Trixie Meets a Great and Powerful Human

Chapters

Introductions and Recoveries
Traveling and Learning
Of Trappers and Magic Tricks
Sicknesses, Swamps and Monsters oh my!
A Night Away
Revelations in Manehattan
Forgetting of the Past
A Grand City, A Happy Night And A Dark Surprise [Part One of Two of the Finale]
The Battle Between Good and Evil [Part Two of Two of the Finale]
What's a Human?
Lessons on the Road Side

Introductions and Recoveries

Author's Note

Hey guys, I had plenty of time today to work on this and the next chapter is here! I took the suggestion of slowing it down into consideration and this was the end result, hope it's better than the first chapter!

Introductions and Recoveries

Pain.

Her throbbing head was all Trixie could think about. She slowly opened her eyes to see only blurs. She rubbed her eyes with her hooves hoping to clear her sight. The first thing she saw was the ceiling over her bed, unmistakable because of the replica of her cutie mark that she painted above it, a blanket covering her form. Odd, last thing she remembered was that she was pulling her cart like any normal day, running into a little rabbit, then...

"The human!" Trixie shouted, bolting upright. Her left foreleg gave a twinge of pain, but she ignored it.

Why did the human save me? Where's the manticore? Why didn't the human just leave me? Trixie just kept thinking of questions but not answers. She then rolled out of her bed, determined to get answers from the human. Opening the door she found the human silhouetted in front of a beautiful sunset in its final minutes of the day. Trixie's eyes widened and her jaw dropped at the sight, her heart giving a strange flutter.

The human straightened turning to face her. "Ah, you're awake." he said in a slightly cheery voice and had that half smirk from before on his face, "Good to see you can walk around with out a limp." Trixie was about to question him when she realized her front left leg was in a makeshift splint made up of sticks and a blanket. "I was able to heal it enough to make it only a minor fracture, but I couldn't heal it any more than that."

"Why?" Trixie mumbled.

"Excuse me?" He asked. "Can you repeat that?"

"Why?" She asked a little more clearly.

"One more time?"

"Why!?" She shouted, "Why let Trixie go, than save Trixie's sorry flank from a manticore when you could have gotten injured? It would have been so easy for you to do, just watch as Trixie gets torn to shreds and eaten! Or is it because you wanted to hurt Trixie instead, not wanting the manticore to have the fun of it?!" The human was silent, not backing down, flinching or even giving an expression to Trixie as she accused him of multiple atrocious acts. Eventually Trixie stopped, resorting to glaring at her might-be captor. "Well?!"

He closed his bright eyes and slowed his breathing further than before. After what felt like an eternity he opened his eyes and spoke "You're wrong again Trixie." He sighed. "How about I answer your question with one of my own? If I got a sick pleasure from watching others suffer, then why would I heal most of your broken foreleg and help ease a majority of the pain from your concussion?"

Trixie was speechless. He was right, he had helped her out of a sticky situation and even began nursing her back to heath, making her assumptions of him completely baseless and made her feel like she was a little filly calling out an old, wise mare. "I don't know," she finally admitted "But, really why? Also how do you know Trixie's name?"

A smile. The human actually gave her a genuine facial expression! "Because my personal motto is 'help those in need and maybe they can help you.' Since I helped you with that manticore, I expected that you would be able to help me figure out how I got here and if I could possibly get back to where I'm from. As for your name," he shrugged "You've said it at least twenty times since we meet and it's also written on the wall of your mobile home. One doesn't need much more than that to figure it out."

Trixie's face burned ever so slightly from a light blush at the obvious answer to her second question. "So is that the only reason you saved Trixie for?" She asked, "Or is there another?"

The human's smile disappeared and he glanced just to the right of Trixie as he responded "I do have another reason, but that will have to wait for some time to be said, if ever."

Trixie opened her mouth to ask why he was dodging her question but closed it when she saw his, barely visible, serene expression, as if just living was giving him joy to last him an eternity. She let the matter drop, aggravated at how thick-skulled this human was.

"Name." She stated.

"Excuse me?" He asked.

"Your name, tell it to Trixie."

The human arched his eyebrow the slightest bit, "My name is Joseph Green."

"That is a strange name." Trixie said

"And Trixie Wand isn't a strange name?" Joseph asked.

Trixie reeled back when she heard her last name, "How do you know Trixie's last name!? Trixie never told you, nor anypony else!"

Joseph's eyes widened the slightest bit but the rest of his face remained in the same stoic position. "If I told you now, you would never believe me."

"And why is that?!" She shouted.

"Would you believe me if I said I could make absolutely anything I want happen with a mere thought? Would you believe I could fly without wings or magic? Or anything else along those lines?" He asked.

"No, because what your saying is impossible!"

He sighed, "Not quite," he said, "But at the moment, yes, those things are impossible. But imagine something at least three times as impossible as those examples and hopefully you can understand why I know you wouldn't believe me."

Trixie stopped. If what Joseph said is true, she understood why he was reluctant to elaborate. "Fine, Trixie won't question you on this subject for now." She scowled, "But she will again, eventually!"

"Eventually?" Joseph asked, "As in you expect me to stick around and be available for conversation at a later date?"

Trixie nodded and looked around, she and Joseph were both in a small, plain area with a small tent, a fire and two overturned halves of a freshly cut tree trunk acting as makeshift seats and just south of the small camp were the fringes of the Everfree.

Trixie shuddered, not from the memories of her escape from death at the edge of the ancient and foreboding forest, but instead from the cold wind that froze her as if her fur coat was nonexistent.

Joseph, who was tending to the fire looked up to see Trixie shivering, his eyes widening the slightest amount. He rose to his full height and, Trixie noted he was much taller than her, even though Trixie was an average four and a half hooves tall, he seemed to be at least six hooves tall.

"Are you cold?'' he asked.

Another blast of cold air made Trixie shiver harder "A-a l-l-little." She stuttered through her clacking teeth, "T-Trixie will just g-go inside." Trixie had only managed to turn around before she was stopped by something that had her tail, and she had an idea who it was.

"Wait just a second." He said, dragging her by her tail, using his magic, she was moved closer to one of the makeshift benches, "Just give me a moment." The glow around his hand got brighter slightly and the chilling wind died and the force holding her tail dissipated.

"How did you do that?" Trixie asked curious, sitting down on the, rather warm, log.

Joseph just shrugged and lowered his appendage down to his side, "Weather Manipulation spell?"

Trixie was very impressed, Weather Manipulation spells were rather difficult to cast and it was as if Joseph could cast them with little to no problem.

The sun had finally completed its decent and the darkness surrounded them, the light from their fire the only thing keeping the darkness at bay. Even though Joseph was not saying a thing Trixie could see something was on his mind from his body movement. The slight amount of fidgeting, how he was looking at everything besides her, and other subtle giveaways. To be nice Trixie started a conversation to get his mind of whatever it was that he was thinking.

"So, uh, what is it that you remember? How you got here Trixie means." She started.

Joseph paused, then said, "Not much, I was having fun at a party that was thrown in my honor for my latest discovery in my field of science, I got a little tipsy and, after that, nothing."

"Nothing?"

He nodded "Next thing I knew, I was in the middle of some freaky, dark forest with strange creatures and even stranger plants."

Trixie didn't know what to say, if he was telling the truth then he had not the slightest idea of how he got here and woke up in the Everfree! "You're very lucky," She said "From what you said you landed in the Everfree forest, a place of dark magic and ancient creatures from a nearly forgotten age."

Joseph's eyebrows shot up for roughly three seconds before returning to their usual position "Did I really?" he asked in an amused tone. "Seems my bad luck did not carry over to this different land." He chuckled and looked into the fire, "Huh, looks like we need more wood for the fire, if you'll excuse me for a moment." Joseph then got up from his log and made his way to the side of Trixie's cart where a decent sized wood pile lay. Bending over he grabbed several full sized logs with those odd appendages he had.

"What are those?" Trixie asked pointing with her hoof at Joseph's appendages after he set down the logs.

"You mean my hands?" He asked wiggling the smaller parts on one, "They're what I use to pick things up with and," His face darkened, "When necessary, fight with." His expression went back to normal, "But anyways it's just a part of the human anatomy."

"What are the littler things on your hand called?"

"Fingers, humans have ten, five on each hand," he explained holding up one to Trixie so she could study it while telling her exactly what a few parts of his hand were called. While Trixie was studying Joseph's hand he was busy chopping wood, not using a tool or magic, mind you, but using his hand to cut the thick logs into narrow quarters. After finishing Joseph put four log quarters into the fire and sat back down, giving a content sigh.

"Joseph?" Trixie asked.

"Yes?"

Trixie bit her bottom lip a bit, "What did you do before you ended up here?"

If Trixie was intruding in Joseph's personal life he didn't seem to mind, if anything Trixie swore that she saw his eyes get a twinkle in them, "Well, you see Trixie, what I am is a physicist and engineer, I have found ways to bend a few of the laws of physics through my extensive research and even grant myself the greatest thing the world has ever seen," He lifted his hand, his palm facing upwards where a ball of white fire burst into existence, "Magical abilities, allowing me to further reshape the laws of physics."

Trixie stared at the enticing white flames that where now in Joseph's hand and she continued to watch until he decided to let the miniature fire burn itself out, curling into the air and disappearing. All Trixie could think of was how amazing he was, changing the laws of physics? There was only one being that Trixie knew of that could do that, but the pink earth pony was the exception of almost every rule or known fact there is, but that's besides the point.

A comfortable silence took the place of conversation, human and pony alike staring into the ever moving flames. After what felt like several hours of relaxing Trixie began to feel drowsy and her foreleg was beginning to ache.

"Trixie thinks that she will go to sleep now," she said. "Trixie shall see you in the morning Joseph."

Joseph smiled, and for the second time that day Trixie's heart felt as if it was filled with butterflies, and he said, "Good night, Trixie, and please, call me Joe."

Trixie nodded her head and left the light of the fire for her dark cart, but instead of fearing who was outside, knowing Joe was just outside left her dreaming peacefully, for most of the night anyway...

Traveling and Learning

Author's Note

Sorry this took so much longer than the first two did (Writers block played a big role), First things first, I decided to put a little story behind the barking the pony (The one from Read It and Weep) and put in an extended (and modified) version of Equastria's founding, also through the comments I see people going WAY off about Joe's magic, you see, he was working on an experiment and as a byproduct he got his powers, HE DID NOT GAIN THEM UPON ENTRANCE INTO EQUESTRIA!!! I stated that at the end of Chapter 2! Anyways, I put far more effort into this chapter, and made a point of making it longer, and from here on out POV changes will be indicated by [POV: Joseph] in red or [POV: Trixie] in blue, Now I hope you enjoy!

Traveling and Learning

[POV: Joseph]

Sunrise. Took long enough. thought Joe. Having discovered he can sustain himself shortly after unlocking his abilities he had no need for sleep, food or even water. As usual he sat cross legged, meditating, reviewing the past twenty-four hours mentally, answering questions he might have had at that moment in time. Opening his eyes he watched as the sun slowly rose from the horizon.

You should tell her now. Said a voice. Joe groaned, not this again.

You already know why I can't tell her Blake, if I told her now what little trust she has in me will be shattered.

Blake scoffed, being apart of Joseph since his successful experiment that resulted in his ability to do things far beyond what an ordinary human would consider 'normal', Blake has been that annoying voice in Joe's head. Yes, but you know that their are a multitude of possibilities for what could happen if you told her the truth, and many are positive if you decide to try and talk your way out of it!

That's saying if I correctly guessed her personality, Joe retorted, Even with all the knowledge I have at my disposal I still struggle to completely understand another life form's personality, and since you share my memories you know that.

What was that one saying you had? Blake asked in a mocking tone, Oh right, 'Just because I don't understand now doesn't mean I won't be able to figure it out later'. You've said it yourself! You don't yet understand her, so who knows if you won't later?

Then what is it you expect me to do? Joe asked, It's not exactly easy for one to figure out an others personality

Spend time with her. Blake stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, She'll open up to you eventually, then you can determine when she's going to be able to understand you had your reasons.

Joseph thought about that. Maybe Blake wasn't wrong, it wouldn't hurt to try at least. Fine. he mentally groaned, But if I follow your 'plan' and she ends up hating me forever you're going to spend eternity buried under the crushing weight of my darker thoughts.

Love you too. Blake said in farewell before retreating back into Joe's subconscious.

Joe groaned and watched as the sun made it's daily trek across the sky. Blake was always hard to understand, sometimes he tried his hardest to give Joe good advice, and others just sat in his head and screwed with him. As unfortunate as it was, their was no discernible way to tell what his true intentions are, but for once he seemed to actually wants to see Joe succeed, but he could just be messing with him again.

Sighing, he pushed the matter to the side, first things first, getting Trixie to full health again was his top priority.

[POV: Trixie]

Trixie awoke to the sound of birds singing. Yawning, she sat up and stretched, her left fore hoof still aching, but not overly so. Using her magic she removed the blanket covering her and exited her cart to see Joe, staring down at her, a frown upon his face.

"What's wrong Joe?" She asked

"Nothing," he growled "Besides the fact that I was wrong to help you, I should have left you with the manticore."

"What?!" Trixie asked stunned.

"You're a fraud Trixie, you're a failure and most of all a good for nothing liar! Good bye, and enjoy the parting gift!" He shouted sprouting wings and flying away.

Trixie sat on her haunches, what just happened? She wanted to cry, but couldn't. This has happened more times than she could count, so many ponies have left her, and now the only known human too! Looking up to where Joe was not moments ago she saw a large wrapped present.

Maybe this is a prank? She hoped. Getting up she opened the present using her magic. At first she didn't know what it was, it just looked like a large ball of fur. It shifted and before her stood the manticore, with bloodshot eyes and bloody claws. Trixie screamed.

All Trixie could hear was screaming, it continued until Joe slammed open the door to her cart a look of pure rage on his face his brown hair tinted black at the ends. The screaming stopped, it was then she realized that she had been the one screaming. Looking around Joe's expression went back to it's usual blank state and hair going back to chestnut brown.

"Hey, Trixie, you alright?" he asked. Trixie didn't respond, shaken from how real the dream felt. "Bad dream?" He walked to her side.

"You left me." She whispered.

"What?" he asked

Trixie cleared her throat, she had an iron lump in her throat, and it hurt. "Trixie said you left her."

Joe rose a brow slightly, "That's what caused you to scream as if you were getting tortured?"

"Yes." she responded sheepishly.

"Well," he started, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know about after you're fully healed, but until then, you have no need to worry."

Trixie gave a wry smile to Joe, as much as she hated to admit it, his reassurance helped calm her. He returned her smile with that half smirk of his and removed his hand from her shoulder. "I suggest you get ready, I planned on making you breakfast, so hurry up, it's nearly done."

"Okay, Trixie will ready herself." With a nod Joe left her cart, closing the door behind him.

Breakfast for me? Trixie thought, a lonely tear making its way down her cheek.

[POV: Joseph]

That was different than expected. Joe though, pacing back and forth.

Minor complication, Blake said, She didn't say 'no thank you' now, did she?

No, but I kind of wanted to surprise her with breakfast in bed, not almost break her door of her hinges after I hear her scream, find it was just a night terror then nonchalantly say 'Oh, I made you breakfast.'.

You're blowing this out of proportion. Blake groaned You need to roll with the punches.

Easy for you to say, your just a split personality created as a byproduct from my experiment of unlocking the other ninety percent my brain, with no ability to take control of my body.

You pull that card out too much, besides, I'm the charismatic part of you and have most of your emotions, that's why since getting your powers you yourself has been rather emotionless.

You also sucked out my love for practical jokes. Joe pointed out. That's why you feed me bad advice from time to time, correct me if I'm wrong. Blake didn't respond to that, mumbling something about 'Us being part of a whole' and 'You would do the same.'

Joe sighed, Listen, I just don't want to screw things up with her, you know why.

Blake just made an annoyed noise, I tried to help you, unless you really need my help, I'm just gonna stay in your subconscious. and he did just that, leaving Joseph to his own thoughts.

Joe stopped pacing, "I'll never understand him." he said.

"Understand who?" Trixie asked.

Shit...

[POV: Trixie]

After fixing her bedhead and brushing her coat so that her fur wasn't puffy Trixie exited her cart to find Joe walking back and forth, apparently too consumed in thought to notice her. He eventually stopped.

"I'll never understand him." he stated

"Understand who?" Trixie asked

Joe looked up finally noticing her a look of shock on his face. "Err, no one!"

Trixie gave him a confused look. "Joe, Trixie can tell something's up, you were fine just a few minutes ago when you burst through Trixie's door, but now you're acting as if you just saw a ghost, you can tell Trixie what's wrong."

Joe's regular look reappeared and he seemed to be thinking hard. After a minute of Trixie looking at him with confusion he nodded and said, "You don't want to know Trixie."

"If Trixie didn't want to know, she wouldn't have asked."

One of Joe's eyes twitched, "Okay then, I just really don't want to explain it to you."

"And why's that?"

"Because somethings are better left unsaid." he replied.

Though Trixie wished to pursue the matter further she already knew, from yesterdays conversation, that Joe was too stubborn to argue with. "Fine, you win," Trixie scowled the slightest bit. "You're very stubborn, now aren't you?"

Joe seemed to finally relax when Trixie admitted defeat. He sniffed the air and responded "Yes I am, but, on to another topic. Your breakfast is ready." Walking over to what were now coals, Trixie found a delightful tossed salad and on the coals themselves was a pan cooking sunny side up eggs.

"This...is all for m-er, Trixie?" she asked sniffing the eggs, they smelled wonderful.

"I said I made you breakfast didn't I?"

Trixie gave him a deadpan look "Not what Trixie meant, Trixie meant is it all for her?" Joe nodded. "What about you?"

That half smile. Celestia, Trixie didn't know why, but that smile caused her mind to go into a befuddled state, she saw his mouth move but couldn't hear the words except. "... Need it."

Trixie shook her head. "What?"

"I said I sustain myself, I have no need for food, water or even sleep, so, yes, it's all for you, because I really don't need it." he repeated.

Trixie blinked and nodded, levitating the bowl containing her salad and the eggs onto the plate he provided and grasped the fork.

''I assume I did rather well?" Joe asked in an amused tone. Trixie only made a satisfied noise. After the first bite, Trixie started to stuff her muzzle with the salad, she didn't know why it was so delicious, or, rather how it could be so good. The eggs didn't fare much better and ended with the same fate as the salad.

"I'll take that as an affirmative." chuckling he got up from his log, both of which had not moved since last night, and took Trixie's plate and bowl and walked a little bit away from the little camp.

"Where are you going?" Trixie asked. Joe didn't respond, instead he used his magic to levitate the porcelain dishes into the air, where it sat for a few moments before getting blasted with water coming out of Joe's hand. Trixie sat and watched with wide eyes, though she used to boast her skill in magic she could almost never recreate the spells she memorized since magic kindergarten, but the spell Joe was using to clean her dishes was unfamiliar to her.

How could he be able to create his own spells? she asked herself. It took a lot of time and effort to create a simple spell, like to, say, enlarge a leaf to act as an umbrella. It would take months of research and testing to get it right, if ever.

He returned with the now clean dishes and dropped them off in the small compartment that stored all her food items in, and came back with a brow raised. "What's that look for?" he asked.

Trixie shook the look of disbelief off her face. "Nothing, I'm just curious about that spell you used to clean the dishes with, I'm familiar with many spells, but the one you used is a mystery to me."

"It's just a spell, I don't see what's so special about it." he responded nonchalantly.

"That's just it, it's a spell that I don't know of. Since I was a filly I studied all types of magic, and memorized over a thousand spells, though I can't cast every one of them, I know them, how to cast them and what should be their result. Of the multitude, the single spell you used is not apart of my knowledge, meaning, you've created your own spell."

"I'm not sure about the who 'created a spell thing'," he shrugged. "But you seem sure of it, so I guess I did."

"How can you be so flippant about it? Untested spells can easily go awry and cause and explosion or something equally disastrous!"

"Again, I can't agree or disagree with you because I discovered all the spells I know on my own."

Trixie was shocked again, there was no way he would have survived from rediscovering a spell, the last time that happened that unfortunate mare was locked in an asylum for years, she even had to have her horn surgically removed and even now still barks like a dog. "But...that can't be. You're still sane!"

"What?"

Trixie groaned, he might be strong and know spells that aren't in any spell book, but he doesn't know the basis of magic itself. "Okay, if Trixie is going to explain this, Trixie will have to start from the beginning." she paused, organizing her thoughts, "From what historical documents show, magic is the-eh, foundation of all of Equestria and the lands we ponies originate from, the name has been lost in history, but in the times we lived in this distant land, there were three tribes of ponies, the Earth ponies, who cultivated the land. The Pegasi ponies, who moved the clouds and altered the weather for the Earth ponies to grow, in exchange some of the food that they grew. Finally there were the Unicorn ponies who, with their combined effort were able to raise the sun and moon. Each respective tribe had a different kind of magic flowing through them, the Unicorn tribe had the largest store of magic inside them and were able to accesses it. When Unicorns discovered this, they were only able to do basic things, like levitation spells and the like, and learned to combine their strength to control the wild sun and moon. After Equestria was founded with the three tribes working and living together, the Unicorns pooled their resources and knowledge to create many fantastic spells, one noted spell creator and tester was Starswirl the Bearded, but he, unlike many spell creators and testers was able to keep his sanity. Making new spells or rediscovering them taxes your magic pool, as it's known, tax it too much and you will go insane."

Joe didn't respond, he just sat on his log half, staring down at his hands, his eyes glazed.

"...How he got here?....Statistically impossible... can't be the same..." he mumbled, shaking his head he cleared his throat and said "I'm not completely sure that it would be the same for me as it would for you, but I'll take your word on it," he took a deep breath of air, exhaling he asked "So where are we going?"

"Trixie was going to go to Baltimare, a city where Trixie has not gone in many years."

Looking at the sun Joe responded, "I'm sure we can get a few miles in before night time if we leave now,"

Trixie agreed and was about to hook herself into her cart as usual when Joe stepped in front of her, looking up she asked, "What are you doing?"

"You aren't going to pull this cart with your fore hoof in its current state, go inside and relax, and pretend you're on a boat ride," he smirked.

Before she knew what she was doing she had nodded and entered her cart and was lying on her bed, a goofy grin on her face. Maybe my travels won't be so bad anymore. she thought, relaxing as the cart began moving forward.

Of Trappers and Magic Tricks

"So this is Baltimare?" Joe asked, looking at the buzzing city from a hillock roughly three miles away. Though there were some cities larger than Baltimare, such as Canterlot, Baltimare was still fairly large, with several skyscrapers in the downtown area and a few parks inside the city itself.

"It is, Trixie doesn't remember there being so many skyscrapers the last time she visited, Trixie can still most likely navigate through the city nonetheless."

"Good to hear, but what about me?" Joe asked, gesturing to himself, "You said that we were going to Baltimare to perform, but I'm not exactly what you call inconspicuous, with me being bipedal and mostly hairless."

Trixie thought about it. It had taken about three days to get to Baltimare, where Trixie was scheduled to make an appearance at a popular bar on Mane Street. Trixie can't complain about the trip. While traveling she asked many questions about Joe, who answered many, such as age, twenty four, height, six foot six inches, weight, one hundred and ninety pounds and additional questions about his person, species, and history. All the while he responded, his now-signature half smirk, plastered on his face. Joe told her many things about himself especially his childhood, where he was educated, though the names she was unfamiliar with, his past experiments and his abilities in the field of magic. Reviewing what he had told her, she came up with a solution. "How about doing that Transfiguration spell you told me about two days ago?" she proposed.

He looked off, thinking, after a long silence he spoke up. "That's not that bad idea, but I have one problem with it, and that's the fact that I don't want to be a pony." Trixie opened her mouth to ask why, but he spoke again, "Nothing against you or your kind, but I think I would rather have a different perspective."

"How different of a perspective?"

"A 'no one will expect it' kind of perspective. Since you're a magician I thought that it would be entertaining to be a rabbit, and be your companion, not pet mind you, that would make it degrading."

"A rabbit." Trixie deadpanned How am I not surprised? she thought. Joe might not have realized it, but through his actions Trixie had been able to put reason behind somethings he does with his colorful personality, which is ironic, given the fact that he rarely gives a full expression. The only real emotions she had seen from him were amusement and anger.

"What?" he asked in an innocent tone. "I just thought that you could plan an amazing trick or two, where I can be the source of the magic, making it your pink aura instead of my white and we'll have them craving more."

Trixie though about that, he had a point. Joe was far more powerful than any unicorn that Trixie had ever seen, and, after last night's fireworks show, she didn't doubt his ability to amaze with visual spectacles. "Trixie is just unsure about it, are you sure that you can do it?"

"Does this answer your question?" he asked, as he surrounded himself in his magic. He smirked, getting smaller, white fur sprouting, ears relocating and elongating, legs reshaping and feet elongating. After a few more seconds before her stood a small white bunny, not a single thing seemed off about it. There was just one thing bothering her, "Where are your clothes?" She asked averting her eyes, blushing

Joe started to chuckle, "You have no need to worry, my clothes changed to fur. Besides, I thought that since you don't wear clothes that anything with a fur coat wasn't considered naked."

"Your right, but it just feels wrong since you always wear clothes, and it just looks like your not, it's a matter of principal."

"Principal or not, you're fretting over something you don't need to, besides, technically I am wearing clothes, it just looks like fur."

An awkward silence filled the gap in their conversation, with Trixie glancing at Joe every now and then, her light blush still present. About ten minutes passed before rustling was heard. Joe turned around immediately, a bit of white fur on the tips of his ears turning a dark gray, "Who's there?" he asked.

The rustling stopped. Not a sound was heard, besides the chirping of birds in the distance.

"Got ya'!" Shouted a large brown stallion, throwing a cage over bunny-Joe, capturing him. "We got 'im boys! I told you that there were talking rabbits!" He shouted to his crew of four other stallions, tossing the cage to one of them.

"Let him go!" Trixie shouted, running at the stallion holding the cage that had Joe.

The brown stallion, stepped in Trixie's way and grappled with her, looking at her, he said, "Go away little filly, this is our prize." His group whooped and hollered in response.

"He's no one's prize! Let him go!" Trixie shouted struggling against the large kidnapper, "He did nothing to you!"

"Stop...Struggling!" He grunted, backhoofing Trixie across the face. Falling to the ground, she teared up, only to hear a familiar war cry, and the shattering of wood.

[POV: Joseph]

Rage. Rage was the only emotion Joseph felt witnessing Trixie get assaulted, his mind became foggy, the sides of his vision blackening, his blood pulsing at a ferocious rate. Before he knew what he was doing he screamed at his captors at the top of his lungs, dipping into his powers to change back to normal. The cage was too small, growling in anger Joe threw his arms up, shattering the flimsy wood.

"You will all pay for hurting her!" He shouted, jumping at the assailant Joe grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and held him up to face him.

The stallion looked angry, "Oi! What are you? What did you do with our prize?" he shouted, "Whatever you are, you aren't gonna be able to stand once we're done with you!" he ended his statement by throwing a hoof at Joe's face. Joe rose a hand and caught his hoof before it could make contact.

"You dare harm Trixie then attempt to harm me? I will not allow it!" Joe shouted, punting the stallion two hundred feet away, where he landed in a heap. The four other stallions were shocked, One of them fled, while the other three charged, holding long knives in their mouths. Joe swung an arm forward and struck one of the advancing ponies on the side of his head, knocking him out. Both of the remaining stallions began to slash and stab at Joe, who dodged every attack at incredible speeds. "You must be punished!" Joe shouted, grabbing both of the knives by the blade he scowled deeper at one of them and kicked him square in the chest, sending him into a stand of trees a few feet away, where a loud crack was heard. The remaining stallion stopped, and dropped his weapon. "Collect your injured before you become one." Joe growled menacingly, and the final stallion did just that, scampering off with his three friends atop his back.

Joe stood there, watching as the lone pony ran away as fast as he could. Growling Joe turned around to see Trixie staring, horrified at what she just witnessed. The rage dissipated from Joe's mind, his vision began to clear and his blood pressure went back to normal. He stood there weakly, dropped the weapon and mumbled "I'm sorry" before passing out.

[POV: Trixie]

Trixie watched as Joe fought the attacking stallions, and defeated all but one, who he let go to retrieve his comrades, and escape. Trixie had never seen Joe act like this, nor look like this. After breaking out of his cage his hair was pure black, as were his eyes and clothes, even his voice changed, instead of his usual kind, gentle toned voice, he had a deep, gravely, angry, demonic voice. After the last stallion ran off Joe growled and turned to face Trixie, and she was scared. Something was happening, his hair was changing back to it's normal color, as did his clothes and eyes and he mumbled two words, "I'm sorry," before collapsing on the ground.

"Joe!" Trixie shouted, getting up and running over to him, he seemed fine besides the cuts on the palms of his hands, and was unconscious. "Joe...What happened?" she asked his slumbering body. "Just...Please be okay..."

[POV: Joseph]

"What the hell happened Blake?!" Joe asked. They were in Joe's dream scape, staring at one another, or glaring in Joe's case.

Blake shrugged, "Not a clue, something big must've happened if you're here."

Joe scowled, "No really? I know you had something to do with it."

Blake raised his hands in a defeated manner, "I did not, but I think I know what did happen." he said "I think with the surge of anger your fight or flight response was activated and without thinking you chose fight."

Joe was silent, mulling over Blake's simple theory, and had to agree with him, "I just don't understand why I fainted after what I assume was an adrenaline rush, I know the weaker mind would, but not mine, it is far too complex...."

Walking over and wrapping an arm around Joe, Blake said, "You know that the beam could have caused several other by-products, such as fits of anger, high blood pressure, the list of possible ailments go on and on. Just hope it doesn't happen again." Joe sighed and nodded, he would deny it, but he was put at ease by Blake. "Alright, well, you should go, you've been unconscious for half an hour, and the Baltimare police might be on the way."

"Right, those brutes most likely went to get help saying something like 'A monster attacked us!' or something along those lines."

"Yes," Blake said, taking his arm back. "Well, take care Joseph, we shall speak again soon." Once Blake finished his sentence Joe was ripped from his dream scape, and Blake's black haired head disappeared.

[POV: Trixie]

Why won't he wake up? Trixie asked herself, it has been over twenty minutes since Joe fainted, and it didn't look like he would be waking up anytime soon. While he was out cold Trixie preformed first aid on Joe's hands to prevent infection and additional pain. That gang or whatever they where must have gone to the authorities, I don't see them yet, but I can't carry Joe all that far, I know that. I need some way to wake him up. Now!

Without thinking she grabbed a nearby bucket, filled it with water from a stream that was behind her cart, and threw the water onto Joe. As soon as the water hit his face Joe shot up, looking around frantically.

"Where are we?" he asked immediately.

Trixie was shocked by his sudden reaction, but answered "Where we were before,"

Taking a deep breath he looked at his hands with a pained expression and sighed before getting up. "We should get out of this area," he said "Let's pack up camp. Once we finish you can hop in your cart and I'll try to get some distance from here,"

Trixie complied and started to prepare everything for departure. After everything was stored safely in the storage compartment of Trixie's cart, they set off.

After an hour of looking for a secluded location outside of town they found one about five miles away from their previous location.

"That could have gone better." Joe said stopping the cart and sitting down

"Trixie agrees." Trixie responded, exiting her cart "Unless Trixie is crossing a line, she would like to ask you what happened."

"To tell you the truth, I have no real answer."

"You don't?! How could you not know? You're the smartest person I knows!"

Joe hung his head in shame, "There are things even the greatest minds cannot understand, and that was one such thing."

"But Joe, you weren't just violent, you changed."

Raising his head he arched a brow and asked, "How so?"

"Everything about you just...went black, your hair, eyes and even your clothes!"

Putting a hand on his chin Joe thought, Trixie didn't know exactly what about but, he finally said, "I'll need to think about this for some time to know exactly what happened, but I thank you for telling me this."

Trixie smiled in response, to which Joe replied in a smirk. Looking up Trixie saw where the sun was in the sky, "I think we should be going to the city now Joseph, Trixie's performance is scheduled to start in two hours."

Reentering her cart Trixie donned her magician outfit and exited once more to a somewhat different Joe. "What?" she asked incredulously

Lowering his head he muttered "Nothing, are you ready?"

As confused as Trixie was towards Joe's odd behavior she begrudgingly agreed to leave then. It had only taken twenty minutes to get to the edge of the city, Joe in his rabbit form on Trixie's back and Trixie in her magician costume.

"Nice outfit!" commented a snide mare that they passed, who's breezy yellow sundress was turned into a disgusting green, purple and brown laced frock. Joe laughed as the mare began to freakout about her now disgustingly colored dress, being mocked by those passing by her.

"Did you do that Joe?" Trixie asked

"Yes indeed, no one is to mock you whilst I am around." he responded, saluting in an informal way

Trixie giggled at his randomness and continued on, further into the depths of the bustling city.

So far so good! Trixie thought, looking at the crowd's pleased faces, she'd been preforming at a mediocre level, doing simple parlor tricks, the latest one was pulling a 'rabbit' out of her hat. The rabbit being Joe, who was now dancing a cute dance on stage, making the crowd 'Awwwww'.

"Now," Trixie said, taking some attention away from Joseph, who still danced in front of her, "For the final trick, I shall disappear from the stage, reappear somewhere else, disappear once more and reappear on stage in another form!" thought she said that in a confident voice she was scared, Joe had reassured her that she would be fine but she still had her doubts. Doubts she didn't voice. Acting as if she was charging her horn she let one corner of her mouth twitch, letting Joe know she was ready.

If Trixie was in the crowd she would have seen herself disappear from the stage in a ball of pink magic, but she wasn't in the crowd. "Here I am!" she shouted from behind the crowd, once most had turned around she exclaimed "Now I'm not!" before disappearing again, but the difference between this teleporation and the previous one is that, while being teleported, she was changing very fast, and when she was on stage again she was still standing, just not on four legs. "And here I am, once more!" she exclaimed. When the crowd turned to face the stage many of them looked at Trixie in shock, seeing a bipedal, shaved apelike creature with the same mane cut as Trixie had and in the same magician costume that she had been wearing.

"It is I, Trixie! In a new form! Bask in my magic!" she said, but the crowd was silent...then burst into applause. The cheering was so loud that Trixie had to cover her ears with her new hands. With one more twitch of the lips she was surrounded in a pink aura and slowly transformed back into her normal, blue, self.

Looking at Joe, Trixie nodded and they both bowed, and the curtains slowly dropped.

Author's Note

I know...this took WAY too long to put out, but life can be aggravatingly busy, and writers block is very inconvenient. But here it is! The latest chapter! Also, let me know in the comments if the action scene should have this or that added or removed, anyhow, I hope you all enjoy!

Sicknesses, Swamps and Monsters oh my!

[POV: Trixie]

"I told you not to go near the pony that was hacking and coughing." Joe said. Trixie grumbled as he took the thermometer from her mouth. "One hundred and three, that's not good." It's been over a week since Trixie's bold move for Joe, and by unspoken agreement, they didn't speak of it, though Trixie still thought of it.

I know I was a little sudden, but I just had to comfort him...He seemed so sad...I couldn't just let him be so sad. she thought, letting out a cough. "I wasn't the one who went to him, he went to me. It wasn't Trixie's fault that he thrust himself upon Trixie while he was sick."

"Regardless, you are very ill. I will have to go into town to see if there are any medicinal drugs that can aid in curing you."

"How will you do that?" she asked, "You've said yourself that you're not inconspicuous."

Joe walked over to the door and simply stated "I have a plan for that." and walked out.

Trixie sighed and looked at her blue and darker blue spotted fur. She's been sick with a serious case of pony pox for over a day and Joe has been trying his hardest to cure her, but has made no progress even with what he's done. He's so kind to help me, but he must hate me. Celestia, I hate me right now. He isn't even a pony! Why did I do that? she berated herself. This has been going through her mind from the moment that she kissed him.

What was it about Joe that made him so attractive was the question that Trixie continued to ask above all others. Was it his personality? His features? How he saved her? Even with her infatuation for Joe she did have a feeling...a feeling of something dark and heartless about Joe. Sighing she dismissed the idea, Joe was not evil in any way, he couldn't be. So Trixie sat waiting for Joe to return, couching and sneezing every now again.

"I am back Trixie," Joe said entering Trixie cart.

"Did you get any medicine?"

"Unfortunately no. I did happen upon a way to find the cure instead. From what that doctor said, we can find a special flower called the Franva flower in a bog named Froggy Bottom Bog. If we can acquire one of these Franva flowers and take its petals we can create an elixir that can cure you." He stated.

"Froggy Bottom Bog? That place is disgusting!" Trixie said with disgust. Froggy Bottom Bog was, as said in the name, a bog that frogs tended to gather in. But there have been rumors about that specific bog for a few months about something more than frogs and toads living there, but nopony has proven the rumors true or false.

"Would you rather deal with a debilitating illness for who knows how long, or a few hours at most of trudging through a swamp?"

"When you say it like that..."

Turning around an opening the door Joe looked over his shoulder and stated, "I've got the directions on how to get there, we should arrive in roughly three hours. Sit back and relax." before exiting.

"Trixie, I believe you were correct about this place being disgusting if just a glance from this far says anything." Joe stated, stopping to look at the dismal landscape from afar, "But in order to get that flower, we need to enter the swamp itself.''

"But what about me?" Trixie coughed, looking out the slot in the front of her cart, "I'm not able to do much more than walk outside my cart. How can I travel through a place like that?"

Joe was silent, apparently mulling over the situation. "I can just the bring the cart with me, the depth of the water does not seem to be all that high."

"Why not just leave me here?"

"Because four eyes are better than two, not to mention I don't wish to leave you alone while you are so sick" Joe said, continuing forward, "If you see a flower with a blue stem and pink petals be sure to let me know."

[POV: Joe]

"Any luck Joe?" Trixie called out, still looking for any sign of the colorful plant through her cart's door.

"None, I was told this certain flower can be rather hard to find, but this is ridiculous. We have been searching for two hours now, and yet we can't find even one." he said, dragging the cart behind him, the struggle of keeping it from getting stuck for an extended period of time beginning to show in his tone.

"Maybe we should take a break?" Trixie suggested, before going off in a coughing fit.

"No, your illness is getting worse as time passes, if we find it soon, we can get out of this dismal place. Honestly, how can a place with so little pollution have an area with so much smog?" Joe responded, letting out a small cough himself.

"I don't know Joe. Froggy Bottom Bog is the same as it's always been I think."

Joe just sighed and continued looking for the elusive plant. He's never had much of a problem finding anything before,but this plant was determined to stay out of sight. Joe coughed, it seemed like the the air was changing, as if he was getting closer to an immense factory giving off a lot of pollution. Trixie started to cough more too, but Joe was unsure if it was the air, or the illness she called the 'pony pox' getting even worse.

"Trixie? You alright in there?" Joe asked, struggling a little bit more with keeping the cart from toppling or getting stuck in the increasingly deepening water.

"Yes, but does it smell different to you too?"

"Yes, are you sure no one lives here? Or if there is some industrial complex around?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Than what could possibly be giving off this smell?" he sighed. Looking even harder, hoping to find the shy plant and get away from the nose destroying stench that the bog itself seemed to be giving off.

"Joe! Turn around, I think I saw it!" Trixie exclaimed, a sneeze punctuating her sentence.

With great effort Joe turn the cart around and saw it, the elegant blue-stemmed pink-petaled Franva flower sitting on one of the few small patches of dry land "Great job Trixie!" he exclaimed, glad that their search was over. "Now stay right here, I can just collect the petals now and we can leave this wretched place." he said letting go of the cart to slosh over to the aggravatingly hard to find plant.

The closer he got to the Franva flower, the worse the smell seemed to get. Which was odd considering what the pony had told him about the Franva flower having a distinct smell to it, like a warm summer day after the rain. It didn't add up, making Joe resent the bog even more.

Soon Joe was only a few feet from the Franva flower when he heard more water moving. He stopped moving, yet the sound of water moving continued. Trixie screamed behind Joe and he turned around to see a giant head rising from the water, and another...and another. Long scaly necks, at least twenty feet long each, followed the heads and before long a ginormous, armless body, twice the size of the necks and half as wide. Joe froze as the gigantic thing looked directly at him. The world stopped.

Raaaaawr!

"Damn..." was all he could say before jumping out of the way of one the creatures heads rocketing towards him, smashing into the ground. Firing off a few magic bolts Joe retreated further away from Trixie's cart and the Franva flower, the three headed monster following suit, knocking over every one of the few trees that stood in its way.

The monster, or hydra as Joe named it due to it having more than one head and no arms, resembling the Greek hydras of myth and legend, was large, heavy and slow. That gave Joe the advantage, being smaller and more nimble. Retreating further he contemplated what his first attack will be.

Blind it, then hit it in the back of the knee, it doesn't have arms to pick itself up with. It will be helpless. Blake whispered, urging Joseph to attack.

Yes, than Trixie and I can get the hell out of here. Joe stated, he didn't want to have an extended battle with the hydra.

Letting out a war cry Joe charged, reaching into his mental pocket of power, directing that power to his palms. Jumping high he only reached mid-chest of the gargantuan hydra, but all six of its eyes were focused on him. Thrusting both of his palms forward he created a blinding beam of light directed at the hydras heads.

The hydra roared from the pain of its retinas being burned, Joe made haste in dashing behind it, looking for the crook of the knee. There! He leaped at the back of its leg, aiming a kick. But he missed, the hydra recovered and moved faster than Joe anticipated it could. After landing on his feet in the murky water once again Joe turned around to see one of the hydras heads speeding towards him, fast as a bullet. Jumping to his left Joe attempted to dodge the fast moving, fanged skull but was too slow. Before colliding with the ground once again one of the foot and a half long teeth from the hydras head clipped Joe's right shoulder, causing him to scream in pain, leaving a long and deep gash and knocking Joe off course, sending him straight into one of the few trees.

Joe wheezed, trying to catch his breath and get up. Getting up he glanced at his bleeding shoulder, it felt like it was on fire. Returning his gaze to the hydra he saw one if its gigantic feet heading straight down at an extremely fast rate. Unfortunately, Joseph was directly under it and the foot itself was as wide as the rest of the hydras leg, about ten feet at least, and Joe knew he couldn't dodge the huge appendage. So he made a quick second decision; throwing his arms up to brace the impact and using his power to slow the foot down before it came down on him.

The impact was devastating, nearly crushing Joseph then and there, but instead, brought him to his knees and pushed him down in the soft ground. The water rising up to his mid-chest Joe struggled to move the heavy hydra off from him using every ounce of strength he had, a snarl on his face. To his dismay it only slowed the hydra, but the hydra was still pushing and the water slowly rising to his armpits.

If this thing doesn't stop now I'm going to drown! Joe screamed mentally.

A blast was heard, the hydra roared, and stopped pushing down on Joe. Looking over he saw Trixie firing bolt after bolt of magic at the hydra. The hydra roared one again and Trixie dove backwards, barely avoiding one of the heads launching at her.

At the sight Joe felt rage, similar to how he felt when that stallion had hit Trixie, only stronger and more potent. His vision darkened, he no longer struggled with the hydras foot, looking up he saw a black aura surrounding the appendage. But he didn't care, all he cared about was killing this thing.

Pushing upwards he threw the hydras foot in the air and kept it in place with magic. Using his magic he threw himself up to its mid-chest and landed a demolishing punch, causing it to slowly fall backwards. As the beast and Joe were falling to the ground, Joe summoned a black orb of pure magic, its power radiating. The ground shook when the beast fell, and Joe fell to the ground with it, but jumped into the air once again, higher than before. Directing the orb in front of him as he fell once more he let loose one word; "Die!" before crashing down on the beasts broad chest.

Time seemed to slow to a near standstill as Joe watched the black orb crack between his palm and the hydras scales. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Trixie with a terrified look on her face. Looking back at the orb that was about to burst from the pressure of Joe's impact he threw one arm behind him and used his power to create a dome of magic around her.

The explosion was deafening, the burning sensation, unbearable. The blast sending Joe far into the sky. All he could see was blue sky and fluffy clouds before falling back to Earth, and being swallowed up by the dust cloud the explosion had left. Joe landed shoulder first on hard, dry ground. He hissed in pain as his vision came back fully, and his strength drained, the injuries from his battle taking their toll.

"Joe!" he heard, "Joe?! Where are you?! Say something!" he turned his head to see Trixie making her way to him as fast as she could. "Joe, are you alright?!" she sobbed as she sat down by his side, tears running down her face

Coughing he said "I've...been better...are you alright?" she nodded, "Good...Do you know where the Franva flower is?" Trixie looked up and pointed over Joe with a hoof. Turning his head he saw the pink-petaled flower through the dust. Joe let out a hollow laugh, "To think...All this...For a stupid flower..."

"Joe. We need to get you to a hospital." she sniffed.

"No...need...Here's the information on how to make the elixir..." he said copying the recipe from his memory and transferring it to Trixie's, "Now lets get out of here..." he said before teleporting the two of them, the cart and the Franva flower outside of Froggy Bottom Bog.

"Trixie." he said once the teleportation was complete. "I can't stay conscious much longer...You know how to make the Franva elixir, and you know how to stitch up a wound...I...trust you..." he mumbled before he was engulfed in blackness.

Author's Note

Surprise everybrony! I'm alive! But seriously, I'm sorry for the wait, it's just that school and studying for my finals has been constricting my free time, not to mention a massive case of writers block, but thanks to caffeinated energy drinks, and a friend accidentally tripping me, resulting with my face in the wall, yes IN the wall, I've finally finished this chapter and progressed the story further! As always, creative criticism is welcomed!

A Night Away

[POV: Joseph]

Joseph walked into the small, dimly lit, pub, the sound of his hooves clacking on the hard wood floor with the accompanying jingle of a small pouch of bits that he borrowed from Trixie, were the only loud few noises present. Joe looked around, there were few patrons, most sitting at a table away from the bar with a drink nearby by themselves, which made sense, considering it was just an hour to midnight. He made his way to the bar, sitting down on one of the plush bar stools.

"What'll ye have there mister?" said the bartender.

"The hardest stuff you have." Joe stated.

"You sure about that, skinny colt?" the stallion asked, looking over Josephs form, his eyes lingering on the stitched up wound on Joe's shoulder.

"Yes, just give it to me, please."

"Ye must be in real need to forget somethin'."

Joe just shrugged, his shoulder aching. It has been a mere two days since the incident with the hydra, and Joseph was still recovering after Trixie's quick save. Even though Joe has had several major injuries in his lifetime, mainly when he had to use magic to repair his broken spine, but the gash he received has taken a larger toll than he expected it would. Even though he could just end his suffering now by healing himself, he didn't want Trixie to feel unneeded, and let her feel motherly by taking care of him like he had with the gashes on his palms. But the wound is very painful, and he has been forcing the muscle and skin to heal at a much faster rate, rather than immediately.

"Here ye go." the stallion said gruffly sliding Josephs drink to him, it smelled faintly of ginger, and had a faint reddish glow to it.

Joe mumbled his thanks, grasping at the mug with his magic, the light from his horn slightly illuminating the bar area, before sipping at the alcoholic drink, wincing as the drink burned a trail down his throat.

What am I supposed to think? Joseph asked himself. It's been over a week yet Trixie's little stunt is all I can think about...Is it just an infatuation, or does she have feelings that are even more deep rooted? And what about myself? How am I supposed to feel about it? Urgh...

That's something you gotta ask her yourself there Joe, and about the whole 'what about you' thing, that's your prob there buddy. Blake responded in a smug manner. Nice new form though, it suits you, what with all the white and the yellow mane. Yep, fits you nicely. But I have to say, interesting ass tattoo, what's it for?

Are you going to help, or are you going to beat around the bush some more? Joe asked, the drink yet to affect him, as he looked at his flank and examined his cutie mark of a large motherboard and a screwdriver As for my 'cutie mark' as Trixie called it, I believe it's for my experience in creating technical wonders.

Blake snorted at that last bit of information but didn't comment on it. Hey, I am trying to help here, you're havin' issues, and I'm trying to fix you up in the head. he responded

Sure, the help you're giving I could ask a stranger for and get the same answer...But I still don't know how to feel about it...

Joe. Blake said, seriousness laced in his voice. Realize this, she was bold enough to go out on a limb and kiss you square on the lips with no hesitation. It may be just a little crush that she has yet to completely nullify, but it could be more. Even though she's a pastel pony, she's as sapient as you. So, should you be able to set it aside if she is?

Yes. Joe conceded, But you know I've never been approached in such a manner...I just don't know what to think...Going from living a life of solitude in my lab as soon as I was eighteen, to living on the road with a new sentient being, might not have been the brightest decision I've ever had. Especially considering that sentient being is of the fairer sex.

Blake just sighed, his mood seemingly disappointed. You're over thinking this! There's a reason that you were never social as a child, it's because you take everything way too far into perspective. While you're busy looking at all the details, everyone else has moved on!

Joe shrugged, his gash aching a little more as his drink began to work its magic, albeit weaker due to his extremely fast metabolism. "Another please," he asked the bartender, who gave Joe a confused glance, but complied with the request, mumbling, "I've only seen one pony still perfectly fine after a Dragon's Fire...That mare..."

That may be the case, but Trixie's having the time of her life, I don't want to possibly ruin any type of relationship I already have with her. Joe thought, sipping at his drink, the edges of his mind slowly becoming fuzzy. And don't forget that I still need to explain everything from how I got here to how I know her last name, it'll gnaw at her unless I come clean about it all.

There are times where being rash is more tactful than over thinking everything. This is one of those times.

How do you know that? Joe asked.

What?

You have even less experience than I in social interactions, and especially romantic encounters, not even mentioning the fact that you aren't even real, so how do you know what to do?

Ignoring the 'not real' comment, the reason I know what to do is because I think outside of the box, while you're as deep down in that box as possible.

Joe was about to continue his mental argument with Blake when the bartender interrupted, saying, "Ye alright there kiddo?"

Joseph looked up at the aging steel-grey stallion, "Yes, why?"

"Ye seemed to be deep in thought about somethin', and you've been sipping at an empty mug."

Joe looked into his mug to see that it was indeed empty, before looking back at the elderly stallion, "It seems I have been, another?"

The stallion took the cup from him and, with a worried look on his face, he began preparing another drink, "Ye know, when I get a colt like you in here this late, somethin' big happened. What happened to you?"

If you're so sure that I'm wrong, ask this guy, he seems to know what's what. Blake stated.

"Just some wo-er-mare issues." Joe stated simply.

"Just issues with the mares? If I'm readin' you right, there's more than that." the stallion said, glancing at Joe's shoulder, "And it's not just nervousness or rejection."

Joe was surprised by the stallion, shocked that he was able to see all of that so quickly, "H-how did you know that?" he asked, with a small stutter.

The wise, elderly stallion just smiled and said, "I've seen many years, run this here pub for many of them, and I've seen colt after colt come here to drown their sorrows. Your case ain't that different from some of these cases," Blake snorted, but said nothing "I'm safe to assume that ye went after a nice young mare and got jumped by her ex?"

Sure, lets go with that. Blake said, chuckling. Joe nodded.

"Well, what you should do first is report who ever that colt is to the guard, young pride don't mean a thing if ye got hurt, and secondly you should go right up to that mare and tell her how ye feel. Might sound a little cliché, but it's usually the easiest way to get it done an' over with."

"But how would I do that? I don't know exactly what to do, and I don't want to make a wrong move."

The stallion snorted, "You're one of those cautious types, ain't ya'?" Joe nodded, "Well, I'd say that you should bring her somewhere romantic, then tell her. All you really need to know bucko."

"Really? Simple as that?"

The stallion nodded and smiled, "Young love follows the same tracks, safest bet is really to just go for it."

See! See what I mean? I know what I'm talkin' about! Blake exclaimed.

Ignoring Blake, Joe nodded and returned the smile, some metaphorical weight lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you Sir, you don't know how much you have helped. How many bits do I need to pay you?" Joe said, lifting his small sack of bits.

The bartender looked at the little pouch, but shook his head. "Nothing. It's on the house." Joe was about to ask why when the stallion continued, "The reason why ye don't have to pay is because I pity heartbroken colts. Well, that and those drinks you had is a drink I have as a drinking challenge called the Dragon's Fire challenge. Keep it down and don't pass out and you get yer picture on the wall." The stallion gestured to one of the walls in the back with the pictures of stallions and a few mares, all hammered, but with one purple earth pony with a purple mane and magenta colored eyes, smiling as if she hadn't drank a thing. "You, son, have just earned yourself a place there, what's your name?"

Blake? Any ideas?

I dunno. How about Hard Drive? Ponies seem to be named after those marks they got after all.

"Hard Drive. My name is Hard Drive."

"Hard Drive? Huh, you one of those colts learnin' how to make them new fangled computers?"

Joseph nodded.

After getting his picture taken, and a pat on the back with parting words, Joesph was on his way back to Trixie's cart, hoping to get back before Trixie woke up.

[POV: Blake]

Blake watched as Joseph made his way back to his and the ponies small camp outside of the city limits. Ever so slowly Blake retreated into Joe's subconscious, trying his hardest to not be noticed. After successfully backing into the one section of Joe's mind he could think to himself-unless Joe himself was there in a mental embodiment of himself- Blake began to chuckle, soon that chuckle became a laugh.

"Truly the stupidest smart person in all of existence! You pay attention to one thing in detail and give everything else just a once-over!" he laughed, a smile of malice upon his face, "That will ultimately be your downfall Joseph Green. But in time...in time..."

Author's Note

Hey guys, it's been too long. Well. I'm an evil bastard. Hope you guys don't hate me for this chapter of 'protagonist goes to bar and gets helpful information/tips on how to deal with his problems/issues' type deal I gave you all.

Revelations in Manehattan

[POV: Trixie]

"Did I hear you correctly?" Joe asked Trixie through the slot that she used to talk through, "Because I thought that I heard you say Manehattan."

"I did Joe, why?"

Trixie didn't quite hear what Joe said but it was something about horse puns. Joe's been acting very strange the last couple of days.. Trixie thought, and it was true. Ever since the hydra attack Joe has been more reclusive and nowhere near as talkative. I hope nothing's wrong...Oh, it's all my fault! Every time someone gets close to me I either push them away or something happens to them! What's wrong with me?! Trixie thought, lowering her head, making herself feel worse as memories of the past flew to the forefront of her mind.

No. Trixie thought, standing tall, The past is the past and whatever Joe's dealing with, he'll work out himself. If he wanted my help, he would've asked. Her mind flashed back to that one night. The night she kissed Joe and a light blush covered her cheeks, Or maybe he's thinking about... that too...

Shaking the thought away, she dismissed the idea, it might be one of the biggest things in her mind at the moment, but she needed to focus on her next gig in Manehattan. But doing so made her heart feel just the slightest bit heavier.

After an hour the blue unicorn and the changed human, who took the form of a white unicorn with a yellow mane he used on the road when others neared, entered the city limits, where everypony was bustling and seemed to have a purpose in the city-wide network.

Once Trixie walked a few blocks further into the city, she heard her companion ask for her to stop. Pulling to the side of the road, Trixie unhooked herself from her cart and entered it to see Joe standing up, about to leave.

"What are you doing?" she asked, raising a brow and closing the door behind her.

"I'm getting out to walk," Joe stated flatly, "I don't know how you stand it, but I don't like to stay in one confined place doing nothing."

"In your state?" Trixie rebuked, blocking the doorway, "Are you insane?"

Looking through his long, messy, yellow mane Joe looked right into Trixie's eyes with his stunning, intelligent eyes. Her heart fluttered. "Trixie, I know my limits. I'll be fine." he said softly, as if afraid to hurt her feelings.

Dwelling on the matter for a few moments Trixie relented, but not without telling him off for being so thickheaded, to which he responded with his usual smirk. That Celestia forsaken smile of his... Trixie thought.

Within the next few minutes the duo were walking side by side with Joe pulling her cart in his usual fashion. One thing that Trixie had noted was that Joe seemed to be walking a little better than before and was more talkative than the last couple of days. Trixie was nearly ecstatic when she noticed that Joe was going back to normal, even if he's been talking to himself a bit more than before.

Letting out a small sigh of relief, Trixie leaned over to rest her head on Joe's neck as they continued on to the hotel that Trixie had a reservation at. Joe flinched at the initial contact, but after a few seconds, slowly eased back to the same position as before.

"You know Trixie," Joe said softly, snapping Trixie out of her little lull, "This place...This city, I mean, it...reminds me of home."

Trixie turned her head slightly to get a better look at the strong and handsome stal-human she was leaning on, and gave him a soft smile. No... she thought, Not just handsome and strong...smart, handsome, funny, great and powerful. My Great and Powerful Human... The thought comforted Trixie and fit like a key to a lock. She let out another sigh, but one of relaxation as her greatest friend led her to their destination.

[POV: Joseph]

With a relieved groan Joe flopped onto one of the cushioned bed of the four star hotel that Trixie reserved a room at, reverting to his normal human form. As great as it felt to get out of the God-forsaken cart for an hour, his wounds still hurt, but he enjoyed the quality time that he's been spending with Trixie as of late.

So when you gonna tell her? teased Blake.

Soon, she needs to know, and I've been pushing it off for too long... Joe thought, rubbing his head as Trixie entered the bathroom that branched off the room.

Oh, really? Blake said in a sarcastic tone, Lover boy going to confess?

One of Joe's eyes twitched at Blake's snarky comment, but he let it slide, No, I meant explaining how I got here and how I learned her name, not her first...it was an invasion of privacy and I should have told her sooner... At least explain how a being she's never seen before, or at least heard about, just mystically appeared.

Mystically? Really? Of any word to choose, you chose that? Blake quipped, But whatever, it's about time, how long's it been? Two months and change? Honestly, it'd surprise me if she hasn't forgotten already.

A lost memory or not, this information's been weighing down my consciousness for too long. Joe thought solemnly, looking over to his left to see Trixie exiting the bathroom, a wave of steam following her out, and a magically levitated towel drying her mane out. The sight made Joseph's heart flutter, and raised one of the corners of his mouth, And she only deserves the truth.

Blake made a sound akin to gagging, quickly saying, Can you stop choking me with all the sentiments you're giving? It's pathetic.

It had been a wonderful performance. The crowd today was larger than all of the previous combined. At least a good three hundred ponies of different kinds and colors had arrived to see Trixie's act. The smile she had the entire time was stunning, and what made it even better was that she has gotten so much better at controlling and strengthening her magic, and she had done over half of the act herself. The amount of pride Joe felt for her when he helped her with the final act and she smiled her brilliant smile was insurmountable, and left him feeling happy until Blake reminded him of his promise.

Now. Joe thought, conviction shown inside his mind, re-entering the shared hotel room with Trixie beside him, still smiling with an even larger bag, or sack as the case be, of bits than normal.

What? Blake asked, sounding legitimately surprised at Joe's comment, Are you serious? You'll ruin the good mood! She's happy!

Your point? Joe asked, steeling his resolve, If I don't do it now, I'll procrastinate with it until I say it at the wrong time. I need to get it over with.

But this is the wrong time you fool! Blake yelled, making Joe's head throb at a dull ache.

With one sigh Joe shut out Blake's voice, and transformed to his normal self, helping Trixie move her new stockpile of bits under her bed, with an invisibility spell for added protection. "Over three thousand bits, Joe!" she squealed, giving Joe a large hug, but being careful to not aggravate his shoulder, "This the most I've ever been paid, and it's all thanks to you!"

Joe nodded in appreciation of the compliment, but had sadness in his eyes. "Thank you Trixie, but there's something I need to tell you..."

Trixie pulled back a bit from the hug, giving Joe a confused look, a small smile still visible, "What is it Joe?"

Joe took in a deep breath, and released it, "You remember the day we meet?" Trixie nodded, "You we're so scared," he chuckled, "But after you were injured...No, before that even, when you thought you trapped, even thought I let you go. I did something you might find...uncivil."

Trixie cocked her head to the side, "Uncivil? What do you mean?"

"I mean I found out your last name and many other things about you by reading you mind, and looking at your past."

Trixie froze, her eyes glazed over and she seemed to be thinking. I really hope I wasn't too frank...

"By looking at my past," she started after a few minutes passed, "Do you mean... you looked at my memories?"

Joe nodded, his shoulders slumped down, "It's something I've done upon first meetings to better understand the person I'm talking to...I'm sorry I didn't tell you any earlier."

Trixie looked down, moving away from Joe, "How many times have you done it to me?" she asked, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"Just the once," Joe said in a calm tone, "I wasn't thinking straight at the time, what with just walking into a completely different universe."

"What?" Trixie asked, looking up, her unfallen tears disappearing somewhat. With a flick of the wrist, a white, oval shaped disk appeared midair, showing an image of a laboratory full of contraptions that most men and women would never understand how to use. Trixie moved up to the disk an tried to put a hoof on it, only for it to go through the disk. Trixie quickly pulled her hoof back, and inspected the portal like disk more thoroughly. "Where does this led too?"

"Home." Joe stated, his tone steady and calm, despite the regret he felt inside, "I've been able to go home, to my home at any time. Honestly, the time I've spent here is the most fun I've had in years. I just didn't want to go. But that's not what I wanted to tell you..." Trixie looked back to Joe, her eyes full of curiosity and a small amount of tears yet to spill over. "What I wanted to say is...I've seen your past...and I'm sorry...The pain, the ridicule...Your nightmares. I saw it all, and the only thing I can say is...I'm sorry that I couldn't help then."

As if a switch was flicked all of Trixie's emotions seemed to boil over, and before Joe knew it, Trixie was a crying heap in front of him. Joe all but leaped to his companion's side, picking her up and setting her down gently on her bed, staying nearby. As she continued to cry, Joe sat there silently, stroking her mane, whispering calming words. After several minutes her crying died down somewhat, and the room was filled with shuddering breaths.

Author's Note

I know, you all hate me. Three, no. FOUR months without an update. You all have full reason to hate and ignore forever...Anyhow, for those who haven't forgotten about little 'ol me, I know this chapter is a bit short and a heck of a bombshell, but I intended for it to be. (To be quite frank I re-wrote this chapter SEVERAL times) And it give's y'all something to wonder about...

Muahahahah! Cliffhangers are fun! Let the speculations commence!

Forgetting of the Past

[POV: Joseph]

The night was quiet. Trixie had fallen asleep hours ago, yet Joe was wide awake. The vigilant protector. Kept awake not only from lack of necessity, but also the thoughts churning inside his mind. Many of those thoughts were not Joe's. Blake was angry, or at least disappointed.

I told you so, he said, almost as if he knew that Trixie would have such an explosive reaction. Joe just did his best to block out Blake's uncouth comments and insults as he thought of ways to approach Trixie again. I could always be direct and ask her how that whole fiasco happened, but I highly doubt that she'll want to talk about her parents at all...Her suppressed depression, lingering over her thoughts...Terrible to see, no matter who it is. Joe thought, looking over to his companion from another universe.

Roughly two months ago Joseph had made a device meant to lock onto and trace any and everything that held the same type of power that Joe had bestowed himself. But for it to work, he had to use his powers to give the machine something to work with. The results were...unexpected to say in the least. But that machine had led him to his cerulean friend, as different as she may be.

Who would have thought that all mankind had to do to prove the multiverse theory as true was to open their minds. Joe mussed for a moment.

And Blake voiced, who'd have thought that a man with an IQ of over two hundred could be so stupid!

Joe just snarled and opened his mind's eye to see Blake standing where he usually stood, arms crossed and an arrogant look on his face.

"What's wrong with you?" Joseph asked, trying his best to not make his frustration obvious.

Blake laughed as if the question was a joke, a crude smile finding its way unto his face, "Nothing is wrong with me, buddy boy. You on the other hand, well..." he trailed off, his eyes becoming cold, "You can't fix a broken man"

With that final insult Joe snapped, rushing forwards, he caught Blake by the neck, slamming him down to the ground, pinning him down. As soon as Joe's hand made contact, Blake immediately grabbed at Joseph's hands to pry them off and failing, while Joe looked at him with pure fury.

"I've had just about enough from you, Blackness," Joe growled, using the name Blake chose first.

Blake just let out a strangled noise, struggling to escape. Taking pity on his split personality, Joseph relaxed his grip and got off of Blake, taking a few deep breaths while Blake took in a few lungfuls, massaging where Joe's hand had been seconds prior.

"You've been overstepping your boundaries for too long now Blake," Joe said in a calmer, more collected tone, "Too many time's this has happened, and you have crossed the line two times to many. If it happens once more, you can expect me to be much less merciful. You have stirred up enough trouble, as have I.

With those words said, Joe withdrew from his mind to open his eyes and see Trixie still asleep with her forelegs wrapping Joe's arm in a tight embrace, a look of pure calm and serenity on her face.

The sight melted the anger that Joe had been feeling almost immediately, bringing a smile to his face. Maybe, he thought maybe everything will be alright come morning.

[POV: Blake]

Once Joe had faded back into consciousness, Blake had pick himself off from the dull grey ground that was his 'home'. "That was too damn close," he grumbled, "If that idiot had finished me off then all of my planning would've been for nothing." Looking around his empty prison once again, he contemplated if all of his effort would be worth it for the grand prize. "Of course... Of course it will," he cackled, grinning like a madman, letting his black colored power pulse for just a moment, reveling at the feeling, "Ah. Soon Joseph Green, you won't be a man with a voice inside your head, and I...I will be at my strongest!" He roared, letting his madness take form of dark laughter.

[POV: Trixie]

Trixie woke up from her dreamless sleep with blurry eyes and cuddled up against something soft and warm. Removing one of her legs from whatever she was holding close like a filly and her first teddy bear, she rubbed one of her eyes to try and clear the fog. Once her vision cleared she found Joe, who was facing the ceiling and seemed to be asleep, to be what she was holding onto. A blush quickly formed on her face when Joe opened his eyes, seemingly in a daze.

"Uh..." was the only noise Trixie could make. It was almost as if the sheer awkwardness of the situation made it impossible to speak.

After shaking his head quickly for a second, Joe turned his head to see Trixie grasping onto him as if he was a safety raft in a roaring ocean. "Good morning," he said, slowly removing himself from her tight grip. As he got off the bed and began the process of packing, questions as to how this situation came to be floated around inside Trixie's head. What happened last night? she asked herself, but once that thought crossed her mind a torrent of memories rushed forwards, reminding her of every detail. Her eyes began to water until one shining light in the black sea of dark memories made itself known. How Joe had picked her up, tucked her in and comforted her until she had cried herself to sleep. The feeling of gratitude Trixie felt towards Joe increased drastically and her memories of despair receded back.

Shaking away the sorrow, Trixie asked the question that she couldn't answer herself, "So, Joe. Why is it that you were in my bed?"

Turning away from his work Joe gave Trixie a look of trepidation he seemed deep in thought, his brows furrowed, "I'm not quite sure," he said finally, "I remember putting you in your bed, tucking you in and then feeling...lethargic."

"Lethargic?" Trixie asked, confusion evident in her tone, knowing that Joseph was a person that was always in the mood to do something.

"Lethargic might be the wrong word in this instance, exhausted seems more suitable."

"Tired? How?"

"A good question. You see, last night after, uh, thinking for a time I started feeling very numb and was unable to keep my eyes open. Before I knew it I woke up beside you."

"So you just fell asleep? In my bed?" Trixie deadpanned, she might have feelings for Joe, but him actually sleeping, or resting for that matter, was odd.

"As unusual as it may sound, yes." Joe admitted, moving away from the half packed stage supplies and such and sat at the end of the bed, " To be quiet frank I just felt as though I needed to rest. But that's not what we need to talk about," Joseph said, quickly changing the subject, "What we need to discuss is why you still cling to your past. Those painful memories I know are hard to remove, but you have to try." With those words, words that Trixie had always dreaded and hoped for, her eyes watered.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Trixie did her best to calm herself down. He's right, she relented, her heart feeling as though it had unknotted itself for the first time in a decade, I've held onto all of it for too long...Huh...And I wondered why I always had nightmares, but now I know that the man of my dreams is here to try and save me once again, but this time from myself... "You want to know why I carried that burden?" She asked, looking at the floor dejectedly, "Because it was the only time that I knew real happiness for a long time, but thinking about it now...It makes me think about how the last few months have been. I've laughed and cried. Met a human that I care for very much, he saved me from from many things and yet, my own worst enemy is my past...But you're right. The past is the past. Even though what has happened was devastating, it was years ago. I need to forget about it."

When Trixie looked up to see the look on Joe's face, she could only describe it as a look of pride. He said nothing, but his gaze gained a thousand-yard-stare quality. With a quick shake of the head, his brilliant grey eyes found her, a soft look on Joe's face and his usual smirk faint, but on his face. "That's good. I'm happy that your at least trying to banish your dark foes."

Trixie gave Joe a wide smile, doing her best to leap over to him and give him the hug he deserves. Once she got her hooves on him she gave him the biggest hug she could muster, nuzzling into his side. He just chuckled and pet her mane, Trixie cooing in response. The two stayed like that for quite a while, but eventually the two removed themselves from the other and finished up packing with smiles on their faces. But, in Trixie's case, with a lighter heart.

Author's Note

Hurrah for binge writing!

A Grand City, A Happy Night And A Dark Surprise [Part One of Two of the Finale]

[POV: Trixie]

The trip from Manehattan to Canterlot was long and irksome, but the time that Trixie had spent with Joe was unforgettable. The trip itself had taken over two weeks, after all one would have to travel a good number of miles to go from Manehattan to Canterlot, and they still have yet to get to the Equestrian capitol. But in that time Trixie and Joseph had gotten even closer. Though Trixie was still unsure how to act without holding her painful past back, rather than setting it free, but since she had she's felt lighthearted and happier. With nothing really dragging her down anymore she was left in peace among the clouds and with her best friend. But one of the best parts was the fact that Trixie's nightmares were less prominent compared to before, something she was grateful for.

"So Trixie," Joe said, breaking the silence, walking up to her right side, in his pony form to keep passerbys from panicking. "Have you been to this capitol that you said we're going to?" he asked, trying to make conversation.

Trixie let out a small sigh, leaning over to rest her head on his neck, something that's gotten to be something of a habit as of late. "Not since I made a big mistake." she simply stated, not wanting to elaborate any further. Hunting down that dumb amulet was a pain and a half, and what she did with it was worse than she thought it would be. Becoming more and more evil was definitely not what she had been expecting.

Joe smirked, obviously trying to change the subject, "So where are we performing in this city? A bar? A cafe?" a thoughtful look crossed his face for a moment, "An amusement park?"

Trixie giggled at that last guess, but shook her head, "No, we aren't scheduled for another show for another month. I just wanted to see Canterlot again, preferably without needing a cloak covering my face."

Joe raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Trixie could only imagine what he must be thinking. Than again, he does know about me to almost the deepest level...He and I... shaking her head to remove the fantasy she was about to dream up. If Joe wanted that, than he would suggest as much. No use in trying to fulfill her desires for someone to love if he doesn't have the same 'craving'. After all, she practically forced herself onto him.

The duo's conversation lulled into a peaceful silence and bliss that only travailing with someone near and dear could ever achieve. And Trixie wouldn't have it any other way.

Within the span of three hours, the Equestrian capitol known as Canterlot finally came into view. The marble buildings carved from the stone of the mountain that it was built into, clean and pristine. Gold covered roof tops showing the riches of those that resided in the city of splendor, reflecting the days dying light giving way to Luna's night. But the cherry on top was the castle, a place that the solar and lunar rulers of the land governed their land. A palace of gargantuan size and the marvel of all Equestria.

The sight was always breathtaking, regardless of how many times Trixie has seen the city. Joseph, on the other hoof, had an impressed look on his face as he gazed upon the city. "Marvelous" he whispered, awe apparent in is voice as he looked upon the bright city with those bright, stunning grey eyes of his. Trixie smiled when she saw the look on his face.

The two kept whatever else they had to say to themselves, both appreciating the view that was before them, and each others company as they approached the large city.

Night had fallen once the traveling pair had reached the city limits, large defensive walls with armored guards aplenty, keeping the denizens safe throughout the night. When Joseph first saw the guards, a strange look crossed his face and he seemed deep in thought. Almost as if he was debating something. Trixie didn't take much notice in it, Joe did that every now and then, even if he didn't seem to notice himself, and Trixie found there was no need for concern.

With some searching the pair had found a decent place to spend the night, where Trixie left what she's called home for years in a safe stable, securely locked, and daily essentials, like toothbrushes, were taken out. After checking out a room and unpacking a few things Joe seemed to be deep in thought again about another thing.

"Uh, Trixie?" Joe asked, a bit of nervousness in his voice, barely noticeable, but still present,"Why don't the two of us go out and just...spend some time out? Relax a bit more."

The suggestion caught Trixie off guard. Surely he didn't..."You mean go out and have fun?"

"Well, that or do whatever you want to do. For the night at least, I think you deserve it." he said, ending his statement with a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his head.

Trixie's heart fluttered as ideas of what they could do together, but after quickly calming herself down she gave her partner and best friend a smile, "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."

Trixie hasn't had this much fun in a long while. Apparently there was some form of traveling circus that they hadn't come across on the road that had set up inside one of the two parks in Canterlot. Trixie had enjoyed the show with many acrobats and ponies with incredible strength or skill, and the few booths with games that it had to offer, One booth especially Trixie enjoyed, considering the sight of Joe trying to throw a baseball with hooves and missing every time was hysterical. He'd left the stand with a small blush present, a skittish booth attendant and a laughing Trixie trying to comfort him.

"You weren't that bad honest!" Trixie giggled, the obviousness of her lie entertaining, at least for her.

"If somehow getting one of the balls stuck on the top of the booth isn't considered bad, then I don't know the definition of the word." he mumbled, a faint smile on his face as they weaved in and out of the crowd.

As they moved about inside the grounds one booth in particular, by the edges of where the booths had been set up, had caught Trixie's eye. The only thing under a small open tent was a alabaster unicorn with a red and black mane and tail sitting besides a blank canvas resting on an easel and a tray with paints of many hues nearby. After grabbing Joe's attention and convincing him, the two walked up to the stallion.

The accented painter, as he explained, was doing free portraits for the night, and with some more mild convincing from Trixie, the two sat besides one another as the artist continued to paint. A relaxing half hour passed before he finished, showing a beautifully made painting of the two unicorns, deep in embrace, looking deeply into the anothers eyes. The brushed texture added just that extra bit of pizazz to the piece, and the stallion asked if he could keep the painting to show to others. After a short discussion, the two consented and went on their way.

Trixie let out another small sigh and put her head in it's usual place on Joe's muscled neck, following along as he walked out of the small fair grounds within the park. A few minutes of walking later and the two found a place with the most spectacular view. The valley that is watched over by the Canterlot, caught under the majestic light of the night sky, lights from a small number of towns showing the civilization in the valley, and adding more stars to the night, some turning off as families started to go to bed and dream.

Joe stopped, quickly looking around before softly moving Trixie's head from his neck and changing back to normal, sitting down and staring at the sight. Trixie took the hint and sat on her haunches beside him. The two were silent, marveling at the sight as they had with the city, enthralled at the image worth thousands of words. Neither of the two wanted to break the comfortable silence that had accumulated, but something seemed to be on Josephs mind. The fact was especially obvious when he cleared his throat and looked to Trixie with the eyes that she fell in love with.

"Trixie," he started, a look of uncertainty written on his face, "Look, there's something that I've been thinking about for a while," Trixie turned to look at him, emotions battling for dominance behind his unknowing eyes, "The three and a half months that we have spent together have been a life changing experience for the both of us. Many things about the both of us have been revealed to the other through some means. Honestly," he let out a quick, sad chuckle, "If someone had told me that I was going to befriend a cerulean unicorn from another universe, I would have found the nearest physiological institute, stuffed them in a straight jacket and leave them there. But now...now that I've experienced what I have, know what I now know and to have met those that I did, I'm a changed man. Would I trade that in for more fame or glory back on Earth? No. No, I wouldn't." Moving closer to her, Joe took one of her hooves in his hands, and gazed into her eyes, his own telling the story that his mouth was reciting, "A month a half ago, you did something that I never anticipated, outright kissing me, with no warning. I will say this, you surprised me, that is for sure." he chuckled once more, more mirth than thoughtfulness in it. All of this, making a painful but sweet knot in her heart, and making tears start to form in Trixie's eyes.

"With that one action and paired with the fact that you were so willing to show love, love out of anything, to a creature that you hadn't ever heard of two months prior. It was what got me thinking, and with all that thinking that I have done, only recently have I come to a conclusion." he released her hoof and put a gentle hand to her cheek, "I think that we can have a relationship beyond that of a friend or partnership." With that, Trixie's tears spilled over, the feeling in her heart changing from a tough knot to rose in full bloom, a smile on her face as she quickly tackled her friend and gave him a hug, trying her darnedest to convey her relief in that one motion. Her best friend, the best one she's ever had, and her new coltfriend.

Joe accepted the hug, wrapping his arms around her. The bond between the two had lasted what felt like a blissful millennia, the two keeping the other safe in the embrace. Though Trixie was still letting a few tears of relief fall, she could have sworn that one drop, just one, had fallen onto her head. After a while, the two released their hold on the other, Trixie sniffing a bit as they did so. The silence from before came back, but with the feelings of joy and happiness in the air, rather than a lack of tension.

I can't believe it...Trixie thought, looking back to the night sky above, a smile gracing her face, he feels the same... she let out a small, nearly inaudible sigh of relief.

"Hate to ruin the moment, but it's way to sappy for my tastes." came a deep, nearly demonic voice, one that had been in many of Trixie's sleepless nights. Snapping her head in the direction of the voice, she saw Joe. Only different. His hair was as dark as a starless night, his skin pale, his clothes black as pitch, and his eyes, what used to be bright, warm and full of knowledge, was now dark, cold and calculating. Turning head to where Joe was moments prior, she saw him almost perfectly normal, the only thing different was his hair, which was now a snowy white.

Trixie looked from one Joe to the other, confused as to what she was seeing, which was both Joe's, the white haired one now standing like the black haired one, glaring at each other.

"Blake. You're not supposed to be out here, you split personality." the lighter Joe growled, moving between Trixie and the nega-Joe.

'Blake' let out a harsh, barking laugh, "I'm nothing of the sort Joey. Much more than a voice in your head." another laugh, "I'm your worst nightmare."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

I was feeling very prolific.

Also, you know those nights where you go to bed early 'cause you feel tired, wake up early, say...2:30? And you can't fall asleep again? I know those nights, and use them accordingly, as shown above.

Oh. Right. Surprise!

...What?

The Battle Between Good and Evil [Part Two of Two of the Finale]

[POV: Trixie]

Blake's demonic chuckle filled the air, the wind beginning to pick up and the once tranquil night was starting to be wiped away.

"How did you get out of my mind Blake?!" Joe shouted, taking up a defensive stance, standing between Trixie and Blake.

"There are many ways that I could have. But I chose one." Blake answered cryptically, inspecting his fingernails lazily before turning his hard gaze to Joe, "And all I needed to leave your bland skull was to have enough of a distraction."

"So all of what you said, all of those tips were lies? All just to-"

"Keep your focus off of me? Yes. And I'll say this, you're too easy to fool. After all, people fall in love too easy and tend to think about the other plenty. Love is a pathetic thing really."

"Uh, Joe? What's happening?" A fearful Trixie asked, taking cover behind the human she trusted.

"Oh, that's right, he never told you," Blake responded before Joe could, a cold and distant smile forming on his pale lips as he walked forward, ignoring Joe entirely, "To put it simply little horse, I'm the now-living embodiment of evil and cruelty."

"Joe?"

"He's right," Joe conceded, his gaze softening as he turned to look at Trixie, "As much as it pains me to say. Blake's from my childhood. My dark thoughts and anger over the my loss of my family collected in one spot that was practically a dark pit of despair. After I got my powers, that hell mouth took the form of what I thought was a split personality that called itself Blake." he turned to face Blake once more, his glare returning.

"Ah, glad that that's out of the way, know that horsy there is all caught up, now I can take over this pitiful place." Blake said in a conversational tone.

"What? Are you insane?" Trixie shouted, fear gripping her as she continued to converse with the madman.

Blake smirked, similar to how Joe does, but the frost in his eyes changed the look entirely. "What, you thought I would just waltz out of Mr. Thick Skull here and be all hunky dory? Ha! Not even close." he stated, turning to Joe, who was less than twenty feet from him, "Hell, I'm sure that killing him alone wouldn't be enough." Once those words were spoken Blake shot forward, arm cranked back ready to deliver a crushing blow. Joe's eyes widened and he dived to his left, seconds before Blake flew by, barely missing him.

Blake skidded to a halt directly in front of Trixie, staring into her eyes, looking into her soul as she did to him. The anger and pain evident behind his black eyes, but the jubilation of evil was still visible as a demented smile formed on his face. "I don't see what he finds so interesting about you glue source,"

A war cry sounded over the now howling wind and a pair of hands grabbed the back of Blake's jacket before he was thrown to the ground. "You stay away from her!" Joe shouted before a near transparent sphere of white magic surrounded Trixie, flying her above the two struggling humans were she could see the fighting from above.

After another minute of flailing, Joe landed a kick to Blake's solar plexus, sending him flying. The blow fazed the dark haired man for only a few seconds before he was on his feet once more, sprinting towards Joe at an incredible pace. "You think that's going to stop me?!" he shouted, rearing back once more, but this time successfully landing the punch to Joe's temple, snapping his head to the left and even turning the rest of him slightly. A quiet growl came from Joe as he threw his own blow, using the momentum gained from Blake's last attack to swing around and hammer his fist into the side of Blake's own head.

"Why are you doing this Blake?" Joe shouted as Blake shook away the shock of the blow.

With a flurry of punches aimed at Joseph's torso, many of which made contact, Blake responded, "You think someone as smart as me is willing to sit around in your damn mind and do absolutely nothing like some drooling idiot? Not likely!"

In a swift movement Joe caught both of Blake's clenched hands and, in a show of amazing flexibility, sent one of his feet straight into Blake's face, a loud crack sounding above the blistering wind. One glance was enough to confirm what had happened; Joe had broken Blake's nose.

Stumbling back Blake clutched his crooked and bloody nose, and his blood was disturbingly think and inky, sending a maddened look towards Joe, "Nice kick." his hand glowed with a black aura before he removed his hand from his face to reveal his nose reset and no longer bleeding. Trixie was as mystified as she was scared. He could heal himself with what looked like no effort.

"Joe!" she screamed slamming her hooves into the sphere around her in a panic, trying desperately to get Joseph's attention. He had either heard her and didn't care or he really didn't hear her thrashing over the worsening weather.

"So Joey, you done with the useless fist fighting?" Blake shouted, his hands glowing once again, "Because I sure am, and I just want to get to ruling this place already. So let's just get to the fun stuff." his body was now covered in his aura, slowly solidifying around his chest, forearms, shoulders, and shins in an impression of black armor, covering an evil knight. Within another few seconds a brutal looking long sword, as black as his aura and armor, formed in his pale hands. With a chilling smile and a flare of magic dark, leathery wings sprouted from his back, giving Blake an even more demonic look.

Joe glared at the evil being and began to cover himself with his own bright magic began to fit itself in an almost identical fashion, and in his hands came two small, thin and elegant rapiers and he too let wings sprout from his back, but as white as a swans and as feathery as any pegasi's.

All throughout Trixie sat in horror as the two outfitted themselves with weapons that shouldn't be able to be created in such a way, the fact that the both of them could make wings come from out of nowhere that are almost as long as they are tall and then some. All of it she saw from her pegasi-eye view, as well as the small squadron of royal guards rushing to the location while fighting the harsh wind blowing freely.

"I've waited too long for this Joey, and you aren't gonna stop me!" Blake cackled, throwing his head back.

"You don't have to do this! Just stop now!" Joe tried to reason.

"Stop in the name of her Highness! Put your weapons down!" shouted one of the stallions that now looked as if they were ready to join the fray, surrounding and pointing their spears at the two humans.

Blake just looked around with a grin and locked eyes with Joe, "Can you believe that?" he asked conversationally.

"Leave them out of it."

Blake hummed, "I don't think I will," suddenly he leaped to his left, sword raised and seconds before the befuddled guard was about to be able to see his entire body with no restriction, Joe blocked the giant blade with both of his, deflecting the blow away and shuffling back.

"Flee! I'll handle him!" Joe shouted, taking a defensive stance. His hands glowed once more, another sphere radiating out from the space between them, expanding and shoving the guards back quickly while leaving a dome around half of the park as well as the two armored humans and single trapped unicorn, even cutting off the wind. With the deed done, Joe turned to Blake once again hatred amongst the brilliant steel grey. "I don't know why you have to do this, but I won't let you."

"Oh really? Ha! That's fuckin' hilarious! What next? You gonna turn me into some flying gay pride flag?"

"...What?"

Blake shrugged, readying his monster sword, "Don't know, don't care." he stated, before slowly making his way forwards, his every movement precise. It was shocking to see his complete change in tactic, almost frightening. As Joe began to move to meet him half way, one would be able to see Blake's black eyes scanning the whole of the area obviously looking for any advantage. Joe didn't give him the chance to find one, jumping forwards with his swords ready to puncture. In a swift movement Blake ducked under both of the sharp blades and took Joe out by the knees and making him fall to the ground in a heap.

With a shake of the head Joe picked himself up dusted himself off, "You're weak Joey! The bubbles around the four legged smurf and the scenery don't help either!" Blake bellowed, "I get you're supposed to be the good guy here, but come on! Allow some destruction."

"No. I refuse to let you ruin innocent lives." Joe adopted a fierce scowl, "I will do everything within my power to stop you."

"Aww, you're getting so sentimental again." Blake cooed with all the warmth of a glacier, "Too bad that raw emotion is going to die."

With a snort of hot air and a roar Joe charged forward once more, but taking to the sky midway, dive bombing Blake. Before Blake could react Joe had cut into his pale flesh in a gap between his armor on his upper arm. Blake hissed at the pain, but rolled out of the way of the next run, running an aura covered hand over the injury to see it unaffected. He blanched even more, even though Trixie thought it imposable, to deathly white, but he just scowled an began to defend himself from Joe's continuous blows.

After several minutes of watching what was inside the dome some of the guards outside began to argue over something, Trixie noticed, and one of the younger looking ones ran off in the general direction of the palace. She only gave the stallion a glance as he galloped away before bringing her attention to the brawl below her. In the few seconds she missed Joe had received a gash to his right leg, and he was no longer swooping at Blake, rather choosing to stay flying in the same general spot. Blake agreeing with the idea, flapping his bat like wings.

Blake smiled and what looked like black fire was spilling out in a few gaps between his teeth, before he took a deep breath and let out an incredibly hot, breath of fire, but black as the bottom of a pit. A look of shock crossed Joe's face before he flew out of the way of the horizontal pillar of fire, that was hitting mostly just the barrier dome, weaving this way and that until Blake shut his mouth with a click, cutting off the fire, and admiring the small fires that had began to dot the landscape of what was once a park.

Blake waved to Joe, who was at the ground once more, and turned to look at Trixie, who was still unmarred and unaffected, at least physically, by the pandemonium, only to have a blast of magic hit his palm, burning the skin in a second. Blake waved his hand about in a pained fashion. Scowling he threw his broad sword, that for some reason now had a chain attached to it, which was parried by Joe with little effort. Pulling his weapon back Blake mumbled something that sounded like, "I thought that would've worked." shrugging, he grasped the hilt once again and took up Joe's tactic of diving in over and over again.

Joe was ready for it, and after blocking several of swings, Joe began to go on the offensive, blocking with one sword while slashing with the other. Both had no result from the attack and eventually Blake seemed to grow frustrated at his lack of progress and landed roughly a hundred feet away. In a flash a streak of black flew at Joe and he moved just in time to dodge the brunt of it, unfortunately one of his wings were sliced in half. He howled in pain and let the appendages disappear, leaving a cut on his back, the crimson leaking through his armor in small streams.

Seeing the rivulets of blood broke the chains around Trixie's vocal cords, "Joe! Stop! Run away, he's going to kill you! Please!" she screamed beginning to bawl, mustering up all of her strength to flail about and get out of the floating ball, but it was for naught. Even through the tears in her eyes she could see the pain in Joe's.

Joe just let out a sigh, a fierce frown set in as if it was a mask. Taking deep breaths Joe spread his arms, his swords pointing away from him, leaving his chest exposed, ready to be pierced. Blake's eyes flashed as he flew forwards at an incredible pace, ready to take the moment and finish off his nemesis. When Blake was only ten feet away, Joe jumped up, over Blake, throwing one of his rapiers behind him. Blake turned to see the sword flying right at him, and couldn't manage to dodge it, the rapier lodging itself deep into his shoulder. A shriek sounded off from Blake, his armor fading a bit as he grabbed the blade and yanked it out, a look of blood lust on his face.

"You'll pay for that," he growled, one of his eyes blood shot. The somewhat joyous look Joe adopted for a matter of a few seconds was gone before he had to dodge a bolt of magic aimed for his crotch. Joe's eyes narrowed at the dirty move, but he didn't say anything, he just but both hands to the hilt of his sword and let it grow to a similar length.

Silence fell over the battlefield, besides the sound of the now several fires burning the trees and grass to ash and the sound of Trixie's crying and the occasional clunk of her hooves hitting the barrier around her. They both stared right into the others eyes, ready for any movement. Time passed. Neither moved, not a bit. A twig in the distance snapped and so did the two humans, on fighting for good, the other for domination. They clashed in the center of the park, directly under Trixie. The force of their clash sent ripples of air around the dome, each staring right into the others eyes, one dead and cold, the other bright and warm. Both were stopped dead in their tracks, trying to force their polar opposite back in a show of dominance. The two strained against the other, feet dug into the ground, arms braced against their weapons. It was frightening.

The pushing continued for a good few minutes before something happened. A shift, slight but noticeable. Again, a bit easier to see. Once more and it was clear; Joe was slowly being overpowered. The longer the contest went on, the further back Joe was pushed back and the less leverage he had until he was practically being leaned on.

"You see this Joey," Blake said, leaning down upon Joe even more, "You can't win." with a crazed look Blake jumped back, his sword held downwards, and he jumped forwards, swatting Joe's own sword out of the way, and landing a devastating blow. Joe just let out a pained gurgle and looked down.

"No!" Trixie sobbed, her heart aching at the sight of the one she fell in love with, pierced through the stomach with a sword. Tears flowed down her face like great rives and the sphere around her began to fade out a bit and she slowly descended not too far away from the two. With his job done Blake slowly, excruciatingly pulled the blade out, Joe screaming in agony. Blake's pale face brightened with a terrifying smile at the sickening sight.

Blake leaned over Joe, who was now in a fettle position, arms crossed over the wound staining his armor, that was beginning to fade as much as the bubble and dome, and whispered, "I told you, you're weak," he said, a kick punctuating his statement.

"No..." Trixie cried, "Leave him alone..." Turning his head Blake looked right at Trixie his demented and crazed smile forming once again as he began to stride over to her. Trixie shook in fear, "No...No, no, Joe help!" she yelled, beginning to scramble back as much as she could in the bubble that refused to move. Joe only groaned in pain and slid one of his hands in Trixie's direction.

"Don't...hurt...her...urgh..." he said at a near whisper.

Blake just began to chuckle, ignoring his wounds as if they were scratches from a kitten. His hands went to his sword, bringing it high over his head, swinging it down faster than Trixie could follow. With a crunch cracks began to appear in the sphere, "Joe, stop him!"

Another swing, "I think I'll keep you as a pet," he cackled, following with another swing, "Degrade you, and anger Joey in his afterlife." without a word, Joe slowly got to his feet, disregarding his sword a few feet away and headed towards Blake, who was still hammering away at Trixie's protective sphere. In a second Joseph reached under Blake's arms and laced his fingers behind Blake's head, pinning him and shocking him enough to drop his sword.

"You just don't want to die yet, now do you?" Blake cackled, struggling in Joe's grasp. Joe didn't respond, only stiffening up and refusing to let go.

Trixie... she heard, Joseph's voice reverberating inside her head, He's too strong to beat... I have a plan to finish him once and for all. I only wish it didn't end like this... he spoke, his aura surrounding him once more, glowing brightest over his heart and forehead. Trixie shouted Joe's name again and again, just as Blake growled as he thrashed, no longer finding the situation humorous. Joe only wore a saddened look as the glowing intensify around him and carried to the dome and Trixie's barrier.

"You'll fuck up eventually Joey, and once you falter I'm going to cut you into two!" Blake shouted, his black eyes wide and moving wildly.

"You won't get the chance. I go, you go too. There is no alternative." Joe said solemnly, his aura's brightness beginning to reach an apex, shining brilliantly in the night. He turned to look into Trixie's eyes, and time seemed to stop. She saw a tear, held in the corner of his eye as he gave her the most hurt look she's ever seen. Gone was the pain from wounds, replaced by the pain of what he was going to do. I'm...Sorry... he said slowly before turning back to the back of Blake's head, yelling at the top of his lungs as everything became white and the only sound she could hear was his yelling until it ended with a dulled thump.

The light began to fade, much faster than it came. The bubble around her left to give way to a cloud of dirt, dust and ash taking place of what was the park. But Trixie didn't care, "Joe?! Where are you?!" she shouted, running around wildly trying to find him. When some of the cloud began to settle again she saw a figure laying in a heap on the ground. Rushing to it, Trixie was pained to see that it was Joe, on his side, unresponsive and not breathing. "Joe! Wake up!" she cried out hysterically, rolling him over onto his back and putting her hooves on his shoulders, "Joe, you did it, now we can be free! Joe, please wake up! I..." she choked out, "...I need you...please..." tears ran down her face. That was it. He had sacrificed himself for her well-being and for the greater good. As noble as it was, it still hurt Trixie to the core.

"I knew he was stupid...He killed himself trying to take me out, the dunce." Trixie heard a voice say, turning around a gust of wind revealed a cut, bruised and bleeding Blake hobbling at Trixie. "Now it's just me and you little horse, I'm going to have fun with you." he laughed.

"No! Stay away!" she screamed, shielding Joe's body.

Blake's laughter was cut short when a beam of a navy blue color shot out of the dust and right through Blake's stomach. He gasped, and slowly looked down at the hole in his torso, shock evident in his movements. Turning his head to look over his shoulder he saw a large royal blue alicorn wearing royal attire, with a cutie mark of a crescent moon.

"Begone foul nightmare, return to the depths of Tartarus." she said in an old equestrian accent, blasting Black once more, causing him to crack all over his body and eventually blow away in the breeze as ash. Slowly making her way forwards the alicorn followed by at least two platoons of royal guards reached Trixie, sobbing into Joe's chest, holding him tightly.

"Little pony, why do you hold such a creature with such passion?" the princess known as Luna asked.

Trixie didn't respond, and only sobbed more. Luna, without speaking a word walked around to Joe's head, and after narrowing her eyebrows and lighting her horn, leaned down to touch his forehead with her glowing horn. Minutes passed where the only sound was Trixie's crying and the occasional snippet of conversation from the guards. But Trixie didn't care. She lost him after all that they've been through. Trixie was completely and utterly broken.

A sound. A small twinkling. The sound was enough to get Trixie to look up and see what was happening. Several small, glowing white orbs, looking similar to a sun, being drawn from the surrounding area were collecting into a larger orb hovering above Joe's chest, next to Trixie's head. It was mystifying. And Trixie only watched as the small orbs stopped coming and the big one hovered for a moment before it descended into Joe's chest.

His chest rose and fell. His eyes fluttered open, eyes still bright and shining but slowly taking in the surroundings. When his eyes landed on Trixie a small smirk decorated his face, "Trixie," he whispered.

Trixie could only let out a chocked sob and hold Joe tightly. He made a pained sound and Trixie let go, "Sorry!" she said, a joyous and relieved look covering her face as she looked to Luna. Luna nodded and made her way to the guards, still waiting patiently for orders.

"You two," she called out in a gentle voice, pointing to a stallion and a mare in the front line, "Bring the creature to the castle once they're done. And don't forget about the mare there either." They saluted and the rest of their compatriots minus a few that were guarding the perimeter.

"Trixie," Joe whispered.

"Yes...?" Trixie responded, holding him once more, albeit alot lighter, still crying but less so.

"I love you. Never forget that."

"...I love you too," Trixie sobbed, looking up into Joe's stunning grey eyes, seeing her best friend, partner and coltfriend, "And I won't. I promise..."

End.

Author's Note:
I hope I did well. Well, all rides have to end sometime, and the end has finally arrived. All I need to say is, thank you for your time, all of you and please, please, please tell me that you think. After all, I need to know what I did right if I'm going to make a sequel~
Have a nice day y'all.

What's a Human?

Author's Note

First of all, this is my first (fan fiction that is) and I put forth quite a bit of effort on it, creative criticism is good to help an amateur author like myself in amping up my abilities.

Before I get the question "Why Trixie and a human?'' I'll give you the answer and it's just that I wanted to get Trixie out of the usual Trixie/Sparkle rut and throw something new out there. Also the first chapter is shorter than the rest will be.

But anyways, hope you all enjoy :)

What's a Human?

Trixie was towing her traveling stage and home behind her along a path that ran parallel to the Everfree Forest, thinking about what she did not a week ago.

How could I have been so foalish? She asked herself mentally, I could have avoided this situation if I hadn't lied in the first place. Trixie sighed. Since her humiliation after the Ursa Minor incident two months ago, her thoughts were consumed with revenge on the lavender unicorn that humiliated her, even going so far as to hunt down an ancient artifact that was supposedly cursed just to get the revenge she wanted so badly. Even though Trixie saw the error in her ways after losing in a magic duel, she felt alone, that fact that she really was alone didn't help the fact.

Maybe I should get a pet or something, she mused. I'll at least have something to take my thoughts away from my constant travels somewhat.

A lengthy span of time passed where nothing but the sound of her cart's wheels on the ground was the only noise present, until she heard a light rustling in the brush to her immediate right.

She stopped dead in her tracks. "Who's there?" She asked. No response "Show yourself, Trixie already knows you're there."

More rustling, Trixie charged her horn, preparing to cast a spell if necessary, the rustling was louder, her muscles tensed up. It was a rabbit, an ordinary rabbit. Trixie sighed.

"You know it's not nice to scare ponies like that, right?" She asked it, the little rabbit nodded its head. "Good, now run along." And the rabbit did just that. Trixie also left the premises, glad that something snapped her from her thoughts of loneliness. Trixie grunted as she walked, it felt as if her cart had gotten heavier since she stopped. After ten minutes of pulling her now obviously heavier cart she stopped and unhooked herself.

"There is no way I was imagining that weight." she told herself, gasping slightly from the physical effort. After regaining her breath Trixie went to the back of her cart to find the door's lock open, as if somepony had unlocked it and forgot to put it back correctly. Her curiosity perked, she magicked the lock off the door and opened said door to find the most bizarre sight she could have imagined. Even with her extensive knowledge of almost every creature in Equestria and its surrounding countries she had no idea what the creature that was lying on her bed even was! It had little to no fur besides its mane, had hind legs far longer than it's forelegs, suggesting that it was bipedal and odd enough was wearing a set of pristine and clean clothes.

Minutes passed with the creature and Trixie staring at each other, it's metallic silver eyes alluring in a cute animal type of way.

"Err-Hi?" said a masculine voice.

Trixie furrowed her brow, and looked behind her, finding nopony, surely she hadn't just heard this creature speak.

"I said, hello."

Trixie rubbed her head with a hoof, did she hit her head? Was she imagining this?

"I heard you speak, so I know you understand me." It said.

Trixie's jaw dropped, there was no denying it any longer, this new creature was smart enough to get into her locked cart without breaking the lock and could even speak! If that's the case than maybe it's civilized and can give her the information on what it is.

"You... are correct. Trixie was speaking earlier." She said in a slightly shaky voice.

"Good to hear, I guess." it said. "I assume you don't know what I am since I don't know what you are?"

"You are... correct again."

"I'll start with what I am, and that's a human."

"Human? What's a human?"

The human groaned and put one of its appendages on its face in an 'are you serious?' fashion. "You didn't just ask that now, did you?" He asked. Trixie was about to retort when it raised its appendage and silenced her. Odd. She didn't have the intention to stop talking. "Never mind. I'll explain exactly what a human is." It paused, "Humans are bipedal, mammal, homo sapiens that are at the top of the food chain of the planet Earth, humans aren't the strongest physically but we have incredibly advanced technology that we use against... really everything, other species, our planet..." His face darkened "and each other" he spat.

Silence prevailed after the human finished his explanation. Trixie was never one to be completely afraid of another, unless it was a predator, but she was terrified of this... human just from an explanation of what they are and what they have.

The human sighed and raised it's appendage yet again and Trixie found her hooves stuck to the ground. Pulling back she tried to break free of whatever got a hold of her until she noticed the faint white glow around the end of the humans appendage.

"You can use magic?!?!" She shouted. "That's impossible! Only unicorns like Trixie can use magic!"

"Not in my case it seems." It said. "Anyways, now that I've explained what I am, can you explain exactly what you are, because to me you look like a miniature horse,"

Trixie snorted in outrage at the insult of being called a horse, "First, Trixie is not a horse, the Saddle Arabians are horses, and second Trixie is a unicorn pony." Brief and to the point, just how Trixie liked it.

The human glanced up and saw her horn, "So you are." the corners of his mouth raised the slightest bit. "I'd never had guessed when I saw a colorful equine that it would be able to speak, use magic and would be an example of Greek mythology. Interesting..."

The way this human was staring at Trixie caused some anxiety, it was like the human was dissecting her just by looking at her. She shuddered, wishing she wasn't still trapped.

The human cocked it's head to the side, much like a confused dog. "Something wrong?"

"Yes!" Trixie shouted. "There is most definitely something wrong here!"

"Oh really?" He mussed with that same half smirk "Pray tell, what is so wrong?"

"Oh, nothing really, besides the fact that you're restraining Trixie to the ground and studying Trixie as if she was some new plaything!" She clapped her hooves over her mouth regretting her choice of words. She gave this human an idea of what to do with her, and it scared her. Chuckling. He was chuckling! '"A-and w-what is so f-funny?" Trixie stuttered, images of what this human could do to her with just a spell running amok inside her skull.

"Oh nothing really, just the fact that you're wrong with both of those assessments, because I released you during your short explanation and I was just comparing how you- Hey!" As soon as Trixie heard that she had already been released she bolted in the opposite direction, forget trying to fight the human, its magic was far stronger because it got past her Control Magic-Ward as if it was nothing. She just continued to gallop away as fast as she possibly could until she was stopped dead in her tracks by something that got a hold of her tail.

"Let Trixie go!" She shouted and looked back to find a manticore holding her tail. The world stopped and Trixie's heart too, her eyes shrunk to pinpricks and a piercing scream ended the pause in time. The manticore raised a clawed lion paw in the air, the look in it's eye showing it's hunger and blood lust. Trixie closed her eyes, hoping that it would be quick. But it never came, instead she heard a war cry.

Trixie opened her eyes to find the human pounding down the trail towards them, a deep scowl on his face.

As if this wasn't bad enough. Trixie thought. However, instead of attacking the two of them as Trixie expected he jumped high into the air and landed a kick in the manticore snout, causing the manticore to fly back several hundred feet which in turn sent Trixie flying with it. Trixie's head collided with something very hard and solid, could have been a tree, could have been a rock, she didn't know. All she knew was that her vision was fading and the manticore was fighting the human and losing.

The final blow landed and the manticore fell, Trixie didn't know if it was dead or just unconscious. The last thing Trixie saw before losing all of her vision was the human striding towards her, his shirt torn, covered in blood and had a concerned look on his face.

Lessons on the Road Side

[POV: Joseph]

"So what exactly was in that sack the bar owner gave you?" Joe inquired. It has been five hours since Trixie's performance, and she and Joe were currently sitting on opposite sides of a fire in their little camp. It had taken an hour in itself to leave the bar, for the audience demanded an encore and did not wish to let Trixie leave. After convincing the crowd that she was too exhausted to perform again they let the duo leave, showering her with praise. One pony in particular had followed them out and, after following them for a few minutes, offered Trixie a job preforming at a city called Trottingham. Trixie agreed to the offer immediately and they discussed the where and when.

"Hm? Oh, they're just bits." She answered casting a sidelong glace to her cart where the thousand bits were stored.

"Bits? I assume they are some form of currency in...?" Joe started.

"Equestria," Trixie finished.

"Ah, so that is the name of this land, interesting." Joe responded, looking at Trixie, "You know Trixie, I have very little knowledge of Equestria, so I have a proposition for you."

Trixie cocked her head to the side, "Proposition? Proposition for what?"

"I propose that while we are traveling together that we share our knowledge. You teach me about Equestria while I teach you how to perform some spells. How does that sound?"

Trixie all but froze in the flow of space-time. "You...want to teach me spells?" she asked cautiously, as if afraid that Joe was lying.

"Indeed I do, I thought that we could start the lessons tomorrow, but you still have to teach me more about this land."

Trixie nodded her head very fast "I will! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Trixie cheered, getting up from her makeshift seat and hugged Joe. It has been years since he had the comfort of a gentle hug. Closing his eyes he chose to savor the moment, wrapping his arms around the still-thankful Trixie. After what felt like hours they let go of one another.

Trixie yawned, covering her mouth with a hoof, "I think it is time for me to sleep, good night, Joe."

"Good night Trixie."

You're getting attached to her. said Blake, breaking the silence of the night.

So what if I am? Joe responded. Blake had been pestering him about how he's been acting to Trixie, mainly saying that he's gotten too close to her.

You know exactly why I'm saying you're attached to her. This is when you were seventeen all over again.

This is nothing like when I was seventeen! You know as well as I do that I had just started dating the wrong woman at the wrong time, and got stabbed in the back. She was truly psychotic.

Doesn't matter, I'm saying that Trixie could be set off like that and you won't be able to bring yourself to hurt her when that happens.

Blake, I know Trixie, she would not go completely insane from one isolated incident.

You say that, yet you know it's true.

Enough! Joe shouted mentally, I've had just about enough of you criticizing my choices. I'm doing what I think is best and will lead her to trust me even more than she does now. I know even now she wishes to ask me questions that I know she won't be able to stand to hear the answers to. This whole fiasco that I've been dancing through would be far easier if you would actually help me instead of pestering and annoying me!

I have been trying to help! Blake growled, causing Joe's head to ache ever so slightly, For once I'm agreeing with the pony, you're as stubborn as a mule!

Don't you dare demean Trixie! You have no right to say anything insulting about her! The pain in Joe's head started to slowly get worse.

I can say anything about the god damn horse I want! You may be the controlling personality but you have no power over me!

Scowling Joe entered his subconscious, to glare at Blake face to face, "Want to say that again?"

Blake just crossed his arms across his chest a cocky smile on his face, "You have no power over me. sidestepping to the right to avoid the punch Joe had aimed at him.

"I'm getting really sick and tired of these charades of yours." Joe said walking up to Blake, "You know my reasons, you know my tactics, yet you continue to say that you know better than I in this matter."

"I'm telling you what needs to be said, you fail to understand that you're getting consumed with these travels of yours and that Trixie is going to snap eventually. She has nightmares every night and you know that, hell, even the night she met you she did! Before that even."

Joe's eye twitched, punching Blake in the stomach he stormed off shouting, "I know what I'm doing Blake, you just need to shut your pie hole and let me work all of this out!"

Blake-hunched over with a hand over his abdomen-shouted back "You don't understand anything! This whole situation will blow up in your face sooner or later!"

Joe exited his subconscious and put up a few mental barriers around his subconscious to keep Blake quiet. He sighed, as much as he hated Blake he has the slightest point. Getting up from the log he had been sitting on for the past three hours, he stretched his legs and began walking in a random direction, hoping to get someones annoying banter off his mind.

"Alright, are you ready Trixie?" Joe asked, creating a large board made of magic showing every statistic of a tree near the edge of the Everfree forest as Trixie called it. It was just after nine p.m. and the sun was nearing the horizon, with a few clouds and a breeze that was light but refreshing. Trixie had been educating Joe about Equeastrian history while they traveled, and is wasn't as complicated as Joe expected.

Unicorns were snooty and haughty because they had magic, built castles, had many formalities and supposedly rose the sun and moon. Pegasi were a small, warlike tribe who cared not for formalities, only food, land and military strength, and all Pegasi had the ability to changed the weather manually. Earth ponies were peasant farmers who cultivated the land, with no formalities like the pegasi but only cared to survive off the land they grew on, but had to pay taxes to the Unicorns and Pegasi for their services to the Earth ponies.

After a blizzard created by windigos nearly wiped them out, they all left their old land for the land now known as Equestria, bringing the windigos with them. After setting aside their differences and creating a bond of friendship, the windigos left Equestria and the three tribes became one, marking that day as 'Hearths Warming Day' and the birth of the Equestria as a nation. Joe found all of this information interesting, mainly the point of the three different races not coexisting as Joe had seen while on Trixie's back going to and from the bar on 'Mane' street.

"Trixie is ready, Joe." she said charging up her horn, taking Joe's attention back to her.

"Remember, focus your magic into a concentrated beam, and release it forward."

Trixie closed her eyes, the aura around her horn growing brighter. With a quick thrust of her head she launched a pink beam of magic at the tree Joe had statistics on, causing the information on his magic board to change.

Studying the new information, Joe calculated how strong her beam was. "I must say, you did better than I anticipated for your first try." he said, looking back at the slightly-gasping Trixie, who now held a proud smile upon her muzzle.

"I did?" she asked, walking up to the scorched tree. It was blackened where the beam struck and even had a small dent in it.

"Yes, you did, if I was to give you a number out of one hundred, I would give you a fifty seven."

Trixie's proud smile faltered ever so slightly, but remained fixed in place. "Well I guess we're going to have to change that now, aren't we?"

Joe gave Trixie a smirk, "Indeed we do."

Trixie growled in frustration, she'd been trying to make a stronger beam for three hours now, but has been in the same range of strength the whole time. "What the buck?! Why can't Trixie get it any stronger?!" she shouted, trying to release some of the pent up anger at her inability to progress.

"I'm not sure, you're executing it perfectly." Joe responded, hoping that the small complement could ease Trixie some. It failed.

"Trixie doesn't care if she's executing it perfectly! Trixie cares about making it stronger!"

Joe sighed, This has gone on for too long she's getting too frustrated with herself. he thought. "Trixie, you won't master a spell in one day, it takes time."

"Says the smartest being in Equestria," she mumbled, speaking up she suggested,"Why don't you do it? Maybe if you show me how to do it instead of explaining how to do it I can understand better."

Joe put his bandaged hand on his chin, he had yet to heal himself, but the wounds didn't hurt overly much, and allowed Trixie to baby him a little. "I don't see the harm in that." he said finally. Raising an arm he reached into the depths of his mind where his 'magic' lay, creating the white aura around his raised hand. Focusing his strength in his palm, the aura grew brighter until it burst forward, the beam created ripped through the tree with ease, as well as several dozen behind and around it. As fast as it had came, it went. Leaving a section of the forest to have only chard stumps present.

Joe looked over at Trixie, who's mouth was agape, and said, "That's how you do it, but I might have gone the slightest bit overboard with it." Trixie just stood there, looking at the now-nonexistent stand of trees. Joe walked in front of her and squatted down to look into her magenta eyes. "Trixie? Are you alright?" He asked, concern laced in the tone of his voice.

"That was so powerful...It was great!" she exclaimed, tackling Joe. "You did that with so little effort! You're amazing!"

Joe smiled up at Trixie, seeing the wide smile upon her own face. "Trixie, you are aware that it's hard to breathe when you are standing on my stomach, correct?"

Trixie looked down and blushed, getting off of Joe and helping him up, she let loose a torrent of apologies. Joe raised a hand and cut her off, "It's no problem Trixie, really."

"But-"

"It is not a problem. Now off to bed, if you are to learn, you need your rest."

"But Joe," she whined, giving him the puppy eyes.

"Off to bed." he stated firmly.

"Awww.."

"Do not worry Trixie, you can work on it in the morning."

"Fine. Good night Joe." she said, a little disappointed.

"Good night Trixie. May all your dreams be sweet tonight."

[POV: Trixie]

Trixie smiled as she beheld the sunset, in all its glory. The day she's spent with Joe has been amazing, and he smiled the whole time, nothing could spoil the happiness that Trixie felt right now.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Joseph asked walking to Trixie and stopping besides her.

"It really is."

"You know Trixie..." Joe started, looking to Trixie, "I've had a great time with you but..."

Trixie looked at Joe with concern, "But what?"

"How...How can you stand yourself?" he asked, scowling at her.

"What?!" Trixie exclaimed.

"How can you stand yourself?!" he repeated, "All you do is lie to your crowd, while I save your sorry flank from going bankrupt! I am the only reason that you can even eat at this point!"

Trixie was shocked and hurt to the core. How could he be saying this? Why would he say this? "Joe, you-but I- you," she sniffled, tears running down her face like great rivers, "How can you be saying this?!"

A demented smile formed on Joe's face, while his clothes, hair and eyes started to blacken, "Because it's true. Failure. Fraud. Words used to describe you throughout your whole life! You don't deserve someone-anyone- to care for you, you're hopeless, and will never be remembered!" he spat

Tears continued to flow from Trixie's eyes, he was right, she didn't deserve someone as great as him.

Joe keeled down, propping Trixie's head up, "Now you know, but you will be the first to see the end of your wretched world."

"What?!"

Standing up, Joe surrounded himself in a black aura. The ground shook violently, the winds buffeted Trixie, the sun slowly darkened, until it was pitch black.

"Fraud...Failure...Never remembered, and the first to die!"

Trixie screamed, and an all too familiar figure opened the door.

[POV: Joseph]

Maybe I should've bent the truth some, at least to boost her confidence instead of telling her that she was barely above par. Joe thought. An ear-piercing scream sounded form Trixie's cart, this one louder than the previous nights. Trixie! Joe shoot up and dashed to the door, opening it as fast as he could without damaging it.

"Joe! What are you doing in here!?" Trixie exclaimed.

"You screamed, I thought that you may have had a nightmare."

Trixie, looked away mumbling that she did. "Well, what was it about?" Trixie didn't respond. "Was it truly so bad that you don't wish to tell me?"

Trixie didn't respond.

"Well whatever it be, know that it most likely will never happen." Joe said, with a smile and turning around to leave when Trixie exclaimed, "Wait!"

Turning around, Joe gave Trixie a confused look, "Yes?"

"Um...Do you, maybe, know some way to help put me to sleep faster?" she asked in a shy tone.

Joe thought for a moment, and came up with one possible solution. "There may be one, but are you sure that you want my help?"

Trixie nodded, laying back down, and pulling up her sheets. Joe sat down beside Trixie, and closed his eyes, staying silent for a few minutes before starting to sing a lullaby.

"You're a bright and shining star way up high in the sky~
Shining peacefully through the night~
Through the worry, through the strife, you should be happy and full of life.
No matter how big the problem be, you can always put your faith in me~
Fear not the monsters of the night, you and I will put up a fight,
To stop the evil in it's tracks, and let you sleep peacefully~
Dream a dream of color and light, do not fear for I am here, to combat those of dark and sin, and let you dream your dream~
Through the worry through the strife, You should be happy and full of life.
No matter how big the problem be, you can always put your faith in me.
Some nights may be scary, some nights may be lonely.
But tonight, is a night for sleep, my dear.
And rest assured knowing I'll, be, here..."

The cart was silent after Joe stopped singing, it had been years since he's sung that lullaby to any living being. Mother...Sarah... he thought, fighting back tears.

"That...was beautiful..." Trixie said slowly, awe in her tone.

"Thank you Trixie." Joe said, opening his eyes.

"Is that a human nursery rhyme, or did you make it?"

"I made it. When I was fifteen I had a little sister, her name was Sarah, she was six years old, and had nightmares almost every night, and with my mother being single and having two children, she was at her wits end most of the time. When she woke up, screaming or crying, I got up too to comfort her, and I made a simple lullaby to tell her that I would always be there for her." Joe paused, "The day after I made my lullaby I got sick, and my mother went with Sarah to get me medicine...and never came back."

"What happened?" Trixie asked quietly.

Joe took a deep breath and stated, "They were both killed in a horrible accident. When I learned of there terrible fate, I vowed to never forget the lullaby I made for Sarah. And what I sang to you was that same lullaby."

Trixie seemed stunned, and seemed to pity Joe. She slowly got up and embraced him, "I'm sorry." she whispered. Joe sniffed, and fought back the tears harder than ever. Before he knew what happened Trixie had locked her lips with Joe's. He went wide eyed and stood up, breaking the kiss, shocked at Trixie's actions.

"Good night Trixie." he said before bolting out the door, closing it gently behind him.

What...Just...Happened? Joe asked himself.

Author's Note

Guys, I wrote a majority of this chapter from midnight to four in the morning, coffee works wonders! So, now you guys have a bit of Joe's past, think of it as you will, and just one little thing, Joe's lullaby is a lullaby I had made myself, credit goes to no one but me for that little tid-bit. And for those who are still reading my first fic, I thank you all! I hope you all have a wonderful day~

P.S. If you know what song I subtly reffered to when I put 'May all your dreams be sweet tonight,' Let me know in the comments!!