“What?!” I covered my mouth with my hooves just a bit too late. Reflexively, I gave the rest of the Record Club a onceover, vaguely noting that there was almost no one else around—my mind was somewhere else.
“I can’t guarantee somepony else won’t take advantage of the power vacuum. Actually, I can almost guarantee somepony will try, but the Cartel as it was, is done.” Lockbox’s repeated words still didn’t sound any more real than the first time.
Taking a moment to settle my mind, to temper the elation with reason, I let out a short sigh. “This is too good to be true. How reliable is this information? How can we be sure she isn’t faking her death?”
“As cautious as always.” Lockbox let out a rare, low chuckle. “I had the same doubts as you, so I pressed my sources harder than usual. The Guard has positively IDed Summer Leaf, Iron Log and Violet Canopy on the Cartel side. Jade Coven and Frame Knitter on the Mob side.
I shook my head, even though Lockbox couldn’t see me. “What prompted this? I mean, I know their fighting was escalating, but this seems a little soon for a leadership bloodbath.”
“Word is the Cartel was trying to do something big. Nopony knows what, but the Mob obviously found the intel alarming enough to act. Whatever the case, there’s definitely some truth to the matter, as the Cartel’s headquarters suffered heavy explosive damage. I can’t get a clear estimate from anypony, but it was enough that the remaining leadership packed up and moved.”
“Interesting. Perhaps a little worrying.” I didn’t want to keep pestering Lockbox, but there was just some part of my mind that couldn’t let it go. “I… is your Guard source absolutely certain?”
Thankfully, his voice didn’t contain any annoyance. “I received word from both the first Guard on the scene, as well as the coroner. There’s no mistaking it.”
I let myself breathe a bit. “This is… definitely much more than I could have ever expected. Still, I can’t rest just yet.”
“Smokey Mirror?”
“You stole the words right out of my mouth.”
Lockbox hmmmed a little. “He’s more a mercenary than anything else. If the paycheck isn’t there, he’s probably gone. And without Summer Leaf to ensure that, I’m not so certain the remaining leaders will pick up the tab. Keep an eye out, of course, but in light of recent events, I suspect they have a much bigger grudge to settle.”
“That makes sense.” I leaned back in my seat. “Thanks, Lockbox.”
“Of course. I treat my customers well.” He let the silence linger for a bit. “So, what now?”
“Well, the world isn’t about to stop because of this. I’m sure I’ll have more than a few other things to buy from you in the future.” I smiled to myself. “But for the moment, I guess I’ll try to enjoy myself.”
---
As I navigated the darkened streets of Canterlot, I couldn’t help but fight myself. There was the unease—something was up, it had to be up. Nothing was ever so simple and easy. And yet, Lockbox had said the bodies were confirmed. That knowledge alone had me striding faster and more boldly. I’d resolved to loosen up, yet here I was, not on the fence, but straddling both sides at once.
I needed some time to collect myself, to determine just what would and wouldn’t change. For that, I’d probably need the rest of the night. I felt bad. There was so much to see up here and I was about to tell Night I just wanted to stay in the hotel room.
A neon sign caught my eye. Joe’s Doughnut Shop.
I paused and looked up. The name seemed familiar. Then it hit me: Twilight had recommended it. Smirking a little, I pushed the door open. If we were going to be staying in, might as well make it as enjoyable as possible. And what better way to start then a bag full of junk food?
The place was a little bizarre, not unlike my mixed feelings. The walls, windows and door all had that fancy, flared, Saddle Arabian influence. And yet, the floor was checkered in such a way that reminded me of a roadside diner. This was only furthered by the stools and tables following a similar theme. I had to wonder if Joe had simply replaced a fancier place that went out of business without bothering to renovate or if this was deliberately appealing to a very specific crowd.
Said crowd would be a scattering of people, mostly unicorns, hunched over textbooks, coffee on their left and stack of doughnuts on their right. I wondered what the deal was. I’m not usually in the know with what’s going on during the school year, but it seemed to me like the semester should have already been finished up.
“Can I help you?” a tan unicorn asked from behind the counter. He smiled a surprisingly white smile, which, oddly, served to offset the not-quite-white of his greasy baker’s jacket.
“Yes, I’ll get a half-dozen doughnuts to go. Two honey-glazed, two chocolate with sprinkles and… two of whatever your special is.”
“Coming right up.” The doughnuts marched themselves off the shelves and into the waiting bag. “That’ll be four bits.”
“Great, thanks.” I slid the bits across the counter, though my mind was already back on Lockbox’s information. Articulating my concern over allegedly good news to Night was definitely going to be interesting.
“Dusky?”
I whirled and was met with a face that made me grin. “Oh, hi, Ruby!”
“Are you okay?” She arched a brow. “Usually, I don’t even need to get your attention.”
“Oh, I was just a little lost in thought, I guess.”
“Is it serious?” Concern spread over Ruby’s face.
“No, no. It’s good. I think. It’s just something that needs me to sort it out. I’ll tell you more when I stop by tomorrow. We’re still good for that, right?”
“Oh, yes, the tour for your boyfriend,” she said, her lips returning to her trademark smile. “Yes, we’re still on. Of course, that means I might have to duck out on you now. Got an analysis that needs to be ready in the morning.”
It was my turn to smirk. “Another late-night researching binge, huh?”
“You know it.” Ruby turned to Doughnut Joe. “I’ll get the usual latte. Double cream this time.”
“The usual?" I tilted my head. "I didn’t know you did coffee houses.”
Ruby shrugged. “I’ve got to get my fuel from somewhere and Joe’s is in a convenient location with convenient hours. I don’t really stay in, but many of my students use this place to study.”
“I figured that might be what’s going on. What would they be studying for this time of year, though?”
“Oh, nothing in particular. We’ve just got some students with a chronic learning addiction.” Ruby grinned across her latte.
I met her smile with a smirk. “Makes sense. I might know a person or two like that. Anyway, I guess I’d better let you go. See you tomorrow.”
---
The hotel I’d gotten was rather budget—well, budget by Canterlot standards, anyway. While it was on a relatively quiet side street, the exterior was still as showy as that of the shops along the main drag. Such was the bare minimum if they wanted any customers at all.
The interior was a bit less pristine, but there was obvious care put into even the hallways. They were decorated by the kind of pictures and table stands that were fancy enough to call attention themselves, yet were still firmly in common mass production. Admittedly, they still did their jobs as they caught my eye yet another time despite my preoccupation. Or perhaps it was that I was finding little ways to procrastinate, unsure of what I’d do when I reached my door.
But there it was, almost as though it were only five feet away from Doughnut Joe’s exit. The whole thing was funny, really: good news, yet the subject itself carried such a dark cloud with it. Shaking my head, I put on a smile as I pushed the door open.
Night looked up from the desk at the back side of the room. He shifted side to side, though, despite the contents of his saddlebag scattered all over the hotel desk, it didn’t feel like the kind of nervous that came from forgetting something important. I wondered if perhaps it was the gravity of a long trip finally hitting him. Sure, we’d had the Badlands, but everything had been so frantic then, with no time to think, that it would be easy to gloss over any of the more creeping, minute worries. I know with my first solo trip out of Ponyville, those very first steps out of the city limits were among the hardest things I’d ever done.
Regardless, the Cartel conversation would have to wait a bit.
“I’m back,” I said.
“W-welcome back, Dusky. You, um, find what you were looking for?” He smiled through his uncertainty.
Definitely not the right time. I held out the bag of doughnuts. “Yeah. Plus a couple extra goodies.”
Night squinted at the bag, tilting his head a little. “A… bag? What’s that”
“Doughnuts.” I grinned.
He looked a little confused at first, though that didn’t take long to evolve into curious anticipation. “Sounds good, then!”
I unpacked the bag, only realizing then that I hadn’t even paid attention to what Joe’s special had been. They were a solid circle, with a generous helping of chocolate on top, a telltale sign that there was cream on the inside. “I hope you like honey-glaze. If not, I got some chocolate sprinkles and… Boulonnais Creams.”
Night leaned his head against mine as he surveyed the goodies. “I… I’ve never tried a honey-glaze donut before.”
“Really?” I lifted one of the honey-glazes out of the bag and started nibbling on it. “Well, you’ve been missing out.”
He retrieved his own, but hesitated a moment. “I… I really have, yeah.”
From there, he dove right in and kept at it, though his pace did slow a little as he seemed to realize there was only so much doughnut. Once he was finished, without a word, he stepped forward and hugged me.
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Glad you liked it.”
“It’s not just that… I’ve just felt a little… anxious.” He stepped back. “Anxious about the trip. I’m still not sure what I was expecting, and it’s been building all morning. What am I doing? Just a feeling that… that I shouldn’t be here. And then… you bring me doughnuts.”
“I understand the anxiety. There’s a lot to think about, but you can’t let every little thing get to you.” I stole a quick nuzzle. It felt a bit hypocritical when I was still feeling unsure myself, but what I said was at least true of the basic trip.
Night sighed. What he said next seemed more to convince himself than anything, “I’m just worrying over nothing, but there’s so much I’m missing out on. It might be silly, but that includes honey-glazed donuts… and I shouldn’t get worked up when I have you to guide me.”
“I’m just happy to help. And happy to have you with me.” I flashed him a reassuring smile over my doughnut.
Settling down on the bed, he looked back at me. “You’re… you really are my best friend, Dusky. Thank you. I really do love you.”
With my doughnut done, I climbed up beside him, leaning into his mane. “I love you too, Night Light.”
He shifted slightly, leaning against me as well. “So, with your contacts met, where are we going next? Any plans for Canterlot?”
“I’ve got a few places in mind that I thought you might like to see. What would you think of an insider tour of Canterlot University?”
“There’s a lot of places I’ve never been to.” His wing settled around my shoulders, the warmth of which I could just lie under all night. “And I’ve never toured Canterlot University beside the most beautiful mare in Equestria.”
I giggled, leaning up to nudge his cheek. “You flatterer, you.”
“Just the truth, Dusky.” He gave me his sappiest grin to date.
The nudge turned into a stolen kiss. “It’s fortunate that the mare happens to have the sweetest stallion she’s ever known accompanying her, then.”
“And… my day only gets sweeter.” Colour filled his cheeks. “You… want to head out, then?”
“I’m in no hurry. We’ll be here for a few days, and I’m content to stay like this for awhile, my sweetest, most considerate coltfriend.”
“Now and forever, Dusky. I’m in no hurry at all,” he said. I kind of figured he wouldn’t mind spending more time like this, though I really did want to tell him what had swayed my decisions. But that didn’t need to happen tonight. It just didn’t feel right. I’d get to it eventually—perhaps in the morning—but for now, there was no sense ruining the moment.