//------------------------------//
// Safe Sleep 
// Story: A Draconic Meeting 
// by Mystic Sunrise 
//------------------------------//

"Well that went better than I thought it would," Pearl grumbled, all but collapsing onto a rather comfortable bed with a groan. "And I didn't even bring anything to read. No way I'm getting back to Castle Black now. Just my luck."

Twilight chuckled as she sat down on her own bed and looked around. The room they shared was rather spartan with only two beds and a bathroom. "I agree. I never thought Kiyoko could have that effect on anyone."

Pearl rolled her eyes as she rolled over. "How did you do it, princess? I was scared half to death when me and Kohaku met her. Oh, I hid it pretty well. But I was shaking in my feathers. She could have easily had me as a very light snack."

Twilight nodded. "You think I was not? I know she would never have done something like that to either of us. But the predator-prey reaction is as old as ponykind itself." She looked around. "And I could use something to read myself. We have too much free time it seems."

Pearl sighed as her hoof swept alongside her bed, and blinked as it came into contact with a bag. Looking down, her jaw dropped as she found her own saddlebag sitting next to her bed, with everything she had brought with her still in it. "Where the hell did this come from?"

Twilight blinked as Pearl brought it up onto her bed. Looking down, she found her own saddlebags and everything she had brought with her beside her own bed. "I do not know. We did not bring them with us."

Pearl shook her head as she began pulling her stuff out. "This place is weird if it did this. But at least I won't be bored now."

Twilight giggled as she did the same. "Agreed. I doubt very much if Tiamat will allow me to read any books that are here. And I would rather not push my luck again. I was lucky once. Let's not push it."

Pearl rolled her eyes but stopped as her eyes fell on the first volume of Naruto. "How does Kohaku do it?"

Twilight gave her a quizzical look. "How does he do what, Pearl?"

Pearl pointed at the stack of manga. "How does he like this? I like the story so far. But one thing in particular..."

Twilight's ears fell as she realized what Pearl was talking about. "The Nine-Tailed Fox?" Pearl nodded. "I asked him the same question once. Aside from just liking Naruto himself, he knows this isn't a real story. But what happened to the village? The Tailed-Beast that did it? It is a very real thing that can happen to a kitsune. From what I understand, something like this was ancient history at the time he was born, but it was real."

Pearl's ears fell as she remembered Nightmare Night, and the shadow fox her friend had faced. "Then that thing he faced on Nightmare Night?"

Twilight nodded. "His inner demon. And as close as I hope you ever have to see it."

Pearl made a note to give Kohaku a hug when she had the chance, as she flipped to her current page. She growled as, again, her ears were assailed by the distant sounds of horns. But now, they sounded closer, and more clear. "Will somepony shut those Twilight damned horns off already?!" She shouted.

Twilight was taken aback. She still was not happy ponies used her name like that, but that wasn't the point at the moment. "Pearl. What are you talking about?"

Pearl shot her a look. "What do you think? Those damn horns that have been here this whole you damned time. I've been hearing them since we entered the Blight."

Twilight's brows rose. "Pearl. What are you talking about? I don't hear anything. There has not been any noise except for what we are making. I have not heard any of this."

Pearl growled, biting her lip so hard she drew blood as she stuffed her hooves on her ears. "Just make it stop. I can't take it anymore," she whimpered.

Twilight's heart sank as she rushed over and pulled the Pegasus into a hug, one that was happily returned. Her eyes widened as she felt her student's body. "Pearl. You are burning up inside. I can feel the heat."

Pearl gave her a worried look. "But I feel fine."

Twilight nodded as she felt her forehead. "You are not sick. At least, not in any way that I know of. You said this started when we entered the Blight?"

Pearl nodded. "Yeah. And it's getting worse by the hour it feels like it. I can hear the horns clearer now, and I can't resist them for much longer. I don't want to. They're calling to me. And I want to answer them. Damn whatever comes after!"

Twilight's ears fell, as she remembered what Kohaku had done to the two of them after passing through the Ghost Fence. She knew enough of kitsune magic to understand what he had done. "Something is burning through what Kohaku did to you. You're helping it in a way as well. Even if you don't mean to."

Pearl growled once more, and Twilight was shocked to see a glint of fire in her student's eyes. "But what the hell is it? And how do I get it to stop before I stop caring too?!"

Twilight shook her head as she rubbed Pearl's back. "I don't know. This is beyond anything that I know. Maybe Tiamat will know something. I don't know who else to ask that can help fast enough."

Pearl frowned but allowed Twilight to gently rub her back, easing the tension in her muscles as she did. She missed those days. When things had made sense. Now look at them. Nothing made sense anymore.

Twilight held her student until Pearl fell asleep in her hooves. She smiled as she gently tucked the Pegasus into her bed, setting her things down beside her bed, making sure to mark Pearl's spot in her manga, before turning in herself.

As the lights in their room dimmed, Twilight could only hope that in the morning they could get this figured out. Something was very wrong.