Trixie ventured to a train station, which was quite the trek away, being that the nearest one was in Baltimare. It was only an hour or so after midnight when she had started off and it was well past sunrise when she had arrived and used the last of her bits to get a ticket to the Crystal Empire. It was hard to give up the last of her money, as she looked with a grimace at her final two bits she placed upon the counter, but if all goes according to plan, she should be able to earn more than enough back with a good performance.
“Here’s your ticket, miss,” the pony at the ticket booth said, sliding the ticket to Trixie and putting the bits into the lock box. “Enjoy the trip.”
“Trixie thanks you,” Trixie replied, taking the ticket and heading to the train.
The ticket pony was a little moody sounding, and had a gruff voice. Trixie couldn’t tell if he knew of her and was upset with her, or if he was just a moody pony. Trixie did try to be polite and smile, even thanking him despite the lousy tone of his voice as he said the line that he must be obligated to repeat to everypony. But she couldn’t help but feel as though he, and for that matter everypony around her, was looking at her and judging her harshly. It wasn’t stage fright, it wasn’t her being shy, it was her guilt making her paranoid about everypony, and projecting her shame into her thinking that every eye that was in her general direction, and every conversation going on that she couldn’t quite make out, was done so in ill will towards her. But she tried to ignore it, because she knew that it was likely all in her head.
Well, not all of it. Trixie had just sat down at her booth on the train when exactly what she didn’t want happening happened. Somepony recognized her.
“If it isn’t the ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’,” a pony said in a condescending tone as she walked over to Trixie. “I must have missed the show, since you’re already leaving Baltimare. Or did you realize that nopony wants you here before you even got started?”
Looking over at the pony addressing her, Trixie couldn’t quite remember completely, but she knew this mare. It was a cerulean unicorn with sapphire eyes, lapis hair, and an artistic based cutie mark. She did not know her name, but was very familiar with her face, as it was one of the faces that haunted her. A pony that she had shamed in the past.
“Trixie is sorry, but she did not come to Baltimare to perform,” Trixie said, still in third person, but without her boastful tone. “And… Trixie apologizes for any misgivings she may have caused in the past.”
“‘Trixie is sorry,’? You think that makes up for anything? Do you even begin to realize how hard it was to find anypony willing to let me do my art for them, after you ridiculed me and made a mockery of my work?! But I heard what happened in Ponyville, twice,” the mare laughed after emphasizing the word twice. “It was about time somepony put you in your place!”
Fiery pain growing in her chest, right where last night it was revealed that her soul was located, Trixie fought the urges she had to scream at this pony and do unspeakable things with her magic. “Nopony put Trixie in any sort of place,” Trixie said, irritated but trying to stay calm. “Twilight Sparkle saved Trixie from herself and she is much better for it now. Seeing the error in her ways, Trixie has extended an apology to you, whom she has wronged in the past. As there is nothing that Trixie can do to make amends for her actions, whether you can forgive her or not, please accept the apology and leave it at that. There is nothing to be gained in causing a scene.”
The mare was enraged by this. “You don’t get off that easy! It took a long time and a lot of effort for me to recover from the blow you dealt to my self-esteem, not to mention my job. And I’m not the only one. Everywhere you go, you’re like a plague, spreading misery and tearing other ponies down. You’re a bad pony Trixie! Say what you want, but nopony will believe you’ve seen the error of your ways, not even yourself. Put on your nice pony act, but eventually, you’ll go right back to trying to make other ponies miserable to make yourself feel better. I will never forgive you, and I don’t accept your apology!”
With that, she stormed off to another car. When Trixie was sure that the mare was gone, she covered her face with her hat and silently cried to herself. The pain in her soul from the amulet was immense, but the pain in her heart and stomach after hearing that ponies words, and agreeing with all of it, was unbearable.
“Perhaps what you say is correct,” Trixie said under her breath and between silent sobs, “But I have to try.”
Despite the verbal attack that she just suffered, or perhaps because of it, Trixie’s drive to better herself and perform in the Crystal Empire became stronger than ever, even though she silently cried herself to sleep. It was a long trip, and she hadn’t exactly slept well, or much, the night prior. Fortunately enough, she did not dream in her sleep this time. No dream she has had in the previous months has ever turned out well for her. Unfortunately, dreamless sleep passes by in an instant. Though it was a couple hours later, Trixie awoke suddenly as though she had only blinked. She turned to the window of the still moving train with a slightly confused frown.
“Trixie must have dosed off for a bit. Celestia has already moved the sun past midday,” she said, also taking note of the surrounding landscape. “Trixie has never been this far north before,” she shivered. “It looks cold.”
It was indeed cold outside. It wasn’t winter, yet snow blanketed the ground. There was also a gentle snowfall, but with the train moving as fast as it was, looking out of the window made it seem as though a blizzard was raging outside. Trixie yawned, loudly at first, but then very quiet as she noticed that her car was nearly full of new passengers who had gotten on at previous stops. No pony noticed, but Trixie felt mortified. Then, the view out the window changed in an instant. Bright, springtime meadows instantaneously replaced the northern snowfall, showing the very clear and cheerful border of the Crystal Empire.
Blinking frantically at the new sight, Trixie rubbed her eyes and said to herself, “Trixie needs to use the little filly’s room,” She got up and made her way up the aisle. “If Trixie remembers correctly, the restroom is two cars up.”
She reached the door and then stopped dead in her hoof tracks. Turning pale as a ghost, Trixie observed through the window of the door, the contents of the car before her. There were no seats in the car because it was used for certain storage and guests outside the norm. This particular case happened to be a bunch of ponies who were exercising in one form or another. Two Pegasi were doing wing ups, while another, much bulkier white one was lifting a barbell. One earth pony was doing pull ups on suspended rings, and three little fillies were practicing some flag routine. All of this was unusual to be doing on a train, but more importantly, there were two ponies in particular that Trixie knew right off the bat. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were amongst them.
“Of all the… Why do they have to be here? What are those two doing, going to the Crystal Empire at the same time as Trixie?” Trixie said, ducking below the door window.
Trixie soon got her answer, when she overheard Rainbow calling for everypony’s attention.
“Listen up gang. We’re almost there, so I’ve got a few things to say.” Rainbow said. Everypony in the car stopped what they were doing and gave her their undivided attention. “First off, who here, besides me, thinks this is the best Equestria Games delegation in Ponyville history?”
Trixie glanced out the window to see the Crystal Empire in the distance. She would marvel at it, if she wasn’t preoccupied with a thought. “The Equestria Games is being held in the Crystal Empire? Now of all times? How did Trixie not hear of this?”
Not bothering to listen to the rest of Rainbow’s speech, Trixie returned to her seat, content to hold off on using the restroom until they arrived at the empire. At least with Twilight, Trixie didn’t feel as though there were any hard feelings between her and the main six anymore, but she went on her journey of seclusion for a reason, and the last thing that she wanted was coming face to face with Twilight before she was able to fully overcome the effects of the Alicorn Amulet. And if Twilight’s friends are here, she’s probably around as well. Not to mention the fact that she is a princess now, and like all the other nobility, is probably overseeing the Equestria Games. Trixie couldn’t perform here. Not now anyway. Not only did she not want to be noticed by the main six, but she also didn’t want to be just a side show at the games.
Resisting the urge to get up and pace in the train car, Trixie said to herself, “What should Trixie do now? There’s no way that she can perform here while the Equestria games are happening. And why does Twilight Sparkle and her friends have to be here at the same time as Trixie?” she stopped and thought hard for a second before shaking her head. “No, Trixie has been everywhere else, this is the only place that she can perform at the moment.” Biting her lip, Trixie steeled herself and said, “Very well then. Trixie will stay within the Crystal Empire and keep a low profile until the games are over and done. When she is sure that Twilight Sparkle and her friends have gone back to Ponyville, she shall start to advertise her show to the Crystal Ponies. Just so long as she is not spotted by anypony until then, this should work.”
She returned to her seat and did her best to keep quiet, as if Rainbow and Fluttershy might here her in the other car if she should so much as whisper to herself. The instant the train had stopped, Trixie bolted out the exit and to the nearest restroom in order to, do her business obviously, but mostly to avoid being spotted as the train’s passengers disembarked. She splashed her face with water and looked in the mirror.
“What should Trixie do now?” She said to herself, relieved that she was alone and free to do so. “It will be tomorrow at the soonest that she can do any sort of performance, and Trixie has no place to stay until then, no money to use until then, and nopony should spot her until then, at least in any memorable way.” Leaning heavy on the counter before the mirror, Trixie looked deep into the reflection of her violet eyes and sighed. “I miss my caravan. If I were less vain at the time, I should have used all of those bits to replace it, rather than purchase that accursed amulet.”
With the realization that hiding in this bathroom the whole time wasn’t an option, Trixie quickly dried her face and cautiously headed out, breathing a sigh of relief when she noticed Rainbow, Fluttershy, and their group already far away from the station and towards the Crystal Empire.
Trixie took a moment to marvel at the Crystal Empire before she shook her head free of worry and began to motivate herself. “‘Screw your courage to the sticking place’!” She recited to herself. “Whatever will be, will be. Trixie needs food and shelter for the night, and she will not attain it if she lingers here for much longer. Brace yourselves Crystal Ponies, for I am Trixie and I have arrived!”
“Is that so?” A voice said from behind Trixie as she spoke to herself, for the second time in the past twenty four hours.
Nearly passing out at the sudden interjection, Trixie recalled hearing Shadow speak those very words, in that very manor, last night. The tone and delivery of the words were exactly the same. Only the voice differed from before. She turned slowly to see from whom those words came from this time and was completely mortified to see that she had delivered her self-motivation speech in front of none other than Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, who had just arrived by means of Pegasus drawn chariots. It was Celestia who had spoken, and at that realization, a thousand theories ran through Trixie’s head as to the possible connection between Shadow and Celestia. There had to be one, but she couldn’t see it.
“Forgive me Trixie, it seems I’ve caused you some distress in speaking up, but I couldn’t help myself.” Celestia said, apologetically, though with no less grace than ever.
Fumbling for words, Trixie fought hard to not stutter or whimper as she said, “Not at all Princess. I’m terribly sorry for making you think that, but Trixie... I mean, I have a lot of things weighing on my mind at the moment and the last thing I expected was…”
“That anypony was around, let alone the two of us?” Luna teased, playfully.
Trixie blushed intensely, and couldn’t help but shrink into herself. “Precisely.”
Celestia placed her hoof upon Trixie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for our forwardness and unusual familiarity with you, as it seems to make you uncomfortable. However, I know you must be familiar with my faithful student…”
“Graduate, actually,” Luna interjected.
Giving a small laugh filled with pride, yet you could tell that she in some ways missed the connection of mentor and student, she continued, “Twilight has told us a bit about you, and what you’ve been through.”
Looking a little grim, Trixie said solemnly, “Twilight Sparkle must have sugar coated whatever she has shared with you, else you wouldn’t want to be so forward and familiar with Trixie.”
This time Luna put her hoof on Trixie’s shoulder and looked her strait in the eyes in earnest. “Not at all Trixie. Twilight Sparkle spared no details in her tales of you. What you have done, and what happened afterwards. And I can see it even now, within your eyes.” Luna smiled warmly. “I can relate to what you’ve been through, and what you’re going through now. Dealing with one’s past is never easy, but trust me when I say that you shall be much greater for it afterwards, o’ Great and Powerful Trixie.” With that, the princess of the Night finished off by, almost in a motherly manner, fixing Trixie’s hat, which had gone lopsided.
Trixie could almost cry, and she almost cursed herself out loud for her comment about Luna last night. There was no doubt in her mind now, that the princess would save her from her nightmares if she could, but perhaps the amulet’s lingering power interferes with that in some way.
She sniffed and said, nearly choked up, “Trixie sincerely hopes that you cannot relate to everything she is currently going through now.”
Both Celestia and Luna looked at each other with confusion for a moment before Trixie explained her unusual circumstances and the encounter last night that brought a great amount of revelation to her woes. Leaving out Shadow’s name and the fact that he is a demon, as that is something Trixie assumed might be best left unsaid.
“Hmmm. An immortal guardian to all of the dangerous artifacts, from whom I can only assume is Star Swirl the bearded? That would certainly explain why most of them haven’t surfaced since his passing. I had simply assumed they were all lost somewhere.” Celestia pondered.
Luna was more focused on other things, embarrassingly cradling Trixie and apologizing profusely for not being able to do anything for her nightmares. Trixie broke free of Luna’s embrace and looked upon the two princesses in a new light. Celestia was very much like Twilight in some ways. Or rather, Twilight must have picked up those traits from Celestia. And Luna was far more compassionate and relatable than one would expect for having been Nightmare Moon at one point. It was kind of nice to see them this way.
“In any case,” Trixie said, much more relaxed with the princesses now than before. “If you don’t mind Trixie’s asking, what exactly are you doing here at the station? Wouldn’t you’re chariots usually be taken straight into the Empire?”
“We are a little early Tia, you could have given me those extra five minutes.” Luna pouted, having been reminded why Celestia got her up so early, since Luna usually sleeps through most of the day.
“But then we would have been denied the opportunity to speak with Trixie here.” Celestia calmly retorted. “To answer your question, we are awaiting the arrival of the foreign ambassadors, who will be arriving by train. Two of whom, you might recognize, Trixie. The delegates from Saddle Arabia. Thanks for the fireworks by the way. They definitely helped with Twilight’s performance.”
Trixie blushed and laughed with a little pride and embarrassment. “Speaking of Twilight Sparkle, Trixie would be most appreciative if you not tell her of Trixie’s current plight. There is nothing that she can do to help, and that’s not for any lack of trying that she would undoubtedly undertake. Trixie must deal with this in the manor of which the guardian described to her, and she intends to do so after the Equestria Games have concluded. Just, please spare Twilight the worry.”
Luna looked towards the ground. “If only the elements were still usable. Twere they that had removed mine tainted power, surely they could have done the same for you, dearest Trixie.”
“But the guardian gave you clear instruction,” Celestia said, trying to uplift the two of them. “And I have faith that you can handle this task. Rest assured, I won’t say anything to Twilight about it, and I’ll see to it that you are taken care of tonight.” Trixie opened her mouth to humbly decline, but Celestia raised her hoof and stopped her. “And before you say anything, yes, I do insist.” And with that, Trixie closed her mouth, defeated. Celestia continued, “Don’t feel as though you don’t deserve it, Trixie. In truth, this is a seed to a possible crisis that Luna and I should do what we can to stop, but there is nothing in our power to do so. I’m placing my faith in you for this task and intend to at least help you to this degree. Make me proud, Trixie.”
There it was again. Once more, Celestia said, in the same exact way, the same words spoken to her last night. “Incidentally,” Trixie said at this thought, “does the name ‘Shadow’ mean anything to you?”
Celestia tilted her head in confusion. “Should it?”
“I guess not.” Trixie said, waving it off as though it were nothing.