THE TEACHER, THE SORCERESS, AND THE WONDERBOLT

Chapter 5: Hats, and Cloaks, and Dolls, oh my!

Trixie stood in the yard behind Twilight's home; staring at the pile of wooden beams, planks, and neatly folded stacks of cloth with curiosity. “Trixie does not understand, Twilight Spar-”

She was stopped by Twilight's hoof on her shoulder. “Trixie, please. Just Twilight is fine. We're friends, and friends aren't so formal with each other, especially in a casual setting like this.”

When she saw the dismayed look on Twilight's face at the propriety, she tried again, “Trixie doesn't understand, Twilight. What is all this that we dragged from your storage room?”

Twilight smiled at her friend. “I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise that you don't recognize it right now. After all, it looked very different the last time you saw it. Let's try assembling it, then.” Trixie was about to walk towards the pile to begin sorting through it all, when it all began to glow in a purple aura.

She doesn't mean to put it all together with her magic alone, does she? Can she do that with something this large and complex? Trixie observed in awe as Twilight did precisely that. She watched as the unicorn fit pieces together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Tenons slipped into mortises, dovetails slid into slots, dowels went into holes, bridging the gap between pieces, and not a single nail, screw, or drop of glue was used. So carefully crafted was each piece, that fasteners and adhesives of that sort were superfluous. Trixie was so entranced by the librarian's adroitness, that she could only stand, jaw agape at the sheer mastery of her magic. Well, stand there and be more than a little turned on at the display.

When the work was done, Twilight wiped the sheen of perspiration from her brow and looked to her house guest. She was a tiny bit disappointed to see her staring at her, rather than her present, apparent demeanor notwithstanding. Suddenly worried she may have overstepped her bounds, she pointed over to the gift and asked, “Do you like it, Trixie?”

The showmare shook her head as if waking from a daydream and looked to where the mare was pointing. If she was surprised at the return of her hat and cloak, this floored her. Standing before her was her old show cart. It appeared as it did just before the Ursa stepped on it, nay, in even better condition! All the worn and faded paint was replaced with a fresh coat, the curtains and fabrics were either expertly repaired or replaced, and the wood looked well worn, but in excellent repair.

Trixie dropped to her belly, her knees no longer stable enough to support her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her mouth could only utter confused, yet joyful mumblings. Twilight rushed to her side and kneeled down beside her. “Trixie, are you okay? What's wrong?”

The blue unicorn faced her, trying to say anything, but had to settle for burying her head in the lavender mare's mane while she tried to regain her composure. It was several long moments before she could find her voice again. “Tr- I suppose I should begin at the beginning. It truly started for me when I was just a foal of six years...”

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The filly was blue in more than just her coat color. She should have been happy to have even been invited to her classmate's cute-ceañera, but considering the fact that she lacked her own cutie mark, this was going to prove to be a very awkward day. Compounding that, was the fact that her family was so poor, they couldn't afford to buy a proper present like all the other foals would be bringing. Instead, she had in her teeth, a plain, pink-wrapped, beribboned box containing a doll her mother made by hoof. She was sure that the present would be ridiculed, and promptly forgotten or thrown away. That was fine by her. She had plans to retrieve it later and keep it herself. She adored everything her mother made, and would treasure it as it deserved.

She arrived at the mansion at last and knocked on the door with a hoof. It could be said that she didn't put much energy into the action, as it seemed to be more of a token effort made before giving up and going home. Alas, the knock was heard, and the door opened, revealing a mare in a maid's uniform. The filly put the present down to free up her mouth. “I'm here for Toot-a-loo's cute-ceañera,” she politely announced.

The maid nodded silently and stood aside to allow her in. Assuming that the noisiest place would be where the festivities were being held, she followed the din to the parlor, where the unicorn filly of the hour was opening presents. The room was filled to capacity with her classmates as well as few fillies she didn't recognize. Most ignored her, but a few curled their lips at her. She put her present on the table near a mountain of others, trying to be unobtrusive, but was noticed right away. “Well, if it isn't Lulamoon. So glad you could tear yourself away from your parent's business to come,” she sneered.

Lulamoon cowered down just a bit under her scrutiny and replied, “Hello, Toot-a-loo. Congratulations on getting your cutie mark.”

The dark gray filly proudly displayed her flank, showing off her cutie mark, a flute with several musical motes floating out of it. “Yes, it is rather spectacular, isn't it? Isn't it great that we can all celebrate our cutie marks? Oh, wait. Not all of us have our cutie marks, do we?” The jeer got a few snickers from Toot-a-loo's friends, but most looked vaguely uncomfortable with the situation.

Lulamoon gave a nervous laugh. “Yeah, someday though,” she mumbled.

Toot-a-loo brought her face close, whispering, “Maybe if your father wasn't so bad at his job, he could afford to send you to a cutie counselor. I hear it's all the rage for BFs right now.” Her use of the abbreviation for blank flank, brought a flush of embarrassment to Lulamoon's face, but she was too stunned to respond verbally. Seeing her prey on the ropes, Toot-a-loo stepped up her game to the next level. “Let's see what you brought for me.”

One of her friends, a filly with more muscle than brains, and a broken bone for a cutie mark brought the box over, placing it in Toot-a-loo's hooves. She wasted no time in viciously tearing into the paper with her magic. The box was carelessly tossed to the ground, and the lovingly crafted rag doll came out. It was a unicorn filly with a purple velvet coat, a navy blue mane and tail, and a wooden wand with a six-pointed star on the end was stitched to the left hoof. “Ugh. What is this hideous thing? Well, I suppose it'll do for a present.”

Toot-a-loo's musclebound friend looked at it, and thinking her leader liked it it, said, “I really like her... mane?”

Annoyed by her follower's obtuseness, Toot-a-loo replied, “Crushah, nopony asked you.” She ignored Crushah's disappointed look, and set the doll on a shelf next to Lulamoon, making sure that she was watching her. Toot-a-loo nodded over to the doll, and Lulamoon turned to see it still in the grayish grip of the unicorn's telekinesis as it was quite deliberately knocked into the wastebasket below it.

The cruel filly laughed as she walked away to open more presents. Having expected this, Lulamoon shuffled herself so that her rear was facing the wastepaper basket, and carefully lifted the doll with her own magic out of the can and hid it her tail. She tied the doll to her with a few strands of hair, making sure it wouldn't go anywhere for the hour or two she was expected to stay here.

What followed was as soul-crushingly bad as Lulamoon had expected. When she wasn't being ignored, she was being teased by her “friends”. She was given the smallest piece of cake, a center piece no less; and she was skipped over several times during a rousing game of “Red Rover”.

Things turned around for her when the magician arrived. She was entranced by the illusions he performed, and amazed by the mundane parlor tricks. He did all the standards: pulled a rabbit out of his purple, star-spangled hat, and even the “is this your card” trick, and they all captivated the audience. But the highlight was when he asked for volunteers from the audience and chose Lulamoon after Toot-a-loo refused to come up onstage.

He whispered in her ear, “Just stand still the first time I open the cabinet door. I'm going to make you invisible, okay?” Lulamoon nodded as she stepped into the “Cabinet of Mysteries” and stood as still as possible. As he closed the door, the filly felt a wash of magic cover her completely, and he said a few nonsense words then opened the door with a puff of smoke. She watched as her classmates oohed and aahed, and smiled at their adoring faces. “And now, I shall bring her back from the great beyond!” he said with a spooky flourish.

Toot-a-loo shouted out, “Do you have to?” which got a big laugh from everypony else.

“Of course I do!” said the magician. “If I don't the spirits will be very angry. They don't like the living on their side of the veil very much.” He closed the door and again, she felt a wash of magic as he said those nonsense words again before opening the door again to reveal a completely unharmed Lulamoon. The foals' applause was thunderous in the tiny room. The magician waved her forward, and they both took their bows. On the second bow, she felt a tingling sensation in her hindquarters, and looked to see what the matter was. She was astounded to see a wand amid a crescent shaped cloud of stardust had appeared on her flanks.

Lulamoon was so shocked and amazed by the cutie mark, that only when she felt something placed on her head, did she look up to see the magician smiling down at her, his hat now on her head. “Congratulations,” he said to her. “I just know that you'll be somepony great and powerful someday!” She was so excited that she quickly gave him a hug and ran all the way to her father's newsstand, where her parents both worked, forgetting all about the party.

“Momma! Poppa! Look what I got!” she shouted and presented her flank for inspection by her parents. In an instant, they were beside her, nuzzling and saying how proud they were of her.

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So you've had this hat that long?” Twilight asked the mare sitting next to her. They were sitting on the rear landing of the show cart, legs dangling above the ground.

Trixie looked down at the hat in her hooves and gently smiled. “Oh my, yes. This hat has seen me through some very rough times.” She leaned against Twilight and heaved a bittersweet sigh. Turning the hat upside down, she reached inside, much further than her foreleg should be able, and pulled out a rag doll. The worn, purple velvet was missing patches, and the navy yarn that comprised its mane and tail had nearly disintegrated with the passage of time. Only the wooden wand stitched to its hoof was intact, though the paint was faded and flaking off. “Twilight, allow me to introduce you to the Alluring Abracadabra. Abracadabra, this is Twilight Sparkle.” Trixie waved the doll's empty foreleg at Twilight with her hoof.

Smiling, Twilight politely shook the doll's hoof. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Abracadabra.” Turning to the azure mare, she said, “She's adorable, Trixie. She reminds me of Smartypants, a doll my mother made for me when I was a foal too.”

Trixie sat up straight and smiled at the librarian. “Perhaps they should meet? Abracadabra is always looking for a new audience for whom she can perform.”

“I think Smartypants would like that. She really likes taking notes of everypony and everything she meets.” Twilight suddenly sat up straighter. “Trixie, I have a fantastic idea! Wait here a moment!” she whooped, and ran inside. Trixie placed her hat and cloak on, and adjusted them to a jaunty angle as she sat. She didn't have long to wait before she reappeared, with a small purse in her magical grip. “Come with me, Trixie. I have a cunning plan.”

As they walked through the streets, a few dirty looks were thrown Trixie's way, but with Twilight as her escort, nopony did anything physical. To pass the time, Twilight asked her, “What about the cloak? When did you get that?”

The silver-maned unicorn sadly answered, “Trixie was given the cloak for her tenth birthday. Just before... you know.” Twilight immediately looked remorseful for bringing up a sad memory for her friend. “It was the last thing that Trixie's mother made for her.” She sniffed at looked off into the distance. “It took her months to find the right material. Then they kept it hidden from Trixie until that day. Trixie was so excited, she doesn't think she took either off for weeks except to bathe or go to school.”

Her dark mood seemed to lift as she turned to look at her companion. “But now that Trixie has them back, she feels more complete. Wearing this hat reminds Trixie of that happy day, and this cloak is like being hugged by Momma and Poppa once more.” She looked over to Twilight saying, “Even the company Trixie is keeping is exceptional.” She nodded as if to herself. “Yes, this is indeed a grand day for the great and powerful Trixie.”

Twilight gave her a nuzzle-bump as they walked. “I'm glad you're happy Trixie.” She looked to the building they had arrived at. “Here we are! Trixie, I bid you welcome to the Carousel Boutique.” She opened the door and stood aside, gesturing for her friend to walk in.

A little bell above the door chimed, alerting the unicorn sketching a new design on paper. Rarity looked up and grinned widely when she saw Twilight and Trixie walk in alone. “Twilight, Darling! And Trixie! What brings you two by on this lovely morning?”

Twilight pulled the doll from under Trixie's hat and floated over to the tailor. “Trixie needs this repaired. Is there anything you can do for it while keeping as much of the original material as possible?”

Rarity's telekinetic field appeared below the doll, and Twilight gently set it down in the pale blue aura. Bringing it closer, she examined it closely, noting all of the attrition that time and an exuberant filly could inflict on it. She especially took note of the color, the horn and the wand, with an incisive smile. “Yes, I believe I can do something here. Now you said you want to keep the original material, how do you feel about... embellishing what's already here?”

Twilight looked to Trixie who said, “This doll was made by Trixie's mother, who passed on some time ago, and is therefore precious to her. She would prefer it be kept as true to the original as possible. However, if you wish, Trixie would not object to a few gemstones or such being added to the star of the wand. Amethysts would look nice if you have any, or failing that, rose quartz.”

The white unicorn looked very solemn as she digested this news. “Oh, of course you would, darling. I understand perfectly. Mothers are somewhat... sacred are they not?” Trixie looked away with a stony expression, but nodded in reply. Rarity looked over to her “to-do” pile which reached her withers from the floor. Oh, what the hay. If it's for true love, work can wait. She'd do the same for me. “I can have this done for you by tomorrow afternoon. Come by at closing time then, and I'll have it ready.”

Twilight nuzzled the seamstress' neck affectionately. “Thanks Rarity. I knew we could depend on you.”

“But of course, darling,” she replied. “Oh! Could you do me a teensy weensy favor, Twilight?” With her telekinesis, she pulled out a pair of scissors, and floated them over to her. “I've been meaning to get these sharpened, but just haven't been able to find the time. Would you mind taking these to Pokey Pierce for me? It shouldn't take him any time at all to do these.”

Twilight examined at the scissors dubiously. They looked so dull, she didn't think they could cut room-temperature butter. “No problem, Rarity. We'll have these back to you in no time at all. Come on, Trixie,” she said as she turned to go.

“Oh, wait, Twilight. Could you leave Trixie here? I have a few more questions about the doll if you don't mind.”

Looking confused, she nevertheless responded, “Sure. You mind, Trixie? This shouldn't take long, then we can go get lunch.” Trixie nodded, and the three waved goodbye.

Turning to the showmare, Rarity asked her, “So, have you been able to use that information yet?”

Trixie gave her a forlorn shake of her head. “Trixie is afraid not. Although she adores spending every waking moment with Twilight, Trixie has not had an opportunity to buy any flowers for her. To make matters worse, Twilight has recovered not only Trixie's old hat, cape, and most precious doll, but also her old show cart!” The azure mare paced in front of Rarity. “How can Trixie, great and powerful though she is, ever tell Twilight just how much what she's done for her truly means?”

She came face to face with the fashionista, a wild look in her eyes. “Not only was the hat, cape, and doll three of Trixie's greatest treasures, that cart was her home for almost seven years! Twilight has turned the homeless Trixie into a homeowner once more, and all without asking or expecting anything in return!” Trixie sat down and buried her face in her hooves. “Trixie has not felt this inadequate since that horrible night the Ursa came.” She grabbed onto Rarity's neck pleadingly. “Please! Help me!”

Rarity gently patted the distraught mare with a hoof. “There, there. It's not as bad as all that.” She put her hoof to her chin for a moment, and gave the situation some consideration. “Why don't you tell me what happened after you ran away that night. I had heard that Twilight went out and found you, but returned without you. What happened?”

Swallowing a hiccuping sob, Trixie stood and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Alright. If you think it will help. I had run off into the night...”

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Trixie had never felt quite so many conflicting emotions at once. She was happy to be alive, but mortified at being saved by a pony she had ridiculed not hours before. She was angry at her impotence, yet scared that the villagers or the Ursa would come finish her off. She was sad that once again, she was walking off into the night alone, yet glad that nopony was around to witness it. And those were only the emotions she could identify offhoof.

Not quite sure what to do with itself, her body decided that now was as good a time as any to dump all that unused adrenaline by having a good old fashioned emotional breakdown. Tears barely had time to well up in her eyes before they started streaming down her face. Her breaths came in ragged sobs, and her forelegs were quivering so badly, they couldn't support her any longer. Laying down in the grass under a tree, she had herself a good, long cry.

It was several long moments later when Trixie finally got a handle on herself. Still sniffling and wiping away tears, she heard a twig snap behind her, and turned with a start. “Who's there! Show yourself!” she demanded.

The now familiar lavender mare stepped into the moonlight. Trixie didn't think she'd ever forget her features. “Um,” the mystery unicorn said in a small voice, “I came to see if you're alright.”

Giving her head a shake, Trixie struck her haughtiest pose. “The great and powerful Trixie needs nopony's help,” she answered. With a disdainful sniff, she turned her head away. “You may go now. Trixie has much to do, and little time to waste on lesser ponies.” When no sounds could be heard of the other pony's leaving, she opened one eye to see her still standing there. “Did you not hear Trixie? She doesn't need you!”

Twilight winced at the raw shout, but didn't back away. “That was brave of you. Standing up to the Ursa, I mean,” Twilight noted as if making idle chatter. “Not many ponies could do that.”

Trixie squinted her eyes at the other mare, trying to determine whether or not she was being serious or not. “Trixie does not appreciate being made sport of. She'll thank you to keep your jibes to yourself.”

“I'm sincere, Trixie! Even trying to stand up to a creature like that, let alone defending a town you just arrived in speaks volumes about your character!” Twilight ducked her head, trying to catch her gaze. “You notice that nopony else was stepping up to do something. And Ponyville isn't exactly totally bereft of unicorns or capable fighters.”

The showmare looked confused. “So, you're really not here to hurt or ridicule Trixie?”

Twilight took a few steps forward. “Of course not. How could I make friends with you if I did that?”

“You want to be Trixie's... friend?” she asked incredulously. Trixie reared back with one foreleg held in front of her as if to ward off a blow or make ready to flee.

Taking another step forward, the librarian nodded. “I'd be happy to call you friend, if you'll have me, that is.”

It took a long moment for Trixie to find her voice again. “I- Trixie... would like that, too. What shall Trixie call you?”

“Well, my name is Twilight Sparkle, but my friends just call me Twilight or Twi, so you could use that,” she smiled at the azure unicorn. She held out her hoof and it was taken up by the hesitant mare.

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Rarity sat in silent contemplation, a nervous Trixie standing before her. “That does sound unusually outgoing for Twilight, especially back then.” She ruminated about this a moment longer. “Perhaps she was looking for a colleague to discuss magic with?” she speculated.

“What do you mean?”

“Well Trixie, and this is just a hypothesis mind you, but I think she may be looking for somepony that shares her interest in magic, and can keep up with her intellectually.” Rarity began pacing as she talked. “She often tries to discuss such things with us before remembering that none of us, myself included, are all that interested or talented at magic in general. None of the unicorns in the village can keep up with her once she gets going, not even Lyra, and she went to the same school as Twilight.”

Rarity sat down and heaved a sigh, clasping her hooves to her chest. “I suppose it's because she misses all the time she spent under Princess Celestia's personal tutelage. She thinks the world of the Princess and loves her dearly.” Setting her hooves down again she looked away sadly. “To be honest, Princess Celestia, and to a lesser extent, Princess Luna are the only ponies in Equestria who can match her at all. Intellectually, I mean.”

“And Intelligence is that important to Twilight Sparkle?” Trixie nervously asked.

The tailor brought a hoof up to her chest again. “Oh Heavens, yes! But it's not just raw intellect she's looking for, it's mental acumen, it's a razor-sharp wit, it's... an intuitiveness... a je ne sais quoi if you will.”

Trixie contemplated this for a moment in silence, then nodded. “Trixie believes she can provide all that, if it is for Twilight Sparkle.”

Rarity grinned widely and applauded. “Well said, well said! We'll have you two hooked up in no time with that kind of positive attitude! Now then! We need to get you something to give to Twilight as a thank you for all she's given you today, right?”

“Correct. Trixie would like very much to show her appreciation to Twilight Sparkle. Do you have any suggestions for her?”

The white unicorn sidled up to her and winked conspiratorially. “as a matter of fact, I can do you one better. This morning, I bought some white roses in town, anticipating that I could get them to you to give to Twilight.” Trixie gave her an astonished look. “Just go fetch them from the kitchen when Twilight gets here and surprise her with them.”

Trixie looked at her in awe. “You would do all this for Trixie?”

Waving a hoof dismissively, Rarity replied, “But of course darling! Anything for our dear Twilight. Besides,” she leaned in and whispered as if anypony else were in the room to hear, “This is for true love! One cannot do too much when helping true love run its course! Oh, and for lunch, take her to the little cart in front of Quills and Sofas. They make the best hay fries. They're a guilty pleasure of hers, you see.”

The door opened quickly, jingling the bell, and the two jumped apart. “Rarity, did you know that Pokey Pierce was out of town this week? Something about a convention of some sort,” Twilight asked as she trotted in, scissors floating beside her. Trixie unobtrusively made her way to the kitchen.

“Oh dear, was that this week? I had completely forgotten!” she said almost convincingly.

Twilight waved it off. “No worries. I was able to convince his brother to let me use the grindstone there.”

“B- Brother? Rarity asked in apprehension.

The librarian smiled with a far off look in her eyes. “Yeah, big stallion by the name of Cutting Edge. Almost as big as Mac. Huge muscles, and the prettiest blue eyes you ever seen. The kind you could get lost in. He was so nice to me, too...”

Rarity was in a panic. Badbadbadthisismajorbad! I hadn't counted on her falling for somepony else! And a stallion at that! I have to get her mind off of him and back on to Trixie fast before this takes hold and oh, my stars, I'm babbling again I need to get control before-

Rarity's train of thought was derailed by Trixie bringing in a bouquet of white roses and presenting them to Twilight. The lavender mare looked at them in surprise asking, “Trixie? What's all this about?”

She smiled as Twilight's magical field took control of the flowers and the librarian smelled their aroma. “This is something that Trixie wanted to give to you as a thank you for all the generosity you've shown her, Twilight. Trixie hopes that you like them,” she said nervously. Rarity may have assured her that these would do wonders towards wooing the mare of her dreams, but this was all still very new to her.

A feeling of nostalgia washed over Twilight as she inhaled the scent again. There was even a hint of ink and old paper from the bouquet's wrapping. A silly grin was plastered on her face as she remembered simpler times, growing up in the palace with Celestia. She had to wipe away some withheld tears before she could trust opening her eyes again. “Thank you, Trixie. They're beautiful.” Then, to the other two unicorns' shock, she kissed Trixie on the cheek.

Rarity was stupefied by the action. Not once did she ever expect her plans to work this well. Trixie was stunned as well, but still had control over her tongue. “You- you're quite welcome Twilight. Quite welcome, indeed.”

The moment was ruined when the door slammed open and a dark figure at the portal exclaimed loudly, “Ah-Ha!”

Author's Notes:

Chapter five has arrived! This one came out easier than I had expected. I guess it's the flashbacks I promised that help take up so much space. Still I hope this clears up a few mysteries, and satisfies those saying I needed to show rather than tell the backstory some. The usual disclaimers here. I don't own any of the characters, places, or things in this story, only the arrangement of the words. All the rest belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.