Trix of the Trade - Chapter 9.5

>The past few days since Trixie’s show have been nothing short of amazing.
>The both of you agree that sticking around Hoofington would be a great idea. For a lack of better words, the two of you wanted to milk every bit you could out of these ponies.
>And you did. You didn’t make nearly as much money as you did the first night, but your pockets are noticeably heavier.
>But it’s time to move on. You’re both sick of this city and its miasmic oxygen.
>Unfortunately, the closest large city is Baltimare, and that’s… that’s a hell of a trip.
>You lie on your bed sheets, holding a map of Equestria above you. The light of a candle just barely illuminates the paper in your hands.
>You’d love to plot your course in a well lit room with a cool cup of water and a bearable companion, but that’s not in the cards right now.
>Instead you’re stuck with a companion whose ego is even more inflated that usual. So much that you actually have to go this far to avoid her.
>But this poor lighting situation is murder on your eyes. And, you don’t like this but, you need to know if Trixie ever had a plan for situations like this.
>You sigh as you sit up, snuff out the candle, and reach for your little bedroom door,
>It swings open before you touch the handle. You lightly hiss as the light reaches your eyes.
>And of course, a very excited Trixie stands on the other side of the threshold.
>Except she’s wearing something you’ve never seen on her.
>A huge, silly grin.

>”You would NOT believe what Trixie just found!” Her voice is a little higher than normal. She reminds you a little of an excited schoolgirl.
“True love?”
>She rolls her eyes and levitates a newspaper into your face.
“Wait, what is this?”
>”A copy of today’s ‘Canterlot Times’.” She begins rocking on her hooves, “Read it!”
>Okay, her attitude is becoming infectious. You’re getting excited, yourself.
>You toss your map to the side and grab the paper.
>You skim over the page, an image of Princess Celestia catches your eye.
>Something clicks.
>You remember your talk with the princess a few nights ago, “Yes! And your undoubted excitement would surely translate well enough, during one of those interviews.”
>You rapidly read through the article until you come across a particular quote.
>”—yes, while Hoofington may have had a pollution problem, it had its share of pleasant surprises. In fact, I came across the Human, Anonymous. I expected him to stay in Ponyville but I suppose he became a little wanderlust and now travels Equestria with a talented young magician.”
>… And that’s it. They move on to a completely different topic after that.
>Trixie takes note of the disappointment on your face.
>”Ugh, you’re NEVER satisfied, are you?”
“Trixie, you needed that namedrop, not me.”
>You grunt in frustration.
“Shit, I knew it was too much to hope for. Would have been too easy anyway.”

>You toss the paper to the side, and rub your temples.
“Okay… Okay, you ready to head out tomorrow morning?”
>”Morning? Aha! Trixie plans to celebrate being mentioned by THE Princess, herself!”

“Alcohol and stallions, huh? Sounds like fun, but,”
>You pick up you map, letting out a slightly forced groan.
“I need to figure out how we’re getting to Baltimare.”
>Trixie quietly sighs.
>”You never stop, do you?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry. That was a bit of a low blow.”
>”Not that. Working. You never stop working.”
>You do give yourself time to kick back once a day, but… Why would Trixie even care?
“I’ll stop when I’m dead.”
>You walk over to the table and set the map down. Before you can take a seat, you feel something yank on your collar.
>”No. Trixie needs you to be alive.”
>She begins pulling you towards the door.
“Figure of speech, Trixie!”
>”Too bad, you’re coming anyway.”
>You attempt to pull away but she just tugs harder.
“Ack, fine! I’ll come!”
>She releases her grip on your collar. You immediately go to massage your neck.
“Shit… Where are we going?”
>”Only the finest drinking establishment in Hoofington!”
“A bar, huh?”
>”Er… Trixie meant… to the grandest theater in all of Equestria!”
“Yeah, sounds good!”
>”… Trixie… Doesn’t know where it is… Or if there is one.”
>You roll your eyes.
“Fine, bar it is.”
>”Trixie will lead the way!”
“Onward to intoxication.” You say mockingly.
>Trixie gives you a ‘really?’ look.

>This isn’t so bad.
>Yeah, it’s a bar. But it’s a classy bar restaurant thingy.
>Best part, there’s a small meat section on the menu.
>Meat was hardly out of your grasp a few days ago, and now it’s hanging in front of your face.
>Nothing is getting in your way this time.
>There’s a lack of variety, but you don’t care. You’ll just order the baked chicken alone and get a side of mozzarella sticks. It’s time to get fat!
>You set down the menu on the table and flag one of the waitresses down.
>You take a quick look at Trixie sitting at the bar, surrounded by stallions.
>And downing shots like a champ.
>Alcohol and stallions, man.
>You give the griffon waitress your order and look back to Trixie.
>You’re admittedly jealous of all that fun she’s having. You’ve pretty much stopped all fun having since Appleoosa. You need to be ready to fix Trixie’s messes and catastrophes and whatnot.
>You let your eyes wander the establishment. You loved the rustic feel to the place. Mahogany stained trim, tables, and chairs. Oak walls covered in some memorabilia. You’d be a regular if you lived here.
>Then your eyes catch two mares sitting in the far corner, blushing and giggling once your eyes meet.
>They both looked awfully attractive… you think? Yeah, you’re still new to the pony-boning business. No matter how much you tell yourself that afternoon at the motel was displeasurable, you can’t think back to it and not smile.
>Yeah, that was a ton of fun.
>You raise your hand to beckon th-
>”Heeey.”
>Oh. Trixie snuck up on you with 4 stallions behind her. Nice.

>”Trixie is gonna is retire for the night with her… FRIENDS.”
>Lots of emphasis on that last word there. You blame it on her drunkenness.
>You give her a quick nod and turn your attention back to the mares.
>”No, come on. Don’t… Be like that, okay? They really aren’t Trixie’s friends, we’re only going to have fun tonight, Trixie swears. She’s sorry.”
“Yeah, fine, whatever, just make sure they wear protection so they don’t catch anything.”
>The 4 stallions reeled back from Trixie, one even said, “Ew…”
>Soon enough, they began babbling excuses about how they have other obligations, and soon dissipated.
>”Awwuh, what? That’s… Why would you do that, Anon? I thought we were… Ugh, I don’t know.”
>You ignore her, the two mares have gotten up and began approaching you.
>Uhh, wait, shit. Does your hair look good? Oh gosh, you haven’t looked in a mirror all day. What if you look terrible?
>”Hey there…”
>Aaah! You… okay they’re here. That means they’re interested. Play it cool, man.
“Hey there.”
>Your face is melting with confidence but FUCK DID YOU REALLY JUST REPEAT WHAT SHE SAID?
>The other one speaks up.
>”We heard a rumor that, uh, you make for a good and lengthy companion.” She nudges her friend and they break out into a giggle fit.
>You normally don’t like rumors about you floating around, but you like this one.
“I’d say there’s some tru-“
>”Buck off, he’s Trixie’s!” Fucking Trixie, no! “And it’s completely not true. He *hic* He’s faster than a stallion.”
>”Oh.” One mare quietly says, while the other one retches.
>They quickly make their exit moments later.
“You are the worst.”
>”And the grestest and powerfulest!”

>You mutter curses under your breath.
>As if some sort of food voodoo incantation, your meal arrives.
>Yes! Chicken! Fried cheese sticks! Your stomach will hate you all night but you don’t care!
>You immediately jab your knife into the chicken. Boneless. This is heaven.
>You start sawing at the meat. Oh god, it’s so juicy. Your mouth water in antis-
>A purple aura surrounds the plate of food as it is whisked out of your grasp.
>”Trixie wants food. You will share right… now!”
>She takes a bite in the chicken without a second glace.
>She drops the plate and freezes.
>Her face quickly turns green.
“… Trixie…”
>She stares at you in horror just before…
==
“I can’t believe you actually ate my food.”
>She painfully moans in response.
“I know you were drunk, but that was incredibly stupid.”
>Another moan.
>You sigh as you push open the wagon door with Trixie in your arms.
>Right now, you were shirtless. Trixie utterly ruined the one you were wearing. You just tossed it in an alleyway and abandoned it forever. R.I.P. shirt.
>You set Trixie down on one of the chairs and grab a nearby rag.
>She groans before saying, “Trixie wants to go to bed…”
“One sec.”
>You bring the rag to her chin, wiping off the little vomit left on it.
>She mildly writhes at your touch. If you weren’t cleaning up vomit, you’d say it was cute.
>With that mess cleaned up, you pick her up once again and push the door open to her room.
>You approach her bed and gently lay her down on it.
“You gonna be alright?”
>She groans and turns on her side.
>You call her a wimp under your breath and lightly walk out of her room, closing the door behind you.

>You exhale loudly, relieved to be done with that mess.
>Hungry as fuck, you grab a small bag of dried fruits that you hid from Trixie, and retreat into your room.
>You didn’t get ANY work done today. Just a bunch of thinking and babysitting.
>You lay back on your bedspread with the lantern mildly lit, munching on your snack.
>The best plan you can think of is stopping by the smaller villages on the way to Baltimare to earn a little extra money on the side. It won’t even be an overnight thing. Go in, do some magic, get out.
>Bleh, you hate that plan, only because there are way too many questions you can’t answer.
>You’ll talk to Trixie about it tomorrow morning. You set your small bag on food behind your pillow, and turn the lantern off.
>You hope to fall asleep instantly, but wishes don’t always come true.
>You shift through various comfortable positions before finding the perfect one.
>Everything starts getting fuzzy. Yeah, you like this.
>Your brain powers down for the night, allowing you sweet, sweet sleep.
>…
>Noise. Power back on.
>What is that? Hoofsteps?
>The door handle unlatches, and the door slowly swings open.
>You see a silhouette of Trixie standing in front of you.
“… You should be asleep.”
>She quietly whimpers and stumbles over to you.
>She looks down at you for a few moments before collapsing on the bedspread.

“Whoa, you okay?”
>”Mmmm, The Greatest and Powerful Trixie wanted to be with her friend today…”
“… O-Okay?”
>”… Anonymous?”
“Mmm?”
>”Please don’t stop being Trixie’s friend.”
>You aren’t sure how to react.
>How are you and Trixie friends in any way?
>You’re not sure, but you’ll let her have her strange meaning of friendship for tonight.
“Absolutely. Good night, Trixie.”
>She scoots a few inches closer before saying something unintelligible.
>The heat radiating off her body and her slow, steady breathing put you under within a few minutes.
>Trixie would awake early the next morning, startled and confused as to why she’s in Anonymous’ bed. But she noticed the lack of alienation and loneliness that always seemed to accompany her sober mind.
>She would fall back asleep shortly with a small smile across her snout.