Trixie sighed as she sat on the train headed for Manehatten, Trixlight asleep with her head against her mother’s shoulder.

When the young Alicorn had awoken at the Cakes’ home, Trixie was just as surprised as them by how Trixlight had spoken normally to them.

The Amulet had been right in that Trixlight did remember some parts of her past, like her friendship with the Cakes.

It had warmed her heart seeing Trixlight playing with the Cake’s two foals, both of whom had looked at the light-blue Alicorn with confusion at first, before they enjoyed the attention she’d been giving them.

After some discussion, Trixie had agreed with the Cakes that leaving before anypony else in town got up was the best course, to avoid as many questions as possible about what happened at the castle and who the new young Alicorn was.

In fact, it was why Trixlight was now wearing Trixie’s cloak, to hide her wings. Once they got to the Empire, she could take it off. Cadance and Shining Armour would understand and be able to help smooth things out.

Strangely enough, not everything in the castle had been destroyed. A mirror with odd machinery around it had come out completely unscathed, as had the round table in the throne room.

Whilst the table could not be moved, the Amulet had advised on bringing the mirror along with its connected machinery, so Trixie had used a spell that had shrunk it down and placed it in a small bag she was carrying with her.

Once thing that wouldn’t shrink was an odd book that had been in place above the mirror. Trixie didn’t know there meaning and the Amulet was being annoyingly cryptic about it, so she’d just put the book along with the mirror and machinery in her bag and carried them with.

“Next stop, Manehatten Station. Repeat, Manehatten Station,” a stallion called through the train as it started to slow down, pulling Trixie from her inner thoughts.

She gently rubbed Trixlight’s shoulder. “Honey. Time to wake up, we’re here.”

The young mare stirred and sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Hmm? Momma, why’re we going to Manehatten again?”

“Something’s happened to the trains heading for the Crystal Empire, so, to get there, we need to catch a train from another station in Manehatten, then we’ll walk part of the way,” Trixie answered, helping her daughter up as they exited the train along with the other passengers.

“Okay...” Trixlight murmured, staying close and clinging to her mother’s arm as they stepped out of the train and into the brisk Manehatten air. “And... why do I need to where your cloak?”

Trixie sighed and pulled out of the young Alicorn’s grasp and kneeled down a bit, putting her hands on her shoulders. “Somehow, ponies don’t remember that you’re an Alicorn. If they all saw us walking around and noticed your wings and horn together, that would make it very hard for us to get to the Empire. Understand?”

“Um... I think so,” Trixlight frowned, looking down. “But... I really wanna fly. My wings feel stiff.”

The unicorn smiled and lifted the younger ponies chin. “I promise, once we’re in the Empire you can fly all you want, sweetie. Okay?”

Trixlight pouted for a little, before she nodded and clung onto her mother’s arm again as she stood up.

“Now, we’ll need a few things the Cakes weren’t able to give us if we’re going to make the journey to the Empire,” Trixie said, magicing up a small list. She glanced down at the Alicorn holding onto her arm. “Do you want to keep track of the list for me, Trixlight?”

Trixilight looked eagerly from the list to her mother, before her expression sagged and she looked down. “I... don’t think so, Momma. Not today. I’m just... really sad and... I don’t know why.”

Trixie sighed. I wish she wasn’t so sad. I wish I could just make her happy again.

She will be happy as long as she’s with you, the Amulet’s voice said in her mind. However, whilst her exact memories of her mother and father’s deaths are gone, the pain they left behind cannot be completely forgotten. She will need her mother to get through this, Trixie. Be strong for her. For both of you.

Trixie closed her eyes and sighed, nodding slightly in agreement. She knew she had to be strong. Twilight had been her first real friend since foalhood and she was now her daughter. She would do whatever she could for her.

Trixlight grinned as she looked over the selection of books on the stale. There were so many books to read, she wasn’t sure which to choose.

Momma had given her some bits to buy some after she’d spotted them. She wasn’t sure what Momma was buying, but she trusted Momma. She always knew what to do.

Sure, Trixlight and her older friends had been the ones saving Equestria from time to time, but her mother was always the reason she’d push on.

“Psst.”

Trixlight blinked, before looking up and turning.

An Earth Pony colt a few years older than her was standing near a doorway. He had brown fur, a blue mane and tail and grey eyes. His Cutie Mark was a bit flipping through the air.

He nodded his head inside. “You like books? Got plen’y in here. Treasure trove.”

Trixlight hesitated. “Um... I’m not sure. Momma told me never talk to strangers.”

He chuckled. “Hey. Manehattenites ain’t strangers. We friendly folk.”

Trixlight thought about that. True, as far as she knew, that was how ponies in Manehatten were. Yes, she’d learned of a few unfriendly ones, like that mare who’d stolen Rarity’s fashion ideas, but most weren’t that bad... so maybe she should trust this one?

Maybe he could help her figure out why Momma was so sad.

Trixlight couldn’t understand why, but, ever since she’d woken up in Momma’s arms yesterday, the unicorn had seemed sad whenever she looked at Trixlight, as if there was something Trixlight didn’t know.

She had already told Momma that she at times felt really sad herself, but she didn’t understand why she felt sad. She just kept feeling like she’d lost something really important to herself, but couldn’t remember what.

Then again, her memories were a bit foggy, so maybe that had something to do with it?

It hurt her to know that something had upset her Momma and that she might be connected to it. Maybe, if she went with this colt, he could help her figure it out and make Momma happy again. Maybe one of his books could help her clear the fog from her mind!

With these new thoughts entering her mind, she eagerly followed after the colt, who led her down a dark hallway.

Instinctively, she lit her horn, casting the room in a lavender glow. The hallway seemed barren as the colt led her deeper and deeper, until she noticed the sounds of the outside market had gone silent.

Trixlight felt a bit uneasy as she followed the colt up to a wooden door.

“The book’re in here,” he said, pushing it open and standing back, gesturing her to go in. “Ladies first.”

Slightly boasted in confidence by his politeness and thinking how Rarity would be pleased by his manners, Trixlight moved forward into the room, glancing around to see the bookshelves, or stacks of books or however the books were arranged.

However, something moved in the darkness, before she felt somepony grab her from behind.

Panicked, she charged her horn for a teleport, only for something cold to clamp onto her horn, cutting off her magic, as well as the light from her horn.

“Sweet, nab, spud,” one voice said from the darkness, before a torch turned on, revealing a gang of at least ten young stallions, barely out of their colts years.

“Chicken legs, licken chegs,” another said, coming over and moving his tongue up along Trixlight’s cheek.

“Wh-what’re you doing?” she cried, trying to break free of the grip of the pony behind her.

“Licken chegs, right. Be a nice squeeze, I figure,” the one behind her said, causing her to shudder as she felt his tongue go up her ear.

“Momma!” Trixlight cried, struggling against her captor as the other colts closed in on her. “Momma, help!”

Several of the colts just laughed.

“Hear that?” one, a Pegasus, said, hovering above them all, leering down. “She’ll billy for her mama.”

“Mama ain’t commin’, little chicken,” the one in front of her said, pulling out a knife. “We gonna have some slice and dice fun. Get nasty.”

“Ace, man. No slice and dice this round,” the Pegasus from before said, putting a hand on the knife-holder’s shoulder. “We wanna enjoy this squeeze. Slice and dice the next.”

Suddenly, there was an explosion of magic from the centre of the room that sent them all back.

Trixlight’s captor lost his hold when she fell back on him and she quickly scrambled up to see what had just happened. Her heart soared at the sight of the unicorn eliminated by a purple glow.

“Momma!”

“It’s squeeze’s mama?” one of the colts said, his eyes widening. “Aces, she’s a unicorn. Let’s beat it.”

“Don’t go shiv on me now, spud,” the knife holding colt, whom Trixlight now saw was an Earth Pony, said, holding the knife out. “She ain’t so tough.”

“You boys chose the wrong mother to make angry,” Momma growled, her horn glowing brighter.

“Naw, man,” one of the colts standing close to the one called Flip said, shaking his head. “Mama spud’s into it. Can’t do it when they into it. We stay, we’re dusted. I’m out!”

“Oh, and you think I’ll let you get away with what you just did, do you?” Momma’s growl was followed by an outward field of her magic spreading out.

Once it had faded away, every colt was frozen in place, some in the process of running away.

“I really should make you hurt for what you did to my Trixlight,” Trixie snarled, going up to the knife-holding colt. “But, I’m going to set a better example for my daughter, despite my desire to make you suffer.”

There was a flash of light and all the colts were gone.

“I sent them to the police station,” she said, sighing. “There’s a magical message letting the police know what those sickos tried to do.”

Her heart was still racing, her blood pumping with rage.

When she’d sensed Trixlight in danger thanks to the Tracking Spell the Amulet had advised her place upon her during the train ride to Manehatten, she’d teleported to Trixlight’s location.

When she’d seen that colt holding her daughter like that, it was only the Amulet’s words that had stopped her from incinerating him and his cohorts right on the spot.

As she calmed herself down, she felt something run into and hold on tight. A second later, the sound of crying and the feeling of wet tears dampening her fur told her who it was.

“M-M-Momma!” the young mare cried, clutching tightly onto the unicorn. “I... I was s-so sc-sc-sc-scared. Th-they took m-my magic a-and —”

Trixie wrapped her arms around the sobbing Alicorn. “It’s alright, sweetie. It’s alright, Momma’s here now,” she cooed softly, rubbing her daughter’s back and stroking her mane. “Those bad colts can’t hurt you now.”

This shows you need to be with her at all times, Trixie, the Amulet’s voice half-soothed, half-scolded. She’s young now. She might have all her knowledge, but she also has a child’s impetuousness. Couple that with the confusion in her memories and it’s a recipe for disaster if she’s left alone. You must keep her safe at all times.

I know, Trixie thought, looking down at the sobbing mare in her arms. I know.

Author's Notes:

This was a lot shorter than i'd expected it to be, and i'm not really sure how good it turned out and took longer to write now that my keyboard is stiff on some keys thanks to my spilling water on it the day before yesterday.

Also, sorry about the hiatus, but i honestly don't know when i'll get back to this

So, did you get the reference in this chapter?

Anyway, next chapter will focus on the others, starting with Discord, Fluttershy and Rainbow.

Don't really have much to say right now, gonna wrap this up so i can get started on It's A Screwed Up Life. After that, i'm dusting off my Five Score story and getting back to that, as it's long overdue for an update.

Well, hope you liked this chapter and if you go the reference, i congratulate you because it shows you've good taste, or someone you know has good taste. Either way, good taste is had by someone.

Til next time, later everypony