From Dusk to Night

by KuroiTsubasaTenshi

25 - Baby Steps

Without work, or at least an itinerary of my own, the days began to blend together. I tried to keep myself busy, my training in the mornings growing longer with each day until I was practically encroaching on noon. It was then that Terra and Mahogany would finally wake. Lunch was the only real time when everyone was there there—that is, before the alcohol set in.

Evenings were typically filled with our continued efforts to treat the hotel bar like the Seapony. But with more alcohol. Since this time always fell under Merriweather’s shift, this basically left Night and I as the only ones coherent enough to converse. Sometimes we’d sneak off and have a late supper together. I’d never thought I’d find myself consistently looking forward to dating, but there it was—not that I’d ever admit it to Terra.

Otherwise, the rest of my waking hours were usually spent sitting at one of the terrace tables, continuing to salvage what I could of the view. My attention drifted away from the ocean and the beach—at least when Terra and Merriweather weren’t around.

My feathers longed for the the cool touch of the clouds, my face for the blast of wind cutting through my mane, my eyes for the panoramic view as my wings held me steady over the land below. Sure, my training involved several wing exercises, which included striking while hovering or diving, but in keeping that concealed to Terra’s alcove, that could hardly be called flight. I wanted to soar.

I marshalled my reasoning: laying low did not mean darting off into the sky. Still, even such logic was barely enough to counter the instinct taking hold of my torso, where my wings met my sides. It wasn’t painful—more like an itch that compelled me to move. I promised myself that once we were back, I’d make a trip out to Canterlot.

One afternoon, I’d chosen one of the terraces that was closest to the end of the hotel. At this time of day, these particular tables tended to be more or less deserted. But it wasn’t the solitude that I sought. No, I simply needed to shift platforms, to change the scenery, if only a little.

Star and I were seated at the middle table, both of our gazes on the horizon. It had become something of a tradition, though I wasn’t sure if she was doing it to be polite or because she had some thinking of her own to do. Given that her stare was nothing like the longing from when we’d last discussed Ostfriesen politics, I was leaning toward the former. Then again, she could just be hiding it a bit better.

We’d barely been there half an hour when a creak on the patio steps pulled my ears behind me. Star and I both turned in time to see Mint Creme practically bounding up the stairs. Her left wing was clutched tight against her body, but each time she moved, a corner of white paper poked out from beneath her plumage.

“Dusky.” She grinned.

“Yes?” There was only one thing I could think of that could elicit this kind overt joy. But I didn’t dare believe it. Not yet.

Mint Creme shifted her wing, sliding an envelope onto the table. “This is for you.”

I flipped the flap open and was treated to a stack of tickets. My heart skipped a beat. “This is…”

She nodded. “It leaves in two days. You’re in the clear.”

Finally, was my first thought. It’d been a long month—yet, I had to remind myself that for what Noble Light had set out to do, it was impressively fast. Either he cut a lot of corners or was just that brutally efficient. Given that his son’s life was on the line, I was reasonably sure it was the latter. I made a mental note never to make him angry.

A smile crept up my face. “Thanks.”

“Hey, it’s the least we can do.” She looked sheepish for a second. “You never should have had to deal with this.”

I couldn’t help but let out a low giggle before shaking my head. “Perhaps if my younger self had been smarter, you wouldn’t need to make such an apology. But that’s all in the past now.”

“I suppose. Hope things get better for you soon.”

“And for you, as well.” I nodded. “It couldn’t have been easy on you or your father.”

“No. But we’ll live.” Mint Creme glanced behind her. “Speaking of the future, I need go to talk to Night.”

“Okay. Well, until we meet again.”

“Until we meet again.” She flashed me another smile. “Oh, and, I don’t think I need to say this, but don’t hurt Night.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

With a satisfied nod, Mint Creme departed.

Home. I let out a long breath, and with it, a weight that I’d long forgotten wasn’t a natural burden.

“Congratulations,” Star said, snapping me back to reality. She wore a smile broader than any I’d ever seen cross her face.

“Thanks. It… it almost feels too easy.” I pondered a second. “I suppose that’s because it’s not really over yet. But for now, I’ll take what I can get.”

She nodded. “Perhaps a celebratory drink is in order. My treat.”

With a smirk, I looked her straight in the eye. “You feeling all right?”

“What do you mean?” Star arched a brow.

My grin widened. “Celebration? Booze?”

“Hey! I will have you know that I am just as familiar with the concept of fun as my sister.”

I tried to hold my face straight. It probably helped that I was already smiling, but I still didn’t make it past ten seconds before I cracked. Star followed shortly thereafter.

---

The train platform was long—big city long. At first glance, it seemed overkill, even for a popular resort town. On the other hoof, it was a popular resort town in a location that wasn’t especially easy for everyone to reach. Longer trains would let them accommodate more tourists with fewer trips. And, of course, a place like this couldn’t have its clients just jumping off into the dirt.

Instead, the concrete was painted to look like sand with colourful beach towels scattered here and there. Each artificial towel was effectively a cutesy sort of sign, sending tourists here and there. While there were no trees on the platform itself, the station had several tall palm trees whose fronds loomed over its roof. Not to mention that the platform side had a long awning designed to look like a canopy of fronds.

On top of that, the platform was angled in just such a way as to give a perfect view of the ocean. It was a pretty old, but time-proven, strategy: get them excited coming in so that they’ll spend more bits, then remind them of what they’re leaving behind so they’ll come back next year.

While I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t exerting at least a little bit of influence on me, the main reason I wanted to come back was the unknown. The extenuating circumstances had kept me from giving Myrtail a proper exploration. Once things had cooled down enough, I wanted to see what the town really had to offer.

The sort of weary happiness that everyone wore told me that they were likely thinking similarly. Perhaps in a couple years, we could work out a group vacation. At least, that was probably about how long some of us would need to save up enough money.

Terra let out a whoop and I turned just in time to see the train pulling in.

Even though we had a private car, I still found myself gravitating to the back. Granted, it wasn't like anyone with ill intent would respect our privacy.

Night followed closely behind and I think everyone else took that as a hint to give us a bit of space. Terra flashed me a smile and a wink, to which I rolled my eyes.

Stopping in the aisle, he gave me a sheepish look. “Um, Is this seat taken?”

I couldn’t help but giggle. Seemed like I wasn’t the only one letting my habits drive me. I tapped the empty cushion. “Of course not.”

He took his time, setting his bags aside before spending several moments wriggling into the seat. “So, um... back on the train.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” I gave him a smile.

As the train lurched forward, he sighed, deflating a bit. “Y-yeah. Trains.”

I leaned in and nudged him under the chin. When he didn’t look at me right away, I pressed up against his cheek. “There's a reason I'd rather fly, but that's not always an option. Besides, it’s not like trains don’t have their own advantages.”

“Well... it's not just the train.” He blushed before leaning forward to dig into his bags. He produced a decent-sized box, the kind gift shops go through hundreds of.

I peered at it, waiting to see just what he was getting at. He wasn’t as nervous as last time, so I guessed it wasn’t for me. With some effort, Night coaxed a snow globe out of the box. Several flecks of ‘snow’ lazily floated through the globe’s enclosed air. Most of it had already settled on the stereotypical beachscape, including the tiny sign that declared, ‘Myrtail Beach’. I’ve always found souvenir snow globes quite humourous, since their creators like to make them for areas that any pegasus would know better than to dump snow on.

“I bought it the other day, once I heard we were leaving.” He gave the globe a shake, a slight smile forming on his face as he watched the flecks. “It just seemed perfect for me.”

My gaze slipped down to his snowflake cutie mark and I giggled. “Never would have guessed.”

He chuckled in turn. “Maybe it is a little obvious.”

“So then, what else is bothering you?”

“It's just... going back.” His smile turned melancholic. “I'm... happy. I mean, I can't think of a time I've been happier. My time with you, catching up with Mint, the beach, all of it.”

In other words, he’d become comfortable. I leaned over, trying to smile as encouragingly as I could. But part of me was just a little wary of what he might say next.

The sadness in his smile disappeared for just a moment. “For... for as awful as the circumstances that brought us here, it's been... well, I just... I almost wish this trip wasn't ending.”

I let out a gentle giggle. “If this trip never ended, then how would you ever see any of those other places you've been wanting to see?”

Night’s mouth hung open for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “Oh. Right. You're right. I guess... I mean, um... this.”

With a slow, awkward lean, he gave me an equally awkward nuzzle. “This feeling, you and I, and even my family. I... I'm afraid that once we get back, things will just go back to how they were.”

He suddenly pulled away, eyes wide. “N-not that that's a bad thing, what we had before, or who we were. I mean, that was good, and if we were just friends it'd be fine, but I l-like... this. And, what we are... um… I... I'm rambling.”

“You underestimate yourself.” A smirk crept up my lips; there was just something cute about how he had to specify that he treasured everything. I looked him straight in the eye. “We'll be the same in Ponyville as we were in Myrtail. It's tied to us, not where we are.”

“S-sorry. I'm... I'm scared, and worried, and I just... I get worked up sometimes, and I—” Night stared ahead, whatever words that had been on his tongue only continuing in his head.

I tilted my head. “Are you okay, Night?”

Night let out a laugh. “I just... I just realized what might make me feel a little better.”

“What?”

“A... a promise. Promise me you won't be a hero.” He gave me a sheepish smile.

It took me a moment to process that he’d just asked what he asked. I laughed as I replied, “And what makes you think I would try to do that?”

He scuffed his hoof. “Well... your trip to Hoofington.”

I don’t think he quite understood what I’d been getting at when I first said the phrase. Still, he had something of a point. Something in me instinctively, even readily rose to meet danger. It was never stronger than the urge to fall back, but sometimes I did worry myself.

“That's not quite the same thing, but I know what you mean.” I gave him another nuzzle. “I promise to try to stay away from danger.”

“Maybe not the same, but still. Thank you, Dusky.” He leaned in, matching my pressure. “We'll see what Ponyville and the future holds then... t-together.”

“Together.” I grinned as I stole a short peck on the cheek.

Night didn’t say anything else, but the colour flooding his face told me everything I needed to know.

---

Our arrival in Ponyville had been a bit tense, though likely needlessly so. I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but some part of me assumed the Cartel would be waiting in some form. This had been rebuked by the platform being almost completely empty.

Once we were sure everything was all right, everyone had parted ways. My first stop, after checking my apartment and depositing all my luggage, had been the weather office. But it was late, Dash wasn’t in, and, unsurprisingly, I wasn’t scheduled at all.

Finally deciding that I might be better off just getting everything taken care of in the morning, I headed for the Seapony. I wasn’t sure how badly I wanted a drink, but just being there would make me feel better.

As I neared the bar, I was so lost in thought that it took me a second to realize that the approaching blue pegasus mare and orange unicorn were people I knew.

I didn’t even have a chance to open my mouth before Blaze was barraging me with questions. “Dusky! Where have you been?! You tell me to meet you here and then don’t show up? What’s the big idea?!”

My heart sank. I’d forgotten that I’d told her to stop by. What’s more, I’d disappeared for an entire month. To say she and Blizzard were concerned was most likely an understatement. “Sorry, you two. I didn’t mean to worry you. There were… complications.”

Blaze’s indignance melted into pure seriousness—I don’t know if that made me feel better or worse.

“Was is those guys from Fetlock again?” Blizzard asked, her face just as serious.

“Well, yes and no. Look, let’s talk about this inside.”

Both Blaze and Blizzard nodded, but we didn’t get to take so much as a step. The sound of rapid, four-hooved bouncing pulled each of our heads down the road. Pinkie was already upon us, her twin saddlebags practically overflowing with party supplies.

“Dusky! Dusky! Where have you been?” she shouted. “I was worried. I mean, we both were, but then Dash was just mad ‘cause you kept not showing up for work!”

She flailed her forehooves for emphasis.

I looked down. There was really nothing I could say that didn’t have a high chance of coming back to bite me in the rear. “Sorry, Pinkie. Complicated things happened. I’ll have to talk to you and Rainbow Dash about it later.”

The thought crossed my mind that I could have invited Pinkie to our impending discussion, but at that point, I wasn’t sure how much I should tell her. In the very least, I needed to consider just how much of it might make it back to Rainbow Dash.

“No. Don’t worry about Dash,” Blizzard said. When I raised an eyebrow, she winked. “I’ll explain things to her.”

“Oh? Okay!” Pinkie smiled. “Well, gotta go! Got a surprise party at Fluttershy’s! Don’t tell anyone!”

“Doesn’t that mean you shouldn’t be shouting—” Blaze began, but by then, Pinkie was already gone. She just stared.

I smirked and shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. Pinkie Pie only works to her own rhythm.”

“Uh… okay.”

“So,” I said, turning back to Blizzard. “What was that about?”

“While you were gone, Canterlot took me on as part of their country-wide snow administration team. I’ve got ponies working under me now.” She gave me a meaningful look.

“Wow, well, congrats.” I smiled, though my next thoughts wiped it clean. “But you don’t have to do that for me. You just got that job.”

Blizzard shook her head. “Hey, you’ve done so much for me. It’s the least I can do.”

“Well, okay. But only if you let me put some legit time in.”

She laughed. “It’s a deal.”

Comments

[Yami Vizzini]

Cute way to wrap that arc up, if seemingly a bit anticlimactic...

Seemingly....

[KuroiTsubasaTenshi]

6507108
Why, I don't know what could possibly give you that impression. Everything is going to be fine.

[AppleTank]

Well, crap, I'm out of chapters.

[AppleTank]

6529152
Woo!
Like, in the next few chapters, or do I still have to wait several months?

[KuroiTsubasaTenshi]

6529246
You'll have to wait a while yet, but I promise that the lead-up is very much necessary.