A Little Lost Magic

Slowly 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.