Chapter 4: leave enough alone, part 1
1 day ago
Something about her bugs so many people, changing the mostly nice demeanor of the town into a more toxic one. The colts and mares of this town loathe trixie with a burning passion and trixie is starting to get sick of it. Only one person in her book doesn't loathe her and that person is about to scold her for being 4 minutes late. "Why 4 minutes?, what happened out there?" the mare asked trixie, trixie looked her in the eyes and replied "someone gave me a place to stay rose, i….. I have a place to stay" trixie's voice was emotionally shaky, not the most well known emotion coming from the infamous boaster in town. "That's great but you're still late and i have to penalize you pay" rose replied, trixie is still surprised how business focused rose is. "Don't care anyways" she replied, moving to the back of the store counter. Rose gave her a gaze while she was walking, she was slowly regaining herself but it was enough to still concern her. "Hey…. if you can't work, don't, dead weight is….." she didn't even finish before trixie violently interjected "i'm fine!, it won't affect your bottom line!" rose's face was hard to determine, she was either completely scared by her or shocked. "Sorry…. Stress gets the best of anyone" trixie replied, another thing that shocked the store owner. "Something wrong, shop doesn't open until an hour, we have time to talk" rose said, sitting on the store counter. "I….. i…." she was stuttering, the great and powerful trixie was stuttering in a sentence. "You know what, it's fine, don't need to tell me if you don't want to" rose said, moving off the counter and making her way towards the front door. "Wait, where are you going?" trixie asked, rose then replied "chasing a trade lead, nothing too major, watch the shop for me, it's what you're best at" with a satchel strapped on her back, she left for the door and trixie was on her own.
Business was slow and she knew the exact reason why it was slow, she's a pony repellent in every form of the word. Why would anyone purchase a product from someone who is know to swindle people? Trixie knew this and basically took this open amount of time to just relax and serve the occasional customer. "This gemstone was burned in the ember fires of dragon country, one of kind!" this colt was really trying to sell her on a worthless gem, but she knew exactly how to disprove his claims. "Really now, let me see the gem?" trixie asked, faking a sense of interest in the item. "S... !" he exclaimed, thinking he struck gold, gave the item to the young mare. "I would like my fortune in 4 individual bit sacks if…." he was about finish but trixie just tapped the gem twice on the counter and it shattered. "H...how!" the colt exclaimed, trixie had a smile of pure wicked satisfaction. "The first sign was how extremely hollow it looked, still could be burned by the amazing embers of dragons and i actually wanted to give you benefit of the doubt…." trixie was on a soapbox and was eating up every second of destroying his arrogant approach, how ironic huh? "So i held it and it was light as a feather, that judgement led me to believe the gem wasn't structurally sound and as you see….. I was correct" finally finishing her soapbox, the colt was still shocked by the reveal. "Hey…. i'll pay you the difference anyways…... " trixie said in a much softer tone, the colt rapidly nodded his head, expecting a big payday from the false gem. "About 200 bits for a standard gem, sounds fair to me, sorry ya got swindled" trixie finished, hard reality dropped on the colt. "I'll take it, thanks for sorting this out….. i guess" he replied, trixie obviously was satisfied with being right and she started completing the transaction and right in time her boss came in with a full satchel and based on her expression when coming in the door…. "You have a couple stories, don't you?" trixie asked, rose nodded furiously and made her way inside the building. Only needing to find a sack to put the colt's payment in, trixie searched behind to counter to look for one. "Hey….. what's your name?" the colt asked, thinking that he was asking for her name, trixie replied nervously "uhhh….. Lula" the colt nodded and replied with a chuckle "ok then, don't laugh but mine's grounder" trixie wasn't really one to follow the rules of others in the first place, she was laughing like an insane mare. "I know, i know, my parents really hate me" grounder replied and the laughing started becoming infectious. "Alright sir, here's your payment and stay above ground sir!" she replied, grounder gave a light chuckle and actually left the door with a smile on his face. Rose chuckled and said "lula?, really?" trixie swatted her away and said "business was slow and you know why" rose smiled and replied "you did a good job, although i wouldn't have gave him anything for that dust he called a gem" trixie shrugged and sat on the front counter she just served someone on, rose followed along and sat next to her. "During my trade travels i've picked up amazing things" rose said, trixie really doesn't care about how many knick knacks she finds usually but her talking stops her from thinking too deeply. "A chipped horn piece from a changeling, quills made from pheonix feathers…" trixie nodded off, pretending to harbor way more interest then she actually had.
The moon was full tonight, it was the brightest thing in the night sky, along with the stars that sparkled like diamonds. Trixie thought the night sky looked the prettiest when it comes to ponyville, when regular ponies are asleep and store vendors light up the main square of the town. Rose doesn't have night hours, her business type does not really suit late night and she is totally fine with this ideal. Trixie and rose were locking up and trixie just collapsed, laying herself on the floor and putting her front hooves behind her head. "Hey rose, wanted to ask something?" trixie asked, rose was in the back office of the store grabbing her coat. "Make it quick, we both gotta leave!" she exclaimed, making sure trixie heard her. "Well…. Why do you like me?" trixie asked, there was a silence between the two and then trixie realised why….. "Could you say that again!" she exclaimed, trixie groaned and then tried to ask the question again "why do you like me!" she exclaimed, once again silence was the only thing present in the room. She then heard harsh hoofsteps approaching her location and then rose said "i need you to stand for this" trixie didn't know anything else really to do about that request besides pick herself up. Rose was right in front of her and then she started talking "You're barely on time, occasionally lazy, have an insanely low tolerance, arrogance is definitely a big one….." the more rose went on, the more trixie's face was one more of pain then anger. "But… you responsible, funny, kind, whip smart and a loyal friend" when rose finished, even if she was building up all of the negative for a positive payoff, trixie was still in an odd state. "You're not a bad person, i wish the whole town knew the trixie that i know" rose said in a voice of frustration. Trixie said nothing and was preparing to leave. Rose then tried to get her attention "are you alright?" she asked out of genuine concern, trixie only turned around and gave a small nod. Before trixie could even walk towards the front door, rose passed by her and held the door open. Trixie just looked at her in complete confusion and went through the door, making her way back to the treehouse she's currently staying in. Rose glared at her with a look of concern before moving along her own direction… back inside the store.
Sure the night looks pretty in her eyes, the lights cascading the streets and whatever else grabs her attention. There is one fact about ponyville that never changes and that's how insanely cold it gets during the night. That's why the young mare was dashing through the streets and actually looking forward to seeing the dragon open the door. He was the only one that didn't judge her at first sight, even when knowing what she did. She only really appreciated that because it gives her a break from most of the population hating her. 2 inhabitants out of probably hundreds or thousands that actually like her existence. Something concerned her about the drake, she couldn't quite put her finger on it and it was slowly irritating her. Trixie could see how much time she was running out of based on the vendor lights slowly turning out while she was running. She finally reached at least the front of the treehouse and was ready to knock on the door. However, she paused for a second, thinking that she hears a faint voice. She look up and saw what looked like an outside deck. "Might have to go out there one day" she said to herself. She finally knocked on the door and she was greeted by the drake. Then trixie's body suddenly had a realisation, she ran almost 3 miles with no breaks or pauses until she got to the door. "Please tell me i have a room to die in?" trixie asked, spike just nodded and trixie walked inside. As she was making her way to see her new room, something really dawned on her. "Damn, i've had nothing to eat….." she thought to herself, "maybe i could make…" she was about to say but then something else came to mind. Why do something yourself when others can do it for you? However, she needed the satisfaction of towering over someone. "And where are you going?"
Trixie just took a couple seconds to admire her new room, "i don't know about anything else but the dragon can clean" she said to herself. The floors were spotless, the cushion looked decently comfy, and she even had her own closet. She wasn't really sure how much that closet would really be used for beside her cape and hat. Her hat isn't really something she wears anymore, occasionally she'll put it on for fun but most of the time it's a dust collector. She opened the bag she brought with her that was nicely placed next to the cushion to find said hat. She placed it on her head and without even looking into a mirror, she made the determination of keeping the hat off for now. She decided to lay on the cushion and it was probably the most comfortable thing she's been on in a year. "Why would someone….. Do this for me?" trixie asked herself, the idea of genuine care for her is such a foreign concept. She's done terrible things to his friends, someone would even call her a villain. That isn't even a thing for spike and that slowly makes her nervous for reasons beyond her own comprehension. "Trixie!, food is ready!" spike exclaimed, trixie lifted herself from the cushion and made her way downstairs to claim the food she requested. As she was walking downstairs, she got a peek of the food that was prepared for her. She wasn't really expecting much in the first place but at least the omelet she saw on the table looked really well done. She finally made it downstairs and took her seat on the table, giving the omelet a look of pure lust. She then looked down and remembered that she has hooves and spike just gave her a handmade fork and knife. She then glanced at him and saw spike give a smirk of satisfaction,
"Did this idiot forget i'm a unicorn?" trixie thought to herself and she used her magic to levitate the tools and cut herself a piece of the omelet. "Him doing that, what if this omelet has some kind of draconic poisoning too it" trixie thought, honestly thinking that this was some kind of assassination attempt. Even with that possibility in her head, she placed the piece in her mouth and was ready for what was coming to her. Apparently celestia didn't think this was her time because the omelet ended up being the complete opposite of poison. It was probably the best tasting food she's had in years, the flavor just melted in her mouth and she was enjoying every moment in was in her maw. Time was actually spent to make a decent piece of food for her and she could atleast try to compliment him. "You did well with this i'll admit….." she tried to say but complimenting someone while having your face filled with food isn't the best idea. "Please just finish eating first, that's really gross" spike replied, this did two things for trixie, annoyed and patronized her. It was a mistake, a simple error in her manners and she's deserved scolding like a mere child? Not only that, he completely rejected the compliment she tried to throw his way. "Even when i give you a compliment, it's not enough for you" she said, this was her best way of communicating those feelings of embarrassment she was harboring. Then, he committed the most violent atrocity in her book, he gave of a chuckle in her expense. "I wasn't telling a joke, why are you laughing?!" she thought to herself, then she realized that she was the joke right now. "I'm not a joke….. I'm not a joke….. You're the real fool here!" she was screaming in her head, this was when she bit back with a venomous ferocity to her statement "Who are you laughing at, lowly dragon!" trixie knew she hit nerve by just looking at his twisted up face, this was payback on her end. "Hey!, i have a name and your going to use it!" spike exclaimed, this was the only thing that he really started defending himself for.
The thing the was bothering her finally came to mind, it was completely clear as day. She really dislikes how much of a stupid pushover he is. The only thing he seems to really value in her mind is his name. This demand for respect is completely underserved from her, you don't just get respect in her mind. "Oh, so now you grow a backbone" she replied, suddenly he saw the face of someone who was seething mad….. Turn to a face of defeat. This satisfied her to see someone who was mocking her, grovel underneath her like the worm… "i...i have a backbone" spike replied with a shaky voice. This is wonderful for her, now all she needs is the killing blow and she can teach this lowly drake a lesson. "Why am i here then?" she asked, still feeling the absolute power of humiliating her opponent. Silence, the silence that gave her confirmation of a win and filled her bloodlust. "Well, that's what he gets, making fun of me….. Humiliating me….. Treating me like scum!" might as well back her thoughts with evil laughter at this point, she was ready to make her exit from the table. "Cause if i wasn't nice, you would already be packing" spike replied, with an amount of audible frustration. Then things started reclicking into trixie mind, the bloodlust turned to bitter and depressive regret. The only thing that spike has been to her is nice and she made an honest effort to hurt him more than she was hurt. "Forgot about that, he actually did face a diamond dog and saved me, that takes at least some backbone…" she thought to herself. This how trixie operates sometimes, the simple idea of someone laughing at her expense bothers the crap out of her. Her emotions don't communicate easy, she automatically tried to go for spike's throat without even thinking. "Why couldn't i…." another thought passed by, the regrets started piling up insanely fast. She needed to do something but apologizing was totally off the table in her mind. She was slowly running out of time, spike was already heading up the stairs annoyed with her. "Hey…." she said in what seemed to be a barely audible tone, spike just kept walking up the stairs. "Don't worry about the dishes, i'll get to them" still in a low tone, spike didn't even stop and that actually peeved her. "I have no right though" she said to herself, picking up the dishes and making good on her word.
Present time
She was sitting on the town square bench, already making the decision of skipping out on work today. Even if she thinks talking to rose would make her feel the least bit better, it's still something she's gonna decide against. "Why now, why am i starting to feel regretful now?" she thought to herself. Maybe it's the occasional voices that make it their duty to point out past mistakes of hers or just the time that passes by. Improvement is something that trixie has been giving an amount of time into, her having at least one friend now shows that. She even remembers how excited she was when she managed to get rose to trust and befriend her. She remembers the long days and nights she spent working with rose to repair her shop and have it habitable for business. However, that wasn't instant at the time but trixie didn't give a damn about instant. She is back to this town but why?, all it does is bring the worst possible mare out of her. During her self reflection she felt a slight tap on her shoulder, so fast that it barely felt like anyone was there. She looked up to find a familiar light pink mane hiding behind a tree next to the bench. "Hey… i'm not here to hurt anyone….. At Least not anymore" she said, it took a couple seconds but slowly the mare revealed herself. Trixie's heart dropped, she wasn't expecting her to be the one behind that bush. "T. ?" she asked, shuddering in fear while asking her. It's funny, she's just as scared of her as fluttershy is scared of trixie. "Um…. yeah" she replied, fluttershy let out a very audible gulp and that didn't help trixie's fear either. I mean she is a pony whose last experience they had together was being her slave. "How…. but why?!" this time she exclaimed her disgust, trixie wanted to scream in her direction but that's not gonna get her out of this.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone, i promise you fluttershy" trixie said, trying to calm fluttershy down but then she realized something. If you really believe your in danger from one of your previous enemies, why would you not only approach them but not bring backup or even guards? The shuttering slowly stopped and of all things she took a seat next to her, of course with distance but still. "Where were you heading?" trixie asked, fluttershy was silent and she had every right to be silent in trixie's mind. "I'm not here to collect…" trixie was about to say but then fluttershy interjected "and…. How am i supposed to be sure of that?" fluttershy was looking down on the floor while sitting next to her, almost making her presence pointless. "Why are you sitting next to me?" trixie asked, firing a point blank at her. She was in thought and her being here without at least trying to make conversation is a waste of her personal time out here. "I…. i was looking for spike" she nervously replied, it's like she had a change of heart but wasn't really sure about that change. "Oh….." talking about spike was almost like a bitter pill in trixie's mind. "You were looking down… i… i wanted to see what's wrong" fluttershy said, answering trixie's question after spilling where her destination was. They don't call her the element of kindness for no reason at all. "Fluttershy….. I'm sor….." it's almost like that was the first thing fluttershy expected to hear as she interjected "i forgive you, i don't trust you….. But i forgive you" that made trixie's heart a little less heavy hearing that from her, trust is still important to her but not enough to deny this acceptance currently. "Hey… do you think i can change?" trixie asked fluttershy, fluttershy paused for a second, grimaced at remembering her past enslavement and replied "you….. I believe anyone can change…." fluttershy seemed to become more and more comfortable talking to trixie. Trixie nodded and replied "thanks…. I kinda needed that actually" she replied with earnest and that actually made fluttershy slightly smile. "Good, i'm glad it helped, i gotta get going" fluttershy rose out of her seat and continued on her path towards the library. Trixie wasn't sure what made fluttershy change her tone and actually be glad to help her, but she doesn't look a gift horse in the mouth. She has a feeling that the others wouldn't be as friendly to her but that's an issue for another day. Trixie still wasn't sure about the advice she gave her but if that came from someone who previously feared her, it's worth an extra thought. Then of all things, her stomach started growl. "Guess food takes priority for now" trixie thought to herself, making the cakes her first destination for food and making spike her second thing to worry about.
It was quiet ,almost pleasantly so for the young drake. However, that wasn't the case for his currently active mind. His thoughts were all about how to currently approach trixie and fix things. He was currently on the outside deck, hoping that would help him clear his mind and come up with a solution. He still has no answer on why he should be actually helping the jerk normal ponies would call a mare. Still, a emotional puzzle is a puzzle to the drake and it's currently begging to be solved. While he was doing these mental gymnastics, spike happened to see fluttershy approaching the door outside. "What is she doing here?" spike asked himself before realizing he forgot to check in on her like usual. He made his way downstairs and was looking at the door, wondering if he should wait for her to knock. Before that thought could go on for too long, she knocked. Spike opened the door and said "i'm so sorry i didn't come to visit, just been a bit tied up lately" spike said. Fluttershy nodded and replied reassuringly "it's fine, really" the smile that came along with it gave spike an unusual amount of comfort. Spike was thinking something but quickly dismissed it immediately. "So…. uhhh…." spike forgot what he was gonna say, or that's what he would like to say. "Am i….. Tonguetied?" spike thought to himself, this stray thought was starting become a solid idea. "Yeah, how are you doing?" spike finally remembered what he wanted to say. "Better actually, it's why i am here…" fluttershy replied with her soft voice starting to fade. "What's wrong now?, i can't deal with too much in one day?" spike thought to himself but the message he was gonna received was different from his expectation. "Would you….. Like to come shopping with me?" fluttershy blurted out. Now usually this wouldn't be a big deal, spike invited her for a pickup before but something in spike is making him nervous. "Sure…. When do you wanna go?" spike seemed less in control with his response to her. "Now would be preferred…. Unless that's inconvenient for you?" she asked, considerate about the drake's time, which spike really valued right now. "Not at all, got nothing to do anyways!" spike exclaimed, almost eager to take a trip with her. "Ok, i hope you can help me carry things" she replied, with a soft smile attached to her response. This made spike feel slightly warmer inside and it obviously showed with the goofy grin he gave in return. Fluttershy chuckled and made her way out the door, motioning her head for spike to come along. "What's going on with me today?... Maybe it's just seeing a nice face" spike thought to himself, hoping it's not the conclusion he thinks it is. Right when he was thinking about fluttershy, he remembered that trixie is still renting here. "Hey fluttershy, i gotta do something really quick before we go!" spike exclaimed, fluttershy nodded and spike went to grab a piece of paper and a quill. "Might as well make her aware she's not kicked out" spike thought to himself, leaving one burden at the doorstep before leaving with a potential second burden on his mind.
Author's note: I've been posting a couple chapters and forgot the most important part, addressing the audience. thank you for reading, I've been sitting on this story for a month and it's really nice to see readers. feedback is always appreciated, leave a review if you want to, it's the most visible way for me to see who's enjoying the story or not. chapters will be longer and after the sixth chapter, slight slowdown might occur. once again, thank you for reading my story :)
