The Sad, Lonely, Hearth's Warming Trix-Eveby JTHChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1It was a glorious morning in Ponyville as another Hearth's Warming Eve was just around the corner. Weather Ponies called just a slight flurry of snow just to get ponies into the feel of the excitement of another winter approaching. And for one pony especially, the approaching of Hearth's Warming Eve was a grand time of the year. At the said time, a blue unicorn used her magic to hold up two items towards a clerk at a corner market to present a conundrum. "So which toboggan do you think Starlight would like most? The pink one with her name on it, or the purple one with her name on it?" Said the unicorn with a huge grin, which was received with a blank stare from the market host. "How should I know, I don't even know your friend..." Answered the host in a smug, moot voice; staring at the hat the pony was wearing a bright blue tabogon with the name "Trixie" in purple glitter font. The comment from the host was responded with a raised eyebrow from said Trixie followed by a scoff. "Well, with an attitude like that, you're lucky to have friends." She answered, looking back and forth at the two hats. "Ya know what, I'll take both...just...wrap them up...now!" With that, Trixie used her magic to toss them on the host's muzzle. He moaned at the gesture, though in Trixie's mind...he deserved it. She started prancing in place with giddiness. "I love this time of year! Ever since we became friends, Starlight and I travel during Hearth's Warming Eve to get to spend some quality time together." Trixie getting chipper with every word as she pulled out a list of the things they planned to do. "We're gonna sing carols, drink hot cocoa, tell stories about when we were foals..." Trixie stopped after saying that. "...Well, the stories Starlight feels comfortable telling at least. Build snowponies, exchange gifts, play games..." Trixie's widened coming to a realization while reading the list frantically. "Wow! I'm starting to sound like Twilight..." To which Trixie then magically ripped the list in two and let it fall to the ground... "We're gonna do whatever we want! Phew...crisis adverted. I can't wait to spend all Hearth's Warming Eve with my BEST FRIEND!" She was stopped by the clerk's voice. "That's nice. Here's your hats..." He said. Trixie pulled them away with her magic. "Great, took you long enough..." As she trotted away. "Hey! You forgot to pay!" The clerk angrily yelled. Just then, a gold bit was flung at him and hit him between the eyes, he showed no effect to it as spun around on the table in front of him. "...Thank you." He said once he was paid. So it was a typical day thus far for "The Great and Powerful Trixie"! Before her glowing purple eyes stood the castle of Princess Twilight Sparkle, decorated massively with lights, wreaths, and candy canes galore. All those things were wonderful, but to Trixie something, or rather somepony within the walls of said castle was even more wonderful. Her best friend, Starlight Glimmer. The time they had spent together had increased greatly since Trixie had become the counselor of The School of Friendship, but with Winter break ongoing their time with one another decreased. So it made her more excited knowing their annual vacation would bring them back together once again as she trotted towards the massive castle awaiting to see a familiar face. Meanwhile, within the castle walls even more decorations were being placed by The Princess of Friendship and her assistant Spike. One placed the wreaths with her magic, the other flew from post to post putting them in position. "Well done Spike!" Twilight cheerfully stated. "Seven hundred fifty-four total wreaths placed. Only took two hours and three minutes." The purple dragon did not look as full of energy as his counterpart. Sweating and panting heavy. "Yeah..." Spike yawned out his answer. "Now time for well deserved nap..." But before he could turn around, a loud bang on the main doors came, Twilight looked down at Spike in confusion, who sighed quickly after. "Don't worry, I'll get it. Probably need the exercise..." Just as Spike was about to open them, a big pink magic burst quickly flung the doors open, hurling Spike in the distance. "Starlight! It's me!!!" Trixie slammed the doors closed with her magic just as hard as she opened them. The huge rumble made all seven hundred fifty-four wreaths fall from their perches to the floor, two of which ringered around Twilight's neck who looked at the blue unicorn with extreme annoyance. "NOOOO!!!!" Spike yelled aloud. "Two hours of my life...GONE! RUINED!!!" Trixie looked around at the mess she had made and chuckled. "Sorry about this, I'll take care of it for you..." With that, Trixie began using her impressive-fully improved magic to float all the wreaths back to the ceiling areas and all the positions they laid. In a mere couple seconds, it was all back the way it was. Spike looked with a dropped jaw and peered over to the purple Alicorn next to him. "Really? If she could do that, couldn't you have done that too?" Spike suspiciously asked. But Twilight placed a hoof to him and explained. "That wasn't the point, the idea was about spending time together." She reasoned. "FOR TWO HOURS!?!?!" Came a yelling response of revolt from Spike which only got a giggle from the Princess. Trixie only rolled her eyes at what she was witnessing. "I hate to ruin the family quarrel, but I notice that somepony is noticeably absent." She brought the attention to the present company, who looked to each other and got a little tense. "Whatever do you mean Trixie?" Came a slow hesitant statement from Twilight Sparkle. "Well, we can't have a "Trixie and Starlight's "Great and Powerful" Annual Hearth's Warming Eve Caravan Vacation" bonding without the "Starlight" portion of that title." Trixie irritably told the Princess. "Where's Starlight Twilight?" The look on Twilight's face was beginning to concern the blue unicorn, even more so when Twilight started clearing her throat, sweating, and stuttering. It seemed like Twilight was trying to communicate, but to no avail. Trixie grabbed her to look her muzzle to muzzle, "Twilight, where is she!? Is something wrong?!" Before Twilight could answer, Trixie ran off running up the main stairway up to Starlight's room where she would be. Twilight rushed up to follow behind before the potential answer would be revealed. Trixie hurried into the room that Starlight Glimmer called her own with Twilight close behind... "Starlight!?" She said in a state of concern. It was followed by a barrage of hacking and horrible coughing, to which was Starlight Glimmer, surmised inside a glowing health bubble. "Hi Trixie..." She said in a weak muttered voice, followed by more coughs, putting a look of worry on the face of The Great and Powerful Trixie... To be continued... (Or cue the theme) Chapter 2As the sick pink unicorn continued having a coughing fit in bed, her confused friend stood beside the princess at an almost lost for words. "Starlight, what are you doing in a health bubble? I mean...it's not like you're sick or something..." Trixie tried to trick herself, which was quickly responded with more massive hacking from the pony inside the bubble. "...Okay, maybe you're a little sick..." Which made Starlight bury her head into her pillow. "I'm afraid this isn't a little anything Trixie." Princess Twilight interjected, using magic to thumb through a medical book in sight. "According to this book, Starlight Glimmer has..." The purple pony gasped. "TO-BRONCO-LOCUS!" It was followed by a confused look from Trixie. "To-burclu-what now?" "To-bronco-locus is combination of many different ailments: Colt Cold, Pony Flu, Hay Fever. And above all else...highly contagious." Twilight researched. "It takes about three whole days to fully get over, if you take full precaution and intense care. And I'm not sure when Starlight actually acquired the symptoms. So..." "Well good." Trixie happily perked cutting off Twilight magicking the medical book closed. "Three days just means she'll be all well and good once we get back from our trip." She then trotted over to the bubble which lead to Twilight staring at her once rival in utter confusion. The unicorn banged on the bubble trying to get it to bust apart. After several seconds of failing to accomplish her point, Trixie then which turned to the Princess. "Umm, where's the door to open this thing?" Twilight realized that this was something that was going to need to be as blunt as possible walking up to Trixie with a frown. "Trixie, I'm afraid to tell you that Starlight isn't going anywhere this year. She needs the rest to get well." After a pause and stare, Trixie busted out in sarcastic laughter at the Princess of Friendship. "Good one Princess, you almost had me there..." As she trotted back over to Starlight. "Come on Starlight, you don't really believe her do you?" But the blank stare and wincing teeth told Trixie that she was hiding the truth from her, until she up and said. "Trixie...I'm sorry, but...I'm afraid Twilight's right..." The realization hit Trixie hard and fast. She tried to hide her sadness, but didn't do very well of it. But she tried to fight through. "Well, here's your gifts I got you..." As Trixie floated the hats she purchased on the table next to the health barrier guarding Starlight Glimmer, to then she slowly started to head out. "We can always try next year I'm sure...I guess I'll just spend Hearth's Warming Eve alone this year..." She quietly announced followed by a sniffle of her nose. "...just like old times..." She slowly pranced past Twilight who looked unhappy of the mood as well. "Goodbye Starlight, Happy Hearth's Warming..." Trixie then pulled out one of her patent smoke bombs and instead of her traditional throw at the ground next to her, she merely dropped it by her side, but though it exploded the puff of smoke was as pitifully demeaning as Trixie's slow depressing walk out of the door that was seen when the tiny smoke cloud faded. Twilight and Starlight watched the pony walk away looking miserable as the departing, though Starlight for other reasons naturally. Starlight sighed at the look of her depressed friend. "Ugh...this is all my fault! Why did I have to get sick!? If only there was something I could do..." As the sick pony in bed buried her head in her pillow again, The Princess of Friendship tried to come up with a solution that could help. Nopony should feel miserable on Hearth's Warming Eve, a day that ponies celebrate being together. And Twilight was going to make sure it stayed that way. *** Later that day, the main throne room in Twilight's Castle was accompanied by the remaining members of the Mane Six, summoned by the Princess. They gathered around in their respected seats wondering what the issue was. "This must be a REALLY big problem if Twilight called us all here." Rainbow Dash broke the silence in the room. "You don't suppose somepony's in trouble do you?" Fluttershy asked in concern, which was given a response when the main door opened behind them. "Indeed there is..." Princess Twilight answered, trotting out with a scroll held up with her magic, taking her seat at the table. "Starlight Glimmer being sick, Trixie doesn't have anypony to celebrate Hearth's Warming Eve with. I think we need to do something for her." A hushed silence came before the room, some blinking rapidly, some dropping their jaws. "Wait...you wanna help Trixie? As in...TRIXIE!?" Rainbow Dash said in pure befuddlement. "I must say, I never imagined the day I would hear you say that darling." Rarity followed. "Perhaps..." Twilight admitted. "But I need some help from you girls. I've made a list of things Trixie likes. Here's what I have so far..." With that, Twilight magically flung the scroll she carried out onto the table to allow the others to observe her work, but something was off about it... "Umm Twilight...there's nothing on it..." Fluttershy quietly pointed out, but Twilight was quick to disagree. "Oh no no. There's something on it, at the top." She pointed to the top of scroll for the others to read, Applejack grabbed the scroll and held it up to read for the others to hear. "Things that Trixie Likes: ...Magic......" And that was it. Nothing else on the list at all. Applejack and the others just looked at Twilight who just grinned, while sweating in a panic. "How long'd it take ya to get that?" Applejack asked in a moot voice, making Twilight quietly laugh. "Longer than I should admit..." Twilight's answer lead to the mental face hoof by the others. Applejack then flung the endless length scroll with the whole five words of writing on it back on the table, annoyed wildly. "This is why I called you all here. I needed some ideas." Twilight continued on. "What have all of you learned that Trixie likes?" The questioned ponies then started to slowly look at each other, with an occasional stutter, followed by some "Umm"s and "Uhh"s. Finally Rainbow broke the silence with the first answer. "I know...uh...MAGIC!!!" She said with confidence. When she opened her eyes the rest of The Mane Six just looked at her in annoyance. "Uhh...already brought up?" She responded, shrugging her hooves. "Well, I got nothing..." "This is ridiculous!" Twilight huffed. "There has to be something that comes to mind. What have any of you done with Trixie since we've become friends?" And again, the hushed silence amongst all of them... "Umm...I can't say I've gotten to know Trixie very well..." Fluttershy admitted in a quiet voice, perhaps in embarrassment. The others weren't sure how to respond either, for they pretty guilty of this as well. Just then it hit Twilight, hard and painfully. "We haven't done anything to ever befriend Trixie since she's come back to Ponyville...No wonder she feels so alone right now. Without Starlight..." Twilight lowered her head in shame to the realization. "...She is...What kind of friends are we?" "OOH OOO!" Pinkie screamed raising her hoof. "I know! Really Bad Friends!" The answer was followed by cricket noises. "Fluttershy...did you let crickets in the castle?" She point at the shy pony, who gave an infatic shake of the head. Twilight flew onto her throne in the room to decree something important to the others. "Well us being bad friends ends today! We're gonna throw Trixie a party; "A Bestest Best Friend, Hearth's Warming Eve Party"!" "OOOOH!" Pinkie said in delight. "Two parties in one! That's even better than one party in one!" "Now that leaves one problem..." Applejack brought up. "Where is Trixie anyway?" "That's a good question." Twilight answered. "Based on when she left, she could be anywhere by now..." Bringing another dilemma into the forefront. Just then though, something got Twilight's attention. It was her Cutie Mark, flashing like it was being summoned by the Friendship Map in front of them. "The Map!" And then without warning, Rainbow Dash's began to do the same; and then Applejack's, then Rarity's, Fluttershy's, and Pinkie Pie's. All six of there Cutie Marks flashed brightly and then all six them floated to the map, all beginning to circle in a location right outside of The Everfree Forest. "My goodness." Rarity spoke up. "What do suppose it is?" Twilight paced over to the map, looking at her Cutie Mark and then back to the map with a smile. "I think the map may have just told us where our friend is..." As they all looked at the location their marks circled. Chapter 3While Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack stayed behind to prepare the party portion of the plan, Princess Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy set out to find the unicorn the map set them out to find. Fluttershy living not far from Everfree Forest meant she knew the ins and outs of the area, and would make it easier to find Trixie. The snow had subsided from eariler, but there was enough fall that made hoof prints in the ground, certainly made it far less difficult to locate a trail of anypony wondering about. Not long after a fresh track of hoof tracks that appeared to be from a running pony, the three knew they found their pony. After a brief track through a heavily wooded sector of the forest, a voice could be heard near by. It was definitely the pony they were looking for, they recognized the voice instantly. The three ponies hid quietly behind a tree to see Trixie next to her caravan, with two cups of cocoa. What was odd was there was no other pony around, the only other thing around her was a small bush. The three Mane Six ponies were trying to wait for Trixie's apparent visitor, but the embarrassing reality hit when Trixie floated one of the cocoas towards the bush and began making conversation with it. The three ponies looking on were speechless at what they were watching, but it couldn't be right. "You've gotta be kidding me..." Rainbow Dash spoke of embarrassment. She though wasn't sure who she felt more embarrassed for; Trixie for doing such a silly thing, or herself for having just witnessed it. Twilight quietly chuckled sarcastic. "Well maybe it's not what it looks like..." That was shut down when Trixie actually started talking to the non-drinking bush, "Oh, would you a like sandwich as well Starlight?", followed by a slow chuckle from the magician. The face Twilight made upon hearing it was one of complete dread. "...It's exactly what it looks like..." Fluttershy replied, walking out from behind the tree not being able to bare anymore. The others reluctantly followed behind. The Princess thought the time had come to end this depressing scene. "Trixie?" A shocked gasp from Trixie led to her frantically trying to cover up the evidence of her embarrassing ordeal as the ponies approached. "Oh...it's you..." Her eyes widened. "Please tell me you didn't see any of that..." She stated in a quick pace of shame and humility. "That's not important Trixie..." Twilight walked up. "I understand why you're out here..." She cleared her throat to say in a hint of misery. "...talking to a bush." "Because she's weird?" Answered Rainbow Dash who quickly got a whip in the face from Fluttershy's tail, rubbing the side of her face in regret. "Because you're alone." Twilight finished. It was true, Trixie didn't acknowledge the reason, but her slumped demeanor gave the answer loud and clear. "We would be honored to invite you to spend Hearth's Warming Eve at the castle to with us." Trixie gave a look of curiosity, she never thought that Twilight and her friends would offer something of this magnitude. They never did talk and they weren't ones to hang out with each other. But Trixie realized, it was either the option of staying in a warm, cozy castle; or stay in the cold and share drinks with the bushes and trees. As she smiled at the gesture, for the former option it would be. *** The ponies had returned to Ponyville with Trixie alongside. She had asked what kind of celebration would be taking place, but the members of The Mane Six present were very hush hush on details. The group entered into the castle and began to enter the main room. "I'm glad you took up our offer to join us Trixie." Twilight finally mentioned something direct to her guest. "Well I appreciate the offer Princess. Anything is better than talking to trees in the middle of nowhere..." Trixie embarrassingly admitted with a blush. "I'm just looking forward to enjoying a Hearth's Warming Eve Party with..." Trixie's sentence was cut off by a Party Cannon blast of confetti that hit her in the face, and when she wiped the colored paper from her eyes, she open them to a grand room of The Mane Six. "SURPRISE!!!" They all screamed to a confused Trixie at the doorway. The banners and streamers all around in blue and purple, that matched Trixie's usual garb. "I don't understand...I thought this was a Hearth's Warming Eve Party?" Trixie asked. "Well it is, but it's more than that too." Pinkie perked up with a grin that went across her face. Trixie became even more confused by the answer that was given, Twilight approached to explain. "We realized that we haven't treated you like much of a friend since you've came to stay in Ponyville. So we decided to change that today." She said. Applejack then continued. "Hearth's Warming Eve is about spending time with friends, and we thought maybe you could use a friend or six right about now." Trixie looked around at the party present and then turned to Princess Twilight...and she slowly grew a smile. She didn't say anything though which made the others not sure what the day could be in store. "Well, I'll take that as a yes!" Pinkie declared, and used that as an opportunity to shoot off her Party Cannon in the room, spewing confetti everywhere. After while, Rainbow Dash was taking time interacting with Trixie, the rest were huddled to think of ideas to also do with her, but needless to say they weren't sure what to come up with. "I'm glad Rainbow is keeping Trixie occupied, I have no idea of anything to do." Twilight declared, her statement was quickly followed by a response... "Me too!!!" All the rest said in unison. The response led to them all staring at each other in groaned fashion. "So, what should we do then?" Rarity asked the group. "I got it!" Twilight gleefully said. "Let's do the things that we know Trixie likes." But her idea was cut off by her dragon, Spike. "Uh, Twilight..." Spike reminded Twilight and the others of the grim reality, holding up the list of five words again. "Things That Trixie Likes: Magic" "Umm...please tell me somepony has another idea?" Fluttershy cried in a panic. Twilight attempted to calm the group. "Don't worry, I'm sure Rainbow Dash will come up with something open minded. There's tons of awesome things she can do with Trixie that don't involve magic..." Meanwhile with Trixie and Rainbow Dash... "So I totally LOVE magic!" Rainbow bragged to the blue unicorn while drinking some hot cider by the fireplace, this raised the curiosity of the great and powerful one. "Really, you don't seem like much of the magic type..." Trixie tested Dash, trying to get more out of her. "Are you kidding?" She answered with a chuckle. "Magic is so awesome, I uh...even practice my own tricks!" Giving a Cheshire cat grin. "Well by all means, show me what you can do. I'd love to see what kind of tricks you know..." Trixie's answer was the last thing Rainbow Dash wanted to hear. Sweat starting falling off her muzzle as she feared Trixie would see right through her bald faced lie. Dash had to think on her hooves and improvise...fast! Dash saw Trixie's deck of playing cards and grabbed them to attempt her on the fly "trick". Trixie looked on as Dash shuffled the deck quickly and placed the deck on the table in front of them. "So I'm uhh...thinking of a card." Dash declared as she and Trixie looked down at the deck, to which Rainbow drew the card on top. Dash then gasped excitement. "HEY! WHAT DO YA KNOW! Exactly the card I was thinking of!" As she showed a "two of clubs" to the unicorn, who just raised an eyebrow at what she witnessed, gazing at Rainbow who had a grin that looked bigger than a Sweet Apple Acres barn. "Wow!" She said in the most sarcastic voice imaginable with rolling eyes. "How did you ever do that!?" "What can I say, it's a talent!" Rainbow boasted and scoffed as Trixie floated the cards to herself. "Well, it was a good joke at least. But let me show you an actual trick." Trixie then shuffled the deck with her magic as Rainbow sat and looked on. "Now...The Great and Powerful Trixie is thinking of a card!" She pulled the top card on the deck and looked at it. "Well what do you know, it's the card I was thinking of!" Magically dropping the "Ace of Hearts" on the table. Rainbow though was confused, she didn't get it; was Trixie pulling her leg? Figuratively of course... "Uh, that's the same trick I did..." Rainbow said aloud. Trixie laughed though. "Au contraire, this was the card I was thinking of. But it wouldn't have mattered actually which card I picked, for they're all the card I was thinking of." And as Trixie declared the final statement, she used her to spread all fifty-two cards face up on the table, revealing all of them to be an "Ace of Hearts". Rainbow's mouth fell to the floor seeing an entire deck of red aces spread all around, hooving through them all to see the truth in shock. "Whoa, how'd you do that?" Dash asked in amazement. Trixie laughed endlessly. "It's called magic Rainbow Dash...you should try it sometime." And Trixie walked off to see what others were doing, while Dash lifted up the table and chairs trying to find where the real cards went to, to no avail. As the day transitioned to night, the Mane Six members continued to "interact" with Trixie to befriend her, however, The Great and Powerful Trixie noticed that each conversation started eerily similar. "I like...uh...Magic." Applejack told her...Trixie's eyes widened at the comment. *** "Oh...I really like magic." Fluttershy told Trixie with a smile, to which the magician gave a bored yawn. *** "Magic is perfectly divine darling..." Rarity said with promise, but in result only woke Trixie from dozing off, and when Trixie came back to... "Ah...where am I?" She asked until coming to a realization... "Oh..." Getting a grimace on her face. *** "Ooo...I like magic! And cake...but mostly magic." Pinkie said with a giant pink cake next her, then paused. "Wait...Was that what I was supposed to say?" Asking the unicorn next her. Trixie looked in annoyance and moaned as she just face planted into the cake next to them. At first Pinkie was surprised at the reaction, but quickly shrugged it off and began chowing down on said face planted cake, licking her face of the delectable icing and giving no regard to said face planted unicorn. It all went the same, the responses...followed by a lack of ability on the talent what they said they enjoyed. Trixie though was happy to show them some magic herself to lighten the mood. To Applejack, who attempted to Apple Monty though failing terribly each time. Trixie played a bit afterward to show the honest Earth Pony how to do so. In the Cup Game, Trixie lay one bright red apple under one of the cups, mixing them up and letting AJ guess which had the prize underneath. The first guess though was a miss, then picking the second one, another miss, then knowing the third had the apple, picking it up to find nothing. Trixie smiled and then covered all three cups again and rapidly spun them on the table, and then after lifting up all three, a red apple appeared now under all three; bringing total shock and a smile to Applejack to say the least. She looked on in stunned silence as Trixie moved on to the next pony. Next Rarity spent some of her time to enjoy her joy of "magic". Using her six different colored cloths that matched the color of a rainbow, she used her magic to tie them together to try the classic rope trick to little success. Trixie smiled at the effort and then took the tied up pieces of cloth to used it on Rarity, magically pulling it out of Rarity's ear, but that was only the beginning; for when Trixie used her magic to unknot the ends, Rarity was amazed to see that Trixie had somehow turned the six separate cloth strands into one whole piece of fabric, making it look like a shinning rainbow sheet, putting a smile on both their faces. Trixie then looked on as Fluttershy used Trixie's magician hat to perform a trick, and suddenly proceeded to pull a rabbit out of it. However, the rabbit was nothing more than a piece of paper with a drawing of a rabbit on it in said hat, looking at the magician with an embarrassing smile. Trixie shook her head with a smile, and then floated the hat to herself and put the same rabbit paper drawing back into the hat. After waving her hoof over top of it, Trixie proceeded to pull out Angel Bunny by the ears, who looked none too happy of the matter. Fluttershy gave Angel the biggest hug ever as The Great and Powerful Trixie moved on the next magic trick sure to go wrong. Pinkie Pie then had two bag of cake icing, one pink and the other blue. In an attempt to make them disappear she looked around for an idea, but when no idea came, she proceeded to shove them both in her mouth; shrugging her hooves acting like she had no clue where they were. Trixie slightly grossed out took the icing bags back and held front to back as if they looked like one bag. Trixie then slowly moved her hoof in front of said bag and it changed from blue to pink. She then did it again and it went from pink to blue, and repeated the procedure several times over. Then in one big swift hoof movement, the bags disappeared into thin air; until Trixie magically pulled both bags out of Pinkie's hair. Trixie was waiting to see Pinkie's amazement, but Pinkie was more focused on just squeezing every drop of icing from the bags into her mouth once more. Trixie then slightly back away with uncertainty to what she was witnessing. *** After while, the majority Mane Six members were conversing between each other. Trixie observed the grand fireplace listening to the chesnuts popping in the fire. While doing so she looked atop the mantle, and saw the girl's Hearth's Warming Dolls that were placed there each year. Eight were there in total: Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Twilight's, Spike, Rairty, Rainbow Dash, ...and then on the end was the doll of Trixie's friend...Starlight. It had been recently added during the years as it looked slightly newer from the others. But the sight of it reminded The Great and Powerful Trixie of a couple of things: One of her friend's absence, but also the fact that Starlight had gained a friendship from all these same ponies Trixie was gathered with, yet up until tonight, she herself had little to no interaction with them. And it made Trixie wonder...why? Why weren't any of these ponies ever true friends with her? She certainly enjoyed the time she had with all current company during the day, even if all the transactions seemed forced and eerily similar to a tee. During her thoughts, The Princess of Friendship approched behind. "Hey Trixie!" She said, snapping Trixie out of her inner thoughts. "How's the party been?" Trixie was a bit hesitant to say what she thought, but she felt she still needed to say so... "Honestly...not what I expected." The face of Twilight went from cheer to concern, she didn't understand though why Trixie thought this. "Really? How so?" "Well, all of your friends seem to have the same interests I do..." Trixie answered. That response confused Twilight, it certainly wasn't what she expected, but didn't really comprehend Trixie's lack of enjoyment for the party they planned for her. "And that...bothers you?" Twilight asked back, getting a nod as an answer. "It just doesn't make sense Twilight. I mean if we all have SO much in common, why did we never get to know each other sooner?" Trixie questioned the princess. "Did they just not want to be my friend? Was I really THAT bad a pony?" She slumped her head in sorrow. Twilight began to realize the problem, a big problem. The idea of trying to do Trixie's interests and pretending to act like they were favorite activities was actually making Trixie feel worse. Making her believe her personality was the reason their friendship never materialized, when in reality it was the complete opposite. It was their lack of commitment to get to know her was the true culprit in the matter. Twilight had to find an answer that would ease Trixie's disappointment of the recent occasions. "Sometimes the length of time it takes to befriend somepony isn't important, what matters is having the courage to do so." Twilight's answer was pondered by the pony it was said to, but it didn't seem to be the answer said pony was looking for. But ultimately, Twilight returned to the others and told Trixie to join them if she wanted to. Trixie took her time to do so and while the others enjoyed themselves, she planned to take a stroll to the cake that was made for the party, however, in route to it her hind hoof got tangled on a long scroll that was dangling on the floor. "Uh Twilight, I think you dropped one of..." Trixie statement gradually stopped when she gazed on the long scroll, it had words at the top, not many but enough that could be seen. She read them in her head... "Things That Trixie Likes: Magic..." Trixie had put all the pieces together now. All her interactions with the others for the duration of the day was nothing more than a big sham in her mind now. They didn't actually enjoy the things they said, they said them because they felt sorry for her and just faked their enjoyment. For all Trixie knew, they probably didn't even care about her either. All the gatherings, the party whole party in fact wasn't a friend party to her...it was one big ole' Trixie Pity Party. She gazed so hard at it she could have burned a hole through it, and the fact that they tried to play dumb on the matter for this long made her feel even worse. But that was going to end, she grabbed the scroll and began to head over to the group, ready to hear their explanation. *** While The Mane Six had a discussion about what to do next for an activity, they were interrupted by a final hoof stomp to the floor as Trixie met them in the main room, looking in a foul mood. "Oh Trixie..." Fluttershy spoke up. "We're glad you're here. We thought of what we could all do together." "Let me guess, does it involve magic!?" Trixie rash-fully responded to the quiet pony's words. The remark led to a bunch of eyes bouncing off one another. "How...did you...guess darling?" Rarity hesitantly said. "Oo well, because apparently it's the only thing I like!" With a stomp, Trixie then made the elongated scroll that was created appear in front of them to which she then magically crumpled it up and tossed it aside as the ponies she questioned started to get nervous looks of their faces. "Somepony better start talking..." Were the final words the unicorn spoke before having a grim expression on her face. Pinkie broke the silence first. "Uh...cupcake?" Holding up a pink cupcake to be sampled to taste. "Thank you..." Trixie responded in a tense voice, giving no joy in the response. She quickly floated the cupcake and put it all in her mouth at once, and after a couple chews, swallowed it fast. Then the look became more serious, still waiting for an actual answer. "Oh no, my cupcake was so good she didn't even savor it to stall for time..." A squee grin arose from Pinkie directed to the others, who didn't approve of the tactic. Trixie then began tapping her hoof on the floor growing more impatient every second a lack of reasoning was given. "I'm waiting..." Came one final warning from her. The others sighed and knew the jig was up. Time to come clean, but Rainbow was the one to speak, to unfortunately for the others let her emotions and feelings boil over in the verbal standoff. "Look, we didn't want to see you be alone for Hearth's Warming Eve. Excuse us for doing things we knew you would enjoy." Rainbow Dash said in a bummed out voice, but it didn't go over well. "So rather than being alone, you'd rather just try to be like me instead? What does that help!" Trixie shouted at the group. "And you actually got me to look forward to a party with a group of friends, but instead you made me feel like I was only with myself!" The words hit The Mane Six hard as The Great and Powerful Trixie began to open her bag to pull out a smoke bomb. "So thank you very much, for making me realize just how alone I really am! So I think it's time I be just that...alone!" After the statement, Trixie threw the smoke bomb to the floor that engulfed the room in grey smoke. When the hacking and coughing ponies came to the visible room again, their friend was gone, leaving the six of them alone. As if the mood couldn't be killed anymore, one of Pinkie's Party Cannons shot off randomly to a nothing reaction from the crowd of ponies. "Well...that was a surprise..." Pinkie gloomfully pointed out as the party turned into a total sham of itself as the ponies present dropped their heads in shame. Their friend was gone, and they felt to blame for it... To be continued... Chapter 4The girls were sweeping the massive amounts of confetti left from Pinkie Pie's cannon after the epic fail of a party they threw for Trixie. The gloomy mood of the room was only heightened by the fact that they deserved what had happened. "So, that didn't go to plan..." Rainbow moaned as she continued to push more confetti in a pile while flying through the air. "This is all my fault..." Twilight went blaming herself. "If I had been a better friend, I could have known more things that Trixie enjoyed." Applejack cut her off on the moping train. "No Twilight, the fact is..." "It's my fault!" Came a voice from all the remaining ponies in unison, who then looked at each other in sorrow. "I guess we all share some blame." Fluttershy added on, the others nodded in agreement, but Twilight wasn't ready to give up yet. "Well it's not over yet!" Twilight stomped the ground and began to trot to the exit. "Twilight, where ya going?" Applejack asked the Princess. "I'm going to find Trixie." She declared. Rainbow Dash didn't think it was the best course. "Are you crazy? After how bad we goofed up, she won't wanna talk to anypony." But Twilight didn't accept. "Maybe so, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try. We made this party so that she wouldn't be alone this Hearth's Warming Eve, and I'm not going to let this stop that from happening!" And with that, Twilight Sparkle left the room and eventually the castle. While the remaining ponies continued to clean up the main room, they heard clatter from upstairs coming down to the main room where they were. Then they heard a voice. "What was all the commotion about?" Upon looking, they saw Starlight Glimmer making her way to the remains of the party, with a tissue in hoof blowing her nose slightly. She apparently no longer needed the aid of a Health Bubble to help her get around. And while she didn't look fully recovered, it was a far cry to her bed-ridden self from a couple days prior. "Uhh...kinda a long story." Applejack being the first to speak up. The tone in her voice made Starlight worry what had happened, along with the absence of The Princess, she knew that she about to hear probably wasn't good. *** Twilight hurried back to the spot where she and her friends found Trixie right outside Everfree Forest, unfortunately this time around when she arrived, there was no sign of her. The tracks of her wagon and hoof prints could be seen in the little bit of snow that had fallen, so finding her was still possible, so off she went to track. After several minutes, Princess Twilight found the location of where the trail had gone. Trixie stopped by the nearby pond outside Ponyville. During the heart of Winter it would be where all the ponies would ice stake and have the time of their lives, however currently the pond was only half frozen making no reason to venture there yet. For Trixie though it was perfect reason to. She stared into the half frozen water and looked at a choppy reflection of herself in it, making her frown. Herself, alone, it was all she had been reminded of all day thus far; it seemed fitting to be with herself now. "Trixie? Are you alright?" Came a voice from behind her. She recognized the voice instantly, but made no effort to turn to acknowledge. "Go away Twilight..." Trixie rebutted. "I want to just stay here alone, and look at my reflection. Which is fitting because looking at all your friends today was like looking in a mirror. All they were pretending to be like was me..." Twilight slowly came over to her friend and sat next to her by the pond. "Trixie I'm sorry. I thought doing things that you would enjoy would make you feel happy." Trixie raised an eyebrow at the comment. "But why? That doesn't make any sense...Since when have you ever befriended somepony by acting like someone you're not?" The Princess likewise returned a slow confused like to the unicorn, not understanding what she meant. "What do you mean?" She asked, making Trixie sit up. "Well think about it. When you befriended all your friends, do you act like what you THOUGHT they wanted you to be, or did you just be yourself?" Trixie's remark was quick, and just when Twilight was about to answer...she stopped, and her jaw remained open with a hoof up. Trixie's question left the Princess speechless. This made Trixie just shake her head. "Wow...you like REALLY overthought this didn't you?" Twilight could only sigh and hang her head, for the first time in what seemed forever, she failed at a fundamental lesson of friendship: Being yourself. Trixie lifted Twilight's head up to make her look at her to tell her some advice. "Twilight, you and your friends don't need to show me how great I am...trust me I already know." The remark made Twilight roll her eyes, but that wasn't the point of the statement. "The point is to show all the great things that make all of you special." Twilight understood what her mistake was and realized what she needed to do. As she walked back over to Trixie, a smile arose on her face. "Ya know. Starlight was right. You do give good advice, I can see why she made you the Student Counselor at the school." The kind comment made Trixie blush slightly in embarrassment. "And you're right. Maybe we should head back to the castle, and do our celebration the right way." Twilight began to walk away as Trixie was hesitant to follow, but the princess looked back to her. "You're welcome to come back if you'd like." And with that, Twilight headed off. Trixie watched the princess leave the scene and thought about what to do. But after considering, she smiled knowing her mind had been made. *** Back at the castle, the remaining members of the Mane Six looked on with embarrassing looks on their faces, after Starlight Glimmer had finished her moral of the error of their dilemma. "I can't believe we looked past something so obvious." Fluttershy wimped in a pitiful whim. "You said it..." Applejack agreed. "I feel sillier than making a Haycake on Flapjack Day." The remark was followed by a horrible groan from Rainbow Dash. "UGH! I feel so stupid!" She yelled in embarrassment, kicking the air to vent her frustration. "Well, at least Twilight didn't hear a lesson so simple." Pinkie Pie told the group, when came a voice in the entrance to the party room. "Hear what lesson?" Some in the group looked around, the others hoof palmed in further humiliation as Princess Twiight slowly headed back into the room. "What's going on?" She asked, soon after asking spotting Starlight in the room as well, with a not so jolly look on her face. "Starlight!?" Twilight cheerfully spoke out, while still managing to sweat off her muzzle. "You're...feeling better?" "I was...until I found out what's been going on down here..." The recent ill unicorn glumly responded, approching the Princess. "Where is Trixie Twilight?" The sweat dropping off Twilight Sparkle intensified, as she tried to gather a proper response. "Well, the girls and I wanted to make Trixie feel at home in the castle while you were sick...but it didn't go so well." Starlight's face looked heartbroken at the answer she was given. "She left afterward, I tried to convince to come back, ...but I don't think she's coming." Starlight took a deep breath before coming to reason with the story. "I appreciate you trying to make Trixie feel welcome, but you went about it completely the wrong way. When trying to befriend somepony, you forgot the most important thing to do..." "Just be yourself..." Everypony's eyes suddenly widened, for they didn't hear just one voice. They heard two, at the same time. The voice of Starlight as they expected, but another voice came from behind them. A familar voice in fact, and when all turned around, a familiar face greeted them. "Trixie!" Starlight Glimmer called out running over, who was quickly greeted. "Starlight, you're all better!" Came a happy reply from The Great and Powerful unicorn. The others looked on with delight, they all came to realize how much each meant to one another, much like they all meant to each other. "Well, not all better." Starlight told her friend. "But certainly the worst of it is done. I'm sorry I got sick Trixie, I was really looking forward to spending the holiday together." "Oh Starlight, it's not your fault..." Trixie stated in a calm soothing voice, hoof on a shoulder of her friend. "The important thing is we're together." Suddenly, Trixie was reminded of when she first arrived to the castle. "In fact, wait right here!" In a snap, Trixie poofed and disappeared, not with a smoke bomb, but with an actual teleportation spell. In a couple seconds, she reappeared next to her friend, levitating the very gifts she brought Starlight to celebrate the trip. Two new toboggans for the cold winter nights. Starlight was truly grateful for the gifts, and tried one on for it was first time she got to wear one of them. It was a perfect fit, and it made her happy. All the while when Trixie looked back at the present Mane Six, they were still in shock to see the level of Magic that Trixie had performed, for it was clearly they saw her perform highly advanced magic. Trixie though scoffed it off. "What? I've been getting lessons..." As she gleamed to her friend. "Trixie they're perfect. Thank you!" Starlight clapped her hooves together in acceptance as Trixie got put on her matching hat to fit right in. "In fact, I got something for you too. While you were gone, the girls and I put something to together for you..." Starlight hovered over a decent sized blue box with pink ribbon. Trixie became surprised that gift was thought on such quick notice, but "The Great and Powerful" Trixie was never one to decline a generous gift, much less from a friend. She thought in her mind what it could be as she magicked the wrapping paper apart. When Trixie saw what it was she gasped, and her eyes began to water. She lifted it up to get a closer look. It was a little Trixie doll, much like ones of all of them over on the fireplace in the main room, she glazed over to them to realize what it was for. The girls began to give their intentions for the gift. "I saw you were looking at our dolls over the fire during the party, and it gave me an idea." Rarity graciously announced. Fluttershy then walked up. "I had animals who were willing to give up fur and fluff for the stuffing and hair." "And I'm pretty handy hoof sewing. Got'er stitched up in a jif." Applejack proudly spoke. Pinkie Pie then spoke up. "And I used blue food coloring to dye the coat. Then, I ate the rest of it. No reason to let good food coloring waste." She giggled. "And I got all the things needed to make it happen in a flash. Only took half a second..." Rainbow declared, which got an annoyed look from the party present, to which Dash sighed in conceding. "Fine! Two seconds..." Making the group smile for the honesty. Who would have known to the ponies a second and a half off was a big deal? The Princess soon paced over with a smile as Trixie held her doll close, Twilight glanced at it for a second and came to a conclusion. "And I think I know what can make it even better..." Twilight then teleported out of the room, and a moment later she reappeared holding the hat and cloak of her "Starswirl the Bearded" costume she had worn from many "Nightmare Night's" past. Now with wings and having grown some, the costume no longer fit her; so now the opportunity arose to make something new out of it. Twilight proceeded to use magic on the outfit, making glow her purple aura. After a second, the hat and cloak began to shrink in size. Once the spell had been completed, Twilight floated the tinier accessories onto the doll Trixie held. The smaller articles of clothing now looked just like Trixie's trademark magician garb that she had worn for moons. Both of them smiled with delight over it. "There! That should do the trick..." "It's wonderful..." Trixie looked up to the princess. "Thank you Twilight...thank you everypony." Everyone gleamed with happiness at the approval of gift given. Starlight Glimmer walked over with Trixie as she floated the doll over to the fireplace to place it amongst the rest of the doll of themselves. They looked perfect together, a group of new friends and old that symbolized their true bond of friendship. Starlight then decided to talk to Trixie about what to do next. "Well Trixie. We still have some time to spend Hearth's Warming Eve together...just you and me. Like we planned...we can head out if you want to." Trixie pondered over the thought for a bit, but soon gave a shake of her head. "No...I think I would rather spend it with my friends..." Looking back to all them behind her. "...All of my friends." The delight on all the ponies faces proved even though everything didn't start great, it's how it ends that really matters. Starlight came over to Trixie as they all looked upon all their dolls set on the fireplace. "Great and Powerful Friend" Lyrics: Starlight Since I have met you, I've come such a long way. From the pony, that I now am today. Back in my village, I made myself to pretend. That life was perfect, that I'd never need a friend. But when I met you, on that wonderful day. You made me see, everything will always be okay. And here we are now, our friendship is so true. I feel so special, whenever I'm with you! Starlight Chorus You helped me realize, when I'm all alone. That I'm never, truly on my own. If I remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. Thank you for being, my Great and Powerful Friend! The look on Trixie made Starlight gleem with happiness. Trixie I once was known for having tricks up my sleeve. The thought of friendship was something I never believed. Performed my magic, and traveled from town to town. But with no friends, I was so lonely and felt so down. But then I met you, on that glorious day. Like a true Starlight, you chased my darkness away. That's when I learned that, no magic can compare. To the love and friendship that we share! Trixie Chorus You helped me realize, when I'm on my own. That I never, truly am alone. If I remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. You always will be, my Great and Powerful Friend! Trixie and Starlight We sometimes laugh, we sometimes cry. We're sometimes lonely, when we say goodbye. But when together, we're happy as can be. Our friendship is now, a perfect harmony! We taught each other, when we're on our own, That we never, truly are alone. If we remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. Thank you for being, my Great and Powerful Friend! Starlight: Just remember, when you're all alone (Trixie: Good memories, that we share!) Starlight: That you're never truly on your own. (Trixie: Our magic friendship shows we care!) Starlight: If you remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. (Trixie: We'll be together until the end) Both: You always will be my Great and Powerful Friend! Everypony: Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again! Everypony laughed as they celebrated all throughout the night. And they all agreed that this had truly been a "Great and Powerful" Hearth's Warming Eve and one they would never, ever forget. The End
Chapter 1It was a glorious morning in Ponyville as another Hearth's Warming Eve was just around the corner. Weather Ponies called just a slight flurry of snow just to get ponies into the feel of the excitement of another winter approaching. And for one pony especially, the approaching of Hearth's Warming Eve was a grand time of the year. At the said time, a blue unicorn used her magic to hold up two items towards a clerk at a corner market to present a conundrum. "So which toboggan do you think Starlight would like most? The pink one with her name on it, or the purple one with her name on it?" Said the unicorn with a huge grin, which was received with a blank stare from the market host. "How should I know, I don't even know your friend..." Answered the host in a smug, moot voice; staring at the hat the pony was wearing a bright blue tabogon with the name "Trixie" in purple glitter font. The comment from the host was responded with a raised eyebrow from said Trixie followed by a scoff. "Well, with an attitude like that, you're lucky to have friends." She answered, looking back and forth at the two hats. "Ya know what, I'll take both...just...wrap them up...now!" With that, Trixie used her magic to toss them on the host's muzzle. He moaned at the gesture, though in Trixie's mind...he deserved it. She started prancing in place with giddiness. "I love this time of year! Ever since we became friends, Starlight and I travel during Hearth's Warming Eve to get to spend some quality time together." Trixie getting chipper with every word as she pulled out a list of the things they planned to do. "We're gonna sing carols, drink hot cocoa, tell stories about when we were foals..." Trixie stopped after saying that. "...Well, the stories Starlight feels comfortable telling at least. Build snowponies, exchange gifts, play games..." Trixie's widened coming to a realization while reading the list frantically. "Wow! I'm starting to sound like Twilight..." To which Trixie then magically ripped the list in two and let it fall to the ground... "We're gonna do whatever we want! Phew...crisis adverted. I can't wait to spend all Hearth's Warming Eve with my BEST FRIEND!" She was stopped by the clerk's voice. "That's nice. Here's your hats..." He said. Trixie pulled them away with her magic. "Great, took you long enough..." As she trotted away. "Hey! You forgot to pay!" The clerk angrily yelled. Just then, a gold bit was flung at him and hit him between the eyes, he showed no effect to it as spun around on the table in front of him. "...Thank you." He said once he was paid. So it was a typical day thus far for "The Great and Powerful Trixie"! Before her glowing purple eyes stood the castle of Princess Twilight Sparkle, decorated massively with lights, wreaths, and candy canes galore. All those things were wonderful, but to Trixie something, or rather somepony within the walls of said castle was even more wonderful. Her best friend, Starlight Glimmer. The time they had spent together had increased greatly since Trixie had become the counselor of The School of Friendship, but with Winter break ongoing their time with one another decreased. So it made her more excited knowing their annual vacation would bring them back together once again as she trotted towards the massive castle awaiting to see a familiar face. Meanwhile, within the castle walls even more decorations were being placed by The Princess of Friendship and her assistant Spike. One placed the wreaths with her magic, the other flew from post to post putting them in position. "Well done Spike!" Twilight cheerfully stated. "Seven hundred fifty-four total wreaths placed. Only took two hours and three minutes." The purple dragon did not look as full of energy as his counterpart. Sweating and panting heavy. "Yeah..." Spike yawned out his answer. "Now time for well deserved nap..." But before he could turn around, a loud bang on the main doors came, Twilight looked down at Spike in confusion, who sighed quickly after. "Don't worry, I'll get it. Probably need the exercise..." Just as Spike was about to open them, a big pink magic burst quickly flung the doors open, hurling Spike in the distance. "Starlight! It's me!!!" Trixie slammed the doors closed with her magic just as hard as she opened them. The huge rumble made all seven hundred fifty-four wreaths fall from their perches to the floor, two of which ringered around Twilight's neck who looked at the blue unicorn with extreme annoyance. "NOOOO!!!!" Spike yelled aloud. "Two hours of my life...GONE! RUINED!!!" Trixie looked around at the mess she had made and chuckled. "Sorry about this, I'll take care of it for you..." With that, Trixie began using her impressive-fully improved magic to float all the wreaths back to the ceiling areas and all the positions they laid. In a mere couple seconds, it was all back the way it was. Spike looked with a dropped jaw and peered over to the purple Alicorn next to him. "Really? If she could do that, couldn't you have done that too?" Spike suspiciously asked. But Twilight placed a hoof to him and explained. "That wasn't the point, the idea was about spending time together." She reasoned. "FOR TWO HOURS!?!?!" Came a yelling response of revolt from Spike which only got a giggle from the Princess. Trixie only rolled her eyes at what she was witnessing. "I hate to ruin the family quarrel, but I notice that somepony is noticeably absent." She brought the attention to the present company, who looked to each other and got a little tense. "Whatever do you mean Trixie?" Came a slow hesitant statement from Twilight Sparkle. "Well, we can't have a "Trixie and Starlight's "Great and Powerful" Annual Hearth's Warming Eve Caravan Vacation" bonding without the "Starlight" portion of that title." Trixie irritably told the Princess. "Where's Starlight Twilight?" The look on Twilight's face was beginning to concern the blue unicorn, even more so when Twilight started clearing her throat, sweating, and stuttering. It seemed like Twilight was trying to communicate, but to no avail. Trixie grabbed her to look her muzzle to muzzle, "Twilight, where is she!? Is something wrong?!" Before Twilight could answer, Trixie ran off running up the main stairway up to Starlight's room where she would be. Twilight rushed up to follow behind before the potential answer would be revealed. Trixie hurried into the room that Starlight Glimmer called her own with Twilight close behind... "Starlight!?" She said in a state of concern. It was followed by a barrage of hacking and horrible coughing, to which was Starlight Glimmer, surmised inside a glowing health bubble. "Hi Trixie..." She said in a weak muttered voice, followed by more coughs, putting a look of worry on the face of The Great and Powerful Trixie... To be continued... (Or cue the theme)
Chapter 2As the sick pink unicorn continued having a coughing fit in bed, her confused friend stood beside the princess at an almost lost for words. "Starlight, what are you doing in a health bubble? I mean...it's not like you're sick or something..." Trixie tried to trick herself, which was quickly responded with more massive hacking from the pony inside the bubble. "...Okay, maybe you're a little sick..." Which made Starlight bury her head into her pillow. "I'm afraid this isn't a little anything Trixie." Princess Twilight interjected, using magic to thumb through a medical book in sight. "According to this book, Starlight Glimmer has..." The purple pony gasped. "TO-BRONCO-LOCUS!" It was followed by a confused look from Trixie. "To-burclu-what now?" "To-bronco-locus is combination of many different ailments: Colt Cold, Pony Flu, Hay Fever. And above all else...highly contagious." Twilight researched. "It takes about three whole days to fully get over, if you take full precaution and intense care. And I'm not sure when Starlight actually acquired the symptoms. So..." "Well good." Trixie happily perked cutting off Twilight magicking the medical book closed. "Three days just means she'll be all well and good once we get back from our trip." She then trotted over to the bubble which lead to Twilight staring at her once rival in utter confusion. The unicorn banged on the bubble trying to get it to bust apart. After several seconds of failing to accomplish her point, Trixie then which turned to the Princess. "Umm, where's the door to open this thing?" Twilight realized that this was something that was going to need to be as blunt as possible walking up to Trixie with a frown. "Trixie, I'm afraid to tell you that Starlight isn't going anywhere this year. She needs the rest to get well." After a pause and stare, Trixie busted out in sarcastic laughter at the Princess of Friendship. "Good one Princess, you almost had me there..." As she trotted back over to Starlight. "Come on Starlight, you don't really believe her do you?" But the blank stare and wincing teeth told Trixie that she was hiding the truth from her, until she up and said. "Trixie...I'm sorry, but...I'm afraid Twilight's right..." The realization hit Trixie hard and fast. She tried to hide her sadness, but didn't do very well of it. But she tried to fight through. "Well, here's your gifts I got you..." As Trixie floated the hats she purchased on the table next to the health barrier guarding Starlight Glimmer, to then she slowly started to head out. "We can always try next year I'm sure...I guess I'll just spend Hearth's Warming Eve alone this year..." She quietly announced followed by a sniffle of her nose. "...just like old times..." She slowly pranced past Twilight who looked unhappy of the mood as well. "Goodbye Starlight, Happy Hearth's Warming..." Trixie then pulled out one of her patent smoke bombs and instead of her traditional throw at the ground next to her, she merely dropped it by her side, but though it exploded the puff of smoke was as pitifully demeaning as Trixie's slow depressing walk out of the door that was seen when the tiny smoke cloud faded. Twilight and Starlight watched the pony walk away looking miserable as the departing, though Starlight for other reasons naturally. Starlight sighed at the look of her depressed friend. "Ugh...this is all my fault! Why did I have to get sick!? If only there was something I could do..." As the sick pony in bed buried her head in her pillow again, The Princess of Friendship tried to come up with a solution that could help. Nopony should feel miserable on Hearth's Warming Eve, a day that ponies celebrate being together. And Twilight was going to make sure it stayed that way. *** Later that day, the main throne room in Twilight's Castle was accompanied by the remaining members of the Mane Six, summoned by the Princess. They gathered around in their respected seats wondering what the issue was. "This must be a REALLY big problem if Twilight called us all here." Rainbow Dash broke the silence in the room. "You don't suppose somepony's in trouble do you?" Fluttershy asked in concern, which was given a response when the main door opened behind them. "Indeed there is..." Princess Twilight answered, trotting out with a scroll held up with her magic, taking her seat at the table. "Starlight Glimmer being sick, Trixie doesn't have anypony to celebrate Hearth's Warming Eve with. I think we need to do something for her." A hushed silence came before the room, some blinking rapidly, some dropping their jaws. "Wait...you wanna help Trixie? As in...TRIXIE!?" Rainbow Dash said in pure befuddlement. "I must say, I never imagined the day I would hear you say that darling." Rarity followed. "Perhaps..." Twilight admitted. "But I need some help from you girls. I've made a list of things Trixie likes. Here's what I have so far..." With that, Twilight magically flung the scroll she carried out onto the table to allow the others to observe her work, but something was off about it... "Umm Twilight...there's nothing on it..." Fluttershy quietly pointed out, but Twilight was quick to disagree. "Oh no no. There's something on it, at the top." She pointed to the top of scroll for the others to read, Applejack grabbed the scroll and held it up to read for the others to hear. "Things that Trixie Likes: ...Magic......" And that was it. Nothing else on the list at all. Applejack and the others just looked at Twilight who just grinned, while sweating in a panic. "How long'd it take ya to get that?" Applejack asked in a moot voice, making Twilight quietly laugh. "Longer than I should admit..." Twilight's answer lead to the mental face hoof by the others. Applejack then flung the endless length scroll with the whole five words of writing on it back on the table, annoyed wildly. "This is why I called you all here. I needed some ideas." Twilight continued on. "What have all of you learned that Trixie likes?" The questioned ponies then started to slowly look at each other, with an occasional stutter, followed by some "Umm"s and "Uhh"s. Finally Rainbow broke the silence with the first answer. "I know...uh...MAGIC!!!" She said with confidence. When she opened her eyes the rest of The Mane Six just looked at her in annoyance. "Uhh...already brought up?" She responded, shrugging her hooves. "Well, I got nothing..." "This is ridiculous!" Twilight huffed. "There has to be something that comes to mind. What have any of you done with Trixie since we've become friends?" And again, the hushed silence amongst all of them... "Umm...I can't say I've gotten to know Trixie very well..." Fluttershy admitted in a quiet voice, perhaps in embarrassment. The others weren't sure how to respond either, for they pretty guilty of this as well. Just then it hit Twilight, hard and painfully. "We haven't done anything to ever befriend Trixie since she's come back to Ponyville...No wonder she feels so alone right now. Without Starlight..." Twilight lowered her head in shame to the realization. "...She is...What kind of friends are we?" "OOH OOO!" Pinkie screamed raising her hoof. "I know! Really Bad Friends!" The answer was followed by cricket noises. "Fluttershy...did you let crickets in the castle?" She point at the shy pony, who gave an infatic shake of the head. Twilight flew onto her throne in the room to decree something important to the others. "Well us being bad friends ends today! We're gonna throw Trixie a party; "A Bestest Best Friend, Hearth's Warming Eve Party"!" "OOOOH!" Pinkie said in delight. "Two parties in one! That's even better than one party in one!" "Now that leaves one problem..." Applejack brought up. "Where is Trixie anyway?" "That's a good question." Twilight answered. "Based on when she left, she could be anywhere by now..." Bringing another dilemma into the forefront. Just then though, something got Twilight's attention. It was her Cutie Mark, flashing like it was being summoned by the Friendship Map in front of them. "The Map!" And then without warning, Rainbow Dash's began to do the same; and then Applejack's, then Rarity's, Fluttershy's, and Pinkie Pie's. All six of there Cutie Marks flashed brightly and then all six them floated to the map, all beginning to circle in a location right outside of The Everfree Forest. "My goodness." Rarity spoke up. "What do suppose it is?" Twilight paced over to the map, looking at her Cutie Mark and then back to the map with a smile. "I think the map may have just told us where our friend is..." As they all looked at the location their marks circled.
Chapter 3While Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack stayed behind to prepare the party portion of the plan, Princess Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy set out to find the unicorn the map set them out to find. Fluttershy living not far from Everfree Forest meant she knew the ins and outs of the area, and would make it easier to find Trixie. The snow had subsided from eariler, but there was enough fall that made hoof prints in the ground, certainly made it far less difficult to locate a trail of anypony wondering about. Not long after a fresh track of hoof tracks that appeared to be from a running pony, the three knew they found their pony. After a brief track through a heavily wooded sector of the forest, a voice could be heard near by. It was definitely the pony they were looking for, they recognized the voice instantly. The three ponies hid quietly behind a tree to see Trixie next to her caravan, with two cups of cocoa. What was odd was there was no other pony around, the only other thing around her was a small bush. The three Mane Six ponies were trying to wait for Trixie's apparent visitor, but the embarrassing reality hit when Trixie floated one of the cocoas towards the bush and began making conversation with it. The three ponies looking on were speechless at what they were watching, but it couldn't be right. "You've gotta be kidding me..." Rainbow Dash spoke of embarrassment. She though wasn't sure who she felt more embarrassed for; Trixie for doing such a silly thing, or herself for having just witnessed it. Twilight quietly chuckled sarcastic. "Well maybe it's not what it looks like..." That was shut down when Trixie actually started talking to the non-drinking bush, "Oh, would you a like sandwich as well Starlight?", followed by a slow chuckle from the magician. The face Twilight made upon hearing it was one of complete dread. "...It's exactly what it looks like..." Fluttershy replied, walking out from behind the tree not being able to bare anymore. The others reluctantly followed behind. The Princess thought the time had come to end this depressing scene. "Trixie?" A shocked gasp from Trixie led to her frantically trying to cover up the evidence of her embarrassing ordeal as the ponies approached. "Oh...it's you..." Her eyes widened. "Please tell me you didn't see any of that..." She stated in a quick pace of shame and humility. "That's not important Trixie..." Twilight walked up. "I understand why you're out here..." She cleared her throat to say in a hint of misery. "...talking to a bush." "Because she's weird?" Answered Rainbow Dash who quickly got a whip in the face from Fluttershy's tail, rubbing the side of her face in regret. "Because you're alone." Twilight finished. It was true, Trixie didn't acknowledge the reason, but her slumped demeanor gave the answer loud and clear. "We would be honored to invite you to spend Hearth's Warming Eve at the castle to with us." Trixie gave a look of curiosity, she never thought that Twilight and her friends would offer something of this magnitude. They never did talk and they weren't ones to hang out with each other. But Trixie realized, it was either the option of staying in a warm, cozy castle; or stay in the cold and share drinks with the bushes and trees. As she smiled at the gesture, for the former option it would be. *** The ponies had returned to Ponyville with Trixie alongside. She had asked what kind of celebration would be taking place, but the members of The Mane Six present were very hush hush on details. The group entered into the castle and began to enter the main room. "I'm glad you took up our offer to join us Trixie." Twilight finally mentioned something direct to her guest. "Well I appreciate the offer Princess. Anything is better than talking to trees in the middle of nowhere..." Trixie embarrassingly admitted with a blush. "I'm just looking forward to enjoying a Hearth's Warming Eve Party with..." Trixie's sentence was cut off by a Party Cannon blast of confetti that hit her in the face, and when she wiped the colored paper from her eyes, she open them to a grand room of The Mane Six. "SURPRISE!!!" They all screamed to a confused Trixie at the doorway. The banners and streamers all around in blue and purple, that matched Trixie's usual garb. "I don't understand...I thought this was a Hearth's Warming Eve Party?" Trixie asked. "Well it is, but it's more than that too." Pinkie perked up with a grin that went across her face. Trixie became even more confused by the answer that was given, Twilight approached to explain. "We realized that we haven't treated you like much of a friend since you've came to stay in Ponyville. So we decided to change that today." She said. Applejack then continued. "Hearth's Warming Eve is about spending time with friends, and we thought maybe you could use a friend or six right about now." Trixie looked around at the party present and then turned to Princess Twilight...and she slowly grew a smile. She didn't say anything though which made the others not sure what the day could be in store. "Well, I'll take that as a yes!" Pinkie declared, and used that as an opportunity to shoot off her Party Cannon in the room, spewing confetti everywhere. After while, Rainbow Dash was taking time interacting with Trixie, the rest were huddled to think of ideas to also do with her, but needless to say they weren't sure what to come up with. "I'm glad Rainbow is keeping Trixie occupied, I have no idea of anything to do." Twilight declared, her statement was quickly followed by a response... "Me too!!!" All the rest said in unison. The response led to them all staring at each other in groaned fashion. "So, what should we do then?" Rarity asked the group. "I got it!" Twilight gleefully said. "Let's do the things that we know Trixie likes." But her idea was cut off by her dragon, Spike. "Uh, Twilight..." Spike reminded Twilight and the others of the grim reality, holding up the list of five words again. "Things That Trixie Likes: Magic" "Umm...please tell me somepony has another idea?" Fluttershy cried in a panic. Twilight attempted to calm the group. "Don't worry, I'm sure Rainbow Dash will come up with something open minded. There's tons of awesome things she can do with Trixie that don't involve magic..." Meanwhile with Trixie and Rainbow Dash... "So I totally LOVE magic!" Rainbow bragged to the blue unicorn while drinking some hot cider by the fireplace, this raised the curiosity of the great and powerful one. "Really, you don't seem like much of the magic type..." Trixie tested Dash, trying to get more out of her. "Are you kidding?" She answered with a chuckle. "Magic is so awesome, I uh...even practice my own tricks!" Giving a Cheshire cat grin. "Well by all means, show me what you can do. I'd love to see what kind of tricks you know..." Trixie's answer was the last thing Rainbow Dash wanted to hear. Sweat starting falling off her muzzle as she feared Trixie would see right through her bald faced lie. Dash had to think on her hooves and improvise...fast! Dash saw Trixie's deck of playing cards and grabbed them to attempt her on the fly "trick". Trixie looked on as Dash shuffled the deck quickly and placed the deck on the table in front of them. "So I'm uhh...thinking of a card." Dash declared as she and Trixie looked down at the deck, to which Rainbow drew the card on top. Dash then gasped excitement. "HEY! WHAT DO YA KNOW! Exactly the card I was thinking of!" As she showed a "two of clubs" to the unicorn, who just raised an eyebrow at what she witnessed, gazing at Rainbow who had a grin that looked bigger than a Sweet Apple Acres barn. "Wow!" She said in the most sarcastic voice imaginable with rolling eyes. "How did you ever do that!?" "What can I say, it's a talent!" Rainbow boasted and scoffed as Trixie floated the cards to herself. "Well, it was a good joke at least. But let me show you an actual trick." Trixie then shuffled the deck with her magic as Rainbow sat and looked on. "Now...The Great and Powerful Trixie is thinking of a card!" She pulled the top card on the deck and looked at it. "Well what do you know, it's the card I was thinking of!" Magically dropping the "Ace of Hearts" on the table. Rainbow though was confused, she didn't get it; was Trixie pulling her leg? Figuratively of course... "Uh, that's the same trick I did..." Rainbow said aloud. Trixie laughed though. "Au contraire, this was the card I was thinking of. But it wouldn't have mattered actually which card I picked, for they're all the card I was thinking of." And as Trixie declared the final statement, she used her to spread all fifty-two cards face up on the table, revealing all of them to be an "Ace of Hearts". Rainbow's mouth fell to the floor seeing an entire deck of red aces spread all around, hooving through them all to see the truth in shock. "Whoa, how'd you do that?" Dash asked in amazement. Trixie laughed endlessly. "It's called magic Rainbow Dash...you should try it sometime." And Trixie walked off to see what others were doing, while Dash lifted up the table and chairs trying to find where the real cards went to, to no avail. As the day transitioned to night, the Mane Six members continued to "interact" with Trixie to befriend her, however, The Great and Powerful Trixie noticed that each conversation started eerily similar. "I like...uh...Magic." Applejack told her...Trixie's eyes widened at the comment. *** "Oh...I really like magic." Fluttershy told Trixie with a smile, to which the magician gave a bored yawn. *** "Magic is perfectly divine darling..." Rarity said with promise, but in result only woke Trixie from dozing off, and when Trixie came back to... "Ah...where am I?" She asked until coming to a realization... "Oh..." Getting a grimace on her face. *** "Ooo...I like magic! And cake...but mostly magic." Pinkie said with a giant pink cake next her, then paused. "Wait...Was that what I was supposed to say?" Asking the unicorn next her. Trixie looked in annoyance and moaned as she just face planted into the cake next to them. At first Pinkie was surprised at the reaction, but quickly shrugged it off and began chowing down on said face planted cake, licking her face of the delectable icing and giving no regard to said face planted unicorn. It all went the same, the responses...followed by a lack of ability on the talent what they said they enjoyed. Trixie though was happy to show them some magic herself to lighten the mood. To Applejack, who attempted to Apple Monty though failing terribly each time. Trixie played a bit afterward to show the honest Earth Pony how to do so. In the Cup Game, Trixie lay one bright red apple under one of the cups, mixing them up and letting AJ guess which had the prize underneath. The first guess though was a miss, then picking the second one, another miss, then knowing the third had the apple, picking it up to find nothing. Trixie smiled and then covered all three cups again and rapidly spun them on the table, and then after lifting up all three, a red apple appeared now under all three; bringing total shock and a smile to Applejack to say the least. She looked on in stunned silence as Trixie moved on to the next pony. Next Rarity spent some of her time to enjoy her joy of "magic". Using her six different colored cloths that matched the color of a rainbow, she used her magic to tie them together to try the classic rope trick to little success. Trixie smiled at the effort and then took the tied up pieces of cloth to used it on Rarity, magically pulling it out of Rarity's ear, but that was only the beginning; for when Trixie used her magic to unknot the ends, Rarity was amazed to see that Trixie had somehow turned the six separate cloth strands into one whole piece of fabric, making it look like a shinning rainbow sheet, putting a smile on both their faces. Trixie then looked on as Fluttershy used Trixie's magician hat to perform a trick, and suddenly proceeded to pull a rabbit out of it. However, the rabbit was nothing more than a piece of paper with a drawing of a rabbit on it in said hat, looking at the magician with an embarrassing smile. Trixie shook her head with a smile, and then floated the hat to herself and put the same rabbit paper drawing back into the hat. After waving her hoof over top of it, Trixie proceeded to pull out Angel Bunny by the ears, who looked none too happy of the matter. Fluttershy gave Angel the biggest hug ever as The Great and Powerful Trixie moved on the next magic trick sure to go wrong. Pinkie Pie then had two bag of cake icing, one pink and the other blue. In an attempt to make them disappear she looked around for an idea, but when no idea came, she proceeded to shove them both in her mouth; shrugging her hooves acting like she had no clue where they were. Trixie slightly grossed out took the icing bags back and held front to back as if they looked like one bag. Trixie then slowly moved her hoof in front of said bag and it changed from blue to pink. She then did it again and it went from pink to blue, and repeated the procedure several times over. Then in one big swift hoof movement, the bags disappeared into thin air; until Trixie magically pulled both bags out of Pinkie's hair. Trixie was waiting to see Pinkie's amazement, but Pinkie was more focused on just squeezing every drop of icing from the bags into her mouth once more. Trixie then slightly back away with uncertainty to what she was witnessing. *** After while, the majority Mane Six members were conversing between each other. Trixie observed the grand fireplace listening to the chesnuts popping in the fire. While doing so she looked atop the mantle, and saw the girl's Hearth's Warming Dolls that were placed there each year. Eight were there in total: Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Twilight's, Spike, Rairty, Rainbow Dash, ...and then on the end was the doll of Trixie's friend...Starlight. It had been recently added during the years as it looked slightly newer from the others. But the sight of it reminded The Great and Powerful Trixie of a couple of things: One of her friend's absence, but also the fact that Starlight had gained a friendship from all these same ponies Trixie was gathered with, yet up until tonight, she herself had little to no interaction with them. And it made Trixie wonder...why? Why weren't any of these ponies ever true friends with her? She certainly enjoyed the time she had with all current company during the day, even if all the transactions seemed forced and eerily similar to a tee. During her thoughts, The Princess of Friendship approched behind. "Hey Trixie!" She said, snapping Trixie out of her inner thoughts. "How's the party been?" Trixie was a bit hesitant to say what she thought, but she felt she still needed to say so... "Honestly...not what I expected." The face of Twilight went from cheer to concern, she didn't understand though why Trixie thought this. "Really? How so?" "Well, all of your friends seem to have the same interests I do..." Trixie answered. That response confused Twilight, it certainly wasn't what she expected, but didn't really comprehend Trixie's lack of enjoyment for the party they planned for her. "And that...bothers you?" Twilight asked back, getting a nod as an answer. "It just doesn't make sense Twilight. I mean if we all have SO much in common, why did we never get to know each other sooner?" Trixie questioned the princess. "Did they just not want to be my friend? Was I really THAT bad a pony?" She slumped her head in sorrow. Twilight began to realize the problem, a big problem. The idea of trying to do Trixie's interests and pretending to act like they were favorite activities was actually making Trixie feel worse. Making her believe her personality was the reason their friendship never materialized, when in reality it was the complete opposite. It was their lack of commitment to get to know her was the true culprit in the matter. Twilight had to find an answer that would ease Trixie's disappointment of the recent occasions. "Sometimes the length of time it takes to befriend somepony isn't important, what matters is having the courage to do so." Twilight's answer was pondered by the pony it was said to, but it didn't seem to be the answer said pony was looking for. But ultimately, Twilight returned to the others and told Trixie to join them if she wanted to. Trixie took her time to do so and while the others enjoyed themselves, she planned to take a stroll to the cake that was made for the party, however, in route to it her hind hoof got tangled on a long scroll that was dangling on the floor. "Uh Twilight, I think you dropped one of..." Trixie statement gradually stopped when she gazed on the long scroll, it had words at the top, not many but enough that could be seen. She read them in her head... "Things That Trixie Likes: Magic..." Trixie had put all the pieces together now. All her interactions with the others for the duration of the day was nothing more than a big sham in her mind now. They didn't actually enjoy the things they said, they said them because they felt sorry for her and just faked their enjoyment. For all Trixie knew, they probably didn't even care about her either. All the gatherings, the party whole party in fact wasn't a friend party to her...it was one big ole' Trixie Pity Party. She gazed so hard at it she could have burned a hole through it, and the fact that they tried to play dumb on the matter for this long made her feel even worse. But that was going to end, she grabbed the scroll and began to head over to the group, ready to hear their explanation. *** While The Mane Six had a discussion about what to do next for an activity, they were interrupted by a final hoof stomp to the floor as Trixie met them in the main room, looking in a foul mood. "Oh Trixie..." Fluttershy spoke up. "We're glad you're here. We thought of what we could all do together." "Let me guess, does it involve magic!?" Trixie rash-fully responded to the quiet pony's words. The remark led to a bunch of eyes bouncing off one another. "How...did you...guess darling?" Rarity hesitantly said. "Oo well, because apparently it's the only thing I like!" With a stomp, Trixie then made the elongated scroll that was created appear in front of them to which she then magically crumpled it up and tossed it aside as the ponies she questioned started to get nervous looks of their faces. "Somepony better start talking..." Were the final words the unicorn spoke before having a grim expression on her face. Pinkie broke the silence first. "Uh...cupcake?" Holding up a pink cupcake to be sampled to taste. "Thank you..." Trixie responded in a tense voice, giving no joy in the response. She quickly floated the cupcake and put it all in her mouth at once, and after a couple chews, swallowed it fast. Then the look became more serious, still waiting for an actual answer. "Oh no, my cupcake was so good she didn't even savor it to stall for time..." A squee grin arose from Pinkie directed to the others, who didn't approve of the tactic. Trixie then began tapping her hoof on the floor growing more impatient every second a lack of reasoning was given. "I'm waiting..." Came one final warning from her. The others sighed and knew the jig was up. Time to come clean, but Rainbow was the one to speak, to unfortunately for the others let her emotions and feelings boil over in the verbal standoff. "Look, we didn't want to see you be alone for Hearth's Warming Eve. Excuse us for doing things we knew you would enjoy." Rainbow Dash said in a bummed out voice, but it didn't go over well. "So rather than being alone, you'd rather just try to be like me instead? What does that help!" Trixie shouted at the group. "And you actually got me to look forward to a party with a group of friends, but instead you made me feel like I was only with myself!" The words hit The Mane Six hard as The Great and Powerful Trixie began to open her bag to pull out a smoke bomb. "So thank you very much, for making me realize just how alone I really am! So I think it's time I be just that...alone!" After the statement, Trixie threw the smoke bomb to the floor that engulfed the room in grey smoke. When the hacking and coughing ponies came to the visible room again, their friend was gone, leaving the six of them alone. As if the mood couldn't be killed anymore, one of Pinkie's Party Cannons shot off randomly to a nothing reaction from the crowd of ponies. "Well...that was a surprise..." Pinkie gloomfully pointed out as the party turned into a total sham of itself as the ponies present dropped their heads in shame. Their friend was gone, and they felt to blame for it... To be continued...
Chapter 4The girls were sweeping the massive amounts of confetti left from Pinkie Pie's cannon after the epic fail of a party they threw for Trixie. The gloomy mood of the room was only heightened by the fact that they deserved what had happened. "So, that didn't go to plan..." Rainbow moaned as she continued to push more confetti in a pile while flying through the air. "This is all my fault..." Twilight went blaming herself. "If I had been a better friend, I could have known more things that Trixie enjoyed." Applejack cut her off on the moping train. "No Twilight, the fact is..." "It's my fault!" Came a voice from all the remaining ponies in unison, who then looked at each other in sorrow. "I guess we all share some blame." Fluttershy added on, the others nodded in agreement, but Twilight wasn't ready to give up yet. "Well it's not over yet!" Twilight stomped the ground and began to trot to the exit. "Twilight, where ya going?" Applejack asked the Princess. "I'm going to find Trixie." She declared. Rainbow Dash didn't think it was the best course. "Are you crazy? After how bad we goofed up, she won't wanna talk to anypony." But Twilight didn't accept. "Maybe so, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try. We made this party so that she wouldn't be alone this Hearth's Warming Eve, and I'm not going to let this stop that from happening!" And with that, Twilight Sparkle left the room and eventually the castle. While the remaining ponies continued to clean up the main room, they heard clatter from upstairs coming down to the main room where they were. Then they heard a voice. "What was all the commotion about?" Upon looking, they saw Starlight Glimmer making her way to the remains of the party, with a tissue in hoof blowing her nose slightly. She apparently no longer needed the aid of a Health Bubble to help her get around. And while she didn't look fully recovered, it was a far cry to her bed-ridden self from a couple days prior. "Uhh...kinda a long story." Applejack being the first to speak up. The tone in her voice made Starlight worry what had happened, along with the absence of The Princess, she knew that she about to hear probably wasn't good. *** Twilight hurried back to the spot where she and her friends found Trixie right outside Everfree Forest, unfortunately this time around when she arrived, there was no sign of her. The tracks of her wagon and hoof prints could be seen in the little bit of snow that had fallen, so finding her was still possible, so off she went to track. After several minutes, Princess Twilight found the location of where the trail had gone. Trixie stopped by the nearby pond outside Ponyville. During the heart of Winter it would be where all the ponies would ice stake and have the time of their lives, however currently the pond was only half frozen making no reason to venture there yet. For Trixie though it was perfect reason to. She stared into the half frozen water and looked at a choppy reflection of herself in it, making her frown. Herself, alone, it was all she had been reminded of all day thus far; it seemed fitting to be with herself now. "Trixie? Are you alright?" Came a voice from behind her. She recognized the voice instantly, but made no effort to turn to acknowledge. "Go away Twilight..." Trixie rebutted. "I want to just stay here alone, and look at my reflection. Which is fitting because looking at all your friends today was like looking in a mirror. All they were pretending to be like was me..." Twilight slowly came over to her friend and sat next to her by the pond. "Trixie I'm sorry. I thought doing things that you would enjoy would make you feel happy." Trixie raised an eyebrow at the comment. "But why? That doesn't make any sense...Since when have you ever befriended somepony by acting like someone you're not?" The Princess likewise returned a slow confused like to the unicorn, not understanding what she meant. "What do you mean?" She asked, making Trixie sit up. "Well think about it. When you befriended all your friends, do you act like what you THOUGHT they wanted you to be, or did you just be yourself?" Trixie's remark was quick, and just when Twilight was about to answer...she stopped, and her jaw remained open with a hoof up. Trixie's question left the Princess speechless. This made Trixie just shake her head. "Wow...you like REALLY overthought this didn't you?" Twilight could only sigh and hang her head, for the first time in what seemed forever, she failed at a fundamental lesson of friendship: Being yourself. Trixie lifted Twilight's head up to make her look at her to tell her some advice. "Twilight, you and your friends don't need to show me how great I am...trust me I already know." The remark made Twilight roll her eyes, but that wasn't the point of the statement. "The point is to show all the great things that make all of you special." Twilight understood what her mistake was and realized what she needed to do. As she walked back over to Trixie, a smile arose on her face. "Ya know. Starlight was right. You do give good advice, I can see why she made you the Student Counselor at the school." The kind comment made Trixie blush slightly in embarrassment. "And you're right. Maybe we should head back to the castle, and do our celebration the right way." Twilight began to walk away as Trixie was hesitant to follow, but the princess looked back to her. "You're welcome to come back if you'd like." And with that, Twilight headed off. Trixie watched the princess leave the scene and thought about what to do. But after considering, she smiled knowing her mind had been made. *** Back at the castle, the remaining members of the Mane Six looked on with embarrassing looks on their faces, after Starlight Glimmer had finished her moral of the error of their dilemma. "I can't believe we looked past something so obvious." Fluttershy wimped in a pitiful whim. "You said it..." Applejack agreed. "I feel sillier than making a Haycake on Flapjack Day." The remark was followed by a horrible groan from Rainbow Dash. "UGH! I feel so stupid!" She yelled in embarrassment, kicking the air to vent her frustration. "Well, at least Twilight didn't hear a lesson so simple." Pinkie Pie told the group, when came a voice in the entrance to the party room. "Hear what lesson?" Some in the group looked around, the others hoof palmed in further humiliation as Princess Twiight slowly headed back into the room. "What's going on?" She asked, soon after asking spotting Starlight in the room as well, with a not so jolly look on her face. "Starlight!?" Twilight cheerfully spoke out, while still managing to sweat off her muzzle. "You're...feeling better?" "I was...until I found out what's been going on down here..." The recent ill unicorn glumly responded, approching the Princess. "Where is Trixie Twilight?" The sweat dropping off Twilight Sparkle intensified, as she tried to gather a proper response. "Well, the girls and I wanted to make Trixie feel at home in the castle while you were sick...but it didn't go so well." Starlight's face looked heartbroken at the answer she was given. "She left afterward, I tried to convince to come back, ...but I don't think she's coming." Starlight took a deep breath before coming to reason with the story. "I appreciate you trying to make Trixie feel welcome, but you went about it completely the wrong way. When trying to befriend somepony, you forgot the most important thing to do..." "Just be yourself..." Everypony's eyes suddenly widened, for they didn't hear just one voice. They heard two, at the same time. The voice of Starlight as they expected, but another voice came from behind them. A familar voice in fact, and when all turned around, a familiar face greeted them. "Trixie!" Starlight Glimmer called out running over, who was quickly greeted. "Starlight, you're all better!" Came a happy reply from The Great and Powerful unicorn. The others looked on with delight, they all came to realize how much each meant to one another, much like they all meant to each other. "Well, not all better." Starlight told her friend. "But certainly the worst of it is done. I'm sorry I got sick Trixie, I was really looking forward to spending the holiday together." "Oh Starlight, it's not your fault..." Trixie stated in a calm soothing voice, hoof on a shoulder of her friend. "The important thing is we're together." Suddenly, Trixie was reminded of when she first arrived to the castle. "In fact, wait right here!" In a snap, Trixie poofed and disappeared, not with a smoke bomb, but with an actual teleportation spell. In a couple seconds, she reappeared next to her friend, levitating the very gifts she brought Starlight to celebrate the trip. Two new toboggans for the cold winter nights. Starlight was truly grateful for the gifts, and tried one on for it was first time she got to wear one of them. It was a perfect fit, and it made her happy. All the while when Trixie looked back at the present Mane Six, they were still in shock to see the level of Magic that Trixie had performed, for it was clearly they saw her perform highly advanced magic. Trixie though scoffed it off. "What? I've been getting lessons..." As she gleamed to her friend. "Trixie they're perfect. Thank you!" Starlight clapped her hooves together in acceptance as Trixie got put on her matching hat to fit right in. "In fact, I got something for you too. While you were gone, the girls and I put something to together for you..." Starlight hovered over a decent sized blue box with pink ribbon. Trixie became surprised that gift was thought on such quick notice, but "The Great and Powerful" Trixie was never one to decline a generous gift, much less from a friend. She thought in her mind what it could be as she magicked the wrapping paper apart. When Trixie saw what it was she gasped, and her eyes began to water. She lifted it up to get a closer look. It was a little Trixie doll, much like ones of all of them over on the fireplace in the main room, she glazed over to them to realize what it was for. The girls began to give their intentions for the gift. "I saw you were looking at our dolls over the fire during the party, and it gave me an idea." Rarity graciously announced. Fluttershy then walked up. "I had animals who were willing to give up fur and fluff for the stuffing and hair." "And I'm pretty handy hoof sewing. Got'er stitched up in a jif." Applejack proudly spoke. Pinkie Pie then spoke up. "And I used blue food coloring to dye the coat. Then, I ate the rest of it. No reason to let good food coloring waste." She giggled. "And I got all the things needed to make it happen in a flash. Only took half a second..." Rainbow declared, which got an annoyed look from the party present, to which Dash sighed in conceding. "Fine! Two seconds..." Making the group smile for the honesty. Who would have known to the ponies a second and a half off was a big deal? The Princess soon paced over with a smile as Trixie held her doll close, Twilight glanced at it for a second and came to a conclusion. "And I think I know what can make it even better..." Twilight then teleported out of the room, and a moment later she reappeared holding the hat and cloak of her "Starswirl the Bearded" costume she had worn from many "Nightmare Night's" past. Now with wings and having grown some, the costume no longer fit her; so now the opportunity arose to make something new out of it. Twilight proceeded to use magic on the outfit, making glow her purple aura. After a second, the hat and cloak began to shrink in size. Once the spell had been completed, Twilight floated the tinier accessories onto the doll Trixie held. The smaller articles of clothing now looked just like Trixie's trademark magician garb that she had worn for moons. Both of them smiled with delight over it. "There! That should do the trick..." "It's wonderful..." Trixie looked up to the princess. "Thank you Twilight...thank you everypony." Everyone gleamed with happiness at the approval of gift given. Starlight Glimmer walked over with Trixie as she floated the doll over to the fireplace to place it amongst the rest of the doll of themselves. They looked perfect together, a group of new friends and old that symbolized their true bond of friendship. Starlight then decided to talk to Trixie about what to do next. "Well Trixie. We still have some time to spend Hearth's Warming Eve together...just you and me. Like we planned...we can head out if you want to." Trixie pondered over the thought for a bit, but soon gave a shake of her head. "No...I think I would rather spend it with my friends..." Looking back to all them behind her. "...All of my friends." The delight on all the ponies faces proved even though everything didn't start great, it's how it ends that really matters. Starlight came over to Trixie as they all looked upon all their dolls set on the fireplace. "Great and Powerful Friend" Lyrics: Starlight Since I have met you, I've come such a long way. From the pony, that I now am today. Back in my village, I made myself to pretend. That life was perfect, that I'd never need a friend. But when I met you, on that wonderful day. You made me see, everything will always be okay. And here we are now, our friendship is so true. I feel so special, whenever I'm with you! Starlight Chorus You helped me realize, when I'm all alone. That I'm never, truly on my own. If I remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. Thank you for being, my Great and Powerful Friend! The look on Trixie made Starlight gleem with happiness. Trixie I once was known for having tricks up my sleeve. The thought of friendship was something I never believed. Performed my magic, and traveled from town to town. But with no friends, I was so lonely and felt so down. But then I met you, on that glorious day. Like a true Starlight, you chased my darkness away. That's when I learned that, no magic can compare. To the love and friendship that we share! Trixie Chorus You helped me realize, when I'm on my own. That I never, truly am alone. If I remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. You always will be, my Great and Powerful Friend! Trixie and Starlight We sometimes laugh, we sometimes cry. We're sometimes lonely, when we say goodbye. But when together, we're happy as can be. Our friendship is now, a perfect harmony! We taught each other, when we're on our own, That we never, truly are alone. If we remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. Thank you for being, my Great and Powerful Friend! Starlight: Just remember, when you're all alone (Trixie: Good memories, that we share!) Starlight: That you're never truly on your own. (Trixie: Our magic friendship shows we care!) Starlight: If you remember, the wonderful times we'll spend. (Trixie: We'll be together until the end) Both: You always will be my Great and Powerful Friend! Everypony: Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again! Everypony laughed as they celebrated all throughout the night. And they all agreed that this had truly been a "Great and Powerful" Hearth's Warming Eve and one they would never, ever forget. The End
