The Lost and Broken Trixie.

Chapters

The Beginning, Prologue
Chapter 1, A Chance Night
Chapter 2, A Trip to the Park
Chapter 3, A Change in Plans
Chapter 4, The Grand Reveal

The Beginning, Prologue

Prologue
The Beginning
by Shyrose

When the rain had started, she couldn't remember. It didn't matter, nothing mattered, nothing except the anger, the shame. How could they mock her? How could they blame her? Those fool colts where to blame! Those fool colts caused the end of her career, the end of her life! Everything she was, lost in an instant, her cloak, her hat, her home, her bits, all gone, yet they have the nerve to call Trixie the villain?

Trixie ran, she ran as fast, as far as she could, the wind and rain sucking the tears from her eyes faster than she can cry them, Furiously she ran forward, running from her shame, running from her loss. She ran until she came to a sudden stop, her hoof snagged on a root and sent her into a nasty spill through the mud and grass.

"Just look at what happened to you now Trixie, not so Great and Powerful now are you? More like Useless and Wet Trixie, Ruined and Hated Trixie...Worthless and Alone Trixie. No! Trixie won't be worthless, Trixie will show them all! she just needs to rebuild, stupid purple unicorn, talentless hack, mocking Trixie! Trixie just needs to get to Canterlot, yes, Canterlot will hold the key to Trixie's rebirth, some fool rich family will hire The Great and Powerful Trixie to teach their foal, and after a few paychecks, Trixie can replace all she has lost and reclaim her status as the most talented pony in Equestira!

A plan in her mind, Trixie's heart swelled with pride. Casting a simple spell, she cleansed herself of the mud, and shielded out the rain. She had to make it to Canterlot now, and had to be presentable when she got there. She would put on her best act, and if all went well, be back on the road within a month, Trixie was Sure!

-1 month Later-

"AGAIN?! Another family refuses Trixie? All because of some stupid incident that isn't Trixie's fault?! How can these common no-ponies treat The Great And Powerful Trixie this way? Fine! if no one will hire Trixie, then Trixie will use her best skills here, if she is forced to entertain like some common street urchin, then so be it! Trixie will bring Canterlot to it's knees with her Spectacular magics! Trixie will own this town!" Rising into her famous dramatic pose, her horn went ablaze with magic, fanfare and fireworks, summoned to do her bidding, announced her presence. Taking Canterlot by storm will be as easy as besting bumpkins at their own game.

-Several Months later-

"So this is the end? Trixie is reduced to sleeping..by dumpsters now? No! Trixie will come back from this! This is only a minor set back. Tomorrow will be a new day for Trixie. Trixie is stronger than this, nothing can keep her down!" Trixie said as she pulled the scraps of fabric she had managed to fashion together to form a blanket over her, nestling down into the newspaper she had lain out. Closing her eyes, Trixie began to sob to herself, as she had done the past few nights, it became really hard to fall asleep anymore without doing so. "How could the world cast Trixie aside like this? has she not suffered enough? Please Celestia, Please..let me find work tomorrow, I beg you!" Trixie found herself begging in her head, before drifting off to sleep.

-2 years after Ponyville-

Pony Joe had just finished up another night, it was late, and he was tired, taking the trash for the busy day out, he didn't notice at first the form sleeping next to the dumpster, until he tripped over it, Falling over the jump, he quickly rights himself to a chorus of. "What the hay?" The form laying there didn't move, not even when he flicked the cloth away to uncover a frail looking, almost skeletal pony, their coat might have been blue once, but with the dirt streaking it, it was hard to tell.

Who was this pony? How long had she been here? Quickly checking to see if she was alive, he picked her up and brought her inside. "Hey, hey! Wake up miss, hey!" He carefully nudged the mare, not caring if he got dirty, she needed help. When she groaned and her eyes fluttered, he thanked Celestia she was alive, rushing to find some leftovers, he laid them out for her to eat, covering her up with a clean apron, he brought her hot coffee and set it before her with the donuts.

A voice weaker than a whisker said something, but all Joe caught was "Trixie..no..money"

"Money? Miss, don't worry about it, eat, please for the love of Celestia, eat something! You look like you could drop any minute, what happened to you?"

A pair of sad eyes his, that had seen far too much pain for their age, and Trixie spilled her story, all of her suffering and regret, it all poured out of her, she cried and cried. Joe kept bringing her food and coffee, letting her go on, she had been on the streets for over a year, barely able to get enough food to live, how she had given up on her dream, how nothing mattered anymore. She cried for so long that Joe actually kept the shop closed the next day, loosing a day's bits, he wouldn't loose much sleep over, especially if it was to help this poor mare in distress.

When she finally stopped crying, Pony Joe wouldn't stand to send her back out into the streets, using money out of his own pocket, he set her up in a hotel room for a time, and helped her out. Once she had gotten a chance at a hot shower, which she enjoyed until the water ran cold, she sat down with Joe. Begging him to allow her to repay his kindness. Though now clean, it seemed she had been drained of color, her coat held no luster, as if it where faux fur, her eyes where dead, though her words where sincere, she truly wanted to return his kindness.

Setting her up with a job, Pony Joe set about having a real hand around the shop for the first time in a long time, and though it was a bit rough going, he managed to teach Trixie how to at least fake a friendly smile and tone.

So this is the story now, a year later from when she was homeless. a possible fateful night for the once Great and Powerful Trixie.

Chapter 1, A Chance Night

First, I want to thank several people. most notably, several authors on this site that helped inspire me to submit my own Story. so. Thank you Ariamaki, Steel Resolve, Sleepless Brony, and especially Unahim for their wonderful interpretation of my Favorite Pony. And I can't thank my love, Jeff, for all his support in helping me get this story told!

Chapter 1
A Chance Night
By
Shyrose

It had been a few months since Ferris' own debacle, he had returned to Canterlot. Back to the mansions and gardens tended by servants. Back to the family that had now finished disowning him, just to win some favor back with the other high-class ponies. It was quite late, Joe's was almost certainly the only place still open at this hour, when Ferris nudged the door open. The slate gray stallion was crestfallen, a pair of heavy bags strapped across his back- all he'd managed to salvage of his trick collection. He levitated his bags into one side of a booth, before easing himself into the other. He leaned into the seat with a heavy sigh.

Hearing the door bell jingle, the azure mare in a white apron uniform, wearing a paper hat on her brushed, but unstyled mane, came over to the table, levitating a pen and notepad, she moved slowly, but with purpose, her eyes holding a dull glazed look of somepony who had given up. Wearing an extremely false smile she asked softly.

"Welcome to Pony Joe's, where the Donuts are fresh and the coffee is divine, What can Trixie get for you?"

Obviously this line was automatic to her, she had said it so many times, she often said it in her sleep now. the pen held to the paper readily as she awaited to take his order.

The stallion looked up at her, and nearly said something he'd regret. Something his mother or nearly ex-fiance would say about the help. So what, she looked down on her luck? At least she had a job, and wasn't winning drinking money out from under cider-soaked stallions avoiding their wives.

"Half dozen of the Apple-sprinkle ones, cup of coffee and plenty of cream. Please." His soft blue eyes looked around the place; it seemed it was just the two of them, maybe Joe in the back. "And maybe the story of why you look so out of place here, Trixie."

The pen glided across the notepad in sweeping, fancy, showmareship letters, but she appeared to be doing it by habit, before turning on her hoofs and walking back into the back. The quiet store offered little to mask the sound she was making in the back, as she was setting things on a tray to bring out. returning back to the table, she had her fake smile on again, it wasn't as if she trying to be insulting, maybe it was as if she believed she was really smiling, it was hard to put into words, this poor broken Mare simply..survived..but wasn't alive it seemed. her dull magical aura around the tray appeared weak as she set the tray holding the coffee, Fresh donuts, and a large carafe of cream. "Will that be all? Or can Trixie get you anything else?" She asked, the first real sounding thing she said so far.

"I think so. Although you didn't respond to the other thing I asked for." He shot her a calm, friendly smile. One of the few legitimate ones to cross his face since he'd left Canterlot. He poured some cream into his coffee, a quick twist of the green aura around it setting it mixing, as he continued to talk to her. "If you want, I could go first. I know you're just working, but.. you're the first pony I've talked to in a very long time that wasn't drunk or trying to get rid of me." Ferris said to the mare before him.

Trixie glanced around the shop, seeing it empty, she didn't walk away, she would be polite and listen, it couldn't hurt to listen to a pony in need of an ear to listen. "Okay. Trixie has time to listen, but She can't make promises, Trixie might be called away to work." She said, being polite, casting a look over her shoulder at the haggard face of Joe, who simply smiled from the back and nodded, giving her a wink, to which she had no idea as to it's meaning.

Ferris followed Trixie's gaze back to Joe, and just shook his head at the wink. "Nothing of the sort! I assure you, my intentions are noble." It came out in his performance voice, the tone and pitch of a pony used to being on stage. He sipped his coffee, idly rolling one of the donuts around the plate as he started to talk. "Right. So you're Trixie. My name's Ferris, and you have the wonderful honor of speaking with Canterlot high society's latest outcast. Everything I still own is in those overstuffed saddlebags in the seat there."

It was slight, but it was there, the use of a stage voice, a glimmer of light in dead eyes, but was gone in a flash "Canterlot does tend to..cast ponies aside, Trixie apologizes for your predicament...Trixie knows of a nice hotel nearby if you wish a place to stay." She was trying to be helpful, and polite, and she meant it, she did appear to want to help, but was unsure of what she was supposed to say, noticing the Coffee cup was only half full, and the steam was starting to dissipate, she excused herself quickly and returned with fresh coffee to refill his mug..she was after all, Employee of the month, for the past...-looking over her shoulder at the wall- ...7 months..Trixie had no idea it had been that long ago when she became a 'good employee'

"Maybe. I was thinking about just staying up all night, honestly. Thank you!" Ferris added more cream to the fresh coffee, and had by now started in on the donuts. "You can have one if you want. I won't tell Joe you're eating on the clock." He sighed a bit. It really wasn't doing him much good, going back over his own problems again. He wanted to hear her story. Maybe she'd reciprocate if he kept going. "Yes, Canterlot is like that. Though to hear the ponies on the hill tell it, I should be in jail for attempted murder. As if it's my fault that airhead couldn't follow simple directions, or was too busy looking for a camera to smile at to focus on the show." Yes, he was still bitter about what happened, and his voice carried it openly.

Trixie was genuinely curious now, and actually edged into the booth across from him, though passed on the donuts..she worked here after all..donuts where not high on her list of favorite foods anymore. "What was it you did? if Trixie can ask? You seem clearly upset over it still, did you injure somepony?" A conversation with someone seemed to be bringing her out of her shell slightly, like, perhaps she hadn't talked..in a long while, to anypony more than her rehearsed routines for the customers.

"No, no, I don't mind at all." He laughed a bit, a sort of nervous laughter covering up a wound that was more raw than he realized. One of the bags beside her glowed for a moment, before he levitated a top hat from it, setting it upon his head. "I'm a magician by trade. Not unicorn magic, though I know more of that than is useful. Old Earth Pony magic. Pulling things out of hats, sleight of hoof. Sawing mares in half.. And that last one is the source of my troubles!" He had fallen into his routine, his voice and gestures making it seem as if he was revealing some deep secret, some amazing tale of Old Magic and trouble.

Trixie's eyes glowed! Stage magic! here? after so long...who was this pony? She nearly winced at seeing him in all his grandeur, and felt...weird all of a sudden, a little voice whispered something in the back of her head, though she couldn't hear it, though she swore..she heard fireworks. "Your assistant..was too distracted to slip all her hooves in one side and replace the legs...right?" She gasped slightly, surprised, she didn't mean to interrupt him like that. "Trixie apologizes, please, keep going!"

He snickered a little at her sudden enthusiasm. He took advantage of the break to take another sip of coffee and nibble on his donuts. "I don't mind at all. Stories are always better when the audience is involved. But don't go telling everypony how all my tricks work, or I'll never get working again!" He put the coffee cup and donuts back down "But you're exactly right. I've had school-fillies on stage with me with better poise than her. She'd gotten the falsies out, but didn't pull her legs all the way back. I started sawing.. And stopped when I saw the blood." He sighed a bit "It wasn't deep, they wouldn't call me The Amazing Ferris if I was that sloppy. But she just started wailing. As if I'd really cut her in half. No 'It's all part of the show!" was going to smooth THAT over."

Trixie nodded, "Trixie won't say a word to any others." She replied, sneaking a peak into his bag from whence the hat had come, absentmindedly, her hoof reached to her own hat, a white and pink stripped paper hat, and sighed. inspecting his hat from her vantage point, she critiqued it, in her mind, before asking. "Did you get that from here in Canterlot..or is that..a Hoofington creation..it almost appears to be the work of Haver Dasher, if Trixie had to warrant a guess, and he only works out of his shop in Hoofington" Memories she had locked away, a young mare, using all her bits to buy the perfect hat...

That bag was hardly exciting to look into. A plain black cape, a few ties and other pieces of costumes. He had started shaking his head when she asked if the hat was from Canterlot, then simply stared as she spoke. He recovered from the surprise and nodded, flipping it off his head so it landed on it's top in front of her, obviously a move he'd done countless times, to let ponies examine that he had nothing in it. But the inner band confirmed what Trixie had said. "My grandfather bought it for me, after I got my first headline act. From Haver Dasher of Hoofington. You don't strike me as a fashionista, Trixie. How'd you know that?"

Trixie blushed a bit. "Trixie is from Hoofington, She would often walk by his shop, he was a nice stallion." She wasn't lying, all of what she said was the absolute truth, she was born in Hoofington and thought the old Stallion was nice. though that was all she let herself remember, painful memories assaulted her, half forgotten. lost in her own little world, she didn't realize the crestfallen and utterly depressed look that her face naturally fell into when she wasn't paying attention, the kind of look a pony gets when they have nothing left anymore. snapping out of her world a bit when she heard the chink of the cup on the table, she hurried to fill it again, before moving off to replace his cream with fresh. "Trixie apologizes, you where saying?"

"Thanks again. And don't worry about it. I don't mind. makes it feel more like a conversation and less like you're just hoping I'll drop a big tip." He smiled at her as he added cream to the new coffee, swirling the cup idly as he continued his story. "That's the end of the interesting part, I'm afraid. I'm standing there on stage, slack-jawed, there's blood on the saw, and she's screaming at the top of her lungs." He finished off the last few bites of one of the donuts. "Manager killed the lights and turned up the music. One of the stage-hooves helped me pull her out of the box, get her to a clinic. And then." He paused, gesturing towards her with a levitating doughnut wreathed in emerald light. "Her parents showed up."

Trixie nodded, and seemed slightly offended at the thought that all she wanted was a bigger tip. Trixie had very little use for bits anymore, she owned a small home, her bills where all paid..after all, she worked here at Pony Joe's everyday, all day, she came in shortly after Joe's Opened, to catch the breakfast rush..and well..went home when Joe forced her too, she hadn't had a single day off...Ever as far as she could remember, never took them, always showed up to work anyway. so the thought of money left a bitter taste in her mouth. Giving a slight stage gasp out of habit at the point of inflection with the doughnut, she allowed him to continue.

"Sweet Celestia, did they let me have it. I was actually kind of surprised ponies that high-class knew some of those words. The gist was that I had tried to kill their precious little filly, and that if I was a REAL Unicorn, it wouldn't have happened." He sighed a bit, staring at the brown and white pattern swirling in his coffee, he lifted it up and took a drink, carefully setting it down before he went on. "I couldn't take it anymore after that. I went to the most selective magic academy in Canterlot; if that's not good enough to be a real unicorn, I don't know what is. So I broke down the entire trick. Told them exactly where their little princess bucked up. How I had no idea she'd done it wrong until the saw bit. I didn't even know clinics like that HAD security, but they threw me out."

She shook her head "It's never fair when Truly Magnificent ponies are ruined, Trixie apologizes, she is sure your magic show was amazing, She has never actually seen the sawing pony trick before, only..heard about it in passing." Her horn lit with a dull, lackluster aura, and another plate of Apple sprinkled doughnuts sat themselves on the empty plate. "These are on Trixie, please Continue, She wishes to know how you ended up here tonight, you seem to have done a lot of traveling"

"You don't have to give me doughnuts to keep me talking." He smiled at her, looking her over for a long moment before he went on. She looked sad- exhausted, far older than her body otherwise suggested. "Well, they basically drove me out of Canterlot. The club canceled the rest of my shows, and they made sure word got around quick. No-pony would hire me for a show, or anything else for that matter. My Dad suggested I go lay low somewhere for a while. So.. I took a tour, basically. Appleoosa to Manehattan, and most every town in between. I had money. Still have some- but I kind of went wild. Took out my anger on poor drunks, bilking them out of bits on card games and schoolyard tricks."

Trixie gave a halfhearted giggle. "Never play cards with a magician. And no, it's okay, Trixie...Trixie has not had any-pony to talk to for a long time, it's...nice." She was actively sitting in the booth across from him, and had even helped herself to a doughnut, nibbling on it subconsciously, looking a bit cute actually, taking tiny bites while her eyes watched the Stallion before her.

"Appleoosa was probably my favorite. Sort of lawless out there, and those settler ponies know how to have a good time." He shrugged a bit, slouching into the booth now. His story had wandered away from the showy parts, and the stage presence he had been exuding went away with it. "So my Mom finally managed to get a letter to me about a week ago. Begging me to come home. Foal that I was, I thought things had blown over. I got back to Canterlot this morning. You can imagine how well things have gone, since I'm leaving again first thing in the morning."

Unsure why, Trixie slumped a bit hearing he was leaving so soon. "Trixie understands, do you have any idea where you'd be going? Wandering blindly can lead to a nasty trip." She finished her doughnut and wiped her mouth with a napkin, before looking back to Ferris "I mean, obviously nothing is keeping you here, so you have a plan I take it?" Again, she was Unsure why she cared. Maybe something about this Stallion peaked her interest. She thought the company was nice, and perhaps she didn't want to return to relative anonymity, that her current job left her in..even if it was Trixie herself that seemed to have imposed this on herself.

He shook his head as she advised him against wandering blindly, and if he had a plan. He picked up another doughnut, thoughtfully chewing it before he answered her. "I've always been good at thinking on my hooves. Honestly I've got less of a plan and more of an urge. My name's dirt up here, you know?" He sighed a bit as he looked back at her. There was something about her, he couldn't quite put his hoof on. "But you do have a good point. Maybe I should stay a day or two. Think things through."

She nodded, perhaps a bit eagerly, it was hard to tell "Yes, Trixie Agrees you should think things out, Nothing bad could come from-" She was interrupted by Pony Joe, who was walking over to the two of them

"Hey, Sorry to interrupt you there Trixie, but it's closing time, why don't you get up and outta here with your new friend? I can handle the clean up tonight, and if you, you know, wanna take tomorrow off.." He winked at the two of them. "Don't worry about it! you kids have a good night!"

The grizzled store owner laughed at his own humor and started the motions of cleaning up. Trixie however, looked a bit heartbroken. "Oh..Okay Joe." Turning to Ferris, she said. "Trixie guesses we have to go, you said you where gonna be up all night? Do you wanna walk me home? Maybe have a glass of Cider?"

Ferris mostly just rolled his eyes at Joe's ham-hooved attempt to get them together. He'd had enough of matchmaking for one lifetime. Still.. He looked at Trixie as he lifted a few bits out of one of his bags. He placed half of them beside his coffee cup, and slid the rest across the booth towards Trixie. "I'd be honored." He finished off the last cup of coffee before he slipped out of the booth, feeling in better spirits now than when he'd drug himself in. He waited for her to get up so he could retrieve his bags.

Taking the bits with her hoof, Trixie eased out of the booth, Trixie was blushing from Joe's remarks, used to him trying to set her up with anypony who said more than 2 words to her. heading into the back, she tossed her apron into a hamper and got her coat, the Canterlot nights could be chilly. Slipping it on, she joined Ferris back in the Dining area, and offered a hoof with his bags. "Trixie would like to help, if you'll let Trixie." She asked before accidentally leaning too far forward and a bag bumped her forehoof, blushing, She stumbled on her words, unable to grasp them for some reason. "T-Trixie is sorry!" She felt bad, she could have broken something he needed to perform his magic, and that would be horrible!

"Well, if Trixie insi.." He gave her a confused, concerned look as she stuttered. It wasn't a thing worth apologizing for, he didn't think, never mind getting so flustered as she did. "Of course I'll let you help. And don't worry about tripping, I'm sure you've been on your hooves plenty today." His bags soon covered in his verdant aura, settling the lighter bag on her side, the heavier one on his. His hat danced between them a moment, before he settled it on her head with a goofy grin. "Come on, Trixie, let's get you home."

Opening on the door, and holding it for Ferris, Trixie let him go ahead of her as she let it close behind her, flipping the sign around for Joe, she threw her scarf around her neck, and snuggling into it for warmth briefly. Taking a breath she turns down the street, and starts off on a slow trot, letting Ferris follow easily, she walked mostly in silence, letting Ferris talk about whatever, before stopping a mere four houses down. It was a small house by Canterlot standards, but still, being Canterlot, was larger than most houses in other cities. It was split level, but no yard, a small flight of steps led up to a landing/ "Well, it's not grand, but this is Trixie's home." Trixie blushed nervously, unsure of what to say, before asking rather sheepishly. "Did..Did you wanna come in, and have that glass of cider?"

Ferris stopped, looking over at her as she stood beside the stairs. His ears flicking nervously as he thought about the offer "I'd like to, but.. I should probably find some place to stay for the night. Though I figure Joe would just say -Trixie'll let you stay at her place, kid!-" The imitation was spot on, he'd even managed to adopt the grizzled stallion's stance when he said it.

Trixie giggled, real, honest, hearty giggling. It was quick, but it was there. She giggled for a few seconds and said. "Oh Trixie could have sworn Pony Joe was here, that was the best impression Trixie has ever heard..." She paused for a second, before blushing, she responded. "Well..you wouldn't be the first traveler Trixie allowed to stay in her guest room. Trixie has far more space then Trixie needs." She thought for a moment, and then caught on to what Pony Joe said earlier. "B-but not like that! Trixie is not that kind of mare! Trixie merely wishes to help ponies in need when she can. It's not fun to sleep out in the cold..."

He beamed when she complimented his impression, though he felt the laughter was worth far more than the words. He turned his head curiously as she went on, however. "That's the voice of experience speaking, isn't it? Let's get inside and have that cider, Trixie." His fore-hooves edged up onto the first step of her house, his soft blue eyes all but fixed on her. "I could probably talk my way into a room someplace, but I don't think there's anyplace in Canterlot I'd rather be." He immediately hung his head when he realized what he'd said. "Sorry, that was like the cheesiest line and I didn't even mean it like that, I'm so sorry."

Trixie smiled, and giggled again. "No, it's okay, Trixie doesn't mind, as long as you don't try to talk your way into Trixie's room!" She giggled again, being far more playful than she expected herself to be, perhaps Ferris was just a funny Pony, it's okay to laugh at pony funnies right? Opening her door, Trixie held it open for Ferris to enter. "Make yourself at home."

"That's probably the only thing I've never tricked my way into, words, magic or Magic." He quickly trotted up the stairs and into her house, looking around a bit as he slipped his bag off, putting it into an out of the way corner as he took in her dwelling. They say you can learn a lot about somepony by how they arrange their houses. "Thanks, Trixie. A lot of ponies would've just told me to take a hike. Especially here."

Trixie is not like Every-pony...not a lot of ponies have such a sad tale as yours, Trixie feels you deserve a kind hoof in need." She came in and set his other bag down next to it's mate, before leading him through the house, giving him a bit of a tour. The first thing that struck about the arrangements, were that there where very little. a couch, a table with chairs, a simple T.V. a computer off in one corner that looked barely touched, the place was spotless, not in that "Hyper clean" way, but in the...No one lived here..kinda way. no pictures hung the walls, the mantle was empty...this was a crypt, no one "lived" here. Offering him a place on the couch, she went to the kitchen and, soon to exit with a few glasses, suspended in her weak aura, filled with a golden amber fluid.

Ferris let a bit of a sad sigh slip from him as she lead him through the dwelling. It was so.. empty. He settled in on the couch, smiling up at her when she returned with the glasses. His horn lit up, snagging the closer glass from her aura. When he 'grabbed' the glass, her aura would flare to full color briefly, though it faded as soon as he moved the glass from her influence. "Thank you ma'am. So I've got two questions for you. First, Ferris wants to know why Trixie talks like that. And second, what the sad tale that led her to Canterlot is." His slipping into third person was meant to be a gentle teasing, not mocking, and he hoped it came across right.

Trixie shrugged, sitting on the couch next to him, briefly remarking if her magic aura was ever that blue before, before the thought passed. "Trixie has always talked like this, as long as she can remember, Pony Joe once tried to get her to stop, but couldn't do it, Trixie has no clue why, She guesses she prefers it. And Trixie's story is rather plain, nothing special, just like Trixie...She had a rough time, and had to relocate to Canterlot, then she got a job at Pony Joe's, and has been working there for about a year now" She sipped on her Cider slowly, she didn't feel mocked, she didn't feel much really, but she was sure she enjoyed the company, and that much at least showed in her demeanor.

Perhaps she was raised by dragons or something. But no, as far as he knew Hoofington was a pretty normal place. His brow knit a bit as he took a sip of the cider. "Plain, normal ponies don't let strangers into their houses after chatting in a diner. Ordinary ponies don't know how the sawing in half trick works. Ponies who.." He stopped himself before going on. He probably could've ranted at her, his voice raising with every example until he'd detailed everything she'd said or done with him tonight. "Sorry. I just know there's more to you than this. You're like a trick I don't know the gimmick to. But come on. I told you a lot tonight. I want to know more about you than you had a 'rough time.' Please?"

Trixie sighed. "Trixie just lost her profession in a little town not far from here, and it was a good deal of time before she could arrange another one, roughly two years between her lose, and then the find of employment at Joe's...when Pony Joe found Trixie..behind his shop...next to the dumpster...She blushed as she talked, slightly embarrassed, normally she wouldn't let someone this deep, normally she didn't let herself this deep even. "Trixie is ashamed of the way Trixie had to live, and knows how cold Canterlot can be, Trixie can not stand to see other ponies go through what Trixie did."

That story and she was blushing. Not crying, but blushing. He shifted on the couch until he was beside her, putting one arm around her shoulders. "Trixie.. I'm so sorry. And you called MY story sad, and you've suffered all that?" He held her loosely against him. It certainly put things in perspective for him. He took another drink of his cider, looking away from her and just sort of staring blankly at the wall. He thought of all kinds of deep questions to ask her, but he put them aside. "What do you want to do tomorrow, Trixie?"

Trixie had the look of a pony all out of tears, someone who couldn't cry anymore, something soul crushing had happened to this pony, to bring her to such a state. "Trixie works all day tomorrow, why do you ask?" She leaned into him a bit, enjoying the warmth of another pony close, just a friendly way, innocently.

"No you don't. I was right there when Joe told you to take the day off. And I think you need it." He was already afraid of the answer, but he went ahead and asked anyway. "When was the last time you took a day off?" He reached his free hoof over, brushing a few strands of her mane out of her face. "Even if you don't want to spend it with me."

Trixie thought for a moment, letting him brush her lifeless mane away from her face.. "Trixie..has never taken a day off. From opening to closing, Trixie is there. all day, every day. Why would Trixie need a day off? Trixie..doesn't like days off...Trixie would just spend it here, alone..Trixie..doesn't like being alone." Her voice hitched slightly, like she would begin to cry, but it passed, and she just sighed. "So..if Trixie is to not work tomorrow, she would prefer to spend it..with you..What did you want to do?"

"Oh Trixie.." He brushed his hoof against her cheek now, almost cradling her against his body. He saw it much more clearly now. How fragile she was, how little there was left to this mare. Who'd listened to him gripe and whine about being freed from his gilded cage. " I'm honestly not sure. It's not that there's nothing to do here, but.. I'm honestly not sure where I'm still welcome." He shrugged a bit "Well, it's not the royal gardens, but we could spend some time in the parks. I don't think anypony can keep me out of public spaces. And there's one club I can still get into, if you want to go dancing or something. But it's not my day, it's yours, understand?"

Trixie looked up into his eyes, for the first time, actually meeting his eyes..it was all their, the pain, sorrow, loose, a shattered life, a dead mare just going about their remaining time, her eyes had the look of some-pony just waiting to die now. Trixie slumped her shoulders, and shrugged. "Trixie..doesn't know, maybe the Park would be nice, the spring is nice if Trixie remembers." She said this, as if having no clue it was the middle of Fall. "Trixie, has never really been dancing before, but if Trixie remembers correctly, Club Pon3 never rejects people based on "Prim Opinion" I believe Miss Vinyl had said..she comes into Joe's a lot..Trixie thinks she a nice enough pony."

He almost corrected her, but would there be much use to it? Not right now. He bit his tongue, listening to her. "That's open now? They were still converting it from the old club when I left. We shared a club for a while- Cider and Bridle. Seedy underbelly of Canterlot that was!" He smiled at her, dialing back his enthusiasm a little. He set his cider down, wrapping his other arm around her and hugging her tight. "It's settled then. We'll spend part of the day out, watching the leaves, then we'll go out to Club Pon3."

Trixie smiled a bit, and leaned against her guest. "Trixie likes the sound of that. But..Don't make fun of Trixie is she can't dance please!" Trixie looked away, taking another sip of her Cider, before resting her head on Ferris' side, yawning loudly. "Oh, Please excuse Trixie, It seems like it's time for bed, Follow Trixie, and she can show you where you'll be sleeping." Getting off the couch, she took the glasses to the Kitchen, before leading Ferris up the stairs to the upper level, opening a door on the left, she shows the bathroom. "Towels are in the closet there." Moving back down the hall, she opens another door on the right. "This is the guest room, you can sleep in here." The room was rather plush, and fully furnished, it had a nice, homely feel too it, a lot of effort went into making this room feel welcoming and Inviting. opening the door directly across from it, she said. "And this one is Trixie's room, it's nothing special." She wasn't kidding, her room was utterly barren. A simple bed, with a simple spread, there was a dresser in one corner, and no mirror. On the nightstand there was a picture frame that was laying down, hiding the picture from view. "If you need anything you can't find in the morning, feel free to wake Trixie. She'll help."

"I promise I won't make fun of your dancing." He followed her up the stairs, then stood there in the little corridor between the rooms. It wasn't acting, but he glanced back and forth between the two rooms in an almost cartoonish fashion. "Trixie, you can't be serious. You take the good room. I promise I won't snoop in your room!" So, Joe wasn't a slave driver after all, judging by how well-furnished the guest room was. He stamped at the carpet under his hoof. "And, i don't mean this how it sounds, but you seemed very comfortable in my arms. We could sleep together, if you'd like." He turned his head and looked at her. He was desperate, to do something, anything to help her.

Trixie stood for a minute..and considered her options a bit, she knew he meant well. She trotted into her room slowly..but left the door open.."Trixie recommends bringing the spare blanket off the guest bed, hers isn't really that warm..." Taking off her coat and shawl, she folded them and set them on the dresser, for the first time, showing her cutie mark. Set into her soft fur, was a magic wand, capped with a star, the unmistakable swirl of magic coming off it, in the shape of a crescent moon. pulling back the covers, she added. "Oh..And um..Trixie also recommends another pillow or two.."

Ah ha! So she was a full-on magic unicorn then. That explained why her aura had been so reactive. He turned, walking part-way into the guest room, gathering up the requested items in a bundle of magic force, letting it hover in behind him as he climbed into bed beside her. The pillows inserting themselves under their heads, the blanket draping over their bodies. Ferris pressed himself lightly against her, putting one arm across her side. "I'm glad I stopped for those doughnuts. I almost just went straight to the train station.."

Trixie raised a fore-hoof and clutched onto the hoof holding her, and scooted closer, resting her back fully against his front, a single tear rolled down her eye into her pillow as she nearly fell right to sleep in his embrace. "Trixie...is glad..she doesn't..have to be alone tonight." The hitch was there, and though it was over near instantly, she cried herself to sleep with that action, but almost as if they where tears of happiness, she was sound asleep, holding onto Ferris, pressing against him as if she was afraid he would disappear, and leave her. the picture laying down was next to Ferris on the nightstand, as if she slept with her back to it, the way she slept seemed to indicate she was always on this side.

Ferris held on to the mare in his hooves, who seemed was already asleep. Nuzzling her head with his, he held her close, trying his best to help her feel save. However, one of his last thoughts before sleep, was that he had somehow, talked his way into her bed that night, even when he had sworn he wouldn't try.

Chapter 2, A Trip to the Park

Chapter 2
A Trip to the Park
by Shyrose

Ferris woke up first, slowly blinking the last remains of sleep from his big blue eyes. For a moment the slate gray stallion was confused, who was this mare he held so closely? Why was the room so empty, the last night's events slowly filtered back into his mind. He thought about getting up and washing up, but thought better of it as he watched the blue mare in his hooves sleep. What would she think, if she woke to find him missing? So he stayed there in bed as the sunlight slowly spilled into the room.

Trixie slept soundly for a while longer, though showed signs of beginning to stir. When she finally awoke, her amethyst eyes widened in surprise as she felt something next to her. Remembering quickly the events of last night, she blushed sheepishly. In a voice barely higher than a whisper, she said. "Trixie, hopes she didn't embarrass you, she is very sorry. Trixie hopes you didn't mind her bed, she knows it's not the most comfortable." She hadn't turned around yet, her eyes still staring at the wall. Trixie only knew Ferris was awake by his slight movements. Trixie had a feeling he wouldn't answer, he seemed too polite to respond to her comments, but as if an after thought, she added. "Trixie, thanks you."

A wide smile crept across the stallion's face as she began to apologize. He was, as she thought, too polite to respond directly, but if she had been facing him, his grin would've given him away. He nodded a little, gently running a hoof against her mane. "You're welcome, Trixie." There was a brief pause, a drawing of breath, as if he was going to add more, but he kept his tongue. He wasn't on eggshells, but this pony needed a gentle touch. He slowly crawled away from her, waiting until all four hooves had found the floor before he stretched out, finally giving her a good view of the pair of crossed wands on a green star-burst that decorated his flank.

He turned his head to look at her, giving her a soft smile before speaking. "Happy day off. Am I going to make you breakfast, or are we going to get an early start on our adventure today?"

Trixie gave a slight smile, a hint of rose touching her pale azure cheeks. Slowly easing out of bed, she shoke her mane out of her face, before finally responding. "Trixie apologizes, but, she is afraid she has no food with in which to offer breakfast. Trixie normally just has something at work."

Biting her lip, Trixie appeared to be worrying about not showing up at work. Trixie's eyes kept darting to the clock, before she sighed slightly and returned her gaze to her guest. "Trixie thinks before anything, we should take turns in the shower, then we can worry about breakfast?" Trixie said, before gesturing to the door out of her room with a slight nod of her head. "Trixie understands though if you wish to reconsider, you do not have to treat Trixie like she is anything special, she just didn't want you to sleep in the cold." Trixie seemed to expect this offer of a 'date' was merely a repayment, she truly did not see anything of worth to her company.

"That's fine, Trixie. But, we're not eating at Joe's, ok?" He added the condition after he saw her eying the clock so intently. Ferris rolled his head from side to side, working out a kink in his neck. He couldn't remember the last time he'd spent a night with another pony; certainly since before his engagement.

"A shower sounds like a great idea, Trixie, if you.." He stopped as she offered to let him leave. He closed his big blue eyes and shook his head, pausing a moment to just look at her before he responded. Ferris didn't consider it a date, or a debt. A deserved good turn for a good turn given, a way to get closer to a new friend. "And I'm very grateful for that, Trixie. But I'm not leaving until I see you smile."

Trixie was taken aback slightly, the shock showing on her face as she cocked her head to the side, looking quite puzzled, she said. "Trixie has smiled quite a bit, she smiled in the shop last night quite frequently. In fact Trixie often smiles, it is part of her job."

It was obvious that Trixie believed her own false smile by now, and thus was confused by Ferris' meaning. putting it out of her mind, she went and got him a towel from the linen closet. Offering it to him she simply stated. "You can have the first turn in the shower. Trixie will change the sheets on the bed while you do."

Ferris shook his head at her, catching the towel up in a field of magic before draping it across his back. "You can't fool me, Trixie. When you make your living up on stage, fooling the people with magic, you can tell what's real. I'll try not to be long."

Ferris slipped out of the room and into the bathroom. He laid the towel aside and started the water, letting it run a moment before stepping in. He just stood there for a long time, letting the warm water soak through his mane and coat, head hanging, his horn lightly pressed against the wall."You really are one of them, Ferris. Tried so hard not to be. Like running away makes you any better? Slumming it, like some royal on holiday.."

He was trying to keep his voice down, at least under the water's level, but Trixie could probably hear him talking to himself. Struggling to make some sense out of his life, the twisted path that lead him from the magic school to a vagrant's life.

He had managed to wash himself during his monologue, finally lifting his head, letting the water hit him full in the face. "No more running. No more hiding." He tried to sound convincing- but the one pony he could never fool was himself. He turned the water off, drying himself off before moving back out into the hall, combing his mane back with a hoof.

Trixie had set to work clearing and making the bed as Ferris was showering, tugging the blankets away with her teeth, and placing them in the hamper near the closet. Moving up to the pillows she stopped at the nightstand with the picture on it. It had rested there for so long in that position, that the dust had come to settle on it like snow. Trixie inhaled and blew away the offended landscape before picking the picture up and glancing at it.

Prominently displayed was a young bright azure pony with a silky cream white mane. Her bright amethyst eyes shone with all the colors of the world as she stood on a stage. A blue hat and cloak, both splattered with stars and moons of differing colors adorned her. This was the day Trixie got her cutie mark. Glancing at the picture, was still too painful to look at. Opening the nightstand drawer, she stashed the picture away, maybe she'd throw it away later. It didn't matter anymore.

Hearing the water shut off in the bathroom, she acquired a towel for herself and threw it over her back. She could hear the stallion withen talking to himself, but she didn't pay it any attention, it would be rude after all, to eavesdrop.

"All yours, Trixie." He flashed her a quick smile, a bit of a sad one, before moving past her to add his towel to the hamper. Still messing with his mane, he slowly looked around her empty room. His gaze fixing on the nightstand, where the one sign of habitation had been removed. Sighing, he trotted across to the guest room where he had let his bags. He rummaged through the smaller of the two, eventually pulling out a small flyer. Ferris went to the living room, sitting on the couch and reading over it. He'd kept it as a souvenir from one of the first hotels he'd performed at, but it had a listing of local attractions, and eateries.

Alone in the shower, water cascading down her body and mane, wasn't doing anything to help Trixie's feelings at the moment. Another stage-pony who lost everything..how similar he was to her, though he was fortunate enough to have bits to make it where he wanted to go. Trixie was mildly surprised that she didn't feel bitter over that fact, she wasn't upset that he was complaining about his hardships, while hers could have been said to dwarf them, she felt slightly hopeful for him, maybe he wouldn't end up like her, a worthless no-pony, unfit to even be in his company.

Ferris was obviously a true magician, and deserved the spotlight, not what life had done to her. What good was she? she got a town half destroyed, she nearly got two young colts killed, she humiliated ponies..she was a monster: and she deserved her fate. Ferris on the other hand didn't. If he needed a day with her to get over his sadness, maybe she would try her best to at least be useful in that regard, then he could go on his way and make it back to the top, maybe Trixie would get a chance to see his show. That would be worth it she supposed.

Turning the water off, She noticed water was still falling down her face. Reaching a hoof to it, she felt herself crying again, Trixie had thought she couldn't cry anymore, why was this happening now? Stepping out of the shower, she wiped herself down by hoof, she did a surprising amount of jobs by hoof these days now that she thought about it. she even had a hoof held brush. The lack of magic never seemed apparent to her until now, how odd. After drying herself she left the bathroom, and after depositing her towel in the hamper, moved downstairs herself. seeing Ferris looking over a flyer, she slowly walked over to him. "Did you find something interesting?"

"Couple of things. There's the 'Muffinteria' between here and the park. Supposed to be pretty good." He turned his head to look at her. She looked better clean and fresh, than haggard and exhausted after a day's work. But her face still showed her pain. All that azure mare had been through, and he dared complain. He made it sound big, of course, but he'd less been run out of town as he'd run from the town. He laid the flyer down where she could reach it. "Take a look, or if there's someplace you wanted to try, I'd be happy to go." He surprised himself with that. He'd never been selfish, exactly, but he was hardly the sort to go out of his way for somepony else. A million other little doubts and fears nearly played across his mind, but he set his eyes on Trixie and pushed them back. "I hope you have a good time today, Trixie."

Trixie walked over to the flyer and looked over it. The flyer was an older one, but she remembered the names of most of the places here in Canterlot. Thinking of her own eating habits lately, she thought about all the baked goods she ate on a regular basis and thought against the Muffinteria at first, but the advertisement showing the exceedingly happy gray pegasus mare with glee written in her golden eyes as she advertised her muffins was too hard to resist. "Trixie thinks she has seen that pony before, but she can't quite place her hoof on it, but she thinks that anypony who seems so happy about their work must be worth visiting."

"She does look excited doesn't she? Give me a minute and we can head out." Ferris got up off the couch, emptying out one of his bags. He magically tied a gray and black scarf about his neck, hanging the saddlebag from his side. "It's probably still chilly out this morning. You ready, Trixie?" His enthusiasm was returning at the prospect of leaving her house. The place was dead, draining, and it did no-pony trying to cheer up himself and another pony any help. He moved over to the door to wait for her.

Lightly trotting to the door, Trixie pulled her own scarf from the peg on the way and tossed it around her, securing the wrap snugly, she allowed the door to be opened for her, and went through. Once Ferris had exited, she locked the door with a small bit of magic and they soon began trotting off in the direction of the 'Muffinteria'. Turning to her traveling companion, Trixie saw the change in his demeanor with a practiced eye, you never forget how to read a crowd, or so the saying goes, she thought to herself. "Trixie has not really seen much of Canterlot in the past year or so, she begs your forgiveness if we get a little lost." It was true, Trixie went exactly two places anymore, work and home. so was a bit out of touch with the city anymore, her definition of the best places to eat however, was not something that a noble pony would understand, nor did she wish to reveal just how bad things had been for her, thought unbidden of routes she used to take to find food in dumpsters flooded her mind briefly.

"The best navigators aren't quite sure where they're going until they get there, and then they're still not sure." He had said that as much to reassure himself as much as her. It was one of his grandfather's sayings, a goofy bit of wisdom that he always loved to hear. He hung his head a bit, thinking about the old stallion, who had been the only member of his family he really got along with. Ferris' head rose back up to look at Trixie as they walked. "So don't worry about it. We've got all day, and walking around with a pretty mare is not a bad way to spend the morning."

Trixie nodded, that made sense after all. Catching the remark about a pretty mare, she actually did a double take, looking around to see who else was walking with them. Slowly understanding that he had meant her, she blushed, and turned her head away. "T-Trixie isn't anything special, there are plenty of blue ponies in the sky.." She might have commented more, but the site of a huge muffin on the horizon made her nearly stop in her tracks, the Muffinteria was about as garish as one could make a building, a huge muffin decorated it's top, while the building itself was also given the design of a muffin. A large cutout of a gray pegasus, who was holding a tray of muffins, stood next to the door, wearing a goofy grin. "Trixie..thinks this might be the place."

When she stopped talking, he started to. "It's not because you're blue, it's... Wow." It was so out of place here, among the stately storefronts of Canterlot. He blinked a few times as he started to laugh. It was absurd, as if a giant had misplaced his snack and wandered off someplace else. "Ferris thinks you're right. I also think there's no way we're not going here, now that I've seen it. As they continued towards the immense muffin, the magician couldn't help but think that, if there was a place for a giant muffin-shaped restaurant, there would be a place for the two of them.

Walking up to the restaurant Trixie couldn't help but giggle. It was amazing the amount of effort that went into the store, it was welcoming and quaint. The smell of several different kinds of muffins baking filled the area around the shop. The front door was open to the world, a young light purplish/gray unicorn with a muffin tin cutie mark greeted the pair as the approached. "Welcome to the Muffinteria! I hope you enjoy your breakfast!" The young mare was honest and sincere, the smile on her face contagious, even managing to infect Trixie with it's mirth. acquiring seating for two, the pair sat outside in the cafe area, and after placing their orders, sat in relative silence, soaking in the atmosphere of the place.

"So, Trixie." Ferris finally broke the silence after their meal was brought out, looking across the food to her. "How's it feel being on the other side of the table?" The slate gray stallion was teasing, part way, but he was honestly curious how she was feeling. Being off after so long just working herself to the bone. Being waited on, instead of doing the waitressing. He also couldn't help but wonder how she felt about him, personally, but it was far to early to really be concerned with that. He poured them both a glass of juice from the carafe they had been brought, waiting for her response.

Watching the young waitress depart, she replied softly. "Her hat was off center, she waited a tad too long to get our order, brought us our drinks at the wrong time, didn't ask us if we cared for straws, we have only two napkins, the butter isn't warm enough to spread without tearing the muffin apart yet..." She trailed off, thinking she was being overly critical, and was fairly sure Ferris had no desire to hear her..she was surprised herself. When did she become an expert on being a waitress? "Trixie is sorry, she is not used to being waited on you are correct." Taking a bit into her plain muffin, her eyes opened in surprise. "However, Trixie has nothing but kind things to say for the taste of this muffin! It is truly amazing!"

Ferris raised a brow at her as she started critiquing the waitress. He shook his head a bit, until she finally caught herself. It wasn't so much that he was disinterested, he'd probably listen to her recite Pony Joe's entire menu, just to keep her engaged. It worried him how she'd totally missed the real direction of his question. One hoof in the front of the other, he reminded himself as he took a berry muffin and took a bite from it. He nodded enthusiastically at Trixie's assessment. "You're right! This is great."

After finishing the rest of her muffin, Trixie sat in silence, watching Ferris finish his meal. sipping on her berry juice she turned a critical eye to the rest of the shop. The blonde maned Pegasus who owned the eatery could be seen now and then, refilling the cases with more fresh muffins. At on point the young mare went to the blonde one and Trixie would swear they had to be related. Watching their antics as they playfully poked and prodded each other. Turning to her companion Trixie asked. "Trixie was wondering if you still planned on the park? Trixie would hate to keep you from something important."

"Stop worrying so much, Trixie. I'm not just going to abandon you." He was sincere, but he realized that would probably be pretty hard to swallow. All Trixie had been through, everypony turning their backs on her for so long. Nevermind that, as he'd already told her, Ferris' way of dealing with conflict was more flight than fight. He slowly chewed the last bite of his muffin, letting himself over-analyze what he was going to say next. "Besides, i don't think there's anything more important for me right now than this." He hated how ambiguous that last word was, but he honestly wasn't sure what this was. Her? Helping her? Atoning by helping her?

Luckily the young waitress had returned. Ferris smiled as he paid her, pulling the bits from his saddlebag. The waitress paused a moment, as Ferris had given her exact change. He smiled a bit at the filly. "Looking for your tip? I think it's right here.." It was an old trick, but one he still enjoyed, especially with a young audience. He reached behind her ear with a hoof, then held it in front of her, showing her the coin. She snatched it up happily, running to the owner and shouting about how she got a tip in her ear. Ferris smiled over at Trixie. "To the park?"

Trixie got up from her seat, smiling at the antics of Ferris and the young unicorn, placing a few bits on the table as well to add to the little one's excitement when she returned to clear the table. the display of magic brought an earnest smile to her face. Glancing at Ferris as he spoke, she nodded. "Yes, Trixie supposes the park would be a nice place to visit at this time of the day."

Ferris got up from his seat, just draping his scarf on instead of tying it, and secured his bag to his side. Once they had traveled a small distance from the Muffinteria, he looked over at her with a teasing grin. "I think your face lit up more than hers, Trixie. "That was a feeling he hadn't felt in months, the way a simple bit of trickery could excite somepony. "It feels good. i haven't done anything like that in too long. Sure, I did a bit of sleight down in Appleoosa, but card tricks in front of drunks aren't nearly as satisfying."

Trixie nodded a bit, before stating. "Trixie just enjoyed seeing the smile and excitement of the unicorn. you might have made her day." She found herself feeling a lot better today, it was a beautiful November day, so the stroll to the park was pleasent. walking through the gates, they took a stop at the directory to browse the different parts of the park. Picking out a nice looking area, Trixie led Ferris in that direction.

"She really enjoyed it, made her day or not." He followed along with her, rather pleased by how she seemed to be responding. No doubt that being out and going somewhere that wasn't home or work would have that effect on her. He followed her, smiling a bit that she had made a decision about where to go. They stopped underneath a tall tree, a few hold-out leaves still clinging to the branches high above. "So, Trixie, what's the plan? Are you just going to stay at Joe's forever?"

Trixie shrugged, siting down under the tree. "Trixie believes so, yes. She does good work there, and Joe needs Trixie or else he won't make nearly as many bits having to do it all himself. besides, there is no reason not to work their forever, it pays for everything Trixie needs." Ambition, Motivation, Drive. all concepts lost on her now. Though she was seemingly enjoying this day off, it was easy to tell she fully expected Ferris to leave and she would return to 'life' as normal for her.

Ferris laid down beside her. Everything she'd said was what he figured she would say. Joe had seemed quite eager to get her out of the restaurant last night and give her the day off, if he needed her so badly. Of course, he couldn't just come out and say that. "Its trite, Trixie, but all the bits in Equestria won't buy you happiness." He rolled over onto his side, watching the few other ponies in the park walking by. "But you've got more of a plan than me, at least. My plan last night was just to run. Take the first train out going anywhere. Forget about all this performance and magic, just live off of whatever foals I could play out of their money. " He rolled over to look at her. "Now, though, that doesn't seem like such a great idea."

Trixie looked over at Ferris, stretching herself out along the grass as well, and gave him a curious look. "What do you mean? if it is what you wanted to do, why change your mind now? you seemed to set on it last night. Did you come up with a plan?" Trixie's tone was concerned, yet oddly hopeful, perhaps she enjoyed Ferris' company more than she thought she did. Trixie certainly had no idea why she had let this stallion talk her out of work, or why she even cared where he went. Maybe she sensed a kindred spirit in this pony..but Trixie knew better than to get attached. If she did, he would leave. if she cared, it would ruin her..she couldn't care anymore, she had nothing left to offer.

"Last night I was. Last night I didn't want anything more than a bit of food in my stomach and a ticket away from here. It's dangerous, going off alone like that. Sure, things went fine last time, but there's no guarantees. As for a plan.." He had a few plans, but they were fragments, mostly, chunks of ideas and shards of hopes. "Just a vague one. I want to do what I was doing again. The way that waitress smiled, the way you smiled. It's not right for me to keep that from everypony else. But I'm going to need a good assistant, if I'm going to do well again."

Looking up into the trees, Trixie seemed lost in thought. "Trixie agrees a good assistant would go along way to improve your act. At least from what you told Trixie last night. Trixie hopes you find one someday, it would be a great shame if you where to end up unable to fulfill your dream." She hadn't even realized she had said the last part out loud, and the depth of utter sadness that the words carried with them. Why did it still hurt? it was three years ago..surely that was enough for her to die inside?

"That was one bad night- I did like three-quarters of my shows solo." He sighed a little bit as he listened to her. She had been willing to accept Joe's charity, why not his? There was, of course, the difference where Joe had work and a business, whereas Ferris had two bags full of props and costumes. Although living in a mostly empty house was better than the alley- and Ferris doubted Joe would forbid Trixie from taking a few nights off to work a show. "Someday never comes. But, I'm lucky in that regard. Since I've discovered that attractive mares with an interest and understanding of stagecraft can be found in any corner cafe!" At this point, Ferris would take no chances. "You're invited, Trixie. If I can get a show running again, of course"

Trixie suddenly grasped at what Ferris was hinting at, and stared at him in stunned silence. It took her a few minutes to find her voice, and yet all she do was whisper out a few words. "T-Trixie." She paused. "Trixie can not be your assistant. Trixie would...have no idea how to do such a job. Why would you ask Trixie this?" Trixie's voice started to raise, her tone not one of anger, or happiness, it was more of abject terror, as somepony facing something from their deepest nightmares. "Trixie won't..no, Trixie, can't help with that. Trixie is just a waitress, Trixie can't do stage magic, Trixie is Worthless, Trixie can't help you!" She was on her feet now, though not yelling, had the area been more crowded she would easily be causing a scene. "Trixie thinks she has wasted your time now and for that Trixie is sorry. She did not wish to give you false hope in her, Trixie is no pony, no pony at all."

Too much too fast, he thought, sighing heavily as he saw her panic. He had arguments, counterpoints, any number of things he could've said to her to convince her otherwise. So had his and his fiance's families before he bolted. No way she would listen to, let alone believe, any of that. Ferris had his limits, however, and would not let everything she said go unchallenged. He rose up onto his hooves after she did, diminishing the distance between them. Close enough to nuzzle her, though he didn't do so, at least not yet. "Trixie, please. Calm down. I'm not going to drag you up with me against your will. And you haven't wasted my time. The only reason I'm here, eating muffins and enjoying a day in the park is because of you. " He sighed a little, pressing his cheek against hers.

"You saved me last night, Trixie. You pulled me back from the edge when all I wanted was to go screaming over it. I'm not going to trot off just because you won't be my assistant on an imaginary stage. I'm not going anywhere unless you make me, and even then you've got a fight on your hooves. You're not no pony, Trixie. Joe saw that, and I see it to. " He sighed again, gently nuzzling her. "I'm sorry."

Trixie broke down there, it was all too much, she collapsed to the grass and buried her face in her hooves, sobbing, the dam had broken for the moment, and years of pain seeped out of her into the grass once more. She cried out her anguished soul, no longer caring, she had been pushed to the edge so fast and sudden;t found herself falling, she hated herself for being so weak that something as trivial as just hearing the word stage again could do this to her, she had gotten over it, she moved on, she forgot a silly foals dream, yet here it was again, the pain, the unbearable pain bearing down on her.

Unthinking, she reached out to anything, anything at all she could use to stop her fall, clutching onto the soft warm mass near her, she buried her face in the fur and kept crying. her self loathing for how weak she was fueled her despair, the thought of breaking down like this on someone she barely knew sickened her, he had real problems where she had none anymore, yet how could she act so selfish now? On the tears came, she lost track of time, the world seemed to hold little meaning to her as every feeling she had bottled up came flooding back to the surface. Strangely the more she cried, the brighter she seemed to become, more..real, more alive, it was rather odd.

As Trixie burst into tears, Ferris didn't say anything. He let her sink against him, shifting his hooves to support her weight against his own. He held her, gently, against him as she cried. An occasional "shh" or whisper of her name, or that things would be ok were all he said, even as she continued to cry against him. He couldn't keep from crying some himself, realizing again just how far she had gone, and how close he had been to the same fate. He softly nuzzled her cheek, content just to be there for her.

Trixie's crying didn't subside in the least, she just kept choking out unintelligible words as she continued to cry, sometimes a word would make it out that could be understood, but none of them where nice. "Monster." "Worthless." "Pathetic" where some of the nicer words, but they weren't directed at Ferris, they where only for her, these where Trixie's deepest feelings about herself, and she wished she was dead. She was already dead, she died three years ago. She didn't even deserve to call herself Trixie anymore, she didn't have a name, she didn't want to exist, all she wanted was to stop hurting. She cried for near an hour and a half, before she finally started to run out of tears again. she kept trying to cry, but all she managed with a kind of sad, although sort of cute, hiccuping sob.

When those words started coming out, the loathing, hateful words she used for herself, he resisted them. He wasn't even sure if she could hear him, through her tears and pain, but he wasn't going to just let her run herself down like that. "Trixie, no you're not. You're no monster. Monsters don't take lonely ponies into their homes." Every few moments, when she said something new, he countered it. Granted, his experience with her wasn't so great, but he had seen enough of her to know she was , at the very least, caring, helpful, smart. Even as the vicious words stopped, and the tears after, he still stayed there, holding her against him, hoping his presence was reassuring. "Trixie.."

Trixie kept her face buried for a while longer, just letting him pet her mane. the last thing she had said, before falling silent, was something about wanting it back. Trying to calm down and wrestle the feelings inside of her away she finally did look up. Her eyes where swollen and red, but at least for the moment, held a spark of life. Sniffling, she got to her feet and brushed herself off. Turning to look Ferris in the eye sheepishly, she spoke, though her voice was hoarse. "Trixie is sorry for over reacting. she understands if you do not wish to see her anymore. But she does thank you, for being here with her. Trixie is not sure what would have happened had you not been here."

When she met his gaze, he couldn't help but smile at her- a soft, caring smile. "Trixie.. I wouldn't have stayed with you for two hours if I had any intention of leaving you." He smiled at her, though he was still standing intimately close to her. Of course, if Ferris hadn't been there she would've been at Joe's, filling coffee and serving donuts. He hoped, so strongly, that this was the better option."Trixie, you've got nothing to be ashamed of. No reason for" he nearly said anypony, but didn't. "Me to run from you. And you're welcome, for whatever my presence is worth." After all that, and he still had the negative opinion of himself to suggest his presence was a detriment.

Trixie shook her head, and wiped her eyes with her scarf. "You can't talk like that after what you said to Trixie. If Trixie can't self hate, then Ferris can't either!" Trixie put her hoof down, and smiled. she actually felt better than she had in a long time. It felt good to get all that out of her system, she was truly grateful to Ferris for being there for her. She dreaded the thought of breaking down like that at work, and having Joe try his attempts to make her feel better through his horrid jokes again. "Trixie feels it might be better though, if we return to her place, for her to at least clean up a bit before she goes to a club."

He couldn't help but laugh as she literally put her hoof down, shaking his head at himself. "You're right, Trixie. Ferris apologizes." Ferris shook a bit of dead grass from his scarf, turning to allow her to lead the way back to her place. "Sounds like a good plan to me, Trixie. "He followed along beside her, hopeful that the breakdown had been helpful for her, longer term than just these few moments afterwards.

Returning back to Trixie's home, she let them in, and walked back up the stairs to her room. looking through her closet, she noticed all she had where work uniforms, she didn't really have anything to go out to a club in. Shrugging, she decided to just wear her scarf again. Retreated to the restroom, she freshened up and ran a brush through her mane. She spent a good while on it, trying to coax it back to life, she had no idea when she had let it go, probably when he was forced to stop caring for it regularly, so getting it into any kind of style was a lost cause for the moment.

Coming back out of the restroom, she was mildly surprised to find Ferris waiting for her in the hallway, only to realize he probably wanted to freshen up as well. Granting him access to the bathroom, she went back: into her room, and sat on her bed. given this time alone with herself she felt a small sense of peace. glancing over at the nightstand however, brought back the memories again. memories that can't be pushed away so easily, the first time a door was slammed in her face, the tenth. the first time she had to eat garbage..the winter that followed that..the time when she had gone over a week without any food...it threatened to overwhelm her again, the once Great and Powerful Trixie, had been homeless, abandoned, worthless.

She had no power, she was deluding herself, even now, she knew the peace could not last, already she felt the depression start to grip her again. Pulling open the drawer, she withdrew the picture, and held it close to her chest. she hugged it tightly, so tight the wood of the frame cracked. Her dream was well and truly dead, but maybe she could at least try to help Ferris with his, so he did not suffer the same fate as the late Great and Powerful Trixie. hearing the door of the bathroom open again, she quickly set the picture face down on the nightstand, exactly where it once rested. Her fake smile was back, and as her eyes met his, the spark could be seen fading already, though it was beautiful while it was there, it appeared that Trixie was still just as broken as before.

Chapter 3, A Change in Plans

Chapter 3
A Change in Plans
by Shyrose

Ferris brushed past Trixie as he moved into the bathroom. He finished his business quickly, then stood for a moment staring at himself in the mirror. Sighing, he draped his scarf back over his neck and stepped out of the bathroom. He met her gaze and scarcely managed to keep a frown from coming over his face. Seeing that beautiful light already fading and her false smile on her face was a heavy blow. "Trixie.."He walked towards her, shaking his head a bit. "We don't have to go out anywhere tonight, Trixie.."

"Trixie is confused. she thought you wanted to go out?" She looked puzzled, her head cocked slightly to the side, causing her limp mane to fall past her shoulder. Slowly, her eyes lit up with understanding, and she hung her head. "Oh.. Trixie understands. You wish not to trouble yourself with Trixie anymore. Trixie understands, she is too much hassle to be around." Moving away from the door, she nodded to Ferris' things. "Trixie thanks you for the time you showed her this morning at least." Trixie hung her head, utterly crestfallen.

"I said nothing of the sort, Trixie." He shook his head a bit, standing his ground as she gestured towards his things. "I just want to spend this day with you. I.." he paused for a long moment, glancing down at his hooves. He stomped the floor a few times before he continued, stepping up and lightly brushing his cheek against Trixie's. "I'm worried about you. After what happened at the park. I don't want you to hurt, Trixie. And that doesn't mean " His voice rising as he went on. "That I'd be embarrassed by you, or that I don't want to be seen with you, or anything like that. I just.. want to make things better. and I'm not sure a crowded, noisy club is how to do it.."

Pulling away a bit, but not in a disgusted kind of way, Trixie looked at her hooves and shuffled them a bit. "Trixie can not recall asking for help. Trixie is fine just the way Trixie is." She did feel a little insulted that Ferris, essentially a stranger, decided to try and fix Trixie, but, she let it slide. He was only trying to be nice. "Trixie is not sure what there is to make better, but if you did not want to go to a club, what did you want to do? Trixie's home is not really good for entertaining..."

Ferris sighed a bit, closing his blue eyes for a long time, before he mustered the will to look at her again. Everything she'd said was true. She hadn't asked for help. And what was wrong with her was deeper than he could fix with good intentions. It was his turn to shuffle about on his hooves, only able to offer a faint shrug when she asked him what to do. "I'm sorry, Trixie. I've been so.. presumptuous. If you still want to go to Club Pon3, we can go." He kept his mouth shut, burying the 'I've got a bad feeling' sort of lines.

Trixie shrugged, but looked more hopful now that she didn't think Ferris didn't want to be near her. "Trixie would be at work right now. Trixie has no plans whatsoever that didn't come from you to begin with. so it seems only fitting Trixie let's you continue to decide. It has served us well for the most part so far anyway." She nodded encouragingly. "Was there anything else you wanted to do?"

"Well. There is one thing, I was thinking about.." He summoned up a roguish grin. It was part stage grin, but enough real feeling behind it to be convincing. He turned towards the stairs and all but gallopped down them, calling out as he moved down the stairs. "How's your kitchen look, Trixie?" He was already in there before she could answer, his horn flickering to life as he started to search her cabinets.

"Trixie's kitchen?" She asked, puzzled, following him into the clean white room. "Trixie's kitchen is clean, how else should it look?" Seeing him go through her cabinets, pulling things out and moving things hither-too. "W..What are you looking for? Trixie doesn't have a lot of dishes..she normally..only has to worry about herself, with the occasional guest. Trixie Apologizes."

"Pots, Pans, that kind of thing.." It wasn't long before he had assembled most of her modest collection of cookware on the kitchen table. It was a brief bit of inspiration, but he did his best to kindle it. Hoping it might be contagious, and spark something in Trixie as well. "I'm a magician, not a chef, but.." He had walked around the table, smiling across the gathered collection of kitchenware at her. "I'd like to cook for you."

Trixie's eyes widened with surprise, and genuine emotion filled them. Even if the emotion was mere wonder, it was something at least as she looked over the assembled collection. "Cook for Trixie? what are you making?" Trixie honestly had no idea what could take so many pots and pans, but she was eager to find out. Turning the kitchen over to him, she sat down at the table and watched him select his tools.

"I'm not exactly sure yet." He was more taking inventory than getting ready. He made a few more laps around the kitchen, checking her cupboards. "Well, it looks like you've got plenty of things to cook with, with not very much to cook. I think we'll have to take a trip to the store." He nodded a bit, smiling over at her. He finally tied his scarf back around his neck, heading out of the ransacked kitchen. "Anything you really don't like, or you're allergic to?"

Trixie thought for a moment, before responding with a slight giggle. "Trixie doesn't like wheels. but other than that, she has no allergies or aversion to anything that comes to her mind. A trip to the market however, is probably due yes. Trixie hasn't been in a bit." She gathered her scarf and purse of bits. "We better hurry before the stalls close though."

"You don't like wheels? And yet you encourage a Ferris to show you a good time.." While she gathered her things, he emptied out his bags, slinging them across his flanks. He looked at her from the top of the stairs for a moment, glad at the way the evening had seemingly turned around. He pushed the door open , holding it open with a hoof and nodding for her to go ahead. "Right, let's be on our way, Trixie."

Stepping out into the brisk afternoon air as she wrapped her scarf around her neck, Trixie smiled a bit. it was a lovely afternoon after all, the perfect time for a walk. Glancing over her shoulder as Ferris closed the door, she made sure to point the direction of the stalls out. "The market is this was, Trixie needed to go anyway, so this is perfect. Though, Trixie admits to wondering what Ferris is planning." Trixie giggled a bit, her deep amethyst eyes sparked with wonder breifly, and she smiled a genuine smile again.

Ferris met her gaze with his own, smiling back at her. He rolled his shoulder a little bit as he trotted up beside her. "Ferris also wonders what he's planning. I don't think either of us has eaten anything but pastries since we met." He took a deep breath, letting the crisp, cool air fill his lungs before letting it out in a soft sigh. "But I'm good at thinking on my hooves. I'm sure I'll find something there I can manage."

Startled that he had no idea what he was doing either, Trixie couldn't help but laugh aloud. it was an altogether different sound than her crying, full of cheer and warmth, and maybe a hint of cockiness, a dash of arrogance? Still, if faded quickly as she calmed down.

"Trixie is not amused by your mocking of her!" She playfully kicked a foreleg into Ferris' shoulder before continuing. "But...Trixie does find this kind of exciting. Seeing what you'll come up with at the drop of a hat. Improvisation is what makes the best show ponies after all." The comment hung in the air awkwardly from Trixie for a minute, before she started pointing out shops along the way. "There is a Library, that one there is a dress shop. Over there is the jewelers. And that one is some sort of magical curio shop.

"I wasn't mocking you!" He took the playful blow in stride, grinning at her like a schoolcolt. "That was good-natured teasing." His mood also seemed to sink after the show pony comment. He looked up as she started pointing out the various places, glad she had broken that moment of silence. He nodded a bit, giving a brief glance at each location. No place selling food, yet, so it didn't spark any interest, until the last place she listed. "Magical curios? What exactly do they sell there, Trixie?"

Trixie shrugged. "Trixie is not sure. She has never had any cause to enter before. Though she has heard that the proprietor has a lot of interesting magical charms, and some say Artifacts for sale. Trixie just thinks it is all hype and nonsense personally. As if a simple shop in canterlot would sell magical artifacts, or cursed amulets with untold power to perform amazing, but dark magics, or some other nonsense like that." Trixie giggled again, pointing down the road where a few market stalls where visible. "We are nearly there. you can see the carrot stand from here."

"Why not? It IS Canterlot after all. If I'd expect anywhere in Equestria to have a shop for things like that, it would be here. Or Manehattan.." He cast a glance over his shoulder at the small shop after they walked by. Another day, perhaps. He let his mind wander a bit, about what those later days might hold for him. It was strange to consider- he felt both more and less certain of his future since he'd stumbled upon her at Joe's last night. He nearly ran into her when she pointed out the market stalls coming into sight down the road. "So we can! I guess we should get your regular stuff first, then I'll search out something special for dinner."

Trotting into the market, Trixie wandered up to stalls, and started to shop. she acquired a few carrots, some celery, lettuce, bread, some juice boxes, apples, oranges, and a selection of flowers from daisies to dandelions. Placing everything in her saddlebags gently, Trixie turns to Ferris and smiles. "Has anything caught your interest? Any ideas yet?

He had kept some distance from her as she shopped. Not too far, always within a few hoofsteps of the light blue mare. Ferris was making a few purchases of his own, careful not to duplicate anything she had bought. He was also trying to keep his shopping out of her sight, though when she turned to ask him if he'd seen anything, he was putting a large squash into one of his bags. He just smiled, knowing he'd been caught. "I might've seen one or two things that caught my eye.."

Eyeing the squash as it dissappeared into his bags, Trixie giggled and stuck her tongue out. "Trixie can't wait to see what's for dinner, that squash looked lovely." Finishing up her shopping, she but her bits away and started to head back home, making sure Ferris was done aswell. Heading back home, she let them both in and shut the door behind them. Together they took their haul to the kitchen and began putting things away. Trixie stared intently at Ferris' purchases, to try and divine what he had in mind.

Ferris was still reeling, he almost couldn't believe it. She'd stuck her tongue out at him, like some little filly. Quite the change from the broken down mare he'd consoled in the park hours ago. Ferris couldn't help but let a slight grin settle across his face as they returned to her home. In vain, he tried for a few moments to hid his ingredients, but in the confines of the kitchen with her putting things away, it was no use. By the time everything else had been put away, he had a good selection of vegetables arrayed in front of him. The squash, of course, along with celery, onions, carrots, a large bell pepper, a clove of garlic and a small bottle of oil sitting on the counter in front of him. The last thing he pulled from his bag was a box of bowtie pasta. "Well, here it is. I hope you're hungry."

Trixie was infact, trying to hide the fact she was eating a carrot as he unpacked his ingredients, Starting when she gets caught, she stumbles on her words briefly. "O, oh, yes of course! Trixie is quite hungry! Trixie adores pasta, how did you know?" Trixie sets the carrot in her mouth as she looks over everything, thoughtfully. Ferris was cooking for her. Why was he doing this? Did he want something from Trixie? She had been doing her best to act playful, to make up for her earlier break down, and it had felt good, but it also felt undeserved, like she didn't have a right to be happy. Here, though, with Ferris, she couldn't help it. Something about him seemed to drag out her smile, but it also brought back all the pain too. Trixie couldn't decide if she needed Ferris to stay, or if she needed him as far away as possible.

"I guess so!" He chuckled a little bit as she turned to him, struggling to conceal the partially eaten carrot. He began preparing the meal, finely dicing most of the ingredients. He did it manually, though his horn flared to life now and then as he shuffled raw food and cookware around. He was no chef, but his knife work was quite dextrous. He looked up at her, catching that middle distance stare in her eyes. Not at all unlike the one he had worn during much of their walk to the market. "You too, huh?"

Trixie started again, and her carrot fell to the floor. "Huh? What do you mean?" Trixie tried to play it off, but in the end, she hung her head. "Trixie guesses so, Trixie is unsure about a lot of things, she can't make up her mind at all. On one hoof, Ferris has been so nice and gentle with Trixie, but Ferris hurts Trixie. Not in anyway Trixie can put into words. Trixie is at a loss for what to do. Trixie's life has been simple for a long time now, she hasn't had to feel, or think really, but then Ferris shows up, and..Trixie is happy, but Trixie hurts so bad now..but...Trixie doesn't want Ferris to go, Trixie doesn't want to be alone again..."

He was rather surprised at how much she had opened up, based off of that simple question. Ferris nodded as he listened to her, splitting his attention between the food he was cooking and listening to her. He had started to speak several times, but closed his mouth when she continued. "Numb." He said the word, staring down at the boiling water he had just dumped the pasta into. "A pony in Appleoosa called me that, a few days before I came back here. And coming out of that numbness.. it's like when your leg falls asleep. Pins and needles, like simply having sensation again is being in pain. But it passes, in time, and you can walk again." He nodded firmly, as if he was fully awake again. He hadn't been as far down as she had, but he wasn't back to normal, either.

"Trixie.. I think I know. What I want from you. What I want to give you.."

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter, but I wanted to get something out there for people so you knew I hadn't abandoned you all. Currently working on Chapter 4 now, hope to get it out withen the month ^.^

Chapter 4, The Grand Reveal

Sorry for the Delays everypony, been battling sever depression, and this isn't a good story to write that under. Hope you all enjoy this chapter ^.^ I want to give a shout out to my favorite authors. Steel Resolve, Ariamaki, Sleepless Brony, Lithe Kamitatsy, Yukito, Rainedash, and CoffeeGrunt!

Chapter 4
The Grand Reveal
by Shyrose

Trixie just started at him, confused. "What you want to give Trixie? Trixie..doesn't understand, what do you mean?" Trixie shuffled on her hooves nervously, taken aback by the stallion before her. Munching on her carrot with a kind of far off look in her eye, she waits for Ferris' response, slightly afraid of what he might say.

Ferris looked back at her, half a smile on his face. His horn faintly lighting up as he turned the heat down under the boiling pot of pasta. "Time, Life.." Shaking his head a little as he continued. "Terrible of me, an opening like that with nothing to follow it up with. We're alike, you and I. Shows, Magic.." He leaned against the counter, propping his chin on his hooves. "Pain, despair. I.. just want you to know, you don't have to suffer alone, anymore. I won't promise you roses or sunshine, but I'm here for you."

The carrot fell from Trixie's mouth, surprised she was, to say the least. All the things Ferris could have said, this one, was perhaps the one she least expected. How could he want to be around her? She was worthless, she could only drag him down with her, surely he could find somepony better than some old waitress at a doughnut shop. "Trixie..Trixie will only hurt you, She is a monster, she doesn't deserve your friendship. Trixie will just ruin it like she ruined everything else. Trixie won't ruin you! Trixie won't let you end up like Trixie!" Trixie said, tears in her eyes, as she ran to her room. She couldn't let him ruin his life over her, she wasn't worth it. She won't let him*

Pushing himself off of the counter, Ferris followed the tearful mare to up the stairs. The over burner clicked off as he walked by. He moved purposefully up the stairs; he wasn't exactly chasing her, but his pace was quick. He hadn't said it.. the L word.. though it had crossed his mind. Nearly slipping into his own thoughts when he reached her slammed-shut door. He rested his horn against it before calling out. "Trixie, I've done a masterful job of ruining my own life. But this isn't about me ending up like Trixie. This is about Trixie not staying like Trixie is now. "

Trixie however, stormed around her room, panicking. Why did he care? Why did she care? What was she doing? Trixie doesn't want to change, Trixie is better of this way. Trixie doesn't need to feel anymore, doesn't need to hurt anymore, doesn't need to hurt anypony else anymore. "Trixie can't change, Trixie won't. If Trixie stays Trixie, then no ponies have to get hurt anymore, Trixie won't hurt anypony else! Trixie.." *she pauses, glancing at the turned over photo on the nightstand, picking it up in her magic, she hurls it across the room, lost in her distress. This pain had come from no where, it wasn't rational, why was she acting this way? These questions seemed to pass right out of her mind as the picture shattered into the wall as she cried out.

"Trixie will never be Great and Powerful again!"

Picking up a shard of the glass from the picture with her magic, the aura brighter than she could remember, she brought it closer to her face, examining what she saw. her face was bright now, full of color, no longer drained as she was used to, Fixing a look of icy determination on her features, she levitated the piece back at bit, and held her head high. Trixie was right, Trixie died years ago. All that was left was this. With that, she threw the small piece of death at herself, Intend on ending everything now, with the shards of her broken dream.

"Come on now, there's no need to act like this. Trixie, just come out, I'll finish making dinner." He spouted a few niceties, mostly hoping the calm tone of his voice would ease her pain. Then he heard the picture frame smashing into the wall, that tell-tale twinkling of shattered glass ringing out. He threw the door open, his soft blue eyes narrowing at the brightness of her magic display. He barely caught sight of it over the glare, but he saw enough to send him into action. "Trixie, NO!" There was no time to close the gap between them. A flickering aura of brilliant green light blazing around his horn, sending thick veins of his own magic light into hers. He Pushed, just a little, pushing the barely restrained magic over the edge. The shard of glass shattering under the pressure of two unicorns exerted against it, eroding it to a fine powder as it flew towards her outstretched neck. The grit blasting across her throat and neck, biting into her flesh, but far less catastrophic than the damage a single, sharp shard would've inflicted.

Trixie fell to the ground, sobbing. She couldn't even take her own life. what did it matter, The real Trixie was dead long ago. Crushed by an Ursa Minor. Everything that was left, lay here in a pile of powder and tears. Curling up into a ball, she pulled her blanket on top of her with her teeth, causing it to turn over, revealing a whole other side to it, where the blanket was white on top, underneath it was purple, and spangled with stars of blues and yellows. Wrapping herself tightly in this blanket, she continued to sob uncontrollably, she kept reciting the same thing over and over. that "She will never be Great and Powerful ever again..."

Ferris carefully made his way across the room, wary of the glass on the floor. He couldn't help but smile at the beautiful design of her blanket. It was very much like the mare now wrapped up in it. He stood beside her bed, reaching out and running his hoof along what he hoped was her back, gently stroking the fabric wrapped tightly around her. "Trixie.. you don't have to be Great and Powerful again. Happy and full-of-life is more what I'm hoping for. A pony like you.. she's made to make pony folk happy. If it's slinging donuts or performing in front of a herd. I know, it's.. unbelievable. Coming from a magician you just met, but I'm being truthful. You've got a friend now. Some pony to cheer for you, and dust you off when you stumble.."

The blanket shuddered with her sobs. but a slight opening unfolded enough for a nose to poke out. "T..Trixie can't make ponies happy anymore, only The Great and Powerful Trixie was loved. Plain old broken Trixie can't do anything anymore. No one will love Trixie anymore. No one can love Trixie anymore. Trixie used to be Great and Powerful. Every pony knew Trixie. Now, no one knows Trixie, no one cares. and Trixie can't blame them, Trixie was a monster. Now, Trixie can't hurt anypony else." Trixie kept crying, pulling the blanket tight around her again.

Ferris bit his tongue a bit. She was practically begging him to say it. It made no sense, this soon, even for the friendly or family sort. He kept on petting her back, the faint smile her blanket's pattern had given him staying as she poked her nose out. "Trixie, my name isn't no one. It's Ferris. I know you more than anypony else besides Joe has in what, years? I know you. I care about you. So does he. " He sighed a little bit. "I told you what happened. I drug a saw into another pony's flesh. I don't think you've ever done something that bad, and I also think the only pony you're hurting is yourself."

The blankets shook again, her voice meek this time, "...Because of Trixie, half a town was destroyed. An Ursa Minor attacked and hurt alot of ponies, some may even have died, not to mention the property damage. Trixie said she understood the pain of a mistake...but Trixie's mistake is so much more grave than yours. Trixie was homeless for over a year, Trixie lived in the gutter because of it. No one would hire Trixie. Trixie died in the gutters...how Great and Powerful is that?"

That hadn't exactly been what he was hoping to hear. Still, she'd opened up, starting talking about the path that led her here. He listened, quietly, still keeping up the contact of his hoof to her back through the blanket. Considering his words for a moment or two before responding. "You said the Ursa attacked... you didn't say you summoned it, or goaded it, or that it attacked on your command. That sounds more like a natural disaster than something you did. " His hoof moved up to where her snout was exposed, carefully pulling the blankets back so he could look at her face. "And even if it was, I think what you've gone through is more than enough punishment."

"It only attacked cause Trixie said she had defeated one once. You know? Establish an impossible feat, so any lesser feats you perform seem greater by comparison. Then two little colts went out and got lured the Ursa back, trying to prove Trixie's story to the.." She mumbled a name. "But of course Trixie couldn't help, and because of her, the town was half destroyed."

"Of course I know, I invented that bit of subterfuge, you know?" He wasn't trying to tease her, but he couldn't help himself. That bit of banter was almost as good as being on stage. She'd make a hell of a partner. "So.. some annoying kids decided to bring down a beast on their town, and you, not being.. what, an adventurer? couldn't stop it. I've yet to be convinced how this was your fault."

Had Trixie not bragged about her abilities, she wouldn't have gotten heckled, then she wouldn't have shown off in front of the Princess' friends, who in turn got mad at Trixie, and thus denounced her. and so put down, forced two adorable fans to defend Trixie, by attempting to prove she was the more powerful Unicorn."

"Adorable fans? Trixie they're.." He nearly slandered the two colts before he caught himself. Ferris was ignoring, or had missed, the bit about the Princess, but he had latched onto what he thought was an important nugget. "You're trying to protect them, aren't you? Taking all this guilt on yourself instead of blaming them. Monsters don't do that, Trixie. "

"Why would Trixie try to protect them? it wasn't a secret that they had done this thing, they shouted it out loud. everypony knew. And when Trixie obviously failed to defeat the Ursa, the Princess stepped up and solved everything. The remaining ponies chased Trixie out of town, leaving her Caravan, and all her possessions smashed. Trixie's hat and cloak, Trixie's money, Trixie's...life, gone in an instant. As for Trixie's fans? they where rewarded to what they did, it was a lesson to others about how Trixie was an evil monster, how bragging is wrong."

"So, an Alicorn performed an amazing feat of magic? That literally happens at least twice a day." Ferris stopped and took a breath. His hoof moved up, gently and in vain trying to push her mane back into place. "I apologize for the sarcasm. This all just.. it makes me mad. The worst you did was talk a big game you couldn't back up. Every pony's lucky the damage wasn't worse, and they still had the audacity to run you out like that? Never mind under a princess' watch."

"Well, she wasn't a princess at the time. she was just a really talented unicorn, but that is beside the point. The Princess rewarded Trixie's little fans for their good work. thanks to them, no pony else had to get hurt by Trixie. Thanks to the news of Trixie's failure and lies, Trixie could never recover from the lose of all her possessions and money. The hat she got with the bits from her first show. No one would hire Trixie. The first day Trixie had to sleep in a box, had to eat from the trash, to huddle under a dumpster just for warmth.." *Trixie trailed off, the pain of it all rushing back to her. whimpering into her blanket.

"Shh, Shh.." He tried to sooth her, crawling up onto the bed now, gently rubbing her back again as he drew closer. "There was a first time, but there was also a last time, alright? You don't have to go through that ever again. That nightmare's been over since Joe took you in.. and now that I'm here, you're going to wake up, ok?"

"...Trixie can't wake up anymore, Trixie Is already awake. Trixie was dreaming before...that's all it was..a dream, it was time for Trixie to wake up." Trixie sobbed heavily. "Trixie can barely even use magic anymore, Trixie is just...Trixie is just a Doughnut shop mare now. Trixie didn't care about making others happy, Trixie doesn't care about anything. it hurts to much to care..."

His hoof still slowly moving up and down her back as she spoke. He leaned in close, gently tapping his horn against hers before he slipped off the bed and back onto his hooves. "Why'd you take me home with you? If you're so uncaring and monstrous, why did you take a stranger into your home if you don't want to make anypony else happy..?"