//------------------------------// // Interlude - Look before you sleep, take two // Story: Stranger in the Forest // by TrixterCat //------------------------------// “So, what do you want to do first?” Twilight asked as the group gathered around in a circle. A fire was crackling in the fireplace next to them, and Twilight was already anticipating the moment they would make s'mores. “Are we supposed to do something different than what we normally do?” Spike asked with a shrug. “There’s loads of things we could do!” Twilight said as she levitated a book down from a shelf. “I have a book here that has-” “Slumber 101…” Trixie read aloud as the book went past her. “Who needs a guide book for slumber parties?” she continued with one eyebrow raised. “I…well…it’s a good reference guide…” “Let’s see then,” Spike said as he snatched the floating book and started to read. “Oh, when I was a little filly, I always loved it when we gave each other makeovers.” Fluttershy giggled at the memory. “It is listed as one of the things in the book,” Spike said somewhat unenthusiastically as he flipped through the pages. “Yeah, we had lots of fun when I did it with Rarity and Applejack,” Twilight said. “The great and illustrious Trixie could do with a little bit of pampering,” Trixie said while running her hoof through her mane. “Bleh, I’m not interested in some girly stuff like that. And I bet Scruffy isn’t interested either.” Spike patted Scruffy’s leg, who was sitting with his legs crossed close to the fire. He had a content look on his face. “Aww, come on Spike, I’m sure you would enjoy it,” Twilight coaxed, then leaned closer to whisper. “Besides, I bet that if we used some of that scalepolish that we got some time ago, you could really impress Rarity tomorrow.” “Really?” Spike asked with a slight tinge of red on his cheeks. “I’m sure of it.” “W-well…fine, I’ll join you then.” ******************** “Remind me again why I agreed to this,” Spike said with a flat tone as Twilight carefully applied a mud mask on him. “Trixie doesn’t understand why you complain so much,” Trixie said behind her own mud mask. Fluttershy was also currently putting rollers in her mane. “Trixie thinks this is quite pleasant.” “At least I don’t look like a dork,” Spike muttered silently enough that nopony heard him. “I just wish Scruffy would also take part,” Fluttershy said sadly as she glanced at where Scruffy was still sitting, looking at the ponies with an amused expression. When they had tried to offer to give him a mud mask too, he had just simply shaken his head, no matter how disappointed of a face Fluttershy tried to make. “Maybe he doesn’t understand what we are doing? I wonder if his kind have slumber parties,” Twilight pondered. “If they have, they probably are more exciting than this,” Spike said. “What are we going to do after this?” “Trixie believes ghost stories are a traditional part of slumber parties.” “Now that sounds better!” “G-ghost stories?” Fluttershy said squeamishly. “It is one of things mentioned in the book,” Twilight confirmed. “B-but…I don’t really like ghost stories…” Fluttershy looked uncomfortable by the mere prospect of having to tell ghost stories. Trixie smiled impishly. “You wouldn’t happen to be scared of ghosts…would you?” “N-no?” “Good, because they don’t exist…EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!” Fluttershy’s wings shot open in surprise, and the momentum caused her to stumble backwards a few steps and fall on Scruffy’s lap, who also had flinched from the sudden increase in voice. He leveled an unamused look at Trixie, who stopped her giggling and looked away nervously. “T-Trixie thinks that perhaps we could skip this one…” “Maybe it’s for the best. Scruffy wouldn’t be able to participate in it,” Twilight added. “Maybe we could just tell normal stories?” Spike offered. “I was wondering if Trixie has any interesting things to tell, since she travels so much. And you could still use your magic to draw images for Scruffy.” “That sounds like a good idea,” Fluttershy said as she got up from Scruffy’s lap. “I’d also like to hear about your travels, Trixie. I bet you have travelled all over Equestria,” Twilight said. “You’d like to hear…about Trixie’s travels?” Trixie asked surprised, before smirking. “Well, allow the great and powerful Trixie to tell you a story…” ******************** After Trixie had finished regalling everypony about the more exotic places she had travelled to (during which Scruffy learned not to scratch a pony’s ears, for it was usually considered an intimate act to touch them, and doing so uninvited could lead to embarrassing misunderstandings), the group moved on to making s'mores. “Wow, that’s so neat!” Spike said. “What are you guys doing over there?” Twilight asked from near the fireplace where she and Fluttershy were holding the marshmallows over the embers, while Trixie assembled the s'mores. Scruffy had moved over to a different spot with Spike. “Come look at what Scruffy can do,” Spike urged. “What is the creature doing with his hands?” Trixie asked as the three mares came closer. She made sure to stay out of Scruffy’s reach. “Look at what’s on the wall,” Spike pointed. “Is…that a rabbit?” Twilight asked perplexed. “It is!” Fluttershy said excitedly. Sure enough, on the wall was a shadow that resembled a rabbit that was sitting down. Scruffy held his hands close to a lamp, which projected the shadow on to the wall. “Yeah, Scruffy can do all sorts of shapes with his hands, and it’s really neat!” Scruffy adjusted his hands, and another shape took form on the wall. “Trixie thinks that one is a swan.” “It looks more like a duck to me,” Spike said. “Ducks don’t have necks that long,” Twilight said while examining the shadow. “Shouldn’t it have a larger wing then?” “Scruffy can’t make his hand grow bigger.” Fluttershy pointed out. “Point taken.” Scruffy kept making different shapes while the ponies and Spike tried to guess what he was trying to show while they all enjoyed the s'mores. ******************** “I think we should head to bed. It’s getting late,” Twilight announced with a yawn. “Aww, but that pillow fight was actually kinda fun,” Spike said. “Except for the part where Trixie threw one of the pillows in to the fire," Twilight replied. “Trixie did not know that the pegasus had such good reflexes,” Trixie argued back. “Her name is Fluttershy, you should already remember that, and you shouldn’t have thrown something towards the fireplace anyway,” Twilight said annoyedly. “Luckily Scruffy was quick with his hands though,” Spike commented. “Oh, did I miss something?” Fluttershy asked as she returned from the bathroom. “I was just thinking that it’s getting pretty late,” Twilight said back. Trixie let out a yawn, “Trixie agrees that we should head to bed.” “I’m also feeling tired,” Fluttershy said, also yawning. “Well let’s get yours and Scruffy’s beds ready then. Trixie already has my guest bedroom, but I have extra mattresses.” “I think Scruffy might need two or three of them,” Spike said as he looked over to where Scruffy was stretching his arms and legs after an entire day of sitting down. “We could make his bed near the fireplace, so it’s nice and warm. It’s a bit chilly because of the rain.” Twilight looked outside, where the rain had calmed, but not entirely stopped. “My bed can be next to his then.” Fluttershy said. “Trixie shall retire to her bedroom then. Good night.” “Good night. Come on Fluttershy, let’s get the spare mattresses.” ******************** Celestia felt slight excitement bubbling inside her as she walked along the castle hallways towards the throne room. Yesterday, she had asked Twilight to try to get Scruffy to stay in Ponyville overnight, so that Luna would have a chance to enter his dreams. Now, she would find out if their plan worked. “Good morning,” Celestia greeted the guards as she stepped in to the throne room. She could instantly tell that something had happened during the night, as Luna seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, not reacting to her presence in the slightest. “Luna?” She asked as she made her way closer. The only response she got was a slight flick of an ear. When she got next to her, Luna finally broke out from her trance and turned her head towards Celestia. “Ah, good morning sister,” she greeted with a tired voice. “Good morning, although you seem to have something else on your mind.” “…” Luna’s gaze shifted down and she frowned slightly. “…Luna? Is everything okay?” “Yes…yes, everything is fine…I managed to locate and enter Scruffy’s dreams last night.” Celestia sat down, and waited patiently for Luna to continue. “Sister…I wish to meet him.”