Author's note: This story takes place a while after season 1 ep 6: "Boast Busters". You can enjoy this story even if you haven't seen it, but you'll likely get more from it if you have!
Chapter 2
Applejack and Trixie intended to go to the train station by 0930. However, they'd forgotten that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle knew that Trixie was in Ponyville. The two fillies hadn't been shy about telling their friends and relatives.
Applejack woke at 0630, as she usually did. She had a shower, then woke Trixie. (The small unicorn had asked Applejack to wake her early.) Applejack began preparing breakfast while Trixie rushed through her shower. Trixie found that her telekinesis wasn't strong, but it was there, if she concentrated.
Once she was ready, Trixie joined Applejack and helped her make breakfast. Apple Bloom, Big MacIntosh, and Granny Smith arrived at the table one at a time. The family didn't treat Trixie like one of their own, but they weren't awkward or distant with her, either. They were warm and friendly. For her part, Trixie was inclined to offer her help with tasks that her telekinesis suited. (Setting out napkins and place mats, for example.)
Apple Bloom had gone to school and Big Mac had gone to the West Field when there was a knock at the door. Applejack and Trixie were about to leave for the market to do a little shopping before getting on the train. Applejack adjusted her backpack and answered the door.
"Where is she!" Rainbow Dash demanded, swooping toward the open door.
Luckily, Pinkie Pie held back the athletic pegasus by the tail while Applejack blocked her from the front. "Calm down, Rainbow Dash," said Twilight Sparkle. To Applejack, she said, "We heard that Trixie was here. Is that true?"
"Yes," Trixie said, stepping beside Applejack. "Don't worry, I'm not here to be either great or powerful. In fact, I'm getting ready to leave Ponyville."
Rarity had heard a lot about Trixie's reappearance from Sweetie Belle. The white unicorn now came forward. "The first thing you have to do is let me see your tail," said Rarity.
"It's no big deal," said Trixie, but Rarity had already squeezed past Rainbow Dash and Applejack to look for herself.
"Tragic!" Rarity gasped. "You aren't going anywhere yet." She had brought scissors, brushes, and other implements and she began pulling them from her cute lavender backpack.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Rainbow Dash burst out. She'd peeked around Applejack and seen Trixie's chopped tail. "Now who's the one who looks like a loser?"
"Don't be a bully," said Twilight Sparkle. "Do you want to kick a pony while she's down?"
"I think she's right," Pinkie Pie said unexpectedly. "Our pranks never hurt anyone, but cutting her hair like that was mean."
"I guess you've got a point," grumbled Rainbow Dash.
Meanwhile, Rarity worked on Trixie's whole look. "Oh dear! Won't be easy to fix...I don't believe extensions are the answer...maybe a wide bow would disguise the shorter hair...on the other hoof..."
"Could you simply cut it?" asked Trixie.
"That's one option, I suppose," Rarity said, distracted with her appraising.
"Please do it then. I'm sure you can make it look chic."
"Well-are you sure that's what you want? Perhaps that should be your last resort."
"Yes, that's what I'd like you to do," the blue unicorn said.
The fancy unicorn clucked her tongue, but she set to the task with scissors, brush, and artistic flair. She made the medium blue tail look presentable, then said, "I'm sure you understand that I must cut your mane too, for this to look right."
"I thought so, yes. Please continue; I trust your fashion sense implicitly." Rarity smiled. By this time, the clamor at the door had died away, and Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle had entered the farm house. They talked quietly among themselves while they watched Rarity combing and clipping.
In short order, Rarity finished and stepped back to evaluate her work. Three more snips here, step back and check, a bit of brushing and two snips there, step back and check...
Rarity was satisfied.
Trixie and Rarity looked at Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash. All four were staring silently at the little blue unicorn. "...Well, can I see?" Trixie asked after a moment.
Pinkie Pie immediately recovered. She picked up a large hoof-mirror and held it in front of Trixie.
"Oh my!" said Trixie. Her hair was now short, but wonderfully blended and tapered, and it kind of rippled back and forth, looking like a giant wavy ribbon. It made her look active but sophisticated, intelligent but fun. With her cutie marks, she still appeared to be a wizard, but she also appeared energetic and carefree: as though she'd be more at home on an adventure in the countryside than in an archive room.
"Thank you, it's perfect!" Trixie said to Rarity.
The other mares nodded or added their agreeing praise.
"You're welcome," Rarity said. "It's better than frizzy split-pea-green hair, anyway."
Of course, the conjuring unicorn knew what her fellow unicorn meant.
Trixie knelt on her front legs and shut her eyelids, inclining her face toward the floor. "I am sorry. To all of you," she said.
"It's okay," said Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle.
"I forgive you," said Rarity kindly, a small grin appearing on her lips.
"It's about time!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Rainbow!" Applejack said, glaring at the speedy pegasus. "You oughtta be the first to forgive her. You were hecklin'. You accepted her challenge, just lahke Rarity and I did."
Rainbow Dash blushed a bit. "Yeah, I guess. She started it! But you're cool, Trix. I'm kind of a bragger too-some ponies say that, anyway-but anypony who's as awesome as me would do that. And your magic is pretty radical, so I get how it is...I mean it's hard to stay humble...when you're...awesome..."
The athletic little pegasus let her spur-of-the-moment speech trail away, aware that everypony was staring at her. Applejack and Pinkie Pie began to chuckle, followed by Twilight Sparkle and Rarity; soon, everypony was laughing.
"Dashie, you really are the best!" said Pinkie, glomping her best friend.
"What's next for you?" Twilight asked Trixie.
"I'm going to Bridleborough with Applejack," said Trixie. "I haven't seen my family in a while, plus I'm out of money. I'll work in my mother's smithy for a bit, and we'll see what happens after that."
Except for Applejack, the other mares hadn't heard anything about Trixie's family and hometown (besides Rarity, who'd heard the cutie mark story from Sweetie Belle). They were quite interested. Trixie wound up repeating much of her life story two or three times. Her recent adventures in the Everfree Forest were the focus of the discussion, of course.
"You've had such an awful time!" Rarity said at one point. "No wonder you look so thin, you poor thing!"
"You're still in a terrible situation. I can't imagine how badly it must hurt to lose your magic," Twilight Sparkle said at another point.
Rarity nodded in sympathy. "I don't use mine as often, or in the same way, but I would miss my magic sorely," the white mare said. "I'm truly impressed at your perseverance."
"We need to have a party!" said Pinkie Pie. "A lot of mean, creepy creatures live in the Everfree Forest. Getting through those dangers deserves a celebration."
"That's right!" said Applejack and Twilight, almost in unison.
"Thank you, but Applejack and I are about to leave, right Applejack?" Trixie said, slightly embarrassed at the attention.
"Huh, guess Ah got caught up in the moment," Applejack said, also a little embarrassed. "Still, don't you think they've got a point? You can send a letter to your ma to keep her from worryin'. Then you can take a while to rest, get your legs back under you-and then the two of us can go to Brahdleburruh. It'd work better for me if we waited a week anyway."
Trixie smiled gratefully at the tall blonde. "It's true; I'm still tired and I feel weak with so little magical power. I could use a few days to get ready for the trip back home."
"I'll bake you an extra-potent super stamina deluxe banana pudding!" Pinkie Pie said. "It's just the thing if you want to feel strong again!"
"It definitely does give you more stamina," said Rainbow Dash, "but I don't recommend much. You might start shaking. And you might crash really hard when the 'stamina' wears off!"
"If you'd like to stay, I could at least make you look good before you get on the train," said Rarity.
"How soon could your mail service get a message to my mom?" Trixie asked, touched at all the offers of help. She had intended to go immediately, but she found herself feeling as though it would be a good idea to get to know these ponies better. In fact, she wanted to stay and get to know them.
Most of the rest of Trixie's day involved a loose tour of Ponyville, as well as helping Applejack run errands. At various times, some of Applejack's friends joined them. Pinkie Pie went through most of the market with them, and Rainbow Dash flitted in and out, in particular at the bookstore. (The athletic pegasus was looking for adventure stories.)
It was after noon when Applejack and Trixie got back to Sweet Apple Acres. They had a quick lunch and went to the new grove on the edge of the South Field. The young trees needed plenty of water. It took a lot of work for Applejack to pull the water-tank wagon up from the river and then set up the sprinklers and pump the water back over the rows of saplings.
Trixie said, "Let me try something."
"Sure," said Applejack, taking off her hat for the moment.
Trixie's horn gleamed. Her eyelids narrowed as she concentrated her innate power.
Fog gathered in the bed of the little river. The air grew noticeably cooler. The fog thickened until it became a well-defined cloud.
A cold, crisp wind blew. Applejack shivered, partly because of the temperature, but mostly because she was witnessing something she thought only pegasus ponies got to see. Summoning a bolt of lightning was one thing, but this was miraculous. Trixie was making weather!
The cold air displaced the new grey cloud, effectively pushing it up the hill. The tiny cloud quickly reached the strip of young trees. At that point, the air began to circle. Trixie moved the cold air, first surrounding the little cloud, then pressing and compressing it. Very heavy fog formed. Mist fell. Dew covered the leaves and limbs of the small trees-so heavily that water dropped freely onto the soil, like rain.
Sparks of light spouted from Trixie's horn. Alarmed, Applejack looked closely at the small blue unicorn. She appeared unsteady. "That's enough; don't strain yourself," the tall blonde mare said.
Trixie's eyes opened and she sank to her knees. Applejack was there to keep her from falling over. As they watched, the cloud dissipated and the rain stopped. "Not much result," said Trixie weakly.
"But-!" For a moment, Applejack strove to decide what she should say first. "-Thank you for helpin'. It would've taken me two hours to water the trees that well. It was mahty impressive to see, too. But don't push yourself; I just told you that! You're tryin' to get back on your feet, not put into a hospital bed."
"But you've done so much for me already," said Trixie. She blinked hard, but it was no use; she started crying.
Applejack hugged the smaller mare tight. "Ah'm sorry for scoldin' you, sugar cube," she murmured. "But don't you know how much it means to me just to have you here? You're frustrated with your magic, but it'll get strong again real soon-and you can't hurry it. Ah'd feel awful if you got hurt tryin' to force it, tryin' to do somethin' nahce for me."
"I want it now. I want it so badly."
"You've got it! Ah mean it: your magic'll grow strong in no time."
"...Applejack, did I really help?"
"Sure did! Ah was chosen to represent the Element of Truth, you know! You saved me a ton of work just now. And Ah appreciate it."
"I didn't mean to push so hard," Trixie said awkwardly. "I'll take it slower."
Applejack helped Trixie to her hooves. "You've got amazin' abilities. Ah thought pahrotechnics were your thing."
"They are. I've never tried using water magic until today. The situation called for water, not fire."
"Let's get to the house and have a drink. We'll rest for a minute or two." Trixie felt a bit shaky as she walked toward the red farmhouse; the strength and warmth of Applejack's solid body next to her was very welcome.
That night, Trixie fell asleep instantly. She suspected that using magic was making her physically tired. If her magic returned to full strength, that would stop happening.
Or would it? The sphinx hadn't said any such thing. If magic and telekinesis continued to make her exhausted, that could be a problem. It was a scary thought.
Good progress far outweighed bad fears right now, so the thought didn't effect Trixie's sleep.
At 6:30, Applejack got out of bed and went to Trixie's room. The delicate unicorn wasn't in bed; she was standing at the window.
There was an unexpected scent of evergreen trees in the room; the wind must have been from the northeast. Little gusts moved Trixie's short, silky blue hair. The early sunlight made it look like polished silver threads sparkling in a field of turquoise. Trixie's ears shifted, as though she was listening for something through the window. Then her ears moved again. She turned to face Applejack.
Applejack blinked in surprise. Now that Trixie's clear, deep, violet eyes were fixed on her, Applejack felt...nervous, somehow. Those eyes were so striking, so penetrating. The tall blonde mare concentrated on keeping her own eyes pointed toward Trixie, though she had a strong urge to turn away-or perhaps "retreat" would be a better word?
"...-thing wrong? Applejack?"
"What?" Applejack said, aware that Trixie had been speaking to her.
Trixie giggled. Applejack's ears turned red with embarrassment. "You've been just standing there, looking at me, for about a minute, I think! Is everything all right?" Trixie asked.
"It struck me, how lahfe turns. Who'd've believed that you'd be stayin' at my house? A talented performer like you in this-and Ah love Ponyville, but Ah know what it is-backwater town?"
"Did you come here to wake me?" asked Trixie after a long moment.
"Yeah," said Applejack. "What's the story; did you have trouble sleeping?"
Trixie said, "I slept well. I just got up early naturally, for some reason. Once I'd gotten out of bed, I didn't feel tired, so I decided to watch the morning unfold. It was really interesting, especially in this country setting."
"You've seen sunrises before, Ah'm sure," said Applejack.
"Yes, but not for years and years," Trixie said. "This is the first time I've seen one as an adult. It looks different through a child's eyes."
"Let's make breakfast for the family," Applejack suggested.
"All right," Trixie said. "And since it's market day, we'll make a box lunch as well, right?"
"You've been figurin' out the way we do things around here," said the big blonde mare with a smile.
As the week passed, Trixie got better acquainted with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack's other friends. She also learned a lot about running an orchard-and Sweet Apple Acres in particular. She got to know Apple Bloom fairly well too, and Big Mac and Granny Smith as well.
Trixie grew to know-and like-Applejack best of all. Trixie had admitted long ago that a big failing of hers was her lack of interest in other ponies. (It's not my fault they're boring, she told herself.) Trixie was more interested in telling others all the remarkable things she'd done.
It wasn't that way with Applejack. The more the blue unicorn learned about Applejack, the more she wanted to know. The strong, skilled earth mare could do many other jobs besides farming. She had the spirit and the attitude; but she had no ambition to do something besides farm. How could she be content, especially while she was so young?
The day and night before Trixie and Applejack left, there was a slumber party, as promised by Pinkie Pie. The seven mares met at the library, since it was big enough for a party and located pretty close to everypony. Because it was kind of a hello-and-goodbye party-as Pinkie Pie put it-there was less playing and more talking than usual. Trixie hadn't been to a party in years; she was nervous right before the event.
She didn't have to worry; when Pinkie Pie threw a party, it was her business to get guests to have fun. Trixie had trouble getting involved for a minute or so, but Pinkie and Applejack swept her with them and got her into the spirit. Fluttershy was present and Trixie had a chance to really talk to her for the first time. Trixie was quite amused by the contrasting behaviors of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, who were both pegasi. She kept her amusement to herself.
Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle provided the food; Applejack, Trixie, and Pinkie Pie provided the drinks. The hot apple cider and the strawberry-rhubarb pie drew high praise from everyone. Pinkie also brought some of her banana-and-raisin super stamina pudding, as promised. Trixie politely tried some. It was delicious, but very rich and heavy. Trixie understood Rainbow Dash's warning. Luckily, Pinkie Pie had made a small batch.
Twilight had also ordered a couple of items for the library and she'd set up one of them for the party: a game called table tennis.
To Trixie's surprise (and no one else's) Rainbow Dash and Applejack competed fiercely against each other, including trash talk! Twilight Sparkle and the others seemed entertained by the contest, so Trixie sat back and played the role of spectator with them. Applejack had greater power, but Rainbow Dash was quicker, and eventually the athletic little pegasus won.
Trixie had her match next. She faced the tall and boisterous Pinkie Pie.
An intense competitor herself, Trixie got into a hole against Pinkie right from the beginning. The rosy earth pony had excellent reflexes and energy. At times, she seemed to know where Trixie was going to hit the ball before Trixie did!
Trixie's horn flashed faintly. Almost without thinking, Trixie had used her telekinesis to alter the path of the small white ball. Pinkie swung and missed and Trixie scored a point.
Realizing what she'd done, Trixie nearly confessed to her unfair action. Wait, her mind said. It's just one point. You'll lose the game anyway; accidentally using the power of your horn hasn't changed the outcome.
She didn't want her new friends to think less of her, so Trixie made sure not to use her telekinesis again during the match. And sure enough, she did lose in short order.
After the games, there were songs. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were musicians, so they took requests from their friends. Rarity sang "Fly me to the moon." Twilight sang "I love rock 'n' roll." (The others were surprised by her selection, but she did a great job with it.) Rainbow Dash sang, "Fillies just wanna have fun."
Then it was Trixie's turn.
She-a natural show pony-found herself a little nervous! She smoothed her short mane absently. "How about 'Do you sleep'?" she asked Pinkie and Fluttershy.
"I don't know that one," said Pinkie Pie.
"I do," said Fluttershy.
Accompanied by the pale yellow pegasus on the piano, Trixie sang the song. They all seemed to like it, particularly Applejack who whistled and stamped at the end.
"Mah turn!" said the blonde farm mare. "Trixie, you sing so pretty; would you sing with me? Ah was thinkin' of 'Cruel summer,' if you know that one."
Set to decline politely, Trixie looked into Applejack's shining green eyes. "I'd love to," she murmured. Silently, she hoped that the blush she felt on her face wasn't visible to the others.
Their friends praised the duet after Applejack and Trixie had sung. It had been fun, not least when Applejack leaned next to Trixie and put her front leg around Trixie's shoulders.
Applejack sang by herself then: "What might have been." Though Trixie knew the tan earth pony was singing it because it was one of her favorites, it was a romantic and wistful song. Trixie's blush returned as she listened.
Pinkie Pie then did a solo-violin and vocal-rendition of "Nightmare Moon went down to Ponyville." Trixie's jaw hit the floor. She'd had no idea how gifted the party mare was. The violin parts were complicated and lightning fast, and Pinkie ran though them effortlessly. If I start performing again, I'll ask her to play while I conjure, Trixie thought.
Fluttershy said that she didn't want to perform a song solo, so Pinkie Pie offered to play with her. However, Rarity encouraged Fluttershy to pluck up her courage and go it alone, and Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash agreed. Fluttershy took her friends' suggestion. She sat at the organ and played "Nessun Dorma." Although she didn't have Pinkie's talent, Fluttershy did a very nice job. All her friends clapped for her.
Shortly after the music, the friends talked together for a while and then went to bed.
Trixie woke, feeling warm and comfortable. Her head rested on Applejack's powerful chest.
Wait, what? Since when do we sleep in the same bed? Wait-this is a sleep-over!
Trixie shot bolt upright.
Oh good, everypony was still asleep. Trixie got out of bed. There was a lavender predawn glow in the sky. Sunrise was less than half an hour away.
There were soft sounds: some close, some farther away. Applejack and Fluttershy were waking up. The industrious Rarity and the irrepressible Pinkie Pie weren't far behind them.
After everyone had washed and had breakfast, they began to go their separate ways. Fluttershy returned to her marshy river bend and her animals; Pinkie Pie hopped back to Sugar Cube Corner; Rainbow Dash went to Cloudsdale; Rarity left to get her shop ready for opening.
Twilight Sparkle went with Applejack and Trixie to the station. The three mares waited together for the train. Trixie said that she didn't expect to come back any sooner than a couple of months from then, but Applejack intended to be back in a week.
"Apple Bloom works hard, but she'd got school, and she's just a half-grown filly yet," Applejack explained. "And Mac's strong, but he can't handle the orchard with only Apple Bloom helpin' for long. Ah'll be back soon; my family needs me."
Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash each managed to get to the platform and say goodbye to Trixie and Applejack. Applejack hugged her friends. Trixie, who wasn't as close to them, shook hooves with Twilight, bumped hooves with Rainbow Dash, and hugged Pinkie.
Trixie and Applejack boarded the train. They went straight to the windows of their car and waved to their three friends until the train rounded a curve and a stand of lovely silver-green aspen trees blocked their view.
Rainbow Dash hovered next to Twilight and Pinkie. "Things're going to be quieter until Applejack comes back," she said.
"She'll be gone for longer than a week," said Pinkie Pie.
She sounded so sure that Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash turned and looked at her curiously. "Why do you think that?" the speedy pegasus asked.
"Pinkie Sense?" said the studious unicorn.
"Of course not, I just used my eyes. I drank a lot of pink lemonade before I went to bed. So about two in the morning-I think-I woke up to go to the bathroom. And you know how Applejack and Trixie were next to each other when we all went to sleep? They weren't just next to each other anymore; Trixie had her head on Applejack's shoulder and the two of them were snuggled close together and they were both smiling and it was so cute! Plus it made sense, with the way Trixie sometimes looked at Applejack last night. She's got a huge crush! My only question is whether Applejack can feel the same way. The way she's been acting over this past week-and especially last night-makes me think she can."
Rainbow Dash's eyes were almost as big as wagon wheels. "For real?" she finally asked.
"I thought I caught a little of that vibe during the party, especially while they were singing," Twilight Sparkle said.
The train rolled swiftly North-Northeast. "This stop: West Canterlot Station. Next stop: Bridleborough Station," the conductor said over the train's public address system.
"I'm really glad you're with me," said Trixie. "I've been a bit nervous about going back home."
"I'm happy to be with you, sugar cube," said Applejack, ruffling Trixie's short hair.
To be concluded...