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After a brisk morning of tending to the creatures who depend on Fluttershy, she was drained and wanted nothing more than to spend the afternoon lazily playing with Angel Bunny in her living room. Fluttershy opens her door and is greeted with Angel running towards her and tugging at her front hoof. “Somebunny got lonely while I was gone?” Fluttershy responded. Angel facepalms and ushers Fluttershy to follow him. Fluttershy strolls behind Angel. “Food maybe, or uh…”, “Hello Fluttershy.” a voice declares. A light blue shadow has seemed to make itself comfortable on Fluttershy’s couch.
“EEEEEEEKKKKKK!” Fluttershy jumps out of her skin and jumps under the table to hide, there she lays shaking hoping the intruder will leave her be. “I know some ponies need a minute to adjust to laying eyes on the Great & Powerful Trixie, but this is new even for Trixie.” the shadow said boasting. From under the table Fluttershy could see various hairs and crumbs left from the animals. It has been a while since she had cleaned the cottage, but she didn’t remember planning to have company anytime soon either. “It’s uhm a surprise to have you here.” Fluttershy sheepishly found some words to give Trixie. “Well it isn’t everyday you are greeted with the presence of Trixie.” she said with a lilt of a snark. Fluttershy reverses out from under the table and prepares to ask the question she has loaded at Trixie. She takes a deep breath, gathers courage and shoots. “Why are you here Trixie?” “Well firstly Trixie needed to find a way into this very abode fate has had us cross paths in. A magician shan’t share any secrets, but the front door was no match for the Great and Powerful Trixie.” Fluttershy musters an interjection, albeit quiet. “Uhm Ponyville doesn’t have crime, nopony leaves their door locked.” Fluttershy is unsure if Trixie even heard her as Trixie continues her monologue. “And you are probably wondering why Trixie is here to begin with. Well Trixie heard about your teatimes with Discord and wanted to see what the fuss is about.”
“Uhm usually we plan beforehand, my tea reserves are… less than plentiful at the moment.” Fluttershy said regaining as much confidence as she is going to find at the moment. “Not to worry, for the resourceful and prepared Trixie brought her own.” Trixie says as she stuffs her hoof into the small, hastily sewn on pocket inside her cloak and produces battered and pathetic looking teabags with no labelling or identification on them and presents them proudly. “Trixie I… don’t think that will be necessary.” Fluttershy says hoping Trixie doesn’t pester her to try them. “ Unless you want a flavour that isn’t camomile or green tea? What flavour are those anyway Trixie?” Fluttershy takes Trixie aback with the sting of the question. “Trixie well uh Trixie uh… Trixie does not know, a kind colt gave them to me after an especially spectacular show in Manehattan. Said something about running a small local tea shop.”
Fluttershy has found her composure after the confrontation with her surprise visitor. “I suppose if you sit here for five minutes I can get some mugs and a teapot and slot you in before me, Rarity and Rainbowdash visit the spa.” Trixie chortles at hearing Rainbowdash’s name and Fluttershy gives her a gentle, yet piercing stare. “You can’t judge everypony by their cutiemark.” chastised Fluttershy. “That’s… kinda what Trixie wanted to talk to you about.” I’m the first pony to admit how I treated Snips and Snail is a bit much for an artist/fan relationship, even superfans such as them, but Trixie was condemned from the start by you and your friends for a little showboating.” Trixie sighs as she says this, hinting that she truly regrets her past decisions. Fluttershy chooses her next words carefully. “Uhm let’s get the tea and we can have this conversation with a nice warm drink. Would you like green, camomile or the bag you brought?” “Green is good.” replies Trixie. Fluttershy walks into her kitchen and leaves Trixie with the animals for company.
Trixie has some time to take in her surroundings. It is inspiring how Fluttershy manages to keep her cottage so clean and organised, even with all the animals running around and sharing the home with Fluttershy. Books stand proudly arranged by what animals are the topic of the book on a tall dark wool bookshelf. The only things left around the room are a couple toys for the animals. Trixie finds herself talking to herself “If only Trixie could be that organised, would mean a lot less shows where Trixie has to skip a trick cause I can't find the props. Before she has time to ruminate on the thought, her eyes drift to a snake sleeping coiled around a comfortable looking cat. “If those animals can get along, maybe there is hope for Trixie after all” Trixie attempts to reassure herself, but the effort is faint.
Before any more anxious thoughts can shrink Trixie’s resolve, Fluttershy arrives with a tray filled with steaming teas and a platter of the finest biscuits and cakes from Sugarcube Corner. “I uhm had a few sweet treats. I hope that's a fine addition.” smiles Fluttershy. She places them on her coffee table and slinks into her armchair. “Now lets start… if that is okay with you?” “Wonderful!” Trixie replies, “I uh… this is hard for Trixie to say.” stumbles Trixie. “Take your time, deep breaths and I won’t judge and neither will any other creature here” Fluttershy reassures Trixie before taking a sip of her tea. “Trixie wants to apologise for her actions last time she brought her show to Ponyville.” Trixie stares down her drink to avoid eye contact with Fluttershy or any other creature in the vicinity. “Trixie got a lil ahead of Trixie and her persona. Trixie isn’t used to good attention. Trixie had …” Trixie pauses to find what words she would feel comfortable sharing. “An awkward childhood. At my first show they threw tomatoes at me. At me, the Great and Powerful Trixie!!! Can you bel-” Fluttershy cuts off Trixie before it works itself up. “Oh my that sounds awful.” Fluttershy hoofs a biscuit to Trixie, who takes it while holding back tears. “There was something I wanted to apologise about your first visit actually. My friends kinda jumped on you from the get go which never sat right for me. I was too weak to speak up and I’m sorry. They antagonised you and I was complicit. The only valid point they had was the Snips and Snails thing.”
“Trixie knew it was wrong, but we will get there. Trixie was used to a rocky show, if anything that is the usual. It was nice to finally have some real fans, not getting chased out, harassed or what have you for once. It was the first time since being a filly that I felt wanted by anyone. It’s hard wanting, no, needing attention, yet feeling nopony likes the real you and feeling you have to put on a ponsona to get any attention. Snips and Snails liked that persona. Trixie was wanted, but Trixie mistreated them. Trixie didn’t treat them as friends, but as servants. “Fluttershy gently places her tea on the tray and gets up. “I know a thing or two about a persona causing issues, you would not believe the shenanigans that have happened because of me and my anxiety with being perceived, especially when my friends pushed me onto the stage, let me just go get something to show you.” Fluttershy leaves and starts rooting around her medicine cabinet in the kitchen. “Oh there you are!” Fluttershy returns with some blue flowers and starts pulling the petals off and dropping them onto her tea. She swirls the mug around for a bit before letting it settle and drinking.
“There was a time where I hid behind the stage and had another pony lipsync for me.” Fluttershy throws her hooves behind her head and begins tying up her hair to make it half the length with the end being smaller .”That pony was Big Mac, Applejack’s brother. “Fluttershy says in a deeper voice that took Trixie off guard. “I learned a lot about myself from that excursion, it’s easier being in public now that I know that I know I’m genderfluid.” Trixie is left speechless. “Trixie did not expect all that, but thanks. It means a lot, makes Trixie feel less alone, knowing there are ponies not the same, but like me.” Trixie is now sobbing, tears dripping onto her cloak. “So you also hid your true self as a stage persona like Trixie?” Trixie muttered in between sobs. “Uhm honestly it was a stressful time in my life, I'm lucky I had my friends help, support me and push me out of my shell in a healthy way. I took uh a confidence course once that turned me into a mean pony, believe it or not I was shouting ponies down for the tiniest of sleights.” Fluttershy giggles at her previous mistakes. “It was a lot living a double life, too much even, but it really showed me just how much my friends would do for me.” A smile on Fluttershy’s face showed just how proud of her friends and himself she is. “Trixie would prefer not to talk about…. details from my past that hurt, but there is a reason Trixie lives in a wagon for most of her great and powerful life and not with other ponies.” Trixie admits as she grabs a tissue to dry her eyes. “The teabags weren't from a fan either, Trixie just didn't want to seem as sad and pathetic as she actually is.”
Fluttershy realises why Trixie is really here, she is lonely and just wants a friend and is seeking it within Fluttershy. Fluttershy knows it can be hard to let yourself love and know others, especially if you have been spurned for your differences for all of your childhood. Fluttershy vows to show kindness, compassion and understanding to Trixie. “Aw Trixie you don't have to pretend to be somepony you aren't here and you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to Trixie, this is a safe space I promise.” Fluttershy smiles warmly to Trixie. Trixie wipes her tears on her front leg. Trixie just wants somewhere she can call a home. Trxie has been running her entire life. I don't want to just be Trixie, the Great and Powerful, I also want to be Trixie the mare, the pony and the friend.” Trixie begins to calm as she speaks, thanks both to Fluttershy and her consolement from a slice of cake.
Fluttershy glances at her clock. “Uhm I've to go to the spa soon, you are welcome to meet my friends and if they give you a hard time they will have to deal with me. We have a few more minutes before I have to get ready.” Trixie thanks you Fluttershy, Trixie should be getting going before Princess Luna raises the moon.” laments Trixie “Oh uhm about that Trixie. I thought maybe you would like to stay in Ponyville for the time being at least… if that's okay with you? There are plenty of spaces for your trailer away from the town center if you wanted some space from ponies.” Trixie beams at hearing this, a smile as wide as a filly in a candy shop. “Trixie would very much like living here.” she says while jumping out of her seat. “Trixie appreciates the offer for the spa, but Trixie would like time to gather Trixie’s thoughts and Trixie also would rather not be around those ponies at the present moment.Trixie hopes you understand” Fluttershy gifts Trixie a comprehending gaze. “You take time for yourself. Take care Trixie. Oh and uhm I promise Ponyville is kinder on queers, it’s part of why I moved here.” Fluttershy says enough for Trixie to know Fluttershy can pick up on her relationship with gender, but also not pressing the matter in any form. Fluttershy gets up from his seat to give Trixie a hug. Trixie receives the hug and surprises Fluttershy with a gentle kiss on her cheek. Before Fluttershy can respond, Trixie pulls away, slams a smoke bomb to the floor and gallops away to leave a blushing Fluttershy to her feelings.