A Stage For Two

Chapters

An Unorthodox Proposal
An Act
Closer
Two Fights, One Victory
Interlude: Dinner
Interlude: Choices

An Unorthodox Proposal

Trixie grumbled as she counted up the bits from her last show. It had gotten better recently, but she still had to scrimp and save to make ends meet. She could easily have asked Starlight for help. But she was the Great and Powerful Trixie Lulamoon! Of the great line of Lulamoon. She wouldn’t beg for money like some common hobo. Trixie huffed a bit as she slid the bits into her bag. It was going to be another month of rice for most meals. But she’d experienced much worse in her life, she’d make it through. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her wagon door.

Trixie frowned and looked at the door. She didn’t have any more performances today... It either had to be a fan or Starlight. Either possibility was a nice one. Trixie smiled as she opened the door. Seeing a pretty mare with a grey coat and black hair. She had some kind of musical note for a cutie mark. “Greetings! What can the Great and Powerful Trixie do for you?” Trixie reared back spreading her forelegs wide as her cape waves slightly.

The other pony looked up, seemingly unimpressed. Giving Trixie a few moments to land back on all fours before speaking. “I am Octavia. You are Trixie Lulamoon, of the old line of the unicorn princess Lulamoon?” Octavia was fairly certain she couldn't have found the wrong pony. Despite the fact that such a noble lineage had fallen so far.

Trixie stared for a long moment at the stranger. She was a bit miffed by the fact the other pony didn’t seem properly impressed by her magnificent display. “Yes, the Great and Powerful Trixie stands before you! Who are you?" Of course she had just been told the mare's name, but she didn't know who Octavia was.

Octavia rolled her eyes as she sized Trixie up one last time before letting out a small sigh. “I am Octavia, daughter of Gilded Gold and Mighty Diamond. I have a proposition for you Trixie Lulamoon. Though perhaps we could discuss it in the privacy of your...” Octavia pursed her lips. “Abode.”

Trixie frowned at the stranger. It irritated Trixie that Octavia seemed to not be impressed by her, then went and listed her own parents. Like she was some big wig who was better than Trixie. There was no conceivable reason to let Octavia into her home. "Trixie would prefer that we discuss things out here...”

Octavia sighed again as she met Trixie with a hard gaze. If the show pony insisted on being stubborn then Octavia would teach her that Octavia did nothing without reason. “Very well. Trixie Lulamoon, I have been observing your performances.” Trixie started to smile until it was harpooned by Octavia’s next statement. “Judging by your expenditure of props you do not take home many bits. As such...”

Trixie's eyes widened and she urgently raised a hoof to stop the other from speaking. “Ok! Ok! We can discuss it inside!” Trixie frowned as she backed into her wagon. Turning around in the small space she knocked a few balls off their shelf. Gasping Trixie managed to just barely catch the smoke bombs before they went off.

Octavia stepped inside carefully. Frowning slightly as she looked around. “Quite... Cozy.” Octavia shook her head before smiling slightly. "Good space usage though." Octavia had been looking down her nose at the wagon, but she was legitimately impressed by how much Trixie fit into it.

Trixie scoffed slightly and shook her head. Carefully floating the smoke bombs back up to the shelf. Trixie resisted the urge to just kick the other pony out of her wagon. But the other pony sought her out for a proposal, this could make her some bits. “What was your proposal?”

Octavia nodded. “Well, Trixie Lulamoon, due to a situation beyond my control I need to get married.”

Trixie stared at Octavia, frowning at the stranger. Until she figured it out, and grimaced. "Oh! You have an extreme crush on the Great and Powerful Trixie! She is quite flattered but she can’t accept such an offer, obviously.” The mare was some kind of weirdo stalker no doubt.

Octavia chuckled a little, shaking her head. “If that is your final decision but...” Octavia suppressed her annoyance as Trixie interrupted her.

“Yes! That’s Trixie’s decision!” The mare was obviously just after... Well Trixie wasn’t sure what, but it was something! And besides the fact that Trixie would obviously be an excellent choice for anyone, she didn't trust Octavia's motives.

Trixie was satisfied that at least the creepy Octavia was turning to go. Even if the mare felt the need to make a last comment. “Very well, Trixie. I suppose that someone else would be a more practical choice. Dowries for the descendants of unicorn royalty are quite large.”

Trixie boggled at Octavia’s back but then panicked as she saw a hoof rising to the handle. “Wait! Wait!” Trixie shifted nervously as Octavia lazily glanced over her shoulder, with a perfect expression of unconcern. “Trixie... Would hear more on this subject.”

Pausing for a moment Octavia turned back around. “Well, due to family demands I need to find a mate. I am not interested in stallions so it must be a mare. And as I am the scion of old nobility my mate must be of equal stature. I do not have the best pickings here in Ponyville; but I have no desire to move back to Canterlot.”

Trixie wrinkled her nose slightly. “That sounds complicated.”

Octavia wrinkled her nose in equal annoyance. “Very. The important part, Trixie, is that you are descended from the nobility. You are unattached?” Trixie gave a begrudging nod. “And you are a performer. If you can’t be taught, you can at least fake it.”

Trixie frowned. “Can’t be taught?”

Octavia nodded. “Yes. There are social standards that you will be required to learn to allow for such a union.”

Trixie frowned again. “Trixie is... She... Hmph...”

Octavia scowled at the performer. “Like that. You cannot refer to yourself in the third person.”

Trixie’s eyes widened and she scowled, putting her hoof down. “Trixie is not some doll you can show off, or some call mare you can bribe into bed!”

Octavia let out a long-suffering sigh. “I have no intention of sleeping with you, Trixie “

Trixie’s growing tirade died just as it started. “What? But you said... Mate and marriage...”

Octavia nodded. “I mean for public appearances, Trixie. I would not presume to... ‘know you.’”

Trixie bit her bottom lip, she knew she shouldn’t consider it. But she was... Well, she wasn’t hungry per se, but she was close to it. Looking to the side she nervously pawed at the ground. “You... Mentioned a dowry?”

Octavia smiled knowingly. “Yes, for a descendant of unicorn nobility of such high blood one hundred thousand bits would be appropriate.”

Trixie couldn’t stop her mouth from gaping open as she stared at the mare. “One... Hundred...?”

“Thousand, yes. And of course, I would be expected to provide for my mate. I couldn’t let one so closely associated with me go hungry.”

Trixie’s mouth positively watered from the anticipation. “W-When do we start?”

Octavia did her best to find a place to sit where she could face Trixie. Shifting a bit she pushed a few small balls out of the way. Balls that Trixie snatched up and stored in a nearby box. "Before we start you must understand everything I expect of you."

Trixie gave a small harrumph and looked about before climbing up onto her hammock and looking at Octavia. "Besides the marriage?"

"More like the details." Octavia took a moment to run through her mental checklist of everything she'd need from Trixie. "Before the wedding, you will expect you to learn a number of proper marks of nobility. Dancing, dining, etiquette, stop talking in the third person, and others. Since you're a performer I assume you can do that?"

Trixie wrinkled her nose at the other point. "Of course I can. I can learn anything!" At least Trixie believed that. "For example, I can easily switch between first and third person."

Though Octavia rolled her eyes again she didn't comment. "After the wedding, we will need to have the same official residence. But it would be expected of me to have more than one home. If you wish to live on your own that could be arranged."

Trixie continued to nod before her eyes widened and she hopped to her hooves. "Wait! Could Trixie not perform anymore!?"

Octavia sighed in resignation. Of course it couldn't have been someone with a reasonable profession like Rarity. Or someone who was content winning this genetic lottery and just live off Octavia's wealth. The only eligible pony in Ponyville was the crazed stage magician. "No Trixie. While I would prefer that you... Chose a more traditional lifestyle. I would never try to stop you from performing."

Trixie gave a small nod, she had detected a small emphasis on that last sentence. Though overall it still sounded quite odd to her, stupid, if she was being completely frank. But then again nobility did a lot of things for stupid reasons, and if it got her a boatload of bits and a stable source of food she was down for it. She smiled, and if it all went belly up, she'd maybe be able to get some help before that. "Does Trixie get a necklace?"

Octavia nodded absently. "Of course, we'll need to make it official, but until then we'll need to do some practicing before we can make the official announcement, so I'll give you the necklace to wear then."

Trixie nodded, hiding her scowl. She had wanted that valuable necklace in her hooves now. Traditionally in Equestria, whoever broke off the engagement forfeited their claim to any engagement jewelry. And while Trixie wasn't going to call it off she could see Octavia changing her mind, so she'd have gotten to keep the necklace. But she would have to make sure to play extra nice until then. "Well, when shall we start the training then?" Trixie did her best to not sound too excited, but Octavia picked up on it.

Octavia gave a small shrug. "Well we have about a month or so before I am scheduled to visit my parents and they are expecting to meet my fiancee. So that is the time that we need to aim for to get you properly taught on the ins and outs of court life. I assume you've been to Canterlot on your travels?"

Trixie nodded before her eyes widened, and she stiffened. "Wait we'd move to Canterlot!?"

Octavia rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Trixie, I just covered that you're the reason my choice for the exact reason that I do not wish to return to Canterlot, so I found a prospective wife here."

Trixie grinned, a bit embarrassed. "Right! Sorry, you just caught me off guard with the travel plans. Yes I've been there a few times. Expensive city though."

Octavia smiled a little and waved a hoof dismissively. "Right, this is a large amount of information, I shouldn't be too critical of you for not catching everything instantly." Octavia turned and started to head to the door. "Would you like a day or two to process or if you'd prefer we could start your lessons right now. Assuming you're still interested."

Trixie nearly leaped forward as she started after Octavia. "Oh yes. I'm still interested. I'll be happy to start the lessons today. Be best to show you right off you made the right choice and how well I can learn."

Octavia chuckled a bit and nodded. Once she calmed down Trixie was a likable enough mare. "Hopefully, we'll get along well so it's not a complete act."

Trixie grinned. "Very true, I'm not sure you could pull off such an act." Octavia let out an amused scoff as they left.

An Act

Trixie took a deep breath, looking down at the place setting in front of her. “The... Salad fork?”

Octavia clicked her tongue in disapproval. Raising a hoof and pointing at the fork next to the plate. “That one is the salad fork.” She pointed to the outside fork. “That one is the fish fork.”

Trixie groaned and rubbed her eyes. “Does it really matter what utensils Trixie uses?”

“What utensil you use.”

Trixie groaned again, louder. For the last hour Octavia had stopped answering her whenever she spoke in third person. “Does it really matter what utensils I use?”

“No.” Octavia shook her head, catching Trixie by surprise. She had been just complaining but the answer was baffling.

“Then why...!?”

Octavia wrinkled her nose at the other mare. “Because you're supposed to know the proper way to do things Trixie!” Octavia paused, taking a deep breath. “My apologies.”

Trixie grumbled but nodded. Octavia was annoyingly demanding that she learn these pointless things. But also was almost always unerringly polite. “You...” Trixie gave a mental headshake to herself. “It was nothing, Octavia.”

Octavia nodded approvingly as she pointed to the knife next to the plate. “What is that knife?”

Trixie frowned in thought for a moment before smiling. She was fairly confident that she remembered this one. “The dinner knife.”

Octavia nodded, seeming to start to move on before Trixie interrupted her. “Can I have a break?”

Octavia sighed but nodded her consent. “Very well.” She was feeling the urgency more than Trixie, as if this fell through it would likely mean that Octavia was stuck moving back to Canterlot, at least for a while. Trixie just went back to her life, albeit one of struggling. Though Octavia did smile slightly as she thought of all the 'just barely' eligible mares she could court to piss off her mother.

Trixie blinked, not having expected to get her way so quickly. “Oh, well...” She got up, smiling and stretching. She had been at memorizing the place setting for an hour. For some reason the forks were still giving her trouble. “I was expecting an argument.”

Octavia rolled her eyes. “I have no intention of looking over you like a schoolmarm. You are a grown mare and I’m sure you know how you learn best.”

Trixie grinned, standing a little straighter. “Well maybe in about ten minutes we could move into another topic? I could use a break from dinnerware.”

Octavia’s eyes sparkled slightly, giving what Trixie was fairly sure was a genuine smile. “How about dancing?”

Trixie grinned and hopped from leg to leg slightly. “Ooh! Yes! Trixie gets to lead.” Octavia cleared her throat quietly. Eliciting an eye roll from Trixie. “I get to lead. Better?”

Octavia smirked slightly but shook her head. “I’m afraid not Trixie.” Octavia cleared her throat, having the grace to look a little embarrassed. “I’m afraid that you’ll be marrying into my family. I’ll be the... ‘Stallion’ for lack of a better term.”

Trixie frowned, opening and closing her mouth a few times. “I... But... But Trixie is great and powerful...” Trixie frowned as she crouched down slightly. “Trixie won’t play second fiddle!”

Octavia frowned, her eyes hardening. “Is there something wrong with being in the mare’s role?” Trixie blinked, hesitantly straitening up, but apparently Octavia wasn’t done. “Simply because you get the secondary role doesn’t mean you are less important!” Trixie’s ears lowered as the tirade continued. “We all have to do things we may not like in this world! Now do you want to do this or not?” Her last sentence was bitten out between clenched teeth as Octavia glared right through Trixie.

Even the normally irrepressible Trixie was cowed by Octavia’s verbal assault. She’d backed up slightly, her head lowered towards Octavia. “Uh... I didn’t mean... I’m sorry Octavia... Yes I do want to do this...”

Octavia continued to glare for a few moments before she closed her eyes. After a long moment she sighed. “I’m... Sorry Trixie I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.” Octavia hesitated a moment before smiling and motioning to the door. “I think that’s enough for today.”

Trixie shifted a bit nervously as she paced slowly towards the door. “Trixie thought we only had a few weeks...”

Octavia smiled, though it was obviously forced. “You’re a fast learner Trixie, you’ll have plenty of time.” Octavia cast around before grinning. “Oh, you know, I should give you some bits. So you can get some food.”

Trixie frowned. “Trixie doesn’t need ch...” Her objection was interrupted by her stomach’s growl. She had food to eat back at her wagon but when you ate sparingly you got hungry if you didn’t eat at exactly the right times.

“It’s not charity, Trixie. I’m looking after my fiancé.”

Hesitating a moment Trixie nodded, still a little uncomfortable with the idea. “Thank you, Octavia. But Trixie has a question.”

Octavia chuckled. “Because when you are expected to know proper things I want you to speak properly. In private you can use third person if you want.”

Trixie blinked, that was... extremely reasonable. “That makes sense. But that wasn’t Trixie’s question.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“You seem... Strangely calm about marrying a stranger.” Trixie knew she wouldn’t consider it except for that she was uncomfortably unstable financially.

Octavia smiled a bit. “I promise this isn’t meant to be condescending. But there’s a saying. ‘Only commoners can afford love.’ I have known my entire life I wouldn’t be dating and marrying someone I loved Trixie.” Octavia let out a harsh laugh. “I’m fortunate really.”

Trixie has been nodding along. It made sense until the end. “You're fortunate?”

Octavia froze like she hadn’t thought she said that last part. “Uh... Yes...” She cleared her throat as she looked to the side. “Many don’t get to choose their mates at all. My family’s allies have no eligible children. And as the scion I will not be married off to join another family. Both of those combine into me getting to, within some strict limits, choosing my own mate.”

Trixie smiled a bit, hoping to defuse some of the underlying tension. “Yes... But short of a princess you couldn’t do better than Trixie Lulamoon!”

Octavia chuckled slightly, giving a small but genuine smile. “Yes, at least I got to pick a very beautiful mare.”

Trixie flushed slightly. “T-Trixie was... Trixie was talking about being great and powerful.”

Octavia chuckled and nodded, though Trixie could tell it was more in a humoring way. “That too, of course.”

Trixie nodded, pacing slowly towards the door. “Well, have a good day Octavia.” Trixie was a good, if not successful showmare. She could read Octavia as easily as she could read a crowd. Underneath the surface amusement something was bothering Octavia, but Trixie didn’t want to pry. It was an odd feeling bit wanting to pry to find out what was bothering her own fiancée.

Octavia smiled and nodded. “Thank you Trixie, you as well.” Trixie started to open the door as Octavia called. “Trixie.” Looking over her shoulder Trixie hesitated for a moment before turning and smiling a little shyly. Lifting the offered bag, obviously full of bits with her magic.

“Thank you, Octavia.” Trixie looked at the bag sideways, bag, biting her lower lip. “Really Octavia, thank you.”

Trixie raised an eyebrow as Octavia straightened up, adopting a somewhat more stern look. “It was nothing, Trixie” Trixie stared a moment before cracking up in small giggles, followed shortly after by Octavia.

Trixie waved a hoof and turned, leaving. She was still uncomfortable about the situation in general. But a full belly and a warm wagon would probably help fix that. And Octavia was actually a nice mare. They might not be in love but they no doubt would learn to get along well.

Octavia sighed and walked over to a wall of pictures. Making a small face as her eyes wandered over the picture of her mother she smiled faintly at her father. He was at core a good stallion, he simply let her mother browbeat him into anything that she wanted, and as such he wasn't of much help in dealing with her proddings about the marriage that Octavia really didn't want to bother with. But it was what it was. She smiled widely as she got to the last picture, though her smile was twinged with sadness at the same time.

"Hey brother, how is it going? Not much to report on the other side? You ever find grandpa and go through with your plan to tell him his daughter's a jerk?" She chuckled and shook her head, looking back at the door that Trixie had left through, heaving a big sigh. "Really, I'm grateful that I didn't end up getting married off, but did you really hate the idea of an arranged marriage soooooo much that you had to go and get sick?" Octavia smiled at her, admittedly, macabre joke. "Well wherever you are, if you can hear me, I just wanted to say that I missed you. Trixie's a pretty mare, she'll make a fine enough wife. So don't blame yourself for this, it's mother's fault. If I really wanted to I could tell her to stuff it and break off contact with her. But it's really not worth the effort. It's not like I had any romantic prospects anyway. And there's still some familial loyalty in me. I don't want our line to end, after all."

Shaking her head, Octavia walked away from the picture. While she had no real idea if her brother could hear her or not, it still made her feel better to talk to him. And since he was buried up in Canterlot his picture was the next best thing. She did visit him regularly. But there were times when you just needed to talk something out, even if you weren't getting any answers from who you were speaking with. She grinned to herself as she walked over to the kitchen.

Octavia supposed she should have invited Trixie to stay. But the mares comment had really set her off. It really hadn't been Trixie's fault, but originally Octavia knew that was her destined part to play in the family hierarchy. Married off to help secure a family alliance. That was until her older brother died, and she became the heir of their family name. She couldn't very well be married off and have her bloodline end there. She huffed a bit, putting on some water the boil. She didn't even know what she was planning on making, but lots of things used water so she wasn't too worried about it. She could always go out.

Octavia licked her lips and tapped her hoof, waiting for the water to boil despite not having anything ready to cook. She was too preoccupied with thinking sour thoughts about her mother. but she sighed eventually as the water started to boil. If her brother hadn't died she very likely would have run away from her responsibilities to the family. She'd still have had her brother's love, and her father's, even if her mother stopped him from talking to her. But there was also the core of responsibility to her family that she couldn't break. If she was simply a second daughter, that was not really too important to the family. They didn't really lose anything if she left. But as the scion of the main branch of the family she had a responsibility. And she couldn't do that to her grandfather or her father. She'd love to spite her mother, but she wouldn't hurt the other's she loved to do so.

Octavia rolled her eyes a bit at her mental complaints. She was busy growsing about her life when Trixie had literally just got enough bits for food for the week. Octavia knew she shouldn't complain too much, and at least she never did it verbally. At least, not verbally where the living could hear.

Closer

Octavia paced as she looked Trixie up and down. They were trying on a fitting for Trixie's new dress. It had taken a lot of cajoling, begging, and even a veiled threat or two to make sure that Rarity didn't spill the beans about their engagement early. She was a gossip, but also a well-respected fashionista, and a friend. So she could be trusted to make a stunning dress, and keep her mouth shut. After it was thoroughly impressed upon her that this secret was important to keep.

It had been two weeks, and, without any ceremony, Octavia had given Trixie an engagement necklace. She wouldn't wear it in public until the two of them went up to meet Octavia's parents in Canterlot and announce it officially to her parents. It was to be a formal affair where Trixie could show off what she had learned about etiquette over the past month and, hopefully, pass muster with Gilded Gold. If that all went according to plan then there would be a wedding later in the year, and Octavia could finally relax. Her familial duty done... At least for a while, she'd definitely need to broach the subject of foals with Trixie sometime.

Octavia's musing was interrupted by Trixie tugging st the collar of the dress. “Octavia? It’s a little tight.”

Octavia frowned and raised a hoof, smacking Trixie’s hoof away from the collar. “Ok, we’ll get that fixed. But don’t act so uncouth Trixie. Don’t tug at your clothes.”

Trixie whined a little but did stop tugging. “Trixie does...” Her sentence was interrupted by Octavia clearing her throat. “I do not appreciate being hit.”

Octavia started to retort quickly. “It wasn’t anything to complain about Trixie! It was...” taking a deep breath Octavia let it out slowly. “My apologies, Trixie. I am just... Nervous.”

Trixie blinked, her next complaint dying in her throat. After a few moments, Trixie awkwardly raised a hoof to pat Octavia on the shoulder, though the pat was as awkward as the rest of the action. “We’ll be fine.”

Octavia looked at Trixie, pausing a moment before taking a step away. “You’re right, of course. You have really put in the effort to learn everything. Thank you, Trixie.”

Trixie shifted a bit, smiling and bobbing her head gently to Octavia. “I told you I was great and powerful.”

Octavia chuckled as she helped Trixie out of the dress. Raising an eyebrow, frowning for a moment. “Trixie, you look different.”

Trixie smiled a ran her hooves over her coat, grinning as she nodded. “Oh, yes. Trixie’s coat has been more healthy recently.”

Octavia eyes her up and down. “It looks like you’ve filled out a bit more as well.”

Trixie grinned, nodding. “Oh yes, because Trixie has been ea...” Trixie trailed off and sighed at Octavia's raised eyebrow. “Trixie has been eating better.”

Octavia stared at Trixie, pausing for a long moment before she nodded. “On that note how is your food doing?”

Trixie blinked, squirming from one leg to the other... She’d saved up quite a bit. “Uh... Trixie’s ok.” Half of her mentally yelled at her for not asking for more bits. She could always use more savings. The other half said she didn’t need to take even more of Octavia’s bits.

Octavia smiled and hummed to herself as she hung the dress up. "That's good. We'll want you to look your best next week. We need to sell this to my parents."

Trixie nodded a bit. "Don't worry Octavia! Trixie is an expert performer! She will have them eating out of her hoof in no time!" She smiled, grinning, unaware of the glazed look in her eyes. "And you'll be able to take us out to a fancy restaurant."

Octavia chuckled gently as she watched Trixie almost salivating at the concept of a fancy restaurant. "Well, I can't if you look like that. It will give the game away."

Trixie giggled and straightened slightly. "Well of course, but this is just the two of us. In public, I will of course be far more controlled. As you said, I am a performer."

Octavia nodded happily at that. She eyed the performer up and down. "You did look good in the dress as well, that will please mother."

Trixie smiled a bit but motioned around questioningly. "So, we just need to tell Rarity to make a few changes. Shouldn't she have been here?"

"Yes, but she was busy today so I just wanted to see if there was anything major that needed changing. We'll have her take measurements again when she's free."

Trixie scowled slightly at the other pony. "You know I don't appreciate being played dress up when there's not a point to it."

Octavia clicked her tongue in irritation. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is a few times of putting on a dress too much to ask f..." Octavia stopped herself and sighed. "You're right."

Trixie grinned for a long moment before lowering her head in return. They were still what Trixie would call distant friends or close acquaintances. But Trixie had already learned that Octavia really did have a habit of being snappish when she was irritated. "Sorry, I shouldn't poke, you're... Really helping me out."

Octavia took a moment but smiled at the other pony, nodding. "Well, that would be rather gouache for me to mention now wouldn't it?" They both snickered slightly as they both knew that was exactly where Octavia's insult had been going before she stopped herself. "Though you do need some acting lessons too, Octavia."

"Oh?" Octavia wasn't sure if it was serious or a joke, but she was guessing Trixie was going somewhere with it, whether it was a joke, or a serious criticism.

"Yes! Your insults are way too blunt for the nobility. They're all about backhanded compliments and veiled insults."

Octavia couldn't help but let out a small snort. "Only with you, because you're my beloved wife, so you get the straight talk."

Trixie grinned a bit. "I'm your wife? And you're talking about 'straight' talk?" She snickered at her terrible pun and Octavia could only groan in response, shaking her head

"Not only was that terrible, but it also wasn't even original Trixie. I mean really, that has to be one of the oldest jokes in the book."

Trixie shrugged and set the dress aside. "Well I still like it, and you're stuck with me. Who else are you going to find to impress your parents?"

Octavia pretended to consider, tapping her mouth absently with her hoof. "Well... I could fake a pedigree for Rarity... That'd be a pretty easy sell to get her accepted..."

Trixie rolled her eyes and made her own suggestion. "I mean you could just skip the middle man and ask Twilight to marry you, she's already a princess."

Octavia nodded slowly, obviously in imitation of a thoughtful, deep thinking nod. "There's also Rainbow Dash, she's no noble but she is a Wonderbolt. Sometimes heroic feats can make up for lack of noble blood."

Trixie gasped and Octavia looked up and over quickly, but it was just due to her devious idea. "I hear Prince Rutherford is single..." Octavia couldn't stop a genuine laugh and more head shaking.

"You're terrible Trixie!" She trotted over and pushed Trixie slightly, who grinned and pushed her back.

"Hey, I'm stronger now that I've gotten more to eat, don't think you can push me around!"

Octavia grinned and motioned around the house. "Soon, all this will be yours my wife, but you will be expected to perform your wifely duties!" Trixie had only a moment to let her eyes widen at the implications before Octavia took away her apprehensions way completing her jokes. "Of spending my money on new shoes and designer bags!"

Trixie chortled, the two of them were getting along fairly well. Trixie had to admit that she might have been too conservative in her earlier judgment, they weren't distant friends, just... New friends. She would be marrying a friend she supposed. That'd be a nice little surprise from how this all started. "You know Octavia, I thought you were such a creep when you showed up outside my door to talk about this entire arrangement."

Octavia nodded. "Yeah, I can see how that'd come across to a stranger, but I mean, I didn't have much choice!" She waved a hoof. "There's not really an etiquette for asking a stranger to marry you, Trixie!"

Trixie nodded a bit and chortled. "Though we should talk a bit more about our life after the wedding?" Octavia nodded and Trixie did her best to give a nonchalant shrug, but really she did think this was important. "I think that... Well, unless you already own another house?" Octavia shook her head at the question. "I think I'd be fine with moving in here, if you'd be ok with that as well?

Octavia smiled and nodded, that would look better after all. And would get fewer sideways comments from her mother. "That'd be great Trixie. It is technically what is expected of us after all, so that'll make it an easier sell. You'll have your own room of course." She motioned up the stairs. "I have a few spare ones, you can take your pick." Then she had an idea and smiled a mischievous smile. "Actually, I think that we can have an extension built onto it so you can store your wagon in an enclosed storage area." Trixie was nodding before Octavia dropped the other shoe. Or rather, would have, except she wasn't serious. "Then we'll have you sleep out in your wagon. Nothing will have changed"

Trixie snickered and stuck her tongue out at Octavia. "Oh no, you don't! If I have a house available to me I'm not going to be sleeping in my wagon unless I'm on the road."

Octavia grimaced a short time before saying something she'd kind of forgotten. "Oh... Trixie... About being on the road..."

Trixie's eyes instantly narrowed as she looked at the other pony. "Yes...?"

Octavia huffed a bit, but there was no avoiding it. She'd purposely put off addressing the issue. "Uh... For about... Six months or so it'll be expected that you don't go on any long trips, it would... Look bad." Octavia braced herself for the doubtlessly coming tirade...

"Well, duh." Trixie was rolling her eyes, seemingly mildly insulted that the other pony hadn't realized she'd already figured it out. "To be frank I was afraid you were going to say like, a year or something. Six months is easy." Octavia stared at Trixie and she snickered. "Come on Octavia. my entire job is selling the audience a lie. You need to do the proper workup and groundwork to get them to believe it! It'd be like... Uh... Octavia? Why're you staring at me like that?"

Octavia was grinning gently as she stared at the other mare. "Oh... Just... I'm flattered."

Trixie tilted her head to the side "Uh-huh?"

Octavia smiled a little wider. "Well, you could be putting in the bare minimum of effort to get by, but you have thought up issues ahead of time to make it just work better. Thank you, Trixie."

Trixie coughed awkwardly into her hoof and decided that maybe it was time for her to go. "Uh... Well, if we want this business venture to work we need to both cover all our bases, don't we?" She started to head over to the door. "I have plans with Starlight Is should be getting to."

Octavia shook her head to clear it and nodded in agreement. "Right! Right!" Octavia walked her to the door. "I will see you tomorrow, Trixie."

Trixie nodded and glanced back over her shoulder. "Starlight's kind of my best friend... Can I tell her yet? If I keep her sworn to secrecy?"

Octavia nodded, she was certain Starlight wouldn't spill the beans. "Certainly. Just remember, it's secret." Octavia shut the door, smiling as she turned away.

Two Fights, One Victory

Octavia yawned slightly as she walked towards her front door. There was someone banging on her door. Unless they were on fire they were getting yelled at. When she opened the door however she was barreled over by whoever was one the other side of the door. The other was saved from a beating when Octavia recognized the star-spangled hat and cloak of her fiancée. “Trixie!?” But Trixie didn’t answer with words, as she was currently a bawling mess.

Octavia managed to extract herself and close the door. For a moment the practical side of her brain told her that she shouldn’t get closer to Trixie. To burry her fledgling feelings for the mare deep. Get Trixie back to her wagon and continue with the plan as it was. It was the predominantly logical thing to do. Octavia very thoroughly buried that part of her brain. She reached up with a hoof, gently rubbing the mare’s back. “Trixie, what’s the matter?”

Trixie looked up at Octavia, whimpering. “Starlight hates Trixie!”

Octavia blinked. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I’m getting married!” Trixie continued to whine, holding her forelegs up to Octavia.

Octavia was legitimately taken aback. Trixie had actively pushed her away when Octavia had tried to get a little closer to the other mare previously. Nothing romantic, Octavia had only recently accepted that she had those feelings about Trixie. But Trixie had a bit of a thing about her personal space. She wasn't nearly as casual with affection as most ponies. After a few moments, Octavia stepped forward and pulled the pretty unicorn close to her, adopting a far gentler tone as she hugged Trixie. “Oh... Trixie... I’m sorry, I’ll find someone else.”

The screech that Trixie produces causes Octavia’s eyes to go crossed for a few moments. Her brain likely damaged from the sound. “You’re going to abandon Trixie too!” Trixie burst into tears again as she looked up at Octavia.

Octavia was still a little disoriented from the screech, so it took her a few seconds to answer. “What? Trixie... I...” She sighed shaking her head. Rubbing her temples in both annoyance and pain. That screech had been extremely unpleasant. If she had been on the street she'd have assumed a murder was happening in the house. “I’ll give some bits to help you for a few months. I just want you to be happy.”

Trixie sniffled, wiping her nose and looking off to the side. “Trixie understands... Starlight would be a better wife...” She had stopped outright crying but still had silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

Octavia flinched. That seemed... Needlessly petty. Trixie could be a bit of a bragger and was infinitely sure of her self worth, but that was just mean. Octavia blew out a sigh though, she could deal with it, so long as Trixie was happy. Octavia was used to putting the needs of others first. She smiled as best she could as she let go of Trixie. “I hope Starlight knows how lucky she is.”

Trixie grumbled as she rolled onto her stomach. “And Trixie is supposed to be the arrogant one...” Trixie started towards to door with her ears and head down. Looking about as dejected as Octavia had ever seen her. She frowned deeply as she watched, she couldn't put her hoof on what was going on anymore. It didn't seem like she and Trixie were completely on the same page of... Reality. Though that wasn't too uncommon when dealing with Trixie.

“Wait. Trixie?” Trixie paused but didn’t turn around. "What does this have to do with you being arrogant?"

Trixie whirled around, her hackles up. Octavia was surprised, she had never seen Trixie legitimately angry. Annoyed, frustrated, even sulky, but not angry, not like this. "You're the one being arrogant, not Trixie!"

Octavia bristled at the accusation. There was a part of her saying to remain calm and reasonable. She buried that right next to the part of her brain that had been earlier saying to keep her distance. This was all Trixie's doing, she had no right to be angry. It was Octavia's right to be angry and she had been trying to be nice! "You abandon our deal. Then I congratulate you and compliment you by saying Starlight is lucky!" Octavia was starting to raise her voice, becoming even more agitated. "And I am the one being arrogant!?"

Trixie scowled, becoming indignant herself. She never liked being accused of things she wasn't doing, and now, on top of abandoning her, Octavia was baselessly accusing her of everything under the sun. She might not have any choice in the matter, but she wouldn't take it lying down! "Trixie isn't the one breaking the deal! You said you'd find someone else!"

Octavia blinked, staring at Trixie in stunned silence. She held up a hoof to Trixie, taking a few deep breaths. When she could trust herself to speak again she turned calm, but still angry eyes at Trixie. "Trixie... What exactly happened with Starlight?"

Trixie huffed but had been around Octavia long enough to not interrupt her when she had a hoof up. It occurred to Trixie that she shouldn't care about that anymore but she was still holding out some minute hope of salvaging the plan. She had grown fond of Octavia, she was a nice mare. Trixie was still fuming as she rolled her eyes. "Well, I apparently made the mistake of reminding you that Starlight exists so you could choose her instead!"

"Trixie!" Octavia shook her head, annoyed with her... Whatever Trixie was at the moment before repeating herself. "What exactly happened with Starlight?"

Trixie gave another harumph but gave in to the demand at last. "Well, she got angry when I told her about us being engaged. We had a giant fight!" She waved her hooves in the air. "Then I came here and you called off our engagement! I guess I'm not perfect enough for you if I'm upset after fighting with my best friend!"

Octavia frowned a bit deeper, taking a few hesitant steps closer, Trixie glared but didn't try to stop her from coming closer. "What was your fight about?"

Trixie sniffled a little, now that she was calming down she was falling back into sadness from anger. Wiping her nose with a foreleg she looked off to the side. "Like you care."

"Trixie! I am trying...!" Octavia let out a yell of frustration. "Trixie! Let me state this unequivocally! You are my choice, ok!?" Trixie blinked and looked back at Octavia. "Now what did you two fight about!?" The fact that Octavia was almost yelling shouldn't have made Trixie smile so widely.

"She said I can't marry someone that none of her friends knew she was even dating... And that we've only been... Uh... Together for three weeks..." Trixie knew that was a logical reaction. But still, Starlight's condescension was upsetting, and it caused a big fight. There might or might not be a broken table or two she'd need to ask Octavia to help pay for too... Trixie grimaced a little at the memory. Shifting her eyes back to Octavia she blinked, surprised to see Octavia smiling again.

Octavia couldn't help herself as a few moments later she started to chuckle. "We are both really, really bad at communicating." Octavia shook her head, still chuckling quietly. "Well, when you said she was upset, I thought you meant she was upset that you were getting married because she wanted to be in a relationship. And I thought that upset you because you were stuck with me now."

Trixie started to giggle a bit as well, before gently tugging at her cape. "Oh... No. I mean we're friends, but we're not interested in each other like that." Trixie grinned as she added. "I mean, besides the obvious fact that Trixie is so stunningly beautiful that all ponies would be interested in her!"

Octavia couldn’t help rolling her eyes, but her smile may have widened just the tiniest amount. "Well, now that we're in the middle of a fight, any other things you need to get off your chest? Or shall you head home? It's fairly late."

Trixie nodded. “Trixie has a question one more question, to tack onto our fight.”

Octavia chuckled and turned around, walking back toward her room with a stifled yawn. She had been getting ready for bed and wanted to get back to it. “Yes, Trixie?” Trixie licked her lips, taking a long moment to consider. Long enough that Octavia turned back around to consider her. "Trixie?" Trixie finally came to her decision to ask.

“What... Exactly did you mean when you said you only wanted Trixie to be happy? Trixie thought this was a business exchange...”

Octavia had already stopped walking towards her room, waiting for Trixie, but this made her freeze. Biting her lower lip she quickly tried to think up an explanation as she stalled for time. “Uh... It... Is...”

Trixie however, seemingly having made her decision to ask, shook her head. She didn't buy the answer for a second. “Octavia... Do you have feelings for Trixie?”

Octavia waved a hoof absently, doing her best to sound nonchalant. “Only, minority, Trixie.” Octavia turned around, smiling. “After all, you are great and powerful, and very pretty.”

Trixie paused for an extended moment before grinning. She was a showmare, a good showmare. She could read Octavia far better than Octavia would probably like. “Trixie thinks it’s a little more than that...” Trixie walked a little closer, looking at Octavia with her best half-lidded gaze. “Trixie thinks you had ulterior motives for picking Trixie to marry you.”

Octavia rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop her smile. Trixie’s arrogance was a bit endearing. “Fine, if you insist on hearing it, here it is. This did begin completely on a business level. But I will admit that your determination and self-confidence has grown on me. Now don’t worry this won’t change our agreement at all.”

Trixie looked to the side for a moment before looking back. “And... What if Trixie wants it to...?”

Octavia blinked, as taken caught off guard as if Trixie has pulled out a fish and slapped her with it. She shook her head slowly. "Uh... What now Trixie? You... Really?" She chuckled and shook her head again. "I... Really Trixie... This... Is a really bad idea...." it was Trixie's turn to blink in surprise.

"Why...?" Trixie would have in the past, likely even earlier this day exploded at the perceived insult. But after their giant argument from a single misunderstanding not five minutes ago, she was feeling more cautious.

Octavia smiled, tinged with a bit of sadness. "Well we're going to get married Trixie, right? We don't have a choice, either I get married to you, or someone else soon, very soon. " Trixie nodded. "So we can't date, we can't take the time we need to get to know each other. We need to enter in this as two business partners who are going to have an agreement to fulfill. We'll get along well, and we'll be fairly happy. If we had a relationship that didn't work out... It'd ruin that entire plan, and..."

Trixie shook her head. "Nu-uh. I'm not gonna do that." Octavia blinked as Trixie grinned. "I'm gonna make you try, or else I'm not marrying you!"

Octavia stared for a moment, before unleashing a sound somewhere between a groan and a laugh. 'Really Trixie? Well, I did say your determination was something I liked..." She held out a hoof. "The necklace."

Trixie blinked, staggering like she Octavia had stabbed her rather than asked for an engagement necklace back. But Trixie looked to the side, summoning the necklace from the air with her magic and floating it back over to Octavia. Trixie was about to turn to go, hiding her watering eyes, before she heard Octavia interrupted her retreat.

"Trixie, will you try to have a relationship with me?"

"Yes."

Interlude: Dinner

Trixie smiled as she dug around in the back of her prop chest. After a few moments, the secret drawer popped open and Trixie poured the majority of the bits Octavia had given her for food into it. She had has only twenty bits there, now she had almost two hundred. Trixie grinned down at the money before closing the drawer. She didn’t know how this thing with Octavia was going to go. But she had no intention of being unprepared if it fell through. She’d have a nice little store

Trixie lifted her saddlebags that were full the treasures she’d bought. Grinning, she set out her small packages. Setting out the products along with her usual large bag of rice. Trixie could suppress her grin as she pulled out a second bag of rice. There would be no skimping on servings this week!

Trixie retrieved the other package she'd bought, and smiled as she pulled out nice thin pieces of wood and fed them into her little stove. She lit up a small spark of magic and watched the flames grow. She could have simply lit the entire thing on fire with magic. But she couldn’t help herself but let the fire spread naturally. Watching it hop from log to log, shoot to shoot. Bouncing slightly Trixie had forgotten about her hunger in the face of a nice toasty fire. Though that rumbling in her stomach reminded her.

Taking a moment to forcefully calm herself down, Trixie continued. In almost ecstasy, as she measures out an entire half a cup of rice for herself. Grinning she licked her lips, pouring a half cup of water into the pot on her stovetop and letting it boil before adding the rice. Turning to her grocery bag she drew out a single apple and a carrot. Setting aside the others, she would save them for other meals throughout the week. She had enough for one of each a day! She couldn’t help but splurge today though.

After a short consideration, Trixie started to munch on the carrot. Watching the pot was agonizing but she couldn’t help herself. Her precious meal awaited her inside. A full serving of rice. And if she wanted to she could make more! She was nearly as infatuated with the idea of being able to make more as she was with what was currently cooking on her stove. Removing the rice and setting it aside to let it steam as she finished her carrot. Grinning she bounced a bit, saving her apple for after her rice.

Though Trixie let it sit for long enough, technically, it didn’t sit for a second longer. And no sooner was the rice on the plate as she started to devour the serving. Groaning a little as she sat back and patted her belly. She could make more rice but after the carrot and the full serving of rice she thought she’d be lucky to finish her apple. She did that easily none-the-less.

Interlude: Choices

Octavia sorted through the dresses that Rarity had sent over for her to decide between. Humming a classical song to herself as she compared them. Carrying a third dress over and setting it on the bed. She nodded to herself. They had Trixie's dress chosen, and Octavia narrowed her choices down to three.

Turning to her bed Octavia grimaced slightly. In just over a week she and Trixie were expected in Canterlot to meet her parents. This was going to be where the last month of teaching Trixie would either succeed or crash and burn. After the marriage, it would be over. She and Trixie could get back to their own individual lives, mostly. Their lives would be a little different in detail, but overall they'd be the same. Octavia would provide Trixie with an allowance that she could choose to stop performing and still live quite comfortably.

Octavia grinned to herself as she started to compare the three dresses while letting her higher brain functions wander. Octavia knew Trixie wouldn't stop performing. Trixie had said exactly that. That mare was as determined a mare any she’d ever met. Trixie would. no doubt, be doing it until she got famous. She showed off that in her lessons. Trixie had devoured the lessons she’d been presented by Octavia. Except for forks, Trixie just couldn’t get the forks right for some reason.

Octavia giggled gently as she set aside one of the dresses. Trixie almost threw one of the forks out a window the third time she failed to identify it from the other forks. The mare was a pretty little firecracker who had a short fuse. She was actually quite manageable until she was set off. Octavia was sure Trixie would keep control over herself with her future on the line.

Setting the second dress aside her mind wandered down a path she wasn’t expecting. Octavia wondered if Trixie would be interested in some traveling while they were playing up being a happy couple. Trixie might like a trip to Manehatten, or perhaps to Saddle Arabia, or...

Octavia blinked, staring at the dress a few moments. “What did I just think!?” She realizes she’d just been planning to take Trixie on a honeymoon! She had been getting closer to the show pony over the past few weeks, but this was a new development. She licked her lips as she sat down, contemplating her situation.

Hesitating a moment Octavia shook her head. As attractive an idea as that would be Trixie had shown no interest in her beyond a meal ticket. Octavia chortled at her own sardonic little joke there. It was an overstatement. Trixie was really a... Friendly acquaintance.

Octavia grinned as she put aside the dress that she’d picked out for herself. Octavia would put aside her little crush. It wasn't worth the risk of ruining her work with Trixie so far. She'd take a comfortable life, and not risk it for something that she'd never expected to have anyway.