//------------------------------// // Chapter XXVII: Thoughts // Story: Nocturnal Mayhem // by Silvak //------------------------------// "Hey, Sunset, it's time to wake up." "Augh... just five more minutes." "Sunset, I'm not your mom, now wake up." "Nugh, no, send the sun away," Sunset mumbled as I frowned at her. It was barely dinner time, and I'm wasn't going to let her on her own anytime soon, hence I decided to trot over to one of her ears, lifting it into position as I took a deep breath. "... Wake up Sunset!" I shouted, startling Sunset as she jumped out of my bed, shrieking in fear before falling down onto the ground. Leaning my head over the edge of my bed to look at the crumpled heap known as Sunset, I commented, "About time you woke up, we have ten minutes before dinner." "Augh... ponies aren't meant to be nocturnal," Sunset complained as she got off the floor, shaking her mane about to get rid of her bed head before she blinked and stared at me. "Oh Celestia, I slept with you." "Now you're just trying to tempt me. Think of it this way, your job included being an oversized plushie for the youngest princess to use at day," I replied with a smile. "Which is honest, all I just did was hug you a bit when I used you as a pillow. Now let's get going already." As I started trotting to the door, Sunset followed as she said, "That doesn't make me feel better, though it's more of you abusing your prisoner. Also, I think I felt you cuddling me at some point during our sleep." "Well, think of it as us bonding. Don't you want to have a closer connection to another princess?" I shot back after exiting the room with Sunset in tow. "I want a closer connection to you as much as I want my horn to fall off," Sunset dryly replied. "Should I find a doctor to surgically remove it?" "Go to Tartarus already," Sunset growled at me. Rolling my eyes, I responded, "Quit your 'angry mare' stick already. Since you didn't pull a fast one on me while I was sleeping, I can let you talk to Celestia during dinner without harassing you a single bit." Eying me with clear suspicion, Sunset stated, "Really? You wouldn't be making snide comments whenever you can?" Shrugging, I replied, "As long as you don't insult me, I'll leave you be." "Huh, maybe we are bonding after all. It wouldn't be so bad if you're not such a total bitch to me." "Yeah, when we're really friends, I'll be twenty percent less of a bitch to you." "...I hate you." "Love you too." "How did you got all that done in one day?" "Well, when you combine Pinkie's energy with Rarity's expertise, a mare can do so many things in under a short time." "Yeah, but to get three outfits done with underwear included?" "Well, if you wanted some clothes, it could have been four 'outfits' instead of three," Gala stated as I stared at the three piles of clothing she brought with her. After dinner with the royal sisters, Sunset and I waited in the suite room until my other retainers have arrived, though I was surprised when I saw Gala not only bringing clothing for their anthro forms but the equipment necessary to set up a private dressing spot. Apparently, the idea of nudity is still hanging around those two. "Since my abilities summon my own set of clothes, and odds are the most we would be doing is exploring my own private world, I don't need anything fancy for now," I commented as I looked at Sunset while she is inspecting her clothes. "This is eerily close to the clothes I had in that other world," I heard her mumble to herself. "But that means you could use a set of clothes for when you encounter other aliens on in that form, right?" Gala asked, her smile widening a bit. Giving her a flat stare, I had a feeling on what route this would go, so I simply said, "Alright, you can make some clothing for me, but not right now. Sometime in the future more likely." "The near future?" Gala asked, showing off her Pinkie side a bit. "Fine, the near future. However, I need to know how your day went as well as how Rarity and Pinkie are doing," I stated before turning my head towards Sunset. "Sunset, I want you to take some notes on this." "Couldn't you do this yourself?" Sunset asked as she pulled out a scroll and quill. "I could, but I was never known for having fine penmanship. Besides, a smart student like you would have some excellent note taking capabilities and would add in things that I would probably miss," I answered. "Huh, this is the first time you actually complimented me without insulting me," Sunset stated with a blink, which caused Gala to engulf me in a hug. "Oh, you're becoming a nicer mare! I knew you could do it, Neby!" Gala exclaimed as she shook me about, to which Rainbow and Sunset snickered at the sight. "Yes yes, but less huggy and more talky about your day," I ordered, causing her to put me down before taking on a more formal stance. "Alright, though I have to admit, it was rather uneventful. As expected, the Cakes were rather surprised by Pinkie fusing with another pony so soon, but due to the first one, they simply accept it in stride. Meanwhile, before and after Pinkie's shift, I spent most of the time working on the dresses. Rarity was compelled to make them as beautiful as can be, but Pinkie actually reigned her in, saying that we might want to go with functional use rather than formal use. And I will admit since this is the first time I ever made clothes like this, it would be more appropriate to go a bit more simple and wait till I have enough experience to create the clothing that would truly be works of art. On the side, Twilight did pay me a visit after hearing about my fusion, but she simply accepted it since Party didn't cause any issues, and just went on to inform the rest of my friends of this current fusion," Gala said, causing me to nod while Sunset wrote all this down. "Alright, but how about the status on Rarity and Pinkie?" I asked. "Oh, on that matter, well... it's a bit more complicated," Gala answered with a weak smile, causing me to raise an eyebrow at her. "Gala... you better explain what you mean by 'complicated'," I ordered, as Rainbow hovered over to Gala. "Yeah, what do you mean by that? You better not be pulling a fast one on us, Gala!" Rainbow threatened until I pushed her aside. "Well... it may be best if you cast that spell to let them talk, Nebula," Gala recommended, causing me to frown but nod at her as I cast the spell. Closing her eyes, Gala let out a groan before opening them again as she said, "I still won't get used to that," causing Rainbow and me to rear our heads a bit due to the fact that it wasn't Rarity or Pinkie speaking, but both of them instead. "Pinkie? Rarity? Why are you talking at the same time?" Rainbow asked, scratching her head in confusion before I turned my attention towards her. "I think it's because they're farther along in the mental portion of the fusion than you and Pinkie ever were, though this soon is surprising, to say the least. However, I think I need some information from them first," I stated as I looked at the fusion. "You may be right there, dear. This all started short after Pinkie's shift. Prior to that, we were in discussion of ideas and the potential of our current form. However, while working on some ideas, Pinkie came up with an idea based on the experience she had with Party. She was wondering what would happen if the two of them started to think as one. So after getting Rarity to play along and figure out the means to think together, we started doing that. But after a while, we discovered that we can't think apart now," the two explained. Rubbing my chin, I said, "Hold still you two, I'm going to cast a spell that I was working on to get a feel for your minds." Receiving a nod, I lit my horn up, scanning the fusion's mind to see how Rarity's and Pinkie's were doing. "Ah, that explains a bit. Though, just how long was this while of yours, anyways?" "Umm... it was just over an hour, seventy minutes at the most. Are we going to be okay?" the duo asked. "Well, it depends on your definition of 'okay'. It seems that during the process of thinking as one, it brought your minds closer together to the point that they are starting to meld together, in a way," I answered, causing Rainbow to clap her hooves around her face. "You mean that Rarity and Pinkie could disappear‽" Rainbow exclaimed as the fusion looked down on the ground, her face lost in thought. "So to speak, it depends on one's point of view. I would say they are just becoming part of something greater," I countered, only for Rainbow to rush over to me and grab me by the coat on my chest. "You better fix th—" "There's no need to panic, Rainbow," the duo announced as they looked up at us. "Remember, if we ever want to bring this fusion to an end, we simply just have to desire it. Correct?" Nodding, I answered, "Yeah, you just have to want it, and then you'll be back to being Rarity and Pinkie." "Then there isn't a thing to fear, so you can let go of Nebula now, Rainbow," the fusion stated, causing Rainbow to drop me down to the ground. "But, what if you two don't break apart before it's too late?" Rainbow asked. "Well, then it was meant to be. For we're having too much of an enjoyable time as Gala, and we have to admit, there is a bit of comfort of sorts from thinking as one. Hence, you can release the spell, Nebula," Pinkie and Rarity declared together, as I gave them a nod of acknowledgment. "Alright then, but if you two actually desired to come apart and it doesn't happen, then get here as fast as you can so I can fix you up," I told them as I released my spell. As Gala shook her head clear from the effects of the spell, I turned my attention to Rainbow as I asked, "Are you okay with that possible outcome for those two?" Shrugging, Rainbow said, "Eh, if they want to go that way, then I shouldn't get in the way of that. I just wanted to make certain that they are following their desires and not be forced into them somehow." Staring at Rainbow for a moment, I said, "Well, good for you to care so much about them. Now then, shall we move onto today's agenda?" Groaning at me, Rainbow stated, "That so sound like Twilight when she's being an egghead." Ignoring what Rainbow said, Sunset asked, "Just what are you planning, Nebula?" "Oh, it's nothing much. We're just going back to my treasure horde world so we can see just how much wealth I have, since Gala has provided you three the clothes for it," I answered. As Sunset was about to make a comment, Rainbow pushed her aside as she asked, "Does this mean I could get another bonus from you?" Smirking at her, I answered, "If there's more gold than just that cave, then sure, why not." "Then I'm in!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Now get that portal open so we can start swimming in gold!" "I don't think a pony could swim in a pile of gold," Sunset dryly commented. "I don't care, I'm going to try anyway," Rainbow declared, folding her hooves over her chest as Sunset just facehoofed, while I just chuckled at her frustration as I thought about the possibility that this trip could end up more interesting than I expected. Especially if Sunset ends up popping a blood vessel.