With the trip to the spa out of the way Trixie was making her way back to the traveling wagon she called home. She felt nice and clean, those spa ponies sure know how to pamper a mare. All through the shampoo and rinse she couldn't help but think about the meal she had shared with Twilight. The subjects raised and the odd way she was looking at her, 'That Twilight sure is an odd one, but i like her.' Trixie thought to herself as she walked down the street.
On her left she saw a familiar Pegasus, one from the show today. The grey mare was impatiently tapping her hooves, waiting outside the public restroom. 'I suppose even in a town this size bathroom waits are a problem. Rather unfair how there always seems to be more stallion rooms than mares.' Trixie mused to herself.
Well the long day was almost at an end, and things had turned out pretty well in her favor. A large crowd attended so plenty of new Great and Powerful Trixie fans. The check from the mayor cleared so at the very least she wouldn't have to worry about eating for a week or so. And then there was Twilight, back to her again. She had to admit, being friends with somepony in her end of the social strata could prove useful. Who knows, perhaps one day Trixie will perform for royalty, 'Yeah keep dreaming Trixie.' continuing her internal monologue.
'Well at any rate it's been a long day, and there's plenty of road up ahead tomorrow, so for now it's off to Luna's domain.' Trixie longed for the lumpy futon mattress she called a bed. It was hard, old and likely full of dust mites, but it lent a certain amount of comfort. That and the fact it's all she could afford on her horseshoe-string budget.
She crawled up the familiar ledge onto her wagon, Trixie paused at the door to pick up the note she had left behind. 'I wonder, what would it be like if my life was the Great and Powerful Trixie's?' She shrugged, such things were idle fantasy, nothing more or less. Trixie was about to crumple up the note and toss it in the bin when she noticed something odd. The little sketch she had drawn wasn't there, and as she looked closer it wasn't her hoof writing either.
All the letters were big and bold like they belonged to somepony just learning to write. The note consisted of the following,
Hi this is Dinky imma be at the Everfree forest learning to fight monsters with THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!!!
P.S. Dont tell mom and dad
Trixie let the note fall to ground, a deathly sinking feeling set upon her. She didn't even know who this was but she could guess, she could guess it was one of the foals from the front row, the ones cheering her on endlessly. Had one of them come by and actually taken the note she left seriously?
Her knee's knocked and wobbled, she'd heard awful things about the Everfree. True the reports about vicious animals made of the very tree's themselves were scary as crap, but they made for a great set piece for the Great and Powerful Trixie's stories. But that's all they were, just stories. In all her years the only thing Trixianna had slew with magic was an annoying horse fly.
"Oh i just know i'm going to regret this. Imma coming little filly!" Trixie shouted at the top of her lungs, she galloped away as fast as her legs could carry her. Though she quickly discovered that she didn't quite know where she was going, just aimlessly running about town. Finally she broke down and decided to ask directions from the mare standing outside the restroom.
"Please miss you must tell me how to get to the Everfree Forest! It's an emergency!" Trixie said with all sincerity.
Shifting her gaze from the stall door Derpy looked over the pony addressing her, "You can get there if you head out of town in that direction." She pointed the way to Fluttershy's cottage, "I hope your not thinking about going in there, once was more than enough for me." Rather than reply Trixie dashed away. "I wonder what's got her in a tizzy? I also wonder what's taking Dinky so long?" Derpy said aloud so as to subtly get Dinky's attention.
When that didn't work Derpy started rapping on the door and using her stern older sister voice, "Come on already Dinky you've been in there long enough. Other ponies need to go as well, Namely ME!" The door gave into Derpy's assault to reveal no occupant. A mixed feeling of paranoia and anger filled the sisters heart, "Just wait till i find you Dinky then your really gonna get it! Eh, just as soon as i'm done here." She rushed inside and slammed the door behind her, the bran muffin she had for breakfast had done it's job.
*****
The Everfree was dark, the dense layer of fog didn't help much either. But that didn't bother Dinky too much, no it was the monstrous cries that echoed all around her that was scaring the hoo-ha out of her. But she was determined to be brave, plus how would the Great and Powerful Trixie react if she saw her acting like a little scardey foal? So first step find Trixie and impress her with your skills.
Dinky found herself lost in a little fantasy, the Great and Powerful Trixie performing on stage wowing the crowds, giving them what they want. Then for the next trick she invites Dinky on stage, the audience roars with applause for the newcomer. She unleashes spells the likes even the gods have never seen. In her vision she even has a nifty outfit matching Trixie's. "Oooh this is gonna be great!" Dinky bounced a little as she indulged in her glee.
Off in the distance she caught sight of what she assumed was Trixie's silhouette. With glee she ran to her new idol, "Great and Powerful Trixie i'm coming!" She rushed over to her side and expectantly waited for a response but something was off. Something about the way her mane was made of leaves and her coat made of wood just didn't seem quite right. That and the awful pine scent coming off the supposed Trixie was raising some questions.
Before any of said questions could be asked the creature pounced, it's wooden joints rattled with each movement. Ducking under a clawed swipe Dinky took off running deeper into the woods, the timberwolf hot on her hooves."I'm *huff* starting to think your not Trixie after all!" shouted Dinky at her pursuer.
At the first break in the line of sight Dinky tried hiding inside a unkempt bush hoping that the beast would just keep running. But the wolf was intelligent, it listened and smelled for it's prey. Dinky's little heart was pounding wildly in her chest, as the timberwolf got closer she could feel it's breath on her, hot and damp. She desperately searched for any escape but there was none, as far as she could see she was trapped, Dinky closed her eyes and began crying.
As the Timberwolf opened it's jaws to deliver a killing blow, something interrupted it. A loud crash, sounds of limbs being shattered and a startled yelp like that of a dog. When the painful end never came Dinky opened her eyes, backing out of the thicket she had gotten into she looked around. There was no sight nor sound of the timberwolf, only it's paw prints remained as well as a deep depression in the soft mud where it once stood.
The forest around her was unnaturally silent, not even the ambient growls of far off predators were there anymore. "H-helloo? Is anypony there?" Dinky cautiously peeked her head around searching for any sign of anypony else, or the timberwolf. All of a sudden the silence fell, all around her echoed frantic noises. Fearing it was the wolf returning with it's brethren Dinky hid herself once more, this time among the thorns.
From her self made cage she watched and listened, waiting for whatever was making the noise to reveal itself. From the top of the ridge came running a silhouetted figure, the fog wafted and wrapped itself around it. Dinky had learned her lesson the first time, she would not be caught off guard again.
The shape seemed to be out of breath, heaving heavy sighs. As it drew closer Dinky could make out more and more of the shape's features, a long silvery mane, deep blue fur. If she had the hat and cape she'd almost be a dead ringer for Trixie. Well at the very least she was a pony and not some horrific monster so she decided to call out to her. "Hello! Can you help me, i'm hiding from the monsters."
The new pony's horn lit up, "Where are you kid? I can't see anything though the fog."
"I'm over here! In the thorns!" Dinky rustled around to try and gain her attention, unfortunately cutting herself in the process.
Rushing to her aid the figure checked to see if she was all right. "What in Tartarus was going through your head kid? This forest is not for the likes of us."
"I know that now, it's just i wanted to meet the Great and Powerful Trixie! She's so cool!" said Dinky. "Say you look allot like Trixie, are you her sister or something?"
Trixianna didn't want to shatter the illusion for the little filly, "Y-yeah, something like that. You know if you wanted to meet Trixie you could have just came to one of her autograph signings. I guarantee there's much less chance of getting mauled by wild animals at those." She pulled away the thorny vines and got a good look at her fan. She was indeed one of the foals front the front row seats, her well kept fur was stained by the grimy mud and her own blood, she couldn't help but feel responsible for what this filly had gone through.
"You should count your lucky stars i found the note you left on my- i mean Trixie's door. I doubt anypony would have looked in here otherwise." Trixianna levitated Dinky onto her back and prepared for the treacherous journey back. "Can you help watch for monsters with me? I'd hate for us to fall into an ambush."
"Allrighty! Then you can take'em out just like you did that timberwolf that had me trapped!" Dinky said with childlike glee.
This concerned Trixianna, she had heard one but seen hide nor hair of a timberwolf, let alone take any out. "What do you mean?"
"Well it was you who saved me right? It was about to gobble my flank and then it was gone. I just assumed it was you," said Dinky.
Now Trixianna was getting really spooked, "I think we should get out of here right away." She burst into a fast trot, leaping over fallen logs, ducking under low hanging vines, looking for the elusive exit to the forest. This continued until they came across a ghastly sight, laying on the ground in front of a cave was the severed head of a timberwolf. Pouring out of where it's neck once rested was a sweet smelling sticky pitch.
"Uh i think that's the same one that tried eating me. What did this?" Dinky was shivering with fear on top of Trixianna, she in turn gave her a reassuring pat on the head.
"I'd rather not find out," As they tiphooved away Trixianna kept her eyes locked on the cave entrance, she didn't know what was inside but the deep heavy breathing told at least one thing. It was large, it was sleeping and most definitely it would not want to be their friends.
From her perch Dinky saw something that filled her with great terror, she began frantically signaling to her escort to look ahead. When she did Trixianna was filled with the same terror, just a few hundred feet away sat a positively enormous behemoth. It's starry blue back was turned to the ponies but they could see it had in it's paws the corpse of the timberwolf. With a resounding crack the creature tore the wooden carcass apart and began lapping up the sweet fluids inside.
Both ponies felt like the wind was knocked out of them, they both knew for sure what the creature ahead of them was, there was no mistaking it. They stood a mere stones throw away from...
The dreaded Ursa Major.
*****
The sun was going down, and there was no sign of Dinky anywhere. Derpy had asked all her little friends if they had seen her anywhere, Berry Pinch said she hadn't even talked with her at all today. Diamond Tiara feigned concern and replied the same. Derpy even went so far as to track down the two she was hanging out with before.
"Dinky's missing!? C-come on Snails we gotta go find her!" said the stout Snips.
"Yeah she's our friend and everything!" said the lanky Snails.
The two ran off in search before Derpy could even ask any questions of them. This day was quickly getting out of hand, her parents had entrusted Dinky to her, with very specific rules and guidelines. "Crap i'm the one that's gonna get it when we get home. Why can't you just do what your told Dinky?"
Thankfully a friendly face came by just when Derpy was feeling down, "Are you alright Derpy? You seem down about something." said Twilight. Over her shoulder was a plastic tote bag full of leftover Hayburgers, a late night snack no doubt.
"Oh thank goodness it's you Twilight! It's my sister Dinky, I've been looking everywhere and i can't find her. She's always doing stuff like this but i still get worked up every time it happens." said Derpy.
"I could help look if you like, i'll ask Trixie if she can as well." said Twilight.
"Thank you, you don't know what this means to me," Derpy said with a little bow. "But what makes you think Trixie will help us?"
Twilight had to arrange today's events in her head, "Oh right i haven't told you yet. I went by just like the card said, and it turns out Trixie's nothing like she acts on stage. She's really nice and we hit things off really well."
Derpy felt some relief, "Good, i was kind of dreading hearing how badly it went."
"Her wagon is parked just over here, i just hope she's back from the spa." said Twilight.
As the two walked over a piece of paper blew into Derpy's face, "GAH! Get it off Twilight!" Twilight complied and took a look at it.
"Oh this must be the note Trixie left before we went to lunch, you can even see her little drawing." She paused, "Odd, there's something on the back as well." Twilight flipped the page and read it's contents. "I think you should see this Derpy." Twilight said in a shakey voice.
Derpy grabbed the paper from Twilight and read it for herself. Her heart sank, and then it flared up with fury. The two of them knew where to find Dinky, and they both dreaded what they would find there. As fast as their legs and wings could carry them Derpy and Twilight made their way to the Everfree Forest, hoping against all hopes that they wouldn't be too late.