A Wish Before Midnight

A Wish Before Midnight

Chapter 7 – Heated Reunion

“Bronze and Awry approached the lively town. There stood a large, wooden sign that read: Welcome to Blooming Brook. Mares and fillies dotted the surrounding fields of tall grass. They harvested peculiar-looking flowers of a pleasurably blue color. They examined Trixie’s wagon. It appeared that the wheel had been fixed, but she was nowhere in sight. Awry searched inside the trailer, but couldn’t find his waist-bag that she had taken from him. The streets were lined with independent business stands that sold all sorts of goods. From fruits and hay, to tools and trinkets; Awry and Bronze would have to search through them all. However, neither of them could shake the uneasy feeling in their stomachs as they wandered the streets. For every citizen couldn’t keep their eyes away from them. . .”

“Why do they keep looking at us funny?” Awry asks, growing uncomfortable as he absorbs the townsponies’ awkward stares.

“I think it’s me,” says Bronze, feeling the same discomfort. “They must be wondering why a knight is walking around their village.” The ponies begin whispering and chatting amongst themselves, but without taking their eyes off of them. The two stallions do their best to ignore them, but are suddenly halted by another stallion in a bowtie.

“Well, hello there!” the stallion cheerfully greets.

“Yes, hello,” says Bronze.

“My apologies, sir knight. None of us were informed you would be showing up on such short notice.”

“You . . . knew I was coming?”

“Yes, of course! I do believe that Miss . . . Trixie, was it? She wrote that urgent letter not too long ago.”

“Trixie?”

“At least I do believe that was her name.”

“Ahh, yes. And you are?”

“I am McClove, Mayor of Blooming Brook. I was the one who signed the letter.”

“Oh! Yes, that’s right! It’s all coming back to me now. Forgive me, I was in a bit of a scuffle on the way here.”

“I can tell, and a very heated one it seems. Well, you’re in luck! We produce some of the finest medicine in Equestria. Our village is home to a very special plant that only grows—”

“Very interesting,” says Awry as he rolls his eyes.

“Ah, and who is this you’ve brought along with you, sir knight?”

“Oh, him?” Bronze asks. “He’s just a miscreant I bumped into along the way.”

“Hey!” Awry wails.

“Yeah, he’s got a bit of a mouth on him. Although, for all the trouble he’s caused, I’m sure a quick visit to the Princess will change his tone.”

“Oh, very funny.”

“I’m sure it will. Filth such as him belongs in a cell.”

“Harsh.” Awry mumbles to himself.

“Now, let me take you to Miss Trixie. She’s been patiently waiting your arrival.”

“Oh, that would be splendid,” says Bronze as he and Awry follow Mayor McClove further into town. He brings them to a larger business stand compared to the others. It’s shielded from the sun by an outstretched, tarp awning. Inside, all sorts of tools and other repair equipment hang on the back wall behind the counter. Standing on one side of the counter is the merchant, chatting with the mare on the other side. Instantly, Bronze and Awry recognize her purple cape and hat.

“Miss Trixie, the Royal Knight of the Sun has arrived,” says Mayor McClove. Trixie turns, and her jaw drops once her eyes meet Bronze and Awry both standing before her.

“Yes, Miss Trixie, I’m here to solve your issue,” says Bronze in a sarcastic tone. “Mister McClove, if you would give us a moment?”

“Ah, yes, of course,” says Mayor McClove as he shows himself out.

“. . . How did you get free?” Trixie asks overwhelmed with anger.

“That doesn’t matter right now. We need to talk,” says Bronze.

“And why did you bring along that freeloader?”

Awry groans. “Seriously, what’s with the name calling. . ? Hey!” Awry raises his voice, noticing something resting on the countertop near Trixie. “That’s my bag! Give it here!” After shifting her eyes to Awry and Bronze, Trixie grabs the bag with her teeth and charges her way through the both of them. Awry stumbles, falling onto his behind while Bronze grabs hold of a wooden beam holding up the tarp to keep his balance.

“Trixie!” Bronze shouts. “Awry, get up!” Bronze limps back into the crowded streets, spotting Trixie’s cape waving as she gallops away. He pushes and shoves his way through every pony that stands in his way, but doesn’t seem to be getting any closer as she’s able to maneuver passed everypony without a hindrance. She turns a corner, and Bronze follows far behind as she gallops down another street. It seems he isn’t going to catch up at the rate he’s going, and his aching bones don’t make it any easier. He comes to a gradual stop to catch his breath as he watches Trixie gain even more ground. Just as he is about to lower his head in defeat, somepony leaps out and tackles Trixie to the ground. Regaining hope, his eyes dart around at the various business stands, and one in particular catches his attention. An older stallion in a straw hat sits under the tarp awning, surrounded by barrels of farming tools for sale. He walks up to the stand, grabbing one of the many pitchforks from a barrel. “You wouldn’t mind if I borrowed this for a minute, would you?”

“Oh! Uh, no! You go right ahead, knight.” The merchant stutters.

“Thanks.” Bronze attaches the pole of the pitchfork to the metal ring built onto his armor designed to hold a spear. With the pitchfork locked into place, he hurries towards the newly formed cloud of dirt that’s being kicked up by the struggling ponies. He then finds Awry desperately trying to rip the waist-bag right out of Trixie’s grasp. He manages to break his bag free, and quickly gets up and backs away to strap it around his waist. Trixie gets her bearings, and stands to realize she's in a situation she cannot escape from. Both Awry and Bronze ready themselves, as they observe Trixie for any quick movements. Her hat has fallen off of her head during the scuffle, revealing her horn and the silver locks of her mane.

“Well, what do you two plan to do?” she asks, attempting to catch her breath.

“We just want to talk, Trixie. Sort things out,” Bronze negotiates.

“There’s nothing to talk about. Trixie should do away with the both of you right now.” A crowd of townsfolk begins to form around the three of them, watching their argument unfold.

“Look, we’re not thieves. Okay?”

“Yeah, seriously. You’ve got some anger issues,” says Awry.

“Don’t you dare speak—! What is that?” Trixie asks as she spots something lying on the ground near Awry’s hooves. He glances down and finds a little, brown sack which he hurriedly picks up and stuffs into his bag. “Trixie demands you hand that over this instant.” Trixie fires a glare that pierces right into Awry’s eyes.

“What’s the matter with you? It belongs to me.”

“No it doesn’t. You stole that from Trixie’s trailer!”

“You’re crazy! I stole nothing!”

“Liar!” Trixie shouts nearly at the top of her lungs.

“Let’s calm down for a moment!” Bronze interferes. “Awry, just show her what it is, and prove to her that it’s yours.”

“I shouldn’t have to,” says Awry. “Besides, when did you start taking this freak-in-a-wizard-costume’s side?”

“Trixie isn’t going to ask you again.” Awry can truly see the fury in her eyes, as well as the bright, pink light erupting from her horn.

“Alright; alright. . . I’ll show you.” Awry reaches back into his bag as rage continues to build within Trixie. “Here, look.” Both Trixie and Bronze wait as Awry is taking an oddly long time to retrieve the brown bag. Instead, he hurls a small, plastic bag filled with some black fluid towards Trixie. The bag pops as soon as it meets the point of her horn, causing the fluid to coat her entire face. Spitting and wiping the fluid from her eyes, she proceeds to glare at Awry.

“Awry!” Bronze shouts. “What’s the matter with you?!”

“There, you happy?” Awry asks.

“What is this?!” Trixie asks, still trying to get the fluid off of her face.

“Just a little something I whipped up in case a unicorn such as you would ever cause me trouble.”

“Ha! You think some mud is going to save you? Oh, you have no idea what I have in store for you.”

“Go ahead, do your worst. I’m ready to accept my punishment.” Awry lowers his head in shame.

“With pleasure.” Trixie attempts to concentrate her magic, but nothing happens.

“Don’t keep me waiting now. You’ve built it up all this time; I hope you’re not going to let me down.”

“What’s the meaning of this? Why can’t I cast my spell? And why can’t I get this disgusting stuff off!” she wails as she tries once again to rub off the black fluid.

“I know! It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I’m sorry to say, but it’s going to be a pain to get it off once it dries. Don’t be upset though, I think this look suits you.”

“Awry, what did you throw at her? We don’t want to hurt her!”

“Relax, it’s not gonna hurt. It’s just going to give us complete control over the situation now.”

“So, that little bag really wasn’t hers . . . right?”

“Uhh. . .”

“Awry!”

“Well, I might have fibbed just a little.”

“So she’s right. You did steal it, which would make you a thief!”

“Yes to the first, but I disagree with the second. I wouldn’t label myself as a thief, I’m just a pony trying to make a living.”

“I thought you were a fruit picker.”

“I know, and it’s adorable that you believed that right away. I made it up on the spot, and you bought it!”

“You lied to me, Awry.”

“Uh, yeah. Did you ‘just’ put that together?”

“I don’t like liars, especially ones who steal from innocent ponies.” Bronze steps forward, pointing his pitchfork in Awry’s direction.

“Woah, woah-hold on a second. So, she ties you to a tree—ready to turn you in—and now you’re going to defend her?”

“Hand over the bag, Awry.”

“Think about this. I used to have quite a stack of bits in this bag, and now I see that most of them have gone missing! I suppose ‘somepony’ had to pay for that wheel. I guess that means there’s ‘two’ thieves among us.”

“Quiet you!” Trixie shouts. In a matter of seconds, all three of them come together in a mass of screaming and shouting. Bronze threatens Awry by pointing his pitchfork towards him, as Trixie continues to relentlessly attempt to rub off the dried fluid.

“Alright, enough!” Bronze yells, silencing the other two. “Awry, I’m going to give you one chance.”

“Oh, lucky me,” says Awry.

“I’ll put away my pitchfork, and you just give me the little bag. After that, you can go about your business, and I’ll ensure you don’t get into any further trouble.”

“. . . Fine. This is clearly more trouble than it's worth.”

“Alright then.” Bronze raises his spear until it locks into an upward position away from Awry. “Now, the bag.” Awry walks closer to Bronze, and reaches his snout into his bag. In one quick motion, Awry pulls out a small flip knife gripped in his teeth, slashing across Bronze’s cheek. Following it up with a swift kick with his hind legs, he sends Trixie to the ground. With the both of them preoccupied, Awry makes a dash through the village to escape. Once Bronze and Trixie get themselves together, they immediately gallop after Awry who is nearing the fields of grass that lead to the woods. However, before he can even touch a blade of grass, a golden carriage swoops down from above. Gusts of wind force Awry to shield his face and back away. Bronze and Trixie stop, watching from afar as Awry meets the two, winged Royal Guards who are pulling the carriage’s weight. In the passenger seat, a familiar face to Bronze.

“I am Steadfast, Knight of the Sun,” says the familiar knight as he looks down to Awry.

“Ah . . . yes, well . . . nice to meet you.”

“We were summoned here on important matters. Where is the mayor of this village?”

“Uh, you know, that’s a very good question.” Awry then turns back to the crowd of ponies in the streets. “Hey! Where’s Mayor Mc . . . whatever his name was?!”

“Here! I’m here!” Mayor McClove calls as he trots towards them.

“Yeah, there he is! Well, I’ll just be on my way and—”

“Remain there.” Steadfast commands.

“Or I’ll just stay here, I think that’s a better idea.”

“Mister Mayor, we’ve received your letter detailing the whereabouts of a certain wanted stallion.”

“Oh, yes. Well, you would have to ask Miss Trixie, she’s the one who had me send out the letter,” says McClove.

“Is that so?” Steadfast gazes out into the distance, and spots Trixie’s carriage sitting right in plain sight. “And who would that vehicle over there belong to?”

“Hm? Oh, that’s—”

“Mister Mayor, are you aware that vehicle is that same one used to aid the ‘wanted stallion’ in question? And that the driver of said vehicle, in consequence, is just as wanted?”

“You see, I-I didn’t—”

“That makes you wanted as well, Mister Mayor. Harboring criminals in your very own town. Don’t the lives of everypony you watch over matter to you?”

“Of course they do!”

“Well, then I’m sure you and I both know the only solution to this problem.” Steadfast steps out from his carriage, glaring down at Mayor McClove. “You, along with the other two, must be taken in before her majesty.”

“. . . So, this means I can go, right? I mean, clearly I’m not involved in any of this,” says Awry.

“Yes, in fact, I want you to leave immediately. Your stench is beginning to get to me.”

“Woah, hey . . . I try to keep my hygiene up to par just like everypony else—” Steadfast grabs and extends his golden pole, swinging it towards Awry. He ducks, however, Steadfast wasn’t aiming to attack him. The end of his weapon has snuck under the strap of Awry’s waist-bag, and lifts him up off of the ground as he struggles to free himself. With the both of them now meeting eye to eye, Awry can feel gravity tugging down at his heart.

“When I say, I want you to leave immediately. I mean, immediately.”

“You know, I was thinking the exact same thing!” Awry nervously smiles. “I’ll just show myself out right.”

“No, please. Allow me.” Steadfast reels back, forcefully swinging his weapon. Everypony gathered at the edge of town gasps as Awry is sent into the air until he tumbles into the grassy fields. Bronze watches Awry’s body roll and bounce in the grass like a doll, while a fury builds inside of him. He turns to Trixie, who he finds has somehow left his side. “Now, as for you, Mister Mayor.” Steadfast turns to McClove, who is trembling with fear. He grabs him by his bowtie, and brings him in closer. “You are going to bring me to the owner of that vehicle, now.”

“Steadfast!” Bronze yells as he makes his way through the townsponies.

“Well, just the stallion I was hoping to find.” Steadfast grins.

“Let him go.”

“Why should I? He’s scum, just like you. He deserves to be punished.”

“What’s happened to you, Steadfast? Has knighthood truly gotten to your head?”

“If you mean ‘the strength of my loyalty to her majesty’, then yes, I suppose it has.”

“Listen to yourself! Where’s that kind-hearted kid I met just days ago?! Now you’ve stooped so low as to threaten innocent civilians?!”

“Whatever it takes to please her majesty, I will ensure that her orders are fulfilled. Besides, that ‘kid’ is no longer with us.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He smiles. “I’ve waited such a long time for this opportunity. To breathe this air, walk this ground, and to stand before the last branch of the ‘Edge’ family name. Typical that ‘you’ would be the one to stand in our way.”

“Look, I don’t know what Arina’s told you, but you have to understand she’s not what you think she is.”

“Bonze, there’s still so much you don’t understand. Why don’t you, the mayor, and whoever helped you escape just the night before come with me to the castle. It’d make this entire situation so much simpler.”

“I’m sorry, Steadfast, but I’m not going anywhere. Neither is anypony else.”

“No, I’m sorry, Bronze. Sorry that you have to fill the shoes of a ‘true’ knight. It’s a good thing your Father isn’t here to witness this.” Steadfast readies himself for battle with his weapon gripped in his mouth and a grin on his face.

“Bronze planted his hooves firmly on the ground, glaring directly into Steadfast’s eyes. It felt like nearly every bone in his body was in pain, but just as he’s forced himself to do on many other occasions, he set his pain to the side to focus on what’s been put in front of him. With the odds stacked against him, he allowed his anger to take control of him. Just as Steadfast mentioned his Father, his anger grew even more so.”