Trix of the Trade - Chapter 6.5

>You are Rarity.
>And you’ve invited Applejack over for tea and a small meal. She must be tired from her trip to Appleoosa, after all.
>You watch her as she scarfs down her meal. You had forgotten how intolerable her table manners are.
>However, her company was enjoyable nonetheless. There’s something about her and the rustic charm she carries that you find compelling.
>The Apple family is truly the heart and soul of this town. You can’t imagine one without the other.
>It’s a shame they’ll both have to go…
>”Rarity?”
“Mmm? My apologies, I’m just a little tired, is all.”
>”Ah bet, nop0ny has seen ya much ever since Anon gotcha all that Canterlot business n’ whatnot.”
“Yes, I have Anonymous to thank for my success. He may not know how to properly sew a blind hem stitch but he knows how to make a business successful. Even if by accident.”
>”What’d ya mean? ‘S not like he makes all the pretty dresses.”
“Well, no but, I can’t really make it into Canterlot if all of my time is spent in the Boutique. Somep0ny has to be making sales calls with those worthy of a Rarity brand dress!”
>”Worthy?”
“Er, sorry. This high end business may have gotten to my head a little.”
>You nervously tap your teacup with your hoof, you were dangerously close to dropping the ball.
“So how did things go in Appleoosa?”
>”In our favor, Ah think.”
“You think?”
>Leaving this job to Applejack may have not been the greatest idea…
>”Yeah, see, he was doin’ good. REAL good. Wooin’ the townfolk, seducin’ my cousin,”
>Oh, you had no idea Anonymous was like that. No matter, you’re not one to judge.
>”Don’ worry your pretty little head, now. He didn’ do it on purpose.”
“Ha! He accidentally seduced your cousin? I’d call you a liar if we weren’t talking about Anonymous. But, why would I have to worry?”
>”Well, cus of the thing you told me ta tell him.”
>Oh! How did you forget?!
“Uhh, yes I may have… some feelings for Anonymous b-but if he desires another mare or stallion I won’t stop him! I would never get in the way of true love!”
>”Rarity, is there somethin’ yer not tellin’ me?”
“Me? No, absolutely not. Erm, perhaps we could continue…”
>You both take another sip of tea. Applejack eyes you accusingly from behind her own cup.
>”Right… So as Ah was sayin’, things were goin’ real good. Anon even got himself this handsome getup n’ the way he let me spend the night with him while my cousin was all occupied was real sweet,”
“Ahem…”
>”Uh, sorry. Ol-“
“Yes, yes. Old habits, Applejack.”
>Applejack was getting impatient with your impatience. Perhaps if she just got to the point and told you what you want to hear…
>”ANYWAYS, Anon did everythin’ he needed ta do and he enjoyed doin’ it. Ah thought we’d lost him. But then, Trixie’s show started,”
>A grin grew across Applejack’s face, you couldn’t hold one back either.
>”All fell apart from there. You remember the terrible show she put on the first time she was here?”
“Ugh, do I ever?”
>”Well it was MUCH worse than that! Entire town tried ta lynch ‘em cus of it!”
“Is Anonymous alright?!”
>Applejack raises an eyebrow at you. Shoot, you need to do a better job of holding your composure.
>”Try n’ hide it all you want but, Ah see you have more feelings than Anon than you let on.”
>No, you just need him ALIVE. Stupid redneck ponies. You’ll be glad to see them gone.
>Although, you have teased the idea of Anonymous being your Special Somep0ny. Perhaps when he’s a little more aged and he’s done what you expect of him.
>”No need ta worry, he’s fine. He oughta be back in Ponyville in a few days.”
“Good, good. So…”
>”So, when he comes back, Ah have no doubt in my mind he’ll stay in Ponyville.”
>Applejack turns a little glum.
>”Although, somethin’ ‘bout this really gets ta me, Rarity.”
“What’s that?”
>”You know Ah like Anon n’ that’s the only reason why Ah agreed to help bring him back. Ah saw how Trixie treated him an’ it jus’ fueled that fire. But, why n’ the heck is it our decision to make? Ah don’t rightly like what we did. What Ah did. Ah know Ah didn’ do much but, like you said, jus’ gotta plant the bug an’ let it fester. He’ll come around after that. Well, Ah think he will be comin’ back an’ Ah don’t think that’s fair…”
“… What?”
>”Ah’m jus’ sayin’… Shouldn’t he be able to make his own decisions?”
“Of course, Applejack,”
>He just made the wrong one.



>You are Anonymous.
>The next two days pass by very slowly and very painfully.
>No food.
>No water.
>In the desert.
>Trixie really screwed the pooch, this time.
>You’re glad she hasn’t left her room since the incident. You probably would have yelled her ear off.
>But now you need to talk to her.
>Things need to be said and she’s refusing to talk. She’ll die of thirst before the two of you get to Ponyville.
>You made it out of the arid heat about an hour ago as the trees came into view and elevation began to rise.
>And, fuck yeah, you found a berry bush.
>You were starving but you weren’t stupid.
>You sampled one. You wanted to wait an hour to see if it had any effect on you but…
>You are now shoveling berries into your mouth.
>Maybe you are stupid.
>Although… This gives you an idea.
>With some food in your stomach, you’re able to scheme and plot again.
>And you know how you’re going to get Trixie out of her room.
>You run back inside the wagon, grab a large bowl, and put as many berries in it as possible.
>It would go faster if you stopped eating every other one.
>But they’re so GOOD and JUICY!
>You groan as you force yourself to stop eating. You’re far past full and it’s gluttony at this point.
>The result of your indulgence leaves the bowl at only half-full.
>It isn’t enough food for a pony that hasn’t eaten in over 2 days but it’ll have to do.

>Your dirty cowboy clothes were neatly folded and put into a corner in your room.
>You lay your hands on the table in front of you.
>Under them, your “project”. Or, rather, specifications on your project.
>The blue mare was the project.
>The bowl of berries sits in the middle to the table, waiting to be eaten.
>You gave Trixie’s door a little knock no less than a minute ago.
>And so you wait.
>Not for long.
>Her door creaks open soon enough.
>A magenta eye peeks out. It eyes the bowl with hesitation.
>Then it looks at you, you return it with a stoic expression.
>You’d love to show her how angry you are for wasting your time.
>How angry you are for making you actually believe she could be trusted.
>But you keep a straight face so this may be settled calmly.
>Trixie comes out moments later. Her eyes are puffy and bloodshot, her mane is tattered, and her breath is ragged.
>She keeps her eyes to the floor as she weakly trots to the table.
>She takes the seat opposite to you and takes a look at what’s in the bowl.
>Her face lights up in joy when she sees the berries.
>She then does an excellent imitation of you, 20 minutes prior.
>”Wuff faff?” She points a juice coated hoof to the papers under your hands.
“Please swallow your food before speaking.”
>The tone you took caused a knot to form in her stomach. She knew what was coming and she wasn’t going to enjoy it.
>Her pace slowed after that.  It was a fight between hunger and not wanting to be scolded.
>Hunger won.
>Trixie took her time licking her chops and hooves.
>That’s okay.
>You’re patient.

>You lied. You’re not patient enough for this.
>Trixie has spent over 10 minutes trying to fix a wrinkle in her hat.
>And before that, 5 minutes on a dirt stain on her cape.
“Trixie.”
>”One minute, Trixie needs to brush her ma-“
“No, we’re talking about this now.”
>She pulls her hat over her face.
>”Trixie knows you’re going to leave. You don’t need to say anything.”
“I’m not leaving. Maybe.”
>She removes the hat completely, looking surprised. Until she processed the, “Maybe.”
>”Oh, so you’re going to leave once Trixie slips up again, huh? Well she won’t have it! Trixie didn’t ask you to give her a second chance! She-“
“Trixie, shut up.”
>She didn’t like being told to be quiet but she complied.
“Look, you know how bad you messed up, right?”
>She nods slowly.
“And you know why, right?”
>”Trixie thought… thought it would be easy, impressing those stupid Earth ponies.”
“Well, Earth ponies aren’t normally too smart but they know when they’re being insulted.”
>”That wasn’t insulting! Trixie was only telling them how great she is!”
“You don’t honestly believe that, do you?”
>She thinks carefully for a second before coming to conclusion.
>”Absolutely.”
“Urg,”
>Hand, meet face.
“We’ll have to work on that. Right now, we’re going to discuss how we’re going to make this happen.”
>”Make what happen?”
“Make us both rich.”

>Trixie jumps in her seat in excitement.
>”Yes! Trixie knew you could do it! When does Trixie become rich?”
“Not for a long time.”
>Trixie looks at you in disgust.
“And that’s if you get your head out of your ass and learn to stop spending all your money on booze and ‘special entertainment’.”
>Her disgust only deepens.
“Don’t like it? Become a professional singer. They get tons of money, right?”
>”Trixie can’t sing very well!”
“Trust me, I know.”
>”But that’s only because she doesn’t practice much. Maybe if she were to spend some time on it, she could be great! Perhaps Equestria’s greatest vocalist!”
>God damnit, this mare…
>”Don’t worry your tiny mind, hireling. Trixie would never abandon her true calling!”
“That’s another thing. I’m not working under you, anymore. If I’m going to be a part of this debacle, we’re going to be partners.”
>Trixie looks at you blankly.
>”… You jest.”
“Nope. 25-75. The only reason I don’t take half is because I’m taking up residence and getting meals here. Besides, the Agent never earns more than the actor.”
>”Unaccpetable.”
“Non-negotiable. Don’t like it? You’ll be leaving Ponyville without me.”
>She flinched at those words.
“Trixie, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe this could work.”
>”… Trixie… Will have to think about it.”
“That’s fine, you can make your decision before we get to Ponyville. But right now,”
>You spread out a few of the papers in front of Trixie.
“We need to figure out how much money we need each month and year. For wagon payments, groceries, etcetera.”
>”What? What is this?”

“Business expenses. Have you seriously not done this?”
>She bites her lip and looks somewhere off to the side.
“Right, it’s a miracle you haven’t gotten everything repossessed from all this disorganization.”
>”Excuse me!”
>Trixie lifts herself up on the table.
>”Trixie has been able to take care of herself just fine! She only hired you because she thought some FREAK would bring a little extra attention! Well, it seems she had a good eye! Because the thing he was good at happened to be something Trixie could easily exploit for her own gains! Don’t think that Trixie would have just rolled over and died if you hadn’t come along! She wouldn’t have!”
“I… Didn’t mean to imply…”
>Fuck.
>Don’t crack. Don’t show weakness.
>But, that ‘freak’ thing really hurt.
>Just do what Rarity told you.
>Take a deep breath, and…
“I guess that was a little unfair of me but, don’t forget. You came to me, Trixie. You wanted my help and I’m giving it to you so I suggest you take it.”
>She inhales sharply to release another torrent of insults and pointless arguments.
>Then she sighs and falls back into her seat, defeated.
“Good, now tell me how much we’re spending each month and on what. We’ll figure something out from there.”
>”How long will this take?” Trixie says coldly.
“I suggest you get comfortable.”
>Trixie throws her head back and groans.
>You must admit, you don’t want to do this right now either.
“Actually, you want to help me find more food and water? We can pick this back up tomorrow.”
>”Trixie would like that…”
“One more thing, do you think you could stop talking in third-person?”
>”No.”