//------------------------------// // Ch. 17 - Moving On // Story: The Great and Delicate Trixie // by DogSomeOre //------------------------------// "Mmmhf" You groan, you're being pushed by a force that is disrupting your peaceful rest. "Ugh. Anon, wake up." Trixie has been trying to wake you up for a couple minutes now. "Hangonasecond." Your words come out jumbled and slurred. "You've been saying that for five minutes! Come on, we have to go." "Mmmhf" "If you don't get up, I'm making you get up." Trixie's voice comes out frustrated. "Surewhatever..." You mumble. Trixie sighs. "Alright, I warned you." "Wah!" You let out as your body floats in the air. "H-Hey, w-what's going on!?" "Just a bit of persuasion." Trixie cheerfully says. "W-Woah hang on a sec-" She lets go of you from her magical grasp and you plop down on the floor. "Are you awake now?" Trixie asks annoyed. You give a thumbs up as your face lay planted to the floor; Trixie lifts you up off the floor and sets you on your feet. "You didn't have to be so rough." You tell her as you rub your shoulder. "Well we have to go. I got ready and plucked all the knots out of my mane as fast as I could because I thought we were in a rush... clearly though..." She looks at you. You most likely look a mess as your hair is everywhere and your clothes are starting to get a little dirty. "Ok well *yawn* lets get going then." She stands there, still looking at you. "Something wrong Trixie?" "I don't want you to talk to him, Anon." "What? But I thought you said last night that-" "I know what I said, and... I've changed my mind. I don't want you to have to talk to him, it's my fault that I'm in this mess so, I'll be the one to go in there and confront him. Not all my problems should be carried on your back." "Trixie, I can do this; I told you I'm here for you and-" "Anon." She shakes her head while looking at you. "Trixie will do this. I will do this." You see the determination in her eyes, she wants to be that strong mare she strives so much to be. You nod your head slowly as you commit to Trixie's words. Her mouth forms a smug but welcoming smile. "Good." She says softly. "Lets get going, I want to get this over with as fast as possible." You follow behind her as she heads out the door. -------*------- "Trixie, where in Equestria are you leading us?" "No, no, not this one. Maybe over here, mmm no, not here either." Trixie is deep in concentration, going around different streets, alleys, and buildings; she looks so fixated on finding this place. Eventually, she leads you to a very secluded part of land, a little away from the city. "Trixie?" Your words don't seem to phase her. You tap her on the back to get her attention, she jumps slightly before turning her face towards yours. "What is it Anon?" She seems to be acting a bit stressed but remains calm while talking to you. "Why are we in the woods?" "Because this is where we go to talk to my boss." You look around, confused at what you're seeing. To you, it just looks like a plot of land out in the middle of nowhere. "Are you having trouble finding it?" "Well no, I mean, I'm sure it was around here somewhere." "And what is 'it'? I thought we were going to where you were yesterday." You're a bit confused on why she's been going around seemingly all over the city. "No not at all." "....Then where are we going?" She gives you an annoyed look. "To where my boss is." "Where's your boss at then?" Trixie reaches into her saddle bag to pull out a map. She shows you the coordinates of where the place is located. "I don't understand." You tell her. "It says we're right on top of it, then how-" Trixie points a hoof at the symbol beside the address. "That's why." She responds. "An arrow?" You study the page for a couple seconds, Trixie hoof-palms at your still confused expression. "It's underground Anon." "Under- oh. Wait what?" "My boss is in a bunker under the city. I've never been there personally, I only know about it." "I... see..." You find it a little weird that of all places he'd be under the dirt, but I guess stranger things have happened. "The only problem is." Trixie continues. "It could be anywhere from here." She appears to be anxious and restless. "Well, an entrance has to be somewhere around here." You begin feeling the ground, moving dirt and any leaves that could be obscuring any hidden passage. Trixie follows as she moves any obstacles away with her magic, tossing them to the side. "I think I found it." She calls out. You stop what you're doing and walk over to her. A beat up looking wooden door lays in front of you and Trixie. She opens it slowly, it creaks with a dreadful sound as it's chamber becomes open. A pitch black presence presents itself to you and her. You stare at the dark passageway, stairs going as far down as your eye can see. "I didn't know we'd need a light for this." "'We'?" Trixie quotes with a question. "Well yeah, I'm going with you." "No Anon, you aren't." Her tone is exhausted and annoyed. "Yes Trixie, I'm coming with you." "I told you I'll do this. I don't need your help." "And I'm not going against you, just let me walk down there with you, that's it." You know Trixie is annoyed and wants to do this herself, but your worry takes over as you don't want anything bad to happen. "Fine. I won't argue, just don't do anything stupid, ok?" She states with a sense of frustration and care. "Ok, I won't." You walk in front of your unicorn, stepping down slowly into the dark abyss. "Trixie?" You look back to see her frozen in place, a deadpan look of doubt smeared across her face. You make your way back to her, setting your hand down on her back. "You can do this." "I.... know." She tries her best to smile at you, though her worried expression still overrides her bright purple eyes. "Trixie, will do this." She trots slowly in front of you, taking charge as the leader. You follow her steps as her flank now faces you, her long black coat hiding any and all wounds that live on her body. She begins her descent into the dark stairs below, that familiar stance of strong will and confidence showing in her posture. "What business you have here?" A stallion with an accent, not of your familiarity, asks you both. He seems to talk in broken sentences. "Uhm.." You stand there without a clue in the world. "So much for talking Anon." "We're here to see the boss." Trixie tells the weird pony. "And how should I know you aren't secret agent trying to get intel of our darkest, personal, information?" You both stand there looking at the stallion, head tilted. "What the heck is he on?" You think. "Uh, look, I'm not a spy or whatever, my name is Trixie and-" "Trixie you say?... Yes, that checks out, I know who you are. But what about him?" He looks over at you suspiciously. "I'm-" "He's my supervisor." She says through a lying grin. "Ok, what is name?" "N-Name?" "Yes, his name, what is name." "My name is A-" "H-He doesn't have one." The stallion raises an eyebrow. "I mean.." Trixie clears her throat. "He isn't allowed to share his name with me, you know how it goes, rules and whatnot." "Hmmm." Trixie grins from ear to ear, trying her best to come off as friendly as possible. "Very well then, I will tell boss that you need to speak with him." You watch Trixie take a huge sigh of relief as he leaves you two alone by the front of the stairs. "This is why I didn't want you to come down here in the first place, I had to lie just to save your own flank!" Trixie whispers to you with annoyance. "Everything's going to be fine." You try and reassure. "'Fine'?! Anon, you aren't even supposed to know this place exists! If they find out you're just some outsider they'll-" "Ok Miss Trixie, this way please." She's cut off by the stallion who directs you and her both to come with. You follow behind, he leads you to wherever this 'boss' is; two luxurious doors stand out in front of you. "Remember, don't try anything funny while you're in there, severe punishments will follow." The stallions last words leave you and Trixie both as the door comes to a close behind you both. The room is almost all black except for a couple dimly lit torches that hang in unison on the wall. You and Trixie step forward together as your feet and her hooves echo in this blank, almost vacant, room. "Ah, Ms. Lulamoon!" A voice comes out from afar. A throne of some sort is stationed far in the back as that greasy old stallion from Trixie's performance locks eyes with the both of you. "Just keep your cool Anon." You retell yourself. "Oh? And you must be her handler! Though I must admit, I've forgotten of you strange one. You are Ms. Lulamoon's handler, are you not?" "Yes?" You respond with insincere confidence. "Yes... yes, I remember now! Haha! Ah Woozy, what times we've had all those years ago, ja?" He laughs as if he knows you, this guy seems to have lost it. "Ehhem, yes what uh.. times they were... uh..." "Well that's enough chat, you've most definitely not come here to talk to these old bones, so what brings you here?" "Well as you know I've taken 'Ms. Lulamoon' under my care for a couple weeks now." "Yes and a fine job you've done with her! I'm sure all those 'lessons' you've put down on her really made her shape up quick, that attitude she had was just so authoritative. Although if you needed any help I would've gladly taken her with all those whippings you've carried out!" He chuckles as if she's just some 'toy' to be played with. Your stomach churns and your blood boils at this pathetic whelp sitting at arms reach from you. "Just get through this Anon, you're almost there." You try and put your anger aside, it wouldn't be wise to act out in such a dastardly place such as this. "Yes well, I must inform you by saying she must take her leave." "Whatever do you mean? She has acted out in our best interests has she not?" He questions you. "So it would seem. She's ultimately just not cut out for this sort of thing, her body has become weak and her 'attitude' is just too much to handle." "What you're saying is a very 'tight rope' of explanation, you do know the outcome letting go one of our own, don't you?" You have no idea what he means, and honestly, are scared to say the wrong thing. "Uh.." You look at Trixie who looks just as dazed as you are. "Y-Yes?" "Very well then. We will start the execution phase." "The what?!" You and Trixie yell out. "Ah, so you have forgotten. Not to worry old friend, she will be dealt with." "W-Wait!" "Hmm? What is it?" You look around the room, at Trixie, and back at the old geezer to find anything to say. You clear your voice and respond in an intimidating tone. "That will not be an issue sir, I'll have her taken care of swiftly from my own two.... hooves?" "Anon what the-" She whispers, you quickly look at her and hold a finger to your mouth to motion her to be quiet. "I like the way you think Whoozy! Yes, yes, always the type to get the job done on your own! Very well old friend, I'll let you have this one! You've earned it after all that you've done for this small family of ours!" You don't even want to know what kind of things this 'Whoozy' has done. "Thank you sir, it is an *cough* 'honor.'" "Come on.... slave!" You drag Trixie along out the door, you both make your way up the stairs and out of this sick place. "Phew." You bend down and put your hands on your legs. "Well.... I think we're in the clear." "Thankfully." Trixie replies. You look at Trixie who doesn't look all to pleased by the circumstance. "You alright?" You ask your blue mare. "Lets just go." She trots past you. "Wait, Trixie!" You grab her hoof and she pushes your arm away from her. "What is it." She grits her teeth as she says this. "I don't understand, why're you upset?" "Why am I upset, really?" She scoffs at you. "Look, I know you wanted to do the talking but-" "You could've gotten yourself hurt!" She raises her voice at you. She sounds more worried then angry. "I know. I was only trying to help and-" "Anon this is serious! It's bad enough I have to worry about me, but having you inside some dangerous place that Celestia knows what goes on their, is terrifying!" "Trixie I know-" Frustration rises in your mind as Trixie lets into you. You were just trying to help. "You don't know Anon! I told you to just stay back, to have me handle this! I can worry about myself-" "And what do want me to do!?" You yell. "Stand here and let, God knows what, happen to you!? Do you know how much I care about you!? Do you!?" She stands at a still looking at you, her semi-angry expression turns into a sad, depressive one; like some trigger got unleashed inside her. "Wait, no, Trixie, I'm-" She looks down and trots off. You reach out a hand as you see her run off into the distance, helpless to apologize for your actions. You didn't mean for that to slip out the way it did; you care about her, that fact is known, but your own frustrations got the better of you as you took it out on your marefriend.