Queen Nightmare Dusk wasn’t entirely sure if she should be worried when she found Spike curled up by Discord’s feet.
The stone had held resilient, that was good, but why was Spike hanging around here? She had a faint idea why, and that just made her feel even more worried. He had his back to her. She approached slowly, and carefully, not wanting to scare him.
“…Spike?”
The baby dragon tensed, and slowly raised his head, turning towards her. “Dusk?”
“We promise not to hurt you!” she said quickly, backing away slightly, giving him space. “We… wish no more harm upon you. We promise,” she said sincerely. Spike looked at her suspiciously.
“Spike…” she said softly, taking a cautious step towards him. She magically levitated off her dark purple helm, and let it drop to the ground. “I promise I won’t hurt you anymore.”
Spike nervously chewed on his lip, trying to come up with an answer. He didn’t really hate her, but… he didn’t want to end up in her death grip again, either.
“I…” would she… no, she promised she wouldn’t hurt me, he thought, but would she break her promise? No, no – Twilight wouldn’t – no, this isn’t Twilight… But…
“I forgive you,” he said quietly.
“Oh, thank you!” she cried, suddenly diving forward and sweeping the startled dragon into a bone-breaking hug. Spike struggled to breathe and she released her grip slightly, “Oops… hehe,” she nuzzled him affectionately. Spike wasn’t really sure how to react anymore, and numbly hugged her back. She extended a wing over him,
“Spike, We promise We’ll treat you better from now on. We’ll give you many gems to eat, and you may have our bed as well! No more sleeping in that tiny little laundry basket! We’ll sleep there, and-“
“Okay, uh… that’s fine, you keep your bed.” He rubbed the back of his head; still trying to catch up with what the hay was happening.
“Come, let us make our way back to the castle! You must be hungry, We shall-“
“No, that’s okay!” Spike said quickly. “I think I’ll stay here. For now.”
Dusk stopped, casting Discord’s statue a nervous glance. She didn’t want the stone to start cracking again…
“Why?” She asked the little dragon, who squirmed until she set him back down.
“I just…” He paused, struggling for words. “…I’m keeping him company,” he said finally.
“Discord?”
“Yep!”
Dusk blinked, momentarily stunned. “…Why?!”
“I don’t know,” Spike admitted. “I just… He did save me from… never mind, he saved my life so I’m keeping him company!”
“Noble Dragon Code.” she deadpanned and Spike nodded. Dusk sighed deeply, she didn’t really have a reason to stop him… but she still didn’t feel safe.
“Well… you do that,” she said finally. “But if any cracks appear, it is imperative that you let us know immediately. Understand?”
“Okay,” Spike said. Dusk gave him and the statue one last nervous glance, before giving Spike a weak smile.
“…You have fun, then…”
~~
“Trixie’s not paying for your tickets,” Trixie huffed as she took her own train tickets in her light pink levitation.
“I don’t have any money with me,” Cadance gave her friends guilty looks.
“I’ll pay fer’ everypony,” Applejack sighed.
“Na, I can pay for myself,” Rainbow shrugged.
Several moments later; the eight of them were all packed in the train headed for Canterlot.
“So, you’re a magician?” Cadance attempted to strike a conversation with the blue unicorn sitting across from her and her husband.
“Was a magician,” Trixie mumbled, but did not elaborate. She kept casting glances at the little box holding the elements, but had made no move to touch them.
“Sooo… What happened?” Cadance asked.
“I was ridiculed, shamed, and nopony watches my shows anymore;” Trixie said in one long exhale, and Cadance blinked as she tried to process what had been said.
“How do you make a living?” Cadance tried to change the subject, and earned another irritated look.
“I don’t.”
“…Oh.” The princess said quietly, decided not to say anything further, and busied herself with watching the scenery pass by the windows.
“I think we’re going to win this time,” Rainbow Dash said confidently. “If we can take her by surprise, she’ll never see it coming!”
“But what exactly are we going to do?” Rarity asked uncertainly.
“We should all just rush her, as soon as we get there,” Rainbow Dash shrugged.
“Nothing!” Trixie said quickly. “You stand back while Trixie does the work!”
“You’re acting like a fool,” Shining Armor told her. “Dusk has taken over the minds of all of my soldiers, the Elements of Harmony were useless against her, and even all of us couldn’t take her on, magic or no. What makes you think you can?”
Trixie opened her mouth to retaliate, and thought for several long moments. She licked her lips and said; “Trixie is special. I’ll take her down all by myself!”
“But how?” Shining Armor inquired.
“I have ways! My ways! I don’t need the dumb Elements of Harmony to help me!”
Shining Armor sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a hoof. He could see trying to reason with this mare was like talking to a brick wall. Trixie huffed indignantly and turned her nose up, eyes closed.
“Let her act that way,” Rarity said. “We’ll see just how she handles it when we have to rush to her rescue.”
By Trixie’s sudden change of expression, they could tell she meant to retaliate, but instead of dignifying the white unicorn with an answer she simply glared out the window, chewing her lip.
“Riiiight,” Applejack murmured, than turned to her friends. “I think we should start thinkin’ about strategies – have we all got our Elements?”
The others nodded, and Applejack cleared her throat. “So… anypony got any ideas?”
“There shall be no plans from you! Trixie will deal with this all on my own!” Trixie cried.
“Agh!” Shining Armor cried, “Stop talking in third person! You’re making my brain hurt!”
TRIXIE STOP BEING STUPID!
She speaks in third person to emphasize her superiority... or at least her ego... I think its an emotional shield in some way... over time as her shows failed and she got more and more into her character this just happened... (I'm kinda a Trixie fan and feel sorry for her from time to time)
2017404 Huh, that makes sense
Trixie: The Trixie thing is natural for Trixie in that Trixie will not refer to Trixie as anything less than Trixie or preferably The Great and Powerful Trixie!
MrMarket: Basically, her ego is as big as my clothing is full of red. Also, Shining is a lightweight in the ways of 'third person'
I'm beggining to see a trait here from Dusk that I'd somehow missed! All she wants is to be loved..... as much as possible! With almost no matter on what it takes! How DID I miss that!?
Also, the PRINCESS of the CRISTAL KINGDOM forgot her purse!? How'd that happen?
2017548 She was staying in Canterlot, and than Dusk kicked her out. That's my logic for now
2017576That's actually very plausible!
2017588 Kind of hard to think about grabbing your purse when an alicorn is about to roast your flank
2017677Which means that there's a bag of juicy bits just lying around somewhere in the castle! I CALL DIBS!
2017701 Oh, do you?
2017736Is that a challenge I hear?
2017745 Possibly
2017769I'll find the bits! You'll see!
2017786 NEVER!
2017820Oh trust me... I have my ways and I'll find it soon...VERY soon.
Agh!” Shining Armor cried, “Stop talking in third person! You’re making my brain hurt! SHINIG ARMOR FOR THE WIN
2017869
I'm liking the 'merging' going on with Twi. Most fics go with almost straight up possession and end with separation so it'll be interesting to see what happens.
Do you really want to know why I think Trixie speaks in the third-person?
I think TGP Trixie is a persona. She started out with a very hard life and she created in her mind "The Great and Powerful Trixie." When she was TGP Trixie, she was a different filly than when she was Trixie. Eventually she got so enmeshed in her greater than real personality that she is afraid to ever let her guard down and just be Trixie.
2018269 I know it seems overused but it wasn't when I came up with it, I came up with the idea ages ago
lulzindustries.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/forever_alone.png?w=258&h=300
2011999
Try an exploding cannonball instead of that brick, mate!
2032859
Magic. Quite a few other fics have Nightmare replace the sun with an enchantment on the moon.
Chapter 26: Really don't want NMD to cave to Trixie, that would be ridiculous and bleh. I dislike Trixie.