//------------------------------// // Tea Time Troubles // Story: NTN // by Nic Whooves //------------------------------// “And then I was was like boom!” Ninx threw up her hooves and smashed them down on the floor. “and then Necro was all like Vroom. And then were like,” “Ninx, we were all there with you. you don’t have to keep telling us what happened.” Necro shook his head. Ninx would be on this for days. “Thorn, if I give her another feather to shut up, will it be worth it?” asked Necro as he was about to pull a feather out of his wings. “It’s best to just let get go for now, or she might actually explain it.” Thorn informed from her position on her still only half there and have not there bed. “I’m practicing!” Ninx rubbed her hooves together. “For our lunch with tiny dancer. I want to make sure I capture the right level of excitement” “About lunch.. Am I?” Necro asked, but wasn’t sure he would be happy with the answer. “You're on your own for that. We don’t want anypony to know we are harboring a boy in our room” Thorn had a book in front of her seemingly for a quality excuse to avoid eye contact with the pony she was telling to go starve. “I can bring you a ponybag if you want!” Necro was grateful at least Ninx was thinking of his stomach.Though she was probably thinking of other parts of him too. Not that he wanted to know the details. A layer of Insulation was an important part of his plan to stay sane while living in this loony bin. “They don’t have bags and you know that.” Thorn’s ears perked up and flicked around as hoof raked on the door. “Closet. Now.” Thorn made a play call. “Closet?” Necro questioned, and it was answered nonverbally this time. He felt Ninx’s hooves on his haunches pushing him over to the closet. “Ah. What is going?” That was the last word he got out as he was pushed into the closet. “And make sure you don’t make a peep.” Thorn whispered over her shoulder as she was at the dorm room door about to answer it. She just wanted to check her mane first. “Ok ok. Just everypony be cool. We don’t want to let her know.” “Know what” A brown mare with a long blond mane interjected and thorn was stunned silent. “Hello headmistress.” Ninx crossed her back legs doing her best to mask her guild with innocence. “How are you today?” “Better dear.” A yellow glow wrapped around the mistress’s scarf and dragged to over to a few spikes implanted into the wall by the door. An impromptu coat hanger put in after the real one was turned into impromptu potion rack. “Much better.” “Mistress!” Thorn inserted herself between the mistress and Ninx. It was always a little bit of a joke how alike they looked. If it wasn’t for Ninx’s many explosive mishaps she may have looked just like the mistress. “What brings you to our room? We didn’t do anything wrong I hope.” “On no no no.” The mistress made herself at home in the room.She trotted over and took a seat on Ninx’s bed. “I just came for a friendly chat. I was told that you two finally went out in the forest last night. I’m proud of you two.” She smiled and that forced a fake and plastered smile on the other two mares. Neco tried not to panic too much hiding in the closet. As it was now, he worried about getting caught with each breath.Or what if his wings popped! That always happened when he least inconvenient time.. “So you aren't mad about the hole?” Ninx tilted her head. This was a little new. Last few times she and Thorn destroyed the room, the mistress was there to make her run laps around the academy. A punishment she was thankful for after the amount of running she had to do last night. “Ninx!” Thorn bit her lip and held back the urge slap her roommate with her tail. “You two seem to have become quite good at fixing your dorm, so I think I can let it slide” The mistress snickered as she looked around the room taking note of all the fixes that had to be done on it patches on patches, weapons being used to prop up desks and books acting as bed legs. “I came here to invite you two to tea.” “Tea?” Ninx bottled. “Tea?” Thorn was more in disbelief at her fortune. Tea with the headmistress was a honor and she had no idea what she could have done to deserve it. Was it Ninx? Did she do it? She use to say that the mistress had a crush on her, but idea was simply insane. “Yes. In the north garden at say 4 oclock. That give you time to get dressed after your classes.” The mistress didn’t wait for an answer. She knew her guest would be there and as she trotted out the door, she faintly heard Thorn squeal. Ninx went to the door and waved as the head mistress walked down the hallway,”Bye bye.” She turned to Thorn who was happily bouncing in place. “We didn’t get into trouble!” Ninx threw her hooves around Thorn and joined her in the bounce. In their jump for joy, they forgot about Necro till they heard a loud bang from the closet. “Necro.” they muttered as the mares looked at the closet. “How are we to deal with him if we go to tea with the headmistress?” worried Thorn as she instantly stopped bouncing and started a her iconic worried pacing. “Umm, girls?” yelled a muffled Necro as he hoped that the other mare left. The door opened and Ninx stood there with hoof to him, “Welcome back Necro. Good to see you’re straight now.” Ninx waggled her eyebrows just in case he didn’t get her wonderfully intuitive joke.  Necro didn’t say a word, instead he planted his hoof upon his muzzle. “So tea. With the head mistress. And Ninx.” Thorn didn’t have time to deal with her roommates sexual tension. Not today. She needed a plan and celesta help her, she was going to use one from Ninx. “We need to practice.” ------- “So tea...an odd drink if you ask me.” pondered Necro. He was perched on a bed as the girls sat at a makeshift table made out of a jagged plank and some stacks of books. It even had a noticeable wobble as thorn set out her mismatched tea set. “Well no pony asked you Necro, now Ninx, what do we do once we get to the garden?” asked Thorn as she glared directly across the makeshift table to her pretend dinner guest. “Not jump on the table.” Ninx hung her head. At least when she practiced meetings it was fun, but this felt more like work. Really boring work with a side of tea. “Correct. Now Necro come over here, you will play the mistress.” Thorn used her tail to pat a stack of books pretending to be stole. “Oh don’t do that, You know how awkward that will be imagining him with long blond hair. It will totally ruin my...” Thorn shoved her hoof in Ninx’s mouth. She really didn’t want Ninx to finish that thought. “Oh no, I’m not playing dress up with you two.” said Necro as he tried to walk to the window/hole. But something wrapped around his back hooves and he fell forward, “Isn't rude to use your weapon at this type of meeting?” “Just get to your seat.” Thorn wiped the pegasus back into the room and pointed at his seat. “Now Ninx. The most important thing is to not speak.” “Not speak!” Ninx dropped her hooves on the table causing the tea set to shake and rattle. “I was invited just as much as you were. Maybe even more. You know the mistress has the hots for me.” “Should I be acting that out too?” Necro found the idea a tad enticing. “No!” Thorn slammed her tail on the floor. “The mistress does not have the hots for you. You just imagine that!” “Then what about that time she spied on me in the bath, or that time I caught her looking at me through our window.” Ninx turned her nose up in smug victory. “They never happen! That was all in your head!” Thorn slammed her hooves on the table and grumbled. “Girls, this is behavior unbecoming of of young ladies.” Necro interrupted in a disturbingly feminine voice. “This is tea time not shout time.” “BwwAaaa.” Ninx fell back on the floor giggling. “This was a very bad idea.” Thorn laid her head on the table and poured some imaginary tea into her cup. ----------- “So you two are going to have tea, but what am I to do while you’re gone?” asked Necro as he sat twiddling his hoofs on his bed pillow. “Anything you want. Just don’t peek at our stuff.” commanded Thorn. She pulled a deep purple dress out of the room’s closet. Ninx rubbed her muzzle up under Necro's wing, “And if you’re a good boy, you might get a treat.” “Ninx, leave him alone. And act like a lady, please. The headmistress will not be happy to see one of her students act that way.” Thorn pulled Ninx away from Necro, “By the way Necro, it’s time to turn around.” “I can dress myself you know!” Ninx wined and howled as Thorn was doing unspeakable things to her with magic. “Oh boy this is sure an interesting wall.” muttered Necro as he turned his attention to the only undamaged wall. Turns out the room was originally painted blue, but only one wall remained completely intact. The others having had been repainted re-patched and in one case replaced with a sheet. That is going to be a problem if the school announced winter before it’s fixed. “Thorn, I don’t want to wear that.” moaned Ninx as she tried to drag herself away from Thorn’s magic, “and besides, it’s not me.” “I don’t care if it’s you or not. The headmistress is one we’re trying to impress. When she invites somepony to tea, it’s a big deal and you need to look presentable..” Thorn strained as she stuffed Ninx into her dress. Ninx had been forced into a long yellow sun dress speckled with white daisies but it wasn’t as dressy, Thorn’s outfit. Thorn’s dress was a ruffled dark purple dress, that sparkled with sequins. Thorn was simply beaming in the dress, “So Necro, what do you think?” Necro decided it was safe to turn back around around. “Umm...is that a bit much to be wearing for tea?’ asked Necro as he stared at the two mare before him. “Lets go Ninx. If we stall any longer, we will be late.” Thorn ignored Necro’s comment as she rushed her Ninx out the door. “Fine.” huffed Ninx as she tried to stomp out of the dorm, but the dress tripped up her back hooves, “It feels like I’m carrying a tank.” “Quit whining, or we’re going to be late.” wined Thorn as she pulled Ninx along by her tail. “Be a good boy Necro.” joked Ninx as the door closed on him. “I’m not a pet!” barked Necro as he yelled at the door. ----------- “Ninx stop that.” Thorn snapped back at Ninx who was struggling to walk in her dressy outfit. “I’m trying.” Ninx was trailing back as she struggled not to fall over in the garment. “This dress keeps tripping me. I swear I’m going to rip this thing in half by the end of the day.” “Afternoon ladies.” the headmistress was perched on a stool in front of a iron wire table. “You two are just on time and your dresses are lovely.” “Says you.” Ninx whispered to herself as she took a seat at the table. Her tail flicking out the skirt of her dress trying to find a way to set in a garment that just didn’t want to be sat in. “Thank you for the invitation and the complement.” Thorn took her seat next to Ninx. She wanted to make sure her biggest problem was in wiping range just in case she started to act inappropriately. “I wanted to talk to you two because I have heard rumors.” The mistress levitated a bag of spices into her cup. Both Ninx and Thorn swallowed a big gulp of air. “I hear a group of students took down a basilisk the other day. A rather impressive feat.” The mistress smiled a coy smile. “Have you two hear anything about it.” Ninx was about to speak when she felt a slap on her explosive cutie mark. “Just rumors as well.” Thorn was speaking for the both of them to keep what may have been mostly her secret. “Apparently they had a super awesome earth pony with them, and like a sexy stallion pegasus.” Ninx playfully poked her hoof to her chin. “I hear they had a unicorn too.” Thorn lifted her tea cup to her lips and gave it a sip. “Ya, but she was like totally useless and everything.” Ninx lowered her head and slurped her tongue in her cup. Being classy was hard for some ponies, and especially if that somepony was Ninx. “I hear she was doing her best.” Thorn kept her composure up front, but her tail lashed out in a revenge strike on Ninx causing the earth pony to flinch and spill out her cup on the table. “Oh. Allow me to get that.” The head mistress took from her seat and went off inside to gather a towel. “What did you do that for!” Ninx hissed-shouted at thorn. “Me! Your the one over their bragging acting like it was all you.” snapped Thorn. It was in the middle of the two mare’s shouting match that a big thorny whip slammed down on the table. The table splintering in half and the tea set flung itself in the air before landing with a clatter. Both ponies looked up to see the cause of the destruction. It was a twisting mass of purple vines. The threads contorting and swiveling into a vaguely quadruped shape. Out in front the creature had some kind of head. A massive, red, fluted flower that seemed to bloom as it roared. “No way that is a thing.” Ninx was backing up slowly from the plant monster. If thorn wasn’t being such a hard flank, she would have her potion belt. It totally went with her dress and it would be a big use right now. “It’s a inkvine and you should know that if you went to your classes.” Thorn was also backing up as well. Of all the times to be out without her tail dressed. She knew she should have done it. Just a little ribbon on the blades and she could have made it tea party appropriate. If only she listened to her inner voice. “Fine miss A student. How do we kill it?!” Ninx took a step back and found her her dress snagging again. With a stumble, she fell on her side. “Stupid dress.” Ninx was about to simply rip the dress off when she noticed a thorny limb barreling down on her. She flicked her self back on her hooves to roll away leaving behind a scrap of fabric. “Ya they didn’t actually tell us that part.” Thorn leaped back to dodge a blow, but it still managed to rip a row of ruffles off her dress. So few nice things. “Well then buck it!” Ninx turned her back to the creature and thrust her back hooves out in a vicious kick. It was clearly a mistake. She bucked away some of the vines, but found her hooves tangled in the remainder. “Well that didn’t work.” Thorn could hardly hold in her giggle as she watch Ninx get tangled up in the creature she tried to fight. Thorn had a smarter plan. She dashed across the garden. she scooped up a stone pony statue in her magic levitation. she wielded it like a bludgeon. Swinging it at the creature's flower head with a heavy crack. “Ha ha Thorn.” Ninx was busy trying to free her back hooves from the inkvine, but it wasn’t going well. She bit, snapped and pulled at the vines, but for each one she broke another would slither down and bind her legs some more. “Why isn’t this working!” “It just keeps moving it’s vines to keep you entangled.” Thorn smirked as she shattered her bludgeon on the Inkvine’s flower head. The stature crumbling away into rubble. “Oh Celestia that is one tough flower.” “I know!” Ninx” grumbled still trying to pull herself when the inkvine wrapped it’s tentacle vines around Ninx’s forehooves and pulled her out flinging her across the garden where she landed with a thud on the grass. “Ninx!” shouted Thorn as she ran over to Ninx, “You okay? Now many ponies do you see?” “Just one, but she acts like a smarty pants pony.” moaned Ninx as she tried to get up. Wack! The Inkvine flinged both ponies into the fence with a single swipe of it’s vines. “Thorn! your horn is in my side.” Ninx grumbled as she found herself tangled up in her roommate. With a huff, thorn pulled herself from the pony pile. Her head was still spinning from the wack she received from the vine. “So Bucking it didn’t work and hitting it with rocks didn’t work. Do we have any more ideas.” “We could try to use sun light and glass.” inserted Ninx as she pointed to the windows by the green house. “That! …. could work. How did you know that?” questioned Thorn as she was in awe that Ninx had a somewhat good idea. “I use to burn ants with a magnifying glass when I was a filly, so the same may happen to this plant.” beamed Ninx as she looked over to her roommate. Thorn stood there with a blank expression, she didn’t know if she wanted to kiss or smack ninx for such a juvenile idea.”Well, how are we to do this We don’t have a magnifying glass.” “Well, Duha, we can use the glass from the green house. Gosh, you must have hit your head really hard. The nurse may need to check on you later.” conserly spoke Ninx as she went to the window. “Wait! What about the other plants? If we break the window, we might, “ then Ninx shattered a side panel with a back kick, “kill….the….plants.” “What you say? I couldn’t hear you over all this glass shattering.” yelled Ninx as she tossed a rock through the greenhouse roof. Shards of glass rained down inside. “Grab as many shards as you can and hold them up to the sun!” “Umm, I don’t think that is enough to burn the plant.” lectured Thorn as she scooped up the broken glass in her black aura. She held them up to the sun over the linkvine shining down small spots of heat on the creature. It howled with  rage as it lunged at thorn. “You have to stack them on top of  each other.” Ninx tackled Thorn out of the way of the creatures lunge and found herself scooped up in it’s mouth.  She spread her hooves around trying to hold the Inkvine’s mouth open and wishing she took Thorn up on her offer to jog more often. “Oh right.” Thorn didn’t have time to dwell on her error. Ninx was already in the creature’s mouth. Thorn shifted the glass shards in the air layering the larger ones on top and the smaller ones on bottom. Each adjustment making the sun beam tighter and hotter till it smoked on the creature’s skin. “That’s right. Keep it up.” Ninx was straining trying not to be eaten and she kind of though she wasn’t doing the best job as her legs wobbled. Fortunately for the pony, the inkvine was also having a hard time and had to let out a grow of pain as it caught fire. Ninx spilled out of the creature's mouth as it went up like a bonfire and collapsed into ash. “That was.. odd” Thorn groped the glass into the pile of ash and sat on her haunches. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. “I wouldn't say odd. I thought it was a nice display of inventiveness and determination.” The headmistress showed herself in the door holding a teacup aloft with her green glow. “I only caught the tail end there, but you two did very well.” ------- “So all that happened?” questioned Necro as he looked at Ninx and Thorn in torn dresses. “Ninx made up some of it, but basically that is how it happened.” Thorn pulled off her fancy dress and sighed. It was torn past the point of mending. It was yet another reason she couldn’t have nice things. “And you missed ALL OF IT.” Ninx shouted as she ripped off the remains of her dress and tossed it into the spare fabric pile with a smile. That dress wasn’t going to trouble her any more. “Well, I’m glad I spent my day here then.” mused Necro. “Who knew tea time could be so much trouble.”