Night memories
The sun was just starting to set when Pinkie and Silky reached one of Ponyville's many parks, after the fun they had at Berry's, Silky was happy for some peace and quiet. He got neither.
"Ready for the tour?" Pinkie asked him while they stood on a bench.
"Can't we just talk? Or something?" Silky really didn't feel like running through the town while his guide spat out names that meant nothing to him, and he would surely forget by tomorrow.
"Sure! " Pinkie replied catching the stallion by surprise. "So... how’s it going?"
“Well so far the day has been fun... we got to sing a few songs, had a few drinks... and this is not what you wanted me to tell you isn’t it?” Silky asked turning his head to look at the pink mare sitting next to him.
“Oh no,” she quickly replied. “We can talk about anything you like.”
He chuckled.
“Not good...” Silky let his head fall backwards on and he looked at the orange sky as he continued. “It was nothing like we expected it to be. There were more of them than there were of us, they were better trained, better armed, better armored...”
Pinkie just stood next to him and let the pony talk, taking in every word he said.
“And they had those monstrosities. Nopony ever had to face those... It was like fighting dragons. Sure we had unicorns, and they had nothing to counter their magic, but there is only so much a couple of unicorns could do. And the griffins were never stupid, they always, always took out the unicorns first, always,” anger could be heard coming from his voice.
“The first few days were all good, a few minor skirmishes, nothing much, most of us didn't even leave our base next to the Crystal City, then the news came. I can never forget the day I overheard those words: ‘First and second Royal Guard battalion are gone, griffin troops advancing by rail, heavy artillery present. Less than one hour. If CE32-Snowblush falls Crystal City is next.’ I was the one that had to go and wake up the rest of the Watch. In ten minutes every last soldier marched for Snowblush...”
“And?” Pinkie asked captivated by the story.
“We won,” the pony replied, but there was no happiness, no joy, only sadness in his words.
“And isn’t that a good thing?” Pinkie Pie didn’t understand at first why he reacted the way he did. By the time it finally clicked it was too late, the question was already asked.
“There were almost a full division, ten thousand strong soldiers of the Royal Guard, and two Nightwatch brigades, another six thousand... And all the survivors were brought back on three trains, two of which were medical transports... But we won.”
“Sorry...” Pinkie said.
Silky looked at her, the pony’s eyes were teary and a lot more shiny, her head was hanging low and her mane seemed to be less puffy.
“Hey! It’s okay. It really is. I’m over it,” he lied, that was something nopony would ever be over, but he didn’t want to sadden the mare any further.
“Let’s talk about something else...” he looked around for something to talk about, something that was not sad, not tragic, something simple, light hearted, maybe even funny.
He looked around, he could see grass, trees, the night sky, an overflowing garbage can... he paused to think if he could do something with that but came up empty.
“Umm... How about that tour?” he asked when he realised that he had no idea what he could do to cheer the pony up. He thought “how useful would a pony whose special talent is cheering other pony’s up be right now.”
“Sure...”
Then both of them stood up, and Pinkie started showing the stallion around town, each building had at least one story to tell, but she only told him the ones that were more interesting. They stopped in front of an library build into a tree and Silky listen to her explain how just about every major crisis Equestria went through over the last few years were ties in one way or another to that very building, and to the pony that made it her home, the current ruler of The Protectorate of Ponyville, Princess Twilight Sparkle. The pink mare talked about the tree for what seemed to be hours.
They continued through the cold night, walking side by side, with Silky listening more to the sound of Pinkie’s voice than the words she was saying. After a time it almost sounded like she was singing, maybe she was. With each step they made the mare’s mane seemed to become more puffy and her smile bigger.
Only a few hours remained until Luna’s night would end and Celestia would raise the sun starting the day anew. The two found themselves back at the bench where the tour started.
It was sometime, between four and five in the morning, and it also was a particularly chilly night. The cold had not a problem for them while they were walking, but now that they were sitting still, the cold started to make itself known.
The two ponies were sitting next to each other in order to keep warm, while they thought of what they should do next. Silky moved his arm behind Pinkie and pulled her closely, the mare made herself comfortable in his embrace.
He slowly moves his other hoof underneath her chin and lifts her head up so he could see her beautiful deep blue eyes. His head leans forward, slowly heading towards her own, his heart racing with anticipation of the moment, then he closes his eyes and puckers up his lips ready for the moment when they would meet hers, and...
Before their lips touch he feels the mares hoofs gently pressed against his mouth. He opens his eyes and looks at the mare. Her smile was gone and her general impression was that of sadness.
“Sorry,” she said, her voice reflecting what was written on her face.
Silky let go of the pony, but before he could apologize for his action the mare ran away.
“Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” he cried out as he bashed his head with his hooves.
He walked a little through town, but now every building he passed by reminded him of her.
“Damn it!” he screamed kicking a small pebble that had the audacity of standing in the middle of the road.
Silky made his way to the town's outskirts where a makeshift camp was hastily erected a few hours after the train arrived in town. He looked around for an empty tent, but took his time to untie the poor stallion tied to the flagpole. At least he was not cold, the fluffy pink dress he wore kept him warm.
“Never try to drink against an officer,” Silky told the stallion. “I think being able to drink your own weight in ale is a requirement for promotion.”
The other stallion let out a weak laugh.