Chapter Nine

The group continued it's slow stride away from the town and into a small field, a valley on the other side. The planned campsite was in there, and because it was a valley they wouldn't have to worry too much about cover from wild animals. A cave or even small niche would probably be fitting enough to have them sleep. A thought popped up in Luna's head, making her wonder if the tent would be big enough to fit all five of them, only to shrug it off a future problem, if it would be.

The prairie was calm and quiet, other than the occasional small talk by one of the members, or one of them messing with another. They all came at complete random, but annoyed Luna all the same. Why she was so easily annoyed, she could pinpoint in a moment's notice. All the things happening recently have been nothing but stressful.

Which made a small, if not slightly soured grin come to her face. A vacation is supposed to be calming and happy. While it wasn't exactly unhappy, it wasn't relaxing in any sense. The only time she relaxed was when she slept the night before, which she was still getting used to. At the moment, her eyelids drooped a bit as she yawned. An occasional misstep took place due to her tiredness.

However, she continued trotting, usually following the others behind. If she didn't, she'd wake up sometime early in the morning in the middle of a field, and with some sort of poison joke effect on her. This made her eyes bug out a bit as one of them twitched. The Poison Joke. She forgot to ask Twilight about it.

Cursing under her breath, she decided to see if it would be bad enough to head back the next morning, and even then, she'd just go with Twilight to her zebra friend's house. Still, it'd probably be annoying in some way, she isn't very good with jokes in this day and age, especially those that ponies seemed to get so angry about, while others laughed it off.

She, once more, was guilty of not paying attention and bumped into Marceline's hanging legs with her nose and jumped backwards a bit due to the sudden feeling of something touching her face. The vampire woman looked back, her face and body shadowed by the umbrella, "Oh, hey there Lunies."

Grumbling under her breath, Luna lowered her head and continued letting everyone move ahead of her to try and avoid any unnecessary interactions due to being tired of the day thus far.

Marceline, on the other hand, was happier than she would've been bored out of her mind at her house. She didn't have much to worry about, the few things that she did could manage a few days without her, though it was starting to bother her a bit more. She was planning to do stuff with Finn and Jake the next night. Or, well, she was planning on breaking into their house and scaring their pants off, but it was still something.

Camping wasn't necessarily one of her largest likes, but it wasn't terrible. Not to mention she at least owed it to Luna to go with her plans. Not that she had tons of choice, but hey, it could be worse.

Moving along in silence, now that was a mood killer. No one talked, she assumed for a reason, but decided it might be best to leave it be for now. Knowing these ponies as well as she could at the moment, she thought that they were just all really irritated with how the day's turned out recently.

Maybe she should help Luna unwind some day. Or rather, some night. She'd rather not be caught outside in the sun, it's not the most pleasant feeling to have your skin burning, she should know after all.

Trixie scoffed at Luna's obvious irritation and inability to hold herself together. While it wasn't her place to judge Luna, still, what kind of Princess gets lost in thought so many times per day? It made Trixie question Luna's mental health and ability to do more advanced tasks. Of course, if she said any of this, she'd probably be blasted to Tartarus within moments, so she decided to keep herself silent.

Something Luna apparently had trouble doing.

It'd been another hour of quiet walking with the occasional small talk before they went into the valley, Trixie walking with no real worries as Twilight and Marceline looked behind, in front and around themselves to find any sort of trouble before it found them. Luna was half asleep and nearly falling over every time she faced a minor obstacle. No matter how long anyone tried to help, she'd always shove them off and tell them she's fine.

What crawled up Luna's nose and died? Thought Twilight as she sighed, the sun getting a bit closer to the horizon almost every minute it seemed. However, this was just when she left the house, and it was every thirty minutes or so that she'd check it. Sadly, at this angle, she couldn't due to the valley shrouding them in shadows.

A cough came from Trixie as she noticed Twilight almost feverishly looking to the west every few minutes. Was she really obsessed with Princess Celestia? She cleared her throat and asked, "Trixie wishes to know, why is it you seem so entranced by your mentor's sun?"

Twilight looked back and smiled a bit, "Well Trixie, you see-" Her face fell, revealing a fairly irritated glare, "-Shut up and don't question me. It's called trying to figure out the time."

A snort came from Trixie in response to Twilight's response, which made Twilight sigh heavily, asking without even turning around, "What is it Trixie."

The sentence that Twilight seemed to barely utter with even a slight addition of her normal perkiness made her become a bit crestfallen, her tone tinged with slight sadness, "Well, you realize you could just use a watch or something like that, correct?"

Then Twilight stopped, craned her head to look behind them, and look back forward. She did this a few times, the group watching her with slowly growing concern as she facehoofed with the one that was held idly above the ground, "Of course, one of the biggest things I would need, and I forgot it."

Marceline tugged on her ear a bit, making Twilight jump back a bit at the sudden tug as Marceline said, "Well, we can see the night sky just as fine as we see the day one. I don't think we'd need one."

Groaning, Twilight turned herself towards where they came from, "I'm going to have to go get it, I'll teleport back to the library and come back here, but my magic might be a bit dampened because of how far this is and just teleporting that distance in general, so when I get back make sure I don't fall, or at least break anything."

Marceline tugged on Twilight's ear once more, reminding her that she was holding it, "Nuh-uh, I'm not gonna watch after all three of you. Not happening, I wasn't planning on having children just yet." She snickered, a small grin on her face.

All three of them looked to the Vampire Queen with varied looks of irritation. Trixie's by far was the angriest, but Luna's almost serene expression is what scared her the most, making her let go of Twilight's ear and back up a bit, "W-Well, what I meant to say is that I wasn't planning on having children just yet, and, and, I'll gladly watch over you three!"

She laughed a bit nervously, but Twilight then replied, "Isn't that a contradiction?"

The pale girl turned to her and was about to ask what she meant, but Twilight could tell what she was going to ask. Well, it was either 'What's a contradiction?' or 'What was the contradiction?'. The lavender mare answered quickly to the unspoken question, "You said, 'Nuh-uh, I'm not gonna watch after all three of you. Not happening, I wasn't planning on having children just yet.' Then you corrected your last part of the statement with 'and, and, I'll gladly watch over you three.' Adding the correction and the regular sentence together would contradict itself entirely, 'Nuh-uh, I'm not gonna watch after all three of you. Not happening, I wasn't planing on having children ju-'"

Twilight's explanation, in which she actually started to enjoy herself, was cut short by Trixie lightly bonking her on the head, which Luna then nudged her a bit in a sign to not interrupt the ranting mare. She knew it'd be a headache if they all got questioned again.

Just as Twilight began to speak again, in the formulated way she does, Marceline clamped a hand over her mouth, saying quickly, "We get it. It's. Fine. Go get the watch. We'll be right here."

Twilight smiled to herself and nodded, her horn lighting up as Marceline pulled away, only for Twilight to disappear in a flash of light seconds later.

They all looked at each other awkwardly, all except for Luna, who instead sighed in annoyance, her brows knitted slightly as she felt a headache begin to grow.

Just as suddenly as she had disappeared, Twilight reappeared and stumbled a bit, knocking the already unstable alicorn in disguise over, the two in a small heap as they both looked about ready to pass out right then and there. Marceline and Trixie looked at each other.

"I'm not carrying them." Said Marceline quickly.

Trixie retorted in an almost yelling voice which made Marceline wince due to the volume, "Trixie is not carrying two ponies along with their luggage, she needs to keep her form well and not in pain!"

Marceline grinned maliciously, "Oh really?"

The only conscious Unicorn nodded, "Her horn becoming a bit alight, "Yes, Trixie will most definitely not doing so!" This time her voice raised in volume.

Ooh, scary. Thought Marceline as she slowly began to raise her hands to her hips, as if being a cowboy in a shoot out.

They both stood still, Trixie glaring daggers and Marceline remaining fairly calm and happy.

"Nose goes!" Yelled Marceline as she touched her hand to her nose. Or she would have, if a light blue magic hadn't enveloped her hand and kept it from touching.

Trixie grinned leisurely as she slowly put a hoof to her muzzle, but just as she was about to she saw that Marceline's other hand had gotten there fairly easily, "You realize I have two hands, right."

Struggling on her four hooves, Trixie groaned a bit, taking slow and shaky steps while carrying the two ponies accompanied by two surprisingly heavy saddle packs as Marceline whistled, floating carefree and spinning the umbrella with her finger, "A-At least take t-the packs, Marceline!" Begged Trixie, her spine feeling like it could, and would, snap any moment.

Marceline floated to her effortlessly, grinning like the Cheshire cat, which she didn't even know what or who it was, making her stop a moment and pit a finger under her chin, considering the strange thought. She had no idea where it came from, but a loud yelp and thud brought her back to reality. Trixie was staring up at her with a exasperated facial expression, almost begging.

She just couldn't resist something so adorable looking. With a "D'awww", Marceline bent down and worked the saddle packs off the two passed out ponies and attempted to carry them as if they were back packs, which proved to be fairly hard because they aren't backpacks. Obviously.

Trixie slowly pushed herself up again, panting a bit with a light blush on her cheeks from carrying so much for about an hour. They both continued along the path, Trixie having to collapse in intervals of ten minutes. However, at the third time Marceline's goody goody side came out and she landed next to the mare, "Look, lemme help you with those, each of us will-"

However the stubborn mare would have none of it, getting a look of determination as she pushed herself up for the fourth, or fifth, time. She panted a bit, sighing as she spoke in a strained tone, "No, Trixie can...Trixie c-can help. She will...help Twilight and her friends."

The sudden onset of her reluctance to give up led to a taken aback Marceline who was only in the state for a few moments, she then screwed her face up a bit and reached to take one of them, particularly Twilight.

Stubborn, stupid or just plain loyal for the moment, Trixie saw her movements and made a somewhat weak shield to stop her. Twilight could break through it easily, as could many others. But she didn't know if this woman could even use, let alone manipulate magic.

Gawking, Marceline complained, "What's wrong with you, I'm just trying to help you! You're not going to be any help to them by passing out too!"

She grunted in response, continuing on her way as she responded, "Trixie will do what she can, she's...done bad things before, but...that c-changes now..."

Marceline sighed, rubbing her forehead. She tries to help the annoyance, and it decides to be annoying anyways. Amazing, "Fine. I'm going to go ahead and make sure there's nothing around, be careful and call for me if you need anything, understand?"

"Who suddenly made you in charge?" Asked Trixie, her usual ego taking a bit of the reign back.

She grinned widely and answered in a sing-song voice, "Meee~"

Groaning lightly, Trixie just muttered, "Whatever." And continued on her way, leaving Marceline to grin like an idiot and move head to make sure there was no danger.

And that's when Trixie thought she heard something. Not just anything, it was like bushes rustling, and not very close either. But that's what bothered her. Looking around, she didn't see anything. Yet.

It wasn't the fact that she heard it rustling- well, sort of, but it was mostly that it wasn't close. Which meant that somepony, or something, was near them. And it was trying to watch, not attack. She looked towards Marceline, and as she did she could have sworn she saw something with dark skin, fur, or something else.

She attempted to call out to her, but Marceline looked back, saw no problem, and turned back around. Trixie couldn't muster up the strength do do much else other than say her name, in between gasps. She really had pushed herself way too far, she wasn't strong physically in any means.

By the time she got the words out, "Marceline...something's here!" Marceline was already half of a quarter mile away, but she did catch most of what Trixie had said.

Something's here? What is she talking about? Looking around her surroundings, Marceline felt herself listen more to the environment, keeping her senses alert. A rustle of a bush here, the sound of hooves walking there. Something was definitely up, even if she couldn't see it.

Suddenly, a green blast of magic bolted out from the slopes and trees, barely missing her. Marceline took her bass axe off of her back and dropped the umbrella, but just as Marceline did, she hesitated and remembered Luna's words as she repeated them to herself, "Don't hurt anything..."

That hesitation costed her more than a moment, another green blast, this one smaller and more attuned, hit her square in the chest. It made her feel instantly exhausted, her arms drooping as she fell to her knees. She gave a look to a distraught Trixie, who was looking towards a possible bush to hide in and Marceline. Just as she was unloading Twilight and Luna into said bush, Marceline gave a small shake of her head, and Trixie was about to retort but stepped back.

Three black chitin covered creatures with bright, blue eyes approached Marceline as she fell, face first, into the dirt. The three grinned, or as close as they could come to with the strange features and their insect-like wings, and two worked Marceline onto their backs and began to buzz off, literally, in a eastern direction, towards Froud Valley.

She didn't have much else to do. On one hoof, she just let three Changelings make away with her only, or previously only, conscious party member. With not much else to do, she approached the last area where she was in. All that was there was the umbrella and her strange guitar axe. However, the saddlebags where nowhere to be found, which meant they had no supplies.

Luckily, they could head back to Ponyville within a few hours, but it was almost night, and more of those things might be around. Trixie decided to herself it would be a better idea to go into a cave, somewhere unseen. She went back to the two unconscious ponies and slowly hefted them onto her back, the small rest of walking enough for her to gather her strength to go maybe another twenty minutes before burning out, physically anyways.

After an hour of pain, falling down and being on the verge of tears, Trixie dragged the two into the cave, Marceline's two items levitated by her as she set both groups of objects down inside the little dent in the valley's wall. She sat, panting, before she heard the same noises as before. They must have seen her.

Looking back to Twilight and Luna, she gulped. She wouldn't have any help in this, and a Changeling is a powerful creature. Looking back to the cave entrance, she concentrated her magic, gasping lightly as it began to flow, a somewhat thin barrier forming on the outside, protecting them from the elements and whatever lay outside. At least for now.

A Changeling rushed, perhaps seeing her exertion, but ran horn-first into the barrier Trixie made. She allowed a small smile on her face, about to move back, but the Changeling growled, got up and began to charge it's own magic. Looking to the night sky, Trixie guessed one of the others would be awake soon enough. Charging her own magic, she began to feed to the barrier, thickening it as the Changeling began to swipe away at it.

It wouldn't stay here forever, and if it did, Trixie knew they'd all be taken. But she couldn't bear the thought of being shoved into a vile cocoon to feed these things. Whether or not they needed it for survival, she needed to concentrate. And she sure as Tartarus wouldn't let them get a hold of either of her friends. A new look of determination grew on her face as she began to sweat.

Twilight's eyes opened slowly as she mumbled to herself, a cold feeling all around other than a warmth at her side. That spell had really taken it out of her. Then again, it felt as if something interfered, and it didn't feel good. Finally opening her eyes and yawning, she looked over to the sound of fizzling magic. And a sight she never though she'd see was staring her dead in the face.

Trixie was sitting in front of their small hole, feeding her magic as her eyes were closed. She was sweating bullets, and her horn fizzled every now and then. From what Twilight could tell, she'd been up all night making sure the barrier stayed up. From what? She wasn't sure, but she was going to find out.

She got up, slowly walking over and whispered, almost in disbelief, "Trixie?"

The mare opened her eyes, the shield flickering for a moment before she closed them again, gritting her teeth a bit, "N-No, it's just another trick!"

A very worried look took residence on Twilight's face as she trotted over, placing a gently hoof on her shoulder, "Trixie, Trixie look at me."

There was nothing behind the shield, but Trixie didn't know that. For all she knew, it was a trick, and two changelings had tried to trick her tired and muddled mind before. She wouldn't have it. But a hug from behind made her break her concentration and low magical flow, the already flickering barrier dissipating immediately.

Twilight sighed after taking Trixie into a gentle hug. Sometimes it's what a person needs to calm their crazed nerves. However, driven by adrenaline and anxiety, Trixie shook a bit, a sigh escaping her before she sniffled. Twilight moved the near-limp mare over to a wall and set her against it, Luna blinking awake slowly with a groan.

The lavender Unicorn sat in front of Trixie, eyeing her carefully, "Trixie, what in Equestria happened?"

Trixie looked up, and Twilight felt her heart ache for her new found friend, and possible savior. Her eyes were glistening with tears, on the verge of sobbing as she stuttered out, "T-Trixie tried to help, b-but Marceline told her n-no..."

That's when Twilight's ears perked up, looking around the cave. Marceline was nowhere to be found, and then she had another thing to worry about, "Trixie, what. Happened."

With a sniffle, and a single tear escaping her eyes as Luna saw the scene, simply watching, stunned. Trixie let out a shuddering sigh and began to explain, "T-Trixie was c-carrying you and Luna while M-Marceline carried the bags, a-and she...she w-went ahead to make sure it was safe and...I h-heard them, but I c-couldn't say anything because I...I-I-I was too weak..."

Now, being Twilight, the hypochondriac that she is, widened her eyes and gulped, a feeling of dread like an iron weight in her stomach as she asked, as gently and measured as possible, "What were the things and what happened after?"

Looking up, Trixie began to speak again after attempting to gain control of herself and failing miserably, "T-They were Changelings, and t-t-they took Marceline away, I ha-had to take you two here and...p-put up a barrier, they were out there for half of the night...I..."

Finally, Trixie felt herself shake as she let a few more tears fall, "Trixie tried, Twilight! I really did! I just wanted to be a good friend a-a-and help you! I couldn't do anything!"

The sudden outburst of emotion, from anyone like Trixie, no less, was unexpected by both Twilight and Luna. The Princess of the Night crawled over, her own facial expression both down trodden and frantically worried. Twilight had nothing more to say, or ask, and in honesty it was somewhat impressive Trixie help up against even one Changeling. With a deep sigh filled with remorse, anxiety and worry, Twilight took Trixie into her hooves and hugged her tightly.

Trixie shook against her, meagerly hugging her back as Twilight felt her shoulder become wet, muffled sobs coming from the utterly destroyed mare. While it was somewhat uncalled for, the raw emotion from the shock, the staying up and exertion, not to mention being an utter wreck in terms of anxiety apparently, Twilight could understand why Trixie was so broken.

All she could do was gently pat her back as Trixie tightened her grip, whispering soft little phrases into Trixie's ear to reassure her that it was alright and that she did her best.

Luna, on the other hoof, was checking around outside. She didn't hear or see anything strange, and it was barely into the morning at the moment. If they moved quick enough, they could get to Marceline within a day, maybe a day and a half. But for now, she would let the two mortal mares beside her resolve their emotions as best they could. Emotions, such troublesome things...

Author's Note

Woo, Chapter Nine! And a new record on words. I hope you all enjoyed! Also, don't worry, it won't always be this sad, but this is just a sad moment.

I hope you all enjoyed, have a nice morning/night/evening/afternoon!
P.S I'll be adding official chapter titles instead of 'Chapter [number here]', as fancy as that is.