The Hole

by Unwhole Hole

Chapter 3

The night was dark and moonless, and Trixie dreamed of strange and terrible things. Twice that night she awoke, both times in a daze and both times desperately needing to make water- -but too afraid to venture out of her cart and into the depths of night outside.

When she finally awoke, she was screaming and covered in sweat. Light was pouring in through her cart’s window. Celestia had already raised the sun, and it sat above the land, as warm and pleasant as it was distant and passive.

On an ordinary day, Trixie might have stayed in bed for a few hours longer. She did not technically have a job. Still, she was a performer, and there was work to be done. That, and she really needed to pee.

Trixie normally lived roughly in Twilight’s front yard, or what was rapidly becoming a courtyard. Near this was a grove where she normally did her business, as her cart lacked any semblance of plumbing. It was purposely very near where Twilight grew a small garden. Although they were technically something similar to friends, Trixie was still mildly vindictive if only because Twilight had gotten wings while she had not yet figured out how to obtain a pair (short of wing-growth tonic obtained from a pair of peppermint-maned twins, which was at present not helping at all).

As she was watering Twilight’s melons, Trixie became aware of two ponies passing. Like most of the residents of Ponyville, she had no idea what their names were. They were, however, talking, so Trixie listened, wondering the whole time if they were speaking about her.

“Did you see it?” That one was a mare. Perhaps one with a flower for a name. She sounded excited. “Please tell me you saw it!”

“I’m on my way there right now.” A stallion, not quite excited but happy and polite. “I heard about it from Berry, she went to see it last night.”

“I know! I was there! You’ve GOT to see it! It’s the most amazing thing in the WHOLE WORLD! I mean, I know it’s just a hole, but…gah, I don’t know how to explain it! It’s like you can’t stop staring at it!”

“Well, if it’s that impressive, I’ve just got to, don’t I?”

“You DO! I’m on my way there right now!”

“To see it again?”

“Yeah! I hardly even slept last night! I was just wired! I designed six new arrangements and did all the orders for the next month! I don’t know how, but it just…it inspires me!”

Trixie harrumphed. They were not talking about her at all, unless she was the “hole”. And if that was the case, it was probably insulting.

She stood up and kicked some dirt behind her. Then she made her way into town.

The situation did not improve, and Trixie’s day worsened. Not only had she slept poorly, but now the entire town was alight with talk- -and none of it about her. Everywhere she looked, everypony was constantly excited. Almost all were talking about the hole; it was in their every conversation. Word had apparently traveled fast, and many were talking about their experience with the hole, either because they had visited it late on the previous night or in the several hours since the sun had come up (none went during the night, as no pony would ever enter or even approach the EverFree at night, not for any hole in the whole world). Others were voicing their intention to go. Many seemed to be missing.

Trixie stopped at a drink stand, intending to buy a large smoothie to be put on the tab she never intended to pay for. Much to her chagrin, though, the smoothie pony was away- -no doubt visiting the hole.

“Stupid hole,” muttered Trixie, largely to herself. “First it’s taking all the attention that rightfully belongs to Trixie, and now it’s taking Trixie’s smoothie too!” She puffed herself up under her cape. “Trixie is MUCH better than any hole! Better than a chasm! Better than an entire CANYON!” She then looked both ways, mainly to see if ponies were listening- -but also to see if any were watching. When she saw that none were, she stuffed the fruit meant for the smoothies into her mouth and hat and departed quickly.

Her day continued this way, and she grew more and more annoyed. She seemed to be the only one. Most of the Ponyville residents were intrigued and happy, gladly listening to their friends and stories about an amazing wonder in the forest. Trixie thought that the whole thing made them seem like profound hicks: after all, their lives were apparently so boring that the most interesting thing that had happened in months was the opening of a sinkhole.

It was annoying but not worrying. At least not on a conscious level. Not at first. There was fear, but it was deep, and with Trixie it manifested as anger. Anger that eventually grew to the point where Trixie, as much as she was loathe to, felt she needed to speak to Ponyville’s de-facto leader.

In this, she proved not to have a choice. She was heading home to her cart to get a rack of posters (to post throughout the town; she unfortunately did not yet have enough funds to hire a promotor) while Twilight was leaving her enormous, overly ostentatious, ugly castle. Twilight, of course, was followed by her pet/child dragon Spike, trotting along with a long piece of parchment and holding a purple quill.

“You have a meeting with the town council, then an assembly at the local school, then the discussion on library usage- -”

“Spike, please. I know my own list!”

“You said that the last time. And who was the one who had to deal with the town zoning commission? That was me.”

“And you did a great job!”

Twilight ruffled his fringe, or what Trixie roughly thought of as hair (even if it was more like a kind of fin).

“Twilight!” said Trixie, trotting toward her.

Twilight cringed slightly- -enough for Trixie to notice- -but she smiled anyway. Trixie approached her and felt the familiar sense of grave annoyance. Twilight’s alicornening had left her several inches taller and with a horn that was already growing far longer and harder than Trixie’s own, both features that made Trixie’s inferiority complex itch. Still, she sucked it up, because she had a grievance.

“Twilight, I was walking through town- -”

“Not riding a chariot pulled by children this time?” muttered Spike, rolling his eyes.

“That was one time! ONE TIME!”

“Spike,” said Twilight, “we talked about this.”

“The Reformed and Repentant Trixie walks on her LEGS! And sometimes in a cart when the pony pulling it does not notice that Trixie climbs in the back!”

“Wait, what?”

“Which is not the point! Twilight, I’m annoyed!”

“So what else is new?” sighed Spike.

“Spike!”

“All the ponies!” continued Trixie. “They’re all talking about some hole, and not about ME!”

Twilight looked at her, and then chuckled.

“Do not laugh at Trixie!”

“Trixie, I’m not laughing at you- -”

“Really? Because it looks like you are.”

“No, no.” Twilight calmed herself. She started to walk, and Trixie begrudgingly followed. “I’ve heard about this hole. Actually, for well over an hour. Without a stop. From Rainbow Dash. Even Applejack put in a good word for it.”

“And you don’t think it’s weird? All this attention to…a hole?”

“Well, I suppose it is a little strange…but this is a relatively rural town, populated mostly by earth-ponies. Their culture may assign a greater significance to it than ours does.” Her eyes lit up. “Spike, right that down! I’ll conduct a sociology study on comparative social value of landforms.”

“Already wrote it down. Before we even started talking.”

“Great!” Twilight turned back to Trixie. “I’m actually scheduled to take a look at it myself, just to see what it is. I mean, I’m sure it’s just a hole, but I might as well see what all my friends think is so much fun.”

“But…what if something’s wrong?”

Twilight stopped walking. “Wrong?”

“Don’t you think it’s all…weird?”

Twilight tilted her head. “I guess so. A little bit. But it makes ponies happy, doesn’t it? I mean, Ponyville is a great place. My favorite place, in the whole world. And if there’s another wonder being added to it, then, well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“I…guess…”

Twilight put her hoof on Trixie’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re worrying about other pony’s safety. It’s a sign that you’re really coming along in learning the value of harmony and friendship. But it’s just a hole. I’m sure there’s nothing to be afraid of. And if there is, I’ll fix it. I am a Princess, after all.”

Trixie frowned, but did not agree verbally. Twilight smiled back, and then continued on her way. “You can come with me if you want.”

“No thank you. I am FAR too busy to gawk at some smelly hole. I have a magic act to plan. Starlight will be helping me in the afternoon, too. It’s going to be spectacular! Amazing! Profound!”

“And probably messy,” added Spike. “I’ll make a note to get the cleaner set up.”

Trixie almost paused to protest, but realized that was probably a good idea, especially if the sawing-in-half trick went wrong again. Still, she felt uneasy as Twilight and Spike departed. As if they had not really understood.

The sun crossed slowly through the sky until it came to the end of its path. As it began to set, its color began to change, slowly turning from white-yellow to pale orange. Later that day, red would cross through the sky, producing a beautiful sunset painted against the clouds that any pony could see- -not that any ponies would, though, as none would be looking up.

Trixie was busy at her cart when Starlight arrived. She was setting up a stage, not for performance but simply to get placement down as well as trick passageways that she had assembled for tricks requiring rapid disappearances. Sure, Starlight could teleport her- -and she could teleport herself, sometimes- -but doing in the old fashion way always seemed more reliable. Even if sometimes she got stuck.

“Starlight! There you are! Quick!” Trixie leapt into her cart and began to rummage through. “Before we start, I want to fit you for the assistant’s costume. I hope you like leotards, because that’s what you’re going to be wearing. It’s not as fancy as mine, but we’ll have matching leggings- -”

“Um, Trix?”

Trixie looked up. Anytime Starlight said “Trix”, it meant she was about to say something that Trixie did not want to hear.

“What is it?”

Starlight looked embarrassed. “I know how important this is to you, I really do, but…”

“But what? Butt’s are for Celestia, Starlight. What are you talking about?”

“Is it possible we could…reschedule?”

“Reschedule? My performance is in three days! I have to practice! Starlight, this is very important to me!”

“I know, but…well, the whole town is having a party. Down at the hole.”

Trixie’s jaw clenched. “The…hole?” Starlight nodded but could not meet Trixie’s eye. “You’re ditching me for a HOLE?!”

“I’m not ditching you! Twilight asked me to come, and I came to ask you to come! With me!”

“What, like a date?”

Starlight blushed. “N- -no- -”

“Starlight, you’re my assistant! My Slightly Less Great but Secretly More Powerful Assistant!” She smacked her lips. That was probably too long of a title. “I want you to be part of my show!”

“I know! But Pinkie’s throwing the party, and you know how good she is at it!”

“I don’t care! I don’t care if Celestia herself is throwing it with royal cake!”

“And Maud! Maud’s been more excited than I’ve ever seen her, you know how much she loves landforms! She wants to do a thorough inspection- -”

“Starlight…are these…excuses?”

Starlight pawed the ground. “Well, it’s just…I’ve already seen it. With Applejack and Rarity. And it was really cool.” She paused. “I don’t know how. I mean, it’s just a hole in the ground…but there’s just something about it. Something profound. I can’t stop thinking about it. I really want to go back, to show it to all my friends.” She looked up. “I want you to come too.”

Trixie looked at her, nearly aghast, and then turned away, wiping sweat from her face- -or at least pretending to. In actuality, she was wiping away tears. “Fine. If you want to go see a stupid hole instead of help me practice, go ahead. Have fun at the party. But I have work to do. All alone.”

“Trixie, come on- -”

“I’m not trying to guilt you, Starlight. But you should feel guilty. You’re breaking a promise. For a HOLE. Think about that while you’re there.”

Starlight sighed. “I will.”

Then she left, and Trixie was alone. By then, it was too late.

Comments

[sailing101]

Then she left, and Trixie was alone. By then, it was too late.

[Palette Swap]

And so Trixie was saved by her immense ego, which couldn't fit in the hole

[StubobNumbers]

"The Tommyknockers" by Stephen King.

[LeylaQuartz]

10210508
Where's the SCP foundation when you need them?

[Kowhaifan]

Trixie normally lived roughly in Twilight’s front yard, or what was rapidly becoming a courtyard. Near this was a grove where she normally did her business, as her cart lacked any semblance of plumbing. It was purposely very near where Twilight grew a small garden. Although they were technically something similar to friends, Trixie was still mildly vindictive if only because Twilight had gotten wings while she had not yet figured out how to obtain a pair (short of wing-growth tonic obtained from a pair of peppermint-maned twins, which was at present not helping at all).

Wouldn't that be good for twilights garden? There's a reason farmers buy horse dung after all.

[Octoskan]

I think this is the fic that introduced me to mlp horror fiction. I think about this one a lot.