------------------ Request Chapter: Trixie ------------------

The following takes place after "Marital Troubles" and before the "Seventy-Two Hours" trilogy

------------------

Lily was drunk.

No doubt about it, the spinning in her head was attributed almost solely to alcohol. She swayed a little in place, blinking unevenly as the room fought to spin her in a circle and leave her on the floor. Instead, she unevenly clattered down off of the bar stool and fixed her gaze on the faraway staircase.

The installation of a bar was a boon to their business on a normal night, when they were open and had customers... But on the nights they were closed, the prospect of delicious cocktails and mixed drinks had Lily frequenting the unsecured alcohol more than she ought to have. She wasn't the only one, though. Jade had passed out long ago and was snoozing peacefully on the hard wood surface. Brenda had managed to make it to one of the couches in the lounge, her legs skewed as she snored quietly. Lily was determined to make it further than both of them.

Which is to say she made it up two steps before unconsciousness took hold.

"Ngh... Lemme 'lone." She muttered tiredly, batting at whoever was poking her side.

"Get up, Lily. Come on."

"I just got here, lemme sleep for two more hours."

"Hon, you've been here for eight." Lily felt her curiosity roused just enough to raise her head and look around. The lounge was light, and behind her, the other two women were being unceremoniously roused and carried her direction.

"Fffffuck..." Lily grunted and managed to get her legs underneath her. She had coordination again, thankfully, but not lucidity. Almost in a dream-like state, she let whoever had gotten her up take her arm and guide her up the steps, stumbling here and there on the tricky flight. Finally, she made it up to the hallway and down to her own room. She was hardly aware of slipping inside and being stripped bare, though. At this point, she didn't care. As soon as she laid eyes on her bed, she stumbled drunkenly towards it, all but oblivious of the hands pulling her clothes off.

"I swear, we're gonna lock that shit up." Maggie grunted, stripping Lily of her panties and tucking her feet under the sheets. Lily felt the sweet, cool embrace of her comforter, nustled her face down into the pillow as the coolness slowly turned to warmth, carrying her off to sleep. She mumbled a clipped 'thank you' before passing out once again.

-----------------------

Lily was thankful Maggie had had the presence of mind to leave a wastebin next to her bed. She voided her stomach several times, making her way into the bathroom for the rest of the dry heaves. Satisfactorily empty, Lily spit into the toilet and went about cleaning up. It felt like no matter how much she brushed her teeth, though, the taste wouldn't leave. Nausea and drunkeness passed, Lily was able to finally become presentable once more. Between the clock and the light (or lack therof,) she guessed it was the same day, but late in the evening...

"Thank Celestia for three-day weekends..." Lily groaned, toying with her hair. It wasn't good enough for a work day, but she just needed something to eat. And some headache medicine. Popping the cabinet open, she took two pills with faucet water and proceeded to dress. Shorts and a t-shirt covering her just enough, Lily padded into the hallway, almost at the same time as her neighbor, Sierra.

"Holy shit! You look like hell." Sierra said teasingly.

"Oh fuck off." Lily groaned, giving the ebony avian a hug nevertheless.

"We need to get you cleaned up before tomorrow night, hon." Sierra said softly, walking with Lily down into the lounge. "If you still look this bad, just come over to my place before tomorrow night and we'll do a makeover. It's really just your eyes..."

"Hmm."

"Honestly, you okay?"

"Fine, actually..." Lily sighed, just a little upset with herself for treating a friend in such a fashion. "Just need some food, is all."

"Pasta."

"Huhn?"

"You need pasta. And green peppers. Come on, I'll fix you some... Eer... Breakfast?" Lily managed a tight smile. Anything else made her head want to split apart at the seams. Together, the two made their way down to the kitchen, where Sierra set about to boiling pasta and slicing vegetables. She slid a plate of green pepper and mushrooms over to Lily. "Pre-dinner snack." Lily smiled again and set in on the crunchy peppers, feeling much more hungry than she thought she had... Eating them one-by-one tided Lily over until Sierra finished the pasta, complete with a very hearty garlic tomato marinara sauce and hamburger. She filled her plate twice, and was feeling all but herself when the meal was finished.

"Better?" Sierra asked, taking Lily's plate.

"Thank you so much, Sierra... I owe you one." The ebony woman smiled and fluffled Lily's hair with a wing.

"Let me make you over tomorrow evening, and I'll consider us even. Ooh, before I forget, Maggie wanted to talk to you."

"Oh man..." Lily groaned, feeling her spirits fall. She figured she was in for a lecture.

"No, it's not about your drinking. Maggie kinda rolls with the blows on shit like that." Sierra called from the dish room, returning with a rag she was drying her hands on. "She says it was something to do with a customer." Lily felt her curiosity pique at the mention of a customer.

"Thanks again, Sierra." Lily embraced her friend with a soft hug and a kiss on the cheek, which was returned in kind, along with a teasing spank.

"Get goin', girl. Come by my place tomorrow, and we'll get you fixed up nice and pretty." Sierra smiled at a blushing Lily as she left the combined kitchen/dining room reserved for the girls and crossed the lounge. Up the stairs and to the first door on her right, Lily gently knocked. Maggie answered in short order, smiling at her.

"There's the lush. Feeling any better?" Lily groaned and slipped inside at the manager's insistence.

"Actually, thanks to Sierra I am."

"That girls knows how to cook good hangover food." Maggie gestured for her living room, taking a seat on a comfortable-looking recliner. Her personal apartment looked almost the same as the one she kept in Ponyville... Maybe a touch larger, but many of the decorations were the same. Lily sat on the couch with crossed legs.

"What's this I hear about a customer?" Lily asked first, smiling at the plucky manager. Maggie smiled and sipped at a cup of tea she had apparently been drinking.

"We got a different sort of request. The likes of which I've not seen before." She set her cup aside and steepled her fingers, looking at Lily over the rim of her glasses. "You're familiar with Twilight, this I know. And you know Twilight is a student in magic, studying almost directly under Celestia herself, right?" Lily nodded in the affirmative, wondering how this related to a customer... "Did you know Princess Luna has a student of her own?" Lily blinked.

"I suppose that makes sense..." Lily muttered.

"She sent us this." Maggie fished an envelope from the same table that held her tea and handed it to Lily. Hesitantly, she took it and flipped the already-opened seal over, producing a folded piece of paper. Maggie gestured for her to read, so Lily did...

To the proprietor of the establishment "Maggie's,"

Greetings. As you can most likely tell from the seal on the envelope containing this letter, I hail from the Royal Academy, class Alpha, directly under her majesty, Princess Luna. I would not contact you if the matter were not important, if not urgent. My name is Trixie Fleur A La Cadenza IV, and I have a proposition for you and your establishment.

As rumor has it, your establishment houses a Changeling, and indeed, it works regularly as a member of your staff. There is, unforunately, a marked lack of research on Changelings in the Canterlot Royal Library, and as such, my mentor and Princess has tasked me with gathering more data on these mysterious and admittedly elusive creatures. I would humbly request A (1) night with said Changeling for the purpose of reasearch and science, and nothing else. Given the nature of what I'm sure is an unusual request for your establishment, I have been authorized to reimburse you the standard rate for an average service. Should you and the Changeling choose to accept, payment will be authorized to your account immediately.

Additionally, for the purpose of research, please inform the Changeling that it will be the subject of numerous magical experiments, including but not limited to:

-Gene Observation

-Forced Transformation

-Homeostasis Observation

-Prioritus Major

-Blood Sampling (Optional)

If the Changeling or your establishment should choose to decline, I would inform you the loss to the scientific community would be detrimental to future generations, as this rare opportunity most certainly would not occur anywhere else.

Sincerely yours,

-Trixie Fleur A La Cadenza IV

Maggie's grin had spread as Lily read the note, her own expression darkening or growing just plain offended in some areas. Once done, she re-read it, just to make sure this person, whoever it was, was serious. She tucked the letter back in it's envelope and tossed it on the coffee table, looking up at Maggie, who was fighting a grin through taking a sip of tea.

"So, what, she's just too incompetent to capture one live?"

"That's what I gathered." Maggie chuckled, setting her tea aside. "Do you accept."

"I suppose... We'll probalby never hear the end of these requests if I don't." Lily frowned at the envelope, her ears heating at the offensive letter it held... "Thought I might have to give her a piece of my mind before the night is out." Maggie chuckled again, standing and stretching.

"I'll call the academy right away and schedule the research."

"No need for that." Both women gasped at the alien voice, wheeling around. To Lily's surprise, Maggie's hands began to glow with a thick aura, the frail woman summoning magic to combat whomever it was who had spoken.

"Luna!" She gasped, almost immediately dropping the spell she had been working on. Lily herself relaxed at the sight of the beautiful, tall, princess of the night. Luna smiled serenely, looking between the two women, changeling and magi, and their shocked expressions.

"No need to act so surprised, ladies." She said in that husky, oh so seductive low voice of hers. "I assure you, I'm here on business." She smoothly took Maggie's vacated seat, gesturing for the two of them to sit on the couch. Lily was beginning to wonder what else the princesses had to do if they could keep dropping in on the humble whorehouse so frequently. "Firstly, thank you for accepting my student's humble request. Even if I was the one to task her with it." Luna chuckled softly, an almost natural sound for such a beautiful woman. "Poor girl's been running herself ragged in the Everfree forest, trying to capture your former comerades, Lily."

"P-princess!" Lily stuttered. "Changelings are dangerous! Trying to capture one of them, let alone go anywhere near a group larger than three or four could be extrememly dangerous! Fatal, even!" Luna waved her off, almost like brushing off a care she needn't be bothered with. Lily was shocked.

"I'm well aware. I wouldn't send my personal apprentice to capture a changeling if I wasn't sure she'd be perfectly capable of at least defending herself. If her correspondence is any indication, changelings don't like fire all that much..." Luna smiled and settled back into the chair, crossing her legs smoothly. Lily, as always, was struck by the beauty the princess seemed to inherently have. Luna spoke again, her tone markedly different... Much more... Husky.

"I have a proposition. Another, as it were... I guess you could say... A challenge..." Lily swallowed and nodded. "Should my apprentice... Well... Enjoy her stay at Maggie's, I would double the standard rate, in addition to what she has offered. Effectively tripling the payment. However. If Trixie ONLY does her research, and nothing else, you would recieve just her payment, and I would have Lily to myself for one whole night. Free of charge." There was a pause between all three gathered women, Lily's jaw actually hanging open. She managed to wrap her mind around exactly what it was Luna was asking her, and finally brought herself to speak.

"I accept."

"Good." Luna stood, stretching her wings out. She moved so gracefully, but fast, too... Lily scrambled to stand and take the princess' extended hand in a firm shake. An agreement. "I'll ensure my apprentice arrives within the next four days. Please, Lily. Be prepared." With that, she was gone, Leaving Lily with her arm still extended into open air.

"You sure you're up for this?" Maggie said after a few moments of stunned silence. Lily dropped her hand at last, still looking at the spot the princess had last been. Slowly, she turned to Maggie, a devious grin plastered across her lips.

"I was born ready for this."

--------------------------------

"Behold! The Great and Powerful TRIXIE!" A fanfare preceeded the cloaked figure that swept through the front door. Lily groaned inwardly at the cheap music and flashing lights of magic. Behind her, all the other girls were equally unimpressed, stoic faces and lazily blinking eyes. The figure, sensing the tension in the room, quickly dropped the act, one last fizzle of magic spitting on the floor. She brushed it away with her toe before swinging her cloak off her shoulders. Underneath, Trixie was an attractive-looking woman with fair features and a full head of pure, white hair. Despite her haughtiness in the letter and obvious showmanship,

Trixie was beautiful... She wore a teal blouse that left her long arms bared, and long, straight black slacks. Her face boasted just a modicum of makeup, some mascara and bit of eyeliner. Nothing drastic. She didn't even wear lipstick on her full, pink lips. Her eyes flashed with intelligence and understanding... Lily thought it a shame she wasn't as modest in demeanor as she was in appearance.

"Welcome." Lily was the first to speak, walking forward to offer a hand. Trixie took it with both of hers, immediately lifting her fingers up for what Lily thought would be an awfully chivalrous kiss to her fingertips. Instead, Trixie spread her fingers apart and started muttering to herself.

"Human-like digital structure, moderate firmness on nails, trimmed, appropriate length, skin tone and firmness is average, fair, absent any flaws... Save one hangnail."

"Ahem." Lily pulled her hand away, fighting back a bitter word. "My name is Lily, and welcome to Maggie's."

"So you do have names, then?" Trixie immediately snatched Lily's hand and resumed combing over it for detail. Lily had to forcefully pull away, the on-duty security guard stepping forward to intervene. Lily stopped him with a hand, her look pleading a bit of understanding from the big man. With a shrug, he went back to the front door, still eyeing Trixie up and down.

"Yes, we have names. My changeling name was Liliana, but I prefer Lily."

"You don't look like a changeling."

"Because I'm shifted right now."

"Is that what you call it? Shifting?" Lily blinked and slowly pinched the bridge of her nose. She could hear murmurs behind her as the girls of Maggie's discussed the offensive magi.

"Let's just... Go elsewhere for this." Lily turned and started walking away, Trixie jogging until she was shoulder-to-shoulder with her object, still looking the changeling up and down pointedly. Lily ignored the eyes roaming over her body, leading Trixie well and away from the others. Getting this stuck-up woman to enjoy herself was going to be a chore... Down four different hallways and into an open room, Lily locked herself and Trixie in serreptitiously. The Magi didn't seem to notice as she immediately launched into another series of questions.

"Are other Changelings named?" Lily groaned and ignored her, padding towards a group of three chairs and one couch, all arranged in a circle. She sunk into one of the chairs, but Trixie pressed the question again. "I said are other Changelings named?"

"Nice to meet you too, Trixie, can I offer you some tea or perhaps soda?"

"I'm asking you a question."

"And being incredibly rude in doing so, Miss Cadenza. Any relation to the Princess?"

"I don't see how that's relevant to our-"

"Your offensive letter and demeanor are making this entire process anything BUT relevant to my night, Trixie. I suggest you begin treating me with at least a modicum of decency, or you'll find yourself without any research notes, save for what you've already taken from my hand." That shut her up. Lily nodded her head to the chair opposite. "Have a seat, and let's begin again, hmm?" Trixie did so, smoothing the seat of her slacks as she sat opposite of Lily, twining her fingers together with a soft sigh.

"I do apologize, Liliana-"

"Lily."

"Right, Lily... My previous efforts to gather research data on Changelings have been..."

"Unsuccessful?"

"That's the polite word for it." Lily chuckled as Trixie continued. "I'm sorry if I appear to be too brash. I suppose three months tracking and trying to capture changelings can make one a little TOO eager to study one up close. And I apologize for the letter, as well... I was stressed and had been dealing with some less-than-agreeable changeling patrols at the time... Luna and I have come to refer to the non-sentient drones as "Its" and "Theys" not... Personalities. Please, may we continue?" Lily smiled and crossed her own legs, reclining into the chair.

"Tell you what. I understand you're eager to get on with your research, especially after three months. But if you indulge yourself all in one go, you're likely to get as burnt out as me. So let's do this." Lily smiled deviously. Best to take charge early. "For every question you ask, I ask one as well. One after the other. Pad heavy-duty research with some light-hearted banter. Just so you don't get burnt out." Trixie blinked, weighing her options. She seemed to be teetering on the edge of a decision. "Besides," Lily added after a moment. "We have the entire night." That seemed to do it. Trixie nodded with a slight smile.

"Very good idea... Should I begin or would you like to?" Lily smiled and adjusted her legs, getting comfortable.

"Let's itch the scratch. You begin." Trixie lit up at the suggestion and immediately barked her first question.

"Is there a ranking system amongst changlings?"

"Yes, but it only consists of three tiers. The queen is dominant over us all, and underneath her are what she refers to as Lieutenants. These are changelings like myself with considerable power, who have developed sentience. Not nearly as powerful as Chyraslis, each Lieutenant has an inherent talent for very minimal magical ability." To demonstrate, Lily cast a glowing hand towards the fireplace, hefting a small, ticking clock on the mantle. She floated it into Trixie's hand, but even doing that much had fatigued her. She fought to keep from breaking out in a sweat, and her muscles felt tired."

"Fascinating," Trixie muttered.

"Below them are the drones. Mindless beings held under the sway of Chrysalis' control. They are controlled by what we refer to as the 'Hive Mind.' That's Chrysalis' ability to control, direct, and interact with them." Lily finished the question, giving Trixie all the information she could have wanted. Lily understood how detailed research notes needed to be.

"How does a changeling progress through the ranks?"

"Aah, aah." Lily raised a finger with a smile. "My turn."

"Right. My apologies." Trixie set the clock on the small table between them and straightened. "Ask me anything." The first question was a personal one Lily had had since seeing the letter.

"Your name is Trixie Fleur A La Cadenza IV... Cadenza. Do you have any relation to Mi Amore Cadenza, or Princess Cadence?" Trixie wilted slightly at the question. Apparently, it was one she recieved often.

"Distantly, and only in name. My great-great grandfather was Flourish Philomente A La Cadenza, a personal student of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza long ago... Apparently, she saved him from slavery with the Chimera to the north, but he had been born into it... He didn't have a name, so she let him take hers. She trained him in magic, and raised him to be the man he was. My family kept that name through the long generations, but I'm afraid I'm the last... And I cannot make my husband take my name. If I ever find one, that is... Yes, I am related to Princess Cadence. But only in name." Lily swallowed. She seemed to be eager to share some of herself, with the detail about her name... Lily felt a twang of guilt for treating this beautiful magi in such a way.

"Your turn." Lily said quietly. Trixie shook her head, as if casting off her thoughts, and looked up at Lily.

"Right. How does a changeling ascend from drone to lieutenant?" Lily swallowed softly.

"When it happened to me, I didn't know it... The Hive Mind dominated me almost entirely when I was but a drone. I just sort of... Awoke one day. With the mind of a child, the other lieutenants were my teachers, Chrysalis my mother... I developed intelligence, eventually, and grew into an independent changeling. A Lieutenant. Stealing into cities, learning, researching, Chrysalis sent her lieutenants out to grow and become opinionated. Loyal, but independent. I would assume it was so she could have different points of view on important decisions. Often, she would consult with us on important matters. It wasn't until much later I witnessed a Lieutenant being born..." Lily swallowed. The Q&A was slowly becoming painful. That particular memory made her break out in a cold sweat.

"Chrysalis gathered all of us, six in total, and told us to watch... She pointed out to a sea of drones, and her hand glowed... It grew into a ray, circular in shape, that lanced out and covered all the changelings it met in it's glow... Then... Then..." Lily's hands shook with the memory. The next words she said were a whisper. "They fought..." She managed to look up at Trixie. "To the death."

Silence.

Pure, unbroken silence.

It reigned for a full minute before Lily could continue. Al lthe while, she fought to steady her hands, to keep the bile from rising up her throat... The haunting vision of what had transpired that day resurfaced fresh and new. Back when she was a Lieutenant, it wasn't a big deal... She was young still, and had much to experience... To her, it was as natural as another lesson with her fellow lieutenants, talking about mathematics or geography. Now, revisiting it, it was like a brand-new nightmare. She wondered if Nyralith had been born in the similar bloodbath as that one. Lily knew she had been. She tried not to think about it. Finally, Lily swallowed the lump in her throat and continued.

"The last changeling standing was Ajax. He joined our ranks. The strongest of the bunch. Blood of his brothers and sisters still on his hands. We cleaned him, trained him, made him one of us..." Lily was sharing too much. Getting side tracked. She had a goal to accomplish this evening... Trixie wasn't the only one with an agenda. "Th-that's how a lieutenant breaks the ranks. In a bloodbath." Trixie appeared stirred but not shaken. Her eyes were wide and her fingers curled, but she very quietly spoke.

"Your turn." Time for a change of pace. Lily shook her head, the fiery red curls swinging about and bouncing. She stood and padded to a nearby wall, which held some electronics.

"What type of music do you like, Trixie?" Lily asked.

"I prefer Jazz... Anything from Neigh Orleans." Lily smiled back at her. A woman after her own heart. Picking one CD from a small stack, Lily opened the case and slid it into the reciever. Soon enough, the soft sound of a low saxophone drifted from speakers in the upper corners of the room, giving them a quiet soundtrack. Trixie smiled at the choice, relaxing visibly in her own chair. "Good choice. I love this artist."

"One of my personal favorites." Lily tapped a foot in time with the slow beat. "Your turn."

"What? Oh, yes... Ahem. Rumor has it changelings can shift into creatures other than human, avian, or apparently magi. What others are you able to shift into?" Trixie's question was indeed a good one.

"Lieutenants are able to change into a variety of other creatures, big and small. While drones are limited to forms that may not surpass that of, perhaps, a small bear... Lieutenants can push the envelope and shift into a variety of other, larger, and more complex creatures. For instance..." Lily adopted the form of a chimera, the scaly, humanoid, hulking creatures that made their home in the frigid climes north of Stalliongrad and further. She was about twice the size of any human at that moment, the chair groaning under her weight. She stood gingerly, her back haunched so the wicked-looking spikes along her spine didn't scrape the cieling. Wicked, curved talons tipped four muscular arms, her four legs coiled powerfully underneath her. Trixie stood up from her chair and was backing away fearfully. Lily, with a reptilian sort of smile, shifted back to her normal form, and Trixie relaxed visibly, laying a hand on her chest.

"Chimera, manticore, naga, a changeling can shift into any being, and many times, keep their inherent magical abilities. Hell, I can even change into an Ursa Minor." The mention of that particular beast made Trixie tense for a few moments. There was a pause of silence as the magi stared at Lily with wide eyes. Slowly, she relaxed, settling into her chair and taking a deep breath.

"Thank Luna there are only seven of you left..."

"Six." Lily corrected. Trixie almost asked a question, but an arched eyebrow from Lily stopped her. She settled on a quizical expression instead, which Lily chuckled at. "I'll tell you. I killed Ajax... Though, Rarity, from Ponyville, is seeing another changeling who is on-par with a lieutenant whom I wasn't familiar with... So unless Chrysalis made another lieutenant in my absence, or had some far, far away, there may be more... And speaking with this other changeling, Nyralith is her name. She prefers Nyra. But speaking with her, she said some of the other Lietenants, and even a few drones, may have fallen from the horde. Honeslty, I'm surprised Luna hasn't told you this beforehand..."

"As am I..." Trixie said, her tone holding more meaning than Lily probably took from it. "Ah well. We're here now. Your turn, Lily." Trixie relaxed, though she looked slightly more frazzled than she had been previously. Lily smiled. Time for another game changer.

"Do you prefer men or women?" Trixie blinked before furrowing her brow, frowning at Lily.

"I hardly see how this is relevant to this discussion..."

"If you don't answer my question, I won't answer any more of yours. Though, as it stands, I've answered two of yours, and you've only answered one of mine. One way or another, Miss Cadenza, you owe me the answer to this question."

"There was a reason you had me ask first, wasn't there?"

"My question right now, Trixie." Lily reminded her. The haughty magi heaved a sigh, the plunging neck of her blouse revealing a little more cleavage than it was probably designed to... Lily fought to keep from grinning.

"I prefer the fairer sex, I suppose... Men can be so... Brutish... Though they aren't without their perks, for sure." So she was bi... Lily lost the fight with her enjoyment, grinning lewdly at Trixie. "What's with THAT smile?" Trixie said, sounding half-shocked, half-offended. Lily wiped away quick as she could, waving off the question.

"Nothing. Your turn."

"No, answer that same question. Why were you smiling just now?" Fuck. Trixie was good. Lily certainly couldn't reveal the bet between Luna and herself about bedding the magi. She told a half-truth.

"Personal interest. You're obviously an attractive woman, and you seem to be under an awful lot of stress. I pick up on things like that. My business is the business of pleasure, after all..." Lily dodged the bullet, breathing a quick sigh of relief as Trixie seemed to accept her answer.

"Your turn." She said cautiously. Lily smiled and moved on.

"What is your favorite form of masturbation?"

"Okay, now that is HARDLY-"

"Answer the question, Trixie. You still owe it to me. AND I answered your unasked question about the remaining lieutenants. The way I see it, you SHOULD owe me two." Lily teased, her grin returning as Trixie flushed fought with professional obligation and personal embarassment.

"Still don't see how this is relevant..."

"I'm waiting, Miss Cadenza..."

"Fingers. There. My turn now?" Her clipped answer made Lily pout playfully, but she nodded.

"Indeed."

"Can I expect any more questions of a personal nature from you this evening, Miss... Lily?"

"Given that every single one of your questions so far has been of a personal and admittedly sensitive nature to myself, yes. I should think so." Trixie opened her mouth, as if to say something, but blushed when Lily mentioned how the questions she was asking were probably much the same... A different kind of personal, but sensitive nevertheless. Indeed, the resurfaced memory of Ajax's "Birth" was going to be a difficult one to suppress...

"I'm sorry." Trixie muttered. Lily lifted a shoulder indifferently.

"Doesn't matter. I agreed to this, though I knew it may be painful... You had a list in your letter, though... Of other things you may need to do... Would you like to move on to them, instead of asking questions?" Trixie lit up and nodded enthusiastically, her hair whipping about her face. Lily smiled and stood. "Well, let's get to it then. What do you need from me?" Trixie waved her hands in a pattern, her hands thick with the glow of her arcane power. Lily watched as a rather large pack-like bag appeared in the air, shimmering as Trixie set it on the table between them.

"First off, I'll ask you the optional questions. Would you be inclined to give a blood sample?"

"Not at all." Lily sat on the couch as Trixie indicated, the magi bending over to pull a sort of kit from the bag. She pulled a zipper along the side and flipped it open. Inside was a set of needles and an empty vial, in addition to a tourniquet. Trixie set about collecting a sample from Lily, tucking the vial away safely and healing the small puncture wound. Lily didn't feel a thing the entire procedure.

"And, would you be willing to submit to a... A..." Lily frowned at Trixie as the magi stuttered over the words.

"A..."

"Uum... Physique examination...?" When Lily blinked, trying to figure exaclty what Trixie meant by that, the magi answered her unasked question. "Allow me to see... All of your body. To see how similar they are. Eer, how accurate your magic is..." Trixie's blush could have lit the room. Lily blinked again, but smiled in the end.

"Trixie, you coy fox." She teased. "Ask to conduct research, then get me to take my clothes off." Lily stood from the couch and pulled the zipper on her dress down, smiling at the wide-eyed Magi.

"Wh-what are you-"

"Trixie, relax. I'm getting paid for my time one way or another. Might as well get paid to do what I do best." Lily's dress fell to the floor in a heap, leaving the lusty changeling in just her lacy bra and matching panties. Trixie swallowed at the sight, her blush deepening further. "Just remember." Lily's voice turned serious. She pointed a finger at Trixie with one hand while the other moved up to the strap of her bra. "This is for science." Her bra shrugged off her shoulders smoothly, the wired cup still covering her breasts. Trixie's thighs visibly squirmed on the couch as Lily began to marginally expose herself, inch by inch of her breasts becoming bared to the magi's probing gaze. As her nipples finally made it into the low light of the room, Trixie swallowed hard.

"R-right. Science." Lily had her. Trixie was on the ropes. Lily was about to deliver the knockout punch. Popping the hooks on her bra, Lily tossed the lacey undergament aside. Her entire, shapely chest was now exposed to the blushing magi, a coy grin spreading across Lily's cheeks. Trixie appeared to be at a loss for words. Understandably, since Lily was a very attractive woman... Slowly, Trixie rose to her feet, standing a few short feet away from Lily. The changeling hooked the hem of her panties, raising an eyebrow seductively. It worked. Mouth opening in a sort of exasperated gasp, Trixie spoke.

"Y-yeah... Those too..." Smoothly, Lily pushed the fabric down her long legs, bending at the waist while her head watched Trixie's expression the entire time. The skimpy negligee bunched around her ankles, and when Lily righted herself, she stepped one leg out, using the other to flick her panties to the side. Trixie was gifted with the briefest of brief glimpses of Lily's shaved pubis before the changeling turned around, her long curls falling halfway down her back, not quite enough to cover her firm, curved rear.

"Get on with the examination, then." Lily teased, her arms raising to pull her hair up off her shoulders. She looked back at Trixie with heavy-lidded eyes, a sultry smile on her lips at the magi's shocked expression.

"Uuh..."

"Hmm?"

"Lily, you're..."

"Yes, Trixie?"

"Aroused." Indeed she was... Lily could feel the heat in her crotch raise... Perhaps thanks to a long-buried exhibitionist streak... Maybe because she was getting lost in the pure, simple seduction she had originally taken part in long ago. Either way, Lily could feel the dampness begin to spread on her core... Trixie could apparently sense it. Lily knew she knew it. Trixie knew Lily knew she knew it. The only question remained was what would the inquisitive magi do about it? Lily's hips began to sway back and forth as she let Trixie's implied word hang between them. Hesitantly, Trixie's hands began to raise towards Lily. She took one tentative step. Another. Lily turned her head forward, spreading her feet just a little, closing her eyes. Vision dark, Lily could only feel... Listen... Wait.

The first tingle of magic came with a soft touch to her shoulder. She almost sighed at the contact, but managed to control her simpering moan. The touch intensified as Trixie laid three fingers, five, her palm against Lily's warm flesh. Silence reigned between the two of them as Trixie's other hand joined in, laying on her shoulders, sending a charge of powerful, tingling magic shooting into Lily's system. It was inquisitive, a sort of magic that was only there to record what it felt, to see, to feel... And Trixie was feeling plenty. Her hands started sliding over Lily's body, directing the glow of magic with it. It started at her shoulders, moved down her spine... Trixie's hands were almost pressed together as they slid lower, leaving an odd trail of tingles, not entirely from magic... Lily couldn't repress it. She gave a soft whimper, thin enough to go unnoticed. Either that or Trixie was focused.

"Extra vertebrae..." Trixie muttered softly.

"Hm?"

"You have an extra vertebrae... In your spine." She said softly. Lily blinked, her eyes opening just for that one motion. She closed them again, letting silence take it's place again. Trixie's hands stopped low on her back, the heel of her palm just barely above the tip of Lily's crack... She prayed Trixie went lower... Her lower lip drew inbetween her teeth, her chest tightened... With a hardly audible sigh, Trixie's hands obliged Lily's unheard wish. Smooth as could be, her hands moved over the gentle curve of Lily's rear, each hand laying flat on her cheeks... Lily heard the whisper of fabric as Trixie fell to her knees, her hands pausing for a few long moments on the soft flesh of Lily's ass.

"Haah..." Lliy gave one breath as Trixie moved past them, caressing the upper part of her thighs now. Lily felt a twitch run through her muscles at the insistent tingle of magic. This certainly had escalated... Just a few short minutes ago, Lily was spilling her guts about changelings and her past... Now, she was being caressed by a -very- skilled magi... She couldn't help but let a gush of wetness trace it's way down her thigh. Trixie didn't miss a beat.

"Want me to stop?" She whispered quietly. Lily smiled to no one in particular.

"Hardly." She could almost hear Trixie gnaw on her own lip... "Keep going." Trixie obliged, her hands sliding lower, past the crook of her knee, down to her calf, even as low as her ankles. She shifted gears then, her hands gliding over the top of Lily's foot, up the front of her calf, and to her knee. From there, it went much slower. Wether because Trixie was enjoying herself or fighting it, though, Lily didn't know. She didn't care. The magi was hers now. Trixie was still behind her, her hands wrapped around to the front of Lily's thighs, marginally inching higher. Higher... Lily thought she could feel the magi's breath against her rear... Her hands were almost up to her hips, completely having missed the epicenter of heat and desire in Lily's crotch... Lily couldn't stand for it. She couldn't. It wasn't going to happen. Action, girl.

"Hh-hah!" Lily turned around quickly, her hand falling to Trixie's head of platinum hair. Feet spreading in the action, her center was exposed. Trixie hadn't expected it. But she had wanted it. Lily was half-expecting to have to force it out of the magi. Instead, the second she spun about, Trixie opened her mouth and quickly delved in. Lily gave a gasp as a rough, insistent tongue began peeling her apart, prodding and poking at her sensitive areas. Lily panted, feeling Trixie eagerly lap at her wet lips. She was quivering and gasping before long, saliva and arousal coursing from her hole at the insistence of Trixie's surprisingly experienced mouth. Lily's hand tightened in her hair, disheveling the elegant curve she had fashioned it into. Trixie didn't seem to mind. Not one bit.

Trixie's hands had stayed in much the same place, and as such, were now cupping both of Lily's cheeks. Inbetween long, rough licks, the magi would squeeze, making Lily's thighs jump with the magic-induced muscle spasm. Trixie moaned into her center, mouth full of woman, hands full of ass... Lily was loving this. Both the satisfaction of earning triple a night's wages, and swaying the seemingly obstinate researcher to an erotic experience. She still had her old touch. Whimpering as the magi's ministrations moved to her clitoris, Lily fought to hold back from an orgasm.

"Trixie," She panted in warning. "Gonna... I'm gonna... AAH!" The headlong rush of an orgasm gripped Lily firmly, making her stomach twitch in time with the smooth flicks that guided her down from that peaking, pulsating rush she just so happened to enjoy so very, very much... Panting and whimpering, Lily smoothly relaxed, looking down at a smiling Trixie. Her target grinned back up at her, smoothly rising to her feet at the changeling's insistence. As seemed to be the case with many magi Lily had encountered, they were rather thin and physically weak...

Trixie's lips met Lily's with hardly any resistance, their tongues almost immediately meeting in a passionate, serpentine dance... The taste of her own arousal on the magi's lips made Lily groan, wanting to return the favor already. Together, both women began steadily walking towards the bed. Trixie unbuttoned her blouse, shrugging out of the fabric and pulling at the button of her slacks. Those and her shoes fell to the floor just as both women tipped over the edge, Trixie atop Lily.

"My turn." Lily teased, her lips leaving the magi's with a breath.

"What are you- ooohh..." Trixie's moan was preceeded by Lily's fingers gliding over her flat stomach, easily parting the gap between the hem of her teal-colored panties and the soft skin underneath. They smoothly switched positions, Lily now smoothly pulling the magi's panties down her long, slender legs. Trixie yielded them with a groan, her back arching slightly to lift her hips up. Lily tossed them aside haphazardly, letting Trixie pull her own bra off. Right now, Lily's eyes and mouth were busy gliding over her flat stomach, teasing the flesh just below her belly button. It was small, delicate, and made Trixie gasp each time she left a shining kiss just at the edge. Lily's hands urged Trixie's legs apart, gingerly spreading her researcher apart. Enough of the teasing... Time to get to the good stuff.

"HUUUUHH!" Trixie's gasp made her spine arch upwards, her hands twisting the sheets into fists. Lily's first lick had delved deep inside the panting magi's center, spreading her apart and gliding deep. "Ooh-h-h-h..." Trixie relaxed slowly, marginally, not helped at all by Lily's writhing tongue... She pulsed left and right, up and down, teasing the poor platinum-haired woman until she was little else than a panting, dribbling mess... She was surprisingly wet. More so than Lily herself... Seriously, who could get this wet? This was almost obscene. Wait.

"Trixie." Lily said softly.

"Two!" The magi gasped, answering the unasked question. She had a habit of doing that. Lily's eyes went wide.

"Two times? Already?"

"It's been MONTHS since I've had a chance... Keep going. Please!" Trixie pleaded, her hips squirming. So that would explain it... Lily grinned and placed a dripping-wet kiss on Trixie's twitching stomach before returning her attention to the dripping slit beneath her. Trixie's eyes closed as she twitched again, mouth open in a silent scream. Judging by the fresh wave of juice dripping from her chin, Lily could only guess that was the third... Pulling her mouth away, Lily stood at the edge of the bed, her hands resting flat on Trixie's thighs.

"I think..." She said, dripping wetness onto the carpet. "We need to take a break. EEP!" Lily was unceremoniously lifted from the ground by a firm tug of magic. The tingle around her entire body betrayed the scope of Trixie's hold. She lifted one hand, smiling at Lily's suspended form. The magi maneuvered her over the bed, smiling as she laid flat out, her body still in the same position.

"Not a chance, Lily." Trixie teased, flipping her over and dropping her on her back. Lily landed with an 'Oof!' and a glower. Trixie smoothly straddled her face, her dripping hole poised just over Lily's mouth. "Might as well conduct research on changeling endurance and stamina while we're at it..." With another playful frown and a soft spank, Lily set back in on the sensitive magi, her own aching womanhood recieving the same amount of attention. Trixie was warmed up and accustomed to it now. Her fourth orgasm came only a little before Lily's second, and her fifth at the same time as Lily's third. Panting, she rolled off, her lips shining with evidence of Lily's pure, eager arousal... Not to say Lily's face wasn't worse for the wear... Trixie was a veritable fountain... Though it wasn't the messy, spurting kind of wet... she just consistently seeped it. Over the course of the intense licking, a damp spot had grown underneath Lily's head.

"Woah..." Lily groaned, raising a hand into her hair. The long, curly strands were damp with musky arousal. Lily smiled at a job well-done, as Trixie lifted a hand weakly, only to drape it across her own stomach.

"Changeling... Guh... Stamina levels appear to be... Comparable to... Humans..." She groaned. "Orgasm rate... Unable to be determined."

"How?"

"Invalid data set to compare against..."

"Meaning?"

"I came too much to be able to tell if you had the same number of orgasms a normal woman would..." Trixie grunted.

"Oh..." Closing her eyes tiredly, Lily laid a hand on Trixie's thigh, just below the magi's hand.

"I don't suppose..."

"You can sleep here, Trixie." Lily said softly, her breathing finally returning to normal. "Already paid for a night..." She chuckled.

Her words fell on deaf ears. Trixie was already asleep.

---------- Notes from the Author ----------

Nyeeeeeeehh... I thought this chapter would take me half as much time as it did. Trixie most certainly isn't my favorite, so I thought I could brush through this with ease and move on to the next one. Nope. Silly Loyal, gotta put some important piece of Lily's history in there.

I realize the transition from story to clop needs work. I probably need to work on that period.

And, to clear up confusion, Nyralith's "Bloodbath" lieutenant thingy happened shortly after Lily left at the beginning of A Different Kind of Love. That's why Lily didn't know her.