//------------------------------// // Chapter 47: From Jenova, With Love. // Story: My Little Fantasy // by GuyWhoWritesThings //------------------------------// Chapter 47: From Jenova, With Love. I know I told Twilight Sparkle that death hurts like hell, but... I didn't think death actually hurt like hell. My muscles feel like they're screaming, though my chest is giving me the worst of it. A light burns against my eyelids, but there's no going into it in my condition, so right now it's just another layer of discomfort. I groan and shift, trying to ease the pressure on my chest. Why couldn't being dead be more comfortable? “Cloud?” A voice meets my ears and a pressure I soon recognize as a pair of hooves rests against my left arm. Either that blast from Bahamut wiped out all of us or I have the devil's luck. I force my eyes open, vision blurry as they try to adjust to the light pouring into them from the right, only for my vision to be filled with yellow and pink. Don't tell me... “Oh my, you're awake!” My brain finally kicks into gear enough to recognize the voice as Fluttershy. The room starts coming into focus, small and mainly composed of wooden hues. “I'm... alive?” I croak out, my voice hoarse. She disappears from my sight, and I hear a few hoofsteps as she crosses the room, followed by the creak of a door. “He's awake, everypony!” She yells through the halls of wherever we are, voice echoing slightly. “Where-” I start to ask the most obvious question, only to be interrupted by a coughing fit. As I regain my composure, I decide to transition from the most obvious question to the most important question. “Where's Trixie?” I pull myself up onto my elbows to face Fluttershy properly as she turns back to me. “Oh, um. Trixie, well, she-” The door behind Fluttershy slams against the wall as its thrown open, a familiar whirlwind of personality forcing its way into the room. “She thinks she's going to kill her assistant herself after such a foolish stunt!” She declares, stomping her way over to my bed, head held high. Our eyes lock, her using her signature bravado to mask whatever she's actually feeling. We stay that way, in a moment of tense silence, until I can't help but smirk. “Please don't tell me you got your brain magic-fried and you're speaking in third person again.” Her glare hardens with a “Hmph!”, though after a moment she finally drops it. “Good to see you're doing better, Dusk. We were getting worried.” “Over what?” I let myself slump back into the bed, the slight impact against the mattress still sending enough of a jolt through my chest to make me wince, and slip my hands behind my head. “I always bounce back. Freak of scientific engineering and all.” “Dusk...” Trixie hesitates, finally breaking eye contact. “...What is it?” I ask, probing once it's clear she won't continue on her own. “You've been unconscious for three days, Dusk.” ...Three days...? “I don't believe you.” She finally looks back up at me, eyebrow raised. “Pardon?” “I don't believe you.” I shrug. “There's no way Princess Nosy would stay out of my head an entire three days. She's far too into invasion of privacy for that.” “The truth is, Dusk, Princess Luna didn't exactly bounce right back either.” She turns to look out the window. “She's fine now, mind you, but she was out an entire day after that mess, too. Can't say I blame her. Not just that last fight, but she'd just come off getting hurt pretty badly at Ghastly Gorge, too. I guess even an alicorn has their limits.” “Yeah... guess so.” I close my eyes for a minute, turning my head up to the ceiling and taking a deep breath before reopening them. Wood ceiling, too. I must be in a guest bedroom at the Golden Oak. “So, how'd you avoid being on the wrong end of some magical shake 'n bake?” “No idea, honestly.” She replies with a shake of her head. “Even after the White Wind, I could barely stand, but... the more I concentrated on Bahamut's Materia, the more I felt like I could just... do anything, you know? Like no matter how much I pushed, there was also some more energy buried away somewhere to put into it.” I smirk, thinking back to how the Lifestream welled around Bahamut's Materia during those last moments. I suppose not every miracle has to be big and flashy, does it? “Yeah, I get it. Doesn't explain how I didn't get turned into stardust, though.” “Oh, that's because I pulled you back with my magic once Jenova flung you off.” Twilight's voice chimes in, causing both Trixie and I to turn to the door. Said Twilight Sparkle lets out a sheepish grin, her head poking around the frame of the door. Fluttershy must have gotten her, since I don't see miss winged butter anywhere. “And just how long have you been there, Sparkle?” Trixie asks, narrowing her eyes. “This is twice now you've spied on us after Dusk's indulged himself in his strange fascination with being stabbed in the chest.” I give the side of her head a deadpan stare. “Fascination? That's what this is?” “Hey!” Twilight perks up and enters the room properly, walking over to us. “You didn't catch me this time, Trixie! I'm getting better at it!” It's Twilight's turn to be on the receiving end of Trixie's confused, raised eyebrow. “Is sneaking up on ponies really a skill you wish to practice, Twilight?” “Anyway,” I cut in as Twilight shrugs her non-answer at Trixie, “I guess I should thank you for not letting me get turned extra crispy, Twilight.” “Technically, you'd have to thank my brother for that one.” She explains. “I grabbed you out of the air, sure, but the blast that dragon's attack left was... we honestly weren't sure even Shining Armor would be able to block the fallout from that one. He almost didn't.” “That big, huh?” She nods in response to my question. “I'm guessing between that and the fact we're all still here means Jenova's a pile of ash right now.” “Yeah...” Twilight continues. “After the dust settled, we were at the bottom of that ravine Jenova was storing the Lifestream in. Without Jenova to force it into one place, the Lifestream bubble we were all inside must've collapsed and went back where it belonged. We hunted around just in case, but the only bit we found of Jenova was a charred piece of the horn you cut off that Rainbow Dash decided to keep as a trophy.” She shakes her head. “I didn't have enough strength left after all that to teleport that many ponies, so it was a bit of an adventure in itself getting out of there with all three of you unconscious.” “...Not Trixie's finest moment, collapsing just after besting her foe.” “Are you sure you're not fried back into third person?” Trixie huffs. “Shut up, idiot.” I relax against my pillow, noting just how small the bed actually is. I barely fit on it, but that's not so surprising if my hunch on it most likely being Twilight's guest bed is correct. “At least we're all back in one piece, right?” “Yeah... about that...” Twilight replies hesitantly as she walks past Trixie, coming to the edge of the bed. Her horn glows its faint raspberry color, the glow spreading to the blanket covering my chest and pulling it back. I'm not exactly surprised at what I see, layers of bandages much like the time I was subject to Gauze Wrap in Canterlot. “Yeah, Twilight,” I start, looking up at her quizzically, “I got stabbed in the chest with some crazy demon scorpion tail so hard it shattered an enchanted chest plate. I don't need you to show me the logical outcome of that when it hurts to breathe.” “It's more than that.” She says, her magic now reaching to the bandages and slowly unraveling them. “Last time this happened, even before you had your memory back and you used your magic to heal it, your body recovered at a rate we'd have expected from one of the Princesses. But now...” She unwinds the last of the bandages and pulls them off, exposing the wound hiding below. My chest is sporting a rather nasty scar around the impact point, stitches still visibly holding things together. That's not the worrying part, even if it's a sign of uncharacteristic vulnerability. The worrying part is around and inside the scar - my entire chest and stomach are covered with inky splotches of black. I pull my left arm out from under the sheets and give it a look over as well, only to see the infection on it passes my shoulder. Just below that, the wound from getting magick'd through the arm is wrapped up in another bandage, and I decide I'd rather not unravel it and see how it looks. The two areas of infection - my chest and my arm - have overlapped to the point I can't tell where one ends and the other begins, though, and it wouldn't surprise me if it's started going down my legs or - yep, there it is, on my right shoulder. Just. Beautiful. “I see your point, Twilight.” “Nothing we do seems to help it.” She continues. “Gauze Wrap tried his Gauzinga and Trixie tried pretty much all of your recuperative Materia once she was able. I even tried some spells I found in books around the library that posited being able to speed recoveries. They've been debunked as junk spells for years, but I thought maybe they'd work against something like this... but I guess not. We're not even sure if you're healing naturally, honestly.” “So, Jenova gets the last laugh, huh?” I can't help but laugh lowly to myself. “Could be worse, I guess. It's looking pretty dead, so even if this kills me, it's just a Pyrrhic victory for a petty space parasite.” “How can you be so blasé about something like that?!” Trixie protests, stomping a hoof against the ground. “What if this does kill you?” I give her a sidelong glance. “You're one to talk.” Trixie's gaze quickly turns downcast, and my conscious starts rebelling against me. Too low. “...It's not all bad news,” Twilight, thankfully, breaks the awkward silence, “once Princess Luna recovered, Trixie explained to us where the dark splotches came from initially, back from the incident on the train. Princess Luna said she might have the resources to do something about it, but she wouldn't tell us anything more before she left.” “Have the resources?” I repeat the phrase, turning it over curiously in my brain. How do you just 'have the resources' to deal with being infected with space parasite cancer? “I don't know any more than that.” Twilight shakes her head. “That's what she said. I remember it really distinctly because I thought the way she phrased it was strange, too.” “I see.” I pull myself up with my arms, doing my best to push the pain in my left arm and chest out of my mind as I get into a sitting position. “Well, time to get out of this bed.” “Are you sure you should be moving so soon, Cloud?” “Does it really matter?” I reply to Twilight's question with one of my own. “You said yourself you're not even sure if I'm healing naturally at all, and if I'm not, I'm gonna need to learn to deal with it. No time like the present, and all that.” “Yeah, I suppose...” Twilight trails off as I swing my legs off the side of the bed. “Let me get your bandage back on, at least.” “Alright.” I nod. “I'm sure my shirt's ruined again, so I should have something covering this ugly mess.” “Rarity's handling that.” Twilight nods as she starts wrapping the bandages back on. “Though, she had a glint in her eye when she got her hooves on your shirt, Cloud.” She grins. “You might be getting a bit more than you're expecting, knowing her.” “You put her up to something, didn't you?” “No!” Twilight protests. “Promise!” I turn to Trixie. “Then what about you?” “Huh?” Her head snaps up, snapped out of a trance of staring at the floor. I shake my head. “Don't worry about it.” “All done!” Twilight declares cheerily, taking a step back. My bandages are indeed all back in order. I push myself up from the bed, wincing at the pain of moving. This is definitely going to take getting used to. “So, where did Fluttershy go? She was here when I woke up but she never came back after Trixie came in.” “Oh! She's downstairs.” Twilight turns, leading the three of us out of the room. “She's cooking some lunch with Spike. It's a bit after noon, now. The others had to get back to their usual activities but Fluttershy's been coming over every day when she can spare time away from her other animals to look after you.” I take things slow, leaning against the railings to help myself down the stairs to the library foyer. “Other animals?” “Heh... her words, not mine, I swear.” Trixie laughs to herself. “Smooth, Twilight.” The three of us soon reach the table, Trixie and Twilight taking seats across from each other while I get the 'pleasure' of being stuck between them. A whiff of the food in the air catches me off guard, though. Something's... different. I take a peek toward the kitchen just as Fluttershy peeks out of it to see what's going on. “Oh, you're walking around already, Cloud! That's good to see!” She smiles. “I thought I heard somepony coming down. Lunch will be ready in just a minute!” And, with that, she's gone back to the depths of the kitchen as fast as she appeared. “She's... cheery.” I comment. “She's just doing well in her element, Cloud.” Twilight explains, prompting me to shoot her a dirty look. “Not that I mean...” Twilight trails off, but Trixie picks up for her. “Sure you don't want to go live with all the furry woodland creatures yet, Dusk?” Trixie turns to me with one of her grins. “Seems like a nice gig. Look how happy she is to cook you lunch, Duskie-Wuskie!” I groan and bury my face in my hands. “I hate both of you.” The clinking of plates against wood pulls me out of wishing I were still unconscious. I look down at a truly marvelous sight - fish. Cooked fish! And eggs! I glance up, and meet the sheepish smile of the Cat Lady herself. Maybe I should rethink being a furry woodland creature, if it comes with something besides grain and fruits... “H-hope you like f-fish.” She says with a small stutter as Spike sets out the food for the ponies. “I don't normally cook... that sort of... thing...” she starts to explain, obviously setting aside some discomfort, “but I remember when we first met, so I thought meat might help you regain your strength faster. F-fish and eggs are the only things of... that... sort I'm willing to cook though, s-so I hope it's okay, maybe?” “It's more than okay.” I assure her with a nod, sweeping up my silverware, my body suddenly craving the sustenance. Maybe I have been out for three days... “This still feels so strange, to me,” Trixie starts, in between bites of a hayburger, “just a few days ago, we find out there's a world-munching alien out to destroy everything and fight it - twice - and now we're just... eating lunch, like nothing happened.” Twilight gives her a friendly smile. “You get used to it.” “Yeah...” Trixie nods. “I figured. It's just... the whole 'save the world, be a hero' thing is going a bit different than I'd always thought it might as a filly.” Twilight's smile becomes a playful smirk. “Not as glamorous as you'd hoped, oh Great and Powerful one?” “Something like that.” “Cloud,” Fluttershy cuts in, “slow down. You'll give yourself a tummy ache eating that fast.” I look down at my now one-quarter of fish and eggs, and back up to the sheepishly-grinning Pegasus across from me as the other three table members break into fits of stifled laughter. I give her my best deadpan. “Yes, mom.” “Aww, Duskie, change your mind on joining the other woodland creatures at last?” Trixie jeers with sarcastic sweetness, emphasizing with a sly grin. I decide to play a bit of hardball with her. “And what would you do without your precious assistant?” “Ah, I've already considered that!” Trixie replies with a knowing nod. “She would simply take Twilight's assistant for her own use. He's more portable and assistant-y.” “Hey!” Twilight protests, scooping up the dragon mid-way through a bite of his lunch and hugging him between her forehooves with a pout. “Spike is my Number One Assistant, you!” “Yes, Sparkle, but Trixie has something you lack.” She gives another nod. “A willingness to indulge young Spike in his fill of Donut Joe's most delicious of donuts!” “I think that's just you being a glutton, Trixie...” I mutter, giving her a sidelong glance. Spike swallows and turns to Twilight, smirking. “I don't know, Twilight, she drives a hard bargain.” Twilight huffs and turns to him. “You wouldn't dare!” Then, she grins. “Besides... Trixie travels a lot. If you went with her, think of how much less time you'd get to spend with Rarity.” “Darn...” Spike mutters, his turn to huff now. “Oh, got it for the fashion-pony, little one?” Trixie asks, leaning in and grinning and Spike from across the table. “Oh, l-” Spike starts, before gripping the table. He lets out a burp, unleashing a tail of emerald fire, that soon unveils a scroll that drops onto the center of the table. Trixie blinks. “Well, that's an interesting form of indigestion.” “A letter from the Princess!” Twilight scoops it up in her magic, unfurling and reading it out loud. To My Most Faithful Student and Friends, My Sister has informed me on the outcome of your journey to Rambling Rock Ridge, and of Cloud's condition thereafter. I apologize for not writing or visiting sooner, but I have been maintaining My Sister's duties atop my own as she recovered. She is now well, however, and insists upon bringing Cloud to Canterlot to further examine whatever infection the creature has brought upon him. She has asked me to write you to say she shall be arriving at Golden Oak tonight to retrieve him and assumedly Miss Lulamoon. It sounds hollow after such an experience, but I hope all is well, Twilight. I'll write again soon. I'd like to hear all about everything that's happened with you since you left Canterlot. My Sister isn't the best storyteller. Yours, Princess Celestia “Hold on.” Trixie blinks. “Princess Celestia sends you letters... by using Spike as a mailbox?” Twilight laughs lowly. “Sounds kinda bad when you put it that way.” “The timing on that one.” I mutter, pushing my now-empty plate away. “Even when she's not barging her way into my head... did she just sit there, watching my dream in whatever way she does, waiting for me to wake up so she could have Celestia send us some dragon-mail or something?” “Maybe she did.” Trixie leans back in her seat. “You might have a royal stalker, Dusk.” “That's even less funny than your usual jokes, Trixie.” I shake my head, not even wanting to consider that. “Oh, cheer up, Cloud.” Twilight's horn glows and I follow the strands of magic with my eyes. My box of things from before we left for Rambling Rock Ridge is still in the corner, now glowing with her magic, until something is hoisted out of it. A familiar, now-ruined breastplate levitates over to me and I take it in my hands. “Saved this for you. Shining Armor wanted to junk it, but...” she smirks, “I thought, once Rarity comes around, you might want to harvest the shoulder pads off it.” It hurts with my chest, but I can't help but laugh.