Part 2 Promise Me No Promises

The Fort threw a celebration that night. I'm not sure I'd ever seen so much food, even for the mess hall. The tables had been rearranged as well to include a buffet. Over at one end of the hall, Pumpkin Spice appeared to be setting up speakers, and I assumed she was preparing to throw a party. It wouldn't be a far off guess.

Beforehoof, the soldiers had been required to head to the infirmary. Everypony needed to be checked to make sure they were safe. That's how the Guardian explained it at least. That was when Lily Bloom had pulled me to the side, saying she herself wanted to be my doctor. I think she wanted to be my friend!

I hadn't seen her in so long, so I decided why not? She was so nice before, and she was so nice this time. She even gave me a lollipop when we were done.

The whole thing took at least an hour. I was told to take off my armor. She shined a light into my eyes, stuck a wood stick in my mouth, put a cold metal circle on my chest. She told me it was called a stethoscope.

"Oh! Can I try," I had shouted excitedly.

"Sure," she'd chuckled, and then let me try. I heard her heartbeat softly. I prefered leaning against Blitzy's chest and hearing his, but it was still fun to use the stethoscope.

Now it was the big dinner in the mess hall and I couldn't stop smiling the whole time. Everypony seemed so happy. There was the sound of loud chatter and the buzz of talking, ponies were eating and drinking. I saw a table where the Guardian was sitting with Cherry and Lily. I trotted over, a goofy smile on my face.

"…I don't think they realize how much this will cost us!" Cherry was saying, "We don't have the supplies for all this."

"Loosen up, Cherry," said Lily, "the Fort deserves this. We haven't seen a victory like that in a very long time." she turned to the Guardian, swiping at her bangs and giving a relaxed smile, "Buck, that Puppydog of yours is exceptional."

"What does the General say about all this?" Cherry was grumbling, but I think they were ignoring him now.

"Hey Guardian!" I exclaimed once I reached their table, but before they could look up at me, a pony blocked my path.

Blitzfire stood there, grabbing one of my hooves and dragging me toward a table with food on it. "OJ, I've been looking for you all night, where have you been?"

"Lily Bloom was giving me a checkup she said!" I yapped happily. I was glad to see my coltfriend.

"Oh, a checkup. Did she give you candy or something?" Blitz was eying me. I wasn't sure what that expression was.

"Mhm, she did! I gotta lollipop. I ate it all though."

Blitz chuckled, "That's what's all over your face then." he reached for a napkin from the table, then he proceed to tenderly touch it to my muzzle. He was soft about it, and I just stared up at him. I looked at his eyes, which were focused on my mouth. His eyes were gentle, full of love.

He set the napkin down. "Are you ok Blitzy?" I asked.

"I'm fine…I was wondering, um, can we just go to your room?"

"Oh…" I glanced around at all the happy ponies. "I don't know. I thought it would be fun to stay out here. Why don't we eat some dinner Blitzy?"

"I…think I'd like that, but I kinda also wanna be alone with you."

I pouted, "Blitz, Pumpkin is about to play music, the Guardian is sitting with all our friends, and I'm hungry. Maybe…we could sit down and eat at a table alone?"

Blitz bit his lip. He was thinking hard about something. "Nevermind OJ. I'll just head to our room and wait."

I opened my mouth to tell him I wanted him to stay, but he was gone to fast. I was left stunned and watching him go.

"What was that about?" I jumped at the Guardian's sudden appearance. He had a way with that didn't he?

"I uh…I don't know." I glanced at my mentor. He was wearing a formal uniform, and he looked really neat. "Nice outfit Guardian!"

"Oh, why thank you OJ."

"Hey, I was wondering something." I started to say.

"Well, don't wonder it without grabbing a bite to eat first. Look, they've even made hayburgers tonight."

"Hayburgers?" I jumped around, facing the table as fast as possible. I wanted a hayburger. "What's a hayburger?"

The Guardian began to laugh, "Well, go ahead and try one." he slid a plate over to me, a hayburger between two buns.

I immediately picked it up and stuffed a big bite in my mouth. "Luna! OJ, you don't gotta eat half the sandwich in one go!" he was laughing his head off.

"Buh ish relly guhd." I said as I chewed, crumbs spewing from my mouth. I looked to the Guardian, who was still laughing. I swallowed my mouthful, then asked, "On the battlefield, you said we were protecting more than just the Fort. What did you mean?"

The Guardian went completely quiet, so quiet it was kinda scary. "OJ, why don't we walk?" he moved off, and I had to follow him. "Do you remember back when we were sitting on the roof, and we were looking out into the wasteland?"

"Oh, oh! When I played DJ Pon3 for you?"

The Guardian gave a soft snort, "Yes, when you played DJ Pon3 for me. Do you remember what I said about the wasteland?"

I tilted my head, not walking for a second. I realized the Guardian was still moving and I trotted to catch up. "No, what?"

"I said that I thought the wasteland was something that could've been made good, but that now it was lost. I realize now I was wrong."

"You do?"

He stopped walking, turning around toward me. "Yes, and you're the one that showed me that. I saw the wasteland with blind eyes, but you're eyes were open. Now you've opened mine."

I opened my mouth, shocked and having absolutely no idea what to say. I wasn't even really sure what he meant. I was lost and confused. That's when I was saved by the bell. Or rather a very loud screeching before Pumpkin Spice's voice came on over the speakers.

"GOOD EVENING LITTLE PONIES!" She screamed into the microphone. "I think we need to kick this celebration off with a little music! Who's with me?" the room burst into stomps of hooves, applause. "Gooood, because I have a plan. Hehe." she bounced away.

The speakers made a crackling sound, and then a voice came out of it. It was a voice I recognized. "Goooood evening, ponies of my delectable wasteland!" at that, the hall erupted into a fit of applause. Pumpkin knew what we liked. Hehe. "DJ Pon3 here! Owooooo!

Now, I been hearing tell of something that took place down in good ol' Bittsberg. Y'all know about the raiders right? Well apparently they tried to stage an attack. Against the Fort! What were they thinking? We had the Guardian and his little Puppydog swoop in there and save the day! Who'd of thought? The legendary Guardian is at it again."

That caused the entire room to burst into the loudest applause of the night. Stomping and clops all around, whoops and cheers. It was deafening, but it was spectacular. DJ Pon3 was talking about us! Me and the Guardian! I couldn't believe it. I felt a huge smile on my face, I knew I looked goofy, but so did everypony else.

"And might I add, the Puppydog was amazing too? It might even be amazing to meet him. Anyway, the battle on the bridge was over as soon as it started. Now, who's ready for music? I think we should celebrate!

I have a surprise for y'all. I just so happened to find me a copy of Songbird Serenade's first ever album! You heard of her right? Well, if not, you're gonna! She was up and coming right before the megaspells fell."

At that, the music began to play. It was chilling to say the least, but it had a good fast paced beat. I'd say it was fun to listen to. My butt was starting to wiggle, just the way I loved it. Big round booty in your face, hehe. But then my stomach began to rumble. I was hungrier than I realized!

Then I thought of poor Blitzfire. Why did he leave early? The party was just starting. As much as I wanted to stay for this music, I had to go find him. I think bringing him dinner would be a nice touch, so I grabbed two plates and filled each with food. Good thing for my magic, or I'd never have been able to carry it!

I made it to my bedroom. Upon entering, I found Blitzfire laying on his side on the bed, back toward me. I wasn't sure if he was asleep, but I was stubborn and wanted him to be awake. So I walked myself right over to him and I snapped, "Hey mister! I brought you dinner." He jolted and rolled over as soon as he heard me. I was biting my lower lip. He looked so tired, had I just woken him up?

He sat up, leaning on his foreleg. "Oh, OJ, you didn't have to do that."

"But you weren't going to come back!" I cried out.

He crawled toward me, shaking his head, "Oh, no babe, I would've. I wanted to be with you. I just felt left out I guess…"

"Oh…I'm sorry."

"Please don't be sorry. Hey! How about we head back, bring the dinner, we can have a date!" Blitz was smiling.

"A…d-date?" I sniffled. I was watching him carefully. I felt upset, my heart was thumping, I didn't understand it.

"Please tell me you know what that is." he looked me in the eye, really looked. "Oh. You don't. Well it's a cute and romantic thing that a couple, like us, would do together."

"I…" my ears flicked, but then I smiled widely, "I'd love to!"

Smiling widely, Blitz caught the plate meant for him that I had just accidentally dropped due to my concentration shift. Whoops! I snickered.

We quickly found a table once we got back to the mess hall. There weren't very many empty ones, especially since they were all meant for more than two ponies, certainly. We were eating, and I happened to have one hoof on the table. He was so quiet. I kept looking at him wondering what he was thinking, but I would always blush and look away before he noticed.

He grabbed my hoof, softly, and rubbed the top. "I notice you noticing me Orange." he said quietly.

I stared at his hoof on mine. "Oh, um. What's up Blitz?"

"What do you mean?"

"…I guess, it seems like you've been acting strange all night."

"Oh. I don't mean to." he withdrew his hoof. I don't know why he did that. I liked when he touched me. I opened my mouth to speak, but he got to it first, "I have to tell you something very important. Something that will be hard for me to say and hard for you to hear."

"Hard?" I didn't understand.

He spoke so fast I almost didn't catch it, "I've gotta leave OJ, and you can't come with me."

It took a moment to process what he'd said. "Can't come with you? What do you mean? Where are you going?" My eyes were round as the dinner plates.

"Shoot shoot shoot," Blitz was cursing under his breath. "Please, I want you to understand…don't make it hard OJ."

"Don't make what hard? Where are you going Blitzy?" I was scared.

"I'm still a treasure hunter," Blitz gave a soft snort and a shrug.

I shook my head, "But…I thought…I would get to help you find Nexy."

Blitz's eyes widened. He looked so shocked, so scared. Just the name elicited something for him. Or he didn't even remember I'd wanted to help. "I-I know you did, but sometimes, things don't work out."

"What doesn't…Blitz, I really don't understand."

Blitz leaned across the table toward me. Planting a huge kiss on my lips, he whispered, "And perhaps, that's for the best."

We were all outside early that morning. Or at least, it was me, the Guardian, Blitzfire, and Pumpkin; and Cherry was holding the door. Blitz was facing the bridge, alone, the morning sun illuminating him. He was almost a dark shadow in my vision. But I could still make out the recognizable red, black white and gray. Faust I loved him…

The Guardian was pacing somewhere to my right and Pumpkin Spice? Well, she was right by my side. To my left she was energetically bouncing on her hooves. She seemed on the verge of spilling a million words and biting her own tongue off. I was torn between standing still and running to Blitz and making him stay.

Ravager…Ravager Blitzfire please don't leave me…

These words chased each other around and around in my head. It hurt. All this waiting, it just needed to stop. I wanted to be happy again, but something was off. I knew something was wrong. I knew I didn't want him to go. Everypony said it was for the best. Why?

"Blitzy…"

"Orange Juice, please don't. You won't change my mind."

I finally left Pumpkin Spice to her own restlessness and ran to him. "Please kiss m—"

Planting his face into mine with a force that was intense, that stallion was kissing me like he would never see me again. He was diving right into the water, I couldn't see the bottom. "Just," he breathed against my lips, never ever getting enough of me, "be careful," he told me. "I'll love you, trust me."

"What do you mean?" I asked, and I felt like I'd asked a million times since last night.

"I'm gonna love you, like I'm gonna lose you."

"You'll never lose me!" I protested, with all my heart I wanted to reassure him.

"Heh," Blitz chuckled and shook his head. "Promise me no promises, OJ." I was only shaking my head, over and over again. I had a hoof in his mane, mussing it up, but we were intent on each other. He said, "Love ain't simple." smiling like a foal.

"Goodbye Blitzy."

He got that faraway look I knew whenever he was thinking about Nexus Spark. "I'm way too good at goodbyes."

He gave me one last kiss that was nothing compared to the before, nothing compared to last night. Just a simple peck on the lips. Then before I knew what was happening, he was walking away, gone toward the bridge. I made a weird little jump in his direction, but I got nowhere because I had no idea what I was doing. My legs were sprawled in a crazed stance. I shook my head…

He wasn't too good at goodbyes that it was a bad thing. Nopony could be because, "Goodbye doesn't mean forever!" I yelled as loud as I could. I knew he stopped in his tracks because I could hear his laughter. At least I'd made him smile.

(Chapter 22 set for 10/25/17 at 11:30pm

Aww...this one was sad. It started out happy, of course everypony is happy! They just won, the first victory the Fort has seen in so long. They just needed the right Puppydog. The Guardian and his Puppydog are essential to the structure of the Fort, and it took the Guardian a bit to figure it out. So here we are, moving onward as I said. I loved bringing DJ Pon3 back by the way!

I swear there's a broadcast in Stable 28 about the Battle on the Bridge scene. I looked and looked, at least 4-5, many times each month for probably 2-3 months. I literally cannot find that broadcast I so clearly remember reading in Stable 28. Yolo! There's broadcasts in there! I was gonna base it off that one, but I had to wing it because I couldn't find it.

Sorry that's a tangent. DJ Pon3 is so fun to work with. He's good to use as a character, even if he is just a voice on the radio. He brings a sense of peace. Speaking of peace, we went straight from that to serenity to really really intense sadness didn't we. It's so bitterweet to see him go like this, especially so soon! It's been only about 8-10 days in all honesty. Less than 2 weeks. But don't ever forget what OJ says, because he's said it before. Goodbye doesn't mean forever.

Can't wait to read your comments! Look forward to the next chapter. I'm kickstarting it forward and to the next part. Hehe. Love ya!)

Brohoof /)