Author's Note: I would just like to thank my good friend Mittens for reading over my chapters, and fixing ALL the mistakes that I made. It really has done wonders to make this story make more sense. /)*(\ Brohoof!
~Sir Edward
Chapter 2: A Hyper Pony, a Few Revelations, and a Request
Rainbow Dash and Trixie walked for a little while, chatting idly about random things, seeing as neither felt sure of what to make of the other. While Trixie was happy to see that a usually stubborn Dash was willing to help her, and slightly confused as to why that was the case, she didn't really know what to say to her.
Rainbow, on the other hand, was still trying to make sense of the odd things that the day had dropped onto her all at once, and was not having an easy time of it. She saw next to her, a would-be show pony whom had a penchant as big as hers for bragging, but who was oddly humble now and very… un-Trixie like. It almost seemed suspicious, but Dash had seen the look in Trixie's eyes when she had said that she was sorry.
What could possibly have happened to her that could change her this much? Her story is sad, but a pony like her doesn't just change like that… Could there be more to it…? Dash thought, as she studied Trixie for a moment, noting that indeed her hair was frazzled, and her hat and cape were battered.
They walked like this for some time, the silence almost deafening, until the show-mare stopped in her tracks. Rainbow Dash kept moving a few steps before she noticed that Trixie was not standing next to her anymore. She turned and looked back, seeing Trixie standing behind her with a small frown.
Trixie opened her mouth to speak but turned away, still feeling awkward about talking to Rainbow. "I… I almost forgot… I'm… I'm sorry about the whole 'rainbow-tie-you-up' thing…" she said, while pawing the ground. "I was actually quite impressed, though I shouldn't have embarrassed you like that."
Rainbow shook her head. She'd honestly forgotten that had even happened. "Uh… Thanks…" Dash couldn't think of a better reply, and frowned. "Look… let's just forget about it. It was no big deal."
Trixie gave Dash a long look, and then sighed. "But…"
"Hey, I said it's no big deal. Don't worry about it, okay?"
What in the hay am I doing reassuring her…? I mean… I don't even really like her… Dash thought, still unsure of what exactly she was doing bringing this particular pony into town.
Trixie gave a small nod, and then moved back up next to Rainbow Dash. "Shall we continue?"
At that moment, a flying pink object fell like a small comet to the ground in front of the two ponies, causing dirt and grass to fly in every which direction. Weird chattering noises emerged from the hole for a few moments, and then Pinkie's head popped up over the edge of the hole.
"Heya Dashie! What's…" She stopped in the middle of her sentence and stared at Trixie with a sudden look of realization. She then took a dramatic intake of breath, and backed her head away from the pair, blinking. "WHAAAAH! Is that the 'Great and Powerful' Trixie! Dash, what's she doing here?" Pinkie turned to Rainbow Dash and frowned. Then her eyes widened and she gasped out loud, "YOU'RE THE DOOZY!"
Pinkie leapt from the hole, landing in front of Dash and Trixie, pointing her hoof at the show-mare. She then started to bounce up and down, giggling. "I never ever, ever, EVER expected you to be the doozy! I mean, Dash, did you think you'd see her back here in Ponyville? No? Me either! Not in a million, billion, trillion years! My 'Pinkie Senses' still manage to get me sometimes…" She shook her head with a look of confusion, and then turned back to Rainbow with a smile. "This is super-duper!" Pinkie bounced some more, and then faced Trixie. "You came back to say you're sorry haven't you! I just knew you would… Wait? I mean, uh… I thought that you might, but I didn't expect it per-say…" She frowned and put a hoof to her chin. "What word am I looking for…?" She tapped her hoof several times and then shrugged. "Never mind that! Am I right! Am I right! You did come to say sorry, right!"
Trixie blinked a few times, clearly thrown for a loop by the spontaneous appearance of Pinkie and then being verbally assaulted with an onslaught of words spoken in a hyper, superfast way. "Uh… Yes, I did want to say sorry," she stated, backing up a few steps when Pinkie lunged for her.
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!" Pinkie shouted, dancing about in glee. "What else would you come back here for! Silly pony! Com'on! We gotta find Twilight, she's gonna want to see you!" Pinkie started skipping toward Ponyville with her typical Pinkie-sized smile plastered on her face, her busy tail bouncing up and down with each little leap.
Rainbow Dash smiled at her friend's jubilant nature and then gave a small nod to Trixie. "Pinkie's right. We really should talk to Twilight."
Trixie gave a small nod, feeling her mood start to lighten up, even if she didn't actually feel happy. Pinkie's laughter and outright bubbly attitude was starting to work its magic on her. She even cracked a little smile, though it faded just moments after appearing, and she sighed, following the two brightly colored mares in front of her.
Well… this is it Trixie… You've practiced what you were going to say now; how many times was it? Does it even matter?...!
Trixie's thoughts where interrupted when she felt a pair of eyes staring at her.
"Wha'cha thinking about there? You've got such a sad look on your face! You shouldn't be frowning! Smile!" Pinkie said, giggling.
The show-mare looked Pinkie in the eyes, and gave a huff. "I wasn't exactly expecting to have such a… warm welcome… I thought that when I got here, everypony would be angry with me. I… I don't understand why you guys would help me, after all that I've done to you, and to Ponyville."
Pinkie sighed, and rolled her eyes. "Love and tolerate… That's what we ponies do. Besides… you're not exactly a horrible pony. You didn't mean for Snips and Snails to drag that big old meanie ursa from the forest. You're just a super-duper braggart! That doesn't mean you're evil!"
Trixie considered the words that the party pony had said, and realized something. I guess… I guess that's true… I never wanted to harm anypony, but… but I never thought about other's feelings…
"Yeah, it's not like you wanted to stick that thing on Ponyville… You just really annoyed us with all your bragging," Dash chimed in.
- Page Break -
Soon the trio made their way into Ponyville, walking through the crowd of ponies that moved along the streets. Trixie couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting stared at by all of the inhabitants of Ponyville, and when she caught sight of some others looking her way and talking behind their hooves, she couldn't help but feel like they had to be talking about her. She almost wanted to cry; it felt terrible to be reviled by everypony in the small, quaint town.
They should hate me… After all, it was I that caused such damage to the town. But to be honest, I never meant that ursa to come here…
As the three of them moved through the streets the crowd of colorful ponies parted ways like a rainbow tide, watching them pass by with looks that Trixie knew had to be of despair and dislike. It only made her feel worse about coming back, as it reminded her all too well of being booed off stage at Manehatten… (the ponies there actually threw things at her… it had taken weeks to get the smell of rotting tomato out of her mane).
At those memories, her knees began to wobble a little as she walked. "I… I don't remember there being… so many… ponies living here. Why such a big crowd?" Trixie asked Pinkie shakily, casting her eyes about the large group of onlookers.
"Crowd? What crowd! There's like… " Pinkie said as she looked around "… maybe nine others out right now… Does that make a crowd?"
"Only nine? Where did you learn to count! There's hundreds! Hundreds of beady eyes looking at me… How come you can't see…?" Trixie stopped herself for a moment and blinked a few times, and then closed her eyes. She shook her head and then opened them, counting the ponies that wondered the street, seeing indeed that there were only nine. She gave a sigh of relief, seeing that they weren't even looking in her direction, let alone pointing and whispering about her. "Never mind… I guess I was mistaken."
Dash turned to the show-mare and gave her a curious look. "You okay?"
Trixie nodded in response, knowing she was not in any mood to talk about the terrible thing that had happened to her in Manehatten. Well… They weren't terrible things perhaps, but they had left an indelible mark on her none-the-less, and she really wasn't up to reliving those things at the moment. It was bad enough that she had just imagined hundreds of glaring ponies ready to boo her and run her out of town, she didn't want to think about that as well.
But all of that was soon forgotten as they approached the library. Trixie's gut soon filled with butterflies as she realized just how close they were to the large purple barked tree.
Now, now, Trixie, there's no need to get upset. If these two are willing to accept you, then there is no reason to worry about Twilight Sparkle. She is their friend after all… she should be just as kind as them. If I walk in scared, it won't look good. I must keep my composure,Trixie thought, taking a deep breath as they approached the door.
Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof and knocked on the door, the door seeming to give off a resounding thud with each hoof beat. Frantic scuffling could be heard from behind the entrance, and soon it was flung open by a slightly disheveled Twilight.
"What could possibly be so important that you're interrupting my…" Twilight's deep-purple eyes fell on Trixie, and the frown she was wearing deepened. She leaned in closer, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing, squinting as she did. "Is that… is that you, Trixie?" she asked, sounding incredulous.
Trixie merely nodded in answer to Twilight's quarry, and frowned as well.
Pinkie interrupted the awkward moment by leaping in front of Trixie and grinning a broad, toothy smile. "I found the doozy! I found the doozy! I can't believe I found the doozy!"
Twilight blinked at Pinkie's exclamations, and shook her head. "You mean that I've been reading about all the different events that took place over the last thousand years of Equestria, searching for anything that could point to another big event happening today… FOR NOTHING!" She gave a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment, and leaning her head against the doorframe. "I haven't slept for two days. I'm pretty tired… Can't this wait?"
Trixie looked a little defeated at Twilights rather abrupt rejection, and turned to leave, but felt a swift tug on her cape.
"Hey! This is important to you isn't it? You're not going to just walk away like this are you?" Dash asked, giving her a look like she was being rather pathetic.
"Yeah! I mean, like, you came all the way from Manehatten to do this right! Com'on, Trixie! Just talk to her!" Pinkie said as she pushed the show-mare towards Twilight with a gentle nudge.
Trixie's eyes met Twilight's for just a moment, and Twilight could see the pleading in them, even through the fog of tiredness that clouded her brain. She sighed again, and nodded. "I suppose staying up for a little longer isn't going to make much difference… Please, come in." She stepped out of the door and waved her front hoof inside.
"I… I don't mind waiting…" Trixie said weakly, as the other two guided her through the door.
"No way scardy-pants! You have something rather important to do, right?" the party pony encouraged, giving her a grin.
Trixie took a deep breath. "Fine… I guess you're right." She turned to Twilight, and said. "I suppose the first order of business is my apology. I would like to humbly ask for your forgiveness; for the troubles I caused the town of Ponyville, and especially you… as… as you had to clean up my mess."
Twilight gave Trixie a nod. "I forgive you Trixie. I knew you never meant to bring an ursa into Ponyville. You never seemed like the type to do something so dangerous. You just have a bad habit of bragging." With this, Twilight glanced at Rainbow Dash, who looked away with a slight blush on her cheeks.
At Twilight's answer Trixie smiled slightly. "Thank you for forgiving me. You don't know just how much it means to me to hear that… especially from you."
Trixie turned away from Twilight, and shook her head. "I'm not sure even after being forgiven, that you would fulfill my second request… I just want to say, even if you say no, I will still be happy that you have at least forgave me…" She pawed the ground as she said this, clearly unsure she should even try asking. "But… I would be ever so grateful if… if…" She coughed, and muttered something unintelligible, not really wanting to ask, for fear of being rejected.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. What did you say?" Twilight leaned in closer to Trixie, trying to hear what she was saying.
"I… I… I want you to teach me about magic… Please! I would like to be your student, and learn about magic. I want to be helpful, not just a show-mare!" Trixie dropped to her front knees looking up at Twilight with a sadness that was palpable. "I hate being useless… I… I don't have a job, and my only skill is worthless now. I ask humbly if I can learn from someone who respects, and is very good with magic. Would you honor me with such a request?"
Twilight blinked a few times, and then frowned. "Well… I'm not sure. I'm not saying no, but at least let me sleep on it. I'm tired, and making such a decision like this requires more thought. You're welcome to stay here in the spare room if you'd like. We can talk tomorrow. Would that be okay?"
Trixie nodded. "Thank you for your generosity. I would be happy to wait until tomorrow to talk to you." Trixie's face clearly showed the weight had lifted from her shoulders; she had a much easier smile knowing that there was even a small hope that she could have this opportunity. "I suppose I should find something to do while you rest then?"
Twilight nodded in return, and then said good-bye, giving a small wave of her hoof to let the others know they should leave. Once they left she sighed, and closed her eyes. "What have I gotten myself into here?" she muttered as she headed up the circular stairs to her room.