Trixie, Appleloosa Sheriff
By: Einhander
Chapter 4: True Bit
Edited by: Admiral Hoofesome
Pre-Read by: Cola Bubble Gum
"Thou art awake."
Luna’s voice tore across Trixie’s consciousness like a rocket, blazing a trail of sound in her mind. Before there was nothing, just a black void. Now, there was still a black void, but also the royal voice.
Also pain. Lots of pain.
Trixie tried to open her eyes. Only one eye obeyed. She looked around the room with it.
She was in a bed. There was equipment sitting around her. She was bandaged. There was beeping. And Princess Luna standing by her bedside, regarding her with a blank expression.
"Where am I?"
"Ponyville Hospital. After thou lost consciousness, we freed the conductor and, with the assistance of the deputy, stopped the train. Thou hath been asleep for two days.”
"Two days?"
Luna turned back to Trixie and nodded. "Two days. Nurse Redheart was unsure when thou would recover." Trixie laid her head back on her pillow, head still swimming in pain. All she wanted to do was sleep. But two days would have to do; there were questions nagging at her.
"What happened?
Luna uncomfortably shifted her gaze to the window. "The deputy informs us that we were only minutes away from a bend in the track that would have derailed the train.”
Trixie gasped, then winced at the effort it took. Everything hurt. “Was anyone injured?”
Luna looked at her with an uncertain frown. "All the foals are accounted for and with their parents. The elderly couple had a few scratches, but nothing too worrisome. Most of the train staff needed some kind of medical attention but they shall survive... most, that is.”
Trixie felt like Luna was holding back. "What about Braeburn?"
Luna nodded. "Wounded, but walking around despite the doctor's orders. Once he could sit, he sat by thy side. Only our command to go see his cousin stirred him from his perch." She smiled softly. "And our promise to stay by thy side until his return."
Trixie blinked and stared up at the ceiling, unsure how to process all of this information. Something sounded off.
"Such loyalty is rare, does thou not agree? Watching over thee?"
It clicked in Trixie’s head. "And that's what you were doing on the train? ‘Watching over’ Trixie?"
Luna's smile faded. "Are thou are so important as to demand thy Princesses’s attention all day and night?"
"Trixie knows you were on her train less than 3 hours after her sentence." Trixie said coldly, "Disguised, no less. Trixie is not a fool."
"We do not live and breathe to simply see thy sentence carried out. There was precious cargo on that train." She sighed, "Half of it is gone now."
"Cargo? You mean the Saddle Arabians?"
Luna shook her head. "Their baubles are no more than trinkets to display on their visits. Once the attack hit, they only worried for their children. No, the real treasure was a prisoner and her stolen goods. One of Equestria's most wanted- a gryphon of incredible cunning and evil. She was to be tried in Appleloosa for her crimes." Luna growled and stamped her hoof on the ground so hard that a small crack appeared. "And now she is free."
Trixie sat up, intrigued. "Why was she on a passenger train? Are there not more secure ways of transportation?"
Luna nodded, "Indeed, but we had reports that a spy was in our ranks, and her accomplices would know which train to hit. We decided to try stealth instead, hiding her on a passenger train that would have an excuse for heightened security." Luna glared out the window. "Those reports have proven true. Very few ponies knew that we switched the prisoner and the cargo to this train. Yet we were attacked as soon as we were out of Canterlot's Wonderbolt flight zone. Had we not changed the safe combination, the Black Hat Gang would have their leader AND the stolen magma-rock."
"Magma-rock?"
Luna stared out the window again. "We were not there to watch thee; we were there to protect the train. We failed." Luna then turned towards Trixie, "Although we did succeed in one thing. We did see your deeds on the train. All of them.”
Trixie knew this was coming. She felt a sudden wave of shame and despair. "Trixie has already failed, hasn't she?"
Luna said nothing.
"Train destroyed, prisoner escaped, ponies injured." Trixie felt tears coming on, but tried to pull them back. She didn't want the princess to see her cry. "Some Sheriff Trixie turned out to be. Trixie knew it! Trixie was made to entertain and amaze, not play sheriff! Trixie wouldn't have made it a whole year without performing anyway!" She stared at Luna, unafraid. "Very well. Trixie has broken the agreement and will take her punishment. Trixie will not run." She looked down, her energy draining. "At least Trixie will not have to apologize to Twilight Sparkle. She was not looking forward to that at all."
Luna regarded her, then turned and walked toward the door, silent. Trixie lifted her head, "Wait. Trixie has a request.” Luna stopped. “Could Trixie... say goodbye to Braeburn?” Luna glanced at her, still silent. “We only knew each other a short while but--” she felt the tears coming again, and this time they started escaping, “It would mean a lot to Trixie.”
Luna finally spoke: “Assuming thou hast failed… this is your final request?”
“I would like it very much, Princess. Yes.”
Luna shook her head, “We are sorry...”
Trixie’s heart sank.
“...but thou must first greet a different visitor before we acquiesce to thy request.”
The door opened, and revealed the smiling face of Nurse Redheart. And behind her was the gray colt from Saddle Arabia. Trixie’s eye met his two, and his face lit up. “Sheriff!”
Applejack was setting up her pastry stand. The sun was setting, Twilight was putting the final touch on her entertainment, and the Saddle Arabian ponies were set to arrive any second now to enjoy the town square prior to the show.
They’d have bits. She’d have pie. Anything could happen.
“Cuz?”
Applejack blinked, recognizing the voice. “Braeburn?” She turned and smiled, “Well, howdy stranger, and welcome back to--” Her smile died with the words in her throat. Braeburn had bandages and bruises all over,with one leg in a cast. “What on earth happened to you?
“Had a bit of trouble with some rough types,” he grinned, “Got my first battle scars! Whaddaya think?”
Applejack shook her head with concern. “Braeburn, it’ll only take you a few scraps to realize that scars ain’t nothing to be proud of. The trick is to get as few scars as possible. Trust me on this.”
Braeburn kept a silly grin on his face. “Well shoot, you should see the other fella, the one with the knives? He’ll remember the Sheriff and me, I tell you what. And the lady with the staff too, I’spose. Although, dang, did she give my head a wallop.”
“Fella with a knife? Lady with a staff? Braeburn, what in Equestria are you talkin’ about?”
“That’s right, cousin, where are my manners? I need to start at the beginning! Do ya’ll have a minute for me to tell ya the tale?”
Applejack looked around and realized that lots of ponies had arrived in the past few minutes, and the Saddle Arabians were going to be there at any moment.
“Actually, Braeburn, things are about to get a’mite busy, so if you don’t mind...”
“I don’t mind at all! It all started yesterday, when Princess Luna asked me to pick up our new Sheriff, Trixie C. Tgap. Now at first, I didn’t know what to think of her, but then--”
“Wait. Wait a darn minute.” Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Did you say, Trixie?”
“Yes, cuz.”
“Light blue mare?”
“Yup.”
“Unicorn?”
“Yup.”
“Says her full name when she speaks about herself?”
“The one and only! Do you know her?”
Applejack gritted her teeth. “Ya’ll could say that, yeah.”
“Ain’t she just the best?”
Applejack’s jaw dropped open.
“She’s a-”
Applejack then said a very, very bad word. Very loudly.
“And then! Then! You used your teeth and you BAM, and the black pony fell, and his knife fell! And then he picked you up, and I was scared, yes I was, but not so scared, because I knew you had a trick up your sleeve!” The little colt took a giant breath, then continued, “And you did have a trick up your sleeve! You had given the deputy enough time to save the Princess! Were you not scared?”
Trixie smiled. “Trixie, the Great and Powerful, is n-” she stopped, as her necklace started to glow, and she coughed. “Trixie did not have time to be aware if she was scared.” The ruby lost its glow.
The colt returned to his praises. “And then--”
Nurse Redheart coughed nervously, “Okay, little one, I think it’s time to give Miss Trixie--” the nurse took a moment to glare at Trixie, but then turned back to the colt with all smiles, “--er, the Sheriff time to rest. She has been through a lot.”
The colt nodded, “Oh yes! My apologies! I am very glad to say thank you in person, and I thank the Princess for allowing me the opportunity!” He smiled and shook Trixie’ hoof vigorously, which caused a new wave of pain to shoot through Trixie, “Once again, thank you! My family and I are in you debt! Should you ever need anything in Saddle Arabia, you need only to ask!”
Trixie smiled weakly, “You’re welcome, friend.” The colt practically jumped in happiness at Trixie’s words, then turned to go. Trixie said, “Wait.” The Nurse and the colt turned. “Trixie didn’t get your name.”
The colt said, “Batal. I am Batal. And one day, I will live up to my name.”
“How will you do that?”
Batal smiled, “I will be brave, like you, Sheriff Trixie.” He then turned and walked out, with the Nurse shutting the door behind him. It was not lost on Trixie that before Redheart closed the door, she gave Trixie another look, but this time it was a more thoughtful one.
“It’s a good thing little Batal is here to remind Trixie what she did,” muttered Trixie, “Because she remembers little of it.”
“It is a true account, mostly. There was a small amount of boasting, but it was his work, not thine.” Luna looked at Trixie. “Thou asked us earlier if thou had failed. Trixie. Listen to me.”
She leaned down, close to Trixie’s face.
“Everypony on that train would have died, except for us, had ye not intervened. That colt, his friends and family, the foals and their teacher, even your deputy; all would have perished. I would have been helpless in my chains, and though Braeburn would have fought, surely the black stallion would have...”
Trixie groaned, holding her head, "Blackjack. And the other mare, Black Cherry."
"The unicorn stallion thou crossed paths with we are familiar with. And the yellow brothers, Flim and Flam, we have been chasing them for some time. However, that very troubled mare who wielded that staff..." Luna hesitated. "She is of Cherry family, very well regarded in Dodge Junction. Unfortunately she is an orphan, her parents killed in an accident, leaving her and twin sister alone."
Trixie's face settled into a grim expression. "Trixie has lived that story."
"We know."
They regarded one another. Luna went on: "She was not born 'Black Cherry.' We knew she hath gone astray, but we did not know she had taken up with the likes of the Black Hat."
Trixie shrugged. "They probably offered her a family."
Luna shook her head. "She had a family. An entire town full of family willing to take her in. She turned her back on them, and took up with scoundrels and thieves."
"Sometimes it is not that simple, Princess."
"Sometimes 'tis. Ponies suffered because of her. She has blood on her hooves. They all do."
“Then so does Trixie.”
“Was that thy task?” asked Luna, anger leaking in her voice, “Didst thou know of the prisoner? Of the cargo? Were thou charged with their safekeeping? Didst thou agree to that assignment?”
Trixie shook her head. Luna was getting louder and louder.
“No! We did! We took on that burden! And we failed! And now a pony is dead because of me!”
Trixie blinked and shook her head slowly. “But... but you said...”
Luna turned away, tears in her eyes. “The train pony, the ticket taker. Our subject, quietly doing his honorable job. Who ran to the front of the car when he thought his passengers were in danger.” There was a pause. Luna whispered, “He never woke up.”
Trixie lowered her head, “Then Trixie did fail. To protect the innocent.”
“Wrong." Luna lifted her up by her chin."Once freed, thou did everything in thy power to save the train and its passengers. Thou were in chains when that poor pony was attacked. The fault is ours, not thine. We must live with that failure, thou must not be burdened. Does thou understand? ”
Trixie’s entire field of vision was nothing but Luna. The princess was practically eyeball to eyeball as she stared Trixie down. Trixie felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“The fault is ours. Does thou understand?”
Trixie whispered, “Trixie understands.”
“Good.” Luna then walked away, as if nothing had happened. “All in all, in thy first day of service, thou stopped a runaway train, earned the loyalty of a police officer, rescued a princess, stopped an international incident and saved a gaggle of foals.” Luna turned and looked at Trixie appraisingly. “Our Royal Sister has a phrase that seems appropriate here. We believe it goes like this.”
Luna cleared her throat, and announced: “‘Not too shabby.’”
Trixie blinked, then laughed. It hurt to laugh, but she laughed long and hard. Luna looked bemused. “Good, that had the intended effect on thee.” Luna waited patiently for Trixie’s laughter to subside, and when she was done, Luna continued, “Now that we have thy attention, there is another phrase we have picked up from our Sister. Actually, it is from our niece, Princess Cadenza.”
Luna turned back to Trixie dramatically. “‘Don’t get cocky.’”
Trixie stopped laughing.
“Excellent. That phrase also had the intended effect. We shall continue to borrow phrases from our relatives to adapt to this new age.”
Luna smiled, and opened the door. “Thou should rest for another hour, then thou must go find Twilight Sparkle for thy apology.”
“Princess?”
Luna said, “Hmm?”
“The colt, Batal. He said he wanted to live up to his name.” Trixie looked thoughtful. “What does his name mean, in his language?”
"Hero." Luna said. “‘Batal’ means ‘hero’.”
Luna had allowed Trixie to bend the third rule twice. She had persuasive arguments.
The first was that it would be in her official capacity as Sheriff to always look professional and presentable when appearing in public. Therefore, she should be allowed to cast a spell on herself to make it look like she was injury free. She would still feel every cut and scrape, but she would look completely normal. (Which also meant Twilight wouldn’t see her injuries and bandages.) That was the easy request.
The second one was a bit trickier. Part of her parole agreement stated that she was only to use her magic in the execution of her duties. And putting on a show was certainly not in her job description of Sheriff of Appleloosa or anywhere else. However, it was also part of her parole agreement that she apologize to Twilight, and she couldn’t think of a better way to apologize than helping Twilight with her magic show.
That discussion had gone on a bit longer, but Luna eventually relented. She even allowed Trixie her cape and hat back. After all, as Luna noted, it was Trixie’s last show for a long time.
Those words stayed with her as she approached the town square, where Twilight was already in full swing with her show. The yellow pony’s animals were enveloped in Twilight’s magic, floating and twisting in the air to form an infinity symbol.
Despite her feelings for Twilight Sparkle, Trixie could not help but notice how elegant the formation was. She then remembered why she was there, and summoned up all of her magic. The only way to add to Twlight’s magic, without upstaging it, was...
The fireworks exploded behind the animals, causing a fantastic double illusion that spawned a chorus of “oohs and aahs”. The colors could be seen for miles around. It was Trixie’s last illusion for a while, and she wanted to make it count.
Twilight frowned and turned around. Her eyes got very big, and she said, "Trixie?"
Trixie walked forward, lowered her head and removed her hat. Well, here goes nothing...
“It’s the least I could do...” She sighed, and said “I treated you and your friends so horribly when I was wearing that Alicorn amulet.” She paused and realized that the apology wasn’t forced or phony. It was real. She looked up at Twilight. “I just couldn’t control myself.”
Twilight looked at her with something between shock and disbelief.
“You... you can forgive me? Can’t you?”
Twlight’s eyes went half lidded. She stared at Trixie, then arched her eyebrow. “Hmm...”
Trixie thought that time itself was standing still. It dawned on her that all of her deeds, and all of her promises, could be undone right at this moment. If this purple unicorn didn’t forgive her, it was all over. Trixie realized that Twilight Sparkle, her nemesis, really had no reason to forgive her. Whatsoever.
Trixie felt very small.
“Sure.” said Twilight.
Trixie’s heart skipped a beat.
“Oh, good...” said Trixie. And then the clouds in her mind parted and the sun shined down. She was forgiven. She felt her energy returning. Everything was fine, nothing was ruined! Her new life could start, and with it, a new chapter in the life of the Great and--
That is, of Trixie C. Tgap.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t have one last boast.
“Don’t you think the Great and Apologetic Trixie is the most magnificent, humble pony you’ve ever seen?”
It wasn’t technically a lie.
She turned, cast a smoke spell and ran away dramatically. It was a flawless exit, except for a small trip due to her injuries. She did not look back to see Twilight’s expression.
She didn’t look back at all.
Trixie boarded the train, threw her bag into the luggage compartment above the seats and sat down by the window. The Ponyville station was bustling with activity. It usually was when the 4:30 to Appleloosa pulled into town.
Of course, this was the local train. The express had been taken offline due to the giant hole in the side of a passenger car, among other reasons. A leisurely pony powered train ride sounded just fine with her.
Her cloak and hat were packed in her hospital bag, along with medication and a magazine, which was above her seat. It occurred to her now that while the other passengers on the previous train had their luggage destroyed, she had brought nothing with her the last time. They hadn’t let her bring anything. She now had more possessions than when she started this journey.
She shook her head, lost in the strangeness that was the recent turn of events.
“Excuse me, ma’am? This seat taken?”
She turned and saw Braeburn, bandaged but still smiling, pointing at the aisle seat next to her.
“Trixie has reserved this seat for her deputy.” Trixie replied with faux seriousness.
“Well, how about ah just sit ‘till he shows up.”
“Your funeral, Mr. Burn.” she said with a smile.
He sat, wincing, gently leaning his head back against the cushion. Trixie winced slightly, “How are you recovering?”
Braeburn shrugged, “Ain’t been in a tussle like that in--well-- ever, ah guess. But ah’ll be okay. How about ya’ll?”
Trixie shrugged, “Trixie will survive. How was visiting your cousin?”
Braeburn stiffened and shook his head, “The Apple family is loyal and honest, but boy, are we stubborn.” Trixie waited, figuring there was more. “Ah told her all about you, and sounds like you two have had a run-in or two. She is NOT your biggest fan. Ah told her what you did for me, for the ponies on the train, what Luna said, but...” he trailed off and sighed. “Applejack’s a good pony. She and her friends saved our town, and the buffalo, from destroyin’ one another. But boy, when she thinks she’s right about something... she just don’t let up.”
Trixie felt a lump in her throat. “Trixie doesn’t think she’ll come back here again, if she can help it.”
Braeburn lowered his head, “Might be a while till I do too. Applejack didn’t say goodbye after we had our row. Applebloom was all upset.” He shook his head. “That foal has enough trouble without her family feud’n."
He looked away, out the window. "T’aint fair.”
Trixie watched him, then gently placed a hoof on his shoulder, “Trixie is sorry if she caused any trouble between you and your family. Trixie’s past is... complicated.”
“Now just hold on there, Trixie. Ya’ll listen to me.” Braeburn looked at her with an intensity that she hadn’t seen before. “Ah don’t care what you done in the past. Ah don’t care what anypony says, even my cousin. Ya’ll saved my life. Ya’ll saved the life of every pony on that train. Ya’ll got True Bit, and that's that."
"True Bit? Trixie is not familiar with that phrase."
"It means you're the real deal, you ain't afraid of nothin' and nopony."
Trixie laughed nervously. "Trixie was afraid, to be honest..."
"Nah! Yer just sayin' that. I saw the look in your eyes. Ya'll were fearless!"
Trixie shook her head, "No, Trixie was scared out of her mind on the train. It was all an act. Trixie was," her eyes lit up in realization as she said the words, "performing. It was all a show."
Braeburn looked at Trixie. "Is that the truth?"
Trixie stared at her ruby necklace. "It has to be.
"Well, it was a heck of a show. Could'a fooled me. And besides, show or no, ya'll saved the train and them ponies. Ya'll are gonna be a great Sheriff. Anypony says otherwise, they take it up with me. Understand?”
Trixie blinked, “I just did what I thought was right.”
Braeburn smiled, “That’s ‘cause yer a good pony, Trixie.”
Trixie stared at Braeburn with her mouth open. Braeburn chuckled, "Careful now, ya'll catch flies." She closed her mouth.
"Braeburn, that's the first time anypony had said that about me since..."
She thought, hard. Ever?
Braeburn grinned at her. "Well then, been too long, ain't it? Besides, I ain't friends with no bad ponies."
A smile slowly crept up her face. "Are we friends, Braeburn?"
He blinked at her. "Gosh, Trixie. Ain't we? Besides, You save an Apple's life, you got a friend for life." He frowned again. "No matter what my cousin says."
"Friends..." Trixie chewed the word, and found it appealing. "Yes."
The train whistle blew twice, and the conductors were shouting their final preparations.
"Oh, and we saved this..." Braeburn offered up a black Stetshoof hat. Trixie's brain froze for a moment. It was a little dusty and worse for wear, but it was clearly Blackjack's hat."They had to magically sedate you to get it out of your hooves. You wouldn't let it go." Braeburn smiled. "Not that I blame ya. Heck of a prize, getting Blackjack's hat."
Trixie took the hat. "You knew of this rogue before the robbery?"
Braeburn blanched. "You tellin me you tussled with one of the most dangerous ponies in all of Equestria and didn't even know it?!" He pointed at the bulletin board on the train station wall through the window, "Heck, they even got his wanted poster in here! And he ain't even been to Ponyville once!"
She followed his hoof and saw it. It was a crude charcoal sketch, but it was accurate enough. The white eyes, the scar on the neck, the smile. And the hat.
Trixie stared at it for a few moments, and said, "If he's 7 hooves, then Trixie is a princess. The scoundrel is 6 hooves and a half, maximum."
Braeburn laughed, and said, "Tellin' tall tales already! You're gonna fit right in at Apppppllleelooosa!" Trixie smiled, and for some reason, his verbal tic no longer annoyed her. It was more like a pleasant irritation, an itch you'd miss if it stopped being around to scratch.
“Actually, it’s the truth, deputy.” She looked down at her necklace. “It has to be.”
The train started out of the station.
"Well,” said Braeburn, “It's your hat now Sheriff. What do ya want to do with it?"
Trixie stared at the black hat. Braeburn could see the gears turning in her head. Finally, she said, "Do you still have the star?"
"Star? Oh, sure. They gave it to me when you were in surgery."
Braeburn dug in his vest and then handed over the star to her waiting hoof. She stared at them both, one in each hoof.
Then she pinned the star onto the hat and put the hat on her head. She turned to face Braeburn with a neutral expression.
“How does Trixie look?”
He grinned, “Follow you anywhere, ma’am.”
She smiled, leaning back onto her seat, hat tilting over her eyes as the train began to pick up steam. The countryside was flying by, and the wind was whispering of a whole wide world of possibility.
“Now,” she said, tilting her hat up so she could look her friend in the eyes. “Tell me more about Appleloosa.”