//------------------------------//
// Chapter 17: Defenseless Pancake Ponies. 
// Story: My Little Fantasy 
// by GuyWhoWritesThings 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 17: Defenseless Pancake Ponies.

The dreamscape.  I'd forgotten Princess Luna's warning as soon as she'd given it.  I quickly begin scanning my surroundings.  It's not the vague Lifestream I encountered in my early dreams, nor Nibelheim, nor the Mako Reactor.  It's... a cave?  No, it looks more like a crater.  The winds are howling around me, and I plant my sword into the rock path beneath my feet for leverage.  My sword is the same as last time - a huge, worn chocobo-killer type weapon, with two Materia slots and a single-sided blade.  The rust and cracks along it have become thicker as well.  Not enough to threaten the integrity of it as a weapon yet, but definitive signs of use and age.

The path behind me cuts off to a sheer wall.  I guess this dream doesn't want me backtracking.  Using my dream-sword to steady myself against the winds, I push forward.  There's a haze pushed around by the winds, a sickly green, which prevents me from seeing too far ahead, but as I traverse the path, I find it to be mostly straight.  After traveling... I don't really know how long, I begin to see a shape in the distance.  A dark blur among the haze and winds.  I hear the wind begin to whip around me and I dig my sword deep into the rock below, gripping the handle tightly as a gust hits me, trying to push me back.  I clench my eyes shut against the wind and do my best to stand my ground, not wanting to get blown off to who-knows-where.

My sword nearly comes loose, but I stand firm, and open my eyes as the gusts die down.  The shadow I saw before is closer now.  Still too far for me to make out its details, but close.

Then I hear it.  The same voice from my last dream, deep and level, only slightly tinged with its malicious intents.  "This is an interesting place for your mind to come back to, isn't it?"  It's coming from that shadow.  It sounds like its coming from everywhere around me at once, but I know its the voice that goes with that shadow.  "Do you remember what happened here?"

This is what Luna warned about, isn't it?  Time to handle this in the only way I know how.  "Shut up."

"My, my," the voice replies, though the voice is slowly warping into a feminine one - one which makes no attempt to hide its malicious edge, unlike the previous one, "is that how a vessel should talk to its craftsman?"

"Vessel," I snap back without thinking, "not puppet?"  Puppet... where did that come from?

I get a shrill, drawn out laugh in reply.  The shadow hasn't moved an inch meanwhile, but my mind is still set on it being the owner of both these voices.  "You think you're worth being called a puppet?  You're just debris, scooped up and given new purpose."

"Then get out of my head!"  I snap, drawing my sword from its place in the ground and swinging it in a fluid motion, slamming the blade against the ground and sending three beams cutting through the ground.  They part the mist easily, racing towards the shadow, which does... nothing in reply.  They hit it, but it simply parts like any other piece of the mist as they continue fruitlessly along the path.

My efforts just get another cackling jeer from the disembodied voice.  When it speaks again, its returned to the first voice - the deep, male one.  "And that's why you're less than a puppet.  You just flail around like a child without a little pony princess holding your hand."

"Shut! Up!"  I drive my sword back into the ground in frustration, panting, sweat trailing from my brow.  After a few moments of panting and disconcerting silence, I ask.  "If I'm so low, why are you even here?"

"I thought you said to shut up?"  The voice jeers.

I grip my sword's hilt tight in both hands and let out a scream.  "Don't play games with me!"

"Do you remember what happened here?"  The question comes again.

"Of course not."  I reply, panting to catch my breath again.  The damn thing knows very well I don't remember this place at all.

"Would you like to remember?"

I can remember Princess Luna's words vividly.  'And when you sleep, that consciousness attempts to manipulate your memory.'  It couldn't make this ploy more obvious if it tried.  "Go to hell."

It's this voice's turn to laugh, a deep, sinister, yet genuinely amused chuckle.  "Are you so quick to trust that little pony?  You only met her a few minutes."

I finally get myself standing back upright and pull my sword from the stone, preferring to have it at the ready if the wind isn't coming back.  "She's not acting like a paint-by-numbers villain in the middle of my dreams."  

"That just means I'm honest, and she's not."  The reply comes quick.  "Besides, I gave you the truth before, remember?"

"What?" Something about the voice's reply tugs at my inside.

"I guess you wouldn't."  This time the voice wasn't disembodied.  This time the voice was behind me, and I could hear its steps coming up to me.  I try to turn my body, but it's suddenly locked up.  "How about this, little vessel?  I'll give you... a gift, and you can decide who to believe for yourself."

"I don't need your gifts."  I fire back, though my body can do little more than grasp uselessly on my sword's hilt, unable to do anything useful.

A hand presses down on one of my shoulders, and I can feel something cold and sharp press against my back.  "We insist."  The weight of the person behind me shifts.  "Now, it's time to wake up."

My eyes shoot open and I immediately clutch at the front of my chest.  There's a sharp pain running from my back to my chest, where in my dream, I'm certain a sword had run me through, but there's no physical wound.  The light from outside is filtering through the window eagerly now, the sun high in the sky as I relax back onto my makeshift bed - that is to say, the single blanket I secured from Trixie the night before.  I'd merely flopped on top of it and shoved my pillow under my head, not bothering to remove the poncho getup despite not needing to wear it at Twilight's library.

I hear steps coming down the stairs.  Not the distinct pattering of hooves, but the clacking of claws.  Spike's the first one awake, it seems.  Not surprising with how the previous night ended up going.  I slide my hat over my eyes to block out the sunlight, deciding to rest a bit more before-

"Gah!"  Or not, courtesy of said dragon.  "What are you doing here?!"  

"Hmph!"  And there's Trixie.  Of course she's involved.  Why would she ever miss a chance to yell?  "We are Twilight Sparkle's guests, little dragon!  Now, if you don't mind, The Great and Exhausted Trixie is returning to sleep!"

"Yeah, a likely story, as i-"  His retort stops.  "...Wait, we?"  For a few moments its silent, then I hear Spike shuffling around in my direction.

"Yo."  I give him a wave from my position on the floor.

He takes a minute to register my voice.  "Cloud?  That you under that mess?"  He asks, and I can hear him slowly walk towards me along the floor.  "That explains why Twilight and AJ are back.  I saw Trixie and thought she broke in!"

"Hey, Trixie is not some common criminal!"  The yell comes from across the room.  "It should be an honor to have one as esteemed as The Great and Powerful Trixie in your midst!"

"Coulda fooled me..."

"Don't mind the banshee."  I assure him.  "She doesn't bite, she's just loud."  My excellent wit is rewarded with a high-speed pillow to the head, which I promptly stack on top of my original one.  "Even dispenses free pillows."

There's a familiar 'hmph' from across the room as Spike speaks.  "Yeah well, I was just going the bathroom anyway.  It's the weekend and the girls aren't up yet unless Trixie woke them just now, so I'm just gonna read comics."

"Good, it's too early to deal with this anyway."  

"Yeah, no kiddin'." Spike replies with an exasperated sigh as he heads off to take care of his business.

So time to take some mental inventory.  Applejack clearly doesn't like Trixie. Spike clearly doesn't like Trixie. and suddenly a certain quip Rainbow Dash made when I first met her comes to mind, 'that flout who came to Ponyville that time', makes me think she doesn't like Trixie.  With how they're reacting, she must really have been involved with a giant bear somehow messing up the town once.  I let out a drawn out sigh, seeing in my mind's eye exactly how this day is going to progress.

Within a minute, the sounds of hooffalls from Twilight's stairs meet my ears.  The banshee woke up somebody it sounds like.

"Is everything okay down here?"  Twilight asks with a bleary yawn.  "I heard yelling..."

"Your inconsiderate little pet woke Trixie from her beauty sleep, Sparkle!"  Here we go.  I pull my hat back and lean up on my forearms.  Trixie is giving Twilight a half-conscious glare, and Twilight is scrunching her face, trying to control her annoyance as she puts on the fakest smile I've seen in a while.

"He's not my pet, Trixie, he's my assistant."  Twilight replies, clearly using an effort to keep her voice level.  "Spike, my Number One Assistant."

"Yeah, that's me!"  Spike calls out from the bathroom, his voice mixed with the sounds of running water.

Trixie huffs and stands up, realizing she isn't getting that sleep she wanted.  "Well... my assistant is cooler."

Twilight gives her a nervous laugh and looks to me, and I give her a shrug.  "Sorry if Spike woke you, Trixie, I'm sure it was an accident."

"It was no accident!  He called Trixie a criminal!"  

"I said I thought you broke in, sheesh!"  Spike slams the door shut behind him as he walks up to the two mares, annoyance plastered on his face.  "It's totally different!"

"The law is innocent until proven guilty," Trixie starts, levitating her hat from beside her sleeping blanket fortress onto her head, "but with reputations, it's guilty until proven innocent, and then sometimes still guilty.  Remember that, little dragon."

"My name's Spike."  He grumbles, turning to Twilight.  "Please tell me she isn't staying here.  She's somehow more annoying than last time!  What's she even doing here, anyway?"

"Spike, she's-"

"The Grrrreat and Powerful Trrrrrixie is preparing for her return performance in Ponyville, young one!"  She trots up to Spike, petting his head with a hoof.  "And your owner here is going to have a cameo in Trixie's performance!"  She turns and gives Twilight one of her smirks.  "Isn't that right?"

"I told you Trixie, Spike isn't my pet."  

"Yeah."  Spike thinks to himself for a moment, claw on his chin.  "She's basically my mom."  Trixie's face contorts into an expression of confusion.  "Anyway, I'm getting hungry, I'm gonna make pancakes.  I'm sure we woke AJ up by now anyway, so may as well."  

Trixie looks between Twilight and Spike as the latter heads into the kitchen. I, meanwhile, take the moment to shift into a full sitting position and take off my hat and hood for the first time since I've started wearing them.  Feels good to be free!

"Uh, Sparkle..."  Trixie stammers, making strange gestures with her hooves.  "...Mom?  Does that mean you?  With a dragon?"  Trixie gives Twilight a queer look.  "It's not Trixie's place to judge, but aren't you a little... young?"

Twilight quickly plants a hoof onto her face and shakes her head.  "No, Trixie.  I hatched his egg as part of my entrance exam for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, that's all."

"...Right."  Trixie takes on her usual expression.  "In any case-"

"Wait a minute!"  Spike yells from the kitchen.  "Did she say you're getting on stage with her, Twilight?!"

"Yes, Trixie did!  Is that such a problem?!"

"I'll explain later, Spike!"

"Will y'all varmints stop yellin'!"  A bleary-eyed Applejack yells from the top of the stairs, slowly making her way down.  "Ah was hopin' ta catch up on some sleep since today's my day off, but y'all make more noise than that dumb contraption those darn Flim-Flam brothers brought on our farm that time."

"Trixie sympathizes with your inability to sleep, farmpony."  She motions a hoof to the kitchen.  "She was also awoken by Twilight's youngling."

"Ah was talkin' about you, mainly."  Applejack gives her a tired glare.  "An' mah name's Applejack."

"Oh, right.  Trixie apologizes, again." She gives Applejack a sheepish grin, then turns to me.  "Assistant, why are you so quiet?"

"What do you mean?"  I haven't even done anything yet this morning, sheesh!

"Trixie has learned your ways, Dusk."  She walks slowly over to me, casually motioning a hoof as she talks.  "Normally you chide Trixie every chance you're able.  When you are quiet, that means you are plotting."  She reaches me and leans in, eyes narrowing.  "So, what are you plotting?"

"I'm not plotting anything."  I take a moment and pull the poncho over my head, deciding I might as well air out a bit while I have the chance.  "I'm just watching you suck at making friends."

Trixie gives me an expression of pure rage while both ponies behind her break out into stifled laughter.  "You... you... argh!  Sometimes Trixie wonders why she even keeps you around!"  She turns her back to me and trots toward the table, which Spike is quickly adding some extra chairs to in-between cooking.  She then turns back to me and raises an eyebrow.  "Oh, Trixie remembers why now."  Her horn glows, and before I can tell what she's up to, I'm nailed cleanly with the giant pile of pillows and blankets she hoarded to herself the night before.  "Much better!  Trixie is looking forward to the delicious aroma coming your kitchen, Sparkle!  It smells like your youngling can cook!"

"Assistant."  Twilight corrects her.  Again.  "And yes, Spike is an excellent cook for his age.  I'm quite lucky to have him around."  The three mares take seats at the table as I dig myself out of the blanket fort I'm stuck under, Twilight giving Trixie a proud smile.

I finally take a seat of my own at the table, and Trixie turns to me again.  "So why have you never cooked for Trixie, assistant?"

I slouch an elbow onto the table and rests my head in one hand.  "Don't push your luck."  

"Hmph!"

"So, Twilight," I turn from the showmare to her, "are there any places around Ponyville that aren't used very much?"

"Uh... maybe?"  She gives me a confused expression.  "Why?"

"We can catch up on that magic testing you wanted to do."  I reply, her face quickly lighting up.  "I still have plenty of spells I need to test."

"We could always just do it here in the library."  Twilight motions toward the open-ness of the room.  "There's plenty of room, and I do most of my testing in here, so nobody would notice anything too unusual."

"Twilight."  I look at her, raising an eyebrow.  "We're inside a giant tree full of books, and most of my magic so far has been lightning and fireballs."

Her face contorts into an 'oh' for a moment, before she begins thinking.  "We could always see if Fluttershy knows a spot you think is safe.  She lives on the outskirts of Ponyville and spends most of her time tending her animals, if you remember, so she likely knows a few spots for when she wants to be by herself."

The butter-colored crazy cat lady?  Well, at least it's not pink.

"Breakfast is served!"  Spike announces as he walks in, somehow balancing five plates of pancakes on his head and two small arms.  Trixie sniffs the air rather audibly and looks towards the meal, earning a look from the other two ponies at the table, but says nothing as the plates are set down.

"Hey Spike, how do you feel about heading to Rarity's for the day?"  Twilight looks to her Number One Assistant, as we all try to filter out the sounds of  Trixie attacking her food.  "We have to head to Fluttershy's for the day to do some important magic research so there won't be much to do around here by yourself."

Spike nods, mouth full of pancakes, then swallows.  "Alright."  His gaze then quickly turns to Trixie, and all of us follow it.  "She's a loudmouth, but at least she appreciates good food."

Trixie suddenly turns up, giving a cough and a sheepish grin.  "Trixie, uh..."

"Don't worry about it.  We understand."  Twilight gives her a nod  "Your... assistant wasn't much better the day we found him, either."  Hey!

"B'sides," Applejack cuts in, "now y'all got a new story for yer show!  'The Gluttonous Unicorn Devours the Defenseless Pancake Ponies'!"

"AJ!"  Twilight gives her a scornful look but Applejack can't resist laughing at her own joke.  Trixie, meanwhile, looks sheepishly back down to her remaining pancakes, and begins eating them at a far slower pace in a failed attempt to save face.

The rest of the meal passes fairly quietly, with Applejack mentioning she'll need to return to her farm instead of coming with the rest of us.  As she's talking, I find myself pawing where the exit-wound from that dream stabbing would be again, and I'm left wondering exactly what the 'gift' I received then was.  So far, nothing unusual has happened, and despite it easily being the most vivid dream yet, it's the one that's given me the least information to remember things with.  Though, one bit does stick out at me - would that Princess Luna have her own agenda?  She seems to trust me more than her sister, but... I guess that's a bridge we cross when we reach it.  Even if she does, there's nothing I can do about it right now.  Right now, it's one step at a time, which means sorting through whatever 'gift' I was given and seeing if I can actually use any of this new Materia.

After we finish eating, I spend a few minutes restoring my poncho-and-hat ensemble.  I've been in Ponyville without my 'disguise' before, but better safe than sorry.  Spike and Applejack head off a bit ahead of us, the former to wherever Rarity lives, presumably, and the latter back to her family's farm, which I have a sneaking suspicion is an apple farm with how Equestria has worked so far.  Twilight fills some saddlebags with some books before we head out ourselves.  

The trip to Fluttershy's, however, starts off... interesting.  For once, I'm not getting the strange looks as we walk down the street - Trixie is.  She holds her head up high from the murmurs and glares of the people we pass on the street, though I presume Twilight's presence with us stops them from acting on anything.  After a few minutes, Twilight slows her walking pace to come up next to Trixie.

"Just ignore them."  She whispers.  "We'll show them you're not all terrible when we knock their socks off."  Do ponies even wear socks?

"Trixie is not worried."  Trixie lowers her head to speak her reply lowly with Twilight.  "She was expecting worse than this.  Besides, what does it mean to you anyway?"  She turns to face Twilight with an untrusting look.  "Why are you so eager to help Trixie?  You've already gotten what you wanted, no?"

Twilight rolls her eyes.  "Look, I know we got off on the wrong hoof.  Maybe we're not 'friends', and maybe you're loud, and arrogant, and selfish, and a bit mean, and..."

"Are you quite done?"  Trixie cuts her off, raising an annoyed eyebrow.  I can't really argue with any of Twilight's points there, though.

"Oh!  Sorry..."  Twilight looks away for a moment.  "What I was trying to say is, I think under all that is a pony who deserves a second chance, and I got to see why you like performing so much in Dodge Junction.  That there's more than just your ego that goes into it.  Maybe the other ponies in Ponyville can also see if if there's a show that doesn't end in the town getting stomped by an ursa minor.  There might even be a speck of a good pony buried in there somewhere."

"That is... observant, Sparkle."  Trixie returns her gaze to the road ahead, which is nearing the edge of town and coming up on a place I'm more than familiar with now compared to the rest of Equestria - the Everfree Forest.  "Do as you like."

They fall into silence as we finish the walk to a small cottage on a hill, which I presume to be Fluttershy's.  There really are animals basically all around this place.  'Crazy cat lady' might be a conservative descriptor, now that I see it first hand.  After a moment, Twilight reaches out a hoof and knocks on the cottage door.  "Fluttershy, are you home?"