//------------------------------// // Ch. 37 - Broken // Story: A Trail Leading Home // by Hades Shadow 92 //------------------------------// Chapter 37 – Broken – “So, Yona should talk to friend about how Yona feels?” Yona asked, sitting on the couch.  “Of course. Talking about your feelings will help you understand them better.” Starlight smiled from her desk.  Yona got up from the couch and moved to the door. “Tell Sandbar I said hi.” Starlight said teasingly.  Yona stopped and looked back at the counselor with a blush, “Yona never said anything about Sandbar.” Starlight grinned, “You just did.”  Yona blushed more and ran out the door. Starlight giggled at her student. She was pretty sure Sandbar would be more than understanding of how Yona felt. She and Comet had discussed it a few times during lessons. Honestly it was so cute seeing Yona so flustered and nervous.  The school bell rang out and it was time for Starlight to head to Trail’s house. Trail was going to teach her how to make Comet’s favorite dish tonight. Plus she was looking forward to having more personal time with her coltfriend. She was so giddy! Starlight giggled as she trotted to the door, opening to find a grinning Twilight.  “You seem in a cheery mood Starlight. Fun activities planned for tonight?” Twilight asked, still grinning.  Starlight blushed and took a moment to compose herself, “As a matter of fact I do. I’m off to Trail’s. Probably won’t be home till late.”  “Alright then. But I want you back no later than midnight.” Twilight smirked.  Starlight pouted at her teacher, “Twilight.”  “And remember what we talked about.” Twilight said.  “Twilight.” Starlight growled, her blush returning.  Starlight started to move away from her teacher, “Remember, no later than midnight or you’re grounded.”  “OK MOM!” Starlight shouted back mockingly.  Twilight burst into laughter as Starlight stomped down the hallway in embarrassment.  “Oh this idea is simply divine. So cruel, so wicked. I LOVE IT!” Chrysalis cackled.  Fake Twilight puffed out her chest in pride while the Fake Trail tried cackling with the Queen. Then Fake Fluttershy dumped a bucket of water on his head.  “Loser.” Fake Fluttershy laughed before flying back into the tree.  “So, when shall we execute this plan, Your Majesty?” Fake Twilight said, rolling her eyes at her stupid companions.  “I’ve heard from her little coltfriend that she’ll be at his home tonight. So based on the toll of the school bell from earlier, I assume she’s on her way there now.” Chrysalis said, grabbing the Fake Trail in her magic.  Using her magic to dry and clean him up, she put him on the ground hard.  “LIsten, this is very important. For this plan to work, you need to follow my lead. Understand?” Chrysalis growled.  Fake Trail shook his head vigorously.  “Good. Now come, it’s time to break Starlight Glimmer.” Chrysalis said, walking towards Ponyville as a wave of green flame washed over her, Fake Trail right behind her.  Starlight, recovered from her embarrassment, was back to her perky cheery self, prancing through Ponyville without a care in the world. Well one care, that she was going to see her stallion. Her heart was practically fluttering.  The sun was shining bright in the sky, nothing could possibly bring down her mood. Nothing at all.  “Oh Starlight.” A voice said from in front of her.  Starlight stopped her prance to find her teacher in front of her.  “Twilight? Shouldn’t you be back at the school still?” Starlight asked with a raised eyebrow.  “Oh yes, absolutely. But, I needed to talk to you about something important.” Twilight said.  “Oh? Can it wait? I’m supposed to pick up a few things for dinner tonight with Trail.” Starlight said.  “I assure you it cannot wait. Your duty to the school and your Princess is more important than your love life.” Twilight said. Starlight raised an eyebrow, “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Oh sorry, I meant, no. This will be real quick I promise.” Twilight said, giving a nervous smile.  Starlight looked at her teacher, “You ok Twilight?”  “Of course I’m alright. Why wouldn’t I be?” Twilight said, her confidence coming back a little.  “You look like you're hiding something. Is this a prank?” Starlight asked skeptically.  “No, no prank. Pinkie is way too busy with school stuff to be pranking you.” Twilight said.  “Uh huh. Well, what was it you were wanting to tell me?” Starlight asked.  “Right, so what I was wanting to talk to you about…” Twilight said before looking over Starlight’s shoulder.  “What?” Starlight asked.  “Isn’t that Trail over there?” Twilight asked, pointing behind Starlight.  Starlight raised an eyebrow in confusion and turned to where Twilight was pointing. She indeed saw Trail at a table, sitting with Trixie. But Trixie said she would be leaving Ponyville today. Why was she still here? More on that note, why was Trail in town? He should be home, or still in the forest.  Starlight moved closer to the two ponies and was about to call out to them, until she got just within earshot behind them.  “Oh you dashing stallion. Trixie is so blown away by how handsome and amazing you are.” Trixie said, leaning against Trail.  Wait, what? Starlight didn’t understand.  “You’re quite the prize yourself. I’m surprised a total catch like you is still on the market.” Trail said, wrapping a hoof around the mare.  “Well, I wouldn’t say I’m on the market anymore.” Trixie said, rubbing her hoof on his chest.  Trail shivered a bit and leaned in closer, “I’d say not.”  Starlight’s heart started to slow down, it felt like ice was creeping into her veins. What was happening in front of her? “Come here lover.” Trixie said, pulling Trail into a kiss.  Trail didn’t pull away, he actually pressed into the kiss and held her close. They kept at it even as someponies looked at them with questionable looks. Starlight just stood there, stunned. Like a knife had been jabbed into her heart. “He… It’s not true. It’s not true.” Starlight said, looking at them with eyes unblinking.  “Oh Starlight, I’m so sorry.” Twilight said, resting a hoof on her student’s shoulder.  As soon as the hoof came in contact with her, Starlight bolted in the opposite direction of Trail and Trixie. She couldn’t stay. Not after seeing that. Tears blurred her vision as she ran away with her shattered heart.  “Thanks for coming to help with my shopping, Ocellus.” Comet said, levitating a few bags next to her.  “What else are best friends for?” Ocellus giggled, hovering a few bags of her own.  Both fillies giggled at each other and continued down the main street of Ponyville. As they came to a certain intersection, Comet saw Starlight running their way.  “Hey Starlight!” Comet shouted after her teacher.  Starlight however didn’t stop, or even acknowledge her words. She had her head down and kept running, almost running the fillies over.  “What’s going on with Miss Starlight?” Ocellus asked.  “I don’t know, something must have really upset her.” Comet said, looking in the direction Starlight had run.  “Hey, isn’t that your Dad with Miss Trixie?” Ocellus said, making Comet turn to look in the other direction.  She was right, there was Trail and Trixie, walking away from the square together, and the weirdest part was that they were holding hooves. But that wasn’t right.  “Why are they leaving together, and why are they holding hooves like that? I thought your Dad was dating Starlight?” Ocellus asked.  “I don’t know Ocellus, but I’m getting to the bottom of it.” Comet said, setting the bags down by a park bench before moving to catch up with Trail and Trixie. “Wait up Comet!” Ocellus said, putting her own bags down.  Comet had moved to intercept the pair of grown ups, but they were moving pretty quickly out of town. Ocellus was right behind her, not wanting her friend to confront them alone. The pair had gone far from the town square and continued on past the town. As they passed the school, they moved towards the Everfree Forest.  “Where are they going? It’s just the forest out here. And I thought MIss Trixie was scared of the forest?” Ocellus asked.  “Yeah. Something’s fishy about this. Don’t lose them.” Comet said. Both fillies continued to follow the pair, into the forest and beyond the safety zone that her Dad had shown her. Past this point of the forest was dangerous and Comet was told never to come out here by herself.  As the pair went into a clearing with dead trees surrounding them in a circle, Trixie finally let go of Trail and began to gag.  “By my hive, you taste horrible! I did not give you permission to use tongue!” Trixie shouted.  “You said it needed to look genuine. I mean, it wasn’t that bad for me.” Trail smirked.  Trixie’s horn glowed green and she pinned Trail against a tree, “Don’t get any ideas you sack of forest excrement.”  “I’m sorry your highness, please forgive me!” Trail begged.  She dropped him, “Stop your groveling. I still have use for you. Now, back to the matter at hand.”  Ocellus and Comet had hidden behind a bush, looking at the scene in front of them with confusion. What in Celestia’s name was going on here? All the sudden Trixie had been engulfed in green fire, changing her form into that of a black bug creature that Comet had never seen before. When she was about to turn and ask Ocellus what that thing was, she found her friend had grown pale with her eyes wide with fear.  “Ocellus, what’s wrong?” Comet whispered. “That’s… Queen Chrysalis.” Ocellus whimpered.  Comet’s eyes widened too. She had heard about the former Changeling Queen but she had never seen what she looked like. This was the being that defeated Princess Celestia at the Royal Wedding, and had captured all the leaders of Equestria at once. She was stopped by Starlight, Trixie, Thorax and DIscord. But now she’s here.  “Now that we’ve broken poor Starlight’s heart, the first phase of my revenge is complete. Starlight Glimmer will not be a threat anymore. Now we must focus on our next objective.” Chrysalis said.  “Finding the Tree of Harmory right?” Trail said.  “Yes. This tree will have the Elements of Harmony. And with our copies of Twilight and her friends, I will have Equestria’s most powerful weapon at my disposal!” Chrysalis cackled evilly.  Comet and Ocellus gasped together before Comet looked frantically at Ocellus and whispered, “We have to warn Princess Twilight.”  Ocellus quickly nodded, “Let’s get out of here.”  “Now what do we have here? A couple of little spies? How cute.” A voice came from behind them.  Both fillies screamed as they turned to see Princess Twilight behind them. At first they were relieved to see her, but as her smile grew wicked, she used her magic to pick up both fillies. They screamed again and tried to fight against the alicorn’s magic, but they were way out of their league.  “What is all that racket?” Chrysalis said, her attention drawn to the bushes.  Fake Twilight came out of the bushes with both fillies floating in front of her, “It appears you were followed your Highness.”  Chrysalis glared at the two before her smile grew, “Oh a Changeling. And who might you be dear?”  Ocellus just shook with fear, trying to look away from the Queen. Chrysalis walked up to the little changeling and rubbed her face with her hoof.  “My dear subject, you have nothing to fear from me.” Chrysalis cooed.  “Keep your hooves off her!” Comet shouted.  That made Chrysalis look at her with an unamused expression, “And who might this brat be?”  Comet stuck her tongue out at the queen before looking to her father, “Dad, what is going on? Why are you with this creepy bug queen?”  Fake Trail looked at her with confusion, “Dad?” Chrysalis’ smile grew wider, “Oh so you're the child of Trail Blazer. Oh this day gets better and better.” She circled the fillies who were still trapped in Fake Twilight’s magic, “You two will be of great help to me. As I’m sure you are both students at Twilight’s little school, I’m certain you’ve been told about a particular tree here in the Everfree.” “The Tree of Harmony?” Ocellus asked.  “The very one my dear subject. Now be a good girl and tell your queen where the tree might be.” Chrysalis said, attempting to sound motherly.  Ocellus simply looked away, “You’re not my queen. Thorax is our leader.”  Chrysalis jerked Ocellus’ head back in her direction, “That pathetic drone is not your leader. I am Queen of the Changelings! And once I have the ultimate power of Equestria, he will be the first to feel my wrath!”  “Leave Ocellus alone!” Comet said, trying to fire a blast of magic at the Queen, but it failed to get past Fake Twilight’s aura.  “Ocellus, now I remember you. You were still a little young drone when I was dethroned. You poor dear. Don’t worry. Your Queen is here. Now, where is the tree?” Chrysalis said.  Ocellus cringed, “I don’t know.”  Chrysalis frowned, “Very well then.”  She pointed to Fake Twilight, “I will take them from here. Gather the others and meet in the western clearing.”  “Fine. What about them?” Fake Twilight said, dropping the fillies on the rumps in front of the Queen.  “Oh, I need some quality time with little Ocellus. She and her friend will tell me what I want to know.” Chrysalis grinned.  “And what about me Your Highness?” Fake Trail asked.  “Oh I don’t care. Go with Twilight. Be somewhat useful.” Chrysalis waved him off.  “Ugh, fine. Come on you useless lump.” Fake Twilight groaned.  Fake Trail and Fake Twilight soon left the clearing, leaving the two friends alone with the Queen. “Now then my dear little Ocellus.” Chrysalis said as she stood in front of the fillies.  Ocellus had hidden behind Comet, who was trying to put on her bravest face as she stared down the Queen.  “Let us have our quality time.” Chrysalis grinned wickely.