Beauty and the BEES
Part One: BEES!
So here's another Trixie story if you're into that. Once upon a time Trixie was shunned and homeless. Remember? Everything was all kinds of sad for our poor blue unicorn. She got pretty far before she couldn't run anymore, stopping to rest by a small pond near a lightly wooded area.
Of course she cried to herself. She stared at the reflection in the pool. She'd propped herself up with her lies only to be knocked down by one so painfully better. And it hurts, having the need to excel but not quite being able; seeing that somepony was just born with abilities superior to the ones you worked so hard for. Or, perhaps it was even worse. Perhaps the other worked hard as well, and your efforts just weren't worth as much. Perhaps it was a combination of both.
She'd lost everything: her home, her fans, the respect and admiration of all.
But was she wrong? Was she the villain? Boasting and deceiving... it didn't sound beautiful in words; and when you're down in the dumps it's hard to think positively.
But suddenly like always an OC showed up. His name was Buzzhoney and he looked like Honeybuzz only a boy, in fact they were twins why not. Also his hair was different, I guess.
"Are you alright!?" he exclaimed. It's pretty scary finding a girl crying in your backyard. Trixie quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and tried putting her game face on.
"Of course I'm alright!" she sniffed before exclaiming, "I am the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
"Well," Buzzhoney scratched his chin, "since you're alright would you like to come inside and have a glass of water or a bite to eat or something else that alright ponies like to do?"
Trixie felt like he was either mocking or looking down on her, but his voice and mannerisms suggested he was trying to play the nice guy. If he WAS being nice he probably just wanted to get a piece; twas the plight of the pretty. Ponies are terrible people, she thought. She also thought that she'd take advantage of his offer. He was in for disappointment if he thought some country pony could seduce the G&P T.
"Trixie would enjoy some milk and toast," Trixie said as she tried to look refined and keep her cool.
"Would you like to come inside or sit on the patio?" asked Buzzhoney as he looked back to his house, which was visible amongst the trees.
"The patio would be fine," she answered.
Buzzhoney reached out a hoof to help Trixie up, and she accepted. He didn't seem to be going as gaga and lovestruck as stallions tended to get around her. She thought that perhaps she looked messy, having had such a traumatic experience. She looked into the pond and tried to straighten herself out, fixing her hair and whatnot. Maybe he was gay.
"Ya'll ready?" he smiled.
"Do you think Trixie doesn't know how she looks right now!?" she started to anger, "Trixie knows she's a mess!"
"Hey," said Buzz, "you look like a damsel in distress, it's a classic look. Very classy."
"Trixie is hardly in distress!" Trixie declared as she stuck her nose in the air. She began walking towards the house. Buzzhoney followed after.
"I believe you," he replied, "You seem very spirited." They walked to the patio and were greeted by Buzzhoney's twin sister, Honeybuzz.
"Who's your guest?" asked the sister with a teasing tone; to which Trixie furrowed her brow.
"This is Trixie!" replied Buzzhoney with a smile. Trixie coughed and he corrected, "This is the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
Honeybuzz raised an eyebrow before shrugging and introducing herself, "Nice to meet you, I'm Honeybuzz. Would you like some lemonade?"
"She'd like some toast and milk," Buzz answered. His sister gave him a look that went from 'how rude' to 'I'm not your slave' in ten seconds flat.
"Where is the patio?" asked Trixie, looking around.
"It's out back," replied Buzzhoney. "Come on, I'll show ya." Honeybuzz just rolled her eyes and went back to the kitchen.
Trixie tried her best to eat in a delicate and refined manner, despite the massive hunger she had warranted on her desperate marathon through the woods. Honeybuzz sat sipping tea and watching sympathetically. She realized that this wasn't just some mare her brother was trying to pick up. The poor girl had clearly been through something rough. At length she asked, "Would you like to stay the night? We've got a bath and a spare room."
"We don't have a spare room," Buzz replied, sitting down his half-eaten toast.
"Sure we do." His sister smiled and turned to stare meaning into his stupid face.
"Oh yeah, I guess we do," he smiled nervously. He would be sleeping on the couch tonight.
"Trixie will accept your offer," Trixie replied in her Trixie way.
They silently dined a bit more before Honeybuzz asked, "If you don't mind telling, what exactly happened to you?"
Trixie looked a bit caught in the headlights before gathering herself and answering, "Nothing. Trixie is simply traveling. My... a tornado destroyed my stagecoach."
"A tornado?" Honeybuzz skeptically inquired.
"It was a rogue tornado. From beyond the Everfree Forest." Trixie coughed and continued, "Or maybe it had escape some under-qualified pegasi. Regardless, the Great and Powerful Trixie stopped the cyclone, but not until after her stagecoach was destroyed."
"Why do you talk like that?" asked Honeybuzz, but Buzzhoney interjected before Trixie could get too offended.
"Ponies are free to talk how they want aren't they?" he said with a nervous smile, still trying to be the nice guy. "Who wants more milk? Anypony?"
Into the evening Trixie regaled them with amazing tales of magnificence. Eventually Honeybuzz mentioned the time and offered to show her to the bath. Alone again, Trixie got all emo and reflected on whether she was terrible, or if it was Ponyville. Probably Ponyville. But maybe not. Tears dissipated in the bath water. There was a knock at the door.
"Yes?" Trixie responded after being startled. From behind the door she heard Buzzhoney speaking.
"Trixie..." he said, measuring his words, "Your room is ready.... whenever you are."
"Thank you," she said, reflexively taking any hint of gratitude from her tone.
Buzz leaned his head against the door. "Trixie... Are you alright?"
Trixie paused before answering, "Of course." She gulped, "Trixie is fine."
"Okay," Buzz sighed. She wasn't going to open up, there was nothing more he could do now. "If you need anything just ask me."
"That will be all for the night," she replied, as though he were her servant rather than a gracious host. She wondered if she perhaps came across as a bitch. She really was grateful... but it was so hard to show it. She cried a bit more before retiring to what was clearly Buzzhoney's room hastily tidied.
The sheets smelled like a dude. Wasn't a bad smell, necessarily, just noticeable. Happens when you sleep in somepony else's bed. Somepony else's bed... He was sleeping on the couch in the living room. Did she really deserve this hospitality? She thought... what if she walked in and asked to switch places? A couch would be fine for an unexpected guest, wouldn't it? But she was so tired; besides, he would just say it was fine and turn her back. She'd met nice guys before, that's how they are. She couldn't find the courage to be humble anyways; not tonight. Exhausted, she curled up and held the blankets to her chest. She buried her face in the pillow. Don't cry anymore, she thought, you've cried enough today. Don't stain his pillow with salt water. After several hours she fell into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning she went downstairs and found Honeybuzz in the kitchen. Her hostess informed her that Buzz was out getting honey from the apiary for breakfast. Trixie meandered to the doorway and saw Buzzhoney out back COVERED IN BEES!!!
Trixie burst through the door, running onto the patio. "Get away from there!!!" she shouted, as dramatic as usual, "They'll sting you... TO DE~ATH!!!!"
"Nah they won't," smiled Buzzhoney, "Bees like me. That's why my cutie mark is a bee and not a beehive or a pot of honey; it's because my special talent isn't harvesting honey, it's getting along with bees." To that, Trixie made a face that indicated she was still scared and disgusted, so Buzzhoney reassured her, "You'll be fine standing over there."
But then he kept talking, "In fact most bees aren't as mean as people think. Except Zebricanized Honeybees."
"What is that?" asked Trixie with concern and trepidation.
"They're like a mix of our more docile Equestrian Honeybees with the far more aggressive Zebrican Honeybees. For some reason when they mixed together, they went insane and starting killing everypony," explained Buzzhoney as he continued collecting honey, covered in bees.
"Re-really!?" asked Trixie, looking around nervously. "How does one tell the difference between the two?"
"Well," said the beekeeper, "If you get too close to the killer bee's nest, they'll all come out at the same time and kill you. As you can see," Buzzhoney carried on as he continued dicking around with the honeycomb, "our normal bees don't do that. That's the difference."
"Then Trixie will just continue to avoid BEES altogether..." she spoke, pretty freaked out.
"Oh, they'd see you before you'd see them," replied Buzzhoney with a smile. "So the trick is: BEE lucky!"
Part 2: Beauty
Hey, Buzz, why don’t you pick up some groceries on your way into town?” Honeybuzz asked her brother after breakfast.
“Where’s the list?” he asked.
“On the fridge, like always,” she replied as she began washing the dishes. She added with a smile, “Hey, Trixie, how about you go with him? You might have fun. Buzz, get the bit jar from the cabinet and get Trixie something nice in town.”
“What town might that be?” asked Trixie from the table where they’d just eaten breakfast.
“Ponyville!” smiled Buzzhoney.
“That’s quite unnecessary,” responded the guest. “There’s nothing in Ponyville I want to see.”
“Ah, come on,” said Buzz as he put the spare bits in his saddlebag, “You won’t know till ya go!”
“That’s quite alright.” Trixie reiterated.
“Seriously, go,” commanded Honeybuzz sternly, “Staying cooped up isn’t good for you. Buzz’ll protect you so don’t worry; and you can get something sweet to eat from Sugarcube Corner before you head back.”
Trixie was in a pickle. She wanted to refuse, but Honeybuzz was surprisingly intimidating. She also didn’t want to get kicked out, for she had no plans going forward. She didn’t want to be homeless again, and even though she knew she wouldn’t stay there forever she still didn’t want to leave just yet. She needed a plan! Her brain was screaming as she was nudged out the door.
“You okay?” asked Buzz as they began walking. “I hope Honey didn’t freak you out.”
“Trixie is fine!” she retorted. He could tell she was anxious about something. “I simply don’t feel like walking!”
“Well, I can carry ya.” Buzz smiled, “No problem at all!”
Trixie wanted to graciously decline his offer, but for some reason she accepted as though it were her birthright and wound up riding sidesaddle.
“All better?” Buzz asked.
“Yes…” Trixie said in a defeated tone, “…all better.”
“Well, it doesn’t sound all better,” replied Buzz.
“Trixie said it is FINE!” she declared, emphasizing the word ‘fine’ with a kick to the ribs.
“Ouch.” Buzz winced.
Trixie was quiet for a moment. She wanted to apologize for the outburst. She knew he meant well… “I don’t want to go to Ponyville,” was all she could bring herself to say.
“Did something bad happen there?” asked Buzz, “Is that what you were running from?”
“I just don’t want to go to Ponyville!” she repeated as tears found their way to her eyes. She jumped off and began running through the woods once more, cursing the tears she’d thought she’d banished the night before.
“Hey, wait!” Buzz shouted as he gave chase.
“LEAVE TRIXIE ALONE!” Trixie shouted back as she ran, “JUST LEAVE me alone…”
“NO!” was the response. “I’m not going to leave you alone! I’ve tried leaving you alone and it doesn’t seem to be making anything better! I’m NEVER gonna leave you alone, Trixie! Not until you tell me what’s wrong so I can try and help you!”
Trixie tried running faster, “WHY DO CARE SO MUCH ANYWAYS!? YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW ME!!”
“I DON’T KNOW! But I’ll tell you one thing I’m a hell of a lot faster than you! So give up and prepare to be CARED FOR!!!” Buzz closed in, rapidly bridging the distance.
“I can’t…” was all Trixie could sob out before she collapsed. And there she waited, crying…defeated again. Buzz walked next to her and sat down.
“… Trixie…” Buzzhoney didn’t know what to say once he’d caught up. Trixie didn’t know what to say either, but at length the tears began to slow and she caught her breath.
“…I just can’t…” was all she could choke out. She felt ridiculous. What a time to have an emotional breakdown. Now Buzzhoney was sitting next to her, looking genuinely concerned. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t say she was sorry. She couldn’t thank him. She couldn’t tell him off. She couldn’t slap him. What could she do?
“Well…” said Buzz gently, “…let’s work on that.”