The Wonders of the Desert and Cherry Farming
Anypony who knew Trixie mentioned how she loathed hot places. And to Trixie's luck—or lack thereof—she found herself sizzling in Dodge Junction. Destiny had a habit of meddling in her affairs, after all. It halted her trip to Ponyville, a delightful show for the townsfolk on her mind. She couldn't help but crack a smile imagining hundreds chanting her name. However, an inkling to meet with Twilight Sparkle again also brewed in her heart. She didn't know why, perhaps to try and one-up her again, but the desire was impossible to ignore. It only made her want to be in Ponyville even more.
In fact, Trixie knew she'd be there right about now if it wasn't for the broken wagon wheel beside her. Upon recalling the time she mentioned her dislike of wheels, she couldn't help but faintly chuckle.
She just wished the wheels didn't bite back.
Sweat dripped down her brow as the sun's rays pounded on her. Trixie glanced from left to right. There were a few shacks scattered about the flat landscape, all of them cubic and colored a pale brown with splinters poking out. While she wanted to press her weight against one of the walls, not to mention catching her breath, the possibility of a splinter piercing her flesh tautened her face. Leaning on it was out of the question.
What bugged Trixie more, however, was the sun and the landscape conspiring against her. The train station had a terrace, but the shady area was packed to the brim with pastel ponies. Just thinking of the collective odor and the shoulders compressing her cheekbones churned Trixie's stomach. Even the shelves where newspapers would reside were empty. Having nothing interesting to read to pass the time only disappointed Trixie further, the unicorn letting out a soft sigh. Relaxation was off the agenda. Again.
There was always the option of leaving Dodge Junction. Trixie knew nopony would blame her if she did. Her wagon would be waiting for her as well if she was told the truth, its new set of wheels replacing the semicircles it once wore. She wondered if it'd be cleaned and decorated as well, her eyes sparkling at the thought. A 'Great and Powerful' mare needed a wagon to fit the title, after all. A crummy one wasn't going to cut it.
"Well, Trixie can take the train," she said. Trixie swished her tail. "Not the most comfortable way to get somewhere." Pausing, Trixie then rubbed her back. The last time she used a train, the seats prodded her back and a cacophonous screech split her eardrums. Needless to say, she hadn't used a train since. "But Trixie figures it'd work." She sighed. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."
With a flick of her horn, Trixie's hat flew off her head and hovered before her. Trixie drove her hoof into the hat, only concerned with finding bits. Her foreleg wiggled about; the tip of her hoof brushed against the silky smooth material. It was like wrapping herself in a blanket, both comforting and warm. Nevertheless, Trixie yearned to find a hard object or two resting inside.
After a minute of swiping cloth and air, Trixie groaned. She thrust her hat back atop her head, teeth gnashing.
"Of course Trixie had to be out of bits," she mumbled to herself. "It's always The Great and Powerful Trixie who has to deal with trouble. Everypony—um—almost everypony gets by fine just doing whatever, but Trixie has to actually work at it." Trixie sat down, a burning sensation materializing on her rear. Jolting up in the air, she landed on all fours and massaged the sore spot. "Stupid heat. You just had to burn Trixie, huh?"
Sulking, Trixie trudged away from the train station. Focusing on the train tracks stretching out to the horizon, Trixie wondered if she could make her way to Ponyville on hoof or with magic. She stepped on a wooden plank, a slight creak splitting her ears. Then another. Trekking down the railway, even if it took days, had to be possible. After all, she read of the enduring feats some accomplished. There was the pony who climbed up a towering mountain with no climbing gear, something Trixie considered simple. And there was the pair which piloted a hoofcar from here all the way to Ponyville, which also sounded like foal's play.
But the longer Trixie stared at the horizon, it rippling like an ocean's wave, the dryer her throat became. No signs of foliage were visible from where she stood. Just clear skies and a dry desert.
Trixie figured she'd die of thirst if she trotted to Ponyville. And her arcane abilities weren't developed to where she could teleport multiple times without tiring her body.
Trixie groaned again. "Let me guess, I'm going to have to work here for a while," she said. She swiveled her head about, scanning the array of ponies and houses within the town. There was a bar she could work at, though alcohol's stench nauseated Trixie. Noticing a bearded stallion being tossed out like a rag doll didn't help matters. The sickening thud echoing into her ears turned Trixie pale.
Glancing to the left, Trixie then discovered a pony taller than the average mare on stilts. Like many of the townsponies, his pale face bore a ragged beard. His occupation appeared to be selling some sort of souvenir or object; the stallion juggled a white sign and pointed to a ragged shack. Such a job piqued Trixie's interest. She could boast about what she was selling and dazzle passersby with spectacular spells. The only problem was how she'd still be roasting outside. Perhaps it wasn't the best option as well.
There was always the possibility of stumbling into something. Trixie crossed her forelegs, hoping luck would shine on her.
"Hey there!" a voice chimed from nowhere. Trixie's ears twitched, the voice's drawl sounding rather humorous to her. She bit her lip and blocked a chuckle, but her cheeks flushed. "Are ya the mare who said she was lookin' for some work?"
Trixie nodded, then turned to the tan-coated mare. "Um, yes," she replied. "But how did you hear Trixie?"
"That talking in the third pony thing is so adorable." The mare laughed, earning a raised brow from Trixie. Why anypony would find her mannerisms adorable was beyond her. "Anyway, you're just in luck. I'm always willin' to lend a helpin' hoof. Also, somepony told me you said that and described what ya look like. Ya were as easy to find as a flying pig."
"It didn't take you any time to find Trixie, though. Surely there are ponies who look just like Trixie."
"Look around, miss. How many ponies do you see wearin' a magic hat and cape?"
Trixie blushed again. "Zero." A nervous chuckle left her lips. "Now that you mention it, Trixie stands out."
"That's what I thought."
"So then, who are you?" Trixie cocked her head. "And why do you want to help Trixie?"
"My name is Cherry Jubilee." She shook Trixie's hoof, the rapid motion straining the unicorn's foreleg. "It's mighty nice to meet ya."
Trixie withdrew her aching hoof, then massaged it. "It's—it's nice to meet you, too."
"Sorry 'bout my enthusiasm, Trixie." Cherry snickered. "I just love meetin' new ponies or seein' familiar faces, ya know?"
"Trixie thinks you've made that clear."
"So then, what kind of work are ya willin' to do?" Cherry took a short step toward Trixie. "I've got all sorts of things ya can do."
"Well, something that'll get me enough bits to go to Ponyville." Trixie nodded. "That's pretty much it." She clasped her hooves, lips pursed, and begged, "Can Trixie please have something quick?"
"Oh." Cherry's brow sagged, muzzle scrunched up like an accordion. "So you're gonna be just like Applejack and not help too much, right?"
Trixie shuffled back a bit. "Wait, what did Applejack do to you?"
"She said she'd be workin' for me for a week, but then she left." Cherry pouted. "She was a kind soul and all, but when you're gonna work for a week to get the money, I expect you're gonna work that week."
Trixie paused. From her limited knowledge of Applejack, the mare's honesty and hardworking qualities came up first. To Trixie, anypony with such defining features wouldn't just trot off and abandon a job. At least not until she told Cherry why she couldn't work there anymore. There was an urge to point this out, but Trixie knew doing so would only escalate the situation. As such, she tightly sealed her lips.
"Sorry if I scared ya," Cherry continued. "Don't know if it was a misunderstandin' or somethin', but it all felt fishy." She paused for a second. "Now then, if ya wanna get to Ponyville, it'll mean at least two days of work. Is that okay with you?"
"It depends. How much of it is physically tough?" Trixie asked.
"How so?"
Trixie softly sighed. It wasn't as though she was explaining rocket science. "I mean, how many heavy things will Trixie have to pull? Will Trixie have to work for hours under the sun? What's involved?"
Cherry chuckled again, then sheepishly waved her hoof. "Oh, Trixie. It's nothin' hard or anythin'. Sure, it might be tough at first, but you'll get the hang of it."
Trixie nudged closer to Cherry. "So when does Trixie start? Trixie is eager to get going." Saying she was eager would be an understatement, her body quivering with anticipation.
"Follow me, and I'll get ya started as soon as possible." Cherry trotted past Trixie, the latter following close behind. "It's not too long to my farm from here." She paused, then glanced behind her shoulder. The two mares made eye contact. "By the way, do you like cherries?"
Trixie shrugged. "Trixie likes cherries. Apples, bananas, and oranges are also nice."
"So ya like fruit, huh?"
"Trixie does. The taste can be refreshing at times, especially after a hard day's work." A second of silence passed. Breaking the silence was a faint gust of wind swirling past Trixie and across the repetitive landscape. "But why do you ask these questions? They don't seem to be too relevant to the tasks Trixie will do." She paused, her brain recalling where she was headed. "Okay, so we are going to a farm—presumably with cherries—but why do you need to know if Trixie likes them or not?"
"It's just small talk, honey. I'm tryin' to get to know ya a little better."
Trixie arched an eyebrow. "And you start off with that? It's certainly not the weirdest way Trixie has seen somepony start a conversation, but it's up there."
"Well then, what do you want to talk about?" Cherry brought her focus back to the landscape ahead. "You must have somethin' important, right?"
"Well, Trixie usually talks about being so wonderful. Can we talk about that?"
"Let me understand this, miss. You're more wonderful than a Wonderbolt?"
Trixie groaned at the obvious play on words, her eyes rolling. "Trixie is a thousand times better than they are." Then, her throat tightened.
Cherry giggled. "That's mighty impressive, as the Wonderbolts are like guardian angels over in Dodge Junction with how much they help out. Next thing ya know, they'll be savin' me from fallin' into a ravine."
Shrugging, Trixie couldn't help but don a bemused expression. Just trying to tempt fate always concluded poorly. "And why would you fall into a ravine?"
"Do ya know how boring it is to be travelin' a long time or to be countin' cherries forever?"
Quickly nodding, Trixie recalled the trips she made from town to town for her shows. Most of them were rather short in the grand scheme of things, but those lasting over two hours turned Trixie pale. The idea of traveling across a barren desert was nauseating, the monotony a special kind of punishment she wouldn't wish on her nemeses.
"Trixie knows exactly what it's like," she responded. "There's a reason Trixie wants to be in Ponyville this instant."
"Just be patient and do your best," Cherry said. "You'll be on a train to Ponyville in no time."
"And when will we arrive at—"
Cutting herself off, Trixie noticed a plantation to her right. The wooden fence surrounding said plantation was a pale brown, the beams clinging on the fence's legs for dear life. A small, pony-made lake rested beside the farm, water flowing through the plants and around the house. Trixie knew it wasn't nature's doing. Sure, she may have never read such books, though such an oddity couldn't have been mere chance. The left had little of note, a tall tree with a picnic table next to it all she spotted.
Trixie brought her attention to the main house, a towering structure which cast a shadow on her. The red exterior was a nice touch, fitting for what she assumed was a cherry farm. A wagon, much sturdier than the one Trixie once used, was parked before the front door. For reasons unbeknownst to her, a small plank attached to its top. There was even a pillow and a blanket folded up atop the wagon, Trixie arching an eyebrow at the sight.
"Ya impressed, Trixie?" Cherry asked.
Trixie remained static for a moment, eyes fixed to the wagon. Two seconds later, she nodded. "Trixie guesses it looks nice," she answered. Her head shifted toward Cherry. "But what's with the pillow and blanket on your wagon?"
Cherry cocked her head, eyebrow raised. "What do ya mean?" She briefly glanced over to the wagon. "Nothing's wrong with havin' a pillow and blanket on your wagon, right?"
"Trixie feels as though falling asleep on a moving wagon is a recipe for disaster." She pursed her lips. "What if you have to make a sudden turn or stop?"
Cherry snickered; she gently waved her hoof in front of Trixie. "Ya worry too much. It's like watchin' a kitten gettin' too energetic. Anyway, do ya wanna get started?"
Nodding, a slight smirk adorned Trixie. "Yes, please." Trixie then noticed a ticklish sensation in her throat. Saying please in any context felt off-putting for somepony 'Great and Powerful'. However, politeness wasn't alien to her. There was just never a conscious need to overdo it. A shift in personality was one possibility, but Trixie subtly shook her head at the thought. Nopony could change their mannerisms in a flash—except for Discord if the rumors were true as well as others. But they were exceptions to the rule as far as Trixie was concerned.
"Okay, how 'bout you get to work pickin' cherries from the trees in the plantation. Sound fair?"
"Trixie sees that as fair." Her brain, however, wished she was tossed into a different job. While Cherry picking was effortless to her, despite having never done it before, trotting with the scorching sun looming over her was anything but simple. Trixie's muscles tightened as the taxing task approached. "It shouldn't be too tough for Trixie."
"I'm glad ya feel that way." Cherry trotted up to the front gate and, with a flick of the hoof, opened it. "Come through here when you're ready, and we can get to work."
Making her way past Cherry, Trixie stepped on the soft soil which made up the plantation. It felt rather cold and muddy, though lifeless was how Trixie saw it. It was almost as if the nerves in her hooves all decided to sleep the rest of the day away. But without a doubt, it was an improvement over the hot and dry ground she traversed earlier.
"Yeah, the soil will take gettin' used to," Cherry added, eyes glued to Trixie's wiggling legs. "But you'll enjoy it soon enough."
Trixie rolled her eyes. "Of course Trixie will," she quipped. She trudged across the ground and approached the nearest tree, a woven basket conveniently placed next to its trunk. Upon lighting her horn in a bright blue aura, Trixie stuck her tongue out and glared at the cherries the tree bore. A second later, the cherries were also enveloped in the aura and fluttered into the basket as though they were sentient. "See, such a task is no trouble for The Great and Powerful Trixie."
"I'm glad you're able to do it easily. Just be careful."
"Trixie knows how to pace things." She glanced behind her shoulder, locking gazes with Cherry. "Trixie doesn't show off in such a manner."
Cherry arched an eyebrow, lips straight. "Right."
With the irony lost on Trixie, she brought her attention to an adjacent tree, repeating the process. "This will take no time or effort. Trixie is here to help you, Cherry Jubilee!"
Picking the cherries took a lot of time and effort.
An hour slogged by since Trixie started working, seconds now taking minutes. With the basket of picked cherries by her side, Trixie approached another tree while panting loudly. The cold beads of sweat trickling down her brow tickled her face; her hat and cape stuck to her body like duct tape. Trixie couldn't help but think how standing amongst the crowd at the train station or working at the wild bar couldn't be so awful in the grand scheme of things.
And the sun's rays cooked her like a fried egg, exactly the state she dreaded. Trixie felt lightheaded. The world was a hazy blur as her legs turned to jelly, the rest of her body covered with slight aches or twinges. And not a second later, her body crashed onto the ground with a sickening thud, her limbs now somewhat numb.
"W-why is this so hard?" Trixie whined, trying to catch her breath. "Nopony could do this. It's impossible!"
However, Trixie's mind retorted with how such a task wasn't impossible. She just lacked the physical strength and experience to pull it off. To her, it was akin to almost anything she tried which didn't deal with magic or tricks.
Plopping sounds filled Trixie's ears, Cherry Jubilee approaching her with a bemused expression. In addition to the saddlebag she donned, Cherry carried a bucket of water with her. The liquid swished about as she strode. "Excuse me, but didn't ya say anypony could do this?" Cherry questioned. She pouted. "Because to me it looks like you're gonna be unconscious in about a minute."
Trixie sighed, her lower lip glancing against the soil. The taste was quite bitter as soil tended to be. At least it was poignant enough to bring her back to reality. "Trixie doesn't pass out so easily, you know."
"Is that so?" Cherry rolled her eyes. "Hold still for a second."
Grasping the bucket of water, Cherry heaved it toward Trixie. A torrent of water flew across the air, splashing onto the unicorn a second later. Shivering and chattering her teeth, Trixie pushed herself back up with dilated pupils. Though she didn't waste a second shaking her body like a dog drying itself.
"There ya go, Trixie. Now you're Great and Powerful," Cherry teased. "Just add water, I guess."
Trixie sighed, shoulders drooped. "Look, Trixie—"
"None of that, miss!" Cherry scowled like a fierce chimera, Trixie recoiling in response. "Speak in the first pony, please. It was cute before, but now ya sound like you're boastin' too much."
"Trixie—I mean—I have my reasons, you know."
"How so? Is it your performances? Do ya have to always act like this?"
Trixie shook her head. "No, Cherry Jubilee. It's—more about who I am than anything."
"So ya think this boastin' stuff is cool and all?"
Trixie sighed. She knew prolonging the argument any further would spell disaster. "Look, can I at least explain myself?"
"Is it long?"
"Of course not. It's just one sentence."
Cherry motioned her hoof. "Well, can ya share it now, please?"
Nodding, Trixie's face tautened. "Okay." She took a deep breath in a desperate attempt loosen her muscles. "See, I act all boastful not only to maintain how I act on stage, but also in order to better my self-esteem."
Pausing for a moment, Cherry blinked. "Is that so?"
"It's true, Cherry Jubilee. Trixie is neither great nor powerful." A sigh left her lips. "I can prance around with flashy lights going off in the background, but that's it. I lack any real talents, and that's the main reason I wanted to go to Ponyville."
Cherry arched an eyebrow. "What's in Ponyville, miss?"
"The Princess of Friendship, of course! She'll be able to help me with my self-esteem!"
"I'm sorry, but I don't follow all them current events and such. Too many crazy things goin' on these days."
With her mouth agape, Trixie's ears twitched. How anypony could not know who Twilight was eluded her mind. Did news spread at a snail's pace over in Dodge Junction? If the lack of newspapers from earlier told Trixie anything, such a thought couldn't be true. "Hold on, you seriously don't know who Twilight Sparkle is? Do you ever go out much?"
"Wait, you said Twilight Sparkle?" Cherry leaned closer to Trixie, the two inches apart. "I know who Twilight is. I think she's why Applejack left my farm."
"Look, Applejack had to have a reason for leaving." Trixie gently pushed herself away from Cherry, then exhaled. "Trixie—I mean—I don't know why she had to leave, but I can assure you that from what I know, Applejack isn't the kind of pony to just leave a job."
Cherry's muzzle then scrunched up. "And what makes you so sure about that? Why should I believe somepony who said they could do a job they obviously couldn't?"
"Because she's honest and doesn't wrong anypony like that!" The stories detailing the exploits of Applejack and company filled her mind. There wasn't much she was aware of, just a few anecdotes from gossiping passersby and articles, but the proof was there. However, before Trixie could utter another word, she couldn't help but realize something.
She was actually defending the ponies I considered rivals. The ponies she felt ruined her. Trixie's pupils dilated.
"Wait a second. I wanted to meet with Twilight Sparkle to boost my self-esteem, but not to best her in something," she whispered to herself. "I—I wanted to meet her so she could help me."
Cherry waved a hoof in front of Trixie. "Are you in there? Looks like ya had your brain run away on ya." She clapped her hooves, loud clacks splitting Trixie's eardrums. "C'mon, Trixie!"
Trixie leaped up in surprise. She shuddered upon landing. "Uh, I'm here."
"What was all that about, then?"
"Simple." Pausing for a moment, Trixie then placed a hoof to her chest. "Cherry Jubilee, why did Applejack come to work at your farm?"
"To get some money, of course. I'm always willin' to be charitable to those who need money or work."
Trixie furrowed her brow. "Any specific reason."
"Of course!" Cherry bobbed her head. "She wanted to get some bits after losin' in the rodeo contest."
"Trixie—I know what happened!" Just from her few encounters with them, she pieced together the hypothesis Applejack's friends taught her a lesson. They had a knack for learning and teaching lessons after all, and this coupled with a chain of events which saw her leaving the plantation were unavoidable had to be what happened. "Applejack must have learned a lesson about friendship—or something like that—and through a wild series of events, she left the plantation and accidentally forgot to let you know."
"How did you come up with that?"
"I've seen them enough. Such behavior and even mistakes aren't what you'd call uncommon."
Cherry rolled her shoulders. "And how will I know if you're tellin' the truth?"
"If Applejack or any of her friends are excited to see you again, you'll know they meant no harm."
A foreleg stretched toward Trixie, Cherry cracking a grin. "I'll believe ya if that happens, Trixie. C'mon, let's shake hooves to seal the deal."
Trixie brought her hoof to Cherry's the pair engaging in a firm hoofshake a second later. The gesture sent a warmth coursing through Trixie's body, her visage donning a slight smile of her own.
"I hope you're right, Trixie," Cherry added.
"Same here," Trixie replied. Her brow then shot up, Cherry's behavior tickling her mind. "By the way, how did you come around so fast?"
"What do ya mean?"
"Like, all Trixie—I had to do was say a few things and you're okay with all of this. Not long ago you were miffed."
"Remember when we were talkin' about the job?"
"I do." Trixie nodded. "You told me about how you were upset about Applejack back then."
"Remember when I said it may have been a misunderstandin'?"
"Oh." Rubbing the back of her neck, Trixie blushed. "Forgot about that."
"Ya had to force it out of me, but I'm more open to that idea. If any of the six see me and they're friendly, I promise I'll be friendly back." Cherry fiddled in her saddlebag, procuring ten bits. Upon giving them to Trixie, the unicorn ogled the currency as though they were from a hidden treasure chest. "I'm lettin' ya have the bits right here since ya opened my mind. Thanks, Trixie."
With dilated eyes, Trixie shoveled the bits into her magic cap. "Thank you, Cherry Jubilee."
"Now go out there and get that train ticket!"
Trixie bobbed her head. "Can do!"
Departing the plantation filled Trixie to the brim with ecstasy, a skip in her step. By just retracing her steps, she made her way back to the center of Dodge Junction in only a few minutes. Not much changed since she trotted away from it not too long ago; the roads' congestion and the buildings were just as she recalled them. The train station, on the other hoof, was emptier than before. Trixie trudged toward the wooden structure and, upon glancing at the train tracks, she knew why.
A herd of sheep decided to stand in the middle of the tracks, some deciding to hop or roll around in the dirt instead. Such a mass of critters would make a train departure unfeasible for the time being, though such incidents were to be expected with the sheep roaming around during that time of year. While Trixie rolled her eyes and sighed, her lips remained curled in a smile nonetheless.
She had the bits needed to get to Ponyville.
She'd learned a lesson about herself.
She'd taught another pony something.
And she'd get to have her discussion with Twilight Sparkle soon enough. It would be one she knew would go well.
