> Pinkie Promises > by EurekaStorm > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter One: Part One: The Funeral > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The town of Ponyville was experiencing a particularly grey and cloudy day, despite how bright and sunny the rest of Equestria was. Not a single pegasus dared to kick away the clouds, as it was usually the job of a particular rainbow-maned pegasus, but she wasn’t able to clear the skies today. Or ever again. All the inhabitants of Ponyville were gathered in the center of town. It might have appeared that there was a festival of some sort going on, except for the dreary tone and the dismal looks on all the pony’s faces. They were there in honor of one of the most loved- and fastest- pony in their town, but it was no happy event. They had gathered to pay their respects to the newly and mysteriously deceased blue pegasus. Her closest friends were surprisingly spread out in the crowd, looking more miserable than anypony else. Just two days ago the residents of Ponyville watched in horror as Twilight Sparkle carried her friend’s body on her back out of the Everfree Forest, followed closely behind by the other four members of their group. She was instantly rushed to the hospital, but it was too late. Rainbow Dash had been missing since the day before, she had been flying around town earlier in the day and that was the last time anypony had seen her. What was even more mysterious about her death was no pony could say exactly what killed her. When her friends had stumbled upon her body in the forest, after searching all over Ponyville, it was an extremely disturbing sight and the absolute last thing her friends expected to see. The element of loyalty’s body was limp and laying in an open clearing, surrounded by her own blue feathers scattered about. Her magenta eyes were open, but they were dull and empty, nothing like the bright eyes her friends remembered looking into. However, it was the blood that was really startling, it was just everywhere. Two streaks of blood leading up to her body made Twilight believe that her friend’s body had been moved, but that was the only thing she could make of the situation. Seeing Rainbow Dash in that state had deeply traumatized the group, and the sadness and fear they felt seemed to fill the air at the funeral. This kind of death was extremely uncommon in the little town and it was affecting everypony, but one pink mare was feeling it worst of all. Pinkie Pie was sitting alone, her usually curly hair had deflated into a straight and stringy mane, and she kept her eyes focused on the ground. She was holding back tears and hadn’t uttered a single word since they had found her friend. Pinkie had, for a very long time now, very strong feelings for Rainbow Dash. She was getting close to telling her how she felt, but Applejack had beat her to the punch. Or, so, it was assumed. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had never admitted their relationship out loud, but everypony knew something more than just “friendship” was going on between the two mares. Since Rainbow Dash had started her daily barn visits with AJ, Pinkie had kept her feelings silent, torturing herself with fantasies that would never come true. Oh Dashie, she thought to herself. What in Equestria happened to you? Why… Why did you leave me? I just- “Pinkie?” A voice interrupted. She looked up to see Applejack staring her in the face, the absolute last pony she wanted to comfort at the moment. She acknowledged her presence, but didn’t say a word. “Mind if ah sit with yah?” Again, Pinkie said nothing, but slightly shifted over to indicate it was alright. “Still not talking’, huh? Ah don’t blame yah, Ah’ve been haven’ a hard time talking’ with all these ponies about her mahself. Ah can’t stand ta see this, t’ain’t proper, the way it all went down. Ah mean she jus’ vanishes one day, no idea where she is, then when we DO find her… What happened to her, Pinkie?! She’s tha toughest pony ah know! Maybe, maybe if we had jus’ gotten there sooner… maybe it woulda… Oh, this is jus’ killin’ me! Ah can’t… Ah can’t believe she’s gone! She jus’ left me! She was mah… mah…” Then Pinkie saw something as unexpected as the death itself, Applejack burst out sobbing. Pinkie placed a hoof on her friend’s back, feeling guilty for not wanting to even talk to her a moment ago. But, then, a feeling suddenly started creeping into her mind. She was beginning to feel a little envious of the love those two ponies shared. The love from Rainbow Dash that was meant for Pinkie! It should be her that’s openly crying and being comforted by everypony else. It should be… Wait! She thought. That’s an awful thing to think! Why did that feeling suddenly take over…? At that moment, Applejack buried her face in Pinkie’s coat, half sobbing and half muttering nonsensical words and phrases. She was losing it and it was a sight everypony could see, but they politely averted their eyes. Pinkie felt embarrassed about the thoughts that had filled her head. She tried shaking them out by literally shaking her head, and actually felt a little better. That was until Applejack began speaking distinguishable words again. “Ah loved her!” She cried. “Ah loved her so much!” Hearing those words made the jealous feeling begin to creep up again. Pinkie wanted to shake it away, but she was suddenly hit with a memory of running into Rainbow Dash a few weeks ago. She had invited her to hang out the day before, and had spent a lot of time planning a full day of pranking and having lots of fun. But, Rainbow hadn’t showed up the morning of. Pinkie had waited at Sugar Cube Corner for most of the day and decided by afternoon she should go looking for her, just in case something bad had happened. Rainbow Dash wasn’t at her cloud home or any of her usual napping spots. Nopony had seen her all day either, which made Pinkie worry more. But, just as Pinkie was heading down the trail to Sweet Apple Acres to see if AJ had seen her, there she was! She was clearly leaving the farm and her mane was a mess, complete with straw sticking out of it. “Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie called to her. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you alllllll day long!” “You were? Why were you- Oh. Oh, Pinkie, I’m so sorry, I completely forgot our plans today! I spent the night at Sweet Apple Acres and I, uh, overslept.” “You overslept to just now? It’s almost dinner time!” “Uh, yeahhh, I, uh, stayed up really late last night. But I am really sorry, Pinkie. I swear I’ll make it up to you! Next time, we’ll spend the whole day doing whatever you want, okay?” “Really?! Even if I want to make cupcakes with you??” “Uh, sure, whatever you want! Promise!” Rainbow was about to fly off, when Pinkie stopped her. “WAAAIIT! Do you PINKIE promise?!” “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” She winked. “Oki doki loki! I can’t wait, see you later Rainbow Dash!” But, Dash had already flown off. And had never said WHAT day this was all going to happen, so it never did. Thinking back on that day and having to comfort Applejack was starting to make her feel angry. A feeling she rarely experienced. She didn’t like the feeling of it, but she couldn’t help suddenly feeling the urge to push AJ off of her. But, before she could even consider actually doing it, somepony walked into the memorial that caused the entire crowd to go completely silent. She walked cautiously and kept her eyes straight, avoiding and ignoring the stares and whispers that erupted as she passed. “Why is she here?” “Didn’t she cause enough trouble last time she was here?” “Who does she think she is, walking in on a funeral no less!” Now, she was starting to regret even coming. Maybe she should just turn around and leave… “TRIXIE!” The voice of just the pony she came to see rang out. She stopped dead in her tracks as the princess stepped right in front of her. “Twilight!” She seemed almost excited to see her. “What do you want, Trixie? This really isn’t the time or place for-“ “I know!” Trixie interrupted. “…I mean, I actually DIDN’T know about…you know. I came here to speak with you, on friendly terms, honest! When I heard… I’m so sorry about your friend, really I am! I wouldn’t have come if I had known…I really didn’t know her, but she didn’t deserve this.” Trixie was unsure what to say, she hadn’t planned to walk into a funeral. “Wow, uh, thank you. It really is nice to hear that. But, now is really not the best time for a talk, I’m sure you understand.” She looked rather sternly at the blue unicorn. “Oh, yes, um, Trixie does understand. You’re probably going through a lot, but Trixie came an awful long way and I don’t really have anywhere else to go, so maybe we could speak later tonight? When you’re ready? If you-“ Trixie stopped as the remaining elements of harmony appeared around Twilight, most of them looking quite angry. “How DARE you show your face here! You’ve really crossed the line THIS time, you scoundrel!” Rarity shouted. “Wait! I didn’t mean-“ “Save it! You shouldn’t be here!” Applejack said sternly, having pulled herself together but still had tears in her eyes. “Stop it!” Twilight told her friends. “She says she’s here on good terms! Let’s give her a chance, alright? Let her pay her respects, if she wants to. Then,” She looked at Trixie. “Then you’re welcome to come to the library later for that private talk, ok, Trixie? But, please know, we’ve all suffered a great deal and I’m willing to bet none of us are up for any games today. If you ARE planning something, it would be a large mistake on your part, got it?” Trixie nodded quickly, but began to feel very small in front of Twilight and her friends. She was beginning to regret this idea yet again. “Now, you can stay if you like, and I promise no one will treat you unfairly.” She looked directly at Rarity and Applejack for the last part, then turned and walked away from Trixie. The rest of the group, save for one, followed close behind after glaring daggers in Trixie’s direction one last time. Pinkie Pie was the only pony that had stayed and without saying a word, sat herself next to the unicorn. “What happened to your mane?” Trixie said, finally. Pinkie said nothing, but sitting next to Trixie kept all the other ponies away from her. Anytime one would start to walk up to the two of them, looking determined to give a piece of their mind over what she had done to Ponyville last time, Pinkie would shoot them a look that would send them packing the other way. The two sat in silence for the rest of the memorial, only Applejack had been brave enough to stop by just enough to let Trixie know they were watching her, but that was the worst of it. “Thank you,” Trixie whispered, leaning in close to Pinkie Pie. “I really am so sorry about your friend. I know we don’t know each other that well, or at all really, but this means a lot to Trixie.” She bit her lip as she gazed around the town. She started to notice just how dark things appeared, especially Twilight and her friends. Not only did that seem off, something more than just mourning sadness, but they also appeared to be losing their colors. They looked slightly… grey? > Chapter Two: Part One: Trixie's Tale > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Mama! Mama! No!” A little blue unicorn was frantically trying to pull herself out of her father’s levitation spell. She was putting all her strength into running back towards her mother, but she only seemed to be moving farther away. “Oh, Trixie, I’m so sorry…” Her mother began to cry, so she turned her head. “Why Mama? I don’t WANT to go!” The little filly shouted. “Well, you have to!” A male voice said sternly from behind the little one. “I have been telling you for weeks, Trixie! You and your sister are coming with me to train!” “MAMA! Please! Don’t make me go!” But Trixie could no longer see her mother. Even if her mother had wanted to stop all this, she knew she couldn’t. She had known when she first decided to have foals with this stallion. He came from a long line of Great and Powerful unicorns and wasn’t afraid to brag about it. But, at least he could back up everything he said. However, Trixie felt instantly betrayed by her mother. She was still a very young filly and couldn’t understand why her mother had just sat there. Hadn’t she seen how badly she was crying? Hadn’t she heard her BEG not to go? “Don’t worry, Trixie, it’ll be alright.” An older, but much darker blue unicorn nuzzled the smaller one. “We’re going to learn magic! It’s going to be fun!” “It is NOT going to be fun!” Their father said, still dragging Trixie along with magic. “It’s going to be work! I want to make my two daughters into something my family will be proud of.” +++++++++++++++++++ “TRIXIE! TRIXIEEEEE! Ugh, Where IS that sister of yours?!” “Over there!” In the middle of a gathering crowd of ponies sat Trixie, now slightly older than the filly who had cried for her mother years ago. She sat staring onto the stage that now lit up the center of town, stars in her eyes. A stallion was on stage with a cape and large hat, doing feats of magic that were, more or less, pretty simple, but making a fun show out of it! Everytime he finished a trick, Trixie would clap her hooves together enthusiastically. When he asked for a volunteer from the audience, Trixie raised her hoof in the air, pleading. “Oooh! ME! Me me me! Pick Trixie!” “Alright, YOU! The excited unicorn filly! Did you say your name was Trixie?” “Eeeee!” Trixie gushed and ran as fast as she could onstage. “Yes, sir, my name is Trixie!” “What a wonderful name! And you are simply perfect for my next trick…” Her father stood in the back of the crowd, rolling his eyes at the nonsense he was watching. He had thought he was teaching his daughters better than to get so wrapped up in something like this! Everyone knew show ponies were just average magicians that liked to put on a show for attention. He wanted to rip his daughter off that stage and show the audience what REAL magic could do! But instead he watched patiently as the stallion on stage “made Trixie disappear”. After the show, Trixie could not stop talking about the show. She had loved everything, even if almost all the tricks the stallion had done were easy and she had seen her sister do many times, but it was HOW he did the tricks. How he acted and the presentation and how he had made Trixie feel so special. Trixie never got the love and attention she so desperately wanted from her father, all he ever made her do was practice magic and scold her. And now was time for another scolding. “Trixie, what that pony was doing on stage today, it was just… entertainment magic. I understand to a young filly like you it may have seemed rather exciting and extravagant, but it isn’t. Listen, please try to forget that show. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, but we have a lot to focus on here. Every unicorn in my family is born with a very special magic inside of them, a magic that is unique to only them. I’m trying to train you so you can awaken that magic and be somepony! Do you understand me, Trixie? No more entertainment magic, ok?” “Oh…okay.” Trixie looked at the ground, feeling rather dejected. “That’s a good girl, now let’s go practice, come on.” But Trixie did NOT forget about the show she had seen. She never got any praise from her father and her magic was nowhere near as good as her sister’s. She was constantly getting yelled at and she tended to only be good at magic that would help her put on her own show. She couldn’t stop her desire to want to perform. When she felt ready and set everything up perfectly and in secret, she decided to put on her OWN show. The last thing she needed was a costume. Carrying a box of all her tricks, she stopped into a clothing store. “Excuse me, but, uh, I’m going to put on a magic show today!” She said to the mare behind the counter. “Is that so? And what can I help you with, little miss?” She giggled at how cute the little filly was. “I need an outfit! Something…I don’t know, MAGICAL!” “Hmmm, I think I have just the thing…” She went into the back as Trixie waited, looking around at all the different clothing hanging around her. When the mare came back out, she had a purple cape covered with stars and a long wizard hat to go along with it. “Oh! It’s PERFECT! Thank you!” Trixie shouted, running up to try the ensemble on. The store clerk smiled as the filly pranced around in front of the mirror, feeling on top of the world. “Oh, um, how much?” She asked. “Well, I’m afraid that may be a little too expensive for you, but how about this? You just give me however much you have and give me an invitation to your show!” “Oh, REALLY? Thank you, miss! Here!” Trixie threw a bag of bits onto the counter and smiled. “The show is this afternoon! In the center of town!” At that, the blue unicorn trotted out of the store, happy as could be with her new outfit. The store clerk’s assistant snorted as he walked over to her. “That’s just cold.” He said to her. “Hey, the store’s not doing too well, I needed the bits!” “We were going to throw that old set in the trash! It wasn’t worth half the bits that filly gave you!” “Oh be quiet, it was worth it to her.” “You’re not even going to that show, are you?” ++++++++++++++++++ Trixie was rubbing her hooves together and suddenly felt very nervous. A large crowd had shown up in the center of town after she had made a few hastily drawn posters for her magic show. Drips of sweat were running down her face. But, she had to do SOMETHING, there were way too many ponies out there to back out now. She took a deep breath and jumped onto her small stage, made out of cardboard boxes. “FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS! MARES AND STALLIONS! PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR THE ONE AND ONLY…. TRRRRRIXIEEEEE!!!” The audience pounded their hooves on the ground and hooted and hollered. This made Trixie grin and gave her that warm fuzzy feeling she had felt the first time she’d ever seen a show. She was getting the love and adoration she always wanted! Unbeknownst to Trixie, her father was watching from the very back. He had followed the young filly all day, suspecting something was up, and now he was glad he had. His own daughter, trying to be a common showmare! The show was coming to a close and it had gone surprising well. The audience was stomping their hooves at every trick Trixie performed and they all went without a hitch, better than they had ever gone while he had been training her. But, then something truly unexpected happened. After her final trick, making a member of the audience disappear, Trixie’s flank’s began to shine. All of a sudden, a cutie mark appeared! This made the audience react even more and even little Trixie could not keep in her excitement at that. The only person that wasn’t happy about it was her father, who lowered his head. As Trixie began to happily pack up her things, her father waited for the crowd to completely disperse. Then he walked up to his daughter. She turned around upon feeling somepony behind her. Trixie gasped. “Daddy?” He didn’t say a word, just stared down at her. “Daddy!” A smile spread on the blue filly’s face. “I got my cutie mark! Aren’t you proud?” Again, her father said nothing. “You should’ve seen my show! I Everypony loved-“ “LAUGHED, you mean.” “Yeah! And… uh, what?” Trixie’s smiled faded. “Everypony was laughing at you.” He said. “You did nothing but embarrass yourself up there! And the fact that you got a cutie mark for that garbage! Of all the things! An entertainer’s cutie mark! Come on, we’re going home.” “But, Dad, that’s not what happened at all-“ “I said we’re GOING HOME.” Trixie grabbed her box and walked in silence behind her father. She wasn’t sure what had went wrong, she had thought everything went perfectly. She was even excited to see her father there, even though she initially wanted to hide it from him. It had gone so well, she thought, that there was no way he couldn’t be proud of her! Boy was she ever wrong. When they got to the place they called home, Trixie’s older sister was waiting at the door. Trixie went to walk inside, but her father stopped her. “No, I’m done teaching you anything.” He said. “What… what do you mean?” Trixie and her sister asked in unison. “I’ve thought about it and I’m no longer going to train you. You are a lost cause as far as I’m concerned. You made your choice today, that cutie mark has sealed your fate. If you want to be laughed at for a living, go ahead! But it won’t be under MY roof!” “But, I have nowhere to go!” The filly was starting to cry. “You made your choice. You will never be great or powerful!” “But everypony LOVED my show! They weren’t laughing at me!” “LOVED it? Ha! Nopony loves you.” “Dixie does! Dixie loves me! Right? Right, sis? Tell Dad! Tell Dad you’re on my side!” Trixie shouted, now looking at her older sister. She looked sadly up toward her father, then toward her little sister. Then, not wanting to make her father angry, she said nothing and looked at the ground. “DIXIE!” Trixie’s eyes began to fill with tears. “You see? Now take your magic tricks and go!” He then turned and walked back into the house. After he was far enough inside, Dixie looked at her sister. “Trixie, if you would just take learning magic seriously, Dad would let you come back, I know it!” She whispered. Trixie glared at her sister, now being betrayed yet again by somepony she loved. “I’m NEVER coming back! NEVERRRRR!” She grabbed her box with magic and ran around the house. “I AM GREAT AND POWERFUL! I WILL BE LOVED! YOU’LL SEE!” She shouted as she ran around the house and then took off down the road, leaving her sister sitting there with ears drooped. ++++++++++++++++++++ Trixie grew up fast living on her own. Although she enjoyed performing, after a while she wasn’t exactly gaining all the love and affection she thought she would. Quickly, her show was becoming ‘overdone’ and ‘seen before’. After overhearing all the attention a young stallion received after saving some young foals from a manticore, she got an idea… “And, well, you know the rest after that,” Trixie said, looking up sadly at Twilight. She had came to the library after everypony had left the funeral. Before Twilight could even ask what she wanted, Trixie had broke out with her story, leaving Twilight a bit speechless. She had not expected that from a pony that sounded so… arrogant all the time! But, on the other hoof, that does explain it… She thought. “And when I came here with the alicorn amulet,” Trixie started again. “I hadn’t planned on kicking you out! I just wanted to show you that I could be strong, too! See, I was…jealous of what you had with all your friends.” “Jealous? But, Trixie-“ “I just wanted to be loved, too! That was the real reason for coming! But that amulet messed with my head. Although, I’m sure you could still see my real intentions deep down, I mean, I did make the whole town kind of worship me…” She looked down at the ground, embarrassed. “Oh, Trixie, I think I understand now. But, you didn’t come all the way here just to explain yourself after all these years, did you?” Trixie shook her head, but before she could answer, Twilight answered for her. “You want me to teach you about friendship, don’t you?” Trixie nodded. Twilight giggled for the first time since her friend’s death. “Yeah, I think I could do that.” “Oh, really, Twilight?” Trixie beamed at her new friend. “I want to be a REAL showmare, one that brings entertainment, not brags.” “Sure. Where are you staying, by the way? I know-“ “Trixie doesn’t have anywhere to stay!” She interrupted Twilight for the second time today. “Trixie was wondering if she…if…” “If you could stay here?” Again, Trixie nodded meekly. Twilight sighed. “Yes, I’m sure that will be fine. Where are your things?” “In my cart, outside of town. I’ll go get it!” She runs to the door, smiling. “Oh, hey, wait, where does that pink friend of yours live?” “You mean Pinkie Pie? A-at Sugar Cube Corner, why?” “I want to thank her…”