The new Sombra - The tale of a villain, that tries to behave... like a villain?

by Hoppa_21


Chapter 8: Fetch Doggie! (Unedited)

POV: Leon

Here we were now. In front of the cave entrance. A large footprint the only thing that hinted at the once large-sized dragon that had occupied this cave. We were standing a good minute or two there, staring in awe at my handiwork. I briefly considered if this technique was viewed as cheating and would lead to an absence of precious EXP.

I shrugged, nothing I could do about it now.

My little dragon seemingly found just in that moment his ability to speak again, his expression was still one of surprise and dumbstruckness.

Yup, still coining words. I’m the coining words master!

“I thought you would abandon me. But you all had this planned from the beginning! You just wanted to confuse him to find a way out of the cave, so that you could use your spell on him, without him collapsing the cavern!”

The dragon’s voice had a lot of awe and cheerfulness by the end of his conclusion of my great master plan.

Admittedly not really what I had planned. Or it isn’t like I had any other plan, other than letting him eat Fizzle to get away myself, so… not really what I had planned at all, even though it was brilliant… Hm… This gets me thinking. What if I just play along with this? He then probably won’t ever question me again and will hang to my every word. This gives me new possibilities. I might just ditch him once I find a better dragon or use him as a distraction if things go south. I’m a goddamn genius!

“Of course! This was my grand scheme! This foolish ridiculous named dragon didn’t even stand a chance against my wit!”

And here is the gleam in his eyes again. Or is it more like a sparkling of stars? No matter what it is, he seems to buy it. Maybe now I will get the praise I deserve!

“Wow! That is so cool! And you were thinking this plan up on the spot!”

I grinned at the eagerly worshipping dragon. “Yeah, I know. I’m a fast thinker, if I do say so myself. The whole argument between us was also just a distraction to trigger my glorious plan. Additionally to that it confused the dragon so that he let his guard down and allowed our escape, which was nothing more than another trick to lead him into a trap! And now his cave as well as his treasures are mine!”

By the end of my little speech my chest puffed with confidence, as I basked in the little dragon’s praise and worshipping.

Huh. Maybe having him around isn’t going to be so bad.

“Apropos treasure. This might help my endeavor in conquering the Crystal Empire. I probably could hire some professional mercenaries with it, as well as buy some equipment and potions! Seems like the pretty pink pony princess won’t stand a chance against me now! Muhahahahaha!”

With a toothy grin, I turned around back to the cave entrance to examine my loot, but also to warm my hindquarters, ‘cause let’s face it, I’m outside in the cold, and even if the snow storm isn’t as strong as he used to be, it still didn’t change the fact that the cold could be dangerous to me.

I turned around to…scream in frustration.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” I screamed as I looked upon the buried cave entrance. I saw some claw marks on one or two of the stones, indicating that my so called master plan didn’t quite went as I hoped. And it was pretty obvious who’s fault that was.

“God dammit, Fizzle! If you hadn’t run into me, I would have been able to get the dragon a good distance away from the cave!”

The dragon meanwhile sunk his head in shame, muttering an apology. I just rubbed the bridge of my…nose, snout? Well, I rubbed it with one hoof. It somehow worked, don’t ask me how, but still… I miss fingers…

However, now I had another concern.

“Why does it have to be so cold! This is just snow much!” I giggled a little at my pun, but soon composed myself as another cold breeze washed over my clothes and fur and made me shiver.

I looked back at the moping and depressed dragon, rolling my eyes at his antics. He really is a doormat.

“We don’t have time for this! We need to stay warm, or else we might as well just skip to the ‘Game Over’ part. And since I don’t know how many life’s I have, I don’t want to test that out.”

My dragon pet adopted another confused look. Well, at least that one’s better than the depressed one.

Hold on a second… He is a dragon, so couldn’t he just make a fire to keep us warm until the small storm blows over? Might as well ask.

“Say Fizzle, is it possible for you to produce a steady flame with your breath, as some kind of campfire? It’s not like we have any wood to work with.” And it was true. We only had a landscape of mountains to our left and right, topped off with a thick layer of as-, uh, flank freezing snow.

I sighed. At the other entrance, we would have the woods in reach, but here? Actually I don’t even know where here is. Probably deep into the mountains. Too deep. Wonder if anyone lives here? Maybe a mountain town? Better put these thoughts on hold and listen to my dragon first, before I go off on a tangent again and might not even need it.

In the end I probably need it. I already saw it by the way his head sunk again.

“I can’t exactly do that. Fire uses a lot of magic and a steady stream wouldn’t hold more than two or three minutes.”

I nodded my head in response. “I see. Then we have to use Plan B.”

The dragon slightly tilted his head. “Plan B?”

“A good old-fashioned search for shelter and civilization. Do you know of any settlements here?”

The dragon sunk his head again.

This is going to be a thing now, is it?

“I’m coming from the south and know nothing of this territory.”

“What about your wings? Can you fly up and see if any shelter is nearby?”

The dragon tried to move its wings but winced upon trying to move the muscles of his left one.

“I think I strained my wing while I crashed into you.”

I groaned disappointedly. “Figures. Then let’s get moving, before we become icicles in this cold unforgiving winds.”

The dragon nodded again and followed me. The cheerfulness from earlier vanished and a slight depression seemed to take its place. Not that I could blame him. He is at the moment pretty useless.


Some time later

“I think I see something!” I scream over the suddenly worsening snow storm to my dragon pet.

In any other situation I would have been more cheerful, but now I was just desperate for shelter. The cold was slowly nagging on me and I swear I was slowly losing the feeling in my hooves. I didn’t even think I had enough feeling in them to lose it! Fizzle didn’t seem in a much better condition, but that was a given, thinking about how he said himself that he came from the south, and south definitely didn’t sound like a cold place.

“What is it?” asked my now curious dragon.

“Looks like a house to me!”

Yeah, I kid you not. There was a house against the wall of the mountain. I couldn’t make out anything more specific, even with my enchanted eyes, worsening snow storm and all, but it seemed promising.

Not to mention convenient. But that’s a game event to you.

Naturally we all but stormed to the house. It seemed to be made out of some kind of rocks. It looked like an ok build. Not so much aesthetic as it was sturdy. Probably was only meant to keep the cold out. Not that I’m going to complain now about how it looks! The cold changed my priority list in that regard.

As we stepped up to the equally sturdy looking wooden door I stopped my pet.

“You stay out of sight for now. I don’t want our potential savior or host to slam the door right in our combined snouts, or muzzles, whatever.”

And it was the best thing to do. From our conversation I could see that dragons and ponies don’t exactly live hand in hand, or in this case hoof in claw.

The dragon nodded and stepped aside so that he would stand next to the door on a wall, hidden out of sight.

I then hurriedly knocked on the door, hoping that whoever owned this place was home. I mean sure, it was a snow storm so why wouldn’t they be there? But still for all I know they could be on vacation and this was therefore meant to be a squatter event.

My thoughts were disrupted as the door swung open. Out stepped a rather bizarre creature. I mean, it was gigantic! At least a head taller than me! Maybe even two! Not to mention the abundance on fur! It was a lot longer than my coat!

This gargantuan beast started to look down at me, leveling a glare at me for some reason. I didn’t really pay it any heed. I just said the first thing that came to my mind.

“That’s a big doggie.”

Before I could even comprehend what happened, the door slammed shut loudly. I owlishly blinked at the door wondering why the huge doggie slammed it in my face.

“I think you insulted the Diamond Dog,” came the not so helpful conclusion of my pet.

I blew a raspberry at him. “Pfffft. I did do none of these things! I merely mentioned the height of it!”

My pet didn’t comment on my response further and saw it fit to keep his trap shut. So, I continued.

“There is only one explanation why it slammed the door in my face.” I then took a deep breath before letting a loud shout break free of my lungs, “RACIST!”

The door opened almost instantly and I was suddenly lifted up by my neck. The dog then proceeded to draw me close to its face, leveling a deathly death glare towards me.

My mind was meanwhile racing to comprehend the situation.

ACK! Is this some form of greeting? I better show that I’m friendly. What do dogs as a sign of affection again?

Ah, now I got it!

I then darted my tongue out as our muzzles were almost touching and licked it on its nose like a dog would do back home to others, thinking it might be a friendly greeting between dogs. I mean sniffing at the posterior or tail base wasn’t an option in my current situation. It’s posterior was unreachable.

Huh, still not a bad idea either. Better note it for later use.

But to get back, it suddenly started blushing and let out a girly shriek, which is why I will refer to it as she for now, until I get corrected or proven right, probably the latter as I know myself. SHE then dropped me suddenly and stumbled back, subsequently falling on her…flank? No. Uh…let’s just say posterior for now.

I took her behavior as a good sign and started to grin.

Now let’s seal the deal.

I reached up with my hooves to her ears, determined to give her the ear scratching of her life. Well, until I noticed something…

…I proceeded to fall to my knees.

“Oh god. Why do I have to live without fingers! From all the worse things that could happen, this is the. Worst. Possible. Thing!” I wailed.

So much to my ear scratching plan. And it was such a good one too! Ear scratching was, if I remember it correctly a show of affection you give to your pets, which these greatly enjoy if the rumors are to be believed. It also would have shown that I mean no harm, but alas it was not meant to be…

Also couldn’t be sure that I was right.

I mean I never really got a pet...

No, Leon! It is a great responsibility you can’t have one! It would only distract you from your studies! Not to mention the many hairs it would let loose in our home! The horror!

Thanks mom and dad for telling me I was irresponsible, easily distractible and stupid enough not to warrant to get a pet!

I could have taken care of it, but I never even got the chance to prove it! It was always this commanding tone of them… Do this and that, oh but whatever you do don’t have fun! Of course things got better and we made arrangements that benefited both parties, but still…

…I never got that dog.

On a side note I wouldn’t mind a hug right about now…

While I was fighting my childhood trauma, still sobbing on my knees, though not because of the missing fingers at the moment, Fizzle was watching my acting with awe. “He is putting on an utterly pathetic display to gain the sympathy of this Diamond Dog. Maybe even trying to appeal to her motherly instincts, if she is a lonely being which is possible, since she is living here. What a marvelous strategy.” I taught him the word marvelous by the way. He needs to get more eloquent, just in case he stays with me longer than planned.

However I didn’t really hear his praise as I was trapped in my state of self-pity.

The doggie meanwhile gathered her wits and stood back up. She looked down on me, her look a cross between confusion, anger and embarrassment. Her anger and embarrassment then turned into more confusion as she heard Fizzle talk and spotted him.

He waved his claw awkwardly at her, that idiot.

So here are we now. I on my knees wallowing in self-pity, Fizzle waving awkwardly and the still blushing dog that has no idea what exactly is going on, or how to proceed for that matter.

I could understand that. I have no idea how high the standard for crazy is around here, but it probably wasn’t high enough, if her countenance was anything to go by. Probably didn’t get much visitors either. I mean, she lived at the arse end of nowhere.

The awkward silence was finally broken as I finally got my own wit back. I was still a little depressed so my voice came out a little meek and helpless.

“Uhm…we need some shelter from the blizzard,” was my short response to my situation.

The dog seemed to mull this over for a moment before responding.

“There is a little town in that direction. It is maybe a fifteen minute march,” She pointed to her right. “You two can seek there for shelter.”

“That’s too far! I will die out there in the cold before I reach it!” I exclaimed in shock and utter horror, not wanting to stay another minute out in the cold, not to mention full fifteen minutes!

“Please. We really need help,” said my little pet, as he stepped forward, giving her an adorable show as he wrapped his arms around himself and shivered.

This seemed to push her over the edge. She seemed to mull it over again and then sighed as she relented.

“Fine. I will let you stay the night,” she said, before her gaze for some unfathomable reason hardened on me, “But don’t try anything stupid!”

We both just nodded happily in sync.

“My name is Explosive by the way, short Ex.”

I immediately gained a huge toothy grin.

“You remind me of my EX!” was my oh so wistful exclamation. Wonder how much she enjoys my puns?

…She immediately tried to slam the door again.

“Wait! I didn’t mean it like that! Also you wouldn’t want to be responsible for our deaths, right?”

She mulled that over for a moment. I of course was quite shocked that she even considered that notion.

After noticing my aghast expression she smirked. Figures that she would be a huge jerk.

She then turned to my dragon, giving him a warm smile. She was about to converse with him, when I locked on my target.

Might as well go all the way.

Suddenly the doggie jumped high into the air, hitting her head on the doorframe and then falling on her posterior, while her cheeks flushed a deep red yet again. I took that opportunity to walk through the door and passed her.

“W-what d-do you t-think y-y-you are d-doing?!” she shouted indignantly.

I looked over my shoulder. “Just making myself at home, now that the procedures are done.”

She sat on the ground with her tail clammed protectively between her legs.

“THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT! Y-YOU J-J-JUST, JUST-!”

I only blinked confusedly at her. “I what?”

“YOU JUST SNIFFED MY BUTT!”

“So?”

“SO?! WHAT THE BUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” she asked enraged and flustered.

“That was just a normal procedure. A sign of good will to show you that I mean no harm.”

She only looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

“And with that good will, I WILLed you to let me in!” I exclaimed proudly.

I could suddenly hear my dragon pet clapping from outside the door. An obedient pet. I told him to show me respect and cheer and clap for me from time to time to give me the recognition I deserve. The tough crowds nowadays are hard enough on me and I deserve a treat every once in a while.

I turned up my nose with a smug smile. “Thank you, thank you!”

Of course I wanted to see if the doggie would finally give me some recognition too, but she only tilted her head, face still red, but as confused as ever, before frowning. Seems like she finally got it.

An equally frowny frown formed on my face as I turned away from her and ventured further inside her home with an indignant huff.

“Stupid, pun hating dog,” I grumbled.

She didn’t seem to hear me, or didn’t care. But seriously, you have to be outright EVIL to hate puns! And even more so to consider leaving me out to die here! However, I had more pressing matters now.

Grumble!

I needed some nourishment to keep myself going. Funny that I feel the need to eat and drink in a dream. I mean, I was practically starving! It was so incredibly realistic! If I didn’t knew better I would really assume that I was in magical pony land with pink pony princesses and heart-shaped rainbow spouting weapons!

…But I knew better! So screw you brain for trying to deceive me like this!

“Come on in already Fizzle and help me to scavenge this place for food!” I hollered over my shoulder, or whatever the pony equivalent of a shoulder was.

My pet complied and walked past the still slightly stunned doggie.

We began our search on the main floor. I could see a living room to my right with a table and a few chairs, as well as a few cabinets with picture frames on it. A younger self of the doggie was on it, as well as another figure that seemed more masculine in appearance, also a dog. This dog had a more grayish fur, in contrast to the female doggie with her brown fur and orange highlights.

My glance soon wandered to the right, a moderately sized kitchen with cupboards a sink and an old stove were there. And I mean old. As I got there to examine it I found out that it has to be fired with wood! And now that I think about it…the light source here seemed to be some kind of glowing stones…or crystals? It was hard to tell with the light glaring from them and obscuring a more educated view. They also didn’t look like they were connected to any form of electricity.

Oh, god. I fear the implication this has on the sanitary. With my luck it is going to be a pit latrine! An honest-to-god pit latrine! That’s nothing more than a hole in the ground! Some might now ask if I have to use the toilet in a dream, but at this point I’m not going to exclude ANYTHING! The whole be prepared for everything schtick, even for a barby-thin pink pony princess with a heart tattoo on her flank and a husband with a girly pink magical aura.

Seriously, how he can even sustain his masculinity with such a trait is a real mystery to me.

Anyway, I also feel like I could use a bath right about know. I was sweating out there while freezing half to death. And anyone knows that it is the worst to disgustingly sweat while you are freezing your ass off. I also think my cape needs to be put in the laundry. Well, if that doggy even has one that is. I saw a cloth rack to my left as I went in, but only some belts hung there with flasks. And if this strange anthro female dog thing only wears belts she might not even have a laundry!

Yeah, I was really in a bad position right now.

Grumble!

Whatever! Food now, laundry and bath later!

“Um, I think I found the pantry.”

“Good work my loyal pet!” the dragon smiled sheepishly at me, “Now let’s see what we have here to fea-“ my words pretty much got caught in my throat as I saw pretty much…stones. Yup. A lot of the pantry was filled with stones. Sure, there was an occasional bundle of carrots, potatoes or celery thrown into the mix, but that was still kind of…underwhelming.

“Oh well, it is better than nothing,” I said nodding my head. I might somehow be able to cook something with that…if I could cook.

Stupid Joel always told me not taking part in a cooking class would bite me back in my arse.

Yeah, I ALMOST am INCLINED to agree. But only almost.

Also a shadow now towered over me. I turned around to see my doggy glaring down at me for some reason.

Seems like she finally got her marbles together again. I was almost in the most minimal of ways having a teensy bit of worry that I might have broken her. I mean, I still wanted a dog after all the years my parents denied it. And what better pet than one so large and one that can even talk at that! Yes, fate must love me to pieces!

Oh wait, she is talking. I probably should listen to what my pet has to say.

“-ouching. Do you understand?”

“…Yes, totally.”

“You didn’t listen, did you?”

“Nope!”

My pet doggy groaned rubbing her forehead with a paw.

“Just keep your hooves of my stuff…and me. Then we won’t have a problem.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound like the most inviting thing to say, but I can comply. At least if you make something yummy for my tummy. I mean I’m starving here! And I would be less fidgety if I was satisfied in that department!” I then sniffed my coat, scrunching up my face, “And a hot bath would be lovely too.”

She growled in warning as well as in annoyance, “If you want a bath, you will have to heat it yourself. I rather get back to making dinner.”

Geez. She is quite the grumpy one…wait, heating? She doesn’t mean to tell me that there is really no flowing water around here?! I mean, I don’t want to heat my bath! I just want to bath! I mean, does this mean I have to gather snow outside just so I can draw a bath then?! God! I never wondered how one could bath in the mountains without proper plumbing! How am I supposed to bath now?!

Maybe the town nearby has a bathhouse? That might be a solution. Maybe some hot springs? This would be heavenly! I could also look for some books there, but that would also mean to postpone my bath… Yeah, I’m not mentally prepared to see the nightmare that is this bathroom. Better postpone it.

With a nod to myself I wandered around, noting the fireplace I overlooked the first time. It was up and running, giving off a nice warmth and making me hum as I was drawn to it like a moth to the flame. At least without the agonizing electrocution death part.

I sat down in front of it, soaking in the incredible warmth, and enjoying it with every fiber of my being. I definitely need such a thing sometime in my future home. Just watching the fire dance around while it is warming me is quite a nice thing to have.

I actually don’t know how long I was sitting there, resting my thoughts. Could have been a bit. It was quite soothing after all, but I was eventually drawn out of it by a specific doggy.

“Dinner’s ready!” Ex had hollered, making me perk my ears up.

Yeah, I really could use some food right about now.

I all too hastily scrambled up and sprinted with all the eloquence of a gazelle to the table. Fizzle was there too already and jumped up in a chair.

Jumped up because you see…the stool was akin to a bar stool. So, it was meant for doggies height-wise and not for teenage dragons or ponies. Well, it wasn’t that high. I mean, my chin was in one line with the plushy seat, so only a small climb, but still a climb none the less.

I could also already see the steam wafting from the plates on the table. A table which of course also was a tad high. Not that it was a problem though! I totally got this!

With that thought I put my two front legs on that seat and…dunno…did something?

I was a bit confused and tried to climb, trying and flailing with my hindlegs to push myself up, while pulling with my frontlegs.

It is hard to explain really. I mean, try to climb a barstool with hooves and then we can talk.

It was rather annoying, and a real challenge so much I can tell you as I was pushing and pulling, trying every angle.

“J-Just a little!” I huffed and puffed in clear exertion as I was fighting against this truly formidable foe! I was just this close to succeeding! I swear!

My dog suddenly groaned in annoyance before I felt two furry arms slip under my forehooves and lift me into the air like a common pet!

I struggled a bit, clearly stating my discomfort at being manhandled in such a manner.

“Stay still!” she complained before smacking my rump down on the stool with a bit too much force making me whine.

“That wasn’t necessary!” I lamented with a stuck out lower lip.

The rude doggy simply snorted, “Sure,” before muttering under her breath, “Ponies.”

Yup. My doggy was totally a racist. I will have to train her. Makes me wonder if she has a leash laying around here, but then again, food first. I am way too hungry to discipline her now, so I glanced at the meal our dear doggy has cooked up.

It was a vegetable…stone soup? Wait…soup stones? I think I have heard that somewhere once, but can’t recall where. When again, I shouldn’t worry too much about it. Sting nettle soup is a thing too after all, just as pizza stones, so there are weirder things out there. Not to mention that the soup looked quite tasty with its large chunks of vegetables and I couldn’t wait to dig in! Though I had a problem, or maybe a question? The question in itself being quite an easy one. Well, technically that is.

How do I eat with hooves?

I looked to the other two beings at the table to see how they did it.

…I then noticed I they had fingers.

Yeah, I would have fallen to my knees wasn’t it for me sitting on a large stool like I did. Instead I tried to think on it. I mean, I could use magic.

…Which would probably destroy this home. Yeah, not an option. I remember the last time I tried a levitation spell.

COUGH! Crystal Spa. COUGH!

…Anyway, so I had to count on my wits to solve this mystery.

I looked at the spoon lying on the table, before reaching out with my hoof, hovering it over it, and then trying to grab it.

It didn’t work.

I was pawing at it. Again and again. But the spoon wasn’t moving. It was just mocking me! Silently laughing at me! I could practically hear it! By the tenth try I was glaring all too heatedly at the utensil that was blocking me from satisfying my painful stomach growls.

A cough draw my attention, making me notice that both Ex and Fizzle were looking at me in clear confusion.

“Stop looking at me! It’s not my fault that I’m not really in tune with my magic as of now and that I can’t seem to actually hold anything with these useless stumps!”

My female canine pet raised a questioning or maybe even a sceptic brow! Does she mock me?!

I crossed my hooves in a show of clear displeasure at her disrespect, while at the same time turning my head away from her and up in the air. Which kind of rhymes by the way. But the more important thing was that I was thinking that I might as well give her the silence treatment! You know, to show her!

Much to my disappointment she didn’t seem to care as my eye glimpsed a look at her.

She was still staring at me…which might be because my stomach was growling every ten seconds in a fierce protest to be filled.

This went on for another half a minute before she stood up with a sigh and walked right by my side.

I raised a questioning brow before I saw her take the spoon, before dunking it into the soup on my plate, gathering vegetables on it just as well as the soup, before lifting it again and bringing it closer to my impeccable face.

Realization dawned on me, and like one would accept, I acted all too mature.

I turned my head away with a manly huff, “I can eat myself. Thank you very much!”

“Don’t be stubborn. I doggynally would prefer to get this done so I can get back to my own plate.”

“I refuse! I’m not getting fed by another being! I couldn’t possibly survive the disgrace!”

“Just accept my help!” she irritatedly grumped out.

“NO!”

I of course vehemently protested as she neared with the spoon yet again. I mean, do I look like a foal?!

“I’m no foal!” I quite eloquently countered her attempts, making her growl in annoyance.

“You are sure behaving like one! Either you start opening your muzzle, or I will annoy you with choo choo noises until you do!”

I gasped in clear indignation, “You wouldn’t dare!”

“I dare and I would! So open up!”

My gaze wandered to the spoon, to the displeased face of my rude host, before settling on the spoon again, thinking about my non-existent options. After letting out a defeated sigh I relented. Opening my muzzle hesitantly as I felt a spoon of soup being fed to me by my doggy.

I was certain my blush only deepened with each spoon, especially as my dragon pet stole glances between us, while I always ended his glances with a fierce glare. That sadly of course didn’t deter him from peeking every now and then.

I think I was never more embarrassed in my entire life.

…The soup was still tasty though.

Also really helped with warming one up.

Nevertheless I was quite relieved when the bowl finally was emptied and I was thoroughly fed.

After the deed was done I couldn’t help but give my doggy a thankful as well as embarrassed smile.

Surprisingly enough she scratched her cheek with one of her paw-fingers and looked in a different direction, seemingly uncomfortable with the face I made at her.

Not that I couldn’t agree with her.

God, I hope I don’t get soft. But maybe it was simply the exhaustion of this rather eventful day.

I mean let’s recap: Run over by a train, dancing in front of a filly, fighting and running from guards, smashing with my ball into the unmanly pink-laser guard. Not that his lasers helped him in stopping the inevitable. Then I met the Nerd Princess, who was the most terrible role model to ever exist on this plane of existence. The plane of existence hereby being my brain. Escape with the ball, where I have to mention just how straining it is to use with a full stomach. Steal a train, get attacked by a conductor, walk through a snowstorm, make a dragon pet, flee from a ridiculously named dragon before spectacularly defeating him and then again snowstorm walking until I got here and made another pet.

God, it did take quite a while for me to list everything. Dream days have to be really long for that all to occur on the same day. But at least I was certain that it was night. The clouds with the snowstorm might have clouded my view from a starry night sky, but I knew it was night.

Yawn!

Mainly because of that yawn right now. I felt like actually sleeping on that stool, but shook my head considering a bed, no matter how unluxurious and primitive it is, is still better than a stool.

You know this makes me actually wonder if I can dream in a dream. Inception! Or was that the right term?

Shaking myself out of this thought I let out another small yawn before slowly getting out of the stool, making sure not to faceplant. I stumbled a bit, but still managed.

Ex was even standing there, ready to catch me. That was really irritating. But I ignored it, my exhaustion and sleepiness overtaking my annoyance.

“So, where is the bed?” I asked, hoping against hope that she actually has heard of beds before! I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t.

She led me to a door without complaint, opening it and showing me stairs down to the basement.

Stairs…Just for you to let it sink in.

“Do you need he-“ she wanted to ask but I raised a hoof interrupting her.

“I will be fine,” I simply reassured.

I beat a fully grown dragon! I will beat these stairs!

With that I took a confident step downwards! It was a great triumph! I moved one hoof after another! And things actually seemed to go rather well! I was beating the stairs! I made them succumb to my will! MUAHHAHAHAHHA!

…Yeah, maybe I’m laying it on a bit thick with the whole villainy thing, but hey, you can never get enough practice!

I was about halfway down when...a weight suddenly pushed me from behind and overhead.

That weight being my own plot.

…Yeah. My plot suddenly got airborne. Don’t ask me how it happened. Just know that it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

AH!

OOF!

OW!

OOF!

OOF!

And with that I pretty much landed down there, groaning in clear discomfort. That hurt maybe even a bit more than the hoof to the face.

While I was squirming in some pain the doggy actually hefted me up to tuck me in. Not that I noticed, though I noticed then I was laid on something soft. I managed to see Ex roll her eyes at me before leaving. I wanted to sass her back for this transgression, but simply huffed as the pain dulled to an uncomfortable throb, letting me enjoy the softness that was a bed.

Yeah. Laying there was definitely the better option to try and walk after her to scold her. Even though this accident has woken me up a bit, I could already feel my wakefulness slowly slipping again. Sleep was slowly taking me, making me wonder how the day tomorrow will be. I certainly hope it will bear more results than today does. Sure, it was a good start, but one teenage dragon wasn’t enough to conquer an empire. I would need a lot more for this.

First though I needed some sweet dreams. Maybe a dream of conquering the empire, or kicking some serious pink princess plot around.

Yeah. That sounds nice…

With that last thought I drifted off, a small smile gracing my lips as my fangs all too cutely showed from the edges of my mouth.

Yeah, I can be terrifying and cute.

In any case I was quite curious what the land of dreams would offer me tonight.