Chapter IX: Sugar-Plumbs and Pegasi Dancing in Your Head
Rarity (Present)
"I never knew how big the store was," I said as we arrived at the mattress store. Dr. Hooves said it would be best if we split up. "You said there might be some 'side effects' from the leaves?" He nods and says ponies often are disoriented and have slight amnesia. "What is the best way to...," I begin to ask but he is gone. "How...rude," I let out a yawn. I had been so busy between teaching at the school, keeping Sweetie Belle out of trouble, and decorating that I haven't had a proper rest in some days. "That mattress looks so tempting...," I walk towards when a crashing sounds startles me.
"Rarity! Thank goodness I found you," the doctor says. "You almost collapsed on that bed," I apologize and tell him I've been busy with the holidays.
"I am sure you are as well," the doctor looks away and sighs. "You do have family you visit on Hearth's Warming?" He says not really. His family lives far on the other side of Equestria and haven't seen them since he was a foal. "That is so sad," he says he got used to it and being with Muffins is all he needs for the holidays. "You must...goodness, I forgot I was to meet up with Applejack!" I realize rushing back to the shops.
Shining Armor (Age 13)
"It's so beautiful," I said looking up at the night sky."You can see all the...," I notice that Cadence isn't looking at the sky but my flank. She tells me that my cutie mark will look good on me. "I want to get a sword cutie mark," I tell her as she giggles.
"There's my stoic hero," she says stroking my face. "Let's get comfortable," I lay on the blanket on the ground. I go to stretch when Cadence wraps my hooves around her. "Best seat in the house," she giggles as she nuzzles me. I tell her we really should get ready to look for the star. "Why? I have my wish already." she rests her head on my leg and looks up at me.
"There's the river of stars," I hear Twily shout as I get look into the scope. Sure enough there it was winding along the night sky. "To think Equestria looks a dot to him," Cadence says he has a special telescope that lets him see what goes on here. "Like two love bugs," she teases as I blush.
"What are you going to wish for Twilight?" I asked her but she told me that she can't tell me or it would never come true. "Fair enough," I look at the dazzling sight before us. "There are millions of them," I gasp in awe as Cadence says they're nothing special. "What do you mean?"
"Well I know two bright stars that outshine them," she turns my head until we are muzzle to muzzle. I tell her that she is right. "You know, sir knight you owe me a kiss still." My mouth goes dry as Cadence pulls me close to her and kiss.
"Love bugs! Love bugs! Love bugs!" Twily sings jumping up and down.
Smolder (Present)
"Gallus! Gallus where are you?" I call out hoping to find my friend there is no sign of him. "This is not good," I fly higher trying to get a better view. I see something moving in the distance. "What is that?" I start flying towards it when something else caught my eye.
Laying on the ground was the biggest gem I had ever seen. "Talk about a treasure," I say started to fly towards. "No, I have to find Gallus!" My eyes keep going back to the gem. "It is so shiny and large...," NO my friends need me. I try to look away but that gem is so tempting.
"Smolder, you are stronger than this," a voice said in the back my of head. It kind of sounded Headmare Twilight only with an echo. I realized it was the Tree of Harmony. "Gallus needs you!" It says I try to look away at the jewel. "Be strong Smolder," it said as I slapped some sense into myself.
I hear what sounded like muffled screaming, "Gallus!" I follow it to what looks like a gigantic flower. Someone is struggling to break free. "Hang on I am going to fry this flower," I take a deep breath but a couple earth pony guards come racing towards me ordering to stop.
"That is worst thing you can do," one of them says as they motion to stand back. The ground begins to shake as a giant vine erupts from the ground. "Maintain form" he tells comrade as he slashes the vine. "We have get to the heart and cut it out."
"Plants don't have...," A tendril wraps around my ankle but a fry it. I fly up the flower and asks if Gallus is in there. A muffled asks if it's really me. "Who else would it be?" the voice pleads with me to get him out. "This will be a snap." I slash the petals with my claws only for it to heal. "How did...," I start again but somehing flings me to the ground.
A vine had wrapped around my waist ensnaring my wings. I try to break free but the more I move the tighter it's hold on me. "Stay still!" the royal guard said as he slashed the vine with his sword. "The more you attack the more it fights back. I ask him how do we stop it them. "We need to find its 'heart' and destroy it." He says once the heart is destroyed the plant will whither away. "We better do it soon. My friend is in there."
He says the heart is always near the flower. "It won't easy though, it will fight us vine and thorn to protect itself," he says. I tell him I will not let a stupid flower eat my friend.
"Is that so Smolder?" a voice asked as I look down and see the jewel laying on the ground. "I could make you the envy of the Dragonlands." My eyes marveled as it glistened. "Imagine you bringing me home, every dragon will...,"
"No, I am not falling for it," I tell whatever is talking as a search for the heart.
Starswirl the Bearded (Present)
"it's okay Stygian, the Shadow cannot harm you anymore," I tell my as we walk into dark room. The unicorn says it's not the easy. Yes, the Shadow was banished to Limbo but like a bee it's sting remains. "This time your friends are here to help," I assure him as he smiles and opens a drawer.
"Thank you," he says taking out a black book. "This tome contains the knowledge of the ages," he opens it to section called 'Herbs and Potions.' He points to a picture on the page. "Here it is Fool's Lace. According to the text it can be found on island to the north. There is a problem, only one with darkness in their can tread on the island safely."
Terror overtook the young unicorn. He realized that he would have to do this alone. "Stygian, I may not able to go with you, but you are not alone," I take a charm from my cloak and place it around his neck. "This will let you see us no matter where you are." Stygian smiles and thanks me. He recalls that Twilight told him that darkness is nothing to fear and can harness for it good. "You have shown you can conquer the Shadow and use its power for good." I tell him I will go back to the school and see how the others are doing.
"Be careful," he says as I open a portal back to the School of Friendship.
Rainbow Dash (Present)
"Good news!" Discord as he appears in front of us. "I asked the sales pony and he does remember selling magic coco to someone." Fluttershy asked him what they told him. "Nothing much only that pony was very handsome," he says as I roll my eyes and tell him this isn't helping. "Fine if you don't want my help, I'll leave," he says as I sigh and apologize. "That's better."
"You said if we found Princess Luna we would find Twilight," Fluttershy asks as Discord nods. He says we're in luck as he say Luna too long ago. "What was she doing?" He says that she was doing some hoilday shopping. He says it must be hard to surprise a pony who enter you're dreams.
"I hope she doesn't probe my thoughts," Discord says looking at his bag. "You're right we should go buy something extra for her and...," Fluttershy stares at him. "Take you to Princess Luna so you can find Twilight," he snaps his fingers and teleports to another story.
"All right Tiberius, you have to pick out a gift for Phi...Discord?! What are you doing here?" the princess asks shocked to see us appear so suddenly. I tell her that Twilight is missing. "What happened to her?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out. Discount here, said if we find you we find her." Discord glares at me for bringing up his nickname. Luna says while she hasn't seen the princess she might be able to help us find her. She explains she can sense Twilight by tapping into her subconscious.
"I've always wanted to know what a princess dreams of," Discord transforms into a doctor. "Tell me Princess Luna when did it all begin." Luna just ignores him as she closes her eyes. "This is going to be good."
"That's odd," she opens her eyes confused, "I can sense her dreams but not her." Discord asks if that means Twilight has transcended physical reality and become a being of pure energy. "More like something is hiding her from view."
"Speaking of dreams, I've been having the strangest dreams," Discord says as Luna rolls her eyes. She says has nothing to do what. She entered his dreams once before and it gave her nightmares. "It wasn't that one where I dreamed I was cheese?" He asks as I laugh, "I wouldn't laugh if I were you miss Dash. Especially since you're the one who dreams of making out with Spitfire." I blush and hide behind my wings.
"I can tell you that her dreams are nearby. Also Discord I would keep Ms. Dash's dreams a secret or I will tell her the time you dreamed you were Princess Celestia." Discord disappears embarrassed. "That should keep in check for awhile."
"Thank you, so much Luna," Fluttershy says as we walk out the store.
Sandbar (Present)
"Sandbar okay?" Yona asks as I try to stand up but my legs are still weak. I tell her I am fine just exhausted. Yona removes her blanket and wraps it around me. "Thanks," she says she's just glad I'm okay. "Though Yona curious, what does sinking feel like?" I tell her it's weird and takes a lot not to panic.
Mage Meadowbrook comes in the room carrying a bottle in her mouth. "This should help you get your energy back," she opens it hands it to me. "I used on to cure an fatigued alligator. I ask her if it will turn into an alligator. "No, but it will make you steady on your hooves." I take the phial and swallow the liquid.
"Did Pillars find headmare yet?" Yona asks curiously. Meadowbrook says no but Starswirl and Stygian found some promising leads. She says that Twilight might have drunk a potion that made her relive a memory. "Professor Rarity talk about it once."
"Did you hear from the others yet?" Meadowbrook shakes her head saying Flash has troops scouring the glen for any sings of them. The glen is tricky and deeper you go the easier it is to get lost. One moment you're on a path and the next you in the middle of nowhere.
"Yona heard voice. It say Yona follow it to headmare." The mage says that's the glen's magic. It was trying lure her away from me so I would sink completely in the quicksand. "Yona no leave Sandbar!" She says pulling me close to her.
"You're lucky to have her, Sandbar," She says as Yona smiles. "Friends like that come once in a lifetime. I'll let you rest and give the potion time to work," she says leaving the room.