The thoughts that were thunk
Princess Celestia sat serenely, light streaming in through the tinted windows of Canterlot Castle, scattering colors onto the white tablecloth and dishes spread in front of her. With her magic, she stirred sugar into her tea with a serene smile.
Celestia’s ear flickered. “What do I think of Trixie? My, my.” She sipped from her teacup. “We wouldn’t be engaged if I didn’t love her.”
Celestia let her conversation partner ask another question, then tapped her chin. “I think Trixie explained all that at the engagement party better than I could. I’d feel embarrassed repeating it.”
The princess listened for several minutes, smiling throughout, and laughed lightly and regally at the end. “What a lovely story.” She paused in thought. “In the past, I would have been jealous, having spent a thousand years watching ponies from a distance but unable to love them in a truly personal way.” She touched her chest. “It warms my heart to know I can share a story of my own now.”
As I’m sure you remember, I have quite an affinity for the stage. However, my princess duties mean I have so little time for it—which I intend to do something about, but that’s for later. One evening, I attended one of my beloved’s performances and noticed a poster advertising auditions for a community theater production of Hold Your Horses. I can tell from your expression, you’ve heard of it. Something about it called to me, so I took the poster as I left.
I kept glancing at it even when I met up with Trixie in her wagon later that night. Oh? Yes, it’s a tight fit, but I’ve gotten used to it. In any case, my ever-insightful love noticed the poster and said, "Ooo, Hold Your Horses? Isn’t that one of those things you like?"
I responded, "It’s very highly regarded. It has romance, suspense, comedy, drama, everything you could want from the theater."
With a silly wave of her hoof, she replied, "But that boring princess stuff is stopping you from joining it, right?"
We talked a bit about my upcoming schedule as a princess—state secrets, so I can’t repeat them to you—but then, out of nowhere, to my absolute shock, my beloved said, "You know, goosey-goo—” what a wonderful nickname she gave me! Anyway, she said, “Goosey-goo, Trixie has a wonderful idea. She will be in the play!"
Flabbergasted, I asked her if she’d be too busy, but she shook her head and said, "The Great and Powerful Trixie makes her own schedule, and letting her love vicariously perform on stage through Trixie is more important than anything. Besides, Trixie doesn’t have to worry about money anymore, so she can do whatever she wants." So generous and smart!
The day of the audition came and Trixie easily got a part! She’s used to performing on stage, so it was the only possible outcome.
I’m not going to comment on that look you’re giving me.
I was so happy for her that night that the wagon almost tipped over from me jumping for joy. I still remember the way my beloved smiled that toothy grin of hers. It makes me giggle just thinking about it. But there was little time to celebrate and we quickly got down to business.
Trixie is such an analytical tour-de-force. Just that night, she was able to get into character and fully developed her backstory. Bixie is a traveling magician who made a lot of mistakes, including one involving an Ursa Major and one where she tried to conquer a town, but learned to get better.
Oh? Yes, this is indeed a character Trixie derived from her own experiences. But! There’s one major difference.
As she put it, Bixie, "is somepony who resembles Trixie, but with something that makes her absolutely unlike Trixie: Bixie isn’t Trixie enough to win over Princess Celestia. That makes Bixie a tragic figure.”
I blushed at this and said, "You really think that makes her tragic?"
Trixie got close to me and responded, "Of course. Now that Trixie has your heart, being without it is the greatest tragedy of all." And then… oh my, perhaps that isn’t suited for polite company. Let’s skip ahead.
For weeks, my blueberry muffin kept refining her performance. Soon, we discovered the key to the character of Bixie is her costume. It’s a purple cloak and hat, both with blue and yellow star patterns. Hm? I suppose that would sound like Trixie’s usual outfit, but… it’s hard to describe, but if you see it in pony, you can tell it’s lacking the qualities that make Trixie Trixie. It’s… well, it’s Bixie.
For all the rehearsals, everycreature wore whatever they wanted, so Trixie could fully explore her Bixie character in the appropriate attire. However, they reached the dress performance and the costume designer… made new costumes for everyone! And Trixie couldn’t be dressed as her character!
I was devastated. Trixie usually holds herself together so well, and even she was breaking down in front of me. Both of us had worked so hard on the character, and it was all going to waste without the appropriate costume. You can’t portray the proper mix of dignity and sadness otherwise.
I stomped and told her I was going to do something about this. Goodness, I sound like such a foal saying this, but I was fully prepared to use my influence as a princess, or even use a spell of some kind. However, Trixie stayed my hoof.
She said, "Trixie was considering what Bixie would do in this situation, given she is a skilled stage magician, when I remembered: Trixie is also a stage magician! Thus, Trixie and Bixie both will solve this the way a stage magician would." With wonder in my eyes, I asked what she was planning. She winked in that ever so charming way and said, "It’s a surprise."
I pleaded every day, but she wouldn’t reveal what her trick would be. Soon enough, opening night came. I nervously sat in the audience using a disguise spell. I planned to enjoy the play instead of fretting, but I found that I just couldn’t. Would Bixie’s character come through? Would the audience understand? All those thoughts distracted me, and before I could prepare myself, it was time for my beloved to appear.
I watched as Trixie trotted onto the stage. She had her usual smile, but I could tell how tense she was. I leaned forward in my seat, my eyes focused only on her, shutting out the conversation that the other actors were having. Finally, after endless seconds, it was her moment. I held my breath, unsure if Trixie’s trick would work. I know most everything there is to know about spellcasting, but stage magic remains a mystery to me.
I never should have doubted her. With barely a flick of her neck, the tiny fez Trixie wore erupted into stars and her purple hat and cloak emerged. There was no change at all in her expression, but I knew the confidence I love her for returned. With the ease of an experienced magician, she looked into the eyes of the lead actor and said, "Your bags, please."
I stood up at this moment. I know I must have looked quite silly, but I was just so happy. There was the mare I loved, showing her artful soul on stage! I clapped and I clapped. Goodness knows what sort of uproar I would have caused if I wasn’t in disguise, but I kept cheering for Trixie until she walked off stage.
I’m embarrassed to say this, but by the time I calmed down, I had quite lost track of what was happening in the story. Since Trixie’s performance was over, I decided to leave. This turned out to be quite serendipitous, since my beloved’s free spirit resulted in her getting fired, and she was waiting for me outside.
She really is so dreamy.
Ah, apologies.
I was worried for a moment, but Trixie waved me over with a big smile on her face. She hopped up and down and said, "Did you see Trixie? I was so nervous about getting the trick right while staying in character, but I think I did it!" She smiled sheepishly and asked, "Did Trixie do it?"
I lifted her chin and said, "You played your part wonderfully, my dear. I could sense the mix of pride and tragedy through your whole performance, and that includes the costume change."
Trixie lit up at this and said, "Of course! A pathetic figure like Bixie would have to deal with the same ordeal as Trixie, not being able to wear what she wanted. In the end, Trixie turned this stumbling block into an even greater showcase of her acting skills!" She put her hoof to her heart. "But Trixie couldn’t have done this without her muse. Trixie always called herself Great and Powerful, but I didn’t know true greatness and powerfulness until I earned your love."
Tears welled up in my eyes, and we embraced under the flickering street lamps. My beloved opened up a whole new world to me, not just then but in her every moment with me, and I don’t think I could ever fully express my appreciation to her.
Love is truly wonderful.
…
You can feel free to say whatever’s been burning in your throat.
You were the costume designer? My, what a small world. I should have known those wonderful outfits were your work.
But honestly Rarity, I thought you of all ponies would know better than to muffle my muffin’s creative expression like that. Even if it did turn out for the better.
You could learn a lot from Trixie, you know.
Twilight Sparkle’s head shot up to the sound of Rarity slamming the door open, then carelessly kicking the door closed. Wincing, the princess said, “That bad, huh?”
“It isn’t too late to raze Equestria to the ground, you know.” Rarity said. “You could talk to Ember, perhaps take the bloodstone scepter by force. Dragons will set everything ablaze, and then one will burn down the Canterlot throne as a sort of allegory. We can rebuild from a new foundation, with us in charge.”
Twilight rolled her eyes with a smile. “Rarity, I’m not destroying Equestria.”
Rarity shushed her with a wave of her hoof. “It’s just a flight of fancy, darling.” She sat down on a couch with a huff and her wife soon joined her. She rested her head on the alicorn’s side. “Suffice it to say, Celestia indeed loves Trixie and this isn’t a big prank.”
Twilight furrowed her brows and hummed. “Well, maybe if we went through what she said together, we can know for sure.”
Rarity shot up and pressed her hoof to Twilight’s lips. “Darling, do you trust me?”
Twilight nodded with a muffled, “Mmhmm.”
“And am I better at analyzing social situations than you?”
Twilight raised her eyebrow but nodded again.
Rarity smiled. “Then let’s leave it at that.”
Thankfully, Twilight didn’t insist and they moved on with their day.
Equestria really would burn if Twilight knew how similar Celestia and Trixie were.
