//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - Reputation Like its Shadow // Story: Outlaw Mares 1: A Hoof Full of Trixie // by Digodragon //------------------------------// Trixie sat quietly in her prison cell bench, bemused by the unexpected turn of events. She thought about what ‘trouble’ might look like as a Cutie Mark because she certainly became an expert on the subject. The jail Trixie sat in had three small cells to it. Dusty and cracked whitewashed walls contrasted against the dark, paint flecked iron bars; Stains of aged rust showed where the two connected. Outside the cells sat a small wooden desk that seemed to lean away from the wall. It was slightly warped from being used constantly as a chair, but now the desk’s disuse was evident by a thin layer of dust that settled on it. Warm sunlight peered in through two thin windows opposite of the prison cells, the only warmth in an otherwise gloomy interior. This town couldn’t be that old, but it just looked like it was dying prematurely. Speaking of time, how long was Trixie here? An hour? Two hours? She wasn’t too sure, but since Trixie skipped breakfast this morning her stomach was of no appreciable help. In the jail cell beside hers, Trixie noticed a chocolate-coat mare asleep on the bench. The Earth pony had a short, curly pink mane and a folding-fan Cutie Mark. Her face was covered with a near-black slouch hat pinned on the left side. The faint scent of liquor that wafted from the Earth pony’s direction was the only hint Trixie needed to know on why this other mare was imprisoned. Trixie turned her attention to the purple cape she held, now completely ruined with the significant gaping hole that complimented the deep plethora of tears along the lower edges. Trixie sighed sadly. This was her favorite cape. It had a lot of good memories attached to it. Except the one about where exactly she had acquired it. Manehattan perhaps? Hopefully it wasn’t a present from someone significant. Trixie’s thoughts were interrupted when the other mare fell off the bench with a thud. The chocolate pony groaned and rolled on the floor until she was on her backside. Trixie saw a pair of tired, pale-blue eyes that reflected the harsh mid-morning light. Trixie waved to her with a smirk. “Morning, or are you even sober yet?” Trixie asked the stranger. The pink-mane mare groaned again as she focused on Trixie. “I’m not sure. Am I seeing a bright blue Unicorn sitting in front of me?” “You are,” Trixie responded. The chocolate mare sluggishly sat up and rubbed her neck. “Then I’m sober, but slightly confused.” Trixie stood up and introduced herself. “I am The Great and Powerful Trixie.” “I’m the ordinary and slightly pudgy Cheryl,” the chocolate pony stated. Cheryl looked around to see if anyone else was in the room, but it was only herself and Trixie. “So what are you in for?” she asked Trixie out of curiosity for the exotic Unicorn. Trixie brushed off her shoulders as she pretended to be quite proud of her accomplishment. “I stuck my nose where it didn’t belong by investigating a warehouse robbery. This landed me in a fight with a small slingshot-wielding hare and two incognito Diamond Dogs dressed as ugly cacti. However, I avoided capture by using my great magical talent in screaming and throwing things,” she explained. “And you’re here because…?” “Because every pony else was sober when I explained that story to them,” Trixie remarked sarcastically. Cheryl scrunched her nose at having been poked fun of. “Point taken,” she admitted. Their conversation was cut short by Valiant, who entered the room with a ring of keys in his mouth. The deputy unlocked both cells and then tossed the keys on the small wooden desk without regard to their wellbeing. “Alright Cheryl, time to get out and about,” Valiant commanded. “And quit painting your nose so much on that bug juice. This isn’t an inn.” “Painting your…? Ick,” Trixie muttered. Valiant rolled his eyes at Trixie, “It means getting drunk. Honestly Trixie, there are more lingoes then just your fancy east coast jargon.” “Oh, sure,” Trixie nonchalantly agreed as she now understood the expression. The Unicorn watched Cheryl stammer out of the jail before she leaned against the open door of her own cell. “So deputy, what will become of innocent little me?” Trixie asked curiously with a hammed up expression. Valiant snorted with annoyance. “Well, looks like you’re free to go too for now. The guards finally awoke and while their stories don’t exactly make sense, what they described didn’t sound like it was you.” He waved for Trixie to exit the cell, but put a hoof in her way for one last remark. “You were still at the scene of the crime, mind you, which means you could still be charged with trespassing. If I were you, I’d just lay low and not poke my nose into any more trouble, you hear?” Trixie gently pushed the deputy’s hoof aside. “Thank you for caring,” Trixie responded wryly. “I do care, Miss,” Valiant said with a frown. He watched Trixie leave without another word. With a sigh, Valiant closed the cell doors and retrieved the keys. “Great and powerful pain in my flank…” ~ ~ ~ Trixie stepped outside the jail and her eyes were assaulted by the bright yellow daylight. She guessed the time to be about noon by the sun’s position. The townsfolk were all busy with their lunchtime grind and they paid never mind to each other, let alone Trixie. This suited Trixie just fine, but there was one pony that seemed to take specific notice of the blue Unicorn. He was a mature dark-gray male Unicorn with a short, maroon mane slicked back to a shine that made it appear to be made of crystal. As he gracefully walked towards Trixie, his velvet vest, black coat, and matching top hat advertised that he was some pony important. However, it was those golden-yellow eyes of his that made him stick out as exotically as Trixie did. “So you must be The Great and Powerful Trixie Lulamoon?” the stallion asked with a wide smile. Trixie raised an eyebrow upon hearing his voice; she was unable to place him by his accent. “I am, but I appear to be at a disadvantage here. You are?” “Allow me the honor of protocol,” the stallion replied as he lifted Trixie’s right hoof for a kiss. Trixie instinctively recoiled from his advance, but gradually relented when he simply held out his own hoof in waiting for hers. “My name is Debon Aire, entrepreneur and adventurer,” the stallion stated, followed by a kiss on the mare’s hoof. “Charmed,” Trixie replied with hesitance. “I heard about that dreadful event over at the warehouse,” Debon stated. “After hearing how a beautiful blue Unicorn was caught up in such trifles, I came to see for myself if the rumors were true that Equestria’s most magical pony had graced our humble little town with her presence.” Trixie eyed him with suspicion. “Flattery used to get ponies somewhere with me,” Trixie explained, “But nowadays, well okay it still gets my attention. However, I reserve the right to remain skeptical.” The dapper stallion winked, “I assure you that I only wish to invite you to a dinner ball at my abode tomorrow night. Rarely do we see a celebrity of your grace pass through these parts, let alone one who would stir up gossip among the local townsfolk.” “Yes, well I do seem to cause a lot of trouble wherever I go,” the blue Unicorn stated with a smirk. “I am an adventurer,” Debon assured. “Trouble is merely one of life’s little tricks to entertain me.” “Believe me, I am very Trixie.” Debon stared into Trixie’s deep violet eyes and saw a feisty soul within. “I have no doubt that you are,” he mused aloud. The stallion pointed down the street to a fancy, two-story mansion. “I am currently staying at my modest little summer abode over there. If you do find a moment in your busy schedule to grace us with your presence, I would be ever so honored. It begins promptly at six.” The male Unicorn bowed and excused himself to continue his way down to the post office. Trixie watched the Unicorn walk away and she wondered what he was after. Her stomach reminded the Unicorn of greater priorities however, namely lunch. Since Trixie was flat broke, her only course of action was to go back to Ellie’s house. After the debacle at the warehouse that got her arrested, Trixie hoped she did not have a pony-non-grata status there. “Miss Great Trixie, help!” shouted the voice of a familiar little pinto colt from behind. Trixie knew it; the world had conspired to let her starve. Trixie turned around and saw Iggy in a full-on gallop toward her, the colt chased by three other foals, each a bit older than Iggy, but they all wore the same desire to beat up the little colt. Trixie just noticed why the colt was chased. Clenched tightly in Iggy’s little teeth was Trixie’s lost bag! Before Trixie said anything, Iggy tripped over himself and tumbled. The bag fell out of his mouth and landed quietly on the dirt ground. The three foals that chased him immediately pounced on the colt, pulled him completely off the ground, and went into a tussle over who got to hit him first. Trixie looked around, horrified that no pony moved to help Iggy despite his pleas for help. Were the townsfolk that callous, or were they too afraid to get involved? “Miss Great Trixie!” Iggy cried out. Trixie sprang into action and ran toward a drinking trough across the sandy street. “Out of the way!” Trixie commanded, having shoved a mare aside from her path. Trixie pointed her horn toward the trough and with deliberate action she focused her magic around the water that sat within it. The clear liquid began to slosh and bubble before it stretched and rose up from the trough at her control. Trixie labored to press the liquid together into a large spherical shape before her. Townsfolk in the area stopped and witnessed the blue Unicorn command the water as a trainer would an obedient pet. Trixie rotated the sphere around to face the foal bullies down the street. “Put the Pinto down, hayseeds!” Trixie angrily demanded. The three foals dropped Iggy on the ground, amused that this foreign mare dared to stand up to them. The oldest, an orange filly with a scraggly red mane, stepped forward in defiance. “What are you going to do, old mare?” she taunted. “Give us a bath?” “Not yet,” Trixie respond. She flourished her hooves in a circular motion which spun the huge ball of water in the air like a top. As it began to bulge from its ever quickening rotations Trixie gave it a hard shove with her magical motions and sent the watery sphere to careen down the sandy road at the bullies. The rapid liquid ball quickly soaked up the dirt it rolled over, becoming enlarged and more viscous. It took on a dark brown color as it grew enormous with the weight of both water and sand mixed together. With quick reflexes Trixie let go of the gargantuan mud ball and jerked Iggy away from the other foals. The colossal sphere of liquid dirt exploded as it hit the three bullies. The force knocked the children off their hooves and onto their backsides. Mud rained and splattered all around which left the young ponies soaked from head to tail in a muddy wet mess. Trixie casually strolled up to the foals as they sat up and rubbed the stinging mud from their crying eyes. “Now The Great and Powerful Trixie will give you a bath.” The three foals sprang to their hooves, slipped and wobbled along the muddy area, and finally galloped away from the terrible Unicorn. The youngest one, a red colt, burst into tears crying for his mother. Trixie reached down and picked Iggy up off the floor before she snatched her bag magically. The crowd that had gathered burst into emphatic cheers over Trixie’s amazing magical feat. Trixie was completely stunned. Just this morning these folks had laughed at Trixie’s misfortunes, but now they were applauding her heroic rescue of a little colt from three town bullies like it was a show. Trixie believed these folks to be the most fickle morons in the west. The unicorn turned her attention to Iggy and walked him away from the entertained masses in case some angry parents showed up. “Where did you get this?” Trixie asked the colt about her bag. “I snatched it back from those bullies who stole it!” Iggy stated proudly. “I bet those bullies didn’t expect you to cut a dash back there, Miss Great Trixie!” He began to happily mime out the movements Trixie used to magically manipulate the water. “I wasn’t trying to cut Dash, whoever that is,” Trixie countered. “I just didn’t want you beaten up over this old piece of luggage.” Trixie opened her bag and rummaged through the contents. All the money was gone, but some of the toiletries, one spare cloak, and the draft of her novel were still intact. Obviously the things without value were ignored. Still, this little colt had risked his rump to retrieve Trixie’s bag and the Unicorn felt bad for having dismissed him earlier. “Thank you,” Trixie said warmly with a gentle hoof on the little colt’s shoulder. “The Great and Powerful Trixie owes you an autograph.” “It weren’t nothing really,” Iggy responded proudly, “But I’d still love an autograph!” Trixie searched through her bag for one of her photos and something to write with. Iggy meanwhile glanced in the direction of Debon’s house. Curiosity was in his eyes. “Miss Great Trixie, was that Debon guy talking to you earlier?” Iggy asked. “I reckon I saw him with you moments before you rescued me.” “Him? Yeah, he introduced himself,” Trixie said absent-mindedly as a quill and photo levitated out of her bag. “He wanted to invite me to his ball tomorrow night.” “Are you going to go?” Trixie paused for a moment. “I don’t know,” she answered. “He seems to think I’m still an endowed magician. That or it’s the other kind of endowed pony that some rich stallions surround themselves with, like a nauseating Playhorse.” Trixie rolled her eyes and stopped searching. Her bottle of ink was missing. “Just be careful, Miss Great Trixie,” Iggy warned. “My pa says Debon is a lying snake.” “Why does he say that?” Trixie asked as she shouldered her bag. Iggy shrugged. “I don’t know. Pa said something about Debon and the miners having a fuss over why Debon can’t dig holes or something. Debon doesn’t like the miners at all and the feeling is mutual.” “Now that is interesting news,” Trixie pondered aloud. “The Diamond Dogs don’t like pa and the miners either,” Iggy added. “They’re always bullying my pa whenever he’s working.” Trixie’s face lit up with an epiphany. “My little hayseed, I think you just earned yourself two autographs! Come with me!” Trixie lead Iggy back to Ellie’s house. With renewed purpose, and an angry stomach, Trixie began to form a plan to clear her name and put Roxy in a kennel where the dog belonged! ~ ~ ~ Ellie and Iggy lined up small bits of a lustrous metal on a serving tray at the dining room table. Trixie sat on a stool at the nearby kitchen counter. She used her Unicorn magic to ravenously stuff a plate full of alfalfa sandwiches into her mouth. Not far away in the living room, Lisa was gingerly sewing a new garment with the remains of Trixie’s ruined cape. Trixie found it remarkable how well Lisa could sew without sight. Well, almost did as the Unicorn was concentrating more on the sandwiches. “I found these interesting shiny things by the warehouse breech,” the Pegasus stated happily. “Things nothing, they’re some kind of metal,” Iggy pointed out. Ellie frowned. “I was going to say that!” she argued, folding her fore hooves together. Iggy stuck out his tongue defiantly. “My pa knows more about the ground than you do! He taught me all about the rocks and metals he works with. ‘Sides, these pieces look a bit off. Did you do something to them?” Ellie smirked with a superior look. “Not many ponies see alloys such as this one,” Ellie explained. “I ran a few chemical tests and found that these samples are based on a common alloy of silver and gold called electrum. Few ponies would know about electrum outside mining because we often separate it into its component elements. I think your pa forgot to mention that tidbit of info, ha!” Ellie stood proudly in place. Iggy rolled his eyes at the Pegasus. “So I don’t know every stupid metal’s name. What’s the big deal with these electrum bits anyway?” “Unlike the raw metals dug up from the ground, these electrum nuggets are free of igneous deposits and have already been heated at one point into a malleable form,” Ellie explained. Trixie swallowed the food in her mouth and chased it with a tall glass of water before she spoke. “Can we get to the part where you say something that makes me really happy to be listening to all this boring technical stuff?” she asked. Without a pause she took another big bite of her sandwich. “This isn’t raw electrum,” Ellie explained. “These are pieces of a former large object.” Trixie raised an eyebrow, cocking her head with confusion. “So what, you mean it’s used? Did the mining company decide to start using this stuff for something like electrum helmets?” “Miss Great Trixie, my pa taught me about all the useful metals we work with around here, and he has never mentioned of any pony using electrum,” the little colt clarified. “The local mining company doesn’t process any of the iron ore it digs up either,” Ellie added, “So how did they get a hold of processed electrum? I had to work these samples in several solutions just to identify them so I can only imagine that the company would need a huge plant and giant vats of chemicals to refine-” Trixie raised her hoof to stop Ellie. The Unicorn had a hard time swallowing this conversation, let alone the remainder her current sandwich. After a few attempts, Trixie got her throat cleared. “Okay, let’s pretend I’m new to this town,” she began. “I know, mind-blowing, but for a moment let’s assume I’m an outsider and I have no idea how the mining company does business around here. I know they dig up the ore in the mine, but then what? What do they do with the warehouse at the depot?” Iggy started in first, “Well, the company rents the warehouse to store the ore so that they can send it off in one big train shipment to San Anponio. I reckon they melt it there into iron and steel.” “Does the company make a lot of money doing this?” Trixie asked. “My pa would say no,” Iggy replied. “The company owns a lot of land around these parts, but the owner, Orville, isn’t rich or anything. He just lives in a regular little house like everyone else.” “So finding electrum would be a huge boon to the owner?” Trixie pondered aloud. “Except this electrum is already refined,” Ellie reminded Trixie. “If electrum existed here, the company would still ship it San Anponio anyway to be melted into gold and silver,” Iggy stated, “But if Ellie is right, then they didn’t just dig this up from the ground. They got it as pieces from something bigger.” Trixie levitated another sandwich off her plate with her pony-kinesis. “Alright hayseeds, let me brainstorm over all the facts for a moment,” Trixie stated. “First, the mining company owns the land surrounding the town, but it doesn’t make a lot of money off it. We can assume then that they refused to let Debon dig his own mine and become their competition. That seems pretty straight forward.” “Sure does, Miss Great Trixie,” Iggy agreed with a nod. “Second, the rail yard’s warehouse gets broken into last night, a warehouse leased to the mining company for storing iron ore. If the company isn’t wealthy, then it stands to reason that the thieves are not stealing the ore for its value, but for something else there that is. Third, we find traces of electrum, an alloy no pony uses here, at the scene of the crime. The fragments here are pieces of an already processed electrum object even though the company doesn’t have the means to process any kind of ore themselves. So, what does this add up to?” “Um, that the miners are secretly a cabal of Unicorn alchemists turning iron into electrum for their fiendish plot to create zombies?” Ellie asked hesitantly. “Wait, what?” Trixie inquired with disbelief. Iggy bounced up on the spot. “Oh, I know! I reckon the company has found something made of electrum in one of their mines that no pony knows about!” Trixie pointed at the little colt with a big smile. “Right! No pony, but the thieves from last night! I believe that the mining company stumbled upon this electrum by luck and they’re keeping it confidential because it’s something important. Had it been a legitimate electrum vein, there wouldn’t be a reason to be so secretive about its existence. They’d hire some more miners and guards to start digging up their fortunes faster than a Manehattanite can spit.” Trixie paused to quickly swallow the last bite of her sandwich. “I’m betting Debon got wind of this secret somehow and he hired those Diamond Dogs to steal the electrum for himself!” “Well, that isn’t too complicated,” Ellie responded, “But assuming it’s true, then the question now is what did the mining company find that they’re keeping it under wraps? Did they steal it from someone else?” “Maybe it’s pirate treasure?” Iggy piped in. “Nah, wait. There’s no ocean around here.” Trixie pondered her ideas, tapping the magically floating sandwich to her lips. She was unraveling a mystery here, one that shouldn’t be too complicated for her, yet seemed just perfect to get away with in a town that wasn’t too perceptive. Trixie was sure the Diamond Dogs were involved, and most likely Debon was pulling their leash. How could she get the evidence she needed to break this mystery wide open? Trixie stood up. “Alright, here’s my plan,” Trixie said with vigor. “Ellie, we’re going to break into the warehouse again. We need to find out more about this electrum and what exactly our pieces go to. It could be a valuable artifact.” “What?!” Ellie exasperated. “Trixie, I don’t want to go to the pokey!” “We won’t get poked, or caught I mean,” the Unicorn corrected. “Iggy, you’re going to be our spotter. How good are you with matches? What am I saying? Kids are great at starting fires! ” Iggy bounced up and down excitedly. “I’m ready to help, Miss Great Trixie!” Lisa walked in on the three ponies and interrupted Trixie’s train of thought. She carried in several garments on her back and held them out to where she heard Trixie. The blue Unicorn took them in hoof. “I don’t know what kind of trouble you foals are going to get yourselves into,” Lisa warned, “But I think you’ll be needing these for proper mischief.” Trixie magically levitated a purple bib scarf made from the remains of her tattered cape. She tied it around her neck, finding it to be a good fit. The second item was a tan Stetson hat, still slightly stiff which meant it hadn’t been worn much. The last item was an old leather saddle belt with several small pockets. Trixie found this to be potentially useful for collecting evidence. There was also a small wood slingshot in a side pouch, along with a dozen rusted iron balls. The Unicorn was taken aback by the weapon and looked up at Lisa again. “The hat was one of many I had lying around,” Lisa explained. “I can’t say if it’s your size, but I’m hoping it’ll fit you well. “The saddle belt was mine back in my heyday. It’s great for carrying tools and doodads around.” “Thank you, but I’m not sure about accepting your slingshot,” said a concerned Trixie. Lisa patted Trixie on the shoulder. “It’s just a tool dear. Ultimately it is you who decides how to use it.” Trixie tried on the hat on and smiled that it was only a little loose. “Thank you, Lisa,” she said. Lisa then turned to her daughter and held out what appeared to be a contraption of belts, wires and a left wing made of metal slats. Trixie recognized it from when she saw it yesterday in Ellie’s closet. “Ellie, I know you’re still hurting since the day we lost your pa,” Lisa stated solemnly, “But you can’t hold on to the pain forever. He’d want you to finish this and move on with your life.” Ellie appeared to choke on words, almost too scared to even touch the contraption. “Ma, no. I… I can’t.” Lisa stepped in close and gently placed it in Ellie’s hooves. “You can’t? Or you won’t? Ellie, your pa was always telling you to keep reaching for the sky, even when your plans don’t always turn out right. He was a fine flier in his day and no daughter of his is going to forget her roots. He was always proud of you, Ellie, just as I still am now. Wear those wings with pride.” Trixie jumped in with her own words of encouragement. “A great magician who does not utilize all her tricks is only shortchanging herself,” the Unicorn said with a beaming smile. “Wings are a fine gift to have and I could always use a talented Pegasus by my side on this mission.” Ellie began to drown in the emotions that filled her heart. The Pegasus broke down, placed her hooves around her mother, and let the tears roll in a soft sob. Lisa held her daughter and stroked Ellie’s green mane. She softly whispered that it would be alright. “I miss him ma,” Ellie cried. “I don’t feel right flying without him here.” “I miss him too, youngin’,” Lisa whispered. “I know it isn’t the same without your pa, but you can’t ignore who you are just because the past hurts. Your pa would want you to fly again. A grounded Pegasus is like a fish without water and that’s no way to live.” Iggy stood there awkwardly like a fifth wheel. Trixie gently ruffled his head to let him know it was alright to relax. After another minute of embrace, Trixie cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. She spoke in a tone she had not used in quite some time. “Now then, if The Great and Powerful Trixie is to help the good citizens of Saddlestone, she will need a few ingredients and a capable tinkerer to assist in brewing her plan.” “What are we making, Miss Great Trixie?” asked Iggy “Trixie is going to need some fireworks for her second act!”