From Dusk to Night

by KuroiTsubasaTenshi

93 - Trust

My entire body was one giant, sore muscle. Just the thought of doing anything hurt. Still, I grit my teeth and pushed through, getting my eyes open to some sort of quarter-to-half squint that I’m sure must have made me look deranged.

A faded blue ceiling and accompanying walls greeted me. Though I was still groggy, I immediately knew I was in the Sunny Skies Inn. My mind latched on to the thought and ran, the ridiculous notion that maybe this had all been a dream, that my imagination had formed some kind of adventure surrounding the legend of Pasture’s necromancer.

Shaking that off, I sat up—perhaps a bit too fast, as soreness turned to pain and I found myself staring straight up at the ceiling. With a sigh, I took a few moments to collect myself, instead simply shifting my head side to side. I was definitely in an inn bed, stock brown headboard and all.

The dresser was there, too, as was the little round table. On the latter stood a sturdy, grey metal tin, an unmistakable golden cross emblazoned on it. With that, I brushed away the last of my mind’s bizarre dream notions.

It drifted over to vague memories. One thing I knew for certain was that the Guard had not been especially gentle. Which isn’t to say that they’d been mandhandling me or anything, but they engaged in all the formalities that involved arresting me. To be perfectly fair, I’d just been part of a big battle in which we’d engaged in open civil war.

There was something about checking me for weapons, then loading me onto a stretcher. They’d carried me for some time, but I couldn’t remember where or for how long. Of course, knowing where I was, I could make an educated guess, but I must have passed out along the way.

The thought dawned on me that I had no idea what happened to anyone else. I was moving again, gritting my teeth as I fought to sit up. At last, I was off my back, panting heavily.

Next was the floor. One hoof, then two. Then rump. Shaking it off, I stretched my hindquarters. My hind legs weren’t so much numb as more liquid than a lazy cat. With some extended coaxing, I was finally able to get them past the last two battles, pushing myself upright.

Shuffling at a rate that took me far too long to reach the door, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was how Granny Smith felt every day. The thought that this might be my normal some day was terrifying. Letting out a sigh, I chided myself. I could worry about that after I made sure everyone else was okay.

The door was propped open, much to the relief of my joints. I don’t know why, but I felt apprehensive about entering the hall, lingering in the doorway a moment longer.

“You must understand,” a stallion’s voice that I didn’t recognize echoed down the hall. It had a certain smoothness to it, yet underlying that was a clear tone of exasperation. “When Golden Banner asked us for assistance with the wounded from some infighting, we were not prepared for… him.”

“Look.” Mint’s voice was music to my ears. “Between you and me, I’m not too keen on him either, but he surrendered and came peacefully. We can’t just leave him to his wounds.”

“I’m not saying that. I’m saying my staff are doctors, not soldiers. They’re not trained to deal with… whatever it is he does to them.” The stallion sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you, Doctor Panacea,” Mint said. I couldn’t see her, but her meaningful look was all but audible.

“Yes, of course. I do have one other patient I have to attend to first.” Doctor Panacea rounded the corner—and just about bowled me over. He half-turned, skidding to a halt, blonde mane flapping against his pure white coat, and giving me a clear view of the flask on his well-chiseled flank. “Oh, you’re up! You should not be moving around on your own like this.”

“She’s up?” Night’s bandaged head poked around the corner. When our eyes met, he hurried over and wrapped his hooves around me, prompting the doctor to turn.

“Careful! Calm down!” Doctor Panacea called out. “She is still in the late stages of recovery.”

Mint appeared next. “That is calm. At least, compared to before.”

I was mid-nuzzle with Night, so I got to multi-task raising my free eyebrow. “Oh?”

“When he found out you were in separate rooms, he wanted to move right away.” Mint chuckled. “I had to talk him out of rushing out past the guards before they’d even sorted out who was who.”

Taking a step back, I turned my raised eyebrow to Night. “Is that so?”

He smiled sheepishly. “I was worried.”

“While that’s sweet,” I gave him a smirk, “you know I’m not helpless. Plus, we’re among friends now. There’s no need to do anything rash.”

“R-right, I just…” He pressed up against me.

“I know,” I said, nuzzling back. “I missed you too.”

Doctor Panacea cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but I do have another patient waiting. I’ll try to keep this brief.”

I glanced between Night and Mint, then back at Doctor Panacea. “Go ahead. They’re family.”

“As I said, you are in the late stages of recovery, from life-threatening wounds that should have taken months to recover.” Doctor Panacea’s pointed at my head. “You are very fortunate to have been the recipient of some of the most powerful healing magic I have ever seen. That said, you are not fully healed. If you must move about, you must be accompanied. And this goes without saying, but do not do anything strenuous. Do I make myself clear?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

It was Night’s turn to give me a look.

“Good. If you need anything, the nurse’s station is around the corner, third door on the left.” And with that, Doctor Panacea was gone.

“Sorry about that.” I wrapped a wing around Night. “I know that gives you more reason to be worried, but I’m fine. Ivory and I kept each other alive.”

“I’m glad.” He rested his head against mine.

Several moments passed and when I looked up, Mint was still standing there, grinning. When I caught her eye, her grin widened. “You two are adorable together.”

I laughed. “Believe it or not, that’s a common opinion.”

“Even if one of them is Terra’s.” Night blushed a little.

Mint shrugged. “Well, you have my totally unbiased opinion to make up for it.”

“Right.” I laughed again.

“Anyway, I’m about to go talk to Golden Banner about the whole situation.” Mint motioned down the hall. “You two are free to come along if you’d like. I’m sure Blaze would be happy to see you up and about.”

Doctor Panacea’s words came back to me, though by this point, the soreness was blunted, almost distant. And going with Night and Mint would technically mean I was accompanied. I nodded. “Sure. I’d like to check in on everyone else, anyway.”

---

Mint led us to a wing of the inn that, to my surprise, had three conference rooms. I suppose I really shouldn’t have been, knowing Prideful Policy’s far-reaching ambitions for the town’s prosperity. In any event, the doors on the left and right were closed, leaving only the central room—which was presumably the largest of them.

There were four Guards outside, with at least four more standing at attention inside. Such excessiveness had me casting a wary eye upon them. However, they barely paid us any mind, only stopping to salute Mint as we walked in.

A long, thick oak table took up half the room, with chairs arrayed around it. Various crates were shoved off into whichever corners could hold them while a standing chalkboard squeezed in between them. It didn’t look like the command centre, but they were clearly staging something out of here.

Near the back of the room were four people. Right smack in the middle of everyone was Ivory, her white coat oddly naked without her cloak. Perhaps it was more so the fact that her cutie mark was bared for all the world to see.

On either side of Ivory was fire, though not the choking hellish flames of our previous battle. No, Blaze’s orange and Feather’s gold were more akin to a hearth, a comfort in all this turmoil.

And standing directly in front of the trio was a mare I’d only gotten a passing glance at. Her coat was a very subtle orange, like the barest edges of dawn. If I didn’t have Ivory’s coat there for comparison, I’d almost have thought it white. All her colour seemed to have gone into her two-toned mane, the orange-and-red mix rivaling Blaze’s own fiery red.

“Captain Banner.” Mint stood at attention.

“Sergeant,” Golden Banner, turned a steely gaze upon Mint. “You’re late.”

Mint nodded. “Sorry. Crimson Haze’s arrangements took longer than expected. The medical staff isn’t too keen on him.”

“Of course.” A sympathetic frown crossed Golden Banner’s face. “Truth be told, I’d heard stories, but never imagined it would be that bad.”

“As many things in the field go,” Feather added. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Blaze nodding along.

“So it would seem.” Next, Golden Banner’s attention fell upon me. “Dusky Down, yes? How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.” The words came out a little more stiffly than I’d intended. Something about her put me just a little on edge. Perhaps it was that instinctual urge to side with Ivory.

Golden Banner eyed me another moment before speaking, “Relax. This isn’t an interrogation. Several members of our force have already vouched for you, my protege included. What I would like to ask is a favour.”

“What kind of favour?” I cocked my head, though I could already guess where this was going.

“Detailed third-party accounts of all that has gone on out here are in regrettably short supply,” Golden Banner replied. “I’d like you to tell me what you know, and commit to testimony, if necessary.”

Internally, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I wondered how many more times this was going to happen. If this really was the end of the Cartel, though, this would be my safest testimony yet. Still, I had one other worry. “On the condition that I give my input in Canterlot, alongside Ivory’s.”

Golden Banner frowned. “I’m afraid that is beyond my authority to grant. I can put in a request to add you to the interview, but the best I can promise is that a written copy of your testimony will be in that room at the same time.”

It was my turn to frown. The counteroffer was a little weak. I wondered if name dropping Twilight would be enough or if I should go directly to her. On the other hoof, withholding details hoping they would give in to my demands might hurt Ivory’s case now.

“It is alright, Dusky.” Ivory’s words pulled me out of my thoughts. She gave me a smile—a full smile—even if it was tinged by the barest hints of uncertainty. “You’ve already given me the push I needed. These are steps that I need to take. I’ll be fine.”

“Besides, she won’t be entirely alone,” Feather interjected. “My presence has also been requested.”

I found myself smiling back. Ivory was right. Even though her immense power wouldn’t help her here, I needed to remember that my friends were all fully capable—to trust that even if I couldn’t be there to help, they could handle themselves. “Okay, Ivory. I’ll be waiting in Ponyville. And when they decide that they can’t possible imprison such a good person, we’re going to find the best tea shop in Canterlot and get you the finest celebratory tea you’ve ever had.”

The shortest of giggles—a tiny burst of melodic mirth—escaped Ivory’s lips. “It’s a deal.”

Comments

[Yami Vizzini]

”Trust”... hopefully now, there can be.

Several moments passed and when I looked up, Mint was still standing there, grinning. When I caught her eye, her grin widened. “You two are adorable together.”
I laughed. “Believe it or not, that’s a common opinion.”

True enough.