The Sad, Lonely, Hearth's Warming Trix-Eve

As 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.