Luna snorted at Trixie, a smile on her face as she set out towards the castle, her student bobbing in the air before her. She knew that if Celestia saw Luna’s student this sloshed she would get scolded as a poor teacher, but, it was worth the risk for Luna to be here. In this moment. This time last year, Luna could just imagine herself locked away in her tower, trying to update herself to a now modern world. But ever since meeting Trixie, she had found someone who needed their own updating, who was as lost as Luna was, in their own way. And Luna had become responsible for her, despite what Trixie said on the matter. Over these last few months, Luna had found herself learning more of the modern world than she ever had on her own.

She gazed at her student, mane falling in ripples down her shoulders with her… dress… hugging all her curves. The sight of the exposed skin, especially at the shoulders and small of her back sent a blush to Luna’s cheeks that she was sure was visible from a distance. As much as she tried to fight it, the mare was quite certain Trixie had wormed her way into the alicorn’s heart.

She smiled as a light tune filled the air, coming from the mare floating above her. She floated her closer and realized the mare was humming, although she didn’t recognize the tune. She listened to the peaceful humming as she passed through the gateway into the castle, her eyes sweeping out over the cityscape below her. It always amazed her, how a thousand years passed and the night was no longer feared. It made a warmth spread in her heart just to think about.

“Ah, Auntie Luna.” A posh upper crust Canterlot accent interrupted her musings as she entered the castle grounds. “I see you have spent some time tonight attending the little festival I have brought to Canterlot this year.” He nodded sagely at her, appearing to be the standup generous stallion he tried to be, but Luna could see the conniving brat behind his carefully sculpted image. While it was true he was part of the council that allowed events like fairs to use the grounds around Canterlot, he barely spent time on such duties, let alone helping with the yearly specifics.

“Yes, the fair was quite fun.” Luna replied, looking past her nephew to gaze at the two mares hanging on his every word. “How are you this fine night?”

“Quite well. As you can see, I have some beautiful company tonight.” The prince turned, winking at his companions, who tittered noisily behind him. The brief exchange of a few simple pleasantries proved to her that they were nothing more than eye candy. They giggled at all the right times, and boasted his fragile ego at every opportunity. It was sickening.

“I look forward to the next fair, now that I’ve had a brief foray into one.” Luna said, wishing banishment was still an accepted way to deal with annoyances. “It was my first social event in quite a while.”

“I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it. I see you even took your student.” Blueblood noted, acting as if he just noticed the mare floating nearly in front of him, or couldn’t hear the humming still coming from her. “Too bad she is so attracted to the drink. Perhaps next time the fair comes around, you might have better company.” He said, smiling at her with a hard glint to his eyes. She felt a flash of anger cross her face before she schooled her features into the nobel mask she normally wore around the more annoying members of the rich and lofty.

A groan signaled that Trixie had realized they had company, and with a quick flare of magic, she was deposited on her hooves in front of the prince.

“Good evenin, blueby!” Trixie slurred, wrapping a foreleg around his shoulder. He grimaced, leaning away from the dirty mare, and frowning at the beer suds now on his pristine white coat. “On your way to the fair? Have fun!” She spotted the two mares beside him, glancing up and down their shiny coats and beautiful dresses. “Oh, my mistakes. I’m sure you will have some fun sooner or later, if you could just pull that big stick out of your plot..” She hesitated, not noticing the angry scowl appear on Blueblood’s face.

“How dar-” Blueblood began, only stopping as a green hue appeared on the mares cheeks. “N-!” He screamed as the mare vomited suddenly, splattering the prince with a mixture of beer and funnel cake. She stared at the angry stallion for a moment before falling forward, unconsciousness quickly claiming Trixie once again.

“Wake up Trix. Come on, it’s time to wake up.”

“Whosat..” Trixie slurred, rubbing at her face sleepily with one hoof.

“Oh, you stubborn mule..” Luna muttered, horn alight as she slowly tugged the vomit stained dress over Trixie’s shoulders. She cracked a small smile as the mare grumbled loudly and curled into a ball, hooves hugging her silvery tail. Luna whisked the mare into the air effortlessly, dragging her covers down as she tucked the drunken mare into her bed.

Luna smiled down at the unicorn for a moment before turning toward the door, her eyes drifting to the saddlebags sprawled across the floor. The Luna plush stuck out of the side pocket, and Luna couldn’t help sneaking a backwards glance at the bed as she plucked the stuffed animal from the bags. She turned it in the air, studying it from several angles before snorting and moving to replace the tiny goddess. A light whimper emanated from the unicorn behind her, and Luna had the sudden thought to tuck her student in with her new found “prize”.

As Trixie wrapped her hooves around the tiny alicorn, Luna idly wished she had a camera at hand. Sighing, Luna set out toward her bedroom, her hooves echoing across the cold stone floor as she ascended the tower, heading to her sprawling chambers at the top. As she walked, her mind drifted to the night’s events, and she quickly found that it was one of the best nights she had had in the last year.

She nodded her head at several of the castle staff that tended to work late, greeting the few she knew by name, and waving at the ones she didn’t. As she approached her own bedroom, she heard the quiet rustle of armor as her sentries stiffened at the sight of her.

“At ease gentlemen.” Luna chided, smiling at her bat stallions. “I shall be turning in now, so please keep it quiet until mid morning at the earliest. If my sister comes by, especially about the fair tonight.. I am not home! Got it?” She said, glancing between the two, wide eyed. At their nod, a small weight was lifted from her shoulders and she allowed herself to bask in the feeling of utter relaxation as she walked into her room and closed the door.

The princess drew herself a bath, basking in the warm scent of lavender and moon dew as steam curled listlessly across her bathroom mirrors. As she stepped into her bath, easily the size of a small swimming pool, she could feel the heat already working at the small knots in her joints. She sunk into the water, turning herself onto her back as she floated aimlessly, wings twitching every so often to push herself further away from the rims of white marble.

She nearly choked on her bath water as a sudden thud sounded from outside her bedroom, followed by a stifled snicker from one of her guards. She could hear one of the stallions speaking, but his words were lost in the air between her door and bathroom.

She swam to the edge of her bath, neck craned to the side to get a glimpse at her doorway. Suddenly, three loud knocks sounded out.

“One moment.” She called out, huffing slightly. As she exited the bath, she summoned all the water into a small orb, her coat drying perfectly as she crossed into her bedroom. She sat down in the middle of her room, a comb plucking at her magical mane as she closed her eyes. “Come in.”

Several long minutes dragged by without a sound.

“I said, come in.”

Silence.

She strode across the room irritably, yanking the door open quickly as she stuck her head out into the hallway. She froze at the sight of Trixie, head flat on the floor as the mare snored lightly. Luna glanced at her guards, who stared forward as if there was not a unicorn snoring at their princesses door.

“Trixie.” Luna prodded the mare, who, after almost a minute of this, finally stood up ungainly. “Didn’t I just put you to bed?”

“Iwash coming to give you your plush…” The mare murmured, trailing off quietly as she stared at Luna.

“What?”

“I came to give you… The plush.” Trixie said, shaking her head as she went nearly cross eyed.

“No, Trixie. Do you not remember? you won it fair and square.”

“I know you let me win.. Yhour a allycorn..” Trixie snorted, horn sparking erratically as she pulled the plush off of her back. She pushed it into the alicorn’s hooves, despite the princesses protest.

“Trixie, please. Just take the plush, go back to your room and get some r-what are you do-mmf!?” Luna squeaked as Trixie snagged her head in her magic, pulling the surprised alicorn closer to the unicorn and mashing her lips to Luna’s.

The kiss was sloppy, but warm and earnest. Luna didn’t get the chance to figure out how she felt about it, as it started and ended far too quickly for her to keep up with.

As Trixie released her mentor’s lips, she turned and sprinted down the hallway, hooves clattering as she stumbled over her own forelegs. Without another word, the mare vanished around the corner, leaving a dumbstruck Alicorn holding a tiny plush of herself and two slack jawed guards.

Luna’s tongue licked over her own lips nervously. She could taste the alcohol in her mouth that wasn’t there before. Had Trixie used her tongue? She didn’t remember Trixie using her tongue, but, the last half a minute was a blur in her head.

“I thought I said no visitors until mid morning?” Luna finally stammered after the silence stretched slightly too long.

“I-I didn’t see anyone. Did you Silver?” Quickshot muttered, feigning ignorance.

“Nope. Nothing happened out of the ordinary. Night Mother went into her room and we didn’t see her again until the morning.”

Quickshot nodded, “That’s about all I remember as well.”

“Y-yes...well…” Luna turned around and walked back into her room, plush firmly under one foreleg. She was going to have a hard time sleeping after this. “Good night.”

It was several minutes after the door closed before either of the Night guard looked at one another.

“So,” Silver started. “Tonight totally happened, right?”

“Pfft, just try and stop me from telling the others about this.”

Author's Note

Been a while.. Gonna try to get more of the story out of the way since this chapter is finished, because this is kind of the gateway to the rest of the story!

I've been slammed with work, my daughter and college so I hate that its been so long, but I am going to do my best to keep the chapters flowing this time.

Wagons and Wants

“They kissed!?” Dusk screamed, swinging her hoof across the desk in front of her, scattering a stack of papers to the floor below. “Are you kidding me!?”

“No, not really.” Quickshot said, flicking his ear idly as he lounged on a nearby couch. “She brought her that little stuffed Night Mother, though she was as drunk as a skunk, fell flat on her face, and gave Night Mother a smooch before skedaddling.” He reclined backwards, peering at the angry mare through his bangs. “It was pretty cute actually. You should have seen it.”

Dusk shot him a glare, before flopping to her haunches, brows furrowed. She sighed, a smile appearing on her face before turning to the two stallions in the room.

“Well good for them. Saves us a lot of work I guess.” She flipped her mane over her shoulder as she stood, crossing the room to slowly pick up the papers she had scattered. “Keep an eye on them when you're around and tell me how they're doing, okay fellas?” She requested, fluttering her eyebrows at Quickshot, who blushed before nodding.

“Once you’re done exercising your magic, we will move onto some control tests. Then tonight, I am going to continue teaching you how to dream walk.” Luna said, pacing the floor before her. She sat on her haunches facing out toward the balcony as she glanced behind herself at the mare. “Celestia knows you need to learn how to control it after last night..” She muttered under her breath.

Trixie grunted as another spike of pain hit her, emanating from the base of her horn. The rocks she was holding afloat in the air clattered to the ground, the noise hurting her throbbing head even further. She quickly sat down, grumbling to herself as she idly rubbed at her forehead and glanced at Luna, who sat nearby looking out upon the Canterlot Gardens.

“Luna?” Trixie said, wincing at the sound of her own voice. “Trixie doesn't know how much this training is helping when she can't even levitate a rock without feeling like her skull is about to crack open.”

Luna glanced her way for a moment, a blank stare on her face before she lightly shook her head and seemed to focus on the mare.

“I'm sorry, Trixie, I didn't quite catch that.”

Trixie scowled, ears flattening against her head. “Trixie is hungover and can't do magic!”

Luna remained silent, her horn buzzing to life for a moment before a stream of magic darted out and washed across the unicorn.

Trixie jumped as several sensations washed across her.

Coolness.
Numbness.
The smell of lemons.
A tingling at the base of her neck.

Just as quickly, her headache receded and she no longer felt the urge to curse every sound and flash of light.

“You can magically cure hangovers?” Trixie demanded, stomping a hoof.

“Yes, it's a pretty easy spell actually. I'll teach it to you later..” She trailed off, looking back at the garden distractedly.

Trixie stared at Luna for a moment, before trotting over and taking a seat beside her. She leaned forward, trying to catch her mentor's eyes as the alicorn stared off into the distance. Finally, Trixie waved a hoof in front of Luna, sighing when she was ignored.

“Look, Luna..” Trixie began, shoulders slumping as she hid behind her mane. “Trixie is sorry, okay? She was drunk and… Maybe she didn’t think things through… I couldn’t help myself… Please don’t start acting.. weird around me. It didn’t mean anything! Dusk was saying.. stuff to me, and it got into my head and it was all I could think about after that many drin-” Trixie froze as Luna suddenly pressed a chaste kiss against her cheek. Her cheeks flushed bright red and Trixie turned to stare at the mare with an awestruck expression.

Luna shifted, peering out over the castle as she re-folded her wings to her sides. A moment later, she leveled Trixie with an intense stare, accompanied with a gentle smile. “Never apologize for expressing your feelings, Trixie Lulamoon. That is a sure fire way to hurt the ponies around you… Trust me on this.” Luna commented, giggling at Trixie’s frantic attempts to remember how to breath.

“I am not mad at you for last night, but I do feel that we should talk about it.” She frowned slightly as Trixie paled. “I do not mean to make you uncomfortable, but it would be better to fix things now, correct? How do you feel toward me, Trixie? Was last night truly how you felt, or was that the alcohol speaking for you?”

Trixie sighed, collapsing onto her haunches as she nodded.

“I do believe I like you. I think I’ve known for a while, but it took Dusk’s crude mind to point it out to me, I think. The alcohol just helped me with the courage to… act on it.”

“Why?” Luna asked, cocking her head to her side. “I have only been your mentor for a short time, barely four months.That is hardly enough time to truly get to know someone, let alone when that pony has lived several hundred lifetimes.” Luna added, gesturing at herself wordlessly.

Trixie frantically shook her head. “Your kind. Trixie doesn’t exactly get a lot of ponies who can look past her screw ups and see me, let alone, someone willing to give so selflessly and try to help me out. I know I’ve pushed you away at times that I truly shouldn't have, but you’ve never punished me for it. It makes me feel safe, Luna. I know that I can try just about anything, and you’ll have my back.”

Luna smiled, a warmth spreading across her chest at Trixie’s kind words. Even though the unicorn was just now confronting her feelings, the alicorn was more than aware that her own feelings for the mare surpassed a mere student mentor relationship.

“I am glad you find comfort at my side Trixie, but..” Her smile slipped from her face as Trixie stiffened. “A relationship would be most difficult between us. You must understand, I am not saying that I don’t like you in return,” Luna said, cheeks blushing ever so slightly. “But I am an immortal, and as you grow older.. I will stay the same age. One day, you will.. pass on, and I won’t.” Luna frowned at the sudden stab of pain at the fleeting thought of Trixie passing in the far future.

“Then, Trixie will just have to make sure you will remember her well.” She replied stubbornly, avoiding the alicorns attempts to catch her eye.

Luna giggled, poking the pouting mare. “As if I could forget my amazing student, ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie Lulamoon!’ Her lips pursed slightly as she tossed her mane over her shoulder and reached out to grasp the mare's hoof. “Not even counting the issue of life, I am a princess of Equestria. As little as my duties are at the moment, they will inevitably grow as I learn more of this new time. My tasks will take me from you often, and at seemingly random times. Are you sure you could deal with that?”

“Yes!” Trixie said, smiling brightly. Her smile dimmed as she hesitated at Luna’s frown. “No ... I mean ... Trixie is unsure to be honest with you ... However, shouldn’t it be my choice to at least try? I am already sharing you, even as a mere student.”

Luna nodded reluctantly, grudgingly agreeing with the charismatic mare.

“You’re a princess. I’m a showmare with a... past. I truly didn’t believe we could be together because of that fact alone, not even to mention life and other issues… but, despite those differences, I want to try. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but, when I’m around you, I’m not second guessing myself as much, or cowering under my own misdeeds. As much as I’m unsure of the future, I am sure that I like being around you, and isn’t that the first step of any relationship?”

“It is, and I understand where you are coming from, but I feel that you’re letting your emotions get the better of y-”

“Isn’t that what you told me to do? You said to not hide my emotions, and for once, I’m not!” Trixie argued, stamping her hoof as Luna stubbornly set her jaw. A silent moment passed between the two, both mares refusing to back down from their stances.

“I can see there’s no talking to you right now..” Trixie stood, head bowed as she turned and began trotting to the rooftop door.

“Trixie, wait!” Luna protested, lurching to her feet as she started to gallop after the retreating mare. Trixie shook her head and waved Luna off.

“Don’t follow me, Luna. I’m not running away… As much as I really want to, I’m not running anymore. I just.. I need some time to myself.”

Trixie walked slowly through the halls of Equestria, her gaze drawn to the dozens of depictions of Luna that marked this section of the hallway. She slowed to a stop, falling onto her haunches as she stared at the royal blue silk making up her teacher's dark fur, a blush coming to her face as she remembered that smooth coat pressed against her cheek.

“Did you honestly expect anything to come of this, Trixie?” A voice drawled, as thick and snooty as its owner. Prince Blueblood stepped through a nearby doorway, nose lifted into the air as if Trixie was a mere bug under his hoof.

“What could you possibly want, Blueblood?” Trixie stammered, wiping at her cheeks in vain. They were matted and still damp, and it was all too easy to see she had been crying.

“I just wanted to stop by and gloat. I can’t see how a ‘showmare’,” He sneered, spitting the word out like it was a curse. “Would ever be fit to be with one of the Princesses of Equestria. It’s disgraceful to even imagine.”

“You don’t know me at all.” Trixie said coldly, staring determinedly at the wall.

“Not personally, no. But I know of you. I know that you were raised poor. Poor enough that you couldn’t even make it into Aunt Celestia’s school.” He grinned as Trixie finally turned to face him, an obviously shocked expression on her face. “You almost made it. But little Twilight Sparkle put a stop to your tryout, right? With her hatching a dragon, it makes sense they would have to reschedule your pathetic attempt at a scholarship, but for whatever reason, you never returned for your test. So there you stayed, scraping the bottom of the barrel as Auntie Celestia’s student became one of the most powerful mages in history. She got everything she could possibly want hoofed to her, and personally worked with the princess herself.”

Blueblood continued on, ignoring the agonized look on Trixie’s face.

“And then there’s you. Besides a few crimes, there is literally no mention of you anywhere. You’re not powerful. You’re not special. You are a nopony. And yet, you have the audacity to think that you could be ‘with’ the Princess of the Night? You are not even fit to be her student, let alone in a relationship with her. The only thing a mare like you is good for, is a one night stand.”

Trixie stammered in shock, unsure of what to say against such a deliberate attack. Blueblood shook his head at her, and before she could come up with a retort, he turned and set off further into the castle. Trixie sat in a stunned silence, unsure of how long she sat staring after the arrogant prince.

Eventually, Trixie set off uneasily, heading for the walled off garden she had last seen her wagon in. As down as she was feeling, it would be good to spend some time in familiar surroundings.

“Where does this.. bit go?” Craftmark asked, gesturing at the large bronze cog he held in his magic. He turned it slowly, scratching his head idly as he peered at it.

“Just place it with the others. Once the woodwork is shored up, I will personally replace the mechanical parts.” Trixie answered, smiling at the stallion as he nodded. With a grunt, the stallion dropped the gear off beside the others, although most appeared to be quite smaller than the one he had previously hefted.

The mare smiled at the smell of fresh lumber, gazing with an eager eye at the stack of 2x4’s set beside her wagon. With Craftmark's help, they had quickly removed the roof, and were disassembling the stage mechanics to get the walls taken down. It took time, but it was the only way to make sure the floor of the wagon was in working order. It had been quite a while since she was able to make sure her wagon was in good shape, and with a nearly unlimited student budget, she could afford to basically redo the wood work and mechanics from scratch if need be.

However, as they lowered the final wall it appeared that the floor only needed to be shored up with a new diagonal brace.

"Can you get me an angle?” Trixie asked as she looked the floor over. “I want to make sure this is a 90 degree angle before we re-add the walls."

"Sure thing, Miss Lulamoon." Crafts replied, digging in a tool pouch hanging around his midriff. He passed an angle through the air, admiring the keen eye Trixie turned on her vehicle and domicile. "You know, it's not everyday a client is eager to get their hooves in the middle of a project I've been contracted for."

"Well, I built my original wagon from scratch, and while some of my.. friends in Ponyville made this one for me, it didn't have much of the detail work I put into my original. I like to add my own flair to my belongings, ya know what I mean? Actually, if it's okay with you, now that it's taken apart, I was hoping to rebuild it by myself.”

"I can understand that. I'll leave a few tools over here, and if you need any help, just send a guard for me, okay?" He grinned as he unclipped his bag, setting a few miscellaneous tools aside for Trixie to use. With what she was paying, he couldn’t care less if she kept them.

“I'm sure I can do it, but if I do need help, I'll be quick to send a guard for you. Thank you Craftmark.” She replied, grinning as she plucked a hammer and chisel from his bag. With a twirl, she set the chisel against the wood and began carving away at the grain. Within moments, she had a new set of dovetailed 2x4’s ready to be used to fix the floor’s base.

The sun drifted across the sky, yet Trixie never faltered. She lost herself in the simple pleasure of working on her wagon, and by the time the sun began to set, her wagon was nearly finished. She was thoroughly drenched with sweat, and had a dull ache in her muscles and at the base of her horn, but she was happy with her performance over the course of the day. She was just beginning to heft the largest piece of wood, the large center beam, when she was interrupted.

“Would you like any help Miss Lulamoon?” A voice called, snapping the mare out of her focused trance. She snuck a glance at the alicorn responsible, eyes widening slightly at the tall slender form of her highness, Princess Celestia.

Trixie hastened to bow, nearly dropping the center beam that ran across her roof to the ground.

Celestia giggled, beckoning for Trixie to stand. “There is no need to bow, you are my sister’s student, are you not? Surely my sister does not have you bow every time she greets you?” She asked, looking past Trixie at the nearly finished wagon behind her.

“No princess. But, Trixie just thought it would be more polite to bow to you. You're a bit different..” Trixie trailed off reluctantly, unsure of how to answer properly.

“Why?” Celestia refocused on the smaller mare, turning her pink eyes on the mare intensely. “My sister and I are not as different as you might believe. We are both Princesses, are we not?”

“Ye-yes your highness.” Trixie stammered.

“And we should be treated as such, should we not?”

“Of course you should, your highness.”

“That means we should be bowed to.” Celestia said suddenly, a frown on her face.

Trixie eyes went wide as she frantically lowered her head, nose almost touching the ground as she tried to appease the suddenly angry alicorn.

“We should be shown respect as we rule, and should remain alone so that we may focus on ruling. We should not have relationships, or enjoy the gifts of life, only focusing on Equestria’s needs, correct, Miss Lulamoon?”

Trixie hesitated, a frown appearing on her face as she glanced up at the alicorn. “I don’t… that sounds terrible princess.” She straightened as Celestia lips turned upwards in a ghost of a smile. “I wouldn't want anyone to have to distance themselves from anyone, no matter their position.”

“I believe that is the main difference between my sister and I, Miss Lulamoon. Over the centuries, I have learned that it is okay to let your mane down once in awhile, and to have relationships with others.” Celestia moved forward, sitting down gracefully besides Trixie. Trixie was suddenly aware of how sweaty and smelly she must be and blushed slightly.

“Do you know how many students I've had miss Lulamoon?” As the mare shook her head, Celestia continued. “Many. I've had dozens upon dozens over the years. Each and every one of them was loved by me. If not as a mother would love a child, then as a wife would love her significant other.” Celestia confessed, nodding as surprise bloomed across Trixie’s features. “I have had students who eventually transitioned into romantic partners before, and I am sure it will happen in the future. It has been years since I've taken a partner though, more so for that partner not to be a student of my own…” Celestia trailed off, her eyes lost in her past for a moment before returning to Trixie.

“Luna has been away for many a year, and I know that she feels like a burden at the moment. She is working constantly to try to learn enough to begin helping me rule again, to the detriment of her personal attachments. She doesn’t understand that it is perfectly okay to rule, and to have a relationship. It is a delicate balancing act, but I am sure with a good partner, she would manage.” She extended a wing and gently embraced Trixie with it, causing the show mare to blush wildly. “I know I would manage. I am always looking for the next student that has the potential to be a romantic partner. But Luna...” Celestia trailed off.

Despite the awkward position Trixie found herself in, she managed to speak up. “Not even counting the issue of her royalty, she is an immortal. One day, I will die… What happened with your lovers as they got older?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you find yourself loving them less? As they got older, I’m sure it was harder to be with them.. Did you ever want to abandon them?” Trixie said, preparing herself for an angry retort from the alicorn.

Celestia shook her head, leaning down to gently nuzzle Trixie as she replied. “No. I loved them until the moment they passed on, and for years after. You have to understand Trixie, every lover I’ve ever had stays with me day to day. I will always remember them, and there are times I lose myself in my past, just enjoying the memories I forged with them.”

Trixie looked down, making sure she was still blue, and that the rest of her didn’t match the red she felt on her face. “Do you think Luna would love me any less when I’m old? When I.. When I can’t get out of bed any longer?” Trixie asked, her voice quiet and fragile.

“Luna would stay by your side until the end. Knowing my sister, she would grieve for you for years afterwards. My sister was the Element of Loyalty for a reason, Miss Lulamoon.” Celestia was surprised to see that Trixie looked even more upset at her words then she was before.

“Then, am I not being selfish by forcing her to be with somepony that will inevitably die on her?”

Celestia sat silently for several moments, mulling over her thoughts before speaking. “I do not believe so. A lifetime of dedication and love is an amazing lifetime. I believe it would be good for my sister to have somepony there for her, especially in the next few years. The life difference may not be ideal, but out of all of my lovers, that has never been a reason for us to not be with each other. I see no reason for it to be an issue with you and Luna either.”

“Well then.. It doesn’t sound like I have anything to worry about.” Trixie said, a small smile finally appearing on her face.

A smile graced Celestia’s muzzle at Trixie’s conviction. Gently, she removed her wing from around the show mare and stood up. “I am happy to see you care for my sister so much, Trixie. And I hope it works out for the two of you. But-”

Gently, Celestia used her magic to comfortingly ruffle the hair along Trixie’s back, causing her to visibly shiver at the touch.

“If it doesn’t, or if anything goes wrong, please don’t just leave suddenly, okay? Come speak to me before hoof at the least.”

Trixie took a step away from Celestia, feeling a sense of elation and confusion at the mare’s words.

“O-okay.”

After Celestia left, Trixie continued working on her wagon, but with a much happier attitude. Before long, the mare was relaxing on her haunches, her horn alight as the multitude of screws across her wagon began screwing themselves in place. She was so focused on her task, she couldn’t keep herself from jumping and letting out an indignant cry when the blue Alicorn dropped out of the sky. .

“Having fun?” Luna asked, quickly sitting down by Trixie and peering at the restored wagon with interest. The paint was sharp and crisp, and the previously aged wood was whole and new again. Overall, the vehicle looked brand new compared to a day before.

“A-actually, Trixie has been. She always did enjoy a bit of manual labor.” Trixie confessed, smiling at the older mare as she stood, stretching out a small cramp in her back legs. “Trixie has been thinking while she was working Luna, and sh- I would like a chance to say something, okay?”

Luna fidgeted uncomfortably, but nodded.

“I know you are unsure about being in a relationship, let alone a relationship with me.” She held up a hoof as Luna went to interrupt. Luna grinned sheepishly, before nodding again. “You want to be able to stand beside your sister and rule again. You want to show her that you are able to handle the stresses of court, correct?”

“I do.” Luna agreed.

“Well, then you know how I feel. I want to stand by your side and be there for you, especially on your bad days. I understand that there are a few issues, but I would like to have a chance to counter your arguments first.”

Trixie sat down, taking a break from her wagon to concentrate on the matter at hand.

“You worry about the fact that I am a showmare, and you are a princess.” She licked her lips uncertainly. “Your sister has had relations with various students in her past, and I doubt many of them had much of a different role than I. If you are that concerned about it, we could keep our relationship secret for the time being, until I can distance myself from my past a bit more.”

Luna stared at the mare for a moment, before reluctantly nodding her head alongside Trixie’s argument.

“I like you alot, Luna. I do not know if this is true love, but I would really like to find out with you. Your immortality is only an issue in your own mind. You may outlive me, but from my point of view, that just means I get a Princess Luna in her prime for my entire life. You would be the one having to put up with me as an old mare. But, afterwards,when I’m gone, you would still have an amazingly long span of life for you to be alone again. I cannot force you into giving us a try, but I see no reason that we cannot.”

Luna sat silently for several long minutes, which seemed even longer to the showmare. “I understand your points, Trixie. And.. I believe you are right. It is not easy for me to say that I have shut myself off since my return… I do think it would help to know, that no matter what happens in the future, I will always have someone on my side at the end of the day.”

She peered at Trixie seriously for a moment, her heart racing at the hopeful look on Trixie’s muzzle. “I would be honored to take you out on a date, Madam Lulamoon. If you’ll have me, that is.” Luna said, teasing the eager mare playfully.

Trixie stood, sweeping into a bow as she spoke. “Trixie would be honored for such a beautiful mare to take her out to dinner.” As she straightened, she couldn’t help but giggle at the blush on Luna’s cheeks.

“All seriousness aside, I do think it might be a good idea to keep our new found relationship low key for the foreseeable future. It is not that I am ashamed of you, Trixie.” Luna explained, seeing the flash of hurt across her face. “The nobles of Canterlot may not be able to do anything to us, but they could easily make both of our lives harder. I can’t even imagine what Blueblood would say, if he knew..” She said, trailing off as Trixie’s face fell momentarily. “What is it?”

“Nothing!” Trixie insisted, turning away to peer at her wagon intensely. “I just would hate to imagine what the nobles might say.”

Luna and Trixie sat beside each other quietly, a happy grin on both of them. Luna couldn’t help but notice the wistful glances Trixie was shooting at her wagon every so often.

“Do you miss traveling?” Trixie jumped a little, unaware of Luna’s keen gaze.

“All the time, to be honest. I have been on the road for so long, it is strange not to wake up looking at the roof of my wagon. No matter how many times I’ve rebuilt this, and expanded on it, it's always been my home. Ever since I was… younger.”

“Mind giving me a tour?”

“Um.. Sure.” Trixie said, pulling the door open as she beckoned Luna inside. The alicorn ducked her head and entered, crouching slightly as Trixie stepped in behind her. “I’m sorry, I know it's a bit cramped. It wasn’t exactly built for an alicorn.”

“Actually.. It’s homier then I imagined.” Luna peered at the small cabinets around the room and darted a glance at the badly torn and worn out bed she had first seen Trixie laying upon, so many months ago. She made a mental note to have it replaced when Trixie wasn’t looking, among other things. Luna was fairly sure that was acceptable behavior amongst marefriends.

Trixie showed her several of her possessions, mainly the things she had managed to save from the time her wagon was destroyed, but her focus was drawn to a small framed photo of Trixie as a young filly. It had a message scrawled across it, and Luna could just barely make out the words due to its age. “You will always bring the magic to my life… Dad.”

Trixie stilled as Luna softly read the words out loud.. She glanced at the photo for a moment, before turning to dig through a cabinet.

“You’ve never really told me much about your family, Trixie.” Luna said slowly, curiosity gnawing at her.

“My mother lives in Neigh Orleans.” She supplied, shrugging lightly.

“What of your.. Dad?”

“He died. A long time ago. I’m sorry, I um.. I don’t really like talking about it.” Trixie said slowly, her voice low.

“I understand. How about we finish the tour then?” Luna suggested, changing the topic suddenly. Trixie nodded in appreciation, shifting her attention to a small lever beside the bed that Luna hadn’t noticed. She beckoned Luna to stand beside her in the middle of the wagon and spoke.

“Stand clear of the bed, and watch this.” Trixie yanked on the lever, and with a sudden mechanical whirring, the bed lifted onto two legs, laying flat against the wall as the far wall expanded outwards. Within moments, the left wall had unfolded and extended to form a large stage, with a light purple curtain dropping down to separate the stage and wagon interior.

“Most impressive!” Luna exclaimed, lifting the curtain to step out onto the stage. “You made this all yourself?”

“Well.. Sort of.” Trixie’s proud smile fell slightly. “My dad made the first version of the mechanics years ago… I just improved on it since.”

“It is amazing, Trixie. I understand why you feel the urge to perform. I can feel the desire just from standing up here, and I have no experience with things like this!”

“I do miss performing. It feels amazing to come down here and see the old wagon again… It has been years since I’ve spent so long away from it, you know what I mean? It makes me just want to put on a show again.”

Luna nodded, thinking back to the time she heard that little filly, and saw Trixie save her. A sudden jolt of inspiration shot through her.

“Why don’t you put on a show then? We could give you the needed permit to put a show in the Canterlot Square. Hundreds would see you perform!” Luna said excitedly, a grin on her face.

Trixie rolled her eyes and waved Luna’s suggestions away with a hoof. “Please, do you realize how hard those permits are to get?” You’d need to be Princess Celestia to get one of those.”

Luna quirked an eyebrow at Luna and pointed a hoof up to her crown.

“Trixie stands by her statement.”

Luna softly hit the back of her head. “Do you want to perform, or make fun of us?”

Trixie conceded with an amused grin. “For now, perform. But, are you really sure it’s okay for you to get one for me?”

“Trust me,” Luna said, lightly running a wing over Trixie’s side. “-we can be quite persuasive, and have yet to take advantage of our status in any real manner. It’ll be fine.”

Trixie grinned and looked to the side, head filling with possibilities. “Do you know how many times I tried to get a permit to perform at the square? It’s a dream for most entertainers.”

“Well, there are perks to being the Princesses student.” Luna joked, giggling at the look on Trixie's face. “However, that’s not even the best part Trixie!”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, at shows, you make bits, correct?”

“I did… After the Alicorn Amulet, I lost a lot of credibility and ponies didn’t pay as much as they used to…” Trixie confessed, shuffling nervously as Luna nodded understandingly.

“Well, with a royal endorsement, you’ll draw in hundreds that will undoubtedly donate to your performance!”

“But.. do I really need the bits anymore?” She gave Luna a questioning look. “I get all my food from the palace, and I don’t really need any money if I want to buy anything, right?”

Luna shook her head. “You misunderstand me. The money won’t go to you at all, but to that little filly! Silver Star, correct?” Luna explained, grinning as Trixie smiled happily.

“You would do that?”

“I have been wanting to help them since I saw how they were living, but if I personally bring attention to their situation, there runs the risk of Foal Protective Services removing the children. The mother is a good mother, she is just out of her league. But, if we can start a foundation for poor children, we can start helping parents that are good parents, who just can’t stretch the bits as far as they need to.”

“Well ... Sounds like I have a show to put on!” Trixie grinned, turning her attention to the stage with tricks already playing out in her head. After a few minutes of reveling in ideas Trixie’s attention turned back to Luna. Or, more accurately, her marefriend. A part of her squeed at that thought, but she could act like a school filly later. There was one thing she needed to clear up before any drama or misunderstandings started.

"Hey, Luna?"

"Yes, Trixie?"

"I think your sister might have been hitting on me earlier..."

"....What?"

Trixie Tricks

“Are you ready?”

“No. Yes. Let’s find out!”

With a flourish, Trixie stepped through the curtain separating herself and Luna from the cheering crowd outside. Silence quickly swept through the crowd as the gathered ponies noticed the showmare’s presence.

Trixie had parked her wagon in the middle of Canterlot Square, and the Princesses had secured temporary bleachers and a ticket booth through their assistants. Basic tickets were selling tickets for 5 bits while a “VIP” section sold tickets for 200, despite the area being only slightly elevated than the rest of the square with a thin velvet rope securing it. That didn’t stop the nobles from dropping bits to be able to sit near the princesses of course. Staring out at the crowd for a second, Trixie estimated roughly 3000 ponies, with a few hundred pegasi watching from the clouds above the square. As soon as Luna was seated next to her sister, Trixie began the show.

“Welcome, one and all to the show of the Century! No boasting, no Trickery, just straight magic!” Trixie yelled, fire exploding from the sides of the stage as she stomped a hoof. Her cape fluttered in a sudden wind, and she pressed a hoof to her hat to keep it from blowing away. “We are here today to donate money to the less fortunate ponies of Canterlot, and hopefully, the rest of Equestria! With that said, Trixie would like to introduce her assistant for today… WELCOME SILVER STAR!”

She waved a hoof at the front of the stage where a cloud of smoke suddenly appeared, clearing a moment later to reveal a small filly wearing a similar version of Trixie’s own cape and hat, standing atop a box with a slot at the top. The pegasus filly smiled adorably, her tiny wings buzzing with excitement as she leapt from the donation box onto the stage. She shyly waved at her mother in the stands as she galloped to Trixie’s side, standing with her chest puffed out. Grace wore a smile that stretched from ear to ear, eyes glistening with unshed tears as she smiled at the pair.

Before she could even get started, several ponies trotted up to donate some bits, starting the show off in an amazing way. Trixie nodded to the ponies, assuming they were families close to some other struggling families.

“Now, Trixie is sure you’ve heard of her, because let’s be honest, Trixie draws attention anywhere she goes…” She said, winking suggestively at a massive pegasus at the front of the crowd. The stallion blushed fiercely, but flexed his muscles at her attention, drawing laughs from ponies throughout the crowd. “For those who haven’t had the pleasure, I am Trixie Lulamoon! Magician extraordinaire, and student to our lovely Princess Luna, ruler of the night!” A cheer went up as Princess Luna stood, waving a hoof at the ponies assembled around the square. Beside her, Celestia sat with a bemused smile on her face, silently appreciating the attention directed to her sister for once.

“Without further ado, let’s begin the show!” Trixie announced, bowing and throwing her cloak over her back as she beckoned Silver to her side. “We will start off with a classic! A card trick! First, Trixie would like to ask for a few volunteers! How about you first, sir?” She asked, extending a hoof to the pegasus from earlier. With a broad grin he stood, the bleacher beneath him straightening without his considerable bulk pressing down on it. As he approached the stage, Trixie turned her attention to her assistant.

“Silver Star, can you hand Trixie that deck of cards?” She held a hoof out, smiling at her tiny assistant. The filly tensed up, frantically patting her sides before flipping around to look into her cloak for a pack of cards.

“I.. I don’t have any cards..” Silver whispered, a panicked look on her muzzle. She squeaked as her hat floated off her head, revealing a plastic sealed deck of cards. As they floated toward Trixie, Silver snatched her hat back, sneaking a peek into it before reluctantly pressing it back onto her head.

“Thank you very much, Silver!” The magician responded, drawing a laugh from her crowd as she handed the deck of cards to the stallion for inspection. “As you can see, this deck of cards is completely new, unopened, untarnished and unshuffled. If you don’t mind, go ahead and open the deck.” She sat patiently as he did as she asked, nodding her head as he set the cards into his hoof. “Trixie wants you to make sure that they are unshuffled, and that all 52 cards are in the deck. When you are finished, choose a random card, and shuffle the deck several times, until they appear random.”

“Now, while our wonderful stallion shuffles the deck,” Trixie said, stroking his jaw with her tail and giggling to herself as he blushed deeply. “Trixie will explain how this trick works. Using her amazing powers of the mind, she will look deeply into our stallion’s head and will pick the exact card he chooses. She will throw this deck of cards into the air, and with a single dagger,” She explained, horn alight as she caught the small throwing knife Silver had just tossed her way. “Trixie shall pierce his card out of the very sky!”

She smiled as the stallion glanced up, holding a single card in his hoof. He held it behind his hoof to prevent her from seeing and showed the crowd the card before placing it back in the deck and nodding at her, signaling he was ready and waiting. “Now then, we shall shuffle the deck a few more times, and Trixie will show you your card when she's done.” Her magic surrounded the deck of cards and they split evenly, flipping over and under and around each other until there was no way of knowing what order the cards might be under.

With a grunt, the mare launched the cards into the air, her tongue sticking between her lips as she took aim with the knife in her hoof. However, before she could launch the knife, there was a bright flash of light, and the 52 cards that had previously been fluttering in the sky morphed into 52 white birds. Trixie’s shoulders slumped dejectedly, a frown on her face as she tore her eyes away from the sky and back down to her crowd. She shrugged. “You’ve got to hate when that happens. Trixie guesses she will just have to ask you to show the stallion his card!” She declared, staring at one of several palace guards standing around the square.

For a moment, the earth pony stallion ignored her, before his eyes widened as he realized the entire square had turned in his direction. He pointed at himself, drawing a smile and a nod from the magician on stage. He shook his head slowly, bewildered.

“Check your breast plate if you don’t mind.“ She called out, horn lit up as she gently tugged on the straps of his armor on his belly. As it loosened, he shrugged his way out of the plate mail, his mouth open in shock as he revealed paint on his coat. Where his coat usually stood as a pale grey, it now was a stark white, with 8 black clubs, and a large number 8 in the center of his chest.

“Was that your card sir?” She prompted, after she allowed the moment of silence to stretch on for what she felt was an appropriate amount of time.

“It was!” He declared, his hoofs thundering as he began stomping his massive forelegs. “That’s amazing!” The rest of the crowd stomped alongside him, even drawing some amazed glances from much of the stuffy upper crust nobles.

Trixie bowed low, a smile on her face as she reveled in the adoration of an adoring crowd once again.

“Please, please, you haven’t seen anything Trixie has planned for you today!” She called, drawing the attention back to herself effortlessly as she waved the stallion back to his seat. “For this next trick, we’re going to need one lucky colt or filly from the audience!” Trixie put a hoof to her mouth as young ponies throughout the crowd jumped up and down for her attention. After several tense seconds, she pointed to a young orange unicorn colt in the front of the crowd, just on the inside of the velvety VIP ropes.

As the colt climbed the stairs up to the stage, Silver Star quickly finished placing a small box down behind Trixie. Trixie beckoned the colt to come stand at her side, as Silver ran behind the curtain on the stage to retrieve a small step ladder.

“Alright, young colt, what is your name?” Trixie asked, horn alight as she cast a simple amplification spell on the colt's throat.

“Berr-” The colt jumped at the loudness of his voice, looking sheepish as he smiled. “Berry Crown.”

“Well, thank you for helping me today Berry! If you don’t mind, hop up on the ladder and we will get started.” As he climbed onto the stage and sat beside her nervously, she faced the crowd once again. “Alright, for this next trick, Trixie needs to make sure everypony can see Berry here! Is he visible to everyone?”

After giving everyone in the audience a few seconds to nod, she turned toward the young colt. “We are going to do something, nopony has ever managed before. We are going to turn this young colt… into a filly!” She yelled, giggling as the colt’s eyes widened and he shook his head frantically. “However, the real kicker here is… Trixie will not use an ounce of magic!”

The colt froze, halfway off the stage as he cocked his head at the unicorn. Trixie nodded, pushing her hat back so that the crowd could see her horn. She waved Silver Star forward, lowering her head so the filly could place a small black band around the base of her horn. She stood, a frown on her face as she shivered slightly.

“As you can see, Trixie is wearing a magical inhibitor, rendering her magic useless. At the moment, She couldn’t lift a single feather if her life depended on it. However, using the ancient magic of Runes, I shall turn this colt into a filly! Do not fret Berry, it will only last for a few moments!”

Silver raced forward, applying a special silver mixture to the end of Trixie’s hooves. She closed her eyes, forelegs stretched out above her head as she slowly waved them through the air. The paint hovered in the air glowing faintly as she drew several arcane symbols. The various unicorns out in the crowd shifted uneasily, their horns itching due to the immense pressure radiating outwards from the mare. Out in the crowd, Luna and Celestia leaned forward, sharing a quick glance as they waited with their breath held.

Trixie slowly approached the colt, her hooves waving through the air faster and faster before lashing out suddenly and pressing a dot of paint on the colt’s forehead. A flash of light burst forth from the colt, clearing to reveal a full grown stallion. He glanced down, studying his forelegs and barrel before speaking. The crowd gasped in surprise, impressed by the mare's use of magic.

“I… I don’t think it worked right?” The stallion said, looking toward trixie, who sat tapping her chin for a moment. She studied the symbols that were slowly rotating in the air around the colt before nodding.

“Trixie sees what she did wrong.” She waved her hooves across the symbols, nudging a few of them in ways the crowd couldn’t quite follow. She then darted forward, pressing against the stallion’s forehead again.

A flash of light later, and a small orange filly sat in Berry’s place, a deep frown on her face as she glanced over herself, and looked over her back to study her own tail. The crowd was stomping in amazement, with the princesses even sitting shocked. Princess Luna appeared to be the most shocked, with her mouth hanging open as she stared at the unicorn.

“Ca-Can you turn me back now?” Berry whined, stomping an adorably tiny hoof. “I don’t wanna be a stupid filly!”

“Relax kid,” Trixie assured, smiling as she ruffled her hair. “All you have to do is smear the dot off your head.” She giggled to herself as the filly scrubbed at her forehead, vanishing in a flash of light to be replaced by the origional male Berry Crown.

He galloped off stage before Trixie could decide to change him into anything else, and into the waiting arms of his mother. She cooed over him, teasing him about what an adorable filly he would have made. Trixie smirked, forcing herself not to giggle at the colt’s face. She sighed as Silver tugged the inhibitor off her horn, relief flooding her senses as she felt her magic return to her.

“For her last trick, Trixie is going to make her assistant… Vanish!” She drew a nervous glance from the filly, who obviously was not told of this before the show.

“Oh no!” A voice interrupted, from the bottom of the “VIP” section. “Your assistant has been in on every one of your ‘tricks.’” Blueblood declared, a wide sneer on his muzzle as he passed under the rope separating the sections and leapt up onto the stage. “This time, you have to make me vanish.”

Trixie’s eyes tightened ever so slightly, but she kept her calm remarkably well. Luna appeared to be the only pony in the crowd who could tell that the mare was thrown off greatly by his sudden interruption.

“Very well, a slight change of plans is always good to keep the magic flowing.” Trixie said, shrugging worriedly. A flare of her horn, and a tall purple cabinet appeared with a small puff of similarly colored smoke. She pulled the door open and smiled at Blueblood, beckoning him to step up into the cabinet. With an unimpressed roll of his eyes, Blueblood stepped into the box. Without a word, she slammed it shut, lifting an eyebrow at the insulted grunt from inside the cabinet.

“Well, while our resident prince relaxes inside of our cabinet, Trixie thinks she shall explain her next trick. Considering we now have an adult involved, Trixie thinks she shall… enhance the act a bit. Guards, if you don’t mind joining Trixie on the stage for a moment?” She called sweetly, smiling in thanks as the five guards around the area glanced to their respective princesses and received approval before marching onto the stage.

“So, our original trick would involve me simply making Silver vanish, then me waving my foreleg around inside the cabinet to show that she was gone. Now however… We can have a bit more excitement! First, Would you mind demonstrating your weapons on these sacks?” Trixie prompted, a large sack of grain levitating out from backstage. She held it in the air as the guards released their swords, hesitating for a moment before they lashed out and sliced deeply into the terrycloth. Two of the swords cut clean through the sack, forcing her to get another one. Once it was shown that the swords were all as sharp as possible, she asked the guards to spread out around the cabinet.

“Blueblood?” She called out, knocking on the cabinet. “Trixie will make you vanish in a moment, and to prove that she can, Trixie will have the guards stab the cabinet after you vanish.” She could just make out a mumbled curse before he began thumping on the door, trying in vain to escape the cabinet now. “Ready?” She was sure even the crowd could hear him screaming in denial at this point, but she ignored him.

“Alright gentlemen… At my word.” Her horn lit up with a powerful light, and as it reached a climatic flash, she beckoned them forward. They slammed their swords into the cabinet, piercing through the wood like it was butter. Trixie laughed as they stabbed the wood with less hesitation than they did the sacks of grain, showing their true feelings about Prince Blueblood.

She waved a hoof at the crowd as they began clapping, a large smile on her face. A smile, which was quickly wiped away as a mare in the crowd screamed shrilly. Trixie whirled around, a look of horror on her face as a red liquid spilled from the bottom of the cabinet.

“Oh no! Quick, pull the swords out!” Trixie demanded, frantically pulling on the cabinet doors. The wood was currently pinned shut by the steel of the swords however. As the guards pulled the swords out, Trixie was joined on stage by Luna, and less than a second later by Celestia. They looked on grimly as Trixie stepped forward, her hoof hesitating at the latch of the cabinet. She opened it reluctantly, gasping at the sight inside.

“You ruined my watermelons! Dang it..” She whined, opening the door to reveal the cabinet was stacked to the brim with large green watermelons, several of them cut in half and leaking watermelon juice. “I wanted to give out a snack to the crowd, and the vendor didn’t have enough space..” She explained, shrinking under the fierce glares shot her way from the princesses at her side. With glares of their own, the five guards left the stage.

“We will discuss this later.” Luna said quietly, turning and retreating to her seat with her sister at her side. Trixie frowned after her, but regained her smile a moment later.

“While we enjoy our little break from Prince Blueblood, how about some free watermelon!” Trixie exclaimed, levitating the fruits out to the crowd. “For anyone who doesn’t get some, vendors will be coming around to give out more!”

Several minutes of eating passed before Trixie continued. “Well, Trixie does believe it is time to return our wayward prince.” She made a show of facing the cabinet, slamming the door shut once again with a wave of her horn. Bright light appeared at the tip of her horn and a moment later, she opened the cabinet to reveal an ever so slightly disheveled Blueblood.

“What did you do to me!” He demanded, stomping a hoof in her direction.

“Trixie made you vanish! That is what she said she would do correct?” Trixie goaded, stepping closer to the stallion. “Remember your harsh words next time you’re feeling cocky Blueblood. I am the princess’s student after all, and I have powers now that you wouldn’t even believe.” She whispered to him, referencing their small run in several days before. In reality, she had slapped a sleep spell on him and teleported him under the stage they stood on, face down in the dirt while she had the guards stab the cabinet.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of ‘powers’ you think you have, you will never be worth anything.” He said quietly, waving to the crowd while flashing them a false smile.

“Well.. At the very least, Trixie can hurt you where she knows it will hurt you the most.” Trixie whispered, a cruel idea suddenly appearing as Blueblood shot her an uncertain look. Before he could utter a word she had moved away. She stepped forward, a loud bang erupting from her horn to draw the crowd’s attention.

“Before the show began, Prince Blueblood approached me with a most generous proposition. He wanted desperately to help the poor ponies of our great city, and was willing to make a ‘sizable’” She said, emphasizing the size. “Donation, but wanted it to remain anonymous. However, due to the size, I cannot let his amazing good deed go unrewarded.” She said, smiling as the crowd turned hopeful, and in many more cases, surprised looks toward the stallion beside her.

He waved a large white hoof, smiling and nodding along while leaning in to hiss at the showmare. “What in Celestia’s name do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m putting you in your place for once.” Trixie murmured, before speaking to the crowd once more.

“Prince Blueblood has generously donated one hundred THOUSAND bits to our new charity!” Trixie declared, drawing gasps and loud cheers from the crowd. She could just see the signs of anger setting into the stallion’s jaws, but she merely smiled and kept waving. Nobles all around the city square began fighting to climb over each other to be seen donating as much as the prince, not wanting to be the only nobles not showing there support for the new charity.

“You will severely regret this.” He snarled, slamming a hoof into the stage below him.

“Trixie is sure she will. But, take this money back, and you’ll only be making yourself look bad in front of your rich friends. So tell me Blueblood, what’s more important to you? Your money, or your reputation?” He grit his teeth angrily, but remained silent as he scanned around the square.

Trixie caught Luna’s eye in the chaos, earning a disapproving, yet mirthful smile from the princess. She bit her lip as Blueblood managed to grind his hoof into her shin as he walked off stage, flashing a charming smile at the crowd as he began waving and resuming his usual pompous attitude.

She felt a flash of worry, knowing he would have a wicked retribution coming her way, but as her eyes landed on Grace, tears in her eyes as she hugged a sniffling Silver Star, she felt that she couldn’t care if she wanted to. She had made the right choice, and in the end, a lot of ponies of Canterlot would be better off by the week's end.

Author's Note

Hey guys!

This chapter has been planned for quite a while, ever since I expanded on Silver's family. Let me know what you think of Trixie's plan, and I wanna see some guesses of what Blueblood might do in revenge!

Tales, and Talks

Several hours after the performance, the pair were relaxing in Luna’s bed chambers together, with Trixie browsing through several sheets of paper listing the hundreds of ponies who had donated earlier that day. Luna was absentmindedly reading through several papers about the structure and leadership of their newly formed charity. Luna rubbed her temple exasperatedly, sighing as she set her papers to the side.

“I must admit, I am most impressed with your knowledge of Runes. How did you ever acquire such a masterful use of them? I wasn’t even aware runes were still practiced in this day and age!” Luna said enthusiastically. “I do believe I will have to track down some of the old rune books from our old… castle…” She trailed off at the guilty look Trixie was wearing.

“What did you do?”

“Well.. Honestly, I don’t know any runes…”

“Then how did you turn that colt into a filly? That was a real inhibitor, I personally removed it from the armory to use for your show!” Luna demanded, stomping a hoof as she attempted to figure out the trick.

“A good magician, never revea-”

“Finish that sentence, and I will never reveal where I hid your body!” Luna threatened, glaring at the unicorn. Trixie gulped audibly, drawing a smirk from the alicorn.

“Well then.. Remember your bet I won months ago?” Trixie asked, levitating her hat to her side.

“Yes? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well.. I never did spend the jewels I won from you..” Trixie confessed, pulling a single black diamond from her hat. The moon inside seemed dimmer than Luna remembered, but still sparkled admirably. “During the… Alicorn Amulet days, I learned to use the magic inside of its crystal, and after owning these for awhile, I realized I could feel stored magic inside of them too..” She focused on the crystal and a second later, it began emitting a strong white light. “If I pushed some of my own magic into it, I could use it at will as long as it was close to me.”

“So, you bound your magic, and siphoned my magic out of one of the stones?” Luna asked, skeptically.

Trixie nodded. “It seems to function like a makeshift horn, so I learned I could still use it around the ring. I don’t think it uses magic half as well as a horn, but it seemed to have a lot of magic in it so I guess it didn’t matter.”

“That is.. Actually quite impressive. It takes a near master of magical control to be able to prevent an inhibitor from colliding with ‘third party magic’, as it were.” Luna smiled proudly, nudging the blushing mare with a wing. “I wonder why I’ve never heard of anything like this before?”

“Well, I doubt I could have done it before the Alicorn Amulet. It was only due to that event that I learned to feel the magic inside crystals. Plus, I do tend to have a slightly more… intimate familiarity with your magic than most other ponies.” Trixie bragged, rubbing a hoof on her chest in a mock egotistical stance.

“Did you try using Tia’s diamond?”

Trixie and Quickshot sat in a stunned silence, staring at the still smouldering remains that had once been Trixie’s bed. A single solar diamond floated in the air between them, a crack running down the front.

“Wow…” Quickshot uttered, glancing mournfully at the burnt hairs that remained of his tail.

“You can say that again..” Trixie muttered, mourning the first bed she’d slept in in recent times that didn’t fit into a wagon. “Do you think you could get this replaced before the shows over in a few hours?”

“I reckon we can do that.” Quickshot answered, catching the bag of spare bits Trixie threw his way.

“No-no, Trixie didn’t even think to try that.” She said, waving a hoof nonchalantly.

“Right…” Luna said, making a mental note to send some servants to bring new furniture to Trixie’s room at their earliest convenience. “So, did the show go as well as you had hoped?

“Honestly?” Trixie asked, smiling down at a picture of Silver Star, her younger siblings and her mother, Grace, all huddled around Trixie, wide smiles on their faces. Their picture had been taken by the Canterlot News, and Trixie had been able to convince the reporters to make her a copy of it. “It went better than I could ever imagine.”

“Yes.. I noticed you really managed to trick Blueblood.. You realize, he will look to even the score with you after this?”

“I do. But, we managed nearly a million bits by the end of the day.. Nearly triple what we expected.” Trixie said, looking up from the photograph challengingly. “I don’t regret it.”

“I didn’t expect you to. Just, be careful.” Luna murmured, gently booping the mare with her tail from her position on the bed above her. “However, I was most impressed with Sir Fancy Pants.”

Trixie agreed, shaking her head in amazement. “Who would have guessed he would not only match Blueblood’s donation, but surpass it?”

“You do realize that he credits Miss Rarity with the inspiration for the generosity, correct?”

“I do. Rarity can be a real whiny… pain at times, but I’ve never met a more generous soul. If anyone could convince the nobles to get off their plots and help the poor, it would be her.”

Luna rolled off her back, shaking her head slightly as she laid her head on her forelegs. Trixie was again peering at that photograph, her hoof lightly tracing Silver star and her Mother, Grace.

“Trixie?”

“Yeah?”

“I know I’ve asked you this before ... But … whatever happened between you and your mother?” Luna frowned as Trixie stiffened, her hoof frozen on the photograph before she looked up slowly.

“Why do you keep asking that? Who ever said anything was wrong between us?”

“Please Trixie. Don’t try to fool me. I saw your dream, and I saw the way it quickly turned into a nightmare when your mother appeared in it. I just want to help you…

Trixie put the picture down and looked away. “I know ... I know you do, but this is hard to talk about.”

“Most things that need talking about are hard Trixie.”

“I know ... Give me a minute and ... I’ll figure out where to start.” Trixie sat for several long minutes with a deep frown on her face before speaking.

“When I was young. About 9 years old, I had an appointment at Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns. We were not a well off family, so we were at one of the few scholarship tryouts that Celestia used to oversee. My father took me and we lined up with the other parents and their children at the hall where they did the testing. I was behind a nervous little purple filly, who kept reciting spell formulas with her nose stuck in the binding of her book.” She giggled as Luna cocked her head, nodding in acknowledgment. “Yes, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Anyways, my Father was playing with me as they called the Sparkle’s into the room. Several minutes went by, and suddenly…”

“Daddy?”

“Yes, my little magician?”

“What do you think they do for the test?” Trixie asked nervously, her tiny horn just barely sticking past the brim of her magicians hat.

“I’m not really sure, but as long as you try your best, you’ll do great baby!”

Trixie smiled, another question on the tip of her lips as the building suddenly shook. A flash of bright colors could just be seen outside the windows of the long hallway they were in, but the rainbow was quickly forgotten as the doors to the inner hall nearly shook themselves off their hinges. An intense magical pressure could be felt from inside the room, and a few muffled shouts could just be heard through the large double doors.

“What’s happening!?” Mystic Flash yelled, holding Trixie close to his forelegs as he moved to stand over her. The guards nearby sprung forward, horns alight as they faced the doors. A massive crack could be heard from the hallway, and above them spiderweb cracks spread forth along the walls. A massive section of the roof broke free, showering the unicorns and guards below with rubble. The guards grunted, straining as their magic struggled to hold the several ton roof above them.

Trixie screamed, eyes squeezed shut as she hid beneath her father. When the moment passed, and she could hear everyone talking at once, she opened her eyes to see a large golden encased hoof before her eyes. She followed the pearly white hoof upwards, ending in the smiling form of her Royal Highness Princess Celestia, matriarch of the sun. She effortlessly held the section of roof in her magic, slowly lowering it to the floor against the far wall.

“Is everypony okay?” Celestia asked, peering at the various civilians and guards in the room around her. A small colt was crying, with a thin scratch across his forehead, but Celestia lowered herself to lay beside him and lit her horn. A bright golden aura surrounded the colt’s head, and the scratch he was bawling about quickly knit itself together, healing without a mark left behind.

She nodded, before turning her eyes on the double doors leading into the inner hall. “Everypony should head home. We will reschedule the trials for another day.” Before anyone could protest, the princess entered the inner hall, leaving them all behind.

“So, you were at the castle when Twilight awoke Spike?” Luna said, impressed at the chances.

“I was. We were rescheduled for a month later, once the inner hall was repaired and Celestia had gotten settled in with her new apprentice.”

“Okay?” Luna said, not quite seeing how this connected to Trixie’s mother.

“It matters, you’ll see.” Trixie said, a deep frown on her face as she lost herself in her memories.
“However, the week before our scheduled trial, my father passed away. With him suddenly gone, life fell apart. Mother was on her own to keep a roof over our heads.” Despite how even Trixie tried to make her voice as she explained it to Luna, pain was clear in each word Trixie spoke.

“I still wanted to go back though. It hurt, but, Father had been proud of my magic. I wanted to live up to that. But…”

“Are you ready to go, mom?” Trixie asked, prancing restlessly in the doorway of the kitchen as her mother walked inside. Ara Lulamoon groaned as she lifted her saddlebags from her back, slowly arching her back to try to work out the tight kinks from a long day's work.

Ara turned to look at her daughter with exhausted eyes, blinking uncomprehendingly. “Ready? Ready for what?”

“T-to head to Canterlot?” Trixie stammered, tail dropping. “My tryout for the school is in a few days …”

“Oh ... Oh my.” Ara murmured, ears dropping as she sat on her haunches. “I am sorry Trix, but we’re not gonna be able to go … I can’t take off from work to go to Canterlot for a few days.”

Trixie remained silent, her face falling as she seemed to deflate in on herself. She didn’t even react as her mom embraced her, pulling her tight against her chest.

“I know you must be horribly disappointed with me ... I will send a message in the morning and request another day for your trial-”

“Don’t bother.” Trixie said quietly, angrily pushing off her mom and storming across the room. “It doesn’t even matter.” She left the room in a foul mood, leaving her mother behind with guilt and sadness upon her face.

“My life continued like that for a few months, with my mom constantly working, leaving me at home by myself. I was allowed to play with the kids who lived nearby, but even though it took time, I began to realize that my mom was allowing me to leave the house less and less as time went on.”

“Now Mista Teddy Bear, If you would be so kind to go stand by Misses Narwhal, I shall no-” Trixie froze as she spun around, catching sight of her mother standing at the living room door, a pained expression on her face.

“Your dad would be so proud of you..” Ara whispered, ears folded down as she hastily wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye. She trotted into the living room, groaning in relief quietly as she sank into the plush armchair.

Trixie played quietly for a few moments, chewing on her lip as she tried to summon the courage to approach her mother with a request. Finally she pushed her stuffed animals away and turned to gaze at her mother reluctantly.

“Um … Mom, I was wondering about something.” Trixie said slowly, waiting until she could see her mother blearily lift her head. “Ginger, Petal and Lillypad are heading to the Bayou this afternoon. Would ... Would it be okay if I went with them? I haven’t really had a chance to hang out with them in the last few weeks…”

Ara sat up slowly, fixing her daughter with a level gaze. “You know I don’t like you being away from town. Especially out in the Bayou. What if something happened?”

“Nothing’s going to happen mom, I’ll be with my friends!” Trixie pleaded, stamping her hoof in frustration as she could already see her mother shaking her head.

“No Trixie. I have to go to work in a little while and I do not need to be worrying about you the entire time I’m gone.” Ara said, pulling herself out of the chair as she made her way into her bedroom to get what uninterrupted sleep she could before work.

“Ugh! I feel like a prisoner here…” Trixie groaned, frowning as she turned to walk next door and tell her friend the bad news.

“I understand it upset you, but is it really so bad that your mom worried about you?” Luna asked hesitantly, cocking her head at the unicorn.

“No, it wasn’t. But it grew worse. At first, it was just outside of town, then, she didn’t want me more than a block from home. And then she basically kept me under house arrest.” Trixie explained, her voice oddly lacking any emotion. “She pulled me from school, and kept me from my friends until they stopped bothering with me.I was slowly going crazy … isolation was hard to deal with. I lived like that for a while.. A few years at least.”

“How was your Saturday?” Ara asked curtly, an edge to her voice as she entered the house.

“Good.” Trixie said, glaring at a thin magazine in her hooves. “I’m all out of magazines again.”

“I will get you more when I go to the market place tomorrow.” Ara slung her saddlebags off her shoulders, coming to a stop in the doorway of the living room. “So, you wouldn't believe what I saw today. I was on the far side of the Prance quarter..”

Her eyes narrowed as Trixie tensed slightly, hooves tightly gripping at the magazine.

“There was a talented young mare there, doing an amazing magic show. You wouldn’t have happened to heard anything about that right?” After a moment of silence, Ara nodded. “Well then, one day we will have to go see this “Great and Powerful… Trixie.” Ara snatched the magazine out of Trixie’s grasp with her magic, throwing it to the floor as she glared at her daughter.

“Damnit Trixie, you know how I feel about you wandering around town when I am at work!”

Trixie stood silently, glaring at her mother angrily. “Of course I do. You never let me go anywhere, or have any friends. How could I forget!”

“It is for your own protection!”

“How is ruining my life is protecting me!?” Trixie screamed, her anger finally exploding forth. “You work every day, leaving me in this stupid house by myself! I hate it!” Her magic lashed out, cracking a vase on the coffee table. Trixie flinched at the sound, her anger suddenly deflating as she stared at the ruined porcelain.

Her mother glared at her, angry tears glistening in her eyes. “We will discuss this more in the morning, but until I get home, you will not leave this house again. Do you understand me, Trixie?”

Trixie mumbled, jaw set angrily as she turned and trotted to her bedroom. She could hear her mother stifle a groan as she to turned tail and left the living room, slamming the door angrily behind her.

“That was pretty much the ending of our relationship.” Trixie noticed the confused expression on Luna’s face, but ignored it for the moment. “With our argument that day, Trixie decided it was time to move on. She had already worked enough shows by then. She had the bits needed for the purchase and to survive a few weeks, but still... I had been hoping… I guess that things would just get better?”

“Bits.. for what?”

“For my first wagon. It had belonged to my dad.. And when he died, it had been sold to a stallion in our town, who had used it to carry product back and forth to the market … Luckily, he didn’t know how to repair the gears for the stage and just used it as a plain wagon, so when I bought it, I repaired it and..” She grew silent, staring at the photo in her hooves for several minutes.

“And..?” Luna prompted, moving to huddle against the mare on the floor.

“I ran away.” Trixie confessed. “My mother had been working two jobs for... years at that point. Trixie should have been more appreciative, but after our argument that day … I just wanted to show my mother that I could take care of myself just fine. I just wanted a real life again. Friends, and if not that, admirer’s. So, that night after she left for her next job, I snuck out. I finished the last few repairs I had left on the wagon, and I left town. I packed everything I owned into it, and I left. I never went back to Neigh Orleans … I didn’t even leave her a note.” Trixie shuddered, tears thickly matting her coat as she began crying. “I’m a terrible pony. My mother did everything she could, and Trixie turned her back on her…”

Luna gently began running a hoof through Trixie’s mane, trying to comfort her. “Every good parent tries the best they can for their child. But, she was wrong to pull you away from everything. A child with no friends or contact with others for years?”

Her hoof wrapped around Trixie’s neck, drawing her close enough for Luna to give her a tight hug.

“It would be a miracle if a pony like that learned to care for others, don’t you think?”

“I-I didn’t-” Trixie croaked out, a few hiccups preventing her from speaking for a moment. “I didn’t care about anypony. I, I just wanted to be noticed, to be seen! A-and then…”

“Sshhhh…” Luna whispered comfortingly in Trixie’s ear, giving it a soft nuzzle. “It’s okay, Trixie. You learned. You had missteps, but you became somepony capable of caring for others. And, perhaps, more surprising than that.”

Luna’s hoof gently raised Trixie’s head. They stared into each others eyes for what felt like minutes, one set teary, the other, firm and caring.

“You became my marefriend.”

Luna caressed Trixie’s nose with her own before planting a short, sweet kiss on her lips. It felt much longer to Trixie, who managed to only let out a quiet whine when Luna pulled away. Trixie nuzzled against Luna’s neck and stayed there for a few moments before speaking up again.

“I, I know she was wrong, but she really tried. She cared for me, and I wish I had found some other way…”

“Well Trixie.. If you feel that badly about it, why don’t you fix it now?” Luna suggested, squeezing her hoof against Trixie’s reassuringly. “I know that it has been years, but it is never too late to repair the mend between a family. I waited 1000 years to repair my sister and mine’s.”

Trixie stared at her for a minute, numbly shaking her head. “I-I couldn’t… It would be better if she just never saw… I just..” She grew silent, wiping at the tears in her eyes.

“If you will let me, I will arrange a chariot for us in the morning and we will go see your mother.” Luna said quietly, pulling Trixie close again with an extended wing. “I’m not going to make you, but I truly believe you need this more than you think you do.”

Trixie stared at the ground quietly, lost in thought. After several moments she stood, and walked across the room, hesitating at the doorway. She looked back to Luna and nodded shakily before leaving Luna’s bedroom, disappearing into the castle.

A Chariot Trip

“Check her room again.”

“At once, Night Mother..” Quickshot snapped off a salute as he turned and trotted into the castle, quickly disappearing from view. As the thud of his horse shoes faded away, Luna turned her attention to the various ponies in the courtyard below. The servants trotted back and forth as they readied her personal chariot, some setting up the harnesses, while others cleaned the interior.

Unlike the chariot she used during her bout to Ponyville’s Nightmare Night, this chariot was a long range chariot, built with comfort in mind rather then speed. The sleek chariot was half and again longer then her local chariot, with a small area for cargo below it. There was evena small section at the back of the chariot for two extra Pegasi to sit so her guards could swap out as the pullers. Unlike her normal chariot, this chariot also came equipped with a large enclosed area to keep the wind off the occupants. Some of the richer nobles of Canterlot had similar chariots, although not as… ornate.

Servants were busy strapping various bits of luggage and necessities to the bottom of the chariot in the cargo hold, and a single servant was stocking up on the refreshments in the seating area as she watched. The only thing missing at this point was her apprentice. She had been reported entering the courtyard sometime after midnight, but her guards had failed to see the mare since. Considering she had use of a powerful Invisibility spell, that was not exactly surprising.

“Do you think I should cancel the trip?” Luna asked hesitantly, half whispering to the bat mare at her side. The mare turned amber eyes on her for a moment appraisingly before shaking her head.

“No Night Mother. This trip will do both of you some good, so I would not recommend it. Trixie will show up, she is… just having some last minute doubts.” Duskfall reassured her, ignoring the very real possibility the mare had done a runner.. Again.

The pair lingered for several moments, each reluctant to voice their doubts. Just as Luna opened her mouth to call out for her travel companions to begin unpacking, one of the servants let out a shout.

“What’s wrong?” Luna called out, leaping over the balcony as she extended her wings into a slow glide. As she approached the chariot, a stallion stepped out of the seating area of the chariot, dripping wet with two empties glasses in his aura.

“My apologies, your highness.” The stallion responded, bowing his head low as his horn flashed. The moisture in his fur flowed off of him into a sphere of liquid that floated beside him. “I was in the middle of pouring wine for your trip when..” He looked back into the chariot and sighed. “Your apprentice startled me.”

Luna had to stop herself from rushing forward, only a slight forward bob giving way to the fact she had nearly bolted into the chariot. “I quite understand. Thank you.” She waited while the stallion bobbed his head before trotting off, before making a beeline into the chariots main area. A small, at least compared to an alicorn, cerulean mare was curled up in one of the back chairs, her cloak nestled over her as a makeshift blanket.

Luna waited for a moment, relief filling her chest as she gazed at the peacefully sleeping unicorn. She smiled gently as she poured herself a glass of water, and drew some of the heat from the glass. The top of the water quickly frosted over as it was levitated into the air. She turned her attention back to the unicorn, just in time to see the glass tip over end and pour onto the mare.

“WHAT IN TARTARUS!” Trixie screamed, jolting awake as the ice water soaked into her fur. “What in the heck was that for!” Trixie demanded, scrubbing at her muzzle to get the warmth back.

“For scaring me!” Luna thundered, her voice nearly a growl as she glared at her student. “You have made such a habit of running off, that I assumed you had vanished on me again!” She stared at Trixie as she looked down, halfheartedly rubbing at her damp fur as she avoided Luna’s stare. The alicorn rolled her eyes and lit her horn, causing the liquid to steam off the mare, warming her instantly.

“I didn’t mean to scare anyone.. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I came to the courtyard to see how we were going to be traveling.. I sat down and kind of got lost in thought.. and fell asleep.” Trixie explained halfheartedly. Luna’s frown slipped from her face, recognizing the troubled expression on her face quite easily.

“I do understand being nervous Trixie. It has been years since you’ve seen your mother, but surely it will not be as bad as you are thinking?” Luna said hesitantly, cocking her head.

“I’m just not sure. I hope you're right Luna, but I just won’t know until we are already there..” Trixie explained, avoiding her gaze as she peered outside. “Speaking of, are we ready to go yet?”

“I will go and check.” Luna trotted to the doorway, slowing at the entrance as she glanced backwards. “I am sorry I poured water on you, I was a bit upset. Forgiven?” Luna asked, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She smiled guiltily as Trixie looked to her, a gentle smile on the unicorns face.

“Nope.”

“Good. I’m gl- What?” Luna exclaimed, startled as she did a double take to her student. “What do you mean nope?”

“I mean nope. I will get you back for that, and you will not even know when it is going to happen.” Trixie said smugly, grinning as Luna huffed and snapped her tail to the side as she exited the chariot. Trixie giggled to herself as she picked up her cloak and twisted it around herself to be secured around her neck where it belonged. A moment later, her teacher re-entered the chariot, appearing to be in a slightly better mood then moments before.

“We will be departing in just a moment. The trip should take about 6 hours, so we will be arriving right between lunch and dinner. As such, there are several snacks aboard and you may eat them at your leisure.” She trotted into the chariot and sunk her flank into the large padded chair, a happy grin on her muzzle as she levitated an apple over to herself.

“Thank you stewardess. Can you tell Princess Luna I am ready to leave as soon as she arrives? Chop chop now!” Trixie exclaimed, clopping her hooves together in a faux snobbish manner.

She allowed a loud giggle to escape her mouth at the deadpan glare directed her way from the lunar princess. Before long, the princess was giggling along to, and the pair were chatting about this and that as Trixie tried to avoid dwelling on the upcoming confrontation.

Author's Note

The chapters will be slightly shorter then they used to be, but it is only so I can get more chapters out sooner rather then later! I am glad to be back!

Arriving in Neigh Orleans

Trixie steadily got more anxious as they approached Neigh Orleans, her gaze more and more frequently drawn from her the princess sitting beside her to the town approaching in the distance. Below them in the far distance, the ocean hugged the shore line and sparkled in the midday light. Neigh Orleans approached in the distance as a collection of dark wood buildings, with channels of water traveling between different districts of the city.

“We will arrive in about 5 minutes, Trixie. If you wish to have a quick snack, I would go ahead and eat.” Luna chimed in, tactfully avoiding an eyebrow raise as the mare jumped. Judging from the wide eyed stare directed at her, Trixie had been so lost in thought she had forgotten Luna was with her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I am going to.. Um.. go talk with the guards for a moment.” She hesitated for a moment, before all but bolting to the small seating area for the two guards at the back of the chariot.

Trixie stared after her for a moment, idly rubbing her hoof across her tail in a nervous tick she had picked up from staying with Twilight. It really did seem to help her think things through, although she would never say as much to the egghead herself.

As her eyes slid over the buildings she could make out from there vantage point over the coast city of Neigh Orleans, she couldn’t help but recall her early years exploring the sprawling locale. She smiled at the bittersweet nostalgia, fighting the urge to cry at several of the memories that were surfacing. She avoided snapping her head to the side as Luna re-entered the chariot proper, appreciating the subtle respect her mentor gave her by not pushing her to talk.

As the chariot circled the city, preparing to land, Trixie was surprised to find she actually wanted to talk at the moment. She sighed quietly, before leaning up and pressing her hooves against the window.

“Luna, come here.” Trixie said nervously, eyes narrowed as she searched for the old weeping willow near the city center. “Do you see that fountain back there? Next to that building with the blue cabana?”

“I do.”

“There used to be a weeping willow there, in the middle of a large park. My mom and dad would take me there.. At least once a week? To sit and have a picnic. It was massive.. And years before, somepony had tied all of these colored bottles into its limbs.. When sunset hit, it would throw rainbows all across the clearing. It was really… pretty.” Trixie said, wiping at her eye as she remembered all the times she had experienced with her family in the town. Even though the city had grown and changed since she was last there, it was still as much a part of her past as everything else was.

“Over by the water channel over there, do you see that little dock?”

“Yes.” Luna avoided speaking to much, worried she would break whatever mood had Trixie seeking to share her memories with her.

“Me and my dad used to feed the ducks there. I’m actually surprised it’s still standing, it was pretty rotten if.. If I remember correctly.” Trixie was smiling a little, even though her heart throbbed at each mention of her dad. “Across from it…” She hesitated, trailing off as she gazed at a well kept theater building. Even from the air, she could make out the name of the theater across its facade.

“Trixie?” Luna put a hoof on the mare’s shoulder, eyes drawn to the theater building. “I didn’t realize that your family owned a theater..?” She said slowly, seeing the way Trixie swallowed dryly, and pushed away from the window suddenly.

“We still do.. I think. I mean, maybe mom sold it since, but.. It still has our name on it.” Trixie traced the gold designs on the floor, avoiding looking up as the chariot went into a dive towards the land below. “My dad used to perform there, theater magic and stuff you know? I know that theater better than you probably know the palace..”

Luna shuffled her hooves uncertainly, hesitating for just a moment before she trotted to the mares side. She felt Trixie tense up as she approached, but she allowed the princess of the night to extend a wing and wrap it around the mares shoulders.

“I understand today is going to be difficult Trixie. But you are so much braver than I was when I was hurting.” Luna confided, studying the city below as they approached. “I mean, here you are, returning to see your mother again. That’s probably doing a lot better then wielding dark magic and attempting to take over the country, right?” Luna said, poking at the mares belly with what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

Trixie cracked a smile, but also sheepishly shrugged. “Well… there was that whole Ponyville thing.. So If that had gone differently, who knows? You might be bowing to the Great and Benevolent Trixie right about now!” Trixie said with a pained giggle.

Luna couldn’t help but snort at that, but she was glad to see her student smiling. The pair sat in silence, only breaking the hug when the wheels touched down in the city square. As the wagon rolled to a stop, Trixie took several deep breaths, a smile appearing on her face at the familiar Neigh Orleans air and she couldn't help but basking in a few treasured memories. She wasn't sure how today would turn out, but she had hope in her heart!

Author's Note

I know this is literally the shortest chapter I have written, but I seemed to have the absolute worst writers block with this situation. I think now that the pair are in the city, it will be a bit easier and the next chapter will be much longer. Work is also calming down so I will have more time to write.

Meeting the Parent!

“So. Now that we are sitting here, I feel like I need to confess something.” Trixie said slowly, scruffing a hoof at the rough stone beneath her. Beside her, Luna sat patiently awaiting her student to finish her miniature freak out. Despite arriving outside the home about two hours earlier, they had spent most of this time alternating approaching and retreating from the small brick home before them.

The pair had quickly navigated through Neigh Orleans, despite Trixie's attempts to distract them from there destination. Luna had gently resteered her friend back toward her mother's home, until she had to get a bit sterner to keep the mare moving.

“What is that?” Luna asked, glancing up from the fashion magazine she had purchased from the nearby corner store. After the first half hour of Trixie’s hesitation, she had purchased a few magazines that looked interesting at the time, and she was nearly through browsing the small stack beside her.

“I really really,” Trixie said, standing slowly and puffing her chest out in determination. “Do not want to do this!” And bolted, attempting to dodge and weave through the nearly empty street as if she was dodging an invisible assailant. But, before she could get farther than a half dozen hoofs away, a dark blue aura appeared around her tail and stopped her in her tracks.

“Trixie.” Luna said, her voice stern as she finished her magazine and set it to the side. “We have been waiting here for much to long. I commend you for coming all the way to Neigh Orleans, but you cannot chicken out at the last step of the process. So, I am going to assist you!” She smiled warmly as she reached out and pushed Trixie’s mane out of her face. “I know you are scared, so I will assist you.” She leaned forward and gently kissed Trixie’s forehead. “By forcing you to the door!”

Trixie’s eyes slammed wide as Luna pitched her across the city square, forcing her hoof into the air and using it to knock three times against the door panel. Trixie froze so suddenly at the sound of her knock ringing through the suddenly quiet street, that she didn’t even feel Luna’s magic release her. The mare collapsed to her rump and forced herself into a sitting position with a glare directed at the Alicorn at the cafe across the street.

“Can I help you?” A tired voice sounded behind her. A tired voice that Trixie had not heard in nearly 13 years, but was still as familiar as the back of her own hoof. She tensed up and took a deep breath, staring at Luna in shock, but haltingly forced herself to turn.

“Trixie?”

“Hi mom.” Trixie swallowed, licking her suddenly parched lips nervously. Her mother stood frozen in the doorway, a pair of red rimmed glasses upon the bridge of her nose. Her mane hung limply down her back, and there was far more grey speckled in it then silver and dark blue at this point. A few new lines in the corner of her eyes and about her muzzle were the only other indication of the mares age. Her eyes were as sharp and keen as she remembered, and they shined with burgeoning tears.

Trixie forced her eyes away and stared at the ground between them.

“Mom.. Trixie is.. No, I.. I am.. So sorry.” She squeezed her eyes shut as she spoke, a sob threatening to escape her lips but she forced it back until she could get out the speech she had prepared for so long. “I am so sorry I hurt you. I was angry, and stupid, and.. I was so wrong to run away the way I did. I never meant to hurt you, and I know I did, I was just so angry and I felt so alone, and I understand if you never want to-”

Trixie was cut off as a furry form tackled her to the ground. She squeaked at the bone crushing hug she was being subjected to, but after a momentary hesitation she wrapped her hooves around her mother and hugged her right back. A moment passed, and Trixie was losing herself in her mother's hug, like she had when she was a filly, until the sound of metal against stone came closer.

“Perhaps it would be best to move this inside?” Trixie asked quietly, glancing at the various ponies on the street that were not so subtly watching the pair hug in the street.

“I think that might be good.” Trixie’s mother said, reluctantly letting go of her daughter as she lifted herself off the dusty street with the help of Luna’s out stretched hoof. She dusted off her side as she glanced up, preparing to thank the stranger that had come to her assistance.

“Than- Oh my!” She yelped, stepping backwards and half behind Trixie. “Oh sweet Celestia, is that Princess Luna!” She whispered, just a tiny bit to loud. Luna stifled a smile as she waited for the inevitable bowing episode.

“Relax mom! This is Luna, my mentor and.. Marefriend.” She finished lamely, glancing at Luna as she made that announcement. She relaxed a little bit as the Alicorn nodded, indicating her acceptance of this announcement.

“Oh.” The mare glanced back and forth for a moment, before her eyes widened even further. “Oh! Ohhhh. So, my daughter returns home with a Marefriend in tow.. Not that I am not happy that you came home,” She explained slowly, trailing a hoof across Trixie’s back. “But, did you have to just come home to tell me your pregnant?”

“MOM!” Trixie yelled, glancing around with alarm. “I am NOT pregnant!”

“Oh, so Princess Luna..?” Her mother trailed off as the Alicorn slowly shook her head, a confused expression on her face.

“She realizes I am a mare correct? And that you are as well?” Luna asked quietly.

“Oh no, I know what kind of stuff magic can do, and I do not have a problem with it, if you love each other, it’s none of my business what forms of magic ya’ll use!” Her mother backpedaled, waving her hooves frantically.

“We are not pregnant mom! Luna has been teaching me magic, and helping me come to terms with some flaws in my life, and I realized that.. I truly messed up with how I treated you, and I wanted to come see you.. With her prompting!” Trixie confessed, seeing Luna’s face as she spoke. “Not because I am Pregnant!”

The Father's Legacy

“I’m just saying, if either of you are pregnant, or were soon to become pregnant..” Ara said slowly, idly tapping her hooves together as she glanced between Trixie, and Luna with a happy, but tense smile on her face.

“Mom. Quit.” Trixie said, eyes closed as she rubbed at her forehead tiredly. “We are not pregnant, Luna has been helping me fix things in my life, and she… correctly,” Trixie admitted reluctantly, “thinks that I need to come to terms with how I left. So, before we go any further-”

“It’s okay.” Ara said firmly. “I shouldn’t have tried to lock you away from the world like I did. That didn’t help you, and while it may have helped me at the start, it was… it was selfish.” She cleared her throat uneasily, eyes starting to glisten as she studied Trixie, lingering over every inch of her daughter. “I have missed you so much Tricky, I don’t want to spend however long you will be in town stressing over events in the past, okay?”

Beside her, Trixie could feel Luna shift slightly, her wing pressing into her side ever so subtly. Even without a side glance, she could feel the alicorn’s eyes burrowing into her.

“I still need to say some stuff.” Trixie repeated, smiling despite her mother's half hearted eye roll.
“I’m sorry to. I should have understood how much you missed dad, and how much it must have scared you to lose him like we did… but, I was.. I was miserable here. I had no friends, I had no one without my magic, and despite putting hours into my shows, I had no one I could even show my tricks to. But, Luna has helped me learn that just because someone else does something that isn’t fair, or wrong, doesn’t give you an okay to do something wrong back, and I definitely shouldn’t have done it to you.”

Ara hesitated, eyes darting to Luna a few times before she got to her hooves and strode across the room, pulling Trixie into another hug, her hooves holding tightly onto the mare. After a moment, she released her and tugged Luna into her grasp as well, drawing a small yeep from the startled alicorn.

“It’s okay, mom’s always been a hugger.” Trixie deadpanned, speaking through the dark blue and silver mane in her face.

“I can see that.” Luna admitted, at the same time as Ara swatted at Trixie’s side playfully.

“I have years of hugs built up Tricky.” Ara commented, pulling away to look her daughter over from a closer distance.

“You’re skinny.” She commented, tracing a hoof over the last vestiges of the unicorns rib’s that could still be seen through her coat.

“I know. I’m working on it though.”

“Are you… Are you eating okay?”

“I am now.” Trixie admitted, scratching at the back of her head uneasily. “I got into.. a bit of trouble a year back that has.. well , it made it a lot harder to get around and make bits.”

“I know.” Ara admitted, trotting out of the room for a moment, returning a moment later with a few tall glasses of iced tea. “I’ve been saving any clippings of you in the news I could find, and about a year ago.. They kind of stopped. I thought the worst, but I.. I couldn’t really be sure what had happened to you.”

“I made a stupid mistake in a town called Ponyville, and when the news spread, well. It got much harder to put on shows, and before long I was nearly bitless and.. If Luna hadn’t found me when she did, I might not be here today.” Trixie admitted, blushing when she saw the way Luna snapped her eyes to her.

“Trixie..” Ara began, her voice a mix of sadness and disappointment. “You could do much better, if you would just get that anger under control..”

“You would be surprised how hard anger can be to control, especially when it has built up for years.” Luna interjected, calmly sipping from her glass of tea as she politely avoided the stricken glance Ara darted her way. “And please, this is your home Miss Lulamoon. If you ever have a place in the world where you can be frank and speak as you wish to, it’s here.”

Ara seemed to disagree, but she cleared her throat and returned her attention to Trixie. “You can be so smart if you put your mind to it.. Your father had the same issue at times.” She commented dryly, her horn lighting up as a set of saddlebags, a heavy coating of dust atop them, floated toward the pair from a tall bookcase. “I.. I wanted you to have these, but when you left… I… I didn’t know where to send them.” She finished weakly, gently setting the bag at her daughter's hooves.

Trixie stared at the bag for a moment, her heart thundering in her ears before Luna gently floated the bag into her lap. With shaking hooves, Trixie opened the small saddlebags and peered inside. She gasped at the interior and Luna couldn’t help but peer inside to see what had surprised the mare.

A beautifully tailored red cape sat folded neatly at the bottom of the bag with several decks of cards atop it, still sealed in their factory plastic. A set of knives in a faux leather holster and a small metal cylinder, as well as knobby wand and a patched top hat rounded out the small bag. Trixie stared into the bag, her eyes distant and mind elsewhere.

Luna gently wrapped a wing around the mare, and Trixie jumped as she pulled her into a hug. After a moment of silence, Luna reluctantly cleared her throat. “Are these your.. Your fathers things?” Luna guessed, nodding silently as she noticed the pained look on Ara’s face as well.
“Yea.. Would it be okay if I stepped outside for a minute?” Trixie said, hoof trembling slightly as she stood, cantering from the room without waiting for a response.

Ara sagged in place, putting her hooves over her eyes and sighing. “Stupid… It was stupid of me to give her that bag… Ugh, what is wrong with me?” She spoke to herself, but Luna easily overheard her.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your husband?” Luna said haltingly, staring at the contents of the bag before she turned to focus on Trixie’s mother once more. “I had assumed it was.. Natural causes but.. I am starting to think otherwise.”

“Trixie hasn’t..?” She trailed off, shaking her head uneasily. “No, of course she didn’t.” Ara stood, and trotted across the room, peering at her bookshelf for a moment before plucking a wrinkled and aged newspaper clipping from one of the shelves. Without a word, she levitated it to Luna. “If you go to look for her, head toward the river. Go outside, take a right and follow the ally. You’ll see her.

Luna glanced at the mare thankfully before peering at the paper, eyes furrowing as she followed the text.

__________________

Luna pulled the door open moments later, glancing back at Trixie’s mother before stepping out onto the Neigh Orleans streets. She looked around the sparsely populated streets, trotting along the home’s front as she headed toward the very same dock Trixie had pointed out in the chariot hours ago. She mulled over the newspaper clippings, a deep sorrow tugging at her heart as the cerulean mare came into view. She passed a low fence, easily leaping over its uneven painted surface as she neared the dock, hesitating at the slimy and cracked wood below her. With a silent spark of magic, a combination of strengthening charms and feather weight magic washed over her and the dock, preventing her from plummeting through its water-rotted surface.

Luna stared at Trixie for a moment, her heart throbbing painfully for the mare before her. She sat herself on the dock, gazing silently out over the water, watching a few random boats drift back and forth across the river before them. The sun slipped ever lower toward the surface, and before long, Luna would need to step aside for a moment to assist in the changing of the sun and moon, but for now, she was content to perform moral support for her marefriend. Trixie had other plans apparently.

“That used to belong to my father.” She said, her tone flat as she pointed out over the bay. Across the bay sat a large brick theater, Lulamoon Magic Theater visibly in large block letters across its top. The letters were slightly faded upon a closer inspection, and there were a number of lush vines creeping up its surface, but it was still a proud building standing shoulder to shoulder with other parts of the Neigh Orleans sky lines.

“He would perform there once a week, and rent it out to anyone who would perform the rest of the time…” She smiled faintly, eyes seeing into the distant past as Luna turned her attention away from the building. “The Great Magician of Neigh Orleans… That’s what all the headlines would read. That was his title. His… legacy.” A tear ran down her cheek slowly as she spoke.

“What happened?”

“He was murdered. Mugged.” She said, jaw set as she tore her eyes away from the distant theater. “Someone robbed him as he was leaving the theater. He didn’t fight back, or wrestle… He didn’t even scream. He pushed me behind him, he handed over all his bits, and they stabbed him…”

“My father was murdered over a hoof full of bits… “ Trixie turned, tears streaking past her angrily sneering muzzle. “Aren’t you going to say you're sorry!” She bit out sarcastically. “Everyone else in Neigh Orleans is so sorry for poor old Trixie… Her father died… It’s so sad-” She trailed off as Luna interrupted her.

“No.” Luna said simply, frowning as Trixie stared at her confusedly.

“No?”

“Will it change anything?” Luna asked, cocking her head at the distraught mare. “It won’t. I am sorry. I am very sorry that you had to go through something so traumatic at a young age, but saying so won’t change anything. It won’t make you feel better, and it won’t bring him back.” Luna pulled Trixie into a side hug, laying her forehead against Trixies. “All I can do is be here whenever you need me.”

And for the moment, Trixie needed someone’s shoulder to cry into.

Author's Note

I am alive! Barely, but I am! I am going to be starting this story back up, and attempting to have it wrapped up in the next few weeks/months so that I can leave it with a good ending!

I am going to reach out to my editor to see if hes still interested in fixing my (probably) dozens of mistakes, but in the mean time I had a wave of inspiration and couldn't wait to get this chapter up! I hope ya'll enjoy!

A Proposition over Lunch

Trixie stared at the hat in her hooves, silently toying with the smooth fabric. She groaned as her stomach growled, rubbing her belly with a hoof. The mare glanced up as a loud knock sounded at her door, jumping to her hooves as another three knocks echoed throughout her wagon. She stepped across the wagon, donning her hat and cape as she walked. She hesitated, her hoof on the door as she slowly pushed it open. The cerulean unicorn yelped as the door swung open, revealing a muscular bat pony standing on the steps of her caravan.

“Wha-Who are you?” Trixie blurted out, pressing a hoof to her thumping chest. The bat pony cocked his head, studying Trixie for a moment before answering.

“My name is Silver Wing.” He said, taking a step backwards to allow the mare to follow him out of the caravan. “Princess Luna wishes to see you at the castle.”

“Is Trixie in trouble for something?” The mare asked, hooves shuffling nervously underneath her.

“No.”

Trixie eyed Silver warily, eyes lingering on the strangely colored wings tucked into the bat ponies side. He stared at her resolutely, his face a blank mask exposing sharp fangs at either side of his mouth. He turned without a word, his hooves stomping over the ground as he marched away from her, only stopping to look back at her until she shakily followed him.

He remained motionless until she fell in place behind him, nervously glancing back at her caravan. The pair walked down the length of the alleyway, Trixie peppering the stallion with questions as they walked.

“So… Why do you have bat wings?” Trixie asked, flicking her mane over her shoulder.

Silver Wing trotted quietly, leveling one large golden eye on her. “I am a Moori. You ponies know my kind as Bat-ponies.”

“What’s it like working for Princess Luna?”

Silver Wing walked on, ignoring the mare’s question. Trixie narrowed her eyes, glaring at the stallion irritatedly.

“Do you eat bugs?” Trixie asked, smirking at the stallion. Her expression fell as he ignored her, staring straight ahead as if she hadn’t even spoken. Finally the pair exited the alleyway, Trixie’s steps faltered as a chariot straight from her nightmares appeared around the corner.

The reins were connected to two broad shouldered bat ponies, their eyes staring straight forward, but their ears swiveling to jerk in her direction. The reigns connected to a deep purple metal chariot, all sharp edges and sleek curves, unlike the gentle swoops and rolls of a Solar chariot. Also unlike its solar counterpart, this chariot had the opening facing forward, rather than the rear chariots the solar guard preferred.

The material of the chariot perfectly matched the armor of the four bat ponies present, two ignoring her, and two studying her like their life depended on it. A single bat pony stood at attention at the rear of the chariot, yellow slitted eyes focused on Trixie.

“Wha-what is the meaning of this?” Trixie asked, turning her gaze on the bat creature trotting beside her. She blinked in surprise as the bat-pony in front of her finally chose to answer.

“Princess Luna has requested your presence at the castle.” The stallion repeated, bowing his head to her politely. Trixie returned the gesture half heartedly, eyes darting around her rapidly.

She hesitated, costing her any chance she had at running away. Beside her, Silver wing beckoned toward the small steps leading into the seat section of the chariot. Trixie sighed, reluctantly boarding the chariot, the two bat ponies taking a seat at either side.

“Ah’m Quickshot. That’s Silver Wing.” The unknown bat pony said, beckoning to the bat-pony opposite him with a wry grin on his face. His voice was thick, with an accent that the mare couldn’t quite place.

“Yes he told Trixie as much a moment ago.” Trixie said, glancing dismissively at the bat stallion beside her as she returned Quickshots greeting.

“Well as… Anti-socia’ as Silver is Ah couldn’t be sure if he would introduce himself.” Quickshot elaborated, nudging Silver with his wing. Silver remained silent, only acknowledging the prod with a slight wrinkling in his nose.

Trixie stared at the pair, suddenly squeaking as the two moori at the front of the chariot took off running. The chariot rocketed down the alleyway, slowly lifting into the air as the two bat ponies at the front flapped their wings.

Wind whipped past Trixie’s mane, blowing it back as the chariot soared above the buildings around them. She lifted her neck, closing her eyes as she felt the breeze against her face, grabbing at her hat as the gale threatened to rip it off. They circled in the air, going higher and higher, until the castle and the tip of the mountain were the only things higher than them.

Trixie opened her eyes, craning her neck to look over the edge of the chariot at the ponies below. She gulped at the height, fighting down a bundle of nerves rising up in her stomach. A bird shot pass the chariot, wings pumping as it soared beside them for a minute. Trixie’s eyes slid over the birds wings, fascinated at the way the wind rolled over the feathers as it flew.

The two bat-ponies at the reins turned toward the palace, dragging them through the sky like a rocket. They soared over the walls of the palace, the large bat pony at her side laughing as a squad of bat ponies soared overhead, rolling onto their backs and nodding at the chariot as they went.

“Look at ‘em, showing off like a flock of peacocks!” Quickshot said, laughing at their antics. “If ol’ Silver Wing was out there, he’d out fly ‘em with both hooves tied behind his back.” Quickshot said, laughing as he prodded Silver Wing, who turned a single large yellow eye on him. Silver’s lip curled upwards, as he watched the squad fly above them.

“Hold on there kid, we’re goin’ in for a landing.” Quickshot said, bracing himself. Ahead, the two ponies went into a deep dive, the chariot snapping downward behind them. Trixie screamed, scrambling to grab onto Shot’s side. A moment later, the chariot rolled to a stop, their ride coming to an end in the largest of Canterlot castles courtyards. Trixie slowly released Quickshot, her cheeks a rosy red as she avoided his eye.

Trixie pulled herself to her feet, leaping down onto the ground, ignoring Quickshots stifled laughter. She gazed around Canterlot palace’s massive courtyard, staring in awe at the colossal fountain in the center of the courtyard. She slowly trotted to the foot of the fountain, eyes wide at the mountains of shimmering bits laying useless just below the water.

She leaned in further, gazing at her reflection in the calm water. “Oh Celestia…”

The first thing she noticed was how dirty her hair looked. Her once beautiful pale blue and white mane was spotted with dirt, more a dingy beige color than it should be. Her eyes appeared sunken slightly, most likely from the trouble sleeping the last few months. She leaned over the fountain, gasping at the sight of her stomach in the water. She could see her ribs, ever so visible from beneath her cerulean coat. She shuddered, lowering herself to sit on her haunches.

“Come on, you! Let’s go get some meat on those scrawny bones!” Quickshot said as he trotted up, patting her on the back, nearly knocking her to the ground. She turned suddenly, flaring at him before resuming her seat indignantly.

“Trixie is not ‘scrawny’,” She said, mocking his accent as she brushed imaginary dirt off her chest. “Trixie is… Trixie is petite.”

“If you were any more ‘petite’, you would have been blown out of the chariot!” Quickshot said, talking over his shoulder as he trotted back to Silver, beckoning for the show mare to follow him. She sighed, following Quickshot as Silver fell in place beside her, walking silently.

They exited the courtyard, her hooves clacking on the stonework below her as they entered an open hall, leading further into the castle. Trixie gazed around the hallway, eyes lingering on each tapestry and statue they passed, amazed at the vivid colors represented on the various works of art.

As they entered the massive dining halls Trixie gasped in awe, her eyes roaming to the cavernous ceiling above her. Colorful banners hung from the pillars lining the walls with several large chandeliers affixed at regular intervals throughout the room. A long dark wooden table stretched nearly the length of the room, decorated with large pots full of wildflowers every so many feet. The table could easily sit a few dozen ponies, give or take a few. She lingered at the entrance to the room, her hooves failing to help her keep up with the two stallions in front of her.

“Come on, blue!” Quickshot yelled back, his tail flicking behind him. Trixie shook herself, galloping to catch up with the pair.

The trio walked around the table, passing through a small side door, leading into a smaller side dinner hall. A small table sat in the center of the room, 6 chairs spaced evenly around it. Quickshot trotted forward, beckoning for the mare to take a seat. He reared back onto his back legs, pulling a chair out for Trixie as she stepped forward.

Trixie nodded her head in thanks, taking the offered seat as she glanced around the room. As her eyes roamed, the two moori behind her passed through the doorway they had entered, closing it behind them. As the door behind her snapped closed, the one in front of her opened.

Four servant ponies entered the room, three mares of various colors, and one large stallion. The mares pushed carts with their forehooves, while the stallion carried a massive salad bowl on a platter balanced atop his back. They lined up to one side of the table, silently nodding at Trixie.

The stallion stepped forward, rolling his shoulder to slip the salad onto the table. Behind him, the mares stepped forward setting various plates and platters of fruits and greens that had Trixie visibly foaming at the mouth. Another mare trotted into the room, quickly depositing the large jugs of juice that sat upon her cart onto the table. Once all the plates and drinks were set upon the table, the servants bowed low, each turning and trotting out of the room one after the other.

“Wait!” Trixie called, before the last mare could leave the room. “Why is Trixie here?”

“Can I get you anything else, miss Lulamoon?” The mare responded after a moment of silence. When Trixie just stared at her, the mare smiled and left the room.

Trixie grumbled, snatching a bread roll off a large platter in front of her. She tore into the bread, munching angrily. Her stomach growled loudly as she swallowed, her hunger reigniting as the food hit her empty belly.

She finished the roll in a moment, snatching another one as her horn lit up with a magenta glow, fruits and greens floating into a pile on her plate. She tore into the food with renewed vigor, teeth mashing together as she forwent any and all utensils.

Luna trotted through the palace, her hooves pounding the stone below her grumpily. She had hoped to be able to meet with Trixie Lulamoon already, but those thrice-damned nobles of Celestia’s had whined and complained every time she had sought to leave her sister’s court. She rarely attended the day court, and days like this reminded her why she resisted invitations to attend.

“Damn nobles… they whine like a soiled filly!”

She sighed, slowing to a stop just outside the hall Trixie dined in at this very moment. She allowed herself a moment, taking several deep breaths as she tried to calm down. She stepped forward, pushing the door open with a mere thought.

She entered the room, a warm smile on her face as she set eyes on the cerulean mare. Her smile froze as her eyes widened, slowly taking in the mess of empty plates and platters sprawled out across the table. Trixie herself sat at the head of the table, slowly rubbing a hoof across her distended belly. Luna lifted an eyebrow, glancing at the chair down the table that had previously been pulled out for the blue mare before her. Apparently, after the servants had left the room, the mare saw fit to reseat herself.

“Well… umm. I had intended to share a meal with you, and discuss a proposition…” Luna said, scratching at the back of her mane. “But it seems, you were slightly… hungrier… than I had anticipated.” She said, gazing past Trixie’s stunned expression at the plates, searching for a single piece of food that had not been eaten, or at the very least not bitten into.

Trixie struggled to sit up straighter, bowing her head as low as she could manage. Her cheeks flushed as she struggled to bow, her head finally falling back as she panted lightly. “Trixie apologizes Princess. If Trixie may be so bold… why did you need to see her?”

“Well… I saw what you did for that filly last night.” Luna said, darting around Trixie’s question. “I was very impressed with both your magic, and your actions. I hate to think what would've happened to her if you had not rescued her.” Luna explained, horn flaring as she drew herself a chair. She sat, taking her position at the table across from the unicorn.

“Is Trixie being rewarded?” She asked, her eyes sparkling eagerly as she sat up straighter in her chair.

“Well… I do want to thank you for helping her.” Luna said, shaking her head. Trixie slumped in her seat, huffing loudly. “But, as I said, I have a proposition for you.”

“Trixie is listening.”

“I want you to become my student.” Luna said, smiling smugly as Trixie’s jaw dropped. “It will not be easy. You will be tested, and pushed, molded and worked over, in ways that you cannot even imagine. There will be days you hate me, and I look forward to them.” Luna said, smiling almost savagely.

“Because in the end you will be better for it. You will learn magics the world has long since forgotten, secrets lost centuries ago. A room will be provided for you here in the castle, as well as a monthly allowance.” Luna explained, bumping her hooves together as she talked.

“Why?” Trixie asked, staring at the table. She put her forelegs on the table, tapping out a beat with the flat of her hooves.

“Why? I just explained it to you?” Luna said, blinking confusedly at her.

“You see Trixie do one good deed and decide she’s good enough to be your student?” Trixie said, tapping the table with her hoof. She shook her head. “Trixie doesn’t buy it. She has done plenty of things in life she regrets… Things she wishes she could take back.”

Luna smiled, nodding at the unicorn approvingly. “I applaud you for not taking this offer at face value. I understand your doubts, and yes I am aware of the incidents in Ponyville. Which is exactly why I am asking you.” At Trixie’s blank expression Luna elaborated.

“I understand how it is to have something in your past you are not proud of.” Luna said, her smile slipping ever so slightly. “I am giving you a chance to prove that you are sorry. If you will become my student, we will figure out a way to show all of Equestria that you are not the mare everypony else thinks you are.”

“If this is that important to you,” Trixie responded after a moment, attempting and ultimately failing at projecting an uncaring air. “Than Trixie doesn’t see how she could refuse such a request.”

Luna cocked an eyebrow, fighting the smile on her face. “We… may need to work on your humility a bit…”

Author's Note

A/N:Well I got alot of good suggestions in the comments, as well as a few new favorite songs from Syrigollen0311! Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

A/N 2: Decided to go ahead and post chapter 3 so I could at least get the story to the point where Trixie is now Luna's student! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

Edited by: Phaoray

Dream Disaster

“Luna, please!” Celestia pleaded, her coat no longer its normal pristine white. Now it was matted, a myriad of bruises and cuts, with flecks of her blood coating her fur. Tears streaked down her muzzle, crashing to the floor below to shatter like forgotten glass. They glistened in the moonlight streaming from above, slowly growing brighter as the moon moved through the night sky.

She looks hurt…

“No!” The word echoed through my mind like a cannon, clouding my thoughts with fresh waves of anger. I could feel a sneer upon my muzzle as a better description for my dear sister entered my mind. “She looks pitiful..”

I couldn’t help but laugh, a dark angry chuckle escaping my lips as I looked upon the worthless waste of might and magic I once called my sister.

“Come now, Celestia. Surely you can do better than that…” I could just make out her eyes widening in surprise as I darted forward, my right hoof slamming into her muzzle. Her head snapped back, a muffled grunt escaping her lips as she extended her wings to break her momentum. With a glare on her face, my dear, foolish sister lit her horn up with a golden aura.

That golden shimmer was the only warning I had as a spear of sunlight slammed into the ground inches from where I had just stood. I grit my teeth, my body losing its form as I turned into a dark mist and flowed across the ground, escaping from her angry gaze in the shadows of the ruins of the palace we stood in. Before she could react, my mist shot skyward and spread out around her, cloaking her in a black and purple cloud.

I watched silently for a moment, grinning savagely as she scoured the mist around her, her head and eyes constantly swiveling. With a flick of magic, a bolt slammed into her back, drawing a garbled growl from her as she whipped around. Before she could do more than level a glare at the cloud though, bolts began raining down all around her, slamming into her relentlessly.

I frowned as Celestia glanced upwards suddenly, a sure sign that I had come to learn meant she had an idea. A second passed, and her horn lit up the room as she summoned a strong wind. Within seconds, I found my form pressed against the floor, hindered from reaching her position in the air. I could feel her magic building, past its usual warmth I associated with my dear sister, and into a painful blaze. The mere presence of such power began making my head throb, the pressure so strong that I could feel my ears popping despite my misty form. Before I could even dart for cover, a thunderbolt shot out from the clouds above, spreading across the floor in a rolling wave of electricity. Pain wracked my brain as I frantically fought to return to equine form, my mind addled as muscles throughout my body contracted painfully. Celestia landed nearby, banishing the thunderbolt and panting listlessly.

“Please sister.. Stop this foolishness! We can work together and fix any issues you have with me!” She pleaded again, coming to a stop mere feet from my shuddering form.

I panted, turning one draconian eye upon her as I ripped my helmet off. “Fine.. Fine. It’s apparent I cannot trounce you, Celestia.” I spat her name, a deep pit in my stomach as I saw a flash of relief cross her muzzle, and a gentle smile appear on her face. “Please…” I said reluctantly, extending a hoof out to her. “I…”

She grabbed my hoof, pulling me to my hooves as the moon reached its zenith above me. I smiled as new strength raced through my body, flooding me with the full powers of the goddess of the moon. Celestia frowned suddenly, eyes darting to mine as I squeezed her hoof, my horn cloaked in the darkest of shadows. A tendril of pure shadow lashed out from behind her, wrapping itself around her throat tightly as a maw of tendrils opened in the floor below her.

She screamed wordlessly, mouth sealed shut by shadows as they dragged her into the floor. Before she could vanish below its pock marked surface, I waved goodbye to her and turned my attention to my new citizens just beyond our castles broken down doors. The silence allowed me several seconds of rest, in which I could siphon power from the moon above in an attempt to ease the aches and pains from our battle. Celestia may be stronger than me, but no one can overpower the full moon in the middle of the night, not even her.

I stepped forward, a dark laughter escaping my lips as I extended my wings, ready to take flight and rule over my new land, now that Celestia had neatly been displaced. However, a sudden rumble throughout the palace made me freeze in place, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as I haltingly turned around. The floor cracked and broke apart as Celestia emerged, the shadowy tendrils binding her having been destroyed in her outburst. I felt my jaw slacken as I stared at the enraged pure white alicorn now in front of me.

Her fur was pure and unblemished, as new as the day she was born. Her mane and tail had long lost their ethereal quality and were aflame, a vicious heat that I could feel from across the span between us. As stark as these differences were, it was her eyes that made me feel weak in the knees. They shined as white as a new star, and radiated a power that I instantly recognized. A power whose source was clear to me as six jewels slowly rotated around Celestia.

“I BEGGED YOU.” Her voice thundered, making me cringe and flatten my ears against my skull. “I ASKED YOU TO STOP YOUR FOOLISH ATTACK.” She stepped forward, the remains of the carpet burning away upon contact with her hooves. “YOU WANT TO CALL YOURSELF ‘NIGHTMARE MOON’, AND BE THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT?”

A wave of magic slammed into me, forcing me to my knees as I struggled uselessly.

“THEN SO BE IT.” Magic exploded from her horn, streaming into the air in a multitude of colors, before arcing down to slam into me.

I bared my teeth, my horn blazing a nearly blinding white as I embraced the full power of the moon in a desperate attempt to overpower the accursed elements. A fierce pain emanated from my horn as I poured every fiber of my being into this last attack, but I forced the pain away. My vision blurred, time appearing to slow to a crawl as the waves of magic approached each other.

All is silent, my sister’s eyes are locked with my own as we struggle, waiting to see whose power is greater. Would my magic blast hers away, or would I be cut down by the elements like so many others? We waited for the end.

The moment stretches on… One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. We both grow concerned. A slow glance reveals that the the waves of magic ceased growing closer. I realized something was wrong. Across from me, Celestia’s eyes darted side to side frantically, but she remained frozen in time. The roaring flames that had replaced her mane and tail sat still, as frozen as the magic arcing through the air.

I found myself in a similar state, trying to even blink proved impossible. A strange moan came from something to my right. The erratic sound of hoofsteps approached. Was who approached now responsible for this? Who would dare intrude on this, my moment of triumph?

“Guh.”

A small unicorn stumbled into view, stopping directly between the two blasts of magic between us. Hey eyes squinted painfully at the light as she peered first at my sister, and then me. Recognition filled her eyes and she stumbled towards me. She stumbled to the side a bit but finally managed to wind her way in front of me. Her head rolled lazily as she peered up at me, and I could practically taste the alcohol on her breath.

The face she makes is, well, confusing. Her grin is assuring, but her eyes blearily look up and down my form in a manner that almost brings a blush to my face. With a overly slow wink, she turns around, ignoring my still presence.

“Stahp that!” The mare yelled, suddenly across the room glaring at Celestia. “Don’ be mean tah Luna..” She hiccuped, grunting as she fell onto her haunches. “Oww..”

She rubbed at her flank slowly, a smile on her face as a shadow rolled across the floor and underneath the unicorn. The shadow quickly became more solid, morphing into a massive cushion, with the unicorn shrinking into the slightly plush fabric. “Thash betta!”

“Now, can’t yuh two be nice ta’ each osher’?” She was standing before me again, instantly appearing at my hooves without a sound. A slow glance revealed the plush pillow to now be just another stone section of the floor again. “Jus’ hug it out ladies!” She scrunched her face up for a moment before I felt my body picking up speed, zooming across the room to crash into Celestia’s frozen forehooves. The unicorn forced us into a hug, handling us effortlessly like a filly wiedling dolls. I frowned as Celestia’s hoof smushed into my muzzle.

“Zere we g-go. N-now k-kiss n make up!”

I grunted in annoyance as my nose rubbed against my sisters. This wasn’t possible. No unicorn was this powerful, so how….

A flicker of recognition finally entered my mind, I quickly freed my head from my sister’s grasp and glared at the unicorn I now recognized.

“Trixie!” I yelled, trying to draw her attention to me. It apparently worked, because I suddenly found myself muzzle down in a cushion in front of her. She was grinning down from above me, giggling at my predicament. “I need you to wake up, or leave my dream!” I fought to regain control of my muscles, but for once I appeared to be at the hooves of dreamwalker.

“Wha’? Why?” Trixie frowned, a flash of hurt crossing her face as she flipped me over.

“I can’t do anything until you let me…” I muttered, cheeks warm at the admission. It was not often that I found myself bested in the dreamworld. Actually.. I don’t think it had ever happened before.

“Oh.. Well Ah’ll just le’ you do whateva you want?” Trixie said, eyes closed as I felt my limbs loosen suddenly. I stood hesitantly, unsure of what to expect from a drunkard who controlled my entire present universe.

“There! Al’ betta! Now th-” The unicorn froze, eyes wide with her mouth open as she stared into the distance. I could feel a massive pressure building, pressing down on me from all angles. It built in intensity until suddenly…

“ACHOOO!”

In the tallest tower of Canterlot palace, Luna shot up off her bed, breathing heavily as she patted herself over, running a hoof slowly over her own snout before slapping the bed.

“I am never letting that mare drink again.” She growled as she lit her horn, a stream of magic exploding forth. It circled the room once before sinking into the floor below her, cutting Trixie off from the dreamworld until the next day.

“Still,” she muttered, wrapping the blanket back around herself and getting comfortable. “-a drunken flustered unicorn forcing me and my sister to kiss would have been a preferable outcome over what really happened.”