Chapter Three

Trixie, nervously, set up a small stand in the Ponyville Market area, nervous about any of the townsfolk recognizing her. With that in mind, the mare tightened her cloak even more, not liking how her only change of clothes had been the Showmare Outfit. But, the why she is here, had been enough to push Trixie into coming here, and that is to sell exotic furs to those wanting them. Surprisingly, for a peaceful kingdom, Equestria had quite the market for Manticore Hides, Cockatrice Feathers, Craggadile Scales, and Hydra Fangs. Lucky for the mare, she had quite the business partner, who is willing to hunt these creatures, for such items. While the day had just started, she had sold three of said items, two Manticore Hides along with a Hydra Fang Necklace, and made three-hundred bits!

"That will be seventy-five bits, please." Trixie asked, placing a new Hydra Fang Necklace on to the counter.

The stallion sighed, opening his bag of bits. "Sweet Celestia… This is the sort of price you see in Canterlot." He counted out the bits, and placed them on to the counter.

"I hear they go for a hundred and twenty bits there." Trixie noted, trying out a more business attitude and making it seem like a deal. "Plus, who else do you think will try to collect such items?"

"You have a point there, ma'am… Hard to believe such a cute thing would attempt such things." The stallion said, leaning on to the counter some, pulling the necklace into his possession. "I wonder what could drive you to such extremes? And what a stallion has to do, to see how much of a thrill seeker you are."

Trixie narrowed her eyes at the comment, already picking up on what he is doing. "Actually, it is not me who retrieves these items." She used her hands to, gently, push his muzzle back. "I have a business associate doing such work… He is both strong and brave enough to go after such dangerous beasts in the Everfree Forest." A grin appeared on her hooded muzzle. "And, being my roommate, I doubt he'd appreciate me being distracted during working hours."

Blinking, her words made him a bit worried about how strong this roommate is, he quickly took the trinket and left. This allowed Trixie to sigh in relief, happy that she avoided yet another pervert before they could try anything. However, her troubles did not end with him.

"Trixie Lulamoon, is that you?" A cultured mare called out, causing Trixie to instantly shrink behind the stand. "That is you!"
She looked towards its source, seeing the marshmallow white unicorn mare, with her trademark styled purple mane and tail. "M-Ms. Rarity, good m-morning." Trixie stuttered, slightly coming out from behind the stand… Being spotted by one she embarrassed, not something she liked the thought of. "I-Is there anything I can do for you? Perhaps something you'd like to purchase?"

Rarity just eyed the hooded mare, suspicion in her crystal blue eyes. "Before I even consider purchasing any such items from the likes of you." The mare examined what was being offered at the small stand, then looked to the nervous Trixie. "Where in Equestria did you get such items? Highly doubt you, of all ponies, managed to gather them."

"W-Well…" Trixie started to sweat under the fashionista's gaze. "I actually have a business associate, that enjoys gathering such items." Her purple gaze watched, as Rarity examined one of the Manticore Hides. "He sees it as a challenge, and is also helping find a way to pay rent while he stays with me."
"With you?" Rarity asked, her voice sounding uncertain about her answer. "And by chance, what is this stallion's name?"

"T-Ter'ron…" Trixie blurted out, without thinking, and earned a confused look from Rarity. "He isn't a pony… Another whose down on their luck, and I promised to keep such things private." The fashionista raised an unconvinced brow, which drew the line… Trixie could not take such a thing any longer. "See here! I do not need to prove anything to you, nor convince you of anything!" Rarity's eyes widen, as the showmare pointed an accusing finger. "Ever since that damn necklace turned me into a power crazed monster, I have ran into set back after set bac! It has gotten so bad, I have been forced to strip, just to make end's meat!" That caused Rarity's jaw to go slack, not knowing such information. "Now, Ter'ron is trying to help out, a way for him to pull his own weight!" Trixie sat back down, into her stall's seat, crossing both arms over her chest. "Now, are you going to buy anything? I would like t try and sell all of this, before I have to go in for work…"

Rarity just stared at Trixie, in horrified shock. Granted, like her friends, the fashionista did not like Trixie… But not even she deserved for that to happen. After taking a couple of seconds to study the showmare… She could now see, that Trixie was a little on the thin side.

A sigh escaped Rarity's muzzle, as she smiled at Trixie. "How much are your items? I could use them in some of my designs."

That caused Trixie to blink, hesitating at first. "Well… The Manticore Hides are a hundred and twelve bits, Hydra Fangs are seventy-five, Craggadile Scales are ninety-five, and the Cockatrice Feathers are fifty." She answered, watching Rarity tap her chin, in thought.

"Ooooo… That is quite a deal, darling!" Rarity started, smiling brightly. "Everywhere else is, at the very least, twice that much!" The showmare blinked a few times, Rarity holding up three fingers. "I will take three of each. I simply cannot let such a deal go past me!"

An excited smile appeared on Trixie's muzzle, as she gathered what Rarity wanted. "That will be ninety-hundred and ninety-six bits!" The fashionista nodded, pullingout her pouch and collected the asked number of bits. Once they were all counted out, Trixie gathered them up and placed them into her box. "This is perfect! I can get the carriage fixed with this!"

"Glad I can be of help, darling!" Rarity nodded, collecting her merchandise and started to walk away. "I do hope things get better for you, and this Mister 'Ter'ron' can help!"

Trixie waved goodbye to the fashionista, before eyeing what items were left to be sold. "If I manage to sell everything here, our carriage trouble will be solved." She leaned back into the chair, doing the math in her head. "If I earn the same number of bits tonight, plus if Ter'ron manages to collect more of these items from Everfree…" The showmare tapped, her chin, trying to add it all up quickly. A grand smile appeared on her muzzle. "I will be able to perform another show by the week's end!"

Though, the smile soon fell, her gaze going to the Everfree Forest. To perform, she will need a lot of help, setting things up. The only one willing to do so, does not seem like the most social individuals and might not like to visit an easily spooked village. Plus, after opening the cloak some and seeing the old showmare outfit, she is going to require new attire.

"Excuse me, ma'am?"

"Y-Yes! How can I assist you?" Trixie smiled, but her features fell and pupils shrank, in fear.

Standing in front of her, wearing the iconic gold armor and dark purple cape, was a pegasi of Celestia's Royal Guard. The guard's left hand casually rested on the sword's hilt, while the right held a scroll. "I apologize for interrupting your day, but I am handing out posters of a wanted individual, and wondered if you may have seen him." His armor clanked, handing the scroll to her.

"Not a bother at all, sir!" Trixie replied, lightly taking the scroll and opening it up… Freezing right after seeing a rough sketch of one very familiar dragon she knows. Her pupils were the size of pin points now.

The Royal Guard raised a brow. "Is everything alright, ma'am? Does this individual look familiar to you?"

Trixie looked between the guard and the image. "N-Not good…" She thought, before trying out her acting side and putting on a look of uncertainty. "I think I have, but not sure… I believe there was a dragon like him, flying that I cannot be of any more help, sir."

He motioned for her to keep the poster. "You were more help than most." Trixie sighed with relief, the guard had bought her lie. Though, now he eyed her merchandise, rather intently. "By chance, how much are these Hydra Fang Necklaces?" He asked, holding one up. "My son think I am some sot of hero, and I wanted to help with his lite fantasy… So, this may get him to believe his dad took on a Hydra, and won." The Royal Guard gave a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head, this made Trixie giggle a bit.

"Normally, I sell them for seventy-five bits." Trixie started, the guard blinking a few times. "But, for one of Equestria's brave Royal Guards and such a heroic father?" She thought for a moment, tapping her chin, the guard hanging on her every word. "Fifty bits."

His eyes were wide, as dinner plates. "A-Are you sure? That is nearly thirty-five percent off!"

Trixie gave a nod. "Of course. See this as me repaying you, for all you brave guards do… Along with helping a father in convincing his son to believe said father is a great hero."

The guard suddenly grasped both of her hands, holding them up in a gracious manner. "I cannot thank you enough, miss! I am Sergeant Bright Dawn. If you are ever in Canterlot, and in need of help, ask for me."

She gave a nod. "Trixie Lulamoon… I shall remember that." The guard placed his bits on to the stand and walked off with his purchase.

She simply waved goodbye, keeping up her friendly smile. Once the guard was out of sight, she slumped back into her chair. "I need to warn Ter'ron."

Though, unaware to the mare, two others were keeping a close eye on her. One had darker intentions for the mare, a wide grin appearing on his muzzle while his eyes scanned her entire form, as if taking note. The other pair of eyes? Belonged to a gold wearing guard, hiding behind a nearby building. His shoulderguards had a white stripe going down their center, along with a bright sun. His gaze watched the mare, after the guard left, and then the guard she approached her. "Amateur…" He whispered, shaking his head at how a Royal Guard got fooled so easily.

-Everfree Forest-

The Manticore roared, in agony, just before a forearm blade sliced its throat! Effectively silencing the beast and caused it to fall forward. Ter'ron just eyed his most recent kill, forearm blades drenched in the manticore's blood. His breathing remained controlled, despite having battling with said dangerous creature for the past hour. "Well fought, beast… You were a worthy foe." The dragon walked over, grasping its scorpion tail. "Know that your death is not in vain… Your life is paying for one's own life to continue, while also feeding another."

After taking another moment of silence, allowing a quiet prayer for the manticore's death, he started to drag it home. The process of skinning such a large creature's pelt and preparing the eatable meat is a long process, which is not something to do within the Everfree Forest. There are far too many creatures in these woods, and this most recent battle would attract many of them. Ter'ron needed to get back to Trixie's carriage, before any of those creatures discover him and his newest kill.

"By the Emperor, you are heavy." Ter'ron snarled, using much of his strength to drag the manticore. "I have a feeling you've been quite the glutton up until now." A fanged grin appearing on his horned snout, remembering his Space Wolf brother from Deathwatch. "Heh, I wonder how Ayden Wolfhowl would feel about this? If I know him, he would enjoy hunting your kind, a grin on his fanged face."

Ter'ron stopped, seeing a shallow river before him. This is the very one he used to shake any creature trying to track him, along with use it to clean each kill. Once in the water, te black and white started his trip back to the carriage… Which is made difficult by the opposing water current and heavy load making it difficult to tread through. However, Ter'ron gave his word to pull his own weight, and this is sure doing that.

By the time h arrived back at the carriage, Ter'ron noticed something off. It was not the fact that Trixie had returned from the nearby town, selling what he collected, early… No, it had been the slight flash of silver in the trees and bushes, and the scent of cheap cologne filled his nostrils. She was not alone, and he highly doubt this was a friendly visit.

The dragon's red eyes narrowed, as he released the manticore's corpse. "Oh, how I will enjoy this hunt." Slowly, Ter'ron disappeared into the forest's darkness... A wide grin on his fanged snout.

-With Trixie-

The mare tapped her hoof, impatiently, as she waited for a certain black and white scaled business partner. Trixie had been standing here for quite a while now, to her annoyance. "Where is he? Usually, Ter'ron is back from hunting by now." Her gaze went up to the sun's position, to gauge how long she has left until work. "Not like the others he's hunted were strong enough to take him on, one on one. I highly doubt any of… The others… Could…" Thoughts of some monstrous creature ambushing the dragon, or he had been overpowered by several Timberwolves, started to fill the mare's mind. "I hope that brute is alright…"

Trixie held the wanted poster closer to her breast, grip tightening on it. After seeing how much of a reward is being offered for his live capture, seeds of doubt were quickly sown in her mind They were offering so much, and she is in need of bits like never before. However, she made both a deal and a promise, there is no way he is going back on her word, now.

Her hand became even more tighter. "Where are you, ya big idiot…"
"Not here."

The two whispered words caused Trixie's eyes to snap open, wide, just before the mare had been forced to the ground! When she hit the dirt, despite fighting, the panic made Trixie forget she had magic. Her attacker was larger, and heavier, compare to the five-foot-five underweight mare. His weight making it very hard to breathe, along with a sudden grip n Trixie's throat.

"You're mine, now, arrogant bitch." Trixie's eyes widened even more, recognizing the voice being from that stallion earlier in the day. She felt his hand suddenly rip the bottom of her showmare outfit apart… She tried to scream for help, but his grip tightened even more around her throat, until he forced her head to dig into the dirt. "Oh, I promise, you will enjoy every last second of this... Well, I know I will."

Trixie screamed, feeling the stallion's pants start to slide down, the shock of what is happening forcing tears to form. "N-No! Not like this!" She kept struggling, trying to get free, but his hold was too strong. "I don't want to lose it like this!"

"A virgin? Oh, this is even better than I hoped it would be!" He grabbed hold o her hips, Trixie's struggling making it harder. "Hold still, bitch!"
"N-No!" Trixie screamed, before one last idea appeared in her mind. "Ter'ron!"

"He's not going to-MMMPH!"

A pair of black scaled claws suddenly wrapped around his jaw and head, the razor sharp claws stabbing into the stallion's flesh. "You are the lowest of scum." The growled words actually made the stallion yelp, as he was forced off of Trixie, and stand up within the attacker's grip… Kicking and trying to punch the armored arms. "I would prefer working with traitors and mutants, then your filth."

"Wmho arme yov!?" The stallion panicked, trying but the grip made it hard… Trixie already seeing the answer, along with the rage in their eye.

"Oh, you are about to see… But it will be the very last thing you will ever see." His answer caused the stallion to let out a muffled scream, struggling even more, as the attacker's arms started to turn towards his left. The muffled words 'no, no, no!' could be made out, before…

SNAP!

The stallion's head was forced to turn all the way around, spinal cord completely snapped in half at the neck and throat torn. His wide eyes just stared up at the attack, the image of black and white scales being burned into the glazed eyes. Without care, the attacker threw his corpse off to the right, before their gaze went to the frozen Trixie. "Are you alright, Trixie? He didn't get too far, did he?" Ter'ron asked, carefully examining the terrified mare. When she did not reply, he gave a light sigh and gently picked her up bridal style… Carrying the shocked mare inside her carriage, not bothering with the manticore's, or the stallion's, corpse for now.