Arc 2- 2 (Sweet Freedom)

A tape recorder clicks on and the tapes inside start spinning, creating whirring sound.

A stallion on the other end takes a exhales and takes a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking into the microphone of the device.

“This is Shining Armor’s audio journal entry number... four hundred and... fourteen. Date is day one hundred and eighty in the year twelve After Luna’s Return. Where to begin?... Where to begin?...” Shining Armor says wearily.

There is a moment of silence, followed by paper rustling and Shining Armor grumbling something about his horn and leg killing him, and then he mumbles some colorful and very hateful words regarding Terra.

“Equestria is going to crap. There, I’ll just say it. Nothing fancy, that’s the job of the politicians. Director Brisk Wind finally got Trixie Lulamoon to talk after a week of interrogation using only Celestia knows what. That mare is going to be scarred for life now, I just know it. But now we know where Roar Shock and the League of Justice where the League of Justice are hiding so we’re preparing an invasion of their headquarters and.. and...” Shining Armor sighs depressingly. “I don’t know anymore. I don’t know what Equestria this is, but it’s not the one I remember growing up in. Everything-Everypony is changing for the worst. Cadence is worried about me.” Shining Armor chuckles uneasily. “Not that I can blame her; I’m worried too. Anyway, Twilight has been given charge of the area around Ponyville by Princess Celestia. She’s going to be coordinating rebuilding efforts and all the works. Hopefully that’ll help her. She hasn’t been the same ever since Spike’s death and I actually had to come down to Ponyville to get her out of her room after Pinkie Pie died. That poor girl needs her friends more than ever now, because I can’t be there for her, I have-I am responsible for the safety of millions. And it’s not getting any easier since the Royal and Night Guards are having trouble with the Local Guards about jurisdiction and the small town ponies refuse to recognize the Martial Law. And... And Director Brisk Wind had somehow convinced Celestia to build -no create- another government agency called the ‘Civilian Defense Agency’. Apparently she’s been working on it ever since she became director of the EIB. But what the hay is that supposed to be, anyway? She said it was to help find terrorists, but I’m looking through the layout of this new agency right now and...”

Some papers rustle and Shining Armor sighs once again.

“And I don’t like. Not one bit. I mean, this thing-this agency is evil to say the least. I hope Celestia-”

The door creaks opens up and a tired clop noise approaches him.

“Shining, what are you doing?” yawns Cadence.

“I’m just doing some work, honey,” replies Shining Armor patiently.

“Work can wait, you need to get to bed. You need your sleep.”

“And I will get my sleep when I’m done. I promise.”

Cadence walks closer and gives him a quick kiss before leaving.

“Don’t stay up too late, Equestria can’t afford to have its champion be sleepy in a time like this,” says Cadence.

The door closes and Shining Armor resumes his recording.

“Well my fantastically beautiful wife just ruined my train of thought. I’ll have to think of a punishment for her later,” jokes Shining Armor tiredly. “But all joking aside, I fear that if... Never mind, I’ll be here all night if I go that route. I-Equestria needs a hero, and soon, or else we’ll be destroyed. But it can’t be me. I can’t be their hero anymore. How can I lead the mightiest army in the world if failed to protect Canterlot once.... and I already failed Ponyville and the Mayor, and I can’t be there for Twilight. And I’m failing Equestria everywhere I go. I couldn’t stop Brisk Wind’s torture, and... and...” Shining Armor sighs heavily, sniffles and then wipes his nose. “And...I don’t know-I don’t know if I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, stop what Brisk Wind did. Some stallion I turned out to be.”

There is a few seconds of somber, pregnant silence.

“I don’t think Celestia and Luna can save us, either. Guess that means there’s no point in praying for their deliverance, huh?”

The tape recorder clicks off.

++++++++++

PRISON REPORT

Date: 181-12 ALR

**Prisoner Name:* Trixie Lulamoon*

Prisoner Number: 03231

Cell Number: A-18

Report:

Trixie Lulamoon was engaged in a fight with six inmates in the courtyard; all of whom have been hospitalized by the injuries inflicted by her. Multiple fractures and broken bones for all of them and Trixie barely has a bruise on her (NOTE: The bruises from interrogation make the extent of her injuries from the fight hard to determine). According to the guards stationed, she acted in self defense, but she’s already assaulted twenty inmates over the course of the three weeks she’s been here and all twenty have been taken to the infirmary.

Trixie Lulamoon has also attempted suicide in her cell again and has reported what she has described as a “bucking ugly pegasus stallion with one wing” named “Sunshine”. No records show any such pony in the facility. Sessions with Dr. Wave have led her to believe that Trixie Lulamoon is suffering from Paranoid Schizophrenia, Dementia, and possibly Night Terrors, and has recommended extreme actions to be taken for her wellbeing.

Suggested Course(s) of Action:

Solitary Confinement

Prescription Strength Anti-Hallucinogen drugs, and other medication should the need arise

Intense therapy sessions

++++++++++

In a small day care center designed like an old west saloon, a group of foals are crowded around a pair of saloon style swing doors, waiting in anticipation for the arrival of a mare that has kept appearing and disappearing right before their very eyes. The teacher watching the children can only smile at how easily the kids are amused, and how they are oblivious to the azure hooves that aren’t covered by the door. The teacher is an earth pony mare with a white coat and a rusty red mane and tail, with the mane tied into a bun, and her cutie mark is a piece of chalk.

“Wheeere’s Trixie?... Here she is!”

Trixie, as a young teenager, pushes open the swing doors, wearing her star studded pointy hat and cape, grinning at the group of little foals. The group giggles, cheers, and awkwardly clapping their hooves together, and then Trixie pulls herself behind the doors and closes them. The foals stop clapping and stare at it, some sniffle and others wonder out loud where she went.

“Wheeere’s Trixie?” teases Trixie. The foals eyes widen and sparkle with anticipation. “Here she is!”

Trixie pops out yet again and the foals cheer and clap as loud as their little bodies can. When Trixie lies down on the ground to take a breather, the foals crowd around her, begging for more of her amazing disappearing act.

“No, I’m sorry, but I already did that fifty times, and I’m tired so I must sleep to regain my disappearing powers,” says Trixie playfully.

Then she curls up on the floor, closes her and pretends to snore. The foals inch closer to her and poke her all over her body; from her face, to her sides, and her cutie mark. Trixie is using every bit of willpower she has to stop from giggling, especially when they poke her cutie mark. Every time they poke her cutie mark there’s a surge of tingly, ticklish feelings that radiate from the mark and it takes up her whole leg. However, in spite of all her best efforts to pretend to be unaffected, her leg still makes a small kicking motion, which makes the foals giggle.

“My dog does the same thing.” The foal pokes Trixie cutie mark and her leg jerks out before retracting just as quickly. “See?”

“She’s ticklish,” whispers another foal.

‘Oh no,’ thinks Trixie while trying desperately to hold back her smile.

“TICKLE ATTACK!” yell the foals.

Trixie bursts into a laughing fit that makes her face turn a shade of crimson as the little hooves rub all over her body, overwhelming her with dozens of tickling sensations in dozens of spots. She’s soon on her back, flailing her hooves in the air and struggling to breathe through her laughter. Her hat has fallen off and was picked up and worn by a filly, but the hat is way too big for her, though, so it ends up covering most of her head, so she has to tilt it so that she can see. The foals continue their relentless tickle attack against Trixie, ignoring her begs to make them stop, not that she could be understood easily since she’s laughing and speaking at the same time.

The teacher walks over to the group and gently shoos the kids away from Trixie. Trixie is grinning from ear to ear, still lying on her back, breathing heavily and sweating from all the laughing and flailing she had done. She looks at the teacher and nods a “Thank you” and the teacher smiles and helps her up.

“Sorry about that, Trixie, these foals hardly had anypony to entertain them until you came along. They just can’t get enough of you,” says the teacher apologetically.

“Oh no, it’s alright, I love entertaining these little guys,” says Trixie while levitating her hat back on her head.

The filly that was wearing the head pouts, but a quick rub on the head from Trixie is enough to lift her spirits. As soon as Trixie rubs her head, the filly gasps, her eyes widen, and a huge smile stretches across her face. Then she squeals happily and runs towards a small group of other fillies that are preoccupied with dolls now.

“Girls! Girls! The Great and Powerful Trixie touched me!” says the filly.

The others look at her in disbelief; but it’s not the kind where those in disbelief think claim is idiotic, but the kind that says that they can’t believe the luck of their friend surpasses theirs by lightyears.

“No way!” gasps another filly.

Trixie chuckles at how excited the fillies are about a simple touch. The teacher grins and looks at Trixie proudly.

“Well, that says a lot about you” says the teacher.

“Yeah... You know, I could get used to being called ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’” jokes Trixie.

“Well don’t let it get to your head, you know how pride is.”

“Oh relax, Ms. Aural, this is me we’re talking about. Trixie will always be Trixie and there is no changing that.”

Ms. Aural chuckles uneasily as she heads towards her desk to give Trixie her pay for the evening. “Sorry, I guess I didn’t hear the humor in your tone. Which is sad, since I spend my life around a bunch of pranksters.”

The two mares look at the kids playing with each other for a couple of seconds before Ms. Aural hands Trixie the bag of bits. Trixie levitates the bag of her head and thanks her for the pay. Ms. Aural smiles and leads Trixie to the exit of the day care center.

“Will I be seeing you here tomorrow?” asks Ms. Aura as she holds open the door.

“Same time tomorrow, just like it has been for the past month... That is unless I get detention again,” replies Trixie with a smile.

The two laugh and say their farewells. Trixie steps outside to the cobblestone streets of Canterlot and takes a moment to breathe in the fresh air consisting of freshly watered grass and newly bloomed flowers. She also feels the warm rays of the sun warm herself; the inside of the day care center is at least ten degrees cooler than it is outside, and Trixie loves the warm feeling she’s getting. After taking in the wonderful feelings for a few seconds, she takes a deep breath, opens up her eyes and begins trotting down the street. She cheerfully greets the vendors and passerbys along the way, but then someone, or something, catches her eye in an alley. She stops and looks down the shadowy alley to see a familiar, featureless unicorn staring at her. She instantly recognizes him for some reason, as a very gruesome image of her father’s destroyed loft flashes in front of her eyes, followed by her crying in that thing’s shoulder. But oddly enough, Trixie doesn’t feel anything but content with a dab of curiosity. She steadily approaches the shadowy figure and all noise becomes more faint the closer she gets to it. She opens up her mouth to speak, but it talks first.

“You need to wake up,” he says.

Trixie closes her eyes to blink-

[[[[O]]]]

And when she opens her eyes, still expecting to see the Harmony she had experienced, all she sees is the solitary confinement cell. The cell she’s sitting in is cramped, it’s a little over half the size of her normal cell, but it’s not a problem, when she sleeps she’ll be back home where all the pleasant things of life lay in wait for her.

This is going on the fourth day that Trixie has been in solitary confinement and doped up on drugs for everyone’s protection. Trixie’s eyes are dilated and she has a stupid smile plastered on her face as she sways back and forth in her spot, smack dab in the middle of the cell. She can’t think of anything except for sunshine and rainbows... and she loves it! The shadowy thing she saw before waking up is easily forgotten for the euphoric feeling that makes Trixie forget about all her troubles. She doesn’t care that her mane and tail are a mess, or that there is a scab ring around her eye, or that she’s covered in nasty bruises, including a poorly healed split lip. She just feels so happy right now it seems like she’ll never become angry ever again.

Also, for the past four days, whenever she took the pills Sunshine didn’t make an appearance, and every horrible thing that has happened seemed like it was only a distant nightmare. Today is no different. Whatever pills they gave her, she loves it and wants more. They provide an amazing escape from this not so cheerful place.

She doesn’t care to acknowledge the solitary cell door opening, she’s having too much fun imagining all the goodness. And she doesn’t mind the guard that walked in and clips a chain on her collar, or how he nudges her up. She gets up with no protest and willingly follows the guard down the hallway, humming a happy tune to herself, with other guards surrounding her. When they get outside and walk through the passages on the outside of the courtyard, the prisoners leaning by the fence jump away from Trixie and those that are passing through with guard escorts scoot as far away from her as possible.

The guards lead Trixie to the Visitor Room, a long room separated by a wall with thick glass panels showing what’s on the other side. Trixie is brought to the very back where an odd visitor is waiting for her. She is an earth pony mare with mint green coat, a wavy pink mane and tail, and she’s wearing a flower necklace and a flower clip in her hair. Trixie giggles at the amusing sight and pushes a small button on the floor that turns on the intercom for their spot.

“You look funny,” giggles Trixie.

The earth pony smiles and turns on her side of the intercom.

“Genetics, gotta love it,” she says lightheartedly.

“So, who are you? Do you want to be Trixie’s friend?” asks Trixie hopefully.

“Actually, I am a friend of yours, Trixie. And you got some friends in high places.”

“Hmm, I don’t seem to remember you, though.”

“That’s because I became your friend right now, silly. My name is Minty Sprinkles, I’m an associate of Princess Celestia, and I have fantastic news!”

Trixie’s eyes widen and her grin broadens and she puts her hoof against the window as she leans closer to it.

“Do you have candy? Trixie loves candy!” says Trixie, her mouth practically drooling from the thought of having those delectable sweets dissolving in her mouth.

“Even better. Freedom,” says Minty with an amused grin.

“Never heard of it. Is it a bubble gum?”

“I’m not talking about candy, Trixie, I’m talking about freedom freedom. Like a bird flying through the clouds or walking down the streets of Canterlot to buy your special somepony a gift kind of freedom. I’m talking about making new friends freedom.”

Trixie’s hoof slides off the window while she snickers and shakes her head in disbelief.

“You’re funny, Minty. Haven’t you heard? This is Singsong Prison!” says Trixie theatrically while waving her hoof around to emphasize. “Nopony gets out of Singsong!”

“Not easily, Trixie, that is until now,” says Minty while giving a quick wink. “You see, whoever this friend of yours is, had a very long talk with Celestia and for whatever reason the Princess is like ‘Gee, maybe Trixie isn’t all that bad’ and sent me over to pick you up and take you home to Canterlot.”

Trixie laughs again. “Oh Minty, I don’t know you that well, but I think you’re lying.”

“Wow, they must’ve given you some strong stuff,” says Minty.

“It’s not strong. It’s awesome! Trixie feels happy. So, so, sosososososo soooooo happy right now.”

Trixie looks at one of the guards that brought her in, he looks confused by Trixie’s otherworldly bubbly attitude. Her grin widens and the guard shifts uneasily in his spot while glancing at the other guards nervously, they’re only solace is a shrug.

“Do you feel happy?” asks Trixie.

“I’m never happy,” blurts the guard as he snaps his attention to Trixie.

“Oh, do you want a hug?”

“No.”

“Please.”

“No.”

“Pretty please.”

“No.”

“Pretty please with a cherry on top.”

“No. Go talk to Misty.”

“Minty,” corrects Minty.

“Whatever. Go bug her.”

Trixie looks at Minty, still smiling. “Soooo, Minty, if I’m out what kind of freedom will the Great and Powerful Trixie get?”

“You’ll get a lot, but I’ll be acting as your caretaker and you’ll be forced to stay in a designated housing unit under my supervision for a while. After all, you did do some bad things and Celestia doesn’t trust you all the way. You’ll have to build up her trust,” replies Minty casually.

“I like trust, trust is good. Trust is very good. Just like candy. Do you like candy? I like mint candy.”

“We’ll buy you all the mint candy you want, how’s that sound?”

Trixie squeals joyfully and claps her hooves together. “Oh yay! This is great! I get candy! Lots and lots of candy!”

Minty motions Trixie to push the intercom button and she quickly pushes the intercom button.

“Do you want Trixie to repeat what she said?” asks Trixie.

“Nah, I can read lips. But, the process to get you officially out will take me a few hours, so sit tight and soon you’ll taste the freshness of sort-of freedom. Which is better than the no freedom you’re getting.”

Trixie nods her head quickly, still grinning from ear to ear, and her messy mane bobs up and down with her head motions. Minty smiles and tells her hang tight and then she leaves. After that, the guards take Trixie back to her solitary cell and she waits patiently for her freedom bringing mare to come and get her. She grins in anticipation for the freedom that Minty is promising her.

That, and some mint candy.

~~~~~~~~~~

A few hours later, Trixie is still sitting in her solitary confinement cell, scowling at the dreaded steel door holding her in this prison in a prison. The drugs have worn off, leaving Trixie feeling empty and hateful. She had been here for three weeks and already she succumbed to the will of the state. After the interrogation at the hands of EIB, she has started wondering how much force it would take for her hoof to crack EIB skulls open, and how long she’ll take beating Brisk Wind before decapitating her. Brisk Wind made Trixie betray her family, and now she’s all alone in Singsong; her only family more than likely being massacred by the Guards and EIB while she sits helplessly in her cell.

At least Trixie has plenty of scumbags to beat up. She’s already beat up twenty inmates (one almost to death apparently), mostly in self defense. But there was that one time an inmate thought it would be funny to feel her up in the shower room. Trixie thinks that must’ve been the inmate she almost killed, it wouldn’t surprise her considering that she did slam the pervert’s face to a shower knob and then stomped on her a dozen times. Now she’s considered to be a psycho by the prison psychology office.

Trixie feels the pain from the bruises she’s sustained over the weeks seeping out and spreading all over her body. She huffs and uncomfortably shifts in her position in an attempt to distract her from the discomfort while still keeping her eyes focused on the door. Trixie is also feeling very doubtful of this “Minty Sprinkles” character; she’s weird and Trixie doesn’t believe her story for a second. She’s curious as to why Celestia would suddenly semi-pardon her. Did she miss the part where she almost destroyed Ponyville, or did that just go over her divine head? Trixie starts to wonder if Celestia is toying with her. There is a reason one of her nicknames is “Trollestia”, after all.

Trixie shifts her position again and continues to stare at the door, waiting for the grungy steel barrier to open and for the guard to drag her along that damn leash of theirs like she’s a dog. Trixie looks at the floor and realizes how dirty it is. The worn concrete is rusting in spots, giving it a bleeding look, and the cracks in the wall and the sounds of water rushing through the pipes add to the dread she’s feeling. And it doesn’t help that the weak light bulb is constantly flickering on and off.

She wants those pills, they’ll take her out of this Hell in no time.

“Ah, don’tcha worry, darlin’, yer still pretty,” says Sunshine.

The voice came from behind her, but Trixie is used to his presence and the way he sneaks around her, so she doesn’t jump, rather she glances over her shoulder. She would like it a whole lot better if he didn’t show up. Like when she took those pills.

She needs those pills.

“Looks won’t save me here,” snarls Trixie.

Sunshine chuckles and moves next to her, he’s still a creepy shadowy presence with red eyes, but at least she can make out some of his original form.

“Ya don’t fear me now? That’s good, Trixie, that means you an’ me can finally be friends,” says Sunshine eagerly.

“You’re annoying,” snaps Trixie.

“Oh don’t be like that.”

“Leave me alone.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Leave. Me. Alone.”

“Oh, Trixie, you need a friend. That faceless freak in yer dreams is not yer friend. He’s taunting ya while I’m here with ya always, ready to show ya some love.”

“LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Her horn spurts out some magic and a massive headache that feels like someone had smashed her horn and skull with a sledgehammer instantly follows. Trixie swears and collapses on the floor and rubs her horn while sobbing angrily from the intense pain she had just suffered.

“I hate this place! I hate you! I hate my life!” screams Trixie, her cracking voice bouncing off the grungy walls.

“Aw, there there, darlin’, I’m here for ya,” coos Sunshine.

Sunshine lies next to Trixie and puts his wing over her lovingly and scoots closer to her. His body rubs against Trixie’s like a large ice cube, leaving a shivering wet feeling in the area he rubbed against. Trixie instantly stands up and moves away from Sunshine.

“Why won’t you leave me alone!” demands Trixie.

“I love ya, that’s why,” says Sunshine while standing up.

“No, your obsessed with me! Big difference!”

“Last I checked obsession is ah strong love for somethin’ or somepony.”

Sunshine melts into the ground, and his shadow blob moves along the floor and pops out of the wall next to her. Trixie glares at him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of flinching, twitching, or showing any signs of discomfort, other than anger. Sunshine smiles broadly and moves in front of Trixie. She scrunches her nose when she smells his horrid breath.

Trixie really needs those pills. She can’t stand Sunshine’s presence.

“And I love ya, Trixie. Always have when I first saw ya,” says Sunshine softly, his red eyes flaring after saying “I love ya”.

Trixie is about to say something, but the cell door opens and a guard walks in with the chain; there’s a small group of guards waiting outside for him to come out with Trixie. He walks through Sunshine and the deformed pegasus disappears into a mist. When the guard leashes Trixie he leads her out and the guards escort her out of the solitary confinement area.

Trixie’s mind goes blank as they lead her to the releasing area. First, they give her a quick wash that makes her sparkle. Well, almost sparkle, she would be if it wasn’t for the large amount of bruises she had sustained from her short stay, but at least her mane and tail got their natural curl and shine back. After they wash her up, they remove her collar and the cuff on her horn with plenty of unicorn guards watching to make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid. And when that is taken care of they give her a month’s supply of her prescription drugs that were issued to her by Dr. Wave, and then they take her to Minty, who is waiting for them on the outer section of the prison. Minty is alone and beaming at Trixie, which makes Trixie feel all the more uncomfortable and suspicious.

“Boy, you look grumpy for somepony who just won their freedom,” Minty says while cocking her head slightly.

“The circumstances are suspicious to me,” says Trixie coldly.

“Yeah, the circumstances are odd, but at least you’re getting your freedom right?”

Trixie is silent and Minty moves next to her and playfully nudges her side with her elbow. Trixie scowls and inches away from Minty after she does that.

“Riiiiiight?” says Minty playfully.

“Yeah, I guess so,” grumbles Trixie.

“Good! My cart is outside. Next stop is Canterlot!”

Trixie scoffs and follows Minty outside. When they step outside, Trixie figured she’d be overwhelmed with the size of the open landscape in front of her and the joys she’d get from being set free. But everything is suspicious to Trixie and she absolutely hates the way Minty is being so bubbly over nothing! It’s bad enough that she doesn’t trust her own freedom, but the only thing she knows about the mare that set her free is that she’s colorful and obnoxious. That makes her claim hard to swallow.

Minty leads Trixie towards the parking area and points at masterpiece of modern individual pony travel and says: “Tada!”

Trixie’s jaw drops when she sees what she’s going to be riding in. It is a massive vehicle that Trixie recognizes to be a Mini-Train, Cart Class.

The front of the vehicle has a scaled down train engine and the triangular piece that they have on the front with the exhaust pipe directed towards the back, and positioned behind it is the driver carriage. A rectangular, polished wooden cabin with a slanted window and a black roof covering it. Hanging down from the roof are the window wipers and large headlights, and behind the driver carriage is a truck bed that is five feet long. Also, the tires are fat. Very fat. And the windows have curtains on the inside!

Minty opens up the passenger door and in a comically fake Canterlot accent says: “After you, Ms. Lulamoon.”

Trixie looks inside, expecting it to be cramped, but it’s surprisingly spacious. The chairs are tailored to that of a pony, and are fluffy as well, and the dashboard is made of wood and has a very basic assortment of tools in front of the driver seat. There is an orb on the dashboard designed to fit snugly with the space beneath the hoof on the left side, a lever on the right, and in the middle are gauges that show the speed, fuel, and engine temperature and pressure. There is also a giant keyhole and a button for a horn.

Trixie climbs inside and the first thing she notices, besides how comfortable the seat is, is that there is a hole for her tail to go through. Trixie looks over her shoulder to make sure her tail isn’t going somewhere that it shouldn’t, then she looks over at Minty and sees her tail is also poking out the back of the seat as well. Minty then starts the vehicle by shoving her key inside the big keyhole and she presses it down with a click. It takes a couple of presses because it kept popping back up, but when she gets it work the vehicle rumbles and belches thick black smoke out the back. Then it moves forward, slowly at first, but it gradually picks up speed and soon they are driving away from Singsong Prison at speeds that would leave a pony galloping at full speed in the dust. Minty is using precise hoof motions on the orb to steer the vehicle and keeps the speed steady using the lever to increase or decrease the speed.

Trixie is like a filly in a candy shop as she presses her face against the window to watch the lines on the paved road speed by them in yellow blurs and moves around the inside, touching everything that she can touch (including messing with the curtain). All suspicion had been tossed out the window as soon as they started moving, and Minty is having fun watching the Great and Powerful Trixie’s reactions to this new experience.

Minty grins at Trixie and cheerfully says: “Having fun, Trixie?”

Trixie is speechless, so she just nods her head quickly while grinning from ear to ear, and  Minty also nods and continues looking down the road.

“Now, Trixie, before we do anything we have to do two things. Thing one, Princess Celestia wants to talk to you. Thing two, we gotta get you a job. Luckily for you, I know a cool guy that’ll get you one,” says Minty.

Trixie nods, she’s still marveling at how fast they are going and not really in the mood for a conversation. She just wants to watch everything zip on by. It’s an amazing sight!

Time speeds by Trixie as she watches the surrounding area disappear from view. She even goes as far as rolling down the window and poking her head out to see what they left behind. The cool wind flying through her mane makes her forget about all her troubles and she closes her eyes and listens to the cool wind rush past her ears. When Trixie’s had enough pulls her head inside and smiles broadly at Minty, without rolling the window up. She loves the fresh air rushing in.

“This is amazing!” says Trixie happily over the rushing wind.

“Yep, sure is. Flim and Flam do know their vehicles.” says Minty, matching Trixie’s optimism.

“I want one of these! How much did this cost?”

“Oh this thing? Psh, about seventy five thousand bits. Nothing big”

Trixie’s smile fades away. “Are-Are you serious? Seventy five thousand bits and it’s ‘nothing big’? How much do you make!”

“Oh, I make about forty thousand bits a year, but I have a payment plan and a warranty on this baby.”

“What do you do, Minty?”

“I told you, I’m an associate of Celestia.”

“But what about that new law that restricts ponies to employment based on cutie marks?”

“That? Oh please, that thing is a joke. There are so many loopholes in that bill that it makes a polka dot shirt with the dots cut out cry. I’m Celestia’s ‘Candy Associate’”

Minty giggles at the lame joke and Trixie arches an eyebrow. She’s grateful that Minty got her out, but she is one weird pony.

“So if you’re Celestia’s ‘Candy Associate’, shouldn’t you be getting her candy?” asks Trixie.

“We are,” says Minty simply.

Trixie stares at Minty for a moment, and then a horrible idea bullies its way to the front of her mind.

“...Wait a second. Are you saying... Are you saying that I’m Celestia’s candy?” asks Trixie uneasily.

Minty’s eyes widen and her jaw drops as she stares at Trixie. She can’t believe that Trixie would even think of something like that!

“What!? Ew no! That is-Just no!” says Minty in disgust while shaking her head hysterically. “That sounds wrong. We just had ‘Release Trixie’ in the list of things relating to getting candy at the candy store. You said you like mint, right?”

“Um... I guess so,” says Trixie quietly, she’s embarrassed to have even thought of something like that and even more so when she saw Minty’s reaction.

“Cool!”

“But-”

“I’m going to say your a mint gum type of pony. Am I right?”

“...How did you know?”

“Intuition.”

Trixie slumps in her seat, the weird pony is slightly creeping her out now. Minty smiles reassuringly at Trixie as they pull towards the bustling city of Canterlot with lines of more vehicles moving in and out.

“Sorry if I’m scaring you, my perception scares my friends sometimes,” says Minty.

“Who are your friends?” asks Trixie curiously.

Minty shrugs and slows down as they enter the crowded metropolis, where there are speed limits posted for all to see. Trixie looks at the towering skyscrapers and the zeppelins displaying patriotic messages floating above them. The sun shines off the polished windows like hundreds of tiny stars, and she realizes that most to the buildings are actually built from inside older ones! The first few stories are made of marble, brick, wood, and any other old building material, and then sprouting out of them are the steel monoliths. Sort of like architectural sleeves for buildings.  It looks very odd to Trixie, and she wonders who the genius was that decided to start a trend like that. It doesn’t look cool, it looks tacky, at least to Trixie, anyway.

Then Trixie realizes that Minty never answered her question. Well she did, but not verbally, and she can tell that the colorful pony is trying to keep a cheerful attitude.

“Minty, you didn’t say who your friends were,” says Trixie, she doesn’t want to prod too much but curiosity is getting the best of her at the moment.

“Oh they’re just normal ponies, nothing special about them. We all work for Princess Celestia in some department or whatever, but we talk and hang out whenever we can,” says Minty, sounding slightly agitated.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to prod.”

“Oh, it’s not you. It’s this moron who isn’t driving at the speed limit!”

Minty honks her horn and pokes her head out of the truck to glare at the car in front of them. It’s a small, blocky vehicle with a polished wooden frame held together by metal trim, and on the back is a boiler engine spewing out polluted steam; just like most of the other vehicles Trixie has seen so far.

“Hey buddy, the speed limit’s forty! Start moving or go in the slow lane!” yells Minty.

A mare pokes her head out of her vehicle and shakes her hoof at them. She shouts: “Buck you!”, then pulls her head back inside and continues on with her turtle speed

Trixie cringes as Minty’s eyes narrow.

“Oh she didn’t,” sneers Minty.

“Uh, Minty are you okay?” asks Trixie uneasily.

“I will be in a moment.”

Minty starts speeding up and soon the front of the truck is bumping up against the little car in front of them. Minty cackles psychotically and Trixie’s ears droop and shrinks down in her seat while shifting her eyes side to side nervously. She swears that she’ll book it if Minty squishes the car in front of them. When she hears metal grinding against metal she shrinks down even further and prays that nothing will happen.

“Hey, lady! Looks like you better speed up!” yells Minty.

The little car suddenly shoots forward and weaves through the other cars, making some of the vehicles swerve out of the way and ponies jump to safety. Horns honk and insults are thrown out almost instantly and Minty sighs with relief and her smile returns as she looks at Trixie. Trixie is scrunched in the seat and staring nervously at Minty while trembling fearfully.

“Don’t worry, no pony was hurt,” assures Minty.

“You sure about that?” asks Trixie nervously.

“Yep. Oh there it is!”

Minty swerves into a parking lot, throwing Trixie out of her seat and making her fly into Minty’s side. Minty does another sharp turn and Trixie yelps as she slides into the passenger door. Then Minty yanks the speed lever all the way down, bringing the massive vehicle to an abrupt stop in front of a candy store that looks like a giant bonbon. The sudden stop makes Trixie lurch forward and her face collides with the windshield. Trixie whimpers as she pulls away from the windshield and then she glares at Minty while holding her nose. But she cocks her head and forgets about the pain when she sees the odd building that they are in front of. Minty eagerly hops out of her truck and trots to Trixie’s side.

“C’mon, Trixie, we gotta get some candy for the Princess,” says Minty enthusiastically.

“But-But what-Do I have to?” stammers Trixie childishly.

Minty opens Trixie’s door and gives her a stern stare. “Yes, you’re my responsibility and I have to keep my eye on you at all times. Now get out and help me buy candy.”

Trixie points at her face and says: “But I look like I just got mugged!”

“No, you look like a badflank. And nopony messes with a badflank unless they’re a badflank themselves, now hop out!”

Trixie groans and reluctantly gets out of the truck and walks inside the candy store with her head down. As soon as she steps inside she feels the temperature difference as the owner has the air conditioning put on at full blast. Trixie actually gets a small shiver from the huge temperature difference. The two are unenthusiastically greeted by a unicorn mare with an aquamarine coat and cyan mane and tail that has white highlights. She’s wearing a clown outfit and looks extremely displeased about her job.

“Hi, welcome to Bon Bon’s Bon Bon Land. Home of bon bons and other yummy candies,” says the unicorn in a tone that is begging for someone to switch out with her.

“Thanks!” says Minty cheerfully while hopping past the poor unicorn and snagging a store basket.

“Um... Enjoy your day,” says Trixie quietly while keeping her head low.

“Thanks,” grumbles the unicorn under her breath.

Trixie follows Minty through colorful crowded aisles overrun with eager foals and aggravated parents, and stallions complaining about finding the perfect candy for their picky mates. Minty easily finds what she’s looking for and grabs a dozen or so bags of chocolate and caramel candies and puts them in the store basket she had grabbed earlier.

“Princess Celestia loves chocolate and caramel,” says Minty cheerfully.

“So I’ve noticed,” mumbles Trixie.

Then Trixie feels a poke on her back and she looks behind her to see a colt staring at her. He has a white coat and brown spots with a brown mane and tail that have a lighter shade of brown streaks. He’s also smaller than most colts his age.

“Sorry ma’am, but I was just wondering if you were okay since you got bruises all over you,” he says in a Trottingham accent.

Before Trixie can answer, the colt’s mother lightly pushes him away with her hoof. His mother is a chubby earth pony with a brown coat, white spots, and a curly white mane.

“Pipsqueak, what have I told you about talking to those kinds of ponies,” says the mother sternly, she has a really thick Trottingham accent

Trixie frowns at the mother and wonders what she had meant by “those kinds of ponies”. It’s obviously not a good thing, and while the two ponies have a small argument Trixie inspects herself. Sure she’s covered in bruises and scratches and has a horrible scar ring around her eye, but shouldn’t that buy some sympathy? Or do they just think she’s some kind of druggy?

“Awww but mother!” whines Pipsqueak.

“One more word and you get no candy for your birthday!” snaps his mother.

Pipsqueak huffs and walks away with his head down. Trixie shakes her head sadly and turns around to follow Minty, but doesn’t see her anywhere. She walks around, trying to keep her nerves in check and she calls out for Minty, but gets no reply, except for a scrawny employee telling her where the mint section is.

“I don’t want mint!” snaps Trixie, this makes the employee cringe. “I’m looking for a pony named Minty Sprinkles. She looks-she has a bright green coat, pink hair, a candy cutie mark, kinda obnoxious. Have you seen her?”

“Lady, this is a candy store. Everypony is obnoxious,” says the employee dryly.

“And the Worst Employee of the Month Award goes to you. Get outta my way.”

Trixie shoves the employee aside and searches for Minty in the maze of crowded, candy filled aisles. Along the way she passes the manager’s office and doesn’t think anything about the three shadows in the room at first, but when she hears someone threaten another, she stops and sneaks up by the door and listens in.

“Look, Bon Bon, you’re a nice mare, and me and Grim like you a lot, but the point is you haven’t paid Gilda in what... four months?” says a female with a light Stalliongrad accent.

“Sounds about right” grumbles a male with a ridiculously deep voice.

“Look I’ll pay Gilda, alright! I just need more time!” says, whom Trixie is guessing is, Bon Bon; she’s trying to be brave, but Trixie can hear the fear in her voice plainly.

“Four months is a long time not to pay and now your asking for more time?” says the female.

“Yes, I have employees to pay and stocks to -you know- restock.”

“Look, Bon Bon, I’m a patient griffin, a very patient griffin, and the only reason why Gilda hasn’t had this place shot up is because I said: ‘Look, Gilda, Bon Bon is a good mare, she’ll pay up’. And Gilda said: ‘Winny, get her pay by the end of the week or she’s dead’. It’s the end of the week and I can’t protect you any longer.”

There is a moment of silence and Trixie leans closer to the door and hears uneasily shuffling.

“But Sunday is the end of the week,” says Bon Bon nervously.

“No, Friday is,” says the female, Winny.

“But I base all my schedule on Sunday being the end of the week.”

“And we use the Griffin Calendar when doing griffin stuff, which includes you. So we’ll be seeing you tonight. Don’t leave town, we’ll make your death slower for you and some random friend of yours if you do.”

Trixie quickly backs up and pretends searching for some candy as the door opens up with two griffins walking out; one male and one female. The female is slender and has red tips on her head feathers with red eyeshadow. The male she’s with is buff, most likely a steroid user, and is wearing an eyepatch with a huge bald spot on the top of his head. They look at Trixie suspiciously as she casually turns a box of  gumballs in her magical mist. She looks at them and smiles uneasily as the male griffin steps forward to confront her, but Winny grabs his shoulder and shakes her head.

“Leave her, Grim, she’s just looking for candy,” she says, then quietly says: “Besides, she looks like a badass, and remember what happened last time you fought a badass?”

Grim glares at Winny and she smirks and pats him on the shoulder.

“Let’s get out of here, Gilda’s waiting for us” Winny says casually, then she looks at Trixie and politely says: “Enjoy your day, ma’am.”

“You too,” says Trixie, forcing herself to smile politely.

Winny and Grim leave Trixie, but Grim looks over his shoulder at Trixie suspiciously before disappearing around the corner to the lollipop aisle. When they are out of view Trixie tries to peek inside the office, but the door is slammed shut from the inside. Then Minty shows up out of the blue with her little mouth-held cart filled to the brim with candies. She sets down on the floor and grins at Trixie.

“There you are! I was looking all over for you! You are one sneaky mare, I’ll be sure to keep both of my eyes on you from now on. What’s that you got there?” says Minty.

Trixie looks at the box she’s holding and smiles nervously while putting it back. “Oh it’s nothing.”

“You sure?” asks Minty.

“Yeah... Can we go now?”

“Sure thing, we got what we needed anyway and Princess Celestia is awaiting your presence in her court for the little chat she wants to have with you.”

Trixie nods and follows Minty to the checkout lanes. It only took them twenty minutes to get checked out, and the whole time Trixie felt the eyes of the customers and employees looking at her with a mix of suspicion, worry, and the occasional pity. Trixie keeps her head down and tries to avoid eye contact, but she keeps seeing that colt, Pipsqueak, giving her a quick glance while he and his mother shuffle through the checkout lane. When he and his mother are done checking out he gives Trixie one last quick look before leaving the store. When it is Trixie and Minty’s turn up to check out the cashier tried poorly to hide her annoyance by the impossible amount of candy Minty had managed to stuff inside, and the price for all that came up to be sixty seven bits, tax included.

Once the duo is outside, Minty takes a deep breath, smiles and then looks at Trixie.

“Ready to talk to a goddess?” asks Minty excitedly.

“Let’s just get this over with,” mumbles Trixie.

“Okie dokie lokie!”

Minty helps Trixie inside and when she gets inside and starts her cart, Trixie stares at the glamorous white towers of the Royal Palace that overlook Canterlot like a benevolent, yet terrifying, entity. But Trixie doesn’t care about the imposing features of the palace, she just wants some answers as to why she was suddenly released. And now was the time to get some.