“Wait up, girls, yer gonna get yerselves lost!” Braeburn shouted as he saw Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo disappear into the carnival crowd.

The stallion huffed loudly to himself as he stepped off the train back into his hometown. He hadn’t been here for a while. Once he received that letter from his cousin Big Mac, he packed what he could and headed straight to Ponyville. Although the letter was a bit vague on the details, the words themselves were dire enough to let Braeburn know that his extended family needed him. Once he got there, he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that something was off about the place. He had a sit down with Granny Smith, which made him even more curious, as she wasn’t as surprised to see him as he thought she would have been. He tried getting the story from her, but unfortunately due to her age, her attention span wasn’t the best anymore. He’d thought about asking around, but he got a weird vibe off of the residence. Something had clearly happened in the town that no one wanted to talk about. At first only having bits and pieces of information didn’t bother him, but eventually, his curiosity grew. He worked on Sweet Apple Acres diligently as he promised himself that he wouldn’t let his personal feelings affect his family’s livelihood. Deciding to remove himself from the situation for a few days, he decided to take a trip back home before starting on the south field. He needed some time to clear his head, and he also needed to check up on things in Appaloosa. At about the same time, Applebloom had approached him about the carnival. He saw that this whole ordeal was tough on her, and it didn’t feel right to leave her alone with Granny Smith while he was away. He agreed to take her and her friends along for the trip, hoping to see a few smiles on their faces. He was soon regretting it, as he was finding out just what it was like to watch children. Spotting her bow in the crowd, Braeburn ran up to his cousin giving her a nudge and a scowl.

“Ah’d appreciate it if ya didn’t run off like that again, Applebloom! And the same goes for your two!” he scolded.

“We’re sorry, Mr. Braeburn. We…we’re just excited to be here, that’s all. We won’t run off again,” Sweetie Belle apologized, offering him a bashful smile.

The gesture melted the farmer’s intense gaze, washing it away completely. He wasn’t used to being around little girls.

‘Consarnit! It’s hard to be mad at them when they start actin’ all cute!’ he cursed inwardly.

“Don’t worry about it, Sweetie Belle. Just be more aware next time, ok?” he said.

“Ok,” she giggled as they began walking through the crowd again.

There were stalls lining the town center, each one selling unique items. It was almost dark out, and the whole festival was lined with different lights, softly glowing, illuminating the space. The scents of freshly baked treats flowed through the air tickling the patrons’ nostrils. Scootaloo was wearing the biggest smile on her face since before Rainbow Dash left Ponyville. For Applebloom and Sweetie Belle however, they were here for more than just fun. They’d all discussed what Applebloom overheard back in Ponyville, and her theory that the great and powerful Trixie was somehow involved in the incident that sent their sisters and idol away. Sweetie Belle was skeptical at first, but it was the closest thing they had to a lead since the whole thing started. It was either investigate this or go back to pretending that nothing had happened and never learning the truth. That was something that none of them could live with. It had been easy for them to get permission to go. Granny Smith was a bit too old to look after Applebloom alone for an extended period and Sweetie Belle merely had to use her innate adorability in order to solidify her parents’ consent. Scootaloo simply boasted that the head of the Rainbow Dash fan club didn’t need permission to leave Ponyville. The other two didn’t pry any further. They’d had a sleep over at the tree house the night before leaving to make final preparations.

“Ok, girls, you know what to do. We need to find out when the next showing of the ‘Three-Legged Monster Pony’ is. Scootaloo, do you have the fair map with you?” Applebloom asked.

“Yeah, I got it right here. It says here that the next show starts in about fifteen minutes, but according to the map, it’s happening on the other side of the fairgrounds. From the looks of this crowd, I think if we start now, we’d make it just in time,” the young pegasus stated.

“Remember Sweetie Belle, if my cousin gives us any trouble about the show bein’ ‘too scary fer us younins’’ you pull out yer secret weapon, got it?” Applebloom whispered to her friend.

“Well, I’ve already used it once, so it’s not so secret anymore, but it looks like it worked, so it should work again,” the unicorn whispered back.

“Hey cuz? There’s this show we were wantin’ to see on the other side of the fair,” Applebloom said while walking up to Braeburn.

“And just what kinda show is it?” the stallion inquired warily.

“It’s the ‘Three-Legged Monster Pony!’ Doesn’t that sound cool, Mr. Braeburn?!?” Scootaloo shouted excitedly.

“Three-legged…No, that don’t sound age appropriate for you ladies. Why don’t we get some candy apples instead?” the farmer pressed, hoping to change the subject.

The three fillies looked at each other, before Sweetie Belle stepped forward.

‘Go get’em Sweetie Belle!’ Applebloom thought to herself as she tried hard to hide the grin creeping its way onto her face.

“But…but, Mr. Braeburn! Please?” the unicorn said sweetly as she summoned the best pout she could.

The earth pony cringed as his eyes darted from side to side nervously. He just wasn’t used to being around children. It was very hard to say ‘no’ to a little girl who was pouting. He was a stallion that prided himself on being a gentleman, and the thought of disappointing any female made him uncomfortable. He decided to stand his ground though. After all, these girls were his responsibility, and it was up to him to make sure they didn’t see anything obscene, especially while visiting his hometown.

“Ah said no, Sweetie Belle, and that’s final,” he said sternly while standing up tall and puffing out his chest.

‘You’re not getting away that easy, Mr. Braeburn!’ the unicorn filly thought to herself as she made her way over to the stallion’s side brushing up against him.

“Please? Please, please, please?” she pushed while making the cutest face she could muster.

That was all it took. Braeburn may have been a stallion as tough as they come. He helped set up a town here on the Equestrian frontier, having to contend with all kinds of difficulties. He’d seen the town go to war with the Buffalo tribes. He’d toiled in the apple orchards. But as strong as he was, he was no match for those big eyes and that sad, sad face.

“Alright girls, you win. Where is this show at?” he said hanging his head and sighing in defeat.

“Thanks Mr. Braeburn!” Sweetie Belle chirped with a big smile.

“It’s just on the other side of these stalls. We should make it there just in time if we hoof it,” Scootaloo said as she put the map away.

They all nodded to each other as they trotted quickly to the edge of the fairgrounds. After the stalls, sure enough there was a small roped off area with a large cage placed in the center of the area. There was already a medium sized crowd around the section, all talking to each other about the mysterious cage before them. Off to the side, there was a small cart. Applebloom recognized it immediately thanks to the symbol on the door.

‘Looks like Trixie’s been doin’ pretty good for herself. That looks like a brand new travel cart,’ the earth filly thought to herself as she eyed the cage.

Suddenly a puff of smoke sprang up from inside the cage as a sheet now covered the steel structure. Everyone gasped as another explosion of fog erupted from the ground within the roped area, revealing a unicorn stallion. He smiled to the crowd, using his hoof to straighten his top hat and long twin-tailed suit jacket. Applebloom didn’t know why, but she immediately didn’t like him. There was something about his grin that reeked of smugness. He cleared his throat as he prepared to address the crowd.

“Attention, attention, fillies and gentlecolts! We have a special treat for you Appaloosians tonight! We present to you, for your viewing delight a creature like no other! A beast of unfathomable power! The terrifying, chilling…” he said as he turned towards the cage using his magic to lift the sheet from the metal box.

“THE THREE-LEGGED MONSTER PONY!” he shouted as he waved his hoof towards the cage.

There was another explosion of smoke as the tarp was magically lifted off the cage, revealing another unicorn. Smaller than the stallion, it wore a black shawl and a pull over mask. It reminded the fillies of the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. Unlike the pristine condition of Mare-Do-Well’s costume, however, the rest of the unicorn’s attire seemed to be made of rags sewn together, almost like a scarecrow. The feature that stood out the most was the stump where the pony’s right hoof was supposed to be. The unicorn slinked forward as it began to speak.

“Behold, citizens of Appaloosa! For I am the evil Three-Legged Pony monster!” it stated as its horn activated causing fireworks to explode just above the cage.

Applebloom studied the beast intently. From the voice, the unicorn was most definitely a female, and based on the fireworks display, she could easily tell that it was Trixie. The rags pulled to the side a bit revealing her cutie mark proved it without a shadow of a doubt. Normally, she’d be staring wide-eyed at the fireworks, but she was on a mission. She had too many questions about her sister and the mare before held at least some of those answers.

‘Once the show’s over, maybe we can get her alone for a few minutes,’ the earth filly thought to herself as she watched the magic display.

Suddenly, the front part of the cage exploded and fell to the ground causing a loud thud. The crowd gasped as the Three-Legged Monster pony limped out of the steel prison, doing her best to make an ethereal moaning sound. The male unicorn stepped forward once again addressing the on-lookers.

“Everyone be careful! Try not to make any sudden moves!” he announced as the crowd looked on.

This time instead of gasping, a murmur among the throng of ponies soon turned into laughter. After a few moments, a small red streak found its way over the mob, striking the limping mare on the side of her head. She turned around to see a few colts holding fruit, smiling wickedly. As she sniffed the air, she soon realized that she was hit with a rotten tomato. She cringed at the thought of what may happen next. When the leader of the little gang stepped forward and began to speak, it solidified her fears.

“We ain’t afraid of some stupid unicorn! Look at her!” the leader stated as he threw another piece of fruit hitting the performer in the side as she turned away to protect herself.

“Look at me, look at me, I’m the Three-Legged Monster pony!” one of the other colts said in an exaggerated tone as he pretended to limp, making faces at the mare.

The spiteful routine brought roaring laughter from the assembly as they all soon joined in on the mocking. The crusaders exchanged worried glances as the group got louder and louder. They looked up at Braeburn who was disturbed and a little sickened by the display. These where his friends-his neighbors. For them to act like this towards another pony, even as part of a show enraged him. After a few moments, he couldn’t stand any more as he stepped forward turning towards the crowd.

“Now everyone just hold on a minute!” he shouted.

Unfortunately for him, the mob became much too loud for his lone voice to make a difference. As much as it pained him, there was nothing he could do as he watched more perishables fly through the air and land on the poor unicorn. He needed to get the girls out of here and as quickly as possible. Luckily, they were right next to him, as they remained close to their guardian during the chaos.

“Alright girls, just follow me, and I’ll lead you outta this mess! In case we get separated, let’s meet at that little candy apple stall we saw earlier, ok?” he shouted.

The three fillies nodded, as Braeburn turned back around making a path for them through the crowd. After a few feet, Applebloom stopped, holding out her right hoof horizontally, impeding Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell. They all turned and nodded to each other as she turned back, pushing their way towards Trixie’s travel cart.

‘Ah’m sorry, cuz, but Ah gotta find out what happened to my sister!’ she thought to herself as they finally made it to the edge of the crowd.

Everyone just laughed harder as they saw the supposed beast cringe, its head darting from side to side. Seemingly having enough of the mob’s antics, there was another puff of smoke along with some swirling fireworks which streamed through the air. Once the fog cleared, the Monster pony was nowhere to be found. The announcer looked around wide-eyed. Trying to save the show, he turned around once again towards the group.

“Well, that’s it for our show, fillies and gentlecolts. We hope that you enjoy the rest of your time here at the fair!” he shouted exuberantly.

The crowd dissipated quickly, as their rumblings and laughter faded into the distance. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were flabbergasted by their behavior. These were adults, not kids like they were. It hurt them to think that bullies like Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon could very well grow up to be just like that. Applebloom shook those thoughts out of her head however. They were here for a reason. She turned to her friends with a look of determination on her face.

“Let’s keep our eye on the prize, girls. Come on!” she said as she led her friends towards the travel cart.

They picked up the pace as they saw a light go on in the wheeled house.

-

“What the hay was that, Trixie?!?” the unicorn shouted angrily as he threw his top hat to the ground, his eye narrowing.

Trixie couldn’t meet his gaze, however. As she used her magic to remove the remnants of her costume, she kept her eyes glued to the floor in front of her. She couldn’t let him see the embarrassment and hurt behind them. Tonight’s foul display had almost brought her to tears. Ponies had been mean to her before. After all, she was playing the part of a ‘monster.’ This was different, however. Usually, it was just a foal who was a bit too young for the show wailing a bit, or some of the younger colts and fillies backing away from her and looking at her in fear, and rarely was something ever thrown at her. Although all of those things had bothered her too, she’d accepted it as part of the show. Tonight had been something else entirely. It never got that out of control before. She kept her gaze down as she heard the hoofsteps of the ringleader approach her.

“Got anything to say for yourself?!? Well?!?” he prodded.

“Look, I…things were getting crazy out there! I was scared, alright?!?” she shouted back defensively as she limped over to her prosthetic hoof.

As she attached the apparatus to her stump, she heard an exasperated huff escape her colleague’s mouth. She still wouldn’t look him in the eyes. She was too flustered for a confrontation right now. She hoped that he would just go away and leave her alone, but she knew it was just wishful thinking. The stallion walked over to her again, grabbing her chin with is hoof brining his face to hers.

“I DON’T CARE! I run this show, not you! We’re done when I SAY we’re done, and not a second sooner, do you understand me?!?” he seethed.

Trixie’s face contorted in a mixture of anger and fear, as his eyes bore into her. She struggled in his grip, but it was hard for her to get leverage as her prosthetic hadn’t been properly fastened yet. Tears began streaming down her face as the feeling of helplessness overtook her.

“Oh, what’s the matter, babe?!? Have I made you sad?!? Well, just think how sad you’ll be out on the streets with no place to live! I bought this cart for you, after all! I own it! So, perhaps you should keep that in mind before you decide to do something rash, got it?!?” he whispered harshly.

“I’m…I’m sorry. It…it won’t happen again, I promise,” she stammered through the tears.

“That’s a good girl,” he said as he released her from his grip.

Trixie was visibly shaken, as she trembled while trying to make the final adjustments to her faux hoof. Just as she was about to finish, the stallion turned around and let a kick fly from one of his back hooves, blasting the prosthetic out from under Trixie’s stump, bouncing to the other side of the cart. The mare fell immediately, crashing to the ground, letting out a grunt as gravity took hold of her. Her fellow unicorn made his way to the door slowly before turning his neck towards her again.

“And that’s so you remember your place. Get yourself cleaned up now, will you? You look pathetic,” he said with a wry smile before turning back around and walking out.

Trixie whimpered as she struggled to right herself, her eyes shut tight. She took in gulps of air and after a few moments, calmed herself just enough to open one of her eyes, catching a glimpse of her colleague as he left. She clenched her jaw, baring her teeth like a wolf. She hated him, but she was stuck here until she could earn enough money to go out on her own again. Granted, with what he paid her, it would probably take a lifetime. She silently cursed herself as she struggled to gain her footing, using her front hoof to pull herself to a standing position. She grunted as she shuffled herself over to where the prosthetic leg had fallen. Sitting down beside it she leaned back against the back of her new cart. She took in a deep breath as the smell of the freshly cut wood tickled her nostrils. Tears quickly found their way back to her eyes as her humiliation began to slowly boil over. She wanted to scream. She wanted to wail in frustration, but she knew she couldn’t. If he ever heard her, he might come back and make good on his promise to kick her out of her new home. Without any other options that her emotions would allow, she pitched her head forward and began sobbing quietly to herself. Suddenly, a voice snapped her back to reality.

“Um…excuse me, are…are you Ms. Trixie?” the voice said.

Startled, the unicorn looked up seeing three small fillies in front of her. She eyed them curiously with a mixture of anger and confusion. The leader, a small earth pony with a red bow in her mane, stepped forward.

“Sorry. We, uh, didn’t mean to barge in on ya. It’s just that...well, your door was open and…” she started before being interrupted.

“And what?!? You thought you could get another glimpse at the monster?!? You weren’t satisfied with humiliating me out there, you want to come into my home and make me suffer here?!?” she shouted trembling in anger.

“No, no, no, that ain’t it! We were in the audience and…” Applebloom started again before Trixie lunged at her, falling over again.

“GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, YOU LITTLE INGRATES!” Trixie snarled as she swiped at them with her hoof.

“Hey! We ain’t here for a fight! We just wanted to ask ya somethin’!” the earth filly shouted as she leapt away from the strike.

The night’s events had taken their toll on Trixie, and she soon collapsed in front of them. She wore a dejected face as she shut her eyes again. She willed them to go away with all her might. She just wanted to be left alone. She soon felt herself being propped up, as her back slowly fell against the back of her trailer. The unicorn opened her eyes again to see the other two ponies, a unicorn and a pegasus on either side of her, guiding her to the wall. The mare was still breathing heavy, but she’d calmed down enough to open her eyes again, as she stared at her intruders intently.

“What do you want?” she asked wearily.

“Well, um, this here is Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and Ah’m Applebloom,” the young farmer stated.

“I don’t care what your names are! Just state your business!” she snapped in response.

“Look, Ah think you could help us. Ya see, my sister is Applejack, and Sweetie Belle’s sister is Rarity, and, well…” the earth pony stammered.

“Just spit it out,” Trixie whispered.

“Well, they were friends of Twilight Sparkle, and…” Applebloom began again.

“DON’T YOU EVER SAY THAT NAME TO ME!” the performer screamed as tears began streaming down her face again.

“WE JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SISTERS!” Sweetie Belle screeched as she shut her eyes tight.

“What…what are you talking about?!?” Trixie inquired roughly, getting more frustrated by the minute.

“Look, we know that you were there when…when all that stuff happened, ok? We…no one is tellin’ us anything! They…they just keep sayin’ that our sisters had to go away because they were sick! We…we just want to know what happened to our family! Please! If ya know somethin’ then please tell us!” Applebloom pleaded.

Trixie stared at them wide-eyed. If they were telling a lie, it was a very good one. They certainly looked like they were related to the ponies that were there that night. She winced as memories flooded her mind. It never got any easier, especially with the constant reminder that her limp created. She opened her eyes again to study the fillies. If she had to guess, ‘Applejack’ was probably that orange, blond earth pony with the accent, and ‘Rarity’ was the prissy unicorn with the styled mane. She’d recognized them during the aftermath as the ponies she’d competed against during her magic show. If it was true that these fillies were their little sisters, then the mare was at an impasse. They were young. Innocent. As worried as they were, should she be the one to tell them about the horrors of that night? Could she even bring herself to explain it without losing control? She sighed heavily as she addressed the girls.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot help you. What…what happened that night…is…is not for children to know,” she said softly.

The children’s eyes widened and then narrowed at the statement. Applebloom stepped forward lowering her stance as she stared Trixie right in the eye.

“Now you look here! Ah don’t care if you are an adult, Ah wanna know what happened to my sister! And Ah ain’t leavin’ till you tell me!” she shouted.

“The same goes for me!” Sweetie Belle interjected her and Scootaloo stepping forward as well.

“I SAID NO, AND THAT’S FINAL! NOW GET OUT!” Trixie screamed at the top of her lungs.

“TELL US WHAT HAPPENED!” Applebloom shouted back.

“NO!” Trixie snapped.

“WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER?!?” Applebloom pressed.

“APPLEBLOOM, THAT’S ENOUGH!” a gruff voice shouted from behind them.

The three startled youngsters turned, gasping at the sight of Braeburn making his way into the carriage. The scowl he wore was a deep one. He was clearly upset at their actions. Applebloom put those thoughts out of her head, however. Tonight she wasn’t a child. She was a sister.

“No! We came all this way to find out what happened to Applejack, Rarity and the rest of them! We ain’t leavin’ until we find out the truth and Ah don’t care what you say!” she countered.

As Braeburn approached the fillies his gaze softened. He’d calmed himself, as he knew that they were just doing what children do. At its base level, the adults around them were hiding something, and it was only natural for them to want to know the truth. The fact that it was something about their sisters and mentor only added fuel to the fire. After stepping up besides his relative, he nuzzled her gently, hoping to disarm her. It worked as her own scowl dropped at her cousin’s tenderness. He knelt down to her level as the other two fillies made their way over to them.

“It’s alright, Applebloom. Why don’t you let me talk to her? Ah know you want answers, and quite frankly, so do Ah. Take yer friends and wait for me outside, ok? Can ya do that for me cuz?” he asked gingerly.

“Please, Braeburn, just…can ya tell us what happened? Ah…Ah mean if she tells ya?” Applebloom said as her eyes began to well up.

“Why don’t Ah hear about it first, alright?” he said.

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all looked down at the wood planks beneath their hooves. They’d come so close to finding the truth. Could they just give up now? Applebloom looked up again, into her cousin’s eyes. He saw pain behind them. It was true that he didn’t know everything that had happened either. Big Mac just asked him to get on a train and take care of Sweet Apple Acres for a while. He had even less of an idea of what happened than they did. The pain in his eyes made her think back to the last conversation she had with her brother before he went to Canterlot. She’d hurt him with her actions, as she didn’t think of anything or anyone but herself and her search for the truth. Braeburn had been so good to them, and more important than that, he was family. She wouldn’t hurt family again, not if she could help it. Turning to her friends, offering them a heavy sigh, she looked them straight in the eye before she spoke.

“Alright, girls, let’s go wait outside,” she said softly.

“But, Applebloom!” Sweetie Belle squealed.

“It’ll be ok. Ah…Ah trust my cousin. If he says he wants to hear it first then, that’s ok,” she said calmly.

With a huff, the remaining crusaders made their way out of the carriage, leaving Braeburn and Trixie alone. He turned to her, as they both stared intently. Braeburn smiled shyly as he approached the mare.

“Look, miss, Ah’m mighty sorry about all the trouble they caused,” he offered.

“Whatever. It was fine. Now, please leave me alone,” she said back.

“Before Ah go, are ya sure you don’t need any help?” the earth pony offered.

“Are you saying I can’t take care of myself?!?” she shot back defensively.

“No! Not at all! Look, we Apple stallions are sometimes just too gentlemanly for our own good is all,” he answered, chuckling to himself nervously.

She looked away as her jaw clenched. It was hard for a mare as self-sufficient as she was to admit that she needed help now and again, especially since the incident. Sighing in defeat, she used her good hoof to point over to where her prosthetic leg had landed after the trouble she had with her boss.

“Just bring me the…the fake leg. It’s over there. And hold it steady so I can fasten it,” she said, her voice dripping with frustration.

Braeburn nodded and did as he was told. Picking the edge of the leg up with his teeth, he brought it to her and held it in place while she adjusted the straps. As she attached the prosthetic to herself, she eyed the stallion curiously. It took a few minutes to correctly fasten the faux leg, and a few more minutes to make it comfortable. Trixie was surprised that the earth pony wasn’t using this time to bombard her with questions.

“So? Aren’t you going to ask me about what happened?” she pried.

“No ma’am. Didn’t Ah just say Ah was a gentleman? If it bothers ya that much, Ah ain’t gonna press the matter any further,” he said while still holding the leg in place.

Trixie nodded at the statement. A few more minutes passed as the unicorn was just about done with her adjustments. She continued to stare at the prosthetic, keeping her eyes down.

“So, Applejack is your cousin?” she asked.

“Yup. Ah live here in Appaloosa. One day Ah get a strange letter from her brother Big Mac. It just said that something happened to Applejack and that he had to go to Canterlot to be with her. They needed someone to stay and help run their farm,” he explained.

“And you just up and went? He didn’t tell you anything else?” she inquired, surprise making its way into her tone.

“Well, they’re family. What other reason do Ah need?” he countered.

She sighed as she leaned back against the wall again. With the prosthetic now fully attached, she rolled to her side, pushing herself off the ground. Braeburn was at her side in an instant, helping her up slowly.

“Easy…easy…” he whispered.

Finally on her hooves, she took in a deep breath as she stare at the floor of her home. This was always the hardest part. Saying ‘thank you’ was never a talent she possessed. Over time, she caught herself expressing arrogance like she’d done before the incident, and she made it a point to stop. However, she’d gotten much more defensive as well, so her personality usually ended up coming off as full of hubris. She cleared her throat as she turned towards the stallion.

“You’re assistance is much appreciated,” she said simply.

Once again, they just stared at each other. Neither knew where to go from here. Braeburn began looking around at the cart he was in. It was quite large, with a bed in one corner, and a small stove across from that. There were a few shelves in the corner containing books and a few rocks. Braeburn approached them, eyeing the trinkets curiously. As he inspected them, he could tell that they were polished stones. They didn’t seem very valuable, but they filled out the shelf space quite well.

“So, you collect rocks?” he asked.

“I thought you weren’t going to ask me anything about my past,” she said warily.

“Well, not quite. Ah said Ah wouldn’t ask you about one night in yer past. Unless, these rocks have something to do with that. If so, Ah’m sorry Ah asked,” he stated apologetically.

“No, it’s fine. I don’t even know why I keep those things around. I guess it just reminds me of a happier time. The happiest time in my life. Before…before this happened,” she said looking down at her prosthetic.

She sighed as she walked over to the shelf joining Braeburn by the shelf. She looked at the stones, her eyelids becoming heavy at the sight. She took her good front hoof, running it along one of the shining rocks.

“We were so in love. I was never happier,” she started.

“What do you mean?” the stallion inquired.

“The…the first time I went to…Ponyville, I was arrogant and stupid. I bested a few of the residence using my magic. I was a show pony. ‘Anything you can do, I can do better’ was my catchphrase. Everything was going great until these two dumb unicorns decided to bring an Ursa Minor to town,” she explained.

“Why would they do a thing like that?” Braeburn asked.

“I…I…look, everything in show business is about reputation. It’s all word of mouth. I…I spread a rumor that I’d vanquished an Ursa Major, and those stupid unicorns wanted to see me do it live. They ended up bringing an Ursa Minor instead. I was terrified. I never felt so…inadequate in all my life. Then…then SHE showed up,” she said, growling her last words.

“She?” Braeburn inquired.

“Tw…Twilight…Sparkle,” she answered, trembling.

She hadn’t said the name since the incident. Just hearing it said aloud made her squeamish. She fought it down as she continued the story.

“She…she ended up getting rid of the Ursa Minor with her magic. It was unbelievable. No one had ever seen anything like that, at least from a unicorn. I left town that night, swearing that I’d be back to prove myself. But that darn Ursa Minor destroyed my travel cart. It was probably stupid of me to run away, but I was so angry and embarrassed that I just ran off without thinking,” she said, as her eyes became misty.

Braeburn wanted to scold her, but held off. She’d clearly been affected by what happened, and in her current state, it wouldn’t do any good to berate her for telling a lie that caused so much trouble. She’d realized her mistake and that’s what mattered. Besides, he seemed to be getting some answers, or so it seemed. He decided to press a little further.

“So, what does all that have to do with these here rocks?” he questioned.

“When…when I left…Ponyville, I couldn’t find work. As I said, in show business, reputation is everything. Once word spread that I lied about beating an Ursa Major, I became a laughing stock. Eventually no one came to see my shows. I had no money, no home; I didn’t know what to do. Eventually, I took the only job I could find. They were hiring at a local rock farm. It was run by earth ponies, but I guess they thought a unicorn could help out, with my magic and all,” she continued.

“Rock farm?” the stallion said with half a smile.

“Yes. It’s sort of a combination of a quarry and a mine. That’s the best I can explain it,” she answered.

Braeburn nodded, as he urged her to continue her story. She sat down on her haunches as she sighed, looking away from him.

“Anyway, while I was there, I met some of their customers. One in particular stood out. He was an earth pony as well, and his special talent was sculpting and masonry. He…he was the most hansom stallion I’d ever laid eyes on! He…he took a liking to me too. I guess he didn’t count on meeting a pretty unicorn such as myself at a dirty old rock farm,” she said as a small smile found its way to her face.

Braeburn smiled in turn. It was good to see the crippled mare actually get happy about something. She seemed to be having a rough time of it. He sat down next to her as she started to speak again.

“It…it didn’t take him long to ask me out. I agreed, without even giving it a second thought. I still remember our first date. He took me to a field for a picnic. I thought it was sweet. And here was finally someone who wanted to know me, the real me. I…I used to talk about myself incessantly. Hay, I even used to say ‘Trixie’ instead of ‘I’ like a normal pony. And he just listened intently with a smile. He hung on every word I said, and I hung on every word he said. We connected quickly, and soon, we found ourselves in love. We…we were head over hooves for each other! I’d…I’d been a very mean mare to most of the ponies I’d meet. But he made me forget about all of that. I…I didn’t even feel the need to perform anymore. We’d been dating for a while, and things were going wonderfully. I’d started to build some capital working at the rock farm, and then…then he…” she said as she started to stammer.

“Then he what?” Braeburn pushed.

“He…her proposed! Oh, I felt like I was walking on air! I said yes, of course. I loved him so much, and he loved me! But…but then…” she whispered.

“Then what? What happened? It…it sounded like you two were meant for each other,” the stallion commented.

“He…he got a job in Ponyville. I immediately didn’t want him to go. I told him about my past experience there. He assured me everything was going to be alright, though. The money was too good to turn down, especially for the work. Something about doing touch up work on the stone fountain in the town center. It…it was easy work, and for what the mayor was going to pay him, he couldn’t say no. After all, we’d just got engaged, and we needed money to start building a life together. I…I was still very apprehensive, but I wanted to support the stallion I loved, so I agreed to go with him,” she said as a few tears began to stream down her face.

Braeburn said nothing. The foreboding aura he felt coming from her was affirmed by the tears he saw her shed. He felt like he was getting closer and closer to an answer about Applejack and her friends. He knew that whatever happened occurred in Ponyville. He felt bad making the mare cry, so he decided to remain silent. If she wanted to end the conversation here, then he would oblige her. She continued however, shifting her position slightly.

“We’d…we’d just gotten into town, when we decided to stop for some lunch at a local café. I was so nervous, I thought someone was going to recognize me. I decided to just keep my head down, and not cause any trouble, but it turned out that trouble had found me anyway,” she continued, getting angrier with each word she uttered.

She stood up, huffing as she looked back at the rocks on the shelf.

“Twilight…Sparkle found me at the restaurant. She didn’t seem like the type to make a scene, at least from when we first met. But sure enough she came right up to me. She insulted me in front of my new fiancé! Then, she…she made a move on him! Right in front of me! I…I got so angry, I couldn’t see straight! I think I actually called him my coltfriend instead of my fiancé, I was so mad! She seemed to want him, and worse she wanted to compete with me for him! She…she challenged me to a hoofwrestle!” she growled.

Braeburn’s eyebrows raised at the statement. She’d met Twilight Sparkle and her friends before. Although they hadn’t spent that much time together, from what he knew of her and their short interactions, challenging a mare to a hoofwrestle just didn’t seem to be in her nature. He eyed Trixie curiously, again deciding not to say anything, letting the mare get all of her emotions out on her own.

“I’ll admit I was taken aback by the request. But I was so mad, that I didn’t really hesitate. We soon found ourselves hoof to hoof in a face off. It…it turned out to be the biggest mistake I’d ever make. She…she crushed me. Quite literally, she won, and she ended up shattering my…my hoof,” she said as she raised her prosthetic in the air, staring at it.

“I looked on, screaming in pain as she went right up to my fiancé and…and kissed him! I’d never felt so destroyed in all my life. I wanted to tear her heart out, but all I could do was nurse my broken hoof, and watch helplessly has she took him back to her place for Celestia knows what. What…what hurt worse was the fact that he went with her. I could tell when I looked in his eyes that he was mesmerized by her beauty and her strength. Dumb stallions! Always thinking with one head more than the other!” she shouted.

Braeburn winced at the comment. He suddenly felt even more uncomfortable being in the same room with her than he did before she started telling her story. His eyes darted nervously, as she began again.

“Well, I was taken to the hospital. Sure enough, my bone was shattered. I needed to stay there for around a month for a special magic treatment. And, did that ingrate ever even show up to see how I was?!? No! He…he just did his job and left me there! Must have been too much of a coward to face me after leaving me for a one night stand with that…that hussy! And…and to make matters worse, the treatment I was receiving was incredibly expensive! Every bit I saved while working on that rock farm was gone in one shot! I…I was enraged. After the final treatment, I…I…I let my emotions control me, and I…I made the next big mistake in my life,” she said as she started to shiver.

The stallion was at her side in an instant. She began crying, bringing her good hoof to her chest. This was the first time she’d ever really talked about it since giving her statement to the royal guards that night. As much as she didn’t want to talk about it, her emotions got the better of her. Deep down, she wanted to face this. She turned slightly as she continued.

“That…that night, I was released from treatment. I was still healing but I was more or less myself. I only had one thing on my mind though. I needed to find out where Twilight Sparkle got such power from. I went to her library and sure enough, there was a sign on the door saying that the library was closed for renovations. I knew better, though! She…she was hiding from me! I wasn’t going to let a sign stop me from learning the truth! I went in, but she wasn’t there. I…I found want looked to be….body parts on a shelf…with…with a sign that read ‘Twilight Sparkle Museum of Natural History,’ she said as she began sniffling.

Braeburn was taken aback by the grisly statement.

‘Body parts?!?’ he thought to himself as he put a hoof on the mare’s shoulder trying to comfort her.

“The…the door to the basement was open, so I…I went down there to see if I could find her. And I did. She’d…she’d become some sort of monster! It…it was the most disgusting thing I’d ever seen in my life! Then she…then she…” she stammered as she turned towards Braeburn hugging him tight.

The action surprised the earth pony, but he obliged her by returning the hug. He used his hoof to stroke her back, doing his best to calm her. He still decided to keep silent, and let her get everything out on her own.

“She…she was so strong! She…she held me against the wall, and…and she…she spit this…this…acid on my hoof. It…it melted away. SHE FORCED ME TO WATCH MY OWN HOOF MELT AWAY ON THE FLOOR!” she screamed into the stallion’s chest.

She was sobbing now. She was wailing with all her might, as she hugged the stallion tighter. He reciprocated the embrace.

“MY HOOF! SHE…SHE TOOK MY HOOF FROM ME! WHY DID SHE DO THIS TO ME?!?” she wailed, as she let out body wracking sobs.

After a few minutes of crying she began to calm down. She just stayed there in Braeburn’s embrace, matting the fur on his chest with fresh tears. She pulled away for a moment as she continued.

“I…I passed out and when I awoke, Twilight had…had…become something…else. She was…dying, and her magic lost control. Princess Celestia was there, and…and so were a bunch of other ponies. I…I recognized them from my first trip to Ponyville. There was a stallion there as well, but he was on…on the floor unconscious. We were done for, but for some reason, the princess didn’t want to stop Twilight. I…I did what I had to do,” she cried.

“What do you mean?” Braeburn asked.

He silently cursed himself for opening his mouth. He’d gotten caught up in the story, and wanted to know more. He’d already gotten most of it, but it looked like there were some more details about that night. He just hoped that he hadn’t ruined his chances of getting that information with his inquiry.

“There…there were these machines that were in her basement. They were large, metal…contraptions, much bigger than a pony. Anyway, I...I…I used every ounce of magic and will I had left to lift one of these things into the air. I let it fall on Twilight Sparkle. It…it crushed her instantly,” she seethed.

“I passed out again. When I awoke, I was upstairs again. There were royal guards, and ponies in white coats running around. I…I looked down and screamed. One of my front hooves was gone. That’s when I remembered what happened. I…it’s hard to describe how I felt. A nurse came over and started treating me. After that I was taken to the hospital again. The doctors were horrified at my…my injury. Finally, the princess herself came in to see me. She explained everything. Apparently, Twilight Sparkle was her personal student, and had begun experimenting with…with teleportation. She ended up killing a friend’s pet- some bunny or something, while testing those contraptions. She…she called them telepods. Well, she got so upset that she became obsessed with making them work, and tried it on herself. It turns out, that when she did, there was a fly in the pod, and it fused them together. That’s why she confronted me that day. Apparently one of the symptoms of her…transformation was increased strength and aggression. She went after her friends’ other pets to do another experiment, or something. Then she’d…she’d kidnapped her friends trying to fuse them together with her so she could ‘cure’ herself. She’d…she’d tried to kill them, but I killed her instead. Trixie got her back good, didn’t she?!?” she hissed.

Braeburn tried to embrace her again, but she pushed him away, her eyes blazing with anger as she grunted. She turned to face him, her jaw clenched.

“TRIXIE DOESN’T NEED YOUR PITY! TRIXIE IS JUST FINE ON HER OWN! TRIXIE DOESN’T NEED YOU, TRIXIE DOESN’T NEED ANYBODY!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

The stallion sighed and approached her again. He could see the tears streaming down her face. Braeburn approached her slowly as her gaze softened. He gave her a look of sadness. As he reached out to her again.

“Trixie is…Trixie doesn’t…WHY…WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO TRIXIE?!? WHY DID SHE TAKE TRIXIE’S HOOF?!?” she wailed as she collapsed to the floor.

“Listen, Ah saw what happened out there tonight. It ain’t right. Ah…Ah want you to come live here. My home is more than big enough. And…and with me being in Ponyville, you could stay at my place, and have some time for yourself. How does that sound?” he whispered in her ear as he nuzzled her gently.

“Trixie just said that she doesn’t want your pity!” she spat.

“Well, then, look at it as house sittin’. Ah’m gonna be away, and Ah could use someone to watch my place while Ah’m gone. Look, you don’t belong out there, gettin’ made fun of, just for a few bits. Please. Stay here,” he said trying his best to convince her.

“Trixie has a good life here! Trixie is a performer of the highest caliber! This is what Trixie does! What…what else can she do?!?” she said once again looking at her faux hoof.

Suddenly, the earth pony heard sniffles coming from the doorway. Braeburn and Trixie looked up to see Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom in the doorway with tears streaming down their faces. Braeburn looked around and noticed that the shelf was right by a window. He closed his eyes as he sighed deeply.

‘They must’ve listened in next to the window,’ he thought to himself.

Trixie’s eyes went wide as she looked at their tears. They looked so scared. She’d tried to protect them. She’d tried to protect their innocents, but once again she failed. She looked at them, and then over at Braeburn as she walked over to them. She used her good hoof to bring them into a hug. Their fresh tears matted her fur as she could feel the muffled vibrations of their quiet sobs. She felt Braeburn put a hoof around her as she spoke.

“I’m sorry…girls, I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

-

Happy Labor Day! Well, here is the next chapter! I hope everyone is enjoying the story thus far! Please, do let me know what you think!