Part 2 – Visit
Dazzleglow stood at the door of the house with the stars thatched into its roof. She took a breath of the night air, looking up to the sky. She was tired, oh so tired.
When bedtime came, the rest of the glowing ponies retreated to their rooms, while Dazzleglow stayed in the living area with a book. She had curled up on her favourite chair, a cup of warm tea next to her, as she tried to wind down from the day. This did not work and she wandered to the door.
On these nights, Dazzleglow would conjure her wings and fly through the stars. It was becoming almost a nightly excursion, and when she returned, it was Happyglow who found her in the living area.
“Again, Dazzleglow?” she said, trotting over to her friend.
Dazzleglow jumped, her head turning to face Happyglow.
“You can’t keep going on like this.”
“I can’t sleep. Every time I try, I just see…her.”
Happyglow sighed and sat next to the chair. “How long this time?”
“A few days, maybe?” Dazzleglow shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe she cursed me to never sleep ever again.” She laughed humourlessly.
Happyglow stood up and took Dazzleglow’s hoof. She pulled her out of the chair, leading her to her room. There, Happyglow tucked Dazzleglow into bed, switched her night light on and sat with her.
“I’m going to be right here, all night if I have to,” she told Dazzleglow. “Now, if you have nightmares, I’ll be here to chase them away.”
Dazzleglow smiled and snuggled down into the blankets. The last thing she heard was Happyglow humming a lullaby.
~
The sun shone through the window, turning the room a cool blue from the curtains that were draped down to the floor. Dazzleglow turned over to face the window, then got up and opened the curtains.
The trees were turning colours, red, orange, yellow, with the last remnants of summer peppered throughout the branches. Birds sang, squirrels scurried across the trees, while the odd woodland creature darted through the grass. It was a beautiful autumn day, and one that gave Dazzleglow hope it would turn into a good day.
She left the bedroom, went to the bathroom and combed her hair. She headed to the kitchen where she could hear the sound of Starglow singing along with the birds.
Starglow stood at the cooker, the window thrown wide open, a bird perched on the windowsill outside. Dazzleglow stood at the door, a smile on her face, as she watched her friend go back and forth from the cooker and cupboards. She retrieved plates, placed them at the table in front of the rest of their friends, then stacked a serving platter high with thick, fluffy pancakes. She turned to leave the kitchen and grinned when she saw Dazzleglow there.
“I was about to come and get you,” she said. “Here, sit! I’ve made them just the way you like them.”
Dazzleglow took up her chair next to Brightglow while Starglow placed the platter in the middle of the table. Brightglow nudged Dazzleglow, the younger pony looking at her with concern. Dazzleglow shook her head.
Starglow dished out the pancakes, giving Dazzleglow extra and poured syrup over the top.
“Did you sleep? I didn’t hear you heading out,” Starglow said, cutting into her own pancakes.
“I got some sleep, thanks to Happyglow,” Dazzleglow replied, “I don’t think I could’ve without her.”
Happyglow winked, though she said nothing.
Dazzleglow also said nothing more, taking a mouthful of pancake.
The glowing magical ponies chatted, Dazzleglow listening and let her mind wander. For a while, she forgot about her insomnia, her dreams of Applejack and everything else that plagued her mind. Brightglow took her outside, where they sat under a tree, while Brightglow braided Dazzleglow’s mane.
“You’ve been quiet,” Dazzleglow remarked. She leaned back against Brightglow and closed her eyes.
“We’re worried about you Dazzleglow,” Brightglow answered, “You haven’t been the same since everything with Applejack.”
Dazzleglow sighed. “It took a lot out of me, I think.”
“We’ve gathered that much.” Brightglow started braiding another section of Dazzleglow’s mane. “I know you had a hard time of it, but please. Don’t shut us out.”
Dazzleglow nuzzled Brightglow’s neck. “I won’t. I wouldn’t have got through it all if it weren’t for my friends.”
Brightglow rested her head on Dazzleglow’s. “Good. Don’t forget we are all here for you.”
Dazzleglow felt a tear in her eye and she wiped it away, holding Brightglow close.
The day went on, Dazzleglow making herself busy with various errands to help her magical friends. They returned to the house, content with the shopping, helping out in Pony Land and warding off Bon Bon’s attempts to find out Raspberry Jam’s recipe for cake. To the day, Raspberry Jam insisted it was a family recipe and one she could only pass on to relatives. Much to Bon Bon’s dismay, she was not included in this circle.
Dazzleglow returned to the house, took up her usual spot in her favourite chair and grabbed her book. Throughout the evening, Starglow ferried tea after tea to her until she fell asleep in her chair.
~
The next morning, Dazzleglow awoke in her own bed, Happyglow asleep in a chair next to her. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt, she knew how uncomfortable the chairs could be for sleeping in.
She nudged Happyglow awake, then guided her to her own room. There, Dazzleglow sat until Happyglow fell asleep once more. She crept out of the room and returned to the living area.
She picked up her book, idly flicking through the pages, barely scanning the text. She felt her eyes grow heavy, and they closed, her head drooping.
Dazzleglow awoke to the sound of persistent knocking on the door of their house. She stifled a yawn, looking around the living area. No one else was awake, all of her friends in their own rooms asleep for the time being. The knocking continued and she got up, stretching out the stiffness from falling asleep in the chair.
She made her way to the door, opened it and her eyes widened. On the other side stood Sparkler, a bag over her shoulder, a smile on her face and a box in her hooves.
Dazzleglow flung herself at Sparkler, the other unicorn returning the hug.
“I didn’t expect to find you here!” Dazzleglow exclaimed. “Come in, come in. Sit down. I’ll get tea and biscuits for you.”
Sparkler grinned at her. “From Raspberry Jam. She insisted I bring you her cake.”
Dazzleglow took the box from Sparkler and took it to the kitchen. Once there, she found a knife and cut it into equal pieces, ensuring the rest of the ponies got a slice too. She returned to the living area with a tray, tea and cake on their respective plates.
Sparkler looked around the living area, her eyes wide. “It’s so beautiful.”
Dazzleglow smiled. “We did put a lot of work into making it perfect.”
“It paid off.”
Dazzleglow felt her cheeks grow warm. “Here, let’s get you some tea.”
Sparkler held the cup between her hooves and let Dazzleglow talk of all the events that had happened in the time she’d been gone from Dream Valley. Sparkler nodded, listening to her friend.
“We have an issue though,” Sparkler told Dazzleglow. She looked down to her tea, swirling it around the cup. “There are strange ponies arriving, and Pearly has joined them to find out what’s going on.”
Dazzleglow frowned. “And no one else has checked on her?”
Sparkler shook her head. “She’s barely spoke to anyone, as of yet.”
Dazzleglow sighed. “I guess we’ll need to find out then.”
Sparkler’s brow furrowed. “Will you be all right to check up on her?”
Dazzleglow nodded.
Sparkler sighed. “All right. This is what’s been happening in Dream Valley.”
Sparkler explained the comings and goings of Dream Valley, of the strange ponies with pale complexions and stringy dark hair. Dazzleglow felt her stomach plummet, though she tried hard to hide this from Sparkler. More ponies like Applejack? She wasn’t sure of handling several of them.
Sparkler however, noticed it and put her hoof over Dazzleglow’s. “You won’t be alone.”
Dazzleglow was about to answer when the door opened. Starglow stood at the entrance, yawning, then blinked when she saw Sparkler. Her face lit up with a bright smile and she charged over to the blue unicorn.
“No one told me you were visiting!” she said, pulling Sparkler into a hug.
Sparkler returned the smile and the hug. “I thought I’d surprise you. I have wanted to see your home with the stars in the roof.”
Starglow let her go and took the teapot, a cup, then poured herself tea. “How’s Pearly?”
Dazzleglow and Sparkler exchanged a glance, one that Starglow caught immediately. She lost her smile and looked between them.
From here, Sparkler filled Starglow in on the events of Dream Valley, as well as Pearly’s location. Starglow’s face fell, her brows furrowed with worry. At the mention of the pale ponies with stringy hair, she moved closer to Dazzleglow.
“And that’s all we know so far,” Sparkler finished.
Starglow drew a deep breath. “Pony feathers…”
Dazzleglow cleared her throat. “Princess Aquamarine sent me a letter before I left Paradise Estate.” She retrieved it from her bag by the side of her chair, then handed it to Sparkler. Sparkler moved to Starglow’s side, where the two read over the letter.
“Dark magic?”
Dazzleglow nodded. “The same that took Applejack, and apparently now appearing in Dream Valley.”
“We should investigate,” Starglow suggested. “If it’s in Dream Valley, who’s to say it’s not made it here?”
“It is a possibility,” Sparkler added. She looked away from the letter to Dazzleglow. “After everything you went through, I don’t think anyone would blame you if you decided to stay here.”
Dazzleglow shook her head. “No. That wouldn’t be right. You might need my magic again.”
Sparkler sighed. “At the first sign of trouble you have to promise you’ll come back here, where it’s safe.”
Starglow nodded in agreement.
Seeing she was outnumbered, Dazzleglow reluctantly agreed.
From there, the three ponies discussed the pale ponies and what they could possibly be after. They drank tea, handed out cake and biscuits, and tried to devise a plan to at least speak to Pearly. Starglow in particular was in favour of this action and immediately offered to help. Neither Dazzleglow nor Sparkler had any argument to dissuade her.
Their discussion was halted with the arrival of Happyglow and Brightglow. They greeted the, and turned the topic to something lighter, though agreed to discuss the matter further between themselves.
My Little Obsession 