//------------------------------// // Trixie Valiantly Accepts a Quest from the Princess // Story: Chasing Winter // by Raging Mouse //------------------------------// Chapter Two: Trixie Valiantly Accepts a Quest from the Princess Canterlot. Political capital of Equestria. Highest concentration of poisonous invertebrates and pond scum anywhere, Trixie thought morosely as she peeked through the curtains of her own room out onto the yard and the streets beyond. The mansion was placed quite high, just below the castle, as all noble family homes (worth mentioning anyway), and offered an excellent view of the city. Lanterns were being lit, the fancy electrical lights were flickering as they warmed and along the main street the magical spheres on intricately carved metal poles that posed as lampposts glowed as they released the sunlight they had absorbed during the day. A rustle of cloth brought Trixie out of her musings and she turned around to look at the maid that was fidgeting by the door. The young mare was definitely a new face in the household and unfamiliar to Trixie unless she turned out to be the child of some other member of staff and Trixie had merely forgotten her. A horn sprouted from her forehead in flagrant break with tradition and hiring practices. “Is everything to your satisfaction, Miss Bellatrix?” Trixie smiled wryly and let her gaze wander across the room. The pony who’d lived there previously had loved painting with watercolours. Colorful pictures were tacked, nailed or taped to every bare surface reachable by hoof or, later, telekinesis. Not including the ceiling. The previous tenant had heard about murals and had obviously been fascinated but had lacked the patience to see things through. Only half of an intricately patterned outline was sketched overhead in stucco that had dried long since. Two cupboards and a pair of dressers lined one shorter wall opposite a canopy bed flanked by two doors, one to a walk-in closet and the other to a small bathroom. All furniture was originally varnished teak and most likely hoof-me-downs from centuries past. They had sometime within the last decade been badly painted over with crude and colorful patterns and images of suns with smiling faces. Fluffy bunnies were embroidered on the bedspread. “It is exactly as I left it, though tidier, if that’s what you mean.” Trixie observed the maid dispassionately while she considered her situation. Considering that the siblings that had adjusted more easily to life as a Canterlot noble were to her tolerable at best, she decided that maybe getting acquainted with the servants would be a more pleasant way to spend her time. With that in mind she looked at the unicorn in front of her with new eyes. “How new are you? I don’t remember you from before.” “Miss, I have been employed by the household for five months now.” “Oh?” Trixie let out a low whistle. That probably meant the maid was the most recent pony to be hired. And now here she was, attending the black sheep of the family – the prodigal filly. The maid was either a meteoric career climber or somepony was trying to kick her down a peg. “What’s your name?” “My-? Linen Lace, Miss.” The maid’s lips quivered. Trixie sighed. Linen’s reaction wasn’t unexpected. Servants other than the butler were supposed to be nameless and interchangeable. When the Masters or Mistresses asked for your name you were in Trouble, capital T. “Relax, Linen. I’m not like the others.” Although I do have a habit of travelling the countryside and lording it over the ponies in every small town and village I come across. She swallowed her sudden ire and let a more even smile grace her lips. “I haven’t set hoof in this room in about six years before today. There’s going to be changes. Since you’ve been hoof-picked by the wise masters and matrons of ‘below stairs’ to be my maid for the visit I’d like you to oversee the parts that I don’t do myself.” “Yes, Miss.” “Please don’t ‘Miss’ me. Call me Trixie or, if you must, Miss Trixie.” She thought about it. “Use Miss Bellatrix if you think somepony within hearing would object but if you do make sure you let me know which pony it is.” Linen Lace nodded and opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted by the sound of running hooves from the corridor. An older unicorn mare with a pink coat and deep blue mane held in a bun appeared in the doorway and shouldered past Linen, stopping in front of Trixie. The intruder stared straight into Trixie’s eyes with ferocious intensity. Then she turned her head slightly towards Linen without breaking eye contact. “Leave us.” The maid rushed out of the room and away. When the sound of her hooves on the carpeting died down the intruder fixed Trixie with an icy glare. “You have some nerve just waltzing in here after six years as if you left only yesterday. Do you have any idea how worried we were? How-how...” The mare’s face crumpled and her eyes watered. She took a hesitant step forward followed by another more secure and yet another. Trixie mirrored her actions down to the expression. The two ponies, acting on the same impulse, rushed forward and embraced. Their necks entwined and each laid a foreleg leg over the other’s back. “Trixie, I’ve missed you so much.” Trixie fought back tears. “I’m sorry Mom. I’ve missed you too.” ****** Night had arrived though the noises from the city had only barely decreased. Trixie had followed her mother to the parlour in the east wing and was relaxing on a shaggy carpet in front of a fireplace, watching the dancing flames. Portraits hung on the walls, including one of Trixie (with the name Bellatrix on the plaque) and one of her mother. The plaque below that one read ‘Cygnus’. News, gossip and rumours about family and acquaintances filled Trixie’s head with a fuzzy feeling competing with the slight inebriation from the wine she’d drunk. An empty bottle and two glasses rested on a tray between her and her mother. There was a soft sigh by Trixie’s side. “This is so nice. None of your brothers and sisters would accept a quiet and intimate moment like this or if they would it’d be with ulterior motives.” “That’s what Canterlot and nobility does, Mom. I bought my first wagon to escape from all of that. So I wouldn’t... wouldn’t become that.” “It seems to have worked. Your letters all mention how successful your performances have been. I’m sure you didn’t receive the adoration of your audience using the manners of Canterlot nobility!” Cygnus Lulamoon turned to look at her daughter. Trixie had turned her head away but the ears pressed flat against her head told their tale clear enough. “What’s wrong, Trixie?” Trixie turned her head around, revealing her watering eyes. “Mom, I didn’t realise until just recently. I was wooing the crowds and making myself look good by embarrassing others and making them look bad. I was using stabbed backs as rungs on the social ladder like a pro.” “But in your letters you said the ponies loved your show?” “They did. Well, many of them. I always got cheers but every performance left insulted and embarrassed ponies in their wake. The next day the ponies in their audience usually woke up with a fresh perspective and some very angry friends. My popularity wasn’t long-lasting.” “Why did you continue if you saw it didn’t work?” “Like I said, I only realised this recently! I thought they were angry because they were jealous! I thought their hospitality cooled because they couldn’t stand being compared so unfavorably to the Great and Powerful Trixie! I...” She sobbed. “It’s too late for me. I’m Canterlot nobility whether I want it or not.” She laid her head down on the carpet and shut her eyes tight. Mother scooted over to daughter and placed her nose into the nape of Trixie’s neck, nuzzling gently. Her daughter’s mane smelled of soap, woodsmoke and coffee. “Trixie, take it from somepony on the inside: you are nothing like the average noble. If you’ve caught yourself acting a bit like one then I’d imagine it’s because you really don’t know how to act in any other way. You need new role models to copy.” A quite lengthy silence followed before Trixie spoke again. “I might’ve had a chance to find role models. There are some really different ponies out there. There’s this little town called Ponyv—” She winced. After a moment, bolstered by Cygnus’ hoof stroking her mane, she continued. “They’ve seen my worst. Twice. I dare not show my face there again. At least, not now. Mom, I was stupid enough to try to banish Twilight Sparkle from Ponyville. I terrorised her friends!” Cygnus had gone very still. “Twilight Sparkle?” “Y-yes.” “Princess Twilight Sparkle?” “...Yes?” “What. Did. You. Do.” Trixie was painfully aware of her mother’s snout pressed against her neck. She tittered nervously and tried to swallow. Her mouth had suddenly become bone dry. “Um... The first time I came to ponyville I was just going to perform for a week, maybe do some fortune telling on the side, but I got heckled during my first show and I just... um... did what I always do to hecklers. I humiliated them in front of the audience. How was I supposed to know they were her friends and the Element Bearers?” “Whhhh – hhhh – hhhh...” “Mom, breathe. I didn’t do anything bad. Well, nothing terrible. Um, nothing criminal at least...” “Hhhhhh. Hhhh.” “...that time...” “HHHHHHHH!” Trixie sensed a cliff looming in the conversation ahead and backtracked frantically. “I-I had gotten my hooves on a magical amulet and it was corrupting me. I wasn’t thinking clearly, mom! I apologised to her afterwards and she accepted it but still...” She calmed down. “I don’t think I can go back anytime soon.” There was a chuckle from the elder mare. After a short pause it was followed by another and a third. The mirth built and built until she was teary-eyed from hysterical laughter. She’d rolled away from her daughter and was squirming on the floor. Sides aching, she lifted her head and regarded Trixie who returned her gaze shyly out of the corner of her eye. “Oh Bellatrix Lulamoon. What are we going to do with you?” Cygnus breathed slowly while she studied her daughter’s shaking body and flattened ears and thought. “Maybe you really should consider joining the expedition being assembled. It would take you away from all of this, and I’ve understood the shared experience of hardships endured during such things tend to create strong bonds of friendship. If you can show to Princess Twilight that you’ve learned some friendship lessons she might warm up to you. She also holds Princess Celestia in high esteem and this would be a direct favour to Her Highness.” “I guess... I don’t know. I’ve always been near civilization even if I’ve been on the road. To just leave Equestria behind... it scares me.” Trixie’s eyes widened slightly and she pulled away so she could look Cygnus in the eye. “What do you know about this expedition?” “It was your father who arranged an opening for you. He’d recently met somepony in Manehattan who’d mentioned the expedition, and when Clause alerted him about your situation he started pulling strings. It’s supposed to take a couple months and goes outside the borders of Equestria. It’s urgent and semi-secret. I don’t know any specifics.” Trixie nodded and was occupied by her thoughts, letting the room descend into silence. ****** Trixie’s wagon had been parked in the outer yard next to the gates, on a square patch of gravel by the ivy-choked walls. A roof supported on four slender pillars shielded it from rain. It and five other wagons formed a line. Linen Lace fell away to remain at a respectful distance as Trixie approached the wagon, leaving her to walk the final meters alone. Trixie looked back at her maid in confusion but Linen returned her stare blankly. She turned back to her wagon. “Hello? Is there anypony there?” Hooves crunched on gravel and Trixie gasped as a pony appeared from behind the wagon. The Earthen mare was among the largest ponies Trixie had ever seen. There was no pudginess on this pony; her form was chiselled like an old, worn rock on a beach or like a centuries-old tree on top of a wind-lashed hill. She gave the impression that nothing short of solid mountain would prevent her from carving a straight path to where she wanted to be. Her lime coat appeared dusty and sun-bleached and was unusually shaggy. Her cyan mane was long and curly and streaked with fire engine red as well as individual strands of gray. There was also white in her shaggy fetlocks and the tip of her tail. She met Trixie’s gaze with her own for a moment before letting it slide down to study Trixie’s legs. After a short and confusing moment of silence there was a rumble and the titanic mare spoke. Her voice was gravelly and very deep but also slightly softened by age. “Miss Bellatrix Lulamoon?” Trixie gulped and nodded, regretting her decision not to don her cape and hat for this meeting. The comfort they provided would’ve been welcome right then. The visitor nodded to her before turning back to study the wagon. As the large pony turned sideways her cutiemark became visible to trixie: a stylus in front of six diagonal lines arranged into a grid. “Terra Incognita. Explorer and cartographer. Retired. I have been requested by the office of the crown to arrange an expedition and word has reached my ears that you might be interested in participating. Correct?” “Um... yes.” Terra nodded. Trixie waited, expecting the large mare to interview her, but was surprised by the next question when it came. “Is this wagon yours?” Trixie was intimidated by the Earthen pony’s size but she still managed to sound enthusiastic. “Yes it is! How did you know?” Terra Incognita pointed between Trixie’s wagon and the other nearby ones. “The wider, thicker wheels and sturdier suspension springs. The two spare wheels on the back. The fact that it is larger, but still lighter, than the others. That there’s almost no metal in its construction and if I’m right then that box back there contains several replacements for every single part that is metal. The set of skis for winter travel. The tools for field repairs and if I’m not mistaken then there’s almost no part excluding the metal ones that couldn’t be crudely replicated given a source of timber. This, Miss Lulamoon, is as far from a noble’s carriage as it’s possible to get without carting manure. It’s custom-made I presume?” To say that Trixie was impressed and a little flattered would be an understatement. She blushed and nodded. “You are correct, Miss Incognita. Only, the carriages of nobility are almost daily transporting something very related to manure!” Terra’s eyes widened and she threw back her head, laughing loud enough to echo between the buildings. Somewhere in the vicinity a raven mistook her outburst for a challenge and answered angrily. Once she’d calmed down enough she grinned at Trixie. “So how long have you had this wagon? It appears fairly new.” “It is. Just shy of two years now.” “Where did you get it?” “Up north, near Seaddle. There’s a little community there that gathers craftsponies from the world over to settle and share their skills.” “Yes, I know of it. So was that when you felt the call of the open road?” “No. I’ve been travelling for six years now. I just needed a new wagon.” “What happened to your old one?” Trixie blushed and found herself unable to meet Terra’s gaze any longer, her previous nervosity having been replaced by embarrassment. “An ursa minor stepped on it.” “You met a star bear? Impressive. Have you met any other predators? Timberwolves? Manticores? Windigos?” Trixie nodded to the first two but burst out laughing at the third. “Those are just an old foals’ tale.” Terra grinned but there was something in her gaze that unsettled Trixie, making her nervous again. “That they are. Have you fought any of them? Your legs are scarred.” That silenced Trixie. She sat on her haunches and brought a foreleg up for close inspection. She knew there were scars, yes, but they were covered by fur. Only somepony very knowledgeable about such things would notice the minute disturbances they made in her otherwise smooth and even coat. Her gaze slid to Terra’s pillar-like legs and noted that the evidence of scars was much more obvious there. The Earthen mare had suffered numerous cuts during her life. Trixie shook her head, first to clear her thoughts and then to answer Terra. “Most are just deep scratches from running through brambles. If I get attacked by wild beasts I try to scare them off or create a diversion and run. My back legs have a couple of scars from being snapped at by timberwolves, but that’s all.” “Do you know any healing magic just in case?” “Yes. I know some basic spells to clean, seal and treat injuries.” Terra nodded in approval and switched topic. “Where have you travelled?” “All over Equestria really. I visited all the major cities at least once and I always try to find new villages and towns to visit.” “Have you been to the Crystal Empire?” “Yes. I got back from there four months ago.” “You were there during the Equestria Games?” “Yes. It’s a large crowd and they get starved of entertainment while queueing.” “Oh? You’re an entertainer then? What kind?” Trixie lowered her gaze again and nervously dug a pit in the gravel by using the tip of her right hoof as an auger. “I do illusions and pyrotechnic displays. Legerdemains, sleight-of-hoof, that kind of stuff.” She chuckled. “M-maybe you’ve heard of ‘the Great and Powerful Trixie’? It’s... never mind. I’m not that famous.” The silence stretched, and when she couldn’t stand it anymore Trixie raised her head. Terra was studying her, forehead creased and lips pouting with concentration. “Miss Incognita?” The hulking mare smiled at Trixie. “You aren’t at all what I was expecting when I got here. I believe I could actually have use of your skills and experience. I would like you to join the expedition.” Trixie was taken aback. “Uh, well, thanks! But... can you tell me about the expedition?” “I’ll tell you as much as I’m allowed. I can’t give you all the details until you’re officially part of the team and we’re underway. Some of the information is classified. Anyhow, here’s what I can tell you. We’re headed someplace cold so prepare for snow and ice. I hope we’ll be there and back in less than two months. If it takes longer we might be forced to abandon the mission. There’ll be a core team of five or six, us two included, and twenty to thirty additional ponies that will set up and maintain a camp that we’ll be using as base. As a core member you’ll get paid a wage of two hundred bits per week and also receive three shares of the reward should we complete the mission. The members of the support team get one share each. I take four. The reward is one and a half million bits, meaning your share is...” Terra frowned at the sky and moved her lips soundlessly for a couple seconds. “...At least thirty thousand bits plus wages.” The concept of earning about forty-five thousand bits for only two months’ work punched Trixie in the stomach, making her exhale most of her air in a wheezy cough. Her eyes sprang wide and her mouth refused to shut. She tried to calculate the amount she’d earned (and consequently spent) during six years’ travel and her stunned brain informed her that whatever sum it was it wouldn’t even be close to forty-five thousand. Her self-preservation instinct reared its head and started flipping mental furniture, making her inhale and swallow nervously. “It’s going to be dangerous isn’t it?” Terra sighed and nodded. “Yes. It’s my job to minimize the dangers but these things always carry risks. Normally this would be a task for the army but their recon divisions are a long way from Canterlot and time is of the essence. That’s why Princess Celestia pulled me out of retirement and told me to ‘turn over every rock’. So here we are. Regarding what kind of danger: the environment for one. Constant freezing temperatures and little to no foraging. We’ll rely on resupplies from base camp.” Trixie sensed an abrupt end to Terra’s explanation. She looked into the large mare’s eyes and spotted signs of indecision and falsehood. “There’s more isn’t there? You don’t get your own weight in bits from playing in the snow.” “You’re right.” Terra chewed her lip for a moment. “It’s a hunting expedition.” ****** Trixie gasped and fought with the sheet coiled around her until she was free and could sit up. She blinked dazedly, recalling the roar of the Ursa Minor in her nightmare. It had lumbered out of the Everfree again. Her old wagon had been destroyed, again. She’d run. Again. She slumped back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling, going over yesterday’s meeting with Terra once again. Going someplace where it was cold in order to hunt something. There weren’t too many options as to what that might be and the ursas were suspect number one. That wasn’t just dangerous, it was downright insane in Trixie’s opinion. She tossed about until she lay on her side, staring at the wall. Terra Incognita hadn’t appeared to be afraid. The boulder disguised as a pony merely seemed weary. She’d freely admitted that untrained civilians weren’t on her preferred list of choices but still seemed confident that the risks involved could be managed. They weren’t going to go unprepared or short on equipment. The offered reward was generous beyond belief. If Trixie stayed in Equestria then she’d have to steel herself for the almost inevitable attack. But she’d been assaulted before and had managed to escape. Sometimes she’d even triumphed over her assailants. Admittedly she was seldom attacked with anything more dangerous than rotten vegetables but there had been darker moments when she’d hurt and bled while limping away from a mob of angry ponies. She could take a little pain. Trixie shut her eyes and turned to lie on her back. To join the expedition was to go into the unknown knowing that somewhere out there was a monster waiting. Something with pony in the food circle no doubt. To hunt something like that meant risking a lot more than cuts and bruises. No. It just wasn’t worth it trading a known danger for an unknown. The decision seemed to lift a great burden off Trixie’s back. She felt like breathing had just become easier. No feeble-minded nag teetering on the edge of her grave was going to scare the Great and Powerful Trixie away from the roads of Equestria. She’d set out before dawn and be far away. She smiled in the darkness and closed her eyes. A bell rang somewhere; an insistent clanging that seemed tuned just right to penetrate walls and rattle teeth. Trixie opened her eyes to see a warm glow enter the windows of her room and illuminate the far wall. She furrowed her brow in irritation: she felt far too exhausted to rise but if dawn really had arrived then she had no choice if she wanted to slip unnoticed out of the city. She rolled and put her legs under her but when she rose and looked out of the windows the sky was still dark and filled with stars. The bright, ruddy glow was coming from a source lower than the horizon. It also flickered as it intensified. Trixie could hear shouts from outside. The noise of hooves on deep carpet sounded through Trixie’s bedroom’s door just before somepony knocked on it. She didn’t turn away from the windows and the strange glow. “What is it?” Linen Lace’s muffled voice reached her through the door. “Miss, there’s a fire!” It occurred to Trixie that her room faced the front of the mansion. Her windows looked down on the outer yard. She leaped off the bed and rushed to the window. A short look outside was enough to make her wail. She threw herself across the room, wrenched open the door and flew past her maid while shouting her anguish. Gravel crunched under her hooves. Strong legs held her back while the ends of her mane and coat curled from the heat. Her eyes stung and her throat was sore from screaming. In front of her, her wagon burned. ****** The attorney cleared her throat. “Now that the, uh, details have been agreed upon there is one more thing I’ve been asked to mention if you can spare the time?” Cygnus nodded. Internally she was torn between fury, fear and gloating but also on her mind was the improper satisfaction of having worn a frown and an icy stare for over two hours without her facial muscles tiring. Cygnus’ visitor took a breath and hesitated slightly before continuing. “Lady Lobelia Blueblood has... retired in obscurity. If you happen to discover her whereabouts then the Bluebloods would be considerably more in your debt were you to pass that information along.” That little piece of news was enough to crack Cygnus’ facade. Her lips pulled back slightly into a snarl before she managed to control herself. A hoof gently brushed her shoulder and she took strength from her sister-in-law’s presence. Clause had always been very supportive. “Surely she took some staff in order to keep in touch?” The Bluebloods’ errand-pony looked pained for a moment. “She’s dismissed her regular staff. We believe she’s contacted some long-standing but dormant associates of the family as they too no longer respond to our messages.” “What kind of associates?” “Physicians and gardeners, Ma’am.” Cygnus drew a sharp breath and felt Clause patting her shoulder reassuringly. Nobles didn’t hire physicians: they hired doctors. Physicians meant ponies who remodelled your physique to their liking – usually involving metal pipes applied with great force to your legs. Gardeners were in fact hired but they were called groundskeepers. The titular gardeners of Canterlot nobility only cultivated daisies fertilised by the dead. Lobelia Blueblood had lost her mind, become obsessed with Trixie and had contacted thugs and assassins. Now she – and they – were somewhere out there. Already the evidence trail from the wagon fire yesterday night pointed to arson. The black incendiary powder was very easy to trace to a Blueblood-affiliated alchemist. The Bluebloods had for once seen the inevitable and had sent a lawyer, crawling on all four knees, to beg forgiveness and swear innocence. The entire family was reeling, threatening to come apart at the seams. This would have been one of the Lulamoons’ most glorious triumphs were the circumstances different. “You can tell your mistresses and masters that we’ll notify them of Lobelia’s location if we come across her... once we’ve safeguarded our family. If there is any further incident, however, we’ll turn the matter over to the crown and by that I mean we’ll talk to Princess Luna. Officially.” When Princess Luna had been told that the death penalty had been discontinued she’d laughed merrily and chided the messenger that one shouldn’t try to prank royalty while they were carrying out their duties. When the nobility complained to Princess Celestia the elder alicorn had reorganized Luna’s tuition – postponing her classes on modern Equestrian law ‘until further notice due to budget shortfalls resulting from corruption’. Bearing that in mind the Blueblood lawyer’s sudden paleness was understandable. Cygnus waited until she heard the front door close behind the lawyer before she sagged. “My poor Trixie. Essie, what are we to do?” Clause hugged her sister-in-law lightly. “We can’t do much for her. She needs to make up her own mind. She’s too free-spirited to be confined behind guards unless she herself wishes it.” Cygnus leaned back and stared up at Clause. “You understand my daughter better than I do nowadays and I must admit I resent you a bit for that.” “I was always her favourite aunt. Probably because I’m only wed to nobility and so don’t have all the mannerisms of noble birth. Remember that it was you who told me to keep tabs on her when she fled Canterlot. She started talking even more to me whenever we’d meet during these years she was on the road. Besides: she exchanged letters with you, didn’t she? Celestia only knows how many times I acted as a courier for you two.” “So. What now?” “Now we wait and prepare for Trixie’s decision to join the expedition.” “She’ll do that?” “I’d bet on it. I’ve taken the liberty of creating some false trails should someone try to track her movements. Soon Trixie will be sighted in more locations and more frequently than the ghost of Pelvis Paisley.” ****** Trixie opened her eyes and stared up at her bedroom ceiling. Afternoon sunlight shining through the windows created misshaped squares on a large map of Equestria. The unfinished ceiling mural was now covered by a large piece of canvas on which somepony had painted a map with watercolours. It was the largest but not the most detailed of the maps now decorating the room in the absence of the crude paintings of Trixie’s childhood. She’d intended the maps to remind her of where she’d been. The inspiration had come when she’d uncovered a large tapestry, depicting Equestria as it was at the beginning of the last century, while hunting for decorations for her room in one of the attics. The tapestry now hung opposite her bed and had a multitude of cloth strips attached to it spread out like a fine network across the image of Equestria. On the strips were carefully written dates and names of towns. After the fire she’d distracted herself by tracing her travels, referring to her memory and her journals, but her mood had sabotaged her attempts. The bad memories had surfaced, making her cringe more and more as she relived her travels. She’d reached the end of her willpower while the eye of memory gazed upon the wreckage of her first wagon. Seemingly endless rows of hecklers had shouted in her head. The odour of rotten vegetables had been so clear in her nose that she’d gagged in between her sobs. The tapestry had become a list of burnt bridges and places Trixie was reluctant to revisit. And even if she did: what would it do? If she hid in some small town then she’d merely be a danger to those around her thanks to the threat looming over her head. She blinked, eyes puffy from her crying, and focused on the new thought. She’d had six years to travel all across Equestria, overwhelmingly more often than not outstaying her welcome wherever she went. Even the places where she’d be unknown were dangerous now. But if Canterlot felt like a prison and the rest of Equestria felt like a minefield of mistakes past and dangers present then what was left? Where could she go? Her gaze wandered to the empty spaces at the edges of the map overhead.