Knowing that Trixie wasn't too far from arriving at Sweet Apple Acres, Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could to Applejack. Applejack had now cleared almost all of the apple trees with her bucking and was on the last row before taking a break by the apple carriage. Rainbow Dash made sure not to scare Applejack like the last time she was here, and gave a calm call out.
"Hey Applejack," said Rainbow Dash.
Applejack turned around to see Rainbow Dash floating towards her. She wiped her sweaty forehead with a rag, took a deep breath and waved at Rainbow Dash. Applejack, however, noticed that Rainbow dash didn't look happy, and expected some bad news..
"Hey Rainbow Dash. You're lookin' down. Did ya catch her doin' somethin' bad yet?" asked Applejack.
Rainbow Dash gave a big sigh and sat next to Applejack.
"Applejack... I haven't. In fact, I-I'm starting to think she's not up to anything at all."
A look of disbelief fell onto Applejack's face, followed by a shake of her head. Usually it's Rainbow Dash that's the most untrustworthy of the "Six Equines", but not this time.
"Wait, You're jokin' right? You, out of all ponies, believe her?"
Rainbow Dash replied, "I'm serious Applejack. I've followed her all day so far, and all she has done, or at least tried to do, is help any pony or animal that needed it, or tried to learn something new."
Doubtful, Applejack said,"Uhuh... And did she 'actually' succeed?"
"Well, anytime she tried to, something went wrong and she failed, and even though it wasn't her fault, she still felt like it was. To be honest Applejack,it hurts to see somepony try so hard, only to fail again and again. I mean, I'm one of the most competitive ponies out there, you know that, but jeez, I can't help but feel for her willingness to keep trying."
Applejack was befuddled by Rainbow Dash's answer, but still wasn't buying it.
"So yer tellin' me that you completely trust Trixie now?"
Rainbow Dash replied, "Well, not exactly... I've noticed that Trixie has some sort of a locket that she carries with her. She has taken it out and looked at it from time to time."
Applejack became very interested in finding out about this new information.
"A locket huh? Did ya see what was inside of it?"
"No, but on the top of the locket is a picture of Trixie's cutie mark. Why she would have a picture of her cutie mark on it, I don't know, but it's the only thing that's keeping me from believing that's she's being honest with us about changing."
Applejack rubbed her hoof under her chin and began to figure out a way that she can see what the locket is all about. She couldn't just outright demand that Trixie give her the locket, nor would simply asking work. Heck, Applejack didn't even know about the locket before Rainbow Dash told her. It would be downright suspicious for Applejack to ask Trixie about it.
"That does sound suspicious," said Applejack,"Is she on her way?"
"Yeah. She should be here any second,"said Rainbow Dash.
"Alrighty. Then here's the plan. I'll try too see if I can get a hold of that locket without her noticin', and then we'll find out just what Trixie is 'really' up to."
Rainbow Dash grew concerned.
"I don't know Applejack. Why don't we just ask her about it? It could be just something from her friends or family. We wouldn't want to invade her privacy by outright snatching it."
"We can't take that chance Rainbow Dash," said Applejack, "Trixie wasn't all private about trying to take revenge on us last time, and I'm not about to let her do it again with whatever that locket may be. Plus, we don't even 'actually' know about it, only that you saw that she had one, so we couldn't ask even if we wanted to."
"I suppose you're right... Just... Go easy on her, please Applejack?"
Applejack just rolled her eyes at the idea.
"I'm not gonna be easy on her, but I'll try to be calm with her around."
"Okay. She should be here soon, so I'll watch from one of these trees here," said Rainbow Dash.
The two bumped hooves and Rainbow Dash flew to a distant apple tree that had already been bucked, while Applejack continued work on the last few trees in the field. Even though Applejack agreed with her, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but feel that Applejack was going to push Trixie more than she should. She certainly hoped that won't be the case.
While waiting for Trixie to arrive Rainbow Dash reflected on the day so far and started questioning herself. Was it right for Rainbow Dash to have been spying on Trixie's every move since she got here? Perhaps Rainbow dash should've given Trixie a chance like the other ponies did, but then, Rainbow Dash wouldn't have seen all of the great things that Trixie had tried to do, and that feeling of distrust would still be in her. To make matters worst, now they were going to try and interrogate Trixie about her locket? Maybe it wasn't such a good idea telling Applejack about it.
Rainbow Dash was about to go back to Applejack to see if she could change her mind, but before she could do anything, she noticed Trixie walking up over the hill and quickly rushed back to her hiding spot.
"Please Applejack... Give her a chance...,"mumbled Rainbow Dash.
When Trixie walked over the big hill she saw a sign on a white fence. On the sign it read, "Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres."There was no doubt that Trixie was in the right place. Trixie walked past the fence and began to observe the farm in front of her. To Trixie's left, she saw a red Stallion plowing a field without breaking a sweat, and to her right, was a young yellow filly carrying some eggs from the nearby chicken coup towards the barn. The barn itself was quite massive. Far bigger than any barn that Trixie had seen before.
Trixie looked for any sign of Applejack, but she was nowhere to be found. To find out,Trixie decided to follow the yellow filly into the barn, hoping that the filly would know.Trixie crept the barn door open and looked inside. The barn was just as big inside as it was out. Trixie looked around, and saw the little filly about to put the eggs she was carrying onto a table.
"Um, excuse me, little filly?" asked Trixie.
The sudden break of silence made the yellow filly jump and almost lose the eggs she was carrying.
"Oh. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you."
The Filly regripped the eggs and put them onto the table successfully.
The Filly replied, "Oh it's alright, miss..."
The Filly stopped talking when she turned around to see who talked to her.
"Tri-Trixie?!?"
The Little Filly backed up, knowing well what Trixie did in the past in Ponyville. Trixie didn't want to scare the little filly more than she already did.
"I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm not here to hurt you."
The yellow filly heard what Trixie said, and didn't seem to be frightened anymore by her. Trixie felt bad for scaring the poor little filly.
"W-well, you haven't attacked me yet. So I guess you can't be that bad," the filly said.
The Filly raised her hoof to Trixie as a sign of greetings.
"My name's Apple Bloom. It's Nice to meet you, miss Trixie."
Trixie smiled at Apple Bloom, and then shook her hoof.
"Nice to meet you too."
Apple Bloom asked,"So...Um...Trixie, if you don't mind me askin', why are you here?"
"Oh. Well, I was looking for Applejack. I'm trying to find something I'm good at besides magic, and so I'm seeing if what Applejack does is something I can do as wells."
"Oh! well, she's finishing buckin' the last line of apple trees up on the hill just outside here."
"Great. Thank you, Apple bloom. Sorry again for scaring you."
"Aww it's fine, miss Trixie. For what it's worth from a filly like me, you don't seem as bad as my sister was making you out to be."
Trixie smiled after hearing that.
"Thank you, Applebloom. I just hope your sister is as kind to me. She didn't seem so earlier today."
"I'm sure she will be. Applejack's not usually one to stay upset at folks for too long. Just show that you're a hard worker, and she'll start to like ya."
Trixie nodded at Applebloom and waved goodbye as she began walking out the barn, towards the hill of apple trees. All of the apple trees closest to Trixie were already plucked, so Trixie continued into the field of trees. With each row Trixie passed, she became more frustrated, as each row she seen so far was filled with empty apple trees.
"Applejack must be one strong pony to buck all of these trees in one day," thought Trixie.
Trixie made it all the way toward the back of the field, before following the white fence, edging the property, down towards the left of the field. Trixie was beginning to think that she would never find Applejack, that is, until she found the last few trees with apples in them, and under one, was the orange furred pony she was looking for. Trixie took a deep breath, hoping that Applejack wasn't still upset by her presence in Ponyville, and began walking towards Applejack to greet her.
"Um, hello Applejack."
Unlike the other ponies, Applejack didn't give her such a warm welcome.
"Hello, Trixie. So, you wanna learn how to buck for apples huh? It's not as easy as it looks, and takes a lot of time and strength. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Well, I'm willing to give it a shot, Applejack."
"Hmph... We'll see. Just to let you know, I still don't trust you, and if it weren't for Twilight, I would've kicked you out Ponyville myself."
"I understand. All I can hope is to change that, and perhaps, maybe learn a thing or two from you."
Applejack took a deep breath and directed Trixie to the next apple tree in line. Applejack showed Trixie the process of bucking, and how she uses just enough force to garner a set of apples into each basket, along with packing the basket's into a carriage that her brother, Big Mac, will take back to the barn once all the apple harvesting is complete. Trixie felt like it was a lot of hard work, but she was going to take the challenge no matter what, even if Applejack still disliked her at the end of it.
After showing the last few steps, Applejack pointed to Trixie.
"Now you try," said Applejack.
Trixie understood, and gave the bucking a shot.
Trixie said to herself,"Well, here goes nothing."
Trixie set herself up, ready to kick, and then, "THUMP"! Trixie kicked it about as hard as she could. Unfortunately, she was only able to make three apples fall from the tree. Trixie never really the strongest pony out there. Applejack shook her head at the sight of the barely filled basket in front of her.
"No,no,no...Like this."
Applejack demonstrated the buck again to Trixie. Trixie gave it another shot. This time however, she only made two apples fall. Applejack was getting rather frustrated.
"Come on, Trixie, put your back into it. You can't tell me that's all you got," said Applejack.
Trixie replied, "I'm certainly trying my best, Applejack."
"You're not tryin' hard enough. Try bucking harder!"
With each buck Trixie did, Applejack became more frustrated at her. The pointing hooves and attitude that Applejack was giving Trixie was starting to annoy her and even though she was trying to be as polite as possible, it didn't stop her from getting upset.
"Look, I'm trying my best Applejack. If you don't want me to be here, then just say so! It's not like I'm good at anything else anyways. Perhaps it was bad for me to come here and try to see if I could prove to you I've changed. I'll just leave now."
Applejack got frustrated even more after what Trixie said.
"You can't just quit! Givin' up is worse than anypony lyin' or betrayin' ya, and you seem to fit all three. Didn't you mother ever tea-"
Applejack was quickly interrupted by the voice of a very upset Trixie.
"DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MY MOTHER!" Shouted Trixie.
"Or What!?! You'll try to enslave Ponyville again!?!
Things got really heated between the two ponies, and they were eye to eye.
"I said I was sorry Applejack!," yelled Trixie.
"I...Don't...Believe...You!" Yelled Applejack.
After saying that, to take her frustration out, Applejack bucked the nearby apple tree as hard as she could. Doing so, however, caused every last apple from the tree, to fall at once. Applejack looked up, realizing the imminent pile of apples about to fall on her like earlier in the day. Applejack closed her eyes and covered her head waiting for the impact, however, she didn't feel anything fall onto her. As confused as Applejack was, she opened one eye to see why nothing had fallen onto her. Applejack was surprised, because what she saw was Trixie using her magic to hold a basket above Applejack's head before the apples landed on her. She could tell Trixie was straining to hold the basket up though, and quickly moved from under it. Although she didn't want to admit it, Applejack had to thank Trixie.
"Uh, thanks Trixie... Now I just got to get the rest of..."
Applejack was at a lost of words at what she saw when she turned to look at the tree. There were five baskets, all filled with apples, all floating from Trixie's magic. Applejack couldn't believe that Trixie was capable of doing such, though, Trixie wasn't done yet. Trixie, straining and sweating profusely, began walking towards the carriage that was holding the other baskets of apples while still holding each basket with her magic.
"I'll...Show...You...That...I...Can...Do...It." said Trixie.
"Trixie, don't strain yourself. You'll use up all of your magic," pleaded AJ.
Trixie just kept going, not listening to what Applejack had to say.
"Come on, Trixie, your sweatin' bullets."
Trixie kept going, and it didn't seem like she was going to stop until she made it to the carriage. Applejack didn't know what to do. She could see the determination in Trixie's eyes... This wasn't the same Trixie she once knew. Applejack was actually impressed, but she didn't want the light blue pony, that's obviously in pain, to wear herself out completely. Applejack knew what she had to say, but she wasn't going to like it.
"I-I'm sorry okay? I was a little too hard on you... Just don't hurt yourself! Please stop..."
Even with an apology, Trixie still refused to listen, can continued through the pain of holding those five baskets. Her magic was becoming weaker and weaker, but with determination and the push to prove Applejack wrong, Trixie made it to the carriage. One by one, Trixie placed each basket into the carriage. When the last basket was on the carriage, Trixie stopped using her magic and, although feeling accomplished for what she did, collapsed onto the ground. Applejack instantly went to Trixie's side to see if she was still conscious. Although extremely exhausted, Trixie was still awake, trying to catch her breath.
"Are you alright Trixie?" asked a concerned Appljack.
Trixie while panting, replied, "Next time... don't buck... So hard."
It was like all the bad thoughts Applejack had of Trixie had flown away as she couldn't help but crack a smile at Trixie.
Applejack helped Trixie get up, and let her lay against the carriage for a minute. Applejack wanted to apologize to Trixie for treating her so badly over bucking the apple tree.
"I'm sorry for pushing you so hard, Trixie. I-"
Applejack couldn't finish her sentence, as Trixie interrupted her..
"It's quite alright, Applejack. I didn't expect you to believe me earlier, but I wanted to prove to you that I have changed for the better. I don't know if saving you from a pile of apples does that or not, but I had to at least try and show that I can be strong, and commited."
Applejack put a hoof on Trixie's shoulder.
"I think there's no doubt now that you have changed Trixie. I see tha-"
Applejack lost train of thought when she looked down for a moment to see what looked like the locket Rainbow Dash described earlier, laying on the ground. Not taking any chances, Applejack snatched the locket form the ground.
"Ahah! What's this huh?" Questioned Applejack.
Trixie saw what was in Applejack's hoof, and tried to grab it.
"Please Applejack, give it back!" said Trixie.
"Why you want it back so badly? Are you hiding somethin'?"
"No Applejack. I thought you trusted me now."
"I would completely trust you if you would just tell me what's inside."
"That's none of your business, Applejack!"
Trixie would use her magic, but it was still drained from her carrying all those apples.
"Why don't I just take a look myself, Trixie and see if you're tellin' the truth?"
Rainbow Dash overheard this, and decided that enough was enough. She flew out of the tree and towards the two fighting ponies.
"Please Applejack. Don't open it. It's important to me what's inside of it..."
Applejack wasn't buying it, and using her hoof, began to open the locket.
"Please, don't! It was my mothers!" Yelled Trixie.
Applejack stopped herself from opening the locket.
"Your... mothers?" Asked Applejack.
"DOOOONNNN'T!!!"
The two ponies turned to see a blue pony flying towards their direction. Rainbow Dash tried to snatch the locket form Applejack's hoof, but she hit it too hard. The locket fell out of Applejack's hoof and toward the ground. It was as if time stood still as the three ponies watched the locket fall directly onto the edge of a pointed rock... And snap in half...
Trixie did nothing but stand still with a traumatized look upon her face. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were in shock as well, as they saw what was hiding within the locket.
The locket contained a picture of what looked like Trixie as a Filly. Trixie was wearing her wizard hat, and her cape that anypony could recognize, but it looked like the picture was taken at a birthday party many years ago. Trixie was hugging the leg of a white mare that was smiling down at her... It seemed to be Trixie's mother.
On the inside of the snapped door of the locket, was a message that read,
To my Sweet Little Trixie. May you always be the magical pony I know you are. Don't let anyone tell you any different.
Love, Mom.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked up at Trixie. There was no doubt that tears began to stream from Trixie's eyes. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were speechless and didn't know what to say.
Applejack tried to say, "Tr-Trixie... I-I Didn't mean..."
Trixie didn't say anything, and just stared at the broken locket. She began to pick up the snapped locket's pieces, put it in her pocket, and said one last thing while trying to choke back tears.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry I'm not good enough...mom."
Trixie immediately turned and began to run out of Sweet Apple Acres.
"Trixie, wait!" Yelled Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack with a shameful look.
"I hope you're happy, Applejack."
"Hey, it wouldn't have fallen out of my hoof if you hadn't try to snatch it!"
"I was only trying to stop you from hurting Trixie! Now she's gone off to Celestia knows where."
Applejack was going to respond, but she know she couldn't. It was her fault.
"I'm gonna try and find her. If I were you Applejack, I'd figure out a good way to make it up to Trixie."
Before Applejack could even respond, Rainbow Dash took off to try and find Trixie. Needless to say, Applejack felt like the biggest jerk in all of Ponyville. How was she better than the Trixie she once knew? Applejack was never like this to anypony, why was Trixie any different. Everypony deserves another shot, and Applejack didn't even think about it. Applejack had to make it up to Trixie somehow... Applejack looked at the carriage of apples, and that's when it hit her... Trixie doesn't have a home carriage anymore...
"Big Mac!" she called out, "We got a project to do and we don't have a lot of time!"