LOVE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME

Chapter 5: Owner of a Lonely Heart

Looking to his partner, the guardspony nervously cleared his throat before whispering, “Kinda unusual for her, isn't it?” He nodded slightly towards the double doors they stood before for clarification.

The older pony shrugged his shoulders slightly. “Happens about once every few months or so. You get used to it. You also learn not to talk about it, too,” he added with a meaningful look.

“But not to be disturbed under any circumstances?” The younger stallion asked. He actually dared to take a sideways glance at the closed doors, from which, no sound issued. “What do you think the two of them are doing in there?”

Against protocol, the older pony slowly turned his head to stare- no, glare at his youthful partner. “I know what you're thinking, and you'd best get your mind out of the gutter. These are the Princesses we're talking about.” The menace in his voice chilled his partner's bones. “Not only do they deserve more respect than that, they're sisters.”

Swallowing hard, the younger pony replied, “But sisters are sometimes like... that, you know? I have two sisters who like to-”

“Before you go into further detail,” the older pony interrupted, “remember that gossip-mongering about our diarchs is grounds for dismissal; no explanations necessary.”

That made the younger guard stand at attention and cease all conversation. They stood there in silence for several minutes before the older pony whispered, “Of course, gossip-mongering about your sisters is another matter, entirely.”

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“Art thou certs about this, 'Tia?” Luna asked. “We know that thou wert still furious at her afore our... bout of mania.”

“I'm sure, Lulu,” Celestia gently replied. “It's been nearly twelve millennia after all. That's... a long time to hold on to anger. It's far past time to let it go,” she finished with a sigh.

Luna nuzzled her sister's neck. “Thou missest her company as well, dost thou not?”

Celestia leaned into the smaller alicorn, who easily held up under her weight. “It's so difficult seeing so many of our... contemporaries disappear.”

“Dost thou not mean our friends?”

A tear fell onto Luna's mane, disappearing into it's ethereal tresses. “Yes. Our friends.” She sighed and stood straight. “Which means we must hold on to the ones that are left.” She took a deep breath and nodded to her little sister. “Go ahead.”

Luna's horn glowed, and they both faded into moonlight, leaving behind a trace of dust that was scattered upon a stray breeze that wafted through the room.

A swirl of moondust blew into the ruin-littered meadow on the breeze, coalescing into two alicorns. They looked around, and Celestia's expression turned a little ill. “So much destruction... I... I'd forgotten... I was so angry, I'd never returned since that day.”

Luna laid a hoof on the trembling mare's shoulder. “Steady on, Sister.”

They walked toward a particularly large grass-covered knoll, and Luna used her telekinesis to sweep aside a curtain of hanging greens to reveal the stone door. She walked through, followed a moment later by a hesitant Celestia. They traversed the obsidian hallway, the sounds of their hoofsteps the only sound to disturb the oppressive silence that hung in the air.

Finally, they entered the foyer of the great library, and Onyx turned one dinner plate sized eye to them, away from his record-keeping book. Right away, his eyebrow arched up which caused Celestia to look away in shame. Without saying a word, he left his desk and walked into another room, closing the door behind him.

The soft pattering of paws drew their attention towards the library itself, where they saw Nyx walk out from between two rows of shelves, an unreadable expression on her face. She walked in front of them and bowed as one does to an equal. “Princesses.”

Celestia winced from the lack of emotion in her voice, and the curtness of the one-word greeting. It felt like somepony had stuffed her mouth with cotton and her shoes with lead. A stabbing pain in her heart worsened with every second that ticked by in silence. For a being who measured time in eons, each second felt like an eternity of painful torment.

“I...”

Unable to withstand her own guilt any longer, Celestia collapsed to the floor, sobbing. Neither her sister, nor Nyx tried to help her back up, though Luna looked at her with pity in her eyes before quietly slipping away. Celestia cried on the floor for an interminable time, while Nyx stood there, not an ounce of pity in her expression. Indeed, it would be hard to determine just what she was feeling at that moment; her countenance was so stone-like.

The sobbing finally subsided and Celestia, regal and placid Celestia, croaked out a tiny “I'm sorry.”

A flicker of sadness flitted across Nyx's face. “It's going to take a lot more than an apology to make up for what you've done.” A moment of dread silence hung over them before she added, “But it's a start.” She sighed as she laid down on the floor in front of the disheveled alicorn. “Although I suppose I can understand just where you were coming from when you attacked. Losing her like that... if I had been in your place, there's a seventy-two percent chance I would have reacted the same way.”

Celestia sniffled as she wiped her messy nose with a hoof. “That's an awfully precise number.”

“Yes, well, I had plenty of time to look into possible time lines and count them,” Nyx replied in offhandedly hurt tone.

Finally mustering the courage to look her in the eye. Celestia asked, “I- is there anything I can do? Anything at all?”

Nyx looked around at the vast hall filled with shelves; a hall so vast, that the only wall that could be seen was the one that held the entrance. The one pervading descriptor that could be applied to the library was the oppressive silence. Nobody browsed the shelves, looking for that one book that would make their day. Nobody waited at the desk, eager to see if the book they wanted could be borrowed. Nobody occupied the many tables, quietly chatting as they worked or read for pleasure. No child asked an adult to read their favorite story to them.

The sphinx took in the desolate room, and tears welled up in her eyes, but refused to fall. “There is nothing I despise more,” she said with venom dripping from her voice, “than to see knowledge wasted. I... I tried to open up to other worlds, but few showed the dedication to learning that I had found here... back then. Even on those, it just wasn't the same. Of all the worlds I've been to, this has held the most special place in my heart.” She laid a giant paw on Celestia's hoof. “I've missed you too. All of you. Despite our physical differences, I felt a kinship with you. You three especially, were closer to me than my own sisters.”

Tears returned to Celestia's eyes again. “Especially with... her. I can imagine how painful it was for you to see Twilight. It's like seeing her all over again. Her personality, her drive for knowledge... I know you two were especially close.”

Nyx nodded dumbly. She took a deep breath and sighed. “She even remembered some of the old riddles. Riddles that I only imagine hadn't been heard on this world since...”

“I know I have no right to ask this,” Celestia said, “but I hope that someday you can forgive this foalish old mare. We immortals are rare enough without being at each other's throats.” She hesitantly looked her in the eye again. “And the friendships we foster are all the more precious for it.”

A massive paw shape shifted into a hand, and ran through a celestial mane. “Celly, I would like nothing more than to return to the way things were back then, but those days are gone, never to return.” A moue of sadness passed across the alicorn's features. “But that doesn't mean we can't forgive one another and move on. I know that I had committed a grave trespass on your trust as well, but it was the right action to take at the time. I had foreseen what would likely happen had I not done what I did, and though it pained me because I knew I'd lose her too, I did it because it was the path with the greatest chance of success.”

“I didn't want to believe that,” Celestia said quietly.

“You were grief-stricken, suffering from a terrible loss, and seeking an easy target,” Nyx rebuffed. “I wish... I wish you had only taken it out on me- that, I could have handled- but given the choice, I would do it again.”

“I've wronged you in a way I cannot repay,” Celestia mumbled.

Nyx shook her head. “No. You've wronged your ponies far more than anything you did to me. Even with the limited access they would have had, there are billions of books and various reading materials here that could have benefited them. Philosophical treatises, medical tomes, chemistry, physics, engineering; so much knowledge here could have helped them in their times of need, denied them in a fit of pique.” The sphinx's words seemed to sting Celestia even more than the chastisement earlier. Rising to her feet, Nyx padded over to her office.

Celestia looked on, grief-stricken, until the huge sphinx turned to regard her. “Come. Let us discuss this over tea.” The alicorn shakily rose to her hooves and followed her.

From the shadows, Luna stepped out, followed by Onyx. “That's it?” the dragon said incredulous. “Take a few verbal lumps and all is forgiven? Our city was razed, and the two of us banished for nearly twelve thousand years for doing what was right, and all she gets is a 'naughty girl, don't do it again'? Bah! Where's the justice, I ask of you? Nyx is being far too lenient.”

“Mayhap,” Luna agreed, “yet, what our sister hath said rings true as well. There art far too few immortals to quarrel amongst ourselves. We shudder to ponder being 'the last one out', as t'were.” Onyx grunted and turned to the shelves in a vain effort to stem the tide of dust that had accumulated over the eons.

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*(“)(“)

A breathless Twilight stood gasping and wheezing before Trixie, alongside a disheveled Cheerilee and Spitfire. “Tr... Trixie... We need... to talk...” she managed to say around deep, gulping breaths; before collapsing on the grass before her. She laid down on her side, her barrel rising and falling like a pair of bellows. “Gimme a sec...”

Trixie watched her worryingly, then looked to the others. Cheerilee had sat down heavily, also breathing heavily, but Spitfire just shook her head. “We've been looking everywhere for you. We got worried when you stormed out.”

The pegasus's words stung Trixie, but she held on to her anger. She said nothing, choosing instead to glare down at the ground. Twilight finally caught her breath and sat up. “Trixie, what happened today? Simple make outs between Cheerilee and I shouldn't have caused this big a reaction.”

“You broke your promise!” Trixie retorted. She turned to Cheerilee and added, “Both of you! And you don't seem to care!” she threw the last at Spitfire who stood firm, not flinching away like the other two.

Spitfire looked at her sternly. “I think it's time we discussed why we agreed to that point in the first place.” She glanced over at Twilight who flinched under her glare. “I know it was Twilight who convinced us to go along with it, but I think it's time we find out why you pushed so hard for it in the first place.”

Trixie hunkered down as if avoiding a physical blow. “It's... it's not easy for Trixie to say. She has... difficulty articulating this feeling.”

All three ponies sat down in the grass before her and laid a hoof on hers. “Trixie, understand that we're here for you,” Twilight said gently. She looked to the others, who nodded at her, adding, “All of us. We'll support you no matter what. We love you, Trixie.”

“That... that's the thing,” Trixie said. “Trixie knows that here-” she pointed at her heart “-but here-” she moved her hoof to over her head “-she is less certain. Trixie basks in the warmth you all provide her, but she begins to doubt her... her worthiness of receiving it. She fears that you will reject her should you find somepony better than her; somepony more worthy of pursuing.”

The showmare huddled down, making herself look smaller. “Trixie knows that she doesn't share the same connection you do with Cheerilee or Spitfire. She doesn't find studying to be interesting in and of itself to pursue it for its own sake. She is no teacher, and only barely got passing marks as a student. She's not brilliant. Shes hasn't been the pony you've pined for since you were a teenager. She doesn't have the sleek, sexy body of an athlete, nor the forbidden allure of a teacher having an illicit affair with a student, her own or not.” She looked up at Twilight, tears pouring down her cheeks. “Trixie is nopony special. She has nothing about herself to find desirable.”

Twilight leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. A thrill of passion arrowed through them both straight through their hearts. It was a long moment before Twilight broke off the kiss. “The most desirable thing about Trixie, is Trixie. Trixie is a brave mare, who tried to stand up against an Ursa Minor, despite knowing that she was in over her head. At a very tender young age, she lost the only two ponies who loved her, and persevered. In spite of a less than stellar education, she has made a career out of magic. She has dealt with less than kind townsponies, angry mobs, and wild creatures without even a caravan to call home. Trixie is brilliant; nopony who has done all that can be called anything less. She is a gorgeous mare that anypony would feel lucky to call theirs, and has the allure of the mysterious mare that is so very compelling.”

Cheerilee nodded in agreement. “I agree. Trixie is a compellingly beautiful mare. Her self-confidence is a work of art, especially when she deals with hecklers. She is much smarter than she gives herself credit for. She taught herself how to put on shows and the spells she uses in them. And,” she affectionately rubbed noses with her, “she makes the cutest squeaking noises when she comes.”

Leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek, Spitfire added, “We are lucky to have Trixie in our lives, much less sharing our bed. There aren't many that I would accept in that position; in fact, every single pony who would fit that description is right here. Trixie is a good, loyal friend, and an excellent lover. She is creative and has one of the biggest hearts I've ever come across. She deserves every bit of happiness we can send her way, and I intend to see her get it, whether she believes that or not.”

“Trixie is sorry,” she sobbed, “It's just so hard for her to accept that you still want her around. You already have two very desirable ponies at your beck and call, it makes her wonder if she's just... superfluous.”

Twilight used her magic to gently turn the showmare's head until it faced her. “Trixie, you are not superfluous. You're not a third wheel, you are a very important part of my- no our lives. I think I speak for everypony here when I say that our lives would no longer be complete without you in it.”

Trixie looked to the others to find them nodding in agreement. “But-”

“No buts,” Twilight said sternly. “We love you, we want you to stay in our lives, and we'll do what it takes to keep you there.”

“However,” Spitfire interrupted, “this thing about all of us needing to be there is just too impractical. There are going to be times when we want some loving, but one or two of us won't be available. It's inevitable, Trixie.” She leaned close and with a breathy whisper in her ear, said, “Besides, I want a taste of that smoking flank of yours all to myself sometime.”

Twilight nodded. “I think as much as I love having all three of you at the same time, I would like a little one-on-one with each of you as well; and I don't want to have to worry about 'keeping everything even', or anything like that. We're all adults here, not children who get upset because one of us gets more ice cream than the others. Going by that, I'm the worst among us with all the attention you three pay to me.”

“And if what we've been telling you so far isn't enough,” Cheerilee said with a sly tone, “then think about this; you'll be able to have Twilight all to yourself now and then as well.”

Trixie met and held Twilight's gaze, tears threatening to spill forth. “You... you promise not to abandon Trixie?”

Smiling gently, Twilight replied, “Trixie, the four of us are going to be so close, ponies will start to think we're joined at the hip.” She considered this for a moment before adding, “More so than they do already.”

The showmare leaned forward, nuzzling Twilight, as Cheerilee and Spitfire leaned in to offer physical support. “What do you say to taking this back home, where it's less... public?” Spitfire asked coyly.

“No sooner said, than done,” Twilight happily said. The four of them walked back at the library, startling Spike who was peering around the corner of the stairway. Before he could ask, she said, “Sorry about earlier, Spike. Just a little hiccup. New relationships are bound to have them.”

“So... everything's cool, now?” he asked, not coming out from around the corner.

Twilight nodded and gestured for him to come back down. “We're cool. We have a bit more work ahead of us before this particular hurdle is crossed, but we're cool.”

Spike walked down the stairs holding his belly. “Good, 'cause I'm starved! You guys left before finishing dinner, and I was so worried, I couldn't have ate it anyways.”

Twilight nuzzled him when he got in reach. “Aw, my poor widdle dwagon. Let's go fix that right now.”

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*(“)(“)

Plain Sight walked back from the library window from which she had been spying. “Alright, they looked settled in, now; crisis averted. I'm heading back to Canterlot tonight to personally ask the Princess for more personnel. It looks like this relationship she's got going is likely to be permanent, so we'll need at least six more ponies on the job, if not nine.” She turned to her second-in-command. “Minuette, you're in charge until I get back. If you need the help, ask Amethyst Star to help out with the watches. I'm authorizing you to give her time-and-a-half if need be.”

Minuette looked hesitant. “Ma'am, I know that I dropped the ball tonight. I'll understand if you want to have me replaced.”

Plain Sight sighed and shook her head. “No, the one who dropped the ball tonight was me. I never should have dressed you down over something beyond your control; especially since you were the agent on the scene. I wasn't even on the clock tonight. There was no way you could have predicted what was going down, would go down.” She patted her on the shoulder and turned away towards the train station. “I'm entrusting her to you, Minuette. Take care of her until I return.”

The unicorn saluted and returned to her vigil as Plain Sight trotted off.

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As a strange change of pace, it turned out that Trixie took the center of the pony pile that night. She was surprised when Twilight laid down next to her, followed by Cheerilee on her opposite side, and ending with Spitfire leaning against her rump. Twilight gave her a kiss goodnight that lingered for far too long to suggest going to sleep. Instead, it brought Trixie into full wakefulness.

Trixie let out a surprised squeak that turned into a moan as she kissed, when Spitfire sniffed and licked at her marehood, lapping up at her obvious excitement. Cheerilee placed a foreleg over her withers, rolling her onto her back without either Twilight nor Spitfire breaking their respective kisses. Twilight moved with the roll until she stood over Trixie and gently settled into her embrace.

With both mares presenting so openly, Spitfire switched from long, slow lick of Trixie, to long swipes going from one set of labia to the next without breaking stride. She moaned her approval of the taste, mingling the two together. Both of her taste beds also moaned their approval, wriggling against one another, their clits flicking against each other harshly.

Far from being idle, Cheerilee suckled first one, then the other unicorn's horns, alternating between the two. She noticed right away that each horn began their spirals in a different spot, resulting in a different feel for each horn if she paid attention. The two unicorns began sparking miniscule amounts of magic from the sensations, especially when Cheerilee started humming as she licked and sucked; so much so, that it felt like she had a mouthful of carbonated candy. The sensation was both sweet and tingly, but Trixie was considerably more tart than Twilight.

Feeling that the wetness between them was sufficient, Twilight focused her magic, causing her clitoris to swell and grow larger, longer, and much, much thicker. The pseudo-penis brushed against Trixie's labia, and before it could get too long, Twilight lifted up enough to let it continue its growth by sliding along Trixie's belly. The librarian's eyes crossed at this sensation, and Trixie whimpered. She rested her weight once more on the azure form below, letting the scalding warmth of the erection burn the impression into their minds.

Trixie mewled her need at Twilight, and her lover complied by slowly sliding back allowing the cock to drag along her belly, leaving a trail of precum. As she went, Twilight kissed and lick at Trixie's coat, intentionally laving against the normal lay, leaving tufts of it stick up in crazy directions. When the head of Twilight's temporary stallionhood was poking at the gates of Trixie's marehood, instead of gliding in, she rocked her hips in an exaggerated fashion in order to wriggle the tip, almost going in, but not quite.

Spitfire reverently put her hooves onto the long rod of flesh, surprised at the heat coming from it. Twilight hissed in pleasure at this, but managed to hold on. She let the pegasus's hooves glide along the surface of her cock, feeling every contour and making the tip wriggle around Trixie's petals. Unable to take it any longer, she plunged into the squelching marehood, sinking all the way to the medial ring with a single thrust. Trixie let out a surprised gasp, which was cut short by Cheerilee's open-mouthed kiss.

Their tongues vied for dominance over the other as Twilight slowly withdrew her cock until just the tip remained inside. With a grunt of effort, she plunged back in, this time almost to the hilt, her tip just barely kissing Trixie's cervix. Spitfire was lying on her side, her head between their legs, licking at Twilight's penis as it slid in and out of Trixie. She eagerly lapped up their lubricants, glorying in their flavor and clopped herself silly. Twilight's thrusts became more insistent, more forceful, gaining in speed and fervor. Trixie's rear legs splayed into the air, her hooves contorting in odd angles, trembling at the sensations produced by her lovers.

Bearing down hard, Twilight plunged into Trixie with increasing ardor. Her zeal was such that Trixie began to slide along the pallet, necessitating the others to crawl along to keep their positions. Already, bruising was evident from the vigorous action, promising quite a mark come tomorrow morning. She pushed so hard and so far that her cock gently pushed up against the cervix, gathering up against it, sending shivers of painfully strong lust through both mares. Far from objecting to this normally uncomfortable situation, Cheerilee had to resume her oral ministrations on Trixie's horn because she narrowly avoided having her tongue bitten twice due to the showmare's enthusiasm. Now, Trixie's tongue lolled out of her mouth like a panting dog's, her eyes unfocused and crossed, and a tiny squeaking sound emanated from her with every thrust in.

Twilight sensed that they were reaching their peaks and tried to pull out, only to find that Trixie had locked her rear legs around Twilight's rump, effectively locking them together. “T- Trixie... I- I- I'm gonna.. gonna cum!”

“Do it!” Trixie shouted. “Rut your mare! Make her yours! Make sure that everypony knows she's yours!” Trixie's forelegs tightened around Twilight, pulling her down closer, and her vaginal muscles tightened around the marecock, refusing to let it loose. “Take me to the stars, Twilight! I wanna be there with you!”

Unable to hold out long enough to extricate herself, Twilight let loose a flood of cum straight into her womb, pumping so much that it leaked around the tight seal of Trixie's vaginal entrance, and was eagerly lapped up by an enthusiastic Spitfire, who came from the taste alone. Cheerilee, still sucking on Trixie's horn, was surprised when her mouth filled with a delicious liquid that not only left her tongue numb, but also sent powerful waves of pleasure through her, causing her own marehood to squirt onto the pallet and the floor beyond.

Twilight lay panting atop Trixie, still locked in her embrace. “You... you shouldn't have done that, Trixie. I may... I may have just... impregnated you...” she gasped.

Trixie wriggled around Twilight, basking in the afterglow and her love for the mare in her forelegs. “Mmm... nothing would make the Great and Powerful Trixie happier, than to become the Gravid and Pregnant Trixie, carrying Twilight Sparkle's foal.”

Twilight shook her head and sighed as she fell asleep in her hooves, exhausted beyond measure.

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*(“)(“)

Twilight looked at the stick again, as if to find a different result there. She heaved a sigh and shook her head with a smile. “Well, Trixie, it looks like we're going to have to speed up our move to the new house.”

Trixie looked up, her face a battle ground where joy and excitement warred with fear and chagrin. Settling for a meek smile, she asked, “You're not... upset, are you?”

Throwing the stick into the garbage can, Twilight stepped forward and kissed her deeply on the mouth. “Of course not. I love you very much, and I'm sure I speak for us all when I say that we'll love our foal just as much.” She rested her forehead against Trixie's, and they stared into each other's eyes, smiling goofily.

A knock on the door broke the moment, and Spike's voice sounded from the other side. “Twi? You two coming to breakfast, or should I just slide the pancakes under the door one at a time?”

Twilight chuckled at her impatient assistant. “We're coming, Spike.” She opened the door to find a pair of ponies waiting as well. Noting the questions in their faces, she said, “We're going to need to think up more baby names.”

Cheerilee and Spitfire rushed forward, engulfing Trixie and Twilight in hugs. Twilight took the opportunity to look Trixie in the eye. “See? Told you they'd be happy, too.”

Spike faceclawed. “Aaawww... another one? Aren't there enough girls around here as it is? I swear, I feel like Big Mac what with the distinct lack of a male viewpoint, here.”

“Sorry, Spike,” Twilight replied with a smirk. “You know how it is, females can only produce females with this spell.”

Spike arched an eyebrow at her. “Why is that? I mean, magic is magic, right? If it can give you a... you-know-what, then why not make it so that you can have colts while you're at it?”

Twilight put a hoof to her chin and stood a while in thought. “Hmm, I guess it is theoretically possible, but once a female wizard goes this far, they really don't see a need to 'go all the way',” she said, making the air-quotes with her hooves. “I mean, if you get tickets to the concert, and the music is all you care about, then why bother with the backstage passes?” She looked at her fillyfriends and asked, “Do you want colts? I could put in the research if it means that much to you.”

“I don't care if it's colts or fillies, as long as they're yours,” Trixie said.

“'They'?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

Cheerilee lightly punched her in the foreleg. “You don't seriously think we could be satisfied with just one each, do you?”

Twilight looked to Spitfire, who just shook her head. “Doesn't matter how many- or gender for that matter- we have. What we have is what we'll have. My only caveat is that we wait until mid winter to make mine. I want to have mine during the off season so I don't have to quit the team.”

Twilight sat down heavily with a wide-eyed expression. “We're gonna need a bigger house. A much bigger house; especially when I start having foals too.”

With a disgusted face and a wave of his claws, Spike said, “Oh-kay, that's way too much information for this dragon. I'm getting out of here before this devolves into some sort of girly-girl thing. If anypony wants me, I'll be out with the Crusaders. At least they don't go all weird on me.” And with that, Spike ran off before anypony could stop him.

Twilight shook her head and smiled. “I'm going to have to have a talk with him soon. Those three are going to go all 'girly-girl' on him sooner than he realizes.” Trixie sighed blissfully and leaned against Twilight.

Author's Notes:

Sorry this one took so long to update. I had family drop by unexpectedly, and they threw me off my schedule. Anyways, I hope everyone if satisfied by the resolution in this chapter, because it may not be the last you see of this particular wrinkle. And don't worry about that scene with Celestia and Nyx coming out of nowhere, it's part of the overarching plot of the series. Trust me, I'm going somewhere with this. Also, concerning the clop... ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? And how about that! I got through a whole chapter, and Plain Sight only appeared for less than 200 words. I'm breaking the habit! ^_^

The usual disclaimers go here. I own the arrangement of the words, Nyx, Onyx, and Plain Sight. All else belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.