Major Leaguesby AndouxChaptersEngageArrivalThoughtsEngage"Why do we have to help this incompetent stallion out, anyway? The Great and Powerful Trixie fails to see any benefit in doing so." She glared at Cloudie, the incompetent stallion. "The benefit is far beyond anything you can imagine, child." Her grandfather said after a bit of thought. He looked at the young stallion. "Are you anxious, young one?" He asked, noticing that Cloudie was visibly shaking. "A-a little...I'm very grateful to both of you for agreeing to help me, but it's just as Miss Trixie says-" "THAT'S THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE TO YOU!" She interrupted him. "R-right! Sorry...It's just...what benefit is there to helping me? I'd also like to know that." He finished his thought. "What is it with the youth today...must every single action be beneficial? Can't it just be that I'm a kind, old unicorn?" He sighed and shook his head. "No, I didn't mean you weren't kind...but you said it yourself just now." Cloudie chimed in. "That I did!" The elder laughed a bit before coughing. "The benefit is for everypony, including the future generations. If we manage to get you to learn and use earth magic fluently, we'll have pretty much revived a lost magic. You can then pass it on and spread your wisdom." "...Is earth magic really lost?" Cloudie felt butterflies in his stomach. The way Eon put it made it seem almost as if the young stallion was the last entity alive with the skill. Simply put, a few tons of pressure was laid upon him. "That's a bit of a trick question. You see, earth magic can be learned by every earth pony." He began to explain. "EVERY SINGLE ONE?!" Cloudie and Trixie replied in unison. Eon sighed. "I should correct myself...any earth pony with a unicorn or alicorn parent automatically has the right blood to potentially use magic. It's a bit of a shady area...because while everypony does have 'The potential', it would take majority at least a century to manifest it, even with daily practice and training. That's right, 100 years seems like a very long time indeed, and that's way beyond any earth pony's lifespan, but this ludicrous learning time is also due to the lack of knowledge on the subject." "I...I see..." Cloudie began to understand, and a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders. Even if he were to completely fail the training, all hope wouldn't be lost. There could be another, or several others that can save the art. "The pink one...she showed a very unique type of earth magic herself." Eon added. "Y-you mean Pinkie Pie?" Cloudie raised his head in surprise. "Seriously?" "I'm a bit disappointed you failed to pick up on it...she does physically impossible tasks daily, predicts the future, and seems to have the ability to talk to beings on a different dimensional plane. She may not be aware of it, but she uses earth magic on a level far beyond yours." "Wait, I'm confused. If she does it so much better, why choose me to train? Why not bring her too? Or even her alone?" Cloudie asked with genuine curiosity. "Pinkie Pie is an element of harmony. Severing her from the others could be catastrophic on several levels. Fear not, Cloudious! If this training is too much and you die in the process, she'll be the first to take your place." Eon added. "Die?" Cloudie got nervous. "Your name IS Clou-DIE! The Great and Powerful Trixie smells foreshadowing!" She began to laugh violently. "How rude..." Cloudie sighed, but felt hopeful altogether. "All jokes aside, the training could take years, you can die at any point throughout it, there is a very high chance you'll fail to get far and in the end be ultimately useless." Eon got down to serious discussion. "When you put it like that..." The young stallion started to doubt himself. "Will you undertake my training anyway?" The elder asked with a stern face. "...I've kind of felt like this wouldn't be easy all along...yet I'm still on this train going to Celestia knows where with you two. I want to get strong and be useful...so that I won't be a burden to anypony, and instead help Equestria take a step forth. I may be nothing more than a lab rat to you two, but you still believe I can succeed, and I really don't feel like letting you or anypony else down again. That's my answer." Cloudie finished his thought with a confident smile. "A simple yes or no would have been just as good, you almost put The Great and Powerful Trixie to sleep." The mare let out a yawn. "But a simple 'yes or no' wouldn't have reassured me this much." Eon laughed. "I admire your spirit, youngin', I really do! I have high hopes for you once we get started." "Try not to die, I guess." Trixie rolled her eyes. Cloudie chuckled nervously at the remark and focused his attention on the outside world which he zoomed past in the train. He wondered what the training would be like, but felt asking would be rude for some reason. Could it really be intense enough to potentially kill him? Wouldn't Eon and Trixie get in trouble if their training killed him? More importantly... "...would Pinkie be sad if I died...?" The young stallion whispered worryingly. "Talking to yourself, creep?" Trixie mocked him for the whisper. "Yeah...I guess I am..." Cloudie smiled, rendering the effect of her insult useless. "You're in love with the pink weirdo, huh?" Trixie asked. "H-how rude!" He blushed. "Don't call her that. Her name is Pinkie Pie...and she's..." He trailed off, never finishing the sentence. At least, not out loud. "You're right, I suppose you're the one The Great and Powerful Trixie should ridicule for developing feelings for a weirdo like her!" She began to laugh again. "Trixanne, that's enough. There's a limit to how far one should go with their jokes, and you just passed yours." Eon gave her glare. "Y-yes, Grandpa...sorry..." She put her head down. "It's fine! She was just joking, anyway...I don't like Pinkie or anything..." Cloudie looked down, blushing a bit more. "...I suppose you don't. Why else would you leave her? She's probably crying her pretty little eyes out, all because of you, and-" "Trixanne, what did I just say?" Eon snapped a little. "The Great and Powerful Trixie only tells it like it is. I believe Cloudious here is more than aware of it himself, aren't you?" She asked him. "...It was for the best...I know it was..." He began shaking. "Whoa, don't cry! You're a stallion! What's wrong with you?" Trixie started to feel bad as he trembled. "...Gotcha!" Cloudie raised his head to look up at Trixie with a mischievous smile. His action made even Eon chuckle a bit under his breath. "Of course I know all of this. Moping and being depressed won't make me anymore useful. In fact, it will do the complete opposite...I'll just be a bigger burden than I already am." He declared. "Oh? Perhaps The Great and Powerful Trixie has misjudged you. She admires your drive to get better, but all she hears are words. Anypony can say they'll do something, and later chicken out or bail. Let's see your actions do the talking." She smiled maliciously. "You've got it, Trixie!" He nodded in agreement. "THAT'S THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE TO YOU!" She unleashed again, causing Cloudie to laugh out loud. The train resumed to go full-speed ahead to a destination the young stallion had not yet known. Neither Eon or Trixie would tell him where it is exactly his training would take place, but that just added to his excitement. Wherever he was headed, Cloudie would work hard to master the gift bestowed upon him by the elements of harmony, but for more than anypony, he wanted to do it for Pinkie Pie. She had done the most for him, and he felt the favor needed to be repaid. He vowed right there and then that when the training was completed, he would return to Ponyville and do anything in his new-found power to make Pinkie Pie as happy as she could possibly be. To Be Continued ArrivalIn his sleep, Cloudie dreamed of his birthplace, and how greatly it differed from Ponyville. In Manehattan, everything was a business, or debt, or involved money in some way. Everything did. The dream quickly turned into a nightmare as he remembered how lonely he was before coming to Ponyville. His parents were always working, his friends were always busy or just didn't want to do anything with him, and nopony there honestly gave flying feather about him. He grew up to develop a love for books, due to his loneliness. He read everything from comedy to horror. Daily fantasies became routine for him, and it got to the point where he sometimes had no control over what he'd think about. Reading interesting stories was all he had...at least, before he got the courage to travel. "Alright, that's enough sleep! WAKE UP!!" Trixie used her magic to throw Cloudie on the floor of what looked like an inhabited home. "Oww...w-where are we?" The stallion looked around, realizing quickly this was no longer the train they were on not too long ago. "My home. I had Trixanne carry you using her magic, and I added a bit of my own to make sure you didn't wake." Eon explained, going over to a bookshelf by the entrance. "I could have walked..." Cloudie looked at both of them skeptically. "Yes, but then there's a chance you'd memorize the route back to the train station and could easily leave whenever it suits you. By keeping you asleep, we made sure you can't back out now." The elder sat down on a worn out rocking chair, right by a fireplace which had yet to be lit. "Of course, you're more than welcome to try. The station is a few miles away in a specific direction...choose the wrong one, and it's miles and miles of forest. You'll either die from hunger, thirst, exhaustion, maybe you'd even get killed by wildlife." Trixie tried to intimidate the stallion. "I get it. You made it so that I can't turn back now." Cloudie got a little nervous, realizing how serious these two were when they said this wouldn't be easy. "That would be that plan, youngin'. I won't have you waste our valuable time just so you can leave somewhere in the middle. You're here till it's over, is that clear?" Eon asked seriously. "I understand." Cloudie replied in the most serious tone he could make out. He then resumed to look around the house. "Ahh yes, I almost forgot!" The elder added, putting away the book he was reading to look back and forth between the young stallion and his granddaughter. "What is it, grandfather?" Trixie looked at him questioningly. "As you've probably already noticed, Cloudious, I'm just a poor, ol' unicorn. I got this place to myself when my beloved wife passed away, and as such it's only meant to house me. I've bribe-I mean, persuaded Trixie to stay a while and help you with the training. This will also be most beneficial to her magic control and manipulation." "What exactly are you getting at, grandpa?" Trixie failed to see where he was going with all of this. Eon coughed. "Yes, yes, I shall get right to the point. This house has only one guest room, so you two will have to share it." He pointed a hoof at both of them. "I BEG YOUR PARDON!?" Trixie looked at Cloudie angrily. "This is my fault somehow?" The young stallion chuckled nervously. "Now, now! Take it easy, Trixanne. Be reasonable." Eon pleaded her. "Take your own advice, you old fart! Have this loser sleep in the living room, or better yet, outside." She once again gazed at Cloudie maliciously. "I...I suppose I can take the living room." The glare quickly got the better of him. "But this is very important for your training, youngin'. I wish to see if...err...'stimulation' has any effect on your magic output. I was young once too, you know." Eon walked over to Cloudie casually. "She's still my granddaughter. Please take good care of her...and do try to keep it quie-" Before the elder could finish his thought, Trixie began flinging the heaviest books she could find at him. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" She blushed ever so lightly as she barraged him with an arsenal of literature. "Of course I'm kidding! Why is it that when I try to have some fun, it's always the worst thing possible?" The elder laughed, followed by a heavy cough. "I thought so..." Cloudie laughed nervously as Trixie kept throwing books in a fit of rage. -A few minutes later- "Okay, I will now explain the living arrangements." Eon began, covered in bruises and paper cuts. "I've gotta be careful not to make any jokes around her..." The young stallion looked at Trixie with fear in his eyes. "I will sleep in my own room. Trixanne will take the guest room, and Cloudious will take the attic. Any objections?" Eon glanced at both of them. "You best stay away from the guest room, if you know what's good for you." Trixie glared at Cloudie. "Y-yes, M'am." The young stallion put his head down. "I will take that as a no...very good! Training starts at 6:30 A.M tomorrow. I expect both of you to be well rested." The elder resumed. "No problems here." Cloudie looked at Trixie to see if she had any problems with it. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is fine with that." "Will you drop the whole 'Great and Powerful' thing already? I raised you better than that." Eon sighed. "But grandfathe-" "You can have your silly little title back once you prove to me that you truly are great and powerful. How does that sound?" "The Great an-I mean, I suppose that's fine, but how can I prove it, Grandpa? A magic duel? Manipulation contest? Maybe-" "I'll figure something out, Trixanne. It's getting late. Show Cloudious to the attic and get some sleep yourself." Eon yawned. "Very well. Come on, loser." Trixie began trotting up the stairs. "Goodnight, Eon." Cloudie bowed his head and followed Trixie up the stairs. "Alright, here we are. Make yourself at home, I guess." She moved out of the way and let Cloudie through. "Whoa, that is a lot of spider webs." He looked around as she lit some candles. "Scared of spiders? Come to think of it, what aren't you scared of? You're such a loser..." Trixie said, walking down the stairs. "Stay away from my room!" "I got it, I got it!" Cloudie sighed, putting down his things. He was quick to start cleaning up around the attic and truly making himself at home. He encountered an owl, three mice, some crickets and whole bunch of spiders in doing so. "I sure do hope none of these are poisonous." He thought before getting hit in the head with a floating mattress. "Coming through." Trixie placed it on an open area on the floor. "Hey, you cleaned this place up pretty well." She thought, looking around before her eyes met the stallion's. "You're s-still a loser though! A stallion that's good at cleaning? You're such a weirdo!" She blushed a little, walking down the stairs again. "Thanks for the mattress!" Cloudie called out. "Stay away from m-" "I know, I know!" The stallion laughed as he jumped on the mattress. It was very soft and comfortable, as well as clean. Although he had just woken up not too long ago, he failed to find trouble falling asleep again, and drifted peacefully into another comatose. Thoughts"Pinkie Pie was the first pony to meet me when I arrived at Ponyville. She found me sitting outside, staring blankly at the clouds before a downpour happened. To my surprise, she sat down right beside me as it began to rain, and it wasn't just a light rain, it was a heavy downpour. I believe it was scheduled due to the lack of rain recently...I think Pinkie told me that. I told her that I wasn't worth the cold and that she should go back inside, wherever she came from. She was generous enough to take me back with her to a place called Sugarcube Corner, and even gave me a room to stay in. I was a complete stranger, and she did all of that for me...it failed to make sense. Why was she doing all this? How will it benefit her in the long run? I was so confused, I just had to ask. And so I did. She looked at me funny, and without even taking a moment to ponder over her answer, she gave me a big hug. While doing so, she said that that's what friends are for. I wasn't her friend...I didn't even know her a few minutes ago. How was she so sure that I wouldn't use her kindness against her? That I wasn't a crook or a villian or something? It boggled my mind...such confident trust in me...I began to cry. It was absolutely insane and it made no sense, but it made me feel really warm inside. It was a feeling I've never felt before, not even from my own parents. Everything piled up and I just broke down, as embarrassing as it is. I promised to do everything I can to help her, and I was sure to not take her kindness for granted. I vowed that everything she did, I'd repay her for. That's how things worked when I was young, every debt had to be repaid. She laughed at me when I said this. She told me not to be so uptight, and more importantly that she only did it because it was her choice and it made her feel good to see me happy. That it made her feel good to see all of her friends happy..." Cloudie opened his eyes and glanced over at both Eon and Trixie, both of which were fast asleep on the seat right across. He couldn't stop thinking about everything that's happened to him when he initially arrived at Ponyville, and his parting thoughts left his mind racing against his will. "I should be asleep too...but it would appear my mind won't let me. Ever since I left, I've felt extremely uneasy. I believe it was only Rainbow Dash who openly despised me, so I know for a fact that she's enjoying my leave. I understand her feelings though...I meddled in their relationship, and she has every right to hate me. They all must have known each other since they were fillies, and then here I am, just some random stallion, intruding on their lives." Cloudie sighed as he began to tremble once more. An uneasy feeling came over him. "Even she accepted me at one point...all six of them did. The group hug they all gave me at my welcoming party to Ponyville once I've met them all. I made so many friends, and so easily I left them all behind, just because of that stupid incident at the Everfree Forest. I wanted to explore, and Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash went along with me. They showed me the site of where they revived the dead elements of harmony, and I was very excited, like a child at a candy store. I believe that was around the time when I found out they were the elements themselves due to Pinkie's slip of tongue. I went absolutely bananas over that, since I've been meaning to meet the elements ever since I found out they were revived by six ponies from Ponyville. That's why I chose that location to visit in the first place, and that's also when the weird thing happened...that beam of light that slammed me against the rubble, throwing my cutie mark all out of whack..." The stallion glanced at his flank, which was once an unsolved Rubik's Cube. Three sides of the cube showed- The green, yellow, and red. "Since that beam hit me, the Rubik's Cube has been solved. That light also caused the remains of the castle to crumble down to nothing. I still have no idea what it means, but since then I've been able to use very trace amounts of what I believed to be magic. Eon confirmed this, and took an immediate interest in me. He believes the power I possess to be 'Earth Magic', or magic that can be used by earth ponies. I've always believed that being an earth pony was a curse. We live alongside pegasi, who can fly and walk on clouds, as well as unicorns, who can use all sorts of amazing magic thanks to their horns. And what do use earth ponies have? The ability to grow crops well? I know it's extremely selfish, but I've always wanted to be anything but an earth pony. I've always wanted every earth pony to be something more, even a little more..." Cloudie sneezed, breaking his train of thought. He looked at Eon and Trixie to make sure he didn't wake them, and sure enough he had not. "Then there's the whole thing about Pinkie liking me, which I fail to believe at all. With all the friends she has, why pick me? Another thing that didn't add up was that she had just met me. Infatuation doesn't work that fast...at least, I don't think it does. And finally, I'm nothing special. Anypony else is more loyal, kind, generous, honest, funny...just overall better. I was quick to fall head over hooves for her, but that's not fair to her. She can do a million-no, a billion times better than some loser like me. There's just no way. No way would she ever see me as more than a friend! Having an element of harmony seeing me as a friend is already crazy awesome, but as a potential romantic interest? Now I'm afraid you've lost me. Yes, it's just not logical...but then again, love isn't meant to make sense...but still, it's a definite no." Cloudie yawned. His eyes were already giving up and he felt himself lose consciousness. "By the time I wake up, we'll get there...I really hope I'm as ready as I think I am." He slipped into a peaceful comatose.
Engage"Why do we have to help this incompetent stallion out, anyway? The Great and Powerful Trixie fails to see any benefit in doing so." She glared at Cloudie, the incompetent stallion. "The benefit is far beyond anything you can imagine, child." Her grandfather said after a bit of thought. He looked at the young stallion. "Are you anxious, young one?" He asked, noticing that Cloudie was visibly shaking. "A-a little...I'm very grateful to both of you for agreeing to help me, but it's just as Miss Trixie says-" "THAT'S THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE TO YOU!" She interrupted him. "R-right! Sorry...It's just...what benefit is there to helping me? I'd also like to know that." He finished his thought. "What is it with the youth today...must every single action be beneficial? Can't it just be that I'm a kind, old unicorn?" He sighed and shook his head. "No, I didn't mean you weren't kind...but you said it yourself just now." Cloudie chimed in. "That I did!" The elder laughed a bit before coughing. "The benefit is for everypony, including the future generations. If we manage to get you to learn and use earth magic fluently, we'll have pretty much revived a lost magic. You can then pass it on and spread your wisdom." "...Is earth magic really lost?" Cloudie felt butterflies in his stomach. The way Eon put it made it seem almost as if the young stallion was the last entity alive with the skill. Simply put, a few tons of pressure was laid upon him. "That's a bit of a trick question. You see, earth magic can be learned by every earth pony." He began to explain. "EVERY SINGLE ONE?!" Cloudie and Trixie replied in unison. Eon sighed. "I should correct myself...any earth pony with a unicorn or alicorn parent automatically has the right blood to potentially use magic. It's a bit of a shady area...because while everypony does have 'The potential', it would take majority at least a century to manifest it, even with daily practice and training. That's right, 100 years seems like a very long time indeed, and that's way beyond any earth pony's lifespan, but this ludicrous learning time is also due to the lack of knowledge on the subject." "I...I see..." Cloudie began to understand, and a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders. Even if he were to completely fail the training, all hope wouldn't be lost. There could be another, or several others that can save the art. "The pink one...she showed a very unique type of earth magic herself." Eon added. "Y-you mean Pinkie Pie?" Cloudie raised his head in surprise. "Seriously?" "I'm a bit disappointed you failed to pick up on it...she does physically impossible tasks daily, predicts the future, and seems to have the ability to talk to beings on a different dimensional plane. She may not be aware of it, but she uses earth magic on a level far beyond yours." "Wait, I'm confused. If she does it so much better, why choose me to train? Why not bring her too? Or even her alone?" Cloudie asked with genuine curiosity. "Pinkie Pie is an element of harmony. Severing her from the others could be catastrophic on several levels. Fear not, Cloudious! If this training is too much and you die in the process, she'll be the first to take your place." Eon added. "Die?" Cloudie got nervous. "Your name IS Clou-DIE! The Great and Powerful Trixie smells foreshadowing!" She began to laugh violently. "How rude..." Cloudie sighed, but felt hopeful altogether. "All jokes aside, the training could take years, you can die at any point throughout it, there is a very high chance you'll fail to get far and in the end be ultimately useless." Eon got down to serious discussion. "When you put it like that..." The young stallion started to doubt himself. "Will you undertake my training anyway?" The elder asked with a stern face. "...I've kind of felt like this wouldn't be easy all along...yet I'm still on this train going to Celestia knows where with you two. I want to get strong and be useful...so that I won't be a burden to anypony, and instead help Equestria take a step forth. I may be nothing more than a lab rat to you two, but you still believe I can succeed, and I really don't feel like letting you or anypony else down again. That's my answer." Cloudie finished his thought with a confident smile. "A simple yes or no would have been just as good, you almost put The Great and Powerful Trixie to sleep." The mare let out a yawn. "But a simple 'yes or no' wouldn't have reassured me this much." Eon laughed. "I admire your spirit, youngin', I really do! I have high hopes for you once we get started." "Try not to die, I guess." Trixie rolled her eyes. Cloudie chuckled nervously at the remark and focused his attention on the outside world which he zoomed past in the train. He wondered what the training would be like, but felt asking would be rude for some reason. Could it really be intense enough to potentially kill him? Wouldn't Eon and Trixie get in trouble if their training killed him? More importantly... "...would Pinkie be sad if I died...?" The young stallion whispered worryingly. "Talking to yourself, creep?" Trixie mocked him for the whisper. "Yeah...I guess I am..." Cloudie smiled, rendering the effect of her insult useless. "You're in love with the pink weirdo, huh?" Trixie asked. "H-how rude!" He blushed. "Don't call her that. Her name is Pinkie Pie...and she's..." He trailed off, never finishing the sentence. At least, not out loud. "You're right, I suppose you're the one The Great and Powerful Trixie should ridicule for developing feelings for a weirdo like her!" She began to laugh again. "Trixanne, that's enough. There's a limit to how far one should go with their jokes, and you just passed yours." Eon gave her glare. "Y-yes, Grandpa...sorry..." She put her head down. "It's fine! She was just joking, anyway...I don't like Pinkie or anything..." Cloudie looked down, blushing a bit more. "...I suppose you don't. Why else would you leave her? She's probably crying her pretty little eyes out, all because of you, and-" "Trixanne, what did I just say?" Eon snapped a little. "The Great and Powerful Trixie only tells it like it is. I believe Cloudious here is more than aware of it himself, aren't you?" She asked him. "...It was for the best...I know it was..." He began shaking. "Whoa, don't cry! You're a stallion! What's wrong with you?" Trixie started to feel bad as he trembled. "...Gotcha!" Cloudie raised his head to look up at Trixie with a mischievous smile. His action made even Eon chuckle a bit under his breath. "Of course I know all of this. Moping and being depressed won't make me anymore useful. In fact, it will do the complete opposite...I'll just be a bigger burden than I already am." He declared. "Oh? Perhaps The Great and Powerful Trixie has misjudged you. She admires your drive to get better, but all she hears are words. Anypony can say they'll do something, and later chicken out or bail. Let's see your actions do the talking." She smiled maliciously. "You've got it, Trixie!" He nodded in agreement. "THAT'S THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE TO YOU!" She unleashed again, causing Cloudie to laugh out loud. The train resumed to go full-speed ahead to a destination the young stallion had not yet known. Neither Eon or Trixie would tell him where it is exactly his training would take place, but that just added to his excitement. Wherever he was headed, Cloudie would work hard to master the gift bestowed upon him by the elements of harmony, but for more than anypony, he wanted to do it for Pinkie Pie. She had done the most for him, and he felt the favor needed to be repaid. He vowed right there and then that when the training was completed, he would return to Ponyville and do anything in his new-found power to make Pinkie Pie as happy as she could possibly be. To Be Continued
ArrivalIn his sleep, Cloudie dreamed of his birthplace, and how greatly it differed from Ponyville. In Manehattan, everything was a business, or debt, or involved money in some way. Everything did. The dream quickly turned into a nightmare as he remembered how lonely he was before coming to Ponyville. His parents were always working, his friends were always busy or just didn't want to do anything with him, and nopony there honestly gave flying feather about him. He grew up to develop a love for books, due to his loneliness. He read everything from comedy to horror. Daily fantasies became routine for him, and it got to the point where he sometimes had no control over what he'd think about. Reading interesting stories was all he had...at least, before he got the courage to travel. "Alright, that's enough sleep! WAKE UP!!" Trixie used her magic to throw Cloudie on the floor of what looked like an inhabited home. "Oww...w-where are we?" The stallion looked around, realizing quickly this was no longer the train they were on not too long ago. "My home. I had Trixanne carry you using her magic, and I added a bit of my own to make sure you didn't wake." Eon explained, going over to a bookshelf by the entrance. "I could have walked..." Cloudie looked at both of them skeptically. "Yes, but then there's a chance you'd memorize the route back to the train station and could easily leave whenever it suits you. By keeping you asleep, we made sure you can't back out now." The elder sat down on a worn out rocking chair, right by a fireplace which had yet to be lit. "Of course, you're more than welcome to try. The station is a few miles away in a specific direction...choose the wrong one, and it's miles and miles of forest. You'll either die from hunger, thirst, exhaustion, maybe you'd even get killed by wildlife." Trixie tried to intimidate the stallion. "I get it. You made it so that I can't turn back now." Cloudie got a little nervous, realizing how serious these two were when they said this wouldn't be easy. "That would be that plan, youngin'. I won't have you waste our valuable time just so you can leave somewhere in the middle. You're here till it's over, is that clear?" Eon asked seriously. "I understand." Cloudie replied in the most serious tone he could make out. He then resumed to look around the house. "Ahh yes, I almost forgot!" The elder added, putting away the book he was reading to look back and forth between the young stallion and his granddaughter. "What is it, grandfather?" Trixie looked at him questioningly. "As you've probably already noticed, Cloudious, I'm just a poor, ol' unicorn. I got this place to myself when my beloved wife passed away, and as such it's only meant to house me. I've bribe-I mean, persuaded Trixie to stay a while and help you with the training. This will also be most beneficial to her magic control and manipulation." "What exactly are you getting at, grandpa?" Trixie failed to see where he was going with all of this. Eon coughed. "Yes, yes, I shall get right to the point. This house has only one guest room, so you two will have to share it." He pointed a hoof at both of them. "I BEG YOUR PARDON!?" Trixie looked at Cloudie angrily. "This is my fault somehow?" The young stallion chuckled nervously. "Now, now! Take it easy, Trixanne. Be reasonable." Eon pleaded her. "Take your own advice, you old fart! Have this loser sleep in the living room, or better yet, outside." She once again gazed at Cloudie maliciously. "I...I suppose I can take the living room." The glare quickly got the better of him. "But this is very important for your training, youngin'. I wish to see if...err...'stimulation' has any effect on your magic output. I was young once too, you know." Eon walked over to Cloudie casually. "She's still my granddaughter. Please take good care of her...and do try to keep it quie-" Before the elder could finish his thought, Trixie began flinging the heaviest books she could find at him. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" She blushed ever so lightly as she barraged him with an arsenal of literature. "Of course I'm kidding! Why is it that when I try to have some fun, it's always the worst thing possible?" The elder laughed, followed by a heavy cough. "I thought so..." Cloudie laughed nervously as Trixie kept throwing books in a fit of rage. -A few minutes later- "Okay, I will now explain the living arrangements." Eon began, covered in bruises and paper cuts. "I've gotta be careful not to make any jokes around her..." The young stallion looked at Trixie with fear in his eyes. "I will sleep in my own room. Trixanne will take the guest room, and Cloudious will take the attic. Any objections?" Eon glanced at both of them. "You best stay away from the guest room, if you know what's good for you." Trixie glared at Cloudie. "Y-yes, M'am." The young stallion put his head down. "I will take that as a no...very good! Training starts at 6:30 A.M tomorrow. I expect both of you to be well rested." The elder resumed. "No problems here." Cloudie looked at Trixie to see if she had any problems with it. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is fine with that." "Will you drop the whole 'Great and Powerful' thing already? I raised you better than that." Eon sighed. "But grandfathe-" "You can have your silly little title back once you prove to me that you truly are great and powerful. How does that sound?" "The Great an-I mean, I suppose that's fine, but how can I prove it, Grandpa? A magic duel? Manipulation contest? Maybe-" "I'll figure something out, Trixanne. It's getting late. Show Cloudious to the attic and get some sleep yourself." Eon yawned. "Very well. Come on, loser." Trixie began trotting up the stairs. "Goodnight, Eon." Cloudie bowed his head and followed Trixie up the stairs. "Alright, here we are. Make yourself at home, I guess." She moved out of the way and let Cloudie through. "Whoa, that is a lot of spider webs." He looked around as she lit some candles. "Scared of spiders? Come to think of it, what aren't you scared of? You're such a loser..." Trixie said, walking down the stairs. "Stay away from my room!" "I got it, I got it!" Cloudie sighed, putting down his things. He was quick to start cleaning up around the attic and truly making himself at home. He encountered an owl, three mice, some crickets and whole bunch of spiders in doing so. "I sure do hope none of these are poisonous." He thought before getting hit in the head with a floating mattress. "Coming through." Trixie placed it on an open area on the floor. "Hey, you cleaned this place up pretty well." She thought, looking around before her eyes met the stallion's. "You're s-still a loser though! A stallion that's good at cleaning? You're such a weirdo!" She blushed a little, walking down the stairs again. "Thanks for the mattress!" Cloudie called out. "Stay away from m-" "I know, I know!" The stallion laughed as he jumped on the mattress. It was very soft and comfortable, as well as clean. Although he had just woken up not too long ago, he failed to find trouble falling asleep again, and drifted peacefully into another comatose.
Thoughts"Pinkie Pie was the first pony to meet me when I arrived at Ponyville. She found me sitting outside, staring blankly at the clouds before a downpour happened. To my surprise, she sat down right beside me as it began to rain, and it wasn't just a light rain, it was a heavy downpour. I believe it was scheduled due to the lack of rain recently...I think Pinkie told me that. I told her that I wasn't worth the cold and that she should go back inside, wherever she came from. She was generous enough to take me back with her to a place called Sugarcube Corner, and even gave me a room to stay in. I was a complete stranger, and she did all of that for me...it failed to make sense. Why was she doing all this? How will it benefit her in the long run? I was so confused, I just had to ask. And so I did. She looked at me funny, and without even taking a moment to ponder over her answer, she gave me a big hug. While doing so, she said that that's what friends are for. I wasn't her friend...I didn't even know her a few minutes ago. How was she so sure that I wouldn't use her kindness against her? That I wasn't a crook or a villian or something? It boggled my mind...such confident trust in me...I began to cry. It was absolutely insane and it made no sense, but it made me feel really warm inside. It was a feeling I've never felt before, not even from my own parents. Everything piled up and I just broke down, as embarrassing as it is. I promised to do everything I can to help her, and I was sure to not take her kindness for granted. I vowed that everything she did, I'd repay her for. That's how things worked when I was young, every debt had to be repaid. She laughed at me when I said this. She told me not to be so uptight, and more importantly that she only did it because it was her choice and it made her feel good to see me happy. That it made her feel good to see all of her friends happy..." Cloudie opened his eyes and glanced over at both Eon and Trixie, both of which were fast asleep on the seat right across. He couldn't stop thinking about everything that's happened to him when he initially arrived at Ponyville, and his parting thoughts left his mind racing against his will. "I should be asleep too...but it would appear my mind won't let me. Ever since I left, I've felt extremely uneasy. I believe it was only Rainbow Dash who openly despised me, so I know for a fact that she's enjoying my leave. I understand her feelings though...I meddled in their relationship, and she has every right to hate me. They all must have known each other since they were fillies, and then here I am, just some random stallion, intruding on their lives." Cloudie sighed as he began to tremble once more. An uneasy feeling came over him. "Even she accepted me at one point...all six of them did. The group hug they all gave me at my welcoming party to Ponyville once I've met them all. I made so many friends, and so easily I left them all behind, just because of that stupid incident at the Everfree Forest. I wanted to explore, and Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash went along with me. They showed me the site of where they revived the dead elements of harmony, and I was very excited, like a child at a candy store. I believe that was around the time when I found out they were the elements themselves due to Pinkie's slip of tongue. I went absolutely bananas over that, since I've been meaning to meet the elements ever since I found out they were revived by six ponies from Ponyville. That's why I chose that location to visit in the first place, and that's also when the weird thing happened...that beam of light that slammed me against the rubble, throwing my cutie mark all out of whack..." The stallion glanced at his flank, which was once an unsolved Rubik's Cube. Three sides of the cube showed- The green, yellow, and red. "Since that beam hit me, the Rubik's Cube has been solved. That light also caused the remains of the castle to crumble down to nothing. I still have no idea what it means, but since then I've been able to use very trace amounts of what I believed to be magic. Eon confirmed this, and took an immediate interest in me. He believes the power I possess to be 'Earth Magic', or magic that can be used by earth ponies. I've always believed that being an earth pony was a curse. We live alongside pegasi, who can fly and walk on clouds, as well as unicorns, who can use all sorts of amazing magic thanks to their horns. And what do use earth ponies have? The ability to grow crops well? I know it's extremely selfish, but I've always wanted to be anything but an earth pony. I've always wanted every earth pony to be something more, even a little more..." Cloudie sneezed, breaking his train of thought. He looked at Eon and Trixie to make sure he didn't wake them, and sure enough he had not. "Then there's the whole thing about Pinkie liking me, which I fail to believe at all. With all the friends she has, why pick me? Another thing that didn't add up was that she had just met me. Infatuation doesn't work that fast...at least, I don't think it does. And finally, I'm nothing special. Anypony else is more loyal, kind, generous, honest, funny...just overall better. I was quick to fall head over hooves for her, but that's not fair to her. She can do a million-no, a billion times better than some loser like me. There's just no way. No way would she ever see me as more than a friend! Having an element of harmony seeing me as a friend is already crazy awesome, but as a potential romantic interest? Now I'm afraid you've lost me. Yes, it's just not logical...but then again, love isn't meant to make sense...but still, it's a definite no." Cloudie yawned. His eyes were already giving up and he felt himself lose consciousness. "By the time I wake up, we'll get there...I really hope I'm as ready as I think I am." He slipped into a peaceful comatose.
