//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9 
// Story: Guardian Angel 
// by Absentialucci 
//------------------------------//

“What’re you doing to Rainbow Dash?”
Came the outraged voice of Applejack. The apple farmer wasn’t quite hostile… yet but she certainly looked to be close. Trixie carefully settled Rainbow Dash to the ground.
“Applejack! Trixie is er… pleased to… see… you?”
The earth pony just glowered in Trixie’s direction.
“Rainbow Dash? What’s that one-trick, highfalutin’ two-bit pony doin’ here?”
Trixie flinched.
I certainly didn’t do anything to earn her respect…
	You did make a complete and utter fool of yourself last time you were here.
Trixie reminded herself.
“Hey, that’s not fair Applejack!”
Rainbow Dash had determinedly placed herself between Trixie and the earth pony. Rainbow Dash continued.
“Trixie’s already had to deal with jail time. She doesn’t need your bullying on top of it!”
Trixie hadn’t seen Rainbow Dash this angry in a long time.
Not since I was last here.
	Trixie realized suddenly. Applejack’s eyes had widened a bit at that, but she held her ground, and levelled a glare at Rainbow Dash.
“That pony’s vermin! She don’t deserve your protecting!”
She spat. Trixie could feel her eyes stinging, and she wordlessly blinked, ignoring the blurriness that followed. Rainbow Dash didn’t back down.
“I think. That you should. Leave. Now.”
The sheer malice in her voice surprised Trixie almost as much as it did Applejack, who physically backed up. Rainbow Dash had her wings outstretched, and her head low. Her legs were spread, and she looked almost ready to spring at Applejack.
Applejack, for her part, kept backing up, before snorting angrily. She then turned away from Rainbow Dash, and disappeared down the hill she had initially come up. Rainbow Dash was breathing heavily, Trixie noticed.
Applejack’s right. I don’t deserve a pony like Dashie. She could do better than me any time of the day.
Rainbow Dash slowly exhaled, before turning to face Trixie.
“Hey, I’m sorry about- whoah. She really got to you huh?”
Trixie didn’t bother hiding her tears, as she lowered her head in shame, mane falling to cover her eyes.
“Hey, hey… c’mere.”
Rainbow Dash said, softer than Trixie had ever heard her before. Trixie didn’t move, she wanted to. Goddesses, she wanted to! But something kept her hooves planted in the ground, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet Dashie’s eyes.
Trixie felt herself enveloped in warmth, and she couldn’t help but gasp softly. She was acutely aware of Dashie’s forelegs caressing her wither, resting on her shoulders. Of Dashie’s wings draping securely over her back. She could hear Dashie’s breathing, and felt the rise and fall of her breast against Trixie’s own.
“Don’t listen to her, she’s just angry. Applejack is… well, she lashes out at ponies when she’s upset.”
Trixie didn’t move, not wanting to break the spell she was under.
“C’mon. Don’t leave me hanging here.”
Trixie slowly raised one foreleg, then the other, and fully embraced the hug, her breath catching in her throat before escaping with a shuddering sigh. Magenta eyes filled her sight, and Trixie swore she could find herself getting lost in those magenta depths.
“That’s right, it’s okay. You’re okay. We’re okay.”
Rainbow Dash slowly brushed Trixie’s mane out of her eyes, then rested her forehead against Trixie’s. Trixie could scarcely breathe.
“It’s good to see you, Trix, I missed you, even though it’s not been too long.”
Trixie just nodded, not trusting herself to speak, or really do much of anything at the moment.
“You feeling better?”
Sweet Celestia, her breath smells of lilac, I swear!
Trixie somehow managed to reign in her thoughts in order to formulate a cognizant response.
“Yes, much better… Thank you, Dashie.”
And just like that, Rainbow released her from their embrace. Trixie couldn’t help but feel like a piece of her died a little when she did that.
Then Rainbow booped her nose, and all those pieces coalesced into pure laughter, and Trixie fell backwards, struggling to breathe. Tears streamed out of her eyes, but this time tears of joy.
“Hmmm… I think I just found the Trixie reset button!”
Rainbow Dash teased, shooting into the air to avoid the half-hearted swat Trixie aimed at her. The two devolved into joyous laughter, upon the top of that hill.

***

Far in the southernmost regions of Equestria, a queen sat silently upon a throne of twisted and tortured magic-absorbing rock. Queen Chrysalis, the youngest in the locust line of royalty within the Mantis Hive, looked over the reports her scouts had laid upon the conference table of the war room. The hives needed to expand. They were rapidly running out of resources, and the stagnation of the Hegemony was making that an irritatingly difficult prospect.
Representatives of the other hives would gather here in times of war. But they were so foolishly stuck in the past, that they dismissed Chrysalis’s claims of the coming resource shortage. No matter. Chrysalis would show them the error of their ways. The reports that her drones had brought to her attention noted two special occasions coming up in the nation of Equestria. The so-called “Grand Galloping Gala” and the wedding of one of the Equestrian Princesses. The youngest of the three. Princess Mi Amora Cadenza of House Platinum, and Captain Shining Armor of the Equestrian Royal Guard were to be wed soon after the gala. Chrysalis couldn’t help but smile. She got to work, making plans to implant infiltrators within the nobility. From there she could expand further. Getting closer and closer to the Princesses. And when the time was right… well, that day was going to be perfect.

***

“So, you don’t have a home?”
Rainbow Dash asked incredulously. Trixie shook her head.
“Not… technically. The owner of New Elysium Lane, Cook, has been kind enough to not only provide me with a job, but with a home as well. Long as the restaurant was presentable by the time they opened.”
“That’s awesome of him! I’m glad you haven’t been out on the streets ever since you were out of the slammer…”
Trixie grinned.
I’ve certainly been blessed, that’s for sure. And I know that if I desperately needed a place to stay, Cadence would be more than willing to shelter me.”
The two shared a moment of companionable silence underneath the tree they had decided to sit under. Rainbow kept looking at Trixie, opening her mouth, before shutting it again and looking distantly across the apple orchard.
“I was thinking though…”
She said quietly.
“Hmmmm? Did it hurt?”
Trixie teased. Dashie snickered lightly, before sighing.
“No, not like that.”
Trixie rolled onto her back, looking straight up into the blue sky, lazily watching the clouds float over her.
Rainbow inhaled, before composing herself to speak.
“Might as well get it out. I was thinking… if-if you didn’t have a home well…”
She stammered. Trixie looked over to Rainbow, who had also rolled onto her back. Rainbow turned to face her, cheeks glowing faintly red.
“I was thinking that you might… be okay with being my roommate?”
Trixie blinked, before turning slightly pink herself. She turned away from Rainbow, mumbling under her breath. Dashie sighed.
“Yeah… didn’t think it would work out…”
Trixie heard a rustle, and quickly looked back to where Rainbow was now standing on all fours. Dashie stretched, almost like a cat, wings flaring out.
“It was just a thought. I get it though. You’re busy, got a job now.”
Rainbow chuckled lightly.
“That’s awesome, I’m happy for you.”
Trixie could hear the wistfulness in her voice though. She took a deep breath, then exhaled.
“Okay.”
Rainbow froze mid-stretch.
“Did you just…?”
Her face looked like it had brightened considerably. Trixie couldn’t help but find it adorable. She nodded, smiling.
“I’ll talk to my boss. Figure something out. They’ve been kind to me, and even though they’ll certainly miss my help well… they’ve managed by themselves in the past.”
Rainbow was staring at Trixie, mouth agape, and face glowing. Trixie rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment.
She must really want to spend time with me. Oh Dashie, what’d I ever do to deserve a friend like you?
Perhaps… something more could come from this?
Trixie could remember the flower arrangement she’d picked while walking to Ponyville.
Oh no…
With a whoosh, the flower bouquet Trixie had made previously popped into existence, floating between the two mares.
Rainbow stared in amazement at the flowers hovering between them.
“Trix… are… are those for me?”
She nearly whispered. Trixie felt herself go beet red.
“No! I mean… yes! But… not yet?”
She stammered out. Dashie cocked her head to the side, confusion apparent on her face.
“So… are they or aren’t they?”
“They are! Just… I didn’t finish the arrangement… it’s still missing a vital flower. Can we… Can you please just pretend you never saw it? I meant it as a surprise and… and… You’re laughing.”
Trixie’s embarrassed tone turned indignant.
“Well, excuse me! Here I was, making a perfectly nice flower arrangement for the pony I…”
Trixie cut herself off from what she was going to say, before recovering and continuing.
“For you and then you have the audacity to laugh at me?! Harumpf!”
If Rainbow noticed Trixie’s stumble, she didn’t show it, instead electing to continue laughing.
“Alright, heh, Trixie. I can forget it. I must say though, I look forward to the full arrangement.”
Rainbow stepped closer to Trixie, who found herself frozen. Another step, and Trixie could feel her heart running a marathon in her chest. Now just inches apart, Rainbow stopped.
“But… I suppose I can wait. Besides, I have some work I need to get done. Come find me later, and we can… talk more.”
She then stepped past Trixie, but not before caressing Trixie’s face with her tail. Trixie shivered.
“Heh ha. See ya around, Trix.”
And then she took off flying towards the town, her tail leaving a trail of warmth as it left. Trixie felt like she was rooted to the ground.
What… Just happened?
Trixie shook herself, freeing her movement.
It… it doesn’t matter. I have to figure out how to break the news to my boss. Not the end of the world, I have a week to figure that out. Maybe I can offer my help to Twilight… that way I can continue to work off my community service. That is… if she’s not hostile towards me like Applejack.
Trixie trembled a little at that thought.
Surely Twilight is aware of my time in the dungeon… maybe she’s forgiven me?
Trixie didn’t feel very reassured by her thoughts. Regardless, she steeled herself as she collected her things.
No need to rush things, I can take all the time I want today. It’s too beautiful of a day to waste worrying about everything.
Trixie shifted her focus to the bouquet of flowers she still had in her telekinetic grip. A few administrations of illusion magic, and she managed to push the active thoughts of the flowers into her subconscious, and they popped out of existence as a result, back in storage.
She elected to search for a red chrysanthemum before making her way to Twilight’s library. Maybe she’d get lucky.
Perhaps… just perhaps in more ways than one.
Trixie certainly felt herself warm at that thought.
Mmmm… there’s an enticing thought...