The Ties that Bind

by the7Saviors


A Troubled Filly

"Of course Trixie is coming with you," the blue filly declared as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "did you think Trixie would just leave you two to fend for yourselves?" she scoffed and put on a cocky smirk, "you two need Trixie to keep you from getting in trouble."

Twilight giggled at Trixie's bravado and Sunset just shook her head.

"Thanks, Trixie," Twilight said with a grateful smile, "that means a lot, and you're right," she put a hoof on Trixie's shoulder, "we'll probably need all the help we can get."

"Ha!" Trixie replied with a snort, "Trixie is all the help you'll need."

Twilight chuckled and began making her way towards the bedroom door.

"Well, I'm going to get started on learning those spells," she said over her shoulder, "thanks again, Trixie."

She trotted out of the bedroom and closed the door, leaving Sunset and Trixie alone. Trixie looked at the now shut bedroom door with a slight frown.

"Hey."

She turned to Sunset and saw her wearing a small frown of her own, concern clear in her expression.

"Are you sure you're okay with this, Trixie?" Sunset asked, "earlier this morning, you-"

"Trixie told you, already," the blue filly interjected sharply, "she's fine, Sunset Shimmer," she turned away from the orange filly, "you don't need to worry about Trixie."

"But I am worried, Trixie," Sunset replied, taking a step towards Trixie, "we all are. It's obvious you don't want to go to that festival, and you don't have to go."

Trixie didn't say anything, merely keeping her back turned to Sunset.

"Trixie..."

Silence.

She tried to get Trixie to respond a few more times before giving up with a sigh.

"Alright, fine," Sunset conceded, "I'll leave you alone for now, Trixie," she gave the blue filly a stern look, "but we're not done here. I know I don't show it very often, but... well..." she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, "I... I care about you Trixie. So does Ancient Scroll and I'm sure Twilight does too."

Trixie didn't say anything, but a twitch of an ear told Sunset she was listening.

"I know you've only been here a few months, and I know Twilight only just showed up recently, but you can trust us," Sunset continued, "seriously, Trixie, you can talk to us about your problems. I don't exactly know for sure what happened to you before you got here" - Trixie flinched - "and Uncle Scroll only had some guesses, but I was worried even back then."

Trixie chanced a look over her shoulder, but quickly turned back around when she saw Sunset's worried grimace.

"You were a mess when you got here, and to this day I still don't know why - only that Uncle Scroll thought it may have had something to do with-"

"Don't."

Sunset cringed at the hurt in Trixie's voice. She eyed the shaking filly sadly.

"Trixie, I just-"

"Leave me alone... please," Trixie said in a small voice.

Sunset opened her mouth, then closed it again with another sigh and trotted out of the room without another word, shutting the door behind her.

After a moment of silence, Trixie sniffed and slowly made her way to the closet. She stepped inside, pushing aside random odds and ends until she reached a dirty brown drawstring pouch at the very back. Using her magic, she pulled the pouch open and lifted out the contents - a heavily torn and tattered purple cape and hat, both adorned with stars.

She sat on her haunches, hugging the grimy cape and hat close to herself. Silent tears streamed down her face as she lifted the last of the contents out of the pouch.

A small note - torn, crumpled, and stained dark brown from long since dried blood.


The following morning was a bright, sunny, and - most importantly - warm one, much to Twilight's delight. She had asked Sunset if she wanted to take a morning trot down to the nearby river again. Sunset had agreed to go, but when she went to ask if Trixie wanted to come with, she was told by Ancient Scroll that Trixie had decided to sleep in.

And so it was that Twilight and Sunset trotted down the dirt path, marveling at the changes spring had brought to the scenery. The snow had all but completely melted and, while many of the trees had yet to sprout any leaves, the surrounding grass was a lush green and some of the flowers were already in full bloom.

Twilight inhaled deeply through her nose and let out a contented sigh.

"I love spring," she mused, looking around her with an appreciative smile, "everything just feels... new, y'know? Like the world's been given a fresh start."

Sunset nodded with a small smile of her own.

"It's nice, for sure," she agreed, "but I've always been a fan of summer myself."

"Really?" Twilight asked curiously.

"Yup," Sunset replied with another nod, "summer is when nature is at it's peak," she waved a hoof at her surroundings, "the sunshine, the wildlife, the flora... they're all in their full glory during summer."

"Huh," Twilight responded thoughtfully, "I never thought about it that way..."

"Yeah," Sunset replied with a somewhat wistful sigh, "Summer Breeze would always take me and the rest of the foals at the orphanage to play out near the lake just outside of Canterlot."

"I think I know what lake you're talking about," Twilight said with a nod, "it was near some woods - Lake Canter, right?"

"That's the one," Sunset confirmed with a chuckle, "we would always go early in the morning before it got packed with tourists from out of town."

The two continued their idle banter as they made their way closer to the bridge covering the river. Once they reached the bridge, they each sat down and quietly gazed out at the lazily flowing stream.

After a moment Twilight gave a soft sigh and turned towards the direction they had come.

"I wish Trixie could've come with us," she said with a frown, "I wanted all three of us to take a trot outside for once - especially since it's so nice out."

"Yeah, well..." Sunset grimaced, "she's got some problems of her own to deal with right now, so it's probably best to leave her alone for the moment."

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, turning back to Sunset with a furrowed brow, "is it about how she was acting the other day?"

"I don't know, Twilight," Sunset replied shaking her head, "I think she's hiding something. Maybe it has something to do with that town."

"You think she's been there before?" Twilight guessed.

"Possibly," Sunset responded, "she definitely didn't want to go to Faranda Way, that's for sure."

Twilight nodded in agreement.

"I just wish she would tell us why instead of trying to brush it off and act like nothing's wrong."

"You and me both, Twilight."

Another few minutes passed by in silence before Twilight suddenly spoke up.

"I saw those scars under Trixie's fur."

Sunset snapped her gaze to Twilight and found her staring out at the river with a frown as she continued.

"There were a lot of them, Sunset," she finally turned to the orange filly, staring at her with a solemn expression, "what happened to her?"

Sunset Shimmer didn't say anything for a moment, returning Twilight's stare silently. She eventually gave a resigned sigh and shook her head helplessly.

"I don't know for sure, Twilight," she answered, "she never told us what happened to her before she got here," she turned a contemplative gaze to the river in front of her, "all I know is that Uncle Scroll was about to leave on one of his errands one morning and when he opened the front door, she was lying there, holding a dirty pouch and bleeding all over the place."

Sunset shuddered at the memory, ignoring Twilight's gasp of surprise.

"She was already unconscious when Uncle Scroll brought her inside, and she didn't wake up for a long time. I tried to help take care of her, but Uncle Scroll wouldn't let me," she scrunched up her face, "he took her into town to get help... he also took the pouch for some reason."

"And... what happened next?" Twilight asked tentatively. She was beginning to worry about Trixie more and more as Sunset went on.

She was also curious about what that pouch held.

Sunset shrugged as she answered Twilight's question.

"I don't know," she replied, "I stayed at the cottage while Uncle Scroll was in town. He came back and told me he'd be staying in town for a couple of days while the doctors helped Trixie."

"And he didn't take you with him?" Twilight asked furrowing her brow in bemusement.

"No," Sunset said with a shake of her head, "he told me to stay and watch the cottage," she snorted, "thinking back on it, I'm pretty sure he just didn't want me to see Trixie in her condition."

Twilight bit her lip nervously before asking the question pushing its way to the forefront of her mind.

"And... the pouch?"

"Uncle Scroll never told me what was in it," Sunset responded with a shrug, "and when I asked, he told me not to worry about it and not to go snooping."

"So... you still don't know what's in there?"

"Nope," Sunset replied, "I only know what Uncle Scroll told me."

"And what did he tell you?"

Sunset looked at Twilight with an unsure frown before straightening up and giving the lavender filly a stern glare.

"Don't tell Trixie I told you this," Sunset said in a low voice, "in fact, don't bring it up at all."

Twilight nodded meekly and Sunset continued.

"Uncle Scroll told me that whatever happened to Trixie might've had something to do with her parents."

Twilight's eyes widened in shock.

"What..." she faltered and tried again, "what are you talking about? What could've happened with her parents?"

"I don't know," she said with a frown, "Uncle Scroll didn't go into detail."

"But-"

"Look, Twilight," Sunset said, cutting off the lavender filly, "let's just drop it for now," she rose to her hooves and began making her way off the bridge, "I don't know any more and I don't want to think about it right now. Like you said, it's a nice day out, so let's just enjoy it, alright?"

Twilight, now more concerned than ever about her blue coated friend, wanted to press the issue, but decided against it at Sunset's stern frown.

"...Alright, Sunset."

"Good," Sunset responded with a small smile, "Trixie will be okay, Twilight," she assured, "we just have to give her some time."

Twilight nodded with a smile and Sunset began trotting the path back to the cottage. Twilight watched her go for a moment and frowned thoughtfully before following after the orange filly.


If Sunset can't tell me anymore, and Trixie, and Uncle Scroll won't tell me anything, maybe there's another way I can find out more...