In the morning, Terra was generally more coherent, but also tight-lipped about the whole business with Aster. All I could get out of her was that Aster had wandered into the bar—for what reason, Terra didn’t know. Predictably, Aster wasn’t welcome. Less predictably, Terra took it upon herself to escort the loud-mouthed filly home.
This was where she started getting particularly vague, but apparently they spent some time wandering around before finding Aster’s house and meeting her father. Terra wouldn’t say anything more, but I suspected this mysterious stallion was as much a cause of her discomfort as the whole mothering thing. I decided it was best not to pry too hard—at least until the ‘sexy’-suppressing spell was no longer an issue.
It was just as well, since that very same day, Night Flurry brought me news from his contact. I didn’t want to get overly hopeful, but his willingness to even meet was a good first step.
Getting to work, I provided Night Flurry with the details my anxiety had insisted I prepare days ago. We would be returning to the shadier side of the city, but I didn’t want to use my best locations. I’d settled on the Adorned Petal, one of the busier, somewhat fancier hubs. Sure, there was a slightly higher risk of being seen by a Cartel informant, but when dealing with strangers, I like places where funny business would have dire consequences for them.
We sent the letter express, and within two days, Noble Light was set to meet with ‘Ebony Mist’. I almost felt bad about using an alias, but I wasn’t taking any chances this time.
So Night Flurry and I arranged to meet at the Seapony for an early afternoon trip to Canterlot.
He was already waiting in front of the bar, its two stories providing little protection from the sun, which highlighted each of his features. Staring off into the distance, he fidgeted with the ground, no doubt lost in thought about the upcoming reunion.
His flight satchels looked light, something that would have been appropriate for a normal trip to Canterlot. But again, I wasn’t taking any chances. I had the standard survival and first aid kit, plus a week’s worth of rations and an extra bag of bits.
Trotting up beside him, I spoke just loud enough to get his attention, “Hello, Night Flurry.”
Despite my care, he still looked like he wanted to hop away from me. He just barely held himself in place as he fumbled out a response, “Hey, Dusky… you, um… ready to go?”
I smiled, hoping it would help him calm down. “Sure. Have you been waiting long?”
Night Flurry shook his head, his lips just barely fighting back as he smiled. “Oh, um, no, not really… just… been here, thinking.”
It was pretty much a complete non-answer, but I simply raised an eyebrow instead of pressing further. I didn’t need him being even more nervous at this meeting.
“All right. Guess we’d better go if we want to get there early,” I said as I spread my wings. To be perfectly honest, I was pretty on edge and just taking to the sky made me feel a bit better. The sooner this was over, the better.
Night Flurry wasn’t far behind, although I had to slow down a bit to let him catch up.
“Th-this will be my first trip to, um… to Canterlot,” he said as he came up alongside me.
“Canterlot is a beautiful place. It’s too bad your first time has to be for something like this.” I gave him an apologetic look. He didn’t seem to notice.
“It’s so strange…” He stared off at the distant mountain. “Canterlot has always been there, just on the horizon, but I’ve never made the trip.”
I glanced down, making sure we were following the tracks before I responded. With the exception of a few sections, the railroad took the shortest route to the mountain.
A giggle escaped my lips as I turned back to him. “Well, you don’t have to go straight home after we’ve met up with your contact. Maybe you can use this trip as an excuse to tour the city.”
Silently, I added that, even assuming his contact was legit, their whole reunion thing could get awkward or worse. Perhaps a little exploration could provide some necessary distraction.
As I came out of my own thoughts, I realized I’d gotten a couple lengths ahead of Night Flurry again. I held my wings a moment, letting myself drift back until we were side-by-side. I chastised myself, telling myself to stay calm.
But once I’d gotten a good look at his face, I knew I wasn’t the only one whose pace was affected by the weight of thought.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I… well… Dusky, I… I need to come clean.” He looked like he was going to start hyperventilating. The stare I gave him before I could catch myself probably didn’t help. “A-about my contact… and… what happened between us.”
Night Flurry shrunk down and I pursed my lips as I tried to keep a dozen questions, including why he didn’t say anything earlier, under wraps. Deciding there was nothing for it but to hear him out, I nodded. “All right, Night Flurry. I’m listening.”
Staring at the ground, his reply was almost lost to the wind. “He… I’m… I was in the Guard, once. A long time ago…”
I glanced back at him, waiting him to continue—and hopefully give me some new information.
“I joined up as soon as I was able to, volunteering to serve. I wanted to serve Princess Celestia, to… to serve Equestria, and keep it safe. But… I couldn’t do it.” There was an edge to his voice, a disappointed harshness he turned upon himself. He’d wanted to be a hero. I couldn’t blame him, since I’d once wanted much the same. Although, unlike him, I’d never had pressure from my family.
“You dropped out of training?” I asked, trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible.
“Yeah... “ He sighed. “It wasn’t for me… I just… couldn’t.”
I eyed him up and down, choosing my next words carefully. “That’s not your fault. I have some experience with that kind of training. Not everyone can keep up with the intensity.”
He kind of stared at me, undoubtedly remembering my mother’s entrance, which was definitely not a standard part of Guard training. Or rather, I hoped it wasn’t standard training to start an impromptu brawl in the middle of a public location.
“It wasn’t that… well, not entirely. I went through training for a few months… They said I was meeting expectations, that I was doing fine. I… I c-couldn’t handle the stress, all the ponies…” His ears drooped, taking his whole face with them. “But.. there… were expectations I could never meet. I’m sorry, Dusky.”
I wasn’t really all that surprised. His personality, for the most part, wasn’t the kind that would do well with the large crowds involved in mass training, nevermind the rest of his duties. And if he was pushed into it at all, well, that situation wasn’t exactly fair.
“What are you sorry for? It doesn’t sound like it was your fault at all.”
“My… my contact. He… well… I moved on to the Cloudsdale Weather College after that, and… then got the job in Ponyville. We… I didn’t contact him after I left.”
I nodded, suspecting that his family member had been a trainer and that his leaving would have caused all kinds of awkwardness. At least I knew things could still get plenty awkward, even when the training was going right. “And do you think he holds it against you?”
His eyes fell below again as he sighed. “I… I don’t know. I’m sorry, Dusky… If this ends up… I don’t know… I just… I wanted to help. I know he can help. I didn’t mean to keep causing problems.”
This wasn’t quite how I pictured things. I’d expected more conflict, not for the feelings to be so one-sided. It occurred to me then that, while this was a significant risk that I was taking, Night Flurry was also sticking his neck out.
I spoke as reassuringly as I could, “It’s all right, Night Flurry. As long as this information gets into the right hooves, that’ll be enough.”
He closed his eyes. I looked ahead. Canterlot loomed overhead, high on its seat on the mountain. Just a few minutes’ ascent and we would be there.
When Night Flurry opened his eyes, they went wide, as though noticing the entire mountain for the first time. “Whoa…”
Stifling a laugh, I watched him for a bit. He almost looked happy. I really hoped there would be something here for him other than doom and gloom.
---
Canterlot was as busy as ever. Even during a time when everyone should have been at work, it always seemed like someone or several dozen had some pressing matter to attend to. Normally, I wouldn’t have paid it much mind, but between the city and the people, Night Flurry seemed a bit overwhelmed. Thankfully, this didn’t stop him from following and we reached the Adorned Petal in short order.
It was in a little cove, just barely into the bar district and not far off the main road. Unlike the rest of the city, the Adorned Petal utilized a more down-to-earth, faux rustic design, with the entire squarish building being made of wood. To complete the image, a sign hung from a pair of chains, its scripted name carving the petals from an engraved rose. I pushed the door, which had been cut and painted to look like a giant leaf, aside.
The interior continued to do the classy country feel justice; sleek wooden benches and tables filled the well-lit dining area, while the tinted glass allowed the patrons to keep an eye on the street. Soft padding lined each bench while vased roses spilled out from the walls, letting their sweet aroma waft into the room. It was like those country clubs where millionaire nobles went to while away their days, but without the exclusivity.
The cafe was quiet, which was hardly a surprise, given that we were nowhere near mealtime and most of the ‘alternative’ business would have concluded hours ago.
“Can I get you two a seat?” The hostess, a pale red pony with her mane pulled into a bun, smiled.
“Actually, we’re waiting for someone. Wanted to take one of the back rooms,” I answered before producing the normal upfront fee from my satchel.
“Sure thing!” The hostess continued to smile as she assessed the bits. It wasn’t long before she nodded. “What’s the name for your party?”
“Ebony Mist.” I let a smile of my own creep up my lips. There was no real reason to believe that this part would have gone badly, and yet, here I was feeling relieved over the simplest thing. I was letting myself get too wound up.
The hostess scribbled something down before motioning toward a back hallway. Each room we passed contained a longer table and benches to match. I thought there were also a few pictures on each wall, but I didn’t get a really good look.
Instead, my attention was drawn to a mint green pegasus mare who was lounging on the closest bench in the second room on the left. Her blonde, bound mane bobbed around her muzzle as she looked up, peering expectantly into the hall. No doubt she’d be disappointed.
She blinked, eyes fixating on me. Or was it Night Flurry? I couldn’t be sure. All I knew that was that within a couple seconds, she was on her hooves, shoving the door shut.
I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought that she had just now realized that private rooms are only private if the door is shut. Still, something nagged at the back of my mind, insisting that that wasn’t quite right. As the hair on the back of my neck stood on end, I wondered if I should abort right then and there.
No. Stop jumping at shadows. I frowned. I couldn’t let myself be spooked by something so ordinary, especially in an establishment such as this. No, I would need something bigger. Or perhaps just a second coincidence.
The hostess stopped, waving a hoof at the next door on the left. “And here you are. Just let me know if you need anything!”
Once we were inside with the door closed behind us, Night Flurry let out a sharp breath. He looked like he was trapped between the jaws of a vise, about to clamp his decision in place. This was his last chance to escape.
“He… he should be here soon, then.”
I gave an absent nod, trying to decide if it was a good idea to address his nervousness. As I finally settled on the bench with the best view of the door, I determined I should at least help him see that final chance. I owed him that much.
“It won’t take too long to give him the information. You sure you don’t want to sit out?”
He slumped into a seat some distance away.
“N-no… no, that’s all right. I need to see this through.” He looked up and smiled. “But… th-thanks.”
“Don’t worry about it, Night Flurry. I should thank you too, for setting all of this up.” Smiling back, I gave him what little encouragement I could spare. Even if things went south, I wanted him to know I appreciated it.
Night Flurry lowered his head again, another, longer, sigh escaping his lips. “Yeah… l-like I said… I just want to help…”
I nodded, letting the last of my smile linger just a while longer.
We sat in silence for several minutes before the sound of hoofsteps pulled my ears toward the door. I rose as it opened, uncertainty holding me tense.
The door creaked open, and in strode a white stallion. His mane was a deep purple and, aside from the lack of cowlick, was styled almost exactly like Night Flurry’s. In fact, their muzzles held a very similar shape, though he looked much older. I wanted to say Noble Light was his father, but if I were stretching things, an older brother was also a possibility. His cutie mark was a shield bathed in light—appropriate, perhaps almost too appropriate, for a Guard.
Night Flurry leapt to his hooves and saluted. “H-hello, s-sir.”
Raising an eyebrow, I watched Night Flurry and Noble Light carefully. Of all the ways the conversation could have started, ‘formal Guard’ was not my first pick.
Noble Light paused, a split-second of hesitation I normally would have missed. Whatever Night Flurry was thinking, they definitely hadn’t been on the same page. Noble Light eyed Night Flurry up and down before finally responding, “At ease.”
While Night Flurry dropped his salute, he remained rigid. Then the two of them just stood there, staring. Whatever was between them wasn’t getting solved now.
Thinking it best that we move on, I cleared my throat. “Noble Light?”
He turned that stony gaze upon me and nodded. “Ebony Mist?”
I nodded.
“Then it appears we have some business to attend to.”
Inwardly, I wanted to take a deep breath. Thankfully, my brain knew better than to give away any tells. “I have conditions.”
“Name them.”
My chest tightened, as though it were attempting to crush itself. This was the moment that determined everything. I could only hope, not only that he would see my demands as reasonable, but that he would actually keep his word and follow through.
“I am anonymous and shall remain so. I can provide testimony, but I will not take the stand. If this is acceptable, I’ll give you the information.”
He took a few moments to reply, his face remaining unreadable. I couldn’t help but note just how different he and Night Flurry were.
“Very well.”
“Do you swear? Upon your honour?” I asked. Not that it would mean much if he meant to betray me, but at least this way I could gauge his reaction.
“Miss Mist, I assure you. My word is my oath. I promise you, by my position, rank and by the grace of her Majesty, your involvement goes no further than this room,” he replied, his voice without hesitation and his eyes never leaving mine.
I held his gaze a little longer. He didn’t so much as flinch. If he was faking it, he was good—too good for me to tell.
The odds were in favour of his sincerity, which, when I really thought about it, was probably about as good as I was going to get.
“Okay,” I said, taking a seat at the table again. I waited for Noble Light to join me before, in a voice I tried to keep just barely above inaudible, I related the events of Hoofington. Of course, I kept the personal details as vague as possible, and that was only if I couldn’t omit them entirely.
Noble Light didn’t say a word. He just watched and listened, absorbing it all like a sponge, and hardly reacting at all; only when I got to the Guard’s corpse did I catch the barest of frowns.
Once I’d concluded my testimony, I pulled out the sealed copy of the analysis, which he, once again, opened and read without a word. I was starting to feel a little nervous, like perhaps he didn’t even believe me.
I glanced over at Night Flurry. He hadn’t even bothered to sit down, doing his best to hold that same rigid stance. But Night Flurry being Night Flurry, his nerves betrayed him: he was constantly shifting and fidgeting. In fact, I got the impression that Noble Light’s stoicism was getting to him way more than me.
When Noble Light finally looked up, his expression still hadn’t changed. “I will see that this reaches the right sources.”
“So that’s it? No questions?”
He rerolled the scroll and tucked it under his wing. “Your testimony was quite clear, as is the analysis. I have all I need. Thank you for your assistance.”
“You’re welcome. I wish you luck.”
“You too. Take care of yourself.” And with that, he was gone.
Night Flurry let out a sigh that went on for nearly a minute. I couldn’t blame him, if only because I understood just how nerve-wracking the whole thing was, even if it was for different reasons.
“You okay?” I asked as I trotted over.
“Y-yeah… um, th-that went well, I think.”
“It did. Thank, you, Night Flurry.” I wrapped a wing around him, giving him a quick hug.
He froze, his cheeks lighting up like a Hearth’s Warming lamp. Perhaps I’d gone too far, riding on the day’s success—it wouldn’t be the first time I made someone uncomfortable with spontaneous hugs. But then again, it was the rare person who stuck his neck out this far for me. I didn’t want my friends to think I was taking them for granted. Regardless, I stepped back to give him some space.
A full minute went by before he finally spoke. “I-I, um, think I could use some air. M-maybe s-see the city. Would you l-like to come?”
I shook my head. Normally, that’s the kind of thing I would do, but it was starting to feel like I was holding his hoof. If he was really serious about seeing places, he would have to do some exploration without constantly looking to me. And really, Canterlot was about the easiest, safest place to start.
“This whole thing has left me exhausted,” I answered, a statement that was entirely too true. “I think I’m going to head back a little early.”
The question now, was whether Night Flurry changed his mind and decided to leave with me.
“O-oh… um… well, s-see y-you back at the S-Seapony?” he asked, much to my surprise.
“Sounds good.” I put on my best reassuring smile. “Well, go on, then. You don’t need me to guide you out of the restaurant, right?”
Night Flurry paused for a few seconds before he snapped to, practically scrambling for the door. “Um, r-right! S-see you!”
A smirk crept up my lips.
After waiting about a minute, I decided he had enough of a start to get out and over his indecision. It wouldn’t do for him to freeze outside, see me, then decide he’d rather go home. As least, I hoped that by the time I settled the bill, he’d be long gone.
The rest of my day looked simple, the kind where, even if I wasn’t truly liberated from the Cartel’s reach, I could at least spare some time to lounge and relax.
But as I stepped out into the hall, the voice of Noble Light called out to me, “Miss Mist, may I have another moment of your time?”
Perhaps things would not be so simple after all.