Trixie Goes to Magic Kindergarten (unfinished) by Bluejay

Trixie Goes to Magic Kindergarten by Bluejay

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A hooded figure walked the streets of lower Canterlot. She kept to the shadows, not wanting to be seen, until she reached a small shop in a secluded alley. Perhaps one of these arcane trinkets or curiosities could help her. She didn't bother introducing herself to the stallion at the counter, keeping her face obscured; in times such as this, anonymity is–
>"I know it's you, Trixie. You don't need t'be so dramatic about it."
The blue mare removed her hood and glared at him.
>"Dammit, Tarot. I am trying to keep a low profile here."
The shopkeeper rolled his eyes.

>"You've got some nerve showing your face around here, Trix. Since, y'know, you're kinda wanted for that whole 'possession of contraband magical artifacts' thing? Last thing I need is some police pony snooping around."
Trixie scoffed.
>"Oh, please. You know they could never make the charges stick. (Besides, I said I was sorry...)"
>"That doesn't solve either of our problems, y'know."
>"Bah. Give it a week; they'll find some other nuisance to deal with and forget all about somepony like me. Always happens."

The mare leaned in closer, glancing around to check for eavesdroppers.
>"But, um, until then, you wouldn't happen to be selling anything that could help a pony... lay low for a while, would you?"
>"If you're looking for another cursed amulet, you're outta lu–"
>"No, no, nothing of the sort. Just something to, perhaps, alter my appearance? Temporarily, of course."
>"(sigh) (If it'll make you go away faster, I'll see what I can do...)"
>"I heard that."
>"I know, and I don't care. Just, gimme a minute."

The stallion rummaged through his wares.
>"You sure you don't just want some, like, hair dye or something? Or just, I dunno, -skip town- like any sane pony would do?"
Trixie gave an impatient glare.
>"Don't question my methods, Tarot."

>"I'm just sayin'. Transformation charms and potions and whatever are hard t'come by these days."
>"Excuses, excuses."
>"Lemme see... glamours, no... masquerades, no... I suppose -this- could... hmm."
The blue mare raised an eyebrow.
>"Hmm? What's hmm?"
The stallion pulled out a flask from a high shelf and presented it at the counter.
>"Well, this stuff is supposed to make a pony look, let's say... younger. I dunno, knock about... say, five, ten years off, and you could maaaybe pass as somepony different? I'm not sure it's exactly what you–"
>"I'll take it."
She swiped the pink flask from the shopkeeper, dropping a sack of bits on the counter in return.
>"Wait, I didn't even– if you're just gonna– at least read the instructions on the– Oh, forget it."
Trixie was already halfway out the door. Tarot returned to his seat and started counting his coins; whatever absurdity she was about to involve herself in, he wanted no part in it.

>"Nothing to worry about, Trixie. You've dealt with potions plenty of times."
She tracked down one of her old hiding spots, a little alcove in a quiet part of town. Here, she could assume her temporary identity in peace. She uncorked the flask, and took a whiff of the pink liquid.
>"...Well, I've had worse."
She took a breath, then drank most of the potion in a single gulp. Setting the flask aside, she relaxed a bit. The thing with potions is, you never know how long it'll be before it starts to–

When Trixie came to, it was nearly sundown. Once she was fully upright, she mused to herself.
>"Huh. Must've been out for a couple hou–"
She recoiled at her own speech. She'd forgotten how high-pitched her voice used to be when she was...
>"...Hold on."
Trixie scanned her surroundings. Everything was... bigger than she remembered. Her hooves were the wrong size. Her hat didn't fit any more. She stumbled over to a decorative fountain, and looked at her reflection in the water. She reeled.
>"Oh, what the FUCK!"

Take off five, ten years, he said. Not TWENTY. Damned potion must've been defective! Trixie was livid.
>"When I get my hooves on him, I'll..."
>"..."
..."I'll what," she thought to herself. Thinking it over, she didn't have many options. She still had a decent grip on her magic, more or less, but physically, she was little more than a helpless filly.
>"(sigh) Fine. You can make this work, Trixie."
First order of business, clean herself up and make sure she wouldn't be recognized. She took a brief rinse in the fountain (after she made sure no one would notice– a girl needs her privacy, after all). Now, she had to find someplace to spend the night. Surely, some nice mare or stallion would be willing to let an innocent little–
>"Who goes there?"

Trixie jumped a bit. A rather imposing mare (at least, for someone of Trixie's size) had snuck up on her.
>"You shouldn't play around in dark alleys, child. It's not safe."
>"Um, o-okay."
>"You seem nervous; are you alright?"
>"I, I'm fine, ma'am."
The mare scanned her.
>"Have we met before? You seem familiar."
>"I... don't think we have, ma'am."

>"Wait a minute... I -have- seen you before."
>"Um, I, you probably have me confused with– hey!"
Trixie felt the mare pull on her ear, trying to lead her somewhere.
>"You'd better have a good explanation for this, little missy."
>"Lemme go! You have the wrong–"
>"What in Celestia's name are you doing away from the Academy at this hour?"

>"...Huh?"
>"You -know- you're not supposed to leave the grounds unsupervised..."
Trixie paused. Did she just get mistaken for a schoolfilly? She couldn't exactly contradict the mare, lest she blow her cover.
>"I, um, lost my backpack? Somewhere around here, and I, um, went back to look for it..."
>"(sigh) Then you should've asked an adult for help, sweetie. For now, you need to come back with me."
>"Um, yes, ma'am."

Trixie felt a bit nostalgic upon seeing the Academy gates once again. She attended it for a few years when she was a filly. She was never a star student or anything, but she did well enough. This could work out– zero-effort classes, free room and board? Sounds like a plan.

All she needed to do was not draw attention to herself... which could prove harder than anticipated, since the mare who found her escorted her directly to the headmistress' office.
>"Milady?"
Celestia herself was seated at her desk, sorting a bit of paperwork. Upon seeing the Princess, the filly's nerves started to get the better of her.
>"Hmm?"
>"I know it's past sundown, and you're just finishing up, but–"
>"My last appointment for the day is in ten minutes. Please, take your time."
>"It's about one of the new students. I found a... straggler."
>"Oh?"
Celestia rose from her desk, and looked the filly square in the eyes.
>"What's your name, little one?"
Trixie stalled, trying to come up with a good pseudonym.
>"Ummmmoonbeam? I mean, Moonbeam, ma'am, I, well,"
Nailed it.

>"Apparently, she lost her pack on the way here. No supplies, none of the forms her parents were supposed to sign, and come to think of it, she hasn't even been assigned a room yet..."
>"(sigh) (There's at least one, every year...)"
Celestia pondered for a moment.
>"Very well. Take her to one of the spare dormitories in the far hall. Help her get settled in, then put her to bed. We'll see if we can get this sorted out tomorrow."
>"Yes, milady."
The elder mare turned to address young Trixie.
>"You heard her, little miss Moonbeam; please, follow me..."

"Moonbeam" stayed silent as she walked through the halls. The general layout of the place seemed vaguely familiar, but she could barely recognize anything. It was probably renovated a few times since her graduation.
>"Alright, little one. This will be your room for the time being. Washroom is just down the hall, on the left."
>"Um, okay."
Her temporary residence was small and plain. It was tidy, though, so there wasn't much to complain about.
>"Now, it's past your bedtime as is. I'll be back to check on you in ten minutes or so, and I expect you in bed by then, okay?"
>"Yes, ma'am..."
After the day she'd had, a comfortable bed was exactly what Trixie needed. She washed up a bit, then settled into the sheets. The mare came back soon after and tucked her in, and she drifted off to sleep.

>"Moonbeam, dear, it's time to wake up..."
The filly slowly opened her eyes. A bit of morning sun shone through the curtains.
>"(yawn) Hmm?"
>"You overslept, sweetie. That's what happens when you stay up past your curfew..."
Trixie yawned again, stretched, and hopped out of bed.

>"...Wait, who are you?"
She glanced at the older mare; grey coat, well-kept white mane, wearing attire that resembled a maid's dress.
>"Oh, I'll be looking after you from now on."
The filly grumbled with contempt.
>"I don't need a -nanny-, if that's what you're implying."
>"There's nothing to be ashamed of, really. It happens every semester. Always a few first-year students, cute little colts or fillies like you–"
The mare gently pinched Trixie's cheek, prompting her to pull her head away. (Wait, "first-year"?)
>"–focus so much on their studies that they forget how to take care of themselves."
>"(huff) I'm not a foal, you know–"
>"That's nice, dear. Now, sit down and eat your breakfast before it gets cold."

Trixie, after a bit of prodding, seated herself at the table. A bowl of plain oatmeal lay in front of her.
>"What, this mush?"
>"Well, we didn't know your preferences, and on such short notice... so, yes."
>"Um, I'll pass, actually."
She nudged the bowl away, only for the matron to nudge it right back.
>"This is no time to be picky, dear. You must be -starving-."
>"I'm fine, really, just– hey!"
The spoon was magically wrested from Trixie's control. It scooped a large serving from the bowl and presented it to her.
>"Open wide~."
>"Ohhhhno. You are not–mmnmph!"
The mare seized an opening and forced the spoon into the filly's mouth. She spit most of the oatmeal back out, making a mess of the table.
>"No! I will not be bucking force-fed like– uhn!"
Trixie was hoisted from her chair, her tail raised. The matron gave her bottom a firm swat.
>"Eep!"
>"If that's how you want it, fine." (SPANK) (SPANK) "That's another thing I have to deal with every year," (SPANK) "children who think they can do whatever they please." (SPANK) "I must say, it's been a while since I've had somepony who's both."
>"Lemme go, you–" (SPANK) "Ow!" (SPANK) "Uhn! Please..."
She fussed and whined. The mare gave her three more quick swats, then set her back in her chair. Trixie grumbled a bit, then motioned to take the spoon, only to be denied. She (begrudgingly) submitted, and allowed the mare to spoon-feed her the rest of her meal, though still voicing her displeasure at every opportunity.

>"There. Was that so bad?"
>"(grumble) (Yes.)"
>"Now, we've wasted enough time already, and I don't want you to be late for class. Go ahead and get dressed. I'll see to you in a moment."
>"...?"
The filly's scowl turned to a look of confusion.
>"...Your uniform. You -did- see the... (sigh) Actually, nevermind. At this point, it'll be quicker if I just dress you myself..."