N-No! Please let the nightmares end! Luna please! Trixie cried in her head, unable to avoid the horrors that were about to come. She lay there in fear for several seconds, then it began.
“Hah! Not so ‘Great and Powerful now, are we?“ asked a green stallion with orange hair as he kicked the bloodied and bruised mare, earning a laugh from his friends. On the ground before him lay a mare whose brilliant azure coat was covered in blood.
“P-Please, Trixie didn’t mea—” She never got to finish as she was kicked once more in the face. This time by a dark blue stallion with grey hair. Her vision blurred as more ponies began to join in.
“Shut up! We didn’t ask you to beg!” he yelled in anger, kicking her in the ribs. The ponies cheered as they heard a small crack.
“Next time you wanna go around acting like you’re something special, you better watch out,” said a grey mare, a sadistic grin crossing her face . She laughed loudly as Trixie spit up blood.
Why did it come to this? I didn’t mean to hurt these ponies. I-I’m sorry, .
Trixie lay there in unimaginable pain, crying, praying for it to be over. After what felt like an eternity, the beating stopped, even if the pain didn’t. As Trixie opened her eyes, all she could see was a dying flower.
“Looks like we’re in the same boat, huh?” she said with sad grin. Just then, a hoof stepped on the flower. Seconds later, Trixie felt something grip her mane, pulling her head off the ground. She closed her eyes in fear. “No! Not again! Please Celestia please! Let it end!” she begged as she began sobbing.
"Do you submit, Trixie?” said a soft and mocking voice. “You challenge me, time and time again. You will never win, so why bother?” Her eyes began to open against her will. No! No!
She internally screamed as her eyes began to clear, and then she saw them; those cold, heartless, purple eyes. At that moment her heart stopped, and Trixie felt all the fear and pain she had felt earlier return.
…………………………………………
Trixie woke with a start, her heart racing.
Why? Why does she haunt me? Why do I feel as though I know her? Trixie rolled onto her side, fearing to go back to bed. They won't stop…
Two months. That's how long Trixie had been having these nightmares. Feeling tired and sick, Trixie had begun to neglect her personal hygiene, much to the displeasure of the hospital staff.
Trixie lay there, fearing what would happen if she were to attempt sleeping again. Looks like another sleepless night, Trixie thought with a sigh, scooting towards the edge of her bed. A groan of pain passed her lips as she stepped down on all fours, putting a little more pressure on her sore leg than intended.
Sighing, Trixie walked towards the welcoming light of the bathroom. As she entered, she stopped and stared into the mirror.
To say that Trixie looked unhealthy was an understatement. She looked dead, her once-beautiful mane and tail now lay flat and unkempt. Her eyes, now dull and full of pain, had bags under them. The coat she once had so much pride for had lost all its life, and lay matted across her thin body.
What stood out the most, however, wasn’t her mane or coat, but the scars. The scars that reminded Trixie daily of her worth. The Great and Powerful Trixie, huh? she asked herself with a weak chuckle. Yeah, right. There’s nothing ‘Great and Powerful’ about me. After all, I’m alone.
………………………………
“Ugh!” Rainbow Dash shouted in annoyance. She was currently at the Manehattan Hospital, getting bandaged up after a rather embarrassing crash.
Applejack chuckled at Rainbow’s situation from the side, standing with the rest of her friends. “Oh, suck it up Rainbow, ya shoulda known this was gonna happen when you tried ta attempt that crazy stunt of yours,” Applejack scolded playfully.
Rainbow Dash glared at the country pony. “But this is so annoying. I just wanna get back to Ponyville,” she replied, not realizing the doctor had finished.
“It only took a minute, Miss Dash. You can go now,” the doctor said, ushering them out of his office. “Just stay off your wing for a day or two, and you’ll be okay. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to. Good day, Your Highness,” he added with a low bow, before slamming the door in their faces.
“How rude,” Rarity chimed in, turning towards the exit. That was the moment her stomach decided to speak up. “Erm. Perhaps we should get a bite to eat. I’m completely famished.
Twilight put her hoof to her chin in thought. “How about the Hay Burger? I haven’t been there in forever,” she suggested, her mouth watering at the thought of the delicious burgers.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt somepony bump into her. Before she had a chance to look at the pony, she had already left.
“Well that wasn’t very nice. She could’ve at least stopped to see if you were alright,” Pinkie said, a small frown gracing her face.
Fluttershy simply nodded in agreement. “She looked absolutely awful, do you think there’s anything wrong with her?”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at Fluttershy. “Besides the fact that she’s completely rude? Nothing at all,” she said sarcastically, walking towards the exit.
As the six friends stepped onto the busy Manehattan sidewalk, Applejack decided to ask the question they were all thinking. “Where in the hay is this joint?” she asked, turning to Twilight.
Twilight gave her an apologetic glance. “Umm…”
Applejack face-hoofed in response.
“I could offer directions,” a new voice offered, causing the six ponies to turn towards it.
Standing before them was a completely white mare, with dark brown eyes. On the coat she was wearing held a name tag, on it read “Nurse Flitter”. Standing behind Flitter was a yellow mare with a blue mane. She also had a name tag, which read “Dr. Twinkle”.
After giving Twilight a quick bow, Flitter spoke again. “Where would you like to go?”
“Oh! Thank you for your help. We don’t live here, so we’re kinda lost,” Twilight said, giving Flitter a sheepish smile. “We’re trying to find the Hay Burger. I don’t suppose you could give us directions?”
At that, Twinkle licked her lips. “I love the Hay Burger. It’s my favourite restaurant in Manehattan! Too bad it’s not doing so well,” she said, her thoughts slowly drifting away.
With a giggle, Flitter gave them quick directions. “Head up the street and take a left. It’ll be the second building on your left. I’d love to show you myself, but I’ve got a patient to attend to. Bye now,” she said with a big smile, elbowing Twinkle out of her food-induced stupor.
As the two ponies entered the hospital, the six friends began their journey to the not-so-renowned Hay Burger.
………………………………………….
“Sorry,” Trixie muttered, not bothering to stop for fear of the mysterious purple mare.
Why does she seem so familiar? she asked herself nervously, eyes glued to the ground.
“Well that wasn’t very nice…” was the last thing Trixie heard as she exited the hospital. Wh-What if I made them mad, and they come looking for me?! Please don’t… she thought, looking over her shoulder.
Get ahold of yourself. Quit being so paranoid.
She kept staring at the ground, walking to her destination at a quickened pace. After a minute or so, she neared her destination: The Hay Burger. It was an average restaurant. Not the best, not the worst, but the ponies there are what motivated Trixie to go on a daily basis. As the bell rang, announcing her entrance, everypony looked at the newcomer.
“Trixie! There you are! How are you today, dear?” asked an elderly pony with a cutie mark of a cat.
“I-I’m okay, Miss Felinisty. I’m just a little tired. The nightmares haven’t gotten much better,” she said with a nervous smile, earning a look of sympathy from the rest of the restaurant’s occupants.
The ponies seated at the restaurant were about the only regulars The Hay Burger had. With so many high-class restaurants in Manehattan, the Hay Burger was often overlooked. Therefore, it’s only customers were the bums that lived there.
Trixie often wondered how the ponies paid for everything here, seeing as how Trixie had never seen a single one of them work an actual job. Trixie assumed it was the two ‘sales’ mares in the far corner of the restaurant, playing a silent game of cards.
They were known as Sadie and Gradie. The ponies of the Hay Burger often questioned the legitimacy of how they made their money, but they gave the owners a hefty sum of cash to stave off any lingering questions. Despite their shady appearances, they were good ponies who deeply cared for their family.
Staring out the window at the passing ponies was a young pegasus filly by the name of Shooting Star. She lacked a cutie mark, but had a huge heart. Upon Trixie’s very first visit, Star had opened up to her in a flash, becoming one of the unicorn’s very first friends.
At the bar were her parents; a green earth pony named Dipper and a midnight blue pegasus named Constellation. They were an odd pair, living in a small trailer behind the restaurant and stargazing during warm Manehattan nights.
Behind the bar was the wife and co-owner of the Hay Burger, Mrs. Hay. She was a stout, light yellow unicorn with a heart of gold, always willing to help a pony in need. The first day Trixie entered with Flitter, she had been a nervous wreck.
The regular occupants of the Hay Burger were a strange bunch, but as Trixie learned more about them, they became her only friends outside the hospital.
“Trixie!” Star yelled, attempting to hug her friend. “I was wondering when you’d show up. I’ve missed you!” she said, filled with energy.
At the sound of Trixie’s name, another pony walked through the kitchen doors with a grin. This was Mr. Hay, an orange, beefy unicorn wearing a greasy apron. “Mornin' Trix. Coffee?” he asked in his deep, booming voice.
Trixie simply smiled shyly and nodded. “I’ve missed you too, Star… even if it’s only been a few hours,” she said with a giggle, giving Star a hug. “So how is everypony?” Trixie asked softly.
Dipper stretched and yawned. “Same old, same old. We were actually discussing a move.” At that statement, Trixie’s face fell. Tears swelling in her eyes as she looked at them.
“B-But, that would mean… you’ll leave me,” she choked out, looking at the group with a crestfallen face.
Constellation hit her husband over his head, and walked over to Trixie, embracing her, causing her to flinch. “No, sweetie, that’s the thing. We were gonna ask you to come with us. You are practically family, we’d all love for you to come.” She said in a soft soothing tone. “Besides, it would probably be healthier for you to live somewhere peaceful, rather than living in this crowded, noisy city."
Trixie stared at that, happiness growing inside her like a balloon. “You… You want me to come with you guys?” Trixie asked curiously. “Where would y-we go?”
“It’s a little town near the center of Equestria. A small, peaceful town where everypony knows everypony.” Mrs.Hay spoke up. “I heard that all the ponies there are so friendly. It’s a little town called Ponyville.”
At that word, Trixie felt her heart skip a beat. Ponyville? Why do I feel as though I’ve been there. Maybe I have. Perhaps going there could help me regain my memory. Still in deep thought, Trixie didn’t notice the newcomers entering the restaurant.
Her thoughts were interrupted, however, when she heard her name being yelled by an unfamiliar voice. As a sense of dread began to fill her gut, she slowly turned around. Trixie stared in fear as she recognized the group of ponies from the hospital.
N-No! They came for me! Wha— Her thoughts were cut short as a hoof made sudden contact with her face.
She reeled from the impact, toppling to the floor in pain. She covered her head with her hooves, preparing for the punches and kicks that were sure to come.
She lay there sobbing and expecting a beating, which never came. She glanced up, and noticed Sadie and Gradie, who had evidently come to her defense, and now stood between her and the group of newcomers.
As she got a better look at the new ponies, her heart stopped in terror.
There, at the front of the group, were the eyes that had caused endless pain each and every night for the last two months. The eyes that Trixie feared above all else.
Those haunting, purple eyes.