HEART OF STONE
Chapter fifteen: deep sleep
Written by TheCrimsonDM
Trixie opened her eyes slowly as the feeling of exhaustion washed over her. She could still feel the dull throbbing pain in her horn. She analyzed her surroundings as she lay on the bed. She was lying inside of a large guest room full of book shelves. The floor and the walls were made from a purple crystal. She wondered if she was inside the crystal empire for a half second before realizing where she was.
Trixie was inside Twilight’s tree-castle. She wasn’t sure how she got on this bed though. The last thing she remembered was when she had been forced to use magic to save Twilight’s life. Maud was carrying her after that. She concluded that she must have fallen asleep on Maud’s back.
Trixie simply lay there in complete silence for a few minutes before she finally heard a voice from next to her. “Hey, are you feeling any better yet?”
Trixie looked up to see Twilight Sparkle standing next to her. Trixie rolled away from her and said flatly, “I can’t believe you did that, I told you to destroy those rocks.”
Twilight replied, “I was trying to understand how the magic worked. It wasn’t my first experience with this kind of magic before…I believed I could handle it.”
Trixie looked over her shoulder and gave Twilight a stern look while saying, “Well you believed wrong. You could have killed yourself. You can’t do this kind of stuff now that you’re a princess.”
Twilight looked away shamefully and agreed, “I know…and again I’m sorry.”
Trixie closed her eyes and said in a softer tone. “I understand. Just don’t do it again…okay?”
Trixie heard Twilight stand up and walk away saying. “I promise I won’t.”
Trixie was concerned for Twilight Sparkle, she always was the curious pony and her lack of wisdom was always a concern back in school. Sometimes Trixie wondered if unicorns were simply cursed to go in head strong without thinking of consequences or taking any precautions. Trixie couldn’t say that she hadn’t been irresponsible in the past, but after her actions got others hurt she knew that she needed to grow up. Maybe it was time Twilight did so as well.
***
Trixie lay there on the bed for what felt like an eternity alone in that room. She couldn’t prevent her mind from wondering about the things in her life. Her mom was here in Ponyville, she may be completely insane but she was here at least. Maud was somewhere in the castle, Trixie could feel the presence of her mind, her emotions. Pinkie Pie was also in here somewhere talking to Maud.
Other ponies had entered the castle since Trixie first awoken. Trixie couldn’t tell who they were from the feeling of their minds alone, she was not as familiar with them. Judging by the fact that Trixie had felt five new ponies enter Twilights home it was safe to assume that these ponies were Twilight’s friends.
Trixie began feeling very lonely in the little room she was in. Trixie tried to go back to sleep while cuddling under the blanket Twilight had given her. After a while Trixie heard the door open very quietly and the faintest of taps on the hard crystalline floor indicating walking. The pony that had just entered walked over to Trixie’s side, this pony felt very sad for Trixie, and very scared, along with an emotion that Trixie couldn’t quite understand.
Trixie heard a soft voice begin speaking next to her. It was Fluttershy’s voice. “Um….hello Trixie. I’m…I’m sorry that you got hurt again, Twilight told us that you saved her. Pinkie Pie was…uh…a little more than upset when we got here. I think those two had a fight.”
Trixie planned on simply lying there and pretending to sleep. Until she felt Fluttershy give her a gentle hug. Trixie could feel that last emotion growing stronger, and she still wasn’t sure what that emotion was. It was almost like Fluttershy was really scared of something but also really happy at the same time. Fluttershy then kissed the back of Trixie’s head softly.
Fluttershy whispered in a voice so low that Trixie was only just barely able to catch it. Fluttershy said, “I’m in love with you.”
Trixie’s heart stopped. Fluttershy was in what with who now? Trixie began feeling a new sense of panic enveloping her entire being. Trixie wanted to let Fluttershy know that she was awake, but if she did then Fluttershy would realize that she just heard her. This was a sensitive situation, the kind that scared the crap out of her.
Fluttershy then explained, “I always liked your shows, I thought your showy personality was kinda silly. I used to think you did all that intentionally, maybe you did and you just didn’t realize it. I wanted so badly to be your friend. I could tell that you needed one. But my friends were always so…rude when talking about you. I was scared they would be mean to me for liking you, but I know better now.”
There was a pause before Fluttershy admitted, “When you helped me out over in New Slate…well that was very kind of you. You’re my hero Trixie…”
Fluttershy leaned in closer and whispered. “I know that you and Maud are special, but if anything ever happened to you and Maud, I would be here for you…I wish you could hear me right now.”
Fluttershy leaned away and let out a sigh before saying, “This is silly and maybe a little bad of me, I shouldn’t have snuck up here. Discord was wrong, telling you how I feel while you were sleeping doesn’t make me feel better…I only feel pathetic now.”
Fluttershy simply sat next to Trixie for a few more minutes in complete silence, and for every second that Trixie had to pretend to be sleeping she felt more and more terror rising inside her. Finally Trixie heard another Pony at the door to the room she was in.
Rarity spoke from the doorway. “Fluttershy darling, Twilight told us not to bother Trixie. Trixie needs her beauty sleep after all. Come on downstairs before Twilight finds out, last thing we need is to have another conflict. Pinkie Pie is already mad enough for all of us.”
Fluttershy stood up and began walking to the door. Trixie heard Fluttershy ask as she left. “Why would Twilight keep researching these monsters? Trixie ki-defeated them all already right?”
Rarity replied, “It’s complicated. I think she just wants to-.“ The door closed shutting off everything Trixie could hear from the other ponies.
Trixie laid there pretending to sleep for a while. All she could do was contemplate everything Fluttershy had said to her. Trixie was becoming afraid of what could happen in the near future, but the worst part was that Fluttershy had mentioned a name she was afraid of, Discord. If Discord had his talons, or hooves, or whatever in this, then he had to have had some chaotic purpose for it. He never did good things, not without causing an uproar first.
Trixie closed her eyes, she needed rest after using that much magic. Not to mention the emotional exhaustion she was feeling now after Fluttershy’s revelation. If she only closed her eyes and relaxed for a few minutes she may feel good enough to go talk to everypony. The exhaustion from before hit her hard, and Trixie found herself quickly falling into sleep
***
After a few hours Trixie finally decided to get off the bed and check out the situation downstairs. There was an odd blue tint to everything she could see. And everything had become quiet. There was no sign of anypony inside the castle, Trixie couldn’t feel anypony around. She explored the castle searching for signs of anypony still around but found no pony inside the castle.
An hour passed, than two, then four. Trixie searched but found nopony in the castle, and no pony in the village. Everything had become quiet and empty. Trixie was past the point of worry and panic. Nopony was around and she was alone, all alone. Trixie fell to her knees and closed her eyes; there was nopony around to help her.
Finally Trixie heard somepony coming towards her and looked towards them excitedly. What stood before her was a mirrored reflection of herself. The pony that stood before her was an exact copy of herself, the false Trixie was wearing a red cape with a black star pattern, she also had a matching magician’s hat.
Trixie stood up and stared at her reflection feeling confused. Finally the false Trixie grew a wicked grin and said. “Well now, this is a surprise.”
Trixie looked around for any answers she could find, she had to figure out what was going on here. The sky had begun crackling with a blue lighting calling forth a terrible storm over ponyville. Trixie was afraid.
The false Trixie looked at her with red hate filled eyes. The false Trixie then said in a low dangerous tone, “You should have known this was coming, that I was coming. You can’t stop what’s to come, Trixie Lulamoon your sins run too deep for you to simply run away from them. Why do you think you think your magic doesn’t work anymore, who do you think took your power away?”
The false Trixie’s eyes became green with a purple aura glowing around them. The false Trixie’s voice became a little deeper, and she said, “I’ve been sleeping for so long now. You were a most hospitable host but now I must ask that you resign control over to me for the meantime. I need to gather a few…things. Do not worry though, I won’t let any harm come to those you love. We will be done with our task…soon enough.”
Trixie felt very sleepy all of a sudden. This creature threatened to take her body, to force her to do whatever it wanted. Trixie couldn’t just let this happen it was offensive, wrong, and vile. However Trixie had no chance against the creature standing before her right now, it was too much for her to comprehend.
A veil of soothing calm overcame her, and as Trixie fell over from the exhaustion she had the most curious thought. What happens if you fall asleep while you’re dreaming?
Trixie closed her eyes and fell deeper into sleep…