Evil Empire

"Three hours! Three fucking hours of detention with a bunch of little kids and that scumbag Sunset Shimmer! Plus, I haven't got any work done for tomorrow, and it's past six already."

Vinyl spat and cursed. While usually more of an introvert, this would mark one of the few times for her to let her emotions run free. "Goddammit, Trixie! That was the last time I'm helping you with any advice for anyone! Also, what was tha..."

"The great and powerful Trixie," the words' obvious source emitted. "Doesn't require your criticism, Vinyl Scratch! For she stands tall above any flaws!"

Vinyl narrowed her eyes, one index finger pointing towards Trixie's backpack. After a brief, and somewhat tense silence, Trixie rolled her eyes, taking it off. "Very well then," she said. "If you see no other way for Trixie to settle your worries..."

She quickly produced another package of crackers, then began chewing on one. Only seconds later, her pupils widened, and she sighed. "Listen, Vinyl, I'm sorry. I never expected them to make it that obvious. Or telling on us, for that matter."

"That's better."

"Exactly. And you know what could get us back together, again? We need a common enemy."

"Uh-huh. Like what?"

Taking in a dramatic pose, Trixie raised her right hand, pointing at the red traffic light across the street.

"Why? Cause it won't let us pass?" Vinyl asked. "Come on now, don't get all ridiculous again. Besides, if you know a better way downtown...well, I'm all ears."

Trixie chuckled for just a second, before her serious expression returned stronger than ever. "That's not what I meant. It's more the way how it tells us to stop, you see."

"Uhhh...not really, sorry."

"Think about it," Trixie told her, having grown back to her full confidence already. "Why exactly is it that it's the red figure telling us to stop? If you're just honest with yourself for a moment, you'll realize that you automatically associate the red guy with something negative, as soon as you see him, right?"

"I guess..." Vinyl replied, hesitantly. Most of her aggression had already turned into plain confusion by now. "And that colossal revelation tells me...what?"

Trixie retrieved her hand from its outstretched position, and placed two fingers onto her temple. "Subconscious messages, never heard of those?" she asked. "They constantly confront you with the negative image of the red man. It goes on like that from your first day to your last, all the time, every hour and minute of your life, and to an enormous extend. Eventually you - everyone - succumbs to them, until they just wanna shout 'Better dead than red' themselves. And then you do what they told ya."

"You...are you sure, you're not taking this whole anti-systems thing a little too far?"

"Another example to make up your mind: When someone is correct, they're right, not left. but when you accidentally lose something precious to you, you left it. Not right, see? The messages are everywhere. Powerful enough, they could easily convince you that these..." She lifted up her other hand, four fingers stretched out. "...are actually five fingers instead of four. Sure, it'd take time and effort. But then? Everyone would believe them!"

Vinyl rolled her eyes. "You are taking this over the top, Trixie. And honestly? Please don't...you're making an idiot out of yourself, and..."

"How many fingers?"

"Look, it's four, okay. Now..."

Following her response, Trixie clenched her fist, forcefully punching Vinyl's shoulder.

"OW! What the hell..."

"How many fingers, Winston?"

All of a sudden, Vinyl felt the rage flowing back into her system. Alongside, the reason for originally being mad at Trixie returned as well.

"Are you crazy?" she yelled. "You could actually hurt people that way!"

"Oh, please," Trixie responded ever so calm, pointing at the DJ's severed shoulder. "'tis but a scratch."

"Scra...SCRATCH?" Vinyl couldn't believe her ears. "That's it! I'm outta here."

She turned around, and vengefully started marching back down the sidewalk, fists clenched beside her hips. Only after a few meters, Trixie started vigorously yelling after her.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Vinyl heard her call.

She took a deep breath, before looking back over said shoulder, muffling her annoyed, but still incredibly sarcastic response: "Off to see the wizard, the powerful wizard of..."

"Okay, I get it. Sorry about the punching. But honestly now?"

She sighed, just before turning around completely.

"Probably just grabbing a milkshake or something at Sugarcube Cafe. But..."

"Can I join in?"

"Any way I could stop you?"

"Not really."

"Thought so."