Trixie's Best Date Ever! (Maybe)
Trixie huffed as she sat in front of the mirror, angrily examining her Great hat that inexplicably attained quite the obvious tear on such an important day of all times, and after surviving her cart's destruction to boot. Trixie let out a scoff, though accompanied by a small smile as she recalled why she was there, why the tear was so inconvenient. And it was all because of that book worm unicorn, Twilight Sparkle.
It felt like it was only yesterday to Trixie, that she was running through the night to escape the judging looks of the townsponies, when those two fools dragged an Ursa Minor to show up her hecklers. Trixie grimaced at the mere thought of those two. She had yet to forgive them, but she just might have to if the day went rightly. After all, if they had not dragged the Ursa to town, destroyed her cart and nigh ruined her image, then Twilight would never had asked her to stay in the Library. 'Asked' as in running after her in worry, with Trixie refusing at every turn before Twilight found her bawling in a puddle of mud.
It may have been a shot to her pride, at first, living with a more talented unicorn, but Trixie had to admit, she somehow managed to tolerate her gaggle of friends and ended up happy living with Twilight. So happy, that had it not been for the blasted tear in her hat, she would have asked Twilight Sparkle to join her as a Great and Powerful couple and eat somewhere nice to celebrate their newly upgraded bond. If Twilight accepted, which was a matter Trixie refused to ponder on.
Trixie's scowl intensified as she placed the hat on her head and shifted it over and over, never quite obscuring the tear in any position, much to her chagrin. She let out a sigh and plucked the hat off her head. It wasn't a big set back all things considered, but it still bothered Trixie. One of the first rules she learned upon the stage of entertainment was to never dwell on what was to come, merely know the performance and pull it off with brilliant flair! For the longer one dwelled on difficult performances the more likely you are to over think it and make a mistake.
Trixie absolutely refused to make a mistake towards her potential romance with Twilight Sparkle and no torn hat would get in the way of her heart's desire! Or so she told herself. After all, one of Twilight friends was quite the talented seamstress, so a simple tear would soon disappear. Right after breakfast, Trixie decided.
With her hat firmly within her magic and cape snugly clasped, she trotted up the stairs from her basement living space that Twilight had graciously given her. She walked through the doorway and could already smell the aroma of breakfast upon the air. Another great boon to living with Twilight Sparkle was Spike's spectacular cooking. Speaking of Spike, Trixie was a little surprised to see the young dragon engrossed in conversation with Rainbow Dash who was leaning through an open window.
Trixie shrugged off the sight, while she was curious she didn't really care to insert herself into a conversation with Rainbow Dash at the moment, instead she trotted into the kitchen where the lovely purple unicorn already sat at the table, a book in her magical grasp. She glanced up with a smile at the sound of Trixie's hooves tapping across the ground. "Good morning Trixie."
Trixie nodded at the greeting, setting her hat down upon the table. "Morning to you too, Twilight."
Twilight quirked an eyebrow at the hat. "Uh, what happened to your hat?"
Trixie groaned in an exaggerated manner. "Trixie does not know how this horrid tear came about. She was hoping to contract that seamstress friend of yours to fix it up for her after breakfast."
"Rarity." Twilight dead panned, "And I'm sure Rarity can fix that up for you." She adopted a slight smirk and placed her book on the table. "See how getting to know ponies can greatly effect your life for the better?"
Trixie rolled her eyes, though a small smile could be seen. "Yes, yes, Trixie has experienced more than a few of your little friendship adventures and they are well enough, Trixie just doesn't know how you can interact with them every day."
Twilight chuckled. "Sure, they have their flaws, but we all do, really. And honestly? I wouldn't have them any other way."
Trixie quirked her head slightly, and supposed that Twilight's assessment was true, but it was the tail end of Twilight's words that spoke to Trixie the most. She wouldn't want Twilight any other way, too. "Hmm, Trixie concedes you to have a point Twilight." Once their conversation died down and relative silence took its place Trixie finally noticed that the flavorful aroma of breakfast had become ever so slightly tainted. "Is something burning?"
"What?" Twilight muttered, surprised by both Trixie's words and the revelation that came with it. She quickly twisted her head to see that the hay bacon and a few pancakes were cooking away in a pan with Spike nowhere to be seen. "Spike!" She yelled, stuck between fire hazard fear and AWOL Spike annoyance as she moved towards the pan, lifting it off the burner.
Spike's voice promptly came from the main room, quickly followed by the dragon himself. "I am so sorry!" And went to work salvaging the breakfast, carefully taking the pan from Twilight's magic grasp.
"Spike, why did you leave breakfast like that?" She asked, exasperation upon her voice.
Spike gave a sigh of relief, seemingly having saved most of the bacon from a burnt demise. "I'm sorry Twi, I guess I lost track of how long the pancakes had left."
Twilight cocked her head at his words. "What were you even doing that would distract you like that?"
Trixie decided to interject with a slightly smug smile on her face. "Trixie saw Spike talking to Rainbow Dash through the library window."
Whatever Twilight was expecting, Trixie's report was not it. "Rainbow's awake this early? W-wait, that's besides the point, what was so important with Rainbow that it couldn't wait for breakfast to finish, Spike?"
He chuckled nervously. "W-well, Twilight, uh, I-I can't tell you!"
"And why can't you tell me whatever it is?" Twilight said, looking less than amused.
"I Pinkie Promised Rainbow I wouldn't tell anypony. I-It's real important to her."
Twilight narrowed her eyes at her assistant. "Be honest with me Spike, does this Pinkie Promise inconvenience anypony in anyway?"
Spike began to wave his claws only to then quickly save the hay bacon from their impromptu flight. Breakfast saved again he sighed and answered Twilight honestly. "It really shouldn't. Rainbow just wanted to make sure I don't accidentally blurt it out. She said, 'The Pinkie Promise, Pinkie Everywhere System is the only way to make sure you don't just yell it from the clouds.'"
Trixie snickered at Spike's attempted impression of Rainbow Dash while Twilight muttered, "'Pinkie Everywhere System?'"
Spike looked at Twilight with an unimpressed expression. "Remember when Fluttershy was a model?"
Realization flashed across her face and she simply nodded. "Oh."
Trixie was helplessly confused by the inside information, but a quick glance to her lame and pitiful hat forced her to hold her tongue on the matter. "Mystery solved, Trixie thinks, so can you please make like a magician and make breakfast appear, Spike?"
More than happy to move on from the topic, Spike gladly obliged. "Okie-dokie! Two pancake breakfasts with a side of hay bacon coming right up!" And appear breakfast did, as plates of beautiful pancakes and extra crispy bacon quickly were placed in front of Trixie and Twilight, just in time for her to sit down. Slightly burnt or not, Trixie had to admit, the hay bacon still looked good. Spike himself finally placed a last plate of pancakes, but substituted the hay bacon with two emeralds.
Trixie was anxious to finish the meal and run right to Rarity's boutique, but at the same time didn't want to ruin the genuine nice moment of enjoying breakfast with Twilight and Spike. Mainly Twilight, but Spike made the breakfast so Trixie figured she couldn't complain about his presence. In fact, Trixie thought, Spike was a fine enough dragon to have about. Not nearly as talented, beautiful and wondrous as Twilight, but nice to have around.
After breakfast was finished Trixie stood up from the table. "Trixie really enjoyed that Spike, thank you."
"Ah, don't mention it, Trixie. It's actually been interesting cooking for more than just me and Twi." Spike said with a smile as he placed the dishes into the sink.
Trixie returned the smile and picked up her hat. "If that's all, Trixie has to head to Rarity to have Trixie's hat repaired."
Spike suddenly tensed, but contrary to Trixie's assumption, it wasn't due to the mention of Rarity. "Oh! I need to go too! I promised Pinkie I'd remind her of something this morning."
Twilight quirked and eye brow at the statement. "What does she need a reminder of? Pinkie usually has a good memory."
"I don't know." Spike shrugged. "She just asked me to remind her to do something this morning and never told me what it was."
Trixie and Twilight shared a look of confusion and a shrug before trotting to the door. After Trixie and Spike exited the library tree, Twilight gave another smile accompanied by a wave. "Say hi to Pinkie and Rarity for me, okay?"
Spike gave a thumbs up and a smile. "Sure thing Twilight."
"Trixie promises to as well." Good byes given, the three parted ways, Spike heading one way while Trixie navigated Ponyville to her destination.
She still had a bit of trouble going about the small town, not too major of a problem, but enough that it could take her an extra few minutes to triple check her pathing and occasionally ending up a little off mark. She didn't really mind on most days, at least after the few months of living there, really it was the first week that was the worst. She had a hard time getting where she needed without a guide and while most of the ponies let things go after Twilight's explanation, a few still, maybe didn't glare, but they did look at her differently than other ponies.
As it stood, as Trixie trekked to Carousal Boutique, ponies were far kinder after Trixie became something of a staple of Ponyville, giving her happy waves that she politely returned. All in all Trixie's walks were far nicer than they used to be. And Trixie's current stroll would have been pleasant as well, if not for the light butterfly feeling in her gut and her anxious want to get to the point she can start worrying about actually asking Twilight out.
Either way, Trixie let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding the moment she found her way to the Boutique. She simply opened the door, the bell that rang as she did so being far better than any knock Trixie could give. Almost immediately after entering Rarity's voice rang out, "Coming!"
Not too long after Rarity entered the main room of the Boutique. "Ah! Trixie, what brings you to my Boutique today?"
Trixie resisted to roll her eyes at Rarity's typical voice, both feeling a little off having humiliated Rarity that day, and because she needed Rarity to fix her hat, which she relayed to her fellow unicorn, "Trixie's hat is in dire need of repair. And, uh, Twilight says hi." She held up said hat, presenting the ugly tear.
"Oh, dear, that is a nasty rip. But, don't you worry! I shall have this fixed in absolutely no time at all!" Trixie allowed Rarity to take her hat and kept some distance as Rarity floated the hat to a table to work on. "So," Rarity said, as she set to work on the hat, "Whatever caused this terrible tear?"
Trixie let out a sigh, once again forced to dwell on the enigmatic tear. "Trixie wishes she knew. It just appeared this morning, and right when Trixie needed it!"
"Ooh, you need it to complete your look darling? Whatever for? In fact this is only the second time I've seen you wear your cape since... uh." Rarity stumbled slightly, pausing her hat mending momentarily at the memory.
"Since Trixie tried to do her job?" Trixie said, hiding only a sliver of the venom from her voice. "But if you must know, Trixie needs to look her best, and her hat and cape have helped quell Trixie's minor stage fright in the past, so Trixie is hoping it will help her when asking for a date. Hmm, Trixie supposes she should ask how much she'll be paying for this repair." She added, almost as an after thought.
"Ooh la la! Looking to find a special somepony and it's not even hearts and hooves day?" Rarity exclaimed as she looked over the hat before bringing it over to Trixie, a pensive look overcoming her face for a moment, as if thinking beyond the hat itself. "Why, I cannot take a single bit for this mend. Not only was it quite a simple fix, but if it helps you find love, Trixie darling, consider it a gift."
Trixie actually perked up from that, both due to not having to pay and having her hat back in quite the pristine condition, she could hardly tell a tear had been there mere moments ago. "Well, Trixie is not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Her thanks, Rarity."
Rarity gave a light chuckle as she accompanied Trixie to the door. "I hope your wooing goes well, dear."
Trixie reciprocated the chuckle with one of her own that was tinged with nervousness. "Trixie hopes it goes well as well." She stepped out of the store, took a deep breath and placed her newly mended hat atop her head. "Now, Trixie must go and woo Twilight Sparkle!" She said, with more bravado in her voice than she actually felt, and slowly set off back towards the library, seemingly not in a rush.
Rarity chuckled, shook her head and closed the door. Really appreciating Trixie going out and socializ- Rarity whipped her head around to stare at the recently closed door. "Wait what?!"
Pinkie Pie gently bounced between the tables of Sugarcube Corner, carrying a tray of sweets to where Fluttershy sat. Said pegasus sat serenely at the table. "Um, not that I'm not enjoying this Pinkie, but do you mind me asking why we're doing this on such short notice?"
Pinkie placed the tray on the table, somehow continuing her bouncing in the process. "Well! Spike came up to me not too long ago and told me I told him to tell me I had something to do this morning! But when I asked him what I told him to tell me about, he said I didn't say. It was reeeeally confusing." Despite Fluttershy's look of confusion and the strange line Pinkie was following she happily continued, "So, when Spike told me I told him to tell me but didn't tell him what to tell me specifically, I deduced I had to have had a surprise for myself planned! So I thought, 'What would be the most surprising thing right this moment?' And after five hundred and thirty four ideas that while surprising just couldn't be it, I realized we haven't had some one on one time in forever! So I figured the surprise I had planned for myself had to be you!"
Fluttershy simply blinked at the still bounding Pinkie. "Oh."
"Soooooo, whatcha been up to 'Shy?" Pinkie asked, finally sitting down across from her friend.
"Oh, well, t-" Before Fluttershy could begin recounting her epic tale of awesomeness Rarity burst into the bakery.
"Fluttershy! Pinkie! Trixie-hat-date-Twilight-and-and-and agh!" Pinkie and Fluttershy both tilted their head in confusion as Rarity babbled only to flop onto a red couch Rarity pulled from somewhere.
"Hiya Rarity. Uh, what's the babbling about?" Pinkie asked, trying to subdue her mirth for Rarity's sake.
"Pinkie! It's wonderful! And potentially terrible! And grand! And ever so likely horrendous!" Rarity said as she flailed on the couch.
The continued word waffling merely confused the two mares more. "Um, Rarity, not to be rude, but we can't understand you."
Rarity sat up near instantaneously, looking over the back of her couch, looks of both insane glee and absolute horror battled on her face. "Trixie is going to ask Twilight out on a date!"
Pinkie let out a gasp while Fluttershy clopped her hooves happily. "Oh, my. Good for Trixie."
"Yes-no-maybe!" Rarity near shrieked, "She was just wearing her hat and cape, her performance outfit! And I can only worry she has no idea what she's doing! At first I wondered if I should insert myself and help her out, you know, give her some tips, dos and don'ts, but thought better of it. We're not terribly close after all. But then! She said she was off to woo Twilight! Fluttershy! Pinkie Pie! What should I do? I can't just risk Trixie going and tripping herself up and potentially ruining what could be both Trixie's and Twilight's glorious true and eternal love, can I?"
Pinkie's gasp finally came to an end as a determined expression washed onto her face and rubbed her chin. "You're right Rarity! As Twilight's friends, and Trixie's inevitable friends, we can't stand idly by and risk their happiness! This is just like when Applejack thought she could handle all of Sweet Apple Acres by herself, and I will be showered in sprinkles if I let Trixie and Twilight's relationship be the baked bad!"
Fluttershy simply nodded, a small smile on her face. "I do think it would be nice to show Trixie our support. Asking somepony to be your special somepony is a very big and terrifying step to take in a relationship."
Rarity lit up at her friend's words and practically leapt of her couch. "You two are right. What kind of friend am I second guessing my intuition like that? Why, Trixie and Twilight need all the help they can get! And I know just the thing that will do it! Thank you very much you two, but I simply must hurry before Trixie ruins everything for Twilight and herself." And with that, Rarity trotted out the door at an increased pace, dragging her couch behind her.
Pinkie also bounced from her position. "I my not have Rarity's knack for romance, but I know just what will help Trixie win over Twilight." She paused her bouncing, seemingly midair, to turn back to Fluttershy, "Oh, I hope you don't mind if I bounce on our one on one Fluttershy?"
"Oh, not at all Pinkie, why I was going to ask you first. I want to go and think of something I can say to Trixie to hopefully help her myself." Fluttershy daintily stood from her seat, readying herself to trot out the door, "Maybe we can try this again later?"
Pinkie continued her bouncing to the back of the baker, throwing her words behind her as she went. "For sure! If Rarity bursts in like that whenever we hangout, we gotta do it more often!"
Fluttershy let out a giggle as she walked. "But if Rarity always comes around when we hang out it won't really be one on one, would it?" Pinkie just laughed in response as she bounced fully into the back, and Fluttershy happily flapped her wings and took to the air as she left Sugarcube Corner.
Trixie did not go directly to the Library, instead choosing to wonder Ponyville slightly. She tried rehearsing the encounter in her head like any other performance, constantly found it lacking and taking another unnecessary turn. She was all prepared, she thought, but every step closer to the Library let loose a barrage of 'what ifs' she did not want to consider.
It wasn't anything new for Trixie. Early in her career every show began like that, with worry, and second guesses, and mental rehearsals. Trixie almost cursed how used she had gotten to not feeling such emotions and conjuring such worries. Granted, she was a stage magician, not a romantic, she hadn't even so much as touched a romance novel as far back as she could remember, leaving her without a single idea on how to proceed.
Why, she was so engrossed in her pondering that she almost crashed into Rarity.
After stumbling to the side and taking a moment to blink a few half dozen times Trixie asked the obvious question: "Rarity? What are you doing here?"
"Ah! There you are darling! Why, I was scared half to death that I missed you." Rarity said, a package simply floating next to her encased in her magic and at least three hairs out of place on her mane.
Trixie cocked her head to the side in confusion. "... Missed Trixie? Did-did you make mistake when mending Trixie's hat?"
Rarity gave a light gasp and put a hoof to her chest. "Perish the thought, darling! My mending was, well quite perfect if I say so myself, but I realized it simply was not enough! When you revealed it was Twilight you were going to ask to be your special somepony, I just had to do something special to help you." She floated the package up to Trixie and popped the lid off revealing a comfy looking purple hat and cape with similar stars of various colors dotting the pieces of fancy clothing.
The two neatly packaged pieces of apparel actually took Trixie aback for a moment. "Wha- wh- Do not take this the wrong way, but why would you make these for Trixie? HOW did you make these? Trixie hasn't been wandering that long has she?"
"Oh-ho-ho, a hat and a cape is NOTHING for me, even less when it is my friends happiness on the line!" Rarity announced, sounding slightly unhinged. Trixie spluttered slightly at the sheer absurdity set before her as Rarity continued, "Oh! I can just imagine you suavely strutting into Golden Oaks while wearing these, kneeling in front of Twilight with a bouquet of flowers and giving her a smoldering stare as you promise her the world!" The fashionista let out a new category of noise surrounding her sheer joy of the imaginary scene that was playing behind her eyes.
Trixie merely stared, stock still as Rarity's words echoed in her mind due to one simple thing: Trixie had, in fact, not planned to do any of that, she didn't know if she could perform a 'smoldering stare', and promising the world seemed a bit forward if she was honest. Trixie's face contorted with worry as doubts she didn't even know she had flooded forth from Rarity's imagination that just. Kept. Going.
"Ah, the very idea of you carrying Twilight out and into a romantic night of love and devotion... But, look at me rambling. I just wanted to do something for both you and dear Twilight to make your outing just a little bit more special."
Trixie fumbled with her words, torn between abject terror of being unprepared and the slight bit of niceness she was feeling from the genuinely generous gift. "W-well, Trixie thanks you v-very much Rarity. Trixie-uh..."
Rarity waved whatever Trixie was trying to say away with a smile. "Oh, think nothing of it darling. But, I really should get out of your mane. Now you go on and make Twilight feel like a bonafide Princess!"
The terrified magician could only swallow nervously as Rarity gave her a pat on the shoulder before trotting away happily, completely oblivious to the new realm of nightmarish failure she opened up in Trixie's mind. "A-alright, Trixie. You just have to grab some flowers. Yes, some flowers, like Rarity said, then you can ask Twilight." Trixie lied to herself.
She once again set out on her wandering, her goal of Golden Oaks replaced with wherever one might be able to grab a bouquet, having never had to get one in her life.
"Hey Trixie!" She flinched out of her thought process and turned in the direction of the voice to see Spike strolling up to her.
She took a deep breath and tried to force her encounter with Rarity to the side. "Hello Spike."
"Uh, you okay Trix'? You look... off."
Trixie rolled her eyes and replied with a sigh. "Rarity decided Trixie required relationship advice. She has left Trixie feeling, hmm, conflicted. And with a new cape."
Spike squinted and glanced behind him. "Rarity? Bu- I- Huh." He turned back to Trixie and shrugged. "Well, at least her heart was in the right place."
Trixie simply gave Spike a deadpan stare for a moment before speaking. "So, have you dropped by to offer Trixie advice on wooing?"
Spike almost burst out laughing, managing to stifle it down to a few chuckles. "N-no, no. I haven't even gotten Rarity to look my way. Any advice I give you would probably be more like a curse."
Trixie let out another sigh, the second being more of relief than the first. "Thank you Spike. Trixie is occupied enough as it is."
Spike gave a gentle smile and hug to Trixie, which she good heartedly rolled her eyes at but leaned into the hug. "Ah, don't worry Trixie. I'm sure whatever it is you're doing will go just fine."
Trixie smiled lightly at his words. "Thanks."
Spike disengaged the hug and glanced around. "Well, if that's all, I gotta get going. Hope Rarity's advice helps you Trixie."
"Trixie can only hope." She said, her words tinged with sarcasm, and the two parted one more. Trixie secretly appreciated Spike's random run in, she thought to herself as she wandered and glanced around, as she felt it grounded her a bit. Just a simple, short conversation and wishing her well did wonders for her. All she had to do was grab some flowers and be calm, charming and assertive when asking Twilight. It really was that simple. Or so Trixie thought until she rounded a corner into a bouncing pink blob.
Oddly, Trixie was not really surprised to see the anomalous pink pony. Her encounters with Pinkie and the constant insistence to ignore her impossibility have left her indifferent to Pinkie's shenanigans. "What do you want Pinkie?"
Pinkie giggled and seemed to bounce faster, the package on her head somehow managing to not fall off or go flying. "I want to help silly!"
Trixie had to repress the feeling of terror that rose at those words. "Trixie does not require help."
"Oh, don't say that Trixie, if you didn't need help you would have already gone to ask Twilight out already." Trixie begrudgingly had to admit she had a point. She kept that admittance to herself however. "That is why I have brought the perfect 'please be my special somepony' gift package!" She happily flipped the package from her head into her mouth and held it out to Trixie.
Trixie didn't have the strength to roll her eyes and just accepted the package. "... Is this just a bunch of sweets?"
"Nope! That is some of the highest quality snack sweets wrapped up neatly for giving convenience."
Trixie blinked and took another look at the sweets. They were neatly organized in their own individual compartments, each and every treat unique in the entire box. "Actually, this does look pretty good." She looked back to Pinkie with a tilt to her head. "May Trixie ask why you are helping in this way?"
"Weeeeell, Rarity came up to me and Fluttershy and wanted to know if she should butt in and give you help, and because it involves Twilight I said 'You're right Rarity!' And I decided to grab these for you."
"But why?"
"Because you probably don't have a reservation at a super duper fancy place, silly!"
"What?" All the doubts and worries Rarity dug up began having a party with the new worries Pinkie introduced.
"I'm good, but I can't just make a reservation appear out of nowhere. So, since you don't have a fancy place to represent you feelings, you can have my super special sweet selection to represent your feelings instead!"
"Uhm, representing Trixie's feelings?"
"Yeah! If you're asking somepony to be your special somepony, you gotta show them how over the moon they make you feel! You gotta show them how they make your heart leap! How they make your eyes sparkle!"
Trixie's eye began to twitch. "Rarity told Trixie she should strut in give Twilight a smoldering stare and carry her out for a night that makes her feel like a Princess."
Pinkie stopped hopping for a moment and hummed in thought. "Maaaaybe, but I think a little too stoic. You gotta practically sing your feelings Trixie! Let Twilight know just how you feel about her so that Twilight can let you know just how much she feels about you!"
Trixie was practically shivering from the conflicting thoughts of boisterous announcement or smoldering charm. "U-um, Trixie uh..."
"Ah! Don't let me get in your way! I was just here to give you those anyway. So, while you go woo Twilight, I'm going to go plan a 'Congratulations Twilight and Trixie on your Special Somepony Status' Party! Or... should it be a 'Congratulations Trixie and Twilight on your Special Somepony Status' Party? Whelp! That's what planning is for! See ya Trixie!"
Trixie could only mumble a farewell as the pink anxiety inducing ball of energy bounced away to realms unknown.
"Well. At least Trixie does not need flowers anymore."
Trixie began to wander after her encounter with Pinkie Pie, no longer searching for a seller of items she thought she might need, but instead searching inside herself. She hadn't put much thought into the 'how' she realized, having been focused on the act itself and the result of the act, but not how she'd go about asking Twilight. And where once none stood two then fought, and Trixie didn't know which one to choose. As her thoughts delved deeper she placed the two packages on her back for safe keeping.
'This,' Trixie thought, 'is precisely why Trixie does not let others plan her shows.'
Trixie did not know how long she plodded around town, immersed in her own thoughts of indecision. The next thing she consciously acknowledged was a certain yellow pegasus trying to get her attention, which conversely to Fluttershy's intentions, violently wrenched Trixie out of her thoughts. "WHAT?!" Trixie initially yelled before dialing it back with a deep breath. "Please, just... please tell Trixie you did not come with a gift or unrequested romance advice."
"O-oh, um, w-well I actually didn't." Fluttershy said, after recomposing herself from Trixie's yell.
"Oh. Oh. Uh, good. Then... why did you seek Trixie out?" Trixie asked, genuinely curious.
A small smile spread across Fluttershy's face at the inquiry. "Well, after Rarity came by and told Pinkie and I about your plans, well, I tried to think of something I could give you or tell you to help, but I couldn't think of anything." Her smile dipped slightly before perking up again, "But then I figure, if I couldn't help you in some way, I should show my support for your decision. You rock. Whoo-hoo."
While the cheer would have been seen as pitiful by any other standard, Trixie actually smiled at Fluttershy's show of support. "Thank-thank you, Fluttershy. Trixie actually needed that."
Trixie began walking in the general direction of the Library, deciding to force herself to choose once she got there, Fluttershy walking beside her. "Oh, I can only imagine. Asking somepony to be your special somepony, why, I don't think I could ever do it myself." Trixie chuckled at the timid pegasus' confession, "I-I mean, I've never really had anypony I'd want to ask before, but I have read quite a few books, that Rarity lent me, that have made me think about it, and they always have me thinking the worst things. What if they don't reciprocate my feelings? Why, I would be very embarrassed by that."
Trixie let out another, more half hearted chuckle at Fluttershy's continued train of thought. "Hah, uh huh..."
"And then I thought about how awkward it would be if they, well, 'swung' differently. Like, a stallion being only into stallions or a mare not being into mares. So they have to correct you on your advances."
All humor was dead in Trixie, and its cadaver had been invaded by an army of anxieties. "Uh huh."
"And even worse, what if it changes your relationship forever?" Fluttershy happily continued, "You ask them such a deep and personal question only to be turned down and then your friendship just isn't the same anymore? When I first thought about that possibility, I almost couldn't sleep for a month."
Trixie stopped moving entirely at that point, rigid, still, and the more perceptive might even had noticed the fur on her face being a few shades whiter.
"Oh, but I really should get out of your way, shouldn't I? I'm sorry. It's just the idea of two of my friends getting together is so exciting and nerve wracking. Uh, well, good luck Trixie. Y-you rock." Fluttershy said, before fluttering away obliviously, leaving a poor rattled unicorn alone with her thoughts.
"Whoo-hoo..." She echoed as a goodbye.
Trixie tried to ignore the various fears that oh so freshly began to knock upon her mental fortitude, and for a while she managed to succeed. At least until her destination, Golden Oaks Library, finally came into view.
Her steps became more uncertain with every step she took to that wondrous place. The nearer the tree became, the more that her uncertain and contradictory thoughts flew through her mind. She became critical of the sounds of her own hoofsteps against the stones and dirt of the ground and anxiously wondered if swapping her hat and cape in front of the Library would be seen as weird. The worries Fluttershy spoke of flared through her mind as she was so dangerously near the home of Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight Sparkle would never settle for her, would she? A mere street performer whose very presence put the town in danger going out with the protege of Princess Celestia herself who sent Twilight down from Canterlot like a shining warrior to do battle with Nightmare Moon? What a joke. Why, the moment she bursts into the Library, interrupting Twilight's reading, she could only imagine the disgust that would play across Twilight's face. Trixie would lose her friend! And end up thrown out of her temporary home and back into the mu-
Too embroiled with fears of 'what-if' Trixie did not watch her step and tripped over a surprisingly sturdy twig. The misstep caused Trixie to stumble and flail, Rarity's pristine cape and hat and Pinkie's top tier sweets flew from her back, and in her panic Trixie lunged to save them. While she did manage to bring the two packages safely into her grasp, her balance was thrown off ever more and she was sent hooves over tea kettle, into and through a bush, and with a resounding splat ended her journey in a pile of mud.
For a moment the only movement from Trixie was the uncontrollable shaking and the only sound being harsh and heavy breathing. Eventually she cracked her eyes open and rolled onto her front, eyes closing again at the sadly familiar feeling of mud grinding against her fur. She forced her eyes open through the shaking and felt she should have kept her eyes shut after all.
Rarity's immaculate hat and cape were strewn in the mud, rendered unwearable. Pinkie's special sweets, too, were thrown about the mud, grass and dirt, even the chosen few that stayed in their neat compartments in the box were rendered inedible. But the one thing that truly broke Trixie into anxiety ridden sobs, was the sight of her newly mended hat, skewered on a stick so hard a far more harsh hole had made itself home where the tear once was.
All Trixie could bring herself to do was lightly pound at the mud, tears mixing with the dirty brown of the moist and sludgy earth, and for a moment, Trixie was alone in a world of abject failure.
At least until the unmistakable sound of a plastic straw annoyingly struggling to suck the last vestiges of whatever chose liquid played out from above Trixie's land of misery. Summoning her fledgling strength, Trixie looked up to see the familiar rainbow mane of Dash from that morning. "Uh, what's up Trixie?" Said Rainbow, obviously intrigued at the strange sight.
"Leave Trixie be! Trixie deserves to be left her to wallow in her misery-y-y-y!" Trixie wailed.
Rainbow took another tentative sip of her drink as she drank in the strange request. "Why?"
Trixie's front half shot up to glare at the flapping pegasus. "Because Trixie did not remotely prepare for something so important as asking out Twiligh-i-ight! Trixie did not have a special outfit! She did not have anything special planned! She... she... I didn't even get her a present much less some flowers or special sweets to represent my feeeeelings! And then I didn't even get to actual ask her before I screwed u-u-u-up!" Her admission of failure announced to the world, she let her face flop back into the mud, air bubbles rising along with muffled sobs.
Rainbow simply watched the sobbing unicorn with a look of confusion before bringing Trixie's face out of the mud. "Ya know none of that matters right?"
Those words perplexed Trixie so much her sobbing actually ceased. "What do you mean none of it matters?! I failed!"
Rainbow shrugged her shoulders. "So what if you failed? So what if you didn't have a fancy shmancy cape, or a big dinner or whatever planned? So what if you didn't bring a gift or sweets to 'represent your feelings'?" She emphasized her words by tipping the box of muddied sweets to the side. "All that junk is nice, I guess, if you're into them, but they're just, like, ten percent of a good relationship. But, the other pony is already one hundred percent of that good relationship. That's why you don't need flowers, or sweets, or clothes to represent your feelings. You represent your feelings."
Somehow, the brash, tomboy pegasus managed to calm Trixie down, and even more terrifyingly, she actually seemed to be making sense, at least to Trixie. "B-but, even if that's true... look at me. M-my hat is ruined again, my cape is dirty. Gah! My mane!" She tugged at said mane, which was messy beyond words, with not only mud, but leaves and twigs sticking out.
"Trixie. Twi already took ya in bawling and muddy once. What makes ya think she would turn you away the second time, when you're actually asking this time?"
Trixie sat up from her mud laden fate and blinked. "Huh."
A devious smile played across Rainbow's lips as she glanced towards the Library. "But... If you're not gonna go for her, then maybe I should. Twi does look pretty cute when she gets into a boo-"
Trixie rushed into Rainbow's face so fast she almost poked Rainbow in the eye with her horn. "You will not steal Twilight Sparkle from Trixie!" And without a second thought or a look back Trixie dashed through the bush and into the Library.
Rainbow let out a torrent of laughter before getting her composure back. "Oh, classic Rainbow move, just classi-AGH!" In her attempt to look cool by leaning against the Library while flying, Rainbow had misjudged the distance and fell into the ruined pile of sweets and clothing. "Ugh..."
Meanwhile Trixie burst through the Library door, startling Twilight who looked at Trixie with a mixture of surprise and worry. "Trixie! Oh Celestia, what happened?"
Trixie was nearly hyperventilating as she tried to force her words out. "I-I-I- haaaaaah... Trixie-would-like-to-ask-you-to-be-her-special-somepony!" Upon spouting the words out Trixie shut her eyes closed and grimaced for the inevitable rejection... that never came.
She gently cracked her eyes open to see Twilight covering her mouth with her hooves. Her eyes sparkling like never before. "I... I'd love to!"
Trixie's eyes shot open wide. "R-really?"
Twilight simply ran over and hugged the muddy mare. "You have no idea!"
Trixie smiled widely and returned the hug. "E-even if I-Trixie doesn't have anything planned?"
As the two broke off the hug Twilight chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I know just the place we can go to." She took a step back and smirked as she looked Trixie over. "Though... we both need to get cleaned up first." She said, pointing to all the mud.
Trixie chuckled bashfully at the realization she had tracked quite a bit of mud in. "Oh-ho. Sorry."
Only a little bit later, Trixie sat across from Twilight, sans hat and cape, smiling happily as Twilight dived into another hay burger. "You really like those, huh?"
"Mmm, thgher sho ghood." Twilight said in ecstasy while Trixie lovingly wiped some rogue sauce off her chin with her magic.
Not too far away, in two fourths shock, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and a slightly muddy Rainbow Dash stood watching.
"What happened to her glorious hat and cape?" Rarity whined.
"Aw, where's the super sweets?" Pinkie joined in.
Fluttershy meanwhile had a small smile as she fluttered next to her friends. "Oh, wow, I guess all her special planning fell apart and she still went through with it! Trixie sure is strong."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes with a smile. "Did you really think all that extra junk would seriously help?"
Rarity sharply turned to Rainbow with a glare. "Why of course! I couldn't just stand by and not help!"
With a smug look and a gleam in her eye, Rainbow leaned forward. "Yeah, you really 'helped' Trixie have a near break down in a puddle of mud with all those romantic expectations you gave her." The smugness quickly fled from her face, replaced by a look of tentative disgust, "You have any idea how sappy I felt talking relationship stuff at her? Blagh!"
Rarity stood stock still and began muttering, "W-wait. S-so, I almost ruined Trixie's relationship a-and Rainbow... Rainbow fixed it? I... I-I'm worse at romance than Rainbow Dash?"
Pinkie worriedly, yet gently began poking Rarity. "Equestria to Rarity. You okay Rarity?"
While the poking was beginning, Spike walked up to the four ponies with a giant bag of bits which drew both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy's attention. "Um, Spike?" Fluttershy questioned, "What are you doing with that much money?"
"Oh, this isn't mine." Spike groaned, as he fought against the bag's weight. "This is Rainbow's winnings."
"Aha! Thank you very much." Rainbow Dash happily scooped up the bag.
Pinkie stopped her prodding and tilted her head. "Winnings?"
"Yeah," Spike said, "That's the "When Will Twilight and Trixie Get Together" betting pot. And wouldn't you know it I was one day away from winning it, too."
Pinkie's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute? I never did tell you to tell me I told you to tell me I had something to do this morning did I? But, wait, how did you...?"
As Pinkie trailed off, glancing between the bits and Spike, he raised his hands to defend himself from her glare. "Hey! I was just betting on you doing something unexpected, like roping Trixie on a wild west adventure for a day or something. Really, I had no plan at all, I just saw Trixie leaving with her torn hat and figured I'd try to delay her with some Pinkie Pie randomness, I didn't know you'd accidentally cause her to have a panic attack. If I had, I would have left well enough alone."
Rarity finally snapped back to reality and stared at the bag. "But, wait, if the betting pool was that big, just how many ponies knew before me?"
"Hoo-wee! So they're finally doing it, huh?" Said the sudden Applejack, who walked up to her group of friends, "Why, I bet half the town was gettin' antsy just waitin' for 'em to realize the stares they were givin' each other." She turned to Rainbow, the smile of seeing Twilight and Trixie together lingering, "And Rainbow, Ah'd very much appreciate it if you could give me mah scissors back."
Rainbow Dash whistled and tried to appear inconspicuous at the request, which is very hard to accomplish with a giant bag of bits in your hooves. "I, uh, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh no you don't missy! I saw ya leavin' mah farm this morning, earliest I've seen ya up to boot, and mah scissors were missing. Ah need 'em back."
As the two began to argue Rarity's eyes began to twitch as her thoughts swirled around the situation in general before finally flopping onto the ground with a groan.
"Uh, Rarity?" Pinkie asked, "You forgot your couch."
"No darling." Rarity tiredly responded, "No, I did not." Simply confusing Pinkie further with such a statement, while Fluttershy and even Spike giggled at their friends' antics.
Back at the table, the new couple also giggled as they embraced in a hug. "Trixie must say, everything considered, this has been a nice day."
"You're going to have to tell me exactly why you were covered in mud back there. And... say, how about moving out of the basement." Twilight said drawing away from the hug slightly.
"Oh?"
Twilight tilted her head slightly and gave an absolutely smoldering stare towards Trixie. "You can sleep in my bed~."
Trixie's face heated up from both the look and the words, but fought off the flustered feelings rising in her chest and tried to match the look with one of her own. "O-oh. Trixie... I would love that."
Giving a satisfied hum, Twilight engaged Trixie in a tighter, warmer and more intimate embrace that overtook both their beings. Almost like the outside world melted away. Like it was only the two of them. So deep and engrossed were they, that they managed to ignore what had to have been half of Ponyville letting out a single happy, "Aw..." At the adorable, loving sight.
The embrace was not deep enough, however, to ignore Rainbow Dash's shout of, "GET A ROOM YA NERDS!"
Trixie refused to disengage the embrace as she yelled back, "You shall not ruin the Great and Powerful Twilight and Trixie Duo's mood you rainbow braggart!"
"Oh, that's rich coming from you!"
And so, friendly jabs were sailed back and forth, friendly glares and laughter shared as their friends joined them at the table. Congratulations given with smiles galore, and beneath her faux annoyed glares and scoffs from within Twilight's embrace, Trixie had to admit.
She wouldn't have had it any other way.
Fin
