Trixie's Guard

I: A Wagon Full of Troubles

The sun rested high in the sky as Starlight Glimmer trotted through town. The birds were singing as they nested in the trees, and the ponies of Ponyville went about their day. Everything was as it should be. Starlight smiled to herself. What a lovely day this was to take a friend to the Spa. She hadn’t had many an opportunity to relax since becoming Twilight’s student. And that whole crisis with Chrysalis had really taken it out of her. She needed some time to herself to relax. No lessons, no world-threatening monsters. Just peace.

Starlight whistled a tune to herself as she trotted down the road. She waved to the ponies that greeted her. She was still awkward around the others, but her compassion for other ponies was certainly becoming more heartfelt. That’d been clear ever since she befriended Trixie.
As Starlight crested a hill the wagon her friend called home emerged into view. It was parked among a small patch of trees, providing some cooling spots of shade. But there was no sign of Trixie. She must have been inside. Starlight walked along the impromptu pathway of flattened grass, carved by the regular movement of Trixie’s wagon as she traveled far and wide to tour her magic shows.

Starlight arrived at the wooden door and knocked sharply. The dull thuds reverberated through the wagon as Starlight stepped back. She waited, but no response. Strange. She stepped forwards and knocked again, this time with more force. Still nothing. Getting exasperated, she shouted Trixie’s name, shaking the light wooden walls of the wagon. Still nothing.

Starlight hopped backwards off the wagon steps and moved round to the side. She positioned herself beside one of the small windows, getting ready to peer in. The curtains were drawn, but a slight crack between the two was enough for Starlight to see inside. The cabin interior was quite dark, with only a shallow beam of light managing to seep through. In the gloom Starlight could make out her friend lying on her back on the bed. She was staring up at the ceiling, her hooves crossed over her belly. Starlight rolled her eyes at the sight.

“Don’t tell me you're asleep in the middle of the day? Come on Trixie, we had a spa visit booked, remember?”

As Starlight spoke, Trixie slowly turned her head in the direction of the voice. Her eyes settled on the unicorn outside. She had known it was Glimmer from the first knock. Who else would it have been? She continued to stare out at her friend, before the room filled with the blue glow of her horn. With little thought she drew the curtains shut, blocking out her friend’s face.

Starlight was rather taken aback by Trixie’s sudden rudeness. Sure, she could be rather tetchy with the average pony on the street, but she was her best friend. Why was she being like this?

“Come on Trixie, open the curtains. Don’t make me come in there.”

The curtains stayed still, and Trixie stayed quiet.

“Alright then, I’m coming in.”

Starlight clamped her eyes shut and blinked through the wall into the wagon. Her skin felt warm as the effects of the magic dissipated. Looking down at her friend, her annoyance quickly morphed into worry. She pulled over a stool and sat down beside the bed. Her voice was soft, calm.

“Hey Trixie, what’s up? It’s not like you to be sat inside all mopey. I thought you would want to be outside showing off some of your tricks, or at least getting ready for our spa visit!” Starlight paused for a response, but one barely came. Trixie merely shrugged, her face indifferent.
“Are you feeling ill perhaps? I could run into town and get you some medication if you like.”

Silence. Trixie rolled over onto her side. Now facing the opposite wall, she deliberately hid her face from Starlight.

“Come on Trixie, I’m your friend. If something is wrong, you’ve got to let me know. I want to help you.”

The atmosphere was cold and uneasy, a far cry from how things normally were between them. Starlight wasn’t sure what to do in this situation. Twilight had taught her a lot, but none of the Princess’ wisdom seemed to be helping at that moment. What was she to do if Trixie didn’t speak up? She couldn’t sit here forever. She resigned herself to going to get Twilight for advice, before Trixie finally spoke up. She still faced away from Starlight, but at least this was progress.

“I’m sorry Star, I don’t really want to talk at the moment. I’ve been feeling kind of rough as of late.”

Starlight beamed, glad to have finally gotten a response.

“So, you ARE feeling ill? Give me your symptoms, I can go get some medicine! Perhaps Zecora can whip you something up?”

“No, Starlight. I’m not ill.” Trixie’s response was sharp and biting. “I’ve just been having, unhelpful thoughts…”

Starlight cocked her head to the side. She wasn’t sure what in Equestria the mare was talking about.

“Unhelpful thoughts…?”

“Yes, unhelpful thoughts. Tell me, what does the world think of The Great and Powerful Trixie? Am I one of the bad ponies? I’ve heard what ponies think, what ponies say. They don’t trust me, and certainly don’t seem to like me. Even Discord - in a time of crisis, no less – felt the need to tell me just how lowly he thought of me.”

Starlight was shocked to her core. She’d never heard Trixie speaking so critically of herself, and the way she spoke of others was nothing short of horrible. She had to ease her friend’s thoughts.

“Trixie dear, please! I don’t know where these thoughts have come from, but they are totally unjustified! Yes, Discord said some harsh things, but given the circumstances, I think you need to forgive a little hostility and uneasiness all round. And of course the ponies like you! Sure, some of them were a little opposed to the old Trixie, but she was exactly that. The old Trixie! You are the new Trixie, and shutting yourself away is not going to help anypony understand you!”

Trixie slowly rolled over, coming to rest with her eyes staring up at her friend. She had never looked more timid and unsure of herself. When she spoke up again her voice wavered.

“Trixie needs your help… She doesn’t know what to do.”

Starlight smiled, patting her friend's shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I promise I will help you feel comfortable again. Perhaps a spell will calm the others? From what I remember a dash of ‘carmine irrumabo’ should make everypony feel more than comfortable around you.”

Trixie raised a single eyebrow as Glimmer made the suggestion. “Er, no. No magic. Your friends have told me what a state you left everything in last time you cast a ‘helpful’ spell. It’s got to be proper help or nothing.”

Starlight gulped. “I’ll get Twilight.”