Red, Green, Yellow, To Equestria with this Fellow
by Melodiac
First published
'Small floating Pokémon' was not in the listing for occupations I thought I would have in life. Discombobulated and lost, my only goal now is to find someone in this forest...
All I wanted to do while waiting out the blizzard was relax. But in flash, everything changes. The power goes out and all that I am left with is my desk lamp and an eerie trio of lights in the corner.
Rushing and twisting, I wake up in a forest a half meter tall and grey in coloration. No one in sight save a road leading onwards. Unfamiliar sights and sounds assail me at every turn and the forest seems to never end. It would be helpful if these stubby legs were not just for show...
A side story to Equestrian Eeveelution; By Symphonicdysonince.
I would recommend reading the main storyline. This story may line up with the main canon at some points, so reading may be required to understand. Plus, the main story is just really well written.
Blink blink
Chapter 1
William’s Office
The wind howled outside the walls of my house. The snow had been piling up for a while now with the blizzard that had been in town for a few days. Despite this, inside was warm, and I had almost finished my newest project.
I had found an old gameboy at a thrift store, along with some other cartridges and components to keep me entertained through the storm. The old corroded circuitry was currently in the light of my desk lamp, being repaired. The cartridges were in various states of decay, save one shiny Pokemon game. This was quite a find as well, being in superb condition.
A space heater sat in the corner, near the television. I had kept both on as comforting background noise, as well as information on the outlook of the storm.
The weather station was doing a recap of the news. Notifications about power outages were displayed on the screen as well. Straining my ears to hear, I rise to turn up the volume. The wind rattling the windows and space heater rattling had started to drown out the quieted speakers.
Behind my back, the discarded game cartridge adopted an iridescent sheen. A soft glow came from it, unnoticed by me.
Sitting back in my swiveling chair, I pull the soldering iron from its sheath and the next wire from a drawer.
“Reports of snow piling up in front of windows and doors have been flooding in from across the county,” The news anchor exclaims.
Finishing off the connection with a neat point, I tin the end of the iron and sheath it again. I had started to get a bit hungry. Something warm was in order to soothe my uneasiness. With a snack in mind, I get up and reach for the plug to the soldering iron.
Right as my hand leaves my side, the power flickers, and the lights sputter. A jolt of surprise lances through me as the power then cuts out completely.
The battery-powered desk lamp provides a sufficient glow to see. So does the trio of blinking lights in the corner.
Wait…
Narrowing my eyes, I scrutinize the blinking lights. Red, green, yellow, and over again. They seemed familiar, almost hypnotic. Unplugging the iron, I take a step away from the eerie visitor.
With my movement, the blinking lights begin to move closer.
It’s just a dream. It’s just a dream, I think uneasily as the lights near. Not a dream, not a dream, notadreamnotadream, oh shit! I start panicking as the lights speed forwards suddenly.
With a rushing and twisting feeling, everything fades to white.
Oo~h, what a headache, I groan inwardly and try to get up.
Sunlight streams through my eyelids and the rustling of leaves can be heard. Forest sounds echo and chirp. Noticing the grass beneath me, I try to understand why I'm not back in my bed at home. A light breeze brushes my back and I realize I don't have my jacket or any clothing for that matter. My brain's answer to all of this? We're not in Kansas anymore Toto...
Very useful, brain.
After a quick self-assessment, I open my eyes. Moreover, I try to, my eyelids feel far too heavy to lift. Lifting my aching head, I slowly open my eyes and let them adjust to the light. The colors of the forest are in vivid technicolor. Everything has a cartoonish tint.
Looking down, I push myself to a sitting position. Something feels… off. I feel shorter than usual. I also notice my hands are completely numb. Doing another self-assessment, I realize what was wrong. A look down confirms it. No wonder I felt shorter, my body was the chibi-like one of the Pokemon Elgyem. Where my fingers once were, hypnotizing lights flicker softly. I can only guess my once-hazel eyes are now pale green as well. Perfect.
Have you ever listened to the buzzing noise a small motor makes without anything to slow the rotation? My scream was a near-perfect imitation of that. I am sure this reaction was perfectly reasonable for my situation.
As the noise echoes, I take stock of the situation with a clearer mind. It seems to be around mid-afternoon, and a stream can be heard nearby. I realize that hunger from earlier is still present. However, movement of any kind is required to sate said hunger. An attempt to walk is made. Standing on my stubby legs, I sway a bit and wave my arms comically. The first attempt; take a step. My face meeting the ground is a result, along with some frustrated chirrups.
Struggling up once more, I find a center of balance and will myself forwards. My foot(?) hits a root and I’m tumbling through the air once again. I extend my arms to catch myself, but the ground never comes. My feet are still touching the ground, but I have stopped my fall with levitation of some sort. Lifting a foot, I find that nearly no pressure rests on the other. Kicking off of the ground, I flip in place and level out.
How am I doing this? I wonder as I slowly bob in place. Thinking, I notice a slight pressure on my mind. Focusing on this, I lock on to the feeling. With an attempt, I scrunch my eyes will myself forwards. The result is shooting forwards like being shot from a cannon.
"Woah! Woah!" I yell and lose my concentration.
I immediately slow and level out once again. This was going to take some getting used to. Lessening my original force, I drift forwards and into the forest.
After a few collisions with trees, I find that I have reached the edge of a clearing. An old fire pit of rocks can be seen half-buried in the ground, that means sentient life! A faint trail can be seen as well. Which appears to be leading away from a cave a ways back.
I still have not found food, and my hunger is worse. Looking around me, I find a convenient bush with what look like blueberries hanging from lower branches. I reach out and try to grab one, my arm bumps it and the berry falls.
"Perfect," I mutter to myself and touch town to grab it.
With repeated failures, my frustration grows until I kick off of the ground once more and make a punching motion at the berry. The air ripples and juice flies everywhere as the target is squished. Shaking my head in disbelief, I try to understand- and possibly replicate this psychic power.
Pouring willpower into pushing the air, I thrust my arm forwards once again and the bush rocks. Berries drop to the ground and I reach down, trying to bend the same ability for picking them up. Fruit flies skywards as I try to reign in control. Finally, I manage to float a berry in front of my outstretched arm. I notice that the fruit has a faint green outline that pulses softly. Noting this for later, I snatch the foodstuff out of the air.
One berry seemed to be sufficient for something of my size. Since I don't appear to have a mouth, I simply hold the fruit to my face. With a faint noise, notes of the berry are absorbed into the surface near my mouth area. Questioning the logic of this will have to be saved for later when I have someplace safe to sleep. As for now, I need to find that resting place.
Setting off down the darkening path, I hope to find something soon.
Author's Notes:
I tried to slow this opening chapter down to a reasonable point. Even with a delay getting this out, I was able to have it ready earlier than expected.
If any mistakes are found, make sure to notify me.
Thank you for reading, the next update will come out reasonably soon.
Addendum: Edited to fix spelling, continuity, and grammatical errors.
And for Her Next Trick
Chapter 2
???
Two beings stewed in a void, one eons older than its talkative cellmate. Both had just finished an argument, one of the innumerable in this prison.
“You know I didn’t mean to hit him too,” Discord defended.
An exasperated voice emanates from the left of draconequus, “So be it, as long as this results in your leaving.” Any peace after a veritable eternity with this insufferable demigod would be a reprieve.
“Tired of me already?” Discord wheedles in return.
The only response is an echoing sigh.
I have no clue how long I wandered the trail. More food had been found along the way, each berry giving me energy with my growing fatigue. I still have yet to figure out how my method of food intake functions. Even still, I am hesitant to call it “eating” due to no mouth being involved. But for now, finding someplace safe to sleep would be a better choice. Darkness had come at an absurd speed, with the sun practically dropping from the sky.
What kind of world am I in? I think in bewilderment. A sunset of that speed means the planet undergoes some sort of rotational acceleration at each sunset-sunrise period. Then again- a different world or dimension, different scientific mechanics.
Of course, this couldn’t be Earth, although with similar flora- a parallel universe of some sort? Far too much to process has been thrown at me. Perhaps civilization is beyond this forest somewhere where I would be able to study this further. A shaft of moonlight illuminates my vision as I float along, causing my eyes to adjust. An eerie wolf howl in the distance makes me shiver. Another howl nearby causes a sense of cold fear to trickle down my spine.
With that reminder, I should find someplace safe to sleep for the night. Focusing, I light the ends of my arms and increase the brightness to single-diode lamp levels. The feeling was akin to flexing phantom muscles, with a limit causing me to stop as the lights flare. No other way to describe the feeling came to mind at the moment. Shining said lights around, I look for a suitable tree to sleep in. A high branch in what appears to be an oak tree should suffice. Levitating moss from the forest floor, I float up to the tree and lay my makeshift mattress down. Coming to rest on the branch, I drape myself carefully to not fall off.
As a method of relaxing before sleep, I try to review the events from the day. This is absolutely absurd now that I think about it. Woke up; am Pokemon. Throughout the day, adapting to this unfamiliar body. Then- stranger still- the suddenness of this coming at almost no shock.
The sound of something breathing and padding by below me interrupts my thoughts. This tree was a better place to sleep than the ground, that was a sure fact.
Picking up a new train of thought after the creature passes, I ponder the abilities of the Pokémon, Elgyem- my new body. It was clear that my basic hovering was a passive ability, whereas the telekinetic manipulation was another unknown move. However, the bursts of speed I could pull off were most likely the move Telekinesis. Whereas the attack that I had used in my frustration earlier was most likely Psychic. Any other moves would probably either have to be learned or discovered.
Throwing my stubby arms out in front of my face, I let them dangle and bump the branch. Sleep would do wonders to organize the events of the day. Knowing this, I close my eyes and try to sleep. A faint sound of wolves howling echoes before sleep takes me.
I am standing in my office once again, the power is still out. Looking around, I try to spot familiar shapes in the darkness. Without warning, my vision moves as I walk over to my desk. The lamp is knocked over and off. Despite this, a faint glow still flickers from the center of the desk. The gameboy is on, with the Pokémon cartridge in the slot. On the cracked display, a pixelated loading screen repeats itself as I stare at it. With an unknown signal, my hand slowly reaches out and presses the start button.
The screen goes black for a spell, with a flicker a grey backdrop scrolls across the battered LCD. Its half-broken speakers emit an ominous chime as the backdrop flickers. Without my action, the screen lights up again, this time with a trio of circles; red, green, and yellow. They begin to flash in a hypnotic pattern. With each flash, the lights begin to fill my vision. Vertigo overtakes me and everything begins to stretch and spin. The beeping increases in volume until it becomes nearly unbearable. Then, with a jolt, my vision goes black as laughter echoes from the void.
Bee~p..
I wake up with the morning light assaulting my eyes. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and I still feel like shit. Sleeping on a branch was a regrettable choice, but it seemed to keep me safe overnight. Lifting my head, I turn my neck. My vertebrae pop as I stretch and twist. Taking care not to fall, I twist and move myself to a sitting position on a branch.
Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I make tired beeps and chirps. Oh, how I missed coffee. Hopefully, a washing of some sort would suffice to wake me up. I was sure I heard a stream up ahead last night, maybe that would work. A swing of my arms and I am floating down from the tree. My concentration quickly falters and I drop to the ground, landing painfully.
“Oww~” I groan with an outstretched arm.
Pushing myself up, I float slowly into a comfortable position. The stream up ahead sounds a reasonable distance, some more bushes with variations of berries lie further along the path. Meandering in the general direction, I realize I still feel full from yesterday’s meal. The benefits of being almost a third of my original size it seems. Hovering directly above the stream, I look down at the water. Clear and crisp, no pollution or taint of any kind is present. Well, no better time than the present it seems, I lower myself into the water and sigh. The water is somewhat bracing, but a definite relief from the aches and pains of a night on a branch. Rolling over, I cover myself completely in the cool water. Not caffeine, but a good substitute nonetheless.
Willing myself upwards, I glide out of the water and shake myself off. Air-drying will have to do for now. Onwards to the path and wherever it leads.
Sunlight streams onto vivid green fields in the distance. I had finally reached the edge of the path- and therefore the forest. Mountains loom behind me and a railroad leading onwards towards... A town?
Not holding back, I rocket towards the tracks up ahead. Grass whisks by beneath me as I shoot forwards. This was exhilarating! In mere minutes the rails and wooden tie plates are beneath me. Shielding my eyes against the sun as I slow, I look along the tracks. The forest lies in the east- or the west for all I know, the sun’s bearings could be different. A diminutive mountain range lies to the southwest. Another slow spin shows nothing else new, save for that carriage heading my direction.
Wait.. A carriage!?
Shit- for all I know the life here could be hostile, is there anywhere to hide to observe the life here? A leaning tree in a nearby field seems appropriate. Taking another look at the carriage, I deduce that I am probably not visible yet. The tree is close enough to the road for me to dart over with no risk. A twitch of my mind and I arrow over to the target tree. Now to settle in and wait...
[Trixie]
That insufferable unicorn! She had made a fool out of The Great and Powerful Trixie, not to mention completely ruining her reputation! With enough distance, maybe my reputation could be salvaged. I had used most of my bits from a performance in Manehattan to buy supplies along the way. Maybe a small town well beyond the Whitetail Woods would have something to spare.
The wheel of my mobile stage hits a rut and something snaps. Coughing through the dust that was kicked up, I unbuckle and try to see the damage. The right rear wheel spokes had snapped, leaving the axle damaged and frame cracked. I would have to find help, there was no way to fix the wheel here. At least a tree nearby has some shade to offer until somepony passes by. The Great and Undefeated Trixie will now very proudly shuffle over to the tree and shed tears of happiness- yes, happiness.
A strange noise coming from behind the tree causes me to pause. Was there somepony else here too? Maybe they could help. Sniffling and trying to regain my composure, I shuffle over to the tree and call out.
“H-hello? Is anypony there?”
A grey shape pokes out from behind the tree. Followed by the rest of an egg-shaped head with black markings that end above large green eyes. The half of a small, grey body follows the arm around the edge of the tree. Red, green, and yellow lights flicker at the end of the stubby arm.
“El-gyem?” The strange creature asks with a timid voice. Noticing me, it darts behind the tree again.
[William]
Whelp. I have officially gone absolutely, indubitably insane. Nope, The Great and Powerful Trixie is not standing on the far side of the tree I am hiding behind. Just to be sure, I peek out again.
“Erm..” She begins to say as I jump behind the tree.
No wonder the forest I found myself in was so vibrant. This is Equestria, every My Little Pony fan can attest to that. It was clear that the town I had been on the path towards was Ponyville. The woods I had come from could have been anywhere, though most likely to the west with my current bearings. As for the timeline; The lack of a massive shining crystal castle shows that I was thrust into the early show.
While all of this was being processed, Trixie had snuck around the tree and was now staring at me in shock. Her mouth hangs open and her eyes are as wide as dinner plates. Turning, I let out a yelp of surprise and reflexively hold my arms out in front of myself. Something flows from my hands and I hear a faint thump in front of me. I slowly crack open my eyes, The Great and Powerful Trixie is lying unconscious in front of me, her cloak spread around her like a purple blanket. Her wagon- Err.. mobile stage lies at a skewed angle in the middle of the road due to one wheel missing. No wonder Trixie had tried to wait under the shade of the tree. Well, now I know when I am; Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after Boast Busters. As to why I was in the body of a Pokémon and not a pony, no answers are presented.
Still, a bigger issue was on my hands now. Either Trixie had fainted, or I had just discovered Hypnosis- The latter most likely being true. Holding my arms out in front of me, I stare at the lights and try to replicate the feeling. Concentrating, a rushing feeling flows out of the now flashing lights and fogginess begins to break my concentration. Pink waves ripple outwards and twist with a psychedelic effect. My vision just begins to fade as I rip my gaze away from the hypnotic flashing. Definitely Hypnosis.
Now, how to wake up the unlucky sleeper in front of me...
Author's Notes:
Ponies are heavier than they look. Let’s hope cleaning this mess up doesn’t take too long...
The second chapter is here! My writing should have increased in quality from the last chapter. Extra time to edit does wonders to the story. My original thought was to add Trixie in later, but when I realized that Hypnosis could be useful later on, I couldn’t resist.
I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and be sure to shove any mistakes into the spotlight. Feedback is appreciated.
-Melodiac
Out Like a Strobe Light
Chapter 3
Western Equestria
No amount of shaking- telekinetic or physical would wake the sleeping performer. For the time being, I had moved Trixie into the shade of the tree, and now was trying to wake her up with little avail. This Hypnosis seemed to have put her into a deep sleep, with no movement save for snoring and rise and fall of her barrel.
In my recollection of Pokémon moves, I was sure that Elgyem was not able to learn Hypnosis through any methods overall. Despite this, the sleeping unicorn mare in front of me proved that fact wrong. Thinking again, I try to remember when the sleep effect wears off; either after a certain amount of time or when the victim is knocked out. With the damage option being out of the question, I would just have to wait. I decided that better use of my time would be trying to move- or hopefully fix Trixie’s carriage. Then maybe- hopefully she would wake up before nightfall and be able to help- or offer someplace to sleep.
Looking around, I ensure that no ponies are in the vicinity. All clear, now I just need to find a way to lift and move the broken carriage without damaging it. If possible, then reattaching the wheel would also help the situation. Looking over the wreck, I see the extent of the damage. The right rear corner is slightly cracked from the impact. Not to mention the spokes of the wheel are completely shattered.
”Now… how do I do this?” I ponder aloud.
Focusing on the shape of the carriage, I try to hold the target in my mind. Trying to replicate the same telekinesis I had used many times before, I zero in on the carriage and pour my willpower into lifting it.
Something in the back of my mind flexes as a green sheen surrounds the edges of the broken carriage. I push more power into the target as the sheen begins to glow with a shining light. A small headache begins at the back of my neck and slowly creeps forwards. Then, a low creaking fills the air as the carriage and the broken wheel are slowly lifted by the psychic force. Shifting my focus to moving the object, I try to move it to the edge of the road. By then, I am sweating and struggling now as the hold becomes more difficult to maintain. A jolt of pain in my skull causes the glow to falter and the wagon to nearly crash. All I try to do before I black out is catch both myself and the falling carriage.
[Trixie]
Oo~h That’s going to be another headache… I think as I roll over. What had happened before I was knocked out? All I remember is a wheel to my carriage snapping, trying to find shelter under the tree I woke up under, and...
A strange prolonged tone from the road causes my ears to swivel to follow it. It sounds like… something humming? Slowly opening my eyes, I lift my head and try to will the oncoming headache away. Looking towards the source of the noise, I see a strange creature hovering in front of my carriage. Its egg-shaped head and small body is illuminated by a green glow is coming from the carriage. With a pause, the creature raises its head and the aura solidifies. This looks like a type of telekinesis, anything a unicorn learns from an early age. But I doubt even I could lift my stage alone. I pause as its humming increases in volume and the aura around the carriage brightens. With a loud creak, the wreckage is lifted off of the ground and suspended at a half-hoof distance.
After moving the carriage closer to the tree, the glow falters and the small creature nearly falls out of the air. Why it had helped me was no mystery, but the least The Great and Powerful Trixie could do was help her newest acquaintance. Time to get up, I rise and pick my hat from the ground where it had fallen. Dusting it off with a hoof, I turn and canter over to the carriage’s new position with a pause to scoop the creature out of the air. Setting it on my back to rest, I further survey the damage to my stage and home. The few bits I might be able to earn from a performance would have to be sacrificed to fix the wheel, a brace for the corner woodwork would have to be fitted, and the nearest town is a day’s travel away by hoof. Hopefully, everything would not be too disorganized inside.
Opening the door, I set my little oddity down by the steps and trot inside.
[William]
I need to stop waking up like this; a killer headache and in an unfamiliar location.
I look over at the wall that I had been leaned against. I had succeeded in moving the carriage at the cost of what felt like a migraine. Hopefully, this feedback will pass soon, I need to be awake and thinking clearly in order to talk to Trixie. As for now, noises of the carriage’s contents being shifted around are heard. Rising to my elbows, I slowly float and level out at a reasonable distance from the ground. Basic levitation seems feasible. Turning, the door stands in front of me. The problem now is, how to open said portal. Focusing, I try to get a grasp on the door handle. My focus is promptly broken as another sudden spike of pain makes me falter. Psychic feedback, telekinesis would be a bad idea unless a splitting headache is a viable option.
How do I know what psychic feedback would feel like? Shaking my head, I decide to wrap my arms and hug the doorknob into submission. Ensuring my grip is secure, I twist in the air and pull away from the door, swinging it open.
The inside of the carriage is… Surprisingly larger than I had originally thought. A hammock is suspended next to the wall, opposite to boxes of performance paraphernalia. Rainbow ribbons are hanging from the ceiling, smoke bombs are in a box in the corner, and a strange box of creepy looking stars collectively stares me down from another corner. All of this most likely has been accumulated over the years of Trixie’s performances. Currently, said performer was boxing up items that had fallen and storing them on the few shelves near the ceiling. Seeing the pony once more gives me pause, accepting this will have to do for now. Steeling my resolve, I knock on the doorframe to get Trixie’s attention.
The teal unicorn turns at the noise and nods, “Good, you’re awake. I was beginning to think that you wouldn’t wake up before nightfall.”
Well isn’t that a familiar thought.. I snark internally. At least we are both awake, communication is difficult when unconscious.
At the mention of that, time to try communicating, I begin with the most cliché line possible; “Can you understand me?”
My target raises an eyebrow and turns her head slightly. It didn’t seem that she understood me, which is another hurdle to overcome in this world. Of course Pokémon cannot be understood, all they seem to be able to say are their names, how jolly a predicament. With a frown, I try to flash the red light on my left hand in a Morse Code-like pattern.
Trixie's head pops up and she looks over at me. Her eyes light up as she realizes something and nods at my hands.
On cue, unicorn hesitantly begins to speak, “If you can understand me," She pauses and mutters under hear breath. "Flash your lights twice.”
Complying, I illuminate the small room with two successive flashes of light. In retrospect, I should have thought about ways to elaborate on this true- false method of communication. For now, though, Trixie’s eyes light up as she thinks of another question.
“Where.. are you from?” She questions further.
In response, I point in the general direction of the Whitetail woods. That should be a loose enough answer for now. Despite wanting to tell the truth, being feared by ponies overall would be a sour start to this adventure. Not to mention I had no way of talking yet.
Trixie nods and continues, “Would you be able to help me fix my wagon?”
I nod. Then again, most creatures seem intelligent here…
“Alright,” Trixie interrupts my train of thought, “I need to travel to the nearest town in order to buy supplies to fix my wagon. Tomorrow morning, of course. Is there anything you could do to disguise the wagon to prevent any looting?”
In response, I gesture for her to follow me outside. Setting down a half-filled saddlebag, Trixie follows my lead and closes the door behind her. Ensuring that I had her attention, I then point to the forest and mime dragging the wagon over to the tree line to conceal. I believe that Trixie understood better than I thought because she looks at me worriedly.
“Are you sure you won’t injure yourself again?”
I shake my head as I put one hand over the other in what I hope to be a symbol of ‘help’.
“You want me to.. help you?” Trixie asks with a raised brow.
I nod vehemently and she seems to understand.
“We should sleep here tonight though, it will be around a day’s travel from here to the nearest town. It already seems to be rather late too.”
Looking up at the sky, I realize that Trixie is indeed correct. The sun is heading duskwards, estimating at around late afternoon. I nod again to confirm that I understood.
“We should go to find some branches for a fire. Do you have any more magical branch gathering powers that you haven’t told me about?” Trixie asks with a wry smirk.
I shake my head and begin to float towards the forest, gesturing once more for her to follow me.
A fire was glowing in a patch of cleared grass near the wagon. It had taken a good while to find some suitable branches for the fire, but it helped against the oncoming chill. The door to the wagon was open, with a lamp providing some illumination as Trixie moved about within. She had found an extra cloth that could be used as a makeshift hammock for me. Despite it being itchy, I was grateful, it was better than a tree. Speaking of trees, whilst in the forest, I had found some more of the blueberry-like fruits for us to share. As another bonus, the headache from earlier had also subsided, allowing me to carry a great number of berries and fuel for the fire.
The steps creak as Trixie exits the carriage, sans cloak or hat. Her saddlebags have been packed for the trip tomorrow and are hanging inside. The sun had set a while ago, making the shadows at the edge of the firelight dance. A wolf howls in the distance as Trixie shivers and steps closer to the fire.
She watches the flames for a while before speaking, “We should probably sleep earlier, we’ll need to start early if we want to be able to reach the town before nightfall.”
I nod and funnel some dirt into the fire with a twitch of my mind. The flames sputter and the surrounding area is darkened further. Ensuring that all of the embers are extinguished, I float over to the door. Thankfully, the light shining through the windows allow me to see as I float inside after Trixie. Being careful to close the door after myself, I lock it and float over to my hammock. I extinguish my candle with a flick of air. Pulling a blanket over myself against the slight chill, I wave goodnight to Trixie. I still have not relaxed entirely, but a review of today’s events should do wonders for sleep.
Trixie rolls over in her hammock and mutters something as my eyes drift shut. My thoughts begin to wander and weariness overtakes me soon after.
Author's Notes:
This chapter was… longer than expected. Truth be told, it began to fight me near the end. I hope that this was released in a reasonable time frame, with a delay due to another prolonged power outage. Thankfully, I wrote the majority of this chapter on my phone, despite not having a sound enough connection to submit it until much later.
I hope that you enjoyed reading! Point out any mistakes and be sure to leave feedback. My proofreading may have missed something, I wanted to have this chapter published as soon as I possibly could.
Thank you
-Melodiac
The Road Ahead
Chapter 4
Western Equestria
The early morning sun slips under the curtains and assaults my eyes as I turn over in my hammock. I never was a morning person, and I still seem to not be a morning Pokémon either. Rubbing my eyes to clear the sleep from them, I recount last night's sleep; it had been fitful, with the only memory being of blurred action and shouting. I hope the dream wasn't a forewarning of how the trip would go. Well, premonition or no, the wheel and corner bracing needed to be fixed, and woodworking did not come with this group’s repertoire.
Sitting up in my hammock, I take a peek through the curtains. Pulling the slightly faded cloth aside, I get a full dose of the early morning sunlight. Groaning and covering my smarting eyes, I roll backwards out of the hammock and fall to the floor. With a muffled thump, I land on my back as my pillow falls on top of me. It seems that this is another morning of the vengeful sort. The floor had two points and growing. At least it seems that I am now fully awake, better early than never.
With clear eyes, I take a look around. Silver mane pokes out from the edge of a larger hammock, signifying that Trixie will be sleeping through this sunrise. Deciding to let her sleep, for now, I search the stacks of boxes for anything breakfast-related. I locate what looks like some sort of pancake mix sitting on a high shelf. Levitating it down, I give the box a once-over. The appearance of a flapjack on the front confirms my guess. Learning to read Equish would prove very useful in the future. I wouldn't want to mix some sort of flash powder with my breakfast by accident. Looking around for a pan, I find one and lever it out from a pile of its brethren. Now that I have everything, I wonder if I have a way to relight the fire to make breakfast. I try to recall if Trixie had used any sort of fire-starting tools. I may need to wake her for this, better sooner than later.
Setting the things on a shelf next to a pitcher of water, I think of a way to wake the sleeping mare. Taking the curtains in a telekinetic grasp, I push them aside, flooding the carriage with light.
"Wanted to get an early start didya now?" A tired voice snarks after a long yawn.
As Trixie's head lifts up, I float the box of pancake mix down in front of her disgruntled face.
With a snort she looks at me, "You woke me up to make us breakfast, and you need my help?"
I nod and begin to make an attempt at shaking Trixie out of her hammock. A few swings and a teal mass falls to the floor.
"Alright, alright... I'm up." She calls out from beneath her blanket.
This morning had begun with a slow crawl. Trixie and I had finished a light breakfast before moving heavier objects out of the carriage. With a combined effort, we had finished the task quickly. All that was left to move was the carriage itself.
Ensuring that there would be no distractions, I reach for the carriage with a telekinetic grasp. After a few failed attempts, I secure a hold on the target as it begins to glow softly. A flash in my peripheral vision indicates that Trixie is prepared to lift the carriage. As our telekinetic auras mix, a strange feeling washes over me. It appears that the same had also happened to Trixie, with a prominent shiver making her snout scrunch. I wisely ignore the feeling, for now, turning my focus to upwards motion. I give a nod to signal for Trixie's assistance, and she complies, the weight noticeably lessening. Suspended at a reasonable distance, there seems to be much less strain than before.
With another nod, we hold the carriage steady and begin to move it towards the forest. The speed is slow at first but increases to a quick walking pace. At the halfway mark, I begin to feel an increasing weight from the carriage. Looking over, I see Trixie beginning to tire. I may not know much about magic, but magical exhaustion would prove a hindrance in the upcoming trip.
I turn to Trixie and attempt to signal for her to take a break. Seeming to understand, she backs away and sits down on her haunches. I notice that Trixie seemed to be more fatigued than she let on, panting and wiping sweat with her foreleg. Some rest should help her recover her strength for the trip. The sudden increase in weight brings me back to the task at hand- with the carriage nearly slipping from my grip. I refocus my grip once more and trudge onwards.
The rest of the plan goes without hitch. I had set the carriage down a good ways into the forest and had begun to place the heavier items inside. Trixie had mostly recovered and had brought items from our original encampment. Some branches had been placed around the carriage to offer some camouflage. Trixie had retrieved her saddlebags, hat, and cloak from within before locking and securing the door and windows. This was the best we could do with the available time, the morning having mostly passed.
I stand back and look at our handiwork- or hoofwork, I am not sure which. Branches found scattered about the forest floor conceal most of the brighter colors. With the carriage more-or-less concealed, we can now set out for the nearest town. Trixie dons her hat, and we set off to the West.
So far, the trip had gone without incident. We had stopped once to rest and eat a short lunch. Now, the mid-afternoon sun was slowly sinking in the sky. The Whitetail Woods lay to the north of us, with rolling plains to the south.
I squint against the sunlight and look at the road up ahead. Nothing lay ahead save for that growing cloud of dust.
Wait...
That dust must mean other travelers. Hopefully, ones that can tell us the distance to the target town or offer assistance. The size of the dust cloud signifies the odd speed of the oncoming travelers. They seem to be moving at a near full-galloping pace with their caravan. I see that both a unicorn stallion and a pegasus mare are pulling said cargo as they draw closer. I also notice that they appear to be wearing masks of some sort and are on a path straight towards us.
Trixie seems to notice this as well as she leans forwards and peers at the duo. Something clicks as her head snaps up, "Bandits!" She screams, "Run!"
Without any further encouragement, I shoot one direction as Trixie gallops in the other. Looking behind me, I see the carriage begin to slow as it barrels past. After stopping, the pair are immediately in pursuit of Trixie. I see a net fly from the unicorn's side as he nears Trixie. She stumbles and falls as the weights tangle her legs.
I pause my charge as the pegasus places something over Trixie's muzzle with her wing. She appears to fall unconscious as she goes limp. The ponies move with practiced precision as they tie Trixie up and drag her back to the carriage. They vanish inside with my new and only friend in this unfamiliar world.
Hiding behind a lone-standing tree, I struggle to think of a way to rescue her.
Author's Notes:
I struggled with a bout of writer's block to attempt to get this chapter published in a timely fashion. As I had said, travel also messed with my work schedule. Not to mention having much to do when I arrived home.
As per the usual, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter! Feedback and corrections are always appreciated.
Daring Rescue
Chapter 5
Northwest of the Whitetail Woods
Panicking was surely not an option, but the reaction sure seemed apt for my issue. The bandits had dragged Trixie into their carriage and remained in place. Every few seconds I would look over to see if any movement had occurred, nothing appeared to be happening within. My first thoughts were that the duo were attempting to use Trixie as bait. Then I had wondered how I could carry Trixie over the distance to escape. Trying to formulate a rescue plan, my thoughts had worn into a loop.
How would I rescue her, how to rescue her, how to rescue her, how to rescue her.
With a pause, I take a deep breath and rest my head against the tree. My current abilities seem a woeful comparison to my predicament. Hypnosis may have a chance of failure, and I am afraid to see what those bandits would do to me if they had the chance. I only can hope to surprise them- and I'm not sure what to do from there.
A muffled yell from the carriage makes me jump. It sounded like one of the bandits, Trixie must have tried escaping once she woke up. Deciding to move closer as they are distracted, I rush forwards and hover beneath the windowsill. I can feel my blood pounding in my head as I look up and hear faint voices from within the carriage.
"When... the little twerp will rescue...?" The male of the two, his words heavily muffled by the walls.
A female voice carries through the window, clearer than her partner. "Her summon should be here any minute now. All we need to do is wait."
I stifle a curse. They were trying to bait me! Any element of surprise that I thought had would be moot, I would just have to make some sort of distraction. Looking around, I try to see if anything in the surrounding area could be of use. I see some rocks lying in the grass. A cliche distraction that would not work. I search some more until my eyes land on the rear spokes of the carriage, I could break one or two and cause the carriage to tip. Then, in the distraction, I could escape with Trixie. Looking up, I make sure I remain unnoticed and slip around to the back of the carriage.
Hugging the wall, I take a good look at the wheel next to me. One of the spokes has a knot in the wood, which would hopefully make the breakage easier. Upon further inspection, the same spoke had also sustained a crack along the grain. Perfect!
I turn my focus to the damaged spoke, finding it in the space around it. Closing my eyes, I draw my hand back and push power into the hold on the axle. Then, with a sudden sweeping of my arm, a crack echoes outwards from the splintered spoke. With the increased pressure on the others, I thrust my hand forwards and the bottom part of the wheel buckles. With a groan, the carriage tips to the angle of its injury as panicked voices can be heard within. With a crash, I hear something shatter and a strange light sparkles from within, motes flying out of the window. Before I can question the occurrence, I hear the doorknob turn. Startled, I move just out of the view of the door as it opens, the unicorn stumbling out.
He mutters something to himself as he sweeps his pale indigo mane back out of his eyes. I peek around the corner as he lights his horn and attempts to lift the carriage. The carriage lifts next to me as he inspects the wheel for damage. A sudden jerk rocks the carriage as it falls from his grip. With a wince, he rubs his forehead as the feedback from the weight of the carriage strikes.
He turns his head and calls out to his partner, "Oi, Violet! Can you bring me the stand for the carriage?"
'Violet' responds from the doorway, "Already had it out, I need to get our guest out from the carriage before you can lift it."
Soon afterwards, the aforementioned pegasus drags Trixie out of the carriage. As she looks over, I duck behind the carriage quickly. Now is my chance to attack- or run away with Trixie in tow. Sneaking around the far side, I ensure that the duo are both distracted. I hear the carriage lift and fall once again as the unicorn falters.
"Well, go on Indigo, can't you lift just the corner?" Violet says with slight impatience.
"What does it look like I am doing?" Indigo Rose responds with quickly growing annoyance, shifting for another attempt.
As I round the corner, I see Trixie laying prone nearby. Rushing closer, I give her a once-over. Only a few bruises and scrapes are visible from Violet and Indigo's treatment after capture- nothing time won't heal. Leaning a bit closer, I focus and try to lift her. The movement elicits a groan from Trixie as her eyelids flutter.
Shit. The voices on the other side of the carriage had stopped and hoofsteps crunch on the grass. Looking around, I scoop Trixie in a telekinetic hold and rush away as fast as possible without losing focus. There is a treeline in the distance where I can lose the pursuers. I make it a decent distance from the carriage before I hear voices call out.
"Stop, twerp!" Indigo calls while giving chase. His partner takes to the skies and starts gaining, pulling what appears to be a folded net from saddlebags. I make a quick decision and set Trixie down nearby, my only hope is to hold them off. Looking up, I see Violet nearing me, preparing to throw her net. If pegasi use air currents in the way that birds do, then this should work. If not, then on to plan B.
Readying a blast similar to the telekinetic attack used on the carriage axle, I focus instead on the air. With a quick pull of my arm, I suck the air towards me in a concussive burst. Then, with a short delay, I funnel most of my power into a blast outwards. Just like lifting the carriage- Only my freedom depended on it this time...
With a sudden clap, dust rolls and the air ripples with green energy. Through the cloud, I can see Violet falter in the air and fall to the ground in a heap. A wave of guilt starts to come with fatigue but I beat it away.
No time for that now, just focus on the other one. I stop myself as I look onwards. A growing indigo and grey form in the distance indicates the partner coming to try his luck.
I look down at the fallen pegasus, she seems to have been knocked unconscious by the blast. Turning to look at Trixie, she seems to stir slightly. Whatever her captors had used seemed to be slowly wearing off. Shaking her lightly I see if I can wake her. More groaning is the response I receive.
A panting voice calls out from nearby, "Now you're gonna get it."
I look over to see Indigo stumbling up and glaring at me. He had set his partner into a more comfortable position and looked like he wanted justice.
"I'm sorry for injuring your partner, but I would like to remain free, thank you." I declare as he moves closer.
"Did you say that you're sorry?" Indigo asks slowly.
I blink suddenly, he had understood me! Thinking of what to say, I lower my guard for a second. With a sudden glint in his eyes, Indigo lunges forwards and grabs me in his telekinetic grasp. I thrash about and yell out at the sudden attack, trying to break free. In response, Indigo strengthens his hold and reaches for something in his saddlebag. A sweet smell hits my nose as he pulls a cloth out with a flourish.
"I'd have gone with more flair but you've left me no choice." He grumbles as the chemical-soaked cloth levitates closer.
I try to break free from his hold, but I seem unable to access any of my power with his magic working against mine.
The cloth moves over my face and eyes as everything fades to black.
Voices can be heard from the other room as I lounge on the couch. My sister, Caroline and her fiance had invited me over for dinner and had ousted me from the kitchen to do the dishes. Caroline had insisted and said it was all that she could do to make up for the food catching fire. We had ended up ordering food and preparing it on dishes with classy utensils. I had suggested it as a joke and Caroline had agreed.
More dishes clink and I hear the voices stop and footsteps along the floor. Caroline walks into the living room and sits down in an armchair across from me. She was a year younger than I. With vibrant ginger hair and a splash of freckles across her nose, we looked exactly like siblings.
"Hey Will," I hear her say in a soft voice.
Looking over, I nod and respond in kind.
We both sit in an awkward silence for a while, dishes can be heard in the kitchen over running water. I adjust myself in the chair and look over at Caroline.
"You know why we invited you over right?" She says with a tilt of her head.
"No. Not really," I say as I sit upright in my chair.
"I've just been worried about you, you just seem to be sinking more and more into your world of fantasy. I understand why you've done it- With mother and father both is all. Just promise me you'll try to break free someday." She says as she smiles and brushes her hair out of her eyes.
Break free...
Break free.
Caroline's eyes gain a green hue as the words echo again in my mind.
"It's time for you to break free Will, make a life for yourself and I will be there with you."
I nod and my vision descends into darkness.
Break free.
Author's Notes:
A tribute to the two best antagonists I have ever encountered. I assure you Trixie will not be the damsel in distress.
No excuses for the late timing of this update. Point out any mistakes and I hope you have enjoyed reading.
Daring Escape
Chapter 6
Within the bandit's wagon
Another headache- those are getting common now. I roll over to my left side and rub my head. My eyelids slip open as I find my face near the curtain of the window. Judging from the amount of sunlight, it seems to be around late afternoon. I roll over further to find Trixie laying on the far side of the carriage. There are hanging weights, nets, and bags from the ceiling. Some strange contraptions are lined on the shelves- likely Indigo's. Overall, the inside of the carriage seemed to be rather absent in personal belongings. I gingerly raise my head and sit up. Taking a chance, I lift off of the windowsill and rise into the air.
I drift over to Trixie's side and poke her. She grunts but still remains unconscious. There goes that plan for the time being. It sounds like Indigo is whittling new spokes for the wheel outside. They must have not had a spare wheel either. Ha, they wouldn't be going anywhere soon.
Moving back to Trixie, I shake her violently. Her eyes open with a drunken speed as she raises her head.
"Have you come to... rescue the Great and Towerful Prixie?" She mumbles and slumps back again.
This was getting old. I lift her up and drop her with a quick burst of telekinesis. She blinks and looks around suddenly.
"What happened? Where am I? Wh-" I shove my hand over her muzzle to stop her panicking yelling. With the other, I gesture to the nets, then outside.
"Captured?" This pony certainly seemed smarter than the show portrayed her. The magician drops her voice to a whisper, "Do you have a plan?"
I begin to nod, then quickly shake my head. This elicits a huff from Trixie. "Do you know where we are?"
I nod and gesture to the window as the door slams open.
"Ha!" Indigo shouts, "Good luck escaping now!"
How had I not heard them approaching? I flail and the duo go sprawling with a green flash. Trixie jumps and deftly snags her belongings, bounding over the fallen ponies. I follow and kick some dirt up to cover our trail. In a few seconds, we had put a good distance between us and the carriage. Trixie slows to a brisk canter beside me and catches her breath. A quick look back shows me that they had followed us.
I nod to Trixie and we begin moving once more, aiming for the treeline a few hundred meters away. Trixie tosses two smoke bombs that mask our direction with a blue cloud. We slip behind some bushes and watch as the bandits run past, barreling into the forest. That was a quick escape and a close call. I signal after a quick check and we sneak out from behind the foliage, setting off at a sprint after reaching the road.
We traveled until nightfall, stopping to set up camp in the moonlight. Trixie produced a sleeping pad and a small lantern from her bags. It seemed the ground would be my bed tonight. The lantern was a crystal that produced an orange glow, bathing the area in warmth and light. I tried to ask Trixie how it worked, but gestures and a nonexistent understanding of magic (save for fantasy novels and tabletop) left both of us confused.
All I can do now is try to sleep. The air is not too terribly cold, just enough to make the warming crystal comforting. With Trixie on the only sleeping pad, I have to take the ground as my bedding for tonight. Figures.
We planned a route that would take us south to a small town. She said there was something she had to get there when I asked, nothing more. The town is near two days of travel away. As for the trip, it looks like I will be on the grass for the next two nights. Best to get used to it now.
Trixie was startled awake at midnight by a yell and a sharp headache. She sleepily stood and looked around to find the source. The warming crystal was depleted, glowing faintly. Despite the wish to climb back under the cover, the voice had sounded distinctly like a pony's. The magician's eyes land on the creature that had become her companion. Its lights at the end of each arm were flashing as it thrashed about in its sleep. Trixie takes a tentative step towards her companion. It had helped me. Without it, The Great and Powerful Trixie wouldn't have been Great and Powerful any more.
Just as suddenly as it had started, the creature was still again as dark laughter rang out through the night ambiance. Trixie whipped her head around to find the source. It sounded much like a mare- much like her own voice to be exact. The laughter then stopped as a quiet voice whispered through her mind.
I don't want to be alone...
The magician walked back to her bedding with a stiff-legged gait. This was a disturbing amount of new information, none of it making sense. A creature that could speak telepathically? Celestia knows how it could or where it had come from. The unicorn lay on her bed wondering what she had discovered, knowing sleep would be a long time coming.
Morning sunlight on my eyelids pulled me out of sleep. I roll over and stretch as I open my eyes. Last night's sleep had been surprisingly peaceful for sleeping on the ground. I look up to the sound of packing and see a bedraggled Trixie rolling up a sleeping mat. She looks at me and snorts. Floating over, I sign to ask how she had slept.
The magician answers with a grunt, "I did sleep until you woke me up around midnight. I could swear your yelling somehow got into my head." She turns away and grumbles, "This headache is as good evidence as any."
I blink. From what I could understand, I had talked to Trixie telepathically. Elgyem was never able to use that specific type of telepathy. Other types in some cases, but not speech. It could likely be a language-based way of thinking that influenced my methods.
An idea of how I could try to "talk" with Trixie strikes me. I signal for her to pause as I close my eyes. Even now, as my use of psychic power had become mostly habituated, I still understood how I could access it. I focus on the small area in the back of my mind. Letting the energy flow around me, I relax back into the flow with a feeling similar to sinking into a pool. Opening my eyes, I look over at Trixie and concentrate on her. I feel a thin strand of energy reach out and connect with her. Careful not to cause Trixie to faint, I concentrate on sending a single word to her.
Trixie?
She jumps and looks at me, "Was that you?"
I nod and focus on another message, Yes. My name is... I deliberate for a second, Will.
"Good to finally know what to call you. Do you know where you came from?"
I shake my head out of habit. This method of speech would take some getting used to.
Trixie nods as she finishes packing quickly. The magician starts walking towards the road. I follow as she pulls out a small breakfast. She tosses me a berry and munches on a flower. I eat for a short spell and then float in front of her to talk.
Just for understanding, do you know what season it is?
She chews for a while before answering around her flower, “It should be around late summer. There are a bit under three moons until the Running of Leaves. The Summer Sun Celebration was held a few weeks ago as well. With that, I think that nightmare night is coming in two moons.”
Thanks.
Most of that went over my head. I hope that I will be able to better understand the pony calendar with time. At least I know when I am. It would also be helpful to obtain a map of Equestria. The lodging will likely have some sort of map.
We go back to walking and I think of what it must be like back home. Did anyone notice my disappearance? My neighbors Leo and Luke come to mind. Leo and his buddies seemed almost inseparable. I had gotten to know Luke through running around the neighborhood. We had talked a little and I had helped him out with cleaning. Well, I have no clue how- or if I will ever be able to return home. If my understanding of the time is right, I feel like Ponyville may help me find a solution to this.
We stopped around noon the next day. Last night had been uneventful, with some back and forth conversation. Trixie had found a berry bush to restock as we stopped.
Do you have sufficient bits to purchase the wheel and lodging? I ask as she combs the small bush on the roadside.
"The wheel... Oh, there should be enough. Lodging should be cheap here too, we won't be staying long. I may need to perform to earn enough though."
Good, we should be arriving before nightfall then?
"Yes."
As Trixie had said, we arrived right before nightfall. The barkeep at the inn had said something about "rooming for summons" as Trixie asked for a room. I raised my arm to protest, but she ushered me upstairs and told me to find the room. She claimed the bed and lit some of the lamps in the room. I was stuck with a pillow near the window. The patter of rain was relaxing, and my eyelids begin to close.
Just as I feel sleep about to overtake me, a pain splits my head as images flash before my vision. Trixie corrupted by evil magics. Trixie arriving in Ponyville, and banishing Twilight soon after.
How could I have not realized that? Of course, this is the town where Trixie gets the Alicorn amulet! I twist over and see that she had left. I dart over to the window and look down into the streets. The curio shop we had passed on the way into town was where she must be headed. I throw open the window and glide down to the street. The streets seemed empty, everyone must have rushed indoors to escape the rain.
A splash and the pounding of hooves up ahead catches my attention and I follow the cloaked form. The faint ring of a doorbell through the wind shows me Trixie had found the shop. I float up to the faintly illuminated window and peer inside. Trixie shifts multiple items aside as the shop clerk approaches with a candle. He starts to say something, but Trixie insists on the amulet. The clerk tries to refuse as Trixie drops a sizable bag of bits on the counter.
I back away from the window and prepare to barge in the door. A red glow throws it open as a grinning Trixie emerges. I see the Alicorn amulet flash as she looks into my eyes.
"Hello Will."
Author's Notes:
Wow. This chapter almost was not published in time. If you have not read the blog post, a bug on my phone's browser deleted most of the chapter during an editing sweep. Repairing it was easy enough, but that set me back quite a bit.
Thank you for reading! Any feedback would be greatly appreciated- nobody (save for myself) reads these stories beforehand, so I want to know what the reader thinks!
From the Top
Chapter Seven
Just outside the curio shop
I shift to a defensive stance in the air, lighting my fingertips. "Please tell me that's not what I think it is."
"It's not what you think it is." Trixie deadpans with a smirk. "The Alicorn amulet is the key to righting whatever wrongs Twilight Sparkle and her friends brought upon The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
I look around nervously, "Are you sure that this is the way to get revenge? Being corrupted by power never ends well."
Trixie snorts and waves her hoof, looking past me. "I assure you that nothing of the sort will happen. If anything, this will only increase my reputation as the pony who tamed the power of the Alicorn amulet!"
I make a noncommittal noise and shake my head. If only she knew what would happen. Telling Trixie what would happen could do several things. All with variables far beyond my reach or knowledge. Not to mention the damage already done to the timeline by my being here. Playing damage control is a must from now forward.
Trixie sweeps up beside me and looks up into the rain, squinting against the droplets. Her face lights up as she gets an idea and lights her horn quickly. With a red pulse, the raindrops above us part in a wedge-like pattern. I shake myself off as Trixie throws on her hood. We walk a ways down the cobblestone street and peer into the closed shops. Trixie shakes her head and mutters something about poor customer service. The magician then pauses behind me and lights her horn.
"Hold on a secon~d," She says suddenly, drawing out the last word in concentration. The magician's horn flashes and the world shifts. With a crack of displaced air, we appear in the room. Trixie stumbles and I spin in the air, dizzy and confused.
"A bit more of a warning next time would be nice." I say after I recover enough to speak.
"Sorry," Trixie responds, looking sheepish. "Still getting used to this thing."
I shake my head and give a bemused snort. Telefragging would have been a bad start, I like my arms and legs where they are. Still, teleporting had always fascinated me. The ability to bend the rules of space to pop out of one area and appear in another was an aspect of fantasy magics that had enraptured me. I could imagine Teleport being a useful method of escaping any number of unpredictable dangers. Especially in Equestria. I would simply have to overcome the steep learning curve of possible death.
A bed rises to greet me as I float down. Trixie seems to be packing her saddlebags again, preparing for a show to earn bits. I raise my head to see her stuff an absurd amount of props into the bags- said saddlebags hardly bulging from their stores.
I blink. Hammerspace? I push off and float over to get a closer look at the bags.
Trixie pops up beside me, "What about The Great and Powerful Trixie's great and powerful saddlebags intrigues you?"
"How are you able to store so much in those saddlebags?" I lean closer and squint at the cloth-like material.
The magician lifts the clasp to show me the small runes engraved in the metal. "I had this enchanted with Dimension Pocket. The spell is supposed to 'increase the storage capacity compromising the volume'. From what I could understand, it's bigger on the inside."
Recalling the days of travel, I remember Trixie's bags seeming fit to burst. "How can they hold more now? Did you strengthen the enchantment?"
"I upped the capacity for the trip home." Trixie nods and starts to head for the door, "I'm going to go see if this inn has decent food. You should try some of the local dishes."
I float over and join her as we glide down the stairs. The lower portion of the inn was lit by oil lamps and was comfortably warm against the rain outside. A few tables lined the edges and the bar appeared to serve some dishes. Trixie claims a table and walks over to the bar as I pull a chair over. My head barely peeks above the table. I push the chair back and settle with hovering near the table.
Trixie brings food a few minutes later, two identical dishes are held carefully in her red aura. I look at the food, it appears to be some sort of noodle-based dish with red seasoning leaves scattered on it. A dark brown sauce is drizzled on the top and smells something like a garlic-chive and pepper mix.
"Careful, it's spicy," Trixie warns.
"Couldn't be too bad," I say and levitate the fork to take a bite.
That was a mistake. As a human, I had loved anything spicy, contrary to my heritage. That was then, this was a whole different experience.
My eyes widen as the flavor spreads through my mouth, the spice quickly following. I flail and grab the glass from the table, chugging its contents. The glorious water helps soothe the pain as I glare across the table.
Trixie just gives an amused snort, "I warned you."
I lay on the pillow in the room, juggling random objects. An illuminated ball falls and is whisked up again as I wave my arm in the air. Trixie had left an hour ago, looking for a place she could perform out of the rain. I was left to my own devices as I sat around in boredom.
It was still pouring outside and did not seem to be letting up anytime soon. The local weather team said that the rain was to combat a coming drought. Stray raindrops smack the window as I float upright. Might as well get a jump start on learning to teleport.
I squint and look at the space above the singular bed. I imagine what it was like to be in that space, having the world shift around me to match those surroundings. The sounds and feelings of the air. I close my eyes and try to feel psychic energy in me. A faint trickle from the back of my mind shows me the energy being used to hover. I focus on this trickle and bring it up to a stream. My senses fall away and I am left with a drugged feeling.
This could get messy. I realize as I pour energy into pushing my self through the threads of space. My surroundings fade and a crack echoes through the small room. I feel a spell of dizziness and fall out of the air, hitting the mattress.
Wait.
"Eureka!" I yell and dry heave off the edge of the bed.
[Third]
Trixie quickly dodges from cover to cover in the rain. The performance had been a success! Never had The Great and Powerful Trixie been able to wow a crowd with even her most basic tricks. There were more than enough bits to buy a new wheel. Not that anything of the sort would be needed though. The magician knew the perfect spell to improve her carriage and fix the damage. A day of rapid long-distance teleportation would be enough to bring them close by nightfall.
Trixie hummed a jaunty tune as she walked past the inn. A loud crack echoed from upstairs, followed by the muffled yell of her companion.
"That sounded a lot like teleportation," Trixie mutters to herself as she opens the door. The unicorn threw off her hood and darted up the stairs. "Will had better not have broken anything while I was gone."
The mare charges up the stairs after a nod to the innkeeper. The door to their room bangs against the wall as her magic throws it open. Everything looks normal. Will appears to be moving about like a drunken party balloon, but that was all. Everything was in order as far as Trixie could see. As the magician’s eyes scour the room for discrepancies, Will looks over gives a wave.
"I learned how to teleport!" He exclaims.
"You did what?" Trixie blinks owlishly.
Will looks over, "Hold on a sec."
His eyes glow and another crack echoes through the room. The Elgyem reappears across the room and bobs in the air. Teleportation was an impressive feat for even an above-average unicorn. A certain wow to a crowd of gullible ponies. This could be another asset to The Great and Powerful Trixie's show. Even more of a way of reclaiming her place as the greatest and most powerful.
Now the questions arose if Will was more powerful than he was letting on. And where could a creature like him be from?
[Will]
We set out early that morning in a drizzle. Trixie stopped quickly and paid our collective rooming bills. She had told me that we would be teleporting across the countryside to reach the carriage within a day. That still did not help me prepare for the onslaught of dizziness that came with rapid blinks. We had stopped to give Trixie a break and allow me to rest.
It is now around mid-afternoon and somewhat cloudy. The precipitation had stopped with the distance from the town, giving our wet clothes time to dry. Yes, clothes. Trixie had gifted me a magician's cloak of sorts. It was a dark green-blue with a silver filigree lining the collar, front, and sleeves. A small hood helped keep me warm and had a string of runes lining the edges. The finishing touch was a silver pin of Trixie's cutie mark holding it together.
A bit rich, but not gaudy. The colors matched well. As for why she had given this as a gift, the magician had approached me before setting off with a wish to incorporate me into her shows when we began the tour. We would be going over routines throughout traveling.
We both pack up from our quick break and walk a short distance to a better vantage point. Trixie looks out and waves her foreleg at a distant hill to the north.
“We’ll start... there,” she states and lights her horn. “A few more jumps should bring us close enough to walk back to the carriage.”
I nod and the world fades away with a crack.
We arrived at the location in the woods where the small carriage was kept. I pulled the branches off and rolled it out by two wheels. I felt that it was much easier than before, sans the help of the wheels.
Trixie nodded to me as I floated over, dusting off my cloak. "Stand back. This may get... erm... messy."
"Messy?" I question as she lights her horn.
The carriage is lifted into the air as Trixie pours more energy into the spell. Her red aura around the carriage doubles in size as it begins to glow.
"Trixie!" I mentally shout over the din of the magic. "What do you plan to do?"
She grunts in response as the final parts of the spell are cast upon the carriage. A flash of light blinds me and leaves spots dancing in my vision. I blink my eyes clear and look. Trixie's iconic wagon from after Magic Duel is standing before me.
"There." Trixie pants as she falls into a sitting position. "Now we can travel in style."
Something about this doesn't seem right. Trixie was never seen with her old carriage after her failure in Ponyville, but it couldn't be that she magicked herself a new mobile living space. Did she not say something about working on a rock farm for-
The realization dawns on me as I float down to the ground. Shit! Trixie never went to the rock farm! How early was her arrival supposed to be now that I had pushed it back? Could I even keep her from going straight to Ponyville to exact her revenge?
The magician looks at me in my freakout on the ground, "Are you still there, Will? You seem a bit panicked."
I shake my head to clear it momentarily. "No, no. I should be fine in a bit. I just remembered something important.
A strange pulse of feeling washed over part of me. It tasted a bit like citrus juice mixed with the feeling of green. That was odd- but a welcome distraction from the problem at hand.
I follow Trixie to the door of the newly metamorphosed wagon and take a look inside. The walls were rather bare now. Save for a few items visible from Trixie's past. A few pictures of her parents- were they ever introduced? Some of her props remain as she drops her saddlebags under her designated hammock.
Hanging in the above corner was a small hammock with a pillow. I assume it will be for me in the coming days of travel. How thoughtful of Trixie. I float up and drop into the hammock with a muffled puff of the pillow. Trixie does the same and lights a crystal lantern on the ceiling with a wisp of magic.
What's our heading for tomorrow? I question as I lean over the edge of the hammock.
"Tomorrow?" Trixie says with a yawn. "We should be heading in the direction of the Smokey Mountains and to Coronet. Which is..." She interrupted herself with a yawn. "A port town on the North Luna Sea. We should be able to take an airship to Manehattan and go from there."
"Ah," I say and roll onto my stomach. It seemed Trixie had the beginning of a long tour planned. I could hope that it went better than her past shows.
Did she say airship?!
Author's Notes:
Look ma! I can write!
I hope you have enjoyed.
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