Trix of the Trade - Chapter 25

>You are Anonymous. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy have been leading you to Tome Square for the past hour now. Every few blocks they would both fly up to reestablish where they are and how close they’re getting.
>Fluttershy has given you and Dash some space which allowed the two of your to talk a little more. You’d ask how thing were in Ponyville but all you could get out of her was, “Good.” and “Kinda boring.”
>She seemed more interested in your travels around Equestria. You were worried about going on and on and boring her but you quickly sorted out what was interesting enough to talk about and what wasn’t. You told her about the grand performance in Hoofington. The flop in Baltimare and the unique setting of Fillydelphia. You told her of the ponies you met, the fun you had and the misery of living on the road. All with leaving out the details of sleeping with those couple mares! You can’t get over the sinking feeling that you’ll be seeing at least one of those girls again.
>Dash wasn’t too impressed with your adventures as it involved nothing with going fast but it killed time until you three arrived in Tome Square. It was a complete change from what you were accustomed to in the rest of Manehattan. The traffic became incredibly thick even as the roads and sidewalks widened by threefold. Earth Ponies and non-flying creatures would take the ground while pegasi flew on wings and unicorns flew on magic carpets, clouds, you name it.

>Tome Square is hardly a square. It’s a six way intersection with towering identical buildings in each wedge between the streets. The buildings themselves were stone white with large orange tinted glass windows. Through them you can vaguely see the giant shelves of books upon books with ladders racing back and forth along them with ponies looking for whatever book, magazine or tome they needed.
>However the bottom two stories of each building seemed to consist of information and food hubs.
>The best analogy you can come up with is that Tome Square resembles a giant book mall.
>Twilight HAS to be here.
>But…
“Do you guys have any idea where she could be?”
>Both Pegasi following you glace at the buildings before looking at each other and shrugging.
“Great, should we even bother?”
>Fluttershy hovers down to your shoulder to talk over the volume of the crowd.
>”I-I think with Twilight’s status… maybe someone will know where she is?”
“Hey, Flutters, distance.” Fluttershy backs off a little bit a bashful look on her face. “And you’re probably right. We’ll ask around for a bit but if it takes too long, we’re moving on. I’m seriously feeling a little claustrophobic here.”
>”Ugh, the orange tint on everything hurts to look at too.”
>Thanks, Dash! Now you’re noticing it and you’re not enjoying it.
“Same. Let’s get inside.”
>”Um… which one?”
“I don’t think it matters.”

>The choice of what way to go was left to fate. A coin flip, to be precise. It landed on heads and heads meant left.
>You never believed in fate! You take life by the hands and bend it to your will! Fate can’t stand in your way! Neither can destiny nor god!
>So you went to the building to your right.
>You asked at the front desk for any information but the mare was only there as a security guard. Whoever would know is in the actual library.
>The three of you went deeper into the place where it opened up into a large lobby with an area in the middle that could seat at least fifteen ponies, each spot taken by a pony with a book. Along the sides were a few stores selling products that would ‘enhance your reading experience’ or selling super bookmarks and other junk no one needs.
>Proceeding further into the building revealed a large food court. Your stomach quietly asks for perhaps a snack while we’re here but scold him and continue on your way. A wide, red carpeted staircase leads you upstairs to another food court, only this one has expensive restaurants and bars.
>”Ugh, are we ever going to find any books in this library?”
“Maybe… Should we just keep going upstairs?”
>Dash takes a quick look around before turning to you again.
>”Eeyeah. I don’t think Twilight would leave this library, even for food. She’s somewhere in the actual library part. I guarantee it.”

>You continue up another flight of stairs and finally arrive to the actual library on the third floor of the building. Being quite easily the most densely populated area in the building, ponies, griffons and even some minotaurs browse the shelves or sit quietly on a couch or at a table. They read, they write, but they don’t talk.
>Actually, it’s a slightly creepy how quiet it is. The shuffling of hooves is even hardly noticeable.
>Each step of yours suddenly feels very loud.
>About thirty feet away from you is the librarian’s desk. Stacks of papers litter her desk as she scribbles something down each one and tosses into a tray on next to her. You see a little movement from around her, behind the desk but you can’t make out what it is.
>Whatever it is, it ducks below the desk as you approach.
>You place your hands on the desk. The wood creaks as you apply the slightest pressure, catching the librarian’s attention. She doesn’t say anything but acknowledges your presence with a nod.
“Excu-“
>”Quieter, please.” She says just above a whisper.
“Right… Ahem, excuse me, but I was wondering if you’d know something and could help us out here?”
>She nods once more.
“I have a friend who’s at one of these libraries but I don’t know which one. Is there any way you could help us out?”
>”But of course.” The librarian pulls out a sheet of parchment from somewhere under the desk and readies a quill. “Could I get her name?”
“Twilight Sparkle.”

>The librarian’s face relaxes and breaks into a gentle smile.
>”Ah, Ms. Sparkle. I’ve never met a filly who’s had such a love for the library. We’re honored to have her now that she’s the Element of Magic.”
“She’s been here before?”
>”She visited frequently as a child.”
>She finishes writing whatever she was writing, blows on the ink to dry it, rolls it and seals it.
>That’s when a small dragon emerges from under her desk. You have to double-take in shock.
>Unlike Spike, this little dragon is pure white with dark purple spines. He’s also a lot ganglier than Spike.
>”Siegfried,” The librarian addresses the dragon. “Make four copies of this and send them to the other towers.”
>”A-absolutely, milady.”
>He disappears beneath the desk once again. Only seconds afterwards you can hear the sounds of a quill on parchment.
>”The other towers will soon receive the message that Twilight Sparkle is requested here by acquaintances. It may take some time for her to receive the message and even longer to arrive here, if she decides to come this way.”
>”Um…” Fluttershy speaks up. “Could you tell her it’s from her friends?”
>”Of course. Siegfried.” You hear a small bump from under the desk followed by an, “Ow…”
>”Make space for their names. Which are…”
>”Rainbow Dash!”
>Half of the library hushes Rainbow Dash.
>”Eheh…”
>”And I’m Fluttershy.”

>The librarian then looks at you.
>”And I presume you want to be on there too, Anonymous?”
>It almost passes right over your head but,
“You know my name?”
>She raises an eyebrow and looks at you like you’re an idiot.
“What?”
>”I’ve read every book regarding your existence, Anonymous. In fact, those six books about you were impossible to find in this library until three months have passed after your arrival. A new species suddenly appearing, only one of his kind? It’s a bigger deal than you’d think.”
>Six books? You knew Twilight published a few but it was less than six. That much you know.
“Right… well, leave me out for now. It’ll be a surprise for Twilight.”
>”Very well then. Siegfried, do you have those names?”
>”Miss Rainbow Dash and Miss Fluttershy, milady.”
>”Very good. Send those out post-haste. In the meantime, the three of you a free the browse the library.”
>You open your mouth to ask something but the librarian cuts you off.
>”And if you’re interested in those books about yourself, I can mark it for you on a map, if you’d like. I doubt you can navigate this place without it.”
>Thanks for the vote of confidence.
>You slap your hands on the counter. The sound echoes throughout the library.
“That’d be great, thank you.”

>Half an hour later, the three of you are sitting at a table doing little more than reading. You’re doing a ton of reading, they are not. That equals out to little. Pick up the slack, ladies.
>Rainbow Dash has been having a hell of a time trying to not do something awesome and Fluttershit has been slowly scooting her chair towards you. You’ve pushed her away three times already. Next time you’re pushing her off the chair.
>And regarding the books, skimming through them you found a few familiar things and a few unfamiliar thing.
>You’ve set four off to the side, those being the ones you’ve read or seen before. The two others are new to you. ‘The Social Tendencies of a Human’ Parts I & II. Both by Twilight Sparkle.
>You only skimmed it and you could tell it’s more of an organized log than a novel. It seems Twilight has been doing some spying and research…
>Yeah, this doesn’t feel invasive. Not at all.
“Do either of you find this creepy? Actually, have any of you read this?”
>”Yeah, and… maybe…”
>”Twilight wouldn’t let me read them…”
“Good.”
>You continued to read a little further into the book. How you apply your trading customs to Equestrian trade, how you approach someone you like, how you approach someone you don’t like, how you deal with the crippling agony on never returning home.
>…
>Wow. Thanks, Sparkle.
>You sigh and close the book, continuing the long and boring wait.
>Yet, just as you begin to doze off, you see Twilight Sparkle climb the same stairs where you came from and quickly hone in on your position.
>One of you has a rainbow mane and the other is twice as tall as any other pony. You’re not exactly Waldo over here.

>Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy generate all the excitement you’ll need for the rest of the day when they jump out of their seats and dart of Twilight. The whole library is annoyed by the noise they make.
>You can’t really hear what they’re saying to Twilight but their pointing and glancing in your direction so you can make a good guess.
>Twilight is fixated on you though.
>Sighing to yourself, you get out of your chair and walk on over to the there. You and Twilight separated on bad terms. Trixie sort of kicked her ass and you left town with her.
>You get about halfway to her before takes a step back and casts a mean glare upon you.
“Wuh, whoa. Hey, Twi—“
>A hard yank on the collar of your shirt cuts you off as Twilight begins to magically pull you down the stairs with Dash and Flutters in tow, both sporting confused looks. It takes all of your agility and a lot of luck not to lose your footing.
>Twilight lets you go at the bottom of the steps. She looks up at you, her face contorted into an expression of anger. Or constipation.
>She takes in a deep breath, getting ready to unleash a torrent of hateful lecturing.
>”Anonymous.” She strains to say with her lungs still full of air.
“… Um, yeah?”
>”We are friends… and we will get through this together.”
“Al… right?”
>She slowly exhales and stands silently with her eyes closed for a few seconds.
“If it helps, I’m really sorry about everything. It just happened so fast and I was out of options.”
>She cracks her eyes open with a small smile on her face.
>”It does help.”

>You and Twilight stare at each other for a few more second before breaking into a small giggle fit.
>”It’s good to have you back, Anon.”
“Feels good to be back. It’s getting’ all nostalgic in here.”
>”Yeah! The gang is all… Well, half of us. Hey Twi, we were just about to go find everyone else. You in?”
>”I’d love to! I… haven’t eaten all day though. Eheh… could we get something to eat before we go?”
“God, yes! I’m starving too.”
>”Sweet. We’ll grab a bite to eat and head out for the Garment District to find Rarity!”
>”But isn’t that far away? Where is everyone else?”
>”We don’t know.”
>”… Ah.”
==
>You are the Great and Powerful Trixie!
>This Applehorse has forcibly restrained you from being your TRUE and POWERFUL self by holding weak little Anonymous hostage!
>You’ve decided to cooperate with her to get your human back. Who knows what horrors he’s being put through with those two pegasi though…
>The Applehorse has led you into the garment district to hopefully find and acquire Anonymous. The buildings all around have become a mix of the same and unique. Every business had to be a special little snowflake, forcing one building to be a light mint green while the one next to it would be a volcanic stone red. However the homes would all be identical to conform to whatever is most popular. Trends would surely change often, making the colors a very expensive thing to upkeep. Then again, how many poor ponies actually live here?

>It takes mere minutes of searching before Applehorse is hot on the trail. Asking about a two legged ape gained no results but asking about an over enthusiastic unicorn sure did, which worried you.
>If this Applehose is leading you astray, then what really happened to Anonymous?
>Well, if things turn out as you expect them to you’ll be interrogating this one tonight.
>You tail her a little longer until you hear a loud crashing noise accompanied by excited giggling and shouting from a nearby store. It stands out compared to all the low-tuned, uptight speech you hear from every other pony in this part of the town.
>”You hear that?”
“Of course I did.”
>”It… it sounds like Rarity! An’ I think she’s hurt!”
“You idiot,” You take a few paces in front of Applehorse. “Did you not hear the laughter?”
>Then another crash comes from the building. You and your temporary companion exchange glances before running off to the store.
>You were too preoccupied to notice what kind of store you were running into but it couldn’t be too much of a mystery in the GARMENT DISTRICT, the clothes and accessories neighborhood of the city.
>Both you and Applehorse skid to a stop once you see all the racks along the walls and in the middle of the floor nearly barren.
>By the cash register lies a large pile of clothes where you can hear two mares conversing.
>”Rarity? Rarity, you in here?”
>”Applejack, is that you?”
>Somehow, the pile of clothes lifts with a familiar white pony supporting it.

>Wait… oh you remember this one. Quiet easily the most annoying of the bunch. So protective of Anon. It figures he would run to her first.
>But Anon is nowhere to be seen! Could the harlot be hiding him within that protective shell of clothing?!
>You take a step forward and puff out your chest.
“You, white pony! What have you done with my Anonymous?”
>”’My Anonymous’?” You hear Horseapples say from behind you.
>Oh… Celestia. You just said that, didn’t you?
>”Applejack, Applejack Appajack, Applejack!” Whitepony’s voice keep getting higher and higher as she repeats Apple… jack’s name and slowly lumbers your way.
>And she’s completely ignoring you!
>”You… you would not beLIEVE the amazing things I have found in this store!” Her laughter and speech are crazed in addition to the strain of holding the entire store’s stock on her back. “And the DEALS, Applejack! The DEALS! It should be a crime to sell this low!”
>”Excuse me, those prices were only for that small rack in the corner, and only for preferred customers.” Says the mare behind the counter
>Whitepony quickly spins on her hindlegs, flinging a few garments in every direction. Including yours.
“Watch what you’re doing, fool!”
>She continues to ignore you to your annoyance.
>”Ehe, preferred? I didn’t see that anywhere, I—“
>”Because you stuffed the signs inside that pile, as well.”
>”Ahaha… W-well I’m sure we can work something out! I’m buying in bulk and…” She takes another glace at the pile on her back. It’s a heck of a neck stretch and as she realizes it’s tall enough to scrape the ceiling, her legs start to wobble. “I… I can’t take all of this but,”
>Ugh, you’ve had enough of this.

>You steady yourself and focus on the pile of clothes. The electric feeling of magic swirling up your horn and wrapping itself around each piece of clothing is a much greater strain than you expected. For starters, why is it so heavy?! It’s fabric! The added bonus of it all being in individual pieces doesn’t help. Instead of grabbing it all, you have to create a forcefield to lift it.
>It takes much more effort than anticipated, but you hover the pile inches above the white unicorn’s head.
>Feeling the weight off her back, the pony looks back to see it all above her head.
>”Wha—“
>You waste no time in dropping it on her once she realizes it’s there.
>”Tch, hey!” Applejack nudges you before rushing over to help Whitepony.
>”If any of those are torn, someone’s gonna pay for it!” The pony from behind the counter speaks up again.
>Whitepony manages to pull her head out from under the mess just as Applejack reaches her.
>”Rarity, y’alright?”
>”I… Yes, I am but who—“
>She finally notices you as you begin to approach.
>”Trixie! What are you doing here?! And, and why did you do that?!”
“Where’s Anonymous!”
>”She, uh… she’s looking for ‘her’ Anonymous.” Applejack whispers to Rarity.
>If you could put every ounce of willpower into not blushing that’s exactly what you would do.
>”Anonymous? Wait, he’s here? Wait, you LOST him?!”
>”Now calm down, he—“
“I didn’t lose him, that butter-colored Pegasus friend of your stole him away!”
>Applejack sighs.
>”Anon is alone with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. I trust nothin’ will happen to him, but still.”
>Rarity twiddles her hooves a little.
>”But still, indeed.” Rarity shivers. “I still remember the day I heard what had happened. Fluttershy is a dear friend but… oh dear, it’s difficult to accept.”
“So is he here or not?”

>Rarity lets out a long-winded sigh and gets back on her hooves.
>”If he is, I haven’t seen him.”
>”Well it is a big city. Maybe the three of ‘em just got lost?”
“I have trouble believing two pegasi could get lost so easily.”
>”Mmm, she’s right. There are plenty of landmarks Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash could have used to find their way around town. The Statue of Monarchy, The Equestrian Stock Exchange, Middle Park, Tome Square, Clydes—“
>”D’uh… Aahh… Awwuh shoot!” Applejack grabs her hat and slides it down on her face.
>”Applejack, is something the matter?”
>”Tome Square! I shoulda known they would have taken Anon there. They wouldn’t know nothin’ about fashion and whatnot. Well, maybe Fluttershy but,”
>You begin to tune her out as the rage boils up inside you.
“You led us in the wrong direction!? I cannot… Trixie cannot believe you would make such a stupid mistake! Why she trusted you in the first place is beyond her comprehension!”
>You turn on your heels to face the exit.
“You said Tome Square! Then Trixie will find her way there, completely free of your failure.”
>”But what if they left and went back to the hotel room?” Applejack states flatly.
>You hesitate for a second.
>”I mean, it’s unlikely we’ll find ‘em wandering the streets. They probably went there already. It might not even be worth going to Tome Square. So we’ll be goin’ back to our hotel. Spend some time with Anon.”
>She’s… she’s obviously leading you on a rude. You cannot fall for such an easy trick.
>”Alone.”
“Okay, okay! Trixie will follow you… only if—“
>”Hold on, you broke my third person rule.”
“I… Bu—“
>”That means you gotta stay fifteen paces behind Rarity ‘n me the whole way. Got it?”
“Mmmnrg… fine.”

>”Phew, we got a heck of a walk ahead of us. You ready to get goin’, Rarity?”
>”I suppose. I do love this place but it’s murder on my coinpurse. I’ll be forced to window shop for the rest of our trip if I’m here much longer.”
“Can we just go?”
>Applejack tortures you further by putting on a quizzical look and rubs her chin.
>”Hmmm… sure. We should cut through—“
>”Hey!” A voice yells from behind Rarity and Applejack.
>They turn and instantly realize why they’re being called. Their faces reflect the horror of the situation.
>The store clerk is standing next to the pile of clothes looking furious.
>”No one is getting out of here until this mess is dealt with!”