Trixie, Ditzy, Dinky, Raindrops, Silver Script and Bonbon watched as Pinkie Pie, Lyra and Blues Noteworthy led a parade of parasprites past the post office and down to the Everfree Forest. Pinkie and Blues had a harness strapped to their backs with about a half-dozen instruments attached, while over twenty instruments floated around Lyra. The six observers bobbed their heads or stomped their hooves to the beat as they went past.
Trixie looked down the road back to Ponyville. “I think they got all the little pests,” she said. “We'll have to do a few more sweeps with the band, but we should be all right. Keep your pads crossed.” She looked to Silver Script. “I'll make sure to mention you in my report to Princess Luna.” A smile crossed her mouth. “Thanks.” She looked to everyone there. “Could have been a lot worse without everyone's help.”
Ditzy looked back at the post office and up at the her apartment. “They ate almost all the food,” she said, one eye drifting down to Dinky.
Dinky drew herself up. “I'm not hungry, Mommy!” she declared. Her stomach rumbled and she slumped down. “Honest, not hungry at all...” She patted her barrel. “Really not hungry...”
Trixie spoke up. “You can raid the contents of my fridge to your heart's desire, Ditzy. As far as I know, the Residency was locked up during this.” She shrugged as everyone there looked to her. “It's Pokey's day off. Said something about a diamond-tipped file he was eyeing.” She shook her head. “I guess it makes sense.”
Bonbon spoke up. “The Confectionarium was shut up before any of them got inside, so I can definitely lend you some food, Ditzy. Take what you need.”
Ditzy's mouth wavered slightly. She wiped her eyes with her foreleg. “Thank you. I swear I'll pay you both back for this.”
Trixie snorted and waved her off. “Dinky's help earlier was enough.” She looked down at the filly and nodded. “Good job, kiddo.” Her gaze drifted up and down the road to Ponyville proper. “Now I gotta figure out how much damage was caused by those little pests. How much food was eaten, property damage...” She let out a sigh. “So much paperwork. So little time.”
Silver Script glanced to his right and a small pile of empty mail bags. “Well, you can start with 'three new mail sacks'. No way in Tartarus I'm reusing those. The post office itself's fine, though. Maybe some heavy-duty cleaner for the walls and floor in some spots.”
Trixie shuddered slightly. “Top of the list, Silver Script.” She rubbed her chin. “Come to think of it, most of the food eaten was probably from the open-air stalls and personal food.” She shook her head. “I might have barely enough time to get ready for the Eventime Festival.”
Dinky's left foreleg shot up. “Oh, oh! I'll help, Miss Trixie!” She looked to Ditzy. “Can I help, Momma? Please?”
Ditzy patted her daughter on her back and withers. “After school is finished and your homework done, you can.” She looked to Trixie. “Just make sure she's home at a reasonable hour. She's still a growing filly.”
Raindrops watched the last of the parasprites disappeared down the road, her head bobbing up and down. “Gotta hoof it to you, Trixie. This could've turned out a lot worse than it did.”
Trixie turned and bowed deeply to her. “Why thank you, my dear Raindrops!” She reared up, tossing her forelegs back and letting her cape flutter about. “Was there ever any doubt?” She dropped back to all fours and held up a hoof. “And you know I'm joking!”
Raindrops bobbed her head a bit. “I know, just so long as you know, then fine.”
Trixie let out a small sigh. “Well, I'm heading back to the Residency. Much as I'm loathe to, I have to get started on the paperwork as soon as possible.” She looked to Ditzy and jabbed a foreleg at her. “I expect to see you there within the hour and with a lunch pail. I have plenty of kumquats and Tabasco sauce.” And with that, she trotted off.
The next morning had been rather hectic for Trixie, running around with a clipboard, quill and inkwell floating about as she interviewed various ponies about yesterday. Most of the debris from yesterday had either been cleaned up or was in the process of being taken care of.
Towards noon, Trixie made her way to Sugarcube Corner. She entered, finding Pinkie Pie behind the counter and finishing up a sale. Pinkie's head shot up at the jangling of the bell above the door. “Oh, hi,” she said, waving at Trixie. She glanced to the door leading to the back. “Do you need help with anything? I can get one of the Cakes' if you want.”
Trixie approached the counter, waving her off. “Not necessary,” she said. She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out before continuing. “I just want to say thanks for yesterday, for talking to us instead of over us.” She glanced away, looking at a tabletop with platters of wrapped cookies on them. “Although I guess the horseshoe can be on the other hoof when we don't listen to you and brush you off. I'm sorry about that, and I'll try to listen to you from now on.”
Pinkie stood at the counter for a moment before walking around right up to Trixie. “Thanks, Trixie. I'll try to listen to others instead of talking right over them, or talking over them, or brushing them off entirely.” She sighed. “Back at the rock farm, I didn't have anypony to talk to beyond Mom, Dad and my sisters. And they weren't exactly chatty. So out in the fields sometimes I'd just... talk. To nopony in particular.”
Trixie pursed her lips. “That explains... a lot, actually.”
The bell jingled again and some ponies walked in. Pinkie's ears perked up and she looked over. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!” She looked back to Trixie. “Back to work.” Her eyes widened slightly. “But I'm off at five o'clock. Can we get together then? To... talk?”
Trixie stepped back from the counter, allowing the others to step up to it. “And to listen,” she said, bowing her head and leaving.
An earth pony walked up to the gates of the Residency, towing a small wagon laden with tools and raw materials. He stopped at the entrance, cocking his head to the side.
The door opened and Pokey Pierce's head popped out. He looked to the earth pony. “Sorry, Windowpane. Everything's all right here.” He glanced to the side as Windowpane turned and walked off. “Well, can't break 'em all.”