She felt as if she were adrift in a great sea. Her body rising and falling with the waves that rolled past, the roaring cascade was like a loud white noise in her ears. Unable to see, unable to move, she felt truly lost among the rolling waves.

The choice is still yours to make.

‘But… Trixie chose wrong. Because of her, so many ponies are going to die.’

Always there is a choice.

A wave of guilt washed over her. ‘What can Trixie do? She is just one pony, and a miserable failure at everything. She can’t even save her show.’

The voice held a stern edge. Never doubt the power of one. A choice is still to be made, and it is yours to make. That choice will determine the fate of us all.

‘Please! Tell Me!’ she screamed even as another wave sent her rolling. ‘Tell Trixie what she is supposed to do!’

I cannot.

‘Why!’ The waves roared with her outrage.

Because it is your future to decide, not mine. Please, Trixie, you must choose!

‘I—’

Choose!

‘But—’

“Choose!” The image of Harbinger’s face appeared and he opened his mouth to exhale.

Screaming, she sat upright in her tent. Her gaze darted around as she breathed ragged breaths. As realization set in and the last vestiges of the dream faded to nothing, she sighed out, shivering. Clutching at her blankets,she sighed as the early morning light set her tent to glow. “Why can’t these nasty dreams leave Trixie alone? She just wants to be left alone.”

Her gaze snapped upwards as she heard the flap of her tent lift up and saw Wanderer poke his head inside.

“Trixie, you all right? I heard you scream.”

A hoof snagged on a tangle when she tried to run it through her mane. “Trixie is fine. She just… had another bad dream.”

He tilted his head at her, his hazel eyes looking around her tent. “Another one?”

Sighing, she nodded.

Looking back out of the tent for a moment, he frowned before looking back. “Need to talk about it?”

She shook her head but stopped as her stomach gave a grumble. A nervous chuckle escaped her as her cheeks took a redder hue. “Though Trixie could use some breakfast.”

A tired smile crossed his face. “I’ve got some clover cooking right now. It’ll be ready in a moment.”

As he stepped back out, she rubbed the crust from her eyes. Even with her being woken up by her dreams, Trixie felt Wanderer was getting less sleep than she. Ever since they returned to Maederhallow, she noticed he appeared to be tired and worn. The dark bags under his eyes and frequent yawning was enough of a tell for her to recognize. When she had asked, he had waved her away and said he was fine.

The events of the past week were weighing down on all of them. Surrendering the key to Harbinger to save their lives had caused the weight of guilt to drag her down to the point she dreaded waking. Once the deer folk had learned of their failure, the blame had fallen on the pony’s shoulders. Only the words of Faithful Watcher and the Elder kept them from doing anything else but glare at them. Even so, the deer had called for the death of the captured Scarlet Scroll. Trixie recalled the look of betrayal that crossed Wanderer’s face when Tourmaline sided with the deer, and knew it to be the source of his problem. It was the Elder who had to intervene and order Scarlet kept under heavy guard.

Even as the deer had dispersed—Scarlet bound and led away—Trixie remembered the absolutely scathing glare Wanderer and Tourmaline had shared before turning away from each other.

Trixie sighed again before levitating a comb through her mane. After a time of painful brushing, she set her cap in its place atop her mane and stepped out of her tent.

She saw the morning fog still clinging to the deer village, though it was beginning to thin with the morning sun. Wanderer sat by the campfire, stirring the clover as it grilled in the pan. The smell of cooking greens causing her stomach to growl even louder.

Wanderer glanced over as she stretched. “Morning.”

“Good morning.” She sat by the fire to watch him cook. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

His shoulders rose in a faith shrug. “Some.”

She knew by the curtness of his reply that he was lying, but she didn’t press. “Do you think the Elder will speak with us today? Trixie wonders why he is waiting so long to talk with us.”

“Haven’t a clue,” he said as he stirred the greens, sprinkling seasoning on them while they sizzled. “Hopefully soon. I’m tired of just sitting on my hooves waiting for them to do something.”

She nodded, adjusting her cap back into its place as a cool breeze blew. “Trixie agrees. She wants nothing more than to return to Equestria and out of these woods.”

“For however long that will be,” he muttered, staring at the food with a distant look.

A sigh escaped her and they looked toward Tourmaline’s tent as the pegasus emerged from within. She gave a tired yawn and stretched before her gaze fell upon them and a frown crossed her face.

“Morning,” Wanderer said without any warmth to his voice.

She turned to regard him for a second before grunting, settling by the fire without a word.

Trixie watched her in silence, noticing Tourmaline’s mane had gone unbrushed again. Always before, Tourmaline had kept up her mane everyday, but after the incident with the key—and her subsequent fights with Wanderer—she had all but stopped caring for it. Trixie felt it was an outward showing of how Tourmaline felt inside.

She did note, however, that she still wore her opal-beaded necklace.

As the three sat in silence, Trixie could feel the unspoken tension in the air. The two adventurers refused to look each other in the eye, and neither one tried to start a conversation.

“You know, I’ve seen livelier parties at Canterlot,” they heard a voice say. “And that is saying a lot.”

The three of them looked up sharply as a figure approached them. Tormod wore a wide smile as he limped towards their campfire.

“Tormod!” the three of them yelled in unison. Tourmaline burst from the log she had sat on and flew at him.

With a wince, his horn lit up and he stopped her mid flight. “Easy, Tourmaline, my leg is still weak and I’m still getting used to the brace.”

When he released her, Tourmaline gave him a firm hug while being mindful of his leg. “I’m so happy to see you walking again,” she said as she dashed at her eyes.

A grim frown crossed his face and he nodded. “The healers did what they could, but I guess the manticore damaged the joint. I’ll walk, but this leg is going to be weak.”

“It was the best we could do,” they heard Faithful Watcher say as she soon followed behind Tormod, the stoic Risen Hart just behind her. “The brace is made of oak and Binding Twine. It will support him while still allowing him to bend his leg.”

Tormod lifted his leg and bent it a few times for show, the wooden brace easily gliding along with his leg.

“I only wish I could have treated it sooner. I might have been able to do more.” The doe lowered her head, her ears pinning back. “I am sorry, Tormod.”

“Don’t be. You and your healers have done so much for me. I should be the one thanking you.” He settled his leg to the ground with a wince and looked his friends over. “So why all the frowns?”

The three looked away with a mixture of scowls and looks of shame. Seeing this caused him to sigh.

“Still?” he asked, looking at Trixie.

She gave a faint nod and he gave his two friends a sterner frown. He opened his mouth to say something but groaned instead. “All right, what’s for breakfast? I’m starving.”

At the mention of food, Wanderer gave a startled oath and ran back to save the food from burning.

All but Tourmaline chuckled at him, and Tormod gave her a glance. “Tourmaline—”

“Don’t,” she said, in a voice that sounded more like a plea than a demand.

Tormod gave a frustrated growl before he limped over to a log to sit. As Trixie and the two deer joined them, she turned a look their way.

“Will you and Risen Hart be eating with us, Faith?”

The doe nodded and levitated bags from both her and Risen’s backs. “Indeed, We even brought some black and raspberries to go with your food for all of us to share.”

A small smile played across the buck’s face. “Faithful was adamant that we bring more than was necessary,” he said in accented Equestrian.

She lifted her head with a soft harrumph. “It is proper as hosts to make sure our guests are well feed, Risen Hart.”

He nodded a bit. “You speak true.”

Knowing there would be berries to go with the clover caused Trixie’s stomach to roar. After they finished eating, Wanderer turned towards the deer. “Has your grandfather said anything to you about what we’re gonna do?”

Faithful gave a soft shake of her head, wiping the last of her breakfast from her muzzle. “No, he has not to me. He meet with the princesses of Equestria yesterday, but has not shared anything of his meeting.”

“I wonder if he told them about us?” Tormod asked, rubbing at his chin.

Wanderer grumbled, “Just what we all need. Our names tied to more calamity that is about to hit Equestria.”

Tourmaline scowled but said nothing.

Trixie glanced at Faith who still had a frown on her face. “Faith? What is it? You look like something is on your mind.”

When the doe didn’t answer, Risen Hart rested a hoof on her shoulder. She glanced up at him with a soft, thankful smile before looking at the ponies. “It is my gran—Elder. When he returned from meeting the princesses, he had this look on his face that still troubles me.” She tilted her head a bit, a bemused frown on her face. “He looked… forlorn. Like something had upset him personally. I had never seen him like that before. I had asked, but he would not say.”

“Trixie is sure he will share it with you once he has sorted it out,” Trixie said as she stretched her back out. No matter how long one sat on a log, it never got comfortable.

Faith lifted her muzzle to bask in the breeze as it blew through. “I only hope so.”

It was not long after when another deer warrior approached their campsite. He gave the ponies a brief glance before lowering his head to Faith. The warrior leaned close and whispered something to both her and Risen.

Trixie strained her ears to listen to the whispered conversation, but was only able to catch the word ‘piwi.’

Finally, Faith dipped her head to the warrior and turned back to the ponies who were watching her closely. “Our Elder wishes to speak with us.” Her gaze swept them all. “All of us.”

“Finally,” Wanderer muttered, wiping the remaining bits of his breakfast from his muzzle.

“Seems you got your wish, Wanderer,” Trixie said in an attempt to get him to smile as she got to her hooves.

He managed a faint one as they followed after Faithful and Risen.

“Did you understand anything he said, Tormod?” Tourmaline asked as she walked beside him.

“A bit,” he said. “I caught the word for Elder, speak, and ponies. It wasn’t hard to imagine what he was trying to say with that.”

She nodded, her mane falling in her face before she angrily dashed it back. “Any idea what about?”

His eyes traced to her mane disappointedly before speaking. “No, but we will find out.”

When they arrived at the Elder’s tent, they found him inside waiting for them. Entering, they found the proud buck staring at the firepit with a distant look.

“Elder?” Faith asked, worry plain to see in her eyes.

Blinking, the Elder turned his gaze to them. “Please, sit. There is much we must discuss.”

Risen Hart bowed his head and stepped for the exit.

“Risen Hart.”

The warrior turned back. “Yes, Elder?”

“Do not go far. I may need you very soon.”

“Yes, Elder.” He nodded in respect before giving Faith a quick, warm look before stepping out.

As the ponies sat around the firepit—Wanderer sitting across from Tourmaline—Trixie found Tormod sitting beside her. He gave her a faint smile, one she hesitantly returned, as Faith took her place by her grandfather’s side.

“I apologize for the delay in speaking with you all, but I had to be certain about events before I spoke.”

“What do you want us to do to get the key back?” Wanderer asked before the Elder could continue. Belatedly, he removed his hat and set it beside him.

“We will not be able to get the key back, earth-tamer,” the Elder said with a shake of his head. “They have it secure within the Gorgon’s prison.”

Trixie felt her heart sink, the weight of guilt crashing down on her back like a rockslide.

“T-Then all is lost, Grandfather?” Faith asked, her voice waivering.

Again, he shook his head. “I did not say that, Granddaughter. There is still time for us to stop the ritual before they can complete it.”

“What’s to keep them from using it right now?” Tourmaline asked, her tail swishing. “They have the key, why haven’t they let her out yet?”

He turned his gaze to her, staring at with a hint of hardness in his eyes. “Because the magic of the artifact can only be accessed during the Winter Solstice. The Advents of Shadow draw their power from the deepest night of the year.”

Tormod’s ears perked up. “Advents of Shadow? You mean there is more than one?”

The Elder gave a faint nod. “There is. The key is one of six, but the other five are not our concern. The magic that supports the prison of the Gorgon is tied to this one. When its power peaks, a ritual can undo the binding and release the Gorgon.” He turned his gaze to the gathered. “It is my people’s aim to stop them before it can happen.”

“How?” Tourmaline asked, her ears flicked. “I thought we couldn’t get to it.”

“Because it is too well defended,” he answered without missing a beat. “My people will spend the remaining months whittling away at the Bringers and their monstrous allies.”

Wanderer shot to his hooves. “You’re going to kill them? It’s not their fault that—”

He stopped as the Elder held up a hoof. “No, earth-tamer, we will do our best to not send the Bringers to the Mother’s embrace. Rather, capture them so that what was done to them can be undone.”

Wanderer’s eyes widened, as the others gasped. “There’s a way?”

The Elder dipped his head with a faint smile. “Yes. After studying the captured Bringer and seeking wisdom from the Great Mother, she has shown me a way to free them from the clutches of the Gorgon’s influence.”

“How is that possible?” Trixie asked, a feeling of hope igniting in her heart at the news.

“By combining the sap from the Great Mother herself and the juice and pulp from the berry of the full moon together, their latent magical properties can purge the body of the disease that affects the minds of the Bringers.”

“So there is a way,” Wanderer breathed in relief before shooting a pointed glare at Tourmaline as he resettled on his haunches.

She jerked her head away from his glare with a scowl.

The Elder looked between them for a moment before speaking again, “But I believe it is time you all told me the truth.” All eyes turned back towards him. “When we first spoke, you told me you had experiences with the Spirits before. I would ask you tell me the truth of it.”

Trixie felt Tormod stiffen up beside her and she saw him share a worried glance with Tourmaline before the two looked at Wanderer. The earth pony had lowered his head in shame, a soft sigh escaping him. She wanted to ask them, but the Elder spoke before she.

“Tell me the truth of your encounters with the Spirit of Order, earth-tamer,” the Elder said, giving him an expectant look.

Wanderer’s shoulders sagged even more, as if a great weight had been placed on his back. “It was us,” he said softly before looking back up. “It was us who freed him.”

“What!” Trixie and Faith shouted in unison—the former in shock, the later in outrage.

“There is more than that, is there not?” the Elder pressed.

Again, he lowered his head and shot Trixie an apologetic look. “It was my body he took over. It was me he used to do everything he did.”

“Y-You?” Trixie got to her hooves. “It was you who sent Trixie to that awful Realm of Shadow?”

A few guilt-ridden tears gathered around his face. “It wasn’t me! It was Tyranny controlling my body when he… did what he did to you.”

“Do you know what that has done to me!” Trixie yelled, unintentionally forgoing her normal address. “Ever since then, I’ve had so many awful nightmares, and it’s all because of you!”

“I remember what he did.” He closed his eyes, looking away. “I yelled, I screamed, I fought, I begged him everytime he hurt somepony. I was helpless in my own body, and he taunted and forced me to watch everything he did.” He looked back at her, straight into her eyes and she could see pure guilt in those hazel orbs. “I remember that night, Trixie, when he threw your wagon and the look of fear you had before he…”

When he jerked his gaze away, Tourmaline softly whispered. “Wanderer…”

His gaze turned harsher. “That’s why I wanted to help you save your career, Trixie. After realizing who you were, I wanted to make up for what I had done. After what he did, it seemed the least I could do to make up for my part in it.”

“Wanderer,” Tormod interrupted. “It wasn’t just you. All three of us had hooves in what happened.” He gave his friend a glare, his ears pinning back. “Why didn’t you tell us about Trixie?”

“I-I wanted to, but…” He averted his eyes again. “It wasn’t your fault either.”

“You blockheaded oaf!” Tormod growled. “We are in this together! You should have told us from the start!”

“Can you all tell me the whole story then?” the Elder said, stopping the conversation from becoming worse. When Trixie turned to him, she saw that he had placed a hoof on Faith’s shoulders as the doe glared figurative holes through Wanderer.

The adventurers spent the next few hours telling their tale of the Spirit of Order. Tormod explaining what he knew and of his time being turned to stone, while Tourmaline told of her days at Canterlot while she waited helplessly for her brother to be cured and of Wanderer’s whereabouts. Wanderer then told of all the things he was forced to witness while being a helpless observer in Tyranny’s mechanizations to conquer Equestria.

As Trixie listened, she shook her head in helpless bewilderment. It all sounded so far fetched that, if she had not witnessed Tyranny’s power first hoof, she would’ve dismissed it entirely. When they finished with the tale of his defeat and of Wanderer’s near brush with death by the Elements of Harmony, she admitted to not being sure of how she felt anymore.

“Is… this all true?” she finally managed to say.

Tormod nodded slowly, turning an apologetic look of his own to her. “It is. All of it. None of us could have known what we were getting into.”

“No, you could not have, aura-weaver,” The elder said, no longer having to restrain Faith. She had gone first from rage to looking at the three with sympathetic eyes. “The Spirit of Order has always been a narrow-minded spirit with no shortage of cruelty. He has a history with my people that is far worse than what you have experienced.”

Trixie turned a look at Faith as she spat in near hate. “What has he done?”

“The Purges,” the doe said with venom dripping from her tone.

“The Purges?” Tourmaline asked, tearing her gaze from Wanderer as he continued to slump where he sat.

The Elder nodded, a grimace of sorrow crossing his features. “It was after the Great Thaw—the event the pony folk refer to as Hearth’s Warming—that the Princesses of Equestria established their country with the Spirit of Order aiding them to help stabilize it during such a turbulent time. Our people lived together side by side then. While there were differences, we were all friends. United after a harrowing time that nearly wiped us all out.”

He lifted his head, his gaze going distant again. “Eventually, the world began to show the effects of the long winter as the earth no longer grew on its own and the weather became erratic. Many of the pony folk began to panic as it seemed our world was spinning towards utter chaos again, but my people felt that the world should be left to heal itself.” A frown tugged at his lips. “We felt the ponies using their innate magics to control the world would lead to further destabilization.”

“Did it?” Tormod asked, shifting his weight as he listened.

The buck’s gaze fell to the fire pit. “Our stance clashed with that of the pony folk. Numerous times discussions turned violent between our people. After a time of heated arguments, a young mare who had served the Spirit of Order in those days, called the leaders of our tribes and the pony folk to have a meeting to find a resolution that would benefit us all.”

After clearing his throat, he looked back at the group who sat quietly. “While there were arguments, it seemed as if this mare was going to help us find an agreement of mutual acceptance.” His gaze went glassy. “My Elder remembers watching the mare with respect as she spoke with such passion, such devotion to finding a peaceful resolution.” His gaze then went hard. “It was then a spear flew from the crowd and struck her down in front of my Elders, the Princesses, and the Spirit of Order.”

There was a collective gasp but he continued. “She died, and in the confusion, the ponies blamed our people as the spear was of our make but none of my people had been the one to throw it. Our pleas went unheard as we were chased out of the gathering.”

As the buck took in a long breath and let it out just as slowly, Trixie quietly asked, “Then what happened?”

When the Elder didn’t speak, Faithful did. “The Spirit of Order declared our people the murderers and said that as long as our people remained with the ponies, there would never be peace.” Her scowl deepened. “He then began hunting us down and putting us to the blade! With the Princesses’s blessings!”

The ponies eyes widened. “What? No! Princess Celestia and Luna would never do something like that!” Tourmaline yelled, getting to her hooves.

Faith turned a glare her way. “They did nothing to stop him! The blood of our people are on their hooves, even if they never wielded the blade themselves!”

Wanderer shook his head firmly. “Never! That was Tyranny’s doing, not the Princesses’.”

Before Faith could retort, the Elder spoke, “And I believe that now.”

Faith gasped and turned a wide-eyed look his way. “But, Grandfather… You have always taught us it was they who allowed the Purges to happen.”

He turned a sad look to her. “And I was wrong, Faithful Watcher.”

The blood drained from her face. “B-But—”

“When I spoke with the Princesses—and the Purges were brought up—I saw the look of regret and shame in their eyes. Even if it was all of the Spirit of Order’s doing, had they known, they would have stopped him.” He paused for a moment. “When I saw their tears, I knew they were genuine. They do not deny their complacence but I believe now they had no part of the Purges.”

Faith’s lower lip trembled, and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. “G-Grandfather…”

He closed his eyes. “Even I can be wrong, Faithful Watcher. Nothing is ever absolute.”

The silence that fell in the tent was as thick as a cloak. Trixie sat there, digesting everything she had heard. Between the tales of the Purges and of her companion’s tales of Tyranny, Trixie felt the emotions of her mind swirl and threaten to overwhelm her.

She looked at Tormod and saw that he sat in quiet thought, likely trying to make sense of it all—though his frown told her was just as overwhelmed as she. Tourmaline sat staring at Wanderer, her gaze a mystery. She seemed neither angry nor upset. Rather, she just sat looking at him as he refused to look at anyone directly.

When Trixie looked at him, she wanted so badly to be angry. To blame him for everything that happened to her. He and his friends had released Tyranny and had been responsible for her banishment to the Realm of Shadow which had started all of those awful nightmares. She could likely blame them for how badly her shows have been if she wanted to, so why wasn’t she livid?

She thought back to when she first met them. Wanderer had been friendly and earnest in wanting to help her, which she could understand why now. He had been wanting to make amends for his past mistakes. He had accepted responsibility for his actions—as hard as that had to be—and was at least trying to atone.

That thought caused her to think of her own situation. It was different, she told herself. She had made amends, but it was others who refused to accept and forget. She had thrown Twilight Sparkle out of Ponyville and enslaved its citizens. Wanderer and the other two had released an evil spirit that would’ve enslaved all of Equestria. There was a huge difference.

Is there though?

Her eyes closed at the thought and a sigh escaped through her nose.

She blinked as the Elder spoke again, finally breaking the silence. “The question now remains: what will the four of you do now? You are not bound to remain here in Maederhallow. You would be welcomed if you remained, but this fight is not yours. My people will do what we can to stop the Gorgon from her freedom, but we would gladly welcome the help of those the Great Mother has taken as her own.”

“We’re going home,” Tourmaline said before the others. “It’s not that we don’t like any of you, but I’ve had enough of this adventure and I want to go home.”

The Elder nodded, a frown of disappointment on his face. “Then Risen Hart will—”

“I’m staying,” Wanderer said in a quiet, yet firm tone.

All eyes turned to him as Tourmaline sucked in a breath. “Wanderer, why?”

He lifted his head, a renewed determination in his expression. “Because I’m not going to be responsible for another spirit attacking Equestria.” He turned his gaze to her and Tormod. “We messed up with Tyranny, I’m not doing it again with the Gorgon.”

She scowled, her tail flicking. “Fine! But me and Tormod are going home.”

“Actually, I’m staying as well.”

Her eyes darted to her brother, her jaw dropping. “What!” her tone hitting a higher octave. “But, Tormod, your leg. You can’t fight with your leg hurt like that.”

“I’ll get better with my leg, Tourmaline.” He shifted again to relieve the weight from his injured leg. “That, and I agree with Wanderer. I won’t let another Tyranny happen without at least trying to stop it.” A faint smirk danced across his face. “Besides, I’m hoping to learn more about the deer of Maederhallow so that everypony in Equestria can learn about them when we get back. And I can’t do that if I leave.”

While both the Elder and Faith smiled at his comment, Tourmaline sputtered, “B-But—”

“You can go home, Tourmaline, and let Mom and your dad know how we’re doing,” Wanderer said as he stood, his voice tight. “Just tell them we’re okay and—”

“I’m not going either,” she said, frowning in a huff.

He blinked. “But—”

She glared at him. “I’m staying to make sure Tormod’s safe. Nothing else.”

He returned that glower and spat. “Fine.”

Scowling at the two in annoyance, Tormod looked at Trixie. “Trixie, what about you?”

The weight of their stares in the tent weighed down on her like a dozen sandbags. What about her? On the one hoof she could stay with them and spend the next months living with a population of deer that didn’t trust her, fighting the Bringers and that horrible Harbinger, in a desperate hope that they could stop them.

On the other hoof, however, she could return to Equestria and away from this awful forest were so much had happened to her. She could go back to her wagon and back to the life she knew without all of the… responsibility.

“It is your choice, aura-weaver,” the Elder said, his brown eyes looking at her calmly. “We will not think less of you should you wish to return.”

Taking in a breath, she let it out slowly before speaking, “Trixie wants to go home.”

While Faith, Wanderer, and Tormod gave looks of surprise, she wasn’t shocked by Tourmaline’s grim nod of approval.

Just as well. Trixie is tired of you too, nag.

The Elder gave her a nod, but the calm look in his eyes seemed to bore into her and she lowered her head. “Very well then. I will have Risen Hart and some others escort you back to the pony settlement. From there, your path if your own choosing.”

His gaze lingered on her for a bit more before he turned to address the three. “Our tribe thanks you for choosing to stay with us. Perhaps while you remain, we can teach you of our magic and fighting style. The knowledge could aid you in the coming days.”

As their discussions raged on, Trixie paid it little mind. All she could think of was that she was going to return home. Back to her wagon, back to the roads, back to the comfort of knowing what to expect.

That evening, as Risen Hart and another warrior stood by impassively, Trixie stopped to share her goodbyes with the three. The three being Wanderer, Tormod, and Faith. Tourmaline stood apart from them with a pleased smile on her face.

“So… you’re really leaving?” Wanderer asked as an early evening mist began to fall.

She nodded, drops of water falling off the brim of her cap. “Trixie is. There isn’t anything she can do to help and she just wants to go home.”

He gave her an understanding nod, the water falling from his own hat. “I can understand, but hey, at least you have something for your show, right?” His eyes traced to the saddlebags on her back.

A weak smile crossed her face as she glanced to the bag that held a folded leaf from the Mother Oak. “Yes. With this, no one would be able to doubt Trixie again.”

“Well, take care of yourself, Trixie.” His gaze turned to the side. “And, for what it’s worth… I’m sorry.” He turned back to face her. “I know it doesn’t mean much, but I only wanted to help.”

Her eyes looked into his for a moment before she gave a faint nod, still unable to find anything to say.

She turned to Faith as the doe gave her a pleading look. “You are sure you would not stay?”

Trixie nodded. “Trixie is sure. She doesn’t dislike you or any of the deer, she just wants to go home.”

Back to what I know.

Faith gave a sigh through her nose. “I know that I cannot make you, but I had… I had wanted to see more of your magic. I really, really liked watching you practice with it.”

A rare genuine smile played across Trixie’s muzzle. “Thank you, Faithful Watcher. That means a lot to Trixie. Maybe if you came to Equestria, you can see Trixie’s shows in person.”

The doe’s ears pinned back. “That will… never happen.”

Trixie tilted her head as she asked, “Why not?”

Faith shook her head and stepped away, a forlorn expression on her face.

Trixie watched her go and a small knot formed in her gut. Seeing Faith’s disappointment struck deeper than she thought. Was it guilt that—

Home, the wagon, our show.

Brushing the feelings aside, she turned to her fellow unicorn as he stood by, watching her. Looking into his sea-blue eyes, she saw the regret there. Regret for what though? Her own eyes fell to the splint he wore and the feeling of guilt hit her anew.

“Tormod, Trixie is sorry she—”

He held up a hoof to stop her. “You don’t need to apologize, Trixie. You’ve already apologized once, and that is enough.” A wan smirk tugged at his lips. “If hear any more apologies, I might go insane.”

A quick snort of a laugh escaped her, causing her to blush furiously and cover her muzzle.

His grin faded as he looked at her. “Is this really what you want to do though?” he asked her quietly. “Just leave it all behind after all you’ve seen? If you’re still blaming yourself for everything that’s happened, don’t. Somethings happen no matter how hard you try otherwise.” He tilted his head at her. “Do you really want to leave it after knowing what’s happening?”

She lowered her gaze. “Well—”

Home, wagon, show.

Her head rose with resolution. “Trixie is sure. It’s time she goes home.”

He looked at her for a moment before nodding. “All right, if that is what you choose.” Again, his wan smirk played across his face. “Doesn’t mean I didn’t wish it otherwise though. Keep safe ‘Great and Powerful’ Trixie.”

As they all moved away, her eyes followed them as they turned back for the village. Why did she feel regret in watching them walk away without looking back at her? Her eyes turned as both she and Tourmaline shared a look. Glaring at the judgemental pegasus brought up bile from deep within. She turned to the two patiently waiting bucks with a huff.

“Shall we, gentle… bucks.” she said as they led her into the mist and away from Maederhallow.

As she followed behind her guides, she felt her pace began to lag. The image of her friends turning their backs on her burnt so fiercely in her mind that she wanted to scream. Why did that bother her so much? Trixie had always been a solo mare, a traveller who got by on her own without the help of others. What did she care about what of a bunch of noponies thought of her? They were just four among thousands!

But are they though?

She wanted to growl at her nagging self. Wanderer was an annoying jokester who was responsible for her banishment! That nag, Tourmaline, was the most insufferable, feather-headed pegasus she had ever had the misfortune of meeting! And Tormod…

Her eyes squinted shut. Tormod was actually the most pleasant of the three. He had looked out for her during their trip, helped her with her tent, helped her sleep extra at the cost of his own, and had thrown himself in the way of a manticore that would have killed her.

Hearing his agonized screams in her mind caused her to falter and Risen Hart turned to regard her.

“Do you tire?” he asked.

A strand of mane fell in her face as she shook her head. “No, Trixie just… tripped.”

He nodded slowly before glancing at his partner and turned to continue.

As she settled her bangs back into her cap, her mind continued its chaotic tumble. She remembered the days of watching Tormod as he struggled with the injury and of the disease that had wracked his body. The guilt had wracked her just as badly as the sickness had done to him. Knowing that it was her fault that he had been inured only made the look on his face when she said she was leaving hurt that much more.

Her mind then went to Faithful Watcher. The doe had been so eager, so earnest in wanting to watch Trixie perform her magics. It had reminded her of the little foals who had been just as amazed by her tricks. Again, seeing her disappointment had hurt on a different level that she wasn’t sure she understood. Was it disappointment? Regret?

A sigh escaped her for the uptenth time since she left Maederhallow. Her life, her wagon, her show, what else was different?

She knew the reason, and she didn’t like it. It was because things were different that she couldn’t get her mind to quiet. How could she think nothing had changed with all that she had experienced? Equestria was in trouble, and she was only one of a few who knew about it.

But what could she do? She was an entertainer, an actor, not a hero. She wasn’t Twilight Sparkle and the Elements of Harmony. She didn’t have the magic of friendship like they did, so what could she do?

She could be more. Recalling the last conversation she had with the Elder after they had left the tent. He had stopped her as the others filed out and she recalled the words he had said to her.

“I do not question your choice, aura-weaver, but I wish only to ask you a question.” She remembered as he looked at her, his eyes seeming to bore into her. “What is it you are afraid of?”

Afraid? Trixie wasn’t afraid and she had said as much.

He had stared at her and she couldn’t hold his gaze. He had know she was lying as much as she did.

“When you first introduced yourself to us, you called yourself the ‘Great and Powerful,’ but I wonder if you truly believe that? I believe the Great Mother welcomed you for a reason. Perhaps it was so you could not only help us, but also to help yourself.”

Help herself? But Trixie was already the showmare supre…

She let that thought fade, she knew better. What if all that she had experienced was for her to help herself? What if this was the chance she was looking for? The chance to prove who she really was.

Her pace had slowed as her mind raced. Again, the bucks stopped and turned curious glances at her.

“You stop again. You are sure you do not need rest?” Risen Hart asked.

To prove that she was more than the showmare supreme. She was Trixie, the greatest magician in all of Equestria.

A chance to prove she was the Great and Powerful.

“No…” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Risen’s ears flicked at her whisper and he tilted his head. “Aura-weaver?”

She looked back up, her eyes ablaze in determination. Her long-lost confident smirk on her face. “Trixie wants to go back.”

Risen glanced at his partner and the two shared a knowing smile. “The Elder told us to expect such.”

Her grin grew as she realized she had played into the hooves of the Elder, but she didn’t care. She knew what she was doing was right. “Let us return then! The Great and Powerful Trixie will not disappoint again!”

Author's Notes:

Quite a bit of world building, this chapter. Spent a long time trying to hammer it out and keep it sensible and I liked how it's turned out.

More and more to come folks! We're about two-thirds of the way there!