Sunset Eclipsed

by EldritchNexus

On The Move

Meanwhile in Vanhoover, Trixie, Pressure Point, Nose Nip, and Frosty were sitting in the Obsidian Horseshoe.

"Okay, something really needs to be done around here." said Trixie. "Sunset Shimmer, Radiant Dawn, and Lightning Dust have all gone missing. Until one of those three have come back, all of you are going to have to answer to me."

"And why should we?" asked Nose Nip. "You ain't even from around here!"

"Because I happen to be Sunset Shimmer's friend." explained Trixie. "And I'm probably the most experienced unicorn in the city right now."

"Present company excluded, right?" asked Pressure Point.

"Yeah, who do you think you are, just making yourself look all high and mighty?" agreed Frosty.

"I happen to be none other than the Great and Powerful Trixie, the greatest showpony in all of Equestria." she said.

"And the biggest loudmouth, too." said Pressure Point. "It's kind of her thing, really."

"Very funny, cousin." snarked Trixie Lulamoon. "But really, does anypony else have idea what we should be doing?"

"Not me." admitted Nose Nip.

"Ne, neither." said Frosty.

"Well, then I say we go out into the forest, and find them." said Trixie.

"Trixie, this sounds positively suicidal." said Pressure Point, flatly.

"What doesn't sound suicidal around you, Pressure?" countered Trixie.

"Fine. But how do you propose that we go out and look for them?" asked Pressure.

"Nips and I could guide you around the forest." suggested Frosty. "It'll probably get us killed, but it'll be worth it to see our friend Radiant again!"

"Then I say we get out there as quickly as possible." said Nose Nip.

A few minutes later, Trixie, Pressure Point, Frosty, and Nose Nip were hiking in the forest outside of Vanhoover. They were traversing along a path along the edge of the forest, from which the skyline of the city was visible. Trixie even stopped a moment to examine the city they just left: From the train station to the East to the docks on the West, all of Vanhoover was glimmering brightly under the sunlight and bustling with activity.

"Wow, this is one beautiful city." Trixie couldn't help but comment.

"It's no Canterlot, but it's pretty...neat." agreed Pressure Point, who stopped along the road between Trixie and Frosty.

"Neat? It's absolutely wonderful!" said Trixie. "All the ponies here are so nice, and generous, and..."

Then she paused. There was a rustling noise further in the treeline opposite of the city. A dark shape emerged from the trees and tackled Trixie without warning. The two were sent rolling down the road, and into a patch of trees below.

"Oh, you're so gonna get it!" growled a female voice. "You're gonna die today, pony!"

"What did I do to you?!" exclaimed Trixie in surprise.

"Something's going to die!" shouted the voice.

"And it's not going to be me!" Trixie struggled, her horn glowing brightly.

She unleashed a spell from her horn, which knocked the attacker off of her. The brief moment of freedom gave Trixie the time to see who her attacker was: A crazed gryphon with ruffled purple-tinted feathers on her head.

"Gilda, what's the matter with you?!" demanded the voice of Frosty, who was charging down the road with Nose Nip and Pressure Point.

"Watch out, Frosty." said Nose Nip. "Something's not right about her."

"You two buzz off!" said Gilda, who sharply turned her head to glare at them. Her eyes promptly glowed green.

"Wait, that ain't right." said Nose Nip. "Aren't her eyes supposed to be yellow?"

Gilda simply responded by rushing at Nose Nip with her claws extended. She swiped at his head, by missed when Pressure Point blasted the gryphon with a burst of energy from his horn.

"Thanks, doc." said Nose Nip.

"No problem." said Pressure Point.

Gilda thrashed about on the road, grunting and cursing as she hesitated to choose who would be her next target would be. She decided she was going to try attacking Pressure Point when she was suddenly struck from behind by an electric current from Trixie's horn. Stunned and surprised, the gryphon collapsed to the ground.

"What was her problem?" asked Frosty. "She doesn't normally act this violent!"

"She's been brainwashed." said Trixie, who approached the catatonic gryphon with her horn glowing. "I can tell from personal experience."

Using her telekinesis, she levitated Gilda so that she was on her feet again, and then stared into her dizzy eyes.

"Must...kill...pegasus." droned Gilda.

"I'm not a pegasus, you psychotic moron." said Trixie. "I'm a unicorn. In fact, nopony here is a pegasus."

"Not unicorn...Lightning Dust." said Gilda.

"You tried to kill Lightning Dust?" interrogated Trixie. "Where is she?"

"Changelings...took her. Said I....failed." said the dazed gryphon.

Trixie struck Gilda on the beak.

"What are you talking about?" asked Trixie. "Where are the Changelings?"

"I...they're in the forest." said Gilda.

"Where in the forest?" inquired Trixie.

"There's a cave entrance. Ten miles South from here." said Gilda, at a halting pace.

"Wanna bet that's where Sunset and the others have disappeared to?" suggested Pressure Point.

"Probably." said Trixie. "The Changelings have been after her for days now. If they have any intent on taking her alive, they've been taken into that cave."

"A reasonable suggestion as any, cuz." said Pressure. "Nips! Frosty! Do you two know anything about this?"

"Well, I do remember spotting what looked like a pit or a cave on one of my hikes through these woods." said Nose Nip. "It might be what Gilda's talking about."

"Great, you just now brought that up." snarked Frosty. "Come on, let's go look for this thing, then!"

"But what about Gilda?" asked Nose Nip.

"You're right, Nips." said Frosty. "What should we do with Gilda?"

"I say we just leave her here." said Trixie, coldly. "Leave her to fix her own problems."

"Now, now, cousin." said Pressure. "Let's not be a jerk about it."

"She tried to kill me!" reminded Trixie.

"But as you said, she's been brainwashed!" said Pressure. "We should at least take her to a more controlled environment."

"Yeah, like a prison cell in the royal barracks." said Trixie.

"No!" urged Frosty and Nose Nip at once.

"Why not, guys?" asked Trixie.

"Gilda's really not that bad when you get to know her!" said Frosty.

"She kinda is." said Nose Nip.

"Shh!" snapped Frosty. "What I'm saying is...well, she might be a jerk under ordinary circumstances, but she doesn't normally try to commit any serious crimes like what she tried to do a few minutes ago. So you can't really blame her for this."

"So what do you suggest we do?" asked Trixie.

"Let's keep her with us." said Frosty. "At least for a little while."

"She does look very battered." commented Pressure Point, upon further analysis of Gilda's body. "Perhaps I could take the time to maybe patch her up for a minute."

"You guys, you guys!" shouted another voice.

It was Teddy, who galloped down the road from the direction they first came from.

"I just saw you guys leaving town!" said the blue earth pony. "What are you up to, and what the heck is Gilda doing here?"

Trixie, Pressure, Nose Nip, and Frosty looked at each other awkwardly.

"We're looking for Radiant, Sunset, and Lightning." said Nose Nip. "And something's up with Gilda over here."

"Something sure looks like something's up." nodded Teddy. "Why's she looking all busted up? Did someone give her what was coming to her or what?"

"I don't know." said Trixie. "But she just tried attacking me not too long ago. I can't even begin to guess why, only that she was somehow brainwashed."

"Brainwashed?" repeated Teddy. "Brainwashed by who...or what?"

"We think it's the Changelings." said Frosty.

"Changelings?!" said Teddy, surprised. "There are Changelings in this town now?"

"That's right." said Nose Nip. "Just knocked a white one out yesterday afternoon. And apparently, it did something with Radiant and Sunset."

"Well, we should tell the royal guard at that barracks about it, then!" said Teddy.

"That's what you are going to do." said Frosty.

"Do what?" asked Teddy, confused.

"You're going to tell Sergeant Bullpup, the commanding officer of the town's garrison, about what we're planning to do." said Nose Nip. "And you're gonna take Gilda here with you?"

"Why Gilda?" said a flabbergasted, even offended Teddy. "Why do I have to take her there!"

"Because she knows something about where Sunset Shimmer, Radiant Dawn, and Lightning Dust have gone off to." said Trixie. "They're my friends, and you're going to help us find them! Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am." nodded Teddy, uncomfortably. "Well, I'll get Gilda over to the guards, then."

He approached the dazed gryphon, who then hissed angrily like a cat at him. Teddy jumped back in shock.

"Um...this is going to be harder than I thought?" said Teddy, nervously.

"Hang on, I'll calm her down." said Pressure, whose horn was glowing.

He waved his horn over Gilda's head, and the female gryphon seemed to mellow out somewhat.

"There you go." said Pressure. "She should be a lot easier to reason with now."

"Thanks." nodded Teddy, who proceeded to guide Gilda back to Vanhoover.

"And how do you know that?" asked Nose Nip, when they were out of earshot.

"Oh, it's just a muscle-relaxing spell I read about in Canterlot." said Pressure. "When used on the brain, it can make the target ease up, and become less aggressive."

"And you didn't use that to help me before because...?" asked Trixie, suspiciously.

"Well, it looked like you had everything under control, to be honest." said Pressure in a calculating tone. "Now, how about we go and look for that cave?"

"Yeah, before something even bigger comes out to attack us." said Frosty, who turned to Nose Nip. "Not that I'm scared, of course."

"Oh, don't worry." said the muscular earth pony. "I ain't gonna let anything big or scary get you, my little buddy."

"Umm...thanks." said Frosty, with a slightly assured look.

Trixie couldn't help but be reminded of Sunset and Radiant by the interaction between Nose Nip and Frosty. Trixie genuinely felt amused by this. At the same time, though, it made her feel guilty about not being at Sunset's side as often as she could and should have.

"Alright, let's move on." said Trixie. "We're going to go into those woods, find that cave, find our friends, and kick any Changeling flank we come across. Are you three ready?"

"I sure am!" said Frosty.

"Ditto here." said Nose Nip.

"And if this is seriously all I'm good for right now, then I guess I'll join in on your little crusade." said Pressure Point. "I won't even attempt to argue how reckless and potentially life-threatening this is."

"Good." said Trixie. "Because I'm really not in the mood for your redundant complaints."

She then led her companions further down the road, ready to take on anything they might come across in the woodlands outside Vanhoover.

Comments

[Lord Nopony]

Pressure Point sure is pessimistic ain't he? Lol! Keep up the good work!