(DREAM REALM)

Velvet felt the world around her form itself in her dream realm, she could hear wood and glass and crystals form themselves like little puzzle pieces putting themselves together.

Velvet slowly creaks her eyes open to see the last pieces of the roof form itself into a beautiful looking chandelier.

“Goodness gracious, you’re okay.”

Velvet turns to the voice and sees the mare from her dream yesterday. The Unicorn was beautiful with a mane and tail and a smooth looking face. Velvet couldn’t tell the colors because everything was a beige color.

“Who are you?” The tired Unicorn questions.

The Unicorn smiles and reaches to touch Velvet’s face. Velvet would have retracted her face due to her sour experiences with a certain Princess, but not only was she tired, but this Unicorn radiated a warm homey feeling… Almost motherly.

The Unicorn’s hand touched Velvet’s cheek, “My identity is unimportant.” She replies, “But somepony is waiting for you to wake up.” She adds before leaning down and kissing Velvet on the forehead.

And after the Unicorn’s lips met with Velvet’s forehead, a light engulfed the both of them and Velvet was sent into the waking world.

(REAL WORLD)

Velvet peeled her eyes open to see that she was in a bedroom… again.

She looks around the bedroom and the first other living being she sees is Starlight Glimmer, who was sleeping very peacefully.

Velvet contemplated on getting out of bed, but she was too tired to even move her head, she felt as if every atom of energy in her body was sucked away after that fight.

That fight. Despite not showing any signs of surprise during her bout with The Shadowman, she was freaking out inside at the time.

She was scared, she thought she might die. She thought that her life was going to end that night. She had no idea what she was doing. She’s never used a sword before in her life, but when she was in battle, it felt like everything she needed to know about the blade was made clear to her.

And what he said too. What did he mean by “Magic Fever”? What was it? Why haven’t Starlight and Twilight told her? Will it hurt?

Velvet had a few fevers and headaches before, they were nasty and made her feel like she wanted to throw up. She saw blinking lights, heard voices, and her entire perception of time and the world around her was amplified. She remembered how vividly she observed a fly fly, it felt like he was going a centimeter an attosecond. But her perception of fear was also amplified, it got so bad that she thought Twilight would kill her just by locking eyes with each other. But that didn’t stop Twilight from pushing her past her limits.

So with all her memories of fevers and headaches and illnesses beforehand, she dreaded the thought of “Magic Fever”.

It still didn’t answer her question though: What was Magic Fever?

And what did The Shadowman mean when he said he was going to feast on her soul? Where did he come from? Who was he? And how did she know his name?

All these questions and more were circulating through Velvet’s mind, but she was much too tired to think too hard.

*MHM*

Velvet turned back to Starlight to see her shift in her sleep comfortably.

Velvet’s gaze turned from Starlight’s face to her mane that sat atop her head. It was beautiful. Velvet always admired it. Starlight was able to keep it fresh and clean, and it always looked smooth. The filly would be lying if she said she wasn’t envious.

The adolescent Unicorn’s hands drifted from her side and fluttered through Starlight’s mane…. Oh God how it was soft. It felt like silk but a thousand times better. Her fingers flew through Starlight’s mane like a breeze. She wish she could keep her mane like that.

Speaking of Starlight, Velvet always found Starlight’s interactions with her to odd at best and questionable at worst. She’s the only pony in the world that has shown any type of emotion towards Velvet that wasn’t anger, like love, compassion, and concern. And whenever she did show anger in the Unicorn’s way, it was more of a parenting anger, like she was genuinely angry at Velvet’s bad decisions, not because she made a mistake, but because of her wellbeing.

Velvet asked many questions about Starlight’s relationship with her. The way Spike, Twilight, and everyone else treated her, she thought she was cursed to be forever hated and never loved. But Starlight was quick to prove her wrong… Or so she hoped.

Velvet’s hand came down from Starlight’s lustrous mane and onto Starlight’s face. Caressing it like Starlight caressed her when she was down. Starlight truly held up to her namesake, she was the shining starlight in Velvet’s life. The one driving thing that keeps her sane.

Velvet felt herself warm up, just by thinking about everything Starlight did for her. Truly worthy of praise.

“Thank you so much Miss Starlight. For everything.” She thanked the slumbering adult before returning to slumber herself

(The next day)

Velvet woke up the next day, the same time she usually woke up. She didn’t feel as tired as she did the next, in fact she felt much more energized than normal.

She got off the bed and stretched, ready and happy for a new day… Odly.

Velvet surveyed her surroundings and found a piece of paper and a book on the nightstand. She picked the piece of paper up.

So, by time you’re reading this, I’m probably at the Crystal Empire visiting my friend, I wanted to say ‘goodbye’ but you were sleep, so I left a note.

And the book is something I chose for you, you can read it when you’re done work or when you’re on break. No exceptions. The book is called “Supernatural Beings”, I thought you could use it since you were the one who killed that demon, and you deserved it. Don’t worry about Miss Twilight, I asked her and she agreed to let you have it. Anyways, you probably need to get to work, I’ll see you next Tuesday.

PS

Love you.

Velvet thought it wasn’t possible, but she was even happier than she was. And today felt like a good day.

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter, just wanted to hint to a few things and establish Velvet and Starlight's relationship.