To Turn Over A New Leaf

Blueblood smiled happily to himself as he headed to the fountain to meet Trixie for lunch. It was a beautiful sunny day in Canterlot. A great day to be outside, though still safely away from anything that could get him dirty.

Trixie had made a good amount of money from her show the previous night and had used some of it to rent a hotel room. Blueblood had asked her if she would like to stay in his guest room again, but she had declined.

The Prince arrived at the fountain and immediately spotted Trixie sitting on a public bench waiting for him. He went over to her.

“Hello, Trixie,” Blueblood said to her.

Trixie looked up at him and smiled. “Hello,” she said. “Right on time.”

“I try to be,” said Blueblood with a grin. “So are you ready to eat?”

Trixie nodded. “So where is this restaurant?”

“Follow me.”

Trixie followed Blueblood to the restaurant. It was a fancy building on the corner of the street with the words De Valley Cafè. They got an outside table with a large parasol over it. Trixie looked at the menu and her eyes widened.

“My, everything’s so expensive,” Trixie said.

Blueblood looked up at her and realized what he should do. “Um… don’t worry about the price. I’ll pay for us both.”

“Really? You don’t have to do that,” said Trixie.

“No, I should. It wouldn’t be nice of me to not too, and besides, I have plenty of money.”

“Well, thank you,” said Trixie.

After a few moments, a pink unicorn waitress came over. “Are you ready to order?” she asked.

“Yes. I’ll have the garden salad, a glass of iced tea, and a slice of blueberry pie,” said Blueblood.

“I’ll have the same,” said Trixie.

The waitress took the menus and walked away.

Blueblood turned back to Trixie. “Have you seen today’s newspaper?” he asked.

“No. Why?”

Blueblood pulled out a newspaper and showed it to her. A picture of her on stage was on the cover. “You’re in it.”

Trixie grabbed the newspaper in her magic and levitated it over to her. The article was titled ‘COULD THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE BE MAKING A COMEBACK?’ The article was about her show at the castle gardens last night, and read that she claimed to be sorry for her past behavior, and that she may be making a comeback as a magician and entertainer.

Trixie smiled as she gazed at the article. “At last!” she said, setting the news paper down on the table. “If this keeps up, I’ll be able to fix my reputation and make a living doing what I love again, and I’ll never have to go back to that horrible rock farm again.”

But then her face fell a little and she let out a sigh. “Although, I still can help but feel jealous of Twilight Sparkle,” she said sadly, resting her head on her hoof.

Blueblood looked at her concerned.

“It’s just not fair that she gets to be so powerful, and I don’t,” Trixie continued. “I would kill to have that kind of power!”

Blueblood saw the depressed look on her face and realized he should say something to try and cheer her up. But more than that, he found that he actually felt bad to see her feeling bad.

“Well, yes, Twilight Sparkle is the most powerful unicorn in Equestria,” said Blueblood, earning him a look from Trixie, “but you shouldn’t feel so bad,” he continued. “She’s been trained by my aunt, Princess Celestia, since she was a little filly, and I’ve heard she was born freakishly powerful, so you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I know,” sighed Trixie. “I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll never be the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, but still, I can’t help feeling jealous.”

“Well I think you’re a great magician,” said Blueblood. “You’re a lot more skilled in magic than me, or most other unicorns in Equestria for that matter. You may never be the absolute best, but you’re still a really great magician. You should be proud of your magical skills.”

Trixie sighed again, but then gave Blueblood a small smile. “Thanks,” she said. “You’re right. I am proud of my magical skills. I may never be the absolute best, but I’m still going to be the very best I can be, and be proud of it.”

Blueblood was happy too see Trixie was cheered up. He really liked seeing her smile.

Just then the waitress returned with their food. She set it down in front of them. “Will there be anything else?” she asked sweetly.

“No, thank you,” said Blueblood. “Will call you if we need anything.”

The waitress nodded and walked away to another table.

As Trixie began to eat her salad, an idea suddenly popped into her head. “WAIT! I KNOW!” she said suddenly, startling Blueblood so much that he dropped his fork from his magical aura. “Princess Celestia is you’re aunt, right?!”

“Um, well technically she’s my great great great… something aunt, seeing as she is over a thousand years old,” said Blueblood.

“Whatever,” said Trixie. “You’re related to her, so maybe you could ask her if she could train ME in magic like she trained Twilight Sparkle!”

Blueblood felt the color drain from his face, knowing the impossibility of what she had just asked. “Um, Trixie, I’d hate to tell you this, but… it’s not that simple. I mean, she’s the ruler of Equestria! She can’t take the time to train just ANY ponies.”

Trixie’s ears fell. “I understand,” she said. She hated asking Blueblood for more after he had already helped her out so much, but as soon as that idea had crossed her mind, she just had to ask it. “It was a stupid idea.”

Blueblood sighed. “I’ll ask her,” he said.

Trixie’s ears perked up. “You will?” she said hopefully.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll see if I can visit her tomorrow. But like I said, she’ll probably say no.”

Trixie suddenly leaned across the table in a very unladylike way and hugged Blueblood tightly. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” she shouted.

Blueblood froze in surprise and his cheeks went red. As much as Blueblood found he liked the hug, the feel of Trixie’s soft fur coat against his, his eyes swiveled around at all the ponies on the street staring at them. “Um, Trixie, you’re welcome, but everypony’s looking at us.”

Trixie opened her eyes and noticed the stares she and Blueblood were getting from the ponies all around them. She quickly sat back down in her seat, an embarrassed look on her face.

When they were both done with their meals, Blueblood paid for their meals and left a tip on the table.

“Thank you for lunch,” said Trixie.

“You’re welcome,” said Blueblood. “I have to be going now. I’ve got a place I’ve got to be. I’ll ask my aunt Celestia tomorrow about teaching you magic and get back to you.”

“Thanks again,” said Trixie. “I have a show tomorrow afternoon. It ends at about five. I’ll be available after that.”

“Okay,” said Blueblood. “Have a nice day.”

“You too,” said Trixie as they both began heading away from the restaurant in opposite directions.

As he was trotting though Canterlot, Blueblood started to wonder something. ‘Could I have feelings for Trixie?’ He wasn’t sure. He had never been in love before. He had met a lot of mares in his life, but none of them had been like Trixie. Perhaps it was the fact that they both had something in common. They both hadn't been the best ponies in the past, and were trying to change. Because of that, he felt a sort of kinship to her. Or perhaps it was her fiery ambition, her desire to be great and famous. He did like that about her, even though he wasn't a very ambitious pony himself.

There was just something about her. Something that made him feel... something he'd never felt before for anypony.

Was this what love felt like?