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// Chapter 3 - The Great And Powerful Cuddles! 
// Story: I'm gonna cuddle you. And you're gonna enjoy it! 
// by Shin Guyviroth 
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If I'm gonna be completely honest with you guys, I was starting to get a little tired of running all the time. Well that was mainly because I really was getting tired from all the running.

As I got away from the farm, with it looking so distant behind me, I slowed my pace down into a casual walk. Deep breath after deep breath I tried to inhale whatever oxygen I could, if not for my lungs then definitely for my poor, starved brain. I felt a little sick, and my sight became blurry. 

But then it hit me. As I stopped to lean my side against one of the trees, I felt a sudden blast of cool, refreshing air pass along my face, caressing my hot, flushed cheeks with a gentle touch. It was like the breath of heaven.

And then heaven screamed right in my ear from behind me.

"Gyahhh! Demon!"

I could only imagine that she was referring to me. Or rather the large, demonic face on the back of my T-shirt.

I lurched forward, wincing as her screeching voice pretty much pierced my eardrum. I turned to face whatever horrible monstrosity could bellow such a sound, and… Go on. Take a guess. That's right; another pony.

"A-a second face!" she blurted out as she shook her pointing hoof at me. She was quite extravagant-looking, though -- she was draped with a purple, collared, star-spangled cape around her blue body, along with a large wizard hat upon her head, covering her white and baby blue-striped mane. I was especially taken with the huge, sparkling diamond that fastened the cape around her neck.

Although her piercing, purple eyes made me feel like I was going to die.

"The Great and Pow---I mean, Apologetic Trixie, will put a stop to you!" As she jumped back, her horn began to glow in a veil of pale blue -- just like Twilight.

So I was gonna die. If I learned anything from playing Dungeons And Dragons, it was that Magic Missile always hits. Always.

I flinched, shooting my arms in front of my face as the glow became ever brighter. I flinched so hard that I lost my balance, falling backwards and landing on my rear, kicking up a cloud of dust from the impact. I just hoped that my hands would be enough to block a cosmically powerful and magical bolt of pure energy. 

Hey, it could work. Probably.

But after a moment, I lowered my hands down. Not only did my hands lower, but so did the glow around this pony's---this Trixie's---horn before disappearing entirely. She looked up at me; her eyes were shot open and her mouth agape as she stared at me before shifting her eyes up to her forehead.

"W-what?" she exclaimed. "Why didn't my magic work?"

I couldn't help but ask. "Uh… What was it you were trying to do, if I might ask?" 

She grunted as she turned her attention towards me. "I was trying to turn you into a pea, so that I---The Great and Apologetic Trixie---could swallow you whole and end your reign of terror forever!"

I think I would have preferred the Magic Missile.

"But now that my magic has failed me… I will have to resort to more drastic measures!" I was shocked to say the least; she reared up onto her hind legs, standing straight as she shot a foreleg out and pointed towards me with great temper. "if I cannot defeat you with magic, then I will turn you with love and care -- just as Twilight Sparkle turned me! Prepare to be cuddled and forgiven, beast!"

… There's definitely some sort of abundance of cuddling here, but I just couldn't understand why. I felt like cuddling here was akin to giving a handshake, and that denying them was akin to drop kicking their pet budgie. 

But, hey, I'm a demon. Apparently. Better use that to my advantage.

"If you step any closer, I will---" … Um… what was I gonna do? The last time I threatened someone, I said I was going to choke them with a giant marshmallow before wrapping their corpse in bubble wrap and roll it down the white cliffs of Dover. Though creative, it wasn't exactly terrifying. 

Then I looked down at my T-shirt. What would Diablo say…?

"I will tear the flesh from your bones and feast upon your succulent heart!" I growled with a toothy grin. Trixie quickly slunk back down to all fours as her gaze turned from one of determination to abject terror.

Oh, dear. I think I went a little too far.

"But I have a better idea," I tried to assure her. "How about… a contest? If you win, then I will allow you to, uh, "turn" me with your… cuddles…"

"… And what if--" she gulped hard "--what if you win…?" I could see her try to keep a brave face, but her jittering legs betrayed her true feelings.

I pointed at her chest. More specifically, at her cape. "I want that diamond of yours," I demanded. I had hoped that she would back down, turn tail and run away.

"T-then I accept your proposal for the good of Ponyville!"

Well that didn't go as I had hoped.

I didn't exactly think this through all the way. "In that case… um… I'll let you decide on the contest," I said. But I still had to look threatening. "You will need all the edge you can get before I take that diamond from you!" I snarled.

Her expression shifted from fear to confidence as she said, "Then I challenge you to a test of magic!"

… Oh, well I'm truly boned now.

Before I could even announce the start, Trixie had already begin to cast her first magic spell. The magic from her horn flowed towards and around her hat, tipping it off of her head and hanging it upside down in front of her. A small wisp of colour flowed from the hole like a stream of smoke, carrying a small bouquet of roses in its coils.

"I've no need for anything more complex than this to beat you," she jousted verbally. I didn't know if it was her trying to trash-talk me or if she was such overconfident, but I wasn't going to take it laying down.

But… how was I going to compete with that?

I guess I couldn't do real magic like she could, but I could at least fool her into thinking I can. I smirked and, reaching into my pocket, pulled out a fifty pence piece. I showed it to her, holding it up in front of me between a finger and thumb before flipping it into the air. Quickly I slammed my palms together, catching it between my hands. But as I opened my palms up… the coin was gone.

Trixie reared her head back. "B-but… disappearing spells are mid-level! How on Equestria did you---" she shook her head violently before gazing back at me. "Fine! You want to play it like that? I'll show you what The Great and Powerful Trixie can really do!"

She's "powerful", now? What happened to "Apologetic"?

I didn't spend too much thought on that as I watched her deliver her next display of magic. Somewhere within her hat she had managed to pull out several deflated balloons. Within such quick succession, each one inflated itself into long sausage shapes before twisting end bending, eventually forming little balloon animals -- a horse, a cat, and a giraffe. 

I have to admit: I was really impressed with her.

"I'd like to see you beat that!" she yelled out. Okay, my impression was gone. I was gonna wipe the floor with her little party piece.

And what better way than with a follow-up trick?

"I bet you're wondering where that coin went," I asked with a smirk. I walked towards her with a smirk on my face, but she begin to back up again. 

I guess looking evil was all that hard. 

But she eventually kept still as I approached her as close as I needed to. I rose my hand to her, which caused her to rear back a little. I placed my fingers gently over her ear and pulled away lightly, running my fingers along the back of her ear. I held my fingers up to her, between them was the fifty pence piece.

"It was behind your ear all along, Trixie," I spoke, turning the coin in my hand before lowering it to my side.

But she was far from done. She gritted her teeth hard as she gazed up at me. Tightly she clenched her eyes before exploding in a fit of rage. "I will not be outdone by some stupid, ridiculous-looking meat bag for a demon! I will put a stop to you NOW!"

With great strength in her legs, she bounced a few feet backwards. Her horn glowed once more, but it was much more than before. The colour was more solid, it covered her horn to a greater degree, and it began to spread out more so than before. 

I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to think. I could do nothing but wait, but watch as she ground her teeth together as she kept up her spell cast. 

But like before, it quickly shrunk back into nothingness. Her look of determination, focus, and anger had become one of shock, distress, and impeding confusion. "Why," she uttered. "Why can't I change you into a pea?"

I was even more confused than she was. But she was right: why didn't her magic work? Was it just the one spell that didn't work? Was she doing it wrong?

Then again, when I think about it, Twilight never used any magic on me either. Or did she try to, but realized that it didn't work? Did I just not notice her trying to cast a spell on me while I was trying to get away from her?

… Does the magic here simply not work on me?

I grinned. I had this won. "That is my greatest magic of all," I exclaimed with a smirk. "Your spells cannot affect me! You are beaten, Trixie!"

That was all there was to it. I had won. She wasn't going to cuddle me. She wasn't---

"Why can't I do anything right?"

Between my thoughts and my gloating, I hadn't even noticed. I turned my attention to her. And I witnessed something that I never, ever thought I would see.

"I'm not good at magic at all!" Trixie grasped at her hat and tossed it to the ground in front of her as hard as she could, kicking up a bit of dust as the rim flapped against the dirt. "Why can't I…"

No… I didn't mean to make her feel bad! I didn't---

"I just… I just wanted to try and help…!" Her eyes, which were once filled with frustration, quickly changed to sadness. I could see it, even from where I was standing -- her eyes began to well up with tears.

Did I… Did I do this? I didn't mean to! I would never…

"I'm no good at magic! I'm no good at anything!"

And in that instant, I did something I never thought I would do. Something I never thought I could do. Something I never expected myself to do.

And I don't think Trixie expected it either.

"Please don't say things like that," I pleaded with her as I  had my arms wrapped around her. With one arm around the back of her head, I held her head against my chest with my hand on the back of it, threading my fingers through her thick and fluffy mane. My other arm wrapped around the back of her neck, it too holding her close against me. 

I felt so bad. I felt so horrible. I don't know what came over me, but I just wanted to… hold her. Comfort her. I wanted to whisper into her ear about how great she was and how she was great at everything she did. 

Then I felt something rush through me again. It was the same feeling as before with Applejack and Twilight. Even though my heart ached, I felt so much comfort in just holding Trixie close to me. But I just didn't know why.

I felt her tremble against my body as I held her. I could feel her tears soak into the skin on my neck and through my shirt. Even the snot from her runny nose dampened the collar of it. But I didn't care either way.

"Self-loathing is the strongest demon of all," I whispered into her ear. "Don't ever let it take you, Trixie." I just didn't know what to say. I just wanted to make her feel welcome, to make her feel that she had a purpose.

And then I felt something wrap around my waist. I looked down and saw her long limbs wrap around me, holding me gently. Her snout nuzzled and rubbed along the collar of my shirt as she sniffed and hiccupped. 

"I-I just wanted to be helpful," she whimpered into my chest with a muffled voice. "Can I… Can you cuddle me…?"

Yes, Trixie. For the love of everything holy, yes.

I held her tight, nuzzling against her soft, furry cheek. I stroked through her mane slowly, petting along her head and neck with the palms of my hand. And I didn't wanna let go.