It was a sunny morning. The Starry Squad were already up, Trixie was slurping on a smoothie as she looked at a map, figuring out the best route. Sunrise walked out of the wagon with a cheerful smile, along with something in her claws. Minty was sitting there looking glum, then she saw Sunrise.
“Oh hello, Sunrise! What’s that you have there?” Minty asked out of curiosity.
“Oh! It’s a feather I found laying on the floor of Trixie’s wagon,” She held it out to give Minty a better look. Minty admired the silvery gradient texture under black striped. “Looks like a falcon’s feather!”
”Oh really!?” Sunrise exclaimed, “Does that mean Trixie has a pet falcon!?”
Trixie overheard and cringed a little, she didn’t realise she hadn’t told them about Bolt yet. She slurped her apple smoothie, hoping the subject would change quickly.
Minty shook her head, “It’s possible she used one for few shows and that’s it!”
”Nah... Her wagon was emptied of show stuff for her journey...” Sunrise explained.
Trixie sighed, She remembered Bolt dearly. As she closed her eyes, she remembered that day too well... Running for her life and Bolt put herself between her and a bullet, a sacrifice. A tear rolled down her cheek that she didn’t notice, she hated that! It was so unfair.
“Hey, Trixie, are you okay?” Asked Sunrise as she approached her.
”Yeah...” Trixie sighed, “Of course- Trixie just recalled something...”
”What is it?”
Trixie looked at Sunrise’s adorable, curious face. She didn’t want to bring it up, too many bad memories for the both of them. “That falcon feather belonged to a... Companion,”
Sunrise felt like something wasn’t right, did something happen to the companion? Who was it? Where was the falcon? “What happened to them?” She asked.
”Best Trixie doesn’t say... For our sake... But the falcon had passed away a while ago in an... Incident, basically a sacrifice... I-It wasn’t fair...”
Sunrise felt terrible, she didn’t mean to remind Trixie of whatever happened to her. She hugged Trixie, “I’m sorry...”
”It’s not your fault,” Trixie sniffled.
Minty was behind them, watching. Also feeling bad, and still feeling terrible about the incident at night. But that mood soon changed when she was doused by a heck load of water causing her to scream in surprise. She stared ahead in shock, hearing both GC and Loophole laugh. Her mane was all drooping down, curls gone, besides for a few waves. For a few seconds Trixie and Sunrise stared at her in worry before the latter started to laugh.
She looked to the side where Loophole and GC were laughing. A large plastic container, bigger than two buckets combined was in between them. “Wow! Kirin manes so, so funny when wet!” Exclaimed Loophole, “She looks like a mop!”
GC also chuckled, “Yeah. I dunno why dude, but she’s like one of the few kirin whose mane flattens down when drenched, most retain their shape for some reason...”
Minty sighed as she stared at them. She felt annoyed, she didn’t like the feel of wet mane, it felt off. Plus , she always wondered about her mane, and colours she hadn’t seen many other pink Kirin around. Or any with streaks in their manes except for Rain Shine. A long time ago she did theorise that she may have been a mixed breed since she didn’t know much of her family. But everyone assured she was a pure kirin, just a ‘rare’ colour.
“Pink kirin okay?” Tiny asked, surprising Minty.
”Oh?” Minty was alerted. “Yeah, just... Thinking about my- about some... Personal stuff...”
Trixie shrugged, “Yeah, whatever.” She then smiled as she put a hoof on Tiny. “This is Tiny. He’s joining our team, for an adventure!”
”That’s nice...” Minty responded softly.
Sunrise looked at the feather, “So, what was she like?”
“I barely got to know her... She was Fluttershy’s friend who volunteered to help, she only popped in and out to deliver messages between me and them...” She sighed, “I hope Fluttershy is doing okay...”
Minty say there, water dripping down her body. Soon she saw a yellow pegasus fly over to them, followed by Pinkie Pie and a blue pegasus. Pinkie approached her, “I have never seen a Kirin before!” She exclaimed with joy, “We look exactly the same!” Then she pointed at Minty’s horn, “Except for this, of course!”
Then she pointed to her scaly back, “And that,” then to her hooves, “And those,” Then to her tail, “And that too!”
Minty sat there confused, wondering what to say, “So... What you’re trying to say is we having nothing in common?” She asked, “Besides our colour, size and uh... A few minor things,”
Pinkie nodded, ”Yep! I just wanted to quote somepony who won’t be existing for a very, very long time! Or in another universe-”
”Wh-what?”
RD shrugged and chuckled, “Never mind her, just Pinkie being Pinkie.”
“Oh, you still have one of her feathers?” Noticed Fluttershy.
Trixie sighed, “Yeah... Of course- She-“ Trixie struggled to say what she wanted to say, “I’m keeping it-“
Fluttershy sat beside Trixie, she knew what had happened. “I’m sorry you guys had to go through that...” She said quietly and sadly.
Trixie sighed, looking at the feather that was now in her hoof. She felt regret, what if Fluttershy was upset at her for allowing an animal to die like that?
“I’m... I’m sorry...” Trixie said quietly, “I should have protected her... I wasn’t great and powerful at all-“ Trixie admitted only for Fluttershy to wrap a hoof around her.
“Trixie...” She said seriously, “Don’t ever say that again... You are great and powerful in your own way... You did what you could, and what you thought was right... Bolt... I’m sad about her too, but she wanted to go on the mission, she didn’t care about the dangers she wanted to help! She didn’t care if it got dangerous she wanted to be there when needed! She loved everyone...” Fluttershy shed a tear, “But you were in a panic state, and she chose to take the hit for you... She used to defend and stick up for others. She told me that she’d do that till the day she died...”
Trixie wiped a tear. Fluttershy hugged he., “It’s okay, let it all out... It isn’t your fault... I miss her too. But I don’t hold any grudges against you...”
GC approached Minty, “So... Um, what happened last night that got everything burnt?”
”I do not want to talk about it...” Minty sighed.
”Did someone hurt you? Tell me, and I’ll beat them up!” GC exclaimed.
Minty felt shame, “I don’t want you to do that... I already hurt them enough...”
”Who was it? The fruit thief?” Asked GC, “C’mon dude, I don’t wanna play a guessing game!”
Minty sighed she didn5 respond and simply sat there, sadly, regretting her actions. She watched as Fluttershy comforted Trixie about the falcon.
“Is Gumdrop okay?!” Fluttershy shouted, sounding shocked.
Trixie almost broke down to tears, “She-she didn’t make it-“
”I’m so sorry...” Fluttershy hugged Trixie, “I had no idea, she and you weren’t mentioned in the news at all... Twilight assured me you two were fine,”
Trixie Hugged back. The two talked for a while before Trixie decided to was time to get back on the road.
”Alright! The great and powerful Trixie says it’s time to hit the road!” Trixie exclaimed.
”Woo hoo!” GC explained.
”I can’t wait to share some embarrassing moments of Trixie,” Loophole smiled.
”No!” Everyone shouted at her.
”Bummers...” Loophole muttered.
”How’s the food source looking?” Asked Trixie
Sunrise notes, “Kinda running low...”
”Minty was meant to buy food last night...” GC explained, “But somehow it all got burnt,”
Loophole laughed, wanting to show more, “How’d you manage to do that!? There’s no fire! That’s just stupid!”
Everyone rolled their eyes and sighed. Trixie took out her supply of money she took on the trip, some was generously supplied by others too. “We can just buy some-“ Trixie said before realising there were only a few bits left, “More...” She grunted.
”Great... We’re broke!” Exclaimed GC.
Everyone looked at Trixie, hoping she knew what to do.
”What?” Asked Trixie.
She looked at them. They seemed unimpressed. Then Trixie realised what they were waiting for, she put a huge grin on her face and took out a smokebomb.
“Be amazed as the great and powerful Trixie turns this smokebomb to bits!” She boasted before blasting it with her magic. It only exploded into smoke and caused Trixie to start coughing. She soon took her hat off and reached into it with her hoof, “Hmmm... Aha!” Trixie exclaimed as she pulled something out.
Everyone watched as Trixie pulled out a bar of chocolate, “Uh... Ta-da!”
”Maybe there are a few in your wagon?” Asked Minty.
”We’ll check Loop’s too,” Responded GC.
Trixie muttered and went into her wagon and looked around. Boxes were scattered around, no magic show related stuff anywhere. She quickly went through a chest that was filled it material and sewing stuff that she used in case she needed to repair something. Also, there were a few tools. Trixie dug a bit deeper until she found a red box with a blue bow on it.
“Huh?” Trixie questioned, the box was very strangely familiar to her. She slowly took out the box and she blew off the dust curiously.
Trixie had a look at each side of the box before she slowly opened it. As she peered inside, she gasped. It was an old purple and yellow album! She thought she lost it way back when the Ursa Major crushes her old wagon! Turns out she had recovered it along with her show outfit. She put on a slight smile as she opened it up.
The first image had Tricia as little filly on a plank of wood that was laid over two beams. She had her hoof in an old top hat and wearing a grey cloth as a cape. She smiled at the image slightly before she turned to a random page. On that page there was an image of her, about 15 years old. Image showed her in front of her old, yellow wagon with a huge grin on her face.
Trixie happily closed it and looked in the box, there was something yellow. She grabbed it and unfolded it up, revealing to be a small cape. It was yellow and had purple markings. It also had many stains, tears and scruffs all over it. Interestingly, It was a cape she got from some pony when she first got her cutie mark!
She had replaced it within a year of being a traveling magician. It was badly damaged and wasn’t as appealing as her current one. Plus she knew a spell for her current show outfit that allows her to repair it whenever it was damaged. Tricia would agree her current one was way better, and has been with her through thick and thin.
Trixie’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door, “Have you found any bits yet!?” The voice shouted.
She quickly packed it all away, “Of course I have! Easy, peasy!”
Well, there were a few bits at the bottom of the chest she was in, assuming key dropped there on accident. She gathered them up quickly and hurried out.
GC smiled, “Found a bunch in Loop’s wagon!”
Trixie chuckled, “Trixie thinks we should pass by the stores and buy some food,”
Everyone made noises in agreement as they started to walk. Minty looked at the sky, she had a feeling the bat pony was going to return. Somehow, and somewhere. Well, at least she didn’t encounter Nightshade that night! Because that would have ended terribly.
After buying food the group were interrupted by a wheel on Loophole’s wagon that suddenly fell apart. The Pegasus poked her tongue out as she looked at it, “Guess honey doesn’t make a good substitute for glue?” She asked. Then the floor inside broke apart, “Or peanut butter?” She asked.
“Loophole...” Everyone groaned.
”So that’s why your floor was so tasty,” GC commented as she stuck her head out the window.
Soon the whole wagon started to shake. GC quickly hurried out, seconds before another all fell, and the roof fell in.
“Neither is yoghurt nor jam?” Loophole sighed.
Minty face-hoofed, “No wonder your wagon is riddled with bugs!”
”Welp! Time to get it fixed!” Loophole sung.
”Don’t take long!” Trickle shouted, annoyed.
Indeed, it did take long... It was afternoon by the time the wagon was repaired. Apparently most the ponies were busy repairing other stuff too. Also, Loophole did trip through a wall when she was ‘testing the strength.’ Also, she did put a storm cloud above it to do more tests, and ended up setting it on fire and having to go back for more repairs.
Then after that she threw a bunch of rocks at the window. When she returned to the others, they were not pleased.
”WOW... It feels just an hour ago when you went to get it fixed...” GC mumbled.
”It was actually eight hours...” Grumbled Trixie, “By Trixie’s math we would have been there in the afternoon! But nooo! We’ll end up arriving tomorrow!”
The squad journeyed through the snow and through the field till night came, and they rested. Minty stayed up as everyone went to sleep. She had a bad feeling in her stomach So she poked her head out the tent cautiously. She felt like something was watching her, it took a while to assure herself nothing was.
She yawned as she stepped out and looked at the sky. It was dark about halfway now, so she couldn’t see many stars. Minty wandered a bit and shivered, “There’s nothing out here...” she assured herself.
Owls hooted and mice skittered. There was the sound of the breeze that she felt run through her mane. Everything was mostly silent, besides the nocturnal animals around. She sat there, enjoying the refreshing breeze. Soon she turned around to see the batpony innocently standing in front of the open tent. Minty had forgotten to close it.
Plus it was the exact same bat pony! With a bag of apples from Loophole’s wagon! Who had forgotten to close her door at night, again!
“Uhm...” Minty asked, “Can you drop that? Please?” She asked as she approached it.
It growled and jumped onto Minty, causing her to yelp in surprise. Her heart was racing as it suddenly grabbed her by the forelegs and dashed into the air. Minty screamed as the batpony took her higher and higher, holing her just below the armpits. The ground was so far away, her heart raced as she looked down, towards the ground.
“P-please put me down! I’ll let you keep the fruit, okay?” The batpony let her slip, cussing her to exclaim in fear. She slipped down to the point her was holding her by her hooves. Her heart raced as she stared at the ground, it was so far! Falling from this height would do far more than break a bone.
”If- I-if you don’t want me telling anyone about you then I won’t!” She exclaimed, hoping to be let down nicely.
Much to Minty’s relief he slowly went closer to the ground. Gently lowering her above a tree before dropping her. The poor kirin screamed as she hit branches of leaves before landing on a single branch. The way she was laid on the branch was on her stomach with a foreleg and a hind leg hanging down each site of the branch. Groaning in pain, she looked down to see that it was still a long way down, she gasped and quickly hugged the branch with her forelegs.
The batpony landed on the branch next to her and started to make a snicker. It was a strange snicker, unlike any snicker Minty had heard before. Suddenly the batpony jumped onto the branch Minty was on. Her heart raced as she heard a crack behind her. He crept up slowly, with a curious look on his face. A kirin was never seen before by the batpony, meaning Minty was very strange.
He sniffed Minty’s head curiously and made noises. Happily he backed up and started to jump up and down the tree branch. Minty yelped in fear as she almost fell off. Now hanging onto the branch with her forelegs, “Stop that, please!”
He stopped and cocked his head as Minty held onto the branch for her dear life. The batpony made come confused noises as it stared at her. The noise of a branch breaking was heard seconds before the branch fell. Minty screamed as she fell. The confused batpony simply hovered in the air as he watched.
She landed on her back with a thud and groaned, “Ouuch-“ then the heavy branch crushed down on her belly, “Ack-“
Minty groaned in pain as the heavy branch laid on her stomach. She was in way too much pain to focus on removing it. It was hard to breathe too.
Batpony had no idea what was going on. In his mind he wondered why that strange pink creature was making noises and why she didn’t fly. The batpony flew down and lifted the branch away.
”Thanks...” Minty groaned in pain as he removed the branch. “I’ll be lucky if I don’t have any broken ribs or damaged organs...”
He then landed next to her. He made a noise that sounded like he was trying to speak. “C-c-“ what was sounded before he squeaked.
Minty got up, she looked at him curiously, “You got a name?” She asked, “My name’s Mint Strawberry- everyone just calls me Minty, what’s yours?”
“Mirrr-eee?” The creature squeaked, “Eeek, reee,”
”I’m sorry... I don’t really understand batpony...” Minty apologised.
He started producing weird noises. ”Sqreee- Screee- N-n-nrr-nawww,” Was what it sounded like.
”You don’t have a name?” She questioned him.
He tilted his head, confused and shrugged his wings.
”How about... Sleepless? Night Flyer? Mystery?” She suggested.
He cocked his head. “Mrrrrrreeee? Mrrrraa-rrrreee?”
“Maybe you want something easier for you to pronounce?”
The batpony made some curious noises. Minty immediately had an idea. “Mango!”
”Mrrr-grrooo?” He tried, “Mrrrrreeeee-oooo,”
”Still tricky, huh?” Minty asked.
”Sarrrrdrrrw,” He growled as he pointed at something.
”Huh?” Minty looked to the tree he was pointing at. She stared at it confused before she noticed it looked like some shadows were pouring out of it. She gasped in shock as it slivered into the air.
”Nightshade?” Minty whispered.
The shadowing blob sent a stone flying, it sharply hit the scared batpony on the nose. His eyes cried just before flew away, crying. Minty decided to run away as well, she ran as fast as she could, but the shadowy beast formed into a claw and grabbed her tight.
It was really tight! She tried to wiggle, her heart was racing. Minty breathed heavily, wishing to be safe on the ground.
“Let me go! Please!” she cried.
She then screamed loudly as Nightshade spun her around. Then it threw her into a rock. Everything went black as soon as she came into contact.
It was dark... Minty could feel a breeze then hear a very unfamiliar young voice.
“Maybe I should make a reference to one of those Mystery Dungeon games!” The voice exclaimed, “How bout from Gates? Nah... She didn’t fall out the sky... Explorers! Nah... She... We aren’t at a beach... Super? Nah... Oh yes! Rescuers!” The voice then cleared her throat. “Wake up already! Wake up!” She shouted, “Did I get that right?”
Minty stared at her with confusion, her head was thumping. The figure was a white pegasus filly with a light pink mane with dark pink tips and a single purple highlight. She looked at her with her light blue eyes, “Oh... Aww, you’re already awake... I make my reference too late...”
”I... Didn’t understand any of what you said but... Who are you?” She asked. Then Minty remembered something important!
Nightshade! It threw her at the rock and knocked her out! But where was it now and who was this filly!? Does this filly know about the dangerous shadows being nearby? Aka Nightshade?
”Wait- where is- Nightsha- uh...” Minty then turned to Stardust, “Where are your parents? You shouldn’t be out this late at night. It’s dangerous, are you lost, sweetie?” She asked, trying to stay calm. “What’s your name and where are you from?”
”Stardust! I came out of a portal and Nightshade hurried away as soon as the portal opened, I guess!” The filly said happily as she took out a ukulele and starting strumming it. “I was Trixie’s first team member! But back at the Everfree Forest I kinda... Was sent to my world early, by mistake... But now I’m back! Hm... Let’s see if I can turn this into a song-“
It took Minty a while to process what was happening as she got up, “Star... Dust...” She groaned, “Stardust?!” She shouted, “Like Trixie’s friend?” She was still worried about the possibility of Nightshade being nearby.
“Yep! That’s my namey-name! What’s your’s? Cho-cocoa-late-Berry-Mint or same-thin’?” She asked with a huge grin. Also had a giggle about intentionally mispronouncing certain words.. Then she started poking at the fluffy, long, curly mane of Minty.
“N-no... It’s Minty-“ She corrected as she stared confused, trying to ignore the pain in her head and convince herself Nightshade was gone.
”Boring!” Shouted Stardust, “What about... Choco-late-The-Rasperry-Iceream?” She asked.
Minty let out a slight chuckle. “No thanks-“ Minty denied. “I maybe should be going back to the others! They might be looking for me...”
Stardust chuckled and jumped onto her back, “Omward loyal Rasperry-McChoco-Horse-Tree-Deer-Lion-Dragon thing! To war!”
”Im a kirin...” Minty corrected.
”What the heck’s a kirin?” Stardust asked. “A Keyreen?
Minty sighed slightly and rolled her eyes before smirking. She was slightly excited to teach the filly something new.
”And how is Trixie going?” She asked, “Can you tell me everything?
”I’ll tell you what I can... On the way...” Explained Minty as she walked towards the wagons.