Just a Hug

"Actions always speak louder than words..."

You're taking a stroll in the night, like you always do. It seems to clear your mind the best. The cool wind of the summer night blows through your black mane and tickles your grey coat. You are heading a new way this time, the northern outskirts of the Everfree Forest. Hoping you don't get lost, you packed a compass, a map of the general area, and some snacks for the trip. You normally stay walking for hours, so hunger and thirst are an issue. You always make sure you are prepared for what ever nature has to throw at you. You levitate your trusty pocket watch out from your saddlebag and check the time: 10:39 PM. It's getting late quick, but you are determined to stay out well past midnight.

You decide to take a small break and look at your surrounding area. You plop your self next to a tall tree and take out an apple. You scan the area for anything of interest. The Everfree Forest always has the oddest of plants, you are a bit of a trader, and the plants that you find end up in the hooves of a unicorn for a sum of money. But there is sometimes that one plant that is worth keeping, you just haven't found it yet.

Then, you spot something glowing a short distance from you; perhaps it's some type of plant. You walk closer to the glow and you find that it is indeed a plant. It's purple in color and roughly small. You've never seen anything like this before. You get out your book on the Everfree Forest's plants and flip through until you find it: The Nightgleam. According to your book, it's a flower that is very rare unless you are deep into the forest, and can produce a bright glow. It is also used in many potions that makes you more relaxed. So it's like alcohol? Sweet! You pull the flower out of the ground, surprised that it still glows, and put it in your saddle bag.

You decide to walk around the forest for a bit in search for some more plants like these. The surroundings go from a midnight moon glow to a near pitch-black creepiness. You feel uneasy, but that's probably the fact that you can't see as good. Everything off in the distance is black as can be. With no luck on finding anymore plants, you decide to turn back and get out of the forest. The worst thing that could happen, happened: you find that you are lost. You check the time on your pocket watch to find that it is 1 AM. Way past the time that you wanted to head home.

You notice a difference in the distant forest. It looks like a glow from a lamp or fire. You shift position a little to find that there is a small cottage. It has lights shining through it's windows, someone is in there. The first thing that comes to mind is that you found somewhere to stay for the night. The second thing is: What if the pony inside isn't friendly?

Taking up a sense of courage, you trot your self to the cabin. You put your best face on and stick your hoof out to knock on the door.

Knock-knock-knock!

In a short time, the door opens and standing there is an attractive mare. Her coat is a light blue, her mane and tail are an even lighter blue. Her eyes are a deep shade of purple.

All your courage is lost...

"What do you want?" She says, sounding annoyed from being interrupted from her sleep.

"I... Uh.." You try to say something, but you find it hard to.

"Go on! Trixie doesn't have all day!" Sounding even more annoyed.

Working up all courage, you let out what you were planning to say, "I-I'm lost... And I  was hoping... I could stay here for the night."

"HAH! Why would I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, allow a unicorn as weak as you to stay in my home?" The word "weak" was a harsh word to you. You were always called weak as a small colt by school kids, and you hated hearing it still.

"Hey! I am NOT weak! I could out do you any day!" you yell, sounding obvious that you've taken offence.

"Oh yeah? Can you prove it!? Tell ya' what, kid, if you can beat me in a shield breaking dual, then Trixie will do what ever the hell you want!" She says tauntingly. Obviously, she thinks that she's on top of the world when it comes to magic, betting something as serious as temporary slavery on their own dual.

You study her face for a minute, and you can notice a hint of sadness in her determined expression. You think for a minute. "You're on!" you say determinedly. No pony calls you "weak".

"It's settled then," she says, "If you beat me, I can be your little 'slave'. But I doubt you can even dream about beating me!"

She is really starting to piss you off.

"Here's the rules, if you don't know," She says, "You stand here and pull up your best defense against my oncoming spell. Then it's your turn. I'll try to not kill you." She says that last sentence with a slight chuckle.

You take your place and get ready to throw up your best shield. You already have a great offensive spell planned, a "Pony-to-Stone" spell, the strongest spell you know, and is known as a shield buster. You got this. Trixie charges up her horn and plants her hooves firmly into the ground. You passively get your magic charged up and ready to throw out your best shield. In a short time, Trixie fires off her chosen spell and it comes speeding quickly towards you. Thinking on your "Fight or Flight" response, you throw out your shield just in time to absorb the spell.

WHAM!

The spell's force knocks you back, but your shield is still intact. It is now your turn.

You charge up your "Pony-To-Stone" spell and grin as your horn grows brighter by the second. It's a bit tiresome, but it will get the job done. It takes a good minute, but your spell is fully charged. You plant your hooves firmly and get ready to release the hell upon your opponent.

You release the spell from your horn and it speeds towards Trixie. It collides with her shield and shatters it completely, leaving her defenseless. The spell then turns her to stone. With ultimate satisfaction, you walk your way over to the pony statue.

You say with success, "Not so tough as you thought? Huh?" You admit, it sounded pretty rude, but she brought it on herself. You look at her for a minute and decide that you should turn her back. With a quick charge of the horn, you turn the light-blue unicorn back to her original state.

She collapses on the ground, panting furiously. She musters all the strength she has left to talk, "H-how did you.... beat me? N-no pony.... beats The Great and Powerful Trixie," she sighs heavily, "Fine... I guess I... can't go back on my word.... Do what you want."

You stare at her for a minute, thinking of your next choice of action.

"Go on.... Trixe doesn't have all night!" she says.

You help her up on her hooves, and wrap your front legs around her neck and give her what she needed: A hug.

Just a hug...