As Trixie and Mary tried to pass through the crowd of ponies, they found themselves surrounded by them unable to advance further. The door was just within sight but out of reach. Mary could tell Trixie felt scared by all the threats thrown her way, as well as the occasional object. But then something truly awful happened.

Somewhere in the crowd a brick came flying over them striking Mary in the chest knocking her over. She let out a pained scream as the red brick fell to the floor with a loud clunk.

"Who threw that!?" Trixie yelled out to the crowd calling out the pony who threw it.

She focused all her energy into her horn and created a focused blast, not to hurt ponies, but gently shove them aside. As the ponies slid Trixie ran to Mary and used her magic to carry the downed mare to the office. Once inside Trixie quickly and precisely placed the closed sign on the door shutting it before the mob got in.

A moment later, a blue hoof came out with a second sign saying: Entry by appointment only!

Sighing Trixie knelt down looking at Mary's side. She had taken Mary over to her desk and sat her down in her leather chair. A small but noticeable bruise had formed around her rib cage on her left side. She tenderly rubbed it making Mary groan at the touch.

"Sorry." Trixie pulled away quickly. "Trixie's sorry, this is all her fault."

"Trixie," she looked up from her sitting position.

"No Mary, it is my fault this time. I put on the amulet a second time." She sighed sitting beside the tn mare. "I thought I'd need it but..." she trailed off leaving her thought unfinished.

Mary leaned back in the chair, making it creak from the added pressure. The leather rubbed against her back making a rubbery noise. She gave Trixie a thoughtful look as she wrote a note and placed it on the desk. She then stood up and tapped her on the back.

"Don't worry Trixie." she said, rubbing her back. "I'll be in my office getting things ready. I'll be expecting the first of our appointments soon. Do what you can."

The blue mare nodded cracking a small smile across her lips.

Mary retreated to her office and sent a letter to Twilight. The contents of the letter said that her library was to be used as a junction point to teleport anypony who had an appointment to Town Hall. Twilight happily agreed and sent various ponies to town Hall over the course of the day.

By late noon, most of the appointments had been complete, leaving only two appointments left. The first was the meeting with Octavia and Vinyl who were due to arrive in about an hour.

in the meantime Trixie busied herself by catching up with some reading from her Daring Do book. She had left off in a particularly 'engaging part' where Ahuizotl was about to finally kill Daring, but as luck would have it, her young sidekick saved her. Now she was getting to the escape.

Daring Do and The Temple of Zhertva

-as they ran through the temple Ahuizotl laughed as Daring and Hotluck, her unicorn assistant, ran through dodging trap after trap. Upon coming upon a great chamber, Daring took flight carrying Hotluck with her. Just then an arrow flew through the air. The feathers whistling doom as it lead try to Daring's wing.

The arrow penetrated the base of her wing sending her tumbling down with Hotluck both rolling to a halt. Daring groaned taking in her surroundings. At the center of the massive chamber was a large pit of thirty some feet down with lava at the bottom. Above suspended was an iron cage held up by a sturdy looking chain. At the head was a large pedestal with a stone path that lead to the pit, and presumably the cage.

Around her the followers of Ahuizotl surrounded them taking Hotluck into chains. She watched in her daze as they dragged him to the center pit and lowered the cage. Seeing what they were doing, Daring summoned all her strength to stop them, but found her body unresponsive. She pulled out the arrow and sniffed it. The scent of blood hit her sense of smell, but so did another more subtle hint of something.

"Ah, I see you are suffering the ill effects of my newly developed toxin, Daring." Ahuizotl cackled as he revealed himself at the top of the pedestal. "And I see your friend has volunteered himself to our cause. Good thing too, the timing is perfect."

He raised his arm revealing a serpentine armband on his arm and an identical one placed on Hotluck. The poor unicorn was gagged but that didn't stop him from headbutting two of the blue menaces henchmen. After getting the armband on him, he was pushed off as Daring Do was tied and forced to watch.

Hotluck, started to panic. His magic was doing him no good here. The was able to free himself from his binds but only to find himself trapped with nowhere to run. He ran back and forth struggling to break free, but to no avail.

"Hahaha! You foolish boy! You should have stayed away." He sneered taking an stone statue in the shape of a King Cobra and placed it in his satchel.

"So good to see you one last time, Daring Do! HAHAHA! Leave her here." he ordered his henchmen who obeyed.

One of them however, stopped to question his boss's motives. "Uh, sir? Why not throw her in?"

"Because she will die here with him no matter what." He said confidently. "The world's destruction may be at stake, but she'd throw it away for him. She cares for him too much."

The henchmen shrugged and with his partners carried Daring to the edge of the pit and left her there. She struggled against her binds and managed to get her mouth moving again, the toxin was potent but short lived.

"I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS AHUIZOTL!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "YOU MARK MY WORDS IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HIM I'LL-"

"You'll what? Sacrifice him to stop me?" he asked knowing Daring had no quip to this dilemma.

Oh, did he love to see the look of horror on her face. The thought that she'd have to decide between her lover and the entire world? She wouldn't be able to decide, and by the time she did he would be long gone and she'd be dead with him. For when the sacrificial cage was lowered with someone inside the temple, which was built on a volcano would erupt granting the bearer of the armbands power beyond imagine.

And it would all be his. With it he could rule the world and nopony would be able to stop him. And if Daring managed to survive, well, his newfound power would see her to her death. She watched, unable to act as Ahuizotl left with his followers and was forced to watch as Hotluck was lowered to his doom.

Finally breaking free from her binds and her mobility back, she took off chasing the slowly lowering cage trying to open it. But he lock was too complex for her lock picking skills. panic took her as she flew around the cage searching for a way to save Hotluck. Hotluck was in no better condition. He too struggled against the cage trying to open it but neither made a dent.

"Daring try and stop the cage at the controls!" the unicorn shouted getting her attention.

"What controls?" the golden pegasus asked flying to him.

"The controls behind the pedestal! That's where it is!" he yelled to her.

She nodded flying to behind the pedestal, but to her horror the lever was broken with a note. Ahuizotl knew she'd figure it out, he always was good at planning ahead. But this time... this time she was going to end him.

"AHUIZOTLLLLLLLL!!" she raged to the sky stomping the note several times.

She choked back a sob, falling to her knees, knowing she wouldn't be able to save Hotluck and the world together. If she stayed it would mean Ahuizotl would win the world, but she'd have to sacrifice poor Hotluck to do so. So, she did.

Flying to him he was happy to see her, but when he notice the cage didn't slow or stop he frowned.

-

Trixie stopped reading to compose herself. This chapter in the story reminded her too much of her father. Though the love was different, the idea of losing somepony close to you made it hard for her to read on. Putting that aside she continued to read on, wiping her tears away.

-he frowned.

Daring just watched as the cage lowered deeper into the pit. When he saw her, she looked so sad. It broke her heart to have to say the next words, but she had to say something.

"Hotluck." she cried reaching into the cage touching his hoof. "I'm... sniff, I'm so, sorry."

He gave her an angry scowl. He didn't want to hear this.

"This isn't funny Daring! Get me out of here! please!" he pleaded to her.

He grabbed both her hooves with his pulling her into a kiss. They held it until Daring realized it was time to let him go. She looked into his eyes with complete determination, and when he saw her eyes he knew her mind was concluded. He was to die here, alone without her.

"You-you aren't gonna leave me here to die? Are you?" he sobbed. Then he went into a full panic, he reached for Daring who flapped her wings to just out of reach. "YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME HERE!"

'I'm sorry, hotluck. I can't save you and I can't sacrifice the world to that monster." she replied crying, not holding her emotions back. "I tried bu-but-but the controls where, sniff, sniff... the controls are gone. I can't save you."

"You said you wouldn't abandon me! You can't go back on your word!" Hotluck screamed at her in a rage.

"I'm sorry, Hotluck but I can't live knowing I gave the world to that monster to destroy. You understand. I know you do." she said looking away from him, not able to bare the devastation in his eyes. "just-just know that I love you, and Ahuizotl WILL pay for this. I promise."

With that she took off flying through a funnel opening overhead. Hotluck cried her name several times but she didn't look back. Not once.

"Daring! Daring! DARING! Please come back!" he screamed kicking the cage. He then leapt from side to side hitting it with all his strength but realized he couldn't escape. "Nononono, it can't end like this. Oh, please don't let it end like this."

He cried as the first bits of the cage hit the lava sinking it slowly, but surely down to his doom. He gripped the cage desperately trying to climb out of reach of the liquid inferno beneath him. Though in his mind, he knew he was doomed, and nothing was going to change that.

"Daring please. Don't let me die alone.." he yelped as his tail lit on fire from initial contact. "Nononono! Daring! Help me please! HELP!"

As his lower legs slipped they fell into the liquid fire, burning him instantly causing him to scream in pain like a wild animal. His pleas turned into babbling as he could barely make cognitive sentences from the burning pain of melting and burning at the sametime. As his body slowly became devoured by the lava he reached out and with his dying breath cried out to the one who he loved more than anything in the world.

He knew it wasn't a selfish reason she left him to die, but it still didn't stop him from wishing he'd listened to her and stay ed home for this one and with his last breath he cried out to the mare that left him behind.

"DARRRRIINNGGGGG!"

***

From outside, the temple erupted into a blaze of lava and rock. This sent debris all over the tiny island and from her vantage point, Daring heard Hotluck's pleas to his dying breath. Each word stung like a sword to her heart as she was filled with sorrow. That sorrow became regret, then that regret became unbridled anger and hate.

She looked out towards the sea, as a small speck was just out of the blast area from the volcano. Daring' eyes narrowed with murderous intent, as she rocketed recklessly to the speck heading to the sea. A sonic cone formed around her as she broke the visible spectrum and propelled her faster than the speed of sound charging the dot as it became larger and the dot became recognizable as a boat.

On the top was the blue furred menace that took her loved one away from her and made her watch helplessly as he died. No, she wasn't even give [it]that. She was forced to watch from afar where she couldn't even comfort Hotluck in his last moments. Instead he died, alone, afraid, abandoned. She was going to kill Ahuizotl, oh there was no doubt. However, she was going to make him suffer, long before she gave him the sweet relief of death. She'd make him wish he'd thrown her into the pit with Hotluck.

With burning fury as a rainbow trail flowed behind her, she flew straight for the blue menace, her hooves ready to break everything attached to him from top to bottom. When he looked behind to see the destruction of the island, Ahuizotl noticed Daring flying at them with great speed. He ordered his ponies to prepare to fight. What he didn't know was what was in store for him.

"AHUIZOTL!"

Trixie closed the book, unable to read anymore. She sobbed at the sad ending for Hotluck and Daring Do when she noticed two familiar ponies watching her with concerned looks in their eyes, Octavia and Vinyl. She quickly wiped her tears away and tried to compose herself before addressing the two mares.

"Augh- sorry about that." she said straightening herself up in her seat. "You're early she said looking to her clock.

"Vinyl wanted to show up early for once." Octavia said sarcastically. "I can never get her to do it on her own, so I was happy when she decided to actually show up to something early."

The grey mare looked to her blue friend. "Are you, OK Trixie?"

She nodded pointing at the book. Vinyl and Octavia both looked at the book and instantly knew what set her off.

Vinyl picked up the book and read the title. "Yeah, that book was very sad and depressing. Octy. cried for the whole day after that, Lucky guy died, or something."

"It's Hotluck Vinyl!" Octavia scolded her friend taking the book and covered protectively.

She then realized she was holding the book like such a fan girl, Trixie and Vinyl stared at her bemused. Blushing, Octavia placed the book down and adjusted her bowtie. "Ahem, well glad to see we brought up your spirits Miss Lulamoon.

Trixie giggled, her sadness now a thing of the past, and she walked up to Mary's office. "Right this way ladies." Trixie said knocking at Mary's door,.

"Enter."

The door opened with a loud creak as Trixie opened it gently trying not to unhinge it. "Madam mayor, Miss Melody and Miss Scratch are here to see you."

At her desk, Mary was hard at work scribbling down on a parchment which was atop several documents. She had several piles behind her at least two feet higher than her desk. Trixie knew most of them were complaints about last night's battle, and the subsequent damage. The tan mare looked up from her pile and sighed gesturing for the mares to enter.

As Trixie let them in she turned to leave, but Mary called out to her, stopping her. "Miss Lulamoon, please remain."

"Uh, yes madam mayor." she complied sitting in a chair beside Octavia with Vinyl sitting a the left most end.

"Glad you two could make it. Sorry about putting this meeting on hold for so long." The politician pony apologized to her guests.

Vinyl, always in good spirits even in the worst of times, chuckled to herself. "Think nothing of it. After yesterday I think it's all good."

"Vinyl you really should be more serious about this!" Octavia chided her. "You need the money to get the house started but we're still short even with the extra time from, yesterday." she said cautiously.

Trixie rolled her eyes at the earth pony, waving her hoof dismissively. "It's fine. Trixie is over it."

"Really Trixie?" Vinyl asked incredulously, earning a bonk to her noggin by a grey hoof. "What?" she asked annoyed.

Octavia sighed with a facehoof as did Mary. Vinyl had that effect on ponies. Trixie simply shook her head at the silly mare.

"Well, all joking aside I believe Miss Lulamoon had something she wanted to tell us." Mary said looking at the blue mare.

All eyes went on Trixie as she looked bewildered at the sudden attention. She hadn't said she needed to tell them anything and began thinking about anything she'd forgotten. A minute later it dawned on her that she'd forgotten to finalize the money order with the Mayor so Vinyl could begin building her soundproof shed/house.

Trixie grinned excusing herself and ran to her desk. Mary smiled as the other two ponies watched the unicorn run off suddenly, wondering what she was up to. A minute later Trixie returned with a large sack. She levitated it over to Vinyl who took it with her magical aura shaking the sack.

"What is it Trixie?" she asked eyeing the sack suspiciously.

"Open to silly." Trixie giggled watching Vinyl open the sack as a large gem fell out. It was the largest Fire Heart Ruby she'd ever seen. Taking off her glasses, she rubbed her eyes to make sure they were indeed working. Seeing as it was real Vinyl squealed in delight hugging Trixie in a death crush of a hug.

"AWW, THANKS TRIXIE! I LOVE IT!" she released her eyeing the ruby. "This has got to be at least 20 karats!"

Octavia gasped at the sight of the red gem. Holding her hooves to her mouth in shock, she too inspected the large gem. "This has to be worth a small fortune! Trixie where did you get it?"

The unicorn in question, leaned back in her chair dusting herself casually like it was nothing. "Well, the Great and Powerful Trixie-"

"Oh good lord." Mary gave an exasperated sigh.

Trixie glared at her mate before continuing, "As Trixie was saying, it was a reward for her services at the Pie Family Rock Farm. Trixie's mate Maud brought it to her."

"Your mate?" Octavia inquired.

she nodded. "Yes one of Trixie's mates."

"Trixie, I hardly think calling us mates is accurate." Mary chimed in.

Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another shocked by what they just heard. Vinyl was first to recover grinning, she leaned back in the chair extending a hoof over to Trixie.

"Nice work there Trixie. How many you got?"

"Vinyl! That's rude!"

"It's fine Miss Von Cleff." Trixie said calming the mare, before hoof bumping Vinyl. "Three."

"Ugh. Trixie..." Mary shook her head as did Octavia.

"That being a moot point, " Mary continued on ignoring Trixie and Vinyls childish display. "We now have the funds necessary to begin building the soundproof building for Miss Scratch. So here, are the final papers I need you both to sign."

She pulled out a small stack of papers hoofing them over to the two mares to sign. A few minutes later they finished signing the last of the papers and offered them back to Mary. Both happy to finally get what they needed. Vinyl was happy to finally be able to get her own place where she could make her music and not have to worry about waking the neighbors, but most importantly not anger her roommate.

For Octavia, it was reassurance that there would always be peace and quiet in her house, and best of all, she didn't have to feel guilty for kicking Vinyl out. Of course that didn't mean she couldn't hold this above her to get the unicorn to do a favor now and then.

"Well, I think that's it. Miss Von Cleff, Miss Scratch if there's nothing else Trixie can see you out."

"Actually mayor, there is one other thing." Octavia said raising a hoof.

"Please." Mary gestured for her to continue. Vinyl looked very nervous.

"What exactly happened last night? We saw the mob at the entry way and had to fight to get inside, only to find a note on the door saying to go to the library to teleport back here." she then looked over to Vinyl who nodded in agreement. "The ponies outside were saying awful things about Miss Lulamoon. That she used the amulet again as a grab for power and that she tried to kill the Elements of Harmony. It isn't true is it?"

Before Mary had a chance to react, Vinyl smacked the chair arm making all of them jump.

"Of course it's not true, Octy!" Vinyl said, taking her shades off and placed them on the tale.

Twice in one day. Octavia thought. Vinyl never took her shades off unless something important was going on. To Octavia, who knew her nearly from childbirth, it was a sign she was serious.

"Octy, you know it's not true. Look at her now!" the white unicorn waved to Trixie who blushed at the confidence her friend had in her.

"Thanks Vinyl." she said walking over punching the unicorn in the shoulder.

She grinned and swatted back at Trixie. Both mares giggled, Trixie sat back in her seat. Octavia looked at her like she was the oddest mare in Equestria.

Mary sighed shaking her head, again. "The stories of Trixie are greatly exaggerated, Miss Von Cleff."

To her credit, Octavia, took the mayor at her word and left at that. She knew the rumors and stories about Trixie were exaggerated. She knew Trixie wouldn't do the things they said for selfish reasons.

"Trixie, sorry I’m didn't mean to sound like I was trying to accuse you of anything." Octavia said to the unicron looking down.

"It's fine Octavia."

After that the four had a short chat, retelling of the previous night's events, and at the end Vinyl and Octavia were in awe at the unicorn and Mary.

"So you have powers that can rival the Elements of Harmony?" Vinyl asked excited.

"We aren't sure Vinyl." Trixie replied.

"Well regardless of that I'm glad the armbands appeared when they did." Mary chimed in.

"It was truly spectacular!" Trixie cheered. "It all started when the alicorn amulet-"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"What in heaven's name is that!?!" Mary cried running for the front of town hall, the other mares behind her.

Outside the crowd of ponies were no longer facing the hall, but at a rather large trailer rolling up with a brown unicorn pulling it. She was taller than Big Mac by at least a foot, her mane and tail were dark blonde, her eyes were emerald green and she wore a silk skirt with a small black dress vest. Her cutie mark was that of an apple turnover.

Her horn glowed several times as she forced ponies apart so she could travel through them with the trailer.

"Come on you ponies! Move it along I gots a meeting to gets to!" The mare yelled, pushing a group of mares to the side.

She continued unhindered until she spotted a familiar blue pony behind three mares. She smiled and redoubled her effort to get to the unicorn cutting a path st right for her.

"Trixie!" she called waving to the unicorn.

All eyes turned to Trixie, who looked embarrassed. The brown unicorn mare stopped and unlatched herself from the trailer and ran up hugging the young mare.

"Oh, Trixie! It's so good to see you again you little shit!!" The mare cried spinning with the unicorn in her death grip hug.

"Gah! It's good to see you too Turnover." she gasped trying to breath. She was put down by Turnover, looking past her at the trailer. "So, is mom here?"

As if on cue an explosion of smoke appeared behind Turnover. Once the smoke cleared it revealed a tall slender cyan blue unicorn with a long platinum and white streaked hair and tail. She wore a collared cape with a large emerald as the clasp and her hooves had little white cuffs. Her cape and hat had a similar design to Trixie's old cape and hat, but had shooting stars instead of regular stars.

Everypony gasped at the sight of the two titanic mares, parting for her to pass as she made her way to Trixie. She walked with such grace it made other mares feel envious of her. Plus, she was beautiful. While all the ponies gawked at her, Trixie simply watched as she approached. Standing over the azure unicorn, the tall blue mare smiled leaning down to kiss her on the cheek, which Trixie returned with a kiss to her cheek.

"It's good to see you again Trixie." The mare said looking down at her.

"It's good to see you too, mother." Trixie replied in a dry tone, Maud would have been proud.

Author's Notes:

OMG two chapters so quickly!? What is this madness?

Actually I finished this chapter long ago I just had to fine tune it for whatever I did up to this point. Spoilers, I actually wrote this before most of the story was even developed in my head!

So, now we get to see something truly special, Trixie's mom!

Everyone remember that letter she wrote a few chapters ago on the fifth day? Do ya? Well, if you didn't I suggest you go back and read it if it made no sense, otherwise I hope you enjoy the chapter!