//------------------------------// // Chapter Three: The Man in the Coat (PT1) // Story: Silly Man, Trix are for Kids // by CaptainAlbanos //------------------------------// Chapter Three The wagon stood uncomfortably still, while the darkness of the night, ate everything in its way for Luna's art to make its show. Not far away from the protected carriage, lay prone on a building, was a dark figure. The shadow had his eyes cupped together as he looked at the unsuspected box with utmost interest. His black ski mask, hiding the features of who this mysterious person was. 'Well, haven't you two made things rather busy downtown..' It thought, lifting down the binoculars, showing off it's unusual, glowing green eyes. The figure scanned the area around the small block they were on until something caught the corner of his rectangular shaped pupil. A pony nearby seemed to be using his own set of binoculars to peek at the wagon as well; doing a poor job of being disclosed from the other spying creature. Annoyed, but rather amused, the figure removed a small but sturdy metallic cylinder. Moving around slowly on the ground, he fitted a dart that had the two letters, 'K.O.' labeled on it. He loaded the dart, before putting the nosey pony to sleep with a well calculated aim to the neck. The pony's snout, collided with the rough texture of the roof with a crumpling motion as his body fell limp to the affects of the narcotics, flowing through his veins. The remanding spy chuckled amusingly as he scoffed at the snoozing peeking Tom. "Pssshh, Amateur. " The figure muttered, before noticing the opening of the carriage door. The figure hummed silently as he brought his focus back to the figure that stood outside. Alone. ~x~x~ James was having one hell of a night. With his home burning down and his life rolling over, were only stressed to the limits as the bed he was currently sleeping on was a foot too small. "Damned tiny bed." He muttered. Climbing out of the bed, he carefully suck past Trixie, who was snoring rather softly.His weight made the floor boards creek slightly as he tried in vain to exit the carriage. He was foot away from freedom when he heard a soft, but adorable squeak some from where Trixe lay. James turned around and saw her body form into a fettle position, obviously trying to comfort herself from a horrific nightmare. James sighed a bit, before grabbing the sheets that lay near her waist, and lifting them back over her shoulders. Trixie's face seemed to relax a bit as she felt his hand brush softly against her cheek. James, unknowingly, laid his hand against her right cheek, feeling for a rise in temperature. No signs of increased heat, relieved the small worry he had in the depth of his mind. With her sleeping snuggly again, James continued outside. Standing outside in the lot, wearing nothing but some cloth like pants. James did something he hadn't done in years. Rubbing his cold hands together, he blew into his palms, and as an after thought blew again. This time though his eyes glowed slightly, a small jet of flame ignited out to warm his frigid flesh. While his hands were now warm, his his head was throbbing. Him being one of a small percentage of human magic users in Equis, this made it extremely difficult for the out of practice rookie. "Damn, forgot about the headaches." He grumbled, now worse off than before. Though his hands felt warmer. He took the time to examine where he stood. The city this far north from where he usual lived, was a lot more quiet. Almost too quite for the likes of him. After what he had been through, it was unlikely somepony like Fleetfoot, would just give up on making him, and Trixie pay for his utter humiliation. Realizing he was freezing in the dark void, with nothing but pants on and little reason to us the untrained magic for warmth, he opened the carriage door. But As he turned around for one more look, he noticed a shadow standing up in the distance. The figure moved with the dark air, letting him know that he wasn't alone. He stared intensely, making out a human shape before hearing the thundering crash of a garbage can, and the scratching of a cat. He looked back at the spot, but the shadow had vanished. He shook his head, rationalizing it to be nothing but sleep deprived spooks . And maybe too much drinking. ~x~x~ James learned early that morning, that Trixie was an early riser. By six she was up and dressed, shaking the human out of his own fitful sleep. "Come on, James wake up." She shook him again. "We have to go." James grumbled something unintelligible, and rolled out of the small bunk, landing feet first on the wooden floor. Unprepared, Trixie had to step back to avoid being trampled. After she had stabilized herself on the ground, she lifted her hair out of her eyes , trying to straightened it again. "I made some breakfast. That is if you are in the mood for eating." She said, shrugging. James wobbled some more before he sat back on the bed. He straightened his back, getting that great snap, crackling, pop feeling in his back. After he let out a large yawn, he nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good." He smacked his lips some more before stretching his arms. "What'a we have'n?" He asked tiredly. Trixie placed a tray on his lap, careful not to spill the dew dripping, fresh orange juice. The cooling juice glistened with mouth watering anticipation for the fatigued human. Next to it was two pieces of crust spreading toast, soaked slightly in the salted butter that made the center cushioned against your teeth. "Sorry." Trixe said, as she sat on a small office looking chair inside the tiny cart. "No meat. This was the best I could do." "It's great.' James smiled. "Better then nothing. And that's what I'm used to anyway. So don't worry too much about that." He grabbed the orange juice, and unlike his natural drinking instincts, he sipped it casually. Wanting to erase away the morning after taste of his dried saliva. The nursing did the trick, as his mouth regained its full moist potential for the day. Trixe, all the while, smiled sheepishly at the human. Watching him drink more and more of the cooling liquid before she helped herself to some of her own beverage. "So did you sleep well Trixie?" James asked through a mouthful of toast. The mare stiffened a bit, but relaxed somewhat, and said: "Y-yeah, I slept pretty well. Did you?" James ignored the obvious lie, and instead continued the conversation. "Not too great actually, bed was a bit small, but I got over it." Trixie hummed. "Yeah they aren't very big but I've gotten used to them." The rest of the morning went on in silence, until Trixie began moving the wagon through the streets, this time from the seat above the door. Driving it like a carriage. James sat beside her, and eventually the ended up in the trafficked streets of Manehattan Square. At this point, a whole new side of Trixie emerged. "Hurry it up!" she screamed. "Oh, your that kind of driver." James said, A laugh bubbling in his throat. Trixie just continued to fume, yelling ever few minuets, as they slowly left the city proper. Never once did they see the coated figure slink into the traffic jammed wagon, where he hid away. James watched Trixie scream, and cuss the entire trip out of the city, she even taught him a few new pony-curses, he hadn't known before. Soon enough they left the city proper, and began to head west, in the direction of Trottingham, where Trixie planed to put on her first show in nearly a year. ~x~x~ As the sky began to darken, and the city was left long in there dust, James heard, for the fourth time, a loud bang from inside the wagon. Fed up, he asked Trixie to stop, and climbed down off the wooden structure. With a angry grunt he yanked open the door, while Trixie watched. When the door swung open, someone, or something tumbled out, landing with a solid thud onto the dirt. The figure groaned, and started to sit up. "Oh jeeze, that smarts!" The heavy foot, that landed on his chest probably hurt more. "Who the hell are you?" James growled, while the cloaked man squirmed under his heel. Trixie came to stand beside James, wearing a small frown. "Well, speak up."