Major Leagues

In 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.