//------------------------------// // Anxiety and Reassurance // Story: The Great and Powerful Who? // by Quick Wit -Littlepip- //------------------------------// This train ride couldn’t possibly be any longer, could it? To Trixie, it felt like forever. The seconds slowly inched along, each minute felt like an entire hour. Trixie was rather confused by this. Why, in the wide world of Equestria, does this feel like the longest train ride in history?  Trixie had tried everything to pass the time; games, reading, napping, eating, even telling stories to Star. But not a single thing helped Trixie out for long. It was the most tedious situation Trixie felt like she’d ever been in. Each time she would look at the clock, it seemed as though somepony had turned it backwards. She felt as though there was a mysterious force at work, trying to keep her from reaching Ponyville. With a loud, annoyed sigh, Trixie rested her head against the window, moaning in agony. Her heart was beating in her chest anxiously, to the point that she was feeling the blood pulsing through her head. Her mind was racing with thoughts of what it would be like once she arrived in Ponyville. She was hoping it would be a wide open little town, much different than the high rise city she had stayed in for the last few months. Trixie was even beginning to feel claustrophobic, perhaps due to her extended time in this accursed little train car. She was also hoping for a nice relaxing stay. Maybe, if she was lucky, she would get a small town, with no trouble in it. Yeah, why would they put a princess in a dangerous town? Of course it was safe.   The loud train whistle broke Trixie from her thoughts, causing her to jump in the air. Ignoring her tiny bit of fear, she looked around the compartment with wild eyes.  “Are we finally there?! I’m getting sick of this train!” she practically screamed, jumping off of her seat and heading towards the door in a furious trot, attempting to get off the train as soon as possible. Before she could make it to the door, however, she was stopped by Dipper’s voice. “What’re you talking about, Trixie? We haven’t even left Manehattan! Are you in that much of a hurry to see your friends?” he said. Trixie could easily hear the suppressed laughter coming from him. “You mean we haven’t even left yet? It feels like we’ve been here for hours!” Trixie groaned out, slumping down into a sitting position.  Today was going to be a long day. “Maybe  I just have a fear of trains or something.” “Or maybe you’re just hungry?” Dipper replied, shrugging his shoulders unsurely. Unlike his wife, who was currently leading Star to the bathroom, he wasn’t quite as good with advice. “Maybe you should go get something to eat.” If looks could kill, Dipper wouldn’t even make it out of Manehattan. Trixie sat there, glaring him down like he was an annoying big brother. And funny enough, that’s how Trixie felt about him. “Well, since you’re no help, I’m gonna go ask someone else. Do you know where everypony else is?” Trixie asked, sighing at her predicament. She was close to praying to Celestia for an easy life once she got to Ponyville. “The Hays and Mrs.Felinisity are in the compartment to the right of us, and Sadie and Gradie are somewhere else. Why? You nee-  And I’m alone!” Dipper never even had a chance to finish his sentence before she whipped the door open and rushed out. With a close of the door, Trixie took a few steps towards her right, and sure enough, there were a few of the other ponies in her little caravan of misfits. Knocking on the door, she slid it open, receiving three warm, welcoming smiles. On one side were the Hay’s, both of them holding hooves, which Trixie found rather cute, and on the other side was the old cat mare herself, Mrs. Felinisity, who happened to have a cat in her lap. The conductor would only allow one in the compartment, the others were in the private cargo car Mr. Hay paid for. “Hello there, Dearie. Come to check up on us?” Mrs. Felinisity asked, setting down her cat.  Trixie recognized the cat to be Mittens and relaxed, as he was one of Mrs. Felinisity’s more relaxed pets. Trixie was quite happy not to deal with Angel again, she had been lucky to not need stitches after her last encounter with that particular feline. What kind of animal was dumb enough to leave its tail out where anypony can step on it like that anyways? “In a way, I just came to ask you for a little advice. Mr. Dipper isn’t exactly the pony to go to when you’re confused about anything,” Trixie explained. “I didn’t think anything was really wrong in the first place, but after Mr. Dipper said something about me possibly being hungry, I started to think that the knot in my stomach might be due to being worried…” Trixie smiled a nervous, sheepish smile. Honestly, she had no idea why she should be having any problems. She already resolved her distress over her missing clothes, and had a plan for her Twilight issues. At least, for the most part. And now that she was thinking about it, she was definitely feeling a queasy on the inside. But why was she feeling like this? “Well, Trixie. What’s the issue?” Mrs. Hay asked, hoping to be useful in aiding Trixie. “Well, that’s the problem. I thought all my other little problems were bad, but the way I feel right now. It’s all queasy-like, like stage fright if you’d like to compare it to something. And I have no idea where it’s coming from. I just- I just-” “Woah, Trix! Take a breath kid! It’s probably just moving jitters, nothing to worry about,” Mr. Hay barked out, chuckling at Trixie’s disgruntled state. Causing Mrs. Hay to shake her head at his actions. “Please dear, you know nothing about mares, so let us offer our assistance,” she said, referring to Mrs. Felinisity and herself. “And, Trixie, I know exactly what you’re going through. It’s what I like to call The Pen-Pal Syndrome.” The compartment grew silent at that, which was shortly broken by Mr. Hay’s muffled laughter. With a glare sent his way, Mrs. Hay continued. “What I mean is this. You’ve gotten so used to talking with your friends through letters, you’re afraid they’re going to be different in real life,” she stated with a sagely nod of her head. “But, I’ve already met them, that doesn’t make any sense.” Trixie really didn’t understand how Mrs. Hay could have reached that conclusion. They can’t be any different than they were three months ago, right? “But, my young grasshopper, you hardly knew them at that time, and now, now you know them extremely well. So you think of them as different ponies altogether!” Mrs. Hay stated happily, crossing her hooves, proud of her explanation. This caused the rest of the ponies to look at her, somewhat confused. “So… what are you saying exactly?” Trixie asked, her confusion only growing. Why is it that nopony could give her a straight answer? “I suggest you sit down and reassure yourself that they are your friends, and they’ll be exactly as you know them. You’d have to figure out the best way yourself, ‘cause everypony is different.” “Reassure myself? I have the perfect thing in mind! Thanks!” Trixie yelled suddenly, turning to quickly rush out the door, though not before saying a quick goodbye and thank you, of course. Trixie closed the door quickly, took a left turn, and began walking. As Trixie moved through the train, she could barely hear her own thoughts. The rushing of ponies through the train, the announcements and yelling of the ponies in the station, combined with the normally bustling noise of the big city all caused Trixie to feel like her eardrums would soon blow out. Of course, a mare as great as her had rather sensitive ears. Trixie paused for a second and shook her head, confused at where such a strange thought had come from. As soon as Trixie passed onto the second car, she ran into Constellation, who was leading Star through the hall by hoof. “Hey there, Stella,” Trixie shouted out, catching her friends attention. “Oh hey, Trixie! What are you doing here?” “Just heading to grab something from my belongings,” Trixie explained, smiling sheepishly at Constellation. “I didn’t get to tell Dipper where I was going, so it’s a good thing I ran into you, huh?” “Trixie.. you know the luggage cars are at the end of the train, right?” “Ummm……. yeah?” Trixie asked rather nervously. There was one thing she seemed to always do, and that was make a fool out of herself. “Well, you’re heading towards the front of the train, not the back,” Constellation said, giggling at how silly her friend could be sometimes. It was always the small things that Trixie would mess up, never something big. Trixie just stood there, staring at Constellation. How did I… Trixie groaned in annoyance, turning around and stomping away angrily. “You mad, Trixie?” Constellation yelled behind her, laughing at Trixie’s behavior. How could I go the wrong way!? I hate this train! Trixie thought to herself, shoving a hoof in her face as she rushed her way towards what she now knew was the end of the train. She quickly passed by her compartment, only sparing small glances at her companions. There wasn’t much to see for the next several train cars. Trixie passed a number of ponies, and occasionally a family, on her way through the train. But overall, it was rather boring. I despise this train with every fiber of my being… trains suck! Wait! What is this!? The most beautiful thing she had ever seen had just entered her view! Love at first sight? Trixie now understood it all. She just stopped and stared. And what was it she saw? She would call it heaven, but anypony else, they would call it the buffet. Trixie stood there, stars in her eyes. They say food was the way to a stallion’s stomach, but everypony knew that was also true for Trixie. So… hungry! I didn’t realize I was this hungry until now. Trixie felt her stomach growl as she licked her lips. Maybe just a bite. No! I have to get this done! But… A snack for the road doesn’t seem too bad. And with that, Trixie used her magic to grab a nice large brownie from the dessert table, quickly restarting her quick pace towards the luggage car. On her way, she slowly munched on the brownie, savoring every bite. She honestly wondered how she weighed so little, yet ate so much. It was a surprise that she was still skinnier than Spike with how much she ate. It didn’t take much time for Trixie to devour her brownie and make it to the end of the train. Her journey was treacherous, lesser ponies would have dropped dead from the agonizing quest long ago, but Trixie was more than a normal pony, so of course she made it. Trixie shook her head again, wondering where this strange rush of emotion and pride kept coming from.   Trixie stood before the doors of the luggage cart, and, with a deep breath, pushed them open. There, on the inside of the car, was the treasure Trixie was searching for. Mountains of suitcases, boxes, safes, bags,  and everything else you could pack onto a train. Thankfully, Trixie could see her very own luggage packed neatly into the corner. Mr. Hay must have personally made sure everypony’s stuff was put on board correctly. Trixie approached her items, aiming towards a particular box in the corner. Unlike the other boxes the family had packed, this one was made of a much more sturdy material. Not to mention it was deep purple in color, her favorite. Why was this box different than the others? Because unlike the others, this held her more personal belongings, the things that meant more to her than anything else. It wasn’t much, but it was all Trixie really needed.