LOVE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME

Chapter 18: I'll Be Watching You

Limnear popped the last of the cookies in her mouth and chewed appreciatively. That Pinkie-Pie sure knows her way around a kitchen, that's for sure. She had just started finishing off her juice box when Silva landed on the cloud next to her.

“<Sis, you're not gonna believe it!>” she said in her native Griffish. “<The Wonderbolts are getting new orders today!>”

Limnear choked on the juice as it tried to go down into her lungs. She tapped her chest with a paw and said, “<I know. The Boss-lady told me last night that it was likely to happen.>”

“<Our contact within the palace just told me that the last supply shipment to the front was raided, and that a quick response team was being dispatched there within the week!>” Silva actually looked panicked at the thought of war. “<What'll we do if war breaks out? I don't want to fight our homeland, let alone family!>”

Laying a placating paw on her younger sister's shoulder, she said, “<Calm down. War isn't going to happen, because the Hegemony isn't that stupid. More than likely, this is just sabre-rattling to gin up support for some politico back home.>” The griffoness paced on the cloud before her sister, thinking out loud.

“<I've already talked to PS, and she's going to switch your post with Cloudchaser so you can stay out of this.>” She turned to Silva and added, “<Besides, I'd feel better if my favorite sister was out of harm's way, should someone get the crazy idea that they can get away with provoking the strongest nation in the world.>”

Silva nodded with a sly smile. “<I'm your only sister, Limmy.>” She had calmed down some, but still looked worried.

Limnear gave her a fist bump before taking to the wing to begin her shift. “<Don't worry, little sis. This all just a bunch of hooey that will blow over in a few weeks, mark my words.>”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Twilight smiled as she watched Spike play a game of patty-cake with Sunny in the library's lobby. She was surprised as well as proud of how fast he had taken to the baby. She had expected him to be a little resentful at her essentially supplanting his place, but he bewildered her with his mature acceptance, doubly so, because Sunny seemed to accept him so readily as well. It wasn't long before the two of them were thick as thieves, working together to steal before-dinner snacks like cookies and gems, or even playing pranks like hiding Twilight's quills, or putting sneezing powder in Trixie's hat (the later was done only once, due to her losing her temper and making them both stand in a corner for an hour).

Spike tired of the game, and launched into an all-out tickle attack, having the filly rolling around on the rug in an effort to get away. A golden aura surrounded the dragon, and he was rolled away from her. Twilight intervened and stopped the poor baby dragon just inches away from cracking his head on a table leg. Her aura gently overpowered Sunny's, until she felt it dissipate entirely. She stood over her daughter and gave her a stern look. “No, no, Sunny. You don't push around ponies like that, even if they do deserve it.”

Sunny looked up at her with her cutest expression, but it didn't seem to be working this time. Unused to that look being directed towards her, she started crying. Twilight bent down so that her face was level with Sunny's, and nuzzled her. Sunny stopped crying, and with a sniffle, said, “Sowwy Mom.”

“It's okay, Twi,” Spike said, coming up to her. He held out his arms. “See? No harm done.”

Twilight looked to him and replied, “Not the point, Spike. She needs to learn that some things are not okay to do with her magic. If she were to do that to another foal her age, she could seriously hurt her.” She turned back to Sunny and nuzzled her again, getting a giggle from the filly. “Besides,” she added, “between my genes, what the Princess added, and the circumstances of her gestation, there's every chance that she could turn out to be as powerful, if not more so, as myself. She needs to learn self-control.”

Shrugging, Spike said, “Well, I'm gonna head out. I promised the girls that I'd meet them at Sugarcube Corner for lunch before we go crusading.”

“Do you have some bits to pay?” Twilight asked him as he put a paw on the door handle.

He pulled a small, jingly bag from out of nowhere and held it up for her to see. “Right here. I'll be back for dinner!” he said as he ran out the door.

Twilight magically lifted her daughter and set the filly on her head. “Come on, Sunny. Let's go watch your Mama practice from the balcony.”

Sunny giggled and gave a squeaky, “Yay!” as they trotted up the stairs. She walked out on to the balcony, and walked over to the part that overhung the backyard. Below, Trixie stood on her hind legs on the opened stage of her showcart, and waved her forelegs in pseudo-arcane gestures, before a giant version of her plush doll, Abracadabra, appeared in a puff of smoke and sparkles. Sunny giggled again and clapped her approval.

Trixie looked up to see her audience and bowed to them as best she could around the bulge of her belly. “The Great and Powerful Trixie thanks you for your kind applause!”

“It's time for lunch, Trixie,” Twilight called down, getting a simple wave in return. Twilight made her way down again, and was surprised to find Fluttershy standing nervously in the library's lobby. “Fluttershy, what a pleasant surprise! What brings you by?”

As had happened whenever she was in the same room as Sunny, her eyes locked onto the filly and filled with wonder. She walked up to the foal still sitting on Twilight's head and cooed nonsensical baby words at her.

Trixie walked in at that moment, and Twilight turned to her. “Trix, would you be a dear and feed Sunny? I think Fluttershy needs to talk to me, and you know how she gets around babies. I'll be over in a moment to start lunch.”

“Why, I'd be delighted to spend time with my number one fan!” Trixie replied, and scooped Sunny up in her forehooves, taking her into what was once the kitchen, but now served as the library's break room.

Now bereft of distractions, Twilight could see dark circles under her friend's eyes, and especially stooped posture. “What's wrong, Fluttershy? You look like ten kilotrots of bad road.”

Fluttershy winced visibly. “Is it that noticeable?” she asked in a tiny voice.

“Only to a pony with working eyes,” the librarian replied. “Is something wrong?”

The pegasus gave her a haunted look. “I... I think I'm going crazy, Twilight. I've been having these... I'm not sure if I can even call them dreams, they're so terrible.”

Twilight led her over to the couch and sat down with her. “What sort of dreams?” she asked her.

Fluttershy sighed weakly. “Terrible dreams. Ponies dying, and there's nothing I can do to help them. Even... even foals no older than Sunny Days are... But the weird thing is... I'm an alicorn in these dreams, and I still can't do anything to help. I can't seem to remember any faces, or even details beyond those, but there's a feeling of dread that looms over me, of... impending doom. It's like a clock is ticking down to my death, and I'm just there to suffer and see suffering until it finally runs out.”

She heaved a shuddering sigh and leaned her head into Twilight's neck. “I used to occasionally have these dreams when I was a filly, but they stopped eventually. I had hoped that I had outgrown them, but they recently started again, and I can't get back to sleep after them; I simply can't.” She leaned back, still unable to meet Twilight's eyes. “The only thing that has helped lately has been... well, um...” She blushed deeply and searched for the right words. “Y- you know about Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and myself, right?” When no answer was forthcoming, she nervously looked up to see Twilight with a stricken look on her face.

The horror apparent on her face scared her and she tried to backpedal out of the conversation. “I- I- I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you! I'll go no-”

“No!” Twilight stopped her from sliding off the couch with a hoof on her foreleg. In a much calmer voice, she said, “No. I think we need to talk to the others, Fluttershy. See just who is having these dreams as well.”

Fluttershy looked hopeful. “As well? Do you mean that...”

Twilight nodded grimly. “I've been having strange dreams as well. I can never remember much about them other than ponies being hurt, and I can't do anything to help despite being an alicorn. However, our descriptions are too similar to just discount out of hoof as coincidence.” Sliding off the couch, she called out, “Trixie, I need to go talk to my friends. Can you watch Sunny and the library by yourself for a bit?”

Trixie poked her head out of the break room. “Can't it wait until after lunch? I was making your favorite, tea and daisy sandwiches.”

Walking over to her herd-wife, Twilight gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Afraid not, Trix. This could be urgent. Think you can manage it? I can ask our neighbors if they could lend a hoof for a bit if you think you need the help.”

She thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. “No, Trixie believes she can handle our child and watching over an empty library for a few hours. Go on, but Trixie expects a full explanation later.”

With another kiss, Twilight and Fluttershy left at a trot. Outside the library, the librarian turned to her friend and said, “Fly over to Applejack's, and bring her over to Rarity's. I'm going to gather up Rainbow and Pinkie. We'll meet you there.”

Fluttershy nodded and flew off at her top speed, which for any other pegasus would constitute a brisk pace. Twilight then trotted as fast as she could to Sugarcube Corner, and groaned upon arrival. The lunch crowd line was already going in full force, and stretched out the door to the next building. She ignored the protests as she walked past them and into the shop, to find Pinkie-Pie and Rainbow Dash working at a furious pace to serve the customers. She walked up to the side of the counter where nopony was standing and said, “Pinkie, Rainbow, We need to talk. It's important.”

“Gonna have to wait, Twi,” Dash replied. “I'm sure you can see the line we got going here.”

Undeterred, Twilight answered back, “It's really important.” She leaned forward and behind a hoof held up to her mouth to shield her words, whispered into the pegasus's ear, “like, maybe even Elements of Harmony important.”

This made Dash pause, but she answered, “Fine, but we still have to take care of these ponies. Can't leave the Cakes hanging, you know.”

“Ugh! Fine!” She wrapped a spare apron around her and got behind the counter, bumping Dash out of her spot. “I'll take the orders, you and Pinkie fill them.”

Rainbow Dash could tell from her tone that she would brook no argument, and did as she was ordered. With her help, the line had shrunk to nothing in no time at all. When the last pony happily left with their order, Pinkie stuck her head into the kitchen and said with a salute, “Lunch rush successfully served, Sir, Ma'am! Private Dash and Sergeant Pinkie requesting permission for lunch break!”

Cupcake smiled at her antics and replied, “Oh, thank you, Pinkie, dear. Of course you may go, just remember to be back in time for the dinner rush.”

Completing her salute, Pinkie-Pie left with Dash and Twilight, who were standing in the doorway, waiting for her. They walked over to Rarity's shop where the rest awaited them. Twilight greeted them as she walked in. “Sorry to keep you all waiting, but I had to help out at the bakery so these two could get away.”

Rarity nodded at her. “Quite alright, Darling. Applejack and Fluttershy only just arrived a few moments ago.”

“What's this all about, Sugarcube? Fluttershy said somethin' 'bout dreams or some such, and practically pushed me th' whole way here,” Applejack asked.

Twilight paced in front of them as she talked. “This morning, Fluttershy came to me complaining of terrible nightmares.”

“Still?” Dash asked. “I thought we took care of that with our sexy, sexy ways.” She emphasized this by bumping rumps with the yellow pegasus.

A blush overtook her face as Fluttershy tried to look sheepish and contrite at the same time. “I'm sorry, Dashie, but it still happens when we don't sleep together.” Realizing what she just said, her blush took over her whole body, and she quickly tried to correct herself. “I mean sleep sleep, not just... you know, sleep sleep.”

With an embarrassed cough, Twilight regained their attention. “Yes, well. Nocturnal activities notwithstanding, I too, have something to confess. I have been having the same nightmares lately as well. I used to get them a lot as a filly, but eventually, they stopped. Recently however, they started again, and I cannot ascertain the cause as of yet. The reason this is significant, is because judging from what details we can remember, it sounds like Fluttershy and I are having the same nightmare.”

Rarity bit her lip and chewed on it for a moment before saying, “I- I too have been having nightmares when Applejack isn't around.”

“Consarnit, Ah jus' knew there was somethin' wrong! Rares, why didn' ya'll tell me about it?” Applejack asked.

“Because, Dearest,” Rarity replied, running a hoof over her lover's cheek, “I could tell something was wrong with you as well, but you always dodged the question when I put it to you. I didn't want to add to your worries,” she finished with a kiss on her cheek.

Twilight turned to the farmer and asked, “Applejack? Have you been having these nightmares as well?”

Applejack dipped the brim of her Stetson until it completely covered her face, hiding her shameful blush. “Yeah,” she answered in a quiet voice.

“You're an alicorn who cant do anything as ponies die?” Rainbow Dash asked, her voice quavering a little.

Pinkie gasped. “You too? Omigosh, I thought I was the only one!”

All six ponies looked to one another, a feeling of dread settling into their stomachs. “What do we do?” Dash asked.

“Do?” Twilight asked with a chuckle. “Why, we consult an expert on nightmares, of course.”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Spike held as still as he could, trying in vain to quell the trembling he felt in his stomach. With his eyes screwed shut as tight as they were, it was impossible to see anything, which made it both easier and harder to wait for it. Just as he was about to peek anyway, he felt a soft touch on his lips. It was warm, slightly wet, and heavenly. After only a few seconds, the feeling went away, and he opened his eyes. “Sweetie Belle. It definitely had to be Sweetie Belle,” he said.

Scootaloo looked to Apple Bloom and asked, “How does he do that?”

The yellow filly shrugged. “Search me.”

Putting his paws behind his head, Spike leaned back in a relaxed posture against the wall of the official Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. “That's just how good I am,” he replied with as much smooth coolness he could muster.

The three fillies looked at each other with smirks, then pounced on the dragon, ticking him with their hooves and kissing him, demanding him to identify which one had just given him the kiss. Unable to do anything but laugh uncontrollably, Spike rolled around on the floor, trying to throw off his assailants.

The gaiety was brought to a halt by the door slamming open, startling all four of the occupants. Apple Bloom was the first to recover, shouting, “Applejack? What're yah doin'-”

“No time to 'splain, Bloom. Twilight needs Spike right away. 'S an 'mergency.” Applejack gently bit the tip of Spike's tail and with a flick of her head, threw him onto her back, and dashed out of the treehouse.

“What was that all about?” Sweetie Belle squeaked out.

“Dunno,” Apple Bloom replied, “but Ah intend t' find out. Let's go! Cutie Mark Crusader 'Mergency Response Team!”

“Yeah!” shouted Sweetie Belle and and Scootaloo, and the three of them high hoofed.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Applejack was making good time as she ran along back to town. Still confused, Spike asked, “What's going on, Applejack? Is it an attack? Discord gone bad again? Timberwolves loose in the town?”

Applejack shook her head. “Later...” she gasped out. “Busy... running...”

About this time, Rainbow Dash flew down from the sky and kept pace with them. “I'll take him from here, Applejack. You can run faster without a passenger, and I don't have to follow the roads. We'll meet you at Rarity's.” Without waiting for a reply, she hooked her forelegs under Spike's arms and flew off with him.

“Are you going to tell me what's going on?” he asked.

“Sorry, Spike, “Dash replied. “Twi needs you to send a letter to Princess Luna right away.”

“That's the emergency?” he asked incredulously. “You meant to say that I'm missing out on smooches for-” He slapped his paws over his face, which was turning red. Looking up, he saw Rainbow Dash grinning at him.

“Smooches, eh?” She said in a sly tone. “Now who would be smooching our little Spikey-Wikey, I wonder?”

Spike simply folded his arms across his chest and sulked the whole way back to the boutique. When they arrived, Twilight was putting the finishing touches on her final draft and rolling it up. “Ah! There you are. Good timing.” Twilight said without a trace of a smile, which was off-putting to the little dragon. It was then that he noticed that none of the mares were smiling. “I need you to send this to-”

“Princess Luna, yeah, I know,” Spike interrupted. He took the scroll and went to an open window, before breathing on it, turning it into a wisp of green smoke. They all watched the smoke fly off, and even Dash's previous good humor had disappeared. Turning back to them, he asked, “So what's this all about, anyway?”

Applejack walked in as Twilight explained about the shared dreams, and speculated on their possible significance. “... Which is why we need to consult an expert on dreams. It can't be a coincidence that all six of us have the same nightmare. I've already ascertained that they happen on the same nights, if not at the same exact time. We need to know if this is an effect of the Elements of Harmony, or premonition of some threat on the horizon that the Princesses haven't warned us about yet.”

A sudden bright flash of light momentarily blinded everyone, but quickly cleared up to reveal Luna standing amongst them. All but Fluttershy, who ran up to nuzzle her, immediately bowed. “Rise, our little ponies. Thou hast certs earn'd the privilege to forgo obeisance with us.”

They did as bidden, and Twilight asked, “Can you help us, Princess? We're worried that it might indicate something terrible in the works, and at the very least, it makes for a terrible night's rest.”

Luna nodded to reassure them. “Verily. We hath conferred with our sister afore departing, so as far as we can determine, there is no forgotten looming threat. Pray, tell us everything about thy dreams, that we might find the root cause.”

They each told what they could remember of their dreams, but details were depressingly scant. It came down to a few common words like “alicorn”, “death”, “foals”, and “dread”. The only difference was when Twilight mentioned fighting multiple dragons, that the others remembered that they too, had fought dragons in their dreams.

Luna put a hoof to her chin in thought and considered their accounts. “Thou rememberst naught else? Location, time, colors, smells, anything?” They shook their heads in reply, and the alicorn quietly “Hmm'ed” to herself. “There doth not seem to be much information with which to work,” she lamented.

Twilight nodded. “I know. I've already gone through every book on dreams and symbology in the library when they first started up again, but could find nothing; though that's not saying much for this library. As much as I adore it, it's just too small to be of much help with something so esoteric. We don't even have a copy of Spade's Catalog of Nameless Horrors, let alone a Turban's Spirit Guide.”

“Until We know more details, We cannot give thee a definitive answer to thy dilemma, other than this mayhap be a result of being bearers of the Elements,” Luna replied. She sighed sadly. “The best We can offer wouldst be for at least two of thee to lie together when sleeping, whilst We watch over thy slumb'ring, and see these dreams first hoof.” Seeing the concern in their faces, she hastily added, “Worry not, our little ponies. We shalt cast an enchantment upon thee that wilt alert us should a mare of night accost thy repose; an enchantment that wilt have no effect upon thy growing foal,” she added to Twilight.

That seemed to ease their worries a little, though Twilight seemed a little unconvinced. Fluttershy even nuzzled her again with a smile. “Thank you, Princess,” she said timidly.

“Well, shoot. Ah certainly appreciate you doin' this for us, Princess,” Applejack added.

Rarity bowed to the alicorn. “Indeed. We are in your debt, Princess.”

Luna shook her head. “Neigh, it is We who are in thy debt. Verily, We wouldst still be in the clutches of that fiend t'were not for thy intervention. We shalt bid thee good day if there is no other concerns, as We have a rather full schedule of late.” With that, she disappeared in a flash, leaving a room full of reassured mares.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Outside, three fillies let go of the window sill from which they hung and slid down to the ground. Scootaloo rubbed her eyes with her hooves and complained, “Does she always make such a bright light when she does that unicorn thingy? All I can see are spots.”

“That's what you get for looking at her when you knew she was about to leave,” Apple Bloom replied.

Sweetie Belle looked the most concerned out of the three. “Nightmares? Is that why Sis has been so cranky? I thought adults don't get nightmares.”

“I thought the Princesses knew everything,” Scootaloo shot back. “If the Princess of Dreams can't figure out why Rainbow Dash is having nightmares, then who can?”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “Ah dunno, but we best get away from this here window afore anypony sees us actin' all suspicious-like.” They walked down the alleyway for a bit before she asked, “Y'all think there's anythin' we can do for 'em?”

Sweetie Belle looked downcast as she considered what she could do to cheer up her sister, but kept coming up blank. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she was taken by surprise by a kiss on the lips from Scootaloo. “Cheer up, Sweetie. We'll find a way to help them, no matter what.”

Apple Bloom mimicked the pegasus's action and added, “Yeah! We can be Cutie Mark Crusader Nightmare Stress Relievers!”

Sweetie Belle sniffled, but gave them a smile. “That's got to be the most oddly specific thing to get a cutie mark over,” she said, then kissed them both. “Come on. Let's go get our dragonfriend and start planning how we're going to do it!”

With a “Yeah!” from all three, and another high hoof, they took off down the alley, back towards the Carousel Boutique.

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Luna reappeared in Celestia's study, where the solar diarch was busy catching up on her paperwork. Celestia rose from her seat at the desk, and sat next to her sister on the couch in front of the fireplace. “How did it go?” she asked.

“As thou predicted,” Luna replied. She looked troubled, and tried not to sound accusatory as she said, “Dost thou really think this is best? Could we not tell them something?”

Celestia sighed and looked into the vacant fireplace. “I wish we could, without compromising their current happiness, Lulu. Fortunately, it seems the problem is easily remedied, as you yourself figured out. So long as at least two of them sleep touching-”

“- their rest shalt be peaceful; aye, We know, Sister.” The lunar diarch rose and walked over to the fireplace, and looked at a framed picture of Celestia instructing a filly Twilight in the intricacies of telekinesis. “She could tell that We wert withholding some facts from her,” she casually commented. “She's too sharp by half to not notice; yet too inexperienced to obfuscate her knowledge.”

Celestia nodded her agreement. “She takes after her, doesn't she?” She sighed and got up only to turn around in place and sit down again in the exact same spot. “It's the not knowing that's killing me.”

“Sister, thy agitation will slay thee long afore the wait shall have a chance,” Luna said. “Thou needst-”

“I need for this to be over and done with,” Celestia snapped. Seeing the hurt look on her sister's face, she recoiled with a wince. “I'm sorry, Lulu. On the one hoof, I'm eager to have our sister returned to us, but on the other, I want Twilight- no all of them to have a long and happy life. The contradiction is...”

“Maddening?” Luna offered. Celestia nodded in reply, and Luna went over to her, laying a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “We believe the We know a thing or two on lunacy, 'Tia.”

They both chuckled at her joke. Celestia laid her head across Luna's neck and sighed, breathing in the other alicorn's musky scent. “I don't know what I'd do if I had to go through this again with no sisters. Knowing that you would be back in a thousand years was bad enough without wondering when the Elements...”

Luna put her forelegs around her sister. “T'is meet that a pony worry for their siblings, but not so that she take leave of her senses. We art here for thee, Sister; allow us to shoulder some of the burden.”

Celestia returned the hug and smiled. “Thank you, Lulu.”

(\ /)
( . .)
*(“)(“)

Twilight stirred the pot then pulled out a sample to taste, and smacked her lips appreciatively. “Mmm, good,” she said to herself. She put the spoon back and covered the pot again, then in a louder voice, said, “So anyway, Princess Luna said she'd keep a watch over our dreams to make sure nothing bad happens, but doesn't seem to think it's all that big a deal.”

“I wish you had told us about it in the first place, Twi,” Trixie replied from her spot in the living room. She finished changing Sunny's diaper then set her down on the floor with a playful swat which set her off running for her toys she had left scattered on the floor. “Wives are supposed to let their spouses help them, you know. We're all in this together now; for better or for worse, and all that.”

Twilight walked out of the kitchen and sat down on the couch next to her herd-wife. “I know, it's just that I didn't think much of it until I found out that all my friends were having the same nightmare on the same nights. Princess Luna says that as long as two of us sleep touching, we'll be fine, but I seem to be the odd pony out in that equation,” she said with a smirk.

Trixie glared at her playfully. “And you better stay the odd pony out in that equation. There are only two mares I intend to share you with, and none of them are among those two.”

Spitfire walked in just then and breathed deeply. “Ooo... I could smell that soup cooking from a mile off.”

“Welcome home, Hot Stuff,” Twilight said from the couch.

The Wonderbolt trotted over to her and gave both of them a long kiss that seemed to melt away the troubles she had accumulated over the course of the day. Looking around, she asked, “Where's Cheery? There's something I want to ask the three of you.”

“Asleep at her desk. The poor dear came home exhausted,” Twilight said with a gentle smile.

Cheerilee walked into the room, fighting back a massive yawn. “I'm here, I'm here.” She gave an absent kiss on Spitfire's cheek as she walked up to her. “What's up?”

“I hope you've kept your weekend free, because I got us some all-day passes to the spa and water park in Canterlot; Spike included,” Spitfire said with a grin.

“One last hurrah before you ship off, eh?” Twilight asked.

A sly grin worked it's way onto Spitfire's face, and she wriggled her eyebrows at them. “Well, it is a tradition that I never got to experience before, and I do so hate to feel left out.”

Author's Notes:

Another piece of the puzzle found, but where does it fit? I think that hardest part of writing is doling out the information in such a way as to not reveal too much, without leaving the readers totally in the dark. Some of you have already guessed the major plot point of this story (one by accident, though he/she is unaware just how close they got), but I hope you'll stick around for the final reveal. Also, some CMC fun for you all.

The usual disclaimers go here. I own the arrangement of the words, Limnear, Silva, and Sunny Days. All else belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.