Author's Notes:

Yeah a new chapter begins! Hey guys Happy New year and happy you lost the game! Anyway I have big plans for the next day in the story and alot of things will happen so stay tuned for more fun filled, emotional,craziness!

*Earlier that evening in the market*

Trixie was walking through the market searching for ingredients for tonight's meal. It had to be perfect. The soup she wanted to make required only the freshest ingredients and then it had to be made with proper care and precision. It was a recipe birthed from alchemy. In her mind she was perfectly suited for the task. As she made her way through to the market, she came across a carrot stand with a yellow earth pony mare with a curly orange mane watching it. The yellow mare was happily finishing a transaction with another pony when Trixie approached the stand.

Trixie stood in front of the stand inspecting the carrots carefully deep in thought not realizing the mare was glaring at her.

"Miss, how much for ten carrots?" Trixie asked, looking up. The mare said nothing. Instead she turned her open sign to closed quickly slapping it down pointing at it. "Oh, Trixie apologizes."

Trixie turned to walk away feeling just awful at the treatment she received. Her temper starting to rise as she heard ponies talking about her from behind. It seemed to her that all eyes were on her for the most part and waiting for her to pass before they’d start talking about her.

"Is that really Trixie? What's she doing here?" One pony asked.

"I don't think she ever left." Another pony spoke.

"I heard she works for the Mayor now as an secretary or something." Another said in response.

"I wish she'd go away." a cream earth pony with a blue and pink striped mane said.

"Hey come on now Sweets, don't say that," A mint green unicorn with golden eyes responded. "I hear she's really nice, specially to foals."

"Oh great," The cream pony said, glaring at Trixie. "So she's a monster and a pedophile as well?"

"That's not what I said at all!" The unicorn responded standing on her hind legs. "She helps them! She doesn't touch them."

Trixie silently wished the strange pony would stop talking. It wasn't everyday she got defended by a complete stranger, but she was complimented also which went a long way for her. Maybe there's hope for her yet.

"Hey Trixie!"

A sudden voice called making her jump in fright. She turned to see Platinum right behind her laughing so hard she rolled over on the floor.

"Oh, ha ha Platinum." Trixie glared at her. "So, what brings you to the Great and Powerful Trixie fair maiden?"

After regaining her composure Platinum stood up blushing. "I saw you walk past the cafe, so I decided to see if you'd like some company."

Trixie nodded waving her hoof. "Sure, Trixie could see some company while she gathers ingredients for dinner tonight." Platinum squealed following her like a lost puppy.

The two friends traveled among the few stands left that would accept their business, and after two hours Trixie finally had what she needed to make a perfect dinner for Mary. Platinum watched with a curious look on her face as she looked over the items bought. Thirty carrots, cabbage, two potatoes, several spices, rice and a small sapphire? She wondered what Trixie had in mind for her dinner that could include a sapphire. She knew dragons ate gems, Spike was famous in Ponyville, but what could Trixie do with it?

Her curiosity peaked and she asked Trixie, "So, what are you going to make?"

Trixie came to a stop looking over at her. "It's a secret recipe Trixie learned from my friends at a rock farm. She can't tell you though, but it is the best carrot soup Trixie has ever had in her life."

Unsatisfied with the answer Platinum pouted at Trixie who simply goggled walking away, It was killing Platinum to not know, but a secret from a friend was important to keep. Losing a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend after all.

"Well, if you make it I'm sure it'll be wonderful." Platinum said smiling. Trixie blushed at the comment as the two continued. "But one ingredient is still needed. Trixie must find a particular pony first that is."

Trixie looked out into a crowd of ponies and found who she was looking for, Rarity. Ironically she had been heading towards the Carousel Boutique to find the fancy mare only to meet her here along the way. Trixie saw she wasn't alone either. Their was a white unicorn with a puffy pink mane and tail following her pulling a rather large wagon sweating like a soaked sponge.

*Gross*. They both thought, watching the white unicorn filly struggling to pull her cart.

Then there was a familiar rainbow maned pegasus, Rainbow Dash, with a orange filly on a scooter along with a yellow earth pony with a red mane and a large pink bow on her head. Then she saw her least favorite pony in the world, Applejack.

Trixie glared at the orange earth pony as she approached the group. The orange pegasus filly stopped and pointed to Trixie and all heads turned to face her. Trixie waved at the group smiling as best she could after seeing Applejack, Sweetie Belle waved back as did Apple Bloom. Rarity waved weakly while Rainbow Dash glared at her and Applejack approached her with a sneer.

"What do you want Trixie?"

"Now Applejack, please be nice," Rarity mediated to her friend approaching Trixie and Platinum. "Dear Platinum! How have you been darling?!" She leapt to the metallic pony hugging her. The mare grinned, looking over to Trixie.

"I made a new friend." Platinum said reaching for the unicorn and wrapped an arm around her pulling her close. AJ piped in a moment later.

"Well, gee wiz," Applejack stepped between the two. "So you are friends with her now Platinum? Huh. I never would have thought." She said in a sarcastic tone. Everypony in the group looked at her like it was the oddest thing in the world. "It's a wonder Silver Spoon ended up the way she did if this is the kind of ponies you hangout with Platinum."

"Applejack!" Rarity scolded her friend. "That has nothing to do with Silver Spoon and you know it! Silver Spoon was a trouble pony long before we even knew Trixie existed."

"I meant it in a nice way dear," She responded sweetly to them before returning her attention to Applejack. "What does this have to do with Trixie anyway?"

Applejack stomped the ground hard cracking the cobblestone path. Trixie looked at the stones before glaring at the farmpony. "That filly aint nothin but trouble! Like Trixie here! If you hang with the wrong ponies you end up like them."

"You leave poor Silver Spoon out of this!" Platinum yelled at Applejack butting heads with her. "She was a sweet filly until she met that Diamond Tiara!"

"Yeah and became her friend." Applejack pushed back. "Look how she ended up because of that."

"AJ come on now you're being unreasonable." Rainbow Dash flew between the two separating them. Even she wouldn't go so far as to say she was a horrible filly. "Look, I'm not a big fan of Silver Spoon or Trixie either but you need to chill."

She then flew over to Trixie pressing her nose against hers. "So what are you doing here anyway?"

Trixie stepped away from the annoying pegasus, invading her personal space. "Well if you must know Trixie was buying groceries," Trixie was dusting herself off. "Trixie wasn't causing any trouble." She then turned to face Rarity.

The alabaster unicorn wasn't sure what to make of this situation. She didn't like Trixie, especially after she imprisoned Ponyville. On the other hoof Applejack was being unusually aggressive. Being the element of Generosity she decided to hear what Trixie had to say.

"So Trixie," Rarity walked up beside her. "What have you been up to recently?"

"Trixie works for Mary Goldmane as her great and powerful secretary!" She then walked over to Applejack with a smirk. "Trixie is also doing community service at Sweet Apple Acres."

"Well aint that just dandy-"

"With Diamond Tiara." she interrupted the orange mare.

Applejack glared dangerously at the azure mare. She walked around her to stand beside her friends and sisters’. "Now you see here Trixie," She gave a snarl taking hold of her little sister. "You may be working on the farm, but I don't want you anywhere near Apple Bloom. You understand?"

Trixie's eyes narrowed as she took a step forward in defiance. "As clear as crystal."

AJ then looked over to Platinum angrily. She then shoved her way past the earth pony mare. Platinum stared as she rubbed her shoulder. There was no physical pain but an emotional one. She started to walk after the orange mare when she heard something in the wind.

"Fillyfooler."

Platinum stopped dead in her tracks. Everypony stared at Applejack as she stood next to her sister. She turned and faced the silver mare with a cold dead stare. Platinum looked stunned as did several ponies around them. Trixie hadn't noticed, but a large crowd formed around them. All eyes were on the two earth ponies. Platinum's face grew into an angry scowl.

"What did you call me mudslinger?" Platinum’s words rang over all the crowd.

The crowd gasped. The silence that followed was very tense. Several ponies looked angry while others looked concerned. The earth pony from earlier seemed ready to jump Platinum if her mint unicorn friend wasn't holding her back.

Trixie was surprised as well. She was familiar with racial slang but this was a bit much for her. She never expected this kind of reaction from her fiend. She approached the Platinum cautiously.
"Hey, Platinum?" She gently nudged her friend with her nose. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Trixie." Platinum responded. "Applejack was way out of line with that comment though."

"So were you."

Platinum stared at Applejack not blinking. She heard Trixie but she wasn't in the mood to argue with her. She had Applejack to deal with first. Before she was able to speak Apple Bloom stood beside Platinum.

"Sis, can I ask you something?" the filly asked looking at her sister in the eyes. Applejack tilted her head in confusion.

"Sure Apple Bloom. What's on your mind?" she asked as she ,reached for her sister. The yellow filly stepped away from her older sibling with a hurt expression. Her ears folded back and tears ran down her face. "Do you hate fillyfoolers?" she asked innocently.

AJ didn't even think. She immediately nodded in confirmation. "Ah hate them as much as I hate anyone untruthful," She then narrowed her eyes. She paused momentarily then turned her gaze and glowered at her sister. "Why?"

Apple Bloom traced her hoof along the floor making little hearts with it. She looked ashamed. The tears flowed unhindered down her cheeks as she struggled to speak. She felt like she was choking on the words. Words she needed to say now while she had Applejack's attention.

"Because... because I, I like Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom stood beside her friend hugging her. "I've liked her for a long time now."

To say Applejack was mad would have been an understatement. She was furiously shaking, gritting her teeth, and had the angriest face anypony had ever seen. She took a step forward. Apple Bloom scooted back as did Sweetie Belle. Applejack raised a hoof and slapped Apple Bloom across the face. The young pony fell to the floor clutching her face. As Applejack raised her hoof again, Sweetie Belle stood between them.

"Ah can't believe this. My own sister," AJ's voice was full of spite.

She stared down at Sweetie Belle as she kissed Apple Bloom on the cheek trying to comfort her. Applejack was angry. Very angry. She wanted to lash out at something, anything. Her mind turned to Sweetie Belle. Her eyes locked with Sweeties. Growling, she slowly approached the two fillies. Everypony watching began to murmur among themselves. Suddenly Trixie stood blocking the path to the two fillies.

"That's enough." Trixie’s horn began to glow. Rainbow flew between them not wanting things to escalate any further. She pushed Trixie back and took her place in front of the approaching mare.

"AJ you need to chill!" Rainbow yelled at her friend, flaring her wings. Sweetie Belle by this point had retreated to Rarity with Apple Bloom in tow. The two fillies hid behind the alabaster unicorn. Scootaloo sat in place unable to move out of pure shock. She'd never seen her so angry before. It was unnatural. "Look you're mad and not thinking straight!"

Rarity stood beside her friend with a determined look. "Dear I believe Rainbow is right." the fashion pony said cradling her sister and Apple Bloom. "I can't believe you would strike your own sister either," Rarity exclaimed, scowling at Applejack.

Scootaloo finally managed to find her feet and wandered cautiously over to Rainbow Dash. She slinked past the orange earth pony farmer like a cat and dashed to Rainbow. She rubbed against her surrogate sister. "Why are you doing this Miss Applejack? Why are you so mad?"

The earth pony stared unbelieving at her friends and family as they, in her mind, turned against her. "You wouldn't understand," She said to Scootaloo. "You're too young." She then turned to Platinum and the two began a stare down. "The TRUTH is that fillyfoolers ruin families and turn good ponies into bad ponies." Applejack stated factually.

By this time Trixie had enough. She was angry and now it was time to speak up. This travesty couldn't go on any longer. She stepped past her friend and between the others to face Applejack face to face. AJ for her part looked at the unicorn curiously. Trixie had a soft expression, almost empathetic.

"Trixie understands how you feel Applejack," Trixie sighed and nodded sadly. "I too once thought fillyfooling was an awful thing to do." She looked at the group behind her, specifically at Platinum. The spectators looked on in awe of what was being said. Nopony interrupted. "I lost my father to depression when my mother left with another mare." She walked over to her friend wrapping an arm around her looking around to the crowd. What was surprising was her break from third pony speak. "I thought it was her fault and that mares fault for ruining my family. But then, I met the Pie family. They taught me that you shouldn't judge something or someone based on race, gender, or sexual preference. You should accept others for who they are. It took sometime, but Trixie opened up to the idea."

Trixie wiped a stray tear away from her cheek. "They taught her that fillyfooling isn't a bad thing. It doesn't make ponies into bad ponies. It made Trixie a better pony than she use to be. And Trixie owes it to them for showing her the errors of her ways." she turned to hug Platinum, who returned the gesture. But afterwards she kissed Trixie.

All thoughts were lost in that moment. Trixie couldn't think of anything. Nothing, except one thing, Maud.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle were in tears from the speech. Rarity wiped her tears with a silk handkerchief and levitated it to her sister. "Well said dear! Well said!" Rarity clapped her hooves together. Even Rainbow Dash looked impressed. She was hovering above the ground with Scootaloo nodding with a smile.

"Great job Trixie." The pegasus gave her a nod. Trixie looked up to the pegasus. "I couldn't have said it better myself. You’re alright Trixie."

Everypony in the crowed was moved. Many had left by this time, but the ones that remained took what was said to heart. Many shed tears turning to friends and family and began to open up. From the crowd Octavia and Vinyl Scratch came forward, smiles in their faces.

"Well done Miss Trixie," Octavia said, nodding approvingly. "You have one the hearts of many this day."

Vinyl jumped past her and swung a hoof around the azure mare's neck. "Trixie! That was awesome! I knew you were a good pony at heart!" Vinyl hugged her friend. Trixie sighed contently petting the mares lightning blue mane. "You gotta tell me about how you ended up at this rock farm sometime! It sounds nice."

Suddenly, Platinum stood between the two puffing her cheeks. Everypony in the group laughed. Vinyl left with Octavia disappearing into the crowd. Afterwards everypony around them began to head off to whatever they were previously doing. Most, with a newfound respect for the magician pony. Trixie looked around to see Applejack, but there was no sign of her anywhere.

"Sorry about your friend." Trixie apologized to Rarity and Rainbow.

Both ponies smiled. Rainbow stepped forward. "Don't worry Trixie she'll come around. Friends always do." She winked at Rarity. "You gave me the strength to go through with something I've wanted to do for sometime now."

The rainbow maned pegasus turned to the fancy unicorn kneeling down. "Rarity. I know we're friends but..." The cyan pegasus paused, chewing her lip trying to find the right words. "I want us to be more. If that's okay with you?" She finished as a red hue came upon her cheeks. Rarity gasped in her usual manner. What followed was the girliest set of squeals from her and Sweetie Belle anypony had ever heard.

"EEEE! I can't believe it!" Sweetie Belle examined.

The fashion pony was fanning herself with her hoof. She looked positively thrilled. "Oh Rainbow Dash! I was going to ask you today if you didn't get my hints!" she ran up hugging her friend. Rainbow Dash squeaked with embarrassment from the contact in public.

"Geez Rares, you don't need to be so clingy." she rolled her eyes trying to sound cool. But she hugged her back all the same. The CMCs all d'awwed at the sight. Trixie and Platinum looked on at the sight. Trixie with pride and Platinum with envy.

"You know Trixie," Platinum gave a playful grin getting the unicorns attention. "We should get going if you're going to get the food you need before the stands close."

The azure unicorn nodded in agreement. Then the two turned, leaving the new couple and the CMCs alone. Before they got far, somepony called out to them.

"Hey wait!"

Both ponies stopped and turned to see the mare from the carrot stand from before. She was carrying a sack with her placing it on the ground before Trixie, who minded it inquisitively. "I was rude before," The mare bowed politely, lowering her head in shame. Her bright orange curly mane fell over her eyes. "I'm sorry. I had you pinned wrong, Trixie," She then stood up beaming. "If you ever need anything I'll have a fresh batch for you if you need them!"

"Thank you miss." Trixie said levitating the sack to her, looking inside. The sack was full of several carrots, large ones too. "That's more than Trixie needed."

The mare shook her head. "No, I was rude to you earlier. After what happened last time you were here I was unfair to you," She raised a hoof to Trixie. The unicorn took the hoof and shook it. "I'm Carrot Top nice to officially meet you Trixie."

"It's nice to meet you too Carrot Top."

"Well I've got to run and close for real this time. So long Trixie! Platinum I'll be by tomorrow!" She waved to the two mares and was off. After waving goodbye to Carrot Top the two ponies went off into town. Trixie had everything she needed and was ready to make the soup.

The two walked down the streets and by the time they reached Mary's house the sun was down for over twenty minutes. Trixie walked to the door with her friend. Just as she was going to open the door she stopped. She then turned to face Platinum.

The silver mare gazed at the unicorn's eyes. She was in a dreamy state after her kiss with Trixie.

"Platinum," Trixie said awakening her from her stupor. "I'll see you later.

"See you later Trixie."

The two waited awkwardly before Trixie opened the door and sank through the door. Platinum smacked herself in the head with both hooves. "Stupid stupid stupid! I can't believe I kissed her after I just met her!" She scolded herself for her blunder. She was sure Trixie didn't like her now. Stomping the ground, she walked down the street towards home with a heavy heart. "Well, at least it can't get any worse," She gave a weak laugh."Maybe we can still be friends." she said weakly as she walked towards home.

From inside the home, Trixie let out a sigh of relief.*That was taxing my Trixie's mind*. She thought. She then heard a noise. It was a low sob coming from somewhere in the house. She placed the groceries on the ground by the table and circled the kitchen. Listening. Her ears and mind focused in the tiniest sound, trying to pinpoint the sound she heard.

'Trixie.'

Her ears twitched to the sound of her name. She followed it as it repeated over and over. It didn't take long for Trixie to find the source of the sound. Following her ears, Trixie made her way towards Mary's room. The door was cracked open. She gently pushed the door open and saw Mary in her bed. The blankets covered her making a large lump in the center. She walked towards the lump placing a gentle hoof on the covers.

She pulled them down and found Mary sleeping. Her fur was matted from tears and she was breathing heavily. She must have come home upset. *I hope her friend didn't do this or else.* Trixie thought running her hoof down the mares cheek.

"Guess I best get to bed." She said drawing back the covers. The tan earth pony shivered from the sudden rush of cold air around her. She coughed jerking her body as she did. Trixie's lip curled as she watched. *She's so beautiful.* Trixie then looked around as if trying to make sure nopony was around.

She then stealthily snuck into the bed. She moved slowly as to not disturb the sleeping mare. Working her way into the blankets, she pressed her body against Mary's. Laying her head on her shoulder Trixie rubbed her head against Mary's neck, taking a deep breath smelling her mane. *Lilac. Just like her.* Mary smiled.

Mary turned over in the bed facing Trixie, but still in a deep sleep."Trixie."

"Mmm. Trixie." The sleeping mare turned around unconsciously and wrapped her arms around Trixie kissing her on the lips. She tried to resist but Mary was surprisingly strong. A feeling arose in Trixie's heart. A warm fuzzy feeling. She felt whole, complete, like she belonged here. *What was she thinking?!* After breaking the kiss Mary slumped again pressing Trixie against her chest nuzzling her in her sleep.

The unicorn stared in disbelief at what had transpired. She never expected that of all things to happen. Mary kissed her. Trixie. On the lips, in her sleep. She pressed her lower lip with her hoof, feeling the touch trying to imitate the feeling she felt during the kiss. She gave up after a minute of trying and slowly she drifted to sleep.

Her thoughts went back to the mare she loved back on the rock farm. A mare that was always there for her when no others were. A mare she'd come to rely on for strength, and now she did with Mary. Maud.