A Thousand Son in Equestria Part 18 (Gossip and Trix)

"Trixie, I do not have time for this. Mo-"
>"Anon, pleasepleaseplease help me! Pleeeeeeeeeaaaase!"
"Trixie, I cannot help you. Not now. There are other ponies counting on me."
>You start to walk past her, when she reaches out and grabs your leg.
>Hmmm.
>With that power armour, she's actually strong enough to effect you.
>That would be absolutely FUCKING fascinating if you weren't busy trying to stop one of your friends from hating you forever.
"Trixie, let go of my leg."
>"Pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase!"
>Oh Tzeentch her whining.
>It's almost as bad as Rarity.
>The showmare is looking up at you, her eyes wide and watery.
>It's so adorable. You can feel your heart melting.
"Trixie."
>"Anon, you'll help m-"
"Nope."


>"But Anooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!"
"Trixie, you were the one who decided that listening to a talking gun and rebuilding a suit of power armor to fit a pony was a good idea. This is one of the consequences for that action."
>She lifts one hoof and points it at you.
>"But Anonymous, you promised to teach Trix-me! To help me! I thought we were friends! Is one of your friends more important than me, the Great and Powerful Trixie!?"
>You sigh, thoroughly irritated. If you get through this quickly, you might have enough time to...to fix everything.
>Again.
>Besides, Trixie's right. You said you'd be her friend. And you keep promises.
"Okay, come in. We'll get that armor off, but you have to help me after that."
>Trixie makes a power armor assisted leap into the air, cracking your doorframe with a hoof.
>"YES!"
>You grimace as you look at the doorframe, and a thought strikes you.
"Say, Trixie."
>"Huh?"
"How did you use the bathroom if you havn't been able to take that armor off?"
>Trixie's eyes gain a thousand yard stare.
>"Let's not talk about that. Just...suit...off...please."
>OH TZEENTCH WHY!?

>She trots into your house as you stare in horror after her.
>She ignores your incredulous stare, trying to brush it off by examining your house.
>"Hmmm. You have a quaint house, Anonymous. It might be nice to live here."
>She jumps onto your couch, and you hold your hands out in horror.
>GODS. DAMNIT. TRIXIE.
>You LIKED that couch.
"TRIXIE!"
>She flinches, looking up at you and noticing your clenched fists.
>"Heh..heh, yes?"
"Get off of the couch."
>She slides off, going back to four hooves.
"Now come here."
>She obliges, and you kneel down to get closer to her.
>"This isn't going to hurt, is it?"
"It will if you sit on my couch again. Now quiet yourself. I need to figure out how you got this on in the first place."
>Alright, she didn't wear the helmet, so you don't have to get past a hermetic seal.
>She didn't have a Black carapace implant, so no worries there.
>You don't see any MIU tubes near her neck to disconnect.
>This should be fairly simple to undo.


>HOW IN TZEENTCH'S UNHOLY NAME DID SHE GET THIS FUCKING THING ON?
"Trixie."
>"Y-yes Anon?"
"What the hell did you do?"
>"I-I don't know, I just listened to your artifact thing! It promised me power and I listened. Is that so wrong?"
>She gives you those eyes again, which are even less effective when you are still grieving over your couch.
>You stare blankly at her, and she huffs in annoyance.
>"Okay, okay. Just get it off, PLEASE."
>You can't get it off from the back, in any case. It's sealed and seamless.
"Trixie, I'm going to turn you over."
>"Wha-"
>You flip the blue mare over, onto her back, before leaning closer, practically straddling her.
>You crack your knuckles. You can do this.
>Trixie starts sputtering in surprise while you pull at pieces of her armor with your mind and fingers.
>"Anon, what are you doi-"
"I can get it off, I just have to loosen the chest plate first."
>You'll weaken the armor plate here, and here, and he-
>Light flashes at the edge of your vision, and you hear the tell-tale sign of a unicorn teleport.
>You close your eyes in frustration.
>"Anon, sorry it took me so long, I have a message from Celestia, and I can help you with Apple-"
>Twilight stops in mid-sentence as she spots you straddling Trixie, the both of you in armor.


"Twilight, this isn't what it looks li-"
>"Sparkle, this is exactly what it looks li-"
>You both stop, and you stare down at Trixie, while she grins up at you.
>Looking back, you think this moment may be the moment that you proved a master of willpower, because Tzeentch damnit you wanted to strangle the shit out of this mare.
>Twilight's face turns bright red and she backs out of your still-open front door.
>"I-I'm just.....just gonna go..."
>She gets out of sight, and you hear the sign of galloping.
>You slowly, casually, reach up and take off your helmet, before favoring Trixie with the most rage-filled glare you have ever given an alien.
"Trixie."
>She shrugs, a nervous smile on her face.
>"I...uh...."
"Trixie."
>You reach down and grab the sides of her face, before leaning your glare closer.
"WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO THAT?"
>Trixie flinches, still giving that nervous grin.
>"I...It just felt right to...make Twilight feel uncomfortable...is all. It's all the vengeance I can get, until you teach me!"
>Right now, you were more inclined to rip out her throat then teach her.
>In fact....
>You pull out your force sword.
>Her eyes travel to the blade, and she gulps.
>"Uh....what are you going to do with that?"
"Exactly what you asked me to do."


>"Trixie doesn't think this is a good ide-"
"Ssshhh. Trixie doesn't get an opinion."
>You start sawing away with the sword, bisecting her armor carefully.
>You're pissed off, but you aren't going to disembowel her for a misunderstanding.
>Not yet, anyw-
>OH SWEET TZEENTCH THE SMELL.
>FATHER NURGLE HIMSELF DID NOT SMELL THIS BAD.
>You recoil in agony, dropping your sword as you back away from Trixie and the halves of your ponified armor.
>You grab your nose as you retreat to your kitchen counter, struggling to block the terrible scent.
>Trixie, for her part, seems as horrified as you.
>"WHERE IS YOUR BATHROOM!?"
"I DON'T, I HAV-DOWN THE HALL, IT'S DOWN THE HALL!"
>"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
>The blue mare charges towards your mostly unused bathroom. The tub was far too small for you.
>You stare at the remains of your old blue armor.
>Then you cleanse it with warpfire.
>A lot of warpfire.
>Your floor will never be clean again.


>You sit on your couch, staring at the smoking stain on your floor where Trixie's pony armor used to be.
>There are still some shards of blue metal left, and you glare at them with a white-hot, intense hatred.
>You have been glaring at them for an hour while Trixie uses your bath.
>You hear hooves clopping on your floor as the showmare makes her way back into your living room, her mane and coat still wet.
>"Uh, I'm...Anon I'm sorry. I've been in that suit for...well for weeks. And it's like, it's just."
"Don't talk. Please. Right now, just hush."
>You say every word through clenched teeth.
>Trixie shuts up as you turn your glare on her.
"Get dry and ready to go. We need to stop by Sweet Apple Acres. And then we need to stop by Twilight's. And then, MAYBE, if everything I have planned for today goes off without a hitch, I MIGHT consider tutoring you the proper way instead of fulfilling my promise by hurling you into the Warp."
>She opens her mouth to speak, thinks better of it, and shuts it again.
>Her horn glows, drying her off in a quick puff of heat, and she slowly walks out your front door.
>You get up and follow her out.


>The walk to Sweet Apple Acres remains quiet and full of tension.
>A few of your pony neighbors, including the mint green unicorn, wave to you as you walk past, but more than a few ponies only look at you with confusion as they see you with Trixie.
>The rest of them avoid you when they see the expression on your helmetless face.
>Trixie tries to speak to you again as you reach the outskirts of the Apple farm.
>"Anon, please, I really am sorry. I don't want to buck this up, I really don't. It's just, that suit was disgusting, and the thing with Twilight....well. What can I do to make it right?"
"Just that, Trixie. Make it right."
>The both of you walk onto the Apple farm, looking for anything wrong, and trying to listen for-
>A burst of flame roars into the air, followed by distressed shouting.
>"LAND'S SAKES, SIS, THAT BUUURNS! WHY ARE YOU DOIN' THIS?"
>Right, that way.
>You march towards the shouting, Trixie sheepishly following you.


>You hear the sounds coming from the barn, and you round the corner and nearly bump into a large red stallion, who looks up at you in concern.
>"Uhh...AJ, he's here!"
>"ANON?"
>"Anon's here?"
>"Aww naw, I don' think so!"
>Applejack comes around the corner right after her brother, stopping when she sees you, and then Trixie.
>"What in tarnation? What's that arrogant jerk doin' here?"
"She's-"
>"Ah met YOU, ya liar!"
>Ouch. Again, wounded by a pony's tongue.
"Listen, Applejac-"
>"Don'chu talk ta me, you liar! Get offa mah farm!"
>She turns around and waltzes back around the barn corner.
>"And Derpy, you stay put! You can talk ta Anon all ya like after we finish curin' Applebloom!"
>You don't like the sound of that.
>You push past Big Mac, who only stares in disbelief at you and Trixie, before you round the corner.


>What you see is astounding.
>Applebloom, in full daemon form, sitting in a giant metal tub filled up with water.
>Derpy Hooves is reclining on her head, looking confused and uncomfortable.
>Applejack pours little jars of herbal remedies into the pool.
>Applebloom, for her part, looks miserable and in pain, as expected for a daemon with a pariah on its head.
>"SIS, REALLY, ANON'S HERE. WE SHOULD JUST ASK 'IM. THIS...THIS REALLY, REALLY HURTS."
>"I'm not sure why you need me for this..."
>"Sis, ah ain't takin' no advice from a liar like him, and Miss Hooves, whenever you touch Applebloom she starts smoking and shrinkin'. Obviously, you're part of the cure."
>You're not sure whether you're furious, disgusted, or just frustrated.
>You settle on confused.
"Applejack....that's not going to do anything."
>She turns her nose up in the air, not listening as she pours in more herbs.
"What are you even trying to do? Putting Derpy and Applebloom in that close cont-"
>"Ah'm tryin' ta cure mah sister, since SOMEP0NY let me go on believin' she was all cured when she was still a monster!"
>Applebloom shudders at her sister's tone of voice.
>Or in the obvious agony she's in, you're not sure.
>You don't know what to do. Applejack's not listening...
>Trixie walks forward, her teeth gritted against Derpy's aura.


>"Listen...Miss Applejack..."
>"Trixie, ah don't know what yer doin' here and ah don't care. You can either help me with this or you can git. And take Anon with ya."
>Trixie winces and steps a little closer. You have to give her credit. The first time you met a pariah of Derpy's caliber, you nearly vomited up your organs.
>"Applejack. Trixie doesn't know the whole story here, obviously...but please, give Anon a chance to explain himself."
>Hmmm. She's standing up for you. Perhaps there is hope for your four legged apprentice after all.
>"Why should ah do anything like that!? He lied to me!"
>"Give him a chance, because he obviously cares! If he kept something from you, he obviously had a reason! He nearly cut me in half today in a rush to get down here! Why h-"
>Trixie's words cut off as she suddenly dry heaves, trying to avoid vomiting.
>She can take Derpy's null-presence no longer.
>She backs away, and you give her a reassuring pat as you step forward.
>You forgive her for the horrible suit disaster.
>She would still answer for whatever she pulled with Twilight.
>Applejack eyes you warily, reaching for another herbal jar with her mouth.
"Applejack, I mean it when I say that won't do anything for her."


>Applejack scoffs.
>"Why should ah believe you, ya liar! Ya didn't tell me she was a monster in the first pla-"
"She's not a monster, Applejack! She's your sister! LOOK AT HER, FOR TZEENTCH'S SAKE!"
>Applejack's scowl deepens.
>"Why should ah-"
"Just...just look. Give her a real good look."
>Applejack turns and looks at her big little sister.
>She looks at the pained shivering she gives every few seconds.
>At the sharp intakes of breath as Applebloom endures the pain of Derpy's touch.
>All because her big sister asked her to.
>Applejack's ears go flat on her head, and she looks more embarassed and upset than you've ever seen her.
>"Oh.....okay. Okay, Anon. Missus Hooves, ya can get off her."
>Applebloom and Derpy give simultaneous sighs of relief.
>Derpy fluffs her wings as she hops off.
>"Thank goodness. I was scared you were ponynapping me! Now I gotta go check on Dinkie! I've been here all day!"
>Derpy takes off as Applebloom leaps out of the tub, turning back into her filly form as she does it.
>Applebloom gives her a hug, nuzzling her.
>"Ah...ah'm sorry, Applebloom. T'weren't right what I did, but I was so scared...."
>Applebloom returns the nuzzle.
>"Sis...sis it's okay. Ah just wish ya'd listened to me and gotten Anon."
>Applejack sighs, before sending a glare your way.
>"Ah...ah'm sorry I doubted ya Anon. But ya still kept this from me. Applebloom and I are gonna have a long talk. When we're done, you and I are gonna have a sit down, too. Fer now, jus' git off mah farm."
>Harsh, but you could take it.
"Very well, Applejack. When we talk, I'll explain everything."
>"You'd better."


>You turn and stomp your way off the farm, Trixie in tow.
>As soon as you're out of sight of the apples, Trixie speaks up.
>"Well, that bucking sucked. My head is KILLING me."
"That won't be the only thing killing you in a minute..."
>"Wha?"
"Nothing. Trixie, I really do appreciate you sticking up for me. But that doesn't excuse that.....situation with Twilight."
>She gives a sly smile. Seems like she's getting a bit of that old arrogance back.
"Explain."
>She gives a dry chuckle.
>"Oh, just acting on a suspicion and a rumor I heard while in Ponyville."
>Rumors? About you?
"Oh, really?"
>"Yes, really."
>You scowl down at her, and her grin widens.
>If she's going to be evasive like that, to the Warp with her.
>You stomp ahead of her, heading towards Twilight's Library as the blue mare hums to herself behind you.
>Something about 'hissing in a treehouse.'


>You arrive at Twilight's house about fifteen minutes later, Trixie still humming some obnoxious tune under her breath.
>You knock on the door, and you spot a purple eye looking at you through the window before it opens under telekinetic pull.
>Twilight pulls the door open, a polite smile on her face. She looks nervous and flustered.
>Time to end at least one of those conditions.
>"Oh! Anon! And your...erm..friend! Hello Trix-"
"Twilight, you didn't see what you think you saw. I was trying to take Trixie's armor off, nothing more."
>"But Trixie sai-"
>"I'm afraid I was playing a mean-spirit little joke on you, Twilight Sparkle. But surely you can handle a little joke between mares, right?"
>Trixie's still got that sly grin on her face, and Twilight's glaring at her.
>You decide to defuse whatever's brewing between them.
"You see, Trixie simply said what she said to be inflammatory. I assure you, I do not perform intercourse with xe-ponies."
>Twilight's face goes through a range of emotions while Trixie's grin grows even wider.
>Twilight's face eventually settles on flat nuetrality, her mouth a thin line.
>"O...okay. I'm just going to put today's events down to weirdness. I'll study them later. Goodbye Anon."
"Goodbye Twilight."
>She closes the door, and you glance down at Trixie.
"What was that about?"
>The smug showmare just shrugs.


>Godsdamned ponies.
>You turned and walked towards your house, still in a fairly foul mood.
>Trixie moves to follow you, still grinning smugly.
>Something seems to occur to her, and she moves up to walk next to you.
>"So...feeling any better?"
"Still confused, still annoyed, but happy that I stopped Applejack from hurling Applebloom into a pain-infused rampage."
>She nods.
>"Stopping rampages are always a plus in the Great and Powerful Trixie's book."
>You give her an annoyed glance. You really hated third person speech.
>Trixie seems to mull something over.
>"Listen, Anon."
"Hmm?"
>"Uh....since that little stint in the woods, Tri-I've been a little low on bits. I had to pay bills for my jaw when you snapped me out of that crazy, and I couldn't perform in that armor...."
>Where's she going with this?
>"Can I stay with you until I get back on my hooves?"
>You think about it for a bit. It would make tutoring her less of a pain in the ass. And you'd have a nearby pony to inform you of any more weird pony customs from Fluttershy and Rarity.
"I don't see why not. Pay me back later."
>The smile she gives you might be all the payback you need.


>You get back to your house as the sun begins falling, Trixie practically bouncing in happiness at your side.
>You open the door, going inside.
"Alright, Trixie, feel free to sleep on the couch. ON THE SIDE YOU SAT ON WHEN YOU CAME IN EARLIER TODAY."
>She shrinks a little at the intensity in your voice, but nods.
"The tub's too small for me, so feel free to use it. The kitchen has-"
>"Cupcakes and muffins!? No hay? No apples? Hay bacon? Flowers? Bread?"
>To your surprise, she's already telekinetically rummaging through your foodstuffs.
>She looks up at you in horror from the kitchen counter.
>"Trixie is going to do you a service, Anonymous. She is going to get groceries tomorrow."
>You laugh as the blue mare moves over to lie on your couch.
>You glance down, and notice the note from Celestia Twilight left with you.
>You pick it up and begin to read.
>"Dearest Anonymous, I send you my deepest apologies for not speaking with you at the celebration, but I was....preoccupied. I wished to thank you again, this time in a way you could make some use of. Attatched to this letter are two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala, and a sum of three hundred bits for services rendered to Equestria. I hope you make wise use of all three gifts."
>Well that was kind of he-
>"P.S. I've noticed that my dear sister Luna has her eye on you. I'm not one to interfere with her dalliances, but.......if you break her heart, I'll break your spine."
>Love, Celestia.
>Your horrified shout sends Trixie tumbling off your couch.


MEANWHILE, IN ANOTHER PART OF PONYVILLE.
>Sweet Celestia, what was that!?
>You jump as the loud shouting echoes across the town.
>You had almost dropped the hand!
>You had been so careful to keep it safe, ever since you found it in Canterlot after that alien's trial.
>It was fascinating, the way the fingers could move with just a tweak of your horn's magic.
>Why, that hand almost seemed to SING to you!
>You wondered what secrets the appendage held.
ON THE MOON.
>You continue to concentrate, trickles of your psychic power touching your missing hand.
>Through it, you would free yourself from this airless hell.
>The green beast would be your puppet.
>A smile stretches across your face.