The Life of Trixie

After the time with Haystack and Crimson, Silver Star thought it best she go back home. She’d been out almost all day and hadn’t seen anypony she knew. She opened the door to her cottage and collapsed on the carpet. She had no idea that Bluebell, Haystack, and Thickbush were now semi-orphans. They never said anything of the sort that they were. They didn’t seem like it, either.

No sooner had Silver Star collapsed to the floor when there was a knocking at her door.

“I can’t believe this!” she said, irritated. She opened the door to find none other than Charcoal Dust, looking stylish in a pink and white dress.

“Oh, its you.” said Silver Star, almost rolling her eyes.

“Hey again! I just thought I’d drop by and see how everything’s going.” said Charcoal Dust, blowing a piece of black hair out of her face.

“Uh-huh.” said Silver Star, with no trace of emotion in her voice.

“I thought you needed your mane done, and I happen to know the best stylist in town. Her name’s Lemon Drop and I’d be pleased as punch to introduce you.” said Charcoal, brightly.

I do need my mane done, thought Silver Star. Do I look that bad today?

Yes, considering you fell asleep in a field, replied a tiny voice in Silver’s head.

Shush!, replied Silver Star.

“Lemon Drop, is it?” asked Silver, turning to Charcoal Dust.

“Absolutely! We can go right now!” said Charcoal, cheerily.

“Okay,” said Silver Star, dismissively. Silver got out of her house and closed and locked the door behind her. The two ponies started out down the road.

Charcoal Dust led her through town and to the main square of it, where there were more ponies than ever. It was actually quite busy for a small town. There was a large quaint building with an unusual roof nearing the two ponies. There was a hanging sign that from where they were standing even Silver Star could clearly read the message.

Lemonade Salon: Styles for everypony!

It was brightly colored yellow and green and swayed peacefully in the soft breeze.

“Here we are!” singsonged Charcoal Dust, and gave a bounce.

“Lemonade?” blurted Silver Star.

“Lemon Drop loves all things lemon, and her favorite drink is lemonade! In fact, she was drinking lemonade when she realized she wanted to be a mane stylist, and her cutie mark reflects that.” explained Charcoal, smiling.

“Okay.” said Silver Star, uncertainly.

Charcoal trotted to the door and opened it. A bell sounded.

Silver Star trotted into the building. High ceiling and spacious, there was a large bright green desk in the middle with a telephone and littered with papers and open notebooks and pens everywhere. Beyond that, there were four stations, all with mirrors and fancy swivel chairs. There were oodles of tools next to these stations like spray bottles and different tools like a mane straightener and curler. Beyond that, there were three chairs with large circular black things, almost like bowls, with shower heads by them, attached to the back of them.

Mane washing, said Silver Star’s head.

There was a room with a curtain patterned with lemons and limes covering the doorway, but not much else. And everything-EVERYTHING-was patterned with lemons or limes. Everything was painted bright yellow or bright green and something that could have a decal on it was patterned with lemons or limes.

There was a pretty entryway with seats shaped like lemons and limes and there was a huge bright green shelf which was piled high with different shampoos, conditioners, coat moisturizers, and lots of other things. There was a faint smell in the air of lemonade, and there was the sound of water running somewhere in the building.

“I’m coming!” called a voice. Moments later a unicorn appeared.

Standing before Silver Star was the most yellow pony she’d ever seen. With a coat the color of lemonade, the unicorn mare was actually their age, if not older. Her mane was perfectly styled and curled by her face delicately. It was colored lemon yellow and white marble. Her tail was long and wavy and was the same colors as her mane. On her flank, a cool looking glass of lemonade with a lime on the side of it was adorned. Her eyes were the brightest turquoise Silver Star had ever seen, even brighter than her designer dress. Aqua blue, they were beautiful, playful, and elegant all together. The mare wore a turquoise and deep blue smock that had tiny sleeves to it and a tiny blue hoop was in her ear.

“Hello! Welcome to the Lemonade Salon! How can I help-” she said, but she was cut off.

“Hey, Charcoal! And hello!” she said, cheerily, but not crazy cheerily like Charcoal.

“Lemon Drop, this is Silver Star. Silver Star, this is my friend Lemon Drop.” said Charcoal, introducing them both.

“It’s very nice to finally meet you.” said Lemon Drop, and extended a hoof.

“And to you.” said Silver Star, suddenly feeling shy. Finally, a pony with style.

“So! What can I help you with?” said Lemon Drop, sliding into the chair behind the green desk.

“Are you available?” asked Silver.

“I will be until five.” replied Lemon Drop with a smile.

“Let me pen you in.”

“I’ll wait, Silver!” said Charcoal, and plopped herself in the lime shaped chair and grabbed a magazine.

“Right this way.” said Lemon Drop, and the two ventured back where the mane washers were.

“If you’ll have a seat, I’ll get you a towel.” said Lemon Drop, and levitated a towel around Silver Star’s shoulders. The towel was green and Lemon’s magic was the color of lemons.

“This is to keep your dress dry.”

Lemon Drop turned on the water and grabbed the shower head. Silver didn’t feel the water yet because Lemon was testing its warmth on her hoof.

Then the stream of warm water hit Silver’s silvery mane and she felt completely relaxed. The aroma of lemons had become much more pleasurable and Silver had gotten used to the bright colors of the salon.

Lemon Drop turned off the warm water and the coolness chilled Silver Star.

Has it always been so cold in here? She wondered silently.

She heard a small sound, like something coming out of a large bottle. She guessed it must be shampoo of some sort. Lemon Drop then began to massage Silver Star’s scalp with the shampoo. It felt so good…even if she did have her mane done professionally.

Then Lemon Drop turned on the water again and rinsed out the shampoo. She turned it off again and went to get more shampoo. Only this time, when she returned, she didn’t wash it out right away. It was conditioner, and Silver Star smelled the sweet sour lemon scent. Silver Star figured she'd own some conditioner. This was a mane salon anyways.

Finally, the water turned off for the last time, and Lemon Drop levitated another green towel to Silver Star with her magic and magically wrapped the towel on Silver’s head.

“You can get up now,” said Lemon Drop, softly.

“Thank goodness.” said Silver Star, dismissively.

Lemon Drop led her over to a chair and motioned for Silver to sit. She did, and settled into the delightfully soft chair. Softer than the ones by the mane washing station. She relaxed her muscles as Lemon Drop used her magic to remove the towel. Silver’s wet and glossy mane fell in long silvery ringlets down her beautiful face. Though several parts of her mane were tangled, her mane was actually very beautiful in this style. She’d never known her mane was this long; as long as she’d had it, ponies had always tried to put it up.

“Now…I have an idea. And I think you’ll really like it.” said Lemon Drop, with a grin, and with that, she levitated over a pair of scissors.

An hour later Silver Star was done. Lemon Drop was now using her lemon tinted magic to sweep up locks of silver colored mane.

“Let me see!” said Charcoal Dust, excitedly. Silver Star walked slowly over to Charcoal Dust and posed.

“OOH!” squealed Charcoal, appreciatively.

Silver Star responded by tossing her now perfectly styled mane and posing again, as if she were on a runway.

Her mane was perfect. Lemon Drop had styled it so where most of it was on one side of her head, but not so much that you couldn’t see her other eye, and she looked stylish at every angle. Some of her hair curled around the rest of her head and her tail was perfectly touched up, trimmed, and in a fountain style, the steel gray ripples in it trimmed and touched up to perfection.

In all her years of professional stylists doing her mane to her mother’s eye, Silver Star had never enjoyed such a manecut. Though Lemon Drop didn’t ask what style Silver Star wanted, she saw that Lemon Drop had an excellent eye and made her mane unique. For the first time she’d been there in Little Haystack, a smile bloomed on her lips. She couldn’t believe it and yet…she loved it.

Seeing the smile, Charcoal Dust and Lemon Drop both shared a cheerful beam. They were shocked. This prissy city pony was actually becoming not so prissy. The three stood there smiling at each other for what seemed like ages. Finally, Silver Star once again, found her voice, cleared her throat, and gave her mane a sassy toss before speaking.

“This manecut is beautiful,” she said, at last. She dug out her purse and fished out her wallet for bits.

“How much do I owe you?”

The two ponies before her just watched her in pleased shock until Lemon Drop spoke.

“No charge. My pleasure to do such an upper-class pony’s mane.” she said, and pretended to bow. For the first time, Silver Star giggled. It had been a while since she had properly giggled.

“Thank you so much.” she said, sincerely.

“Your turn, Charcoal.” said Lemon Drop, motioning to the mane washers. Silver Star took a seat. After Charcoal Dust’s manecut, the two mares turned to leave. Before the door closed behind them, Silver Star put ten bits in Lemon Drop’s tip jar. Next time, she’d pay the yellow pony.

The sunset met Silver Star’s eyes, and the warmth of the setting sun was shining right on Silver’s coat. Shadows were already forming beside the buildings, and some business’s neon lights were coming on. More and more ponies were walking the sidewalks now, as if the sleepy town had transformed into a fancy city.

“Who are all these ponies?” asked Silver Star, questionably.

“Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you, but we love the nighttime! Remember how Princess Luna got upset because we weren’t appreciating her night? Well, we have a lot to do around here in the nighttime. We have live music, concerts, cake parties, and a lot more. We even have a couple of shows. We are loyal to both Princesses.” said Charcoal, with a smile.

“But, I’m starved! And I know a great place for some grub.”

Silver Star’s stomach growled in reply.

“I’ll take that as a yes!” chided Charcoal.

Moments later Silver Star was sitting in the most greasiest café she’d ever been in, and that was saying a lot, considering she hadn’t ever been in one.

“Welcome to Hayseed’s!” said Charcoal Dust, happily, grabbing a menu.

“Help yourself to anything! It’s on me.” said Charcoal Dust, cheerily.

The café was nice, with clean white shutters and retro red sparkly seats. There was old timey clocks and posters on the walls and ponies were drifting in to sit or get things to go. The lighting was bright and chrome-y.

Silver Star sighed, picked up the menu, and tried not to think of gourmet hay and grass. She opened it and her sapphire blue eyes skimmed the menu. They had a variety of options from hay fries to crisp roasted sandwiches. They even made soups, pastas, and a selection of fancy non-alcoholic beverages.

“You haven’t lived until you’ve tried their hay soup with basil leaves and parmesan cheese, Silver Star.” said Charcoal Dust, putting down her menu.

A pony wearing a long sleeve stained shirt with a nametag and a newsboy cap came over to their table.

“What can I get you ponies to drink?” she asked.

“I’ll have the Sparkler Punch.” said Charcoal Dust, smiling at the waitress.

“I’ll have the same.” said Silver Star, figuring whatever Charcoal got was going to be at least decent.

The pony scribbled down the orders then left their table.

“So, Silver Star. You’re from Canterlot?” asked Charcoal Dust, trying to make small talk.

“If you’d call it that. I was born and raised there. And I should be there now, as a matter of fact.” replied the silvery mare.

Be nice, Silver, a voice scolded. She cleared her throat.

“I was there, I mean.” she recovered.

Charcoal Dust sighed with relief.

“That’s neat.” said Charcoal Dust.

“So what about you? Charcoal pony with a love for planting?” asked Silver Star.

“Yes indeedy. I’ve lived here my whole life, as many ponies around here have, and I just recently got a job at the realtors. When I was a filly, I always knew I loved plants. Talked to them, even. When I was around nine years old, my dad took me to a flower festival. Seeing all the floats with flowers on them, my thoughts confirmed and I thought about nothing else. I read on flowers. I grew my very own garden. I talked to the flowers, and named almost every single one of them.

“Then when I turned sixteen, my dad said to cut the act with the plants. He told me that I needed a steady job to earn my living, and he said there was no way I would get a job as a gardener. You can imagine me being a rebellious teen pony,” Charcoal giggled at the thought.

“Anyway, I decided to prove my dad wrong. I went into the city and got an audience with our mayor. I asked him if he would let me take care of all the plants in Little Haystack. He smiled and said yes. I went back home and told my father. He still insisted on a regular job, so he got me a part time job at the realtors. And I’ve been gardening and being a receptionist ever since.” finished Charcoal Dust.

“Quite a story.” replied Silver Star.

Charcoal Dust giggled.

“Isn’t it?”

The waitress pony brought their drinks, which was an elaborate tall glass filled with opaque fluorescent pink liquid. It bubbled like a soft drink, and inside the middle was a sparkler that was sparkling happily. The more Silver Star examined it, the sparkler looked to be made of unicorn magic.

“That’s edible, by the way.” said the waitress, and pulled out her pad.

“What can I get you to eat?”

“I’ll have the daffodil and daisy sandwich,” said Silver Star, and smiled.

“I’ll have the steamed cabbage with basil leaves with a side of hay fries.” said Charcoal.

The pony scribbled the orders and was gone again.

“What about you? What’s your story? And I know you don’t have a dud for a cutie mark. Tell me the story.” said Charcoal, sipping the punch.

Silver Star sighed and relayed the entire story to Charcoal Dust. Charcoal would eventually find out.  There was no reason in Equestria why Silver Star would not tell her anyway. Charcoal had always been friendly to Silver Star, even when she first came. Silver Star hated to admit to herself, but they were friends. Nothing was going to change that.

Silver Star happily relished Charcoal Dust’s expressions. She smiled, she was sad, and she laughed. Silver Star laughed too.

Their food came quickly, and as Silver Star had more bites, discovered it absolutely delicious. Nothing like the food she had at Haystack’s, but still good.

“So, tell me about you and Haystack. Were you thinking of a spring or summer wedding?” teased Charcoal Dust.

Silver Star allowed herself to profusely blush.

“There is nothing between Haystack and I. We are merely friends.” said Silver Star, plainly. Charcoal smiled slyly.

“Better be careful. If Strawberry Blossom finds out…”

“Oh, I’m not worried, Charcoal. She can come get me.” said Silver Star, not realizing what she said.

“Oops, I mean…um…” she said, trying to recover. Charcoal Dust smiled at her.

“It’s okay, Silver. I know you were joking.”

Silver Star sighed with relief.

“So you really are just friends?” asked Charcoal.

“Yes…but I might have the tiniest crush on him…he is handsome…” blurted Silver Star wistfully.

Charcoal grinned, this time sweetly.

“I’m rooting for you.” she said, smiling.

The two finished eating and left the café. They walked awhile, and talked at the same time. Before long, they had reached the square where there was less ponies around. It was quieter and the ponies were few. Silver Star was telling Charcoal about her favorite things when she bumped into somepony.

She steadied herself and didn’t fall down. She turned to the pony she had bumped into and her heart melted. She was looking into the eyes of none other than Haystack Blueberry.

“We have to stop meeting like this.” he said, brushing himself off.

“Yes.” she said, and pushed past him.

Charcoal Dust grinned at Haystack.

“Hey, Haystack!” said Charcoal, cheerily.

“Hey, Charcoal!”

“Silver Star, can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?” asked Haystack, giving a serious smile.

“Fine.” said Silver Star, and followed him out of the square, leaving her friend behind, giving a her a nice smile.