//------------------------------// // 22. Suspicious Shadows // Story: Wanderlust // by DwarvishPony //------------------------------// "Maud?" Trixie asked with more than a little confusion. "What are you doing here?" "This is my family's farm." Maud replied. "I could ask you the same question." "I-I Trixie was staying the night. Visiting with a friend. We were told that there was somepony making trouble, so we were looking for suspicious ponies." Trixie explained. She used her magic to unbind the mare on the ground. "When Trixie saw you, she thought that she'd found the ponies breaking things around the farm." "I see. That makes a lot of sense." Maud stood, rubbing a hoof against the spot on her leg she'd been bound at. "No hard feelings, then." "But what are you doing here? Why were you sneaking around the silo?" Trixie's voice was filled with confusion. "I just got here, but it's late. I was going to sleep in the silo to avoid waking anypony." Maud's voice, on the other hoof, was borderline robotic. "Oh." Trixie scuffed a hoof against the dirt floor of the silo. She didn't know what to say. She was alone with a mare that she felt... something for, though Trixie couldn't put her hoof on exactly what emotion that was. 'We're alone. I should say something! But what?' Trixie's mind raced as she tried to break the silence. She could just picture it now: She finally says something to Maud. The right words. Maud's stony front that she put up would crack and she'd finally realize her feelings for Trixie. Then she'd lean in close and... Trixie stood petrified, lost in her train of thought. "Trixie, you're turning red." Maud pointed out. Trixie let out a sound that could be best described as a squeak combined with a strangled yelp. Her mind had gone far beyond what she'd have been ready for and this was reflected by the fact that Trixie's face had indeed turned a deep crimson. Trixie opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the door to the silo slamming open. ~~~ Spike saw the light of Trixie's magic shoot into the sky. Thinking that Trixie (the only unicorn on the farm at the moment) had found the farm saboteur, Spike took off running towards the silo as fast as his little legs could take him. He either went around or leapt over some of the larger rocks in the field. He wasn't aware of it until he had to sprint across it, but the rock farm was huge! The poor little dragon was panting for breath and he hadn't even crossed the fields yet. So far... Spike couldn't help but miss being able to ride on Twilight's back at that moment. The dragon was so focused on getting to the silo, he didn't see a shadow in the bushes move. ~~~ Marble saw the light shoot into the air as well. Should I go see what's going on? What if somepony gets mad that I left my spot to watch? The mare teetered, stuck between running to help and staying put to keep an eye on the house. If somepony snuck into the house, her parents would get hurt. But if someone was in the silo, somepony else could get hurt. What do I do? The mare was so torn, she never saw the shadowy figure approaching behind her. ~~~ Limestone growled when she saw the light. She knew the unicorn was the only pony on the farm who could do such a thing. "Come on, Dog. Let's see what she found." She'd better be signalling us and not somepony else. Limestone had been slightly suspecting Trixie. With her arrival so conveniently coinciding with the farm troubles, who could blame Limestone for thinking such a thing? Still, the light meant something. Limestone began trotting quickly towards the light, swivelling her head back and forth as she made her way to her destination. She was still going to keep an eye out, in case this ended up being some sort of distraction. Winona had different ideas though. The collie darted off, leaving Limestone behind. "Hey! Get back here!" Limstone cried out as she gave chase. "You're supposed to stay with me!" Limestone was focusing on catching up with Winona. She didn't even see the shadows shift in a rocky outcropping.