Trixie pounced through the portal and landed on a dirt road. At first, she stood there, a tingling sensation tumbling down her spine. She knew it was from teleporting, so she kept still for a minute or two. She looked down the road to her left, but she saw nothing. So, Trixie then looked to the right, and noticed some sort of glimmering light not too far away from her position. Timidly, she began approaching the attraction. She was still curious as to who might be her escort, but by the looks of things, it would be a pleasant voyage.
Before the fire encompassed with rocks rested two sharp look sticks dug into the ground. Each beared a slowly warmed marshmallow, something that Trixie hadn’t had the chance to enjoy for ages. There were also chocolates and graham crackers sitting on the stump there as well. Finally, the single tent with a shadowy figure beyond it. Trixie unzipped the opening, her presence being a secret up until now, and caught her escort right in the middle of preparing the bedding.
“Trixie,” Moon Dancer gasped after looking around her shoulder.
“You’re Trixie’s escort?” Trixie questioned, and at that, they both just stood there looking at one another. Trixie wanted to say something more, but held her tongue and waiting for the bat pony to speak instead.
“Well… yeah! I guess so… Princess Luna told me I was gonna be somepony’s guide through the Cave of Hungers. Been there before, but not all the way through. Said there was something in there that belonged to Celestia’s new student. That’s why I was headed down to see Druid Shield back at the castle… So, then... that must be you, huh? You’re the new student?”
Trixie looked around, miffed at the hard work put into preparing this. “You… did all this for me?”
“Was hoping it would make for a good first impression, seeing as how I’m a bat pony and all…” Trixie looked her up and down, and observed her spooky cutie mark. It was a full moon hidden away by the passing clouds. She could see why a good first impression would be needed here. “Too bad it’s already ruined.”
Trixie returned her attention to Moon Dancer. “What do you mean?”
“Well, y’know, it was kinda hard not to read you like a book back there in the castle. You acted all shallow after I kissed Druid Shield, and-”
Trixie bursted out, “Trixie doesn’t like Druid Shield!” Dancer just stared, her mouth agape. “... At least, not anymore she doesn’t.”
Moon Dancer came closer. “Why’s that?”
“Because!” Trixie looked away. “He… Did you know, he didn’t even mention you when he and Trixie met? He swore to be Trixie’s guard, but not once did your name come up. Not once.”
Moon Dancer merely laughed. “So that made him single?”
“But, he was so friendly.”
Moon Dancer continued to smile, rolled her eyes, and said, “He just wanted to be a good guard... Look, you know why he’s been so distanced lately?”
“Why?” Trixie asked.
“It’s because he and I only see eachother once a month these days.”
Trixie gasped, “A month?”
“Yeah, I know,” Moon Dancer resumed. “Sometimes, it can feel like I don’t even still have a boyfriend. He must be feeling the same way. Ever since he was reassigned to gate duty outside the palace walls, he’s been like... that! More bored with the job, and just… distanced. You know?”
Trixie just nodded. “Which is why he didn’t mention you. He misses you too much.”
“Plus, he’s a little resentful at me as well, because I’m the one that suggested to the princesses that he tries out gate duty. I thought it would be better for him, and I was right, but at the same time… I don’t know, maybe it was a mistake after all.”
Trixie looked down, and understood the story now. “Say, you made this tent for Trixie, right? Where’re you going to sleep?”
Moon Dancer merely giggled, and said, “Outside of course! I’m a bat pony. I can hang from my tail on a tree branch, and sleep like a baby in a crib.”
Trixie huffed. “Cool! Doesn’t that hurt, though? Y’know… Your tail?”
“Nah!” Moon Dancer chortled. “I’ll show you when bedtime comes around, but first, you wanna help me with those s'mores?”
Trixie found herself leaving the tent quickly, but faster than the smell of marshmallows could enter her muzzle, she realized at that time that she’d made a friend with yet another bat pony. “Say,” Trixie began. “First, Druid Shield is assigned to me, and then you… why only bat ponies?”
Instead of agreeing, like Trixie had expected, Moon Dancer said quite frankly, “Pure coincidence. Then again, it could be destiny.”
“Destiny?” Trixie questioned. “What? Am I to become a bat pony by the end of my studies? Although, that wouldn’t be a bad performance…”
Dancer had finished preparing a s'more, and gave it over to Trixie graciously. “There’s an easy way, too. Although, it doesn’t quite turn you into a bat pony like myself. Makes you all aggressive, and you’d ultimately be bound to… something. It’s a spell Druid Shield once told me about.”
Trixie nodded. “Doubt that’d be fun. Trixie likes being more kind, and besides, she’d never be able to pull off such a feat of magic. Now, with the help of Druid Shield, however… But, alas, as we all know, Trixie shall not be requesting him of his assistance.”
“Still mad at him, huh?” Dancer asked as she finished half of her late night snack.
“Yes.”
“Y’know,” Dancer said after giving a powerful gulp. “If it wasn’t for the fact that I still have a bit of feeling, I’d dump him.”
Trixie blinked. “Why?”
“Not so you can sweep him away, mind you. Because, I feel tired. All the guys up there, and the girls, too, know I’m still seeing Druid Shield. It’d be insane for me to simply break up with him and stay up there, in the high towers.”
Trixie looked down at the single bite taken from the s'more in her hooves. “I’ll think of how that could work out while I sleep on it.” She put her s’more on a napkin, and said while yawning, “Trixie’s beat.”
Before entering her tent, she heard the sharp sound of wings fluttering open, and the eerie creek of a branch bending downwards behind her. She turned around to find out what it was only to see Moon Dancer hanging from a tree branch with her tail, her wings coating the entirety of her body. It reminded Trixie of a cocoon. “That’s cool…”
As she turned again towards her sleeping quarters, a thought crossed her head. She was too tired to worry about it at the time, but next morning, she and Moon Dancer would have something interesting to talk about.
It just keeps getting better and better for Trixie, don't it? Well, at least her escort wasn't Twilight.
So many escorts! I finally got my update! You make such an interesting story for this. I hope you intend to have more interactions between trixie and Celestia. I'd hate for her to be the only one not to get any attention from her new mentor. And I can't wait to see what jealous stuff Twilight will do because of it.
"Twilight Sparkle. Because you displayed the attributes of a true friend I hereby declare you as 'The princess of Friendship.'. Through your heroic deeds and unselfish acts. Unbridled in the face of despair and pride you have earned yourself a new power. I am proud to call you my student no longer. You have grown so much over the years. Twilight you have come such a long long way."
This so doesn't fit Trixie.
"Cool" doesn't really strike me as a word that Trixie would use...
6100822 I can totally imagine her using "cool", with sparkling eyes and a grin that would make you smile right back as well.
6100981 Ooh! I can also imagine Octavia doing long drones on an electric guitar! she probably wouldnt but i can totes imagine it
Like this!
Nice to see a bit of reconciliation, there. Also, once a month? Dang, that stinks.
likes
________________
6103387 Fixed, thanks!
6102998 Me too!!
6104932
You're welcome ^_^.
Nice! I am looking forward to the next chapters : )
Ugh, escort missions. Don't you just hate them?
6137166
-quite literally every gamer ever
You write chapters like a sloth in an ice storm. But...you write. Occasionally. Like...one chapter a month. Per story.
You're breaking my balls.
6206041 To be honest, my hours of work are Monday through Friday, from 12:00PM to 9:00PM. Saturdays I work from 9:00AM to 3:00PM, and I generally keep working during 15 minute breaks and lunch hour because I need the money. So, c'mon man, cut me some slack.
6206146 I am dearly sorry. I know exactly what it's like to have ridiculous hours. My office has become my house, heh...In that case, I'll learn some patience...and manners. Just, y'know...Excited to see where this goes.
6206334 I can appreciate that. Thanks.
6207669 Mhm. *Anxiously waits*
I think bat ponies have dragon ancestors. They are called bat ponies because they have similar wings. Their eyes and wings are evidence they have probably dragon ancestors. If i am not mistaken bats don't have slit eyes. Bats don't even use tails to hang from ceiling, so i don't get why would you let the bat ponies sufer by hanging them by their tails. There even isn't reason why would they do that. They are not bats and are too big and heavy
6137166 Escort missions really are the worst.
Actually... the worst is when game designers show off how much effort can be used when designing a map. It's like they want you to get bored passing the same tree/door/cliched-exploding-barrol/whatever while looking for that secret area that holds your actual objective. If they're going to do that, at least insert some arrows on the walls or something. I don't care if it's realistic or not, it still beats the heck out of getting lost.
6533070
Three words.
The Longest Journey.