Morning. Early, early morning crept through the curtains of my home, casting a light and soft ray of sunrise upon myself and Aurora. My eyes opened with a lethargic slowness, glaring at the intruder as I nuzzled into my fiance’s mane. She was warm, and I was not too keen on getting up and disturbing her besides. As comfortable as I was though, I had an idea that roused me from her side and forced me to gingerly step onto the wooden floor beneath our couch so as not to awaken her.

The idea was simple: Breakfast.

I was not a good cook, but I knew some basics. Scrambled eggs, toast, and grilled vegetables made for a great morning meal. The hardest part would be grilling vegetables, but the vegetable grill was one of the few things that I knew how to operate when it came to making a meal. Now, most ponies used gas to light their grills and cook with. I used an old and often frowned upon method. Charcoal.

Charcoal was somewhat rare even then, but every so often a small part of the Everfree would catch alight, leaving wooden briquettes in its stead. Those bits of unusual coal, something that was also used to power, in part, the steam engines that allowed the CCC to fly their cargo from here to Canterlot and back, added a flavor that you just couldn’t get with gas. It added a slightly woody, mostly smoky aftertaste to the food being grilled that really made a good meal.

With all of that in mind, I went outside through the back door in as quiet a manner as possible, so as not to wake Aurora. A cold wind blew in at me, making me shiver once before becoming accustomed to it. I cursed under my breath as the door squeaked open which forced me to use a trick that I’d learned from many years of sneaking out of this very house. Opening it as quickly as possible, and stopping it just as suddenly, the sound was minimized. I wasn’t sure how it worked, but I didn’t really need to know as I shut the door almost entirely, leaving it a crack open so that the doorknob was one less thing that I’d have to mess with, running the risk of awakening my Love. I had collected the briquettes in a bag shortly after the last fire, around about the time that I’d gathered wood for our hearth. I took a hooffull from the bag and threw them into the outdoor grill that I’d been using for years. It was well worn in, some of the bolts that held it together had a layer of rust atop them, but it was reliable and had served me well. I had left a few matches and some pine needles that I used as kindling nearby under a tarp, and started the grill alight.

Returning inside, I was sure to use the same method to enter so as to make as little noise as possible and moved to the kitchen, shutting the door softly so I could afford myself a little more noise and opening the curtain to the street outside. Red morning sunlight cast a magician’s palette of blaze-like colors across the room as it reflected and refracted through the morning dewdrops on my window. I didn’t have time to admire it. With great care I set out the bowl that I would need for making scrambled eggs, retrieving the whisk from one of the drawers as well and placed it in the bowl. Bread came to the counter next as I plugged the toaster into the new power grid that had been afforded to us by our town’s growth and as a result of our Princess. I placed bread within it and set it to lightly toast. Those would be for me, of course. The next batch for Aurora. She liked nearly burnt toast, which baffled me to no end. I smiled, remembering that strangeness about her. The best part of loving somepony like Aurora was her little eccentricities and quirks.

With the first batch of toast setting in the toaster, I pulled eggs from the refrigerator and cracked eight of them into the bowl. A little tune warbled in my throat, and would have had me burst into song, were I not trying to stay quiet. With everything well and good, I set into whisking away, turning the eggs into a homogenous yellow goop.

Knowing that the smell and sound of eggs being… whatever-you-do-to-them’d-to-make-them into-scrambled-eggs’d (I never learned the term, and still don’t know it.), would likely awaken my typically and frequently hungry fiance’, I decided to do it outside, nabbing the bowl with my mouth and putting it on my back as I carefully balanced my way out the door. There was an iron plate outside near the grill, which I placed on the grill’s top, and let heat. The coals had recently turned white-hot, meaning it was also time to grab the vegetables and throw them on. I hurried carefully back inside and began rummaging through the fridge once more for substance. It wasn’t hard to find, thankfully. Aurora had cleaned out the fridge last week, meaning all the food that I would have let languish was either thrown out as it had spoiled, or was eaten by she and I as leftovers, then restocked with fresh produce. Broccoli, long-coated snap beans, and carrots. She always said carrots made her bloated, but… well, I always thought that when Aurora’s tummy was bloated, that it was kind of ho-…

… never mind.

Ignoring those thoughts, I went back outside and threw a few of each vegetable from another bowl I’d gathered from the cupboard, onto the flame. At the same time, I nabbed the bowl of eggs and tossed the yellow mixture onto the iron plate and began flipping the eggs over themselves as they congealed to become more solid, mixed them again, rinsed and repeated with a spatula until the eggs were completely scrambled. A hoof-crafted clay plate that I had brought out with me along with the served as a resting place for the eggs. I covered them with a freshly washed cloth so that they wouldn’t become cold in the frigid morning air.

If you’re wondering, yes. I was flipping the vegetables during that time. I did know how to grill, you know.

I flipped the vegetables on the grill one more time before I hurried inside, tossed more bread into the toaster and setting the dial to what I considered “freaking burnt” and then rushed back out the door into the hallway leading outside, nearly bumping into Aurora on the way out.

I had failed to be quiet enough, it seemed.

“What are you doing?” she asked, yawning.

Aurora’s hair was dishevelled a bit, but not too bad. She seemed refreshed. Moreso than usual as those ice-blue eyes stared at me. She tilted her head with subtle curiosity.

“Making breakfast.” I admitted immediately, “Sleep well?”

Aurora nodded with a smile and headed to the bedroom, presumably to freshen up. She knew how to cook, and knew that any kind of cooking required absolute attention. She hated it when I interrupted her and had thrown a wooden spoon at me more than once. In turn, while I was busy cooking, she didn’t bother me either unless she was helping which was why she didn’t gush over me making breakfast like some mares might have, I assumed. I did not mind.

Which of course left me to finish the grilling. As I finished up, I took note of an orange filly with pink hair on a scooter who zipped up and down the cobblestone streets. I could never figure out how she did it. The unevenness of the streets should have prevented her from effectively using the thing. I finished grilling without seeing another pony after her.

By the time I returned inside, Aurora was brushed, bright-eyed, and smelled like Cloudspire. Most of us airborne ponies smell like it anyways if we fly fast enough upwards through the clouds, so to you all there's nothing special about it at all. But to me, it was Aurora's scent, a breath of the freshest air in the world. It suited her perfectly then, and even now it's the scent I most often associate with her. You ponies all try to cover it up, because you all consider it bland.

In all honesty though, I'm kind of glad that most of us winged ponies try to cover it up, since it wouldn't be as special to me if everyone had the same stuff on.

“Nice spread.” Aurora smirked while I set the table.

The way she’d said it, I knew she had meant something other than the breakfast I’d prepared.

“It’s too early for that, dear.” I shot back with grin, “Besides. 3. 2. 1.”

Aurora stared at me confused for a second after I’d counted down. Her stomach let loose a loud rumble.

Aurora frowned, “That’s not fair.” she whined, “You’ve got it timed out.”

Breakfast was relatively uneventful. Of course, Aurora complained about the carrots but ate them anyways. I just smiled pleasantly back at her, which made her blush, because she knew what was on my mind and liked the extra attention I afforded her behind the closed door and curtains of our bedroom. To me, it was no secret that she liked a full stomach but made it her prerogative to make it seem like she didn’t. I think she was embarrassed about it until I got my hooves on her.

Everpony has a guilty fetish. Everypony. Even you all.

Our conversation turned towards the productive, though. Aurora had an idea of who we could turn to if we needed to try something besides Rarity’s solution. She said there was a powerful Unicorn pony in Ponyville who was actually the Princess’s student. Apparently, they had a bit of a rivalry in the past.

“And you think that Trixie would be willing to help us?” I asked, “If I remember correctly, she was kind of a jerk..”

Aurora huffed between taking another bite, chewed then swallowed before continuing, “It’s been years since she’s even been in Ponyville, and I hear she’s changed. So stop it.” she insisted.

I had to cede. I was being critical of somepony that I barely knew. Aurora was right to call me down on it.

“Alright, alright. Let’s talk to her after breakfast. We can make our way there as soon as I take a shower.” I suggested. “Maybe she’ll know a spell that can give me wings and be permanent.”

We ate silently for the rest of our meal. I was looking forward to meeting Trixie, despite the stories that Aurora had told me of when she’d taken our town hostage. I had been on vacation at the time. As we finished, Aurora started eying me curiously. I knew what her glances were for too, but I decided to play it off like I didn’t. She was more voracious that way. I stood up, taking up our plates as Aurora sat, silently watching me like a cat. I did my best to hide what was going on, angling myself in just such a way as to hide any clue. To her, this was as much a tell-tale sign as anything. But, like a cat, she continued to “stalk” me as I did our dishes. Eventually, I made my way to the bedroom.

“I’m going to go take a shower, get ready to go.” I told Aurora.

Before I could even reach halfway across the room, I was tackled onto the bed, and pinned by Aurora, who leaned over-top my body and pressed her normally slim, but now full and rounded tummy to my own.

“I’m still hungry.” she whispered in my ear, as she lay across me.

The rest of the morning was magnificent.

A few hours later, after a lot of cuddling, wrestling, and well… you know… I stepped off the bed. I was a mess. My mane was completely disheveled, and I was coated in a thin layer of sweat. Aurora sighed, satisfied with the meal she’d gotten as well as the fun we’d had in bed. My fiance’ patted her stomach a little, and I was half-tempted to go back to her and try ravishing her again, but found myself pushed into the bathroom by her instead.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve showered together.” she said, “Remember when we worked schedules that actually came together just right?”

I nodded and pulled back the curtain to the bathtub, “That was months ago, about the time that Gear Rig quit the CCC.” I recalled, “That’s what messed it up.”

“I’d like to clock him in the nose…” Aurora sighed, “He ruined a great thing.”

I frowned, “And this isn’t a great thing?” I asked, “It’s been a long time since we were this intimate this much.”

“So you think having less time together is better so long as you get a good screw out of me?” she asked testily.

I recoiled a little as I adjusted the knob to a temperature we both could stand, “No. I just think that we appreciate our time more. Remember last night?” I asked, “And the time we spent shopping? My week off’s not even over yet.”

“I suppose… but still. I liked being around you MOST of the time, not just some of it…”

Those were feelings that I shared. I pulled the lever to start the shower and then drew Aurora into the tub with me where we sat under the running shower head together.

“Well. Tell you what.” I began as I massaged her shoulders and back, “When I get my wings, I’ll take up a job that shares similar hours. Maybe Night Guard or something.”

Aurora laughed at that, “You?” she asked, “A guard? Don’t you have to… Oh, I don’t know, actually be able to follow the rules for that?”

I frowned, nipped her ear lightly and stroked my hoof like a feather across her sensitive stomach, which rewarded me with a shiver.

“You don’t like stallions in uniform?” I asked as blush crept through her ears.

Aurora grinned, “Actually, I think the one you wear at work is pretty cute.” she admitted.

We passed the rest of our time in the shower with smalltalk and cuddling somehow managing to get clean. It was perfect, the time we spent together. Always was. Aurora was literally my perfect match. Sure, we had our arguments, but we almost always made up on it whenever either of us tread to hard on the other.

In those moments, I had no idea what would befall me later that day, nor could I imagine how strained our relationship would become in the coming months as winter crept in.

We stepped out of the shower and dried ourselves off with fresh towels. There was something special about fresh towels, but I won’t get started rambling about that. Aurora took the time to force me into letting her brush my mane. I hated having my mane brushed, or at least hated doing it myself. She styled it well though, and made me look respectable. Of course her mane was much more impressive, but that was natural. I figured it must be harder to work on somepony else’s hair than one’s own.

“So, shall we?” she asked, beckoning towards the hallway, “She said she would be in around lunch time.”

“In what?” I asked without thinking.

Aurora gave me a funny look, prompting something in my brain to catch on to what she’d meant.

“Oh… Oh. Yeah, let’s go.”

Ponyville proper was somewhat boring during the day. There were few mysteries in the brightness that filled the streets. Even the alleyways were warm and safe-looking and, for the most part, they actually were. Aurora and I walked down these alleyways, avoiding the main routes, not because we were wary of them, but because we knew the back-alleys and side-streets better than the main roads that latticed our town. One such set of alleys brought us back out into the main street, only to have us cross it and go back into a small subdivision of homes where Aurora told me that Trixie resided.

Trixie’s home was small and cozy looking from the outside. Vines grew around one wall and it had a look of magic about it, though there were no obvious clues Ivy flanked each side of the pathway that lead up to her old, but well-kept, porch. The area that she lived in was very old, near the edges of the town itself where once there had been only a few houses. Aurora told me that Trixie had only come back to Ponyville in recent years after being humiliated by her own lies in her first appearance, and then defeated in a magical duel by Twilight Sparkle before her coronation. Trixie had humbled herself quite a bit since then, as I would soon find out.

I did mention that I had seen the first battle between our Princess and Trixie, right? I thought it was pretty neat, except for the part where she’d be a jerk to everypony.

As for the second battle between her and Twilight Sparkle? I’d been out of town visiting Dice Roll. He was in a poker tournament in Manehatten and had invited me to the party to watch. It was then that I’d realized that I had no inclination for card games, much to his disappointment when he offered to teach me afterwards. I always thought that Dice Roll’s cutie mark was odd, since he only played card games. He had told me its meaning was something or other about probability.

Which was basically technical speak for: “He’s a gambler.”

Upon my return, I’d heard stories about the dome and Twilight’s initial failure to defeat Trixie, but after the first few years of living with my parents in Ponyville, such stories were pretty normal and I had always taken them somewhat for granted even after the incident with Cerberus (During which I was a minor, just coming into stallionhood. and had yet to encounter Aurora.) five years prior. Now I was going to meet the perpetrator of at least one of the Ponyvillian legends in person.

It made me wonder how connected with everyone in Ponyville Aurora was. I began to wonder if she knew Luna, but shook the thought away. My Aurora? The Aurora who had committed more minor crimes than most ponies even knew existed? Who had helped me do the same in the name of entertainment for the nightlife? I decided that I would have to ask later.

We made our way down the path and past the old tree that sat off-center in her yard, coming up to the steps leading to the porch landing, to be greeted by an oaken door.

“Well,” Aurora offered with a hoof, “Go ahead, dear. Knock.”

I obeyed, rapping my hoof against the old door. Silence followed. I looked at Aurora, who returned my gaze with an expression that told me to knock again. When I did, the door opened with no indication of anyone being there to open it.

“I don’t like this…” I told Aurora in a whisper, “It looks like no one’s home. What if someone sees us and thinks we’re breaking in?”

Aurora patted my shoulder reassuringly, “Don’t worry. She does this every time I deliver a package to her.” as she walked forward, “She’s a little strange.”

We entered the relatively dim room in front of us. Dim because the windows had blackout curtains preventing any light from entering with candles spread about the room to give off what little luminescence there was.. The house was indeed very small, and it looked smaller on the inside that it did on the outside with only one room and a doorway leading to what I assumed was a bathroom. The house’s interior smelt of a sweet spice, like you might expect from incense. A bed sat on the far side, along with a dresser, and some tables with strange markings written in a scrawling hoof lining the far left wall. The rest of the walls were lined with books and vials, jars and ingredients.

A sinking feeling filled the pit of my stomach. This place was dark, but not in the sense that Luna’s night was dark. No, I felt it. Before I even saw Trixie, I felt a dark, alien presence. As I glanced around I nearly held my breath. Aurora seemed much more at ease, even as smoke began creeping along the floor.

A loud crack, like thunder, and a flash of light just as bright signaled the entrance of the one we’d come to find. Trixie, who I remembered as being a little on the average side in terms of height, was now a much more mature, sleek creature. Her blue coat and white hair shined even in the darkness that engulfed her abode. She was queen of this domain, and we were only barely welcome.

Her voice was sultry as she addressed Aurora and I.

“What brings you before Trixie?” she asked, looking at Aurora, “And who have you brought with you? Trixie has ordered no parcels as of late.”

Despite what little I knew of this Unicorn, I was felt with dread. Gone was the flashy showponyship, and in it’s place was something foreign to my memory of what I’d seen when she’d first entered Ponyville. It was almost predatorial.

Aurora spoke unabated by this presence, “Trixie, this is Air Ramp, my fiance’.” she introduced me.

Trixie moved to inspect me, an almost lustful look in her eye, “You have interesting tastes.” she said as she “appraised” me, “Looking to enhance him, are you?”

“Hey!” I exclaimed, “I’m fine with what I’ve got.”

Trixie laughed, “It never hurts to have more, though, and you could use more.”

“Trixie.” Aurora stomped her hoof, “I’m not here to buy that kind of thing.”

Trixie seemed stunned for a moment but quickly regained her composure, “Buy? Why, I never mentioned selling anything.” she said innocently.

From out of no where, a hooded figure peeled itself off the wall. It giggled. I recognized that giggle. But how could she have gotten inside without us noticing. Even Aurora stepped back as we lined ourselves up with Trixie to face this new presence. The hooded figure’s eyes glinted with a dramaticism that could only have been afforded to it by the room we stood in, as if the magic that was clearly present within the room itself was aiding our “guest” with a more foreboding presence than it should have had on its own. Trixie caught onto this, and confirmed the theory that was forming in the back of my head.

“You cannot do this!” Trixie stomped, “The magic in this room is MINE to control!”

The figure’s smile was visible, impossibly, against the darkness of the cloak she wore. Pinkie stepped from the shadows.

“Don’t be mad, silly-willy. I just came to give you an invitation to-”

“Stop using my magic!” Trixie bellowed, “How can you even do this?”

I was somewhat lost. Pinkie Pie was not a Unicorn. How could she use magic? Then again, this WAS the same pony that had fit herself into a bowl of fruit, and disappeared back into it the day before. In fact, as if just to spite Trixie, I could swear I saw Pinkie’s left eye sparkle just once.

“You’re doing magic?” Pinkie asked as if she didn’t know what was going on, “I wanna watch!”

“No! Leave Trixie be! Trixie has guests!” she hissed angrily.

Pinkie seemed to frown from under her cloak, “Awe… well, okay. Guess you won’t be getting any ca~ake. Oooh! I know! I’ll save you some!” she said as she removed her hood and bounced out the front door, “Alakazam!” she shouted back as she fell into the ivy in Trixie’s yard and disappeared.

The sudden interruption seemed to have changed Trixie’s demeanor a bit. She was flustered. Whatever Pinkie had done, I was thankful for because she no longer cast her measuring glances at me as if she was judging my worthiness. She straightened her mane and, finally, we were able to get down to business.

“So. What brings you to Trixie?” the blue Unicorn asked, “Some potion, spell, enhancement?”

Now feeling on par with her because of how easily flustered I saw she could become, I spoke up.

“I want wings… permanent ones.” I said simply.

Trixie eyed me suspiciously, “And how do you expect me to give wings to you?”

I hadn’t really considered what I would say if I were asked that question.

“Magic?”

Trixie laughed down at me, “Trixie knows that much already. Trixie also should warn you that the only kind of magic that can give you permanent wings…” her eyes flashed a little, “Is the Dark kind.”

Aurora stepped away from Trixie, “Could you give us a moment?” she asked.

Trixie stuck her snout to the air, “If Trixie must.”

“Trixie must.” Aurora said with a trite snap and dragged me off to the side.

“You were right… I don’t like this either.” Aurora told me, “We should wait. YOU should wait until tomorrow and see if Rarity’s wings work. Maybe there are other Unicorns out there that can help us.”

I shook my head, “Dark magic is forbidden. There’s no way she knows any. AND she’s the Princess’ studen. Would our Princess really take a pony under her wing who uses forbidden magic? It’s probably just part of her… oddness. Like how she speaks in third person. Let’s ask about it first, decide then.”

Aurora shot me a worried glance, but nodded and looked towards the blue Unicorn.

“How do you know any dark magic at all?” she asked pointedly, “Isn’t that kind of knowledge forbidden?”

Trixie gasped, as if something had let go of her throat. Her gaze softened, and her air of superiority disappeared as her ears drooped and a small frown crossed her face.

“Please leave.” she said suddenly, “I cannot perform any more.”

I stepped forward, “Wait just a second! A moment ago you were prepared to use magic to do this!” I accused, “It’s not even really dark magic, is it?”

Aurora frowned, “Stop it, Air.” she demanded, “It doesn’t even matter. There’s probably another way.”

Trixie shook her head, “No. No, he’s right to ask. Just… let me explain.”

The white-maned Unicorn had lost her luster as she sat down on a single chair, and began to weave a spell, showing us as she spoke the day she had found the Alicorn Amulet. It started in a shop, where she had purchased the forbidden artifact for a considerable sum of money.

“When I received the amulet, and put it on, I was… touched… by an ancient magic. An uncontrollable magic.” she began, showing us her journey back to Ponyville and the things she did while she was there, “I… performed impossible feats, not as a result of my own abilities, but as a result of a power that took control of me, erasing parts of my personality as it consumed my mind.”

Aurora and I sat down in front of her, watching the… screen that she had projected, showing us the events as they unfolded through her own eyes.

“When it was finally removed… when I’d finally lost to Twilight, ,I was suddenly freed of the controlling power that the Amulet held… but the darkness that had consumed my thoughts, my personality… well... it still remained.”

She showed her journey away from Ponyville, the loss of control over her own body and mind all over again, and then her return as she begged Twilight for help.

“In the end, the darkness split me in two. My old personality, ‘The Great and Poweful Trixie’ remained in the broken remnants of who I had been before the Amulet came into my possession. It nearly took my sanity until I, with the last shred of myself that remained, returned to Ponyville in the night, and sought Twilight’s help.”

The screen showed her working with Twilight on spells, research on the magics of psychology, and other such things.

“In the end, there was no way for me to return to who I was, and so… I agreed to have myself split in two completely. What you’re talking to now is… a more enlightened version of who I might have been, crafted by Twilight to preovide me with a grounding in sanity.”

The screen disappeared as Trixie’s spell ended.

“What you saw earlier is… what I was, or what I would have become. I’ve since decided to be Twilight’s student, and have learned to control the magic I’m blessed and cursed with to an extent.”

So that was the legendary, infamous Trixie. A split-personality wreck with the power of Dark magics, and despite Aurora’s urgings, despite my own common sense, I knew she could do it. She could give me wings.

“How well can you control it?” I asked.

Aurora’s eyes went wide, “Air, no!” she insisted.

“Aurora, I would die for you.” I found myself saying as a buzzing filled my brain, shaking loose rational thought, and replacing it with desire, “And I’ll take this risk to FLY with you.”

Trixie sighed, “This is very, very unwise, Mr. Ramp.” she echoed, “Once a spell like that begins… it can’t stop. I can’t stop it. It takes a toll on the target too, that would be you. I can’t guarantee the effects. I can’t guarantee it won’t go wrong.”

My mind had gone into a frenzy. I was so close to having what I’d dreamed of that in that moment, nothing else mattered. Not even Aurora’s insisting could sway my decision. Had I not been so selfish, maybe I would have listened. Maybe if I hadn’t made my mind up at Applejack’s apple cellar, I would have backed down.

Not doing so was the biggest mistake I’d ever make.

“But you CAN do it?” I asked.

“Why should you do this at all?” Aurora barked at Trixie, “If it’s so dangerous, then why?”

The Unicorn smiled wistfully, “Because maybe… just maybe I can redeem myself if I can make somepony happy by using the magics that have been forced upon me, and in doing so, tame myself.”

“Then let’s do it.” I demanded through grated teeth, “Give me wings.”

Trixie nodded as a duo-tone voice overcame her, “Set yourself before Trixie.” she said, right as the candles went out, “Are you sure you want this? Are you certain you can handle the consequences if it fails?”

I nodded, certain that I could handle whatever came my way, as long as I could fly with Aurora.

“Then Trixie shall begin the incantation.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing Air…” I heard Aurora mumble as she watched me.

I smiled a little, “I’m going to be fine. And soon, I’ll be able to fly.” I told my fiance’ so as to comfort her.

Trixie began to mumble where she sat, a strange color emanating from her horn, a darkness enveloped in a greenish light. The magic flowed around it like a steam, glinting in its own emissions. The magic flowed around me, whispering sweet promises of flying. I could hear it, some language I’d never heard before, and I could understand. It hissed, roared and flowed. It was less sound and more thought, less concrete and more abstract, but so very exact that it could convey meaning more than any words or pictures ever could.

“Air!” I heard a voice call out as I was lifted off the ground. “Air!”

My mind was filled with names, numbers, symbols, pictures, concepts. I lost myself completely, unable to remember my name, or who I was. It was even impossible to remember Aurora. For a few moments, I was gone completely and lost to the flow of the dark magic that Trixie wielded clumsily and without understanding. I do not know how much time had passed.

When I realized that fact, my world came back into focus. The magic around me suddenly constricted my body, sinking in, causing me to spasm and choke a little bit.

“STOP!” Aurora cried out.

I could remember her then. I knew I loved her, and I knew-

Pain lanced through my body, enough to make me cry out, starting from my shoulderblades and outwards, as if liquid fire had started eating through my bones. All of my joints ached. My vision blurred as I looked back to see what was attacking me. Two great wings jutted from my back, and were growing larger by the second… or so I’d thought at first. Then I realized, they were just bones held together by sinews in the shape of my desire. As they grew, I felt weaker and the pain in my bones burned ever more, quickly becoming too much for me to even scream.

“Trixie! You’re killing him!”

“Trixie cannot stop it!” the blue Unicorn cried, breathless, “It cannot be stopped! These are the consequences!”

I saw Aurora through the haze, she grasped my face in her hooves.

“I’m going to get Nurse Redheart!” she screamed at me in fear, tears rolling down her face.

In the red haze that had encompassed my vision. I could see Aurora run out the door and take off into the sky outside. Moments later, a white pony with a nurse’s cap came tumbling through the door, picked herself up, and ran to my side as Aurora swooped in to aid her.

I blacked out a few moments later… but the whispering in my head in a language I was certain that had been long forgotten still remained.