A Blueberry and Her Greenery

[Gentian]

Submitted for the approval of the Nightmare Night Society: ABaHG, part 3.


A Blueberry and Her Greenery

3 - Histrionics

Under the vast, blue skies of Equestria lies a thick, green wood. It's one of the great forests of Equestria, though not, by size alone, the greatest. It's divided in to northern and southern halves by a river flowing through its center, which then joins with another at its western edge, and runs all the way to the distant sea. On its northern border, like a crown, rests a minor mountain range. It continues northward in fits and starts, extending all the way to the greatest, and most important mountain of all: Canterlot.

If instead we follow its peaks to the southeast, they grow gradually smaller, shrinking to low, rocky hills with dry slopes littered in scree and talus. Trees grow here too, though they're not part of the great wood. Their roots bore deeply through the dry dirt and stone to drink directly from the water table. They're mostly aspen, and line the roads and passes in shining gold every autumn, but now it's late spring, and their leaves are brilliant green.

Down just one of these roads, more a path, really, rolls a wagon, swathed in emerald light. The Magus of the Road, Trixie, the Great, and Powerful, stands on it's hoofboard giddy with anticipation. Not much farther now: Diamond Dogs! They're stinky, sure, but loaded with jewels, and very easy to impress. That's a good thing too, because she needs every bit she can squeeze out of the few audiences isolated enough to still see her as she deserves to be seen: with awe.

She strains her magic to keep the wheels turning. It's hard, yes, but not too hard; she is the Great and Powerful Trixie, after all. What's important, is that cruising in to a show on a cart that pulls itself is impressive, even to other ponies. As for the Diamond Dogs? She giggles to herself imagining their reactions.

The blue sky breaks between the last few trunks as the forest's edge approaches; she won't have to imagine for long. With practiced ease she dons a haughty expression, her nose up, a sly smile on her lips, and simply oozing arrogance. Her pointed hat is cocked just so, and a gentle touch of magic sets her starry cape billowing behind her in a non-existent wind.

The wagon sways gently as it carries her through the tree line.

Showtime!

“Come one! Come all! See the amaaaaaaazing feats of magic that can only be performed by the most amaaaaaaazing unicorn in all Equestria!”

Memories rise unbidden: a small town, not too far away, an amulet, the violet eyes of another unicorn... But her expression never wavers, neither does her voice betray her thoughts; her smile even grows. As powerful as she is, magic isn't the only great thing about her!

“See the dextrous manipulation of reality itself!” They definitely see her; diamond pups begin to yip and jump excitedly, some rush into the wide mouth of their cave, others run to meet her, and follow alongside as her vardo bears her onward.

“Trixie! Trixie! Trixie's here!” Their small voices are music to her ears; this is what it's all about! She looks down her snout at them, then flashes a sudden radiant smile.

“Be AWED with power you never knew existed! Power you never knew COULD exist!” More Diamond Dogs emerge from the cave, their ears perked, and tails wagging. Not just the pups either; full-grown dogs run around her wagon, their giant tongues lolling in naked excitement. Only Diamond Dogs, she thinks to herself, taking care not to hit any with the wagon.

“For while The Great and Powerful Trixie has graced your home with her presence befooore...” Her voice climbs along with her snout “...that was some. Time. Ago.” With a smirk she lets the wagon roll to a gentle stop.

“Gather 'round, and see The Great and Powerful Trixie as you've never seen her before!” In one fluid motion she whips her cloak in a fluttering circle, throws it back, and leaps to her vardo's roof, stealthily triggering a switch as she goes.

“Blessed with talent beyond any other unicorn! Trained by her Royal Highness Princess Celestia herself! Easy victor of not just one, but too many duels to count with Princess...” Was that tone a bit too mocking? “...Twilight Sparkle!”

Unwelcome memories spring to her mind; she effortlessly squashes them back down.

“Conqueror and ruler of Ponyville...until I got bored and left! The one! The only! The Great and Powerful Trrrrrixie!”

Now, she thinks, both magic and muscle sending her springing into the air. Soaring higher than any mere jump, she watches as hidden, ports slide back sending mechanical trumpets blaring and cannons launching sparks and confetti over her audience.

Perfect timing, of course, she silently congratulates herself. Smoke gushes from under her wagon and a stage juts forth. She magically slows her descent to a gentle glide, and touches down with an ostentatious bow just as the smoke clears, to a cacophony of wild howls and tails drumming the ground.

Ah, Diamond Dogs, she thinks, already in the frog of my hoof! With a perfect smile on her gorgeous face, and a flashy wave of her forelegs, a wand appears in hoof, as if from nothing. She brandishes it with dramatic flourish raising it high, and sweeping the crowd, barely stifling a giggle as their heads follow its movement. Every last one of them.

Sweet Celestia! I've gotta play that off!

“Ha, ha haaaa...” she says in gradually rising pitch, letting her voice take on a vaguely sinister note at the end.

Such silly creatures! It's not what I planned, but if you like the stick, I'll give you the stick!

“Behold! An artifact from the other side. Unknown to Gryphons!”

What should I call this thing?

“Unknown to 'Taurs!”

Think fast, Trixie!

“Unknown to the Dragons, and you mighty Diamond Dogs!”

Oh, I know! What was that thing called?

“Unknown to all but the wisest and greatest of ponies, and only spoken of in frightened whispers!”

Lives in a city under the sea, part pony, part octopus, little bat-wings? That's it!

“Pulled to this world by none other than Starswirl the Bearded himself! Used to work wonders both incredible and terrible, then banished beyond the sea by Princess Celestia because even SHE feared its power! Tremble, for you are in the presence of the dreaded Wand of Colthulhu!”

They all actually gasped. Perfect!

“But I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, could not be denied! I, through wit and sorcery unmatched, stole this artifact from the depths of Tartarus itself! I, and I alone know the secret to its use!” The Diamond Dogs stand transfixed by the wand, ears pressed back, eyes wide, and fearful.

“But, you have no-thing to fear! I, the Great and Wonderful Trixie am not cruel!”

Memories.

Not now!

“I, The Great and Powerful Trixie, will protect you from whatever terrors it holds! I, the Great and Selfless Trixie, in my generosity, would share the marvels of this ancient relic with you! Watch, and be amazed!”

She tosses the wand underhoofedly in the air, and catches it in her pink aura, holding it suspended just over their heads.

“Not e-ven The Great and Powerful Trixie can use it in hoof. Its magic is too dangerous! One of Starswirl's apprentices tried... and was last seen being dragged away by tentacled horrors! Things...” she eyes the mass of slack-jawed dogs ominously “...from beyond the veil of worlds!

I see them!” The sudden shout draws a jump from the crowd. “Insanity given form! Crouching in the Warp! Rrrrrravenous! They're watching you! Steel yourselves, for The Great and Powerful Trixie will pull back the aetheral curtain, and show you a glimpse...” She lets the last word linger in the air “but only a glimpse, lest you go MAD!”

A murmer passes through the crowd: palpable tension. Perfect!

The wand begins to sway and dip in her brightening aura. A touch of ventriloquism magic calls a noise, faint and buzzing. It seems to come from the wand, and swiftly grows to shrill, mindless screams.

“Can you hear them? The mad shrieks of Tartarus!” More magic!

Thin wisps of vapor pour from the tip of her wand, and thicken to a dark, bulbous cloud. From the lobes and pillows of smoke she sculpts a face, twisted and rotten, then lets it melt away. Sharp gasps leap gratifyingly from her audience's throats.

“Can you see? The soul-devouring nightmares of the Immaterium!” More magic!

Another one, larger and more monstrous than the last. She looks around. They're all focused on the show above them. A few of the pups are even hiding their eyes behind their paws, or cowering against their parents.

A new shape rises, swift and terrible, like a shark attacking from below. It's toothy maw swallows the monstrous face, then leers at the crowd.

More gasps, and even a whimper or two. Not just from the pups, either, she notes with satisfaction.

Ha! Here we go!

She makes the screams louder, and lets her magical aura sputter and spark, as the face grows. Expertly she adds new voices, twisting them, and weaving them among the others in to a hideous acapella. With a momentary, and well-hidden burst of telekinesis, small waves of stones come tumbling down the mountain side.

Some of the Dogs turn to look, fear worn openly on their dirty faces. The scattered whimpers change to full whines. More magic!

“Pathetic creatures!” The dogs leap at the face's booming, malevolent voice. “You dare summon me? You can't hold me, I'll suck the marrow from your shattered bones and grind your souls to ashes!” She sends some of the smoke snaking down in tendrils to twist and grasp over the Diamond Dog's cringing heads.

Barely good enough for the ponies, she thinks, but more than good enough for these mutts. Some of the pups break from the crowd and flee to the cave.

Looks like it's time to save the day!

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha!” Trixie's bold, feminine laugh rings out, high, and clear as the blue sky. The fleeing dogs stop in their tracks at its magically amplified tone, turning their heads uncertainly between Trixie and the apparition. “I, the Great and Powerful Trixie will not allow you to harm anything! You are at my command! Come to heel, monster! ”

With a deafening roar, she makes the phantom launch its tendrils at her, and with a blast of fiery red, and perfectly harmless light from her horn, knocks it backward, shrieking.

“Silence, beast! Go back to the Chaos from which you came!” Her horn glows even brighter: a pink bonfire blazing from her forehead. “Begone!” The face contorts in agony, keening as it's absorbed back into the stick.

The wand drops, and the Diamond Dogs flee from where it lands, forming a ragged circle of gaping mouths, shifting eyes, and awkward, hesitantly wagging tails. Trixie smiles, allowing herself to seem just a little bit flustered. They look back and forth from the wand to her, their semblant savior, and erupt in cheers.