Homeby moviefreak523ChaptersFinal DestinationSecond ThoughtsMemory LaneEnd of the RoadFinal DestinationChapter 1: Final Destination The Great and Powerful Trixie looks saddening outside of the moving train window as snowflakes fall past her through the dark, cold night. With only a few bits and a nice pink and white scarf to call her own, The Great and Powerful Trixie is frustrated, angry, and discouraged at what happened to her in the last six months. This is followed by being scared and numbed at what is going to happen in the next thirty minutes. Ever since that horrific day in Ponyville, The Great and Powerful Trixie's self-esteem and confidence took a nose dive into the ground and beyond. Seeing what that purple unicorn did that she could not do was bad enough. She could have just said that her magic was not as strong given her constant display earlier in the day and maybe able to save some of that reputation that she garner over the last three years. But, when it was revealed that it was an Ursa Minor, not a Major, she could feel her body being push down to the ground by all the Ponyville citizens with their eyes. She wanted to get out of there with as much dignity as she could save. But, it did not take long afterwards for that to escape from her. Before she went to the next town to perform, she practiced long and hard, getting herself warmed-up to wow the audience with the magic of The Great and Powerful Trixie. With her stage carriage and her costume destroyed in Ponyville, it almost felt like she was all the way back to square one. But, she did not let that harm her usual routine. She managed to shoot off her fireworks. She managed to lift up items that are twice as large. She is able to conjure up things out of thin air. All these tricks and more The Great and Powerful Trixie could do. But, when it came to her stories of great triumph and heroism, The Great and Powerful Trixie's tongue could not form the words that she needed. It was as if her tongue refuses to tell another lie. As hard and mightily as she tried, The Great and Powerful Trixie failed to have herself tell the tale of how she saved the village of Hoofington from the Ursa Minor (she figured she could try to be a bit more realistic). Or, the time that she saved Fillydelphia from a dragon. When she could not tell her usual stories, she tried to come up with new ones. She was in the middle of the story of how saved Manehatten from being swallowed up by the sea by a giant squid before abandoning it because of how absurd it was starting to get. After what happened, she needs to be more cautious. So, with her stories on hiatus, her magic tricks are all she could do without falter. With that, The Great and Powerful Trixie set out to reclaim her reputation. After nearly five months, while she never rose as quickly to her previous standing as she had when she first started out, she was able to earn enough bits regularly to have some good food and a place to sleep nearly every day. However, her employer (her audience) does not seem to be willing to raise her paycheck. By that time, her confidence in herself has skyrocketed. So, she decided to give her stories a try, believing that nopony would remember anything that would happen months ago in some place called Ponyville. Not when they have The Great and Powerful Trixie telling the tale. But, that seemed to backfire on her when she was in Manehatten and she gave her name out to the pony audience and they associated it with what happened in Ponyville with the Ursa Minor incident. The Great and Powerful Trixie tries to retort the story, but her tongue holds its ground, refusing her to defend herself. As she watches the ponies push her down to the ground with their eyes, she was force to concede herself by not saying a word. She did not bother looking at the disappearing crowd. That was about three weeks ago, and the weather was getting cold. For the first time since leaving Ponyville, she didn't have a place to sleep or is scarcely eating something. There were days where she did not eat anything from sunrise to sunset. Every three or four days, she was able to work enough money to have a place to sleep. It did not get any better than that. On her last day in Manehatten, she was walking down the docks after a less than stellar show. She was able to get a few bits to add to her slow growing collection in her small purse. She is nowhere close to getting a room to sleep, but she does have plenty for something to eat to give her some strength. She ordered some apple pastries and a nice warm cup of cocoa. She sat on a bench, overlooking the slowly freezing ocean on the side of the dock, savoring her first hot meal in two days. Just last week, she took a chance and purchase a pink and white wool scarf, hoping that it'll keep her warm a bit and make her look a little more presentable. As she finish up her first pastry, she starts to look around herself and found that she is both is and not alone. She sees families walking together, with the sires and mares along with their fillies and colts. She sees couples walking down with their bodies close to each other for warmth. She sees groups of ponies, laughing and talking about anything and everything. Looking at them and comparing herself, she is in such a miserable state. With all of these ponies around her, she feels like she is the only pony in Equestria. And, for the first time, she understands that she, and she alone, contributed it. With that in mind, she begins to wonder if anypony would actually miss The Great and Powerful Trixie if she does something to end all of this pain that she is starting to feel. Then, a thought crossed her mind as looks between the different groups of friends, family, and lovers and seeing how happy they are. She remembers how happy she was when she was a filly herself, being with their family. When was it that she actually talked to them, her family? She counted up the days, then the weeks, then the months, and, finally, the years and came to the conclusions that it has been three years since The Great and Powerful Trixie ran away from home. Her head drops down in shame at the fact, but she justifies it that they were trying to hold her back from her destiny. They kept telling her that she cannot earn a living as a showmare, that it was difficult and tiring. She keeps telling them that her Cutie Mark appeared when she was showing magic with her gift of storytelling of the old Mare's Tales and Legends of Equestria to a large group of ponies, and that it was her destiny. That was the last night she spent at her house with her family. She snuck out, carrying everything she could carry and she never looked back. Until now. She must admit that she actually hardly thought about the family she left behind. Now, with the shows absent from her, she has more time on her hoofs to think about anything but her destiny. And, with her family returning to their mind in full force, she has to choke back a sob as the nostalgia waves over her body as she remembers how good they have been to her. Her father, her mother, her big brother, who is now married and has a little colt of his own. She looks up from the deck and looks out at the darkening skies as clouds began to move in from the ocean. It looked like snow is coming, and it is not going to be nice to Manehatten. Especially to The Great and Powerful Trixie if she does not find somewhere to shelter from the oncoming storm. While the weather pegasei usually keeps blizzards to a minimum, they would, sometimes, let a weak one go so it can cover the lands in snow in preparedness for winter. She imagines that her hometown would be experiencing the same thing tonight. Speaking of winter, Hearth's Warmth Day is approaching fast. Her head is being flooded with memories of her sitting around the fire as she and her brother listens intently to their father as he tells them the famous story of how Equestria was made, along with stories of their hometown's history while her mother tries desperately to keep her husband from telling the scary ones. Those really were the good old days. She would love to repeat them all over again. If her family is up to it. Her head dropped by that last thought. It has been almost three years and she has never attempted to make contact with them, possibly out of fear that they would try to bring her back home. They may not have tried to look for her themselves, given her frequent movement of all over Equestria. Did they actually forget about her? If they did not, are they angry at her for leaving without their consent? Do they still even love her? The last question sends shivers up her body, cannot even imagined how those loving eyes could look at her with hatred. It seems incomprehensible to her. But, she did run away from them. She could only imagine how much she hurt them. Her poor mother crying her eyes out as if her only filly died while her father tires in vain to comfort her. Her big brother, who the two have been very close all their lives despite the age difference of six years, is depressed by the thought of losing her. How could they forgive her for forcing them into such a situation? Maybe she better not attempt to go back home. But, as if a counterattack, all the memories of her times she spent with them, all the good times, came flooding out all over her mind. The picnics, the parties, them watching all of her performances after she discovers her Cutie Mark in that last summer. They were not shy in showing her how much they are so proud of her. She remembers her brother's wedding day where she acted as the flower girl. It was not long afterwards that her sister-in-law, who is a family friend, gave birth to a beautiful colt, her nephew. He must be five years old right now, and a few hands taller. The image of his sweet, little face made The Great and Powerful Trixie smile for the first time in months. Starlight Carnival is his name. He may not even remember her, which he could not miss her. However, she sure does miss him. All of them. She wants to see them again. With two conflicting emotions and futures, The Great and Powerful Trixie need to make a fateful decision. With a bit of her magic, her little purse opens and a gold bit flies out until it stopped eye-level of the blue unicorn's. She looks at the side where the image of Princess Celestia's profile is stamped, smiling as if she will help The Great and Powerful Trixie make this decision. She turns the bit around and finds the image of the sun that is the exact replicate of the Princess's Cutie Mark. She, then, gives each side their roles. Princess Celestia's head, she will go back home. The Sun Cutie Mark, she'll go somewhere else. She held in her breath and tosses the bit until it could flip over each side as it starts to drop from her magical hold. She hears the bit hit the deck with a clink and she looks down at it. The Sun Cutie Mark is looking back at her. She set out a sigh that she is confused as to whether it should represent disappointment or relief. Either way, it does not matter. Fate as told her that she should go somewhere else. Where, that is hardly important. The only place she knows that she is not going is back home. As she finishes up her last pastry and cocoa, she picks up her gold bit and head for the train station. As she arrives there, she is happy to see that the station is not congested as she feared, as well as having enough money for a ticket to anywhere. Without looking at what lines are open, she decided to let fate decide again on where she should go. After couple of minutes of arguing, the ticket master obliged her strange request and print out the ticket. After she pays for it and walks away, The Great and Powerful Trixie looks at her ticket stub and reads what her next destination is: Home. Second ThoughtsChapter II: Second Thoughts "Ma'am?" The Great and Powerful Trixie looks away from the dark window and looks at the conductor, who is looking at her with a kind smile. "We'll be arriving at our destination shortly." "Oh, thank you," she said, returning a smile. The conductor looks outside of the window, eyeing the falling snow that is getting heavier. "I sure hope those weather pelages know what they are doing." The blue unicorn looks out and sees what he is talking about. "Well, as long as it isn't powerfully strong, they usually let it go. They do monitor it closely. Besides, I like the snow." The conductor chuckled lightly. "Sounds to me that you live at the town." "I used to." "Visiting family?" The Great and Powerful Trixie took in a deep breath, feeling her heart jumping harder in her chest. "Maybe." The conductor gave her an understanding smile as he starts to return to his job. "Well, I'm sure they would be very happy to see you again." He walks away, getting ready to end the night. The blue unicorn lets out a sigh and continues to watch the snow puffs grow bigger as she moves closer to home. It was about ten minutes later when she could feel the train slowing to a stop. The conductor calls on the intercom, telling the small group of passengers that they have arrived at their last destination for the night and to have a Happy Hearth's Warmth Day. The Great and Powerful Trixie wonders if that would be the case for her. The kind conductor gives her a good night, which she returns as she steps off the warm train and into the cold train station platform. The snow is dropping fast from outside of the roof of the platform with no sign of it lightening up. The Great and Powerful Trixie follows the passengers into the building, which she immediately recognized as the one that she left from three years earlier. She left with a lot of luggage, and she is returning with just a pink and white scarf around her neck. She walks up to the door and opens it and a wave of nostalgia washes over her as she looks at the interior of the train station. It has not changed one bit. It is quiet, save for her hooves hitting the tiled floor. She walks past the empty benches where she sat, waiting for that train three years ago. She looks up and finds that same clock hanging from the ceiling, where she counted the minutes for the train to get to her on time without being caught. The clock tells her that it is quarter past eleven. Her family maybe sleeping right now. Maybe she could see them tomorrow. She does not want to bother them this late at night. But, where can she sleep? She does not have enough money for a hotel room. She returns her looks over at the benches, which are starting to feel inviting to her. She was beginning to comply, but she stops, shaking her head violently as if to get the idea out of her head. "No!" The Great and Powerful Trixie said to herself. "You've been gone for three years. You miss them like crazy. It's only reasonable that they would miss just as much. I mean, it's not like they are going to slam the door into your face after they look me in the eye and say that I'm no longer part of the family. "Would they?" Not feeling so confident, The Great and Powerful Trixie begins to turn to that bench until she sees her reflection in a mirror, who is looking back at her with eyes as if a stern mother is looking at her little filly as she impatiently taps her right front hoof. "And, where do you think you're going?" the reflection demandingly asks. "Um...to sleep?" The Great and Powerful Trixie weakly responds. "Sleep? Where? Don't tell me on that stupid bench over there, where there is a warm, comfy bed waiting for you just down the street?" "They probably empty that room out by now. I mean, what use is it to them if their shameful daughter is not there to use it?" "Um, hello? Are you brain-dead or something? Of course they'll keep it there, all of it." "And, how would you know?" "Because they are my family, my parents. Ponies who will give me unconditional love, no matter how stupid I get. Especially after running away for three years just so I can rub ponys' faces in the dirt just to make me feel great and powerful." "Well, it looks like you just named another reason why my family would hate me." "Equestria to The Great and Powerful Trixie. Did it not go through? I said that they are ponies who will give me unconditional love. You know what 'unconditional' means, right?" "...Without limitations." "Correct." "...But-" "NO BUTS! Will they be disappointed? Sure. Angry? Possibly. Hate you? Geez, you've been reading way too much angst stories. 'Oh, no! I've stolen a piece of candy without paying for it. My parents will hate me, and disown me, and sell me into slavery!' Get over it!" The Great and Powerful Trixie looks away, not knowing whether to be disappointed in herself or in her expectations of her family. "Look," the reflection starts with a much calmer voice. "Sure, I'm not 100% sure on how our family would react when seeing me. Maybe your right, maybe they will kick you out before they will let you in. But, try to remember all the good memories that you had with them. Remember how much they love you, and how much you love them. You do love them, right?" "I do!" The Great and Powerful Trixie screams, pushing the mirror with her hooves. "I really, really, really, really, really, really, really do!" "Well, they love you just as much." The blue unicorn's hooves drop down to the floor, where she starts to feel a little better from the small pep-talk that she is having. Her lips start to form a semblance of a smile. "So, keep that in mind," the reflection says. "While the whole wide world of Equestria may hate you (which is kind of your fault) there will always be ponies who will love you, and continue to love you for who you are." "An egotistical and narcissistic showmare?" "Again, your fault for letting Equestria sees you like that. But, that isn't what your family sees you. Hay, that's not what this town sees you." "But, they may have heard of what I've done." "Again, they'll still love you." The blue unicorn drops her head, letting all of what she was told sink into her head. It does not take long for her to start believing in what she just heard. Letting in calm, deep breaths, The Great and Powerful Trixie looks up and sees herself in control of her reflection. After that little heart-to-heart talk to herself, she feels like she could go and face the two princesses herself (which would be highly inadvisable). With a nod of thanks to her reflection, The Great and Powerful Trixie turns straight for the front doors that will lead her to their hometown covered in snow. Home. Memory LaneChapter III: Memory Lane It looks almost as if the stars from the night sky are gently falling down to the sleepy little town of Though Bay. The Great and Powerful Trixie decides to try and catch one of the millions of puff of snow with her tongue, like she use to do as a young filly. It tasted cold to the touch, but it was refreshing. She looks out in front of her, watching the town continues to be blanketed in snow, on the rooftops and all over the streets. Street lamps are lined up, lighting all the way down to the end. It seems as if the snow magically replaced the gray asphalt streets and the bed bricks that line along the stores and shops on both sides of the blue unicorn as she travels down between them. She immediately recognizes the places as memories conjure up in her head. Over on her right, she sees the small building with the words "Mr. Shake and Mrs. Bake Shop." Originally, Mr. Shake and Ms. Bake where business rivals, fighting to get as many ponies as each can get in order to get other out of business. Then, out of the blue, the two got married and combine the two shops together as a milkshakes and bakery shop. An odd combination, but it certainly helps, now that you can get both a cake along with a shake. The Great and Powerful Trixie smiles, commending herself on helping them make a good business decision. On the opposite side, she finds the restaurant that is own by a family friend, who happens to be her brother's wife's father. She remembers when her brother asked her to come with him for moral support so he could ask his fillyfriend's father for her hoof in marriage. She found it very silly, telling him that he would be happy about it. That is when he explains that she is with foal, and Trixie immediately comes along, but still reassures him that everything will be okay. The two went and have lunch with the future father-in-law, where her stupid brother kept walking around the bush. So, she did it for him, careful to leave out the fact that they already started a family. And, just as she predicted, the man was overjoyed by the news. She has not told a soul about it, as her brother made her promise. "So, don't tell anybody about it." The Great and Powerful Trixie tells the reader who is the writer hopes is enjoying the story thus far. It did not take long for her to get to the end of the road, which lead her to where solid land should meet liquid. With this season as the exception. She could see, as far as the street lamps could illuminate the empty lake where hundreds of boats used to line the piers and docks along the lake in the summer time. Now, ice and snows blankets it, out into the darkness where she could see what is out there with her memories as her flashlight. To her right, there is the Black Forest, getting its name from the simple fact that the canopy is so thick that, even in the brightest of days, it is quite dark on the forest floor. It is sort of like Ponyville's Everfree Forest, except for that it is not as dangerous. It is, also, where The Great and Powerful Trixie had her first kiss. She got it from the mayor's younger son, who was very popular with the fillies. She was very surprised, along with the popular girls, when he asked her if she would like to spend time with him during the Summer Sun Celebration. She found it very strange, given that she is not a popular filly back then, given to some circumstances. But, nevertheless, she did not let that bother her and accepted his offer. Even now, she is amazed how the two had a great time together, and it made her feel as if she is the most special filly in all of Equestria. The Great and Powerful Trixie blushes as she remembers how long the two stayed in those woods, invisible to everybody as the two kissed until the sun came up. It was quite chaste, but it made her feel like she was on fire. It was too bad that the relationship did not go as well as she hoped, but they did remain friends after it. She makes a mental note to visit him. As she scans to the left, out where she should see, about a few thousand feet from shore, there should be an island with a 300-year-old mansion sitting on top of it. Colt Castle is the crown jewel of her little town, drawing in many ponies from all over Equestria during the summer and early fall just to visit the famous landmark. She remembers, as a little filly, on how she and her many classmates would go on camping trips to the mansion during Nightmare Moon Night. They would tell ghost stories that related to the castle they are staying in to make it more exciting and scary, and play hide and seek, as long as they don't do anything to ruin the old building. When she left, the town was talking about either renovating the famous tourist attraction, or leave it to the elements, as the years go by and people seems to forget that it is even there and focus more on the beaches that where hoof-made recently. She hopes that it is still standing out there. As she moves her head more, another road interests the one that she is on and it leads up over a small hill. Along that road, about half way, is her family's home. She took in a deep breath of cold air and begins traveling down her last mile. The road is called Lake Side Road, but it is known to the citizens of Though Bay as Millionaire's Road. This is where all the prominent and wealthy pony families live. Some of the families are as old as the town itself, nearly four hundred years old. The youngest family is 187 years old, which are the Carnivals. Her family. Her family business was, and still is, in the tourism of the town, which helped capitalized the small town from becoming extinct. They had to fight off the town's phobias for outsiders. However, after that successful first summer, the town, not only survived, but flourished year after year with its boom in tourism. Now, after what it seems to be another successful summer, the town is taking a rest during the cold, quiet winter. The Great and Powerful Trixie now remembers why she ran away in the first place. As much as she hates to admit it because of how embarrassing it is, she has been a "blank flank" for most of her childhood. In fact, her Cutie Mark did not appear until after she graduated from high school. It was very frustrating for her to not know what her Cutie Mark and what her destiny are. Her parents have always hinted at her that her Cutie Mark would be something related to her interests and that is how she could find it. She always knew that storytelling has always been her interest, so she thought she would be following in her brother's hoof steps, who is the town historian. But, no matter what she does, her flank remained empty. It was not until in her last year of high school that they took a little field trip to Canterlot, which The Great and Powerful Trixie was the most excited about. She was the only pony there who took in everything that is thrown at her. The sights, the sound, the history, and the magic. For the first time, she actually found magic fascinating, which is unusual for a unicorn to think like that, but her family has never really relied on magic before, only using when it needs be, so she figured that she did not need to, herself. However, when she returned back home, she has purchased as many books as she could carry that focuses on magic. That whole year, she studied like crazy, practicing the basics of tricks, honing them, and executing them. She, then, starts to have the crazy idea of combining her magic with her talent of storytelling, coming up with visuals that would tell the story like an avant-garde movie. The more she does this, the more she got excited. She loved the whole experience, the experiments and the artistry. She starts to feel that she is getting closer to finding her destiny. But, her Cutie Mark is still invisible. That is when her family encouraged her to share her passion. Her first performance was on the first week of the summer tourism, where ponies from every corner of Equestria are coming. Her hooves where shaking wildly, knocking into each other she tries to step out onto the stage with her start-studded hat and cape that her mother made for her. Her voice quake along with her body as she tries to keep her brain from running away from her as she started to tell her first tale, about the inception of her hometown. She continues, her body slowly falling into her command as she view the audience slowly becoming entrapped with her stories and her magic as she conjured up ponies, animals, monsters, forgotten lands, everything with just the use of her magic. By the end of the show, she received as wild cheer from the audience. Along with her Cutie Mark. As the summer rolled on, her name, The Great and Powerful Trixie, became the number one thing to see in all of Equestria. Every pony wanted to see her shows. Even Princess Celestia decided to show up for one and invited her to do a show at the Grand Galloping Gala, which is a huge honor for the young showmare. She feels like she is rising into the sky like a rocket, becoming one of the stars shown all over Equestria. She has never felt so beloved by so many ponies, it felt intoxicated to her. She wanted more. She wanted to travel, to show her magic to everypony. She wants to follow her destiny. But, her parents refused her, telling her that she is too naive and young to go out into the country all alone. They asked her to wait a few years before leaving, after she gain some experience. She answered it with anger, accusing them on trying to capitalize on her talent, telling them that it is hers and hers alone on what she could do with her talent. They heavily denied it, saying that she should slow down, that she is too excited to think properly. That only made her more angry at them, feeling that she is becoming trapped in her own home, that her parents are keeping her away from her destiny. As day turn into night, her father postpones the discussion, which they will continue it in the morning when everyponies' heads cool down. She did not give her parents the chance to talk her out of it. The Great and Powerful Trixie stops in the middle of the road and looks to her left, finding what should be there; her family home. Separating her from her home is a brick wall with a steel gate that feels as though they tower over the young mare, interrogating her as to why she returned. The two lamp post on both sides of the gate lit the opening along with other lampposts lining where the path to the front door should have been. She walks in cautiously as if an alarm will ring her an intruder. She made past the gates without incident and looks at the front door that is protected by a wide, expansive porch that extended from one side to the other. She sees that porch swing that she used while she studies her magic. And, she finds that one of the windows on the first floor is lit up. She immediately recognizes that the window leads to the living room. Her parents usually go to bed a couple of hours ago. The only reason why they would stay up so late is if they have guests over. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about waking them up," she tells herself in an attempt to calm herself. She pushes herself further into her family's property, feeling like an interloper as she walks slowly with her chin barely scraping the snow on the ground. She gulps down her fear a few times as she climbs up the steps onto her porch. She shakes off the snow off her body and coat, happy to be out of the thick snow. For a while. As she stands there, she could bear voices mix with joyous laughter coming from the lighted window. Her heart sank a little at the happy sound. It sounds as if they have never missed her at all. "No," she shakes her head forcefully, getting herself to calm down. She hears more laughter coming from it again and she is curious to see how happy they really are. With quiet tiptoeing, she edges herself close to the windowsill, her eyes above it as she looks inside. She sees her father, Lightning Carnival, sitting on his favorite chair. His orange coat almost blends in with the fire that is providing warmth and light in the large room. She could see the glasses on his nose as it rises up in the air as he lets out another bust of laughter. On the opposite side, she could see two mares sitting on the sofa. Many ponies have told The Great and Powerful Trixie that she resembles her mother, Moonbeam Carnival, which she always thought was a great complement because her mother is very beautiful. Her coat is of a darker blue and her mane and tail is as white as the snow. Next to her is her brother's wife, Cherry Pop Carnival. The pink earth pony is laughing hard as she whips her short blond mane back. The three are looking at the red pony on his hind legs, telling a story that he may have found in his research of the town. His name is Herodotus Carnival, or "Roddy" as most ponies call him. As well as being the town historian, he is also the museum curator which he founded after he graduated from college. He was the one who gave her stories to help with her show, as well as being her editor and proofreader. He was like her first manager. The four inside continue laughing. "They look so happy," she said to herself, as she backs away from the window. The Great and Powerful Trixie cannot ruin this by showing up like this, a disgrace to her family. She turns around and is ready to run out into the snow again. They will never know that she was outside of their window. She stops before her first hoof touches the snowy ground. She cannot leave. She is not giving her family a chance. It is not fair to them. In fact, they could be thinking that she hates them, which is not true at all. She loves them, and misses them very much. She just wants to feel that she still matters. And, she feels utterly foolish that they would treat her like dirt after all the love they have given her for all these years. They deserve better than that. She turns around, returning back to the porch. The laughter continues inside. They do not even know that she is here. Well, it is time that they do. Slowly, she walks up to the door, looking at the small, circular button on the right side. She brings her hoof up to it and let it hover next to it for a bit. She can feel her heart punching at her rib cage, the sound reaching her ears. She takes in more breaths to calm it down before she pushes the bottom of her hoof into the button and pulls it back quickly. The sound of the bell echoes all around her. The talking and the laughter inside dies. The Great and Powerful Trixie took a few steps back until she is exactly in between continuing and escaping her destiny. She frequently pushes down her fear with each gulp as she waits for the door to open. She strains hard to hear if anypony is coming. Each second felt like an hour went by her. Maybe they did not hear it. The doorknob turns, freezing the Great and Powerful Trixie were she stands. The door moves inward as it lets the house's light out onto the porch over the blue unicorn's body. She is almost there. Home. End of the RoadChapter IV: End of the Road "Yes, can I help you?" the voice of her father calls from the opening house. She laid her eyes on the orange pony as his face starts to contort to shock as he looks at the nervous blue unicorn. The Great and Powerful Trixie feels uncomfortable as her father looks at her as she tries to read his expression. It does look to be of shock, but what else? Is there anger? Disgust? Does he still want her back into the family? The Great and Powerful Trixie made one final gulp to hide her fear as she looks at her father as she has when she was a filly. "H-Hi…Daddy." Her father still stood where he is, never changing his expression of shock. Maybe she is not welcome back after all. "Lightning, Dear, who's at the door?" she hears her mother call from behind. The door moves inward more for the darker blue unicorn to stand next to her husband. "Oh, hello there. Can we help…" she slowly stops as she occupies the same reaction that her husband has as they both look at her. "H-Hi, Mom," The Great and Powerful Trixie said, happily sad that she gets to see them again, but it seems that they do not want her anymore. "Just, uh…coming by and…de-decided to check on…how y-you," she could feel her tears of shame filling in the back of her eyes as she begins to step backwards towards the steps. "…you are doing. S-S-Sorry for," she accidently let out a sob before she regain herself, "interrupting you-" She did not get to finish her apology as her father and mother rushed out of the doorway. Her mother reaches out first with her front legs around the young mare's neck as her father wrap both into his front legs, laying his cheeks on the top of The Great and Powerful Trixie's head behind her horn. For a second, she thought they were going to hit her, but all she heard was her mother sobbing and she feels her father kissing her mane. "My precious filly," she hears her mother through her tears. "My beautiful, precious filly. Thank Celestia, you're alright." The Great and Powerful Trixie feels her heart singing as she feels her tears come out of her eyes, staining her cold cheeks as he feels the love radiating from her parents as they hold on to her as if she will go away. "Mommy….Daddy…" she said as she cries as hard as her mother. "…I-I'm sorry." "No, no sweetheart," her father whispers as he continues to kissing the top of her head as he always does. "Forget about it. Forget about what happened. We're so happy to see you home." She could hear her father choke between his words. She never remembered him ever crying before. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry." The Great and Powerful Trixie cries into the parents' hug as she held them tightly, never wanting to let them go. Her father gently shushes her apologies, letting her know that everything is alright. "Hey, what's going on out here?" The Great and Powerful Trixie looks up from her parents' embrace, to see her elder brother and his wife at the open doorway, with looks of surprise, then looks of happiness. "Little Sister?" "Hey, Big Brother." After her parents move out of the way, Roddy runs up and wrap his front legs around her neck in a hard hug, with she returns with equal force. She still has more tears to let out as if they all added up through the three years she has been away. The Great and Powerful Trixie rubs her head against her brother's as she continues to squeeze him tight. "I'm really sorry, Roddy." "Oh, forget about it, little sis." She could hear him letting his tears out. "But, you really did give everyone quite a scare with your disappearing act." "I know," she said as a new batch of tears flow from her eyes. "Let's carry this inside, where it is warmer," her father said, pushing his family inside away from the cold. After they went inside with the door close, her mother came up and lifts her head up as she tries to fix her daughter's tangled mane. Both are still letting out tears of happiness. "Oh, my, Trixie. Your mane looks horrible," she said as she laughs. "Nothing we can't fix," Trixie turns and fines Cherry, who wraps her legs as Trixie does the same thing. Both mares shake in excitement at the reunion. "Cherry. It's really good to see you again." "Same to you, Trixie. Now, Starlight would actually believe that he has an aunt." "Well, speak of Discord," her father said. The Great and Powerful Trixie looks up from her hug and points her eyes up the stairs. There, she finds a young, dark blue coat filly unicorn, looking down with inquisitive eyes. "Starlight," Cherry said, running up the stairs. The young unicorn thought he has gotten in trouble when his mother reaches him. But, she is smiling down at him. "That there is Aunt Trixie. She came back home. Would you like to meet her?" The Great and Powerful Trixie smiles, seeing that the small colt that she had known has grown much bigger, but looks so familiar. She wanted to run up to him and give him a big hug, but she keeps herself down at the bottom of the stairs. She does not want to scare the poor thing. Starlight, with curiosity, starts to move downstairs, gaining speed as he nears the bottom. He stops just a few feet away from the happy mare. She looks down at her nephew as he stares back at her. "Hi, Starlight. My, you've grown so big last time I saw you. You were…" she estimated by holding her hoof over the floor just a few inches, "about this big last time I saw you." Starlight still looks up at the mare, who is starting to feel a little uncomfortable, but she could feel the love of her family supporting her. She knows that he does not recognize her sense he was a baby, but it did hurt a little. "Aunt…Trixie?" he said, as if a memory is returning. "Yes," she said, her excitement growing as she smiles down at the growlingly excited filly. "Hi," Trixie could feel another batch of tears flowing to her eyes. "Hi." The Great and Powerful Trixie bends down and scoop the little unicorn up as she gives him a big hug. Starlight eagerly returns it as Her family gathers around her, wrapping their legs around her and each other, feeling happy to see that a piece of their heart has returned. The night is getting late, but Trixie still feels very much awake. Her excitement of being home has been fueling her up as she sits in the bathtub full of warm water, surrounded by bubbles. Moonbeam and Cherry are is scrubbing her coat, trying to get rid of the stigma that the young filly has put herself under. "Mom, how's the observatory doing?" While her family business has always been about tourism expects, Moonbeam runs the local observatory, as evidence by her telescope Cutie Mark. "Oh, it's been going great. Especially after the return of Princess Luna. Not to criticize Princess Celestia, but every night, whenever I could see, the night sky looked as if it was painted with great care and love. We've been discovering some new constellations every now and then." "I would love to check them out. And, what about you, Cherry? You still working at your father's restaurant?" "Still am. The old man is still going strong, but he's been thinking about retiring early and lending me the business." "That's great news!" "Not really," Cherry explains as she squeezes out the last of shampoo from the bottle. "With Starlight as he is, and Roddy caretaking the museum, along with leading an investigation at Colt Castle, I'm going to have a lot of work to balance on my hooves if start running the restaurant. Maybe in ten years or so, I'll reconsider it." "Why so long?" "Well..." Cherry said as she gives a big smile. A smile that Trixie recognizes. "No?" she gasps. "That's right. You are going to be an aunt to another filly," Cherry cheers as the three mares laugh. "That's even greater news!" The Great and Powerful Trixie smiles. Her mother looks up at her daughter with excitement in her eyes. "I would love to hear the many stories that you have on your adventures." The Great and Powerful Trixie starts to feel a little nervous as the attention is right on her. "Yeah, I certainly do," she said, but feels that she does not have anything that is worth telling. "You don't have to tell them right now. Just, whenever you are ready." "Mom?" "Yes, Trixie?" "I've…I've haven't been…" "What's wrong?" Cheery asked, a little worried. "…I did some awful things." Her mother brings Trixie's forehead to her lips, giving her a gentle kiss. "Don't worry about it. At the very least, you are acknowledging your shortcomings. Right now, let's just welcome you home." The Great and Powerful Trixie lets out a relieved sigh, glad to see that her family is very understanding. "Okay." "Speaking of which, where is your father and brother? They should have that cake up here by now." "Cake?" A knock comes from the door, with Trixie's father's voice on the other side. "We have the cake." "It's about time." Moonbeam calls out, sounding a little annoyed. "And, you better have it right. I don't want my daughter to have terrible cake that she'll run away again." "I followed the recipe correctly," Lightning assures as the door is opened, with Roddy following from behind. "I had to keep Dad from taking shortcuts, telling him that you would skin him if he messed it up, Mom." "Roddy, I thought we agree not to tell her that." "Oh, be quite you two. I'll let it slide. Where's is it?" With Roddy's magic, a towering cake came floating into the bathroom. It has three, each smaller than the one below, with pink icing covering it. Trixie could see that there are lots of candles on them. Suspicious, she counted them. There were 13 at the bottom, 5 on the middle, and a single candle at the top. It all added up to 19. She was only 18 when she ran away. "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to Trixie. Happy Birthday to you." Trixie is very surprised by this, and felt happiness swell up in her stomach again. "Since your next birthday will be coming up in a few weeks," Roddy says, moving the closer to the bathing mare, "we might as well catch up to it." "What?" Trixie said, surprised even more. "You're planning more?" "Why not?" her father said. "We've never got the chance to celebrate your other birthdays while you were gone. So, we're making up for lost time." "Now, come on, little sis. Make a wish and blow out the candles." There are so many things she wishes, some just impossible for the Great and Powerful Trixie. So, she has to deal with the biggest plausible one. She wishes to heal her family's heart. Her wish came true when she blew the candles out with one blow. The Great and Powerful Trixie is now in her bed, sleeping peacefully. Her room has not change in anything. It was like a museum exhibit, kept with care in not disturbing the original image of her room. She found some things to be very outdated, like some posters of coltbands that she used to zealously listen to. But, she is happy to see that Smarty Pants is still there, waiting for her to return. Now, she is keeping The Great and Powerful Trixie company as she drifts into dreamland. Three years really has been a long time for the blue unicorn mare. She has traveled all over Equestria, entertaining millions of ponies with her gift. She does not understand where it had gone wrong, but she knows that she has changed her demeanor without her noticing it as she began to propel herself into the stories she tells. She hopes to rectify that mistake now that she is back in her hometown, where all of it started. She, also, wants to work with her brother, finding any stories that he may have encounter while she was away. She might find something that will scare a lot of ponies. She has always wanted to do a Nightmare Night show. Even so, that restlessness and her consciousness are bugging her. A part of her, while very happy to be home, wants to go out to Equestria again. But, for a different purpose. She wants to change her image, show Equestria that she is not the pony that she showed them in her shows. She wants everypony to see her integrity in her presentation, not just an egotistical showmare. Until then, she will rest up here. She will have to begin her journey again here, in Through Bay, for the coming summer. Until then, The Great and Powerful Trixie will have some of the best sleep she had in three years. Now that she is finally… Home.
Final DestinationChapter 1: Final Destination The Great and Powerful Trixie looks saddening outside of the moving train window as snowflakes fall past her through the dark, cold night. With only a few bits and a nice pink and white scarf to call her own, The Great and Powerful Trixie is frustrated, angry, and discouraged at what happened to her in the last six months. This is followed by being scared and numbed at what is going to happen in the next thirty minutes. Ever since that horrific day in Ponyville, The Great and Powerful Trixie's self-esteem and confidence took a nose dive into the ground and beyond. Seeing what that purple unicorn did that she could not do was bad enough. She could have just said that her magic was not as strong given her constant display earlier in the day and maybe able to save some of that reputation that she garner over the last three years. But, when it was revealed that it was an Ursa Minor, not a Major, she could feel her body being push down to the ground by all the Ponyville citizens with their eyes. She wanted to get out of there with as much dignity as she could save. But, it did not take long afterwards for that to escape from her. Before she went to the next town to perform, she practiced long and hard, getting herself warmed-up to wow the audience with the magic of The Great and Powerful Trixie. With her stage carriage and her costume destroyed in Ponyville, it almost felt like she was all the way back to square one. But, she did not let that harm her usual routine. She managed to shoot off her fireworks. She managed to lift up items that are twice as large. She is able to conjure up things out of thin air. All these tricks and more The Great and Powerful Trixie could do. But, when it came to her stories of great triumph and heroism, The Great and Powerful Trixie's tongue could not form the words that she needed. It was as if her tongue refuses to tell another lie. As hard and mightily as she tried, The Great and Powerful Trixie failed to have herself tell the tale of how she saved the village of Hoofington from the Ursa Minor (she figured she could try to be a bit more realistic). Or, the time that she saved Fillydelphia from a dragon. When she could not tell her usual stories, she tried to come up with new ones. She was in the middle of the story of how saved Manehatten from being swallowed up by the sea by a giant squid before abandoning it because of how absurd it was starting to get. After what happened, she needs to be more cautious. So, with her stories on hiatus, her magic tricks are all she could do without falter. With that, The Great and Powerful Trixie set out to reclaim her reputation. After nearly five months, while she never rose as quickly to her previous standing as she had when she first started out, she was able to earn enough bits regularly to have some good food and a place to sleep nearly every day. However, her employer (her audience) does not seem to be willing to raise her paycheck. By that time, her confidence in herself has skyrocketed. So, she decided to give her stories a try, believing that nopony would remember anything that would happen months ago in some place called Ponyville. Not when they have The Great and Powerful Trixie telling the tale. But, that seemed to backfire on her when she was in Manehatten and she gave her name out to the pony audience and they associated it with what happened in Ponyville with the Ursa Minor incident. The Great and Powerful Trixie tries to retort the story, but her tongue holds its ground, refusing her to defend herself. As she watches the ponies push her down to the ground with their eyes, she was force to concede herself by not saying a word. She did not bother looking at the disappearing crowd. That was about three weeks ago, and the weather was getting cold. For the first time since leaving Ponyville, she didn't have a place to sleep or is scarcely eating something. There were days where she did not eat anything from sunrise to sunset. Every three or four days, she was able to work enough money to have a place to sleep. It did not get any better than that. On her last day in Manehatten, she was walking down the docks after a less than stellar show. She was able to get a few bits to add to her slow growing collection in her small purse. She is nowhere close to getting a room to sleep, but she does have plenty for something to eat to give her some strength. She ordered some apple pastries and a nice warm cup of cocoa. She sat on a bench, overlooking the slowly freezing ocean on the side of the dock, savoring her first hot meal in two days. Just last week, she took a chance and purchase a pink and white wool scarf, hoping that it'll keep her warm a bit and make her look a little more presentable. As she finish up her first pastry, she starts to look around herself and found that she is both is and not alone. She sees families walking together, with the sires and mares along with their fillies and colts. She sees couples walking down with their bodies close to each other for warmth. She sees groups of ponies, laughing and talking about anything and everything. Looking at them and comparing herself, she is in such a miserable state. With all of these ponies around her, she feels like she is the only pony in Equestria. And, for the first time, she understands that she, and she alone, contributed it. With that in mind, she begins to wonder if anypony would actually miss The Great and Powerful Trixie if she does something to end all of this pain that she is starting to feel. Then, a thought crossed her mind as looks between the different groups of friends, family, and lovers and seeing how happy they are. She remembers how happy she was when she was a filly herself, being with their family. When was it that she actually talked to them, her family? She counted up the days, then the weeks, then the months, and, finally, the years and came to the conclusions that it has been three years since The Great and Powerful Trixie ran away from home. Her head drops down in shame at the fact, but she justifies it that they were trying to hold her back from her destiny. They kept telling her that she cannot earn a living as a showmare, that it was difficult and tiring. She keeps telling them that her Cutie Mark appeared when she was showing magic with her gift of storytelling of the old Mare's Tales and Legends of Equestria to a large group of ponies, and that it was her destiny. That was the last night she spent at her house with her family. She snuck out, carrying everything she could carry and she never looked back. Until now. She must admit that she actually hardly thought about the family she left behind. Now, with the shows absent from her, she has more time on her hoofs to think about anything but her destiny. And, with her family returning to their mind in full force, she has to choke back a sob as the nostalgia waves over her body as she remembers how good they have been to her. Her father, her mother, her big brother, who is now married and has a little colt of his own. She looks up from the deck and looks out at the darkening skies as clouds began to move in from the ocean. It looked like snow is coming, and it is not going to be nice to Manehatten. Especially to The Great and Powerful Trixie if she does not find somewhere to shelter from the oncoming storm. While the weather pegasei usually keeps blizzards to a minimum, they would, sometimes, let a weak one go so it can cover the lands in snow in preparedness for winter. She imagines that her hometown would be experiencing the same thing tonight. Speaking of winter, Hearth's Warmth Day is approaching fast. Her head is being flooded with memories of her sitting around the fire as she and her brother listens intently to their father as he tells them the famous story of how Equestria was made, along with stories of their hometown's history while her mother tries desperately to keep her husband from telling the scary ones. Those really were the good old days. She would love to repeat them all over again. If her family is up to it. Her head dropped by that last thought. It has been almost three years and she has never attempted to make contact with them, possibly out of fear that they would try to bring her back home. They may not have tried to look for her themselves, given her frequent movement of all over Equestria. Did they actually forget about her? If they did not, are they angry at her for leaving without their consent? Do they still even love her? The last question sends shivers up her body, cannot even imagined how those loving eyes could look at her with hatred. It seems incomprehensible to her. But, she did run away from them. She could only imagine how much she hurt them. Her poor mother crying her eyes out as if her only filly died while her father tires in vain to comfort her. Her big brother, who the two have been very close all their lives despite the age difference of six years, is depressed by the thought of losing her. How could they forgive her for forcing them into such a situation? Maybe she better not attempt to go back home. But, as if a counterattack, all the memories of her times she spent with them, all the good times, came flooding out all over her mind. The picnics, the parties, them watching all of her performances after she discovers her Cutie Mark in that last summer. They were not shy in showing her how much they are so proud of her. She remembers her brother's wedding day where she acted as the flower girl. It was not long afterwards that her sister-in-law, who is a family friend, gave birth to a beautiful colt, her nephew. He must be five years old right now, and a few hands taller. The image of his sweet, little face made The Great and Powerful Trixie smile for the first time in months. Starlight Carnival is his name. He may not even remember her, which he could not miss her. However, she sure does miss him. All of them. She wants to see them again. With two conflicting emotions and futures, The Great and Powerful Trixie need to make a fateful decision. With a bit of her magic, her little purse opens and a gold bit flies out until it stopped eye-level of the blue unicorn's. She looks at the side where the image of Princess Celestia's profile is stamped, smiling as if she will help The Great and Powerful Trixie make this decision. She turns the bit around and finds the image of the sun that is the exact replicate of the Princess's Cutie Mark. She, then, gives each side their roles. Princess Celestia's head, she will go back home. The Sun Cutie Mark, she'll go somewhere else. She held in her breath and tosses the bit until it could flip over each side as it starts to drop from her magical hold. She hears the bit hit the deck with a clink and she looks down at it. The Sun Cutie Mark is looking back at her. She set out a sigh that she is confused as to whether it should represent disappointment or relief. Either way, it does not matter. Fate as told her that she should go somewhere else. Where, that is hardly important. The only place she knows that she is not going is back home. As she finishes up her last pastry and cocoa, she picks up her gold bit and head for the train station. As she arrives there, she is happy to see that the station is not congested as she feared, as well as having enough money for a ticket to anywhere. Without looking at what lines are open, she decided to let fate decide again on where she should go. After couple of minutes of arguing, the ticket master obliged her strange request and print out the ticket. After she pays for it and walks away, The Great and Powerful Trixie looks at her ticket stub and reads what her next destination is: Home.
Second ThoughtsChapter II: Second Thoughts "Ma'am?" The Great and Powerful Trixie looks away from the dark window and looks at the conductor, who is looking at her with a kind smile. "We'll be arriving at our destination shortly." "Oh, thank you," she said, returning a smile. The conductor looks outside of the window, eyeing the falling snow that is getting heavier. "I sure hope those weather pelages know what they are doing." The blue unicorn looks out and sees what he is talking about. "Well, as long as it isn't powerfully strong, they usually let it go. They do monitor it closely. Besides, I like the snow." The conductor chuckled lightly. "Sounds to me that you live at the town." "I used to." "Visiting family?" The Great and Powerful Trixie took in a deep breath, feeling her heart jumping harder in her chest. "Maybe." The conductor gave her an understanding smile as he starts to return to his job. "Well, I'm sure they would be very happy to see you again." He walks away, getting ready to end the night. The blue unicorn lets out a sigh and continues to watch the snow puffs grow bigger as she moves closer to home. It was about ten minutes later when she could feel the train slowing to a stop. The conductor calls on the intercom, telling the small group of passengers that they have arrived at their last destination for the night and to have a Happy Hearth's Warmth Day. The Great and Powerful Trixie wonders if that would be the case for her. The kind conductor gives her a good night, which she returns as she steps off the warm train and into the cold train station platform. The snow is dropping fast from outside of the roof of the platform with no sign of it lightening up. The Great and Powerful Trixie follows the passengers into the building, which she immediately recognized as the one that she left from three years earlier. She left with a lot of luggage, and she is returning with just a pink and white scarf around her neck. She walks up to the door and opens it and a wave of nostalgia washes over her as she looks at the interior of the train station. It has not changed one bit. It is quiet, save for her hooves hitting the tiled floor. She walks past the empty benches where she sat, waiting for that train three years ago. She looks up and finds that same clock hanging from the ceiling, where she counted the minutes for the train to get to her on time without being caught. The clock tells her that it is quarter past eleven. Her family maybe sleeping right now. Maybe she could see them tomorrow. She does not want to bother them this late at night. But, where can she sleep? She does not have enough money for a hotel room. She returns her looks over at the benches, which are starting to feel inviting to her. She was beginning to comply, but she stops, shaking her head violently as if to get the idea out of her head. "No!" The Great and Powerful Trixie said to herself. "You've been gone for three years. You miss them like crazy. It's only reasonable that they would miss just as much. I mean, it's not like they are going to slam the door into your face after they look me in the eye and say that I'm no longer part of the family. "Would they?" Not feeling so confident, The Great and Powerful Trixie begins to turn to that bench until she sees her reflection in a mirror, who is looking back at her with eyes as if a stern mother is looking at her little filly as she impatiently taps her right front hoof. "And, where do you think you're going?" the reflection demandingly asks. "Um...to sleep?" The Great and Powerful Trixie weakly responds. "Sleep? Where? Don't tell me on that stupid bench over there, where there is a warm, comfy bed waiting for you just down the street?" "They probably empty that room out by now. I mean, what use is it to them if their shameful daughter is not there to use it?" "Um, hello? Are you brain-dead or something? Of course they'll keep it there, all of it." "And, how would you know?" "Because they are my family, my parents. Ponies who will give me unconditional love, no matter how stupid I get. Especially after running away for three years just so I can rub ponys' faces in the dirt just to make me feel great and powerful." "Well, it looks like you just named another reason why my family would hate me." "Equestria to The Great and Powerful Trixie. Did it not go through? I said that they are ponies who will give me unconditional love. You know what 'unconditional' means, right?" "...Without limitations." "Correct." "...But-" "NO BUTS! Will they be disappointed? Sure. Angry? Possibly. Hate you? Geez, you've been reading way too much angst stories. 'Oh, no! I've stolen a piece of candy without paying for it. My parents will hate me, and disown me, and sell me into slavery!' Get over it!" The Great and Powerful Trixie looks away, not knowing whether to be disappointed in herself or in her expectations of her family. "Look," the reflection starts with a much calmer voice. "Sure, I'm not 100% sure on how our family would react when seeing me. Maybe your right, maybe they will kick you out before they will let you in. But, try to remember all the good memories that you had with them. Remember how much they love you, and how much you love them. You do love them, right?" "I do!" The Great and Powerful Trixie screams, pushing the mirror with her hooves. "I really, really, really, really, really, really, really do!" "Well, they love you just as much." The blue unicorn's hooves drop down to the floor, where she starts to feel a little better from the small pep-talk that she is having. Her lips start to form a semblance of a smile. "So, keep that in mind," the reflection says. "While the whole wide world of Equestria may hate you (which is kind of your fault) there will always be ponies who will love you, and continue to love you for who you are." "An egotistical and narcissistic showmare?" "Again, your fault for letting Equestria sees you like that. But, that isn't what your family sees you. Hay, that's not what this town sees you." "But, they may have heard of what I've done." "Again, they'll still love you." The blue unicorn drops her head, letting all of what she was told sink into her head. It does not take long for her to start believing in what she just heard. Letting in calm, deep breaths, The Great and Powerful Trixie looks up and sees herself in control of her reflection. After that little heart-to-heart talk to herself, she feels like she could go and face the two princesses herself (which would be highly inadvisable). With a nod of thanks to her reflection, The Great and Powerful Trixie turns straight for the front doors that will lead her to their hometown covered in snow. Home.
Memory LaneChapter III: Memory Lane It looks almost as if the stars from the night sky are gently falling down to the sleepy little town of Though Bay. The Great and Powerful Trixie decides to try and catch one of the millions of puff of snow with her tongue, like she use to do as a young filly. It tasted cold to the touch, but it was refreshing. She looks out in front of her, watching the town continues to be blanketed in snow, on the rooftops and all over the streets. Street lamps are lined up, lighting all the way down to the end. It seems as if the snow magically replaced the gray asphalt streets and the bed bricks that line along the stores and shops on both sides of the blue unicorn as she travels down between them. She immediately recognizes the places as memories conjure up in her head. Over on her right, she sees the small building with the words "Mr. Shake and Mrs. Bake Shop." Originally, Mr. Shake and Ms. Bake where business rivals, fighting to get as many ponies as each can get in order to get other out of business. Then, out of the blue, the two got married and combine the two shops together as a milkshakes and bakery shop. An odd combination, but it certainly helps, now that you can get both a cake along with a shake. The Great and Powerful Trixie smiles, commending herself on helping them make a good business decision. On the opposite side, she finds the restaurant that is own by a family friend, who happens to be her brother's wife's father. She remembers when her brother asked her to come with him for moral support so he could ask his fillyfriend's father for her hoof in marriage. She found it very silly, telling him that he would be happy about it. That is when he explains that she is with foal, and Trixie immediately comes along, but still reassures him that everything will be okay. The two went and have lunch with the future father-in-law, where her stupid brother kept walking around the bush. So, she did it for him, careful to leave out the fact that they already started a family. And, just as she predicted, the man was overjoyed by the news. She has not told a soul about it, as her brother made her promise. "So, don't tell anybody about it." The Great and Powerful Trixie tells the reader who is the writer hopes is enjoying the story thus far. It did not take long for her to get to the end of the road, which lead her to where solid land should meet liquid. With this season as the exception. She could see, as far as the street lamps could illuminate the empty lake where hundreds of boats used to line the piers and docks along the lake in the summer time. Now, ice and snows blankets it, out into the darkness where she could see what is out there with her memories as her flashlight. To her right, there is the Black Forest, getting its name from the simple fact that the canopy is so thick that, even in the brightest of days, it is quite dark on the forest floor. It is sort of like Ponyville's Everfree Forest, except for that it is not as dangerous. It is, also, where The Great and Powerful Trixie had her first kiss. She got it from the mayor's younger son, who was very popular with the fillies. She was very surprised, along with the popular girls, when he asked her if she would like to spend time with him during the Summer Sun Celebration. She found it very strange, given that she is not a popular filly back then, given to some circumstances. But, nevertheless, she did not let that bother her and accepted his offer. Even now, she is amazed how the two had a great time together, and it made her feel as if she is the most special filly in all of Equestria. The Great and Powerful Trixie blushes as she remembers how long the two stayed in those woods, invisible to everybody as the two kissed until the sun came up. It was quite chaste, but it made her feel like she was on fire. It was too bad that the relationship did not go as well as she hoped, but they did remain friends after it. She makes a mental note to visit him. As she scans to the left, out where she should see, about a few thousand feet from shore, there should be an island with a 300-year-old mansion sitting on top of it. Colt Castle is the crown jewel of her little town, drawing in many ponies from all over Equestria during the summer and early fall just to visit the famous landmark. She remembers, as a little filly, on how she and her many classmates would go on camping trips to the mansion during Nightmare Moon Night. They would tell ghost stories that related to the castle they are staying in to make it more exciting and scary, and play hide and seek, as long as they don't do anything to ruin the old building. When she left, the town was talking about either renovating the famous tourist attraction, or leave it to the elements, as the years go by and people seems to forget that it is even there and focus more on the beaches that where hoof-made recently. She hopes that it is still standing out there. As she moves her head more, another road interests the one that she is on and it leads up over a small hill. Along that road, about half way, is her family's home. She took in a deep breath of cold air and begins traveling down her last mile. The road is called Lake Side Road, but it is known to the citizens of Though Bay as Millionaire's Road. This is where all the prominent and wealthy pony families live. Some of the families are as old as the town itself, nearly four hundred years old. The youngest family is 187 years old, which are the Carnivals. Her family. Her family business was, and still is, in the tourism of the town, which helped capitalized the small town from becoming extinct. They had to fight off the town's phobias for outsiders. However, after that successful first summer, the town, not only survived, but flourished year after year with its boom in tourism. Now, after what it seems to be another successful summer, the town is taking a rest during the cold, quiet winter. The Great and Powerful Trixie now remembers why she ran away in the first place. As much as she hates to admit it because of how embarrassing it is, she has been a "blank flank" for most of her childhood. In fact, her Cutie Mark did not appear until after she graduated from high school. It was very frustrating for her to not know what her Cutie Mark and what her destiny are. Her parents have always hinted at her that her Cutie Mark would be something related to her interests and that is how she could find it. She always knew that storytelling has always been her interest, so she thought she would be following in her brother's hoof steps, who is the town historian. But, no matter what she does, her flank remained empty. It was not until in her last year of high school that they took a little field trip to Canterlot, which The Great and Powerful Trixie was the most excited about. She was the only pony there who took in everything that is thrown at her. The sights, the sound, the history, and the magic. For the first time, she actually found magic fascinating, which is unusual for a unicorn to think like that, but her family has never really relied on magic before, only using when it needs be, so she figured that she did not need to, herself. However, when she returned back home, she has purchased as many books as she could carry that focuses on magic. That whole year, she studied like crazy, practicing the basics of tricks, honing them, and executing them. She, then, starts to have the crazy idea of combining her magic with her talent of storytelling, coming up with visuals that would tell the story like an avant-garde movie. The more she does this, the more she got excited. She loved the whole experience, the experiments and the artistry. She starts to feel that she is getting closer to finding her destiny. But, her Cutie Mark is still invisible. That is when her family encouraged her to share her passion. Her first performance was on the first week of the summer tourism, where ponies from every corner of Equestria are coming. Her hooves where shaking wildly, knocking into each other she tries to step out onto the stage with her start-studded hat and cape that her mother made for her. Her voice quake along with her body as she tries to keep her brain from running away from her as she started to tell her first tale, about the inception of her hometown. She continues, her body slowly falling into her command as she view the audience slowly becoming entrapped with her stories and her magic as she conjured up ponies, animals, monsters, forgotten lands, everything with just the use of her magic. By the end of the show, she received as wild cheer from the audience. Along with her Cutie Mark. As the summer rolled on, her name, The Great and Powerful Trixie, became the number one thing to see in all of Equestria. Every pony wanted to see her shows. Even Princess Celestia decided to show up for one and invited her to do a show at the Grand Galloping Gala, which is a huge honor for the young showmare. She feels like she is rising into the sky like a rocket, becoming one of the stars shown all over Equestria. She has never felt so beloved by so many ponies, it felt intoxicated to her. She wanted more. She wanted to travel, to show her magic to everypony. She wants to follow her destiny. But, her parents refused her, telling her that she is too naive and young to go out into the country all alone. They asked her to wait a few years before leaving, after she gain some experience. She answered it with anger, accusing them on trying to capitalize on her talent, telling them that it is hers and hers alone on what she could do with her talent. They heavily denied it, saying that she should slow down, that she is too excited to think properly. That only made her more angry at them, feeling that she is becoming trapped in her own home, that her parents are keeping her away from her destiny. As day turn into night, her father postpones the discussion, which they will continue it in the morning when everyponies' heads cool down. She did not give her parents the chance to talk her out of it. The Great and Powerful Trixie stops in the middle of the road and looks to her left, finding what should be there; her family home. Separating her from her home is a brick wall with a steel gate that feels as though they tower over the young mare, interrogating her as to why she returned. The two lamp post on both sides of the gate lit the opening along with other lampposts lining where the path to the front door should have been. She walks in cautiously as if an alarm will ring her an intruder. She made past the gates without incident and looks at the front door that is protected by a wide, expansive porch that extended from one side to the other. She sees that porch swing that she used while she studies her magic. And, she finds that one of the windows on the first floor is lit up. She immediately recognizes that the window leads to the living room. Her parents usually go to bed a couple of hours ago. The only reason why they would stay up so late is if they have guests over. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about waking them up," she tells herself in an attempt to calm herself. She pushes herself further into her family's property, feeling like an interloper as she walks slowly with her chin barely scraping the snow on the ground. She gulps down her fear a few times as she climbs up the steps onto her porch. She shakes off the snow off her body and coat, happy to be out of the thick snow. For a while. As she stands there, she could bear voices mix with joyous laughter coming from the lighted window. Her heart sank a little at the happy sound. It sounds as if they have never missed her at all. "No," she shakes her head forcefully, getting herself to calm down. She hears more laughter coming from it again and she is curious to see how happy they really are. With quiet tiptoeing, she edges herself close to the windowsill, her eyes above it as she looks inside. She sees her father, Lightning Carnival, sitting on his favorite chair. His orange coat almost blends in with the fire that is providing warmth and light in the large room. She could see the glasses on his nose as it rises up in the air as he lets out another bust of laughter. On the opposite side, she could see two mares sitting on the sofa. Many ponies have told The Great and Powerful Trixie that she resembles her mother, Moonbeam Carnival, which she always thought was a great complement because her mother is very beautiful. Her coat is of a darker blue and her mane and tail is as white as the snow. Next to her is her brother's wife, Cherry Pop Carnival. The pink earth pony is laughing hard as she whips her short blond mane back. The three are looking at the red pony on his hind legs, telling a story that he may have found in his research of the town. His name is Herodotus Carnival, or "Roddy" as most ponies call him. As well as being the town historian, he is also the museum curator which he founded after he graduated from college. He was the one who gave her stories to help with her show, as well as being her editor and proofreader. He was like her first manager. The four inside continue laughing. "They look so happy," she said to herself, as she backs away from the window. The Great and Powerful Trixie cannot ruin this by showing up like this, a disgrace to her family. She turns around and is ready to run out into the snow again. They will never know that she was outside of their window. She stops before her first hoof touches the snowy ground. She cannot leave. She is not giving her family a chance. It is not fair to them. In fact, they could be thinking that she hates them, which is not true at all. She loves them, and misses them very much. She just wants to feel that she still matters. And, she feels utterly foolish that they would treat her like dirt after all the love they have given her for all these years. They deserve better than that. She turns around, returning back to the porch. The laughter continues inside. They do not even know that she is here. Well, it is time that they do. Slowly, she walks up to the door, looking at the small, circular button on the right side. She brings her hoof up to it and let it hover next to it for a bit. She can feel her heart punching at her rib cage, the sound reaching her ears. She takes in more breaths to calm it down before she pushes the bottom of her hoof into the button and pulls it back quickly. The sound of the bell echoes all around her. The talking and the laughter inside dies. The Great and Powerful Trixie took a few steps back until she is exactly in between continuing and escaping her destiny. She frequently pushes down her fear with each gulp as she waits for the door to open. She strains hard to hear if anypony is coming. Each second felt like an hour went by her. Maybe they did not hear it. The doorknob turns, freezing the Great and Powerful Trixie were she stands. The door moves inward as it lets the house's light out onto the porch over the blue unicorn's body. She is almost there. Home.
End of the RoadChapter IV: End of the Road "Yes, can I help you?" the voice of her father calls from the opening house. She laid her eyes on the orange pony as his face starts to contort to shock as he looks at the nervous blue unicorn. The Great and Powerful Trixie feels uncomfortable as her father looks at her as she tries to read his expression. It does look to be of shock, but what else? Is there anger? Disgust? Does he still want her back into the family? The Great and Powerful Trixie made one final gulp to hide her fear as she looks at her father as she has when she was a filly. "H-Hi…Daddy." Her father still stood where he is, never changing his expression of shock. Maybe she is not welcome back after all. "Lightning, Dear, who's at the door?" she hears her mother call from behind. The door moves inward more for the darker blue unicorn to stand next to her husband. "Oh, hello there. Can we help…" she slowly stops as she occupies the same reaction that her husband has as they both look at her. "H-Hi, Mom," The Great and Powerful Trixie said, happily sad that she gets to see them again, but it seems that they do not want her anymore. "Just, uh…coming by and…de-decided to check on…how y-you," she could feel her tears of shame filling in the back of her eyes as she begins to step backwards towards the steps. "…you are doing. S-S-Sorry for," she accidently let out a sob before she regain herself, "interrupting you-" She did not get to finish her apology as her father and mother rushed out of the doorway. Her mother reaches out first with her front legs around the young mare's neck as her father wrap both into his front legs, laying his cheeks on the top of The Great and Powerful Trixie's head behind her horn. For a second, she thought they were going to hit her, but all she heard was her mother sobbing and she feels her father kissing her mane. "My precious filly," she hears her mother through her tears. "My beautiful, precious filly. Thank Celestia, you're alright." The Great and Powerful Trixie feels her heart singing as she feels her tears come out of her eyes, staining her cold cheeks as he feels the love radiating from her parents as they hold on to her as if she will go away. "Mommy….Daddy…" she said as she cries as hard as her mother. "…I-I'm sorry." "No, no sweetheart," her father whispers as he continues to kissing the top of her head as he always does. "Forget about it. Forget about what happened. We're so happy to see you home." She could hear her father choke between his words. She never remembered him ever crying before. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry." The Great and Powerful Trixie cries into the parents' hug as she held them tightly, never wanting to let them go. Her father gently shushes her apologies, letting her know that everything is alright. "Hey, what's going on out here?" The Great and Powerful Trixie looks up from her parents' embrace, to see her elder brother and his wife at the open doorway, with looks of surprise, then looks of happiness. "Little Sister?" "Hey, Big Brother." After her parents move out of the way, Roddy runs up and wrap his front legs around her neck in a hard hug, with she returns with equal force. She still has more tears to let out as if they all added up through the three years she has been away. The Great and Powerful Trixie rubs her head against her brother's as she continues to squeeze him tight. "I'm really sorry, Roddy." "Oh, forget about it, little sis." She could hear him letting his tears out. "But, you really did give everyone quite a scare with your disappearing act." "I know," she said as a new batch of tears flow from her eyes. "Let's carry this inside, where it is warmer," her father said, pushing his family inside away from the cold. After they went inside with the door close, her mother came up and lifts her head up as she tries to fix her daughter's tangled mane. Both are still letting out tears of happiness. "Oh, my, Trixie. Your mane looks horrible," she said as she laughs. "Nothing we can't fix," Trixie turns and fines Cherry, who wraps her legs as Trixie does the same thing. Both mares shake in excitement at the reunion. "Cherry. It's really good to see you again." "Same to you, Trixie. Now, Starlight would actually believe that he has an aunt." "Well, speak of Discord," her father said. The Great and Powerful Trixie looks up from her hug and points her eyes up the stairs. There, she finds a young, dark blue coat filly unicorn, looking down with inquisitive eyes. "Starlight," Cherry said, running up the stairs. The young unicorn thought he has gotten in trouble when his mother reaches him. But, she is smiling down at him. "That there is Aunt Trixie. She came back home. Would you like to meet her?" The Great and Powerful Trixie smiles, seeing that the small colt that she had known has grown much bigger, but looks so familiar. She wanted to run up to him and give him a big hug, but she keeps herself down at the bottom of the stairs. She does not want to scare the poor thing. Starlight, with curiosity, starts to move downstairs, gaining speed as he nears the bottom. He stops just a few feet away from the happy mare. She looks down at her nephew as he stares back at her. "Hi, Starlight. My, you've grown so big last time I saw you. You were…" she estimated by holding her hoof over the floor just a few inches, "about this big last time I saw you." Starlight still looks up at the mare, who is starting to feel a little uncomfortable, but she could feel the love of her family supporting her. She knows that he does not recognize her sense he was a baby, but it did hurt a little. "Aunt…Trixie?" he said, as if a memory is returning. "Yes," she said, her excitement growing as she smiles down at the growlingly excited filly. "Hi," Trixie could feel another batch of tears flowing to her eyes. "Hi." The Great and Powerful Trixie bends down and scoop the little unicorn up as she gives him a big hug. Starlight eagerly returns it as Her family gathers around her, wrapping their legs around her and each other, feeling happy to see that a piece of their heart has returned. The night is getting late, but Trixie still feels very much awake. Her excitement of being home has been fueling her up as she sits in the bathtub full of warm water, surrounded by bubbles. Moonbeam and Cherry are is scrubbing her coat, trying to get rid of the stigma that the young filly has put herself under. "Mom, how's the observatory doing?" While her family business has always been about tourism expects, Moonbeam runs the local observatory, as evidence by her telescope Cutie Mark. "Oh, it's been going great. Especially after the return of Princess Luna. Not to criticize Princess Celestia, but every night, whenever I could see, the night sky looked as if it was painted with great care and love. We've been discovering some new constellations every now and then." "I would love to check them out. And, what about you, Cherry? You still working at your father's restaurant?" "Still am. The old man is still going strong, but he's been thinking about retiring early and lending me the business." "That's great news!" "Not really," Cherry explains as she squeezes out the last of shampoo from the bottle. "With Starlight as he is, and Roddy caretaking the museum, along with leading an investigation at Colt Castle, I'm going to have a lot of work to balance on my hooves if start running the restaurant. Maybe in ten years or so, I'll reconsider it." "Why so long?" "Well..." Cherry said as she gives a big smile. A smile that Trixie recognizes. "No?" she gasps. "That's right. You are going to be an aunt to another filly," Cherry cheers as the three mares laugh. "That's even greater news!" The Great and Powerful Trixie smiles. Her mother looks up at her daughter with excitement in her eyes. "I would love to hear the many stories that you have on your adventures." The Great and Powerful Trixie starts to feel a little nervous as the attention is right on her. "Yeah, I certainly do," she said, but feels that she does not have anything that is worth telling. "You don't have to tell them right now. Just, whenever you are ready." "Mom?" "Yes, Trixie?" "I've…I've haven't been…" "What's wrong?" Cheery asked, a little worried. "…I did some awful things." Her mother brings Trixie's forehead to her lips, giving her a gentle kiss. "Don't worry about it. At the very least, you are acknowledging your shortcomings. Right now, let's just welcome you home." The Great and Powerful Trixie lets out a relieved sigh, glad to see that her family is very understanding. "Okay." "Speaking of which, where is your father and brother? They should have that cake up here by now." "Cake?" A knock comes from the door, with Trixie's father's voice on the other side. "We have the cake." "It's about time." Moonbeam calls out, sounding a little annoyed. "And, you better have it right. I don't want my daughter to have terrible cake that she'll run away again." "I followed the recipe correctly," Lightning assures as the door is opened, with Roddy following from behind. "I had to keep Dad from taking shortcuts, telling him that you would skin him if he messed it up, Mom." "Roddy, I thought we agree not to tell her that." "Oh, be quite you two. I'll let it slide. Where's is it?" With Roddy's magic, a towering cake came floating into the bathroom. It has three, each smaller than the one below, with pink icing covering it. Trixie could see that there are lots of candles on them. Suspicious, she counted them. There were 13 at the bottom, 5 on the middle, and a single candle at the top. It all added up to 19. She was only 18 when she ran away. "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to Trixie. Happy Birthday to you." Trixie is very surprised by this, and felt happiness swell up in her stomach again. "Since your next birthday will be coming up in a few weeks," Roddy says, moving the closer to the bathing mare, "we might as well catch up to it." "What?" Trixie said, surprised even more. "You're planning more?" "Why not?" her father said. "We've never got the chance to celebrate your other birthdays while you were gone. So, we're making up for lost time." "Now, come on, little sis. Make a wish and blow out the candles." There are so many things she wishes, some just impossible for the Great and Powerful Trixie. So, she has to deal with the biggest plausible one. She wishes to heal her family's heart. Her wish came true when she blew the candles out with one blow. The Great and Powerful Trixie is now in her bed, sleeping peacefully. Her room has not change in anything. It was like a museum exhibit, kept with care in not disturbing the original image of her room. She found some things to be very outdated, like some posters of coltbands that she used to zealously listen to. But, she is happy to see that Smarty Pants is still there, waiting for her to return. Now, she is keeping The Great and Powerful Trixie company as she drifts into dreamland. Three years really has been a long time for the blue unicorn mare. She has traveled all over Equestria, entertaining millions of ponies with her gift. She does not understand where it had gone wrong, but she knows that she has changed her demeanor without her noticing it as she began to propel herself into the stories she tells. She hopes to rectify that mistake now that she is back in her hometown, where all of it started. She, also, wants to work with her brother, finding any stories that he may have encounter while she was away. She might find something that will scare a lot of ponies. She has always wanted to do a Nightmare Night show. Even so, that restlessness and her consciousness are bugging her. A part of her, while very happy to be home, wants to go out to Equestria again. But, for a different purpose. She wants to change her image, show Equestria that she is not the pony that she showed them in her shows. She wants everypony to see her integrity in her presentation, not just an egotistical showmare. Until then, she will rest up here. She will have to begin her journey again here, in Through Bay, for the coming summer. Until then, The Great and Powerful Trixie will have some of the best sleep she had in three years. Now that she is finally… Home.
