Apple Bloom had already gathered that their unexpected travel guest was somewhat grandiose. She just hadn’t expected that she would be such pain in the flank.
The journey had started promising enough, with everyone in good spirits as they boarded the carriage except Big Mac, who had hitched himself up to the harness. As soon as Trixie and Apple Bloom had settled on the carriage, the Apple siblings had given each other a nod and off they had been, on their way home. The road was gentle to them, the weather sunny with a few clouds. A cooling breeze out of the forest to their left added to the comfortable traveling atmosphere.
Big Mac had no difficulties in having one more pony added to the carriage and thus, they progressed at a steady pace on the rural road. The scenery around them was reminiscent of a painting from Armoire Goldenline, with golden fields stretching endlessly towards the east and slowly transforming into a softly whispering forest towards the west. They crossed a small creek over a simple wood bridge and the playful rippling of the water against the rocks in streambed sounded like music in the ears of Apple Bloom.
The peace and quiet of the scene, however, could be enjoyed full-heartedly only briefly. After just about half an hour, strange sounds started to come from the corner of the stage magician. At first scarce, they soon became more frequent and louder. Hoping that the strange behaviour of the azure unicorn would cease, Apple Bloom ignored it at first. Yet as the sounds started to grow louder every minute, the young filly’s patience started to wear thin.
After an especially loud and theatrical sigh, Apple Bloom turned around and looked at Trixie, smiling friendly. “Everythin’ all right over there?” It was less a question and more a subtle plea for a little bit more restraint. Unfortunately, Trixie had long since gotten rid of such an unnecessary word as ‘restraint’ from her vocabulary. As well as subtlety.
As soon as Apple Bloom had voiced her question, Trixie let out another theatrical sigh, threw her back against the wall of the carriage and let her head hang over the side. She put her right front hoof on her forehead, moaning as if in great pain. “No, it is not ‘everything all right’ over here. The Great and Powerful Trixie is suffering from a very serious arduousness!”
Trixie paused, giving Apple Bloom to express her worry and concern over the azure unicorn’s suffering. There weren’t any. Trixie waited a bit longer, yet nothing. Finally, she carefully opened one of her eyes and took a look. As it turned out, Apple Bloom was less captivated and more confused by Trixie’s words, staring at her blankly.
Trixie rolled her eyes in frustration. Her acting talent and language knowledge were completely unappreciated! The azure unicorn lifted herself up into a normal sitting position, placing her two front hoofs between her hindquarters, before looking directly at Apple Bloom, her eyelids half lowered in resignation. “A problem. I’m facing a problem here,” she explained, her voice only half the volume from before and its pitch noticeably flatter.
“Oh!” made Apple Bloom, her eyes growing wide and the shape of her mouth imitating the sound perfectly. “Well… Ah hope it’s nothin’ serious? It’s still quite a ways ‘till we’re home.”
A deep breath, full of suffering, escaped the stage magician’s lips. “It is quite serious indeed! But The Great and Powerful Trixie supposes she could try to bear her suffering. Yet do pray tell, how much further down the road is the reaching of our destination?”
“Erm …” The not at all informative sound did not provide Trixie with the desired information. Neither did the prolonged silence from Apple Bloom, as the young filly started to knit her eyebrows and tap against the tip of her nose. For a while, none of them spoke, only the whisper of the breeze from the forest broke a little of the ice that had wrapped itself around the carriage with the uncomfortable silence, accentuated with the rhythmic clopping of Big Mac’s hooves.
The longer the silence persisted, the lower Trixie’s eyelids started to sink, at first as an expression of her annoyance. But soon enough they actually started to feel heavy, as the stage magician felt the drowsiness from previous nights, cut short because of innkeepers demanding their money, creep up on her. The sleepiness was driven away as the wheels of the carriage met one particular nasty bump on the road. The vehicle shook violently, as if somepony had just delivered a nasty kick to the side of the carriage. Immediately, Trixie yanked open her eyes again, looking left and right as her heart beat violently in her chest.
Apple Bloom seemed entirely unphased by this little mishap, still remaining in her thinking pose, until she just shrugged with her shoulders. “Aw shoot, Ah have no idea. But Ah’d reckon it’ll be about late afternoon ‘till we’ll reach Ponyville. But don’t worry, miss magician, Big Mac is as capable as two stallions, we’ll surely come home before dusk! …are ya okay?”
The young filly looked at their traveling guest with a concerned expression, but Trixie paid no heed to her question. In fact, Trixie didn’t pay anything any attention at this very moment. The stage magician just sat there, besides the gunny sacks filled with apples, her body completely motionless, while her mouth and eyes were wide open.
Apple Bloom was at a loss. Sure, she appreciated that the azure unicorn was finally quiet, but the expression on her face was not really calming. In fact, it became somewhat unnerving, as the seconds passed and slowly stretched themselves into minutes. Then, just as Apple Bloom opened her mouth hesitantly for another question, motion returned into Trixie’s body and even her voice came back, even though it was just a faint whisper, as she just said one word.
“Ponyville?”
---
“I still don’t get it. Why Ponyville?” Twilight gave an exhausted sigh as she kept her sight locked on the several documents strewn around the entire tree stub which served as table in the middle of the library.
“For the fourth time, Spike, I really don’t know.” Twilight answered, opposed to her sigh, in a patient tone while she lifted one of the documents up with her magic and carefully checking its content. “Maybe it’s because it’s the closest larger city next to Canterlot, maybe it’s because of the personal ties she has to this land, since she gave it herself to the Apple family.”
Although not wearing a satisfied expression, Twilight still put down the document, only to let her horn light up once more. This time she grabbed a map of Ponyville, which’s content had been extensively extended with various self-written notes, circles around several locations and other colorful marks. “Or maybe she wants to celebrate here because of the Bearer of the Elements of Harmony. Who knows? I don’t think there’s really a need for you to make such a fuss about the decision of the Princess.”
“Me?” Spike asked incredulously. “Aren’t you making a way bigger fuss?” Twilight didn’t react, she was occupied with fetching a book out of the numerous shelves in the library, it’s title being: Summer Sun Celebrations. 800 – 980 a.Dscd.Fl.
“What are you talking about?” she then answered, as soon as the book safely landed between the many papers covered with writings, without making any of them fly away. “I’m merely doing what is expected of me. The whole Celebration has to be prepared for when the princess arrives.”
“But you didn’t even get a notice from the princess, saying that you should—” Spike couldn’t finish, because Twilight already interrupted him, this time actually turning around, one of her eyebrows arched in disbelief.
“Of course I didn’t! Why sould I? It’s obvious that the princess expects of me to organize the Summer Sun Celebration. It’s how I landed in Ponyville in the first place!” As soon as Twilight finished her own sentence, her eyes suddenly widened, her mouth staying open as a horrible realization hit her.
“Oh no…” she whispered, leaving Spike completely alone in his confusion, though now there was also worry growing inside of him.
“ Twilight? Are you alright?” he asked, though maintaining a safe distance all the while. He had been quite some time with Twilight now. His entire life, in fact, so he knew very well that this kind of situation could go two ways and the more likely one was a case where it was recommended to keep some distance from Twilight.
“What if this is a test?” Yep, keeping the distance was definitely the smarter choice. “What if she wants to find out if I truly have made any progress on friendship? What if my preparations for Summer Sun Celebration are something to prove all the knowledge I have gathered about social interaction? What if I have already made a mistake?!”
Not waiting for an answer, Twilight spun around, now dragging two, three, four other books out the shelves and piling them up besides here. She frantically grabbed all the documents, hovering them in the air, her eyes darting left, right, up, down, all over the place, cross-referencing, while a quill, that she had picked up in the middle of all of it, started to add even more markings to the map of Ponyville. “Oooohhh, I have to rework it all! This changes everything! If only I had realized this earlier! So much time already wasted.”
“Twilight…”
“I have to talk to Applejack, she has to prepare even more apple delicacies than at the wedding. Wait! That could mean we weren’t good enough friends back then for her to make the most she could do and the Summer Sun Celebration is a public festival! It wouldn’t be any good if there was a greater variety than at a royal wedding.”
“Twilight.”
“Well, there should be at least cid— oh, but what if that reminds her of Applejack’s letter? What if she didn’t like that one, because she didn’t learn anything new? What if I will get a bad grade for this?!”
“Twilight!”
“Quick, where is the book about zebrican customs? I have to make sure that I show the princess I care about the culture of my other friends-- but what if that shows I only care about their culture and not about them? Oh no, what do I do?!”
“TWILIGHT!!”
The lavender unicorn flinched, as finally the voice of the young dragon penetrated her armor of paranoia and panic. Unfortunately, the flinch extended to her magical grasp, scattering all the hovering papers over the library. Frantically, Twilight sprung up and began to spurt from one side of the library to the other, catching the flying documents with her magic out of mid-air.
Spike, feeling guilty at causing this, helped her by collecting the ones that were already on the ground, but also used the involuntary pause to speak freely. “Don’t beat yourself up about this! The princess wouldn’t use something as the Summer Sun Celebration as a test. Besides, you already had passed one of her tests not that long ago, remember? I think she won’t ask anything like a test so soon after saving an entire empire.”
Twilight sighed deeply, this time out of resignation. “Of course, you’re right Spike. I guess I’m just as uneasy as you are that she wants to celebrate another Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville so soon already. She also didn’t send me any messages, so I just don’t know what to expect.”
Spike looked at her with sympathy, pondered shortly, then opened his mouth, and with a loud burp and the hissing of a green flame, a scroll, tied up with a red band and closed off with the well-known royal seal, appeared out of thin air. Twilight was so surprised at this sudden development that she did not, as usual, grab the notice out of the air with her magic and instead just let it fall to the ground, to the other documents, which were still silently shuffling as if to work off their excitement from this surprising flight.
Spike was quicker to regain his composure. He picked up the scroll from the ground and looked at it with curiosity to which a little bit of fear got mixed in as he shot a glance at Twilight. She didn’t recuperate from the surprise as nicely as her assistant. In fact, she seemed even more thunderstruck, her eyes slowly growing wider and wider, as if it was not a scroll that had just appeared but a hideous monster, made out of black fur and disgustingly yellow claws.
“Twilight? Everything okay?” Spike repeated the question from before, hoping that the result would be at least a little bit more controlled. For a short while, it seemed that Twilight was really going to lose it this time and Spike already prepared himself to run up to his comfortable bed and hide under the sheets until the storm would blow over. Then, Twilight breathed deeply, shortly closed her eyes and then looked at Spike, or rather, the scroll, with renewed conviction.
“Yes. Yes, of course, everything alright. Okay, Spike. Read it to me,” she demanded, planting all four of her hooves firmly on the ground, as if she was expecting a sudden assault. It sounded less like a plea to read a letter and more like a gladiator, asking the ponies on the gate to open it, so she could enter the arena filled with rabid animals.
“Alright…” Spike answered, feeling a bit uneasy as he held the scroll in both claws and broke the royal seal.
---
Had Trixie’s sighs and groans perpetually disturbed the tranquil atmosphere of their travel, so did the awkward silence, which was now hanging over the carriage, choke it to near death. Apple Bloom couldn’t remember ever having experienced a silence so unpleasant and permeating.
Even Big Mac could no longer ignore the events on the cart and although he did not slow down, he sporadically looked over his shoulder, suppressing a nasty shiver that wanted to run down his neck. Most of the time, however, he focused on the road and up the pace a little bit. While he couldn’t run away from the atmosphere, seeing as he dragged the source with him, he could at least dissolve it as soon as possible in his own way, by arriving as fast as he could in Ponyville.
Big Mac couldn’t possibly know that it was this very place which occupied Trixie’s mind right now , and which she dreaded more than anything at this very moment. How did she get into this situation?! It seemed like a scene straight out of an opera from Gilden Berry and Lulling Wind! Trixie had been so convinced that she had finally cut all her ties towards this town, escaping the place of her repeated humiliations forever. Yet here she was, returning to it once more and with two locals traveling alongside her!
Nervously, Trixie shot a glance towards the filly and the stallion. What if they already recognized her? They didn’t act like it, but maybe it was all a ruse? Maybe all they secretly desired was to burn her at the stake for her short-acting tyrannical rule of their home? Trixie gulped at that thought, a shiver running through her entire body. Maybe she should try to escape before it was too late. They were probably already stacking the wood for a nice, witch-burning bonfire.
“Everythin' alright?” Those two little words made Trixie jump in nervosity and fear, her head snapping around towards the front where she saw Apple Bloom, turned towards her and regarding her with a worried look, though there was now a little bit of confusion as well upon seeing Trixie’s frightened reaction.
For two, three seconds Trixie just stared at the filly, making her squirm uncomfortably on the coach box, until the stage magician breathed deeply, closed her eyes, counted to ten and then opened them again to give Apple Bloom a confident albeit strained smile. “Yes, of course. The Great and Powerful Trixie was just lost in thought over preparations for… for her disappearing act.”
Upon hearing those words, the yellow filly’s face lit up in admiration. “Wow, that sounds awesome. Ah bet ya’ll be the best magician at the Summer Sun Celebration!”
The Summer Sun Celebration! Trixie really had to pull herself together to not flinch a second time, when those words shot through her head like a lightning bolt. She had completely forgotten about it, with realizing she was heading to Ponyville once more and all that. Now, however, the festival entered her memories again and brought with itself another problem altogether.
The Summer Sun Celebration was the opportunity for Trixie to strut her stuff. Nowhere else would there be such a chance to catch the eye of a rich benefactor who was easily impressed by loud and colorful magic acts. Except for maybe Canterlot, but entering the royal city would take connections, bits and charisma, the first two things shockingly lacking in Trixie’s arsenal at the moment. The azure unicorn couldn’t possibly hope to ignore the Summer Sun Celebration and still get an employment from a noble with way too much money. Why, with all the clout gathered at the Summer Sun Celebration, even a spot in the newly-formed Cirque du Lune was wandering from the realm of wildest dreams into the realm of mildest dreams!
Trixie was so lost in thought and weighing the pros and cons that she did not even realize that she was gnawing on her right front hoof in nervosity while her eyes darted from left to right, as if she could physically see the arguments written down on a blackboard in front of her. She wasn’t the only one lost in thought, however, since Apple Bloom also pondered something, one of her front hooves once again placed on her chin and her gaze directed into the endless sky, while she slowly began to voice her thoughts.
“Although Ah’d guess Twilight could be better than ya. But she never does any of that fancy magic act stuff…”
“Twilight Sparkle!” The name exploded from Trixie’s lips so abruptly and fiercely that the mere force of her voice seemed to push Apple Bloom backwards, making the filly fight a short fight for her balance before she, once again, stared at their passenger with a confused and worried look.
“Ya know her?” Only know did the azure unicorn realize that she had spoken out loud. A flustered look swept across her face before a confident and reassuring smile took its rightful place.
“But of course! Every unicorn has heard of the princess’ personal student. Victor over the Eldritch One, Defender of the Royal City from the Black Swarm and now even Savior of the Crystal Kingdom! it is quite impossible to not hear from her. Even the Great and Powerful Trixie gets curious if a singular unicorn achieves such accomplishments!” It was lucky for Trixie that she was so used to making up excuses on the spot and that there were so much rumors floating about around Twilight Sparkle.
Apple Bloom looked satisfied with the answer and smiled knowingly while nodding at every title Trixie mentioned. “Yep, that’s her! And mah sister is always helpin’ her along! She’s the Element of Honesty, y'know!” The filly announced, smiling proudly. It was quite obvious she expected nothing less than admiration from the ponies she told this.
Luckily, Trixie knew quite well how to cater to one’s expectation. “Quite impressive! Your sister sounds like one important pony!”
Apple Bloom swelled up even more in pride upon those words, her smile now going from one ear to another as she nodded intensely. Trixie, however, had only half of her attention on the filly, who now divulged a flood of tales about the seemingly countless accomplishments of her sister. The rest of her focus was directed on the train of thought that the mentioning of Twilight Sparkle had unearthed. Ponyville might not be the place Trixie would be looked upon kindly, but with Twilight Sparkle she had somepony she could turn to! After all, the purple unicorn had accepted her apology, did she not? Certainly she wouldn’t be able to turn away a fellow magic practitioner in need of help.
Trixie wouldn’t want to ask for much anyway. Just that the wrath of Ponyville would be postponed till after the Summer Sun Celebration. After that, the stage magician would find a way of her own to slip away once more without receiving any ill will in physical form.
A smile spread across Trixie’s lips, while she nodded towards Apple Bloom, effortlessly switching her expression from intrigued over impressed to astonished or amused while the tales of the filly spun on and on and on. Yes, this time her stay in Ponyville would certainly bear the fruit she desired! After all, what could possibly go wrong with such a brilliant plan?
“... and then there was that one time where Big Sis’ saved Spike, Twilight’s dragon, from timberwolves and she kicked a stone so hard it shot off the front legs from one of the— oh, we’re there! Ya can see Ponyville!”
---
The tension was unbearable for Twilight. She could hardly breathe, every bit of air going down into her lungs tightened her throat more. It felt like Spike needed an eternity to familiarize himself with the letter’s content. How long could it take to prepare for a recitation of a letter? Twilight shot a glance to the clock hanging on the wall. Seven seconds?! She suppressed a pained groan. By Celestia, she was going to drive herself crazy! A slight cough redirected the librarian’s attention towards her assistant. Finally! Spike made sure that he had Twilight’s attention and then began.
“My dearest, most faithful student Twilight,
with the nearing of the Summer Sun Celebration, a great anticipation is rising throughout Equestria. Due to the many unfortunate events last year, ponies all around are desiring a festival greater than ever. As such, it has been decided to celebrate this one of our most cherished holidays in Ponyville once again, as it is the only location ideal for the gathering of so many of our beloved citizens due to its placement and size. However, because of such great expectations towards the festival, I wish to turn to you, my most faithful student, for the organization and setup of the celebrations. I am most certain that, with the help of your friends, you will face no trouble in preparing a wonderful Summer Sun Celebration for all to enjoy.”
Twilight let out a deep and relieved sigh. No extra conditions, no tests, no unreasonable expectations whatsoever. Nevermind that the Princess had never before directed any kind of unreasonable expectations towards Twilight. The kind, warm words of her mentor flowed from the paper into her mind, calming the anxious lavender unicorn, putting a serene smile on her lips. Just what had she been worrying about?
“Well, that’s that then! Time to put together a Summer Sun Celebration!” Twilight eagerly swirled around, only to be stopped by a loud harrumph from Spike. Confused, she turned back and looked at her assistant. “What is it, Spike?”
“There is more”, he flatly stated before turning towards the letter once more and continuing reading.
“As I realize, however, that the preparation of a Summer Sun Celebration for such a large crowd of ponies with such high expectations is a difficult task to clear, I have decided to help you in any way I can. Therefore, I have decided to send Stone Quill to Ponyville, so that he may help you in the organization. I trust that his help will be of great use. I look forward to meeting you during the celebrations and hope you stay well.
Yours,
Princess Celestia.”
Spike took a breathe. He hadn’t expected to read such a long letter from the Princess. She usually kept herself brief in her writings. Then again, that was quite a task she had given them. “Gee, Twilight, looks like we got our work cut—”
Spike stopped when he spotted Twilight. Instead of having the bright fire of thirst for action that normally drove her after receiving a letter from the Princess, the lavender unicorn was completely frozen in place, wearing an expression of unspeakable horror as she just stared into empty space.
Nervously, the purple dragon looked at her, unsure of what to do. He had seen Twilight in a condition of complete shock before, numerous times in fact, but never after a letter from the princess and certainly never in a shock of such intensity. Should he dare apply the old tactic of waiting until the storm inside Twilight had calmed down?
As the seconds threatened to drag on into minutes, however, Spike’s worry got the better of his caution. Hesitantly, he stepped forward, on the lookout for any reaction from Twilight as he gulped and cautiously spoke up.
“Erm… Twilight?” There was no reaction. The lavender unicorn kept on staring into the air, with mouth agape, not moving a single muscle. Suddenly, a slight spark appeared in her eyes, a small light of consciousness. Her mouth slowly formed two words, her tone one of uncontained terror.
“Stone Quill?”