Rise of the Red Spirit

Chapter two: slowly but surely

     Sleep was one of the many things in life that Trinity dreaded. It never calmed her. Even if her days were moderately decent, she still found herself staring at her white ceiling in the middle of the night. And being in this new world… it, made no difference.

“Rise and shine!” A cheery, familiar voice called out to her, causing her to groan loudly. Spike chuckled. “Not a morning pony, huh?”

     “What is it?” Trinity merely grumbled, sinking low under her covers.

  He held up a plate of food. On it was placed a bowl of oatmeal, next to a blueberry muffin, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Spike walked over and put it on her bedside table. “Hungry?”

    “Sure.” She replied, wanting to speak a few words as possible.

   “I highly recommend you eat the muffin first. It’s a recipe that our friend Derpy created. She might not know her right hoof from her left, but she’s a beast when it comes to this kind of stuff.” He complemented fondly, nodding over to her. She just shrugged in response and took a bite, her tongue happily adjusting to the new flavors.

       Spike fought a smile as he watched her eat, leaning casually against the bed pedestal. “You’re pretty quiet this morning. Everything okay?”

    “Besides the pain my back is in. And adjusting to these things.” Trinity answered, and levitated her wings, grunting a bit. She shook her head as she went on to try eating the oatmeal that was served for her.

       “Nurse Redheart will come this afternoon to check on you. As for your wings, our other friend Rainbow Dash can help you out once your cuts heal. Or even Twilight.” He suggested, hoping to crack a smile from his new acquaintance. She didn’t look up at him.

    “Mr. Popular, are we?” She muttered.

  Spike flinched, “Nah. I’m just friendly. Besides, that title honorably goes to Pinkie Pie.”

     “’Honorably,’” Trinity mocked, jabbing the oatmeal with her fork. She didn’t even want to take her chances anymore. “Sure, I’ll believe that.”

     “Jeez… did you, have a problem with bullies or something? All of our friends would be nice to you, I promise. Ponyville’s a great place.” Spike frowned at her with his snout casted downwards, not liking this sudden attitude change Trinity brought up.

     A silence filled the air for the moments that followed and Spike studied her face with sullen curiosity. She finally let out a frustrated sigh, pushing the tray of food away from her. “Finished.”

      “Err, alright.” Spike muttered in response, reaching over to grasp it in his claws. Trinity hid under her blankets and watched him go, another wave of sadness washing over her. She tried to convince herself that the selfless dragon was only trying to comfort her, but her heart ached too much to care.

      Twilight yawned as she blew out her nightly candle, letting Celestia’s sun fill the room naturally. The rain was still pelting hard against the window sill, but many of the storm clouds passed on by. She shared a knowing smile with her pet owl before she heard Spike’s hello, and turned to face him. “Hey bud. How was she? Thanks for bringing up the food; I had a couple scrolls I needed to sort out.”

     “Not a problem Twi.” He shrugged as he tried to hide a smile, bringing the plate of food into the kitchen. The alicorn caught his sour mood, however. Years of raising him taught her that.

     “Spike,” She strictly called out, passing him a stern look. “Come on, what did she say to you?”

   He frowned at her as he threw his hands up in the air. “I-I don’t know! I mean, shouldn’t a pony be grateful that she survived a Timberwolf attack? She shrugged it off like it was nothing! An-and, I think something really bad happened to her in her past when she was a human, Twilight. She… she wouldn’t even crack a smile.”  He said with remorse, hiding his face in his hands.

   Twilight smiled sadly at his words; she knew how caring he could be when a pony is in need. It was one of the many traits she was proud that he possessed. “I had a feeling something else was going on when I showed affection to her. D-don’t worry Spike, once her cuts heal it’ll be top priority to make her smile again.”

     “You really think we could help?” He asked, sighing when Twilight nuzzled him to calm his nerves.

   “Only time will tell, Spike.” She assured him, and with a confident smile, went back to organizing her scrolls.

******

      “Darling, is everything alright here? I saw what happened from my boutique.” Ponyville’s fashion protégé asked, giving her friend a knowing frown. She was quickly joined by the other members of the Mane 6 once she left her store; all were concerned for the mysterious Pegasus.

      Twilight smiled and nodded upstairs. “She’s asleep. Haven’t heard a word out of her since last night.”

   “Well, ah can imagine. Fighting a mighty beast like that Timberwolf sure ain’t pretty.” Applejack muttered, shaking her head in disdain. “She didn’t get too hurt, did she?”

     The alicorn frowned at this and her wings descended slowly. “She practically got mauled, Applejack. Nurse Redheart had to stay for hours just stitching up a huge scar on her side. It’s amazing how she just shrugged it off later on.”

      Rainbow Dash grinned as her wings began to flap with excitement.  “She sounds like a heckuva character. I can’t wait to properly teach her the joys of flying.”

         Applejack gave her a flat look. “We have a tortured mare on our hooves, and that’s the only thing ya are worried about?”

   “Well, can you blame me? I’m totally ‘siked for this! Nothing new has happened around here since I became a Wonderbolt,” She grinned, rubbing off the annoyed tone in her friend’s voice. “New Pegasus buddy for the win!”

     “U-um, just to let you know Twi, she is always welcome at my place if you’re busy at the library.” Fluttershy suggested with a warm smile. “I can’t wait to meet her as well.”

    “Oooh! Me too, me too! I’ll even through her the biggest, bestest Pinkie Pie party ever! With balloons, and streamers, and cupcakes, a-and I’ll bring my PARTY CANNON! YEAH!” Pinkie pie exclaimed as she began to hop in her place. Rainbow rolled her eyes at her energetic friend, pulling her back down to the ground with her tail.

   The timid Pegasus grinned at them. “J-just, um, what’s her name? Did she remember it?”

Twilight nodded, “Her names Trinity. It sounds so… harmonic. At least that’s what I think.”

     Rarity put her hoof to her chin as she furrowed her eyebrow in thought. “But darling, that’s not very Ponish, or Equestrian at all for that matter.” The group of friends muttered amongst themselves, causing the librarian to frown.

      “I know. That’s why I’ve come up with a back story, and a new name. Around town she’ll be known as Starlet Dawn, and that she’s a traveling mare from a far-off country.”

     Rarity grinned at her smugly. “Been reading those fiction novels again, are we?” Rainbow flung her hooves in the air with mock-horror.

     “Twilight Sparkle reading fiction?! This is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING.” She screeched, and crashed onto the floor with a thwump. Spike happened to come by then from the kitchen and see her. He shook his head, making his way back up the stairs, calling Trinity’s name.

     “Rainbow, you know I love you like a sister, but if you use my dramatic phrase again I won’t hesitate to buck you to the moon.” Rarity sneered harshly, peering up at her. The cyan Pegasus shrunk under her gaze, but nodded before flying off the ground.

     Applejack was in a fit of hysteria as she tilted her Stetson to hide her blushing face. She then shook her head and turned to Twilight. “Ah think that’s a mighty fine idea. But we have to talk ta Trinity if she’s okay with it.”

     “Of course Applejack…. What do you girls think?” She asked, turning to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. They smiled and nodded, although the party pony’s nod was more enthusiastic. Twilight giggled and she let out a tired sigh.

   “Also, I’d be happy to make an outfit for the darling when she’s able to walk. The poor thing.” Rarity spoke up, lulling her head softly.

      “Thank you girls for being so supportive; I’m keeping a positive outlook on this for Spike, but, I’m really starting to get worried about her. Like, that there’s a whole other side to this story that we don’t know about.”

      Applejack nodded sympathetically. “Ah hear ya Twilight; this place is sure full of mysteries.” She sighed and looked out the window to see the sun in the middle of the sky. “Welp, guess ah should get goin’, ah have’ta check on Applebloom to see if she didn’t burn down the farm while I was gone.” She let out a short laugh before tipping her hat to her friends, and trotted out the door.

       “I think I’m going to head out too, I must open up my boutique before it’s too late.” Rarity waved goodbye, and with a dramatic flip of her mane she left the library. Rainbow Dash shrugged and yawned in response, rubbing her eyes.

“I’m going to find a puffy cloud to sleep on before I leave for the Wonderbolts Academy. Catch you later, Twilight.” She said, and was about to fly away when she turned back to her friend.

      Twilight laughed as she waved her off, with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie walking out seconds after. She then sighed when she realized that she was alone, looking out the window to see them all descending through the streets in different directions. Most of the Ponyfolk were out and about for the morning, as if nothing odd had occurred at all the previous night.

   “I really hope Trinity will be alright here.” She whispered to herself, and her ears twitched to the sound of a light snore coming from the upstairs guest bedroom.