A Little Lost Magicby Avoidant TrixieChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 1… “Ha! You may have vanquished an Ursa Minor, but you will never have the amazing, show stopping ability of The Great and Powerful Trixie!” And then she ran... and ran... where to? She didn't know. Her 'home' was destroyed when the Ursa Minor crushed her traveling stage, taking everything she owned with it; including her prize cape and hat. "I could go to mother's house, but to let her know that I failed... it would be worse than death. She'd disown me, though I don't think she could separate herself from me more then she already has.... She kept me locked away practicing magic for most of my fillyhood for a reason... I was a project more than a daughter..." she thought to herself, shaking her head back and forth. She slowed down to a trot, Ponyville now far from view. "That unicorn in Ponyville... Twilight Sprinkle- no. Sparky? Not that either... Sparkle? Yes. I think that was it. Twilight Sparkle. She could do all of that, vanquish an Ursa Minor that I couldn't even budge..." Trixie was walking, her head hanging low as she thought of yesterday's events as it was well after midnight, following some train tracks to somewhere; she didn't know. "I spent my whole life doing nothing but magic and I can hardly do anything past the basics... I can just... make them flashy. She... she actually can put all the powerful spells to use... I'd love to meet her, learn from her." She suddenly stopped; realizing tears were streaming down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, slowly letting it out. She opened her eyes, a sudden look of confidence spread across her face. She nodded and stamped a hoof hard on the railroad track. "No! I am The Great and Powerful Trixie!" she yelled, rearing back. "I am the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria!" ..... Nothing. She listened as if to hear for some confirmation to her bold statement, but there was no sound but the wind and the echo of her own voice off the mountainside. "Aw... who am I kidding... I don't even have a bit to buy an apple... No stage.. no hat... no cape... nopony..." She hung her head low and felt the tears flowing again. The night air was frigid, but she laid down on the train tracks, thinking maybe a train would come during the night. Exhausted and hungry, she curled up and tried to get some sleep.... After only a few short hours of sleep, Trixie woke up still lying on the train tracks. She didn't feel at all rested as the cold wind had her shivering all night. She looked up only to see cloud cover, looking as if it was going to rain. Begrudgingly, she pulled herself up and began to make her way down the tracks, continuing her aimless wandering. "Where am I going to go...? No money, no food..." she thought to herself. It wasn't long before the clouds opened up and it began to rain. Combined with the cold wind, Trixie could feel her teeth chattering together as she shivered, slowing her pace. Her hunger was another factor keeping her from getting anywhere fast. At this point, she was far enough from Ponyville that the surrounding terrain was a bit rocky with some bogs and swampy areas mixed it. It seemed the train tracks were the only navigable path through the area. An hour passed. Nothing around to eat. Another hour and still nothing. The nearly the whole day goes by. Then another day of sleeping on the tracks. Another day, sleeping under an old dead tree. Another day, and another, (or has it been? She's lost track of time, shaking, hallucinating from hunger) She wakes up on the tracks again, it's raining again. Using all of her strength, she stands up, plodding on to nowhere. The day passes and the terrain turns to a desert, even less chance at something edible. As nighttime nears and the cold wind blows once again, Trixie suddenly stumbles over the next railroad tie, unable to lift her hoof high enough to get over it. She falls forwards, hitting her face off the gravel, scraping her front knees to bleeding. All she can do is cry, lying in the mud. She spends the rest of the evening laying there, cold, staving, covered in mud and dirt. She finally just rolls off the tracks onto her side. "Well Trixie... I guess this is it. Heh. I almost half expected this from the get-go... sad really. Pretty pathetic." she says out loud to herself in a weak voice. She chuckles to herself for a moment, but the laughter quickly turns into tears. After a few moments, she passes out. Chapter 2Her eyes crack open. White. Everything. "Am I dead?" she thought to herself. Slowly her eyes came into focus. " Light. That's what the white is. Light. A light. A lamp. A lamp? Where am I?” was all she could muster to think. Then it hits her. She's in a bed in a small room. She's clean, and warm, but still so weak. All she can do is lift her head. There's some medical equipment next to her bed. Was it a hospital? No, too small. A doctor's office? Yes, that's it. She sat up in the bed, bringing a hoof up to rub her eyes. Something stung in her leg as she lifted it. A needle. An IV to be more exact. She just sat there, thinking in disbelief. She had given up everything, yet here she is, in a doctor's office, getting apparent treatment. All she could do is sit there, trying to remember anything about how she got here. The last thing she can remember is giving up and falling asleep in the cold desert after finally accepting her end. She is in shock, dumbfounded as to why anypony would want to help her... Suddenly the door to her room opened and a little cart with what looked like minor medical supplies rolled in, followed by a mare nurse with a dark yellow coat and pink mane. Trixie froze. She had no idea what to say, what to do, how to react. The nurse finally looked up from the cart and saw Trixie, wide awake. The nurse gasped and immediately turned around, running down the hall yelling "Doctor! Doctor!". Trixie sat motionless in bed, unsure of what just happened. She started to shake nervously. "Why did she run away? Does she hate me? Why does she need a doctor? Is something wrong with me? What's going on?!" Her own thoughts became more and more frantic as she found herself kicking her hind legs along the bed, sliding herself back against the head of the bed. She could here hooves coming down the hallway, only making her more nervous. The same nurse and what looked like a doctor walked in. Her had a simple brown coat and gray mane and wore a white jacket. The nurse had a different cart with her, this once carrying gauze and cotton balls, but what caught Trixie's eye were the few vials and a few rather large needles lying next to them. Trixie froze up once again at the sight, scared to the point that she was visibly shaking, though the doctor didn't seem to notice. "Good morning, Miss Jane Doe! It appears you have finally woken up from your long slumber. Napping on the side of the train tracks, were we? You really should bring a lot more trail rations with you if you are going to be walking for what appears to be days, especially if you go through what looks like a giant mud pit. Now care to tell me what happened?" the doctor said, in an overly lighthearted tone. Trixie just sat there, her eyes still locked on the table, almost drowning out the doctor's question. She looked up at him for just a second then back at the table. "Wh- what's going on? Why do they need all that? I don't understand... who are these ponies?" she thought to herself, still inching back on the bed, moving to a corner far away from the doctor. "Now now, no need to be scared little unicorn." the nurse said after catching Trixie staring at the cart of medical utensils. "We just need a little blood to see if you got sick out there in the mud! And the needle is just a lit-" The nurse didn't have time to finish her statement before watching Trixie push herself up so far on the head of the bed that she fell off the corner, slamming onto the ground, her head clanging against the side of the end table. The IV stand was on the opposite side of the bed from her fell, causing the needle to pull in her leg, ripping the needle out nearly sideways and causing the stand to crash to the ground. Trixie's vision blurred after hitting her head so hard, but after a quick moment it came back to her. She looked at her leg where the IV needle had been, feeling an incredible amount of coming from it and saw blood pouring down the side of it. She started to panic but paused for a second as she felt something dripping on her head. She moved her hoof to her head where she could feel something and then looked at her hoof. Blood. Lots of blood. She could feel it on her cheek now, then dripping to the floor. She fall into a true panic now, kicking her hooves rapidly, pushing herself back against the bed, pushing it back, slamming it into the cart the nurse had brought in with her, knocking some of the vials off onto the floor, shattering them. "Hold on, Miss! Stop!" the doctor said, moving towards Trixie as she flailed on the ground. He put a hoof on her shoulder to try and get her to stop, but she smacked it away, nearly knocking him off his hooves. "Ah! Miss! Calm down now!" he said almost yelling at her, as frustration with the situation quickly set in. His angry tone only frightened the bleeding Trixie even more, making her push the bed out of the way to try and put distance between her and the doctor. "Help me! No! Please! Make it stop!" was the only thing racing through Trixie's clouded mind. "Nurse, go get help!" the doctor said to her as she nodded and galloped out the door. "Miss, you have to calm down! We are trying to help you and you are making this very difficult!" He shouted again. In a moment, the nurse came back with two other nurses, but they were big colts. One of them brought in a rolling bed with straps on it. The older doctor backed off, letting the two big colts move in to subdue the frightened mare. One grabbed her from behind, the other holding her hooves down against the ground. All Trixie could do was move her head. She was weak from her travel and from the blood pouring from her open wounds on her head and leg; she could hardly fight back against the colts twice her size. She started to cry openly, tears mixing with the blood on her face. The doctor came over with the needle and one of the unbroken vials. "We just need some blood for some tests, Miss! If you would just-" "Now hold on just a moment there, Doctor Hoof Pick!" the doctor was cut off. Everypony in the room except for Trixie looked at the door. A red maned mare stood in the doorway, her cutie mark was a pair of cherries with a single green leaf. "Doctor! I'm appalled at what I am seeing! I don't donate a good portion of the plantations earnings to this medical facility for you to rough up pretty little mares!" she said with an angry tone in her voice. "But Miss Jubilee, the mare is in shock and panicked! We needed to restrain her so that we-" "Absolutely not! I won't have you treat anyone like this in this facility if you wish to keep your funding! Now take your staff and get out of this room. I will personally take care of this without the need for physical restraints!" Miss Jubilee said with a stern tone, cutting off the doctor. All he did was give a long sigh of frustration before nodding to the nurses and leading them out of the room. Chapter 3Miss Jubilee closed the door behind them, locking it to make sure no other staff felt the need to butt in. She turned around to face Trixie who was still on the floor, curled up in a ball, sobbing silently to herself. Her bleeding had greatly slowed by this point. Miss Jubilee slowly walked over to Trixie, whom didn't even look up to acknowledge her. Miss Jubilee gave a soft smile, sitting down on the floor close to Trixie, then lowering her head next to the crying mare's, resting it on her own front hooves. "Hello there, little one. My name is Cherry Jubilee; you can just call me Cherry. What's yours?" Cherry said softly with a smile. Trixie made no motion towards her, and produced no sound aside from hiccups and the occasional sniff. She had stopped crying out loud, but tears were still flowing down her cheeks. She was lost, alone, hurt, surrounded by ponies she didn't know who were doing things she was to shocked and sick to understand. Cherry's expression changed from a smile to that of genuine concern. She lifted a hoof and placed it on Trixie's back, gently stroking down her coat, trying to calm the unicorn. "There there, sweetheart. The doctor was only trying to help you, even if he was going about it the wrong way. But he's gone now. It's just little ol' me and I don't have any needles or and restraints. I just want to talk to you. Is that OK?" Cherry's mouth slowly converted into a smile as she softly spoke to Trixie. Trixie still had no reaction to Cherry's words, but was visibly shaking in fear from Cherry's touch. Cherry let out a small sigh, seeing she wasn't getting through to the unicorn. She saw the blood on Trixie's face and leg and frowned. "Poor poor dear. Let's clean you up, shall we?" Cherry picked up a clean cloth from the table and began to lightly dab it on Trixie's leg. Trixie initially pulled herself back, but slowly relaxed as it wasn't hurting her. Trixie kept her head down on the floor and her eyes closed as Cherry cleaned her up and bandaged her head and leg. Trixie was still shaking; tears were still running down her cheeks even now. Cherry frowned; saddened that she couldn't get through to the shivering unicorn. She shook her head and grabbed the blanket off the bed and laid on her side against Trixie and threw the blanked over both of them. She wrapped her front legs around Trixie and hugged her close. "There there, sweetheart. Everything's going to be OK. Cherry is going to take good care of you, little mare." Cherry had her eyes closed, her head pressed against the top of Trixie's as she ran her hoof up and down her back. Even Cherry had a few tears running down her cheeks, moved by the pity she felt for the little blue unicorn. Trixie's eyes shot open, she was poised to get up and run as yet another pony she didn't know grabbed her. But she froze in place. This was different than before. Trixie's racing mind began to slow down as Cherry embraced her. "Wh- Who is this? Why is she doing all this for me? No one has ever hugged me before... not even mother. Is this what it feels like? She's... warm.. and soft. And gentle..." Trixie started to openly cry once again. She moved just enough to get her own hooves around Cherry Jubilee and hug her in return. Cherry opened her eyes and smiled, wiping one of her own tears away. "Shhhh... it’s OK little unicorn. You are safe now. Cherry Jubilee is going to take you home, and give you a nice meal, and a warm bed to sleep in." she said softly to Trixie, holding back more of her own tears. She went to move, but Trixie increased the grip of her hug on Cherry and held on. The red haired mare stopped and smiled, laying back down again with Trixie and just held here there for a while, listening to the poor unicorn cry in her arms under the blanket. After a short while, Trixie finally calmed down to the point where Cherry felt it was OK to move. Slowly Cherry let go of Trixie and stood up, but Trixie remained on the floor. Cherry slowly lifted back the blanket and leaned down, nuzzling against the top of Trixie's head. Trixie whimpered a little bit before lifting her head, looking up at Cherry with her crying eyes. "We don't have to stay here, little unicorn. We can go back to my house and give you a warm bath and a hot meal? How does that sound?" Cherry said, giving Trixie a warm smile. "I don't understand why... but.. I just want to go with her. I have no idea who she is or why she's being so kind to me, but... no one has ever been kind to me like this before. If she finds out who I really am though... she'll hate me like everyone else... I'll just... forget about my past... forever. Not that there was anything good in it that I'd want to hold on to." Trixie thought to herself before slowly standing up, wobbling a bit. She realized she was still so very hungry. Cherry moved to her side, letting the unicorn lean against her as they walked out of the patient room. The doctor stood outside. "Well Miss Jubilee, can we do our jobs now?" the doctor asked, with a bit of a sarcastic tone. "Your job with this unicorn is done. I'll be taking her with me." Cherry Jubilee said in forceful reply. She and Trixie kept walking, passing the doctor and the nurse. "But she needs further tests! She could be sick! We at least need a blood sample!" the doctor insisted, following them down the hallway as they approached the exit. Trixie was starting to shake in fear again as she leaned against Cherry, seeing the two large colt nurses behind the doctor. "Doctor Hoof Pick!" Cherry Jubilee nearly yelled, coming to a stop in front of the exit door. "If there is a problem, you will be the first to know, and if you need a blood sample you can get it off of the floor of the patient's room due to your carelessness. Now if you excuse me, Doctor, I will be taking this mare home with me to give her the care and kindness she needs. Something they obviously didn't teach you in Manehatten Medical Academy! Good day!" And with that, Cherry kicked open the front door and walked out, the shivering Trixie walking against her side with her head down, starting to tear up again at the sound of the confrontation. The Doctor simply shook his head and closed the door. Chapter 4Cherry Jubilee and Trixie made their way to the edge of the town, Trixie leaning against Cherry Jubilee the entire time. She kept her head down, not looking around the town at all. Cherry was looking at Trixie nearly as much as she was watching where she was walking. Once again, Cherry tried to make some sort of conversation with the unicorn. "Sweetheart, I just need to know a little more about you if I'm going to be able to help you a little bit. I do hope you understand. We can start off with a simple question. Maybe just what your name is." Cherry said, her eyes looking down and to her side at the top of Trixie's down-turned head. Still no reaction from Trixie. Cherry was slowly beginning to lose hope. "Maybe she's a mute? But she was crying out loud before... I don't quite understand... I wish I did." Cherry thought to herself, giving a sigh. "I... I just can't tell her.. if she knew who I was... she'd... she'd hate me like all the other ponies... I don't want her to hate me.. not the first pony to ever give me a hug... to show me kindness..." Trixie thought to herself, feeling tears form in her eyes. They continued their walk through the streets of the dusty town, cherry began to just talk to Trixie, maybe provoking some sort of reaction. "Well, my little blue unicorn, I can at least tell you about myself. As I said before, my name is Cherry Jubilee, but you can call me Cherry. I am the proprietor of the Cherry Plantation outside of town by the oasis. Speaking of that, this little town is called Dodge Station. We are but a small community built on the hub of two rail road crossings. Not many ponies live here, but plenty travel through! We have just the basics; the medical center where you were, the general store, saloon, and a few other specialty shops, including a doll maker. Mrs. Spool does a fine job making custom dolls. I got one for my little sister for her birth-" Cherry suddenly stopped as she felt Trixie stop moving with her. Trixie had had her head up and was looking at Cherry ever since she mentioned the doll shop. "Dolls... I had a doll when I was little.. the only toy mother ever let me have.... why am I thinking about this? That doll I had... was the only thing I could hug... like Cherry. She hugged me too..." Trixie thought to herself. Then she shook her head and lowered it again, trying to get the thoughts out of her head. Those old memories need to be eliminated. She just needs to become somepony else, just vanish off of Equestria. At least she felt like she needed too. Cherry was still staring intently at Trixie, trying to figure out what cause Trixie to react. "What's wrong, sweetie? Did something catch your attention? Did I mention something? I mentioned the doll shop last. We are going to pass it on the way back towards the plantation if you'd like to look in the window. I know you must still be hungry." Cherry said with a bit of renewed hope. Trixie gave somewhat of a partial nod and leaned back against Cherry. Both ponies continued to walk down the street until they came to the big front window of the doll shop. "Go ahead and take a look dear. We can always come back another time if you aren't up to it." Cherry said with a smile, taking a look in the window herself. There were small dolls, wooden dolls, plushies, and life-size dolls of all kinds. Ponies, dogs, birds, and every animal in between. In one half of the front window was a special display. The doll maker was working on recreating all of the ponies that were featured on the stained glass windows of the royal palace. There were pictures of the windows displayed and above them various sized dolls of each of the ponies. There were life sizes replications of both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. There was a wooden doll of Discord and Nightmare Moon as well. There were a few other dolls, Starswirl the Bearded, somepony she didn't recognize and then a life-size plushie of Rarity. Wait... Rarity? "Wh- what is this? Why is she here!? She hates me! I was mean to her! No! I'm sorry!" Trixie suddenly backed away from the window, stumbling and falling onto her flank. Cherry rushed over and leaned down. "Oh my! What's wrong, little one?" Cherry said, putting a hood on the fallen unicorn's back. Trixie could feel tears welling up, but then something caught her eye... It was an illustration of a stained glass window on display in the corner of the doll shop window. She slowly stood up and moved towards the glass, Cherry simply watching with a confused look on her face. There were six ponies using the Elements of Harmony on this particular picture and she recognized every one of them. "I remember them... from Ponyville and.. her..." Trixie looked at the little image of Twilight Sparkle on the picture of the stained glass window. "She must be one hundred times more magical than me... Princess Celestia entrusted her with the Elements of Harmony after all... How could I ever think I was the most magical... I'd... love to meet her, somehow." Trixie thought to herself before shaking the thoughts out of her head. She looked past the image in the window as she started to move further down the street but stopped dead in her tracks, making Cherry come to a screeching halt right next to her. "What's wrong dear, you can tell me." Cherry pleaded. There, in the window, was a life-sized plushy of Twilight Sparkle. Trixie slowly lifted her head and looked into the dolls eyes. Her face flushed red and she began to shake, feeling scared all of a sudden. She tilted her head down, looking like she was embarrassed. Then she slowly opened her mouth: "...Hi, Tw-Twilight..." Cherry Jubilee stopped dead in her tracks. She stared at Trixie, whom slowly turned her head downwards, and her cheeks flushed red. Trixie started to mouth more words towards the doll shop window, but her voice got so quiet Cherry couldn't even hear her. She took one step towards the unicorn, close enough to see tears forming in Trixie's eyes. Trixie suddenly turned away from the doll shop and started to try and run, not getting far before her weak legs gave out on her and she came crashing to the ground on her chin. She lay in the dust of the road just crying, not even attempting to get back up. Cherry quickly ran over to her, kneeling down with her and trying to lift her up a bit off the dirt. "Oh gosh! What's wrong, sweetheart? What did you-"Cherry was cut off as she heard something coming from Trixie between her sobs. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Twilight..." Cherry nearly burst into tears herself. "What happened, sweetheart? You can tell me... please. Was it that doll?" Cherry pleaded once again, looking back and forth between Trixie and the purple plushy in the front window of the shop, holding back her own tears as best she could but losing the battle. She could feel them running down her own cheeks and did the only thing she knew worked on this pitiful unicorn; she quickly leaned forwards and wrapped her front legs around Trixie, hugging her tightly, managing to hold back any audible parts of her crying. Trixie slowly calmed down enough for Cherry to once again coax her to her feet and lead her home. But not before Cherry had one last good look over her shoulder at that doll... Chapter 5Slowly the pair made their way back to the Cherry Plantation. Cherry Jubilee had a grave look of concern on her face the entire time. They stopped at the steps at the porch on the front of the plantation farm house; Trixie was wobbling so much she could hardly lift her legs to get up the stairs. Cherry looked around quickly as if looking for someone, and then grimaced, apparently unable to find whatever it was. Slowly Cherry helped Trixie down to the ground so she could rest at the bottom of the stairs. Trixie watched as Miss Jubilee galloped off towards a barn just down the hill, only to return a few moments later with another mare who was wearing an apron and hairnet. "Little unicorn," Cherry said to Trixie "this is Abby Gale, she works here on the plantation as a cherry sorter. She's an incredibly nice pony, so you don't need to be afraid, ok?" Trixie looked up from the ground and looked at Abby Gale. She was an older pegasus mare with a cream coat and a graying purple mane and tail with a cutie mark that looked like a wispy cloud. She leaned down towards Trixie with a big smile on her face and spoke with a very upbeat tone of voice. "Well hey there! You must be the unicorn they found out in the desert! Such an adorable mare all by herself! I won't ask ya how ya'all got out there, but I'm glad yerr here! Miss Cherry here says yerr a good pony an' that's all that matters ta me! Welcome to the Cherry Plantation!" Trixie was a little scared at the pegasus’s boisterous tone and it seemed like she was going to be talking forever, but Cherry Jubilee put a hood on her back. "That's enough Abby, let’s get her inside, and then go and start dinner for us. Make an extra-large helping for our new guest." Abby nodded and then both mares helped Trixie to her feet and up the stairs. The house had looked huge on the outside, and the inside matched. It was an old home, but beautiful non-the-less with a neat and tidy Victorian layout. Abby ran off to the kitchen to prepare dinner while Cherry lead Trixie to a large, red-velvet couch, letting her lay down on it. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you need too, sweetheart. We'll find someone from your family to come and get you so you can get back home. But to do that I need you to tell me where you are from, what pony I can contact. ... Can I at least get your name?" Cherry sat down on the end of the couch next to Trixie, putting a hoof out on the unicorn's back. Trixie just closed her eyes and laid there. Cherry shook her head, seemingly frustrated with the situation. "Maybe after dinner..." Just then another pony walked into the room prompting Cherry to stand up and move over to her. The earth pony had a brown coat and a dark brown mane and tail and was wearing what appeared to be a modest maid outfit. She had a feather duster in her teeth and a cutie mark that looked like a single feather from that very duster. Cherry Jubilee spoke to the younger mare for a few moments before both of them walked over. The unknown mare leaned her head down and gave a very warm smile. "Hello little unicorn. My name is Plume. I'm the housekeeper here at the Cherry Plantation. Welcome to our humble home. If there's something you need around the house, I'm the mare to call." she gave a small giggle and stood back up. Her voice was calm, almost soothing to Trixie's tired ears prompting her to give just a slight smile. Maybe being here wouldn't be so bad. She nodded to Cherry Jubilee and made her way to into the kitchen looking like she was going to help finish dinner. Cherry Jubilee sighed and sat back down on the end of the couch next to Trixie. "Abby and Plume have been working for me for many years, little one. I trust and love them very much so there's no need to be afraid around them. If I am not around and you need something, find one of them- Oh! Dinner is ready! I'll bring you some, little one, we'll eat together here." Cherry Jubilee stood up and walked into the kitchen. Trixie could hear the three mares speaking in the kitchen to one another. After a few moments, all three made their way out, Plume pushing a small cart full of food. Abby Gale picked up a plate filled with food and sat it down in front of Trixie on the couch. "'ere ya go, hun! Eat up! There’s more where that came from!" she said before picking up a few more plates and serving Plume and Cherry Jubilee. Cherry, however, put a hoof up and shook her head. "I need to run an errand first. Plume, please take care of Miss Unicorn while I am gone. After dinner, prepare a bath for her." She then promptly stood up and made her way out the front door. The food was good. Trixie had not eaten in days, but it still took a lot of coaxing from Abby to get her to eat a bit. Dinner seemed long and drawn out, listening to the two talk about simple events around the plantation, Abby's husband who apparently works out in the orchard, Plume complaining about being single, and various questions directed at Trixie that received no reaction. When she had finally finished her meal, Abby Gale took all the plates to the kitchen to clean up. Plume, now alone with Trixie, came over to hear and leaned down close. Plume seemed to understand that something had happened to the poor blue unicorn; as for what, she did not know. Plume reminded Trixie of Cherry Jubilee's instructions about a bath, a sentence that finally prompted a reaction from Trixie, making her stand up and follow the housekeeper up a flight of stairs to a large bathroom. She didn't need help up the stairs this time, the meal already giving her quite a bit of her strength back. The cherry tarts and jams, among other things, were quite delectable. Once inside the bathroom, Plume prepped the bath for Trixie, showing her where the soap was and a fresh towel, before leaving her to some privacy. Trixie looked into the rather large bath, seeing her own reflection in the calm bathwater. It only made her more depressed seeing what she had become. While she had been cleaned up at the hospital a bit, it wasn't the full scrubbing she needed after sleeping in the mud outside for nights in a row. The bandage still wrapped around her head only made her feel worse as she remembered her stint in the hospital; looking down, seeing the other bandage on her leg as well. She used her teeth to take the bandage off of her leg. The cut was closed but still sore. Then she reached up with her hooves to take off the bandage on her head. She wasn't used to doing anything as mundane as undoing a bandage wrap with her hooves, this was the sort of thing that could be done with some simple levitation magic. She became more frustrated, unable to undo the little metal clasp holding the bandage on. Try as she might it wasn't coming off, and she refused to use her magic anymore. She didn't believe she could even do something so simple with her magic anymore, anyway. She could feel tears dripping down her cheeks as the frustration overtook her, and then she began to audibly cry. Plume, who was just outside the door to the bathroom, heard the cries from within and quickly opened the door. She saw Trixie there fumbling with the bandage and, upon seeing her horn once again, understood her frustration. She walked over to Trixie, putting a hoof gently on her back, making Trixie turn her head towards the housekeeper. "Let me help you, Miss Unicorn." Plume said, reaching a hoof up and undoing the clasp, removing the bandage. Trixie just stared at Plume. How could it be that simple? Plume only stared back at Trixie, looking into the poor unicorns tired, bloodshot eyes. Plume's loving smile slowly turned into a frown of concern. Plume's own eyes had tears welling up just seeing how pitiful the unicorn was. Plume quickly leaned forwards, wrapping her forelegs around Trixie, pulling her into a tight hug. "Don't feel alone, okay? We're here for you." Trixie was shocked at the sudden hug, but didn't try and pull away. Though Plume couldn't see it, a small smile stretched across Trixie's lips. She felt better now and finished her bath with Plume sitting on the floor next to the tub. After the bath, Trixie was drying off in the bathroom with the help of Plume. Suddenly the door cracked open and Cherry Jubilee's head poked in, a smile on her face. "I do hope you enjoyed your bath, Miss Unicorn. Plume, your duties are done for today, get some rest." Plume nodded at Cherry and gave a small smile and wave to Trixie before taking her leave. "If you'd follow me, Miss Unicorn, I'll show you too the guest room where you'll be staying." Trixie nodded, following Cherry Jubilee down the hallway. Cherry opened the door of a room at the end of the hall. "Here you are. My room is just down the hall if you need something. Just knock." Trixie poked her head into the guest room. It was small, but well furnished. There was a table with two chairs, a window overlooking the orchard, a twin-sized bed, and a- ... !!! Trixie suddenly froze in place. At the foot of the bed was a familiar doll... Twilight Sparkle. Chapter 6“This is the guest bedroom, Miss Unicorn. You have all the necessary commodities, as well as-” Cherry Jubilee was cut off by a faint voice. “We’ll be… sharing a room?” a trembling Trixie just managed to say. She had pulled back a bit and was only peeking into the room from around the door jam. Cherry Jubilee looked down at Trixie, a bit shocked to hear the unicorn speak. She fumbled with her words trying to form a response. “Er, well, no, sweetheart. I have my own bedro-” “I don’t mind… but… don’t you and your friends hate me?” Trixie said in the same muffled tone, her head lowered as she took a step into the bedroom, but her eyes were still looking in the direction of the foot of the bed. Cherry Jubilee was cut off again from the combination of Trixie speaking and her own disbelief. “Well, no Miss Unicorn… I…” Cherry Jubilee cut herself off as she watched Trixie walk up to the doll she had just purchased for her new guest an hour ago. She finally realized it. The lost unicorn was talking to the doll just as she spoke to the doll in the window back in town. Cherry Jubilee was at a loss. She could only watch the little blue unicorn as she sat down on the floor in front of the doll. Cherry gave a deep sigh of frustration and pity and backed out of the room, closing the door. She stood in the hallway outside of Trixie’s room just listening with an ear to the door: “I’m… really sorry Twilight. About Ponyville; and I don’t expect you or your friends to forgive me or anything…” “…” “No… it won’t. I… I gave up magic. I can’t do it, anyway. You are the ‘most magical unicorn in all of Equestria’, not me. Even your cutie mark is all about magic.” “…” “No, it’s just a wand… I can do pathetic parlor tricks; no real serious magic, like you. All the years I spent studying alone without a single friend, and I got nothing.” “…” “I was… locked away. I failed Magic Kindergarten I was so bad. Dad was a deadbeat earth pony. Mom was a famous unicorn magician years back in Canterlot. She wouldn’t have her child be the laughing stock of the city. She wouldn’t let anyone know I was only half unicorn. ‘Impure’. She locked me away most of my foalhood to study magic alone. If she saw me like this…” “…” “No… I… I don’t want to talk about it, anymore. I’m sorry Twilight.” “…” “I know…” At this point, Cherry Jubilee was slumped on the floor, her ear still against the door. She could only assume that the long pauses between the few words Trixie was saying were the doll ‘talking’ back to her. As the conversation continued, it was apparent that Trixie was crying as she spoke. “I know! I was wrong. I was stupid. I don’t know how to deal with other ponies… please… I’m sorry…” “…” “I ended up here… I… I just want to start over. Please, Twilight, I beg you, I’ll do anything… just don’t tell Miss Cherry about my past… I want to erase it…” “…” “I… I know it will... *sniff* I know…” “……” Trixie was audibly crying now, but the sound of the bed rustling could be heard. Cherry Jubilee stood up, briefly pondering the thought of going into the bedroom to comfort the little blue unicorn, but stopped herself. “What happened in Ponyville? Who is this unicorn? I really wish I could understand what was going on…” Cherry thought to herself. She spent a few moments trying to puzzle this whole situation together in her head. She paused again, putting her head back against the door to listen. There was no sound. She slowly opened the door and peeked inside. To her surprise, the doll was neatly tucked into the bed, but, the little blue unicorn was nowhere to be found. Taking a few steps into the room, Cherry let out a sigh of relief, seeing Trixie lying on the floor, curled up in a ball, asleep. Cherry’s faced curled from worry to motherly concern seeing the pitiful pony balled up on the floor. She leaned her head down and pulled the blanket off the bed and covered Trixie in it, then tip-hoofed out of the room, looking back one last time at the sleeping unicorn. She smiled and gave a whisper: “Whatever may have happened in your past, know that you have a family here now, and into the future, little unicorn…” Trixie’s eyes slowly opened as the rooster somewhere outside crowed. The morning sun was coming in through the window illuminating the room. Trixie yawned and looked around from her position on the floor, but stopped as her eyes met the blanketless bed. She looked down, noticing she was wrapped up in it. She looked up at the bed once again; ‘Twilight’ was lying on her side facing Trixie with the same stitched grin. “Did you… give me your blanket? Th-thank you, Twilight…” Trixie said as she turned her head down as she could feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I… I really thought you hated me… but… Thank you.” Trixie looked back up at the doll. “…” “Oh, sure… I think I could do that. I’ll be back shortly.” Trixie stood up and stretched, her legs were sore from sleeping on the wooden floor. She made her way to the bedroom door and looked at the doorknob. She brought her hooves up and fumbled a bit trying to open it, but managed. She left it open just a crack so she wouldn’t have to do that again when she came back. Trixie looked down the hallway, but didn’t see anypony. She made her way down the stairs and to the kitchen and peeked inside. Plume was standing by a stove, working on what smelled like breakfast. Plume turned her head and saw Trixie out of the corner of her eye. “Good morning, Miss Unicorn. I do hope you slept well.” Plume said in a quiet voice, almost as if she didn’t want to scare the skittish unicorn away. “Breakfast will be ready shortly. Is there anything I could get you in the meantime?” “Tea, please.” Trixie said, nearly inaudible, not even looking at the housekeeper. Plume had to catch her bearings hearing that little voice for the first time. She smiled as bright as the sun as she made a cup of tea for the little blue unicorn, hoping that the house guest was actually getting out of the miserable funk she was in yesterday. After pouring the hot cup of tea for Trixie, Plume set the cup on the kitchen table in front of Trixie, then turned back to the stove. Trixie looked at the cup with a stern, yet puzzled look on her face. She had never really lifted a hot cup of tea, or anything for that matter, with her teeth or hooves before. Earth Ponies and Pegasi may be used to it having done it all their lived, but she had never had to thanks to the simplest of levitation spells. She leaned her head out and turned it sideways, biting the handle on the tea cup and lifting it up off the table. Plume, in the meantime, had begun to watch Trixie out of the corner of her eye, trying to figure out why she was using her mouth. Trixie took a step back from the table and turned to exit the kitchen, but her head wasn’t tilted enough and some of the hot tea spilled out onto her foreleg. She flinched as the hot tea burned her, pulling her leg back and losing her balance and falling onto her side. The teacup dropped from her mouth and shattered on the kitchen floor. Trixie looked at the mix of spilled tea and shattered porcelain on the floor and could already feel her eyes welling up with tears from yet another failure. Plume dropped her utensil on the stove and rushed over, tossing a towel onto the spill in the process. She quickly leaned down and comforted Trixie. “Oh dear! It’s ok Miss Unicorn! It’s ok! We have plenty more cups where that came from!” Trixie stood back up and tried to help Plume clean up the mess, but only felt like she was getting in the way. After it was cleaned up, Plume brewed up another cup of tea for Trixie without even asking if she’d care for another. She placed it back on the table for her, but instead of going back to the stove, she turned to Trixie with a question. “Why not just use magic?” Trixie’s face was nothing but shock at the question. Plume’s face nearly matched in reaction. She thought it was just a simple innocent question, but she apparently hit a nerve. Trixie was once again staring at the floor, looking as if she was going to cry once again. “Oh, Miss Unicorn, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything. Here. Try this.” Plume said, pulling out a saucer and putting the teacup on it. She lifted the saucer with her teeth and moved it from the table to the countertop, almost in demonstration. “That should make it much easier for you to lift. Be careful!” she said with a smile. The faintest of smiles came across Trixie’s mouth as she nodded and lifted the saucer up with her teeth. It was much easier to lift this way as Trixie made her way very carefully up the stairs and towards the guestroom. Cherry Jubilee opened her bedroom door to start the day, giving a stretch. But her usual smile quickly revered as she saw Trixie walking down the hall with a cup of tea. She trailed Trixie down to the guest room and watched her make her way inside. Cherry moved up to the doorway and peeked inside the crack of the unclosed door. Trixie had placed the teacup down on the small table in the room and had turned towards the bed. “I got your tea, Twilight, just like you asked. Sorry it took so long…” “…” “It’s sasafrass. At least that’s what the jar said. And you’re welcome.” Suddenly the doll sat upright on the bed, then made its way over to the table and sat down in the chair. Cherry noticed a glow coming from the doll at the same time, matching that of the glow on Trixie’s horn. Cherry took a deep breath, preparing herself to go into the room in the hopes she wouldn’t cause… something… “She levitated the doll, but not the teacup? Oh Celestia… please help me… I hope I know what I’m doing…” And with that she pushed the door open Chapter 7Cherry Jubilee took a few steps into the room. Trixie was shocked at the sudden intrusion into her private conversation. She stood there, stunned, speechless. Trixie looked back at the doll, then back at Cherry as if looking for some sort of reassurance, or assistance. Cherry finally broke the few moments of awkward silence. “Miss Unicorn, I have decided that I am going to allow you to stay here with me and my family for as long as you need to, as I have not been able to contact any relative or friend of yours, nor have I received any similar efforts from them. It could simply be because you have not given me any information. However, I do not like freeloaders, so I’m going to give you a job, here on the plantation.” Cherry’s voice was very stern, her head was held high as she spoke. She looked down at the now somewhat cowering Trixie’s head. Suddenly her tone changed to the much softer and gentler version Trixie had first heard in the hospital. Cherry leaned in close and placed a hoof under Trixie’s chin and lifted her up. “You would be helping me out a great deal, and I do want to have you here as family. Would that be ok? The job is an easy one, and you will get to work with Abby Gale as well.” Cherry nodded, giving Trixie a loving smile. Trixie’s frown had slowly bent into a small smile. She was finally being accepted somewhere. Someone nice was finally caring for her. Trixie slowly nodded her head, agreeing to Cherry Jubilee’s plan for putting her to work. Cherry smiled and clapped her front hooves together. “Oh that is quite wonderful, my dear. I’m sure you will love it here! But tell me, dear. Please. At least tell me your name. I won’t ask you any more questions if you don’t want.” There was another long, awkward pause. Trixie’s frown quickly returned to her face. She had no idea what to do. Should she tell Cherry her real name? What if just using that she could figure out who she really is? … or was… Trixie suddenly looked at the doll of Twilight sitting at the small table. The full cup of tea sitting in front of it was now cold. There was another pause. Suddenly, Trixie spoke in the direction of the doll. “But I can’t…” “…” “I don’t want to go back to that… I don’t even want to be her anymore. She should have died in the desert.” Cherry was flabbergasted by the sudden conversation the little unicorn was seemingly having with the doll. She wanted to ask so many questions to Trixie, but she couldn’t. She knew she wouldn’t get an answer. But most of all bringing up this little blue mare’s past seemed to be a subject that ‘sore’ simply wasn’t enough to describe. Trixie was still facing the Twilight doll, but her eyes were starting to tear up. Cherry Jubilee was moved; the same feeling she had when she first saw the pitiful little unicorn crying on the hospital floor. She suddenly reared up and wrapped her front hooves around Trixie and hugged her tightly, nearly shedding tears herself. “Alright, sweetheart. No more questions. I promise. Whatever happened in the past will stay there. I promise. No one here is going to ask about it. You are part of the family now.” She said, still hugging the little blue unicorn tightly. “Thank you… Miss Jubilee.” A small, soft voice came from Trixie, prompting Cherry to pull back from the hug, and look into Trixie’s face. Cherry’s tears immediately dried up and a smile spread across her face. “I think… yes. I am going to call you that. After all, you need a name. Sweet Heart. Is that ok?” Cherry said nearly starting to tear up again. Trixie paused for a moment. Sweet? She didn’t think she was sweet… she looked back at the doll of Twilight and lifted an ear, as if listening to the doll. After a moment, she turned her head back to Cherry and smiled. “Yes… Twilight says it is ok…” Cherry took a moment of pause before nodding her head. She led Trixie out the bedroom door. “Well then, let’s take you down to the barn so you can see what you’ll be doing here on the plantation. Abby Gale should be down there now.” She said with a smile. When Trixie was out of the room, and a few steps down the hall, Cherry turned back to close the bedroom door. She paused a moment, looking inside the room. “That doll… I still hope I am doing the right thing…” Cherry led Trixie out of the house and down the hill to the largest barn on the plantation. As they approached the barn the sound of squeaky wooden wheels and gears could be heard inside, along with the familiar, boisterous voice of Abby Gale. However, Trixie didn’t recognize a second voice; that of an older male pony. They walked up to the large door at the front of the barn and Cherry slid it open. “Hello Abby, Dusty. How are things going today?” Cherry said with a very cheerful tone. The sound of wheels and gears suddenly stopped as the large wheel on the side of the barn stopped turning. An elderly looking gray pegasus stepped out of the large wheel and made his way over to Cherry. He had what looked like a small puff of dust or smoke for his cutie mark. “Well, hello there Miss Cherry! Things a goin’ jus’ fine!” he said with a big smile. “Wheel’s gettin’ a bit tough on these ol’ legs!” Suddenly he stepped to the side, a small shove had moved him out of the way as Abby Gale stepped up to Cherry. “Dusty, yuh bin sayin’ that’s fer years, now.” She turned back to Cherry, but quickly turned her head down towards Trixie. “Oh hello there, little miss unicorn! It’s good ta see ya out ‘n about! Don’t mind my husband, Dusty, he likes to complain.” The older couple laughed and Cherry laughed along with them. Trixie felt a smile stretch across her lips, but aimed her head down at the floor a bit. Cherry Jubilee kept her smile, but suddenly changed the topic. “Well I am glad you two are doing well today. This is Sweet Heart.” She said, motioning towards Trixie. It took a moment, but Trixie remembered that that was the new name she was taking, with Twilight’s permission, of course. Not just a name, but a new life. Trixie looked up and gave a soft smile towards Abby. “Sweet Heart, you know Abby already; this is her husband, Dusty Gale. You’ll be working with them for today, ok? And don’t worry if you make a mistake; I’d have to say that these two ponies are the kindest in all of Equestria!” Cherry laughed, as did Dusty. Abby just smiled and shook her head, then turned towards Trixie. “Well, Sweet Heart, you’ll have a lotta’ fun here with me and ol’ dusty here-” Dusty cut her off. “If ya like listen’ to two ol’ feed bags complain ‘bout everythin’!” He laughed again, as did Cherry, but Abby wasn’t amused, giving him another small shove. Cherry took a step out of the barn. She turned back and lowered her head to look eye to eye with Trixie. “Now don’t worry one bit, ok? I’m going to be right up in the house if you need me. Are you going to be ok, Sweet Heart?” Cherry said, that soft, loving tone returning to her voice as she placed the side of her hoof on Trixie’s cheek. Trixie gave a small nod and an equally small smile. Cherry stood up and smiled, looking back towards the Gales. “Take good care of here. Call me if you need anything.” And with that Cherry made way back up towards the house. “Well, Sweet Heart! You’ll have a lotta’ fun here. Really. The work’s simple an’ the food is great! At least for us ‘ere in the barn!” Abby laughed, leading Trixie over towards a rack containing several aprons and a shelf of mane-nets. “’ere ya are, Sweet Heart, gotta put one a deez on first.” Abby threw an apron around Trixie’s neck, leaving it untied over her back and then held out a mane-net for her. Trixie lifted the net with her front hoof and looked back at Abby whom was looking back with an almost expectant look on her face. Trixie tried to place the mane-net over her head but fumbled with it in her hooves, dropping it to the floor. Trixie looked down at it, almost ready to cry at her mistake. Abby was a little confused, but shook her head, reaching down and picking up the net, tossing it aside. “Magic’s not so good, eh? Oh don’t worry ‘bout that. Not like they expect me an’ Dusty to fly anymore, either!” Abby said, putting a clean mane-net on Trixie’s head, then began to tie Trixie’s apron for her. A voice came out of the giant wheel on the side of the barn. “I kin fly just as good as any a’ them youngsters!” Dusty yelled. “Ya ‘aven’t flown in years, ya’ ol’ feed bag!” Abby yelled back, then laughed. She turned back to Trixie. “Oh don’t mind us, Sweet Heart. Anyway…” Abby turned towards the giant wheel and walked around to look inside of it. Trixie followed close behind. “Might as well explain what you’ll be doin’, eh?” Abby laughed. She pointed a hoof at the wheel that Dusty was in. “Now this here’s the engine of the barn. It stalls out, spits and sputters all the time, but it gits the job done.” Dusty just shook his head. “When he walks, it moves that conveyer belt over there.” Abby lead Trixie over towards the conveyer belt. There were green and red cherries lining the top of the conveyer and large bins on one side matching either color. Abby led Trixie up to the side of the belt opposite of the bins. “See, what we’s gunna be doin’ is sortin’ out the cherries. The best way to learn how tuh do sumtin’ is ta see it done. Hey Dusty! Start ‘er up!” Abby yelled, startling Trixie a bit. Dusty’s hooves could be heard against the wood of the giant wheel and it slowly began to turn. The conveyer next to Trixie also started to turn. Cherries began moving down from outside of the barn and Abby was pushing them off into the properly colored baskets. “See, Sweet Heart? This ain’t so bad!” Abby said. “Ya just push the cherries off into the correct bin and that’s it. Dusty goes nice n’ slow so it won’t be too much of a hassle for ya. Come on over here and give it a try!” Trixie traded places with Abby and Dusty started moving again. Trixie missed a few, put a few in the wrong bins, and all around didn’t do too well for her first try. She was starting to get upset, but Abby could tell. “Ya done good fer yer first try, Sweet Heart!” Abby suddenly said, motioning for Dusty to stop. Abby had been correcting Trixie’s mistakes, but not in a manner that would hide them from her. “Sure ya made a few mistakes here and there, but ya done better than me on my first day! And a helluvuh lot better than Dusty could ever do. That’s why he just turns the wheel.” Dusty’s head poked out from around the side of the wheel. “I’m right ‘ere, yanno!” he said, then started to chuckle. Trixie’s showed a small smile and even a tiny laugh right along with Dusty. Abby’s smile turned from that of laughter to that of an old, caring grandmother. She reached her front hooves out and hugged Trixie for a moment before pulling back. “Welcome to the family, Sweet Heart. It’s gunna be just wonderful havin’ ya ‘ere!” After a long day’s work in the barn, Trixie finally got a handle on sorting the cherries, even getting Dusty to speed up a little, though that didn’t amount to much at all. Abby led the trio out of the barn and closed the large door behind her. They headed back to the house for dinner. Trixie came down the stairs from cleaning up after work and peeked into the kitchen. Plume had prepared a large dinner for the family. It seemed like an awful lot of food for just five ponies. Trixie made her way to the other side of the kitchen. There was a grand dining room she had not seen before. What surprised her most is that there were upwards of 20 chairs at the table. She made her way back up to her room, wondering what all those extra chairs were for. Were their more ponies in Miss Jubilee’s family? Trixie sat down on her bed and looked over at the doll of Twilight, still sitting at the tea table. Trixie’s horn glowed and the doll got up off the chair and walked over to the bed, sitting down next to Trixie. Trixie’s ear lifted up. “…” “Well… a lot better than expected. The Gales are really friendly.” “…” “I… I’m not that great at the work…” “…” “I hope so… I want to stay here.” “…” The dolls front leg glowed and wrapped around Trixie’s shoulders. Trixie’s face flushed red and she squirmed nervously on the bed. “I… I think you are right. This is my chance to start over. Thank you, Twilight.” “…” Plume, whom had followed Trixie upstairs to let her know dinner was ready, had stopped at the door, hearing Trixie talking inside. Plume took a long pause after the conversation ended, trying to put together what was going on in her head. Was there another pony in there? After that moment, she gave up and knocked on the door, then immediately opened the nob. Trixie’s magic immediately ended as the door opened, prompting the doll to fall onto its back on the bed. Trixie had a surprised expression on her face as she looked over at Plume. Plume paused again, adding this newly seen piece of the puzzle to the jumble in her head. She quickly realized that she had stepped into someone else’s bedroom and was just staring. “Oh uh, Miss Unicorn, dinner is ready.” Trixie’s face seemed to calm down a bit, but instead of getting up to follow Plume down to the dining room, she looked at Twilight. She sat Twilight up at the head of the bed with magic, but still hesitated to get up and follow Plume. She looked at Plume, then back at Twilight and paused, lifting an ear. “…” “Are… you sure? Do you want to eat with us?” “…” “I’ll... I’ll bring you something, then.” “…” Plume’s confusion only escalated at the odd conversation she had just witnessed. But she quickly snapped out of it as Trixie stood up and walked over to her. Plume slowly backed out of the room and Trixie followed. Plume gently closed the bedroom door, her eyes locked on the doll until the door latched in place. As the two ponies made their way down the stairs a familiar sound echoed in Trixie’s ears. Ponies. Lots of ponies. Talking, laughing, and carrying on. She slowed down, Plume getting ahead of her and entering the dining room. Plume walked over and took her seat at the back end of the room. Trixie peeked around the corner as if she was checking the audience from back stage. She could see Cherry Jubilee at the head of the table and every seat but one was filled with ponies. They all seemed young and fit. Mares, colts, a whole mix. Everyone was an Earth Pony except for the Gales whom were up near Cherry Jubilee. Trixie began examining the entire audience of ponies whom she didn’t recognize. After looking across the entire table, Trixie’s eyes made their way back to Cherry Jubilee, whom, to her horror, was staring directly at her from across the room. “There she is!” Cherry yelled, getting every ponies attention, quieting the room. “Come on out, Sweet Heart, the whole family’s here!” Cherry stood up and patted the empty seat next to her and smiled at Trixie. “Everyone, this is Sweet Heart, the newest member of the plantation work family. Sweet Heart, these fine ponies are the summer farm workers that help this little old lady harvest the cherries when they are in season. They stay in the workers dorm just beyond the barn.” Everypony… every single pony was staring at her as she stood in the doorway to the grand dining room. The doors were folding doors with decorative glass and a red velvet curtain to go with them. The doors were open and the curtain was tied open with a yellow chord. Trixie stood, motionless. A look of horror slowly covered her face. “Sweet Heart? What’s wrong? … Sweet Heart?” Cherry called from across the room, but her voice was being drowned out by the murmurs and whispers of all the other ponies at the table. They became louder and louder to Trixie… Suddenly it felt as if the only light in the room that was on was aimed directly at her. She saw that red velvet curtain open up. She could hear her name being called ‘…the Great and Powerful Trixie!' All the ponies weren’t clapping. They were staring at her, disappointed looks on every face, whispering to each other about the unicorn on stage. She took a step back. “No! NO! That’s not me! She’s dead! … I can’t! I don’t know any! I can’t! I’m sorry! I’M SORRY!!” Trixie started to yell from the doorway. She started to back up, backing into a chair at the smaller table in the kitchen knocking it over and falling over onto the floor. Cherry looked across the table, her smile quickly turning into a look of deep concern and horror. Her and Plume immediately jumped up and ran into the kitchen, but before they could get to Trixie, she had picked herself up and bolted the other direction, audibly sobbing. They followed her out and up the stairs, hearing the guest room door suddenly slam shut. The farm workers at the kitchen table sat in silence, baffled. Their faces all shone with a look of confusion. Except for Abby Gale. She had a sad look on her face. She whispered to herself… “That poor, poor child. There is something… something deep inside of her, haunting her. We may never know what it may be.”
Chapter 1… “Ha! You may have vanquished an Ursa Minor, but you will never have the amazing, show stopping ability of The Great and Powerful Trixie!” And then she ran... and ran... where to? She didn't know. Her 'home' was destroyed when the Ursa Minor crushed her traveling stage, taking everything she owned with it; including her prize cape and hat. "I could go to mother's house, but to let her know that I failed... it would be worse than death. She'd disown me, though I don't think she could separate herself from me more then she already has.... She kept me locked away practicing magic for most of my fillyhood for a reason... I was a project more than a daughter..." she thought to herself, shaking her head back and forth. She slowed down to a trot, Ponyville now far from view. "That unicorn in Ponyville... Twilight Sprinkle- no. Sparky? Not that either... Sparkle? Yes. I think that was it. Twilight Sparkle. She could do all of that, vanquish an Ursa Minor that I couldn't even budge..." Trixie was walking, her head hanging low as she thought of yesterday's events as it was well after midnight, following some train tracks to somewhere; she didn't know. "I spent my whole life doing nothing but magic and I can hardly do anything past the basics... I can just... make them flashy. She... she actually can put all the powerful spells to use... I'd love to meet her, learn from her." She suddenly stopped; realizing tears were streaming down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, slowly letting it out. She opened her eyes, a sudden look of confidence spread across her face. She nodded and stamped a hoof hard on the railroad track. "No! I am The Great and Powerful Trixie!" she yelled, rearing back. "I am the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria!" ..... Nothing. She listened as if to hear for some confirmation to her bold statement, but there was no sound but the wind and the echo of her own voice off the mountainside. "Aw... who am I kidding... I don't even have a bit to buy an apple... No stage.. no hat... no cape... nopony..." She hung her head low and felt the tears flowing again. The night air was frigid, but she laid down on the train tracks, thinking maybe a train would come during the night. Exhausted and hungry, she curled up and tried to get some sleep.... After only a few short hours of sleep, Trixie woke up still lying on the train tracks. She didn't feel at all rested as the cold wind had her shivering all night. She looked up only to see cloud cover, looking as if it was going to rain. Begrudgingly, she pulled herself up and began to make her way down the tracks, continuing her aimless wandering. "Where am I going to go...? No money, no food..." she thought to herself. It wasn't long before the clouds opened up and it began to rain. Combined with the cold wind, Trixie could feel her teeth chattering together as she shivered, slowing her pace. Her hunger was another factor keeping her from getting anywhere fast. At this point, she was far enough from Ponyville that the surrounding terrain was a bit rocky with some bogs and swampy areas mixed it. It seemed the train tracks were the only navigable path through the area. An hour passed. Nothing around to eat. Another hour and still nothing. The nearly the whole day goes by. Then another day of sleeping on the tracks. Another day, sleeping under an old dead tree. Another day, and another, (or has it been? She's lost track of time, shaking, hallucinating from hunger) She wakes up on the tracks again, it's raining again. Using all of her strength, she stands up, plodding on to nowhere. The day passes and the terrain turns to a desert, even less chance at something edible. As nighttime nears and the cold wind blows once again, Trixie suddenly stumbles over the next railroad tie, unable to lift her hoof high enough to get over it. She falls forwards, hitting her face off the gravel, scraping her front knees to bleeding. All she can do is cry, lying in the mud. She spends the rest of the evening laying there, cold, staving, covered in mud and dirt. She finally just rolls off the tracks onto her side. "Well Trixie... I guess this is it. Heh. I almost half expected this from the get-go... sad really. Pretty pathetic." she says out loud to herself in a weak voice. She chuckles to herself for a moment, but the laughter quickly turns into tears. After a few moments, she passes out.
Chapter 2Her eyes crack open. White. Everything. "Am I dead?" she thought to herself. Slowly her eyes came into focus. " Light. That's what the white is. Light. A light. A lamp. A lamp? Where am I?” was all she could muster to think. Then it hits her. She's in a bed in a small room. She's clean, and warm, but still so weak. All she can do is lift her head. There's some medical equipment next to her bed. Was it a hospital? No, too small. A doctor's office? Yes, that's it. She sat up in the bed, bringing a hoof up to rub her eyes. Something stung in her leg as she lifted it. A needle. An IV to be more exact. She just sat there, thinking in disbelief. She had given up everything, yet here she is, in a doctor's office, getting apparent treatment. All she could do is sit there, trying to remember anything about how she got here. The last thing she can remember is giving up and falling asleep in the cold desert after finally accepting her end. She is in shock, dumbfounded as to why anypony would want to help her... Suddenly the door to her room opened and a little cart with what looked like minor medical supplies rolled in, followed by a mare nurse with a dark yellow coat and pink mane. Trixie froze. She had no idea what to say, what to do, how to react. The nurse finally looked up from the cart and saw Trixie, wide awake. The nurse gasped and immediately turned around, running down the hall yelling "Doctor! Doctor!". Trixie sat motionless in bed, unsure of what just happened. She started to shake nervously. "Why did she run away? Does she hate me? Why does she need a doctor? Is something wrong with me? What's going on?!" Her own thoughts became more and more frantic as she found herself kicking her hind legs along the bed, sliding herself back against the head of the bed. She could here hooves coming down the hallway, only making her more nervous. The same nurse and what looked like a doctor walked in. Her had a simple brown coat and gray mane and wore a white jacket. The nurse had a different cart with her, this once carrying gauze and cotton balls, but what caught Trixie's eye were the few vials and a few rather large needles lying next to them. Trixie froze up once again at the sight, scared to the point that she was visibly shaking, though the doctor didn't seem to notice. "Good morning, Miss Jane Doe! It appears you have finally woken up from your long slumber. Napping on the side of the train tracks, were we? You really should bring a lot more trail rations with you if you are going to be walking for what appears to be days, especially if you go through what looks like a giant mud pit. Now care to tell me what happened?" the doctor said, in an overly lighthearted tone. Trixie just sat there, her eyes still locked on the table, almost drowning out the doctor's question. She looked up at him for just a second then back at the table. "Wh- what's going on? Why do they need all that? I don't understand... who are these ponies?" she thought to herself, still inching back on the bed, moving to a corner far away from the doctor. "Now now, no need to be scared little unicorn." the nurse said after catching Trixie staring at the cart of medical utensils. "We just need a little blood to see if you got sick out there in the mud! And the needle is just a lit-" The nurse didn't have time to finish her statement before watching Trixie push herself up so far on the head of the bed that she fell off the corner, slamming onto the ground, her head clanging against the side of the end table. The IV stand was on the opposite side of the bed from her fell, causing the needle to pull in her leg, ripping the needle out nearly sideways and causing the stand to crash to the ground. Trixie's vision blurred after hitting her head so hard, but after a quick moment it came back to her. She looked at her leg where the IV needle had been, feeling an incredible amount of coming from it and saw blood pouring down the side of it. She started to panic but paused for a second as she felt something dripping on her head. She moved her hoof to her head where she could feel something and then looked at her hoof. Blood. Lots of blood. She could feel it on her cheek now, then dripping to the floor. She fall into a true panic now, kicking her hooves rapidly, pushing herself back against the bed, pushing it back, slamming it into the cart the nurse had brought in with her, knocking some of the vials off onto the floor, shattering them. "Hold on, Miss! Stop!" the doctor said, moving towards Trixie as she flailed on the ground. He put a hoof on her shoulder to try and get her to stop, but she smacked it away, nearly knocking him off his hooves. "Ah! Miss! Calm down now!" he said almost yelling at her, as frustration with the situation quickly set in. His angry tone only frightened the bleeding Trixie even more, making her push the bed out of the way to try and put distance between her and the doctor. "Help me! No! Please! Make it stop!" was the only thing racing through Trixie's clouded mind. "Nurse, go get help!" the doctor said to her as she nodded and galloped out the door. "Miss, you have to calm down! We are trying to help you and you are making this very difficult!" He shouted again. In a moment, the nurse came back with two other nurses, but they were big colts. One of them brought in a rolling bed with straps on it. The older doctor backed off, letting the two big colts move in to subdue the frightened mare. One grabbed her from behind, the other holding her hooves down against the ground. All Trixie could do was move her head. She was weak from her travel and from the blood pouring from her open wounds on her head and leg; she could hardly fight back against the colts twice her size. She started to cry openly, tears mixing with the blood on her face. The doctor came over with the needle and one of the unbroken vials. "We just need some blood for some tests, Miss! If you would just-" "Now hold on just a moment there, Doctor Hoof Pick!" the doctor was cut off. Everypony in the room except for Trixie looked at the door. A red maned mare stood in the doorway, her cutie mark was a pair of cherries with a single green leaf. "Doctor! I'm appalled at what I am seeing! I don't donate a good portion of the plantations earnings to this medical facility for you to rough up pretty little mares!" she said with an angry tone in her voice. "But Miss Jubilee, the mare is in shock and panicked! We needed to restrain her so that we-" "Absolutely not! I won't have you treat anyone like this in this facility if you wish to keep your funding! Now take your staff and get out of this room. I will personally take care of this without the need for physical restraints!" Miss Jubilee said with a stern tone, cutting off the doctor. All he did was give a long sigh of frustration before nodding to the nurses and leading them out of the room.
Chapter 3Miss Jubilee closed the door behind them, locking it to make sure no other staff felt the need to butt in. She turned around to face Trixie who was still on the floor, curled up in a ball, sobbing silently to herself. Her bleeding had greatly slowed by this point. Miss Jubilee slowly walked over to Trixie, whom didn't even look up to acknowledge her. Miss Jubilee gave a soft smile, sitting down on the floor close to Trixie, then lowering her head next to the crying mare's, resting it on her own front hooves. "Hello there, little one. My name is Cherry Jubilee; you can just call me Cherry. What's yours?" Cherry said softly with a smile. Trixie made no motion towards her, and produced no sound aside from hiccups and the occasional sniff. She had stopped crying out loud, but tears were still flowing down her cheeks. She was lost, alone, hurt, surrounded by ponies she didn't know who were doing things she was to shocked and sick to understand. Cherry's expression changed from a smile to that of genuine concern. She lifted a hoof and placed it on Trixie's back, gently stroking down her coat, trying to calm the unicorn. "There there, sweetheart. The doctor was only trying to help you, even if he was going about it the wrong way. But he's gone now. It's just little ol' me and I don't have any needles or and restraints. I just want to talk to you. Is that OK?" Cherry's mouth slowly converted into a smile as she softly spoke to Trixie. Trixie still had no reaction to Cherry's words, but was visibly shaking in fear from Cherry's touch. Cherry let out a small sigh, seeing she wasn't getting through to the unicorn. She saw the blood on Trixie's face and leg and frowned. "Poor poor dear. Let's clean you up, shall we?" Cherry picked up a clean cloth from the table and began to lightly dab it on Trixie's leg. Trixie initially pulled herself back, but slowly relaxed as it wasn't hurting her. Trixie kept her head down on the floor and her eyes closed as Cherry cleaned her up and bandaged her head and leg. Trixie was still shaking; tears were still running down her cheeks even now. Cherry frowned; saddened that she couldn't get through to the shivering unicorn. She shook her head and grabbed the blanket off the bed and laid on her side against Trixie and threw the blanked over both of them. She wrapped her front legs around Trixie and hugged her close. "There there, sweetheart. Everything's going to be OK. Cherry is going to take good care of you, little mare." Cherry had her eyes closed, her head pressed against the top of Trixie's as she ran her hoof up and down her back. Even Cherry had a few tears running down her cheeks, moved by the pity she felt for the little blue unicorn. Trixie's eyes shot open, she was poised to get up and run as yet another pony she didn't know grabbed her. But she froze in place. This was different than before. Trixie's racing mind began to slow down as Cherry embraced her. "Wh- Who is this? Why is she doing all this for me? No one has ever hugged me before... not even mother. Is this what it feels like? She's... warm.. and soft. And gentle..." Trixie started to openly cry once again. She moved just enough to get her own hooves around Cherry Jubilee and hug her in return. Cherry opened her eyes and smiled, wiping one of her own tears away. "Shhhh... it’s OK little unicorn. You are safe now. Cherry Jubilee is going to take you home, and give you a nice meal, and a warm bed to sleep in." she said softly to Trixie, holding back more of her own tears. She went to move, but Trixie increased the grip of her hug on Cherry and held on. The red haired mare stopped and smiled, laying back down again with Trixie and just held here there for a while, listening to the poor unicorn cry in her arms under the blanket. After a short while, Trixie finally calmed down to the point where Cherry felt it was OK to move. Slowly Cherry let go of Trixie and stood up, but Trixie remained on the floor. Cherry slowly lifted back the blanket and leaned down, nuzzling against the top of Trixie's head. Trixie whimpered a little bit before lifting her head, looking up at Cherry with her crying eyes. "We don't have to stay here, little unicorn. We can go back to my house and give you a warm bath and a hot meal? How does that sound?" Cherry said, giving Trixie a warm smile. "I don't understand why... but.. I just want to go with her. I have no idea who she is or why she's being so kind to me, but... no one has ever been kind to me like this before. If she finds out who I really am though... she'll hate me like everyone else... I'll just... forget about my past... forever. Not that there was anything good in it that I'd want to hold on to." Trixie thought to herself before slowly standing up, wobbling a bit. She realized she was still so very hungry. Cherry moved to her side, letting the unicorn lean against her as they walked out of the patient room. The doctor stood outside. "Well Miss Jubilee, can we do our jobs now?" the doctor asked, with a bit of a sarcastic tone. "Your job with this unicorn is done. I'll be taking her with me." Cherry Jubilee said in forceful reply. She and Trixie kept walking, passing the doctor and the nurse. "But she needs further tests! She could be sick! We at least need a blood sample!" the doctor insisted, following them down the hallway as they approached the exit. Trixie was starting to shake in fear again as she leaned against Cherry, seeing the two large colt nurses behind the doctor. "Doctor Hoof Pick!" Cherry Jubilee nearly yelled, coming to a stop in front of the exit door. "If there is a problem, you will be the first to know, and if you need a blood sample you can get it off of the floor of the patient's room due to your carelessness. Now if you excuse me, Doctor, I will be taking this mare home with me to give her the care and kindness she needs. Something they obviously didn't teach you in Manehatten Medical Academy! Good day!" And with that, Cherry kicked open the front door and walked out, the shivering Trixie walking against her side with her head down, starting to tear up again at the sound of the confrontation. The Doctor simply shook his head and closed the door.
Chapter 4Cherry Jubilee and Trixie made their way to the edge of the town, Trixie leaning against Cherry Jubilee the entire time. She kept her head down, not looking around the town at all. Cherry was looking at Trixie nearly as much as she was watching where she was walking. Once again, Cherry tried to make some sort of conversation with the unicorn. "Sweetheart, I just need to know a little more about you if I'm going to be able to help you a little bit. I do hope you understand. We can start off with a simple question. Maybe just what your name is." Cherry said, her eyes looking down and to her side at the top of Trixie's down-turned head. Still no reaction from Trixie. Cherry was slowly beginning to lose hope. "Maybe she's a mute? But she was crying out loud before... I don't quite understand... I wish I did." Cherry thought to herself, giving a sigh. "I... I just can't tell her.. if she knew who I was... she'd... she'd hate me like all the other ponies... I don't want her to hate me.. not the first pony to ever give me a hug... to show me kindness..." Trixie thought to herself, feeling tears form in her eyes. They continued their walk through the streets of the dusty town, cherry began to just talk to Trixie, maybe provoking some sort of reaction. "Well, my little blue unicorn, I can at least tell you about myself. As I said before, my name is Cherry Jubilee, but you can call me Cherry. I am the proprietor of the Cherry Plantation outside of town by the oasis. Speaking of that, this little town is called Dodge Station. We are but a small community built on the hub of two rail road crossings. Not many ponies live here, but plenty travel through! We have just the basics; the medical center where you were, the general store, saloon, and a few other specialty shops, including a doll maker. Mrs. Spool does a fine job making custom dolls. I got one for my little sister for her birth-" Cherry suddenly stopped as she felt Trixie stop moving with her. Trixie had had her head up and was looking at Cherry ever since she mentioned the doll shop. "Dolls... I had a doll when I was little.. the only toy mother ever let me have.... why am I thinking about this? That doll I had... was the only thing I could hug... like Cherry. She hugged me too..." Trixie thought to herself. Then she shook her head and lowered it again, trying to get the thoughts out of her head. Those old memories need to be eliminated. She just needs to become somepony else, just vanish off of Equestria. At least she felt like she needed too. Cherry was still staring intently at Trixie, trying to figure out what cause Trixie to react. "What's wrong, sweetie? Did something catch your attention? Did I mention something? I mentioned the doll shop last. We are going to pass it on the way back towards the plantation if you'd like to look in the window. I know you must still be hungry." Cherry said with a bit of renewed hope. Trixie gave somewhat of a partial nod and leaned back against Cherry. Both ponies continued to walk down the street until they came to the big front window of the doll shop. "Go ahead and take a look dear. We can always come back another time if you aren't up to it." Cherry said with a smile, taking a look in the window herself. There were small dolls, wooden dolls, plushies, and life-size dolls of all kinds. Ponies, dogs, birds, and every animal in between. In one half of the front window was a special display. The doll maker was working on recreating all of the ponies that were featured on the stained glass windows of the royal palace. There were pictures of the windows displayed and above them various sized dolls of each of the ponies. There were life sizes replications of both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. There was a wooden doll of Discord and Nightmare Moon as well. There were a few other dolls, Starswirl the Bearded, somepony she didn't recognize and then a life-size plushie of Rarity. Wait... Rarity? "Wh- what is this? Why is she here!? She hates me! I was mean to her! No! I'm sorry!" Trixie suddenly backed away from the window, stumbling and falling onto her flank. Cherry rushed over and leaned down. "Oh my! What's wrong, little one?" Cherry said, putting a hood on the fallen unicorn's back. Trixie could feel tears welling up, but then something caught her eye... It was an illustration of a stained glass window on display in the corner of the doll shop window. She slowly stood up and moved towards the glass, Cherry simply watching with a confused look on her face. There were six ponies using the Elements of Harmony on this particular picture and she recognized every one of them. "I remember them... from Ponyville and.. her..." Trixie looked at the little image of Twilight Sparkle on the picture of the stained glass window. "She must be one hundred times more magical than me... Princess Celestia entrusted her with the Elements of Harmony after all... How could I ever think I was the most magical... I'd... love to meet her, somehow." Trixie thought to herself before shaking the thoughts out of her head. She looked past the image in the window as she started to move further down the street but stopped dead in her tracks, making Cherry come to a screeching halt right next to her. "What's wrong dear, you can tell me." Cherry pleaded. There, in the window, was a life-sized plushy of Twilight Sparkle. Trixie slowly lifted her head and looked into the dolls eyes. Her face flushed red and she began to shake, feeling scared all of a sudden. She tilted her head down, looking like she was embarrassed. Then she slowly opened her mouth: "...Hi, Tw-Twilight..." Cherry Jubilee stopped dead in her tracks. She stared at Trixie, whom slowly turned her head downwards, and her cheeks flushed red. Trixie started to mouth more words towards the doll shop window, but her voice got so quiet Cherry couldn't even hear her. She took one step towards the unicorn, close enough to see tears forming in Trixie's eyes. Trixie suddenly turned away from the doll shop and started to try and run, not getting far before her weak legs gave out on her and she came crashing to the ground on her chin. She lay in the dust of the road just crying, not even attempting to get back up. Cherry quickly ran over to her, kneeling down with her and trying to lift her up a bit off the dirt. "Oh gosh! What's wrong, sweetheart? What did you-"Cherry was cut off as she heard something coming from Trixie between her sobs. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Twilight..." Cherry nearly burst into tears herself. "What happened, sweetheart? You can tell me... please. Was it that doll?" Cherry pleaded once again, looking back and forth between Trixie and the purple plushy in the front window of the shop, holding back her own tears as best she could but losing the battle. She could feel them running down her own cheeks and did the only thing she knew worked on this pitiful unicorn; she quickly leaned forwards and wrapped her front legs around Trixie, hugging her tightly, managing to hold back any audible parts of her crying. Trixie slowly calmed down enough for Cherry to once again coax her to her feet and lead her home. But not before Cherry had one last good look over her shoulder at that doll...
Chapter 5Slowly the pair made their way back to the Cherry Plantation. Cherry Jubilee had a grave look of concern on her face the entire time. They stopped at the steps at the porch on the front of the plantation farm house; Trixie was wobbling so much she could hardly lift her legs to get up the stairs. Cherry looked around quickly as if looking for someone, and then grimaced, apparently unable to find whatever it was. Slowly Cherry helped Trixie down to the ground so she could rest at the bottom of the stairs. Trixie watched as Miss Jubilee galloped off towards a barn just down the hill, only to return a few moments later with another mare who was wearing an apron and hairnet. "Little unicorn," Cherry said to Trixie "this is Abby Gale, she works here on the plantation as a cherry sorter. She's an incredibly nice pony, so you don't need to be afraid, ok?" Trixie looked up from the ground and looked at Abby Gale. She was an older pegasus mare with a cream coat and a graying purple mane and tail with a cutie mark that looked like a wispy cloud. She leaned down towards Trixie with a big smile on her face and spoke with a very upbeat tone of voice. "Well hey there! You must be the unicorn they found out in the desert! Such an adorable mare all by herself! I won't ask ya how ya'all got out there, but I'm glad yerr here! Miss Cherry here says yerr a good pony an' that's all that matters ta me! Welcome to the Cherry Plantation!" Trixie was a little scared at the pegasus’s boisterous tone and it seemed like she was going to be talking forever, but Cherry Jubilee put a hood on her back. "That's enough Abby, let’s get her inside, and then go and start dinner for us. Make an extra-large helping for our new guest." Abby nodded and then both mares helped Trixie to her feet and up the stairs. The house had looked huge on the outside, and the inside matched. It was an old home, but beautiful non-the-less with a neat and tidy Victorian layout. Abby ran off to the kitchen to prepare dinner while Cherry lead Trixie to a large, red-velvet couch, letting her lay down on it. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you need too, sweetheart. We'll find someone from your family to come and get you so you can get back home. But to do that I need you to tell me where you are from, what pony I can contact. ... Can I at least get your name?" Cherry sat down on the end of the couch next to Trixie, putting a hoof out on the unicorn's back. Trixie just closed her eyes and laid there. Cherry shook her head, seemingly frustrated with the situation. "Maybe after dinner..." Just then another pony walked into the room prompting Cherry to stand up and move over to her. The earth pony had a brown coat and a dark brown mane and tail and was wearing what appeared to be a modest maid outfit. She had a feather duster in her teeth and a cutie mark that looked like a single feather from that very duster. Cherry Jubilee spoke to the younger mare for a few moments before both of them walked over. The unknown mare leaned her head down and gave a very warm smile. "Hello little unicorn. My name is Plume. I'm the housekeeper here at the Cherry Plantation. Welcome to our humble home. If there's something you need around the house, I'm the mare to call." she gave a small giggle and stood back up. Her voice was calm, almost soothing to Trixie's tired ears prompting her to give just a slight smile. Maybe being here wouldn't be so bad. She nodded to Cherry Jubilee and made her way to into the kitchen looking like she was going to help finish dinner. Cherry Jubilee sighed and sat back down on the end of the couch next to Trixie. "Abby and Plume have been working for me for many years, little one. I trust and love them very much so there's no need to be afraid around them. If I am not around and you need something, find one of them- Oh! Dinner is ready! I'll bring you some, little one, we'll eat together here." Cherry Jubilee stood up and walked into the kitchen. Trixie could hear the three mares speaking in the kitchen to one another. After a few moments, all three made their way out, Plume pushing a small cart full of food. Abby Gale picked up a plate filled with food and sat it down in front of Trixie on the couch. "'ere ya go, hun! Eat up! There’s more where that came from!" she said before picking up a few more plates and serving Plume and Cherry Jubilee. Cherry, however, put a hoof up and shook her head. "I need to run an errand first. Plume, please take care of Miss Unicorn while I am gone. After dinner, prepare a bath for her." She then promptly stood up and made her way out the front door. The food was good. Trixie had not eaten in days, but it still took a lot of coaxing from Abby to get her to eat a bit. Dinner seemed long and drawn out, listening to the two talk about simple events around the plantation, Abby's husband who apparently works out in the orchard, Plume complaining about being single, and various questions directed at Trixie that received no reaction. When she had finally finished her meal, Abby Gale took all the plates to the kitchen to clean up. Plume, now alone with Trixie, came over to hear and leaned down close. Plume seemed to understand that something had happened to the poor blue unicorn; as for what, she did not know. Plume reminded Trixie of Cherry Jubilee's instructions about a bath, a sentence that finally prompted a reaction from Trixie, making her stand up and follow the housekeeper up a flight of stairs to a large bathroom. She didn't need help up the stairs this time, the meal already giving her quite a bit of her strength back. The cherry tarts and jams, among other things, were quite delectable. Once inside the bathroom, Plume prepped the bath for Trixie, showing her where the soap was and a fresh towel, before leaving her to some privacy. Trixie looked into the rather large bath, seeing her own reflection in the calm bathwater. It only made her more depressed seeing what she had become. While she had been cleaned up at the hospital a bit, it wasn't the full scrubbing she needed after sleeping in the mud outside for nights in a row. The bandage still wrapped around her head only made her feel worse as she remembered her stint in the hospital; looking down, seeing the other bandage on her leg as well. She used her teeth to take the bandage off of her leg. The cut was closed but still sore. Then she reached up with her hooves to take off the bandage on her head. She wasn't used to doing anything as mundane as undoing a bandage wrap with her hooves, this was the sort of thing that could be done with some simple levitation magic. She became more frustrated, unable to undo the little metal clasp holding the bandage on. Try as she might it wasn't coming off, and she refused to use her magic anymore. She didn't believe she could even do something so simple with her magic anymore, anyway. She could feel tears dripping down her cheeks as the frustration overtook her, and then she began to audibly cry. Plume, who was just outside the door to the bathroom, heard the cries from within and quickly opened the door. She saw Trixie there fumbling with the bandage and, upon seeing her horn once again, understood her frustration. She walked over to Trixie, putting a hoof gently on her back, making Trixie turn her head towards the housekeeper. "Let me help you, Miss Unicorn." Plume said, reaching a hoof up and undoing the clasp, removing the bandage. Trixie just stared at Plume. How could it be that simple? Plume only stared back at Trixie, looking into the poor unicorns tired, bloodshot eyes. Plume's loving smile slowly turned into a frown of concern. Plume's own eyes had tears welling up just seeing how pitiful the unicorn was. Plume quickly leaned forwards, wrapping her forelegs around Trixie, pulling her into a tight hug. "Don't feel alone, okay? We're here for you." Trixie was shocked at the sudden hug, but didn't try and pull away. Though Plume couldn't see it, a small smile stretched across Trixie's lips. She felt better now and finished her bath with Plume sitting on the floor next to the tub. After the bath, Trixie was drying off in the bathroom with the help of Plume. Suddenly the door cracked open and Cherry Jubilee's head poked in, a smile on her face. "I do hope you enjoyed your bath, Miss Unicorn. Plume, your duties are done for today, get some rest." Plume nodded at Cherry and gave a small smile and wave to Trixie before taking her leave. "If you'd follow me, Miss Unicorn, I'll show you too the guest room where you'll be staying." Trixie nodded, following Cherry Jubilee down the hallway. Cherry opened the door of a room at the end of the hall. "Here you are. My room is just down the hall if you need something. Just knock." Trixie poked her head into the guest room. It was small, but well furnished. There was a table with two chairs, a window overlooking the orchard, a twin-sized bed, and a- ... !!! Trixie suddenly froze in place. At the foot of the bed was a familiar doll... Twilight Sparkle.
Chapter 6“This is the guest bedroom, Miss Unicorn. You have all the necessary commodities, as well as-” Cherry Jubilee was cut off by a faint voice. “We’ll be… sharing a room?” a trembling Trixie just managed to say. She had pulled back a bit and was only peeking into the room from around the door jam. Cherry Jubilee looked down at Trixie, a bit shocked to hear the unicorn speak. She fumbled with her words trying to form a response. “Er, well, no, sweetheart. I have my own bedro-” “I don’t mind… but… don’t you and your friends hate me?” Trixie said in the same muffled tone, her head lowered as she took a step into the bedroom, but her eyes were still looking in the direction of the foot of the bed. Cherry Jubilee was cut off again from the combination of Trixie speaking and her own disbelief. “Well, no Miss Unicorn… I…” Cherry Jubilee cut herself off as she watched Trixie walk up to the doll she had just purchased for her new guest an hour ago. She finally realized it. The lost unicorn was talking to the doll just as she spoke to the doll in the window back in town. Cherry Jubilee was at a loss. She could only watch the little blue unicorn as she sat down on the floor in front of the doll. Cherry gave a deep sigh of frustration and pity and backed out of the room, closing the door. She stood in the hallway outside of Trixie’s room just listening with an ear to the door: “I’m… really sorry Twilight. About Ponyville; and I don’t expect you or your friends to forgive me or anything…” “…” “No… it won’t. I… I gave up magic. I can’t do it, anyway. You are the ‘most magical unicorn in all of Equestria’, not me. Even your cutie mark is all about magic.” “…” “No, it’s just a wand… I can do pathetic parlor tricks; no real serious magic, like you. All the years I spent studying alone without a single friend, and I got nothing.” “…” “I was… locked away. I failed Magic Kindergarten I was so bad. Dad was a deadbeat earth pony. Mom was a famous unicorn magician years back in Canterlot. She wouldn’t have her child be the laughing stock of the city. She wouldn’t let anyone know I was only half unicorn. ‘Impure’. She locked me away most of my foalhood to study magic alone. If she saw me like this…” “…” “No… I… I don’t want to talk about it, anymore. I’m sorry Twilight.” “…” “I know…” At this point, Cherry Jubilee was slumped on the floor, her ear still against the door. She could only assume that the long pauses between the few words Trixie was saying were the doll ‘talking’ back to her. As the conversation continued, it was apparent that Trixie was crying as she spoke. “I know! I was wrong. I was stupid. I don’t know how to deal with other ponies… please… I’m sorry…” “…” “I ended up here… I… I just want to start over. Please, Twilight, I beg you, I’ll do anything… just don’t tell Miss Cherry about my past… I want to erase it…” “…” “I… I know it will... *sniff* I know…” “……” Trixie was audibly crying now, but the sound of the bed rustling could be heard. Cherry Jubilee stood up, briefly pondering the thought of going into the bedroom to comfort the little blue unicorn, but stopped herself. “What happened in Ponyville? Who is this unicorn? I really wish I could understand what was going on…” Cherry thought to herself. She spent a few moments trying to puzzle this whole situation together in her head. She paused again, putting her head back against the door to listen. There was no sound. She slowly opened the door and peeked inside. To her surprise, the doll was neatly tucked into the bed, but, the little blue unicorn was nowhere to be found. Taking a few steps into the room, Cherry let out a sigh of relief, seeing Trixie lying on the floor, curled up in a ball, asleep. Cherry’s faced curled from worry to motherly concern seeing the pitiful pony balled up on the floor. She leaned her head down and pulled the blanket off the bed and covered Trixie in it, then tip-hoofed out of the room, looking back one last time at the sleeping unicorn. She smiled and gave a whisper: “Whatever may have happened in your past, know that you have a family here now, and into the future, little unicorn…” Trixie’s eyes slowly opened as the rooster somewhere outside crowed. The morning sun was coming in through the window illuminating the room. Trixie yawned and looked around from her position on the floor, but stopped as her eyes met the blanketless bed. She looked down, noticing she was wrapped up in it. She looked up at the bed once again; ‘Twilight’ was lying on her side facing Trixie with the same stitched grin. “Did you… give me your blanket? Th-thank you, Twilight…” Trixie said as she turned her head down as she could feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I… I really thought you hated me… but… Thank you.” Trixie looked back up at the doll. “…” “Oh, sure… I think I could do that. I’ll be back shortly.” Trixie stood up and stretched, her legs were sore from sleeping on the wooden floor. She made her way to the bedroom door and looked at the doorknob. She brought her hooves up and fumbled a bit trying to open it, but managed. She left it open just a crack so she wouldn’t have to do that again when she came back. Trixie looked down the hallway, but didn’t see anypony. She made her way down the stairs and to the kitchen and peeked inside. Plume was standing by a stove, working on what smelled like breakfast. Plume turned her head and saw Trixie out of the corner of her eye. “Good morning, Miss Unicorn. I do hope you slept well.” Plume said in a quiet voice, almost as if she didn’t want to scare the skittish unicorn away. “Breakfast will be ready shortly. Is there anything I could get you in the meantime?” “Tea, please.” Trixie said, nearly inaudible, not even looking at the housekeeper. Plume had to catch her bearings hearing that little voice for the first time. She smiled as bright as the sun as she made a cup of tea for the little blue unicorn, hoping that the house guest was actually getting out of the miserable funk she was in yesterday. After pouring the hot cup of tea for Trixie, Plume set the cup on the kitchen table in front of Trixie, then turned back to the stove. Trixie looked at the cup with a stern, yet puzzled look on her face. She had never really lifted a hot cup of tea, or anything for that matter, with her teeth or hooves before. Earth Ponies and Pegasi may be used to it having done it all their lived, but she had never had to thanks to the simplest of levitation spells. She leaned her head out and turned it sideways, biting the handle on the tea cup and lifting it up off the table. Plume, in the meantime, had begun to watch Trixie out of the corner of her eye, trying to figure out why she was using her mouth. Trixie took a step back from the table and turned to exit the kitchen, but her head wasn’t tilted enough and some of the hot tea spilled out onto her foreleg. She flinched as the hot tea burned her, pulling her leg back and losing her balance and falling onto her side. The teacup dropped from her mouth and shattered on the kitchen floor. Trixie looked at the mix of spilled tea and shattered porcelain on the floor and could already feel her eyes welling up with tears from yet another failure. Plume dropped her utensil on the stove and rushed over, tossing a towel onto the spill in the process. She quickly leaned down and comforted Trixie. “Oh dear! It’s ok Miss Unicorn! It’s ok! We have plenty more cups where that came from!” Trixie stood back up and tried to help Plume clean up the mess, but only felt like she was getting in the way. After it was cleaned up, Plume brewed up another cup of tea for Trixie without even asking if she’d care for another. She placed it back on the table for her, but instead of going back to the stove, she turned to Trixie with a question. “Why not just use magic?” Trixie’s face was nothing but shock at the question. Plume’s face nearly matched in reaction. She thought it was just a simple innocent question, but she apparently hit a nerve. Trixie was once again staring at the floor, looking as if she was going to cry once again. “Oh, Miss Unicorn, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything. Here. Try this.” Plume said, pulling out a saucer and putting the teacup on it. She lifted the saucer with her teeth and moved it from the table to the countertop, almost in demonstration. “That should make it much easier for you to lift. Be careful!” she said with a smile. The faintest of smiles came across Trixie’s mouth as she nodded and lifted the saucer up with her teeth. It was much easier to lift this way as Trixie made her way very carefully up the stairs and towards the guestroom. Cherry Jubilee opened her bedroom door to start the day, giving a stretch. But her usual smile quickly revered as she saw Trixie walking down the hall with a cup of tea. She trailed Trixie down to the guest room and watched her make her way inside. Cherry moved up to the doorway and peeked inside the crack of the unclosed door. Trixie had placed the teacup down on the small table in the room and had turned towards the bed. “I got your tea, Twilight, just like you asked. Sorry it took so long…” “…” “It’s sasafrass. At least that’s what the jar said. And you’re welcome.” Suddenly the doll sat upright on the bed, then made its way over to the table and sat down in the chair. Cherry noticed a glow coming from the doll at the same time, matching that of the glow on Trixie’s horn. Cherry took a deep breath, preparing herself to go into the room in the hopes she wouldn’t cause… something… “She levitated the doll, but not the teacup? Oh Celestia… please help me… I hope I know what I’m doing…” And with that she pushed the door open
Chapter 7Cherry Jubilee took a few steps into the room. Trixie was shocked at the sudden intrusion into her private conversation. She stood there, stunned, speechless. Trixie looked back at the doll, then back at Cherry as if looking for some sort of reassurance, or assistance. Cherry finally broke the few moments of awkward silence. “Miss Unicorn, I have decided that I am going to allow you to stay here with me and my family for as long as you need to, as I have not been able to contact any relative or friend of yours, nor have I received any similar efforts from them. It could simply be because you have not given me any information. However, I do not like freeloaders, so I’m going to give you a job, here on the plantation.” Cherry’s voice was very stern, her head was held high as she spoke. She looked down at the now somewhat cowering Trixie’s head. Suddenly her tone changed to the much softer and gentler version Trixie had first heard in the hospital. Cherry leaned in close and placed a hoof under Trixie’s chin and lifted her up. “You would be helping me out a great deal, and I do want to have you here as family. Would that be ok? The job is an easy one, and you will get to work with Abby Gale as well.” Cherry nodded, giving Trixie a loving smile. Trixie’s frown had slowly bent into a small smile. She was finally being accepted somewhere. Someone nice was finally caring for her. Trixie slowly nodded her head, agreeing to Cherry Jubilee’s plan for putting her to work. Cherry smiled and clapped her front hooves together. “Oh that is quite wonderful, my dear. I’m sure you will love it here! But tell me, dear. Please. At least tell me your name. I won’t ask you any more questions if you don’t want.” There was another long, awkward pause. Trixie’s frown quickly returned to her face. She had no idea what to do. Should she tell Cherry her real name? What if just using that she could figure out who she really is? … or was… Trixie suddenly looked at the doll of Twilight sitting at the small table. The full cup of tea sitting in front of it was now cold. There was another pause. Suddenly, Trixie spoke in the direction of the doll. “But I can’t…” “…” “I don’t want to go back to that… I don’t even want to be her anymore. She should have died in the desert.” Cherry was flabbergasted by the sudden conversation the little unicorn was seemingly having with the doll. She wanted to ask so many questions to Trixie, but she couldn’t. She knew she wouldn’t get an answer. But most of all bringing up this little blue mare’s past seemed to be a subject that ‘sore’ simply wasn’t enough to describe. Trixie was still facing the Twilight doll, but her eyes were starting to tear up. Cherry Jubilee was moved; the same feeling she had when she first saw the pitiful little unicorn crying on the hospital floor. She suddenly reared up and wrapped her front hooves around Trixie and hugged her tightly, nearly shedding tears herself. “Alright, sweetheart. No more questions. I promise. Whatever happened in the past will stay there. I promise. No one here is going to ask about it. You are part of the family now.” She said, still hugging the little blue unicorn tightly. “Thank you… Miss Jubilee.” A small, soft voice came from Trixie, prompting Cherry to pull back from the hug, and look into Trixie’s face. Cherry’s tears immediately dried up and a smile spread across her face. “I think… yes. I am going to call you that. After all, you need a name. Sweet Heart. Is that ok?” Cherry said nearly starting to tear up again. Trixie paused for a moment. Sweet? She didn’t think she was sweet… she looked back at the doll of Twilight and lifted an ear, as if listening to the doll. After a moment, she turned her head back to Cherry and smiled. “Yes… Twilight says it is ok…” Cherry took a moment of pause before nodding her head. She led Trixie out the bedroom door. “Well then, let’s take you down to the barn so you can see what you’ll be doing here on the plantation. Abby Gale should be down there now.” She said with a smile. When Trixie was out of the room, and a few steps down the hall, Cherry turned back to close the bedroom door. She paused a moment, looking inside the room. “That doll… I still hope I am doing the right thing…” Cherry led Trixie out of the house and down the hill to the largest barn on the plantation. As they approached the barn the sound of squeaky wooden wheels and gears could be heard inside, along with the familiar, boisterous voice of Abby Gale. However, Trixie didn’t recognize a second voice; that of an older male pony. They walked up to the large door at the front of the barn and Cherry slid it open. “Hello Abby, Dusty. How are things going today?” Cherry said with a very cheerful tone. The sound of wheels and gears suddenly stopped as the large wheel on the side of the barn stopped turning. An elderly looking gray pegasus stepped out of the large wheel and made his way over to Cherry. He had what looked like a small puff of dust or smoke for his cutie mark. “Well, hello there Miss Cherry! Things a goin’ jus’ fine!” he said with a big smile. “Wheel’s gettin’ a bit tough on these ol’ legs!” Suddenly he stepped to the side, a small shove had moved him out of the way as Abby Gale stepped up to Cherry. “Dusty, yuh bin sayin’ that’s fer years, now.” She turned back to Cherry, but quickly turned her head down towards Trixie. “Oh hello there, little miss unicorn! It’s good ta see ya out ‘n about! Don’t mind my husband, Dusty, he likes to complain.” The older couple laughed and Cherry laughed along with them. Trixie felt a smile stretch across her lips, but aimed her head down at the floor a bit. Cherry Jubilee kept her smile, but suddenly changed the topic. “Well I am glad you two are doing well today. This is Sweet Heart.” She said, motioning towards Trixie. It took a moment, but Trixie remembered that that was the new name she was taking, with Twilight’s permission, of course. Not just a name, but a new life. Trixie looked up and gave a soft smile towards Abby. “Sweet Heart, you know Abby already; this is her husband, Dusty Gale. You’ll be working with them for today, ok? And don’t worry if you make a mistake; I’d have to say that these two ponies are the kindest in all of Equestria!” Cherry laughed, as did Dusty. Abby just smiled and shook her head, then turned towards Trixie. “Well, Sweet Heart, you’ll have a lotta’ fun here with me and ol’ dusty here-” Dusty cut her off. “If ya like listen’ to two ol’ feed bags complain ‘bout everythin’!” He laughed again, as did Cherry, but Abby wasn’t amused, giving him another small shove. Cherry took a step out of the barn. She turned back and lowered her head to look eye to eye with Trixie. “Now don’t worry one bit, ok? I’m going to be right up in the house if you need me. Are you going to be ok, Sweet Heart?” Cherry said, that soft, loving tone returning to her voice as she placed the side of her hoof on Trixie’s cheek. Trixie gave a small nod and an equally small smile. Cherry stood up and smiled, looking back towards the Gales. “Take good care of here. Call me if you need anything.” And with that Cherry made way back up towards the house. “Well, Sweet Heart! You’ll have a lotta’ fun here. Really. The work’s simple an’ the food is great! At least for us ‘ere in the barn!” Abby laughed, leading Trixie over towards a rack containing several aprons and a shelf of mane-nets. “’ere ya are, Sweet Heart, gotta put one a deez on first.” Abby threw an apron around Trixie’s neck, leaving it untied over her back and then held out a mane-net for her. Trixie lifted the net with her front hoof and looked back at Abby whom was looking back with an almost expectant look on her face. Trixie tried to place the mane-net over her head but fumbled with it in her hooves, dropping it to the floor. Trixie looked down at it, almost ready to cry at her mistake. Abby was a little confused, but shook her head, reaching down and picking up the net, tossing it aside. “Magic’s not so good, eh? Oh don’t worry ‘bout that. Not like they expect me an’ Dusty to fly anymore, either!” Abby said, putting a clean mane-net on Trixie’s head, then began to tie Trixie’s apron for her. A voice came out of the giant wheel on the side of the barn. “I kin fly just as good as any a’ them youngsters!” Dusty yelled. “Ya ‘aven’t flown in years, ya’ ol’ feed bag!” Abby yelled back, then laughed. She turned back to Trixie. “Oh don’t mind us, Sweet Heart. Anyway…” Abby turned towards the giant wheel and walked around to look inside of it. Trixie followed close behind. “Might as well explain what you’ll be doin’, eh?” Abby laughed. She pointed a hoof at the wheel that Dusty was in. “Now this here’s the engine of the barn. It stalls out, spits and sputters all the time, but it gits the job done.” Dusty just shook his head. “When he walks, it moves that conveyer belt over there.” Abby lead Trixie over towards the conveyer belt. There were green and red cherries lining the top of the conveyer and large bins on one side matching either color. Abby led Trixie up to the side of the belt opposite of the bins. “See, what we’s gunna be doin’ is sortin’ out the cherries. The best way to learn how tuh do sumtin’ is ta see it done. Hey Dusty! Start ‘er up!” Abby yelled, startling Trixie a bit. Dusty’s hooves could be heard against the wood of the giant wheel and it slowly began to turn. The conveyer next to Trixie also started to turn. Cherries began moving down from outside of the barn and Abby was pushing them off into the properly colored baskets. “See, Sweet Heart? This ain’t so bad!” Abby said. “Ya just push the cherries off into the correct bin and that’s it. Dusty goes nice n’ slow so it won’t be too much of a hassle for ya. Come on over here and give it a try!” Trixie traded places with Abby and Dusty started moving again. Trixie missed a few, put a few in the wrong bins, and all around didn’t do too well for her first try. She was starting to get upset, but Abby could tell. “Ya done good fer yer first try, Sweet Heart!” Abby suddenly said, motioning for Dusty to stop. Abby had been correcting Trixie’s mistakes, but not in a manner that would hide them from her. “Sure ya made a few mistakes here and there, but ya done better than me on my first day! And a helluvuh lot better than Dusty could ever do. That’s why he just turns the wheel.” Dusty’s head poked out from around the side of the wheel. “I’m right ‘ere, yanno!” he said, then started to chuckle. Trixie’s showed a small smile and even a tiny laugh right along with Dusty. Abby’s smile turned from that of laughter to that of an old, caring grandmother. She reached her front hooves out and hugged Trixie for a moment before pulling back. “Welcome to the family, Sweet Heart. It’s gunna be just wonderful havin’ ya ‘ere!” After a long day’s work in the barn, Trixie finally got a handle on sorting the cherries, even getting Dusty to speed up a little, though that didn’t amount to much at all. Abby led the trio out of the barn and closed the large door behind her. They headed back to the house for dinner. Trixie came down the stairs from cleaning up after work and peeked into the kitchen. Plume had prepared a large dinner for the family. It seemed like an awful lot of food for just five ponies. Trixie made her way to the other side of the kitchen. There was a grand dining room she had not seen before. What surprised her most is that there were upwards of 20 chairs at the table. She made her way back up to her room, wondering what all those extra chairs were for. Were their more ponies in Miss Jubilee’s family? Trixie sat down on her bed and looked over at the doll of Twilight, still sitting at the tea table. Trixie’s horn glowed and the doll got up off the chair and walked over to the bed, sitting down next to Trixie. Trixie’s ear lifted up. “…” “Well… a lot better than expected. The Gales are really friendly.” “…” “I… I’m not that great at the work…” “…” “I hope so… I want to stay here.” “…” The dolls front leg glowed and wrapped around Trixie’s shoulders. Trixie’s face flushed red and she squirmed nervously on the bed. “I… I think you are right. This is my chance to start over. Thank you, Twilight.” “…” Plume, whom had followed Trixie upstairs to let her know dinner was ready, had stopped at the door, hearing Trixie talking inside. Plume took a long pause after the conversation ended, trying to put together what was going on in her head. Was there another pony in there? After that moment, she gave up and knocked on the door, then immediately opened the nob. Trixie’s magic immediately ended as the door opened, prompting the doll to fall onto its back on the bed. Trixie had a surprised expression on her face as she looked over at Plume. Plume paused again, adding this newly seen piece of the puzzle to the jumble in her head. She quickly realized that she had stepped into someone else’s bedroom and was just staring. “Oh uh, Miss Unicorn, dinner is ready.” Trixie’s face seemed to calm down a bit, but instead of getting up to follow Plume down to the dining room, she looked at Twilight. She sat Twilight up at the head of the bed with magic, but still hesitated to get up and follow Plume. She looked at Plume, then back at Twilight and paused, lifting an ear. “…” “Are… you sure? Do you want to eat with us?” “…” “I’ll... I’ll bring you something, then.” “…” Plume’s confusion only escalated at the odd conversation she had just witnessed. But she quickly snapped out of it as Trixie stood up and walked over to her. Plume slowly backed out of the room and Trixie followed. Plume gently closed the bedroom door, her eyes locked on the doll until the door latched in place. As the two ponies made their way down the stairs a familiar sound echoed in Trixie’s ears. Ponies. Lots of ponies. Talking, laughing, and carrying on. She slowed down, Plume getting ahead of her and entering the dining room. Plume walked over and took her seat at the back end of the room. Trixie peeked around the corner as if she was checking the audience from back stage. She could see Cherry Jubilee at the head of the table and every seat but one was filled with ponies. They all seemed young and fit. Mares, colts, a whole mix. Everyone was an Earth Pony except for the Gales whom were up near Cherry Jubilee. Trixie began examining the entire audience of ponies whom she didn’t recognize. After looking across the entire table, Trixie’s eyes made their way back to Cherry Jubilee, whom, to her horror, was staring directly at her from across the room. “There she is!” Cherry yelled, getting every ponies attention, quieting the room. “Come on out, Sweet Heart, the whole family’s here!” Cherry stood up and patted the empty seat next to her and smiled at Trixie. “Everyone, this is Sweet Heart, the newest member of the plantation work family. Sweet Heart, these fine ponies are the summer farm workers that help this little old lady harvest the cherries when they are in season. They stay in the workers dorm just beyond the barn.” Everypony… every single pony was staring at her as she stood in the doorway to the grand dining room. The doors were folding doors with decorative glass and a red velvet curtain to go with them. The doors were open and the curtain was tied open with a yellow chord. Trixie stood, motionless. A look of horror slowly covered her face. “Sweet Heart? What’s wrong? … Sweet Heart?” Cherry called from across the room, but her voice was being drowned out by the murmurs and whispers of all the other ponies at the table. They became louder and louder to Trixie… Suddenly it felt as if the only light in the room that was on was aimed directly at her. She saw that red velvet curtain open up. She could hear her name being called ‘…the Great and Powerful Trixie!' All the ponies weren’t clapping. They were staring at her, disappointed looks on every face, whispering to each other about the unicorn on stage. She took a step back. “No! NO! That’s not me! She’s dead! … I can’t! I don’t know any! I can’t! I’m sorry! I’M SORRY!!” Trixie started to yell from the doorway. She started to back up, backing into a chair at the smaller table in the kitchen knocking it over and falling over onto the floor. Cherry looked across the table, her smile quickly turning into a look of deep concern and horror. Her and Plume immediately jumped up and ran into the kitchen, but before they could get to Trixie, she had picked herself up and bolted the other direction, audibly sobbing. They followed her out and up the stairs, hearing the guest room door suddenly slam shut. The farm workers at the kitchen table sat in silence, baffled. Their faces all shone with a look of confusion. Except for Abby Gale. She had a sad look on her face. She whispered to herself… “That poor, poor child. There is something… something deep inside of her, haunting her. We may never know what it may be.”
