Twilight sank to her hooves as she panted and wheezed for breath. The exhaustion had gotten to her. “Walking this wasteland almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter.” Twilight looked to the traveling mare who appeared in front of her. A bottle of water floated in front of her face. “Thirsty?” the traveling mare quipped. “No thanks, I bet you’re working for--” Twilight attempted to speak but coughed heavily from the roughness in her throat. “Now now, don’t speak. The Great and Powerful Trixie is here to help!” The mare pulled back her cloak to reveal her true figure. She levitated the bottle to Twilight’s lips to help her drink. “Trixie? What are you doing here out in the middle of nowhere?” “Um, do you not see the wagon? Trixie's a merchant.” Twilight eyed the wagon. It was pretty massive. How did she miss it? A tidal wave came over Twilight’s head. Her head throbbed in pain as she scummed back to the earth. “Oh, what’s this? Is Twilight Sparkle bowing to the Great and Powerful--” “Trixie!” “W-what?” Trixie stuttered. “What did you put in there?” Trixie gasped at the accusation. “How dare you think that the Great and Powerful Trixie would harm you, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight got up but immediately fell to the ground in a faint. Trixie rushed over to her and wiped the sand off from her face. “If that’s not it, then what’s happening…?” Twilight murmured. “You’re exhausted. Now come on, into the wagon you go.” Inside, Trixie laid Twilight on her cot. The blue mare put her hoof on Twilight’s head to check her temperature. “Well no wonder you fainted. You’re burning up! And to think, without me, you’d probably be dead out in the wasteland. You should be thanking me, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight, however, couldn’t relax. She was now in the wagon of someone who’d she consider a complete stranger. Unable to do anything put her extensively on her nerves. Any attack on her would easily be fatal given the correct intent. The mare peered around the wagon, but her heart sank as she traced between one object to the next. Pony skulls, jars of eyes and teeth, and underneath it all was a cooler. Twilight couldn’t even imagine what was in there without getting nauseous. She jolted up picturing the inside, however Trixie came and pushed her back down. “There is no way, Twilight Sparkle, Trixie will let you leave this wagon until you are well.” Smacking an ice pack on the purple mare’s forehead and giving her a blanket, Trixie smiled. “There, better?” “Trixie,” Twilight spoke up. Trixie hummed, eagerly awaiting her praise. Her eyes fluttered. “What exactly type of merchant are you again?” Trixie jumped in excitement. “Why, an organ trader!” Twilight’s pupils sank. With a spark and sputter, her teleport spell failed. Instead, she crawled back further into the cot. Trixie giggled. “I love seeing the reaction on ponies face when they hear that. Don’t worry, I won’t eat you up. Even the Great and Powerful Trixie is a herbivore, you know.” “Then what’s with all the pony bones and eyeballs around the place for?” “Trixie is a trader, duh. She sells them. There are a lot of wounded or ill ponies out there, Twilight.” Twilight stayed silent. That was the only thing she could do after hearing an obvious answer like that. “But, Trixie does require some sort of payment for her services.” Trixie climbed on the cot that supported Twilight’s weight and planted her lips onto Twilight’s. Twilight felt her life force inside of her being drained away, escaping into the tongue that had slipped onto hers. Twilight managed to push her off in her weakened state after what seemed like an eternity. “You’re a changeling?” she asked. “Well, Trixie did lie a bit on the part where she said she wouldn’t eat you up,” Trixie admitted. “Oh, and don’t tell anypony else of Trixie’s secret. She wouldn’t want her business ruined from one neighsayer.” “Why should I? For what reason do I have to trust you?” “As long as you are a resident in Trixie’s wagon, she will do whatever it takes to ensure that you are feeling okay. That is, if you're willing to give in return. But since you're so weak, as if Trixie could let you get away with a fair choice..." Trixie continued with a passionate kiss on Twilight's neck. Twilight felt it was appropriate to at least pretend to like it.