//------------------------------// // #338: Door of the Moon [Normal] // Story: The Trixie Zone // by Commissar Rarity //------------------------------// “What’s the worst that could happen?” asked Lyra, rapping the door. “Lots of things,” answered Trixie. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” That was Carrot Top, the de facto leader of this motley crew of ponies. They numbered five: herself, Lyra, Trixie, Colgate, and Daydancer, a photographer pony. “Well, we should do something about the door,” Colgate pointed out. The door was inset in a sheer cliff face. It had the appearance of rock, but Lyra had distinctly felt wood when she rapped on it. According to popular legend, it had been sealed by Nightmare Moon before her banishment, and held great wealth inside. Carrot Top, being a fantastic secret archaeologist, had uncovered the location of the Nightmare’s hoard. She recruited each of the ponies for various reasons. Trixie because having a magician on hoof was quite useful. Lyra and Colgate because, hey, why not have as many unicorns as possible? Daydancer was there purely as a chronicler of events. “Okay, you guys,” Daydancer said, “why don’t cha all group up by the door and I’ll take a picture?” They all grouped up, Carrot Top in the front and the other mares behind her. With a flash, the picture was taken. Daydancer fished the rapidly developing picture out of the camera. She offered it to Carrot Top, who took it. Holding her flashlight up to see the picture, Carrot Top took a quick look at it. Lyra was sticking her tongue out at the camera, and her sister was glaring at her. Aside from that, it was a good picture. Trixie bore her usual smug grin, and Carrot Top looked quite dapper in her Daring-Do-esque adventuring outfit. She pushed up the brim of her hat with a smile. Checking her watch, Carrot Top said, “By my watch there should only be a few minutes until the door opens. Get in position, everypony.” Trixie and Lyra exchanged glances. “What positions would those be?” Lyra asked, scratching her head. “Uh…” Carrot Top frowned. “Well, like… we don’t really know what’s in there. So, just like, get behind some cover. Trixie, you’ll be closest to the door so you can zap anything that looks to be mean.” Trixie nodded, and they all took up positions behind various rocks. Carrot Top glanced up at the night sky. The moon was almost at its zenith, which was when the door would open. Tapping her hoof impatiently, Carrot Top turned her gaze to the door. Several minutes passed. Carrot Top broke out into a sweat as a horrifying thought crossed her mind. What if she were wrong? What if she had the date wrong? As soon as she had that thought, the door swung open, glowing a dim purple. Carrot Top sighed in relief, and started towards the door. A bright blue burst of energy shot into the dark opening, and she heard something shatter. With an irritated glance at an embarrassed-looking Trixie, Carrot Top crossed the threshold into the hoard. Shining her flashlight at what Trixie had destroyed, she sighed. “Congrats, Trixie. You killed a pot.” Trixie flashed a sheepish grin. “It was a very threatening pot.” “Uh-huh.” Carrot Top shone her light on the inner parts of the cave. There was a bookshelf full to burst with books. Taking a careful step forward, Carrot Top withdrew one of the books. She flipped it open, half-expecting not to be able to read it. As soon as she flipped it open, the pages withered away. With an annoyed grunt, she set it aside. Maybe it was just a fluke… She pulled out another book. Opening it, she found the same thing happening. This time she couldn’t help herself. Carrot Top threw the book down, heart pounding with rage. The only treasures her were books, and the books were magically enchanted to prevent ponies like her from stealing them. “Oh,” came a voice from behind her. “I seem to have interrupted something.” Turning, Carrot Top found herself face to face with Princess Luna herself. She fell prostrate before the princess. “Please rise,” Luna said. “I only wished to destroy these books before anypony could find them. But I see I placed some precautions, even in my madness.” “Sorry to step on your hooves,” was all Carrot Top could think to say. “If I had known–” “If you had known, you would not have come?” finished Luna. “Perhaps it is better you came. The lesson that there are some things not meant for pony eyes is a… harsh one.” She sounded as though she was speaking for experience, which she probably was, given her past. “Please, leave us – me – alone here. I have much to do.” “Yes, Princess,” Carrot Top said, backing out of the cave. Shaking her head, she waved her friends to follow her back home. It was hard to believe… Meeting the princess of the night, and speaking so casually to her… It was definitely something Carrot Top would treasure experiencing.