~Slowly, the sun sank below the horizon and the lingering tendrils of warmth began to recede, their radiant mother no longer present to project them onto the quiet town that lay below. The cool evening zephyr propelled the leaves from the branches and swirled them about in the air. The flurry of dead foliage crinkled in their midair waltz, and slowly sank back to earth. As the last vestiges of light grew dim, one area remained illuminated among the others. The words “Mareiot Inn” were plastered above the door with cracking green paint. This building’s doors had been flung wide open, letting forth the light that resided within as well as the sound of a solitary-confident voice.~
~~~~~~
“ And you see, with my incredible magic I defeated the terrifying Ursa Major.” Trixie paused to savor the various “oooo’s” and “aaaa’s” that simultaneously sprung forth from the amazed spectators. Trixie knew that she had captivated her audience and that they would believe anything and everything that she told to them. Not that she was telling frivolous fantasies of course! It was the job of the renowned Daring Do to fabricate elaborate and entertaining tales. Trixie’s stories were humble and true; or rather she believed them to be.
Several ponies were packed into the crowded pub. Three foals crowded closely to the bar that Trixie stood on top of, her hooves spread wide to encompass her imaginary spell that she cast on an imaginary foe.
“What happened next!” begged a little filly.
“ Well I banished the beast back to its cave deep underground, of course.”
“Wow, aint she amazing.” Trixie nodded in agreement, soaking up the various scraps of admiration and amazement that flowed from her audience.
Her revelry was suddenly cut short as the sound of gravelly laughter cut through the muttered compliments and silenced the room. All eyes turned to the gruff stallion that had interrupted.
“What! Does somepony not believe the Great and powerful Trixie?”
Silence…
“Speak, neighsayer!” The now quiet pony pushed his unkempt black hair out of his face and took a swig from a flask in his hoof. Crossing his legs he leaned back in his chair and chuckled once more.
“Tell me little miss, what is the color of an Ursa Major’s nose?” Trixie was caught off guard and stuttered at the question.
“ Umm. Hmmm, I mean certainly I know! I just had something stuck in my throat for a moment,” she laughed uncomfortably. All eyes turned on Trixie as the colt motioned for her to continue. “ But of course, an Ursa Major has a blue nose!”
The assembled ponies held their breath waiting for a response from the mysterious colt as he leaned forward in his chair slowly and propped his head on his hoof. His eyes narrowed to thin slits and the tension thickened. The three fillies standing beneath Trixie glanced back and forth between Trixie and the stallion. The silence was unbearable but nopony dared to break it.
Suddenly the stallion smiled ever so slightly, “ That would be correct.” The audience shared a sigh as the conflict was resolved and began chatting among themselves eagerly. Trixie let out her own secretive sigh of relief, I guessed correctly, she thought. How was she supposed to know the color of an Ursa Major's nose anyway? It was not like she had ever actually fought one let alone seen one.
Seeing that she had lost the attention of the crowd and that the sun had sank well below the hills, she jumped down from the bar table that she had been standing on. The little fillies were there to greet her with parchment and quills. “ Autographs. Please may we have an autograph miss Trixie?”
“Why certainly,” She bellowed enthusiastically. The little ponies let out Squeees of excitement hopping up and down. Trixie signed the autographs with a flourish and a smile as the patrons began to slowly file out into the cool evening air.
“ Come now fillies,” a mother motioned for her children to follow, “ It is past your bed times and you have school tomorrow morning.”
“But Ma….”
“No buts. Come along little ones.”
Trixie leaned forward on the bar. Most of the gathered crowd had departed leaving only the odd few stragglers and the barkeep behind the counter, meticulously polishing a mug.
“Can I get ya somtin,” the barkeep spoke up. He was a stocky pony with gray splotches spread across his brown coat. A jolly quality was always in his voice as if he was constantly on the verger of expelling a hearty laugh. His plump belly shook with his perpetual polishing of various mugs and cups. A moon shaped pendant hung around his neck, swinging back and forth as he polished.
“ Oh… no I’m a bit short for change.” Trixie avoid the barkeeps gaze.
“ Awww c’mon. This one is on the house. Least I can do fer somepony who entertained us with her stories. Not every day ya get a magician of your skill level in town.” He let out a jovial laugh and set a mug full of honeyed liquor on the tabletop. Trixie wrapped her hooves reluctantly around the mug and took a hesitant sip.
“It is good! The great and powerful Trixie thanks you.” The barkeep chuckled in reply as he moved off to clean a table in the corner. Trixie sipped at her drink smiling. All in all it had been a good day. She had just arrived in this town and had already gained the admiration of the townsponies. This seems like a good place to stay for a while, she thought to herself.
The sounds of hooves moved slowly toward her from behind. At first she thought it was the barkeep coming up behind her, but as he sat down beside her, she realized she was sorely mistaken. The scruffy black pony from earlier sat beside her and tipped his hat. He smelled faintly of smoke and garlic.
“ Have you come to apologies to the great and powerful Trixie for your doubts?” The mysterious stallion looked at her through narrowed eyes.
“ Just what are you playing at missy,” he uttered in a hushed voice
“I beg your pardon.”
“ You know your going to get yourself hurt one of these days, telling all those lies.”
“ Why I never. Lies! The great and powerful Trixie does not li-” he cut her off harshly.
“ Ursa Majors have purple noses, purple not blue.” Trixie’s heart skipped a beat.
“ Of course purple, isn’t that what I said…”
“No you didn't, now I’m giving you a chance to leave this town right now before you get hurt. You’re a liability to me and these ponies.”
“A…what,” Trixie stammered, “I have just as much right to stay in this town as you and I shall only leave when I want to. I, The Great and Powerful Trixie, am offended.” The stallion sighed at her monolog.
“ Just make sure you lock your doors tonight, things might get a bit messy.” He stood up and trotted from the room. “ Oh and by the way, the names Solomon, Solomon Colt.”
Trixie sat confused. What had just happened? What was this ‘Solomon Colt’ trying to say? And that name, it seemed oddly familiar yet she couldn’t place it. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the barkeep placed a second drink on the table in front of her. “Make sure to bring this to your friend upstairs when you head to bed.” He smiled warmly.
“Oh. Trixie thanks you.” That’s right, it was getting late, it would be wise to go and check on her companion. Trixie mounted the stairs and climbed to the room that she had rented. Without bothering to knock she flung the door open and shouted, “ Daring Do. I brought drinks for you!”
2.
A sandy brown mare sat alone in a dimly lit room. Her lips moved slightly as she mumbled, completely engrossed in her work. She was in the process of scribbling words down on a hefty stack of browned parchment. A thin pair of glasses crept slowly down her nose and she reached her hoof up to push them back into position. The tip of the quill found its way into her mouth and she bit it lightly. A habit often preformed when in the process of deep thought. Her ponderings were suddenly cut short as the door flew open and an overenthusiastic voice called in.
“ Daring Do I brought drinks for you!” Caught completely by surprise, Daring let out a sharp squeak and bit down hard on the quill, snapping it in half.
“ Sweet Celectia!!”
“ Please hold back your enthusiasm, I know how amazing it is to be in my presence.” Trixie held her hooves up.
“ You frightened me greatly.” Daring said in a shaky voice.
“So, how was your evening miss Daring Do?”
“ Well I have had a perfectly wonderful evening…but this wasn’t it,” She spoke in a refined tone as she struggled to regain her composure.
“ My evening was spectacular as always.” Trixie interrupted briskly.“ The ponies of this fine town recognize a high caliber mare such as myself. They appreciate the Great and Powerful Trixie… What are you doing up there anyways.”
“ Up where?” Daring Do glanced around realizing that, in her excitement, she had jumped atop her desk and was clutching a lamp as if her life depended on it. “ Oh…um practicing my climbing,” replied Daring weakly.
The sighing Trixie leapt into bed with a clunk, “ Ouch, these mattress are not exactly the high quality fare I’m used to,” Trixie messaged the part of her back she had landed on.
“ Uhhhg,” sighed Daring Do, “ I have hit a brick wall in my writings, I suppose I will just retire for the night as well.”
“ Hitting a brick wall will not get you anywhere.”
“ Oh you never know, hitting your head against a brick wall burns 150 calories an hour.” Daring declared bluntly. As usual Trixie was not listening and Daring’s shrewd humor was wasted on deaf ears.
Her writer’s block prevented her from going any further, and talking with Trixie would not be any easier. She looked casually at the drink but decided against it, alcohol and her did not mix well. The only option left it seemed was to go to her bed and rest in the hopes that tomorrow would bring better results.
Yet sleep came no easier to the slight mare. Rolling over, adjusting pillows, ruffling blankets, staring at the ceiling, counting her hooves; 1,2,3,4, nothing seemed to help. After tracing a particularly boring crack in the ceiling for a half hour Daring’s eyes moseyed down the wall and alighted on Trixie, snoring from across the room. She came to wondering, what am I doing here with this uncouth, egocentric, but otherwise decent mare?
Daring was operating on the down low, trying to get some much needed privacy to write her books, and the good thing about traveling with egotists is that they only talk about themselves. Her secret was safe so long as she traveled with Trixie. The brazen mare would draw all the attention and Daring could remain unrecognized as she traveled, seeking new inspiration for her novels.
It was always writers block these days. The renowned author hadn’t squeezed out a viable novel in a little under a year. The publishers were always on her flank, urging her to write more but what could she do when in between a (writers) block and a hard place. I will figure it all out in the morning…in the morning things will be better…in the morni… she gently drifted off to sleep.
CRASH! The room shuddered with an overwhelming noise. Daring bolted upright, her eyes darting to and fro.
“ Trixie, Trixie wake up.” She shook the still-snoring mare out of slumber.
“ What is the meaning of this? My sleep must not be interrupted.”
“ Trixie there’s something downstairs, something, something loud.”
“Hah, if there was some kind of commotion than Trixie would have been woken as well.”
“ Trixie please.”
“ Oh very well, The Great and Powerful Trixie will prove there is nothing bumping in the night. Follow me.” Trixie puffed her chest out, happy to be showing how brave she was. Daring Do clutched her hat tightly and followed close behind, wide eyes darting back and forth.
The two ponies emerged into the bar. The moon cast pale shadows on the stacked chairs and dimly illuminated the room with a gentle glow.
“ Look there’s nothing here. The Great and Powerful Trixie is always right. Isn’t that right Daring dear… I said isn’t that right… Daring?" Trixie glanced behind. Why wasn’t Daring agreeing with her statement?
“D… don’t move a hoof.” Daring whispered, terrified.
“ What has come over y-” Daring’s hoof covered Trixie’s blabbering mouth as she pointed at the object of her terror.
A hulking figure hunkered behind the counter, its back was to the two ponies as it rummaged through a pile of rubbish. The figure vaguely resembled a pony, yet its size was easily twice that of an average adult. It was not lithe and graceful as alicorns were, but brutish with tensing muscles and shaggy mane. It had not yet noticed the two onlookers petrified in the corner.
Trixie felt a pang of fear in the pit of her stomach, her heart beating loudly in her ears. What was she to do? She was a proficient magician of course but in truth not as great and powerful as she made out to be. Tricks and feats she could perform with ease but what even was this thing? What was this hulking monster still half concealed in the veil of shadows? Her eyes dashed about the room unchecked until they finally locked with Daring Do’s. Daring was shivering in fear as she gazed back. An unspoken agreement was passed. They would creep as quietly as they could to the door and make a run for it.
Trixie slid her hoof ever so slowly forward, her body edging along to follow suit. She took step after excruciating step. Only a few more to go, so close, must remain silent. For Celectia’s sake may these floor boards not croak and creak as they so often did. One more step and she would be at the door. Trixie placed her hoof on the final floorboard hoping, praying it would not make a noise. The creature continued to rummage noisily, preoccupied by something behind the counter. Biting her lip, sweat dripping down her brow she slowly eased her weight onto the final step.
The floorboard held firm, not letting out any peep or protest. The magician let forth a silent sigh of relief. Now that Trixie was safe in the threshold of the oaken door, it was Daring’s turn to take the few steps to reach security. Trixie motioned for Daring to follow.
Daring reluctantly lifted her hoof, poised to step forward. Leaning forward to take the first step Daring’s hoof caught on a circular table that sat close behind. The delicate table tottered back and forth, teetering on the brink of falling. Daring shoved her hoof into her own mouth to stifle a cry as she watched the table…it was going to fall…no it wasn’t…. it’s going to fall!
The table smacked into the floor with a crack. Both ponies flinched at the sound. The momentum of the table caused it to roll toward the counter, it pushed over a broom, which knocked out one of the struts holding up the beverage shelf. The containers slid one by one to the floor. She flinched with the shatter of every glass bottle as gravity did its work. Daring’s front leg still hovered in the open air, for she had yet to take a single step. Her mouth hanging wide open she let her hoof fall. The floorboard let out an extraneous creek as she stepped on it.
"Oops.” She whispered.
3.
The figure spun around to face the commotion extending itself to full height. Daring had never seen such an imposing and brutish looking pony. The thing pulled back its lips reveling flat tombstone like teeth. Trixie considered running away but it wouldn’t be right to leave Daring helpless, and besides how dangerous could this massive, terrifying, unnatural monster be? It could be as gentle as a butterfly on the inside. And besides she was s magician. No! She was “The Great and Powerful Trixie.” Taking a deep breath she leapt back into the room.
The creature charged forward just as Trixie pulled Daring Do away from his onslaught. The two ponies fell in a tangled mass of hooves on the floor. Daring flailed about uselessly as Trixie tried to separate herself. The creature charged again, shoulder down ready to tackle. The ponies barley scrambled out of the way in time, the beast collided with the heavy wooden counter shattering it in a shower of splinters. It let forth a howl of rage and turned once more to its prey. Daring Do scrambled toward the door but her path was blocked as the beast heaved a chunk of the counter at the doorway, cutting off any escape. The only option left was to stand and fight.
Trixie’s every instinct told her to run but she knew she would have to stand her ground. “ Daring hold him off for a while. I need to concentrate on a spell.”
“M…Me I can’t do this you know how clumsy I am.” Daring pleaded, but it was too late for Trixie had already furrowed her brow in concentration as crackling magical energies gathered around her. “ Alright you can do this,” Daring whispered to herself, come on what would the brave and dashing Daring Do do? As the beast slowly moved closer the writer pony did everything she could to try and harness her inner adventurer.
What was it Daring Do would do? Of course! Find something she could use to her advantage. Daring scanned the room and saw a length of coiled rope on the floor. She could use this to tangle the monster up and incapacitate it long enough for Trixie to use her magic. Daring clenched the length of rope in her mouth and narrowed her eyes, ready to fight. She cracked the rope like a whip and the beast eyed her, bemused.
The energies that crackled around Trixie began to gather into a ball in front of her horn, the spell was almost ready. Daring Do flicked the rope feeling surprisingly focused and confident. The beast eyed them both and began to paw the ground, ready to charge once more.
The tension was thick as the foes looked at each other. Suddenly everypony exploded into action at once. Trixie shouted and aimed her spell, the beast charged at Daring Do, and Daring flipped her head, eyes closed, and sent the rope arcing forward. But the flying rope went wide and tangled Trixie's legs instead. Thinking that she had snagged the beast she jerked back hard.
" I got him." Daring shouted.
" AHHH, uhhg." Trixie screamed as she toppled to the floor. Her spell fired off as she fell and narrowly missed the beast and instead blasted the floor in front of Daring. The floor exploded purple blast that flung Daring against the wall. The blast pushed the beast back and smashed him into a cluster of tables. Trixie still lie on the floor struggling to disentangle herself from the rope Daring had flung her way.
The beast let out a groan and pulled itself up. The creature messaged its head with it's massive palms, it had banged it's head on the floor hard. It began to move slowly toward the unconscious Daring Do when suddenly there was a high pitched whistle from far outside. The beast halted and perked up it's ears to listen to the distant noise. Letting out a sudden howl the beast barreled through the front door with a smash and ran out into the night.