Boast Busters

by TheKing2001

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Main 6, Lyra, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Octavia, Other, Profanity, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe
Length: 15507

When a rival of Trixie's shows up in town and tries to one up her duirng a magic show, Trixie and her friends fight back.

The arrival of Wild Card, a boastful pony with magical skills and gambling problems from Trixie's past, arrives in Ponyville during Trixie's magic to make Trixie's life miserable after blaming her for his misfortune, angering Trixie's friends. Trixie's friends try to get her to stand up for herself while Trixie resists her friends' requests to challenge Wild Card.

Part of the https://www.fimfiction.net/group/217456/sunsetverse

Published 2024-03-11 04:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-08-28 19:30:31 UTC

She Never Cancels A Show

Derpy glanced out the window as she looked at the rising sun before looking at Dinky and Trixie sitting in the dining room at a table before going back to making Dinky’s lunch. Sparkler had left before the sun was up for work with Rarity.

“Pick a card Dinky!” Trixie said as she and smaller unicorn sat in Derpy’s dining room as Trixie held out her playing cards with a large smile.

“Any card?” Dinky asked and Trixie nodded.

“Any card and Trixie does mean any young Dinky. Don’t keep Trixie waiting because she isn’t fond of patience!”

Dinky gave a nod as she picked a queen of hearts.

“Now don’t tell Trixie what card you picked, just add it back to the pile and Trixie will magically pull the card you picked out of the pile,” Trixie explained as Dinky complied. Trixie shuffled the pile as Dinky watched with wide eyes as the cards seemed to dance from hoof to hoof. “Trixie will shuffle the pile so you can see she isn’t cheating. Is this your card?”

Trixie held up a eight of spades and Dinky shook her head.

“Of course it isn’t because your card is right here,” Trixie said as she reached for Dinky’s ear and pulled a queen of hearts from behind the fillies ear, placing it on the table with a smug grin as Dinky clapped. “Thank you, thank you.”

“That was awesome,” Dinky said as Trixie grinned wider.

“Trixie will teach you later but you must promise to show no pony. A magician never reveals her secrets after all.”

“Alright time to go to school Dinky. Say thanks to Trixie,” Derpy called out as she dropped some saddlebags on the table. “Have fun, learn a lot and don’t accept any wooden bits.”

Dinky had no real idea what that meant but assumed it was some wise saying. Derpy was the smartest pony she knew contrary to what others thought.

“Thanks Trixie. Bye mom!”

“Bye!” Trixie waved as Dinky took off out the small house as Trixie smiled faintly.

“They grow up so fast,” Derpy muttered as she shook her head. “Feels like just yesterday I was in the hospital with her.”

“Just wait until she starts dating,” Trixie said with a grin as Derpy glared at her.

“Don’t even joke like that. The day Dinky brings a colt or filly home is the day I die.”

“Meaning.....?”

“Meaning she isn’t going to date ever. No boyfriends, no girlfriends and definitely no hoof holding,” Derpy explained as she slammed a hoof into the wooden floor adamantly. “None whatsoever.”

“Oh well okay. Trixie wishes you luck but she must be going now. She must set up her stage tonight,” Trixie said with a smile as the pair hugged.

“Oh we will be there don’t worry about that,” Derpy promised as they separated.

“Trixie hopes so. This is the show to end all shows and you three get in free.”

Derpy waved as Trixie trotted out the door as it shut gently behind her.

She just hoped it didn’t go too late otherwise Dinky would never go to sleep.

My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
(My Little Pony!)
I used to wonder what friendship could be
(My Little Pony!)
Until you all shared its magic with me
Unwavering loyalty,
Teaching laughter,
Helping other ponies,
Being generous to all we meet,
Being honest and helpful,
Leading the way and representing everypony,
It’s an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete!
You have my little ponies
Do you know you’re all my very best friends?

Roseluck and Daisy both sat in the front row of the stage as Trixie finished doing a trick and the two clapped their respectively along with the rest of the crowd as Trixie’s magic turned the magical stage lights on.

“That was cool,” Lily admitted as the two other sisters nodded. They hadn’t really needed to force Lily out surprisingly. Apparently she was into magic or shows or whatever it was she said. Either way, the two sisters weren’t complaining.

Sunset nodded her agreement from the seat behind them as Silverspeed and Derpy shifted slightly before lifting Silver Spoon and Dinky up respectively to let them see better as Trixie nodded at the pair.

“Having fun?” Silverspeed asked as Silver Spoon shrugged.

“I mean it’s okay. I’ve seen cooler shows at school,” Silver Spoon said as she folded her forelegs and Silverspeed scowled at her.

“Be nice, that’s my friend up there. She’s doing good and you got in here free so show some respect,” Silverspeed chided as she narrowed her eyes. “I’m not asking, I’m telling.”

“Yes sister,” Silver Spoon muttered as she hid her blush.

“Now Trixie needs a volunteer!” Trixie called out as a grey unicorn stallion next to them group stood up.

“Me?” The stallion suggested and Trixie started to nod.

“Or me,” a tan unicorn with a bent playing card from the back called out and Trixie stared at him with a flat expression as her friends looked back.

“No. First stallion, what’s your name?” Trixie asked as she focused back on the unicorn.

“Mystic Song,” he answered as Trixie glanced at his music note cutie mark.

“You are lucky to be Trixie’s partner. She will respectfully ask you to stay still as she makes your disappear with the drop of a curtain if you will please step behind it?” Trixie requested and the stallion complied.

“Why not me?” The tan unicorn called out as Trixie gritted her teeth and Shoeshine raised an eyebrow. In all the short time she’s known her, she’s never known Trixie to turn down a pony asking to come on stage.

“That’s it, shows over! Goodnight everypony!” Trixie shouted as confused ponies starting talking to each other as Trixie’s friends gave each other confused looks. “Trixie is very sorry sir. Meet her after the show and she will use you in her next performance.”

“What the hay is going on?” Sparkler asked as she tossed her cup into a trash can. “Two points.”

“No idea but come on. We’re gonna find out,” Sunset answered as she and the others stood up.

Trixie gave a long drawn out sigh as she closed her trunk after placing some of her magical items inside it as she dragged it over to her wagon.

“What the heck was that?” Sunset demanded as she trotted up. “You never cancel shows halfway through Trixie. What the heck happened?”

“Trixie doesn’t wanna talk about it,” Trixie answered as she sighed again. “Can you girls help open the wagon door?”

“What happened was me arriving to confront the mare who ruined my life,” Sunset turned to glare at the stallion with narrowed eyes.

“And who the hell are you?” Derpy demanded as she eyed him up and down.

“Wild Card,” Trixie said simply without turning around as Roseluck opened the wagon door. “He has a gambling problem and blames Trixie. Used to be a uh business partner so to speak with Trixie.”

“I have a gambling problem because you suggested I go to the casino,” Wild Card shot back as Trixie rolled her eyes. “Multiple times and you also got my wife to leave me after it. My life is hell because of you.”

“That sounds like a you problem,” Sunset commented casually as she shifted her weight on her hooves. “Trixie isn’t the type to make anypony do anything. You don’t have to ever do anything a pony suggests. Based on your name and cutie mark, gambling and card games seems to be your special talent. Obviously not that good at them if you lost.”

“This doesn’t concern you,” Wild Card answered as he stepped around Sunset.

“Uh actually it does. Trixie is my friend so hit the road buddy,” Sunset grumbled as the others nodded. “Consider yourself lucky Raindrops is working and isn’t here. Otherwise she’d be hitting you by now.”

“Be careful of who you pick to be friends with. You’ll crash and burn if you associate with Trixie just like I did,” he said as he stepped back into the alley nearby. “She may have skills with show magic but I’m stronger in general with magic. Good luck.”

“I can’t believe you canceled a show over him,” Derpy scoffed as she sat down on the dirt next to Trixie. “He seemed rude.”

“Normally you shut down naysayers instantly and rudely. Why not now?” Roseluck asked as Silverspeed watched the alley warily.

“Because he’s right, I did ruin his life. I said he should go, I said he would win because of his cutie mark. But his cutie mark isn’t winning, it’s apparently cheating and getting caught cheating at card games. Obviously not good at it,” Trixie sighed as she stood up. “There’s nothing to stand up for when I’m the problem.”

“What?” Silverspeed demanded as she spun around with a stunned expression. “You’re all about self love and not caring what ponies think of you. You’re actually gonna let him get to you? You’re better than this.”

“Yeah well not tonight. I’m going to bed. Goodnight,” Trixie sighed as she stepped up the ladder of her wagon. “I’ll see you girls around.”

The five watched worriedly in stunned silence as the wagon doors slammed shut followed by the sound of a mare flopping onto a mattress.

“Should we follow her or...?” Roseluck trailed off as they all looked at Sunset expectantly.

For once, Sunset wished she had a book at home with the answer.

First Time For Everything

Roseluck bit back multiple curse words as her alarm screamed at her, idly flailing a hoof at her nightstand till she slammed a hoof down on the clock and the infernal machine went silent.

“Thank Celestia,” Roseluck grumbled as she moved deeper into her warm blanket pile. “Stupid alarm clock, stupid sun, stupid work.”

“Get up!” Lily shouted through the door as Roseluck groaned. “Your friends or whatever are here. If you don’t get your flank down these steps, I’m eating your waffles and I mean it.”

Roseluck rolled out of her blankets and fell with a thud as she rubbed her cutie mark with a wince.

“That’s gonna bruise,” Roseluck muttered as she awkwardly stood up and opened her bedroom door. “Now why are my friends here?”

“How the hell should I know? They’re your friends, probably here to do whatever it is friends do,” Lily answered with a shrug. “You’re the expert, you tell me.”

“Is this where we have another argument and awkwardly work around each other for the next week till we forget about it?” Roseluck asked as she followed Lily down the steps.

“Nah I’m in a decent mood today surprisingly so please don’t ruin it.”

“Which friend is it?” Roseluck asked as Lily paused.

“Blue coat one. Unicorn. Trixie is her name.”

“I’m trying to decide if that was a poorly made poem or not,” Roseluck mused as Lily surprised her by laughing.

“Nah it’s not. I’m not entirely good at poems but go see what Trixie wants. Surprised she is out and about with that one stallion still in town,” Lily commented as Roseluck scowled.

“He’s still here? I thought he left!” Roseluck pounded a hoof on the base of the stairs.

“Nope and from what I heard, he’s been following Trixie around and criticizing her every move. Why, I’m not sure,” Lily admitted as she stepped into the kitchen. “She’s in the dining room.”

“Hey how’s it going Trixie?” Roseluck asked with a smile as she entered the room and paused as Trixie continued browsing cupboards. “Uhm Trixie? What are you doing?”

“Got bored and started looking for alcohol. You don’t have any, do you?” Trixie asked as she closed a cupboard and opened another with seeds. “Why in the world do you have seeds in random places in your house?”

“Not sure. Us running a floral shop might have something to do with it?” Roseluck suggested as she closed the doors of the cupboards Trixie had already looked through. “Why come to us for alcohol? Why not Berry Punch? She runs a store out of her cellar, remember?”

“Been there.”

“And?”

“Trixie bought all she had,” Trixie answered as she shut the final doors and sighed. “Okay, thanks anyways.”

“Hold up, so you’re not going to sit down and talk?” Roseluck asked as she trotted into the living room, flinging herself on the couch in one corner of the room, patting the spot next to her. “Sit and stay awhile. I don’t care if Lily wants you gone, I want you here and you don’t seem okay so spill.”

Trixie eyed the couch warily before sitting down next to the mare before clearing her throat.

“For the record, Lily actually suggested Trixie comes inside. She was only gonna poke around for a few moments,” Trixie admitted after a moment of silence.

“Huh,” Roseluck muttered as she folded her forelegs under her. “Lily has been in good mood all day she said. Weird.”

“Anyway, Trixie is fine,” Trixie insisted as Roseluck raised an eyebrow slightly. “Fine, she’s upset but that’s it.”

“What the hell even is your story with him? All you said was he was a business partner and that was that. There’s more to that story than just that,” Roseluck said as Trixie bit her lip.

“Fine, he used to work for me and my master,” Trixie admitted as Roseluck gave her a worried look.

“Were you like a slave or something? I really hope not.”

“No, no nothing like that. Master is just a term of respect I used for the pony who taught me all I know. Good stallion. Anyway, that’s a story for later. You wanna know more about Wild Card. He’s just as boastful as me, has or well had a lot of bits that he invested in my shows and equipment. But he got taken out of his dad’s will after he died and Wild Card pretty much went broke. He had a nice wife but she left him after the money was gone so I guess not as nice as I once thought. So I suggested he spend his last few bits at a casino in an attempt to make a lot of bits and well, he obviously lost. I thought his cutie mark was being good at card games but evidently not. I ruined his life with one suggestion. He would still have a wife if it wasn’t for me fucking things up like usual. Anyway, that’s all,” Trixie concluded as she shifted on the couch. “Oh and he used to travel with me on my shows so that was already pretty hard on his family. I don’t really have a family that I’m on speaking terms with so it was easy for me to travel for months at a time. I didn’t actually put down roots so to speak till I became friends with you girls.”

“That is not on you,” Roseluck said after a moment as she wrapped a foreleg around Trixie. “Just a bunch of misfortune in general. Could have happened to anypony, hay that could have happened to Daisy or Crescent Moon or Star Tracker. And you don’t fuck things up, what happened the Trixie we all know and love that brags about herself, is all about her being the greatest at everything?”

“It is my fault,” Trixie corrected and shook her head. “None of that would have happened if I didn’t convince him to come along. Most ponies thought we were together but it was a strictly professional relationship. I don’t cross lines like sleeping with married stallions or mares. And that Trixie is still there, she’s just taking a break at the moment.”

Roseluck flinched and looked away. She didn’t really think Trixie meant that as a jab about her and Derpy’s ex husband but it didn’t necessarily hurt any less.

“I have to go now. It’s been a decent conversation I guess but I wanna go back to sleep after getting wasted,” Trixie said as she levitated Roseluck’s foreleg off of her. “Alcohol is calling this mares name and she desperately needs whiskey in her system till she can’t walk.”

Roseluck gave a frustrated sigh as she watched Trixie leave out the front door as Roseluck inhaled.

“Lily! I’m going out!”

“And that’s why I came here,” Roseluck finished as Raindrops growled incoherent curses under her breath as the two sat on a bench near the pond, watching ducks swimming. “You’ve know Trixie longer than any of us in town, any suggestions?”

“Beat up Wild Card and throw him out of town?” Raindrops suggested hopefully and her face fell as Roseluck shook her head. “Anyway, Trixie mentioned him a few years back but it was only good things except in one letter where they went their separate ways and ended the partnership. I’ve never met him and so far, I’m not impressed.”

Roseluck nodded her agreement as she watched a colt run by before focusing back on the pegasus.

“So how exactly do I stop Trixie from feeling bad about something that clearly wasn’t her fault?” Roseluck asked as Raindrops grimaced.

“Trixie has always been this way. She usually tried too hard back in school to get friends and well, it usually backfired so she’s used to thinking she was the problem. She usually gets random depressive phases so I suggest just giving her stuff she likes. She really likes chocolate and peanut butter crackers. Like, she loves that shit. And back off when she says to otherwise she’ll get angry,” Raindrops explained as Roseluck stared at her in silence. “When you know Trixie as a long as I do, you pick up on little things like this. Angry Trixie is scary and I thought I was intimidating when mad but Trixie is a whole ‘nother level.”

Roseluck shuddered slightly as she nodded. She had seen Raindrops angry before, the whole town had and most ponies knew to run in the opposite direction when Raindrops was on a rampage. There was nothing scarier than a furious pegasus who could make it rain whenever she wanted and control lightning.

“Anyway, I’m gonna get back to work. My break is over,” Raindrops glanced and tossed a lazy salute. “I’ll drop by Trixie’s wagon later and talk to her. I’ll also keep an eye out for Wild Card, he’s been out and about all over town from what I heard.”

“Thanks Dropsy.”

Roseluck watched the pegasus fly off before standing up herself to go find Derpy.

Derpy usually provided a perspective that most couldn’t provide, Roseluck mused as she looked down at her stomach growling and blushed.

First, she needed food.

Bad Example

Derpy and Roseluck trotted up to a faded blue and purple wagon falling apart as they both raised their eyebrows before Derpy knocked on the door.

“This is where she lives?” Roseluck asked and whistled. “Sweet Celestia.”

“Trixie? It’s Derpy and Roseluck!” Derpy called out as the door opened and the pair stepped back. Trixie was wearing a white robe, reeking of beer mixed with whiskey and various other alcohols as she covered her eyed with a hoof. “Good heavens girl.”

“What time is it?” Trixie grumbled as she winced at the sun. “Come inside, it’s too bright outside.”

The two looked at each other before stepping into the wagon and Trixie shut the door behind them. Derpy had never been inside Trixie’s wagon before as she looked at a hammock in the corner before glancing up at a smiling picture of Trixie above the hammock.

“What is that?” Derpy asked as she pointed a hoof at the hammock.

“Where I sleep. Duh,” Trixie said as if that should be obvious and flopped onto it with a groan. “What’s up?”

“This is an intervention now. At first it was just us checking up on you after you know who arrived,” Roseluck said as she sat down against a metal wall that she realized was the folded up stage Trixie performed on and was a bit impressed it was even able to fit in the wagon. Trixie was a traveling mare so she probably should have figured it would go somewhere. “You’re drunk at twelve in the afternoon.”

“I’m okay,” Trixie insisted as she picked up a bottle and shook it, giving a frustrated sigh when no liquid sloshed inside and she tossed it into a large pile of bottles near the door before levitating a unopened beer and ripping the cap off.

“Uh no you aren’t,” Derpy shook her head and took the beer. “You’re worse than Sunset and I thought she was the alcoholic of the group.”

“It’s been a rough few days,” Trixie admitted as Derpy sniffed the beer and made a disgusted face before setting it down away from Trixie. “Just get me some water and I’ll be right as rain.”

“Okay uh where’s a sink in here?” Roseluck asked as she looked around from her spot on the floor.

“I should have water in my fridge.”

Roseluck nodded as she jumped up to her hooves and trotted over to the small fridge in the corner.

“How do you even get clean in here?” Derpy asked as she narrowed her eyes. She hadn’t exactly seen a shower or a bathroom in here when she trotted inside.

“I use the river downtown. There’s a secluded spot where I can wash off where nopony can see,” Trixie answered as Roseluck hoofed her a water bottle. “It’s quite nice.”

“Uh that’s kinda weird,” Roseluck interjected. “A lot of colts and fillies go swimming in it in the summer, not bathing in it.”

“What’s the difference? They’re getting wet regardless and so am I,” Trixie shrugged in response.

Roseluck couldn’t necessarily argue with that logic.

“Getting off track, we’re taking your alcohol. This is getting out of hoof,” Derpy said as she picked up a bottle. “You’re gonna drink yourself to death.”

“That earth pony with the unicorn filly gets drunk all the time and is fine!” Trixie argued as Derpy rolled her eyes.

“Berry Punch’s alcohol problem is not a good example. Her cutie mark gives her a stronger liver than all of us that’s why she can drink all the time and stuff.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah come on, let’s get you some actual food,” Roseluck smiled as she stood up and hooked a foreleg around Trixie’s neck as Derpy opened the door, staring at a crowd of ponies with Wild Card in front of them. “What do you want?”

“Did you know that Trixie had multiple public intoxication arrests after she and I went our separate ways? Five is the number I believe,” Wild Card commented as Derpy glared at him.

“What is this about? We all have our struggles.”

“My point is do we really want a pony like that bearing an element of harmony when she clearly isn’t one hundred percent herself?” Wild Card faced the crowd as Trixie looked away and Roseluck glared.

She could faintly make out a few ponies in the crowd. Carrot Top, Lyra, Berry Punch, Bon Bon and others glaring at him disapprovingly as he smiled slightly.

“I’m kinda glad Raindrops isn’t here,” Derpy whispered as Trixie sighed. “She’d be trying to jam her hoof down his throat by now.”

“Hell, I’m almost there,” Roseluck whispered back. “Violence does seem pretty appealing right now.”

“Leave it,” Trixie said as Wild Card and his crowd started trotting away, some tossing glares his way. “At least he didn’t find out about the public sex charge.”

“I hope you’re joking.”

“I am. I’d never do that in public.”

Derpy and Roseluck sighed in relief as Trixie stared at the disappearing stallion.

“Can’t believe the whole town sided against moi,” Trixie shook her head and yawned.

“Uh they didn’t? A majority of them were giving him dirty looks, especially Berry, Caramel and Lyra,” Derpy pointed out with a frown. “Even I know when you should defend yourself and it’s past that point. None of us would judge for respectfully standing up for yourself. Heck, Silverspeed might even arrest him for harassment at this point. She does carry that power.”

“No, he will leave on his own accord once he embarrasses me enough. It’ll pass and I’m not weak,” Trixie stated firmly and swayed before leaning against the wall. “I need to sleep, vomit and pee. Not in that order.”

“Oh uh okay?” Roseluck said as Trixie shut the door and the two listened to faint sniffing. “Is she crying?”

“Come on,” Derpy said as she narrowed her eyes at the door and stretched her wings.

“Where to?” Roseluck asked as she looked back at Trixie’s wagon.

“We’re going to find Raindrops.”

A part of Roseluck had a feeling this wasn’t going to end well.

Raindrops Is Terrifying When She's Angry

“He did what?!”

Derpy and Roseluck gulped as Raindrops kicked a cloud with an enraged expression before she spun around to face them. Above them, Raindrops co workers on the weather team hid in the clouds in fear, excluding Cloudkicker who watched, hovering idly next to a terrified looking Milky Way.

“And Trixie did nothing?” Raindrops continued her tirade as Derpy hugged Roseluck.

“N-no she didn’t,” Roseluck muttered as she went pale.

“Where is Trixie?” Raindrops demanded as she hovered in front of the two.

“Her wagon,” Derpy answered quickly and pointed a shaky hoof back where they had came from.

Raindrops took off, breaking some clouds and leaving the two mares spinning, the sound of thunder echoing as they gave each other confused looks.

“I didn’t know she was fast enough to break the sound barrier like that.”

“I’m more surprised we can still freaking hear,” Derpy muttered as the other ponies came out of the clouds. “Hey, do you think telling Drops was a bad idea?”

“Maybe so.”

Raindrops hovered in front of Trixie’s wagon as the mare inhaled before slamming her hind legs into the door.

“Sweet Celestia!” Trixie yelped and ducked as the door flew over her head. “What the fuck are you doing, Dropsi?”

“We are going to have a conversation and there is zero room for arguing about this. Clear?” Raindrops said as she trotted over the splintered door. “I’ll buy you a new door.”

“Why in Equestria would you break my door to have a conversation? Why wouldn’t you not knock?” Trixie demanded angrily as she glared at the pegasus. “It’s hard to get doors for this model of wagon!”

“I said sorry!”

“You actually didn’t but go off I suppose.”

“Fine, I am sorry. Now you are going to come with me, we are going to this annoying motherfucker and kick him the fuck out,” Raindrops announced and slammed a hoof on the wooden surface. “No arguing.”

“Yes arguing. We aren’t doing that. Wild will get bored eventually and leave town on his own then Trixie and her friends will be free again,” Trixie shot back as she shifted her weight slightly.

“I don’t care. I didn’t spend all of middle school standing up for you just so you can freaking go back to your old, shy self.”

“And you can’t make me,” Trixie said as Raindrops spread her wings.

“Wanna bet? You may have magic but I can fly and I’m stronger than you. Now let’s move on,” Raindrops pointed a hoof out the door. “Please?”

Trixie nodded and Raindrops sighed in relief, reaching out with a hoof as Trixie’s horn glowed brightly.

“Trixie what are you-?” Raindrops started to ask as Trixie disappeared with a pop. “The hell? When did she learn to teleport?”

Trixie tumbled to the ground with smoke rising off her body, shakily forcing herself up as she made eye contact with a confused looking Roseluck.

“When did you learn how to teleport?” Roseluck asked as she moved some rosebushes aside. “And why are you in my rosebushes?”

“Because-ow! Because Raindrops was doing her normal encouragement of trying to get me to stand up to Wild but she wasn’t there so. I don’t really know much about teleportion, just basics. All I know is to pick a area and boom. Now hide me,” Trixie begged as she flung her forelegs around Roseluck.

“I would but Raindrops is scary when angry. I saw her angry earlier this morning and well, it isn’t something I’m too keen on seeing again.”

Trixie couldn’t necessarily argue with that. Raindrops anger issues was pretty well known by well, anypony who knew her even remotely well.

“Fine, come on,” Roseluck sighed as she wrapped a hoof around Trixie’s neck. “But if she catches us, you better run for Luna’s sake because Raindrops is fast as hell and I can’t outrun her. I don’t even think I’m stronger than her and I’m an earth pony.”

“More hiding, less talking. She broke the wagon door and everything! Shit was insane. And I thought Comet was the destructive pony in town considering how often he kicks down doors. Oh and can I stay the night? I refuse to sleep anywhere that has no door.”

Roseluck scuffed a hoof on her welcome mat in front of her door as she bit her lip.

“Yeah sure. Just don’t be upset is Lily isn’t enthused to see you. Lily hates guest as you know.”

“I’m well aware, don’t worry. I got peanut butter crackers so don’t worry about making dinner or anything for me.”

Roseluck waved a hoof with a dismissive snort.

“Element of generosity, remember? We always make a plate for when our friends are here. No exceptions.”

Trixie opened her mouth to argue as Roseluck closed her mouth.

”No exceptions, Trixie.”

Raindrops flopped onto her couch with a frustrated sigh, a beer in her hoof.

“What’s with you?” Bright Ideas asked as he sat next to her.

“Oh hey big brother. Just ya know, upset about Trixie. Love her like a sister but Celestia above is she getting on my nerves. It’s not like I can force her to defend herself but damn man,” Raindrops sighed as she drank from the can before setting it down.

“Well, I’d say just make whoever or whatever is bothering her know that you don’t mess around,” Bright shrugged as he placed a wing around her. “You are the scariest pony I know but pretty damn caring too.”

“Think I’m a bit too scary at times. You should have seen how afraid Derpy and Roseluck looked this morning when they talked to me about Trixie. All my co workers minus Cloudkicker hid from me all day,” Raindrops leaned into the hug. “It is nice to see you. You should have told me you were visiting.”

“Meh, I enjoy surprising you. Just in the area for work and decided to drop by for a few days,” Bright Ideas shrugged and waved a hoof. “And you’re scary sure, but only about the ponies you care about. Any of your friends would be lucky to have ya.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I know I’m right,” he countered with a faint smile. “I brought your favorite food as well. It’s in your fridge. Or well, the one in the kitchen. Not the one out here with your alcohol. Now go eat, I assume you’ve been running around all day like a bat out of Tartarus.”

“Even Trixie?” Raindrops pressed and flicked a ear slightly as he nodded. “She seemed pretty passed earlier. I may have also broken her door down in a rage so I have to fix that some how. Might try to convince Shoeshine and Fix It to well, help me fix it.”

”Especially Trixie.”

Door Companies Are Evil

Raindrops mouth went dry as she stared down at the wagon door catalog. True to her word, she was buying Trixie a new wagon door but she had no idea they were this expensive like sweet Celestia it was damn near an entire check of bits. It was no her opinion that dppr companies were evil and she truly hated them.

“Yeah it’s expensive,” Trixie agreed as she looked over the blue unicorn sitting next to her with a coffee in front of her. “I’m well aware. I’ll throw some bits in too so you don’t go entirely broke. I don’t want that, I just want to sleep in peace again.”

“Where are you even sleeping Trixie? I got a spare bed if needed.”

“With Roseluck. She offered Trixie a spot on the couch,” Trixie answered with a shrug before drinking from her cup. “I’m not sleeping on the floor for the record. Not a bed, it’s the couch because they only have three rooms.”

“I’m insisting you stay here. My brother leaves for Cloudsdale in a few days and honestly, I think he likes you still,” Raindrops tossed Trixie a tired smirk as Trixie rolled her eyes.

“Trixie is flattered but she is happy single at the moment. And besides, Trixie dated him for a couple years in middle school, remember?”

“Did more than date him,” Raindrops snorted as she glared at Trixie.

“That was your idea!”

“I suggested dating him, not sleeping with him Trixie,” Raindrops rolled her eyes. “And it was kinda weird you asked me permission first to let him.”

“Girl code.”

“Not even gonna ask what that is,” Raindrops shook her head. “Now which door do you like?”

“That one!” Trixie proclaimed and jabbed a hoof at a door on the catalog. “That is the exact same one Trixie had before it was destroyed in a Raindropsnado!”

Raindrops snorted and shook her head with a faint smile. She really hoped that the term “Raindropsnado” wouldn’t stick. The last she needed was her co workers hearing about it.

“I guess I can stay with you as long as we s
don’t argue about Wild Card again,” Trixie said as Raindrops gave her a frustrated look followed by an equally frustrated sigh.

“I only yell because I care,” Raindrops answered as she leaned back on her cushion. “You know this. You’re like the sister I never had. And we’re gonna argue about it till you do something.”

“Maybe yelling at each other isn’t the best option,” Bright Ideas commented as he trotted into the room and flung himself on the couch. “Hey, Trixie. Been a while.”

“H-hey Bright,” Trixie said as she blushed and shifted her weight. “Indeed it has. How’s your business in Cloudsdale going?”

“Pretty decent. How’s the whole traveling magician life style?”

“Eh. Haven’t been doing much traveling these past few months but this town makes Trixie a decent amount of bits. As long as fillies and colts adore her magic shows, Trixie will be fine,” Trixie shrugged with a smile.

“I just realized it’s been a long time since the three of us have been in the same room together,” Raindrops said as she rubbed her chin with a hoof.

“About six years I’d say,” Bright commented as the light blue pegasus folded his wings. “We should go somewhere tonight, the three of us.”

“Trixie is down. As long as it’s somewhere with alcohol and loud music,” Trixie said with a grin as the two pegasi snickered.

“You haven’t changed a bit Trixie,” Bright shook his head as Trixie grinned.

“Why bother changing perfection? Is Trixie not the greatest pony you’ve ever seen?”

“I can’t argue with that,” Raindrops said after a moment. “Nor do I really have the energy to do so.”

Trixie rolled her eyes in response.

Trixie, Raindrops and Bright Idea trotted down the road as the three gave confused looks at a large stage with a few ponies as Trixie tilted her head to the side.

“What’s that?” Raindrops jabbed a hoof. “That wasn’t there earlier, was it?’

“No, it wasn’t,” Trixie said slowly as she raised an eyebrow slightly. “I’m intrigued.”

The two warily followed Trixie as the mare trotted closer to the stage as Wild pulled a rabbit from a hat.

“Is he doing your tricks?” Bright Ideas asked with a stunned expression.

“Yes,” Trixie huffed as she shifted her weight. “All of those are my tricks.”

Raindrops gritted her teeth as the three got closer.

“Let’s go,” Trixie pulled her hat over her eyes. “Before he sees us.”

The three snuck out the way they came, Raindrops turning on Trixie the moment they were a good distance away.

“How the hay does that not enrage you?” Raindrops snapped as she flared her wings and flung a hoof.

“I’m very enraged,” Trixie shot back as she glared at the jasmine pegasus. “What do you want Trixie to do? Start a riot, get the pitchforks and run him out of town? You know as well as I do how illegal that is. Ponies tried to do that once to me and I’d be no better than them if I did that here.”

“There’s a difference between running a pony out and standing up for yourself, Trixie!” Raindrops shouted as the two stepped closer.

“Okay let’s not,” Bright Ideas cut in as he nervously stood between the two. “I don’t really have any interest in seeing my sister and a colt hood friend have a hoof fight in the street. We’re all friends here, the Unicorn-Pegasi war ended over a millenia ago.”

Trixie’s horn glowed a light pink as she narrowed her eyes and Bright bit his lip nervously as Raindrops shifted her weight.

“You’re right,” Trixie muttered as her horn slowly quit glowing. “About the war thing. Trixie has better things than going to jail, especially with her reputation as a hero after Nightmare Moon. Trixie is going to bed now. Night.”

The mare turned around and started trotting off towards Raindrops house as the two gave her stunned looks.

“That was unexpected,” Raindrops admitted as she folded her wings. “Trixie almost never backs down when she is about to fight a pony.”

“Nor do you come to think of it,” Bright commented as Raindrops gave him a flat look and he laughed. “You’re always the hot headed one in the family, always trying to punch your way out of a problem.”

“If it works, don’t change it. But something tells me I won’t be punching my way out of this problem,” Raindrops muttered and shook her head as she leaned against her brother and he wrapped a wing around her.

“You will find a way to help her. You always have. I remember all the times you fixed her problems in school when you two were just fillies.”

“Yeah me too,” Raindrops said with unreadable expression. “I’m going for a flight, I’ll be back tonight. Goodnight.”

Raindrops took off into the sky as Bright scuffed a hoof with a sigh on the dirt road.

Raindrops watched from her cloud as Wild Card trotted up to a motel room, putting in the key as Raindrops jumped off the cloud and stood behind him silently before clearing her throat.

“You will never be Trixie, just so you know that. Trixie will always be the better magician and a better pony,” Raindrops narrowed her eyes as he watched with a bored expression. “You’re lucky I promised not to kill or seriously maim you.”

“I don’t think you could seriously hurt me,” Wild chuckled as he examined the mare. “But go off. Trixie is not the better pony and she isnt good in general. You may say you know her but you don’t truly spend every waking moment with her like I did.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Raindrops corrected as she slowly trotted around him. “I’ve known Trixie for years since we were fillies and she’s damn near my sister after all we’ve been. You mess with her, you mess with me.”

“And me too,” Raindrops jumped and looked back at an angry looking Bright followed by Lyra and Derpy. “You should know better than think we wouldn’t follow you Rainy.”

“I hate you some nights Bright,” Raindrops grumbled as she turned to face Wild with the other angry looking ponies. “Just leave her alone.”

“Hmph.”

Raindrops turned to leave with the others before stopping.

“Oh and Wild?” Raindrops called out as she faced him again.

“What?” Wild grumbled as he raised an eyebrow.

Raindrops slammed her hoof into his throat and his eyes widened followed by a gagging sound as he collapsed on the doorstep.

“That was for Trixie. Have a goodnight.”

With that, Raindrops turned around and trotted into the night with the other three stunned ponies, leaving a gasping Wild Card on the ground.

Hitting ponies isn’t always helpful but damn does it feel therapeutic.

Gambling and alcohol, what could go wrong?

Trixie yawned as she rolled over in bed, making eye contact with the snoring stallion next to her as she poked him with a hoof.

“Wake up, Bright. I don’t know if your sister is here or not and we both know her walls aren’t soundproof,” Trixie said coolly as Bright opened his eyes and blushed faintly as Trixie kissed his cheek. “It’d be awkward to explain to her why the two of us are coming out of the same bed room in her house.”

“And good morning to you too.”

“Morning,” Trixie responded with a smug grin and wrapped her tail around his. “I take it we aren’t going to talk about last night?”

“From what I remember, you randomly came into my room and started kissing me before being on top the whole time,” Bright said casually as a rare blush crossed Trixie’s face.

“Yes, that’s how it went. It was a mistake,” Trixie sighed and nuzzled him. “It can’t happen again.”

“Why not?” Bright questioned and stared at her. “I mean, you know I still care about you and you still do about me. It’s also not like you were complaining last night.”

“Trixie- I will always love you but we went down separate paths. You have your business in Cloudsdale, I have my show career. Middle school was a long time ago after all and I owe you for being my friend but things have changed,” Trixie sighed and rested her hooves on his chest. “And I know you still love me but things just didn’t work out the way we wanted.”

“I mean, I could always just move the business here,” Bright suggested as Trixie gave him a look.

“Your business is working with clouds. You can’t do that on the ground,” Trixie reminded him flatly. “We probably shouldn’t tell Raindrops what happened, we both know she’s been subtly trying to get us together again for years.”

“Yeah you’re right,” Bright finally sighed and nodded as Trixie rolled onto her side to face away. “Five more minutes?”

“Five more minutes,” Trixie agreed readily and he wrapped a hoof around her as she sighed contently before yawning. “I’m gonna regret this but I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Raindrops stepped away from the cracked open door and shook her head with a faint smile as Bright nuzzled Trixie’s mane.

“Still sleeping?” Roseluck asked as Derpy blushed as Raindrops returned to the kitchen. “Or did you catch them going at it?”

“Nah, they were talking about stuff,” Raindrops answered as she went back to making breakfast for her two friends. “I really should soundproof this house. The things I heard and the cursing will never be forgotten. It was practically my worst nightmare, hearing them.”

“I can imagine,” Derpy muttered and Raindrops turned her stove off. “I ship it. No offense.”

“I ship it,” Raindrops reminded her and slid some hashbrowns on a plate. “I introduced the two of them to each other, remember? I still remember hiding in a bush and stalking their first date.”

The three paused and listened to Trixie laugh about something and three smiled faintly.

“So what about her ex friend? We still don’t have any idea on what to do here. Not even Sunset does and she always has a plan,” Derpy interjected as the three looked dejectedly at the ground. “Bad timing. Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. But somepony else apparently has an idea on how to get into his head,” Raindrops gave a faint smirk that lacked any warmth as she looked out the window. “We just have to wait and let her do her thing.”

“And who is she?” Roseluck raised an eyebrow curiously as she and Derpy accepted the two plates pushed in front of them.

“Well,” Raindrops started as she chewed on her own breakfast and swallowed. “Berry Punch and Sprinkle Medley.”

“You got help from the town drunk and the weather teams hiring manager?” Roseluck demanded as she stared at the pegasus.

“Hey, Berry is pretty sharp and smart when you catch her sober,” Raindrops defended the mulberry mare. “And her daughter is pretty cute too.”

“Yeah when you catch her sober,” Roseluck grumbled and Derpy smacked the back of her head with a wing and a disapproving frown. “Sorry.”

“And Sprinkle Medley is very calculating but most importantly, is a very good card player,” Raindrops continued. “I wanted to get her marefriend, White Lightning involved but Whitey is in Cloudsdale with Cloudkicker and Iron Hearts on official weather business. Something about the budget I guess.”

“You guys have a budget?” Derpy asked and Raindrops set down her glass of orange juice.

“Apparently. That’s way above my pay grade.”

“So what are they going to do exactly? You already throat punched him last night. I don’t think there’s anything else you can do to get your point across,” Derpy pointed as Raindrops shrugged.

“Contray to Trixie’s opinions, Berry and Sprinkle quite liked Trixie back in school but she never really noticed because they were a few grades ahead of us. All I had to do was name dropping Trixie and that it was helping her and they were all in. Lyra, on the other hoof, fully understands how difficult being a show mare is given her less than popular music career. She’s a damn good lyre player but only a few ponies even know what that is anymore. Hence why she was there last night and is getting Wild Card to visit Sprinkle and Berry downtown for a game of cards. Gambling is an addiction, after all.”

The two other ponies gave each other wary looks.

“Well, this isn’t going to end well,” Roseluck proclaimed as Raindrops scowled at her.

“Well, not with that attitude. Trixie is always saying you can learn a lot about a pony by sitting down and doing something they enjoy. Fake enjoy being in their company and they’ll let something slip. Something you can use. Trixie was a lot more manipulative back in school than she is now. Don’t get me wrong, she still has her moments where she is but it’s a lot less than it used to be.”

“She tried to bribe me with muffins to mail a letter without a stamp last week,” Derpy commented.

“Exactly. Where it used to be every day, now she only tries to bribe ponies every other day. Progress!”

“I think we have different definitions of progress Rainy,” Roseluck scrunched up her muzzle in thought. “I hope those two get something to use at least.”

“Me too Roseluck, me too.”

Berry Punch set down three glasses of wine as Sprinkle gave her wings a flutter and watched Berry pour them each full of a red liquid.

“Are you getting drunk?” Sprinkle deadpanned as Berry grinned.

“Well, later yes. But if we get Wild Card drunk enough, more chances of him telling us any information on what else he plans to make Trixie’s life miserable. If I had a bit for every time I talked about my sex life, I wouldn’t be scraping bits together every week for Ruby’s school supplies and groceries,” Berry explained as Sprinkle softened her glare.

“Yeah that checks out,” Sprinkle rubbed her neck sheepishly. “That was rude of me, sorry.” Berry gave a bitter laugh as she slumped next to the mare.

“Nothing I haven’t heard before and believe me, I’ve heard far worse,” Berry grumbled as she rested her head on her forelegs on the table of her bar and idly watched Sprinkle open the deck of cards.

“He’s coming,” Lyra called out as she slammed the doors open with her hooves and continued galloping into the empty bar. “Did as you asked, said there was a high stakes card game at Berry’s Berries.”

“Awesome,” Berry added a fourth glass as she and Sprinkle watched Lyra dive behind the bar, coming up with a silver suit case and opening it, tossing some black sunglasses and an blonde wig on.

“Lyra, what are you doing?”

“Did you have that behind the bar this whole time?”

“Yeah for blending in emergencies,” Lyra answered as she climbed over the bar and sat down next to the two. “And it’s not Lyra now. Call me,” Lyra paused for dramatic effect as she grinned. “Fine Flanks.”

The two mares stared at her in silence with wide eyes, Berry taking a sip of her wine.

“Yeah no.”

“Hell no.”

Lyra huffed and crossed her forelegs as the other two laughed, watching the door open and a unicorn trotted in, pausing only to look around before sitting in front of the three.

“Got the bits?” Berry asked as she pressed a hoof against his chest. “If ya don’t, hit the bricks bitch.”

“Yeah I got em,” Wild rolled his eyes before setting down a bag of bits. “Gonna count em too?”

“Maybe,” Sprinkle scoffed as she picked up the bag and peered inside before she gave a satisfied nod. “It’s all there.”

“Who’s your friend?” Wild pointed at Lyra. “She’s not so bad looking.”

“Oh uhm I’m Concerto,” Lyra made her voice more scratchy and tomboyish and propped her head up with a hoof, giving a false smile. “I’m Lyra’s cousin, you know her?”

Sprinkle resisted the urge to either slam her head into the table or hit Lyra. Both seemed like decent ideas at the time. Especially if he had noticed her cutie mark at all during the walk over.

“I’ve met her briefly. What are we playing? Black jack, three card hold em, roulette, poker?” Wild asked with a smirk and leaned back in his booth.

“We can play blackjack,” Sprinkle answered and hoofed him two cards face up. “Eighteen.”

She placed a card face down in front of her and peeked at it with a small smile. While she was a weather pony, she was incredibly good at blackjack. It was the only form of gambling she was good at. Most of the time she gave her friends their lost bits back. She didn’t like taking her friends money. Especially Berry whom she always hoofed her bits back after, with a little of her own added to it.

“Hit or stand?” Sprinkle asked as Berry and Lyra both held their breath, watching. While they did lose a majority of the time, they always enjoyed watching Sprinkle best other ponies around town.

“Stand,” Wild Card answered and Sprinkle nodded, flipping her own card.

“Twenty. Dealer wins,” Sprinkle announced as she scooped up the cards and reshuffled with her wings, allowing the cards to fall before catching them perfectly with a hoof. “Go again?”

“Sure.”

“So tell me, what ya doing around town?” Berry asked as she passed out glasses of wine. “I’m a bar tender. It’s my job to pass out drinks and listen to ponies. So whatcha got goin on?”

The two went through multiple card games and glasses of alcohol, Wild losing each time and getting more irritated as he finally looked at Berry who was waiting impatiently for a response.

“Not much really. Working on a few things. The usual,” Wild Card answered before sipping at his wine.

Berry forced a seductive smile on her face and leaned over to him, brushing against his face as Lyra buried her face in her hooves.

“Like what?” Berry asked and smirked. “I got some plans of my own.”

Sweet Celestia, Lyra thought to herself. She knew Berry often tricked ponies by being overly seductive but she’s only ever seen it once and never like this.

“Uhm making some posters, vandalism maybe,” Wild slurred as he examined his now empty wine glass with wide eyes. “Woah, that was strong.”

“It’s my special blend for you. Multiple whiskeys, wine, a few beers,” Berry rolled her hoof with a smile. “The usual for ponies I don’t really like or ponies that ask to get really fucked up. You fall in the former category, unfortunately.”

“Unfortunately,” Lyra echoed dryly and lifted her head, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Anything else we gotta know?”

“Talk about a lightweight,” Berry scoffed and the three stared in surprise at the snoring unicorn in front of them. “I’ll take him home if you two wanna head on out. Lock up the bar please.”

The two nodded and Berry hoisted Wild onto her back with a grunt, taking a shaky step forward.

“He’s heavy,” Berry complained and groaned. “He needs to lay off the Hayburger, fucking hell.”

The two only laughed in response.

White Lightning paced back and forth in her bedroom, only pausing to peer outside as the front door opened.

“I’m home,” Sprinkle Medley called out as she shut the door and locked it. “Oof!”

White Lightning tackled her and eagerly nuzzled her with a warm smile before kissing her.

“Somepony missed me,” Sprinkle snickered before kissing her back. “Ooh you’re warm.”

“Yeah well, when my wife randomly disappears for hours I get worried. You know how dangerous the Everfree is,” White Lightning pointed out with a frown. “Where even were you?”

“Gambling and taking that rude stallions money. Rumors were right, he’s awful at it. He’s even awful at blackjack!” Sprinkle giggled behind a hoof as she raised a bag of bits. “Granted, I snuck a majority into Berry’s register so her finances are a bit better and shoved some in Derpy’s house, but we made a few thousand bits tonight.”

“Sweet Celestia,” White Lightning whistled before she pointed her flank at the fire she had made hours ago, pausing to verify the fire alarm was working still. “It’s kinda cold tonight.”

“It is,” Sprinkle admitted and rested her wing on the other pegasus. “Come on, I’m ready for bed and it’s late.”

“Agreed,” White Lightning commented as the two trotted away to their bedroom. White Lightning didn’t necessarily know how earth ponies and unicorns could sleep in beds that weren’t made of clouds. Cloud bed were so much softer and she could make her own.

White Lightning plopped backwards on her bed and folded her wings against herself with a content sigh. While she was originally against living on the ground, it did have it’s benefits. Primarily being close to her friends on the ground and such, the market and more.

“How was work?” Sprinkle asked as she stuck her muzzle on White Lightnings shoulder.

“It was work. Got to set up some rain clouds and I hid a few like Raindrops wanted. Why she wants a thunder cloud, I’ll never,” White Lightning mused and dragged the blanket over the two. “Probably looking to rain on someponies parade. Did you get it? Rain on someponies parade and her name is Raindrops?”

“Hilarious,” Sprinkle scoffed dryly before giving a faint smile. “Why did I marry you again?”

“Let’s see. I’m nice, keep the house clean, I’m attractive and you said yourself nopony else could use their tongue like me,” White Lightning shrugged with a suggestive smirk. “Obviously, the tongue thing won you over.”

“Oh, shut up,” Sprinkle whapped her upside the head playfully. “That wasn’t the deciding factor and you damn well know that.”

“Yeah I do,” White Lightning conceded before smiling fondly. “But it certainly was a plus.”

Sprinkle blushed as she nuzzled White Lightning before responding.

“Yeah, it’s definitely a plus. One I wouldn’t mind going for right now.”

“I don’t have work tomorrow,” White Lightning commented casually as she rolled to face Sprinkle.

“Nor do I.”

“Good.”

Author's Note

White Lightning is a pegasus who enjoys working as a weather pony and brews her own alcohol that she lovingly named after herself. She is a member of Rainbows weather team and is a reserved pony that spends most of her time in her head thinking. Later joins the Wonderbolts alongside her wife. She is a good flier and prefers to stick to herself. She is a hard worker and occasionally likes to follow her more charismatic co workers and friends lead. She is the main rival of Misty Fly and dislikes the Wonderbolt, often thinking her as a jerk. She enjoys quiet evenings with her partner, Sprinkle Medley in front of the fire or reading books while Sprinkle plays her various instruments.

Age: 30

Occupation: weatherpony, brewing, Wonderbolt(in the future.)

Family: Sprinkle Medley (wife), First Response(sister), Cotton Cloudy(niece), Diamond Song(sister), Dark Meadow(father), Violet Glow(mother), Watermelody, Glimmer Pop, Rose Aura.

Motto: Seeing is believing.

Abilities: White Lightning is one of the few ponies who can do a Rainboom on her own. She is a skilled weather pony and brewer. She has a wing power of 13.5.

Allies: Spitfire, Soarin, Derpy, Rainbow, Sprinkle Medley, Diamond Song, First Response, Raindrops, Cloudkicker, Thunderlane, Firestreak, Silver Zoom, Cotton Cloudy,

Enemies: Misty Fly, Discord, Chrysalis, Tirek, Sombra, Daybreaker, Nightmare Moon (formerly).

Weaknesses: her fear of being in charge and shyness are her only weaknesses.

Fast as lightning

White Lightning yawned as she rolled over in bed, wincing at the sun coming through the window as she shifted closer to the sleeping form of her wife before slipping out of the bed and onto her hooves.

She paused and admired Sprinkle snoring quietly, messy mane look and all. Most ponies said they would never really work out because of their similar personalities but White Lightning preferred to give those ponies the feather. It had been nine years strong since they had first gotten together and had only minor problems here and there. Definitely not as bad as others lead her to believe. She doesn’t talk to those ponies anymore.

She trotted quietly to the door and opened the door slowly, wincing when it squeaked. She’d have to get somepony to come fix it in the near future, maybe Blossomforth. She was good at engineering, even if she had a flower cutie mark.

White trotted into the bathroom, half shutting the door behind her and stepped into the shower and she shut the glass door, turning the hot water on and dropping her head, closing her eyes as she felt the warm water run down her back.

She started humming a song she long since forgot the words to as she started running conditioner into her coat to get the shine she worked hard for before scrubbing her wings and hind quarters.

“Should probably get between my hindlegs as well,” White grumbled to herself as she reached for more soap. “Not too fond of dried on cum. Makes walking in public awkward, especially with the smell. And I’m talking in the shower to myself. Again. Only crazy ponies do that stuff.”

She finished scrubbing herself off, shutting the water off and stepping out with a faint smile, drawing a smiley face on the glass mirror.

She tossed the towel into the basket, trotting to her fridge and started pulling eggs and pancake mix from the day before.

“Want help?” White Lightning looked up a tired looking Sprinkle Medley in the door as White set down a pan and turned the stove on.

“Thought you were still asleep?” White pointed out as she shrugged before kissing Sprinkle. “You taste like strawberries and smell like well-”

“I know,” Sprinkle interrupted with a blush and tried to straighten her messy mane. She shrugged and trotted to the fridge, opening it and drank from the orange juice container.

“You’re lucky your family isn’t here. They’d be so mad if you did that in front of your dad,” White pointed out as Sprinkle snorted and wiped off some orange juice from her chin with a hoof.

“True. Now do you want help?” Sprinkle nuzzled White before stepping next to her. “Did you seriously just make my face with the pancake batter?”

“Yes ma’am,” White said proudly and fluttered her wings with a grin. “Aren’t I best wife in all of Equestria?”

“I’m pretty sure that title goes to me. Also, I’m pretty sure Minuette and Sassaflash would fight you for that honor,” Sprinkle pointed out and rolled a hoof before resting a wing on White’s back. “But yes, you’ll always be the best to me.”

“Likewise,” White winked and leaned into the wing hug. “Now come on, let’s make breakfast because I’m hungry after last night.”

“I call the strawberry syrup!” Sprinkle flung a hoof in the air and White rolled her eyes. “Oh, my parents want us to come visit in a few months in Norage.”

“Oh boy.”

“My reaction exactly. I love my parents and all, but Watermelody is a bit much. I’m hoping my sister got her dramatics out at her acting college she attended. That mare is going places. I tell you, we’re gonna see her on Bridleway one day,” Sprinkle mused with a fond smile. “Putting ten bits down on it.”

“I’ll add to it. Your sister was quit uh entertaining to say the least,” White commented as Sprinkle got down glasses and plates. “Wasn’t she dating what’s his face?”

“She’s dated a lot over the years. You’re gonna have to be more specific love.”

“The guy who liked sticks.”

“Mudbriar?” Sprinkle asked and Whitey nodded enthusiastically. “Oh stars, they broke up ages ago. Thank the sun for that one. He was a bit uh unique. I don’t think I’ve ever met anypony who had a stick thing like he did. He was nice though, I’ll give him that. In his own, weird unique way that seemed sweet. Certainly got Water’s attention for something.”

“I know what it was. She was quite uh, honest about their sex life,” White said and the two blushed.

“She was also twelve glasses of vodka in when she said that. She’s normally super sweet.”

White Lightning nodded idly and placed a pancake on Sprinkles plate. She faintly remembered the night that conversation happened since it was the night she had been proposed to and Sprinkle had told her family after she had said yes. Which unsurprisingly led to Watermelody insisting on them taking shots with her to celebrate.

“We should hurry up. Trixie asked us to perform in her magic show by flying overhead and we should probably get some practice in,” White Lightning commented with a small smile. She didn’t know much about the unicorn but she did know she saved Equestria and saving Equestria was a pretty good thing in her eyes. “Gonna try a Rainboom.”

“Good luck. Only pony I know who managed one was Rainbow Dash allegedly as a filly.”

“I know. Allegedly,” White reminded her. “The only witness was Butter Rye.”

Sprinkle paused and gave White a confused look.

“Who?”

“You know, that yellow pegasus on the edge of town with all the animals and the butfer fly cutie mark,” White Lightning explained as Sprinkle burst out laughing. “What? What’s so funny?”

“Her name is Fluttershy!” Sprinkle giggled and fell on her back. “You really thought her name was Butter Rye! Oh, sweet Celestia that’s hilarious.”

White Lightning whapped her with a wing and blushed.

I’ll never live this down, she thought and rolled her eyes as Sprinkle continued laughing.

“You want us to what?” Sprinkle repeated in stunned silence as Trixie rolled her eyes in frustration.

“Do one of those rolls thingies I hear the Wonderbolts do all the time,” Trixie rolled a hoof as the two pegasi looked at each other.

“Triple barrel roll followed by us flying into the sun with water on our wings and shaking it off to create a rainbow,” White answered for Trixie. “We can set up near the hill over there and get water on hooves and fly back. This is easy for us, no problem.”

“Excellent!” Trixie flung a hoof up in the sky with a grin before levitating her cape and hat on. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is grateful. When the first firework is launched will be cue.”

The two nodded and hoof bumped Trixie before flying off to the side of the lake that the two had visited multiple times.

“Remember when we first started dating and snuck out of our houses to meet up over here?” Sprinkle asked and nudged White Lightning as the two watched from a distance.

“I do. I also remember Crescent Wrench accidentally trotting up and catching us with your head between my haunches. I’ve never seen him so embarrassed in all my life. He galloped away so fast, he forgot he could teleport!”

The two laughed and yawned in unison as White dipped her hoof in the lake, drawing a circle with it.

“We should bring Cotton Cloudy here in the summer if First Response is willing to come visit again like last year,” Sprinkle mused and tucked her forelegs under her.

“I’d like that,” White Lightning admitted as she stretched her wings and started her pre flight stretches that she always did. “There’s the firework. Let’s go!”

Sprinkle chuckled slightly and followed White’s example of dunking her hooves and forelegs in the lake before taking off after White, forming on her left wing.

The two flew rapidly to the stage where Trixie was watching with a grin and White jerked her head subtly to the left and the two started a slow roll to the left as Sprinkle faintly identified all of Ponyville below.

The two finished the their third roll before shooting up into the sky and shook the water off their hooves in front of the sun, causing a rainbow as the pair shot back down and Sprinkle gave White Lightning a wide berth.

White Lightning continued flying faster at the ground as tears welled up in the corner of her eyes and air started forming a cone around her as she continued increasing speed and a loud roaring sound followed her.

“Oh sweet Celestia!” White Lightning screamed as she flew inches over the stunned townponies, blowing some hats aside and knocking over Dinky off Roselucks back.

“Woah,” Sprinkle whispered as she stood behind a stunned Trixie as White Lightning did a loop and flew back towards the pair with the largest grin.

“That was incredible!” Trixie cheered and hugged Sprinkle. “She was amazing!”

“Did you see me?” White Lightning tackled the two in a hug. “I’m amazing!”

“That was awesome,” Sunset conceded as she and the others stepped up behind them. “I’ve never seen anything like that in all my life. Ever think of joining the Wonderbolts? The two of you?”

“I’ve never seen such synchronized flying in all my life,” Silverspeed agreed as she blushed. “Can I uh have your autograph? Please?”

“You see me everyday,” White Lightning pointed out sheepishly. “I’m just as normal as you and besides, you helped save Equestria. If anything, I should be asking for your autograph.”

“At least Trixie is happy. Happiest I’ve seen her recently,” Derpy noted with a smile as Trixie signed a colts hat before posing next to a filly. “I suppose we owe you two a lot for that. Trixie’s been pretty depressed recently. Where’s Wild at anyway?”

Roseluck and Shoeshine both shared a grin that Derpy and the others missed.

Wild galloped through the field screaming and narrowly avoided a lightning bolt that Raindrops sent flying at him from the thunder cloud she was pushing after him.

“Stop!” He screamed and Raindrops giggled, sending another lightning bolt at him before she doused him with rainwater, pointing at her cutie mark of three rain drops proudly.

“Oh out and about is all,” Shoeshine said casually as she leaned against a wall. “Out and about.”

For some reason, Derpy didn’t entirely believe her.

Author's Note

Sprinkle Medley is a gifted guitar player, opting to use her hooves over her wings to play and runs her own music store part time for extra bits. She is talented at a majority of instruments, often assisting Lyra and Octavia when necessary. She is a friendly but reserved pony, similar to her partner, White Lightning. She is a decent flyer and often seen performing with White Lightning around town or for school ponies. Sprinkle Medley is a compassionate pegasus who enjoys quiet evenings at home or out and about with White Lightning. Later became a Wonderbolt reservist along side White Lightning and Cloudkicker. She is the sister of Watermelody, a gifted drama student in Manhattan.

Age: 32

Motto: Don't fear failure, be afraid of not having the chance.

Family: White Lightning (wife), Watermelody (sister), Glimmer Pop(father), Rose Aura(mother), Cotton Cloudy, Response, Diamond Song, Dark Meadow, Violet Glow.

Abilities: Sprinkle Medley is good at guitar playing and often sings songs to White Lightning, good at math and flying. She has a wing power of 12.9.

Allies: White Lightning, Cotton Cloudy, First Response, Watermelody, Glimmer Pop, Rose Aura, Diamond Song, Dark Meadow, Violet Glow, Trixie, Sunset, Thunderlane, Caramel, Soarin, Silver Zoom, Spitfire, Blaze, Wavechill, Fire Streak, Surprise, High Winds.

Enemies: Sombra, Chrysalis, Misty Fly, Tirek, Discord, Nightmare Moon (formerly).

Weaknesses: Sprinkle's only weakness is her dislike of meeting new ponies, often shutting down out of shyness.

Sunset needs a drink

Sunset rested her head on her desk, idly looking at Roseluck and Derpy through a half full glass of whiskey. Or half empty if you’re that type of pony. Sunset was feeling like a half empty type of pony today.

“Didn’t we just do this? Because I’m getting a serious case of deju vu right now,” Sunset said as she lifted her head and cracked her neck.

“I don’t know. I think so?” Derpy scrunched up her muzzle in confusion. “You drink way too much. It’s only one pm.”

“I’m super stressed today and admittedly, a little depressed,” Sunset admitted sourly and swirled her glass with her magic before downing the liquid, savoring the burning sensation.

“What’s wrong?” Roseluck asked once she and Derpy exchanged worried looks.

“It’s nothing,” Sunset waved a hoof dismissively.

“Just tell me. You’ll better if you get it off your chest?” Derpy gave a lopsided grin her way and Sunset sighed.

“I’ll tell you all layer together. It’s just complicated bullshit really,” Sunset blushed and tapped a hoof against her desk. “It’s family shit.”

Roseluck and Derpy both nodded slowly. All of them knew Sunset’s family was a touchy subject that none of them dared bring up, not even Trixie did and she didn’t really care much for personal space or privacy. She tells them everything and over half of it Roseluck wished she didn’t know. She really didn’t need to know how good of a lay Berry Punch was.

Sunset levitated her glass down the stairs into her shared kitchen with Silverspeed and rubbed her eyes for a moment before standing up.

“I wanna go do something. Let’s go get the others and do something. Something fun preferably. Like hang out at the lake or go take Dinky to play with some ducks. I could use a mood pick me up,” Sunset declared after a moment of thinking.

Sunset laid lazily on a chair and watched the sun reflect across the blue water, rolling her eyes as Trixie jumped into it.

“Thank Celestia it’s not too hot out,” Roseluck fanned herself with a hoof next to Sunset in her own chair as she idly watched Shoeshine and Dinky floating on their backs. “You aren’t gonna join them?”

“Later,” Sunset promised and smirked as Derpy splashed Trixie before she glanced over at Silver Spoon snoring in the sand curled in a ball with Silverspeed reading a magazine next to her.

“What did you wanna talk to us all about?” Roseluck asked curiously and Sunset inhaled.

“Hey!” Sunset shouted and Shoeshine lazily looked over from her spot on the water.

“What?” Shoeshine called back.

“Can you call come here please?” Sunset called and they all nodded as Shoeshine and Dinky started swimming to shore with Trixie and Derpy following after.

“What’s up?” Silverspeed asked and stretched her forelegs out, watching Derpy shake her body to get the water off.

“I’m not really good at talking about family or anything like that,” Sunset started once the others stood next to her and flicked her eyes over the top of her sunglasses. “So give me time to do this my way please.”

“Go,” Trixie wagged a hoof and finished squeezing the water out of her tail.

“It’s complicated not really knowing where I come from. And it’s a bit hard trying to figure out who the hay I’m supposed to be in life when I don’t even know where I’m from,” Sunset grumbled and flopped backwards in her chair.

“Aren’t you from Canterlot?” Dinky asked and Sunset shrugged.

“Allegedly. But that just gives me more questions. Who’s my mom and dad? What are they like? Do I have more siblings or is it just me? Did they have a good reason to abandon a filly in the cold on the castle steps or did they just not want me?” Sunset continued and Derpy looked around before hugging Sunset. “I mean, in all honesty you guys are really the only family I’ve ever actually had outside of Celestia. I know we’ve only been friends for four months but-”

“We know,” Roseluck cut her off and smiled slightly. “You think it’s too early to call us that but we love you too.”

Dinky reared back on her hind legs and wrapped her forelegs around Sunset’s neck, giving her what the mare realized was one of her get better hugs that Dinky gave often and Sunset rubbed the filly’s back.

“Thanks Dinky.”

“You’re welcome!” Dinky chirped with a wide smile as Shoeshine hugged Sunset, Trixie, Roseluck and Silverspeed following suit shortly after. Sunset smiled slightly and nuzzled them in succession.

“Have you ever asked about where you’re from?” Silverspeed asked. “There’s gotta be records somewhere. Fillies just don’t come from nowhere, after all. There’s probably hospital records or something.”

“Probably somewhere. I never really cared enough. Celestia is pretty much the closest thing to a mom I’ve ever had. Looking for records was the bottom of my list. I was always busy reading, sleeping or playing video games,” Sunset answered and snickered at Dinky’s stunned expression. “Yes Dinky, I play video games. I’m the best.”

“You should play against Button Mash,” Trixie commented and yawned. “He’s really good at them. How he doesn’t have his mark yet I’ll never know.”

“Maybe,” Sunset said quietly and her eyes locked on the sun dipping below the horizon. “Maybe.”

“You should come over later. Daisy would like the company,” Roseluck offered and gave a small smile. Plus Roseluck wasn’t entirely comfortable of leaving Sunset alone with these thoughts. She highly doubted Sunset would hurt herself but she did know Sunset would just drink herself to sleep and that in her eyes was just as bad. “Or go to Trixies. She could use some too.”

“I hate choosing. Screw it, I’ll go to Trixies if you don’t mind,” Sunset answered and Roseluck shrugged. Shoving two alcoholics together might end poorly but she also internally hoped they’d keep each other in check.

After all, nopony has better advice for am alcoholic than another alcoholic. She should have asked Berry Punch to join the two as well. Maybe next time.

Wild Card trotted through the Everfree, his horn the only source of light in the dark forest as he eyed around him warily.

“Stupid forest. How can any of these ponies live so close to this infernal forest?” Wild Card grumbled to himself and he narrowly avoided a patch of Poison Joke.

He paused outside a cave and raised an eyebrow before shrugging. Hopefully he could find some rocks or something rare he could sell for bits inside. He could always use more money for food and his room. Stuff like that.

“Oh buck,” he whispered with wide eyes at the giant snoring blue Ursa Minor in front of him. “This was a mistake.”

Wild slowly started backpedaling to avoid waking the sleeping giant, counting his steps as he kept his eyes locked on the creature.

“Just one more step,” Wild mumbled and froze as his back leg crushed a stick as he gave a startled yelp before jamming his hoof in his mouth. His eyes widened as the Ursa shifted slightly and yawned, sitting up and staring at him.

Lyra stretched out in her bed and held her stuffed plush in her hooves before nuzzling the cream colored earth pony next to her.

Lyra and Bon Bon both froze as a faint roaring sound shook their house, the two slowly looking at each other in fear.

“W-what was that?” Lyra asked finally as Bon Bon gulped and licked her lips.

“N-nothing good.”

Why did we even move here?

Sprinkle Medley shifted on her cloud she was resting on with White Lightning, the other pegasus snoring softly as Sprinkle smiled slightly at her.

“Uhm what?” Sprinkle raised an eyebrow at some trees in the Everfree toppling followed by a faint roaring along with a scream. “Hey Whitey? I think something big is coming out of the forest.”

“That’s nice,” White Lightning mumbled and rolled over with a sigh. “Come sleep.”

“We’re on a cloud, not at home,” Sprinkle reminded her wife with a raised eyebrow. “And besides, how you can sleep through a roaring sound is beyond me.”

White rubbed her eyed with a hoof and sat up, eyeing the forest with slowly widening eyed as more trees fell over.

“Oh what the hay?” White breathed as a large blue bear broke through the outskirts of the forest bordering Ponyville as a unicorn stallion continued running. “You know, why did we even move here?”

“Cheap real estate for cloud houses,” Sprinkle answered as she preened one of her wings absentmindedly. “Close to your family in Greenwood.”

“Fair enough,” White mumbled and stretched her wings. “We should probably go find Sunset and the others. At least Silverspeed. She has royal guard training and can probably deal with it.”

“You do that. I’ll go find Fluttershy,” Sprinkle said and mimicked the other mares actions before kissing her. “Stay safe. And stay away from it’s claws. They can cut through trees well evidently.”

“Yeah you too,” White returned the gesture before giving Sprinkle a confused look. “Wait, why Fluttershy? She barely leaves her house at all.”

“Because she can talk to animals!” Sprinkle answered and gave a mock salute with a smile before falling backwards off the cloud as White peered over to watch the other pony do a barrel roll and fly off to a cottage in the distance.

“Some days, this town isn’t worth the drama.”

Sunset rubbed her eyes as she stumbled out her house straight into a terrified Roseluck as the earth pony grabbed her before hiding behind her trembling.

“Can you tell me why exactly you are pounding on my doorstep at one am and screaming your head off whilst hiding behind me?” Sunset grumbled and glared at the mare. Sunset personally liked her sleep and being woken up at this time of night was not her idea of a good time.

“You should probably look ahead. You’ll get your answer,” Roseluck whimpered on the ground as her ears flattened against her head.

Sunset heard a loud roar and slowly turned around at the large blue animal in front of them as her eyes widened to the point of plates.

“Oh buck.”

The animal swiped at the two and Roseluck screamed as Sunset teleported them both away as it’s claws left scratch marks in the ground.

“Why in Equestria is an Ursa Minor rampaging through Ponyville?” Sunset demanded as the two watched it in the distance from the house Sunset had teleported them onto.

“I have no clue! I woke up to screaming. Lily, Daisy and Derpy are currently helping get the fillies and colts into the town bunker. Shoeshine and Silverspeed are trying to find Trixie. I heard from Post Haste that Wild Card came running out of the forest with it after him,” Roseluck explained and Sunset slammed her hoof into her face.

“Oh my Celestia,” Sunset repeated as she dragged a hoof down her face. “Okay, here’s the plan. I need you and the earth ponies to use your magic to attempt to push it back towards the forest but don’t get too close unless you wanna became sliced meat. They have sharp claws. It’s probably pissed he woke it up so we gotta lure it back home, where ever the hell that is. I’m gonna try to find something to calm it down.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Roseluck inhaled as she watched some ponies run screaming.

“Oh and Roseluck?”

“Yeah?”

Sunset hugged her and nuzzled the top of her head as Roseluck turned a faint pink.

“Stay safe out there,” Sunset released her and stepped back as her horn started to glow.

“You too,” Roseluck shielded her eyes as the atmosphere surrounding her changed briefly and Sunset teleported with a loud pop. “Uh, how am I going to get down from here now?”

Trixie snored quietly in her hammock that swayed slightly, her wagon bouncing with each roar from the Ursa Minor as she slept peacefully through the terrified screams.

“Trixie!” Shoeshine continued pounding on the door and pressed her ear to the door as Trixie let out a loud snore. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me.”

Shoeshine pressed her entire body weight against the door as it popped open and she fell onto her face with a groan.

“Ow,” Shoeshine whimpered and rubbed her nose before pushing herself up and stumbling to Trixie and started shaking her. “Wake up, damn it!”

“Trixie is great and powerful,” Trixie muttered and rolled over. “She will do anything for peanut butter crackers.”

Shoeshine blinked in confusion and pushed what was just said out of her mind as she resumed shaking Trixie.

“You got five seconds before I toss water in your face Trixie,” Shoeshine growled and Trixie sat up rubbing her eyes. “Finally! We need you.”

The look Trixie shot Shoeshine made the blue mare step warily as Trixie let out an unponylike snarl as her horn glowed.

“What do you want with Trixie at this late hour? Trixie requires her beauty sleep, after all.”

“We uh got a problem,” Shoeshine said nervously and rubbed her hoof on the ground.

“And pray tell, what is it?”

Trixie’s wagon shook again and she fell out of her hammock with a scream, groaning as she peered out the window as the Ursa Minor walked past and her eyes widened as she pushed herself back into Shoeshine’s forelegs as the two watched in fear and held their breath.

“That is the problem,” Shoeshine whispered flatly. “We need to leave quietly. Now.”

Trixie hastily nodded her agreement and Shoeshine started dragging her out of the wagon before tossing the trembling unicorn on her back and galloped away as fast as she could.

Silverspeed flew around the Ursa Minor and dodged it’s claws with a spear held in her hoof and quickly bucked it in the face with her hind legs before dodging another swipe from it’s claws.

“Stupid bear,” Silverspeed grumbled to herself and experimentally jabbed at it with her spear. The earth ponies had managed to push it closer to the forest. Silverspeed was a bit surprised Roseluck was helping out the most. The unicorns had mainly been assisting Silverspeed and the earth ponies while the pegasis focused on using the storm clouds.

“Silverspeed!” Sunset shouted as she, Shoeshine, Roseluck, Fluttershy, Trixie and Derpy watched with stunned expressions. “Lure it into the woods! Fluttershy is gonna talk it to sleep!”

“You got it!” Silverspeed called back and kicked the Ursa Minor in the side again. “Come on, follow the pegasus!”

“He sounds mad,” Sunset noted dryly as the Ursa Minor followed Silverspeed, shoving some trees over in the process. “Really mad.”

“I’d say so,” Fluttershy agreed quietly and brushed her mane out of her eyes. “I do hope the little guy is okay.”

“Little?” Trixie echoed and shot her an incredulous look. “That thing is anything but little!”

“Gaaahh!” Silverspeed screamed as the Ursa slapped her with a paw, sending her flipping through the sky as the others watched in horror as Silverspeed slammed into the ground in front of them, her helmet rolling across the ground. “Augh. Look at the pretty fluffy clouds.”

“Are you okay?” Derpy asked as they gathered around her. “Silverspeed?”

“I’m gonna feel that in the morning,” Silverspeed grunted and yelped as she pressed down her hind leg and Roseluck caught her.

“Easy. You broke your hind leg,” Roseluck said as she noticed Fluttershy was gone. Roseluck assumed or well hoped, she was trying to get the Ursa to sleep. Silverspeeds spear was broken in two and her armor had various dents in it from her crash landing.

“Get her to Redheart. I’ll take care of things here,” Trixie and Shoeshine said in unison and nodded at each other.

“Uhm you don’t have to,” Fluttershy landed behind them. “Max is very sorry for Silverspeed. I gave him a lecture about being nice. He was just grumpy when that mean stallion stumbled into his cave.”

“Speaking of which,” Roseluck scowled and looked around. “Where is he?”

Wild Card hastily continued packing his bags, shoving items carelessly into his suitcase. He had quickly decided he needed to leave after the Ursa incident.

“Going somewhere?”

Wild Card spun and realized in his haste he forgot to shut the door. Trixie stood in the doorway watching him with an unreadable expression.

“You know, when you first came here I thought it was to be friends again,” Trixie started as she leaned against the doorframe. “But I was mistaken. You tried to ruin my life, just like you ruined yours. At first, I was okay with that but then you endangered my friends and Ponyville.”

“The Ursa was an accident!” Wild Card exclaimed and Trixie looked away.

“I believe you. But it still happened. My wagon destroyed during it. My home is gone. But thankfully Applejack and Big Mac agreed to fix it. Silverspeed broke her leg. She could have been killed. What if none us where around to help her?” Trixie asked and Wild Card inhaled nervously. “You have two choices. Willingly give yourself up to the Royal Guards for public endangerment or be dragged out of here in cuffs and a horn inhibitor.”

“I don’t think there’s any Royal Guards even with you " Wild Card stared at her and two Guards opted to make themselves known, stepping behind Trixie and giving him a flat look. “Oh.”

“Please don’t make them drag you out. Keep what dignity you have left and walk out here with them,” Trixie pleaded with him. “Please?”

“You win. This is a victory for I suppose. Probably gonna be bragging about after I’m in jail,” Wild sneered and dropped his bags. Trixie couldn’t meet his eyes as she scuffed a hoof on the carpet.

“A pony I once considered my best friend almost killed me. There’s nothing about this I consider a victory,” Trixie said softly and turned away. “Goodbye. I hope you turn yourself around.”

Trixie trotted away and ignored the sounds of hoof cuffs being locked as Shoeshine, Derpy, Roseluck and Sunset waited outside.

“It’s done,” Trixie told them and sighed, wiping some stray tears away from her eyes.

“Trixie,” Sunset extended a hoof as they all watched. “I’m-”

“Let her go,” Derpy said quietly as Trixie continued trotting away.

“What?” Roseluck exclaimed and gave her a confused look. “Why?”

“Trixie has to process her feelings on her own. When she needs us, she will come to us. And we will be ready for her,” Derpy answered with a flutter of her wings.

“So what do we do now?” Shoeshine asked.

“For now, we wait.”

Four days later

Roseluck and Derpy both sat a cafe with two teas in front of them as they each waited for Shoeshine and a Sunset. They each hoped Trixie joined them. They didn’t expect Silverspeed to come along. Her hind leg was still broken, after all.

That expectation was shattered as Silverspeed and Sunset trotted up with the silver pegasus leaning against Sunset for support.

“Hey girls,” Silverspeed dropped down on her chair next to Sunset as Roseluck and Derpy shared looks.

“Shouldn’t you be in the hospital?” Roseluck asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I already tried telling her that. She insisted on coming back to work,” Sunset grumbled and shot Silverspeed a fond smile before nuzzling her. “She’s a good friend.”

Silverspeed’s cheeks turned pink and Derpy shot Roseluck a smirk that Roseluck quickly returned.

“Heh, I’m fine you guys. I can fly until my leg is healed. I just wish I had my armor back,” Silverspeed stared sullenly down at her hooves.

“Well, you don’t gotta worry about it anymore,” Shoeshine said behind her and had a golden object wrapped in shipping paper. “Don’t gotta worry about it getting dented easily either. I had a unicorn friend enchanted it. It’ll take a hit from something much bigger than an Ursa Minor to damage it. Got some enchantments to make it sit more comfortably as well.”

“I owe you, big time,” Silverspeed commented as Sunset teleported the package away with a flash of her horn.

“It’s in your office safely. You can look at it later Silver,” Sunset winked and Silverspeed nodded gratefully. “I hate to bring this up, but has anypony seen Trixie? It’s been four days. I’m worried.”

“She’s fine. Been sleeping at Raindrops,” Derpy answered and shifted on her seat. “Actually, she’s walking right up to us. Act like we aren’t talking about her.”

They all fell silent as Trixie sat down next to Shoeshine and her eyes briefly flicked to them all before falling on Silverspeeds leg.

“Hi,” Trixie smiled at them and they all looked at each other.

“Hey Trix. How’s your day going?” Roseluck asked and Trixie smiled wider.

“Good, you?”

“Uhm, good?”

“That’s good,” Trixie cracked her neck. “I know you were talking about me. I’m okay now. I had to work myself out. Wasn’t trying to avoid you all.”

“We know,” Shoeshine rubbed her back with a hoof. “Silverspeed is okay. We’re okay. And more importantly, you’re okay.”

The others nodded their agreement as Sunset levitated a piece of paper and quill on the table and prepared to write.

“Actually, can I send a letter this week?” Trixie requested and Sunset gave her a startled look. Nopony else had ever asked to send a letter before. It was always just Sunset.

“How about I write, you speak?” Sunset suggested and Trixie nodded after a moment. “Ready when you are.”

“Dear Princess Celestia, it’s the Great and Powerful Trixie writing this week. I know, you’re stunned to have a great pony such as moi writing to you,” Trixie started and Sunset rolled her eyes as Derpy snickered. “This week, I had an incident with a pony from my past. He made me pretty depressed and doubt myself a lot. And I mean a lot. Which is a feeling I’m honestly used to. My home got destroyed and I refused my friends urging me to stand up because I thought I ruined Wild Cards life. But now I realize his actions ruined his life, not mine. I learned you should never let any pony make you feel worthless, no matter what. And you should always trust you friends and confide in them when needed.

Your great and powerful subject, Trixie.”

Sunset finished writing and shot Trixie an approving smile as Silverspeed continued leaning against her.

“Alright and sent. Who wants to get shake?” Sunset suggested with a grin. “I don’t know about you all, but this mare desperately needs one. And Trixie too.”

“I need a peanut butter one. Shakes on me,” Trixie announced and they all stood up as Sunset helped Silverspeed up.

“I can fly. Thanks Sunny.”

“Anytime,” Sunset stepped away as Silverspeed hovered in the air. Silverspeed was secretly grateful her wings didn’t get broke in her fall, otherwise she’d be way more angry. “We should probably hurry. They close soon.”

“Race ya.”

Sunset grinned slightly and crouched down lower to the ground as they both took off running to Sugarcube Corner.