//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: A Moral Stance // Story: The Magician's Mantle // by DEI Caboose //------------------------------// The earth cracked under the force of his hooves; the hardened soil dusting and flaking away as it clung to his stomping legs with every step he took. His head never twitched in any other direction but forwards, his neck remaining locked straight and his head focused. The only other thing Shining Armor permitted himself to move, other than his legs, were his eyes; which darted from left to right to maximise his efforts in locating the decrepit caravan said to be positioned somewhere in the woodland area. Apple Pie had been quite helpful in giving Shining directions, but the fragile trust that had grown between the two during their brief meeting together had become fractured from Shining’s rapidly deteriorating composure; severally dissuading Pie from escorting him to the location of the abode she had informed him of personally. Shining thanked her for giving him her time however, and Apple Pie had been escorted off to the police station in the city centre by a select group of his guards, where she could attempt to assist in the investigation into the ongoing arsons. He hoped that she could be of some use. Twitching his brow, Shining dismissed his thoughts of the prior encounter; it was no longer relevant at the moment. Shining ran a foreleg along the picket fence as he trotted alongside it, his hoof thumping along the thick white wooden beams; the clanking sound disrupting the relative silence of flowing wind and cluttering hooves upon the dirt. Shining had been told to follow the fence along the perimeter of the farm and to be on the lookout for a ridge that overlooked the city; this would be where the faded golden carriage was supposedly located. The four remaining guards flanking Shining’s rear looked to their Prince startled when a sound akin to a low growl seemed to emanate from him suddenly, his head etching back as he turned his gaze upwards. They all turned in the direction Shining had locked his sight on. The guards all assumed that Shining was simply annoyed at the sharp incline they had stumbled upon, which they would be forced to scale. Unknowingly to his company, Shining was instead focusing on the sight that laid beyond the ridge and a wall of dead trees; the alluring sight of grey smoke rising into the air. Shining expression darkened at the image. He was not happy. To the momentary shock of his guard, the Marshal’s horn ignited with a spark, a furious rose glow flashing out prompted them all to avert their eyes and ears with a swivel of their necks. As their visions returned and the defending sound subsided, the guards turned back to the supposed location of their Prince, each gasped upon finding that nothing remained except for a patch of scorched earth and the residual hum of magic in the air. Before any of them could even begin to panic, a popping sound above gripped their gazes. They all looked upwards to the stone ledge above to see a smouldering Shining holding a hoof to his head, seemingly to ward off an onslaught of growing and grudging pain. After a rough shaking of his head side to side, Shining locked his eyes forward again, and once more began to trot along wordlessly with a fragile stoic stare while his guards scrambled up the dirt and rock behind him in pursuit. Teleportation was not an easy spell and even after all these years of development and cultivation of his magic, Shining could still hear a ringing in his ears and a burning feeling running along his horn, nevertheless, it was the quickest method available to him and Shining was not going to delay a second longer than required. Assured that his destination was in reach, Shining cut through the twisted trees and lounging branches, the brittle bushes and the shrouding mist. He could identify the lingering scent of steam in the air and momentarily paused to watch as it clouded above the barren treeline. He found the steam's source come into view from behind the obscuring passage of bark and trunks. The image of a concealed camp beckoned him to frown. An aging, dirty, once a mesmerising golden but now a dreary yellowish shade of chestnut coloured wagon came into sight. It's crimson roof was darkened by shade and time, as was the chipped paint that lined the outer walls. It appeared to be rather cramped, as Shining was able to circle the property within several seconds. He was quite certain that this was what he seeked; the home of one Great and Powerful Trixie. It was rather mystifying to him how one mare was able survive for so long with so little. So little; which that one, stupid, selfish, bully of a mare did not deserve. Standing by the side of the caravan where the door was located, Shining didn't even notice the sounds of his guards flocking to his sides. He simply glared transfixed at the reddish hue of the wooden door and listened, blocking out the ambient sounds of nature and breathing. A muffled noise of hooves upon a carpeted floor met his ears, and Shining practically leapt up the unfolded steps of the cart in response, hammering upon the wood as he made himself known to the mare he sought within. “Trixie Lulamoon?” Shining shouted at the door, recalled the mare's full name from memory. “This is Marshal Shining Armor!” he continued with authority, before his tone turned low and harrowing. “We need to talk,” he seethed, standing tranquilly but with a guise of evident and ever growing contempt. The sounds of the steps behind the door halted, and Shining was prepared to yell and slam his hooves into the wood once more, however undignified it would make him appear to be. He didn't care. This was something he had to do, and he refused to elaborate to his guard as to why; he didn't have the time and they wouldn't understand. They would not understand the fury Shining felt towards this mare for what she did to his sister. Within the feeble comfort of the dreary wagon, Trixie shivered behind the door, leaning right up against it so she would not be seen by the intrusive and intruding ponies through the windows. The drawback to this strategy however was that she could hear the rumpled drawing of Shining Armor’s breath behind her passed the wall; she was sure she could feel it creeping through the wood, a cooling breeze washing over the back of her neck. A sharp intake of his breath was Trixie's only warning to the rampant banging on her door that followed. “Lulamoon!” shouted the feral guard once more, jerkily leaning towards the windows in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the mare he was sure was inside. “Open the door!” he yelled in a prolonged outburst. His guards at this point where rather unsettled, having no idea what they were doing here other than because they had to follow their Prince. Each grew more and more on edge the more it became apparent that Shining was quickly descending into fury over the situation. None dared to question him. Trixie shut her eyes as she attempted to conjure up some solution, while she also frantically tried to find a reason why Shining Armor was here in the first place. Another bang upon the wood made it impossible to think, furthermore, Shining decided to holler out to his captive audience again. “I've got all day and all night, Lulamoon! You know full well you aren't getting out of this until you get out here!” Trixie couldn't help herself, but Shining’s insistent and infernal knocking forced her to speak up against her better judgement. He was not going to intimidate her into submission. “Trixie would be much more inclined to talk if you would cease attacking her door!” she found herself shouting, reverting to her audacious method of speech to relieve the internal tension she felt. Shining shook as the mare’s voice rang out, momentarily dazed by its unexpected occurrence. He forced himself from yelling in response, instead focusing his voice to be cautioned but still provoking. “I'll stop knocking once you open up!” Trixie rolled her eyes in exasperation at the juvenile request. “How very mature of you, and here I though the royal guard were known for their stoicism!” Trixie irked. If this stallion was going to mess with her, she would gladly return the favour. Scoffing at the remark, Shining grimaced at the mare invisible behind the door. “I would be, if I was here because of the royal guard!” He scraped a hoof witheringly along the door. “I'm here because of what you've done, Lulamoon!” Trixie held a hoof to her head, the continued yelling giving her a migraine. “And what have I done now, Mister Armor?” Trixie scoffed, intentionally trying to vex the angry guard further by intentionally addressing him incorrectly, even though she would gain little from it. Antagonising the stallion to compromise his dominance was one of the few options available to her, since he was clearly not going to be civil. Shining rested his hooves on the top of the steps, with his hind legs upon residing upon the earth. His next word sent a chill down Trixie's back. “Ponyville!” Shining growled, which was all he needed to say. Having been so caught up in her work as Mare-Do-Well of late, Trixie had completely neglected all memories of Ponyville and its populace. Much to her initial joy, but now to her abundant fear. She had known full well that Shining Armor was in Fillydelphia, and had initially feared that Mare-Do-Well had something to do with it; though she no longer suspected that to be the case. For reasons she couldn't ponder at that moment, the fact that Shining, the brother of that Princess, might hold some sore feelings towards her because of the prior incidents in Ponyville had never crossed her mind up to that point. Much to her chagrin now. Trixie felt fear again, and would have gladly preferred it if Shining was here instead because he had found out she was Mare-Do-Well. That was something she could at least deny, whereas this wouldn't be a confrontation she would win so easily. The occurring silence caused Shining to grow impatient and he raised his hoof once again to hammer upon the door, hoping to reaffirm his control over the situation. He froze it in the air when a clicking noise resounded from the doors handle, and Shining couldn't conceal his confusion as the door swung open and a caped azure mare stood before him triumphantly; her eyes narrowed and her head held high. “Trixie has nothing to say to you about Ponyville, Mister Armor,” Trixie said with dismissal and her eyes closed, as if the mere sight of the guards surrounding her was a bore. Her confident front may have been a ruse, but Trixie would never bend over so easily, least of all to a pony antagonising her. If she showed weakness, Armor would most certain try to capitalize on it. Shining gave a steady breath as Trixie stood in expectancy of his retort. Truthfully, he did not know how this encounter would proceed, but being face-to-face with the mare he'd heard so detestably much about was worth the snark and provocation he was met with in return. “I bet you have plenty to say about it, from what I hear you have a tendency to run your mouth," Shining 'greeted' in a grating tone. ‘Now that was rude,’ Trixie thought with aggravation, though she hid it well. “Trixie supposes you've heard a lot of things, funnily enough though, from what she's heard ponies tend to be bias towards your sister and her friends when recalling the stories,” Trixie blinked as Shining's stance deepened, he obviously did not appreciate the quip. “I take it you're not here for an autograph?” she begrudgingly asked. The stunted silenced Trixie was met with confirmed that Shining had no intention of humoring her. She affirmatively decided that pointless aggravation would ultimately get her nothing, so she simply decided to get this over and done with as quickly as she could. It wasn't as if the royal family could hurt her any worse than they already had. Trixie’s confident expression left her and she instead adorned her genuine guise of evolving anger and unease, to which Shining rose an eyebrow to. “What is it that you want, Armor? Trixie wants you gone, sooner rather than later.” The chilling winter air went unnoticed by the glaring pair, neither willing to show any weakness in their posture; standing looming and proud. Shining continued to lean on the steps. Even though Trixie was stood above him, the were roughly at eye-level due to Shining’s natural height and Trixie's smaller stature. “I want you to explain yourself for what you did,” Shining expressed with an eerie calmness. Trixie leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “Trixie has explained herself, and her explanation was more than enough for your sister to pardon her,” Trixie rebutted, building up her defences. “I have the documentation if you are unconvinced,” she added with a smirk. That was a fact Shining could not refute. Despite his insistence to Twilight Sparkle to not request Princess Celestia to pardon the mare who had dwelled in forbidden magic, enslaved her friends and banished her from her home; Twilight had refused to listen to reason. When Shining had first heard about the so-called ‘magic duel’ that had occurred in Ponyville, he had his forces prepared within the hour to hunt the mare responsible for it down. Twilight had halted those efforts however, willing to give an apparent repenting Trixie Lulamoon her forgiveness for what she had done to her, even if she still held some reluctance. Based on what Shining was seeing now, Trixie was anything but repentant. “Twilight may have forgiven you, and you may have a sheet of paper to prove it...” Shining’s frown deepened. “But I'm not my sister, and I'm not going anywhere until I hear what you have to say for yourself.” Trixie grinded her teeth together. As much as she hated to admit it, Shining Armor was the one in control here. This wasn't a simple heckler or another obtrusive nopony. This was the Prince, and there was no way out of this for Trixie unless she just played along. He had the official authority and the positive status to do whatever he wanted. A flake of whiteness suddenly drifted onto Trixie's muzzle; it was cold, dissolving away almost the moment it touched her due to her natural body heat. Looking up, Trixie found that the flake was one of many. It was snowing. It was about time for it too. The unexpected downpour of fickle ice crystals was enough to make the confrontational pair pause for a brief moment to appreciate the gesture of weather, both standing cold but hubristic. As Trixie felt her mane weigh down as it was gradually covered by the frozen flakes, she looked to the stallion contemplatively. Trixie did not wish to grow colder, but detested both options presented to her that she could think of. One option left her in a freezing discomfort, the other made her vulnerable to further confrontation. She knew which one she unfortunately preferred. “Armor, if it is so important for you to pester me like this, could we perhaps do it inside? I'd rather listen to your lark in comfort.” Trixie said with a sneer. Shining was unwilling. He didn't want to be any closer to this mare than he needed to be, but he needed to get this over with and if that meant he needed to enter her home, so be it. Before he could lift himself up the steps however, Trixie pointed a hoof to his chest. “Will I need to remain vigilant when my back is turned?” Trixie asked in a resenting tone. “I could ask the same thing of you,” Shining loathed in reply. Her hoof held steady, unfaltering under Shining’s glare. Trixie took note of how Shining's guard had gripped their weapons tighter once her hoof had been raised, whereas Armor had shown virtually no reaction other than annoyance at remaining in the cold. It made Trixie uncomfortable just how unanxious the stallion appeared to be, and she regretted this course of action of inviting him inside her home almost immediately. After several tense seconds, Trixie returned her hoof to the floor and returned inside without a second glance at Shining, who trotted up the steps with one hoof in front of the other. He took a few moments to absorb the image of the converted carriage’s interior, wincing at the sight of the disheveled carpet, aging furniture and shelves, the tearing curtains and the hastily stitched together bed where Trixie had sat herself upon. Deeming the area safe, if unwelcomed, Shining gracefully shut the door, his guards proceeding to circle the camp; ready to jump in a moments notice. Her eyes locked on Shining, Trixie gestured towards the seat by her desk; it being the only other place to sit in her home. Shining looked to it, back to Trixie, and walked towards it cautiously before sitting with a sigh. To Trixie’s surprise, Shining looked apologetically to the floor where he had tracking in some snow. Leaning back with a huff, Trixie decided to speak, noticeably more civilised than she had been prior. “I take it you would not care for some tea?” “No, thank you.” “Something stronger perhaps? I've stocked up on bourbon.” “Not while I'm on duty.” Trixie clicked her lips, her gracious hosting was apparently not very welcomed, although considering Shining Armor obviously did not like her very much; Trixie didn't know what else to expect. This was not good. Trixie had all but suppressed her feelings towards her past by now, and then this stallion just comes along to dig it all back up. The mere thought of Ponyville just reminded Trixie of everything she wished to forget; all those sleepless nights, the clanging noise of a pickaxe upon rock, those abhorrent thoughts that still haunted her to this day, Maud… Her precious Maud. “What. Do. You. Want,” Trixie seethed out through gritted teeth, her thoughts turning dark as a plethora of forgotten faces flashed in her sight. Shining blinked at the sudden tone of aggravation; not to say that he didn't expect it by this point. He obliged in answering; the quicker he said something, the quicker he got a response and the quicker he was out of here to pursue matters of actual worth. “I want you to tell me why you did what you did,” Shining said with a level voice, deep and glowering. “I want to know if Twilight was right to forgive you,” he continued, his voice rising ever so slightly. “I want to know that my friends and family are safe from you,” he finished with a growl. Trixie was irritated by his accusative and pompous words, hurling some of her own back in response. “Oh! I get it now,” Trixie exclaimed with a false laugh. “You think big bad Trixie has a sinister plot us her sleeve right? You think I'm secretly scheming revenge against baby sister,” Trixie cooed mockingly in a sickly exaggerated voice. Shining etched his neck higher at Trixie antagonising. “I never said anything like that!” He gnawed out. “But considering your track record I wouldn't put it past you!” Trixie gasped, insulted at the implication. So be it then, he insults her, she insults him. All's fair. “You think I don't have better things to do with my time? You think your sister is that important to me, King Chrysalis?” she practically shouted with scorn. Shining leapt up from his seat, his nostrils flaring while Trixie veered back ever so slightly. Shining looked ready to pounce, and Trixie, of course, could not allow for that to happen for her sake. “You'd best calm down, your Grace,” Trixie snidely remarked, though with evident tenseness in her tone. “You think you'll hold your new position for very long if it gets out that you attacked a lone mare in her own home?” she deprecated. Shining had to practically force himself from doing something he would regret, however much this mare deserved it. With noticeable reluctance, he begrudgingly sat himself back down with a heavy groan, aware that Trixie was right in what she said. If the press didn't get him, his guards outside would. Drawing a shaky breath, Trixie decided to keep further insults to a minimum; if she kept riling Armor up eventually he would ignore the consequences, it would be only natural of him. She was injured enough as it was. Despite her internal protest to cease however, Trixie felt a threat was needed if her dominance was to be recognised. “You'd best tread lightly, Armor. I only have to scream and the story would write itself.” Shining ruffled his mane while averting eye-contact, somewhat disgusted with his outburst. “My guards would side with me over you, then who would write the story?” he jested, intending to show that Trixie failed in rattling him. Trixie knew he was right. The guards would side with Armor in an instant and he could say whatever he wanted. It angered Trixie to know that Shining held the advantages, at least in that area. She needed him gone, and the only way that would happen would be if she obliged in answering him, however much she wished to resist. “I have a better idea, how about we get back on track? Trixie tells you why she did what she did, and you and your sister get out of her life forever. Agreed?” “I'd want nothing more,” Shining murmured viscerally. “Nor would I,” Trixie scolded in reply. Shifting about atop her bed, Trixie rung her hooves together as she thought about where she would begin. Was telling the whole story necessary? Some parts were worth omitting more than others. That, and it was quite possible that Shining knew the whole story already, so reiterating it all again would be rather redundant. After consideration, Trixie picked what she considered to be of most importance. The genesis of her pain and the inception of her hate. “You're aware of the Ursa Minor?” Trixie began hollowly, growing numb as she reminisced. Shining nodded in affirmation that he did in fact know about that part. Trixie didn't know if that was reassuring. The next question was of equal importance, seeing as it would inform Trixie of just how much Shining thought the blame laid with her. She took a gulp of breath before continuing, finding this to be much harder than she had anticipated. “Who were you told brought it into town?” “Excuse me?” “You heard me.” Shining was undeniably baffled by the query, after all, he was the one who was supposed to be asking the questions. As far as he knew, something happened in Ponyville involving a wild Ursa Minor, and Trixie had apparently had some influence over the situation. From there Trixie seemingly went into exile, only resurfacing about a year later with an incomprehensible power boost thanks to an enchanted amulet and a vengeful scheme as a result of a year of festering rage. He did not know where she was going with this, but Shining elected to answer if only to satisfy his own curiosity. “Twilight said you convinced two colts that you could defeat an Ursa, so they went off to find one so you could prove it,” he stated factually and monotone, they weren't his words after all. Trixie’s hardened frown twitched at his answer. She had been expecting it, but that didn't make it any less of an annoyance to hear aloud. ’Those two stupid colts.’ “Who do you blame?” Trixie suddenly blurted out, unable to control herself from asking. Shining leaned back, once again not anticipating for Trixie to ask questions. If he was entirely honest he didn't fully understand what Trixie was asking about, as if there was some context to all this that he had not yet been informed of. 'Blame her? Blame her for what?' Trixie picked up on his confusion swiftly, and clarified herself for Shining’s sake. “Who do you blame for the Ursa going to Ponyville? Me, or the colts?” she stated drearily, her mane hauntingly swaying as she flicked her head up towards Shining. The soldier blinked several times as he pondered his answer. He wanted to make it with the most clarity, not just decide immediately based on his admitted bias against this mare. Yet, the more he thought about it... “It doesn't matter,” Shining preemptively proclaimed, slightly unwilling to come to a conclusion so suddenly, despite his evident bravado. Trixie was far from satisfied with his proclamation, and voiced herself accordingly. He would not maneuver his way out of this, not after everything he had subjegated Trixie to thus far. “It matters to me,” she whispered sternly, hoping to prompt a non-inept response. Shining gave a low groan, but realised that Trixie was not going to drop this subject. He supposed it was a fair point though, he had after all asked for the full story. Thinking it over one last time, he decided on his answer, which he knew full well Trixie would not be delighted to hear. “Going off what Twilight said, I'd blame you.” To Shining’s surprise, Trixie gave a dismissive snort in reply, as if she had heard the same response a thousand times. “Of course you would,” she drolly exclaimed while leaning further back on her bed, unconsciously fiddling with the bandages on her hooves as she absorbed her guest’s answer. She found herself speaking soon after, unable to contain herself. “You know what sucks most about being branded a liar, Captain Armor?” Trixie murmured out, unintentionally addressing Shining wrong yet again. She found herself peering around to avoid looking Shining in the eye; at the tattered carpet, decrepit walls and twisted shelves of the destitute dump she so lovingly thought of as home. “Even when you tell the truth, even when you plead to be believed, you never are, because everypony just assumes you're lying,” Trixie continued to spout, her words forming on impulse. “Your sister and her friends made me a liar,” she continued with a twinge of contempt. “Their stupidly worded stories and gossip columns ruined me. They ruined my reputation with petty fabrications and insensitive… Idiocy.” Grabbing his chair, Shining resisted the urge to form a retort considering the way this mare was speaking ill of his friends. He didn't however, he wanted information—clarity, and he wouldn't get that if Trixie's rant devolved into a full on argument with him. He did want her to move the story on however, and swiftly asked about the other detail to the tale that was lingering on his thoughts. “And what about the Alicorn Amulet?” he precariously voiced to the deterring Trixie. If Shining didn't know any better, he'd say that Trixie looked… Remorseful. “I blamed your sister, so I swore revenge,” she stated simply through her downcast expression. Shining furrowed his brow again, not satisfied by the excuse in the slightest. He halted any judgemental words he had for her however, as Trixie continued to wearily speak. “It was never meant to be more than a single duel. I- Trixie- was just going to prove she was better than her, that she wasn't a liar. I was going to beat her just to prove that I could beat her, that I was the-. But that amulet….” Trixie shook violently. One of her wrapped hooves shakily rose to her chest and she rubbed a patch of fur that laid at her neck. Shining almost swore that the little patch was slightly darker than the rest of Trixie's coat. “Suddenly it was no longer about Twilight Sparkle. It was about power, about being the best—number one.” Trembling once more, Trixie held herself tighter and looked up to Shining, her frantic thoughts and lingering pain displayed vividly for him to gaze upon. “I could feel it, taking over, making me do things- think things.” Shining veered away from Trixie’s stare, when the faintest hint of a smile etched itself out across her muzzle. “It was still there after it was taken off. It's still there now, just quieter.” It made him feel uncomfortable. Trixie was speaking of this so casually that it unnerved Shining to no end. “Where's the amulet now?” he warningly asked. Something of such power and darkness should not be out there to be found in the world. “Who cares?” Was Trixie's immediate response, spoken without hesitation. Her manic reflection on the amulet was so easy to be misinterpreted. Truthfully, she was glad to be rid of the thing, she smiled once again once she recalled that she was still free of its clutches. The things it made her think… Those thoughts that still lingered despite the fact she suppressed them as much as she could. Dark magic did things to a pony, and it had done things to Trixie that nopony else would ever be aware of. Not if she could help it. “Do you still blame my sister for what happened?” Shining asked out of the blue, eager to move away from the prior topic of conversation. He was beginning to get a sense of everything that had transpired, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. Finding that Trixie appeared to ignore him, he asked his question again with growing impatience. “Do you still blame my sister?” “Yes.” Trixie didn't even look up, but her tone was firm and absolute. Even after all the time that had past and the things she had done to make up for her mistakes, Trixie still blamed and at least disliked Twilight Sparkle. Hate was not out of the realm of possibility. Shining's disgusted response was immediate. “But she forgave you!” he growled passionately, almost in disbelief that Trixie was so stubborn as to still hold contempt for the pony who had given her a second chance. “And I was- I still am sorry,” Trixie gruffly retorted before her disposition grew meek, and the flashes of a thousand faces shot through her sight once more. “But nothing that happens will take back the worst year of my life. I have to carry myself everywhere I go, if I have to shift some of the weight—the guilt, onto somepony else, so be it, I'm not strong enough to do it alone, however much I think I can.” ’So much for not appearing weak.' Her facade crumbled before Shining’s eyes, and it was in that moment he came to a realisation, one which shattered his own expectations into dust. What was he doing? Why was he doing this? This is just a stupid mare who had a petty feud with his sister, she wasn't important enough for him to have disrupted his own business to pursue. Despite these thoughts of pointlessness however, Shining just couldn't let it go, not yet. “I don't know,” Shining unsurely began. “Know what?” Trixie inquisitively replied. “I still don't know if I trust you or not.” A loud scoff met his twitching ears, and Shining peered up to see Trixie recoil with a snarl and a scowl. “I don't care if you do! Quite frankly, Armor, you could hate me for all its worth,” Trixie snarled, anger overlapping her unearthed feelings of guilt and sorrow. She'd had it with this stallion and his contempt; his despicable bias and his insistent antagonising. “What was even the point of all this? What were you trying to accomplish? Were you hoping that I was some dastardly evil monster longing for vengeance? Some fantasy villain to justify you hating me? Did you want to prove Twilight Sparkle wrong? Arrest me to put your mind at ease?” “Or is it just big brother thinks widdle Twily can't fight her own battles.” The air grew cold yet again, and both ponies resumed their prior hatred of each other. Trixie was sick of Shining’s presence, and Shining was tired of Trixie's attitude. “You're a sad, lonely little mare, Trixie Lulamoon,” Shining seethed aggressively, etching ever so slightly out of his seat. He couldn't help but smirk as he thought up a new way to aggravate her. “You're right though.” Trixie’s glare faulted, and Shining was quick to capitalise on the opportunity. “I wanted you to be that… Villain in my head. I wish you were that monster. But you're just a mare.” “Just a mare, and nothing else.” Trixie trembled at the provocative tone and insulting statement. She understood fully what Shining was trying to do. Just a mare—as in pointless, useless, inconsequential, insignificant. Unlike him, unlike her. “Rather just a sad, lonely mare than a irrelevant servant!” Trixie rebutted, unwilling to let Shining claim the final word. Shining laughed it off, not wanted Trixie to gain the advantage. “Is that what I am now?” he sarcastically pestered. “You'd better believe it!” Trixie goaded as she shot to her hooves, Shining dismissively shaking his head in response, still attempting to appear unaffected. Trixie did not let up, and voiced her opinion of Shining passionately. “You're just a figurehead, something to stand beside your wife when she's giving her speeches. Somepony who will scramble on his knees to Celestia when she whistles. Somepony everypony knows will do as he's told when he's told. A pony who literally no one will miss because instead of contributing to the betterment of Equestria he's spending his time in a dump like Fillydelphia, looking for a mare he's never met just to make himself feel more important!” “That so‽” “Yeah!” The two were in each other's faces in an instant, with Shining looming over Trixie in height and Trixie spreading herself out to appear larger by comparison. They were mere inches from each other and could practically see the scorching contempt lingering in the other’s eyes as they both glared viscerally. Neither would give the opportunity for the other to be at an advantage if things escalated beyond simple words. “You remember earlier when you said everyone thought you were a liar?” Shining snarled through his teeth, his foreboding anger for this mare which had been festering for several months now clearly displayed in his raged expression. Trixie returned the glare with mask of her own—one which showed her utter disgust and intolerance she held for this stallion, and by extension his family and friends. Shining grinned savagely, convinced his next words would shake Trixie to her core. “That wasn't Twilight’s fault.” Her eyelid twitched. “What?” Trixie grunted out. Shining suddenly felt as if the colossal height he held over Trixie just grew ever larger. “In fact Twilight made sure to point out that you tried to fight the Ursa, that when you said you were sorry she thought you were being genuine, even though she still had her doubts about you,” he continued to relay. Shining would never admit, not even to himself, that he enjoyed the sight of Trixie shrinking under his words. “Ponies only think you are a liar because you are a liar, Lulamoon.” Trixie arched her back, but Shining showed no intention of letting up. Trixie just stood there and braved herself to take it all, however much her composure was slipping. “You're unpleasant, selfish, narcissistic, self-absorbed. It's not something anypony other than yourself is responsible for. The only reason nobody has ever believed you—why nopony wants to believe you, is because nopony cares.” The sound of the slap resonated throughout the wagon. Trixie had been unable to contain her erupting feelings of rage any longer. Due to the strike's unexpectedness, Shining had not been ready for the blow and his head snapped to his side after Trixie's left hoof made contact with his right cheek. They both stood dazed, Trixie with her hoof held frozen across her body, and Shining with a mildly shocked expression adorning his sideways face. Trixie did not remain silent for long, and she let the, in her eyes abhorrent, stallion know exactly how she felt. “The only reason you're still relevant to anypony, Armor, is not because of anything you are responsible for,” seethed Trixie tranquilly as she threw Shining's words right back in his face. Her voice was hardly more than a whisper. “You're just a colt playing soldier, thinking he's all that stands between the dark and salvation. Rather self-absorbed of you, wouldn't you say? I've got news for you, Chrysalis. You wouldn't last a day out there without your dotting assistants and pampered guards. The real Equestria would eat you and your sister alive.” Shining had no retort, not because he couldn't, but because he didn't want to. He'd had enough of this, enough of Trixie Lulamoon. Trixie felt similarly. She wanted Armor gone, now. “Was this visit worth your time errand boy?” “No,” was Shining's blunt response. No further words were exchanged as each pony cautiously backed away from the other, Trixie towards her bed and Shining towards the door. He engulfed the handle in the rose colour of his magic, causing it to open slowly due to his careful touch. Outside, despite the snowfall only having started to occur recently, had quickly become a landscape of white, lighting up the earth in the purest way imaginable. Shining was too busy holding a hoof to his throbbing cheek to notice. As he walked down the steps, Shining felt his hooves cool as they sunk into the snow, his crunching steps alerting his now lounging guards to his reappearance, who all quickly sprung back into formation for fear of reprimand. Shining was still too distracted to care and halted himself at the base of the stairs while Trixie began to shut her door and seal herself off from the world once again. “Just so you know, I was never here to find you, it was just a coincidence,” Shining impulsively announced to the diminishing form of Trixie. He didn't know exactly why he told her this. To get the last word in? Because she had a right to know? Because Shining wanted to prove that she wasn't right when she said he was only here to make himself feel important? “Apple Pie mentioned you, said you were living off the land nearby. I wasn't exactly going to pass up the opportunity of… Meeting you,” Shining continued to say, in as proper and confident a tone as he could muster. He couldn't falter, not now, not in front of his guard and certainly not in front of Trixie. To Shining's amazement, Trixie's look of utter loathe actually softened at the mention of Apple Pie’s name, and for the first time that day Shining heard what Trixie sounded like when she felt concerned. “Is she still at home?” Trixie suddenly asked formally and civilly, almost as if her prior antagonistic display was completely nonexistent. Shining obliged in answering her, the desire for conflict completely drained from his system. This visit had accomplished nothing, and Shining felt nothing but an emptiness, not the fulfilment he had for so long been hoping for. He turned his thoughts back to Ms. Pie’s whereabouts, he had no reason or right to lie to Trixie about that, as tempting as he felt the need. “No, we took her to the police station to help us with an investigation she's a witness in,” Shining informed with a stoic mask. “How long ago?” Trixie immediately inquired. “Why?” Shining responded perplexed, his lingering dower feelings returning minutely. Trixie held herself high as she stepped out of her door, her purple magician's hat telekinetically perching itself atop her head as she strutted down her steps. To Shining great confusion, Trixie stood herself at what was supposedly the ‘front’ of her wagon and began to strap herself to it via the use of her hooves and magic. Shining would have asked about what she was doing, but he didn't feel like it was his place to query. The Magician however delighted in one-upping Shining Armor one last time. “Because you were wrong, your Grace. Trixie is not alone.” Indifferent to whatever Shining would say in reply, Trixie magically lifted the stilts of her wagon and began to walk, her hooves crunching upon the snow covered dirt as she started to make her way in the direction of Fillydelphia. One of her friends was alone and outnumbered by the scum of decadence, and Trixie was nothing if not loyal to those who returned the gesture. She would be there for Pie the way her family had been there for her. Shining contemplated the situation and Trixie's sudden leaving, swiftly resolving to go back in the direction he had come, intentionally to avoid following Trixie and to make his way down to the station himself. He'd had enough of her to satisfy a lifetime and had no urge to be around her any longer. He had detestably satisfied whatever conflict he'd sought with Trixie and now needed to get back onto the matters of importance he was here for in the first place. He had an arsonist to stop and a vigilante to catch.