“You’ve bucked half of yer trees already?” Applejack surprisely asked when she went to check on Trixie’s progress after twenty minutes of work.
“Yes. I woke up in a real good mood again!” Trixie cheerfully said. “I should be done in about half an hour.” Applejack chuckled a little. “What?”
“Sorry, but, you sound like Rarity sometimes, sugarcube.”
“I do?” Trixie smiled.
Applejack nodded. “Ah think it’s nice. Ah’ll get you a glass of apple juice. Yer sweating!”
The showmare ran one of her forelegs through her face. She was, indeed, sweating a lot. “I think that I need one. I’ll be right here, apple bucking. Or, at this rate, I could be over by the time you get back.”
“That’s the spirit of an apple!” Applejack said before heading towards her home while Trixie turned to face a tree, she magically put a basket under it and kicked it to make all the apples fall at once, like the rest. It would normally take one or two kicks more to do that and it would later leave her extremely tired, but not when she received a boost like the one she had the previous night. Trixie continued until, five minutes later, Applejack returned with her apple juice. “There you go, sugarcube.”
“Thank you, Applejack.” The Unicorn said as she magically took her glass and drank some of it. “Much better.”
“Ah’ll go get one for mahself before continuing. Ah’ll come to see how yer doing later.”
“I can lend you a hoof when I’m done, if you want.” Trixie joked.
“Ah’ll keep that in mind.” The farmer pony smiled to her and walked away. Trixie drank the rest of the juice too fast and got a brainfreeze. She put one of her forelegs on her head.
“How many times do I have to tell you to not to drink cold drinks too fast, my darling?” Trixie raised her head, not caring about the pain anymore and looked behind her to find Rarity smiling at her.
“Rarity! I-I, you...” The pain increased while she tried to speak and she had to put her foreleg on her forehead again.
“Allow me.” Rarity said as she softly caressed Trixie’s forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thank you.” Trixie said with dreamy eyes, causing Rarity to giggle.
“Trixie-boo, you always rush everything. Take your time, the drink isn’t going anywhere.” She stopped caressing Trixie’s forehead. “I can’t always be behind you.”
Trixie smiled. “What are you doing here, Rarity? Not that I’m complaining, of course.”
“I came here to ask you when shall we head to Unicorn Hills. I’m going to buy the tickets now.”
“You won’t give up, will you?” Rarity shook her head, smiling. Trixie sighed. “Fine… get tickets for tomorrow. The sooner this is over, the better.”
“Very well. I better go to the train station now or else I’ll distract you with my beauty.”
Trixie chucked. “Yes, you would… I’ll see you later, beautiful.” The fashionista smiled and turned. She walked a few meters away before turning again, just when Trixie was about to kick another apple tree.
“Oh, Trixie-boo!” Trixie kicked the tree in a wrong way and all the apples fell on her. The blue Unicorn got her head out. She had an apple stuffed on her mouth so she spitted it. Rarity put one of her hooves on her mouth to prevent her laughs from escaping.
“Yes, my lady?” Trixie said with fake annoyance.
“I love you!”
“I love you too, Rarity.” The fashionista closed her eyes, smiling and began to walk away. Trixie shook her body to remove all the apples just as Applejack approached galloping.
“What in tarnation? Are you okay, sugarcube?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I just got… distracted. I’m sorry, I’ll pay for the apples if they are ruined.”
“Ah’m more worried about yer wellcare than the apples. They could have crushed you!”
“I’m fine, don't worry.” Trixie said as she magically took the apples from the floor and put them inside the basket. "I'll leave when I'm done. I just remembered that I have to practice magic with Twilight"
“Sure! Try not to overdo yerself, Trixie!”
“I won’t. Thank you, Applejack.”
Applejack smiled and walked to her trees to continue apple bucking, not before noticing Rarity walking away from her farm. “Ah should have known.” The farmer pony said to herself with a smirk.
***
The next day, both Rarity and Trixie were arriving to the train station to take their train to Trixie’s hometown. They had saddlebags in case the trip took longer than expected.
“How are you feeling, Trixie-boo?”
“Nervous. I haven’t seen my parents in years… I don’t know how will they react when they see me again.”
“Relax. It will all be fine. You have already told me that they weren’t mean to you.”
“I know. But I left without leaving a note. I never wrote to them nor anything. I don’t even know if they still live there.”
“We will find out soon.” They finally arrived to the train station and Rarity presented the tickets. The ticket vendor looked at them weirdly before allowing them to pass.
“That was… strange.” Trixie confusedly commented.
“I know. The other employee did the same when I bought the tickets yesterday.”
“Really? Strange...” The mares boarded the train, which was in a really bad shape. It parted a few minutes later. Nopony else was on board. “We parted already? But we are the only ponies on board besides the train conductor!” Trixie was even more confused.
“I don’t know, this doesn’t feels right… but since we are already moving we might as well sit and wait.” Trixie nodded and followed Rarity to the closest seats and sat next to each other. The white pony laid her head on one of Trixie’s withers. “So… how did you do with Twilight yesterday?”
“I did good, great if you allow me to say. She told me that I’m improving fast, which is a good sign. I have learnt many spells already, but I really hope I don’t have to use them.”
“At least you’re prepared if something happens.” Trixie nodded. “I'm sorry for not visiting you yesterday. Sweetie Belle did a mess in the kitchen and I had to clean everything and look after until my parents came for her.”
“Don’t worry. When I was going back to the cottage, I found Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie having a tea party with some of the forest critters and they insisted me on joining. I had fun with them. I’m glad that I got used to Pinkie Pie.”
Rarity giggled. “She's a good friend, but I must admit that I still find her company slightly annoying when I'm alone with her.”
“I can’t blame you.”
Rarity happily sighed and snuggled more against her marefriend. “What about your birthday job?”
“Oh. I have to ask him when is the birthday. I will do that tomorrow.”
“But what if it is today, or tomorrow?!”
“Rarity, I think that he would have told me if any of those were the case. Don’t worry.”
“Are you absolutely sure?” Rarity asked as she moved her head from Trixie’s wither too look straight at her eyes.
“Yes, I’m absolutely sure. You sometimes worry too much about me, Rarity.” Trixie said, smiling.
“My apologies, I can’t help it. I just want the best for you.”
Trixie kissed one of Rarity’s cheeks. “I know. That’s another reason why Trixie loves you.”
The fashionista smiled and gave Trixie a peck on her lips. “So, something I should know about your parents before meeting them?”
“Well, my father is often in a bad mood due to his job being demanding and my mother likes to be a house mare; cooking and cleaning. There isn’t really much to say about them, I think you’ll manage.” Rarity looked down, she seemed nervous. Trixie put her forelegs on Rarity’s. “Now, who’s worried?“
The fancy Unicorn looked at Trixie again. “I-I’m not worried!”
“Rarity, lying isn’t correct for a lady.”
Rarity sighed and looked out the window. “Maybe I am… I wanted to meet your parents so badly that I forgot to think on what to say. First impressions are never forgotten and they can be a decisive factor for some ponies.”
Trixie hugged her marefriend from behind, her hooves around her waist. “Rarity, as I said, I think that you'll be just fine. Don’t worry too much about what to say. Let your brain do it’s job as soon as you meet them, okay?”
Rarity took Trixie’s hooves with her own and closed her eyes, smiling and calming down. “Thank you, Trixie-boo. You’re a wonderful pony.”
“Of course I am. I’m the great and powerful Trixie! No pony is wonderfuler than me.”
“Wonderfuler?”
“You know what I meant.” Rarity giggled and turned to hug Trixie properly. The wagon fell silent. The mares didn’t break the hug for a while; enjoying their company and snuggling. When they finally broke the hug, Rarity laid her head once again on Trixie’s wither. Trixie pulled her closer to her. The rest of the trip was silent and calm. It didn’t take long before the couple fell asleep.
When the train finally began to slow down, Trixie was the first to wake up. She immediately recognized her hometown. She couldn’t help but to smile at the nostalgia. Maybe her childhood wasn’t the best, but she still grew up there. Besides, she had good memories of the town. Trixie shook Rarity’s body softly.
“Rarity, we’re here…!” But the mare in question mumbled something on her sleep. “Rarity...” Trixie stroked Rarity’s hair.
The fashionista slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was Trixie close to her and smiled. “Trixie-boo… you will need to do something else to fully wake me up.”
“Oh! Silly me.” Trixie leaned towards Rarity’s lips and kissed her. “We have arrived, my lady.”
Rarity sat straight and yawned as she stretched.
“I have never slept in anything more uncomfortable than here. I don’t know how can ponies sleep on these seats.”
“For starters, the seats and trains are usually are in a better shape.”
“You’re right.” Rarity said before yawning again. Trixie watched her with dreamy eyes and the fancy Unicorn noticed her. “What?”
“The just woken up you is just so cute.” Trixie simply said as she nuzzled noses with her, causing Rarity to blush.
“I don’t know how you keep making me blush.” The fashionista said before standing up.
Trixie did the same. “Because Trixie is irresistible.” Both mares giggled before exiting the train, close to each other. However, their smiles faded when they looked their surroundings. The entire town seemed to be abandoned. The shops closed, the structures were in ruins, and the whole place was filled with homeless ponies. The streets were dirty and filled with trash, ruins and dust. The whole town looked like if a tornado just passed by.
“Trixie-boo… I’m not liking this… this town is supposed to be colorful.”
“It wasn’t like this when I left...”
“We should probably leave.”
“No. I have to find my parents!” Trixie began to gallop all of the sudden. Rarity couldn't catch up with her.
“Trixie, wait! Not so fast!” But Trixie didn’t slow down. She had to get to her old home fast.
Eventually, Trixie stopped and Rarity almost crashed with her. The fahionista walked to Trixie’s side, panting.
“Trixie… I’m not as fast as you. My hooves are not made for this.” Trixie didn’t reply. She was looking at the house in front of her. Or what used to be a house. “Trixie-boo?”
“This is… where I used to live...” Rarity turned to see the same house Trixie was looking and gasped. It had two floors. The interior could be seen since most of the walls fell. It looked like if it was affected by a fire. The showmare walked into it.
“What are you doing?”
“I have to see if there’s anything left...” Rarity didn’t say anything else and followed her marefriend inside. There were wreckages everywhere; Almost everything was consumed by the flames. Trixie headed upstairs, being careful where she stepped. Rarity didn’t follow her, sensing that she needed to be alone at the moment. Instead, Rarity explored the ground level.
She walked, watching her surroundings. The paintings were ripped off or completely burnt down, the decorations were broken and moho were covering parts of the walls. The fahionista walked until she reached a room which used to be a bedroom since part of a matrimonial bed could be seen under part of the roof which fell. There were holes in the walls so the room had light. She noticed something under some wreckage. She removed them and found a small safe. Rarity noticed that it was opened so she took a look inside. She found a book inside, or that’s what she thought at first. She magically took it and blew the dust from it. On the front, there were just three words written. Family Photo Album. Rarity gasped and trotted upstairs.
“Trixie! Where are you? I have something to show you!”
“In here!” Rarity followed the voice and found Trixie in another bedroom. “This used to be Clementine’s room and mine...”
“Oh… I’m sorry...”
Trixie sighed as she looked down before gazing at Rarity, smiling slightly. “Thank you... What did you want to show me, Rarity?”
“Oh, yes! Look what I found.” Rarity handed over the photo album to her marefriend, who took it with her magic and her eyes widened.
“Wh-Where did you find this? And in such a good shape!”
“Inside a safe in which I believe it was your parents’ bedroom.”
Trixie smiled, putting the album inside her saddlebag before hugging Rarity. “Thank you for finding it...”
“You’re most welcome, darling.” They moved their heads so they could meet each other’s eyes.
“We should probably leave now. But I want to visit my brother before doing so.”
“Of course. I'll follow you.” They walked outside and Trixie lead Rarity to the cemetery, which was also in a terrible state. ”What happened here…? Who would do something like this?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. I just want to get out of here.” Trixie’s voice sounded shaky. Rarity didn’t blame her, she was also scared and wished to leave as soon as possible.
They eventually arrived to Clementine’s tombstone. Trixie sat in front of it and Rarity waited a few meters back.
“Clementine… I’m really sorry for not visiting you and for not bringing you anything. I thought that I would find a flower shop opened nearby, but…” She sniffed. She couldn’t hold her tears any longer and she began to cry quietly. “I was a terrible sister. I escaped my problems instead of facing them and that only brought me misery for years. I miss you, big brother… I miss you so much...” Trixie couldn’t form any more words. She sobbed and cried harder. Rarity rushed to where Trixie was and hugged her. The blue Unicorn hugged her back and cried on her chest as her marefriend stroked her back. Rarity couldn’t prevent some tears from escaping her eyes.
“I’m really sorry, Trixie… this must be really hard for you. I can't imagine how are you feeling.” The crying Unicorn nodded. “I couldn’t prevent myself from hearing you. Trixie, from what you told me, you were a good sister. I’m sure that Clementine would have understood why you didn’t visit him before.”
“How can you know…?” The blue Unicorn managed to ask before sniffing.
“You told me that he and I shared some traits. I would have forgiven you.”
Trixie raised her head to meet Rarity’s eyes. “Thank you for being here to support me... “Thank you for making me come… I-I needed this...” Rarity smiled apathetically and kissed Trixie’s forehead before hugging her again. “I’m feeling a bit better.” They stayed in that position until Trixie stopped crying.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes, Just let me...” Trixie stood up, walked to Clementine’s tombstone and hugged it with her eyes closed. “Goodbye, Clementine. I will never forget you.” She opened her eyes and something caught her attention. “What the…?!”
“Is there something’s wrong?” Rarity asked as the magician pony approached to a tombstones behind Clementine’s and read the names closer.
Here lays Light Dusk and Shiny Gem. Parents with misfortune and no family left. They will be missed by their few friends. Trixie didn’t look away and stood still, which worried Rarity and made her to walk next to her and read the epitaph.
“Light Dusk and Shiny Gem… You knew them?”
“Yes... They... they were my parents...” Rarity’s ears raised.
“Wh-What?!”
“I can’t believe this. First my brother, then my parents… I have no family left... not in Equestria, at least.”
“Trixie...”
“Let’s just get away from here.” Trixie said with anger to hide her sadness, walking out the cemetery and to the train station. Rarity followed her in silence. They waited until their train arrived and boarded it, not noticing that they were being watched by a Pegasus in the shadows.
“Trixie, you’re so stupid and predictable. I knew that you would come back sooner or later, and you have somepony special with you. Perfect. My revenge will be sweeter now!” The mysterious Pegasus laughed maniacally as the train parted. He waited until it was far enough so he could follow the train without being noticed.