//------------------------------// // Night Time // Story: Trot Buddies! // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// “Alright, everypony!” Sunset Shimmer called out. It was dark now, and while her voice carried far, the light of her masterful horn carried farther. Over a hundred fuzzy faces gasped in relief as she marched down the line, speaking boldly: “Let's rest here for the night! That run-in with the manticore two hours ago really threw off our pace! We should rest here and continue the rest of the journey in the morning!” She and Rainbow and Twilight gathered the large group of equines into a circle so her light could shine on everyone. “I'm sorry that there's no food beyond the provisions we were able to carry through the portal. I promise—at first light—I'll set out and fetch some breakfast for all our pony bellies! The most important thing for right now is for all of us to stay together! We can't afford to lose track of a single member of our group or else you risk getting lost in the Everfree Forest or—as silly as it sounds—running into your pony double beyond the woods. Trust me... you don't want that to happen.” “Hrmmfff!” Trixie harumph'd, plopping down in the tall grass with angry, folded forelimbs. “Trixie can't believe this! Does Sunset Shimmer actually expect us to just sit here overnight?! Look at Trixie! She's being forced to sleep in the dirt! Like an animal!” “Well, to be perfectly honest,” Flash Sentry exhaled as he came to a stop, wiping sweat from his brow. “You are an animal.” “Exuse me?!?” Trixie glared up at him. “Er, I mean...” The teenage stallion's wings coiled and uncoiled as he bore a nervous smile. “We all are.” “That's a slippery slope that Trixie most definitely does not wish to ride her powerful and great toboggan down!” Trixie huffed and folded her forelimbs beneath her body like a fuzzy blue horse-cat. “I mean, for the love of Houdini! What else does she expect us to do in the woods?” “I mean...” Flash shrugged. “If you wanna go behind a tree...” He gestured. “...there are plenty to spare.” “What?!?!?” Trixie's pupils shrunk to spasming pinpricks while her mane flopped back like a pale exclamation mark. “I can't believe you're actually embracing the craziness of this situation! Why don't you just go full nature, you... you... fuzzbucket?!” Flash sighed. “What kind of an insult is that?” “A cluttered one.” Trixie pouted, hanging her head. “Trixie just invented it.” A long, girlish moan escaped her crooked lips. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh... even Trixie's improv is suffering...!” She buried her muzzle into her forelimbs. “Mrmmmffff... how is she ever going to regain her mojo on staaaaaage...?” “Well... uh...” Flash scratched his chin, then smiled with perked ears. “You could always try out for Hoof Line Is It Anyway?!” “... … ...” Two rosy disks of murder peered up at him from between Trixie's forelimbs and her brow. “What?” Flash cleared his throat. “Is a Millennial not allowed to make that joke?” “More like a Moronnial.” “See? There's hope for you yet!” “Trixie doesn't understand why sad-sack is trying to improve her spirit.” She huffed. “Anything good about me was left behind at least five stampedes ago.” “Just trying to make the best out of the situation,” Flash said, trotting up beside her—but keeping a safe social distance. “I mean, we survived a magical storm and a shipwreck. Sunset promised a day and a half of trotting—tops.” He turned around once, twice, three times in place. “You ask me, that's waaaaaaaay frickin' better than just waiting on a sun-bleached island, hoping for a plane to fly over and spot us.” He plopped down after completing his tiny pony circles. “Ahhhhh...” He smiled... then blinked coldly. “Wait... why did I just do that?” “At least Trixie would have been closer to her magic trunk of tools back on the island!” “For all we know, the boat may have fully sunk by now,” Flash said. “All of your magic doohickeys could be marinating at the bottom of the ocean.” “Don't say thaaaaaaaaaaat!” Trixie scrunched up with a sad grimace. “Trixie's trunk is very... very valuable to her!” “Okay... okay...” Flash waved. “I'm sorry. I just figured... your life would be more valuable to you—” “How much is a life worth living when you're miserable because your best resources are now soggy pirate loot?!?” “Uhhhh...” “Your guitar!” Trixie pointed. “You play a bass, yes?” Flash's ears twitched. “Uh... Rhythm???” “Whatever. Don't you worry about that rusting back on the boat?” “I... uh...” Flash squirmed on his folded forelimbs. “...I-I didn't bring it actually.” “You didn't bring your guitar?!” “Uh... no?” “Why not?” Trixie tilted her nose up. “A true artist takes their art everywhere they go!” “I guess... I-I just didn't feel like taking it with me on board the cruise.” Flash shrugged. “Seeing as it was... … … a cruise.” He arched a fuzzy horse eyebrow. “You know... a vacation?” “No excuses!” Trixie flipped her mane back and tilted her nose towards the darkening canopy. “Where leisure is, inspiration blossoms! That's why Trixie was performing on board the ship's auditorium! To gain a new perspective on the finer points of her performance!” “H-hey...” Flash produced a proud smirk. “...pretty snazzy. You should write that down.” “Pfffft! Don't be using sarcasm with Trixie!” “I... wasn't...” Flash winced, leaning back from her as if she had pulled out a knife. “I sincerely meant it.” “You actually believe in Trixie's philosophies?” “Well, that one, sure...” “Then how come you didn't bring your guitar to practice your talent on board the cruise ship?” “Cuz I... didn't feel like it? I dunno...” Flash shrugged, gazing across the clearing at the multiple ponies squatting down—families and crewpersons and friends and CHS alumni. “...to tell the truth, I just haven't been feeling like making music lately.” “Hah! Now that's a laugh!” Trixie snorted. “And I thought rock'n'roll was sad sack's whole schtick.” “It's... not very funny...” Flash rubbed the back of his head with a limp hoof. “...also, please don't call me sad-sack.” “Never before have you confirmed yourself so solidly in one sentence!” “Actually, that was more like two sentences.” “Alright. Three! Don't you like making music?” “I... guess?” “Then why not take it with you everywhere, Flash?! How can you become great and powerful if you aren't practicing all the time?!” Flash looked into the deepening shadows of the Everfree Forest all around them. There was a familiar tone to the atmosphere—the hints and suspicions of shapes without any true forms coming together, forever receding into the abyss. There was a time with the muse came to him—danced its way up to Flash and pirouetted into his lap, where it proceeded to purr like a kitten. The sensation would roll up his spine and spark in his brain and the young man could create harmony and guitar riffs almost as if he was some Olympian deity reborn. But all of that vanished sometime recently. He told people that it was because he was “taking a break” or that he was “following all pursuits.” They were all lies, of course. The reality was—the ethereal muse of his mind had been replaced... more than once. Flash had stopped looking within and started gazing outside. He found idols—temporary goddesses—to carry the flame. And they dropped them just like they dropped him. In the end, he only had himself to blame for thinking another torch beside his was worthy of the talent. He felt vulnerable, shameful, and more than a little bit compromised. But he also knew that—if he wasn't careful, and he let his heart (and other organs) grip to tightly to the rudder—he would just toss the flame back out again... and everything would be extinguished in a brand new darkness. One that he wasn't sure he could shred his way out of—guitar or no. “I guess...” Flash's words limped out of his muzzle, and he lightly aimed them in Trixie's direction, almost hoping she wouldn't catch them. “...I guess I'm just lazy.” “Hah! Yes, well... at least you're honest, sad-sack.” Flash held his breath. He leaned his muzzle down against his crossed limbs. Off in the distance, Sunset's voice echoed—just as loudly as before: “Alright! I know you're all itching to sleep, but first thing's first! We have to conduct roll call! Everypony stick to your Trot Buddy! This is very important! Now... I need to stand here so I can illuminate the whole group! I'm going to have Rainbow Dash go down the line and call out each of your names in the appropriate pairs! Please answer swiftly and clearly so we can check to make sure everyone's accounted for!” “Yeesh...” Trixie rolled her eyes. “The way she goes about it, you'd think she was in the military or something!” “Hrmmmfff...” Flash shut his eyes, suddenly overcome by the exhaustion of that day—and the ringing in his large, large horse ears that carried the distinct tonality of the magician girl he was infernally stuck with. “...she's battled a few wars. That's for sure.” “Hmmmm... I wonder what pony wars there have been in this world...” “Beats me.” “Do they fight over apples? Oats? Bales of hay?” “Beats me.” “Gaugh! Now Trixie is getting hungry just thinking of cute pony wars!” Her blue figure curled up, hugging her horse tummy. “Ohhhhhhhhh... why do we have to wait until morning? We're horses! Can't we just—I dunno—graze?” “Beats me.” “Is that all you can say to Trixie?!?” she barked. Flash groaned, reopening his eyes with an angry glint. “Just minutes ago, you were mortified at the idea of squatting in the woods. But now you wanna make like a hungry sheep?” “No! Trixie wants to make like a hungry Trixie!” “Meh...” “Besides... one thing leads to another.” Trixie sniffed the vegetation around them. “...and if Trixie spaces things out...” “Don't you dare do or try anything in this world unless someone like Sunset gives it the 'okay' first.” “Ohhhhhhhhhhh...” Trixie waggled her eyebrow. “So my ball and chain is still attached to his ball and chain!” “Don't be silly,” Flash muttered. “Sunset knows this place like the back of her... her...” Flash squinted. “...what the heck do you call the backside of a horse's leg, anyways?” “Does it look like Trixie writes Filly Funtasia fanfiction?” “Just... calm down...” Flash gestured with his fetlock. “...relax... and listen to whatever Sunset says.” “Oh, keen wisdom there, sad-sack.” Trixie rolled her eyes. “Are you sure you broke up with her?” “... … ...” Flash simply stared at her. “What???” “You're not stupid,” Flash muttered. “You're capable of object permanence and long-term memory.” “Uhhhhh... yes...?” Trixie squinted anxiously. “...why are you stating the obvious to Trixie?” “Because you don't accept what is obvious! Even when it's right in front of you!” “Like...?” “Rnnnngh—” Flash slapped the soil between them, making her jolt. “That someone like Sunset only wants what's best for us! And what's best for you!” He pointed at his fuzzy chest. “That I only want what's best for you!” Silence. Flash's nostrils flared. He stared ahead, watching as Rainbow Dash hovered briskly down the line, calling out to each pair of former-humans-now-ponies and listening as they responded. “... … ...how can somebody who cares so little about his own talent care for the Great and Talented Trixie?” “Just...!!!” Flash gnashed his teeth and waved a hoof stiffly between them. “...No. More. Chatting.” He blew out the side of his muzzle. “Until morning. Got it?” “... … ...But Trixie will get borrrrrred!” She whined, and there was a rumbling sound. She curled up into an even tighter blue ball. “If Trixie's mind isn't occupied, then her stomach takes overrrrrrr!” “Nnnnnngh-gwdddddddddddddd...” Flash groaned into the soil. “...why couldn't we have come out the portal as fruit flies and died in six hours???” “Flash Sentry!” A voice cracked above. Flash sat up straight, blinking tiredly. “Everything's horrible!” He winced, shaking his snout. “I-I mean... I'm here! Present...” A nervous smile. “Eheheh...” Rainbow Dash squinted at him, then looked towards the mare at his side. “Trixie, you cool—?” The showmare burped loudly—making both Rainbow and Flash jolt. With innocent puppy-pony eyes, Trixie gazed up at the roll caller. “Trixie is most certainly here and on her best behavior!” “... … ...'kayyyyy.” Rainbow slowly slinked away from the pair, her wings and ears drooping. “Thanks for letting me check in.” She cleared her throat, then gave Flash a lasting squint. “So sorry, dude...” the pegasus rasped, and was gone. “Hrmmmmf!” Trixie tried tilting her nose up, but she was struggling with a loud gurgle from her chest. “That wasn't very—hic!—polite of her!” Flash gazed at her. “What was that all about?” “Nothing!” Trixie sat up prim and proper. “Trixie is ready to sleep now!” “... … ...” Flash glanced at the stalks of grass around Trixie. A few of them—closest to her muzzle—had been sliced halfway up the stem. “Trixiiiiiiiie...” His eyes narrowed. “...did you try eating some of the grass just now?” “... … … ... … ...BRUPPPPP!” Her latest belch spat out a few drool-laden green blades that fluttered to the earth between the two trot buddies. Trixie covered her blue snoot with a dainty hoof and murmured: “I dunno...”