Diamonds of Stardust

Chapters

The Adventure Begins
The Green Diamond
The Yellow Diamond
When The Rain Falls
Healing New Wounds
The King of Chaos
Over The Bridge
Mysterious Shadows
The Pink Crystal
Sunrise
Loophole on the Road
Shattered Friendship Part 1
Shattered Friendship Part 2
Prepare for the Frozen Abyss
The White Diamond
Sick of Optimism
In The Night
Back On The Road!
Game of Life or Death
Not a Failure
The Blue Crystal Part 2
Dangers Lay Ahead
Race To Ponyville
Purple Crystal
Into The Darkness
Vs Dark Matter
Making a Grand Final!
Stardust
Six Diamonds
To The Crystal Empire!

The Adventure Begins

Stardust ran as the sun went down, hoping to make it in time to see Trixie’s show. Of course, she did make it just in time before she was about to start, unfortunately the crowd of ponies made it a bit hard to see, so she climbed a tree to watch. As her friend did her first trick on stage, Stardust yawned.

“Needs a bit more humour...”. Ponies clapped as Stardust made her way down the tree and sneaked onto the stage.

Once she got backstage behind the curtain, she looked around.

“Hmmm, what kind of prank should I do?” She whispered, then she saw a bucket of water and giggled quietly, “Time for some laughs”. Stardust climbed to a top part of the stage quietly without anypony seeing.

“Now, be amazed as I do the next trick!” Trixie spoke, unaware of the filly about to pour a bucket of water on her.

Stardust grinned as she tipped the bucket and heard the unicorn scream as she was drenched with water. There were claps and laughs, Stardust climbed back down and got into the stage, Trixie stared at Stardust unimpressed.

The filly laughed, “Pfft! You should see the look on your face! You were like ‘here’s my next trick’ then you screamed!”.

Stardust continued, “And now you’re all soaked up! More like ‘the greatly soaked Trixie!”.

The audience chuckled, but there were a few ponies who were concerned and a little upset at the filly.

“How rude of that filly” a random pony stated.

Trixie nodded in agreement, she used her magic to levitate Stardust and put her into the audience. The eager filly looked at her flank.

“Seriously? That was a good prank!”

The unicorn looked a little annoyed about having to do her next tricks while soaking wet. She didn’t enjoy it, but she was happy about some ponies being on her side, what Stardust did was not funny, to her at least.

A good prank has both sides laughing, and a good prankster apologises if whoever they pranked didn’t find it funny.

Sure, Stardust was still a filly, but she could have some common sense and empathy. It would have been worse, she could have poured something more unpleasant, but it was just water that will dry away.

When Trixie was finished with the show it was nighttime, the audience went home and Trixie packed her belongings into her wagon.

Stardust laughed a little, she was standing on the stage. “Hey Trixie!”

The unicorn sighed, “What?” She hoped it wasn’t going to be any more rude stuff.

“Can I put on a magic show?” She asked.

The unicorn laughed, “You can’t be serious, you have like no experience! Unlike me!” Trixie poked her tongue out.

Starlight approached Trixie, Twilight and the main Six were nearby having a chat about something.

Stardust happily approached Trixie, “Please! Can I do a magic show? It can be only with your friends!”

Starlight giggled, “Aww,” She patted Stardust on the head, “That’s so cute! She wants to be like you,” Starlight told Trixie with a giggle.

”Except she’s completely annoying...” the blue unicorn told her friend.

Starlight sighed, “Come on, you’re being kinda salty about all this”

Trixie growled and argued, “She threw water on me during my show!”

Starlight giggled, “She probably didn’t mean to upset you, I think it’ll be nice to let her put on a show, it’ll help you learn more about each other before your big journey”

Trixie had had a moment to think about it, “Fine... if she breaks anything you’re paying for repairs”

Starlight nodded in agreement.

⭐️🏞⭐️

A few minutes went by and the Main Six, Spike, Starlight and unimpressed Trixie were watching the stage. The curtains opened, revealing Stardust in the middle, attempting to wear Trixie’s outfit.

“Come, all of Twix and her friends! Welcome to the amazing Stardust’s... uh... magic show!”

Pinkie watched with awe, Starlight smiled while Trixie pouted.

“For my first trick, I’ll make this cookie vanish before your eyes!” Stardust showed the crowd a cookie she had.

Rarity, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash let out a few excited “Ooohs!”

Stardust giggled, “Now be amazed!”

Stardust turned around and stuffed the cookie in her mouth and ate it. She turned back around and yelled out.

“Tada!”

She licked the crumbs from her mouth as every pony except for Spike, who was confused and Trixie who face-hoofed.

“She clearly ate that... there’s crumbs around her mouth!” Complained Trixie.

Stardust did a bit of a bow, the hat fell off her head. She put her hoof in it and pulled out a leaf.

“Taaa daaa!”

Fluttershy clapped while Trixie groaned in annoyance. She facehoofed and shook her head slowly.

“This is really pathetic,” she groaned.

Stardust grinned, “Now, for my grand final!”

Trixie rolled her eyes, “Seriously?” She mumbled as she watched.

For her ‘grand’ final, she simply threw a smoke bomb and ran offstage, tripping on the way.

“Tada! I went invisible from a puff of smoke!” Stardust yelled out as she stood behind a curtain.

The crowd, except the blue unicorn, clapped.

“You’re seriously finding entertainment in this?” Trixie asked Starlight, who scolded her.

“Don’t be so rude! She’s trying her best!”

Soon, Stardust threw a smoke bomb and run into the smoke while tripping to make it look like she magically reappeared.

“Ha! Now you can see me!”

Trixie mumbled as everyone else cheered for the filly, who did a bow and walked off the stage.

“That was awsome!” Rainbow Dash complimented.

Stardust threw Trixie’s cape at her and looked at her own flank, nothing. “Pfft, I didn’t want to be a performer anyway,” Stardust said.

Twilight soon thought of something, “Where will Stardust stay tonight?”

Stardust pointed at Trixie’s wagon.

“What! Why?” The unicorn responded.

Starlight put a hoof on her friend, “I think it’s a good idea, you’re best for this, both partners on this adventure, and you guys will need to spend every night together as you search Equestria for those diamonds...”

Trixie lowered her head and sighed, “You’re right... let’s go Stardust...”

The two went into the wagon, Trixie slept in her hammock while Stardust was on the floor, a blanket was under her and her pink one was on top, she also had a pillow. Stardust slowly went to sleep, hoping to find the location of the first Diamond.

⭐️🏞⭐️

In her dream, Stardust floated. She heard a voice and a figure of an alicorn.

“Who are you?” Stardust asked the figure, who slowly came more clear.

The figure spoke, “We are Princess Luna, we travel the dream realm and watch over ponies dream. We know who thee are, you come to this world to save it”. Stardust listened.

“The creature you’re chasing can only be defeated by thou and Trixie Lulamoon, you two must work together”

Stardust nodded as she listened, “Thy first diamond is in the ruins of The Castle Of The Two Sisters”

The filly was a little confused, “The what? Where’s that?”

Luna’s horn lit up, and the vision turned into the throne room in the castle she was referring to

“Hey, that pony on that hang thingy looks like you!” She pointed out, Luna only nodded, she was a little sad.

“This is the room you’ll find the diamond in, you’ll find the ruins if you go through the Everfree forest but beware, the forest has plenty of dangers,” Luna explained, “We wish thee luck on thy journey”

Stardust nodded. To help, Luna picked Stardust up and gave her a view of the forest.

“Listen to Trixie, she will keep you safe, since you’re new to this world,” Luna added.

⭐️🏞⭐️

Stardust soon woke up, she opened her eyes and saw that it was morning.

Trixie looked at her a little nervous, “So... did you find out the first one?”

“Yep! It’s in the ruins in the Everfree forest!” She explained.

Trixie gasped in shock, “The Everfree forest!?”

“Could be worse,” Stardust explained.

Starlight offered, then persuaded Trixie to store some of her belongings into the castle to make some space. Well, it was Starlight who moved some boxes and chest into her room in the castle, Trixie had to watch slightly annoyed.

“It’s for the best,” Explained Starlight, “You’ll be away for days, or weeks depending on how long this takes! You won’t be doing any shows on the way, and you’ll have to store food and stuff”

Stardust started to think, “I’ll be right back!” She said as she ran towards the village.

“Don’t you dare be too long!” Shouted Trixie.

⭐️🏞⭐️

Luckily, Stardust arrived to her destination quickly, the boutique “Hey Rarity!?” She called out.

The white unicorn with a purple mane came down the stairs, “Oh, Stardust, what brings you here, darling?” She asked.

“I want an accessory for the big adventure” Stardust replied with joy.

“Well, it can be something simple like a bandana or... a necklace!”

Rarity started to think, “Hmmm, alright!”

The designer pony walked upstairs to her sewing room, now all cleaned up after the incident that happened the day before.

Stardust gasped when she saw some hot pink fabric, “Hey, can you do this one with a silver star on it?”

Rarity had a look, “Wouldn’t you rather a light pink one with, perhaps... a hot pink star?”

It took a few seconds for the filly to reply, “Alright! Actually, make it pink with a... wait, can you make a few spares? Maybe a blue one with a pink star or a yellow one with a pink star!”

Rarity nodded, “Uh... sure, darling...”

It was easy to make the bandanas, she made four. The bandana’s main colours, except for one were a light pink, but the star on each was a different colour, black, dark pink, purple and blue. The dark pink star was on the white bandana.

“No need to pay at the moment, darling, it’s fine,” Rarity assured her as she gave Stardust the scarfs. Stardust thanked the unicorn and ran back to Trixie.

“What took you so long!?” The blue unicorn said impatiently as she stood there with the wagon all ready and buckled to her. Stardust explained and showed Trixie the scarves.

“Want to wear one?” She asked.

In response Trixie shook her head and groaned annoyed, she saw Stardust hold up the light pink one with a purple star in her hooves, she looked at Trixie with puppy dog eyes. Using her magic, Trixie tied the bandana scarf around Stardust’s neck, the filly happily giggled as she opened the door to the wagon and got in. Before Trixie could start walking to their destination, Stardust yelled.

“Wait!”

She quickly looked at the filly that just came back out, she put the starry hat on Trixie’s head and threw her cape at her.

“Stardust?” Trixie questioned.

“They have stars! And you look amazing in them! We can start a team that wears stars, if you don’t want to wear a scarf then you can wear these,” Stardust said in a slightly ordering tone.

Trixie rolled her eyes, she decided to wear them, she unbuckled the wagon from her to put her cape on. Then she buckled the wagon back on herself.

“Yay! Now we’re a starry duo!” Stardust called out, she sat on Trixie’s back as she walked through ponyville. “We should sing a song!” Stardust called out. Trixie replied with “Sure”

⭐️🏞⭐️

The both of them started to sing.

“We're off, to collect the Six Diamonds

Our ride might be tiny and small”

“At least we aren’t walking,” Stardust replied as she sat on Trixie’s back.

“I am walking” Trixie replied slightly annoyed before singing.

“But this road trip, will be wonderful, since we get along”

Stardust replied in song, “I'm glad you’re my bond buddy, we’re even singing a song”

The both of the continued to sing as they exited Ponyville.

“We're off, to collect the Six Diamonds

Side by side, just like peas in a pod,”

Trixie stopped to let some ducks with ducklings cross the path. She sang and looked at Stardust.

“Our magical bond is stronger than Dark Matter’s demands,”

Stardust chuckles and replied with “After the journey, our bond will still stand,”

“Wait... aren’t you returning to your world after?” Trixie asked with confusion.

“Oh yeah!”

When the duck family was finished, Trixie started walking again.

“We're so bonded, we will not go down

For now, we're stuck together 'cause we're diamond bound,”

Trixie smiled, “You’re actually not a bad travelling buddy!”

“You too, buddy!” Stardust giggled.

They walked as they sang together happily.

“We're off, to collect the Six Diamonds

Yes, we are!

We've gotta brave every shadow and flame,”

Stardust and Trixie noticed two unicorn ponies arguing.

“Any journey can be pessimistic if you make a fuss,” Stardust sung.

Trixie looked ahead proudly, “That’s why we must get along well, good for us!”

The duo finally entered the forest, they walked slowly.

“We're off, to collect the Six Diamonds

And there's nowhere else that we can be,”

Trixie thought for a moment

“Was that off-key?”

Stardust walked with Trixie happily “Collecting green, yellow, pink, and blue, all throughout Equestria,”

“For untold chapters yet to come, our magic bond will be here,” Trixie sung happily.

“Actually...no,” Stardust corrected.

“We're so bonded, we will not go down,” The two sung together.

Trixie giggled a little, “Like a race where you tie your hooves together, and you have to move in perfect synchronisation to win!”

“We're diamond boooooound,”

Stardust replied, “Or like a movie where characters are attached to each other in some way!”

“We're diamond boooooound!”

⭐️🏞⭐️

The two continued to walk through the Everfree Forest, “Couldn’t you just left your wagon in Ponyville?” Stardust asked.

Trixie shook her head, “Nah, it would be more convenient to bring it...”

It was hard to pull the wagon through the tight corner and spaces, in fact it got so hard that Trixie gave up, she made a turn.

“I’m leaving it at Zecora’s...”

“Wait!” Stardust stopped Trixie.

Trixie looked around at the thick spooky pine trees and plants for any danger, then looked at the filly, “what?”.

The filly whispered something into the unicorn’s ear, who smiled in response, “Alright then...”.

Both ponies lifted one hoof and touched each other’s hoof. Together they cheered their ‘team cheer’.

“Trixie and Stardust, Team Star,” then they both lifted their hooves “We’ll save Equestria, ‘cause that’s who we are!”

They giggled in response and started to make their way to Zecora’s hut. As they walked, Stardust felt weaker and weaker until she collapsed.

Trixie stopped, “Uh... Stardust, you’re tired already?” She gave a little chuckle.

She levitated Stardust in her magic and put her on her back, “I’ll let you lay on me, Zecora isn’t that far away...”.

The filly started to feel lighter, “What’s happening?” She asked, she could barely feel her body

Stardust breathed quite weakly. Stardust fell off Trixie and onto the floor, the crunch of leaves were heard.

With confusion on why Stardust was acting weird, Trixie took a quick look at the filly, who was now laying on the ground, something looked off, she had a closer look. On a closer observation, Trixie gasped in shock, Stardust was fading away! The ground could be seen through her white body and pink mane.

Ponies don’t just fade away! Trixie’s heart raced as she panicked, not knowing what to do or say, all she knew that this wasn’t supposed to happen, she never heard of ponies just padding away before! The unicorn quickly unbuckled the wagon from her and sat down next to Stardust.

“What’s happening!?” Shouted Trixie as she breathed heavily.

Stardust weakly rose her hoof towards Trixie’s chest, “T-Trixie,” she coughed.

Trixie ignored her tears as she picked the filly up in her hooves and looked at her with worry, “Stardust! Don’t leave me!” She said in panic, “I may be great and powerful, but I can’t do this on my own! Trixie needs you, this is your story!”

“Trixie...” Stardust started.

Tears were in the unicorn’s eyes, “Don’t leave me! I can’t do this on my own!” Trixie breathed heavily, “Dark Matter sounds dangerous! What if I fail!? We’re doomed!”

Stardust sighed, “You have tooooooo-ugh... I know you can do it... I believe in you...” she put on a smile, “Never give up... don’t give up hope”

“B-but,” Trixie replied, now sobbing, “Wh-what about... the bond you explained?! And the song we sang on the way here, and the bandanas!? And our theme we just made a few seconds ago? Trixie and Stardust. Team Star, We’ll save Equestria, ‘cause that’s who we are?”

Stardust only smiled as she faded to nothing, “Stardust?” Trixie asked, shaking.

“Princess Luna... please tell me this is a dream,” She said in a shaky voice.

The realisation of it not being a dream and being real was when a nut from a trees hit her on the head, it hurt, dreams aren’t supposed to hurt. Stardust really did fade away in front of Trixie.

She screamed of distraught and fell on the ground, “Stardust!”

Trixie got up with tears going down her cheeks and muzzle, “I-I’ll do it... I’ll save Equestria..., I’ll be brave for you...”

Trixie buckled her wagon to her and walked to Zecora‘s hut. Fortunately it wasn’t a very long detour as Zecora’s house wasn’t too far a walk from where they were standing, the zebra lived in the Everfree forest. The blue unicorn knocked on the door of the tree she lived in, it didn’t open for a few minutes, but Zecora soon opened it and replied.

The zebra seemed a bit surprised to see Trixie, “Well hello Trixie. You also brought your wagon, I see...”

Zecora said as she looked at the wagon behind the unicorn.

“Uh... yeah,” Trixie stated.

Zecora noticed Trixie crying, she felt bad for her. “You’re quite blue. I’m not just talking about your hue”

Trixie sniffled as tears poured from her eyes.

Author's Note

Hehe, a parody of Friendship Bound, I love that song

The Green Diamond

Trixie sat inside Zecora‘a hut with a cup of tea, she explained her situation and what happened, the zebra listened well. The unicorn took a sip from the warm tea, it did calm her down a little, but she was still a little stressed. The zebra showed concern for the filly, she felt bad for the situation Trixie was in.

“I can see why you frown, your companion went down!”. The unicorn nodded at that remark as she put her cup down after a sip.

Angrily, she waved her hooves in the air, accidentally knocking her own drink over. The liquid went over the table and dripped onto the floor, Zecora was a little unimpressed, but she didn’t make a huge deal out of it, it was an accident after all.

“Can you believe it!? After saying we were going to save the world together, she drops the whole responsibility on my own!”.

Zecora shook her head, “I may not be the chosen one. Or have that special bond,” she started, “I could join you on this journey. Then your future won’t look so murky”.

Trixie cocked her head in confusion, “Huh?”.

After taking a sip from her drink the zebra spoke again, “I wouldn’t mind going with you, that way you won’t feel so blue” Zecora smiled, “Maybe with an extra pony you’ll won’t be so lonely”.

“But you’re a zebra... not a pony” Trixie corrected before realising the reason Zecora said that was because lonely rhymes with pony. Before the zebra could say a word, Trixie interrupted her,

“But wait, aren’t you supposed to heal sick ponies and make potions?”. The zebra only smiled with assurance.

“Nopony will mind if I go away, it’s not like it’ll be more than a day”.

Trixie nodded as Zecora went to grab her saddlebags.

“Now, let me go pack, I’ll be right back”. The unicorn watched the zebra pack some gear like books and stuff in her saddlebags and pack a few extra things in another bag. The zebra also wrote a note that she was on a journey across Equestria with Trixie, so she will be unavailable, of course the sign rhymed.

“I’ll only travel to the ruins you’ve known, then you’ll be on your own,” The zebra informed her.

✨💎💚💎✨

Trixie avoided stepping in mud as she walked through the dangerous forest, she heard some noise. It sounded like some cockatrice, Zecora tread carefully, the unicorn did the same.

“Why did it have to be that noise?” asked Trixie, the unicorn replied nervously “that’s a cockatrice...isn’t it?”.

“Head of a chicken, body of a snake... if you see it you may be at stake. If you look into it’s eye, then you’ll petrify,” Zecora explained. Trixie nodded, she knew a cockatrice was not good news. Trixie loudly yelped when she thought she saw the tail of one in a bush.

”Since you had to yell, the cockatrice may find us now” Zecora replied a little unimpressed.

But she was right! Trixie was a bit too loud, a cockatrice approached them, Trixie looked away with her eyes closed, knowing looking into their eyes is what makes them petrify. Angry squawks and the sound of fluttering surrounded the group, it was a flock. Trixie felt her heart race, she knew she needed to get out of there now!.

She wanted to run, but knew it was going to be too dangerous. The unicorn didn’t want to go down like this, petrified by a cockatrice.

She relaxed when she heard “The cockatrice had to fly, you can open your eye”. Trixie slowly opened her eyes and saw the lack of cockatrice. She happily sighed.

✨💎💚💎✨

The duo walked along a cliff above a slope, it was open and had a lack of trees, making it easy for Trixie to pull her wagon.

The rocky ground that they were walking on was pretty unstable through, so Trixie had to be careful that a wheel on her wagon wouldn’t go off the cliff or get stuck in a hole. Zecora knew where she was going, since she lived in the Everfree forest, she would know about the place.

Trixie looked into the distance and could only see trees and a river, she was happy the forest wasn’t as dangerous at night, but she did hope they would make it out before night fell.

She still missed Stardust, she felt angry and sad about her but knew she had a promise to keep. But something did worry her, why were they collecting the diamonds? What will happen when she collected them all?

Soon enough the bumpy ride ended, and they were back on the ground, Trixie had to get her wagon through a bunch of trees.

The duo arrived at a river, much to Trixie’s dismay. Zecora walked across happily, the water was calm, but it went up to her chest. Zecora stopped halfway through and looked at Trixie, wondering why she wouldn’t come.

“I don’t want to get soaked...” Trixie whined.

Zecora looked at Trixie with slight annoyance. “Well Trixie, it’s just water as you can see” the zebra explained.

The unicorn sighed, she slowly put her front hoof in the water, it was freezing cold, she had both front hooves touching the sandy bottom. With an annoyed expression, Zecora watched Trixie nervously walk in.

Trixie sighed a little annoyed as she felt the water soak through her outfit and fur and to her skin, it was freezing cold. She walked across, pulling her wagon as fast as she could. Once on the other said, she shook her body like a wet dog, drops of water flew everywhere.

✨💎💚💎✨

The duo travelled a bit further, they decided to take a small break. They sat in some sun, Trixie held her cape up in her magic and wrung out the water, so it would dry quicker, she shook some water from her body too. After a bit and they were rested enough, they decided to continue.

Zecora got up, “We don’t have far to go, but let’s not go too slow”.

Trixie got her wagon ready, and they walked to their destination. “What room did Princess Luna tell Stardust it was in?” Thought Trixie, who was once again avoiding any mud as she walked.

“Maybe I should try the throne room,” Trixie decided.

Soon enough, the duo made it to the bridge, that was looking quite old. The castle ruins was right on the other side, they could see how damaged and worn they were. Plants over grew the sad looking remains.

Trixie had one look at the old wood and rope bridge, “I don’t think I can take my wagon across this...” she said with worry.

Zecora assured Trixie, “Never fear, just leave it here” She told the unicorn, “I’ll protect your wagon, while you keep your avenge the former dragon”

Trixie groaned, “You better!” She pointed at Zecora before she crossed the bridge.

The zebra smiled, she stood in front of the wagon and watched the unicorn crossed. She felt excited for her, she was glad she was able to help her get to the ruins. Trixie went across slowly as the old bridge swayed.

Trixie made it across and looked at the ruins, she entered through the front door and made their way through the ruined hallways. Trixie was happy, she was getting closer and closer to the first diamond.

But this was only the start of a very long journey.

✨💎💚💎✨

The blue unicorn got lost as she explored the castle, she was covered in a bit of dust when she finally made it to the old dusty throne room. Floating in the centre was a green diamond, it was slightly smaller than Stardust, Stardust... Trixie sighed somberly as she remembered her. The diamond the same size as all the other diamonds they have to collect.

“That was easy” Trixie thought.

She expected and hoped the next five would be this easy. Picking up the diamond in her magic did nothing to it, she grabbed it in her hooves and it started to glow. Much to her surprise the diamond also spoke.

“Each diamond flickers when it’s near any uncollected one... the next diamond, yellow is in the desert” it said before the glow went away.

Trixie carried the diamond in her magic as she made her way back out the castle.

“So I just go to each location, collect the diamond and listen to it?” She thought, “Well Trixie can do that easy!”.

Trixie proudly walked over the bridge. She smiled when she saw her wagon was undamaged. Zecora grinned, when she saw the blue unicorn and the green diamond. She noticed on a clock that it was late afternoon she was a bit confused.

“It’s almost sundown already?” Trixie did the math in her head.

“Guess I did spend a bit of extra time at Zecora’s and Stardust did spend a bit of unnecessary time at Rarity’s... and after walking through that river we had lunch, plus I did get a bit lost in the castle”

“As you can see, I kept it safe, Trixie” the zebra told her.

The blue unicorn buckled her wagon back to herself and put the diamond inside where it would be safe.

“Thank you for walking with me” She smiled at the zebra “Trixie has got this”.

She turned around but was stopped.

“Wait Trixie, I know a quicker way Actually” Zecora explained as she pointed south, “If we’re going straight to the desert, going this easy would be a better exit”.

The unicorn sighed but decided to agree. As she departed Zecora called out.

”Be careful to not get stuck. I wish you luck!”

Trixie smiled as south, she avoided mud and plants in case they were unsafe, she made sure to stay alert but she was pretty lucky. Well up to a point where she needed to cross some muddy swamp water, she walked though unhappily through the mud that went halfway up her legs. Her horn was lit making a soft pink glow.

But then her wagon got stuck suddenly, she looked back in fear, she was wet and cold. She wasn’t very happy about walking through the muddy swamp water in the first place.

“Now what!?” She asked as she looked at her wagon

She unbuckled the wagon and walked to the wheels, she used her foreleg to see if there was a vine that got tangled around the wheel. There was, she groaned in response. Trixie used her horn’s magic to loosen the tight vine that stopped the wheel from moving.

“I don’t have the time for this” she complained.

She went back to pulling her wagon, she pulled it as hard as she could, soon the rest of the vines broke and the wheel was free from the grip. The unicorn continued her journey out of the forest

Trixie wasn’t sure how long the walk was but it felt over an hour, soon she made it out the dangerous forest. Once it was far behind her, Trixe stopped and took a moment to appreciate the warm sun on her. She cleaned the mud from her and her clothes using some water that was stored in a container in her wagon. By the time she was done the sun was gone and the land was dark.

✨💎💚💎✨

As the sun was setted and she was out of the dangerous forest, the unicorn stopped and decided to take a break. She unbuckled the wagon and got out some food and water, a bottle of water, an apple and a daisy flower sandwich was what she was going to eat.

She started a campfire and ate her meal, she sat on the cool grass and watched the stars, she saw a shooting star, she gasped happily. A wish, a shooting star means a wish.

“I wish for an amazing journey! And maybe Stardust to come back?” She wished in her thoughts.

Trixie laid on the grass and watched the stars until she let out a yawn.

“Better go to sleep” She told herself, “Have a big day tomorrow”.

When she got into her wagon and closed the door behind her she sadly looked at both hammocks, wishing Stardust was still with her. She was fine and used to travelling by herself but what worried her was that Stardust knew, or at least had an idea on what would happen exactly when they collected the sixth diamond.

Stardust mention that there was possibly a battle after the sixth diamond, Stardust knew a lot more while Trixie didn’t know a thing, meaning she had to go into the battle blind. The unicorn laid in her hammock and thought about the future. Soon she went to sleep, she dreamt about running to the desert with Stardust.

The diamond was right in front of them, she touched it but everything went black. She looked around a bit confused.

“What the-“ Trixie asked right before waking up, she looked at the empty hammock and sighed.

She stretched and yawned happily when she got out her hammock and on to the floor, she grabbed an apple to eat and put her outfit on. Dawn was yet to come over the horizon but she was awake already, she decided she might as well start. After getting out and getting her wagon buckled up to her she had a look at the map, the desert was still quiet a while away.

”I guess my adventure starts today” Trixie commented.

The sun had risen while she walked, it was in the sky. She finally approached the bridge that went over the ravine that’s known as the Ghastly Gorge. It was a deep ravine with water that rushed south. Of course she decided to check and refill her water supply first, she was going to enter the desert that day.

So she grabbed her bottles and containers that carried water, removed her wagon from herself and walked down to the ravine. The way down and the bottom was a bit like a pathway so there wasn’t much risk in slipping and falling in, she stood on the edge and used her magic to submerge the containers into the water to fill them. She heard the water loudly rushing through and hitting the rocks.

Some water hit rocks that created mist and sprayed at Trixie who didn’t mind, she found it refreshing. Trixie didn’t stay for long through, once the containers were filled with water, and she took a drink, she walked back up to her wagon. She decided not to stop again until she found the next diamond, So she crossed the bridge and continued on her way.

The Yellow Diamond

The wind picked up as she walked, she was a little confused.

“Hmmm... it’s getting quiet windy...” She thought.

Her hat started to flap around in the violent wind. It was blowing north, which wasn’t plesent as Trixie was now traveling west, she knew it could get windy but for some reason the wind was really strong. Soon the wind took her hat right off her head, She gasped and went after it but it was too fast.

Trixie sighed when she lost sight of it, she noticed that it was going towards Ponyville, she hoped it would land there and Starlight would find it. She was sad about her hat flying away but there wasn’t much she could do, it was too fast and was going away from where she needed to be. When she looked at the sky she finally noticed the strange black blob in the sky.

“What is that?” She thought.

Her stomach hurt a little as she looked at it, it gave her a bad feeling.

“Why do I feel like that...” She whispered to herself, “Is that related to the diamonds that we- I mean” She sighed, “I am... collecting?” She asked.

Trixie waited for the answer, she looked around confused when no one said a word then remembered. She sighed as she realised that right now she could not talk with Stardust.

“Oh yeah... I’m by myself...” Trixie said annoyed.

She had another quick look and decided that was related to Dark Matter, it was black and made slight gurgle movements along with an occasional electric bolt going through it. Clearly she got bad vibes by just looking at it. Her stomach hurt a little when she looked at it. Trixie started to freak out, she dashed as fast as she could and screamed.

✨💎💛💎✨

”That must have something to do with Dark Matter that Stardust told us about!” She thought as she ran.

“I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead!” She yelled out loud.

She came to that conclusion, that black blob was sure to be the bad and she was on a time limit to collect the diamonds. She started to run, her heart raced as she ran through the feilds. Or it could just be a random blob but she wasn’t gonna just stand there and find out, she ran as fast as she could.

“I gotta hurry, I can’t fail now!” She said as she worriedly ran.

Her hooves kicked up dirt as she rushed, it was a long distance but she wasn’t going to just give up. Stardust gave her a mission and it was up to her to complete it, she needed to try her best. She had to stop to catch her breath, the desert was still a long way to go. Trixie stopped and wiped some sweat with her hooves, it was getting a bit warmer, she drunk some water and sat down for a little rest.

”I hope I make it in time...” She sighed.

The stress was starting to get to the blue unicorn, she was scared what kind of things the black blob would bring and what would happen if she didn’t collect the diamonds in time. She started to run again, she needed to get to the next diamond, she felt she was running out of time. Trixie wished that she knew how much time she had left.

“Stop... running”.

She had ran and screamed so much she was out of breath a little. Trixie continued to walk, She was starting to get tired but she needed to get the the desert, she was now in the desert but didn’t really notice. The sun beated down on her making her sweat a bit but she ignored it, she knew she had to find the next diamond. Knowing that the previous one flickers when the next one is nearby she looked back through the window of her wagon and saw the diamond didn’t flicker.

“How much more?” She questioned in her thoughts.

The unicorn pushed herself even through she was exhausted from all the running. She doesn’t usually does this but she didn’t want to let the scary blob in the sky take over. The sand was warm on her hooves and was not very easy to run through and she was already tired. She groaned in tiredness, she looked into the distance and saw an oasis.

“Yes!” She called out, she trotted over to it and saw it vanish, it was just a mirage.

“Noooo”, she replied.

Then she grabbed the water from her wagon, she took a drink and splashed some on her face. She took some deep breathes and relaxed. Trixie also took her cape off and put it in the wagon so she wasn’t so hot. Trixie winced at the sun a little, she wished her hat didn’t fly away.

”Get a ahold of yourself” She told herself.

She put the water back in her wagon and continued through the desert, she smiled when she at another oasis, this time it was a real one. Trixie rushed over and looked into the water, it was clear and safe, she removed her wagon and decided to go into the water to cool down.

As she stepped into who nice cool water she let let out a happy sigh, she felt the coolness go through her fur cooling her heated body down. She sat int the water and started to relax and cool off she tried to get her worries of moment with the expanding blob in the sky to go away and calm down, it was now a little bit bigger but not very noticeable.

Trixie used her hooves to splash some water on her face, she grabbed an apple from her wagon and ate it as she chilled in the water. She listened to all the relaxing noises like the wind ruffling through the limited greenery, and took her mind off the blob in the sky and what was going to happen once she collected the last diamond.

But she did know one thing for sure, all of Equestria would know and be more amazed by her. She smiled as she imagined all the fans and the love she will receive when she saved the world from what was to come, she would be known everywhere.

After calming herself down she got out the water and got her wagon ready. Now she was back on track, walking deeper into the desert. the sand was warm on her hooves and the sun beat down on her harshly, but her wet fur kept her cool for a little while. She worriedly looked up and saw the blob, it gave her a bad feeling that made her sick in the belly.

“No, don’t stress about it, it’ll just end badly” She thought to herself

She walked along, keeping her mind off the small black blob in the sky, she wondered what Stardust would do and say about it. What would Stardust be doing if she was still here? The sun was still high in the sky, but it was sure to go down soon. Trixie continued walking through the hot and sandy desert.

✨💎💛💎✨

When lunch came she took out some water and food from her wagon, she ate the food and drunk the water as she walked. She felt there was so time for any breaks, that black blob was not letting her relax for very long, she didn’t want to be the reason why the world gets destroyed. After walking a few hours and the sun started to go down she took a quick look back through the window of her wagon.

”What the-“ She throught.
She saw the green diamond start to flicker it sensed the yellow one getting closer. Trixie let out an excited and happy gasp, she was so happy she was finally getting closer to the next diamond, she trotted through the sand happily.

“Almost there!” She shouted.

As she ran she almost stepped on a scorpion she didn’t see, the scorpion ran away in fright and angrily threatened her. The unicorn was so excited, she looked back at the diamond as saw it start to flicker faster. She ended up getting up to a tall rock formation, she stopped to catch her breath, the green diamond was now blinking rapidly.

Trixie continued to track through the desert, she walked past so many rock formations. She noticed the green diamond started to glow instead of flicker, she took it out her wagon, held it in her magic and looked at it.

“Does this mean...” She looked around “It’s close?”.

The unicorn looked around, she saw something yellow and shiny on top of one of the rocky formations, it was narrow in the middle and looked very steep, it resembled the shape of a mushroom. Trixie groaned in annoyance.

“How am I supposed to get that!?” She asked.

She started to think, it was too high to jump or to use her wagon to boost herself up. Trixie sat there as the sun slowly went down, she then had an idea. Starlight used her horn to levitate herself up high, maybe Trixie can do it too!

“How did Starlight do it again?” She questioned.

Trixie removed the wagon from her, using her horn she levitated herself slightly. She gasped with excitement, she got herself a little higher. As she got higher and higher it got a little harder but she was getting closer, she was nearly there. The diamond was slightly floating above the top of the rock structure.

She levitated herself above it and then stopped, she fell onto the top and looked st the diamond. It was dull but the unicorn knew what to do, she grabbed it and it started to glow, it spoke to her.

”The next diamond, pink, is in Manehatten”.

Trixie gasped, “Manehatten!? But that’s on the other side of Equestria!”.

She wasn’t paying attention when she went down so she fell face-first into the sand, she got up and shook the sand from herself. The sun was gone, the sky was dark and dotted with stars. Trixie yawned, she went into her wagon and put the yellow diamond with the green one.

“Might as well rest up” She thought as she climbed into her hammock and closed her eyes.

✨💎💛💎✨

She woke up and looked out the window, it was day time. She walked out her wagon and continued on her journey not questioning why she was in Ponyville, right in front of her she saw the purple diamond , she put it with the other five.

“Well.. that was quick... now what?” Trixie questioned having no memory of collecting most of them.

She shrugged, she got out off her wagon, it exploded the second she got out. Trixie looked back in shock, she screamed.

”My wagon! The diamonds!”.

She went through the remains, she saw the diamonds were shattered to bits.

“Nonono! Why!l?” She panicked as she tried to put them back together, then she heard a familiar voice behind her.

“You were too late”.

Trixie looked back and saw Starlight, sitting facing away from her, she repeated herself.

“You were too late”.

Trixie’s stomach hurt, she walked up to Starlight.

“Too late for what, Starlight?” Trixie asked worried.

”Where were you?” Starlight asked, “Everyone is dead because of you!”.

Trixie still didn’t understand, she looked and saw that the black blob in the sky has taken over the whole sky, Ponyville was in ruins, no sign of life.

“Dark Matter assisnated everything, where were you and where were the six diamonds!?” Shouted Starlight.

Trixie looked around, only ruins were seen in the darkness, her stomach hurt worse. She felt so sick, did she really fail? A crack formed beneath Trixie, she held onto the edge, her heart was racing, she started to sweat, her mouth felt dry too.

”Starlight!” She screamed out.

Starlight looked down at Trixie, a shadow was over her eyes, below in the darkness two red eyes could be seen. Trixie screamed again.

“Starlight!”.

”You doom us then ill doom you” Starlight said as she walked away leaving Trixie behind.

A deep voice boomed, “Now, you shouldn’t have spent that night in the desert sleeping, what a naive little thing to doom everyone you loved...”. It chucked, “The fate of the world were in your hooves and you failed... you let everyone down”.

Trixie was shocked, “N-no...”.

She started to cry, the ledge she was hanging on gave way.

”No!” She screamed.

On the way she saw visions, she was in her wagon asleep while Ponyville was burning to the ground. Crowds of ponies chanting that Trixie doomed them all. The black blob grew bigger and bigger. Trixie covered her eyes which were fall of tears.

”No!”.

She saw Twilight becoming dark and turning her friends into piles of burning ashes, she saw Canterlot explode, she saw Stardust flying in the sky muttering how she wish she chose a more responsible pony to save the world.

Then Trixie landed on something hard, she opened her eyes and saw she was on the moon, she watched the earth explode. Screams of ponies and other creatures filled the endless dark space, her heart raced as she heard a foal cry.

“Now... what have you done!?” A voice boomed.

Trixie looked behind her and saw Nightmare Moon.

“I’m proud of you for destroying pony kind!” Nightmare Moon congratulated.

”No... no!” Trixie panted, “That wasn’t my plan!”.

Another hole appeared below her and she fell through it screaming.

“NO!”.

✨💎💛💎✨

Trixie woke up so quickly she fell from her hammock and onto the ground of her wagon, her heart was racing and tears fell from her eyes. Her eyes slowly opened and the first thing she saw was her front hoof, she took a few deep breaths before getting up.

“I-It’s just a dream?” She asked.

”Its dark...” She looked for a clock, “I was only asleep for an hour...”.

She started to stress out, “B-But... Princess Luna is supposed to stop bad dreams...” She started to cry a bit, “Was that one a sign?”.

”I’m running out of time! The pink diamond, I have to hurry!” Trixie shrieked.

She put her cape on and jumped out the wagon, she attached it to herself and started to run east as fast as she could. Trixie ignored the coldness of the desert, she was planning to run all the way to Manehatten hopefully in less than twenty-four hours. The unicorn ran as fast as she could hoping that nothing would stop her.

Her hooves kicked up the cold, thick desert sand as she galloped through the night. The moon hardly lit up the land but it was still enough to see something that she could run into or trip over. Yes, she was tired from only having one hour of sleep but she knew it had to be done.

Trixie galloped as fast and as hard as she could hoping that she could make it to Manehattern despite it being on the other side of the map, or she might have to run all day. Without taking a single break she galloped all night to her destination, she ignored her body’s begs for rest.

After hours of running through the sand, only stopping to take a drink or catch her breath, and exiting the desert she stopped to watch the sun finish rising. She looked at an apple orchard in the far distance in defeat, the sun had risen and she only made it to Appleloosa, well almost.

“We’re doomed...” She panted slightly from exhaustion.

Author's Note

This was pre-written

When The Rain Falls

Trixie grew worried as the sunlight reached over the orchard in the distance, she gasped in fear.

“Oh no!” She shouted knowing she didn’t even make it halfway to Manehattern before the sun rose, she looked up in the sky and let out a small scream. The blob had gotten larger, it also had dark purple and dark red lightning strikes moving within it. Trixie gulped, she bowed her head in sadness. Yes, she was exhausted from running all night but she wasn’t going to have a break yet, she started walking until she heard a cry.

”Help!”.

Trixie perked her head and looked around wondering who called for help, it sounded to be nearby. The unicorn was a little nervous but she decided to listen to where it was coming from.

“Anyone help me!”.

The voice called again, it was really close, Trixie followed it.

“H-hello!?” Trixie called out to the voice.

The mysterious voice sounded a bit more happy, but it also sounded like they were in pain.

“Over here!” The voice shouted, “Please!” It also begged.

Trixie hurried over to a ditch, she looked in side and saw an injured griffin all tied up in chains. They looked at Trixie with a begging face, the unicorn felt bad, she wanted to leave them but didn’t have the heart.

“Hey you, caped unicorn!” It called, “Please help”.

The griffin had a light pink crest on top of her head, pink head and chest, dark pink body. Her legs and grey wings were both tangled up in chains, a lock hung tight connecting it all together. The chains dig into the poor creature’s body leaving scars, one of her wings were badly damaged too.

“Please!” The griffin begged.

Trixie nodded, she rushed down after removing her wagon. The griffin was only able to weakly lift her claw hand and point to a key.

“Please release me, I dropped the key and can’t reach!” She begged.

“Is this a trick?” Trixie thought.

Trixie sighed as she picked the key up in her magic, the griffin smiled. It actually looked happy but the unicorn wasn’t sure about this, she gave a sigh.

“This better not be a trick...” She thought to herself.

Trixie put the key through the lock and the chains all loosened and fell, the Grinnfin pulled herself out. Her crest lifted happily and she put her hand out for a handshake.

“Thank so much! I though I was going to die alone, my name’s Gumdrop, you can call me Gummy if you wish, what’s yours?” She offered.

Trixie proudly flipped her cape and boasted, “The Grrreat and Powwrful Trrixie!”.

Gummy smiled, “Thank you so much! I was so worried you wouldn’t help me!”.

Trixie noticed her busted wing and all the scars from the chain on her body. She felt a little bad but felt it wasn’t her business at the moment.

“Great! Now go home, I have important things to do...” Trixie muttered as she put her wagon’s strap back on herself.

The griffin followed Trixie and sighed a little as she spoke softly.

“I was actually hoping... I could go with you...” Gummy added a smile.

Trixie started to walk slowly with her wagon, she noticed the griffin follow her. She wanted to say no but this griffin, she seemed pretty lost and hurt. Gummy gave her cute faces as she waited for an answer

“Fine!” Trixie agreed out of empathy.

Gummy smiled, “I was sure you’d say no, I’m a pessimistic you see... not something I want to talk about”.

She sighed sadly, when Trixie increased her speed she did too. Gummy looked into the distance with curiousity

”So... where you headin’?” She asked Trixie.

”Manehattern” Trixie replied.

Trixie increased her speed to a trot, the griffin still followed next to her. She kept talking.

“Oh, what’s that? Sounds like fun!”.

Trixie replied with slight annoyance, “It’s the big city...”.

”Oh cool! A big city! Oh, wait, that’s actually not cool, kinda scary!”.

The blue unicorn increased her speed to a canter as Gummy listed a bunch of things that could go wrong in a big city.

“A giant dragon could attack, you may fall into a sewer, you could get lost, a bird could poop on your head” Gummy listed.

Then the griffin decided to comment of Trixie’s increased speed.

“Oh, you’re in a hurry? We’ll wait for me, since there’s nowhere else I can go” She said sadly.

Trixie commented with sarcasm “Yay... another travel buddy”.

Then Trixie went into a gallop, Gummy ran right after her.

”What are you in a hurry for, is it important, are we in a danger!?”.

Trixie replied “In danger not in a danger and yes! I have to collect the six diamonds before it’s too late!”.

Gummy took a long look at Trixie and commented on a few things.

“You look exhausted, you might get sick and... or you might faint!”.

Trixie replied, “Uh... there’s more important things to worry about!”.

They arrived in Appleloosa but Trixie did not stop, She galloped straight through. Gummy called out.

“Sorry, we are in a hurry!”.

Gummy ran next to Trixie and looked at her with concern.

”More important than your health?”.

Trixie was shocked to hear that, she pretended she didn’t hear it. She knew there would be no more her or her friends if she failed to collect the diamonds in time.

“Can you say something... perhaps positive?” Trixie whinnied.

Gummy looked ahead, it took her a while to say anything.

”Uh... you have a pretty... cape?” She tried.

Trixie smiled a bit, “Thanks...”.

The unicorn did slow down a little when they exited Appleloosa.

✨⭐️✨

“If I’m joining you on this journey you’ll need to fill me in...” Gummy explained.

”Well” Trixie started to summarise, “I was the chosen one and Stardust came to this world... but she faded away now I’m on my own to collect the diamonds... but I’m clearly running out of time because of a nightmare and that black blobby thing in the sky, Equestria’s fate is in my hooves”.

Trixie let out a proud chuckle and a smile.

”I’ll be so popular too, but the stress to getting to me” She added.

Gummy nodded and sighed, Trixie looked at her a bit worried, Gumball looked really despressed.

“You... okay?” Trixie asked.

Gummy nodded, “Yeah it’s just...”

She started to explain. “Me and my younger brother went to the lake, but there was a crocodile that neither of us knew was there! We splashed around in the water and”.

Trixie watched the griffin wipe away her tears.

“We had a race... I let him have a head start, the crocodile cornered him and I wasn’t fast enough!... I witnessed the crocodile pull him under and the next thing I saw was blood!...”.

Gummy stayed silent for a few minutes, “If I was just fast enough...” She sighed, “And I was treated like a fugitive by every other griffin, they decided that I had to be left alone in the desert... I sneaked the key in my claw but dropped it... then you came along a few minutes after”.

No one said a word, Trixie was speechless and Gumdrop was sad. A few minutes of silence went by and the duo were far out of of Appleloosa, Infact, the ground started to have more grass, in the distance there were mountains and trees. Trixie sighed, her stomach grumbled so she quickly grabbed some food from her wagon to share with Gummy. The unicorn kept up her pace to the point she was trotting again, Gummy simply rode on top of her wagon.

✨⭐️✨

An hour went by and Gummy calmly looked into the distance as she sat on the roof of Trixie’s wagon, after a while to sky went a bit cloudy, Gummy grew a bad feeling what laid ahead. Trixie crossed a bridge with her wagon easily, she looked at the sky and saw that the black blob got a little bigger. The griffin was more worried about the clouds.

”I-I’m going inside” She informed Trixie with a worried voice, Trixie opened the door with her magic to allow the griffin inside.

”Don’t mess anything up!” The unicorn warned.

Right after she heard that she heard some things be moved around, she sighed as it was obvious Gummy didn’t listen to her. After a few minutes she heard her ask.

”What are these banadana’s for?” She peeked out the door’s windows showing up the bandana scarves.

Trixie looked back and gasped, she forgot that Stardust got those, the unicorn started to think, her walking pace slowed a little bit.

”Well... my friend made them for the team... until she disspeared” Trixie sighed but kept moving.

Gummy looked at one that was white with a pink star, “The team?” She asked.

”Well... yeah...” Trixie explained, “We were going to be called the... umm... Star Squad... I think, and each member was going to wear one....”.

Gumdrop put the white one round her nexk, “Well.., I’m a member of the team!”.

Trixie looked back at her and sighed, “But Stardust isn’t here anymore, and that means-“.

”You’re the leader” Gummy explained, “It just makes sense! You wear the most stars and you founded it, well... since Stardust isn’t here anymore it means you can continue the team”.

Trixie smiles, “And we had this... little theme where we touched hooves-“.

Gummy jumped out and stood in front of Trixie when she stopped, the griffin held up her claw. Trixie sighed happily and put her hoof in her claw and they started.

”Trixie and Gumdrop, Squad of star.” They rose their hooves happily “We’ll save Equestria, ‘Cause that’s who we are!”.

”See, now... we are a team!” Gummy explained.

Trixie nodded in agreement, she started walking again and Gummy got back inside the wagon. The Star Squad was back, but Trixie grew worried, she didn’t want to lose Gummy, her pace picked up to a trot.

✨⭐️✨

A single drop of water fell from the sky and hit the window Gummy was looking out from. The griffin gasped in fright and fell from her hammock, she rushed to the door and opened the window.

”Trixie!” Gummy shouted in panick, “It’s starting to rain, get inside!”.

Trixie could hear the fear in the griffin’s voice, she simply replied with a chuckle and some determination.

“Some rain won’t stop the Great and Powerful Trixie!”.

Gummy quickly shut the window when some more drops hit both her and Trixie. The griffin sat in the middle of the wagon, Trixie sped up but she was really worried about her. Her friend was out there, alone, in the rain that was getting heavier and heavier. Rain pelted down on the windows and roof.

Like anytime it rains, Gummy grew worried for anyone who would get all wet. But this times she knew someone, Trixie, she was getting soaked! She didn’t even seem to care. Gummy took a peek at her friend and saw that she was already drenched through. Questions started to come to the teen griffin, why wouldn’t Trixie come inside? Why didn’t she at least take her cape off, surely that was getting all soaked.

She sat in the middle, back facing the door. Rain continued to fall, she thought about the poor critters and ponies that would be let down from a rainy day. Gummy wouldn’t bare to even imagine Trixie being all soaked outside.

Trixie trotted quickly through the rain, her mane was all flat and pressing against her face, she refused to take a break as she didn’t want to be too late to save the world. Her fur and clothes were soaked through and pressing against her, she couldn’t see very far as it was all misty and rainy. She felt cold, the rain chilled her, she picked her pace up to a gallop. Strands of her mane struck to her face as she galloped, lowering her field of vision.

The only thing she cared about was getting to the next diamond in time, she didn’t care that it was raining, even if it was any heavier she would still go through it. Rain rushed down her body to her hooves, she splashed though puddles ignoring the splashes. Light wind hit Trixie chilling her but she still pulled through it.

Gummy took another nervous look at Trixie, her fur and outfit had gotten a darker colour due to being wet. The griffin went back into her hammock and tried to focus on other things but a question did come to her mind, why does fabric get a darker colour when it gets wet? Is it a type of magic? Or is it some sort of indicator wether something was wet or not? Whatever the reason was she was sure to ask Trixie, she should know, right?

The griffin laid in her hammock, She noticed Trixie open the door with her magic and grab an apple from the bag, Gummy grabbed one too. As she munched on the apple she started to plan what to say to her new friend.

✨⭐️✨

Trixie was exhausted, she was shivering from the cold, but kept her speed to a fast gallop. She did stop for a second when she almost slipped on the wet grass, she also had to catch her breath, she poked out her tongue and let sone drops land on it. Before starting again she wiped some of her mane from her face.

Her hooves were a bit dirty from all the running she did in the rain but as she stood in one place the rain washed away the dirt. Water dropped down her muzzle slightly tickling it, water dripped from her mane and ears as she stood there looking into the distance. The cold chilling wind directed the rain towards the soggy blue pony, she shivered in response.

“It may be very cold and wet but we don’t have any time to lose” She thought to herself.

Trixie went straight to a gallop ignoring the rain beating down on top of her, she knew she had to get to the next diamond quickly. She galloped through the plains as fast as she could, she ignored the risk of tripping over something. Mud splattered onto her as she accidentally ran though some mud, but she didn’t care, the rain washed the mud away from her body anyway.

Gummy noticed the unicorn lowered her pace as the rain seemed to slow down. Clouds started to move away, presumably by the wind or some pegasi. when the rain stopped so did she. The clouds were gone and Trixie could see some mountains in the far distance, Gummy jumped out from the wagon and onto the damp grass, the first thing she did was walk up to Trixie.

The unicorn was a bit confused on the the griffin was going to do or say, she stood there watching Gummy take a few deep breaths, she picked up a part of her cape and inspected it in her claw, it felt cold and wet, water dripped from it as she held it.

”Your cape got wet...” Gummy explained, “And it changed colour”.

Trixie looked at her cape that was all dripping wet and pressing against her soaked fur, she wondered what Gummy meant by it changed colour, it was still purple.

“It still looks purple to Trixie” She replied.

“No... it’s a darker purple now...” The griffin replied.

Trixie was a bit confused, the reason why should be obvious.

”That’s beacause... it’s wet...” Trixie explained, “It’ll lighten back to it’s normal colour when it dries”.

Gummy dropped the part she was holding and started to think, she put a claw to her beak in a thinking position.

“But why.... why does material go a darker colour when it gets wet?” She asked.

”That’s just... what happens”.

”But what’s the explanation behind it?”.

Trxiie rolled her eyes, “I may be the Great and Powerful Trixie but... I don’t know small... useless details on why fabric gets darker and heavier when it gets wet”.

Gummy was dissapointed in the answer, “I have one more question...”.

Before Trixie could say a thing the griffin shouted at her while pointing her claw at her face.

”Why!?” She shouted annoyed, “Why would you go through the rain while...” She complained as she pointed at Trixie, the unicorn didn’t know what to reply with.

Gummy looked at her friend’s confused expression, “This!” She shouted.

Trixie nticied Gumball pointing at her soaking wet clothes, she grabbed a part of it and proudly flipped it into the air.

”This!? You’re worried about my cape being soaked?” Trixie asked like it was a joke, “You can’t be serious”.

The griffin nodded in agreement.

“How can you stand it? Your beautiful cape pressing against your fur like that, doesn’t it feel uncomfortable? And won’t it ruin it?”.

Trixie looked up into the sky, ignoring the fact that the darkness was a tiny bit bigger. She knew it was water that fell from the sky.

”Great and Powerful Trixie is pretty sure it was just water that came from the sky”.

Gumball looked up, she went up to Trixie and cuddled her tight, “I was so worried...”.

Trixie grew more confused, “Worried? For what?”.

”Well... you got all soaked... so did your cape...” Gumball explained, “Its just... why would you do that? Now it’s all soggy”.

Trixie looked at Gumball very unimpressed.

”We have so much more important things to worry about, getting wet isn’t as important as that!” Trixie scolded, “Besides, getting doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers you... and pretty sure you didn’t get wet” She added, slightly annoyed.

She looked up at the sky quickly and stepped back with worry and a shocked expression, Gummy looked up, the darkness was starting to get bigger and the bolts racing through it were easier to see.

“What’s that?” Gumball asked innocently.

Trixie gulped, “Our doom”.

Healing New Wounds

“And we’ve already wasted time!” Trixie panicked.

She quickly grabbed a brush from her wagon to put her mane back into its normal shape, it was still droopy but it would perk back up when it dried completely, she put her brush back into her wagon. Trixie also took her cape off it was still a bit damp, she used her magic to hang it over a box to dry. Trixie went straight to a gallop after Gummy went into her wagon, droplets of water flew from her as she dashed as fast as she could.

As she ran she ignored her tiredness and the pain in her legs, she hasn’t had much rest since that nightmare. Her body begged her to take a break, she ignored it knowing if she took a break then she would be too late to save Equestria, the last thing she wanted at the moment was to let anyone down.

For the first time in what she could remember ponies had faith in her, they trusted her, they all believed that she could save Equestria. Even Twilight accepted the fact that Trixie was the one that needed to save Equestria, she didn’t want to let everypony down. Not only her friends had confidence in her, everypony had, every creature had confidence in her to save Equestria, even those who she didn’t even know existed. From the smallest shrew to the biggest, er- living thing that cared about ponies had hope that Trixie could save them all.

Well, that’s how Trixie viewed it anyway, she continued to gallop, she did stop get get a snack from her wagon. Her hooves beat the grass and soil as she ran towards the mountains. As she ran she hit her front hoof on a rock and as she tumbled she scraped it and her cheek across a rough rocky surface as she fell on it and slid lightly. The next thing she knew her body was on the wet, hard, rough rock, a wide scab with a large cut two smaller ones next to it was seen her foreleg. Two others were on the side she landed on, on her cheek and shoulder, each wound was leaking out a familiar red liquid.

She winced in pain as she got up trying to ignore the large stinging wounds. They both hurt, the stress was getting through to her, she wanted to cry, she started to cry. Trixie was biting off more than she can chew and she was getting hurt, she needed a break but was scared that it would doom the whole world.

“How did Twilight and her friends manage to take breaks but save Equestria?” She thought to Herself.

Gumdrop walked out of the wagon, she had some napkins and special liquid to stop wounds from getting infected with her. Trixie watched her with a sigh, she knew what the griffin was going to do so she lifted her wounded leg.

“This may sting a little” Gummy warned.

She folded a napkin and poured a few drops of the liquid onto it, Trixie looked away as the napkin approached her wound. Trixie bit her lip as she felt the stinging pain, she knew that it was only cleaning her wound and removing risk of infection but it hurt so much. As Gummy wiped across the leg it flinched, Gummy held her hoof tightly but not tight enough to hurt, she heard the unicorn wimper in pain.

“You done?” Trixie asked with hope.

Gummy sighed a bit annoyed, “There’s still the one on your cheek, now stay still...”.

Not once in her life did Gummy ever think that she would end up having to clean a wound on someone who was older than her, well it wasn’t the worst thing so she didn’t mind that much.

Trixie flinched as the next napkin approached her cheek, Gummy was unamused as the unicorn stomped her hoof. On impact of the liquid on her wound Trixie’s eyes watered, she tried her best to stay still. Even through Gummy was going as quickly as she could if felt a really long time, it only took like a minute.

“There’s a wound right here too” Gummy explained.

Trixie groaned in response to the stinging pain of the liquid on her wounds, it hurt but at least it wasn’t on her face as well, unlike the previous one. She fought the instinct that told her to push Gummy away as she knew the griffin was only helping.

Gummy made sure to wipe all the blood and dirt from the wounds, she quickly grabbed a bottle of water and poured some onto the wounds to rinse it out. Then she used some dry napkins, she lightly dabbed the napkin on the wounds to get ithem dry.

Trixie smiled when it was finally over, she smiled at Gumdrop, she was thankful that she was here for her. The griffin sighed sadly in response.

”Can you please be more careful, I really can’t deal with seeing you hurt... I don’t want to lose you... I care about you” She begged the pony.

Trixie nodded and sighed, “I’m sorry...”.

”Everything could possibly go wrong, but it would go even worse if you don’t take care of yourself...” Gummy explained.

“That wasn’t very good advice” Trixie thought to herself.

✨⭐️✨

Once they started walking again a screech of a falcon filled the air, Trixie and Gummy looked around confused, it was coming from the west. Trixie looked to the sky and saw a falcon flying towards them, it didn’t seem to be upset in anyway but it was carrying a scroll in a bag across it’s body. The falcon flew around Trixie waiting for her to show it where to land.

Trixie put out her foreleg, the one that wasn’t injured, the falcon happily landed on her leg waiting patiently. Gummy looked at the bird in awe. The falcon reached into the bag with its beak and pulled out the scroll.

“It’s a falcon with a letter! Read what it says!” She told Trixie.

Trixie took the scroll in her magic and unrolled it, she read it out loud, it was written by a few ponies, each wrote their own section.

‘Dear Trixie

I don’t have much to say other than good luck, and we heard what happened to Stardust... we hope you’re doing better now, it must’ve been painful for you to lose a friend like that, I don’t have much to say but my friends do!

- Princess Twilight Sparkle’

Trixie rolled her eyes at Twilight’s section, of course she wouldn’t have much to say. She always thought she was better than Trixie.

‘Dear Trixie

I hope you’re safe, healthy and still clean looking, well, surely you’re taking the least dirtiest route possible, right? Don’t worry about your hat, darling, I can assure you it’s in safe hooves. It was a bit messy and damaged when we found it but it’ll be as good as new here at my boutique awaiting your return.

- Rarity’

She smiled that her hat was found and was somewhere safe.

‘Howdy Trixie

I hope you’re enjoying those apples from Sweet Apple Acres!, I chose the freshest ones for you to take! I will admit that this journey does seem fun and stressful, I hope you’re not overworking yourself, now, I wish you luck, stay safe and healthy out there! We believe in you.

- Applejack’

She smiled in response, Gumball licked her lips, she enjoyed the apples.

‘ Hiya Trixie

Its me! Pinkie Pie! I hope you’re having a really exciting adventure and making a lot of friends on the way! What have you seen!? What have you eaten? Wait! Don’t tell me, it’ll be a surprise!

- Pinkie Pie’

Trixie sighed about Starfust but she could also feel Pinkie’s energy by just readying her part.

‘Hi Trixie

I hope you’re having an awesome adventure and being an awesome unicorn! Well, not as awesome as me but whatever... and hey ... I’m sorry about Stardust... I hope you’re okay right now, not pushing yourself too hard!

- The one and only, Rainbow Dash’

Trixie rolled her eyes at her letter.

‘Um... hello Trixie

We decided to send you messages to see your progress, it was Starlight’s idea. This falcon was our volounteer for this, her name is Bolt, she could be your pet if you’d want to have a pet. I hope you don’t mind that we send a letter... I’m really sorry to hear what happened to Stardust... I understand how you must feel, I’m always open if you’d like to talk.

- Fluttershy’

Trixie smiled happily at that sweet sounding message, she decided that the falcon wouldn’t be a bad member, infact, she already gave Bolt the pink bandana with a blue star around her neck to wear.

‘Hello Trixie

I’m really sorry to hear about Stardust, I know how hard it is to lose your friends. I am proud of you for doing all this, we know about the black darkness growing in the sky. I just hope you’re taking care of yourself, please don’t push yourself too hard and bite off more than you can chew, that’ll just end badly, trust me

- Starlight Glimmer’

Trixie sighed knowing that she was pushing herself and ignoring her health, she knew she needed to take care of herself. Gummy was a bit jealous of her friends but she didn’t say anything. Trixie looked at Gummy with a smile she was so happy she didn’t have to go through all this alone.

”You’re gonna write back?” She asked.

The falcon landed on top of the wagon’s roof waiting for Trixie’s answer, the blue pony went into her wagon and looked for some paper. She did end up finding some and a pencil, she stood at the small table and wrote what she wanted to say. It was a struggle who to send it to since she didn’t want to send it to Twilight, but she did anyway.

✨⭐️✨

‘ Dear Princess Twilight and friends.

The Great and Powerful Trixie is currently on her way to the third diamond and is doing amazing! You can thank me for saving the world when you are done, and yes, I’m no longer alone as I have this friend with me, her name is Gummy, she’s a griffin! You all can count on Trixie to save the world, because I am not giving up!

The fate of Equestria is in my hooves, not Twilight and her friends... I hope you guys don’t steal my fame and end up being the ones who save everyone! I was chosen, not you!. She has also gotten that dream message Princess Luna gave, it was quite a nightmare, don’t see why she didn’t tell me what would happen instead of making me experience it...

Trixie is glad to hear that her amazing hat is safe and sound and you all care about her.

- The Great and Powerful Trixie‘

Due to her tiredness she didn’t realise she had misspelt multiple words. Gummy grabbed the pencil and decided to write a bit of a message too.

‘Hello Everyone

Its me, Gummy the Griffin and I’m just going to say a few things. Trixie saved my life but she’s extremely stressed out, she refused to take breaks, she eats while walking, in fact this is the first break I’ve seen her take, besides the few minutes she took to save me. She even walked through rain without taking off her outfit... she even fell over and got really hurt, I had to clean her wounds for her!.

Who is Princess Luna and was she aware of how Trixie reacted to that nightmare?

- Gumdrop, or just Gummy’

Gummy rolled up the scroll before Trixie could see what she had written, she put the scroll into Bolt’s bag.

“Fly, Bolt, Fly!” Gummy imformed the falcon.

Bolt screeched as she flew into the air, Trixie watched her fly away with a few questions, with one of being directed towards Gummy.

“What was so important that you wanted it to be sent so quickly?”.

Gummy shrugged, “Just... something”.

Trixie groaned knowing she couldn’t really stop what had just happened, she watched as Gummy went back into the wagon, she decided to start pulling again when the griffin closed the door. She trotted along quickly.

✨⭐️✨

Gummy watched the sun set from the window, Trixie seemed to be still trotting along. Surely she would take a break soon as the sun was setting, taking a break was important, her friends even said so. Maybe she just wanted to find a relaxing and safe place to stop for the night? Well, Gumdrop decided to wait until the sun was gone before asking her, maybe there was a reason.

When the sun was fully down she put her head out the window and called out to her.

“Hey, Trixie! You should stop and sleep tonight!”.

“Sleep?” Trixie asked then gasped in shock, “I’m not dooming Equestria!” She shouted.

“But Trixie... the letter” Gummy whined.

“No!” Snapped the blue pony, “It’s clear that Twilight wants me to let loose and steal my spotlight!”.

“But Trix-“.

“Shut up, Gumdrop! Trixie knows what she must do, Princess Luna showed her the consequences!”.

Gumdrop sighed as she put her had back in and sat in her Hammock, claws crossed annoyed. She looked outside and hoped that Bolt would come back with a reply soon, did Luna really mean to be that harsh with what she showed Trixie? Not only that, Gummy couldn’t believe that she, a fifteen year-old had to treat a older being, around seventeen to twenty years old as a child.

The land was dark again, the moon shone bright in the sky, Trixie could see the mountains she needed to cross, she walked so she wouldn’t wake the griffin. First she had to walk through a stream, it was cold, the lack of sun made it even colder, but she ignored it.

Once she was out the water she shook the water from her fur, she shivered from the cold, she knew it was going to be colder at the top of the mountain. The wagon’s door quietly opened as Trixie reached in with her magic and grabbed her cape, she put it on hoping it would provide a little bit of warmth. It didn’t but she started walking up the mountain anyway, as she scaled the mountain she looked at the stars as she walked along.

She could hear the griffin snore slightly inside the wagon, it sounded so peaceful. Trixie sighed, if only Gummy could understand what would happen if she failed to collect the diamonds in time, it was her job to do it and she didn’t want to mess up.

Trixie stopped for a second to admire the view, she looked around and could see the lights from many towns, she could see the lights from Manehattan from where she was, she made a bunch of excited squeals before going to a trot. Her pace did slow down and she was walking again, her hooves felt heavy as she yawned.

“Come on...” She mumbled.

As she took another step she fell to the floor and blacked out.

✨⭐️✨

when she opened her eyes she saw that the moon was lowering across the horizon, she gasped in fright and started to gallop towards the feilds between the mountains and Manehattan.

But it was still a long way, by the time the sun had risen she was still no where near the end of the mountain, she stopped to sigh in defeat. She looked at the sky and screamed, waking up Gumdrop. The griffin ran out of the wagon with a panicked expression, she looked around.

“Are we in a danger!?” She shrieked.

“Trixie told you, it’s in danger not in a danger” Trixie corrected.

Gumdrop looked at the sky and saw the dark had spread, zaps were more often as they raced through the mysterious dark blob. The griffin also noticed Trixie was getting worse, her mane was ruffled slightly and there were bags under her eyes, it was clear she hardly slept that night.

Trixie went straight to a gallop, Gummy ran after her.

“Wait for me!”.

The King of Chaos

Trixie galloped quickly across the mountain range pulling her wagon behind her, Gumdrop managed to jump onto the roof and hang on, the wagon shook as it was pulled across the rocky ground, a yelp came from Trixie as she lost her footing and went crashing down face-first.

The griffin jumped down from the roof and helped her friend up, the pony had a blood nose, she whimpered in pain.

“Trixie’s fine” She claimed before wiping her muzzle.

She looked at her hoof that she wiped her muzzle with and saw blood, she felt weak as she watched Gummy rush inside and come back out with a bottle and a bunch of tissues. Before the unicorn could do or say anything the griffin started to wipe her nostrils and rinse away the blood from her muzzle and hoof with the water.

Gumdrop didn’t say a word as she was disappointed in Trixie.

“What would happen if I wasnt here?” She asked grumpily.

When the griffin was done Trixie bowed her head in shame, she watched the griffin go back into her wagon. After a few minutes of silence and walking a familiar voice boomed.

“What have we got here?” Discord chuckled.

Trixie growled, her ears dropped as she walked along, ignoring the noise.

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!” Shouted Discord.

He appeared right in front of Trixie, Gumdrop came outside and watched with confusion on what was happening. Trixie stared at Discord with an annoyed expression.

“I don’t want any of your cow poo, Discord...” Trixie warned sounding monotone.

Gummy gasped in response to Trixie’s language, Discord took a step back.

“Now, no need to start cursing” Discord replied.

At the click of his fingers marshmallows appeared around the duo, Trixie’s expression didn’t change. Gumdrop grabbed a marshmallow.

“These are poisonous, right?” She asked.

The draconaquez was a bit defeated when her saw Trixie’s face didn’t change. At the flick of his claw hand’s fingers Trixie was suddenly on top of a flying pig, she held on for dear life as it zipped around and did loop-da-loops and twirls, her stomach hurt and she felt she was gonna throw up.

The world spun as she felt dizzy, she wanted to let the contents of her stomach out but stopped herself, soon she fell off the flying pig that soon vanished. Trixie groaned, soon she fell into some pink jelly, the world looked pink as she was Incased in the bouncy clear food.

To get out she needed to eat the jelly, which she did, by the time she got out she saw Discord laughing and Gumdrop staring at her with confusion.

“Discord!” Trixie shouted angrily, “We don’t have time for-“.

A pink diamond suddenly appeared in Discord’s lion hand, he winked as he shook it slightly.

“Looking for this?” He teased.

Trixie jumped towards it but seemed to hit an invisible wall, discord made his claw hand to go and grab Trixie’s tail. It held on tight as Trixie galloped to the diamond Discord was holding. The claw held on tight and Trixie was only running on the spot.

✨⭐️✨

When the claw let go of the pony’s tail Discord stepped out the way as Trixie went flying into a wall, she slowly slid off it and groaned as she ended up on the floor.

“You’re pretty raring, aren’t you?” Discord chuckled.

Discord threw the diamond in the air and the unicorn unsurprisingly jumped towards it but she ended up on a giant hamster wheel and she ran towards the diamond that was right in front of her. She didn’t seem to notice that she wasn’t getting any closer or that she was actually on a giant hamster wheel.

Popcorn appeared in the draconaquez’s claw, he even had a theatre seat he was sitting on as he watched Trixie desperately run towards the fake diamond.

“I could watch this all day!” Discord crackled with a laugh.

✨⭐️✨

It went on for a while, Gumdrop was speechless and a bit worried, but she didn’t say anything as she was sure this would teach her a lesson. She watched as Trixie ran on the hamster wheel, tricked by the fake diamond right in front of it hanging on a fishing rod. If she could not realize that then she was clearly exhausted.

“Trixie!” Shouted Gummy, “You’re on a hamster wheel!”.

“What!?” Replied Trixie.

Trixie was defeated by the speed of the wheel, she fell over and the wheel continued to spin really fast. Discord clapped his hands and the wheel got even faster, Trixie was just a blue and purple blur as she screamed. She ended up flying off and landed in the ground, dizzy, stars spun around her head as she laid there.

She shook slightly as she got up, she almost stumbled over as she took a step, the world was still spinning to her, she closed her eyes.

”Snap out of it!”, She scolded herself.

Then her fur and mane felt wet, and sticky... it also smelt like chocolate? She opened her eyes and saw what was happening, the dreaded, something so terrible she cringed hard in disgust. It was chocolate rain!

She let out a small angry scream, her mane and fur were all sticky, and drenched in chocolate, it was even adding a brown hue to her body. Trixie then noticed that her cape was gone, she looked around and saw it in Discord’s claws. Trixie growled as she stood there with a very angry expression.

“Now..” Discord chuckled, “We don’t want this getting this all chocolate-y...”.

Discord laughed, “Or do we!?”.

He clicked the fingers on his lion hand and it appeared back on Trixie, it immediately got all soaked in the chocolate like she was. Trixie wanted to scream in anger, soon the pink cloud along with the chocolate rain vanished.

“You know what goes good with chocolate rain?” Discord asked.

“A lack of an apology?” Asked Gumdrop.

“Correct!” Announced Discord, “But want to know what else would go good with a chocolate drenched pony?”.

He clapped his hands and a giant scoop of strawberry ice cream fell onto Trixie, then a huge swirl of whipped cream appeared on top of the ice cream, then some sprinkles gathered on top of the whipped cream. Then finally, a cherry was placed in the middle completing the beautiful, tasty mess of ice cream.

“Perfection” Discord said proudly.

✨⭐️✨

As he clapped his hands the whole thing melted into a single puddle revealing a pouting unicorn in the middle of it. Splotches of brown chocolate and pink ice cream ran down her body, whipped cream sat on the top of her head, horn, muzzle and cape’s collar, the cherry was perfectly placed on the tip of her horn.

“Discord!” Roared Trixie.

Discord only laughed at the pony, he increased her size, picked her up by her tail and violently shook her to get the excess liquid and cream off. Trixie was dizzy by the time he was done, the next thing she knew she was sitting in an empty bathtub. The shower tap was turned on, the water hit her in the face so she took a step back.

“Don’t be shy” Discord joked.

He summoned a sponge and bottle of soap and poured it all over the unicorn, it smelt like flowers, Trixie’s least favourite type of flower to be exact. An annoyed sigh came from her as she took off her soapy cape and hung it over the edge of the tub, she scrubbed the soap through her fur using the sponge, Discord summoned a bottle of shampoo, also with the same smell.

Trixie rinsed the soap from her body and started to clean her cape, she put soap through it and scrubbed the horrible milky mess away. She hated the smell but wanted to be all clean, she made sure she got everywhere before rinsing out the soap, she squeezed some water from it before hanging it over a rock to dry.

She looked at the bottle of shampoo, she held it in her magic and then poured some into her mane and tail. Trixie scrubbed the shampoo all through her hair until it was all soapy, she then rinsed all the shampoo out and heard Discord laughing about something.

“What’s so funny?” She growled.

“How bout you take a look?” Discord chuckled as he summoned a mirror.

It took only one quick look for Trixie to scream loudly, Gumdrop was surprised at her loud scream. Trixie whimpered annoyed, her mane and tail were an ugly mix of neon green and seaweed green, there where an assortment of dark yellow and light purple spots too.

The combination looked ugly, Discord was proud of himself, he picked up the bottle and put it in Trixie’s face. He pointed to a blank spot that turned into the name of the name of the shampoo.

‘World’s Ugliest Hair Dye’ it said on the bottle.

Discord chuckled “I guess you didn’t read”.

Trixie growled as Discord laughed, the unicorn’s face went red with anger. Discord was about to click his fingers again.

“Well, I am feeling a little generous” He grinned.

Trixie’s mane and tail colours went back to normal. She stared angrily at the draconaquez who was laughing heartily at his chaos. Gumdrop was speechless, but also a bit worried. The tub vanished and Trixie laid on her belly, she snarled at Discord.

Discord only booped her, she growled in response. Then he snapped his fingers and Trixie’s cape was back on her, except for one extra thing, her fur and cape colours switched around, her fur now being purple and her cape being blue! She looked at herself in confusion.

It only lasted a few seconds, however, soon they were both back to their normal colour. Then Discord picked her up by her back legs and placed her on top of a slice of bread and put another slice on top of her. To top it off he sat right where Trixie was laying, making it hard for her to escape.

Trixie struggled to even poke her head out between the two slices, Discord was heavy, she could feel the weight crushing down onto her.

“I think we can all agree I’m stronger, therefor, the better choice than you” Discord chuckled.

“Discord, get off Trixie!” Trixie cried in pain.

“Am I too much weight for your scrawny body?“ Discord asked,

Once again snapped his fingers again he teleported in front of Trixie’s face, the bread vanished and a large lifting weight took his place, it was slightly heaving than him. The second it fell onto Trixie’s back she screamed so loud that even birds far from the mountain flew away in shock.

✨⭐️✨

The weight was weighing Trixie down, she could hardly move she whimpered in pain. It was too heavy for her to lift.

“Are you sure you don’t want to pass this mission to me?” Discord asked as three diamonds appeared in each hand.

The diamonds were all the same colour as the ones she needed to collect, green, yellow, pink, white, blue and purple. Trixie gasped when she saw them, the draconaquez chuckled proudly.

“I mean, I can just collect them all in one day, you’re just a pathetic weak pony” Discord explained, “You can’t do anything right, look at those wounds and those bags under your eyes... and how many have you collected so far? Two? Well look at me! I’ve got all six of them!”.

Trixie started at him in anger, she watched him throw the diamond’s on the ground and shatter them by stomping his foot near them. She watched the shards vanish in puffs of smoke.

“I can create and do anything with my powers and what can you do with just your dinky little horn?” Discord asked.

Trixie snarled, “Trixie was chosen for this, not you Discord! Nothing’s gonna stop me from saving Equestria, doesn’t matter how hard they try I’ll save the world!”.

Discord had a look of disgust, “The fate of Equestria is in the hooves of you? No thanks, let me go help Fluttershy pack her belongings, we are going to a world that won’t be destroyed by the likes of you” Discord growled as he vanished, the weight holding Trixie down also vanished.

It took a while for anyone to say or do anything, Trixie started to think, sure Discord was mean and annoying but he would never harm somepony, right?.

✨⭐️✨

Trixie sadly sighed as she lifted her cape and looked under it, there was a large bruise where the weight fell on her, she groaned put wagon buckle back on herself, Gumdrop sighed, she shed a tear.

“We are doomed, aren’t we? There’s nothing good coming out of this” Gummy started to cry, “We are going to fail! We are just a couple of miserable trash piles! There is nothing special about us... this is all just a total lost cause!”.

“Hey!” Trixie replied calmly, “Gumdrop... we shouldn’t lose hope...”.

She reassuringly put her hoof on the griffin as tears filled her own eyes.

“It’s the last thing Stardust said to me... she believed in me... she told me to not give up and not lose hope”.

Gumdrop gasped in response, she wiped her own tears, Trixie continued.

“Sure we had our share of hard times and all, and nopony said this would be an easy task, it’s also pretty scary... but... we aren’t going to give up, right?” Trixie asked with determination.

Gummy smiled and nodded in response she lifted her claw, Trixie lifted her hoof and they did their theme.

“Trixie and Gumdrop, Squad of star, we’ll save Equestria, that’s who we are”.

Gumdrop smiled happily and went to to the roof of the wagon and happily rode it as Trixie walked along the range of the mountain. They were back on the road to the pink diamond and they weren’t going to give up.

✨⭐️✨

Neither of them knew that they were being followed, stalked by a gloomy, mysterious and foreboding being that was hiding in their shadows, hiding, lurking and watching their every move and listening to every word. Lingering in the shadows for the correct moment to lash out at the unsuspecting duo and make the adventure a nightmare.

It may have only resembled a pony-sized blob but it was dangerous, anyone would be struck with terror with they said it’s name, it was known as Nightshade Terror.

Author's Note

End of the pre-written chapters

Dark Diamonds will now be on a hiatus until I write the next few chapters!

Over The Bridge

The two walked for a few hours, after lunch they were finally at the bottom of the mountain crossing the fields between there and Manehattan, the bags under Trixie’s eyes were darker, her eyes barely stayed open. As they walked through the open field, Trixie yawned, she ignored Gumdrop’s cries to get inside and take a break.

”Trixie doesn’t need a break...” She mumbled as she walked through some tall grass.

Gumdrop watched Trixie slowly walk, she had some type of idea, so she jumped out the wagon and stopped her

”Trixie!”, Gumdrop called out as she stood in front of her, “What if I pull the wagon while you rest inside?”

Trixie yawned, “No... Trixie is able to do it...”

She didn’t notice Gumdrop undo the wagon’s strap and put it around herself and start walking, Trixie gasped in shock when she noticed, she trotted next to Gumdrop. Trixie slowed to a walk as her neck lowered, her eyes could barely stay open.

”Give Trixie... her...” She said during a yawn, “Wagon...baaa-”

Trixie walked forwards a few more steps and fainted. Gumball gasped in shock, time seemed to slow and her heart stopped as Trixie’s seemingly lifeless body rolled like a rag doll down the grassy hill and into long grass at the bottom. From where she was standing Gumdrop could see a hole in the deep grass where Trixie landed, she rushed down to her fearing the worse.

”Trixie! Are you okay!?” She screamed, hoping for any indication that she was still alive.

She ran to where her friend was, at first she wasn’t moving, Gumdrop started to have tears flow belong her friend was dead.

“No... it can’t be! You can’t be dead... please!” She begged.

Soon enough, Gumdrop had a sigh of relief when she saw her cuddling some grass and snoring slightly. She was a bit upset at her.

”You wore yourself out... let me do some walking”

Trixie was placed in her hammock in the wagon, she snuggled cutely as she was tucked in by Gumdrop. Trixie was laid on her side facing the wall, her forelegs were tucked in front of her, the ends and corners of the blanket were tucked under her body. Gumdrop felt it was cute, but it also felt weird how Trixie was five years older than her, yet she was tucking her in like a child.

When she got outside and buckled the wagon to herself she walked for a few hours and before taking a break, she drank some water and snacked on a carrot, she didn’t really like carrots, but they were good, and she needed to stay healthy. When the sun went down she stopped on a hill, Manehattan could be seen clearly from where they were, but it was still a long walk. The wagon rested on some flat grassy ground, Gumdrop started a campfire and watched the sunset, she noticed Trixie wasn’t awake, it was really worrisome.

She ate some sandwiches that were now a bit stale, but she didn’t mind, she sat next to the campfire as she watched the stars, she let out a small yawn.

”Time for bed I guess”

She smothered the fire with a bucket of water and a bunch of sand, she went back into the wagon and went into her hammock. Trixie laid peacefully in her own red hammock wrapped in her blanket, her cape was neatly folded on the table behind her hammock.

“Sweet dreams, Trix” Gumball sighed.

✨⭐️✨

When the sun rose over the horizon, ponies and animals all through Equestria got up for the day. Sunlight beamed through the window and into Gumdrop’s face who woke up with a stretch and a yawn.

”Good morning Tricks-” Gumdrop noticed Trixie was still asleep, “-Eee... I guess you really wore yourself down...”, she was disappointed.

Gumdrop grabbed a few carrots, she sat in her hammock and ate them, she watched Trixie snore, she was still in the same position that Gumdrop put her in. After finishing the carrots she heard a falcon’s screech, she walked outside and looked around wondering if it was Bolt who made that noise, she looked into the clear blue sky and saw the figure of a falcon dive.

Bolt landed on the roof of the wagon, she had a scroll in her pack, she took it out with her beak and offered it to Gumdrop. Gumdrop flew to the roof, she smiled and thanked the falcon as she jumped down with the scroll, she unrolled it and started to read what it was.

✨⭐️✨

’Dear Trixie and Gumdrop

I have contacted Princess Luna about this, and she indeed did confirm that this was a misunderstanding. That nightmare was not of Princess Luna’s doing, in fact, she tried to stop it, but Dark Matter was stopping her from using her magic, all she could do was watch Trixie’s nightmare. Princess Luna also tried every night after that, hoping she could reach Trixie in her dreams but never could find her dream.

In fact, if it weren’t for you, Trixie could have been badly hurt, it’s our guess that Dark Matter was planning this nightmare for Trixie. We bet that the dream was supposed to make her really scared and wear herself out and not care for herself like you said, and this may be a stretch, but we also presume that Trixie could have fainted in a very dangerous situation.

Please tell Trixie it’s okay to take breaks, in fact it’s important to take breaks! Saving the world is important but so is taking care of yourself. The darkness in the sky is currently no threat yet, yes it’s expanding slowly, but Sunlight can still reach Equestria. We actually did a test, we had Rainbow Dash carefully take a sample down to us.

Our Elements of Harmony have no effect against Dark Matter and would be useless against... it? But our elements can slow it down, we can stall the spread if we need to, Trixie, don’t worry, you and your team got this!

Your health is critical, remember that.

- Princess Twilight Sparkle’

✨⭐️✨

Gumdrop smiled, she went into the wagon and gently placed the letter on top of Trixie, so she would see it when she woke up, if she was going to wake up.

“Please wake up soon, don’t leave me worrying...” Sighed Gumdrop as she gently touched her friend’s mane.

Trixie didn’t even make a peep, Gumdrop wanted to be sure she was okay, she watched her sides go up and down slowly, indicating she was breathing. It was quiet as Gumball watched Trixie, she was glad she was okay, but she was asleep for a very long time and that was worrisome, she went out the wagon then started pulling it again.

Gumdrop only walked, this was her first time pulling a wagon, and it wasn’t really made for griffins, so she didn’t want to damage it, When lunch came around she stopped on top of a hill, at the bottom of the hill was a railway that went over a bridge that crossed the sea and went into the big city, Manehattan.

“So... that’s Manehattan” Gumdrop said in awe as she opened the wagon door.

She grabbed the last sandwich and an apple for lunch, she crunched on the food as she peacefully at on the hill. All she could here were birds and an incoming train that raced aver the bridge and into the big city full of towering buildings, of course she decided to wait for Trixie, it meant she had to stay on that hill for an extra hour. Bolt had left and flew somewhere else, possibly back home or just decided to fly around the area.

✨⭐️✨

An hour went by and Gumdrop heard Trixie scream in fright and fall off her hammock- wait, what? Trixie opened the wagon door and jumped out with her eyes flowing with tears. She looked up at the sky and screamed in fear, the darkness covered roughly a quarter or a bit more of the sky, Gumdrop looked at her friend.

”Trixie?”

Trixie looked at her with tears pouring from her eyes, she ran to Gumdrop and gave her a huge hug and cried into her chest. She was now standing on her hind legs, she stepped back in shock, this was not what she was expecting, she soon hugged her back and patted her on the back.

”There there... it’s gonna be okay, what happened?”

Soon Trixie lifted her head and looked up at Gumdrop with wide blood-shot eyes pouring with tears, a little snot came through her nose. Gumdrop cringed a bit in disgust but was mostly surprised at her face, Trixie‘s cheeks were soaked in tears.

“T-Trixie“ Trixie stuttered.

Gumdrop wiped the tears from Trixie’s eyes, ”Had another nightmare?”

Trixie’s ears went down, “I experienced doom and watched everyone die... there was b-“

”Shhh” Gumdrop hushed as she gently cradled Trixie the best she could, “I have something to show you”

”That letter?” Trixie asked as she levitated the scroll out of the wagon.

”Go ahead... read it!” Gumdrop said with a smile.

Trixie started to read it, Gumdrop started to feel bad. She was sick of pretending to be optimistic, she was as scared as Trixie but had to stay strong for her, they both had to stay strong for each other. Soon enough Trixie’s smile lit up, she smiled even more when she saw Manehattan was just a few steps away, she even made an excited squeal.

The duo walked across the bridge together, Trixie was wearing her cape happily as she pulled the wagon, Gumdrop walked beside her. The bridge was long, so they did walk quickly, Gumdrop watched with awe as the towering buildings got bigger and bigger by the second, she never knew buildings could reach that high.

“Wow, Trixie! Look at it! It’s so big!”

”Trixie knows” She responded with a smile.

”But? What if we got lost?” Gumdrop sighed sadly.

Trixie chuckled, “It’s get lost, and we won’t get lost, Trixie knows, she’s been here a bunch of times and never got lost!”

Gumdrop put on a fake smile, the tall buildings started to feel foreboding for some reason. The two walked through the city, Gumdrop looked at all the dressed up ponies, tall buildings and even ponies pulling carriages full of other ponies. She felt overwhelmed, she didn’t know if to feel amazed or scared.

“I-it’s huge” She managed to say.

Soon enough they stopped in front of the train station and looked around, Trixie started to think about where to start looking for the next diamond.

“W-wait... h-how do we? Where d-do we start l-looking?” Gumdrop asked.

”You okay?” Asked Trixie.

”Y-yeah, just n-nerv... terrified!”

”You’ll get used to it” Trixie shrugged, “Manehattan is massive... maybe it’s best we split”

”What!?”

”Don’t panic, Trixie always has a plan” Trixie started to think, “Don’t worry about getting lost, I think most stores give out a free city map if you ask...”

Gumdrop nodded in agreement, “Alright... you think they’ll accept me? I’m a griffin and I don’t see any others...”

”I’m sure you’ll be fine” Trixie explained, “We will meet back here in... four hours”

Gumdrop sighed and nodded in agreement, she watched Trixie trot away, pulling her wagon behind her. She sighed as she sat there and watched her friend trot away, she walked in the opposite direction to look for the diamond.

”it’s not a good idea to split, I just told you I’m terrified” Gumdrop said in her mind pretending Trixie was still there, “Why? Do you not care how I feel in this new, confusing place?”

Gumdrop growled, “Nothing good will come out of this, trust me! This will not end good, I’m terrified, I hope you’re happy”

She felt betrayed that Trixie just brushed off her fear like it was nothing and left her alone.

”Maybe I shouldn’t have trusted you, you dumped me in the big city”, Gumdrop continued to walk, “I healed your wounds and tended to your fears of that nightmare and this is how you repay me? How’d you like it if I took you into a new area, and you told me you were terrified, but I left you all alone?”

Tears started to drip from Gumdrop’s eyes, and she walked, she stood still and shook in fear slightly, ponies ignored her as she walked past. Whenever a pony walked past her heart would race, she was in a place she has never been in before and full of strangers! Trixie is the only pony she ever interacted with, how would she know what to do or what to say? What if she did or said something wrong.

”Are you okay ma’am?” A voice asked.

Gumdrop looked around and saw in front of her a grey pegasus mare with a yellow mane and tail, her yellow eyes seemed to not focus very well. Her cutiemark was a bunch of bubbles.

”My name’s Derpy, I saw you crying, what’s wrong?” She asked.

Gumdrop stepped back and sighed.

”My friend left me alone to search for... a pink diamond, and I’m scared, I’ve never meet anyone here and never been here before”

Even through her eyes weren’t aligned with each other, it was still clear that Derpy felt concerned.

”I can help” Derpy offered.

Gumdrop gasped, “Really?”

Derpy nodded happily, Gumdrop happily walked with her new friend. She really felt safe with Derpy, there was just something deep inside telling her Derpy would make a great friend, and possible team member.

Author's Note

Finally! They’ve arrived!

Mysterious Shadows

Trixie trotted proudly through Manehattan for a few hours hoping to find the diamond, due to having her wagon she had to stay on the road, it was a bit busy with ponies rushing to other places, but she was meant to go slow and look carefully anyway. She walked through, keeping an eye on the roofs and ground, she had an urge that something was wrong but kept moving.

She made a turn down a narrow road with buildings in either side, ponies galloped away with faces full of fear. Trixie took a step and a stallion seemed to appear out of nowhere, making her jump a little.

”Excuse me, ma’am” he spoke with a British accent, “There’s been something down there that’s making the whole city uneasy, nopony knows why, but we are all getting out of this avenue just in case it’s dangerous”

”Trixie doesn’t fear a thing!” She laughed.

The unicorn stallion shook his head, “I guess I cannot stop you, please be careful”

Trixie rolled her eyes, “Such a scaredy-cat” she thought.

As she walked along the narrow road the more unsure she was, she found herself shivering slightly, the air felt cold and lonely. Ponies became fewer and fewer as she walked down the road, shops weren’t open at all, despite still being in business they had an abandoned feel to them, she could easily picture graffiti and broken windows as if they were abandoned for years. Her stomach urged her to go back, but she kept moving along the road. She hardly saw any ponies, and when she did, they were in a hurry and their face were full of fear.

”Oooooo”

Trixie lifted her head in shock, as she wondered what that ominous noise was a freezing chill went down her spine when she heard that noise. Then she started to feel some cold sweat run down her face. The sound seemed to be down the end of the avenue, Trixie gulped in fear, she felt cold as she stood there. The end seemed to be a dark abyss, she couldn’t see beyond it.

”Ooooo”

The strange noise happened again, it just sounded so ghostly and left a cold feeling in Trixie whenever it happened, her mouth felt dry as she questioned if this was the right choice or not.

“C-c’mon T-Trixie, it’s p-properly just your imagination,” She whispered, hoping to convince herself to move.

Clouds covered the sky above for some mysterious reason, or it could have been smoke. Trixie took some breaths as her heart raced, she stared into the darkness at the other end.

”Ooooooo”

It happened again, she shivered, she tried to move her legs, but they wouldn’t move, it was as if they were encased in ice. More sweat dripped down, and she started to feel warm. Her stomach felt heavy as she forced her right hind leg forward, she took a breath, the air felt cold. She then forced her legs to obey her as she put her right foreleg forward.

“Oooooooo”

Each time she lifted a hoof it shook, her teeth slightly chattered a little. There was no sound other than that creepy noise, she was wondering why she was going towards it while all the others just ran away. Her mouth dribbled a little, she looked ahead and stared at the seemingly black abyss in front of her, it was just a few stores away, she shivered as if she was in the snow.

”Ooooooo”

It was getting louder, Trixie took a step and blinked, then she opened her eyes the black abyss looking thing was gone and a very old grey brick wall was in its place. She stepped back, her heart started to race and her stomach seemed to jump, she didn’t hear herself gasp. There was no noise, time seemed to have stopped as Trixie didn’t hear, feel or see any movement.

It seemed to have gone for a while until any noise was made.

”Oooooo”

”H-hello?” Trixie asked in a hushed tone, she was surprised how shaky her voice was.

Well, in fact her whole body was a bit shaky, she heard a slight ruffle in the distance and jumped in fright, she swallowed a huge amount of her saliva. Her back and mane were wet from her sweat, she shivered coldly, but the air still felt chilling.

”Oooooo”

“A-anypony?” She whispered, “Y-you can come out”

Trixie shook her head and lifted her head, trying to look like she wasn’t scared.

”I-I’m the g-great and powerful Trixie, and I am also un-scareable!” She shouted, there was no following noise, not even an echo, “Y-you don’t scare me!”

”Ooooooo”

She shivered a bit more as she approached the wall, it looked worn down slightly, there were many cracks and chucks that were weathered away. Trixie didn’t notice a small alley to her right, blocked by a wooden gate that was closed. Trixie touched the wall, hoping it would do something. Sweat still went down her face, but she smiled, she knew she could do it.

“Trixie is never scared of silly shadows!”

Then there was a deep booming voice, the wooden gate creaked open. It made her jump a bit, she want prepared for what was about to happen next.

🌫🌫🌫

Gumdrop walked with Derpy through the city, they both had a smoothie held in their foreleg as they walked. It was time to return to the train station, so that was where they were going.

“Gee, I hope Trixie‘s having better luck” Gumdrop hoped.

”Yeah!” Derpy agreed before tripping over.

Her smoothie spilled all over the ground, she sighed sadly as Gumdrop helped her up.

”Are you okay, Derpy?” She asked.

”Yeah, I’m fine, it happens a lot anyway, I just don’t know what went wrong,” Derpy replied.

Gumdrop smiled, “It’s okay, everyone makes mistakes, as long as you’re okay”

She then looked at a clock on top of a building, “We really should hurry, Trixie‘s possibly waiting for us and wondering where I am”

Derpy nodded and led the way, she walked in front, Gumdrop looked around and sighed. There were ponies that didn’t really care about a griffin walking around, but a bunch of them shot glares that hit like daggers, one pony even threw a used but empty food container at her. She really felt unwelcome, and it made her grudge with Trixie tighter.

“I’m disappointed in Trixie...” She sighed.

”Really?” Derpy asked, “I’m sure you can find a place in your heart to forgive her”

”I hope so” Gumdrop sighed, “I knew separating was a bad idea, it’s like she wants me to get hurt, I’m so thankful I met a kindhearted mare like you”

Derpy also smiled, “That’s so nice, I don’t often get nice things told to me because of my eyes”

They were a little late so they were expecting Trixie to be a little annoyed, and to hopefully have the next diamond with her. Gumdrop was ready to be lectured by Trixie on how late she was and that she was supposed to meet them in four hours, she’d apologise of course. When they arrived Gumdrop already had planned what she was going to say.

“Trixie! I can expl-“ Gumdrop started only to see the lack of her.

”Uh, Trixie?” Derpy said as she looked around with her head.

In front of the train station the two looked left and right and up and down for any sign of Trixie or her iconic purple wagon. They even waited a few minutes as ponies walked past and moved around, there was no sign of either, Gumdrop started to panic hoping she was okay. Derpy flew up to see of there was simply something blocking her from their sight on the ground.

“I don’t see her...” Gumdrop said slightly worried, “Any luck, Derpy?”

Derpy was in the sky scanning the area around the train station from above, “Nope!”

Gumdrop started to panic, “She’s not here! Where is she? She is hurt? Is she lost!? Is she okay!?”

She looked around and called, out her name a few times, but there was no response. Gumdrop felt a pit in her stomach, she couldn’t believe it, she was expecting her to be at the train station. Derpy was worried for her new friend, she tried to cheer her up.

“Maybe she’s just running a little late?” Derpy suggested.

”We are ten minutes late! She surely should be here!” Gumdrop explained. Then a screech from a falcon filled the air, it was Bolt! She landed in front of the two and screeched loudly.

”Bolt, what brings you here?,” Gumdrop asked hoping it was just a letter from Trixie saying she was running late and was hurrying.

Bolt pointed her wing into the direction Trixie went when she and Gumdrop split ways, Gumdrop looked over into the distance. It took a while for it to click that Bolt was possibly referring to Trixie.

“Where is Trixie? Is she okay?” She asked concern in her voice.

She gasped when Bolt shook her head indicating a ‘no’, she watched as Bolt used her wing to gesture the two to follow her, she went into the sky and circled them. Gumdrop swallowed a ball of spit, she couldn’t believe her eyes, Trixie was in a danger, well actually just in danger according to her.

”You want us to follow? I don’t think I can fly... it’s been a really long time,” Gumdrop said sadly, “There is no hope in my wings”

Gumdrop looked at her wing, despite the bandage being removed the day before it still was not looking good, feathers were missing. Derpy looked at her wing. She knew that Gumdrop would be able to fly, for a while at least.

”I can help, I’m not a very good flyer, but I can try,” Derpy replied as she fluttered her wings and went into the air.

Gumdrop looked at her and sighed, “There is no hope in my wings... besides, wherever Trixie is... we’ll properly be too late and... she’ll be-“

”Not with that attitude, it’s a worth a try, doesn’t matter how hard it looks,” Derpy explained with courage.

“I guess so...” Gumdrop sighed as she lifted her wings, “Uh... I think I forgot what to do...” She sighed.

Derpy looked at her, “Try copying my wings!”

”fine...” Gumdrop sighed, she flipped her wings and went into the air, the two flew higher than the buildings, Gumdrop almost fell but she managed to go back up, then Bolt approached them.

”Alright, lead the way, Bolt!” Gumdrop said with worry.

The two followed Bolt over and between buildings as they flew near the end of the city Bolt led them down to the entrance of a very narrow road, there was a pink building on one side of the start of the road. The sky above the narrow road was dark and there was no sign of life, Gumdrop shook a bit in fear.

”S-she’s in h-here!?” Gumdrop asked hopelessly, “I don’t think she’s okay... she’s totally dead, we are all dead!”

Just by looking into the avenue they both had foreboding feelings.

”There is no way this’ll go well” Gumdrop sighed hopelessly.

She turned around and started to walk away.

”Its no use... she’s... there is no way... if it’s a monster she’s possibly in pieces by now... I don’t want to see the dead body of someone I failed to save... for the second time”

Derpy watched her with sorrow, she didn’t say anything.

Gumdrop started to feel worse, “But I failed to save my own brother... This is no way I can save her...”

Derpy walked up to her, “But you have to try, she needs out help”

”I guess,” Sighed Gumdrop as she turned around realising something, “She saved me, she didn’t have to, she could have just walked away and left me to die...but she went out of her way to save me... she did it... now... it’s my turn to return the favour, I have to save her... in the frightening avenue... I just hope... she’s alive”

🌫🌫🌫

Derpy took a step back, She sweated slightly, “I-I’m scared too but we have each other!”

The two took quick breaths, Gumdrop looked down toward the end and saw Trixie‘s wagon alone near a grey brick wall. They walked down the narrow road, they didn’t hear any sound but they felt some cold sweat.

“Trixie?” Gumdrop whispered, “Are you down here?”

There was no reply, the lack of noise made them wonder if Trixie was still alive. But there was a feeling in Gumdrop’s gut that told her that Trixie was no longer alive.

”She’s dead...” Whispered Gumdrop, “There’s no use, she is dead, we are all dead”

”I-I’m not sure she is...” Derpy whispered, “Maybe she might still be okay”

When around halfway down they both heard a loud chilling scream that rang through their ears, it was Trixie‘s scream. They both jumped, and coldness shot down their spines, Gumdrop shouted loudly.

”Trixie!”

As they both dashed towards the end the sky cleared up, Gumdrop frantically looked into the window of the wagon, nopony was inside. They all looked around and saw a small ally, the ground was grey cement and the walls were grey brick. Trixie stood shaking in the middle facing away from them, she slowly stepped back in fear.

Trixie whimpered a bit in fear, she walked backwards to her two confused friends, she didn’t hear or notice her friends behind her.

”Trixie, are you okay?” Whispered Gumdrop.

Trixie backed up into Derpy and yelped in fear she bucked Derpy as hard as she could and turned around, her eyes were wide open and she had a face fully of fear.

“I’m okay...” Derpy said as she laid on the ground.

Gumdrop helped her up and scanned her for injuries. Trixie took a few deep breaths and sighed.

”It’s just you...”

Trixie looked nervous, the look on her face confirmed she was hiding something.

Gumdrop looked into the alley, “Are you okay? Did you see something?”

”No, I’m fine,” Trixie sighed.

Trixie’s head hung low and her ears were back in a fearful way, she buckled her wagon back on and started to walk towards the exit of the roadway . Derpy and Gumdrop noticed that she occasionally looked back behind her wagon as they walked along, a light piece of paper litter gently touched her hoof as it waved with the breeze, she took her hoof back in fright.

”Trixie? You seem more jumpy,” Said Gumdrop with concern.

”I’m fine... It’s nothing to worry about”

Gumdrop and Derpy looked at each other as they all started walking out the avenue, they both knew she was hiding something from them.

The Pink Crystal

The Pink Diamond

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into an hour, Derpy had left much earlier, she needed to deliver some mail from the post office that was to Ponyville, so she said her goodbyes and flew to the post office. It was about an hour before the previous jewel started to flicker, they could see it from the window of the door. Trixie’s face lit up with joy when she saw it.

“Finally!” She exclaimed.

”Woah, that’s pretty,” Gumdrop said with a smile as they walked along the road.

”Hah! Yeah, it glows when we are really close,” Trixie said proudly, she looked at Bolt who was happily perched on her wagon grooming her feathers.

Gumdrop smiled, “Trixie... I’m really glad we met, sure you started off as stubborn but... you’re the best friend I’ve ever had, I never want that to change,” She said as she happily hugged her.

”Awww, you’re not so bad either,” Trixie said with a smile, she looked at her, “The grateful Trixie really hopes we are never broken apart,”

Gumdrop giggled, “As long as we stick together, there’s is nothing we can’t handle!”

Trixie smiled a bit, she noticed Gumdrop’s mistake in grammar with saying but didn’t really mind it anymore. They decided to stop for a few seconds to do their theme, Bolt also joined in by putting her claw up and standing between them. They joined hoof and claws with each other as they started.

“Trixie, Gumdrop and Bolt, Squad of Star,” They said as they rose their hoof or claw, “We’ll save Equestria, ‘cuz that’s who we are!”

The two friends giggled a little as they went back to walking. Soon enough they walked past the big park, Trixie gasped when the previous diamond shaped jewel was glowing a yellow colour. The pink jewel was right there, in a group of pink flowers. Both of the high-fives before trotting over to it.

”Watch this!” Trixie said with a grin.

She hugged the jewel tight, and it started to glow.

”Next jewel, white, is on Mount Everhoof,”

Gumdrop showed her confusion, “Mount Everhoof?” She questioned.

”It’s the highest mountain in Equestria,” Trixie explained but then smiled, “We can pass through the Crystal Empire on the way! You’ll love it!”

”It sounds beautiful! I’d love to see it,” Gumdrop replied.

The two smiled happily as they walked out of the park, as soon as they reached the road they heard a sudden and deafening noise.

Bang!

That noised seemed to have alerted and almost deafened the whole street! Trixie looked around as her hearing came back, she tried to process what had happened as her ears rung. It took her a while to snap back to reality, a worried stampede of ponies ran towards her and Gumdrop, they didn’t want to find out why they were running, so they ran with them.

“What’s going on!?” Shouted Gumdrop.

”Sounded like... a gun!?” Trixie gulped nervously, “But don’t you need a license for them!?”

More gunshots followed, crying and screaming could be heard among the gunshots, along with shattering of glass. Gumdrop looked back for a second and saw an angry green stallion with a purple mane, he looked furious. Behind the stallion was a black wagon, guns were being held by hooves outside the window making gunshots.

Bang!

“Faster! Trixie, and ditch the wagon, we can return for it!” Gumdrop alerted.

Trixie was unsure but saw abandoned wagons and ponies removing wagons from themselves, so they could run into a building, luckily Trixie was able to take hers off as she ran. She dashed with the crowd on the sidewalk and ran towards an upcoming building that wasn’t either full or had shattered glass.

Bang!

A pony screamed in agony as they fell to the ground. The building they were running towards was a brick hotel, it was just up ahead, but there was no time to stop.

Unicorns that knew a teleportation spell were able to teleport, and pegasi went into the air, ponies screamed when they witnessed one get shot from the air. Trixie lit her horn multiple times as she raced for her life.

“Teleportation spell, go!” Trixie screamed as she ran, “Teleportation spell, go!”

”Why isn't it working!? Are you doing it right?” Asked Gumdrop, who had a shaky voice that was out of breath.

”I’m under pressure!” Shouted Trixie.

”Fair enough, I’m too scared to open my wings!” Gumdrop shouted.

Bang!

A pegasus was almost shot from the air. It was heard to hear each other through the screams, cries and gunshots, but they knew each other was worried. They were scared, they had sweat and their hearts raced.

Bang!

Many ponies near Trixie screamed, they all run harder including her, Trixie forced herself to not look back, she needed to get to safety. But soon enough the stallion got so fast that the black wagon was next to her, she gulped and tried to run faster, the hotel was basically right in front of her. Trixie heard the screech of a falcon just before a gunshot.

Bang!

From the side of her eye, Trixie saw a blur of grey feathers and red, she gasped in shock just before she entered the front doors of the hotel that were being held open by some armoured cops. Once inside, Trixie didn’t stop running until she tripped over an exhausted pony, she hit the carpet hard enough to give her carpet burn. The pony she tripped over wasn’t upset, they looked at her with a slight smile.

“Sorry,” The pony gasped.

Trixie laid her head on the ground trying to process what just happened, she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down, her heart was racing so fast.

💧💎💖💎💧

She thought she only laid there for two minutes, but she actually laid there for about ten. The doors to the hotel were shut, and armoured police surrounded the hotel, and others searched the city for the shooters. The hotel reeked of sweat, the lovely light blue and white carpet was tainted in blood. There were sounds of parents calling their foals and foals crying for their parents. As Trixie got up, she saw blood staining the hotel’s carpet as a result of injuries. She saw nurses and doctors tending to the wounds of countless ponies.

Some were lucky, like her, and didn’t get injuries, while some were not as lucky and possibly lost their sight or an eye, or even a wing. Trixie started to feel nauseous, her heart began racing as she walked through and heard the despite cries of ponies calling out to their loved ones or to their friends, Trixie saw a nurse holding a crying foal, it seemed the foal had lost their family in the shooting judging by what the nurse was saying.

Trixie felt bad for all, the tears and wounds she saw, she was speechless. At this point Trixie knew Bolt was gone, the feathery blur was her, she sacrificed herself to save Trixie. Tears ran down her face as she walked through the lobby, a few ponies were in the bar getting drinks or even splashing water onto themselves.

“What do you mean, my baby is dead!?” Shouted a mare to a nurse.

That sentence alone made Trixie‘s heart hurt. She sadly watched the mare being in denial over losing her foal, how could somepony be so selfish and kill a child!? Trixie felt anger rush through her body as she heard the pain and suffering of many families and friends.

”How could somepony do this?” Trixie sobbed, she looked around and realised that Gumdrop wasn’t with her.

”Gumdrop?” Called Trixie.

Trixie looked around with her head for any sign of a pink griffin among multicoloured ponies, surely that wouldn’t be hard. She walked around with worry, there was a hard feeling in her gut.

“Gumdrop!” Trixie called out in distress.

There was no sign of her, Trixie tried again, hoping she simply didn’t hear her name being called.

“Gumdrop! Where are you!?” Trixie shouted loudly.

She ran around, she went to the door, but a cop was there, he stopped Trixie with his unicorn magic. Despite being held in unicorn magic, she tried to reach the door.

”No one’s allowed to leave, even if you make amazing shows every time you come here,” He said making Trixie smile and blush a little, “Not until shooter’s been caught at least,” He said with concern but strictly.

”But my friend! She’s still out there! She was right next to me when we were running!” Trixie explained.

The cop sighed, “Sorry Trixie... if your friend was right with you, she most likely is in here somewhere, she might have gotten something at the bar, went to the toilet, went upstairs to have a break from all the distress in here... she might have gone to the spa and pool... to relax after her life being on the line”

Trixie sighed, “Fine... I’ll look...”

💧💎💖💎💧

Trixie went up the stairs to the top floor where the spa and pool was placed, she called Gumdrop’s name, but there was no reply, she only saw a few ponies around but no sign of a griffin. She sighed as she left the floor and went back to the lobby, it was a bit quieter, but there was still regular cries or name-calling.

At this point, she was visibly sad and in distress.

”Has anypony seen a pink griffin?” She asked loudly, there was no reply.

She then went to a nurse that had just finished bandaging a pony’s hoof up.

”Oh hey there, are you hurt too?”

”No...” Sighed Trixie, “Have you seen a pink griffin?”

The nurse sighed, “Yes I have...”

Trixie’s ears perked up, and a smile appeared on her face, but it soon dropped when she saw the nurse’s sombre face.

”Where is she?”

The nurse felt bad for Trixie, “I’m sorry... she didn’t make it”

Trixie felt her heart shatter and tears go down her face like a waterfall, “No...” She sniffled, “No she’s not!” She shouted at the nurse, who only showed a sorrowful reaction.

”I’m sorry... it’s true...”

”I don’t believe you!” Trixie shouted as tears went down her face.

The nurse sighed, “The doctors tried everything... but it was too late for her... I’m sorry for your loss”

”No! She’s still alive! I know it!” She shouted with anger.

”I’ts true...” Another nurse sighed, “We saw her body, she was shot in the head,”

”No...” Trixie sobbed, “I-I was running with her... Why!? She was so young!”

She cried and retreated upstairs to have somewhere more private to cry out loud in an ugly way. Trixie ran to the spa and pool area as fast as she could. As she approached the hot tub, she took deep breaths and let her tears flow. She took her cape off and put it on the ground next to the hot tub. The water was warm and soothing, she got in and tried to relax as the water soaked through her fur making her warm and not as cold, but she still felt miserable, she felt despair and anger, not just at the shooters but at herself, she just wished Gumdrop was alive, she wished that she was able to save her.

“Why didn’t you make a barrier!? Starlight taught you how to!” She scolded herself.

Trixie looked into the bubble warm water as she went to sit down, she sighed as a tear dripped into the water.

“Gumdrop...” she sighed, feeling guilty that she didn’t try to save her.

She sighed and cried as hard as she could, the tears kept coming, and she cried into the spa. Losing Stardust was hard, but now she lost two team members just seconds apart. Trixie spent a while crying in the hot tub before an announcement was on the speakers.

”All shooters have been caught, please feel free to go home whenever you’re ready, and to everyone who has lost a family member, you aren’t alone, we are here for you...”

Trixie stopped focusing on the speakers as it continued talking and sighed, she got out of the hot tub slowly and made her way down the stairs after putting her outfit back on. Outside the sun was already setting, making it dark, rain pelted the ground which created a, not surprisingly, even more depressing scene. She ignored everyone as she sadly dragged her hooves across the door and out the lobby, she started wondering what she did to deserve all the grief and why those shooters shot so many ponies, and Gumdrop.

Not to mention, Bolt, the loyal falcon, sure she only was around to send and deliver messages, but she sacrificed herself, so Trixie could go on, she saved her, so she could continue her journey. If it wasn’t for Bolt, then what would have happened to the diamonds? Would Equestria have been doomed?

She depressingly walked through the streets of the city towards her wagon, the rain hit her body, she made zero attempt to shield herself from the rain. While walking, she overheard a cop talk about the casualties.

”8 mares, 9 stallions and 6 foals... along with two dragons with their young daughter, around five years... and a griffin...”

Trixie almost broke into tears when she heard that, she started moving faster, so many lives were taken, she walked through the rain miserable, she felt terrible for all the lives that were lost.

Once Trixie arrived to her wagon she was happy there wasn’t any damages and nothing was stolen, she second she opened and closed her wagon’s door she slumped to the ground depressingly, not wanting to move much, Trixie didn’t bother having dinner or getting ready for bed. She just laid on the ground, depressed and wondering what her next move would be.

Trixie felt hopeless, she felt all hope was lost, she wished that she could rewind time. After a bit of light crying and wondering why saving the world was so tragic, hard and depressing, she tried to sleep but was busy crying at the thought of Gumdrop, Bolt and all those other ponies that have lost someone they were close to.

She didn’t want to be heard or seen in such a state, so she closed every window, door and curtains in the wagon before sobbing loudly into her hooves.

After sulking for a while she managed to roll onto her back, her cape was crumbled under her body as she laid there, and her damp mane messily laid on her face, she blew most of it away and put her hooves up.

”Trixie... once again, remainder of the Squad of Star...” She said in monotone as she touched her front hooves together, “We were supposed to save Equestria... that’s who we were...”

When she finished her legs flopped to the ground depressingly as she laid on the hard wooden floor of her wagon and her cape that was still damp from the rain she had to walk through. Tears poured out her eyes and she felt a heavy pit of guilt whenever she thought about Gumdrop.

💧💎💖💎💧

As the sun rose, Trixie rose her head tiredly, her face was a mess of tears and her mane was all messy. She groaned as she got up, she grabbed a handheld mirror in the magic and gasped in shock when she saw herself in the mirror, her eyes were red from the result of crying all night, there were also dark circles under her eyes.

Of course, she went into a few boxes to look for something, she didn’t want anypony to see the great and powerful Trixie in such a state. Luckily she found what she was looking for, a pair of dark frameless shades, they were tinted a slight purple, and it was hard to see the wearer’s eyes through them, she quickly put them on, brushed her mane and opened the door.

After getting her wagon ready, she started to pull it towards the exit of Manehattan, she stopped at a food stand first to restock. As she walked she saw many ponies who didn’t sleep last night after the shooting, Trixie understood their pain and felt bad for them. She decided to relax for a few hours to process what had happened the day before, she walked towards the park.

Once she arrived, Trixie dragged her wagon through and found a nice place under a tree, near the pond. She removed her wagon and her shades since she didn’t really like wearing them once she reached the spot and laid on the damp grass in the shade. Once she got a whiff of her cape, she made a mental note to give it a wash later. It smelt like a sweat mostly, but it still stunk, she took it off and gave it another sniff, it was way worse, her eyes even watered.

”Ack,” Trixie coughed, wondering what the smell was.

Trixie basically studied it, sweat soaked the underside of it, along with her own fur, there were also a few patches of dirt along the ends that touch the ground. On the topside, there was a damp and sticky spot where an exhausted pegasus had accidentally dropped juice onto Trixie when it was flying over her.

It took a while to think, she didn’t really know what juice it was, when she shouted at the pegasus they didn’t hear her, they didn’t even know they dropped juice on her. Being curious, Trixie levitated the wet part to her nose and took a big sniff, which she completely regretted as she jumped and ended up falling onto her back, she covered her muzzle in disgust, her eyes watered. Thankfully nopony saw.

“Durian juice... no smell can defeat the great and powerful Trixie... unless it’s her own cape... smelling like durian and haven’t been washed in days...” Trixie said before getting up.

There weren’t many ponies around at the park, Trixie didn’t see many at least. To get her mind off things, she laid on her belly under the tree and used her magic to grab a book from her wagon.

She laid there with the book peacefully for a few minutes, but then she heard some ruffling in the tree above her, she looked up but didn’t see anything, so she went back to her book. But all of a sudden something big fell right in front of her into the book, making her jump back in fright. What fell?

A small dragon, about Spike’s height. She was a yellowish colour with a lighter yellow tummy and under her wings. A thin pink frill went from the top of her head and all the way to the bottom of her tail, on the sides of her head were pink frills that looked like bird wings. Her wings were not spiky looking like most dragon wings, the end was a more rounded shape, the top of the wings had pink spots. Freckles of a brown colour spotted around her nose and the tip of her wings, she also had diamond shaped scales near her eyes and on her sides that were a slightly darker tone than her main scale colour.

The two stared at each other in disbelief and shock.

”Who are you?”

Sunrise

Trixie and the dragon stared at each other. It took a while for anyone to say something, the dragon shrugged and simply greeted her.

”Heya... my name is Sunrise, I’m ten years old... have you seen my mama, papa and sister? We were playing hide-and-seek in the park, it’s taking them a very long time to find me. I think I won, maybe they gave up and are waiting for me? I’ve been waiting since after lunchtime yesterday”

Trixie looked at her and had a bad feeling in her stomach, then remembered; the cop said that two dragons and their daughter were killed. Her heard almost broke for the small dragon, it was going to be her that breaks the news.

”Can Trixie... Can I ask you some questions?” Trixie asked, hoping that her parents were fine and nearby.

”Well... okay! Is it a game?”

”No... if you want Trixie‘s help, you’ll need to answer honestly...” Trixie sighed, “How old... is your sister? Was your family the only dragons in Manehattan? What is the last thing you heard from them and last place you’ve seen them”

”My sister is like five or six... yeah, I didn’t spot any other dragons and... uh... In the distance I did hear my mama yell my sister’s name as if she got hurt... after a loud bang noise,” Sunrise then saw Trixie looking heartbroken, hoof on chest and tears coming from her eyes, “Don’t be sad, I’m sure we’ll find my family”

Trixie’s voice was choked from tears, “I don’t think we will”

”You can’t lose hope, my mama said that always believe, and that there’s always hope!... or it was something like that...” Sunshine informed her.

Trixie sighed, “I... I heard that two victims-“ Trixie stopped for a moment, “There were some baddies around yesterday afternoon...”

”Don’t worry! Mama and Dada are like superheroes! The baddies won’t get away with doing baddie stuff”

It took a while, “I need to take you to the police station... they’ll tell you where your parents are...”

”Oh my gosh! Really! Okay” Sunshine said eagerly.

Trixie packed her belongings into her wagon, she made sure to not accidentally sniff her smelly cape. She soon got her wagon on and started to pull, Sunshine sat on her back and enjoyed the ride. Normally Trixie would have told her to get off but didn’t have the heart to knowing that Sunshine’s heart was about to be smashed into pieces.

”Have I really gone soft... I’m supposed to be great and powerful,” Trixie whined quietly.

“Yeah, your fur is quite soft, a bit smelly, through,” Sunshine innocently replied.

“Right... mind if we go to get washed first?” Trixie replied with disgust

”The wagon wash?” Sunshine asked recalling a place where you could put your wagon through for it to get cleaned.

”Uh... no... I’m talking about me...”

After a while of walking, they finally arrived at a large building with a sign saying ‘Manehattan Spa’. It looked lush and rich, the front doors were glass and inside the floor and pillars looked as if they were made from marble.

”Oh... what’s a spa?” Sunrise asked.

Trixie smiled eagerly, “You’re just about to find out! I go here whenever I’m in Manehattan, I know the spa owners well”

The two went inside after Trixie secured her wagon in a parking spot outside.

“Oh, Trixie Lulamoon ! How’s your day?” A green and yellow earth pony stallion asked, he was wearing a bow tie and his cutiemark was some smelling salts with a flower.

”Hello Salty... It’s been pretty okay, I guess... besides the aftermath of yesterday,” Trixie put on a slight smile as she approached the front desk, “The usual, for two, please”

”Oh!” Salty exclaimed, “Who’s the guest?”

Sunrise held her claw up and waved, “Hello!”

”Oh, a dragon, nice to meet you, little one,” He said eagerly before looking at Trixie, “Is she related to those dragons yesterday that were-“

Trixie interrupted him, she whispered, so Sunrise didn’t hear, “Yes... but I don’t want to break it to her just yet, I don’t want to be the one that breaks her heart into bits!”

”What are you talking about?” Sunrise asked curiously.

”Nothing...” Trixie responded as she paid the price for the spa.

Salty got from his desk and happily led them, “This way, ladies”

⭐️☀️⭐️

The two got into the spa’s steam room, it got filled with steam, Trixie relaxed happily, but Sunrise sat there confused.

“I don’t get it...” She shrugged.

”You soon will,” Trixie said with a content sigh, “This spa’s not as good as Ponyville’s through”

Sunshine sat amongst the steam, curious on what it’s supposed to be doing, she soon shrugged it off as a Pony thing and enjoyed watching the steam fly around.

”Is it just me or...” Trixie thought as she opened her eyes and looked at Sunrise, “She reminds me of Stardust... is she? No, it can’t be”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Sunrise asked.

Trixie shrugged, “Uh... nothing...”

After the steam bath was over, the two laid on chairs and got facial mud on their faces, Sunshine got green while Trixie got pink.

“What’s this stuff?” Sunrise questioned before cucumbers were placed on each of their eyes.

”Facial mud... it helps,” Trixie explained.

Soon a pony approached them, “Would you two like messages?”

”Sure!” They both replied at the same time.

”I love massages!” Sunrise explained as she got hers.

After the spa was over and the facial mud and cucumbers were removed along with taking off the bathrobes, the two sat in a large tub filled with water and smelling salts, there were also bubbles and a few bath toys for Sunrise’s entertainment. They also allowed Trixie to bring her cape in to give it a wash. While Sunrise was sitting in the tub with bubbles and rubber duckies, Trixie was in the water holding her cape in her hooves and scrubbing it with soap.

She made sure every spot had soap in it before rinsing it, she put soap through it again just to make sure it was totally clean. It smelt alright after a while and all the stains and dirt were gone from it, she wrung out the excess water and hung it outside the tub. Trixie then noticed that Sunrise was looking at her cape.

”Wowiee! Look at all those stars!”

Trixie gasped, that was a similar reaction to what Stardust had when she saw her cape. Maybe Sunrise is Stardust, maybe she didn’t die, She possibly turned into a dragon and ended up somewhere else! But wait, if she was Stardust wouldn’t she be saying something? Unless Stardust has to stay quiet about her real identity for some reason.

The theories and questions filled Trixie‘s head, was this Stardust or not? Stardust did say she was a dragon, but Sunrise had a family. She shook her head to get herself to snap out of it, she needed more evidence.

“Sunrise... Trixie has a few questions for you,”

”Sure... but can you get me ice cream after this?”

”Alright,” Trixie responded with a sigh, “I require you to answer honestly... where are you from and um... what do you think of ponies, who was the first pony you ever saw? And what was your first impression of Trixie?”

”Well... I’m from the Dragon Land... and I think ponies are pretty great, so soft and friendly and colourful! And really huggable!” She said before giving Trixie a huge hug, she then backed away, “But dry ponies feel better than wet ones... and the first pony? Hm... I’ll say it was a purple unicorn, or was she white?, but I can’t really remember... and my first impression was that you didn’t see me coming,” She said with a slight chuckle.

”Uh... huh...” Trixie responded.

⭐️☀️⭐️

The two walked through Manehattan, Sunrise walked with Trixie holding a cone of chocolate ice cream, Trixie had ice cream too, in her magic, but it was strawberry flavour. They walked towards the police station which was still quite a walk to get there, they ate their ice cream as they walked. Sunrise ate hers quickly and messily, there was ice cream all around her mouth and claws, Trixie ate hers slowly and more lady-like.

“Ugh...” Trixie said as she finished hers, she grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth, she grabbed a few more and cleaned Sunrise up.

The two tossed their rubbish in the bin and continued to walk to where they needed to go. After a bit of walking, and Trixie being convinced by Sunrise to put her cape back on because she looked awesome, they heard a yell. It happened right before Trixie put her wagon’s strap back on.

“There she is!”

A strong earth pony stallion cop jumped on her back and pinned her down, a unicorn police mare put a device on Trixie‘s horn to stop her magic.

“Get off the great and powerf-“ Trixie managed to say before being slapped by the mare.

”You have the right to remain silent,” The stallion responded.

”What did I do!?” Trixie shrieked.

”You’re under arrest, you’re a suspect of the gun violence,” The mare spat.

Trixie gasped, “What! I’m not even the right age to handle the gun, I’m only eighteen!”

”Underage possession of a gun,” The stallion responded.

Trixie tried to kick the stallion off her, but it only started violence.

”We have a fighter,” The stallion said before wacking Trixie in the face with his hoof hard enough to give her a black eye.

The unicorn cop sighed, “Mystery... what did we say about using violence?, criminals trying to wiggle from your grip doesn’t count as fighting back, if she had a weapon that’d be acceptable, but I don’t think she does,”

”Sorry ma’am,” Mystery apologised.

Trixie laid with her head on the cold, hard cement both scared and confused, her left eye was badly hurt and both eyes watered. She gasped when she spotted Sunrise hiding under the wagon in fear.

The mare looked at Trixie angrily, “We need to search you and your wagon,”

Trixie whimpered as she watched the mare use a spell to scan her.

”There’s no weapons on you...” The mare said before going to the wagon and breaking down the door, she went inside for a few minutes before coming out, “She doesn’t have any weapons at all...”

”Can you let me go?” Trixie asked.

”No... we need to talk to somepony who has seen you today... perhaps the pony who turned you in, what was her name again... Nightshade... something like that”

Trixie gasped in shock, she was about to say something, but Sunrise jumped out and explained.

”Woah, woah, woah!” Sunrise said, “I’ve been with her all day and...”

”A dragon? I guess... okay sweetie, we will be using a lie detecting spell on you, so you better tell the truth and nothing but the truth,” The mare cop explained.

Sunrise nodded, “In the park this morning, she found me when I fell from the tree... I didn’t know where my parents are, so she decided to help me find them, she took me to the spa and get ice cream before going to the police station,” The cops looked at each other with worry before Sunrise continued, “I do feel like Trixie was hiding something from me...”

Both cops looked at Trixie in anger, Sunrise looked at her in confusion.

The mare looked at Trixie, “You may speak, but keep in mind I do have the lie detecting spell on,”

Trixie sighed, “Right... what I was hiding from her is... I didn’t want to be the one to tell her that her parents and sister are dead, I didn’t want to be the one to break her heart...” Trixie sniffled a little, “I wanted to make her really happy before taking her, i also lost a friend... actually, two friends in the shooting...” Trixie tried not to cry.

Sunrise gasped and kneeled next to Trixie and petted her on her head, “I... Thank you for taking care of me... I can’t believe they are gone,” She sobbed slightly, “M-mama... p-papa...”

Trixie sighed, “I’m sorry...”

Sunrise out on a smile, “It’s okay... you were o-only doing what you th-thought was right” she said as tears went running down her eyes.

Trixie‘s heart ached as she watched Sunrise try and be happy at the moment, but soon she went into uncontrollable sobbing. Mystery got off Trixie allowing her to cuddle Sunrise, she sobbed into her chest soaking it. The two cops were ashamed of themselves.

”Wh-who’s gonna be my m-mama and p-papa now?” She sobbed.

The mare looked at her, “We’ll figure it out at the police station...”

⭐️☀️⭐️

A few hours went by and Trixie sat at a desk with Sunrise, on the other side of the desk was a mare, she ran an orphanage and was the mother to Mystery, he sat beside her. Trixie held an ice pack on her black eye, she chuckled about earlier when Mystery was given a lecture by his mother when she saw Trixie‘s black eye.

“So... we can either take Sunrise to an orphanage or to the Dragon Lands if she has any other family, unless you’re willing to take her in,” The Mare explained

Sunrise smiled, “I actually don’t have any other family... they disowned us...”

”Alright, is there an orphanage in the Dragon Lands?” The mare asked again.

Sunrise shook her head, “Nope... why can’t I just stay with Trixie?”

”Because I’m on a very great and powerful journey... I can’t let you get hurt...” Trixie replied.

Sunrise looked at her, “I’ll be useful! I’ll rise up and be strong!”

Trixie sighed, it took her a while to think, “I guess you can come... but it’s safer here... I... I don’t want you getting hurt”

Sunrise sighed, “But who will take care of me?”

“You can stay at the orphanage... and when Trixie is done whatever she needs to do, you can reunite,” The orphanage mare suggested.

”Yeah, I’ll come back for you... and that’s a great and powerful promise!” Trixie boasted, “Well it’s your choice but... it’s safer here”

Sunrise sighed, she wanted to go with her, “Fine...”

She watched sadly as Trixie left the building.

”Are you sure you don’t want to go with her?”

⭐️☀️⭐️

Trixie sadly crossed the bridge, leaving Manehattan behind, she used her hair to cover up her bruised eye. She felt some heartache, she never knew that Manehattan was going to be so life-changing, she couldn’t believe what she had witnessed. It also felt pretty lonely as she walked, she decided to go through Starlight’s old village to say hello since it’s on the way, but it’d take a few hours to reach it.

”Trixie!” A familiar voice called.

Sunrise flew and landed on Trixie‘s back, “I'm coming with you! You helped me, so I wanna help in return! It’s the least I can do... besides, you’re my family now, like a big sister”

Trixie smiled slightly, “Alright... you can tag along...”

The two trotted into the distance as the sun set.

That night, they both had separate hammocks to sleep in. Trixie relaxed in hers and thought about some positive things, but she soon heard some sniffling, she lifted her head and looked at Sunrise with concern, she was sitting in hers hugging her teddy close.

”Sunrise?” Trixie questioned with concern.

”I’m sorry I woke you up,” Sniffled Sunrise as she wiped her eyes with her claw.

Trixie sighed, “Well... I really couldn’t sleep because-“ Trixie realised she was about to say something selfish, so she stopped herself, ”I mean, you’re crying and uh,” Trixie tried to think of what to say, she sighed, “Are you okay?”

”No...” Sighed Sunrise, “I miss my family... and they’re not here anymore!”

Trixie sombrely listened, “I know...”

”Who’s going to protect me from the scary stuff? It’s so dark in here, what if there’s a monster hiding in here?”

Trixie looked at her, “I don’t think a monster would be able to fit in my wagon...” Trixie responded thinking of ones such as a manticore, but they live in the Everfree then she remembered there were smaller ones.

”What about the small ones that kidnap children at night and eat them?”

”There’s no such-“ Trixie started as she was about to tell her there were no such things but decided to have a little fun, “You mean those old pesky things?” She chuckled, “I have this smell in my wagon that drives all foul monsters away!”

”I was told it was light that scared them off,” Sunrise corrected, “Do you have any night lights?”

”Hmm...” Trixie thought as she made her horn glow lighting the wagon in a soft pink glow, “I might have one... here somewhere that I use when I have to camp in a strange place... or if I need to see at night,” She said as she went through some boxes, “Through, I may have given it away or got rid of it when I learnt to make my horn light up like I’m doing now...”

Trixie put her head in a box and started tossing aside some magic props and stuff, it took a while before she found it.

”Ah, ha! Found it! Was there ever any doubt?” She grinned and turned it on, it was in the shape of an orb and made a star pattern in the wagon and made it a bit lighter, “There!” She said proudly as she placed it on a bedside table.

”Woah! It’s like stargazing! We could count the stars together!” Sunrise exclaimed.

Trixie smiled as she got back into her wagon, “Well, I guess... it gets boring after a while, unlike the stars outside...” She laid her head down on the pillow and laid on her side facing the window.

She laid there looking at the stars out the window and relaxed with a smile on her face, soon she felt something crawling into her hammock. Trixie looked back and saw Sunrise climbing into the hammock with her and cuddled her as they both watched the stars. Trixie smiled as Sunrise went to sleep with her head on Trixie’s side and snoring, Trixie also drifted off to sleep.

Loophole on the Road

”S-Stardust?” Trixie questioned.

“Hello, there Super Trixie,” Stardust smiled as she stepped forward.

Trixie stepped back a bit confused, “Super Trixie?” She questioned, “Well... it doesn’t exactly have a ring to it, unlike The Great and Powerful Trixie... but what do you want?”

Trixie looked around at the sunny field with many questions, What was Stardust doing here? Is this still the nightmare? Is she dead!? She stared at Stardust, who explained a bit.

“I cannot explain why I’m here at the moment, but yes, your body is asleep, so you’re not actually here. I’m proud of you, you collected half of those jewels very well... despite all those hardships, you collected those three jewels! You really are The Great and Powerful Trixie!” Stardust congratulated.

Trixie chuckled a little, “Heh, was there ever any doubt? After all, I am the most powerful equine in Equestria,”

Stardust pattered her shoulder, “Not yet! But you will be pretty powerful at the end, in my place,”

”Huh?” Trixie gasped, “In your place? What does that mean?”

”Well, I had to go! The adventure is yours, this is your destiny!” Stardust assured.

Trixie sighed, “You knew you had to disappear and didn’t tell me? Where did you go? What happened to you? Will Trixie see you again?”

”No, I didn’t know I would disappear that early, it was supposed to happen after I collected all the jewels and I stopped Dark Matter!” Stardust defended, “I was the main character, but now the role is yours!” She then giggled, “You had fun! Could be worse, right?”

Trixie was shocked to hear that, was Stardust even paying attention!?

Trixie gasped, “Could be worse? Could be worse!?” She argued, “And no! I didn’t have fun!”

A heavy storm started to blow, ruffling their manes, Trixie‘s cape flapped in an epic way in the heavy wind as she stared down Stardust.

”What part about this was fun!?” Trixie screeched as the storm got heavier and heavier, matching her negative emotions, “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through!?” She shrieked.

Rain started to fall from the sky as clouds got darker.

”Any idea Stardust!?” Trixie yelled.

Stardust giggled, “It’s kinda like a game, no big deal, surely this mission isn’t too much for the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Trixie stared at her in shock, she was speechless, “I...” She started, “This is not a game!” She shouted as a thunder strike happened in the distance, “I almost died many times, Stardust! I didn’t sleep for days at some point, and I survived a whole shooting that killed my friend and an amazing falcon that was on my team! How can this get any worse!? I was scarred, bruised and humiliated many times on this trip! And most of the ones I can mention were from the desert to Manehattan!” Trixie stopped to catch her breath and wipe her eyes.

”But you didn’t die, you’re still here,” Stardust shrugged.

Trixie grumbled, “You never warned me of the dangers! So much pain and trauma had happened to The Great and Powerful Trixie and only three of the jewels been collected!” She argued, “Who knows what lays in the future! I lost two friends, and I’m being hunted down by this creature named Nightshade! How many more friends will I lose, huh? And how many more near-death experiences will I have!?”

She stopped to catch her breath again and think about what she had said, Stardust stared at her emotionlessly. Trixie wondered if this was really Stardust that she was talking to, or if it was just an illusion. Either way, it made her feel better to yell at Stardust about the responsibility she left her with.

”We never were partners... what was the point of the song and the theme then?” Trixie sighed as the storm calmed down.

Rain still fell from the sky, softly, matching Trixie’s sad emotion. Stardust put a hoof on Trixie‘s chest.

“Even though I had no idea... Trixie... this is your story, make a team and call it whatever you want, keep the same theme or change it, it doesn’t matter to me... as long as you’re happy with your choices, and you complete your destiny then I’m happy, this is your story, not mine, this is the story of you saving Equestria, and I believe you can do it,” Stardust explained.

”I...” Trixie sighed, “But why did this have to be? I’m not an OC like you, I’m a canon character...”

”Does not mean you cannot be the main character and be the one who saves the world,“ Stardust explained

”But..” Trixie sighed.

Stardust smiled, “But nothing. Sure, you got stuck a few times and may have not known what will happen next but... you pulled through! Now go back with some hope and determination! Doesn’t matter how long it’ll take, don’t give up, you’ll get there in the end”

Stardust turned into some clouds and floated into the sky, Trixie watched, she sighed and then everything was black.

✨⭐️✨

“She’s waking up! Everypony! She’s waking up!” Sugar Belle’s voice called.

”Heck yes!” An unknown voice cheered.

“Oh thank goodness,” Another unknown voice said quietly.

Sunrise’s voice also spoke, “Please Trix, please open your eyes”

“Open up your eyes!” Trixie told herself in her mind, “C’mon!”

Trixie opened her eyes up slowly and groaned, her vision was blurry for a few seconds. What she saw was she was in a bed in one of the houses of Starlight’s old village. Who she saw was Sugar Belle with a worried look, and Sunrise who looked like she was crying, and then she noticed two strangers beside her.

A purple griffin with a white belly and back paws, green eyes and a yellow beak with claws of the same colour. She also had black markings around her eyes and a red tuft of her on the end of her tail.

”My name’s GameCube- yes readers, I’m named after the old console called the GameCube, deal with it. Sorry for breaking the fourth wall,“ The griffin spoke.

”Wh-what?” Sugar Belle questioned with much confusion.

”It’s a thing,” Trixie shrugged.

The pink kirin smiled, she had a light pink body and a brown forehead. Her mane and tail fur were a darker pink, kinda like Pinkie Pie, but it had mint green highlights, also it was a coincidence that her colours resembled Pinkie Pie. Her eyes were a mint green and her back, forehead and hooves were also brown.

“My name’s Minty, Hey Trixie, nice to meet you, I was actually hoping to see one of your shows during our trip around Equestria, but we were told you were busy with something. I’m so excited I finally got to meet you! In person! Or do you guys use in-pony? Whatever, nice to meet you,”

Trixie sighed and then gasped, “Wait, what happened?”

”We found you...” GameCube responded, “Unconscious and devoid of colour near a pond! We were so worried, dude! We rushed you to the nearest town, you were out for a day!”

“A day!?” Yelled Trixie.

Gamecube explained, “We saw this dark thing fly away from something and investigated, we saw you, we were worried but now that you’ve awoken your colour came back!”

Then she opened a can of soda and started to drink it. Trixie looked a bit guilty, she sighed and got out of bed.

“I guess I better get going,” She chuckled, “The jewels won’t collect themselves!” Trixie ran outside.

✨⭐️✨

Trixie arrived to her wagon with a smile, she was hoping to make it to the Crystal Empire later that day. There was a parcel addressed to her waiting on the steps in front of her wagon, she picked it up in her magic and read it. It was addressed to her and was from Rarity, she opened the parcel and grinned when she saw her hat all good as new. She read the letter from Rarity wishing her luck, it made her grin a little.

As Trixie put her hat on her head, cape on her back and attached her wagon to her and left the village, she heard GameCube shout out towards her.

”Wait!”

She looked to her side and saw Minty, Sunrise and Gamecube standing in a row, Gamecube had a large shoulder bag with her, Minty was dragging a large suitcase in her mint-green magic aura.

”You think you are going alone?” Sunrise asked with sass.

”We are coming with you!” GameCube alerted, “And there is nothing you can say about it!”

Trixie wanted to say ‘no’ but she knew they were determined to because team members.

“Ugh... if you really have to come...” She grumbled but then realised something, “Wait- my wagon isn’t exactly big enough for all four of us,”

”No need to worry, dude,” GameCube responded, “An old friend gave us his old tent since he was getting a new one, it’s still stable and usable, and we have sleeping bags, it’ll be fine, we just need to store these,”

Trixie gave her a started before allowing her to place their belongings into the wagon. Sunrise smiled as she took a sip from her red water bottle.

”Remember that theme? Let’s do it!” She said with excitement.

Trixie chuckled nervously, “It’s sorta cheesy, well, too cheesy for Trixie‘s amazing team,”

”I’ll be the judge of that,” GameCube smiled.

Trixie explained the theme before they all did it together.

”Trixie, GameCube, Sunrise, Minty, Squad of Star, We’ll save Equestria, ‘Cuz that’s who we are!”

”Hey, I kinda like it,” Minty complemented.

Gamecube smiled, “It was terrible but hey, we are just a bunch of dorks collecting jewels to stop the dark from spreading,”

”She’s right!” Sunrise exclaimed.

Trixie gave GameCube a quick death stare for being called a ‘dork’ she then nervously chucked a little, “Yeah... let’s go-“ She said before trotting away with the others in pursuit.

✨⭐️✨

A few hours went by, and the group were in a lush field having lunch. Trixie was happily eating a lettuce and buttercup sandwhich and had a bottle of apple juice, she relaxed as she enjoyed the cool breeze. They planned to only stay for ten minutes but with the view of nothing but relaxing nature and mountains in the distance, Trixie wanted to make this as relaxing as possible. In fact it was really nice until.

“Eep!” Trixie exclaimed in shock as she felt some cold wetness be poured down her back.

She whipped her head back and saw Sunrise with her water bottle, she was pouring the water from it onto Trixie‘s back and giggled as she saw Trixie‘s reaction.

“Sunrise!?” Trixie responded as she grabbed the bottling in her magic and turned it upright, it was empty at that point anyway, “What are you doing?”

”Well...” Sunrise explained as she poked at the now wet streak on Trixie‘s outfit, “I wanted to experiment, material gets darker when it’s wet, so I poured water on your cape to see what would happen,”

Trixie gave her an annoyed look, “Well... besides it obviously getting wet... its great and powerful owner would be annoyed at who wet it without her permission- but that should be obvious too,”

Trixie’s remark made GameCube chuckle a little, “Oh, wow! That was good! You just got Trixie‘d!”

”Yeah, Sunrise, you got Trixie‘d good,” Minty smiled softly.

”Hah! Trixie‘d! Maybe I can do that to Trixie!” Sunrise responded.

”Woah, woah, woah!” GameCube responded, “Only Trixie can do it, that’s why it’s ‘Trixie’d’ also, she’s immune to getting ‘Trixie’d’... but maybe not Sunrise’d, dang, it doesn’t have much of a ring to it. That’s one of the reasons why Trixie is so great,” Gamecube grinned before sipping her soda.

“And powerful!” Trixie boasted.

“Heh, powerful, hey, Trixie, I bet you to a hoof wrestling match!” GameCube challenged.

Trixie chuckled, “Obviously I’m gonna be the winner,”

”Let’s see about that!” GameCube responded.

The two put their foreleg up and started the hoof wrestling match, they pushed their’s against each other as hard as they could, but at the end GameCube prevailed.

”Eep!” Trixie Yelped.

”Hah!” GameCube exclaimed, “You just got Gamecube’d!”

”Very much so,” Minty smiled, “Are you okay through?”

”Trixie fine...” She sighed, “I went easy on her becuase she’s... out of weight,” She said as she attached the wagon back to her, “We might as well be on our way,”

“Hey!” Gamecube shouted before she opened a can of soda and glutted it down and made a rude burp, it was not quiet, it was a loud a rude burp.

”Yo, we might as well get going guys... adventures still waiting out there,”

”That’s true,” Minty replied.

The squad packed up their picnic and went back on their way.

✨⭐️✨

The Starry Squad were back on the road to the Crystal Empire, but next was a river they had to cross, there was no bridge, so it meant they had to walk through it.

“Cannonball!” Cried GameCube as she jumped in and swam to the other side.

Sunrise giggled as she splashed through, she watched Minty shake her fur dry on the other side. The only one that was left was Trixie.

”You coming, dude?” Asked GameCube.

”Uh... just a sec,” She informed as she put her outfit into her wagon, so it wouldn’t get wet.

GameCube sat on her rump and crossed her claws, “It’s just water bruh, walking through while clothed won’t hurt you, it’s no big deal!”

Trixie had to lift her head above the water as she walked through, she shook her fur once she got to the other side. GameCube looked at her like she was expecting an answer.

“I didn’t want it to get wet,” Trixie explained.

Minty smiled as they started walking, “That’s fair,”

”Doesn’t clothes purple get toxic when wet?” Asked Sunrise.

”You mean don’t?” Minty corrected.

Trixie cringed, “Wait... you think that? And you get Trixie‘s great and powerful, and purple cape wet? It didn’t become toxic, obviously, but why?”

”Huh?” Sunrise asked.

Minty spoke up, “I think what Trixie was trying to say you got her purple cape wet and you think purple clothing is toxic when wet. If that was actually true then you would have made her ill or poisoned her,”

”Oh!” Sunshine shrugged, “Ick, thank goodness it doesn’t,”

✨⭐️✨

As Trixie walked with her squad, she heard a voice that was strangely familiar.

“Trixie Lulamoon!? Is that you?”

Trixie looked around and saw a pegasus dragging a basic brown and green wagon behind her. The Pegasus was a light green colour with a mane that was a lime green gradient going to blue, her eyes were also blue. Her mane also looked quite messy and fluffy looking, like her tail, her cutiemark was a feather doing a loop through a cloud.

There was also a bruise on her foreleg and a band aid on her muzzle.

“It’s me, remember me? Loophole!”

”Loophole?” Trixie wondered, it took some quiet deep thinking, “I...”

”Remember that time at your house where you were trying the ballet dance with a ribbon, thinking that would be your cutiemark? But the ribbon tangled all around you, and then you fell down a flight of stairs, rolled out the door and into some doggie doo?”

Trixie angrily blushed in disgust as GameCube laughed and Sunrise made faces of disgust, Minty didn’t quiet hear Loophole, so she was more confused.

”Ugh, I remember you now, Loophole...” Trixie shivered as she remembered that.

Loophole giggled, “You were also a laughingstock! And that’s usually my job as the clumsy one,”

”Loophole... please don’t talk about this,” Trixie whined.

”Well, okay then... but speaking about Cutiemarks,” Loophole said as she put her hoof on Trixie’s flank, “I wonder what your cutiemark is, certainly not ballet,” She chuckled.

Trixie sighed, and watch Loophole put her grubby hooves all over her cape, she then watched as she lifted it revealing her flank.

”Huh? A wand and a magic swirl? Hmm... a magician!?”

“The most great and powerful!” Trixie boasted.

Loophole smiled, “Heh, after the doggie doo incident I remember you wanting to be a magician! Seems that was your talent!”

”Yeah...” Trixie muttered as she spotted the muddy hoof prints on her cape.

”Ever since that day, I made it my goal to find you again! So when I found out you move across Equestria in a wagon, I decided to get my own and do the same thing! It worked! I found you!”

Trixie put on a small smile, “Nice... but we have to go...”

“Where?” Asked Loophole, “Can I come too?”

”Really?” Asked Trixie, “Of course n-“

”You can!” Sunrise interrupted.

Gamecube slurped a soda, “I’m GameCube, yo”

”Minty here,” Minty smiled.

”And Sunrise!” Cheered Sunrise.

”No,” Trixie muttered.

Loopholed sighed, she gave Trixie some puppy dog eyes.

”Don’t give me that-Ugh, fine! You can come!” Trixie said as she lost the battle of will against puppy dog eyes, “Just don’t do any stupid nonsense...

✨⭐️✨

They walked for a while until the afternoon, they were near the snowy mountains but decided to not cross till morning for safety. Minty and Gamecube slept in their tents, Loophole in her wagon and Sunrise in Trixie’s with her. When the sun rose Trixie washed the muddy hoof prints from her cape they approached the snowy mountains they needed to cross to reach the Crystal Empire, Trixie smiled.

Sunrise read a comic in the wagon while Minty and GameCube decided to walk. GameCube, Minty and Trixie wore their snow jackets and snow boots as they walked. Trixie’s was purple, a little less dull shade of purple than her cape, it had white wool stuffed at the openings, there was also a zip on the front. Her boots were the same colour as the jacket, and wool also coated the top and inside the boots.

Trixie also wore her cape over the top along with her hat for more protection from the freezing winds and snow, also, she looked great and powerful in them.

”She looks pretty seasoned,” Sunrise noted as she explored a calendar.

After quite a while of walking and freezing their butts off, they finally made it to the Crystal Empire. They stood at the entrance in awe, Sunrise licked her lips, GC grinned while Minty smiled.

Trixie was so proud of herself a shook the snow from herself before finally walking towards the empire with her team.

Shattered Friendship Part 1

Everyone looked around in awe as they looked at all the crystal building and even the sparkly crystal ponies walking around minding their own business. Everything was calm and relaxed, no sign of distress in sight. They took off their snow clothes, since the Crystal Empire was at a temperature that they didn’t need to.

“It’s so peaceful,” Sunrise commented as she sat on Loophole’s back, admiring the view.

”Oh, hey! Look at that giant dragon statue!” GameCube pointed out, “Whoever that is looks heroic!”

”Spike,” Minty replied, “His name is Spike, he helped save the Crystal Empire once and then saved the Equestria Games that took place here too, so they made that statue of him,”

Loophole looked at it and giggled, “They need to make out of sharper crystal if they want him to be more spiky,”

Trixie giggled a bit, “Can you imagine if they did make him all sharp and spiky?”

”Yeah man, his actual spikes don’t look sharp at all!” GameCube responded, “They look so round and smooth!”

”He looks so amazing,” Whispered Sunrise

Gamecube did a spit take right after taking a sip from her soda, “Sunrise, you’re so surprising, they should have called you, sun-prise!”

”Ack!” Cried Trixie as she was shocked by the soda being sprayed into her face the way it was.

”What did she say?” Minty asked as she didn’t quite hear.

”Sunrise has a crush on Spike!” Loophole exclaimed.

“Aww, that’s sweet,” Minty whispered.

”Guys, I’m only ten!” Scolded Sunrise.

The squad continued to walk, a Loophole look one look at Gamecube and started to giggle.

”Heyo, what’s so funny?” Defended GameCube who noticed Loophole gave her a look and giggled.

“Wanna know what’s so funny?” Asked Loophole.

Gamecube shrugged, “It would make sense to do it, dude,”

”One time, back when we were foals, two twins, Berry and Simmer, had a slumber party! Simmer was Trixie’s crush back then, so when he invited her, Trixie got so excited that she uri-“

Suddenly Trixie’s hoof slapped onto Loophole’s mouth. Her hat was shadowing most of her face, her cheeks were all red from her blushing, her teeth were clenched in an annoyed way.

“No, not that,” She said quietly, “The great and powerful Trixie doesn’t need to be reminded of that...”

Everyone looked at Trixie and watched her slowly pull her hoof away from Loophole’s mouth. Loophole looked at her with confusion. They were concerned about what just happened.

”Are you okay?” Minty asked.

Loophole shook her head, “But it was funn-“

”No!” Trixie interrupted as she blushed a bit more, “I’ll... uh- just... please not that,”

Loophole defended, “But-“

Minty stepped forward, “If Trixie doesn’t want to share it, that’s fine, it’s none of our business anyway!”

”Sure it might be funny to you, but if Trixie doesn’t find it funny then neither will I! Sharing someone’s embarrassing moment against their will is not funny,”

Minty and Sunrise nodded in agreement as Loophole sighed in defeat. Trixie’s blush slowly faded away and Minty patted her on the back hoping she was okay and comforted her. Sunrise gave her a hug, hoping that would cheer her up, Trixie put on a smile.

”Trixie’s fine,” She confirmed.

Loophole laughed and everyone gave her a death stare, “I did tell the Princess of Friendship,” She grinned.

Trixie shrieked so loud that nearby ponies looked at her, “You did what!?”

Trixie’s full face went red, either out of anger or embarrassment, or both! She had a terrified look on her face and quickly tried to hide her blushing face with her hat shadowing her face and hoof over her muzzle.

“And I told her friends, that small dragon and her student,” Loophole added.

Trixie shook a bit, she sunk to the ground and covered her face with both hooves. Everyone looked at her, Minty patted her back and looked at Loophole with an annoyed face. Sunrise went to the ground and patted her leg gently.

Loophole started to laugh, “I got you good! You should have seen the look on your face!”

Trixie took one hoof away and glared at Loophole with one eye. Everyone glared at her annoyed, GameCube just wanted to kick her so hard her grandkids would feel it. She then noticed that she was looking at her, giggling.

”What now!?” GameCube shouted as Minty helped Trixie up.

”Your name!” Loophole laughed, “Don’t you know how ridiculous it is?”

”GameCube?” Sunrise questioned, “Well, it’s... different and unexpected, but what’s so funny about it?”

”Yeah! How is it funny?” GameCube asked, looking quite hurt.

Minty looked at GameCube with concern, “What’s wrong with her name?” Minty asked.

Loophole laughed, “It’s mixed between Game and cube! That’s no ridiculous! That doesn’t suit her at all,”

GameCube stared at Loophole angrily as a tear went down her face, “So what? I would be making a bunch of jokes from your name, but I’m not, dude, this is uncool... you already hurt Trixie, now you’re hurting me!”

”Stop it, Loophole, please,” Minty stated in concern.

”Just admit it!” Loophole laughed, “That’s the most stupidest name a griffin could have! It’s like a mistake!”

”You think I’m a mistake?” GameCube asked coldly.

Sunrise tapped Loophole, “Uh... Loops... I think you should stop,”

“Right, have you also noticed that Minty-“

”This is not how you treat your friends!” Scolded Minty.

Gamecube interrupted her, “You’re right... I’m a mistake...” She faced away from the group.

“No you’re not, GameCube... I... I think your name is pretty cool” Trixie tried.

”It’s fine... I’ll.. I just need some time alone...” GameCube said before flying away.

Loophole watched her fly away with confusion, “Was I really that... harsh?”

”Yes!” Minty, Trixie and Sunrise angrily shouted at the same time.

Loophole looked at thin in shock, “It was just a joke,”

”Well, it’s only funny if everyone thinks it’s funny!” Sunrise scolded.

”And there goes a member of our team! Thanks a lot, Loophole! We certainly didn’t need her on it!” Trixie shouted sarcastically.

Minty sighed, “And her ‘odd’ name is a really touchy subject to her, you really hurt her feelings,”

Loophole stayed quiet as everyone stared at her. Sunrise stood there with arms crossed while Trixie and Minty gave her death stares. . It was a while before anyone spoke, it was Loophole who sighed.

”Okay, look, I’ll go and apologise,” Loophole confirmed.

She galloped away and tripped over her own hooves, she quickly got up and resorted to flying. Everyone sighed, Sunrise decided to change the mood, so it wasn’t so tense.

”This place looks really pretty! We should explore!” She cheered.

Minty smiled, “That would be nice, Trixie, are you coming?”

”Uh...you guys can go, I’ll go visit a friend just around the corner and figure out a plan to get to the top of Mount Everhoof,” She explained.

Minty and Sunrise nodded and agreement and walked away. Trixie made her way to Sunburst’s house.

✨⭐️✨

Once she arrived she removed her wagon and knocked on the door, hoping he was home at the time. It took a while for the door to open, but to her surprise it was Starlight.

”Oh! Trixie? What are you doing here?” She asked after, her eyes and brows moved in a confused way, “Aren’t you supposed to be collecting those diamond jewel thing? And to not induce panic, the sky is getting more covered in darkness by the day,”

Trixie gasped, she gulped and had to calm herself down, “Breath in, breath out” She reminded herself, “Uh, yeah... it’s on the top of Mount Everhoof, so I thought I’d stop by to say hello to Sunburst, and you as well since you’re here!”

“Wait a second...” Starlight said as she swept Trixie’s mane aside using her magic, showing her black eye, it had healed a bit but still visible, “What happened to your eye!?” She shouted in shock and worry.

Trixie took a step back and gulped, “An accident, uh, somepony accidentally-“

”Is that Trixie?” Sunburst’s voice sounded from inside the nerdy structure.

Starlight looked back, “Yeah it is, the next jewel is nearby, so she decided to stop by on her way,”

”That’s nice of her,” He said as he poked his head out the door, “Hey Trix, wanna new my newest treasure, well, I would usually say antique, but it’s not an antique this time!”

Trixie shrugged ”Sure,”

Trixie followed Sunburst to the room he was keeping it. The room was in need of dusting, there were a whole range of antiques. Masks, vases, paintings, wands and even a skull of a dragon? It was pretty big, bout the size of a colt, Trixie shivered at the thought of the story behind what made a dragon skull an antique.

Sunburst led Trixie to a shelf and took down an aquamarine coloured heart-shaped crystal, it had six facets on each side. It looked carefully carved, each facet shone proudly in the light from the lamp that lit the room.

“Huh?” Trixie raised a brow as Sunburst lowered it to her eye-level with his magic, “It’s just a crystal carved in the shape of a heart,”

”Not just any crystal!” Sunburst exclaimed, “It’s are a rare one! It was very expensive to get, and watch this!”

Sunburst levitated a kettle full of hot water and slowly poured it onto the crystal, Trixie watched as the crystal turned yellow, orange and finally, red!

“Ow!” Trixie exclaimed as she jumped back when the boiling water touched her hooves.

Sunburst quickly moved back too, he put the kettle away and blew on his hooves, “Sorry, but as you can see, the crystal changes depending on its temperature! At it’s hottest it goes a dark red, which is beyond the heat of the water that came from that kettle,”

Trixie stopped herself from yawning as Sunburst explained how the crystal worked, she listened wondering when he would end, “At it’s coldest it goes purple! But at that temperature it’s extremely dangerous for a pony, Amazing, right?”

Trixie stares at him, “A colour-changing crystal, big deal! I’ve done way more great and powerful feats, more impressive than a rock that can tell the temperature...”

”Trixie...” Starlight warned as she raised a brow, “He likes it and that’s what matters,”

Trixie rolled her eyes and looked at the crystal, she watched as Starlight held it with a soft spell to not break it.

”Check this out,” Starlight said happily as images appeared in each facet, “Sunburst put an image of our friends in each facet!”

Trixie pretended to not be amazed, but she was curious how that was possible. She looked at the images with curiously. A picture of each of Sunburst’s and Starlight’s friends were in each of the facets! Except for one...

There was Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash on one side, on the other was Maud, Sunburst, Starlight, Spike, Flurry Heart and the last one was shared by Cadance and Shining Armour. Trixie scanned the whole thing a few times before confirming that she wasn’t there. She thought about what she wanted to say.

Trixie was about to give them a mouthful, ”You forgot-“

”You?” Starlight asked.

Trixie sighed, “Exactly...”

”Sorry Trixie... we’ll make up for it, uh... we ran out of spaces and yeah, i promise we would have added you,” Starlight apologised.

Trixie looked away, “It’s fine...” She lied, “You could have just done some double-ups like with Cadance and Shining... but I’m not upset... I’m completely fine!”

Starlight gave her a hug, “I’m sorry, uh... let’s change the subject...” Starlight said as she slowly wakes to the wooded table with her and sat on one of the chairs, “So, how’s the journey going?” She asked.

Trixie gasped, not knowing what to say.

”Great and powerful,” She quickly responded.

”That’s great...” Starlight said a bit unsure, “Oh hey, where’s Gumdrop? The griffin that helped you between the desert and Manehattan?”

Trixie froze at the mention of Gumdrop, all sound went away as the started to panic at the thought of what happened back there. Was it a slow and painless death? Does Starlight know about the shooting? What would have happened if Gumdrop survived, and she didn’t? Sweat started to drip down Trixie’s face.

She wasn’t sure what to say next, what if Starlight blames Trixie for what happened? As she blinked, she had a flashback of racing for her own life and a blur of feathers made a difference between her dying and surviving. Not only that, but all those who lost their lives or to injured in the shooting! Trixie was lucky to have escaped, but she felt so traumatised.

She started to feel humid and could barely focus on her surroundings. Fear started to grow within her, and she started to breathe heavily, she pictured Gumdrop feeling betrayed and being killed. Then she started to remember the nightmare Nightshade gave to her.

✨⭐️✨

Suddenly Trixie snapped to her senses when a bucket of water was thrown onto her, it was cold, causing her to yelp. Sunburst was staring at her with concern, while Starlight was standing near the stair she was on with a bucket of water. She shivered at the coldness and looked at them.

”You okay Trixie? You... really got me worried,” Starlight ask with heavy concern in her voice.

Trixie looked around, “Yep, I’m fine!” She said quickly in a panic.

”No, something is bothering me, you need to tell me!” Starlight ordered as she stomped a hoof on the hard wooden ground.

“I really can’t...” Trixie said quietly.

”Did something happen to Gumdrop?” Sunburst asked.

Starlight sighed sadly knowing Trixie wasn’t in a good state to explain, “It’s fine, I’m sorry for yelling, whatever happened I want to know that I’m here for you, and you can tell me at your own pace,”

Trixie sighed, “I guess so...”

“It’s time for us to visit Flurry Heart? Do you wanna come?” Asked Starlight.

Trixie sighed, “No... I... I have other things...”

Starlight looked at her with worry, “You’re leaving now?”

”No... maybe in a few minutes or so, I might have a look at the antiques then be on my way, if that’s fine...”

”Oh sure! You can stay here for a little while if you want, I have some peanut butter crackers and tea in the cupboards, help yourself!” Sunburst said happily as he walked to the door with Starlight.

Trixie put on a slight smile as they walked outside, she sighed and got off the chair when they shut the door. She felt a bit of heartache as she walked over to the antiques.

Trixie had a look at the antiques, she whimpered sadly as she looked at the crystal.

She couldn’t see the images from where she was standing, but she knew she wasn’t added. It made her as sad as, maybe even sadder than a foal who dropped their favourite ice cream on a hot day and their parents said they couldn’t have anymore, but she also felt anger bottled up inside, she felt angrier than a bull that saw red.

When she looked up at the crystal, she didn’t even notice tears roll down her face, she felt betrayed.

”No room, huh?” She said quietly, “No room for the great and powerful Trixie? Well, I’ll have my revenge, I’ll get a crystal just like that but not include either of you,” She said bitterly, “Ill get one in the shape of a star, and it will only consist of members of the Starry Squad,” She then realised, “Wait-that actually makes sense... I’ll think of something...”

Trixie sighed and stared at it and wiped her tears as she felt them, she growled and stomped a hoof, she looked up at the crystal.

”What did Trixie do to be left out? She’s a friend too!” She grumbled then sighed, “Or is she? Do you think so lowly of her that you didn’t even bother to felt how she felt... left out! I’m a pony too, with feelings!” She sobbed, “If I wasn’t in the pictures, then why’d you bother showing it! Was it just so you could rub it in!?”

✨⭐️✨

She then heard a ruffling noise behind her, she felt a shiver go down her spine.

”Huh?” She said quietly, “Are you guys back already?”

Then she saw the dragon skull shake slightly, she chuckled a bit when she come to a conclusion that it was possibly a mouse.

”Oh- hah, I wasn’t scared at all! You can’t scare me, mousy! Not only am I the great and powerful, I’m also the unscareable-“

Then she screamed a blood-curdling scream when a familiar shadowy substance slowly went out the dragon’s eyes. Nightshade was back, she scrambled back but hit a wall.

”N-no... n-not you!” She remarked, “Please just be tiredness,” she rubbed her eyes and blinked but nothing changed.

Nightshade seeped through the eyes and moved around the skull of the dragon. Trixie was frozen in fear and shook slightly as she watched as a dark blue, black and red dragon head formed around the skull, making spines that looked as sharp as swords and two horns that were long and curly.

She yelped as the ‘dragon head’ lifted into the air and opened and closed its mouth. Soon the head’s mouth opened wide, revealing teeth as sharp as daggers.

”P-please don’t,” Squeaked Trixie.

Then with the mouth open wide, the head launched at her, she barely dodged in time. Nightshade seeped across the wall it crashed into, dropping the dragon skull, it smashed on the ground, it was just made of clay. Trixie gulped nervously as she looked at the mess on the floor.

”Oh... Sunburst isn’t going to be happy...” She said in a worried voice.

She saw Nightshade spread in the air like tree branches, almost touching the ceiling. Trixie gulped as it used a ‘tentacle’ it had formed to grab an old blue vase that had Starswirl the Bearded’s cutiemark on it, that was on a high shelf.

“No!” Trixie shouted as she used her magic to shoot at Nightshade to let it go. Her spell’s glowing pink blast shot towards Nightshade, Trixie watched with hope, it needed to hit!

Shattered Friendship Part 2

Her heart dropped when instead of hitting Nightshade, she hit the vase, shattering it into pieces. She watched as the pieces fell to the floor, she was terrified.

“S-Starlight helped him win that in an auction!” She shouted in shock.

Trixie felt a pit of guilt as she looked at the shattered remains laying on the ground. She made a mental note to find the superglue or tape before they came back, she knew this wasn’t going to end well. Nightshade made multiple tentacle-like limbs form from its formless body. Each one grabbed onto a different antique.

Cups, books, vases, wands, portraits and more were held in the limbs.

”I’ll ask you a question, I’ll not break these if you answer honestly... but if not... then you’ll suffer,”

Beads of sweat ran down Trixie’s face, she wondered what the question was. She knew if she answered correctly, then she would only have to explain two broken antiques, but hopefully she would be able to glue or tape them back together before Sunburst and Starlight returned. She knew if she answered incorrectly, then she would kiss the friendship with them goodbye.

Her heart raced as she looked at the strange but dangerous nebula-like being in front of her, moving in place like a cloud. She gulped again, she thought about making a dash for the door, but then she realised that if she ran away then Nightshade would destroy everything.

Trixie stood there for a few minutes before deciding what to do. She took a few deep breaths before staring at Nightshade with an idea.

“The great and powerful Trixie won’t fall to your tricks!” She shouted.

As she said that, she sent a blast of pink magic out of her horn, the spell went at the speed of light right towards the nebula. Trixie grinned, but soon her face fell when she saw her spell only made Nightshade do a noise in pain and create a hole in the nebula body that quickly filled herself. She looked onwards with defeat.

”That tickled,” Nightshade lied.

Trixie quickly spoke before the antiques could be destroyed, “Wait! No! I’ll answer the question, just give me another chance!” She begged.

”Hmm... well I am feeling generous,” Nightshade chuckled, “Here’s the question; Did you care about Stardust, at all?”

Trixie stared at Nightshade, she sighed and went to explain.

“Y-yes I... I cared about her as a friend... She was my friend... She really was a special filly,” Trixie responded, “I miss her... I wish she was able to come with me on this whole journey, but now I think about it... it might have been pretty traumatic for her, the shooting at Manehattan and Gumdrop’s death...”

She sighed, “But I also wish she was here, I often think how different it would have been... she was a little annoying, but... she would pull a little joke or sung a song and that would have lightened the mood...”

Trixie didn’t even notice she had teared up, “I do care about her, and wherever she is now I hope she’s having a great time, I saw her in my... after my nightmare when you knocked me out... so she must be alive! She has to be!” She exclaimed.

There was silence, Nightshade didn’t make a noise, neither did Trixie. Trixie felt sweat run down her face and neck as she watched Nightshade. Nightshade was still, no noise or movement beside its body moving like fluid, like water, or jelly.

Parts of it thinned and swelled and swayed, all at different times and in different amounts. Nightshade was a weird creature, almost like it cake from another world, maybe it came from Stardust’s.

Trixie started to daze and wonder what was Nightshade exactly, then she remembered that cloud of magic that came from Starlight’s horn when she accidentally teleported the map.

It was a scary sight, and she almost got hurt from when it possessed those three ponies. Nightshade resembled it in a way, was Nightshade the result of something similar like that? But possibly more sentient, since that cloud of magic was just Starlight’s anger towards her.

She started to think a bit more, perhaps Nightshade was her own anger cloud thing like Starlight had, but maybe not anger towards someone else, but to herself. Potentially, some anger she ever felt towards herself escaped her horn without her noticing, became sentient, but it lost track of her until now.

But Trixie didn’t remember a time when she was angry at herself, except now, where she broke an antique in a stupid way, and Gumdrop dying. But she met it before Gumdrop dying, so that can’t have been it. Then she gasped when she realised, Stardust. This whole time she felt guilt for Stardust going away, or she might have, but bottled it up and hid it.

She wiped some tears away before thinking of what she wanted to say, surely forgiving herself for Stardust’s fate should make it go away, or weaken it. Trixie thought of a plan.

“If... I forgive m-myself for Stardust’s fate, will you go away?” She asked with fear in her voice.

There was silence before Trixie screamed and jumped back when realised a part of Nightshade was touching her forehead. She shook in fear slightly. Nightshade gurgled before speaking.

“No... I’m not from this world... my true form... was broken... leaving me bodyless, I’m in search of my other half, so we can be whole again,” It gurgled.

”Oh...” Trixie sighed in relief, “Wait... shouldn’t your missing half be in your world? Like, I don’t see why it would come to Equestria,” She raised a brow, “Unless Stardust-“

”Was not my other half! She was our experiment!” It said before breaking the antiques it was holding, by either smashing them on the ground, smashing them with a weapon or with its own body morphed as some sort of weapon or animal.

Trixie froze in fear as she watched, “No!” She shrieked, “Stop!” She blasted a random spell at Nightshade but to her utter disbelief, it simply shot a hole through it that filled itself quickly and hit something behind the fluid nebula body.

“Stop!” Trixie shrieked louder as she watched antiques get thrown to the ground, torn apart or crushed, “Please stop!” She begged, “No one messes with the great and powerful Trixie!” She said before shooting multiple random spells, but most of them hit antiques instead, shattering them or turning them into teacups.

Her heart raced as she hopelessly watched as antiques get trashed, soon enough about half the room was nothing but dust and debris! She screamed as she watched a portrait of Meadowbrook portrait get torn into two, Fluttershy brought that for Sunburst for a Heartswarming present.

Trixie’s heart raced and body got sweaty as she watched Nightshade, now morphed in a shape of a wild cat such as a panther or leopard and destroying antiques. A very rare book was in its jaws before Trixie shouted.

”Hey! Nightshade! You think you’re more great and powerful than Trixie!?” She stood on all fours and got ready to charge.

Nightshade chuckled as Trixie ran towards it, it only broke in half, letting Trixie run straight into a wall before putting itself back together. Trixie slapped into a wall and stepped back annoyed, she rubbed the part of her head that hit the wall with her hoof. She sighed and growled a bit before feeling something grab her tail. She looked back and saw Nightshade had a part of it wrapped around her tail.

”Oh shoo-“

Was all she managed to say before being thrown like a Frisbee at a shelf that held Sunburst’s collection of vases that resembled all dangerous creatures, they were made around the time those beasts were discovered, making them really ancient, and a complete collection was very rare and sought after. The second Trixie hit it the wood shelves collapsed, taking the vases down with them.

✨⭐️✨

Trixie coughed from the dust of the remains of the vases and the wood from the shelves. She was covered in cuts, bruises and splinters. Getting up was hard, she tried but only collapsed again. There was no hope, she watched hopelessly as each and every antique in the room was destroyed, the floor was covered in debris from the destroyed furniture, shelves and antiques.

She wasn’t great and powerful enough to stop Nightshade, she was just weak and useless... the weak and useless Trixie. Trixie failed, she laid on her stomach and watched in defeat, she felt sick to the stomach, Nightshade showed zero signs of stopping. But just before a pot was thrown, she levitated it before it hit the floor, but then Nightshade grabbed it and tried to pull it away.

”No!” Trixie shouted, “No... the great and powerful Trixie has been harassed enough from the likes of you!”

“Very well then...” Nightshade said softly as it let go.

A sigh of relief came from Trixie, “Thank you...”

But then Nightshade shrunk its size small enough to go through the neck of the pot and into the main part of it, Trixie watched in confusion, and before she knew it the pot exploded as Nightshade expanded to a much larger size suddenly. She quickly closed her eyes, luckily, but the pieces missed her face anyway.

Trixie looked around in horror, the room was unrecognisable, it used to be filled with rare antiques and collections. It was now instead a mess of shards of glass, clay and more pottery along with shreds of material.

She could hardly speak, she muttered in disbelief as she looked at the destroyed room, a tear went down her eye. What was she going to tell them? A bit of dust filled the air, making Trixie cough.

“I saved the best for last,”

Trixie looked up in shock and fear, Nightshade was holding that heart made of rare crystal and was about to drop it. She coughed and weakly put her hoof out.

”N-No!”

”Why wouldn't you want to break it?” Asked Nightshade, “They left you out,”

”If it broke then they’d be heartbroken,” Explained Trixie, “I’m very upset they left me out... but... I know now that breaking it won’t make things better,”

“Is that what you really think? Just admit it, you wanted to shatter it for revenge,” Nightshade replied ominously.

”Of course not!” Shouted Trixie, “Yes it was tempting, but I would never do that to my friends,” She explained, “I’m far too great and powerful to do anything like that to my friends,” She said eagerly.

“Great and powerful, huh?” Nightshade responded.

”Obviously, I’m the most great and powerful friend, I would never do something like that, because breaking a friend’s property is neither great or powerful,”

Nightshade crackled, “That’s just weakness! You’re being weak, you’re the weak and powerless Trixie, you have no power against me or Dark Matter, you’re a pathetic, weak being,”

”No I am not! You’re the cruel and cold-hearted Nightshade! I, the great and powerful Trixie, won’t fall to the likes of you again! Because I am much better!” Trixie shouted loudly with determination.

”If you’re really as great and powerful as you say...” Nightshade said ominously, “Then catch this!”

It seemed to happen in slow motion as the rare carved crystal was thrown towards the wall, Trixie screeched as she jumped towards it to save it as it travelled through the air.

It was getting closer and closer to the ground, Trixie cut herself on some sharp pieces as she landed on the floor with her hooves out to catch it. But then here was a pink aura around it, saving it just seconds before it hit some hard remains of a pot.

Trixie wiped beads of sweat from her forehead with a foreleg as she levitated the heart in her magic. She slowly smiled as she looked at it in success. A sigh of relief escaped as she looked at it happily, she let all her fears and worry wash away, ignoring the ruined room.

“Heh, the great and powerful Trixie did indeed save it...” She said quietly.

✨⭐️✨

Trixie stood on her hind legs and proudly flipped her cape as she spoke, “Woo! Go Trixie! You’re so great and powerful!” She waved her hooves and cape around proudly and chuckled.

“Well, yeah, I know I am, thank you,” She did a bow, “Ha! Was there ever any doubt?” Then there was a Nightshade coloured flash right where she was levitating the heart shaped rare crystal.

She slowly turned her head to the side in terror to see Nightshade morphed as a strange looking object pressing against the wall. The shape was strange, when Nightshade moved away from the wall and made the other side face Trixie.

Nightshade was a fist shape, but strangely had five strange looking claws on the hand, they didn’t even look like claws. More like a hand from the human world that Starlight described.

Trixie wondered why she couldn’t go there, but Starlight never told her why, it was unfair since Starlight got to go. Trixie realised she was going off-topic and watched in horror as Nightshade went back to its shapeless and formless self and went out the way of the crystal.

”No...” Whispered Trixie as she saw the shattered remains.

Shards of aquamarine coloured crystal laid scattered on the ground, many pieces. Trixie’s ears were drooped and neck down in guilt as she approached it, she looked down at it, back facing the door to the room.

”Why?” Trixie whispered.

She didn’t even know what to say to Starlight. Trixie looked down at it, wondering what to do next. Was this the end of their friendship, was it as shattered and broken as the crystal?

“I’m sorry...” Trixie said silently while wiping some tears.

Then a voice boomed behind her. A voice she thought she would never hear angry

“Out!” Shouted Sunburst next to Starlight, who had an angry face. They stood in the doorway with furious faces. Trixie slowly turned around, and much to her horror, the rest of the squad was with them. She gulped.

Gamecube shook her head, “Not cool dude,”

”I’m disappointed,” Minty sighed as she kicked her hoof on the ground.

”I don’t want to talk to you right now...” Sunrise mumbled, she wiped her eyes and hid tears.

Trixie looked at them with fear, scared that their friendship was over.

Loophole poked her tongue out, “I’m clumsy yet I wouldn’t have done something like this! This is your fault,”

Trixie stared in shock, “I-“

”I don’t want to hear it!” Shouted Starlight, “I shoulda known you’d do this! You were planning on getting your revenge because you weren’t on the pictures!”

Trixie stepped back with a heartbroken expression.

”It was-“ Trixie was just about to point at Nightshade before realising it was gone, “A monster!”

”Likely story...” Snarled Starlight.

”If you can’t respect a friend’s property, then you don’t deserve friends,” GC responded.

Trixie sobbed out loud, “It wasn’t me! It was this dark being named Nightshade! It’s dangerous and has don’t terrible thing to me as it followed me on this journey! Plus it was part of the plan for it to do this! I tried to stop it but-“

”Woah, woah, woah, wait-there is a dangerous being following you this whole time, and you knew about it?”

”You never told me this?” Sunrise explained.

”Yeah,” Gamecube noted, “Why were you hiding this? Or are you lying?”

”So, you brought a shadowy being into the Crystal Empire, an Empire of ponies that were traumatised by a shadowy being named Sombra!? You could have put the whole place in panic or worse! Nightshade could have gone for the Crystal Heart!” She gasped, “Where is Nightshade now!?”

”No clue...” Trixie replied.

Starlight started to stress out, “What are the chances of it going to the Crystal Heart or tormenting the crystal ponies like Sombra did!?”

Trixie sighed, “Now that you are saying that, it seems likely Nightshade would do that to torture me further...”

Starlight growled, “This isn’t about you!” She snapped and have Trixie a slap right across her face, “We must warn Princess Cadence and Shining Armour!” Starlight alerted.

Starlight and Sunburst ran out of Sunburst’s house leaving Trixie with the Starry Squad. Trixie rubbed to sooth the spot she was smacked.

“So... anyone wanna go get the white-“ Trixie was about to ask but noticed her friends had all walked away, “Diamond... with me?” She sighed.

Trixie slowly walked to her wagon, knowing that she had screwed up really badly, everyone upset at her. She felt none of them would forgive her, she felt ashamed. As she arrived to her wagon she saw extra guards marching around, she quickly entered and shut the door behind her.

✨⭐️✨

As she got ready for the white jewel, the pink one started to glow softly. None of the others were doing the same, Trixie looked at it curiously, wondering why it was glowing. The urge to touch it came to her.

Surely it wasn’t going to hurt her or anything, they were basically the weapon to defeat the darkness, her curiosity got the best of her, and she rose her hoof towards it. It was warm to the touch, she felt warmth sleep through her body, and the physical pain and all her bruises and scrapes went away with a pink glow.

”Woah...” Trixie commented, surprised at that the pink jewel did, “I’m pretty great and powerful now!” She exclaimed before she put on her snow gear underneath her cape and got ready to face the snow alone.

She had packed some saddlebags with what she thought was important. It felt lonely, she felt some heartache as she thought about her friends. Nightshade could be destroying the whole empire, and it’s all her fault.

She walked to the border of the empire and sighed. Trixie glimpse back with sorrow. Her bags were packed with a heated heat pack, water bottle, rope, dagger and a map.

“Guess the great and powerful Trixie is on her own... again...” She sighed regrettably.

Prepare for the Frozen Abyss

Trixie shivered as she trudged through the deep snow, snow was in her mane, clothes and fur making her colder. She stopped and saw her own breath, she then saw a shadow rush past her, she frantically looked around in fear wondering what it was. She looked to her right and saw Nightshade, but when she blinked, the said being was no longer there.

For a few minutes, she looked around in fear and confusion. Before she saw a huge snowstorm go right towards her, she yelped in fright before closing her eyes and looking the other way, she would have normally run from it, but she needed to get up that mountain.

It was tough and cold the snow pelted her body, she could feel thick bits of snow and seemingly some ice beat on her body occasionally, despite wearing her cape that was violently fluttering behind her. She had a hoof up as she walked towards the mountain to block any snow from getting into her face. The snow went deeper and deeper until it went up to her chest, it was hard to walk, her body felt tired and was begging for a break.

As she endured the heavy snow she thought she saw another glimpse of Nightshade, she gasped in shock and wondered what was going to happen. She stood there, frozen in fear on what was about to happen, she looked around, her mane fluttered in her face. She snarled in annoyance as she looked around her.

Then she came to a conclusion it was just her imagination, she walked on and dealt with the heavy snow in her face. As she walked deeper she had to hold her hat down with her hoof, so she wouldn’t lose it, it would be pretty tragic to lose her great and powerful magician hat. Trixie felt scared, cold and sad.

She felt scared because she didn’t exactly know what dangers were up ahead, she didn’t know what was going to happen next. As she walked, she had a pain in her gut, like it was telling her to not go further. Trixie wouldn’t have admitted it, but she knows she would be galloping back to the Crystal Empire as fast as her legs could carry her, but she knew she couldn’t wimp out, or else Equestria was doomed.

Trixie was trembling as she walked forward, not only because of the cold. The snowstorm was as strong as an earth pony stallion’s kick, but she kept going forward. Lucky for her, the snowstorm didn’t last much longer, but up ahead was a wall she had to climb. She took a big breath in and out, it was going to be a tricky climb.

She gulped when she saw how high it was, she wasn’t exactly a good rock-climber. Soon enough, the rope in her saddlebags came out, engulfed in her pink magic aura. Trixie grabbed one end in her mouth and tried to throw it, as expected in landed in the snow. Then she had an idea, she remembered how Applejack spins a rope around and lassos things, Trixie is great and powerful, she would do that easily.

Trixie scoffed before picking up one end, she tried to remember how Applejack did it. She started to spin the rope around using her teeth, but nothing happened, she grumbled as she stared at the rope.

“Lasso!” She shouted, muffled by the rope in her mouth, “Like Applejack!”

She then realised she was shouting at a rope, a normal, ordinary rope. Trixie tried again, she managed to get the whole rope spinning and twirling, but her victory didn’t last long, the next thing she knew her legs were all tied up.

”Stupid rope!” She grumbled as she untied herself.

It was cold, she was getting more frustrated by the second, she looked at the rope with anger.

“Why won’t you-“ she grumbled, she almost gave an annoyed scream but stopped herself.

Soon, she packed away the rope into her saddlebags, she decided she might as well do it without a rope. She started to climb, placing her hooves either into holes or rocks poking out of the wall. It was cold and slippery, her heart raced as she placed each hoof where she thought it needs to go. This was her first time rock-climbing, her hooves shook in fear.

She yelled when a front hoof slipped off, she thought she was going to fall. Trixie had no idea how high up she was, she didn’t even want to look, her focus was to the top, hopefully it was going to be more walking than climbing. Soon enough, she placed her hooves in different spots than before, she took a breath.

”Okay, Trixie, you only have to keep this up for... uh... the rest of the way...” She sighed annoyed.

Then she put her front hoof on a ledge that broke immediately, she lost her footing and fell. It felt like her heart stopped for a second, she screamed on the way down till she hit the snow. The fall lasted shorter than she expected, she looked up and saw that she was barely a meter from the ground.

“Oh-“ she said bluntly.

Trixie grumbled, she decided she might as well look for a better way up, she started walking, hoping for an easy climb. She walked for a while, she was cold, but she ignored it, the snowstorm died down allowing for easier navigation, she moved on, hoping to get to the top, the snow went halfway up her legs, but she didn’t care.

She looked up, upward were heavily hidden in the clouds, not allowing her to see the peak and a good chunk of the climb before it, but she still moved forward. It was a nerve-wreking trek, but she was the great and powerful Trixie. It was not going to be easy, but she was going to get up there, she needed to be at the top, that was where the next jewel was. Dang, It was going to be a massive climb, it was gonna take quite a while to get to the top indeed.

Trixie didn’t know how long she was climbing for, but she knew she was almost halfway, she decided to take a breather and walk towards the edge. It was a vast view, she could barely see the ground as it was covered by cloud or hidden by the lower parts of the mountain.

Looking out in the distance Trixie could just spot the shimming Crystal Empire in the distance, she sighed, knowing that’s where her friends were, hopefully not being trolled by Nightshade.

”Lovely sight, eh?” A familiar voice asked behind her.

Trixie quickly looked back, “Discord!?” She shouted, “You’ve been following me this whole time?”

”No, actually,” He responded, “Just wanting to visit my favourite magician,”

At the click of his fingers, a medal made of cardboard appeared around Trixie’s neck. She rolled her eyes and grumbled a little.

“Oh, look at whittle Trixie, all alone, say, where’s the griff-“

“Gone,” Trixie said bluntly.

There was a cold pit in her stomach, she kept in her tears, hoping Discord would at least talk about something else.

“Gone because you had an argument, that’s why you’re on this mountain alone? Because you two had a fight?” He laughed as he flicked his fingers to make a bubble that was shaped to look like Gumdrop.

Trixie gasped in shock as she looked it in the eyes, that were also bubbles, “G-Gumdrop... Discord! Take it down!” She shouted.

”Yep, you certainly had a fight, was there ever any doubt?” He chuckled, “Why else would you not want to see your little friend, I wonder what the argument was about, I’m sure the results are endless with someone like you!”

Trixie felt her blood boil as she looked at him, she kept in her tears. She used her magic to zap the bubble, popping it on one hit.

“Quit it, Discord!” Trixie shouted, hiding hints of her pain.

”Well, I’m sure she’ll forgive you, and you’ll see each other again, like some cheesy story... but hey! Friendship always wins, am I right?” He teased before flicking his fingers, making plushies of the Main Six fly around her.

He did notice Trixie gritted her teeth and her ears were pushed back, but he simply assumed it as her being annoyed. “This is the most annoyed I’ve seen you been of my chaos,” He chuckled.

“Discord...” Trixie gritted her teeth.

Discord flicked his fingers again, this time she was on a teacup ride, going in circles on one of the teacup carts.

“Woo!” Discord joined her chuckling, but he noticed something was off, Trixie looked sad, he was expecting annoyance.

He crossed his arms as he watched Trixie look unamused.

“Tough crowed, huh?” He shrugged and made the teacup ride disappear.

Trixie was relieved when Discord vanished too, she smiled happily as she started walking up the hill. She found herself wiping a few tears as she walked up the hill. She couldn’t believe Discord, he was at his worse this time. A sad, lonely sigh escaped as she walked ahead, hoping there wasn’t going to be any more distractions.

But her relief was short-lived when Discord’s head and neck poked out of her hat suddenly, she jumped back a little. Discord laughed and booped Trixie. “Did you miss me?” He joked, “Look at those tears, or are you missing Gumdrop?”

”Don’t talk about Gumdrop!” Trixie shouted in anger.

Discord laughed again, “Do you realise who I am? Go on, just ask me to get her, and I will! But with a twist,” he chuckled to himself.

He teleported out of her hat and hovered alongside her, eating tiny apple trees, the apples had a rock texture to them. He was grabbing them from a ball of yarn. Trixie grumbled and sighed, realising she indeed didn’t tell Discord about Gumdrop’s fate.

”It’s not possible...” Trixie sighed sadly.

Discord chuckled and stretched his neck and face to be literally face to face with Trixie, but still walking beside her. “You’re scared of the twist, are you!” He chuckled, “I assure there will be a lot of chaos, but I see you’re too chi-“

Trixie screamed angrily as she marched away, leaving Discord behind. But then she heard the sound of his teleportation next to her.

”What do you want?” She grunted.

“I’m sure Gumdrop would be happy if you went on this venture with a friend,”

Trixie stopped when he said that, “Yeah, but not with you! Your first impression on her made her upset!”

”Oh I get it,” Discord chuckled, “Don’t talk about Gumdrop!”

Trixie rolled her eyes with annoyance, “What do you really want, Discord? Or are you here just to annoy me?”

”I am basically the master of chaos, I can teleport us to the top, lickity-split!” He said proudly.

”No,” Trixie said bluntly.

”Friendship is magic, and you won’t be able to get up to the top without a friend,” Discord muttered.

”Well I would have a friend! I found four friends on the way here, and guess what!? They didn’t come with me because they left me because I wasn’t able to save Sunburst’s antiques! I keep losing my friends on this adventure, I’m going solo!”

Discord nodded, “More friends? Hmmm... I can teleport them here, where are they?”

”Crystal Empire, if they haven’t left on their own ways...” Trixie grumbled.

”I need more info, like, are they ponies?” Discord explained.

Trixie grumbled, “None of your business, you’ll just mess with them!” She accused.

”That’s who I am...” Discord grumbled, “Well, I’m following then, Fluttershy will kill me if she finds out I left someone in such a dangerous area,”

Trixie started walking again, Discord flew next to her. He summoned some bubbles that floated around Trixie and made tunes when popped, he also made the snow a bit bouncy, so Trixie would be bounced high into the air every few steps. Discord giggled at her yelp when she was suddenly bounced into the air the first time.

“Discord!” She shouted.

He laughed, “That’s the Trixie I know and love,” he smiled.

Discord decided to miss with her more and summoned a green cloud above her that dropped anvil-shaped popcorn that disappeared after a few minutes on the ground. It didn’t hurt Trixie, just made her annoyed, but she put up with that and bouncing into the air every few steps.

Soon he clicked his fighters and Trixie was on a huge, purple bouncy ball that had stars on it, just like it cape. It doing a few small bounces before doing a large bounce and bouncing up the mountain at a fast pace.

Discoed also joined in, but on a Discord themed bouncy ball with handles. He sped up till his was next to Trixie, the balls raced up the slope. He chuckled a bit at Trixie’s screaming. Trixie was hanging on for dear life as Discord’s got faster and faster, till it reached a rock at the top of the slop they were on, the second his touched the rock both bouncy balls vanished.

He laughed as Trixie face planted on the soft snow behind him.

”Who’s a winner? It’s Discord!” He cheered proudly as he wore a medal and did a goofy dance with a trophy.

Soon he picked Trixie up by a back hoof, he chuckled a bit as he did so, Trixie had an unamused face as he dusted her off with his paw.

”Aww, don’t be a sore loser, you did great on your first try, I bet Gumdrop would have loved to join us!”

Trixie rolled her eyes but stayed silent. He let her go, and she just flopped on the floor.

“Pretending to be a rag doll, now?” He asked her jokingly.

”No..” She said sadly.

”C’mon, you gotta admit that race was fun, sheesh,” He crossed his arms.

Trixie sighed, “I... no... it wasn’t, the great and powerful Trixie has her own way of having fun,” Trixie sighed, “And after this, I have things to say to my team,”

”Like telling them about your argument with Gumdrop instead of keeping her a secret and forgetting about her?,” Discord said, letting it slip, “I’m sure she won’t forgive you if-“

Trixie gasped and slowly then sighed, “I am not trying to forget her! I’m just not ready to talk bout it!” She shouted in his face, “You’re just trying to be centre of attention! Leave me alone, Discord, this isn’t your story!”

Discord shouted, “Wait! Shouldn’t you at least give you another chance? I sure she would be willing to give you another!” He smiled, “We both were-“

”She’s dead...” Trixie interrupted softly.

Discord’s expression showed surprised, which was rare for him, “What did you say,” he asked, hoping he misheard her. He had to stop himself from making a joke about having snow in his ears, as he knew this wasn’t the time.

Truxie looked at Discord, eyes watering, “She’s dead! Okay! Are you happy now!? I’m sorry that she’s dead, but you don’t need to make jokes and humour out of it!“ Trixie shrieked as her eyes filled with tears, making them appear misty.

”How would you feel if you were having a nice walk in the city and the next thing you know, your best friend was shot with a gun!?” She shouted loudly, “And before you say it, no! You don’t know how that feels because it never happened to you!”

She shouted before running away. She ran away, tears in her eyes and running down her face. Discord had realised what he had done, but he didn’t chase her.

Trixie kept running, tears in her eyes and a pit of guilt haunting her, she couldn’t believe she had started crying. She cried in front of Discord! That’s something she will never hear the end off, if only Gumdrop was still alive. She didn’t care if Discord was chasing her, or was going to surprise her again, she just wanted to collect the last three jewels and end this story!

She ran, she jumped over rocks and around them, she didn’t stop. Faster, she ran as fast as she could until she hit a wall, she fell back and onto the snow. Nothing would have stopped her from doing a frustrated scream, getting up and kicking the same wall she crashed into.

”Why did it have to be at the top of the mountain!?” She screamed.

Trixie dusted herself off and studied the climb, steep and looked nearly impossible. She would surely fall and get hurt, she grumbled tiredly.

“Well... I’m the great and powerful magician, not the... strong and sporty climber...,” She stated as she walked through the lane of snow up head, hoping for an easy climb.

No hope, it was too steep, easy climb for the first few seconds but was impossible without skill. Trixie wasn’t an expert, but she could clearly see that she wouldn’t have been able to.

Trixie started to grumble as she walked away, she walked around hoping for an easy climb but with no luck, she went back to the wall and looked up. It was the lowest cliff available.

“It’s so high! How am I supposed to get up there! It’s not like I can-“ Trixie’s eyes wided in shock.

There was silence, only the wind howling as it carried snowflakes in the breeze. No animals stirred as Trixie stood there looking st the wall.

”Oh,” She realised as she came to a realisation.

”Ahem,” She cleared her throat, “Why didn’t you think of that!?” She shouted as she accusingly pointed at her reflection seen in a pane of ice.

She relaxed on the spot and took a breath in and out before focusing on her magic and her body. Trixie needed to have her whole body in her magic, it was easy once learnt, self-levitation is just like levitating an object. But needed more focus and to be careful, she didn’t want to accidentally drop herself. Soon Trixie felt all four legs leave the ground, she opened her eyes and looked down.

Trixie’s body was engulfed in her pink glow she watched the ground and focused on lifting herself higher up, she went up and up. She didn’t think of anything other than getting herself to the top of that climb.

Soon enough she was above it, all she had to do was levitate herself forward. This was supposed to be easy, but unfortunately, Trixie was so excited that she sort of threw herself. She landed on her face, unharmed, but she did have to spit some snow out. Trixie wiped it from her face and continued on her way.

“Alright mountain! You better not have any more annoying nonsense!” She shouted.

Trixe walked onwards up the mountain with a proud posture, she hummed a bit as she went on her way.

“I’m on my way,” She sang, “And no one can stop me!”

She chuckled proudly as she ventured further, the peak was in sight, she was so excited! Trixie felt she could just walk straight to it! The sky was clear, a clear afternoon sky, no clouds, but there were clouds surrounding her and the peak, they looked just like freshly laid snow. The peak was so close, she walked towards it, unaware of any possible dangers laying under the clouds that hid the ground.

What happened next made Trixie wish she was being more careful. Before she knew it, she was hanging on the edge of a cliff, she couldn’t see the ground below her, clouds were blocking the view, so no idea how high of a drop it was. She tried to pull herself up, but she heard cracks, the part of the cliff she was hanging on was just ice!

Trixie’s heart raced as she wonders what to do next, she felt beads of sweat run down her face, she whimpered, hoping somepony, any pony was out there! Even Discord! Sure, he wouldn’t exactly help her without adding chaos, but she did regret running away from him! She was on a cliff, miles away from any spark of hope for help.

“Breath in, breath out, breath in...” Trixie told herself as she did so.

But before she knew it, her saddlebags were gone! They must have fallen off during that race with Discord! She screamed as she realised that meant lack of rope! She was starting to pant in fear, trying to lift herself up, but it only cracked more, making her situation worse. Her chest went up and down quickly as she hung on the cliff, her forelegs shook as she tightened her grip on the ledge.

”If only Discord followed me,” She thought.

She closed her eyes and waited, she imagined herself falling onto some silly bouncy castle that was flying! Or even a trampoline, field of marshmallow, a water- no- a milk-slide into a milk pool! Or even falling onto a flying pig, or into some jelly!

She thought of many countless silly ways Discord would help.

”Discord!?” She called hopelessly.

There was no response, no locals nearby, now ledge she could grab on, the one she was on was weak and breaking! the only way was down, to her doom, the seemingly abyss below her. She shed a tear.

The White Diamond

The ice ledge she was holding into started to crack, Trixie gasped in shock.

”No!” Trixie yelled, “The great and powerful Trixie is not going down like this!” Shouted.

She let go with one hoof and moved it around, hoping to find something. She breathed heavily, and couldn’t focus well. As she feared there wasn’t anything for her to grab on to. Then at that moment the ice broke completely, allowing her to fall to her doom.

Trixie screamed as she fell to her doom, fear rushed thorough her body as she felol towards the ground. The fear tore though her, like a blade though paper. She was heading towards the ground headfirst, she was sure her body would nor be recovered for decades! And when it was, it would be preserved from being frozen old enough to be put in some museum in the far, far future and labelled ‘idiot’ unicorn.

Wait... unicorn! Trixie at that moment just remembered she was a unicorn and could preform a spell to save herself. She quickly focused on levitation and her body, she closed her eyes, bracing for impact. She kept focusing on her body and levitation and trying to ignore she was falling, she kept focusing.

Her heart raced until she didn’t feel herself falling anymore. She slowly peeked her eyes opened and looked towards the ground, she gasped when she saw she was only a few inches from hitting a sharp rock, that would have ended her for sure! Trixie levitated herself upright and onto the snow next to the rock that almost ended her.

She took some breaths and looked at the rock. At that moment she started to picture the area in the distant area, still being the same but with a pony walking through with an eagle and a wolf. The wolf sniffed a pile of snow and the eagle screeched, the pony walked toward a pile.

“You found something?” The pony asked.

The wolf started to dig, so did the pony, then Trixie’s frozen leg was revealed.

“An ancient frozen pony!” Said the pony.

Soon Trixie’s frozen but dead body was uncovered, the pony was proud, “We uncovered am ancient pony, let’s take it to the museum,”

Then the next thing was her frozen body in an exhibit at a museum and ponies coming to see it along with other exhibits of extinct creatures. Well, she loved fame and an audience but them as a preserved frozen body!

Trixie snapped herself out of it, “Enough daydreaming, Trixie...” She told herself.

She looked up, it was a high drop, she couldn’t even see where she fell from. Trixie sighed sadly, thinking she would have to start again. But! She could try teleporting, and that’s what she attempted. The place she was formerly was pictured in her mind as she focused on teleportation. Trixie strained a little, and she pictured it in her mind and activated the spell.

“C’mon, teleport,” she muttered to herself.

A drop of sweat ran down her neck as she strained her horn. Soon enough, she vanished in a flash of pink to where she was going to teleport. Once she felt snow on the bottom of her hooves and the sun on her fur she opened one eye to make sure it worked. She gasped and looked around, but jumped back in fear once she realised how close she was to where she fell.

“Okay Trixie, just be more careful,” She told herself.

In the far distance was the peak, she gasped and smiled with joy. There were hardly any plants as it was so high up. Also, she also found the air a bit... harder to breath in and colder that below, she shivered but kept moving.

“Trixie wants to talk to whoever’s idea it was to put the white jewel, crystal, diamond thing all the way up there!” She shouted as she pointed to the peak.

There was a glimmer of like just above it, hard to see among the snow that shimmered in the sun, but it was there. But on her way, there were sure to be many hidden dangers under the cloud, she hated it, but she had to go. She walked, staying aware and moved slowly, so she wouldn’t go walking off a cliff or something. She was cold but determined, she walked with a grin.

“Hah, Mountain! You’d better believe, I have tricks up my-“ She sung before tripping and face planting, “I guess you have tricks in your clouds...” she sighed, muffled.

Soon she approached a rocky arch over a large gap, she slowly walked across it. Her heat raced as the arch started to crumble under her, she galloped, but tripped and her muzzle on the other end of the arch as the part under her collapsed into a pit. It wasn’t that deep, it was just a pit with jagged rocks in and around. Trixie opened her eyes to see snow and debris around her, she whimpered as she tried to lift her legs, she couldn’t feel her front left one that was under some snow.

“Oooh...” she groaned in pain as she tried to move it, “ow,”

Her eyes started to water as she tried to get up, but it appeared that one of her hind legs were stuck under a pile of rubble. Making two injured legs.

“Why me?” She sobbed.

Trixie yanked her hind leg only to screech in pain. She was determined to get free, she looked at her hind leg. To her shock, there was a large boulder on it, she whimpered in pain as she laid there, crying to herself slightly. Soon she doing deep breaths to try and calm herself down. Her legs felt numb and hold, her boots were filled with snow, but she tried to ignore it as she breathed in and out. As soon as she was calm, she looked at the boulder and focused on her magic.

She inhaled and exhaled as she readied her spell, she took a breath and pictured a snowy area near the arch that broke when she was on it. Soon she let out a blast from her horn the boulder was gone, she shrieked in excitement before realising a shadow above her was getting bigger and bigger. Trixie looked up in fear and saw the boulder coming right towards her, she had made a mistake in teleportation! Soon a figure pushed her out of the way saving her from the boulder, she ragdolled across the snow.

“Oomph,” She said out loud before opening her eyes and lifting her head.

What she saw was a yak, a small yak, certainly nowhere near the age of an adult one, but why was he so high in the mountains? This yak’s main coat colour was a dark-nearly black colour and had a large bushy tuft of fur on his head that was nearly the same colour. Trixie noticed that her looked down at her with his concerned magenta eyes, his snout was a more grey-brown than his caramel coloured head and legs, plus his horns were plain, no sort of markings unlike the other yaks.

”Oh, h-hello?” Trixie asked.

”Blue pony hurt in drop fall from high?” He asked.

”Pardon?” Questioned Trixie.

The yak grabbed a medical kit from the bag on his back, “Blue pony hurt Tiny Yak found,”

Trixie noticed his bad grammar, she tried her best to understand, “Trixie is hurt but-wait, how’d you find me?”

”Purple pony tell Tiny Yak to follow to peak to be rescue a blue pony danger,” He nodded.

”Uh... you’re... not speaking ver-... how old are you?” Trixie asked as he bandaged her foreleg, she tensed in pain as it was moved.

”Tiny Yak will abandon at five year old, ruby and found at three-teen,” He recalled.

Soon Trixie’s leg was completely bandaged, she got up and dragged it around, she limped as her hind leg was also in pain. She winced a little as her bruised hind leg moved forward and went her bad looking front leg was bent.

“Blue pony need help walk?” Tiny stated.

Trixie looked at him and rolled her eyes, she sighed and knew she could get to the top by herself, all she had to do was climb a wall. Her legs may be injured, but she was the great and powerful Trixie.

”No thank you!” Trixie responded with a smug smile before limping forward.

Tiny sounded unconvinced, “Tiny, no ask question to pony hurt.”

”Eh?” Trixie said quietly.

Before she knew it, Tiny had used his head to flip Trixie into the air onto his back where she sat, he was only a little bigger than her but wasn’t bothered, yaks are strong after all. Trixie held onto his long hairs as tightly as she could with her uninjured leg before he started to bolt! His hooves kicked up snow behind him. Trixie had a hold onto her hat with her magic, so it didn’t go flying away, she screamed in shock as he ran through the snow.

”Wh-where are we goooooing!” Trixie screamed.

Tiny was serious, “Yak take Blue Pony to pony home safe for her,”

“Wh-what!?” Trixie shouted, “I can’t go home yet! There’s something very important at the top of the mountain, Trixie must collect!”

Tiny kept running as fast as he could, Trixie’s heart raced, her process was being undone by the second.

”Please?” She asked as snow flew into her face.

Tiny came to a sudden stop, Trixie yelped as she almost fell off him. He stood there and let out a snort.

”Peak. Now.” Trixie said bluntly.

Tiny did nothing but flicked his ear in an annoyed way, Trixie was annoyed too.

“To the peak!” She shouted rudely.

Tiny huffed, he threw a ball of snow into Trixie’s face, angering her further.

“How dare you! You will obey my-“ Trixie said before being slapped with another snowball.

She let out a frustrated inner scream.

”Peeeeeak!” She screeched.

Tiny had no reaction.

”Tiny take no order from bully, yak stop that now,” He grunted, “Runt do not be slaves, born runt no Tiny fault.”

Trixie sighed, she thought about it, and maybe she should not have been so demanding.

”Fine..” She sighed, “Can you please take the great and powerful Trixie to the peak to collect this magical object that will save the world?”

He nodded and rushed forward, almost causing Trixie to fall off again. She needed to hang on tight, she even had both forelegs around Tiny’s horns to hold on tighter in fear of falling off. Trixie wouldn’t admit she was scared, but she was. Clearly she was, her eyes were wide open, and she was yelling as Tiny jumped on rocks to get higher up. Her face even hit a tree branch as he sped through the snow.

”Careful!” She grumbled as she spat out a leaf.

Soon enough Tiny came to a sudden stop, ending up with Trixie moving through the air and crashing into the show a meter in front of Tiny, she lifted her head from the snow and mumbled under her breath.

She looked around for the white crystal and gasped in happiness when she spotted it a few feet away. It was tricky but she got up in the deep snow and started to limp over to it, but she fell as she tried to climb over a rock. Soon enough, she heard Tiny grumble before roughly lifting her into her air and on his back again using his head.

”Hmmph” Trixie said slightly annoyed as Tiny walked towards the floating crystal, she smiled in delight.

If was so close she could almost touch it, Tiny walked slowly but was almost there, he stopped right n front of it and looked at it.

”Tiny like jewel, it a crystal sparkly,” he said quietly.

Trixie nodded before grabbing it in her magic and pulling it towards her. She lightly hugged it in her hooves to not hurt her injured one further. It started to glow slightly, she smiled as she got ready to listen.

”Next is in... Neighagra falls,” The jewel said.

Trixie groaned, “but that’s going to take forever!”

”Yak fast mountain down,” Tiny stated.

”pardon?” Trixie asked.

But before Tiny responded he sped down the mountain, Trixie screamed as snow hit her face as he raced down, as fast as a snowboarder.

Once at the bottom of the mountain, Trixie saw the Crystal Empire come into view. She smiled as Tiny ran closer and closer before dashing through the barrier and into the empire. Trixie admired all the crystals as Tiny ran past some houses and stopped near the castle.

“We stopped?” Trixie questioned.

Tiny grunted, “Tiny no read minder, no know where blue pony home is,”

”Oooh,” Trixie responded, “It’s just around the corner, down that street, “She said as she pointed.”

Tiny ran suddenly again, making Trixie yelp in shock. She held onto his back and the jewel tight as he raced to her wagon’s location. As he turned, Trixie shouted out.

”There! That purple wagon!”

Tiny made a sudden stoop, once again, Trixie went flying off his back and slid across the ground like a hockey puck.

”Yak sorry, apology,” Tiny responded.

Trixie got up with a groan, then she remembered that the pink jewel will heal her. She limped up the front steps after opening the door with her magic. The pink jewel was where she left it, so she headed towards it and touched it with her hoof. After a warm sensation though her, her body was healed, no scabs, bruises or broken legs!

Once she got outside she noticed that Tiny was gone, she was confused about it but presumed he had things to do so she minded her own business.

“T-Trixie!” A scream was heard, it was from Sunrise, she looked really upset about something. She tackled Trixie with a hug.

”Sunrise? What happened?” Asked Trixie.

Sick of Optimism

Trixie watched Sunrise ugly cry into her shoulder soaking it. She laid there and watched her left claw have a tight grip on her cape, not damaging it thankfully. Sunrise’s right arm was on her back. The sobs where loud, and from the looks of it she was drooling too! It took a while for Trixie to speak.

”Sunrise? Are you alright?”

”I-I’m tired o-of I-it!” Sunrise sobbed, muffled in Trixie’s chest fur.

She tilted her head in confusion, “Tired of... what?” Trixie asked, “What happened when I was gone, was it bad?”

Trixie was confused, there was no damage or fear when she returned so she wasn’t sure, but she was concerned for her friends.

Sunrise lifted herself up and laid on her belly across Trixie’s back. Her eyes were red and there were bags under them. Trixie held her mouth open. She only sobbed tears and cried.

“I-I’m tired of being happy! I’m tired of pretending,”

“You’ve only been pretending?” Trixie asked, sounding shocked, she knew she seemed to be oddly happy but she thought she was coping in another way.

Sunrise nodded sadly, “And I’ve haven’t slept since! I’ve been faking it, so you didn’t get upset with me!”

”Why would I get upset?” Trixie asked, “If that was me then I... I have no idea... But I’d be somewhat like you... Not comprehending on what to do next...”

”I miss them... I-I want them b-back! This I-isn’t fair!” She cried as she hugged Trixie around the neck, “W-why!? My sister! Wh-What did I do to deserve this?” She cried.

”You didn’t deserve it... nopony- no-creature deserved such a fate!” Trixie growled, “They took away so many innocent lives! Trixie just wants to... to... turn them into teacups and smash them!”

”Y-yeah- at least I didn’t have t-to go back t-to the Dragonlands! M-my family was banished because we b-believed ponies did not deserved to be attacked or tortured! We believed their lives were as precious as anyone else’s!” Sunrise informed.

“Wow,” Trixie said, letting a tear escape, “Rare to find dragons or griffins who don’t discriminate against ponies... well, at least back then before... Twilight did whatever... I would have loved to meet them...”

“I miss them.”

Trixie nodded, “Me too, but they’re probably looking down. Watching you go and grow... like Gumdrop, Stardust... and Granny...” Trixie sighed as she looked to the sky.

”Y-you sure?” Sunrise asked.

Trixie nodded and smiled, “Of course I’m certain, I’m the great and powerful Trixie!”

”I don’t feel any better,” Sobbed Sunrise.

Trixie shrugged, “Yeah... it will be like that for a while...”

Sunrise wiped her tears, “I-if you say so...”

After a while of silence and sobbing, Sunrise got up and walked towards the wagon, “I... I think I-I’ll go read a comic or take a nap,” She said with a bit of sadness.

Sunrise nodded slowly and entered the wagon, shut the door behind her. Trixie got up with a sigh, she smiled lightly before hearing her name being called out.

“Trixie!” Called out GC as she raced over with a cardboard box in her arms.

Trixie was worried, she watched worried as GC landed in front of her and put down the cardboard box that was dotted with holes. It took a while to see there was a smile on GC’s face so her worry dropped, but was still slightly concerned. She looked at the box, curious on why she had it and what was in it.

”Guess what!?” GC shouted happily, bouncing forward.

Trixie noticed she was a lot more energetic than usual, did all that sugar from those soda cans finally kick in? Or was she turning a new leaf and actually doing some exercise? She was notably chubbier than most griffin of her age group. But this was just Trixie’s assumption as the only other griffin she ever saw was Gumdrop, but GC and Gumdrop are about five years apart.

”Uh... it’s a box?” Trixie asked, she also heard some skitting and something soft rapidly hitting cardboard, “Uh? With an animal inside?” She asked.

GC smiled and nodded, she went and opened the flaps of the box. Trixie went up to it and looked straight into the box. As soon as the flaps were opened, Trixie saw a puppy. It seemed to be a husky puppy. It was white and had blue eyes, and it was even wearing a blue bandana around its neck. As soon as the puppy saw Trixie, it licked her on the nose, so she jumped back a little.

”Ack- a dog?” She asked as she wiped her muzzle.

GC nodded as she sat in front of it and picked the puppy up in her arms, “Yep! Her name is Sapphire! I think she likes you too!”

”Nice...” Trixie shrugged, “I guess she’s cute... whatever, but not as cute as me”

”You kidding?” GC said as she put the puppy in the box and cracked a can of soda, “She’s amazing! She’s gonna be such a fun playmate!” She said before taking a sip.

”Do you know how to take care of a dog?” Trixie asked.

GC shrugged, “Minty should know, she loves reading books,”

”Uh... I hope you’re right... so... anyway, how’d you two meet?” Trixie asked, curious.

GC explained, “Oh, she’s just my sister,”

”Sister?” Trixie asked.

GC nodded before chugging her drink, and letting out a big and rude burp right in her face.

”Ugh,” Trixie complained as she waved the stink away, “Excuuuse you!”

”It’s a long story,” GC shrugged.

Trixie smiled happily and peacefully as she watched GC cuddle te puppy. It was kinda sudden but Trixie wasn’t mad, it was GC’s choice after all and she seemed to have accepted the responsibility of a pet dog! But soon the peace was broken.

”Trixie, GameCube!” Shouted Minty.

Everyone looked towards Minty in shock, she had a foreleg lofted and was limping towards them, she also had a gash on her face and some blood there. GC exclaimed in shock and dropped Sapphire who whimpered.

”Minty!” She screeched as she hurriedly ran up to her, “Dude!? Who did this to you!? Tell me, and I will make sure they’ll to never taste again!”

Minty collapsed on the ground, GC has a worried expression as she helped her up and helped her walk over to Trixie who was standing, surprised. She gulped nervously and was really worried.

”Minty? What happened?” She asked, “You okay, you look a bit...”

Minty nodded, “I’m fine, my wounds aren’t too serious... but we were attacked by this angry nebula cloud that was sentient... it was too powerful...”

”Nightshade does exist!” Trixie said proudly as she jumped up, cape flapping as she did so, “I to,d you!” She said before realising the seriousness of the moment. She stood there slightly embarrassed, “Oh- I mean... tell me more!”

GC looked at Trixie with annoyance, Minty was surprised.

”I offered to help Sunburst and Starlight with cleaning up his home...” She told them, “But while doing so... some dark nebula seeped through a crack in a wall.”

GC took a sip on her soda, looking tense. Trixie sat there, ears flat and mouth open in worry, anxiously hoping her friends were all okay.

“We didn’t know what it was,” Minty continued, “But before we could figure it out it attacked... everything we tried didn’t work, I ran to get help... Sunburst and Starlight weren’t as lucky as I was, by the time I returned with help they were injured in critical conditions.”

Trixie gasped loudly, eyes watering, she couldn’t imagine her friends so hurt! Nightshade got to them and it was all her fault!

”Wh-where... where are they!? Where’s N-nightshade?” Trixie gulped.

Minty shrugged, “Sunburst and Starlight are in hospital... Nightshade was gone when I returned... I’m sorry we didn’t believe you at first, we should have listened,”

Trixie was quiet, Starlight and Sunburst were hurt, some of her first friends. She sat there, a tear rolled down her cheek. Before anyone could say anything she dashed away. She ran towards the hospital. She needed to know Starlight was okay! She was her friend!

Sunrise walked outside, “What’s the commotion?”

”Oh, Trixie is just paying a friend a visit-“ Minty said before noticing Sunrise was crying, “Hey, are you okay?” She asked, deeply concerned.

Sunrise sniffled, “It’s been days since the mean shooting in Manehattan that took my sister away from me... I still miss them...”

”Oh...” Minty responded sadly, Well, Sunrise? The pain and grief doesn’t go away in the blink of an eye... it stays for a while. It’s part of the healing process.Iit’s gonna hurt but you’ll heal over time... for some it takes up to a year... for others... it may take ten...”She explained, “Its different for everyone... but it’s not exactly something you can rush, but we’ll be here for you, every step of the way. It’s okay to not be okay, but you will be happy again. I promise...” She hopefully assured.

Sunrise looked at her with cute eyes, Minty was wise, she gave her a hug. “Thank you, Minty.”

Trixie hurried through the front doors of the hospital. She looked around at the receptionist and waiting room where mostly everything looked made of crystal. Trioxide was about to run into the hallway by was stopped by a nurse who stood in front of her. This nurse put her hoof on Trixie’s chest.

“Calm down,” the blue and yellow crystal pony bluntly told her, “How can we help?”

Trixie panted, “Starlight!? Where’s Starlight!?”

Trixie was tired from running, she took some breaths and looked at the nurse. She heard the nurse ask her a question. she wasn’t exactly focused at the moment but was determined to see if her friend was okay. So she nodded, wanting to know her friend was okay, she gulped, expecting to worse.

”Please, she is Trixie’s friend... best friend...” Trixie bagged.

The nurse looked sad, she looked at Trixie and sighed.

“I’m sorry, she’s unavailable...”

Trixie stood there in shock, staring at the nurse in front of her. A pit of guilt grew in her stomach as she tried processing what had happened. She also had a pit feeling that she was wrong, it can’t mean she’s gone, right?

“I want to see her!” She shouted, “What room is Starlight Glimmer in!?”

“She’s unavailable,” The nurse stated.

”Tell me!” Trixie shrieked.

The nurse shook her head, “No visitors are allowed to visit her at this time,”

”Why not!?” Shouted Trixie.

Trixie had anger burning inside at her, trying to break out.

The nurse muttered under her breath, “If you don’t leave now, I’ll call security,”

Trixie stood and grumbled at the yellow crystal pony mare that considered herself a nurse.

”No! Trixie demands to see her great and powerful Friend!” She argued.

”And I told you,” The nurse barked, “She’s not having guests!”

Trixie held back tears as she stared at the mare, stared right into her emerald green eyes.

“Trixie wants to know if Starlight and Sunburst are okay!” She yelled.

The mare had a straight face, “Security!” She called out.

Soon a pair of crystal pony stallions, both wearing tuxedos and shades marched into the lobby from the gem-embedded office. Trixie stared at them with a tough expression, she wasn’t going to stand there and let them take her away. This nurse was terrible, the great and powerful Trixie wanted her to be fired!

Soon both stallions grabbed Trixie’s forelegs in their own, holding one each. They dragged her outside. Then put her down on the cold, hard, shiny floor. Her tail was also, damp, for some odd reason. She got up and realised she was sitting in some lemonade that somepony had spilt there, she could smell the lemony scent.

Trixie sighed in defeat as she walked to her wagon as the sun setted over the horizon. She was going to wash her sticky, soda-soaked bottom before having dinner, maybe the group and her could go to a restaurant or something for dinner.

The next day Trixie woke with a yawn in her wagon. She marked her calander. It has been ten days since she setted on her journey. A week and three days. It was unbelievable, it felt longer. Sunrise wasn’t in her hammock but Trixie shrugged it off thinking she woke up early. She toasted some bread using a spell she read from a book. It wasn’t a very impressive spell but it was useful since she didn’t have a toaster in her wagon.

Soon she took a jar of peanut butter out of a box and opened it proudly. She hummed as she spread it on the toast, her mouth watered slightly before she took a bite out of her toast. The taste of peanut butter was adored by her. She also had an apple. Trixie wiped her muzzle with a napkin before heading outside.

She did not notice her friend’s tents were packed away in Loophole’s wagon until she was off her front steps.

“They must have woken early too,” Trixie thought to herself.

“Ahem,”

Trixie spun around as soon as she heard this, she saw GC on top of her wagon, looking down at her. Sapphire looked at the roof barking, as if to tell her master to get down. Before Trixie could ask anything GC spoke with a grin.

“It’s over Trixie, we have the high ground,”

”Wha-“ Trixie had been about to ask before the noise of Pinkie’s party cannon went off and she was covered in confetti. Her eyes were wide open in shock as she looked at the colourful confetti on her and in her mane.

Pinkie, Minty, Sunrise, Loophole and GC jumped out yelling “Surprise!”

Trixie was surprised indeed, she looked around before straighting up her posture. “Oh?”

GC picked her up suddenly and hovered in her face, “Happy Birthday dude!” She shouted in her face.

”Uh- Trix- Thanks?” Trixie whimpered, still a bit surprised and quite alerted by being shouted in the face like that.

GC dropped her on the ground, Pinkie threw streamers and gave her a tight hug.

“I think I just heard a bone crack-“ Trixie squeaked.

“Haaaaappy Biiiiirthday Trixie!” Yelled Pinkie, “Now let’s party!”

Streams, balloons and birthday decorations came down at a press of a button. Trixie’s mouth was wide open as she looked, “Wow.” There was a big banner between two poles that said, “Happy 20th Birthday, Trixie!”

She had a big smile on her face, she also noted that Maud and the M6 were there!

Trixie noticed Minty jumping around with a mango impaled on her horn, mango juice running down it. “Mango, mango, mango!” She sang excitedly.

”Oooh!” Pinkie exclaimed, “That Kirin sure loves mango!”

”I didn’t realise Kirin horns were sharp,” Noted Twilight, “In fact, I never even seen one before.”

Minty happily walked up to Trixie, not caring about the mango on her horn. “So, how was the trip up there?” She eagerly asked.

“It was a long walk- but not too much for the great and powerful-“

“Walk?” Asked Minty, “Why couldn’t you teleport?”

Trixie’s jaw dropped, why didn’t she think of that!? She stared at Minty and chuckled, “Well... uh.... you see, umm... how was I meant to know it was right at the peak and not somewhere in between?”

Sunrise crossed her arms, “The pink one didn’t tell you?”

“No... maybe... uh- well, the important thing is that Trixie was great and powerful enough to get it? Right?” Trixie asked

Everyone chuckled a bit and rolled their eyes, assuming Trixie forgot she could teleport.

GC smiled and nudged Trixie playfully, “So, where’s the next one?”

Trixie sighed, not exactly wanting to journey somewhere on such an important day.

“Neighgara falls... Trixie wants to spend this day to relax...” She said with a slight frown.

Loophole groaned, she had a bitter taste in her mouth as she poked it out. Getting wet was horrid, felt all cold and weird. Plus it made her tail and mane less fluffy, and she was very proud of it. She would dislike it if her tail got less fluffy than Trixie’s. “Yuck, it’s all wet...” She whimpered, “And cold.”

GC gave Loophole a very awkward glance, wondering what was wrong with getting wet. In her opinion getting wet isn’t bad at all, sure on a cold day it would such but it was amazing on a hot day. Also, there’s so much cool things water can do, it was such a majestic thing to GC. But soon she got her mind off it and focused on the mission.

”Alright!” GameCube shouted, ignoring Loophole’s remark,” We’ll leave tomorrow morning!?”

Everyone looked at Trixie, hoping for her comfirmation. Trixie passionately loved the attention, being the leader of a team made her feel much more great and powerful.

Trixie shrugged, “Sure!”

Sunrise jumped up with a party popper in each claw.

”Now let’s party!” She shouted gleefully.

In The Night

Late that night while packing up the party, two royal guards approached Trixie who was on the ground finishing the cake. “Mfff?” Trixie questioned, wondeiring why two guards were approached in her. She knew she didn't do anything wrong.

”Excuse me, ma’am. There’s a food thief around... they have been stealing fruit from the stores and fruit only. So please let us know if you see anything and stay safe,”

Trixie nodded, mouth full of cake. “Mmmhmmm, foo- theeef no mapth fuh tah greath and powuh-fall Twickfie!” She boasted.

The guards nodded and walked away. Ignoring the fact that her mouth was stuffed with cake. Minty walked out of her tent happily, planning to go to the shops to buy some fresh food. The food supply was going low so it wouldn’t hurt.

“Minty?” Asked GC, “Where are you going, dude?”

“Oh!” Minty exclaimed, “I’m just going to buy some fresher stuff at the shops, there is one that is still open for another hour,”

”Okay, be safe, but... there’s a food theif out there, dude,” GC informed with concern.

”I know...” Minty smiled, “Ill be careful!”

GC sighed as she watched Minty go into the dark. Hoping she wouldn’t encounter the food thief, who knows what it would do to her! The kingdom was lit up by glowing crystals and streetlights, but Minty had her horn glow anyway.

It was a bit of a walk away, but it was still a nice one. A beautiful set of stars were soon in the sky, and the streets were quiet. It was such a cool and peaceful night. Many homes were turning off their lights. A few still had theirs on. There was also a stray cat running through the streets chasing a mouse.

Soon Minty made it to the stores. A pony walked out as she happily walked in. After buying what she felt needed to be brought she made her way to the counter and out the doors. As soon as she exited, she could have sworn she saw something whoosh by her, it made her feel a bit uneasy but she kept walking.

Three paper bags filled with food peacefully floated in her magic. Minty walked at a pace as she felt a breeze behind her, then something dashed in front of her making her jump back. Her heart was racing, she stood there and looked around. “H-hello?” She called, “Anyone out there?” She asked.

There was no response and she didn’t see anyone. “Strange,..” She whispered before a shadow flew right past her. She felt the breeze as the mysterious stranger took her paper bags in one swoop. “Hey!” She called out as she gave chase, “Those aren’t yours!”

She chased the thief down the street. Soon it dashed into an alleyway, Minty dashed into the alleyway as fast as she could. “Got you now!” She shouted before realising it was empty besides some boxes at the end. “Hiding in a cardboard box?” She questioned as she walked towards them. Soon the boxes were engulfed in her magic aura and thrown to the side, “Aha!” She said before realising no one was there.

”Oh c’mon...” She muttered to herself before turning around just to meet face-to-face with an upside down set of orange eyes. Minty jumped back and exclaimed in shock when the being’s tongue licked her in the face. “Uh-“ she was about to ask a question before she noticed the pony’s pupil’s were slits. On further inspected Minty noticed that it was hanging upside down on a thin bit of crystal coming out of a building.

The strange pony had a dark blue body with dark purple wings. “Bat pony...” Whispered Minty who had heard of them but never seen one in person. The one she was looking at was a male around her age. Dark blue-ish green mane with slightly lighter streaks, plus turquoise streaks in it. The bat pony fluttered down and curiously stared at Minty as he crawled up to her.

”Uh... hello?” She greeted, confused. The batpony got into her face, she moved her head back, confuse. Quickly it let out a large, angry hiss. As a result a horrible smell from his mouth filled Minty’s nostrils, making her cough, she stepped back and waved the smell away. “Oh geez- you need a mint-“

He jumped over her and went to the paper bags. Minty knew they were hers, since they had the store's logo on them. She watched as he stuck his head into one and took out a banana, eating it aggressively. “Is it okay if I have my stuff back, please?” She asked politely only to get hissed at.

The bat pony aggressively ate the fruit. His ears perked as Minty took another step forward. “Please may I have-“

The bat pony aggressively tackled Minty to the growled and hissed in her face. Sending out more smelly breath. Then suddenly he lifted his head. He seemed to smell something. Minty noticed his eyes widen and ears twitch, he let out a bat noise.
He jumped up onto some of the cardboard boxes, allowing a Minty to get back up. Bat pony sniffed the air again before rushing out the alleyway, he rudely knocked Minty over as he rushed past her and dashed into the night sky. She wasn’t hurt, just annoyed.

“Rude...” Minty muttered as she got up.

Soon the alley way she was in was lit up. “Hey you!” She heard two voices shout. Minty nervously turned around to see two guards shining torches right at her, she winced at the light in her eyes.

She didn’t know what to do or say, “Is there a problem, guards?”

Minty gasped as she saw one take out hoof-cuffs. “Hooves up!” He shouted angrily.

”I-I didn’t do anything-“ Minty responded, scared, she put her hooves up.

“Likely story,” The other guard scoffed, “The evidence behind you does say otherwise...”

Minty gasped as she turned around and saw all sorts remains of fruit. Not just the ones she had brought, but plenty of others.

Minty put her hooves down, “I-It wasn’t me, I just found myself here when-“ Minty said before the guard interrupted her.

”Likely story!” A guard shouted, “Hooves up!”

Minty whimpered as she sat on her rump putting both hooves in the air.

”Tell that to the princess!,” The guard grumbled.

She sighed, she wasn’t expecting to be arrested. That bat pony was so rude! Minty decided to follow the guard’s orders.

Minty found herself standing in the throne room, a collar around her neck that stops the use of magic. She felt sorry for herself as she looked at the two guards on either side of her. She looked up to see the princess of the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadence, looking down upon her as she sat on her throne.

Standing next to her was Shining Armour, Princess Cadence’s husband. She had read about him but thought he had red hair. He had a serious and annoyed look on his face. Minty noticed all the guards bowed, so she did too, for respect.

“Minty... do you mind explaining what happened?” Asked Cadence, who didn’t look very impressed. She knew her name from Twilight after she had been at the party. Twilight wouldn’t shut up about meeting an actual kirin.

Minty sighed, “I had my paper bags filled with snacks, veggies and fruit stolen from me... luckily I saw the theif running away and chased after them and ended up in the alley. But as soon as he heard the guards coming he took off and left me there,”

Cadance didn’t know if to believe the Kirin or not. She didn’t know much about Kirins but decided to ask another question, “What did the thief look like?”

”Batpony.” Minty noted, “And he... seemed quite young...”

Cadence wasn’t really sure what to respond with. Then she remembered Luna has a few batponies in her guard. She remembered when she first met a batpony, Luna explained to her not to be scared and that the particular one she saw was usually grumpy. But that wasn’t all, she also explained to her that batponies usually only eat fruit, and have a strong craving for it.

It sort of made sense for it to be a bat pony instead of a kirin. But she wanted to question it a bit more.

Shining armour watched her think deeply. Wondering if it was a bat pony then how’d one get to the Crystal Empire? It’s so far compared to their normal habitat.

”Can you explain this batpony?” Cadence asked.

Minty had a moment to recall what he looked like. ”Purple wings, orange eyes... spiky hair and it wore a bandana around its neck that matched the turquoise streaks in its mane...” Minty informed.

Shining armour spoke up, “And we’ll need proof on this bad pony before you go!” He was more stern, he wanted proof! It wouldn’t be right to not get every detail out of the accused.

A guard held out a fake orange that had many bite marks. The bite marks were clearly done by a creature with fangs, like a bat pony. “Say AAAH,” explained an earth pony guard. Minty opened her mouth, so the guard could see her teeth. Kirins didn’t have fangs, niriks do but not Kirins. So it was easy for them, to see it wasn’t her that bit the fake fruit.

Another guard held up some paper, “Also, there has been reports of the thief flying trough the air when it stole food. Implying it has wings, this branch-headed curly maned thing doesn’t have wings,”

”Hey...” Minty growled slightly, “I'm a kirin...”

Minty glared at the guard as he read some reports on the thief. Soon he nodded, “Seems this isn’t the culprit... also, the shop keeper said they saw her buy the fruit.”

Cadance and Shining Armour looked at each other briefly. Minty was a bit nervous on what they were going to say.

“Alright, I think this settles it,” Cadence nodded. “You’re free to go,”

The guards groaned, presumably how they accused the wrong being.

“Thank you,” Minty sighed before the guards escorted her out.

She yawned as she walked back towards the wagons. Minty walked down the street, happy on how it didn’t go so bad. She walked past the alleyway and noticed that the paper bags were still there. “Might as well...” She told herself as she walked in to see what had survived. In one of them the loaf of bread was untouched. But it looked like the batpony had a taste of her cookies. Disappointed she tossed them aside just to be safe.

The fruit was completely devoured, which was a shame. She remembered how GC told her to be careful of the fruit thief, she could imagine her yelling, “I told ya so!” When she returned. But she was gone for a while so it was possible she would be worried, or looking for her. Minty hurried up and packed the surviving food; The loaf of bread, cookies that weren’t touched, broccoli, peas, beans, cheese, peanut butter, crackers, peppermint chocolate. It mostly fit in two bags. They were kind of damaged but she ignored it.

The bags floated in her aura as she ran down the streets. She hurried as fast as she could, unaware of banana peel on the ground. Her heart stopped in the second she stepped on it right before she went sliding across the ground. Then she faceplanted on the ground, the grocery falling all over her.

She looked up to see the batpony smugly eating a watermelon. Once one he spat all the seeds out at Minty. Minty sat up and stared at him annoyed as she was pelted by the seeds. As she grumbled he then opened a banana and threw the peel at her face.

Minty angrily stomped her hoof, sending flames in random directions, ”Stop!” She felt like a fire was lit within her, she growled angrily into the batpony’s eyes. The batpony dropped the banana in shock and backed up as he noticed a few flames briefly emitting from her horn. He lifted his wings as soon as her noticed blue and red flames forming around her eyes.

”Stop bothering me!” She shouted as flames surrounded her. As a result the batpony teared up and flew away as fast as he could. Minty realised what was about to happen and quickly started taking deep breathes and calming down. She calmed down before she got angry enough to fully turn into a nirik.

Usually when’s she was feeling annoyed or angry she would take deep breathes. This is what she did, she sat there, taking deep breathes to calm down. After a while she was back to normal and the flames on the ground died down.

“Whew... never doing that again...” She sighed to herself as she looked around for her groceries. Then she saw them, on the ground burnt to a crisp. Minty slapped her hoof on her forehead, ashamed of herself. “Why did I do that?”

It was all ruined, she groaned in annoyance as she realised that it was all either burnt or melted down. It was no point. She decided to just go back to the tents and go to sleep.

She made her way to the tents, head and ears down in defeat. Seemingly everyone else was asleep, it was pretty late anyway. Minty quietly unzipped the tent and went inside just to see GC looking at her eagerly.

“What did ya get!?” She asked with excitement.

Minty was a bit nervous, “About that....”

She felt ashamed and was hoping Gc wouldn’t bring it up. It wasn’t really something she wanted to talk about at the time.

“Hey, uh dude? Where is everything?” She asked as she noticed the lack of groceries

”Burnt...” Minty responded, monotonously.

GC noticed Minty looked annoyed and tired. She watched as she curled up in her sleeping bag, she shrugged and went to sleep. Wondering how they got burnt and what happened.

Minty stared at the roof of the tent. She felt like a monster, a horrid monster for doing what she did. She ruined everything when she stuck up for herself. It was horrible, that was the first time she ever managed to activated her nirik form. As a resultthe food was all destroyed, and it was her fault for loosing her temper.

Deep breathes in and out helped her calm down as she thought of happy things. She hoped she would never bump into that batpony again! Plus she hoped that he’d learn his lesson!

Minty woke up suddenly! It was morning, but she had a terrible dream. It felt so real, and so personal. She regretted going shopping that night, it was really not what she should have done. A clock read that it was still late at night, GC was still asleep. Still tired, Minty decided to like down and try to sleep for a bit longer. After some deep breathes, she managed to go back to sleep.

It was a sunny morning. The starry squad were already up! Trixie was on the ground slurping on a smoothie as she looked at a map, figuring out the best route.

“Trixie can handle that but... going through... no...” She spoke to herself.

GC was teaching Sapphire how to fetch. Sunrise was in the wagon, exploring. Then she found something that caught her eye, “Oooh!” She exclaimed as she picked up a strange feather, “What did this come from?” She wondered.

Minty was standing next to the wagons, looking sorry for herself.

Back On The Road!

It was a sunny morning. The Starry Squad were already up, Trixie was slurping on a smoothie as she looked at a map, figuring out the best route. Sunrise walked out of the wagon with a cheerful smile, along with something in her claws. Minty was sitting there looking glum, then she saw Sunrise.

“Oh hello, Sunrise! What’s that you have there?” Minty asked out of curiosity.

“Oh! It’s a feather I found laying on the floor of Trixie’s wagon,” She held it out to give Minty a better look. Minty admired the silvery gradient texture under black striped. “Looks like a falcon’s feather!”

”Oh really!?” Sunrise exclaimed, “Does that mean Trixie has a pet falcon!?”

Trixie overheard and cringed a little, she didn’t realise she hadn’t told them about Bolt yet. She slurped her apple smoothie, hoping the subject would change quickly.

Minty shook her head, “It’s possible she used one for few shows and that’s it!”

”Nah... Her wagon was emptied of show stuff for her journey...” Sunrise explained.

Trixie sighed, She remembered Bolt dearly. As she closed her eyes, she remembered that day too well... Running for her life and Bolt put herself between her and a bullet, a sacrifice. A tear rolled down her cheek that she didn’t notice, she hated that! It was so unfair.

“Hey, Trixie, are you okay?” Asked Sunrise as she approached her.

”Yeah...” Trixie sighed, “Of course- Trixie just recalled something...”

”What is it?”

Trixie looked at Sunrise’s adorable, curious face. She didn’t want to bring it up, too many bad memories for the both of them. “That falcon feather belonged to a... Companion,”

Sunrise felt like something wasn’t right, did something happen to the companion? Who was it? Where was the falcon? “What happened to them?” She asked.

”Best Trixie doesn’t say... For our sake... But the falcon had passed away a while ago in an... Incident, basically a sacrifice... I-It wasn’t fair...”

Sunrise felt terrible, she didn’t mean to remind Trixie of whatever happened to her. She hugged Trixie, “I’m sorry...”

”It’s not your fault,” Trixie sniffled.

Minty was behind them, watching. Also feeling bad, and still feeling terrible about the incident at night. But that mood soon changed when she was doused by a heck load of water causing her to scream in surprise. She stared ahead in shock, hearing both GC and Loophole laugh. Her mane was all drooping down, curls gone, besides for a few waves. For a few seconds Trixie and Sunrise stared at her in worry before the latter started to laugh.

She looked to the side where Loophole and GC were laughing. A large plastic container, bigger than two buckets combined was in between them. “Wow! Kirin manes so, so funny when wet!” Exclaimed Loophole, “She looks like a mop!”

GC also chuckled, “Yeah. I dunno why dude, but she’s like one of the few kirin whose mane flattens down when drenched, most retain their shape for some reason...”

Minty sighed as she stared at them. She felt annoyed, she didn’t like the feel of wet mane, it felt off. Plus , she always wondered about her mane, and colours she hadn’t seen many other pink Kirin around. Or any with streaks in their manes except for Rain Shine. A long time ago she did theorise that she may have been a mixed breed since she didn’t know much of her family. But everyone assured she was a pure kirin, just a ‘rare’ colour.

“Pink kirin okay?” Tiny asked, surprising Minty.

”Oh?” Minty was alerted. “Yeah, just... Thinking about my- about some... Personal stuff...”

Trixie shrugged, “Yeah, whatever.” She then smiled as she put a hoof on Tiny. “This is Tiny. He’s joining our team, for an adventure!”

”That’s nice...” Minty responded softly.

Sunrise looked at the feather, “So, what was she like?”

“I barely got to know her... She was Fluttershy’s friend who volunteered to help, she only popped in and out to deliver messages between me and them...” She sighed, “I hope Fluttershy is doing okay...”

Minty say there, water dripping down her body. Soon she saw a yellow pegasus fly over to them, followed by Pinkie Pie and a blue pegasus. Pinkie approached her, “I have never seen a Kirin before!” She exclaimed with joy, “We look exactly the same!” Then she pointed at Minty’s horn, “Except for this, of course!”

Then she pointed to her scaly back, “And that,” then to her hooves, “And those,” Then to her tail, “And that too!”

Minty sat there confused, wondering what to say, “So... What you’re trying to say is we having nothing in common?” She asked, “Besides our colour, size and uh... A few minor things,”

Pinkie nodded, ”Yep! I just wanted to quote somepony who won’t be existing for a very, very long time! Or in another universe-”

”Wh-what?”

RD shrugged and chuckled, “Never mind her, just Pinkie being Pinkie.”

“Oh, you still have one of her feathers?” Noticed Fluttershy.

Trixie sighed, “Yeah... Of course- She-“ Trixie struggled to say what she wanted to say, “I’m keeping it-“

Fluttershy sat beside Trixie, she knew what had happened. “I’m sorry you guys had to go through that...” She said quietly and sadly.

Trixie sighed, looking at the feather that was now in her hoof. She felt regret, what if Fluttershy was upset at her for allowing an animal to die like that?

“I’m... I’m sorry...” Trixie said quietly, “I should have protected her... I wasn’t great and powerful at all-“ Trixie admitted only for Fluttershy to wrap a hoof around her.

“Trixie...” She said seriously, “Don’t ever say that again... You are great and powerful in your own way... You did what you could, and what you thought was right... Bolt... I’m sad about her too, but she wanted to go on the mission, she didn’t care about the dangers she wanted to help! She didn’t care if it got dangerous she wanted to be there when needed! She loved everyone...” Fluttershy shed a tear, “But you were in a panic state, and she chose to take the hit for you... She used to defend and stick up for others. She told me that she’d do that till the day she died...”

Trixie wiped a tear. Fluttershy hugged he., “It’s okay, let it all out... It isn’t your fault... I miss her too. But I don’t hold any grudges against you...”

GC approached Minty, “So... Um, what happened last night that got everything burnt?”

”I do not want to talk about it...” Minty sighed.

”Did someone hurt you? Tell me, and I’ll beat them up!” GC exclaimed.

Minty felt shame, “I don’t want you to do that... I already hurt them enough...”

”Who was it? The fruit thief?” Asked GC, “C’mon dude, I don’t wanna play a guessing game!”

Minty sighed she didn5 respond and simply sat there, sadly, regretting her actions. She watched as Fluttershy comforted Trixie about the falcon.

“Is Gumdrop okay?!” Fluttershy shouted, sounding shocked.

Trixie almost broke down to tears, “She-she didn’t make it-“

”I’m so sorry...” Fluttershy hugged Trixie, “I had no idea, she and you weren’t mentioned in the news at all... Twilight assured me you two were fine,”

Trixie Hugged back. The two talked for a while before Trixie decided to was time to get back on the road.

”Alright! The great and powerful Trixie says it’s time to hit the road!” Trixie exclaimed.

”Woo hoo!” GC explained.

”I can’t wait to share some embarrassing moments of Trixie,” Loophole smiled.

”No!” Everyone shouted at her.

”Bummers...” Loophole muttered.

”How’s the food source looking?” Asked Trixie

Sunrise notes, “Kinda running low...”

”Minty was meant to buy food last night...” GC explained, “But somehow it all got burnt,”

Loophole laughed, wanting to show more, “How’d you manage to do that!? There’s no fire! That’s just stupid!”

Everyone rolled their eyes and sighed. Trixie took out her supply of money she took on the trip, some was generously supplied by others too. “We can just buy some-“ Trixie said before realising there were only a few bits left, “More...” She grunted.

”Great... We’re broke!” Exclaimed GC.

Everyone looked at Trixie, hoping she knew what to do.

”What?” Asked Trixie.

She looked at them. They seemed unimpressed. Then Trixie realised what they were waiting for, she put a huge grin on her face and took out a smokebomb.

“Be amazed as the great and powerful Trixie turns this smokebomb to bits!” She boasted before blasting it with her magic. It only exploded into smoke and caused Trixie to start coughing. She soon took her hat off and reached into it with her hoof, “Hmmm... Aha!” Trixie exclaimed as she pulled something out.

Everyone watched as Trixie pulled out a bar of chocolate, “Uh... Ta-da!”

”Maybe there are a few in your wagon?” Asked Minty.

”We’ll check Loop’s too,” Responded GC.

Trixie muttered and went into her wagon and looked around. Boxes were scattered around, no magic show related stuff anywhere. She quickly went through a chest that was filled it material and sewing stuff that she used in case she needed to repair something. Also, there were a few tools. Trixie dug a bit deeper until she found a red box with a blue bow on it.

“Huh?” Trixie questioned, the box was very strangely familiar to her. She slowly took out the box and she blew off the dust curiously.

Trixie had a look at each side of the box before she slowly opened it. As she peered inside, she gasped. It was an old purple and yellow album! She thought she lost it way back when the Ursa Major crushes her old wagon! Turns out she had recovered it along with her show outfit. She put on a slight smile as she opened it up.

The first image had Tricia as little filly on a plank of wood that was laid over two beams. She had her hoof in an old top hat and wearing a grey cloth as a cape. She smiled at the image slightly before she turned to a random page. On that page there was an image of her, about 15 years old. Image showed her in front of her old, yellow wagon with a huge grin on her face.

Trixie happily closed it and looked in the box, there was something yellow. She grabbed it and unfolded it up, revealing to be a small cape. It was yellow and had purple markings. It also had many stains, tears and scruffs all over it. Interestingly, It was a cape she got from some pony when she first got her cutie mark!

She had replaced it within a year of being a traveling magician. It was badly damaged and wasn’t as appealing as her current one. Plus she knew a spell for her current show outfit that allows her to repair it whenever it was damaged. Tricia would agree her current one was way better, and has been with her through thick and thin.

Trixie’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door, “Have you found any bits yet!?” The voice shouted.

She quickly packed it all away, “Of course I have! Easy, peasy!”

Well, there were a few bits at the bottom of the chest she was in, assuming key dropped there on accident. She gathered them up quickly and hurried out.

GC smiled, “Found a bunch in Loop’s wagon!”

Trixie chuckled, “Trixie thinks we should pass by the stores and buy some food,”

Everyone made noises in agreement as they started to walk. Minty looked at the sky, she had a feeling the bat pony was going to return. Somehow, and somewhere. Well, at least she didn’t encounter Nightshade that night! Because that would have ended terribly.

After buying food the group were interrupted by a wheel on Loophole’s wagon that suddenly fell apart. The Pegasus poked her tongue out as she looked at it, “Guess honey doesn’t make a good substitute for glue?” She asked. Then the floor inside broke apart, “Or peanut butter?” She asked.

“Loophole...” Everyone groaned.

”So that’s why your floor was so tasty,” GC commented as she stuck her head out the window.

Soon the whole wagon started to shake. GC quickly hurried out, seconds before another all fell, and the roof fell in.

“Neither is yoghurt nor jam?” Loophole sighed.

Minty face-hoofed, “No wonder your wagon is riddled with bugs!”

”Welp! Time to get it fixed!” Loophole sung.

”Don’t take long!” Trickle shouted, annoyed.

Indeed, it did take long... It was afternoon by the time the wagon was repaired. Apparently most the ponies were busy repairing other stuff too. Also, Loophole did trip through a wall when she was ‘testing the strength.’ Also, she did put a storm cloud above it to do more tests, and ended up setting it on fire and having to go back for more repairs.

Then after that she threw a bunch of rocks at the window. When she returned to the others, they were not pleased.

”WOW... It feels just an hour ago when you went to get it fixed...” GC mumbled.

”It was actually eight hours...” Grumbled Trixie, “By Trixie’s math we would have been there in the afternoon! But nooo! We’ll end up arriving tomorrow!”

The squad journeyed through the snow and through the field till night came, and they rested. Minty stayed up as everyone went to sleep. She had a bad feeling in her stomach So she poked her head out the tent cautiously. She felt like something was watching her, it took a while to assure herself nothing was.

She yawned as she stepped out and looked at the sky. It was dark about halfway now, so she couldn’t see many stars. Minty wandered a bit and shivered, “There’s nothing out here...” she assured herself.

Owls hooted and mice skittered. There was the sound of the breeze that she felt run through her mane. Everything was mostly silent, besides the nocturnal animals around. She sat there, enjoying the refreshing breeze. Soon she turned around to see the batpony innocently standing in front of the open tent. Minty had forgotten to close it.

Plus it was the exact same bat pony! With a bag of apples from Loophole’s wagon! Who had forgotten to close her door at night, again!

“Uhm...” Minty asked, “Can you drop that? Please?” She asked as she approached it.

It growled and jumped onto Minty, causing her to yelp in surprise. Her heart was racing as it suddenly grabbed her by the forelegs and dashed into the air. Minty screamed as the batpony took her higher and higher, holing her just below the armpits. The ground was so far away, her heart raced as she looked down, towards the ground.

“P-please put me down! I’ll let you keep the fruit, okay?” The batpony let her slip, cussing her to exclaim in fear. She slipped down to the point her was holding her by her hooves. Her heart raced as she stared at the ground, it was so far! Falling from this height would do far more than break a bone.

”If- I-if you don’t want me telling anyone about you then I won’t!” She exclaimed, hoping to be let down nicely.

Much to Minty’s relief he slowly went closer to the ground. Gently lowering her above a tree before dropping her. The poor kirin screamed as she hit branches of leaves before landing on a single branch. The way she was laid on the branch was on her stomach with a foreleg and a hind leg hanging down each site of the branch. Groaning in pain, she looked down to see that it was still a long way down, she gasped and quickly hugged the branch with her forelegs.

The batpony landed on the branch next to her and started to make a snicker. It was a strange snicker, unlike any snicker Minty had heard before. Suddenly the batpony jumped onto the branch Minty was on. Her heart raced as she heard a crack behind her. He crept up slowly, with a curious look on his face. A kirin was never seen before by the batpony, meaning Minty was very strange.

He sniffed Minty’s head curiously and made noises. Happily he backed up and started to jump up and down the tree branch. Minty yelped in fear as she almost fell off. Now hanging onto the branch with her forelegs, “Stop that, please!”

He stopped and cocked his head as Minty held onto the branch for her dear life. The batpony made come confused noises as it stared at her. The noise of a branch breaking was heard seconds before the branch fell. Minty screamed as she fell. The confused batpony simply hovered in the air as he watched.

She landed on her back with a thud and groaned, “Ouuch-“ then the heavy branch crushed down on her belly, “Ack-“

Minty groaned in pain as the heavy branch laid on her stomach. She was in way too much pain to focus on removing it. It was hard to breathe too.

Batpony had no idea what was going on. In his mind he wondered why that strange pink creature was making noises and why she didn’t fly. The batpony flew down and lifted the branch away.

”Thanks...” Minty groaned in pain as he removed the branch. “I’ll be lucky if I don’t have any broken ribs or damaged organs...”

He then landed next to her. He made a noise that sounded like he was trying to speak. “C-c-“ what was sounded before he squeaked.

Minty got up, she looked at him curiously, “You got a name?” She asked, “My name’s Mint Strawberry- everyone just calls me Minty, what’s yours?”

“Mirrr-eee?” The creature squeaked, “Eeek, reee,”

”I’m sorry... I don’t really understand batpony...” Minty apologised.

He started producing weird noises. ”Sqreee- Screee- N-n-nrr-nawww,” Was what it sounded like.

”You don’t have a name?” She questioned him.

He tilted his head, confused and shrugged his wings.

”How about... Sleepless? Night Flyer? Mystery?” She suggested.

He cocked his head. “Mrrrrrreeee? Mrrrraa-rrrreee?”

“Maybe you want something easier for you to pronounce?”

The batpony made some curious noises. Minty immediately had an idea. “Mango!”

”Mrrr-grrooo?” He tried, “Mrrrrreeeee-oooo,”

”Still tricky, huh?” Minty asked.

”Sarrrrdrrrw,” He growled as he pointed at something.

”Huh?” Minty looked to the tree he was pointing at. She stared at it confused before she noticed it looked like some shadows were pouring out of it. She gasped in shock as it slivered into the air.

”Nightshade?” Minty whispered.

The shadowing blob sent a stone flying, it sharply hit the scared batpony on the nose. His eyes cried just before flew away, crying. Minty decided to run away as well, she ran as fast as she could, but the shadowy beast formed into a claw and grabbed her tight.

It was really tight! She tried to wiggle, her heart was racing. Minty breathed heavily, wishing to be safe on the ground.

“Let me go! Please!” she cried.

She then screamed loudly as Nightshade spun her around. Then it threw her into a rock. Everything went black as soon as she came into contact.

It was dark... Minty could feel a breeze then hear a very unfamiliar young voice.

“Maybe I should make a reference to one of those Mystery Dungeon games!” The voice exclaimed, “How bout from Gates? Nah... She didn’t fall out the sky... Explorers! Nah... She... We aren’t at a beach... Super? Nah... Oh yes! Rescuers!” The voice then cleared her throat. “Wake up already! Wake up!” She shouted, “Did I get that right?”

Minty stared at her with confusion, her head was thumping. The figure was a white pegasus filly with a light pink mane with dark pink tips and a single purple highlight. She looked at her with her light blue eyes, “Oh... Aww, you’re already awake... I make my reference too late...”

”I... Didn’t understand any of what you said but... Who are you?” She asked. Then Minty remembered something important!

Nightshade! It threw her at the rock and knocked her out! But where was it now and who was this filly!? Does this filly know about the dangerous shadows being nearby? Aka Nightshade?

”Wait- where is- Nightsha- uh...” Minty then turned to Stardust, “Where are your parents? You shouldn’t be out this late at night. It’s dangerous, are you lost, sweetie?” She asked, trying to stay calm. “What’s your name and where are you from?”

”Stardust! I came out of a portal and Nightshade hurried away as soon as the portal opened, I guess!” The filly said happily as she took out a ukulele and starting strumming it. “I was Trixie’s first team member! But back at the Everfree Forest I kinda... Was sent to my world early, by mistake... But now I’m back! Hm... Let’s see if I can turn this into a song-“

It took Minty a while to process what was happening as she got up, “Star... Dust...” She groaned, “Stardust?!” She shouted, “Like Trixie’s friend?” She was still worried about the possibility of Nightshade being nearby.

“Yep! That’s my namey-name! What’s your’s? Cho-cocoa-late-Berry-Mint or same-thin’?” She asked with a huge grin. Also had a giggle about intentionally mispronouncing certain words.. Then she started poking at the fluffy, long, curly mane of Minty.

“N-no... It’s Minty-“ She corrected as she stared confused, trying to ignore the pain in her head and convince herself Nightshade was gone.

”Boring!” Shouted Stardust, “What about... Choco-late-The-Rasperry-Iceream?” She asked.

Minty let out a slight chuckle. “No thanks-“ Minty denied. “I maybe should be going back to the others! They might be looking for me...”

Stardust chuckled and jumped onto her back, “Omward loyal Rasperry-McChoco-Horse-Tree-Deer-Lion-Dragon thing! To war!”

”Im a kirin...” Minty corrected.

”What the heck’s a kirin?” Stardust asked. “A Keyreen?

Minty sighed slightly and rolled her eyes before smirking. She was slightly excited to teach the filly something new.

”And how is Trixie going?” She asked, “Can you tell me everything?

”I’ll tell you what I can... On the way...” Explained Minty as she walked towards the wagons.

Game of Life or Death

It was daybreak. GC, Loophole, Sunrise and Trixie stood on the damp grass. GC was more worried about Minty’s tired and messy appearance. She was bruised, dirty and her mane was in a mess. Loophole had a face that looked as if she didn’t care.

Sunrise looked extremely excited, her grin was wide as it could do. While with Trixie... Trixie’s mouth was as wide open as it could get, she was making slight noises as she stared at Stardust, who stood right next to Minty.

Stardust had a sparkly yellow, orange and pink bag with her. There was a flap on top and a pocket on each side. It seemed made of material.

It was GC who spoke first. “Minty! Who did this to you, dude!?” She shouted.

Minty sighed as she took a twig from her mane. “It’s a long story...”

”Tell-“

”Stardust!?” Trixie finally screamed, “Trixie thought you were dead!? Are you a ghost!?” Trixie’s ears were held back. She was scared and confused on how Stardust was right there when she had died in her arms.

”That’s Stardust?” Asked GC, “Whatever... I’m more worried with what happened to Minty!”

Stardust started to strum on her ukulele, “Yeah... I was accidentally sent home early... but guess who’s back!? I’m back! I’m back! Guess what?!”

”What!?” Trixie shrieked, “How!? I grieved! Trixie grieved for nothing!?”

Loophole only laughed at Trixie. “That’s hilarious!”

“Could be worse,” Shrugged Stardust.

GC still focused on Minty. She felt terribly worried about her, like she was hiding something. “Minty, dude, it’s not natural for you to hide things from me. We are sisters...”

Minty sighed and looked down, “I may have... encountered the food thief again... and Ni-”

”And it did this to you!?” Shouted GC

Minty sighed, “It was an accident...”

”An accident!?”

Minty opened her mouth to explain she saw Nightshade but closed it. It seemed a bad time to interrupt and cause panic.

Trixie looked at Stardust, slowly approaching her. She grumbled, “Well... it seems you’ve returned...” She then sighed, slowly making eye contact with her, “Trixie has taken good care of the Starry Squad... suppose you’re the leader since- I dunno- you were meant to be the main character?” The words tasted bitter to Trixie.

There was a bunch of awkward silence.

”Yep!” Exclaimed Stardust, “I’m the leader now!”

Trixie gasped like someone said something incredibly offensive to her, “What!? You were supposed to say a meaningful speech how I’m more worthy to be leader!” She complained.

GC shrugged, “Let’s just go, I want Minty to be as far from that food theif as we can!”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Minty sighed softly.

Sunrise looked at Stardust with excitement. “New dragon friend!? If you’re a dragon here then- does that mean I’ll be a pony in your world!?”

Stardust laughed, “I don’t think so!”

“Pony dragon still dragon fire?” Asked Tiny.

Stardust stared to think, “I don’t think a fire-breathing pegasus would make sense... and my fire breath is kinda different compared to others... I think that would hurt my pony mouth...”

“What about appetite?” Asked GC.

“Strangely I don’t have any craving for meat...”

The herbivores of the group, besides Minty gasped in shock. The omnivores, Sunrise and GC didn’t really react at all. “Dragons from your world eat meat?” Asked Loophole, “That’s really gross!”

GC bumped Loophole, “Hey! Us Griffons eat meat sometimes. Usually fish... and back in griffonstone we sometimes ate seafood, small birds and rodents like mice.”

“I eat fish sometimes too!” Sunrise exclaimed, “Gems are tasty too, I suppose. They have a good crunch but I prefer the soft chewiness of seafood.”

“Gems?” Stardust asked, “You dragons eat gems? That’s weird...”

Trixie grumbled about her lack of attention. Stardust is replacing her! She didn’t expect Stardust to return, let alone replace her!

It was only a few hours before they made it to the location they needed to be at.

“We’re here...” GC said, amazed.

It was a huge body of water, surrounded by large, powerful waterfalls that created a strong mist that created a rainbow. The falls went as far as they could see, many falls even had bodies of water that also had waterfalls above them. It was an amazing sight, but it was a huge area meaning it was going to take a while to find a jewel, but Trixie had a plan.

“Alright, the great and powerful Trixie has a plan!” She announced proudly, “Well, the previous jewels flash or glow depending on how close we are to it. So I assume if one of us carries the white jewel and the other one carries Trixie-“

”Alright, boss!” GC joked, and she grabbed Trixie and lifted her into the air.

Tixie kicked her legs trying to get down, “Wait!” She shouted, “Trixie’s not ready!”

GC rolled her eyes and dropped her onto the ground. Trixie grunted as she hit the ground, she got off the grass and stared at GC annoyed. She did hear Sunrise, Stardust and Loophole give a bit of a chuckle, but then she heard Minty.

”Are you okay?” Minty asked.

”Blue pony hurt!” Tiny stated, as he had a first-aid kit in front of him.

He went up to her, Trixie stepped back. She was pretty unamused at her team. Could they seriously not see the problem?

She stated, “Trixie’s fine,” Then looked at GC, “In case you haven’t noticed...”

“Noticed what?” GC asked.

Trixie grumbled and face-hoofed before taking off her cape, folding it nicely and putting it on the ground. She soon did the same thing with her hat. GC stared at it confused as Sapphire yapped at her playfully. Sunrise giggled.

”Wanna play fetch, Sapphire?” Sunrise asked.

The dog only looked at her, confused. GC rolled her eyes at Trixie.

”Really?” She asked, “Dude, c’mon, you could have gone in with it on, no big deal, just water,” she shrugged.

”Yeah!” Exclaimed Stardust, “It might be fun to swim around in that!” She giggled, “I wonder what it looks like when it’s all wet! Possibly funny, you should try it!”

Trixie sighed, “Trixie... uh... it totally won’t slow Trixie down at all! She just doesn’t want to get it wet. If she was used to wet capes then she’d totally go for it!”

“Meh, whatever,” GC responded.

”So, Trixo, what does it look like when it’s all wet?” Stardust asked, “Shiny? Does it stick to your fur making you look like a drowned rat?”

Trixie was a bit confused by the nicknamed, “Trixie... Trixie’s gonna come back with her thoughts on that nickname-“ She scoffed, “And what does Trixie look like with a wet hat and cape?” She muttered, “Less great and powerful, clearly!”

GC rolled her eyes before she picked Trixie up. Loophole flew up with the white jewel in her hooves.

”Do not drop it!” Warned Trixie.

Loophole nodded and shrugged. She followed GC over the water. The two flyers flew over the ocean determinedly, Loophole leading the way, except for one problem; she wasn’t the smartest mare around, when it started flashing she flew the opposite direction.

“Oh! For pony sake!” Shouted Trixie, “When it flashes, it means you’re getting closer! Not further away!”

“Oh... I thought you said if it started glowing and flashing, it meant we were getting further from it...” Loophole stated.

Trixie face-hoofed, “Oh dear Celestia... I never said that! I said the closer we got, then the more flashy it would get! And when we are very close, it glows!” She scolded.

”Oh...” Loophole stated, “You know I don’t understand it... a magician on a quest to save the world, a very weird choice,”

“That’s not the point,” Trixie responded. “If Trixie wasn’t meant to do it, then she’d likely have some crazy, overpowered jerk steal her powers in the final battle!”

“Would be cool if that happened! I would love to see your reaction! It would be so funny!” Loophole laughed, “You’d be like noooo! My destiny!” She chuckled at Trixie’s annoyed expression and flew ahead.

“No it wouldn’t! Especially if they already have powerful powers of their own that’s even more powerful than the princesses!” Trixie growled, like it actually happened before.

Loophole chuckled, “I’d love to see that! Wait- can you imagine if the mary-sue got all the credit?”

”I don’t think that’d be cool, dude. Trixie may have a mountain-sized ego but... man, I would not want her to experience that. Sounds really heartbreaking to have some power-hungry brat take credit for all your hard work. Especially if it was world-saving like this!” GC letting out a burp.

“Oh gross!” Trixie shouted as she got a whiff of it.

Trixie gagged a little, from the smell. GC rolled her eyes and kept flying, it was only a short time till a loophole stopped, Trixie looked down and saw the reflection of her in GC’s arms.

“It’s here?” She asked.

Loophole shook her head, “No... uh... what side point's where again? North to...”

”It doesn’t matter! It’s not a compass!” Shouted Trixie.

”Oh...” Loophole responded.

Loophole kept flying until the whole thing glowed.

“I think I broke it,”

”What!?” Shouted Trixie.

Loophole turned around and showed her the now-glowing white jewel. Trixie gasped happily, she looked at it.

”Alright! Now drop-“

The white jewel was dropped into the water before Trixie finished, Loophole smiled proudly.

“Me...” Trixie finished, annoyed.

”Oh,” Loophole responded, “Your bad, not my bad!”

Trixie rolled her eyes before being dropped suddenly. She surfaced and looked at them both.

GC looked at her, “Get the white one and pass it to me... and dude... when you find it use this, so we know to get you,” She said as she revealed she was holding a whistle in her claw.

It was a small silver whistle with a yellow string, sport coaches often wear those when coaching. Trixie nodded as she put it round her neck. She then dived into the water, the white one was on a brown rock! It took her a while, but she managed to find it.

Trixie grabbed it in her hooves and pass it to GC.

“Alright bruh good luck!” GC exclaimed.

Trixie boasted, “Hah! The great and powerful Trixie will get this done, easy!”

Then she went under the water. The water was cold, but not enough to bother her. She dived and swished through and thick seaweed, holding her breath and just looking around for it. Soon she had to surface, but had an idea.

A few weeks back, Starlight had taught her how to do a magic bubble. Starlight explained how by using the bubble it can supply oxygen for up to an hour, but can only be activated where there is plenty of it around,

She focused and tried to remember the spell. She focused on the the creation of the bubble.

Soon enough a light pink bubble appeared around her head, it was a bit humid but she could breathe perfectly. Trixie grinned and went under and started swimming around, no fear of drowning due to the air bubble.

Trixie swam past coral and rocks, making sure to look in every nook and cranny. She made sure to only look around the area where the white jewel glowed, surely it wouldn’t be that far? It wasn’t, soon Trixie saw it out in the open, in a hole in the side of a rock. It gleamed and shone despite being in the shade.

“Nice jewel, isn’t it?” A mysterious voice asked.

It frightened Trixie who started to look around, to her the sea was tinted pink due to the bubble around her head. She wondered who the heck just spoke!

“I’m sorry, I haven’t introduced myself,” It responded, creepily.

Trixie pinpointed it coming from a nearby cave, so she looked into the darkness and saw two blue eyes that was shining.

“What’s a beautiful land dweller like you doing down here?” It asked, in a nice but creepy tone. “You do realise it’s dangerous down here?”

Trixie was nervous, “I’m just going to... uh... pick up that jewel and be on my way,” She responded, voice shaking slightly.

”Oh really? My name’s Oyster, what’s yours? Blueberry?” It asked, creepily.

Trixie rolled her eyes, “No! How dare you say such thing in front of the great and powerful Trrrr-?“ She said before seeing the creature.

A large creature swam out of the cave. It was about the size an Ursa Minor, maybe a bit bigger, maybe more the size of that that purple sea serpent who adored his mustache. It had the ears, forelegs, hooves and head resembling a horse, but with a snout that resembled the shape of the ones of the hippogriff’s seapny forms. There was a long, spiky frill that went from the top of its head all the way to the tip of the tail. It had no back legs, the behind was more seapony like. This creature was a hippocampus, Trixie thought they were only a legend.

Hippocampus are big pony-like sea creatures that feast on anything. They are like sirens. They lure ships only to crash them, but they eat everyone and everything on board, sometimes even the ship!

They used to be mistaken for sirens but have lots of different in appearance. They are usually only shades of greens, blues, greys and occasion browns or yellows. Unlike how sirens have fins on the fore-hooves, hippocampus have fur. In fact, the upper half has no scales. It’s completely fur, and it’s the same color as the scales on the tails, also, the only frills on hippocampus are all along the back and at the end of the tail.

Hippocampus also have a long, sharp horn on their forehead, it was unknown if they could do magic as some tales had them do magic where others didn’t. Also, hippocampus was portrayed to be a bit smaller.

Also, alphas had special markings. The female alpha had faint stripes on the body while males had white spots, the one Trixie was looking at had stripes, indicating that Oyster was an alpha female. Yes, this was a hippocampus Trixie was looking at, she stared at her with huge eyes and bared her sharp teeth.

“I’m... just getting the jewel and be on my way to save the world...” Trixie asked, trying to hide her fear.

The hippocampus grinned, “I could just eat you! But I like to play with my food first,” She said as she softly touched Trixie’s cheek. But due to her size and the bubble she bumped the bubble and pushed Trixie back a bit.

“Uh.. huh?” Trixie responded, confused, “W-what game?” She asked.

”Just this, ” Oyster grinned and she took out a plastic board, “Colourbow.”

Trixie looked at the board, it was flat and had a checkered pattern. Each square was either red, green or blue, then Trixie noticed ten plastic coins be put on her side of the board and ten on Oyster’s. Each side had three green, three red, three blue and one white piece. Then Ouster took out a pack of plastic black cards and a die.

Trixie nodded slowly, “So, how do we uh...”

”Easy!” Shouted Oyster, making Trixie jump. “You move the one piece per turn across the board like in chess. However, each piece except for the white one has a strength and a weakness. Green beats blue, blue beats red and red beats green,”

”Got it?” Trixie was unsure, “I mean, Trixie understands!”

Oyster rolled her eyes, “So, let’s say if a red opponent piece landed on the same square as a green one, the green piece is out of the game. But if an opponent's red one landed on the same one as one of your red or blue pieces then the opponent has to pick up a card.”

Trixie nodded, a bit confused but continued to listen.

”If it’s a critical card then your piece is out! If it’s a number card then whoever rolls the higher number gets to keep theirs in the game! If it’s a reset card then both pieces are back at where they started. If it’s a double our card then both pieces are out! But of its a loss card then the opponent’s piece is out the game,”

Trixie nodded, “So, if I win I get the jewel... if I lose-“

”You get eaten!” Shouted Ouster making Trixie jump in fright, “And of you forfeit or cheat you get eaten too!”

Trixie nodded, very afraid. “Uh, one sec!” She announced before surfacing.

She decided it would be a good time to refresh her bubble, so she popped it with her magic and took in some fresh air. She took some deep breaths and calmed down. Tri ice barely understood the explanation, she was worried and scared. Equestria’s fate was determined by the result of a stupid game!

”Okay Trixie, you got this!” She assured yourself, “You’re the main character, remember,” She attempted to assure herself. She nodded, “You’ll win the game and the hippocampus I’ll leave you alone, hopefully...”

Trixie then sighed, “Why me... I was just a performer, and I get taken into this mess? I’m not ever experienced with this kind of stuff... unlike Starlight, Twilight and the others...” She complained, “Here goes nothing...”

She sighed and put a bubble around her head and dived back under, ready to take it on!

Not a Failure

Back at the beach the rest of the squad were talking, well, except for GC who was circling the water ready to pick up Trixie when she called. Loophole had taken the white jewel to the wagon and placed it on the front steps. Nearby, Sunrise was holding Trixie’s hat curiously, her mouth turned into a grin as she looked at the others. She put the hat on her head and picked up her cape and tried to put it on, it was quite tricky due to it being bigger than her.

The collar part slipped down her shoulders, she got annoyed and simply undid it and walked towards the others, then she saw something on the ground nearby, so she went towards it. It moved and looked feathery, so soft, so fluffy!

What could it be? She smiled as she innocently walked towards it. Then her face turned sad as she saw what it was, a poor bird. A small one, it was a brown bird. Sunrise wasn’t good with birds. But then she heard her name be called out.

”Sunrise!” Loophole called, “Get over here!”

Sunrise looked towards Loophole. She was older, not exactly an adult, but it was best to respond and listen to her. Even if she’s a bit of a jerk.

”You’re too young to go too far alone, you’re just a teeny, tiny baby-boo,” Loophole chuckled. “Who cries at night! About something in Manehattan! Waa! Waa!”

”Excuse me?” Sunrise asked as she picked up the injured bird and walked over to her. She wanted to help this bird the best she could. The legs of it were twitching, and its breathing was... Off in a way.

Loophole chuckled, “We all agree that since Trixie and GC are gone, it means I’m the leader, I’m the oldest!”

”We had no such agreement...” Stated Minty. “Also, you’re 16, I’m 17. There’s a difference there.”

”Well, it’s just makes sense,” Loophole laughed at her grammar mistake,. “Just look at ya’ll! Sunrise is a baby,”

“I'm three years away from being a teenager...” Sunrise said quietly, cradling the bird in her arms.

“Sunrise is an orphan, too!” Loophole continued, “Minty looks like some stupid OC!”

”So?” Minty asked, slightly annoyed. Not bothering to ask what an OC was in this context. “Also, you don’t just say that to someone who lost-“

Loophole laughed, “Tiny is an illiterate idiot!”

”Tiny yak, this one no at fault. No fault, was abandoned snow, in it,” Tiny said. Of course, struggling in grammar.

Minty grumbled slightly, “Okay, Loophole. You need to stop-“

Ignoring Minty, she then pointed at Stardust, “Also, she’s obsessed with being optimistic!”

All Stardust did was make a big smile. “But it’s good!”

Minty, Sunrise and Tiny stared at Loophole angrily, Minty was the first to speak up.

”Did you not learn your lesson from last time?” She asked, “Do not joke about things that others are insecure about, it’s rude. Also, is very hurtful!”

Stardust stared at Minty, “I am not insecure of being optimistic. I’m proud!”

”Yeah!” Exclaimed Sunrise, “You’re just a big bully, Loophole!”

”If you’re gonna behave like this, then you don’t deserve friends!” Minty added.

Loophole stopped their yelling from getting to her by blocking her ears. Tiny grumbled and went to lay on the grass next to Sapphire, who was asleep on her back. Minty rolled her eyes and looked at Sunrise and noticed she was holding something feathery.

”Oh! Watcha got there?” Asked Minty.

Sunrise looked at it, it was a small brown bird with a yellow beak. The eyes were barely open, and it was not breathing very well.

”I found the bird on the ground,” Sunrise informed, “It looks sick,”

Minty had a closer look, the sparrow looked visibly aged. Feathers were also missing, and it had wounds, a predator must have gotten it but may have not been able to eat it for some reason. She felt bad for the small bird, but it was a part of life, she watched as the bird slowly passed away in Sunrise’s arms, there was nothing they could do about it.

”Will it be okay?” Sunrise asked innocently, unaware of the bird’s fate. “I-It’s not breathing!” Her voice cracked. “It-It stopped moving! Help!”

Minty sighed, knowing it was best to tell the truth, “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do-or could have done! It must have escaped a predator... But wasn’t able to recover...”

”So...” Sunrise responded sadly, “It’s...”

Minty nodded sadly, “It’s not going to make it... but I’m sure if we make a little funeral, it would be happy,”

Sunrise nodded with a sigh, she looked down at it sadly, wishing she was able to save it, “Okay...” She sniffled as tears started to appear in her eyes.

”But I’m sure it lived a great life, and I’m sure it felt happy and safe in its last moments,” Minty assured, in the claws of someone who cared for it...”

About almost half an hour went by since the bird was buried. Minty was nowhere to be found as she had gone for a nice walk. Sunrise was gently paddling in the water, a few tears in her eyes, relating to the bird’s death. Loophole was asleep on a cloud.

Minty happily walked along a dirt path that led through a park. She entered the park and saw that many ponies were walking around peacefully. A few looked at her oddly, never seeing a Kirin before in their life. The stares were mostly ignored by her as she walked through.

Trees and other flora scattered around. Natural dirt pathways led through the park, and there was a playground near a large fountain. The large fountain had a waterfall at the edge of it that had water run down the cliff and all the way to the falls. Wood benches were also present, along with a few food stands.

Minty spotted a family flying kites and a few foals running around with ice cream. Neihagra Falls park was really popular, especially at this time. She ignored the strange stares as she peacefully strolled through. Then she heard some loud, pained squeaking. There was an occasional hiss, but whatever it was sounded like it was in pain.

She looked around as saw it in a cage! The same bat pony as before! What was he doing here? Also, why was he in a cage with some foals throwing stones at him and laughing. Minty was disgusted at the foals' behaviour.

It was gonna be risky, she was nervous. She took a few deep breaths. But it was gonna be worth it. Sure, the bat pony might have been mean to her. But that doesn’t mean he deserves what these foals are doing to him.

She decided to teach them a lesson, so she ran over and got in between the foals and the cage. Staring at them, slightly annoyed.

”What are you kids doing?” Minty asked, “You shouldn’t be doing this, he doesn’t like it.”

The foals stared at her in disgust, wondering what she was. Never seeing a Kirin before. If it were not for the scales and the horn shape, they would have assumed she was a really hairy unicorn with deer hooves. “What the heck are you?” A filly asked.

”Some sort of pink branch headed swamp monster?” Asked a colt.

”Kirin, I’m from a long way away. I am from the forest. Not too far from mountain kirin tribe at the Peaks of Peril...” Minty answered nicely, despite being slightly annoyed, “But can you stop throwing rocks at him? He clearly doesn’t like it. Maybe picture yourselves in your shoes. Perhaps you could throw the rocks into the water!” She suggested with a smile. “No one will get hurt. The fish may be surprised, but they won’t get hurt.”

The foals whispered to each other before walking away. Minty let out a sigh of relief as she went to the cage. That went so much better than it could have gone! Way much better. She was actually a bit concerned the foals would attack her, too!

“It’s okay, they’re gone now...” Minty said softly as she undid the latches on the cage door and opened it.

Before she joined Trixie, she would get some rude remarks about kirins. Some ponies would be scared she’d transform into a nirik, or somehow summon them, and burn them to a crisp! Some thought she was ugly and ignored her. However, plenty of ponies were nice! Some asked her questions since they never saw a kirin before. Some greeted her kindly and treated her like anypony else.

It took a while for the bat pony to leave the cage. The poor thing had bruises and gashes all over his body. He slowly got out and hisses at Minty.

“Uh... you’re welcome? But I don’t think many are going to accept a hiss as a thank you.”

The bat pony’s ears perked up as he looked to his side. A buff stallion unicorn stallion and a buff earth pony mare stood there looking angrily. The three foals were behind them with huge smiles on their faces.

”Uh, hello?” Minty greeted.

The stallion got into her face, “What the flying flip did you say to my child!?”

Minty’s heart was racing as she explained, “A-all I did was tell them to stop throwing stones at the cage...”

The stallion growled, “And what’s wrong with that?”

”Well... there was someone in it and I wanted to help them. It’s the right thing to do.”

”Rubbish!” Shouted the mare, “You’re not a pony! You don’t deserve to be around us ponies! You didn’t have permission to go close to our children!”

“I-I’m sorry?” Minty question. The family was being extremely rude! Just because she was a kirin didn’t mean she was any less of a being than them.

”Not enough!” Shouted the stallion, “Non-ponies like you don’t belong here! Go back to where you belong!”

”That’s not very nice!” Minty exclaimed, “I have as much of a right to be here as you do-“

The Mare bucked her in the face, causing her to fall to the ground. She put a hoof on her bruised cheek as she stared at them in shock. The bat pony was gone now, properly didn’t want to be part of the drama.

“Go ahead children. Put this branch horned slob in its place!” The stallion grinned.

One foal threw stones at her, she levitated them in her magic before they hit. But then the other filly wacked her in the face with a stick, cutting her cheek.

“That’s enough!” Minty scolded as she got up, “I did nothing to hurt you, you’re being unreasonable...” She ignored the stinging pain of the cut on her right cheek. The mare held a large cactus in her forelegs, Minty didn’t have enough time to dodge before she slammed it on her face. She exclaimed in pain as she fell to the floor. The mare slammed the cactus onto her multiple times, each time hurting more than the previous.

After a while, she tossed it aside and walked away. Laughing with her family, leaving Minty alone on the ground, crying. “This c-can’t get any worse... right?” She sniffled just before it started to rain heavily, soaking her through. “Suppose it can... “ She sighed in despair.

Soon enough, Minty returned, running, Sunrise had spotted tears in her eyes. It wasn’t raining at the shore, only at the park. Sunrise wondered why she was so wet and sad.. Minty ran into Loophole’s wagon and slammed the door. Loophole had to allow others in her wagon since they had their belongings stored in there. Except for Trixie, Stardust and Sunrise. Their stuff was in Trixie’s wagon. Tiny was asleep near the door and the slam scared him, he jolted awake and looked at the door.

Sunrise walked up to the door with concern, “M-Minty?” She questioned.

”Pink fluffy kirin okay?” Asked Tiny.

”She’s possibly jus5 being a crybaby,” Loophole shrugged.

“Shut up, Loophole!” Shouted Sunrise, who immediately gasped, believing she said something very rude. “I’m sorry-forgive my mouth... just let me just check on her,” she apologised as she opened the door and fluttered in.

She landed on the ground of the wagon. The floorboards creaked slightly, the walls were a darker wood. There were shelves and boxes filled with stiff, along with the folded up tents and sleeping bags. In the corner was Minty, facing the wall with a fluffy mint-green blanket around her.

”Minty?” Asked Sunrise as she slowly walked towards her.

She could hear Minty sniffling then, “Ow!” She cried.

Sunrise rushed over, Minty looked at her, tears streaming down her cheeks and cactus spikes on her nose, plus a gash on her cheek. “What happened?” Sunrise asked with worry.

Minty sighed, “Don’t worry about me...”

“Why? You’re my friend!”

“A pathetic one who can’t defend herself or anyone else to save a life!” She shouted, annoyed.

Sunrise patted her back to comfort, only for Minty to exclaim in pain, “S-sorry!” Sunrise apologised. “What happened?” She asked.

Minty cried and dropped the blanket. It was that moment that a Sunrise noticed plenty of gashes, bruises and cactus spikes over her body. Sunrise gasped and teared up. She was badly hurt!

“I just wanted... to be strong for once, but I just made it worse... I tried to defend someone in need but... I was worthless,” Minty sobbed.

Sunrise felt worse, “B-but you tried your best,”

Minty looked at her, “Bit I couldn’t stick up for them, I just managed to be there, so they could run while I get beaten to a pulp... eatery single time I try to stick up for someone I end up getting beaten because I can’t fight!” She cried

”That's not true, remember back at the Crystal Empire? You stood up for GC when Loophole made fun of her name!” Sunrise exclaimed as Minty painfully removed more cactus spikes from her body.

”Yeah, but that clearly did not work! She still made fun of everyone... I’m a failure...” Minty sobbed as she curled up.

”But that’s not your fault... that’s hers!”

Minty whimpered, not saying anything else, Sunrise sighed, “You’re brave... smart... kind and honest. You are a great friend, please understand,” She said softly. Minty did not respond, leaving Sunrise to head towards the door, Not knowing how to handle it. Besides being told that an upset dragon usually needs alone time. Maybe it’s not so different for kirins and ponies?

“I’ll be here for you if you need to talk... like how you were for me,” She said, recalling overhearing some ponies saying that to their upset friend. Before going out the door. Tiny looked at her, waiting for an answer, “She was in a fight...” Sunrise sighed, sad that she couldn’t help.

”Could be worse,” Stardust shrugged.

Sunrise gasped, “Worse!? She’s badly hurt!” She started to tear up, “She’s really hurt!” She was angry at how Stardust didn’t seem to acknowledge Minty’s attitude!.

Tiny nodded, “Tiny will shall agree will that horrible!”

Stardust rolled her eyes, “Well, she could be dead! We could just be happy she’s alive! Look on the bright side! Maybe I can write a song!”

”I dunno... I...” Sunrise sighed, “There’s nothing happy about her being hurt...”

“I guess so? Unless it’s slapstick!” Stardust said happily.

“Stardust!” Sunrise shouted, “Ugh, You’re being as bad as Loophole! You don’t care, do you? You don’t care about anything!? All you care about is happy, happy, happy!”

“N-No I don’t!” Stardust responded, “I-I’m sorry... I didn’t mean for her to get hurt? What happened, anyway? Had a run in with a bull?”

Sunrise sighed, “I’m not sure... It’s not your fault. But I think someone attacked her... She thinks she’s useless.” She looked down to the ground with sadness.

Stardust gasped and stared at the door sadly, “But... But no one’s worthless... Or useless. Everyone plays their part, everyone is important and special in their own way. No matter who they are or what they do, they’re far from worthless!”

Sunrise nodded. “That’s true. No one, anywhere was a mistake. That’s a horrible way to think about yourself.” She then looked at the door, “I hope Minty will be okay...”

The Blue Crystal Part 2

In the water, Trixie stared at the board in shock before her mouth turned into a grin. She had won the game! “Was there ever any doubt?” She smiled, proud of what she achieved.

Oyster snarled and flipped the board, almost hitting Tricia, “I doubt you won fairly!” She looked at Trixie’s spot, “Where’d she go!?” She snarled, “you’re my meal!”

Trixie sneaked away and grabbed the jewel and started swimming as hard and fast as she could while Ouster wasn’t looking. Trixie decided to get as far as she can before using the whistle, she dodged seaweed, rocks and anything that would slow her down. Much to her horror, Oyster was chasing her, going much faster than she expected.

“Leave Trixie alone!” Trixie squealed in fright, she was getting tired. “She needs it more!”

”Nonsense!” Oyster growled, almost succeeding in chomping down on Trixie, who swam out the way I’m time. Her heart raced as she swam as hard as she could by kicking her hind legs.

Trixie swam through holes in rocks and between coral. But Oyster simply either smashed through them or went over. She growled as she got closer and closet to Trixie. At this point, Trixie was screaming out loud. Her heart was racing, and she felt sweaty as death neared. She had even got a whiff of Oyster’s breath.

Her screaming was loud enough to make the bubble shake, soon popping it as she crashed into a rocky wall. Trixie was about to swim away but realised that she was cornered and had nowhere to go! Oyster was getting closer and closet, mouth opening. All was left was Trixie to beg to live, but that was impossible, her bubble was gone, and she couldn’t breathe underwater.

Was this it? Was this how Tricia goes down? She was running out of air anyway, she got a large gulp of water when her bubble had popped. Oyster was going to eat her, there was nothing she could do! She was far too scared to focus on her magic! Hope was lost, Tricia closed her eyes to accept fate.

Just before the jaws grabbed her, she felt something grab her just under the arms and pull her up. But the hippocampus still chased her, Trixie looked towards the figure and saw it was a white sea pony with a serious expression. They were going up, up jumping straight out of the water, the hippocampus chased them with jaws open. Soon there was a glow above Trixie as her rescuer transformed into a hippogriff.

As a hippogriff she flew straight up and out the jaws just before they closed, and the giant monster fell back into the water. Trixie hugged the blue jewel tightly as the hippogriff flew toward the shore, Trixie was a bit woozy but relived that she was saved so fast! The diamond in her hooves flashed as it spoke.

“Last diamond somewhere purple, go back to the place you first started,”

Trixie cocked her head, “Huh?”

Before she knew it she was dropped towards the water she fell on the shoreline, the hippogriff landed next to her. Trixie had a look at the hippogriff, she looked a bit different in a way. This hippogriff was as white as snow, no hint of any other colour besides her beak and claws being pink and eyes being and her eyes being as red as a rose.

“Hello, hippogriff,” Trixie said, and she got on her hooves.

Trixie shook her body and grabbed the diamond jewel in her magic. She noticed the hippogriff staring at her blankly, she shrugged it off, but it was creeping her out a bit.

”Uh...” Trixie said slightly, “Can I... help you?”

The hippogriff responded with little emotion, “What you did was reckless, diving for treasure near a hippocampus’s home, without any protection.”

Trixie rolled her eyes, “Uh, excuse me! I need this to save the world!”

”Enough of your nonsensical games, child!” The hippogriff said, showing no empathy.

“Game!?” Trixie shouted, “You call this a game!?”

Trixie pointed at the dark sky, only the horizon was uncovered, still showing the blue sky. Sunlight was still getting through, allowing the land to appear as day instead of night, Trixie looked up with worry, then realised the Main 6 were holding it back for her. In the distance was a blast of orange, white, purple, pink, blue and yellow light hitting it, the Main 6’s rainbow! When the blast hit it, the whole thing went smaller by a few inches but still would keep growing as time passed.

She smiled, she still had time, they were keeping it back, and it looked as if it would take a few days for the whole sky to be covered by it.

Soon she heard a dog barking and saw Sapphire running up to her, she looked at her in confusion as she jumped onto her and started licking her. The rest of the squad weren’t too far away, they ran over quickly.

“Trixie!” GC shouted, “Good girl, Sapphire,” She then complimented as she gave the puppy a pat and took her off Trixie.

Minty looked at her concerned, “Are you okay, Trixie?”

Sunrise gave her a big hug, Trixie smiled happily. Then she noticed that Minty had bandages on her body, and a bruised eye. “Uh... Minty... what happened to you?” Tri I’ve asked.

Minty sighed as she looked down, “I don’t want to talk about it...”

GC growled, “Some rock brains beat her up!” Anger was seen in her face, it was like she’d kill the ponies that hurt Minty. She didn’t know who they are, but she was extremely angry at them.

”Are you okay?” Sunrise asked as she saw that she looked a bit scared.

”Yeah... I’m fine... just a bit shaken...” She ensured.

Much to everyone’s dismay, Stardust shrugged, “Could be worse!”

Sunrise growled slightly, “Stop saying that!”

Stardust sighed as she looked at her. Knowing she had a point and that maybe she was a bit mean earlier, “Okay, fine, but she’s okay now!”

”So, where’s the next one?” Asked Sunrise as she got on Trixie’s back.

Loophole laughed at Trixie, “Wow! You’re sopping wet!”

“That’s rude, young lady,” Scolded Snowflake bluntly

“Ahem!” GC stated as she gestured to the hippogriff, “Who’s this?”

Trixie shrugged, “Just a hippogriff, why?”

“I beg your pardon,” The hippogriff scolded monotony, “Not just a hippogriff, I saved you back there, young lady, if it weren’t for me then where’d you be?”

Trixie sighed, “Who saved my life...”

”Better.” Stated the hippogriff, “My name’s Snowflake, who are you, and where are your parents? You all look far to your homes. Well much young to be out by yourselves, this far, do your parents know where you are?” She asked.

Trixie shrugged, “I don’t even know where my parents are, haven’t seen them for three years... oh, and I’m twenty,”

”I Seventeen and left because they were doing something... unfair,” Minty explained, “But my adopted sister, GC is with me,”

GC nodded to confirm, “I’m Twenty, yo! Turning twenty-one this year!”

”Sixteen and I left because I wanted to see the world, my parents didn’t care anyway,” Loophole added.

Tiny stepped forward, “Tiny born much small, parent yaks abandon Tiny when runt, and Tiny fourteen year,”

Stardust simply shrugged. She never met the dragons that laid her eggs. In fact, she didn’t meet any dragons till two years ago. When she was about seven years old. Now she was nine years old, and she did know one dragon, Sunrise. Oh yeah! And Spike, but she hadn’t met him or Twilight in person, or interacted yet.

Sunrise sighed and wiped her tears, “T-they I...”

Minty noticed tears run down Sunrise’s face. Sunrise was shaking as she looked at the ground. Poor thing even had some sweat drops appear as she tried to speak. No words came from her mouth as she stared at the ground.

”Sunrise, it’s okay, you don’t need to talk about it if not ready...” Minty said as she offered a hug. She wasn’t an expert on trauma, but she knew it was horrible for anyone. Her heart ached for Sunrise, she knew she didn’t know the pain she was going through, but she wanted to comfort her.

Sunrise hugged her tight, “I-I miss... I miss them!” She sobbed into Minty’s chest, soaking it.

”I know...” She sighed San she patted Sunrise on the back, a tear escaping from her own eye. Minty didn’t know the exact story on what happened to Sunrise’s parents but... It was none of her business anyway, and she didn’t expect an explanation, she just wanted to help her. “I’m sorry you have to go through this...”

Sunrise kept sobbing, pulling aggressively at Minty’s curly mane. “It’s not fair!” She screeched, “It was not fair!” She screamed as she cried violently.

Everyone looked at Sunrise with concern, even Loophole knew this wasn’t a time to make a joke. Trixie shed a tear as the noises of guns filled her mind. She stepped back, breathing heavy as a flashback started. It was horrible, the screams, blood... Trixie had to be strong, sound was blocked out as she had a flashback.

GC slightly nudged Sapphire towards Sunrise, looking sombre. Sapphire slowly went up to Sunrise and yapped softly, not understanding why everyone was sad. But she didn’t leave and sat next to Sunrise as she put a paw on her. Snowflake sighed, wondering what happened to that poor child.

“Fine, I’ll assume GC and Trixie are your guardians, but I’m staying with you to make sure I can trust you with these minors!”

GC glared at Snowflake, “Yuck. What a party pooper and a mood destroyer,” She muttered.

Snowflake glared back, not saying a word. Minty gazed at Snowflake, wondering why she wasn’t showing any sign of empathy for Sunrise. It was clear that she had brought up some serious trauma! She didn’t even say sorry, she was just so rude!

A few hours went by... Trixie looked up the in air, the blood was still huge like earlier but Twilight and friends keeping it back and the sun still reached the earth like it wasn’t even there! Trixie smiled, she looked at the group.

”So...” She smiled, “Anypon- creature up for a fun afternoon?” Asked Trixie.

Everyone watched as there was a smoky explosion of smoke in front of her as a smoke bomb was thrown, blocking everyone’s view of her. As the smoke cleared, they all saw her standing there, looking smug.

”Behold, a magic trick from...,” Trixie eagerly said as she got on her kind legs and flapped her cape epically, “The grrrreat and powerful Trixie!” She said loudly as fireworks went off behind her.

“Oh my stars!” Minty said happily.

”Cool-“ GC shrugged.

Sunrise stared adorably, “Ooooooh!”

“Heh, A magic show?” Asked Loophole like it was a joke.

Snowflake rolled her eyes, “Enough playing pretend, we have work to do...”

”Trixie is absolutely not pretending to be the greatest magician of all time!”

”Tiny yak no know magician is, tell,” Tiny questioned, “What different is magician to unicorn?”

Trixie looked at Tiny, she was a bit surprised that he didn’t understand, she rolled her eyes and called out.

”Witness amazing feats before your eyes!”

Minty, Sunrise and Loophole gave her an applause.

”Boooooring!” GC shouted, “Magic shows are only good if they have a stage!”

”GC, don’t be rude!” Minty scolded.

”I’m gonna make a song!” Sunrise said as she grabbed her ukulele.

Trixie stared at them, “Well, you’re pretty poor at being an audience,” She responded, annoyed.

“Choose something everyone will enjoy,” Snowflake replied monotony.

Trixie grumbled, “Why!?” She looked at everyone, “Fine, what’s your ideas of a fun afternoon?”

Minty and GC looked at each other, smiled and nodded before looking at Trixie with cheeky grins.

”Uh... what’s up with you two?” Trixie asked nervously.

“Victory swim!” Called GC and she picked up Trixie.

Trixie was held up above GC’s head, legs dangling in the air, she looked around in confusion and worry. A few others had seemed to have agreed with her.

”Victory swim!” Shouted Minty.

”Victory swim!” Agreed Sunrise.

”Vix tar wee swim?” Asked Tiny.

”Victory swim!” Loophole chuckled.

”Victory swim!?” Shouted, Trixie and GC started to run to a small cliff just above the water.

”Grow up,” Bluntly responded Snowflake.

”Throw her in!” Cheered Stardust.

”With pleasure,” GC smirked as Trixie kicked her hooves and struggled to get out her grip.

Trixie screamed as Gamecube threw her into the water, making a big splash, and jumped in after her, Minty and Sunrise jumped in soon after. Tiny walked in safely and waded in the shallows, as he didn’t know how to swim. Loophole watched from the edge, not wanting to get wet.

”I’m setting this one out, getting wet is just not fun at all,” Loophole said with a smile.

Trixie went underwater a bit before surfacing. Once her head was above water, she spat some water out as she kicked her legs to stay afloat,. Also, the others were playfully splashing each other, and her aswel. Everyone in the water and Loophole was laughing at her pouting and annoyed expression.

After making some angrily noises, she stared at them, how dare they mess with her. As she glared daggers, she purposely sunk down until her nostrils were only just above the surface, being tickled. She felt heavier due to the addition of her cape, the material soaked up a lot of water, weighing her down. Once she finally made it to shore she grumbled as she felt the wet material of her cloak press, and rub against her wet fur, it felt cold, wet and heavy, but she was getting used to it. It wasn’t the first time she wore her cape, all soggy. Maybe the 8th or 9th time?

As she exited the water she gave her hooves a shake, she found her outfit uncomfortable and unpleasant to wear when it was soaked, but she was kinda getting used to it at this point. The grass wasn’t that far away, so she went towards her wagon, slowly. The sun was shining, giving her some warmth on her fur.

She grumbled as she shook her wet hooves again, but soon smiled, secretly, deep inside she did find a bit of humour in that, she could see her laughing about somepony else being thrown in unexpectedly. Trixie then grumbled as she took off her hat and sat in the sun and wrung it before laying it in the sun to dry, she soon did the same with her cape. After removing her clothing, Trixie shook the water from her fur and watched the others

Soon enough they came out too.

“Anyone wants to play volley ball!?” Loophole invited.

In response, practically everyone said, “Yes!” Except for Snowflake who rolled her eyes.

They all laughed and played games before the sun went down, and it was time for dinner.

Dangers Lay Ahead