//------------------------------// // chapter 53 - Rising // Story: Trixie's Forest Retreat // by crowscrowcrow //------------------------------// Trixie rested on her haunches while she stared up at the stars. She gave a sigh and closed her eyes, enjoying the cool night air. It helped her think, or at least it helped her calm down enough to think. At any moment, Rainbow Dash could return and she needed to have a plan before that happened. The incident and spontaneous follow up had left Trixie embarrassed, confused, and angry with herself. The best she could think of to get out of the hole she was in, without digging any deeper, was to be as distant as she could manage. At least until she had her head sorted out. She had not even had time to reflect on her dream yet. For whatever reason, Rainbow Dash had not been anywhere near as upset with her as she was the first time. On the other hoof, the majority of the problem had been that it was the first time. She had even allowed Trixie to hold the kiss for a very long time. Trixie could not help but wonder if perhaps she had been too hasty in retreating once she realized it was the real Rainbow Dash. M-maybe I should have gone for it? Trixie started to get more frustrated the more she realized how perfect a situation it had been, the two of them alone at night, in the privacy of the bedroom, sharing an accidental kiss for much longer than accidental kisses had any right to exist. Now she was wishing she’d just grabbed Rainbow Dash instead of tried to escape and ruin the whole mood. But, it’s still kind of okay isn’t it? I-I mean, she kind of knows now right? And she didn’t yell at me at all, so she’s okay with it now? Trixie could a feel a smile creep up on her as she indulged in the thought. A tingling spread across her fur where Rainbow Dash had held her to bring her outside. Now that Trixie thinks about it… she didn’t push Trixie away yesterday either, and she even told Fluttershy to hug Trixie! That had easily been the best part of the evening, getting so close to both of them for a while. Trixie wrapped her forelegs around herself in a giddy self-hug while she recalled the wonderful dream that followed the evening. Opening her eyes, Trixie looked towards the moon, a scarlet blush spreading across her cheeks. It was said that Princess Luna’s former duty was to visit ponies dreams, and that she sometimes would show ponies visions of the future. M-maybe that was one? Princess Luna is back after all. Trixie smiled widely while she stared up at the moon. “Is it because Trixie slept all day? Trixie knew you would appreciate the irony! Thank you!” “Heh, you’re welcome, Trixie,” Rainbow Dash said from behind her. Freezing up, Trixie quickly added the last of her little prayer silently. You will be in Trixie’s praises from now on. Thank you Luna! With that out of the way, Trixie turned around to find Rainbow Dash. She carried a tray on her back. “Oh there you are. Good, Trixie was getting worried you’d gotten lost.” Rainbow Dash tilted her head with a surprised look, but then grinned. “Hey, maybe I’ll just get lost these last few steps and take an hour to get there.” “Pfft, as if Trixie would really be missing much. She is not even hungry enough to eat whatever you might cook up.” Naturally, it was in that exact moment that Trixie’s stomach growled. “…Maybe Trixie will humor you, and try some.” With a laugh, Rainbow Dash set down the tray, and sat down besides Trixie. “That sure is nice of you. I’m glad you are feeling good enough to insult me again, I guess.” The meal was nothing special, just some oatmeal, hay and two bruised apples. Trixie munched her oats while she eyed the apples suspiciously, then looked back to Rainbow Dash. “What?” “You are aware these are not meant for pony consumption right? What? Does Trixie look like an animal to you?” “Huh? Fluttershy asked me the same thing about you before. So, yeah. You are, I guess?” Trixie blinked, unsure if she’d heard that right. “Fluttershy asked you if Trixie was an animal? And you said yes?” She raised a hoof to her temple and rubbed it slowly while she took another bite. “Just, just never mind. Instead of giving Trixie migraines, give her something to drink.” Rainbow Dash pointed towards the stream a few meters away from them. “Right there. I’m sure you can manage that one.” Trixie raised her nose up in the air, giving Rainbow Dash a glance from a single half-lidded eye. “Of course the Great and Powerful Trixie can get her own water, but that’s not the point is it? You are here as Fluttershy’s proxy caretaker. Do you think she would refuse to get Trixie some water?” “Wha, uh, I guess not.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Fine then.” “That’s more like it,” Trixie said, after swallowing the last of her oats, and pointed to the bowl. Rainbow Dash rose up to her hooves and picked up the bowl, then headed towards the water, but paused. “Oh I get it, you are going to abuse the hay out of this aren’t you?” “Ohhh maliciously!” Trixie answered in glee. “Great… at least you can’t demand much in the middle of the night.” Rainbow Dash scooped up some water and brought it back, setting it down besides Trixie, but she sat across from her this time. Trixie grinned. “Is that a challenge?” She leaned down to drink her water while she pondered the situation, she had Rainbow Dash at her mercy for the time being, or at least she was playing along. Oh this is going to be good. “Trixie? I don’t think I like that look on your face.” Rainbow Dash sounded a bit worried. “The Gracious and Merciful Trixie assures you that she won’t make you do anything she won’t like.” “Well, alright. Wait, what?” “Nothing! Now let’s go!” Trixie scrambled to her hooves. “Go? Go where?” “To the forest of course! Fly Trixie over there! Trixie has decided that her next wagon will be made out of timberwolf wood, specifically that timberwolf, and before dawn!” She jabbed a hoof towards the forest. “Errr, yeah no. That’s not happening.” “What! But you said you would do what Trixie wanted! Ugh fine, how about we just get its head?” “Still no.” “You fly Trixie over there, and we taunt it from a tree?” “No.” “Just a flight over the forest?” “Too dangerous.” “Ponyville?” Rainbow Dash lifted a hoof to her chin, scratching it idly as she considered it, then finally nodded. “Yeah okay, I guess that’s not too dangerous.” “Fine… but you better appreciate the lengths Trixie was willing to lower her standards to accommodate you.” Trixie did her utmost best to look disappointed, trying to contain her excitement. She fell for it! Hah, as if she’d have ever agreed to that if Trixie led it with! Trixie looked down at the hay she still had left, then placed the bowl over it to keep the wind from taking off with it. She was not about to finish her breakfast and risk Rainbow Dash coming to her senses in the meantime. Sitting down on her haunches, Trixie reached her front legs out to Rainbow Dash with a huff. “Let’s get this over with then.” Rainbow Dash shook her head. “No not like that. You’d not be able to see anything. Turn your back to me, then spread your forelegs so I can get a good grip. I’ll go get a head start.” With that she flared her wings, then took off into the night sky, circling around in large ovals. Following the instructions, Trixie spread her forelegs and gulped. Only now did it occur to her that she was going to be flying high above the ground. It had been a prospect that had not seemed so bad when she expected Rainbow Dash to be all she could see, but this way she was going to be looking straight down the entire time. She could feel her heart beating in her throat. Here’s hoping I’m not scared of heights! Maybe if I just lay down I can still get out of this, yeah that’s it I’ll just l—“Ahhh!” Rainbow Dash swooped in with enough momentum to snatch Trixie off the ground and propel the both of them into the air. Her hooves slid under Trixie’s forelegs and connected over her chest, holding on tightly. Trixie felt the ground vanish below her hooves, all she felt anymore was the cold wind, and the vise-like grip around her that pressed her back into Rainbow’s chest, radiating enough heat to ensure Trixie’s shaking could at least not be from the cold. “Pretty awesome sight right, Trixie?” “Y-yeah, you said it, great sights.” “And you know what would make it even better?” “Err nice comparative perspective from the ground?” “No. Opening your eyes!” With a just quick peek, Trixie already felt her head spin as she saw the tiny sea of lights below her. At first glance it was almost as if she was looking at the stars, but the patterns were all wrong and shaped like streets instead of constellations. She quickly closed her eyes again. “N-no, Trixie is pretty sure this is better.” “Oh come on!” Rainbow Dash sounded awfully pleased. “You asked for this, you better enjoy it! That was the deal right? You’d only ask for things you would like. So start liking it. Relax, I’ve never dropped anypony, ever.” “That is a lie and Trixie knows it. You dropped Trixie before!” Still, she carefully opened one eye again. Strangely it seemed to her like the lights had gotten smaller. Trixie dismissed it as her imagination, after all she’d only gotten a minute glance the first time. It felt weird to see the world from on high. Trixie was not used to anything higher than her own stage, everything was so small. She estimated that, if she fell down now, it would take at least an hour to hit the ground, give or take sixty minutes. Trixie trembled with fright as she stared down into the sparkly abyss, her breathing quickened. T-terr-terrrible idea! She could tell the lights still kept getting smaller too, a shocking realization set in for Trixie: Rainbow Dash was still flying up higher. “T-Trixie wants to go down!” She squeaked, failing utterly to keep her voice steady.