//------------------------------// // Awe Struck // Story: Trot Buddies! // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// “Wow...” Flash Sentry leaned back, his tail limp and his eyes wide. “...are you telling me that Equestria's Flash Sentry was single-hoofedly responsible for the salvation of the entire Elephant Seal Clan?” “Yes.” Rarity nodded with an elegant smile. “Yes, that is most true.” “And he actually used the methods you just described in exact detail to rescue and protect every single one of them?” “A lady does not lie to a dashing gent such as yourself, good sir.” “Wow...” Flash bore a dumb smile. “That's unbelievably awesome!” He bore an even dumber smile. “That's like the most amazing tale I've ever heard!” “Isn't it, though?” “Oh, how I wish other ponies could have heard the tale I just heard!” Flash drawled. “How I wish everypony could hear it!” “Mrmmmffff...” Trixie trotted up, munching on peanut butter. “Hear what?” She swallowed. Flash looked at her. “Did you know that my doppelganger in this world single-hoofedly saved an entire clan of northern dwellers by—” “Yeah yeah. Horse adventures. Crazy stuff.” Trixie looked at Rarity with a dull gaze. “When does Trixie and her trot buddy get out of here?” Rarity held a hoof over her chest. “You're asking me? I'm afraid I'm not the one keeping tabs of the situation, darling. I'm waiting on the Princess just as much as you and the rest of your friends!” “But since you're this world's Rarity, Trixie figured you would know.” Flash squinted at her. “How'd you realize this was Equestria's Rarity?” “She's floofier than the one we know.” “Mmmmm... quite...” Rarity brushed her fuzzy chest, smiling with pride. “Glad you noticed.” “How's the peanut butter?” Flash asked. “I dunno.” Trixie glared. “How's rock'n'roll?” Flash nodded off to the walls. “Touche.” “Hey... uhm...” Lyra Heartstrings waved her hoof at Pinkie Pie and Spike from beyond the banquet table. “...not to sound impatient or nothing, because we really really enjoy the food and the hospitality and stuff...” “Is there a chance that we'll be heading home soon?” Derpy Hooves asked, sad eyes rolling. “I really wanna get in contact with my family again.” “Don't you worry your once-simian heads about it!” Pinkie Pie grinned back. “Should be anytime now—!” Just then, her left hind leg started vibrating. “Whoahhh-oahhh-oahhh—!” She cupped her front fetlocks over her muzzle. “Brace yourselves, everypony!” FLASSSSH!!! A pastel unicorn materialized in mid-air. Gravity took over, and she landed loudly in the center of the banquet table, causing a loud clatter. Humans-turned-ponies jumped back in fright. “Whoah there... heheh... sorry folks!” A mare straightened her violet-streaked mane and smiled down at the group with a blush. “Who put this table here?” “My B, Starlight Glimmer!” Pinkie Pie chirped back. “Just giving the guests something to belch about!” “Yeah, well, would you mind moving it? I need room to create an entry portal for—Oooh! Peanut butter!” “Ahem...” Spike waddled up to the scene, rolling up invisible sleeves. “Allow me.” “Caterers and dragons first!” Pinkie Pie hopped in to help. “Excuse me...” Rarity daintily cleared her throat, floated her knitted blouse to the side, and trotted gaily towards the center of the corridor. Her horn was glowing as she assisted with moving the table. “Seems prime time for me to be of use.” She waved with her tale. “A pleasure talking to you, Mister Flash.” “Same to you, milady.” Flash smirked at himself. “Heh, I wonder,” he muttered aside to his trot buddy. “Can horses wear fedoras?” There was no response. Within half a minute, the banquet table was pushed to the wall. The so-called “Starlight Glimmer” levitated a small satchel by her side. She emptied its contents—a glittery pile of manadust—across the room in the shape of a round sigil. This required her to walk around at length, meanwhile Spike and Rarity and Pinkie Pie ushered the group apart to make room. “Mrmmmfff...” Starlight munched on an errant sample of peanut butter treats. “...I'll make this short.” She narrowed her eyes on the floor as she laid down more lines of shiny dust. “The Princess has figured out a spell to teleport everyone at one time. But it requires a two-sided rune system in order to fast-track the leylines for mana transference. Once I've got this set up, I'll have you—Spike—send Twilight a message and then she and Sunset will initiate the spell on their end. I'll monitor the rune on this end and—KABOOM!—transport complete!” She winced, then chuckled in mid-stride. “Okay... maybe not so much 'KABOOM,' cuz that heavily implies that the transported individuals will explode upon arrival here at the Castle. Which they won't. However, to the un-initiated, the thunder and noise caused by their arrival might resemble an explosion... or something cacophonous enough in that department. In other words, it's gonna be loud. And windy. But that's good! That'll mean the spell is working without a single hitch—” Starlight bumped into a blue hoof. She looked up. Trixie was staring straight at her. Eyes wide. Dead still. Flash glanced at Trixie—then did a double-take. His brow furrowed, for he hadn't seen the mare resemble a statue like this before. “Uhhhhhhhh... hi there...” Starlight Glimmer spoke. Her eyes darted between Trixie and the floor and the rune she was making. “...uhm... I'm sorry... but... uh...” Her eyes narrowed. “I'm going to have to ask you to move.” “Move.” Trixie blinked. “Right.” More silence. Flash fidgeted. “Oh! Uhm... where are my manners?” Starlight stood up straight, cleared her throat, and spoke to the rest of the crowd. “My name is Starlight Glimmer! Head Administrator for the School of Friendship here in Ponyville and former pupil of Princess Twilight Sparkle! Heheheh...” She blew out the side of her muzzle. “I still think something short and simple as 'Ponyville Court Wizard' would work, but... meh...” “Trixie is Trixie.” Trixie said, her eyes still wide. Starlight blinked at her. “I... yeah...” A slow nodded. “...I sorta figured you were the other world's Trixie.” “Then you know of Trixie,” the mare blurted. Her breaths were short. Stiff. Like her body. “I... guess... in a way I do! We're friends on this side!” Starlight slowly raised a hoof amidst the ensuing silence. “Hello carbon copy of my friend who is actually a primate creature on the other side!” More silence. “... … ...uhm...” Starlight smiled through a thin layer of sweat. “...I-I'm going to need to finish laying down this rune, now,” she said in a whispery tone. She cleared her throat and leaned in closer to hiss: “Which means you kinda sorta have to move, please...” “Trixie can move.” Trixie gulped. “Trixie has lots of moves.” “Oh... uhhhh... I... I-I'm sure...!” Flash looked at Trixie, then at Starlight, then at Trixie again. “Ahem...” He moved between the two, grasped his trot buddy's withers, and slowwwwwwly slid her aside. “Herrrrre you go.” “Thank you, Caramel,” Starlight said. “Actually, I'm Flash. Flash Sentry.” “Sure you are.” Starlight finished laying out the rune. “Okay. Aaaaaaaaand... done!” She brushed off her fetlocks. “Spike? If you could be so kind as to send that message now?” “Already on it, Captain!” “Stand back everybody!” Starlight licked her lips and began glowing her horn. “Once the Princess and Sunset gets the signal, this will only take a sec...” Meanwhile... ...Flash ushered himself and Trixie to a safe distance. “Her name...” Trixie slurred. “...is Starlight Glimmer.” “Yeah. So I heard.” Flash rubbed his scalp, then squinted at Trixie. “Are you... okay there, Trix?” “Have you ever seen a woman like that before?” “Well, technically, she's not a woman. She's a unicorn.” “Unicorrrrrrrrrrrn...” Trixie hadn't blinked in a long time now. Her eyes reflected a swooshy, violet-streaked mane. “Trixie is a unicorn.” “I mean, right now you are.” Flash opened his muzzle... but lingered in place. He gazed at Starlight, then at Trixie again. His eyes narrowed. “Say, Trixie, do you want more of those peanut butter treats?” “Mmmmmmm...” Trixie gulped, her ears twitching as she stared and... stared. “In a minute.” Flash exhaled hard. “Hoo boy.” He waved his hoof in front of her face a few times. When there was no response, he merely smirked and stood by her side—awaiting the “magic show.”