//------------------------------// // The Loyalty of a Simple Doll // Story: Role Reversal // by Trials //------------------------------// Smarty woke with a gasp. She glanced outside her window, noticing the impending darkness. It was still night, and she should've been sleeping, but she was wide awake. Smarty dived deeper into the blankets, trying to fall back to sleep, but after five minutes, which she had been counting exactly, she knew it was pointless to try. There was something at the back of her mind, and she knew her brain would allow her no rest until the niggling thought was silenced. She sighed. As if enough hadn't happened today. As quietly as a mouse, she threw the blankets off of her. Besides, she didn't have to wake everyone else up just because she was awake. Smarty stretched her legs out. With a yawn, she crept out of the spare room — her temporary room — and into the corridor. She could see the moon shine through the windows of the main hall. When she peered through to get a better look, a howl erupted from nearby, making her shriek. It sounded like those damned things that had chased her. Timberwolves, or whatever Applejack called them. It didn't matter. Smarty continued on her way up the stairs, and went through the second corridor. Fortunately, she had been in Big Mac's room before, so she knew exactly where it was. Smarty walked over to his door, making sure to put the smallest amount of weight on her hooves. The wooden boards were prone to creak and crack, and she didn't want to wake anyone else up. With a gentle push, the door opened without so much as a peep. She walked in to find Big Mac snoring loudly, one of his legs poking out the blankets. The collar remained around his neck, which she knew he thought was more comfortable than wearing nothing. That was just something strange about him. His tongue lolled at the side of his mouth, but Smarty wasn't surprised. Besides, she'd seen him sleep before. It wasn't anything new. She looked behind, making sure no one was spying on her, before shutting the door with a quiet click. Smarty shuffled over to the bedside. He was a big colt, but the bed was bigger. Outstretched, he could've easily covered the entire area, but Big Mac fortunately didn't. Lifting the blanket, Smarty quickly jumped in, attempting to keep as much warmth inside as she possibly could. She shivered. Her body adjusting to the sudden warmth made her realise how cold it truly was. In truth, she had no idea what she was doing. Her mind had told her to do something, and she had to do it on pain of not sleeping. That was it. Well, that was what she told herself. If Applejack came in, she'd get the wrong idea. Of course, Big Mac would as well, but that wouldn't happen. Any other pony would've deemed the act as questionable, but she knew in her heart of hearts that it was more meaningful than that. After waiting for so long for Big Mac, Smarty simply wanted to be there with him in the moment. That's all that mattered. That's all she cared about, and that was why she was lying next to Big Mac in his bed. He looked so peaceful when he slept. The moonlight cascaded down on the pair, illuminating Big Mac's face. His golden mane fell down the pillow and into her reach. Smarty extended her hoof silently, stroking the few strands of hair. So soft. It smelt like the apples she had plucked only a few hours ago. His steady breaths would lift the blankets below his muzzle into the air. His eyelids would occasionally shift left and right. She wondered what he was dreaming about. Whatever it was, she hoped it was pleasant. The last time she'd shared a bed with anyone was with Twilight when she was a filly. She would be cradled in her small hooves, held so tightly that she'd be suffocated, even if it was impossible for her to breathe. While Twilight slept and snored, Smarty would protect her from the horrors that would patrol and stalk the night. She never saw any action, but that's neither here nor there. She had been there for Twilight, and that knowledge had helped the filly sleep soundly. When Smarty was a doll, she would look from across the room at Big Mac, watching as he slept. She wasn't the guardian of the night, as she had been for Twilight, but she would still look out for him. She hadn't resigned from her occupation. A couple of days had passed, and now she shared the bed with him. It was funny how things turned out. Of course, Mac didn't know of her intrusion, but it didn't matter. She was next to him, still watching over him, and that was enough. She would only stay for a few more minutes. Only a few more. Staying for any longer increased the chances of being caught, and Smarty didn't feel like explaining anything else today. Her mind told her to leave, to eradicate any chance of that happening, but something made her stay. Smarty moved closer to the stallion, feeling the warmth from his body immediately. His hair was under her nose, and she could smell him. Not the apples or the summer day, but him. There was nothing else she could ask for. The timberwolf howled into the night once more, but she wasn't afraid this time. Smarty would look after him, and Big Mac would look after her. She knew his type. Loyal to family and friends, till death do they part. Even though he never would remember her for the things he had admitted and said, it was okay. It was fine. Truly. She had resigned to the fact, but that didn't mean that she had given up on him. He had opened himself up to her, perhaps against his own will, but she knew him. She knew his true feelings and motives, even if he hadn't meant to share them. She wanted to be with him. Smarty knew he was lonely, and she knew how he longed to make a new friend. With a contented sigh, she closed her eyes and wrapped her hooves around him. It was fine. Just like she had been for Twilight, Smarty would be there for Mac. His happiness brought her own. Knowing that he was no longer lonely, that he had made a friend, well, that's all she needed. She snuggled deeper into the bed, feeling his warm breath against her face as his chest rose and fell under her weight. The wooden wolf cried once more, but she could barely hear it. Silence fell. Smarty no longer felt a reason to leave. The bed was far too warm, and who cared if she had a little explaining to do in the morning? It was nothing new. Smarty felt something wriggle from underneath her. “Wh... what?” came a confused voice. She turned to find Big Mac watching her with weary eyes. He was blinking a lot, as if not in control of his eyes, and he raised a hoof to rub them. “You weren't meant to wake up,” Smarty whispered. “Ah don't... It was... What was Ah... supposed to do?” he whispered back. “Sleep,” she said, stroking his cheek. “Go back to sleep.” “But... Ah'm awake.” “You shouldn't be,” Smarty admitted, looking away. “Sorry, it's all my fault.” His eyes suddenly went wide. “What are ya doin' in mah bed?” he cried. “Shush, keep it down,” Smarty said. “It's the middle of the night, and you should be asleep.” “So should you.” Smarty opened her mouth to speak, but chose not to. “I'll just go. I shouldn't be here.” She lifted the blankets up, and planted her hooves quietly on the floor. “Wait,” Big Mac said. “Why?” she asked, facing him once more. He tried to hold her gaze, but quickly looked away. “Well, yer in mah bed. Ah wanna know why,” he complained, his eyebrows furrowing. Smarty paused. “I got scared. Those timberwolves woke me up,” she lied. “Oh.” “Well, I'll just be going—” “Hang on,” he interrupted. “What is it?” she asked. “No point if yer still scared.” “No, really, it's fine—” “Ah used to be scared of 'em. Ah know what it's like.” He lifted the blankets up. “Look, yer shiverin'. It's okay.” Smarty sighed. She had noticed herself shivering, but she didn't want to bring any attention to it. Taking his offer, she climbed back into the bed. Big Mac looked at her, and she caught his gaze, making him look away quickly. They both stared at the wooden ceiling. “About what you said, I knew,” Smarty admitted, gritting her teeth. “You told me yourself.” Mac chuckled. “There's a lot of things Ah musta told ya.” Silence fell. Smarty knew he was a colt of few words. “Do you... do you even know my name?” she asked, turning around. “When you were a toy, you must have heard it at some point.” “Ah do,” he admitted, nodding. “Ah couldn't remember at first, but it came back to me.” “I had the same thing. When I was turned into a pony, I mean. My memory was pretty hazy.” “Eeyup.” “Well, what do you remember?” she asked. “Enough,” he said simply. “That's... that's not enough detail,” Smarty complained. “Ah don't know anything 'bout ya, but ya know everything 'bout me aside. Not too fair,” he said. Smarty raised an eyebrow. “Are you blackmailing me?” Big Mac shrugged. “Jus' sayin' it how it is.” The mare harrumphed. “That's totally blackmail.” “Call it what ya like. Ah only know yer name. And that you were Twilight's doll,” he added. Smarty blinked. “What else is there to say?” “Ya tell me,” he said bluntly. “Maybe in the morning,” she confirmed with a roll of her eyes. “It's the middle of the night; we should be sleeping. I'll go back downstairs. Let you sleep.” “Ya don't have to.” “What would your sister think?” she asked. “She won't mind.” “Well, if you say so,” Smarty said, snuggling back down into her pillow. She closed her eyes, and let the silence welcome her. The moon still shone in her eyes, but she didn't care. She was with Big Mac, which he seemingly didn't dislike, so nothing else mattered. Perhaps he was too drowsy to think properly? Even Smarty knew Applejack wouldn't react so passively. It was the middle of the night, so his mind was probably too tired. She caught him watching her again. No. Definitely not. She chuckled. “It's strange being a doll, isn't it?” she asked. Mac nodded solemnly. “Ah don't like it. No control.” “You get used to it,” she mused. “After years and years of it, when there's simply nothing else to do, you have to. You have to watch everything and remember, just to stay sane.” He let her finish her sentence. “Weren't ya gonna save that for the morning?” She glared at him for a brief second. Mac blushed. “Ya said ya wanted ta sleep.” “That I did,” she confirmed. Silence fell again. She felt the air blow in from the window, and her head suddenly felt cold. Smarty looked at Big Mac, seeing that he'd shut his eyes. Now was the best time. After all, she did like to mix things up a bit. Silently, she lifted her head up, and rested it on Big Mac's chest. He gasped in shock, almost jumping out of the bed as he looked down at the smiling mare. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but he was simply too shocked. Exhaling air, he returned to watching the ceiling as he blushed a deep crimson. It was an odd sight, seeing as though his fur was a deep crimson. That thought that had been at the back of her mind hadn't turned out as bad as it could've been. Smarty was finally with him, and Big Mac was finally with her. All in all, not a bad night. She felt herself drift off as a warm smile appeared on her face. They were together, sitting in bed, and neither of them gave a damn about what anyone else thought. Two soon-to-be lovers sat quietly in bed, feeling each other's breath rise and fall alongside their own. There wasn't anything more Smarty could ask for. In a moment, Smarty felt a hoof curl around her neck. She looked up to find him still looking at the ceiling. With a chuckle, she closed her eyes, and allowed her head to rest on his soft fur once more. Another wolf cry echoed across the dark sky. Big Mac looked down at her. “Yer not scared?” “Not anymore,” she replied simply. And everything was peaceful.