Author's Note

A story from Wavemaster-Ryx's Sunny Hoof series, it may contain spoilers to Somber's Project Horizons. A link to Ryx's first story in the series can be found here, but is not necessary to understand this story. http://wavemasterryx.tumblr.com/post/66170256871

The Quiet Nights

The Quiet Nights
A Sunny Hoof Story
“I can’t stay for long today, I was just on my way up to City Hall and thought I’d stop by.”

“Ante up…” I whispered quietly. I had gone through this every night, but there was always a part of me afraid of what I would find. A tiny part of me thought about skipping tonight, but I had a responsibility. Especially to her.

The night was unusually peaceful, the moon shining brightly and most ponies having already gone to their homes. Only a few ponies were out tonight, either walking along or minding their own businesses. None of them paid me any heed.

Chapel was a good place to be, I had decided long ago. Even if the ponies I cared about didn’t live here, there had been a kind of peace here even before the Miracle. A single place in Hoofington that didn’t seem to be a deathtrap. This place would always seem more like home to me than anywhere else in Equestria. Of course, that reminded me of everything Hoofington has done to me and my friends, and how much it has changed.

Walking in the night always made me feel more at ease, and it was helping now. At night, nopony usually decided to talk to me, leaving me alone with my thoughts. While I was used to having to talk to ponies by now, I always felt comfortable alone. Things were easier when alone, although I knew just by going to the house that there were ponies that were worth being with.

No matter how much it hurt.

After a short walk, I saw it. The Star House, standing proudly above me, the angle allowing me to see a background of stars and constellations behind the historic residence. For a moment, I was transported back to a life I thought was long gone, a life where I was running for my life with a few ragtag ponies on a quest to solve ancient mysteries on an old program…

I couldn’t believe a part of me missed those days. A very small part.

I sighed, realizing I was stalling. With a slow nod, I walked into the house. As expected, the door was unlocked.

What I wasn’t expecting was to see Rampage sitting in the living room, a soda on the table and a book in her hooves. She gave me a warm grin, “Well, well, well. The mayor himself has come to greet me!”

I snorted, “Hello, Rampage.”

The former Reaper of Hoofington gestured to the couch, allowing me to sit. I put my hat next to a nearby cooking book, no doubt for Glory.

As I made myself comfortable, I was reminded of all the small changes about her. She looked calmer somehow, more in control. Her armor was gone, replaced by various amulets around her neck. Perhaps most curious was the lack of a cutie mark, something I didn’t know the answer for.

Rampage passed me a drink, “Glory told me you’d be here. How often do you come?”

“Every night, or whenever I get the chance,” I responded, sipping the Sparkle Cola. Cold, something that was hard to find in the wasteland. “What about you, why are you here?”

“Scotch Tape and I finally convinced her to take a night off. Of course, she didn’t want to leave you-know-who alone, so I volunteered to foalsit,” She smiled, “I’ve been using the free time to write my book!”

I rose my eyebrow, looking at the pile of crumpled up notes and spit wads. “You’re writing a book?”

She grinned, “I’m thinking of calling it The Many Lives and Times of Arloste or maybe The Hero of Project Horizons: The Legend of Rampage and her Sidekicks.”

“We’re not sidekicks…”

“You’re sidekicks in my book. Don’t worry, you all get to have important parts in my story. It just wouldn’t be the same without you guys.”

“Sweet of you,” I said dryly, “But I remember things differently.”

She chuckled, “Is somepony looking to get a bigger part in my book? I bet it’ll sell millions of copies! Everyone in Equestria will need to have it.”

I chose not to respond, taking another long sip of my drink.

“By the way, if you do get ideas for me, I’ll put you in the acknowledgement section. I’m thinking of adding a section where we fight Killing Joke zebras that are actually aliens!”

“The point of writing an autobiography is to tell what really happened,” I sighed.

“Nothing’s wrong with spicing things up,” She countered. “As it is, at this rate I’m gonna have the biggest book in Equestrian history.”

“Assuming you finish it,” I chuckled. It was Rampage’s turn to seem surprised, studying me carefully. I coughed softly, “Sorry, I’m sure it’ll be a great book.”

“It’s not that... I’m just surprised to see you, well… smiling!” She gave me a nudge, “Back in the day, we used to have bets when you’d start smiling.”

I frowned, “How long did you bet?”

“Two years,” She chuckled, “But now that we’re on the subject, you do seem a lot better. You smile, you laugh, and you seem to enjoy your life now. It’s quite the turnaround.”

I nodded slowly. Honestly, I had noticed it too. At first, I was against it, with everyone still adapting to the new world. It didn’t seem right to be happy when life had been so miserable. But over time, it began coming more naturally, and things just seemed better. Although there were still a few exceptions. These thoughts brought me back to the real reason I was here.

“How is Blackjack?”

Rampage stiffened, taking another drink to collect her thoughts. “Blackjack is… okay…” She said slowly, “The last bits of machinery are finally out, and-"

“Arloste…” I spoke softly, but firmly.

She rubbed a hoof through her curly mane, “Today has been bad. A lot of crying, yelling, and angry outbursts. Followed by sobbing apologies, tearful regrets, and anxious panic attacks. It almost caused Glory to stay tonight, but I’m pretty persuasive,” She gave a small grin, but her weak attempt at a joke fell flat.

“How is she right now?” I got up, glancing at her bedroom. The door was shut.

Rampage gently nudged me to sit down, “She’s resting now, the mare tired herself out. I’m sure she’ll be doing better by tomorrow.”

That was too slow for me. I got up, heading for her room. I glanced back to notice Rampage was watching me with sad eyes.

“We all care about her, you know,” She said in a tone that seemed utterly alien coming from the immortal warrior, “We’re doing this for her.”

I could only nod, bracing myself as I entered the room.

The first thing I noticed is how dark it was, the lights being kept really low. Around the room were souvenirs of her journey. A sword on the wall, the carefully preserved Vigilance in a case. One of the walls were covered with drawings and letters made by ponies across Equestria, thanking her.

Finally, my eyes turned to the bed. The blankets had been thrown aside, across the floor. The pillows were about to fall off the bed with them. And… her.

Blackjack was sleeping, which I felt grateful for. The Security Mare lay blind and limbless, her mane a mess as she lay out across the mattress. Her breathing was short, and she was shaking. She was probably trapped in another nightmare.

I sat down near her, petting her mane. There was a certain irony that it would be Blackjack who had to suffer a little more to gain her paradise. She was always one to go the extra mile. As the rest of Equestria healed, there were still ponies struggling to recover from the wasteland, rebuilding themselves with more effort. The trauma couldn’t be healed quickly, but the effort was being made.

“Hang in there, Blackjack…” I whispered. Her ear twitched in her sleep.

I grabbed the pillows, moving them back onto the bed so she could rest on them. It struck me that she seemed smaller now.

“It’s gonna be okay…” I said softly, for both of us, “You were right in the end. Ponies are better… Equestria is better. Thanks to you,” I grabbed a blanket, beginning to tuck her in.

She curled up a bit, moving closer to my hooves. Her breathing was becoming softer.

“I know this wasn’t the life you imagined,” I sighed, “It certainly wasn’t the one I expected. But it’s okay. We’ll get used to it, one day at a time. We’re all here for you… And you’re here for us.”

I was very careful with how I tucked her in, making sure to not be noticed. I had become very good at that over the years. In the darkness, wrapped in blankets, she seemed fine. In a way… things were.

“I never told you this…” I admitted to myself, “I couldn’t even tell myself… Stable 99, Hoofington, everything that happened between us. I couldn’t face the truth…” I leaned down, my voice softer. I noticed my hooves were shaking, so I pulled them away.

“Blackjack… I love you.”

I felt a weight I didn’t know I was carrying fade at those words. To finally say what I had struggled with for years. It wasn’t a love for sex, or something she and Glory had. It was a love between best friends, ponies that cared for each other and inspired each other. I had seen Blackjack go through the worst hells I could imagine… and still crack a smile, or keep a brave face. I admired her, and I was ready to forgive anything left between us. I love you.

“Now if only I can say it while you’re awake…” I sighed softly. Despite that, I saw that Blackjack was fully relaxed now. Probably just a coincidence. Probably.

I sat there in silence for a while after that, keeping guard over the resting mare. It really was the quiet nights that I appreciated, the times that all the remaining pain and restlessness were put aside for a little bit and things were just perfect.

Looking around, I noticed a Blackjack plush toy sitting nearby. No doubt a gift from a fan. I quietly grabbed it, placing it close enough to the real thing in case she needed it. I wasn’t sure why I did it, but it just felt right. Any comfort we could give her was worth it.

“You don’t fucking get it, do you?”

“We’re her friends,”

“That means…”

“She doesn’t have to fight alone…” I finished our old rallying cry softly. We meant it then, and I meant it now. This wasn’t the type of fight I was used to, or prepared for, but one that we were all willing to fight.

I stayed with her a while longer, lost in thought. But the time finally came for me to leave Blackjack’s sanctuary again, until tomorrow.

“Sleep well, Blackjack… And may the stars protect you,” I bade her farewell, leaving the room.

…Only to see a grinning Rampage. “Did you two kiss?”

I blushed, “W-what?! Of course not, why would you say that?”

“You two were clearly getting close in there,” She said, lowering her voice, “Oh Blackjack-san, I love you so, please hear my voice and feel the love of a thousand stars.”

I grabbed my hat, my face feeling hot, “Oh, shut up…”

“This is definitely going into my book!”

“Rampage, go jump in the ocean…”

“Are you imagining a date on the beach?” She smirked.

I shoved my hat as far as it could onto my head, “Good night, Rampage.”

I shut the door hearing her voice cheerfully telling me, “I’m sure Glory would allow it!”

I sighed, trotting quickly back to my house. Like usual, my feelings about Blackjack were getting me confused. I needed to be with Scotch and Priest, at least they made sense. As I trotted into the night, I groaned out the only word that captured all my feelings.

“Mares…”