Sweet Apple Acres. The family farm run by the Apple family.
I never really did understand that family’s obsession with all things apple-related…
Trixie allowed herself to chuckle at that. It was entirely dark at this point, but she had managed to locate Rainbow’s designated “napping zone” how the blanket and pillow managed to stay up in the tree for… seemingly all of eternity, Trixie didn’t even try to fathom.
Okay… now that I’m here… what do I do?
Trixie didn’t see any “no trespassing” signs anywhere, so she didn’t think she was technically trespassing, but… She severely doubted that the Apples would see it that way. She felt herself yawn. She was exhausted trespassing or not, she needed to rest. At least it was pleasant enough out, an almost perfect summer night. Trixie shrugged off her saddlebags and tucked her legs underneath her.
Kind of reminds me of those times when I’d camp outside of my wagon…
A soft breeze breathed over Trixie, and she couldn’t help but shiver.
Say what you want about the weather… that wind is still chilly.
Trixie closed her eyes, and laid her head atop her saddlebags, using it as a makeshift pillow. Memories hit her from forever ago. Memories of her being in almost this exact same position alongside a small, barely-travelled road, her cape tucked around her as a blanket. Trixie always preferred travelling the roads least-travelled. They may not have been the fastest routes to her show locations, but the scenery she got to see along the way more than made up for it.
As hard as it was… those were probably some of the best days of my life.
Trixie chuckled lightly to herself.
Well… at least until I met Rainbow Dash.
Trixie’s thoughts wandered some more, other memories, of naturally beautiful settings she’d seen in her travels. Breathtaking sunsets, one in particular that stood out to her was one of the times she’d been travelling Canterlot. The sun had been setting, and she was setting up camp alongside another road, getting ready to turn in for the night. Then the sun fell behind Canterlot Castle, and Trixie could still vividly remember how she had lost all focus on what she’d been levitating at the time, and even when her crate of supplies crashed to the ground, she couldn’t stop staring at the magnificence before her.
The sky was bathed in a myriad of reds, oranges and yellows. Canterlot Castle was silhouetted against the sunset. The colors faded into dark blue, and then into black as the sun lowered, and yet Canterlot Castle still stood out, until the sun had finally passed the horizon, and it too finally faded into darkness.
Trixie couldn’t help but smile at the memory. She felt… at peace. It was a very peaceful night. With these thoughts in mind, she finally surrendered to the embrace of sleep.
***
Trixie opened her eyes, and smiled appreciatively to the blue, cloudless sky above her. She rolled to her side, and started getting up. Today was a new day. She could either attempt to talk to the townsponies again, or she could continue her search for Rainbow Dash, or even, she could just sit in the warm daylight and relax for a bit. She was on vacation after all, even if she had ulterior motives. Nothing was forcing her to reconcile with the ponies of this town.
“Trixie Lulamoon, our most interesting subject as of late.”
Trixie froze, then slowly turned her head, looking behind her.
That voice. Surely… surely she wouldn’t be here!
Princess Luna stood behind her, lounging in the tree Trixie had slept beneath, one hoof supporting her cheek, as she stared down, seemingly amused, at Trixie.
“P-Princess Luna!”
Trixie immediately shrunk into a bow, tapping her horn to the ground.
“To what does Trixie owe the pleasure?”
Trixie asked, breathlessly. Silence reigned for a few seconds, before Princess Luna’s voice was heard again.
“You may rise, my little pony. We appreciate the formality, but I would rather speak with you.”
Trixie raised from her bow, and looked, confused, into Luna’s eyes, which seemed to be sparkling. The lunar diarch had a soft smile upon her features.
“You may have already figured it out, but you are not awake yet. This is the only real way I can speak with you, without the needless press that would surely follow should I seek you out in the real world, so I do apologize for invading your dreams.”
So I’m dreaming, I suppose that would make sense…
Trixie shook her head.
“It’s not a problem at all, princess. Trixie just wonders why you have been wanting to seek her out.”
Luna rolled on her back in the tree, letting her legs dangle, before slipping off from the tree and landing onto a conjured cloud beneath her. With a flash and a pop, she summoned an apple into existence, and took a bite out of it, staring at Trixie with half-closed eyes. When she swallowed, she threw the rest of the apple into a trash bin that came into existence just before the apple would have hit the ground, before it disappeared with the apple in tow.
“It’s not every day that a criminal gets arrested in Equestria. That was the reason for my initial curiosity, it’s even rarer still for said criminal to turn herself in with no complaints, and serve her sentence quietly. So, naturally, my interest was piqued.”
Even within a dreamscape, Trixie could tell the difference between an entirely true answer, and one that wasn’t entirely true.
“Forgive Trixie, but she believes it is a matter of more than simple curiosity. Far as Trixie knows, you don’t do this on a regular basis. So, apart from Trixie’s implied natural magnificence, what else made Trixie interesting to you?”
Princess Luna studied Trixie silently.
“It would seem that you’re more perceptive than I gave you credit for, and for that, I apologize. Yes, you’re right, it’s more than simple curiosity. It actually involves the artifact that landed you in prison to begin with.”
Trixie shrunk in on herself a bit at that.
“Trixie… figured that might've been a part of the reason....”
She muttered.
“No need to be ashamed, Great and Powerful Trixie. You’ve paid for your crime, and it’s--”
“Trixie isn’t sure if she’s still worthy of that title.”
Trixie cut Princess Luna off. The lunar diarch blinked, then gazed at Trixie.
“Were you stripped of your title?”
Trixie shuffled uncomfortably on her hooves.
“N-no… but it just…”
It was Luna’s turn to cut Trixie off.
“Then you still are worthy of that title. Great and Powerful, the unique title granted to Trixie Lulamoon. Until you are informed, you are still bound to that title by royal Equestrian law. Nopony, nocreature can take that from you. Not even yourself.”
Trixie was shocked, but then she felt relieved. She let out a breath she wasn’t aware that she was holding. Luna smiled at her.
“And it seems that you still value that title, in spite of what you tell yourself.”
Trixie glared at Luna, who simply smirked.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie is curious now. What about the amulet makes her worth watching?”
Luna’s smirk disappeared, replaced by a worried look.
“That amulet is ancient. Created during a time where wars between the four tribes was common, and the ponies ruled through fear, and power. Unicorn, Earth Pony, Pegasus and Thestral. All shed each other’s blood, never truly unifying. That amulet was created by an ancient order of unicorns, one of the ruling families at the time.”
Trixie couldn’t pull her gaze from the lunar diarch, who’s eyes seemed to turn distant. Trixie didn’t know much about the ancient times before the Wendigos forced the three tribes to unify. But something didn’t ring quite right for Trixie. What did the princess mean by four tribes? Trixie wanted to ask, but Luna was already speaking again.
“The Prisms were a family of powerful unicorns that desired to rule Equestria through conquest. They pulled together their resources, and performed rituals of forbidden magic. Infusing the essence of their desire to conquer into the amulet, in the hope that it would give them strength. By doing this, they created a persona that is focused on conquest through blood and subjugation. When they bestowed the amulet to their champion, one ‘Celeste Prism’ she became one of the greatest warriors of the era. The sight of her sent armies of thousands into a panic. But the amulet corrupted her, and her family had to eventually put her down.”
She was under control of the amulet… like I was.
Luna sighed softly.
“That amulet is sapient. And it’s subtle whispering can overcome even the strongest of willed ponies.”
“Why can’t you destroy it?”
Trixie asked.
“If it’s so dangerous.”
Luna tiredly met Trixie’s piercing gaze.
“We’ve tried. But it’s made out of an ancient material that is nigh-indestructible. We don’t know what makes it so resilient, but any attempts to destroy it have failed. That is why we have it buried deep in a location known only to my sister and I. It had been missing since it was originally created, we have no idea how it ended up in a public shop. Somepony must’ve found it, and unaware of its dark history, sold it as a curiosity.”
I’m not sure if I believe that…
Trixie thought darkly. Luna was talking again.
“I am worried that the amulet imprinted your mind. It desires to destroy and conquer. And not too long ago…”
Luna seemed to catch herself, and coughed delicately.
“Forget I said anything. I’m worried about you, Great and Powerful Trixie. As is my sister. So, I’ve been assigned to keep an eye on you, and intervene if I feel it is necessary. To protect both yourself, and all of Equestria.”
Trixie was curious about what Luna had been about to say, but she now felt… scared.
“So… I’m a possible threat to Equestria?”
Luna’s eyes widened, and she shot forward, pulling Trixie into a hug. Trixie tensed, and couldn’t feel herself relaxing into it. Yet, Luna didn’t let go.
“No… no, my little pony. That is not what I meant at all. Please don’t put the weight of mistakes made long ago onto yourself. You’ll be crushed. This is a precaution, nothing more, nothing less.”
Trixie finally felt herself relax. Only then did Luna release her.
“Thank you princess… for telling me. And thank you for watching over me. I… I can’t stand the thought of hurting ponies…”
Luna smiled softly at Trixie.
“Don’t worry, Trixie. You won’t, you’re a good pony.”
Trixie sniffled, then wiped her eyes. The area around her was starting to distort.
“Well… it seems like Trixie is about to wake up.”
She said thickly, regret palpable.
Luna nodded.
“Don’t worry, little one. I’ll be watching over you. And, should you ever need somepony to talk to, please, do not hesitate to seek me out.”
And with that, Luna angled her head, seemingly in respect.
“We’ll speak again, I’m sure of it.”
She said, voice fading. Trixie smiled, and closed her eyes. And in the last moment before she felt herself waking up, she quietly said one last thing.
“I look forward to it, princess.”
***
Trixie slowly opened her eyes. She closed her mouth, and promptly ignored the drool on her saddlebags. Today was going to be a long day.
“Heh ha. Morning sleepy-head!”
And just like that, Trixie jumped straight up, whirling around to face the pony she was dying to see again.
“Dashie!”
Trixie called out happily.
“Well, good morning to you too, Trix.”
Rainbow Dash was lounging on her tree branch, forehooves supporting her head, and hindlegs crossed. Trixie couldn’t stop the fluttering her heart made when she saw Dashie looking down on her, a cocky smirk on her face, eyes half-lidded… Trixie caught herself.
“Well. It’s about time.”
And just like that the smirk vanished from Dashie’s face.
“What do you mean?”
She asked. Trixie snorted.
“I arrived here ages ago! I thought you were supposed to be observant!”
Trixie sniffed disdainfully, as Rainbow Dash’s jaw worked up and down.
“Bu-wha?! How long have you been here? I didn’t even notice until last night…”
Trixie was grinning like a madmare internally, but she kept her ruse going. Dashie was just too cute when she was flustered. Rainbow’s voice started moving faster.
“I mean I didn’t exactly expect you to be here and I figured you were working so I didn’t look but if you’re here now howlonghaveyoubeenwaiting--”
Trixie couldn’t hold it any longer. Her face scrunched up, and she covered her mouth with her hoof, before giving up and just falling backwards laughing uproariously. Rainbow Dash’s stammering slowly stopped as she finally realized that she was being teased.
“Oh you… gah!”
She turned around with a huff, and ignored Trixie. Trixie, for her part, finally got herself together, and wiping her eyes, called up to Rainobw.
“Oh come on Dashie, don’t be like that. You’re just… too easy to tease!”
All Trixie got in response was a ‘hmmpf’ from Rainbow.
“Rainbow, come on, don’t be like that.”
Rainbow flicked her tail in Trixie’s general direction.
“Well, if that’s how you’re going to be…”
Trixie grinned mischievously as she enveloped Rainbow Dash in her magical aura. That certainly got Dashie’s attention.
“H-hey! No fair!”
Trixie knew she was making progress now. She forcefully levitated Rainbow off of the tree branch and turned her so they were facing each other. Dashie was grinning.
“Cheater! Put me down!”
Trixie looked down at the ground, then back up to Dashie and raised her eyebrow. Rainbow Blushed.
“Uh, I mean, maybe… don’t?”
Trixie’s grin turned sinister. Rainbow Dash blanched.
“T-Trixie?”
Trixie in response manipulated her magic, coalescing it in a nearly magical form. She then started poking Rainbow in the side. Rainbow paled.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, is that a challenge, Ms. Dashie?”
Then, not letting Rainbow answer, Trixie mercilessly started tickling her with her magic. Rainbow was helpless.
“Gya! N-no! HA! No fair! Put me down put me down putmedown!”
Trixie didn’t end assault, she wasn’t done just yet. As she mercilessly tickled her victim, she didn’t even notice as another pony rounded the top of the hill.
“What in tarnation is goin’ on here?”
That was a southern drawl. Trixie ended her tickling torture, and worriedly turned to face who had spoken.
A furious orange earth pony mare was staring her down. Trixie suddenly realized whose property they were on. And then she realized what it looked like she was doing without context to Rainbow Dash.
“Trixie? What’re you doin’ here? And what’re you doing to Rainbow Dash!?”
Came the furious voice of Applejack, element of honesty, and temperamental owner of Sweet Apple Acres. Trixie gulped.
This can’t end well… I hope Rainbow and I can explain things before I find myself dismembered...