//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: The Adventures of Trixie if Her Father Was a Badass Alien // by totallynotabrony //------------------------------// The sun was setting low in the west when Trixie rolled into Las Pegasus. The fading daylight was at her back, casting long shadows on the road ahead. Trixie pulled her hat low to shield her eyes from the glare. The bright lights and big city was a welcome change from being on the road. Trixie’s intended destination had been Seaddle, but the adventure with a crazy cult had put a damper on that. At least Las Pegasus had a train station. Trixie was thinking about returning to Ponyville. Not only was her supply of medication running low, but she had begun to wonder if traveling was really her favorite thing to do. She’d spent enough time on the road as a showpony. The M60 had not yet had its ammunition replenished, but Trixie decided that she could do that in the morning. She headed for a hotel, intent on getting a good night’s rest. There were dozens of street performers plying their trades. Las Pegasus was all about show, after all. Trixie had visited before, but decided that there was too much competition to hang around. Not difficult competition, of course; even as her current level-headed and wiser self she was still confident that her skills were better. A familiar voice caused Trixie to kickflip her skateboard into an alley and out of sight. She peeped out around the corner, spotting Starburst down the street. A small crowd had gathered around the grey unicorn, although Trixie wasn’t sure if she was entertaining them or they were gawking at her terrible cape. Said cape fluttered in the wind, and Trixie caught sight of a tattoo on Starburst’s back. Trixie frowned. Wasn’t that where a piece of debris from the San Franciscolt earthquake hit her? The idea that Starburst was getting herself inked every time she suffered an injury attributed to Trixie was pretty amusing. Trixie resolved to hit her harder next time. Turning to go in the opposite direction, Trixie made for the hotel. It was very troubling how Starburst kept showing up in the same places that Trixie visited, but until she actually had to face the annoying mare, Trixie decided that she would just let the issue rest. The hotel was located next to an alchemist shop, and there were a few smelters in the area. Trixie was able to get all her bullet-making supplies of gunpowder, lead, and copper before checking in for the night. The hotel frowned on open fires in a rented room, so Trixie would have to wait for the next day and some open air before reloading her bullets. Speaking of, the rocking of the Cult of Awesome ship had swept some of her brass casings over the side and into the sea. Given time and material, Trixie might be able to make new ones, but the best way would be to return home to Ponyville to use the tools and dies stored there. Wait, ‘home’? Trixie had been on the road most of her life. Despite only staying in Ponyville after being taken in by Valiant, it was strange how she had come to think of the place that way. Instead of going down that path of thought, Trixie focused on her crafting supplies. She’d managed to salvage about half the casings, just enough for one hundred-round belt. Setting that aside, she climbed into bed. Trixie reminded herself of a few things before drifting off to sleep. One, do not let herself cross paths with Starburst in the morning. Two, do not let herself cross paths with Starburst in the morning. Things were rather pleasant as the morning sunlight awakened Trixie. She had a nice breakfast in the hotel lobby and carefully checked the street before exiting the building. She was contemplating whether to head off into the desert to forge some ammunition or just get on the train. Ultimately, she made the choice for bullets. Even in the early morning, the temperature was already starting to warm up. Most of the event centers in Las Pegasus were in the cooler indoors. Trixie saw some sort of seminar setting up at an outdoor arena near the edge of town. Ponies were gathering around, seeming to be excited despite the heat. Curious, Trixie stopped to have a look. A musclebound blue minotaur strutted out onto the stage. He bellowed, “Do you have confidence issues?” Some of the crowd answered in the affirmative. The minotaur went on. “Do you wish for things to be better?” Again, cries of yes were heard. “I, Iron Will, know how you can be happy when life gets you down!” The minotaur whipped out a package of chocolate sandwich cookies with vanilla icing. “For the low price of four bits per pack, this will be your new favorite snack!” The cookies did look tasty, Trixie thought. She watched as Iron Will smashed the package as easily as he could clap his powerful hands. Small bits of cookie flew everywhere. The crowd happily gobbled whatever landed near them. “When your life is kooky, have a nice fresh cookie!” Iron will began trading packages of the confections for money. His goat assistants helped out, selling cookies to more clamoring ponies. One stallion at the edge of the crowd looked hesitant. Iron Will eyed him. “Want some cookies?” The pony looked conflicted. “Well, I’m on a diet, so maybe—” “Maybes are for babies!” roared Iron will, hurling a package of cookies at the stallion’s face. While some cookies would be nice, Trixie decided that she had better things to do. Also, the special brownies she had were still reasonably tasty. Trixie was just turning away when a female voice shouted, “Iron Will! I challenge you to a duel!” Trixie’s eyes snapped back to the stage. Starburst was facing down Iron Will, a fierce expression on her face. The minotaur looked confused. “Uh, can Iron Will get back to you on that? This week’s schedule is kind of full; that’s no bull.” He chuckled. “This can’t wait!” insisted Starburst. “If I win, I claim all your show territory and fanbase!” It was the same stipulation that Starburst had attempted to use on Trixie, she realized. “Uh, this was actually Iron Will’s last cookie seminar,” said the minotaur, scratching his head. “Good business, but Iron Will is more suited to self-help than sales.” “I’m not going to let you off easy!” Starburst stepped forward and began to prepare a spell. Trixie closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh. She then rolled forward through the crowd. “Hey Starburst.” The grey mare turned her head, looking at Trixie in surprise. “You! Do you know what I’ve gone through to track you down?” She swept her cape back, revealing a tattoo slightly above the base of her tail. It was something Valiant would call a tramp stamp. The design did not at all complement her face tattoo. “And this! You will rue the day you caused me to get another tattoo, Trixie!” “Wait, Trixie?” broke in Iron Will. Trixie nodded, and then pointed to Starburst. “Yeah, this idiot has been following me around with the idea that if she defeats me in a duel she’ll get all my prestige and audience.” Iron Will snorted. “Amateur. How could an intangible concept like that be won or lost in a simple contest? You can’t declare an idea as a prize. Only deal in physical things you can touch; other stuff, not so much.” “I know, right?” agreed Trixie. She and the minotaur stared at Starburst with contempt. Trixie wondered for a moment if Starburst had also made the same challenge of a duel to the Flim Flam Brothers. Starburst sneered and began to walk forward. “I can see you think nothing of my methods. But who will be laughing when the all the show biz in Equestria belongs to me?” She punctuated her monologue with an attempt at a sinister laugh. “Now let’s battle!” Iron Will crossed his arms. “No means no.” “Not to me!” retorted Starburst. “I demand satisfaction!” Shrugging, Iron will backhanded her across the face so hard that the grey unicorn went flying off the stage. The minotaur paused, thoughtfully putting his fist to his chin. “Wait, as the issuer of the duel, maybe she was the one who was supposed to do the slapping .” “I don’t think it matters now,” Trixie assured him. She pulled out her money bag. “Four bits, right?”