Equestria Dark: Tales of a New Appleloosan Stallion Water Salespony

Written by Minalkra

"The next petitioner, step forward!"  The Lord Herald of the Crystal Empire called from his perch next to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.  The pink Princess of Love sighed heavily as a blue unicorn stepped forward, head held higher than most of the nobility.  This petitioner was going to be fun.  The Lord Herald cleared his throat.  "Trixie Lulamoon of Canterlot, Journeymare Mage of the Illustrious Order of the -"  The blue unicorn huffed and stomped her hoof, cutting off the Herald before he could finish his recitation of her orders and grades.

"The Great and Humble Trixie is just Trixie before the throne, Lord Herald."  Murmurs ran through the assembled nobility as Cadence's ears perked up.  It was rare that a unicorn would cut off their honors even before one of the immortal alicorns.  Yet, there was something more that caused Cadence's interest to peak.  She had heard about this 'Trixie' mare from a few of Twilight's Friendship Reports and in most of them, it had been made clear that she was a braggart that styled herself 'Great and Powerful,' not 'Great and Humble.'  Something must have happened between then and now.  The Lord Herald scoffed at his interruption, motioning the mare to step forward further.

"Then step forward, 'Great and Humble' one, and be recognized by the Crystal Throne."  The unicorn - her nose firmly planted in Aunt Celestia's butt - stepped even closer to the throne from which Cadence ruled over her subjects.  At the foot of the dais, she stopped.

"So, my little pony, what error in life or love did you seek redress for?"  The pink Princess' voice rang clear across the Great Hall.  Despite this, years of practice had refined the immortal of love's tone to be as warm and welcoming as her own beloved Aunt's.

"Trixie is ... asking that this be discussed in private."  Again, murmurs followed in the wake of the mare's request - this time from Cadence's muzzle as well.  It was not unheard of for a request to be made in private.  After all, she was the immortal of love and affairs of the heart were sensitive things.  Most requests were simple things and some were even distressing in their nature.  Jealous lovers, hateful and poisonous love - these things were often the subjects of the closed door sessions.  Something in this mare's eyes, however, told the Princess that it was something more.  Something less simple.

Cadence nodded, motioning one of her guards to lead the mare to a private room.  She would handle that request last.

"Trixie greets you, your highness, and thanks you for meeting with her privately."  The unicorn, Trixie, bowed low as Cadence entered the sitting room.  The Princess noted her worn and scuffed appearance, her tired eyes and her determined look.  Simple this was not.  With a wave, the pink alicorn motioned for the mare to stand.

"Please, call me Cadence.  You are Trixie, the show mare are you not?"  Notably absent was any mention of a particular celestial bear or lack of work.  If this unicorn was now styling herself 'humble,' Cadence was more than willing to let her live up to her name.

"Yes your - er, Cadence.  Trixie was a showmare of illusions.  Trixie hopes to be so again, one day."  The longing in her voice jolted the Princess.  Something happened indeed.

"Well, I doubt you are here to reignite your career, Trixie.  What can I do for you?"

"Trixie wishes to be a stallion."

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza - immortal alicorn of love and Empress of the Crystal Empire - did something that was rare for even a young immortal to do.  She blinked at the unicorn before her in confusion.

"What?"

"Recently, Trixie had ... trouble.  An amulet that increased her power but corrupted her heart.  Trixie, Trixie wanted to show up Twilight Sparkle - Celestia's student - but ended up doing much worse."  The unicorn lowered her head, shame staining her cheeks red.  "Trixie was wrong to do what she did and still owes much to the ponies of Ponyville for her error.  But it got Trixie to thinking.  Why does Trixie want everypony to look at her?  What is it about being seen as 'better' than everypony else that makes Trixie heart flutter?"

Cadence motioned for her to continue, sitting discreetly on the carpet of the sitting room.  She did not mention how improper this was nor how forward the unicorn was being.  This seemed to be an issue of the heart that was long in coming.

"Trixie - Trixie is alone.  She has always been alone.  The life of a wandering showmare is not a life most stallions would want and Trixie was never lucky in love."  The unicorn sat, rubbing her muzzle with a hoof as tears threatened to fall.  "Trixie loves the life but wishes she had somepony to share it with.  Nopony wants to join her."

"And as a stallion, you think you'd have more luck?"

"Trixie knows she'd have more luck.  Many mares want to come with her but they never are interested in Trixie.  Only the road Trixie follows.  No stallions want that kind of life.  As a stallion, Trixie would have the best of both worlds.  A road open before her and a mare at her side."

"Is that the only reason?"  Cadence knew there was more.  Trixie shot the Princess a glare and opened her mouth to retort but thought better of it.  With a grimace, the unicorn shook her head.

"Trixie wants to be loved.  Trixie wants to have somepony to come home to, to wait on and be waited upon.  Trixie wants ... Trixie wants to be loved fully."

"Trixie, even alicorn magic has its limits," Cadence held up a hoof to forestall Trixie's protest, "and this is one thing I cannot do.  But that doesn't mean it cannot be done."  With a flick of her horn, Cadence opened the doors and motioned for Trixie to follow.  "There are artifacts that hold great power, more than even my Aunts Celestia and Luna.  If this is truly what you seek, than there may be a way to do it."

"Trixie will do anything, Princess."

"For love?"

"For the love of a single mare."

Trixie trotted out of the Crystal City, her head held low.  The Princess had furnished her for the long journey ahead and her wagon was now fitted with gear and maps to many different artifacts.  Included were tales, stories and legends about potential artifacts or places of power.  Trixie did not know why the Crystal Empress was so interested in seeing her quest come to fruition but she was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  As she trotted along the path into the unknown, Trixie's mind wandered to her past and a certain purple unicorn that had impressed her so much.

A purple unicorn whose picture now sat lovingly next to her cramped and barely sufficient bed.  A purple unicorn for whom Trixie would gallop to the ends of the world for.