Wish

Chapter 1

My body is shivering from the cold. I can hear the sound of rustling leaves and a haunting wind brushing past them. I can hear owls high in the trees and crickets low on the cold, soft ground. I can feel my hand grasping the tall, wet grass standing through the gaps between my fingers. I feel the icy air enter my lungs as if I were taking my first breath. The lids to my eyes open to grasp the world around me as if it were their first sight. Everything is so dark, but the Moon’s gentle light above helps my eyes see the tall blades of grass covered in droplets of water. I can see the thick trees with their branches waving at me, greeting me, or possibly even welcoming me. The Moon is not alone, she is accompanied by hundreds of stars, big and small, that twinkle and shine amongst the vast curtain of black. I wonder, if the Moon were to have a heart, would it be filled with so much joy to be surrounded by such friends in the sky? She is lucky, but I have no company to relieve this sudden loneliness from my heart. It feels hollow; as the wind blows it may as well blow though and echo inside the empty chambers of my heart. I wrap my arms around myself to try and bring warmth along with comfort. However, the chilly air breathes through my dark clothing without end. It feels as if I had never felt warmth before, yet I am rich in cold. My arms feel weak, and my legs idle as I watch the stars. I can sense a feeling that I need to stand; an energy awakening my sleeping legs, as if they are trying to encourage me to bring life into my body.

I press my hands against the wet grass and struggle to lift my body up, as if it were the first time my arms have ever experienced labor, and for my legs, the first time trying to overcome the power of gravity. I can’t give up, but I can already feel myself growing weary. Until I sense that I am not alone in these woods, as though someone is standing by, watching me suffer. When I glance around the dark wood I can see nobody. I want to beg for assistance, for guidance, but my voice feels absent. My arms feel asleep, and no matter how hard I try I cannot awaken them. But I feel something else, something grasping my arms and carefully lifting me. Thankfully my legs aren’t dreaming, and are able to adjust to the stance I am being guided to. I set my feet with their soaking, thin, black shoes sturdily onto the grass. What has been holding me releases me, and I can feel my body wobble, trying to keep itself balanced. I’ve done it; I am now up from the damp forest of grass, but am now surrounded by my real challenge, the dank and dark army of tall wood, yet I only feel curious. Who was it that had helped me? I feel compelled to thank whoever it was, but there is not a soul in sight. I take my first step towards the trees, and they begin shaking and creaking as if warning me to stop and turn back. However, behind them I sense that there is someone beckoning me to press on.

I slide and rub past the first oaks as their bark and branches tear at my thin, wet clothing. I can feel myself nearly slip on a wet stone, but am caught by one of the tree’s trunks. The moon’s light is shining through the gaps of leaves along the slick soil and weeds that which blanket it, perhaps guiding me to find my freedom through this wall of wood. After every step I take, the gusts of air push against me, blowing the trees’ loose leaves into my face. I can hear the sounds of bugs’ wings beating, and sometimes my eyes will catch a small light blink out in the distance.

The moon’s light becomes blocked by grey, cotton clouds that slowly pass by, but I will not let this deter me from walking, because I can now see a trail ahead. Stepping out from the grass and onto a plain dirt path feels like stepping into an entire new world, with it not being covered and surrounded by foliage. There’s only two ways to go, left or right. Down the right, it looks empty and dark; my body won’t even budge to even try and turn this way. On the left I can see the moon hovering, hanging high above the road, and my body feels eager to move towards it.

My body is just so cold, and no amount of shivering and rubbing of my arms can keep me warm. I’m lost, and I can’t find anything as I rustle through my mind, desperately trying to figure out what to do. All I can think of is to just keep walking, and to never stray away from the path. Every breath feels like my lungs are becoming coated in little crystals of ice, and already I am growing tired once again, but still, my mind urges me to walk and keep walking. The energy I had is leaving me; my eyelids are becoming heavy, and just when I think I still have enough strength to go further, I drop to my knees and onto the muddy path. I can feel tears leaking from my eyes, and my heart reducing to a puddle of a hopeless mess. Wiping my hand over my cheek, and watching the Moonlight glisten over the wet streaks draws me to wonder what this all means. Is this sadness, or just hopelessness in its purest form? Either way, I’m alone, cold, exhausted, and my stomach feels empty and in knots. I let my body fall to the moist ground as my tears linger and freeze along my cheeks. I let my eyes close, so that maybe I can somehow escape this place. I let myself drift away, so that I may find a place safe from this torment. “Hey! You there!” An angry voice yells. My body feels as if it has been able to drift away for quite a bit of time. I feel stiff and tense with not even enough energy to lift up my head. “Be gone with you! Go on scram!” The voice continues, now even more agitated.

Blinding lights shine over my eyes, blocking my vision of who it is shouting at me, but I can tell she is very aggravated. I can hear steps through the mud towards my frozen body. I raise my arm to try and block the light, and I can trace a strange silhouette. She comes closer and looms over me, staring down at me with this puzzled look on her face. Her eyes big and irises violet, she stares down at me with an impatient glare. Her coat is of a cobalt, blue color, and her attire is a long, purple, starry cape along with a pointed hat of the same pattern. She isn’t the same form as I, for she stands on all fours with a short snout amongst her face instead of the nose I bear on mine. She is an animal, a small horse of some sort, but her strange color palette and caricature-like appearance befuddle my eyes.

“Just what exactly are you supposed to be?” The mare examines me curiously, “Hmm . . . Strange, but go on! Move! Shoo will you!” She says impatiently, urging me to move out from the path. With barely any energy I suppose I have no other choice but to crawl away, digging my hands into the softened mud and dragging myself off the road and into the grass, unsure of what else to do. I still have no voice to request for help, so I lay myself down in the frosty grass, hiding my face behind the blades hoping not to be shouted at once more.

I watch this mysterious mare turn and climb inside a large, wooden vehicle bordered by bright, white lights. I can hear mechanisms within it turning and twisting. The large wheels holding it above the ground creak loudly as they turn and roll down the path. As it passes by, I try to endure the moment of bright warming lights. Along the wagon’s wall, there are words printed along its surface that read: ‘Witness the Wonder and be Amazed by The Great and Powerful Trixie!’ Here I am still, left in this bed of grass by the only glimmer of hope I may ever come across. I suppose this is where I am meant to suffer. Lost and alone in the cold and shunned by the first face I have ever seen, or at least the only face I can recall ever seeing. Just when I thought that the crying could end, it returns as I painfully watch her wooden vessel roll away.

Just as I prepare to accept this fate, I can hear the creaking suddenly stop. The vehicle has stalled down the path, and starts to roll backwards towards me. My slow heart pulses faster and clutters with hopes that maybe she will perhaps lend me aid. The lights shine dimly upon me as the mysterious pony steps out from the vehicle carrying a large, brown sheet beneath her teeth. She searches around the tall grass and spots me.

“There you are,” she says, wrapping the large sheet around me, “Here, this should keep you warm . . . whatever you are.” Already I can feel warmth, and my body’s shivering takes leave. She returns to her vehicle and I automatically assume she is ready to leave once again, but I am proven wrong for she stops behind the wagon and unhooks a latch that keeps the back door secure in place. It falls to the ground exposing the shadowy interior, and she trots back over beckoning me to follow. “Come now, this way. Get inside before you freeze out here.”

I can feel energy returning to my body as I grip the cloth sheet around myself. I, struggling greatly, limp to her wagon, up the ramp, and into the trailer. The door lifts up and locks into place behind me giving the shadows time to prosper along the walls. I stand, not knowing of what to do but be still and listen to the tough wind blow against the walls of the wagon. I hear a door open and shut that shakes the carriage around a bit. It feels relaxing to breathe air that isn’t icy and cold. I take in the sweet, scented air and sit on the creaky, wood floor. Suddenly, a door at the end of the trailer opens and the shadow of the mysterious pony blankets over me.

Her tall hat begins to glow and lift up off of her head, revealing her neatly kept silver mane, and a horn in the center of her forehead emanating small sparkles of light with a dull, pink aura amongst them. I stare at her horn in awe, for never have I seen such a peculiar sight. A small packet of matches lifts up from a nearby countertop. She pulls one out, strikes it, and lights a candle resting in its silver dish. It soon gathers the same glow as the mare’s horn, hovering over to her side. The candlelight allows me to see more of the room that was once covered in shadows. There is a mirror and make-up stand on one side, and a clothing rack near that. Near me is a small puddle of sheets laid on top of each other, and a small bookshelf with a few books sloppily placed inside it. On the countertop is a tall, glass vase with wilting flowers inside, yet their scent still wonderfully fills the room. The mare steps closer to me and takes a seat. She sets down the candle and stares about me with a puzzled look on her face. “Just what exactly are you anyway?” She asks. I simply stare back silently, as I don’t quite have the answer myself. “You most certainly are the strangest thing I have ever come across. . . Can you speak? . . . Do you have a name?” She continues.

That last question regarding my name sparks something inside my mind, like a small light in a dark cavern. Is this a memory? The reason being I feel I know the answer; I just can’t get my mind to tell me. “I should have figured,” she continues “You’re just some animal that cannot speak. I don’t even know why I bothered trying to talk to you.”

“. . . Aireal . . .” I mutter without any reason. The mare jolts once my quiet voice leaves my lips.

“So you do speak! My, I cannot not believe. . . Wait, what was it you said?”

“. . . Aireal, m-my name is Aireal.” I say, attempting to articulate my words. She stares at me even more puzzled than before as I hang my tired head down to watch the floor, trying to find what it was that forced that name to travel through my voice. Is this truly my name? It must be for it to be said without prior judgment, but how this name found its way to me is outside my thinking.

“Well then, Aireal, w-would you mind telling me what you are?” Still without an answer, I stare down to the floor. “Nevermind. . . Can you tell me where you came from? . . . Where do you live?” Every new question she asks feels like a stab to my mind. No matter how hard I try to think I only find empty spaces.

“. . . Nowhere,” I say after straining in thought.

Her eyes jump around the room as she is unsure of what else to say. “Nowhere hm? Well, allow me to introduce myself. I am The Great and Powerful Trixie!” She then takes a bold stance before me, “I travel to many different towns and villages so that I may fill everypony with amazement and wonder bestowed upon them by my magic! I always deliver a spectacular performance that nopony can resist seeing!” As I stare blankly at her while she keeps her stance, she awkwardly sits back down and clears her throat. “Anyway, now that we know each other, let me explain my deal to you.”

“Deal?”

“Yes, a deal. Trixie will allow you stay with her here in her show trailer for as long as you like.” After that statement, I can feel my face light up with astonishment. I almost cannot comprehend this kind of a kindness being shown to me. It feels as though this can’t be real. “But the catch is, if you so choose to stay, that you must become a part of my act.” Now the newfound glee that had come to me has fled, hiding in the dark corners of my mind. A part of her act? I know nothing of magic. How can I possibly contribute to her performance? How can I compare to the splendor that she says she brings? I can already feel the cold from the outside returning to haunt me. I think Trixie can see the concern on my face. “Oh, there is no need to fret. I already have something planned for you. So, what will it be? Or would you prefer to go back out into the cold? Your choice.”

Something in the back of my mind tells me that this is not a good idea. I know nothing about show business. What if I disappoint her and she throws me back out into the woods? Then, all the more reason I need to try my best and give it all I’ve got if I want to stay. Even if I fail, at least I will be here for the night before getting tossed back into the cold, dank forest. “Well?” Trixie asks, now becoming impatient, “Trixie doesn’t want to wait here all day. Do we have a deal or not?” She asks, impatiently awaiting my answer. With what little confidence I have in myself, I nervously force myself to nod my head. “Perfect! Then it is a deal. Now, go ahead and get some rest, but be prepared for I am already on my way to my next show, so when it is time to fulfill your end of the bargon you had better be ready.”

Those very words feel like a quick slash to my stomach, and my heart pulses nervously. Just as she is about to leave, she takes notice of my nervous trembling, and so she turns back with a sigh. “What I need you to do is simple, but I will explain it to you before the show begins. Right now, I need to continue down the path. Now, please, do not touch anything.” Trixie stands, about to leave the trailer for the second time, but I cannot let her leave without expressing some sort of gratitude.

“. . . Thank you.” I speak softly. Trixie stops and turns around back to me with a sincere tone about her face. However, it seems as if she’s trying to hide it from me.

“Yes, of course. Just . . . Just be ready.” Trixie leaves the lit candle next to me as she steps into the other room. I begin to hear cranks turning, followed by gears. The wood creaks as the trailer is set in motion along the muddy path. I need to calm my heart, for it cannot keep a gentle pace, and my mind is flooding with horrid thoughts. My body is shaking, perhaps it is preparing for the cold it may soon be set back in. Slowly, I rest my body down onto the floor near the candlelight. Gripping the sheet Trixie gave me around my body, I scan my sight along the ground in an attempt to distract myself. I notice a stack of cut wood, perhaps for building a fire, and in one corner of the room, there lay an old sewing machine with spools of thread. Something is amiss here. I feel as though the more my eyes absorb of this world, the more knowledge that enters my mind. I cannot recall any previous experience with seeing such things, so then why? Why do I feel out of place in this life?

Through the cracks between the wood boards that make up this trailer, the moonlight has been leaking inside relentlessly. It has been able to keep me at peace for what I believe feels like hours. I have kept my eyes shut in an attempt to rest, but it was all in vain, for my stomach still crawls at the very thought of what awaits me up ahead. My eyelids clench with the appearance of new colors bouncing against them. With the sounds of many voices happily chatting outside, I sit up and try to peer out through the cracks to see where these colors are coming from. I am in awe, for what I see feels like candy to my eyes. Buildings upon buildings lined with frail colors that warm the heart, once the eyes have been set upon them. Colors flash here and there among the light posts, strings of lights stretching from roof to roof adding to the field of color. The stars only add to the splendor of this dazzling city. What is this place that bears the colors of the rainbow in such revelry?

While being mesmerized by the lights, I come back to the reality that my moment is soon approaching. I take my eyes away from the cracks in the wood, and lean my back against them. My short lived bliss turns to uneasiness, and I come to the conclusion that my trip is about to come to an end. I had better get myself prepared like she said, but my eyes catch something laying in a dark corner of the trailer. I reach over to it and realize it’s a crumpled up sheet of paper. I bring it closer, and unravel it to see that it has been written on. It seems to have gotten wet, smearing some of the ink. Even so, I think I can still make out what it says. It reads:

My dearest,

Do not let your dreams slip through your hooves, and do not let tears fill your life. You have a strong spirit, let it stay that way. I know you hate being alone, and I know I won’t be there to guide you through any rough times anymore, but you need to remember that you’re not alone in this world. If ever you feel like you cannot get through, then do not be afraid to call for help. You’ll find a friend to guide you, I promise. It’s only a matter of time until you two meet.

Just before I’m about to read who had written the note, I can feel the wagon’s wheels gradually come to a halt as gears lock into place. The door bursts open and Trixie hurriedly steps in. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing with that?” Trixie’s face fumes with anger as she uses her horn’s magic to rip the note from my hands, “I thought I told you not to touch anything!” Trixie, infuriated, crushes the note and tosses it into the room she came from. I am in shock and disappointed in only myself, as I should have listened the first time she gave me the order. Whatever that note was, it most certainly was something personal, but then why was it crumpled up in a corner of the trailer? Regardless, I cannot hide my shame for disobeying her order. “Ugh, forget about it. We’ll talk about this later. Right now, I need you to get ready. Come this way, quickly!”

She leads me into the next section of the trailer, which is much bigger, cleaner, and nearly empty. There’s a big, red curtain hanging near the back, and she hurries me over to it, shoving me behind it. “Now, just listen closely,” she begins, “seeing how you seem to have trouble listening, I’ll go about my show as normal. Once you see me fill the stage with pink smoke, that is your cue to step out from the curtain and onto the stage. I want you to kneel down, and as the smoke is clearing you may stand back up. Just look natural, alright? Once smoke covers the stage again, you need to go back behind the curtain. Understood?” I then distressfully nod my head. “Good. Now keep quiet!” Trixie fixes the curtains to stay shut before she steps out to the middle of the stage, fixing her hat and cape.

It’s a bit cramped behind the curtains with the small space and ropes dangling from the ceiling. I need to see what happens, so I lay down onto the dusty floor and peer out through a small slit between the bottom of the curtain and the floor. The whole wall before her detaches and slowly falls to the ground, revealing the splendorous colors and a cheering crowd of voices.

After a short introduction, she begins her show. In an instant, she’s bouncing all around the stage, using her magic to create and levitate objects at will as wondrous fireworks shoot off into the sky, exploding into even more droplets of color. I myself am amazed by the enchantment she brings to the stage. She creates small storm clouds that hover over the stage that rain, and small strikes of lightning flash beneath them. A small illusion of the sun peaks out from behind them, causing them to dissipate. She even performs a card trick, but she manipulates their form, changing their sizes, shapes, and colors. She calls on audience members to come up to the stage before she poofs up all kinds of strange garb onto them. The volunteers she brings up are ponies just like her, except their coats radiate with their pigment. The show has been going on for a while now, and I can feel that my moment is coming up any moment now.

“And now, fillies and gentlecolts! Prepare yourselves! For The Great and Powerful Trixie is about to reach out to another realm, and show you all something you have never seen before!” Pink smoke then fills the stage, “A creature that is unknown to our world!” The whole stage is filled, and my heart is about to jump out of my chest. I carefully slide out from behind the curtains and kneel in the center of the stage as my body trembles. “Behold!” Trixie then holds out her foreleg to introduce me.

By now the smoke has cleared, and the whole crowd along with the glowing city of lights behind them comes clear. The never-ending colors are even more gorgeous out here instead of watching them through tiny slits. Once they see me, they all gasp, staring with their eyes widened and jaws dropped. Slowly, I come to my feet and stare out at them all, unsure of what to do from here. Soon, they begin to whisper to each other and begin calling out: “What is that?”

“Wow, just what in the name of Celestia is that?”

“Hey guys! Over here! Check this out!”

“Hey everyone! Come and look at this!” Soon, more and more bright ponies join the crowd staring up at me in awe, continuing to ask each other questions. They cheer and stomp their hooves against the dirt as others point and comment on my appearance. So many more have joined the crowd that it feels like the whole town came to see. I can feel a smile spread across my face, and taking a glance back at Trixie, I can tell she looks proud as she bears the same astonished look on her face. She glances at me, and I don’t know why, but in her eyes I can see something; I can feel something. My once empty heart is starting to fill with something great, something that I never want to leave. She and I smile at each other, and she turns back to the crowd.

“Now everypony, I would like to inform you all that he is harmless!” Trixie announces, “But he cannot stay, so I must send him back.” All the ponies in the crowd then moan in disappointment, “Everypony settle down. Perhaps this isn’t the last time we will see him. Maybe Trixie shall return once more! But for now, we must say farewell.” In an instant, the pink smoke starts filling up the stage once again. As soon as I’m sure that I’m out of sight, I hide myself back behind the curtains, hoping that I didn’t disappoint her. However, by what I saw in Trixie’s eyes, I feel that I have done my job to her liking. Once the smoke clears, and the ponies see that I have disappeared, they begin cheering and whistling louder than before. “Thank you! Thank you! You’re a wonderful crowd! The Great and Powerful Trixie bids you all farewell!”

The large platform that had fallen to reveal the stage slowly reels itself back up and locks in place with the walls. I peek out to Trixie, and finally await the moment of truth. She happily trots towards me with a look of amazement shining on her face. “I can’t believe it!” Trixie says as she moves about ecstatically, “We did it! What you did was flawless! Go on back into the trailer and I will meet with you in a few minutes.” She hurries over and hops through another door on the other side of the stage. My heart can now be at peace, and my mind can now settle by her words. I take in several calming breaths of the cool air that filled the stage as I walk back to the trailer.

Resting on the floor back inside the trailer, I find myself swimming in disbelief. I had thought for sure that I would have loused up the show. While staring up at the ceiling, I can’t hold back the joy dancing about in my heart. I have never felt my body at such peace, so I finally let it rest as I shut my eyes. While lying on the wood floor, the elated voices outside, discussing how incredible Trixie’s show was, further relaxes me. I do not want this feeling of happiness to leave. I never want to feel the deep, cold sorrow ever again, but in the back of my thoughts I know that I cannot hide from it forever. I feel it may find its way to me once again, but I won’t allow it to crush this moment. Trixie is proud of me, and that is all that matters to me as of now. I can only wait for Trixie to return, and hear what else she has to share.

After some time has passed, I can feel myself growing sleepy, but my heart jump-starts by the sound of a door opening and closing inside the trailer. Before I know it, Trixie steps into the room, using her magic to hold her tall, pointy hat upside down. She sets it down on top of her makeup table with the sound of coins clinking inside. Pulling out gold coins one by one from her hat, she counts. “Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty-oh we made quite a stack of bits from this show!” She continues to bring out coins from her hat, “Usually it would take me quite a few shows to make this much! You did a good job out there.”

“. . . So, this means I can stay?” I ask timidly.

“Of course you may! That was the deal after all! So go on and make yourself right at home. I can tell that this is only the beginning of something much bigger for us. I can feel it. Now go get some rest, we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow!”

“Why. . ? What happens tomorrow?”

“Planning for our next show of course!” Trixie grabs her hat and hurries to the door.

“Wait. . !” She stops and turns back to me while in the middle of the doorway, “I-I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I’m sorry for reading your note,” I say, trying to hide my shame.

“Oh, that. . . Do not worry about that. It . . . it’s not important.”

“. . . So, you’re not mad?”

“No, I’m not. You and I are partners now; we have no time to be mad at each other.”

“Partners. . ?” I whisper under my breath. Trixie once again leaves for the door, and out of the lingering joy still lined within my heart, I feel the need for one last, kind farewell until morning. “Goodnight.” Trixie stops, and slightly turns her head back to me. Her expression seems to be a mixture of surprise, and a slight hint sorrow, but it’s hard to tell with the shadows shrouding her face. Somehow, I feel as though I had done something wrong by her unusual pause, and therefore, I begin to worry.

“Yes, well. . . Goodnight to you too.” On that last note, she closes the door behind her. I pull the sheet Trixie gave me earlier closer to me and wrap myself in it. While resting my head against the floor, that one word is still in my thoughts. Home . . . this is home. A place to belong, and a place to cherish. The place where one can lay, dream of peaceful sights, and be protected by its walls. I am grateful to have found that place, and must express my gratitude to Trixie in any way possible. Never shall I rest from such an expression, because this kind of debt cannot be repaid in full. What she has given me is a gift too valuable, and I will treasure it always. I rest my eyes in the darkness; however, they are too anxious for the sights that tomorrow will show. The gears start to turn, and the wheels roll down the bumpy path as we leave behind the spectral town, headed towards whatever lies in wait ahead. Whatever it may be, I feel prepared, and anxious to find out.