One Pony's Curse, Is Another Man's Blessing...

Chapter Three: A Tiny Thing, A Single Spark...

As I Smiled And Watched My Friends Laugh Their Heads Off At Edith's Embarrassment...

I Couldn't Help My Eyes Drifting To Morgan, Wondering Once More If I Should Confide In Him About My... Guardian Angels.

Even As I Thought Of It, I Felt The Most Active Of The Pair Stir…

And I Tensed Slightly From Old Habit As She Began To ‘Speak.’

MaY wOrK, mAy NoT... SuCh Is PrIcE aNd FoUnDaTiOn Of TrUsT, eVeN tHaT mIsPlAcEd.

I Relaxed Slightly As She Seemed Calm This Day. She Means Well… But A Voice That Becomes A Mixer Full Of Razors When Its Owner Is Angry Is Somewhat… Unpleasant, Inside Your Head…

And Yet Anger Was The Unsubtle Threat Of Her ‘Voice...’

But Her... Whispers, As Creepy As They Sounded, Had Not Steered Me Wrongly Yet... Even If They Were Frustratingly Cryptic, More Often Than Not.

KnOwLeDgE iS pOwEr... AnD iT’s OwN dReAd PrIcE. YoU aRe NoT rEaDy FoR cAnDiD tRuThS, mY sWeEt WaRd... NoT yEt.

A Shiver Snaked Down My Spine, As I Knew She Was Telling Me The Truth.

...But That Didn't Mean I Had To Like It.

A Laugh, Somewhere Between The Sweet Bubbling Of A Brook And The Metallic Scream Of A Machine Tearing Itself Apart, Grated Across My Minds Eye.

Most Would Have Clutched Their Heads And Screamed At Such A Sound... But To Me, It Meant Familiarity And Safety.

...And Yes, I Am Aware That That Is Not Normal.

ClInG tO tHaT sHaRd oF sAnItY hArD, mY sWeEt WaRd. YoU wIlL nEeD iT fOr WhAt WiLl CoMe.

...Why?

Oh SwEeT, sWeEt WaRd... FoRgIvEnEsS gRaNt Me, BuT i CaNnOt RiSk BrInGiNg LiGhT tO tHaT dArK...

I Bit Back A Sigh Of Frustration... All These Years, And She And Her Companion Had Not Even Given Me A Name...

HaVe NoNe, OnLy MaNtElS, mAsKs AnD tItLeS... AlL, aLl, AlL, sO eMpTy oF wOrTh, ChOiCe, VaLuE aNd WaRmTh...

I Had To Lean Against A Wall To Brace Myself. Normally, Her Whispers Where Warm And Comforting... A Warmth For The Mind And A Balm For The Spirit.

Not The Last One.

It Had Howled. As Cold As Deepest Winter, And With As Much Bitterness And Longing, As If Spoken By The Last Man On Earth Over His Lover's Body...

...UnTiL yOu.

Pride, Oh Lord, Such Pride. The Sheer Warmth, Mass And Burning Hope Of It, Drove Me To My Knees. I Vaguely Felt Alexander Move To Brace Me, But It Felt So Far Away.

When Next My Guardian Spoke... I Nearly Screamed. It Was Like Staring Into The Very Core Of A Inferno Of Fury... Where A Thousand Defiant Blades Were Being Tampered, For A Battle That Would Be Won, No Matter The Cost.

ThAt BrOkEn, WoRtHlEsS, iNcOmPeTeNt MoNsTeR wIlL NOT hAvE yOu! EvEn If I mUsT tEaR tHe SkY aSuNdEr! NoT eVeN iF iTs ElDeRs AiD iT, wIlL i OfFeR mErCy oR rEsPiTe!

My Head Pounded, And I Vaguely Felt Something Drip From My Nostril. The Corridor Spun, But I Could Barely Make Out Four Blobs. My Vision Was To Blurred From The Pain To Do Anything More.

FoRgIvEnEsS, mY wArD. She “said,” her words once more portends of warmth and safety. My FuRy ItS dIkE bRoKe. It ShAlL nOt OnCe MoRe CoMe To PaSs...

I Reached Up With My Fingers... And They Came Back, Red And Sticky. Blood.

As The Presence In My Head Faded, A Note Of Shame Departing With It, I Noticed That Somebody Was Speaking At Me. I Focused At them...

As much as I felt extremely mixed about my new hooves and the body that accompanied them, I must admit a shiver of delight danced across my spine when I managed to be first at Tim’s side despite having been the furthest away from him. It was hardly subtle thanks to the clopping sound, but man could I move when I wanted to...

But now was hardly the time for introspection.

“You alright?” I asked again, trying not to sound as panicked as I felt.

We were just talking when Tim just... collapsed.

Abraham was halfway down the corridor when Tim finally focused on me. “...Will be. Ugh, my head...”

The sound of Tim's voice made him turn back, but jogging instead of running.

I quickly grabbed the hand Tim was about to drag through his hair with a hoof. “Don't. Your fingers are covered in blood.”

He blinked groggily at me, before nodding and carefully folding his hands on his shirt.

“...What happened?” Morgan asked.

I glanced up at the towering stick of a man. He was just standing there, arms folded at his back and with cold, but worried eyes.

He looked more like a soldier prepared for battle, then a friend standing over a comrade.

I gulped. He may have helped me greatly during the last... horrible week, but there was just something off about the man to me.

Morgan folded himself with one smooth motion, sitting down on one knee and holding up a clenched hand in-front of Tim's face. “How many fingers, Tim?”

“...Zero?”

The cold in Morgan's eyes just evaporated. Poof. One moment there, the next, gone. Damn, did he look like that when he was sitting outside that bathroom with me? A smile, as warm as his eyes had been cold spread across his face. “You had us worried. What happened?”

Tim closed his eyes and leaned his head back, frowning. Morgan put a hand on his head and gently made him put it level again. “Don't, you'll have blood flowing back. Might end up in the wrong pipe.”

Tim frowned again, but gave the man a thumbs up, eyes still closed.

Suddenly, I got an idea. I quickly walked over and grabbed one of the pillows I’d pressed into service as replacement office chairs, using my teeth.

Trying not to taste the old cloth and stuffing, I swiftly returned and spat the thing out on his lap. “Here, use this.”

“Good thinking.” Morgan murmured approvingly at me, as Tim grabbed the pillow and nestled it into place behind his head. He didn't say anything, but the relief on his face was thanks enough.

I flashed a smile at the man. He may give me the heebie-jeebies, but anybody that cares for his friend like that, can't be all bad.

“...Should we call an ambulance?” Alexander said, worried, but he too had kept his cool.

Morgan shook his head. “Tim has had these sudden headaches before. The doctors haven't found anything. Just give him something to drink and a couple of minutes to get on his feet, and he should be fine.”

For a moment, I thought the lights had gone out... But no, it was as if a darkness clung to Morgan. A nimbus around the man, where light simply wasn't... and yet I could see him just as clearly. It lasted only for a couple of moments, but something about it was... both frightening and familiar.

He took a deep breath, as if calming himself... and just like that, the oppressive feeling around him was gone.

What. The. Fuck.

O-K, Edith. Calm down. Must be a pony thing. Ask Morgan later. He's been nothing but helpful, so far. You can trust him on this...

...I hope.

It took a moment or two, for the young man to center himself, but when he next spoke his voice was soft. “Tim... Have you had nosebleeds before? In conjunction with the pain, I mean?”

Tim gave a slow, shallow nod. “Years ago. The doctors didn't find anything then, either...”

Morgan frowned, but seemed to except the words. “You want me to drive you home? Let you get some rest?”

For a moment, it looked as if Tim would protest... but then he clutched his head again. “...Yeah, please. I think it triggered a migraine this time. Everything is just so bright...”

Abraham walked over to Alexander, and put a hand on his arm. Then he leaned in a whispered something to him. Alexander's eyes widened slightly, before leaning away and talking. “You had a coughing attack just a bit over an hour ago. Let me do it.”

Morgan took a deep breath, steeling himself again. “...Fine. Want me to go with you both?”

Alexander shook his head. “No need.” He jerked his head towards me. “You had something to ask Edith, right? That's also important...”

I looked between the two, trying to fight the pang of paranoia I felt. So far, work had been a bastion of stability for me. I really, really, really, hoped that wouldn't change...

I fought back tears. Too many damn things had changed for me recently. I just... wanted it to stop. For the world to turn sane again, just long enough for me to find my center.

Morgan must have noticed, because he turned towards me and smiled. “Nothing bad, just curiosity. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine too.”

I chuckled and scratched the back of my head with my braid. “...Sorry, dear. Last week has been trying for me.”

Morgan nodded, before rising again. “...I get that,” He said, voice still soft. “but I thought I should ask you if it's alright I ask my questions at the poker table?”

I blinked at the man. “...Why?”

“I don't think I'm the only one interested in the answers... “ He stated plainly, the other nodding. Even Tim, despite being dazed.

Morgan took a deep breath again, steeling himself once more. “...I'm going to be blunt. I'm worried. I'd like to know how it started, how long it took... Things like that.”

I locked eye with him. Searching his apple-green eyes for any hint that this was a trap or cruelty of any sort... Forcing back the near tide of Déjá Vu that flooded over me, at seeing eyes that color.

...And I just couldn't place it. It felt as if I was forgetting... something very, very important. Like my mothers face, a lover's voice, or something. But not even a glimmer surfaced, so I focused on the present.

But no, I saw nothing untoward in those eyes. Just kindness and patience... and hope.

I let out a sigh. Darn it. I didn't want to talk about it, but refusing somebody asking so nicely after having done so much for me? Not gonna happen.

And then he twisted the knife, just because he saw me hesitate. Fuck.

“...I think I might have it too.”

I was the one that took the deep, calming breath this time. “...Any reason why?”

“Remember Trixie?”

I nodded slowly. I'd never liked the little braggart of a overgrown and over-glorified dishrag... and I had never been able to put my finger on why. Bile just rose in my throat, whenever I saw her.

The last six blessedly Trixie free months had been wonderfulfor my blood-pressure...

But it still scared me. Why would I react like that, to a two bit ventriloquist and his sock-puppet?

A two bit ventriloquist that had been nothing but supportive and helpful, and a sock-puppet that was usually respectful, if far too full of herself.

...I may not be one anymore in the literal sense, but I still consider myself a rational man.

So why wasn't I one, on this point?

Then it clicked.

“...You think... What, that a certain wizardess was just as cheating a bastard of a nag in her previous life, as in this one?”

I have no idea what made me phrase it like that, or even say the words, but they felt right. The sky is blue right, if you follow. All of it.

“Trixie resents that! Trixie did her bucking best, and you know it you prissy show-pony!” A voice rang out. A female, shrill and familiar one.

Screaming at the top of her lungs, right by my ear.

As I winced and clutched at the aching thing, Morgan darkened again but with his face following suit this time, his eyes unfocused...

It was a open secret that his eyes crossed like that when he ‘talking’ with Trixie... And judging from how he had murder in his eyes, I was glad he kept the tirade internal.

“...Trixie would like to apologize,” she said, from roughly the height of Morgan's shoulder. “Trixie meant it, but shouting it in your ear was out of line. Sorry.”

I glared at the spot the voice was coming from. Was it just my imagination, or could I see a small blur there? Anyway, the important bit at the moment was that she seemed genuine.

The pallor that clung to Morgan faded a bit at her words, but didn't disappear entirely. The snarl on his lips doing the same.

I glanced around. Tim was still dazed... But Abraham looked terrified.

“...Apology accepted. Please pardon my words as well.” I said, stiffly but meaning them.

“...Sweet mercy, you're the real one aren't you?” Abraham said, his voice nearly a whisper.

The air darkened around Morgan again. Forming such a oppressive void, it almost sucked the breath from me. “If so, she has never seen fit to tell me. Not for twenty damn years. The twenty damn years she has called me a friend.”

You could have dissolved gold with the acid in his voice. Trixie had no reply for the rest of us, and judging from that Morgan's eyes didn't as much as twitch... neither had she one for him.

He closed them, took a deep breath with his arms closed...

And I almost wished the dark back, when he opened them. They just looked so sad and old.

“...Trixie, I if anybody know that you are many things...” He began, voice trembling with barely restrained emotions. “...but I never thought you a coward. Speak with me.”

Morgan... started crying. Two tiny flows, dribbling down unashamedly on his cheeks.

“Please.”

What happened next nearly made me jump out of my skin...

For a couple of days now, I had felt... tension, dread, hope, wonder, fear... Name an emotion minus lust and its ilk, and you have the right idea. This horrible emotional cocktail that had left me bone-weary.

But now?

I felt... betrayed. Plain and simple. All the signs were pointing towards me either having had a massive psychotic break...

Or my oldest friend had never bothered to tell my her deep, dark secret... that she was real.

At that moment, I near wished it was the first one. The other... hurt to much.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried again. “...Please,” I said, as the tears started flowing even more. “...just talk to me.”

A strange feeling came over me, startling me enough to make me stop crying. I looked down at my left hand, where the strange tingling warmth was concentrated.

A pale, purple nimbus of light, so dark a shade it was nearly black, surrounded it.

The sight took my breath away.

Magic. Almost the same color as...

I looked up, as the strange sensation built, focused somehow in the middle of the room.

...And then she just stood there. No flash, no fanfare.

A pony with a horn, reaching me a little bit less then my navel. Blue pelt. Silver hair. Magenta eyes.

A wand with a star on the end, trailing glittering motes as it swung, as a cutie-mark.

The others yelped, before settling down. Starring.

Aside from being slightly see-through... Trixie, in all her glory, if minus the hat and cape.

I carefully lifted my gaze. Including any and all things a kids show would leave out.

And she was crying, looking absolutely crestfallen.

I let my breath out. The boiling anger and bitterness replaced with... emptiness. Just emptiness.

I felt hollow. Like my heart had been torn out.

“...I am so, so sorry.” She said, spectral tears streaming down her face, but vanishing before they hit the ground.

...First person. Trixie only does that when she is feeling wretched... but she knows that I know that.

And she is a performer.

“...How long have you been able to do that?” I asked plainly. My mouth felt like ash as the words passed them. Trixie had been... less than both forthcoming and impressed, on my attempts to learn magic...

And a dark part of couldn’t help asking the question ‘Why?’

“...Two month.”

“...I see,” I said softly, but my voice cold and near dead. “how come you didn't tell me?”

She started rubbing her hooves together, not looking me in the eye. “...Trixie thought it would make a wonderful birthday surprise...”

I raised an eyebrow, as the mare took a deep breath. That... would indeed have made one heck of a present. And the time-frame held up, somewhat. My birthday was only a couple of days away.

“...then... Then... This bucking mess started. “ She said, waving a hoof at Edith. “Tr- I... just didn't know what to do. I gave up on being more than a guardian spirit decades ago! And now... n-n-now...”

She covered her head with her hooves, bawling like a babe.

Then it clicked.

Edith.

I glanced at the other mare in the room, the one looking like she didn't know if she should shout hurray or puke.

Or more precisely...

What Robert had become.

She thinks she will... overwrite me, for lack of better words. That's why she's been so quiet.

She's hoping that if she is, then she'll fade instead.

I took the steps towards her, sank down as she tensed...

And gave her the hardest damn hug I could muster. I half expected to pass clean through her, but it was the principal of the matter. But that didn't happen. It was kinda like hugging something halfway between a air filled balloon, Styrofoam and one of those sand filled stress balls. A physical presence, but a weak and brittle one.

For a moment, she just blinked and looked at me... before hugging me back and crying even harder. It was almost a wail, but heard a stream of sobbed “I'm sorry!”’s in it.

“You moronic selfish twit of a sappy biddy of a nimrod.”

Trixie tensed and stopped at my words. So did everybody else in the room.

“You honestly thought I would just let you waste away in the dark corners of my mind?” I said my voice harsh... and then I hugged her even tighter, even forcing a breath from whatever passed for ‘lungs’ on her.. My arms burned, but I didn't care. “You're the best damn thing that has ever happened to me. I damn owe near everything I have and am to you! If I thought for a second that it was you or me, then I would drag you into the drivers seat and mentally cuff you there, myself! With a bloody fucking smile!”

I relented in my hug assault, but only because I couldn't keep it up. “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever...”I took a deep breath. “...ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, in a million fucking years, ever, ever, ever...” I took anotherdeep breath, because I know how fucking thick Trixie's skull is.“...ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever...” Yes, that damn thick. *Gasp.* “...ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever...” Yes, that damn thick. “...ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever do that to me again!”

I took another breath and swallowed, mouth dry after my tirade. “...Friend don't keep each other in the dark like that... Not over stuff like this.” I whispered, but I am sure everybody in the room heard me. It was that quiet.

Only then did she tightened her grip in turn. “...I promise.”

“Don't get me wrong, this isn't finished...” I said, as my tears once more started flowing. “I am going to rip you a new one verbally until you'll see ‘ass-face’ as a compliment.”

“...Oh?”

“Then I'm going to look through all my old occultism books, to find a way to bind you, you dusty old ghost, to the fucking couch for a fortnight. Just to force you to sleep there!”

I ignored my friends snickering in the background. This was serious business.

“...Really?”

“Then I'm calling big-sis and telling her everything.”

That made Trixie gasp. “...Can't we talk about that last one? Please?”

“...Seriously?” I heard Edith whisper.

“Biologist that fancies herself a cryptozoologist. Her temper is almost as bad as Morgans when you finally rile her up andshe's gonna go spare once she learns she's been related to the host of a unicorn spirit all these years...”Abraham stated, smiling nearly as wickedly as I was.

Edith's mouth turned into a little O of horrified understanding.

I started laughing like a loon, as realization dawned.

“...What?” Trixie asked, clearly dreading the answer.

“I'm going to turn into a unicorn mare...”

Trixie winced.

“...and I don't care!”

The entire room made a collective “Huh?”

“Because Trixie is best pony.” I stated, as plain and simple as “The sky is big.”

Her lips twitched, but she kept a straight face. “Seriously?”

I looked at her, almost feeling the twinkle in my eye. “Always wanted to say that in a serious conversation...” Her ears twitched in annoyance, just as I leaned a bit further down and kissed her on the forehead, just above her horn. “...and yes, I was utterly serious.”

As I drew back, I saw – not to mention heard a collective “Dawwww...” - her blink away some moisture in her eyes and she was grinning happily.

Made me pause and wonder... What had it been like for her, all these years? Thought of as nothing but... a figment of my imagination?

And not only by others.

...But there was no way I would breach a subject like that when she was smiling so happily.

So I decided to a, test something that was nagging – no pun intended – on me about this little trick of Trixie's...

And b, throw her a bone.

“Trixie?”

Her smile faltered a bit, but she was looking me in the eye, so a good start. “...What?”

I held up this hand of mine, the one with the awesome glow of power on it. “Care to tell me how this works, exactly?”

I decided right then and there, judging from how Trixie's eyes almost jumped from their sockets, that the answer was properly not sunshine and rainbows. She reached out with a shaking hoof...

And I couldn't help myself and gave her a brohoof. Trixie sighed in annoyance. “Just what must Trixie do, to make you take anything seriously?”

“Hey, I take plenty of things seriously,” I said as she started examining my hand.

Trixie froze, before looking up and giving me a disbelieving look.

“High explosives, death, taxes, transhumanism, guns, bacon, coffee...”

Trixie just sighed at my ramblings, and went back to poking my hand.

“...chocolate, liquorice, ABC-weaponry, sörströmming...”

At that last one, both me and Abraham started drooling. Trixie just shuddered.

Still, the joke had gone on long enough,

“...family.”

Trixie tensed. Then I ruffled her hair with my other hand.

“And jokes aside about big-sis, sis, I cant wait to tell them this.”

Trixie went... blank. Like she didn't know if she should laugh or cry.

I leaned in again and gave her another hug. “...I won't pretend to know what the last two decades have been for you, but they're over...” I had to draw a breath and steel myself, before continuing, forcing my fears for the future to go away. “...No matter how... the others react... To me, your family, you hear?”

Trixie still looked a bit dazed, but she forced a smile. “...Thank you, that means a lot to me...”

Just as I was about to answer, somebody cleared their throat. I looked up.

Edith. And she looked as if she was near crying... and minutes from going on the warpath, all at once.

She had to swallow, despite clearing her throat... No doubt not completely trusting her voice. “If you're the... real Trixie, what does that make me?”

I winced. Hadn't thought about that.

Trixie disentangle herself from me, and trotted over. I noted with slight interest that she was accurately a bit taller then Edith. Not much, only a couple of centimeters, but it was something different from the show.

Not to mention quite a bit thinner, but there was no way I would ever say that near a earth-pony mare. I seriously doubted a buck in the nuts would improve my health.

...Even if I had to admit, the curves really suited the ‘young matron’ vibe, Edith had going.

I blinked, as I got to my feet and a thought came to me. The ‘show...’ Now there's an intriguing question... But I filed it away for further thought later. The discussion at hand, seemed more interesting anyway then theoretical perhaps...

Trixie trotted over until she was only a couple of decimeters from Edith, before sinking down on her haunches, looking her in the eye and saying calmly:

“Trixie doesn’t know.”

Edith stood still as a statue for a couple of moments... before starting to look near murderous.But she restrained herself, if barely. “...Then what do you know?” She near snarled.

Trixie looked back at me, uncertainty in her eyes... without actually rising. Damn, color me impressed at pony neck flexibility.

I gave the mare a nod. “Just tell her. If I'm somehow involved, I don't care if she hears. She's a friend, I trust her to be discrete. The same for the other in this room...”

I gave the mostly recovered – if still looking a bit dazed, if for other reasons... - Tim a look. “Even if I would like that door closed.”

He blinked, before swiftly nodding and closing the door in question.

Trixie looked at me hesitatingly for a moment, before nodding and turning back to Edith... who had a small smile tugging at her lips. Heh, guess somepony liked hearing that said out-loud...

Trixie took a deep breath... Huh, wonder if that is where I got that habit from? Anyway...

“Discord went back to being a bastard again. Trixie went on the run from Canterlot... and the last thing Trixie remember before waking up in Morgan's mind-scape was striking a deal with a Nightmare spirit that found her, to at least have a chance at beating the bastard without The Elements...”

I glanced down at the almost black glow around my hand. Oh fuck.

Still... I refocused on Trixie. What may be, will be. If the ‘Dark side’ ended up claiming me, so be it.

But I most certainly intend to do my best beforehand.

I saw her blink away a few more tears, before continuing, voice barely more than a whisper. “...I honestly thought I had... died, and this was some... ironic hell Discord had stuck me in.”

She continued, voice raised this time. She reared on her hind-legs, fury writ large on her face. “The only bucking wizard on the planet... and I couldn't even make my bucking telekinesis work! The best I've managed is this astral projection, a bucking ventriloquist spell and some very limited dream-walking! Even foals can do the last two! ”

I blinked. Damn. Note to self, ask for the long version later...

And proper magic lessons.

And why Edith went cross-eyed at the story.

Right now, we have bigger fish to fry...

“...Does it now?” I asked softly.

That made her blink, and almost topple over on her back as she froze stiff. “...What?”

“...Well, you look like a unicorn to me and...” I held up my hand. The glowing one. “...just call it a hunch, but I think it may work.”

Trixie looked... baffled, let's call it that. “...Do you have any idea how many nights I have spent, trying to make magic work, by proxy and with somebody that doesn’t have a horn, at that?”

I nodded at her forehead, and then back at my hand. “Come on, try it. If this stuff is dangerous to humans... well, that won't be a issue for me much longer, will it?” I stated, as Trixie flinched slightly.

Suddenly, Abraham of all people was right in Trixie's face. I'm usually the one with – decently controlled, but still – anger issues...

But now, he was snarling. I moved to restrain him, but he just showed me back, before turning on Trixie again.

She was just calmly looking him straight in the eye. She hadn't even put her ears back.

Abraham visibly forced himself to calm, but it was clear it was a close thing. He was shaking, and had his hands clenched so hard they were almost bone-white.

“If Morgan's health has anything with Trixie to do, then it was not intentional,” she calmly stated, not even twitching a ear.

I had to take a breath at that revelation. Hadn't had time to come to it myself.

Trixie made a come closer motion to the partially mollified Abraham, before whispering something in his ear. As soon as she finished, Abraham shoot up like a rocket, before turning and giving me a very odd look.

“...What?” I asked.

He glanced at Trixie, that was giving him a very intense warning glare, before looking back at me. “...Sorry dude, Trixie says she'll dance on my crutch wearing horseshoes if I tell you. I think she means it...”

I raised a eyebrow at my friend. He sounded completely calm again, he was even smiling... even if it looked a bit sad.

“...Nothing bad, but she want you to figure it out yourself.” He continued, still with that sad, but hopeful smile.

I shook my head at my friends cryptic statement, but accepted that it was the best I was getting at the moment.

...Then I noticed Trixie had the same smile. Sad, but hopeful.

...Anyway. “I'll drop it, for now...” I started. “...but think about it.”

I held up my hand, letting everybody in the room get a close look at my gloving appendage. “This might be just because of the whole Pony thing and Trixie... but what if it is not?”

An excited murmur flowed through the room.

“Exactly!” I said, almost forgetting myself and slamming my hands together in excitement. “What if humans are perfectly capable of using magic... We just can't see or feel it, most of the time. The trick to how, lost in time! This could make fire and the wheel, look like the invention of the drink umbrella!”

A stunned silence filled the room, every eye darting between the azure mare and my hand...

Except the mare herself. She was looking at me, pride near burning in her eyes and a fierce smile on her lips.

I carefully rubbed my hands together, noting with glee that this did nothing to the magic. A grin spread across my face. “So... My dearest Great And Powerful Trixie...”

Her ears darted backwards, a frown on her face, as she searched my futures for signs that I was messing with her. When she found none, her ears folded back again and a puzzled expression replaced the frown. “...Yes?”

“How would you like to help me with a series of experiments...”

Trixie gulped, no doubt remembering some of the things she had seen by proxy in my dads practice.

“...and maybe, just maybe...” My grin grew so wide, it must have looked like my head was about to fall off.

Trixie leaned in, waiting with bated breath.

“...become known as the mare that thought humanity how to reclaim their usage of magic?”

The room was silent when I finished, save for the buzz of the fluorescent light. A dropped pin would have echoed.Not even breathing could be heard.

A grin spread across Trixie's face, easily not only rivaling the one her show counterpart had shown when claiming the Alicorn Amulet, but easily surpassing it.

Her eyes sparkled, and she said:

“My dearest Morgan... Trixie would love too.”

As we both throw our heads back and laughed, I dreamed awake of wonder and ruin, to hold creation and destruction in my very grasp, to perform such deeds that the names of none in this tiny room would ever fade... and thought:

This just might be the start of something wonderful... I damn well sure intent to try making it so, at least...

But first, a simple test...

I snaked my hand down into my pocket, grabbing my wallet. “Hey, Trixie?”

“What?”

“Catch!” I shouted, as I threw the wallet straight at her face. She jerked back and the whole room became deathly quiet...

And I started jumping and giggling with glee.

Because everybody, including Trixie with a shocked expression and her horn aglow, was staring at the wallet floating in her aura.