//------------------------------// // 66 - Light Choices // Story: From Dusk to Night // by KuroiTsubasaTenshi //------------------------------// As the tour of Canterlot University continued, I kept an eye on Night. I’d initially worried that the full package was going to go on too long. Despite Ruby’s knack for jokes and tangents, I knew there was just a point where the environment might wear thin on someone. The longer I watched him, though, the more I relaxed—Night seemed more than entertained the whole way. It probably helped that Ruby had a new story about how one professor’s bright idea for a hooves-on demonstration of gravity magic ended in more than a little property damage and an investigation. It felt a little bad to laugh at, since someone really could have gotten hurt, though perhaps that had to do with the whole situation seeming humourously tame compared to some of Twilight’s more high-profile mishaps. Ruby’s route was quite efficient—unsurprisingly, since she’d likely honed it over hundreds of students—ending just before that old, familiar main gate. As she hugged me, it struck me how funny it was how routine this farewell had become, despite the fact that I’d never attended. She grinned wide. “I’ll see you again when you get home, yes? I look forward to seeing what kinds of puzzles you bring back for me this time.” “I’ll keep my eyes open for something special.” I met her smile. Turning to Night, Ruby put on her mock intimidating face again. “And you, Night Flurry. Dusky is a rare one, but she certainly knows how to get herself into trouble. You take care of her, you hear?” “In so much as I’m able to, I will. You can count on it.” Night lowered his head, as though to hide the colour in his cheeks from us. I couldn’t help but smirk, given he’d made a habit of blushing and yet this time somehow bugged him more than usual. I supposed that may have just been part of Ruby’s effect on people. With Night’s promise secured, it was his turn to receive a Ruby hug. When she finished, she stepped back and grinned. “Good. You two take care. And when you get to Lunar Lake, enjoy the show.” Ruby winked. I’d opened my mouth to stop her, but it was already too late. Not that it was that big of a deal—I wanted to keep it as much of a surprise as possible, but to be perfectly honest, that wouldn’t have extended much past arriving at Lunar Lake itself. The nightly show was their main attraction, so there would have been signs everywhere. “The show?” Night looked at me. I shook my head and grinned. Even with its existence spoiled, the details were still safe with me. “You’ll have to wait and see.” As we finally departed, I urged Night to take to the air, circling the campus a couple times to give him the big picture of what we’d just toured. --- The Canterlot Museum of Art and History was something that had almost become ordinary to me. I’d made a habit of stopping in to kill time if I was in Canterlot for other business, which, I have to confess, may have led me to taking many of its exhibits for granted. Watching him, seeing his reactions, it revitalized the exhibits in a way I hadn’t even realized I needed. Even the frontmost one—the one that essentially reiterated the history of the Hearth’s Warming play that went on every year—felt a little fresher. Granted, it may have also helped that the old exhibit was followed up by a special display of Princess Platinum’s royal gowns. They were quite clearly overly extravagant, boasting as many jewels and as much fancy trimming as could be crammed onto them. It wasn’t really my style, given that I tended to prefer fancy in a focused way. That is, I felt like a single, special ornament would draw attention to an outfit better than dozens of gems all fighting each other for someone’s eye. Regardless, though, it was still interesting to see what was essentially the basis for all of modern Canterlot fashion. I’d expected most of our time to be spent in the Hall of Armour and I found myself grinning wide as Night made a beeline for it. Seemed we were quite in luck as far as special exhibits went, as Canterlot was currently borrowing some Pegasus Royal Legion pieces from Cloudsdale. Of note were several original pieces of armour, all looking more than a little banged up. I’m sure many nobles would have turned their noses up at the sight, but I appreciated the choice of preservation over restoration. What we saw here, with the imperfections, the battle scars and the wear and tear of time—that was the true face of history. Which isn’t to say that pristine pieces wouldn’t have been nice to look at. In fact, the museum seemed to have thought of that. Included in the exhibit were several replicas of various weapons and tools. The most obvious, grand pieces were the full set of armour, created from like materials and painted up like it would have appeared before it saw its first battle, and an artist’s approximation of Flash Magnus’s shield. I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that it wasn’t even an authentic replica, but I also couldn’t blame the artist. The shield had long been lost—a rather sore spot in Cloudsdale’s pride—leaving all descriptions to, at best, old, secondhoof accounts. Idly, I wondered if having the real deal might have helped us in Ostfriesen. As I turned back to Night, he seemed to be entranced, his eyes boring a hole through that old armour with greater power than any arrow. I leaned in to give him a quick nudge. “Something up?” “Oh, seeing all of this, set up like this, it just reminds me of the things I used to want.” He gave me a sappy grin. “Before I found something better.” I giggled. “Flatterer.” We moved on, though Night’s pace was a bit slower than before. I glanced at him, expecting him to be stealing one last look at the armour, but his eyes were fixed forward. “So... all these places you have planned for us to visit on this trip, um, do you have a favourite?” He fidgeted a little. It was a question I’d pondered to myself from time to time. I think in the end, that indecisiveness was probably why I kept including everything in my route. “I don’t really have a favorite. I think every place has its own charm.” He seemed a little disappointed, but pressed on. “There’s no place that you’re more excited about visiting? Or, which is more special?” In that moment, I realized he was not-so-sneakily trying to find out for one, or even both, of a couple occasions I could think of. Still, this did little to help me make up my mind. “Well, every place is special to me for its own reasons. Reasons unique enough that comparison is quite difficult.” Night nodded slowly, his eyes falling on a set of Mage Meadowbrook urns. “I suppose it’s like this museum. Everything in here is important, and unique. I guess I was just wondering if there was a place that impacted you more so than others.” “Yes and no. Everyplace I visit leaves some impression on me.” I pondered a second. “I guess you could say I included all my top picks when I planned our route, though.” His eyes turned to the exhibits again. “Well, I’m looking forward to it, then. I want to see more, and see why every place is so special to you.” “Sounds like plan.” I flashed him a smile before we moved on. There was one stop I made every time I came through here and it never got old. Of course, at least half of that is my inner Daring Do fangirl speaking, but I also seriously doubt that anyone could claim the A. K. Yearling Collection to be anything less than impressive. Named as much thanks to the fact that she’d funded every expedition from which everything in the gallery had come from, I had to suspect it had cost her millions of bits. As Night trotted up beside me, I realized I must have lost myself in the same way he’d been staring at the Royal Pegasus Legion exhibit. I smiled as I spoke, “I suppose it shouldn’t be any surprise that someone who writes about this kind of stuff would help fund real expeditions, but at the same time, I think the sheer amount she’s put into this is quite admirable. She must really love the subject matter.” “Well, I guess it gives her more material for her books?” I couldn’t help but giggle. “Probably. I really need to loan you my copies of Daring Do. I think you'd really enjoy them.” We moved much more quickly after that. While Night was still enthusiastic, nothing quite stuck with him the same as the Hall of Armour. Before long, we’d completed our circuit, reaching the museum exit. I stole a glance at Night. “So, what do you want to do for supper?” “Nothing too fancy... I’m not sure I’m all that interested in high class Canterlot portions.” He made a little bit of a face. It was always amusing to me how much the stereotype of tiny portions followed the whole of Canterlot’s eateries. I supposed it was the unfortunate fate for all those more practical restaurants to have to live in the shadow of the richer establishments. Which made sense, really, given the richer ones did have the money to advertise far and wide. With a smirk and a giggle, I replied, “Well, this is the university district. It’s a little less fancy than all that. You in the mood for anything in particular?” Night paused a moment, but quickly shook his head. “No. Maybe something new? There’s a lot I haven’t tried, and you’re very good at surprising me.” “Something new, then. I think I know the perfect place.” There was a Saddle Arabian place just a couple blocks over that was a bit more of a fast food place than anything. Since it was meant to cater to the general population, I figured it’d be just the right kind of sample without overwhelming him. Our exit was quickly detoured as Night noticed the gift shop—and began drifting toward it. “Hey, Dusky? While we’re here, I’m going to get some postcards.” “Sure. You thinking of sending a few back home?” He started poking at the rack, seeming to gravitate toward the exhibits we’d spent the most time on. “Yeah, it’s something I’ve been feeling a little guilty about. I mean, I just reconnected with them, and then I’m leaving again, even if just for a month.” I smiled, glad to see him thinking so much about them. “I’m sure they’d appreciate that.” The pile grew as he continued to pull selections from the rack. I guessed the Royal Legion armour was for his dad. And a second for Mint. There was something in there from the A. K. Yearling Collection, too. Perhaps for Spring. As he pulled out what must have been his ninth, he turned to me. “Anypony you want to send a postcard to? Should I get one for your parents?” I couldn’t help but laugh. It reminded me of the first time I’d gotten the chance to send postcards. It was kind of funny to think about: I’d been traveling so long, yet the simple idea of getting and sharing one with someone had made me giddy. The only thing that had dampened it was that being on the road so much made it difficult to expect any kind of reply. “I should be fine. I’m sure they’d appreciate it, but they can be a little more difficult to get a postcard to when they’re on the road together.” “Oh right, out trading.” Night paused a second, then his face lit up. “What about Ruby?” Yep, he’s just how I was. I grinned. “She’d probably get a kick out of getting a postcard or two. But I doubt there’s anything in this museum she hasn’t seen.” He nodded, completely undeterred. “Well, I can pick one up for her at our next stop, then. In the meantime, I’ll just get one for everypony else!” I eyed his pile. “Are you writing to everyone in the bar? Or everyone in Ponyville? Be careful you don’t get writer’s cramp.” At last, he seemed satisfied with his selections and tucked them under his wing as he got in line. “I’m used to doing lots of reports at work. These will just be a quick update, and an address. Easy. And I think it’ll be fun, too.” Sneaking a quick nuzzle, I let out a giggle. “I’ll have to pick out something for dinner that’ll give you the energy to write all those postcards.” “Whatever you pick will be perfect, I’m sure.”