Trixie looked up at the sky through the canopy, judging by the sun they had been walking for maybe half an hour through the creepy forest. At least the weather was bright enough that she could take a good look around now.
Strangely even in broad daylight the forest kept its oppressive atmosphere, as if the air itself tried to slowly strangle her. But things were different this time. She was The Great and Powerful Trixie again with her starry hat and cape proudly on display. Sans the actual magic, but she still felt a great deal better.
She tore her gaze from the path to, once again, look to her left where Fluttershy trotted alongside her, carrying a saddlebag containing their lunch. To Trixie’s surprise Fluttershy had become even more nervous in the forest, but the pony lived in a shack right on the edge of it, surely she was not afraid of it?
Over the course of the journey she had gradually drawn nearer to the timid pegasus, hoping it would give some comfort. Beyond that she tried her best to keep her mind off the forest by talking.
“Just how big is this forest anyway? The Great and Power-walking Trixie cannot believe the castle of the two sisters is this far away.”
“Well we’d be there already but SOMEPONY does not have wings. It’s a pretty short flight but the path there winds around a lot. But hey, if you want, Trixie, we could just take a shortcut right through the thick of the forest!”
Again, for the past half hour already, the loud pegasus answered her instead of the quiet one. Rainbow Dash had been flying circles around them and every attempt at conversation had ended up arguing with her instead. Fluttershy meanwhile had not looked at either of them the entire trip, constantly looking at the forest or the ground.
“Why yes that a fantastic idea, let’s leave the path and go trudging through an area you just got through telling Trixie she would not last a minute in. Trixie would think you aimed to finish the job.”
“Oh come on already. I wasn’t being serious, I was just joking around.”
“About the danger of the forest, leaving the path or killing Trixie? Cause that is a pretty important distinction.”
Rainbow Dash bit her lip and looked away. “Hey that is not… I’m… I’m gonna go scout ahead, you guys keep to the path.” She sped off over the trees, the canopy made it impossible to keep track of her.
Trixie smirked pleased with herself while she watched Rainbow Dash take off. It was not going to last for very long but she could try to get some conversation out of Fluttershy for a little while. She looked to her left, finding Fluttershy looking back at her for the first time since they entered the forest, and now she wished she hadn’t.
Staring back her she could see Fluttershy offering a weak smile, but something was wrong. It was nothing like her normal smile. It did not give Trixie that warmth in her chest nor that feeling of a small breeze teasing the fur on her limbs, instead her stomach twisted. Fluttershy was trying to hide something but Trixie could see it in her eyes, Trixie desperately wanted to break away from looking at them. But at the same time she had to know what was wrong, Fluttershy looked so calm and yet…
Her mind struggled to make sense of the expression. There were many emotions Trixie had learned to identify at a glance, seeing them often during her performances, anger, fear, jealously, annoyance. But none of them matched, yet she knew she had seen it before. Trixie froze, ice spread through her veins as recognition set in. It was a look she had not seen aimed at her since she’d left home, disappointment.
Trixie’s ears laid down flat against her mane, concealed below her hat, and lowered her head. It did not make sense, why did just one look from the timid creature make her feel this horrible? She had done nothing wrong, or had she?
She hated seeing that look in Fluttershy’s eyes, all the more because she knew she was causing it somehow. Her mind raced to find why. The arguing with Rainbow Dash had been going on for as long as their trip. Fluttershy had not been upset during that time, and even seemed to smile on occasion while they tore into each other. So that could not be it, not by itself. The only difference had been that this time the cyan wiseflank got fed up hanging around the two slow ponies and went to scout ahead, right?
“Trixie…?” Fluttershy’s soft voice almost too low to rouse her from her thoughts if she had not been staring directly at Fluttershy.
“Yes?” Trixie looked almost hopeful, maybe she could stop wondering. Her trance broken she resumed walking along the road, keeping an eye on Fluttershy.
“Don’t you uhm… Think that was… A bit harsh?” Fluttershy started up as well, the both of them heading down the path again, in the direction Rainbow Dash had flown off into.
“Harsh?” She had said much harsher things the past half hour ranging from belittling the Wonderbolts to calling Rainbow’s intellect into question, and each time she’d got at least as sharp remark back, going so far as to suggest Star Swirl the bearded was a dumb name.
“What… Trixie did not realize? But… You did notice Rainbow Dash reacted strangely, right?” Fluttershy sighed softly while breaking away to look at the cyan pegasus free sky. “She was upset… Don’t you care?”
Trixie swept her mane out of her face with a flick of her head. “N-neigh. She was making fun of Trixie. Why would Trixie care if she can’t take it when Trixie makes fun of her?” Trixie felt a stinging feeling in her chest, it was not fair. Why was Fluttershy taking Rainbow’s side in this? Why would she betray her when she was right there and could see they had both been arguing as much as the other?
“But… Rainbow did not say anything about the Ursa did she? Or… When you scared me.” Fluttershy’s gaze returned to the ground, another turn in the path loomed up ahead.
Trixie flinched at the memory and grimaced, averting her gaze away from Fluttershy. What was the girl playing at bringing that up just like that? Didn’t she realize Trixie was still scared and guilty about those? That she wanted nothing more than to forget about the events? Even if Fluttershy had forgiven her, it hurt to be reminded yet again. “What? No Trixie supposes she did not. Why even bring that up? Trixie does not like… To be…” Her voice died off half way through and she looked towards Fluttershy.
Fluttershy looked back at Trixie, giving her a sad smile and a nod. The pair of them walked over the road and rounded twist, yet more of the empty road ahead.
Trixie coughed, her throat ached. “…How long?” She finally managed to get out, more to herself than Fluttershy. She started to trot and thought back on her encounters with Rainbow Dash. The constant visits to ‘annoy’ her, when had they started? Her pace quickened to a canter. She knew now she was not being guarded, yet Rainbow Dash was right outside her room? She broke into a gallop. “That annoying foal!”