Chapters ACT I
What is a Woman?
"Hey Trix, did you hear that Ms. Harshwhinny's out?"
Trixie’s eyes lit up with equal parts hope and disbelief, the news doing more to wake her up than any morning coffee. That was the first thing Lavender Lace said to Trixie as she walked through the glass double doors of Canterlot High, and apparently it was the talk of the school. Many iterations of the rumor floated around the bustling hallways as Trixie and Lavender made their way deeper into the throngs. “What, really? But she never misses a day!”
"Right? I heard there was a sudden death in her family, she had to take off for the funeral." Lavender explained, though it was just one of many rumors that circulated through the hallways of CHS, getting ever more outlandish as the telephone game went on.
“She won millions in the lottery and quit her job!”
“Didn’t you see those weird lights in the sky last night? She was abducted!”
“She knew too much, and the feds took her in. These rumors are just cover-ups!”
“She had an affair, leaving her husband and fleeing the country to be with her lover, Ernesto!”
“I thought his name was Juandissimo?”
“No silly, it was Ferrrnandooo~!”
“Uhh, y’all do know she ain’t married, right?”
“Not anymore,she’s not!”
“Maybe she fell through the portal Twilight came from, and now she’s stuck in horse-world!”
These were among the many iterations of the rumor floating around as she, Lavender, and their friend Fuschia Blush sat down in class. Obviously it was mostly bullshit, but it was fun ! So much fun, in fact, that the sensible and rational Fuschia Blush even got in it! “I heard she crashed her car into a tree and wound up in the hospital!”
"Oh, poor Ms. Harshwhinny..." Said Fluttershy, sitting next to Lavender in the row ahead.
With time to process the news, Trixie broke out in a devilish grin. "Who cares why? We don't have to deal with Harshwhinny for... How long?"
Fluttershy let out a soft gasp before glaring at Trixie. "Trixie, that's not nice! I'm sure that, whatever happened to her, this is a very difficult time for her." Lavender simply frowned.
"Pft, whatever," Trixie scoffed, waving her hand dismissively at the Rainboom, "She makes our lives difficult all year, every year. It's called karma."
"I think she’s out for the week, maybe?" Said Lavender, looking somewhat uncomfortable. Trixie let out a soft laugh.
"A whole week without the worst teacher at CHS? Sweet!"
Fluttershy kept giving her a dirty look while Lavender looked down at the floor, letting the silence go on into awkward territory. Eventually Lavender cleared her throat and looked back up at Fluttershy, saying something about whatever manga she had been reading recently. Trixie couldn't care less, opting to look at her phone until classes began.
Then she heard the voice of a goddess in human form. “Good morning, beautiful!” Adagio cooed, sauntering over to the desk to Trixie’s right.
A chorus of fireworks went off in Trixie’s heart as she looked up at her girlfriend with a goofy grin on her face. Suddenly genuinely excited, Trixie set down her phone and greeted, “Morning, my love! How are you feeling today?”
Setting her bag down beside her chair, Adagio leaned over to bring her face to Trixie’s. “Doing better now, seeing the cutest magician in all of Canterlot High!” Adagio caressed Trixie’s face and gave her a quick, but still empassioned, kiss. After she pulled away, she purred, “Oh yeah, much better now! ”
“Dagi! You’re going to get us both in trouble for PDA!”
Her smile not souring, Adagio sat down and gazed lovingly at Trixie, all the while remarking, “I still don’t know how you talked me into coming to this wretched place, where I can’t even give my girlfriend some tongue! You’re lucky I love you so much, Trix.”
“Aww, c’mon babe! It’s not that bad here! Besides, class also gets so much more bearable for me when you’re here!” At that, the two eccentric students smiled and held hands across the gap between their seats.
“Jeez, you two! Whipped much, Trix?” Fuschia Blush jested.
Adagio was quick to raise an eyebrow and casually retort, “Like you’re one to talk, Blush! You and Lace aren’t even in love with Trixie and you’re still at her beck and call!”
Lavender spoke up next. “It’s called being besties , Dazzle.” That particular nickname was the only thing Blush and Lace decided to use when addressing Adagio. Trixie couldn’t help but wonder if they had actually buried the hatchet, but at least they weren’t being as standoffish as they were before. The three of them giggled at each other while Trixie just gazed at the gorgeous yellow woman, basking in her splendor. It had been the better part of a month since Trixie and Adagio started dating each other, and this was her seventh day of High School shared with the love of her life. Trixie was ever grateful that Adagio was adjusting to school life, and even her best friends were starting to come around to the reformed Siren!
Adagio reached out to Trixie’s hand, smiling coyly at the blue magician as she said to Fuschia and Lavender, “I think you two are just jelly that I get to do this! ” With lightning fast movement, Adagio closed the gap between her and her girlfriend and startled Trixie with a brief but deep kiss on the lips! As she pulled back and left Trixie discombobulated, she grinned smugly and teased, “...And you two can’t!”
“As cute as it is that you two love each other…” Lavender explained, “It is a bit much at times.”
“It’s gross at times, to be honest!” Fuschia chimed in.
That’s when it hit Trixie. “Dagi, did you steal my gum?!”
Like a cat proudly displaying a small animal it hunted, Adagio smiled wickedly and bared her teeth as she gnashed the small pink wad of gum between her canines. “What can I say? No matter what you pick, my favorite flavor is whatever you’re having, babe!”
Fuschia deadpanned once more, her point being proven. “See? Gross.”
Lavender backed her up by stating, “Blush is right, Trix; You are whipped! ”
Ever ready to defend her great and powerful girlfriend’s honor, Adagio offered up, “Well, even if Trixie is the one wrapped around my finger, she is the one who talked me into this whole high school nonsense. I suppose that makes me the one who’s whipped! ”
Lavender, Blush, and Adagio all laughed and started to rib each other playfully. Trixie remained silent as they all bantered, just enjoying the friendly conversation and smiling when Adagio reached out to hold her hand. Just her, her best friends, and the woman she loved.
Apropos of nothing, Adagio looked past Lavender to address the shy pink-haired girl. “Hey, Fluttershy! You scheduled for the shelter or the aquarium today?”
“Oh, umm, the aquarium. You want to tag along? I’m sure I can probably cover your attendance fee.”
Pursing her lips and shaking her head solemnly, Adagio answered, “Nah, I got other plans tonight, but hey, give my favorite leopard shark some love for me, will ya?”
"Hey Dazzle, did you hear about Ms. Harshwhinny?” Lavender asked.
Adagio grimaced at the teacher's name, but her interest was piqued. “What? What's she gonna spring on us today?”
“No, she’s out this week, something about a death in the family, or maybe a car crash. Jury's still out.”
Adagio’s beautiful red eyes and her wonderful smile widened in surprise. “Oh shit, for real? At least we all will be given a few days off from her!”
Vindicated, Trixie loudly and emphatically said, “Thank you! See Lace? Leave the grieving or healing to Nagatha and we can just take it easy while we’re not under her thumb!”
For the first time she could remember, Trixie was actually looking forward to English Literature. Ms. Harshwhinny normally made it into one of CHS' most miserable classes, but with a substitute replacing her, Trixie was ready to kick back and chillax for the week. She saw the substitute for the first time as he walked into the classroom. A young man who looked no more than a year fresh out of high school himself, with pale orange skin, spiked blonde hair, and a chinstrap beard across his jaw. His casual jeans and jacket look-- along with his chipper expression-- was a stark contrast to the dismal, dour décor of Harshwhinny's classroom. He leaned over the desk, getting Harshwhinny's material for the day ready.
Once all the students had filed in and taken their seats, the substitute spoke up. He had a friendly college guy kind of voice, but Trixie tuned him out and started scribbling plans for a trick into her notebook. "Hey everyone, my name is Gilded Gleam, you all can call me Gill. Unfortunately, Ms. Harshwhinny will be out for the week, but we will be continuing the coursework as normal while we wish her a speedy recovery.” A cacophony of snickers emanated throughout the classroom, causing "Gill” to roll his eyes. “I'm just gonna take attendance, then we can get started. Adagio Dazzle?"
"Present." Adagio answered, punctuating it with a loud pop from her gum. Trixie looked over to smile at her sweetheart before returning to her scribbles, mulling over the logistics of a trick she'd been workshopping.
I'd need the right volunteer... Definitely not Applejack. She could probably do it without knowing how. Does Bulk Biceps know how to rip apart a phone book?
"Pinkamena Pie?"
"Just call me Pinkie!"
Maybe Coach Will, it'd be pretty funny to roast a coach on stage... The hardest part is timing the throw so it hides the page already on the sword.
"Trickster Lulamoon?"
Like a car smashing into a brick wall, Trixie's train of thought was brought to a sudden halt. First came confusion. Had she misheard? Or had her legal name really just been broadcast to the class for the first time in years? Then came the panic. Trixie's heart had found its way into her throat, and her voice had fled the building. Everyone had heard it, everyone would know it.
"Trickster?"
There it is again. Say something!
"Uh-- Here!" Trixie looked up. The substitute was already moving on, but all around her she saw several kids looking her way. Pinkie Pie looked concerned, Adagio just looked confused, but there were a few, just one or two, who looked at her with smug grins. Attendance went on, but Trixie tuned it out in favor of the growing weight in her chest. She took a breath, trying to rationalize it.
It's whatever. He's a sub. He doesn't know your real name, so he used your legal name. You should have corrected him like Pinkie.
"I go by Trixie, by the way." Trixie called out, cutting off the kid Gill just called for
A stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging through Trixie’s heart, the substitute seemed utterly indifferent, barely acknowledging her as he moved on down the list. “Gotcha. Fluttershy?”
“Umm, here!” Fluttershy squeaked.
Trixie fidgeted nervously in her seat, the sound of various names and responses becoming muffled. Louder than the roll call taking place, Trixie heard nearly everyone speaking in hushed whispers that may as well have been shouted at her!
“Trickster? Isn’t that a boy’s name?”
“What if the real Trixie got replaced, and this person is just her doppelganger?”
“Ooo, does Trixie have a twin brother named Trickster?”
“Is Trickster just her real name and ‘Trixie’ is just her nickname?”
Somehow, the last one hurt the most. Trixie was her real name! Her papers might have said different, but they were wrong!
“Trixie? Babe? You okay?”
Trixie’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest and ran away screaming when she realized Adagio was looking at her with concern and whispering to her rather than about her ! ‘Oh shit! I haven't told Dagi!’ Trixie panicked, her mind racing with worst case scenarios as the whispers all around her persisted. With all of her willpower, Trixie conjured her best reassuring smile to flash her girlfriend.
Luckily, Adagio bought it and flashed her a smile of her own. By this point, Gill had long since finished roll call and the class blended seamlessly into their first lesson. Although Trixie wasn't so lucky, still mired in the stress and fear. Even in the relative silence, she could swear she could feel the eyes of the whole class fixed upon her, and as the whispering died down, one voice cut decisively through all the others.
“ I know what Trickster is.”
Author's Note
The name "Trickster" comes from The Longest Curtain Call by Trick Question .
Normally, Trixie prided herself on being the loudest person in the room, always striving to be the center of attention. She thrived in the limelight, inspiring awe and admiration in others.
Right now, she just wanted to crawl in a small hole and hide. Forever. She felt eyes all around her and, for once, she didn’t enjoy it. “That was such a disaster!” Trixie groaned, tucking herself further into her hoodie as she sat at the lunch table.
Lavender Lace offered a reassuring smile, but it was paper thin. “C’mon, I don’t think it was that bad! Nobody said anything about it once he moved on from roll call, so…”
“But everybody was looking at Trixie! Now everybody knows Trixie’s old name!” Trixie buried her face in her palms and let out a groan, wanting desperately to be invisible. “I can’t believe I would rather deal with Ms. Harshwhinny today.”
“So the sub called out your name; what’s the big deal?” Adagio asked neutrally, sitting on her girlfriend’s other side.
Trixie sat up and huffed, shifting a few macaroni noodles with her fork before spearing them. “It’s just that Trixie doesn't like people to know her legal name. It’s embarrassing…” She mumbled, shoveling the gooey plastic facsimile of mac & cheese into her mouth.
Adagio shrugged again and gently asked, “Is this another one of those human things I’m still not aware of? Is it weird for people to know your legal name?”
“With my name it is…” Finding her appetite wasn’t there, Trixie sighed and dropped her fork onto the tray. “I’ll have to tell you later, Dagi.”
Fuschia had been giving Trixie a look ever since the conversation started, flicking her scrutinizing gaze between the two lovebirds. “Trixie, you told her about… that , right?”
“Ehhh…” That was a conversation Trixie knew she had put off too long already. In truth, she had no idea how to really broach the topic with Adagio, and the day’s events weren’t making that any easier.
Adagio’s brow rose and she leaned closer to Trixie “Tell me what? ”
But now that the issue had been forced, Trixie couldn’t dance around it any more. “It’s… Complicated. I’ll tell you after school, okay?”
With Adagio’s nod the pact was sealed, but she had more. “I work tonight. It might have to be tomorrow, assuming you don’t want to tell me over the phone.”
“Yeah, it’s better we do it in person.” Great relief! At least she would have another day to decide how to approach this. To everyone’s disappointment the bell sounded soon after, students standing to put up their tray and return to classes. Except Trixie, who rapidly tore into her lunch lest she go hungry in gym class. Salisbury steak was devoured in chunks, milk was chugged, and Trixie left the cafeteria nibbling on her roll.
*****
Feeling bloated from stuffing her face with subpar food at pie eating contest speeds, Trixie wanted nothing more than to just skip gym for the day. The mere thought of putting on gym shorts while she was digesting the cafeteria slop made her want to lock herself away. Not mention even more stares and whispers that were likely to ensue this period as they had with the two previous classes! But, to Trixie's own chagrin, she had to soldier on and dress for the battle against comfort and peace that is gym class.
But before Trixie could hide away in the safety of a stall, a voice called out from behind her. “This is the girl’s locker room!”
Trixie turned to look at Bon Bon, still in her normal clothes, with her hands on her hips and a stern glare leveled right at her. “Yeah, and?” Trixie asked, matching Bon Bon’s combative tone.
“So, you shouldn’t be here. Get out.”
With a heavy sigh, Trixie groaned, ”Ugh, what is your problem?”
“The problem is men thinking they can go wherever they please, just because they put on a skirt. It makes everyone uncomfortable. So leave, or I’m getting Coach!”
Trixie ground her teeth together, wishing great pain upon Bon Bon with her gaze. “Fine, get Coach then.” She said, huffing as she turned back around and stomped into the stall, slamming the door closed with a loud bang! The only other sound in the room was Bon Bon’s shoes hitting the tile as she went to the door.
Bon Bon’s voice echoed through the gym as she shouted; “Coach Will! There is a boy in the girl’s locker room!” The irony of inviting a grown man into the girl’s lockers to punish Trixie seemed lost on her. Trixie’s nostrils flared as she forcefully and hastily pulled off her hoodie and dress, replacing them with gym shorts. As she adjusted her bra straps and gaff, she noticed that the whole room was dead silent for a moment. She couldn't hear anyone talking amongst themselves, opening or closing lockers, or even the rustling of clothes and backpacks. But after a while, she did hear a pair of footsteps, headed directly for her, stopping just outside her stall.
“He’s in there.” Bon Bon said.
“Alright, come out.” Said Rainbow Dash. Trixie pulled on her t-shirt, bundled up her clothes, and took a deep breath. Despite her bravado, her heart was still pounding out of her chest as she reached for the stall lock and pulled the door open, giving Rainbow an unamused scowl.
Rainbow’s confusion was apparent as her eyes met Trixie’s. Bon Bon stood to her right, arms crossed with a mean, vindicated smirk. “Uhhh… You said there was a boy? Where?” Rainbow asked, looking back at her.
Bon Bon’s smirk disappeared as she turned her glare towards Dash. “What? He’s right there!”
Rainbow shook her head and rolled her eyes. “It’s just Trixie.”
Bon Bon opened her mouth to respond, but Trixie cut her off. “Trixie is finished getting dressed, can she go now?”
“Yeah. Go get dressed, Bon.” Rainbow gave Trixie one more glance over before turning to leave. Trixie went to follow her, making a point not to look at Bon Bon.
“This isn’t over.” Bon Bon hissed, turning and walking back towards the rest of the girls, who slowly resumed changing now that the drama had ended.
After Trixie put her clothes in her locker with her bag, Dash followed her out the door where Coach Will stood waiting. Trying to peer past Trixie, Coach Will asked, “Well? Where's this boy Iron Will has been hearing about?”
“There was no boy. Or-- well… Kinda, I guess? Turns out it was just Trixie… Or Trickster , or whatever.” Rainbow waved her hand dismissively. Trixie sighed. It was a slim chance, but she had some hope that she might have had an ally in her longtime rival, Rainbow Dash. What a fool she was.
“I… Err… Well… Umm…” The blue brick wall of a man waffled in confusion, before turning to Trixie and urging, “Lulamoon? Can you explain?”
Trixie scoffed, crossing her arms and turning her nose up. “Some ignorant people have somehow convinced themselves Trixie is not who she says she is, and are out to make it everyone else’s problem!”
Iron Will scratched his head and pondered deeply before responding, “Right… Umm… Go fall in with the rest of the class on the bleachers. You too, Dash!” The shakiness of his tone suggested that he had no clue how to proceed.
“Sure thing, coach!” Said Rainbow, promptly scurrying over to the bleachers and taking a seat beside Applejack. Trixie slugged behind her, slowly climbing the benches to go and sulk in the corner. That spot was already taken by some green Whatsername, so Trixie sat a few feet to her side.
*****
Before Trixie knew it she was finishing running laps around the gym. Wasn’t she just on top of the bleachers? Did she zone out through all of Coach Will’s whole spiel and only zone back in now? That was the last thing she remembered. “Ugh… My head hurts. This day can’t end fast enough.” With laps done, Trixie shook the fog out of her head and walked over to the water fountain and drank. It was free time, and the sound of basketballs hitting the court filled the room while other kids walked laps and chatted. Applejack and Rainbow were casually shooting hoops.
“I just don’t get what the big deal is.” Said Applejack.
“Don’t you think it’s weird?” Asked Rainbow.
Applejack casually sunk a basket from the three-point line. “Meanin’?”
“You know, Trixie-Trickster is like, technically a boy? And she… He changes in the girl’s room?” Rainbow stepped up to the three-point line to take a similar shot to Applejack.
The buff orange girl merely shrugged and retorted rather simply, “She don't look like a boy to me.”
“But what if she still has a… You know? ” Rainbow attempted a trick shot off the backboard, but it amounted to nothing as Applejack collected the ball and dribbled.
Chewing on that question for a moment, Applejack answered, “Well, long as she keeps it in her britches, I don’t see why it's anyone's business. Shoot-dangit! ” The ball ricocheted off the backboard as she swore. Out of everyone at school, Trixie never imagined Applejack of all people to be so… Casually tolerant about her.
“But what if she gets off to the thought of being around us girls while we're changing? Isn’t that just a little creepy?”
Someone behind Trixie cleared their throat, and only then did she realize she was still standing at the water fountain like a dolt. After stepping aside, Trixie kept eavesdropping on the game of H-O-R-S-E, completely engrossed in the debate about her unfolding before her on the court.
Having just made a trick shot of her own, Applejack looked over to Rainbow Dash and delivered a damning counterpoint. “You don’t seem to mind sharing a room with gay girls, how is that different?”
Rainbow Dash's argument fumbled out of her mouth like the shot she proceeded to miss. “Well, I… It's not…”
“That’s H-O for you, Dash!”
“Sh-shut up! It’s different…”
Trixie could no longer pretend she was innocently minding her own business, but she lingered on the sidelines all the same, hoping they wouldn't notice her blatant eavesdropping.
Rainbow went on. “Okay, what about the girl’s sports? The boys have to do different push ups, weights, lap times… How is it fair to have one of them doing the girl pushups, lifting girl weights, or doing girl’s basketball?”
“You mean besides the fact that Trixie don't do any sports outside of gym class?”
“She has a distinct biological advantage, though!”
Trixie’s brows closed in. She knew for a fact that those three words were too egg-headed to be Rainbow’s own original thought. It lacked the jockish, knuckle-dragging nature that Dash was mired in.
“And you and I don't ? I don’t reckon you and I get partnered up with each other all the time by accident . Nobody wants to lose to a stronger, faster girl all the time, like you do! ” As she successfully leapt up to perform a slam dunk, the apple farmer proudly proclaimed, “Bucket! Ha! Beat that one, Dash!”
With a growl, Rainbow scooped up the ball and measured up the hoop. With some determination, the blue blur took a running start and leapt up, but her ball rebounded off the rim and loudly bounced against the court.
Retrieving the ball, Applejack smugly gloated, “H-O-R! Who has the distinct biological advantage , again?”
“She’s right, though.” Said Bon Bon in passing, stopping her walk around the gym along with the girls following her. “Men do have a physical advantage, it’s basic science.”
“Yeah! See, Bon Bon knows her stuff.”
“Don’t you think that’s insultin’ to the rest of us gals?” Applejack commented, walking past Rainbow Dash to insert herself into this discussion. “Dunno about ya’ll, but my ma taught me ‘don’t ever let a man say you can’t do what he does.’ Reckon it goes for women sayin’ it, too.”
Trixie shouldn’t have been surprised that Applejack had noticed her, what with Bon Bon and her squad. Even before then, she’d long overstayed her welcome and it wasn’t exactly easy to hide in the large, open gym. Still, she wasn’t emotionally prepared to actually interact with these two Rainbooms and the hate parade from Bon Bon right now.
Thankfully, Bon Bon's squad balked at the prospect of arguing with a girl who actually was stronger than them, so they merely crossed their arms and clustered around their leader. After a moment of thought, Bon Bon spat, “I don't remember asking you for your opinion, Rainboom .”
Applejack barely even reacted as she casually retorted, "I'm sure everyone in this gym can say the same to you, sweetie! " Despite how mid that grade-school clapback was, Bon Bon had a peculiar reaction. Applejack was barely invested in speaking up for the Great and Powerful Trixie, seeming content that Bon Bon and her squad shut their collective traps for a moment.
Rainbow Dash, however, had that familiar competitive look in her eye, clearly looking to compensate for losing to Applejack. Trixie super didn’t want to deal with her rival right now, but it was too late to dash out now, though, as Rainbow was already turning to look at her, holding the basketball up to her chest and sneering. “How about it, Trickster ? Think you can make that shot?”
While Trixie was well accustomed to Rainbow’s verbal jabs, that one stung far deeper than she’d like to admit. Yet she refused to give Dash and Bon Bon the satisfaction. Conjuring her normal bravado, Trixie donned a confident grin and puffed her chest. “Hmph! Trixie can do that in her sleep! Watch and learn, Lame bow!” To her credit, Trixie managed to catch the ball after Rainbow bounced it towards her. Dribbling the ball a few times, Trixie crossed over to the three-point line and eyed up the path she would take.
Trixie had a few inches on Rainbow Dash, but her height advantage couldn’t make up for her woeful lack of practice playing basketball. She took the leap, making an awkward upward lunge that sent the ball slipping from her fingertips and smacking into the backboard. Trixie’s feet hit the floor, followed by the ball a second after, and then Rainbow’s snickers.
“Snrrk , good shot, Trickster!”
Applejack was a far better sportswoman. “Don’t act like you did any better, Dash! It was a good try, Trix.”
It only then dawned on Trixie that she couldn’t have won, even if she had made the basket. She had failed, and Rainbow wasn’t going to let her live it down for days at least! But even if she had made it… Bon Bon would just be vindicated. Heads I Win, Tails You Lose…
Once again, Trixie was the center of attention, and she had never felt more alone. She couldn’t use a smoke bomb in gym class and just disappear this time, and not just because she’d get detention again. There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide; she was out in the open for all to see.
The last thing Trixie heard Bon Bon say as her entourage wandered away was, “He totally missed that shot on purpose . Like that would prove anything!”
Three - Behind Closed Doors
After nearly eight grueling hours, the day’s final bell finally rang and Trixie was eager to be out the front door before she had any other interaction with Bon Bon or Rainbow Dash. Stomping down the school’s front step, Trixie said her goodbyes to Lavender and Fuschia.
“You’re sure you don’t want to hang out?” Lace asked, hopeful eyes contrasting the thin sad line her mouth formed.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll catch you guys tomorrow morning.”
It was clear to Trixie that her friends were concerned for her. Even the absence of third-person speech seemed to cement their worries, from the way they glanced at each other. But, after a moment of awkward silence, the three of them exchanged hugs and the two Illusions were on their way. Autumn leaves began to tumble across the school’s lawn, but Trixie could swear she could hear a voice upon the wind. All Trixie could do now was sulk around the front entrance, plagued by the same horrible whispers as before, at least until Adagio could join her.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long.
“-And of course Rainbow Dash had to start gloating about it…” Trixie groaned as she regaled the story to Adagio, “And she was calling Trixie that name the whole time!”
“...Why would you challenge Rainbow Dash to a sport you never play?” Asked Adagio.
Trixie scoffed incredulously, jutting her nose skyward. “Pft! Because the Great and Powerful Trixie can do anything Rainbow Dash can do, and since Rainbow couldn’t do it either, we’re even!” At least, that’s what she told herself.
The wind picked up and Adagio's floof began to ripple and flap in the November breeze. “Uh-huh … And what about the cotton candy-haired bitch?”
Trixie stopped and stared at the sidewalk as she processed the question. Adagio stopped a few steps later and turned towards her, and Trixie looked up. “...What does Pinkie Pie have to do with this?”
“No, the one who gave you shit in the locker room!”
Trixie resumed her stride as she answered “Oh! Bon Bon? She just huffed and walked off. Guess Trixie proved her wrong, huh?”
Adagio's fluffy hair continued to jostle in the wind as they walked. “If you say so. What’s her problem, anyway?” She turned her head to look at Trixie, but a few curly locks blew in front of her face and got caught in her mouth on the last word. She calmly used her hand to brush her hair back out of her mouth.
“I have no idea. I mean…” The wind whipped a few silvery strands of hair into her face, so she spat and fussed with her hair before continuing, “Pfeh! -I know why she doesn’t like Trixie, but I also don’t know, you know? Never would have guessed she’d be like that.”
“Do you want me to handle it?” Adagio offered ominously. “Someone needs to learn what it means to threaten a Siren’s treasure.”
Trixie bit her lip. The offer was tempting, oh so tempting. She was dating a Siren ! A monster, loving as she may be, that could probably eat high school bullies for breakfast! Trixie had no doubt Adagio could ‘deal with’ Bon Bon in brutally efficient ways. But still… Trixie sighed, “Please don’t get yourself in trouble over Trixie. We both know you’re still on a short leash with Principal Celestia.”
“But Trix, I--...!”
“Please, just give it some time to sort itself out.” Trixie pleaded. “I'd rather not see you get thrown out of school over this.”
Adagio studied her face. “Are you sure?”
“I'm sure… It won't do either of us any good if you got expelled just because someone was mean to me, Dagi.”
Adagio sighed deeply and conceded, “I guess you have a point. I’m not happy about it, but I’ll let it slide, just this once!” She put her arm around Trixie’s shoulders.“You're lucky you're so cute!”
A smile broke out like a wildfire across Trixie’s face, steaming like smoke as a lovestruck giggle escaped her. As they walked together, Adagio’s body heat did wonders to ward off the cold late autumn air and Trixie got comfortable in the embrace. Leaves still dashed past them as they walked together, and being this close to Adagio helped distract Trixie from any whispering. Even the breeze in their faces couldn't wash away the heavenly fruity scent that came from Adagio. ‘I wonder what that scent really is?’
“So you know how I have the fashionable Rainboom in my History class?” Adagio asked, shattering the silence and derailing Trixie’s train of thought.
“Rarity? What about her?”
As her hair whipped into her face again, Adagio gradually got more agitated as she told the story. “Well, it seems the whole fucking band knows about what happened. I got paired up with her for a stupid group project and she was making small talk. Apparently, both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy ‘expressed their concerns’ to her about the substitute. Just more Rainbooms muscling their way into our business!”
“Well, at least that’s four out of seven that aren’t making Trixie’s day worse…” Trixie grumbled.
Adagio came to a stop and silently counted on her fingers before asking, “Seven?”
“Twilight, the human one.”
“Riiight , I forgot that the royal pain-in-the-ass had a human double! I hope I never have to meet her…” Adagio grumbled, musing shortly thereafter, “So Rainbow is on the shit list but Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity and the cowgirl aren’t. Jury’s out on Sunset and the other one for now.”
Trixie nodded absentmindedly and muttered, “Pretty much…”
As Adagio put her hands in Trixie’s, she sighed with mixed contentment and frustration. “I’d much rather they all mind their own business for once!”
The conversation lulled after that and the two continued to walk side by side in silence. The sounds of the day dominated the air; the gentle breeze (“Pfeh!” ), birds chirping, leaves crunching beneath their feet, and the occasional passing car. It was a comfortable silence. Finally getting the chance to air all the day’s grievances and share some alone time with her girlfriend meant, for the first time since that morning, Trixie was somewhat enjoying herself.
Deciding to revive a small detail from before, Trixie gave a small laugh. “So… Trixie’s your treasure , huh?”
With a smile, Adagio pulled Trixie closer to her as her ruby eyes sparkled with adoration. “My most precious treasure…” Before Trixie knew it, yellow fingers brushed aside a stray lock of her hair and wandered deep into the silvery thicket. Using all five of her fingernails, the amorous Siren lightly brushed across the side of her scalp, down the nape of her neck, and traced her spine from the base of her skull to the crest of her shoulders. No doubt the probing fingers would have traveled farther, were it not for the hoodie. But even the few inches of skin that they scratched were enough to send tingles down the magician’s spine and cause her heart to tremble. What she whispered next was in some obscure language, but Trixie lost all ability to ask about it as Adagio slipped her tongue into her mouth.
For one brief moment in time, Trixie forgot all about the day she had endured. The wind picked up and leaves danced around them as they savored this moment together.
By the time they pulled apart, Trixie was out of breath. Or, more accurately, her breath had been stolen by the magnificent siren she had the privilege of calling ‘lover.’
“You mean more to me than I can put into words.”
Trixie smiled, her voice still soft and bashful as she hopefully suggested, “You could… You could try! I’d love to hear!” She sounded too much like Fluttershy, and it drove her mad!
Adagio smiled and looked at her with an unusual, almost painful look in her eye. All she said as she leaned in for another kiss was, “Another time, my love… Another time…”
The time had come for them to part ways, though Trixie’s hands refused to let go of Adagio’s. The cold air stung her skin as the two reluctantly parted. “Make it home safe! Say hi to Momma Showcase and Spectacle for me, okay babe?” Adagio called out to her as they walked in opposite directions.
“Will do! See you tomorrow, Dagi!”
Trixie’s smile fell. All her good spirits left along with Adagio, and suddenly the air felt colder, the silence more uncomfortable. By the time she was walking through the front door, Trixie felt like she had left her body.
The house was still, dim, and desolate. Its stagnant air broken by the rush of wind from outside, its peace disturbed by loud, shrill barking the second she turned the knob. The moment she stepped inside her legs were assailed by a tiny mint green beast.
“Hello, Nick- Eek!” Trixie yelped, pulling her leg away and putting on a forceful tone “No! Bad girl! Go sit!” She scolded the excited dog away and looked down at her scratched leg, revealed by a big split in what had once been a good pair of leggings. Great, now those are ruined! She thought, growling as she kicked off her boots and stormed to her bedroom, letting her backpack slide off her shoulders and land beside her desk with a heavy thud! Her coat and ruined leggings came off next, replaced by a more comfortable pair of pants before she sulked off to the kitchen.
The leggings went into the garbage and Trixie went to the freezer, looking for anything that sounded easy and edible. Heating up the oven felt like too much effort, so the microwave was put to work. A few minutes of humming later Trixie had a plate of piping hot nuggets and a glass of soda. The nearly empty bottle of barbeque sauce sputtered and spat a mess all over the plate, its awful noise shattering the silence of the empty house.
A wooden fold-up table was pulled to the couch and her snack was consumed slowly and robotically as Trixie stared at the lifeless TV screen, a million miles away. Distantly she felt a warm mass of fur curl up beside her on the couch, so she absentmindedly began stroking Nicky with her free hand. And as she finished off her last nugget and slumped back, Trixie found some rest at last.
*****
Trixie woke up with a kick to the stomach, followed by Nicky’s high pitched barking and the loud clang of the screen door opening. At some point Trixie had turned to lay properly on the couch, and a Bears blanket had been laid over her, falling over her lap as she sat up and nursed her hurting belly.
“Hey baby-baby~!” Nana doted over the dog as she stepped inside and shook off the cold. “Brrrhhr! Cold outside! –I’ve got sandwiches. Trixie, I got you chicken bacon and ranch.” She said, putting the wrapped up hero on Trixie’s tray table and handing another sandwich to Showcase, who glanced over to the Groggy and Sore Trixie.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. Or should I say ‘good evening?’” Showcase said.
“Trixie was just- Hmmmng~ ” Trixie stretched and yawned before leaning over to unwrap her sandwich. “-So tired after school. Long day.” Chicken, bacon, ranch, cheese, onions, and bell peppers. Just how she liked it. One of her childhood comfort foods was a nice treat to end the day on.
Showcase laughed. “Haha, go figure. I woke you up when I got home, and you went right back to sleep again.” The TV was turned on, the living room coming to life with the music and chatter of some clip show. It was one of those shows that nobody ever really watched, yet was somehow watched enough that it was the only thing this channel ever aired. Trixie figured it was only ever put on as background noise. “What got you so worn out?”
“Trixie had… A very long day. Lots of stuff happened.” Trixie took a bite of her sandwich, ranch dressing spilled out onto her fingers and totally overpowered her taste buds. They always added too much.
“What?” Asked Nana.
With a groan, Trixie began recounting her story for the second time that day. And she had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time, not by a mile. “So, you know Ms. Harshwhinny, right?” She said, and Showcase hummed her acknowledgement. “Well, she had a substitute today. For the whole week, and Trixie thought ‘oh, awesome.’ But, I guess he didn’t get the memo, so when he was calling attendance instead of ‘Trixie’ he said…”
“Oh, he didn’t. ” Showcase said.
“He so did.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry.” Showcase leaned over to pull Trixie into a side-hug. The platitude was a nice thought, and Trixie did feel grateful. Really! But still somehow dissatisfied at the same time. “But that wasn’t even the worst thing that happened.
"So, Trixie was in the locker room, right, getting changed for gym. And she normally changes in the stall. But then Bon Bon came up to her and was like,” Trixie put on her snootiest, most nasally mean girl voice possible. “‘Errm , this is the girl’s locker room. You shouldn’t be in here, get out.’ And Trixie went, ‘Okay, go get the teacher then, see if Trixie cares.’”
Yeah, Trixie didn’t care at all.
“So Rainbow Dash came in like,” Trixie put on an extra phlegmy, pack-a-day-for-twenty-years impression for Rainbow, “‘What’s the big deal? It’s just Trixie.’ Hehe , Bon Bon looked so embarrassed. The coach didn’t even know what to do!”
Sure, maybe she was leaving out a few details. Like all of the staring she felt in the locker room, the full extent of the scene Bon Bon had made and how it really made Trixie feel. But embellishing it made Trixie feel better. So Trixie laughed, and Showcase laughed along with her. But Nana had gone unusually quiet for the whole conversation, silently chewing her sandwich and staring pensively at the TV screen.
Then Nana finally spoke up, “Well, you know how girls can be. If they don’t see you as one of them…”
Showcase cleared her throat. “Mom. ”
It wasn’t the worst thing Nana could have said. On its face it could even be taken as supportive, and yet it left Trixie feeling worse. She’d only finished about half her sandwich, but the way the conversation was going was robbing her of appetite. She wrapped up the other half and scooted off the couch, coming up with some excuse to excuse herself. “Trixie’s stomach isn’t feeling well, she’s gonna lie down for a bit…”
Nana quickly looked up with concern, “Do you need an ibuprofen?”
“Trixie will be fine. Thanks for the sandwich.” With that, Trixie skulked off to her bedroom and collapsed into her bed, staring up at her ceiling. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. It felt like far too much and far too little at once, but after an uncertain amount of time she heard a knock at the door and her mother’s voice came through.
“Trix? I’m coming in.” She announced, and soon she had entered. Not like Trixie had much of a say in it, so she just sat up and made room for Showcase in the small room. Showcase closed the door behind her (which Trixie didn’t like,) and took a seat beside Trixie. “You feeling okay?”
“Trixie is fine.” She didn’t even have to think about it.
“Are you sure you’re fine?”
Trixie had a feeling Showcase wasn’t going to let up until she said something else. “I’m nervous. Like, yesterday nobody knew except Lavender and Fuschia. Now everyone knows I’m trans, except the one girl who should.”
Showcase visibly hardened at the mention of Adagio. It wasn’t a well-kept secret that mom didn’t exactly approve of her choice of partner. “Are you scared she’ll reject you for it? If you don’t trust her…”
“No!” Trixie exclaimed. “Trixie trusts her. She won’t turn on Trixie. Trixie just needs to… Do it. Find some time to tell her and just… Rip the bandaid off.”
Her mother sighed. “If you’re sure… So about what happened today. Do you want me to go speak to Principal Celestia about it?”
“No, Trixie can handle this herself.” Trixie said, unsure if it was the truth. “But thank you, mom.”
“Okay. Sleep well, Trix. You know you can always come to me for anything.” Showcase said, giving Trixie another hug and kissing her forehead before standing and leaving. Trixie heard her sigh after the door closed.
Falling back onto her bed, Trixie stared lifelessly at her backpack. That annoying voice named “responsibility” told her she should do her homework now rather than after midnight, but Trixie could barely remember her name right now. How was she supposed to think about chemistry after the day she’d just had?
Then her phone vibrated and made a generic text tone.
Sunset Shimmer
Sunset Shimmer
Trixie super didn’t want to talk to her old bully, no matter how much she has supposedly changed over the past few months! Her first thought was to ignore Sunset and try her best to fall asleep, or maybe send her a text telling her to mind her own business again .
It didn’t help that Sunset had held this exact problem over her head long before.
But instead… The automatic response.
Me
Sunset Shimmer
Of course she did.
Me
Sunset Shimmer
Sunset Shimmer
Me
Frustrated, Trixie muted her texts with Sunset and set her phone on her nightstand. Through the wall, Showcase and Nana continued their conversation in the living room. At first it was too muffled for Trixie to hear much, but the volume had been rising steadily, and she heard Nana say…
“I just think, maybe that Bon Bon girl had a point. Lord knows I wouldn't want a boy in the locker room with my girls.”
“Mom, we’ve talked about this. Trixie is not a boy.”
“Oh, come on Showcase. You and I both knew he couldn’t play pretend forever. Someone was going to find out.”
“I’m not hearing this!” Showcase shouted, shaking the house as she stomped down the hall.
Trixie’s eyes stung, her throat burning as she tried to fight off tears. Absently, she reached down beside her bed and felt around for a soft round shape, pulling up a small stuffed bear with blue fur, covered in white stars. Clutching Ursa to her chest, she buried her face into her pillow and tried her best to think about chemistry.
Author's Note
This chapter was absolutely grueling to get through. I'm so glad it's done. In the meantime, I've made plenty of progress on other chapters, so hopefully those will get out at a faster pace.
Hopefully.
So ends Trixie's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I hope the fic isn't coming off too much like 'queer suffering porn.' Trixie does keep getting kicked while she's down, but there are some bright moments too. It won't always be like this, I promise
