//------------------------------// // 73 - Allies // Story: From Dusk to Night // by KuroiTsubasaTenshi //------------------------------// Even though I knew the forest quite well, it felt dark and foreboding. Part of it was the delirium of being dead on my hooves, yet it was undeniable that I was on edge. I kept glancing back, knowing that, while the zombies would keep back the Cartel thugs, that was the limit of their power. There was no telling if we were really, truly safe here. It was then that the realization really sank in that Night must be feeling this, but magnitudes worse. I’d grown used to Ivory’s zombies—perhaps just a bit too used to them. What I had learned to stomach and ignore, had been thrown at a stressed Night at quite possibly the worst possible moment. The haunted look from when he’d reached the forest’s edge remained burned into my mind. Even now, I could still see glimpses of it fall across his muzzle. The trail we were on was somewhat narrow and more of a wildlife path than anything. It was rather fortunate that the creatures preferred it so, as it wasn’t like anyone else was going to come visit Ivory. As we turned a particularly long, winding curve, a jagged stump of a tree jutted from the ground, coming up to just a bit over my chest. It was just as I remembered, same shape, same appearance of precarious brittleness—and yet, it never collapsed, as though being struck by wild lightning had frozen it in time. I glanced back, catching another glimpse of that expression. He clearly needed a moment to gather himself, and, with the thugs long behind us, I felt we could afford it. “That stump marks the halfway point,” I said. “There’s a small break in the canopy ahead. Why don’t we take a moment there?” Night’s eyes flitted behind him. “Are you sure we have time?” “We’ll have to make some. We still have to cover this distance again. If we don’t take a breather, we’ll collapse before we make it to Ivory’s.” He sighed a little. “Alright.” The mini-clearing wasn’t much to look at. In fact, it wasn’t much of a clearing at all. Even now, the young trees stretched toward each other, maybe a year or two off of closing the gap entirely. However, for now, this alcove, maybe large enough for six people, was blessed with a three-foot crescent of sun. Outside the shadows, much of Night’s tension slid off of him—enough that I was almost surprised I didn’t hear it hit the ground. Slipping up beside him, I pressed into his mane before looking him in the eye and sighing. “Sorry. You really deserved better than that. I know you know I didn’t do it on purpose, but I should have put more thought into it. I should have trusted you. Instead, you got the scare of your life.” “I forgive you.” His answer was almost immediate and I couldn’t help but arch my brow a little. He let out a soft chuckle. “It’s only fair. Celestia knows you’ve put up with all my regrets.” I smirked. “This is such a Terra statement, but I guess that just proves how compatible we are.” “Guess so.” He smiled back. My ears shot forward as the a faint thudding, intermingled with the sound of brush being trampled underhoof, reached them. I stood at the ready. There was no way they should have gotten in front us. Aside from the extra distance making it physically unlikely, there were also sentries at the other entrances. Still, I found myself on edge. As the sound closed in, I could make out a single set of hooves. I couldn’t relax completely, but more than a little tension escaped my body as I realized who it really should be. I stepped to the side, craning my head a little. Sure enough, a cloaked figure came barreling around the bend, just barely visible through the trees. Despite that, the tell-tale white of her coat allayed any further suspicion. She spotted us easily enough, though, and hurried over. “Dusky! What happened? Are you okay?” Even Ivory’s alarmed voice soothed my heart. “Yeah.” I put on my best smile. “Sorry for tripping your sentries like that, but a rather large band of ruffians decided they didn’t want to play nice.” “Sentries?” Night asked, seemingly more out of reservation than anything else. “Not those. Well, yes those, but more importantly, the dark pres—” Ivory’s jaw snapped shut as her eyes locked onto Night. “Who is that?” What a great start to the introductions. I motioned with my hoof. “This is Night. Night, Ivory. Ivory, Night.” “Um, hi,” Night said, his eyes flitting over to me. “Oh! The boyfriend!” Even though her face was hidden, I could see her muzzle ever-so-slightly bobbing along to the recollection of my letter. “Fiance now,” I said. “What? Since when?” Ivory stiffened for a half-second before waving her hoof. “Never mind. Tell me later. We should get you back to my cottage. To be honest, you two look like you were dragged a mile under a cart.” I shrunk a little. “Yeah… it’s, uh, been a rough few days. There’s been a lot going on that we don’t understand. Speaking of which, what was that about a dark presence?” “Later. The details are going to be long and you should get some rest first.” Ivory turned and started walking. “Just know that you are safe from it for the time being.” As I followed, my imagination got to work. I wondered if this dark presence was what had been spying on us. It frightened me that such a thing could remain invisible, feeding information to our enemies. I could only think of worse and worse possibilities. What if, instead of simply scrying, this presence could take direct action? What if it could channel magic or objects from the other side? My only solace was that the presumably obscene amount of power required would be far beyond most people. If it wasn’t, I’m sure the possible major political shenanigans would have already brought it to light. I shook the thoughts away. Getting myself agitated without full information was just going to waste energy I didn’t have. Once my mind settled, I felt an oddly familiar sort of serenity. It took me a moment, but I realized that it was that normal, neutral resting state—something I hadn’t felt in weeks. I supposed there was something to be said about knowing that, were we to be attacked, the entire forest would rise up and protect us. The trail was fairly unremarkable, winding through the trees and occasionally losing itself for a couple feet before reappearing. Despite that, and my familiarity with the route, I found myself stumbling as I tried to get the stones attached to my torso to move—I was never more glad that Ivory had multiple outposts spread throughout the forest. At last, we rounded one final bend, coming to a long straightaway. About thirty feet down, stood a log cabin, somewhat like what the Canterlot nobles might have down alongside the mountain beach. However, unlike Canterlot nobles, Ivory’s was entirely utilitarian, half because such is the creative level of a construction crew of zombies and half because no one would see any decorations Ivory put up. This was the one I was most familiar with, though—and this could be bias talking—none of the other cabins were much different, maybe sporting an extra pair of beams here and there to keep them from running off should one of the hills lose a bit of errant surface. The door glowed softly as it creaked open. I always knew what to expect. The room had changed little since our initial encounter years ago. In fact, were I not a frequent visitor, I might have thought we had mistaken a time capsule for a house. A fire burned at the far end of the cabin, the sway of its flames almost lulling me to sleep right there. Starting at the corner, well away from the reach of the fire, was a run of several large, heavy bookcases, stuffed to the brim with magic tomes and research notes. Odd as it may sound, I always gave the book cases a fond look, for it was a single misplaced book that started Ivory’s and my friendship. At the end of the bookcases was a faded white cabinet, which more or less served as her coat closet. Sitting in front of that was an old antiquity of a dining set. While the table and all four chairs were intact, they had clearly taken a beating. This was perhaps the thing that had changed the most about the cabin over the years. It had taken some gentle prodding and understanding, but I finally convinced her to remove those old placemats and vase. There was no way the wounds weren’t still there, but I figured having a reminder of her missing family sitting right out in the open every day wasn’t doing her any favours. Initially, the table had remained unused, but there was some point—perhaps two or three visits after she’d cleared it off—where she started inviting me to eat at it. I’ve always been honoured by the gesture and take pride in making sure she can continue to count on me. The cabinet swung open, two cots floating out to settle at the foot of the fireplace. As the cots unfurled themselves, side by side, Ivory lowered her hood. First, she peered at Night from under her jet-black mane, just the slightest bit of uncertainty giving her lips pause. “I know it isn’t much, but I hope you can forgive the sparse accommodations. Beds are a bit hard to come by out here.” “Oh, it’s, um, fine.” Night scuffed a hoof. “He’s no stranger to camping on the road,” I added. “Good.” The barest of smiles crept up Ivory’s muzzle. “I can’t imagine anypony with less fortitude being your fiance. Now, get some rest, both of you.” I opened my mouth, but Ivory shook her head. “Sorry, Dusky. I understand you must have many questions, but trust me, you will want to be well rested and coherent for this discussion. It will be long and the solution will not be easy.” “That’s… ominous. But, well, okay. I’ll do my best to make sure I’m prepared.” I half-turned, but there was one uncertainty that simply couldn’t wait. “Just one thing: would that dark presence be able to touch dreams?” “Quite the specific question.” Ivory took a moment to think. “I’ve been having nightmares,” I added, “ones that I suspect are being magically tampered with.” “What makes you says that?” “Mostly, a hunch. The intensity is well beyond anything I’ve ever felt. Everything about it just seems wrong.” As my words grew vaguer and less helpful, I found myself agreeing that I really should have had this conversation when I was more coherent. “Given what I’ve gleaned thus far, you are probably right. Were it any kind of curse or enchantment, I would at least be able to detect it, and you, Dusky, are magic free.” Ivory nodded emphatically. “Thanks, Ivory.” I mustered as much of a smile as I could. “I’ll see you in the morning.” With that, I trotted over to the cots. It was there that everything finally hit me. All the struggle and perseverance, it had been carried on one last ounce of strength. I didn’t so much settle as plop right down, my body giving me a definitive good night.