Couple of Showponies

Spitfire had always been one for routine, even in the days long before she was a part of the Wonderbolts. She liked to know the what, where, when, why, and how of all things big and small. Though this need for order conflicted with her usually laid-back demeanor, it was a part of her just as much as her wings were.

It was for this reason that living with Trixie was slowly driving her insane.

The azure unicorn was anything but predictable, to say the very least. While she took full advantage of the basic comforts- food, clothing, a place to rest- that Spitfire had offered to her, she was almost always difficult to locate, and constantly away doing something she would not explain to her pegasus caretaker. And while it was in the Wonderbolt's nature to live and let live, snooping was a hard habit to break. So when Trixie's unpredictable disappearances finally pushed Spitfire over the edge, she decided she was going to take a day off from her busy schedule to investigate.

Warning Soarin ahead of time to take the reins during the usual early morning training sessions and enlisting the help of Tyco at the Wonderbolts Academy, Spitfire woke up early on a Friday to see Trixie attempting to climb noiselessly out of the bed they shared. Quickly closing her eyes but keeping an ear perked up and fixed on the unicorn, Spitfire feigned sleep as Trixie stumbled forward, shuffling about the room for some time before falling silent.

“You always were horrible at these things, Spitfire. Trixie is not impressed with your stealthiness.”

Crap, Spitfire thought, remaining still and quiet in the bed. After another moment of silence passed, the pegasus cracked her eye open just a fraction to see the blue mare leaning over her, grinning. “AH!” Surprised, she squirmed away, flying sharply upward and smacking her head on the ceiling just to come crashing back down to bed with an “umf”, much to Trixie's delight.

“Well, you could have just asked Trixie what she was doing and saved yourself the blunt-force trauma.” The unicorn mare smirked down at Spitfire, still disoriented from the rude awakening.

“Ugh...” Rubbing her head, Spitfire glared at her friend. “I did ask you! At least ten times!”

“Did you...? Hm. Perhaps Trixie's mind is slipping.” Flicking her tail at Spitfire's nose, she grinned and trotted toward the door. “Or perhaps Trixie wasn't ready yet. At any rate, today is a big day for Trixie. And she wants you to be there.” She turned and disappeared through the doorway, her voice carrying back to the Wonderbolt's bedroom. “Come along, Spitfire,” she ordered in a sing-song voice. Her head still throbbing, the groaning pegasus stumbled after her companion, not bothering to make herself presentable to the public eye. Upon catching up with Trixie, the magician looked her up and down. “Hm, let us hope we do not come upon any paparazzi, eh Spitty?”

“Shut up,” Spitfire grumbled, and Trixie led the way out into the still rising sunlight with a smile.

***

“You seriously thought this was a good idea?!” Spitfire glanced up the cobble path leading into the Everfree Forest with a slightly crazed expression. “You've lost your marbles, Trixie.”

Looking hurt, the unicorn stepped back and frowned. “Trixie has done no such thing!”

“Oh yeah, stealing an ancient evil amulet to get revenge on somepony who wasn't even challenging you in the first place is a completely sane idea, silly me.” The Wonderbolt snorted, shaking her head. “I can't believe you. I thought maybe you'd been training all those times you were slipping away. I never dreamed you were tracking down some cursed Alicorn... whatever it is!”

“Trixie thought you would be happy for her, now that she has a chance to prove herself.” The sapphire mare seemed honestly disappointed as she tugged at her cape nervously. “Trixie is sorry you do not understand, but... This is something she-- something I have to do, Spitfire. You must understand that I don't care how it happens, or what the circumstances are. But I promise you all I will do is show that Twilight Sparkle... and the rest of the town that I am not a completely useless waste of space and then I will return home with you.”

Spitfire shook her head once more; she wanted to make the disheartened unicorn feel justified, but it went against what she believed-- what she stood for-- to cut corners. “Are you really proving anything if you don't do this alone? Is it really worth it if it's not a result of your own hard work?” Trixie looked down at the ground, shrugging, much to Spitfire's dismay. “If this is what you want... I can't stop you. But I will advise you to change your mind. This amulet sounds like something from a bad horror flick.”

“Fine, Spitfire. Go home. I-- Trixie does not need your approval.” The unicorn turned away from her friend, stomping on the ground for emphasis. “Trixie has done fine on her own so far and she will be fine without you.”

“Don't be so dramatic,” Spitfire replied, rolling her eyes. “Listen... I should go check on Tyco. He's running the academy and... I really should have put Blaze in charge instead. I imagine the whole place is burned down by now.” No response left Spitfire feeling uneasy. “Er, so I'll see you back at home tonight?”

“Yes. Goodbye.” Trixie's voice shook as she galloped into the forest, the shadows devouring her and giving Spitfire a horrible churning in the bottom of her stomach. She had a feeling she had really upset her friend this time, but she put the thought to the side as she flew toward the academy, promising herself that she'd apologize to Trixie tonight.

***

Luna's night was well underway and Spitfire had not seen a single sign of Trixie. She paced the halls of the large house on Stableton Drive, soaring to the front window every time she heard even the smallest of sounds. But besides a raccoon, who ran off after stealing an apple core from her garbage can, the pegasus had no visitors. She glanced at the dinner she'd made, admittedly somewhat burned from the start, growing cold on the abandoned dining room table, her expression sour as she contemplated going out to search for her friend. All at once, the worry became too much, and she threw on her flight jacket and dashed out the door.

By the time she was halfway to Ponyville, she realized that she should have brought the rest of the Wonderbolts, or at least a flashlight, to aid in her search. But the fear that her friend had been hurt in the unforgiving Everfree Forest or lost out in the cold of the winter night made her too under confident to turn around and seek help. “Trixie?” she called out, quietly at first as she neared the small town, then louder as she got no response. “Trixie!” She paused, unsure of whether she should check the forest or the town first. She finally decided that the town was a safer bet, and that she could use a flashlight from one of the shops there anyway. As she descended toward the town, she glanced around frantically, looking for any sign of another pony to lend a helping hoof. Suddenly a jolt of pain soared through her body and her flight came to a screeching halt as she collided with a solid force. She slid down the side of the invisible barrier and plopped gracelessly to the ground. “What the hay...?” For the second time that day, she rubbed her throbbing head, blinking stupidly up at the “force-field”; a solid, clear dome had enveloped the entire town of Ponyville. “Huh.” She knocked her hoof against it. “Now this is new.” She stood, trotting around the edge of the dome until she had gone in a complete circle. Though she tried to invent another reason, she couldn't help but feel that her missing friend had something to do with this. “Great. Now I'll never--”

“Well, well, well, if it isn't Miss Unsupportive herself.”

Spitfire turned toward the voice, noticing a figure on the other side of the dome. “Hmm...?” She narrowed her eyes and blinked through the darkness; it was definitely her friend, though she had a strange red-tinted glow to her... or perhaps the night was playing tricks on Spitfire's mind. “Trixie? Trixie! Thank goodness, I--” The pegasus pony was cut off by the sudden lifting of the dome-- and the sensation of floating. Before she had time to realize what was happening, the mare was thrown to the ground. Hard. “Ugh...” She groaned and tried to sit up, wincing at the pain she recognized as broken ribs. She heard approaching hoofsteps and when she glanced up, she saw her friend grinning down at her in a most uncharacteristic way.

“Still think Trixie is a foal, Spitfire?”

“Wah... No! Of course not! I never said--”

“Ha! As if Trixie would believe your lies.” The pegasus felt herself being lifted from the ground by a magical aura and cried out in pain. “Come along, Spitfire. Trixie has something to show you.”