Buried
They’d finally made their way to the first sign of a city after a few hours down the path. It wasn’t an impressive location, like Sayruun, but this place could be forgiven since it wasn’t a central magic capital.
Trixie looked on in awe at her first human city, only to realize it was almost exactly what she’d expect from an average town in Equestria, except with humans going about their day.
“Alright then, let’s get tow work!” Lina said, jumping off the cart and stretching. “We’ve got loads to sell and I’ve got things to magically launder..er..I mean improve. But first, let’s get something to eat!”
“Yeah, I’m starving!” Gourry said, allowing the handles of the cart to hit the ground.
“Well Trixie,” could you be a good assistant and bring that cart into town with us?” Lina asked. “After all, Gourry was good enough to hike it all the way over here.”
“Yes Lina.” Trixie hesitantly said and then set about picking up the handles and began to move, but she should only manage a few paces before she dropped them.
“What?” Lina asked. “Don’t tell me you can’t carry the cart even a few measly steps?” The sorceress turned around to frown at Trixie, but instead of seeing someone struggling to move the cart, she only saw the look of worry coming from the former mare.
“What’s wrong Trixie?” Gourry asked.
Trixie just couldn’t believe what she saw, horses. They were different from the ponies back home. They were tied to posts, ridden by humans, and not doing much else apart from just being…there.
“Lina,” Trixie said trying to find words.
“Look Trixie, horses around here aren’t like you or your friends back home. They’re just animals over here. We use them for work and to travel.” Lina slowly approached Trixie. “Are you going to be okay?”
Trixie nodded.
Lina patted Trixie on the shoulder. “Good, I’d hate to have my newest apprentice freak out on me in less than one day. Well, at least that’s better than the last time.” Lina shuddered.
“What do you mean?” Trixie asked.
“Nevermind.” Lina said. “She was a different story. All I need you to do is hold it together if you’re going to be casting spells around me.”
////
They had already sat down for their next meal, Lina and Gourry immediately began ordering multiple portions of food off the menu while, Trixie resigned herself to bread and soup. Everything else just seemed to include meat. Compared to her bowl of lentils and bread, the meat filled dishes that Lina and Gourry had looked much more extravagant.
Their food did smell tantalizing as well. No! Trixie must not! It’s horrible! She resigned herself to her meal as Lina and Gourry scarfed down their food.
Trixie wondered to herself. This is absolutely frightening. Will eating meat make Trixie more grotesque like these two? But upon looking at the other patrons, they all seemed relatively normal with the same types of dishes. Great, Trixie is stuck with lunatics.
“Alright Trixie.” Lina said, her mouth still full of food. ”Let’s see what you can do. “Hot soup is the best kind of soup, even if it’s only a lentil soup, so how about you try and heat up that bowl in front of you.”
Trixie put her spoon down and looked at her food. Truth be told Lina, Trixie is fine with her soup as is, but if you want her to show how much she’s learned… Trixie concentrated a small sphere of warm light on her fingertip. She then moved it to the soup.
Had it been a wooden bowl, she would not have tried this, but she suspected Lina knew the same. The last thing she needed to do was accidentally start a fire here. She let a tiny ball of flame release from her finger and enter the soup.
The liquid bubbled slightly from the heat and steam began to rise from the bowl as if it had just left the kitchen.
“Nice one Trixie.” Lina said.
Trixie picked up her spoon and resumed eating. The moment she ate a spoonful, she was met with the intense heat of soup that was too fresh. “Ahh!” Trixie yelped after nearly scalding her moth off.
“Oh, I guess you heated it up a bit too much.” Lina said. “Well, now’s a great time for you to get a lesson on ice spells.”
Lina had set her silverware down to begin the lesson; Gourry had stopped momentarily to observe Lina begin another lesson but then continued working on his meal.
“So the thing about fire magic is that almost any third rate wizard can do the more basic fire spells. But why are they so easy to cast, you might be wondering.” Lina said. “Well it all comes down to knowing what fire and heat are.”
Lina took a large swig of her drink.
“Everyone knows that when you burn something, you’re making it release heat and energy, but what takes so many people , even magic users to get their heads around, is that ice spells are more cold than ice.”
“Alright Trixie, here’s how it goes.” Lina said after taking another bite of her food. “Take your magic and concentrate it the same way you did with the fire spell.”
Reluctantly, Trixie concentrated her magic once more. “Okay, but Trixie still doesn’t understand what you’re getting at.”
“Cold is what you have without heat around.” Lina said.
Trixie examined the magic she was focusing. “So, is Trixie supposed to make the energy leave?” She tried to make the fire disperse, but the spell only went back to its original light form.
“Do you remember what I said about what it takes to use black magic?” Lina asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, just like anger in this world fuels fire spells, you need to use sad energies to cast cold or ice spells.” Lina held out her hand to show a sphere of magic forming that glowed a bright blue.
Trixie looked at her hand and began to concentrate. Sadness. She thought. Trixie has been sad plenty of times. She remembered those moments after every “defeat” when she had to pick up the pieces.
Then there was that latest low, in the desert, wandering listlessly for the longest time, and despite the heat of the day setting in she remembered how cold she felt on the inside.
It’s not you that needs to be sad, Trixie. She thought and then felt around for the same sadness of others around her.
The light on her finger then shifted from white to bright blue and the air around her finger grew noticeably colder. She moved the light to the bowl of hot soup, and almost instantly, the mixture returned to the way it was moments before her first shot of magic.
Trixie took her spoon and had another mouthful of soup.
“Back to where it needs to be?” Lina asked.
“Yes.” Trixie said.
“So I’d guess just about now that you must be a bit terse with me for not teaching you the really dangerous stuff from the get go.” Lina said “Well, it’s all a part of the training!” Even with little scenarios like this, you’d be surprised how useful back magic can be.”
“It doesn’t have to always be about blowing things up.” Lina said.
“But isn’t that what you do all the time Lina?” Gourry asked after swallowing another helping of his food.
“Shut up Gourry, I’m trying to make a point here!” Lina yelled back. She then turned back to Trixie. “My point is that all these upstart wizards and sorceresses think they’ve got to use the biggest spells. You gotta know the small spells as well as the big ones.”
“Oh, that won’t be a problem for Trixie then.” She said. “She doesn’t really need to learn how to use the dangerous ones.”
Lina gave Trixie an odd look as the former mare only silently returned to her meal after that statement. “Well, just because you want to play it safe, doesn’t mean you’re ready anyways. Besides, you’ve only learned the basics; you haven’t even learned an actual spell.”
////
After the meal, the group went about town selling items that Lina and Gourry had relieved the bandits of. It astonished Trixie how much of a glib tongue Lina had when it came to convincing shop keeps into buying her items.
Lina was not anywhere as brash as she was when speaking to Gourry, yet the merchants bought the act as easily as they bought the goods.
You’re good with magic, Lina, Trixie can give you credit for that. But Trixie can do this a lot better. She thought.
“So what do you say?” Lina asked the newest shopkeeper. “Fifteen gold per gem?”
“Well, I don’t know, seems like an awful lot, even if it is a magic gem.” The merchant said.
She’d only been watching Lina’s negotiations for the better part of the day, but she decided to toss her hat into the financial fray. This was her chance to show her worth.
Trixie had only been standing idly by in the shop as Lina had haggled, and then she made her move. She turned around and spoke to both of them. “Fifteen gold?” Trixie said interrupting.
“If you ask Trixie, these gems are worth far more than that!” she spoke using her stage voice. “Why, enchanted gems are very hard to come by. How does a hundred for all five sound?” the former showmare said.
Lina turned at Trixie with a puzzled look, but didn’t let on to being surprised.
“Trixie would easily pay good money for enchanted gemstones. They simply take such a long time to create, but Trixie is always in need of the highest caliber magic gems. She can’t spend all day making her own.” She moved over to Lina and asked for a gemstone to examine.
“Oh yes, you can see these runes were crafted with precision and care!” Trixie said. As more patrons in the market began to trickle into the shop out of curiosity. “The Frugal and Deal Seeking Trixie knows a good deal when she sees one.”
“25 gold per gem!” the shopkeeper said.
“Looks like you’re out of luck there Trixie.” Lina said, turning to the shop keep. “This guy’s put a better offer than you have.
“Very well.” Trixie said. “Trixie concedes this contest.” And vanished in a puff of smoke.
Lina, after having made the exchange, departed from the shop. “Pleasure doing business with you!” when she was outside, she saw a surely Trixie leaning against a post.
“Not bad.” Lina said, complimenting Trixie. “You helped rack up some extra money there. I could have sworn that he wasn’t almost gonna go for that deal. I didn’t know you were in the swindling business.”
“Trixie is no mere charlatan. It’s all about the ability to astound!” Trixie said.
“Still though, you were pushing it.” Lina said.
“You just need to know your audience.” Trixie said. “It wasn’t the merchant Trixie was trying to impress, but the crowd that needed convincing.” She adjusted her cloak and hat as they walked.
“He’s the one who’d have to save face in front of all those potential customers.” Trixie said. “By the way, what did all those gems do anyways?”
“Oh, just a few enhancement spells that affect the person carrying it around, like a little bit of strength, nothing crazy like the things I wear.” Lina said and then subconsciously laid her hands on the talisman on her gloves.
“Well, it been a busy day, I’d say it’s about time we relax for a bit. You did pretty good today Trixie.” Lina said, slapping her new associate on the back.
////
Later at an inn. The group had checked in and had begun to prepare for an evening of relaxation. The two ladies were in their quarters while Gourry had taken up lodging separately, as Lina always had it go.
“It’s been such a long time since I’ve been to a hot spring.” Lina said. “Roughing it out in the wilderness really takes its toll, and a girl’s got to have some down time once in a while.”
She was readying to leave in a towel, when she heard Trixie begin to complain. “Agh! The floor is so cold! Why is everything so cold?!” The illusionist stepped out of the dress room stark naked, clutching herself in order to stay warm.
“Hey, we might be going to the springs, but that doesn’t mean you can just march on over then with nothing on!” Lina said indignantly and then threw a towel at Trixie.
After putting it on, Trixie still appeared uncomfortable. “Trixie is still cold, what good will this do?”
Lina opened the door and the two of them made their way into the hall towards the springs. It was at that moment as well when Gourry had exited his room to enter the male section of the springs.
Trixie could only stare on at the swordsman with only a towel on. Oh my, He’s not even a pony, but he’s built like a draft horse. She thought as Gourry passed by. She followed right behind him as he was passed through into the springs.
“Whoa there.” Lina said. “You can’t just go in there with guys….right, pony culture. Look Trixie, I don’t know exactly what kind of rules you have over in Equestria, but here, guys and gals don’t bathe together.
“Oh! Trixie was just a tad curious was all.” She said. “It’s strange that your males feel the need to hide themselves.”
Lina grabbed Trixie by the ear. “Come on!” The ladies’ side is over here!”
////
After sinking into the water, Lina sighted from the superheated bliss. “Ahh, now that’s the stuff.”
Trixie had joined not seconds later and was keenly delighted from the hot water. “Mmm, the water feels so much different without Trixie’s coat.” She said. “It’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, days of adventuring always end best with a visit to the springs.” Lina said. “The heat really works the kinks out of your sore joints.”
“It’s so lovely.” Trixie said.
“And don’t get me started on my feet.” Lina said. “Miles of walking with even the best shoes still takes a toll.”
“Trixie agrees, she can’t understand why she’s so tired after only a few miles of walking. Maybe its because of human legs?” She asked, musing.
“I think that pretty much sums it up.” Lina said, reclining back in the water.
“Trixie would never have had such a problem on hooves instead of these.” She raised a foot over the surface of the water and wiggled her toes. “And then there are these things.” She brought her hands above the surface of the water.
“Well, it helps in spellcasting.” Lina said “You can literally get a feel for the energy around you and can even tell when someone else is casting magic.”
“Oh, Trixie gets it.” She said. “Unicorns are usually only sensitive to magic through their horns.”
“Well, you’re a quick learner at least.” Lina said. “Did you ever get any formal training or something?”
Trixie shifted a bit in the water. “Well, Trixie did go to a school for gifted unicorns.” She said.
“Wow, really?” Lina asked, moving closer towards the former unicorn. “What sort of things did they teach you there? You didn’t happen to learn any spells that turned things into gold did you?”
By this point, Lina was right in Trixie’s face, which unnerved the showmare. “Um, no.” Trixie replied. “She sort have didn’t finish school.”
“Are you kidding me?” Lina asked, exasperated, and slumped into the water. “What happened? You don’t strike me as the type that wouldn’t be able to learn her stuff.”
“Trixie,” she said with hesitation. “never studied. So she ended up fulfilling her other life’s dream and taking to the road as a performer!” Trixie had her arm outstretched to emphasize her passion for the stage.
“That didn’t look like it turned out well for you.” Lina said flatly. “Now you’re at what you called rock bottom, and you’re working as my assistance/apprentice, trying to make a new life as a sorceress.”
Trixie only slumped back from the deflated boast, but managed to recover. “Well, there are some perks to this career change.”
“Hey, don’t think that because you just so happen to be at a nice hot spring with me will mean that I’m going to take it easy on you.” Lina said. “I expect you to work on our laundry tomorrow.”
“Yes, of course Trixie will.” She said, partially paying no mind to the threat.
“And let’s not forget, I could always use someone to take inventory of all my treasure and supplies.” Lina said with a finger to her chin. “Now that I think about it, can you even write?”
“Of course Trixie is literate!” she said, fuming. “She went to school before the one for gifted unicorns! Why she could use her horn to write notes so quickly-oh...” Trixie put a hand above her head in memory of the lost limb.
“How does one write? With their mouth, oh that’s going to be a chore.”
Lina blinked. “No, of course not. You use your hands to hold a pen of course!”
“Is that so?” Trixie asked
“It’s sort of like pointing with your finger, except you’re holding your pen between these two fingers.” Lina said while bringing together her finger and thumb into a pinching motion. Sort of like how you held that spoon earlier.”
Trixie began playing around with her own fingers, noting their precision. “Humans are so strange. Hands are also very weird. Everything is just so sensitive for humans.”
“And then there are these things.” Trixie said while unabashedly holding her chest. “They’re perhaps the strangest things of all.”
Lina scowled.
“They’re just so heavy and make Trixie feel strange when moving. And Trixie wonders, why are yours not nearly as large as hers?”
Lina muttered a short curse. “Don’t worry about it Trixie.” She said.
“It’s just like when you clammed up about your tiny horn when you were a unicorn.” Trixie said. “Could it be that…” There was a great silence between the two of them.
“Is Trixie indeed just as marvelous and beautiful as a human just as she was as a pony?” she asked excitedly.
Lina growled. “Ugh. That’s it, I’m going to bed.” Flinging her arms in the air and left Trixie alone.
“You know, she gets really angry when you bring up her chest.” Gourry’s voice came from the other side of the partition of the hot springs.
Trixie gasped. “Were you listening in on us?” she asked.
“No, I usually don’t listen in on Lina, but when she gets angry I sort of start to pay attention. Just in case she’s in trouble or something.”
Trixie played around with the water a bit. “So, if Trixie may ask, what is it that you do besides adventure off with Lina?”
“I’m her guardian for the most part.” Gourry replied.
“Guardian?” Trixie asked.
“Oh! Not like her parents or anything!” Gourry said hastily. “No, I just pretty much go wherever she goes. The best part has to be the food.”
He’s so oblivious. Trixie thought. She turned her head and sunk into the water. Oh well, better make the most of this. She closed her eyes and let the water work its magic on her tired body. It’s so different, but it feels nice. Ugh, Trixie is going to freeze the moment she gets out. Oh how she longs for her beautiful azure coat.
“So, are you like sad or something?” Gourry hesitantly asked.
Trixie’s eyes blinked open, caught off guard by the question. “Whatever do you mean? She asked.
“Well, you seemed pretty excited the last time we saw you. “ Gourry said. “You wanted Lina to teach you how to use magic like she does. But you’ve been mostly gloomy since we met you again. I thought you’d be excited to find Lina.
Trixie’s magic almost hurt ponies back home. She wanted to be stronger… “Trixie is perfectly fine learning magic the way she is now!” she exclaimed. “Eh heh, what Trixie means is that she will become as powerful as Lina in due time.”
“Hey, you remind me of a friend of mine.” Gourry said. “Her name is Sylphiel. She was so scared of using spells, but man can she make a good stew.” He then sighed, lamenting its tastiness.
Trixie was still afraid, as much as this girl Gourry had described, possibly more so. Only some time earlier, she had shown real enthusiasm to learn Lina’s spells. Certainly, any one of them would have been enough to have defeated Twilight Sparkle in a duel.
But how far would have I gone? Any one of Lina’s spells had the ability to evoke a swath of destruction. Would she have let that power control her just like the Alicorn Amulet?
She once again shifted in the water to try to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.
“Okay, so maybe Trixie is a bit afraid of using magic now.” She said.
“Really?” Gourry asked. “What happened?”
“It was Trixie’s latest and greatest.” She spoke with a confident tone until the last word. “blunder.” Silence followed and the only the idle movements of water could be heard.
“Trixie thought she could be more powerful than that Twilight Sparkle if only she had the Alicorn Amulet, but she almost ended up as a monster because of it. The amulet only made her want more power.”
“So what happened?” Gourry asked.
“Of all things, she was tricked by illusions and slight of hoof. Thankfully though, they got the amulet away from Trixie.”
“Sounds pretty scary.” Gourry said. “Lina told me I got brainwashed a while back and had to fight against our friends.”
“It’s not really the same.” Trixie said. “But she gets what you’re saying. She’s okay now.”
“But if you got really strong from than Apricot Amulet with magic, why do you need Lina to teach you spells?” Gourry asked.
It was true, she used things far more complex that heat and cold magic. She was turning young colts into foals and old fogies with her magic. She knew how that magic worked, but even just thinking about it hit Trixie with a wave of cold chills.
There was a darkness there that connected itself with the magic. There’s somepony or something in my head, wanting me to go back to those spells. Trixie thought. “Every time Trixie thinks about the magic she used before, there’s something…there, that terrifies her.
“So is that why you’re scared of magic?” Gourry asked.
“Trixie still has her fears.” She said while moving her fingers in the water. “But those are just performance jitters. Trixie will show you all yet how she’ll be great and powerful again! Yes, Trixie will learn the secrets Lina Inverse will teach her and then she’ll return to Equestria better than ever!”
Trixie had stood up in determination from her speech, pointing a finger outward as she assumed a performer’s pose.
“Oh, it’s so cold without Trixie’s coat.” She said with a shiver.