Trixie awoke disoriented, her body feeling like it had been dropped off a cliff. Her head spun, and her stomach was queasy. The world around her felt fast as if she were moving…was she moving? Trixie furrowed her brows, trying to better grasp her surroundings.

Her flank steadily dragged across something hard and rigid. Trixie was moving. Why was she moving? Her ear twitched at the sounds around her.

“I, uh, thought you said the muffins were gonna make her happy.” One dopey voice said. “They just made her sleepy.”

“That was just a part of making her happy.” A familiar voice responded. Snips. Trixie’s eyes shot open, darting around her. Where was she? Trixie craned her neck, searching the area.

Trees towered above her, the moon peeking through leaves. Her gaze wandered down. Around her body was a rope so tight that it was practically burning into her skin. Her hindlegs dangled freely, scrapping across the pebble-filled path.

At the end of the rope was Snails, who held the other end between his teeth. His body lugged, struggling to drag the mare. Trixie’s eyes snapped to Snips. On his back was an overfilled saddlebag. It was filled with Celestia knows what, only adding to Trixie’s fears.

Her body was steadily dragged across the grassy path with a rhythmic ‘thump, thump, thump.’ A whimper escaped Trixie’s throat.

Snips whipped around to Trixie, a smile spreading on his face. The brief moonlight glinted in his eyes. He looked crazed.

“Oh, you’re awake!” Snips said too happily. “You’re up a little early, but that’s okay. That means I can tell you what’s going on!”

Trixie didn’t want to hear anything that little freak was saying. Any explanation was sure to be insane.

This was life or death; she just knew it. So Trixie did the first thing that came to mind. She screamed. Someone had to hear her out here.

“Help! Someone help me!”Trixie howled. Her voice echoed across the forest, only being met with silence.

“That’s not going to-” Snips started.

“Somepony help please!” She interrupted. The land remained silent, almost taunting her.

Trixie screamed until her throat was raw and her lungs were empty. The mare panted, her head feeling light. She slumped over, her vision doubling for a moment.

“Oh good, you’re done. I thought you were going to scream forever.” Snips sighed with relief. Trixie’s head snapped to Snips.

“You. Are. Crazy!”Trixie shrieked, kicking her hindlegs. Snips tittered, shaking his head.

“You know, Citrus Spark said the exact same thing.” He snickered. “But I know how you feel deep down. You can’t hide it from me.”

“What are you talking about?!” Trixie asked.

“Well, I know how much adults put work over everything else,” Snips started, “So I’m giving you what you want. To be happy with me! We can have playdates and to school together and-oooh, you can perform magic for me all the time!”

Trixie blinked.

“You’re deranged!” Trixie spat. Snips rolled his eyes, throwing his head back.

“Oh please, no one wants to leave this town. It’s great! If anything, I’m doing you a favor.”

The infliction in his voice sounded so genuine that Trixie was almost convinced that he was truly helping. She knew better, though.

“Don’t worry about that old thing.” Snips continued, gesturing to all of Trixie. “You’ll be getting a new body.”

Trixie’s chest felt heavy at the statement. What did that mean? Whatever it meant, it gave Trixie a pit in her stomach.

“And no need worry about where you’ll live. The adults love taking in lost kids. Half of my class are just ponies who wandered into town. Right Snails?” Snips asked, glancing to his friend.

“Mhm!” Snails hummed.

The mare's stomach began to twist and turn. She had to get out of here. She eyed her surroundings once again. Trixie squeezed her eyes shut, her horn sparking. Her magic fizzled out, a migraine rippling through her temple.

Whatever they had put in those muffins was still in her system. A foggy mind meant foggier magic. Trixie mentally swore, kicking her leg out.

Maybe if Trixie gnawed through the rope, she could make a break for Ponyville. But she didn’t know how to get out of that damned forest. Hell, she had no idea how long they’d been moving!

“Here we are!” Snips pointed eagerly, breaking the mare from her thoughts. Trixie kicked out her hind legs, only to flop onto her stomach.

In front of the group was a clearing. Unlike the rest of the overgrown forest, the grass was dead, scorched to the ground. The air smelt of rot and faded smoke, the scent nearly closing up Trixie’s throat.

Placed in the middle was a circle of old runes sketched in the dirt. Snails dragged the mare to the center of the circle, spitting the rope from his mouth.

Trixie lay flat on her back, staring at the sky. Her body still felt heavy, presumably from the muffins.

“You know the old nursery rhyme, ‘Snips, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails’, don’t you?” Snips asked. He tossed his saddlebag to the ground, the sack hitting the dirt with a hardy ‘thunk.’

“Is that…?” Trixie gasped, barely able to utter the words. Snips looked between the bag and Trixie, an amused smile appearing.

“What? No!” Snips laughed. “Where would I get dog tails? That’s just gross.” He shook his head, opening the sack. He pulled out a switchblade. The blade was rusty as if it had been used a million times before. “It’s just something for the ritual.”

A scream caught in Trixie’s throat. This kid was insane!

“Oh, don’t be scared. It won’t hurt.” Snips reassured. He turned to his gangly companion. “Right, Snails?”

For a second, Trixie saw a flash of emotion on Snails’ face. Fear. Snails quickly blinked, nodding in agreement. Snips smiled in approval.

“Alright, Snails, give me the sage.” Snips ordered, putting his hoof out. Snails cocked his head.

“Uuuh, what sage?”
Snips snapped his head to Snails, his eyes boggling out his head.

“You forgot the sage!?” Snips gasped. “How are we going to have a new friend without it?” Snips scolded. Snails cowered, lowering his head to be below Snips.

“Gee, I’m sorry, Snails. I should’ve done better.” Snails apologized. Snips sighed, rolling his eyes.

“It’s fine.” He huffed. “I saw some on our way here. I’ll go get some.” With that, Snips stomped into the forest.

With Snips gone, Trixie was suddenly aware of how quiet everything was. No crickets chirping or owls cooing. Not even a gust of wind blew. It was like the Earth itself knew what was about to happen.

Trixie tore her eyes away from the sky, looking at Snails. Though it was subtle, he was trembling. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes darted through the vast forest.

Trixie’s breath caught in her throat. He didn’t want to do this. But more importantly, Trixie could get through to him. She just knew she could. Snips may be nuts but Snails had never steered her wrong. In fact, he seemed to be the normal one in the duo.

“You like me, right?” Trixie asked, catching Snails’ attention. “If you like me so much, you’ll let me go.” Her voice trembled. Snails’ eyes were filled with a plethora of emotions, looking in the direction Snips had gone.

“I…I don’t think I should.” Snails muttered, kicking a hoof across the dirt.

“Hey, hey, don’t worry about your friend. You can just say I slipped out when you weren’t looking. He doesn’t have to know.” Trixie tried to negotiate. Snails kept his head low, avoiding Trixie’s eyes.

Trixie scoured her brain, trying to remember something, anything, about Snails. All she could remember was his endless rambling. Trixie’s ears perked up, an idea forming. Snips had mentioned someone.

“Citrus Spark.” She blurted, not fully thinking. Trixie had no idea if that name had any meaning to the colt, but it was worth a try. Snails’ ears perked up, and his body went stiff.

“That’s…not me. I don’t think it is.” Snails muttered.

“Look, If you let me go, I’ll get you help, too. We can both be free from Snips.” Trixie said. In all honestly, she didn’t know what she was saying. But if it appeased Snails, then it worked for her.

Snails stood painfully still as if his brain had been shut off. He furrowed his brows, his eyes darting between the ground and Trixie.

He took a step forward. Trixie’s heart hammered with hope. Snails took another slow step, inching his way to Trixie.

“Will you help me be normal again?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Trixie’s breath hitched.

“Yes.” She uttered. What was normal for him? Trixie would just have to wait and find out.

“I’m back!” Snips happily called from the bushes. Snails froze, staring wide-eyed at the bushes. His breathing quickened as his eyes began to dart between Trixie and the forest.

Snails gave Trixie a sad, pitiful look before scattering from the circle.

“Wait!” Trixie hissed through her teeth. Snails kept his gaze planted on the ground, refusing to look at the begging mare.

Snips stepped from the bushes, levitating a hooffull of sage. Trixie pursed her lips, holding back any more whispers.

“Did you two talk about anything interesting when I was gone?” Snips asked, playfully batting his eyelashes. Snips only hummed a response, avoiding the shorter colts gaze.

Snips ignored his friends' silence, placing sage across the border of the circle. When he was finished, he picked up his rusty knife, cheerfully approaching Trixie.

In one swift movement, he loosened the ropes, quickly placing the blade on Trixie’s chest. Trixie mentally cursed, her heart hammering. She didn’t even have the chance to move. This kid was fast.

“This will only hurt for a second.” Snips comforted with a smile. He applied pressure, the blade breaking Trixie’s skin. The blade traced through her skin, slicing way inch after inch.

Blood began to drip from her, pitter-pattering to the ground. Trixie moaned in pain, her mind rapidly becoming fuzzy. When would this torment end?

Snips frowned, staring inside of Trixie. His brows were furrowed with annoyance. Trixie felt so violated.

“I forgot about this part.” He huffed. Snips looked to Trixie. “Your heart needs to be out, but your dumb bones are in the way.” Snips explained. He stared into her chest, his snout scrunched. His face lit up, an idea popping into his head.

“Snails, get me the hammer.”

Trixie’s pupils shrunk to pinpoints, and her nearly exposed heart began to thump. If she could, she’d run. At this point, she didn’t care if she got lost. Anything would be better than this Hell.

Snails tossed the hammer from where he stood, still refusing to look at Trixie.

Snips levitated a hammer. Trixie tried to move, but her legs wouldn’t listen to her brain. The young unicorn pulled the hammer back before colliding it into Trixie’s pristine white bones.

Trixie let out a throaty shriek, her eyes rolling back. It felt like all of the air had been yanked from her lungs.

Snips slammed the hammer again and again and again. Chunks of bone flew every which way, scattering to the ground.

Snips’ movements slowed, and he happily stared at Trixie's exposed heart. It beat rapidly, looking as if it were about to explode.

“There we go!” Snips cheered. He happily skipped from Trixie, leaving her writhing on the ground.

Her beating heart pointed to the sky. Trixie’s breathing rasped, and vomit caught in her throat.

“Get ready!” Snips warned, sticking his tongue out. He bore down, squeezing his eyes shut. He whispered an old tongue that Trixie couldn’t understand. His horn began to spark.

The ring lit ablaze with white fire. It rapidly closed in on Trixie, moving at an unnatural speed.

She closed her eyes, letting out her final breath. And then…

Then she felt bliss.

Trixie had feared death, but this was euphoric. It was dark yet comfortable. Trixie was no longer one with her body; she was something else entirely. Maybe death wasn’t all bad.

The mare’s eternal peace was interrupted by a stinging in her chest. The stinging speedily progressed to a hellish burning.

Trixie bawled, waves of pain washing over her. Her bliss was snatched away as quickly as it was given to her.

“I don’t want to go back!” Trixie shrieked, clawing to the peaceful abyss.

Trixie wanted to live, but not like this. Never like this.

Millions of thoughts flashed through her head, trying to think of something, anything, to help. If she could just think properly, she could-

A colt awoke beneath a pile of ash. He coughed, his lungs gasping for a first breath of air. His body shook, rolling the ash off him.

The moonlight shined on him gloriously, illuminating his blue coat and cream main. He opened his eyes, which were as black as coal.

His legs were weak, and he barely had enough support to lift himself off the ground. His gaze wandered to his hooves. They were too large for his skinny legs. If he were to try to stand, he was sure to topple over.

A colt approached him, giving him a buck-tooth smile. It was like staring at an angel.

Behind the buck-tooth unicorn was a gangly colt. He looked…upset, though the new pony couldn’t tell why. His eyes landed back to the shorter unicorn. His heart hammered in his chest, feeling brand new.

The buck-tooth colt stared with a newfound giddy in his eyes.

“Welcome to the world, Puppydog Tails.” Snips greeted. “I know we’re going to be very good friends.”

Author's Note

Sorry that this story was short, I had a time limit. Let me know if you want a sequel, I have some ideas for one.