//------------------------------// // Chapter 05 // Story: Trixie's Shadow // by Paul_Daniel //------------------------------// 5. For a moment, the two friends stood in silence. Then a voice reached their ears—a smooth, highbrow voice that might almost have been haughty, were it not for the great warmth that underlay it. The voice slowly increased in volume as its owner drew closer. “Ick! Is that mud? Oooooh, I should never have left home without my boots! Now I need a new hooficure and—eeeeek! Get away from me you vile bug! Away!” Twilight glanced into the trees. “Rarity?” she called. “We’re over here!” There was the sound of hooves trampling on leaves. Then a brilliant white unicorn came galloping into view between the tree trunks. Her purple mane and tail were exquisitely permed, and she had light-blue eye shadow and very long eyelashes. On each of her hindquarters was a cutie mark consisting of three brilliant diamonds. “Twilight!” she said. “Thank goodness I’ve found you.” “Why?” said Twilight. “What’s going on?” “I’m afraid it’s Trixie. Did you hear how she made some ponies disappear yesterday? Every gossip in my neighborhood was talking about it. Most of them haven’t taken the news kindly, and this morning, after poor Lyra ran out of her house in tears, they decided to act. When I left, there was quite a mob forming.” “Don’t worry,” said Fluttershy, “I’m sure no one in Ponyville would ever use violence. Not even on Trixie.” “Fluttershy, darling,” said Rarity, “if you knew that another pony had taken away one of your animals, how would you feel?” “I don’t know… Angry?” “Yes, and now imagine, rather than one of your animals, it was Twilight or myself who was taken.” “I. Would. Be. FURIOUS! I… I mean, I suppose it would be very upsetting.” “Precisely. And isn’t it possible that you might get carried away?” “Which means we better get back,” said Twilight. “In a hurry, too. Everypony step closer.” “Must we?” asked Rarity. “It makes me so dizzy to travel by—” She was interrupted by a loud POOF! and a burst of magic from Twilight’s horn. All three ponies vanished, only to reappear in front of the Golden Oakes Library. Rarity promptly turned green and shut her eyes, while Twilight sat down on the grass, her sides heaving. “Are you two all right?” asked Fluttershy. “Should I go inside and ask Spike for some water?” “I’m… fine,” said Twilight. “Just need to rest a minute. Teleporting that far… takes a lot.” She drew a long breath and got shakily to her feet. A few more breaths and she looked almost back to normal. “Whew. Okay, I think I’m good now. How about you, Rarity?” “World spinning,” said Rarity. “Must hold on. Fainting highly unfashionable.” “Fainting?” cried a voice behind them. “Lady Rarity, are you sick?” A bustle of pink scales rushed outside through the open library door. Spike had his cleaning apron on, and was carrying an ostrich-plume feather duster, which he promptly threw down as he attended to Rarity. “Wait right there!” he said. “I’ll get you something to drink.” He zoomed off and returned even faster, bearing a tray with a glass of iced lemonade and a clump of fresh grapes. These were promptly set down in front of Rarity, after which Spike picked up his duster and started to fan her. “Feeling better,” said Rarity. “Royal treatment helping…” She lifted the lemonade and sipped dainty through the straw. Spike continued his fanning. “Er, why don’t you two stay here?” said Twilight. “We’ll check on Trixie by ourselves.” She edged away, with Fluttershy close behind, and trotted off in the direction of Ponyville Plaza. As the two of them moved out, they could just hear Spike asking Rarity if she wanted him to feed her some grapes. Whatever reply she gave was lost to the wind. Twilight and Fluttershy hurried on through the streets. Soon, they heard a medley of voices, as of many ponies talking at once. The voices grew louder near Ponyville Plaza, and when Twilight and Fluttershy stepped out from behind the house that had been obstructing their view, they saw a large crowd gathered near Trixie’s wagon. Twilight lost no time in galloping forward. The crowd was certainly worked up—chanting and shouting for Trixie—but apparently its members had not yet resorted to physical coercion. Of Trixie herself, there was no sign, nor of her assistant, though whether they had fled the scene or whether they had locked themselves in the wagon remained to be seen. “Everypony, stop!” cried Twilight. “This won’t get us anywhere! We need to be calm and assess things from a logical perspective.” The crowd ignored her. Twilight made another futile attempt to be heard and then turned to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, what would you say if you saw a big nasty alligator about to chomp on a cute fluffy kitten?” “STOOOOOP!!!” Every pony in the crowd immediately ceased talking and whipped around, to see who had made such incredible noise. “Thank you,” said Twilight. Fluttershy was blushing much too hard to reply, but fortunately no one was looking at her. Instead, every eye was on Twilight as she boldly cantered forward. The throng parted around her, until she reached Trixie’s stage and leapt upon it, taking the best platform from which to make her address. “Now,” she said, “what exactly are all of you trying to accomplish out here?” There was a guilty stir among the assembled ponies. But they didn’t back down and one of the stallions raised his head to speak. “Where’re Carrot Top, Bon Bon, and Aloe? Trixie did something and they haven’t come back!” “I know,” said Twilight, “and I want to find out what happened to them just as much as you do. But threatening Trixie isn’t going to help.” “We aren’t going to hurt her, Twilight,” replied the stallion, “but we aren’t leaving until we know our friends are all right!” It seemed this was the general sentiment. Twilight shifted nervously, trying to think of how she could disperse the crowd, because it was highly unlikely their methods would produce any results, and they might even make the situation worse. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost didn’t notice when another unicorn leapt onto the stage beside her. It was Rarity, who had so thoroughly recovered from her dizziness that she had galloped full tilt to reach the plaza. Now she tossed her mane and stamped with one of her forelegs, drawing the attention of everyone present. “Twilight is perfectly correct,” she said. “One simply cannot go leaping to wild accusations without proof—for all we know, Trixie might have had nothing to do with this. How would that make all of you feel?” Most of the ponies hung their heads. “I thought so,” said Rarity. “Even more importantly, where are your pitchforks? And your flaming torches? Have you no sense of traditional mob fashion?” The ponies exchanged a number of uncertain glances. “For shame!” cried Rarity. “The whole lot of you need to go home at once. When you’ve learned how to accessorize like a properly mindless mob, you may come back, and we’ll continue this discussion. But not an instant before! Now go on! Shoo!” She received a number of sour looks and a good deal of grumbling. But her words had struck home and the crowd thinned away. “Thanks, Rarity,” said Twilight. “I was feeling a little lost up here.” “It was nothing, darling, don’t say another word! Now, shall we check on poor little Trixie?” “You really think she might be innocent?” “Goodness no,” said Rarity. “I’d stake my mane that if there’s trouble here, she’s behind it. But I’m willing to give her a chance to explain herself. Besides, it’s plain as day that you want to investigate, and you’d hardly be able to concentrate with all those ponies about. So I feel perfectly justified in sending them away.” Twilight couldn’t resist a chance to tease her friend. “You’re sure they won’t come back after finding pitchforks and torches?” “The joke’s on them if they try,” said Rarity with a wink. “I know for a fact that Applejack commandeered every torch and pitchfork for miles, to help with the farm’s midnight harvesting.” Twilight smiled as she leapt off the stage. Rarity followed her, meeting up with Fluttershy along the way, so that a moment later, all three of them were gathered before the door of Trixie’s wagon. Twilight reached out and gave a firm knock. There was no answer. Twilight knocked a second time. When nothing happened, she tried the doorknob. To her surprise, it wasn’t fastened, and the door swung quietly open. The ponies were now looking in on Trixie’s private living quarters. Its furnishings were much humbler than one might have expected: a small bunk in the wall, a dark wooden coffee table, a gilded floor mirror, a burgundy carpet, and a pair of wicker chairs. Trixie’s familiar cloak and hat hung on pegs near the door, beside a bookshelf filled with hardcover tomes, most of which were devoted to the art of crafting fireworks. “It looks like she left in a hurry,” said Fluttershy, nodding at a plate on the coffee table, which had a piece of rye toast and a gob of honey on top. “She didn’t even finish her breakfast.” Twilight strode up the doorsteps and entered the wagon. Rarity followed her, while Fluttershy waited outside. “There’s another piece of toast that fell on the carpet,” said Twilight. “I think somepony stepped on it.” She bent down for a closer look. “It must have been Trixie; this hoofprint’s much too small for her assistant.” “That’s hardly surprising,” said Rarity. “If my breakfast had been disturbed by a crowd of raucous ruffians, I’m sure I’d have been just as startled, and wouldn’t have watched where I was going.” “Trixie certainly didn’t. She got a good amount of honey on her hoof; you can see where she left tracks in the carpet. Each track gets fainter, as more of the honey comes off. But all of a sudden, the tracks disappear.” “She must have cleaned her hoof.” Twilight checked a nearby wastepaper basket. “It’s empty. And I don’t see any dirty napkins, do you?” “Perhaps she used the bed cover. Or her cloak. Rather unladylike, if you ask me.” Twilight leaned over the green cotton bedspread. When she had finished examining it, she checked Trixie’s cloak and hat. “Not a stain on either of them.” “Then she wiped her hoof with something else,” said Rarity. “Honestly, Twilight, don’t you think this is a trivial detail?” “I promise it’s not,” replied Twilight. “In fact, it’s the most disturbing development I’ve come across all day.” Rarity was obviously taken aback. “But why?” “Because Trixie can’t teleport.” “How do you know that?” “It’s a matter of power. The bigger the mass you’re moving, the more magic you need to make it go. I got a good read on Trixie’s power yesterday, and while she’s certainly improved, she still doesn’t have enough magic to dematerialize herself.” “Which means…” Twilight did not respond. She was gazing into Trixie’s floor mirror, carefully studying the position of the glass. “Yes,” she finally said, “its line of sight is perfect.” “Perfect for what?” asked Rarity. “I’ll tell you in a minute. But first, Fluttershy, can you do me a huge favor and fly to the library? Find Spike, tell him to gather the ingredients for a mirror look, and bring him back here as fast as you can.” Fluttershy nodded and swept out her wings. As soon as she had lifted out of sight, Rarity stepped in front of Twilight. “Twilight,” she said, “I simply must insist that you explain what’s going on. Why is it so important that Trixie can’t teleport? And what in Equestria is a mirror look?” “I… think we may have a problem. I’ll answer your questions, but there’re a few things I need to clarify first. Did you go to Trixie’s show yesterday?” “Only the second half. I missed the fireworks, because I wanted to keep my store open. But when I saw there were no ponies in the street, I closed shop and went to find out where they had gone. I reached the plaza just as Trixie was starting her magic act.” “Did you see a black stallion?” “Of course. He was hard to miss.” “Why’s that?” Rarity couldn’t quite hide a blush. “Well, if you must know, I thought he was even handsomer than Prince Blueblood. And have you ever seen anypony with a crown for their cutie mark? If that doesn’t equal class and quality, I don’t know what does! Admittedly, he was a little out of fashion with the part in his mane, but I could fix that.” “Was he there when you arrived?” “No, he came out from behind the stage during the show’s second half. I was honestly surprised that such an attractive pony could hide himself for as long as he did.” “You shouldn’t be,” said Twilight. “In fact, I’m almost certain that stallion isn’t a pony at all. He’s some kind of shapeshifter, one with extremely powerful magic.” “So… what you’re saying is that he could be even more handsome in his real form?” “Rarity, have we ever met a shapeshifter who was handsome in their real form?” “Touché. But what does any of this have to do with Trixie?” “Because, since she couldn’t have teleported, something else had to account for the disappearing tracks. I believe the stallion made Trixie vanish, and that he did the same to Bon Bon, Aloe, and Carrot Top. I’ll be able to find out for sure with a mirror look, which lets me rewind reflections, so we can see what was going on in here over the past few hours.” There was a short silence as Rarity considered. “You know,” she said, “if this had come from anypony besides you, I would have thought they were one carat short of a ring.” “But since it is me?” “I hope Spike and Fluttershy hurry back so you can cast your spell. What do you propose we do if your theory is correct?” “I’m not sure. I hate to bother Princess Celestia, but we might not have a choice.” The sudden flapping of wings made both ponies glance through a window. “Surely they couldn’t be here already,” said Rarity. Twilight stepped outside to check. To her disappointment, it was not Fluttershy and Spike passing overhead, but a pair of giggly pegasi. Both of them waved when they spotted Twilight, and one swooped down to greet her. “Hey Twilight! What’re you looking so worried for?” “Nothing,” said Twilight. “I’m fine, really! Absolutely, positively, one-hundred and two-tenths percent fine! It’s not like we’re in the middle of a disappearing pony crisis.” The pegasus stood blinking in the sunlight, while Twilight tried her best not to look crazy. “Oooookay, well, I don’t suppose you’ve seen Thunderlane, have you? Me and Cloudchaser were supposed to meet him and head out to do some wind surfing.” “No, very sorry, Flitter, but I haven’t seen him anywhere. Maybe you should go and look for him? Preferably someplace far away? Because if we were in the middle of a disappearing pony crisis, it might not be safe to be near this wagon.” “I’ll… take your word for that. Anyway, if you do spot Thunderlane, can you say we’ll be over by Froggy Bottom Bog? The weather’s perfect right now and we don’t want to wait for the breeze to change. Kind of strange that he didn’t meet us, though—he’s usually never late.” “Lighten up,” called the other pegasus. “He’s probably chowing down at Sugarcube Corner and lost track of time.” Flitter zoomed back to her friend. “Oh my gosh! Do you remember when I dared him to eat one of Pinkie Pie’s jalapeño cupcakes?” “And it was so hot, he snorted fire right out his nose!” The two pegasi flew off, bubbly with laughter. Twilight let out a sigh of relief. “Honestly, Twilight,” said Rarity, as she joined her friend outside the wagon, “sometimes I just don’t understand you. Why didn’t you tell Flitter what’s going on?” “Because I need more evidence. I’d hate to start a panic if I’m on the wrong track.” “I suppose that’s reasonable. Although, the next time we have to warn a bystander away, might I suggest you allow me to handle it? You’re a wonderfully talented pony, but you still have a lot to learn about acting discreetly.” “Don’t I know it,” said Twilight. “Anyway, we shouldn’t stay here much longer. Let me close up the wagon and we can find a spot in the shade.” Rarity agreed and the two ponies trotted toward the center of the plaza, where they soon reached a maple tree growing in one of several sandstone planters. There were benches around it, so Twilight and Rarity each took a seat, the former closing her eyes to think and the latter summoning a trail of magical sparkles, which she used for doodling dress designs in the air. Fortunately, it wasn’t long until Spike appeared. “Here I am!” he called. Twilight and Rarity both glanced up to find their friend rushing toward them. Under one arm, he carried a cloth satchel. “Thank goodness,” said Twilight, “and thank you for getting here so quickly, Spike, especially with those spell ingredients. They’re incredibly important.” “Well, don’t thank me too much. I don’t have any nightbell.” “None at all?” “Not a petal—we’re completely out.” “Then we’ll have to buy more. I hope the local florists have some in stock.” “Fluttershy already went to check. She said, if there wasn’t any nightbell in town, she knew where a patch was growing in the Everfree Forest, and she’d fly off to harvest it before meeting us back here.” “Perfect! You two have done an excellent job.” “That’s my little Spikey Wikey!” added Rarity, giving Spike a playful rub on the head and making his pink scales flush a brilliant crimson. “N-no problem,” he said. “What do you want me to do next?” “That’s just the question I’d hoped for,” replied Twilight. “As a matter of fact, I’ve got an important job for each of you. First, Rarity, I need you to go to Sweet Apple Acres and get back all of the torches from Applejack. Stock them outside town hall, somewhere they’ll be protected and easy to access. I’ve a feeling we might need them.” “By all means,” said Rarity. “I’ll have it done quicker than a Manehatten minute.” She whipped around and galloped away. Twilight turned to Spike. “Spike, do you think you can track down Rainbow Dash? I’d like her to be on emergency standby, in case we have to send a courier to Canterlot.” Spike gave a crisp salute. “Can do! I’ll find Rainbow Dash faster than anypony has ever found her before.” “Good. Once you have that under control, I need you to get a quill and some parchment, because it may be imperative for us to contact Princess Celestia. Then come back here with the spell ingredients and wait for Fluttershy. Try to keep away from Trixie’s wagon, and especially from a big black stallion with a silver crown for his cutie mark. When you see Fluttershy, wave her over and stay in the area until I return. You can go inside one of the cafes if you need a place to hang out, and treat yourself and Fluttershy to whatever you’d like. Just ask the cashier to put your bill on my tab.” “Leave it to me!” Spike was girding himself to dash away when he suddenly paused. “What are you going to do?” “I,” said Twilight, “am going to speak with the only pony who can look fear in the face and laugh.”