Sorry to interrupt, but I want to post this tonight, and I've been meaning to post it for a day now.
and
After another day of training, Sarissa turns in for the night. Wrapping herself in the hoof-stitched blankets on her bed, she rolls over and blows out the flame in the lamp on her nightstand. Despite being exhausted, her mind is still active. She was becoming increasingly worried about Lady Virtue's well-being. Was there anything that the unicorn could do to help lift her spirits? After contemplating for half an hour, the militia pony decides that a gift might be appropriate. A week ago, she had completed work on a sweater with the official Dawnpick emblem on it. Sarissa had originally planned on selling it for profit, but she could probably part with the item for a good cause. So it was decided; she would approach the duchess tomorrow morning in hopes of improving her mood.
The next morning, Virtue is sitting next to the well, trying to help wake herself up with a bit of splash of cool water in her face. She hadn't slept well at all in the week after Longshot had been hurt by the assassin, but no matter how tired she was, she never slept well. It was very early still, and she hadn't seen many ponies up yet. That was good, that was just what she wanted. This way nopony would have to see her like this. Broken. Unfit to lead an insect, much less over a hundred ponies in what was soon going to be a bloody war. She sighs and rubs her eyes, trying to clear the fogginess in her head. She thought things were going to get better. But they weren't.
She just had to hope that destroying the evidence of Jaxler's guilt, and her knowledge of it, didn't put the final nail in the proverbial coffin. What was she doing to herself and her family?
As usual, Sarissa donned her set of armor and headed out on the short walk to Virtue's office. Hopefully this encounter would go well, especially since she had no bad news for her leader. On her way there, she took notice of a familiar gray mare near the town well. Huh, that's not where she expected to find her. Might as well approach her. Clearing her throat, the unicorn addressed her, “My Lady?”
Virtue blinks to try and clear her mind and shakes her head. Sarissa sounded so far away, and so close at the same time. She weakly looks over to her and realizes the mare was right there addressing her. "Oh... Sarissa... what's the matter?"
The soldier tries to smile despite the pitiful appearance of her leader. She keeps her voice calm, "You can relax, I have nothing to complain of this morning." Sarissa had thought of how she might approach this conversation beforehand, "How have you been doing? Is it appropriate for me to be concerned about you, ma'am?"
"Concerned?" Truthfully, yes. She was more than just a bit concerned about herself... but she was the duchess... her problems were her own. She looks into the water of the well and slowly shakes her head. "No, I'm fine... I'm... fine..."
"Forgive me for being forward ma'am, but I doubt that's entirely true," Sarissa responds matter-of-factly, "I can see it on your face. Hear it in your voice. I know that there have been many misfortunes for us all as of late. Given your position, I realize that you must be wearing these heavy burdens upon your back."
Virtue silently stares into the well for some time, and sees the intense weariness on her face. She nods slowly. "Is it that obvious?"
"I'm afraid so. For a while now, actually," Sarissa lowers her head slightly, "I wanted to say something sooner, but I wasn't sure how to go about it. Just let me say that I have faith in you as a leader, ma'am, and that my services are always available to you. If anypony causes trouble for you, just let me know and I'll stop them in their tracks."
Virtue gives her the largest smile she could, which wasn't much. "Thank you..." She lets out a deep breath. "...but I'm afraid that many of the problems I've faced lately are a bit deeper than somepony just causing trouble..."
Sarissa sighs, "I figured so." She scratches behind her head, even though the effort is pointless due to the helmet on her head, "My Lady, if any of this is my fault...the slaughter of the Rainbows...the attack on Gregor...I'll do my best to make it right. Just say the word and I'll do whatever I need to."
Virtue thinks back to having the crossbow shoved in her face and feels a small chill run through her. "I... I don't blame you for any of that..." she says honestly. "I may well be dead now if you hadn't been there." She turns an apologetic expression to her. "I... I don't think I ever thanked you for standing up for me..."
Feeling a bit reassured that Lady Virtue had not gained a negative opinion of her because of those previous actions, Sarissa felt a bit of happiness well up in her heart, "There's no need to thank me, My Lady, even though I do appreciate your gesture." Perhaps now was the best time to give her what she had planned. With a slight glow of magic light, the copper mare pulled a green sweater out from under the plates of her armor. On its sides were the typical red-and-white sunrise and pick insignias that symbolized their community. "I know that it can't even begin to make everything 'okay', but I thought it might help lift your spirits if I gave this to you."
Virtue's eyes light up as she takes the sweater. The symbol... everything about it was perfect. "It... it's beautiful..." she says, holding it out with a forehoof to get a clear look at it.
A smile began to creep up onto Sarissa's face. It wasn't her typical 'I'm gonna kill you' smile either. "Well, I never thought it was all that great," she stated modestly, "Just a simple sweater knitted in dedication to our home. I-I'm quite glad that you like it, ma'am."
Virtue takes the sweater and puts it on immediately, and it fits her perfectly. A true smile forms on her face and hints of tears form in her eyes. She steps forward and draws Sarissa into a hug. "Thank you... you... you don't know how much this means to me."
The armored pony's eyes widen at the completely unexpected gesture. She definitely hadn't predicted that the gesture would provoke such a positive response. "You-you're welcome, ma'am," Sarissa responds in a startled voice. Best not to ruin the mood. She reluctantly returns the hug and pats Virtue lightly on the back.
Virtue finishes the squeeze and backs away, trying to maintain a smile on her face. Sarissa really didn't know how much it meant to her. Just knowing somepony cared... She sniffles and wipes her eyes. "Thank you, again..." She felt like letting the dam break and spill everything that had piled up to make her feel miserable the past year or more, but she had probably already stepped over the line a bit by hugging Sarissa like that.
Sarissa kept her composure and tries to hide any uncomfortable feelings that the hug may have stirred up in her, "It's no problem, My Lady. So long as it helps put a small spark of light in a time of darkness, I feel that it was worth my efforts."
“It was,” she replies. “I do feel better knowing you care.”
The brown pony nods, "Of course. You are our cherished leader." She turns to see that other ponies are beginning to pop out of the woodworks and become active in the early morning light, "My apologies, but I should probably be going. I do have other duties to fulfill. I wish you a good day, My Lady."
"Of course," Virtue says, waving her off. She had duties to get to of her own, of course. Now that her mind was a bit more at ease though, she felt like taking a nap and maybe getting some real sleep for the first time in a week. Now that she had time to think about it, she felt a little silly for reacting so strongly to the sweater, but she really had had a hard... well, last few years. She starts back to the keep, hoping to catch Harvest Moon before he headed off to work. Maybe she could get him to watch over Serenity while she took a short nap.
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Topic: Dawnpick (My Little Fortress) (Read 236423 times)