Pony Power Battles

Moonlight scroll laid his head back down after Trixie seemed to calm down. It was such good sleep! He felt the thrill of the mission, reinvigorating his muscles as he relaxed, enjoying the last few minutes of rest he’d have for the long day ahead of them. As he dazed, he remembered the kiss that Trixie gave him. It gave him butterflies in his stomach.

He shook with excitement on his mat. He had never felt this for anypony before, and he wondered how Trixie felt. Was this something real? He figured it was stupid to speculate, and they had a mission where one of them might die! But still, he enjoyed the thought of her being his special somepony.

He finally stretched, still enjoying the remnants of his dream as he stood, making a quick check over the jungle surrounding them. He looked over at beautiful Trixie, still sleeping peacefully. He looked over at Archimedes and wondered why the dragon had to be so determined all the time. He kicked the half-empty fire pit and stepped over to Archie.

“Hey, buddy, you ready to go?” he said, nudging the baby dragon with his hoof. “Let’s have some breakfast first, though, right?”

“Ughh…” The baby dragon waved him off and rolled back over, bracing his eyes against the rising sun with an outstretched arm. “Yeah…” he managed, trailing off.

Moonlight was satisfied with that as he moved to Trixie. He had to catch himself from saying ‘honey’ as he nudged her gently with his muzzle, “Trixie, it’s time to wake! We’re going to have breakfast soon, so what would you like?”

Trixie almost sat bolt upright, but looked like she was trying to cover it. Moon got the strong impression she wasn’t actually sleeping either. She then made a mock display of yawning and said as though nothing was wrong, “Moonie, oh! I think I’ll have a lettuce, tomato and cheese sandwich, grilled, if we can.”

“Are you okay? You seem a little nervous,” Moonlight asked compassionately.

“Oh I’m fine,” Trixie said a little too quickly, waving him off with her forehoof.

“Okay,” he said suspiciously, returning to Archie and the fire pit. He trusted her, even if she was keeping things from him. She was strong, and she was definitely somepony who could take care of themselves.

Archimedes was finally awake as moon strolled over to him. The dragon was already starting a new fire for breakfast. He put fresh logs on the fire and breathed embers that could light metal into the pit. Instantly, it threw up smoke, vapor and the ashes from the night before. Trixie and Moonlight Scroll heaved an audible sigh of relief at the new warmth against the chilly morning.

“So, Archie what would you like for breakfast?” Moonlight asked, bringing out his pot and pans.

“I’d like a fried lizard that I see right over…there…” He said, jumping and catching the reptile in his claws just feet away from the fire. Moonlight was astonished at how much like a predator he moved, though it did kinda creep him out. He then set his stove kit over the fire, complete with a spit and some pans.

Trixie dutifully pulled out the bread, tomato, and lettuce from her pack, setting them on an overturned pot next to the fire. Then Moonlight brought out the cheese from his pack and combined two lettuce, tomato, and cheese sandwiches, placing them in a pan over the fire. Archimedes took a long poker from his pack and stuck the ruined lizard with it, placing it over the fire, out of even near-touching distance of their food (as per Trixie’s heated request).

“So, the compound is about three hours travel that way,” Moonlight pointed, munching on his perfectly cooked sandwich. “I only travelled enough last night to where I knew where it was and hurried back, but I assume everything still runs.”

“We’ll find out once we get there,” Archimedes said, taking a bite of his rather charred lizard.

“Ugh, I don’t understand how you can eat another creature,” Trixie said, obviously disgusted at the display. “It’s a question of morals, really,” she explained to the unspoken objection.

Moonlight did agree it was pretty disgusting, but what was he to do? He simply bit into his sandwich and kept his mouth shut.

After they had finished their meal, Moonlight cleaned up the pots and pans, putting them back into his pack. He then roughly threw on his backpack, eager to get underway. He watched Trixie for a moment, taking in her luxurious mane and beautiful form as she gracefully adorned her pack, smiling at him.

“See something you like?” Trixie asked him coyly, batting her eyelashes at him.

“Uh! I..!” He started, unable to come up with an excuse. He blushed deeply as he just looked away and fell into line. Archimedes was already starting to march towards the abandoned compound. He could feel Trixie’s gaze on him as he heard her giggle softly to herself. The redness in his cheeks remained for a long while after they started their walk as Moonlight Scroll chastised himself.

After about two and a half hours they reached their destination, surely as Moon had predicted. The communications compound was old world tech, filled with broken, outdated systems. A small, vine-covered dish was propped on the roof of the antiquated building as a flag of surrender to the world’s native wildlife. Moonlight Scroll trotted to the entrance and opened the door via a terminal on the side of the building he had hotwired in the dark the night before.

“Come on in, guys,” Moonlight said casually as he trotted in ahead.

“Sweet!” Archimedes said, following in behind an exhausted Trixie who remained silently in awe.

The compound was dimly lit by small track lights of bioluminescent material in the ceiling, enough to see where you’re going but not hotwire a computer. The main hallway stretched inside for a few hundred feet, several bunkrooms off to the left and right. The hallway ended in a main control room with a flickering computer screen that filled an entire section of the wall. The displays were in an archaic language that they’d need a protocol droid to understand.

Moonlight Scroll trotted over to the first doorway on the right, gesturing for Trixie to go inside. The room was a small, dimly lit bunk room with four collapsible beds. An open showering stall leaned into an alcove on the far wall, and plastic dressers for clothing sat conveniently underneath the bunks.

Moon went in after Trixie and turned the knob for the shower with his magic, smirking while he did so. Water immediately poured out of the nozzle with good pressure. Trixie almost jumped with glee as she went over to it, feeling the temperature with a hoof. The warmth of it caught her off guard as steam began to fill the room. Trixie and Moonlight gazed at each other lovingly as the steam billowed.

“Ahem!” Archimedes interrupted them.

Moonlight looked away, blushing. He then walked sadly over to the door of the room and turned around, surprised to still see Trixie looking at him. “I uhh…” He started, unsure of the words. Trixie just took off her cape and pack, looking very tired.

She looked up and smiled weakly at him, “Shoo! A mare needs her privacy!”

Moonlight blushed again and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Oh boy, he blew it. He tried focusing on what he was doing as both he and Archimedes picked rooms.

“Hey, you know we’re Jedi, now, right?” Archie said to him, patting him on the shoulders.

Moonlight just nodded.

“Jedi can’t commit to those kinds of relationships, you know,” The baby dragon reminded him, trying to comfort him at the same time.

“Yes, yes, it was just momentary! Relax, Archie!” Moonlight said, pepping back up. His heart throbbed in his stomach as he did so, neglecting his feelings. “I’ll be alright. Just get some rest, okay?”

Arhcimedes shrugged and went into his room, closing the door behind him. Moonlight hung his head in defeat. He knew his commitment to the Jedi order came first, but why did he feel this way? He grew frustrated just thinking about it. He went into his room, shutting the door behind him. After they had showered, he’d gather everyone up for a quick bite before they organized their chores for the day. Yes, that’s it, just think about chores!