//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: The West Side 
// Story: Gusty and Ember 
// by Tobyc 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 7: The West Side

Lyra and Thunderlane were eating lunch in the living room, taking a break from the book, when Ember walked in. "I'm just picking up some stamps for that letter to Trixie's sister, then I'm going to post it and head back to the office," she explained as she walked down the hall.

Bon Bon, who had been sitting reading in the spare room, overheard her. She picked up a letter she and Lyra had written the night before and walked over to the door. As Ember was coming out of her room with the small book of stamps, Bon Bon passed the envelope to her, along with a few bits. "While you're doing that, would you mind posting this for us?"

Ember glanced at the envelope: Cheerilee, Ponyville Schoolhouse, Ponyville. "Something to do with the book?" she asked, looking up at her. "I thought Lanie got all the information he needed when he interviewed-"

Bon Bon shook her head and interrupted. "No, nothing like that, it's... I'd rather not say just yet."

Ember decided not to press the issue. She passed the bits back, saying "It's okay, I've got plenty of stamps here."

Bon Bon thanked her, and Ember left the house.


***


Trixie and Medley arrived at Bow Tie's apartment block in West Fillydelphia at around twelve o'clock, having taken a tram from the hotel. As they walked up the stairs, Trixie calculated that the trip back to the theatre would take about half an hour on hoof, probably a few minutes more if she was carrying her full bag of props - hopefully there'd be some kind of storage space backstage. She made a mental note to memorise the tram timetables for next month once she had the theatre's schedule.

Trixie arrived at the door first and unlocked it with the key Bow had given her. She held the door open for Medley, then followed her down the hall to the spare room. As Medley started setting up the trundle bed, Trixie dumped her bags in the corner and went to look around the apartment.

The living room was largely decorated with what Trixie guessed were Bow's sketches - Medley had told her on the ride over that her sister worked in a clothing factory, mostly in neckwear. Trixie turned her attention to a small bookshelf - mostly books on the history of fashion, some historical fiction and definitely no adventure novels.

Medley returned from the bedroom. "If you're still interested in looking around the shopping arcade, it'll have to wait a bit - I need to go over Thunderlane's Krastos books and fact-check some details before he comes over."

Trixie nodded. "That's okay, I have my own reading to be getting on with. We'll save it for later."

Medley smiled as she thought of something. "You know, I have a Blockbucker voucher due to run out tomorrow. Are you up for a movie night this weekend?" She gestured toward the TV and MVD player, which Trixie hadn't noticed earlier. "I could probably get ahold of the first few Daring Do movies, maybe the ones not on Ember's list."

Trixie liked the idea and nodded. "I'll try and finish Platinum Crown and Griffon's Goblet by then. Do you think Bow would go for it?"

Medley nodded. "Knowing her, she'll want to invite the others over - Ember, Thunderlane, Lyra and... Bon Bon." She trailed off at that, remembering their argument the night before. "Actually, how would you feel about that?" she asked anxiously.

Trixie swallowed. "Thunderlane, definitely. Ember, yes, it should hopefully help ease the tension from last night." She noticed Medley open her mouth to ask the obvious question before deciding against it. She pressed on. "But last I checked, Bon Bon and Lyra hate me. And not without good reason." Her face fell as her guilt returned to the surface.

Medley walked over and put her hoof on her shoulder, giving her a sympathetic look. "I don't think it's quite that bad. Keep in mind that neither of them would have had a problem with living under the same roof as you last night. Besides, Bon Bon isn't blameless for what happened to your career, and Ember and Thunderlane made that very clear to her after you walked out."

Trixie looked up at her, her spirits lifted slightly by the thought of her idol going in to bat for her after only a few minutes of conversation. "And Lyra?"

Medley hesitated. "Well... she still resents you for taking over Ponyville. Partly because of how your dome interfered with the television signals on Saturday morning." Trixie couldn't help giggling at that, despite her remorse for everything she'd done under the Amulet's influence. Medley continued, "But at the same time, she knows you weren't in control of yourself, and she wasn't impressed with Bon Bon when she found out about the way she ruined your show in Vanhoover. Add that to what Ember and Thunderlane have told me about working with her, and I really don't think burying the hatchet with her should be all that difficult."

Trixie nodded slowly, somewhat relieved. "Okay, I guess I can give it a chance. What time do you expect Bow to be home?"

Medley thought for a moment. "4:30, maybe? I'll talk to her about it then, before we go over to the arcade. If she's okay with it, I'll pass on the invite to Thunderlane when he comes over tonight."

Trixie smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Well, anyway, for the next few hours, I'm going to try to finish Platinum Crown. Call me if you need me." And with that, she walked back to their room.