Inkamena “Inkie” Pie huffed as she looked up at the clock above her fireplace. It was nearing 18:00, and there was still no sign of her roommate returning home. She hadn’t been able to begin painting her latest masterpiece, because somepony took her rough sketch shopping with them. And now, she was getting hungry.
‘Honestly. Why do I put up with her?’ Inkie asked herself, but she already knew why. When she first met Trixie, it was at her parents’ rock farm, when she decided to visit them for the weekend. At first, she was put off by the mare’s aggressive nature, and wanted nothing to do with her after their first encounter almost led to a hooffight. But, that changed the following day, when her mother asked Inkie to deliver Trixie’s lunch to her.
As she watched Trixie digging away at rocks with that sad look in her eyes, she felt her heart sink. When she watched Trixie blast large rocks away with that look of burning anger in her eyes, she felt scared. But even so, she wanted to know why the mare was so depressed, and angry. So she asked her, and she learned about the misfortunes of Trixie’s life.
As she learned more about Trixie, she felt it easier to talk to her. She realised that Trixie’s violent nature was simply a defence, to prevent anypony from hurting her further. And, as the two bonded, Trixie herself found it easier to open up to Inkie Pie, and be her usual self around her. It was perhaps the first time in a long time for the former showmare, and the joy it brought her was reflected in Inkie’s own smiles.
She found it hard to believe that such an energetic, confident, and fun-loving pony, could be reduced to such a miserable, aggressive loner, and quite frankly, the thought that such a thing was possible frightened Inkie Pie. She loved this Trixie. She was in love with this Trixie, and she didn’t want her to go away again. To go back to the way she was when the two had first met.
She had a new desire. A desire to help, and protect, Trixie Lulamoon, who had been kicked around, and rejected, by ponies all over Equestria.
She offered Trixie a place to stay, and a small job as her assistant, until she could get back on her hooves. Trixie rejected her, though, opting instead to follow the path of revenge. She vowed that she would right the wrong she had been done, by humiliating Twilight Sparkle, the mare who had ‘ruined her life’ in front of everypony.
A week later, she was awoken early in the morning by a knock at her front door. She opened it, to find Trixie Lulamoon there, looking even more down and miserable than before. Trixie told her everything. How the Alicorn Amulet had corrupted her, how she banished Twilight Sparkle from Ponyville, and then, how she lost it all.
And how she wasn’t even sure if she regretted her actions or not, because, even if it cost her her soul… she was happy.
That time, Inkie wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer. She insisted that Trixie stay with her, in Canterlot, and offered to do whatever she could to get the mare back onstage.
As luck would have it, Inkie was able to work something out with Fancypants, a pony who admired her artwork, and had even purchased a few pieces before. Trixie now worked in a theatre owned personally by him, and her shows were being accepted by the ponies who came to watch them. The crowd started out small, but there was a definite increase each show. And there was no chance of hecklers, either. Not in a show that Fancypants himself has approved of.
In the past few months, Trixie’s confidence returned with renewed vigour, and the showmare was now able to start her days with a spring in her step and a song in her heart. Inkie was happy, but unfortunately, this new Trixie could be quite a pain sometimes.
Inkie sighed as she brought a glass of water up to her mouth. “Guess that’s the price you pay for friendship…” Inkie frowned at the final word, and then downed the water in one go. ‘And that’s as far as it will ever go, if I keep on avoiding it like this.’
Behind her, the sound of the front door opening alerted Inkie, and she turned around hoping to see Trixie. Indeed, that was the pony that she saw. “Well, you sure took your time,” she said as she watched the blue mare walk into the room, and sit down a nearby couch. “You get the ingredients just fine? You know, without the list?”
Trixie presented her saddlebags to Inkie and remained silent. Inkie gave her a strange look, and walked over to her. “Hey, you okay?” Her eyes widened as she got closer, and she then she saw it. The evidence of fresh tears running down her face. The way Trixie closed her eyes, to prevent anypony from seeing into her soul. The way she forced her mouth to stay even, to hide the fact that she was hurting inside. It may have fooled anypony else, but not Inkie Pie. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Trixie responded immediately. “Prices went up, so I could only get enough for two small salads.” There was a slight pause. “Actually, make yourself a big one. I’m not hungry right now.”
Inkie put her hooves firmly on Trixie’s shoulders. “Trixie, tell me what happened,” she said sternly, staring at Trixie’s face, even though the showmare had her eyes closed.
“Nothing happened.”
“Trixie.”
Trixie’s eyes opened slowly, and she looked straight into the fiery ones glaring at her. “… Fine. I… I had a run-in with…”
“… Yes?” Inkie was worried. Was it an old foe? A heckler from her past? … One of her sister’s friends? Or even her sister herself?
“… Me. From the future.” Inkie didn’t know how to respond to that. Anypony else would be laughing right now, she was sure. But, she knew that Trixie wasn’t joking right now. Trixie was good at acting, true, but Inkie Pie had spent enough time with her that she knew when Trixie was being sincere… Especially as far as her emotions were concerned.
“Your… future self?”
Trixie nodded. “She came to give me a warning. She looked to be in pretty bad shape.”
“Hold on. Are you trying to tell me… that you travelled through time?”
‘Was there ever any doubt’, is what Inkie was expecting to hear. “Yes,” was all she got. “She said that she came from four days from today. She certainly didn’t look to be that much older than me.”
“… So… what was the warning?” Inkie wasn’t sure whether she was crazy or not for going along with this. Hay, maybe Trixie was crazy. After all, there’s no way that time travel could really happen, right?
“I don’t know,” Trixie said. “Because… she died… before she could give it.”
Inkie’s breath caught in her throat, and she simply stared at Trixie with her eyes wide, and her jaw dropped. The look she gave Trixie could rival that of a mother hearing that her child had just been found dead, or maybe a wife, hearing that their partner had died.
“I checked her pulse before she went away. She was… I was gone.”
“Four days,” Inkie said. “You said… that she was from four days from today?”
Trixie nodded. “That’s what she told me.”
Inkie felt the need to sit down all of a sudden, but there was no chair immediately behind her, so she instead fell down onto her haunches, instead. “… And… you’re sure that that’s what happened?”
Trixie gave the other mare an incredulous look. “You think I would mistake a thing like that? My own death?!”
Inkie shook her head. “N-No… I guess not…” Over and over, a singly thought ran through Inkie’s mind: that Trixie had lost it. That Trixie had just imagined the whole scenario. That it wasn’t true at all. She wasn’t going to die in a half a week. She just had a little meltdown due to some hecklers, that’s all. “Was anypony else with you at the time?”
Trixie shook her head. “Feathermay and I split ways before it happened.”
‘So she was with Feathermay. I’d better talk to her later about Trixie’s behaviour… Come to think of it, she seemed fine earlier.’ Inkie shook her head. She couldn’t believe this… The only way to assure herself that Trixie was alright, was to prove that Trixie had gone off the deep end.
“Crystal mine…”
“Come again?” Inkie asked.
“The crystal mine… That’s what the future me said, before she died.” Trixie put a hoof to her chin. “Along with some numbers. One, five, seven, and three.”
Inkie raised her eyebrow. “What’s that? Some kind of pass code?”
“… That may be it,” Trixie said. “But then, it could be anything. For now, though, I think I should focus on the location that I was given. The crystal mine… I know I’ve heard that before, but where?”
“Well, can’t think on an empty stomach,” Inkie said, getting up off of the floor and picking up Trixie’s saddlebags. “C’mon, let’s go make some dinner, and-”
Trixie suddenly shot up, and gave Inkie a frantic look. “Didn’t you hear me? In four days, I’ll be dead! Unless…”
“… Unless?”
“Unless I can change things now, to prevent my death from happening in the future!” Trixie turned around, and walked out of the room. Inkie followed.
“Where are you going?”
“To the library! I have to find out more about this ‘crystal mine’!”
Inkie furrowed her brow, and ran in front of Trixie to try to stop her. “Oh no you don’t! At least not without getting some food in your belly first!”
“I don’t have time! I’ll die if I don’t figure this out! Don’t you understand that?!”
“You’ll die if you neglect your body by not eating!” Inkie countered, moving forward to push Trixie back. “You can go to the library after dinner! It’s open 24/7, after all.”
“But-”
“No buts!” Inkie shouted, in a tone that she hadn’t used since Trixie had first showed up at her house months ago. It was the tone that told Trixie she would not be getting away. That she was not going to let Trixie foolishly tackle her problems on her own, at the cost of her own health. It was the tone that Trixie had a hard time arguing against.
“But-” Still, she tried.
“Trixie,” Inkie said, her tone not changing. “Turn around, march into that kitchen, and help me make a delicious dinner for the two of us. Then, after we’ve eaten, I will walk with you to the library.”
“B-” Trixie couldn’t even get one word out. Inkie was not going to have it, and Trixie realised that she was beaten. Sighing, Trixie turned around, and began to mumble something under her breath.
Inkie smiled, and followed her roommate into the kitchen. “And I promise you, Trixie, that I’ll be by your side throughout this entire thing.”
“… And if I don’t want you to be?”
“Friends don’t abandon each other. Even if it means using a little ‘tough love’.”
Trixie shook her head, but smiled regardless. “Very well then, but don’t come crying to Trixie when your latest ‘masterpiece’ is never finished.”
Inkie wrapped a foreleg around Trixie’s neck, bringing the showmare closer to her. “Friends come first, Trixie.”
That was Inkie’s answer to practically every negative remark that Trixie had about friendship. Whenever Trixie questioned the value or legitimacy of friendship, that was how Inkie Pie would always answer. And, no matter what situation arose, Inkie would always have Trixie’s side.
“The salad’s good,” Inkie said as she jabbed a piece with her fork, and lifted it gracefully to her mouth. Living in Canterlot, she had adapted to their mannerisms, and even if there was nopony watching her, her body automatically tried to act with grace and dignity at all times.
Trixie, on the other hoof, was much too distracted with bigger things to remember her table manners. She levitated her fork into the air, and brought it to her mouth, and ate her salad with about the level of grace one would expect from a pony from Cloudsdale.
“Those numbers the future me left… what could they mean?” Trixie levitated a pencil alongside her fork, and brought it down onto a piece of parchment lying next to her salad. “Like you said, it could be a pass code… Or maybe it’s a clue to finding the crystal mine? Maybe a clue to finding the right book Trixie will need?”
“Well, it is you that left them. Think, if you had to give an important message, but didn’t have the time to say it all, how would you relay it?”
Trixie shook her head. “Depends on what the message is. If it was a pass code, then Trixie would simply spit it out. If it were something else, Trixie definitely wouldn’t disguise it as something as cryptic as four numbers. The idea would be that the message is obvious and clear.” Trixie brought her pencil to her mouth. “Maybe she died before she could give Trixie the full warning? In which case, we may be missing some key information here.” Trixie shoved the pencil into her mouth, and then spat it out again almost immediately. Inkie giggled as she watched Trixie spit, and reach for her glass of water.
“Calm down, Trixie. If that’s the case, then let’s assume that you received the full message. If the message was meant to be obvious, then you would have given yourself something that tell us what the numbers mean, right?” Trixie nodded, and then brought her fork over to her mouth to take a bite of her salad. “Then, maybe the numbers only become obvious later, when we see what they’re for.”
“… Yes, that’s probably correct. In any case, our only solid lead so far is the crystal mine. We must find that, and investigate!” Trixie lowered her fork, and looked across the table, and at her roommate. “That is, if you insist on tagging along?”
Inkie smiled. “I’ll have to cancel an appointment, but sure, I’ll come along.”
“You sure? You’d cancel an appointment, just to follow Trixie on what may be a wild goose chase?”
Inkie shrugged. “It’s only a meeting with Prince Blueblood, about selling one of my pieces to him. Nothing special.”
“… There’s nothing special about selling your art to Royalty?”
Inkie grinned at Trixie. “Not when you compare it to helping a friend in need.”
“Your loss,” Trixie laughed. She finished off the last of her salad, and lifted her dish with her magic. “Oh, and don’t tell the others about this.”
Inkie Pie frowned at that. She had thought Trixie had learned a little bit about friendship over the past few months, but every day, it was seeming like a lost caused. “Why not?”
“Apple Fritter has this new crop problem to deal with, and Feathermay would overreact. Vinyl’s being planning a trip with her marefriend for weeks now, and then that one…”
“… What’s wrong with telling Lightning?”
“She has a test coming up soon. She’s been practising so much for it, and it’s in two days.”
Inkie was genuinely surprised. Trixie didn’t asked her to keep this between them because she wanted to go it alone, or because she distrusted her friends… She didn’t want to inconvience any of them with her problem. She smiled, but she still found one fault in her logic. “Trixie, Feathermay’s been your friend since childhood, right?”
“We hadn’t spoken for five whole years.”
“Even so, she’s a friend, Trixie. A close one. Don’t you think she deserves to know what’s happening? And if she wants to help… you should let her, and be happy, that you have such a wonderful friend by your side.”
“… Trixie already has you, though.”
Inkie blushed at that. She knew Trixie didn’t mean for it to sound like what it sounded like, but she couldn’t help but misinterpret her words in that way. “E-Even so, two friends is always better than one.”
“… Fine,” Trixie sighed, walking past Inkie and towards the kitchen. Inkie had also finished her salad now, and got up out of her seat to follow her roommate. “Now let’s hurry with this. The Great and Powerful Trixie is fighting against the greatest foe ever here.”
“… Who?”
Trixie tilted her hat, and looked up at the clock hanging above her with a serious look on her face. “Time.”
The library was almost completely empty that day. A lot of ponies were no doubt at home, sitting in front of their warm fireplaces, and drinking some hot cocoa after a long day of work. Not Trixie and Inkie, though. No, these two walked five blocks through the harsh, cold winds that the Pegasi had scheduled for that evening, all so that they could reach the library that, as it turned out, was having a heater malfunction. So now, the two were searching through stacks and stacks of books, shivering as they felt their flanks freezing over.
“If anything’s going to kill you, it’ll be pneumonia,” Inkie said, before letting out a sneeze. “Or me.”
“Not here,” Trixie said as she placed a book back onto its shelf, ignoring Inkie’s threat. “Or here. Or here. Or here. Or-”
“Here!” Inkie shouted, drawing Trixie’s attention to the book that she was reading. “… No, wait. False alarm. This says ‘crystal quarry’.”
Trixie sighed, and went back to her own books. She had found ‘diamond mine’, ‘amber mine’, ‘Crystal Empire’, and ‘crystal mountain’, but no ‘crystal mine’. So much information, but not on the one topic she was looking for.
“Maybe we should try the ‘Earth Sciences’ section?” Inkie suggested. Trixie mused that idea for a bit. They had little luck in the ‘History’ section, so maybe…
“Excuse me,” a voice called out beside them. They turned to see a Unicorn mare with thick glasses standing behind them. “Is there something you’re looking for? If so, I can help. I know almost every book in here.”
“We’ll be fine, thank you,” Trixie said, turning back to the next book on the shelf she was checking.
Inkie smiled at the mare. “We’re looking for information on the ‘crystal mine’. Do you know where we could find something like that?”
The mare put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Hmmm… Darndest thing. Somepony asked me the same thing a while back. She checked out all of the books we had with even the slightest information in them, but has yet to return them.” The mare frowned. “Come to think of it, a whole bunch of ponies did the same thing, but they asked for different information each time. I think it was about a week before the Royal wedding.”
“So who asked for the books on the crystal mine?”
“It was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” Inkie’s eyes widened. “I know, right? I don’t know why she didn’t use the Royal Archives, or have her servants collect the books for her…”
Trixie placed the books she was reading back on their shelf. “So, she has all of the books with the information we need?” The mare nodded. “Then the answer is simple! Dear librarian, please do not fret! We, the Great and Powerful Trixie, and her assistant, shall go henceforth to retrieve these long overdue books for you!”
Inkie frowned and being labelled as Trixie’s assistant. Especially when, if anything, it was the other way around. But there was also something else that bothered her. “And how do you propose we do that?” she asked, giving Trixie an even stare. “She’s Royalty, Trixie. It’s not like we can just waltz on up to her and demand she return the library books.”
“And why not?” Trixie asked. “Just because she’s a Princess, does not give her the right to hog all of the world’s literature to herself! And maybe you aren’t aware, but you can arrange audiences with the Princesses.”
“But they take months to process!”
“Then we shall simply inform them that Trixie will be dead before the end of the week! Simple!”
“What, you think they’ll just take your word for it?! That you saw your future self die before your eyes, and nopony else happened to witness it?!”
“Um…” The two mares stopped their arguing, and looked at the librarian. “Actually, I might know a way for you two to see the Princess.”
“You do?!” Trixie asked excitedly.
“You do?” Inkie asked disbelievingly.
The librarian nodded, and levitated a card out from her vest’s pocket. “The truth is, we’ve been meaning to go and collect those books for a while now, but none of us have had the stomachs to carry through with it. However, if you two are willing, then perhaps you could do it for us. All you need to do is present this guard to the Princess’ guards, and request the books back.”
“That sounds simple enough,” Trixie said. “Do not worry yourselves, humble librarian! The Great and Powerful Trixie fears no mare, not even a Princess!”
“Right. Just ursas,” a stallion behind her said, before snickering at his own joke.
Trixie turned around, and gave the stallion a hate-filled glare, before raising a hoof to walk over to him. She was stopped by Inkie, who quickly moved herself in front of Trixie. “Well then, let’s not waste any time, right?”
Trixie turned her attention to Inkie, who was bobbing her head to the librarian behind her. With a sigh, Trixie turned around, took the card with her magic, and made her way past the mare to leave the library. Inkie let out a relieved sigh, though it was short-lived when the stallion spoke up again.
“All bark and no bite.”
Inkie turned around, and gave the stallion a glare of her own. He flinched, and turned his attention back to his book when Inkie began to approach him. She grabbed the stallion’s shoulder, and spun him around so that they were face-to-face. “You may not realise it, but I just saved you a world of hurt. However, if you don’t stop insulting my friend like that, then I may just be inclined to retract that kindness. Got it?!”
The stallion, intimidated by Inkie’s words and the accompanying glare, nodded quickly. “Yeah, I got it! S-Sorry ‘bout that!”
Satisfied, Inkie released the still-trembling stallion and, with a warm smile on her face, turned to follow after her friend, walking past the stunned librarian as she left.
“Oh man! That was rich!” a voice above Inkie Pie called out. Inkie looked up, and saw Feathermay floating above her. “Y’know, if you wanted to scare the poor guy, you could’ve just pulled a knife out or something!”
Inkie blushed when she realised her actions, and also when she saw all of the ponies around her looking at the two of them. “Feathermay, why are you here?”
“Eh, date didn’t go so well. Turns out the dude’s a real player.”
“That’s never bothered you before.”
“It bothers me when his other three marefriends all show up and start attacking him.”
Inkie nodded. She could see how that would ruin a romantic evening. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“I saw my two best friends comin’ here despite the cold weather outside, so I thought something was up. What’s all this crystal mine business about, anyway?”
Inkie was about to answer, when Trixie’s voice suddenly cut her off. “Hey, Inkie! You coming or what?”
Inkie turned to the doorway, where Trixie was waiting impatiently outside. “I’m kind of in a hurry. But if you want to come along, I can tell you on the way.”
Feathermay nodded. “Sure! Sound like fun!”
“Okay, it did sound like fun, at first,” Feathermay said as she walked alongside Inkie and Trixie through the streets of Canterlot. “You dying kinda put a downer on things.”
“Believe Trixie when she says she would love to have that part of the story removed. But unfortunately, Trixie witnessed it with her own eyes.”
“Nopony else did, though,” Inkie whispered to Feathermay, who nodded in response.
“So, like, even if we show the Princess’ guards the card, what if she refuses to give the books back?” Feathermay asked. Trixie stopped for a second, annoying Inkie as it meant stopping in the middle of a snowstorm.
“In that case, we’ll have to plan B.”
“Which is?”
“Sneaking in and taking them under the cover of night, of course.”
Inkie hoped that that was a joke, but with Trixie, it probably wasn’t. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to sneak into a Princess’ bedchambers, and get out, without being caught?”
“Do you?”
“Well, no, but… it can’t be easy.”
Trixie shrugged. “We won’t know until we try. And besides… Trixie doesn’t exactly have much to lose, right?”
Inkie felt a cold chill run down her spine, and not just from the weather. Trixie once again caused the image of her death to run through Inkie’s mind, and even though Inkie still wasn’t convinced… it seemed that Trixie was.
“Feathermay,” Inkie whispered to her friend, “You don’t suppose… Trixie’s lost it, do you?”
Feathermay shrugged. “She seemed fine earlier.”
“… That’s what I was afraid of.”
Upon reaching the castle, the three mares wasted no time in getting inside the warm, grand hallway, and took a moment to warm up before continuing. A Royal Guard stood at the foot of the stairs leading further inside, and stared straight ahead with a unreadable look on his face. As the three mares approached, his wings stuck out of his sides, and he set his gaze on them.
“Who goes there?”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie!” Trixie shouted, getting up to the guard’s face giving him a strong, fearless look. The guard did not budge. “We have come to collect some overdue books from Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!”
Trixie took out the card she had received from the librarian, and held it up for the guard to see. He studied it for a second, before nodding and turning around. “Wait here. I shall send somepony word to the Princess of your visit.”
Trixie nodded, and then watched as the stallion moved up the stairs. She heard some voices at the top, followed by the stallion returning moments later. “A message has been sent to the Princess’ chambers. Please wait here for a response.”
“How long’ll that take?” Feathermay asked.
“About ten minutes, ma’am.”
“Then, I guess we got some time to kill.” Feathermay looked around at the spacious hallway, decorated with many oversized portraits and landscapes, and the walls and the floor all sparkling in the light of the chandelier hanging above them. “Man, rich folk have the strangest tastes.”
“Haven’t you ever been here before?” Inkie asked.
“Nah. A few stallions have offered to bring me here once or twice, but I was never really that interested. I preferred high-class restaurants, or theatres that are always fully booked.”
“In other words,” Trixie started, “You preferred it when you could eat or be entertained without having to spend any money.”
“Well when you put it that way, sure it sounds bad. But hey, I get free stuff, they get a date with a cute mare like me. Everypony wins!”
“And when they ask you for a second date, and you turn them down?” Inkie asked.
Feathermay waved her hoof dismissively. “Details, details.”
The three friends continued to talk, in order to pass the time. After eight minutes had passed, a Unicorn guard approached the group from the top of the stairs, and whispered something to her comrade. The Pegasus guard nodded, and the new one approached the three mares.
“Ma’ams,” she said, gathering the group’s attention. “The Princess has requested to see you.” This prompted a surprised reaction from the three ponies, who clearly weren’t expecting to suddenly be having an audience with the Princess. “This way, please.”
Trixie grinned, and flicked her mane as she began to follow. “It seems the Princess had heard of the Great and Powerful Trixie, and clearly wishes to receive her autograph.”
“I’m sure that’s not it,” Inkie said flatly. “Maybe she just wants to make sure we’re who we say we are. Or maybe she wants to make sure she gives us all of the books.”
“Maybe she wants to have a sleepover!” Feathermay suggested, causing the other three to stare at her with bemused looks. “What? It could happen!”
“Trixie very much doubts it. Though, on the other hoof, if she is Trixie’s fan, then maybe…”
“Better be careful, Trixie,” Inkie said. “She might be a crazed fan.”
Trixie shivered. “Ugh, Trixie hates those. Although, the Princess is apparently very cute, so…”
“Please remember that you are referring to a member of Royalty,” the guard said, stopping in front of a pair of large double doors. “Please mind your manners when you speak to her. And remember: make one sudden suspicious move, and I will not hesitate to use force.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Trixie said.
“We got it,” Inkie said.
“Man, this is kinda cool!” Feathermay said. “A real Princess! I’m so glad my date went awry!”
“Trixie feels like she’s forgetting something…” A blue glow surrounded the doors, and they opened slowly to reveal what was inside. A very large, and very pink, bedroom that was almost completely buried in stuffed toys. There was a vanity on one side, a large four-poster bed on the other, and hot tub on another, and in the centre, standing and smiling at her visitors, was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza herself. And standing next to her was her husband, Shining Armor.
“… Oh yeah,” Trixie said as she locked eyes with Shining Armor, who suddenly looked very nervous. Trixie’s smile turned into a scowl, and she took an aggressive step forward. The guard caught this, moved to stop her, but the Princess ordered her to be at ease. “Trixie forgot about him.”
Shining laughed nervously as he continued backing away. He looked to his wife for support, only to find her still smiling at her visitors. Apparently, she found this amusing. “Um… Long time no see, huh?”
Something inside of Trixie snapped, and she suddenly charged forward until she was face-to-face with the Captain of the Royal Guard. “‘Long time no see’?! Don’t give Trixie that crap! You’re lucky you’re surrounded by your guards right now, or the Great and Powerful Trixie would rip you to pieces!”
Feathermay, both confused, and amazed, by Trixie’s outburst, turned to Inkie Pie for answers. “I miss something?”
“I seem to recall Trixie telling me a story once, about when she was in school…” Inkie put a hoof to her chin as she tried to recall it. “Something about a stallion who ‘lost his chance to be with the greatest equine who ever lived, just so he could marry that pretty face with rich blood’.”
Feathermay thought about it for a second, and then gasped as she added the pieces together. “You mean… she had a crush on him?!”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie had no such thing!” Trixie shouted back, her face now red. “She merely gave this worthless oaf a chance with her because she felt sorry for him, that’s all!”
“Even though I was already so popular with the mares,” Shining said, half-sarcastic, half-proud. He then remembered that his wife was also in the room. “Er, not that any of them could ever hold a candle to you, of course!” he quickly added, facing the Princess, who simply giggled in response.
“Well, this is certainly a pleasant surprise,” she said, approaching Trixie and looking her in the eyes. “So you’re her, huh? The pony my dear husband hurt so many years ago? I’m truly sorry for that, but if it helps, I’m the one that has to deal with him now.”
“Hey!” Shining protested.
“Hmph! The Great and Powerful Trixie cares not for your words of sympathy. She came here for just one thing.”
“Right. The library books…” The Princess bit her lip, and scratched the back of her neck nervously. “About that…”
“What’s wrong?” Inkie asked, approaching the Princess, before remembering who she was talking to.”Er, Your Highness?” she added with a bow.
“Please, call me Cadance,” Cadance said, motioning with her hoof the Earth Pony to rise. “And, you see, the problem is that I never borrowed those books. The one who really borrowed them was Queen Chrysalis, a changeling who disguised herself as me during the Royal Wedding.”
Trixie groaned, and brought a hoof to her face. She felt a migraine coming on. “Okay, so where can we find this ‘Queen Chrysalis’?”
“We don’t know, but there’s no need to know, either,” Cadance said. “You see, the books she borrowed, she… burned.” The room fell completely silent. “She destroyed them as soon as she was finished with them.”
The migraine forcing its way into Trixie’s head started to grow more and more painful, and her right eye twitched as she tried her best to keep her anger in check. “You don’t say…”
Inkie saw Trixie’s rising anger, and motioned to Feathermay. The Pegasus nodded, and quickly ran to her friend’s side, wrapping her in her wings to calm the showmare down. It started to take effect very quickly. If there was one thing that Feathermay was good at, it was getting ponies to smile, laugh, and just generally be happy.
“… So what now?” Trixie asked with a dejected look. “Those books were the only lead we had. And now they’re gone… We came all this way, just to hear that the books we so desperately needed are gone for good!”
Inkie brought a hoof up to her chest, and held her breath as she watched Trixie hanging her head low. This was no act. And the more time she spent around Trixie, the more she was certain that the showmare hadn’t gone crazy. ‘If what she said was true… If the future Trixie really visit her, and then die…’ Suddenly, Inkie started to feel angry too. Those books may have been the one thing that could Trixie’s life, but now…”
“Oh, Twi-” Cadance caught herself, and stopped as she giggled to herself. It was often the case that the filly she used to sit for, Twilight Sparkle, would make a rather big deal about even a single book being unavailable to her. Right now, Trixie reminded her of such times. “Miss Lulamoon, was it?” Trixie nodded, and Cadance brought a hoof to her shoulder, prompting the showmare to look up at her. “Don’t worry. Most of those books can be found in the palace’s library, too.”
Trixie’s eyes widened, and suddenly, her heart filled with hope once more. “You mean-”
Cadance nodded. “I thank you for reminding me, actually. The castle needs to reimburse that library with the books that it has lost. As thanks for bringing this matter to light, I will personally give you permission to seek whatever information you were after.”
Trixie and Inkie’s faces beamed to life, and they were both pulled into a group hug suddenly by Feathermay. “Alright! Isn’t that great, Trixie? We’ll be at the crystal mine in no time!”
“The crystal mine?!” Shining Armor shouted, startling the three mares.
“Uh… yeah?” Feathermay answered. “That’s why were after those books. For information on the crystal mine.”
“Why would you be after the crystal mine?” Cadance asked. “Do you even know what it is?”
“Not at all,” Trixie said. “But it is imperative that we find it at once.”
“Why’s that?” Shining Armor asked.
“Sorry, but that’s secret,” Trixie said, sticking her tongue out at the stallion.
Shining furrowed his brow, and stepped closer to the showmare. “The crystal mine is a restricted area. You can’t go down there without permission.”
Trixie pulled her tongue back in, and her ears flattened against the sides of her head. “Ah…”
“Why is it restricted?” Inkie asked.
“Safety hazards, mainly,” Cadance said. “I must admit, I am also curious as to why you would want to go down there.”
“… To, uh… mine crystals?” Trixie said, putting a fake smile on and hoping that they would buy it.
“Nice try,” Shining said. “Want to try again, or should I alert the guards to look out for you three?”
Trixie growled in response, and tried to think of another lie. Something that would sound completely believable, and that would convince him to grant them entry. Inkie leaned over and whispered to her: “Maybe we should just tell him the truth.”
“Do you think he would believe Trixie?” Trixie whispered back.
“I don’t see how we have any other choice but to try it.”
Trixie considered her options, and then nodded reluctantly. “You’re right. Well then…” She turned to Shining Armor, who was still waiting patiently for the true story. “Alright, so it’s like this… Trixie was walking home when she was suddenly stopped by this big flash of light, which turned out to be Trixie from four days in the future. Future Trixie had a warning for past Trixie, but future Trixie couldn’t deliver it because future Trixie died, and so past Trixie, that is to say, Trixie, is now on a quest to save Trixie’s life, and right now, the only lead she has is the crystal mine, since that’s what future Trixie managed to say before she died. Any questions?”
Shining and Cadance both stared blankly at the Unicorn as she finished her story, blinking a few times as they tried to process what they had just heard.
Shining was the first to speak. “Uh… So I got that you were in there,” he said to Trixie, who nodded. “… And that’s about it.”
Trixie sighed, and slammed a hoof into her face. ‘This is the pony that Trixie asked to her graduation prom?’
“Basically,” Cadance began, “You’re going to die four days from now, and the only clue as to why, and thus, how to save you, may be resting in the crystal mine. Is that it?”
Trixie smiled, and nodded. “That is correct! Well, it’s clear who had the brains in this relationship!”
Shining frowned. “Hey!”
“Didn’t you get your little sister to help you with your homework?” Trixie asked, remembering a rumour she had heard floating around about Shining Armor back in school.
“That’s… not entirely true…”
Cadance giggled, causing her husband’s face to turn red. “Well, I’d say she has a pretty good reason. Don’t you agree, Shining?”
“Now before you go writing this off as crazy-” Inkie began, before she realised what the Princess had actually said. “Wait, what?”
“You believe her?” Feathermay asked. “Just like that?”
Cadance nodded. “I’ve sat for a lot of foals in my youth. I’ve developed a keen sense for tales.”
“The Great and Powerful Trixie is no foal, and is a master of deceit!” Trixie bragged, rearing up on her hind legs and using her magic to conjure up some illusionary fireworks.
“She’s going to help us!” Inkie pointed out. “Just let it go!”
“But such an insult cannot go unchecked!” Trixie responded.
“And how else would you suggest we enter the crystal mine?”
“…” Trixie cleared her throat, and then turned back to the Princess. “Well then, if you could kindly point us in the direction of the library…”
Cadance shook her head. “Actually, your story has me intrigued,” Cadance said. “And, I’d like to help you out. Since you’re an old friend of Shining’s.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call her that,” Shining mumbled, but it was ignored by his wife.
“However, it’s getting rather late. And it’s much easier to work after a good night’s rest, don’t you agree?”
“There is no time for rest!” Trixie shouted. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is fighting against the clock here! We must hurry and-”
Cadance stopped Trixie by gently placing a hoof on the showmare’s shoulder, and looking into her eyes with a calm, gentle smile. “Go get some rest, Trixie. And I promise, I will do all that I can to help you in the morning.”
“… B-But-”
“I’m going to count to three,” Cadance warned, her voice a little more stern this time. “And if you still refuse when I’m done, then there will be no visit to the library, or to the crystal mine.” Trixie narrowed her eyes, glaring daggers at the Princess before her. “One…” Trixie growled. “Two…”
“Okay! Fine!” Trixie shouted, batting the Princess’ hooves away. “Come on, Inkie Pie. Let’s go home and-”
“The storm is rather bad right now. Why don’t you stay here, at the castle?” Cadance asked, still smiling at her guests.
“No thanks! We’ll just bear the storm and-”
Inkie cut her friend off by wrapping her forehooves around her mouth. “That’s very generous of you, Your Highness. And of course, we’d love to take you up on your offer.”
Cadance nodded, and then looked past the trio, at the guard still standing in the open doorway. “Helena, please show these three to the guest chambers.”
The guard saluted. “Yes, Your Highness!” She led the three ponies out of the Princess’ bedroom, Feathermay fluttering in the air above them, and Inkie dragging a protesting Trixie by her tail down the castle’s corridor.
Once they were gone, Shining used his magic to close the doors, and then turned to his wife. “You haven’t used that look since you sat for Twiley.”
Cadance turned to her husband, a proud grin on her face, and shot him a quick wink. “And I’ve still got it.”