“Pixy, come see my new cards” a young filly exclaimed as a light grey unicorn with a dark purple mane and tail that were highlighted in a magnificently bright yellow walked past. Pixy Pastel trotted cheerfully over to her friend Astro. She enjoyed spending time with him. They played games and had long talks about the stars.
“I like those cards. I'm sure you can use them the next time you play” Pixy said enthusiastically as she carefully thumbed through the cards as to not bend or scratch them.
The room was fairly large yet there was only a few ponies scattered about. They were all sitting at various tables eating or playing games. It was a perfect spot for the two friends.They knew that if it was any louder or more crowded Pixy would not be able to focus and would have trouble talking. She got very nervous in large crowds and noisy places.
“I know right” the young Astro remarked in a cocky tone. “I just wish you could be there to play with me.” He smiled sweetly.
Pixy turned her head down away from her friend. Her mane covered her face. “Me too, if only I was not moving so far away.” She said sadly.
“It is OK we will write and we will see each other again someday soon.” Pixy’s friend said as he pushed her mane away from her face. Pixy smiled sweetly as she gazed at him timidly. Her purple eyes smiled with delight. She nuzzled him gently on his neck.
The next day Pixy left for her new life. Pixy Pastel wrote Astro every week. He wrote back every time even if he did not hear from Pixy. They sent each other pictures and gifts. It seemed that their friendship would never be broken.
Then after a few years Princess Celestia decided to have a convention for all of Equestria. She declared that the best time to have the convention was during the same weekend as the Grand Galloping Gala. It was a way to make the boring Gala more interesting and to include everypony. She sent her students all over the land and sky to tell everypony that whoever goes to the convention can go to the Gala.
Pixy and her fillyhood friend thought this would be a great way to see each other after so long. They spent many moons planning how to get there and what they would do. Pixy even picked out her sparkliest dress for the Gala.
The day finally came for the two good friends to leave for Canterlot. When Pixy saw Astro they ran up to each other and embraced one another enthusiastically. Soon they were off talking and singing the entire way. It felt good to be together after so long.
When they arrived at the hotel they met up with some fellow ponies who were playing a card game. Pixy did not know these ponies. She kept quiet as her dear friend talked to the ponies about the game in process. They seemed to knew each other very well by the way they were engaging each other.
Pixy was unable to follow the fast talking fillies. When a pony stopped talking she took a breath “What if…” she was unable to finish her thought as Astro started talking over her. It seemed no pony heard her.
The shy filly slowly walked away so she did not interrupt the conversation. “It’s ok beautiful, come here” Pixy’s friend turned to her. He put his left hoof over her shoulder and held her close.
Pixy’s entire body tensed up. She was not used to being held this way. She also did not want to hurt her old friend’s feelings so she decided to say nothing and hold still. Pixy was very uncomfortable.
The couple went to bed after they said goodbyes to the card players. “How did you know those ponies?” Pixy asked before turning the light off.
“I didn’t” was the reply. “Goodnight beautiful”
As the sun rose the two friends grabbed a bite to eat before heading off to the festivities. They did everything together that day. Well as long as it was what Astro wished to do. Pixy was Ok with this. She knew that if she did everything he wished to do today it would be reasonable to think they would do everything she wanted to do the next day.
They saw a concert that morning with a lightning show. Pixy was terrified of the lightning. She tried not to show it and to focus on the beautiful music.
After the show the two walked through the crowded streets filled with noisy ponies, none of which Pixy knew. “I am so happy you are here with me. I do not think I could be here without you.” she confided to her close friend as she held his hoof so they did not get separated.
“I know you don’t like loud crowded places. I understand that you get anxious. I am so glad we are together again.” Astro said proudly as they walked through the large loud group of ponies. They spent the rest of the day playing games. Most of which Pixy did not understand no matter how hard she tried.
The day did not end fast enough for Pixy. Astro talked about the new games the whole way back to the hotel. Pixy, still not understanding the concept, quietly walked by his side. They both fell asleep quickly in the dark room.
The next day came faster then a wonderbolt. Pixy Pastel was more than ready. She made a list of what she wanted to do with her friend that day. First on the list was Ask a Draconequus. This was a panel in which ponies were allowed to ask Discord questions. The draconequus sat at a long table with microphones placed in a neat row. He faced a large room full of ponies who were seated and waiting to see what he would say.
Pixy and her friend sat at the back of the room with somepony Astro knew. Soon the questioning started. Applejack was standing in front of Discord making sure the questions were appropriate. Somepony asked Discord about his friends. He answered with such loyalty in his words. Another pony came up who seemed to be about the same age as Pixy. This pony very courageously asked for a hug. “Yes” was all Discord said as he generously gave the young pony a hug. Many more questions were asked that lead the crowd into fits of laughter. Including Pixy who did not always understand the jokes ponies told.
A yellow pony ran in with a cup of tea and sat next to Discord. “Thank you Fluttershy” Discord said sweetly to the kind pony. He turned back to his audience.
“Besides being turned to stone” a pony asked in front of the audience “what is your weakness?”
Discord smirked “Friendship” he grumbled honestly. The next pony came up one after another making various inquiries on the ancient being.
“I want to ask a question” Pixy whispered to Astro who was sitting next to her.
“Ok” he said pointing to his friend next to him ”we are going to play a game. I will catch up with you later.” with that they walked out the door leaving Pixy alone in a room full of strange ponies.
Pixy stayed in her seat for a moment considering what to do. She scribbled her question on a piece of paper. She walked up to the line of ponies who were waiting to get their questions answered. As she got closer she got more nervous. By the time she got to the front all eyes were on her. She handed Applejack the piece of paper as she was shaking in fear.
“Can I read it?” Applejack asked as Pixy tried to make eye contact.
Pixy nodded her head slowly “yes” was all she was able to squeak out.
Applejack read “What would you think of a pony who knew chaos magic?”
Discord smiled “I know a few, Pinky Pie is very chaotic in my opinion”
Pixy shook even more as she looked up at Discord. “Do you want to say hi?” Applejack asked the young filly.
With all the courage she could muster up Pixy spoke as loudly as she could “Hello” then ran to the back of the room. Before she walked out of the room she heard Discord “Isn’t she precious” It took her off guard for it was spoken in a way she was not used to hearing. It was not cocky or vain or forced. She had never equated herself to being precious. Let alone by a pony she barely knew. She could not place what it was about these words and how they were spoken that made her feel warm.
Pixy searched for Astro as she pondered this. She found him in the atrium outside of the marketplace. “I’m going to watch the next game OK” Pixy’s dear friend said as he started walking away.
Pixy trotted after him “Oh ok. I thought we were going to the yoga class” she exclaimed worriedly.
“Yeah well it’s not for an hour so I can catch up with you later” He assured her as he continued to walk away leaving his friend behind. “Have fun sweetie”
The atrium was full of ponies going every which way. Pixy knew none of them. Paralyzed with fear and confusion Pixy stood right where she was processing what just happened.
“Are you ok?” Somepony asked her as they passed by. “Are you lost?” asked another pony.
Pixy looked at the pony as she nodded “yes, I’m fine” she tried to sound like she knew what she was doing even though she was about to cry. “Where can I go that’s quiet?” She asked the two.
The first pony got out a map he pointed to a room “go here it is designated as a safe quiet place for those ponies who wish to get away from the noise and crowds. Here have my map.”
“Thank you” Pixy said as she trotted away. “I think I can find it without the map.” After pushing through the crowd Pixy got to the quiet room. She took out some colored pencils and paper to start drawing. This activity always seemed to calm her down.
As Pixy scribbled away she thought about all that had occurred that morning. “What was it about Discord’s words that affect me so much.” she said to herself quietly. After much thought it clicked, he was kind.
Once she got herself together Pixy headed out into the mess of ponies. She started sweating and a feeling of confusion started to take hold as Pixy attempted to move through the crowd alone.
“If I can ask a question in front of a large group of ponies I can get through this crowd” Pixy encouraged herself. As she did this she noticed that there was a group of music ponies dancing a few hoof trots away. Pixy went over and danced with them. She spun and twirled till she was so dizzy she just about fell over.
After a few songs she headed off to meet Astro for yoga. He never showed. The yoga instructor had them partner up. The pony Pixy partnered with for the class was super friendly which Pixy was not expecting. She felt comfortable with this pony instead of the usual awkwardness that came with meeting new ponies. They worked well together and had fun.
Once the class was over Pixy started looking for her friend. She found him in the same spot he had been the entire day, playing games. She came up to him and watched. He did not say anything or look at her. He was strictly focused on the game. As Pixy kept watching she noticed he did not have any playing pieces needed to play the game. “Hello” she said to her friend.
“Oh Hi, sorry I lost track of time this is such a great game” Astro said with enthusiasm. He got up and hugged her and nuzzled her neck. “The game will be over in a couple of hours. Then we can be together.”
Pixy looked at him feeling hurt and abandon. “Sure ok I guess” She walked off as her old friend went back to the game.
She walked back to the hotel room alone. She fell onto the bed and started to cry. “Why did my friend ditch me?” she wondered to herself as she sobbed into a pillow. As Pixy puzzled over her friend’s actions she started going over the day’s events in her head.
A thought came to her that she had not considered before. “Discord embodied all the elements of harmony.” Pixy knew about the elements but she was under the impression that ponies could only embody one element per pony. Yet here was an ancient being who showed all the ponies present that a single pony can use all the elements.
Pixy Pastel pulled herself together and headed out of the hotel room. She was still very hurt and upset about her close friend. Once in the hall she saw three ponies waiting for the elevator. Going up to one of them Pixy started crying “I need a hug” She managed to say through the tears.
Perplexed by this the pink pony pointed to the stallion next to her “Ask him” was all she said just as confused as she looked.
Pixy turned to the stallion who graciously gave her a bear hug bigger than himself.
The green pony spoke up as he adjusted his glasses “are you ok?”
“Yeah what happened?” the pink pony broke in now with concern.
Pixy wiped her tear stained eyes on her hooves “My friend ditched me. I spent the entire day alone.”
The three ponies looked at each other. “We are going to grab some food if you wish to join us.” the stallion offered.
“I hate to intrude” Pixy said a little more together now.
The pink pony looked at her with a big comforting smile “no problem at all. We are a very chill and friendly group.”
The ponies headed off to eat sandwiches and talk about their adventures. The stallion even paid for the young filly’s meal. They were all chill and friendly just like the pink pony said. As soon as they finished eating the three ponies asked Pixy what happened. She told them the whole story in as few words as she could so to not make herself cry again.
“We were supposed to go to the Gala together tonight” Pixy finished.
The three ponies looked stunned. “I think you should still go. Even if you go alone. I know you had to have brought a beautiful dress if you were planning to go to the Gala.” the pink pony instructed.
“Yes we will be around if you want to hang out later.” the green pony said as the foursome headed back towards the hotel.
“If you can come up to us I know you can talk to anypony. I’m sure another pony would love to dance with you.” The stallion said confidently.
“We are all here if you need us. We are your friends.” The pink pony said sweetly as they parted ways.
Pixy headed up to the room to get ready. She bolted out the door and to the ballroom as fast as her hooves could carry her. Once there she felt that sinking feeling she got when there was no pony there she knew. She walked around and danced with herself a little.
“Will you dance with me?” Pixy looked up. A young pony smiled at Pixy as he looked into her eyes with outstretched hooves.
“Sure” replied Pixy as she took his hooves and they danced into the night.
Right before the Gala ended Astro showed up. “Sorry about being so late.” he said casually as the two ponies stopped dancing. Pixy said goodbye to her dance partner and new found friend.
Then Pixy danced with Astro for a song. When the song ended Discord walked in with his friends. All the ponies at the Gala wanted to say hello to the group. Pixy pushed away from Astro to run over to the commotion. As she walked up to Discord she gave him a big hug. “Thank you, you changed my life.” She told the Draconequus. He hugged her back with as much care as you would give a butterfly.
In that moment Pixy Pastel’s flank began to glow ever so brightly. As the light died down everypony stared at the new cutie mark. A small black dot was surrounded by eight colored pencils sharpened at both ends and each pointing outwards towards the eight directions their tip barely touching the dot. The colors of the pencils from the top to the right are white, green, orange, purple, yellow, red, blue, and black.
Pixy Pastel spent the last day with her new friends. She learned many more things that day as well. The main lessons she learned at the convention are the ones Discord taught her. That is to say even though you may only be one pony you hold within yourself all the elements of harmony if you have the courage to use them.
