Chapter 2: It's a small, small Equestria after all
BANG, BANG. "Screwball!!! Rise and shine, we've got a long day in front of us"
'By Celestia, She's a heavy sleeper' thought Star Well. By the time Screwball got out of bed, Star Well had finished making a breakfast. Star Well took pride in his cooking ability he learned from a self-help book, he diffidently did not have a cooking cutie mark, but he could make a mean haycake.
"OATMEAL AND HAYCAKES!!!" exclaimed Screwy "Do I love Haycakes? YAH I LOVE HAYCAKES!"
"Eat up, I have to make a couple of errands around town and we don't want to be wasting daylight."
"Star, yer not expected to come to work until Monday, what's the occasion?" Star usually did something without reason and Rusty was always curious what the Star did in his spare time. He swore on Celestia's flank that he was eventually going to work himself to death one of these days, He had lost count on the number of times he seen the colt come in to work with rings on his eyes so dark, he looked like was a zombie.
"I have decided to use my vacation time for this week"
"'Nother research spree!?! I am telling you colt, one of these days your just gonna drop."
"No, don't worry just yet. I am actually making a trip to Ponyville"
"Who are ya, and what have ya done to Star Well"
"It is just going to be for a week, and then you'll get your old Star Well back Mister Wrench"
"Go, just go. And for Celestia's sake have fun."
Star Well finally got out of Canterlot and was headed down the mountain road. Screwball insisted that he was taking the boring way down. She decided to roll her way down. Star felt a slight tinge of worry but his doubts proved pointless as the endeavor had proved to be so much fun that Screwball flew back up to the top and did it again. She liked it so much, she came down the hill 5 times, ignoring the complaints of the pass-biers. Star Well decided based on the angry glares of the ponies that were almost rolled over, that it was probably best just to keep walking.,
When they reached the bottom he opened one of his travel bags to pull out his new miniature radio which he had enchanted himself. 'Nothing like a bit of music to past the time.' He was rather proud of his radio even if the miniature boxes spells still had a couple of kinks in them, eventually he would fix it besides, the new ones were way to expensive.
"HELLLLO EQUESTRIA!!!" Shouted the voice on the radio.
"Yay!!!!" shouted Screwball "K-Colt ROCKS!!!!"
"This is your host DJpon3 and your listening to the Vinyl Scratch"
'Yes' thought Star Well 'I didn't miss it.'
But first, I like to give a special shout out to a special pony. This pony deserves a meddle folks, for he single handedly fought to repair the K-Colts broadcasting spells after last week's magic storm through the system for a loop. Keep doing your thing man.
The news instantly made the tall stallion to instantly self-consious and he instantly looked around to see if anypony was looking at him. The job at the radio tower was an easy job a colt could take care of, and he considered himself to be lucky to work on the job, the bits that he got from the job helped pay for this trip. Still, Star did not like the spot light pointed at him and was relieved that the road was empty save for him and Screwy. 'At least she didn't mention my name'
As he and Screwball were continuing down the path with K-Colt blaring in the background, the finally reached The Great Andrew River. The River was the longest and most wild river in Equestria and hand only one bridge to cross it because of the difficulty to build a bridged long enough to reach the other sides and be built fast enough so that supports for the bridge wouldn't be swept away by the current.
On the bridge he saw two giant carts facing in opposite directions with two loud voices between them shouting in what sounded to be a heated argument. Curious as to what was happening, Star turned his radio off and listened to the voices as he neared the bridge.
"Move aside!! The Great and Powerful Trixie demands it!!!"
"Iron Will will relent to nopony!!!"
"Don't you know The Great and Powerful Trixie!?! She who defeated an Ursa Major!?!"
"Iron Will could care less if you defeated the Smooze!!! When sompony tries to block, Show them that you ROCK!!!"
'Oh dear sweet Celestia!!! Trixie? Here? NOW!?!' A flood of memories coursed through Star Well's head of his time at the CSGU. He cringed in horror that the voice of the source of all the teasing and pranks put on him during his time at the school was only a few yards away. Star immediately started weigh his options. 'O.K. swim across the dangerous, high-speed moving river, or cross the bridge that contains the source of all his childhood nightmares. A or B. Well, the choice is obvious' "Screwy, could you fly over my saddle bags while I swim-"
"LEEROY JEEEENKINS!!!!!!!!!!"
"SCREWBALL!!! WAIT, DON"T GO UP THERE!!!!" It was too late, the mare and flew right into the danger zone. "Great. I better go up there before the bolts of lightning start flying." Star Well started galloping into the fray on the bridge. While he knew Screwball just wanted to help, she had the tendency to make a bad situation worse, and with a pony like Trixie involve, things were bound to escalate.
Star Well made it to the center of the bridge where the two cart owners were facing off, which somehow had already started to include a certain floating mare. "I know tahw could help. sekacyaH!!!! They always made me feel retteb." the swirl-eyed mare shouted enthusiastically.
"What? The Great and Powerful Trixie does not understand what the floating mare is saying. Be gone before The Great and Powerful Trixie shows her might."
"Iron Will needs noponies help!!" the muscle bound minotaur shouted.
'Great, the translation spell is wearing off.' Star needed to get Screwball out of there pronto. 'Maybe Trixie won't recognize me, it's been over nine years... Well, here I go.' "Umm, Excuse me. I am a friend of the mare floating above you. I am sorry to intrude but, we must be going. I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience she caused, she was just trying to help."
"...Star Well, I didn't think I would see, uh I mean, The Great and Powerful Trixie is surprised to see one of her old subordinates here." Trixie was thrown off posture for just a second before she regained her stance and recovered her confident stance.
"Great! Another onlooker. Iron Will does not have the time to deal with more crazy ponies. He must get back to his workshop. Iron Will demands that you either help or get out of the way." The minotaur gave Star his most intimidating stare, making it clear which option that he preferred Star to take.
"Neither of you is willing just to move out of the way?" Star asked hopefully.
"No!!!"
Both the Iron Will and Trixie shouted. Star let out a heavy sigh. He would just love to walk away, but Screwball seemed Determined to help. "?sekahsklim tuoba tahW .nwod mlac esaelP" she pleaded as his translation spell had completely worn off.
'Stubborn as a mule' he thought 'Fine. I can work with that.' "What about this, you both back off the bridge.That way neither of you are truly backing down, just giving each other room."
"The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't understand, Star Well. How will that help Trixie cross the bridge?"
"Iron Will needs to get to the other side, not go backward!"
"Just hear me out. After you two back off the bridge, you two could have a contest to see who crosses the bridge first."
"Trixie doesn't know..."
"Surely The Great and Powerful Trixie is up to the challenge" stated Star Well.
"Iron Will will lose to nopony!"
"Neither shall The Great and Powerful Trixie!!!" Both cart owners backed off the bridge, preparing to charge across. Star Well stood to the side watch both contestants. 'Here goes nothing.' With a flash of his horn, he put his plan into motion.
"On your mark, Get set,"
"!!!!EGRAHC" Shout Screwball.
Both the minotaur and the pony charged. At the last minute Trixie swerved around Iron Will and his cart without realizing what she was missing. Trixie reached the other side first and shouted in a victory "The Great and Powerful Trixie is unbeatable!!! Let all who doubt her prowess be amazed!!!"
"That's unfair!!" shouted Iron Will "You didn't take your cart with you. You cheated!!!!" Trixie then finally realized that a certain weight was missing and realised that her cart had somehow detached from her when she charged.
Before Trixie could explain that it was an accident and another race was in order, Star shout from the bridge "That was a brilliant move Trixie, I would have never thought of that."
Trixie, while surprised, quickly regained her composer. "YYyes...mmhp, The Great and Powerful Trixie's strategy worked. Trixie did not cheat, she merely outwitted you"
"Iron Will outa stamp out or face and-"
"Whoa there Iron Will. Isn't this what you wanted?" exclaimed Star "I thought you were in a hurry to get to your workshop, you are already on the other side."
Iron Will pondered a little then stated "Blue pony is lucky that Iron Will has important business to attend to at the moment. Next we meet, Iron Will will settle this."
"And Trixie will be victorious yet again" Iron Will snorted and then went on his way. Star then deciding he had done enough started reworking his translation spell on Screwball.
Trixie made her way across the bridge to retrieve her cart and stop to and stated "You helped Trixie, this would be the second time you have saved Trixie from embarrassment."
The tall stallion sighed "Think nothing of it." He finished casting the spell and asked Screwball "O.K. test it out."
"Peter Piper packed a pickled peanut butter, can I have a sandwich?"
Star let another sigh " I pretty sure it's 'a pickled pepper', and yes you can have half a sandwich. We don't want to ruin dinner." The mare squealed as Star pulled out half of a PB&J sandwich and floated up to the mare.
"I see you are the some huge and soft colt that Trixie met. Pray tell, what is Star Well doing this far from Canterlot, last time Trixie saw you, you had been accepted to the College at Canterlot."
"I'm off on my way to Ponyville to acquire some help with my recent project."
Ponyville, that horrible place!!! The last time I was there I was... I mean, The Great and Powerful Trixie does not think you should go there. The ponies there are cruel and dared to laugh Trixie out of town last time!!"
I thank you for your concern but me and Screwball will be fine. Besides, we are only going to stay there for a week." Star was surprised to hear concern in her voice. The last time he saw her after the rock slide incident, she had started avoiding him. While he was happy she finally stopped bullying him, it had concerned him that she didn't even say hello to him in the hallways and instead opted to run away. "Anyway, it is... nice to see you again. I hope our paths cross again sometime. See ya." Star then went on his way as Trixie stood there watching him as he started off.
When he was a good ways from the bridged, he looked back to see that Trixie finally had moved on. 'Why do all the beautiful mares I meet always have to be so... odd.' he pondered. He looked at Screwball as she twirled in the air, sing a merry tune. 'I don't think I will ever understand mares.'
....................
Trixie watched as Star Well walked away. 'Stupid, stupid,' she thought 'you let him get walked away again.' Ever since that day he saved her from the from that rock slide when they were foals, she awkward around the colt. It took her a long time to realize what she was feeling and by that time he had already been accepted to the college and she had started her show business.
She remembered him as that tall and lanky colt she had picked on and was surprised that the colt still was still incredibly tall and that he had actually had gotten some muscle on him. She blushed at the thought 'I should go after him, but he's going to that accursed town!" she fought with herself for a couple of minutes and finally decided where she was headed. She reattached her cart and started down the opposite path.
She-Who-Stalked-Silently waited outside the Queen's throne room. The Queen rarely called for mercenary help for her conquests, this meant that something big was going down. While the mantis could care less for current monarchy, She-Who-Stalked-Silently knew that if the Queen needed her expertise so bad that she would actually summon her to the court, the reward would be great indeed.
"The Queen will see you now."