The sun was barely a pale circle beyond the mist, which covered Ponyville soft and white. But the fine, filtered light, shining through the round windows, felt like a promise for a nice and sunny day of fall later.
Nevertheless, at the moment Twilight didn't want to miss the warming fire in her library's fireplace.
"Sorry, Sugarcube.. ah don' get it," Applejack shook her head in disbelief. She sat upon one of the benches in the main hall, together with Rarity. Pinkie, known for her immense patience, was bouncing trough the hall, but stopped dead now, frowning.
A few hours ago, Trixie had been seen by the inn outside the town. According to the description, she was a bad sight. So bad, even the innkeeper didn't recognize her, until she had left in the early morning.
"I think Trixie is not evil at all. She was mesmerized by the Alicorn Amulet. Now that it's gone, she would have realised, what she did. Maybe Trixie had refused our help - or maybe she didn't dare to ask. We had the chance to help her, but didn't. And now she seems to be in real trouble...," Twilight explained. She knew how proud Trixie had been the last time. A pony like her would have asked for help. Even if she had been in dire need of a friend.
"She's a meany. I mean - she wizzardeded anypony around. And than this cheesy cheese-dome over Ponyville. Aaaaand. She, cursed my mouth shut!" Pinkie blurtet, now hopping frantically again.
"Mayyyybe t'was not aaall bad aboud'er.", Applejack responded thoughtfully, rolling her eyes.
"At least she deserves a second chance. And her condition lead to the conclusion, that she has undergone very bad times. More then enough repentance, if you ask me darlings," Rarity stated, placing her hoof on the table in front of her to fortify her point.
At this moment, the door was yanked open and Rainbow Dash rushed in. A few steps behind and by far quieter, Fluttershy entered in a slow trot.
"Soooo we are gonna save Trixie, huh?", Dash focused Twilight, grinning adventurous.
"I thought, you had your doubts about her," Twilight was caught off-guard.
"Yeah. Maybe...," Rainbow scratched her neck. "I doubt her - but I believe in you, y'know. And if you say, there is a chance, I will help you. What a friend would I be otherwise?"
A quick look at Fluttershy, silently beaming in the background, let Twilight smile suspicious.
"And Fluttershy didn't have to do anything with your change of mind?"
"Hehe. Now. Maybeee a little bit," Rainbow Dash blushed, giving a sheepish smile.
"Rainbow Dash came to me - this morning. Right after you talked with her. Uh, I am very happy, that you plan to help her. You know, I was just about to talk to you about this," Fluttershy said calm.
"So you are convinced that we could help her?" Twilight looked in Fluttershy's direction.
"Oh no no no. Not could Twilight. We have to help her. Look. Its going to be cold. She has nothing left. She lost her cape and her hat. No wagon, nor a place to stay. And she surely feels terrible. There is no other way - we have to find her," Fluttershy stated.
Twilight watched the other ponies, thinking about Fluttershys point, with light unease.
"Yeah. Maybe she's a brat - but, nopony deserves to freeze 'n starve. At least we should offer her a chance. But Ah won't turn mah back on her...," Applejack pondered loud, and got affirmative nods as response.
Twilight sighed silent in relief.
* * *
Most times of the year, you can find pretty everything to survive just at the roadside. Herbs, fruits, even wild wheat.
With a little bit of skill you can manage to produce one fine campfire. Dry grass covered with soft fern - a bed as cozy as any one in the royal chambers in Canterlot.
Long before Trixie became "The Great and Powerful Trixie" she was used to travel; had learnt the tricks of the road years ago. She appreciated it to feel new paths under her hooves.
To follow just her muzzle, embrace the freedom of the land and to hear ever new stories. Trixie never regretted, having left the school on her own. What was it worth anyway, to be a gifted unicorn, just to be put in a golden cage.
But now, she was poised to ignore her own experience.
As it wasn't most times of the year. The golden leaves had fallen, even far in the wilderness between the settlements. And cold winds whispered stories of the upcoming winter.
Barely one night she had stayed at the inn by the crossing roads. She - that means 'The Great and Powerful Trixie' was by far to... popular around there. Trixie had even swallowed her pride and had introduced her as 'Beatrix Lulamoon',
a name, she hadn't used for a real long time. But the disguise didn't even hold for one evening. This young pirate-filly seemed familiar. But on the other hoof - the sheer number of faces, Trixie had met in her life, made it plain impossible to remember them all. Thankfully the parents didn't recognize her.
Would have been a lot to explain - especially to the innkeeper-nephew of the Ponyville mayor.
Maybe she didn't look so good lately. She had lost weight, for sure. So starving helped at least hiding her.
Thus early in the morning, just before Princes Luna ended her shift, she left the warm, welcoming building. Again a shelter, she was forced to leave.
So she headed south. To reach one of the small villages beyond the Everfree Forest. Tough she didn't dare to set hoof in this celestiaforsaken woodland.
Not that she were frightened of the legends surrounding the Everfree. It was more the real dangerous creatures, which were anything but legends, living there. Yes, she could survive in the wilderness.
Unless the wilderness decided to survive on her cost...
Anyway. The road turned out to be longer than she had estimated. Or at least had hoped.
Trixe hadn't seen anypony for the whole day. As mentioned before - travelling in winter, was just a bad idea, no sane pony would consider unless absolutely necessary.
The day had been lousy cold and the wind had grown stronger. It was foggy and damp.
Maybe a few days, before it starts to snow. And no settlement in sight.
Her diet had consisted of dry berries and some withered grains. Only two carrots, from the bushel she had grabbed as a compensation for her work, were left.
She tried to get comfortable for the night. Outside the wood Trixie didn't spot any shelter. No caves, no suitable trees. So she set camp beneath an old, standing rock, surrounded by shrubs. The edges rounded from millennia of rain and storm. Strange symbols carved in resembling a kind of five-fingered branch, facing towards the Everfree. An ancient watcher. Like a warden of the forest, keeping the creatures on their side of the border. She liked the image.
The campfire produced more smoke than anything else, and the wind couldn't decide, from which direction it should blow. To make things even better, the fog changed to a cold drizzle. Even her skill didn't help much, as the only pro-tip in this situation read 'just avoid to camp without any shelter. Especially if it rains. And storms. And winter is about to come.'
Maybe it was time to use a bit of her magic. Hungry and freezing, she was anything but in a good state to cast spells.
Despite the fact, she concentrated. At first she managed just some useless pale-violet sparkles. The second shot produced actual flames in the smoking stack of wood logs. An illusion of a fire to be exact.
The third shot was exhausting. But at least she managed to convince some of the logs to burn.
Yeah... a good illusion convinces the mind. A better one was able to take effect on living bodies. But to trick the reality... that's a true masterpiece.
And so the unicorn could leastwise embrace the illusion of heat, as the flames were just to weak to hold the cold night at bay.
Suddenly soft trotting was up the road. Trixie startled for a moment, then she left the camp site, to hide in the bushes. Maybe somepony from the inn had recognized her face and Trixie was sure, that maybe somepony would have some questions about amulets and cursed towns.
The chaser got closer. She didn't hear any clanking sounds - like armour or weapons would have made. And the steps were really light. A small pony maybe. Some farm-foal from the surroundings. Nonetheless, it could be dangerous.
A few moments after, a really small white and brown foal - complete with red bandanna and eye patch and a warm looking jacket - passed by.
"Pipsqueak?", Trixie yelled in surprise, shocking the young colt screaming off the road.