A few days later…

Trixie woke up feeling refreshed. After a successful one night gig with Vinyl Scratch, AKA DJPON-3, Trixie was slowly getting back into her old groove. It had been two days since she met her therapist, and now she was hot on the trail of her mother, while still trying to juggle her life with her two young ones now. With Buttercup having increased friction between her and another filly by the name of Thorn Rose, Trixie hasn’t had the time to find her mother since she and Twilight Velvet were watching her like vultures over a carcass.

However, despite all this Trixie was feeling confident.

Just the other day when she went to pick up her little ones Twilight Velvet pulled her off to the side and told her that she found her mother. After Trixie offered up her photo Velvet spoke to her husband and found out that they two pegasi were of a noble house in Canterlot. Using her own connections Velvet was able to find out where the two pegasi lived, and today was the day Trixie was going to find them. With it she hoped her memories would come back in full. At the very least she’d get to see her parents again.

Trixie was quick to get up and get ready for the day. After a quick morning ritual and preparing herself for the day she quickly made her way to the kitchen to start breakfast.

It wasn’t long after she started making some hay bacon that the little terror known as Link came scampering into the kitchen begging her for scraps. While she stood cooking the little timberwolf cub stood on his hind legs and pressed up against her flank whimpering at her.

Trixie gently scolded him and gave him nothing, but she did give him some canine food so he wouldn’t distract her. Once Link was fed another tiny terror came into the kitchen. Little Peanut groggily swayed into the kitchen and hugged his mother's leg.

“Oh! Good morning sleepy head. How’s my little colt doing?” Trixie asked the changeling colt.

Peanut grunted softly, releasing her leg, and slowly made his way over to the dining table and clumsily tried to get on the chair. He was so tired he didn't even think to just fly into the seat. Instead he tried climbing but was so tired he didn’t get his footing right and fell on his bottom with a thud. Startled by his sudden fall the colt shook his head and glared up at the seat and tried again. He fell again.

Sensing his distress Link came over to the changeling and licked his cheek and nuzzled him. Peanut giggled and rubbed his black nose against Link’s, then slowly rubbed his forehead against Link’s. Trixie watched from her spot in the kitchen as the changeling nuzzled Link affectionately feeling her heart would burst from the sheer cuteness.

At this time Buttercup walked into the kitchen and hugged Trixie. She was barely better off than her brother was initially. Heavy bags under her eyes, the young threshal yawned, and then proceeded to go take her seat in her brothers spot.

Peanut made an annoyed buzzing with his wings and puffed his cheeks at his big sister, to which she gave him a smug grin. With a pout he stomped over to another chair and helped himself up and crossed his arms and continued to glare at his sister. Trixie then came in the dining room with three plates of food and set one for each of them. Sitting between her two little ones Trixie ate in silence, the sour mood between the two young siblings didn’t put a bit of damper on her mood.

Chewing her food she glanced over at Peanut who was still glaring at his sister with his emerald green eyes. She simply ignored him, eating her food without a care in the world.

“Stop glaring at your sister Peanut. It’s rude to do at the dinner table especially,” Trixie said firmly to him.

Lowering his head in shame the colt changeling nodded.

“Yes, momma.”

Buttercup snorted. “Weirdo brother.”

Trixie’s eyes narrowed at Buttercup. Their eyes met and Buttercup felt a shiver go down her spine at the intensity in Trixie’s eyes. Shrinking down she tried to look at her food knowing she was about to be scolded again.

“Young lady-”

*Great here we go again. Another lecture.* She thought leaning one elbow on the table trying to ignored her mother, but look like she was listening. She continued to eat thinking about ehr application to the Lunar Guard or the Shadowbolts.

What a life it would be to be part of a counterpart to the Wonderbolts. Then again, being in the Lunar Guard she might be able to work with Princess Luna, and maybe even Princess Celestia! The infinite possibilities flowed through her head making her stare up at the ceiling in a dream like state.

“-are you listening to me?”

Buttercup shot upright in her seat looking wide eyed at her mother.

“Uhhhh…” She said dumbly. “I, uhhh…”

Trixie raised a brow and crossed her arms and tapped her hoof on the floor waiting patiently for Buttercup to come up with an answer to the question.

“I, was. Yeah, I was,” Buttercup said confidently.

Now, Trixie has dealt with lots of bullshit in her life. In fact it was so finely tuned, even with her partial amnesia, it was sharper than most Saddle arabian sabers. Now Buttercup was under her mother's radar there was no going back now, all she had to do was BS her way out of this long enough to excuse herself.

“Then tell me what I just asked you?”

*DAMNIT!* Buttercup cringed. She wasn’t paying attention at all. She was so used to ignoring Spitfire after she’d yell at her that she was a master of doing it. Trixie however; was smarter than Spitfire by far and this was proof. What had she said? Did she ask her something? Buttercup was sure her mother didn’t ask anything. At least, she thought so. Maybe she could work around it with a bit of fancy word play.

“I was just… you know thinking about what you asked, and…”

Trixie smiled not taking her eyes off Buttercup.

“Trixie asked you about joining the Royal Guard?” Trixie hinted.

“Yes! That’s right, I was thinking about that to tell you that I was, interested in joining the Shadowbolts instead!”

The young mare gave her mother a toothy grin. She was sure her plan had worked. Her mother wasn’t mad anymore and she even smiled. That on its own was a good sign.

“That’s nice sweetie. I’m glad you decided which group to join. I’ll let Principle Velvet know when I see her today,” Trixie said collecting the finished plates from the table with her magic.

“You’re going to see her today, mother?” Buttercup asked.

“That's right,” Trixie said cleaning the plates. “I will need you to stay home until I get back. Watch your brother.”

“B-but mom, I was going to meet a friend today!” Buttercup said.

“Oh? And who might that be?”

Buttercup blushed looking at her hooves, pawing at the ground.

“His name’s Scribble.”

“Oh? Is that so? Well, I’m afraid you won’t be able to see him tonight.”

“What? Why!?” Buttercup whined flopping on the ground.

“That isn’t very lady like,” Trixie scolded her. “And you are grounded for the night, for lying to me and not listening to me after I told you not to do that anymore.”

Lowering her head Buttercup sighed and walked away saying, “Yes, mother.”

“And sweetie?”

“Hmm?”

Buttercup stopped and craned her neck around to look back at her mother over the kitchen counter.

“Please be nice to your brother.”

“I will mom.”

Buttercup went to her room and was followed by her brother and Link. Trixie then finished cleaning the dishes and set them in a tray on the counter to dry. After which she prepared herself for her family reunion. She got the address from Twilight Velvet on a piece of paper on the fridge. It was on the far side of Canterlot and would take most of the day to get to and back.

Once she was ready for the long trip Trixie went into the kids room and saw them rolling on the ground laughing with Link barking and circling them excited. Buttercup was holding Peanut to her chest and rolling over blowing a raspberry in his soft underbelly. The little changeling was laughing trying to wiggle out of his sister's grasp.

The struggle was real for the little changeling. He was no match for his sister’s strength. IN desperation he cried out for Link to help him, ultimately though Link charged in and started licking him rather than help his escape.

“No! Link! You’re suppose to help me hehehehe!” Peanut cried in laughter.

Trixie chuckled and used her magic to separate the three from each other. Peanut sighed in relief flopping limply in his mother's aura. Buttercup giggled and grabbed Link and held him in her arms as they were all brought to the bed and settled down.

“Now kids, you know rough housing isn’t allowed,” Trixie said warningly.

“Yes, momma.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Trixie smiled hugging them.

“Now, then I need to get going. Remember Soarin is next door if you need anything,” Trixie instructed. “Now, I’m gonna be out for a few hours. You two behave, Soarin will be over at six with dinner if I’m not here. Do your homework, and Peanut?”

The changeling looked up at her.

“Don’t annoy your sister. She has a lot to deal with so don’t give her any trouble. Okay?”

“Yes, momma.”

“Okay. Thank you sweetie.”

Trixie hugged Peanut and kissed his forehead. She then looked over at Buttercup who was petting Link in her arms.

“Keep an eye on your little brother. And if you need anything-”

“Don’t worry mom. I’ll go to Mr. Soarin if anything happens. I promise.”

Buttercup put link on the bed and hugged her mother. After a brief goodbye Trixie was off into the city heading for the train station. The trip to Canterlot was long taking well over two hours, with a few stops on the way.

Eventually Trixie reached her destination. Canterlot a hustle and bustling city full of wonder to most ponies in Equestria. For Trixie it had a very familiar feel to it. She spent a surprisingly large amount of time here. After she came back into her life Princess Luna was helping with her recovery and was the one who recommended Trixie’s therapist.

Walking through Canterlot Trixie was met with mixed reactions from ponies. Word about her previous exploits in Ponyville were fresh again after a Ponyville newspaper called the Foal Free Press came up titled: The Great and Powerful Trixie Secrets Revealed, and made a slight mention to her and the ursa that rampaged through some time ago.

While Trixie didn't care, she did wonder how a newspaper for foals ended up all throughout Equestria. She figured it was probably some snobbish editor who wanted to spread the paper for a extra bit hence why it was so widespread.

It was then, whilst deep in thought, that Trixie came upon her destination. A modest mansion by Canterlot standards on the corner of Crystal Lane and Haybale Street. While not massive like most mansions it still took two buildings worth of the corner. Three stories high but very long and gated Trixie felt a very strong sense of familiarity. A stone wall surrounded the mansion like a fortification with a standard looking metal bar gate for an entryway. Next to the gate was a seal for the noble house that each proudly wore. This one was three lightning bolts circling counter clockwise around a shield overlapped by an perfectly symmetrical cloud.

Trixie approached the gate and looked right at the seal. It was like looking at a reflection of something so familiar to her, but just out of reach of remembrance.

Then in the blink of an eye she recalled a past event in her life.

She looked through the gate to see a old swing set in a nearby playground. It was worn down but well kept. She remembered that swing. She use to play on it growing up. After she was adopted. Slowly things came together. HEr mind worked tirelessly to piece together thousands of fragments into coherent memories. It was like her mind was a massive jigsaw puzzle but half the pieces were missing and she had to guess what happened in the gaps.

The swing was the first step. Then another memory came flying into her mind. A flashback to her earlier years, long forgotten.

*Flashback*

A younger Trixie was sitting at a table with a large puzzle with over three-hundred pieces. A larger portion of the center was already together, but Trixie was struggling to put the whole thing together. Angry at how long it was taking she growled slammed her hooves on the ground in frustration.

A stallion came into the room in a nice white suit and a black tie. He was a pegasus. Middle aged large, brown fur, and a well kept green mane he smiled at Trixie who was trying hard to concentrate as she tried using other pieces to put the puzzle together.

“What’s wrong Trixie?” He asked, sitting next to her.

He gently draped one of his massive wings over Trixie and pulled close in a wing hug. Trixie pouted pushing away with a heavy blush in her cheeks.

“Dad! Stop! Trixie is trying to solve this puzzle!”

“I can see that,” He chuckled. “So , what’s the problem?”

“Trixie can’t figure out this stupid puzzle!” Trixie whined flopping her chin on the table. “It’s too hard.”

The stallion chuckled at his daughter's plight. Indeed the puzzle was hard, even he never finished it. Not for a lack of trying, he was just much too busy to take the time to do it. That and his wife always nagged him saying, they were a waste of time.

He leaned over Trixie’s shoulder and looked at the work she’d done.

“Impressive work so far. You have well over a third of it done!” He complimented Trixie. “I know it’s hard sweet heart, but I know a trick that'll help you out in the long run.”

Trixie’s ears perked up.

“Really?! What is it daddy?” The younger mare asked desperately.

“Well, now you see how you’re making the center first?”

Trixie nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well, the secret to a puzzle is the corners.”

“Corners? Why?”

The stallion smiled and ruffled Trixie’s mane, earning a series of giggles from her.

“You see Trixie, if you have the corners then you’ll have an easier time with the rest of the puzzle because-”

“Lightning Strike!”

“Oh, dear…” The stallion cringed at the sound of his name.

He slowly turned to see his wife Emerald Herald standing in the doorway with a great look of disapproval.

“Don;t hold her hoof and give the answers to her! She needs to learn to figure things out for herself!” The mare said to her husband. “If she doesn’t learn to be self reliant she’ll grow up like all the rest of the spoiled nobles and their children! She must learn the value of hard work and self reliance.”

Trixie stood up glaring at her mother.

“I am self reliant! I can work!”

Emerald Herald scoffed looking down at the young unicorn who was half her size. Herald was a very tall mare, well over her husband by a good foot. She was a dominant presence around others. Like Celestia herself she carried a powerful charisma that was daunting to others.

“Dear,” Lighting Strike stood up and looked up at his wife with a softer expression. “Trixie can figure it out, she just needed a little help. That’s all. No need to get worked up over it.”

Emerald Herald wasn’t having it though. She glared down at her husband who shivered visibly. She then turned to her daughter and donned a pondering look. Then she smiled at her husband and circled around him placing a wing over his back as a guide while she circled him like a hungry predator.

“In that case how about a little wager, my dear husband?” She suggested giving a sultry voice to him.

“What do you mean?” Lightning Strike asked going rigid.

“If she can figure out the puzzle with your little hint before dinner,” She paused and leaned into his ear to whisper, “I'll wear that sexy saddle you love sooooo much.”

Lighting Strike gasped holding his wings stiffen and his member getting harder with each word his wife spoke. He tried to cover it up so Trixie wouldn’t see it but the next words his wife said made his blood run cold.

“If she can’t however… No sex for the next month.”

That was the kicker. Trixie tilted her head wondering what all this talk meant. She heard every word, but had no idea what it was. She assumed in her young naivete that it was the wonderful world of, “adult talk”, and paid it no mind. Then her father turned and looked at her in desperation.

“Trixie. I know you are very good at puzzles, but please for the love of all that’s sacred please, please finish this puzzle before dinner!” He pleaded.

Trixie smiled nodding. “Don’t worry daddy! Trixie will finish this puzzle with the secret you taughter her!”

She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and went back to the puzzle without another word. Lighting Strike felt relieved but went rigid again when his wife nudged him. Trixie worked so hard to finish the puzzle before dinner. She was so close too, but then a horrible realization came over her as the puzzle neared completion.

A piece was missing.

*End Flashback*

Trixie chuckled at the memory. She remembered vividly that her father wasn’t happy for the next month as her mother made good on her promise. That is of course until she went into an early heat, and then it was not fun for anyone.

She then remembered many more things. The poor servants dealing with her mother's whims on the fly, her sudden mood swings. Trixie remembered when her mother got horny and had no outlet it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Of course her pride, something Trixie did pick up from her, wouldn’t ever let her admit her own plan backfired and blamed her mood on work related stress.

Trixie looked up at the mansion once more and looked around to find the doorbell. When she found it she was about to press it when a loud gasp and the sound of paper bags falling, and glass breaking caught her attention to her right. There standing before her was another blast from the past. A earth pony maid with a French outfit was staring at her in complete shock. She was a dark brown with a snow white mane and tail with a feather dusting cutie mark and dark green eyes. *Trixie tinnks her family has a fetish for gree things now that she thinks about it.* she thought looking at the mare.

The earth pony maid took a step forward looking at Trixie from top to bottom. Eventually smile came across her lips as she ran forward and hugged her tightly. Trixie gasped feeling her lungs getting crushed under the amres powerful arms, while she choked back sobs.

“Uh, hi there, *GASP* Euphora. How has it been?”

The mare Euphora released Trixie and patted her shoulders looking her over once more.

“Young mistress. It’s so good to see you again! Oh, your mother and father will be so pleased to see you again! Please, please, come inside it’ll get colder out! Where have you been?” Euphora asked guiding Trixie through the gate to the mansion.

“Trixie has been, busy. How have you been Euphora?”

“Oh, I’ve been doing just fine young mistress. Your father is doing well, and your mother… well,” Euphora triled off like she didn’t want to say something.

Trixie nodded watching her every movement closely as they walked up to the mansion doors. After she unlocked the doors and opened them, Euphora guided Trixie inside. It was just as she remembered it. Memories of the large entry hall the marble floors and tiled staircase that went up to the other floors.

“Wow, I can’t believe I’m back after all this time.” Trixie said.

“Your mother i s in her study. Shall I announce you?” Euphora asked walking up the stairs.

“Please no, just show me the way. Trixie has, forgotten the the way.”

Euphora smiled gesturing for Trixie to follow her. Please come this way.”

Euphora guided Trixie up the stairs to the second floor. From there they doubled back to another flight that went on the third floor. There were many servant ponies around all of them watching Trixie and Euphora as they went by. Some ponies recognized Trixie and greeted her kindly, while others simply greeted her for the sake of appearances. The two mares went down many halls all of which were both familiar and foreign to Trixie at the same time. Then they came up to the end of a hall where a large set of double doors were with an emblem of Emerald Herald's cutie mark on it.

Euphora stood by the side and bowed to Trixie allowing her to pass. Trixie could feel her heart racing, pounding in her chest like it was ready to burst out at any moment. She tried to take a deep breath to help relax herself, but the feeling of anticipation was too great. Throwing caution to the wind Trixie steeled her nerves and looked at Euphora once more, who gave a supportive nod, and Trixie reached with her hoof to open the door.

“Good luck young miss.”

Trixie nodded smiling et her and opened the doors.

The aged doors creaked as she slowly opened the door and entered a dark work study. Bookshelves lined the walls on her left and right leading down to a single large desk easily twenty feet wide. Books and papers littered the entire room with documents everywhere and Trixie tried her best not to step on anything as she approached the desk. The door closed behind her and she then saw her.

At the desk sitting in a large leather chair was her mother. Emerald Herald, hunched over a pile of papers and scribbling over them with a quill in one wing and a pen in her other deep in concentration that she didn't even notice Trixie enter. Slowly Trixie approached. She held a bated breath as she came closer step after step, anxiety of what to say was overwhelming her. *What should Trixie say? What will mother say? I’m almost there. Only a few steps more. Oh, gods I’m not ready for this!*

Trixie stopped awkwardly in front of the large wooden desk as her mother continued to ignore her and continued to write and sign document after document. Trixie was surprised how well her mother handled her wings and the writing was beautiful. Just when she was about to say something Emerald Herald looked up with tired eyes and stared at Trixie, who felt like a heavyweight wa just put on her.

Even in silence her mother was a terrifying presence. It put Trixie on edge. She felt her hair stand on end as her mother looked her up and down critically. She then looked back down at her papers and continued writing.

What she said next caught Trixie by complete surprise.

“And just where have you been all this time, young lady?” Emerald Herald asked in a bored tone.

Author's Note

So here we are again everyone! A new chapter that I've been contemplating on for a while now, but here it is! I finally decided to bring someone into the story I've wanted to for along time and the next chapter will continued from where this one ended.

Don't worry the Wonderbotl Academy will still happen, I just alternate between them as the days go by. So, onto the big questions, why is Trixie mother acting like she don't give a flying feather? Is she just that kind of pony, or is it something deeper? Where is Lighting Strike? Who's Euphora? And OH GOD I'M NOT WEARING PANTS!!
....

Oh, wait yes I am. Sorry was just having a drug induced fever dream.