//------------------------------// // Front Door // Story: Trot Buddies! // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// “So... what do you reckon we do?” Applejack peered her head from one of a half-dozen bushes scrunched up against the foundation of the tree-like castle. She looked back at Sunset Shimmer and the others. “Knock?” “Nope.” Sunset nudged Twilight. Together, the two human-turned-ponies slid their shrubbery up to the front door of the place. “I've got a key.” “You do?” Rarity craned her neck. “But I don't see anything on you, darling!” “It's not a physical kind of key.” Sunset took a breath, concentrated, and summoned a glow of energy into her horn. “It's a spell. One that Twilight has exclusively taught to close friends and allies to the Elements of Harmony.” She licked her lips as she concentrated. “Starlight Glimmer. Tempest Shadow...” Rainbow Dash made a face from where she hovered. “Who the heck is 'Tempest Shadow?'” “Shhh!” Sunset insisted. “I need to concentrate!” The group watched as Sunset's glowing light transferred into the seamwork of the door itself. There as a rattling sound—followed by a pleasant percussion. Like windchimes. The door opened with a breath of cool air, stealing the breaths from everyone's lungs with a sigh of relief. “Ooooooh...” Fluttershy's eyes sparkled. “Pretty!” “Uhm...” Derpy squinted, then covered one wandering eye with her hoof. “Is the front atrium really that huge?” “She ain't seein' thangs.” Applejack grimaced. “I dun see how this castle is wide enough to afford that much room.” “Yeah. It'll do that.' Sunset exhaled, as her horn dimmed. “You'll get used to it.” “Then what are we waiting for?!?” Pinkie Pie started bouncing ahead. “Ahoy there, you great horsies! We bring gifts—Whoah!!” Sunset tugged her back by her tail with telekinesis. “Not so fast. Let me go in first... just to check if the coast is clear.” “Come onnnnnn!” Pinkie Pie pouted. “Doppelganger partyyyyyy!” “Let her do as she says, Pinkie,” Rarity said. “She hasn't steered us wrong this far.” “I won't be long. I promise.” Sunset shuffled ahead. “I'll call for the rest of you in a moment. I know you're all exhausted. We're almost at our destination.” She looked over her flank in mid-trot. “Keep an eye on them, Twilight, please.” “Aye, cap'n!” The four-eyed unicorn saluted. The rest of the group huddled anxiously between the foundation of the castle and their translocated bushes. Bulk Biceps rocked back and forth. Lyra hummed quietly beneath her breath. Rainbow hovered in tiny little circles and... ...and Flash Sentry was breaking out in a cold sweat. His ears rang, and he realized how deathly silent everything was. “Hey... Trixx...!” He whispered aside. “Moi?” Trixie glanced at him. “Could you... continue rambling...?” He murmured. “Moi!” Trixie smiled pleasantly, whispering back. “Where was I? Oh yes! Imported cheese and crackers are the best. Totally worth the wait from ManehattanPeanutButterHQ.com! Trixie always has them on a cheat day. You know... when Trixie's feeling like being even more powerful and great than usual! Why's that called 'cheating?' Cuz it forces everyone else to face waaaaay more distance in catching up to Trixie's awesomeness! So they'll have to cheat! Which—face it—isn't all that different from usual.” Flash Sentry let out a long, calm breath. He relaxed noticeably, drifting along the currents of Trixie's boastful—albeit delectably cute vocalizing. “I'll have a few of those treats right after a major show. Not before, mind you. While Trixie is fine with enjoying some imported decadence, it does a number on her... mouth... … and orating... … … abilities...” She was progressively leaning her head to the far side, squinting with curiosity at Flash. Her trot buddy hung her head, breathing slowly. “Sad sack...?” “Hmmm?” She arched an eyebrow. “Just why have you gotten such a keen interest in the random things that Trixie has to say?” “Don't worry about it. Just keep talking.” “No, Trixie wants to know.” “You're awesome. Isn't that enough?” “It's enough for Trixie. Rarely is it enough for anyone else—at least when they're not in an audience.” She clenched her jaw. “And you're hardly one to patronize. So what is the problem?” “I just... … ...” Flash squinted one eye at the entrance to the castle and immediately grimaced. “... … ...don't want to remember that I'm here right now.” Trixie tilted her fuzzy chin up... up … up as she took in the spectacle and majesty of the tall structure. “Does sad-sack have a phobia of castles? I can understand that! It's perfectly natural!” Trixie looked to the left... then to the right. She leaned in and whispered hoarsely while cupping a hoof around her muzzle. “Let Trixie share a thing or two about wheels...” “No, Trixie, it's not that—” “Never trust anything that can roll over you twice!” “I said it's not about the castle!” Flash hissed. A few of the other ponies glanced curiously at him. With a shudder, he retreated deeper into his shrubbery—closer to Trixie. “I'm just... not thrilled about bumping into who's inside.” “... … …?” Trixie looked into the yawning, crystalline maw of the place. She then looked back at Flash. “Are you... still head over heels about her?” Flash blanched. “No...!” “Then what is the problem?” “I'm...” Flash deflated with a depressing sigh. “...ass over elbow about being head over heels about her.” Trixie merely blinked. “Every time I think I've gotten over her...” Flash looked deadpan at Trixie. “Every time I remember the wise things Sunset told me to get past it all. Every time I think about how easy life is when I don't think about her. Every time I feel like I'm finally a sane human being...” He gritted his teeth. “... … ...I remember the last time I ever truly felt happy.” He swallowed a lump down his throat. “And it was spending time with her. Dancing. Holding hands. Performing in a music competition. Hearing her voice. Seeing her sweet, angelic face.” “... … ...” Trixie blinked. “God, you're pathetic.” “Rnnnngh...” Flash slumped to the ground, covering his muzzle with his hooves. “I knowwwwwwwww...” “But... pathetic is what one must feel... when you share so much of yourself with someone else... only to have it taken away.” Flash squinted one eye curiously at Trixie. “Not that the Grreat and Powerrful Trixie has ever experienced that or anything!” She folded her forlimbs and tilted her nose up. “The only person Trixie has ever loved is herself!” “Heh...” Flash smirked. “Must be great.” “Don't you mean it must be 'selfish, egotistical, and dumb?'” His brow furrowed. “I didn't say that.” “Trixie knows.” She sighed out the side of her muzzle. “And—for what it's worth—I sometimes wish Trixie could feel was sad-sack does... if only to have that one moment of being happy.” “You... aren't happy, Trixie?” Flash asked, sitting up with a look of concern over his muzzle. “Pffft! Of course Trixie is happy!” She smirked devilishly at him. “Being a stage magician is the greatest source of contentment Trixie could ask for! It's just that... Trixie performs all the time. It's her profession. And when happiness becomes a part of your job—when it's something that's scheduled—well... you can probably imagine: the thrill is somewhat... diluted over time.” “I... guess I can see that.” “But what you have... what you had...” Trixie took a deep breath, her expression turning thoughtful as she gazed off into the distance. “... … ...it sounds like something magical. Something pure.” “That's the problem,” Flash muttered. “If I continue to believe that, I continue to be how I am now.” He grumbled, ears folding back. “A perpetual bag of regret and disappointment, always looking into the past.” His eyes closed. “A veritable sad-sack.” “You really really really want to let go, huh?” “Mmmmhmmmm.” “And being forced to come here—to trot straight through Equestria, her kingdom—you simply can't afford to let go... even if you already thought you did.” He sighed again. “Well... don't sweat it. Not one bit.” Flash felt a blue hoof lifting him up. Trixie smirked. “If worse comes to worse—and you're forced to bump into her—Trixie will cover for you.” “... … ...how?” “I'll say that—you're Flash's twin!” Trixie grinned wide. “Felicity Sentry!” “That sounds like a girl's name.” “Shhhh! Trixie is being friendly!” She gestured. “Orrrrrrr... I'll say that you contracted some horrible horse disease in the Everfree Forest along the way here! And if you so much as open your muzzle, you'd infect the princess!” “Eugh...” Flash winced. “Or... perhaps... just perhaps...” She smirked. “We can pretend that you and I are now boyfriend and girlfriend! So she won't get any bold ideas and just leave you be! Just pretend, mind you.” She winked. “Wiiiink!” “... … …” Flash took a breath. “I think I'd rather have a virus or be the twin sister.” “In any case. Trixie will think of something! Just trust in Trixie!” Flash steadied himself, his eyes moistening. “You'd... really go that far for my sake...?” “Is that really so hard to believe?” “... … ...no. No, I don't think it is.” “Good! See? You're catching on!” Trixie put a hoof around his neck, nudging him playfully. “You'll be wising up to Trixie's Great and Powerfulness yet!” “Sounds like a fun list,” Flash droned. “Who's on it?” “So far? Just you!” Trixie smiled. “... … ...potentially.” “What about those two supporting musicians of yours? The Illusions?” “The who?” Just then... “Okay, everypony.” Sunset stepped up. “Coast is clear.” She smiled, gesturing into the heart of the castle. “Let's go.”